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[LotRO's Yule Festival Theatre transforms players into actors]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/lotros-yule-festival-theatre-transforms-players-into-actors/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/lotros-yule-festival-theatre-transforms-players-into-actors/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/lotros-yule-festival-theatre-transforms-players-into-actors/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It started as a simple idea: To include an interactive theater experience with Lord of the Rings Online's revamped Yule Festival. However, as Turbine's "Rhidden" writes in a new dev diary, the simple idea became fiendishly complex in application.

With the advent of next week's festival, players will be invited to Frostbluff Theatre in Winter-home to watch "The Curious Disappearance of Mad Baggins," the story of Bilbo's vanishing at the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring told from the Hobbits' point of view. What's interesting is that Turbine wants players to be involved, both as audience members (throwing flower petals or rotten fruit, based on the performances) and as potential actors (who may "choose their own adventure" with emotes to complete the story).

Because the LotRO team wanted this to be more than just a "Simon Says" game, they created an intricate script and whipped up a powerful, yet invisible, NPC called "The Audience" that handles the interaction and score-keeping. Based on performances, actors can be rewarded with titles for stellar performances as well as horrible ones. Rhidden promises that no two performances should play out the same.

Read more about this truly unique festival event over at LotRO's site!

MassivelyLotRO's Yule Festival Theatre transforms players into actors originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actingbilbobilbo-bagginschoose-your-own-adventurefellowship-of-the-ringfrostbluff-theaterin-game-eventinteractive-theaterlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromad-bagginsrhiddensimon-saysthe-curious-disappearance-of-mad-bagginsthe-fellowship-of-the-ringtheatertheatreturbineTurbine-Entertainmentyule-festivalFri, 10 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: History of the world, part one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/anti-aliased-history-of-the-world-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/anti-aliased-history-of-the-world-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/anti-aliased-history-of-the-world-part-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

So, besides the Mel Brooks reference in the title, what do I have in store for you this time? Well, in short, I have an idea. Nay, I have an inspiration. Plus, I have a story to boot, so it's really a two for one deal this week in my column. You better read fast, for this deal won't last long!

The one thing that many MMORPGs completely miss is making the player character feel triumphant and heroic. When making the conversion from roleplaying game to online roleplaying game, we frequently miss out on the one thing that makes pen and paper RPGs so unique: a history.

This week in Anti-Aliased, I really want to cover the concept of history as it pertains to MMORPGs, and make the appeal that more MMOs need to invest in a persistent storyline in addition to the standard canned quests that we already utilize in every game under the sun.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: History of the world, part one

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: History of the world, part one originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actinganti-aliasedcommunityeventfeaturedheroismhistoryimprovisational-actinglive-eventsopinionplotlineroleplayingspeechstorylinetriumphantFri, 26 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Roleplaying advice for veterans and newbies alike]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/the-tattered-notebook-roleplaying-advice-for-veterans-and-newbi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/the-tattered-notebook-roleplaying-advice-for-veterans-and-newbi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/the-tattered-notebook-roleplaying-advice-for-veterans-and-newbi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hello there adventurers! Seccia has taken the week off to go visit the remainder of her family in Neriak so I'm stepping in to help out with her column!

This week in The Tattered Notebook, I thought it would be a good time to talk about roleplaying a character. Roleplaying isn't just jumping into a game world and talking in a funny accent. It's also not just making up a character and spamming a scene with emotes.

Good roleplaying skills take both time and practice to learn. And while I can't teach you everything in the space of a single column, I can give roleplayers, both veterans of the craft and newbies, a few tips to polish up your roleplaying skills and enhance the power of a scene.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Roleplaying advice for veterans and newbies alike

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Roleplaying advice for veterans and newbies alike originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actingcharacter-developmentconflictdialogueeq2eqiieverquest-iifeaturedimprovimprovisational-actingloreplotlinesroleplayingsoesony-online-entertainmentthe-tattered-notebookTue, 09 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST