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 forgotten MMO: Dungeons and Dragons Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/the-forgotten-mmo-dungeons-and-dragons-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/the-forgotten-mmo-dungeons-and-dragons-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/the-forgotten-mmo-dungeons-and-dragons-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


You always hear about the good MMOs and the bad MMOs, but there are certainly some MMOs that just seem to hang in the background. They're always there and omnipresent, they never do exquisitely bad, but somehow they're just forgotten amongst the sea of hyped games and broken promises.

That's really the case for Dungeons and Dragons Online, one of the few MMOs to really fly in the face of the traditional MMO model. ZAM.com recently went back and took another look at DDO, giving it the attention that it rightfully deserves regarding its different playstyle and game mechanics.

The article points out the game's major triumphs -- such as the unique atmosphere in every dungeon you dive into, the use of puzzles and traps to keep the player on their toes, and the use of the infamous dungeon master that narrates each of the game's quests to keep in like with its tabletop roots. However, the article also points out some of the game's largest issues, such as grouping and population concerns amongst the servers.

Overall, it's a nice look at a game that really doesn't jump to the forefront of the MMO market, but stays quietly in the background, chugging away with a loyal fanbase and consistent content updates. (All hail the upcoming module 9 and the new ability to finally hit the D&D cap of 20!) For the full feature article, check it out on ZAM.com.

MassivelyThe forgotten MMO: Dungeons and Dragons Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allakhazamddodnddungeonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineforgotten-mmoimprovementmodule-9turbinezam.comSun, 31 May 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Marv Wolfman talks writing for DCUO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/11/marv-wolfman-talks-writing-for-dcuo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/11/marv-wolfman-talks-writing-for-dcuo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/11/marv-wolfman-talks-writing-for-dcuo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last month, we brought news that famed comic book writer Marv Wolfman had joined the team at SOE's DC Universe Online. This in addition to the already impressive team that includes such legends as Jim Lee and Geoff Johns. So when Allakhazam got a chance to sit down with Mr. Wolfman for an interview during NYCC, they got some great insight on what it's like to write for a game like DCUO.

"An MMO is exploration," Wolfman says. "It's about you finding out the information, and it's about continuous movement. I write a still picture, I can put five thousand words in that panel if I could fit in and have a stupid enough letterer who would actually do that. But here you can't spend the time with a lot of words on screen anymore. Those are the old days. You know, Zelda, the old days. 'I enter cave.' But what's done today is, we get you moving, but the story is there and you come into the story in a completely different way, and you have to think about it in a completely different way."

MassivelyMarv Wolfman talks writing for DCUO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allakhazamdcuointerviewmarv-wolfmansoesony-online-entertainmentwritingWed, 11 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper of Cryptic Studios discusses Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/bill-roper-of-cryptic-studios-discusses-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/bill-roper-of-cryptic-studios-discusses-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/bill-roper-of-cryptic-studios-discusses-champions-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MMO-centric website Allakhazam is running an interesting piece on Champions Online. Tamat, the site's Editor-in-Chief, caught up with Bill Roper, the Design Director for Champions Online at Cryptic Studios. The interview ranges from what Roper does at Cryptic to some of mistakes learned along the way -- particularly in the wake of what happened with Flagship Studios and Hellgate: London.

The interview covers a good range of topics, discussing Roper's transition from the business side of an MMO developer to focusing on creating a game, and how trying to compete with WoW isn't a concern for Cryptic with Champions Online. Roper also discusses the idea of bringing some of the original pen and paper Champions Online system to the MMO. He says, "We're including the core concepts of talents, perks, and even exposing the stats system to a degree. We've streamlined some of the concepts of the game to make it more accessible to a broader range of players, but without losing the beauty of what makes Champions the great game and IP it is."

Have a look at the full interview with Cryptic's Bill Roper over at Allakhazam for more on the directions Champions Online will be taking.

MassivelyBill Roper of Cryptic Studios discusses Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allakhazambill-roperchampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosflagship-studioshellgate-londoninterviewsmmo-industrypen-and-paperrpgtamatworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 28 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vanguard hopes for a second chance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/20/vanguard-hopes-for-a-second-chance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/20/vanguard-hopes-for-a-second-chance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/20/vanguard-hopes-for-a-second-chance/#commentsFiled under: , ,


When Vanguard launched, hopes were high that the game would be a breath of fresh air in the MMO market. Unfortunately, the game didn't meet the expectations of many gamers, who lamented its unfinished state and subsequently left. Sony Online Entertainment hasn't given up on Vanguard though, and they're now offering an incentive for players to return.

The offer applies to subscribers whose accounts have been inactive for 60 days or more. The reactivation promotion lasts from September 18 to October 18 and entails creating a new character, which allows you to play through the new Isle of Dawn and check out the game's updated content. That is, until hitting level 10. Thereafter, that character can continue on into Telon, but only by re-subscribing to Vanguard. Players moving up to a paid account are given a pair of Gnomish Rocket Boots as a reward, which impart great bursts of speed.

[Via Allakhazam]

MassivelyVanguard hopes for a second chance originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allakhazamfantasypromotionreactivationsoesony-online-entertainmentsubscriptionvanguardvirtual-itemSat, 20 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online CE head start launches, revs up the buzz]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/warhammer-online-ce-head-start-launches-revs-up-the-buzz/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/warhammer-online-ce-head-start-launches-revs-up-the-buzz/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/warhammer-online-ce-head-start-launches-revs-up-the-buzz/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The first day of the Warhammer Online head start is over and several servers are already full of players picking sides and clashing foreheads. Another thing that's already started is the reaction around the wider web. The buzz is strong with this one. Here's a round-up of news bits relating to Mythic's newest MMO that you may find a bit surprising:

MassivelyWarhammer Online CE head start launches, revs up the buzz originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allakhazamcollectors-editioneueuropegoon-squadignmark-jacobsmythicmythic-entertainmentsomething-awfultome-of-knowledgewarwarhammer-onlineMon, 15 Sep 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 10 questions from WoW players on the EQ2 forums]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/top-10-questions-from-wow-players-on-the-eq2-forums/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/top-10-questions-from-wow-players-on-the-eq2-forums/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/top-10-questions-from-wow-players-on-the-eq2-forums/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We get the distinct impression that EverQuest 2 players might not appreciate it when World of Warcraft players come to their forums. Call it a territorial thing, call it something else, but the beauty of this interaction is when we get a gem of an article like the one posted by SpyderBite over at Allakhazam. The topic pretty much says it all, but we'll let you read through these yourself, nodding your head in agreement (if you're an EQ2 player) or getting frustrated and ready to flame this post in the comments (if you're a WoW player). Enjoy!

10. Where's the auction? How do you people trade with each other?
9. My mods aren't working. Can somebody help me get them to work in this game?
8. Where's the Battlegrounds? I tried a PvP server but people kept killing me.

Continue reading Top 10 questions from WoW players on the EQ2 forums

MassivelyTop 10 questions from WoW players on the EQ2 forums originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allakhazameq2everquest-2humoropiniontop-10world-of-warcraftwowWed, 02 Jul 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DAoC Grab Bag Q&A regarding patch 1.94]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/daoc-grab-bag-qanda-regarding-patch-1-94/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/daoc-grab-bag-qanda-regarding-patch-1-94/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/daoc-grab-bag-qanda-regarding-patch-1-94/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In this week's Grab Bag for Dark Age of Camelot, we're treated to yet another of what we'd expect from this aptly-named Q&A session from the Herald. The Bearded Wonder and the Balancinator answer eleven questions this time, each with their own focus on what the game has to offer with the upcoming patch 1.94.

One interesting question centers around rest XP, and how certain locations give more rest XP for players. This question brings up a great point about how the rest XP should be higher in the housing zones, as opposed to the capital city zones, which would make perfect sense. Another question asks about expanded vault space, for which the Bearded Wonder responds, "We are working on some adjustments to housing that will assist this issue indirectly. Some of these changes can be seen in 1.94 that is coming up." It looks like this new patch will be full of goodies for us all!

MassivelyDAoC Grab Bag Q&A regarding patch 1.94 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allakhazamcamelot-heralddaocdark-age-of-camelotgrab-bagheraldpatchMon, 16 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online developer chat tonight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/10/lotro-developer-chat-tonight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/10/lotro-developer-chat-tonight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/10/lotro-developer-chat-tonight/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you're a Lord of the Rings Online player, then be sure to check this one out if you've got the free time. Later today at 5pm Pacific (8pm Eastern) Allakhazam will be holding a developer chat with the LotRO team (in the #lotro channel) on their own IRC. The discussion will be focused on general topics, so we're not really sure what you can expect to get out of the dev-chat this time around. If you can't make it to the chat, there is bound to be a chat log released sometime afterwards. You can find more details on how to connect at the Allakhazam post over on their site.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online developer chat tonight originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allakhazamchat-logdeveloper-chatIRClord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroturbineMon, 10 Mar 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EQII developer chat coming this Thursday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/24/eqii-developer-chat-coming-this-thursday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/24/eqii-developer-chat-coming-this-thursday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/24/eqii-developer-chat-coming-this-thursday/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The next EverQuest II developer chat has been scheduled for Thursday, 28th of February at 4:30PM PST, and will give players a chance to have their questions answered by members of the Developer and Community teams that work with EQII. The session is being hosted by Allakhazam in their IRC channel, and details on joining the channel can be found here.

There are two ways of getting your questions answered by the EQII team. The first is to join the IRC channel at the specified time and have your questions ready to ask personally. The other way is to send a private message to an EQII Allakhazam Administrator (as per this thread), and they will be able to bring the questions to the chat. We'll report back when the chat is over with any juicy details that the team feel like feeding us.

MassivelyEQII developer chat coming this Thursday originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Feb 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allakhazamcommunitydev-chatdeveloperdeveloper-chateq2eqiieverquest-2soesony-online-entertainmentSun, 24 Feb 2008 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[When the MMO love affair wanes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/when-the-mmo-love-affair-wanes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/when-the-mmo-love-affair-wanes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/when-the-mmo-love-affair-wanes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Did you ever find yourself suddenly disenfranchised with the current state of games? What was once a beloved personal hobby and cornerstone of your social life suddenly seems shallow and empty. Tovin over at Allakhazam paused to reflect on her own MMO anomie. For her, the problem is that none of the games released in the last year or that being released in the next couple months really light that fire. She muses on the fact that players relegated to casual schedules still have to slap down that same monthly fee, whether they use the time or not. And when she does actually get a moment to dive into a virtual world, their design seems to discourage casual social interaction. What's a gamer to do?

For my part, I think Tovin is just suffering from a gaming slump. I think we've all gone through it at some point; you look around you and just don't find anything of worth in the hobby that has engaged you for so long. Of course, in my experience, this is usually a reflection of one's own personal state of mind, and not the state of the industry. But in this case, I think Tovin might be onto something. It's rare these days to play a game that really encourages the social aspects of MMOs in gamers who can't go raiding or PvPing every night. Rare, but not impossible to find. Methinks Tovin would do well to look into Pirates of the Burning Sea, as it's the most social game I've seen in recent memory. Also, Pirates! Yarr!

MassivelyWhen the MMO love affair wanes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allakhazammmo-anomiepirates-of-the-burning-seapotbsslumpsocialtovinWed, 13 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW's Spectral Safari grants chance to win a Spectral Tiger mount]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/wows-spectral-safari-grants-chance-to-win-a-spectral-tiger-moun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/wows-spectral-safari-grants-chance-to-win-a-spectral-tiger-moun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/wows-spectral-safari-grants-chance-to-win-a-spectral-tiger-moun/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The stalwart worthies at Allakhazam drop news of a one-day-only WoW Trading Card Game tournament to be held in hobbyist stores all over the world on March 1st. The winner of each tournament will walk away with an extremely rare card that redeems for an in-game Spectral Tiger mount.

The full details of the tournament can be found here, including entrance fee, deck details, and extra prizes, including an 'extended art' Wyneth Harridan card, and a Robotic Homing Chicken loot card, also redeemable in-game. It's nice to see folks playing together face-to-face; makes me miss my Vampire: The Masquerade days. If you think you can take on this challenge, hie thee to the nearest tournament location! Oh, and if you win, please send us a shot of your lovely new mount! Heck, send us one of your Chicken!

MassivelyWoW's Spectral Safari grants chance to win a Spectral Tiger mount originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allakhazamrobotic-homing-chickenspectral-tigertournamentvampire-the-masqueradeworld-of-warcraftwow-trading-card-gamewyneth-harridanWed, 06 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Allakhazam grills Curt Schilling on game habits, new MMO studio]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/allakhazam-grills-curt-schilling-on-game-habits-new-mmo-studio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/allakhazam-grills-curt-schilling-on-game-habits-new-mmo-studio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/allakhazam-grills-curt-schilling-on-game-habits-new-mmo-studio/#commentsFiled under: ,

A lot of the time, when you read about celebrities playing games or see them with a controller at some glitzy press event hosted by EA or Microsoft, it's hard to take them seriously. Most look completely out of place playing or talking about games, and more often then not, they have a look of barely restrained condescension on their faces. That's why it's always refreshing to see an interview like the one Allakhazam posted recently with Curt Schilling, the veteran ace pitcher from the World Series champion Boston Red Sox.

The interview is light-hearted and jovial, but it fairly well establishes Schilling's gamer cred. This is no fair-weather fan here, Schilling talks in some depth about days long past in EQ doing late night corpse runs with guildmates, why he took so strongly to EQ2, and his approach to balancing games and real life. Perhaps most exciting of all is when he talks about 38 Studios, the MMO development house that he started up with Todd McFarlane and R.A. Salvatore. He doesn't slip us any specifics about the game they have in the works, but he does go into detail about their development philosophy (it's done when it's done), and the advantages of being independently owned. Even if you're not a baseball fan (or if you are and hate the Red Sox), you'll probably find something to like in the interview. Definitely check it out.

MassivelyAllakhazam grills Curt Schilling on game habits, new MMO studio originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosallakhazamcelebritycurt-schillingra-salvatoreFri, 09 Nov 2007 14:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Allakhazam EQ2 moves to wikibase format]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/allakhazam-eq2-moves-to-wikibase-format/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/allakhazam-eq2-moves-to-wikibase-format/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/allakhazam-eq2-moves-to-wikibase-format/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In a surprising, though not wholly unwelcome move, Allakhazam has moved their EverQuest II site to what they call a "Wikibase" format, a hybrid of a database and wiki that takes the searchability and depth of their prior database format, and streamlines the submission process to allow for a more fluid inclusion of player feedback and information. In the past, players had to submit items and descriptions for the database via email. The new wikibase format approaches it in a more interactive, web 2.0 way. From the horse's mouth:

As a new feature at Allakhazam's, there is much work to be done here. Our goal is nothing short of total integration of the traditional database you have grown to love and depend on, with the wiki providing total access to quest descriptions, mob notes, and other helpful information.

In our humble opinion, this puts Allakhazam miles above competition like MMO DB, which continues to rely on the database model. They've now got a wikibase for FFXI and EQ2, how much longer before we see it spread to some of the heavyweights like WoW or LotRO?

MassivelyAllakhazam EQ2 moves to wikibase format originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allakhazamdatabaseeq2everquest-IImmodbwikiwikibaseTue, 06 Nov 2007 10:16:00 EST