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 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Mog Log Extra: End of an era]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/02/the-mog-log-extra-end-of-an-era/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/02/the-mog-log-extra-end-of-an-era/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/02/02/the-mog-log-extra-end-of-an-era/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Tell us why, given life, we are meant to die?
By now you know.

I wrote my first column of The Mog Log almost exactly five years ago. I've been writing it for the entirety of Final Fantasy XIV's run now. I've been talking about the online Final Fantasy games since before I was married, and it's been a wonderful experience. I had every intention of continuing to do so for another decade. As long as there was a place to talk about it here, I was going to make use of it.

This isn't just a farewell for the column; it's a farewell for something that's made up a huge portion of my life and changed my life in huge ways. As the fall comes to Eorzea, it also comes to us, and I wanted -- insisted -- that I would at least get to have one final chance to say goodbye. So let's take one last look together before we say farewell.

Continue reading The Mog Log Extra: End of an era

MassivelyThe Mog Log Extra: End of an era originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2015 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answersconsoleconsolesfantasyfarewellfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinalfinal-columnfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivfinalitygoodbyemog-logopinionretrospectivesquaresquare-enixsquenixsunsetthe-mog-logMon, 02 Feb 2015 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Citizen's Chris Roberts looks back on a year of growth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/star-citizens-chris-roberts-looks-back-on-a-year-of-growth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/star-citizens-chris-roberts-looks-back-on-a-year-of-growth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/star-citizens-chris-roberts-looks-back-on-a-year-of-growth/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

What goes up must continue to go up, forever.
2014 was a pretty big year for Star Citizen, and not just because the Arena Commander module went from its first release version to 1.0 over the course of the year. A recent letter from project head Chris Roberts states that over 2014 the studio has gone from having 70 employees in one location to 180 employees in four locations across the globe. He also notes the huge increases in funding that the game has seen from both new backers and old.

So what's in store for 2015? Big stuff for backers. The first episode of Squadron 42 and the beginnings of the game's persistent universe will be reaching backer hands, along with the first iterations of the FPS module. There's no exact timetable given, but the developers are certainly planning big for the year ahead. Take a look at the full letter for more statistics on the year past and the one just begun.

[Thanks to Cardboard for the tip!]

MassivelyStar Citizen's Chris Roberts looks back on a year of growth originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014-in-reviewchris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingfps-modulefuture-plansfuture-updatesinternet-spaceshipskickstartermodulesnewsnews-itemspatchpatchespersistent-universeretrospectivesandboxsci-fispaceshipstar-citizenupcoming-plansupdateupdatesyear-in-reviewFri, 02 Jan 2015 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's past year and future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstars-past-year-and-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstars-past-year-and-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstars-past-year-and-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I don't want to have to say goodnight.
A year ago, I was excited for WildStar's future. Now I'm sitting here wondering how things went so very, very wrong.

That's not true, though; I know exactly how things went wrong. I don't like thinking about it, but I do know. And so here I am, with a game I was hugely excited to play out and in the wild, and so much has gone wrong. It's easy to think that I've pretty much clocked out altogether.

But that's also not true. I'll be the first to point out that I've said some decidedly unkind things about the state of the game and the choices that have been made thus far in terms of fixing them. The last column I wrote even posited that it might be too late for several of the changes being proposed to make any sort of impact when it comes to the game's image.

This is why I really want the game to prove me wrong.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's past year and future

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's past year and future originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2015carbinecarbine-studioscolumnfeaturedgame-mechanicshalf-featurencsoftnexusnexus-telegraphopinionretrospectivesandparksci-fantasysci-fispeculationthe-nexus-telegraphthe-year-aheadwildstaryear-in-reviewWed, 31 Dec 2014 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Norrathian Notebook: Talking EverQuest II's 10th anniversary with Holly Longdale]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/09/norrathian-notebook-talking-everquest-iis-10th-anniversary-wi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/09/norrathian-notebook-talking-everquest-iis-10th-anniversary-wi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/09/norrathian-notebook-talking-everquest-iis-10th-anniversary-wi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The big 1-0. EverQuest II has just joined the ranks of games in their double digits; today marks the 10th anniversary for the fantasy game. And while that's a pretty impressive feat in itself, just growing older isn't all that has happened to EQII in the past year. There have been plenty of content updates (and a change in how those update occur), holiday celebrations, and major news happenings during the course of the past 12 months.

However, instead of just highlighting the major events and changes of the year in a standard retrospective piece, I'm going to do something a little different this year. On top of wandering down memory lane, I've pulled in Senior Producer Holly Longdale to answer a few questions and address some current concerns on the minds of players. Longdale talks about the high price of both the Altar of Malice Collector's Edition and the new Aerakyn race as well as shares some fun facts about who's been working on the game since the beginning.

Continue reading Norrathian Notebook: Talking EverQuest II's 10th anniversary with Holly Longdale

MassivelyNorrathian Notebook: Talking EverQuest II's 10th anniversary with Holly Longdale originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Nov 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akil-hooperaltar-of-maliceBrandon-McDonaldcontroveryeqeq-2eq-iieq-nexteq-next-landmarkeq2eqiieqneqn-landmarkeqnexteqnleverquesteverquest-2everquest-iieverquest-nexteverquest-next-landmarkf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playholly-longdaleinterviewinterviewsjohn-smedleylandmarkMaria-Del-Casinonew-contentnorrathnorrathian-notebookopinionretrospectiveSmedsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookTim-HeydelaarSun, 09 Nov 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log Supplemental: A look at Star Trek Online's history with lead designer Al Rivera]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/15/captains-log-supplemental-a-look-at-star-trek-onlines-histor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/15/captains-log-supplemental-a-look-at-star-trek-onlines-histor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/15/captains-log-supplemental-a-look-at-star-trek-onlines-histor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

You can amost hear the cries for coffee now.
Star Trek Online is a game that's got some history, not just by virtue of the franchise that's been running for half of forever but because the game itself has a rather madcap development history. Cryptic Studios got the license to develop the game at the eleventh hour, and the caveat was that the game needed to be shipped in the same timeframe as the original developer had promised -- leaving almost no time for development.

I sat down and talked with lead designer Al Rivera about the game's history, its development ethos, and where the game is going with the upcoming release of the second expansion, Delta Rising. It's been a long process, but Rivera shed some light on how the game is designed by its modern team, why things launched the way they did, and what players can expect as the game continues toward its five-year anniversary.

Continue reading Captain's Log Supplemental: A look at Star Trek Online's history with lead designer Al Rivera

MassivelyCaptain's Log Supplemental: A look at Star Trek Online's history with lead designer Al Rivera originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Sep 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>al-riveracaptains-logcrypticcryptic-studiosdelta-risingf2pfeaturedfree-to-playlaunchnewsnews-itemsopinionpatchpatchesperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweretrospectivesci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-trek-online-delta-risingstoupdateupdatesupgradeupgradesMon, 15 Sep 2014 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Happy birthday, Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/01/the-mog-log-happy-birthday-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/01/the-mog-log-happy-birthday-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/09/01/the-mog-log-happy-birthday-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

They grow up so fast.
Congratulations, Final Fantasy XIV! It's been a year and you're still going after the relaunch, much to the surprise and consternation of the many people who were hoping for the opposite outcome for... well, I'm not clear on that exit strategy. Bragging rights, I guess. The point is, you turned out to surprise pretty much everyone, you've been posting incredibly solid numbers for a while now, and you don't seem likely to go anywhere in the near future. You can take a load off, maybe take a nap.

Now that I've gotten the congratulations out of the way, let's talk about Final Fantasy XIV and the many ways that the designers have screwed up so far. Sort of. I mean, over the past year I've been more than willing to fire with both barrels when a screwup was made, which has happened... about once every major patch. But here's the thing: I'm glad to see that happening, on some level. It gives me hope for the future.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Happy birthday, Final Fantasy XIV

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Happy birthday, Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Sep 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversariesanniversarybugsconsoleconsoleserrorsfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivmisstepsmistakesmog-logopinionpatchpatchespoor-decisionsretrospectivesquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logupdateupdatesMon, 01 Sep 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Marvel Heroes' super first year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/30/marvel-heroes-super-first-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/30/marvel-heroes-super-first-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/30/marvel-heroes-super-first-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A super first year for Marvel Heroes
In a game focused on super heroes with super powers facing super villains, you wouldn't expect a birthday bash to be just ordinary, would you? Of course not; it should be super! Gazillion agreed: Marvel Heroes just wrapped up its mega month-long first anniversary celebration this past weekend. From multiple buy-one-get-one-free offers to plentiful buffs and boosts to 365 birthday gifts for each player, the event was filled with festivities fit to bear the "super" moniker.

The celebration itself capped off a year of growth and expansion for the action RPG; the Marvel Heroes of today is not the Marvel Heroes that players logged into back in June of 2013. Even before the big release of Marvel Heroes 2015, which kicked off the anniversary festivities on June 4th, the game had already evolved quite a bit. How has it changed over the last 12 months? Let's take a hop, skip, and super leap down memory lane for a look.

Continue reading Marvel Heroes' super first year

MassivelyMarvel Heroes' super first year originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jun 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionaction-mmoanniversaryanniversary-retrospectivef2pfeaturedfree-to-playgazilliongazillion-entertainmentmarvelmarvel-heroesmarvel-heroes-2015marvel-universemarvel-universe-onlinemuoretrospectivesecret-identitysuperherosuperheroesupdatesMon, 30 Jun 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Norrathian Notebook: Happy 15th anniversary, EverQuest!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/20/norrathian-notebook-happy-15th-anniversary-everquest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/20/norrathian-notebook-happy-15th-anniversary-everquest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/03/20/norrathian-notebook-happy-15th-anniversary-everquest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This past Sunday marked the 15th anniversary of EverQuest. Any way you look at it, 15 years is a long time, and few are the games that can make this claim to fame. Such an achievement is certainly worth a hullabaloo! Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you've witnessed a bit of this celebration; it's been touted across the entire franchise (not to mention the rest of SOE's portfolio!). Much has been said about the journey from day one until now, with folks sharing stories that span the entire life of EQ. Devs even offered an infographic highlighting how far the game has come since 1999. What a difference 15 years makes! But what about the difference just one year makes?

Today's Norrathian Notebook is an anniversary retrospective that looks back at the last 12 months in the life of EverQuest. Join me for a jaunt down memory lane to see how Norrath has evolved this past year, then take advantage of the special deals and festivities commemorating this auspicious year.

Continue reading Norrathian Notebook: Happy 15th anniversary, EverQuest!

MassivelyNorrathian Notebook: Happy 15th anniversary, EverQuest! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Mar 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>15-years15th-anniversaryanniversaryeqeq-2eq-iieq-nexteq-next-landmarkeq1eq2eqiieqneqn-landmarkeqnexteqnleverquesteverquest-2everquest-iieverquest-nexteverquest-next-landmarkf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlandmarknorrathnorrathian-notebookopinionRetrospectivesoesonysony-online-entertainmenttattered-notebookthe-tattered-notebookThu, 20 Mar 2014 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: An anniversary look at Darkfall's fifth year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/28/some-assembly-required-an-anniversary-look-at-darkfalls-fifth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/28/some-assembly-required-an-anniversary-look-at-darkfalls-fifth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/28/some-assembly-required-an-anniversary-look-at-darkfalls-fifth/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Gimme five! Five years that is, in honor of Darkfall's anniversary. This week the PvP-centric sandbox celebrated its fifth year of bringing murder, mayhem, and fun to friends and foes alike in the brutal world of Agon. And while it may seem as though you could pretty much sum up the entirety of Darkfall's last 12 months in two words (Unholy Wars) and call it a day, there's actually been much more to the game than just the reboot's long-awaited release. In fact, that was only the beginning. The game has continued to expand and develop even after the initial launch of Unholy Wars, shaping it into the experience that it is today. That's precisely what we're here to toast together -- the ups and down of 52 weeks in Aventurine's hardcore sandbox. Be sure to leave your favorite memories from the past year in Agon before you go!

