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[Layoffs confirmed for 38 Studios, Rhode Island takes no action]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/layoffs-confirmed-for-38-studios-rhode-island-takes-no-action/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/layoffs-confirmed-for-38-studios-rhode-island-takes-no-action/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/layoffs-confirmed-for-38-studios-rhode-island-takes-no-action/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Schilling with reporters
If last week's Project Copernicus flythrough had been a hopeful note, the latest news out of 38 Studios is another downturn. Following a meeting today, the Rhode Island EDC board decided to take no action to help the ailing company at this time. Governor Lincoln Chafee said following the meeting that the financial situation of the studio remains unchanged from last week, but did note that the company has seen some layoffs and underwent unspecified internal shifts.

Founder Curt Schilling did not directly respond to press inquiries, stating that he would answer questions when he is able to do so. He did, however, state that he was not taking further taxpayer money. Whether or not there will be a company there to take any money in the near future is still very much in doubt, however, and while Chafee has been a bit more diplomatic about aiding the studio, he has stressed that any assistance would be far on the conservative side.

MassivelyLayoffs confirmed for 38 Studios, Rhode Island takes no action originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosbusinesscurt-schillingfinancesfinancialfinancial-troubleslayofflayoffsmmo-industrynewsproject-copernicusrhode-islandstate-of-rhode-islandMon, 21 May 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine is recruiting next week in (where else?) Rhode Island]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/turbine-hosting-recruiting-event-next-week-looking-to-fill-50-j/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/turbine-hosting-recruiting-event-next-week-looking-to-fill-50-j/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/turbine-hosting-recruiting-event-next-week-looking-to-fill-50-j/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Turbine logo
If you're going to be anywhere near New England next week, and you're interested in breaking into the games business, you might want to stop by Turbine's latest recruiting event. The developer of Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons and Dragons Online is hosting a meet-and-greet in Providence, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, May 22nd.

The shindig runs from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Hotel Providence, and Turbine is looking to fill 50 job openings at its Needham studio location (and hey, they're probably even paid positions!). Check out a listing of current opportunities at the official Time Warner career website.

[Source: Turbine press release]

MassivelyTurbine is recruiting next week in (where else?) Rhode Island originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessf2pfree-to-playmmo-industryturbineturbine-hiringturbine-job-fairturbine-jobsturbine-recruitingFri, 18 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[38 Studios' Project Copernicus to release in June 2013, says RI governor]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/38-studios-project-copernicus-to-release-in-june-2013-says-ri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/38-studios-project-copernicus-to-release-in-june-2013-says-ri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/38-studios-project-copernicus-to-release-in-june-2013-says-ri/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

38 Studios' Curt Schilling
It is not every day that a U.S. governor is the one to announce the launch window for an MMO, so savor the weirdness while you can: Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee announced at a press conference that 38 Studios will be releasing code-name Project Copernicus next summer. "What I understand is Copernicus is June of '13," Chafee said. He also stated that he thought the financial deal was a "risky enterprise" from the start.

38 Studios Founder and Chairman Curt Schilling said on Facebook that rumors of his using the state funds to repay his personal investment in the company was "not true." In a separate post, Schilling attempted to set an optimistic tone: "We will find a way, and the strength, to endure."

We have been following the financial turmoil that 38 Studios is in following its default on paying back Rhode Island for its $75 million loan. The studio and state are looking for options, but in the meanwhile, 38 Studios has been struggling to make payments by holding back employee paychecks and seeking additional capital from private investors.

Massively38 Studios' Project Copernicus to release in June 2013, says RI governor originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosbusinesscurt-schillingfacebookfinanceindustrykingdoms-of-amalurkingdoms-of-amalur-reckoninglaunchlaunch-windowlegalLincoln-Chafeeloanmmo-industrypress-conferenceproject-copernicusreleaserelease-windowrepaymentrhode-islandrumorrumorsFri, 18 May 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[38 Studios paying state back by not paying employees]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/38-studios-paying-state-back-by-not-paying-employees/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/38-studios-paying-state-back-by-not-paying-employees/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/38-studios-paying-state-back-by-not-paying-employees/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Schilling getting a tattoo
If you're familiar with the phrase "robbing Peter to pay Paul," you'll understand the latest episode in the ongoing 38 Studios financial crisis. Except replace "Paul" with "the state of Rhode Island" and "Peter" with "the company's employees." Yes, in order to make the most recent payment to the state that sparked this whole crisis, the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation has been informed that Curt Schilling's company is paying the state but not paying any of the company's employees. According to anonymous sources, all temporary employees and contractors have also been terminated.

While this measure might help forestall immediate action, the company is still on the hook for a $75 million loan, and Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee has made it clear that the company is looking for more assistance from the state in order to remain viable. 38 Studios continues to make no public statements at this time. We'll no doubt have more on this story in the coming days as it continues to develop.

Massively38 Studios paying state back by not paying employees originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosbusinesscurt-schillingfinanceindustrykingdoms-of-amalurkingdoms-of-amalur-reckoninglegalloanmmo-industryproject-copernicusrepaymentrhode-islandThu, 17 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[No relief in sight for 38 Studios after emergency meeting [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/no-relief-in-sight-for-38-studios-after-emergency-meeting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/no-relief-in-sight-for-38-studios-after-emergency-meeting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/no-relief-in-sight-for-38-studios-after-emergency-meeting/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Gov Lincoln
Generally, when your company defaults on a major loan, you might expect an emergency meeting about the loan and the company's future would produce some results. But apparently today's meeting between 38 Studios owner Curt Schilling and Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee resulted in... absolutely nothing. Specifically, Rhode Island's Economic Development Corporation will take no immediate action to prevent the studio from going under, with Chafee on record as asking, "How do we avoid throwing good money after bad?"

It's a loaded question if you consider that the failure of 38 Studios would put the state's taxpayers on the hook for more than $112 million. Schilling has declined to elaborate on the company's state in interviews, and he has not made public how much more funding the company is seeking. It's bad news for the studio, bad news for the state, and bad news for any fans still looking forward to the possibility of Project Copernicus in the future.

[Update: Joystiq reports that "it appears 38 Studios put up all present and future IP by the company as collateral," meaning that if the studio defaults, the state of Rhode Island will own all of its game assets. We've tucked some of the ensuing news coverage in the video behind the break.]

Continue reading No relief in sight for 38 Studios after emergency meeting [Updated]

MassivelyNo relief in sight for 38 Studios after emergency meeting [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosbusinessbusiness-updatescurt-schillingfinancefinancesindustrylegalloansmmo-industrymoneyproject-copernicusWed, 16 May 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: 38 Studios may be having financial trouble]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/rumor-38-studios-may-be-having-financial-trouble/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/rumor-38-studios-may-be-having-financial-trouble/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/rumor-38-studios-may-be-having-financial-trouble/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In fairness, the MMO was always about 50-50 on happening.
38 Studios is one of many developers whose first big game (Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning) was rumored to lead into an MMO further on down the line. It looks like there may be storm clouds on the horizon before that project even gets moving, however, as the company may be facing financial issues. Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee has apparently been meeting with owner Curt Schilling to work on "different issues," with Chafee noting that his administration has always tried to ensure that Rhode Island companies remain financially solvent.

If you consider that Rhode Island invested about $75 million in the company, it's obvious that the government has an interest in making the company remain viable over the long term. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was a moderate hit, but that might not be enough for the company as it develops. We'll have more on this story as it develops, hopefully with better news.

MassivelyRumor: 38 Studios may be having financial trouble originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosamalurbusinesscurt-schillingfinancialindustrykingdoms-of-amalurkingdoms-of-amalur-reckoningmmo-industrymoneyrhode-islandrumorMon, 14 May 2012 20:20:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: You owe me for this]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/a-mild-mannered-reporter-you-owe-me-for-this/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/a-mild-mannered-reporter-you-owe-me-for-this/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/a-mild-mannered-reporter-you-owe-me-for-this/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
In a subscription game, the developers have a certain degree of built-in obligation to the playerbase. You pay $15 a month, and while some of that goes toward the simple logistics of running the game, some of that also goes toward keeping the game in development. When you're putting down money, there's a tacit understanding that you are owed something in return. Strictly speaking, we know the only thing we're owed is access to the game, but even that is something.

City of Heroes has entered the realm of free-to-play, though, and that means the expectations of what players are owed has become all kinds of skewed. There's a huge pile of content available to players who haven't paid a cent. What do free players actually deserve in this environment? What do paying players deserve? Where do you draw the line between what should be free for everyone, what should be free for subscribers, and what should just plain cost money?

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: You owe me for this

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: You owe me for this originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-manneredbusinessbusiness-modelscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxentitlementf2pfeaturedfree-to-playncsoftopinionowedowingparagonparagon-studiosreporterWed, 22 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GamersFirst sees a management shakeup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/gamersfirst-sees-a-management-shakeup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/gamersfirst-sees-a-management-shakeup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/gamersfirst-sees-a-management-shakeup/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Not pictured: management.
GamersFirst is in the minds of gamers for its successful relaunch of APB: Reloaded, which went from a lightning-fast shutdown to a successful free-to-play title. The company is also developing new games based on original IPs for future release. But there's some rumbling going on behind the scenes at the company, as the company's parent corporation, K2 Network, saw the resignation of its CEO, Joshua Hong. Bjorn Book-Larsson, former COO and CTO, has been promoted to the CEO position, with Hong's future uncertain.

The official statements claim that the transition of power was amicable and pre-arranged, but it also comes on the heels of worldwide layoffs from K2 and rumors of a power struggle behind the scenes. Rahul Sandil, the company's public relations chief, claimed that there was no truth to these rumors and that the plan was to move forward from simple localizations of titles developed in foreign markets. Sandil went on to confirm that APB: Reloaded continues to be a large-scale success for the company and that further development will be centered around work that Book-Larsson had already seen during his time as CTO and COO.

MassivelyGamersFirst sees a management shakeup originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbapb-reloadedbjorn-book-larssonbusinessbusiness-newsceocooctof2pfree-to-playgame-industrygamersfirstjoshua-hongk2-networklayoffsmanagementmmo-industryrahul-sandilThu, 16 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ChangYou reports record profits for the year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/changyou-reports-record-profits-for-the-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/changyou-reports-record-profits-for-the-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/changyou-reports-record-profits-for-the-year/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Don't chang us, we'll chang you?
If you live in China and play online, you know the name ChangYou. The company is a bit less well-known over in the US, but it's still made a name for itself with quirky titles like Zentia and Duke of Mount Deer. It's also apparently making a massive amount of money. According to the company's fourth quarter financial report, ChangYou wound up with a total gross revenue of $435.5 million, with profits surging to $248 million.

CEO Tao Wang says the company can thank a variety of games for its success -- the aforementioned Duke of Mount Deer, an expansion for Tian Long Ba Bu, and the browser-based DDTank. The success of the company in the online market is just part of the ever-expanding Chinese marketplace, which generated over $5 billion dollars last year alone. That's good news for ChangYou and its fans, since the company will enter the next year with plenty of money to generate more games.

MassivelyChangYou reports record profits for the year originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-informationchangyouddtankduke-of-mount-deerindustrymmo-industryprofitsrevenuetao-wangtian-long-ba-buzentiaMon, 06 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Namco executive: F2P titles 'can't be high quality']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/namco-executive-f2p-titles-cant-be-high-quality/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/namco-executive-f2p-titles-cant-be-high-quality/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/namco-executive-f2p-titles-cant-be-high-quality/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Namco Bandai logo
Just when we thought every game development firm on the planet had jumped on the free-to-play bandwagon, along comes Namco-Bandai and executive Olivier Comte.

The senior vice president recently spoke at the Cloud Gaming Europe conference, and he had some pretty harsh words for the industry's new business model darling. "Free-to-play games can't be high quality," Comte said. "The business model for smaller, easier titles is making an expectation to consumers that is whittling away at AAA development."

He went on to stress that larger companies have to think long-term, and he opined that the proliferation of cheap games is going to be problematic for the industry if the trend continues.

MassivelyNamco executive: F2P titles 'can't be high quality' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-modelscloud-gamingcloud-gaming-europef2pfree-to-playmmo-industrynamcoNamco-Bandaiolivier-comteThu, 19 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Raph Koster talks about free-to-play models and whales]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/raph-koster-talks-about-the-evil-of-free-to-play-models/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/raph-koster-talks-about-the-evil-of-free-to-play-models/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/raph-koster-talks-about-the-evil-of-free-to-play-models/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I'm offended at having to keep this game afloat.
The idea of free-to-play business models can prompt a lot of venom from players who are certain that the model, essentially, is a trick. You'll be forced into paying for the game somehow, or you'll be able to pay extra money and walk away with all of the best stuff in the game. Raph Koster has a different view of things from a business standpoint, and he outlines how the free-to-play model works out in practice in a recent blog entry.

Koster explains that you wind up with a handful of players who sink a huge amount of money into the game, while most users (upwards of 60%) never pay a dime. The users who do pay that much money, referred to as "whales," are essentially being treated as if they're in a retail store, compared to the more traditional model where you pay $60 for a game only to find out you don't like it. Whatever your views on the model, it's an interesting look at the changing face of monetizing games and is well worth a read.

MassivelyRaph Koster talks about free-to-play models and whales originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-modelsf2pfree-to-playhybrid-modelindustryindustry-insiderskostermmo-industryopinionpricingraph-kostersubscriptionWed, 11 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom tops Oslo stock exchange, invests heavily in The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/funcom-tops-oslo-stock-exchange-invests-heavily-in-the-secret-w/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/funcom-tops-oslo-stock-exchange-invests-heavily-in-the-secret-w/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/funcom-tops-oslo-stock-exchange-invests-heavily-in-the-secret-w/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World - Dude with a big shotgun
Funcom's future is looking pretty bright according to a report at Views and News from Norway. The site says the development firm behind Anarchy Online, Age of Conan, and The Secret World topped the Oslo stock exchange last year and saw its share price rise by 227%.

AoC has "sold well and still generates income for Funcom," says the report, but the real cause for optimism is the positive buzz surrounding The Secret World. Funcom head honcho Trond Arne Aas says that the firm has received "very good feedback" from both testers and journalists, and it's a good thing since the company absorbed a third quarter loss despite its share price increase.

"We're investing heavily in The Secret World now, therefore the loss," Aas explained. "But we're hoping for major income after the launch in April."

MassivelyFuncom tops Oslo stock exchange, invests heavily in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocbusinesseconomicsfailcomfantasyfuncomhorrormmo-industrystock-performancethe-secret-worldtrond-arne-aastswMon, 02 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Darkfall devblog addresses Darkfall 2.0 progress, lack of communication]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/darkfall-devblog-addresses-darkfall-2-0-progress-lack-of-commun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/darkfall-devblog-addresses-darkfall-2-0-progress-lack-of-commun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/darkfall-devblog-addresses-darkfall-2-0-progress-lack-of-commun/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Darkfall
Darkfall fans, rejoice! More news about Darkfall 2.0 is upon us. Tasos Flambouras stopped by the game's blog today to mention that the team does "notice the anxiety on the forums concerning development progress, timing of Darkfall's re-launch, speculation about a wipe between Darkfall and the re-launch, and our spotty communication as of late." He then set out to make amends for these transgressions by giving fans an update on Darkfall 2.0's development progress. Flambouras noted that "the remaining work is broken down... and supported with a clear timeframe... so at this point we know exactly when we're done with the development." More details on Darkfall 2.0 will be revealed in upcoming updates.

But Darkfall 2.0 isn't the only thing on the Aventurine head-honcho's agenda. He also takes some time to talk about whether or not there will be a full wipe when 2.0 launches (the team hasn't decided yet), business deals (the studio is in "final stages of cooperation with several partners"), and the studio's lack of communication (the studio says it's sorry and promises to do better). For the full, unabridged dev blog update, just head on over to the game's official site.

MassivelyDarkfall devblog addresses Darkfall 2.0 progress, lack of communication originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aventurinebusinesscommunicationdarkfalldarkfall-2.0dev-blogdev-diarymiscommunicationrelaunchsandboxtasos-flambouraswipeFri, 02 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shanda Games going back to private ownership]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/shanda-games-going-back-to-private-ownership/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/shanda-games-going-back-to-private-ownership/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/shanda-games-going-back-to-private-ownership/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's hard to find a screenshot of companies going private. Instead, enjoy a shot of goblins getting whipped.
If you've been following development on Eligium, you're probably at least passingly familiar with the name Shanda Games. You'd be more familiar with it in China, since the company also operates a variety of games from other markets, including Aion, MapleStory, and Dungeons & Dragons Online. And after having a record-breaking quarter, the company is moving in the opposite direction of what you might expect from a successful company: It's going private. The requisite stocks were purchased by a single family, so the company moving out of the public market.

All shares will be jointly purchased by a parent company headed by Shanda's CEO, Shanda's COO (the CEO's son), and the company director (the CEO's wife). A $180 million loan was taken out to ensure that the stocks could be traded, with the purchasers buying shares at a higher price to help ensure the transfer. The board of directors has already approved this move, which means that it should go through without a hitch before the first quarter of 2012.

MassivelyShanda Games going back to private ownership originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesschinachinese-developerchinese-marketlegalmmo-businessmmo-industryshanda-gamesTue, 22 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SEGA acquires Spiral Knights creator Three Rings Design]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/sega-acquires-spiral-knights-creator-three-rings-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/sega-acquires-spiral-knights-creator-three-rings-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/sega-acquires-spiral-knights-creator-three-rings-design/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SEGA logo
SEGA announced today that it has acquired indie developer Three Rings Design. Three Rings is no newcomer to the MMO industry, with popular titles such as Puzzle Pirates and the new Spiral Knights. SEGA's Senior VP of Digital Business, Haruki Satomi, says of the acquisition, "We are proud to welcome them as the newest member of the SEGA family, and look forward to seeing what great things we can create together over the coming years." Three Rings CEO Daniel James seems quite pleased as well, stating that his company is "honored to be joining such a legendary team and look forward to collaborating on amazing ideas together." We know we're looking forward to seeing what this unique combination manages to produce as well. We'll just have to wait and see.

MassivelySEGA acquires Spiral Knights creator Three Rings Design originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessdaniel-jamesharuki-satomiindustrypuzzle-piratessegaspiral-knightsthree-ringsthree-rings-designThu, 17 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nexon looking to purchase Freestyle developer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/nexon-looking-to-purchase-freestyle-developer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/nexon-looking-to-purchase-freestyle-developer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/nexon-looking-to-purchase-freestyle-developer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

All street basketball matches involve Bob Marley and Eminem.
Do you like street basketball? It certainly seems like the folks at Nexon do, seeing as how the company is in talks to purchase the developer of Freestyle. The rather unique street basketball MMO is developed by South Korean company JCE, and Nexon is currently in meetings with the company's majority stockholders. Successful negotiations wouldn't mean that Nexon could quite make the company a subsidiary, but they would be the first step down that road.

Followers of the industry will no doubt notice that this is an ongoing pattern with Nexon's recent acquisition, as the Seoul-based company has purchased a variety of other South Korean development studios in recent months, as well as a Spanish development studio. What this would mean for the games in North America or for the industry as a whole is unclear as of yet, although it would certainly be another installment of Nexon solidifying its MMO catalogue.

MassivelyNexon looking to purchase Freestyle developer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-newsfree-to-playfreestylejcemmo-industrynexonnexon-usaWed, 12 Oct 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[John Smedley talks free-to-play across the industry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/john-smedley-talks-free-to-play-across-the-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/john-smedley-talks-free-to-play-across-the-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/john-smedley-talks-free-to-play-across-the-industry/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The whole Sinestro Corps thing was a really nice opportunity to answer a question I'd long wondered about, followed by a slew of colored rings to answer questions I had never had and frankly never wanted answered.
If you've somehow missed the news from earlier today, John Smedley had a chat with us about the impending switch to a free-to-play model for DC Universe Online. So it might not come as a big surprise that he's penned a recent editorial on GamesIndustry.biz regarding the current state of MMO business models and where the industry is heading. It also probably won't surprise most people to see that he envisions the free model overtaking subscriptions, but his reasoning might.

As Smedley sees it, free-to-play has a number of advantages, but one of the big ones is that it levels the playing field between big developers and smaller outfits when the games can both be played up-front without an initial investment. It's also more commonly accepted as a worldwide model, which matters in an industry that increasingly looks to other markets aside from the US. Sony Online Entertainment is slowly moving into the free-to-play realm itself, and only time will tell if the model will be a success for DCUO, but it's interesting to see the thought process behind the model expanding on a regular basis.

Look for our own interview with Smed regarding his thoughts on the growing free-to-play trend, coming soon.

MassivelyJohn Smedley talks free-to-play across the industry originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-modelsf2pfree-to-playindustry-personalitiesinsider-opinionsjohn-smedleymmo-industrynewsopinionsoesony-online-entertainmentMon, 19 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online still not available in China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/lord-of-the-rings-online-still-not-available-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/lord-of-the-rings-online-still-not-available-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/lord-of-the-rings-online-still-not-available-in-china/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - skirmish dragon
When it comes to mammoth western themepark MMOs and the Chinese gaming market, apparently there can be only one. And that one isn't named Lord of the Rings Online (or Highlander Online, sadly).

CDC Corporation initially entered into an agreement to distribute Turbine's Tolkien-inspired MMORPG to Chinese gamers in 2006. Five years later, the game still has not seen the light of day, and Turbine has pulled the plug on the arrangement as a result. CDC spent approximately $10 million on "licensing, development, and other costs," but has nothing to show for the expenditures.

Don't cry too hard for Turbine, though, as the Boston-based developer pocketed the $4 million non-refundable licensing fee.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online still not available in China originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscdccdc-corporationchinachinese-gaming-marketf2pfantasyfree-to-playlicensinglocalizationlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrommo-industrytolkientranslationturbineTurbine-EntertainmentThu, 15 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Russian MMO market to continue growing through next year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/russian-mmo-market-to-continue-growing-through-next-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/russian-mmo-market-to-continue-growing-through-next-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/russian-mmo-market-to-continue-growing-through-next-year/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Allods Online counts.
For a long time, China has been the country to look to for MMO growth. The country's rapid acquisition of technology and popular internet cafes has led to an explosion in growth and online gaming. But China isn't the only country steadily rising in quantities. According to a study by Newzoo, the Russian game market is already a $1.5 billion industry, with $270 million of that going directly toward MMOs, making our favorite genre tied with general PC gaming for overall spending.

Among the more interesting upshots of the study are the fact that women compose 49% of the overall gamer market in Russia, a remarkably even split considering the setup of most developed nation; 69% of the spent money goes toward online or mobile games. In many ways, the Russian gaming market has already overtaken the European markets in terms of overall numbers and spending, according to Newzoo CEO Peter Warman. The company also created a useful set of infographics regarding the overall breakdown of data.

[Source: Newzoo press release]

MassivelyRussian MMO market to continue growing through next year originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-issuesgaming-industryindustry-analysisinternationalmmo-industrymobile-gamingnewzooonline-gamingoverall-spendingpeter-warmanTue, 13 Sep 2011 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Older gamers more likely to drop money in cash shops to save time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/older-gamers-more-likely-to-drop-money-in-cash-shops-to-save-tim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/older-gamers-more-likely-to-drop-money-in-cash-shops-to-save-tim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/older-gamers-more-likely-to-drop-money-in-cash-shops-to-save-tim/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Your rabbit ears aren't getting any younger, and that's a lot of loot for ten bucks.
How long are you willing to wait for your next level in a given game? According to a recent study, the older you are, the less likely you'll wait and the more likely you'll be to just whip out a credit card and buy an experience booster. Flurry Analytics conducted a survey of mobile and social gamers and found that older players are far more likely to just spend some money if it'll save some painful grinding in the long run.

While the study was focused on the social gaming side of the coin, the business model is not dissimilar from that employed by many free-to-play MMOs that frequently offer in-game options to earn items that can also be purchased outright. And the logical conclusion is drawn -- younger players have less disposable income but more time to buckle down and grind, while older players have more responsibilities and more free money to spend. It's an interesting look at the spending patterns, one which looks to be increasingly relevant as free-to-play options continue to multiply.

MassivelyOlder gamers more likely to drop money in cash shops to save time originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-modelsculturef2pfree-to-playfreemiumpay-habitspay-to-playplay-habitssciencesocial-gamingstudiesstudySat, 10 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft subscriptions continue a downward trend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/world-of-warcraft-subscriptions-continue-a-downward-trend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/world-of-warcraft-subscriptions-continue-a-downward-trend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/world-of-warcraft-subscriptions-continue-a-downward-trend/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"No king rules forever, my son." Those words were a big part of the capstone event for World of Warcraft's last expansion, but they may be equally appropriate for the game itself. According to reports from the company, WoW's subscription numbers have continued to drop in the quarter ending June 30th, with the game now holding approximately 11 million subscribers worldwide. It's a slower rate than the game had been bleeding players, but it's still a definite decrease.

According to president Mike Morhaime, the reason for the drop can be traced back to the time since the last expansion release, but even Morhaime admits that this is the fastest drop the game has seen during its run. There are obviously rumors that the next expansion is not so far away, but as it stands, WoW's longstanding grip on the MMO market is no longer quite as strong as it once was.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft subscriptions continue a downward trend originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbusinessindustrymike-morhaimemmo-industrysubscriber-numberssubscribersworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 03 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[League of Legends boasts 15 million registered players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/league-of-legends-boasts-15-million-registered-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/league-of-legends-boasts-15-million-registered-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/league-of-legends-boasts-15-million-registered-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

League of Legends has officially surpassed the 15 million player plateau. That means it's time for a smattering of silly stats from the marketing department to help illustrate just how large that number really is.

In a new press release published this morning, Riot Games touts everything from its peak concurrency numbers (500,000), to its daily player totals (1.4 million), to the headline-grabbing registered players figure. While those numbers are quite impressive, Riot doesn't stop there. "An average of ten games of LoL start every second of every day," the company says, before adding that "gamers spend 3.7 million hours in-game [...] every day."

The title's first season of competitive play is coming to a close, and Riot CEO Brandon Beck has a hearty thank you in store for the title's faithful. "We're committed to continuing to match their dedication with our relentless focus on ongoing enhancements to the player experience with great new features, content, and polish - and we have some very exciting surprises in store just around the corner," he says.

MassivelyLeague of Legends boasts 15 million registered players originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>15-million-playersbrandon-beckbusinessconcurrencyfantasyleague-of-legendslolmmo-industrymobamoneynumberspress-releaseregistered-playersriotriot-gamesstatisticsstatsTue, 26 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wargaming.net opens European office]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/wargaming-net-opens-european-office/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/wargaming-net-opens-european-office/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/wargaming-net-opens-european-office/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Wargaming.net is expanding, and the company behind World of Tanks and the upcoming World of Warplanes has issued a press release detailing its growth and plans for the future.

In short, a new European branch is opening, and the facility will boast "more than 40 professionals" who will handle Wargaming.net's PR, marketing, community, and support logistics. The company, which originally formed in Belarus, has tapped Frederic Menou to oversee its new European office which is located in Paris, France. Menou was formerly the managing director at Blizzard Entertainment Europe.

"We are not a small company, we are becoming a global player," Menou says. "There's nothing that can hinder us from becoming the best company in the industry."

MassivelyWargaming.net opens European office originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesseuropean-branchf2pfrederic-menoufree-to-playhistoricalmmo-industrypress-releasestrategywarwar-gameswargaming.networld-of-tanksworld-of-warplanesTue, 26 Jul 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Faxion Online studio hit with layoffs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/faxion-online-studio-hit-with-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/faxion-online-studio-hit-with-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/faxion-online-studio-hit-with-layoffs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you're a fan of Faxion Online, the last thing you want to hear about is members of the game's development team getting the axe. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened today -- UTV Ignition has reportedly cut staff from the division responsible for much of the game's programming and maintenance. Exact lists have varied, with Don Choi (vice-president of UTV's online division) claiming that only a small fraction of employees were let go while employees affected have claimed that the majority of the studio has now been cut.

The affected team members have claimed that the game's customer service and support are also being cut and outsourced, while Choi maintains that the game will still be running and receive updates and improvements. Which version of events is the honest one is a bit unclear at the moment, but we offer our condolences to Faxion Online development members affected by these layoffs.

MassivelyFaxion Online studio hit with layoffs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessdon-choif2pfaxionfaxion-onlinefree-to-playlayoffsstaff-reductionstaffingtrue-gamesutvutv-ignitionutv-true-gamesMon, 18 Jul 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mike O'Brien discusses the business of ArenaNet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/mike-obrien-discusses-the-business-of-arenanet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/mike-obrien-discusses-the-business-of-arenanet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/mike-obrien-discusses-the-business-of-arenanet/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's hard to become invested in MMOs and video games without learning something about the industry at play -- an industry of repeated layoffs and mergers, acquisitions and shuffling ownership, and a whole lot of passion and drama over seemingly inconsequential subject matter. The acquisition of PopCap by Electronic Arts last week prompted The Seattle Times to conduct an interview with Mike O'Brien of ArenaNet, known for the highly anticipated Guild Wars 2 and the already quite successful Guild Wars, about acquisition, corporate oversight, and the life of a smaller studio moving into big waters.

As O'Brien puts it, the decision to seek outside funding from the start was a direct result of the scale and scope of the Guild Wars project. Rather than trying to scramble for resources to create a big project that could compete, the studio went for a company that seemed like it would appreciate their way of doing business. And O'Brien has nothing but positive things to say about the working relationship between his studio and NCsoft -- although he's very aware of what can happen when a small studio gets bought by a larger organization. The full interview should be of interest to anyone who follows the industry... and like we said, that's a good part of the MMO crowd.

MassivelyMike O'Brien discusses the business of ArenaNet originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbusinessbusiness-discussionscorporategame-industryguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2industryMike-obrienmmo-industryncsoftMon, 18 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[APB shoots down rumors of retail releases]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/apb-shoots-down-rumors-of-retail-releases/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/apb-shoots-down-rumors-of-retail-releases/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/apb-shoots-down-rumors-of-retail-releases/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

APB has not had an easy ride, launching and shutting down in record time. But the relaunch at the hands of GamersFirst has proven quite successful for the game, which gives rise to certain rumors. Case in point, the rumor that had swirled earlier today about the game seeing a retail re-release at the hands of IGS. It was certainly a nice rumor, but according to Rahul Sandil, it's nothing more than that.

In a statement released earlier today by Mr. Sandil, GamersFirst has been approached by a number of potential retail partners due to the runaway success of APB Reloaded. However, the company is still evaluating its options, and as a result they are not yet ready to announce any partnerships. Mr. Sandil also stressed that any retail partnership would not change the fact that the company is committed to free-to-play as a business model, which is doubtlessly good news for fans now enjoying the urban shooter free-for-all.

MassivelyAPB shoots down rumors of retail releases originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-gameapb-eaapb-gamebusinessdistributionea-all-points-bulletinea-apbea-gameselectronic-artselectronic-arts-all-points-bulletinf2pfree-to-playgamersfirstigsrumorsshooterThu, 14 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The evolution of microtransactions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/10/eve-evolved-the-evolution-of-microtransactions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/10/eve-evolved-the-evolution-of-microtransactions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/10/eve-evolved-the-evolution-of-microtransactions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Two weeks ago, the escalating drama in EVE Online saw me drained of my normal enthusiasm as I contemplated the very real possibility that my time in the game I love was coming to an end. While the forums were filled with the most vocal and angry players, discussions with veteran players featured mainly disappointment and a distinct sadness. For those few days spent in limbo waiting for the results of the emergency CSM meeting, I and many of my in-game friends remained a hair's breadth from giving up on EVE entirely.

It was a delicate situation based more on perception and poor communication than intent or fact, and I think CCP pulled things back well with formal statements from both itself and the CSM in addition to an in-depth follow-up press conference. One of the big points to come out of the press conference was that while CCP and the CSM are both confident that none of the future microtransaction plans are game-breaking, the company did not restrict itself to vanity goods such as Incarna clothing.

While the CSM was convinced that CCP planned only to produce pure vanity goods, CCP Zulu was careful not to rule out gameplay-affecting microtransactions altogether. Both CCP and the CSM also talked about "game-breaking" sales rather than using a clearer term like "gameplay-affecting" or "non-vanity." It's reasonable then to assume that in the future we might eventually get non-vanity goods that do interact with gameplay but aren't game-breaking in terms of balance, mechanics or interaction with the in-game economy.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I show exactly why options like selling ships would be game-breaking and then let my imagination run wild as I speculate on possible non-vanity microtransactions for the far future that shouldn't disrupt gameplay.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The evolution of microtransactions

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The evolution of microtransactions originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-modelscash-shopccpccp-eveccp-gamesccp-zuluclothingconvenienceeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedfree-to-playfree-to-play-is-here-to-staygrindincarnainterbusloyalty-pointslpMicrotransactionsmissionmission-runningmmo-industryneural-remappingnexnoble-exchangeplexrunes-of-magicshortcutSun, 10 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Canada Day edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/ask-massively-canada-day-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/ask-massively-canada-day-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/ask-massively-canada-day-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Yes, Canada Day was last week. But a couple of our readers expressed some displeasure about the fact that America's birthday gets observances in MMOs while Canada's birthday doesn't. And you know what? That does seem unfair. So let's hear it for Canada! I've had the good fortune to meet a number of wonderful Canadian players in various MMOs over the years, and I can say without reservation that the nation deserves more recognition beyond the ubiquitous jokes about its relationship to America. So hooray for Canada, and happy belated birthday to our northern neighbors!

Seriously, let's hope BioWare gives us a Star Wars: The Old Republic holiday for Canada Day. I would be thrilled.

As you've probably guessed, this week's edition of Ask Massively is just a wee bit subjective, and considering that our questions tackle the issues of humans in game stories and microtransactions in MMOs, we really saw no way around it. Got a question of your own for a future installment of the column? Mail it to ask@massively.com, or leave it in the comments below.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Canada Day edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Canada Day edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelybackstorybusinesscanadacanada-daycash-shopscolumnsfeaturedloremicrotransactionsopinionracesThu, 07 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: There's no such thing as a Brontosaurus edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/ask-massively-theres-no-such-thing-as-a-brontosaurus-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/ask-massively-theres-no-such-thing-as-a-brontosaurus-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/ask-massively-theres-no-such-thing-as-a-brontosaurus-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Here's the problem -- pop culture has latched onto the Brontosaurus as a species of dinosaur, when the sample originally identified as such has since been acknowledged as a different subspecies within the Apatosaurus genus. It's telling that my spellchecker recognizes the former as a word but doesn't recognize the latter, which is the actual correct name for this type of dinosaur. So if you see an enormous herbivore with a long neck, a whiplike tail, and a slow lumbering gait, don't misidentify! Make sure to inform all fleeing passersby that that dinosaur is an Apatosaurus, not a Brontosaurus.

Assuming that you aren't encountering massive phantom dinosaurs storming through the street of your home town, you'll have no problem moving past our discussion on the taxonomy of extinct lizards and onto this week's installment of Ask Massively. This time, we're tackling a whole lot of insanity revolving around starships, and if you paid the slightest attention to what was going on last week, you can probably guess the games under discussion. As always, if you'd like to see your question in a future installment of the column, mail it along to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments.

Continue reading Ask Massively: There's no such thing as a Brontosaurus edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: There's no such thing as a Brontosaurus edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelybusinesscolumneveeve-onlinefeaturedmicrotransactionsopinionreleaserelease-datesshutdownsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtortorThu, 30 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Uncharted Waters Online moves to gPotato]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/uncharted-waters-online-moves-to-gpotato/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/uncharted-waters-online-moves-to-gpotato/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/uncharted-waters-online-moves-to-gpotato/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

gPotato already hosts a substantial number of different games -- Aika, Allods Online, and Rappelz spring to mind as some of the more familiar names. But that list has just expanded by one more entry, as Uncharted Waters Online joins the service. The 15th-century naval game allows players to create a naval pioneer during the Age of Exploration from any of the six major powers of the time, adventuring in the (highly stylized) backdrop of the era.

To celebrate the change in service, the game is running two new events: a new player contest with a number of high-end prizes and a doubled experience event for all players below a certain level. Both events will be running until late July, giving everyone interested in the game ample time to take part. So whether you're an old fan of Uncharted Waters Online or you're new to the concept, it seems like a fine time to give it a shot.

MassivelyUncharted Waters Online moves to gPotato originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrationbusinessbusiness-movesf2pfree-to-playgala-netgpotatonew-operationuncharted-waters-onlineunder-new-managementuwoThu, 23 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you like the idea of monetizing third-party utilities?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-the-idea-of-monetizing-third-party/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-the-idea-of-monetizing-third-party/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-the-idea-of-monetizing-third-party/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Between licensing issues and the general way of the internet, we've gotten used to the idea that MMO services outside of the company don't cost anything. World of Warcraft players might rely on Wowhead's database services, but that's free to anyone who knows where to look. But with the recent EVE Online move to allow third parties to make money on applications and services, there are some interesting questions to be asked about the way things work now.

On the one hand, charging money for services means that it's possible for good services and databases to go professional, helping to ensure a higher level of quality. On the other hand, no one likes paying money for something that used to be free, and the idea that said free services may not always be free is a bitter pill to swallow. So what do you think? Are you happy with the idea that independent developers can make money off of a game, or does the EVE Online change fill you with apprehension?

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 the idea of monetizing third-party utilities? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesschargingeve-onlinefeesmoentizingmoneyopinionpaymenttdgthe-daily-grindthird-party-developmentThu, 16 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Third-party development acquiring monetization options from EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/third-party-development-acquiring-monetization-options-from-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/third-party-development-acquiring-monetization-options-from-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/third-party-development-acquiring-monetization-options-from-eve/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you're running a service in EVE Online at the moment, you're running it for free. If you're developing an application for the game, you're doing it for free. This isn't unusual, really -- pretty much any fan-developed application or service is done free of charge. But that's soon to change for fans of CCP's cutthroat game, as a new developer blog outlines upcoming changes that will allow developers to charge for services, applications, and website access.

For a $99 license fee, developers and service providers will be able to sign up and start charging money for their products while having full access to the EVE Online API. The entry itself goes into more details on the restrictions of the program and what it will mean for non-commercial sites (which will not be required to pay any sort of fee). It's an interesting move, one that means that the game will be able to develop a more robust real-world economy to complement the in-game activities.

MassivelyThird-party development acquiring monetization options from EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applicationsbusinessbusiness-modelsbusiness-practicesccpccp-gameseveeve-onlinefeesmmo-industrymonetizingpaymentservicessoftware-developmentthird-party-developmentwebsitesWed, 15 Jun 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision Blizzard posts record profits, WoW subs declining [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/activision-blizzard-posts-record-profits-with-a-large-share-fro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/activision-blizzard-posts-record-profits-with-a-large-share-fro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/activision-blizzard-posts-record-profits-with-a-large-share-fro/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The most recent World of Warcraft expansion has garnered its fair share of criticisms from players, but for better or for worse that hasn't made a dent in the parent company's empire. Activision Blizzard hasn't just been surviving but thriving, posting a record profit for the first quarter of 2011 -- $503 million in net income, more than $100 million over the year before. To the surprise of absolutely no one, Blizzard Entertainment was responsible for a large portion of that profit, bringing in $170 million all by its lonesome.

Needless to say, this has serious implications for the MMO world, especially with the long-awaited Star Wars: The Old Republic still on deck for this year -- a game rumored to have a nearly ruinous budget reaching well into the $200 million territory. While some of Blizzard's profit no doubt came from StarCraft II, the numbers involved will nevertheless send the message that there's still a great deal of profit to be had in MMOs, or at least in World of Warcraft.

[Update: Our sister publication WoW Insider is reporting that during the earnings call earlier this afternoon, Blizzard admitted to a drop in WoW's subscriber levels, from pre-Cataclysm levels of 12 million to 11.4 million at the end of March.]

MassivelyActivision Blizzard posts record profits, WoW subs declining [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbusinessfinancialgaming-industrymmo-industryprofitsworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 09 May 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zentia developer ChangYou spends $68 million on a browser game company]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/zentia-developer-changyou-spends-68-million-on-a-browser-game-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/zentia-developer-changyou-spends-68-million-on-a-browser-game-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/zentia-developer-changyou-spends-68-million-on-a-browser-game-c/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Brower-based gaming is starting to really catch on, with a variety of games either staking out the browser as the sole required program or offering play options to browser-bound players. ChangYou, the development company most known to western readers for its game Zentia, has apparently decided that the browser field is worth investing in to the tune of $68.3 million, as it was just announced today that the company had purchased a controlling interest in Chinese company Shenzhen 7Road Technology Co.

The acquisition is intended to complete on June 30th, with up to $32 million more up for grabs if Shenzhen 7Road manages to meet certain performance milestones through the end of next year. While there's plenty of reason to speculate about what this means for the future, it's certainly interesting to note that a free-to-play game developer is making such a large investment in a browser company -- an action that could have long-term ramifications for both present and future games.

MassivelyZentia developer ChangYou spends $68 million on a browser game company originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionsbrowser-basedbrowser-based-gamingbrowser-clientsbusinessbusiness-modelschangyouf2pfree-to-playindustry-newsmergersmmo-industryzentiaMon, 25 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mortal Online launches Facebook integration complete with discounts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/mortal-online-launches-facebook-integration-complete-with-discou/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/mortal-online-launches-facebook-integration-complete-with-discou/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/mortal-online-launches-facebook-integration-complete-with-discou/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Facebook integration isn't exactly a new thing for MMOs these days, but it's not often that you can use it to outright pay less money for a subscription. But that's what Mortal Online is experimenting with, offering players of the game a discount based upon their friend counts. Of course, there's a slight catch -- said friends can't themselves be players. The integrated application will also announce your major achievements to your friends, making it a clear method for players to show off the game they're enjoying and give it a bit of advertising to boot.

The discounts, naturally, are a nice incentive. A maximum of 1.25 EUR will be deducted from the subscription price if you have 750 non-playing friends, but even five non-playing friends will net you a 0.25 EUR reduction. The discount begins to apply 12 days after you link your account, meaning that new players to the game can enjoy the discount right from the start. It's money off and a chance to show off what you've accomplished, and that should be enough to win over almost any Mortal Online player with a Facebook account.

MassivelyMortal Online launches Facebook integration complete with discounts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-modeldiscountsfacebookfacebook-appsmomortal-onlinenewspromotionspecial-discountsstar-vaultstarvaultsubscription-discountsFri, 08 Apr 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BBC suggests gold farming may bolster poorer economies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/bbc-suggests-gold-farming-may-bolster-poorer-economies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/bbc-suggests-gold-farming-may-bolster-poorer-economies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/bbc-suggests-gold-farming-may-bolster-poorer-economies/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Who says gold farmers are devilspawn and deserving of a fate worse than death? Well, a lot of MMO gamers say that, but a news blurb on the BBC's website suggests that some virtual currency farmers may have a higher purpose after all.

Citing a report at InfoDev.org, the BBC posits that gold farmers are simply filling a role in the global supply and demand economy. "Western players who have limited time for gaming are buying game cash, gear and high level characters from people in China and Vietnam that are paid to play as a job," the article states.

The BBC also notes that the most recent global virtual sales estimates put the total market worth in the neighborhood of $3 billion. Approximately 30% of that is generated by legit players, 50% comes from bot farms, and the remaining 20% is pilfered from compromised accounts. Whether or not you tremble in anger at the thought of MMO gold farming or dismiss it as a modern-day reality, it seems as if it's here to stay, and according to the BBC, it might even provide economic aid to poor nations. "The virtual economy can have a significant impact on local economies despite its modest size," according to the article.

MassivelyBBC suggests gold farming may bolster poorer economies originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bbcbot-farmingbotsbusinessbusiness-modelsdeveloping-nationseconomyfarmersfarminggold-farmersgold-farmingmmo-industryvirtual-currencyvirtual-economyFri, 08 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Singing the praises of things edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/ask-massively-singing-the-praises-of-things-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/ask-massively-singing-the-praises-of-things-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/ask-massively-singing-the-praises-of-things-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Holy crap, guys, have you heard about this? The world is full of things. There are big things, small things, some things to set other things on fire -- we've got tons of things. Unfortunately, you can only access most things via various cash shops that cost real money, so that's kind of lackluster, but some things don't cost any money and they're pretty cool. Those green leafy things look fun. I wonder if I can equip one as a weapon or a trinket. Let's hear it for things!

If singing the praises of things isn't the sort of thing you're looking for today, however, you're in luck -- we have a different thing ready for you, an Ask Massively thing. It's the usual discussion of MMO things, in this case what players are actually looking for out of new things and this Star Wars: The Old Republic thing. If you've got a thing to ask about other things, you can leave your question in the comments, or you can mail it along to ask@massively.com.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Singing the praises of things edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Singing the praises of things edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelybiowarebusinesscolumnfeaturedgame-mechanicshypemarketingopinionpromotionquest-modelquestsriftstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthingsThu, 17 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Cryptic boss named CEO of Gazillion Entertainment]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/former-cryptic-boss-named-ceo-of-gazillion-entertainment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/former-cryptic-boss-named-ceo-of-gazillion-entertainment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/former-cryptic-boss-named-ceo-of-gazillion-entertainment/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Gaming executive John Needham wasn't out of work for very long, and in fact has traded one CEO position for another. Gazillion Entertainment has announced that the former Cryptic bossman will head up the studio as it looks to expand on its free-to-play browser-based MMO offerings.

Needham, who has also held down a high-level position at Sony Online Entertainment, joins former Blizzard executive David Brevik at Gazillion, while company founder Rob Hutter steps into the chairman position.

"I believe that in the near future, rich console-quality games will be delivered through the browser," Needham said via press release. "We're going to create browser-centric, free-to-play games that set a new standard for quality and deliver a deep, compelling experience."

MassivelyFormer Cryptic boss named CEO of Gazillion Entertainment originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbrowser-basedbusinesscrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfree-to-playgazilliongazillion-entertainmentjohn-needhammarvelmmo-industryFri, 11 Mar 2011 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard COO: We hope Titan will still be growing in 20 years]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/blizzard-coo-we-hope-titan-will-still-be-growing-in-20-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/blizzard-coo-we-hope-titan-will-still-be-growing-in-20-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/blizzard-coo-we-hope-titan-will-still-be-growing-in-20-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Finding (or developing) the first real World of Warcraft-killer is something of a holy grail for MMO fans and developers alike. The extraordinary success of Blizzard's fantasy title has set the company and its flagship product on a seemingly unreachable pedestal in terms of financial success and subscriber numbers.

Conventional wisdom says that's unlikely to be duplicated any time soon, if ever, but Blizzard COO Paul Sams isn't so sure. In a new interview with Gamasutra, he talks a bit about Titan, the code name for the as-yet-unannounced followup to World of Warcraft. "I believe [it's] the most ambitious thing we've ever attempted," Sams told Gamasutra. "And I feel like we have set our company up to succeed on that. We have some of our most talented and most experienced developers on that team. Many of the people that built World of Warcraft are full time on that other team."

Will WoW's 12 million subscribers jump ship and make Titan the raging success that its predecessor was? "The thing that we hope will happen is that it will not stop World of Warcraft but we believe it will eclipse it," Sams said, before adding that he expects Titan to be an industry force over the next two decades.

MassivelyBlizzard COO: We hope Titan will still be growing in 20 years originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbusinessbusiness-modelsfantasygamasutrainterviewmmo-industrypaul-samssci-fititanWorld-of-Warcraftwowwow-killerWed, 09 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jack Emmert appointed CEO of Cryptic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/jack-emmert-appointed-ceo-of-cryptic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/jack-emmert-appointed-ceo-of-cryptic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/jack-emmert-appointed-ceo-of-cryptic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

What's Jack Emmert been up to since surfacing briefly to talk about Neverwinter a few months ago? Apparently climbing the corporate ladder, as Cryptic has just announced via press release that the game design veteran has been tapped to serve as CEO of the company that brought us Star Trek Online, Champions Online, and way back when, City of Heroes.

Emmert is replacing John Needham and says that, while the latter will be missed, Cryptic remains committed to developing AAA gaming experiences. "I co-founded this company and am extremely proud of everything our teams have achieved. We will continue to set high goals for ourselves and under my leadership we will continue to meet them," Emmert says.

MassivelyJack Emmert appointed CEO of Cryptic originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbusinesschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosfantasyjack-emmertjohn-needhammmo-industryneverwintersci-fistar-trek-onlinestoWed, 09 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST