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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are petitions to resurrect MMOs a waste of time?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/the-daily-grind-are-petitions-to-resurrect-mmos-a-waste-of-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/the-daily-grind-are-petitions-to-resurrect-mmos-a-waste-of-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/the-daily-grind-are-petitions-to-resurrect-mmos-a-waste-of-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Tabula Rasa
We've received several tips over the last few weeks about a petition players are circulating in the hopes of resurrecting NCsoft's ill-fated MMO shooter Tabula Rasa. Even Richard Garriott himself tweeted about the campaign. But inside the Massively virtual offices, most of us just shrugged sadly. We've seen how these petitions go. Every once in a while, a sunsetted game returns from the dead, but MMO players are awash in petitions for games that never came back. Just ask the 21,845 gamers who signed the Save City of Heroes petition last autumn.

So what do you think -- are petitions to resurrect or save MMOs a waste of time? Or do you sign them anyway, just in case there's a tiny chance they might work?

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: Are petitions to resurrect MMOs a waste of time? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asherons-call-2brianna-royce-tdgcity-of-heroesdaily-grindopinionpetitionpetitionsrichard-garriottsunsetsunsetstabula-rasatdgthe-daily-grindFri, 14 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What must E3 deliver to MMO fans this year?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/the-daily-grind-what-must-e3-deliver-to-mmo-fans-this-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/the-daily-grind-what-must-e3-deliver-to-mmo-fans-this-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/the-daily-grind-what-must-e3-deliver-to-mmo-fans-this-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

E3 Map
The 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo kicks off next week, and Massively will be on the show floor feeding opinions and news and videos back to you this year as every year. Our lineup is more than respectable when it comes to upcoming MMOs; we'll be looking at blockbuster MMOs like The Elder Scrolls Online, WildStar, ArcheAge, and Final Fantasy XIV as well as up-and-comers like HEX and Black Gold, just to name a few.

But even with a full roster of games to preview, I've worried the last few years that E3 is being eclipsed, at least for MMO fans, by more player-friendly and MMO-friendly venues like PAX. What do you guys think -- am I wrong? What must E3 deliver to MMO fans specifically this year to seem more like a chance for the industry to showcase games in one convenient location and less like an advertising platform for the biggest companies as they trample each other with hype?

Bonus question: What, above all else, do you want Massively's attendees to focus on at E3 this year?

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: What must E3 deliver to MMO fans this year? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgconconventionconvention-coveragedaily-grinde3e3-2013electronic-entertainment-expoevent-coverageexpohypemassively-event-coverageopiniontdgthe-daily-grindFri, 07 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you use Kickstarter to pre-order MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-kickstarter-to-pre-order-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-kickstarter-to-pre-order-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-kickstarter-to-pre-order-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

TUG's ten-dollar kickstarter tier
In MJ's interview with TUG's Peter Salinas last week, Salinas said that the most interesting thing about the community reveal of Nerd Kingdom's sandbox MMO was just how many people consider Kickstarter to be a pre-order system instead of, you know, a way to kickstart a game they want to see made. This jibes with Massively columnist Brendan Drain's observations earlier this week that "the most popular reward level for video game Kickstarters is almost always the lowest-priced tier that provides a digital copy of the game."

I'm so guilty of this. I put exactly as much money into the TUG and Shroud of the Avatar Kickstarter pots as I had to in order to secure myself the cheapest pre-order copy of the games I could, but I didn't chip in for an Android game Kickstarter from a dev who couldn't offer the game .apk in any tier. I don't know whether I feel bad. I want to see the games made, and I willingly pay for my copy; I consider my discount a fair tradeoff for paying them years before I'll download a client. But that's my personal limit: a pittance and a vote of confidence, really. I'm guessing most gamers aren't so fabulously wealthy as to heavily fund indie games even if they wanted to, and those who could do so probably have a lot of other worthy non-gaming causes that take precedence.

So do you also take advantage of cheap pre-order tiers on Kickstarter? Do you hunt for the tier with exactly the right combination of swag? Or do you approach each Kickstarter knowing you want to donate a certain amount, regardless of what you get in return?

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 use Kickstarter to pre-order MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindkickstarteropinionpeter-salinaspre-ordershroud-of-the-avatartdgthe-daily-grindtugFri, 31 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When are rollbacks and wipes absolutely necessary?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-daily-grind-when-are-rollbacks-absolutely-necessary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-daily-grind-when-are-rollbacks-absolutely-necessary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-daily-grind-when-are-rollbacks-absolutely-necessary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

When are rollbacks absolutely necessary
In the last few weeks, two big games we cover on Massively have been slammed with exploits that have injured their respective economies: Diablo III and Neverwinter. In Diablo III's case, a gold duping bug apparently pumped insane amounts of cash into the economy. Neverwinter's exploits run the gamut from Foundry abuses to negative auction hall bids that don't consume gold to classes that can one-shot bosses making farming trivial. According to these claims, NW exploiters are making off with thousands of real-life dollars when cashing out their ill-gotten funds.

In both cases, players called for characters wipes and rollbacks, believing each exploit severe enough to merit a clean slate. But in Diablo III's case, while the studio dealt harshly with the exploiters, the developers disagreed with the need for wipes and do-overs, presumably having concluded that such drastic measures would impact the legit playerbase far more than would a dented economy. Neverwinter, on the other hand, chose to roll back the servers, causing widespread uproar.

That brings us to today's question: Which studio was right? How bad does an exploit have to be before character wipes and server rollbacks are absolutely necessary?

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: When are rollbacks and wipes absolutely necessary? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blizzardbrianna-royce-tdgcharacter-wipecryptic-studiosdaily-grinddiablo-3diablo-iiieconomyexploitexploitsneverwinteropinionperfect-world-entertainmentpwerollbackrollbacksserver-wipetdgthe-daily-grindwipewipesMon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do Kickstarter perks put you off from MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/the-daily-grind-do-kickstarter-perks-put-you-off-from-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/the-daily-grind-do-kickstarter-perks-put-you-off-from-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/the-daily-grind-do-kickstarter-perks-put-you-off-from-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Star Citizen art
Last week, drama swirled around Chris Roberts' Star Citizen pseudo-MMO when he announced and then clarified that certain early crowdfunders will receive lifetime insurance on their ships once the game launches. Potential players rightfully worried that such a move could taint the economy and create a special class of characters with pay-to-win perks that place everyone else at a serious disadvantage.

MMO players are becoming inured to the idea that Kickstarting a game might land them a poster or tattoo or title or even beta access, but non-cosmetic advantages seem to rile everyone up. It's one thing when Camelot Unchained offers special chat and another altogether when it promises big-time donors their own in-game islands. Then again, without such generous Kickstarter pledges, the games might never be made for the rest of us to play at all, so maybe the trade-off is worth it.

What do you think? Does it bother you that gamers with money can buy their way into godhood before a game is even made? Are there Kickstarter perks that put you off from future MMOs?

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 Kickstarter perks put you off from MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcamelot-unchainedchris-robertscrowdfundingdaily-grindislandkickstarteropinionpay-to-winship-insurancestar-citizentdgthe-daily-grindwhalesFri, 17 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should World of Warcraft go free-to-play?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/the-daily-grind-should-world-of-warcraft-go-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/the-daily-grind-should-world-of-warcraft-go-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/the-daily-grind-should-world-of-warcraft-go-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

World of Warcraft
There's only one Western subscription MMO that can stand to lose 1.3 million subs in three months and shrug it off: World of Warcraft. But shrug it off doesn't appear to what Activision-Blizzard is doing. During the investor call that revealed the heavy sub losses, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick acknowledged the changing market and his plans to adapt with speedier content. "It's important to note that the nature of online games has changed," he said, "and [that] the environment [is] becoming far more competitive, especially with free-to-play games." And Blizzard president Mike Morhaime suggested the company is "studying" the comings and goings of players and how to entice former players to return.

Well, we don't have to look much further than Star Wars: The Old Republic's recent rejuvenation to figure out that free-to-play is one of the better ways to entice gamers to return (and open their wallets). Surely, Blizzard has to be wondering whether F2P might be a huge boost to the game as it's approaching its ninth birthday later this year. What do you think -- will World of Warcraft eventually go free-to-play, and more importantly, should it?

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: Should World of Warcraft go free-to-play? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-Blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbobby-kotickbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindf2pfantasyfree-to-playinvestor-callMike-Morhaimeopinionreturning-playersstar-wars-the-old-republicsub-lossessubscriptionswtortdgthe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 10 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do sandboxes overwhelm you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/the-daily-grind-do-sandboxes-overwhelm-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/the-daily-grind-do-sandboxes-overwhelm-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/03/the-daily-grind-do-sandboxes-overwhelm-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Glitch
You've probably heard of the paradox of choice, the idea that the human brain can't really process more than a dozen or so choices at a time under certain circumstances. We get overwhelmed by too many choices, and sometimes we withdraw from choosing altogether. It's not always true -- Ben and Jerry's offers over a hundred flavors and seems to do just fine -- but I wonder whether it's the reason that some MMO gamers just do not get sandboxes.

An MMO sandbox dumps you in and is indifferent to what you do next. It won't hold your hand; it won't tell you where to go, what to be, or how to progress. In short, it presents hundreds of choices to you with no guidance and sometimes no context. I love this style of game, but given the sandbox struggles of the past few years, I admit it's potentially a problem. Glitch, for example, shut down in part because players, according to the devs, just didn't know what to do. And how many times have I read that someone quit Skyrim because he'd finished the main questline and thought it was over?

But then I'll bump into a blog about how someone spent 300 hours collecting all the cheese in Skyrim to build cheese mountain. Clearly, this problem is not universal.

So are you also building cheese mountain? Or do sandboxes overwhelm you with too many choices?

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 sandboxes overwhelm you? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindglitchopinionparadox-of-choicesandboxsandboxesskyrimtdgthe-daily-grindFri, 03 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Has an MMO ever implemented your idea?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/the-daily-grind-has-an-mmo-ever-implemented-your-idea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/the-daily-grind-has-an-mmo-ever-implemented-your-idea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/the-daily-grind-has-an-mmo-ever-implemented-your-idea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

City of Steam
Earlier this month, Massively's MJ sat down with the City of Steam devs and discovered that you, the Massively readers, had actually influenced one of the game mechanics. Wrote MJ,
There is one new feature that was put into game specifically because of Massively fans: jumping! That's right. You made it clear you wanted jumping in game, and the devs listened. Who says you don't have the power to change things?
Leaving aside the implication that we spent one of our precious wishes on jumping, I thought this was really cool, and I tried to think of other examples of players coming up with amazing (or not) design ideas that were subsequently implemented in a game. I can think of certain demands that were met in classic MMOs. World of Warcraft is infamous for implementing the most popular player mods as official features, and in more recent news, there are Guild Wars 2's efforts to split reset times for different continents after much player protest.

How about you? Has an MMO ever implemented your idea or the ideas of a fellow player?

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: Has an MMO ever implemented your idea? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgbring-back-precastingcity-of-steamdaily-grindgame-designGuild-Wars-2gw2ideaideasjumpingopinionplayer-ideastdgthe-daily-grindultima-onlineuoWorld-of-WarcraftwowFri, 26 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you like moddable MMORPGs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-moddable-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-moddable-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-moddable-mmorpgs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

WildStar
WildStar's announcement this week that closed beta players have already started modding the game's UI to their personal preferences got me wondering once again about whether MMO gamers have been influenced by games like World of Warcraft and Star Wars: The Old Republic when it comes to acceptance of modding.

As recently as last November, when SOE outlawed all mods in PlanetSide 2 -- including benign mods that enhanced graphics and FPS -- our commenters seemed split over whether mods were a good thing. One, who specifically singled out Diablo III and Guild Wars 2 as key offenders, argued that developers' "play it how we made it because we know best" attitude stifles player freedom. Another wrote that on the contrary, Guild Wars 2's anti-mod approach was the right one; he liked that everyone is made to play with the same interface because "the fact [that] you almost need different UIs and addons for endgame in WoW" is a turn off.

So let's take this topic's current temperature: Do you like moddable MMORPGs? Why or why not?

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 like moddable MMORPGs? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addonaddonsbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindmodmoddingmodsopinionplanetside-2tdgthe-daily-grindwildstarFri, 19 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Does Steam influence your MMO habits?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/the-daily-grind-does-steam-influence-your-mmo-habits/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/the-daily-grind-does-steam-influence-your-mmo-habits/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/the-daily-grind-does-steam-influence-your-mmo-habits/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Does Steam influence your MMO habits
A few weeks ago, our sister site Joystiq posted a story about Incredipede, an indie game whose slow sales over a four-month period were eclipsed by a single day's worth of sales on Steam. And when I looked back through our coverage of MMOs on Steam, I realized that the platform has quietly become a big deal for our genre, too; MMO publishers clearly believe Steam is a place they need to be. Final Fantasy XI's expansion landed there in recent memory, as did The War Z, Age of Conan, APB Reloaded, and dozens more. My own Steam account shows EVE Online, Champions Online, Lord of the Rings Online, and Spiral Knights, just to name a few.

The convenience of Steam and the fact that my friends congregate there is the key draw for me, in spite of my lingering distrust for such services, so today, I'm wondering whether I'm alone. Are you guys more likely to download and try an MMO, F2P or otherwise, if it's on Steam?

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: Does Steam influence your MMO habits? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgclouddaily-grindincredipedemmos-on-steamopinionplatformsteamsteam-mmostdgthe-daily-grindFri, 12 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: If SimCity is an MMO, what should we call actual MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/the-daily-grind-if-simcity-is-an-mmo-what-should-we-call-actua/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/the-daily-grind-if-simcity-is-an-mmo-what-should-we-call-actua/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/the-daily-grind-if-simcity-is-an-mmo-what-should-we-call-actua/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If SimCity is an MMO, what should we call actual MMOs?
Earlier this week, EA president Frank Gibeau doubled-down on his company's earlier claims about SimCity's MMOness, suggesting the game was built as a "massively multiplayer experience" from the beginning. Rather than pick on Gibeau's comments (already done), I want to consider what would happen if we admitted defeat. What if we just accepted that the term MMO has been utterly co-opted for online singleplayer games -- what should we call "real" MMOs instead?

My colleagues suggest "persistent massively multiplayer online" -- PMMO, I suppose (would we have to change our name to "Persistently"?). While I like the idea of bringing back an old-school term like "persistent," and while it would certainly separate games like EverQuest from games like Diablo III, I worry it also excludes MMORPGs that make heavy use of instancing (and therefore aren't as persistent as they seem) even as it includes games with persistent characters but not worlds.

What do you think -- is it time to give up on the term MMO and adopt something else? Do we retreat to the imperfect label "MMORPG" or begin the hunt for a brand-new acronym?

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: If SimCity is an MMO, what should we call actual MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinddiablo-iiieaeqeverquestFrank-Gibeaumassively-singleplayer-onlinemmommorpgopinionpersistencepersistentpersistent-mmopersistent-worldpersistentlypmmosimcitytdgterminologythe-daily-grindFri, 29 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you use in-game guild-finding tools?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-in-game-guild-finding-tools/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-in-game-guild-finding-tools/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-in-game-guild-finding-tools/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

SWTOR - with thanks to Karen for the awesome pic :D
Massively's sister site WoW Insider recently ran a poll asking its readers about the use of World of Warcraft's looking-for-guild tools. Approximately 56.9% of the respondents said they'd never used the tool, but a whopping 17.5% said they had. That 17.5% seems a staggering number to me, but then, I know my experience is abnormal; I've been in basically the same guild with the same core group of people for my entire MMO career. I just can't imagine treating a guild the same way I'd treat a group or a raid -- opening up a looking-for-guild panel and ticking all the right boxes until the tool found me a guild that at least on paper met my specifications. It just seems artificial and ephemeral to me. But clearly, it's been of value to almost a fifth of WoW Insider's readership, and since finding a good guild these days is apparently a pain in the rear, I'm calling that a good thing.

So now I'd like to pose the same question to the broader MMO community. Have you guys ever used a looking-for-guild tool in any of the MMOs you play? If not, do you stick to traditional methods like ads on forums or chatting up people you meet in person? And if so, has the guild-finder ever led you to a permanent home?

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 use in-game guild-finding tools? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindguildguild-finderguildsopiniontdgthe-daily-grindwow-insiderFri, 22 Mar 2013 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you still play your first MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/the-daily-grind-do-you-still-play-your-first-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/the-daily-grind-do-you-still-play-your-first-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/the-daily-grind-do-you-still-play-your-first-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With thanks to Brad for the classic Ultima Online pic
With Brad McQuaid's return to EverQuest in the news this week, nostalgia has invaded our comment section. The most veteran of our MMO commenters mused about the days of meditating into spellbooks, losing levels on death, embarking on corpse runs, and waiting on the boat. No one even mentioned camping for jboots, begging to be put on a list for a spot in a dungeon group, or having your raid planejumped right before your eyes!

I think old-schoolers know that the old days had more than their fair share of problems, which is why most of them are probably playing Guild Wars 2 or The Secret World and not Asheron's Call or Anarchy Online. Or are they? Are more people living in classic MMOs than they let on?

My first was Ultima Online, and yes, I do poke my nose in once or twice a year, but it hasn't been my "main game" in a truly long time. What about you guys? Do you still play your first MMO? And if you've ever gone back, was it as you remembered?

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 still play your first MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brad-mcquaidbrianna-royce-tdgclassic-mmoclassic-mmosdaily-grindeqeverquestfirstfirst-mmonostalgiaopiniontdgthe-daily-grindUltima-OnlineuoFri, 15 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are /follow commands taboo?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/the-daily-grind-are-follow-commands-taboo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/the-daily-grind-are-follow-commands-taboo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/the-daily-grind-are-follow-commands-taboo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Are follow commands taboo?
Earlier this week, World of Warcraft patched out a surprising mechanic present in the game for a very long time: the /follow command in battlegrounds. Blizzard community guru Bashiok explained that the primary goal was to curb botting in PvP, although apparently the team isn't too sad about the detrimental effect the change will have on at-the-keyboard multiboxing, either. What Blizzard doesn't appear to have anticipated was the effect the tweak would have on visually impaired players who rely on /follow commands to kick butt.

World of Warcraft isn't alone in shunning the /follow command; Guild Wars 1 famously limits following, and Guild Wars 2, to the delight of some players, omits it entirely, which is sort of a pain in the butt when I need to go AFK and can't just follow on my guildies for 30 seconds as we run to the next orangie. I'm annoyed at that, so I can only imagine how upset people awesome enough to PvP blind feel at having their lifeline to fun stripped away after so many years.

So what do you guys think? Is this a good change for WoW and other MMOs? Do you think the potential for harm to blind players or legitimate AFKers should outweigh the potential for harm by botters and multiboxers?

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: Are /follow commands taboo? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bashiokblindBlizzardbottersbottingbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindfollowfollow-commandfollowingguild-warsGuild-Wars-2gw1gw2multiboxermultiboxingopinionpvptdgthe-daily-grindvisually-impairedWorld-of-WarcraftwowFri, 08 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should player homes decay?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/the-daily-grind-should-player-homes-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/the-daily-grind-should-player-homes-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/the-daily-grind-should-player-homes-decay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

UO housing tiles
One of the issues plaguing player housing in MMOs is what to do with those houses after the player-owners have left the game or stopped paying for their subscriptions. In Ultima Online, the granddaddy of all MMO housing, your home drops to the ground if you haven't paid your sub in 90 days (and your shardmates can loot all your stuff in a grand free-for-all!). In Star Wars Galaxies, your house stayed standing until it ran out of pre-paid maintenance money, which worked pretty well to help the active players reclaim city space until maintenance was turned off for a few years in consideration for hurricane victims.

Even games with instanced housing feel the space crunch. In Lord of the Rings Online, failure to pay your maintenance fees in-game leads to the eventual return of your lot to the public pool and your having to buy back all your loot from an escrow NPC.

MMO developers are torn between the desire to lure back former players with the promise that their houses are still intact and the desire to keep the world, instanced or not, clear and open for paying or active players. So what do you guys think -- what should be the more dominant goal? If you step away from a game, should your character's home decay? And if it did, would you ever return to the game?

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: Should player homes decay? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinddecayhomehomeshousehousinghousing-decaylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionplayer-housingstar-wars-galaxiesswgtdgthe-daily-grindUltima-OnlineuoFri, 01 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should gender and race matter in MMO character creation?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/the-daily-grind-should-gender-and-race-matter-in-mmo-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/the-daily-grind-should-gender-and-race-matter-in-mmo-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/the-daily-grind-should-gender-and-race-matter-in-mmo-character/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Camelot
Camelot Unchained, Mark Jacobs' upcoming RvR-based MMO, is dipping into the old-school well in more ways than one. One design feature that caught my eye is the promise that racial and gender choices will influence character stats. MMO players are pretty used to the ancient RPG idea that some races or species are going to be better at magic or archery or punching people in the face or pressing Will of the Forsaken than others, but non-cosmetic gender differences are something that very few MMOs embrace. Even accidental gender imbalances send players into a tizzy.

The implication in CU is that these initial starting stats will be changeable based on what characters actually do, such that an Elf woman who does nothing but swing hammers will bulk up or Viking thug who practices his poetry will see that reflected in his charisma skill (I am making these examples up). But the idea that my character might start at a stereotypical disadvantage still bugs me and makes me wonder how many min-maxers out there will just play to those stereotypes because they feel they must, thereby homogenizing the character makeup of the whole game.

What about you guys? Do you think that gender and race/species should matter in MMO character creation as it matters in certain other RPGs?

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: Should gender and race matter in MMO character creation? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcamelotcamelot-unchainedcharacter-creationcity-statecity-state-entertainmentcsedaily-grindgendermark-jacobsopinionpvpracervrspeciesstatisticstatstdgthe-daily-grindFri, 22 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is powergaming via PGC tools acceptable?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/the-daily-grind-is-powergaming-via-pgc-tools-acceptable/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/the-daily-grind-is-powergaming-via-pgc-tools-acceptable/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/15/the-daily-grind-is-powergaming-via-pgc-tools-acceptable/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

City of Heroes' Mission Architect
Any game that implements a player-generated content system runs the risk of creating a system that's more fun -- or more lucrative -- than the original game itself. Players of the now-sunsetted City of Heroes, for example, were forever finding ways to turn experience and currency gain within the player-content tool known as the Mission Architect to their advantage. Imagine designing a mission with mobs that deal nothing but fire damage, then bringing your fire Tanker with her anti-fire shields to blaze through a group's worth of mobs while soaking up the levels and loot. Overpowered? Most definitely. Fun? Frequently, especially when you just wanted to level up your 50th alt to get to the good powers. Exploitable? Some people did consider such activities to be expoits, and to pacify them, the developers brought so many nerfhammers down on the system that by the end, it was seldom used except by the most diehard storygoers.

This same battle is now being waged on the forums of Neverwinter, which game will also implement a player-generated content system that allows participants to design and play each other's missions. Cryptic plans to curtail potential powergaming by limiting rewards earned through the tool, but there's always a danger of limiting rewards so much they're not worth the bother. Today, let's discuss what you think about the potential dangers of PGC. Are powergaming and farming acceptable uses of PGC tools like the Foundry? Do you prefer studios crack down hard on people who aren't doing it the "right" way? Or do you have a different solution?

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: Is powergaming via PGC tools acceptable? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcity-of-heroescohcrypticcryptic-studiosdaily-grindexploitsfoundrymission-architectneverwinteropinionpgcplayer-generated-contentpowergamingtdgthe-daily-grindthe-foundryFri, 15 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you pay to interview a developer?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/the-daily-grind-would-you-pay-to-interview-a-developer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/the-daily-grind-would-you-pay-to-interview-a-developer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/the-daily-grind-would-you-pay-to-interview-a-developer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Personally, I can get devs to ignore my interview questions for free, so no, I'd not pay for the privilege. (Mortal Online pic)
Earlier this week, we reported on one of the stranger interview setups we've seen in a while. A player of Mortal Online who goes by the handle Aralis was given the chance to interview Star Vault CEO Henrik Nystrom about the state of the game. There was just oooooone little itty-bitty catch: Aralis landed the interview only because he'd been the top donator to the game in January. In fact, he'd ponied up $1000.

The interview is fraught with a few other issues, such as the fact that Nystrom dodges some of the player's questions and smooths over others, which'd probably annoy me if I had just effectively spent $1000 for the privilege of emailing a few questions off to a dev I admired (but then again, I'm pretty used to getting my questions ignored for free). Readers also pointed out the weirdness of "donating" to an MMO in an era of free-to-play.

But let's stick to basics. What do you guys think? Would you pay any amount of money just to snag a sit-down with your favorite developer? How much, and what would you expect, exactly, in return?

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: Would you pay to interview a developer? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinddonationdonationshenrik-nystrominterviewinterviewsmortal-onlineopinionstar-vaulttdgthe-daily-grindFri, 08 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the goofiest class name in an MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/the-daily-grind-whats-the-goofiest-class-name-in-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/the-daily-grind-whats-the-goofiest-class-name-in-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/the-daily-grind-whats-the-goofiest-class-name-in-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

He's pretty damn great.
If a game's gotta have classes, I say they need to sound awesome. I'm bored of Paladins and Assassins and Clerics and Warriors; I want to see Troubadors and Deadeyes and Tempests and Saboteurs and Disco Bandits. Some games, like Wakfu, have made class names into an artform: Foggernaut. Xelor's Sandglass. Sram's Shadow.

What I don't get is why a Western game company would go to the trouble of implementing class names that sound like weird translations or just generic words mashed together. I'll forgive Korean devs for the Sheath Knight. I'll forgive sandboxes for mundane Bureaucrats and Beggars. But Neverwinter's Great Weapon Fighter is just screaming for a rewrite. Or at least a hyphen.

What about you guys -- what class name would you like to see stricken from the roster of your favorite MMO? And what names stand out as the most badass?

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: What's the goofiest class name in an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgclassclass-namesclassesdaily-grindgreat-weapon-fighternameneverwinteropiniontdgthe-daily-grindFri, 01 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you buy a console to play an MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/the-daily-grind-would-you-buy-a-console-to-play-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/the-daily-grind-would-you-buy-a-console-to-play-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/the-daily-grind-would-you-buy-a-console-to-play-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

DUST 514
Imagine there's an MMO you really want to play (for some of you, this is going to take a lot of imagination, but pretend, for just this question, that you actually like playing the MMOs you play). Maybe the game is going to connect to an existing MMO in a novel way, or maybe it's that $300,000,000 ultimate sandbox you've been hoping for. This theoretical MMO is just perfect for you, and you need to play it like yesterday.

Except that it's coming out on consoles, and only on consoles for the foreseeable future. And it's a console you don't already own. Nooooooooooo!

I picked up a PS3 partly for this reason -- to play PS3-exclusive games like Journey. But an MMO? That would take a lot more doing; it'd have to be a truly compelling world that offers something I can't get anywhere else. Whether or not it's your thing, DUST 514 is asking just this question of gamers, but it wasn't the first and it surely won't be the last.

So what about you? Would you buy a console just to play an MMO -- if not DUST, then some other game?

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: Would you buy a console to play an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgccpccp-gamesconsoleconsole-exclusiveconsole-onlydaily-grinddustdust-514eveeve-onlinefpsjourneymmofpsopinionplaystationplaystation-3ps2ps3sandboxsci-fishootertdgthe-daily-grindTue, 22 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the absolute worst MMO economy?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/the-daily-grind-whats-the-absolute-worst-mmo-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/the-daily-grind-whats-the-absolute-worst-mmo-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/the-daily-grind-whats-the-absolute-worst-mmo-economy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

What's the absolute worst MMO economy? (Pic: GW2)
I'm known around Massively as a total player economy junkie. Crafting is nice and all, but trading is really what gets me excited. Auction houses, hawking wares in global chat, buying and selling on player vendors -- however it's done in the MMO du jour, that's where I want to be, playing the market and PvPing via brains rather than bloodshed (shed tears are another story).

So when an MMO's economy goes belly up, I get annoyed. Really annoyed. Guild Wars 2's economy, for example, is not the shining light of the MMO industry I'd hoped it would be. It might be better than Guild Wars 1's since at least it has player crafting and an auction hall, but the supply and demand balance is an epic trainwreck, one that more resembles the tacked-on economies of games released in 2002, not 2012. I'm not sure it's the worst one ever, but it's certainly on the list.

So let's hear some others that deserve to be on the list: What's the absolute worst player-run economy an MMO's ever offered?

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: What's the absolute worst MMO economy? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindeconomic-pvpeconomieseconomyguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2opinionplayer-run-economytdgthe-daily-grindtradetradingFri, 18 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What MMO are you embarrassed to admit you play?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/the-daily-grind-what-mmo-are-you-embarrassed-to-admit-you-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/the-daily-grind-what-mmo-are-you-embarrassed-to-admit-you-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/the-daily-grind-what-mmo-are-you-embarrassed-to-admit-you-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Thanks to WoW Insider for this epic screenshot of a pandaren and a reindeer jumping for joy. Epic.
One of the silly questions I posed the Massively staff during our end-of-2012 awards was about embarrassing MMOs that we play. But we didn't publish the answers, partly because we couldn't come to any consensus. Glitch took my vote; browser games are still looked down on, no matter how creative they are. Among the other writers, Clone Wars Adventures cropped up, as did RuneScape, Free Realms, Habbo Hotel, and Star Stable. It wasn't just "kids games" making the cut, either. Mike lamented the fact that World of Warcraft is a "punch line" in the community and that "serious" MMO players can't play it. Jef said Lord of the Rings Online makes him want to shower after he logs out, while Patrick argued that Champions Online's apparent lack of developer resources makes for a sad experience.

But the other reason we didn't publish our responses was that most of us just aren't deeply embarrassed about playing anything. As Eliot put it,
If you're playing an MMO, you have absolutely zero ground to make fun of someone else for playing another MMO. This is something that really gets under my skin, the idea that some games are somehow cooler than others. MMOs are just plain fun, and there's no reason to be embarrassed by anything you like to play. I'm happy when anyone finds a fun game, even if it's a game I'm personally not fond of. Follow your bliss, people, and hold your heads high.
So where do you stand? Are you embarrassed to play a certain MMO, and if so, what is it?

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: What MMO are you embarrassed to admit you play? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardsbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindembarassembarrassingembarrassing-MMOsembarrassmentend-of-2012-awardsend-of-the-year-awardsfollow-your-blissopinionpollingtdgthe-daily-grindFri, 11 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What was the MMO screw-up of the year?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/the-daily-grind-what-was-the-mmo-screw-up-of-the-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/the-daily-grind-what-was-the-mmo-screw-up-of-the-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/the-daily-grind-what-was-the-mmo-screw-up-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

SWTOR facepalm - because this is the best screenshot of the year by far
I almost miss the carefree days 2011, when the MMO screw-up of the year was such an easy call: the time when a studio deleted an entire MMO from existence by accident and without any backups. Oops!

But 2012? 2012 is trickier. I mean, you've got charging for hotbars, $50 hobby-horses, pandas, NCsoft closing a profitable game, the TERA lawsuit, the implosion of 38 Studios, the clownshoes of The War Z, innumerable banning scandals... we have a lot to choose from. So let's get busy choosing. What do you think was the MMO industry screw-up of 2012?

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: What was the MMO screw-up of the year? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012-screwups38-studiosbrianna-royce-tdgcity-of-heroes-sunsetclownshoesdaily-grindhobby-horsehotbarsm2mists-of-pandariammo-screwup-of-2012opinionpollpollsscrew-upscrew-upsscrewupscrewup-of-the-yeartdgtera-lawsuitthe-daily-grindthe-war-zFri, 04 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your MMO of the year?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/28/the-daily-grind-whats-your-mmo-of-the-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/28/the-daily-grind-whats-your-mmo-of-the-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/28/the-daily-grind-whats-your-mmo-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So this is kind of why internet polls aren't of much value.
You've all heard Massively's (somewhat contradictory) opinions on the best MMOs of 2012, and some of you wanted a chance to chime in on the top awards, even though the results of polls can be... somewhat dubious (see image above from a few years back -- and also raise your hand if you've never even heard of like half of those). So let's test the theory that community polling is worthless and do some informal best-of polls anyway!

Remember, the games and expansions you're voting on had to have been released in 2012 (that means Star Wars: The Old Republic is more or less out for having launched at the tail end of 2011, but if you want to write it in anyway, that's OK too -- we did for our awards too, after all). We don't really have room for every game in the poll, so feel free to do write-ins at the end and then tell us why you voted the way you did.

Continue reading The Daily Grind: What's your MMO of the year?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your MMO of the year? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012-awardsawardawards-2012best-of-2012brianna-royce-tdgcommentersdaily-grindend-of-the-year-awardsopinionpollpollsreaders-choicetdgthe-daily-grindvotevotingFri, 28 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How much game time is just right?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/the-daily-grind-how-much-game-time-is-just-right/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/the-daily-grind-how-much-game-time-is-just-right/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/the-daily-grind-how-much-game-time-is-just-right/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Salem hardcore screenshot designed by Beau Hindman <3
The comments on an article earlier this month made me realize that somewhere between "too casual" and "too hardcore" lies a vast, undefined region of acceptable gaming habits. In that comment thread, one gamer who admitted to playing Lord of the Rings Online for 40 hours a week for three years was picked on for spending as much time playing as you might expect out of a full-time job. In the same thread, several people made reference to "idiot casuals" who are ruining the MMO experience in World of Warcraft, the implication being that casual play alone makes one an idiot.

Both of these comments prey on ugly gaming stereotypes: the guy who plays so much that he neglects the rest of his life and the guy who plays so little that he bumbles along incompetently at the expense of skilled players. I might be naive, but I don't think either one of these guys is the norm. I've always assumed that most people out there are playing as hardcore-casuals with reasonable levels of both competence and time invested.

What do you think -- how much game time is "just right" to become skilled at MMOs without degenerating into the basement-dwelling-loser archetype? Is "just right" even possible?

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: How much game time is just right? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcasualcasualsdaily-grindgametimegaming-habitshappy-mediumhardcorehardcore-casualhardcoresjust-rightlord-of-the-rings-onlineloserslotroopiniontdgthe-daily-grindWorld-of-WarcraftwowFri, 21 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When was the last time a character creator didn't tick you off?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/the-daily-grind-when-was-the-last-time-a-character-creator-didn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/the-daily-grind-when-was-the-last-time-a-character-creator-didn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/the-daily-grind-when-was-the-last-time-a-character-creator-didn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

You can be anyone you want when you grow up as long as it's one of these eight people
For me, it was PlanetSide 2. Admittedly, I usually prefer insanely robust character creation systems; give me five million options or go away, right? And yet even with all the options, those games with the very best character creation systems -- a moment of silence, please, for Star Wars Galaxies and City of Heroes -- were saddled with their own strange quirks, like crazy boob sliders, insufficient tools for making non-European characters, and an obvious disdain for aging or overweight or otherwise socially unacceptable toons. You can have 50 different mohawk styles, but if you want wrinkles, realistic breast physics, or a waist thicker than your wrist, then god help you.

By limiting options to four heads per gender (only one apiece European) and by making sure my female character is believably muscled and armored, PlanetSide 2's character creator manages to secure an advantage over more robust systems. By going minimalist and choosing to leave out almost everything instead of only one or two things that make me question the designers' motives, SOE has effectively curtailed complaints.

But is that worth it? When was the last time a character creator didn't offend you?

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: When was the last time a character creator didn't tick you off? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boob-slidersbrianna-royce-tdgcharacter-creationcharacter-creatorcity-of-heroescohdaily-grindminimalismopinionplanetside-2ps2soeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgtdgthe-daily-grindFri, 14 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Why so much hate for MMO tourists?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/07/the-daily-grind-why-do-gamers-hate-mmo-tourists/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/07/the-daily-grind-why-do-gamers-hate-mmo-tourists/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/07/the-daily-grind-why-do-gamers-hate-mmo-tourists/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Why do gamers hate MMO tourists?
MMO hobos. MMO tourists. MMO locusts. MMO vagabonds. MMO hoppers. MMO jumpers. MMO dabblers. "The MMO Burnout crowd." So many names for people who move from MMO to MMO, and none of them nice!

We don't pin these labels on people who sample the best of other forms of entertainment. If you devour a Firefly marathon one night and descend upon The Hobbit the next, we don't call you a cinema locust. If you play soccer today but tennis tomorrow, we don't sneeringly describe you as a sports tourist. If you read T.S. Eliot this week and J.K. Rowling the next, I'm not going to deem you a book hopper and kick you out of the cool kids' book club!

Not everyone sees MMOs as worlds that must be lived in for years to be appreciated or enjoyed, and I doubt I'll shock anyone by arguing that many MMOs aren't even designed for long-term consumption; some studios plainly expect us to come and go and return again later as we might return to a beloved old book. I myself prefer a cozy, long-term sandbox home, but I can understand why other people choose to dabble. So why all the hate for the so-called MMO tourists?

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: Why so much hate for MMO tourists? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindgame-hopperlocustmmo-burnout-crowdmmo-hoppermmo-locustmmo-touristmmo-vagabondopiniontdgthe-daily-grindtouristFri, 07 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What degree best suits an MMO developer?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/the-daily-grind-what-degree-best-suits-an-mmo-developer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/the-daily-grind-what-degree-best-suits-an-mmo-developer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/30/the-daily-grind-what-degree-best-suits-an-mmo-developer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

They're talking about Daniel Erickson (SWTOR) and Greg Street (WoW)
Until relatively recently, the idea of a degree in game development seemed bizarre. That means that most of today's industry vets didn't start out planning to make games their career. You might expect programming degrees, art degrees, management degrees, creative writing degrees... but you're likely to find stranger degrees by far, marine biology and ancient history among them. That's even true in games journalism. Massively is staffed by pilots, farmers, historians, claims adjusters, clergymen, artists, salesmen, ex-military, radio announcers, teachers, musicians, and yes, even some full-time writers and editors. It's a weird place, and that diversity widens our perspective.

Raph Koster of Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies fame recommends that budding game developers acquire a broad education, not necessarily a specialized game design degree. Learn to program, draw, and write, he says, but "don't choose a narrow education. Choose a broad one. History, economics, psychology, art, science. A classic liberal arts education is the best training for a designer."

What do you think -- what degree best suits an MMO developer?

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: What degree best suits an MMO developer? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcollegedaily-grinddegreegame-designgame-design-degreeliberal-arts-degreeopinionraph-kostertdgthe-daily-grindFri, 30 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do sunsetted games owe us refunds?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/the-daily-grind-do-sunsetted-games-owe-us-refunds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/the-daily-grind-do-sunsetted-games-owe-us-refunds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/the-daily-grind-do-sunsetted-games-owe-us-refunds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Daily Grind Do sunsetted games owe us refunds
When Tiny Speck announced last week that Glitch would be shutting down come December 9th, the studio simultaneously did something that few closed MMOs do: It offered complete refunds for past subs. Sure, some companies have offered free game time or bonus cash-shop currency for their other games, but that's usually small consolation. NCsoft grudgingly provided refunds for unused timecards and long-term recurring subs when it set City of Heroes' closure date, but virtually no one provides a complete refund of all the subscription money you ever paid for the game.

On Black Friday, it seems as if half the world is out shopping, looking for a good deal and with money on the brain, so today's an appropriate day to ask: Do sunsetted games owe us refunds? And if you were offered one, would you take it?

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 sunsetted games owe us refunds? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>back-to-betabetabrianna-royce-tdgbrowserbrowser-basedcasualcharitycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdaily-grindf2pfantasyflashfree-to-playfreedomgenerosityglitchhipsterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosrefundrefundssandboxsuperherosuperheroestdgthe-daily-grindtinyspeckunlauncheningFri, 23 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do MMO crossovers break your immersions?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-crossovers-break-your-immersions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-crossovers-break-your-immersions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-crossovers-break-your-immersions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Do MMO crossovers break your immersions?
When I was a kid, I read a post-Vietnam fantasy novel called Doomfarers of Coramonde that should have ruined crossover fiction for me forever. I just couldn't take seriously an Army hero whisked away by magic and plunked into a world of dragons and castles and sorceresses.

MMO crossovers can likewise break my immersions. I'm not talking about sequels, and I'm not even talking about the unholy marriage of EVE Online and DUST 514. I'm talking about Funcom putting leet pets from Anarchy Online into The Secret World's cash shop, which is a thing that did in fact happen yesterday. It joins the Ultima Online ankh necklace my character wore in Warhammer Online on the list of bizarre cross-MMO promotions that really don't make a whole lot of sense in-character. Why in the world would my character in TSW have an adorable leet pet from the the planet of Rubi-Ka? What's next -- cupid wings on Ewoks? Oh. Right.

So what do you think, morning crew and minipet-hoarders? Does this sort of promotion satisfy some deep craving, or does it just break your immersions?

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 MMO crossovers break your immersions? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Anarchy-Onlineankhaobreaking-my-immersionsbrian-daleybrianna-royce-tdgcross-promotioncrossoverdaily-grinddoomfarers-of-coramondefuncomimmersionimmersionsleetminipetmmo-crossoveropiniontdgthe-daily-grindthe-secret-worldtswFri, 16 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the worst thing a cash shop can try to sell you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/the-daily-grind-whats-the-worst-thing-a-cash-shop-can-try-to-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/the-daily-grind-whats-the-worst-thing-a-cash-shop-can-try-to-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/09/the-daily-grind-whats-the-worst-thing-a-cash-shop-can-try-to-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

What's the worst thing a cash shop can try to sell you?
MMO gamers, including our commenters and even some of our own writers, are in an uproar over the terms of Star Wars: The Old Republic's upcoming free-to-play transition. The game's F2P matrix seems to be hitting all the industry low points: lottery tickets, combat-affecting items, travel buffs, content caps, storage. Perhaps the worst of all is the quickbar unlocks. That's right -- if you want to play sublessly, you'll even have to pay to unlock extra hotkey bars.

I've certainly played free-to-play MMOs that didn't try to milk me dry or annoy me into a subscription, so I know it's possible to design a hybrid pay model that doesn't generate the community's ire. Still, most every cash shop features at least one thing that gets under my skin. So today we're wondering, what's that one thing for you -- what's the worst thing a cash shop can try to sell you?

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: What's the worst thing a cash shop can try to sell you? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>annoy-to-playannoy-to-subannoywarebiowarebrianna-royce-tdgcash-shopdaily-grindeaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playfreemiumhotbarlucasartsmicrotransactionmicrotransactionsopinionpremiumquickbarsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtortdgthe-daily-grindthe-old-republictorunlocksFri, 09 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you hold developers accountable for what they say?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/the-daily-grind-do-you-hold-developers-accountable-for-what-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/the-daily-grind-do-you-hold-developers-accountable-for-what-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/the-daily-grind-do-you-hold-developers-accountable-for-what-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

War Z
Yesterday, Gamespot broke a story about an executive producer for zombie MMO The War Z who took to his game's forums to rant about gankers in the beta test. The developer, Sergey Titov, used a homophobic slur to describe those beta testers, which caused some commenters to erupt in a fury. He later altered his comments and issued an "apology" for the rant, expressing astonishment that anyone would take his homophobic slur as a homophobic slur. "I don't know where they [are] coming from," he wrote, "but I used it as a curse."

The sad thing is Titov's probably right: Far too many gamers think nothing of careless insults based on gender, race, and sexual orientation. But to see it from a developer and then see it dismissed by the game's supporters as something trivial and all good in fun between bros is embarrassing for the community. I'm glad he (or more likely, the game's PR) rescinded the slur, but I also know that subconscious and conscious bias seeps into gaming at the design, culture, and corporate levels, and I'm far less likely to pony up for a game whose developers just don't seem to get that the MMO demographic stretches beyond the privileged straight white male 20-something stereotype.

So today I'm wondering how you hold devs accountable when they say something that exposes their prejudices or blind-spots or just poor business sense. Do you expect heads to roll? Do you vote with your wallet and pick games where customers aren't subjected to unprofessional tirades by devs, or are you resigned to the suspicion that most studios are saddled with this mentality?

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 hold developers accountable for what they say? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcommentersdaily-grindforumforumshomophobiaopinionsergey-titovslurtdgthe-daily-grindthe-war-zwar-zzombiezombie-mmoWed, 24 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your most-hated MMO zone?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/the-daily-grind-whats-your-most-hated-mmo-zone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/the-daily-grind-whats-your-most-hated-mmo-zone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/the-daily-grind-whats-your-most-hated-mmo-zone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Daily Grind What's your most hated MMO zone
Star Wars Galaxies may have been my favorite MMO, but its pre-NGE Rage of Wookiees expansion introduced what I consider the worst MMO zone of all time: Kashyyyk. Unlike the wide-open planets that populated the SWG galaxy at launch, the tiny playable areas of Kashyyyk were a maze of tall zone walls and tight corridors, with a multi-level, below-ground, explorable themepark-style area and an inadequate map to ensure that you were totally getting lost on this ride.

It was also a no-build planet, meaning no homes or storyteller decorations (not that there would have been anywhere to put them anyway), so the whole location felt completely isolated from the rest of the game. And while the NGE version of the zone made it one of the few spots for quest-based, mid-tier leveling in the game, it was too difficult and scattershot for actual middlebies. Oh, and did I mention that vehicles and instant-transport ships mysteriously didn't work beneath the top jungle layer? Hope you enjoy running all the way back out again!

All right, picking on sunsetted games is just mean, especially when I'd take SWG back in a heartbeat, flaws and all. So what about you -- what's your most-hated MMO zone?

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: What's your most-hated MMO zone? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad-designbad-zonebrianna-royce-tdgclassic-mmodaily-grindgalaxieskachirhokashyyykopinionplanetrage-of-the-wookieessandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgotdgthe-daily-grindwookieezoneFri, 19 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you sick of gear resets?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/the-daily-grind-are-you-sick-of-gear-resets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/the-daily-grind-are-you-sick-of-gear-resets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/the-daily-grind-are-you-sick-of-gear-resets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

RIFT
Earlier this week, Massively RIFT columnist Karen Bryan expressed frustration over the seemingly inevitable MMO expansion problem: gear resets. We expect new gear along with our new content, but a complete gear reset, she argued, "renders all previous raid content irrelevant." Everything you earned before an expansion may as well never have happened because you can top that gear with a new crop of easymode quests. And the realization that a gear-grind is mostly for naught can have a ripple effect on a game as disillusioned players give up on acquiring it (or bail out of the game completely).

The Daily Grind crew has discussed gear resets in relation to raid progression before, but even games without raiding face this problem. If a game has any kind of scaling gear or levels, then the addition of new content, like an expansion, is bound to generate growing pains. So where do you stand? Are you sick of gear resets, of having to effectively start over at the dawn of every expansion? Or do you see gear resets as a good thing, as a way to bridge the gear divide between players and re-experience what you loved about the game originally?

And since you're going to tell us anyway, here's a bonus question: Which MMOs have successfully avoided this problem and how?

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: Are you sick of gear resets? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindexpansionexpansionsgeargear-resetgear-resetskaren-bryanopinionprogressiontdgthe-daily-grindFri, 12 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are dynamic events another MMO fad?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/the-daily-grind-are-dynamic-events-another-mmo-fad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/the-daily-grind-are-dynamic-events-another-mmo-fad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/the-daily-grind-are-dynamic-events-another-mmo-fad/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Are dynamic events another MMO fad?
Move over, MMO story: dynamic events are this season's buzz word. Popularized by earlier MMOs like Warhammer Online and RIFT, dynamic events have become such an integral part of modern MMO design that brand-new Guild Wars 2 employs them as its central content conceit. Skip dynamic events in GW2 and you're going to have a rough time leveling (or surviving the ridicule of the commentariat, who consider dynamic events to be far superior to mundane, quest-like renown hearts). Even MMOFPS titles like Firefall are adopting the mechanic for their PvE fans.

But is this actually the type of content we want to see from our MMOs, whatever their flavor? Never mind whether they're actually dynamic -- do you actually think they make for fun, desirable content? Or are we just so sick of themepark-style questing and leveling that we're willing to accept anything in its stead, even if that "anything" might be a fad akin to MMO story?

What do you think -- are dynamic events all that and a bag of chips?

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: Are dynamic events another MMO fad? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinddynamicdynamic-contentdynamic-eventdynamic-eventsfadfirefallGuild-Wars-2gw2levellevelingmmo-storyopinionorange-eventsquestquestingriftstorytdgthe-daily-grindWarhammer-OnlineFri, 05 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is farming ruined forever?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/29/the-daily-grind-is-farming-ruined-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/29/the-daily-grind-is-farming-ruined-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/29/the-daily-grind-is-farming-ruined-forever/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Mists of Pandaria farming pic, in honor of Shawn :)
One of my favorite things to do in games is farm. No, not the kind of farming that involves killing zillions of mobs for mats and money -- real (virtual) farming. Like when you buy seeds and plant them in the ground and wait for them to grow and then collect the literal fruits of your labor.

Think I'm talking about FarmVille? Nope. Lord of the Rings Online, actually. And Ultima Online and Glitch and hopefully, someday, ArcheAge. MMOs actually implement farming so much better than the social game that seems to have redefined it. In UO, I can grow decorative plants and buff petals; in LotRO, I can mass-produce crops that are used by cooks to make food; and in Glitch, I grow flowers and herbs used by tincturers. I suppose even in Star Wars Galaxies, I was farming up corn and tubers in my oversized industrial extractors.

But I have to wonder whether the FarmVille-induced stigma attached to farming as a gameplay concept has ruined it for MMO fans forever. Even when we discuss ArcheAge's amazing farming system, we can't help but crack jokes about tractors, jokes we wouldn't make about big, burly, angry Orcs practicing their fine tailoring skills in World of Warcraft. What do you think -- is farming in MMOs ruined forever?

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: Is farming ruined forever? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archeagebecause-tractorsbrianna-royce-tdgcookingdaily-grindextractorsfarmfarmingfarmvilleflowersgardeningglitchherbslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionplantsstar-wars-galaxiesswgtdgthe-daily-grindtincturestractorsUltima-OnlineuoSat, 29 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do jumping puzzles belong in MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/23/the-daily-grind-do-jumping-puzzles-belong-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/23/the-daily-grind-do-jumping-puzzles-belong-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/23/the-daily-grind-do-jumping-puzzles-belong-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
Among the many map locations Guild Wars 2 entices its players to explore are vistas, and let's not kid ourselves: Vistas are jumping puzzles. Some are easier than others, of course, and some don't require much jumping at all (like those that ask you to take a leap of faith into an Asura gate or dive deep into a lagoon). But most of the time, your spacebar skills will be tested.

Though I am no platforming champion, Guild Wars 2's jumping puzzles have seemed very doable for me. A few have been frustrating enough to annoy me, especially those that require a few minutes of set-up so easily spoiled by a single overshot. But I like that MMO developers are bringing in new gameplay elements that both challenge and reward us and aren't just another round of "click here to make the foozle go."

What do you think -- do jumping puzzles belong in MMOs?

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 jumping puzzles belong in MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindjumpingjumping-puzzlejumping-puzzlesmap-explorationopinionplatformertdgthe-daily-grindvistavistasSun, 23 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are live events due for a revival?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/22/the-daily-grind-are-live-events-due-for-a-revival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/22/the-daily-grind-are-live-events-due-for-a-revival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/22/the-daily-grind-are-live-events-due-for-a-revival/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Ultima Online
Live MMO events have long since fallen by the development wayside in the pursuit of scripted "dynamic" events. It used to be that game studios would send paid GMs into the game to roleplay with players in a tabletop-like scenario, conducting large-scale storytelling events and spawning enemies, locations, and items. Ultima Online, which celebrates its 15th birthday this week, is particularly well-known for these sorts of events, but they've seldom been replicated in later generations of triple-A MMOs.

TERA, apparently, hopes to change that with the implementation of Flash events, "spontaneous events focused on small groups of users and run by staff." They might seem a little out of place in TERA, but they could be a niche worth resurrecting. Live, impromptu events might have the disadvantage of involving only small groups of people and not the entire population, but that's exactly what makes them so intriguing for the players who happen to be in the right zone at the right time when one of these events starts.

What do you think? Do you wish more studios would get over their crush on pseudo-dynamic events and return to live events?

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: Are live events due for a revival? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholebluehole-studiosbrianna-royce-tdgclassic-mmodaily-grinddynamic-eventdynamic-eventseaelectronic-artsen-masseen-masse-entertainmenteventeventsfantasyflash-eventlive-eventlive-eventslive-events-teamlord-britishmythicmythic-entertainmentopinionpseudo-dynamic-eventssandboxscripted-eventscripted-eventstdgterathe-daily-grindultimaultima onlineuoSat, 22 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How would you balance a guild perk system?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/17/the-daily-grind-how-would-you-balance-a-guild-perk-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/17/the-daily-grind-how-would-you-balance-a-guild-perk-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/17/the-daily-grind-how-would-you-balance-a-guild-perk-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

GW2
If there's one frustration I have with gaming guilds in all the time I've led one, it's the expectation that they be huge. MMOs talk big about wanting a diverse playerbase and supporting a wide variety of players and guilds, but that's like saying you can wear any color as long as it's black. The reality is that small guilds are at a severe disadvantage in most MMO guild achievement systems because guilds are rewarded more for having warm bodies than for any particular skill or success

Guild Wars 2, for example, performs random attendance checks and doles out points based on guild activity. The more people you load into your guild, the more points you farm and perks and consumables you can buy. This creates a "rich get richer" scenario for guilds that are already "winning," and eventually, no one will join guilds that aren't maxed out and providing a steady stream of perks to help them "win" even more (as seen in World of Warcraft).

Why not go with Lord of the Rings Online's system, which bestows guild perks according to a guild's age rather than its recruiting binges? Should games keep rewarding guilds strictly for their size, or is there a better way? How would you design and balance an MMO guild achievement system?

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: How would you balance a guild perk system? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindguildguild-achievementsguild-perksguild-pointsguild-wars-2gw2lord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionrich-get-richertdgthe-daily-grindWorld-of-WarcraftwowMon, 17 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have MMO standards changed for the better?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/15/the-daily-grind-have-mmo-standards-changed-for-the-better/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/15/the-daily-grind-have-mmo-standards-changed-for-the-better/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/15/the-daily-grind-have-mmo-standards-changed-for-the-better/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Instead of Star Wars Galaxies, they probably should have called it Planet Wars Servers. Bonus: No lightsabers.
When Ultima Online launched in 1997, most of us were happy just to walk from one end of the city to the other without crashing. EverQuest didn't actually offer any quests in those early days. Star Wars Galaxies launched without vehicles, let alone starships, and World of Warcraft issued forth without any sort of formal PvP at all.

But in 2012, our standards have changed. Now we complain when Star Wars: The Old Republic launches without a dungeon finder and when Guild Wars 2 dungeons feel a bit loose two weeks into the game. Our complaints are no longer about basic gameplay bugs and functionality, and so our discussions sound esoteric to all but the most die-hard MMO gamer.

Does this mean our MMO standards have changed as our games have grown up -- and have they changed for the better? Or do we expect more from games than they can reasonably provide?

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: Have MMO standards changed for the better? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinddungeon-finderdungeonseqeverquestGuild-Wars-2gw2lagold-schoolopinionquestsstandardsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtortdgthe-daily-grindtorUltima-OnlineuoWorld-of-WarcraftwowSat, 15 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST