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[Rob Pardo argues that the Olympics should include e-sports]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/28/rob-pardo-argues-that-the-olympics-should-include-e-sports/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/28/rob-pardo-argues-that-the-olympics-should-include-e-sports/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/28/rob-pardo-argues-that-the-olympics-should-include-e-sports/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

olympics
E-sports should totally be a part of the Olympics. Or so said former Blizzard CCO Rob Pardo in a BBC interview.

"Video games are well positioned to be a spectator sport," Pardo said. "There's a very good argument for e-sports being in the Olympics. I think the way that you look at e-sports is that it's a very competitive skillset and you look at these professional gamers and the reflexes are lightning quick and they're having to make very quick decisions on the fly."

Pardo conceded that championing e-sports in Olympics might come down to the age-old argument of whether a sport must include physical activity or simply skill-based competition.

MassivelyRob Pardo argues that the Olympics should include e-sports originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarde-sportesportmmo-industryolympicsreal-worldrob-pardosportSun, 28 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rob Pardo leaves Blizzard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/03/rob-pardo-leaves-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/03/rob-pardo-leaves-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/03/rob-pardo-leaves-blizzard/#commentsFiled under: , ,

No, that's not Pardo, that's Magtheridon. He was a pit lord. Jeez, you think everything is an allegory, huh?
In a rather surprising move, Blizzard's Executive Producer Rob Pardo announced today that he is leaving the company. At this time he has announced no immediate career plans or subsequent goals, although he mentions a desire to spend the summer with his family and consider his next move. Pardo's forum announcement thanks the design teams for all of their hard work and notes that he has immensely enjoyed his time with the company; he expresses great satisfaction at the growth of the company and all of the changes that have come about during his tenure there.

Pardo mentions that he began working with the studio during development of the original StarCraft, having since worked on titles including Diablo III, World of Warcraft, and Heroes of the Storm. He has promised fans that he will attempt to be communicative about his next move via Twitter.

[Thanks to Dystopiq for the tip!]

MassivelyRob Pardo leaves Blizzard originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jul 2014 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivisionbattlenetblizzardblizzard-all-starsblizzard-dotablizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3departurediablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasyheroes-of-the-stormleavingmmo-industrymobamultiplayeronline-multiplayerpardorob-pardoroguelikerpgwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 03 Jul 2014 14:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard: Sexy Heroes of the Storm characters 'not sending a message']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/23/blizzard-sexy-heroes-of-the-storm-characters-not-sending-a-mes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/23/blizzard-sexy-heroes-of-the-storm-characters-not-sending-a-mes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/23/blizzard-sexy-heroes-of-the-storm-characters-not-sending-a-mes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

HotS
Blizzard is about fun and fantasy, not about preaching diversity, the studio said.

Polygon pulled quotes from Heroes of the Storm Game Director Dustin Browder in which he defended the sexualization of the MOBA's female characters by claiming that, "We're not sending a message. Nobody should look to our game for that." He also claimed that he didn't "get the applications" of specifically hiring female developers for the title. Browder later apologized for those remarks.

But this month, Blizzard Executive Producer Rob Pardo acknowledged that the studio still struggles in its portrayal of women, explaining that "most of [Blizzard's] developers are guys who grew up reading comics books."

"We're not trying to bring in serious stuff, or socially relevant stuff, or actively trying to preach for diversity, or do things like that," Pardo said.

MassivelyBlizzard: Sexy Heroes of the Storm characters 'not sending a message' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 May 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blizzardblizzard-all-starsblizzard-dotaBlizzard-EntertainmentDustin-Browdergender-politicsheroes-of-the-storminterviewmmo-industrymobaobjectificationrob-pardosexualizationFri, 23 May 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Project Titan: A brief history of a game that doesn't exist]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/28/project-titan-a-brief-history-of-a-game-that-doesn-t-exist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/28/project-titan-a-brief-history-of-a-game-that-doesn-t-exist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/28/project-titan-a-brief-history-of-a-game-that-doesn-t-exist/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Project Titan
For the last several years, the MMO community has been abuzz with rumors regarding Blizzard Entertainment's Project Titan. Long reported to be a brand-new MMO based on an entirely original intellectual property, Titan was a top-secret project discussed only through occasional interviews, job postings, and hearsay. No footage ever slipped through the cracks; no early alpha build accidentally leaked to the web.

Unfortunately, Project Titan as we knew it is no more. Rumors broke in May that development on the project had been restarted from scratch, and Blizzard offered comments that didn't so much as confirm those rumors as lend them a hefty amount of credence. Now it seems as though whatever we might have known about Titan may no longer apply, and whatever Blizzard had created so far may never see the light of day.

With that in mind, let's take a little adventure through the rumorsphere and look back on the history of Project Titan and the stories surrounding it.

Continue reading Project Titan: A brief history of a game that doesn't exist

MassivelyProject Titan: A brief history of a game that doesn't exist originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivisionbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbobby-kotickcash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgothic-fantasymicrotransactionmicrotransactionsMike-Morhaimemultiplayeronline-multiplayerpaul-samspremiumProject-Titanrob-pardoroguelikerpgrumorsshon-damrontitanwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwow-killerWed, 28 Aug 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's Rob Pardo asks players to direct Diablo III blame to him]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/21/blizzards-rob-pardo-asks-players-to-direct-diablo-iii-blame-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/21/blizzards-rob-pardo-asks-players-to-direct-diablo-iii-blame-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/21/blizzards-rob-pardo-asks-players-to-direct-diablo-iii-blame-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The truest sacrifice is taking a bullet when you don't need to.
When Jay Wilson announced that he was leaving his position as director of Diablo III, the forums were filled with responses. To the surprise of absolutely no one who has visited any forum in the history of the Internet, many of those responses were some variety of blaming Wilson for every issue the game might have or claiming that the game is clearly being abandoned completely. That didn't sit well with executive producer Rob Pardo, who took to the forums to tell players that if they want someone to blame, blame him.

Pardo explains that he's extremely proud of the game and that everyone remains dedicated to making it the best it can be. At the same time, he stresses that he was responsible for hiring and overseeing Wilson's work, and he takes full responsibility for the game as a whole. The odds of this actually defusing forum vitriol are still roughly nil, but it does ensure that at least in Pardo's eyes it will be directed in a more deserving direction, and it's a classy move no matter what you think of the game.

MassivelyBlizzard's Rob Pardo asks players to direct Diablo III blame to him originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattlenetblameblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopcommunitycultured3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasyforumforum-culturegothic-fantasyjay-wilsonmultiplayerofficial-responseonline-multiplayerresponserob-pardoroguelikerpgsolidarityMon, 21 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard running Diablo III on consoles internally]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/11/blizzard-running-diablo-iii-on-consoles-internally/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/11/blizzard-running-diablo-iii-on-consoles-internally/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/11/blizzard-running-diablo-iii-on-consoles-internally/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Blizzard internally running Diablo III on consoles
The good news is that Diablo III is now available to play on consoles. The bad news is that you'd have to apply and get accepted for a job with Blizzard to see it. The company admitted that it's continuing its experiments with a console version of Diablo III, saying that the game is running on a non-PC platform in the office.

Chief Creative Officer Rob Pardo said that this doesn't signal a certainty from the company, just an indication of its interests: "We're still kind of exploring it. We've got builds up and running on it. We're hoping to get it far enough along where we can make it an official project, but we're not quite ready to release stuff about it, but it's looking pretty cool."

Blizzard said that it wants to expand Diablo III, has plans for an expansion, and will be revealing "the next big thing" for the franchise during the next year.

MassivelyBlizzard running Diablo III on consoles internally originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopconsoleconsole-versionconsolesd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasymultiplayeronline-multiplayerrob-pardoroguelikerpgTue, 11 Dec 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's Pardo: Single-player games are an endangered species]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/blizzards-pardo-single-player-games-are-an-endangered-species/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/blizzards-pardo-single-player-games-are-an-endangered-species/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/blizzards-pardo-single-player-games-are-an-endangered-species/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Blizzard's Pardo Singleplayer games are an endangered species
Blizzard big cheese Rob Pardo recently revealed his doubts about the future of single-player games in a wide-ranging interview with GamesIndustry.biz.

"It's really sad," Pardo said. "There's just a lot of elements out there that conspire to make those games difficult to make now. Between pirating or the ability for people to rent games, it's hard for publishers to pour millions and millions of dollars into a game and not necessarily see the return they need to make those budgets realistic."

The interview delves into the pervasive social connectivity inherent in many current-gen games, and it also touches on everything from cloud gaming to monetization and business models. Pardo says he's a fan of game designers dictating the monetization models rather than leaving it up to a producer or an executive. "Someone that's more business-oriented or production-oriented will graft a business model onto a game because that's what they think is going to drive the most revenue, but the game doesn't really support it," Pardo explains.

MassivelyBlizzard's Pardo: Single-player games are an endangered species originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbusiness-modelsinterviewinterviewsmmo-industrymonetizationrob-pardosingle-player-games-endangered-speciesWed, 03 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard has 'no particular fear' of Windows 8]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/24/blizzard-has-no-particular-fear-of-windows-8/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/24/blizzard-has-no-particular-fear-of-windows-8/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/24/blizzard-has-no-particular-fear-of-windows-8/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Blizzard has 'no particular fear' of Windows 8
Blizzard might be coming around to Windows 8, if only for practical business reasons. Blizzard Senior Software Engineer Darren Williams told CVG that the studio will support Windows 8 and expand to the OS in the future.

"We put our games on platforms our players are already on, so yeah, it will be available on Windows 8," Williams said. "There's no particular fear we have of Windows 8."

This past July, Blizzard Executive Vice President Rob Pardo said that Microsoft's upcoming operating system and its features were "not awesome" for the company.

MassivelyBlizzard has 'no particular fear' of Windows 8 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdarren-williamsfantasyrob-pardowarcraftwindowswindows-8world-of-warcraftwowMon, 24 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve, Blizzard wary of Windows 8]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/27/valve-blizzard-wary-of-windows-8/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/27/valve-blizzard-wary-of-windows-8/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/27/valve-blizzard-wary-of-windows-8/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Valve, Blizzard wary of Windows 8
Earlier this week Valve head honcho Gabe Newell made headlines by labeling Microsoft's forthcoming Windows 8 operating system "a catastrophe for everyone in the PC space." Newell, whose company is responsible for the Steam digital download service, is concerned that Microsoft's move toward a closed platform will adversely affect game developers and publishers.

Blizzard executive vice president Rob Pardo chimed in to support Newell's comments via Twitter. Microsoft's bid to control applications and Windows Store purchases is "not awesome for Blizzard either," Pardo tweeted.

MassivelyValve, Blizzard wary of Windows 8 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarddrmgabe-newellgames-as-a-servicemicrosoftrob-pardosaassoftware-as-a-servicesteamvalvewindows-8windows-8-is-drmFri, 27 Jul 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard bigwigs recall company's first 20 years]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/blizzard-bigwigs-recall-companys-first-20-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/blizzard-bigwigs-recall-companys-first-20-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/blizzard-bigwigs-recall-companys-first-20-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Twenty years is a long time, and to illustrate how long (and make you feel old in the process), let's do a little retrospective. In 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev led the Soviet Union, James Cameron's Terminator 2 and Kevin Costner's Robin Hood ruled the box office, and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System was flying off toy store shelves everywhere following its August release.

Also in 1991, a software company known as Silicon & Synapse started its life by working on ports for other gaming companies before re-branding itself as Blizzard Entertainment three years later. In a new interview at PC Gamer, Blizzard bigwigs Frank Pearce, Mike Morhaime, and Rob Pardo talk about the company's past, present, and future, as well as where PC gaming is headed in general.

"I think the effect we're on the verge of having -- at least for World of Warcraft specifically -- is that right now, gaming is on the edge of not being the basement-geek entertainment anymore," Pardo says.

MassivelyBlizzard bigwigs recall company's first 20 years originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdamn-were-oldfrank-pearcegeezersinterviewmike-morhaimemmo-industrynostalgiapc-gamerrob-pardoworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 25 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA["WoW in space": Bungie's MMOFPS named Destiny]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/wow-in-space-bungies-mmofps-named-destiny/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/wow-in-space-bungies-mmofps-named-destiny/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/wow-in-space-bungies-mmofps-named-destiny/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A couple of years ago, fans of the Halo franchise were crushed to find out that their favorite first-person shooter probably wasn't going to make the leap to MMO space. However, the company behind the Halo phenomenon has been diligently at work on another highly speculated-about project -- and it looks as though this project could go a long way to giving the fans what they want.

According to Kotaku, Bungie has been developing a massively multiplayer first-person shooter named Destiny. Previously code-named "Tiger," Destiny is described by Kotaku's unnamed source as being "World of Warcraft in space" and will run on all-new technology developed by the studio, including unique online connectivity and matchmaking software.

Bungie is currently in a 10-year publishing agreement with Activision Blizzard, so presumably Destiny will be published by the company. Last year, Blizzard's Rob Pardo applauded the idea of a Bungie MMO, although he refused to comment on a collaboration between the two studios.

Massively"WoW in space": Bungie's MMOFPS named Destiny originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbungiebungie-studiosdensity-i-mean-destinydestinyfpshalokotakummofpsrob-pardotigerworld-of-warcraftwowwow-in-spaceThu, 17 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the NeverEnding Quest: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-neverending-quest-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-neverending-quest-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-neverending-quest-the-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

To many veteran MMO players, the opening horns of EverQuest's score are enough to trigger vivid memories, violent hallucinations, and an unstoppable desire to leap through the computer screen to return to Norrath. It all depends, of course, on which MMO you first cut your teeth, and while many gamers would claim titles like World of Warcraft as their first, there is a large contingent who will confess that EQ was their first MMO lover.

In fact, before WoW came on the scene in 2004, EverQuest was the gold standard of MMOs for a half-decade -- it was insanely popular, perfectly addictive, and absolutely revolutionary. It was a giant that roamed the virtual lands of those days, a giant that continues to forge new grounds well over a decade from its inception.

It was 1995 when John Smedley realized the potential for online gaming and roped in Brad McQuaid and Steve Clover to start putting together an online RPG for SOE. What began as a small project ballooned into a crazy endeavor as the growing team created a monster RPG the likes the world had never seen before -- a game that would forever shape the MMO genre.

This month, the Game Archaeologist is going after one of the biggest treasures of recorded history as we unearth the secrets to EverQuest's popularity, legacy, and longevity. The first step on our journey is to look at some of the highlights that made EQ what it is today.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the NeverEnding Quest: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the NeverEnding Quest: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.5-dacAlex-Afrasiabiasherons-callbrad-mcquaidclone-wars-adventuresdc-universe-onlinedcuodikumuddingdkpdoomDuke-Nukem-3De-deqeq-iieq2evercrackedevercracked-the-phenomenom-of-everquesteverquestEverQuest-2everquest-2-extendedeverquest-iiexpansionsfarmfree-realmshouse-of-thuleignj-allen-brackjace-halljeff-kaplanjohn-smedleykunarkmeridian-59mezzmudnerfnichenorrathPirates-of-the-Burning-Seaplanetsideprocraph-kosterrezrob-pardoshadows-of-luclinsoesonySony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstation-accesssteve-cloversubscription-numberssubscriptionsswgthe-game-archaeologistthe-matrix-onlinethe-ruins-of-kunarkultima-onlineunderfootuovanguardverantverant-interactiveWorld-of-WarcraftwowTue, 04 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's Pardo talks genre boundaries, Cataclysm]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/blizzards-pardo-talks-genre-boundaries-cataclysm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/blizzards-pardo-talks-genre-boundaries-cataclysm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/blizzards-pardo-talks-genre-boundaries-cataclysm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Curious as to why Blizzard would opt to destroy what is arguably the most successful game world in the history of the MMORPG genre? A new interview with World of Warcraft co-designer Rob Pardo has some answers. "We do have the ability to continually add to the game and evolve it, but the trickier challenge is that eventually people are going to want to move onto new types of entertainment," Pardo tells Edge.

He goes on to liken MMOs to a long-running television series, and touches on why metrics aren't necessarily the tools that drive a game maker's creative decisions. So, is WoW, and Cataclysm, pushing the limits of what Blizzard can do with MMORPGS? "Not really," Pardo says. "Obviously you're not going to design a brand new game using WoW, but there's so much opportunity within that world to do different things."

MassivelyBlizzard's Pardo talks genre boundaries, Cataclysm originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcataclysmcataclysm-wowedgeexpansioninterviewrob-pardoWorld-of-Warcraftworld-of-warcraft-cataclysmwowFri, 03 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's Pardo talks Bungie MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/blizzards-pardo-talks-bungie-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/blizzards-pardo-talks-bungie-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/blizzards-pardo-talks-bungie-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A Bungie MMORPG is a rumor that simply won't die. Whether it's Joe Staten hinting at a persistent world during the recently concluded GDC, or Bobby Kotick telling investors that one of the reasons Bungie signed with Activision was to avail itself of Blizzard's vast customer service expertise, scuttlebutt about a Halo-themed MMO is a speculative fire that's hard to douse.

In a new interview at Next Gen, Blizzard boss Rob Pardo (co-designer on World of Warcraft) says his company could share resources with Bungie on an MMO project and furthermore, he'd love to play it. "I think that's one of the other reasons we've been so successful at Blizzard -- all of us play and love games. We're as big a fans as anybody. I would love to play a Bungie MMO. I think it would be cool," he said at last week's Blizzcon.

Pardo was also quick to point out that Blizzard is very focused on their own development, and talk of a Bungie collaboration is somewhat premature. "There are a lot of ifs there. It would have to be a very specific proposal," he said.

MassivelyBlizzard's Pardo talks Bungie MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardblizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentblizzconbungieBungie-StudiosBungieStudioshalohalo-mmointerviewjoe-statenrob-pardospeculationMon, 25 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Beckett Massive Online Gamer names Top 20 individuals in the MMO industry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/beckett-massive-online-gamer-names-top-20-individuals-in-the-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/beckett-massive-online-gamer-names-top-20-individuals-in-the-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/beckett-massive-online-gamer-names-top-20-individuals-in-the-mmo/#commentsFiled under: ,

In what's now become an annual event, gaming magazine Beckett Massive Online Gamer has put together a list of the most influential people in the MMO industry.

Blizzard's Rob Pardo has taken the #1 spot, as he did in 2008, which should come as no surprise to anyone, really. But Beckett has named Hilmar Pétursson of CCP Games as the second most influential figure in the MMO industry (up from #4 last year), with SOE's John Smedley, Jack Emmert from Cryptic Studios, and Mark Jacobs from Mythic Entertainment rounding out the top 5.

In addition to the major, established industry names you'd expect to see on the list, there are 10 newcomers this year, including Todd Coleman from KingsIsle Entertainment, studio director for Wizard101 which recently hit the milestone of 2 million unique users.

While Beckett Massive Online Gamer makes the list available online, the magazine offers background on each individual and how they've influenced the future of the industry.

MassivelyBeckett Massive Online Gamer names Top 20 individuals in the MMO industry originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beckettbeckett-massive-online-gamerblizzardccp-gamescryptic-studioshilmar-peturssonhilmar-v-peturssonjack-emmertjohn-smedleykingsisle-entertainmentmagazinesmark-jacobsmmo-industrymythic-entertainmentrob-pardosoesony-online-entertainmenttodd-colemanThu, 28 May 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard vets form new mobile MMO company]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/blizzard-vets-form-new-mobile-mmo-company/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/blizzard-vets-form-new-mobile-mmo-company/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/blizzard-vets-form-new-mobile-mmo-company/#commentsFiled under: , ,


At this point, we're beginning to think there are more former Blizzard employees than current Blizzard employees -- and they all form their own companies! The newish Silicon Valley startup, entitled Booyah, was recently announced earlier this year from ex-Blizzard vets Keith Lee, Brian Morrisroe and Sam Christiansen. This company aims to create what they're calling a "playful life companion", marrying the qualities of an MMO, social network sites and Apple's iPhone. This new project aims for a public unveiling in late Spring of 2009. So... like a month?

What makes this project extra interesting is the fact that Booyah's advisory board consists of Blizzard's executive vice president of game design, Rob Pardo, and vice president of marketing for Nexon, Min Kim. Ok, now we're ready to take this project a bit more seriously. "We were immediately compelled by the promise of Booyah and the background of the founders," said Matt Murphy, one of the investment partners at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, who recently gave Booyah $4.5 million in Series A financing. "The iFund was created to help build the most promising and innovative businesses that utilize the discrete capabilities of the iPhone and iPod touch. Booyah is a terrific example."

MassivelyBlizzard vets form new mobile MMO company originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 May 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbooyahiphonemin-kimmobilerob-pardoFri, 01 May 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MUD history dissolving into the waters of time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/mud-history-dissolving-into-the-waters-of-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/mud-history-dissolving-into-the-waters-of-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/mud-history-dissolving-into-the-waters-of-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


While many modern MMO users may never have looked at a screen of white text on a black background and typed "go north," multi-user dungeons, or MUDs, were the forerunners to modern graphical MMOs. Without their appeal and gameplay concepts, we wouldn't be playing World of Warcraft or even EverQuest. So, logically, we should make sure to preserve the histories behind the many MUDs which began our conquest of the online playing field, right?

Well, it appears Wikipedia does not think the same way we do on this matter. The online encyclopedia powered by user contributions has begun cracking down and removing articles on MUDs, citing inability to provide verification along with reliable sources. Currently on the chopping block is the entry for Threshold, one of the oldest MUDs still active to this day. This isn't the first time Wikipedia has put online games under fire -- already pulling out the entries for BYOND, LegendMUD, and even removing the article on dragon kill points (DKP) for a time. The removal for the entry of LegendMUD is particularly painful, as there are other articles on Wikipedia that reference the LegendMUD entry, yet are still apparently viable on their own.

Continue reading MUD history dissolving into the waters of time

MassivelyMUD history dissolving into the waters of time originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tracey John from MTV Multiplayer was recently given a tour of Blizzard Entertainment's Headquarters in Irvine, California, just before BlizzCon 2008.

Executive VP of Game Design Rob Pardo led them on the tour of the campus as they filmed the whole thing, from the Blizzard Museum (with a signed script of Make Love Not Warcraft) to a dedicated theater for the staff. It's an interesting look at some of the perks employees get for putting in all those hours, and the campus itself seems like a great place to work. Check out the video below the cut.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

Continue reading A video tour of the Blizzard Entertainment campus

MassivelyA video tour of the Blizzard Entertainment campus originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alright, so the sky is falling. Pretty soon, the world will be dominated by mohawks, black leather and hand-built muscle cars in a never-ending deathmatch over who gets to eat the roadkill. Okay, maybe it won't be that bad -- but unless you've been stranded on a desert island for the past year, you know that there's a global economic crisis going on. But worry not: MMOs -- World of Warcraft in particular -- will be just fine, according to Blizzard Executive VP Rob Pardo.

He said that WoW is immune to economic downturn because it offers an excellent bargain: "People might not want to go out to the movies and spend $100 for a couple of hours and then go to a restaurant. You can go home and pay $15 a month for 100 hours of entertainment if you're staying at home more." A comparable situation from history: during the Great Depression, movies in the United States were only a nickel -- far cheaper than competing, live forms of entertainment, so the movie industry thrived. In fact, some folks credit the Great Depression as a contributor to the rise of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Think the same'll happen to MMOs if this gets bad?

MassivelyBlizzard: World of Warcraft will do fine, global economic collapse be damned originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzconblizzcon-2008blizzcon2008economic-crisisgreat-depressioninterviewrecessionrob-pardovalueworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 17 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rob Pardo's insight on WoW's development and why PC gaming isn't dead]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/rob-pardos-insight-on-wows-development-and-why-pc-gaming-isnt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/rob-pardos-insight-on-wows-development-and-why-pc-gaming-isnt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/rob-pardos-insight-on-wows-development-and-why-pc-gaming-isnt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

What's one of the most powerful game design positions in the games industry today? Executive Vice President of Game Design at Blizzard Entertainment, and the monumental role is filled by Rob Pardo. In this sit-down interview with PC Gamer, Pardo addresses various topics including why PC Gaming is far from dead. An easy position to take considering World of Warcraft has 11 million active subscribers. But Pardo understands the pressures companies face when developing on the PC platform. His line of thinking is that PC gaming won't die, but that it's evolving.

When it comes to decision making and managing 140 creative staff members that work on World of Warcraft, Pardo describes an organic and collaborative process. The team is cohesive and there is no dictatorship over creative control as anyone on the team has the power to veto. Pardo admits that this may sound like nothing is accomplished with so many differing perspectives, but the key to content competition is in the team's dynamics, communication and of course compromise. Blizzard also eschews the monolithic design document. Instead Blizzard's creative process is more iterative and chunks of content are scraped but it pushes the whole team to do better with the overall objective to deliver a better product.

The interview covers various other topics including a disagreement in viewpoints with Raph Koster, and why anyone looking to break into game design should second-think their college education choice if majoring in the specialized field.

[Via WoW Insider]

MassivelyRob Pardo's insight on WoW's development and why PC gaming isn't dead originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentgame-designinterviewsiterative-designmmog-developmentpc-gamerpc-gaming-is-deadrob-pardoworld-of-warcraftwow-developmentTue, 29 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard may have considered free-to-play for WoW, but won't change the model now]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/blizzard-may-have-considered-free-to-play-for-wow-but-wont-cha/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/blizzard-may-have-considered-free-to-play-for-wow-but-wont-cha/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/blizzard-may-have-considered-free-to-play-for-wow-but-wont-cha/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Gamasutra recently spoke with Paul Sams, chief operating officer at Blizzard Entertainment, just after the WorldWide Invitational came to a close. Alongside questions about the framework around Diablo 3 and the potential of user-generated content, the site referenced the recent revelation that World of Warcraft could potentially have been a free-to-play title. Sams offered, in response to the question, that he doesn't see the company changing the game's business model any time soon.

Echoing the points made by individuals such as Min Kim and Ray Muzyka, Sams noted that changing the business model would likely neccessitate a substantial revamp in game design - something they're not prepared to do. "The game has been designed in such a way to where we determined the business model to wrap that around what the game experience was." Sims also puts forth that the company has no plans to create a 'kiddie' version of the popular MMO, nor to port it to handheld systems.

Check out the interview for a number of other interesting topics, including Sams' followup to Mr. Pardo's rebuke against Microsoft over its Xbox 360 focus.

MassivelyBlizzard may have considered free-to-play for WoW, but won't change the model now originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard fans all over the internet have worked themselves up into a frenzy over a vague splash screen at the company's website -- a melting wall of ice adorned with rune or sigil-like markings. Everyone's speculating. Is it Diablo 3? Maybe it's just a promo for Wrath of the Lich King. After all, the ice motif seems to fit, right?

Maybe not. During a Q&A session at GDC Paris 08, Blizzard VP Rob Pardo was asked to comment on "the new game." He replied saying, "So you want me to announce the game before the announcement?" That was a classic press conference or Q&A blunder; you're not supposed to accept the premise of an unwanted or hostile question!

Continue reading Amidst speculation, Blizzard VP implies completely new game

MassivelyAmidst speculation, Blizzard VP implies completely new game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementblizzardblizzard.comdiablo-3diablo-mmogdcgdc-parisgdc-paris-08gdc-paris-2008next-gen-mmoparis-gdcparis-gdc-2008qArob-pardorumorspeculationsplash-pagewebsiteworld-of-starcraftwrath-of-the-lich-kingWed, 25 Jun 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't expect World of Warcraft on the PS3 or Xbox 360 ever]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/don-t-expect-world-of-warcraft-on-the-ps3-or-xbox-360-ever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/don-t-expect-world-of-warcraft-on-the-ps3-or-xbox-360-ever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/don-t-expect-world-of-warcraft-on-the-ps3-or-xbox-360-ever/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Blizzard Entertainment's Rob Pardo is a bona fide Rockstar in the gaming industry. In his recent keynote speech at the Game Developer's Conference at the Paris GDC he continued to indirectly extinguish rumors that suggested World of Warcraft is coming to a Console, rumors that stretch back years. While not specifically talking about World of Warcraft, when Pardo was asked what kept MMOs from Consoles he responded:

"Lack of hard drive space, and difficulty in certifying patches. Basically just that.... another problem is that they want a piece of the subscriptions (laughs)."

That's a simplistic answer coming from the Executive VP of Design at Blizzard Entertainment, but there it is laid out in plain sight, a truth even if shared in a humorous fashion. Giving Microsoft or Sony residuals, most likely a big chunk is one thing keeping World of Warcraft off Consoles. Is that a bad thing? No, but Blizzard could be missing something here, and just maybe Rob Pardo is plain wrong about what's keeping MMOs away from Consoles. It's simple really...

Continue reading Don't expect World of Warcraft on the PS3 or Xbox 360 ever

MassivelyDon't expect World of Warcraft on the PS3 or Xbox 360 ever originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanarenanetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentconsoleconsolesddomicrosoftncsoftnintendoparis-gdcplaystationps3rob-pardoshadowbanesoethe-agencyturbinewiiworld-of-warcraftxboxxbox-360Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft originally planned as free-to-play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/world-of-warcraft-originally-planned-as-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/world-of-warcraft-originally-planned-as-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/world-of-warcraft-originally-planned-as-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Blizzard's own Rob Pardo recently dropped something of a bombshell about World of Warcraft at the Paris GDC event when he revealed in a keynote that the game was originally planned as a free-to-play experience. He also adds that, "We didn't want to charge a subscription, but as we researched market conditions, we realized that wouldn't support us." Pardo also discussed how Blizzard drove into the MMO genre in astonishingly tongue-in-cheek fashion: "Very naively, or else we might not have done it." The notion of a free-to-play World of Warcraft makes us wonder just how the game would have panned out had Blizzard stuck to their original plan. Might MMOs have become as big a business as they are nowadays? Who knows, but it's fun to think about the possibilities nonetheless.

You can find the rest of Pardo's discussions within Gamasutra's website. He discussses everything under the sun in relation to Blizzard. Multiple franchises, the Activivision-Blizzard merger and making communties for games are just a few of the many topics covered.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft originally planned as free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbreakingfree-to-playgamasutraparis-gdcrob-pardosubscriptionworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 24 Jun 2008 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Rob Pardo to speak at Paris GDC in June]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/rob-pardo-to-speak-at-paris-gdc-in-june/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/rob-pardo-to-speak-at-paris-gdc-in-june/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/rob-pardo-to-speak-at-paris-gdc-in-june/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

At the Paris Game Developers Conference this year, we will have the pleasure of hearing from Blizzard's Senior Vice President of game design, Rob Pardo. He will be presenting a keynote Q&A entitled "In the Eye of the Blizzard", where he will discuss his inspirations, challenges and his future at Blizzard Entertainment with interviewer Jamil Moledina, the executive director of GDC Events.

Rob is certainly no stranger to game conference keynotes, as he has recently shown at the San Francisco GDC, but it will be interesting to hear his newest keynote interview where he will address the important topic that most game developers have on their minds: how to win at the game of creating a money-making MMO.

The Paris GDC will offer over 50 sessions this year, and will be held on June 23-24th at the Coeur Defense Convention Centre in Paris, France.

MassivelyRob Pardo to speak at Paris GDC in June originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 May 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Future of MMOs

The Future of MMOs panel liveblog

Team Massively was there to live blog one of the most anticipated panels of GDC08. On it were a few names you might have heard of, like Cryptic Studios' Jack Emmert, Nexon's Min Kim, BioWare's Ray Muzyka, and Rob Pardo (who has apparently worked on some sort of popular fantasy game). We blogged a blow-by-blow account of the jabs, cuts, and parries from these Massive genre heavyweights.

Gallery: GDC08: The Future of MMOs

Continue reading GDC08 Highlights: The future of Virtual Worlds and the end of GDC08

MassivelyGDC08 Highlights: The future of Virtual Worlds and the end of GDC08 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Mar 2008 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today at GDC Massively is liveblogging a sort of 'MMO Keynote', a panel entitled simply "The Future of MMOs". A simple title, perhaps, but probably the most anticipated event for Massive game designers and fans alike. On it are a few names you might have heard of, like Cryptic Studios' Jack Emmert, Nexon's Min Kim, BioWare's Ray Muzyka, and Rob Pardo (who has apparently worked on some sort of popular fantasy game). Moderated by MMORPG.com's Jon Woods, it's sure to offer some insights into the games of tomorrow.

Below the cut is our blow-by-blow account of the jabs, cuts, and parries from these Massive genre heavyweights. The last time I saw a get-together like this was at the Austin Game Conference, and the result was a spectacular confrontation. If ... you know ... you like MMOs. Otherwise it's a bunch of guys talking generalities about "those addictive games".

If the idea of the mind behind World of Warcraft talking about the games that he loves, along with observations from one of the founders of BioWare, combined with the insights of a tabletop gaming champion and a pioneer of Korean gaming doesn't interest you ... why are you here?

Read on!

Gallery: GDC08: The Future of MMOs

Continue reading GDC08: Massively is Live at the Future of MMOs panel

MassivelyGDC08: Massively is Live at the Future of MMOs panel originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rob Pardo, Senior Vice President of Game Design, spoke earlier today on Blizzard's approach to multiplayer game design at GDC. Sister site WoW Insider has a complete liveblog of the session, featuring best practices learned regarding game balance, PvP and UI design, player psychology and more. Head over to check out the full transcript from the talk and the Q&A session plus a gallery of all the slides.

Gallery: GDC08: Blizzard's approach to MMOs

MassivelyGDC08: Blizzard's approach to MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardfeaturedgame-designgamedevGDC08multiplayerpvprob-pardostarcraftuiwarcraftwowWed, 20 Feb 2008 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic Studios announces its Game Developers Conference schedule]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/cryptic-studios-announces-its-game-developers-conference-schedul/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/cryptic-studios-announces-its-game-developers-conference-schedul/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/cryptic-studios-announces-its-game-developers-conference-schedul/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It looks like Cryptic Studios is set to take GDC by storm this year as they just announced their plans to send five of their people to speak at the San Francisco based event being held from Feb. 18th through to the 22nd. The team members from Cryptic are Chief Creative Officer Jack Emmert (formally Jack "Statesman" Emmert), Character Artist Matt Highison, Director of Game Programming Shannon Posniewski, Audio Director Michael Henry and President of Cryptic Studios Michael Lewis.

We are very interested in hearing what these Cryptic members have to say on the subject of massively games. Hopefully we'll finally get some answers on what to expect in their future if not some hints at the very least.

Continue reading Cryptic Studios announces its Game Developers Conference schedule

MassivelyCryptic Studios announces its Game Developers Conference schedule originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareblizzardcryptic-studiosea-mythicgame-developers-conferencegdcjack-emmertmark-jacobsmatt-highisonmichael-henrymichael-lewisray-muzykarob-pardoshannon-psniewskiTue, 12 Feb 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard discusses its methods for success at DICE '08]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/blizzard-discusses-its-methods-for-success-at-dice-08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/blizzard-discusses-its-methods-for-success-at-dice-08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/blizzard-discusses-its-methods-for-success-at-dice-08/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The D.I.C.E. Summit is a yearly gathering of the gaming industry's top talent, there to discuss everything from business practices to development methods to the latest in crazy game mechanics ideas. This year, not only did Gore Verbinski go a little nutty, but the Big Guns at Blizzard -- Mike Morhaime, president and cofounder; Rob Pardo, vice president of game design; and Frank Pearce, executive vice president of product development -- got on-stage to give a talk entitled "Blizzard: From Developer to Worldwide Publisher".

The talk covered a great deal of ground in discussing how Blizzard has gotten to be the king of the hill in the gaming world. Key elements included retaining complete creative control, noninterference from parent companies, and building up layers of knowledge over the years that helped them take calculated risks with each successive title. "If we tried to do WoW from scratch, it would be a monumental effort. We already had the community for WoW. Even though they weren't MMO players, they were willing to try it out," said Pardo.

Go check out the entire article at Gamespot here.

MassivelyBlizzard discusses its methods for success at DICE '08 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarddice-summitfrank-pearcegamespotgore-verbinskimike-morhaimerob-pardoworld-of-warcraftFri, 08 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: What's in a name?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/behind-the-curtain-whats-in-a-name/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/behind-the-curtain-whats-in-a-name/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/behind-the-curtain-whats-in-a-name/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How much attention do you pay to the names behind the MMOs we're playing just now? Do you dig up as much information as you can on the developers, producer and designers involved in up and coming games? Do you even pay any attention at all?

I'll be honest - I picked up Star Wars Galaxies based on the licence alone. While I've been a gamer since my Uncle gave me a ZX Spectrum as a child, I didn't know anything about the people behind Galaxies. I had heard about Everquest of course - I wasn't stupid after all - but Galaxies was my first MMO, and I was a noob in every sense of the word. I didn't know anything about the designers, the developers, and I didn't even think to check up on them.

I was a little more aware when I came round to World of Warcraft. I was, and still am, a big Diablo 2, fan, so I knew who Blizzard were. I hadn't picked up Warcraft 3 when it came out, due to the PC I had t the time not being to run it, but I knew that it'd been a huge commercial and critical success for Blizzard, so I knew that it was a safe bet. Plus, it was taking the world by storm already, so it was a bit of a no-brainer.

Maybe I'm just older and wiser now, or maybe the information is just easier to get a hold of, but I pay more attention to the people actually making the game that I'm interested in - I thought this week, we could have a look at some of the names you should be aware of.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: What's in a name?

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: What's in a name? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>989-studiosblizzardblizzard-northcity-of-heroescity-of-villiansdiablodiablo-2eaelectronic-artseverquesteverquest-2featuredflagshipflagship-studiosgalaxieshellgatehellgate-londonjohn-smedleymetaplacencsoftraph-kosterrichard-garriottrichard-garriott's-tabula-rasarob-pardosoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiestabula-rasaultimaultima-onlineverant-interactiveworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 24 Jan 2008 17:30:00 EST