Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[38 Studios lays off entire staff, sells Big Huge Games [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/rumor-38-studios-lays-off-entire-staff-sells-big-huge-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/rumor-38-studios-lays-off-entire-staff-sells-big-huge-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/rumor-38-studios-lays-off-entire-staff-sells-big-huge-games/#commentsFiled under: , ,

38 Studios / Big Huge Games
The 38 Studios disaster continues to unfold today, as the troubled studio laid off its entire staff and may be selling off its Big Huge Games division in Boston. Boston's Fox 25 News speculates that the studio may close by this weekend.

38 Studios CM Charles Dane confirmed being laid off on Twitter: "Now on the market. I had an awesome run with 38 Studios, but this dream is now ending."

Word is that the company is also selling its subsidiary, Big Huge Games. Big Huge Games is the maker of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, 38 Studios' single-player prequel to its Copernicus MMO. This would not be the first time that Big Huge Games was sold by its parent company, as the studio experienced the same event back in 2009.

Oh his Facebook page, Curt Schilling stressed that Reckoning did quite well in sales. "I wanted to clear up some misinformation around 38 Studios' first product, Reckoning. Sales of Reckoning outperformed EA's expectations and sold more than 1.2 million units in the game's first 90 days in the market."

[Update]: Developer Ryan Shwayder has also confirmed the layoffs via his personal blog.

Massively38 Studios lays off entire staff, sells Big Huge Games [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosbig-huge-gamesblack-thursdaycharles-danecloseclosurecopernicuscurt-schillingeafinancialkingdoms-of-amalur-reckoninglayoffslegalproject-copernicusreckoningsoldThu, 24 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pitchblack Games' Dominus abruptly shutting down]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/pitchblack-games-dominus-abruptly-shutting-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/pitchblack-games-dominus-abruptly-shutting-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/pitchblack-games-dominus-abruptly-shutting-down/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Goodnight, sweet prince
We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but sometimes it's just unavoidable. Sanya Weathers, Director of Community for Pitchblack Games' in-development sandbox title, Dominus, posted on the forums today to inform players that, effective immediately, Dominus is no more.

Weathers states that the team "simply cannot deliver the game [players] deserve with the resources [the studio has]." She goes on to apologize vehemently, adding that the forum is now read-only, though the game's Facebook page will remain open long enough for players to say their last goodbyes. Sanya signs off by thanking the players for proving that "there is a market for a game like [Dominus]." She concludes, "I will miss you all, and I know we'll meet again." Here's to hoping. Best of luck to the folks over at Pitchblack; we look forward to your next endeavor.

MassivelyPitchblack Games' Dominus abruptly shutting down originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closingclosing-downclosuredominuspitch-blackpitchblackpitchblack-gamesprime-battle-for-dominuspvpsanya-weatherssci-fishut-downshutting-downMon, 30 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Karos Online shutting down, Rosh Online welcoming refugees]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/karos-online-shutting-down-rosh-online-welcoming-refugees/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/karos-online-shutting-down-rosh-online-welcoming-refugees/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/karos-online-shutting-down-rosh-online-welcoming-refugees/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Karos Online
We haven't heard much about Karos Online since its 2010 launch. It seems as though the title struggled to find an audience over the past two years and is now facing the end of its days. The team announced that Karos Online will be shutting down soon and urged its community to migrate to Rosh Online.

As of today, new accounts for Karos are disabled, and current players will be unable to purchase in-game currency for the cash shop. Karos Online will spend its next week spinning down its wheels before turning off the lights on April 13th.

Happily, Ignited Games has created a generous welcome package for Karos players willing to make the jump to Rosh Online. The benefits for doing so include in-game goodies and the conversion of cash shop currency to a compatible equivalent. On top of that, Karos players can jump into higher-level Rosh characters depending on how high they leveled their Karos contemporaries.

[Thanks for the tip, Jeff!]

MassivelyKaros Online shutting down, Rosh Online welcoming refugees originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closuref2pfree-to-playin-game-currencykaroskaros-onlinemigrationpromotionroshrosh-onlineshutdownsunsetsunsettingwelcome-packageFri, 06 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest Online Adventures slays its final dragon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/everquest-online-adventures-slays-its-final-dragon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/everquest-online-adventures-slays-its-final-dragon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/everquest-online-adventures-slays-its-final-dragon/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

EQOA
EverQuest Online Adventures, the console spinoff of SOE's EverQuest franchise, is counting down the hours until the server is switched off at midnight tonight. In addition to EQOA, SOE is shuttering three other underperforming titles today: Cosmic Rift, Infantry, and Star Chamber: The Harbinger Saga.

Instead of spending its final days in sorrow, the EQOA community joined the dev team for a series of epic battles against marauding dragons this past week. Players have filled the forums with posts about their favorite in-game memories over the past nine years of gameplay. To compensate players for the loss of their game world, SOE gave EQOA subscribers three months of gold-level status in EverQuest and EverQuest II.

EQOA came out in 2003 on the PlayStation 2 and was one of the first generation of console MMOs. For those Massively readers feeling nostalgic or curious about it, definitely check out our series on the game: part 1, part 2, and part 3.

MassivelyEverQuest Online Adventures slays its final dragon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancelclosureconsoleconsole-mmoCosmic-Rifteqeq-iieqoaeverquesteverquest-iieverquest-onlineeverquest-online-adventuresInfantryplaystation-2ps2soesony-online-entertainmentStar-Chamber-The-Harbinger-SagasunsetsunsettingThu, 29 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthrise shutting down today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/earthrise-shutting-down-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/earthrise-shutting-down-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/earthrise-shutting-down-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Bye bye Earthrise
Bulgarian developer Masthead Studios has announced that it's shutting down the servers for its post-apocalyptic sandbox MMO, Earthrise. Said Atanas Atanasov, Director of Masthead Studios:
"One year after the launch of the game, we have decided to stop the Earthrise servers. Earthrise was released too early and did not meet the expectations of its fans. We did our best to revive the game in 2011, but the time was not enough to keep up with the user requirements. There is a huge interest in high quality open world sandbox MMORPGs, unfortunately the big publishers do not show any interest in the genre. It is unfortunate that low budget companies like ours are trying to bring innovativeness in the already saturated MMO market. I hope that one day an independent studio will be able to release the long anticipated open world sandbox MMO, which everyone is talking about, but no one is making. We tried, but did not succeed. We would like to apologize to those who were disappointed from Earthrise and to thank everyone who supported us during the years."
The studio does mention that the planned free-to-play version for this year may still launch if any investor interest is shown, but there has been no word on this yet.

[Source: Masthead Studios press release]

MassivelyEarthrise shutting down today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Atanas-Atanasovbreakingnewsbye-byeclosingclosureearthrisemastehead-studiospost-apocalypticsandboxserver-closesunsetThu, 09 Feb 2012 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pack up your toys: LEGO Universe is shutting down at midnight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/pack-up-your-toys-lego-universe-shutting-down-at-midnight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/pack-up-your-toys-lego-universe-shutting-down-at-midnight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/pack-up-your-toys-lego-universe-shutting-down-at-midnight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LEGO Universe
The clock is chiming, and kids (and the young at heart) everywhere are asking for just a little more time with LEGO Universe. Unfortunately the struggling MMO has gotten no reprieve from the imaginary video game governor, and its servers will go offline tonight at midnight EST.

The shutdown FAQ encourages LEGO Universe players to share their favorite memories on the forums and ends with a heartfelt message from the team:
"Our decision to end LEGO Universe is similar to decisions we also make with LEGO Product collection, where favourite sets come and go to make space for new sets. It was time for LEGO Universe to end and hopefully new digital LEGO experiences will come in the future."
We first heard of LEGO Universe's closure last November, when the studio announced that the game's freemium model was not bringing in enough paying customers to keep the title afloat. LEGO Universe is a youngling in the MMO genre, having released in October 2010, making the game one year and three months old at the time of its shutdown.

Refunds for those who had a paid subscription on file after December 31st, 2011 will be distributed early next month. Unused LEGO game cards may also be exchanged for LEGO e-gift cards.

MassivelyPack up your toys: LEGO Universe is shutting down at midnight originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closeclosingclosuref2pfree-to-playfreemiumlegolego-grouplego-universeshutdownMon, 30 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft KOs Punch Monster in Korea]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/ncsoft-kos-punch-monster-in-korea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/ncsoft-kos-punch-monster-in-korea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/ncsoft-kos-punch-monster-in-korea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Punch Monster, er, I mean Blue Tears
If you've never heard of NCsoft's Punch Monster, you're not alone. Apparently the few people who have heard of it didn't want to play it, as the Korean gaming giant is closing down the casual MMO as of February 15th.

ThisIsGame says that it's been some time since NCsoft pushed a major update onto the game's live servers, and a company spokesperson confirmed as much. "We decided to close it because we have barely sustained the Korean service. We will continue to develop and publish casual games with [the] experience we have gained so far."

Punch Monster will remain playable in China and Japan for the moment, albeit under the name Blue Tears.

MassivelyNCsoft KOs Punch Monster in Korea originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blue-tearscasualcasual-gamescasual-mmosclosuref2pfantasyfree-to-playgame-closinggame-closurencsoftpunch-monsterwe-just-wanted-to-say-punch-monsterThu, 12 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies bequeaths a memory book to fans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/star-wars-galaxies-bequeaths-a-memory-book-to-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/star-wars-galaxies-bequeaths-a-memory-book-to-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/star-wars-galaxies-bequeaths-a-memory-book-to-fans/#commentsFiled under: , ,

SWG
Still in mourning and/or shock over Star Wars Galaxies' sunset? Kicking yourself in your rear for never checking out the game while it was still alive? Then Sony Online Entertainment has one last gift for you: a Star Wars Galaxies memory book packed with the game's legacy.

And this isn't a brief "So long and thanks for all the fish" pamphlet, either. The memory book is a whopping 253 pages of information and screenshots documenting the title's eight-year run. Former players and MMO historians can expect to read up on the game's timeline, planet, species, professions, space, ships, housing, cities, the Galactic Senate, the trading card game, the Galactic Civil War, and "The End."

The book immortalizes the near-total Rebel victory in the game with these parting words:
The explosions marking the Empire's end could be seen across the galaxy in the skies above the planets, and the celebrations that followed were unmatched. Peace reigned as Star Destroyers and dark lords became memories of another era, of a time long past, of galaxies long gone.

Gone, but not forgotten.
You can view or download the entire PDF on the official site.

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies bequeaths a memory book to fans originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closuregalactic-civil-warlegacymemoriesmemory-bookobligatory-hgttg-referencesoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-galaxies-memory-booksunsetswgswg-memory-bookThu, 22 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LEGO Universe shutting down January 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/lego-universe-shutting-down-january-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/lego-universe-shutting-down-january-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/lego-universe-shutting-down-january-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LEGO Universe
Playtime's over, people -- time to pack up your LEGO bricks and move on. The word's come down from the LEGO Group that LEGO Universe is closing its doors on January 31st, 2012 due to a lack of paying customers. While the game has been free-to-play for a while, apparently not enough players were interested in dishing out cash to keep the MMO operational.

The news was posted just moments ago on the official forums along with a more in-depth FAQ:
Hello Adventurer, today we are very sad to announce that LEGO Universe will be closing on January 31, 2012. This was a very difficult decision to make, but unfortunately LEGO Universe has not been able to attract the number of members needed to keep the game open.

We are thankful to have had the opportunity to share this adventure wiith an amazing community of players. We hope you will continue to enjoy LEGO Universe for the last few months. As a thank you, if you are a paying subscriber on December 31, 2011, we will provide you the full game for the final month for free.

Again, we want to thank the fantastic community of players who made LEGO Universe such a vibrant, fun and creative experience.

Sincerely,
The LEGO Universe Team
Unfortunately, this closure means that the associated studios, including one in Colorado and one in Denmark, will be shuttered and 115 employees will be affected. LEGO Universe launched in October 2010 and converted to a free-to-play model this past August. We've included the official press release behind the break.

Continue reading LEGO Universe shutting down January 2012

MassivelyLEGO Universe shutting down January 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closingclosing-downclosuref2pfree-to-playlegolego-grouplego-universeplay-well-studiosshutting-downsunsetsunsettingFri, 04 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mytheon closing up shop]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/mytheon-closing-up-shop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/mytheon-closing-up-shop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/21/mytheon-closing-up-shop/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mytheon
Faxion Online wasn't the only UTV True Games project to be axed following the company's acquisition by Disney. It turns out that Mytheon, too, is in the process of closing down for good.

In the sole announcement on the Mytheon forums, the team posted a note that the game would be spinning down starting this past July 27th in preparation for a final shutdown at an undisclosed date in the near future. Players can no longer register for the game nor download it. Mytheon planned to launch in 2010 but was kept in beta testing far past the projected release date.

This announcement ends on a bittersweet note: "Finally, we'd like to send out a huge thank you to all our players who've joined us on this journey. Keep challenging fate, The Mytheon Team."

[Thanks to Paul for the tip!]

MassivelyMytheon closing up shop originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancelationcancellationclosingclosuredisneyf2pfaxionfaxion-onlinefree-to-playmytheonutvutv-gamesutv-true-gamesWed, 21 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Faxion Online closing the doors of heaven and hell]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/faxion-online-closing-the-doors-of-heaven-and-hell/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/faxion-online-closing-the-doors-of-heaven-and-hell/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/faxion-online-closing-the-doors-of-heaven-and-hell/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Faxion Online
It may not have had a long life, but Faxion Online's certainly was memorable. The PvP-centric MMO with the unique heaven-and-hell theme has announced that it is closing its doors within the month, following rumors that the entire team had been laid off.

In a brief statement posted on the forums, players were notified of the game's closure, which will occur in a couple quick stages. This week, players will not be able to register for the game, download it, or use the store, while the servers will be powered down within 30 days from today.

"We're eternally grateful for all the support, feedback, and competition our players have provided through thick and thin," the announcement stated. "Faxion's development was a Herculean effort that some said was impossible given the timeframe and resources we had, and we're proud to have delivered a PvP-driven experience that people could enjoy. Alas, all good things must come to an end."

Faxion Online launched on May 26th this year, making this one of the quickest demises of an MMO since last year's All Points Bulletin. We at Massively wish the best for Faxion's staff in the coming months.

MassivelyFaxion Online closing the doors of heaven and hell originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbclosingclosuredisneyfaxionfaxion-onlineheavenhellpvpshort-livedstoreutvUTV-Ignitionutv-true-gamesWed, 24 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Be here now]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-soapbox-be-here-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-soapbox-be-here-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-soapbox-be-here-now/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fond, sepia-toned memories of SWG.
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.

Games die. It's an unpleasant reality but a reality just the same, with the highest-profile death on the horizon being Star Wars Galaxies. Business decisions get made, and unfortunately, sometimes those decisions boil down to "this game is no longer worth the money to keep it running." If you're lucky, the announcement comes with a great deal of time for you to wrap up what you've always wanted to do in the game; if you're unlucky, you might have a couple of weeks before the servers go dark.

So what do you do as a player? How do you cope with the fact that the game is shutting down? There are a lot of approaches, but I think it's unfortunate that most of the reactions seem to center around some last-ditch effort to save the game from oblivion. It's entirely missing the point to try and pull the game back from the brink of death, and it does a disservice to both the game and the players when you spend your last days desperately fighting a foregone conclusion.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Be here now

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Be here now originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closingclosing-eventsclosuredyingdying-gamefeaturedgame-closergame-shutdownopinionserver-shutdownshutdownsoapboxstar-wars-galaxiesswgtabula-rasathe-matrix-onlinetmotrTue, 09 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Faunasphere shutting down on March 15th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/20/faunasphere-shutting-down-on-march-15th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/20/faunasphere-shutting-down-on-march-15th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/20/faunasphere-shutting-down-on-march-15th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's a sad day when a game shuts down, especially one that caters to an unusual audience. Faunasphere, a game about cleaning up a pollution-riddled world while developing your personal animals, has announced its shutdown on March 15th. All subscription options have been removed, all subscriptions or microtransaction currency purchases after January 14th are being refunded, and the developers at Big Fish Games are working to make sure that the month until the closing is memorable and enjoyable for players.

In a brief FAQ regarding the closure, the development team addresses several potential player questions, including the game's integration with Facebook (which kept the servers running for longer than would have otherwise been possible) and the issue of any outstanding funds sunk into the game. There's also a thread set up for players to exchange contact information, in the hopes that some of the community might retain its cohesion. Our condolences go out to the Faunasphere players and development team affected by the shutdown.

MassivelyFaunasphere shutting down on March 15th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-fish-gamescancellationclosurecommunitycommunity-cohesionf2pfacebookfacebook-integrationfaunafaunasphereflash-based-gamesflash-gamesfree-to-playgame-shutdownshutdownSun, 20 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GamersFirst to resurrect APB: Reloaded as a free-to-play title]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/gamersfirst-to-resurrect-apb-reloaded-as-a-free-to-play-title/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/gamersfirst-to-resurrect-apb-reloaded-as-a-free-to-play-title/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/gamersfirst-to-resurrect-apb-reloaded-as-a-free-to-play-title/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The saga of All Points Bulletin has become one of the dominating MMO stories of 2010, with its buggy launch, premature shutdown, hunt for a new owner, and rescue by free-to-play publisher GamersFirst last week. Displaced APB fans who are wondering what plans GamersFirst has in store for the game should find themselves bouncing with glee today: The publisher is definitely planning to bring back the game, now entitled APB: Reloaded, as a F2P version.

GamersFirst's Bjorn Book-Larsson sees the move as a win-win for both the publisher and players: "APB was a game that had several exceptional features and some brilliant ideas, even though it was plagued by some initial balance and monetization issues. We want to take all the unique features of this title, such as its unparalleled character, weapon and car customization systems, and convert the game to a true free-to-play game. We are deep into the planning and early execution stages for this next chapter of APB and we will share more details in the near future."

The purchase of APB's assets means good news for ex-Realtime Worlds employees, who will now receive any outstanding wages and promised holiday pay.

APB: Reloaded should be coming back online in the first half of 2011.

MassivelyGamersFirst to resurrect APB: Reloaded as a free-to-play title originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbapb-reloadedbjorn-book-larssonbreakingclosuref2pfree-to-playgamersfirstgamersfirst-owns-this-cityinterviewjoystiqpurchaserealtime-worldsrelaunchsaleTue, 16 Nov 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Soul Master closing down for redesign, scheduled to return in 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/soul-master-closing-down-for-redesign-scheduled-to-return-in-20/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/soul-master-closing-down-for-redesign-scheduled-to-return-in-20/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/soul-master-closing-down-for-redesign-scheduled-to-return-in-20/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Soul Master, an action MMORTS from GamesCampus, has announced that it will be joining the ranks of shuttered MMOs on November 16th. In something of a departure from your typical MMO shutdown, the notice on the free-to-play title's official website states that the game is tentatively scheduled to be re-launched in the summer of 2011 after it has been completely reworked. The current build is "not sufficient to meet our standards in both the direction we feel game development should go and the quality of the experience we feel is deserved by the player community," says the announcement.

The statement also hints at Soul Master's resurrection in six to eight months, one that will apparently feature a more traditional style of MMO character progression. Check out all the details on the official website.

MassivelySoul Master closing down for redesign, scheduled to return in 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closureclosuresf2pfree-to-playgamescampusitem-mallmmortsre-designrtssoul-masterMon, 15 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What will you miss about APB?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/the-daily-grind-what-will-you-miss-about-apb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/the-daily-grind-what-will-you-miss-about-apb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/the-daily-grind-what-will-you-miss-about-apb/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's never enjoyable when a game or game company goes belly-up, and MMO fans have had no shortage of depressing news over the years. Whether it was Earth and Beyond, The Matrix Online, Tabula Rasa, or (now) All Points Bulletin, many of our favorite games burned twice as bright but lasted half as long.

The case of All Points Bulletin is even more aggravating due to its peerless character creation system, a unique take on music, and a payment model that attempted to blend the best of subscription-based and F2P titles. While we're the first to admit the game had its problems, it also had its charms and will be missed.

That leads us to our question of the day, Massively readers. What will you miss about APB?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What will you miss about APB? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbclosurecustomizationearth-and-beyondgame-closureopinionrealtimeRealtime-WorldsRealTimeWorldstabula-rasatdgthe-daily-grindthe-matrix-onlineFri, 17 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Earth Eternal facing the prospect of shutdown]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/earth-eternal-facing-the-prospect-of-shutdown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/earth-eternal-facing-the-prospect-of-shutdown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/earth-eternal-facing-the-prospect-of-shutdown/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There's incredibly bad news today about Earth Eternal, the free-to-play browser-based MMO from Sparkplay Media. Or we should say formerly from Sparkplay Media, as it appears that hard times have hit the company with resounding force. In an extremely sad letter, CEO Matt Mihaly has informed players that Sparkplay Media has been all but shut down, with only two remaining employees (including himself) taking care of closing down the company and trying to sell the game to another service provider.

Although the game is not currently being shut down, Mihaly is frank about its prospects: it entirely depends on whether or not another company will pick up the hosting costs of running Earth Eternal. For the time being, the game has made all of its microtransaction items free for all players, in hopes that whatever the game's ultimate fate, players can enjoy it for a little while longer. Our consolations go out to the team behind the game, and we offer our sympathies for what has no doubt been a painful process for the entire staff.

MassivelyEarth Eternal facing the prospect of shutdown originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionbreakingbreaking-newsbrowser-basedbrowser-mmoclosureearth-eternaleef2pfree-to-playlayoffsmatt-mihalypossible-shutdownshutdownsparkplaysparkplay-mediaSun, 08 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dungeon Runners shutting down in January]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/dungeon-runners-shutting-down-in-january/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/dungeon-runners-shutting-down-in-january/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/17/dungeon-runners-shutting-down-in-january/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


In the No-Surpise-to-Anyone category, we have news that NCsoft's Dungeon Runners will be closing its doors on January 1, 2010. We only say no surprise because of the fact that the game has been running on a handful of devs for quite a long time now, which is a shame, because Dungeon Runners is actually a fun little game.

Staying true to their wonderful sense of humor, Stephen Nichols, DR's Producer and Lead Programmer, released a statement yesterday detailing the closure. He certainly doesn't butter it up at all as he explains that the game just isn't turning a profit, regardless of their efforts over the last year. They're now down to a 3-man team, which is near impossible for any studio to use in maintaining a game.

Luckily, for those currently subscribed to the game, some treats are coming your way, including free City of Heroes Architect Edition and Guild Wars Chapter 1: Prophecies. So if you've never played Dungeon Runners before, you have a little over three months to jump in for free and check it out before the game shuts down for good.

MassivelyDungeon Runners shutting down in January originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewsclosuredrdungeon-runnersncsoftshutting-downstephen-nicholsThu, 17 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Schrodinger's Gossip Girl: It's dead but it's still alive]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/schrodingers-gossip-girl-its-dead-but-its-still-alive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/schrodingers-gossip-girl-its-dead-but-its-still-alive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/schrodingers-gossip-girl-its-dead-but-its-still-alive/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


It's been a long run for the Gossip Girl simulation on Second Life, two years in the making actually, but all good things must come to an end. The well trafficked sims will be closing the doors tomorrow, as Warner Brothers and The CW discontinue their virtual marketing campaign for the show of the same name.

But that doesn't mean the Gossip Girl community is dying...

Fans of the simulation will be overjoyed to hear that the Gossip Girl community is transitioning to a new home thanks to the Metaverse Mod Squad, the builders and moderators of the original official sims. While the official sims, and the setting of the Upper East Side, will be retired on June 30th, the new doors will open on July 1st to large fanfare and a great number of festivities.

Continue reading Schrodinger's Gossip Girl: It's dead but it's still alive

MassivelySchrodinger's Gossip Girl: It's dead but it's still alive originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingclosurecommunityeventsgossip-girlinterviewmetaverse-mod-squadsecond-lifeslthe-cwwarner-broswbTue, 30 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: So long, and thanks for all the woah]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/anti-aliased-so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-woah/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/anti-aliased-so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-woah/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/anti-aliased-so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-woah/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


It's a depressing news day for me today. As we've reported earlier, Sony Online Entertainment has finally made the decision to pull the plug on The Matrix Online, a decision that makes absolutely perfect sense given the dire straights the game has been in for the past few years.

MxO was always "the little game that could" in regards to the community outlook. Even with horribly broken systems, a grind worthy of an Asian MMO, and periods where I literally sat around doing nothing, there was some odd charm about the game. Perhaps it was the setting, or maybe it was the really cool combat system (yes, it too was broken, but those animations were sweet), but I think it was the storyline.

Let's have a look back the history of Matrix Online and some of the stories no one ever heard about.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: So long, and thanks for all the woah

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: So long, and thanks for all the woah originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedben-chamberlainclosedclosurefeaturedjoystiqfeatureslive-event-characterslive-eventsmorpheusmovie-charactersmxoneurophyteniobenovalis-iiplotlinerarebitsunsetthe-matrix-onlineFri, 29 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dismissed! The final moments of Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/dismissed-the-final-moments-of-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/dismissed-the-final-moments-of-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/dismissed-the-final-moments-of-tabula-rasa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Despite any glimmer of hope from fans that the game could somehow be saved, NCsoft's Tabula Rasa closed down last night in a truly epic display of community and developer involvement.

It's not often that we get to see the last second of an MMO's life, so it's important that we showcase those videos depicting the final moments. Quite a few videos have popped up already, with many more out there on YouTube. We've collected and embedded a few of the very first videos available just below the cut, courtesy of iRacerMatt, our reader Poozle, Plukh and the wonderful tribute video at WarCry. Plus, be sure to check out our visual tribute to TR through a gallery of player screenshots.

Gallery: Remembering Tabula Rasa through screenshots

Tabula Rasa and NCsoft Devs, we salute youRuuuuun!A Thrax HybridEx-Community Coordinator Critters in game at a FNFOne of the earliest Friday Night Fight events in Alia Das

Continue reading Dismissed! The final moments of Tabula Rasa

MassivelyDismissed! The final moments of Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closuredestination-gamesfinalencsoftshutdowntabula-rasatrvideosSun, 01 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Halo MMO: What could have been]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/02/the-halo-mmo-what-could-have-been/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/02/the-halo-mmo-what-could-have-been/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/02/the-halo-mmo-what-could-have-been/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


In an interesting article at Gamasutra, the last days of Ensemble Studios are chronicled to honor the mega studio and what they once were. Regardless of the titles that put them on the map, the studio had some great games in the works. One such game was the Halo MMO, which was confirmed late last year. The project -- codenamed Orion -- has been in the works, in one form or another, since 1998.

According to the article, this project was to be the new focus of the company. There was even a brand new facility being built to house the development of the game. The construction of that building suddenly stopped one day, and Microsoft informed the team that they would be closing down operations. The project originally known as Titan was no more. Check out the entire three-page article for more on the last days of Ensemble Studios.

MassivelyThe Halo MMO: What could have been originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closureensemble-studiosgamasutrahalo-mmomicrosoftoriontitanMon, 02 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinions flare from ex-NCsoft employees about TR's closing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/opinions-flair-from-ex-ncsoft-employees-about-trs-closing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/opinions-flair-from-ex-ncsoft-employees-about-trs-closing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/opinions-flair-from-ex-ncsoft-employees-about-trs-closing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As Tabula Rasa approaches its end days, the anger, sadness and I-told-you-so sentiments are rising up more than ever. This week marks an interesting occasion where two former NCsoft employees each wrote detailed stories on their own perspectives regarding the sci-fi MMO's downward spiral.

First we have this post by Adam Martin, former CTO of NCsoft Europe, where he explains his views on why the game failed. Granted, he admits he wasn't actually on the TR team, but he was privy to the internal mailing lists and information about the game from Alpha to launch. As a response, we have a post from Scott Jennings, who sums it all up fairly well with this statement: "The biggest failing, though, was that it was in development about twice as long and spent twice as much as it had any right to. And that's what promotes it, in this snarky outside blogger's view, from understandable failure to extinction-level company-slaying train wreck."

Update: Although Adam Martin's post states that he was the European CTO at the time, we get word from NCsoft that he was never the CTO for NCsoft Europe. He was the Lead Programmer.

MassivelyOpinions flare from ex-NCsoft employees about TR's closing originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closuredestination-gameslum-the-madncsoftncsoft-europeopinionsperspectivescott-jenningstabula-rasatrFri, 16 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: This too shall pass]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/behind-the-curtain-this-too-shall-pass/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/behind-the-curtain-this-too-shall-pass/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/behind-the-curtain-this-too-shall-pass/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

And so we mark the passing of another MMO. I was going to add an adjective to that sentence, maybe 'great', 'fine' or even just 'good'. I couldn't decide, as I didn't play Tabula Rasa beyond the Open Beta. That's clearly not my fault though, obviously it's something to do with the developers not making exactly the game I wanted, needed or deserved at the time. Cry, whine, QQ, etc.

Don't worry, this won't be an obituary for TR. That would be silly; I'm not lying when I say I didn't play it beyond Open Beta. I liked it well enough, but it lacked the spark that drives me to log on, night after night.

The news of TR's demise however, has got me thinking. Like it or not, nothing lasts forever. MMOs are subject to the same financial rules as any other business, and sometimes those rules mean you lose. Regardless of how long we've been playing any particular game, how many alts you've raised up or how much of a home you've made for yourself in the community there, there's a chance your MMO will die eventually. Some games last longer than others; gaining enough momentum to garner a fair-sized and dedicated fanbase before they're shut down. Others barely get out of Beta testing before things go South, and the doors are closed before momentum really gets going.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: This too shall pass

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: This too shall pass originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardbehind-the-curtainblizzardclosurefeaturedrgtrshutdowntabula-rasavivendiwarwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 22 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythos is dead but its memory lives on]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/mythos-is-dead-but-its-memory-lives-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/mythos-is-dead-but-its-memory-lives-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/21/mythos-is-dead-but-its-memory-lives-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The announcement blared last Friday. The Mythos beta would shutdown and placed on hiatus that very night. It didn't leave much time to say goodbye, the suddenness left many unable to attend but Massively was present in your stead.

"Farewell friends, farewell Mythos" echoed throughout the Stonehill Market. Players congregated and crowded the area to praise Mythos and say their goodbyes. "I don't know what game to play next," cried several others. It's the people behind the characters that matter, the emotions are real, honest, and believable. The death of any MMOG is always a disheartening experience but it also brings cause to celebrate and forge a lasting adventure into a lifetime memory.

Several appreciative and ever thankful Mythos developers were of course present. Lead Developer, Travis Baldree spawned a cataclysmic event for the players to partake in that lasted well into the night. Mythos players joked that it took a crashed server to defeat them as they settled in for the fireworks. Mythos CM, Tiggs made her presence felt by continually talking and laughing with the community. As the final seconds approached the world quaked, and before Mythos collapsed offline the lasting words ringed out: "You will be remembered." It was a very fitting tribute and gracious sentiment indeed. It was a good nine months, and we hope to see Mythos back again one day.

Gallery: Mythos

MassivelyMythos is dead but its memory lives on originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betasbreakingcloseclosingclosureend-of-mythosflagship-studiosgallerymythosmythos-betasmythos-closesmythos-endmythos-gallerymythos-hiatustiggstravis-baldreeMon, 21 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Will WSE ever reappear in Second Life? If it does, will it survive?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/will-wse-ever-reappear-in-second-life-if-it-does-will-it-survi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/will-wse-ever-reappear-in-second-life-if-it-does-will-it-survi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/will-wse-ever-reappear-in-second-life-if-it-does-will-it-survi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MoneyThe World Stock Exchange (WSE) closed on 4th January 2008 for one month for "upgrades." As many coders who play the money market or read the news wondered, why the long shut down? Consider Linden Lab: they roll out upgrades across thousands of servers in a few hours of downtime, because they prepare and test the code in the background. Although we all cross our fingers the number of problematic upgrades is actually very small, and their code is millions of times more complicated.

Since then, WSE has decided to stop trading in Linden Dollars altogether, and reasserted the statement it is simply a game. This, despite having several people, including Anshe Chung, who are rather regarded as heavy-weight business people rather than merely players. There have been ongoing stories about businesses being delisted for bad-mouthing the WSE, even now it's closed - apparently blogging that you are considering leaving is enough to get you delisted.

Continue reading Will WSE ever reappear in Second Life? If it does, will it survive?

MassivelyWill WSE ever reappear in Second Life? If it does, will it survive? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Anshe-ChungclosureCompany-delistingDreamland-stock-exchangeLukeConnel-Vandeverrerumour-millSecond-LifeWSEFri, 14 Mar 2008 17:30:00 EST