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[AGDC 2009: Wizard101 hits 5 million accounts, mounts coming, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/20/agdc-2009-wizard101-hits-5-million-accounts-mounts-coming-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/20/agdc-2009-wizard101-hits-5-million-accounts-mounts-coming-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/20/agdc-2009-wizard101-hits-5-million-accounts-mounts-coming-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


If you're a fan of Wizard101, then you're in for a serious treat. Brent from VirginWorlds posted a video of Darren from Common Sense Gamer sitting down with a "gaggle" of people from KingsIsle Entertainment during AGDC. It seems that Darren had a nice long talk about the past, present, and future of Wizard101, and they were all too happy to give him lots of choice tidbits of information.

While this video clocks in at almost a whopping 30 minutes, it covers a large amount of territory fans and curious onlookers alike will be interested in. The various topics touched on during the course of this interview include the news that Wizard101 has also crossed the 5 million account mark; the account structure and parental controls available in-game; some interesting tidbits about just who is playing; and even a look at the upcoming mounts that will be available for players in October. Also, be sure to check Common Sense Gamer for screenshots of those upcoming Wizard101 mounts. Looks like an exciting time to be a Wizard between all this information and the first birthday celebration going on now!

MassivelyAGDC 2009: Wizard101 hits 5 million accounts, mounts coming, and more originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively was on the ground at the Game Developers Conference 2009 in Austin this week, and had a chance to sit down with Nathan "Oveur" Richardsson, Executive Producer of EVE Online. We discussed EVE's winter expansion, Dominion, and the new dimensions to the sci-fi MMO's setting that CCP Games hopes to introduce. We also learned a bit more about the company's plans to expand EVE into other platforms, namely through the COSMOS social network which will tie in with the game from Dominion onward.

Continue reading AGDC09: EVE's Nathan Richardsson on the Dominion expansion and beyond

MassivelyAGDC09: EVE's Nathan Richardsson on the Dominion expansion and beyond originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agdc-2009capital-shipsccp-gamesconsolescosmosdominiondust-514eve-onlineexpansionsfeaturedgame-mechanicsinterviewsiphonemassively-interviewsmmo-industrymobilenathan-richardssonoveurpen-and-papersandboxsci-fisocial-networkingsovereigntywhite-wolfSat, 19 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AGDC09 Breaking: Turbine confirms console MMO in the works]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/agdc09-breaking-turbine-confirms-console-mmo-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/agdc09-breaking-turbine-confirms-console-mmo-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/18/agdc09-breaking-turbine-confirms-console-mmo-in-the-works/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

During his talk at AGDC entitled "MMOs to Consoles -- Challenges, Opportunities, Emerging Trends," Turbine's Craig Alexander, the VP of project development for the company, has confirmed that they are working on a console MMO.

The project has been in Turbine's production house for a year and a half now, and the staff is actively seeking to launch the title on Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles. Turbine does also have plans to develop for Wii in the future, although they did not go any further into that topic. Over 20 million dollars has been spent on developing the platform for this title. The targeted release date for this project is early 2011.

Craig also said during the speech that he believes that consoles will eventually pass PCs in the MMO market, making this a lucrative endeavor. He also hinted briefly at a free to play subscription model, saying that MMOs should have "minimum friction to access."

Turbine has said in the past that they will completely confirm their console MMO plans in early 2010, but speculation is still in the air as to if this is a brand new IP, or perhaps one of their former titles repackaged for the console. (Edit: Craig has now said, and we quote, "Under no circumstances should you attempt to port a title." This now looks to be a brand new console IP for Turbine.)

We'll keep this post updated with new information as we receive it.

Gallery: AGDC09: Turbine talks consoles

MassivelyAGDC09 Breaking: Turbine confirms console MMO in the works originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agdcagdc-2009breakingconsole-mmoconsolescraig-alexanderddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroplaystation-3ps3turbinex360xbox-360Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[AGDC09: Jeff Hickman speaks on WAR's shortcomings]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/agdc09-jeff-hickman-speaks-on-wars-shortcomings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/agdc09-jeff-hickman-speaks-on-wars-shortcomings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/agdc09-jeff-hickman-speaks-on-wars-shortcomings/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

During one of the many speeches being given at the Austin Game Developers Conference, Jeff Hickman, producer of Warhammer Online, spoke candidly on what he thought were WAR's failures and where Mythic could have done better. While Hickman has cited more than a few reasons WAR has been caught in the mire, the central theme to all of them is the ease of PvE gameplay and a game that doesn't inspire social interactions.

Hickman points out that they wanted the game to include a full battery of social features, including open groups, public quests, and other grouping tools, but they failed to design the game itself to encourage grouping. Part of this lies in the player versus environment quests where the gameplay was too easy and players didn't have a reason to group up.

Continue reading AGDC09: Jeff Hickman speaks on WAR's shortcomings

MassivelyAGDC09: Jeff Hickman speaks on WAR's shortcomings originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With AGDC getting started today, we've been keeping our eyes out for anything new and cool to bring your way. As if to answer our early eyes, Sony Online Entertainment have decided to release a handful of new screens from DC Universe Online as well. These new screens continue to develop on the S.T.A.R. Labs screens we saw coming out of GamesCom, as well as offering us another look at that fan favorite - Green Lantern!

While we're glad that the team at SOE are taking as long as they need to make an awesome game, we'd be lying if we didn't say we're waiting with bated breath for beta access. We can't help it - many of us grew up reading Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, and myriad other DC titles so the idea of playing alongside our childhood heroes sounds pretty cool in our books. Perhaps we'll get some other tidbits of DC Universe Online out of AGDC with luck!

Gallery: DC Universe Online

MassivelyDCUO offers up new screens for AGDC originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agdcagdc-2009dc-universe-onlinedcuosoesony-online-entertainmentWed, 16 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free Realms officially hits 5m users]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/free-realms-officially-hits-5m-users/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/free-realms-officially-hits-5m-users/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/free-realms-officially-hits-5m-users/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Even though Free Realms had been rumored to hit 5 millions users last month, it was made official today at the Austin Game Developer's Conference. During John Smedley's keynote, the SOE President discussed the history of the game's development, as well as some demographic numbers. As you might imagine, it's difficult to create an MMO for kids, with an average MMO player age at 33.

There was also some interesting data released about the top five marketplace items and jobs in the game. Not surprisingly, all of these top five jobs are available to free players, with Brawler taking that number one spot. Look for our complete write-up of Smed's keynote, which involves much more than just Free Realms, coming soon.

Gallery: AGDC09: John Smedley keynote

MassivelyFree Realms officially hits 5m users originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agdc-2009breakingbreakingnewsfree-realmsjohn-smedleykeynotesmedsoesony-online-entertainmentWed, 16 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST