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 Mog Log: A year of columns in review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/the-mog-log-a-year-of-columns-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/the-mog-log-a-year-of-columns-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/the-mog-log-a-year-of-columns-in-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Still playing around with new logo ideas. This is the one I had out of a dozen that I thought came out the best, but I'm still not sure if I like it.
Three years is not a lot of time to do anything. I'm continually surprised by the fact that I've been writing about video games professionally for three years of my life, which is admittedly only 10% of my life to date but still seems astonishing. This also marks the start of the third year of The Mog Log, which means that I've been talking about moogles and cat-women professionally for a tenth of my life.

I use thoughts like that to keep me warm at night.

As always, the anniversary mark is about the time when I look back at the column thus far and see how well it's done as a whole. Last year I wanted to really switch up what I did with my coverage for Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XI, and I think that by and large it worked pretty well. So let's do the usual thing wherein I look back, you take a trip down memory lane with me, and we all walk away feeling smarter. Or, if that doesn't sound interesting, you could just go look at some cat pictures.

Continue reading The Mog Log: A year of columns in review

MassivelyThe Mog Log: A year of columns in review originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnsconsoleconsolesfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivmog-logopinionopinionsretrospectivesquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logyear-in-reviewSat, 26 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Why we write about only the games you hate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/ask-massively-why-we-write-about-only-the-games-you-hate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/ask-massively-why-we-write-about-only-the-games-you-hate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/10/ask-massively-why-we-write-about-only-the-games-you-hate/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

WildStar. Shiny.
Welcome back to Ask Massively because why not? You're here; I'm here.

We've previously discussed defining MMOs and how we select the games and the news Massively covers. This week, let's talk about column selection and perception of story frequency.

tomrobbins asked, "Why do you guys cover [WildStar] so intensely yet other MMOs you barely mention? This game can't do a thing with out getting an article written about it here, yet it's not even out. Other MMOs barely get mentioned. This site seems only about WildStar, EverQuest II, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Star Trek Online lately."

Does it sometimes feel as if we're reading different sites entirely?

Continue reading Ask Massively: Why we write about only the games you hate

MassivelyAsk Massively: Why we write about only the games you hate originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnarticlesask-massivelybrianna-royce-ask-massivelycolumnscoveragefeaturedfrequencyfrequency-illusionhumormassively-metametaopinionperceptionpostsrecency-illusionselective-perceptionstoriestoenail-clippings-onlinewildstarThu, 10 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nexus Telegraph: A WildStar community roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/the-nexus-telegraph-a-wildstar-community-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/the-nexus-telegraph-a-wildstar-community-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/the-nexus-telegraph-a-wildstar-community-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Playing around with a new header style is always fun.
Let's talk about WildStar. Do you want to? I'd reckon you do, considering that you're reading this now. A lot of people want to talk about it, after it showed up more or less from nowhere with a striking look, spectacular setting, and the promise of several interesting gameplay systems, all from a studio that looked from the outside to have been catatonic before this came riding onto the scene.

The point is that WildStar is kind of a big deal. It's novel, it's exciting, and it's as different a take on the science-fiction genre as you could ask to have. Unfortunately, it's also still not released. But we've had a year of solid information to chew on, and as a result I'm happy to present the first installment of Massively's new column, The Nexus Telegraph. This week we're going to kick things off with a look at some important links, just to start things from a solid foundation... albeit a smaller one.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: A WildStar community roundup

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: A WildStar community roundup originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioscolumncolumnsfansitesfeaturedfeedslinksncsoftnews-feedsnexusnexus-telegraphofficial-sitesopinionsandparksci-fantasysci-fithe-nexus-telegraphtwitterwildstarwsMon, 17 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The second anniversary of Storyboard]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/storyboard-the-second-anniversary-of-storyboard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/storyboard-the-second-anniversary-of-storyboard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/storyboard-the-second-anniversary-of-storyboard/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Yes, I plan to have something bizarre for this every anniversary.
Last year, I had planned to change up the focus of Storyboard a little. The "high and wide" format had been working, but I was worried that the column just wouldn't have legs if I didn't start going for more focused and narrow applications. So I spent several months working on just the right way to do more game-specific columns in here.

You don't remember them, of course, because none of them was ever posted. Those several months of work did not produce a single viable column.

At the capstone of the second year of Storyboard, I'm forced to basically eat crow about one of my major plans for the last year because it turns out that not only did it not work but it didn't need to work in the first place. I managed to fill up another year of columns just fine without going into great detail about one game over another, and as it turns out, I'm a lot happier with this year as a whole anyway.

Continue reading Storyboard: The second anniversary of Storyboard

MassivelyStoryboard: The second anniversary of Storyboard originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarycolumncolumnsfeaturedlooking-backopinionretrospectiveroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 18 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: I approve of more staves edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/ask-massively-i-approve-of-more-staves-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/ask-massively-i-approve-of-more-staves-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/ask-massively-i-approve-of-more-staves-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There's no better way to beat up enemies and try out for the school's color team at once.
You know what we need more of? Staves used as melee weapons instead of a caster's Set of Stats in a Stick. Usually, what we get is closer to a cane than an actual staff, so it makes sense that a curvy stick with a lawn ornament on one end isn't much for actual combat. But come on, folks. You can do some serious damage with a metal pole and a few witless mooks. City of Heroes is ahead of the curve here.

This week's installment of Ask Massively has nothing to do with staves, however. It has to do with a few more lingering questions about the comment system and some wide-ranging "best of" topics. If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment of the column, you can leave it in the comments or mail it to ask@massively.com. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: I approve of more staves edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: I approve of more staves edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnask-massivelycolumnscommentsfeature-ideasfeaturedhumorideasmassively-metametaopinionThu, 19 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: That's the way it should be!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/the-soapbox-thats-the-way-it-should-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/the-soapbox-thats-the-way-it-should-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/the-soapbox-thats-the-way-it-should-be/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There have been more than ten other incarnations of this character. None of them have ever committed suicide over losing a video game.
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.

Every fandom has it. In Transformers fandom, it's the segment of the population that insists the franchise peaked with the original G1 cartoon (and its numerous animation errors, bad scripting, and downright ridiculous plots). Star Trek fans will insist that the franchise should be more like the original series, where every plot revolved around Kirk's trying to bone someone or Spock's acting stoic. And then there are the tabletop gamers who miss the days of early Dungeons & Dragons, as if the books stopped working once the line stopped being active.

Some fandoms have terms just for this crowd; some don't. But they're all in the same general group -- they're the One True Way crowd. They're fans who insist that one particular incarnation was the right way to go and everything afterward has been a poor imitation. The camp exists with MMOs, as well, and just as with any other franchise, it's arguably the most harmful portion of the fanbase.

Continue reading The Soapbox: That's the way it should be!

MassivelyThe Soapbox: That's the way it should be! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncolumnsdesigneditorialfeaturedgame-designgame-industryinnovationolder-gamesone-true-wayop-edopinionrantrantssandboxsoapboxthe-soapboxthemeparkthrowbacksTue, 06 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Apparently I enjoy receiving hate mail]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/03/the-mog-log-apparently-i-enjoy-receiving-hate-mail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/03/the-mog-log-apparently-i-enjoy-receiving-hate-mail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/03/the-mog-log-apparently-i-enjoy-receiving-hate-mail/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Mog Log header image by A. Fienemann
I like Final Fantasy XI, and not just because it was the game that introduced me to how awesome MMOs could be, although that's certainly a part of it. I like the game because it has a lot of things that are genuinely likable, several elements that are well-designed, and some really excellent parts that stand out even now. So keep in mind that everything I'm about to say is said on behalf of a Final Fantasy XI fan.

Specifically, the rant that's about to ensue about how the idea of remaking it is a terrible idea.

This suggestion crops up pretty regularly, largely among people still disappointed that Final Fantasy XIV was what it was at launch. There's some thought that somehow cloning FFXI with the models from Final Fantasy XIV would lead to a glorious revival. And I can understand the thought process, but there are two very good reasons why that shouldn't happen -- not won't, which is already obvious, but shouldn't.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Apparently I enjoy receiving hate mail

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Apparently I enjoy receiving hate mail originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad-ideascolumncolumnsconsoleconsolesdo-overfantasyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivmog-logopinionredosremakesremaking-gamessquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logSat, 03 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: An event with a touch of plot]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/storyboard-an-event-with-a-touch-of-plot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/storyboard-an-event-with-a-touch-of-plot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/storyboard-an-event-with-a-touch-of-plot/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Rikku-hair is the most compelling thing I've seen from Allods in a long while.
In tabletop games, the GM is sometimes referred to as the player who doesn't get to play. Running a plot-heavy event in an MMORPG is fairly similar -- you're still technically there in the form of a character, but the focus is on an adventure that you're presenting for your fellow players. That means a whole lot of extra work on your part because you suddenly lack the advantage of letting the game handle most of that pesky worldbuilding work.

You probably don't need to be told that this can all go bad. No, what you really want to know is how to avoid going bad. And while some of the stuff that I've posted in the past about running in-game events is still entirely applicable, there are also some unique issues that you're going to have to deal with when your event is meant to be tightly scripted. Plan it right, and the whole thing can go off without a hitch. Plan it wrong, and... well, do I need to do another column on drama already?

Continue reading Storyboard: An event with a touch of plot

MassivelyStoryboard: An event with a touch of plot originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncolumnscultureevent-managementeventsfeaturedherding-catsmanagementopinionroleplayingroleplaying-eventsrprp-eventsstoryboardFri, 02 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Format changes for big questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/ask-massively-format-changes-for-big-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/ask-massively-format-changes-for-big-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/01/ask-massively-format-changes-for-big-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

VHS just isn't going to cut it for Ask Massively any longer, so it's back to Beta.
Potaco asked a great question two weeks ago for Ask Massively, one that I'm going to just post right here:
"As a contributor to a gaming site that involves keeping up with many, many, many MMOs, do you find it harder to commit to a single game than before being forced to be exposed to so many?"
Naturally, I could have answered the question simply for myself. But we're a diverse bunch here at Massively, with different tastes and opinions and experiences. Any answer I gave wouldn't reveal the whole picture, so I turned to the rest of the team and posed the same question. The resulting column was so big that I had to steal an entirely different feature's format just to make everything easy to read. (Hopefully the guy who does it won't mind.)

As always, if you've got a question you'd like to see in a future installment, mail it along to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited for brevity and/or clarity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Format changes for big questions

MassivelyAsk Massively: Format changes for big questions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelycolumncolumnsculturedifferent-gamesexperimentationfeaturedgamingmassively-metamultiple-gamesThu, 01 Mar 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: City of Heroes 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-city-of-heroes-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-city-of-heroes-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-city-of-heroes-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
Before the comments light up, I'm just going to say outright that City of Heroes 2 does not currently exist. We've heard no news about it, no announcements, nothing beyond the speculation of many City of Heroes players such as myself. I'm deviating (again) from the set schedule and talking about a purely hypothetical sequel that all of us are kind of expecting but that does not, at this point, exist. But considering all of the recent talk about Guild Wars 2, I think it's apropos.

Let's assume, for the purpose of this article, that Paragon Studios is knee-deep in development of City of Heroes 2 and simply isn't telling anyone. What sort of things would the game need? What would be the best possible route for the game to take? How could it satisfy fans of City of Heroes while drawing in new players? I don't have the absolute answers... but it sure does make for some interesting speculation, based on the things the team has been doing over the past several years.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: City of Heroes 2

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: City of Heroes 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-2city-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxdesignfeaturedgame-designmmrncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiossequelsspeculationWed, 29 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Ballad of a teenage Zorai]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/choose-my-adventure-ballad-of-a-teenage-zorai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/choose-my-adventure-ballad-of-a-teenage-zorai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/choose-my-adventure-ballad-of-a-teenage-zorai/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I did get some great screenshots out of Ryzom, I have to say.
Last week, the unthinkable happened. Or at least the unprecedented. Yes, after a dozen or so columns under my belt for Choose My Adventure, one of the "joke" choices finally won a poll. Either everyone thought that the paradise city was actually a thing in Ryzom or the impassioned pleas in the comments the week before had done the trick.

For those of you under the misapprehension that this was, in fact, an actual thing, I apologize for the not particularly elaborate act of deception.

My question to myself, at this point, was what I actually had to do at this point. Did this mean that I had to search through every city in the game to find a paradise, only to discover at the end that paradise had metaphorically been at home the whole time? Was I already in the paradise city, judging by the fact that some people would call the jungle a virtual paradise? The girls were pretty, the grass was green, and by almost any metric you cared to use, Corlede was as close to home as she was getting.

But no, I knew what I had to do. Something I had known since I started playing. I went home.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Ballad of a teenage Zorai

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Ballad of a teenage Zorai originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choose-my-adventurecmacolumncolumnscriticismculturedesigndesign-decisionsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgame-systemsmechanicsopinionparallelspollpollsryzomsystemsthe-saga-of-ryzomwinch-gatewinch-gate-property-limitedWed, 29 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Ul'dah on 15 gil a night]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/the-mog-log-uldah-on-15-gil-a-night/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/the-mog-log-uldah-on-15-gil-a-night/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/the-mog-log-uldah-on-15-gil-a-night/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
In a way, each of the cities in Final Fantasy XIV resembles a non-capital city from Final Fantasy XI. Gridania has shades of Kazham; Limsa Lominsa has shades of Norg. But Ul'dah has a clear line to Al Zahbi, center of Aht Urhgan. It's the jewel of the wasted, barren region of Thanalan, a bustling hub of commerce, a place where even the lowliest adventurer might find fortune and fame in the arenas or via careful self-promotion.

Of course, it's also the most dangerous. Sure, there are spirits woven throughout Gridania and pirates in every corner in Limsa Lominsa, but Ul'dah is filled with those who'd smile to your face and then shiv your spine as soon as you turn around. Beneath a glittering facade lies a horrid hive of cruelty, and the journey to the top the city is rife with backstabbing and strife. If you're not a native, you might not realize just how bad the place really is -- or how far the city's powerful members are willing to go to ensure that Ul'dah remains at the center of trade.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Ul'dah on 15 gil a night

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Ul'dah on 15 gil a night originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>citiescolumncolumnsfeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivlocationslorenationsopinionsquare-enixthe-mog-loguldahSat, 25 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Welcome back, whoever you are]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/storyboard-welcome-back-whoever-you-are/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/storyboard-welcome-back-whoever-you-are/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/storyboard-welcome-back-whoever-you-are/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I have some weird screenshots from game trailers.
It happens. Maybe you got sidetracked with an alt and another alt wound up gathering dust. Maybe you had real-life obligations pulling you away from a certain game for a while (like, say, a job that more or less relies upon a variety of game experiences coupled with apartment hunting). Or maybe one thing led to another and you just didn't think to log in for a while. Whatever the case, you've got characters who have been involved in roleplaying for a while but just dropped off the radar.

Of course, much like video game franchises, old roleplaying characters never really go away; they just go for longer period of inactivity. Unfortunately, diving back into a character you haven't played for a while prompts its own string of problems, namely the fact that from a story perspective said character apparently fell off the face of the planet for a while. So let's start small and lead your character back into the action, starting by figuring out where he or she has been for the past several weeks or months or years.

Continue reading Storyboard: Welcome back, whoever you are

MassivelyStoryboard: Welcome back, whoever you are originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>absenceabsent-characterscolumncolumnsfeaturedmothballed-charactersmothballsopinionplayer-absenceroleplayingrpstoryboardverisimilitudeFri, 24 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Big questions deserve big answers edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/ask-massively-big-questions-deserve-big-answers-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/ask-massively-big-questions-deserve-big-answers-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/ask-massively-big-questions-deserve-big-answers-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Assume the fish is a question, not just an enormous sunfish. Public domain photos are odd.
Some questions are just too good to leave to my sole discretion. I like to think that I can provide a reasonable response to a number of questions, but I also think there are some questions that merit more opinions. Case in point: a question last week from potaco about whether or not it's harder to focus on a single game instead of several games as a Massively employee. So I'm consolidating responses from the whole team right now, and we'll have an answer to that question this week.

This week's Ask Massively is still packed, however, with questions about getting a new computer for World of Warcraft and Star Wars: The Old Republic as well as whether or not Guild Wars 2 will provide credible competition for other games when it launches. If you've got a question you would like to see answered in a future installment of the column, mail it along to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited slightly for brevity and/or clarity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Big questions deserve big answers edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Big questions deserve big answers edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alt-textanswersask-massivelycolumncolumnscomputersfeaturedguild-wars-2gw2hardwarenew-computerspoliciespurchasesq-and-aquestionsquestions-and-answersshoppingThu, 23 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: You owe me for this]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/a-mild-mannered-reporter-you-owe-me-for-this/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/a-mild-mannered-reporter-you-owe-me-for-this/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/a-mild-mannered-reporter-you-owe-me-for-this/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
In a subscription game, the developers have a certain degree of built-in obligation to the playerbase. You pay $15 a month, and while some of that goes toward the simple logistics of running the game, some of that also goes toward keeping the game in development. When you're putting down money, there's a tacit understanding that you are owed something in return. Strictly speaking, we know the only thing we're owed is access to the game, but even that is something.

City of Heroes has entered the realm of free-to-play, though, and that means the expectations of what players are owed has become all kinds of skewed. There's a huge pile of content available to players who haven't paid a cent. What do free players actually deserve in this environment? What do paying players deserve? Where do you draw the line between what should be free for everyone, what should be free for subscribers, and what should just plain cost money?

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: You owe me for this

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: You owe me for this originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-manneredbusinessbusiness-modelscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxentitlementf2pfeaturedfree-to-playncsoftopinionowedowingparagonparagon-studiosreporterWed, 22 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Get together]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/18/the-mog-log-get-together/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/18/the-mog-log-get-together/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/18/the-mog-log-get-together/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Grouping with other players is inconvenient. It can also be a lot of fun, but it takes more work to get a half-dozen people running in the same direction compared to just operating on your lonesome. But you're a lot more likely to stick with a game if you can find other people to play with, and thus both Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV have offered different approaches to grouping and encouraging parties.

When I started playing MMOs back when Final Fantasy XI launched, I wound up being soured by the game's insistence on grouping for a long while. These days, I can take a much more objective view of both sides because for all the hiccups that the system brings, Final Fantasy XIV's much more open environment has its own pitfalls -- some a result of basic game design, some a result of the less demanding approach. But why just look at this from the top down?

Continue reading The Mog Log: Get together

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Get together originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncolumnsdesignfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgroupinggroupslevelingopinionsquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logSat, 18 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Continuing dental nightmare edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/ask-massively-continuing-dental-nightmare-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/ask-massively-continuing-dental-nightmare-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/ask-massively-continuing-dental-nightmare-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Given the option, I would have my teeth replaced with mechanical versions capable of shooting lasers.
Back in December, I went in with a toothache and was informed that I had two options: Either the tooth could be yanked, or it could be saved via a root canal. I picked the latter option, which has provided me with a variety of new and interesting experiences, among them getting red-hot filler shoved into my jaw, having a nerve directly squirted with numbing agent, and getting a tooth shaved down to a nub while a sharp suction device jabbed at my gums. The whole process is almost over at long last, and I am relatively certain the last step will involve throwing a rabid weasel at me.

In other news, it's time for this week's installment of Ask Massively, covering our column procedure and the continuing saga of World of Warcraft's subscriber losses. As always, questions for future installments may be submitted via mail to ask@massively.com or left in the comments. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Continuing dental nightmare edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Continuing dental nightmare edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelycolumncolumn-procedurecolumnsfeaturedmassively-metaopinionsubscriber-numberssubscribersworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 16 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Who mourns for Eorzea?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/the-mog-log-who-mourns-for-eorzea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/the-mog-log-who-mourns-for-eorzea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/the-mog-log-who-mourns-for-eorzea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Final Fantasy XIV takes place in Eorzea, which is one of the continents of Hydaelyn. It's also the smallest continent, and it's generally sort of off in the middle of nowhere. The land is surrounded by tiny islands, it's filled with bickering city-states of varying influence, and it generally seems to be seen as a place that's both wild and not always particularly pleasant. And from the player's perspective... well, we don't even see all of the continent.

So every single player adventure has taken place on a small portion of the smallest continent in the world. And yet despite this, this tiny little land mass has apparently become massively important.

The Garlean Empire is preparing to sweep into the land with all its might, and the land has become a hotbed of activity as the various city-states try to stop stabbing one another long enough to mount a defense. But all of that prompts the question about what, precisely, makes Eorzea noteworthy. Why is this tiny little corner so important?

Continue reading The Mog Log: Who mourns for Eorzea?

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Who mourns for Eorzea? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycolumncolumnseorzeafeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivloreopinionsquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logSat, 11 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: We do not play games for a living edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/ask-massively-we-do-not-play-games-for-a-living-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/ask-massively-we-do-not-play-games-for-a-living-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/ask-massively-we-do-not-play-games-for-a-living-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Total paycheck for this bit of roleplaying: $0.00.
One of the most persistent misconceptions about what we do here at Massively is this idea that we play games for a living. Allow me to be perfectly clear in this: What you're seeing right now? This article? The one I wrote? Writing this is what I do for a living. I write about games, and I enjoy games, but if I decided to not write any of my columns for a month and just play Star Wars: The Old Republic, I would be fired. That is not my job.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, it's time for another installment of Ask Massively, this time featuring questions about gambling and the latest City of Heroes cash shop offering. If you've got a question you'd like to see in a future installment of the column, mail it to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited for brevity and/or clarity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: We do not play games for a living edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: We do not play games for a living edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxfeaturedgamblinggambling-minigamesminigamesopinionThu, 09 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: One year, two courses]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-mog-log-one-year-two-courses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-mog-log-one-year-two-courses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-mog-log-one-year-two-courses/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Today does not quite mark the two-year anniversary of The Mog Log. That was back on January 24th, but I decided to run just a wee bit late with annual retrospectives. We're now close enough to the year mark for argument's sake, which gives me a chance to look back at how the past year of the column has shaken out, what's gone right, and what hasn't. That ties into the issue that one invariably finds when a single column covers two games: There's a split.

Whether or not you like Final Fantasy XIV, you can't argue that the past year has brought an onslaught of changes to the game. On the flip side, there's been less going on in Final Fantasy XI than in any of the game's previous years of operation. As a result, I've had a difficult dilemma to try to juggle: There's one game moving at high speed and one staying rather stagnant, but I don't want to give undue attention to one over the other.

Continue reading The Mog Log: One year, two courses

MassivelyThe Mog Log: One year, two courses originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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These are the markers used to cross our names off the credits. What? It's not the most tenuous connection I've used.
One of our readers was kind enough to point us to two sites that, once again, were stealing our posts without crediting our authors or anything like that. (I don't mean "this post looks suspiciously similar"; I mean abusing copy and paste.) Unfortunately, while we're aware of these things, there's not a whole lot we can do other than request that the sites get taken down. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't, but it's all we can do. I guess it's nice to be good enough that your work is worth stealing without credit? That's something.

This week's installment of Ask Massively isn't going to focus on that, however. Instead, we're going to focus on the recent spate of MMO litigation and the potential for a boxed RIFT expansion. If you have a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment of Ask Massively, mail it along to ask@massively.com or leave a comment in the field below. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Thieving on the fast track edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Thieving on the fast track edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelyBethesda-Softworksbottersboxed-expansioncolumncolumnsexpansionfalloutfallout-onlinefeaturedinterplayjagexlawsuitlawsuitslitigationmmo-industryopinionplagiarismriftscrapingsite-scrapingtriontrion-worldsThu, 02 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A critical year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-critical-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-critical-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-critical-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
It's been a little over two years now that I've been writing a regular column on City of Heroes, and in one sense that still feels very strange to me. I'm guessing that the novelty of doing this for a living is never going to entirely go away, for reasons that really have nothing to do with the topic of this column. But I'm not going to dwell on the more meta facts here; I'm going to focus instead on the past year of the column.

This year was a try for something slightly different in both the tone and approach that I'd been taking with these columns. I finished off one major project, started another one, and along the way, I found that I gathered a very different attitude over time. In relationship terms, the first year of A Mild-Mannered Reporter was apparently still the "gushing" phase of a new relationship. This year has been much more about the flaws that City of Heroes has, both in structure and in design choices.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A critical year

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: A critical year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-freedomcity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxfeaturedfreedomncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosretrospectiveyear-in-reviewWed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Atys refugee blues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/choose-my-adventure-atys-refugee-blues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/choose-my-adventure-atys-refugee-blues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/choose-my-adventure-atys-refugee-blues/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Being able to animate your character during creation is a nice touch.
Last week's polls were enough for me to get started in the world of Ryzom over the weekend, so I took my first steps back into the game that I haven't played for quite some time. I still remembered how some of it worked, thankfully, but there were a lot of elements that I'd almost completely forgotten. And while I'm still knee-deep in the starter area, I've played enough to at least get some starter impressions.

But let's make this a full narrative, yes? When we left off, the group verdict was that I would be starting out as a Zorai with the Magic starter package based off of a female Shakespearean tragic character. And thus, with only a little extra effort, Corlede was born into the world of Ryzom. The character creator offers a variety of features, allowing you to select your character's build in fine detail but offering a strange lack of certain other options. There are also some odd constraints on character types -- you find yourself always locked within a certain general band of height, for instance, so there are no really tall Trykers.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Atys refugee blues

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Atys refugee blues originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choose-my-adventurecmacolumncolumnsculturedirectionfeaturedgame-mechanicshands-onlevelingopinionoverviewpollpollsreaders-choiceryzomstartingstarting-areathe-saga-of-ryzomvotevotingwinch-gatewinch-gate-productions-limitedWed, 01 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Weakness is strength]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/28/the-mog-log-weakness-is-strength/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/28/the-mog-log-weakness-is-strength/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/28/the-mog-log-weakness-is-strength/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
If you think about characters in the online Final Fantasy games compared to the console-based equivalents, you have to come to a kind of demoralizing conclusion: Your character online is pretty weak. In Final Fantasy XI, you can cap out your Black Mage and you'll still never learn Ultima. In Final Fantasy X, by the time you have your Black Mage using Ultima, you've still got most of the endgame ahead of you. Final Fantasy XIV might move the power scale upward, but at this point your character hasn't even actually mastered being a Paladin, much less summoning anything. Final Fantasy VII, by contrast, gave us three different versions of Bahamut to summon just to keep him relevant, and he was still nowhere near the best.

And you know what? It makes the games much more fun to have these barriers in place.

Players have been clamoring for high-end summons in Final Fantasy XI since forever ago, and the fact that it's not even on the visible horizon for Final Fantasy XIV is disheartening to some. But there's something to be said for a play environment where these touchstones of power remain out of reach, certainly for now and possibly forever.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Weakness is strength

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Weakness is strength originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Never underestimate the power of gold trim.
My days of playing Magic: the Gathering are... well, they're not over, exactly, but I'm certainly not in my heyday any longer. Despite this, I've made no secret of the fact that I still avidly read Mark Rosewater's Making Magic column because the stuff he says in the column is applicable to game design in general. There are a lot of ideas that I've drawn out of there over the years, and one of the ones that's stuck with me is the Timmy-Johnny-Spike split that Rosewater's quite fond of explaining at length.

For those of you not interested in reading a decade's worth of columns just to understand what I'm talking about, the three names in questions are the so-called "psychographics" for Magic's audience, three psychological snapshots of why people play and enjoy the game. They're useful tools for understanding the reason certain cards resonate well with some players and not with others. And they're applicable to almost everything -- even roleplaying.

Continue reading Storyboard: Three guys walk into a bar

MassivelyStoryboard: Three guys walk into a bar originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appealcolumncolumnscreativityfeaturedinterestjohnnyopinionroleplayingrpspeculationspikestoryboardtimmyFri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: On mourning a netbook edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/ask-massively-on-mourning-a-netbook-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/ask-massively-on-mourning-a-netbook-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/ask-massively-on-mourning-a-netbook-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

No, it's not a picture of River. I can't take a picture of her right now, she's wounded. It would be wrong.
Well, I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later. My stalwart little netbook, River, finally developed a serious problem: Her screen developed a pair of nasty cracks. I've had her for only a couple of years, but she's been a great portable machine and a real help at getting work done. Now if only it weren't such an enormous pain finding someplace where I could get her repaired, as I'd really prefer not to replace her. But it might come to that.

Even with an injured performer, however, the show must go on, and the show in question is Ask Massively. This week, we're fielding questions about ArcheAge and working in the gaming field, something that I'm sure is of interest to many of our readers. If you've got a question you'd like to see in a future installment of the column, mail it to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited for brevity and/or clarity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: On mourning a netbook edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: On mourning a netbook edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archeageask-massivelycareerscolumncolumnsdevelopmentfeaturedgaming-industryjobslocalizationmmo-industryopinionwester-releaseThu, 26 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Issue 22 is all juiced out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-issue-22-is-all-juiced-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-issue-22-is-all-juiced-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-issue-22-is-all-juiced-out/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
On Christmas, Ms. Lady and I received a power juicer.

This wasn't a bad present by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a present that left us momentarily baffled. We hadn't asked for a power juicer, we didn't feel a great need for a power juicer, and we weren't even sure exactly what to do with a power juicer. (Make juice, obviously, but beyond that?) It was a great present but one that struck us as so far out of left field that we really weren't quite sure how to use it at first, much less what it would offer us.

Issue 22 of City of Heroes strikes me in much the same way. It's not that the update is bad or unwanted or unnecessary; it's that the entire thing is essentially aimed in a direction away from my own playstyle. I imagine a lot of free players are going to run into the same issue because even though it's being touted as the game's newest free update, there's precious little in there that's actually changed on the free side.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Issue 22 is all juiced out

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Issue 22 is all juiced out originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-freedomcity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxdesignf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomincarnateincarnate-systemissue-22ncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospatchespowerspowersetsupdateszonesWed, 25 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI classes, round four]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xi-classes-round-four/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xi-classes-round-four/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/21/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xi-classes-round-four/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header image by A. Fienemann
One of the funny things about writing a regular column is that sometimes, when you start out writing a series of connected columns on a topic, you have a point you want to make. Other times, you find a point making itself as you go, and you realize that it's a pretty good point. After our first three columns covering the various classes in Final Fantasy XI, that effect is on my mind, especially as I move into the fourth installment.

As before, the standard caveats apply. Nothing below is meant to debate relative power levels or overall worth; instead, I'll judge the class solely on its own merits -- how much does it offer other jobs, does it have a unique mechanical identity or not, and how cool is the darn thing. With that in mind, let's round out the advanced jobs from the core game with Beastmaster, Summoner, and Bard!

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI classes, round four

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI classes, round four originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
I have a nemesis, but it's not a person. It's an idea, and that idea is optimization.

Given enough time (about seven minutes), people will figure out the best builds and abilities for pretty much every single character class in any game. This is great if all you're interested in doing is banging out the best possible character to tackle endgame challenges, but it's kind of disappointing if you like creating odd characters, ones that play strangely or feature under-utilized abilities or specs. That's the sort of stuff that I like, the things I find fascinating.

City of Heroes is hardly the first game to do this, so I've had plenty of time to learn how to fight my nemesis. And so I offer you today the lessons of nemeses, the path to figuring out how to make your bad character into a force to be reckoned with. There are certain rules to being a nemesis rather than simply an adversary, and some of them aren't what you think.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Be the nemesis

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Be the nemesis originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterabilitiesbad-characterscharacter-abilitiescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxculturedesignfeaturedgame-mechanicsmetancsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosunderpowered-charactersWed, 18 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI classes, round 3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xi-classes-round-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xi-classes-round-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/07/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xi-classes-round-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
There's a certain brilliance to the fact that the first six classes in Final Fantasy XI mirror your selections back in the first Final Fantasy game. Once you hit 30, you can start transferring into the more iconic and frequently bonus-laden advanced jobs, but your initial selection is meant to call back to the start of the game. Those are the classes that I've already covered in this column, first with a column on the three physical classes, then the three caster classes. But that's barely the tip of the iceberg.

The core game only offered six advanced choices: Paladin, Dark Knight, Ranger, Beastmaster, Bard, and Summoner. Today, I'm going to be taking a look at the somewhat more physical side of the group, using criteria established way back when I started talking about class design philosophy. Bear in mind that this isn't meant to discuss strict power levels; that's the sort of thing that gets fiddled with easily enough and frequently enough that a unique mechanical identity matters more than who's on top at any given week. On with the first batch of advanced jobs!

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI classes, round 3

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI classes, round 3 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's been a while since a Rhio picture.
Over the past two weeks, I've been essentially playing politics. That's a bit glib, sure, but if you have a better term for arguing two sides of the same issue over the course of two separate essays, I'd love to hear it. Of course, turning around and arguing the other side of my own points is something that I've been doing for years now; it's really not surprising.

For those of you just catching up, we've been discussing player-generated story in games -- whether it deserves to be the only form of story and whether or not it's any good at that goal. Today, I'm going to try to wrap up this discussion forever, or at least for the purposes of this little mini-discussion. That requires a bit of re-framing, since I think that like a lot of other issues, this one isn't nearly as monochromatic as we like to pretend it is. There are virtues to both sides, and the real danger lies not in preferring one but demonizing the other.

Continue reading Storyboard: Let the gate be

MassivelyStoryboard: Let the gate be originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncolumnsfeaturedloreopinionroleplayingrpstoriesstorystoryboardFri, 06 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: What we need on the road ahead]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/a-mild-mannered-reporter-what-we-need-on-the-road-ahead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/a-mild-mannered-reporter-what-we-need-on-the-road-ahead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/a-mild-mannered-reporter-what-we-need-on-the-road-ahead/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
Here we are after the kick, and I have to say, thus far 2012 feels pretty much the same as 2011 but with fewer weather effects. But it also brings the opportunity to ask for a new round of features from City of Heroes, and as I think you've all learned by now, I'm always willing to ask for new stuff for the coming year. Just look at all my requests from last year and you'll see what I'm talking about.

So did I get what I wanted? Well, we got a big new dump of improved content after all, which sort of fulfilled my first request. There's been no word on any new archetypes, and we only got two full issues last year, unless you count the little half-issues in between. Let's call it an even half. But those weren't predictions, after all; they were just wishes. So what do I think we should wish for over the next year?

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: What we need on the road ahead

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: What we need on the road ahead originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20122012-wishlista-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxf2pfeaturedfeaturesfree-to-playncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosWed, 04 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: The 2012 forecast]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-mog-log-the-2012-forecast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-mog-log-the-2012-forecast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-mog-log-the-2012-forecast/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
As we enter the twilight of 2011, I can say with absolute certainty that my predictions for Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV were wrong, which is fine, since when I made them last year I seem to recall saying to myself that I was predicting more on the basis of "should happen" than "will likely happen." I was overly optimistic about several things, overly pessimistic about a couple of others, and going in a completely different direction from the design team on the rest -- which is fine by me, actually.

That having been said, whether proving that I'm not afraid of failure or that I don't know when to quit, I'm coming back for another round of predictions for this coming year. But there's one major variable in the equation that's horrible to try and account for, and that's Final Fantasy XI. I can easily see the game going one of two ways, and while I think one's a bit more likely, there seem to be more divergent futures for it than for Final Fantasy XIV.

Continue reading The Mog Log: The 2012 forecast

MassivelyThe Mog Log: The 2012 forecast originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012-predictionscolumncolumnsdevelopmentexpansionsfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivmmo-industryopinionpredictionssquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logSat, 31 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Further answers to the same questions edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/ask-massively-further-answers-to-the-same-questions-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/ask-massively-further-answers-to-the-same-questions-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/ask-massively-further-answers-to-the-same-questions-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

All right, just the Sith Lords on the left sing this verse!
Apparently, people like talking about Star Wars: The Old Republic. Or perhaps more accurately, people enjoy arguing about it. According to comments, the game is a huge hit and failure that is in no way an accomplishment but is still unparalleled, and you can tell it will succeed and fail using a variety of metrics. Me, I've just been playing the heck out of it. Also drinking cranberry juice, but you didn't really need to know that part.

As you may have guessed, this week's installment is all about the persistent question of Star Wars: The Old Republic's getting a devoted Joystiq-flavored site. I suspect most of our regular readers are playing the game and not really thinking about asking questions. If you've got a question for next week, you can leave it in the comments below or send it along to ask@massively.com. Questions may be edited slightly for brevity or clarity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Further answers to the same questions edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Further answers to the same questions edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelycolumncolumnsfeaturedhumormassively-metammo-industrynew-titlesopinionsitesstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorThu, 29 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: 2011, year of freedom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/a-mild-mannered-reporter-2011-year-of-freedom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/a-mild-mannered-reporter-2011-year-of-freedom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/a-mild-mannered-reporter-2011-year-of-freedom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
It's just about time for us to bit 2011 a fond farewell, something that I'm sure some of us will be glad to do. And just as I did last year, I thought now would be a good time to look back at the five biggest stories pertaining to City of Heroes over the last 12 months -- including the very obvious one. But there were other stories, some of which might not be about the game proper do but still impact the market.

I will definitely say that last year seemed to have a larger number of stories that shook up the status quo in the game. In comparison to last year's various major changes, Paragon Studios took this year in a bit more of a low-key route, the huge shift in the game's business model notwithstanding. But it was still a year of changes, just like every year, so let's take a trip down memory lane at my picks for the top five stories.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: 2011, year of freedom

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: 2011, year of freedom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxfeaturedncsoftnewsnews-storiesopinionparagonparagon-studiosretrospectiveWed, 28 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI classes, round 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/10/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xi-classes-round-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/10/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xi-classes-round-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/10/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xi-classes-round-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
It's time for the second batch of Final Fantasy XI classes to be examined under a set of criteria that have absolutely nothing to do with their actual power level. (Those change too often, and frankly I've never been a fan.) The first time around, we took a look at the three physical classes, who generally scored... all right, but not great. Each one had a clear area of expertise and some serious weaknesses in other areas -- which makes sense, being as they're starter classes.

The casters, on the other hand, are a different story. Sure, Warriors wind up later being an ur-type that gets distilled into several other roles, but most of the casters retain their uniqueness far later in the game. So let's take a look at your other three options when starting a new character in Final Fantasy XI, all of which have the same last name.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI classes, round 2

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI classes, round 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-mageclass-featuresclassescolumnsfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xigame-mechanicsjobsopinionred-magesquaresquare-enixsubjobsthe-mog-logwhite-mageSat, 10 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI classes, round 1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/26/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xi-classes-round-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/26/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xi-classes-round-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/26/the-mog-log-final-fantasy-xi-classes-round-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log heard by A. Fienemann
The character creator in Final Fantasy XI was my first exposure to character creation in MMOs, which is disappointing. There's no way to paint it as a good system, at least not to someone who is more or less powered by character customization. But it did give you your first six options for character class, and since we're starting the no doubt many-part series on character classes in both games as of today, it's relevant.

At the beginning of the game, you choose a class selected from the same six classes that have made up the "default" arrangement for the series since, well, 1987. Today, I'm going to take a look at the three physical classes from that initial assortment: the Warrior, the Thief, and the Monk. We're going to be using the same initial criteria that kicked off this series, so take a moment to look at that if you're unfamiliar. Without further ado, let's get to classes!

Continue reading The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI classes, round 1

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Final Fantasy XI classes, round 1 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter header image by A. Fienemann
One thing I've been asked, on occasion, is whether or not I'm ever going to run out of things to write about City of Heroes so long as the game is still live and getting updates. The answer, in a word, is "no" -- I started writing when the game was already fast approaching its sixth anniversary, and with everything that's changed since then, I still don't think I can possibly tackle everything under the game's banner.

But that having been said, there are also things that I naturally find more interesting than others. PvP is a fine example. I've stated before that I have zero interest in the game's PvP scene beyond an academic curiosity, although I definitely do want the players who are interested to be happy. (They aren't, in case you weren't aware.) And if there's one thing I'm being reminded of recently, it's that there's a certain charm to letting things go out of your hands and letting the readers pick out what you're doing.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Topical cannon

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Topical cannon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscomparisoncovcoxculturefeaturedncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospollsWed, 16 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Lost]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-the-lost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-the-lost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/a-mild-mannered-reporter-spotlight-on-the-lost/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
Paragon City has the same problems as any large city. Drug addiction, financial ruin, and any number of other horrible circumstances have conspired to give the city a large population of the homeless and hopeless, left wandering the streets and trying desperately to survive. But something emerged within the homeless population of the city, something that smells of a familiar evil and a problem that was never appropriately dealt with the first time. If your goal is to defend the system, your enemies will find the people whom the system has failed...

The Lost are among the saddest of all of the villainous groups in City of Heroes because at their core the group is made up of people who in many ways simply had no options. It's not even that they turned to crime out of desperation. These are people who, for better or worse, were blameless of anything more than minor crimes and poor decisions. And then they found themselves knee-deep in a war, moving from one sort of victim to another.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Lost

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Lost originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterbackstorycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumnscovcoxenemiesenemy-groupsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playlorencsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosriktithe-lostvillain-groupsWed, 09 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Paying-to-win edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/ask-massively-paying-to-win-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/ask-massively-paying-to-win-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/ask-massively-paying-to-win-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Everyone has their bugbears.
I'd like to announce the launch of my brand-new MMO, Ask Massively Online. This game should put to rest any questions of whether or not cash-shop users have an advantage over those who choose to play straight, as the game is using an actual pay-to-win model. If you pay me money, you win. No payment means you lose. We're still in beta testing and only intend to accept payments in the form of two-dollar bills, but so far we're doing quite well with the core systems.

Today's column actually does feature a question on the oft-bandied term used to indicate a dislike for the free-to-play model, but it also features questions about our comment system and the unbearable lameness of not knowing the answer to questions. If you've got a question you would like answered in a future installment of the column, you can leave it in the comments or mail it to ask@massively.com. Winning will be implemented in a later build.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Paying-to-win edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Paying-to-win edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelybusiness-modelscolumncolumnsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playmassively-metaopinionpaymentsThu, 03 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST