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["We were wrong": LotRO dev explains radiance's failure]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/we-were-wrong-lotro-dev-explains-radiances-failure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/we-were-wrong-lotro-dev-explains-radiances-failure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/we-were-wrong-lotro-dev-explains-radiances-failure/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you had to sum up Lord of the Rings Online's radiance stat in four words, those would probably be: good intentions, horrible execution. As we've known since last year, the much-hated radiance is on its way out of LotRO in the upcoming Echoes of the Dead update, and for many players, it's not a day too soon.

"Sometimes it's difficult to shine the interrogation lamp on yourself and find out what exactly went wrong." Developer Allan Maki has the unenviable task of explaining just what went wrong with this feature, but he does it nevertheless in a new LotRO dev diary. Part apology, part history and part transparency, this diary is a fascinating explanation of how a well-intended mechanism can go awry without proper communication and incomplete implementation. After a long period of trying to force radiance to work, the team ultimately decided to yank radiance from the game altogether.

Maki insists that it could have worked, had the team gone about it more smartly: "Radiance was not a bad idea. In fact, many of us still feel that if it had been designed correctly it would have been successful. As it turned out, however, we created nothing more than an arbitrary gating mechanic that forced players to get 'keys' in order to enter raids."

Massively"We were wrong": LotRO dev explains radiance's failure originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allan-makiallan-orion-makidev-diaryechoes-of-the-deadfailuregame-mechanicgatelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromechanicradianceradiance-removalstatturbineTue, 15 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Task system adding 250 free quests to LotRO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/task-system-adding-250-free-quests-to-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/task-system-adding-250-free-quests-to-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/task-system-adding-250-free-quests-to-lotro/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

What, exactly, is a "task"? Aren't all MMO activities tasks in some way? And why does the word "task" get stranger the longer you look at it?

The task system, hinted at by Lord of the Rings Online's devs over the past few weeks, has stirred a lot of curiosity and speculation in the community. LotRO's Allan Maki whipped up a recent dev diary to clarify the system and outline how tasks are different than standard quests and the epic storyline.

Tasks, grabbed by players off of bulletin boards located around Middle-earth, are short collection quests that involve looting a set amount of specific "vendor trash" items from mobs. Typically, these drops were merely sold for coin, but now players have the option to turn them in for XP and deed progression. Task deeds, once maxed, will award players with special items like cloaks. However, as Maki explains, tasks are limited by level, meaning that higher-level players cannot pick up and complete low-level tasks.

While the task system looks to be in testing for a while longer, Turbine is excited to add 250 of these mini-quests to the game for all players, both free and subscriber. You can read the full dev diary over at LotRO's website.

MassivelyTask system adding 250 free quests to LotRO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allan-makideedsdev-diaryf2pfree-questsfree-to-playlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroquestsreputationtasktask-systemturbineturbine-entertainmentMon, 15 Nov 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Touring the fall's new content with Turbine (part one)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/the-road-to-mordor-touring-the-falls-new-content-with-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/the-road-to-mordor-touring-the-falls-new-content-with-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/the-road-to-mordor-touring-the-falls-new-content-with-turbine/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It just may be the dream of every MMO geek to command the attention of his or her favorite dev team, bombard them with questions, and be shown secrets previously kept behind closed doors. Well, my friends, today that dream came true for this geek, as Turbine graciously sat down with Massively for over two hours to conduct an all-access tour to the fall's hot new LotRO content -- including the details behind the controversial and anticipated F2P switch. Aaron Campbell (Producer), Allan Maki (Senior Designer), Elliot Gilman (Senior Designer), Brian Aloisio (Designer), Joseph Barry (Designer) and Jonathan Rudder (Lore Guru) were on hand to fly me through the new content -- and reveal a few big surprises.

To say that I had questions is an understatement; I fear that I sounded a bit like a six-year-old who peppers parents with unending "Why?" queries. Expecting to hear "no comment" a lot (after all, this content is in beta), I was surprised when the Turbine team enthusiastically answered all of my questions and then some. This is a team who know this F2P move is bringing some apprehension and concern, and they're trying to assuage that with as much information as possible.

So join me as we go through the first part of this tour, looking at an enhanced new-player experience, instance scaling and the addition of Enedwaith to Turbine's Middle-earth.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Touring the fall's new content with Turbine (part one)

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Touring the fall's new content with Turbine (part one) originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-campbellallan-makialliot-gilmanannuminasbrian-aloisiodungeonsdunlandenedwaitheregionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgondorgreat-barrowshelegrodinstance-scalinginterviewjonathan-rudderjoseph-barrylord-of-the-rings-onlinelore-gurulotromaur-tulhaumiddle-earthmines-of-morianew-player-experiencestoorstourturbinetutorialuivolume-3-book-2welshFri, 02 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online developer diary revisits the Lone-lands]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/25/lord-of-the-rings-online-developer-diary-revisits-the-lone-lands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/25/lord-of-the-rings-online-developer-diary-revisits-the-lone-lands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/25/lord-of-the-rings-online-developer-diary-revisits-the-lone-lands/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The latest developer diary entry is from Lord of the Rings Online Senior Designer Allan "Orion" Maki, and takes us back to a very familiar area: The Lone-lands. While the region seems like a low-level walk in the park to the majority of players these days, Maki had always felt that there was a bit of a "disconnect" and that players were being sent to an area far above their level. The Lone-lands have been given what he describes as a "massive overhaul", bringing them more in line with low and mid level players abilities.

Players will find changes such as a solo version of Weather Top, a new horse travel mount to make the initial trip to the Forsaken Inn less dangerous, and some new faction and quest systems. Those, however, are just the beginning. With Siege of Mirkwood only days away, players eager to explore the expansion will find their path in the earlier areas considerably smoother.

The full entry is worth looking at, as it contains four pages of great information on the overhaul -- it's a valuable resource for anyone still hanging out around Ost Guruth.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online developer diary revisits the Lone-lands originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allan-makiallan-orion-makideveloper-diarylone-landslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrosiege-of-mirkwoodturbineWed, 25 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST