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[Hyperspace Beacon: Six things SWTOR and GW2 can learn from each other]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/hyperspace-beacon-six-things-swtor-and-gw2-can-learn-from-each/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/hyperspace-beacon-six-things-swtor-and-gw2-can-learn-from-each/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/hyperspace-beacon-six-things-swtor-and-gw2-can-learn-from-each/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: 6 things SWTOR and GW2 can learn from each other
As I'm sure most of you can guess by the title of this piece, I spent a little time in another MMO this weekend. That doesn't mean that I will be trading in my Jawas and Wookiees for Asura and Charr. However, I will admit that Star Wars: The Old Republic does not contain everything I want from an MMO. That's also not say that Guild Wars 2 has all those missing elements. But I believe there are quite a few things that both of these great MMOs can learn from each other to make the overall MMO experience better for everyone.

Before I begin this breakdown, I should state that this is not a comprehensive list of everything that I liked and disliked from either game. At the same time, I want to also state that, besides the 20 or so minutes at trade shows I had with the game, this weekend marked the first time I've spent any serious time in Guild Wars 2. My opinion here is far from complete, and my experience is really based on the first 10 levels of GW2.

Lastly, I'd like to say that Wookiees will always be cooler than Charr!

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Six things SWTOR and GW2 can learn from each other

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Six things SWTOR and GW2 can learn from each other originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ANetanimationArenaNetBioWarecutscenesEAElectronic-ArtsfantasyfeaturedGuild-WarsGuild-Wars-2GW2impressionsjumpingliving-worldLucasArtsNCSoftopen-world-pvpopinionpersonal-storypreviewpvepvpsci-fiStar-WarsStar-Wars-The-Old-RepublicswimmingSWTORThe-Old-RepublicTORTue, 01 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Go behind the scenes with EverQuest II's Lumpy the dragon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/go-behind-the-scenes-with-everquest-iis-lumpy-the-dragon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/go-behind-the-scenes-with-everquest-iis-lumpy-the-dragon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/go-behind-the-scenes-with-everquest-iis-lumpy-the-dragon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EverQuest II - Lumpy the dragon in production
Behind-the-scenes videos are quite a lot of fun, and we're pleased to bring you the latest such from Sony Online Entertainment and the EverQuest II dev team. The new clip gives us a peek at the birth of Lumpy the dragon. For all intents and purposes, Lumpy is EQII's first low-rider dragon, since the rest of the game's drakes are sinewy, towering masses of muscle and scale.

Senior character artist Steve Merghart describes Lumpy as "low to the ground and stocky," and the video clip shows us everything from initial concept sketches to the various stages of poly modeling, painting, and animation that make up the finished product. Have a look-see after the cut.

[Source: SOE press release]

Continue reading Go behind the scenes with EverQuest II's Lumpy the dragon

MassivelyGo behind the scenes with EverQuest II's Lumpy the dragon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationanimatorsartcharacter-arteq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifantasylumpylumpy-the-dragonmodelingpaintingsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentsteve-merghartvideoWed, 22 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dungeon Fighter Online Act VIII coming April 13th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/dungeon-fighter-online-act-viii-coming-april-13th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/dungeon-fighter-online-act-viii-coming-april-13th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/dungeon-fighter-online-act-viii-coming-april-13th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The world of Arad is coming under fire beginning on April 13th as monsters from across the realm will unite to lay waste to various cities and towns in Dungeon Fighter Online's Act VIII: Under Siege update. Every Thursday and Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. PDT, Dungeon Fighter Online players will need to team up to repel the hordes bent on wreaking havoc and destroying all in their path.

DFO heroes will be handsomely rewarded for successfully driving off the beasties, while failure in the city defense initiative means that NPCs will deny trade and repair opportunities for a time. Additionally, Act VIII brings the ability for max-level players to choose professions (which in turn grants access to skills such as alchemy, enchanting, disassembly, and animation).

Players will also be able to increase reputation and status via a new system that involves gifting NPCs with various items to build friendship and trust. Check out the DFO website for further details.

MassivelyDungeon Fighter Online Act VIII coming April 13th originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>act-8act-viiiact-viii-under-siegealchemyanimationaraddfodisassemblydungeon-fighterdungeon-fighter-onlineenchantingf2pfantasyfree-to-playmax-level-professionsnexonpatchpatchesprofessionssidekicksupdateupdatesFri, 08 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A smattering of topics from Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/a-smattering-of-topics-from-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/a-smattering-of-topics-from-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/a-smattering-of-topics-from-star-wars-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fridays mean new updates for fans eagerly waiting on Star Wars: The Old Republic, and while last week saw the kickoff of PAX East and a hands-on demo (which we played), this Friday sees discussion on a wide range of different aspects. For starters, the latest Fan Friday feature has been posted, showing off new concept art and a fansite spotlight as well as a few new Sith avatars for forumgoers.

A new developer diary is also available, which discusses cinematic animations, one of the major selling points for the game. Certainly the motion capture helps, but as the diary notes, it's not quite as simple as suiting up some capture actors and getting their raw data. Even for a simple scene, there's some fairly elaborate work necessary to make the animation and overall environment feel convincing.

The end of the entry is devoted to several community questions regarding flashpoints, fresh in everyone's mind after the aforementioned demo at PAX East. If you're curious about how loot will be balanced in a dungeon with multiple storyline options, take a look at the full entry to get a clearer picture of how the system will be implemented in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

MassivelyA smattering of topics from Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationbiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtorcinematicsdungeonseaelectronic-artsfan-fridayflashpointsgroup-contentlucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgmotion-capturepreviewsstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republicFri, 18 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What are your favorite emotes?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-favorite-emotes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-favorite-emotes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-favorite-emotes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Emotes are one of the most ubiquitous features in MMOs and usually one of the most intuitive. It can be a little difficult for your first few games to grasp that "/cast "Fire Crash" !antiscript rand[0-20]" will provide a useful function, but typing "/dance" to do a little jig makes perfect sense. As time has gone by, emotes have gone beyond simply being tools for improved communication, with several games featuring emotes that have no other purposes except showing off and being neat to watch.

Final Fantasy XI has job-specific emotes, City of Heroes has costume-change emotes, and Star Trek Online lets you recreate a particularly Shatnertastic moment of acting. So what's your personal favorite emote? Is it a showy emote, something designed to look pretty? Or is it a more functional emote that's particularly well-handled, like a /point emote that actually points at your target intelligently?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What are your favorite emotes? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxculturedisplayemotesff11ffxifinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xigraphicsopinionstar-trek-onlinestotdgthe-daily-grindvisualsMon, 21 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video shows off voicework in Black Prophecy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/video-shows-off-voicework-in-black-prophecy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/video-shows-off-voicework-in-black-prophecy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/video-shows-off-voicework-in-black-prophecy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

As every day passes, more and more people are joining the Black Prophecy beta testing. Slowly, the localizations are being smoothed out, and even more goodies are being added into this hotly anticipated sci-fi space dogfighter MMO. For those of you who haven't quite made it in as yet, as well as those who have but are curious about the nuts-and-bolts, Gamigo and Reakktor Media have released a video today that offers an interesting look at ongoing behind-the-scenes production.

In this video, we take a trip to Periscope Studios and T-Recs Studios to watch just a little bit of how the voicework is done. Along with that, we're treated to a look at just how they get the voice to match the mouth animations of the NPCs without it looking completely silly or taking obnoxious amounts of time. Whether this upcoming free-to-play game is on your personal radar or you're more the type who is fascinated with the overall industry, it's a video worth spending a few minutes of your life to check out. We've embedded this new behind-the-scenes video after the break for your viewing pleasure.

Continue reading Video shows off voicework in Black Prophecy

MassivelyVideo shows off voicework in Black Prophecy originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationbehind-the-scenesblack-prophecybpf2pfree-to-playgamigogamigo-agperiscope-studiosreakktorreakktor-mediaReakktor-Media-GmbHt-recs-studiosvideovoice-actingvoice-oversvoiceoversvoiceworkThu, 20 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An animated video diary from the team behind Super Hero Squad Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/an-animated-video-diary-from-the-team-behind-super-hero-squad-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/an-animated-video-diary-from-the-team-behind-super-hero-squad-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/an-animated-video-diary-from-the-team-behind-super-hero-squad-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Animation is responsible for a lot in an MMO. A lot of the visual personality of the game is conveyed through animations, both the mechanically important ones for special abilities and the ubiquitous flavor emotes such as dancing. So Super Hero Squad Online has both an advantage and disadvantage for the development team -- they're working with characters who have a lot of established personality, but that means there's even more emphasis on getting everything just right. A new video development diary from the team shows off the process of bringing a character to life in the game, with Wolverine getting the starring role.

The video moves step-by-step from the initial modeling and texturing process through the skeleton modeling and manipulation, while also showing off several of the animations that Wolverine will (presumably) be sporting in the final game. There's a great deal of attention to detail and the fine points of what makes each character tick, so if you're looking forward to Super Hero Squad Online, click on past the break to see how the team is putting a lot of expression into little movements.

Continue reading An animated video diary from the team behind Super Hero Squad Online

MassivelyAn animated video diary from the team behind Super Hero Squad Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationanimationsdev-diarydeveloper-diarydiarygazilliongazillion-entertainmentgraphicsmarvelmarvel-comicsmarvel-super-hero-squadshsosuper-hero-squad-onlinethe-amazing-societyupcoming-gamesvideovideo-diaryvideosvisualswolverineMon, 15 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Glamour shots: Rift's visuals crew rock the IRC]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/glamour-shots-rifts-visuals-crew-rock-the-irc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/glamour-shots-rifts-visuals-crew-rock-the-irc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/glamour-shots-rifts-visuals-crew-rock-the-irc/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Like it or not, a good first impression is often heavily influenced by looks. You could be the most intelligent, gentle, funny person in the world, but no date is going to give you a second chance if you show up to dinner wearing a [NAME OF POP CULTURE ICON YOU LIKE TO RAG ON] t-shirt. Likewise, the dev team at Rift: Planes of Telara is working hard not only to make the game as fun to play as possible, but to make it look fashionably awesome while doing so.

Trion World's Scott White (technical art director) and Russ Cahalan (lead animator) fielded questions about Rift's visuals, animations and style in a recent IRC dev chat. The Q&A is chock-full of useful tidbits, such as info about the existence of a weather system, the wide range of emotes, weapon effects (think glowy and drippy!), particle effects, and stances. The duo also discussed the process of creating the animations and world visuals, including the enormous effort that went into making rifts some of the best eyecandy you'll see in an MMO.

Cahalan cracked open the door to give players a peek into the range of weapon animations in Rift that will be present: "We don't have any animation sets that will have flexible weapons like chain swords, whips, or flails currently. The player animation sets are currently pushing close to 500 each, and those include 10 different sets per race/gender to cover the weapon categories we have in game. Those cover a pretty wide variety of weapons, and give a good amount of visual variety between players of different races. We do, however, have some weapons that contain motion. But those are generally VERY special weapons, and are highly desirable."

You can read the full transcript at Telara Central.

MassivelyGlamour shots: Rift's visuals crew rock the IRC originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationartdev-chatdev-interviewdev-q-and-aeye-candyjustin-bieberq-and-ariftrift-planes-of-telararuss-cahalanscott-whitetrion-worldsMon, 11 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Community lives!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/a-mild-mannered-reporter-community-lives/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/a-mild-mannered-reporter-community-lives/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/a-mild-mannered-reporter-community-lives/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The community for City of Heroes got a big shot in the arm when the expansion came out. While it hadn't exactly died in the last few years, it was certainly on a lower pulse. These days, I can't log in without seeing pretty much every server near capacity. Even with a month having passed since the initial release, it seems that Going Rogue is doing a fine job of keeping people wrapped up in the game. You can rail about the lack of endgame all you want, but Praetoria's a pretty good starting ride.

Of course, it's high time for us to do another community roundup post, so the fact that the community has rallied back serves my own purposes. We've got more than just a surfeit of content to talk about -- we've got a whole collection of new missions and gameplay types to work with. And, of course, there are those "just 20 levels" of starting content to chat about. So click on through to see what City of Heroes players have been chatting about for the past month.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Community lives!

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Community lives! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationcity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcombat-animationcombat-mechanicscombat-stylecovcoxfeaturedgoing-roguegrissue-20ncsoftndaparagonparagon-studiospraetoriavisualvisual-styleWed, 22 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR devs dive deep in Jedi design in this week's dispatch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/swtor-devs-dive-deep-in-jedi-design-in-this-weeks-dispatch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/swtor-devs-dive-deep-in-jedi-design-in-this-weeks-dispatch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/swtor-devs-dive-deep-in-jedi-design-in-this-weeks-dispatch/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The character type that will likely be played the most in Star Wars: The Old Republic will be the Jedi. BioWare has been conscious of this from the early stages of the game. This is evident in the fact that there are two distinct Jedi classes: the knight and the consular. Yet, the designers have been the most tight-lipped about these two classes. They have said this is because they wish to get it just right before talking about it. But with this week's Fan Friday, things have changed.

On the official SWTOR website, a new Developer Dispatch called Designing the Light Side has popped up. In the five-and-a-half-minute video, SWTOR writers, artists, and animators discuss the most important things it takes to create the two light side factions. "We want to give players the opportunity to be the heroic Jedi like Luke Skywalker or the darker, more avenging type of Jedi like his father, Anakin," Hall Hood, a senior writer, explains in the video.

On which side of the moral spectrum do you fall? Are you a hero-of-the-ages light sider, or a ends-justifies-the-means gray Jedi? Watch the video after the break and let us know.

Continue reading SWTOR devs dive deep in Jedi design in this week's dispatch

MassivelySWTOR devs dive deep in Jedi design in this week's dispatch originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationArnold-JorgensenBioWareBryan-erckcombat-animationconsulardeisgnDesigning-the-light-sidedeveloper-dispatcheaHall-HoodJason-Attardjedijedi-consularjedi-knightJo-Berryknightlight-sideLucasArtsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstorytellingswtorthe-old-republictorwritingFri, 17 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Battle of the Immortals launches an expansion teaser]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/battle-of-the-immortals-launches-an-expansion-teaser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/battle-of-the-immortals-launches-an-expansion-teaser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/battle-of-the-immortals-launches-an-expansion-teaser/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

There's something to be said for verisimilitude. Despite the fact that we've all accepted limitations in just how much a game can model at any given time, it's nice to be able to break things when you unleash whatever horrible ultimate spell your character of choice is packing. Battle of the Immortals recognizes this, and that's why one of the big features in their new teaser trailer is the addition of destructible environments to the game.

While the game's first major expansion update is ramping up for release, this trailer is for an addition not slated for arrival until spring of 2011. It's a bit of a wait, but the trailer already looks detailed and interesting, promising several graphical and environmental upgrades for the game. Take a look past the cut for the full trailer, and keep your eyes peeled for more news on the updates for Battle of the Immortals, as they seem to be coming fast and furious.

Continue reading Battle of the Immortals launches an expansion teaser

MassivelyBattle of the Immortals launches an expansion teaser originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationanimation-updatesbattle-of-the-immortalsboidestructible-environmentsenvironmental-damageexpansionf2pfree-to-playmajor-updatesmovieperfect-world-entertainmentpweteaserteaser-trailertrailervideoThu, 02 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive City of Heroes developer diary on the design of Dual Pistols animation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/exclusive-city-of-heroes-developer-diary-on-the-design-of-dual-p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/exclusive-city-of-heroes-developer-diary-on-the-design-of-dual-p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/exclusive-city-of-heroes-developer-diary-on-the-design-of-dual-p/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Even if you hate the ranged powers in City of Heroes with the heat of the sun, it's impossible to deny how stylish the animations for Dual Pistols look. The amount of movement in every single power makes the set feel organic and action-oriented, regardless of any other mechanical elements. But what went into making one of the marquee power sets for Going Rogue look so fluid and interesting?

Nelson Tam, an animation artist for Paragon Studios, was the mastermind behind the gun-fu on display for heroes and villains alike. In our exclusive developer diary, "How John Woo Inspired my Gun Fu," he explains how the animations came to life, from the earliest point of conception to the finished product that players can enjoy. City of Heroes players have clamored for the set nearly since the launch of the game, but as the diary explains, it wasn't necessarily quite so easy to get it to look right in the game. Click on past the cut!

Continue reading Exclusive City of Heroes developer diary on the design of Dual Pistols animation

MassivelyExclusive City of Heroes developer diary on the design of Dual Pistols animation originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionanimationchallengescity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxdeveloper-diarydiarydual-pistolsexclusivegoing-roguegun-funelson-tamparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioparagon-studioesposesTue, 01 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC10: DCUO debuting Mass Animation contest preview trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/08/gdc10-dcuo-debuting-mass-animation-contest-preview-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/08/gdc10-dcuo-debuting-mass-animation-contest-preview-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/08/gdc10-dcuo-debuting-mass-animation-contest-preview-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Question: What happens when SOE holds a worldwide contest wherein they provide a special edition of Autodesk Maya 3D -- accessed through the Mass Animation application on the DC Universe Online Facebook fan page -- replete with every asset required to animate in-game characters, then ask the community to submit their best efforts for the chance to see their work in a trailer for the game as well as win glorious prizes?

Answer: SOE announces that submissions came in from over 28 countries and that half the winning submissions were from participants beyond the United States. Considering that most contests are limited to the US (and sometimes Canada) this is a refreshing change of pace. Also, we're guessing that several "dudes" sent in animations specifically designed for Power Girl. The actual identities of the winners is still unknown, but we're guessing SOE is saving that news for GDC10 proper in order to maintain some extra suspense.

Continue reading GDC10: DCUO debuting Mass Animation contest preview trailer

MassivelyGDC10: DCUO debuting Mass Animation contest preview trailer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today we bring you a developer blog from Tracy Jasperson, an animator for Star Trek Online. We're a bit jealous of Tracy's job, because the chance to animate some of the very cool -- and often iconic -- moves and moments in the Star Trek universe sounds like a deliciously rare kind of fun. Still, now we can all live the experience vicariously, through this developer blog! If only holodecks were real...

Be sure to come back Friday for the final installment of our entire week of developer blogs for Star Trek Online. Enjoy!

Continue reading Star Trek Online official dev blog: Tracy Jasperson

MassivelyStar Trek Online official dev blog: Tracy Jasperson originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When it was released back in 2003, EVE Online was one of the most visually impressive games on the market. Over the coming years, the graphics aged gracefully next to competitors on the market and all seemed well. Nonetheless, CCP were not content to let their flagship game's graphics eventually go out of date. In true CCP style, they developed a long-term staged delivery plan for the complete overhaul of the game's graphics. The first stage of delivery came with the Trinity expansion, in which a premium client was launched with incredible high resolution ship models. This was just the first stage in a plan to keep EVE graphically ahead of any competitors.

In this technical article, I look at the science of making EVE beautiful and examine CCP's plans for the future.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Making EVE beautiful

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Making EVE beautiful originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationapocryphaccpccp-gameseveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexpansionfanfestfeaturedGPUgraphicsjoystiqfeaturesmodelneutralisernosferatuplanetsshadershipspecial effectsSpecialEffectsstasistrinityvisual computingVisualComputingwebSun, 12 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW movie still needs a writer, Blizzard's CGI team won't be involved]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/wow-movie-still-needs-a-writer-blizzard-cgi-team-wont-be-invol/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/wow-movie-still-needs-a-writer-blizzard-cgi-team-wont-be-invol/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/wow-movie-still-needs-a-writer-blizzard-cgi-team-wont-be-invol/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When you've just released an expansion pack that sold more copies than most major stand-alone releases, all in less than 24 hours, you know you're sitting on a goldmine of a franchise. Blizzard, of course, is aware of this, what with World of Warcraft getting a licensed miniature game and a coming feature film adaptation.

And speaking of the feature film adaptation, we have some elusive news about that. MTV's Multiplayer blog had a chat with Blizzard's Frank Pearce about the project. The scoop is that the studio, Legendary Pictures, is still looking for a screenwriter and director. Obviously, that means the movie is very early in development.

MTV also asked Pearce if Blizzard's own world-renowned CGI animators would be involved in producing the special effects for the movie. Pearce said that the suggestion has "come up in discussions but it's not something we've really considered because it takes so long to generate just the brief amount of footage that we create for the game."

MassivelyWoW movie still needs a writer, Blizzard's CGI team won't be involved originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationblizzardcgicomputer-animationdirectorfilmfrank-pearceinterviewlegendary-picturesmoviescreenwriterworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-moviewowwow-movieFri, 21 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A look at World of Warcraft's unique characteristics]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/a-look-at-world-of-warcrafts-unique-characteristics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/a-look-at-world-of-warcrafts-unique-characteristics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/a-look-at-world-of-warcrafts-unique-characteristics/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


With Wrath of the Lich King imminent, we thought it would be a good idea to take a short look at just what has made and continues to make World of Warcraft so different than many other MMOs and whether or not it still retains that oh-so-different sheen. After four years of being pretty much the biggest dog in the yard, does World of Warcraft still bring new ideas to the table? Click below to find out what we think.

Continue reading A look at World of Warcraft's unique characteristics

MassivelyA look at World of Warcraft's unique characteristics originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardanimationarthasblizzarddeath-knightfeaturedgraphicsjaggiesjoystiqfeaturesquestingqueststexturewarcraftworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingFri, 14 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zero Punctuation braves interstellar spreadsheets in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/zero-punctuation-braves-interstellar-spreadsheets-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/zero-punctuation-braves-interstellar-spreadsheets-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/zero-punctuation-braves-interstellar-spreadsheets-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Zero Punctuation's Yahtzee has reached geek culture superstardom by sacrificing sacred cows. By profanely slamming popular franchises such as Halo and Super Smash Bros., he's brought down the wrath -- and the web traffic -- of virtually the entire gaming community. There's a running joke through many of his animated reviews, though: he hates MMORPGs.

Both Tabula Rasa and Age of Conan got the full treatment, and Yahtzee has even criticized some single-player games (such as The Witcher) just for sharing gameplay elements with MMORPGs. His fans apparently thought he was being a bit too harsh. "Not all MMORPGs are the same," they presumably said. "Try EVE Online. It's different!"

And so he did. It turns out that "different" might be in the eye of the beholder. Or just as likely, MMORPGs can never be different enough for Yahtzee! The humorous (and as usual, NSFW) video review is embedded above, courtesy of The Escapist.

MassivelyZero Punctuation braves interstellar spreadsheets in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananimationben-croshawescapistescapist-magazineeveeve-onlinehalo-3humorreviewsuper-smash-brostabula-rasathe-escapistvideoyahtzeeyahtzee-croshawzero-punctuationThu, 04 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[38 Studios to use NaturalMotion's Morpheme engine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/38-studios-to-use-natural-motions-morpheme-engine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/38-studios-to-use-natural-motions-morpheme-engine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/38-studios-to-use-natural-motions-morpheme-engine/#commentsFiled under: , ,

38 Studios, the star-studded development studio working on a mysterious MMO codenamed Copernicus, has announced that it will use an animation engine called Morpheme. Morpheme has also been used in EVE Online and Heavenly Sword. Its creator is a company called NaturalMotion, which also created the related and acclaimed Euphoria engine used in Grand Theft Auto IV and the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

Jon Laff, 38 Studios' chief technology officer, was quoted in the press release saying, "Morpheme allows us to create very high-quality character animations quickly, cutting down on a lot of intensive animation design and implementation time." Uh, good! Wouldn't want you to pick middleware that slows you down instead!

So for those who are keeping track: Copernicus now uses BigWorld, Unreal Engine 3, and Morpheme. It's got the trifecta!

Massively38 Studios to use NaturalMotion's Morpheme engine originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosanimationbigworldcopernicusengineeuphoriajon-laffmiddlewaremorphemenatural-motionnaturalmotiontechnologyunreal-engine-3Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lab wants users to walk the walk]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/lab-wants-users-walk-the-walk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/lab-wants-users-walk-the-walk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/lab-wants-users-walk-the-walk/#commentsFiled under: ,

One of the things that strikes most users immediately about Second Life is the default avatar walk. It's been in there since forever, and it isn't a good one. Reactions range from mild hysteria to outright loathing. Thousands of new users every day are afflicted with this tragic ailment.

'For %*$%%@ sake! Why does my avatar walk like a duck?'

Linden Lab is looking for an animator to bring a new, default walk animation to Second Life.

Continue reading Lab wants users to walk the walk

MassivelyLab wants users to walk the walk originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationbucket-lindenjesse-lindenjesse-reinerlinden-labsecond-lifeFri, 11 Jul 2008 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lead artist-ing with Champions Online's Christopher Chamberlain]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/lead-artist-ing-with-champions-onlines-christopher-chamberlain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/lead-artist-ing-with-champions-onlines-christopher-chamberlain/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/lead-artist-ing-with-champions-onlines-christopher-chamberlain/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Would you believe that this week's edition of Cryptic's meet the team is all about Christopher "Absinthe" Chamberlain, the lead artist in charge of characters, animation and FX for Champions Online? Yeah? Good. We were sure you'd believe, but we still had to check. It's not that Mr. Chamberlain is some kind of famous developer, he's just a very cool individual -- which also makes him an interesting interviewee. That is unless he used is crazy backwards-talking skills whenever you asked him a question. Then he'd just be a startlingly confusing interviewee.

As far as his workday goes for creating characters and animations, we're once again forced to feel a little jealous. Most grown-up men don't get to play with form swords all day anymore, but Christopher does just that. Then after getting to play around for who knows how long, the man gets to sit down and decide how villains in the game will look. It doesn't stop there, but we'll let you discover what other madness this man is involved with on a daily basis.

MassivelyLead artist-ing with Champions Online's Christopher Chamberlain originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationartistchampionschampions-onlinechristopher-chamberlaincrypticcryptic-studiosmeet-the-teamvillainsThu, 10 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Animation Watch: The Mini-Show of Krys]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/21/animation-watch-the-mini-show-of-krys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/21/animation-watch-the-mini-show-of-krys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/21/animation-watch-the-mini-show-of-krys/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Mini-Show of Krys is an animated Flash series based on gaming humor. It sports an engaging aesthetic and players will recognize their own experiences mirrored in the antics of the protagonists.

Currently, there are six episodes translated into English from the original French, with eight more awaiting the same treatment. Episodes 4, 5, and 6 are connected, and concern themselves with World of Warcraft. If you find that you're bothered by having to read subtitled English, you can watch the original episodes instead.

[Thanks, Krys!]

MassivelyAnimation Watch: The Mini-Show of Krys originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationflashfrenchsubtitledthe-mini-show-of-krysworld-of-warcraftSat, 21 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Meet Danny Southard and an 800lb flaming gorilla]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/meet-danny-southard-and-an-800lb-flaming-gorilla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/meet-danny-southard-and-an-800lb-flaming-gorilla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/meet-danny-southard-and-an-800lb-flaming-gorilla/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Danny Southard is an animator for Champions Online who gets to help make all the cool superpower animations players are expecting to see -- when they eventually get their hands on the game. He works on both player powers and specifically NPC powers for characters with all types of limb combinations. From the sounds of it Danny just recently wrapped up some work on super strength and is now working on some martial arts powers. You gotta have the basics covered, y'know.

As far as new Champions Online information goes, Danny does give us a nice hint when asked about his favorite character from the game world. He says, "I can't reveal his name, but he's the biggest flaming gorilla in the history of videogames." Images of the Human Torch combined with Gorrila Grod burst into our minds when thinking about this mystery character. You can never go wrong with pyrokinetic primates.

MassivelyMeet Danny Southard and an 800lb flaming gorilla originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationanimatorchampionschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosdanny-southardmartial-artsmeet-the-teamsuper-strengthFri, 13 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New CoX patch puts the wallop back in Martial Arts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/12/new-cox-patch-puts-the-wallop-back-in-martial-arts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/12/new-cox-patch-puts-the-wallop-back-in-martial-arts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/12/new-cox-patch-puts-the-wallop-back-in-martial-arts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

City of Heroes Dev Back Alley Brawler has been a very busy guy of late. When he's not fending off incoming questions like a tank herding Rikti monkeys, he's working on animations and visual effects. Recently, several powers have seen improvements to their animation speed, allowing players to beat the tar out of stuff much faster than they used to.

Katana was recently improved in this way, and now the set in the spotlight is Martial Arts, which hasn't seen any love for a long, long time. The little pauses have been shaved off, meaning that the kicks and punches now flow beautifully. Forum poster Tormentoso has put together a little demonstration.

Continue reading New CoX patch puts the wallop back in Martial Arts

MassivelyNew CoX patch puts the wallop back in Martial Arts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationback-alley-brawlerbrutechain-inductioncity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxelectric-meleemartial-artsncsoftscrappersstalkerThu, 12 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jacek Antonelli's special blend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/jacek-antonellis-special-blend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/jacek-antonellis-special-blend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/jacek-antonellis-special-blend/#commentsFiled under: ,

Jacek Antonelli, whom you already likely know as the creator of the Blender BVH animation exporter for Second Life, has released an excellent tutorial on getting to grips with Blender and the exporter, so that you can get into this excellent free tool for creating animations.

Her tutorial is simple, straightforward, witty and well-illustrated. If you create Second Life animations, but don't use Blender -- or you want to get into creating animations for Linden Lab's virtual world, you owe it to yourself to take a look at this.

MassivelyJacek Antonelli's special blend originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jacek Antonelli has released a new version of her Blender animation exporter that allows use of Blender's sophisticated (and free) animation suite to create animations for Second Life.

This release focuses primarily on the user-interface, improving the layout to make things a whole lot easier for those who are not already Jedi-masters of the Blender package; and a mighty good change it is, too, as you can see above.

Continue reading New release: Blender animation exporter

MassivelyNew release: Blender animation exporter originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationblenderbvhjacek-antonelliopen-sourcesecond-lifesl-blender-animation-exportersource-codetoolsMon, 02 Jun 2008 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[From Blender to BVH via Antonelli]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/from-blender-to-bvh-via-antonelli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/from-blender-to-bvh-via-antonelli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/from-blender-to-bvh-via-antonelli/#commentsFiled under: ,

One of the more sophisticated animation tools out there is Blender, a cross-platform, free suite of 3D creation tools. Blender allows a lot of animation tricks that are normally only found in packages costing hundreds or thousands of dollars.

The eclectic, artistic, and highly-animated Jacek Antonelli has released a script, scene and animation skeleton that allows users to create and export high-quality animations from Blender into the BVH format used by Second Life.

Continue reading From Blender to BVH via Antonelli

MassivelyFrom Blender to BVH via Antonelli originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationblenderbvhjacek-antonelliopen-sourceqavimatorsecond-lifesl-blender-animation-exportersource-codetoolsTue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video of CCP artist's Ambulation presentation available]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/video-of-ccp-artists-ambulation-presentation-available/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/video-of-ccp-artists-ambulation-presentation-available/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/video-of-ccp-artists-ambulation-presentation-available/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

CCP character artist Ben Mathis gave a 30 minute presentation at the New York Comic Con last month. He talked mostly about the forthcoming Ambulation expansion, which will allow EVE Online players to leave their cockpits and walk around the interiors of space stations with customizable, 3D avatars. Ten Ton Hammer has a Flash video of the entire session.

We saw some of the presented content at GDC earlier this year, but there's some new stuff in this video, too. As we've noted before, CCP isn't holding back; Ambulation is very technically impressive. It's ironic that EVE -- a game focused almost entirely on spaceships instead of face-to-face interactions -- might soon carry the most advanced avatar creation tools on the market.

Players will be able to customize every thing from body fat to the materials from which their clothes are made. Female avatars will have makeup customization options so powerful that the differentiation between lip gloss and lip stick will be noticeable. New animation blending technology will enable realistic transitions between disparate facial expressions. Infinite morph points will be available when faces are molded, thanks to creative use of shaders. CCP's ambition is astonishing -- let's hope the reality lives up to the promise in the end.

MassivelyVideo of CCP artist's Ambulation presentation available originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 May 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationanimationavatarben-mathisccpcharacter-artistcharacter-creationcharacterseveeve-onlineexpansiongraphicsnew-york-comic-connyccpresentationshadersstationten-ton-hammervideoThu, 15 May 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AoC video guide to emote animations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/aoc-video-guide-to-emote-animations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/aoc-video-guide-to-emote-animations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/aoc-video-guide-to-emote-animations/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Ten Ton Hammer has done it once again, providing us with one of the most entertaining guides we've seen yet on Age of Conan: a video guide to /emotes! If you're still apprehensive (which has its own /emote) about getting that pre-order for AoC, this might just do it for you.

Seriously though, these emotes are not only entertaining, they're a testament to the amount of detail that has gone into this game. Mostly, emotes are useful in social roleplaying situations, but to find a game that has this many otherwise seemingly-mundane character animations this early before launch shows that either they got the important stuff out of the way first, or they decided emotes are more important than anything else. Um, we're pretty sure it's the latter. May we suggest the /chicken?

MassivelyAoC video guide to emote animations originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananimationaocemotesfuncomguideten-ton-hammervideoWed, 14 May 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dofus' Wakfu - the TV series]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/27/dofus-wakfu-the-tv-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/27/dofus-wakfu-the-tv-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/27/dofus-wakfu-the-tv-series/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

As stated, Dofus is an MMO with an outstanding and appealing aesthetic; one that I've often wished were available to just watch, like a cartoon. Well, apparently Ankama Games and I were on the same wavelength, because sure enough, there's an animated show being produced as we speak!

Wakfu - the TV series follows the adventures of Yugo, a young boy with a strong sense of justice, and his four adventurous friends, each one of them a different warrior type from the world of Dofus. Take a gander at the trailer -- it's a fantastic mix of European and Asian animation styles and perfectly captures the sometimes alien, sometimes whimsical World of Twelve. No release date has been offered, but I'm keeping all channels open for the announcement!

MassivelyDofus' Wakfu - the TV series originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Over the years, most of us have grown accustomed to the typical avatar gestures... /wave, /kiss, /kneel, and the like. Even some of the more outlandish emotes have their place, like /robot or /rude. Of course, this kind of thinking is not out of the box! Since most people labor under the assumption that the money is to be found out of the box, you can pretty well kiss the box goodbye! For Bob Moore of Terra Nova, the most unbox-like development in the MMO sphere is in what he calls "free gesticulation," a technology capable of reading the physical movements of a player and translating them on-screen to their avatar of choice.

The gesture system that exists in games today, coupled with a competent VOIP solution, is adequate for most of your basic communication needs. Standalone gestures like waves, nods, and bows do just fine by their lonesome, and informative pointing gestures work particularly well with VOIP software. But what of expressive or descriptive gestures? Moore suggests that these previously untapped lines of communication could open up whole new avenues of gameplay possibilities, particularly for role players. And best of all, the technology is extremely close to mainstream. All we need is for somebody to implement it. You can practically /kiss the uncanny valley goodbye!

MassivelyExpress yourself, come on and do it... originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationbob-mooreemotesfree-gesticulationgesticulationgesturesterra-novauncanny-valleyWed, 20 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Developer diary details Star Wars Galaxies animation process]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/developer-diary-details-star-wars-galaxies-animation-process/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/developer-diary-details-star-wars-galaxies-animation-process/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/08/developer-diary-details-star-wars-galaxies-animation-process/#commentsFiled under: ,


Making a Massive game is mighty complicated. According to programmer Matt Boudreaux at SOE-Austin, no part of the development process is more interconnected than making the pretty avatars move correctly on the screen. The animation process is the subject of a developer diary at the official Star Wars Galaxies site. Matt explains some of the steps required to get an SWG character looking just right.

The basics of animation start with the artists, he details. They create the 'skeleton' on which a mob or avatar is built. With the skeleton in place, designers step in to apply specific animations to activities. In SWG, animations tend to be focused around the tool you're using. Two players using the same attack might see completely different animations because they're using different weapons. Plenty more on the process rounds out his description, which is well worth exploring.

MassivelyDeveloper diary details Star Wars Galaxies animation process originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationdev-diarylucasartssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgFri, 08 Feb 2008 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan preview makes mention of women, animations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/age-of-conan-preview-makes-mention-of-women-animations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/age-of-conan-preview-makes-mention-of-women-animations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/21/age-of-conan-preview-makes-mention-of-women-animations/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Curse has a new write-up about their recent trip to FunCom where they go over some key issues fans of the upcoming Age of Conan might want to know about. One such thing is in regards to the severe lack of a female presence in the world of Hyboria up to this point. We're told that the main reason we haven't seen any female player characters is that FunCom wanted to do it up right. After all, you only get to make first impressions once. Well, apparently now that females are ready for the spotlight, beta testers can expect to see them as soon as the next patch even. This bodes well for the rest of us seeing the lovely ladies of Hyboria sooner rather than later.

If FunCom takes their armor sets as seriously as they take their Hyborian women, then it sounds like we're in for some satisfying sets of equipment. We're told to expect over 500 unique armor pieces, which in terms of sets doesn't tell us too much. Although a very rough guess on our part would be somewhere in the ballpark of 70-90 armor sets, which would span over three races and twelve classes. If they keep their word then hopefully we won't have a bunch of clones running around.

What really interested us the most, however, was that after hearing lots of concerned feedback on the run animations the developers are going back to the motion capture, uh -- board. Sure, you can expect all sorts of custom fatality animations for different classes, but FunCom continues to impress us with their ability to listen to the community. There's nothing worse than an unnatural looking run animation when you have to stare at it constantly for hours on end.

MassivelyAge of Conan preview makes mention of women, animations originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananimationaocarmorarmor-setseidoseidos-interactivefuncomMon, 21 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Disney making online game based on the movie "Cars"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/disney-making-online-game-based-on-the-movie-cars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/disney-making-online-game-based-on-the-movie-cars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/disney-making-online-game-based-on-the-movie-cars/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


According to the San Fernando Business Journal, Disney Online plans to release a virtual world game based on the hugely successful 3D-animated film Cars.

Disney sees this as a way to keep kids invested in the franchise "for years to come" even without a sequel on the horizon. The article also says that Disney plans substantial future investments in these sorts of projects because they've had success with other titles like Toontown Online and Club Penguin.

While games like this don't usually get as much attention from the gaming media, they're arguably no less successful or lucrative than games like EverQuest II.

[Via Worlds in Motion]

MassivelyDisney making online game based on the movie "Cars" originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationcarscars-onlinecasualclub-penguindisneydisney-onlinefamilykidsmmo-industrypixarsan-fernando-business-journaltoontown-onlineworlds-in-motionFri, 30 Nov 2007 19:30:00 EST