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[MMObility: Online board games make for good mobile design]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/mmobility-online-board-games-make-for-good-mobile-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/mmobility-online-board-games-make-for-good-mobile-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/mmobility-online-board-games-make-for-good-mobile-design/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Jupiter's Folly screenshot
I'm proud of myself. The other day I was away from my phone and PC for nearly half an hour. Of course, I grabbed my phone in case I wanted to Tweet about the experience, but I decided to just leave it be. Sometimes, technology gets to be a bit much. After this record-breaking summer (and still no rain into the beginning of fall), I even found myself becoming mad at electricity. I found myself turning off fans or cable boxes to save a little bit here and there. I would get up earlier to walk the dogs and so I could enjoy some time with the door open and the air conditioners finally silent. I started to hate how much we need electricity.

When those irrational thoughts hit me, I like to play a board or card game. A good board game can give you the same feelings of adventure or teamwork that any MMO can. Then I stumbled upon Ironhelmet Games' site and started to fall in love with its online games. The site gave me some good ideas about designing for mobile gamers.

Click past the cut and let's discuss!

Continue reading MMObility: Online board games make for good mobile design

MassivelyMMObility: Online board games make for good mobile design originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbioshockboard-gamebrowser-baseddesigndiablo-3featuredfreedom-forceironhelmet-gamesjupiters-follylord-of-the-rings-onlineMMObilitytotal-warvanguardWorld-of-WarcraftTue, 13 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft miniatures game hits shelves November 11th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/world-of-warcraft-miniatures-game-hits-shelves-november-11th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/world-of-warcraft-miniatures-game-hits-shelves-november-11th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/world-of-warcraft-miniatures-game-hits-shelves-november-11th/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A World of Warcraft miniatures game will be released on November 11th. It has been designed and will be published by Upper Deck, the company behind the WoW TCG. For those curious how the game works, there are a number of gameplay previews at the News section of the game's website.

According to the FAQ, you can play with between one and five characters (each represented by a 40mm miniature) on each side of a battle (there are three sides -- Alliance, Horde, and Monster). Each character has an "action bar" which can be customized with abilities from WoW. Starter sets (priced at $24.99) will include basics like dice, rules, etc. as well as two Alliance and two Horde miniatures. Booster packs ($14.99) will include three random miniatures from one faction. The company plans to release expansions based on famous WoW raids in the future.

This is perhaps most interesting in that Warcraft has taken the opposite approach of its initial inspiration, Warhammer, by starting with video games and later moving on to miniature-based board games!

[Via MMORPG]
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft miniatures game hits shelves November 11th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allianceblizzardboard-gamebooster-packsccghordeminiaturesmonstersraidsstarter-settcgupper-deckwarcraftwarhammerworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-miniatures-gamewowwow-miniatures-gameTue, 30 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online: the board game?!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/eve-online-the-board-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/eve-online-the-board-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/08/eve-online-the-board-game/#commentsFiled under: , ,

EVE Online's 'Walking in Stations' expansion isn't the only new way fans will be playing the sci-fi title this winter. CCP Games will also be releasing a 'big box' board game called "EVE: Conquests," suitable for two to four players, which will come with a large fold-out board and cards. However, this game won't come cheap; EVE: Conquests will be priced at a steep $75, putting the game -- and its presumably ornate playing pieces -- out of the reach of most casual players. Pop culture-focused site ICv2 got the scoop on this latest game offering and spoke briefly with CCP's Peter Thorarinsson:

"It's got a Euro-style mechanic to it," Thorarinsson said. "It's very easy to learn, but has a very deep game play and a lot of strategy to it." Thorarinsson indicated that no knowledge of the Eve universe would be necessary to play the game, and that although Eve Online players would be a natural audience for it, some gamers would undoubtedly be introduced to the Eve universe for the first time by the board game.

In addition to his work on EVE: Conquests, Thorarinsson has been involved with creating the card game "EVE: The Second Genesis." While we're fans of all types of games at Massively, the price that's quoted at ICv2 seems mighty high. For you EVE enthusiasts out there, would you spring for EVE: Conquests to play when you're offline, or is this price tag out of step with your expectations?

[Via EVE Stratics]

MassivelyEVE Online: the board game?! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>board-gameboard-gamesccpccp-gameseveeve-conquestseve-onlineicv2peter-thorarinssonroleplayingrpgwhite-wolfMon, 08 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AoC board game miniatures revealed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/aoc-board-game-miniatures-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/aoc-board-game-miniatures-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/aoc-board-game-miniatures-revealed/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you just can't quite get your fix of Age of Conan this spring when it releases in online form, there's hope yet! I mean, what would you do if the internet was down, or the power went out? Read a book? Psshh! You'd play the upcoming Age of Conan board game by candlelight, of course!

Described as a "massive new strategy game" (see what they're trying to do there?), the AoC board game will feature several miniatures based on the visuals created by Dark Horse Comics. So far, we're shown two new prototypes: the Stygian Emissary and the Hyperborean Army figure. The game developers, Roberto Di Meglio, Francesco Nepitello and Marco Maggi of Nexus Games said they've chosen the Dark Horse Comic style for their miniatures because those are simply the ones they liked the best, despite the many other interpretations in the past.

MassivelyAoC board game miniatures revealed originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocboard-gamedark-horse-comicshyborian-adventuresnexusstygianThu, 17 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EST