Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Pitchblack Games' Dominus abruptly shutting down]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/pitchblack-games-dominus-abruptly-shutting-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/pitchblack-games-dominus-abruptly-shutting-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/pitchblack-games-dominus-abruptly-shutting-down/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Goodnight, sweet prince
We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but sometimes it's just unavoidable. Sanya Weathers, Director of Community for Pitchblack Games' in-development sandbox title, Dominus, posted on the forums today to inform players that, effective immediately, Dominus is no more.

Weathers states that the team "simply cannot deliver the game [players] deserve with the resources [the studio has]." She goes on to apologize vehemently, adding that the forum is now read-only, though the game's Facebook page will remain open long enough for players to say their last goodbyes. Sanya signs off by thanking the players for proving that "there is a market for a game like [Dominus]." She concludes, "I will miss you all, and I know we'll meet again." Here's to hoping. Best of luck to the folks over at Pitchblack; we look forward to your next endeavor.

MassivelyPitchblack Games' Dominus abruptly shutting down originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closingclosing-downclosuredominuspitch-blackpitchblackpitchblack-gamesprime-battle-for-dominuspvpsanya-weatherssci-fishut-downshutting-downMon, 30 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dominus December beta invites delayed [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/prime-battle-for-dominus-december-beta-invites-delayed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/prime-battle-for-dominus-december-beta-invites-delayed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/prime-battle-for-dominus-december-beta-invites-delayed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Dominus
Those of you itching for a three-faction PvP MMO with a sci-fi twist will have to endure the discomfort a bit longer. Dominus has announced a slight delay in its beta testing program due to a new game engine that is currently in need of some tweaking.

"The content is basically fine. But the animations are borked, and the lighting is all off, and everything needs to be re-optimized," explains Pitchblack community manager Sanya Weathers on Dominus' official forums.

The bad news is that those players who were promised a spot in the December wave of beta invites are out of luck for the time being. The good news is that the spots aren't going anywhere, and you'll be able to do your part in Dominus' testing phase when new player acceptances resume after the new year.

[Update: We've corrected our erroneous references to Dominus' old title.]

MassivelyDominus December beta invites delayed [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-invitesclosed-betadominuspitchblackpitchblack-gamesprimeprime-battle-for-dominuspvpsanya-weatherssci-fithree-faction-pvpWed, 21 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pitch Black hosting Prime livestream event this afternoon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/pitch-black-hosting-prime-livestream-event-this-afternoon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/pitch-black-hosting-prime-livestream-event-this-afternoon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/pitch-black-hosting-prime-livestream-event-this-afternoon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Prime - battle screenshot
It's Friday, and if you're a fan of Prime: Battle for Dominus, you know that it's time for another dev chat livestream. Prime is a three-faction skill-based MMO set in a war-torn sci-fi universe of high technology and high adventure, but its livestreaming dev chats are a little less dangerous.

Joining the fun is as easy as navigating to Pitch Black's Ustream channel and settling back with your favorite beverage. There's no need to sign up for anything unless you'd like to join the commenting crowd, in which case you'll need to register and log in with your Ustream account.

Today's event kicks off at 3:00 p.m. EDT, and you can learn more about the game at its official website.

MassivelyPitch Black hosting Prime livestream event this afternoon originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-factionlive-streamlivestreampitch-blackpitch-black-gamesprimeprime-battle-for-dominuspvepvpsanya-weatherssci-fiskill-basedthree-factionFri, 26 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PitchBlack Games announces Sanya Weathers as new Director of Community]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/pitchblack-games-announces-sanya-weathers-as-new-director-of-com/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/pitchblack-games-announces-sanya-weathers-as-new-director-of-com/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/pitchblack-games-announces-sanya-weathers-as-new-director-of-com/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

PitchBlack Games announced today that it has a new addition to its team in the form of former Mythic Director of Community Sanya Weathers. This is certainly a promising announcement for PitchBlack, coming hot on the heels of the official announcement of the studio's first project, Prime: Battle for Dominus.

In regard to Weathers' reasons for choosing to join up with the Prime Online team, she says, "The opportunity to direct community for a PVP MMO at a startup couldn't be refused. The team at PitchBlack also shares my ideals when it comes to customer communication and service, and I look forward to seeing what we can build together." Given her history with Dark Age of Camelot, we're not surprised to see her working on yet another three-faction, PvP-focused MMO. We here at Massively wish Sanya the best at her new gig and look forward to seeing what she and the team at PitchBlack come up with. To round out this new announcement, we also have three pieces of concept art for each of the game's three playable races, which you can see in the gallery below.

Gallery: Prime: Battle for Dominus core gallery

MassivelyPitchBlack Games announces Sanya Weathers as new Director of Community originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>concept-artdirector-of-communitygalleriesgallerypitchblackpitchblack-gamesprimeprime-battle-for-dominusprime-onlinesanya-weathersMon, 20 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blogger claims to be Mythic employee, tells "Why Warhammer Failed"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/blogger-claims-to-be-mythic-employee-tells-why-warhammer-faile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/blogger-claims-to-be-mythic-employee-tells-why-warhammer-faile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/13/blogger-claims-to-be-mythic-employee-tells-why-warhammer-faile/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If there's one thing the internet needs more of, it's drama.

OK, that's a giant lie. The stuff is everywhere, and the MMO industry is no exception. Here at Massively, we get tips about player and industry kerfuffles on a regular basis. It usually turns out to be either a minor conflict or some industry he-said-she-said, but every now and again something takes hold and causes enough of a stir to make everyone take notice.

The "Why Warhammer Failed" blog post from "EA Louse" is a perfect example. EA Louse claims to be a Bioware-Mythic employee who will be "dismissed from Bioware Mythic during the next round of layoffs EA coming this November," and he or she has a bone to pick. We've attempted to contact EA Louse to verify his or her identity, but at the moment there's no way to determine whether this person is legitimate or a random troll.

Either way, the post has gained an amazing amount of attention today -- including some from Mythic's former Director of Community Sanya Weathers. Sanya had quite a bit to say in response to EA Louse, and while the whole situation should be taken with a grain of salt rather than official EA news, it's still gained plenty of attention in the MMO blogosphere.

MassivelyBlogger claims to be Mythic employee, tells "Why Warhammer Failed" originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythicblogdrama-llamaeaea-louseElectronic-Artsif-its-on-the-internet-its-clearly-truemythicrumorsanya-weathersstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortrollwarWarhammerWarhammer-OnlineWed, 13 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively multiplayer online... boobs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/massively-multiplayer-online-boobs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/massively-multiplayer-online-boobs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/massively-multiplayer-online-boobs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Did you know that MMOs and breasts have a long history with one another? It's true, you know. From the time MMOs came onto the scene, so too did scantily clad women with huge hooters. Also, yes, this is indeed one of "those" articles. The article where we talk about breasts seriously, I mean.

Sanya Weathers, no stranger to the MMO industry (or breasts, for that matter) just recently took a pretty funny tour of how breasts work into advertising, whether we like it or not. From box art to marketing departments, she looks at some of the good, the bad, and the downright horrible when it comes to putting hot women on boxes to sell games.

If you're up for a laugh, go check out her article over at MMORPG.com. It's funny, it's insightful, it's historical, and it's full of what men want most -- awesome games. (Get your head out of the gutter if you thought that last line was going to be another boob joke.)

MassivelyMassively multiplayer online... boobs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blade-and-soulboobsbreastshootersknockersmarketingmmorpg.commmosncsoftsanya-weatherssillywomenMon, 24 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GamerDNA: A brief look at free to play games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/gamerdna-a-brief-look-at-free-to-play-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/gamerdna-a-brief-look-at-free-to-play-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/gamerdna-a-brief-look-at-free-to-play-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

By Sanya Weathers for GamerDNA

When you're the market leader in MMO games, you can afford to do a little innovating - though not so much as to disturb or ruffle the customers you've already acquired. When you're making a top drawer MMO with thirty million dollars of other people's money, you can't afford to innovate. Refinements, sure. But no big risks.

So where's the innovation? These days, you see it in the free to play genre, and its close cousin, the "freemium" game. Both of these games make their money from microtransactions. In order to get a customer to fork over a microtransaction, these games require customers that are vested into the world.

But free to play means the player has invested nothing but the time spent downloading the product. And there's a perception among some industry professionals that "easy come, easy go."

Gallery: GamerDNA: A brief look at free to play games

Average days played per weekAverage hours per sessionAverage days played, first five weeksAverage hours per session, five weeksTop games for...

Continue reading GamerDNA: A brief look at free to play games

MassivelyGamerDNA: A brief look at free to play games originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfree-to-playgamer-dnagamerdnasanya-weathersWed, 10 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamer DNA: Plenty of market opportunity in MMOs [part 2]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/gamer-dna-further-conclusions-from-digging-deep-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/gamer-dna-further-conclusions-from-digging-deep-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/gamer-dna-further-conclusions-from-digging-deep-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Continue reading Gamer DNA: Plenty of market opportunity in MMOs [part 2]

MassivelyGamer DNA: Plenty of market opportunity in MMOs [part 2] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chartseditorialgamer-dnagamerdnaguest-editorialmmommogsanya-weathersstatisticsTue, 05 May 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamer DNA: Plenty of market opportunity in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/gamer-dna-further-conclusions-from-digging-deep/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/gamer-dna-further-conclusions-from-digging-deep/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/gamer-dna-further-conclusions-from-digging-deep/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Today, we have another in a continuing series of articles written by the highly talented Sanya Weathers for GamerDNA. In this, her latest column, Sanya looks into the numbers and just what the breakdown for MMO players means.

When you compare groups of MMO consumers, grouped by game title, it's easy to be overwhelmed by World of Warcraft's market dominance. Indeed, many developers have learned the wrong lessons from Blizzard's success, and copied/are copying WoW features - without copying WoW's reasoning, methodology, or execution. The results are products that feel derivative and incomplete, with features that the consumers identify as being less than organically developed. Furthermore, WoW's market reach is so extensive that the most influential players in a social network sense will identify a borrowed feature as being WoW's (even if WoW itself borrowed the feature), and cost the new product credibility as innovators.

Still, when you just look at the data, it's hard to avoid the desire to copy WoW. As we saw last week, WoW players log in more often, and play for longer sessions.

Continue reading Gamer DNA: Plenty of market opportunity in MMOs

MassivelyGamer DNA: Plenty of market opportunity in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chartseditorialgamer-dnagamerdnaguest-editorialmmommogssanya-weathersstatisticsTue, 05 May 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The birth of the Middle Eastern MMO scene]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/the-birth-of-the-middle-eastern-mmo-scene/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/the-birth-of-the-middle-eastern-mmo-scene/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/the-birth-of-the-middle-eastern-mmo-scene/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Much of our coverage of the MMO industry at Massively is clearly focused on North America and Europe, with the occasional article about what's happening in Asia, but we rarely have the opportunity to point out what's happening in MMOs in the Middle East. Truth be told, we weren't aware that MMOs are operating in this region of the world until an article we came across today.

Sanya Weathers recently got in touch with Fadi Mujahid, general manager of a Dubai-based company called Game Power 7 which has localized the free-to-play MMO Rappelz for the Middle East/North African (MENA) market. In fact, to the best of our knowledge, Game Power 7 is the first company to focus on the MMO industry in the Middle East and North Africa to date.

Mujahid explains to Weathers how Game Power 7 made these first inroads to the MENA market, from market research to localization efforts (adding 'Middle Eastern touches' to the characters and other changes to make the game less offensive to the market's cultures), to getting the word out about the Arabic version of Rappelz.

Continue reading The birth of the Middle Eastern MMO scene

MassivelyThe birth of the Middle Eastern MMO scene originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arabic-rappelzfadi-mujahidgame-power-7localizationmenamiddle-eastnorth-africarappelzsanya-weathersFri, 01 May 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How much do guilds matter?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/25/how-much-do-guilds-matter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/25/how-much-do-guilds-matter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/25/how-much-do-guilds-matter/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Today, we have another in a continuing series of articles written by the highly talented Sanya Weathers for GamerDNA. In this, her latest column, Sanya runs down some interesting and illuminating statistics about players and guilds, and just how they fit in to the macrocosm of MMOs.

A long time ago, in a fantasy world far far away, I wrangled guilds as part of my job. At first, I wrangled them because it was terribly efficient for one person struggling with a beta. Why deal with thousands of individuals when I could deal with fifty, and put them in charge of their own groups? Guild leaders will always be more informed, more tuned in, and better suited to herding their own cats than a studio representative could ever be.

But what started as expediency turned in to more.

As a community weenie, I had my dearly beloved "frequent flyers" - people who sent in feedback, usually through email no matter how many systems I built for them to use, with a regularity previously reserved for clocks, robots, and dripping faucets. If it was 3 PM on a Thursday, it was time to get mail from him, him, her, and what I was pretty sure was a him but hadn't ever asked.

Continue reading How much do guilds matter?

MassivelyHow much do guilds matter? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>change-in-levelclass-breakdownfeaturedgamer-dnagamerdnaguildguilded-vs-unguildedguildsjoystiqfeaturesmetricssanya-weathersstatisticstime-playedunguildedWed, 25 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How to stop worrying and enjoy games like Darkfall]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/how-to-stop-worrying-and-enjoy-games-like-darkfall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/how-to-stop-worrying-and-enjoy-games-like-darkfall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/how-to-stop-worrying-and-enjoy-games-like-darkfall/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

While they seem to draw a fair amount of controversy and commentary, massively multiplayer online games that offer kick-in-your-ribs PvP aren't really a new thing. Darkfall is the title that everyone's talking about of late, but it's really cut from the same cloth as the progenitor of all MMOs, Ultima Online. Granted, Ultima Online wasn't and isn't purely focused on player killing, but the fact remains that when you log into games that allow for the possibility of being ganked, in some respects it is what you signed up for. While the no-holds-barred style of play isn't for everyone, it certainly is what some players want. Or at least think they want.

MMO world celeb Sanya Weathers, writing for Examiner, says "Darkfall has been, since its conception, an unapologetic return to Ultima Online's original style of full metal ham kicking. The gang at Aventurine never pretended their game would appeal to a mass market, and certainly never pretended that the game would have anything but a vicious learning curve."

Continue reading How to stop worrying and enjoy games like Darkfall

MassivelyHow to stop worrying and enjoy games like Darkfall originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aventurineaventurine-sachallengecontroversydarkfallexaminerfantasygame-mechanicshardcorelootingmmo-industryopinionpvpsanya-weatherstips-and-tricksuiultima-onlineuouser-interfaceThu, 19 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sanya Weathers on admitting you're an MMOG gamer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/14/sanya-weathers-on-admitting-youre-an-mmog-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/14/sanya-weathers-on-admitting-youre-an-mmog-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/14/sanya-weathers-on-admitting-youre-an-mmog-gamer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sanya Weathers, a.k.a. Tweety, recently published a guide to breaking the news to your loved ones about your MMOG habit. She keeps her advice lighthearted throughout, but her tips are good ones.

For instance, here's how she disarms those who outright scoff at the hobby: "If the person you're talking to gets dismissive, keep your cool. Ask how much television they watch. Ask if television is active or passive. Ask how many people a television viewer is interacting with, or working with towards common goals."

Weathers has made her rounds in the MMOG industry before. She originally got her start at Mythic Entertainment after a blogging stint on the famed Lum the Mad MMOG rant site her rant site, as well as venerable rant site Corpnews.com. While she does freelance work, her current home is Eating Bees, where she blogs about community management issues.

MassivelySanya Weathers on admitting you're an MMOG gamer originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eating-beesexaminersanya-weatherstweetySat, 14 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GamerDNA provides insight into how we view our MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/13/gamerdna-provides-insight-into-how-we-view-our-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/13/gamerdna-provides-insight-into-how-we-view-our-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/13/gamerdna-provides-insight-into-how-we-view-our-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Massively multiplayer online games, and our experiences within them, don't always fit into neat categories like "Fantasy" and "Sci-fi." The depth of these games -- in terms of setting, general tone, opposition faced (players or NPCs), how we envision ourselves in these games, and how that affects our playstyles -- gives way to a wide range of differing viewpoints among players on those very same games.

Sanya Weathers of gamerDNA explores how we view our games in her column "MMO Focus: Traits of Popular Subscription Games". For those unfamiliar with gamerDNA, it's a social network for gamers which touts a new feature called the Discovery Engine. It allows its users to assign various traits to the games they play -- or create their own -- which in turn provides metrics for gamerDNA, and a collective glimpse into how we relate to our games. The results Weathers gathered from gamerDNA's trait system were a bit unexpected, leading her to say, "Either we have a massive identity crisis here in the gaming world, or what you think you are has nothing to do with the games you play. Rampant individualists for the win!"

Continue reading GamerDNA provides insight into how we view our MMOs

MassivelyGamerDNA provides insight into how we view our MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcity-of-heroescohcoxdiscovery-enginegamerdnammo-industryncsoftopinionsanya-weatherssocial-networkingstatisticsstatstraitsworld-of-warcraftSat, 13 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Failed MMOnogamy: An analysis of multi-gamers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/failed-mmonogamy-an-analysis-of-multi-gamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/failed-mmonogamy-an-analysis-of-multi-gamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/failed-mmonogamy-an-analysis-of-multi-gamers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


GamerDNA is at it once again with what they do best: crunching numbers and making pretty graphs! Ok, so it's much more than that, but we've become accustomed to some interesting analysis of our favorite MMOs and why we play them. In their most recent article, Sanya Weathers takes a look at people who play multiple MMOs, and which ones they're playing.

The article explains the details of the research, as the sample set was taken from gamerDNA users who have Xfire turned on. Within this research, we learn that 76% of users only play one title. Not surprising, that one title is mostly either World of Warcraft or Warhammer Online. To be relatively fair to WAR's newness, this research was done later than one month after the game's launch.

Continue reading Failed MMOnogamy: An analysis of multi-gamers

MassivelyFailed MMOnogamy: An analysis of multi-gamers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analysisgamerdnammonogamysanya-weatherswarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 06 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How your Bartle Type influences your class choice: WoW style]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/how-your-bartle-type-influences-your-class-choice-wow-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/how-your-bartle-type-influences-your-class-choice-wow-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/how-your-bartle-type-influences-your-class-choice-wow-style/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Last week we showed the Massively readers a research report done at gamerDNA regarding MMO players' Bartle Type and how it influences their Warhammer Online class choices. In the comments at their site, and at ours, many asked if this could be done for other games as well, namely World of Warcraft. Well this week they treat us to just that, and the results might surprise you.

While not as clearly-defined as the WAR/Bartle results, this report shows some interesting statistics relating to WoW players and their gender, personality, class type and more. Keep in mind though that these results are based on around 45k+ members at gamerDNA who play WoW, not every single player out there. Even so, it's always enlightening to see these things in solid numbers. I mean, who knew there were more Hunters than any other class? /cough
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!

MassivelyHow your Bartle Type influences your class choice: WoW style originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bartle-typesblizzardgamerdnagenderpersonalitysanya-weathersworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 20 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How your Bartle Type influences your WAR class choice]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/how-your-bartle-type-influences-your-war-class-choice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/how-your-bartle-type-influences-your-war-class-choice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/how-your-bartle-type-influences-your-war-class-choice/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


A few weeks ago, gamerDNA made a push to get 500k gamers to take the Bartle test located on their site. Not only did they crush that number, but they've put the statistics to good use. In an interesting research article by Sanya Weathers (who was just recently on the Massively speaking podcast), you'll notice some fascinating results combining the Bartle Type of gamers as it pertains to their Warhammer Online class choice.

First off, this article shows the interesting distribution of class choices in WAR (from the people with that information in their gamerDNA profiles). Then that information is broken down to show gender preference per class and ultimately the Bartle Type in relation to each class. The entire article is certainly a worthwhile read, and says a lot about the balance of the game's classes and how the game can appeal to as many people as it has. Hopefully, as hinted in the article, gamerDNA will do research like this for other popular MMOs in the future.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyHow your Bartle Type influences your WAR class choice originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bartle-testbartle-typesclassesgamerdnagendermythicpreferencessanya-weatherswarwarhammer-onlineSun, 12 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Idiom abuse is a slap in the face of grammar]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/idiom-abuse-is-a-slap-in-the-face-of-grammar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/idiom-abuse-is-a-slap-in-the-face-of-grammar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/idiom-abuse-is-a-slap-in-the-face-of-grammar/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In a rather amusing blog post, Sanya "Tweety" Weathers, MMO community guru and Director of Community at GamerDNA, reflects on the etymology of the phrase "a slap in the face" (as in, "The devs are nerfing Warlocks? This is such a slap in the face!"). Sanya seems to be of the belief that a slap to the face is more of a wake up call, with a potential curative element from temporary psychosis, which would seem to indicate that the phrase is being used improperly in this context.

For our part, we always wondered if people really felt like class nerfs or design changes were so insulting as to be compared with a physical blow to the face or if the phrase has merely slipped into the realm of meaningless idiom, joining "melting faces" and "massive damage" at the nexus of gamer parlance. Our suspicion is that people are just overly dramatic when confronted by change in an online environment, but you never know, some people take their games very seriously.

MassivelyIdiom abuse is a slap in the face of grammar originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eating-beesforumsidiommassive-damagemelt-facesnerfssanya-weathersslap-in-the-facetweetyTue, 17 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Signs you are not smart enough...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/signs-you-are-not-smart-enough/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/signs-you-are-not-smart-enough/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/signs-you-are-not-smart-enough/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


I love eating bees. Well, I love to read Eating Bees, the industry insiders POV from the legendary Sanya Weathers. I love it because she says it like it is, an all too rare commodity in this overly politically correct world. In her latest diatribe Sanya takes on people who are not smart enough to moderated boards. This list can apply to virtually any board whether it be about shooters, MMOs or even movies. But since Sanya came from Mythic Entertainment they are likely based on personal experience. And they're a riot.

Take for instance this doozy: You delete anything that isn't porn, advertising, or one member calling another member a "faggot retard." If you are deleting things because someone posts that such and such a decision is "poorly thought out," you are too sensitive and need to not be online. Ever. Or this classic: You avoid posting something that might cause drama, even though the something in question is most certainly going to be part of the game. Man UP, you chicken$@!* wimp. As the Guinness guys would say: Brilliant!

See, I have some experience in this arena. Back in the day, long before Al Gore invented the "Internet," I created and moderated some of the very first online Star Wars forums. Based on that experience, what Sanya says is dead on. If you don't follow what amounts to her "guidelines" you end up with the inmates running the asylum. Or in this case those damnable forum trolls. By the way, the numerous comments adding more to the list (which she asked for) are almost as funny. It's worth a read.

MassivelySigns you are not smart enough... originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EA-MythicEating-BeesforumsmoderatorMythic-EntertainmentopinionSanya-ThomasSanya-WeathersTweetyMon, 11 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't hate the class, hate the playas]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/dont-hate-the-class-hate-the-playas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/dont-hate-the-class-hate-the-playas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/dont-hate-the-class-hate-the-playas/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Yesterday we told you about Sanya Weathers (aka "Tweety"), who is the absolute bombdiggity when it comes to dishing out insightful, acerbic, honest and intelligent commentary on the MMO industry via her blog, Eating Bees. Her rant on why players quit playing games was aimed directly at the companies who make the games. Today, she takes aim at the players of those games.

In her new post Q&A (surely created from an amalgamation of actual questions) she gets the players in her sights and mows them down with a Gatling gun. Or staff of magical awesomeness. Or alien death ray. Depending on your particular gaming penchant. And oh what a laugh fest it is!

See, I've been gaming since the dawn of time (let's just say I'm above the target age range) , but I've never considered myself a prototypical gamer. I played college football. I was a private investigator for 10 years. I've been a gym rat for over 20 years. I love sports, craft beer, fast cars, and action flicks. Thus, I don't think or act like a typical (or at least what used to be considered "typical" back in the day) gamer. However, I've personally known several folks during that time who wore the abysmal badge of basement dwelling "know it all" geek, and done so with some warped sense of pride. Apparently so has Sanya. Here is but one example of why she is my hero:

  • Q: Why do you hate answering real questions instead of this fluff about crafters and aggro management?
  • A: Are you high? Do you look around the basement and think that because no one else is there with you, only your questions are real? Is this some kind of existential crisis? Because I don't want to be involved if it is.

For the entire hilarious Q&A, check out the full linguistic lashing. She is the Lawgiver!

MassivelyDon't hate the class, hate the playas originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EA-MythicEating-BeesGuildCafeLawgiverSanya-WeathersTweetyFri, 11 Jan 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why do people quit?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/why-do-people-quit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/why-do-people-quit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/why-do-people-quit/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


If you're a gamer and haven't read Sanya Weathers' blog Eating Bees then you're missing out on one of the best reads in the gaming biz today. Why? Sanya is a professional writer who was the Director of Community for Mythic Entertainment for six years and currently holds the same position for GuildCafe. She knows what drives players. Her blog reflects her industry experience, and isn't filled with the fanatical ravings of Fanboy (or girl) A or Forum Troll B whose closest experience with the gaming industry stops at flipping the switch on their gaming rig (or k0nz013) - yet still somehow (truly) believes they "know it all."

I've been a "game journalist" (and I use that term very lightly since most of us in the field aren't "journalists" in any way, shape or form) for over four years, and I'm continually amazed at how Sanya is able to explain (in layman's terms no less) the machinations of this sometimes freakish industry.

Her latest diatribe, Obvious Truth: Why People Quit, lists reasons why people quit playing games (or anything for that matter). The article is aimed squarely at game companies (and their PR people), and it's stunning. But not for the content. As she puts it, if these reasons are shocking... kittens will be killed, drowned by the tears of the baby Jesus. It's stunning because of her answers to what should be "obvious truths." Stunning because everyone with half a cro-magnon's brain (and having been involved with the industry myself, there are a lot more "cavemen" walking around then you might expect) should innately know all this. Sadly, in this day and age of Responsibility Avoidance, the truth isn't so obvious anymore.

Check out Eating Bees, and be sure to subscribe to the Bee feed.

MassivelyWhy do people quit? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EA-MythicEating-BeesGuildCafeopinionSanya-WeathersThu, 10 Jan 2008 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Expecting stability]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/05/expecting-stability/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/05/expecting-stability/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/05/expecting-stability/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I think I've mentioned before that I really enjoy Sanya Weathers' blog about running communities for MMO games, and in her latest post, she makes a great point about stability and expecting it from the games we play.

The example she uses is Xbox Live, which isn't technically an MMO, but does, as she says, constitute a "massive, multiplayer experience." Microsoft has had trouble over the holidays keeping it up and running, and now they've decided to give out a free download to compensate players. How, says Sanya, can they be surprised at this point that they'd have a surge of users over the holidays? Isn't it common knowledge at this point not to play MMOs when a new expansion comes out or when new users show up in droves?

But then she shares the real insight: this shouldn't happen any more. MMOs are no longer a niche business, something we should have to suffer hardships just to play these games. As she says, "it's time to expect our toys to work when we plug them in."

Of course, any IT guy will tell you that downtime is unavoidable-- accidents happen, and predictions are just predictions. Anyone expecting anything to work all the time is going to get disappointed. But at this point, if you have a game (or a system, or a service) that is supposed to be "massive," you have no excuses when everybody shows up to play.

MassivelyExpecting stability originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downtimeeating-beesexpansionmmossanya-weathersstabilitytoysxbox-liveSat, 05 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: IRL]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/the-daily-grind-irl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/the-daily-grind-irl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/16/the-daily-grind-irl/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I really like Sanya Thomas (although she's Sanya Weathers now, isn't she?)-- I read her stuff every day when she was writing ye olde Camelot Herald as a Dark Age of Camelot CM, and and while her blog, Eating Bees (as in a job you signed up to do) runs a little blue sometimes, it's definitely an interesting read for anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes of MMOs.

And in this recent entry, she lashes out at folks who use the term "in real life" to describe something that occurs out of game. She says that saying "IRL" makes the time spent in an virtual world somehow seems less real, when really, you're actually sitting at an actual computer, and having actual interactions with other people online.

Now, her argument is a little more academic than practical-- of course there's a difference between virtual worlds and "real life," and most of the people who use "IRL" don't do it to devalue their ingame activities; they use it to describe something that happens in a place that (we assume-- whoops, this just got deeper) is real.

So what do you think? Does "IRL" imply that what you do in a virtual world is somehow worth less respect? Are the friendships you have with the people you know ingame not "real" friendships, or the achievements you're earning not "real" achievements? Or is it just a phrase you use for lack of a better one? And if so, is there a better one? "Nongame"? "Out-of-game"?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: IRL originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grinddark-age-of-camelotin-real-lifeirlsanya-thomassanya-weathersFri, 16 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST