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[The Game Archaeologist spins A Tale in the Desert: A talk with Teppy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/the-game-archaeologist-spins-a-tale-in-the-desert-a-talk-with-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/the-game-archaeologist-spins-a-tale-in-the-desert-a-talk-with-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/the-game-archaeologist-spins-a-tale-in-the-desert-a-talk-with-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Tale in the Desert
I have to say, I have nothing but admiration for lone wolf-style developers who decide to pish-posh giant studio teams and massive budgets and jump into the game-making mosh pit anyway. Andrew "Teppy" Tepper is one of these visionaries who had an idea for a unique MMO and took it to fruition. I mean, most of us come up with "totally tubular" notions for online games, but how many of us make it happen? Outside of a couple of doodles on a Post-It, that is.

In our second week covering the fascinating sandbox world of A Tale in the Desert, The Game Archaeologist had the pleasure of sitting down with Teppy to get his perspective on how one man bootstrapped his way into the MMO world. He also dishes on the team's next MMO project, which we'll be talking more about on Massively later this week.

So what's it like to create the ultimate sandbox in Egypt of all places? Teppy, take it away!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist spins A Tale in the Desert: A talk with Teppy

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist spins A Tale in the Desert: A talk with Teppy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-tale-in-the-deserta-tale-in-the-desert-5a-tale-in-the-desert-6andrew-teppercodecraftingdemi-pharaohdragons-taleegenesisegyptfeaturedinterviewlaissez-fairelawlawsminecraftpharaohsandboxsociologicalsociologytellingteppywurm-onlineTue, 20 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Super Hero Squad Online fires up closed beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/super-hero-squad-online-fires-up-closed-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/super-hero-squad-online-fires-up-closed-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/super-hero-squad-online-fires-up-closed-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Get ready, true believers! News has come down the wires today that Gazillion's Super Hero Squad Online has officially headed into closed beta. What this also means is that with this announcement, the open beta for this family-friendly MMO is one step closer. Hopefully, it also means that we'll be seeing some forward momentum on the other (read: more adult) Marvel MMO, which Gazillion has indicated is under development as well.

For those not familiar, Super Hero Squad Online is based on the saturday morning cartoon, The Super Hero Squad Show, which has introduced the Marvel characters to a whole new generation. SHSO will be releasing as a free-to-play game with an optional subscription to unlock more content -- no word on the price point, currently. Another thing of note is that the game will be playable via browser, offering players a fast in to the action without exorbitant pre-downloads. A promotional comic for Super Hero Squad Online is also available at Taco Bell, which gives a bit of story and offers up a code for an "exclusive super-hero" according to Gazillion's release. So, if your kids -- or you -- would like to hero up with Super Hero Squad Online, head over to the official site and get signed up. Excelsior!

Gallery: Super Hero Squad Online

MassivelySuper Hero Squad Online fires up closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabrowser-basedcbclosed-betacodefree-to-playgamesgazillion-entertainmentMarvelmarvel-comics-mmorpgpromotional-comicshsosuper-hero-squadsuper-hero-squad-onlinetaco-bellthe-amazing-societyMon, 28 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Blu-ray to include code for bonus STO costume]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/29/star-trek-blu-ray-to-include-code-for-bonus-sto-costume/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/29/star-trek-blu-ray-to-include-code-for-bonus-sto-costume/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/29/star-trek-blu-ray-to-include-code-for-bonus-sto-costume/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Trekkies should be getting a nice little extra in their box for the Blu-ray release of Star Trek - Season 3, according to TVShowsOnDVD.com. The box set's publishers CBS and Paramount have given retailers this sweetener to add to their product descriptions:

"For a limited time, sets will include an exclusive free offering in Atari's Star Trek(R) on-line game. Each set will include an insert that includes a unique code that will allow game players to outfit their avatar in an exclusive Admiral's outfit available only with this offer."

Is it worth it to go and pick up the the Blu-ray set when it releases on the 15th of December just for the Star Trek Online Admiral outfit? No, probably not. Then again, it sounds like the BR releases of the previous seasons have been crammed full of other bonuses and Easter eggs, so the next installment may well be an excellent purchase for fans anyway.

[via Joystiq]

MassivelyStar Trek Blu-ray to include code for bonus STO costume originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>admiraladmiral-outfitatariblu-raybonus-outfitcodecrypticcryptic-studiosstar-trek-onlinestar-trek-season-3stoTue, 29 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[FusionFall hits the 4 million mark (with bonus Bubblehead, free!)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/fusionfall-hits-the-4-million-mark-celebrates-with-bubblehead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/fusionfall-hits-the-4-million-mark-celebrates-with-bubblehead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/02/fusionfall-hits-the-4-million-mark-celebrates-with-bubblehead/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We got some great news today from our friends over at Cartoon Network. It appears that their freemium family browser-based MMO, FusionFall, has crossed the 4-million registered member mark since their official launch in January! That's a tremendous chunk of growth, and we're glad to see FusionFall getting the love. (Any game that incorporates flying monkeys as a method of traveling around in-game rates an "awesome" in our book.)

To celebrate this excellent milestone, the crew over at FusionFall headquarters decided to whip up a special in-game item, the Zak Saturday Bubblehead Helmet, as a way of saying thanks to everyone for playing. All you have to do to get your hands on this limited-edition special celebratory goodie is to head over to the FusionFall site, grab the code, and add it to your account. Of course while you're logged in, you'll want to check out all the new missions and crazy items that the FusionFall team have been hard at work adding in.

MassivelyFusionFall hits the 4 million mark (with bonus Bubblehead, free!) originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4-million-accountsbreakingbrowser-basedcartoon-networkcodefamily-friendlyfree-itemfreemiumfusion-fallfusionfallin-game-itemmilestonezak-saturday-bubblehead-helmetThu, 02 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ryzom devs describe plans, promise free play through October]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/18/ryzom-devs-describe-plans-promise-free-play-through-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/18/ryzom-devs-describe-plans-promise-free-play-through-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/18/ryzom-devs-describe-plans-promise-free-play-through-october/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ryzom (or the game formerly known as The Saga of Ryzom), came back to life a little over a month ago. Rumors of its death had apparently been greatly exaggerated. Now the development team has published a document detailing its plans for the immediate future.

The first item on the agenda is "to get profitable." Good plan! Money will surely be helpful. The second item: "To get all our new Developer Teams up to date with the Ryzom code," a task that is apparently quite difficult because there are millions of lines of code to get used to. Finally, the team is putting together a development schedule for adding new missions, content, and features to the game.

Our first impressions of the re-launched game were positive. It's a bit laid-back compared to other titles. We're glad to see that some clear goals are being set for the game's future, but of course until the dev team manages "to get profitable," that future will remain uncertain. If you want to give it a try, though, the devs say it will remain free at least through the end of October.

MassivelyRyzom devs describe plans, promise free play through October originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codedevelopmentfuturenevraxplanprofitrebornrelaunchrelaunchedryzomsaga-of-ryzomThu, 18 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic publishes Warhammer Online pre-order FAQ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/02/mythic-publishes-warhammer-online-pre-order-faq/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/02/mythic-publishes-warhammer-online-pre-order-faq/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/02/mythic-publishes-warhammer-online-pre-order-faq/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mythic has created the beginnings of a FAQ intended to help would-be-customers sort out all the details about pre-ordering Warhammer Online. Info included in the FAQ: how to pre-order in Canada, who to poke to get pre-order codes when you place your order through an online store, and details and definitions on the beta testing phases, among other things.

Mythic promises that the FAQ will be updated with new information in the future, but doesn't say what kind of information it'll be.

The FAQ has some helpful information if you have those specific questions, of course. If you want a more in-depth and badass guide to pre-ordering WAR, though, check out our WAR collector's edition pre-order guide. Which retailer distributes codes in the most helpful way? Which one gives you the best extra goodies? It's all there!

MassivelyMythic publishes Warhammer Online pre-order FAQ originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betacanadacodecodescollectors-editioneaea-mythicfaqfrequently-asked-questionsguidekeykeysmythicmythic-entertainmentpre-orderpre-orderspreorderpreorderswarwarhammer-onlineSat, 02 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Discounted code for Social Gaming Summit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/discounted-code-for-social-gaming-summit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/discounted-code-for-social-gaming-summit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/discounted-code-for-social-gaming-summit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Previously reported, the Social Gaming Summit is full steam ahead and ready to go on June 13th at the UCSF Mission Bay Conference Center in San Francisco, CA. It will be a day full of interesting panels and discussions about the interface between social networks and game spaces.

If you were thinking of going but were on the fence, perhaps this will sweeten the deal for you: Massively readers have been offered a 10% discount code by the kind-hearted organizers behind the Summit! To register, visit the site and enter 'MASSIVELY' (minus the quotation marks, of course) where appropriate. This blogger will be in attendance, nosing around for news and interviews -- hope to see you there!

[Thanks, Charles!]

MassivelyDiscounted code for Social Gaming Summit originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 May 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codediscountsan-franciscosocial-gaming-summitThu, 08 May 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fun with DoTs in Star Wars Galaxies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/fun-with-dots-in-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/fun-with-dots-in-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/fun-with-dots-in-star-wars-galaxies/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Lead designer on Star Wars Galaxies, Blixtev, compares going through the old Damage Over Time code to rummaging through your grandmother's attic. "It's loaded with old junk and it sure smells really bad", he says. Still, that's exactly what the SWG developers are doing as they work to revamp Commando abilities for the upcoming Game Update 4. In some posts to the official forums, Blix talks about opening up moldering trunks and tossing aside ancient silverware to get at the DoT code beneath. "The DoT system is one of our oldest systems, and it sure does some wacktacular things. We found 10 different calculations amoungst 5 functions to determine just the value of absorbtion from armor against DoTs. For folks who don't code, that's alot."

He goes on to describe their upcoming plans for the system, which will spread DoTs to two different abilities and substantially change the way they're applied. After the update they're going to stack up to 10 a piece on a single character, a process that could take some time. Because of this change, DoT removal will change as well. Taking long minutes to apply the full 10-stack to a PC shouldn't be automatically negated by a Medic power. Instead, DoT removal will take away part of the stack, and make the recipient immune to further DoT additions for a short period. Meanwhile, the existing debuff will continue to tick down - harming the character with an element type determined by the Commando's weapon.

A later update indicates that these trials are proving very effective in making the Commando a more fun profession to play, a claim we'll be able to put to the test hopefully very soon.

MassivelyFun with DoTs in Star Wars Galaxies originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codecommandodamage-over-timedesigndotslucasartssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgswg-game-update-4Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST