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 Game Archaeologist traces his Lineage: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/the-game-archaeologist-traces-his-lineage-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/the-game-archaeologist-traces-his-lineage-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/the-game-archaeologist-traces-his-lineage-the-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If we judged MMOs by their numbers alone -- and I'm not suggesting we do so -- then Lineage would be the crowing rooster strutting about the hen house. It's also been one of those games that I've always intellectually acknowledged was a huge hit for some reason, but I never gave it much attention. I think it's because, contrary to many of the "big name" games we cover here, Lineage was and always will be an Asian phenomenon. That doesn't mean it should be shunned, of course, but just that it may be difficult to understand when you're on the outside of it.

So let's back up the memory truck to September 1998, when a then-fledgling NCsoft rolled out a Diablo-esque isometric MMO and struck virtual gold in South Korea. At the time, gaming rooms were becoming a huge thing in the country; a recession had hit (giving people a lot of time with nothing to do), and the government was rapidly expanding the broadband network. In the face of this perfect storm, titles like StarCraft and Lineage became overnight household fixtures -- and the country hasn't looked back.

Even if you haven't played Lineage and you don't know anyone who does, trust me: There are a lot of people playing this 13-year-old title, to the tune of millions and millions. As former Senior Producer Chris Mahnken said, "Lineage keeps going because it's just plain fun."

This month we'll be looking back at the incredible legacy that Lineage has given the industry, starting with an overview of the highlights of these past 13 years. Hit the jump and mind the gap!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist traces his Lineage: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist traces his Lineage: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionarchageasianasian-grinderbloodpledgebloodpledgesbroadbandChris-Mahnkendiablodungeon-crawlfeaturedguild-warshackjake-songkorealineagelineage-2lineage-iincsoftnethacknexuspvprichard-garriottrobert-garriottroguerogue-likeShin-Il-sooksouth-koreastarcrafttabula-rasaTack-Jin-Kimthe-game-archaeologistYoung-ParkTue, 07 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Government workshop on evaluation of broadband included Second Life users]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/government-workshop-on-evaluation-of-broadband-included-second-l/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/government-workshop-on-evaluation-of-broadband-included-second-l/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/government-workshop-on-evaluation-of-broadband-included-second-l/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

This morning's workshop on using broadband internet to increase the US government's transparency and citizen participation included a brand new feature -- Second Life participation.

The workshop was streamed live to the MacArthur Foundation's island in Second Life as a representative forwarded questions from the citizens over to the participants of the FCC's workshop. Second Life citizens were able to be hands on with the workshop, getting their questions sent over a specific channel to be answered as they came in.

"In developing our nation's National Broadband Plan, we are committed to finding innovative, cutting-edge ways -- both online and offline -- to reach out to the public and elicit suggestions, questions, and insight regarding our nation's broadband future," said Jen Howard, the FCC chairman's spokesperson, to New World Notes. "We are delighted that this first workshop will have an aperture into Second Life and that staff is experimenting in such ways to reach all stakeholders."

[Via GamePolitics]
Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

MassivelyGovernment workshop on evaluation of broadband included Second Life users originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>broadbandbroadband-internetfccgovernmentmacarthur-foundationnational-broadband-plannew-world-notesparticipationpoliticssecond-lifesimulcastslThu, 06 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: Looking to the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/10/behind-the-curtain-looking-to-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/10/behind-the-curtain-looking-to-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/10/behind-the-curtain-looking-to-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I was reading an article on the BBC News Technology pages the other day, and it piqued my curiosity.

The availability of super-fast broadband is about the only thing that's likely to entice me to move back to my home town.

But how much bandwidth do you need to kill ten more foozles?

Ofcom , the organisation which - among other responsibilities - monitors ISP in the UK, recently reported that the average home broadband speed here is 3.6Mbps. A quick Google search suggests that speeds in the US are similar.

Broadband speeds are climbing, there's no doubt about that, but upload speeds still lag behind download speeds. I imagine that this is one reason preventing developers from getting really experimental with interactivity in MMOs. If your players' bandwidth is being taken up just shunting the basic game data back and forth, why bother eating up the rest of it with something that might just end up being window dressing?

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: Looking to the future

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: Looking to the future originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bandwidthbehind-the-curtainbroadbandbroadband-speedfeaturedgame-mechanicslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 10 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Comcast to restrict monthly broadband use]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/comcast-to-restrict-monthly-broadband-use/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/comcast-to-restrict-monthly-broadband-use/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/29/comcast-to-restrict-monthly-broadband-use/#commentsFiled under: ,

In a continued trend of restrictions from Comcast Cable, they've recently announced that they will soon be cracking down on excessive use of their Internet service. Starting October 1st, residential users who download and/or upload more than 250 GB of data each month will be asked to curb their usage. If that usage is exceeded a second time, they face account termination.

Of course this opens up the floodgates for criticism from many customers of the largest cable company and the second largest Internet provider in the US. Will this move ultimately mean the break-up of the company's cable internet monopoly? This move makes about as much sense to us as if the government started blocking semi-trucks from driving too much, instead of making more roads and lanes.

Continue reading Comcast to restrict monthly broadband use

MassivelyComcast to restrict monthly broadband use originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>broadbandcomcastcomcast-cableinternet-service-providerrestrictionFri, 29 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq looks at South Korea's PC Baang culture]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/joystiq-looks-at-south-koreas-pc-baang-culture/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/joystiq-looks-at-south-koreas-pc-baang-culture/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/joystiq-looks-at-south-koreas-pc-baang-culture/#commentsFiled under: ,

No PlayStation, No Nintendo, No Sega. In a sprawling metropolis on the brink of a technological revolution what place would eschew console gaming? It was South Korea, and for the longest time there was an embargo against Japanese made imports. In the embargo's wake an unstoppable PC gaming utopia and a molding of an anomalous social culture evolved. With the government push for broadband access and the proliferation of PC Baangs, online PC-game rooms, a remarkable 70% of South Korean internet users have played some kind of MMOG.

The Korean MMOG invasion on the western market has spurned resentment but some MMOs like Nexon's Maple Story found a successful niche. What is fascinating, are not the endless failed imports or the lucky few that do succeed in the US but the radical differences in our gaming cultures. Joystiq's Geoffrey Brooks is residing in Seoul, South Korea for the summer. Indulging his senses in this part of the world Brook posits about South Korea's PC Baangs and the masterful technological wired revolution and contrasts it to the lagging-behind United States. It's a must read, especially if you know nothing of the PC gaming culture in South Korea other than asking "isn't Starcraft big there?"

MassivelyJoystiq looks at South Korea's PC Baang culture originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asian-mmogsbroadbandembargoforeignimportsjapanesekorean-mmog-importmaple-storymmog-culturencsoftnet-cafenexonnintendopc-baangpc-gaming-cultureplaystationsegaseoulsouth-koreastarcraftwebzenWed, 09 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Asia to dominate all online life by 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/asia-to-dominate-all-online-life-by-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/asia-to-dominate-all-online-life-by-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/asia-to-dominate-all-online-life-by-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The research firm In-Stat has released a report on the growth of online gaming in the Asia/Pacific region. Total online gaming revenue in Asia for 2007 was a healthy $5.8 billion, but In-Stat claims that market revenues in Asia will spike over the next five years -- hitting a staggering $21.1 billion in 2013. Yeah, that's in US dollars.

In-Stat claims that a confluence of factors such as greater availability of broadband, ever-increasing content distributed across wider mediums, and 'the unique experience that online gaming offers' will propel demand. (Read: many of Asia's gamers surpass our notions of 'hardcore'... we don't have a word for that level of devotion yet.) They go on to claim China will become the largest market in Asia -- no real surprise there -- particularly as over 50% of the country's online games are developed locally. Given this phenomenal rate of online gaming adoption coupled with steady broadband penetration and speed boosts, it's only a matter of time before China's cities are as wired as South Korea's. If that sheer number of gamers can harness unthrottled bandwidth, China may very well become the pulsing digital heart of the online gaming world.

Via PlayNoEvil

MassivelyAsia to dominate all online life by 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 May 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiabroadbandchinacultureeconomyhardcorein-statkoreamarketresearchrevenueThu, 29 May 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Indian computer hardware sales driven with MMOs as "killer app"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/indian-computer-hardware-sales-driven-by-mmos-as-killer-app/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/indian-computer-hardware-sales-driven-by-mmos-as-killer-app/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/indian-computer-hardware-sales-driven-by-mmos-as-killer-app/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

According to a report on the burgeoning Indian gaming market (which to date registers sales of only $48 million), massively multiplayer online games are one of the major forces driving both the growth of the greater gaming industry and the sales of modern personal computers. Many are hoping that the Indian gaming market is going to undergo a similar boom as the one that has propelled China and Korea into competition with more traditional markets like the US, Europe, and Japan, with the report speculating an almost ten times growth in sales over the next decade.

At present, the biggest bottleneck to success of the current generation of MMOs is the fact that most Indian homes currently lack broadband internet access. Game makers are hoping that a promised boom in broadband connectivity in the sub-continent, coupled with the proliferation of dedicated gaming cafes, will lead to a boom in the development of MMOs. At present, casual games are still the most played, as they are accessible to players with slow internet connections. It'll be interesting to see how the Indian gaming market develops over the coming decade, and whether it will be able to affect the direction of MMOs as the other asian markets have. The report is definitely worth looking at if you're interested in the business of games and globalization.

MassivelyIndian computer hardware sales driven with MMOs as "killer app" originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>broadbandbusinesscasual-gamesemerging-marketsgaming-cafeindiammo-industryMon, 07 Jan 2008 17:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Sell your soul to AT&T for three free months of WoW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/sell-your-soul-to-atandt-for-three-free-months-of-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/sell-your-soul-to-atandt-for-three-free-months-of-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/sell-your-soul-to-atandt-for-three-free-months-of-wow/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Blizzard is in bed with the ginormousness that is AT&T; if you're presently using cable internet and you choose to switch to SBC AT&T DSL, AT&T will send you a free game card good for 3 months of World of Warcraft.

There's no way for us to either recommend or discourage this deal, because the quality of the different high-speed internet services varies from city to city. But hey, it's kind of cool if you don't mind shameless corporate promotions and if for some reason or another your cable internet provider isn't doing its job.

You do need to be an already-existing subscriber of World of Warcraft to be eligible for the deal. That's okay, though, since one would expect that only the WoW hardcore (if even them) would actually switch ISPs for three free months of game time.

[Via WoW Insider]

MassivelySell your soul to AT&T for three free months of WoW originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atandtattbell-southblizzardbroadbandgame-timehigh-speed-internetisppromotionsubscriptionworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 08 Nov 2007 17:26:00 EST