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[Praetorian invasions hitting City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/praetorian-invasions-hitting-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/praetorian-invasions-hitting-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/praetorian-invasions-hitting-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It sure seemed as if the heroes and villains of City of Heroes had repelled the invasion of Praetorian forces. Certainly there had been an incursion, but it looked for a time as if the worst were over. But that's not the case, not even close to the case. Primal Earth's heroes might be striking against Emperor Cole's soldiers in their homes, but the dimensional assaults have only just begun. Starting on May 11th, Praetoria will besiege Primal Earth with intensity, and it's going to be up to players to try to prevent an all-out slaughter.

Servers will be assaulted in a steady pattern, with a new pair hit every day during the event's duration. Players who take part in the final event on May 27th will be awarded a special account-wide badge to commemorate the heroes and villains who stood against truly overwhelming odds. If you don't want to be left on the sidelines, take a look at the full list of times and servers and get ready to fight against a bigger invasion than City of Heroes has seen since the game launched.

MassivelyPraetorian invasions hitting City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 May 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-badgesbadgescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxin-game-eventinvasionlimited-time-eventncsoftparagonparagon-studiospraetoriaserver-eventspecial-eventspecial-promotionThu, 05 May 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes to celebrate 7th year with special anniversary bonus]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/city-of-heroes-to-celebrate-7th-year-with-special-anniversary-bo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/city-of-heroes-to-celebrate-7th-year-with-special-anniversary-bo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/city-of-heroes-to-celebrate-7th-year-with-special-anniversary-bo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

City of Heroes is approaching its seventh year of operation, and in keeping with tradition, that means it's time to start the celebration early. This year, though, the team is offering players a little extra incentive to stay subscribed during the lead-up to the date itself. Players who maintain an active subscription from February 1st until April 18th will receive a new badge, a new emote, and a brand-new booster pack to help celebrate their service to (or against) the populace of Earth Prime and Praetoria.

Becoming available on April 28th to all players with a steady subscription, the most eye-catching reward is the new Vanguard Booster Pack, which unlocks several of the Vanguard costume pieces and features for all characters on a given account. There's also a new badge and concurrent title "The Constant," and a special chest emblem signifying the long road the game has walked. City of Heroes players can take a gander at the official announcement and start looking forward to the full anniversary celebration, which seems to be ramping up early this year.

MassivelyCity of Heroes to celebrate 7th year with special anniversary bonus originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybadgesbooster-packcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcostume-piecescovcoxextra-costumesfree-rewardsincentivencsoftparagonparagon-studiospromotionspecial-piecesspecial-rewardsvanguardMon, 17 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Halloween comes to City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/halloween-comes-to-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/halloween-comes-to-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/halloween-comes-to-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Most people look forward to Christmas for presents, but City of Heroes players look forward to Halloween. After all, the celebration of all things ghoulish brings with it the opportunity for players to gain that most coveted of rewards -- an extra costume slot. The Halloween Event has run in Paragon CIty and the Rogue Isles for many years, and this year doesn't just bring the event to the new region of Praetoria, it gives all characters a chance to earn some new badges and take part in some new monster-themed activities.

The biggest addition to this year's event is a tip mission that sends you on a seasonally-themed mission arc, which can be started by hunting for tips while wearing one of the many costumes offered through the event. (Other costume powers are confirmed to work too, in case you'd rather be a Rikti.) Of course, the classic elements from years past have remained intact, with players getting a chance to collect special Halloween salvage and build themselves an extra costume slot. Take a look at the event page for a rundown of all the new badges and the event features, and log in to City of Heroes before midnight on October 31st to take part in all the festivities.

MassivelyHalloween comes to City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badgescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcostume-slotscostumescovcoxhalloweenhalloween-2010halloween-eventsin-game-eventsncsoftparagonparagon-studiosrewardsseasonal-eventSat, 23 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your greatest MMO achievement?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/the-daily-grind-whats-your-greatest-mmo-achievement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/the-daily-grind-whats-your-greatest-mmo-achievement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/the-daily-grind-whats-your-greatest-mmo-achievement/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Abraham Lincoln, possibly thinking about World of Warcraft, once said, "That some achieve great success is proof to all that others can achieve it as well." Nido Qubein, who was later pwned by Lincoln in PvP, retorted, "Winners compare their achievements with their goals, while losers compare their achievements with those of other people."

Achievements: We live to fulfill them. While many MMOs have tacked on an achievement system to motivate us to accomplish bizarre, tough, or unlikely goals, many gamers come up with their own goals all the time. What is your greatest MMO achievement? What are you most proud of accomplishing in your long (or perhaps short) career as an online gamer? Was it a goal that few if any others ever attained? Did you finally cross a finish line you never thought you'd reach?

It's OK to boast in the comments today -- actually, we downright demand that you do. Pat yourself on the back and share with us your greatest personal MMO achievement. If it made you happy and satisfied, we want to hear about it!
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our 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 The Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your greatest MMO achievement? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abraham-lincolnachievementachievement-systemachievementsbadgeslincolnnido-qubeinopiniontdgthe-daily-grindtome-of-knowledgeworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 20 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWG's Community Manager on in-game events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/swgs-community-manager-on-in-game-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/swgs-community-manager-on-in-game-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/swgs-community-manager-on-in-game-events/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Perhaps you can remember a time when the developers of MMOs were directly involved in player events -- either running them or just attending player-run events. In our interview with him on Massively Speaking, Richard Garriott mentioned a couple of times about hanging out with players as Lord British in Ultima Online. If you recall, Star Wars Galaxies had a whole team, lead by Jason "Pex" Ryan, that was completely devoted to creating and facilitating player events. It may seem that these days are fading with the scripted events common in more recent releases. Lydia "Zatozia" Pope, the newly appointed Community Manager of SWG, hopes to change that.

Zatozia has been with Sony Online Entertainment since May of 1999 when her department was still known as Verant. Under the customer service banner, she ran Historical Events for EverQuest. These were live GM-run events that were used to transition EQ from expansion to expansion. She was also a member of the Stormhammer Legends EQ server team, which specialized in GM-run events and storylines specifically for that server.

Zatozia is now the Community Relations Manager for Star Wars Galaxies, and we were able to speak with her about her personal plans for the title as well as how the SWG community is affecting other SOE titles. Click over the break to catch the full interview.

Continue reading SWG's Community Manager on in-game events

MassivelySWG's Community Manager on in-game events originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badgescommunity-leaderscommunity-managerdev-interactioneventsfeaturedGalactic-SenateinterviewInterviewslydia-popesoeSony-Online-EntertainmentStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgzatoziaWed, 06 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Squaring off with SWG's producer, Teesquared]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/05/squaring-off-with-swgs-producer-teesquared/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/05/squaring-off-with-swgs-producer-teesquared/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/05/squaring-off-with-swgs-producer-teesquared/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The fans of Star Wars Galaxies are stalwart. Despite all the trouble the game has gone through, it features one of the most active communities in the Sony Online Entertainment library of MMOs. The developers have noticed this and have continued to work diligently on new content for the loyal players.

Recently, we took the opportunity to ask SWG's current Producer Tony "Teesquared" Tyson some questions about the present and future of the title. He answered all our inquiries about holiday events, future updates, the Galactic Civil War, and the Trading Card Game. Some exciting things are coming!

Follow us after the break to find out what future holds in a galaxy far, far away...

Continue reading Squaring off with SWG's producer, Teesquared

MassivelySquaring off with SWG's producer, Teesquared originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badgesblackwing-virusChroniclesdeath-troopersempire-strikes-backfeaturedgalactic-moon-festivalLucasArtsnightsisterRare-lootrare-loot-systemSOESony-Online-EntertainmentStar-warstar-wars-galaxiesstorytellerswgteesquaredtony-tysontrading-card-gameuser-generated-contentwitches-of-dathomirwookiee-life-dayZ-ozpheratuzozpheratuTue, 05 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Badge of honor]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/06/lost-pages-of-taborea-badge-of-honor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/06/lost-pages-of-taborea-badge-of-honor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/06/lost-pages-of-taborea-badge-of-honor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I've been spending a lot of time lately in Runes of Magic's battlefields and arena. There are a number of these instanced PvP areas and this crafter has been enjoying most of them. The battlefields, arena, and guild siege system all have tasty incentives in the form of points or badges. Basically operating as a form of currency, these PvP rewards can all be spent on a variety of items.

If you thought gear grinding or buying purified fusion stones was the only way to improve your character, then think again. If you thought spending diamonds or exorbitant amounts of gold was the only way to improve your pet, then think again. If you thought Kipos had one ugly mug... well, you'd be right. In this article I take a look at a couple alternative forms of currency you can get your hands on and what you can do with them.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Badge of honor

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Badge of honor originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-pointsarena-pvpbadgesbattlefieldsbattlegroundsfeaturedfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveguild-siegehonor-pointslost-pages-of-taboreaplayer-vs-playerpvpromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsiege-badgeMon, 06 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rampant farming forces Paragon Studios to remove City of Heroes badges]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/24/rampant-farming-forces-paragon-studios-to-remove-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/24/rampant-farming-forces-paragon-studios-to-remove-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/24/rampant-farming-forces-paragon-studios-to-remove-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


When City of Heroes brought us Issue 14, they also brought something rather unique to the MMO space with the Mission Architect -- the ability for players to create their own mission scenarios and share them with other players. Unfortunately, when many games offer achievements of some sort, there are people who figure out ways to cheat the system and farm them out... which, sadly, has proven to be the case with City of Heroes.

Synapse (aka Phil Zeleski) from the City of Heroes development team addresses this in a recent blog post. He writes: "We really didn't want the Mission Architect to be an environment that encourages farming for XP, Rewards or Badges, and we thought long and hard about the current Architect badge situation. Ultimately we'd like it to be a place where you go to play great player created content." To keep the Mission Architect system in keeping with their initial goals, Paragon Studios is removing the badges commonly farmed from the game, 90 of them in all, which he lists in his post.

Continue reading Rampant farming forces Paragon Studios to remove City of Heroes badges

MassivelyRampant farming forces Paragon Studios to remove City of Heroes badges originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsbadgescity-of-heroescohfarmingforumsgame-mechanicsissue-14mission-architectparagon-studiosphil-zeleskisuper-herosynapseSun, 24 May 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Matt "Positron" Miller prepares his radioactive banhammer against mission architect abusers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/matt-positron-miller-prepares-his-radioactive-banhammer-agains/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/matt-positron-miller-prepares-his-radioactive-banhammer-agains/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/05/matt-positron-miller-prepares-his-radioactive-banhammer-agains/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Mission architect -- an amazing system that allows a very creative player-base to finally take the reigns of creation and make amazing in-game arcs that feature personalized stories, personalized characters, farming, well made.... wait, what?

Yes, you heard that right, people have already began to leverage City of Heroes's architect system into nothing more than powerleveling tool, and the community doesn't find that to be too enjoyable. Luckily, Matt "Positron" Miller, the lead designer, has already stepped up with a post to the community on the City of Heroes message board about how they plan on dealing with these problems.

The team wishes to remove the rewards some characters may have gained through powerleveling, all the way up to removing access to characters that were solely leveled up via mission architect exploits. Past working on a player by player bases, some badges will be changed while others may be removed entirely due to the exploiting groups surrounding them. Lastly, but certainly not least, the team will be proactively banning missions that are created to exploit the system.

For Matt's full plan, check out his post over on the City of Heroes message board.

MassivelyMatt "Positron" Miller prepares his radioactive banhammer against mission architect abusers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architectbadgesbanhammerbanningcity-of-heroescity-of-villainsexploitglitchingmatt-millermatt-positron-millermission-architectpositronpower-levelingstory-arcTue, 05 May 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes Issue 14 open beta has begun]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/city-of-heroes-issue-14-open-beta-has-begun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/city-of-heroes-issue-14-open-beta-has-begun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/city-of-heroes-issue-14-open-beta-has-begun/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


City of Heroes has announced the open beta phase for Issue 14: Architect, which allows players to customize their own missions, at long last bringing player-created content to the superhero (and supervillain) MMO. The NCsoft announcement reads: "Now is your chance to play and give feedback on one of the most in-depth player created mission systems in an MMO to date! Your story/mission masterpieces will be available in-game for all your fellow gamers to play and rate - and the higher the rating, the more YOU benefit!" They also announced that they'll be handpicking the best player-created content as 'Developer's Choice' stories. Those missions will be identified by a unique icon and the creator will receive a Dev's Choice badge.

The devs aren't the only ones who get to rate the best missions. There will be a Hall of Fame where the highest peer-rated stories can be recognized for being a cut above the rest. As with the Developer's Choice missions, these stories receive a Hall of Fame icon and badge, but these rankings established during open beta won't carry over once Issue 14 goes live.

Gallery: City of Heroes: Architect Edition

Continue reading City of Heroes Issue 14 open beta has begun

MassivelyCity of Heroes Issue 14 open beta has begun originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architectbadgesbetascity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohdevelopers-choiceexpansionsgame-mechanicshall-of-fameissue-14mission-architectmissionsncsoftopen-betapatchesqueststicketstraining-roomWed, 18 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why you should be playing City of Heroes: Badges]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/why-yo-should-be-playing-city-of-heroes-badges/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/why-yo-should-be-playing-city-of-heroes-badges/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/why-yo-should-be-playing-city-of-heroes-badges/#commentsFiled under: , ,


"Why you should be playing ..." is a free form column from Massively.com intended to inform you about our favorite parts of our favorite games. We want you to know why we play what we do!

Non-combat rewards aren't new to MMOs, but for a long time they were entirely player-driven. In EverQuest the success of running guild or friendships within an online community were the primary non-mechanical motivators. Since then, and especially with the advent of Xbox Live, in-game achievement tracking has become a major factor in persistent games. We as players love to be rewarded for success, and pinning gold stars to our sashes is a lot easier (from a game mechanic perspective) than actual monetary or xp doles. Warhammer Online may have perfected this schema with the Tome of Knowledge this year, but way back in 2004 City of Heroes really got the party started with their Badge system.

Collecting badges is not only a fun and (often) relaxing alternative to leveling or instance-running, in recent years the NCsoft developers have made it worth your while as well. Supergroup badges, for example, stack up to allow your group the opportunity to teleport straight from your base into the field. There are a number of reasons to enjoy badge hunting, and the addition of this seemingly-simple gratification system is one of the reasons CoH as much fun as it is to play. Read on below the cut for more on how the City of Heroes developers give you more fun, with less grind.

Continue reading Why you should be playing City of Heroes: Badges

MassivelyWhy you should be playing City of Heroes: Badges originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badgescity-of-heroescohcoxfeaturedncsoftwhy-you-should-be-playingWed, 17 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get your "Crowd Control" badge from PMOG!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/get-your-crowd-control-badge-from-pmog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/get-your-crowd-control-badge-from-pmog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/get-your-crowd-control-badge-from-pmog/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We've been covering the different happenings with the Passively Multiplayer Online Game for a while now, but for a change of pace, it seems that PMOG has covered us by giving us the honor of our own badge!

If you're a PMOG player and an active Massively.com reader, then don't miss your chance to get the "Crowd Control" badge for visiting Massively.com! Simply visit Massively for five days a week for two weeks with your PMOG toolbar enabled, and you'll have your new badge before you can spin around five times and say "I love achievements". Your new Massively.com badge will be displayed proudly along side your other badges, telling everyone who plays PMOG exactly where your allegiances lie.

In addition to our badge, many more badges have been added to PMOG, including the 'Thumb Buster" badge for our parent site, Joystiq. Be sure to check out all the new badges by dropping by PMOG and creating an account.

MassivelyGet your "Crowd Control" badge from PMOG! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsbadgesbreakingcrowd-controlgamelayersjoystiq.commassively.compmogthumb-busterMon, 16 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Metaplace designers seek users' advice for badge system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/metaplace-designers-seek-users-advice-for-badge-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/metaplace-designers-seek-users-advice-for-badge-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/metaplace-designers-seek-users-advice-for-badge-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The developers of Metaplace are pinging the public in search of feedback and good ideas with regards to the platform's planned "badge" system. The system resembles achievements on XBox Live; users and creators of virtual worlds may accomplish certain objectives such as becoming the first Metaplace world to reach 100 simultaneous users, and a unique badge graphic representing the achievement may then be shown to other players and builders in the community.

Areae is dealing with some difficult design decisions. For example: should badges have point values, so whomever has the most points is the most awesome of them all? Should users be able to give badges to one another? How should badges be displayed?

Rather than tackle these questions alone, Areae is offering to everyone the chance to fill out a survey. It's not just multiple choice; participants can explain the reasoning behind their choices. If you've got two cents to share, by all means, go share them!

MassivelyMetaplace designers seek users' advice for badge system originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 May 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsareaebadgesdesigndev-blogdeveloper-blogdevelopmentgamertagmetaplaceprofilesurveyTue, 27 May 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: Fixing the problem of guild-hopping]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/player-vs-everything-fixing-the-problem-of-guild-hopping/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/player-vs-everything-fixing-the-problem-of-guild-hopping/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/player-vs-everything-fixing-the-problem-of-guild-hopping/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There's a bit of a discussion going on in the blogosphere right now about how to handle the topic of dungeon and raid rewards in MMOGs (specifically World of Warcraft, actually, but it universally applies). Tobold started the whole conversation by suggesting that the problem of players leaving to join a better guild when their gear progression is further along than the rest of their guild could be fixed by adding deterrents to leaving, like forcing you to leave any gear acquired with the help of your guild in the guild bank. After all, he argues, you couldn't have gotten those epics on your own. Why should you get to take your gear and walk away with it when 24 other people helped you obtain it, while waiting patiently for their turn?

Other people then made the counter-argument that hopping to further-progressed guilds is only one of the many reasons that people leave guilds, and that tying loot to your guild would give too much power to guild masters and punish people for circumstances that are often outside of their control (what if your work schedule changes and you can't raid anymore? Many hardcore guilds don't allow casual players). There were some more good points made as to why this system would be a bad idea. Still, it's a good thing that Tobold brought this up, because it's a very real issue. Even if tying loot directly to the guild is a bad idea, what can you do to discourage people getting what they need and then leaving for greener pastures?

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: Fixing the problem of guild-hopping

MassivelyPlayer vs. Everything: Fixing the problem of guild-hopping originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badge-lootbadge-of-justicebadgesdkpdramafeaturedguildguild-dramaguildslootloot-distributionplayer-vs-everythingpotshottoboldworld-of-warcraftWed, 30 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Games that could be MMOs: Pokémon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/games-that-could-be-mmos-pokemon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/games-that-could-be-mmos-pokemon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/games-that-could-be-mmos-pokemon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Pokémon brand is one of the largest and most successful franchises the gaming world has ever spawned. There are no less than 10 videogames, 1 trading card game, 12 movies, an animated series, 10 soundtrack CDs, a bunch of manga -- but no official MMO.

Why this hasn't already happened is beyond the imagination of this blogger. C'mon, a world in which thousands, if not millions of wanna-be Pokémon trainers are working hard to be number one, constantly pitting their captive critters against each other, and every iteration of the game franchise is only one-on-one? This isn't rocket science; it's not even science fair volcano science. But if we were to imagine a Pokémon MMO, it would look something like this:

Continue reading Games that could be MMOs: Pokémon

MassivelyGames that could be MMOs: Pokémon originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badgesbulbasaurcharmanderelementalfeaturedgaia-onlinegengarnintendopikachupokemonpokemon-onlinerivalsquirtletrainerwiiworld-of-warcraftTue, 29 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Q&A with The Agency's Hal Milton]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/qanda-with-the-agencys-hal-milton/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/qanda-with-the-agencys-hal-milton/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/qanda-with-the-agencys-hal-milton/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In a recent Q&A session with Hal Milton, SOE Seattle's lead designer for The Agency, we get a glimpse into some new info on the characters, leveling and ranking system put in place already. We find out how the six specialties work according to the outfit your player wears, and how certain items can increase your level in a unique system of proficiencies and badges to prevent a typical linear leveling system.

There's also word on a mind-blowing alias system which is based on how well you can act the part of the alias you're assuming. For instance, you're in disguise in a bar, and you may start to seem a bit out of place. By performing certain actions that people would normally do in that environment, you're tricking them into thinking you're actually NOT a spy. Of course if you act suspicious, you'll blow your cover! Then, everyone will scream NARC and it's all over for you.

MassivelyQ&A with The Agency's Hal Milton originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aliasbadgesclassesdisguisenarcsoethe-agencyThu, 17 Apr 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Free epics for all!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/ask-massively-free-epics-for-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/ask-massively-free-epics-for-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/ask-massively-free-epics-for-all/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The "Powers that be" at Massively have convinced me to put down my March Madness bracket long enough to present you, our loyal fans, with yet another edition of Ask Massively. If "They" would be so kind as to put down the heavy blunt object, I would be all too happy to amaze and astound you with my wit and wisdom. Of course, since my last remaining functional brain cell is about to die of loneliness, a sharp blow to the ol' noggin might help out.

This week's column is going to focus a bit more on World of Warcraft. Specifically, the upcoming 2.4 patch. Now since nobody else at all has anything to say about this patch, and it is in danger of slipping completely under the radar of the typical World of Warcraft fan, I thought that I would pick a question from our readers that focuses on one of the most important changes in this patch To wit...

Dear Massive Megalomaniac

Since I'm sure that you are in a top end guild and have all of your top end gear, I was wondering what you thought about all of us casual players who are going to catch up to you in gear for the low, low price of a few Badges of Justice. How does it make you feel to work so hard on all those encounters and attunement quests only to see that content given away to those of us who have lives?

-- The HA HA Guy

Wow. I think I like the brown-nosing emails a little more.

If you would like to take a few potshots at me (in the form of a question), feel free to stop by our tipline, or send an email to ask AT massively DOT com. After the break, I'll have more on "Welfare Epics, Part Deux"

Continue reading Ask Massively: Free epics for all!

MassivelyAsk Massively: Free epics for all! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badge-lootbadge-of-justicebadgesblizzardendgameeqeverquestfeaturedpatch-2.4raidingwelfarewelfare-epicwelfare-epicsworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 20 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Noobcraft, the 2.4 debate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/08/world-of-noobcraft-the-2-4-debate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/08/world-of-noobcraft-the-2-4-debate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/08/world-of-noobcraft-the-2-4-debate/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


With the changes comes to World of Warcraft in 2.4, many of the hardcore raiders out there have begun wailing once more. Blizzard has removed the attunement requirements for Mount Hyjal and Black Temple, two of the most difficult 25-man raid encounters in the game, and also introduced new gear comparable to what can be found in those raids that you can purchase with badges from heroics. To some, this is tantamount to a whole new kind of "welfare epic" and demeans the accomplishments of the game's elite.

As Ron at Gaming Today points out, this is exactly the kind of attitude that turns so many people off of MMOs in the first place. A tiny segment of the population, which considers itself the "core" of the developer's audience, raises a big stink because they feel they'll be losing some of their elite status. What they fail to realize is that Blizzard doesn't have a vested interest in their egos, and they would rather more people see the wonderful content that they've spent so much time laboring over. I never really got into the TBC end-game myself, but I'd consider getting back into the game knowing that the barrier for entry has been lowered. The system works!

MassivelyWorld of Noobcraft, the 2.4 debate originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Mar 2008 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badgesblack-templeendgameepicsgaming-todayheroicsmount-hyjalpatch-2.4world-of-warcraftwowSat, 08 Mar 2008 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Non-combat titles vs combat titles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/the-daily-grind-non-combat-titles-vs-combat-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/the-daily-grind-non-combat-titles-vs-combat-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/the-daily-grind-non-combat-titles-vs-combat-titles/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I admit it; I'm a title hunter. Way back when I started up City of Heroes, the idea of gathering as many badges as I could seemed like a lot of fun to me. It gave me a plethora of various titles and accolades to choose from at any given time. Later, when the TaxiBots entered the scene, I joined up with their cause. One of the things we had the most success with in regards to player-run events was the Badge tours, whereby people who either didn't know where the badges were, or just didn't feel like hunting them could get teleported from place to place via Recall Friend. We took the badge flavor text and spun outrageous stories based on it, then sent them along to the next person in the route. After approximately 2 minutes, the "fare" (player) would have gained 5-7 new badges, and had a lot of fun listening to us spin tales of bravery and occasionally depravity. Fast forward to WoW and LotRO, and I find myself chasing titles once again, but most of these require combat to gain. It is quite different from the early CoH badges with many available just for walking over a certain area, or finding an easter egg.

Is there a better way to do it? Perhaps. But this is what we'd like to ask you about today. Are you also a badge hunter, seeking the next new title? If so, do you prefer yours for combat and feats of prowess, would you rather have them for just finding some "historic" spot that advances the lore, or do you like the idea of a combination of both? Do you think the idea of a non-combat title is just silly? Or do you really just not care about the idea of titles at all?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Non-combat titles vs combat titles originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accoladesbadgesfeaturedincentivesnon-combat-accomplishmentsreward-systemsthe-daily-grindtitlestokensWed, 19 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Under The Hood: The Ouroboros System]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/07/under-the-hood-the-ouroboros-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/07/under-the-hood-the-ouroboros-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/07/under-the-hood-the-ouroboros-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


In most MMOs, once you hit a certain level, quests from before you hit that level turn useless and defunct. This sort of mechanic keeps players from going back and experiencing old stories because they leveled too fast, and really detracts from the overall feel of a game. What if I wanted to go back and play old quests (World of Warcraft, I'm looking right at you) and get some reward for them? Well, thankfully, City of Heroes/Villains has just implemented the Ouroboros System to allow you to go back and play previous missions you couldn't. But how is this going to affect the industry?

Continue reading Under The Hood: The Ouroboros System

MassivelyUnder The Hood: The Ouroboros System originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badgesblizzardcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxfeaturedjoystiqfeaturesmechanicsncsoftouroborostitlesworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 07 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CoX Winter Event on Test server]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/cox-winter-event-on-test-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/cox-winter-event-on-test-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/cox-winter-event-on-test-server/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dust off the sleigh bells and strap on your rocket-propelled skis, boys and girls, it's that time of year again: NCsoft has once again released the CoX Winter Event into Test. Now, a word of warning: it's not always up, and it could be pulled at any time for further tweaking, but it is there, waiting for you to discover it just like a tasty digital sugarplum in the bottom of your spandex stocking.

This year, prep for some serious competition on the ski slopes: the slalom course is now timed, and you can win medals badges depending on your placement. And don't worry, Old favorites like Father Time and his missions have returned, and the Gamester is still putting out gifts for those who are naughty or nice. One intriguing element this year is new salvage: Candy Canes. This sweet treat can be redeemed in Pocket D for holiday rewards. Sorry to disappoint the fan community, though, but Sexy Jay's not collecting them, the Candy Keeper is. So ... who's up for hot cocoa and cool gaming, hm?

MassivelyCoX Winter Event on Test server originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BadgesCandy-CanesCandy-KeeperCity-of-HeroesCity-of-VillainsCoHCoVCoXMedalsNCsoftSalvageSexy-JaySki-SlopesSlalom-CourseTest-ServerWinter-EventThu, 06 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CoX Issue 11 patch live on Test server]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/cox-issue-11-patch-live-on-test-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/cox-issue-11-patch-live-on-test-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/cox-issue-11-patch-live-on-test-server/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Affecting client version 16.20071113.3T, NCsoft has released a new patch for the CoX properties, and it's currently active on the Test server. The new patch addresses power set activation times, accolades, graphical and sound effects, Flashback missions, and global chat tweaks for all players. As well, two new costume sets were introduced: an Enforcer set and a Jester set. Attendees of last week's Meet & Greet had the opportunity to see the costumes a week ahead of time, when Sexy Jay showcased his work. Aside from the costume sets themselves, two new pattern sets for existing costume customization are also available.

For this particular Issue 11 patch, Heroes will see Scrapper, Blaster, and Defender changes, as well as some adjustment done to Badge levels in Flashback missions. Villains will find some improvement to the Mastermind set, and that Snake Eggs will once again hatch. While there's no stated release date for the patch to go live on the regular servers, if you have the opportunity to so do, download and try it out on Test.

MassivelyCoX Issue 11 patch live on Test server originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BadgesCity-of-HeroesCity-of-VillainsCoHCostume-SetsCoVCoXFlashbackIssue-11Meet-and-GreetNCsoftPatchPattern-SetsPowersSexy-JayTue, 04 Dec 2007 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CoX: New web-based display options]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/cox-new-web-based-display-options/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/cox-new-web-based-display-options/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/cox-new-web-based-display-options/#commentsFiled under: ,

Supporting the theory that the world should know more about the CoX universe, you'll soon be able to configure the game client to display or hide certain information on the web. It is a bit convoluted, however, so please be sure to note the information contained in the official forums.

In the Miscellaneous section under the General tab (Menu > General), you will have the option of hiding your Statistics, Powers, Badges, and Friends list from inclusion on the public web page. If you choose to show them, leave each option disabled; however, if you wish to hide them, enable the option. If you're a private person, simply enable the Statistics option, and all other options will automatically be hidden. One other thing: unlike graphic settings, these options are configured on a per-character basis, so if you want everything hidden, you'll need to properly configure each character you have on each server. The only caveat to this is if your character has not been logged in for at least 90 days: at that cut-off point, all options are hidden.

Although a final go-live date for this feature has not been announced, it's planned for a relatively short lead time. There will be more information available in the official forum as the release date approaches; and, as always, if you have any issues, concerns, or comments, NCsoft wants to hear from you in the discussion thread.

MassivelyCoX: New web-based display options originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BadgesCity-of-HeroesCity-of-VillainsCoXDiscussionForumFriendsGeneral-TabNCsoftOptionsPowerStatisticsWeb-PageTue, 20 Nov 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[70 new badges in Issue 11]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/70-new-badges-in-issue-11/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/70-new-badges-in-issue-11/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/70-new-badges-in-issue-11/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A full listing of the new 70 new badges available in City of Heroes and City of Villains is available on Badge-Hunter.com's site.

While Issue 11's new badges are split into Exploration and Achievement areas, the vast majority seem to be focused on the new Ouroboros-based missions. I'll even give you a hint on where to find the Chrononaut badge: it's placed in a similar location to two of the badges found in Atlas Park.

And don't forget that you can change or clear your badge title at any time. After all, why be known as a Keeper of Secrets when you can be perceived as Justice Incarnate?

[Via Kill Ten Rats]

Massively70 new badges in Issue 11 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Nov 2007 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AchievementBadgesBetaCity-of-HeroesCity-of-VillainscohcovCoXIssue-11OuroborosTue, 13 Nov 2007 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Under The Hood: Of Titles, Badges, and Achievements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/under-the-hood-of-titles-badges-and-achievements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/under-the-hood-of-titles-badges-and-achievements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/under-the-hood-of-titles-badges-and-achievements/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Say what you will about achievement points on the Xbox 360. They may cheapen the experience, or reduce elements of skill down to raw numbers, but anyone who has ever played a 360 knows how addictive the little "Achievement unlocked!" message is. So what happens when you toss that into an MMO? Titles.

It seems that a recent trend in MMOs is "titles". When they first debuted in the mainstream with City of Heroes, they didn't do much. All they did was add bragging rights for the person who has them, and a displayable title above the person's head. They were worthless (Well, mostly worthless). And most of the titles in CoX are still worthless.

"Oh, I killed 200 Circle of Thorn members. I've got that sweet new title."

Some MMOs are actually starting to change things up now, though, including the pioneers of the "Titles" system. Getting the exploration titles in City of Heroes/Villains will enable your Supergroup to teleport to that map from your Supergroup base. Getting certain titles in Guild Wars will allow you to increase your holding cap on faction. Getting all titles in an area in Tabula Rasa gets you a huge experience bonus (noticing a trend here? NCsoft developers seem to love the use of titles).

Continue reading Under The Hood: Of Titles, Badges, and Achievements

MassivelyUnder The Hood: Of Titles, Badges, and Achievements originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Nov 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badgesblizzardcity-of-heroescity-of-villainsCoHCoVCoXdarkspacedeedsEQeverquestfeaturedguild-warsgwlord-of-the-rings-onlineLotROmechanicsncsofttabula-rasatitlesTRtraitsunder-the-hoodworld-of-warcraftwowxbox-360Sun, 04 Nov 2007 14:30:00 EST