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[Shadowbane closure date extended to July, possible new lease on life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/02/shadowbane-closure-date-extended-to-july-possible-new-lease-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/02/shadowbane-closure-date-extended-to-july-possible-new-lease-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/02/shadowbane-closure-date-extended-to-july-possible-new-lease-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We thought we'd seen the end of Shadowbane in April, but we're happy to report that we were wrong. The game's servers were scheduled to go dark yesterday, May 1st. Ubisoft said this was the case and the developers said their goodbyes. However, overwhelming response from the playerbase is now keeping the game alive a bit longer for a proper farewell, and this stay of execution could possibly allow the devs to seek other options. Shadowbane developer Xanther writes, "Following our recent news, the support and enthusiasm the community has shown for Shadowbane has led to an extension of the closure date to July 1, 2009. This should allow the community enough time to play out its final days appropriately. We are looking into various options to make these final days as fun as possible!"

It seems they're also looking into options beyond closure events for the players. Thanks to a tip from Massively reader NT_we see that Aeria Games has mentioned on Twitter that they're interested in picking up the game and are in discussion with Ubisoft. Also, Aeria Games is seeking input from Shadowbane players to help determine how viable running this title would be. You can let them know via Twitter at @aeriagames. While the situation still remains grim, that Shadowbane has roughly two months of time left, we're happy to see there's potential for a new lease on life for the game if publishers are willing to keep it running. If Massively learns that Shadowbane gets picked up by a new publisher, we'll be sure to let you know.

[Thanks, NT_]

MassivelyShadowbane closure date extended to July, possible new lease on life originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 May 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ad-supportedaeria-gamesf2pfantasyfree-to-playmmo-industryshadowbanetwitterubisoftSat, 02 May 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the best way to keep players?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/the-daily-grind-whats-the-best-way-to-keep-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/the-daily-grind-whats-the-best-way-to-keep-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/the-daily-grind-whats-the-best-way-to-keep-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Let's say you're responsible for an MMO that's steadily losing players. Without being able to pinpoint why, you head to the forums and listen in: "PvP sucks!" "Classes under/overpowered!" "Not enough kittens!" Making the tough choices is your job, and you realize you can't address all of these concerns in time to keep a huge number of paying players from quitting forever. What do you do?

Do you offer to make the game free? If your model depends on monthly fee revenue, switching to an ad-supported model or microtransactions is no trivial matter and won't happen quickly enough. Do you grant 5x experience for a month? People won't want to level up more quickly in a game they don't like enough to keep around. What's a good solution? If your favorite MMO were to make you angry enough to leave, what would keep you?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's the best way to keep players? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ad-supportedkeeping-playersmicrotransactionsquitting-forevertdgthe-daily-grindMon, 16 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews Jon Van Caneghem about the SCI FI Channel MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/massively-interviews-jon-van-caneghem-president-of-trion-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/massively-interviews-jon-van-caneghem-president-of-trion-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/04/massively-interviews-jon-van-caneghem-president-of-trion-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Trion World Network is quite a company -- without releasing a single game, they've put together millions of dollars in venture capital and compiled a staff list that's got team members from across the history of MMO games, from EverQuest and Ultima Online to World of Warcraft and City of Heroes.

This week, they sent waves through the MMO community by announcing that not only were they working on a fantasy MMO to be helmed by Jon Van Caneghem (original creator of the Might and Magic series of RPG strategy games and co-founder of the company along with Lars Buttler), but that they were forming a groundbreaking partnership with the SCI FI Channel to develop and publish and MMO to live alongside a television show. Finally, we had a small glimpse of just what Trion, with all of their money and experience, were up to.

To find out more, Massively sat down with Van Caneghem (a busy man since the news dropped on Monday) to chat about both the fantasy MMO and the SCI FI project, and what Trion's been working on since they formed. Van Caneghem told us why Trion wants to make a different kind of MMO, and how they'll balance an online game with a television series from the network that's running Battlestar Galactica. The interview starts right after you click the link below.

Continue reading Massively interviews Jon Van Caneghem about the SCI FI Channel MMO

MassivelyMassively interviews Jon Van Caneghem about the SCI FI Channel MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ad-supportedbattlestar-galacticadeveloperdevelopmentfantasyfeaturedinterviewjon-van-caneghemjoystiqfeatureslars-buttlermassivelymicrotransactionmight-and-magicmmopartnershippay-to-playrmtsci-fi-channeltrion-world-networktweet-thisWed, 04 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dungeon Runners Build 95 patch notes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/dungeon-runners-build-95-patch-notes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/dungeon-runners-build-95-patch-notes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/dungeon-runners-build-95-patch-notes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The free, ad-supported title Dungeon Runners has updated to Build 95, and extensive patch notes have been posted on the official site. The meat of the new build centers around a revamping of the current PvP system, which the developers admit hadn't been the game's strong suit previously.

The upgraded system involves scaling everyone's level in a PvP battle to 101, to make matchmaking quicker and fairer. However, players will still have an incentive to better their characters, as the game will differentiate toons that are well-equipped and skilled for their level, and make their level 101 incarnation stronger. Similarly, a poorly equipped character will end up with a weak level 101 in PvP. The "magical rebalancing" (to borrow their phrase) will also account for outnumbering, and will boost the strength of players on the overwhelmed side.

Along with the PvP updates, there were a few other tweaks to skills, items, the UI, and a bunch of new quests. The full list of changes is linked below at the Dungeon Runners website, and you can also download the game there.

MassivelyDungeon Runners Build 95 patch notes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ad-supportedbuild-95dungeondungeon-runnerslevel-101matchmakingoutnumberedoutnumberingpatchpatch-notespvprebalancedrebalancingscalingupdateThu, 25 Oct 2007 21:30:00 EST