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[Free for All: Why you shouldn't be worried while playing Second Life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/free-for-all-why-you-shouldnt-be-worried-while-playing-second/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/free-for-all-why-you-shouldnt-be-worried-while-playing-second/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/25/free-for-all-why-you-shouldnt-be-worried-while-playing-second/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Recently I've taken a great interest in Second Life. For the record, I've been interested in the game -- er, world -- for the past seven years. More specifically, my seventh "birthday" is coming up on May 26th, 2011, meaning that I have been exploring, building, discussing and watching Second Life for a long, long time. I truly enjoy wandering into groups of other players who seem to think that my fairly basic avatar means that I am either new or ignorant about the game. I love telling them that I have been playing a long time, probably longer than they have. I'm actually proud of it.

Still, in spite of my history with the game, I do miss major developments. I am not consumed with the politics and goings on at Linden Lab (maker of Second Life). So when I heard about the changes that were being made concerning adult content, I sort of tuned it out and continued to play off and on. I typically disliked -- no, hated is a better word -- the adult content I came across in Second Life, so I simply avoided it.

If there is one thing I am asked about Second Life, it's "aren't there orgies going on all the time?" Seriously. I get asked about orgies more than anything. I wanted to go over the official rules to reassure those curious and wary potential players that they will not be shot in the face with a sex toy -- unless they want to be.

Click past the cut and let's discuss.

Continue reading Free for All: Why you shouldn't be worried while playing Second Life

MassivelyFree for All: Why you shouldn't be worried while playing Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2ladultadult-contentadult-migrationadult-mmobeau-hindmancybercyber-sexf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftplinden-labLLmaturesecond-lifezindraWed, 25 May 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Sequelitis]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/the-perfect-ten-sequelitis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/the-perfect-ten-sequelitis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/the-perfect-ten-sequelitis/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

As a long-time movie buff, I've always been fascinated by sequels. I know, they have a terrible reputation and everyone gets this face like he's digesting a porcupine when discussing them, but there's something fun about them as well. I think we always want a good story to continue, to see what happens next, and to answer the question, "What would the first film be like if it were put in the hands of a complete boob?" It would be an entertaining trainwreck, that's what.

Even though the MMORPG genre is in its toddler stage, it's seen a number of sequels, prequels and spin-offs, just the same as other types of entertainment. Video game sequels for hit titles are safer financial investments than striking out into new territory, so it makes sense that MMO studios would follow this pattern as well.

Right now there are loads of MMO sequels and spin-offs in the works -- including EverQuest Next, PlanetSide Next, Guild Wars 2, Mabinogi 2, MapleStory 2, Phantasy Star Online 2, Dust 514, and even a possible Ultima Online sequel -- so it's safe to say that the trend won't be dying down anytime soon. However, today I want to look at 10 sequels that already made it to release and briefly examine how they stacked up to their predecessors. Oh yes, there will be blood after the jump -- and I will drink your milkshake!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Sequelitis

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Sequelitis originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 May 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>16-bit8-bitadultadult-mmoadult-orientedallods-onlinebigfootblack-prophecyCity-of-Villainsdust-514eqeq2eqiieqoaeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iieverquest-nexteverquest-online-adventuresf2pfactionsfeaturedff14final-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivfree-to-playguild-wars-2guild-wars-factionsguild-wars-nightfalllegend-of-mirlegend-of-mir-2legend-of-mir-3lineagelineage-2lineage-3lineage-iimabinogi-2maginobimaginobi-heroesmaplestory-2ncsoftneocronneocron-2nexonnightfallperfect-10perfect-tenphantasy-star-online-2planetside-nextplaystation-2polybiusprequelsps2reakktorreakktor-mediasequelsequelsspin-offspin-offsspinoffspinoffssports-illustrated-swimsuit-issuesquaresquare-enixsword-2sword-of-the-new-worldthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenultima-onlinevindictuswemadewemade-entertainmentworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 19 May 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[AgeLock: age verification by residents, for residents]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/agelock-age-verification-by-residents-for-residents/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/agelock-age-verification-by-residents-for-residents/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/agelock-age-verification-by-residents-for-residents/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I will assume, for the sake of this article, that you know nothing about the age verification issues Second Life has undergone. It's thorny, and Linden Lab's system still isn't in place, despite how gung-ho they were about getting it up and running pretty much post-haste. In the meantime, a group of residents have been quietly working on a homebrew system called AgeLock, and while there's a full description of the way it works on the referring site, the best part of the site's description is this:

'How does this system prevent children from accessing adult content?

It doesn't. It won't. It can't. As parents ourselves, we really do care about the importance of protecting children but this is not about protecting children this time. In this instance, our goal is to provide a sense of security for the adult community.'

And there you have it, the heart of the matter. There are without a doubt, non-adult residents with accounts on SL. There is no foolproof way to prevent someone who shouldn't be on the Main Grid from nevertheless creating an account for themselves. The AgeLock system at the very least protects an adult sim's owner from liability issues. This is a step in the right direction; whether or not Linden Lab works off of this remains to be seen.

(Thanks, Allana!)

MassivelyAgeLock: age verification by residents, for residents originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adultage-verificationagelockchildrenlinden-labmassivelysecond-lifeMon, 05 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST