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[PlayStation Network credit card info appears to be safe: 'No unauthorized activity relating to Sony']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/playstation-network-credit-card-info-appears-to-be-safe-no-una/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/playstation-network-credit-card-info-appears-to-be-safe-no-una/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/playstation-network-credit-card-info-appears-to-be-safe-no-una/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It looks like the beleaguered Sony finally caught a break. The company, which has struggled for over a week following a hacker attack that stole massive amounts of player information, says that it looks as though user credit card information remains secure and encrypted. It turns out that Sony had encrypted some personal info but not all of it.

Gamespot also reports that several financial companies, including MasterCard, WellsFargo and American Express, have witnessed "no unauthorized activity relating to Sony."

Sony's Patrick Seybold passed along the positive news: "The entire credit card table was encrypted and we have no evidence that credit card data was taken. The personal data table, which is a separate data set, was not encrypted, but was, of course, behind a very sophisticated security system that was breached in a malicious attack."

Sony's PlayStation Network is still offline while it's rebuilt with a higher level of security. The company saw its shares drop 4.5% today on the Tokyo exchange to $27.71.

MassivelyPlayStation Network credit card info appears to be safe: 'No unauthorized activity relating to Sony' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>american-expressars-technicacredit-cardcredit-card-infogamespothackhackedhackerhacker-attackhackersidentity-theftmastercardPatrick-Seyboldplaystation-networksoesonysony-online-entertainmentwellsfargoThu, 28 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Are the Sith 'good guys' in Star Wars: The Old Republic?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/are-the-sith-good-guys-in-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/are-the-sith-good-guys-in-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/22/are-the-sith-good-guys-in-star-wars-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Is it possible to think of the Sith as good guys in Star Wars: The Old Republic? Well, according to the game's lead writer Daniel Erickson it's all about perspective. One of the many pens behind BioWare's first MMO spoke with Ars Technica on the topic of telling the Sith Empire's side of the story in a way that makes them more than just simple villains.

Erickson explained that growing up in the Sith Empire, a person would know there is an Emperor and that he saved their people's very existence. They would also know there is a much larger society out there who, "deemed your people and your religion not worthy to exist." In fact, Erickson even went so far as to say, "[The Sith] get chased out of the galaxy. In fact, in the lore, chased to the point where the Jedi believe they are dead. This is very close to genocide! The Jedi believe these people to be unredeemable."

It's very interesting explanation of a culture and people that could've otherwise been portrayed as mustache-twirling villains. Obviously, this is only a taste of the lore waiting for us all once Star Wars: The Old Republic launches but it's quite the preview if you ask us.

MassivelyAre the Sith 'good guys' in Star Wars: The Old Republic? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ars-technicabiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtordaniel-ericksoneaelectronic-artslucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republicMon, 22 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision Blizzard's CEO is a funpire]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/activision-blizzards-ceo-is-a-funpire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/activision-blizzards-ceo-is-a-funpire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/activision-blizzards-ceo-is-a-funpire/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Bobby Kotick isn't just the CEO of Activision Blizzard. He's also the CEO of Activision Blizzard who recently said, "You have studio heads who five years ago didn't know the difference between a balance sheet and a bed sheet who are now arguing allocations in our CFO's office pretty regularly," Then again, as Ars Technica has pointed out, his incentive program that, "rewards profit and nothing else." may have something to do with that.

That's not all Bobby Kotick recently said, however. He's also known for this uplifting little diddy, "We have a real culture of thrift. The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago was to take all the fun out of making video games." Now that quote may be out of context, but what kind of context can make that look... well, good or even mildly acceptable?

Something smacks of bad omens here. Sure, things are going good right now for the company that puts out Blizzard games and Call of Duty, but when a company's Chief Executive Officer is saying things like, "We are very good at keeping people focused on the deep depression," it may be time to double-check your neck for bite marks and then get the hell out of Irvine.

MassivelyActivision Blizzard's CEO is a funpire originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardars-technicablizzardbobby-kotickcall-of-dutyceofunpirefunsuckerworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 17 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Entropia Universe to operate real-world bank with virtual world presence]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/entropia-universe-to-have-real-world-bank-with-virtual-world-pre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/entropia-universe-to-have-real-world-bank-with-virtual-world-pre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/entropia-universe-to-have-real-world-bank-with-virtual-world-pre/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Most of our virtual world coverage at Massively is focused on Second Life, but we're still keeping an eye on what's happening beyond the walls of Linden Lab. One significant development revealed this past week is that Entropia Universe will be the first virtual world to have a bank that's actually backed and regulated by a real-world government, called Mind Bank AB.

We received word on this from MindArk's PR: "The Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen) has granted a license to conduct banking activities to virtual universe developer MindArk PE AB's wholly owned subsidiary Mind Bank AB. The unique step of integrating MindArk's virtual universe Entropia Universe with the real world will allow Mind Bank AB to function as a central bank for all virtual worlds within the Entropia Universe."

Continue reading Entropia Universe to operate real-world bank with virtual world presence

MassivelyEntropia Universe to operate real-world bank with virtual world presence originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ars-technicabankbankingbankseconomyentropiaentropia-universemichael-thompsonmind-bankmind-bank-abmindarkpedsci-fiswedenvirtual-currencyvirtual-worldsMon, 23 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony opens complete EverQuest 2 database to researchers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/sony-opens-complete-everquest-2-database-to-researchers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/sony-opens-complete-everquest-2-database-to-researchers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/sony-opens-complete-everquest-2-database-to-researchers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The players of EverQuest 2 might be pleased to learn that their gameplay may further science. They may be less enthused, however, to learn that a complete record of their interactions with one another is being studied by researchers. Following a session at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, ars technica's John Timmer reports, "With the cooperation of Sony, a collaborative group of academic researchers at a number of institutions have obtained the complete server logs from the company's EverQuest 2 MMORPG." That's right. This is everything you've ever done in the game, but it's all in the name of science.

The researchers are among those who believe that massively multiplayer online games can be used to model real world collective behavior. The task ahead of them is a daunting one, with close to 60 TB of data to pore over. "The end result is a log that included four years of data for over 400,000 players that took part in the game, which was followed up with demographic surveys of the users. All told, it makes for a massive data set with distinct challenges but plenty of opportunities," Timmer writes.

Continue reading Sony opens complete EverQuest 2 database to researchers

MassivelySony opens complete EverQuest 2 database to researchers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaasacademicars-technicacultureeducationeq-2eq2everquest-2everquest-iifantasyjohn-timmermmo-industryplayer-interactionresearchsocial-interactionsoesonysony-online-entertainmentMon, 16 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DC Universe Online's 'classes' and combat explored]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/dc-universe-onlines-classes-and-combat-explored/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/dc-universe-onlines-classes-and-combat-explored/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/dc-universe-onlines-classes-and-combat-explored/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


While DC Universe Online was being shown at CES 2009, there hasn't been too much new information coming out of the show. Whether that's a product of a videogame being at a tech and gadget show, or simply because SOE doesn't have anything new to show yet, is hard to say. Still, Opposable Thumbs got a chance to spend time with the game at the show and came out with some new information.

There are no classes in DC Universe Online, instead players spend talents on individual powers. Anyone can switch between three combat stances: offensive, defensive and support. Offense stance gives more damage but takes more, while defense gives less and takes less and support boosts healing and buffing powers. And each stance offers access to certain powers, as well. It is important to remember, however, that a tank-spec character will always do better with a defense spec than, say a hybrid-spec. The goal of this system seems aimed at designing a flexible partying system, where certain people can fill a role in a pinch.
Did you enjoy this? We've donned our capes and tights to explore SOE's DC Universe Online in-depth. Come explore more of Metropolis and Gotham with your friends at Massively!

MassivelyDC Universe Online's 'classes' and combat explored originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ars-technicaces2009classescombatdc-universe-onlinedcuoopposable-thumbssoesony-online-entertainmentMon, 12 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[With persistent worlds comes persistent racism]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/12/with-persistent-worlds-comes-persistent-racism/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/12/with-persistent-worlds-comes-persistent-racism/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/12/with-persistent-worlds-comes-persistent-racism/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The promise of what virtual spaces can bring us is significant -- erasing geographic limitations on interaction with others while fostering an exchange of cultures, beliefs, and languages. To this high-minded end, millions of dollars have been spent and many thousands of hours of work have been invested into creating rich graphical settings coupled with immersive environmental soundscapes. Crisp digital communication at its finest, right?

Much like the promise of the the eradication of artificial barriers to meaningful communication through the Internet, virtual worlds and online spaces in general have fallen short of expectations. It's generally not the fault of the companies or the service providers though. The fault lies with us, the users.

Continue reading With persistent worlds comes persistent racism

MassivelyWith persistent worlds comes persistent racism originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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