Massively

Captain's Log: STO's Caitian Carriers and Klingon Kitties

Terilynn Shull — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, Game mechanics, Lore, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Races, Captain's Log

Lately I've beginning to wonder whether the wait for Star Trek Online's Season Six has been as interminable for other players as it seems to have been for me. Although the past several weeks have been busy in the real-life side of things, those distractions really haven't been all that good at harboring my frustration about the wait for the new stuff as I would have liked.

Season Six is being readied for a move to STO's test server, Tribble, in the next couple of weeks, according to the most recent Ask Cryptic as answered by the game's Executive Producer, Dan Stahl. The new patch will contain fleet starbases and a new fleet advancement system but not much else in the way of story-based content.

That's not unexpected, however, as not one of the previous Season releases really ever contained story-based content; they've merely been game-technology pushes, and I understand that Season Six will be no different.

However a couple of things have come out to the game in the past few weeks that have ruffled some hard-core Trek-fan feathers: Caitian Carriers and Ferasans.

Continue reading Captain's Log: STO's Caitian Carriers and Klingon Kitties

Captain's Log: STO's Caitian Carriers and Klingon Kitties originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Captain's Log: Cryptic's Lead Designer responds to questions

Terilynn Shull — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, Interviews, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Captain's Log

The weekend before Star Trek Online launched its free-to-play format, Cryptic Studios' Lead Designer, Al Rivera, responded to a lengthy list of player concerns, rants and questions via the STO community podcast PodcastUGC.

PodcastUGC usually focuses its broadcasts on issues revolving around the game's user generated content tool, The Foundry, but as of late the co-hosts of the show (including me!) have been desperate for specific Foundry issues to discuss due to the lack of changes since last year.

In the previous week's episode, I let my opinions fly along with my frustrations about what I felt was a severe lack of story-based content. I asked aloud, "What the hell have they been doing the past year?"

To our surprise, we were contacted by Al Rivera, who set aside his day off to talk with us about just that.

Continue reading Captain's Log: Cryptic's Lead Designer responds to questions

Captain's Log: Cryptic's Lead Designer responds to questions originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Captain's Log: Will two cloud bursts cure a drought?

Terilynn Shull — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, PvP, Endgame, PvE, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Captain's Log, Crafting

After the most tumultuous year in Star Trek Online's history, we stand on the cusp of the game's second anniversary and full-blown evolution to free-to-play. Early F2P entrance for former subscribers was opened last Thursday. And now, unfortunately, loyal subscribers have been informed that the anticipated flood of new story-based content might more accurately be described as a trickle.

In his most recent Dev Diary #11, STO's acting Executive Producer Stephen D'Angelo outlined his future hopes for the game in 2012. As players are wont to do, we read between the lines and noticed not what was contained in the blog but rather what was blatantly missing: a detailed outline of future playable content.

Continue reading Captain's Log: Will two cloud bursts cure a drought?

Captain's Log: Will two cloud bursts cure a drought? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dan Stahl talks about Star Trek Online's user-generated content

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Interviews, Patches, News items, Star Trek Online

With its first doses of weekly content a success, Star Trek Online is in a fairly comfortable spot at the moment. But there are still places to expand, including the often-mentioned tools for user-generated content. Although the tool isn't yet in the game, executive producer Dan Stahl has been discussing it for some time, and he goes into a bit more depth in a recent interview. He also discusses some of the upcoming changes scheduled for the game's later major updates, including interior interaction and bridge officer voices.

Among the more interesting issues discussed is the impact of user-generated content on the game's licensing. Everything currently in the game required approval from CBS first, which Stahl states has led to some discussion about how the user toolsets will interact with the canonical fiction. He also discusses several improvements planned for season 4, and the possibility of more interaction with ship interiors starting in season 4 or 5. Star Trek Online players are encouraged to take a look at the newest interview for a clearer picture of the game's future.

Dan Stahl talks about Star Trek Online's user-generated content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gameforge buys majority stake in Frogster

Jef Reahard — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, News items

MMO business news isn't normally as sexy as the latest press release from BioWare or as divisive as the newest F2P conversion announcement. That said, occasionally an industry-related story comes along that indicates something equally big is in the water. Today's announcement of Gameforge's bid to take control of noted free-to-play publisher Frogster seems destined to turn a few industry heads, including ours.

Gameforge, which heretofore has specialized in smallish F2P games like Cabal, has just acquired a 60 percent majority holding in Frogster, the German publisher known primarily for distributing Runes of Magic. The purchase deal went through at $33 US a share, which places Frogster's overall value in the neighborhood of $85 million US. Frogster, and now Gameforge, is looking to grow its portfolio not only with Runes of Magic but also by publishing the forthcoming Mythos dungeon crawler as well as by securing the European publishing rights to the highly anticipated TERA action MMO from Bluehole Studio.

The Gameforge folks have been busy little bees this summer, as they earlier announced an agreement with CBS to publish several browser-based games centered around the Star Trek intellectual property.

Gameforge buys majority stake in Frogster originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New Star Trek MMO in dry dock courtesy of Gameforge

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, Free-to-play, Casual

"Boldly going where one MMO has gone before!" doesn't quite have a ring to it, but that's not deterring German developer Gameforge from grabbing a slice of the Star Trek IP for a new MMO. Gameforge hasn't exactly been a household name up to this point, with titles such as Gates of Andaron and Ikariam, but it seems like that might change now that they have a crack at one of the most recognizable science fiction franchises in the world.

The unnamed Star Trek MMO will be -- yes -- a free-to-play browser title, so don't expect it to directly compete with Cryptic's own Star Trek Online. TrekWeb reports that Gameforge signed a worldwide licensing agreement with CBS Consumer Products to develop the game in the original Star Trek universe, from the classic era of Captain Kirk up through the days of Deep Space Nine. However, Atari will still hold the exclusive MMO rights to Star Trek.

Continue reading New Star Trek MMO in dry dock courtesy of Gameforge

New Star Trek MMO in dry dock courtesy of Gameforge originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Age of Conan conquers The Big Bang Theory

Samuel Axon — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Culture, News items

This week's episode of the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory prominently featured Age of Conan, and its A-story dealt in a light-hearted way with online gaming addiction. If you're unfamiliar with the show, the premise is as follows: two extremely geeky twenty-something males -- both scientists at Caltech -- move in across the hall from a pretty but not-too-terribly sophisticated blonde woman. Commence unlikely friendship and all the humor that comes with it!

In this week's episode, one of the two geeks is playing Age of Conan when the girl comes over. She starts playing the game and becomes addicted, rejecting responsibilities and basic hygiene for the remainder of the episode. The premise sounds typical, but the episode has a certain wink-like-quality to it. It's all in good humor, and there are a lot of inside jokes that only players of the game could get.

Funcom's active participation becomes evident when cut-scenes rendered exclusively for the show make an appearance. It's likely that Funcom paid for this product placement, actually. We've embedded a brief clip after the break, but you should check out other (unembeddable) scenes at the show's website (watch any clip from season two, episode three), but be aware that CBS insists on living in some long-dead century by not making the complete episode available online.

[Thanks, C.A.]

Having fun in Conan's homeland? Make sure to check out all of our previous Age of Conan coverage, and stick with Massively for more news from the Hyborian Age!

Continue reading Age of Conan conquers The Big Bang Theory

Age of Conan conquers The Big Bang Theory originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

First Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online addresses ship customization

Kyle Horner — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:10:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, News items, Star Trek Online

The very first Ask Cryptic leveled at Star Trek Online takes some time to address cannon questions about the game. With regards to whether or not Cryptic plans to make the game as close as possible to the official canon, worry not. They're watching and re-watching all the TV shows and movies to make sure your Gorn attacks are as authentic as possible. They've also received all the sound effects featured in the movies and TV series from CBS. So your phaser blasts and teleports will sound pitch-perfect. As for the music, Michael Henry -- Cryptic's director of audio -- has been a huge trek fan for a long number of years. So plan on hearing music both new and old that helps recall you to many a days spent watching Star Trek.

Other answers include adherence to exploration as an "integral" and encouraged aspect of the game, not just a side thought. We really like hearing that said. Although, what we especially like hearing is further confirmation that extensive customization (a Cryptic trademark, really) for both interiors and exteriors of player ships is definitely part of the game. Now we can finally dress our Klingon ships in bright pink stripes, oh happy day!

First Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online addresses ship customization originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daedalus Project tracks MUD

Akela Talamasca — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Polls, Culture, Economy, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Massively Meta, Academic, Education, Virtual worlds

Actually, it tracks MMOs, but what a clever title, huh? The Daedalus Project is the demographic/analysis website created and maintained by Nick Yee, a graduate student of Stanford University in the field of Communications who now works at the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). Nick's site is noteworthy both for the online surveys of MMO players that are open to anyone who wants to participate, and also for the conclusions he draws based on those survey results.

This statistical data has been used by Washington Post, CBS, TechWeek, CNET, the Associated Press, Nature.com, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal, among other publications. Nick always has a survey or two running, so if you're interested in contributing your experiences and thoughts to the collective (and growing) body of knowledge concerning MMOs, you can do so at the 'Current Surveys' section of his site.

For those of us interested in metadata, The Daedalus Project is a genuine boon, and we hope he continues his necessary and groundbreaking work well into the future.

[Thanks, Nick!]

The Daedalus Project tracks MUD originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cinemassively: CSI:NY Virtual Experience Mystery Game #4

Moo Money — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Events, in-game, Second Life, Free-to-play, Cinemassively, Machinima

It looks like Anthony Zuiker and the Electric Sheep Company have made good on their promise to deliver fresh mysteries in the CSI sims of Second Life. Last month's episode revolved around an unidentified man that was murdered by one of three potential suspects. SL's most famous contract killer, Venus, may have been the culprit.

This month could get interesting, as Chris Carella, of ESC, blogged that the Venus storyline that aired in October will air again on February 27th. They will be temporarily increasing the amount of CSI sims in anticipation of new signups. In addition, they have a new Valentine's mystery for you to check out, as well as two new mysteries on the 27th.

However, I'm really curious as to when the conclusion will air. Was it affected by the Writers Guild strike? Don't leave us hanging, CBS!

Cinemassively: CSI:NY Virtual Experience Mystery Game #4 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Feb 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cinemassively: CSI New York Mystery Game #1

Moo Money — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Events, in-game, Second Life, Cinemassively, Machinima

When the CSI:NY episode featuring Second Life came out in October, Second Life Insider offered extensive coverage of not only the commercials, but also the mystery games. Now, CBS is releasing their own teaser trailer for one of the mysteries. Having scaled down their islands due to lowered traffic, one wonders if they're trying to milk one last visit out of you.

However, with that said, the Machinima is thoroughly entertaining. They offer up snippets of clues to reel you in, as well as highlight a bit of the process. If you haven't checked out the four-sim clusters of CSI:NY goodness, now would be the time!

Cinemassively: CSI New York Mystery Game #1 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Your Second Life as a CSI

William Dobson — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 05:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, Events, in-game, News items, Second Life

Reuters has reported that there will be a collaboration between the popular CBS show CSI and the game Second Life. There will be two episodes of the series (airing October 24th and November 6th) that prompt viewers to continue the investigation themselves by jumping into a virtual world designed around CSI:NY. This isn't the first time that Second Life has been linked with a TV crime series, but this occasion casts a more positive light on the game.

The news came from the creator of CSI , Anthony Zuiker, at the Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo. TechCrunch has since updated the facts, adding that a link from the CBS website will give three options for CSI fans to participate in. The first option for viewers is a series of forensic puzzles to solve. The second involves players visiting a crime scene in Second Life and then attempting to solve a murder. This second option is called "Murder by Zuiker", and Zuiker himself will judge participants solutions to the mystery and award in-game prizes to the top entrants. The last option will be to follow up on the TV episode's murder case as a crime scene investigator, with all their famous gadgetry at your disposal.

Also noted in the TechCrunch article is that the airing of the episode coincides with the launching of an independant client for Second Life, OnRez, by the Electric Sheep Company. This is the first independant viewer that has been given the official nod by Second Life creator Linden Labs. Secondlifeinsider.com also has a ton of posts on CSI in Second Life, and the new client, so visit them for some detailed information and on-going coverage.

Your Second Life as a CSI originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Omnicom drives a stake into Millions of Us

Tateru Nino — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 02:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Second Life

One of the more recognizable names among metaverse development companies (MDCs) is Reuben Steiger's Millions of Us. Steiger's MoU has done work in Second Life, Gaia Online and Zwinky. Omnicom, reported by Reuters to be the world's largest advertising services company, has bought a stake in the company. A majority stake, or just a share - nobody's saying.

Inevitably, the sale is being compared to CBS's investment in rival MDC, Electric Sheep Company - a partnership which is leading to the joint release of a CSI:NY episode revolving around Second Life, and a customized, user-friendly Second Life client.

What Omnicom and Millions of Us have planned at this stage is anyone's guess - advertising is where the smart money is, of course. Could MoU be becoming the general virtual worlds arm of Omnicom? Could be.

Omnicom drives a stake into Millions of Us originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments