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[MMO Family: Why safe chat isn't so safe (and why that's OK)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/mmo-family-why-safe-chat-isnt-so-safe-and-why-thats-ok/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/mmo-family-why-safe-chat-isnt-so-safe-and-why-thats-ok/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/mmo-family-why-safe-chat-isnt-so-safe-and-why-thats-ok/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Toontown
One of the toughest issues that game developers have to treat when it comes to kid-friendly MMOs is chat. I touched on this in a past column, but it's worth further discussion. If you're making a game where lots of players are interacting and doing stuff together, you need to allow them to communicate, otherwise you're pretty much making a single-player game with the other players as background scenery.

On the other hand, when it comes to kids MMOs, having open communication means other players can use it to harass each other. Worse is the scenario of the deranged adult abusing it to exploit young people. As a result, virtually every kid-friendly MMO has some sort of filter in place that restricts what players can say to each other. But are these chat filters really that effective? Are kids better off without them? Let's take a look in today's MMO Family.

Continue reading MMO Family: Why safe chat isn't so safe (and why that's OK)

MassivelyMMO Family: Why safe chat isn't so safe (and why that's OK) originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abuseblacklistschatchat-filtersdisneyfeaturedfilterfree-realmshercworldi+want+to+stick+my+long+neck+giraffeiwanttostickmylongneckgiraffekaren-bryankid+codeskidcodesmmo-familysafe-chatsecret-friendstrangerstoontownwhitelistswizard101Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft scrambles to reduce server queues: Private store tweaks incoming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/ncsoft-scrambles-to-reduce-server-queues-private-store-tweaks-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/ncsoft-scrambles-to-reduce-server-queues-private-store-tweaks-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/ncsoft-scrambles-to-reduce-server-queues-private-store-tweaks-i/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If one thing has marred the otherwise polished launch of Aion it is the extremely long server queues players face when trying to log in and play what they paid for. NCsoft responded a couple days ago saying that they are aware of the problem and working on solutions such as increased server caps and even opening a new server in both North America and Europe. Today they just announced a maintenance patch that addresses a major cause of their queue problem: Private stores will now have 30-minute timer to prevent them from being abused.

Private stores are a great concept. Players can set up shop anywhere in the world to sell their spare goods and make a pretty penny. Unfortunately, a feature of these stores is that they prevent you from idling out of the game. This feature really compounds the current server queue problem.

To avoid going through the queue process again, many players simply set up a private store and go AFK for hours at a time. One store we came across had this description set: "AFK at work, making you queue." This is even more evidence that MMO players will often take the path of least resistance for personal gain. Devs really need this hammered into their heads.

MassivelyNCsoft scrambles to reduce server queues: Private store tweaks incoming originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abuseaionaion-patchexploitmaintenancencsoftprivate-storeserver-queuesFri, 25 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese game addicts seek help in progressive Internet addiction centers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/10/chinese-game-addicts-seek-help-in-progressive-internet-addiction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/10/chinese-game-addicts-seek-help-in-progressive-internet-addiction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/10/chinese-game-addicts-seek-help-in-progressive-internet-addiction/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As the Chinese race ahead to catch up with the West, they do so with the intent of creating better lives for themselves. The past several years have been characterized by rapid progression, but all those perks of modernization come with a price, which some of China's citizens are beginning to pay.

As incomes rise, so does the prevalence of the various maladies of modernization we've come to know well -- not limited to obesity, substance abuse, and addiction. While an addiction to a substance has a physiological aspect to it and is rarely disputed as a true addiction, non-material addictions to work, sex, and even shopping are on the rise in China. Such issues have been difficult to officially label as actual mental illnesses in the country. Others, like Internet addiction, have only recently been classified as such in China.

Continue reading Chinese game addicts seek help in progressive Internet addiction centers

MassivelyChinese game addicts seek help in progressive Internet addiction centers originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abuseaddictaddictionbeijingchinachristian-science-monitorgame-addictioninternetinternet-addictionjonathan-adamsmental-illnesspsychologySat, 10 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which MMO should go away?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-should-go-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-should-go-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-should-go-away/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

People love to hate things. Whether we're talking about sports, religion, politics, lifestyles, or goulash recipes, there are always at least two sides in opposition to each other, and frequently many more. Those on one side will sing the virtues of their choice, and decry the faults of the other side, sometimes with virulent verbiage. Nowhere is this activity more evident than in the forum of your favorite MMO.

Gamers will yell at each other over the slightest perceived insult, and heap abuse on any who dare to assert the primacy of anything that isn't in line with what they love. And that's the sort of energy we want to invite! So, Precious Readers, which MMO do you hate the most, and why?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Which MMO should go away? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abuseflamesforumgoulashhatetdgthe-daily-grindMon, 21 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Scott Adams gets kicked repeatedly in the groin]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/scott-adams-gets-kicked-repeatedly-in-the-groin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/scott-adams-gets-kicked-repeatedly-in-the-groin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/scott-adams-gets-kicked-repeatedly-in-the-groin/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Scott Adams of Dilbert fame held an in-world book signing event for Second Life residents on October 30, to promote his new non-Dilbert book Stick To Drawing Comics, Monkey Brain! From all accounts of those who attended, it was a huge success, though I hadn't realized exactly what went on there until this video popped up.

In a move I'm sure helped ingratiate himself to the audience, Adams let a line of residents approach his avatar to dole out various types of injury -- from the looks of it, foot-mashing, face-slapping, and the overwhelming favorite, groin-kicking, at which Adams's avatar falls down, curling into fetal position amusingly. About halfway through the video, Adams gets the beatdown by Dilbert himself; how meta can you get? Also, while you're watching, keep an eye out for our own Aimee Weber, watching on in the background, butterfly wings a-flutter!

Wow, who knew that the secret to success was letting oneself be abused by one's fans? I'll have to rethink my entire strategy!

(Via youtube.com; thanks, SquidooMegan!)

MassivelyScott Adams gets kicked repeatedly in the groin originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abuseaimee-weberbook-signingdilbertgroinmassivelyscott-adamssecond-lifestick-to-drawing-comics-monkey-brainyoutubeTue, 06 Nov 2007 09:40:00 EST