Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you ashamed of being a gamer?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/19/the-daily-grind-are-you-ashamed-of-being-a-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/19/the-daily-grind-are-you-ashamed-of-being-a-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/19/the-daily-grind-are-you-ashamed-of-being-a-gamer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This past week, blogger Tobold dusted off the issue of gamer pride -- and more specifically, gamer shame. While we have strong affection for our beloved hobby, gaming has a stigma that's yet to completely wear off, even though our ranks swell every month. It's a frustrating double standard when friends openly chat about sports, movies and TV, and yet give you an odd look when you gush about your favorite game.

While I'm not shy about being a gamer, I don't exactly go about broadcasting it, either. For one thing, a lot of people still associate video games with either mindless violence or childish play. For another, it's simply hard to explain the attraction of games to those who have limited or zero experience with them.

As a result of this stigma, there's a temptation to keep your gaming persona on the down-low, or "DL" as kids a decade ago put it. Do you hide your identity as a gamer from friends, loved ones and co-workers? Are you cautious about bringing it up in conversation until you know you're among like minds?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you ashamed of being a gamer? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ashamedhide-identityhobbyidentityopinionshametdgthe-daily-grindtoboldyo-dawg-you-on-the-dlMon, 19 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOs and tribal thinking]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/18/mmos-and-tribal-thinking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/18/mmos-and-tribal-thinking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/18/mmos-and-tribal-thinking/#commentsFiled under: ,

Tobold of Tobold's MMORPG blog wrote an interesting post this morning on a phenomenon that pretty much everyone in the gaming community is familiar with: MMOs and tribal thinking. You know the deal: "x" game sucks, therefore anyone who plays it clearly sucks as well and must be informed at great length of the error of their ways. (As Tobold pointed out as well, if you write about that game in the bargain, you are obviously receiving kickbacks from the developers. No amount of boring old facts can stand in the face of those accusations.)

Your favorite MMO is a bit more of a commitment than choosing to eat an apple or banana. An MMO is a heavy time and cash investment, and as a result people get more attached to their favorite and more worked up when they feel someone is slighting it. The reverse is true as well: if you choose not to invest your time and money in a game, you can just...not invest your time and money in it and move on. The end. We all know, however, that a huge percentage of gamers are unwilling or unable to do so. A comment from We Fly Spitfires put it very simply: "People love to belong to one camp or another and irrationally abuse anyone who doesn't agree with them."

It's that sort of tribal thinking -- you're either with us or against us! -- that Tobold explores in his blog entry. It's an interesting read, and worth the time to take a look at.

MassivelyMMOs and tribal thinking originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cultureopinionToboldtobolds-mmorpg-blogwe-fly-spitfiresMon, 18 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: The Quest of Vindication]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/24/anti-aliased-the-quest-of-vindication/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/24/anti-aliased-the-quest-of-vindication/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/24/anti-aliased-the-quest-of-vindication/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Happy Holidays everybody! Hope you're all having an exciting time that's full of epic loot drops from purple gift packages sent by the jolly NPC in the red suit.

This week's column is a holiday-tacular rant fest as I feel like tackling one of the major sticking points of an MMO player's behavior: the need to pursue vindication. This isn't something unique to MMO culture or even video game culture at large. We all feel this rather odd need to defend our decisions or opinions to others, even if they will never ever agree with us.

However, when it comes to MMOs, vindication can be a bad thing. When communities become polarized in thought and begin to shut out others it can hurt the game's growth and the game's sense of community.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: The Quest of Vindication

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: The Quest of Vindication originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>darkfallfeaturedgroup-polarizationlumlum-the-madopinionpsychologypvpscott-jenningsscott-lum-the-mad-jenningssyncainetoboldvindicationThu, 24 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA["Why do we play MMOs" series concludes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/22/why-do-we-play-mmos-series-concludes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/22/why-do-we-play-mmos-series-concludes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/22/why-do-we-play-mmos-series-concludes/#commentsFiled under: ,

When we last checked in with Tobold, he was just starting up a new blog series looking into why we play MMO games to a greater degree than single-player games. That isn't to say that the MMO genre is bigger than the single-player genre, just that MMO gamers tend to focus on massively multi-player games more than single-player games. His first two articles examined Storytelling and Gameplay elements in MMOs and since then he has done pieces on Challenge, Character Development, Rewards, Social Interactions, and Learning.

The series just wrapped up and Tobold wrote a nice summary of why he thinks we mostly choose MMOs over single-player games. He feels that while we may play single-player games that have strong elements of story, gameplay, or challenge, the social aspects of MMOs seem to be the trump card. MMOs can have many weaker core elements but social interaction (direct) or simply participating in a persistent game world (indirect) appears to make up for those deficiencies. It's a long series to get through but well worth the read if you're into these kinds of high-thinking philosophical discussions.

Massively"Why do we play MMOs" series concludes originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengecharacter-developmentgameplaylearningrewardssocial-interactionstorytellingtoboldSat, 22 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Inquisitive blogging series delves into why we play MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/inquisitive-blogging-series-delves-into-why-we-play-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/inquisitive-blogging-series-delves-into-why-we-play-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/inquisitive-blogging-series-delves-into-why-we-play-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Why do we play MMOs? What is it about them that inspires us to pay a monthly subscription fee or whip out the credit card for a few microtransactions? This is an extremely valid and important question because the answers are key drivers of success for the genre. Without these answers, developers are simply throwing darts in a dark and empty pub.

Popular MMO blogger Tobold is back from a short hiatus and asking this very question in order to disover the basic elements and motivations that make us choose to play these types of games. His introduction piece talks about some of the components he may cover, including: storytelling, character development, social interaction, polish, challenge, and achevements.

Since the introduction piece, he has written two articles in the series: Storytelling and Gameplay. Based on the quality of stories found in MMOs, tools and design iterations that all but allow players to skip over quest text, and the fact that pure MMO environments don't facilitate epic storytelling very well, he doesn't feel as though storytelling is a major reason for why we play MMOs. With a little effort (read: a lot), it could be. As for gameplay, he believes that unless new quality titles start releasing with gameplay that diverges from basic hotbar button-mashing combat and simple crafting, MMOs will be forever stuck in a rut and compared to World of Warcraft.

MassivelyInquisitive blogging series delves into why we play MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combatcraftingdesigngame-designmmo-industrystorytellingtoboldworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 06 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: SWTOR turns up the heat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/the-digital-continuum-swtor-turns-up-the-heat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/the-digital-continuum-swtor-turns-up-the-heat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/the-digital-continuum-swtor-turns-up-the-heat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


E3 2009 has come and gone, with it came new information on Star Wars: The Old Republic -- and fresh concerns. To call BioWare ambitious would be an understatement of vast proportions. Every NPC receiving full voice acting ratcheted up my curiosity as much as it did my eyebrows. We may need a new word to describe the depths of this game's ambition.

As if the voice acting news wasn't enough, BioWare revealed a cinematic trailer that reminded me how powerful this property can truly be, in the right hands. The excitement was so immediately potent that it caused some people to cry "over-hyped!" in the few short minutes between the trailer's beginning and ending.

I think it's time to asses the current situation, and maybe ponder a few things about Star Wars and BioWare.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: SWTOR turns up the heat

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: SWTOR turns up the heat originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocbiowarebounty-huntere3-2009eaelectronic-artsfeaturedfuncomhypejedilucas-artsmythicsithsmugglerstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortoboldtrooperwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 09 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Is SWTOR hype peaking too early?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/is-swtor-hype-peaking-too-early/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/is-swtor-hype-peaking-too-early/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/is-swtor-hype-peaking-too-early/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We were bound to get juicy new details about Star Wars: The Old Republic at E3 2009 and we surely haven't been disappointed thus far. In this week alone we have learned about the new Smuggler class, fan art ownership policy, full in-game voiceovers, and an amazing cinematic trailer. Hype is definitely in full swing, but is it peaking too early?

MMO blogger, Tobold, believes it is. He suggests players have seen very little of SWTOR's in-game substance at this point and BioWare is raising expectations to unrealistic heights by hyping the game so early. He cites Mythic and Funcom as examples of companies that built early hype based on fancy words, design concepts, and trailers and then experienced a fan backlash when players perceived that they did not meet those targets.

Darren of the Common Sense Gamer disagrees and believes that the Star Wars lore is being over-hyped, not the game itself. He also argues that anything Star Wars-related traditionally hypes itself and that a great trailer about the game's history and story should be appreciated for what it is and set apart from the game itself.

MassivelyIs SWTOR hype peaking too early? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebloggingcommon-sense-gamerfuncomhypemythic-entertainmentstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortoboldTue, 02 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Bartle encourages MMO writers to make people think]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/richard-bartle-encourages-mmo-writers-to-make-people-think/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/richard-bartle-encourages-mmo-writers-to-make-people-think/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/richard-bartle-encourages-mmo-writers-to-make-people-think/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Richard Bartle wrote an interesting QBlog post on the art of quest design using WoW's Stranglethorn Vale zone as a model. This elicited a number of responses from various MMO bloggers. Scott Jennings had very few positive things to say about STV, while Tobold mused about STV's relevance in today's MMO landscape given its age and Syp and Raegn pointed out a perceived condescension.

It's always time to grab a hot cup of coffee when someone vocally disagrees with Dr. Bartle because he will always engage in a discussion and defend his views. He took special offense to Syp and Raegn when called out as being condescending in his original article and urged more people to write things about MMOs that make others re-think and take the genre more seriously.

In response to Syp, Bartle wrote: "If you haven't done this kind of analysis, OK, I'm calling you out: write one. Go on, choose any quest from WoW and explain what it's saying. You say you can see behind the curtain: show us. I want the art, not the craft. I don't intend to seem arrogant or mean here, although I'm sure that won't make any difference to how what I just asked is interpreted. I'm pushing because I want to encourage people to think of MMOs as art, not as low culture."

In response to Raegn, Bartle wrote: "I urge you, if you see something you like, that takes MMOs in a new direction, that says something that makes you think (you don't have to agree with it - so long as it makes you think), then please give it publicity. Then, you'll have people who genuinely deserve your praise, not someone who is merely where they are through an accident of history."

MassivelyRichard Bartle encourages MMO writers to make people think originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artdesignquestsraegnrichard-bartlescott-jenningsstranglethorn-valesyptoboldworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 22 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What is your MMO time worth?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/the-daily-grind-what-is-your-mmo-time-worth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/the-daily-grind-what-is-your-mmo-time-worth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/the-daily-grind-what-is-your-mmo-time-worth/#commentsFiled under: ,

Tobold wrote an interesting blog post the other day about the value of time and gaming. In an earlier post, he mentioned that he had spent over 4,579 hours playing World of Warcraft since release. In another, he proclaimed his intentions to spend $100 on Free Realms in its first week. For some reason, his readers reacted more strongly to the FR post than the WoW one.

The reaction seems a bit strange when you consider what Tobold must have spent on his WoW subscription over the years. It's even stranger still when you consider what he could have earned or accomplished if even half those hours were spent on some kind of side job or other "productive" activity. On a purely entertainment level, he's probably getting a pretty good deal in both WoW and FR based on the money he pay to play and you can't work all the time if you want a healthy lifestyle.

We're curious; when it comes to gaming, what is your time worth? Do you take too much, too little, or a balanced amount of downtime for gaming and why?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What is your MMO time worth? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 May 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancegamingplaytimetoboldvalueworkFri, 08 May 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tokens matter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/tokens-matter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/tokens-matter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/tokens-matter/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Recently there's been some talk about avatars in virtual environments and MMOGs as playing pieces or tokens. Tobold says that "Ultimately your avatar is just a playing piece", while Raph Koster takes the position that "Avatars aren't tokens".

We hold a marginally more complex opinion. Avatars are tokens (or playing-pieces, if you will), but tokens matter. Avatars don't, as Tobold points out, intrinsically represent cultural, social or political viewpoints. What they do represent, we aver, is us: The users/players.

If tokens didn't have that some sort of deep significance for us, there'd never be any arguing over who gets to be the race-car in Monopoly, or who gets a particular color playing piece. If how we were represented didn't matter very much, then arguing over the choice of Monopoly tokens wouldn't have reached anywhere near the sort of cultural entrenchment that it has.

Continue reading Tokens matter

MassivelyTokens matter originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarsculturemonopoly-gameopinionraph-kostertoboldvirtual-worldsThu, 07 May 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is it luck?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/29/the-daily-grind-mmo-tourists/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/29/the-daily-grind-mmo-tourists/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/29/the-daily-grind-mmo-tourists/#commentsFiled under: , ,


If you've been paying attention to the MMO blogosphere at all recently, you'll notice there's been some banter back and forth between Syncaine and Tobold in regards to what Syncaine calls "WoW Tourism". If you're not familiar with the concept, the idea is that someone who has only played WoW, and thus has that shiny "first mmo love" with it (as anyone who has played MMOs over the years can attest - the first one that really gets you always has a part of your heart long after you leave) but then proceeds to judge everything else by World of Warcraft. The further away it is, the more it sucks, the more it will fail, etc. This is really telling when they are talking about a game with completely different mechanics like say, EVE Online, which you can't even begin to put into the same general neighborhood if you've ever actually played the two games. But we digress...

In all the bantering back and forth, one thing was stated that's been ringing around in our heads ever since. In his most recent posting, Syncaine ends off with "Perhaps then we can finally stop using 11 million as the size of the MMO genre, and realize WoW (along with being a good game) was a product of market timing and luck." Regardless of your feelings on the recent banter, this is an interesting observation, and one we wanted to ask you about this morning. Do you think that World of Warcraft's 11 million players was just a fluke that no other MMO will ever see again - including Blizzard with their next MMO? Was WoW just a product of right-place, right-time? Or do you think that there really is some type of 'magic formula' as it were; more properly will Blizzard - or anyone else - ever be able to repeat that 11 million players number?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Is it luck? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardcore-casualopinionsyncainetdgthe-daily-grindtoboldSun, 29 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[So, you think you're a hardcore PvPer, eh?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/so-you-think-youre-a-hardcore-pvper-eh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/so-you-think-youre-a-hardcore-pvper-eh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/so-you-think-youre-a-hardcore-pvper-eh/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Darkfall hype has shot through the roof these past few days. Since the NDA was lifted, many reviews have surfaced and they all say pretty much the same thing; Darkfall is technically sound but lacks content polish, and due to its core game design and griefing potential, will only really appeal to the hardcore PvPer. And by "hardcore PvPer," they mean pre-Trammel UO slash AC Darktide fans. Haaardcore.

A few interesting blog posts popped up yesterday that bring something a bit new to the table. Tobold shared his Darkfall beta experience and suggested that while the game may find it's niche, it will be a very small one because most gamers prefer to play it safe. He points out that even in other PvP-centric games like EVE and UO, people tend to congregate in the safe havens if given the option. Scott Jennings also weighed in on hardcore PvPers. He believes people may appreciate the idea of hardcore PvP in the abstract, but tend to wuss out when push comes to shove. He cites past experience with the quick to rise and fall of PvP servers in DAOC. Finally, Keen lets us know that he finally got his pre-order after refreshing the order page for many hours. He shares a quote from lead Darkfall dev, Tasos, who says they are receiving 20 times the amount of web traffic to their order page than originally estimated.

MassivelySo, you think you're a hardcore PvPer, eh? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurineasherons-calldarkfallkeenscott-jenningstasos-flambourastoboldultima-onlineSat, 21 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gear yourself or gear your guild?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/gear-yourself-or-gear-your-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/gear-yourself-or-gear-your-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/gear-yourself-or-gear-your-guild/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


It doesn't sound like it should be a hard question, but once you get into the trenches of raiding you begin to understand exactly how hard of a question it is. Do you continue raiding with your guild, doing the same bosses over and over again when you know you aren't going to get anything for it while your guild-mates get the gear, or do you just worry about yourself, dropping out of the raids once your appropriately geared up?

Tobold is tackling this issue over at his blog, balancing two posts from two very different gamers. On one hand you have Matticus, a guild leader who just lost a paladin because he was overgeared and wished to take a break from the game until a harder dungeon came along, and on the other you have Gevlon, the owner of "The Greedy Goblin" who defends the position of said paladin. It's an interesting and thought provoking discussion worthy of checking out, especially if you have any character in a guild officer position or are deep in raiding with your favorite MMO.

MassivelyGear yourself or gear your guild? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>geargevlonloot-councilmatticusnaxxraidrandom-rolltoboldworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 11 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Do queues make you more hardcore?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/do-queues-make-you-more-hardcore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/do-queues-make-you-more-hardcore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/do-queues-make-you-more-hardcore/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


After a recent blog post by Tobold entitled "Do Queues Make Destruction More Hardcore", we thought we'd take this concept a step further and ask the question of any queue on any server in any game. Throwing the whole notion out the window that Warhammer Online's Destruction players are more hardcore, we'd rather focus on the issue of queues, dedication and how it all relates to hardcore vs. casual in general.

In Tobold's argument, when a player faces a queue, they have three options: Give up and play something else, switch to a lower-population server or wait it out. This applies to the servers themselves and any RvR situation where you need to wait for 'balance'. His prognosis is that since Destruction has seemingly more players, they face a queue more often. This leads to an evolution of players who can't cope with these queues (i.e. casual players without the time to sit and wait for 2 hours to play a game) to re-roll an Order character, or perhaps switch servers entirely. However, this begs the question: Are players on high-pop servers simply more hardcore because they have that time and dedication to wait it out? Or are the hardcore players the ones who can't waste their time sitting in-wait, because they want to spend more time actually playing the game?

MassivelyDo queues make you more hardcore? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualdestructionhardcoremythicorderqueuetoboldwarwarhammer-onlineMon, 06 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Preparing yourself for Lich King]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/preparing-yourself-for-lich-king/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/preparing-yourself-for-lich-king/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/preparing-yourself-for-lich-king/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


If you're looking to get a head start on the new World of Warcraft expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, you might be a bit overwhelmed on where to start. Should you hoard mats, and if so, which ones? Since everyone and their grandmother will be making a Death Knight, should you be making some twink gear to sell and make mega gold before that bubble bursts?

In Tobold's most recent blog post, he gives us some insight into his own pre-launch plans. Stocking up on mid-level herbs and Runecloth for the Death Knight, who will start their First Aid at 270 automatically, might be a good plan. This is certainly an exciting time for you MMO economic strategists out there, so we're wondering what your plans are for the WotLK preparation. Let us know!
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!

MassivelyPreparing yourself for Lich King originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>death-knightpreparationruneclothtoboldworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingMon, 18 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tobold's interview with Paul Barnett]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/tobolds-interview-with-paul-barnett/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/tobolds-interview-with-paul-barnett/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/tobolds-interview-with-paul-barnett/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


It's not often that an unpaid MMO blogger gets the chance to interview an MMO developer, but if anyone deserves the chance, it's Tobold. In a recent interview with EA's creative director Paul Barnett, Tobold fires away with five questions about the upcoming Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning.

Although Barnett is much more entertaining to hear (or watch) in an interview, he does a great job of vividly answering Tobold's questions. Of particular interest here is Barnett's addressing of the PvE issue in Warhammer Online. The general misconception is that WAR will be a PvP game, whereas Barnett explains that there is so much there for players who don't ever want to fight another player, and wish to simply build their history and enjoy themselves in the environment. He says, "You can do those two extremes. And there is a third way, where you play as much or as little of each type as you want."

MassivelyTobold's interview with Paul Barnett originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaea-mythicpaul-barnettpvepvptoboldwarwarhammer-onlineWed, 23 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The tyranny of skill training]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/the-tyranny-of-skill-training/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/the-tyranny-of-skill-training/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/the-tyranny-of-skill-training/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of the nicest features of EVE Online is the fact that skill progression doesn't go hand-in-hand with a monotonous grind. Rather, the game uses a time-based system of advancement. But this seemingly casual aspect of the game is a double-edged sword; in the earlier stages of skill training, a newer player needs to log in very frequently to switch up low level skills. Some EVE players set their alarms and drag themselves out of bed in the early morning hours to switch their skill training, so as not to lose hours of time where progression halts. PC gaming blog 'Life is a Mind Bending Puzzle' has a post about how EVE's system "creates significant pressure to log on and pop a new skill on every time one finishes." Logically, a new player would assume that it's possible to queue skill training in advance. That assumption, however, would be wrong.

Thus the early career of an EVE pilot is one of setting alarms, calendar reminders, and sticky notes... all to avoid that guilt over losing hours of advancement because of something trivial like sleep or a job. But as time goes on, skill training intervals lengthen at higher levels and thus require far less maintenance. Implementing a skill queue was one of the issues brought to CCP Games by the player-elected Council of Stellar Management (CSM), as it's one of the complaints most players have when getting to know the game. How do you feel about skill queues? Is it a necessary feature that CCP should implement, or should the developers be focusing on more pressing matters?

[Via]

MassivelyThe tyranny of skill training originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advancementcasualccpccp-gamesdevdevelopereveeve-onlinegame-mechanicsopinionprogressprogressionsci-fiskillskill-queueskill-trainingskillstoboldThu, 17 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrating five years of Tobold]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/celebrating-five-years-of-tobold/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/celebrating-five-years-of-tobold/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/celebrating-five-years-of-tobold/#commentsFiled under: ,

In the MMO genre, celebrating five years of anything is quite a feat. If you think about it, what games were you even playing five years ago? Everquest? Ultima Online? So we acknowledge that the industry is still fairly young, and blogging about it is even younger. This makes Tobold's fifth year anniversary of his MMO blog something to celebrate.

It's a natural fact that blogs come and go. When there's a hot new topic and someone feels passionate about it, they let it all loose in the first few days, weeks or even months, but a very low percentage make it further than that. Tobold is the exception to this, and we respect him for the fine work he's done thus far. The future progression of MMOs and their close relationship with community-driven blogs only makes sense. They go together like tanks and aggro. So here's to many more years of Tobold, and many more years of blogging about MMOs. Cue sappy music.

MassivelyCelebrating five years of Tobold originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdaybloggerfive-yearsmmo-bloggertoboldWed, 16 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Why do you pay for your games each month?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/why-do-you-pay-for-your-games-each-month/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/why-do-you-pay-for-your-games-each-month/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/why-do-you-pay-for-your-games-each-month/#commentsFiled under: , ,

How much game do you need to support a monthly fee? That's a question Tobold asked in his blog, noting that there are a number of games charging for monthly subs that would be better off with alternative business models. He cites the example of the in-beta Football Manager Live, which he feels is niche in the first place, and coupled with great complexity and minimal graphics, wouldn't exactly draw crowds of subscribers. Tobold thinks that a higher cost to purchase the game and then offering a free basic version would be a more appealing option for some players. And for those who are hardcore about the game, a subscription that would include more detailed statistics would be a better fit.

He notes titles like Diablo, Hellgate: London and Guild Wars -- games which eschewed the standard subscription model for either box sales or partial subscriptions. This led him wonder what exactly we expect from a game we're willing to subscribe to. Tobold asks: What are you willing to pay a monthly fee for, and where do you balk at the cost? Are there specific features which you think justify a monthly fee? Sound off if you have some ideas about what makes your game of choice worthy of your sub money each month. Or if your preferred MMO isn't a subscription title, what drew you to that game?

MassivelyWhy do you pay for your games each month? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabox-salesbusiness-modelsdiablof2pfeaturesfree-to-playgame-mechanicsguild-warshardcorehellgate-londonnichestatisticssubsubscriptiontoboldWed, 09 Jul 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft's J. Allen Brack interviewed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/29/world-of-warcraft-s-j-allen-brack-interviewed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/29/world-of-warcraft-s-j-allen-brack-interviewed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/29/world-of-warcraft-s-j-allen-brack-interviewed/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ah, Paris - the romance, the exquisite food, all the latest World of Warcraft information from the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment World Wide Invitational. WoW Insider is there, and are reporting back every snippet about class change and renovations, world-PvP, developer panels, and everything there is to know about Wrath of the Lich King.

Tobold, an astute MMOG blogger with some Blizzard PR clout, was also in attendance, and with press badge in hand grabbed a short interview with World of Warcraft's Lead Producer, J. Allen Brack. In the interview they discuss hero classes, WoW's expansion schedule, the shortage of tankers and healers players encounter when putting a pug together, and more. No earth-shattering revelation is exposed but it is a worthy effort at picking one of the top brains working on World of Warcraft.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft's J. Allen Brack interviewed originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmenthero-classesinterviewsparistank-shortagetoboldworld-of-warcraftworld-wide-invitationalwotlkwrath-of-the-lich-kingSun, 29 Jun 2008 21:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Bartle vs Tobold]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/richard-bartle-vs-tobold/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/richard-bartle-vs-tobold/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/richard-bartle-vs-tobold/#commentsFiled under: ,

Massively's interview with Richard Bartle from last week has caused several tidal waves of opinion over the now-infamous line, "I've already played Warhammer. It was called World of Warcraft." by the father of the genre. MMO bloggers are coming out of the woodwork to give their own opinions on what this means, and how much they agree or disagree with Bartle's statement. Bartle himself has expanded upon that line several times, including an interesting exchange between himself and Tobold over at Tobold's blog.

Whether you agree or disagree with Bartle's statement, the fact is, it has become big news this week. This recent exchange shows that Bartle isn't afraid to make his opinion known, and sees it as something that shouldn't be weighed more heavily than that of the common gamer.

MassivelyRichard Bartle vs Tobold originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mudopinionrichard-bartletoboldwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftTue, 24 Jun 2008 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The future of storytelling in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/the-future-of-storytelling-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/the-future-of-storytelling-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/the-future-of-storytelling-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We can't help but wonder what the future of MMO storylines may eventually evolve into. So many players have so many various preferences when it comes to their favorite game's plot, that it's not an issue of pleasing everyone at the same time, but what the majority wants. Tobold addresses this issue in his latest blog entry, and speculates on whether or not the MMO storyline will progress in the same evolutionary line as movies have, where they began as novelties of moving pictures and soon became rich with real plots and immersion for the viewers.

But if we follow the current trend of what's popular in MMOs, we'll see that the most popular games have little to no storyline. It takes a certain type of person to read every quest text and have a comprehensive understanding of what's going on in the game, and why they need to save the half-naked woman from the bad guys. That type of person seems to be a rarity, judging by the subscription numbers of the lore- and story-based games such as LotRO and AoC. But does this mean those games should stop being made? We certainly hope not, because it's always nice to have an intelligent game to play when you get burned out on grinding mobs and running errands.

MassivelyThe future of storytelling in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocfuncomfutureplotstorylinetoboldMon, 16 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Maybe one has to be immature to enjoy mature content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/01/maybe-one-has-to-be-immature-to-enjoy-mature-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/01/maybe-one-has-to-be-immature-to-enjoy-mature-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/01/maybe-one-has-to-be-immature-to-enjoy-mature-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


That title is a quote from the latest entry over at Tobold's blog, concerning the success of Age of Conan. He believes the combat system itself is one of the main draws of the game. While appearing somewhat similar to other MMOs, the combat system seems to make more sense in regards to its speed, intensity and overall enjoyment.

Some other points he makes include the content of the game, and the enemies you encounter. LotRO made good use of its license in regards to the mobs, zones and quests, but Tobold feels that in regards to AoC, most of the content could be from any other random fantasy game. In addition to this (hence the interesting title) is how Tobold doesn't believe the mature rating drives sales too much, despite the fact that "Age of Conan nudity" is the top search phrase that leads people to his blog. Hey, that's how we found it!

MassivelyMaybe one has to be immature to enjoy mature content originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocfuncomhyborian-adventuressalessuccesstoboldSun, 01 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[How will Blizzard respond to Age of Conan's amazing launch?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/how-will-blizzard-respond-to-age-of-conans-amazing-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/how-will-blizzard-respond-to-age-of-conans-amazing-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/how-will-blizzard-respond-to-age-of-conans-amazing-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It must seem a little like deja vu to the Blizzard bigwigs back in Irvine. A fantasy-based MMORPG with some good buzz in beta, a smooth launch, and a sudden rush of players several times more than were expected, requiring dozens of new servers? Wasn't that us, four years ago? But four years is forever in Internet time, and in that time, Blizzard has enjoyed popularity entirely unseen in the MMO genre, anywhere in the world. Now, though, a young upstart is looking a lot like the fresh-faced game that swept us all away all those years ago. What's Blizzard going to do to reassure its stockholders that it still has an iron grip on its 10.7 million players? How will they keep the kids on the farm when they've seen the big city?

Kanthalos at MMOre Insight wonders if Age of Conan could ever have gotten enough breathing room to launch so well if Blizzard had just released more expansions, faster. Would so many people have flocked to AoC's world of Hyboria if they'd been busily carving up Northrend? Would they be rolling up Dark Templars if Blizzard had given them Death Knights by now? Tobold agrees, and wonders how many people AoC will retain once Warhammer Online and Wrath of the Lich King are released. Has World of Warcraft's slow release cycle had you looking for new games to try? Are you still excited about WotLK? If you did start playing another MMO, what would Blizzard have to do to win you back? Start talking about WoW 2? World of Diablo? A complete revamp of the low level game? Or should Blizzard just sit back and let things play out, confident that when the dust settles, they'll still be #1 and as strong as ever?

MassivelyHow will Blizzard respond to Age of Conan's amazing launch? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 May 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocblizzardexpansionsfantasykanthaloslaunchesmmo-industrymmore-insightnew-titlestoboldwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingThu, 22 May 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: Fixing the problem of guild-hopping]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/player-vs-everything-fixing-the-problem-of-guild-hopping/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/player-vs-everything-fixing-the-problem-of-guild-hopping/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/player-vs-everything-fixing-the-problem-of-guild-hopping/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There's a bit of a discussion going on in the blogosphere right now about how to handle the topic of dungeon and raid rewards in MMOGs (specifically World of Warcraft, actually, but it universally applies). Tobold started the whole conversation by suggesting that the problem of players leaving to join a better guild when their gear progression is further along than the rest of their guild could be fixed by adding deterrents to leaving, like forcing you to leave any gear acquired with the help of your guild in the guild bank. After all, he argues, you couldn't have gotten those epics on your own. Why should you get to take your gear and walk away with it when 24 other people helped you obtain it, while waiting patiently for their turn?

Other people then made the counter-argument that hopping to further-progressed guilds is only one of the many reasons that people leave guilds, and that tying loot to your guild would give too much power to guild masters and punish people for circumstances that are often outside of their control (what if your work schedule changes and you can't raid anymore? Many hardcore guilds don't allow casual players). There were some more good points made as to why this system would be a bad idea. Still, it's a good thing that Tobold brought this up, because it's a very real issue. Even if tying loot directly to the guild is a bad idea, what can you do to discourage people getting what they need and then leaving for greener pastures?

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: Fixing the problem of guild-hopping

MassivelyPlayer vs. Everything: Fixing the problem of guild-hopping originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badge-lootbadge-of-justicebadgesdkpdramafeaturedguildguild-dramaguildslootloot-distributionplayer-vs-everythingpotshottoboldworld-of-warcraftWed, 30 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[April Fools at Tobold's blog: WoW to cost $20 a month]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/april-fools-at-tobolds-blog-wow-to-cost-20-a-month/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/april-fools-at-tobolds-blog-wow-to-cost-20-a-month/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/april-fools-at-tobolds-blog-wow-to-cost-20-a-month/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We have to admit, Tobold's April Fools' joke is easily one of the better ones coming out today. Upon first glance his reasoning for the $5 dollar subscription bump seems somewhat plausible, citing rising power costs and the weakening dollar. However the real treat is beyond the joke, in the comments where 'Mike Morhaime' -- co-founder and current president of Blizzard -- makes a comment about the joke being a good idea and to wait for official announcement on the World of Warcraft website.

If that weren't enough, the director of Activision Blizzard Jean-René Fourtou mysteriously pops up in the comments afterwards and publicly fires Morhaime! Oh no, what will happen next? Ah, well then things take a truly inspired twist as the CEO of Electronic Arts John Riccitiello triumphantly appears to announce that Warhammer Online is actually coming out May 1st and then promptly thanks Actiblizzvision for allowing EA to scoop up their lost customers.

We thoroughly enjoyed the joke, as it's fairly surreal to see even fake versions of these people posting comments on a blog.

MassivelyApril Fools at Tobold's blog: WoW to cost $20 a month originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardapril-fools-08blizzardelectronic-artsjean-rene-fourtoujohn-riccitiellomike-morhaimetoboldwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 01 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Outdoing WoW at its own game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/outdoing-wow-at-its-own-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/outdoing-wow-at-its-own-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/outdoing-wow-at-its-own-game/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Yesterday, Tobold made a post concerning the question of whether or not World of Warcraft can be, well, "out-WoWed" -- as he puts it. The game he proceeds to create via his list o' features is aimed at an even more casual audience than the one already playing in Azeroth. After reading through the list and considering its intent to draw in a much more casual market, we sort of feel confused.

Continue reading Outdoing WoW at its own game

MassivelyOutdoing WoW at its own game originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>azerothblizzardcasualpopcaptoboldworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 21 Feb 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The great RMT debate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/27/the-great-rmt-debate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/27/the-great-rmt-debate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/27/the-great-rmt-debate/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It's always a pleasure reading up on topics getting bounced around the MMOGblogosphere. One of the recent rigorous back-and-forths centered around the announcement of the Live Gamer service. We discussed the 'legit' RMT outfit and the reluctance of companies like Blizzard to take part, but other folks took the ball and ran with it. Raph Koster, well known designer and the big name behind Metaplace, opined that the announcement made a lot of sense as eradicating Real Money Transfer (RMT) is essentially impossible.

Blogger Tobold's view on the subject was quite different, as he offered that RMT was basically just another design problem to be overcome. His site is often quite World of Warcraft-focused, and he offered several possible solutions Blizzard might adopt such as making gold 'bind on pickup', or by changing the Auction House to a 'blind bid' system like that seen in City of Heroes.

Raph responded by offering that Tobold was essentially asking designers to remove the 'Massive' element from online games. He argued that the only real way to prevent RMT or power-leveling would be to disallow players from conversing, grouping, trading, or interacting in any meaningful way.

That's the point when the fit hit the shan. The back and forth began, and Raph let loose what may be the most comprehensive article on Real Money Transfer I've ever seen. Make sure and read that one, and read on for a breakdown of the blow-by-blow back and forth.

Continue reading The great RMT debate

MassivelyThe great RMT debate originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescohfeaturedgoldsellingraph-kosterreal-money-transferrmttoboldworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 27 Dec 2007 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A booming economy (and a lack of PvP) in the PotBS beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/economy-and-pvp-in-potbs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/economy-and-pvp-in-potbs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/economy-and-pvp-in-potbs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Pirates of the Burning Sea NDA lifted the other day when the beta went open, and so lots of bloggers are posting their own impressions of the game (we at Massively got to post ours a while back, but hey, we're cool like that). Tobold, though, has an interesting post up about a favorite subject of mine in the game: the economy and crafting system. Once again, you can read my thoughts in the crafting writeup from a while back, but Tobold says something I hadn't considered-- that it is extremely easy to raise a fortune in PotBS.

Or is it? Tobold says you can make a lot of money just by using your stored labor (which stores up in real-time-- my favorite innovation in the game), and right now, that's true. But having played the beta for a while, my prediction is that prices in starter and close-to-starter ports will drop pretty sharply after the game comes out. Right now, PvP is still in its infancy in the game (either because people are still learning how to do it, or because pirates haven't geared up yet to the point where they can really crush newbies). I was able to sail around the world to trade without any trouble at all. But in the live game, it'll become that much more dangerous to travel across the seas, and that will push the system to where FLS wants it: with PvP and the economy as two sides of the same paper.

Right now, it's easy to make a ton of money because money is moving fast around the world. When the game comes out, and the real pirates make their way to the open seas, the economy will fall much more into the pattern that FLS is trying to get it in: goods at home will be bought and sold cheaply, and to make the real production and trading money, you'll have to travel through dangerous waters and survive to sell at the other side.

MassivelyA booming economy (and a lack of PvP) in the PotBS beta originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingeconomyflsmaking-moneypirates-of-the-burning-seapvpstored-labortoboldTue, 04 Dec 2007 23:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Tobold looks back at WoW, wonders what's next]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/tobold-looks-back-at-wow-wonders-whats-next/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/tobold-looks-back-at-wow-wonders-whats-next/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/tobold-looks-back-at-wow-wonders-whats-next/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Tobold's MMORPG Blog is one of the most popular online gaming blogs in the series of tubes, but Tobold suggesting that he and a lot of other online gamers are in a "gaming slump." World of Warcraft transformed the industry and expanded the market by leaps and bounds, but its appeal might be winding down, Tobold said. He could be right. Blizzard has been reporting active player numbers as high as ever, but a big chunk of the numbers comes from the enormous Asian player base. North American and European players might be ready to move on.

But what's next? Most games these days are WoW clones, and many of them haven't done as well as expected. Does the genre need a Battlestar Galactica-esque total reboot? If so, what will do it? The new Blizzard MMO, as Tobold suggests? The fabled KotoR MMO? The Elder Scrolls Online? What are your thoughts, dear readers?

MassivelyTobold looks back at WoW, wonders what's next originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlinegamersindustrykotorkotor-mmoplayersrebootslumptoboldtobold's-mmorpg-blogworld-of-warcraftMon, 05 Nov 2007 20:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Charting the history of MMO subscriptions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/charting-the-history-of-mmo-subscriptions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/charting-the-history-of-mmo-subscriptions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/charting-the-history-of-mmo-subscriptions/#commentsFiled under:

The world of MMOs has been around a lot longer than even I realized, and thanks to Tobold's pointing out MMOData, I was able to look at the history of MMOs, at least as far as their subscriptions were concerned. The data on the site is not exactly up-to-date, but what it gives us is a general idea of the flow of popularity of each of the MMOs.

But as a commenter pointed out on Tobold's article on the subject, counting accounts is not really the most accurate determinate of how popular a game is, particularly when you toss free MMOs into the mix. Rather, the data that would better tell us how popular a game is would be the active players information. If you know exactly how many people are playing each of the games during, say, a given week, you would then have a better understanding of how to compare their popularity. Hop on over to MMOData and play with the charts yourself. If nothing else, it's fun to mess with interactive data analysis, even if it's not entirely accurate.

MassivelyCharting the history of MMO subscriptions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chartshistory-of-MMO-subscriptionsMMOMMODatasubscriptionsToboldMon, 29 Oct 2007 11:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Declines in user hours can spell trouble for sharded MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/23/declines-in-user-hours-can-spell-trouble-for-sharded-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/23/declines-in-user-hours-can-spell-trouble-for-sharded-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/23/declines-in-user-hours-can-spell-trouble-for-sharded-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

WoW user hours (for USA users) have declined from August to September - by 18%, according to Xfire. No big dig at World of Warcraft, though. After all, they still have more USA subscribers than the USA has farmers [language warning], and most everyone slid a bit in the same period as school terms picked up again, so WoW is holding its own.

MMO blogger Tobold observes that declining server populations/user hours have some issues quite distinct from overpopulation.

Continue reading Declines in user hours can spell trouble for sharded MMOs

MassivelyDeclines in user hours can spell trouble for sharded MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardMMOtoboldTue, 23 Oct 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Does Tabula Rasa include Auto Assault code? Does it matter?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/does-tabula-rasa-include-auto-assault-code-does-it-matter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/does-tabula-rasa-include-auto-assault-code-does-it-matter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/does-tabula-rasa-include-auto-assault-code-does-it-matter/#commentsFiled under:

Auto Assault is widely considered a failed MMO, though opinions on the reason for this abound. Regardless, is there something there to be harvested and repurposed?

A reader for the blog 'Tobold's MMORPG Blog' claims that there are aspects of Tabula Rasa that he's "100% sure" utilize code from Auto Assault. Some of these aspects include UI elements and character models. The blog goes on to ask 'So what?' Does it really matter if there is legacy code from a failed game in an upcoming, and hotly anticipated title? The commenters bat this back and forth, but the questions remain: are there similarities enough to invite the speculation, and is there anything to be concerned about here?

(Via Tobold's MMORPG Blog)

MassivelyDoes Tabula Rasa include Auto Assault code? Does it matter? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto-assaultbreakingmassivelytabula-rasatoboldFri, 12 Oct 2007 17:13:00 EST<![CDATA[The end of the MMO boom, and the next step]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/the-end-of-the-mmo-boom-and-the-next-step/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/the-end-of-the-mmo-boom-and-the-next-step/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/12/the-end-of-the-mmo-boom-and-the-next-step/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Tobold speculates, as only he can do, on "the future of MMOs." If you listen to what he says, we've basically just experienced a boom in the MMO market-- after the huge success of World of Warcraft, tons of MMO makers sunk tons of money into making new "WoW-killer" MMOs, and they've all started falling apart (Vanguard, Gods and Heroes) due to lack of resources. But that doesn't mean things are over. It only means that developers are starting to realize the truth: starting up a successful MMO is a huge undertaking.

Starting up a successful single-player game can be a very cheap undertaking-- I'm currently going at it with Puzzle Quest on Xbox Live, and it is a successful single-player game that didn't require much more than the intuition to combine addicting puzzle gameplay with addicting RPG gameplay. But an MMO doesn't work that way-- the more popular you get, the more it costs you, and the more games you sell, the more you have to work to deliver even more content. Tobold is exactly right: it's tough, if not impossible, to run a lower tier MMO, just because even the lower tier games require an upper tier budget.

But he doesn't end on a cynical note, fortunately. There are definitely videogame companies running around out there that have $50 million dollars to really invest in a great MMO (EA is one of them, and now they've got not only Mythic, but another great RPG company under their wing). And when they do, we the players will benefit. As Tobold puts it so succinctly: "MMORPG history doesn't end with WoW, it begins with it." Excuse me-- the future's so bright, I gotta wear shades.

MassivelyThe end of the MMO boom, and the next step originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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