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: An anniversary look at Darkfall's fifth year

MassivelySome Assembly Required: An anniversary look at Darkfall's fifth year originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Feb 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agonanniversaryaventurinedarkfalldarkfall-unholy-warsdffantasyfeaturedfifth-anniversarygame-mechanicsopen-pvpopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpvpretrospectivesandboxsarsome-assembly-requiredunholy-warsFri, 28 Feb 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online celebrates its fourth anniversary with a look back at the previous year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/29/star-trek-online-celebrates-its-fourth-anniversary-with-a-look-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/29/star-trek-online-celebrates-its-fourth-anniversary-with-a-look-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/29/star-trek-online-celebrates-its-fourth-anniversary-with-a-look-b/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Federation really got into two-tone ships this year.
This year, Star Trek Online turns four years old. So how do you celebrate four years of operation on a single game? Well, in this case, you start with a look back over the past year. The newest trailer from the team at Cryptic Studios, embedded just past the break, shows off the highlights of 2013 in Star Trek Online for players who've been away from the game or those who would just like a quick refresher.

So what happened? Lots of stuff. The game launched its first full expansion with Legacy of Romulus, players took on the Voth and met up with Worf again, and a whole lot of seasonal fun was had with jetpacks and animated snowmen. But you don't need us to tell you about all of that, do you? The trailer's ready to show you all of that and offer a few glimpses into the future. Why not take a look?

Continue reading Star Trek Online celebrates its fourth anniversary with a look back at the previous year

MassivelyStar Trek Online celebrates its fourth anniversary with a look back at the previous year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jan 2014 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarycrypticcryptic-studiosexpansionsf2pfree-to-playlegacy-of-romulusnewsnews-itemsperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweretrospectivesci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrailertrailersupdatevideovideosWed, 29 Jan 2014 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's year in review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/30/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstars-year-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/30/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstars-year-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/30/the-nexus-telegraph-wildstars-year-in-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Because sometimes you might forget who the author is, right?
I started this column early in December of 2012, which means that as of now I've been writing about WildStar once a week for a little over a year. It's also nearly the end of the year, which makes it an ideal time to write about the changes that we've seen to the game over the past year. So I'm just going to go ahead and ignore the slight discrepancy and use this column for both year-in-review elements.

Obviously it's not exactly possible to look back at the changes to the game over the past year, since we're talking about a game still in the midst of its testing cycle. But we started the year without even knowing about one of the game's factions beyond a vague mention, much less the game's lore and classes. So let's look back at the last year of news and the last year of columns in their entirety.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's year in review

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's year in review originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Dec 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013-in-reviewcarbinecarbine-studioscolumnfeaturedmassively-metametancsoftnexusnexus-telegraphopinionretrospectivesandparksci-fantasysci-fithe-nexus-telegraphwildstaryear-in-reviewMon, 30 Dec 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: 2013 in review for Final Fantasy XI and XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/28/the-mog-log-2013-in-review-for-final-fantasy-xi-and-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/28/the-mog-log-2013-in-review-for-final-fantasy-xi-and-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/28/the-mog-log-2013-in-review-for-final-fantasy-xi-and-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Took a long time getting here.
This feels as if it's been a really long year to me. Spending an entire year waiting for a game to re-release is certainly part of the reason why, but it really seems that there were a lot of things going on for both Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV over the last 365-ish days. I didn't even do a year-in-review last year because what could be reviewed? One game shut down and was waiting for a full revamp, and the other was just hitting the numbers and moving along.

This year, though, has been the big one. The fifth expansion that no one ever expected to release actually came out. The relaunch happened. A whole lot of mechanics got updated. I flew across the freaking country. It was a big year if you were a fan of online games with moogles, even if that year wound up being a lot bigger for Final Fantasy XIV than Final Fantasy XI.

Continue reading The Mog Log: 2013 in review for Final Fantasy XI and XIV

MassivelyThe Mog Log: 2013 in review for Final Fantasy XI and XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Dec 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsolesdevelopmentfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivimprovementsmog-logopinionpatchpatchesretrospectivesquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logupdatesyear-in-reviewSat, 28 Dec 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online shuts down tonight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/18/warhammer-online-shuts-down-tonight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/18/warhammer-online-shuts-down-tonight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/18/warhammer-online-shuts-down-tonight/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you must picture the future of Warhammer, picture a battlefield. One upon which all those warriors who so valiantly raged for Order or for Chaos stand assembled. They clash, they fall, and they rise once more to clash again. A battlefield that will never end, where the warriors never tire, never grow anxious, where all that exists is the battle and the struggle. The victory is never awarded, and yet the conflict remains. Champions of both sides, rushing across the landscape, racing hopefully toward victory... forever.
Today, the drums of Warhammer Online fall silent. After five years of operation, the game will shut down permanently at 6:00 p.m. EST tonight. If there are any last-minute screenshots or contact details you need to exchange, we encourage you to get that done before the servers turn off permanently. Partial refunds will be issued for players who still had paid game time on their accounts as of November 1st; those who purchased game time cards will need to contact customer support directly.

For those looking for a bit more farewell reading, our writers have taken on both the overall arc of the game from launch and the game's shutdown event (or lack thereof, depending on your perspective). Fans have also assembled a tribute video for the game as a whole. Our condolences go to the players who are losing a game that has been a home for five years.

MassivelyWarhammer Online shuts down tonight originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Dec 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsendless-trialfantasyfinal-daymythicmythic-entertainmentpvpretrospectivervrserver-closureshutdownsunsettributewarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineWed, 18 Dec 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively reminisces on Star Wars Galaxies' 10th anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/26/massively-reminisces-on-star-wars-galaxies-10th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/26/massively-reminisces-on-star-wars-galaxies-10th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/26/massively-reminisces-on-star-wars-galaxies-10th-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Massively reminisces on Star Wars Galaxies' 10th anniversary
Has it really been 10 years? Yep, Star Wars Galaxies did indeed launch on June 26th, 2003. And yep, this is indeed an anniversary post for an MMORPG that closed down in December of 2011.

Why the reminiscing about a game that we can't -- ahem -- play any longer? Simply put, SWG deserves it. If you're reading this article, you already know why it deserves it, so we'll skip the sandbox proselytizing and get right to the part where Massively's Starsider veterans raise a glass and share a few of their favorite launch-era memories.

Continue reading Massively reminisces on Star Wars Galaxies' 10th anniversary

MassivelyMassively reminisces on Star Wars Galaxies' 10th anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryclassic-mmocombat-upgradefeaturedgalaxiesmmo-traveloguengenostalgiaretrospectiveroleplayroleplayingsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-galaxies-retrospectivestarsiderswgswg-10-year-anniversaryswg-10-yearsswg-anniversaryswg-retrospectiveWed, 26 Jun 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The way it was for three years]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/storyboard-the-way-it-was-for-three-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/storyboard-the-way-it-was-for-three-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/storyboard-the-way-it-was-for-three-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Going back in time.
Roleplaying is the same as it ever was. People are still shoehorning in lore characters into backstories, someone is a sparkly magic vampire, and you can still turn a corner in a tavern to find two people with a decided lack of gear or public shame. (In Second Life, that corner is the one you turn to download the game.) But I've had three years of talking about it, so it's at least a little different than it was.

I don't know if I'd go so far as to say it's better.

Every year I like to take a look back at the past year, talk about what worked well, what didn't work at all, and what I'd like to do in the future. So it is for this year, complete with a nice big surprise down at the end there. Regular readers may be less surprised, but you can just bear with me.

Continue reading Storyboard: The way it was for three years

MassivelyStoryboard: The way it was for three years originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featurednew-featuresopinionretrospectiveroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardstoryboard-librarythree-yearsyear-in-reviewFri, 17 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: So what's the deal with Champions Online?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-so-whats-the-deal-with-champions-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-so-whats-the-deal-with-champions-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-so-whats-the-deal-with-champions-onli/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It's improved a lot from the game which I preordered and then un-preordered, but still.
Let's be honest here. Champions Online is not in a good state.

A couple of weeks back I wrote about how expecting a limited-time event to flesh out the game's endgame is silly to say the least, and I stand by that. But there are two issues under discussion here, and the second is "does the game need more content?" The answer, right now, is an emphatic yes. An event isn't the place to go looking for that content necessarily, but this is still a pretty significant problem, and the game certainly doesn't look as if it's fast approaching its fourth year of operation (and it is).

So what happened? It's no secret that the game launched to some pretty poor reception, but that doesn't account for the way that the game has been managed since then, especially when its free-to-play conversion has by all indications been reasonably successful. So why is it that after nearly half the lifespan of City of Heroes it still feels like a game that just recently launched?

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: So what's the deal with Champions Online?

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: So what's the deal with Champions Online? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterchampionschampions-onlinechampscocrypticcryptic-studiosdevelopment-cyclesf2pfailurefeaturedfree-to-playmild-mannered-reporteropinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweretrospectivesuperherosuperhero-genresuperheroesWed, 27 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: A year of columns in review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/the-mog-log-a-year-of-columns-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/the-mog-log-a-year-of-columns-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/the-mog-log-a-year-of-columns-in-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Still playing around with new logo ideas. This is the one I had out of a dozen that I thought came out the best, but I'm still not sure if I like it.
Three years is not a lot of time to do anything. I'm continually surprised by the fact that I've been writing about video games professionally for three years of my life, which is admittedly only 10% of my life to date but still seems astonishing. This also marks the start of the third year of The Mog Log, which means that I've been talking about moogles and cat-women professionally for a tenth of my life.

I use thoughts like that to keep me warm at night.

As always, the anniversary mark is about the time when I look back at the column thus far and see how well it's done as a whole. Last year I wanted to really switch up what I did with my coverage for Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XI, and I think that by and large it worked pretty well. So let's do the usual thing wherein I look back, you take a trip down memory lane with me, and we all walk away feeling smarter. Or, if that doesn't sound interesting, you could just go look at some cat pictures.

Continue reading The Mog Log: A year of columns in review

MassivelyThe Mog Log: A year of columns in review originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnsconsoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivmog-logopinionopinionsretrospectivesquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logyear-in-reviewSat, 26 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Final Fantasy nostalgia]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/19/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-nostalgia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/19/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-nostalgia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/19/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-nostalgia/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
There's nothing quite like Final Fantasy XI. Nor is there anything quite like Final Fantasy XIV. The two are similar enough that you can use one as a substitute for the other in a pinch, but both possess a certain feel that just isn't found in any other game. That's neither good nor bad; it just is.

Watching the trailer for Seekers of Adoulin gave me a powerful blast of Final Fantasy XI nostalgia, and while I could wax poetic about how the game I remember isn't the game that exists any longer, that's not really the point. The point is that for all the frustrations of the games, there's a lot of joy in both. So today I just plucked my top five memories from both FFXI and Final Fantasy XIV to share with you, since I bet that some of you have the same sort of glowing nostalgia. Even if you don't want the good old days to come back (I sure don't), you can still remember them with a smile.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy nostalgia

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy nostalgia originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I'm proud I made it through this entire post without a single baseball pun.
The sun has set on 38 Studios, but there's still a lot of people eager to analyze and dissect the company's rise and sharp decline. As a whole, it's been looked at and analyzed extensively from the gaming side, but the other factors that went into the studio's enormous state loan and subsequent burnout are examined more closely in a new video. This isn't about whether or not Project Copernicus would have been any good; this is about simple business and political pressures that doomed the project from the start.

Curt Schilling started 38 Studios at the end of his baseball career, but it was a well-known fact that his attempts to court venture capitalists were unsuccessful. The video goes into depth regarding the political climate that encouraged Rhode Island legislators to sign the historic and ill-advised loan, as well as the factors leading to the company's ultimate demise. If you're interested in a broader view now that the smoke has cleared, take a look at the full video past the cut.

Continue reading A video retrospective on 38 Studios discusses 'star-struck legislators'

MassivelyA video retrospective on 38 Studios discusses 'star-struck legislators' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosbusinessclosurecurt-schillinggaming-industrymmo-industrypolitical-environmentpoliticsretrospectiverhode-islandshutdownsstate-of-rhode-islandstudio-closurestudio-shutdownsvideovideosThu, 03 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic, a cautionary tale of breaking into MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/star-wars-the-old-republic-a-cautionary-tale-of-breaking-into/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/star-wars-the-old-republic-a-cautionary-tale-of-breaking-into/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/star-wars-the-old-republic-a-cautionary-tale-of-breaking-into/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars The Old Republic a cautionary tale of breaking into MMOs
From a player's perspective, Star Wars: The Old Republic exceeded expectations on its launch one year ago today. Fans really took to the story content, reporting that the story content was the most fun they'd had leveling in any MMO up to that point. Things were looking great. The designers were obviously proud, and sales neared the two million mark, surpassing all previous MMOs for box sales at launch. Even before the official launch of the game, BioWare had to add new servers because of the number of people in early access. The day before the official launch, some queue times were over two hours, and at that time, there were 140 servers. Life was insane at BioWare to say the least.

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic, a cautionary tale of breaking into MMOs

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic, a cautionary tale of breaking into MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Dec 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybiowaredaniel-ericksoneaelectronic-artsfeaturedgabe-amatangelogreg-zeschuklucasartsopinionray-muzykaRetrospectivesci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorThu, 20 Dec 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Asheron's Call 2 producer weighs in on the revived game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/16/asherons-call-2-producer-weighs-in-on-the-revived-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/16/asherons-call-2-producer-weighs-in-on-the-revived-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/16/asherons-call-2-producer-weighs-in-on-the-revived-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Back, possibly even in the saddle.
It's always a sad day when a game you worked on shuts down. You shed your tears and move on, most likely wishing you could have the game back but knowing it's gone for good. But Asheron's Call 2 has come back against all odds, and while it's not yet clear what the future will hold for the dead-and-revived game, former producer Eric Heimburg quickly jumped in to see how well the game holds up in a more modern sense.

Heimburg's main complaints are that the game's interface hasn't held up very well (requiring players to click through several screens just to compare item stats) and the huge world can lead to some travel issues. He also shares some insights regarding some of the strange elements of the beta, including the absence of a friend list feature. It's an interesting look not just behind the scenes of a game no one expected to return, but at the differences between a game long remembered and the game that actually existed.

[Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]

MassivelyAsheron's Call 2 producer weighs in on the revived game originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acac2ageaging-gameasherons-callasherons-call-2classic-mmodead-gameeric-heimburgfantasyold-interfacesplay-elementsretrospectivereturning-gamerevivalsandboxturbineturbine-entertainmentSun, 16 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The RIFT project - conclusion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/10/storyboard-the-rift-project-conclusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/10/storyboard-the-rift-project-conclusion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/10/storyboard-the-rift-project-conclusion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

You thought I was done with that Nightmare Pranidhi face, huh? How little you knew.
The RIFT project was a complete and utter failure.

I'd like to say that this was something that I came to conclude very late in the project, but honestly it happened early on. Both Ms. Lady and I knew that the project had failed irrevocably, and while I'd like to think we tried gamely to keep running it as if the project were ongoing, I think we failed even at that. So, yes -- this is a project that ended in failure. But it ended in failure in the best way possible.

Even with that having been said, the project didn't take off in the direction I had hoped and certainly didn't have the results I'd conceived of when I first came up with the project. So it's worth examining what worked, what didn't, and what advice I can give anyone else attempting a similar project in the future. I think it's a worthy idea, but I think that ultimately it just doesn't quite work.

Continue reading Storyboard: The RIFT project - conclusion

MassivelyStoryboard: The RIFT project - conclusion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestfailboatsfailurefantasyfeaturedopinionprojectspvpretrospectiveriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararoleplayroleplayersroleplayingrprvrstorystoryboardthe-rift-projectthree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsFri, 10 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A look at Curt Schilling's management of 38 Studios]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/a-look-at-curt-schillings-management-of-38-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/a-look-at-curt-schillings-management-of-38-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/23/a-look-at-curt-schillings-management-of-38-studios/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There's really no pretty face to be put on any of this.
The dust has more or less settled around the demise of 38 Studios, but much of the information about what happened to lead the company so deep into the hole is fragmented. Some fans admonish the Rhode Island governor, some admonish Curt Schilling, and some admonish the management team that led to several poor decisions. A new piece in Boston Magazine goes into depth about where Schilling's management caused problems and how the culture at the studio slowly deteriorated.

The article paints Schilling as being relentlessly optimistic and dedicated to his employees but at the same time unfamiliar with business and the realities of running a game company. He also wound up with a bloated staff and disregarded information from management, leading to conflicting demands and a general lack of progress on major deadlines for Project Copernicus. If you've got any interest in the game industry, it's a fascinating look at how a game company can start with high hopes and dissolve under financial realities.

MassivelyA look at Curt Schilling's management of 38 Studios originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studios38-studios-copernicusbusinesscopernicuscurt-schillingfinancefinancesgaming-industryindustrykingdoms-of-amalurmmo-industryproject-copernicusretrospectiveMon, 23 Jul 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: At the end of TERA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/18/choose-my-adventure-at-the-end-of-tera/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/18/choose-my-adventure-at-the-end-of-tera/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/18/choose-my-adventure-at-the-end-of-tera/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The headers were always a joy to make, I'm going to put that right out there.
All good things must come to an end, including my run of Choose My Adventure. There have been high points and low points, good parts and bad, but there's only so much time to cover the game. And so I leave TERA, confident that while I may have missed points, at least I have a broad sense of the game. That's certainly less... straightforward than previous installments of this column have been for me.

My impressions of TERA have really been all over the map. There are things I absolutely love about the game, but a lot of them are minor touches. There's one part that I think is absolutely brilliant, and a lot that's absolutely juvenile. The game has a lot of systems that are essentially filling space without adding anything. And as a result, it's really hard to classify the whole game as being good or bad or neutral.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: At the end of TERA

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: At the end of TERA originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholebluehole-studioschoose-my-adventurecmadesignen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyfeaturedgame-mechanicshands-onopinionpollpollsreaders-choiceretrospectivesexismteravotevotingWed, 18 Jul 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Max Schafer claims Diablo III was originally an MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/max-schafer-claims-diablo-iii-was-originally-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/max-schafer-claims-diablo-iii-was-originally-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/max-schafer-claims-diablo-iii-was-originally-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

World of Diablocraft.
It always requires you to be online. It lets friends drop in, often without warning, to take part in whatever you're doing. It has an elaborate auction house, complete with microtransactions. Diablo III isn't an MMO, but in the eyes of many fans, it certainly seems to be aping the style of MMOs, and whether or not that's a good thing depends on your point of view. But according to recent statements from Runic Games co-founder Max Schafer, that's no accident, as many years ago, the game was an MMO.

Schafer states that prior to his departure, the team was essentially aiming at doing for the Diablo franchise what World of Warcraft did to the Warcraft franchise. Changes in upper management prompted Schafer's departure, and his current studio Runic Games is known for its very Diablo-like Torchlight franchise. While it's been a long time since development on a Diablo MMO was in the cards, it seems some of those roots wound up making it to launch after all.

MassivelyMax Schafer claims Diablo III was originally an MMO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3developmentdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasymax-schaefermmo-developmentmultiplayernewsonline-multiplayerretrospectiveroguelikerpgrunic-gamestorchlightFri, 15 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Preparing for TERA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/choose-my-adventure-preparing-for-tera/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/choose-my-adventure-preparing-for-tera/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/choose-my-adventure-preparing-for-tera/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I'm trying to put more effort into these headers. I hope it comes across well.
The initial Choose My Adventure poll always goes to the game that gets its community moving. This time around, it was TERA, and that means that I'll be spending the next six weeks knee-deep in huge monsters and active combat. And per tradition, this week will be an overview of the game for those who know nothing about it; the polls to determine how I start out. Fun for all!

I'm hard-pressed to think of a game that I've had a more back-and-forth relationship with than TERA. When I first heard about the game, it didn't make an impression on me. Then I started seeing the screenshots, and I was interested. Then I saw more, and I was suddenly less interested... and then I started hearing about the game's actual gameplay, and I swung back around in the other direction. It's a polarizing game for a lot of people, but it's a game that deserves a little more love past those elements.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Preparing for TERA

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Preparing for TERA originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholebluehole-studioschoose-my-adventurecmacontroversydebateen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyfeaturedgendergender-issueshands-onnew-titlesopinionpollpollsreaders-choicereceptionretrospectiveteravotevotingWed, 06 Jun 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: A decade of Final Fantasy XI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Generally speaking, when I celebrate anniversaries, I celebrate the point when the game actually came out in a language that I could play it. This is relevant in the case of Final Fantasy XI, since the game took a year and a half to reach the shores of America (also known as "the place I live"). I learned my lesson about trying to learn a language just to muddle through a game back with Final Fantasy III.

However, when one of our eagle-eyed readers pointed out to me the milestone that the game had hit, that made an impact because even if I couldn't understand any of the game's text back when it launched, a decade is a long time for continuous operation of anything. So rather than talking about the Legacy campaign as I'd planned, I think I'd rather talk about the legacy of Final Fantasy XI this week, including where the game has gone from its state at launch. You know, when a Black Mage could make the entire world bow and you still got attacked when riding a chocobo.

Continue reading The Mog Log: A decade of Final Fantasy XI

MassivelyThe Mog Log: A decade of Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yes, I plan to have something bizarre for this every anniversary.
Last year, I had planned to change up the focus of Storyboard a little. The "high and wide" format had been working, but I was worried that the column just wouldn't have legs if I didn't start going for more focused and narrow applications. So I spent several months working on just the right way to do more game-specific columns in here.

You don't remember them, of course, because none of them was ever posted. Those several months of work did not produce a single viable column.

At the capstone of the second year of Storyboard, I'm forced to basically eat crow about one of my major plans for the last year because it turns out that not only did it not work but it didn't need to work in the first place. I managed to fill up another year of columns just fine without going into great detail about one game over another, and as it turns out, I'm a lot happier with this year as a whole anyway.

Continue reading Storyboard: The second anniversary of Storyboard

MassivelyStoryboard: The second anniversary of Storyboard originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarycolumncolumnsfeaturedlooking-backopinionretrospectiveroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 18 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Eight years of city life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-eight-years-of-city-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-eight-years-of-city-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-eight-years-of-city-life/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
There are some things that were broken this year in City of Heroes beyond a shadow of a doubt. Then there were things that weren't necessarily broken depending on whom you asked. But one thing has been broken absolutely and completely: my format for these retrospectives.

See, from one point of view, this was a content-light year. I mean, we had two new issues and that's it. On the other hand, one of those was the launch of City of Heroes Freedom, and the result has been a steady stream of partial updates, minor improvements, new installments in the signature story arc, and so on. In previous years, going issue-by-issue worked as a way to look back over the course of the year, but it just doesn't work any longer.

But then, it's not supremely necessary. There are three big things that have defined the game for the past year: Freedom, the Incarnate system, and new toys. So we're going to break the format that doesn't really work and just talk about those in order.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Eight years of city life

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Eight years of city life originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporteranniversarycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedommild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosretrospectivesuperherosuperheroesyear-in-reviewWed, 25 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Status report, last year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/a-mild-mannered-reporter-status-report-last-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/a-mild-mannered-reporter-status-report-last-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/a-mild-mannered-reporter-status-report-last-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
What with one thing and another, a year has passed. At this time last year, things were very different for City of Heroes, and so I started up my usual trifecta of columns on the past year with a look back at what I said the game needed and how it's done on those fronts. So it's time for the second annual iteration because as we all know, the first annual anything doesn't really count. And if your memory is getting rusty from a year ago, by all means, take the time to refresh it.

Certainly if you had told me back then that every major superhero game would be free-to-play before the year was up, I wouldn't have believed it. But that's what's happened, and as the game has shifted, so has the market around it. That means that the game has really had to face off against its two "direct" competitors on a straight footing, and that might not have been in the game's best interests as a whole.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Status report, last year

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Status report, last year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxculturef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedommild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionother-gamesparagonparagon-studiosretrospectivesuperherosuperheroesyear-in-reviewWed, 18 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Looking back at RIFT's first year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-looking-back-at-rifts-first-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-looking-back-at-rifts-first-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-looking-back-at-rifts-first-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Rift carnival
As I ran around smacking loot piñatas (finally, someone acknowledges these things for what they are), I wondered how on earth RIFT's first year went by so fast. The Carnival of the Ascended is just around the corner, and on March 1st, the game officially celebrates its first birthday.

In just one year, RIFT has seen seven game updates, a handful of world events, and all sorts of new additions and improvements to the world of Telara. Rather than being a straight-up retrospective, this week's Enter at Your Own Rift is looking back on the first year with a Justin-style list of highlights and even a glimpse of what's coming in 1.8.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Looking back at RIFT's first year

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Looking back at RIFT's first year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birthdaycarnival-of-the-ascendedchroniclesember-isleenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedinstant-adventureskaren-bryanmaster-dungeonsopinionplanar-attunementretrospectiveriftrift-1.8rift-birthdayrift-mentoringrift-one-year-oldrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmansoul-presetssoul-systemtelaratriontrion-worldswarfront-accoladeswarfrontsWed, 29 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: One year, two courses]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-mog-log-one-year-two-courses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-mog-log-one-year-two-courses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-mog-log-one-year-two-courses/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Today does not quite mark the two-year anniversary of The Mog Log. That was back on January 24th, but I decided to run just a wee bit late with annual retrospectives. We're now close enough to the year mark for argument's sake, which gives me a chance to look back at how the past year of the column has shaken out, what's gone right, and what hasn't. That ties into the issue that one invariably finds when a single column covers two games: There's a split.

Whether or not you like Final Fantasy XIV, you can't argue that the past year has brought an onslaught of changes to the game. On the flip side, there's been less going on in Final Fantasy XI than in any of the game's previous years of operation. As a result, I've had a difficult dilemma to try to juggle: There's one game moving at high speed and one staying rather stagnant, but I don't want to give undue attention to one over the other.

Continue reading The Mog Log: One year, two courses

MassivelyThe Mog Log: One year, two courses originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncolumnsfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivmeanderingmeta-columnopinionretrospectivesquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logSat, 04 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Firing Line: Global Agenda year two retrospective]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/the-firing-line-global-agenda-year-two-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/the-firing-line-global-agenda-year-two-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/the-firing-line-global-agenda-year-two-retrospective/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Firing Line - Global Agenda turns two
You! Yeah, you! You still haven't played Global Agenda, have you? I know, I know, you're going to get around to it, it's on your list, blah blah and etc. While you've been dilly-dallying about, Hi-Rez Studios' sci-fi shooter has gone and turned two years old!

That's OK, though, because the game has more options, more content, and more pew-pew than at any time in its history, and thanks to a gaggle of anniversary events, now is the perfect time to saddle up.

Continue reading The Firing Line: Global Agenda year two retrospective

MassivelyThe Firing Line: Global Agenda year two retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryf2pfeaturedfiring-linefree-agentfree-to-playglobal-agendahi-rezhi-rez-studiosmmo-shootermmotpsopinionpatchesrecursive-colonyretrospectivesci-fithe-firing-linethird-person-shootertwo-year-anniversaryupdatesyes-it-is-an-mmoFri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A critical year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-critical-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-critical-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-critical-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
It's been a little over two years now that I've been writing a regular column on City of Heroes, and in one sense that still feels very strange to me. I'm guessing that the novelty of doing this for a living is never going to entirely go away, for reasons that really have nothing to do with the topic of this column. But I'm not going to dwell on the more meta facts here; I'm going to focus instead on the past year of the column.

This year was a try for something slightly different in both the tone and approach that I'd been taking with these columns. I finished off one major project, started another one, and along the way, I found that I gathered a very different attitude over time. In relationship terms, the first year of A Mild-Mannered Reporter was apparently still the "gushing" phase of a new relationship. This year has been much more about the flaws that City of Heroes has, both in structure and in design choices.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A critical year

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: A critical year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-freedomcity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxfeaturedfreedomncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosretrospectiveyear-in-reviewWed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/a-vanguard-fifth-anniversary-year-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/a-vanguard-fifth-anniversary-year-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/a-vanguard-fifth-anniversary-year-in-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Vanguard screenshot
It's that time again -- time to look back on a year of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and see what changed and what stayed exactly the same. The game is now five years old, and the last year has been relatively exciting for the community. Vanguard is just one of those titles that seems to want to last forever. The playerbase is loyal, mature, and truly dedicated to this aging title. Will the players' efforts pay off?

We took a look back on the last year to see what the larger announcements were. There were some surprises and even updates (yes, actual updates to the game), something that is still affecting the community. While other games might publish monthly or even weekly updates, the Vanguard players are the camels of the greater MMO community and have learned to live off very little development fuel.

Bear in mind that as I type this, an update is being played through on the test server.

Continue reading A Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review

MassivelyA Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybeau-hindmanbirthdaycorpse-runningdeath-mechaniceqeverquestf2pfan-fairefeaturedfree-to-playftphardcorelive-gamerpatchesretrospectivesilium-grantsiliusSOESony-Online-EntertainmentupdatesvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesMon, 30 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Year One: A look back at DCUO on its first anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/year-one-a-look-back-at-dcuo-on-its-first-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/year-one-a-look-back-at-dcuo-on-its-first-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/year-one-a-look-back-at-dcuo-on-its-first-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

DC Universe Online - Zatanna
Given the popularity of Batman, Superman, and the rest of the DC Comics license, you'd think an MMO based in and around Gotham City and Metropolis would be nothing short of wildly successful.

If anything, though, DC Universe Online (as well as dearly departed Sony Online Entertainment titles like Star Wars Galaxies and The Matrix Online) has proved that big-name IPs are not a surefire recipe for an MMO blockbuster. While DCUO has picked up a head of steam over the past couple of months, it took a free-to-play business model conversion to help the superhero title achieve success in its rookie year.

Continue reading Year One: A look back at DCUO on its first anniversary

MassivelyYear One: A look back at DCUO on its first anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1-year-anniversaryaction-mmoanniversarybatmancomicsdc-comicsdc-universe-onlinedcuodlcf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgreen-lanternlantern-corpsmmo-travelogueone-year-anniversarypatchesretrospectivesinestrosoeSony-Online-EntertainmentsuperherosupermanupdatesWed, 11 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dr. Greg Zeschuk talks about the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/dr-greg-zeschuk-talks-about-the-launch-of-star-wars-the-old-re/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/dr-greg-zeschuk-talks-about-the-launch-of-star-wars-the-old-re/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/dr-greg-zeschuk-talks-about-the-launch-of-star-wars-the-old-re/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

An army of one. Plus companion.
It's been just about a month since Star Wars: The Old Republic began its early access period, throwing open the doors for players all around the world. But the release wasn't just an interesting point for the many players anticipating the game -- after all, it had been BioWare's big project for many years. Fan site TORwars recently had a chat with Dr. Greg Zeschuk about his thoughts on the game at launch and a look back at what could have gone differently.

As Zeschuk says, there were definitely some aspects of the development that he would do differently if he could go back in time, including expanding the testing schedule and roster. He also shares his stories of getting his character going once the game went live, something that wound up being unexpectedly problematic. It's not filled with world-shattering revelations about the future of the game, but for players who are starting to look back over their first month with the game, it's certainly a nice look at the other side of the fence.

MassivelyDr. Greg Zeschuk talks about the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredevelopmentdr-greg-zeschukgreg-zeschukinterviewnewsopinionretrospectivestar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 09 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Brad McQuaid reminisces about the birth of EverQuest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/brad-mcquaid-reminisces-about-the-birth-of-everquest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/brad-mcquaid-reminisces-about-the-birth-of-everquest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/brad-mcquaid-reminisces-about-the-birth-of-everquest/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The advent of the Internet dragon.
Maybe you're a big fan of EverQuest. Maybe you were at one point, but your ardor has cooled. Maybe you never liked it. Whatever your opinion on the game, you can't deny that it had a massive impact on the face of MMOs as a whole. In a new interview, Brad McQuaid talks about the genesis of EverQuest through development and what the game looked like from the other side, before it was a known fact that the game would be a success or even functional.

And yes, according to McQuaid, there were several points at which the team was worried that the game wouldn't work at all. Between the issues of 3-D performance and network issues, it was far from a certainty that the game could be played and enjoyed by a large enough number of people. The difficulty level of the game wasn't on the list of worries -- from the design team's perspective, that was half of the enjoyment of the game. Read the full interview for more anecdotes and opinions about the early development of one of the first big MMO successes.

MassivelyBrad McQuaid reminisces about the birth of EverQuest originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brad-mcquaiddesigndevelopmentearly-gamesearly-mmoseqeverquestgaming-historyhistoryinterviewinterviewsretrospectivesoesony-online-entertainmentverantWed, 04 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: 2011, year of freedom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/a-mild-mannered-reporter-2011-year-of-freedom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/a-mild-mannered-reporter-2011-year-of-freedom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/a-mild-mannered-reporter-2011-year-of-freedom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
It's just about time for us to bit 2011 a fond farewell, something that I'm sure some of us will be glad to do. And just as I did last year, I thought now would be a good time to look back at the five biggest stories pertaining to City of Heroes over the last 12 months -- including the very obvious one. But there were other stories, some of which might not be about the game proper do but still impact the market.

I will definitely say that last year seemed to have a larger number of stories that shook up the status quo in the game. In comparison to last year's various major changes, Paragon Studios took this year in a bit more of a low-key route, the huge shift in the game's business model notwithstanding. But it was still a year of changes, just like every year, so let's take a trip down memory lane at my picks for the top five stories.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: 2011, year of freedom

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: 2011, year of freedom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxfeaturedncsoftnewsnews-storiesopinionparagonparagon-studiosretrospectiveWed, 28 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Eye of the earthquake]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/the-mog-log-eye-of-the-earthquake/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/the-mog-log-eye-of-the-earthquake/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/the-mog-log-eye-of-the-earthquake/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header image by A. Fienemann
This has not been a normal year. Not for me, certainly -- I certainly didn't expect back in January that I'd be facing a week without power later in the year -- but not for Final Fantasy XI or Final Fantasy XIV either. None of us was expecting both games to be shut down for a while in response to a horrible earthquake hitting Japan, for example. But barring something truly bizarre happening over the next week, the year is finally winding down to a close, so we can look back on what's taken place with analytical minds.

Even without the earthquake, though, this hasn't been a usual year for either game. Admittedly, Final Fantasy XIV hasn't had a "usual" year to use as a baseline, but it was certainly a tumultuous one for players and developers. And Final Fantasy XI... well, it's had an unusual year more in terms of what didn't happen. Take a look past the break as I take a look down memory lane.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Eye of the earthquake

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Eye of the earthquake originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>changescolumnearthquakefeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivopinion-the-mog-logpatchesretrospectivesquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logupdatesSat, 24 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST