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[WRUP: Kingdoms of Amalur was pretty cool edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/wrup-kingdoms-of-amalur-was-pretty-cool-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/wrup-kingdoms-of-amalur-was-pretty-cool-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/wrup-kingdoms-of-amalur-was-pretty-cool-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Not my character, but you know I'm awful at taking screenshots.
By now pretty much everyone has heard the bad news about 38 Studios. This makes me extremely sad for all of the people who have lost their jobs as a result, but it also makes me extremely sad for the future of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Despite having been lackluster about the game before launch, I fell in love with the demo and then fell further in love with the main game. The game has a lot of neat ideas, and it's a franchise that could really benefit from a sequel to polish things up. Sad news all around, really.

This week's WRUP isn't full of bad news -- it's just filled with the facts about what we'll be up to over the weekend. It's also filled with our opinions on judging all MMOs by the same standard instead of more varied criteria. So skip on past the cut to see our weekend plans, and let us know in the comments what you're going to be doing over the long weekend!

Continue reading WRUP: Kingdoms of Amalur was pretty cool edition

MassivelyWRUP: Kingdoms of Amalur was pretty cool edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 26 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: How is this not fully funded edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/wrup-how-is-this-not-fully-funded-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/wrup-how-is-this-not-fully-funded-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/wrup-how-is-this-not-fully-funded-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

I need this game to exist. My past self would never forgive me otherwise.
For various terrible reasons, I only just found out about Panzer Pets (and yes, we did cover the announcement on Massively, but I still occasionally miss news we cover). Like many ambitious projects, it's on Kickstarter, but as of right now it's not even 10% funded, which raises the question of why we live in a world where a game that offers to let you build your own little robots and send them into battle was not funded about eight minutes after the page went live.

I think this should be rectified. My only regret is not having the full sum to just fill up the funding by my lonesome.

What's that? Oh, right, WRUP, in which the Massively staff members discuss what they'll be playing over the next two days. We also discuss our thoughts on open vs. instanced housing. Jump on past the break to see our weekend plans, and let us know what you're going to be doing in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: How is this not fully funded edition

MassivelyWRUP: How is this not fully funded edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 19 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Shopping for furniture edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/wrup-shopping-for-furniture-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/wrup-shopping-for-furniture-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/wrup-shopping-for-furniture-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Oak and pine, minus a handful of Norsemen.
With Ms. Lady and I solidly moved into our new apartment, we face a new problem. Specifically, we face the problem of having a substantial need for furniture and not nearly enough furniture to meet that need. So we've absconded to the almost adjacent Crate & Barrel, which is a lot like Ikea except made of something sturdier than corrugated cardboard. Maybe not much, but it's a game of degrees.

But you didn't come here to read about my furniture shopping. Well, not just my furniture shopping, anyway. You came here for this week's installment of WRUP, wherein we of the Massively staff discuss our plans for the weekend. We also talk about whether or not we mourn the games that never saw widespread release, if any. So jump on down past the break to see what we're up to over the weekend, and let us know what you've got planned in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: Shopping for furniture edition

MassivelyWRUP: Shopping for furniture edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 12 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Revenge of the boxes edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/wrup-revenge-of-the-boxes-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/wrup-revenge-of-the-boxes-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/wrup-revenge-of-the-boxes-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's more organized than this.
I was worried, rather legitimately, that when I moved into my new apartment, I would be facing an internet-free existence despite having called to set up a transfer two weeks prior. That worst-case scenario didn't come to pass. However, I am still sitting among a nightmarish pile of boxes that form corridors and alleyways through my space. Somewhere in those boxes is every important item that contributes to comfortable living. But at least I can clean that up while looking at cat videos.

Since I have the internet, I'm also able to type yet another inane introduction to WRUP, in which the Massively staff members discuss what they're up to over the next few days. We also give our impressions of the two most recent betas in five words -- or whatever other MMO-related topic strikes our fancy. So jump on down to see what we're up to for the weekend, and let us know your plans over the weekend in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: Revenge of the boxes edition

MassivelyWRUP: Revenge of the boxes edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 05 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Yes, it's the beta weekend edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/wrup-yes-its-the-beta-weekend-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/wrup-yes-its-the-beta-weekend-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/wrup-yes-its-the-beta-weekend-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

I know, it's a WRUP topic that's actually about MMOs. I'm ashamed of myself. Next week, back to personal nattering, I promise.
Yes, it's true, you can finally log in and play Guild Wars 2 for a little while. You still can't play two of the five races, but you can sit down at your computer this evening and emerge two days later, a bleary-eyed shell of a human being. And then when you get the full game, you can get bored within an hour. So maybe this whole beta weekend thing is a double-edged sword after all.

Or maybe not -- this is going to be the first I've played of it.

As you can probably guess, this week's WRUP involves a lot of skirmishes being fought by organizations for the second time, and I'm not talking about Business Fisticuffs II: Fisticuff Harder. It also contains the other Massively staff activities for the weekend as well as our opinions on the definition of pay-to-win. So jump on past the break to let us know what you're doing, and leave your own plans in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: Yes, it's the beta weekend edition

MassivelyWRUP: Yes, it's the beta weekend edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 28 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Pangolin edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/wrup-pangolin-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/wrup-pangolin-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/wrup-pangolin-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

This is not a metaphor. This is a pangolin. Metaphors are birds.
There are a few important things that you need to know about pangolins. First of all, they exist. Second, well, that first thing is hard enough to move past. Don't get me wrong; they're beyond adorable, but they have no right existing in the modern era. Look at that thing. It's covered in armor plating with a slow and snurfling gait. It's like a contemporary of mammoths and ground sloths. The fact that it exists in this time and place implies that evolution is very nostalgic on occasion.

This week's WRUP isn't really about nostalgia. Sure, it's always about what the Massively staff is playing over the weekend, but our usual bonus question isn't nostalgic either. Instead, it's about what game mechanic we'd like to see excised for all time. So jump on past the break to see what we'll be up to over this fine weekend, and let us know your own plans down in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: Pangolin edition

MassivelyWRUP: Pangolin edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 21 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: In recollection of Yuri Gagarin edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/14/wrup-in-recollection-of-yuri-gagarin-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/14/wrup-in-recollection-of-yuri-gagarin-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/14/wrup-in-recollection-of-yuri-gagarin-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Not exactly the Starship Enterprise.
Thursday evening was Yuri's Night, an evening celebrating the flight of Yuri Gagarin, the first human being in space. Our younger readers may not realize this, but outer space is a dangerous place that people used to dream about, and human beings developed a great deal of technology to explore that dangerous frontier. Then someone realized that it was much easier to develop technology to show videos of cats jumping into boxes on portable phones. But as a big fan of the space program and humanity's efforts to expand beyond our planet, I like to honor Mr. Gagarin for his brave flight into the unknown.

This week's WRUP, however, has nothing to do with the unknown. It does have a bit to do with space, depending on what games the Massively staffers are playing over the weekend. And it also talks about when a game is dying, which really doesn't have any ties to the header once again. Still, bravely venture past the break and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: In recollection of Yuri Gagarin edition

MassivelyWRUP: In recollection of Yuri Gagarin edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 14 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Ransom edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/wrup-ransom-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/wrup-ransom-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/07/wrup-ransom-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ransom
PAX East is holding Eliot hostage! We've just learned that the infamous Boston gaming con is planning to force Eliot, Matt, Lis, and Karen to play video games for money indefinitely. But don't worry; I'm sure you guys can have Eliot and his Dadaist commentary back once I get those cookies. I mean, once PAX gets those cookies. Yeah.

In the meantime, let's do this WRUP thing after the break! We'll talk about what we think of beta weekends and what we're playing, and then you can do the same using our brand-new comment system that so totally doesn't have any bugs (see, I can be absurd like Eliot!).

Continue reading WRUP: Ransom edition

MassivelyWRUP: Ransom edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredmassively-metametaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 07 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: How is it time for PAX edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/wrup-how-is-it-time-for-pax-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/wrup-how-is-it-time-for-pax-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/wrup-how-is-it-time-for-pax-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Hooray for booking a hotel back in November.
Holy anything, next weekend it's time for my annual trip up to Boston for PAX East. This strikes me as intensely strange, and not just because it's taking place later than usual this year. It's going to be absolutely insane. I also don't have any major events surrounding me for the first time, so I'll hopefully be able to relax a little more. Seriously, I'm still not mentally done with January; I'm not ready for it to be this late in the year already.

This week's WRUP does not entirely focus on PAX, of course, mostly because that's not happening this weekend. But we do talk about our plans for the current weekend as well as our opinions on the pervasive shroud of muscled men that make up MMO beefcake. Take a look at what we'll be up to past the cut, and let us know what you're planning on playing over the weekend in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: How is it time for PAX edition

MassivelyWRUP: How is it time for PAX edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metametaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 31 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Value this moment edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/24/wrup-value-this-moment-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/24/wrup-value-this-moment-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/24/wrup-value-this-moment-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

I think this is a moment you might value if you're playing Star Trek Online. I'm not right now.
I know that most weeks when I write up the header for WRUP, I'm talking about something ridiculous. This week, I don't have it in me. This week, I have only advice for you: Take the time and the energy to value the things that matter in your lives. Games, people, experiences, all of the above. Don't ignore these things, don't let them slip away, and don't ignore how many important and fragile pieces exist all around you. Take the time to do things you enjoy and see people you care about, and don't take any of that for granted.

The rest of this week's installment is less somber, as we're discussing our usual weekend plans as well as whether or not we expect RP servers to be policed. Jump on past the break to see what we'll be up to, and then let us know your plans (and your opinions on the bonus question) in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: Value this moment edition

MassivelyWRUP: Value this moment edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 24 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: You'd better be wearing green edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/wrup-youd-better-be-wearing-green-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/wrup-youd-better-be-wearing-green-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/wrup-youd-better-be-wearing-green-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

City of Heroes will let you be very green. Almost painfully so.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Normally I'd admonish people for taking a special day out of their busy schedules just to drink heavily (everyone knows you do that throughout the week), but in this case I'm just going to admonish people not for wearing green. If you aren't wearing green, you're missing the point. Also, you could stand to do that more often. I'm just happy to see people wearing green clothes; it doesn't have to be a holiday.

Me? Half of my shirts are green.

This week's WRUP does not actually involve any Saint Patrick's Day shenanigans. Instead, we've opted for our usual mixture of games and some assorted musings on what games we'd play if the games in question had alternate rulesets for some servers. So go ahead and spy on our weekend antics just past the cut, and let us know what you'll be doing in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: You'd better be wearing green edition

MassivelyWRUP: You'd better be wearing green edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 17 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: I've been waiting two years to do this edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/wrup-ive-been-waiting-two-years-to-do-this-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/wrup-ive-been-waiting-two-years-to-do-this-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/wrup-ive-been-waiting-two-years-to-do-this-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

No, that's not my character, it's a stock screenshot. My Shepard is Moroccan, actually.
When I first started playing Mass Effect 2, I was waiting for a chance to start punching Cerberus operatives in the face. Now I'm playing Mass Effect 3, which gives me abundant opportunities to punch Cerberus operatives in the face. I mean, there are a lot of other things to like about the game, but nothing that gives me the satisfaction of being able to take down people who have clearly needed to be taken down for some time. It's... edifying.

This week's installment of WRUP doesn't actually include much in the way of ME3 beyond this, however, but it does include what everyone on the Massively staff will be doing over the weekend. It also includes our individual stories about the last MMO that we each deleted off of our respective hard drives. So come look at our plans, and then let us know what you'll be doing down in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: I've been waiting two years to do this edition

MassivelyWRUP: I've been waiting two years to do this edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 10 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Going ape edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/03/wrup-going-ape-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/03/wrup-going-ape-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/03/wrup-going-ape-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Yes, I know, great apes aren't actually the flipping out sort. As my entry this week shows, I'm kind of thinking of gorillas.
I hate when I know a major game release is just around the corner. Mass Effect 3 comes out next week, and I've got it quietly pre-loading on my machine right now. That's bad enough by itself, but I count four other games I'm enraptured by at the moment, leaving me to just completely wig out in trying to play everything at once. I could probably bring my desktop downstairs and play on the PlayStation 3 at the same time, but that still leaves me with a need to be playing three other games at once.

I know. First-world problems.

At any rate, it's time for this week's installment of WRUP, in which the entire Massively crew is all frenetic about playing many, many games. Well, some of us are, anyway. And we're all sharing our personal definition of a sandbox game, so that should be fun. So let us know what you're going to be up to in the comments, but only after you've passed through the wall of text beneath the cut!

Continue reading WRUP: Going ape edition

MassivelyWRUP: Going ape edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 03 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Are you going to eat that edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/wrup-are-you-going-to-eat-that-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/wrup-are-you-going-to-eat-that-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/wrup-are-you-going-to-eat-that-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

I had tempura for dinner before I wrote this. Probably getting leftovers after this is finished.
Are you going to eat that? No, really. I mean, it's fine if you are; there's nothing wrong with it. It just looks tasty, is all. And you know, I'm kind of hungry. I mean, I don't want you to go hungry, so if you're going to eat it, go ahead. But if you aren't really in the mood to eat it, I wouldn't mind having a bite. Isn't it kind of fatty? Aren't you on that diet? Here, just let me have a taste.

Oh, wow, this is great. Say, while I'm eating this, why don't you check out this week's installment of WRUP? It's all the plans of the Massively staff for the weekend, and we're also talking about what games we regret having left behind. So go ahead and read that, and then let us know what you'll be up to in the comments. I'll just finish this plate off.

Continue reading WRUP: Are you going to eat that edition

MassivelyWRUP: Are you going to eat that edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 25 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: This is kind of a silly demo edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/18/wrup-this-is-kind-of-a-silly-demo-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/18/wrup-this-is-kind-of-a-silly-demo-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/18/wrup-this-is-kind-of-a-silly-demo-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

I spent all of ME2 waiting to shoot Cerberus agents. I can wait a little longer.
I haven't played it yet, but the Mass Effect 3 demo strikes me as silly. For me, and I suspect pretty everyone else who played the first two games, this is not a game that had to do much to sell itself. BioWare could have just announced the title and done nothing else, and I would still have been getting out my wallet. All that playing the demo does is make you more anxious for a thing that's a while away and have probably already preordered.

I'm not saying I can resist it, mind. But it seems a bit silly.

In other news, it's time for this week's installment of WRUP, where the Massively staff members talk about what they plan to do over the weekend. This week, we're also discussing whether or not we'd fund an MMO project via Kickstarter. So storm on past the cut for our weekend plans, and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: This is kind of a silly demo edition

MassivelyWRUP: This is kind of a silly demo edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 18 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Larry will be staring at chest hair edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/wrup-larry-will-be-staring-at-chest-hair-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/wrup-larry-will-be-staring-at-chest-hair-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/wrup-larry-will-be-staring-at-chest-hair-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Bears are known as excellent sources of chest hair. Also back hair, face hair, and paw hair.
Massively columnist Larry Everett has informed me that despite having sent in a different response for this week's WRUP, he will spend this weekend staring at chest hair. Why will he be staring at chest hair? I don't know, exactly. Perhaps he's captured by the primal energy it offers, the sense of a fundamental connection with mankind's somewhat savage roots. Perhaps he just really doesn't feel like logging into a game. Whatever the reason, he dared me to share this with the world, and now I'm doing precisely that.

Where were we? Oh, right, WRUP. This week's edition is... well, like every other edition, with the Massively staffers letting you all know what they'll be up to over the weekend. We're also talking about the maximum fee we'd pay for a subscription to an MMO. So jump on past the break to check out our gaming plans, then let us know yours down in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: Larry will be staring at chest hair edition

MassivelyWRUP: Larry will be staring at chest hair edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 11 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: We'll miss you, Miss Rubi edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/wrup-well-miss-you-miss-rubi-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/wrup-well-miss-you-miss-rubi-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/wrup-well-miss-you-miss-rubi-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Probably the last Ari shot we'll see for a while.
It's official: After more than two years here at Massively, our beloved Community Manager Rubi Bayer is departing for, well, exactly the pastures we all expected. (It's nice to be able to actually discuss that, if you've been waiting to hear about that since Monday's column.) She's been a wonderful co-worker, a spectacular friend, and a sterling columnist through all of it. We are richer for having had her as long as we did, and we can only hope that she won't forget about us while knee-deep in community management for ArenaNet. She certainly deserves it.

Beyond the bittersweet, this week's installment of WRUP is here, with the remaining Massively staffers discussing our plans over the weekend. We're also talking about whether or not we could make a great game with $30 million, albeit with the understanding that we're mostly working from speculation. Check out our weekend plans just after the break, and let us know what sort of trouble you'll be getting into down in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: We'll miss you, Miss Rubi edition

MassivelyWRUP: We'll miss you, Miss Rubi edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 04 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Apropos of nothing, Star Trek Online edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/28/wrup-apropos-of-nothing-star-trek-online-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/28/wrup-apropos-of-nothing-star-trek-online-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/28/wrup-apropos-of-nothing-star-trek-online-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

I do keep getting tempted back.
The last several weeks have pretty much had at least one or two major stories about a certain game that launched recently. So, apropos of nothing, here's a picture of Star Trek Online, which is not the game in question. It recently went free-to-play, also, which is pretty noteworthy if you haven't tried it despite wanting to see what it's like. As for me, I'm not playing it right now, but I did enjoy it when I tried!

I know -- you'd expect random cute animals from me instead. I like to break expectations.

Apropos for the end of the week, it's time for another installment of WRUP, in which we, the Massively staff members, talk about our plans for the weekend. We're also talking about what games have been out the longest before we played them. So jump on past the cut to see what we're up to over the weekend, and let us know your plans in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: Apropos of nothing, Star Trek Online edition

MassivelyWRUP: Apropos of nothing, Star Trek Online edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 28 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: What happens when you add sound to chat edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/wrup-what-happens-when-you-add-sound-to-chat-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/wrup-what-happens-when-you-add-sound-to-chat-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/wrup-what-happens-when-you-add-sound-to-chat-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

And there's a vuvuzela in there. So that's awesome.
So apparently the chatroom software that we use for business purposes (ostensibly) got a software upgrade this week that allows us to insert sound clips. Some people have used responsibly, meaning that they have not even looked up the cheat sheet for said sounds. Others, like yours truly, have turned the chatroom into a thing of horror that awakens any and all infants within a wide radius. Basically, give a bunch of adults a toy and they'll play with it until it breaks.

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately depending on your views about such shenanigans, this week's WRUP does not include sounds. Instead, it just contains what the Massively staff members will be up to over the weekend, as well as whether or not they would pay money for a mobile app. So click on past the break to see our plans, and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: What happens when you add sound to chat edition

MassivelyWRUP: What happens when you add sound to chat edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 21 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Massively Core is the same as regular Massively edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/wrup-massively-core-is-the-same-as-regular-massively-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/wrup-massively-core-is-the-same-as-regular-massively-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/wrup-massively-core-is-the-same-as-regular-massively-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

The core experience. Also the only experience.
Sorry, guys. We had it all ready, the unveiling of a version of Massively on which you saw only our articles about games, ranging from game news to game columns to opinions about gaming. But then someone pointed out that that would be exactly the same thing as what we already have. On the upside, it's less coding work this way; on the downside, my epic series of articles on baking cookies while underwater is now never going to see print. Oh, what could have been.

Anyway, despite these disappointments, another edition of WRUP has seen fit to grace everyone with news of what the Massively staff will be doing over the weekend. We're also talking about how much we have paid or would be willing to pay for a spiffy in-game ride. So click on past the break to see our weekend distractions, and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: Massively Core is the same as regular Massively edition

MassivelyWRUP: Massively Core is the same as regular Massively edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 14 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Remaining a horrible person edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/wrup-remaining-a-horrible-person-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/wrup-remaining-a-horrible-person-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/wrup-remaining-a-horrible-person-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Warhammer
We are horrible people. Well, OK, not all of us are horrible people -- I'm pretty sure that Justin is a good egg, for instance. But I know for sure that I'm a terrible person, and most of my resolutions for the next year don't even touch on fixing any of that. It's another year of being morally and fiscally irresponsible, cursing in front of children, putting my foot in my mouth, and laughing at fart jokes for me. Stick with your strengths, right?

Anyway, it's time for the first edition of WRUP for the new year, and clearly nothing has changed. After all, it's still a recounting of what the Massively staff will be up to over the weekend, complete with our own resolutions for the new year as they pertain to gaming. So jump on past the cut to see what we're up to, and let us know what you'll be doing on this first full weekend of the year in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: Remaining a horrible person edition

MassivelyWRUP: Remaining a horrible person edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 07 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: The sunset of 2011 edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/wrup-the-sunset-of-2011-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/wrup-the-sunset-of-2011-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/wrup-the-sunset-of-2011-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Anyone else want a beer?
So it's the end of 2011. What can be said that hasn't been said elsewhere? It was certainly a year, all right, and it contained pretty much the usual number of days and hours. I celebrated my second year here, Massively got another year older, Ms. Lady and I bought a car, the usual sort of stuff. Also there were some stories about MMOs in there, some sort of news stuff. I'm not really sure. Most of everything older than two hours is kind of a haze.

Past the cut is this year's final edition of WRUP, containing all of the information you'd need for what we'll be doing on this last weekend of the year. We're also talking about whether or not we have nay traditions for the transition of years, so that's timely. Jump on past the break to see what we're going to be up to, and let us know what you have planned in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: The sunset of 2011 edition

MassivelyWRUP: The sunset of 2011 edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 31 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Happy Halloween edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/wrup-happy-halloween-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/wrup-happy-halloween-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/wrup-happy-halloween-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Seriously, have a merry Christmas.
As we all know, tomorrow many of us celebrate a holiday. I can't be bothered to look up which one, so I'm just going to assume it's Halloween, the annual celebration of skeletons jumping out of people and days with all the blood. I think. Or maybe it's Festivus. The point is, there's some sort of holiday taking place, and it takes place tomorrow, and whatever it is we hope you have a happy one. Especially if it does happen to be Halloween.

But now, it's time for what everyone has really been looking forward to this week: WRUP! Yes, it's the weekly rundown of what the Massively staff is up to over the weekend, and this week we're also talking about what we hope to get from a fat, bearded man who has enslaved some reindeer. So take a look past the break for our plans, and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: Happy Halloween edition

MassivelyWRUP: Happy Halloween edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 24 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: No edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/wrup-no-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/wrup-no-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/wrup-no-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Big no.
Kids, it's important to learn to just say no. Even if you don't know what's going on. Even if no one has asked you a question, much less one that could be answered with a simple "no." Even if you are completely out of your element and the offer is completely reasonable. It's an important lesson, and sometimes you have to take a stand and say "no" even if you don't know what you're taking a stand against or what you're denying.

If someone tells you no, of course, scream and curse.

Now that we've gotten that lesson out of the way, it's time for this week's installment of WRUP, in which the Massively staff members let everyone know what they'll be up to for the weekend. We also talk about how many MMOs we have installed on our computers and how many we've played over the last month, in case you're keeping track. See what our plans are after the break, then leave your plans in the comment section, and don't you dare refuse.

Continue reading WRUP: No edition

MassivelyWRUP: No edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 17 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Requiem for a galaxy edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/10/wrup-requiem-for-a-galaxy-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/10/wrup-requiem-for-a-galaxy-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/10/wrup-requiem-for-a-galaxy-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Picture by our own Larry Everett.
It's going to be easy to miss it next week amidst launch news, but Star Wars Galaxies is shutting down. And so we say farewell to one of the greats of the genre, for whether or not the game was your cup of tea, it was unique. It was an ambitious project, aiming for all sorts of clever features and deserving no little credit for its many successes. We'll have more memorial pieces as the final shutdown approaches, but for now, let's just respect the sunset on a game that did a lot for the genre as a whole and provided so many players with so many memories.

Of course, first and foremost, this is an installment of WRUP, and that means we're talking about what we're playing over the weekend. We're also talking, rather appropriately, about games that we regret not having time to play. So see what the Massively staff is up to after the break, and let us know what you'll be doing in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: Requiem for a galaxy edition

MassivelyWRUP: Requiem for a galaxy edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 10 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: And now, a final close-up edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/wrup-and-now-a-final-close-up-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/wrup-and-now-a-final-close-up-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/wrup-and-now-a-final-close-up-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Goodbye, sweet flower.
Well, it happened. Samuel, the WRUP mascot for the past month, is being retired. We had certain problems with him, not the least of which being his habit of eating the sea lions we use to power our server. But the worst part was when he claimed to be a Mandalorian Air Whale when I found out that all of the Air Whales are on Alderaan. We hope you enjoy a final picture of him before his entrance into retirement in what I assume is his natural habitat.

Orcas live on mountains, right?

Anyway, let's get down to brass tacks and talk about what the Massively staff will be playing over the weekend. And as our usual bonus, we've also included our feelings on whether or not the weather really matters... in-game, of course. So click on past the break to see our plans, and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: And now, a final close-up edition

MassivelyWRUP: And now, a final close-up edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 03 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Now I can show you this screenshot edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/26/wrup-now-i-can-show-you-this-screenshot-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/26/wrup-now-i-can-show-you-this-screenshot-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/26/wrup-now-i-can-show-you-this-screenshot-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

So, full disclosure, I don't actually know what a whale is.
With the drop of the NDA for Star Wars: The Old Republic, I can finally share with you this screenshot. As you can see, in it, my Bounty Hunter is cheering the arrival of a Mandalorian Air Whale, represented for beta purposes by our mascot Samuel. Are there actually things called Mandalorian Air Whales in the official universe? I seriously wouldn't be surprised -- they call bone-plated lizards Vine Cats for some reason or another.

Speaking of that NDA drop, I think it's actually germane to this week's installment of WRUP because this week's bonus question for the Massively staff members was whether or not their impressions of Star Wars: The Old Republic were changed by post-NDA testimonials. The main question, of course, is the same as always: What will we be playing over the weekend, and what's our favorite Thanksgiving food? Find out past the break, and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: Now I can show you this screenshot edition

MassivelyWRUP: Now I can show you this screenshot edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 26 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Memetic invasion edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/19/wrup-memetic-invasion-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/19/wrup-memetic-invasion-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/19/wrup-memetic-invasion-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Samuel wanted a piece of memetic action. But not like this. Not like this.
Memetics -- from which we derive the term "meme," if you didn't know -- is a fascinating concept. To vastly oversimplify, the idea is that ideas are essentially organisms which reproduce, spread out, and eventually intersect with one another in a wide enough space. You can see it happen online almost constantly, where cat macros have given way to other image macros have led to whatever the current thing is. I think Doctor Zoidberg and Chuck Testa are the big names going. Of course, sometimes you just wind up pasting random images together, but other times it works.

On an unrelated note, let's read all the WRUP entries! Because that's what this is, after all. It's the weekly feature in which the Massively writers tell you what we're doing over the weekend, and this time around we're also talking about whether or not we game with our kids. (Or would, for us childless hermits.) So read our answers past the break, and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: Memetic invasion edition

MassivelyWRUP: Memetic invasion edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 19 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Desert disclaimer edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/12/wrup-desert-disclaimer-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/12/wrup-desert-disclaimer-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/12/wrup-desert-disclaimer-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Samuel is adaptive.
Massively.com is not a desert. As a result, it is not necessary for you to make sure to plot your route across the site prior to navigating here. Should you become thirsty, do not attempt to find a cactus filled with life-giving water. Instead, go to the kitchen. The site's temperature will not sink dramatically during the night, nor will it in fact be measurable. Similarly, do not attempt to drive a bus through the website, even if Penn and Teller tell you to do so.

This week's WRUP might seem a bit more like a desert than normal, as everyone's talking about some new offline game. (Probably a Mario game or something.) But you can still click on past the break to see what the staff will be up to over the weekend, as well as hear about what turns us off from a game before we even try it. And, of course, you can let us know what you'll be up to in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: Desert disclaimer edition

MassivelyWRUP: Desert disclaimer edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 12 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Let's do the crafting edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/wrup-lets-do-the-crafting-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/wrup-lets-do-the-crafting-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/wrup-lets-do-the-crafting-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Thought I was joking about the mascot thing, huh?
See, it works like this. You have a bunch of copper, so you decide to start crafting something that needs copper, so you take up blacksmithing. But then you find out that a blacksmith will also need wood, so you take up carpentry. Once you've made a bunch of wood, you find out that you can use that wood in a bunch of leatherworking recipes. And so before you know it you're some demented super-crafter trying to craft everything out of everything. Also, Samuel.

In other news, it's time for this week's installment of WRUP, in which the Massively staff members discuss what they'll be up to for the weekend and whether or not they stay subscribed to a game to support it after we're no longer playing it. Click on past the break for our weekend plans, and let us know what you'll be up to down in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: Let's do the crafting edition

MassivelyWRUP: Let's do the crafting edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 05 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Poorly thought out mascot edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/29/wrup-poorly-thought-out-mascot-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/29/wrup-poorly-thought-out-mascot-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/29/wrup-poorly-thought-out-mascot-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Samuel claims he just meant he didn't want pizza when we asked, but we know better.
Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to the new WRUP mascot: Samuel, the pizza-hating orca! Samuel absolutely despises pizza, hates anyone who eats pizza, and will click furiously at any shoreline diners which serve pizza. Other than that, he's a pretty standard orca. So keep an eye out for Samuel in the next few weeks of this column, as we read about his many adventures involving a complete lack of pizza. He does not play any MMOs or have anything to do with them, so I think this mascot thing will work out great.

Moving along, it's time for this week's installment of WRUP, in which we, the Massively staffers, talk about our plans for the weekend as well as whether or not the new expansion will bring us back to World of Warcraft. Also, our Halloween costume plans. Let us know what you'll be up to in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: Poorly thought out mascot edition

MassivelyWRUP: Poorly thought out mascot edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 29 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Mists of what edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/wrup-mists-of-what-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/wrup-mists-of-what-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/wrup-mists-of-what-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

A respectful treatment of foreign cultures.
I'm going to bet dollars to donuts every single person expected to see a panda up there after recent announcements, so yeah, there you go. I hope that the people still playing the game are chuffed about it; I'm not really in a position to say, as I haven't been playing for several months and have no desire whatsoever to go back to the game. For what it's worth, my reaction was the exact opposite of "oh, that's neat."

Anyway, it's time for this week's installment of WRUP, which does not feature anything remotely related to pandas. Instead, it features the Massively staff members talking about their plans for the weekend as well as whether they prefer to level in a group or by their lonesome. So check on past the break to see what we'll be up to for the next couple of days, and let us know your plans in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: Mists of what edition

MassivelyWRUP: Mists of what edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 22 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Obscure Transformer toys edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/15/wrup-obscure-transformer-toys-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/15/wrup-obscure-transformer-toys-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/15/wrup-obscure-transformer-toys-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

I vote for more wily old buzzards.
Apparently, Japan is getting a whole bunch of Transformers next year based off of guys that are beyond obscure. They're giving Enemy and Stripes toys, and you'd have to be insanely familiar with the franchise to know who those two characters are. So where's my Xaaron? Impactor? Dare I even ask for Flame? There's a whole pantheon of characters with big roles in stories and no toys for years. Don't laugh, we finally got a Straxus, there is hope.

Now that I'm done with the usual lead-in that no one cares about, it's time for the part that everyone cares about -- this week's edition of WRUP! Join us past the cut when the Massively staff shares what we'll be doing for the weekend, as well as our thoughts about making a character concept and checking it twice. And when you're done reading our plans, let us know yours in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: Obscure Transformer toys edition

MassivelyWRUP: Obscure Transformer toys edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 15 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Some rules of the Massively garden edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/08/wrup-some-rules-of-the-massively-garden-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/08/wrup-some-rules-of-the-massively-garden-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/08/wrup-some-rules-of-the-massively-garden-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

The flowers in this image are not moving. If you believe they are moving, you should not watch this image.
While you're in the Massively garden, you will notice flowers. Please do not taunt, cajole, or bargain with the flowers. Do not under ever promise the flowers cookies or other enticements. Do not pick the flowers, and if you see someone picking the flowers, please hide your eyes and walk in the opposite direction. If a stem becomes bent or broken, do not pick up the bud or inhale the vapors. Under absolutely no circumstances are you to provide the flowers with small bits of meat. Eating the flowers on the stem is fine.

In other news, it's time for this week's installment of WRUP. This time around, in addition to talking about our weekend plans, we've decided to discuss whether or not you can have too many options at character creation. So jump on past the cut to see what we're up to, and let us know what you've got planned for the next few days in the comments. There are no flowers in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: Some rules of the Massively garden edition

MassivelyWRUP: Some rules of the Massively garden edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamgingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 08 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Another year older edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/wrup-another-year-older-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/wrup-another-year-older-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/wrup-another-year-older-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

And now, the header image from the first post I ever wrote, where I still have no idea what the heck this pose is for.
I'm going to take a momentary break from my usual pictures of men with hats to talk about a subject near and dear to my heart. Namely, the fact that today is my mark for two years with Massively, and I'd like to think that's kind of special. (OK, technically the anniversary is tomorrow, but it's easier to just mark off the start of October.) Time to start another year, and I hope this one involves more dinosaurs. (Any, for instance.)

But that's not what I'm here to talk about right now, neither anniversaries nor dinosaurs. No, I'm here to introduce another week's installment of WRUP, where the Massively staff members share their plans for the weekend as well as their thoughts about achievements and the junkiedom thereof. Jump on past the break for our plans, and let us know what you'll be up to over the weekend in the comment section!

Continue reading WRUP: Another year older edition

MassivelyWRUP: Another year older edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 01 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Let's hear it for shock safety orange edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/wrup-lets-hear-it-for-shock-safety-orange-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/wrup-lets-hear-it-for-shock-safety-orange-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/wrup-lets-hear-it-for-shock-safety-orange-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

I want this armor for every single one of my characters. I'm as serious as a heart attack here.
Ladies and gentlemen, do you know what we're missing in our games? That's right -- we're missing things that are colored bright orange that may be seen clearly through a blindfold. Yes, you can argue that it does make it a little harder to take the game seriously when everyone is colored so brightly, but to that I say that you're missing the central part of that shocking color. Namely, it looks awesome. We don't need everyone decked out in it, but every time I see the option, I cheer a little.

Moving on from my love of things with day-glo coloration, it's time for this week's installment of WRUP. Past the break, we here on the Massively staff will talk about what we plan to do over the course of the weekend as well as whether or not we think that next year is going to be the end of the world for MMOs and not just for the Mayan calendar. So jump on past the break, and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments.

Continue reading WRUP: Let's hear it for shock safety orange edition

MassivelyWRUP: Let's hear it for shock safety orange edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 24 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Do people still watch movies edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/17/wrup-do-people-still-watch-movies-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/17/wrup-do-people-still-watch-movies-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/17/wrup-do-people-still-watch-movies-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

It took me about a week to go through the books. Definitely worth it, and very much looking forward to the film.
One of the downsides to not being single is that I no longer have any reason to ask a woman if she would like to catch a movie with me at some point. This fact, coupled with my total absence of any regularly viewed television programs, means that I seriously have no idea if there are any movies coming out before The Hunger Games in March of next year. Are movies still a thing? Do people watch those? Or is the new thing just re-watching Avatar in slow-motion? Seriously, I'm totally clueless about this.

What I'm not totally clueless about is what the Massively staff is going to be doing over the weekend... because I read this week's WRUP. It doesn't include anyone watching movies, though -- just all of us chatting about what fictional game world we'd like to inhabit. So jump past the break to see what we'll be doing, and let us know your plans in the comments. And if it's at all possible, do let me know if movies are still a thing.

Continue reading WRUP: Do people still watch movies edition

MassivelyWRUP: Do people still watch movies edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 17 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Let's class this place back up edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/wrup-lets-class-this-place-back-up-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/wrup-lets-class-this-place-back-up-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/wrup-lets-class-this-place-back-up-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

cute-animals.jpg
I'm very sorry that last week's power-related antics resulted in the absence of my usual intro in your weekly installment of WRUP. But this week, we're bringing back the awesome. We're going to kick things up again. We've got some explosions going on up there, and they've got nothing to do with anything, and maybe later in this feature I'll start talking about something arbitrary and Dadaist. And we'll respectfully decline comment on the agendas of the squat and minute races of the world from last week.

Where was I? Oh, right, WRUP. It's time for that again, and this week, just like always, we're going to talk about what the Massively staff will be playing over the week. But let's still class it up with some nice new headers, hmm? And let's talk about the available content in free-to-play games, while we're at it. And just to make it super-classy, we'll even invite you to leave your own weekend plans in the comments. Classy!

Continue reading WRUP: Let's class this place back up edition

MassivelyWRUP: Let's class this place back up edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 10 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Go gnome or go home edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/03/wrup-go-gnome-or-go-home-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/03/wrup-go-gnome-or-go-home-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/03/wrup-go-gnome-or-go-home-edition/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Two of Bree's guildies chilling in World of Warcraft
Last week, we asked the Massively readers whether or not short races are persecuted in MMOs. For some of you, shorties are the cutest, perfectest, most adorablest little gnomeykins in gaming, while for others, the altitudinally challenged are worthy only of a good old fashioned punting. But whether you love them or hate them, someone must play them, else developers wouldn't keep recycling them into fantasy and sci-fi games alike!

So in today's What Are You Playing, we asked our own staff members to put aside their machismo and 'fess up their propensity for short stuff. More on point, we also asked them what they'll be playing this weekend. Hop on past the break to see what we're up to, then tell us in the comments how you'll be spending your holiday weekend. (Bonus WRUP points if you're a card-carrying member of a shorties guild like Gnomeland Security or Gnomercy.)

Continue reading WRUP: Go gnome or go home edition

MassivelyWRUP: Go gnome or go home edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>go-gnome-or-go-homemassively-metaracesshortiesweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 03 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: PAX for some, doom for others edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/wrup-pax-for-some-doom-for-others-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/wrup-pax-for-some-doom-for-others-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/27/wrup-pax-for-some-doom-for-others-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

And I never, never, never do a thing about the weather, until it comes to my house and destroys me.
This weekend, some of our writers are out enjoying the sights and sounds of PAX Prime in Seattle. On the other side of the country, some of our writers -- including the one penning this particular feature -- are preparing to get hit by a hurricane far outside of the realm where it has any business being. Tune in next week when Massively starts looking for a couple of necromancers to animate one group or the other, depending on how the weather and the convention goes. (PAX can get kind of crazy.)

In the meantime, let's kick off another installment of WRUP! As always, the Massively staffers will tell you what they'll be up to over the weekend and answer this week's bonus question of how important appearance tabs are to games. So jump on past the break to see our plans, and let us know what you'll be doing in the comments!

Continue reading WRUP: PAX for some, doom for others edition

MassivelyWRUP: PAX for some, doom for others edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massively-metaweekendweekend-gamingwhat-are-you-playingwrupSat, 27 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST