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[Storyboard: Different points of view]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/storyboard-different-points-of-view/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/storyboard-different-points-of-view/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/storyboard-different-points-of-view/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you're reading this, I've been in my house for days playing SWTOR. Please help. This hasn't happened as I write this, but you know, I know where this is going.
There are blanks spots in the lore.

This is not news to anyone who has been reading this column for a while. I've talked about dealing with the lore twice, both times pointing out that there are spaces for you to drive your character. Sometimes it's comfortable, and sometimes it's like wedging a needle into your gums and trying to kill a dental nerve at the root. But whether or not it has parallels to my recent dental surgery, there are places in the lore where you sort of have to just fill in the blanks.

Unfortunately, this creates major issues when you intend to interact with another player, which is something that will be happening roughly all the time in roleplaying. So you might very well come up with an answer for something that isn't just different from everyone else's answer, but you might wind up with an answer that's outright mutually incompatible with someone else's. And while you sometimes can take comfort in the fact that the lore will eventually steamroll both of you, sometimes it's just the two of you trying to deal with a part of your fictional world that is now being disbelieved by someone else.

Continue reading Storyboard: Different points of view

MassivelyStoryboard: Different points of view originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycolumncommunicationcommunityconcessionculturefeaturedloreopinionroleplayingrpstoryboardFri, 16 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: November 27-December 3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/04/global-chat-november-27-december-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/04/global-chat-november-27-december-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/04/global-chat-november-27-december-3/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Global Chat
Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

We're all about communication in this week's Global Chat, and whether that's communication to and from developers or communication with NPCs, it's important to gaming fans who love to know what's happening and why. Our readers had plenty to say on the subject last week, so follow along after the jump to see some of the best of what was said!

Continue reading Global Chat: November 27-December 3

MassivelyGlobal Chat: November 27-December 3 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communicationfeaturedglobal-chatinterviewpcgneuroticquest-textquestsshipwreckstewart-butterfieldtdgthe-daily-grindtiny-speckunlaunchingyukon-samSun, 04 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Darkfall devblog addresses Darkfall 2.0 progress, lack of communication]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/darkfall-devblog-addresses-darkfall-2-0-progress-lack-of-commun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/darkfall-devblog-addresses-darkfall-2-0-progress-lack-of-commun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/darkfall-devblog-addresses-darkfall-2-0-progress-lack-of-commun/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Darkfall
Darkfall fans, rejoice! More news about Darkfall 2.0 is upon us. Tasos Flambouras stopped by the game's blog today to mention that the team does "notice the anxiety on the forums concerning development progress, timing of Darkfall's re-launch, speculation about a wipe between Darkfall and the re-launch, and our spotty communication as of late." He then set out to make amends for these transgressions by giving fans an update on Darkfall 2.0's development progress. Flambouras noted that "the remaining work is broken down... and supported with a clear timeframe... so at this point we know exactly when we're done with the development." More details on Darkfall 2.0 will be revealed in upcoming updates.

But Darkfall 2.0 isn't the only thing on the Aventurine head-honcho's agenda. He also takes some time to talk about whether or not there will be a full wipe when 2.0 launches (the team hasn't decided yet), business deals (the studio is in "final stages of cooperation with several partners"), and the studio's lack of communication (the studio says it's sorry and promises to do better). For the full, unabridged dev blog update, just head on over to the game's official site.

MassivelyDarkfall devblog addresses Darkfall 2.0 progress, lack of communication originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aventurinebusinesscommunicationdarkfalldarkfall-2.0dev-blogdev-diarymiscommunicationrelaunchsandboxtasos-flambouraswipeFri, 02 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP announces new Customer Relations details]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/ccp-announces-new-customer-relations-details/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/ccp-announces-new-customer-relations-details/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/21/ccp-announces-new-customer-relations-details/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- EVE Online
A couple of days ago, CCP announced that an alarming number of team members had been laid off. Many EVE Online players were understandably concerned about what this might mean for the future of the game. CCP aims to put those concerns to rest with a new dev blog entry released today, which announces that CCP's Community Team has been merged with Customer Support in order to form a new Customer Relations department.

The community team has also been relocated to CCP's Reykjavik offices "and will be working closely with every development team to ensure that players are kept up to date with what is coming to EVE." CCP is aiming to increase communication with players and in the coming weeks, the company intends to begin by bringing out a series of short videos which will focus on what's currently in development for EVE.

For all the nitty-gritty details, head on over to the official post at EVE's site.

MassivelyCCP announces new Customer Relations details originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescommunicationcustomer-relationscustomer-serviceeveeve-onlinelayoffsFri, 21 Oct 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games CEO issues letter of apology to EVE Online players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ccp-games-ceo-issues-letter-of-apology-to-eve-online-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ccp-games-ceo-issues-letter-of-apology-to-eve-online-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ccp-games-ceo-issues-letter-of-apology-to-eve-online-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

EVE Online title image
Just over three months ago, fans of EVE Online looked on in disbelief as the game they loved faced its biggest crisis of confidence since 2007's T20 developer scandal. The long-awaited Incarna expansion was pushed live with no multiplayer environments and only one race of captain's quarters. Players were forced to use the feature every time they docked, and it seemed that its only purpose was as a display case for overpriced cash-shop clothing. While players debated the controversial cash shop prices, a leaked company newsletter titled "Greed is Good" and a leaked memo from CCP Games CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson threw additional fuel on the flames.

In a letter to the EVE Online community today, Hilmar delivered a humble apology for everything that happened. "The estrangement from CCP that many of you have been feeling of late is my fault, and for that I am truly sorry," he began. "In short, my zeal for pushing EVE to her true potential made me lose sight of doing the simple things right. I was impatient when I should have been cautious, defiant when I should have been conciliatory and arrogant when I should have been humble."

The letter goes on to tackle everything from the removal of ship spinning and the release of the captain's quarters as a full expansion to CCP's plans for the future. In an accompanying devblog, CCP Zulu provided an impressive list of in-space features aimed for the winter development period. The list includes the long-awaited hybrid weapon balance changes, assault ship bonus reworks, capital ship rebalancing, and even iteration on faction warfare.

MassivelyCCP Games CEO issues letter of apology to EVE Online players originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apologyarnar-gylfasonCaptains-quartersccpccp-eveccp-gamesccp-zulucommunicationeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionexpansionsexpectation-managementfearlesshilmarhilmar-peturssonhilmar-veigar-peturssonincarnaleakleaked-memomacrotransactionsMicrotransactionsmiscommunicationmonoclemonocle-gatemonoclegatenewsnewsletternexnoble-exchangewinterWed, 05 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR's James Ohlen says no cross-faction communication [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/swtors-james-ohlen-says-no-cross-faction-communication/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/swtors-james-ohlen-says-no-cross-faction-communication/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/swtors-james-ohlen-says-no-cross-faction-communication/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

SWTOR: Cross-faction communication
At Comic-Con this year, Star Wars: The Old Republic Game Director James Ohlen told us that in current testing, all cross-faction communication was open. While the developers were confident that communication methods would change before the game launched, the team wasn't sure which exact channels would be available for cross-faction messaging.

In an interview with TenTonHammer, James Ohlen has now indicated that cross-faction communication had changed. Is this good or bad? We will let you judge for yourself with a direct quote from the article. Ohlen replied to a question about sending items to cross-faction alts via mailboxes.
Currently no, you have to do it the old fashioned way through the mailbox, but only if they're the same faction. There are multiple reasons why we don't want the different factions to communicate with each other.

We had the big argument that this isn't like Horde and Alliance, we all speak Galactic Standard so we should just allow it. So we actually did allow it for a little while. The argument against it was that, what happens is people start saying inappropriate things to the other side. That's just the way it is when you're on a different side and you gank each other, people tend to say inappropriate things.
To be fair, the question only concerned mailboxes. Ohlen later clarified in the interview: "You won't see the other faction's chat at all, so they can't chat with you and you can't chat with them." We know for certain there will be a large group of SWTOR fans upset about this design choice because it will inhibit their style of gameplay. We will look for further clarification on this subject, so stay tuned to Massively for more information.

[Update: Georg Zoeller has clarified the issue in a post on the official forums. We've included his response behind the break.]

Continue reading SWTOR's James Ohlen says no cross-faction communication [Updated]

MassivelySWTOR's James Ohlen says no cross-faction communication [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarecommunicationcross-factioncross-faction-communicationEAElectronic-Artsjames-ohlenLucasArtsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorTenTonHammerthe-old-republictorWed, 17 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online press conference answers vital questions, transcript inside]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/eve-online-press-conference-answers-vital-questions-transcript/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/eve-online-press-conference-answers-vital-questions-transcript/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/eve-online-press-conference-answers-vital-questions-transcript/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

After what should have been the celebrated release of the long-awaited Incarna expansion last week, the EVE Online community erupted into flames. The controversy began when players realised that the vanity clothing items in the game's new cash shop were ridiculously overpriced. The $68 monocle became a centerpiece that the media latched onto, in the same way that World of Warcraft made the headlines when Blizzard had the audacity to sell a $25 mount.

The story should have ended there as a piece about a crazy Icelandic game company selling virtual clothing for more than real clothing. Unfortunately, some conveniently timed leaks from inside CCP caused this simple issue to escalate to the point of panic, causing in-game riots and a significant number of subscription cancellations. The company's silence on the simple question of whether non-vanity microtransactions would be introduced was seen as an admission that gameplay-affecting items would end up in the cash shop.

CCP flew the Council of Stellar Management, EVE's democratically-elected player representative body, out to Iceland for an emergency meeting last week. The result of the meeting was a joint statement between CCP and the CSM addressing all of the major concerns players had. Last night, CCP ran two press conferences over Skype to give EVE fansites and the gaming media a chance to ask additional questions that weren't covered in the official statement. Skip past the cut for our in-depth three-page transcript from the gaming media press conference, including answers to several pressing questions sent in by Massively readers and some great issues raised by other participating members of the press. Comments can be posted on page 3.

Continue reading EVE Online press conference answers vital questions, transcript inside

MassivelyEVE Online press conference answers vital questions, transcript inside originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingCaptains-quartersccpccp-eveccp-gamescommunicationcontroversycqeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-radioexpansionexpansionsexpectation-managementfearlessfeaturedincarnainterviewleakleaked-memomacrotransactionsmeetingMicrotransactionsmiscommunicationmmo-industrymonoclemonocle-gatemonoclegatenewsnewsletternexnoble-exchangepresspress-conferencesci-fitranscriptWed, 06 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The day that EVE Online died]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/eve-evolved-the-day-that-eve-online-died/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/eve-evolved-the-day-that-eve-online-died/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/eve-evolved-the-day-that-eve-online-died/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

I think it's safe to say that this week has been an unmitigated disaster for CCP Games. Following last week's $99 license fee fiasco for third-party developers, CCP Zulu managed to claw back some player support with a segment addressing the issue during the alliance tournament. This week CCP followed up with the release of Incarna 1.0 and its long-awaited captain's quarters. Players logged in to walk around their private rooms and check out the various cosmetic items available for purchase in the new microtransaction store.

It didn't take long for people to realise that something was fundamentally wrong with the prices on the Noble Exchange. At around $40 for a basic shirt, $25 for boots, and $70 or more for the fabled monocle, items in the Noble Exchange were priced higher than their-real life counterparts. As players made some noise about the ridiculous prices, an internal CCP newsletter all about the company's microtransaction plans was purportedly leaked. In it, plans to sell ships, ammo, and faction standings for cash were revealed, plans that strictly contradict previous promises on gameplay-affecting microtransactions. Shortly afterward, all hell broke loose as a private internal memo from CCP CEO Hilmar was leaked to the press.

In the past few days, I've been contacted by dozens (if not hundreds) of concerned EVE players who are afraid that the game they love is coming to an end. I've even been in contact with an insider who is scared of the risks CCP is taking with the jobs of over 600 employees in four countries, scared enough to leak internal documents and emails. In this week's colossal EVE Evolved, I delve into EVE's latest controversy and shed some light on the biggest community flashpoint since the T20 developer corruption scandal.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The day that EVE Online died

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The day that EVE Online died originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluescreenCaptains-quartersccpccp-eveccp-gamescommunicationcqcrasheveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-gateeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-radioexpansionexpansionsexpectation-managementfearlessfeaturedgpuincarnaleakleaked-memomacrotransactionsMicrotransactionsmiscommunicationmonoclemonocle-gatemonoclegatenewsnewsletternexnoble-exchangepredictably-irrationalprice-anchorradiosystem-requirementsSun, 26 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you a chat Luddite?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/the-daily-grind-are-you-a-chat-luddite/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/the-daily-grind-are-you-a-chat-luddite/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/the-daily-grind-are-you-a-chat-luddite/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So DC Universe Online's voice chat is broken, according to many of the commenters on this and other MMO-centric websites. Ironically, even if the game had no voice chat at all, it would be less broken than the abject disaster that serves as the superhero title's text chat interface.

While the game is enjoyable enough in most respects, I scratch my head as to how a development firm with SOE's considerable expertise could scrimp on something as vital as in-game text chat. The cynic in me says that it's because the PS3 version takes priority, but whatever the reason, DCUO's social tools (at least on the PC) are in dire need of someone who cares.

That brings up an interesting point regarding voice chat vs. text chat. While third-party programs such as Mumble and Ventrilo have been the norm for "serious" MMO guilds for years now, it's only recently that games have started incorporating voice chat (and players have started expecting it). Sure, voice can be vital for raids, PvP, and challenging endgame content, but is it really necessary (or desirable) for most of the things we do on our way to the level cap? Today's Daily Grind is all about your stance in the voice vs. text chat debate. Are you a chat Luddite? Do you refuse to play a game without voice chat? Inquiring Massively minds want to know.

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you a chat Luddite? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brokenchatcommunicationcommunitydcDC Comicsdc-universe-onlineDcComicsdcuogame-discussiongamer-discussiongroupingmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsmumblesocialsocial-toolssoeSony-Online-Entertainmenttdgteamspeaktext-chatthe-daily-grindventrilovoice-chatTue, 25 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An inside look at EVE Online's CSM: From June to December]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/eve-onlines-csm-from-june-to-december/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/eve-onlines-csm-from-june-to-december/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/eve-onlines-csm-from-june-to-december/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Keith Neilson is a Massively guest-writer who's here to recount his experiences at the recent Council of Stellar Management summit in Reykjavik. He writes regularly about EVE Online and has been playing the game since early 2004.

It is undeniable that EVE Online is unique among MMORPGs in many ways. One of these is its Council of Stellar Management, an elected committee of nine players who play an active role in the development of the game, bringing player concerns and proposals for the future direction of the game directly to CCP at biannual summits in Iceland. Until this year, the perception of the CSM among players was that the Council is a marketing tool that does not fulfill its stated role of representing the playerbase. But in June, all of that changed.

This term of the CSM brought in some major changes to the way the Council is organised, specifically with the removal of term limits (previously delegates could only serve two terms on the CSM) and the extension of terms from six months to a year. In addition to this, the CSM has been given "stakeholder" status within CCP. This means that the Council members have an equal say in the planning of future development along with the internal teams at CCP. This has allowed the fifth CSM to have a significant influence on the future development of EVE.

Continue reading An inside look at EVE Online's CSM: From June to December

MassivelyAn inside look at EVE Online's CSM: From June to December originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamescommunicationcouncil-of-stellar-managementCSMdeliverdierdra-vaaleveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexcellencefeaturedIcelandlagplexreykjaviksummitteam-gridlockTorfi-frans-olafssonWed, 12 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The development team of Final Fantasy XI shares insights with players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/23/the-development-team-of-final-fantasy-xi-shares-insights-with-pl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/23/the-development-team-of-final-fantasy-xi-shares-insights-with-pl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/23/the-development-team-of-final-fantasy-xi-shares-insights-with-pl/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you asked Final Fantasy XI players to describe the usual nature of the development team, "taciturn" might be thrown around, as would "mute" and "uncommunicative" and "sadistic." Which makes the newest dispatch from the development team uncharacteristic in many ways, because it represents a heretofore uncommon level of transparency from the team. Addressing several topics that arose from the December version update, the full sessions of questions and answers includes a number of interesting tidbits for players.

One of the stated goals within the dispatch is that the team wishes to have the widest variety of players able to access the widest variety of content, an attitude that hasn't always seemed to be at the forefront of Square-Enix's priorities. There's also a promise to make Pet Food Eta easier to create and a quick discussion of the numerous hard drive problems noted for PlayStation 2 players. Final Fantasy XI players should take a look at the full set of questions, hopefully heralding an upswing in communications.

MassivelyThe development team of Final Fantasy XI shares insights with players originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communicationdecember-version-updatedevelopmentdevelopment-teamdevelopment-updatesffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xifuture-planspatchpatchesplaystation-2ps2squaresquare-enixupdatesThu, 23 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Tanks announces Vivox voice chat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/world-of-tanks-announces-vivox-voice-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/world-of-tanks-announces-vivox-voice-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/world-of-tanks-announces-vivox-voice-chat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

What's a military action game without angry squad leaders, four-letter words, and locker room camaraderie, amirite? In service of those ideals, and a few that are more family-friendly, Wargaming.net announces the arrival of integrated voice chat in its World of Tanks action MMO.

High-definition in-game voice will be heard around the battlefield courtesy of Vivox, Inc. "When creating World of Tanks it was critical for us to include voice communication capabilities. With proven scalability, numerous live integrations, and best in class quality -- partnering with Vivox was an easy decision," says Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi.

World of Tanks is a free-to-play, vehicle-based action game currently undergoing closed beta testing. The Vivox integration will allow seamless communication, sans third-party apps, during combat and via the game's various lobbies. You can learn more, as well as sign up for beta, at the official website.

MassivelyWorld of Tanks announces Vivox voice chat originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmobattlefield-communicationbetacommunicationtankvictor-kislyivivoxvivox-voicevivox-voice-chatVivox-voiceChatvoicevoice-chatwargamingwargaming.networld-of-tankworld-of-tanksThu, 18 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploring Eberron: The race discussion has been banned]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/exploring-eberron-the-race-discussion-has-been-banned/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/exploring-eberron-the-race-discussion-has-been-banned/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/exploring-eberron-the-race-discussion-has-been-banned/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Don't worry, it's just a one-week ban. Once again, it was an interesting week for Dungeons and Dragons Online fans. Tuesday night's banhammer took everyone by surprise, and the reactions on both sides were pretty interesting.

I was really excited to discuss DDO races this week, but this week's problems left me thinking long and hard about the dynamics of player/developer interaction in this game. Check out that handy comments section at the end too, because I'd really love to hear what you have to say on the banning issue.

Follow along after the break, then weigh in!

Continue reading Exploring Eberron: The race discussion has been banned

MassivelyExploring Eberron: The race discussion has been banned originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banbanningbanningscommunicationddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineexploitsexploring-eberronf2pfeaturedforumsfree-to-playftpturbineFri, 12 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Win your guild a voice server by looking cool in our Guild Photo competition!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/win-your-guild-a-voice-server-by-looking-cool-in-our-guild-photo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/win-your-guild-a-voice-server-by-looking-cool-in-our-guild-photo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/win-your-guild-a-voice-server-by-looking-cool-in-our-guild-photo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Quick, what are the two most important things for a guild to have?! If you answered being well-coordinated and looking cool, then you're already qualified to enter into our newest contest!

We're looking for screenshots of your guild looking awesome! Whether you're posing in front of your guild hall or a monument in your favorite game, or you have a great action screenshot of your guildies doing something awesome, we want to see it!

But even better, we have something in it for you besides immortal fame here on Massively! We've teamed up with voice server hosting pros MMO Mumble, so you might just win a few free months of voice server service (try saying that five times fast) for your guild!

If you're looking for more information on how to enter and what you can win, look after the break for all of the information!

Continue reading Win your guild a voice server by looking cool in our Guild Photo competition!

MassivelyWin your guild a voice server by looking cool in our Guild Photo competition! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communicationcontestfeaturedguild-photoguild-screenshotin-game-screenshotmmo-mumblemumble-serverscreenshotscreenshot-contestvoice-serverThu, 28 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Best practices]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/storyboard-best-practices/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/storyboard-best-practices/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/storyboard-best-practices/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Roleplaying is a finicky business. If organizing endgame raid groups is like herding cats, organizing coherent roleplaying is like herding cats with even more ego. And no promise of rewards. And with only other players to provide a threat. And you're herding them with a Nerf bat that many of them are more inclined to just play with. And you have to balance it around activities such as endgame raiding.

It takes a lot to get roleplaying going and keep it going, is what we're getting at. It's a testament to how passionately people feel about roleplaying that, despite all of this, it happens on a consistent basis and usually without too much (unintentional) drama. But it's hard work for everyone involved, and that just inspires people to be more passionate about it as an aggregate. Hence the creation of a column entirely devoted to roleplayers and the careful art of crafting, playing, and working through characters.

Continue reading Storyboard: Best practices

MassivelyStoryboard: Best practices originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adaptingavoiding-dramacommunicatecommunicationdramafeaturedroleplayingstoriesstorytellingFri, 28 May 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: How Final Fantasy XIV will crush our hopes and dreams]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/10/the-mog-log-how-final-fantasy-xiv-will-crush-our-hopes-and-drea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/10/the-mog-log-how-final-fantasy-xiv-will-crush-our-hopes-and-drea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/10/the-mog-log-how-final-fantasy-xiv-will-crush-our-hopes-and-drea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

It seems only appropriate after last week to continue turning things on their ear. Fans of the column (I could probably just write "fan" there) have probably noticed that I talk about Final Fantasy XIV in a way not entirely separated from a child discussing their idol. I seem to maintain faith that the game will include every wonderful system ever, that it will take story and gameplay to an unheard-of level of connection, that it will be beautiful and vibrant and living, that it will bring food and water and smite our enemies.

But I am not alone in this, and we are all so painfully wrong. If you have played Final Fantasy XI (and if you're reading this, odds are good), you know that Square-Enix uses hope in much the same way that Lucy uses a football. While I spent last week talking about how the old game deserves more love than we give it, this week I'm going to list five reasons why we'll be disappointed when Final Fantasy XIV arrives. (And tune in a few weeks from now when I am still not anywhere near getting into the beta. I'm a slow learner sometimes.)

Continue reading The Mog Log: How Final Fantasy XIV will crush our hopes and dreams

MassivelyThe Mog Log: How Final Fantasy XIV will crush our hopes and dreams originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communicationdevelopersdisappointmentendgamefeaturedff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgameplayknowledgeknowledge-baselevelingsquare-enixtransportxbox-360Sat, 10 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What are you like in voice chat?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/05/the-daily-grind-what-are-you-like-in-voice-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/05/the-daily-grind-what-are-you-like-in-voice-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/05/the-daily-grind-what-are-you-like-in-voice-chat/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Voice chat isn't a part of every facet of games, but it's usually de rigeur for communication in endgame activities. While some of us can type pretty quickly, we can still talk a bit faster, and if you're using the keyboard as anything other than an ornament time spent typing is time spent not pressing other buttons. The popularity and proliferation of Ventrilo is almost entirely based upon this need, and games have increasingly come to include built-in voice clients (including World of Warcraft, although its quality is rather widely debated).

Of course, hand-in-hand with the fact that we can talk faster than we can type, many of us have a clearer personality by voice than we do in text. We're more trained as human beings to react to audio cues anyway, as opposed to subtleties in sentence structure or the occasional "lol." So what do you act like when you get behind the microphone? Are you the one guy that won't stop making off-color jokes, or are you quiet and professional? Do you act the same way you usually do via text, or do you have a totally different side that only comes out over voice chat?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What are you like in voice chat? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiochatcommunicationendgameheadsetstdgthe-daily-grindventrilovoicevoice-chatvoice-over-ipvoipworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 05 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Will the real topic please stand up? Anatomy of a community communications breakdown]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/will-the-real-topic-please-stand-up-anatomy-of-a-community-comm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/will-the-real-topic-please-stand-up-anatomy-of-a-community-comm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/29/will-the-real-topic-please-stand-up-anatomy-of-a-community-comm/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Traditionally, Linden Lab's blog communications have seemed to be reserved for things that had been finalized, were being finalized but already set in stone, or may not have been set in stone but gave that appearance by being nearly identical both before and after user-feedback. All this punctuated by a smattering of video tutorials, infomercials and statistics.

Wallace Linden's recent attempt at (what we think might possibly be) a productive conversation on Second Life identification linking looks like a bit of a failure, mostly because it seems to have failed to distinguish itself from these traditional developer/operator communication patterns.

Continue reading Will the real topic please stand up? Anatomy of a community communications breakdown

MassivelyWill the real topic please stand up? Anatomy of a community communications breakdown originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communicationcultureidentificationidentitylinden-labmark-wallaceopinionsecond-lifevirtual-worldswallace-lindenFri, 29 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vivox to provide voice solutions for urban crime MMO All Points Bulletin ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/vivox-to-provide-voice-solutions-for-urban-crime-mmo-all-points/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/vivox-to-provide-voice-solutions-for-urban-crime-mmo-all-points/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/vivox-to-provide-voice-solutions-for-urban-crime-mmo-all-points/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you're a fan of GTA-style urban crime games, you might be interested in what Realtime Worlds is cooking up for the MMO space: All Points Bulletin, which could very well prove to be the online evolution of single-player games like Grand Theft Auto and Crackdown. While new details on this title are still light, Vivox announced today that they'll be providing voice solutions for APB.

The integration of Vivox with the All Points Bulletin client will include voice fonts, where players will be able to alter their voices to better fit their character. Vivox has already established its presence in EVE Online and Second Life, and recently announced plans to extend gaming VOIP to web browsers as well. There could be interesting times ahead with this agreement between Vivox and Realtime Worlds in All Points Bulletin.

MassivelyVivox to provide voice solutions for urban crime MMO All Points Bulletin originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d-soundall-points-bulletinapbcommunicationcrackdowncrimecustomizationdundeegtarealtime-worldsscotlandurban-crimevivoxvoicevoice-fontsvoipTue, 24 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE provides handy guide to cross-game communication in EQ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/soe-provides-handy-guide-to-cross-game-communication-in-eq/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/soe-provides-handy-guide-to-cross-game-communication-in-eq/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/soe-provides-handy-guide-to-cross-game-communication-in-eq/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Sony Online Entertainment is responsible for quite a number of MMOs, and they've got a useful system in place to allow communication with people across their game worlds. However, many people either don't know about this system, or simply don't know how to wrangle it into doing what they want. To help with this, SOE has written a guide illustrating how EverQuest players can chat to their friends in other games.

The games that EQ players can send both private messages and in-game mail to are EverQuest II, Planetside, Vanguard, The Matrix Online, and Star Wars: Galaxies. It's also possible to communicate with players on different EQ servers, but many of the servers have abbreviations that must be used in the commands -- these can be found in the guide. Now don't go acting all surprised when you're hiding from a guild raid on another server and your guild master sends you a tell!

MassivelySOE provides handy guide to cross-game communication in EQ originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communicationcross-servereqeq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iiin-game-mailplanetsidepmprivate-messageprivate-tellsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-matrix-onlinetmovanguardSun, 08 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: In-game or private VOIP?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/the-daily-grind-in-game-or-private-voip/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/the-daily-grind-in-game-or-private-voip/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/the-daily-grind-in-game-or-private-voip/#commentsFiled under: , ,

One of the best things for many gamers who play in team settings (in PvP, in raids, etc.) is voice over IP (VOIP) software. Need to give out raid instructions? No longer do you need to waste time typing things out or boring people with long macros full of information. Now you can toss on a headset and away you go. Of course, you have your pick -- games like EVE Online, Dungeons & Dragons Online, and even World of Warcraft have introduced VOIP. However, the interesting thing we keep finding is how few people actually use it.

This morning we thought we'd do something of an unscientific poll amongst the readers just to see where the unofficial Massively reader thoughts lie on this. Some of us are figuring it will be against public in-game VOIP, others are warning them that it's generally cheaper than running a server, so they may be in for a surprise. You let us know -- do you use public VOIP, or private servers? If you don't use the in-game systems, why? If you hate private servers, what turned you off from them?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: In-game or private VOIP? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communicationddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineeveeve-onlineheadsetspvpraidingskypetdgteam-based-gamingteamspeakthe-daily-grindventrilovoipworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 02 Jun 2008 08:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: Those poor, poor designers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/player-vs-everything-those-poor-poor-designers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/player-vs-everything-those-poor-poor-designers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/01/player-vs-everything-those-poor-poor-designers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I've gotta hand it to MMOG designers. They really kind of get shafted. They spend weeks, months, and years fine-tuning tiny aspects of gameplay that you never even notice or care about (like the amount of silver that level 12 murlocs drop), coming up with interesting quests, trying to innovate the game enough to keep us interested, and developing a stream of content that's regular and enthralling enough to satisfy our all-encompassing hunger for more, more, MORE! While they do this, they have to pay attention to a million other things: time constraints, budget constraints, balance considerations, community expectations, and their pushy producers who want them to get the job done now, even if it means they can't include all of these cool features they have in mind.

When they finally put the finishing touches on this labor of love that they've slaved away on for so, so long, they deliver it out into the excited arms of the community that's been eagerly awaiting the game since they announced what they were working on in pre-alpha. What happens then? Worst case scenario, everyone hates the game and it sinks like a stone to the trash pile of the bargain bin (along with the shattered hopes and dreams of the entire team that worked on the game). But even in the best case scenario, everyone loves the game for about two weeks until they notice all the little flaws that they don't like about your particular design. Then, they start picking it apart bit by bit. "Why didn't you do this this way?" they ask. "Why didn't you make this quest reward better? Why are Mages better than Rogues? Why isn't my +3 sword worse than a +3 axe against Ents? Here's how I think you should fix this awful, terrible, no-good, very bad game design."

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: Those poor, poor designers

MassivelyPlayer vs. Everything: Those poor, poor designers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 May 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conancommunicationcommunitycomplaintcomplaintsdesigndesignerdesignersdevelopmentfeaturedgame-designgame-designersngeplayer-vs-everythingstar-wars-galaxiesThu, 01 May 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOGology: Gamerz is speshul]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/mmogology-gamerz-is-speshul/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/mmogology-gamerz-is-speshul/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/mmogology-gamerz-is-speshul/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Gamers have always taken a degree of flack about their hobby of choice. Some people call gaming a waste of time (whereas watching TV is completely productive), some people bash it as anti-social escapism (whereas reading a book is akin to attending a gala), some people deride it for its focus on violent content (whereas Hollywood blockbusters, boxing, and the nightly news are G-rated and chock full of joy), and some people despise it for its potentially addictive properties (cigarettes are a far safer alternative). I could go on. As a result, gamers are often seen as grumpy, antisocial slackers. But of all the labels associated with gamers one of the latest is just plain retarded - literally.

At a recent British Psychological Society convention it was announced that, "hard core gamers can mirror certain aspects of Asperger's Syndrome." For those of you who don't know, Asperger's Syndrome is a psychiatric disorder on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum of psychiatric disorders. Asperger's is typically characterized by impairments in social interactions and repetitive behavior patterns. Dr. Charlton, one of the researchers on the study states that, "Our research supports the idea that people who are heavily involved in game playing may be nearer to autistic spectrum disorders than people who have no interest in gaming."

Continue reading MMOGology: Gamerz is speshul

MassivelyMMOGology: Gamerz is speshul originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aspergersaspergerssyndromeautismbehaviorscommunicationcommunitydisorderfeaturedhabitsjoystiqfeaturestrendsMon, 14 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stargate Worlds designer dodges questions, gets back to work]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/stargate-worlds-designer-dodges-questions-gets-back-to-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/stargate-worlds-designer-dodges-questions-gets-back-to-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/stargate-worlds-designer-dodges-questions-gets-back-to-work/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


mmolecule has an interview up with Chris Bernert, Lead Systems Designer for the upcoming Stargate Worlds. He ducks most of their questions pretty adeptly (newsflash: SGW has "exciting plans" for their PvP system!), but there are a few interesting tidbits in here, including the fact that players of different factions will be able to communicate with each other, a la Star Wars Galaxies rather than World of Warcraft.

The other big note is that players will have three ways of reviving in the game-- either at the nearest "hospital," by another player, or right at the site of death. But CME says they haven't figured out the penalties for each situation yet. Bernert also says they're still working on coming up with the UI design. There's no question the folks behind SGW are facing a lot of challenges in trying to make a great MMO game out of a cult IP, but considering that they're hoping to go live a year from now, maybe they should cool it a bit on the interviews and get to work on the game itself.

{Via Curse]

MassivelyStargate Worlds designer dodges questions, gets back to work originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheyenne-mountain-entertainmentchris-bernertcombatcommunicationdeath-penaltyfactionsinterviewpvpstargate-worldsMon, 17 Dec 2007 21:00:00 EST