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[Shroud of the Avatar's Richard Garriott and Starr Long on how SOTA wins at player-generated content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/26/garriott-and-long-show-how-shroud-of-the-avatar-wins-at-player-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/26/garriott-and-long-show-how-shroud-of-the-avatar-wins-at-player-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/26/garriott-and-long-show-how-shroud-of-the-avatar-wins-at-player-g/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Garriott and Long show how Shroud of the Avatar wins at player-generated content
When you sit down to talk with Portalarium's Richard Garriott and Starr Long about Shroud of the Avatar, you hear much more than can possibly fit in just one article! Even though its currently in development, there's a lot to this title. Last week's Some Assembly Required focused on the upcoming sandbox's community aspect; as promised, this week's edition delves into SotA's amazing player-generated content capabilities. It's not surprising that PGC would be so prevalent in-game when these two devs have emphasized the importance of making a living, breathing, immersive world for players. When you get a great community together and then give it tools and freedom to create, what happens is phenomenal. As Long put it, "It's really humbling for me and the team to see what these players are willing to do... what they're doing with what we're giving them."

Read on, my friends, and see why Shroud of the Avatar may very well be the reigning king of the PGC hill even before it actually releases! (There might be a few morsels about upcoming development thrown in as well.)

Continue reading Shroud of the Avatar's Richard Garriott and Starr Long on how SOTA wins at player-generated content

MassivelyShroud of the Avatar's Richard Garriott and Starr Long on how SOTA wins at player-generated content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarcrowdfundingfantasyfeaturedgame-mechanicsinterviewinterviewskickstarterking-of-pgclord-britishopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentrichard-garriottsandboxsarshroudshroud-of-the-avatarsome-assembly-requiredSOTAstarr-longFri, 26 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: An anniversary look at Darkfall's fifth year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/28/some-assembly-required-an-anniversary-look-at-darkfalls-fifth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/28/some-assembly-required-an-anniversary-look-at-darkfalls-fifth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/28/some-assembly-required-an-anniversary-look-at-darkfalls-fifth/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agonanniversaryaventurinedarkfalldarkfall-unholy-warsdffantasyfeaturedfifth-anniversarygame-mechanicsopen-pvpopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpvpretrospectivesandboxsarsome-assembly-requiredunholy-warsFri, 28 Feb 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Consequences and conflict]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/16/eve-evolved-consequences-and-conflict/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/16/eve-evolved-consequences-and-conflict/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/16/eve-evolved-consequences-and-conflict/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
I've always considered EVE Online to be the model sandbox MMO and a template that could theoretically be applied to other titles. Whether you believe it's by careful design or a happy accident, EVE has stumbled on a formula that clearly works and has helped the game stay popular for over a decade. I've written before about the many interconnected parts that make EVE's sandbox model work and how pulling out essential features such as item loss on death or adding foreign mechanics like global banking could cause the whole game to fall apart. But there's one aspect I didn't really cover in depth: consequences for negative behaviour.

In his latest Some Assembly Required column, Massively's Jef Reahard argued that EVE can't be considered the quintessential sandbox MMO because it lacks consequences for bad behaviour. While I would argue that EVE is as close to the ideal model of the genre as exists at the moment, I'm forced to agree with Jef's assessment. Almost all of the major events in EVE's recent history that have hit the gaming media have been about theft or war, with tales of massive scams and alliance warfare painting New Eden in a dark and violent light. The ultimate sandbox would be equally capable of birthing incredible stories of exploration and players working together to build magnificent things, not just chaos and death in the gloomy depths of interstellar space.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the lack of consequence for negative actions in EVE Online, whether it causes negative behaviour, and why sandboxes need to be about more than just destruction.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Consequences and conflict

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Consequences and conflict originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Feb 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocryphaascendant-frontierascnccpccp-gamesconsequenceeveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedgame-mechanicsinterstellar-starbase-syndicateissjef-reahardopinionoutpostpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsarsci-fisome-assembly-requiredstarbaseSun, 16 Feb 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Is this really the sandbox renaissance?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/14/some-assembly-required-is-this-really-the-sandbox-renaissance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/14/some-assembly-required-is-this-really-the-sandbox-renaissance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/02/14/some-assembly-required-is-this-really-the-sandbox-renaissance/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required
It's funny, but this whole sandbox renaissance feeling has got me a little worried. I'm of course ecstatic at the number of sandbox MMOs currently in development, and I'm even happier that one triple-A outfit has finally acknowledged that MMOs are supposed to be sandboxes.

EverQuest Next and Landmark aren't the only reasons to be amped, either, as games like Star Citizen, Elite: Dangerous, and The Repopulation are all putting their own spin on emergent virtual worlds and standing on the shoulders of genre giants.

It's not all roses, though, and amidst the cautious optimism on display from starving sandbox fans, I feel the need to remind myself of the various personal pitfalls that still need to be addressed.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Is this really the sandbox renaissance?

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Is this really the sandbox renaissance? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameschris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingeqeq-nexteq-next-landmarkeqneqn-landmarkeveeve-onlineeverquesteverquest-nexteverquest-next-landmarkfantasyfeaturedgame-mechanicsgoblinworksgrindparkinternet-spaceshipskickstarterlandmarkopinionpathfinderpathfinder-onlinepgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpnprantrenaissanceryan-danceysandboxsandbox-rantsandbox-renaissancesandparksarsci-fisoesome-assembly-requiredsome-assembly-required-jef-reahardsony-online-entertainmentspaceshipspreadsheets-onlinestar-citizenFri, 14 Feb 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Your home is your castle on Vanguard's Thestra]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/31/some-assembly-required-your-home-is-your-castle-on-vanguards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/31/some-assembly-required-your-home-is-your-castle-on-vanguards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/31/some-assembly-required-your-home-is-your-castle-on-vanguards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required: Your home is your castle on Vanguard's Thestra
In a painful twist of fate, this week's scheduled Some Assembly Required wraps up the trilogy on Vanguard: Saga of Heroes housing that began with my first piece for this column highlighting Kojani homes way back in 2011. I say painful because we now know that Vanguard will be closing its doors forever come July 31st. But that leaves us six more months to enjoy what's there, and since we've already seen the oriental homes of Kojan and the desert dwellings of Qalia, it's time to take a tour of Thestra.

The European-flavored continent was the final of the three to visit not because it is somehow less than the other two but because it is more -- as in more land to cover! The main reason I left Thestra for last is because of the sheer size of the continent. The amount of time required to visit just a fraction of the housing settlements scattered throughout this land is daunting. The other reason is that I wanted to end on a bang with my favorite style of guild housing: the castles!

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Your home is your castle on Vanguard's Thestra

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Your home is your castle on Vanguard's Thestra originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Jan 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-mechanicshousingopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsarsoesome-assembly-requiredsonysony-online-entertainmenttelonthestravanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgFri, 31 Jan 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Pre-NGE SWG's proper sandbox PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/17/some-assembly-required-pre-nge-swgs-proper-sandbox-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/17/some-assembly-required-pre-nge-swgs-proper-sandbox-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/17/some-assembly-required-pre-nge-swgs-proper-sandbox-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required architectural plans
A few weeks ago I ranted at indie sandbox devs who continue pumping out poorly conceived FFA PvP games. I didn't have any wordcount left at the end of that novella to propose any solutions, so I'm going to do that today.

And hey, it's pretty simple, at least conceptually. All a dev team needs to do is iterate on Star Wars: Galaxies' pre-NGE PvP system.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Pre-NGE SWG's proper sandbox PvP

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Pre-NGE SWG's proper sandbox PvP originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Jan 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic-mmodecayfeaturedffa-pvpgalaxiesgame-mechanicsgear-decaygriefersgriefingitem-decaymeaningful-pvpopen-world-pvpopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpvpsandboxsandbox-pvpsarsci-fisoesome-assembly-requiredsome-assembly-required-jef-reahardsony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-galaxies-pvpswgswg-pvpswgoteftef-flagFri, 17 Jan 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Virtual world roundup for 2014 and beyond]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/03/some-assembly-required-virtual-world-roundup-for-2014-and-beyo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/03/some-assembly-required-virtual-world-roundup-for-2014-and-beyo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/01/03/some-assembly-required-virtual-world-roundup-for-2014-and-beyo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Some Assembly Required: Virtual world roundup for 2014 and beyond
Just over two years ago there was a great disturbance, as if millions (or so) of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. Yes, something terrible had happened: a beloved virtual world was destroyed. And that left a number of sandbox refugees looking for a new place to call home. At that time, Some Assembly Required offered a roundup of the then available virtual worlds that could possibly offer accommodation, depending on what qualities players most desired in their games.

But as things are wont to, they changed; a lot can happen in the MMOverse in 24 months, from additional features in existing games to new games to the loss of more worlds. So it's time to update this list of virtual worlds to reflect 2014 and beyond. Take a look and see what titles or titles-to-be have the sandbox features that best make a game a home for you.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Virtual world roundup for 2014 and beyond

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Virtual world roundup for 2014 and beyond originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jan 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2la-tale-in-the-desertabove-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologiesaction-mmoaeriaaeria-gamesage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedage-of-wulinage-of-wushuagonaionAlbionAlbion-Onlineall-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-reloadedalphaalpha-testalpha-testinganarchy-onlineaoaocaoc-unchainedapbapb-reloadedapbrascensionasiaatitdavataraventurinebattle-of-the-immortalsbetabiowareblack-desertboibrowserbrowser-basedbuy-to-playcamelotcamelot-unchainedcarbinecarbine-studiosccpccp-gameschampionschampions-onlinechampschinachinesechinese-mmochris-robertscity-statecity-state-entertainmentclassic-mmocloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescocode-clubconanconsoleconsolescrimecrowdfundingcrypticcryptic-studioscsedaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkfalldarkfall-unholy-warsdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuodfdndDofusdragondragonsdragons-propheteaeden-eternalegenesisegyptelectronic-artseqeq-2eq-iieq-nexteq-next-landmarkeq1eq2eqiieqneqn-landmarkeveeve-onlineeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iieverquest-nexteverquest-next-landmarkf2pfactionfallen-earthfamilyfantasyfefeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivfly-for-funflyfffpsfrfree-realmsfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefuncomg1game-mechanicsgameforgegameforge-berlingamersfirstgoblinworksgpotatogvghistoricalhorrorhousinghyboriainfernuminfernum-productionsinternet-spaceshipsjagexjagex-games-studiokickstarterkid-friendlykidnappingkidskids-mmokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentkoreakorean-mmolandmarklindenlinden-lablinuxlord-britishlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroLuna Onlinemabinogimacmark-jacobsmartial-artsming-dynastymmofpsmortal-onlinemythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyncsoftneverwinternexonnexon-americanotoriousnotorious-gamesopen-pvpopinionpathfinderpathfinder-onlinepcpearl-abyssperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpgcplanetsideplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentplaystation-3playstation3pnppost-apocpost-apocalypticpsps1ps3pvppwereal-liferepopulationrichard-garriottriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararomrsrunes-of-magicrunescaperunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentrvrryzomsandboxsandparksarsci-fantasysci-fisecond-lifesecret-worldshroudshroud-of-the-avatarskill-basedslsnail-gamessnail-games-usasoesome-assembly-requiredsonysony-online-entertainmentSOTAspaceshipspreadsheets-onlinesquaresquare-enixstar-citizenstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-vaultstarvaultstosubscriptionlesssuperherosuperheroestaboreataletellingtelontestingthe-repopulationthe-secret-worldthree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldstruly-freetswturbineturbine-entertainmentultimaultima onlineunchainedunholy-warsuovanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgvirtual-worldvirtual-worldswar-of-the-immortalswastelandswildstarwinch-gatewinch-gate-property-limitedwinch-gate-property-lldwinchgatewizard101woiwswurmwurm-onlinewushuwuxiaxsyonFri, 03 Jan 2014 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Yet another FFA PvP sandbox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/20/some-assembly-required-yet-another-ffa-pvp-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/20/some-assembly-required-yet-another-ffa-pvp-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/20/some-assembly-required-yet-another-ffa-pvp-sandbox/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - Architectural plans
I dabbled in yet another alpha-state indie sandbox game this week. As you'd expect, the title is rough around the edges. Also as you'd expect, it boasts FFA PvP and the correspondingly godawful community for whom the game's "do whatever you want" mechanics immediately translate to "kill everything that moves first and ask questions later, if at all."

Since it's still alpha, there's plenty of time for the devs to correct this unfortunate bit of business and separate this particular game from the legions of crappy FFA-PvP-with-zero-consequences titles clumping together in the vast litterbox of bad MMO ideas.

Will they do that? Probably not, but at least I'll get a good rant out of it.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Yet another FFA PvP sandbox

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Yet another FFA PvP sandbox originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Dec 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corpse-lootingfacepunchfeaturedffa-pvpgame-designgame-mechanicslazyoh-look-another-ffa-pvp-sandboxopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpvppvp-rantpvp-sandboxrantranty-mcrantersonrustsandboxsandbox-devssandbox-doesnt-equal-ffa-pvpsandbox-rantsarsome-assembly-requiredsome-assembly-required-jef-reahardFri, 20 Dec 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: How EverQuest Next Landmark could redefine PGC]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/06/some-assembly-required-how-everquest-next-landmark-could-redefi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/06/some-assembly-required-how-everquest-next-landmark-could-redefi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/12/06/some-assembly-required-how-everquest-next-landmark-could-redefi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

PGC means Players Got Creativity! OK, no it doesn't really, but it could (and it's better than Pungent Goat Cheese!). As you know, in our MMOverse, the acronym stands for Player-Generated Content, which is not only the backbone of Some Assembly Required but easily my favorite part of gaming. And what is player-generated content if not a demonstration of player creativity? Unfortunately, for several years, my favorite part of games seemed to be the least important focus for MMO developers. PGC, if it is brought in at all, is relegated to the back seat (or locked away in the trunk). Luckily, times are a-changing.

Just a glance over the past year shows that the aversion-to-PGC attitude is shifting; more sandboxes have gone into development with more and more features than in the last few years. But one game, above them all, is going beyond adding a few features. EverQuest Next Landmark is not just letting PGC into the car; it's plunking it in the driver's seat and handing over the keys, and in doing so could potentially redefine PGC as we know it. And that's a good thing! Instead of being treated as non-essential fluff, PGC could be seen as a vital ingredient to any MMO.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: How EverQuest Next Landmark could redefine PGC

MassivelySome Assembly Required: How EverQuest Next Landmark could redefine PGC originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Dec 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eqeq-nexteq-next-landmarkeqneqn-landmarkeverquesteverquest-nexteverquest-next-landmarkfantasyfeaturedgame-mechanicslandmarkopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsarsoesome-assembly-requiredsony-online-entertainmentFri, 06 Dec 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Mark Jacobs on Camelot Unchained's Kickstarter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/01/some-assembly-required-mark-jacobs-on-camelot-unchaineds-kicks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/01/some-assembly-required-mark-jacobs-on-camelot-unchaineds-kicks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/11/01/some-assembly-required-mark-jacobs-on-camelot-unchaineds-kicks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required Mark Jacobs' musings on CU's Kickstarter
Given all the MMO-hopefuls flocking to it, you'd think that Kickstarter is the only way to make a game these days. And in some ways, it is. Indie companies and niche games now have a real chance to see the light of day, whereas previously only the "sure sells" got financial backing.

For developers like Mark Jacobs, who as City State Entertainment's CEO spearheads the development of upcoming sandbox Camelot Unchained, Kickstarter is a way to bypass those detached investors and appeal to the gamers themselves. As he told us, "Kickstarter is the perfect platform for an indie developer both to gauge interest in a concept and to receive either all or part of the funding necessary to make the game." Jacobs offered other musings and insights about the role of Kickstarter and updated us on the development of Camelot Unchained in our exclusive interview.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Mark Jacobs on Camelot Unchained's Kickstarter

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Mark Jacobs on Camelot Unchained's Kickstarter originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Nov 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelscamelotcamelot-unchainedcity-statecity-state-entertainmentcseexclusive-interviewfeaturedgame-mechanicsinterviewinterviewskickstarterkickstarter-campaignlife-after-kickstartermark-jacobsmark-jacobs-interviewMassively-exclusiveopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpvprvrsandboxsarsome-assembly-requiredFri, 01 Nov 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Is Black Desert the new ArcheAge?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/25/some-assembly-required-is-black-desert-the-new-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/25/some-assembly-required-is-black-desert-the-new-archeage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/25/some-assembly-required-is-black-desert-the-new-archeage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - Is Black Desert the new ArcheAge?
I hate to admit it, but I'm getting over ArcheAge. This sucks because XLGAMES' fantasy sandpark is undoubtedly the most feature-rich MMO since Star Wars Galaxies. But Massively first covered ArcheAge in 2010. I first played it in 2011. And we're rapidly approaching 2014 with absolutely no sign of an English-language client on the horizon!

Yeah, Trion famously signed on to distribute the game to western audiences last January, but since then we've heard a whole lot of nothing about how the translation is progressing. Hell, we don't even know if it is a translation as opposed to some ill-conceived "westernization" waste of time. And maybe the MMO gods will strike me down for jumping off the bandwagon. Maybe Trion will make me look a fool by announcing a beta date of some sort later this very afternoon.

If so, that's OK because Black Desert is looking just as good, if not better.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Is Black Desert the new ArcheAge?

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Is Black Desert the new ArcheAge? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Oct 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaarche-agearcheageblack-desertblack-desert-the-new-archeagefantasyfeaturedgame-mechanicshousingis-black-desert-the-new-archeagekoreakorean-mmoopinionpearl-abysspgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpvpsandboxsandparksarsome-assembly-requiredsome-assembly-required-jef-reahardxl-gamesxlgamesFri, 25 Oct 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: A dev's-eye view of Dragon's Prophet's frontier system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/11/some-assembly-required-a-devs-eye-view-of-dragons-prophets-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/11/some-assembly-required-a-devs-eye-view-of-dragons-prophets-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/11/some-assembly-required-a-devs-eye-view-of-dragons-prophets-f/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required A devseye view of the frontier system in Dragon's Prophet
For getting a better look at the big picture, there's nothing like witnessing a PvP battle from afar instead of being in the midst of it. And that's exactly what I got to do in a recent dev tour of a PvP event in Dragon's Prophet: Spectate. Thanks to the spiffy use of technology, I was able to zoom along through the air as the battles unfolded below and around me without my having to dodge killing blows from my enemies.

On top of that, I got to hear Senior Producer Todd Carson and Associate Producer Rod Haza detail different aspects of this system that melds PvP and housing in Dragon's Prophet. Dubbed the Frontier System, this combination puts PvP on the housing islands of Auratia. However, the implementation is probably not quite what players envisioned when they first heard about it. Luckily, I got a pretty good look at how it all works from my invulnerable perch and can share that with you.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: A dev's-eye view of Dragon's Prophet's frontier system

MassivelySome Assembly Required: A dev's-eye view of Dragon's Prophet's frontier system originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Oct 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-tourdragondragonsdragons-prophetfeaturedfrontier-systemgame-mechanicsHigh-Lord-Systemhousinginfernuminfernum-productionsinterviewopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentPvPPvP-systemrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxsarsoesome-assembly-requiredsonysony-online-entertainmentstrategyFri, 11 Oct 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required Extra: The scoop on Albion Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/20/some-assembly-required-extra-the-scoop-on-albion-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/20/some-assembly-required-extra-the-scoop-on-albion-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/09/20/some-assembly-required-extra-the-scoop-on-albion-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required Extra Interview gets the scoop on Albion Online
After a long drought in the industry, the tide of the sandbox gaming is finally coming in. This year can definitely be called the year of the sandbox. While not all of them are out yet, many more games promising those features we love are in development now than ever before. In fact, there are so many titles floating about now that it can be hard to keep them straight!

One of the latest upcoming titles to be announced is the stylized, medieval sandbox Albion Online. With such offerings as territory control, housing, a player-driven economy, and full looting, this game certainly fits the sandbox bill. Heck, the development company is even named Sandbox Interactive! But what makes Albion Online stand out from the pack is that it will be a cross-platform experience; players will be accessing the game via both tablets and PCs.

Of course, as promising as it may sound, just a terse feature list doesn't give players the kind of details we want. So to get the scoop, I had a chat with Sandbox Interactive CEO Stefan Wiezorek, who shared more information about the economy, housing,the skill system, PvP, and territory control.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required Extra: The scoop on Albion Online

MassivelySome Assembly Required Extra: The scoop on Albion Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Sep 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required Community dictates development path of Neo's Land
Sandbox aficionados, are you ready for another contender in the fight to be your next virtual world? Well, ready or not, here one comes! And now that the cat (or Kickstarter, as it were) is officially out of the bag, we can take stroll through this new development project and see just how things are shaping up. The name of this virtual playground-to-be? Neo's Land.

With the number of crowdfund-hopefuls coming and going, you might be wondering what -- if anything -- distinguishes this game from all the others also vying for your attention and support. What exactly makes this project different and worth a look? It's not the various sandbox features like skills, an open world, and building homes; you can find those in other games that are out there or in the works. No, what sets Neo's Land apart is the different approach to development it is taking. Instead of building a game using the studio's ideal features, NeoJac Entertainment is quite literally soliciting the feature set directly from the players before implementing. In this case, Some Assembly Required also refers to the game itself!

Can it be done -- can a game truly be built to honest-to-goodness player specs? During an exclusive interview with CEO and President Jacques Rossouw, I got to walk along the development path of Neo's Land and see what the game is about.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Community dictates development path of Neo's Land

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Community dictates development path of Neo's Land originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Sep 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Atavism-OnlineBuild-Your-Own-Gamecommunity-inputcrowdfundingeconomyfeaturedgame-mechanicshousingJacques-RossouwKickstarterkickstarter-campaignkickstarter-projectsMarcus-EikenberryNeoJacNeoJac-Entertainmentneos-Landopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-economyplayer-generated-contentplayer-housinground-tablessandboxsarsome-assembly-requiredUnity3DThu, 12 Sep 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Conflating story content and MMORPGs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/30/some-assembly-required-conflating-story-content-and-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/30/some-assembly-required-conflating-story-content-and-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/30/some-assembly-required-conflating-story-content-and-mmorpgs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required
A few weeks ago I poked fun at ArenaNet and its "living story" nonsense. As you might imagine, plenty of comments ensued, and I'd like to highlight one of them as a point of further discussion this week.

Skoryy wrote (in part): "Since when did enjoying content, especially story content, actively require skill? Any literate person can read a book; why do I also need to know how to be a master crafter or master warrior or master whatever to get to enjoy the game's true content?" For further context, this was a response to the line of thinking that says successful games like baseball, chess, and RISK are not linear dev-driven content treadmills but rather a set of rules that result in endless permutations of player-generated content.

When I first read the remark I was taken aback. I mean, really, my initial response to the "since when" bit was "since you decided to play an interactive video game instead of read a book!" And that's still true to a large extent. As I thought about the overall discussion, though, I sympathized with his perspective even though I think it's terrible that some MMO companies are hell-bent on conflating the definition of game with the definition of story.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Conflating story content and MMORPGs

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Conflating story content and MMORPGs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Aug 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbiowarebuy-to-playconflating-story-with-mmorpgsdefinition-of-mmodesigneaelectronic-artsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-mechanicsguild-wars-2gw2living-storylucasartsmmo-definitionmmo-storymmos-are-not-storybooksmoving-the-goalpostsncsoftopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsarsci-fisome-assembly-requiredsome-assembly-required-jef-reahardstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstorystory-contentstory-crutchswtorswtor-jef-reahardthe-old-republicthe-story-crutchtorFri, 30 Aug 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Want a real living story? Try a sandbox!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/02/some-assembly-required-want-a-real-living-story-try-a-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/02/some-assembly-required-want-a-real-living-story-try-a-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/08/02/some-assembly-required-want-a-real-living-story-try-a-sandbox/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - Want a real living story? Try a sandbox!
I'm going to criticize Guild Wars 2 this week, or more accurately, ArenaNet. I know, I know. I might as well change the name of this column to How to Alienate Friends, Co-workers, and Commenters.

As a qualifier, I don't play Guild Wars 2. I have in the past, briefly, but my criticisms today are mostly directed at ANet's marketing folks or whoever is responsible for the Living Story refrain that gets sillier and sillier every time I hear it.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Want a real living story? Try a sandbox!

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Want a real living story? Try a sandbox! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Aug 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbuy-to-playbuzzwordscontentfantasyfeaturedgame-mechanicsgrindguild-wars-2gw2living-storymarketingmarketing-speakmmo-storyncsoftopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentprogressionrantsandboxsarsome-assembly-requiredsome-assembly-required-jef-reahardstorythemeparkwant-living-story-try-a-sandboxFri, 02 Aug 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Tramell Isaac talks Player Studio for PlanetSide 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/07/26/some-assembly-required-tramell-isaac-talks-player-studio-for-pl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/07/26/some-assembly-required-tramell-isaac-talks-player-studio-for-pl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/07/26/some-assembly-required-tramell-isaac-talks-player-studio-for-pl/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required Tramell Isaac talks Player Studio for PlanetSide 2
Ya'll might remember a little reveal last year at SOE Live -- the one about Player Studio. It basically took player-created content up a notch, giving players the chance to put items they design into the games they love and actually make money off of their creativity. Initially, that ability to create content for cash only applied to EverQuest and EverQuest II, but Free Realms was added soon after. Though also slated to join in the Player Studio party, Vanguard, and PlanetSide 2 have remained noticeably absent. Cue PS2's big entrance.

That's right folks: The MMOFPS is finally getting in on the fun. On Monday, July 29th, PlanetSide 2 will officially launch into the realm of Player Studio. Keen-eyed players may even notice that the groundwork has already been laid; the necessary information has been soft-launched on the official website for potential creators to peruse. So what does this all mean for a game that is decidedly different from the fantasy settings of its SOE siblings? I sat down with Senior Art Director Tramell Isaac to discuss how this new tool fits into the war effort.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Tramell Isaac talks Player Studio for PlanetSide 2

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Tramell Isaac talks Player Studio for PlanetSide 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Jul 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>content-for-cashfeaturedfpsgame-mechanicsmmo-shootermmofpsopinionpgcplanetsideplanetside-2player-contentplayer-generated-contentPlayer-Studiops2sandboxsarsci-fishootersoeSOE-Livesome-assembly-requiredsonysony-online-entertainmentTramell-IsaacFri, 26 Jul 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: On MMOs and loss aversion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/07/05/some-assembly-required-on-mmos-and-loss-aversion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/07/05/some-assembly-required-on-mmos-and-loss-aversion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/07/05/some-assembly-required-on-mmos-and-loss-aversion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - On MMOs and loss aversion
I've been reading a book called Scorecasting lately. It's basically an academic exercise in statistics and human behavioral analysis as it relates to the decisions made in both individual and team sports. One of the chapters touches on a theory called loss aversion, which is a psychological phenomenon first attributed to Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky. The theory is generally understood to mean that humans fear potential losses much more than they enjoy actual gains, and thus they often act in statistically irrational fashion to avoid said losses.

We can also see principles of loss aversion at work in MMOs. In fact, I'd go so far as to posit that loss aversion is a large, if indirect, reason why many people play MMOs in the first place. It's also a major reason why sandboxes, virtual worlds, and games that feature some sort of tangible risk/reward mechanic have been in such dire straits since MMOs went mainstream. Follow me past the cut and see if you agree.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: On MMOs and loss aversion

MassivelySome Assembly Required: On MMOs and loss aversion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Jul 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualdesignfeaturedgame-mechanicshardcoreitem-decaylossloss-aversionloss-aversion-mmomechanicsmmo-loss-aversionopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsarsome-assembly-requiredsome-assembly-required-jef-reahardthemeparkFri, 05 Jul 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Five ways MMOs should support player events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/21/some-assembly-required-five-ways-all-games-should-support-playe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/21/some-assembly-required-five-ways-all-games-should-support-playe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/21/some-assembly-required-five-ways-all-games-should-support-playe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required Five ways all games should support player events and why
Over the course of Some Assembly Required, we've covered a few player-run events out there that haven't been highlighted in their respective game columns. After all, we're all about PGC here, and you can't really get content more player-generated than that! But with all the the possible events across the whole gamut of games, there's no possible way to attend them all, let alone cover them here; there is only so much time in the day and space in the column. Of course, that won't stop me from trying!

From Age of Conan to Warhammer Online, a few of the events I've been able to catch are festivals, races, plays, fishing contests, tavern storytelling nights, quests (yes, quests), treasure/scavenger hunts, trivia contests, arena duels, gambling nights, musical concerts, war games, horse races, weddings, dance-offs, terraforming challenges, auctions, jousts, fashion shows, tournaments, funerals, crafter fairs, and more contests than can even be mentioned. These examples aren't restricted to any one genre, either; creatively concocted events run the gamut and include themeparks like Aion, MOBAs like SMITE, and more -- and not just sandboxes.

As you might have noticed, that's quite a bit of content, content that comes at no cost to the the studio! So why is it these events can be so hard to find? With so much free content at their fingertips, it would behoove studios to make it the norm to support and promote these events. And the tools they need to do so are already at their disposal.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Five ways MMOs should support player events

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Five ways MMOs should support player events originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaionaocaoc-unchainedascensionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrowserbrowser-basedclassic-mmoconaneaelectronic-artsendless-trialeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomgame-mechanicshi-rezhi-rez-studioshyboriajagexjagex-games-studiomobamultiplayer-online-battle-arenamythicmythic-entertainmentncsoftopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentplayer-run-eventspromoting-player-run-eventspvprsrunescapervrsandboxsarSmitesoesome-assembly-requiredsonysony-online-entertainmenttelontruly-freeunchainedvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgwarwarcraftwarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 21 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Three games that need player-generated content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/some-assembly-required-three-games-that-need-player-generated-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/some-assembly-required-three-games-that-need-player-generated-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/some-assembly-required-three-games-that-need-player-generated-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - Three games that need player-generated content
At times over the last half decade, I've felt as if the MMORPG genre lost sight of itself. It seemed that all any gamemaker wanted to do was emulate a certain wildly successful outlier, and this in turn threw a wet blanket over the sandbox play, emergent design, and player-generated content that separates MMOs from run-of-the-mill video games.

The last year or so has seen the collective industry start to wake up from that bad dream, as there are now a half dozen really promising sandbox or sandpark titles in development, several of which are backed by millions of dollars and major studios.

What about the current crop of games, though? Is it a stretch to imagine a few of them, even the unapologetically linear ones, expanding their horizons with a little bit of player-generated content?

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Three games that need player-generated content

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Three games that need player-generated content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclassic-mmoconsoleconsolesdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoeaelectronic-artsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgalaxiesgame-mechanicshistoricallucasartsopinionpgcplaneplanesplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentplaystation-3playstation3ps3pvpsandboxsarsci-fisoesome-assembly-requiredsome-assembly-required-jef-reahardsony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicsuperherosuperheroesswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorwarwargaming.netwarplanewarplanesworld-of-warplaneswowpFri, 07 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: TUG interview reveals the true nature of Soylent Green]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/some-assembly-required-tug-interview-reveals-the-true-nature-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/some-assembly-required-tug-interview-reveals-the-true-nature-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/some-assembly-required-tug-interview-reveals-the-true-nature-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required TUG interview reveals the true nature of Soylent Green
Much ado has certainly been made lately about doing something "new and different" in games. Just take a look at all the options coming through Kickstarter lately; even more contenders have thrown their hats into the ring since our roundup last February. But in a large number of these cases, the new ideas are coming from developers within the gaming industry. So what would happen if a game were developed from outside the industry?

Enter TUG. Formally known as The Untitled Game, the game is the brainchild of Nerd Kingdom, a group hailing from the world of academia that happens to have intersected with gaming. Self-described as "a collaboration of video game developers, academic scientists, modders, and gamers," this group wants to move beyond just improving the way games are made "to show[ing] that such games can make us better as individuals and as a society."

I was able to catch up with one of the founders of Nerd Kingdom, Scientist and Researcher of Stuffs Peter Salinas, to talk about the game. We touched on everything from player design input to features (like player books and companions) to making an engine available for others to use. Oh, and of course, Soylent Green.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: TUG interview reveals the true nature of Soylent Green

MassivelySome Assembly Required: TUG interview reveals the true nature of Soylent Green originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredfeaturesgame-mechanicsinterviewinterviewsKickstartermassively-exclusivemassively-exclusive-interviewNerd-KingdomopinionPeter-Salinaspgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsarsome-assembly-requiredSoylent-GreenThe-Untitled-GameTUGFri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Community as content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/some-assembly-required-community-as-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/some-assembly-required-community-as-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/some-assembly-required-community-as-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required Community as content
Not too long ago, I had the opportunity to cover an occasion during which an in-game community came together and created a new player-run annual event. Born as an anniversary follow-up to a service event for the young terminally ill player Ribbitribbit, the new tradition focused on celebrating that very community that pulled together to create him a dream playground within EverQuest II. If the game lacked a sense of community in the game before that original project, it certainly didn't after.

After tugging at my heartstrings for a while, that experience made me reflect on how much our communities are really a cornerstone of player-generated content. How often have you attended or participated in an event or run a mission created by someone other than yourself? And yet, when discussing important tools and elements needed to support player-generated content, we often overlook the necessity of a vibrant community. It's like trying to bake a cake without adding the flour. Or how about this analogy: You can give folks a giant tool box full of a shiny implements and tell them to build a house, but not much will happen without the actual wood and materials! So to foster PGC, games need to foster building communities.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Community as content

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Community as content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionascensionbuy-to-playcommunitycommunity-buildingcommunity-building-toolseaelectronic-artsendless-trialeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieveeve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2013eve-onlineeve-online-fanfesteve-online-fanfest-2013eventevent-coverageeverquest-2everquest-iif2pfactionfanfestfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomgame-mechanicshorroricelandin-game-calendarlineagelineage-2lineage-iimassively-event-coveragemythicmythic-entertainmentmythologyncsoftopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpvprekyjavikrvrsandboxsarsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedsoesome-assembly-requiredsonysony-online-entertainmentsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtruly-freetswwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineFri, 26 Apr 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Your guide to MMO sandboxes in 2013 and beyond]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/some-assembly-required-your-guide-to-mmo-sandboxes-in-2013-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/some-assembly-required-your-guide-to-mmo-sandboxes-in-2013-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/some-assembly-required-your-guide-to-mmo-sandboxes-in-2013-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - Massively's guide to sandboxes
Welcome to Massively's guide to MMO sandboxes in 2013 and beyond. I've collected the essential details on all the major sandbox titles releasing this year and in the near future in one easy-to-reference article. If you're wondering whether ArcheAge forces you to PvP, or if you can't tell The Repopulation from Origins of Malu, this is your post.

I'll be updating it as game features are added, removed, or revealed, so be sure to use the comments to let me know if I've overlooked a particularly noteworthy item. Finally, I want to point out that this isn't an exhaustive list because of the sheer number of sandbox projects ongoing. For now, I'm choosing to focus on the ones that will be playable in 2013/2014 as well as the projects that have a big-name developer attached.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Your guide to MMO sandboxes in 2013 and beyond

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Your guide to MMO sandboxes in 2013 and beyond originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013-sandbox-guide2013-sandboxesaaabove-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologiesaction-mmoage-of-wulinage-of-wushuagonarche-agearcheageasiaavataraventurinecarbinecarbine-studioschinachinesechinese-mmochris-robertscloud-imperiumcloud-imperium-gamescrowdfundingcrypticcryptic-studiosdangerousdarkfalldavid-brabendfdndeliteelite-dangerouseqeq-nexteqneverquesteverquest-nextf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfrontierfrontier-developmentsgame-mechanicsgpotatogvginternet-spaceshipinternet-spaceshipskickstarterkidnappinglord-britishmartial-artsmassivelys-sandbox-guideming-dynastyncsoftneverwinteropen-pvpopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpvppwerepopulationrichard-garriottsandboxsandbox-guidesandparksarsci-fantasysci-fishroudshroud-of-the-avatarsnail-gamessnail-games-usasoesome-assembly-requiredsome-assembly-required-jef-reahardsony-online-entertainmentSOTAspacespaceshipspaceshipsstar-citizenthe-repopulationwildstarwswushuwuxiaxl-gamesxlgamesFri, 12 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Path of Exile interview reveals plans for player-generated races]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/path-of-exile-interview-reveals-plans-for-player-generated-races/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/path-of-exile-interview-reveals-plans-for-player-generated-races/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/path-of-exile-interview-reveals-plans-for-player-generated-races/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Path of Exile interview reveals plans for playergenerated races
Although there is no Some Assembly Required in the title, don't let that fool you; today's focus is on one of the founding precepts of this column, player-generated content. It's just not sandboxy player-generated content like we've covered before. Today's special edition explores the PGC proposed for the decidedly non-sandbox action RPG Path of Exile.

At GDC I sat down with managing director Chris Wilson and technical director Jonathan Rogers to discuss Path of Exile and their idea of adding player-run races to the game. A fan favorite, these timed gaming experiences are currently only officially sponsored events grouped into seasons, the first of which just concluded. However, devs would like to give players the opportunity to create and host unofficial events (meaning results won't have any bearing on the seasons) to allow players to enjoy this wildly popular facet of the game in a place where they can practice skills, test themselves against friends, or just enjoy a unique challenge.

Continue reading Path of Exile interview reveals plans for player-generated races

MassivelyPath of Exile interview reveals plans for player-generated races originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoChris-Wilsonconconferenceconventiondiabloeventevent-coverageeventsf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2013game-mechanicsgdcgdc-2013grinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesinterviewinterviewsJonathan-Rogersleaguesmassively-event-coveragemassively-interviewopinionpath-of-exilepgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentplayer-run-racespoeracesroguelikesandboxsarseason-onesome-assembly-requiredMon, 08 Apr 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2013: Chris Roberts expounds on Star Citizen's crafting, economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/gdc-2013-chris-roberts-expounds-on-star-citizens-crafting-ec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/gdc-2013-chris-roberts-expounds-on-star-citizens-crafting-ec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/30/gdc-2013-chris-roberts-expounds-on-star-citizens-crafting-ec/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

GDC 2013 Chris Roberts expounds on Star Citizen's crafting, economy
This week we have a special GDC edition of Some Assembly Required. I had the opportunity to sit down with Chris Roberts and talk about his highly anticipated space sim sandbox, Star Citizen. We talked lore, the game's PvP/PvE sliders and living universe concepts, guilds, and when players can expect to get in some dogfighting. Roberts also delved deeply into the crafting and economic aspects of the game.

If you miss the days of carving out a name for yourself and your wares and/or cornering the market and building an economic empire, you'll definitely want to keep an eye on Star Citizen.

Continue reading GDC 2013: Chris Roberts expounds on Star Citizen's crafting, economy

MassivelyGDC 2013: Chris Roberts expounds on Star Citizen's crafting, economy originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required blueprint header
The other week I posted a Leaderboard inviting people to vote for their favorite Star Wars MMO. The comments featured a number of both predictable and surprising insights, but one line of thought in particular stood out to me. There are apparently some folks out there who think that Star Wars is nothing more than laser pistols and lightsabers, just as there are some folks who think that MMOs are nothing more than combat lobbies.

While I'll stop short of labeling these people because of a difference in opinion, it's clear that they haven't really thought this through.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: There's no crafting in Star Wars!

MassivelySome Assembly Required: There's no crafting in Star Wars! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingfeaturedgame-mechanicsno-crafting-in-star-warsnon-combatnon-combat-gameplayopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentreductionismsandboxsandparksarsome-assembly-requiredsome-assembly-required-jef-reahardstar-wars-craftingsw-craftingtheres no-crafting-in-star-warsTheresNo-crafting-in-star-warsvirtual-worldsworld-vs-gameyou-cant-have-crafting-in-star-warsFri, 15 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Bringing the 'craft' back to crafting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/some-assembly-required-bringing-the-craft-back-to-crafting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/some-assembly-required-bringing-the-craft-back-to-crafting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/some-assembly-required-bringing-the-craft-back-to-crafting/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required Bringing the 'craft' back to crafting
A recent comment made in regard to crafting in an upcoming game gave me pause. It went something like this: If the gameplay fails, the crafting system won't matter. My first thought was that this person must have accidentally tripped over his tongue and mistakenly substituted words, meaning to insert pwnzer PvP or some such instead of gameplay. Why? Because we all understand that as a part of playing the game, crafting is inherently gameplay.

But then another explanation for this wildly inaccurate statement came to me; perhaps the speaker had actually never seen -- let alone experienced -- real, meaningful crafting in a game! After all, there has been a serious dearth of deep, involved crafting systems where skill and dedication are valued for quite some time in MMOs. Crafting, if it exists at all, is often relegated to some mechanic that can be slept through that results in uniform, standardized products. It's no wonder that some folks might not realize that crafting is gameplay.

But change is a-comin'! Some upcoming games are returning to the idea that robust crafting systems are a deep and engaging part of games. Heck, the whole premise behind one is crafting! Two titles, The Repopulation and Pathfinder Online, seem to have really hit the nail on the head when it comes to developing sophisticated crafting systems that have purpose and meaning. Today in Some Assembly Required, we'll take a closer look at how both are putting the "craft" back into crafting.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Bringing the 'craft' back to crafting

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Bringing the 'craft' back to crafting originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>above-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologiesartisanscraftingfeaturedgame-mechanicsGoblinworksopinionPathfinderpathfinder-Onlinepgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsarsci-fisome-assembly-requiredThe-Repopulationthe-repopulation-craftingFri, 01 Mar 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: The sweet sorrow of choosing a new sandbox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/some-assembly-required-the-sweet-sorrow-of-choosing-a-new-sandb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/some-assembly-required-the-sweet-sorrow-of-choosing-a-new-sandb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/some-assembly-required-the-sweet-sorrow-of-choosing-a-new-sandb/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required The sweet sorrow of choosing a new sandbox
Late last year I penned a piece that looked ahead to 2013's most promising sandbox titles. Recent developments have necessitated that I add to that list, which is simultaneously staggering and somewhat stressful. My new MMO home is lurking in one of these games, but I must choose, and choose wisely! Help me out after the cut.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: The sweet sorrow of choosing a new sandbox

MassivelySome Assembly Required: The sweet sorrow of choosing a new sandbox originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013-sandbox2013-sandboxesaaaction-mmoarche-agearcheagecamelotcamelot-unchainedcarbinecarbine-studioschoicechoice-paralysischoosing-a-sandboxcity-statecity-state-entertainmentcrypticcryptic-studioscsedndf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-mechanicsmark-jacobsncsoftneverwinteropinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpvppwervrsandboxsandparksarsci-fantasysci-fisome-assembly-requiredsome-assembly-required-jef-reahardthe-problem-of-choicewildstarwsxl-gamesxlgamesFri, 15 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Kick(start)ing the sandbox genre]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/some-assembly-required-kick-start-ing-the-sandbox-genre-into-hi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/some-assembly-required-kick-start-ing-the-sandbox-genre-into-hi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/some-assembly-required-kick-start-ing-the-sandbox-genre-into-hi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required Kickstarting the sandbox genre into higher gear
Sandbox aficionados are known to reminisce about the "good old days." You know, that time long lost in the past when the greats of open-world play like Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies (pre-NGE of course) enjoyed their heyday. Many a lamentation has also been heard about how things have never been the same, or how nothing has filled that void.

Of course, the sandbox never died. In 2012 we started the year off with a guide to games sporting sandbox features to scratch a variety of virtual world itches and we ended with a look at some promising upcoming titles for 2013. With plenty of choices abounding, why are sandbox fans still decrying the lack of a home? It could be because they want one home for everyone to settle in together, basically one game to rule them all. But how realistic is that?

Even with the plethora of offerings now, many folks want to play their ideal sandbox, and everyone has their own idea of what the perfect one would be (and conversely, what would kill it). Perhaps the answer, then, is to forget about a single universal home that accommodates the masses and actually create a number of niche games where people find exactly what they are looking for. Wait, that's already happening? Enter Kickstarter.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Kick(start)ing the sandbox genre

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Kick(start)ing the sandbox genre originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required 17
It's been raining for four days straight, and I've been cooped up in my house with nothing but a head cold and a bunch of time to think about my ideal sandbox MMORPG.

For this week's Some Assembly Required, then, I'm shamelessly borrowing the format from Massively's MMO Blender column to construct a perfect(ly) theoretical hybrid. I've done so once before, but this time I'm going to put the focus on fantasy instead of on the sci-fi stylings of Star Citizen and Star Wars Galaxies.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: The ultimate MMORPG

MassivelySome Assembly Required: The ultimate MMORPG originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic-mmocraftingeconomyeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfrankengamefree-to-playgalaxiesgame-mechanicsmakers-marknamed-crafting-itemsnon-combat-gameplayopinionperfect-mmopgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsarsci-fisoesome-assembly-requiredsome-assembly-required-jef-reahardsonysony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgotradeskillingFri, 18 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: How do you define player-generated content?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/some-assembly-required-how-do-you-define-player-generated-conte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/some-assembly-required-how-do-you-define-player-generated-conte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/some-assembly-required-how-do-you-define-player-generated-conte/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required How do you define playergenerated content
During a recent conversation with my fellow Some Assembly Required columnist, it became apparent that we had slightly differing opinions on the definition of player-generated content. We both agreed that it was content generated by players (obviously), but when it came to the type of content, our opinions diverged. Seeing as PGC is one of the founding premise behind SAR, I thought it would be a good idea to start the new year out by defining the term more precisely to give us a stable foundation to build on. After all, we want to be on the same page, don't we?

Of course, that gives you the chance to weigh in with your opinions as well! What is the first thing you think of when you hear the term? Let's see whether your ideas about player-generated content mesh with mine, more closely resemble Jef's, or embody something totally different.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: How do you define player-generated content?

MassivelySome Assembly Required: How do you define player-generated content? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required - Architectual plans
What a difference a year makes, amirite? This time twelve months ago, I was licking the wounds brought on by Star Wars Galaxies' unceremonious and premature departure from the MMO scene. It was bad enough that a profitable title was sacrificed in order to clear a path for one of 2012's biggest disappointments, but it was worse that said title was the premier sandbox in the genre's history.

Frankly, the last few years have been abysmal for fans of non-linear MMOs and player-generated content, but thankfully, 2012 righted the ship and gave us more than a bit of hope for 2013.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Six reasons to love sandboxes in 2013

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Six reasons to love sandboxes in 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013-sandboxaaage-of-wulinage-of-wushuagonarche-agearcheageasiaaventurinechinachinesechinese-mmodarkfalldfeqeq-nexteqneverquesteverquest-nextfantasyfeaturedgame-mechanicsgpotatogvgjet-lijohn-smedleykidnappingmartial-artsming-dynastyopen-pvpopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpvpsandboxsandbox-2013sandboxes-in-2013sandparksarsix-reasons-to-love-sandboxes-in-2013snail-gamessnail-games-usasoesome-assembly-requiredsome-assembly-required-jef-reahardsony-online-entertainmentstar-citizenthe-repopulationwushuwuxiaxl-gamesxlgamesFri, 21 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Getting the most out of TSW's Albion Theatre]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/07/some-assembly-required-getting-the-most-out-of-tsws-albion-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/07/some-assembly-required-getting-the-most-out-of-tsws-albion-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/07/some-assembly-required-getting-the-most-out-of-tsws-albion-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required Getting the most out of TSW's Albion Theatre
Say what you will about Funcom, but there is no denying that the studio is certainly delivering on its promises. Each successive monthly patch is expanding The Secret World and offering even more to players. And as promised in my inaugural Chaos Theory, today we'll focus on yet another aspect of TSW's Big Trouble in the Big Apple.

You might be asking what the conspiracy-laced horror game could have that grants it a place in the annals of Some Assembly Required. Instead of just new missions, weapons, and other adventuring goodies, issue #4 introduced a unique stage for great player-generated content -- literally. With the opening of the Albion Theatre in London, roleplayers were not just thrown a bone; they were treated to a juicy steak dinner!

From impromptu performances to elaborate productions, the Albion Theatre is a magnificent tool for player-generated content. Players can hop onstage and present well-known works or share their own creations with everyone. I was so excited by this new feature that I immediately dived in to check it out during my first post-issue #4 livestream, then returned again to try my hand at a one-woman mini-production. What I learned during my escapades (with special thanks to Tyutchev, TheChosenOne, Kiieren, and Tulkas!) can help you on your own road to TSW stardom without dealing with all of the trial-and-error experimentation yourself.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Getting the most out of TSW's Albion Theatre

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Getting the most out of TSW's Albion Theatre originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required A Greed Monger interview
With so many games out there and in development for the themepark and PvP crowds, you had to be wondering when a different demographic would start feeling the developer love. I'm talking about crafters! Of course, the brains behind Some Assembly Required love crafters and all they represent; after all, this column is a celebration of all things player-generated, and what's more player-generated than in-game crafted goods? So trust me when I say we are always on the lookout for games that focus on crafting. And one such upcoming game is Greed Monger.

We first heard about Greed Monger when the crafting-focused game appeared on Kickstarter. And we aren't the only ones keeping our eyes on this game; fan support has helped the game not only reach its initial Kickstarter funding goal but exceed many of the stretch goals as well. From the campaign page, we know some small details about the game. Joining the ranks of games like Xsyon, Greed Monger will boast a world that's nothing but what you make it. It's a blank slate with no NPCs, no buildings, and no quests -- players will build this free-to-play game from the ground up, crafting everything as they go.

Of course, we were interested in learning even more, so we chatted with Jason Appleton, the game's producer and project lead, to get the scoop.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: A Greed Monger interview

MassivelySome Assembly Required: A Greed Monger interview originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingcrafting-mmof2pfeaturedfree-to-playgame-mechanicsGreed-Mongergreed-monger-partnershousinginterviewinterviewsJason-AppletonKickstartermassively-exclusiveMassively-exclusive-interviewMassively-interviewnon-instanced-housingopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsarsome-assembly-requiredMon, 26 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: On balance and fairness]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/some-assembly-required-on-balance-and-fairness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/some-assembly-required-on-balance-and-fairness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/some-assembly-required-on-balance-and-fairness/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required 22
Today it occurred to me that The Secret World's faction choice is meaningless. You're probably aware that the game features three organizations, but if you're not a regular player, you may not know that picking one is largely an aesthetic exercise. Sure you get different lines of dialogue in the game's numerous cutscenes depending upon whether you're a Dragon or a Templar, and you get Illuminati-specific outfits if you roll that way, but outside of these niceties and perhaps roleplay, TSW's factions are pretty pointless.

They're pointless because there's no real consequence for picking one over the other, and there's no lasting impact on either the world or gameplay that results from in-game factional "wins."

Anyhow, when I mentioned this to a friend, his very first comment was that "any changes would need to be fair and inclusive."

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: On balance and fairness

MassivelySome Assembly Required: On balance and fairness originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required SOE Live in a nutshell PGC lives! and so do I
By now, everyone has made it home from SOE Live... yes, even that one fellow who kept disappearing, seduced by the one-armed bandit. As my first foray into the annual self-described "family reunion," I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd hoped there would be some news to pass along. If nothing else, a tidbit or two about any title -- be it EverQuest II, PlanetSide 2, or DC universe Online -- would justify my trip out there to me. But what I got wasn't just some news; it was great news!

Although the lights of Vegas are fading from memory, the hope for player-generated content burns brighter than before. From keynote addresses to panels to interviews, Sony Online Entertainment's focus on emergent game play and various sandbox features showed a dedication to gaming beyond just the hack-and-slash treadmill grind. Can we hear a hallelujah?

With so much news coming out of the convention, there wasn't time or space to do much more than just report on the facts. Here, I have the opportunity to sum things up and even add my own impressions of the event! I might even toss in an anecdote or two to illustrate what made this such an incredible experience that I am hooked and will return each year.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Player-generated content at SOE Live

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Player-generated content at SOE Live originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required 25
"If you look at the MMOs out there, they're delivering the same content over and over again. So are we. We need to change that," said Sony Online Entertainment CEO John Smedley to a packed house at last week's SOE Live keynote.

And just like that, the genre became exciting again.

Now, there's a long way to go, of course. And while Smedley's announcement set the hearts of emergent content fans aflame, it also requires a leap of faith from those same fans. After all, there was no gameplay footage accompanying the grandiose talking points. There were no concept art shots or game-related assets of any kind. There was only a promise of hands-on time a year from now. Still, hearing the words (and more crucially, hearing them from a major company) was quite like a long drink of water after an eight-year trek through the desert.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Why SOE should be leading the sandbox charge

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Why SOE should be leading the sandbox charge originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required at SOE Live 2012 A deeper look at DCUO's housingSOE Live 2012
Thursday's announcement of the addition of player lairs to DC Universe Online set this little housing-lover's heart all aflutter! While there were more bits of news about the new Home Turf DLC coming next year, my focus was understandably on the lairs. And I was very happy to sit down at SOE Live and talk shop with Jens Andersen. As creative director for DCUO, Jens shared many juicy tidbits about the new system for this special edition of Some Assembly Required.

So what's in store for denizens of Gotham and Metropolis? Let's start with personal instances that are accessed from realistic points within the cities, functions that stretch to accommodate different levels of creativity and decorating savvy, and a unique dueling system that will be unlike anything players (or their furniture!) have seen before. Players can even get rewards and achievements for collecting items and decorating their homes. Sounds intriguing, no?

Continue reading SOE Live 2012: A deeper look at DCUO's housing lairs

MassivelySOE Live 2012: A deeper look at DCUO's housing lairs originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Oct 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required Citadel of Sorcery interview reveals a
When word filtered to us that a new virtual world was in the works with unique features, I said what any other sandbox-loving player would: Yeah ri... er, I mean, "Show me what you've got." And that's exactly what the folks making Citadel of Sorcery did! And they didn't just tease me with a couple of phrases and leave me dangling; they offered a deluge of information about the upcoming game. In fact, they sent me enough to complete five different articles. That's more Some Assembly Requireds than you can shake a stick at.

Not only did I get to learn many facts about Citadel of Sorcery, but in sitting down and talking with Philip Blood, Director of Game Design at MMO Magic, Inc., I also got to experience first-hand the passion that the developers have for their game.

Philip graciously answered a barrage of questions (perhaps part of the reason the interview grew so long!) and helped paint CoS as a game that might satisfy the longing of players who yearn for a vibrant, living world where their choices make a difference. Unlike traditional games, CoS promises a vast world where each player will experience the game in very different ways. In all, the game sounds innovative and exciting. But don't just take my word on it; check out the details for yourself in this in-depth interview.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Citadel of Sorcery interview reveals a dynamic world

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Citadel of Sorcery interview reveals a dynamic world originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required 27
There's this idea that old-school MMO players don't know what they want.

I've an inkling that the folks espousing this idea have little experience with the old-school games they purport to be evolving beyond. This doesn't stop them from claiming that old-schoolers are in love with a time period instead of a game, though, which in turn intimates that old-schoolers' minds are too muddled to know exactly what they do and do not prefer.

Regardless of how you feel about old vs. new, sandbox vs. themepark, or world vs. game, it's easy to see that conflating someone's personal preference with nostalgia results in a perspective that's of limited usefulness at best.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: The newer-is-better fallacy

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