Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-climaxs-warhammer-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-climaxs-warhammer-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-climaxs-warhammer-onli/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Let's begin with a little personal history. Back in 2008, I decided to get into the blogging scene by jumping on board the latest MMO hotness -- in this case, Warhammer Online. As I was growing increasingly tired of World of Warcraft, WAR seemed to offer a refreshing alternative: a darker world full of brutal PvP and awesome new ideas. So I joined the elite ranks of bloggers (hey, stop laughing so hard) and spent the better part of two years jawing about Mythic's latest fantasy project.

And while Warhammer Online was, in my opinion, a solid product, it certainly failed to live up to the extremely high expectations held by both the development team and the players. No matter how it turned out, I really enjoyed talking about WAR, especially in the days leading up to its launch.

One of the first articles I ever wrote for my blog WAAAGH! dealt with the first attempt to bring Warhammer Online into the MMO genre (as a fun aside, it was one of the first times I got my name on Massively!). It's a "what if?" tale that's tantalizing to consider -- an entirely different studio, Climax Online, creating a much darker version of Warhammer than we've ever seen online. The tale of the game's rise and fall (and subsequent rise and fall again) captivated me, and I wanted to expand my old article as part of our recent series into exploring MMOs canceled before their launch.

So what if Climax had brought Warhammer Online to bear? Would it have eclipsed Mythic's vision or been its own animal? Hit the jump and let's dive into the pages of ancient history!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicadventureraltdorfcharacter-designclassclassesclimaxclimax-groupclimax-onlineDavid-Nicholsondwarvese3e3-2003e3-2004ea-mythicelvesfeaturedgames-workshopgamezonehalflingsKarl-Jefferylive-eventsmagicmaster-assassinmicrosoftmythicmythic-entertainmentogresoverlordpaul-barnettplaystationpvpreiklandrobin-dewsrogueseasonssegasilent-hillskill-basedsunglassessypwaaghwarwar-is-everywherewarhammerwarhammer-fantasywarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningwarriorweatherweather-eventsTue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Educators find common ground in Second Life, for now]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/educators-find-common-ground-in-second-life-for-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/educators-find-common-ground-in-second-life-for-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/educators-find-common-ground-in-second-life-for-now/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There's no doubt in our minds that virtual environments are here to stay, for a significant fraction of the foreseeable forever. Love them or loathe them they're in their third decade now, and like the Web, it's now more a matter of how they fit in to the rest of the world, rather than if they do.

In education, virtual environments are now a part of an educator's toolbox and as education continues to combine, refine, and recombine tools, virtual environments will find increasingly better, more effective uses in education. There's no doubt about that among educators, even if the technologies aren't ready for widespread educational uses today.

Continue reading Educators find common ground in Second Life, for now

MassivelyEducators find common ground in Second Life, for now originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicandragogychris-collinscultureeducationeducatorsfleep-tuqueignatius-onomatopoeialinden-labmontclair-state-universityopinionpedagogysecond-lifeslertrademarkvirtual-worldsvwerWed, 13 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New study reveals insights into gender in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/new-study-reveals-insights-into-gender-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/new-study-reveals-insights-into-gender-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/12/new-study-reveals-insights-into-gender-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A new study has appeared over at the Virtual Worlds Observatory, the home of a team of social scientists interested in researching online games, and it delves into perceptions of gender in online games and the reality behind it.

Utilizing EverQuest II, the study uses a sample size of over 7,000 players to measure player interactions along gender lines and learn more about the gamers behind the keyboards. Surprisingly enough, while males exhibited predicted aggressiveness and achievement-oriented gameplay, it was the female gamers that exhibited more "hardcore" behavior. The top 10% of male gamers only played an average of 48 hours a week, while the top 10% of female gamers played an average of 56 hours a week. Yet, during the study, females under-reported their playing habits more than male gamers, as if unconsciously reacting to a stereotype.

The study is full of interesting details, and the full report is available for your viewing pleasure online.

[Via The Border House]

MassivelyNew study reveals insights into gender in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicculturedimitri-williamseverquest-2everquest-iigamersgendermennick-yeesoesony-online-entertainmentstudyvirtual-worlds-observatorywomenSat, 12 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stop playing your favorite game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/stop-playing-your-favorite-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/stop-playing-your-favorite-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/09/stop-playing-your-favorite-game/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Do we have everyone's attention? Great. Now do exactly that. Stop playing your favorite game. Not forever, just for now. Just let it rest and play something else for a while. That's the idea proposed by Bio Break in an entry about letting go. The idea, as it's put forth, is that the best way to fight burnout is to prevent it from happening in the first place. If you're really enjoying a game and are just a few days away from a major goal, why not put it down and savor that instead of pushing forward until the game has stopped being fun?

Of course, it's hard for us to behave that way -- if we're enjoying a game, our inclination is to keep playing until we aren't, at which point burnout kicks in and we start almost dreading logging in. But it's an interesting idea and a different approach to keeping ourselves engaged. It's a lot easier to go back to a game if you've just let it sit for a while and have had some time to think about it fondly without being reminded of its blemishes. Absence can indeed make the heart grow fonder, and perhaps you should let your favorite game be absent for just a little while. You'll still be almost at your next major checkpoint when you get back, after all.

MassivelyStop playing your favorite game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicbio-breakblogsbreakbreaksburnoutculturefighting-burnoutlogging-outopinionrestingstaying-interestedstoppingWed, 09 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The art of the expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/06/the-art-of-the-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/06/the-art-of-the-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/06/the-art-of-the-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Expansions are a fact of life for MMOs. We all know it, and while we might not necessarily like the fact that at least once a year we probably have to drop another chunk of change just to keep playing the game, we accept it as the price of progress. (And if you're a Guild Wars player, it's not like you also have a subscription to pay for on top of it.) Scott Jennings has taken his most recent regular column to talk about the ways expansions work -- both their benefits and the drawbacks they have. Because as he points out, more is usually better, but sometimes more just means more.

Ranging from the free large content patches used by games like Lineage II and Darkfall to more conventional expansions, and discussing World of Warcraft: Cataclysm as one of the major points of deviation in the usual expansion model, the article talks about the benefits and drawbacks of the almost ubiquitous selling model for the genre. While it's not a revolutionary look, it's something that every MMO player -- and many designers -- could do well to look at. More understanding is never a bad thing, after all, and if we can avoid another Chains of Promathia we'll all be better off.

MassivelyThe art of the expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicbusiness-modelscataclysmchains-of-promathiadarkfalleqeverquestexpansionsffxifinal-fantasy-xigame-mechanicsl2lineage-2lineage-iilum-the-madopinionscott-jenningsworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 06 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The catch point of the free-to-play model]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/06/the-catch-point-of-the-free-to-play-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/06/the-catch-point-of-the-free-to-play-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/06/the-catch-point-of-the-free-to-play-model/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


With the successful transition of Dungeons and Dragons Online to the free-to-play model, there's a lot of talk about why other games don't move over to the same model, with Warhammer Online frequently being cited as a game that would enjoy a great benefit from the switch. It would bring in more players, certainly, but there's more to the business than just bringing in new blood. The Ancient Gaming Noob makes an excellent point in a recent entry regarding the inescapable paradox of any game offering a free-to-play model -- that razor-edge split between giving the game away for free and making it entirely unreasonable to play it for free.

The obvious idea is that more people will try the game if they don't think they have to commit, and if they feel they can keep playing without having to pay money they're more likely to stick with it. However, every player that isn't paying money is essentially a cost - and as the entry points out, your paying playerbase will frequently be a small percentage of your overall subscribers. The entry uses Battlefield Heroes as an example of a game where the equillibrium needed to shift to make it profitable, which is causing serious rumbling in the gaming community, but the example can apply for any free-to-play game. As the model becomes more and more popular, it's important to remember that it's not a certain hit -- and can turn what could have been a moderately-successful subscription game into a failed game if done wrong.

MassivelyThe catch point of the free-to-play model originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicbattlefield-heroesbusiness-modelsddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfeesfree-to-playopinionpaymentsubscriptionthe-ancient-gaming-noobwarwarhammer-onlineSun, 06 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is it lonely in here, or is it just me?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/06/the-daily-grind-is-it-lonely-in-here-or-is-it-just-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/06/the-daily-grind-is-it-lonely-in-here-or-is-it-just-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/06/the-daily-grind-is-it-lonely-in-here-or-is-it-just-me/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


There's nothing like the feeling of going back to an old favorite. You might or might not be enjoying Champions Online, but either way it could inspire you to go back to City of Heroes to see how the old stomping grounds are faring. Final Fantasy XIV might put you in the mood to take a trip into Final Fantasy XI just for nostalgia. Or maybe it's just the time of year that makes you think back to when you first fired up EverQuest and you want a chance to play around a little more. So you reinstall, resubscribe, and... where the heck did everyone go?

What games have you headed back to only to find out that the critical mass of players had departed? How do you cope with adventuring again in an empty world? For some older games (EverQuest and Final Fantasy XI spring to mind from the aforementioned) you're more or less up the creek without a paddle if you don't have anyone around to play with, which exacerbates the problem. So how do you deal with being the last one left to turn the lights on or off?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Is it lonely in here, or is it just me? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicchampions-onlinecity-of-heroescocohcultureeqeverquestffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivopiniontdgthe-daily-grindvirtual-worldsSun, 06 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What game has generated the strongest feelings for you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/the-daily-grind-what-game-has-generated-the-strongest-feelings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/the-daily-grind-what-game-has-generated-the-strongest-feelings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/the-daily-grind-what-game-has-generated-the-strongest-feelings/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There are some games that you just sort of play. You pick them up, you enjoy them, and then you walk away without any real feelings about them one way or the other. And then there are the games that you launch into a screaming two-hour argument with one of your closest friends about on your birthday, because they happened to say that they didn't like it. Or maybe you finished an intense, epic play session on the game, working your way through an emotional questline and roleplaying all the way, and you find out afterwards that you need to lie down for a little while. Or maybe they're just the games that inspire you to post long forum diatribes wherever you can about why this is the greatest game in history.

Whether it be in the game or out of it, what games have generated the strongest feelings in you? Whether it's an intense emotional reaction to a character's death that you would nominate as an exhibit in the ongoing "are games art" debate, or just some impassioned soapboxing off-the-cuff, we're sure you have some moments and games that just resonate with you. Tell us about them. We're all ears.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What game has generated the strongest feelings for you? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicangercultureemotionsjoyopinionpassionreviewsroleplayingtdgthe-daily-grindSat, 05 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Achievements across the genre]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/achievements-across-the-genre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/achievements-across-the-genre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/achievements-across-the-genre/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

By now, you've likely heard of the World of Warcraft player who managed to fill out every single achievement in the game, covering every single currently measurable objective. (If not, well, there you go.) Bio Break recently took the opportunity to discuss achievements as an interesting social feature in MMOs, a way of building community, while Overly Positive took the news as incentive to expound on achievements as an alternate venue for advancement. Most of the major titles out at the moment have some form of achievement system in place, ranging from Warhammer Online's Tome of Knowledge to City of Heroes and its variety of badges.

The problems with the system are brought up in the comments of the above entries -- achievements can often wind up being used as a form of highly-prohibitive gating, where someone lacking the completion achievement isn't capable of getting a group to move through it. As a whole, though, it allows for people to enjoy an entirely different venue of the game, and offers motivation to perform content that would otherwise be gathering dust after a certain point. Wherever you play, achievement markers are becoming more and more ubiquitous, and the fact that clearing them out is newsworthy just shows the degree to which they've permeated our consciousness and the genre.

MassivelyAchievements across the genre originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicachievementachievementscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcontent-gatingcovcoxculturegame-mechanicsopinionwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 03 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What games can you just not stand?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/02/the-daily-grind-what-games-can-you-just-not-stand/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/02/the-daily-grind-what-games-can-you-just-not-stand/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/02/the-daily-grind-what-games-can-you-just-not-stand/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We all have games we love, that's a given. But some of us also have games that we have a deep and abiding resentment toward. Maybe you were so disappointed with Champions Online that now even the mention of the game gets you annoyed. You might have disliked the grind in Aion to the point where you're actively happy to hear about people unsubscribing from it. Or maybe you're annoyed at World of Warcraft being as huge as it is and want it taken down a few pegs. Even as you know it's silly to dislike something that brings people happiness (we hope you do, at least), we can't help but do it here and there.

As long as we're getting things off our chests lately, here's the question: what game do you just not like? You don't play it if you ever did, you have no real investment in its success or failure... but you really just plain dislike it. Do you dislike it because of changes, because of what you think its presence did to other games, or just for silly personal reasons that you know are ridiculous but you can't help?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What games can you just not stand? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicaionanimositychampions-onlinecoculturedislikenegativeopiniontdgthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 02 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When is it time to give up?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/the-daily-grind-when-is-it-time-to-give-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/the-daily-grind-when-is-it-time-to-give-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/the-daily-grind-when-is-it-time-to-give-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


It's almost the end of the year, time for us to evaluate what we're doing and consider dropping our bad habits. And... well, sometimes your favorite game becomes one of those. Sometimes your most-played class gets hit with the nerf bat so hard you can barely walk any longer, or the game's updates are constantly dropping more and more content you find boring or don't even get to play. You might have loved the game for a long time or even just a little while, but time isn't aging it well and you're increasingly dreading logging on.

Today, we ask a sad question: when is it time to shake your head and decide that enough is enough? Does one major power-down on your character of preference tell you that you're not really wanted, or do you stick around until everything has been drained dry? Are you the sort who gives the game time and chances to win you back, or do you leave and never even glance back at where you came from? Or do you never say goodbye and just keep playing in the hopes that things will turn around and you'll be glad you waited?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: When is it time to give up? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicboredomcontentcultureopinionpatchestdgthe-daily-grindunpleasantnessunsubscribingTue, 01 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite villain group?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-villain-group/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-villain-group/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-villain-group/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


There are some groups of enemies that are just there in any game. You have to deal with them, but you don't really think about them after the fact. Then there are groups you actively dislike, either because they're obnoxious to fight or because of meta-game reasons. But then there are those other groups. The ones that are just pure fun to fight against, the ones you always take quests or missions for once they become available. They've got interesting story elements, they look visually distinct, and they're challenging but not annoying. It's at that point which you almost want to be allied with the villains in question, just out of sheer awesomeness. (EVE Online might have had this in mind when they first let you do precisely that.)

We ask you, our fine readers, what's your favorite antagonistic group? Are they a low-level enemy that you remember fondly, or a high-level group that you still fight against at the endgame? Have you liked them ever since you first encountered them, or did you slowly grow to like them as you were flung against them? What is it you like about them? It's silly, but we can't play a game for too long without forming attachments, so share yours with us this morning.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your favorite villain group? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicantagnoistscultureenemiesopinionpvetdgthe-daily-grindvillainsMon, 30 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The trouble with goals in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/29/the-trouble-with-goals-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/29/the-trouble-with-goals-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/29/the-trouble-with-goals-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


One of the major problems of a game in which you can do anything is that... well, there's not necessarily much of a reason to do anything. That's a Terrible Idea recently had an interesting piece on the difficulty of generating goals and objectives in MMOs, especially in contrast with single-player games where your goals are equally pre-generated. The difference, as the article notes, is that single-player games have individual characters with a large impact on the game world. There's no issue of making quests compatible with a wide variety of characters of different races and classes, until the individual motivations and goals can no longer fit into the equation. You don't have anything but the end of content to shoot for.

So what's the answer? The original post notes that it's not really possible to reconcile anything but achievement-oriented goals within MMOs due to the fact that the character will still inhabit a static world no matter what you do. Certainly, there are attempts to create larger-scale impacts for individual characters, but so long as every character goes through the same content or has the same opportunities, there's less of a sense of distinct accomplishment. Player-generated content in games such as City of Heroes offers an opportunity for a different path for each character, but there's still not much of a difference in the actual process. Procedural generation is also bandied about as a solution to the issue, though it lacks any truly successful implementation at this point. Is there even a solution, or is this simply part of the weakness of the genre?

MassivelyThe trouble with goals in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiccity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxculturegame-mechanicsopinionplayer-generated-contentthats-a-terrible-ideavirtual-worldsSun, 29 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lore is important]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/27/lore-is-important/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/27/lore-is-important/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/27/lore-is-important/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Lore matters. It's often considered to be low on the list of game features, it won't save a game that is otherwise lackluster or missing content, and it can't be the only reason you play a game. But it still matters, and it still has a lot of importance, and Kill Ten Rats has offered a long essay explaining exactly why lore is so important to the games we play and enjoy. Even if you generally don't think of yourself as someone who enjoys lore, it matters to you, and you would notice if it wasn't there.

The image above is a dramatization -- which looks more interesting, an elaborate piece of concept art of a character class or a square black box blankly listing attributes? As the essay points out, would you rather be fighting dragons and ogres, or hexagons and trapezoids? There's a very good reason why we need lore in our games and why we don't see any games that don't attempt to provide it, and it's explained here very, very well. Whether or not you consider yourself to be a fan of lore, you owe it to yourself to read the essay, and perhaps re-evaluate the way you see the backstory of the game.

MassivelyLore is important originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicbackstoryculturekill-ten-ratsloreopinionstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorFri, 27 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Grouping versus soloing as the genre evolves]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/18/grouping-versus-soloing-as-the-genre-evolves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/18/grouping-versus-soloing-as-the-genre-evolves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/18/grouping-versus-soloing-as-the-genre-evolves/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Back in the day, there were two ways to play most MMOs -- you could form a group with other players, or you could stay inside the cities and wait. Those days are long gone, of course, and it's a rare game that doesn't allow a player to do quite a bit without the support framework of a group. But there's a point to be made about what's been lost in the process, and We Fly Spitfires has an interesting take on how we now have to be pushed and prodded into grouping. There was a time when people were expected to group to complete tasks, but players are increasingly opposed to the idea as more and more becomes possible to solo and we grow less and less patient for finding a group.

Unsurprisingly, Game by Night brings up the obvious counterpoint: that evolving game design has relegated forced grouping to the past. There are more MMO players now than there were back then, and the majority of them started on games such as World of Warcraft or City of Heroes where grouping was only occasionally necessary, and even then only for specific tasks. By removing the requirement, player expectations become different, and there's no longer a sense from most of the playerbase that soloing should be possible for a majority of tasks. It's a debate that's been had over and over through the years, but as the solo play model becomes more and more expansive, it no doubt will be revisted time and again -- and attitudes toward it will shift as the playerbase does.

MassivelyGrouping versus soloing as the genre evolves originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiccity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxculturegame-designgame-mechanicsgroup-playgroupingmmo-historyopinionsolo-playworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 18 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take part in space exploration with NASA's coming MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/take-part-in-space-exploration-with-nasas-coming-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/take-part-in-space-exploration-with-nasas-coming-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/take-part-in-space-exploration-with-nasas-coming-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

How would you like to take a trip into space? No, not the stylized science fiction that Star Trek Online promises, or the fantasy-with-spaceships of Star Wars: the Old Republic. We've heard the announcement about NASA's coming space MMO, Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond, but the game hasn't been making the rounds in the usual gaming circuit. An in-depth article about the game's development and planned release is interesting for any fans of the rigors and challenges of spaceflight, not mention a look at a game that's moving far outside the usual realm of our genre.

Much like America's Army, the goal of the game is to try and give players a taste of what it's like to actually work in the field being simulated. While the game is focusing on creating enjoyable gameplay first, players can expect to see landscapes and tasks grounded in solid scientific principles and based upon actual astronaut missions, complete with the real and tangible challenges of exploring inhospitable worlds. The article also discusses the MoonBase module, which is set to be launched as a free standalone component on Steam in January to serve as both a preview and a testbed for the game. Take a look at the full article for a closer examination of what the game could mean, and what it might be like to play a space game where you were less concerned about arming weapons and more concerned with understanding the world around you.

(Or, if you have to, start imagining an expansion set in the 1980s adding the Soviet space program as a new faction. Which is only slightly less realistic.)

MassivelyTake part in space exploration with NASA's coming MMO originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicamericas-armyammbastronautastronaut-moon-mars-and-beyondeducationsnasanational-aeronautics-and-space-administrationnew-titlesreal-lifespacespace-explorationsteamvirtual-worldsSun, 15 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the threshold for an MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/the-daily-grind-whats-the-threshold-for-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/the-daily-grind-whats-the-threshold-for-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/the-daily-grind-whats-the-threshold-for-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


This question is an old one, but it's always one that brings out some interesting opinions. As technology becomes more and more connected, people continue to move their games into connectivity further and further, we have to ask -- what's an MMO, precisely? The recent release of Borderlands has brought the question into the forefront for many people, as it features a rather steady and all but required online mode... but it's not absolutely required, and there's no world persistence. Does that qualify, or is it just an offline game with some MMO elements?

You can certainly argue that they're only distantly related, or you can argue that they're both part of the same genre. By the same token, you can make the case for or against the now-ubiquitous Facebook games -- which are persistent and spread across several players, after all. Today, we ask our readers where they draw the line between MMO and a game that just happens to have an online component. Where do you draw the line, and if you're so inclined, what's your reasoning? Persistence of world? Depth of play? Or is it a knee-jerk reaction where you might not be able to define an MMO, but you know it when you see it?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's the threshold for an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicborderlandsculturefacebookgame-mechanicsoffline-playopinionpersistencetdgthe-daily-grindWed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A video guide to the Second Life Terms of Service]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/a-video-guide-to-the-second-life-terms-of-service/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/a-video-guide-to-the-second-life-terms-of-service/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/a-video-guide-to-the-second-life-terms-of-service/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

'I cannot read the fiery letters,' said Frodo in a quavering voice.

'No,' said Gandalf, 'but I can. The letters are English, of an ancient mode, but the language is that of Lawyers, which I will not utter here. But this in the Common Tongue is what is said, close enough:

'You agree to review and adhere to the guidelines on using "Second Life," "SL," "Linden," the Eye-in-Hand logo, and Linden Lab's other trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, domain names, taglines, and trade dress..'

He paused, and then said slowly in a deep voice: 'These are the Master Rules, the Terms of Service that rule all accounts.'

Well, a joint-project of Rhys Moult with Curtin University and the Tabor Adelaide iYouth Project has produced a video which essentially summarizes the 7,500 word Second Life Terms of Service in a straightforward and easy-to-digest form. It's top work, and you can check it out, after the fold.

Continue reading A video guide to the Second Life Terms of Service

MassivelyA video guide to the Second Life Terms of Service originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicadelaideaustraliacurtin-universityguidesmachinimarhys-moultsecond-lifesl-tostabor-adelaide-iyouth-projectterms-of-servicevideovirtual-worldsMon, 02 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The gaming renaissance, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/20/the-gaming-renaissance-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/20/the-gaming-renaissance-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/20/the-gaming-renaissance-part-2/#commentsContinue reading The gaming renaissance, part 2

MassivelyThe gaming renaissance, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiccultureeve-onlineeverquestgamersgaminghistoryindustrylineagemeridian-59mmo-industryneverwinter-nightsnexusopinionrenaissancethe-realmultima-onlinevirtual-worldsworld-of-warcraftTue, 20 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The gaming renaissance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/20/the-gaming-renaissance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/20/the-gaming-renaissance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/20/the-gaming-renaissance/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


In the early 70's, some clever chap programmed a pile of circuits to create a primitive game we all know as Pong. Fast-forward some forty years down the line and we're now battling Orcs in Azeroth and flying spaceships in the far-reaches of another galaxy. An entire games industry has erupted from those first simple arcade systems, with people designing and programming games for kids and adults alike. In the 90's, the first generation of kids that grew up with those early game systems became the ones making them and a virtual renaissance in game design ensued. Those kids that grew up wishing they could make their own games started to realise their dreams and the games industry as we know it came forth. More recently, the people that grew up with early MMOs have begun to hit the games industry and we're seeing a rebirth of the genre.

In this article, I look at the games industry explosion and how it relates to the generations growing up with games. I ask whether the MMO genre is headed for its own great gaming renaissance and take a speculative look ahead at the future for MMOs and the games industry as a whole.

Continue reading The gaming renaissance

MassivelyThe gaming renaissance originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiccultureeve-onlineeverquestgamersgaminghistoryindustrylineagemeridian-59mmo-industryneverwinter-nightsnexusopinionrenaissancethe-realmultima-onlinevirtual-worldsworld-of-warcraftTue, 20 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Linden Lab explanation alienates educators]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/03/linden-lab-explanation-alienates-educators/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/03/linden-lab-explanation-alienates-educators/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/03/linden-lab-explanation-alienates-educators/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


When news broke about Linden Lab sending a takedown notice to the core Second Life education community Web-site, our colleagues over at the Metaverse Journal put a number of questions about the matter to Linden Lab.

The Linden Lab response to those questions yesterday seems to have generated a reaction among educators akin to pouring gasoline on a blaze, coupled with a vigorous fish-slapping. While there's a undeniably a spectrum of reaction to the Lab's response, most of what we've seen seems to cluster around the livid end.

Continue reading Linden Lab explanation alienates educators

MassivelyLinden Lab explanation alienates educators originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicdean-groomeducationfirst-amendmentjokay-wollongonglanham-actlegallinden-labmetaverse-journalopinionpathfinder-lindenreactiongridsecond-classroomsecond-lifesl-policytrademarkvirtual-worldsSat, 03 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Linden Lab punctures education community with newly registered trademark]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/01/linden-lab-punctures-education-community-with-newly-registered-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/01/linden-lab-punctures-education-community-with-newly-registered-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/01/linden-lab-punctures-education-community-with-newly-registered-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Jokay Wollongong, one of the premier promoters and supporters of the educational uses of Second Life, and keeper of the largest single resource for Second Life educators, suffered something of a reversal this week, when Linden Lab decided that that very same resource, sleducation.wikispaces.com, infringed on their SL trademark (which has now only been registered for nine days), and sent Wollongong a takedown notice.

That's something of a surprise considering Linden Lab's ongoing endorsement of the site on the Second Life Education mailing-list. The site, which has been up since late 2006, documents over 100 case studies of educational projects in Second Life, as well as providing key community resources and information for educators who are just getting started with virtual environments.

Continue reading Linden Lab punctures education community with newly registered trademark

MassivelyLinden Lab punctures education community with newly registered trademark originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicblue-marseducationjokay-wollongongjokaydialanham-actlegallinden-labmetaplacesecond-lifesl-educationtrademarkvirtual-worldsThu, 01 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Second Life Orange Island experiment comes to an end]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/second-life-orange-island-experiment-comes-to-an-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/second-life-orange-island-experiment-comes-to-an-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/second-life-orange-island-experiment-comes-to-an-end/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Orange Island, a research project of the Orange telecommunications company, is set to close its doors after a long (and quite successful) run in Second Life. Orange Island opened in late 2007 as an experimental project, with the goal of gaining a better understanding of virtual environments, users and their culture, content-creation and collaboration and the challenges of real-time immersive social environments.

That experimental project comes to a close on Tuesday, 29 September at 11AM SLT (US Pacific time), with a final open (voice) meeting with the Orange Island team (and guests) to discuss the project and virtual environment experiences.

In the days that follow, the team will be publishing a report of their findings and results from the project. During the course of the Orange Island project, Orange brought a lot to the Second Life user community, an example that not every corporate presence has emulated, unfortunately. They will be missed, but we're definitely looking forward to their findings.

Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

MassivelySecond Life Orange Island experiment comes to an end originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiccultureorangeorange-islandresearchsecond-lifevirtual-worldsFri, 25 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Roskilde University to open super-hero city and host machinima contest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/25/roskilde-university-to-open-super-hero-city-and-host-machinima-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/25/roskilde-university-to-open-super-hero-city-and-host-machinima-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/25/roskilde-university-to-open-super-hero-city-and-host-machinima-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Danish Roskilde University in Trekroner, Roskilde is celebrating the art of machinima with a competition kicking off in Second Life later this week. The competition coincides with the opening of the university's new Second Life research-center, "Metrotopia - City of Superheroes."

The launch event kicks off on Friday, 28 August at 11:30AM SLT (US Pacific time), and the details of the competition will be announced in conjunction with the opening address at Noon SLT.

Continue reading Roskilde University to open super-hero city and host machinima contest

MassivelyRoskilde University to open super-hero city and host machinima contest originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiccarrielynn-reinhardcontestsdenmarkeventsfriendly-firemetrotopiaotawan-fouquetroskilde-universitysecond-lifesisse-siggaard-jensensuper-herovirtual-worldsTue, 25 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Survey says: Nearly half of MMO gamers bought virtual stuff]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/30/survey-says-nearly-half-of-mmo-gamers-bought-virtual-stuff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/30/survey-says-nearly-half-of-mmo-gamers-bought-virtual-stuff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/30/survey-says-nearly-half-of-mmo-gamers-bought-virtual-stuff/#commentsFiled under: , ,

One of the interesting things we at Massively find about statistics and surveys is how people react to surveys and research results about games, virtual environments and MMOGs. Unexpected results automatically attract criticism of every aspect of the report and data no matter how the results were obtained, from the political leanings of the researchers, to the way the charts are drawn. On the other hand, when the results of surveys or research agree with our expectations, people rarely question the results, again, no matter how they were obtained.

Therefore, we wonder what you all might make of this report, that 12% of Americans have purchased at least one virtual item in the last item within the last 12 months, and almost half (46%) of MMO gamers/virtual world users have done so within the same period. Obviously, that would include assorted free-to-play games, so-called 'freemium' games and environments, Facebook and all-sorts.

The survey was commissioned by global payment solutions provider, PlaySpan. The results are only available in summary, but we're interested in your reaction. Are the results what you expect, or not? And either way, do you dispute or accept the data?

[via GigaOm]

MassivelySurvey says: Nearly half of MMO gamers bought virtual stuff originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiceconomyfacebookfreemiumgigaomplayspansurveyvirtual-goodsvirtual-worldsThu, 30 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Loyola University professor drives City of Heroes/Villains players crazy, all for sociology]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/loyola-university-professor-drives-city-of-heroes-villains-playe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/loyola-university-professor-drives-city-of-heroes-villains-playe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/loyola-university-professor-drives-city-of-heroes-villains-playe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Twixt was one of those names on the Freedom server of City of Heroes that would just drive everyone nuts. He was a PvPer who would find some of the craziest ways to annoy the heck out of his opponents, such as teleporting them right in front of the Longbow agents at the hero base in PvP zones. A year ago, however, the man behind the keyboard finally drew back his mask to reveal a sociology professor from Loyola University outside New Orleans.

Now his study on City of Heroes/Villains is finally coming forward, revealing a controversial look at how defying the cultural rules of a population can turn a person into a social outcast. The study's goal was to play only by the developer's rules, ignoring any extra rules that might be created by the population. For example, the concept of "kill stealing" and "fair fights" are thrown out the window as they are created by the population, not the game. Think of it like EVE Online -- if the game allows it, he does it.

While the study is intriguing in the fact that it covers the "new frontiers" of virtual worlds, it also brings into question some of the ethics involved with working undercover in a population, such as causing undue stress via what we consider to be griefing.

For a full report, check out the story as reported by The Times-Picayune.

[Thanks Petterm, Scopique!]

MassivelyLoyola University professor drives City of Heroes/Villains players crazy, all for sociology originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicbreakingcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovculturegriefinglongbowloyola-universitynew-orleansrecluses-victorysocialstudytwixtTue, 07 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers mine Second Life interaction logs to track trends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/03/researchers-mine-second-life-interaction-logs-to-track-trends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/03/researchers-mine-second-life-interaction-logs-to-track-trends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/03/researchers-mine-second-life-interaction-logs-to-track-trends/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

While most actions people take in the flesh are ephemeral - performed fleetingly, and unmarked - MMOGs and virtual environments keep that data as a rule, usually most or all of it.

Three social researchers from the University of Michigan obtained data from Linden Lab about the possession and acquisition of 'gestures' (preprogrammed sequences of text, avatar animations and/or audio) and data about account creation dates and friends-lists, and studied how gestures passed from user to user.

Continue reading Researchers mine Second Life interaction logs to track trends

MassivelyResearchers mine Second Life interaction logs to track trends originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicculturelinden-labsecond-lifeuniversity-of-michiganvirtual-worldsFri, 03 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spencer post-doc to study RuneScape ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/spencer-post-doc-to-study-runescape/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/spencer-post-doc-to-study-runescape/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/spencer-post-doc-to-study-runescape/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Constance Steinkuehler is an educational researcher studying massively multiplayer online games from a learning sciences and new literacy studies perspective and an assistant professor at the University of Winsconsin-Madison. She teaches courses on virtual worlds, research methods and, as she says on her blog, the "smart" side of popular culture. Steinkuehler has announced that she's got the Nation Academy of Education / Spencer Post-Doctorial Fellowship to do a cognitive ethnography on RuneScape. The study aims to show the educational merit of games designed for and played by youths instead of adults, which is what is typically studied, and to examine the impact of gameplay on their everyday lives, social relationships and school work.

Cognitive ethnography is used to study the processes that effect the work carried out within a setting, whilst noting the effect of the material world and social context of the actions and social practices carried out. To put it in a simpler way, it studies how the social norms and social structures are created for a group of people who share a common culture, in this case RuneScape players.

You can read her proposal abstract over at her blog.

MassivelySpencer post-doc to study RuneScape originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiccognitive-ethnographyconstance-steinkuehlerrunescapeWed, 13 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Imperial College London lets students play doctor in Second Life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/imperial-college-london-lets-students-play-doctor-in-second-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/imperial-college-london-lets-students-play-doctor-in-second-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/imperial-college-london-lets-students-play-doctor-in-second-life/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Mister Smith isn't at all well. During his stay he will be seen by many medical students. Unfortunately, he isn't going to get any better. Mister Smith occupies the respiratory ward in the Imperial College London, in Second Life. Available to students 24 hours per day, seven days per week, Mister Smith wheezes on command, and a variety of tests can be scheduled on him.

It's all a part of the College's exploration of new ways of teaching. Mister Smith's case is mostly procedural. It's not only important to obtain the diagnosis, but to follow proper procedure -- a vital part of avoiding error in modern medicine. The simulator enforces proper procedure.

Continue reading Imperial College London lets students play doctor in Second Life

MassivelyImperial College London lets students play doctor in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiceconomyimperial-college-londonsecond-lifevirtual-worldsMon, 30 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtual Worlds worst practices in education: A practical example]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/27/virtual-worlds-worst-practices-in-education-a-practical-example/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/27/virtual-worlds-worst-practices-in-education-a-practical-example/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/27/virtual-worlds-worst-practices-in-education-a-practical-example/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Later today, the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education conference is kicking off in Second Life . So it is really rather ironic that we should have a situation crop up on the eve of it that really highlights some of the worst practices.

An unnamed educator showed up to one of the various user-run Second Life Question and Answer sessions for new users. Not a bad thing on the surface, Q&A sessions are really useful for people with all sorts of Second Life questions. Unfortunately it goes downhill from there.

Continue reading Virtual Worlds worst practices in education: A practical example

MassivelyVirtual Worlds worst practices in education: A practical example originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiceducationopinionsecond-lifevirtual-worldsvwbpevwbpe-2009Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education conference this weekend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/26/virtual-worlds-best-practices-in-education-conference-this-weeke/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/26/virtual-worlds-best-practices-in-education-conference-this-weeke/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/26/virtual-worlds-best-practices-in-education-conference-this-weeke/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

For three days this coming weekend (Friday, 27 March to Sunday, 29 March), Second Life will be host to the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education conference. This grassroots, community-based conference attracts faculty, instructors, trainers, administrators, instructional designers, technical specialists, and members of organizations from around the world. Education is one of the spheres of industry where virtual environments are a tool that will probably never go away.

Those who create teaching/learning environments, resources, tools, support services and professional development opportunities internal and external to virtual world environments are participating in the conference. The conference schedule itself is more than impressive, featuring just about every big name in Second Life education, with more than 25 panels, presentations, tours and meet-and-greets across multiple Second Life venues.

Participation in the conference is free of charge, but you will need to register. For more information, check out the conference website.

Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

MassivelyVirtual Worlds Best Practices in Education conference this weekend originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicconferenceeducationsecond-lifevirtual-worldsvwbpevwbpe-2009Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft as addictive as cocaine? BS!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/27/world-of-warcraft-as-addictive-as-cocaine-bullshit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/27/world-of-warcraft-as-addictive-as-cocaine-bullshit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/27/world-of-warcraft-as-addictive-as-cocaine-bullshit/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Swedish Youth Care Foundation has an upcoming report in which they describe World of Warcraft as "the cocaine of the computer games world", indicating that it has been involved in every case of gaming addiction that they have dealt with. As the report is not yet published, it doesn't indicate what other games might be involved.

Swedish news outlet, The Local, interprets this with the headline 'World of Warcraft is as addictive as cocaine', a statement that is neither supported by the quotes, nor apparently supported in fact. The addiction rate for cocaine is 5-6% per use during the first decade and 15-16% per use thereafter. If World of Warcraft were really that addictive, then umpty-million players would be well and truly addicted -- a fact not in evidence. The Local's headline therefore, appears to be purest hype (or as we like to think of it, an attention-getting lie).

Continue reading World of Warcraft as addictive as cocaine? BS!

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft as addictive as cocaine? BS! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicaddictioncultureopinionswedenworld-of-warcraftyouth-care-foundationFri, 27 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Academic research into EverQuest II already proving fruitful]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/academic-research-into-everquest-ii-already-proving-fruitful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/academic-research-into-everquest-ii-already-proving-fruitful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/academic-research-into-everquest-ii-already-proving-fruitful/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Massively recently mentioned that Sony Online Entertainment and academia are teaming up to plumb the depths of EverQuest II's server logs, with benefits for both the researchers and SOE. (For the record, private subscriber info hasn't been made available to the academic community, according to an SOE statement on the matter.) The data logs and opt-in survey results are already proving fruitful, according to a piece run today on MSNBC by Games editor Kristin Kalning. Her piece raises the point that EverQuest II's gamers, despite being a global community, spend far more time socializing with friends, family, and acquaintances than with the wider playerbase.

This isn't to say that EQII players are insular, but it does emphasize the fact that games aren't simply a hobby or an escape for those surveyed, and are very much a way to keep in touch with family and friends. In other words, they tend to take their offline relationships online, Kalning writes.

Continue reading Academic research into EverQuest II already proving fruitful

MassivelyAcademic research into EverQuest II already proving fruitful originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiaacademiccultureeverquest-2everquest-iifantasygendergender-disparitykristin-kalningmmo-industrymsnbcmsnbc.comon-the-levelresearchroleplayingsoesony-online-entertainmentMon, 23 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony opens complete EverQuest 2 database to researchers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/sony-opens-complete-everquest-2-database-to-researchers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/sony-opens-complete-everquest-2-database-to-researchers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/sony-opens-complete-everquest-2-database-to-researchers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The players of EverQuest 2 might be pleased to learn that their gameplay may further science. They may be less enthused, however, to learn that a complete record of their interactions with one another is being studied by researchers. Following a session at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, ars technica's John Timmer reports, "With the cooperation of Sony, a collaborative group of academic researchers at a number of institutions have obtained the complete server logs from the company's EverQuest 2 MMORPG." That's right. This is everything you've ever done in the game, but it's all in the name of science.

The researchers are among those who believe that massively multiplayer online games can be used to model real world collective behavior. The task ahead of them is a daunting one, with close to 60 TB of data to pore over. "The end result is a log that included four years of data for over 400,000 players that took part in the game, which was followed up with demographic surveys of the users. All told, it makes for a massive data set with distinct challenges but plenty of opportunities," Timmer writes.

Continue reading Sony opens complete EverQuest 2 database to researchers

MassivelySony opens complete EverQuest 2 database to researchers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaasacademicars-technicacultureeducationeq-2eq2everquest-2everquest-iifantasyjohn-timmermmo-industryplayer-interactionresearchsocial-interactionsoesonysony-online-entertainmentMon, 16 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Do WoW players make better citizens?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/do-wow-players-make-better-citizens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/do-wow-players-make-better-citizens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/do-wow-players-make-better-citizens/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


With all the negativity that mainstream media (sometimes) dishes out on video games, we always like to see when the positive stories get picked up. That's the case with today's article at The Capital Times that focuses on MMOs and their impact on society. Reporting for The Capital Times, Jeff Richgels asks, "Can massively multiplayer online games like World of Warcraft produce better citizens?" His article covers the work of Constance Steinkuehler, a University of Wisconsin-Madison education professor who's been studying the social dynamics inherent to MMOs, namely World of Warcraft.

Her work focuses on how massively multiplayer online games expose players to a wide range of diversity. Steinkuehler's recent presentation at the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences was ultimately about how navigating that diversity makes players into better citizens, and more open to discussion with their peers.

Continue reading Do WoW players make better citizens?

MassivelyDo WoW players make better citizens? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiccitizenshipconstance-steinkuehlerculturediversityfantasygamepoliticsjeff-richgelsmmo-industrythe-capital-timesworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 12 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why do people buy virtual goods in MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/why-do-people-buy-virtual-goods-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/why-do-people-buy-virtual-goods-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/why-do-people-buy-virtual-goods-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Massively multiplayer online gamers spend hours -- so many hours -- working towards obtaining virtual gear. Epic armor sets, mounts, player housing, faction ships... the list goes on, and will continue to go on. Our collective fascination with these intangibles ensures our desire for them -- and for those things beyond a player's reach solely within the virtual realm, real world cash makes all things possible.

This is the research focus of Ph.D. student Vili Lehdonvirta of the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology, who breaks down our buyer's impulse according to three criteria:

  • Functional attributes, such as speed, hitpoints, teleportation.
  • Hedonic attributes, or how the virtual gear looks or sounds, its provenance or its connection to the background fiction of the setting, and of course customizability.
  • Social attributes, particularly the prestige accorded with ownership of a rare item.
Have a look at his "Virtual item sales as a revenue model: identifying attributes that drive purchase decisions" for a thorough analysis of why many of us are so inclined to obtain something that's ultimately ephemeral, which goes beyond the simpler "useful vs. decorative" angle.

MassivelyWhy do people buy virtual goods in MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicarmorarmor-setculturefaction-shipgeargoldlootmmo-industrymountmountsplayer-housingreal-money-tradereal-money-tradingrmtvirtualvirtual-goodsvirtual-itemsvirtual-worldsFri, 09 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Does virtual learning have to be dreadful?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/does-virtual-learning-have-to-be-dreadful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/does-virtual-learning-have-to-be-dreadful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/does-virtual-learning-have-to-be-dreadful/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Australia's School of the Air programs have been among the most lauded distance education schemes for more than 50 years. In response to a scattered population in a less than hospitable environment and with a lack of nearby population centers and facilities, the School of the Air provided education for isolated children. The original School of the Air was opened in 1951, but had been broadcasting school lessons from the Royal Flying Doctor Service for some years prior to that. The School of the Air programs still operate today, as there are students living more than 800 kilometres (more than 500 miles) away from the nearest school.

Originally the system used pedal-powered radios, but more recently bi-directional broadband satellite communications, video conferencing and electronic whiteboards have brought students closer. The system has been an unqualified success for more than half a century.

Why is it then, that as soon as the notion of avatars and collaborative virtual environments is brought up for education, that the educational establishments seem to shy away? Does virtual learning have to be dreadful before anyone is willing to seriously fund it?

Continue reading Does virtual learning have to be dreadful?

MassivelyDoes virtual learning have to be dreadful? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicaustraliaeducationopinionroyal-flying-doctor-serviceschool-of-the-airsecond-lifevirtual-worldsFri, 09 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Terra Nova blog slowing down as we enter new era]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/terra-nova-blog-slowing-down-as-we-enter-new-era/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/terra-nova-blog-slowing-down-as-we-enter-new-era/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/terra-nova-blog-slowing-down-as-we-enter-new-era/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Virtual worlds and massively multiplayer online games have truly evolved over the past several years. It wasn't so long ago that incorporating virtual economies into games was a new idea. Nor was it so long ago that we were overwhelmed at the depth that was possible in massively multiplayer online games -- and the culture that began to develop in and around these virtual spaces. But that was then, and those days of surprise and amusement at the potential in the virtual are becoming a memory. Many of us now take our games and virtual spaces, and all their depth and meaning, for granted. At least, Edward Castronova of the Terra Nova blog thinks so, when he writes, "The gee-whiz era for virtual worlds has passed, and this changes what happens at TN."

Terra Nova has been a hub for intelligent discourse on all things virtual since September of 2003. In the years that followed, Terra Nova's four founders were joined by numerous academics and authors who've explored the many facets of virtual worlds, and their interplay with our real lives. A recent post by one of the Terra Nova founders, Dan Hunter, explains how it all began... with a burst of wide-eyed enthusiasm for this previously uncharted territory. In the years since the blog began, maybe some of us have lost a bit of that initial fascination with the concept of virtual worlds, which Castronova now addresses when he states that Terra Nova will be narrowing its focus to new games and research.

Continue reading Terra Nova blog slowing down as we enter new era

MassivelyTerra Nova blog slowing down as we enter new era originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicculturedan-huntereconomyedward-castronovammo-industryterra-novaterra-nova-blogvirtual-worldsThu, 11 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaming now mainstream? The numbers aren't everything]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/09/gaming-now-mainstream-the-numbers-arent-everything/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/09/gaming-now-mainstream-the-numbers-arent-everything/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/09/gaming-now-mainstream-the-numbers-arent-everything/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Pew Internet and American Life Project has a report out on US gaming demographics. According to the report, "53% of American adults age 18 and older play video games," that "97% of teens play video games," and even "23% of respondents 65 years old and older report playing games."

At first pass, that would appear to make gaming comparatively mainstream, and indeed it confirms the results of many other studies. A lot of us play games, and in many demographics, most of us are gamers in recent years, even though only 9% of those gamers report playing MMOGs and just 2% for assorted virtual worlds.

Unfortunately, sheer numerical superiority doesn't make gaming (or anything else) necessarily mainstream. Mainstreamness (if that's even a word) isn't purely a function of numbers.

Continue reading Gaming now mainstream? The numbers aren't everything

MassivelyGaming now mainstream? The numbers aren't everything originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicopinionpewpew-internet-and-american-life-projectTue, 09 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The negative impact of complexity on MMOs and virtual worlds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/the-negative-impact-of-complexity-on-mmos-and-virtual-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/the-negative-impact-of-complexity-on-mmos-and-virtual-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/the-negative-impact-of-complexity-on-mmos-and-virtual-worlds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The relative complexity of MMOs in comparison with more standard PC and console titles is a major draw for many of us. We like the crafting systems, the economic underpinnings, and many of the other trappings of massively multiplayer online titles. Complexity can be a core strength of a solid MMO title, but at what point does it become a detriment? Sometimes, emergent complexity changes the environment and the rules which govern it in some negative ways. Likewise, too much complexity-by-design can be equally problematic. This is the focus of a recent discussion at Terra Nova -- "Irreparable Complexity, Game and World" -- kicked off by Timothy Burke.

Burke writes, "I've found that virtual worlds, massively-multiplayer online games (MMOGs) have provided some great examples of Rube-Goldberg complexity-by-design, and have also demonstrated why this phenomenon can be a source of so much trouble, that you can end up with systems which are painfully indispensable and permanently dysfunctional, beyond the ability of any agent or interest to repair."

Burke explores this complexity in depth, through analysis of Star Wars: Galaxies and Warhammer Online, but also how this plays out in virtual worlds. This leads him to the dilemma of developers wanting to keep their game design opaque enough to players so that systems aren't easily exploited, at the risk of becoming ensnared in broken systems and overly complicated game mechanics -- where even the developers themselves can't figure it all out. Have a look at Timothy Burke's "Irreparable Complexity, Game and World" over at Terra Nova for his views on how game designers should handle both emergent complexity and complexity-by-design.

MassivelyThe negative impact of complexity on MMOs and virtual worlds originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiccomplexityexploitsgame-designgame-mechanicsmmo-industryopinionstar-wars-galaxiesswgterra-novatimothy-burkevirtual-worldswarwarhammer-onlineMon, 01 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST