Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How important is endgame progression to you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-endgame-progression-to-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-endgame-progression-to-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-endgame-progression-to-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Daily Grind How important is endgame progression to you
For some players, the real meat of an MMORPG begins when you don't have any more pesky levels to worry about. Leveling is training, but using all that training to clear through the hardest content in the game is what you signed up for. Whether it's in World of Warcraft or Guild Wars 2, these players feel that the real push is to have the best possible gear and optimize your character specialties.

For other players, the endgame is just an addition, sometimes even an unwelcome one. Having the best gear or the best build is nice, but it's not worth pursuing at the detriment of your enjoyment. Far better to just do dailies in Star Wars: The Old Republic or level a new character in Champions Online. These players can be just as dedicated to the game, but they just don't care for the endgame push.

So which category do you lean toward? Is the progression track at the top what you live for, or is it just a distraction? How important is endgame progression to you?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How important is endgame progression to you? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-in-slotchallengeculturedaily-grindendgameendgame-progressionlevel-caplevelsopinionoptimizationtdgthe-daily-grindWed, 24 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DC Universe Online's update 18 goes live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/dc-universe-onlines-update-18-goes-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/dc-universe-onlines-update-18-goes-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/dc-universe-onlines-update-18-goes-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In this issue, our heroes forget how to play the hard mode of this instance and die like fifteen times.
If you're hoping for a bunch of new content with the latest update to DC Universe Online, you'll be disappointed. If you're hoping for a better system of player rewards and more challenging encounters, you'll be quite pleased. Game Update 18 ushers in several changes to the game's challenges, alerts, and duos, providing players with both a smoother set of progression content and a more unified system of rewards.

Aside from reorganizing several pieces of group content into clearer progression tiers, the update unifies reward currencies into Marks of Triumph. Reward items are all purchased via Marks of Triumph, with higher-tier items requiring a correspondingly larger number of Marks. Players will also receive a weekly award box the first time they clear a Tier 1 through 3 challenge within a week; these award boxes contain both Marks of Triumph and a random level-appropriate item. For more details on the particulars of these revisions, take a look at the full update list, or just log in and start playing.

MassivelyDC Universe Online's update 18 goes live originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengeconsoleconsolescontent-tiersdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuodifficultyendgamef2pfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgame-update-18gu18mechanicsnewspatchesplaystation-3playstation3progressionps3soesony-online-entertainmentsuperherosuperheroesupdateupdatesWed, 05 Sep 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online explains Moria revamp]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/lord-of-the-rings-online-explains-moria-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/lord-of-the-rings-online-explains-moria-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/lord-of-the-rings-online-explains-moria-revamp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO
Since the word came down recently that Turbine is revamping much of Lord of the Rings Online's Moria, players have been buzzing about the merits and scope of such a project. Content Developer Lauren Salk posted an article on the official site explaining the reasoning behind the decision as well as the specific changes involved.

Salk said that Turbine wanted to respond to player complaints about the difficulty and pace of Moria's leveling experience. She admits that the quests did not always lead to the best places and resulted in a frustrating stint underground instead of an amazing journey. Salk confessed that the zone even frustrated her mother, who never made it all the way through.

With Update 7, LotRO will update half of Moria, while the latter half will come later on down the road. In addition to a smoother quest flow, additional quests, and an easier difficulty level, Turbine's adding tasks for all to enjoy.

Travel through Moria will become more pleasant, as the lighting will be adjusted, additional stable routes added, monsters moved out of the major pathways, and a no-reputation goat made available from the start.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online explains Moria revamp originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengedev-blogdev-diarydev-postdifficulty-levelf2pfantasyfree-to-playlauren-salklord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriamoriamoria-revampshades-of-the-pasttravelturbineturbine-entertainmentupdate-7Fri, 04 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The perils of passive gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/the-soapbox-the-perils-of-passive-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/the-soapbox-the-perils-of-passive-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/the-soapbox-the-perils-of-passive-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Couch potato cat
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

My folks don't really understand my infatuation with video games (and MMORPGs in particular). "How can you sit there and play a game for two or three hours at a time?" my mom is fond of asking. Ironically, this usually happens on a visit that ends where most of our visits do: on the couch in front of the television.

Don't get me wrong; she's no couch potato, and in fact she has the meanest green thumb you'll ever see. When the sun goes down, though, my parents (like most of their generation, I'll wager) park their butts in front of the TV. That I should park my own posterior in front of the computer is exceedingly strange to them even though online gaming is to the 21st century what television was to the 20th.

I wonder, though, if games are starting to become more passive forms of TV-like entertainment.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The perils of passive gaming

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The perils of passive gaming originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualchallengecomplexitycouch-potatoeditorialeqeq1everquestf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgames-vs-tvhardcorehardcore-vs-casualinteractivitylets-playlivestreamlivestreamingmmo-industryop-edopinionpassivepassive-consumptionpassive-gamingpassive-vs-activepassivitypaying-to-skip-contentperils-of-passive-gamingrantrantsskipping-contentsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardsoesonysony-online-entertainmentthe-perils-of-passive-gamingthe-soapboxTue, 01 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Focus on the Foundry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/captains-log-focus-on-the-foundry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/captains-log-focus-on-the-foundry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/captains-log-focus-on-the-foundry/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Foundry is Star Trek Online's user-generated content tool, one that allows players to create their very own playable missions in the game. Those missions also become available as content to the rest of the playerbase. It's a tool that differentiates STO from most other MMOs and encourages fans to expand on the universe of STO and Star Trek in general. Join me as in this Captain's Log, I focus on the Foundry, some of its missions, and the community that keeps it going.

Continue reading Captain's Log: Focus on the Foundry

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Focus on the Foundry originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Brandon-Felczercaptains-logchallengechristine-thompsoncrypticcryptic-studiosdivide-et-imperaf2pfeaturedfoundryfree-to-playopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpgcplayer-generated-contentpwerema-donnareturn-to-terra-novarisian-sunsetsci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestougcuser-generated-contentMon, 19 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet closes the book on Guild Wars' Winds of Change]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/arenanet-closes-the-book-on-guild-wars-winds-of-change/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/arenanet-closes-the-book-on-guild-wars-winds-of-change/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/arenanet-closes-the-book-on-guild-wars-winds-of-change/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Guild Wars - I assume this image has something to do with Winds of Change
If you missed the Winds of Change arc that's bridging the gap between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2, now's a great time to head to the official ArenaNet blog to catch up. The devs have provided a handy summary post and a bit of an explanation for their narrative goals as both Guild Wars and its highly anticipated sequel move forward.

ArenaNet also acknowledges the community feedback regarding the difficulty of the Winds of Change content, and the firm says that initially "the difficulty was getting in the way of people enjoying the story, making it far more of a slog than we'd intended and actively undermining their enjoyment of it."

Happily, recent updates have led to "major balance tweaks" and second looks at both normal and hard-mode content, so if you were frustrated before, it's worth your time to give it another go.

MassivelyArenaNet closes the book on Guild Wars' Winds of Change originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-netarenanetchallengedev-blogfantasyguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2mmo-storynarrativencsoftnew-contentwinds-of-changeTue, 14 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rosh Online update brings the pain via challenging endgame dungeons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/rosh-online-update-brings-the-pain-via-challenging-endgame-dunge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/rosh-online-update-brings-the-pain-via-challenging-endgame-dunge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/rosh-online-update-brings-the-pain-via-challenging-endgame-dunge/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Rosh Online - hey look, a screenshot without the UI (because I cropped it out!)
Free-to-play fantasy MMO Rosh Online is flush with its first major content update. The game's level cap is jumping from 55 to 65, and two new maps (Lupinel Chapel Catacomb and the first two floors of Sentryheil Tower) are now available to adventurers across the lands of Asmara.

The new maps aren't for the faint of heart, as Ignited Games has populated them with "daunting quests and nightmarish boss monsters." Both dungeons are designed for endgame players, with the Catacombs targeted at level 56 and up, and the Tower providing something to do for players at 61 and above.

The game's latest update also adds new enchantment items to help with the increased difficulty of the new content, and Ignited has expanded the item shop with "a host of new gear."

[Source: Ignited Games press release]

MassivelyRosh Online update brings the pain via challenging endgame dungeons originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengedifficultydungeonsf2pfantasyfree-to-playignitedignited-gameslupinel-chapel-catacombroshrosh-onlinesentryheil-towerThu, 26 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo III game designers talk Inferno difficulty and twinking]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/diablo-iii-game-designers-talk-inferno-difficulty-and-twinking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/diablo-iii-game-designers-talk-inferno-difficulty-and-twinking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/diablo-iii-game-designers-talk-inferno-difficulty-and-twinking/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Oh no, color! Destroying the ambiance!
Diablo III is not an MMO by any stretch of the imagination, but it certainly has some strong online elements like previous installments. It also has a lot of expectations to live up to, several of which are discussed in a recent PC Gamer interview with Wyatt Cheng and Andrew Chambers. Both designers discuss the challenge level of the new Inferno difficulty, which is aimed at max-level characters in good gear who have already completed the Hell difficulty level. They confirm that while it's meant to be brutal, it can be played and beaten solo -- although having a friend won't hurt.

And speaking of getting by with a bit of help from one's friends, Cheng and Chambers both agree that twinking out new characters is a time-honored part of the game's tradition; their job as designers requires them to find ways to ensure that twinking is a fun process for players. It's the sort of interview that can leave fans wanting more of the game before it's released -- which ties in nicely to the fact that you can pre-order the Book of Cain (a collection of in-universe lore and artwork) on Amazon right now. And you can even take a look past the break to see what the book looks like.

Continue reading Diablo III game designers talk Inferno difficulty and twinking

MassivelyDiablo III game designers talk Inferno difficulty and twinking originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardandrew-chambersartifactsbackstoryblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchallenged3designdiablodiablo-3diablo-iiidiablo-iii-betadifficultydiiiinterviewsloremultiplayernewsupdatesvideowyatt-chengMon, 05 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you think MMOs should be harder?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-mmos-should-be-harder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-mmos-should-be-harder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-mmos-should-be-harder/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Pic of chimp typing on a typewriter, public domain photo
For every person I see cheering the rise of accessible games, I see another lamenting the "dumbing down" of MMOs. And while I've always liked a good challenge, it seems to me that "challenge" is usually conflated with "tedium" -- most MMO "challenges" test my patience, not my skill.

I can understand not wanting a game to be a faceroll, but I'm also glad that we don't have to be professional e-sport champs to participate in this hobby. Still, there's plenty of room between those two extremes for upping the difficulty of combat and crafting without resurrecting obnoxious mechanics like corpse runs and experience loss. What do you think -- should MMOs be harder?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you think MMOs should be harder? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgchallengeChimpanzeedifficultydumbed-downdumbing-downe-sportseasymodei-win-buttonopiniontdgtediumthe-daily-grindMon, 05 Dec 2011 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DDO's Challenges tweaked, torqued, and tailored]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/ddos-challenges-tweaked-torqued-and-tailored/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/ddos-challenges-tweaked-torqued-and-tailored/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/ddos-challenges-tweaked-torqued-and-tailored/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

DDO
It's been a few weeks since Dungeons and Dragons Online came out with Update 12 and its newfangled Challenge system. No new system is perfect, of course, which is why Turbine has a slew of changes and fixes in testing as it prepares the first post-Update 12 patch for release.

There's no one specific aspect of the Challenges that is receiving the most attention, but a variety of tweaks to make the feature more enjoyable (and functional) as a whole. The patch includes additional weapons at Challenge vendors, Challenge loot that can be used in crafting and upgraded, and the ability for players to repeat Star Challenges for XP. There's also the interesting inclusion of the ability to sell DDO Store-bought loot to in-game vendors for cash.

Players are invited to check the changes out on the Lamannia test server or to peruse the patch notes at their leisure.

MassivelyDDO's Challenges tweaked, torqued, and tailored originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengechallenge-missionschallengesddoddo-storeddo-update-12dungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfree-to-playpatchturbineturbine-entertainmentupdateupdate-12update-12-patch-1vault-of-the-artificersMon, 28 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DDO's Vaults of the Artificers goes live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/ddos-vaults-of-the-artificers-goes-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/ddos-vaults-of-the-artificers-goes-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/ddos-vaults-of-the-artificers-goes-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DDO
For Dungeons and Dragons Online players, today is a special -- nay, hallowed day. It is Patch Day, and with it comes much leaping, dancing, spinning in circles, and singing at the top of one's lungs.

Today Turbine has released Update 12: Vaults of the Artificers, a hefty patch that introduces a completely new system to the game: challenges. Challenges are repeatable quests that have unique objectives and time limits, and can be completed for shiny rewards. VIP players will get the challenge adventure pack for free, but free players aren't left out in the dark -- Turbine is giving everyone one free challenge every day. These can be picked up in House Cannith.

DDO's Update 12 has plenty of other changes and fixes, including the introduction of store-purchasable rename tokens if you're dissatisfied with your hero's moniker and a shared platinum bank account.

You can read up on Update 12 with the official patch notes or by checking out our hands-on impressions from last month!

Gallery: Dungeons & Dragons Online: Unlimited

MassivelyDDO's Vaults of the Artificers goes live originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengechallenge-missionschallenge-questschallengesddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfree-to-playpatchpatch-notesturbineturbine-entertainmentupdateupdate-12update-12-vaults-of-the-artificersupdate-notesvaults-of-the-artificersvipWed, 09 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: Elite doesn't mean casual]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/behind-the-mask-elite-doesnt-mean-casual/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/behind-the-mask-elite-doesnt-mean-casual/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/behind-the-mask-elite-doesnt-mean-casual/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Back in the early days of Champions Online, there was no difficulty slider. We got stuck playing the same stuff regardless of player or character ability, and often that meant high-skill players and their nigh-invincible god characters smashed through insignificant minions like freight trains. When Serpent Lantern launched, Cryptic added in difficulty settings, beginning at the base normal difficulty and ending at very hard. Later on, the devs added an Elite difficulty, touted to be even tougher than VH.

Since then, high-powered heroes have had a way to challenge themselves... sort of. When Serpent Lantern first launched, doing it on VH was reasonably challenging due to the many annoyances (mostly pulson guns) placed in it by the dev team. When players rightfully complained that the pulson guns ripped through well-statted tanks, the devs nerfed the guns and the difficulty became mostly a joke. Normal difficulty is still mostly synonymous with "cakewalk," while Elite is more like "sorta dangerous, maybe."

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Elite doesn't mean casual

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Elite doesn't mean casual originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-maskchallengechampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosdifficulty-leveldifficulty-slidereliteelite-difficultyf2pfeaturedfree-to-playperfect-world-entertainmentpulson-guns-suckedpweThu, 29 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Decent challenge]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-soapbox-decent-challenge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-soapbox-decent-challenge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-soapbox-decent-challenge/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

The ancestors of modern humans had a lot to contend with, but I'm willing to bet that the seeds of MMO gamers existed even in those days. There had to have been at least one person who looked at a wooly mammoth, a titantic mass of tree-trunk limbs and tusks and fur, and announced "I bet you get great loot for killing that thing!" And as it turned out, he was right, assuming "great loot" means "meat for food and fur for clothing."

I'm exaggerating, naturally; everyone knows that ancient humanity spoke Norwegian, not English, and it's a well-known fact that the term "loot" was first coined in the Canterbury Tales along with "spawn camper." But that need for a challenge is still there, the central idea that in order to get something really awesome you have to overcome a big obstacle. Which is why challenge is such a thorny issue for MMOs and always has been, because one person's challenge is another person's irritation.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Decent challenge

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Decent challenge originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengechallenging-contentcolumncomplexitydesigndevelopmentdifficult-contentdifficultyeasy-contentfeaturedlogisticsopinionsimplicitysoapboxthe-soapboxTue, 12 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What challenges have you added to your game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/the-daily-grind-what-challenges-have-you-added-to-your-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/the-daily-grind-what-challenges-have-you-added-to-your-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/11/the-daily-grind-what-challenges-have-you-added-to-your-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I'm always fascinated with stories of players who deliberately add challenges to their MMO gameplay. Sometimes you hear about folks who try to get to the level cap without killing a single creature, or people who play with naked (unarmored) toons, or those who make it their mission to complete every single achievement and quest there is.

I see self-created challenges as an attempt to add spice and flavor into games, usually after you've long since gotten bored of the most efficient leveling path. Some players think up these challenges to add a slice of sandbox-style goals into an otherwise theme park-oriented title.

Right now, one of my characters in Lord of the Rings Online is attempting to do every single solo quest in each zone before going elsewhere. It's challenging to slow myself down and get over that desire to progress and go for the big XP rewards, but it's a ton of fun so far as well.

So, big or small, what challenges have you added to your game?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What challenges have you added to your game? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengechallengescompletionismcompletionistlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotronakednudenudityopinionsandboxself-created-challengesself-made-challengestdgthe-daily-grindtheme-parkMon, 11 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What rewards aren't worth the effort?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/the-daily-grind-what-rewards-arent-worth-the-effort/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/the-daily-grind-what-rewards-arent-worth-the-effort/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/the-daily-grind-what-rewards-arent-worth-the-effort/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A gauntlet of fiendish bosses. Horrible traps and puzzles solved in an instanced format, with no chance for other parties to help you. A collection of dangerous encounters and perilous chances with your characters, in which a single death would mean undoing hours of work. All of that work for... a cosmetic helm?

While Final Fantasy XI has some brutally difficult bosses, they drop powerful rewards. But even then, sometimes you might look at the rewards they drop versus the slightly weaker rewards available elsewhere and decide that the effort is just too much. It's not that the rewards are bad; it's that the rewards don't match up to the strategy and careful play required to have a chance.

So when have you run into rewards that don't feel like they're worth the effort it would take to obtain them? Is it a matter of too much time or too much challenge for too little benefit?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What rewards aren't worth the effort? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengedifficultydropseffortopinionrewardstdgthe-daily-grindFri, 10 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Somebody should do something about all the problems!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/05/the-soapbox-somebody-should-do-something-about-all-the-problems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/05/the-soapbox-somebody-should-do-something-about-all-the-problems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/05/the-soapbox-somebody-should-do-something-about-all-the-problems/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Bugs. They are the scourge of gaming, crawling and chittering their way through lines of code, turning what would have been a sure win into failure, making otherwise useful abilities worthless, crippling quests and destroying playtime. And so the clarion call goes out every time a new bug emerges that the developers should fix it -- a reasonable request, given that we are paying these people every month. (Or, on several occasions, we would be paying if the game weren't such a mess of bugs that they should be paying us.)

Yet months roll by, and despite countless lovingly assembled bug reports, these issues do not get fixed. And it's not just bugs, either -- balance issues go untweaked, content goes unfinished, features get rolled back or sometimes removed altogether. What the heck are we paying for? Why in the world doesn't the development team just fix these problems?

Continue reading The Soapbox: Somebody should do something about all the problems!

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Somebody should do something about all the problems! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebalanced-environmentbrokenbug-fixesbugschallengedevelopersdevelopmentdevelopment-teamsdifficultyfeaturedfunctionalitykeeping-things-workingopinionsoapboxthe-soapboxworking-as-intendedTue, 05 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What sort of challenges feel fair in an MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/05/the-daily-grind-what-sort-of-challenges-feel-fair-in-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/05/the-daily-grind-what-sort-of-challenges-feel-fair-in-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/05/the-daily-grind-what-sort-of-challenges-feel-fair-in-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

When I was younger (so much younger than today), I decided that it sounded like a fun jaunt to play through Devil May Cry on the hardest difficulty setting, appropriately named "Dante Must Die." For those who have never experienced this particular joy, playing the game at that level requires an insanely precise level of timing and movement, with several fights ending in instant death if you dodge left instead of right. The game's strategies weren't difficult, but the challenge was all in the execution. Of course, that sort of model can be problematic in an MMO, where a second of lag can turn a successful execution into brutal failure.

MMOs have always used a wide variety of different challenges. Guild Wars asks players to make use of positioning and timing to overcome challenges, while Final Fantasy XI's endgame is much more focused on encouraging a good strategy and good team synergy. What sort of challenges do you think are best suited to the group environment of an MMO? Conversely, what sort of content design feels like an unfair challenge in context?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What sort of challenges feel fair in an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengecontentdifficultyff11ffxifinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiguild-warsgwobstaclesopiniontdgthe-daily-grindSat, 05 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Question chilled]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-question-chilled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-question-chilled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-question-chilled/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

We've had a fairly calm month since our last session, and really, I'm kind of relieved. I spent most of October expecting that City of Heroes was going to drop some sort of bomb along the lines of "game shutting down in December, releasing huge new game in January, have a pony." And I'm kind of glad that didn't happen, because I have nowhere to keep a pony in my home. With that awkward preamble out of the way, on with the questions!

Jeromai asked: But think, the enemy code [developed for Going Rogue] might later be used for smarter AI for enemies that Incarnates face. A higher-level challenge. Gee, doesn't that sound like endgame content?

Well, yes and no. Yes, it certainly sounds like a higher-level challenge, and if you ask a certain segment of the endgame population in any MMO, that's exactly what they want. But endgame content is frequently kept challenging solely through artificial barriers, and as bizarre as it sounds, we kind of want it that way, because the alternative is really, really annoying.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Question chilled

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Question chilled originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancillary-power-poolsappchallengecity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumnscovcoxdifficultyendgameendgame-contentendgame-strategyfeaturedgame-mechanicsncsoftparagonparagon-studiospatron-power-poolspppq-and-aquestions-and-answersWed, 03 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan's Morrison on designing for challenge and accessibility]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/01/age-of-conans-morrison-on-designing-for-challenge-and-accessibi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/01/age-of-conans-morrison-on-designing-for-challenge-and-accessibi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/01/age-of-conans-morrison-on-designing-for-challenge-and-accessibi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Funcom executive producer Craig Morrison is drawing on his game journalist roots of late, via a series of in-depth postings on his personal blog. Morrison, a former IGN editor prior to his Funcom days, has a lot to say about gaming trends, which is great news for industry watchers and anyone interested in occasional glimpses into the thought process of an MMO developer. In his latest opus, the former Anarchy Online (and current Age of Conan) game director discusses the challenges in developing, well, challenge.

In a followup post to his earlier discussion on progression, Morrison talks at length about the decisions developers face when it comes to providing players with a steady diet of dings and digital pats on the back, while simultaneously making it seem like something worthwhile is being accomplished. The post contains a number of interesting observations, among them the notion that most modern MMORPGs parcel out their challenging content in sideshows that are entirely optional (raids, dungeons, etc.) and, in many cases, tangential to the main event (questing and hunting).

While it would seem to be a relatively simple matter to add occasional challenges to the leveling treadmill, Morrison cautions that care is needed to avoid alienating segments of your playerbase. "If you are going to be able to inject occasional challenge or difficulty spikes into the standard progression as well, you need to have thought about it to make sure that it won't become a bottleneck, and that it will survive a review," he says.

MassivelyAge of Conan's Morrison on designing for challenge and accessibility originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilityage-of-conananarchy-onlineblogchallengecraig-morrisondev-blogdevelopersdifficultyfuncomgame-developmentlearning-curvesilirrionMon, 01 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Is Runes of Magic too easy?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/01/lost-pages-of-taborea-is-runes-of-magic-too-easy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/01/lost-pages-of-taborea-is-runes-of-magic-too-easy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/01/lost-pages-of-taborea-is-runes-of-magic-too-easy/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It seems things are never quiet in regard to Runes of Magic these days. If it isn't holiday events or new world bosses, it's large-scale balancing issues. Players may still be plugging away at title achievements this Halloween, but the event has been going long enough for people to settle into a daily routine and get back to everyday affairs. In other words: it's something to do, but the shiny is starting to wear off.

I took advantage of this lull and decided to do a Q&A on the overall difficulty of RoM. It's not a huge issue; it's more like a constant issue that creeps into other discussions on class balance or the memento system. And after the attempted change to a percentage-based mana cost, it's definitely worth consideration. Is RoM too easy? The question seems like it'd be a quick one-line answer, but there are many ways to view it that would yield different outcomes. What are players' goals? How can a change to one system affect the whole game? How will future updates affect any changes made today? Is there an answer to whether RoM is too easy or not? Well. Let's find out.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Is Runes of Magic too easy?

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Is Runes of Magic too easy? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebalancingbalancing-gameplaychallengedifficultydifficulty-settingsdungeon-difficultyeasyfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehardjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttoo-easytoo-hardMon, 01 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Agenda server coming down for 1.38 patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/global-agenda-server-coming-down-for-1-38-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/global-agenda-server-coming-down-for-1-38-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/global-agenda-server-coming-down-for-1-38-patch/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ready to get your frag on with Massively's Global Agenda Halloween event? First make sure you patch up to the latest client build (version 1.38) which hits the live server today. Scheduled downtime is currently listed as 11:30 am to 5:00 pm Eastern, and the patch will be introducing a fairly large number of changes to Hi-Rez Studios' third person shooter MMO.

Chief among the tweaks are new weapon loot drops, new achievements and associated rewards, a challenge function, and an inventory overhaul that sees most items shared across your account rather than specific to certain characters. The challenge mechanic enables pre-made 4-man teams to /challenge one another, and can be used for everything from impromptu shootouts to player-run tourneys and brackets.

Hi-Rez has made the full patch notes available for your perusal, so head over to the official website and check them out.

MassivelyGlobal Agenda server coming down for 1.38 patch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-based-inventorychallengeglobal-agendaglobal-agenda-hi-rezhalloweenhi-rezhi-rez-global-agendahi-rez-studiospatchpatch-1.38pvpsonoran-deserttournamentWed, 27 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Party like a rock star in Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/party-like-a-rock-star-in-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/party-like-a-rock-star-in-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/party-like-a-rock-star-in-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There are players out there who might be dreading parties in Final Fantasy XIV. Well, not precisely; they might well be dreading that the mechanics will be similar to the parties from Final Fantasy XI, where some classes could seemingly wait for ages without a trace of a group. Mercifully, the fine bilingual team at FFXIVCore has continued its apparent tradition of translating information to coincide with the new beta testing, with the newest translation being a guide to getting a working group in the game.

Guildleves are the game's core leveling mechanics, but new ones can only be accepted every so often, and they can be hard to complete on higher settings alone. By grouping up, players gain access to more guildleves from other players and more support in tackling the game's bigger challenges. The full translation has information on everything from the interface to form a party to the game's battle regiments, the equivalent of Final Fantasy XI's skillchains. (We're guessing they meant regimens, but that's the challenge of translation.) Final Fantasy XIV fans are advised to take a look at the article to start gearing up for the game's release in two months.

MassivelyParty like a rock star in Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-mechanicsbetachallengedifficultyexperienceffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgroup-mechanicsgroupingguildlevespartiespartypartyingquestsskillchainssquaresquare-enixtestingtranslationsFri, 30 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: The trial of Chains of Promathia, part one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/05/the-mog-log-the-trial-of-chains-of-promathia-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/05/the-mog-log-the-trial-of-chains-of-promathia-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/05/the-mog-log-the-trial-of-chains-of-promathia-part-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

When the news first came out about the removal of the level cap in several Chains of Promathia areas, Sera and I had a bit of a disagreement on the news. Or, more accurately, we had a bit of a disagreement regarding the expansion as a whole. Sera was of the opinion that it was quite possibly the best expansion in the game's history. I, as has been stated before, feel somewhat less positive about it -- which is to say that I've usually regarded it as one of the worst.

The comment thread to that news showed that this divide was not unique to the two of us. Comments were sharply divided between those who would happily blacklist Chains of Promathia and forget it existed, and those who were heartbroken at something so wonderful being toned down. So I decided to go ahead and take another look at the expansion as an aggregate, both the good and the bad. Out of all the Final Fantasy XI expansions, this one was the most unique. Was it a good experiment, or was it a failure?

Continue reading The Mog Log: The trial of Chains of Promathia, part one

MassivelyThe Mog Log: The trial of Chains of Promathia, part one originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Back in the ancient days before real mainstream gaming, there was a dearth of good titles to play. It was a cultural phenomenon at that time to extend gameplay for the few good games that existed by creating emergent challenges for themselves. This is where the concept for the speedrun came about, although the speedrun changed dramatically after that time into something very unique.

Still, gamers have been artificially injecting challenge into games ever since the '80s.

A game like Champions Online has a fair number of factors, including a smaller endgame and a lower overall difficulty level, that make it ripe for injecting some artificial challenge.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: The Ironman Challenge

MassivelyBehind the Mask: The Ironman Challenge originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Behind-the-Maskchallengechampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosfeaturedspeedrunThu, 22 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How easy is too easy?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/the-daily-grind-how-easy-is-too-easy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/the-daily-grind-how-easy-is-too-easy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/the-daily-grind-how-easy-is-too-easy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Difficulty in games is a contentious issue at any point. Brian "Psychochild" Green recently had a musing on the topic of difficulty as it applies to most games, but even that discussion stops shy of discussing MMOs, where multiple difficulty levels are rarely an option. Designers can make harder events, but if the rewards are the same as something easier, no one will bother making life harder on themselves. That makes the "hard mode" more than just an increased challenge, and sets up a hardwired and sometimes arbitrary challenge-to-reward ratio. On the flip side... well, it's not fun to have the game just hand everything to you. We want to feel as if we're accomplishing something when we play.

So today, we ask you, what's too far in either direction? What sort of penalties or challenges make something so ridiculously hard it's not worth bothering? By the same token, how simple does something have to be before you're annoyed at the ease of it all? What levels of difficulty can be tinkered with without making the game unpleasant, and what elements of gameplay are best kept at a set level?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How easy is too easy? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-greenchallengeculturedifficultygame-mechanicspsychochildtdgthe-daily-grindtoo-easytoo-hardyou-have-to-burn-the-ropeTue, 24 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA["Why do we play MMOs" series concludes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/22/why-do-we-play-mmos-series-concludes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/22/why-do-we-play-mmos-series-concludes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/22/why-do-we-play-mmos-series-concludes/#commentsFiled under: ,

When we last checked in with Tobold, he was just starting up a new blog series looking into why we play MMO games to a greater degree than single-player games. That isn't to say that the MMO genre is bigger than the single-player genre, just that MMO gamers tend to focus on massively multi-player games more than single-player games. His first two articles examined Storytelling and Gameplay elements in MMOs and since then he has done pieces on Challenge, Character Development, Rewards, Social Interactions, and Learning.

The series just wrapped up and Tobold wrote a nice summary of why he thinks we mostly choose MMOs over single-player games. He feels that while we may play single-player games that have strong elements of story, gameplay, or challenge, the social aspects of MMOs seem to be the trump card. MMOs can have many weaker core elements but social interaction (direct) or simply participating in a persistent game world (indirect) appears to make up for those deficiencies. It's a long series to get through but well worth the read if you're into these kinds of high-thinking philosophical discussions.

Massively"Why do we play MMOs" series concludes originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some people like it when the game challenges them for months on end, stopping them at the same battle over and over again until a group comes together and cooperates in a way that yields progression.

Other people like to be able to sit down at a game, play it for a few hours, and feel like they've made some progress and accomplishments. They enjoy feeling rewarded after a small play session, instead of dedicating hours of work and thinking to their games.

And still others would rather find extreme progress in less than an hour, being highly rewarded for very little challenge. It's not fun if it's hard, right?

So today's grind question is as follows: what is your preference of difficulty? Are you the person who likes to be stumped for weeks on end, or are you more of the type who wants to get the maximum reward for the smallest effort? Speak forth into thy comment box, and let thy voice be heard! And hopefully you won't use a silly accent like us, but you can if you'd like to.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your preference of difficulty? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualchallengedifficultyeasyfungaminghardhardcoremediumprogressionraidsthe-daily-grindWed, 22 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How to stop worrying and enjoy games like Darkfall]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/how-to-stop-worrying-and-enjoy-games-like-darkfall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/how-to-stop-worrying-and-enjoy-games-like-darkfall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/how-to-stop-worrying-and-enjoy-games-like-darkfall/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

While they seem to draw a fair amount of controversy and commentary, massively multiplayer online games that offer kick-in-your-ribs PvP aren't really a new thing. Darkfall is the title that everyone's talking about of late, but it's really cut from the same cloth as the progenitor of all MMOs, Ultima Online. Granted, Ultima Online wasn't and isn't purely focused on player killing, but the fact remains that when you log into games that allow for the possibility of being ganked, in some respects it is what you signed up for. While the no-holds-barred style of play isn't for everyone, it certainly is what some players want. Or at least think they want.

MMO world celeb Sanya Weathers, writing for Examiner, says "Darkfall has been, since its conception, an unapologetic return to Ultima Online's original style of full metal ham kicking. The gang at Aventurine never pretended their game would appeal to a mass market, and certainly never pretended that the game would have anything but a vicious learning curve."

Continue reading How to stop worrying and enjoy games like Darkfall

MassivelyHow to stop worrying and enjoy games like Darkfall originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aventurineaventurine-sachallengecontroversydarkfallexaminerfantasygame-mechanicshardcorelootingmmo-industryopinionpvpsanya-weatherstips-and-tricksuiultima-onlineuouser-interfaceThu, 19 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST