Massively

The Daily Grind: Do you miss player-written books in MMOs?

Brianna Royce — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

In her sandbox column a week or so ago, Massively's own MJ Guthrie brought up an MMO feature that's fallen by the wayside in recent years: player-written books. Ancient sandboxes like Ultima Online and modern classics like EverQuest II give players the ability to write their own books, which then populate player-run libraries, serve as tavern menus, explain quests, and mark the memory of friends who left the game. Later games, however, have sadly passed over the mechanic.

I can't say that player-written anythings have no potential for abuse and inanity. There's a guild in UO, for example, that uses books as advertising spam, and the game's designers were forced to implement a system to lock-in text to circumvent the "Dudebro was here" graffiti that miscreants would otherwise inscribe on other players' masterpieces. But the potential for cool outweighs the potential for abuse for me, and I miss writing and reading in-game books so very much.

What about you -- do you miss player-written books in MMOs? Or do you think they're a niche idea that was retired from MMO design with good cause?

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

The Daily Grind: Do you miss player-written books in MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Some Assembly Required: Six must-haves for creative expression

MJ Guthrie — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Game mechanics, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Ultima Online, Free-to-play, Roleplaying, Virtual worlds, Xsyon, Post-Apocalyptic, Some Assembly Required, Sandbox

Creativity. It is expressed in so many ways in so many mediums. Art, literature, architecture, music, performance... I love it all, conventional and unconventional. Heck, I revel in it! Why do you think my work and recreation include gaming?

Wait, gaming?! You betcha!

Beyond the artistry of the developers, MMORPGs offer outlets for player creativity in a variety of ways. I am not ashamed to admit that the primary reason I delve into MMORPGs is not for the gameplay but to explore and experience the creative expression of others (and to express some of my own as well). In fact, finding and sharing that very creativity by championing and highlighting player-generated content is precisely what Some Assembly Required is about.

Between (or in lieu of) the hacking, the slashing, and the plundering, players seize proffered tools in myriad virtual realms to build works of art, pen masterpieces, construct edifices, compose melodies, and take the stage, all within the pixeled confines of a virtual world. Unfortunately, not all games have adequate tools for such creative expression. While inspired players can make do if they must, having supporting features exponentially enhances a game (and positively affects retention). Thankfully, some games provide a few standard-setting features that -- in my opinion -- should be included in every game on the market. Here are six of those must-have features.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Six must-haves for creative expression

Some Assembly Required: Six must-haves for creative expression originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

EVE Online's third novel dropping ship in January

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Lore, DUST 514

CCP's Tony Gonzales is set to unveil his latest EVE Online novel, titled EVE: Templar One, this January 3rd. But for Gonzales, it is a bittersweet moment, as it marks his final contribution to the game world: "EVE: Templar One is a labor of love that began in 2009. For now, it is my last contribution to EVE's fiction as I was amongst the casualties of the recent difficult times CCP endured."

EVE: Templar One should prove of particular interest to DUST 514 followers, as the novel reveals the backstory of the immortal soldiers who will make up the game. Gonzales also says that it will follow up on the events of his previous book, EVE: The Empyrean Age. Readers who want to beef up on the lore of both games will appreciate the explanations of how the immortals work and some of the many mysteries that have popped up in the EVE universe.

Gonzales concludes the announcement of the novel's impending release with heartfelt appreciation to fans: "Your support over the years has been overwhelming, and I'll never forget it. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything."

Currently the novel is available for pre-order through Amazon.com.

EVE Online's third novel dropping ship in January originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Do you read MMO novels?

Brianna Royce — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, Lore, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Miscellaneous

In the lead up to Star Wars: The Old Republic, I find myself worrying that I'm missing out by not having read any of the BioWare-commissioned, game-centric novels and stories -- Fatal Alliance, Deceived, Revan, and the rest. SWTOR isn't alone, of course, in having its own custom novels. World of Warcraft, Dungeons and Dragons Online, and even unreleased games like Guild Wars 2 and ArcheAge all feature books that fill in the backstory missing from the gameplay. I have to wonder whether books based on a game are as important to the game as, say, books are to games that were spawned by those very books -- I certainly don't think I'd appreciate Lord of the Rings Online quite so much if I hadn't read Tolkien.

So do you read game-related novels? Do you think they help you immerse yourself in the game, or do you just read them for fun?

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

The Daily Grind: Do you read MMO novels? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Upcoming book Stay Awhile and Listen delves into the history of Blizzard

Matt Daniel — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, News items, Miscellaneous

Are you into video games? Of course you are. Are you into history? Are you into Blizzard Entertainment? And perhaps most importantly, are you into books? If you answered yes to all of these questions, then you're probably a rather small subset of people, but luckily for you, we've got just the thing to fill that niche.

David L. Craddock's Stay Awhile and Listen is being published by Digital Monument Press, and if you're at all interested in how Blizzard came to be the industry powerhouse that it is today, it's probably worth a read. This isn't just some unofficial rag, though; Stay Awhile and Listen features input from a great number of Blizzard and Blizzard North developers. The book hits shelves, Nooks, Kindles, and Apple iBooks in Summer 2012.

[Source: Digital Monument Press press release]

Upcoming book Stay Awhile and Listen delves into the history of Blizzard originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Blogger raises funds for raiding guidebook

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Miscellaneous, Dungeons

Adam "Ferrel" Trzonkowski, author of The Guild Leader's Companion, is working hard on his follow-up book to assist MMO raiders. Titling his second guidebook The Raider's Companion, Trzonkowski is pairing up with artist Amanda Martin to create a book full of advice on how to tackle some of the toughest content in online gaming.

To help fund this project, Trzonkowski has launched a Kickstarter project to raise $4,000 that will go toward the expenses of publishing, art assets, marketing, and so on. If you find this a worthy project to assist, then your donation will make you eligible for a variety of rewards including signed copies of the book, hardback editions, and art prints. The Kickstarter project is well underway and will continue until November 25th.

You can read our previous interview with Trzonkowski his previous book and thoughts on guild leadership.

[Source: Epic Slant Press release]

Blogger raises funds for raiding guidebook originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

BioWare links SWTOR and KOTOR in a new novel

Larry Everett — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Lore, New titles, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Just about everyone who has played Knights of the Old Republic wants to know what happened to Revan after the game was done. After all, he was the main character for 60-plus hours of gameplay. Who wouldn't be attached? BioWare announced today that those fans will get their wishes fulfilled. Drew Karpyshyn, a principal writer for Star Wars: The Old Republic and author of the Bane novels, has set his pen to another Star Wars book. This one simply titled after its primary protagonist: Revan.

In an interview on the official SWTOR website, Karpyshyn gives us a tease as to how this novel will relate to the new MMORPG.

I think the novel will give them a much better understanding of the Sith Emperor and the Empire, for one thing. The Old Republic Sith Empire is very different from what people know from the movies, or even from the Great Hyperspace War comics that focus on characters like Naga Sadow and Ludo Kressh.

The novel will also give them some very direct background and detailed information that ties in directly with key Flashpoints in the game. I can't say too much, of course, but like any great prequel the books will give you the details of what came before to add an extra layer of depth to the experiences in the game.

Although he does not mention an exact date for the book's release, we do know that it will come later this year. This reporter hopes that it is before the release of SWTOR.

BioWare links SWTOR and KOTOR in a new novel originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Wars: The Old Republic fans get Deceived today

Larry Everett — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, New titles, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic

"Our time has come. For 300 years, we prepared; we grew stronger while you rested in your cradle of power believing your people were safe and protected. You were trusted to lead the Republic, but you were deceived."

These were the words that set off the chain of events in the very first Star Wars: The Old Republic trailer. That trailer introduced us to a pale Sith Lord named Darth Malgus, but who is this man? Is he a man at all? Paul S. Kemp weaves the words for Malgus' tale following the Sacking of Coruscant in the book Deceived. The 255-page novel hit store shelves today for the suggested retail price of $27.00 US for the hardback.

If you are looking for a glimpse into the book before you buy it, be sure to check out Massively's review of the novel, and follow after the break for a trailer put together specifically for the book's release.

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic fans get Deceived today

Star Wars: The Old Republic fans get Deceived today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

A sneak peek at RuneScape's Return to Canifis novel

Brendan Drain — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Lore, MMO industry, RuneScape, Free-to-play, Browser

At the end of this month, publisher Titan Books will be releasing the second installment in a new series of RuneScape novels. Return to Canifis tells the tale of a grim period in the city of Varrock's history. Citizens of Varrock are being kidnapped and killed by monsters from the corrupted lands of Morytania. An ancient prophecy also looms over the land, telling of a new king who will rule over Varrock and become lord of both the living and the dead. Fearing the prophecy's arrival, the King sends a band of adventurers to Canifis in the heart of Morytania.

Return to Canifis is the sequel to the earlier RuneScape novel Betrayal at Falador. This latest book in the series continues the story from the first book, but the author has been careful to keep the novel approachable for first-time readers. Here at Massively, we received an advance copy of the book to review and have been allowed to show our readers an exclusive chapter from the beginning of the novel. If you've been on the bench about whether to buy the novel, give our four-page prologue preview a read and decide whether you like what you see.

Read on to view the full prologue of RuneScape's Return to Canifis in four parts, complete with some exclusive author's commentary.

Continue reading A sneak peek at RuneScape's Return to Canifis novel

A sneak peek at RuneScape's Return to Canifis novel originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

RuneScape's Return to Canifis: First impressions

Brendan Drain — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Lore, MMO industry, Opinion, RuneScape, Free-to-play, Hands-on

Last year, publisher Titan Books released the first in a new series of novels based on free-to-play MMO RuneScape. Betrayal at Falador was well-received, with our own Rubi Bayer thoroughly enjoying the novel's story and its author's writing style. Author T.S. Church has since completed work on the novel's sequel, Return to Canifis, which is due to release at the end of the month. Massively was given an advance copy of the book, so I've spent most of this week ploughing through its pages.

When Rubi reviewed the first novel in this series, she found the book very approachable despite her limited experience with RuneScape itself. Although I've played a lot of RuneScape, I'm at a similar disadvantage as I haven't read the first novel in this series. Because of this, I got a good insight into how the storyline of the book holds up on its own and how approachable the novel is to people who haven't read the first book.

Skip past the cut to read my impressions of RuneScape's Return to Canifis.

Continue reading RuneScape's Return to Canifis: First impressions

RuneScape's Return to Canifis: First impressions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Second RuneScape novel "Return to Canifis" to be released this month

Brendan Drain — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Lore, MMO industry, News items, RuneScape, Free-to-play

In August of last year, Titan Books announced the beginning of a new series of novels set in the lands of free-to-play fantasy MMO RuneScape. The first novel, Betrayal at Falador, told a vivid tale from RuneScape's backstory using key characters from the game's lore and in-game quests. The book was well-received by both RuneScape veterans and new players just looking for a good read. Our own RuneScape novice Rubi Bayer had a blast reading the novel and being absorbed in the backstory of this popular browser MMO.

Fans of the first novel will be pleased to hear that its sequel, Return to Canifis, is due for release this month. The book will be in stores in the U.S. and Canada on March 22nd, with the UK release following on March 25th. Whereas the first book introduced the lore surrounding Falador, Return to Canafis takes the story to the city of Varrock. The citizens of Varrock are being stolen away to Morytania, the land of vampires, and the king sends an expedition to Canafis to get to the bottom of it. Stay tuned to Massively's RuneScape coverage this week for our in-depth review of the novel.

Second RuneScape novel "Return to Canifis" to be released this month originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Flameseeker Chronicles: Recap and review of Edge of Destiny

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles

Welcome to 2011! I, along with pretty much the entire Guild Wars fanbase, am incredibly excited about what this year is going to bring to both Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2.

There's a lot in store, so I want to start the new year by looking at the thing that finished 2010 and brought us into 2011: Edge of Destiny. Of course, there are spoilers galore, so if you're one of the few who hasn't read the book, be warned.

They're all past the cut, so follow along and let's look at Edge of Destiny.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Recap and review of Edge of Destiny

Flameseeker Chronicles: Recap and review of Edge of Destiny originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

SWTOR devs answer your questions and release a preview for Deceived

Larry Everett — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, PvP, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Dev Diaries

It's Friday again. That means the community team at BioWare has been working frantically all week to give you a tidbit of Star Wars: The Old Republic that will leave you satisfied yet still aching for more. With the release of Jedi and Tython impressions earlier this week, it was going to be hard to top the plethora of information streaming from that event. However, the team has come very close.

We start with the monthly Friday update in which developers answer player questions: Studio Insider. On top of the behind the scenes article about building Coruscant by World Designer Eric Young, Director of Production Dallas Dickinson answered 10 fan questions. The questions that stood out to this reporter were the PvP related questions, and the interesting one was a question about leveling with just PvP. Dickinson stated, "We're big fans of multiple gameplay paths -- we don't want to force you to do one thing to advance. That means you'll level up whether you're playing PvE or PvP."

The teaser of information doesn't stop there. The Official Star Wars website released chapter two of Deceived, the novel by Paul S. Kemp, to the public. This portion of the book leads the reader through Darth Malgus' attack on the Jedi Temple as seen in the SWTOR trailer. If the book intrigues you, Massively was able to review an advanced copy of the book, and chapter one is also available for your personal review.

It's an exciting SWTOR weekend!

SWTOR devs answer your questions and release a preview for Deceived originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

RuneScape's Betrayal at Falador: Impressions of a newbie

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, MMO industry, RuneScape, Free-to-play

The first RuneScape novel, Betrayal at Falador, will be released October 12th. If you were a RuneScape fan a few years back, you may be a little confused, seeing as how this novel came out back in 2008. That version was a limited release hardcover, and fans have been hoping for a wider publication since then.

This version is a mass-market paperback, so if you missed the tale the first time around, you're in luck! If this is all news to you -- Runescape fan or no -- follow along after the cut to see what my first impressions of the novel are.

Continue reading RuneScape's Betrayal at Falador: Impressions of a newbie

RuneScape's Betrayal at Falador: Impressions of a newbie originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

A Dust 514 novel may be in the works

Brendan Drain — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Lore, MMO industry, News items, MMOFPS, DUST 514

Development studio CCP Games has been in the news a lot this year with their ambitious MMOFPS project codenamed Dust 514. When it's released, Dust will actually tie into the studio's current MMO EVE Online. Dust players will hire themselves out to EVE players as mercenaries, their combined aim being to dominate territories on a planet's surface. The first steps toward this unique integration of two MMOs in the same concurrent universe came with EVE Online's Dominion and Tyrannis expansions. Dominion gave EVE players a new Sovereignty framework, which will later be adapted to include planets as strategic points of interest. In the recent Tyrannis expansion, the planets of EVE began producing resources worthy of domination, ensuring that players will fight over them once it becomes possible.

Continue reading A Dust 514 novel may be in the works

A Dust 514 novel may be in the works originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Guild Wars Ghosts of Ascalon: Impressions from a lore nerd

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, New titles, Reviews, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Massively Hands-on

On July 27th, Guild Wars lore nerds the world over will be rejoicing. Why? Because that's when the first book in the Guild Wars trilogy of novels will be released. Ghosts of Ascalon is the book that we've been waiting years for, as it was first announced at PAX08. It will just begin to explain a bit more about that 250-year gap between the storyline of the original Guild Wars and that of the upcoming Guild Wars 2.

We were fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of Ghosts of Ascalon last week, which I tore through at record speed -- not because of this embargo deadline today, but because it was just that good. Follow along after the jump to read my impressions of the first book in a series that will introduce us to the lore of Guild Wars 2.

Continue reading Guild Wars Ghosts of Ascalon: Impressions from a lore nerd

Guild Wars Ghosts of Ascalon: Impressions from a lore nerd originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fiction book features world domination via MMOs

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, Culture, News items

With the world of creative fiction creating these bizarre, unrealistic stories about video games and how they magically kill people, it's a breath of refreshing air when something comes along that defies the usual conventions. The new techno-thriller novel Daemon by Daniel Suarez is one of those books that escapes from the usual traps of writing about video games.

Daemon features a story about a dead game designer who rigs up multiple programs to run on the condition of finding his name in a obituary RSS feed. Programs that twist enough electronic mediums in just the right way to automatically steal identities, move money, recruit people, and even kill. And where is this virus hidden? In the dead game designer's MMO, of course!

Daemon stays in the realm of plausibility via its writer, Suarez, who has a career as a IT consultant and is an avid gamer. While it originally had publishing difficulties, the book has picked up steam and is now available on his website through companies like Borders, Barnes & Noble, and others. So, when you're waiting during that next raid for your priest to show up and you have nothing else to do, why not give reading this book a go?

[Via The Escapist]

Fiction book features world domination via MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Digital Continuum: Moria or Wrath?

Kyle Horner — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Opinion, The Digital Continuum

Standing in the tiny store, I found myself at a crossroads. I'd put a lot of thought into this, but now that the decision was starting back at me, it seemed much more daunting. The question kept repeating in my head, "Do I buy Wrath, or Moria?" The financially devoid part of my brain enthusiastically yelled, "Both!" while the logical part reminded me that my time was already stretched fairly thin and that trying to dive into two new expansions would probably not be a wise move.

Decisions, decisions.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Moria or Wrath?

The Digital Continuum: Moria or Wrath? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

EVE Chronicle: Masks of Authority

James Egan — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Lore, Races, Roleplaying

Most EVE Online players wouldn't characterize themselves as roleplayers. Simply by piloting their ships as capsuleers -- whether it's to make New Eden a safer place, or to lay waste to every unfortunate soul that crosses their path -- all EVE players assume a role of sorts. However, for those who prefer greater immersion, one of the real strengths of EVE Online is the depth and breadth of its backstory, which provides a gritty setting for players to delve into, should they choose to.

The latest EVE Chronicle provides a look within New Eden's power structures that goes beyond the heads of the four races. "Masks of Authority" sheds more light on the corporate paradigm that governs one's life as a Caldari player in EVE, a system overpowered by the Chief Executive Panel -- eight megacorporations whose collective wealth and influence makes or breaks the lives of all Caldari citizens.

Continue reading EVE Chronicle: Masks of Authority

EVE Chronicle: Masks of Authority originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Empyrean Age Q&A with author Tony Gonzales

James Egan — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Expansions, Interviews, Lore, News items

TenTonHammer has done a well-timed interview with Tony Gonzales, Lead Writer for EVE Online, who as of next week will be the published author of a sci-fi novel titled The Empyrean Age. The novel ties in with the namesake game expansion that CCP rolled out just days ago; both the novel and the game deal with the strife of all-out galactic warfare between the four races of New Eden.

Gonzales talks about how he began as a volunteer writer for CCP Games, churning out fan fiction a cut above the rest and catching CCP's eye in the process. He discusses the challenges of making The Empyrean Age novel accessible to any fan of sci-fi, particularly those who are not familiar with the setting of EVE Online and the serendipity of 'being at the right place at the right time.' Have a look at the TenTonHammer interview and get an idea of the universal conflict Tony Gonzales brings to readers and gamers alike in The Empyrean Age. If you're interested in a sneak peak before the June 19 release date, TenTonHammer also has an excerpt from the novel at their site.

Via EVE Online

The Empyrean Age Q&A with author Tony Gonzales originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New book showcases the sociology of WoW

Shawn Schuster — Wed, 21 May 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Game mechanics, Reviews, Opinion, Academic, Education

With over 10 million players strong (and growing), it seems that anything associated with World of Warcraft would be an instant success. We're talking movies, merchandise, novels and anything else Blizzard decides to license. But what about a book detailing WoW from several different sociological and psychological standpoints? Would it be directed at the correct target audience?

In the recently published Digital Culture, Play, and Identify: A World of Warcraft Reader, we see an amazing collaboration among several authors giving their own views of the game, separated by their own chapters of the book. There's one on the economic model of WoW, one on the concept of virtual death and even one on how WoW could be considered a playground for feminism. So if you're into more than just teh phat lootz in your MMO of choice (WoW or not), and the actual sociology of the game is of interest to you, take a look at this book available now on Amazon.

New book showcases the sociology of WoW originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 May 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Lore-to-go?

Krystalle Voecks — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lore, Opinion, The Daily Grind

To some people, lore in MMOs is very important. Others may not really have a great deal of time to dig into the game, and thus are likely missing lots and lots of great back-story. We know in our case, the novelization of the Warcraft universe has made for pretty interesting reading when on lunch hour or stuck in airports. (If there is an audiobook version out there, we'd recommend that more for sheer portability.) We also can't help but think that those LotRO folks have the unfair advantage on the rest of us; they have a good solid idea of what's going on before they ever step foot in the game -- assuming they've ever read the books. For today we'd like to ask you this; if game companies made the lore of your world available in book or audiobook format, would you be inclined to check it out? Or is the idea of reading up on the lore not something you'd do when there are so many sites out there that give you the necessary strategies and information in bite-sized packages? Have you, like us, already gotten your geek on with some of the lore books? How did you like them?

The Daily Grind: Lore-to-go? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Second Life: In-World Travel Guide launch party

Akela Talamasca — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:30:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, Culture, Events, in-game, Guides, Launches, New titles, News items, Second Life, Free-to-play, Maps, Virtual worlds

Sean Voss, owner and curator of Landmark Island, the Second Life tour guide destination, will be giving away 3 copies of his book 'Second Life In-World Travel Guide' at his launch party on January 12th at 6 PM SLT. From the press release:

'This book offers more then 100 of the best locations in Second Life in the areas of Shopping, Entertainment, Education, Real Life in Second Life, and many more. Quickly climbing various sales charts, the initial issue of this title was available exclusively on Amazon.com. The first shipment sold out before all pre-orders were filled.' Great news, Sean! Additionally, all visitors will recieve a complimentary prize pack including an in world, signed, preview copy of the Second Life: In World Travel Guide just for visiting! This will be a great event, with music by DJ
DoubleDown Tandino. I'll be getting a copy of the book soon, so a review is on its way, but don't wait for me -- order your own copy today.

[Thanks, Delaynie!]

Second Life: In-World Travel Guide launch party originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

LotRO Book 11: Defenders of Eriador notes and release date

Matt Warner — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Expansions, Patches, Previews

It's official! Book 11 has a name and an upcoming October 24, 2007 due date in North America and October 25, 2007 in Europe. Best of all, it's free to download -- zilch -- zero -- nada -- did I mention it won't cost a thing? Shiny, new, precious Book 11. We wants it. There's so much stuff crammed into Book 11 if you have been waiting for new content the wait was worthwhile, keep reading for the skinny.

Home, sweet home the Middle Earth way. Player-housing is probably the biggest undertaking for a free content update and the developers didn't skimp on the overall implementation. The biggest thing to get right with player-housing is that the elves and dwarves don't live in the same straw huts on a beach somewhere. The developers whole-heartedly agree since there are four different racially-styled homesteads that feature a distinctive Middle Earth architectural style and environment. When it comes to room there's plenty of plots around with 250 neighborhoods to each homestead, so all the hobbits can all live happily ever after and frolic on one giant bed after adventure hour just like in the movie -- I'm sorry, don't hurt me. Don't like your homeland? No problem, you don't have to be a hobbit to live in The Shire. If an elf decides to move in with my dwarven renegade and brings any of that elf culture with em', I'm setting up a neighborhood watch. Kinships won't be left out of the house either and various decorations ranging from paint to taxidermy and even music to help you clutter your new digs and set the mood for that special occasion. Lots and lots of good stuff for the crafters to keep them busy clicking and housing won't be about just the looks, being a home-owner also comes with a few other lucrative benefits.

If playing house isn't your thing and you are more into wielding something other than a paint brush Book 11 has you covered with The Rift Nûrz Ghâshu. A new large underground dungeon filled with adventure for up to 12 players. That's not the only high-level content planned either. Also on the endless chapters in Book 11 is a ton of monster play enhancements and a little trip down yonder to the new Goblin-town! For the classes, this time around the Minstrel and Lore-Master see some love with numerous skill updates including a new pet for Lore-masters and Minstrels will be able to train others in their musical ways, which sounds really neat.

LotRO Book 11: Defenders of Eriador notes and release date originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments