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[MMObility: The pros and cons of Tibia's browser version]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/mmobility-the-pros-and-cons-of-tibias-browser-version/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/mmobility-the-pros-and-cons-of-tibias-browser-version/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/mmobility-the-pros-and-cons-of-tibias-browser-version/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Tibia screenshot
Tibia is an MMO that has been hanging in there for many, many years. You have to give it respect for that alone. When you add on the fact that the game seems to be updated relatively frequently and boasts a pretty good-sized playerbase, it becomes even more intriguing. I've played it in the past and have enjoyed the simple graphics and slower-paced gameplay. I like how NPCs chat with you, old-school EverQuest-style, and how there seems to be a lot more to the game than meets the eye.

There are plenty of eyesores, however. The developers recently released Tibia in a beta browser form. While the client was always easy enough to download and run on my multitude of devices, I always prefer to just jump into my browser and load it up.

I found a lot of neat little systems but also quite a few bugs or odd design choices. Colors and layout can be a problem, and I am not the biggest fan of Flash-based MMOs. Still, I am enjoying myself so far and look forward to more. Let's talk about what I found over these last several hours with Tibia's browser-based version.

Continue reading MMObility: The pros and cons of Tibia's browser version

MassivelyMMObility: The pros and cons of Tibia's browser version originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedf2pfeaturedflash-basedfree-to-playfreemiumftpisometric-viewMMObilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoOld-schoolopinionphonesmartphonetibiaUltima-OnlineFri, 04 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is customizable housing worth the inevitable eyesores?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-daily-grind-is-customizable-housing-worth-the-inevitable-ey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-daily-grind-is-customizable-housing-worth-the-inevitable-ey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-daily-grind-is-customizable-housing-worth-the-inevitable-ey/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ultima Online - Believe it or not, this house I'm poking fun at right here is worth hundreds of dollars IRL. Location, location, location.
Few MMOs nowadays launch with housing, and a vanishingly small number of those have fully customizable housing, the kind that lets you construct your house from foundation to tower, filling in floors, walls, and decor as you go. Ultima Online is one such MMO; it changed over its pre-fab buildings to customizable housing in the early aughts.

Customizable housing in an open-world sandbox setting brings its own set of problems, however, starting with the reality that most players aren't taking time out of their professional architect day jobs to play the game. Consequently, most player homes are decked out in bold colors and tacky tchotchkes and cleverly placed roof tiles that spell "LOL." I don't know about you guys, but my real-life house doesn't have an Escher fountain and mounted fish hanging on the second-story facade (although perhaps it should).

What do you think -- is customizable housing a tribute to creativity and freedom or an eyesore immersion-breaker inflicted ruthlessly on every passerby and neighbor? Is that freedom worth the pain?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Is customizable housing worth the inevitable eyesores? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcustomizable-housingdaily-grindeyesorehousingopiniontdgthe-daily-grindultima-onlineuoSat, 21 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Leveling isn't bad -- its implementation is]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/the-soapbox-leveling-isnt-bad-its-implementation-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/the-soapbox-leveling-isnt-bad-its-implementation-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/the-soapbox-leveling-isnt-bad-its-implementation-is/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Leveling picture
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

It's funny how tastes can change. I know mine certainly have, especially when it comes to entertainment. Heck, I used to swear by The Ramones and a bit of Slayer; now I tend to think that this Joni Mitchell song is a work of sheer genius. It seems that as I grow older, the less I care about impressing other people. My gaming tastes have changed, but maybe not as dramatically. I've never been a hardcore player and have never enjoyed spending countless hours repeating the same task. That sort of behavior tends to turn a hobby into a boring job. MMORPGs are notorious for being filled with content that is often ripped off from other games, so it surprised me when I thought about today's topic.

I came to the conclusion that leveling is not a bad thing. When I say leveling, I mean growing a character by performing an activity, getting better at it, gaining experience and hitting a new level. It's not a bad way to represent real-life growth. The problems come when developers use the same boring systems that are based on leveling to facilitate that growth.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Leveling isn't bad -- its implementation is

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Leveling isn't bad -- its implementation is originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbiowaredesigneditorialfeaturedlevellevelingop-edopinionrantrantssoapboxstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-soapboxultima-onlineTue, 27 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should new expansions include old expansions?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/the-daily-grind-should-new-expansions-include-old-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/the-daily-grind-should-new-expansions-include-old-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/the-daily-grind-should-new-expansions-include-old-expansions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

World of Warcraft
When Cataclysm launched, a friend of mine who hadn't played since the days of Vanilla World of Warcraft wanted to join in the fun, but when he saw the cost of catching up -- nearly full box prices for The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King, on top of Cataclysm itself -- he balked and decided to stick with cheaper games. Blizzard's policy on charging for full expansions long after they were new always did seem weird to me, since I grew up on Ultima Online and EverQuest, whose earlier expansions usually came bundled for free along with the newest one. Why keep barriers to entry (or re-entry) unnecessarily high?

So I'm happy to see recent sales on WoW's earlier expansions and a free Cataclysm for returning players via the new scroll of resurrection deal, but I can't help but wonder whether it's too late. How many of you have skipped over a game because of the cost of "catching up"? Do you think new expansions should always include the previous ones gratis?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should new expansions include old expansions? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcataclysmdaily-grindeqeverquestexpansionexpansionsfantasyopiniontbctdgthe-burning-crusadethe-daily-grindUltima-Onlineuovanilla-wowwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingMon, 19 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Parallel Mafia is not a typical Mafia game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/mmobility-parallel-mafia-is-not-a-typical-mafia-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/mmobility-parallel-mafia-is-not-a-typical-mafia-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/mmobility-parallel-mafia-is-not-a-typical-mafia-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Parallel Mafia icon
If you have played Parallel Kingdom by PerBlue before, then a lot of what I am going to describe might sound familiar. If not, then it might sound very unique and exciting. The truth is that I have been attempting to get into Parallel Kingdom for a while but always found myself a bit overwhelmed, so I was excited to be invited to check out PerBlue's new title Parallel Mafia. I hoped that I might squeeze in some questions about Parallel Kingdom while I had the team on the line. Sure enough, I not only got introduced to the new title but left the interview knowing a lot more about Parallel Kingdom. I have been playing heavily since then. As I compare the two titles, I can see a lot of similarities, but there are some nice differences as well.

Both titles are location-based MMORPGs. I have always wanted more options in the genre, but I imagine it's a tough one to develop in. What's the point of the real-life connection? Why would players want to play in a game that is basically spawned on top of Google Maps?

Continue reading MMObility: Parallel Mafia is not a typical Mafia game

MassivelyMMObility: Parallel Mafia is not a typical Mafia game originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedgoogle-mapsiOSiphonelocation-basedmafia-warsmmobilitymobileperbluepocket-legendssmartphonespacetime-studiosstar-legendsUltima-OnlineZyngaFri, 16 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Kesmai legacy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-kesmai-legacy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-kesmai-legacy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-kesmai-legacy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Air Warrior
Most studios would be overjoyed to have pioneered one significant advancement in video game history, but then again, most studios aren't Kesmai. While it's not a household name today, it's reasonable to say that without the heavy lifting and backbreaking coding that this company shouldered in the '80s and '90s, the MMO genre would've turned out very different indeed.

Last week we met two enterprising designers, Kelton Flinn and John Taylor, who recognized that multiplayer was the name of the future and put their careers on the line to see an idea through to completion. That idea was Island of Kesmai, an ancestor of the modern MMO that used crude ASCII graphics and CompuServe's network to provide an interactive, cooperative online roleplaying experience. It wasn't the first MMO, but it was the first one published commercially, and sometimes that makes all the difference.

Flinn and Taylor's Kesmai didn't stop with being the first to bring MMOs to the big time, however. Flush with cash and success, Kesmai turned its attention to the next big multiplayer challenge: 3-D graphics and real-time combat. Unlike the fantasy land of Island of Kesmai, this title would take to the skies in aerial dogfighting and prove even more popular than the team's previous project.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Kesmai legacy

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Kesmai legacy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air-warriorair-warrior-for-windowsair-warrior-iiair-warrior-iiialiens-onlineaolbattlefield-1942cd-romChris-Holdenclassicclassic-mmosclassicscompuservedark-age-of-camelotdungeons-of-kesmaieaelectronic-artseverquestfeaturedgame-archaelogistgame-developers-conference-choice-awardsgamespotgamestormgdcgdc-choice-awardsgenieharpoon-onlineisland-of-kesmaijohn-taylorkelton-flinnkesmaikesmai-corporationkesmai-studioslegends-of-kesmaimark-jacobsmatchmakingmeridian-59Multiplayer-Battletechmythicnews-corpnostalgiaonline-game-legend-awardopinionrealm-vs-realmrvrthe-game-archaeologistultima-onlinewarwarhammer-onlineythic-entertainmentTue, 13 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultima Online inducted into new MMO Hall of Fame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/ultima-online-inducted-into-new-mmo-hall-of-fame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/ultima-online-inducted-into-new-mmo-hall-of-fame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/ultima-online-inducted-into-new-mmo-hall-of-fame/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Did you know there's an(other) MMO Hall of Fame? We first heard of its launch a few months ago, but thought it was a bit of a joke, considering the Geocities-era site design and strangely familiar logo.

Oh, and the owners decided to induct Ultima Online -- a game for which we have something of a soft spot.

In any event, the site features an MMO timeline, a World of Warcraft timeline, and a listing of UO releases, expansions, and special editions. You can also view the site's voting committee, which includes Blizzard, Sony Online Entertainment, and Wizard101 developers as well as MMO writers and fans.

[Source: MMO HoF press release]

MassivelyUltima Online inducted into new MMO Hall of Fame originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardclassic-mmoeaelectronic-artsfantasyhall-of-famelord-britishmmo-hall-of-famemmohofmmowtfmythicmythic-entertainmentsoeultimaultima onlineultima-onlineuowizard101wtfThu, 08 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Achievement Unlocked: A look at the Guinness world records of online gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/achievement-unlocked-a-look-at-the-guinness-world-records-of-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/achievement-unlocked-a-look-at-the-guinness-world-records-of-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/achievement-unlocked-a-look-at-the-guinness-world-records-of-on/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We're just over a month into the new year, and already we've got plenty to look forward to: The Secret World is expected to hit in April, TERA will follow shortly in May, and Guild Wars 2 will be out... sometime this year (we hope). But before we all start looking toward the future, let's take a moment to look back at some of the gaming achievements of the past.

Thanks to the handy-dandy Guinness Book of World Records 2012: Gamer's Edition, we've got a quick compendium of MMO-related records from the past year and then some, so if you're at all interested in the shortest-lived MMO to date or the longest time anyone's spent playing MMOs from inside a crate, join us as we take a stroll down memory lane to take a look at some notably (in)famous MMO achievements.

Continue reading Achievement Unlocked: A look at the Guinness world records of online gaming

MassivelyAchievement Unlocked: A look at the Guinness world records of online gaming originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-reloadedapbapb-reloadedcataclysmcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdc-universe-onlinedcuoeveeve-onlinefantasy-westward-journeyfeaturedfree-realmsgamer-editiongamers-editiongaming-recordsguinnessguinness-book-of-world-record-gamers-edition-2012guinness-book-of-world-recordsguinness-book-of-world-records-2012-gamers-editionguinness-world-recordsincarnalord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromark-hamill-is-the-best-jokerplanet-calypsorecordssee-virtual-worldssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtorthe-old-republictorultimaultima-onlineuowayne-longworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-cataclysmworld-recordswowWed, 15 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What will your favorite MMO look like in 20 years?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/the-daily-grind-what-will-your-favorite-mmo-look-like-in-20-yea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/the-daily-grind-what-will-your-favorite-mmo-look-like-in-20-yea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/the-daily-grind-what-will-your-favorite-mmo-look-like-in-20-yea/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

STTNG
Even though we've certainly seen some short-lived MMOs in our time, the average lifespan and half-life of a title is still up for grabs. Considering that titles like Ultima Online and Meridian 59 are creeping ever closer to the two-decade mark, I think it's conceivable that some of the very MMOs we play today might still be around in 20 years.

So assuming that they don't go belly-up or invent free-free-to-play-supreme editions that sinks them for good, what do you think your current MMOs might look like in the year 2032? Will we be playing World of Warcraft in holodeck simulators, be teaching Star Wars: The Old Republic in grade-school classrooms, or be experiencing EVE Online's radical "walking in spaceships" feature?

Cast your prognosticating abilities far into the future and tell us what we have to look forward to with our favorite games!

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What will your favorite MMO look like in 20 years? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20-yearseve-onlinefeaturedmeridian-59opinionstar-wars-the-old-republictdgthe-daily-grindtwo-decadesultima-onlinewalking-in-spaceshipsworld-of-warcraftWed, 15 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: MMO prisons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/the-perfect-ten-mmo-prisons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/the-perfect-ten-mmo-prisons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/the-perfect-ten-mmo-prisons/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten Prisons
Chillin' in the clink. Spending time in stoney lonesome. Thrown into the slammer. Checking in to the big house. Doing (perfect) 10 to life in the hole. Learning the ropes in juvie.

Prison: The only fun thing about it is the slang that people have come up to describe it. And while you may never actually want to spend any time in the crowbar hotel in real life, chances are you've already done so in MMOs. Jails are an ever-popular locale in online gaming, and they almost always deal with an epidemic of escaped -- yet still milling around casually -- prisoners.

So in today's Perfect Ten, we talked to the warden and got you a special glimpse into pixelated pokeys, if only to scare you straight. No more exploits and bots for you, young man or woman!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMO prisons

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMO prisons originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocarkhamarkham-asylumbelsavisbrickstownchampions-onlinecity-of-heroesclinkcocohconanconan-the-barbariandc-universe-onlinedcuoeqeverquestfallen-earthfeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-xigm-jailgm-prisoniron-towerjailkingman-prisonlistlistsmmo-prisonsperfect-10perfect-tenprisonprisonsstar-wars-the-old-republicstockadesstronghold-prisonswtorthe-iron-towerthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenultima-onlineuoworld-of-warcraftwowzigzigguratThu, 09 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the highest sub fee you'd pay?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/the-daily-grind-whats-the-highest-sub-fee-youd-pay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/the-daily-grind-whats-the-highest-sub-fee-youd-pay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/the-daily-grind-whats-the-highest-sub-fee-youd-pay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

RuneScape
While recording the podcast last week, Rubi, Justin, and I discussed RuneScape's subscription fee, which is soon to increase to a whopping... $8. Eight bucks doesn't seem like much to me, but I remember when Ultima Online increased its monthly fee from $10 to $13 -- players were pretty upset. "How dare an old game ask for more money?" seems to be a common refrain.

But if the game is good enough, why wouldn't we pay what it's worth to us, no matter its age? Consider Fallen Earth, which offers, as its highest subscription tier, a $30-per-month plan. I might pay $30 a month for a really awesome MMO (or to resurrect one I'm fond of). But what's the limit? $50? $100? What's the highest sub fee you'd pay -- and what would you expect out of the game for that price?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's the highest sub fee you'd pay? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgeaElectronic-Artsf2pfallen-earthfree-to-playg1gamersfirstjagexjagex-game-studiosMythic-EntertainmentopinionrunescapesoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiessub-feesubscriptionsubscription-tierswgtdgthe-daily-grindultima-onlineuoMon, 06 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Meet the guild that's lasted over 16 years]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/05/meet-the-guild-thats-lasted-over-16-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/05/meet-the-guild-thats-lasted-over-16-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/05/meet-the-guild-thats-lasted-over-16-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ultima Online title image
Guilds are a dime a dozen in MMOs today, be they small social guilds or hardcore groups that collect a few hundred players together. Most guildmates you play with will eventually leave the guild, making way for new members giving the game a try. But what if your guild could transcend the game it was formed in, creating a community that stayed together and moved from game to game? The Syndicate is one such guild, boasting a membership of 1,200 players and a 95% retention rate. The organisation celebrates its 16th anniversary this week, having been born as an online community before the release of Ultima Online.

The Syndicate is currently active in Ultima Online and World of Warcraft, having previously been active in EverQuest, Shadowbane and other games. All members agree to follow a charter that forbids stealing, cheating, non-consensual player-killing, and immature behaviour. The Syndicate takes its identity so seriously that it's even trademarked its name and has worked with MMO companies to rename guilds using it. Developers have in turn taken advantage of The Syndicate's huge community size and code of conduct to beta test upcoming games. With its 16th birthday behind it, the guild predates most MMOs on the market today and is still going strong.

MassivelyMeet the guild that's lasted over 16 years originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryeqeverquestfantasyguildguildsthe-syndicateultimaUltima-Onlineultimaonlineuowarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 05 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Garriott talks riding rockets, Man on a Mission movie]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/garriott-talks-riding-rockets-man-on-a-mission-movie/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/garriott-talks-riding-rockets-man-on-a-mission-movie/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/garriott-talks-riding-rockets-man-on-a-mission-movie/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedocumentarygarriottgeekeryinterviewsman-on-a-missionmmo-industryrichard-garriottspace-flightultimaultima-onlineyes-we-know-this-is-not-game-news-but-respect-your-eldersWed, 01 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultima producer's letter teases 2012 content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/ultima-producers-letter-teases-2012-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/ultima-producers-letter-teases-2012-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/ultima-producers-letter-teases-2012-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ultima Online - Yep, still going...
Did you know that Ultima Online turns 15 this year? It surely does, and if you're not having a geriatric fit over that fact and wondering where the time has gone, well, get off our lawns.

In all seriousness, UO grand poobah Jeff Skalski has favored the masses with a producer's letter, and he drops several hints about what's to come for the 2012 version of Sosaria. Publish 74 is officially live, and the dev team is already hard at work on its followup, which Skalski says will address "a handful of long overdue bugs" as well as further the game's dynamic story arcs.

Skalski also tells us that the artwork for the enhanced client is still in the oven, and in fact the makeover has turned out to be "more challenging than planned." As a result, it's not quite ready for primetime, but rest assured that it is still a priority. As always, more info is available at the official UO website.

MassivelyUltima producer's letter teases 2012 content originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diariesdev-diarydynamic-contenteaelectronic-artsenhanced-clientepic-arcsfantasyjeff-skalskiproducers-letterpublish-74publish-75sandboxultimaultima-enhanced-clientultima-onlineuoTue, 31 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part two)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
The last time on the Perfect Ten, disaster struck the good ship Poseidon and the surviving readers were running out of air as they tried to escape the flipped-over vessel. Also, we were counting down the top 20 MMO themes, but that's of small consolation to the soon-to-be bereaved friends and families, don't you think?

Because we play these games extensively, it's not uncommon for MMO music -- and themes -- to become vilified by the sheer number of times we've heard them. That's a little unfair to a three-minute piece of soundtrack that slaves every day to feed his wife and kids, doing the best he can in a trying situation. So perhaps we can put aside melodic oversaturation to look at these tracks anew, shall we?

With half of them out of the way, it's time to look into the elite of the elite: the 10 best MMO themes of all time. According to me. A guy you don't know. You've got goosebumps, don't you?

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part two)

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part two) originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acallodsallods-onlineasherons-calleqeq2everquesteverquest-2everquest-iifeaturedgranado-espadaguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2jeremy-soulelistmusicperfect-tenromrunes-of-magicscorestar-trek-onlinestosword-of-the-new-worldthe-perfect-tenthemetheme-musictitle-themeturbineultima-onlineuoworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the longest an MMO's been out before you've tried it?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/the-daily-grind-whats-the-longest-an-mmos-been-out-before-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/the-daily-grind-whats-the-longest-an-mmos-been-out-before-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/the-daily-grind-whats-the-longest-an-mmos-been-out-before-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ultima Online
Part of the joy of working at Massively is that this environment constantly challenges and encourages us to check out not just new MMOs but current and older ones we may have overlooked the first time around. After all, unless your name is Beau Hindman, it is virtually impossible to play every game out there.

So I can't be the only one who checked out Ultima Online for the first time 11 years after its initial release or Dark Age of Camelot around its eight-year anniversary. Sometimes I'm a little hesitant to try older MMOs because I fear that they're a little too long in the tooth or that their future shelf life is almost at the "expired" date, but once I get past that, more often than not I end up saying, "I can't believe I waited this long to try it!"

What about you? What's the longest an MMO has been out before you tried it for the first time? And for a bonus question, what got you to finally give it a go?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's the longest an MMO's been out before you've tried it? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic-mmosdaocdark-age-of-camelotfeaturedold-mmosolder-mmosopiniontdgthe-daily-grindultima-onlineuoWed, 18 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist moves into Lucasfilm's Habitat: Part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/the-game-archaeologist-moves-into-lucasfilms-habitat-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/the-game-archaeologist-moves-into-lucasfilms-habitat-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/the-game-archaeologist-moves-into-lucasfilms-habitat-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Habitat
Last week on the exciting cosmic adventures of the Game Archaeologist, we uncovered the ancient civilization of Lucasfilm's Habitat, one of the early predecessors to graphical MMOs. While we talked about how it came to be and pondered just how much money we'd waste if game companies were still charging by the minute, we didn't have the time or space to cover the community and events that formed around this experimental project.

That day has come. Prepare your bladder for imminent release!

Giving a bunch of players tools to do every which thing in the game and turning them loose without strict regulation might seem like a recipe for an instant sewage pit of a game today, but our cultured, classy behaviors weren't quite trained into us in 1986. When players first set eyes on Habitat, they weren't thinking of min-maxing, kill-stealing, or raid progression; they were trying to make sense of a virtual world using the only frame of reference they had to date: their own lives. Out of a melting pot of ideas and objects came fascinating stories from one of the earliest MMO proto-ancestors of the modern era. Get your '80s on as we head back... to the future!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist moves into Lucasfilm's Habitat: Part 2

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist moves into Lucasfilm's Habitat: Part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-dutycootiecootiesdivorcedungeon-of-deathfeaturedgm-eventsgriefersgriefinghabitatharry-potterin-game-divorcein-game-weddingjk-rowlinglive-eventlive-eventslucasartslucasfilmslucasfilms-habitatmarriagepvppvp-zonessysopssystem-operatorsthe-game-archaeologistultima-onlineuovirtual-worldvirtual-worldsweddingworld-of-warcraftTue, 17 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Raph Koster: Immersion is not a core game virtue]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/raph-koster-immersion-is-not-a-core-game-virtue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/raph-koster-immersion-is-not-a-core-game-virtue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/raph-koster-immersion-is-not-a-core-game-virtue/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies - Cantina gambling
Yeah, you read that right, virtual world fans. One of the more celebrated sandbox MMORPG developers is apparently throwing in the towel when it comes to immersion. Raph Koster wrote what can only be termed a lament on his personal blog today, saying that "immersion does not make a lot of sense in a mobile, interruptable world."

Koster characterizes immersion as a style whose time has come and gone, and he concludes that games are no longer for dreamers due to their far-reaching popularity. "I mourn the gradual loss of deep immersion and the trappings of geekery that I love," Koster writes. "I see the ways in which the worlds I once dove into headlong have become incredibly expensive endeavors, movies-with-button-presses far more invested in telling me their story, rather than letting me tell my own."

Whether you agree with him or not, it's a sobering read coming from one of the chief creative forces behind Star Wars Galaxies and Ultima Online.

MassivelyRaph Koster: Immersion is not a core game virtue originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>at-least-it-has-a-karateka-screenshotcasualdepressingdesignhardcoreimmersionkosterMiscellaneousopinionraph-kosterroleplaysandboxstar-wars-galaxiesswgultima-onlinevirtual-worldsFri, 13 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/some-assembly-required-a-virtual-world-round-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required header
If you are perusing this column, chances are you are a fan of virtual worlds and the sandbox genre. Join the club! (Dues will be due on the third Tuesday.) The aspect that compels many aficionados to delve into a game is the ability to make an impact on the world in some small respect instead of making them into Hive Member 1593072 running a static, predetermined gauntlet. How that impact is accomplished, however, varies; there are multiple features that can facilitate it, and which ones are considered most important depends on the player.

With the loss of one of the best sandbox games just last month, some players may be feeling a void. Others still are looking/hoping for the "ultimate" sandbox that contains nearly every virtual world feature. Certainly, there are some upcoming games that make some drool-worthy promises, but what about playing something now? There are actually games out on the market that have at least one aspect of the genre, if not more.

To start off the new year, Some Assembly Required looks at some of the top features of virtual worlds and lists games that incorporate these features. While this list isn't exhaustive (considering the sheer number of games when you include all of the smaller free-to-play titles, I'd run out of column space!), it is a comprehensive enough overview to point you toward some games worth playing that perhaps you hadn't considered before.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup

MassivelySome Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaionaion-gameAnarchy-Onlineaocccpccp-eveccp-gameschampions-onlinecharacter-creationcharacter-customizationcity-of-heroescocohcraft-of-godscraft-of-the-godscraftingcrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkfalleden-eternaleq-1eq-2eq-ieq-iieveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineever-quest-1ever-quest-2ever-quest-iever-quest-iieverquest-1everquest-2everquest-ieverquest-iifallen-earthfeaturedfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiflyffFuncomglitchguild-housinghousingking-of-kings-3liden-labs-second-lifelinden-labslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroluna-onlinemabinogimission-architectnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionnotorious-gamesparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioesplanetsideplayer-generated-contentplayer-generated-missionsplayer-housingplayer-run-economyrunescapeRyzomsecond-lifesecond-life-linden-labsslsl-liden-labssoe-eq-1soe-eq-2soe-eq-isoe-eq-iisome-assembly-requiredsony-eq-1sony-eq-2sony-eq-isony-eq-iisquare-enixst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineturbineTurbine-EntertainmentUltima-OnlineUOvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvirtual-worldwar-of-the-immortalswizard-101xbox-360XsyonFri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite MMO pet class?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-pet-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-pet-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-pet-class/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

EQII Beastlord
If you started playing MMOs at the beginning of the genre, you may be saddled with a prejudice against pet classes. In early Ultima Online, an Animal Tamer's pets, usually dragons, had a way of getting their master into notoriety trouble. In EverQuest, if ever a pull went awry, blame was placed on the Necromancers and Magicians, deserved or not -- obviously, those classes just had poor pet control. Even City of Heroes' Masterminds, implemented only in 2005, have a bad reputation for reckless behavior (not to mention for blocking party members' movement).

Pet AI has come a very long way over the last decade and a half, though, and pet classes continue to be popular, perhaps because they allow players to micromanage a group without actually having to be in one. And some games, like Star Wars: The Old Republic, have made all classes pet classes by virtue of companions. Are you a fan of pet classes, and if so, what's your favorite implementation across the genre?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your favorite MMO pet class? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aianimal-tamerbeastlordbiowarebrianna-royce-tdgcity-of-heroesCity-of-VillainsclassclassescohcovcoxeaElectronic-ArtseqEQ2EQIIeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iimagicianmastermindncsoftnecromanceropinionparagon-studiospetpet-aipet-classpet-classespetssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortdgthe-daily-grindthe-old-republictorultima-onlineuoMon, 02 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: An interview with Brian Green (part 1)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/20/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-an-interview-with-br/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/20/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-an-interview-with-br/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/20/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-an-interview-with-br/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Meridian 59
Last week we began to examine one of the most significant MMOs in history: Meridian 59. While it never rose to the level of fame and subscriber numbers as its successors did, Meridian 59 was a daring pioneer that paved the way for all that followed. Its story is almost like a movie, with the title born from the fruits of two amateur programmers, surviving studio shutdowns and huge competition, and persevering from 1996 through today.

As I'll recount over the next two episodes of The Game Archaeologist, I sat down with Brian Green, a blogger and game developer who oversaw the resurrection of Meridian 59 in the early 2000s and ran it for the better part of a decade. Green graciously agreed to participate, saying that he always loves talking about games -- and this one in particular.

The Game Archaeologist: Hi! Please introduce yourself and your current position and project.

Brian Green: I'm Brian "Psychochild" Green, a long-time MMO designer and programmer. I'm known for my professional blog and my work on Meridian 59. I'm currently working on the Storybricks project as the MMO Wizard. We're a startup, so that means I do whatever needs to be done at the moment.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: An interview with Brian Green (part 1)

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: An interview with Brian Green (part 1) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dobrian-greenc++codingeaelectronic-artsfarsidefeaturedgenocidehighlandsinterviewKerovniameridian-59mudn64near-death-studiosoriginprogrammingpsychochildqrob-ellisrob-ellis-iiStephen-R-Donaldsonthe-game-archaeologistThomas-Covenantultima-onlineTue, 20 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: A first look at Conquer Online for the iPad and a giveaway]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/mmobility-a-first-look-at-conquer-online-for-the-ipad-and-a-giv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/mmobility-a-first-look-at-conquer-online-for-the-ipad-and-a-giv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/mmobility-a-first-look-at-conquer-online-for-the-ipad-and-a-giv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Conquer Online screenshot
Over the last few weeks, I've been checking out Conquer Online for the iPad. I don't really have anything to compare the game to because I never played the full PC version, but the mobile version I played felt a lot like a "real" full MMO. I logged in, made a character, and ran around the lands doing quests and leveling, just like in a normal client-based game. This should not be that surprising at this point in the world of mobile development. There have been several "real" MMOs made for the iPad and other devices. Celtic Heroes has been trying to achieve that classic look for a while now and has come pretty darn close. There's World of Midgard as well, made by the same developers who are releasing the cross-platform Lords at War very soon.

I was told that Conquer Online should feel a bit like Ultima Online on the iPad, but I'm not sure about that. Yes, it features the isometric view that we are all so familiar with in UO, but I don't think the comparison holds up beyond that.

Click past the cut and I'll break it down for you. Also, if you would like to receive a free super item pack for the game, you'll find it at the end of the article!

Continue reading MMObility: A first look at Conquer Online for the iPad and a giveaway

MassivelyMMObility: A first look at Conquer Online for the iPad and a giveaway originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>91-com91.combeau-hindmanconquer-onlinefeaturedgiveawaygiveawaysgrindIOSipadisometricMMObilitymobilemobile-mmpUltima-OnlineuoFri, 16 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA denies Richard Garriott's claims of Ultima Online discussions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/ea-denies-richard-garriotts-claims-of-ultima-online-discussions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/ea-denies-richard-garriotts-claims-of-ultima-online-discussions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/ea-denies-richard-garriotts-claims-of-ultima-online-discussions/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>de-niedeaelectronic-artsgeneral-britishindustry-gamerslord-britishRichard-GarriottUltima-OnlineuoThu, 15 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-the-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Meridian 59
A colony founded through a magical nexus, Meridian 59 had it all going on -- until, that is, the portal to the colony collapsed and it was left to fend for itself. Monsters swarmed over the land, politics split the community into factions, and adventurers were called to rise up and become the heroes that were desperately needed. And all it took was $10.95 a month and an internet connection.

Welcome to 1996 and one of the very first -- if not the first (more on that later) -- graphical MMOs to hit the scene. Meridian 59 may not have been one of the biggest games in the genre, but it was arguably one of the most important, the John Adams to World of Warcraft's Abraham Lincoln. If you were wondering, Darkfall was Chester A. Arthur.

It seems fitting to end 2011 by touching upon this significant title that, against all odds, continues to operate today. Meridian 59 weathered studio shutdowns, newbie developers in every sense of the word, and a world that wasn't quite sure what to make of these fancy-schmancy massively interactive roleplaying games. MIRGs! Oh, that would've been such a better acronym, but I digress. Let's set the wayback machine to 1978 to see how one amateur game led to another that led to the birth of an industry.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3doAlan-E-Klietzandrew-KirmseArchetype-InteractivebiowareChris-KirmsecompuserveDamion-Schubertdarkfalldoomduke-nukem-3dfeaturedheretichistoricalhistoryinterplayKingdom-of-the-Nexusmeridian-59mike-sellersmudmud-likenear-death-studiospsychochildqrich-vogelrob-ellisrob-ellis-iiscepter-of-gothstar-wars-the-old-republicsteve-sellersstorybricksswtorthe-realmthe-realm-onlineultima-onlineultima-online-third-dawnuoworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 13 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott: 'Exceptionally unusual pressures' helped tank Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/richard-garriott-exceptionally-unusual-pressures-helped-tank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/richard-garriott-exceptionally-unusual-pressures-helped-tank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/richard-garriott-exceptionally-unusual-pressures-helped-tank/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsfantasygame-mechanicsinterviewmmo-industryrichard-garriottsandboxultimaultima-onlineultima-online-2ultima-sequelultima-successorultimate-rpguoMon, 12 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should MMOs offer respecs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/the-daily-grind-should-mmos-offer-respecs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/the-daily-grind-should-mmos-offer-respecs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/the-daily-grind-should-mmos-offer-respecs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Glitch skill tree
MMOs last for so long that you're almost guaranteed to get bored or make a mistake at some point during character development. Most games know this and allow you a do-over, be it through unlearning skills in sandboxes like Glitch and Ultima Online or respecing talent point choices in World of Warcraft. Lest your choices be trivialized, certain games insist on making respecs prohibitively expensive; City of Heroes and Champions Online even charge real money for respecs should you deplete your in-game allotment.

But other MMOs simply provide no outlet for a do-over at all, like Star Wars: The Old Republic, which currently locks you into your advanced class choice at level 10, long before you're really capable of making that kind of decision. While the devs are still debating respecs as a post-launch addition, a surprising number of players are vehemently opposed to the entire concept on the grounds that it makes character choices irrelevant.

What say you -- should all games have respecs, or are do-overs just another form of "easymode"?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should MMOs offer respecs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advanced-classesbrianna-royce-tdgchampions-onlinecity-of-heroescohdo-overeasymodeglitchopinionrespecrespecsskillskillsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortalent-pointstalent-treestalentstdgthe-daily-grindultima-onlineunlearnunlearninguoWorld-of-WarcraftwowMon, 12 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: The upcoming contenders]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-contenders/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-contenders/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-contenders/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
While I'm on board the Star Wars: The Old Republic train (at least until SOE's Star Wars: The New Republic comes out in 2014 and forces SWTOR to shut down), I can certainly sympathize with the frustration that non-fans are feeling right about now. There are few things more annoying than not being into the latest craze -- or hating it outright -- and yet being unable to escape it.

So I'm here to say to you today that, like World of Warcraft, SWTOR isn't the be-all, end-all of the MMO field. It's a part of it, but just one part, and there are many, many others in the works as we speak. Mama always told me never to put all your eggs in one basket anyway, so I'm spreading my eggcitement across many cyber-nests.

This is the bone I'm throwing to all of you this week: a list of 10 Midichlorian-free MMOs that have me -- and should have you -- extremely buzzed about their development. In putting together this list, I realized that there are so many promising prospects that I divided them into two groups. This week I'm presenting the strongest contenders that should make it to launch with a solid product, while next time I'll list promising prospects that may be more of a long shot. I'm 47% confident that I will not forget your most-anticipated title.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The upcoming contenders

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: The upcoming contenders originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosarcheagearenanetbetacarbine-studiosccpchampions-onlinecopernicuscurt-schillingdark-millennium-onlinedc-universe-onlinedust-514eve-onlineeverquest-nextfeaturedfuncomgamescom-2011guild-wars-2gw2jake-songlistmarvelmarvel-universe-onlinencsoftperfect-10perfect-tenproject-copernicusr-a-salvatorera-salvatoreRagnar-Tørnquistragnar-tornquistsandboxsandparkterathe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenthe-secret-worldthqtodd-mcFarlanetswultima-onlineupcoming-mmoswarhammer-40kwildstarxl-gamesxlgamesThu, 01 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist celebrates Dark Age of Camelot's 10th anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/the-game-archaeologist-celebrates-dark-age-of-camelots-10th-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/the-game-archaeologist-celebrates-dark-age-of-camelots-10th-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/the-game-archaeologist-celebrates-dark-age-of-camelots-10th-ann/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Dark Age of Camelot
Last month was a historic occasion for MMOs, as Dark Age of Camelot joined the exclusive Decade Club, turning 10 years old and making most of us sit down heavily and wonder, "Has it really been that long?"

It has indeed. You may wish to invest in a calendar. While it might be a tad tardy, I got the chance to interview the ever-busy Mythic about this milestone... and here it is!

The Game Archaeologist: Could you please introduce yourself, your role on the team, and the faction for which you live, breathe and sleep?

Stuart Zissu: I am Stuart Zissu, producer on Dark Age of Camelot. Asking which Realm I prefer is like asking which child is my favorite, I love them all! They all have their advantages and disadvantages, and each one brings something different to the table. With that said, my first level 50 was an Albion Enhancement Friar (before Enhancement Friars were "viable").

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist celebrates Dark Age of Camelot's 10th anniversary

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist celebrates Dark Age of Camelot's 10th anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.110-patch10th-anniversarybioware-mythicdaocdark-age-of-camelotf2pfeaturedfree-to-playinterviewmythicmythic-entertainmentpatch-1.110realm-vs-realmrvrStuart-Zissuten-yearsten-years-oldtenth-anniversaryultima-onlineuowarwarhammer-onlinewrath-of-heroesTue, 29 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you banksit?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/the-daily-grind-do-you-banksit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/the-daily-grind-do-you-banksit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/the-daily-grind-do-you-banksit/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Banksitting bear is sitting in a bank
In every MMO with a bank, players banksit. OK, so people preferred to cantina-sit in Star Wars Galaxies, and entire guilds banksat in Ultima Online as a show of strength, but they just prove the rule: Gamers love to be seen, and they flock to the most active spots in the game to make sure that happens, even if it means standing around all day pretending to shuffle Very Important Items in their storage vaults while feeling superior to any newbie who enviously inspects their gear. In many cases, players are deliberately banksitting instead of sitting in their player cities, homes, guild halls, or other game-issued gathering spot, like taverns or inns, never mind the fact that said players could be out actually adventuring, and because of that, "banksitting" is almost a dirty word in some MMOs.

So do you banksit? Do you do it while waiting for something more interesting to happen, like a queue popping or your buddy hopping online? Do you do it to people-watch, to see and be seen? Do you banksit to truly feel how massive and busy your chosen game is, to meet new people and enjoy the thrum of activity? Or do you think the whole concept of hanging out at a bank is just as silly in a game as it is in the real world?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you banksit? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankbanksbanksitbanksittingbrianna-royce-tdgcantinainnopinionpeople-watchingqueuestar-wars-galaxiesswgtaverntdgthe-daily-grindultima-onlineuoMon, 14 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Ultima Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/rise-and-shiny-recap-ultima-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/rise-and-shiny-recap-ultima-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/13/rise-and-shiny-recap-ultima-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

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

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

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

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Ultima Online

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmaneaElectronic-ArtsfeaturedLiveStreamlord-britishmythicMythic-EntertainmentRichard-Garriottrise-and-shinyrunescapeultimaUltima-OnlineuovideoWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 13 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have you ever attended an in-game funeral?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/12/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-attended-an-in-game-funeral/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/12/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-attended-an-in-game-funeral/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/12/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-attended-an-in-game-funeral/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Padme's Funeral from Revenge of the Sith
During the roleplaying heyday of Star Wars Galaxies, I attended a funeral for another character. His player was calling it quits and wanted to send off the toon in the most dramatic way possible: by asking his friends to eulogize his avatar in a Coronet park. (Of course, when he returned under the same name a few months later, the effect was somewhat diminished.)

Other players hold funerals for players who have passed away in the real world. In some games -- Ultima Online comes to mind -- players are deeply respectful, and devs sometimes get involved too, inserting permanent shrines of remembrance in the game. In other games (we're looking at you, World of Warcraft), funeral-crashers and social miscreants have infamously ruined more than one somber occasion.

How about you? Have you ever attended (or held) an in-game funeral, RP or otherwise?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Have you ever attended an in-game funeral? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgfuneralfuneral-crashersfuneralsopinionroleplayroleplayingserenity-nowstar-wars-galaxiesswgtdgthe-daily-grindUltima-OnlineuoWorld-of-WarcraftwowSat, 12 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott describes his 'ultimate' RPG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/richard-garriott-describes-his-ultimate-rpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/richard-garriott-describes-his-ultimate-rpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/richard-garriott-describes-his-ultimate-rpg/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarbasicdungeons-and-dragonseaelectronic-artsfacebooklord-britishlord-of-the-ringsrantrichard-garriotttabula-rasaultimaultima-onlineultimate-rpgultimate-ultimauoThu, 10 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Explaining the free-to-play hold-outs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/free-for-all-explaining-the-free-to-play-hold-outs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/free-for-all-explaining-the-free-to-play-hold-outs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/free-for-all-explaining-the-free-to-play-hold-outs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Asheron's Call screenshot
Well, it's official. Free-to-play is not the wave of the future; it is the payment model of today. Games left and right are transforming themselves into free-to-play versions, and the never-ending stream of free-to-play games from foreign lands (a wave that started many years ago) is continuing at its usual breakneck pace. It's quite the understatement to say that we have almost too many choices in the market today. Developers have to fight harder than ever before (yes, even the big ones) for your time and money.

But there are a few old-school holdouts that still refuse to offer some kind of free access, games like Ultima Online, EverQuest, and Asheron's Call. Why is that? What could they possibly achieve by ignoring the latest trend in payment models, and why does the payment model even matter?

Click past the cut and let's discuss it.

Continue reading Free for All: Explaining the free-to-play hold-outs

MassivelyFree for All: Explaining the free-to-play hold-outs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asherons-callbeau-hindmandarkfalleverquestf2pfeaturedfree-for-allfree-to-playftppayment-modelsriftstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorUltima-OnlineWed, 09 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultima Online producer's letter promises revitalization of classic content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/ultima-online-producers-letter-promises-revitalization-of-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/ultima-online-producers-letter-promises-revitalization-of-class/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/ultima-online-producers-letter-promises-revitalization-of-class/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Bree's (old) house in Ultima Online :D
Did you wonder who was captaining Ultima Online since Calvin "Uriah" Crowner left his role as producer earlier this fall? Apparently, it's been none other than Jeff Skalski, who recently penned a producer's letter to introduce himself to the UO-faithful. In it, he explains that his goals for the grand-daddy of MMOs include heavily increasing the team's interaction with the community, implementing weekly Q&A sessions, squashing bugs, and "breathing life back into areas that have long been forgotten," i.e., revamping older content.

In fact, some of that older content -- Shame, one of the original and iconic anti-virtue dungeons in classic Britannia -- is due for its revamp sooner rather than later. Publish 73, now on the test server, retools Shame with a truly massive itemization overhaul and difficulty scaling as players descend the dungeon's depths.

MassivelyUltima Online producer's letter promises revitalization of classic content originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-virtue-dungeoncalvin-crownerclassic-mmodungeondungeonseaElectronic-Artsitemizationjeff-skalskioverhaulpatchproducers-letterpublish-73shameultimaultima-onlineuouriahMon, 07 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: November 7-13, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/mv-guide-november-7-13-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/mv-guide-november-7-13-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/mv-guide-november-7-13-2011/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MV Guide
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During livestream events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: November 7-13, 2011

MassivelyMV Guide: November 7-13, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-studiosdc-universe-onlinedcuoea-mythicfallen-earthfefeaturedgamersfirstlittle-space-heroesmv-guidemv-tv-mythicperfect-worldpwesoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-trek-onlinestoultima-onlinewar-of-dragonsMon, 07 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are alts and mules a form of cheating?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/the-daily-grind-are-alts-and-mules-a-form-of-cheating/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/the-daily-grind-are-alts-and-mules-a-form-of-cheating/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/the-daily-grind-are-alts-and-mules-a-form-of-cheating/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Mule Photograph by Einar Faanes
In response to Beau's recent Free For All column on the topic of botters and cheaters, reader Keith wrote in to suggest that there's another form of cheating much more common and pervasive: the use of alternate characters. In games like EVE Online or Star Wars Galaxies, which limit the number of characters players can create, extra accounts are manipulated to allow a single player access to more skills through alts ("skill mules"), more storage space ("bank mules" and "auction mules"), or more avenues for safe PvP scouting. But the problem occurs in alt-friendly games too, like World of Warcraft, where it's not uncommon to see someone five-boxing an entire team of Shamans, or Ultima Online, where it's standard practice for every player to have a "craft mule" who loads up on tradeskills (to the detriment of the player economy).

What do you think? Are alts and mules just another form of cheating, one that allows players with excess character slots or extra accounts unfair advantages? Or are "slave" characters just a natural and necessary part of online gaming?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are alts and mules a form of cheating? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ah-mulealtalternate-charactersaltsauction-mulebank-mulebank-mulesbottersbrianna-royce-tdgcheaterscheatingeveeve-onlinemulemulesmulti-boxingopinionreader-mailskill-muleslaveslavesstar-wars-galaxiesswgtdgthe-daily-grindUltima-OnlineuoWorld-of-WarcraftwowMon, 07 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Warriors Saga]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/rise-and-shiny-recap-warriors-saga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/rise-and-shiny-recap-warriors-saga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/rise-and-shiny-recap-warriors-saga/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Warriors Saga screenshot
It's unfortunate when my normal Rise and Shiny decision-making process bites me in the butt. I generally try to find games semi-randomly, but there really is no random choice for a guy who is pretty aware of almost any title coming out in the U.S., like I am. When I saw Warriors Saga splashed across the front page of Massively, I decided to take a chance and Rise and Shiny the heck out of it.

Well, nearly a week later and several hours into the game, I can tell you that there is so much that still needs to be done to the title that it is almost not fair to give you my first impressions. But alas, I have the super-seriously tough job of playing games for a living, so click past the cut and I'll tell you all about it.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Warriors Saga

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Warriors Saga originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowser-basedclapalongea-mythicf2pfeaturedflash-based-mmofree-to-playftpmobileMythic-EntertainmentUltima-Onlinewarriors-sagayoogamesSun, 06 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Ten terrific titles for this nifty new netbook]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/mmobility-ten-terrific-titles-for-this-nifty-new-netbook/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/mmobility-ten-terrific-titles-for-this-nifty-new-netbook/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/mmobility-ten-terrific-titles-for-this-nifty-new-netbook/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Inspiron Duo picture
I mentioned this new gaming toy of mine last week, and it finally arrived. I immediately loved how it felt and weighed. Sure, there are lighter netbooks, but many of them feel more fragile. This Inspiron Duo has a rubberized edging to it, and the flip-screen feels snappy but firm. I was happy right away. It's a higher-quality netbook with a decent-quality tablet included.

After I tweaked it and purged it of bloatware, I had to get some games going on it, and not just casual Facebook games but real MMOs. I spent a few days going through my list of titles to see which ones would work on the netbook and how many will work well with the touchscreen. I wanted games that would give a normal netbook fits but not lag excessively. Note that my netbook's screen is 1366x768, while the cheapest ones out there are normally 1024x600. Adjustments might need to be made there. I came up only with 10 games for now, but expect more in the future.

Click past the cut to see the list!

Continue reading MMObility: Ten terrific titles for this nifty new netbook

MassivelyMMObility: Ten terrific titles for this nifty new netbook originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mystical-landbeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpglitchgolden-agegunshineillyriadinspiron-duomabinoginadirimnetbooknetbook-gamesnetbook-mmosNexonnexon-americapuppet-guardianpuzzle-piratestechnologyUltima-Onlinewizard101Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott blames Blizzard for ignoring the social gaming field]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/richard-garriott-blames-blizzard-for-ignoring-the-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/richard-garriott-blames-blizzard-for-ignoring-the-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/richard-garriott-blames-blizzard-for-ignoring-the-social-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Portalarium

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

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcasual-gamescasual-gamingeaElectronic-ArtsPortalariumrat-tailRichard-Garriottsmack-talksocial-gamessocial-gamingultima-onlineuoworld-of-warcraftwowzyngaWed, 02 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST