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[Second Wind: World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/second-wind-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/second-wind-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/second-wind-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

World of Warcraft
When I originally started playing World of Warcraft, things were different. Priests were still waiting on their first big class patch. Regular mounts required level 40; most players couldn't afford the 100ish gold fee without a loan from their guild. Epic mounts were so prohibitively expensive as to be considered rare. Raids required the dedication and skill of 40 players, and only a couple of guilds per realm actually even bothered to run high-end content. WoW was, as they say, srs bsns.

But that was eight years ago. Since then, World of Warcraft has seen four enormous expansions (Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, Cataclysm and Mists of Pandaria) and countless minor content updates. Edges have been softened, skills refined, classes reinvented. Subs have ballooned to a peak of over 12 million, waffled up and down for a few years, then fallen most recently to 9.6 million.

Some would argue that the World of Warcraft of 2013 bears only a passing resemblance to the one we played in 2005. Others would claim it's still the same excellent/terrible game, just gussied up with fresh paint.

As a longtime WoW lover but recently lapsed subscriber, I ventured into Mists of Pandaria to sort it out for myself.

Continue reading Second Wind: World of Warcraft

MassivelySecond Wind: World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionfantasyfeaturedhands-onmistsmists-of-pandariamoppandariapandaspost-launchre-reviewreviewroundtablesecond-impressionssecond-looksecond-windtranscriptupdated-impressionswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowWrath-of-the-Lich-KingFri, 01 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Parting the mists: World of Warcraft turns eight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/parting-the-mists-world-of-warcraft-turns-eight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/parting-the-mists-world-of-warcraft-turns-eight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/23/parting-the-mists-world-of-warcraft-turns-eight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Parting the mists: World of Warcraft turns eight
World of Warcraft's eighth anniversary arrives after a rough year for the franchise. Cataclysm, the expansion that redesigned much of the old world and trumpeted the return of archvillain Deathwing, also saw subscriber numbers drop from their highest point, reached during the Wrath of the Lich King years. Players expressed discontent over the empty zones and the lack of anything to do save run endless heroic dungeons or chain battlegrounds.

It's said that humans often prepare to fight the next war by devising tactics to deal with the last war, and World of Warcraft's newest expansion, Mists of Pandaria, is definitely a reaction to player complaints about the previous one. The past year saw the game transition from one with two separate, segregated endgames to a game with a great deal more variety for players who've reached max level. Whether you loved or hated Cataclysm, you can't deny that the past year has seen more change than the entire expansion dedicated to changing the game ever provided.

Continue reading Parting the mists: World of Warcraft turns eight

MassivelyParting the mists: World of Warcraft turns eight originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanniversarybirthdayBlizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionfantasyfeaturedghostcrawlergreg-streetmistsMists-of-PandariamoppandariapandastrailertrailersvideovideoswarcraftWorld-of-WarcraftWorld-of-Warcraft-AnniversarywowFri, 23 Nov 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/flameseeker-chronicles-a-brief-history-of-tyria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/flameseeker-chronicles-a-brief-history-of-tyria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/flameseeker-chronicles-a-brief-history-of-tyria/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

From Giganticus Lupicus to Guild Wars 2
I see a lot of questions about whether or not people who want to play Guild Wars 2 should jump into the original in the (increasingly diminishing) time left before launch. I don't think there's really a one-size-fits-all answer to that question. For those of you who are worried about missing a bunch of lore and history, however, I can do a little to help with an introduction to Tyria, its history, and the events leading up to Guild Wars 2. This won't be exhaustive (see the word brief in the title?), but it might help you understand what the dragon nonsense is about and what's going on with the world you're stepping into. Except where events had exceptional impact, this focuses mostly on what happened in the continent (not the entire world) of Tyria.

I hope it goes without saying that there are lore spoilers ahead, as well as Guild Wars campaign spoilers.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-brief-history-of-tyriaabaddonanetarenanetcataclysmfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesflameseeker-propheciesglintgod-bless-the-wiki-communityguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-loreguild-wars-propheciesgwgw-loregw1gw2historykrytaloremagicncsoftNO-REALLY-SPOILERSopinionpre-searingpropheciessearingshining-bladeSPOILERSstorystorylinethe-cataclysmthe-forgottenthe-godsthe-miststhe-rifttyriawhite-mantleTue, 07 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is it lazy to retool classic dungeons for endgame?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/06/the-daily-grind-is-it-lazy-to-retool-classic-dungeons-for-endga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/06/the-daily-grind-is-it-lazy-to-retool-classic-dungeons-for-endga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/06/the-daily-grind-is-it-lazy-to-retool-classic-dungeons-for-endga/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Mr Smite, Deadmines, World of Warcraft, courtesy of WoW Insider
Over the last few expansions, Blizzard has been attempting to transform antique World of Warcraft dungeons into modern, heroic experiences, from Cataclysm's reimagined Deadmines to Mists of Pandaria's level-cap Scholomance. But most of WoW's dungeons -- and most dungeons in ever-changing MMOs period -- languish in the past with outdated mechanics and loot surpassed by overland quest drops. You might go there as a tourist occasionally, but no one takes those places seriously.

I like a chance to go back to reworked older zones to get my nostalgia fix on boosted, endgame content. But I can see why players might object to the practice. After all, a fresh coat of paint doesn't really make it a new room. It can feel as if the devs cheaped out and just pasted some new textures and mechanics into an already-built zone instead of implementing something truly new.

What do you think -- is it lazy to retool classic dungeons for a new endgame?

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 it lazy to retool classic dungeons for endgame? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcataclysmclassic-dungeondaily-grinddeadminesdungeonendgamefantasyinstancemists-of-pandariamopopinionscholomancetdgthe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 06 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should new expansions include old expansions?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/the-daily-grind-should-new-expansions-include-old-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/the-daily-grind-should-new-expansions-include-old-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/the-daily-grind-should-new-expansions-include-old-expansions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

World of Warcraft
When Cataclysm launched, a friend of mine who hadn't played since the days of Vanilla World of Warcraft wanted to join in the fun, but when he saw the cost of catching up -- nearly full box prices for The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King, on top of Cataclysm itself -- he balked and decided to stick with cheaper games. Blizzard's policy on charging for full expansions long after they were new always did seem weird to me, since I grew up on Ultima Online and EverQuest, whose earlier expansions usually came bundled for free along with the newest one. Why keep barriers to entry (or re-entry) unnecessarily high?

So I'm happy to see recent sales on WoW's earlier expansions and a free Cataclysm for returning players via the new scroll of resurrection deal, but I can't help but wonder whether it's too late. How many of you have skipped over a game because of the cost of "catching up"? Do you think new expansions should always include the previous ones gratis?

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 new expansions include old expansions? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcataclysmdaily-grindeqeverquestexpansionexpansionsfantasyopiniontbctdgthe-burning-crusadethe-daily-grindUltima-Onlineuovanilla-wowwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingMon, 19 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm post-mortem reflects on success, failure, and lessons learned]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-post-mortem-reflects-on-success-fa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-post-mortem-reflects-on-success-fa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/08/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-post-mortem-reflects-on-success-fa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft's Cataclysm expansion is over a year old now, and Mists of Pandaria is looming just over the horizon, which means that it's time for a Cataclysm post-mortem. The infamous pony-promiser Greg "Ghostcrawler" Streets took some time out of his day to set aside the nerf bat and answer some questions regarding World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. What worked? What didn't? Where the hell is the dance studio, anyway? Just kidding, we still don't know that last one.

One topic that's frequently revisited throughout the post-mortem is the talent system revamp. In a nutshell, Ghostcrawler says that the team (and the players) were largely pleased with the ability to choose a spec and gain powerful, useful skills right at level 10. What didn't work out as planned? "Everything else!" says Ghostcrawler. The team realized that "the talent tree model where you pick up tiny performance increases here and there (and where there's, mathematically, nearly always a 'right' answer and a 'wrong' answer) is not a great model." He goes on to add that Mists of Pandaria's talent system "should fix this problem once and for all." Well, third time's the charm, right guys?

At any rate, there's more on the discussion table than just talents, so head over to the full article and see what lessons Cataclysm has taught the devs.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft: Cataclysm post-mortem reflects on success, failure, and lessons learned originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcatacataclysmfantasyghostcrawlergreg-streetsmists-of-pandariapost-mortemtalenttalent-systemtalentswarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 08 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Achievement Unlocked: A look at the Guinness world records of online gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/achievement-unlocked-a-look-at-the-guinness-world-records-of-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/achievement-unlocked-a-look-at-the-guinness-world-records-of-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/achievement-unlocked-a-look-at-the-guinness-world-records-of-on/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We're just over a month into the new year, and already we've got plenty to look forward to: The Secret World is expected to hit in April, TERA will follow shortly in May, and Guild Wars 2 will be out... sometime this year (we hope). But before we all start looking toward the future, let's take a moment to look back at some of the gaming achievements of the past.

Thanks to the handy-dandy Guinness Book of World Records 2012: Gamer's Edition, we've got a quick compendium of MMO-related records from the past year and then some, so if you're at all interested in the shortest-lived MMO to date or the longest time anyone's spent playing MMOs from inside a crate, join us as we take a stroll down memory lane to take a look at some notably (in)famous MMO achievements.

Continue reading Achievement Unlocked: A look at the Guinness world records of online gaming

MassivelyAchievement Unlocked: A look at the Guinness world records of online gaming originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-reloadedapbapb-reloadedcataclysmcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdc-universe-onlinedcuoeveeve-onlinefantasy-westward-journeyfeaturedfree-realmsgamer-editiongamers-editiongaming-recordsguinnessguinness-book-of-world-record-gamers-edition-2012guinness-book-of-world-recordsguinness-book-of-world-records-2012-gamers-editionguinness-world-recordsincarnalord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromark-hamill-is-the-best-jokerplanet-calypsorecordssee-virtual-worldssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtorthe-old-republictorultimaultima-onlineuowayne-longworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-cataclysmworld-recordswowWed, 15 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft's patch 4.3 to be last major update until Mists of Pandaria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/world-of-warcrafts-patch-4-3-to-be-last-major-update-until-mist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/world-of-warcrafts-patch-4-3-to-be-last-major-update-until-mist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/world-of-warcrafts-patch-4-3-to-be-last-major-update-until-mist/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria
World of Warcraft's lead quest designer, Dave Kosak, let slip in an interview today that the recently released patch 4.3 will be the final major content update to hit Azeroth until Mists of Pandaria goes live. This is obviously a notable discovery, since it either means that Mists of Pandaria will be coming out soon, or WoW players are gonna be waiting a long time for the next patch. When asked if he believes that there's enough content in patch 4.3 to keep users sated until MoP comes out, Kosak replied that "between the three excellent dungeons [the game has], the new raid, and Raid Finder that should give people something to sink their teeth into for a few months." For the full interview, including a look back at the good and bad of WoW's patch 4.3, click on through the link below.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft's patch 4.3 to be last major update until Mists of Pandaria originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.4activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmdave-kosakmists-of-pandariapatchpatch-3.4patchesupdateupdatesworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 17 Jan 2012 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard seems to think that Cataclysm was too linear]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/blizzard-seems-to-think-that-cataclysm-was-too-linear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/blizzard-seems-to-think-that-cataclysm-was-too-linear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/blizzard-seems-to-think-that-cataclysm-was-too-linear/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Yeah, that guy seems to have the right idea, let's go that way.
Designing MMOs is often the art of shepherding players in a given direction while at the same time giving them a sense of freedom. Even in a themepark environment, players want to be invested in areas, to have reasons to come back and explore and go off of the rails should they want to. World of Warcraft's most recent expansion, Cataclysm, has frequently been accused of giving players nowhere to go but a series of rails, and according to a recent response from a community manager, Blizzard agrees.

A very long thread on the official forums has spawned some interesting discussions about the game's overall endgame philosophy, with community manager Draxxari stating that Cataclysm's tightly linear design was an "error" on the design level. He goes on to state that Mists of Pandaria is meant to give players more reason to venture out and explore the world, although players will have to wait to see whether that promise holds true or not.

[Thanks to SgtBaker for the tip!]

MassivelyBlizzard seems to think that Cataclysm was too linear originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmcommunityculturedesigndraxxarifreeformlinearmists-of-pandariamopopinionthemeparkworld-of-warcraftwowwow-cataclysmzone-designSat, 14 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft is going down in Europe... in price, that is]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/world-of-warcraft-is-going-down-in-europe-in-price-that-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/world-of-warcraft-is-going-down-in-europe-in-price-that-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/world-of-warcraft-is-going-down-in-europe-in-price-that-is/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Of course, if you're playing WoW and don't have the expansions, something seriously weird is going on, but whatever.
Reports of the demise of World of Warcraft have been greatly exaggerated, but the price of the game is falling. This isn't entirely unexpected, but the game's two more recent expansions have just seen a significant drop in their EU prices, with Wrath of the Lich King dropping to €19.99 and Cataclysm dropping to €29.99. If you've been playing the game in Europe but have yet to pick up the later expansions, this might be your incentive.

While some retailers have instituted their own price cuts in the time since the release of these expansions, these latest price drops come from the upper management at the company rather than being a limited-time sale or a reduction of overstock. The price move seems to be a result of the newly free-to-play nature of the early game and the upcoming Mists of Pandaria. No word yet on whether or not a similar official price drop will be mirrored in the US.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft is going down in Europe... in price, that is originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionsmists-of-pandariamopnewspriceprice-dropsprice-reductionpricesworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingFri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft's holiday sale includes $10 sparkleponies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/world-of-warcrafts-holiday-sale-includes-10-sparkleponies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/world-of-warcrafts-holiday-sale-includes-10-sparkleponies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/world-of-warcrafts-holiday-sale-includes-10-sparkleponies/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

WoW Holiday Sale banner
The holidays are here, and you know what that means: holiday sales! Blizzard is joining the fun with a number of (rather good) deals. The World of Warcraft Battle Chest, which includes vanilla WoW and The Burning Crusade, is on sale for a measly $5 US. Wrath of the Lich King is on sale for $10, and Cataclysm's price has been reduced to $20.

And as if that's not enough, Blizzard is also providing discounts for two of its cash shop items. Players can get their hands on a sparklepony for $10 or a Pandaren Monk non-combat pet for $5. The sale lasts until December 19th, so act now. For the full details, check out the news on WoW's official site.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft's holiday sale includes $10 sparkleponies originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-chestblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcatacataclysmchristmasholidayholiday-saleholiday-salesholidayspandaren-monksparkles the fire safety dogSparklesTheFireSafetyDogtbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingWed, 07 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Year of the Dragon Who Perches On Stuff While Dripping Lava.
It's been a big year for World of Warcraft, especially considering that the MMO behemoth is currently hitting its seventh year of operation. Considering its nigh-ubiquitous nature in the MMO sphere, it's hard to imagine that there was a time without it. And this past year of the game almost perfectly synchronizes with the latest expansion, Cataclysm, an expansion that was bound and determined to head back to the old and re-work everything up to new standards.

So how did that work out? What's been happening with the game over the past year? Let's pick up in December because that's when the story really begins, a story that involves a dragon smashing huge chunks of both continents to pieces. The result was a complete revamp of the game's lower-level areas, the addition of several new high-level areas, and a redesign of the way the game handled progression. It kicked off a war against primal forces and Old Gods for players, and that's without even getting in to the mechanical shifts.

Continue reading A look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft

MassivelyA look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardanniversaryblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionsfeaturedmists-of-pandariamopopinionretrospectivetbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwow-cataclysmwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingWed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Will Pandaren lure you back to WoW?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/the-daily-grind-will-pandaren-lure-you-back-to-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/the-daily-grind-will-pandaren-lure-you-back-to-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/the-daily-grind-will-pandaren-lure-you-back-to-wow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

WoW character creation pic NOW WITH MORE PANDA
Blizzard Entertainment is taking a gamble on its next expansion, Mists of Pandaria. World of Warcraft is still on top, but since Cataclysm it's nevertheless taken a beating. Some players attribute recent subscriber losses to games like RIFT; others blame it on natural gamer fatigue. Still others point to blunders in Blizzard's game development decisions. Wherever the blame lies, there's little question that MoP must deliver, especially with a few other likely blockbusters just beyond the horizon.

But on WoW's official forums, existing players aren't exactly united in praise for BlizzCon's reveals. While some fans are happy for the new race, class, and zones, others complain of cute-overload and yet another massive do-over for talents. And on non-WoW sites like Massively, gamers are already suggesting that the expansion is jumping the shark. What do you think -- are Pandaren Monks, a new Asian-inspired setting, and new dungeons enough to lure you back to WoW? Or is there nothing Blizzard can do to win you over?

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: Will Pandaren lure you back to WoW? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcataclysmjumping-the-sharkmists-of-pandariamonkmopopinionpandarenpandaren-monkraceracestdgthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 24 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: A look at Race to World First]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/the-guild-counsel-a-look-at-race-to-world-first/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/the-guild-counsel-a-look-at-race-to-world-first/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/the-guild-counsel-a-look-at-race-to-world-first/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Race to World First
As MMOs grow in popularity and age, they're being seen as a serious subject of study. And as they gain acceptance, we're beginning to see more exposure on paper and in film. Recently, we looked at the documentary The Raid, a portrayal of one guild's progression through World of Warcraft raid content. In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll look at yet another new documentary: Race to World First.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: A look at Race to World First

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: A look at Race to World First originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentblood-legioncataclysmdocumentaryfeaturedguild-counselkaren-bryanlady-sinestraparagonrace-to-world-firstvideovideosworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 20 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The slippery slope: Analysing the decline of World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/the-slippery-slope-analysing-the-decline-of-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/the-slippery-slope-analysing-the-decline-of-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/the-slippery-slope-analysing-the-decline-of-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , ,

WoW sunset
It's the word on the street these days: World of Warcraft is no longer quite the king that it used to be. The massive title has lost around one million subscribers over the past year, even with Cataclysm releasing last December. Gamasutra sat down with Blizzard for a frank talk about why the title is in decline, and what the studio has planned to counter this trend.

While Blizzard is pleased with the tune-up that Cataclysm provided to the landscape and questing, some players cite the erosion of difficulty and challenge as a reason for their leaving. Lead Systems Designer Greg Street acknowledges this, but says that the WoW team is in uncharted territory: "We just don't have a lot of examples of games that have lasted this long and been this popular for so long to show the right way to do it. I think coming up with new mechanics and new systems is relatively easy, the problem is integrating it with what we already have. World of Warcraft today is so much more complicated than it was when it launched six or seven years ago."

Ultimately, it may come down to players becoming bored more quickly as Blizzard struggles to pump out content to keep their attention. UC Irvine's Thomas Debeauvais conducted a study of 2,865 WoW players across the world, and found that 75% of them had stopped playing the game for at least a month while still being subscribed to it. Blizzard says that it wants to provide faster content updates and continue to overhaul the game's mechanics and graphics to give the players a reason to stay.

MassivelyThe slippery slope: Analysing the decline of World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>11-millionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmdeclinegamasutragreg-streetsubscriberssubscriptionssurveyThomas-Debeauvaisworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 31 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New predictions for SWTOR sales: 3M units!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/new-predictions-for-swtor-sales-3m-units/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/new-predictions-for-swtor-sales-3m-units/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/11/new-predictions-for-swtor-sales-3m-units/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SWTOR: Jedi Shadow
Electronic Arts had high hopes for Star Wars: The Old Republic when it invested in BioWare. However, even executives at EA did not expect the pre-order sales that surpassed all the publisher's previous records. This unexpected growth has caused industry analysts to reconsider some of the previous predictions for the title.

Gamasutra reports that Cowen and Company originally predicted sales of the Star Wars MMO to be approximately 1.5 million units with subscription retention at about 1 million players. However, Cowen and Company has now increased that prediction to 3 million unit sold in the first year with 2 million steady subscribers. With EA taking few other risks this season, it spells high hopes for anyone investing in the game developer. However, if anyone is keeping score at home, that number is still below the 4.7 million sales of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm -- though it's quickly catching up.

MassivelyNew predictions for SWTOR sales: 3M units! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarecataclysmcowen-and-companyEAElectronic-ArtsLucasArtssalesStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubscriptionsswtorthe-old-republictorWorld-of-WarcraftThu, 11 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: World of Warcraft's next expansion has been named]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/has-wows-next-expansion-been-named/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/has-wows-next-expansion-been-named/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/has-wows-next-expansion-been-named/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

First there was The Burning Crusade, then Wrath of the Lich King, and, most recently, Cataclysm. World of Warcraft's expansions have been the lifeblood of literally millions of gamers' playtime, which is why many fans are anxiously awaiting word of the fourth expansion pack to the hit MMO.

Today we may know the name of the expansion: Mists of Pandaria. According to MMO Champion, Blizzard filed a trademark with this title on July 28th, which is exactly in line with how the company has procured titles for the previous expansions. The trademark specifies that this is for "computer game software."

The Pandarens are one of the more light-hearted races in the Warcraft franchise, with kung fu panda bears from a secret empire somewhere in Azeroth. Despite being fan favorites, the Pandarens have been rarely seen in WoW, while Blizzard has used them in a couple different April Fool's jokes in the past.

We'll be keeping our eyes on Blizzard for any official confirmation.

MassivelyRumor: World of Warcraft's next expansion has been named originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardapril-foolsazerothblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionexpansionskung-fu-pandamists-of-pandariapandarenpandarenspandariarumorthe-burning-crusadetrademarkwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingWed, 03 Aug 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft coming to Brazil]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/world-of-warcraft-coming-to-brazil/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/world-of-warcraft-coming-to-brazil/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/22/world-of-warcraft-coming-to-brazil/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A fully localized World of Warcraft is on its way to Brazil, complete with a Portuguese client and customer service platform. This marks Blizzard's ninth officially supported language according to a press blurb on the company's website, and the third supported language in Latin America (following the English and Spanish versions).

Blizzard is providing a full suite of payment options for Brazilian customers, with the base game (plus the Burning Crusade expansion) available for BRL 29.90, while Wrath of the Lich King and Cataclysm will retail for BRL 99.90 each. If retail boxes aren't your thing, the Brazilian version of WoW will also be available through Battle.net.

Finally, subscription plans come in 30-day, 90-day, and 180-day flavors, and 60-day time cards will be available in retail stores. North American players who wish to play on the dedicated Brazilian realms may install a language pack or purchase the Portuguese client, and Blizzard says that "additional pricing details and an official release date [...] will be announced closer to launch."

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft coming to Brazil originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-BlizzardblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbrazilburning-crusadebusiness-modelscataclysmfantasylatin-americammo-industryportugueseportuguese-clientworld-of-warcraftwowwow-brasilWrath-of-the-Lich-KingFri, 22 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima Worlds Online: Origin]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-ultima-worlds-online-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-ultima-worlds-online-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-ultima-worlds-online-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Two months ago, we heard a rumor (which has since gone quiet) that a new Ultima Online sequel might be in the oven in Electronic Art's kitchen. As with any rumor, it was important to take it with a grain of disbelief, although a pinch of hope seems appropriate in this case as well. After all, Ultima Online's been begging for a sequel ever since the hit MMO started facing stiff competition in the form of 3-D worlds like EverQuest and Asheron's Call.

For some of us gamers, word of a UO sequel feels like deja vu, and rightly so. This wouldn't be the first time that EA embarked on a project to make a more modern Ultima Online, nor would it be the second time. Indeed, the saga of Ultima Online's canceled sequels is as torrid as it is steamy and lusty. Ignore the words in the previous sentence, as those are just to up the hits on search engines.

In our continuing series on the "what ifs?" of axed MMOs, we're going to head into a two-parter full of savage truth, dangerous decisions, and full-frontal nerdery. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the saga of Ultima Online 2.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima Worlds Online: Origin

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima Worlds Online: Origin originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acasherons-callcataclysmdavid-swofforddeja-vudueleaelectronic-artseqeverquestfeaturedfull-frontal-nerderygamespotharry-potter-onlinehistoryjukalineagemeerpkpkingplayer-killingpvprichard-garriottsequelsequelssteampunkthe-game-archaeologisttrailerultima-onlineultima-online-2ultima-worlds-onlineultima-worlds-online-originuouo2uwouwoovideowing-commander-onlineWorld-of-WarcraftTue, 28 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft's Rage of the Firelands brings indefinite free trial]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/world-of-warcrafts-rage-of-the-firelands-brings-indefinite-free/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/world-of-warcrafts-rage-of-the-firelands-brings-indefinite-free/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/world-of-warcrafts-rage-of-the-firelands-brings-indefinite-free/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In a display of what can only be described as showmanship (given the fact that we can probably count on one hand the number of people who haven't dabbled in World of Warcraft at this point), Blizzard has announced that the coming of WoW's patch 4.2 will also herald the arrival of something known as the World of Warcraft Starter Edition.

That's right, now that the Rage of the Firelands is upon Azeroth, the Alliance and Horde are going to need all the help they can get. Thankfully, the free trial -- which previously spanned 14 days -- now lasts indefinitely, though trial players are capped at level 20 until they purchase the full game. Do note that the Starter Edition does not include Cataclysm content but does include some Burning Crusade content such as the ability to roll Blood Elves and Draenei. And for those who decide to upgrade, the World of Warcraft Battle Chest (which includes vanilla WoW and The Burning Crusade expansion) is on sale for a paltry $19.99.

And of course, there's more to patch 4.2 than the Starter Edition, and our sister site WoW Insider has your bases covered.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft's Rage of the Firelands brings indefinite free trial originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-chestblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmfree-trialpatch-4.2rage-of-the-firelandsstarter-editiontrialworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-free-trialworld-of-warcraft-starter-editionwowwow-free-trialTue, 28 Jun 2011 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Mostly meta edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/17/global-chat-mostly-meta-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/17/global-chat-mostly-meta-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/17/global-chat-mostly-meta-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

It's a given that a lot goes on at Massively besides what you see on the front page. We're pretty busy behind the scenes -- and sometimes we even find time to play some of these MMO things we've heard so much talk about! This week we've turned the focus a bit inward, so follow along after the jump to take a look!

Continue reading Global Chat: Mostly meta edition

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Mostly meta edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aurickleBreltarcataclysmfeaturedglobal-chatImperialpandaopinionRagnar-Tornquistthe-secret-worldtswWorld-of-warcraftwowwurmwurm-onlineSun, 17 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard: 'Changing mechanics to be more reasonable and less punishing is an improvement']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/blizzard-changing-mechanics-to-be-more-reasonable-and-less-pun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/blizzard-changing-mechanics-to-be-more-reasonable-and-less-pun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/blizzard-changing-mechanics-to-be-more-reasonable-and-less-pun/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's the old guard vs. the new guard in a recent World of Warcraft forum thread, and Blizzard's Bashiok stepped in to comment on the title's move toward accessibility. "What we've always been trying to do," he said, "what WoW has always been about (and to which much of its success is due) is to make an accessible MMO."

Bashiok understands the older, so-called "masochistic" style of gameplay, but he says that MMOs are trending away from this in an effort to attract rather than repulse gamers. "I think that changing mechanics to be more reasonable and less punishing is an improvement, not a detriment, to games in general... But I feel we're lucky to now be in an age where those ideals (intended or not) are giving way to actual fun, actual challenge, and not fabricating it through high-reach requirements."

While Cataclysm's difficulty levels are a matter of some controversy these days, it's undeniable that Blizzard has tuned World of Warcraft to become more user-friendly since 2004. Bashiok notes that even at launch, WoW was radically different compared to its contemporaries: "Anyone that looks back at the game at launch and wishes it was as challenging now as it was then is not aware of the painstaking effort put into making this game accessible as compared to its predecessors."

MassivelyBlizzard: 'Changing mechanics to be more reasonable and less punishing is an improvement' originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilitybashiokblizzardcataclysmmasochisticold-vs-newworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 11 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Do not talk about Fight Club]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/22/one-shots-do-not-talk-about-fight-club/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/22/one-shots-do-not-talk-about-fight-club/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/22/one-shots-do-not-talk-about-fight-club/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Cataclysm has brought about more violence in World of Warcraft due to the need to survive this dangerous new landscape. Either that, or we figure this is an homage to Fight Club, which, knowing Blizzard's love of pop-culture goodness, is likely the case. However, the violence spilling over is something that we haven't seen here on One Shots as yet -- at least until today. This image of carnage comes to us from Hydrous from the Firetree realm, who kept his note short and sweet: "[This was taken] at the bottom of Lakeshire inn."

Have you been adventuring in Blizzard's MMO behemoth lately? Want to show off what you've been up to? Email your screenshot in to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, a description of what we're seeing, and the name of the game. We'll post it out here and give you the credit for sending it in!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: Do not talk about Fight Club originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmhydrousone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 22 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A catastrophe waiting to happen: Martial Empires expands]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/a-catastrophe-waiting-to-happen-martial-empires-expands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/a-catastrophe-waiting-to-happen-martial-empires-expands/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/a-catastrophe-waiting-to-happen-martial-empires-expands/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Cataclysm may have passed, but we still have a catastrophe to survive.

The Catastrophe of Babylon, Martial Empires' newest expansion, is slated to arrive at the end of the month. Gamigo's free-to-play martial arts MMO already offers all the kung fu action you can handle, but now it will be fleshed out with much-anticipated (and needed) additions.

One of the biggest features on Babylon's plate is the implementation of the long-awaited guild wars. High-level guilds will finally be able to go head-to-head with each other in brutal guild battles. Victorious guilds will be showered with long-term buffs and plenty of gold, which should be enough incentive for truly competitive fights.

Babylon will also overhaul Martial Empires' graphics with a new rendering engine, and many of the monsters will be given makeovers to fit in better and boost their self-esteem. Players can anticipate exploring a number of additional dungeons in Babylon as well.

Gamigo plans to hold an event to award access to the test servers for The Catastrophe of Babylon in the near future.

MassivelyA catastrophe waiting to happen: Martial Empires expands originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>babyloncataclysmcatastrophe-of-babylongamigoguild-warguild-warskung-fumartial-empirespvpthe-catastrophe-of-babylonworld-of-warcraft-cataclysmMon, 07 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Through the eyes of another]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/23/one-shots-through-the-eyes-of-another/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/23/one-shots-through-the-eyes-of-another/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/23/one-shots-through-the-eyes-of-another/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With the rending of World of Warcraft in Cataclysm, we've gotten some amazing images like today's screenshot from Garoul. Once you understand it's inspired by an earlier One Shots of Thrall, today's image begins to make a bit more sense as opposed to looking something like a surrealistic jumble of shadow, color, and shape. He writes in to explain: "I noticed that you already got a shot of Maelstrom up, but I had to send this in. Deathwing looks soooo cool."

If you've found an NPC or area in your favorite MMO that you think looks amazing, then why not snap a screenshot for us and send it in? We're always on the lookout for unique views from around the MMOGsphere! Email those images to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here and give you the credit.

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: Through the eyes of another originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcataclysmone-shotsscreenshotsWorld-of-WarcraftwowSun, 23 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Time is money, friend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/one-shots-time-is-money-friend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/one-shots-time-is-money-friend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/one-shots-time-is-money-friend/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As the old axiom goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you're into explosive little green guys, well this image is definitely for you! Today, along with the news that World of Warcraft's newest expansion Cataclysm has broken more sales records, we hear from Mendus, who failed his saving throw against Goblins, and is back in World of Warcraft. He writes in to explain today's odd-looking One Shots: "After a two year hiatus from the game, I experienced the beta and the new/old content (if you get my meaning), and that alone was good enough to pull me back in. I had always wanted to go back to Azeroth as I never felt it had been given the proper treatment, and I really can't say anything bad about the tremendous work the devs have done with the continent. The best part for me, however, was a little addition to the game in the form of a floppy-eared, rude, green race: the Goblins. As I adventured through the new content, a quest in the Thousand Needles was too cute for its own good, and I just had to capture the moment -- these cute little fellas looked so adorable with their little diving helmets. Awwww."

Have you recently returned to an MMO after a long hiatus? If you'd like to give us a screenshot of what drew you back in, we'd love to see it. Just send it in to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here on Massively.com for everyone to check out and give you the credit for sending it in!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: Time is money, friend originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcataclysmgoblinsmendusone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsWorld-of-WarcraftwowMon, 10 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft crushes another sales record in Cataclysm's first month]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/world-of-warcraft-crushes-another-sales-record-in-cataclysms-fi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/world-of-warcraft-crushes-another-sales-record-in-cataclysms-fi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/world-of-warcraft-crushes-another-sales-record-in-cataclysms-fi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In news that pretty much surprises precisely nobody, Blizzard has once again topped the previously-set PC game sales records with the release of their newest World of Warcraft expansion, Cataclysm. Aside from their hefty day-one sales of 3.3 million copies sold (and that doesn't include Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Macau who had their release on the 9th) that we reported earlier, Cataclysm has now set a second record -- this time for most PC game copies sold in the first month -- with 4.7 million copies in all flying off shelves and into eager hands.

Despite reports that consumer spending on video games is starting to drop off, World of Warcraft isn't showing any signs of massive slowdowns anytime soon. Having crossed the 12 million subscribed player mark last year, and with a slew of new jobs open to support their current games as well as work on the next generation, things definitely look good for Blizzard.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft crushes another sales record in Cataclysm's first month originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcataclysmsales-recordsWorld-of-WarcraftwowMon, 10 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The top indie and free-to-play stories of 2010]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/28/the-top-indie-and-free-to-play-stories-of-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/28/the-top-indie-and-free-to-play-stories-of-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/28/the-top-indie-and-free-to-play-stories-of-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

I have to admit to feeling slightly amazed when I read that someone thought of 2010 as a bad year for MMORPG fans. Then, when I think about it, I realize that he was talking about the year in "AAA" subscription gaming -- something almost alien to me. I just don't get turned on by huge-budget subscription games like I did seven or eight years ago. Well, it might be better to say that I am always suspicious of big-budget gaming. Gaming is a lot like movies, and look at how bad most blockbusters are. They are often silly, over-the-top, special-effects-laden bores. If those movies were the only ones I watched, I might be a little depressed about Hollywood as well.

If you pay attention only to what the major publishers are pushing out, you are simply going to have a narrow view of MMO gaming. You will miss too much. The year 2010 offered more than any year before it, and 2011 will top that. Thanks to mobile technologies and the always-dropping price of computers, you will find that smaller or unknown games have much more of a chance of grabbing a gamer's eye than ever before.

So, what were some of the high and low points in free-to-play and indie gaming this year? Click past the cut and let's take a look!

Continue reading The top indie and free-to-play stories of 2010

MassivelyThe top indie and free-to-play stories of 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonallodsallods-onlineapbbattle-of-the-immortalsbeau-hindmanboicash-shopcataclysmchang-youderek-smartend-of-the-year-2010everquestEverQuest-2f2pfeaturedforsaken-worldfree-realmsfree-to-playfreemiumftpgpotatoipadiTuneskingsislekingsisle-entertainmentlegend-of-martial-artslomalord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroMapleStorymicrotransactionMicrotransactionsperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpocket-legendsquest-onlineSOESony-Online-EntertainmentUltima-OnlinevanguardVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvelvet-ropevelvet-rope-modelwe-rulewizard-101World-of-Warcraftzentiazentia-mmoTue, 28 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Let me show you my pokeymans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/17/storyboard-let-me-show-you-my-pokeymans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/17/storyboard-let-me-show-you-my-pokeymans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/17/storyboard-let-me-show-you-my-pokeymans/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Today, I'm going to switch gears just a little bit and do what might seem searingly egotistical. I'm going to tell you about my characters. Well, not all of them -- I'm limiting myself to the various new characters I've created for the latest World of Warcraft expansion, since there has been particularly good reason to do so. But still, this week's column is all about the characters I've created, both the good parts and the bad.

My rationale behind this, however, is hopefully a solid one. I've been talking about the best ways to go about crafting characters and how to best play the RP game for several months now, but I've been remarkably short on actual examples from play. One of my firm beliefs is that a good teacher can demonstrate quality work in a given field, and so I'm turning the gaze inward. Let's see if my advice in practice is worth a hill of beans, yes?

Continue reading Storyboard: Let me show you my pokeymans

MassivelyStoryboard: Let me show you my pokeymans originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cataclysmcharactersfeaturedlet-me-show-you-my-pokeymansmy-charactersnarcissismopinionroleplayingrpstoryboardworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 17 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft's mad cow against the naked orcs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/world-of-warcrafts-mad-cow-against-the-naked-orcs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/world-of-warcrafts-mad-cow-against-the-naked-orcs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/world-of-warcrafts-mad-cow-against-the-naked-orcs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you've played World of Warcraft for long enough, you know about Gamon. An NPC in Orgrimmar for a relatively standard rogue quest, Gamon's life became a perpetual cycle of death shortly after players found that he could be attacked even by his fellow Horde members. So for Cataclysm, Blizzard Entertainment proved its sense of humor borders on sociopathy by making Gamon a max-level elite who hits like a 747 in a nose dive if anyone is dumb enough to attack him.

As it turns out, 300 naked orcs are precisely dumb enough to attack him.

Again, if you've played World of Warcraft for long enough, watching huge player spectacles is not a new experience. But it's rare that you can get this many people to band together in an effort to kill an enemy whose death does not and has never offered any rewards beyond a death animation. Gary Gannon and the Gamebreaker TV crew did just that as part of their Legendary podcast Cataclysm launch party last week. Click on past the cut for something everyone can enjoy -- half-naked muscular green men stabbing at an enraged bipedal cow.

Continue reading World of Warcraft's mad cow against the naked orcs

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft's mad cow against the naked orcs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmcomedygamebreaker-tvgary-gannonhumorlegendaryraidraidssillyvideovideosworld-of-warcraftwowwow-cataclysmThu, 16 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW's Cataclysm demolishes Lich King sales record]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/13/wows-cataclysm-demolishes-lich-king-sales-record/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/13/wows-cataclysm-demolishes-lich-king-sales-record/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/13/wows-cataclysm-demolishes-lich-king-sales-record/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The runaway freight train that is World of Warcraft's third expansion has obliterated the 24-hour sales record set by the preceding WoW update. Cataclysm moved 3.3 million copies in its first day on the market, whereas 2008's Wrath of the Lich King sold 2.8 million copies in its opening 24-hour salvo (a mark that established the record for the top-selling PC game in history at that point).

"We had to bring Azeroth to the brink of destruction in Cataclysm, but the result was our best expansion yet," said Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime. Even so, the expansion failed to top the current 24-hour record of 5.5 million copies set last month by Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops.

MassivelyWoW's Cataclysm demolishes Lich King sales record originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcataclysmcataclysm-wowexpansionsales-recordsWorld-of-Warcraftwowwow-expansionMon, 13 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: Catackalysm special]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/the-mmo-report-catackalysm-special/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/the-mmo-report-catackalysm-special/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/the-mmo-report-catackalysm-special/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

First things first, to really understand this week's intro to The MMO Report, you need to do a wee bit of homework, assuming you don't already get the reference in the title anyway. Pop over here and watch this user-created video about the upcoming World of Warcraft expansion. We'll wait.

OK, all caught up? Great. Off we go then!

This week, Casey is joined by the lovely (and World of Warcraft-addicted) Morgan Webb, who sits down with Game Designer Tom "Kalgan" Chilton for a chat about the myriad things that have come in Cataclysm. Sure, it's chock-full of the normal things one would expect, like talk about things players both old and new will be experiencing in the expansion. Morgan also gets Tom to tell us more about some of his favorite quests in the revamped areas, as well as a bit more insight into Blizzard's development cycles for this expansion -- certainly a hot topic this week. In all, this will definitely be a treat for any World of Warcraft loving gamer.

We've tucked the video behind the break for your enjoyment, or you can catch The MMO Report every Thursday on G4TV.

Continue reading The MMO Report: Catackalysm special

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Catackalysm special originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcasey-schreinercataclysmG4TVgame-designerKalganmmommorpgmorgan-webbthe-mmo-reporttom-chiltontom-chilton-interviewWorld-of-WarcraftwowFri, 10 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft will reign for another 20 years according to industry analysts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/world-of-warcraft-will-reign-for-another-20-years-according-to-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/world-of-warcraft-will-reign-for-another-20-years-according-to-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/world-of-warcraft-will-reign-for-another-20-years-according-to-i/#commentsFiled under: , ,

With all of the recent focus on World of Warcraft following its latest expansion, it's no surprise that the industry leader is at the center of another round of "What will topple WoW?" discussions.

In an article on Eurogamer, industry analysts and developers lend their thoughts as to what made World of Warcraft so dang popular to begin with, and what it will take -- if anything -- for another game to beat its popularity, subscription numbers and cultural footprint. Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter declared that nothing will top the title for at least 20 years due to an insurmountable lead, although this became debated by the other participants.

Cryptic's Jack Emmert thinks WoW will be "chipped away at" instead of toppled. Age of Conan's Craig Morrison thinks that nobody can consciously plan to overcome WoW's lead saying, "You don't topple a cultural phenomenon. But you can join one." GamersFirst's Bjorn Book-Larsson doesn't think there's a need for WoW to be toppled due to the size of the market.

Codemasters' Dave Solari imagines that the winning formula "would have mass market appeal, with instant accessibility, would work on all platforms, particularly mobile, be incredibly viral and social -- like a feature-rich FarmVille." Undead Labs' Jeff Strain thinks that MMO studios should be looking at it a different way: "They should instead be striving to achieve the same level of success with their own game ideas."

Some even speculate that Blizzard is the only studio capable of besting its own game, perhaps with its second MMO that's due to be announced in 2012. Head on over to Eurogamer for the full discussion.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft will reign for another 20 years according to industry analysts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocBjorn-Book-LarssonblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcataclysmcodemasterscraig-morrisoncrypticcryptic-studiosdave-solarieurogamerfarmvillegamers-firstjack-emmertjeff-strainMichael-Pachterundead-labsWedbush-MorganWorld-of-Warcraftworld-of-warcraft-cataclysmwowThu, 09 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Expansion pains]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/the-guild-counsel-expansion-pains/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/the-guild-counsel-expansion-pains/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/the-guild-counsel-expansion-pains/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With winter comes a wave of MMO expansions, like EVE Online's Incursion, EverQuest II's upcoming Destiny of Velious, and, of course, Blizzard's Cataclysm. It's always exciting to have new content, but for guilds, a new expansion can lead to growing pains, competition, and major drama. The cohesive team atmosphere you worked so hard to build can quickly dissolve the moment servers come up, as members race towards the new level cap, new skills, and shiniest toys.

How can guilds wade through the chaos of an expansion and keep an even keel? Read on for a few tips on how to avoid having a cataclysm within your own guild.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Expansion pains

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Expansion pains originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardcataclysmCCP-Gamesdestiny-of-veliouseve-onlineexpansionsfeaturedguild-managementguildsincursionopinionSOEWorld-of-WarcraftThu, 09 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: WoW nuts roasting on an open fire]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/one-shots-wow-nuts-roasting-on-an-open-fire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/one-shots-wow-nuts-roasting-on-an-open-fire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/one-shots-wow-nuts-roasting-on-an-open-fire/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The day millions of World of Warcraft players have been waiting for has finally arrived. Cataclysm has officially launched, and people everywhere are working on getting to level 85 on their mains -- or rolling up new Goblin and Worgen characters! In the meantime, some players used the time leading up to today's Cataclysm launch to pursue new achievements, as seen in today's One Shots. This image was sent in to us by Nathan B., who explains just what this group of costumed folks are up to: "While shooting through Azeroth with a friend and the Recruit-A-Friend bonus (imagine that coincidence), we came across a group of banditos in Winterspring. They appeared to be having a dance party, so we stopped and had a chat. In fact, they were waiting for Deathwing to show up. I'm not sure it's the most productive use of time, but when you've already killed the Lich King fifty times, well... why not?"

From big to small, we love to see what's going on in all the various MMOs out there. If you'd like to tell us what you've been up to lately, then grab a screenshot and email it in to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here and give you the credit for sending it in.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

MassivelyOne Shots: WoW nuts roasting on an open fire originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcataclysmnathan-bone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsWorld-of-WarcraftwowTue, 07 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: MMO cataclysms]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/the-perfect-ten-mmo-cataclysms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/the-perfect-ten-mmo-cataclysms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/the-perfect-ten-mmo-cataclysms/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Today sees the launch of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, which represents a destructive "reboot" button on the world of Azeroth. The old has been made new by virtue of fiery explosions that have rent the very earth in twain, and WoW gamers will have to find their footing all over again. As you might imagine, it's made one big-ass mess, which is compounded by the fact that there are no janitor classes in the game to sweep it up (the next hero class, perhaps?).

However, the notion of an in-game cataclysm is hardly the sole domain of Activision-Blizzard; on the contrary, large-scale apocalypses pop up all the time in MMOs. After all, nothing grabs the attention like the end of the world (but hey, you still feel fine)!

In a list that in no way is meant to capitalize on any expansions that may or may not be on the market, we're going to strap on our Kevlar suits, slather our arms with 1000 SPF sunblock, and take a brief tour of 10 worlds that have dated cataclysms -- and lived to tell the tale.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMO cataclysms

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMO cataclysms originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-Blizzardagent-smithapocalypsearenanetascalonazerothbanebig-bangblizzardc-storecataclysmchampionschampions-onlinechickenscity-of-heroescohcrypticcryptic-studioscrystal-warcrystal-war-revisiteddetroitelrondEverQuest-2everquest-iifacebookfallen-earthff11ffxifinal-fantasy-xigethguild-warsgwhumoricarus-studiosjack-emmertjohn-smedleykiller-virusklingonmaplestorymegatronmillennium-citymono-dohmonorailncsoftnew-game-enhancementsnew-jerseyngenorrathnuclear-warparagon-cityperfect-10perfect-tenpicardpost-apocalypticpost-searingquadavrex-the-sheepdogriktiromulansearingsoespace-invadersstar-trek-onlinestar-trek-the-next-generationstar-wars-galaxiesstarfleetstoswgtabula-rasathe-matrixthe-matrix-onlinethe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenvwheres-waldo-in-tagsWorld-of-Warcraftworld-of-warcraft-cataclysmzombiesTue, 07 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's World of Warcraft Cataclysm launch day round-up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/massivelys-world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-launch-day-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/massivelys-world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-launch-day-round-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/massivelys-world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-launch-day-round-up/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In any discussion on MMOs, industry titan World of Warcraft always makes an appearance. Despite being in operation for over six years now, WoW still manages to maintain an unfathomably large lead in the MMO market. After all this time, however, the original content the game shipped with was beginning to look a little dated. In developing the game's two major expansions, The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King, Blizzard has refined its winning game design formula and improved the quality of new content being released. Until now, the old game world that came with the original game in 2004 has been largely unchanged. With the release of WoW's third major expansion, Cataclysm, all that has finally changed.

In addition to new endgame content and the usual new areas expected with every expansion, Cataclysm contains a complete revamp of the entire old game world. Old quests and zones have been changed to bring them up to Blizzard's new design standards and hopefully breathe new life into the early game experience. The opportunity to replay the low levels in a changed world has attracted a great number of previous players who had previously become bored with the game. The expansion officially released today, with servers being unlocked this morning. If you've ever played World of Warcraft or are thinking of giving Cataclysm a try, take a peek at our launch day round-up to see what's new in Cataclysm.

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collector's Edition, unboxed
We're still some hours away from the midnight launch of the latest World of Warcraft expansion, Cataclysm. It won't be long before Deathwing wrecks shop, so we thought we'd take some of this downtime to share pics of the Collector's Edition which recently made its way to our doorstep. Peruse the gallery below,http://geeked.org/roundups/rounduppr-thumbnail-WI.html and stick around for a giveaway later today.
WoW Rookie: What is Cataclysm?
Sites like WoW Insider have been absolutely buzzing with information about the new expansion to the World of Warcraft. While we bloggers, journalists and fans are so accustomed to hearing about the upcoming Cataclysm that we don't think twice about it, a brand new player probably has no clue what the heck is going on. So with that being said, let's take a week and catch up our rookie brother and sisters by answering, "What exactly is Cataclysm?"

Continue reading Massively's World of Warcraft Cataclysm launch day round-up

MassivelyMassively's World of Warcraft Cataclysm launch day round-up originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>azerothblizzardcataclysmfantasyguidesmapreleaseround-uprounduptrailervideowarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 07 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you playing Cataclysm?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/the-daily-grind-are-you-playing-cataclysm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/the-daily-grind-are-you-playing-cataclysm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/the-daily-grind-are-you-playing-cataclysm/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Shhh. You hear that? It's almost as if millions of non-Blizzard voices cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced. We feel something terrible has happened. Something apocalyptic and awful. Something cataclysmic, if you will.

Yes, today's the day folks. World of Warcraft's third expansion is here, and it's a doozy (both for the world of Azeroth and the world of MMORPGs). While we've got you covered in terms of Cataclysm news, views, and opinion courtesy of our sister site WoW Insider, we suspect you're not actually reading this at all.

Whether you're running from Deathwing's fiery wrath or partaking of Blizzard's celebrated world revamp and questing upgrades, those of us outside the borders of Azeroth are feeling a bit lonely. Predictably, today's Daily Grind is an easy one. Are you playing Cataclysm?

Guys?

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 playing Cataclysm? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcataclysmexpansiongame-discussiongamer-discussionmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicstdgthe-daily-grindWorld-of-WarcraftwowTue, 07 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Coming back for the Cataclysm]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/coming-back-for-the-cataclysm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/coming-back-for-the-cataclysm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/coming-back-for-the-cataclysm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Tomorrow sees the launch of the third expansion to World of Warcraft... but odds are you already knew that. It's been hard to miss the lead-up, even if you weren't playing the game and thereby missed out on seeing the entire planet get blown apart. And it's probably been equally difficult to fight back the siren song of the game, taunting you to come back and play again... or play for the first time if you've never tried it.

If you've been proud of yourself for resisting, you might want to look away, because there are many reasons to start playing again or start up for the first time. The expansion has brought with it a number of improvements and boosts to the game, some obvious and some not. If you've been considering coming back or trying the game out, there's never been a better occasion than right this moment -- whatever your reason for leaving might have been.

Continue reading Coming back for the Cataclysm

MassivelyComing back for the Cataclysm originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmcataclysm-launchcataclysm-revampclassclass-changesclassesexpansionexpansion-launchfeaturedguild-levelinglaunchlevelingleveling-pathnew-contentnew-expansionold-world-revampopinionrevamprevamped-contentrevised-contenttalent-changestalentsworld-of-warcraftworld-of-warcraft-cataclysmwowwow-cataclysmMon, 06 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Smedley says EQII players aren't WoW players, but may see their own Cataclysm]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/smedley-says-eqii-players-arent-wow-players-but-may-see-their/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/smedley-says-eqii-players-arent-wow-players-but-may-see-their/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/smedley-says-eqii-players-arent-wow-players-but-may-see-their/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

It's absolutely no surprise to anyone that MMO companies pay attention to what the others are doing. Turbine looked at free-to-play models and took a chance that has paid off. Cryptic is now testing the waters. Even Sony Online Entertainment has done this with Free Realms and EverQuest II. And of course, everyone watches what Blizzard is doing. After all, with 12 million subscribers, there are things to be learned from the champion MMO company. Now, with World of Warcraft's new expansion on the horizon, SOE's president, John Smedley, offered up some of his opinions to Kotaku -- opinions on Cataclysm and on how Blizzard's decisions relate to SOE's own future plans for EverQuest II.

According to the posted statements, not only have the heads at SOE been considering a worldwide reboot like Cataclysm, but the news is that it is something they've considered for "many years." Beyond this surprise (after all, there was already a cataclysmic event in Norrath's lore -- players just didn't get to play that part as it fell between EverQuest and EverQuest II) was the even larger surprise that came with Smedley's assertion that EverQuest II players are not World of Warcraft players. "We have five years of World of Warcraft experience behind us to know that people that play EverQuest II don't play World of Warcraft. We don't see big dips in concurrency. We see a tiny drop for awhile."

For the rest of the interview, head over to Kotaku and check it out in its entirety. It's definitely interesting reading.

MassivelySmedley says EQII players aren't WoW players, but may see their own Cataclysm originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentcataclysmeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-2-extendedeverquest-iiinterviewjohn-smedleykotakummo-industryopinionpresidentsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 03 Dec 2010 13:45:00 EST