Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist: Richard Garriott's haunted cache]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/the-game-archaeologist-richard-garriotts-haunted-cache/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/the-game-archaeologist-richard-garriotts-haunted-cache/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/the-game-archaeologist-richard-garriotts-haunted-cache/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Richard Garriott
Whenever you get really into a new hobby, it's natural to want to blab about it to anyone who drifts into your gravitational field. That's why we all talk about MMOs, right? It's also why any friends, family members, and coworkers have had to put up with excited rambling about my discovered love for Geocaching.

Some of you probably know Geocaching, as it's been around for over a decade now. For those of you who haven't, it's a worldwide treasure hunt that involves over a million and a half "caches" of various sizes that are hidden and then marked with GPS coordinates. Players head to the official site or one of the open-source projects to get the coordinates and go hunting for them. There's a useful two-minute introduction to this hobby on YouTube if you're curious.

I noted on our Massively Speaking podcast that Geocaching has a lot in common with MMOs: Both encourage questing and exploration, both have treasure to be found, and both plug you into a community of adventurers. Listener Terrence heard this and send in an email with an interesting revelation that ties these two hobbies even closer together, as a game developer brought his online world to a real-world location.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you Richard Garriott's haunted cache.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Richard Garriott's haunted cache

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: Richard Garriott's haunted cache originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britannia-manorcacheclassicclassic-mmoclassic-mmosclassicseaelectronic-artsfantasyfeaturedgame-archaelogistgeocachegeocachinginternational-space-stationisslord-britishmudmythicmythic-entertainmentnostalgiaocean-flooropinionrichard-garriottsecond-pass-mushthe-game-archaeologistthe-guardians-questthe-necropolis-of-britannia-manortitanictorilmudtrailertrailersultimaultima onlineuovideovideosTue, 22 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Who will be our MMO development heroes of tomorrow?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/the-daily-grind-who-will-be-our-mmo-development-heroes-of-tomor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/the-daily-grind-who-will-be-our-mmo-development-heroes-of-tomor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/the-daily-grind-who-will-be-our-mmo-development-heroes-of-tomor/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Greatest American Hero
The lifespan of the MMO genre is still fairly short when you take general gaming into consideration. Fifteen years ago, most of us wouldn't have dreamed of what's available online today, thanks to the innovators who brought together graphical roleplaying games and the MUDs of the day. People like Richard Garriott, Raph Koster, Starr Long, J. Todd Coleman, and a handful of others helped create what we know today as MMORPGs.

But who will be the innovators and trend-setters of tomorrow's MMOs? We see a lot of innovation these days, but ascribing those ideas to one person isn't as easy (or applicable) as it was in the early days of five-man studios. Still, there are geniuses in these modern studios making some much-needed improvements that will carry on for many years.

So if you're a player and you know of someone who will be known for his or her innovation in the future, let us know. If you're a developer who wants to call out a co-worker for something he or she has done to change the genre, get that name out there!

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: Who will be our MMO development heroes of tomorrow? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>heroesinnovationj-todd-colemanmmo-industryopinionraph-kosterrichard-garriottstarr-longtdgthe-daily-grindSat, 25 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Could you make your own MMO for $30 million?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/the-daily-grind-could-you-make-your-own-mmo-for-30-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/the-daily-grind-could-you-make-your-own-mmo-for-30-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/the-daily-grind-could-you-make-your-own-mmo-for-30-million/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Richard Garriott in space
Massively gets a certain amount of grief for writing news stories about Richard Garriott. While it's true that he hasn't made a major contribution to the MMO industry since the 1990s, it's also true that he's something of a touchstone when it comes to geekery and ambition. If a guy can go from being a young astronaut hopeful to having a spare $30 million to burn on a spaceflight, that's got to count for something, doesn't it?

While we're on the subject of a spare $30 million, yesterday's Garriott piece got me to thinking about what I would do if I had that kind of pocket change. While spaceflight and a lifetime supply of Hershey's kisses are certainly high on the list, I'd use a good chunk of the money to make my own MMO. What about you, Massively crew? Would you self-finance an MMO if you could, and what would it be like? Would $30 million be enough?

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: Could you make your own MMO for $30 million? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>30-millionfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussiongarriottmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-industrymmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsrichard-garriottself-financed-mmotdgthe-daily-grindThu, 02 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Garriott talks riding rockets, Man on a Mission movie]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/garriott-talks-riding-rockets-man-on-a-mission-movie/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/garriott-talks-riding-rockets-man-on-a-mission-movie/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/garriott-talks-riding-rockets-man-on-a-mission-movie/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Richard Garriott on the ISS
Richard Garriott may not be making the MMO sequel that many of his fans crave, but he is the subject of a new documentary film called Man on a Mission. VentureBeat.com recently corralled the elusive creator of the famous Ultima franchise for an extensive interview.

The piece is mainly focused on the film, which is currently playing in select cities as well as various on-demand internet outlets. The documentary presents Garriott's career as an underdog triumph, and highlights the fact that he was rejected for NASA's astronaut program due to his poor eyesight. Garriott had the last laugh, however, as he bought his way to the international space station in 2008 and became the first second-generation astronaut in American history (and a noted supporter of private-sector space flight).

While there's precious little info regarding Garriott's current and future gaming pursuits, the interview does offer up some geeky nuggets for those interested in rockets and rocketmen. "For example, launch you think of as this loud, shaky, scary moment," Garriott explains. "In fact, on a liquid-fueled rocket like the Soyuz, it's almost perfectly silent and smooth on the inside. It's much more cerebral, it feels much more like a ballet move, lifting you ever faster into the sky, than it does a sports car dropping the clutch at a green light."

MassivelyGarriott talks riding rockets, Man on a Mission movie originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedocumentarygarriottgeekeryinterviewsman-on-a-missionmmo-industryrichard-garriottspace-flightultimaultima-onlineyes-we-know-this-is-not-game-news-but-respect-your-eldersWed, 01 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[This Week in MMO: Oh hey, it's Star Wars edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/this-week-in-mmo-oh-hey-its-star-wars-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/this-week-in-mmo-oh-hey-its-star-wars-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/this-week-in-mmo-oh-hey-its-star-wars-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This Week In MMO
It's time for another episode of This Week in MMO, and the focal point of this week's episode is none other than the freshly launched Star Wars: The Old Republic. Gary Gannon, Mike B., and Mike Schaffnit share a conversation about the staggered launch, the early start, the newly announced grace period, and much more.

Of course, the world does not revolve only around SWTOR, so the guys also take some time to highlight other goings-on in the MMO world. Warhammer Online will be merging servers once again, which does not forecast a sunny outlook for Mythic's PvP-focused title. Also on the table is talk that the gradually less sane Richard Garriott will be returning to work on the Ultima universe. What could this mean to MMO players? Well, click on past the cut and find out for yourself.

Continue reading This Week in MMO: Oh hey, it's Star Wars edition

MassivelyThis Week in MMO: Oh hey, it's Star Wars edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaremythicmythic-entertainmentrichard-garriotrichard-garriottstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicthis-week-in-mmotortwimmoultimavideovideoswarhammerwarhammer-onlineFri, 16 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EA denies Richard Garriott's claims of Ultima Online discussions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/ea-denies-richard-garriotts-claims-of-ultima-online-discussions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/ea-denies-richard-garriotts-claims-of-ultima-online-discussions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/ea-denies-richard-garriotts-claims-of-ultima-online-discussions/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Thumbs up from Astronaut British
What would a recent day in MMO news be without a mention of Richard Garriott? Today's entry is especially interesting in a he-said-they-said kinda way.

A few days ago, Richard Garriott spoke up on the possibility of a reincarnation of the Ultima franchise through talks "at very high levels with Electronic Arts about access to the property." But EA is now denying this claim.

EA's Jeff Brown recently told IndustryGamers in a candid interview that he's not sure what Lord British is talking about. "No one at EA is discussing partnership or licensing opportunities related to the Ultima Online franchise."

Sorry Ultima Online fans, it seem that either the talks were supposed to be confidential, or they simply didn't happen at all.

MassivelyEA denies Richard Garriott's claims of Ultima Online discussions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>de-niedeaelectronic-artsgeneral-britishindustry-gamerslord-britishRichard-GarriottUltima-OnlineuoThu, 15 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: On gold-farming and the grind]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-soapbox-on-gold-farming-and-the-grind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-soapbox-on-gold-farming-and-the-grind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-soapbox-on-gold-farming-and-the-grind/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Chest of gold
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.

You're no doubt aware of a certain sci-fi MMORPG that's launching this week. As is the case each time a new major title releases, I'm curious to see how (or if) the developers will deal with the inevitable real-money trade.

BioWare has been fairly quiet about gold-farming and the steps it may take to combat it, which isn't too surprising given the unglamorous and often controversial subject matter. Few game devs mention their anti-RMT plans prior to launch, but plenty of dev teams complain about RMT after their game has been released. And yet, the usual solutions to black market currency trading are continuously ineffective at stopping it.

Continue reading The Soapbox: On gold-farming and the grind

MassivelyThe Soapbox: On gold-farming and the grind originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfun-barriergold-buyinggold-farminggold-sellinggrindgrinding-leads-to-gold-farmingopinionprogress-questprogressionreal-money-traderichard-garriottrmtsci-fisoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-grindthe-old-republicthe-soapboxtorTue, 13 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott: 'Exceptionally unusual pressures' helped tank Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/richard-garriott-exceptionally-unusual-pressures-helped-tank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/richard-garriott-exceptionally-unusual-pressures-helped-tank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/richard-garriott-exceptionally-unusual-pressures-helped-tank/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tabula Rasa
What truly happened with the sad tale of Tabula Rasa, the scifi MMO that had the full backing of Richard Garriott and NCsoft -- and yet lasted only 15 months before being shuttered? For the full scoop, it's good to go right to the source: General British himself.

Garriott sat down with Eurogamer for a candid dissection of what went wrong with Tabula Rasa. Ultimately, he feels that he did not do enough to make the game the best it could've been. Initially, Garriott's team brought on several Asian developers to help shape the title to be appealing to the Eastern market.

The partnership didn't work out, and after two years the team basically started over. By then, Tabula Rasa was already struggling. "So Tabula Rasa started its two-year late restart under exceptionally unusual pressures and with understandable corporate discontent, which made it very difficult to finish," he said.

Garriott then acknowledges that the MMO's failure has caused players to be wary about his future projects: "Since Ultima Online was a fair time back and Tabula Rasa had its troubles, it makes perfect sense that people would go, 'I'm cautious as to what my expectations are.'"

MassivelyRichard Garriott: 'Exceptionally unusual pressures' helped tank Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiaeastern-marketeurogamerfailuregeneral-britishinterviewncsoftrichard-garriottshawns-babytabula-rasatrultima-onlineuoTue, 13 Dec 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Garriott's Ultimate RPG 'clearly the spiritual successor' to Ultima]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/garriotts-ultimate-rpg-clearly-the-spiritual-successor-to-ult/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/garriotts-ultimate-rpg-clearly-the-spiritual-successor-to-ult/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/garriotts-ultimate-rpg-clearly-the-spiritual-successor-to-ult/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Ultima Online - gaggle of players gaggling
The Richard Garriott crazy train is heading toward a section of track that long-time fans of the gaming god might actually appreciate. In a new interview with Eurogamer, the man behind Ultima Online talks a little less about his recent foray into social casino games and a little more about what might be Ultima Online 2.

Yes, we've seen the UO sequel smoke before. This time, though, there may be fire. "We've actually talked to Electronic Arts about [Garriott leading Ultima Online again]. I would love to have access to the Ultima property. We've had discussions at very high levels with Electronic Arts about access to the property," he explained.

Regardless of any EA deals, Garriott says that his new Ultimate RPG is "clearly the spiritual successor of the Ultima series."

MassivelyGarriott's Ultimate RPG 'clearly the spiritual successor' to Ultima originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsfantasygame-mechanicsinterviewmmo-industryrichard-garriottsandboxultimaultima-onlineultima-online-2ultima-sequelultima-successorultimate-rpguoMon, 12 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Portalarium announces Ultimate Collector: Garage Sale as first title]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/portalarium-announces-ultimate-collector-garage-sale-as-first-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/portalarium-announces-ultimate-collector-garage-sale-as-first-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/portalarium-announces-ultimate-collector-garage-sale-as-first-t/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ultimate Collector: Garage Sale
Richard Garriott's recent startup, Portalarium, had many people wondering what would be the first thing to come out of this mad scientist's new studio. Well, wonder no more. Now we know that Portalarium's first title will be a Facebook game known as Ultimate Collector: Garage Sale, which focuses on -- you guessed it -- collecting things that you buy at garage sales. We couldn't make this up if we tried.

Players can create an avatar and customize their houses, and then go shopping at estate sales, garage sales, pawn shops, and so forth in order to complete collections of items. These item collections can then be displayed in your house as a trophy of sorts, or you can sell them to make a quick buck. We'll just have to wait and see how this bizarre project shapes up in the coming months.

MassivelyPortalarium announces Ultimate Collector: Garage Sale as first title originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementgarage-salenew-titlenew-titlesportalariumrichard-garriottultimate-collectorultimate-collector-garage-saleWed, 07 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott predicts the death of consoles as a gaming medium]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/richard-garriott-predicting-the-death-of-consoles-as-a-gaming-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/richard-garriott-predicting-the-death-of-consoles-as-a-gaming-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/richard-garriott-predicting-the-death-of-consoles-as-a-gaming-me/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ground Control to Major Tom, your circuit's dead, there's something wrong - can you hear me, Major Tom? Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Considering his influence on the realm of MMOs, many gamers would argue that it's hard to dismiss Richard Garriott's thoughts on development out of hand. A recent interview with the man includes him predicting the fall of traditional console gaming in favor of portable devices, and the end of MMOs as a major market share compared to social and casual games. As Garriott puts it, the era of MMOs was chiefly between 2000 and 2010, and the explosion in social gaming is now a new part of the overall game development cycle.

Naturally, since Garriott's current company, Portalarium, is targeting specifically that demographic, he might be just a little bit biased. But he's hardly the first industry insider to claim that modern games need to be easily be picked up with little to no up-front cost. Take a look at the full interview for more, including Garriott's thoughts on how present designers are lazy and his self-comparison to Tolkien.

MassivelyRichard Garriott predicts the death of consoles as a gaming medium originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casual-gamingindustry-figuresindustry-insidersinterviewsmmo-industryopinionsportalariumrichard-garriottsocial-gamingWed, 30 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Documentary on Richard Garriott to premiere in 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/documentary-on-richard-garriott-to-premiere-in-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/documentary-on-richard-garriott-to-premiere-in-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/documentary-on-richard-garriott-to-premiere-in-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Don't you talk back to me about game design, I've been to OUTER SPACE.
He's the man credited with Tabula Rasa and Ultima Online. He blames other companies for ignoring the social gaming space. He runs his own company via robot, and he likes to remind everyone that he is a key element of the ultimate RPG. Oh, and he's been to space, and that's what the upcoming documentary about Richard Garriott is going to focus on. The documentary, Man on a Mission, will be chiefly focusing Garriott's efforts to be the first son of an astronaut to go into space.

As the documentary explains, due to Garriott's nearsightedness, a career in NASA was always out of the question, but he never stopped wanting to follow in his father's footsteps. The documentary will premiere on January 13th nationwide, tracing his path to fortune through video games followed by his trip aboard the Soyuz spacecraft. If you're interested in seeing what you can expect from the documentary, you can check out the trailer just past the cut.

Continue reading Documentary on Richard Garriott to premiere in 2012

MassivelyDocumentary on Richard Garriott to premiere in 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>documentarygarriottgeneral-britishindustry-personalitieslord-britishman-on-a-missionmmo-industryrichard-garriottvideovideosMon, 21 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Ultima Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/rise-and-shiny-recap-ultima-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/rise-and-shiny-recap-ultima-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/rise-and-shiny-recap-ultima-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Ultima Online cover art
This might sound silly, but my life is super rough. Well, OK, hardly rough at all, and I'm eternally thankful for that. But once in a while, a feeling of burn-out starts to creep into my everyday gaming life, and I need to take a vacation from the constant search for new titles and trolling through gaming forums to recharge my batteries. It might sound completely dorky, but I can understand how actors can seem so insane: They are. Sometimes you just need to play a good, juicy role to reset your creative self.

There are certain games that we can always go back to, games that will instantly provide a feeling of nostalgia for those of us who have played them before. Ultima Online is one of those games, and it might just be the perfect example of a game that we can use as comfort food for our restless gamer hearts.

So I spent an official week taking a look at the game (again) and found about what I'd expect. Click past the cut!

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Ultima Online

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Ultima Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmaneaElectronic-ArtsfeaturedLiveStreamlord-britishmythicMythic-EntertainmentRichard-Garriottrise-and-shinyrunescapeultimaUltima-OnlineuovideoWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 13 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott describes his 'ultimate' RPG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/richard-garriott-describes-his-ultimate-rpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/richard-garriott-describes-his-ultimate-rpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/richard-garriott-describes-his-ultimate-rpg/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Richard Garriott
Before Tabula Rasa, before Ultima Online, before any of the Ultimas, Richard Garriott had a vision for what he called the "ultimate" RPG. In a lengthy Facebook post, Garriott takes us back to 1974 when he first got the idea for such a game after being influenced by Lord of the Rings and Dungeons & Dragons. Starting with BASIC games on his school's teletype and moving up through the modern era of MMOs, Garriott details how he's been pursuing a dream of creating and refining one RPG to rule them all.

He doesn't have kind words for how Ultima Online's shaped up since his absence, however, saying that elements like Elves and Ninjas were added against his wishes.

"This is only a small example of why and how Ultima has drifted away from Richard Garriott, but I have not drifted away from Ultima," he writes. "It is clear to me that I, Richard Garriott, am an essential ingredient of at least the Ultimate Ultima, if not more broadly the Ultimate RPG. Perhaps one day, now that the people who pushed me out of EA more than a decade ago are long since gone, EA will recognize that together, we could rebuild that franchise in a way that they have failed to do in the intervening years. Richard Garriott is an essential ingredient in the Ultimate Ultima!"

He ends his passionate speech with a few glimpses into the design for this "ultimate" RPG that he and his team are currently designing: "You will have customized Avatar homesteads and real roles to play in a deep, beautifully realized highly interactive virtual world. It will have virtues and the hero's journey reflected back to the player. It will have the best of synchronous and asynchronous features in use. Fiction will support your arrival from earth into this new world. I even hope to make maps, coins and other trinkets available to players of the game."

MassivelyRichard Garriott describes his 'ultimate' RPG originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarbasicdungeons-and-dragonseaelectronic-artsfacebooklord-britishlord-of-the-ringsrantrichard-garriotttabula-rasaultimaultima-onlineultimate-rpgultimate-ultimauoThu, 10 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: October 30-November 5, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/global-chat-october-30-november-5-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/global-chat-october-30-november-5-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/global-chat-october-30-november-5-2011/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This is money.
Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

Global Chat this week touches on some of our most reliable hot topics: free-to-play and game design. Business models, as well as how games are created and whom they're created for, are always good for discussion, so follow along after the jump to see what a few of our readers had to say.

Continue reading Global Chat: October 30-November 5, 2011

MassivelyGlobal Chat: October 30-November 5, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelschriscommenterscommentsfeaturedfree-to-playgame-designglobal-chatgraillopinionpay-to-winrichard-garriottvikinggamerSun, 06 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott blames Blizzard for ignoring the social gaming field]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/richard-garriott-blames-blizzard-for-ignoring-the-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/richard-garriott-blames-blizzard-for-ignoring-the-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/richard-garriott-blames-blizzard-for-ignoring-the-social-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Portalarium

Richard Garriott, who heads up social games outfit Portalarium, publicly put the screws to Blizzard and other major MMO companies for overlooking the casual gaming space. In fact, he says that World of Warcraft's biggest challenger won't be from another AAA title, but from the "Zyngas of the world."

Talking to Industry Gamers, Garriott accused Blizzard and EA of dropping the ball when it came to social gaming, which Zynga has since explored and exploited. "The only reason Zynga exists is because people like EA, people like Blizzard, failed to step in," he said.

Garriott sees these small start-ups as having great potential in the near future. "I think within a few years, you'll see that's not really the case," he said. "I think you'll see that the quality level that comes up through the casual games will rival the quality of traditional massively multiplayer games and then, because it's not something you have to subscribe to, because it's something that virally spreads, and especially because, as people churn out of a big MMO they've got to go somewhere."

Garriott's Portalarium is currently working on an upcoming project that is "much more like Ultima Online than people might expect."

MassivelyRichard Garriott blames Blizzard for ignoring the social gaming field originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcasual-gamescasual-gamingeaElectronic-ArtsPortalariumrat-tailRichard-Garriottsmack-talksocial-gamessocial-gamingultima-onlineuoworld-of-warcraftwowzyngaWed, 02 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott running Portalarium with robots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/richard-garriott-running-portalarium-with-robots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/richard-garriott-running-portalarium-with-robots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/richard-garriott-running-portalarium-with-robots/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mechano-British disapproves of your childish antics!
Have you ever wished that instead of having to go to your job, you could just turn on the computer, log in to an avatar in the same manner as an MMO, and take care of everything that way? Perhaps to the surprise of no one, Richard Garriott has begun doing precisely that at his company, Portalarium. Rather than commuting between New York and the studio in Austin, Garriott has a small robotic avatar to allow him a face-to-video-monitor presence in Austin even when he's away.

The robot itself is a $15,000 Anybot QB from the eponymous company Anybots, Inc, which Garriott claims was originally purchased so that his mother could virtually attend his wedding in France. He also stresses that it's not a means of keeping tabs on employees, merely a way to bridge the gap between two very distant locations. And really, if you had just won millions of dollars in a lawsuit, wouldn't you be attending all events via robot?

MassivelyRichard Garriott running Portalarium with robots originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commutingindustry-figuresmmo-industryportalariumrichard-garriottrobotsThu, 27 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Appeals court affirms Richard Garriott's lawsuit win against NCsoft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/appeals-court-affirms-richard-garriotts-lawsuit-win-against-ncs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/appeals-court-affirms-richard-garriotts-lawsuit-win-against-ncs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/appeals-court-affirms-richard-garriotts-lawsuit-win-against-ncs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Richard Garriott
Ever since Richard Garriott won his lawsuit against former employer NCsoft last year, the legal process has been grinding on ever since to hash out the details. Today we've learned that the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reaffirmed the win of almost $32 million in favor of Garriott.

The lawsuit came about after NCsoft fired Garriott in 2008 and then marked his departure as "voluntary," causing his stock options to expire instead of remaining intact through the end of his 2011 contract. In 2010 a court found NCsoft to have breached its contract, and it ordered the company to pay $28 million plus interest and attorney fees to Garriott and his legal team. This recent ruling affirms that outcome and paves the path for Garriott to be compensated.

In the ruling, the 5th Circuit Court writes, "It would be unjust to allow NCsoft to sit back during trial, observe Garriott's litigation strategy, and then demand a new trial on damages when it dislikes the verdict."

[Source: Androvett Legal Media press release]

MassivelyAppeals court affirms Richard Garriott's lawsuit win against NCsoft originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>32-million5th-circuit-courtappealsappeals-courtcourtcourt-of-appealsjudgejurylawsuitlegalncsoftrichard-garriottrulingverdictTue, 25 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott's Britannia Manor II up for grabs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/richard-garriotts-britannia-manor-ii-up-for-grabs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/richard-garriotts-britannia-manor-ii-up-for-grabs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/richard-garriotts-britannia-manor-ii-up-for-grabs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Britannia Manor -- Yours for the low, low price of 4.1 million bucks!
Have you ever wanted to live in a king's castle? Well, now you can... sort of. Richard Garriott (or Lord British, if it pleases you), creator of Ultima Online and Tabula Rasa, is selling his home -- affectionately named Britannia Manor II -- for the paltry sum of $4.1 million. If you're in the market for a multi-million dollar house, then what are you doing reading Massively? Go on over to the home's Re/Max listing and have a ball.

MassivelyRichard Garriott's Britannia Manor II up for grabs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britannia-manorbritannia-manor-IIlord-britishmiscmiscellaneousrichard-garriottwho-has-that-kind-of-money-like-seriouslyTue, 18 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you play another Ultima MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/03/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-another-ultima-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/03/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-another-ultima-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/03/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-another-ultima-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

woot, Ultima
The last time rumors of a new Ultima MMO flew, the Massively readership collectively drooled all over our site. This time, it's less a rumor and more a what-if: In an interview with IndustryGamers, Ultima series founder Richard Garriott stated that he has his "own very particular ideas for what Ultima can and should become over time" and that he'd be open to collaboration with Electronic Arts, which currently owns the IP.

Given Garriott's current interest in social media gaming, we have to wonder whether a new Ultima game -- a spiritual successor to the still-going Ultima Online and its canceled sequels -- might someday enter the MMO arena. What do you think? Should Garriott and EA make another Ultima MMO or stick to single-player romps? And if an Ultima sequel actually made it to launch, would you play it?

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 play another Ultima MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgeaElectronic-ArtsopinionRichard-Garriotttdgthe-daily-grindultimaultima-mmoUltima-OnlineSat, 03 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC Europe 2011: Richard Garriott says mobile and social titles are 'the future of games']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/gdc-europe-2011-richard-garriott-says-mobile-and-social-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/gdc-europe-2011-richard-garriott-says-mobile-and-social-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/gdc-europe-2011-richard-garriott-says-mobile-and-social-titles/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Richard Garriott
Delivering the final keynote address at this year's GDC Europe, Richard Garriott said that the industry is rapidly moving away from MMOs as we know them and toward mobile and social gaming -- and that companies need to hop on board, lest they be left behind.

Garriott used his iPhone as an example of this new direction: "I am now much more of a gamer than I ever been in my whole life, but the vast majority of the gaming I have played has been on this machine. I'm a devout believer that this is the current and near-term future of games."

He defines this "new era" of gaming by having cheap games that are simple to use and connect you with real-world friends. While he thinks earlier social games like FarmVille were too simple and unappealing, Garriott says that they're evolving quickly.

During the speech, Garriott expressed regret that his team didn't stick by the original vision for Tabula Rasa, and he urged fellow developers not to trade in their dreams in order to follow the company line. His new company Portalarium plans to "reinvent roleplaying yet again" by releasing a series of products that will capitalize on social gaming and retrain players to think beyond mere combat to a wider experience.

MassivelyGDC Europe 2011: Richard Garriott says mobile and social titles are 'the future of games' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>farmvillegame-developers-conferencegdcgdc-2011iphonekeynotekeynote-addresskeynote-speechmobile-gamingPortalariumprivate-astronautprivate-astronaut-is-a-funny-termreinvent-roleplayingrichard-garriottroleplayingsocial-gamingtabula-rasaWed, 17 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima X: Odyssey]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-ultima-x-odyssey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-ultima-x-odyssey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-ultima-x-odyssey/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Last week on The Game Archaeologist: Murder most foul! A promising sequel to a hit MMO cut down in its prime, left to die on the front steps of EA's headquarters while its team was banished into exile! With special guest star, Richard Garriott's hair braid.

And now, for the exciting conclusion!

As disappointed that some MMO fans were over Ultima Worlds Online: Origin's cancellation, the truth is that the industry still was young, these MMOs still had their "new car smell," and hey, there was always Ultima Online to play. It was probably the right call at the time to not create your own competition, but if that was the case, EA should've never begun it to begin with.

So did the company have a major case of cancellation remorse? Or did it look at other industry sequels like Asheron's Call 2 and EverQuest II and feel as though it was being upstaged?

Whatever the reason, EA decided that it had been too hasty, and it greenlit development on yet another Ultima Online sequel, this one titled Ultima X: Odyssey. It would go deeper and further into development, gather more acclaim, and generate more hype than UWO:O, and in fact would get within spitting distance of launching.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima X: Odyssey

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima X: Odyssey originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ac2Alucinorasherons-call-2avatarbiowaree3e3-2003eaelectronic-artselveseqeq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iifeaturedgargoylesguardianintelligent-itemsJonathan-Hannalegendary-itemslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroodysseyorcsphodaspixiespvprichard-garriottstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortgathe-game-archaeologistthe-old-republicultimaultima-2ultima-ixultima-onlineultima-online-2ultima-worlds-online-originultima-xultima-x-odysseyunreal-engineuouxovirtue-itemsvirtuesworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 05 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima Worlds Online: Origin]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-ultima-worlds-online-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-ultima-worlds-online-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-ultima-worlds-online-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Two months ago, we heard a rumor (which has since gone quiet) that a new Ultima Online sequel might be in the oven in Electronic Art's kitchen. As with any rumor, it was important to take it with a grain of disbelief, although a pinch of hope seems appropriate in this case as well. After all, Ultima Online's been begging for a sequel ever since the hit MMO started facing stiff competition in the form of 3-D worlds like EverQuest and Asheron's Call.

For some of us gamers, word of a UO sequel feels like deja vu, and rightly so. This wouldn't be the first time that EA embarked on a project to make a more modern Ultima Online, nor would it be the second time. Indeed, the saga of Ultima Online's canceled sequels is as torrid as it is steamy and lusty. Ignore the words in the previous sentence, as those are just to up the hits on search engines.

In our continuing series on the "what ifs?" of axed MMOs, we're going to head into a two-parter full of savage truth, dangerous decisions, and full-frontal nerdery. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the saga of Ultima Online 2.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima Worlds Online: Origin

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima Worlds Online: Origin originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acasherons-callcataclysmdavid-swofforddeja-vudueleaelectronic-artseqeverquestfeaturedfull-frontal-nerderygamespotharry-potter-onlinehistoryjukalineagemeerpkpkingplayer-killingpvprichard-garriottsequelsequelssteampunkthe-game-archaeologisttrailerultima-onlineultima-online-2ultima-worlds-onlineultima-worlds-online-originuouo2uwouwoovideowing-commander-onlineWorld-of-WarcraftTue, 28 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott to deliver Game Developers Conference Europe keynote]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/richard-garriott-to-deliver-game-developers-conference-europe-ke/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/richard-garriott-to-deliver-game-developers-conference-europe-ke/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/richard-garriott-to-deliver-game-developers-conference-europe-ke/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Are you planning to venture to the wilds of Europe for the upcoming Game Developers Conference Europe? If so, you're in for a treat, as the father of Ultima will be delivering the keynote speech. That's right, the one and only spacefaring game developer Richard Garriott will give a presentation at the conference discussing social gaming, its future, and what mark it may leave on the gaming industry as a whole.

Garriott is perhaps known best for being the creator of the Ultima series (and the victim of assassination in the early days of Ultima Online), but his most recent foray in the industry came in the form of Portalarium, a social gaming company. Frank Sliwka, event director of GDC Europe, notes that "there are few developers with Richard Garriott's history, pedigree and vantage point, having been a defining force in the realm of traditional hardcore games, birthing the RPG and MMORPG genres, to now helping lead the way within the world of social games," so the speech will almost certainly be enlightening for anyone with an interest in the subject. GDC Europe will be taking place from August 15-17, so if you're looking to make the journey to gaming mecca, go ahead and start making plans!

MassivelyRichard Garriott to deliver Game Developers Conference Europe keynote originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-europegame-developers-conference-europe-2011gdcgdc-2011gdc-europegdc-europe-2011keynoteportalariumrichard-garriottsocial-gamingWed, 15 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott talks cross-game platforms and leaving MMOs behind]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/richard-garriott-talks-cross-game-platforms-and-leaving-mmos-beh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/richard-garriott-talks-cross-game-platforms-and-leaving-mmos-beh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/richard-garriott-talks-cross-game-platforms-and-leaving-mmos-beh/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Even though Richard Garriott has moved on from the days of Ultima Online and the sadly defunct Tabula Rasa, it's hard not to pay some attention to the man behind what's frequently considered the first modern MMO. A recent interview with Gamasutra reveals that the man himself is no longer really invested in MMOs as a genre, however. According to him, "Even the kinds of games that you might think I would make, I don't generally play, because they're often just too much of a hassle to get into them."

The bulk of the interview is dedicated to discussing Garriott's social gaming company, Portalarium, and his plans to try to leverage games into a shared network similar to Steam rather than using Facebook's built-in integration. It's a look into the man's latest project, which should prove of interest to those still following him, even if he's no longer interested in MMOs as such.

MassivelyRichard Garriott talks cross-game platforms and leaving MMOs behind originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>garriottinterviewmmo-industrynewsportalariumrichard-garriottsocial-gamingsocial-mediaFri, 10 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist traces his Lineage: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/the-game-archaeologist-traces-his-lineage-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/the-game-archaeologist-traces-his-lineage-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/the-game-archaeologist-traces-his-lineage-the-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If we judged MMOs by their numbers alone -- and I'm not suggesting we do so -- then Lineage would be the crowing rooster strutting about the hen house. It's also been one of those games that I've always intellectually acknowledged was a huge hit for some reason, but I never gave it much attention. I think it's because, contrary to many of the "big name" games we cover here, Lineage was and always will be an Asian phenomenon. That doesn't mean it should be shunned, of course, but just that it may be difficult to understand when you're on the outside of it.

So let's back up the memory truck to September 1998, when a then-fledgling NCsoft rolled out a Diablo-esque isometric MMO and struck virtual gold in South Korea. At the time, gaming rooms were becoming a huge thing in the country; a recession had hit (giving people a lot of time with nothing to do), and the government was rapidly expanding the broadband network. In the face of this perfect storm, titles like StarCraft and Lineage became overnight household fixtures -- and the country hasn't looked back.

Even if you haven't played Lineage and you don't know anyone who does, trust me: There are a lot of people playing this 13-year-old title, to the tune of millions and millions. As former Senior Producer Chris Mahnken said, "Lineage keeps going because it's just plain fun."

This month we'll be looking back at the incredible legacy that Lineage has given the industry, starting with an overview of the highlights of these past 13 years. Hit the jump and mind the gap!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist traces his Lineage: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist traces his Lineage: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionarchageasianasian-grinderbloodpledgebloodpledgesbroadbandChris-Mahnkendiablodungeon-crawlfeaturedguild-warshackjake-songkorealineagelineage-2lineage-iincsoftnethacknexuspvprichard-garriottrobert-garriottroguerogue-likeShin-Il-sooksouth-koreastarcrafttabula-rasaTack-Jin-Kimthe-game-archaeologistYoung-ParkTue, 07 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott's Portalarium project gets more funding]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/richard-garriotts-portalarium-project-gets-more-funding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/richard-garriotts-portalarium-project-gets-more-funding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/richard-garriotts-portalarium-project-gets-more-funding/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Portalarium, the social networking startup founded by Richard "Lord British" Garriott, is picking up a bit of momentum thanks to a round of new funding. London-based m8 has contributed an undisclosed amount of capital to Garriott's Austin, Texas studio, which thus far has published two Facebook gambling games (Port Casino Poker and Port Casino Blackjack).

Total funding for Portalarium stands at $3.6 million, and the company plans to release CenterPort sometime in 2012. CenterPort is a graphically advanced social networking app that "will be the virtual world social hub for the OpenLife ecosystem, a broad yet fully integrated meta-community," according to the studio's website.

Garriott, most famous for the seminal Ultima series (which for MMO gamers peaked with Ultima Online in 1997), launched Portalarium in September 2009.

MassivelyRichard Garriott's Portalarium project gets more funding originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedcasualcenterportf2pfacebook-gamesfree-to-playfundinglord-britishmmo-industryopen-life-ecosystemopenlifeport-casino-blackjackport-casino-pokerportalariumportalarium-playerRichard-GarriottWed, 01 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott addresses 'Third Grand Era of Games' at the 2011 LOGIN Conference]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/richard-garriott-addresses-third-grand-era-of-games-at-the-201/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/richard-garriott-addresses-third-grand-era-of-games-at-the-201/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/richard-garriott-addresses-third-grand-era-of-games-at-the-201/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Richard Garriott: game developer, private astronaut, beard aficionado -- and now keynote speaker.

The former developer of the Ultima series, Ultima Online, and Tabula Rasa will provide the main speech at the 2011 LOGIN Conference. Garriott will be talking about the Third Grand Era of Games that he sees us moving into, following the single-player titles of the '80s and '90s and the MMORPGs of the 2000s. It's his belief that the market for online gaming is poised to expand tenfold with the rise of casual-led, virally spread, free-to-play titles.

Garriott gave a teaser for his upcoming message: "The gaming industry is dawning on - at long last - a truly global audience of both genders and all ages. What lessons of history are useful? What truly new challenges await us? What will casual online games look like in five years?"

The LOGIN Conference is a convention of game and software developers who discuss advances in technology, business, design and community. It will take place from May 16-18th in Bellevue, Washington, and Garriott will deliver his keynote speech on the 17th.

MassivelyRichard Garriott addresses 'Third Grand Era of Games' at the 2011 LOGIN Conference originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011-login-conferenceastronautbeards-rulegeneral-britishlogin-conferencelogin-conference-2011lord-britishprivate-astronaut-is-a-funny-termrichard-garriotttabula-rasathird-grand-era-of-gamingultimaultima-onlineuoTue, 22 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Game developers are not rock stars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/the-soapbox-game-developers-are-not-rock-stars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/the-soapbox-game-developers-are-not-rock-stars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/the-soapbox-game-developers-are-not-rock-stars/#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.

Take a moment to think of your single favorite game developer. Is this person your favorite because of his talent? Maybe he made a game that influenced you growing up, or he has a charming personality for interviews. Whatever the reason, we probably all have our favorite game developers whom we hold on a pedestal of greatness.

But did this one person make the game entirely by himself? Did Sid Meier write every line of code for the Civilization games? Did Richard Garriott draw every texture in Tabula Rasa? No, of course they didn't, but their names are right there on the box, showing ownership. Despite my own fanboy appreciation of certain devs, the title of this article says it all. With a few notable exceptions, those who make our favorite games make up a collective group of talented people who come together under proper leadership and design guidelines to create something that keeps us entertained for hours/weeks/months/years.

So why do we pick out one or two and treat them like rock stars?

Continue reading The Soapbox: Game developers are not rock stars

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Game developers are not rock stars originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcliffybcommunity-teamculteaelectronic-artsepic-gamesfeaturedGhostcrawlergreg-streetlate-night-with-jimmy-fallonmythicopinionpaul-barnettrichard-garriottrock-starsrockstarssid-meiersoapboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentspotlighttabula-rasatalk-showthe-soapboxturbineTurbine-Entertainmentwarhammerwarhammer-onlineTue, 15 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott discusses ongoing plans for Portalarium]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/richard-garriott-discusses-ongoing-plans-for-portalarium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/richard-garriott-discusses-ongoing-plans-for-portalarium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/richard-garriott-discusses-ongoing-plans-for-portalarium/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

As much as some may poke fun at Facebook and other social media based games, those games have an enormous market share that's still growing. Let's face it: These games attract not only all manner of gamers but also the most casual of non-gaming users, such as your Great-Aunt Martha or partners who generally dislike video games. With that in mind, Edge caught up with Richard Garriott at DICE Summit recently to catch up on how things are progressing with his foray into the social gaming world: Portalarium.

While we knew about Portalarium's initial offerings such as the card game, it appears that the company has much bigger plans in store. Garriott discusses the success of many of the titles in the social gaming space and how that relates to his own personal world-building experiences with Ultima Online. Further, he notes that Portalarium's current main title is "not a game about farming... operating a shop... [or] managing your pets." There is also some discussion of making in-game purchases tie to microlending sites like Kiva to benefit projects in other countries, which is certainly worth reading as well. If you're curious about where Portalarium is going or interested in reading some ideas from an industry vet, then pop over to Edge and check out the full interview with Garriott.

MassivelyRichard Garriott discusses ongoing plans for Portalarium originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcasual-gamesdice-summitdice-summit-2011facebookkivamicrolendingmmo-industryportalariumrichard-garriottsocial-gamingsocial-mediaThu, 10 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott on the state of social gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/richard-garriott-on-the-state-of-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/richard-garriott-on-the-state-of-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/richard-garriott-on-the-state-of-social-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Legendary game creator Richard Garriott raised a few eyebrows when he announced a foray into social gaming last fall. The MMORPG maestro and occasional astronaut seemed a rather unlikely candidate for the casual games space after spearheading the likes of Ultima Online and Tabula Rasa. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Garriott revealed that he's taking no prisoners when it comes to his new endeavor, offering his views on the large number of crapware titles cluttering the casual space as well as his company's plans to distribute its tools for free in order to help standardize the sector and raise the quality bar.

"There's tons of small start-ups who we are seeing take lots of investment and lots of activity and large acquisition costs -- who are creating, literally, junk. Stuff that people aren't playing that much and if you play it it's not much fun," Garriott opined.

Garriott's new company, Portalarium, has thus far produced Port Casino Poker and Port Casino Blackjack, both playable via Facebook, and is now shifting its focus to a new title that has more in common with UO. Details on the new game are slated to be revealed over the next two weeks.

MassivelyRichard Garriott on the state of social gaming originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcasual-gamesf2pfacebookfree-to-playgarriottinterviewslord-britishportalariumrichard-garriottsocial-gamestabula-rasaultima-onlineMon, 14 Feb 2011 11:00:00 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 was your first time like?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/the-daily-grind-what-was-your-first-time-like/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/the-daily-grind-what-was-your-first-time-like/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/the-daily-grind-what-was-your-first-time-like/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Having just become a Contributing Editor this month, I found out there are a lot of things I didn't know about MMOs, not to mention some things I didn't know about reporting for an MMO website. This experience has been exciting for me because I like to learn new things. You have to admit, there is a bit of a thrill each time you run into something new for the first time, right?

One of the first MMOs for many of the old-school gamers was Ultima Online. Thirteen years ago, Richard Garriott busted this innovation in gaming onto the scene. The idea of being online while mutually experiencing game content was an extremely invigorating prospect for many players, especially in a graphical world. Soon after, we saw hits like EverQuest, Star Wars Galaxies, Guild Wars, and, of course, World of Warcraft. With each of the MMOs that followed, there was always that sense of trying to capture that feeling of stepping into a virtual world for the first time.

What was it like the first time you stepped into an MMO? Do you remember that feeling? What was it about that experience that made you want to come back for more? And with the slew of MMOs coming out soon, do you have hopes for any of those games to capture that feeling again? Or is that even possible?

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 was your first time like? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EQeverquestfirst-timeold-school-mmosopinionRichard-Garriottstar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-daily-grindUltima-OnlineUOWorld-of-WarcraftwowFri, 26 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Garriott's Portalarium going the social media route]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/garriotts-portalarium-going-the-social-media-route/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/garriotts-portalarium-going-the-social-media-route/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/garriotts-portalarium-going-the-social-media-route/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Our friends at Joystiq tipped us off to the latest endeavor for MMO legend Richard Garriott (and no, it doesn't involve the intrepid developer orbiting the earth). While speaking at the Austin, Texas-based Fantastic Arcade event, Lord British dropped a few hints regarding the social media stylings that his latest company (and game), Portalarium, will feature.

"You play it by clicking on a link, nothing to pay for up front, no real installation and only if you decide you really want to play it will we decide how to eventually charge you money for it," Garriott enthused.

While we're not quite as excited as we would be if he'd announced an updated Ultima Online project, Portalarium bears watching, if only to see whether Garriott can still walk the walk. "Since everybody else is doing Flash and Java games, I can kick their ass pretty easy," he told attendees.

MassivelyGarriott's Portalarium going the social media route originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browser-basedbrowser-gamefantastic-arcadefantastic-festlord-britishportalariumRichard-Garriottsocial-mediaultimaUltima-Onlineultima-online-2-pleaseFri, 24 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Who's your dev crush?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/the-daily-grind-whos-your-dev-crush/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/the-daily-grind-whos-your-dev-crush/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/the-daily-grind-whos-your-dev-crush/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In our tiny part of the pop culture world, players seem to be as absolutely fascinated with the people and personalities at work behind their favorite games as they are with the games themselves. These developers are, for all intents and purposes, the celebrities of the MMO world, and as such, are subject to much scrutiny and intense feelings.

I've noticed that the mere mention of a famous developer, community manager or industry leader on Massively is often enough to set off a huge string of comments that typically revolve around how we feel about the person rather than what he or she is currently doing. For example: Paul Barnett. Bill Roper. Richard Garriott. Raph Koster. Eliot Lefebvre. Right now, there are dozens of readers who have skipped the remainder of this article to provide a reactionary comment down below.

But for the rest of you, I'd like to know: Who is your "dev crush"? Which developer do you follow most closely? Which one do you believe in the most? Who excites you with his or her work? If you had to have just one developer's babies, whose genes would be most welcome in your household? (OK, that last bit is probably too much, but you get the idea.)

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Who's your dev crush? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-ropercrushdev-crushdeveloperdevelopersdevseliot-lefebvreopinionpaul-barnettRaph-Kosterrichard-garriotttdgthe-daily-grindThu, 26 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott wins lawsuit against NCsoft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/richard-garriott-wins-lawsuit-against-ncsoft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/richard-garriott-wins-lawsuit-against-ncsoft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/richard-garriott-wins-lawsuit-against-ncsoft/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Over a year ago, Richard Garriott filed a lawsuit against his former employer, NCsoft.

There was a lot of back and forth regarding who said what, but the crux of the suit was that Garriott claimed NCsoft terminated him, costing him millions, as he was forced to sell his stock options at a bad time. NCsoft claimed that the opposite was true: Garriott left voluntarily. There was quite a bit more regarding a forged letter and the handling of Tabula Rasa, but in the end, the decision focused on the loss of profit from the stock options.

After several hours of deliberation, the jury awarded Garriott $28M USD to compensate for that loss. Garriott is "extremely pleased," but NCsoft is not finished yet. The company plans to look over its options and continue fighting the suit. Keep your eye on Massively for any updates on the case.

MassivelyRichard Garriott wins lawsuit against NCsoft originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lawsuitlegalncsoftrichard-garriottrichard-garriott-lawsuitstock-optionstabula-rasaFri, 30 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArcheAge closed beta announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/archeage-closed-beta-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/archeage-closed-beta-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/archeage-closed-beta-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We'll forgive you if you haven't yet heard of ArcheAge, an in-development MMORPG from XLGames. You probably have heard of lead developer Jake Song, though, or at the very least, you've probably played one of his games. The native South Korean is the brains behind the original Lineage, and he worked with Richard Garriott on Tabula Rasa. Also while at NCsoft, Song lent his talents to the conceptualization and creation of an MMORPG called Lineage Forever, which subsequently morphed into Aion.

These days, Song's XLGames is busily putting the CryENGINE 2 through its paces to bring you ArcheAge, and it is gearing up for the game's first closed beta test. The testing, scheduled for late July, looks to gather player feedback on some of the title's more unique features including destructible architecture.

Unfortunately, you'll need to speak Korean (and probably know someone on the inside) to get an invite, but stay with Massively for more on this new game as it develops.

MassivelyArcheAge closed beta announced originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionarche-agearcheagebetaclosed-betacryengine-2jake-songkorean-betalineagencsoftrichard-garriotttabula-rasaxl-gamesMon, 12 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[What if...? Ten canceled MMOs that could've changed history]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/what-if-ten-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/what-if-ten-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/what-if-ten-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-historycancelledclimaxcrypticeafeaturedgods-and-heroeshaloimperatorjagexlevel-5marvel-universe-onlinemechscapemicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-Studiosmiddle-earth-onlinemythicMythic-Entertainmentmythicaoriginperpetual-entertainmentRichard-Garriottrunescapestar-trek-onlinesuper-hero-squad-onlinetrue-fantasy-live-onlineultima-onlineultima-online-worlds-originswarhammer-onlinewhat-ifThu, 10 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Ultima Prize: My journey]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/25/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-ultima-prize-my-journey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/25/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-ultima-prize-my-journey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/25/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-ultima-prize-my-journey/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Game Archaeologist is your spunky Tuesday column devoted to exploring the MMORPGs of yesterday.

Enough is enough! No more looking back at history, talking to the players who have been there, or even chatting up the creator of the game -- it was time for the Game Archaeologist to man up and play Ultima Online himself. And so it was with trembling fingers and steely eyes that I downloaded the trial client and entered the game for the very first time.

I will be honest and admit to a degree of nervousness. It's one thing to talk about a great MMO legend; it's another entirely to experience it first-hand. I didn't really know what to expect -- would it be so hardcore that I'd die before I finished? Would it be so ancient, so creaky that I wouldn't be able to figure it out without a degree in assembly code? Would it... be fun?

Fortunately, I was not alone in this journey, as Tipa from West Karana graciously agreed to accompany me for an evening full of Ultimas and Onlines. Oh, the spellchecker simply did not like that one. Tough noogies. Ultima Online has a nice 14-day unlimited trial that doesn't even require a credit card to access, so after a few minutes of patching (UO is tiny compared to many modern MMOs), we were in. And completely, utterly lost.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Ultima Prize: My journey

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Ultima Prize: My journey originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 May 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assembly-code-ruleschampions-onlineea-mythiceverquest-2everquest-iifeaturednaughty-cougarnew havenNewHavenRichard-Garriottsamurai-piratestrangled-car-metaphorssypthe-game-archaeologisttipaUltima-Onlineunlimited-trialuowest-karanaTue, 25 May 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 100: The state of MMOs with Richard Garriott]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/massively-speaking-episode-100-the-state-of-mmos-with-richard-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/massively-speaking-episode-100-the-state-of-mmos-with-richard-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/massively-speaking-episode-100-the-state-of-mmos-with-richard-g/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Massively Speaking Episode 100 marks an epic milestone with an epic episode! Lord British himself joins Shawn and Rubi for some chat on the past, present and future of MMOs. Topics include everything from the early days of Ultima Online to the possible reincarnation of Tabula Rasa and beyond.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to shawn AT massively DOT com. Maybe we'll read your letter on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
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[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 100: The state of MMOs with Richard Garriott

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 100: The state of MMOs with Richard Garriott originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 May 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epicepisode-100featuredmassively-speakingopinionspodcastingPodcastsRichard-Garriotttabula-rasaultima-onlineWed, 19 May 2010 12:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 100Massively.com Staff61:46podcasts