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[Anti-Aliased: What happened to building worlds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/anti-aliased-what-happened-to-building-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/anti-aliased-what-happened-to-building-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/anti-aliased-what-happened-to-building-worlds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I hope you guys have taken the time to check out our GDCO coverage, specifically our interview with Richard Bartle. If there's anything that has really been on my mind for these past weeks, it's been that. Dr. Bartle's approach to MMOs is very similar to my own personal approach to MMOs: these are games, but they are also worlds.

And it's been that line of thinking that has lead me to today's column. What happened to creating worlds in our games?

Now, I'm not saying that our games don't include vast settings for us to explore. All of our MMOs include some great settings, but they seem to fall flat anymore. Instead of focusing on how players can interact with the world and each other, many developers are focused on creating the coveted "theme park" environment. We have worlds filled with pre-planned obstacles and challenges that rarely change and evolve over time, instead of allowing players to interact with the world and vice-versa.

So, with all of our new knowledge on how games work, what's stopping us from tackling the challenges we used to tackle regularly? How can we make world building and sandbox practices approachable? How can we re-ignite the creative fire?

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: What happened to building worlds

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: What happened to building worlds originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedbuilding-worldsfeaturedgame-designimaginationonline-worldsopen-world-designpvepvpsandboxtheme-parkvirtual-worldsworldworld-creationFri, 22 Oct 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: How I mine for craft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/30/anti-aliased-how-i-mine-for-craft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/30/anti-aliased-how-i-mine-for-craft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/30/anti-aliased-how-i-mine-for-craft/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This column was bound to come sometime. We've had legions of people asking us, "Why don't you cover Minecraft? It's totally an MMO!" The email barrage was so constant that I had nightmarish fits in my sleep, where I was drowning in oddly block-shaped emails pouring out of my ceiling.

Now, after I've finally played Minecraft, my nightmarish fits have turned into scenes in which I'm being attacked by giant block-shaped spiders, but that's neither here nor there.

I can see why people have fallen in love with this game, and they have every reason to. Minecraft may not be an MMO by our standards, but it is an example of gaming done right. It's the purest form of everything we love about gaming, and it's a game that could teach MMO makers a lot about design, should they care to listen.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: How I mine for craft

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: How I mine for craft originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedcooperativecraftingcreativefarmingfeaturedgame-designminecraftminingmmo-designmmo-game-designmojang-specificationsmultiplayernon-combatnotchsingle-playerThu, 30 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Breaking into MMO gaming journalism pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/anti-aliased-breaking-into-mmo-gaming-journalism-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/anti-aliased-breaking-into-mmo-gaming-journalism-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/anti-aliased-breaking-into-mmo-gaming-journalism-pt-2/#commentsContinue reading Anti-Aliased: Breaking into MMO gaming journalism pt. 2

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Breaking into MMO gaming journalism pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliaseddo-you-love-video-gamesfeaturedfinding-a-jobgame-bloggergame-columnistgaming-journalismgetting-a-jobjob-helpjob-tipsmediaopiniontipsFri, 17 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: I can finally stop playing Mortal Online now]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/anti-aliased-i-can-finally-stop-playing-mortal-online-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/anti-aliased-i-can-finally-stop-playing-mortal-online-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/anti-aliased-i-can-finally-stop-playing-mortal-online-now/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A long time ago, well before Mortal Online launched, I was really looking forward to playing the game. The first-person only perspective made me drool, the Unreal Engine 3 powered graphics engine looked top-notch, the endless amount of customization of weaponry made me giddy, and the sprawling open world made me bow in awe. This was a game that sat at the top of my "WANT NAO" list, and I'm not even a person who's really huge into PvP. I just wanted an Elder Scrolls/Ultima Online inspired sandbox.

Upon finally playing the game, however, all I found was a nightmare of errors, glitches, and missing systems. Mats Persson, one of the developers of Star Vault, was right: this game does lack polish, user friendliness, and many systems that could turn this sandbox into a true sandbox. Instead, all I found was a buggy, glitchy, never-ending, pointless deathmatch in an MMO world. Keep reading, and I'll be more than happy to explain every aspect of my time with Mortal Online.

If you're interested in commenting on this article, then you have to trek all the way to page 3 this week. Just a heads up!

Gallery: Mortal Online Screenshots

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: I can finally stop playing Mortal Online now

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: I can finally stop playing Mortal Online now originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaanti-aliasedbetabugsdelayed-launchglitcheshardcorelow-concurrencymortal-onlineold-school-designopinionpvprecommendationsandboxsera-really-isnt-a-carebear-but-you-wont-listen-to-her-about-thastar-vaultultima-onlineunfinishedunfinished-gameThu, 02 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Don't hate the playa, hate the developa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/anti-aliased-dont-hate-the-playa-hate-the-developa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/anti-aliased-dont-hate-the-playa-hate-the-developa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/anti-aliased-dont-hate-the-playa-hate-the-developa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

So I noticed something last week, in the comments section of my piece on UI design, that finally kicked me back into "endless rant" mode. It's a sentiment that I've noticed in the video game community at large for a while now, but I never really knew how to approach it until recently, thanks to my own life experiences with games. It's an idea that's pretty misinformed on how the industry works.

It's the idea that the developers behind any given game are an idiots. According to commenters, they're all blind, non-gamer morons, bumbling around in the dark without the slightest sense of what game mechanics are actually fun.

Why are these bumbling morons in the industry? Why don't they listen to the endless array of golden ideas that pop up on game forums? Don't they realize that these revolutionary ideas will turn every game into double-rainbow-crapping unicorns? Why haven't 15% of my readers (a totally accurate statistic, mind you) figured out how sarcastic I'm being at this point in the introduction?

This week we're going after some of the common misconceptions about developers and game design, and how making a game as complex as an MMO is really never as easy as you claim it is.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Don't hate the playa, hate the developa

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Don't hate the playa, hate the developa originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedbudgetbusinessdeadlinesdevelopersdevelopmentfeaturedforumsgame-designgame-developmentgames-are-easy-to-makemilestonesmmo-designmmo-developmentopinionpen-and-paperpen-and-paper-roleplayingperceptionseras-statistics-are-always-accurate-and-indisputableThu, 19 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: UI see what you did there]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/anti-aliased-ui-see-what-you-did-there/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/anti-aliased-ui-see-what-you-did-there/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/anti-aliased-ui-see-what-you-did-there/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Dear user interface designers: please stop making trashy-samey UIs. (Bree is going to kill me for making up a word.) I really am sick and tired of seeing World of Warcraft in every game I pick up.

While many people say that graphics are the game's "first impression" tool, I'd disagree. UIs are the game's true first impression. These are the menus, artwork, and tools that will make a huge impact on how you perceive any game, yet we seem to be stuck in a rut with them as well. Many of today's UIs, instead of taking advantage of new approaches to deliver information in a stylish way, seem to fall flat against the screen.

So this week I'm going after my biggest beefs with the default UIs that games ship with, and how I'd like to see user interfaces improve. Interested? Well then keep up with me and jog past the break!

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: UI see what you did there

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: UI see what you did there originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilityanti-aliasedfancyglamourinformationnerdrageopinionprettyrantreadibilityu-g-ui-ly-you-aint-got-no-alibiuiuser-interfaceThu, 12 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Modding your way out of a paper bag]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/anti-aliased-modding-your-way-out-of-a-paper-bag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/anti-aliased-modding-your-way-out-of-a-paper-bag/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/anti-aliased-modding-your-way-out-of-a-paper-bag/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If there's been a theme to this week, it's been interfaces and modding. Both EverQuest II and Lord of the Rings Online have had announcements related to their interfaces, be it re-skinning or new Lua functionality being installed. However, it was these two articles that set off the Rube Goldberg device in my head. They reminded me just what I thought about mods.

My relationship with mods has always been iffy. While I certainly appreciate what they do for us in our many MMOs, they also irk me to no end. While I understand (and totally support) some mods, there are others that I'd rather offer to Zuul.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't hate the mods because they're not useful. It's quite the opposite, in fact. Sometimes, I think mods are too useful. When you start skipping social interactions in favor of an e-peen number, that's the point where mods are going over the line.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Modding your way out of a paper bag

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Modding your way out of a paper bag originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onsanti-aliasedbecause-reading-the-quest-text-is-hardburning-crusadedeadly-boss-modsdo-as-the-program-saysfeaturedgearscoreinterfaceluamodmoddingmodding-communitymodsquest-auto-complete-9000raidingthe-burning-crusadeuiuser-interfaceworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 22 Jul 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: A few tips for running in-game events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/anti-aliased-a-few-tips-for-running-in-game-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/anti-aliased-a-few-tips-for-running-in-game-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/anti-aliased-a-few-tips-for-running-in-game-events/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

So you're playing your favorite MMO, you've hit max level, you've done your raids or progression-related activities, and you find yourself a little bored. So, to ease that boredom, and perhaps cure the boredom of others, you decide to run a special event in your favorite world. Wonderful! Good for you! That's the type of stuff that makes MMOs so great!

But running an event isn't as simple as running an event. Events require a solid idea to plan on, time to plan out the event, reliable volunteers, and advertising. If those weren't hard enough, you might need an in-game reward to provide incentive for people to join you, depending on your event.

Over the years, I've certainly run my fair share of events, and I continue to do so as I plan events alongside developers. I've learned a few things that I'd like to pass along, so let's not delay any further. Onwards, to the meat of the matter!

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: A few tips for running in-game events

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: A few tips for running in-game events originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedcontentevent-planningeventsfeaturedguild-eventguild-eventsin-game-eventlive-eventneglected-contentold-raidsopinionpvepvpraidsrunning-an-eventtips-and-tricksFri, 16 Jul 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: What's in a name]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/08/anti-aliased-whats-in-a-name/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/08/anti-aliased-whats-in-a-name/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/08/anti-aliased-whats-in-a-name/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Earlier this week, Blizzard really got the MMO gaming community up-in-arms after the announcement of its latest Real ID feature -- your real name attached to all of your forum posts on its official forums. That's right. No more hiding behind a fake persona when you want to go a-trolling.

But, with the transition to a "real name" system comes a whole slew of security issues, privacy issues, and comfort issues. Everyone has an opinion on the system, as well as their own theories on if the official forums are going to crash and burn or if the forums are going to experience a rebirth as people finally watch their tongues when they post.

Blizzard is, essentially, asking, "What's in a name?" And, if Shakespeare is to be believed, there's not much back there. It's not the name that needs changing, it's the personalities behind them. It's less about the name, and more about what, or who, it represents.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: What's in a name

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: What's in a name originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedcharacter-namesculturefeaturedname-changename-change-problemsopinionreal-idreal-nameshakespearewhats-in-a-nameworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 08 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: When playing a bad game is just so good]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/anti-aliased-when-playing-a-bad-game-is-just-so-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/anti-aliased-when-playing-a-bad-game-is-just-so-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/anti-aliased-when-playing-a-bad-game-is-just-so-good/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This week's Anti-Aliased is great for two reasons. One, it's the antithesis to last week's topic, and two, it's completely relevant to this week's events. In short, it's about All Points Bulletin.

Did I just call APB a bad game after spamming screenshots from it, hosting an event in it, and offering people what basically amounts to free DLC for their game? Yes, yes I did. Does that make me a complete hypocrite? Well, yes and no. You see, I'm having conflicting beliefs over this game. The reviewer in me wants to punt it over the Seattle Space Needle, but the gamer in me wants to sit down and play the hell out of it some more.

Look, this all makes sense, ok? Just come with me after the break (yes, I'm luring you with my double-sided, purposefully vague statements) and we'll get this all settled out.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: When playing a bad game is just so good

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: When playing a bad game is just so good originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinanti-aliasedapbfeaturedfungood-vs-badopinionrealtime-worldsreviewreviewsFri, 02 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The game doesn't really start until...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/27/eve-evolved-the-game-doesnt-really-start-until/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/27/eve-evolved-the-game-doesnt-really-start-until/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/27/eve-evolved-the-game-doesnt-really-start-until/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

While reading the latest Anti-Aliased, Seraphina Brennan's weekly opinion column here at Massively, I couldn't help but apply what she was talking about to EVE Online. Sera's opinion piece was centred on the idea that games should be fun right from the start. If there's a period of boredom or grind before you get to the fun parts of a game, the developers are doing something wrong. While this is most often attributed to theme-park MMOs, with their rush to endgame before the game really opens up, I can't help but think EVE falls into the same trap.

Despite its open-world sandbox nature with no forced progression or crafted endgame, I catch myself saying "EVE doesn't really start until ..." all the time. Most often I'm talking about how EVE's core gameplay really begins with PvP, and how motivationally essential it is to join a good player-run corporation. I've always found EVE's social structures and PvP to be its two most powerful components. Over the years, I've watched players who get involved in them stick with the game for years, while others who don't quickly become bored. I find myself wondering whether anything can be done to bring those parts of the game to new players right from the start.

In this opinion piece, I look at the idea that EVE doesn't really kick off for players until they get into PvP or join a good corporation. I go on to suggest a few changes to the new-player experience that might help bring these elusive endgames to new players.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The game doesn't really start until...

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The game doesn't really start until... originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedccpccp-eveccp-gamescorpcorporationend-gameendgameeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturednew-playernew-player-experienceopinionpvepvpsandboxsocialtutorialSun, 27 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Don't worry, it gets better in time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/anti-aliased-dont-worry-it-gets-better-in-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/anti-aliased-dont-worry-it-gets-better-in-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/anti-aliased-dont-worry-it-gets-better-in-time/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You know, I had no clue what to write about this week until I realized it was a topic that had been haunting me forever. It's a topic that everyone can relate to, and one that I'm sure we've all experienced at least once. Personally, it's a topic that I never hear the end of. Any review, any game impressions that I write up almost inevitably will be shot with this line:

"What, you didn't play until [insert level X or time requirement here]?!?! Then you didn't experience the game!"

You know what, let me say it straight. I'm sick and tired of hearing that line. Completely sick of it. I played your game, it was bad. And you want to know why it was bad? Let me tell you, in full detail, why it was bad, and let me go on to tell all of you why "it gets better in time" is a really, really lame line.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Don't worry, it gets better in time

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Don't worry, it gets better in time originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedasian-grinderboredomexperience-grindfeaturedgrindgrindermmo-reviewopinionreviewThu, 24 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Shut up woman, come buy my cat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/anti-aliased-shut-up-woman-come-buy-my-cat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/anti-aliased-shut-up-woman-come-buy-my-cat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/anti-aliased-shut-up-woman-come-buy-my-cat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Stupid sparkle cat.

I'm sitting here in EverQuest II right now, basically staring at the Station Marketplace. My character, Miss Seccia, has had 2,500 Station Cash in her pocket for a while now. It's been sitting there since I last bought it, begging to be used for something in the Marketplace.

There has been nothing that I wanted for two months now. No sets of armor, no potions, no character modifications. The cash has been sitting there unused, wasting away in my coin purse. And then, as if dropped down on a magical beam of light from the development team, EverQuest II introduced 25-dollar mounts into the game. A perfect 2,500 station cash for a mount that would be insanely useful to Seccia.

Yet, for as much as I stare, I know I can't buy this cat. That would make me a gigantic hypocrite.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Shut up woman, come buy my cat

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Shut up woman, come buy my cat originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 May 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedeq-2eq-iiever-quest-2ever-quest-iieverquest-2everquest-iifeaturedhypocriteopinionsoe-eq-2soe-eq-iisony-eq-2sony-eq-iisparkle-catstay-strong-fellow-mmoerswhy-do-all-25-dollar-mounts-sparkleFri, 21 May 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Burnout, revenge]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/anti-aliased-burnout-revenge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/anti-aliased-burnout-revenge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/anti-aliased-burnout-revenge/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Oh those sparkle ponies. They were a fun diversion last week, and a pretty fun topic to write on. Kudos to Blizzard for making crazy amounts of cash last week -- you guys at the marketing department really knew your audience and how much they'd pay for a shiny mount. While I may disagree with the size of the price tag, I still admire how well that move worked out for them. I'm sure we'll be seeing more things like that for World of Warcraft in the future.

Anyway, let's move onwards to this week's topic: MMO burnout. Almost all of us experience it at least once with one of our favorite games, and some of us have experienced it more than once across a single game or many games. Right now, I'm really with you guys who are suffering from burnout. I've been looking for a good game to sink my teeth into, but I just can't seem to find "the one" right now.

So I'm off doing some other activities, trying to rekindle that spark of love for MMOs. This week I want to talk about some of the ways I've been combating burnout, much like Mr. Kyle Horner did before me, and hopefully you guys can chime in with some ways of your own!

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Burnout, revenge

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Burnout, revenge originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceanti-aliasedburnoutculturefeaturedgaminggroupingopiniontipstiredThu, 29 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Shut up people, come buy my horse]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/anti-aliased-shut-up-people-come-buy-my-horse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/anti-aliased-shut-up-people-come-buy-my-horse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/anti-aliased-shut-up-people-come-buy-my-horse/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

So last week's little diversion into Net Neutrality (and me apparently being a right wing liberal jackhole) was fun, but this week brings me back on track with things happening in the gaming world. And, lucky for me, there's been a spot of news yesterday that's just caught my attention -- World of Warcraft's new Celestial Steed.

Microtransaction discussions are nothing new in my column. From Cryptic to Free Realms, I've been all over the different payment structures that games implement. But, no matter the topic, one thing seems to stay the same: people really, really, really dislike microtransactions overall. The comments on these columns, and pretty much any other article we write on microtransactions, tend to end with angry commenters spewing their dissatisfaction.

And you know what? Good for them. If that's their opinion, then totally go for it! But, what I really hate more than anything else is when people have double standards. It seems that people really hate microtransactions, yet Blizzard's newest buyable mount doesn't have people quitting the game left and right. In fact, it seems everyone is cramming in to buy one!

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Shut up people, come buy my horse

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Shut up people, come buy my horse originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedblizzardblizzard-storecelestial-steedcelestial-steed-mountfeaturedget-on-my-horsehorsemacrotransactionsmicrotransactionsopinionover-priced-virtual-itemsworld-of-warcraftFri, 16 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Even virtual relationships are hot button issues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/anti-aliased-even-virtual-relationships-are-hot-button-issues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/anti-aliased-even-virtual-relationships-are-hot-button-issues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/anti-aliased-even-virtual-relationships-are-hot-button-issues/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Before I even begin this column, I need to give a shout out to Interitus. This week's topic was inspired by an e-mail he recently sent me, regarding the ongoing debate on the Star Wars: The Old Republic forums with their "romance" story arcs. So, thanks Interitus for the idea!

So, to recap for everyone before we dive into the discussion for the week, here's the deal -- Star Wars: The Old Republic will let you romance your companion NPCs much like Mass Effect. Using dialogue options, you can form a romantic relationship with your chosen follower. However, BioWare has neglected to state how far this system will extend. All we know is that only you'll be able to see your romance storylines and there won't be any explicit sex. Star Wars is all about understated sexual tension, AKA Han Solo and Princess Leia.

So what about romances between two characters of the same-sex, like Mass Effect? Well, we're not too sure about that at the moment. BioWare has said nothing confirming or denying their existence. And, because gay romance is a huge hot button issue, the SWTOR forums are aflame regarding the addition of same-sex romances.

Should we include same-sex romances? Are they appropriate for the Star Wars universe? Are they appropriate for the target audience? Well come along everyone, and let's discuss.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Even virtual relationships are hot button issues

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Even virtual relationships are hot button issues originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedbiowarebisexualchildrencontentgaykidslesbianmoralsograopinionopposite-gender-romance-arcsoptional-contentromanceromance-arcssame-gender-romance-arcssgrastar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torswtortortransgenderedFri, 02 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Is SWTOR worth 2 million users]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/anti-aliased-is-swtor-worth-2-million-users/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/anti-aliased-is-swtor-worth-2-million-users/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/anti-aliased-is-swtor-worth-2-million-users/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So, some big news out of the Electronic Arts/BioWare camp today -- it's going to take one million subscribers to break even on Star Wars: The Old Republic, and EA is shooting for two million subscribers on the game. Those are some pretty intense numbers for a game, but when you're sinking as much money into a project as they're sinking into SWTOR, those are the numbers you need.

But, are they realistic numbers? This isn't the first time EA poured their heart and soul into a MMO, only to find that the subscriptions weren't to their liking. Then again, when you're dealing with a well known IP and an already successful RPG developer who knows how to handle said IP, you might just have the recipe for a subscriber explosion.

So that's this week's question -- Is SWTOR worth two million users?

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Is SWTOR worth 2 million users

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Is SWTOR worth 2 million users originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2-million-playersanti-aliasedbiowarebioware-mmobusinesseafeaturedgameplayintellectual-propertyiplucasartsmarketingopinionstar-wars-the-old-republicsubscribersswtorFri, 19 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: "Cash shop" shouldn't be a dirty phrase]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/anti-aliased-cash-shop-shouldnt-be-a-dirty-phrase/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/anti-aliased-cash-shop-shouldnt-be-a-dirty-phrase/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/anti-aliased-cash-shop-shouldnt-be-a-dirty-phrase/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A not so long time ago in an interview located not too far away, one of our intrepid readers asked Alganon's David Allen if they ever considered a free-to-play model for their game. His response was the following:

"Right now, the industry standard is to squeeze as much money as they can out of players by introducing cash shops, and forcing them to pay for things that ought to have been part of the game. We don't want to do that. We want Alganon to be a service. You pay us a subscription so we can continue to develop and run a game that you enjoy playing. It's not a product where you hand us money and we hand you a vanity pet, or mount, or epic sword and then walk away. "

So, David... not to be "that girl" but... um... how's that cash shop working out for ya?

So, now that I've said what pretty much everyone was thinking when they heard that announcement from Quest Online, let's talk about cash shops this week and how we seem to royally keep screwing them up in our culture. Because, as the title says, "cash shop" just shouldn't be a dirty phrase in our industry.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: "Cash shop" shouldn't be a dirty phrase

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: "Cash shop" shouldn't be a dirty phrase originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonanti-aliasedbusiness-modelscash-shopdavid-allenfeaturedfree-to-playitem-shopmicrotransactionspay-as-you-gopopcornquest-onlineThu, 04 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: History of the world, part one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/anti-aliased-history-of-the-world-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/anti-aliased-history-of-the-world-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/anti-aliased-history-of-the-world-part-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

So, besides the Mel Brooks reference in the title, what do I have in store for you this time? Well, in short, I have an idea. Nay, I have an inspiration. Plus, I have a story to boot, so it's really a two for one deal this week in my column. You better read fast, for this deal won't last long!

The one thing that many MMORPGs completely miss is making the player character feel triumphant and heroic. When making the conversion from roleplaying game to online roleplaying game, we frequently miss out on the one thing that makes pen and paper RPGs so unique: a history.

This week in Anti-Aliased, I really want to cover the concept of history as it pertains to MMORPGs, and make the appeal that more MMOs need to invest in a persistent storyline in addition to the standard canned quests that we already utilize in every game under the sun.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: History of the world, part one

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: History of the world, part one originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actinganti-aliasedcommunityeventfeaturedheroismhistoryimprovisational-actinglive-eventsopinionplotlineroleplayingspeechstorylinetriumphantFri, 26 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Eye candy leaves a bad taste in my mouth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/anti-aliased-eye-candy-leaves-a-bad-taste-in-my-mouth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/anti-aliased-eye-candy-leaves-a-bad-taste-in-my-mouth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/18/anti-aliased-eye-candy-leaves-a-bad-taste-in-my-mouth/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Global Agenda is one of those games that's really dividing people. Some people love the game for whatever reason, other people bash on the game for whatever reason, and that's fine by me. While I personally love the game and have been playing it a bunch as my permanent side game, I gave it a less than stellar review that I thought was fair of the game at the time I wrote the review. Of course, since then, many changes are coming (many of which I approve of) and I think Hi-Rez has a pretty good roadmap for their game in place.

However, one of my twitter followers recently pointed me to an editorial posted by Kyle Bennett, founder of HardOCP -- a website dedicated to hardcore gaming. Kyle's going for a full blown boycott against the indie company for one simple reason: they won't let him rock his multi-monitor setup because it could "give him an unfair advantage."

While Kyle's entitled to his opinion and dissatisfaction, I have two problems with his editorial. The first lies in a misconstruction of the facts and the second lies in the nature of his request.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Eye candy leaves a bad taste in my mouth

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Eye candy leaves a bad taste in my mouth originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedboycotteditorialerez-goreneyefinityfeaturedglobal-agendahardocphi-rez-studioskyle-bennettmulti-monitoropinionstew-chisamtriplehead2goThu, 18 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Why play a game when I can pay someone to play it for me]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/11/anti-aliased-why-play-a-game-when-i-can-pay-someone-to-play-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/11/anti-aliased-why-play-a-game-when-i-can-pay-someone-to-play-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/11/anti-aliased-why-play-a-game-when-i-can-pay-someone-to-play-it/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Great news, everyone! I'm launching my own line of Sera (TM) Branded Merchandise! I was so happy about this new line that I just had to talk about it in Anti-Aliased this week. I'm sorry if you were expecting some hard hitting piece of satire that would flummox even the staunchest defender of gold buying -- we're gonna have to save that one for next week's piece.

Anyway, I'm sorry about getting off topic. Let's get back to the situation at hand -- the new merchandise. I'm proud to announce that in a short period of time, you too will be able to participate in a revolutionary new way to interact with entertainment media. My brand new Sera Shoppe (TM), a fine retail establishment that already sells the patented Sera Anti-Whine Earmuffs, will be selling you ways to save time while still enjoying your favorite media.

By purchasing pre-made packs of SeraPhoints (starting at the low price of 500 Phoints for 10 bucks) you too can get in on the ground floor of this brand new medium inspired by power leveling services and real money trade operations.

Interested? You should be! Follow me after the break and let me introduce you to my brand new services!

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Why play a game when I can pay someone to play it for me

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Why play a game when I can pay someone to play it for me originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedcharacter-buyingcontentenjoymentfeaturedfrivolous-spendingfungold-buyinglol-microtransactionsopinionselling-your-characterselling-yourself-shortsera-shoppeskipping-contentThu, 11 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: A Cryptic opinion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/anti-aliased-a-cryptic-opinion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/anti-aliased-a-cryptic-opinion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/anti-aliased-a-cryptic-opinion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

So, wow, what a set the last week and a half has been. There seems to be a very strong theme going on in my inbox recently, and that's, without a doubt, Cryptic Studios. I've read unflattering comments about my integrity as a journalist, the usual statements of how this site is Cryptic's lapdog due to all of the Star Trek Online and Champions Online coverage, and, even more oddly, people want to know my opinion of Cryptic's recent actions -- specifically Star Trek Online and Vibora Bay.

Well, I was never one to shirk from the truth. I've been wanting to give my personal opinion on these events since Vibora Bay hit, so I might as well dedicate this column to my evaluation of Cryptic Studios. But, before we get to Cryptic, I have a few ground rules that I want to go over with you guys. Some facts that I'd like to set straight for, oh, I dunno, the fifth time.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: A Cryptic opinion

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: A Cryptic opinion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedbusinesschampions-onlinecommentscrypticcryptic-studiosfeaturedferengiforumskitchen-sink-patchklingonmanagementmicrotransactionsnew-racesopinionperformanceqaquality-assurancestar-trek-onlinetestingvibora-bayThu, 04 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Leadership tips from a former roleplaying raid officer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/anti-aliased-leadership-tips-from-a-former-roleplaying-raid-off/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/anti-aliased-leadership-tips-from-a-former-roleplaying-raid-off/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/anti-aliased-leadership-tips-from-a-former-roleplaying-raid-off/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"Roleplaying" and "raid" both in the same sentence? Blasphemy! Yet, that was my position back in World of Warcraft, and I certainly roleplayed while participating in PvP and massive PvE (almost akin to raids) in The Matrix Online before its demise. Before all of that, I was a roleplaying guild leader in Final Fantasy XI and Phantasy Star Online, so I've been around guilds for a long, long time.

If there has been any constant throughout my long string of positions as guild leader, linkshell leader, faction leader, and raid officer it has been thus -- leadership is tough. Sure you can surround yourself with raid guides, memorize every battle perfectly, and be wearing the most epic of epic gear, but if you don't learn how to work with others then you're most likely doomed to fail.

Raiding and multi-man content means working as a team, and that means someone's got to step up to the plate to take the reins. Leading a group or raid isn't easy, but I can tell you that it's well, well worth it. To that end, if you're just starting out on the path of leadership or are looking for a few tips to help out your raiding group, I think I might have some advice for you guys.

(Editor's Note: Sorry about the glitch! Part 2 is now available!)

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Leadership tips from a former roleplaying raid officer

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Leadership tips from a former roleplaying raid officer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceanti-aliasedfeaturedguideguildleadershipofficerraid-leaderraid-leader-guideraidingraidstipsFri, 29 Jan 2010 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: I've got nothing to hide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/anti-aliased-ive-got-nothing-to-hide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/anti-aliased-ive-got-nothing-to-hide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/anti-aliased-ive-got-nothing-to-hide/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

So, it's late night on Wednesday night, I just got done watching Top Gear, and I need something to write about. Lucky for me that Blizzard has given me the perfect topic -- MMO privacy. Thanks to a new development in their World of Warcraft Armory program, privacy advocates are up in arms and I've got a topic to discuss.

For all those of you who may be late to the game, Blizzard is adding RSS feeds to the Armory. Basically, the Armory will now report on the exact time you do an "Armory worthy" activity, such as boss kills, achievements, item pickups, and more. People can subscribe to your RSS feed, so then they know exactly when you do something in World of Warcraft.

This has, of course, sent privacy advocates into a tailspin of anger. There's no opt-out button for the Armory, so your playing style in World of Warcraft is going to be exposed whether you like it or not. The topic has even spawned a 59+ page thread on the European forums!

So what's my take on it? Well, I'm glad you asked. Here at Anti-Aliased, I've got nothing to hide.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: I've got nothing to hide

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: I've got nothing to hide originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedargumentsarmoryblizzardblizzard-entertainmentfeaturedfrivolousplayer-privacyprivacyrss-feedsillytheres-a-twist-at-the-end-so-you-better-not-complainworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-armoryThu, 21 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: One massive agenda]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/anti-aliased-one-massive-agenda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/anti-aliased-one-massive-agenda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/anti-aliased-one-massive-agenda/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So, I'll be honest, I had a completely different idea for a column this week. But reading over the comments on yesterday's launch trailer for Global Agenda got me thinking: Why is there so much ado about the nature of an MMO? Why are so many fixated on the 10 vs 10 nature of Global Agenda and not the bigger picture of what the game has to offer? Why do we scoff at the idea of 100 person instances when it was designed to give the player more flexibility?

Today, I want to play the devil's advocate, as I do in so many of my opinion columns. I want to take on the defense of Global Agenda as an MMO title, and I think I have enough evidence to prove that it's massive -- just not in the way you normally consider MMOs to be massive. And, personally, I think this is only good news for the industry at large.

If you guys wish to comment on this edition of Anti-Aliased, please comment of page 2 of the article, as always! Your comments are always well received!

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: One massive agenda

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: One massive agenda originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-vs-10anti-aliasedconquestfeaturedglobal-agendaglobal-agenda-conquesthi-rez-studiosmassive-warmassively-multiplayermmo-tacticsmmortsmmotpsplanetsidethird-person-shooterFri, 15 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: What it's like to sit in the staff chair]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/07/anti-aliased-what-its-like-to-sit-in-the-staff-chair/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/07/anti-aliased-what-its-like-to-sit-in-the-staff-chair/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/07/anti-aliased-what-its-like-to-sit-in-the-staff-chair/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

So I drove the Aion community up a wall again. I seem to do that a lot when I talk about the game. AionSource was a little miffed at the "disappointment" award the staff and readers gave them, and decided to rip into me. So, in an effort of good faith, I dropped by the flame thread and tried to lighten things up while explaining my position on the game and how it isn't all doom and gloom.

Well, after having 9 pages of people not reading what I was writing and electing to call me a nyerking nyerk, I bowed out with a new column topic on my mind: my job. If there was any common theme in all of the screaming, it was how I sucked at my job because I said Aion had a grind, I sucked at my job because I was only level 17 in Aion, everyone on that fansite could do a better job at my job than I could, and I was the reason mainstream reviews were going downhill. (Awesome.)

Amazingly enough, I too thought pretty much those exact same things before I got a job here. But writing here for two years has been one heck of an experience, and maybe today I can give you some insight to the things I see on the staff side of the fence.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: What it's like to sit in the staff chair

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: What it's like to sit in the staff chair originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionanti-aliasedawardeditorfungame-journalismgamingjobmassively-staffmmosncsoftopinionopinion-columnreviewstaffworkwritingThu, 07 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: How the game of the decade haunts us]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/31/anti-aliased-how-the-game-of-the-decade-haunts-us/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/31/anti-aliased-how-the-game-of-the-decade-haunts-us/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/31/anti-aliased-how-the-game-of-the-decade-haunts-us/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Yesterday I posted the interesting find that Gamasutra readers had voted in World of Warcraft as the game of the decade, which inevitably caused a huge spark of rage in the comments. Some readers lashed out against WoW while other readers defended the game's award. Needless to say, this is a very opinionated topic on our site.

On Twitter, the choice was more clear cut. I asked my Twitter followers in a non-scientific Sera Survey (TM) if they believed that World of Warcraft deserved the game of the decade award. Of the 32 people who responded, all 32 said that they believed Warcraft deserved the honor. Some even went the extra step and said that while they personally didn't play anymore, they felt that the honor was well-deserved.

When it comes to this subject, I'm completely torn in half. As a former raid leader and player of World of Warcraft during much of its five year existence, I too agree that the game is worthy of this very weighty title for a number of reasons. However, once I begin to pan backwards and look at the rest of the market, all I can see is how we as an industry may be haunted by the ghost of success.

World of Warcraft changed this industry in many ways, and not all of them are worthy of laurels.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: How the game of the decade haunts us

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: How the game of the decade haunts us originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardanti-aliasedblizzardfeaturedgame-of-the-decadeharrowinghauntingrutworld-of-warcraftwowzeitgeistThu, 31 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Rogue rage]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/anti-aliased-rogue-rage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/anti-aliased-rogue-rage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/anti-aliased-rogue-rage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There's always a rogue. Doesn't matter what setting you're really dealing with either. Medieval times? Rogues. Renaissance? Professional rogues. Great Depression? Organized crime. Modern day? Thieves. Sci-fi? Assassins. It's the one job that follows you no matter where you go.

Yet, I don't think we utilize our fine shadowy friends well. No, let me say it even stronger, we've sidestepped our shadowsteppers. Rogues use to be more than backstabbers and cutpurses, but since the traditional MMORPG model has taken over, our rogues have taken steps backwards.

No guys, this isn't just some rant thread about how the rogue classes needs uber l33t buffs. This is about how the class plays at its very core across all games. This is about taking advantage of a class's passive abilities and how just a few new tricks of the trade can aid social gameplay for everyone.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Rogue rage

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Rogue rage originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedblizzarddisarm-trapsfeaturedhidden-doorsnot-a-rougeopinionpassive-abilitiespen-and-paper-roleplayingpick-lockravenholdtrogueroleplayingsocial-gameplaythiefworld-of-warcraftThu, 17 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: I, suck]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/11/anti-aliased-i-suck/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/11/anti-aliased-i-suck/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/11/anti-aliased-i-suck/#commentsFiled under: , ,

So my last column was one heck of a surprising column. Anti-Aliased got steamrolled with your opinions, thanks to the linking from N4G, Kotaku, Reddit, WoW.com, and Joystiq and everyone spreading the word and telling their friends. Without a doubt, that was the most productive column I've written in a long time, and while some people may have written it off as a rant, the more important thing is that it started some great discussion amongst the community. Everyone who gave their view on things, from the people who agreed to the people who wish I would crawl into a ditch and die, thanks for giving your view!

So this week when I went out with a few friends to get a drink, one of them mentioned Darkfall. Of course when an MMO comes up in conversation, all of my friends turn and give me this long, dead stare. I sighed and recounted my time in Darkfall, but as I thought of it, I began to notice something.

I really sucked at Darkfall. Not just kind of sucked -- really sucked. The combat in that wasn't my thing, as I never really deal with pressure in PvP when something big is on the light. FPS games where I go to my save point when I die is one thing, but dying and losing everything? That's something different. I think I killed like 3 people in my entire month there. Although, when it came to crafting, I was a arrow machine.

But that got me thinking about sucking in general and how we as a community aren't very supportive when it comes to players who may not be the best at the games they play.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: I, suck

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: I, suck originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedcooperationdarkfallfeaturedfriendshelpingleadershipopinionpartyparty-leadersuckFri, 11 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Boobs and you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/26/anti-aliased-boobs-and-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/26/anti-aliased-boobs-and-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/26/anti-aliased-boobs-and-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Well Happy Turkey Day everyone! It's Thanksgiving Thursday, but it's also that time of the week again -- the time where Sera gets to rant in her opinion column to her heart's content. Yes, that's right, it's time for Anti-Aliased.

This week's topic is one that's near and dear to my heart. Well, it's near to my heart, at least, and I mean that quite literally. It's also a perfect topic for today's holiday! I mean, who doesn't like to talk about large breasts on Thanksgiving? (Score one for the terrible synonym.)

During last week's column on Blade & Soul, the main topic that came up time and time again in the comments wasn't the game's combat, or the game's engine, or anything really related to the game at large. No, it seems that many of you were turned off of the game by the fact that the screenshot I used had a woman with huge boobs. That was the deal breaker for the game.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Boobs and you

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Boobs and you originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedblade-and-soulboobsfeaturedfemalegendermaleopinionperceptionswomenworld-of-warcraftThu, 26 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Blade & Soul > Aion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/anti-aliased-blade-and-soul-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/anti-aliased-blade-and-soul-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/anti-aliased-blade-and-soul-aion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

All right, now that the inflammatory title that makes you look at my column is out of the way, let's get down to business. This week we got to see a 30-second teaser trailer from the folks at NCsoft about Blade & Soul, a game from NCsoft that has been stealthing in the background, waiting for the right time to strike and jump in front of Aion.

Blade & Soul isn't a brand new game though. In fact, the game's artwork has already made a guest appearance on our website. (With subsequent comments on how that woman's back is going to break in half if she should walk forward.) Plus, if you really want to see what the game has to offer, a quick YouTube search will bring you to the Blade & Soul HD gameplay video which looks, well, simply stunning.

So why am I dedicating my opinion column to a game that's nowhere close to being released? Well, because I think it has potential, and because it's my opinion column. So come along after the break, and let's look at Blade & Soul.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Blade & Soul > Aion

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Blade & Soul > Aion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionanti-aliasedblade-and-soulcinematic-combatcombatcryengine-2dead-or-alivefantasyfeaturedfightingmartial-artsncsoftopinionunreal-engine-3Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: We put the no in innovation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/12/anti-aliased-we-put-the-no-in-innovation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/12/anti-aliased-we-put-the-no-in-innovation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/12/anti-aliased-we-put-the-no-in-innovation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


So, yesterday I was browsing our site, and I was happy to see that our community interview with David Allen had gone up, as I didn't get the chance to read it. We had lots of great questions sent in, and I think the ones that Shawn chose were really some hard, direct questions, that I felt someone really had to ask.

Reading David's answers left me thinking, however. David is a person who I certainly admire, as he was the brain behind Istaria, and he really presented some very innovative gameplay mechanics in that game. Alganon, however, is not innovative nor is it cutting edge. It is, quite frankly, another World of Warcraft. Something that, in my opinion, this genre does not need another of.

David's rationale as to why Alganon looks and plays like Warcraft is the part of the interview where I was left in thought. While I understand he wanted to make a game that players could easily adapt to... did it have to resonate of Warcraft so strongly? Furthermore, are we, as a genre, stuck in a rut?

Editor's Note: (As always, if you wish to comment on this edition of Anti-Aliased, please do so on page two of the column. Thank you!)

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: We put the no in innovation

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: We put the no in innovation originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonanti-aliasedartcreativitydavid-allendesignfeaturedinnovationmmofpsopinionthemeuser-interfaceworld-of-warcraftThu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: It pays to be paranoid]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/05/anti-aliased-it-pays-to-be-paranoid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/05/anti-aliased-it-pays-to-be-paranoid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/05/anti-aliased-it-pays-to-be-paranoid/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Blame Shawn Schuster. No, really, it's applicable this time and I'm not just pulling your leg.

Many of you were wondering why we hadn't talked about the Champions Online failures this past weekend -- The "Blood Moon Blunder." Well, it was because pretty much the second we started getting reports from you guys about the client not working on Steam, or subscribing players complaining of the lag that the servers had over the weekend, Shawn turned to me, slapped the story on my desk and said, "All yours for Anti-Aliased."

And I sat there, smiled, and politely responded, "Oh crap. This is going to drive them all up the wall even further than last week's article. I'll do it."

So was the Champions free weekend a failure? Absolutely, but not for the reasons you may think. Come on, follow me after the break, and we'll go into yet another (and hopefully the last for a while) opinion column on Champions.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: It pays to be paranoid

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: It pays to be paranoid originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedblood-moonbusinesschampionschampions-onlinecryptic-studiosfeaturedfree-weekendhalloween-eventmmo-industryopinionThu, 05 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: I like walking into towering infernos (like the Champions Online C-Store)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/anti-aliased-i-like-walking-into-towering-infernos-like-the-ch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/anti-aliased-i-like-walking-into-towering-infernos-like-the-ch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/anti-aliased-i-like-walking-into-towering-infernos-like-the-ch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Yes everyone, it's one of those articles. I promised you guys way back before the launch of Champions Online that I would talk about the C-Store when it finally came out. Well, it finally came out last week, and you guys certainly had a lot to say on the matter.

To many, this is just another bad move on the part of Cryptic. However, according to the general MMO population, every move that Cryptic has made has been a bad move. (Yes Kdolo, Sakura Park, we heard you the last 50 times.) If I took every comment people told me about Champions Online as truth, then I'd think it was a buggy, unplayable mess that's powered by unsympathetic robots who want to do nothing more than suck all of the cash out of your wallet.

Unfortunately for the naysayers, I actually play Champions Online. And, like I did before, I'm going to give my honest opinions on this next move from Cryptic.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: I like walking into towering infernos (like the Champions Online C-Store)

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: I like walking into towering infernos (like the Champions Online C-Store) originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedc-storechampionschampions-onlinechampions-storecrypticcryptic-studiosfeaturedopinionThu, 29 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: The mailbag edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/anti-aliased-the-mailbag-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/anti-aliased-the-mailbag-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/anti-aliased-the-mailbag-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Well hello there intrepid Massively readers! This week, instead of my usual selection of complaints crammed into the tight space of a single column, I've decided to do something different. This Monday, I opened up a call for questions on anything MMO related on the Massively Facebook fan page, the Massively Twitter, and my own personal Twitter. You guys didn't disappoint, and you certainly sent me more than a few intriguing e-mails.

So, for the past three days, I've been preparing responses to some of the questions that landed in my inbox. What did intrepid readers ask me to answer? Whose e-mails did I select from the pile of text I received? What is the airspeed of an African Swallow? These and many other questions (except that swallow one, that one's been done to death, go Google it or something) shall be answered after the break! Thundercats, hoooooooooo!

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: The mailbag edition

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: The mailbag edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedcharacter-genderfeaturedgendergender-roleslumielmailmailbagopinionroleplayingrprp-eventrpgskill-based-mmosThu, 15 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: What is Love?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/anti-aliased-what-is-love/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/anti-aliased-what-is-love/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/anti-aliased-what-is-love/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


So what is love? That's certainly the metaphysical question of the ages, isn't it? Is it simply an attraction to another gender, or is it a deep bond between two people that goes beyond mere friendship, and more into the realm of headbanging, suit and sunglasses wearing pride? Do I have the authority to take on questions such as this in my editorial column?

Heck no! That's why we're going to spend this week talking about Eskil Steenberg's indie-MMO, Love! We've been covering Love extensively this week, announcing that the alpha was available and showing off some really beautiful in-game footage. But, even with all of that, we never got into the meat of the game. What is Love about? What do you do in it? Why is it so special to us on the Massively staff?

Those questions and more will be answered in this week's edition. So come on in, the Love is great!

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: What is Love?

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: What is Love? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedeskil-steenbergfeaturedfpsindieindie-mmolovemonolithmystopen-worldprocedural-generationpuzzlesandboxtower-defenseThu, 08 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Champions Online one month checkup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/01/anti-aliased-champions-online-one-month-checkup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/01/anti-aliased-champions-online-one-month-checkup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/01/anti-aliased-champions-online-one-month-checkup/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


No, you're not hallucinating. That is, indeed, a new name under the column title, but it's still the same insane editor behind the typing. Starting today, you'll be seeing Seraphina Brennan instead of Colin Brennan on all of my articles, thanks to the power invested in Shawn Schuster and Liz Harper to grant name changes. If you're a little confused as to why the change, then feel free to check out this Anti-Aliased where I go into detail.

But enough of that! On to today's topic! This morning, we here at Massively got an e-mail from avid reader JP, asking all of us if we planned on sticking with Champions Online after playing the game for one month. A great question, if I do say so myself!

So great, in fact, that I'm using my column to talk about it. (Also because I had no idea what to write about this week. Thanks for the assistance JP!) The other members of the staff will be doing their impressions as well, but I do believe they're saving them for a later date. So, without any further stalling, let's get talking on Champions!

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Champions Online one month checkup

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Champions Online one month checkup originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1-month-checkupanti-aliasedatarichampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosfeaturedlaceopinionseraphinaseraphina-brennansuperheroThu, 01 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aionsed: This time, I put the joke of the title before the colon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/anti-aionsed-this-time-i-put-the-joke-of-the-title-before-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/anti-aionsed-this-time-i-put-the-joke-of-the-title-before-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/anti-aionsed-this-time-i-put-the-joke-of-the-title-before-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


The people who follow my personal blog or follow me on Twitter or listen to the Massively Speaking podcast probably saw this column coming from a mile away. Aion and I... we have some business to take care of.

This week is Aion's launch week and I do believe that I need to put my thoughts down on the game, like so many other journalists are doing this week. Now, please, even before we start, I need to make it clear that this isn't a review. This is my collected thoughts about the game as I've played it through closed beta, open beta, the head start, and now the live game. I've made alts on all of the classes, I've gotten past level 10 as the templar, I've done grouping, and I'm actually going to continue playing after this column is done. I delayed these thoughts because I wanted to make sure I was confident in what I was about to say.

So what are my collected thoughts on the game? Well let's start off with the good, and go on to the bad, and then finally hit our synopsis. Hit continue reading, because I can assure you that this is going to be daevafinitely interesting. (And, most likely, full of bad, bad Aion puns.)

Continue reading Anti-Aionsed: This time, I put the joke of the title before the colon

MassivelyAnti-Aionsed: This time, I put the joke of the title before the colon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-the-tower-of-eternityanti-aliaseddaevafeaturedhumorncsoftopinionpunsWed, 23 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Socially awkward]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/anti-aliased-socially-awkward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/anti-aliased-socially-awkward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/anti-aliased-socially-awkward/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


So, ok, we've been talking about Champions Online recently here in the column. Been talking about it a lot, as a matter of fact. I don't feel like risking having this column turn into a Champions love fest (as much fun as I'm having with the game), so we're going to change gears significantly this time and get onto a completely new train of thought.

This week's topic: social gameplay. No, I don't mean those games you play obsessively/compulsively on Facebook or your social network of choice. I'm talking about how some aspects of gameplay completely rely on human interaction, for better or for worse. It's present in all of our games, but are we really taking advantage of it? We're going to take a look at some games that do take advantage of human-powered conflict, and why, perhaps, it might be a wave of the future for online games.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Socially awkward

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Socially awkward originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedclassdynamic-contentemergenceeve-onlineface-of-mankindfeaturedguildjoystiqfeaturesrolesshootersocialsocial-gamingsocial-networkingMon, 31 Aug 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: I'm a champion, and so can you! (part deux)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/anti-aliased-im-a-champion-and-so-can-you-part-deux/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/anti-aliased-im-a-champion-and-so-can-you-part-deux/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/24/anti-aliased-im-a-champion-and-so-can-you-part-deux/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Taking one article to talk about a game in a pre-release state isn't so hot. As commenters pointed out last week, things changed in Champions Online as some of the problems I had with the game were rectified by Cryptic. But, here at Anti-Aliased, we understand this and have planned ahead of time. Voila! I present to you, part two of my journey through Champions Online!

This week's activities include looking over some of the changes Cryptic has made to the game (as well as a hearty appreciation for how fast these guys iterate versions of this game), checking out areas past the crisis zones, and one final overview of the entire game at large. Will you agree with me? Will you disagree with me? Will I be paid by Cryptic? Will Sera keep smiling? These questions and more will be answered within this dramatic issue! If you wish to comment, please do so on the second page of Anti-Aliased.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: I'm a champion, and so can you! (part deux)

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: I'm a champion, and so can you! (part deux) originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedbetacanadacanadian-wildernesschampions-onlinechangescontrollercontrolscryptic-studiosfeaturedinstancesjoystiqfeatureslaunchesopen-betaopinionpatcheszonesMon, 24 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST