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[The Daily Grind: Do you miss player-written books in MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/the-daily-grind-do-you-miss-player-written-books-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/the-daily-grind-do-you-miss-player-written-books-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/10/the-daily-grind-do-you-miss-player-written-books-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ultima Online
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!

MassivelyThe 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]]>bookbooksbrianna-royce-tdgclassic-mmodaily-grindeaelectronic-artseq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playlord-britishmj-guthriemythicmythic-entertainmentopinionplayer-written-bookplayer-written-bookssandboxsandparksoesonysony-online-entertainmenttdgthe-daily-grindultimaultima onlineuoSat, 10 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Six must-haves for creative expression]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/some-assembly-required-six-must-haves-for-creative-expression/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/some-assembly-required-six-must-haves-for-creative-expression/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/some-assembly-required-six-must-haves-for-creative-expression/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required header
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

MassivelySome 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]]>appearance-slotsbookbookscreativitydecoratingdungeon-makeremotesEQ2EverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedgame-mechanicshousingopinionperformancepgcplayer-booksplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentplayer-housingplayer-written-booksquest-builderroleplayRolePlayingrpsandboxsarSOEsome-assembly-requiredSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-galaxiesswgterraformingvanguardwritingxsyonxsyon-preludeFri, 02 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Drew Karpyshyn set to pen another Star Wars: The Old Republic novel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/drew-karpyshyn-set-to-pen-another-star-wars-the-old-republic-no/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/drew-karpyshyn-set-to-pen-another-star-wars-the-old-republic-no/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/drew-karpyshyn-set-to-pen-another-star-wars-the-old-republic-no/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's probably not set on Taris, but doesn't the planet look kind of pretty from this art?
Drew Karpyshyn, a lead writer for Star Wars: The Old Republic and the author of the tie-in novel Revan, is no longer with BioWare. That's old news. What might be somewhat more surprising news is that he is still penning novels for the game, with new information about the second novel having finally surfaced from a Facebook posting by Del Ray Books. If you've been eagerly awaiting more details about the bridge between Knights of the Old Republic and the MMO's setting, it's your lucky day.

Titled Annihilation, the novel will focus on agent Theron Shan and his companion Teff'ith as they investigate an Imperial counterattack spearheaded by an apprentice of Darth Malgus. The posting goes on to confirm that the novel is currently on target for release on November 13th of this year. So if you can't get enough of your story in the game, it looks like it won't be too much longer until you can get even more story out of game as well.

MassivelyDrew Karpyshyn set to pen another Star Wars: The Old Republic novel originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-austinbioware-mythicbooksdel-ray-booksdrew-karpyshyneaea-biowareelectronic-artsfictiongame-fictionsnewsnovelsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictie-in-novelstorWed, 29 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: I hope you like PvE stuff]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/flameseeker-chronicles-i-hope-you-like-pve-stuff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/flameseeker-chronicles-i-hope-you-like-pve-stuff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/flameseeker-chronicles-i-hope-you-like-pve-stuff/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 folks: What a week it's been, am I right? After the flood of impressions and videos after the select press embargo lifted, ArenaNet decided to whip fans into a veritable frenzy by accepting beta signups from Wednesday to Friday. Fan response was insane -- over 1,000,000 signups in under 50 hours. While a few cool kids on the internet have tried to scoff at that number, I really can't -- it's just staggering to me.

If you were on vacation, sick, or hiding under your pet rock between Wednesday and Friday, I'm sorry -- there was a lot going on. You might consider checking out ArenaNet's blog post to catch up, as there's now a link roundup for your convenience. It's like the team wants you to be able to find out stuff about this game it eventually wants you to buy. Next the devs will be making themselves available for question-pelting on Reddit in an effort to promote clear and rapid comm-- oh wait.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: I hope you like PvE stuff

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: I hope you like PvE stuff originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbooksfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-previewgw1gw2kristin-perrymapsncsoftopinionpersonalityTue, 28 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard job listing mentions 'product placement' within its next MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/blizzard-job-listing-mentions-product-placement-within-their-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/blizzard-job-listing-mentions-product-placement-within-their-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/blizzard-job-listing-mentions-product-placement-within-their-n/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Activision Blizzard
When details of Blizzard's upcoming casual MMO, code-named Titan, are incredibly scarce due to the developer's ironclad secrecy, it falls to enterprising fans to ferret out any scraps of information that may exist. One such player on the NeoGAF forums was combing through a Blizzard job posting for a Franchise Development Producer and noted an interesting line that indicated the studio could be mulling over the idea of in-game ads for its next MMO.

The line in question specifies that one of the duties of the position is to "work with major consumer brands to facilitate product placement and licensing within the world of Blizzard Entertainment's next-gen MMO that enhances the gameplay experience." Whether this is a sign that we'll be seeing billboards for Skittles while we raid or that players will be able to get endorsements and decorate their outfits a la NASCAR cars is anyone's guess.

It's important to note that the rest of this position entails a number of efforts to promote Blizzard's "next-gen MMO" outside of the tight-knit gaming sphere, including comics, action figures, and short movies.

MassivelyBlizzard job listing mentions 'product placement' within its next MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-figuresadsadvertisingblizzardbookscasual-mmofranchise-development-producerin-game-adsmoviesnext-gen-mmorumorshort-moviesskittlesspeculationtitanMon, 23 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you read MMO novels?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/the-daily-grind-do-you-read-mmo-novels/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/the-daily-grind-do-you-read-mmo-novels/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/the-daily-grind-do-you-read-mmo-novels/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

SWTOR: Revan
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!

MassivelyThe 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]]>archeagebookbooksbrianna-royce-tdgddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineGuild-Wars-2gw2novelnovelsopinionstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortdgthe-daily-grindthe-old-republictorWorld-of-WarcraftwowSat, 03 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Upcoming book Stay Awhile and Listen delves into the history of Blizzard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/upcoming-book-stay-awhile-and-listen-delves-into-the-history-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/upcoming-book-stay-awhile-and-listen-delves-into-the-history-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/31/upcoming-book-stay-awhile-and-listen-delves-into-the-history-of/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Hello, my friend. Stay awhile and listen...
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]

MassivelyUpcoming 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]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentblizzard-northbookbooksdavid-l-craddockdigital-monument-pressstay-awhile-and-listenMon, 31 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Recap and review of Edge of Destiny]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/03/flameseeker-chronicles-recap-and-review-of-edge-of-destiny/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/03/flameseeker-chronicles-recap-and-review-of-edge-of-destiny/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/03/flameseeker-chronicles-recap-and-review-of-edge-of-destiny/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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

MassivelyFlameseeker 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.

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As part of its recent Gamer Day event, Trion Worlds invited Massively back to its studio for another look at Rift: Planes of Telara. Having now been to two of these Gamer Day events, I can say without a doubt that last week's was the more festive -- the player-community leaders and swarm of devs certainly made the whole experience much more wild than the first and reminded me that I was supposed to be having fun (not just studiously taking notes for you lovely readers, although I did that too!).

Since this was my second day-long hands-on with the game (the first being last summer when I got to check out Rift's dynamic content), I thought it best to focus on two areas: improvements to systems I'd seen before, and totally new elements I hadn't seen at all (like the Guardian starting zone, PvP, UI enhancements, Deepstrike Mines, and several new souls including Riftblades, Bards, and Wardens!). Follow along after the break for my second impressions of this MMO that continues to surprise me with its glittering shine of polish.

Gallery: RIFT: Core Gallery

Continue reading Hands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara at Gamer Day II

MassivelyHands-on with Rift: Planes of Telara at Gamer Day II originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphabardbattlegroundsbooksclericCollectionsdeath-penaltydeepstrike-minesfactionsfeaturedFirst-Impressionsgamers-dayguardianhands-onhealinghousinginstancesnewbie-zonesnicholas-mcdowellopinionprestige-rankpvpriftrift-planes-of-telarariftbladescott-hartsmansecond-impressionSoulsstarting-zoneswimmingtriontrion-worldsuser-interfacewardenwarfrontwarfrontswater-mageTue, 16 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RuneScape's Betrayal at Falador: Impressions of a newbie]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/04/runescapes-betrayal-at-falador-impressions-of-a-newbie/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/04/runescapes-betrayal-at-falador-impressions-of-a-newbie/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/04/runescapes-betrayal-at-falador-impressions-of-a-newbie/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

MassivelyRuneScape'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.

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Dune sandworm
MMORPGs often take their inspiration from existing intellectual properties including novels, films, and even pre-existing games. A few of the comments on yesterday's edition of The Daily Grind got us to thinking about untapped IPs that could conceivably be made into online games. Whether they should be made into online games is another thing entirely.

Take George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire opus, by most accounts one of the landmarks of fantasy literature and an absurdly detailed feat of world- and character-building. Would it make a great MMO? Eh, I'm not so sure. The ground-work would certainly be there, but at the end of the day, it would likely turn into some sort of faction grind, skill grind, or level grind, and much of the human drama that makes the books what they are would be lost. A similar fate might befall Frank Herbert's Dune, another genre classic based in a world that lends itself to game settings, but again featuring a narrative driven by memorable characters, not PvP, questing, or lulz-worthy avatar names.

What do you think, Massively readers? Would you like to see your favorite world given the MMO treatment, or are you skeptical that it would be the same old same old with new skins and a built-in audience?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Would you like to see your favorite IP as an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookschampionschampions-onlineintellectual-propertylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromoviesopinionsong-of-ice-and-firestar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-daily-grindSun, 22 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have MMOs prompted you to read books?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/the-daily-grind-have-mmos-prompted-you-to-read-books/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/the-daily-grind-have-mmos-prompted-you-to-read-books/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/the-daily-grind-have-mmos-prompted-you-to-read-books/#commentsFiled under: ,

There's no denying the fact that MMORPGs come with a lot of reading built-in (Exhibit A: the quest text box). But for some folks, they can't get enough of their favorite MMO and look to read about the world elsewhere. Perhaps it's the desire to stay connected with the online world even when you can't be near a computer, or perhaps you want to learn more about the lore and backstory of the places and people you encounter in your daily gaming sessions.

Whatever reason it might be, have MMOs prompted you to pick up and read a book based on the same world? Has an MMO gotten you excited enough about an IP that you've gone back and read novels that the game is based on, such as The Lord of the Rings or Conan the Barbarian? Or did you dive into paperbacks derived from the MMO, like the Warcraft series or the new Star Trek Online novel, The Needs of the Many? Or are you eagerly snatching up books based on upcoming MMOs to tide you over, such as Guild Wars 2's Ghosts of Ascalon and The Old Republic's Fatal Alliance?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Have MMOs prompted you to read books? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanbooksfatal-allianceghosts-of-ascalonGuild-Wars-2lord-of-the-rings-onlinelotronovelizationnovelsstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-the-old-republicstotdgthe-needs-of-the-manythe-old-republictorwarcraftThu, 01 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Second Life detective pens Second Life detective novel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/06/second-life-detective-pens-second-life-detective-novel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/06/second-life-detective-pens-second-life-detective-novel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/06/second-life-detective-pens-second-life-detective-novel/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Operating since about 2007, Flick Faulds has run a detective agency in Second Life, though not all of his operations were in the virtual environment. It's only natural (considering that every user is outside of Second Life) that investigations led outside as well.

After quite some time operating, and a bunch of cases behind his belt, Faulds has revealed himself to be Peter May, award-winning Glaswegian-born novelist. May's particularly notable for his deep research for his China Thrillers series and his Enzo Files series.

Continue reading Second Life detective pens Second Life detective novel

MassivelySecond Life detective pens Second Life detective novel originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookschina-thrillersenzo-filesflick-fauldspeter-maypoisoned-pen-pressvirtually-deadWed, 06 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Does playing an MMO pique your interest about its origins?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/18/the-daily-grind-does-playing-an-mmo-pique-your-interest-about-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/18/the-daily-grind-does-playing-an-mmo-pique-your-interest-about-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/18/the-daily-grind-does-playing-an-mmo-pique-your-interest-about-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


MMOs are rarely stand-alone entities; there are exceptions of course but most are created thanks to a fan base from some other medium. Some, like WoW, are based on older games (often completely different types of games like an RTS or RPG) with a rich mythology that lends themselves perfectly to transcend its original form and become an MMO. Others, like Age of Conan and Star Trek, have their origins in novels, film franchises or even a TV series. I know, I know, I'm still waiting and living in hope of that Firefly MMO just like the rest of you.

So my question for you is this: Do you play an MMO because of where it came from? Are you a Trekkie who is dying to captain your own ship? Did you play Warcraft back in the days of The Frozen Throne and gravitate naturally to the MMO? On the flipside, did the lore of LotRO make you want to read Tolkien's books? For you, what came first, the origins or the game?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Does playing an MMO pique your interest about its origins? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-hyborian-adventuresaocbooksfilmslord-of-the-rings-onlinelorelotrommo-originsstar-trekstar-trek-onlinethe-daily-grindtolkientv-seriesworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 18 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First Guild Wars trilogy novel titled and given unofficial release date]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/01/first-guild-wars-trilogy-novel-titled-and-given-unofficial-relea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/01/first-guild-wars-trilogy-novel-titled-and-given-unofficial-relea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/01/first-guild-wars-trilogy-novel-titled-and-given-unofficial-relea/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


You may remember back during our coverage of PAX 08 last year when we reported on ArenaNet's announcement of a Guild Wars book trilogy, set up to explain the lore between Guild Wars 1 and Guild Wars 2. Recently, Ravious at Kill Ten Rats wrote a great post compiling the information we have now, combined with some brand new info on what looks to be the first novel in that trilogy.

Guild Wars: Fall of Ascalon by Matt Forbeck is set to release on or around February 23, 2010. What's even more interesting is some speculation from a GW fan concerning what may be the second book, possibly being penned by J. Robert King, also for release in 2010. Of course this begs the question of timeline. Are these three books all being written at the same time, to be released around the same time, or will they be written and released well into 2011? As far as we know, Guild Wars 2 won't come out until these books have all been released, so with the first book coming out in February of next year, we probably won't hear anything new about Guild Wars 2 until then, at least.

MassivelyFirst Guild Wars trilogy novel titled and given unofficial release date originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetbooksfall-of-ascalonguild-warsguild-wars-2gwmatt-forbecktrilogyWed, 01 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you read MMO novels?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/the-daily-grind-do-you-read-mmo-novels/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/the-daily-grind-do-you-read-mmo-novels/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/the-daily-grind-do-you-read-mmo-novels/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Most of us play MMOs for the social interaction among real people from all over the world. Sitting alone reading a book or comic book is not exactly the most social activity, but most of our largest MMO IPs began as books in some form or another. Since then, it's the games themselves that have spawned books or graphic novels. World of Warcraft has a whole collection of literature to choose from. Warhammer Online recently released their second book in the Age of Reckoning series: Dark Storm Gathering. Even the Guild Wars universe is getting its own novel series to tie in the events of GW 1 and the upcoming GW 2.

So we want to know if you enjoy your favorite MMO enough to read the paperback novel version when you're not online. If so, which are your favorites? Are these books solid enough to stand on their own, or would the specific game's players be the only target audience? Let us know!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you read MMO novels? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookscomic-booksdark-storm-gatheringgraphic-novelnovelthe-daily-grindwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 14 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine marches to the beat of its own drum, continued yearly expansions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/turbine-marches-to-the-beat-of-its-own-drum-continued-yearly-ex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/turbine-marches-to-the-beat-of-its-own-drum-continued-yearly-ex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/04/turbine-marches-to-the-beat-of-its-own-drum-continued-yearly-ex/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Executive producer for Lord of the Rings Online Jeffrey Steefel doesn't seem to have any interest in mimicking his companies competitors. He recently told gamesindustry.biz, "We have been driving our content strategy based on our game and our audience," adding, "What other folks do is driven by their needs." You really do have to appreciate a company that knows where its livelihood lies.

So players can expect the same amount of book updates and further yearly expansions, which sounds like it can only be a good thing for a game that at launch was often tagged with the, "Not enough to do at end-game" complaint. It doesn't seem like that's ever going to become a problem again, however.

Check out our latest episode of Massively Speaking, featuring a discussion with none other than Jeffrey Steefel himself!

MassivelyTurbine marches to the beat of its own drum, continued yearly expansions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booksexpansionexpansionsgamesindustry.bizlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriapatchesturbineupdatesThu, 04 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Moria or Wrath?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/29/the-digital-continuum-moria-or-wrath/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/29/the-digital-continuum-moria-or-wrath/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/29/the-digital-continuum-moria-or-wrath/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


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?

MassivelyThe 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]]>bookbooksfeaturedjoystiqfeatureslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriaopinionrune-keeperthe-digital-continuumturbinewardenwotlkwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingSat, 29 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine: Horsemanship to become "important" when LotRO reaches Rohan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/turbine-horsemanship-to-become-important-when-lotro-reaches-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/turbine-horsemanship-to-become-important-when-lotro-reaches-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/turbine-horsemanship-to-become-important-when-lotro-reaches-r/#comments Alright, it's time for that gaming industry tradition of speculation based on vague quotes from developers! In an interview with Ten Ton Hammer, The Lord of the Rings Online executive producer Jeffrey Steefel spoke about future updates to the game, saying that the best is yet to come because now that Turbine has moved into Moria, the really interesting and fully-fleshed-out stuff from Tolkien's source material is only a few steps away.

Among those interesting things is the land of Rohan, which fans of the books and movies will remember is a kingdom that prides itself on breeding and grooming the finest horses in Middle-earth. Steefel went on to say: "When we get to Rohan, does horsemanship become important? Yeah! Us and our horses would be strung up if we got to Rohan someday and didn't pay attention to horses. And it's just a matter of when."

Mounts in LotRO have admittedly always been a bit basic (but in a good way!), so this could mean any number of things, but perhaps the most exciting possibility would be Age of Conan-esque mounted combat. Go ahead and meditate on that for a bit, and read the interview for a few more vague quotes about the future of LotRO and the company's console plans if you feel compelled.

MassivelyTurbine: Horsemanship to become "important" when LotRO reaches Rohan originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookshorsehorsemanshiphorsesinterviewjeffrey-steefellord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriamountmountsriders-of-rohanrohanrumorspeculationturbineMon, 24 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively.com giveaway: Warhammer storytelling pack 1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/massively-com-giveaway-warhammer-storytelling-pack-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/massively-com-giveaway-warhammer-storytelling-pack-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/massively-com-giveaway-warhammer-storytelling-pack-1/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The lore of Warhammer is deep, rich, and colorful. Today we have two chances for you to explore that lore firsthand. This first giveaway offers up two tomes: the Warhammer Online graphic novel Prelude to War, and the novelization of the MMO entitled Empire in Chaos. Between the two books this pack is worth about $35. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling us what your favorite Warhammer feature is. Are you a Scenarios nut, or did you subscribe because of the epic Public Quests?

You'll need to comment before 7:00 AM EST Sunday, November 9th. You can only enter once per person, and after the contest closes we'll ship out these fantastic prizes to one randomly-selected winner. Give us at least a week to ship out this massive pile of swag, though. To win you must be age 18 or up and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec). For full eligibility details, we suggest you read our official rules. Good luck!

MassivelyMassively.com giveaway: Warhammer storytelling pack 1 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booksfeaturedgraphic-novelmassively-giveawaysmythic-entertainmentwarwarhammer-onlineFri, 07 Nov 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO MMOnkey: What to do when the Age of Conan servers are down]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/mmo-mmonkey-what-to-do-when-the-age-of-conan-servers-are-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/mmo-mmonkey-what-to-do-when-the-age-of-conan-servers-are-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/mmo-mmonkey-what-to-do-when-the-age-of-conan-servers-are-down/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Art by Gary Gianni from The Bloody Crown of Conan
Your Tempest of Set has been set down and your Dark Templar's gone dark. You've really gotten into this whole Conan thing but the Age of Conan servers are down for maintenance. Now what are you going to do? Well, you're sitting at your computer so you could check out the wealth of online forums, fansites, wikis, whatever, that are devoted to the game. But if you really want to dig into Conan and his world you're in luck because there has never been a better time to immerse yourself in Hyboria.

Of course, the best way to learn about Conan is to read the stories written by Robert E. Howard. Howard completed 21 Conan stories between 1932 and his suicide in 1936. Although his writing style may sound somewhat stilted and some of the cultural attitudes about women and non-Europeans prevalent when he lived may be offensive to the modern reader, his work holds up remarkably well. Howard was an exceptionally evocative and imaginative writer with a marked ability to bring his extravagant settings to life. There's a reason why the creation of a pulp fiction author living in a small rural Texas town has not only survived for decades but has become so well known that it's the basis for a best-selling MMO from a game company based in Norway. The original Conan stories are well written and exciting. The problem has been finding them.

Continue reading MMO MMOnkey: What to do when the Age of Conan servers are down

MassivelyMMO MMOnkey: What to do when the Age of Conan servers are down originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanbooksconanfeaturedfrank-frazettajoystiqfeatureslorereference-booksrobert-e-howardMon, 09 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Book review: Second Life In-World Travel Guide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/book-review-second-life-in-world-travel-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/book-review-second-life-in-world-travel-guide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/book-review-second-life-in-world-travel-guide/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Second Life In-World Travel Guide is a book written by Sean Percival (Sean Voss in Second Life -- previously covered here), published by Que. I recently got a copy and was unable to put it down. Now, this was partly because it's photo-heavy, but also because it's pared down to the absolute necessities of the information you need to make the most out of your SL experience. This is a good thing. With a guide book like this, you don't want a great deal of exposition; you want to find what you need and go, and this book accomplishes that task with style.

While it may seem like a rather slim volume, you'll discover that this is because the content offers up only the best of the best in shopping, entertainment, education, the real world mirrored in SL, adult areas, and locations to set up your second home. Each of these is given its own section, color-coded for easy navigation. The index in the back of the book is also handy for quickly locating exactly what you need.

Continue reading Book review: Second Life In-World Travel Guide

MassivelyBook review: Second Life In-World Travel Guide originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>book-reviewsbookssean-percivalsean-vossSLtravel-guidesWed, 06 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Optioning IP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/18/the-daily-grind-optioning-ip/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/18/the-daily-grind-optioning-ip/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/18/the-daily-grind-optioning-ip/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of the things we've often discussed behind the scenes here is what movie or comic book universe we thought would make a good setting for an MMO. There's been talk of both DC and Marvel's universe, which (hopefully) we'll see get off the ground. We've seen Star Wars (and hope to see it done again, only better this time), Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, and many others. But there are still ideas out there to be optioned, and some that could make for very interesting MMOs. My personal "want" would have to be a world based on Blade Runner. Yeah, yeah, not supposed to be a bunch of replicants on earth, etc. I know the holes in the storyline are a mile wide, but you have to admit it could be gorgeous. Still, there are lots of other movies and books out there to option. If someone put you in control of IP acquisition, what property would you immediately jump on and develop into an MMO?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Optioning IP originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booksfeaturedintellectual-propertyipmoviesthe-daily-grindTue, 18 Dec 2007 08:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Not reading enough books these days? Here's how to play and 'read' at the same time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/10/not-reading-enough-books-these-days-heres-how-to-play-and-rea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/10/not-reading-enough-books-these-days-heres-how-to-play-and-rea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/10/not-reading-enough-books-these-days-heres-how-to-play-and-rea/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you're anything like me, then you may find that the more engrossed you become in a particular MMO, the more your leisure time formerly spent on reading gets whittled away. Thankfully, our friends over at WoW Insider have come up with an excellent solution that doesn't involve helper monkeys, a secondary cyborg head, or time manipulation -- but feel free to go for any of these ideas too.

WI's fix for the problem is simple, but effective -- audiobooks. Sites like audible.com contain a large range of titles to choose from, and this way, instead of just listening to the same ambient sound collection replayed over and over during your next multiple-hour grind session, you could be catching up on the work of your favorite author. Aside from allowing you to keep up with your list of must-read books, you may even discover that what was previously a very tedious grind could become a lot easier, as your brain disengages from the repetitive in-game actions and focuses on your riveting audio novel.

So there you have it. Hopefully you didn't rush out to the pet shop after the first paragraph, and now have a practical way to keep on top of your reading while you play games. You can check out the full article at WI through the link below.

MassivelyNot reading enough books these days? Here's how to play and 'read' at the same time originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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