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[Wizard101 fansite owner hired to be Pirate101's community manager]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/wizard101-fansite-owner-hired-to-be-pirate101s-community-manage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/wizard101-fansite-owner-hired-to-be-pirate101s-community-manage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/wizard101-fansite-owner-hired-to-be-pirate101s-community-manage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Friendly Necromancer logo
Tom Purdue, admired owner and operator of The Friendly Necromancer blog and Wizard101 fansite, has announced today that he will be KingsIsle Entertainment's new community manager for the upcoming Pirate101 MMO.

As that transition from fan to employee is always a fascinating transformation, we recognize that it's not an easy decision. Massively itself has raised a handful of MMO community managers, so this news is particularly of interest to us. For that reason, we tracked Tom down and asked him some questions about his new role at KingsIsle. Follow along below for the complete interview.

Continue reading Wizard101 fansite owner hired to be Pirate101's community manager

MassivelyWizard101 fansite owner hired to be Pirate101's community manager originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-managerdream-come-truef2pfamilyfansitefantasyfree-to-playinterviewinterviewskid-friendlykids-mmokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentpirate101the-friendly-necromancertom-purduetransitionwizard101Wed, 09 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which community managers do you love?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/the-daily-grind-which-community-managers-do-you-love/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/the-daily-grind-which-community-managers-do-you-love/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/the-daily-grind-which-community-managers-do-you-love/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Thank you!
Yesterday the world awoke to the grandest of holidays: Community Manager Appreciation Day. CMAD has a long and rich history dating all the way back to 2010, when the communities of games, websites, and forums decided they would stop bickering, trolling, flaming, squabbling, and misspelling long enough to mutter out a heartfelt "Thanks, I guess" to the community managers who swept their cages every morning.

I knew that Monday was CMAD because our very own Community Manager Rubi kindly informed us of this fact. "Hey bozos!" she crowed to the Massively staff. "It's Community Manager Appreciation Day! APPRECIATE ME ALREADY!"

Even though CMAD is over, today we'd like to give our MMO CMs a nod of gratitude and appreciation. Which community managers do you love the most and why?

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: Which community managers do you love? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cmcmadcommunity-managercommunity-manager-appreciation-daycommunity-managersfeaturedopinionrubitdgthe-daily-grindTue, 24 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DUST 514 community manager CCP Shadow steps down]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/dust-514-community-manager-ccp-shadow-steps-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/dust-514-community-manager-ccp-shadow-steps-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/dust-514-community-manager-ccp-shadow-steps-down/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

DUST 514 community manager post image
In February of last year, Massively writer James Egan joined developer CCP Games as a community representative for EVE Online under the name CCP Shadow. He went on to become the community manager for upcoming MMOFPS DUST 514 and an integral part of CCP's customer relations department. In a lengthy post on EVE's off-topic forum, James let everyone know today that he will be leaving CCP at the end of this month. His replacement as DUST 514 community manager has already been picked from the existing team, and James will be taking a much-needed break before deciding whether to return to writing or take a new career direction.

In the forum thread, James remembers the good times he's had over the years thanks to the EVE Online community, both as a writer for Massively and as a community representative for CCP. While he wasn't part of the recent 20% staff layoffs, he relates that many of his friends were. While James will no longer be present under the name CCP Shadow, he will still be playing EVE Online on his normal character with the goal of killing everyone in sight. Everyone here at Massively would like him the best of luck in whatever career he decides to pursue.

MassivelyDUST 514 community manager CCP Shadow steps down originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingccpccp-eveccp-gamesccp-shadowcommunity-managerdust-514eveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinejamesjames-eganmmofpsnewsSun, 27 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: A chat with Linda "The Brasse" Carlson]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/the-guild-counsel-a-chat-with-linda-the-brasse-carlson/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/the-guild-counsel-a-chat-with-linda-the-brasse-carlson/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/the-guild-counsel-a-chat-with-linda-the-brasse-carlson/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

By night, she's the impeccably-dressed, bearded dwarf that MCs Fan Faires and never turns down a good pint of ale. But by day, she's the Community Relations Director for SOE, and she dons several different caps as part of her job with the company.

At Fan Faire, she took the time to speak with Massively about a variety of topics, including forum wars, social media, the future of SOE's Facebook games, and even a revamp of the popular Guide program in EQ and EQII.

Read below the cut for highlights from the interview.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: A chat with Linda "The Brasse" Carlson

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: A chat with Linda "The Brasse" Carlson originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-managerdungeon-overlordEverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iifacebookfan-fairefan-faire-2011fortune-leagueguide-programguidesguild-counsellinda-carlsonsocial-mediasoesoe-fan-faire-11soe-fan-faire-2011the-agency-covert-opsthe-brassetwitterThu, 14 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: A few tips for the indie developer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/free-for-all-a-few-tips-for-the-indie-developer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/free-for-all-a-few-tips-for-the-indie-developer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/free-for-all-a-few-tips-for-the-indie-developer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I am no developer, nor do I have dreams of one day becoming one. I absolutely love having the ability to write about what I like and to interact with those who enjoy (or hate) what I write. Developers have their hands and tongues tied much of the time, and often the indie developer gets no credit whatsoever. Granted, if artistic release or programming is your thing, I say go for it. But I will absolutely admit to wanting attention most of all -- it's what I like to do.

Over the years, I have visited more independent MMO sites and played more independent MMOs than I care to recount. Still, not a week goes by when I do not find a new one to look at, and so I file it away for future use. I am often amazed at some of the mistakes indie developers make -- such obvious ones, too. I try to remind myself that the garage-coder is not always the best choice for graphic designer, so sometimes the websites and logos of these tiny companies look like they were hosted on Geocities.

I decided to have some fun and throw down some general rules that I apply to indie developers. Take them or leave them, but I think that they are based on quite a bit of observation. Feel free to add any of your own. Click past the cut and let's get to them!

Continue reading Free for All: A few tips for the indie developer

MassivelyFree for All: A few tips for the indie developer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 May 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicealganonbeau-hindmancommunitycommunity-managerderek-smartf2pfacebookfaxion-onlinefeaturedfree-for-allfree-to-playftpillyriadindependentIndieindie-developersistariakingislekingsisle-entertainmenttrollstwitterwizard-101wordpressWed, 18 May 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies gets a new community manager]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/star-wars-galaxies-gets-a-new-community-manager/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/star-wars-galaxies-gets-a-new-community-manager/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/star-wars-galaxies-gets-a-new-community-manager/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In a week of transition for SOE, Star Wars Galaxies is changing things up as well. It appears that Community Manager Lydia "Zatozia" Pope is moving to other titles in SOE, making way for her replacement:
"Greetings Star Wars Galaxies players! Zatozia has been a part of your community for quite some time and not only brought mountains of feedback to the Development team, but created some exciting forum activities as well. She has truly made the Star Wars Galaxies community stand out among our products, and we wish her well as she moves to other games within SOE.

"At this time we would also like to introduce your new Community Manager Mepps. An MMO veteran, he looks forward to working with you all and making Star Wars Galaxies one of the best MMO communities to be a part of. Look for him to say hello in the very near future."
We look forward to hearing from Mepps and seeing how he fares in a galaxy far, far away.

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies gets a new community manager originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cmcommunitycommunity-managerlayoffslydia-popemeppssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgzatoziaFri, 01 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Meghan "Patience" Jenks leaves Turbine, Andy Belford departs Mythic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/01/meghan-patience-jenks-leaves-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/01/meghan-patience-jenks-leaves-turbine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/01/meghan-patience-jenks-leaves-turbine/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Today, Turbine lost its Patience -- but not in the way you're thinking. Over Twitter, Meghan "Patience" Jenks announced that after six years, she is leaving the studio to move back to California: "I guess it's time to break the news -- Friday is my last day at Turbine. I'm heading back home to CA. It's been an AMAZING 6 years working on amazing games, but I need to be closer to my family."

Jenks has been the online community manager for Turbine since 2004; she was one of the studio's most vocal personalities and the face that the community most often saw in interviews and on convention panels. She indicated that she does indeed have a new job lined up, although she called her stint overseeing Lord of the Rings Online's community "THE highlight of my career."

If this news upsets you, then Jenks has a few words to cheer you up: "Don't be sad -- if you play Turbine games, you're still in excellent hands with the awesomeness of the Community Team! And no -- YOU CAN'T HAVE MY STUFF. :)"

Update: Meghan's not the only one going to California. BioWare Mythic Community Manager Andy Belford also made his farewells on Twitter earlier today. "Jumping on the go west mentality... I'm no longer with BioWare Mythic. I'm moving closer to the family and have a great new opportunity. [... ] Thanks to the WAR and DAOC communities for the last 2+ years. Thank[s] to Mythic for all of the amazing opportunities. I'll forever be grateful." The west coast (and, no doubt, the gaming companies therein) is certainly about to become much richer! Best of luck to the both of you!

MassivelyMeghan "Patience" Jenks leaves Turbine, Andy Belford departs Mythic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy-belfordbiowarecaliforniacmcommunity-managercommunity-teamdaocdark-age-of-camelotgo-westlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromeghan-jenksmeghan-rodbergmythiconline-community-managerpatienceturbineturbine-entertainmenttwitterWarhammerWarhammer-OnlinewbTue, 01 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[When is "ready"? SWTOR's Community Manager discusses player concerns]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/when-is-ready-swtors-community-manager-discusses-player-conc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/when-is-ready-swtors-community-manager-discusses-player-conc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/when-is-ready-swtors-community-manager-discusses-player-conc/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Many fans of Star Wars: The Old Republic have been concerned about the amount of information released in the last few updates, especially considering the fact that a lot more information was released during the summer. Senior Community Manager Stephen Reid hopped on the forums to address these and other concerns the SWTOR community had.

BioWare's line for the last couple of years has been, "We will talk about it when it's ready." According to Reid, the mantra still holds true, but the explanation is a bit deeper when considering what it actually takes to be "ready." Presentation is the first on his list, as Reid explains in a post, "While some of you might say 'But I don't care! I'm sure it'll be good in the final game! I can totally forgive you this time!' I'm afraid we don't get that latitude with, oooh, pretty much 90% of the rest of the world." Another reason is some systems that are ready depend on other systems that aren't ready. And lastly, there are public relations and marketing considerations.

In another post, Reid addressed other specific community concerns, such as EU testing and, as one community member put it, "We in the EU do feel like second rate citizen here sometimes." Other concerns like the low amount of developer posts on the forums, in general, and the community's influence on the final game are engaged as well.

The full posts are located on the official Star Wars: The Old Republic forum, in the developer tracker. Be sure to check there for more information.

MassivelyWhen is "ready"? SWTOR's Community Manager discusses player concerns originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarecommunitycommunity-concernscommunity-managerdeveloper-trackereaElectronic-ArtsEUeuropegame-testingLucasArtsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicStephen-Reidswtorthe-old-republictorwhen-its-readyThu, 13 Jan 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: 2010 Retro!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/28/hyperspace-beacon-2010-retro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/28/hyperspace-beacon-2010-retro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/28/hyperspace-beacon-2010-retro/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Wow... 2010 is almost over, and Star Wars: The Old Republic is not released yet. OK, I had speculated at the beginning of this year that we would not see it until 2011. But if you had asked me in October of 2008 (when the official site was launched), I would have told you that the launch was at the end of 2009. There was no way in my mind that a company would launch its website that early. Boy, was I wrong. Little did I know at the time that I would be sitting here at the end of 2010 (the year new life was to begin on Europa), not playing what I hoped would be my favorite game ever. However, this has all given me time to think back about what SWTOR has given us this year.

The year 2010 was the year of SWTOR reveals. Some have questioned whether too much has been revealed -- or rather, hyped. We have had group combat videos, designers switching games, CEOs retiring, opinionated play-throughs, and many other news items. Would you say we have had a plethora of SWTOR news this year? Oh yes, we have had a plethora, El Guapo. I have my favorites and my not-so favorites. Let's explore a few of them in this little retrospective.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: 2010 Retro!

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: 2010 Retro! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010-retrospectivebest-5BioWarecommunity-managerCompanionsEAea-louseend-of-the-year-2010featuredhope-trailerjedi-sageJedi-wizardLucasArtsPAXrelease-datesean-dahlbergSmugglerSpace-on-railsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicStephen-Reidswtorthe-old-republictop-5torworst-5Tue, 28 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forsaken World mages blow stuff up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/forsaken-world-mages-blow-stuff-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/forsaken-world-mages-blow-stuff-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/forsaken-world-mages-blow-stuff-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Perfect World Entertainment is ramping up the publicity campaign for its free-to-play opus Forsaken World, with the latest salvo being a new video short featuring community manager Frank Johnson. The segment focuses on the mage class and its destructive power, showing off a fair bit of combat footage underscored by Johnson's narration.

"I can freeze targets with ice spells, knock back enemies with lightning, and if all else fails I can just set everything on fire. Which is usually what ends up happening anyways," Johnson says.

Check out the mage-sponsored mayhem after the break, and read up on the class (as well as the rest of Forsaken World) at the game's official website.

Continue reading Forsaken World mages blow stuff up

MassivelyForsaken World mages blow stuff up originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classescommunity-managerf2pforsaken-worldfrank-johnsonfree-to-playmageperfect-world-entertainmentperfect-world-internationalvideoThu, 25 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: An insight into Istaria's indie development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/24/free-for-all-an-insight-into-istarias-indie-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/24/free-for-all-an-insight-into-istarias-indie-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/24/free-for-all-an-insight-into-istarias-indie-development/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Last week I was able to hand off some questions to Amarie, the Community Manager for Virtrium and Istaria: Chronicles of the Gifted -- the game formerly known as Horizons. While the game might be getting a little long in the tooth, it's important to note that development is still a priority and that the game is still very enjoyable and playable. It boasts 11 different playable races (including dragons!) and an open character development system that puts some more modern games to shame.

I recently received a copy of a producer's letter and was impressed by its open, frank nature. I quickly contacted the team and its members agreed to answer several questions. There's a lot to read, so grab a coffee and let's take a look into the world of indie development.

Continue reading Free for All: An insight into Istaria's indie development

MassivelyFree for All: An insight into Istaria's indie development originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amariebeau-hindmancommunity-managementcommunity-managerdragonsf2pfeaturedfree-for-allfree-to-playftphorizonshorizons-empire-of-istariainterviewInterviewsistariaistaria-chronicles-of-the-giftedracesvirtriumWed, 24 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's in-depth interview with SWTOR Community Manager Stephen Reid]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/massivelys-in-depth-interview-with-swtor-community-manager-step/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/massivelys-in-depth-interview-with-swtor-community-manager-step/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/massivelys-in-depth-interview-with-swtor-community-manager-step/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last Friday, Star Wars: The Old Republic finally revealed the Crew Skills crafting system. In a slightly less important announcement, BioWare also announced its new Community Manager, Stephen Reid. OK, I'm teasing. It is very important announcement. Since Sean Dahlberg stepped down, the community team has been without a face and voice to the community. Those left behind had to put in extra effort into providing the fans with the latest releases from the SWTOR news room, and for a while, the community was unsure who, if anyone, would be able to fill the shoes. Now, Stephen Reid has taken the helm of the massive community starship.

Now since we have a new voice of the SWTOR community team, Massively thought it would be interesting to get his thoughts on the game, on the community, and on how we, the fans, could best make Star Wars: The Old Republic the game it should be. Massively Senior Editor Brianna Royce sat down with Stephen at a recent LucasArts event for an in-depth interview -- join us past the break to see what he had to say!

Continue reading Massively's in-depth interview with SWTOR Community Manager Stephen Reid

MassivelyMassively's in-depth interview with SWTOR Community Manager Stephen Reid originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlderaanBioWarebioware-eacommunitycommunity-debatescommunity-managercommunity-teamdevelopersdialogueeaElectronic-Artsfeaturedgazilliongazillion-entertainmentimmersionLucasArtsmetricsroleplayRolePlayingsingle-player-MMOStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicStephen-Reidstoryswtorthe-old-republictortriontrion-worldsThu, 18 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare names Stephen Reid the new SWTOR Community Manager]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/bioware-names-stephen-reid-the-new-swtor-community-manager/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/bioware-names-stephen-reid-the-new-swtor-community-manager/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/bioware-names-stephen-reid-the-new-swtor-community-manager/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A few months back -- just after PAX -- community manager Sean Dahlberg stepped down from his position at BioWare to join UTV True Game's Faxion design team. In the intermediate time, his Star Wars: The Old Republic duties have been filled by community representatives like Joanne Laroche and Alyson Bridge. But now Sean's empty seat has been filled by none other than Stephen "Rockjaw" Reid.

You may know Reid as the Community Director at Gazillion Entertainment or maybe the Senior Community Manager at Trion World. Either way, Reid's experience is well-known in the MMO world. And prior to his work in the States, British-born Reid specialized in public relations and community-related projects for NCsoft UK. His voice has been heard on the Yellow Spandex podcast as well as the official NCsoft Europe podcast before that. It's safe to say the Force is strong with this one.

Reid has been a regular reader of Massively and has been known to comment on our stories via his twitter account Rockjaw. We'd like to congratulate Stephen on his new position, and we look forward to hearing the latest SWTOR news from him. Be sure to send him a warm welcome on the SWTOR forums, and don't miss our interview with this new addition to the SWTOR team coming in the next few days.

In the words of Han Solo in A New Hope, "Don't get cocky" -- I mean, "Here's where the fun begins!"

MassivelyBioWare names Stephen Reid the new SWTOR Community Manager originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alyson-bridgeBioWarebioware-eabreakingcommunity-managereaElectronic-Artsjoanne-larocheLucasArtssean-dahlbergStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicStephen-Reidstephen-rockjaw-reidswtorthe-old-republictorFri, 12 Nov 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SWG's Community Manager on in-game events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/swgs-community-manager-on-in-game-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/swgs-community-manager-on-in-game-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/swgs-community-manager-on-in-game-events/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Perhaps you can remember a time when the developers of MMOs were directly involved in player events -- either running them or just attending player-run events. In our interview with him on Massively Speaking, Richard Garriott mentioned a couple of times about hanging out with players as Lord British in Ultima Online. If you recall, Star Wars Galaxies had a whole team, lead by Jason "Pex" Ryan, that was completely devoted to creating and facilitating player events. It may seem that these days are fading with the scripted events common in more recent releases. Lydia "Zatozia" Pope, the newly appointed Community Manager of SWG, hopes to change that.

Zatozia has been with Sony Online Entertainment since May of 1999 when her department was still known as Verant. Under the customer service banner, she ran Historical Events for EverQuest. These were live GM-run events that were used to transition EQ from expansion to expansion. She was also a member of the Stormhammer Legends EQ server team, which specialized in GM-run events and storylines specifically for that server.

Zatozia is now the Community Relations Manager for Star Wars Galaxies, and we were able to speak with her about her personal plans for the title as well as how the SWG community is affecting other SOE titles. Click over the break to catch the full interview.

Continue reading SWG's Community Manager on in-game events

MassivelySWG's Community Manager on in-game events originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badgescommunity-leaderscommunity-managerdev-interactioneventsfeaturedGalactic-SenateinterviewInterviewslydia-popesoeSony-Online-EntertainmentStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgzatoziaWed, 06 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare loses its SWTOR community manager [updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/bioware-loses-its-swtor-community-manager/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/bioware-loses-its-swtor-community-manager/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/bioware-loses-its-swtor-community-manager/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Today on the TOROCast forum, it was rumored that Community Manager Sean Dahlberg had left BioWare. Members of the SWTOR community did believe it odd that he did not show up to PAX, which was supposed to be the biggest event of the year for SWTOR. He even tweeted to the Jedi Archive on Saturday: "Nope, I'm back in Austin but Brian is there! Granted, part of me wants to just drive there but I'd be late." That gave everyone the impression that he had a lot of work to do. However, today he updated his twitter page so that it no longer reflected his BioWare title nor a link to swtor.com.

Although there has yet to be word from Dahlberg himself, Joanne Laroche, the Senior Community Coordinator, recently posted this on the official Old Republic website: "Sean Dahlberg has recently left BioWare. We would like to thank Sean for doing a great job building the TOR Community and we wish him well in his future endeavors!" This confirms that Dahlberg has left BioWare, but it still does not answer why this has happened.

Massively will keep an eye on this story and on Dahlberg's personal site for new developments. Until then, we wish the best for Sean and for the game.

[Nice catch, "fo diddy" at TOROcast!]

Update: Sean posted on his personal blog and wanted to let everyone know that he did not fall off the end of the earth. As for what's next for Mr. Dahlberg, he had this to say, "What's in the next chapter in the life of Sean... well, that would be giving out information and we all know I don't do that. I'd say just kidding but I actually can't talk too much about that at this point. Soon[TM] but not yet."

MassivelyBioWare loses its SWTOR community manager [updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebreakingcommunitycommunity-managereaea-biowareElectronic-Artsindustry-newsLucasArtssean-dahlbergStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 07 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2010: Wrassling the FFXIV community with Square-Enix]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/05/pax-2010-wrassling-the-ffxiv-community-with-square-enix/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/05/pax-2010-wrassling-the-ffxiv-community-with-square-enix/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/05/pax-2010-wrassling-the-ffxiv-community-with-square-enix/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It was hard to miss Final Fantasy XIV at PAX Prime this year -- its booth loomed large, white and sprawling right inside of the main exhibition hall doors. As players poured in to get their hands on this imminent title, Massively pulled aside Square-Enix's Yasu Kurosawa and Sage Sundi for a chat about managing the global community.

Sage deals with more of the global aspect across multiple regions, while Yasu is Square Enix's North America representative and is tasked with bringing the community's voice back to Japan. Unfortunately, we were limited from discussing gameplay aspects of FFXIV, but the pair were open about the challenges and difficulties of handling a community worldwide, especially in regions where the game's developers are not linguistically fluent. Read on for their thoughts on the subject.

Continue reading PAX 2010: Wrassling the FFXIV community with Square-Enix

MassivelyPAX 2010: Wrassling the FFXIV community with Square-Enix originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cmcommunitycommunity-managerfeaturedff11ff14ffxivfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgame-managergmpaxpax-2010pax-primepax-prime-2010sage-sundiSquare-Enixyasu-kurosawaSun, 05 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's Community Detective, Issue #2: Darkfall and EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/27/massivelys-community-detective-issue-2-darkfall-and-eve-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/27/massivelys-community-detective-issue-2-darkfall-and-eve-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/27/massivelys-community-detective-issue-2-darkfall-and-eve-onli/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


"We hope you understand that there's nothing we can do at the moment," says the support email we just received from Aventurine, developers of Darkfall. Not exactly what you want to hear from customer service, is it?

Welcome to another issue of Massively's Community Detective, where we're primed and ready to take you into the trenches of MMORPG community and customer service. This week we've got full-blown battlefields complete with land mines, dismemberment, e-peen waving, and all the other things you've come to know and love about PvP. Yes, we're delving into the world of Darkfall, and if that's not enough for you, we'll also be heading for the heavens in a very different (but equally cutthroat) PvP sandbox called EVE Online.

Join us after the cut to see how these two titles fared in terms of community and customer service support.

Continue reading Massively's Community Detective, Issue #2: Darkfall and EVE Online

MassivelyMassively's Community Detective, Issue #2: Darkfall and EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aventurineccpCCP-Gameschatcommunity-detectivecommunity-investigationscommunity-managercsrcustomer-servicedarkfalldarkfall-onlineeveeve-onlineeve-universityfeaturedincarnaopinionpugpugspvpsandboxTue, 27 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[News article sparks debate among Community Managers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/news-article-sparks-debate-among-community-managers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/news-article-sparks-debate-among-community-managers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/news-article-sparks-debate-among-community-managers/#commentsFiled under: , ,


An article at GamePro caused a bit of a stir in the gaming industry yesterday, sparking discussion on a topic covered at this year's PAX East -- namely, that of the history of Community Managers and what their jobs entail.

Now, there is a fair amount of background to AJ Glasser's article that we won't delve into, because the comment that many readers focused on was this one: "Before Xbox Live's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb -- who holds the ambiguous title director of programming for Xbox Live -- community managers were mostly forum moderators, people whose job entailed monitoring message boards and weeding out trolls. "

Not so, said many current CMs. Familiar names such as Daeke and Aether began popping up in the comments section of the article, contending that Community Managers were much more than forum mods before Major Nelson came on the scene. The conversation began in the article's comments section and continued via Twitter with quite a few people in the industry lining up to join the debate. The discussion offers several varying opinions and is definitely worth following if you've got an interest in the role of community management.

MassivelyNews article sparks debate among Community Managers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aj-glasserCMcommunity-managerdavid-bassgameprolarry-hrybMajor-Nelsontroy-hewittWed, 05 May 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jagex Community Dev Diary: Striking a balance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/exclusive-jagex-community-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/exclusive-jagex-community-dev-diary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/exclusive-jagex-community-dev-diary/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Massively has invited Jagex Games Studio, developer of RuneScape and other online titles, to share with the MMO community some of the unique challenges and tasks that they deal with on a daily basis. In the first of a regular dev diary series, Jagex's Kelvin Plomer (Head of Community Management) and Paul Mayer (RuneScape Community Manager) open up about the difficulty of striking a balance between the needs of players and the direction of developers.

The Community Has Spoken: How MMO Creators Balance Development Plans with Player Feedback

Community and player involvement are the backbone of any good MMO. One of the huge issues we face as a Community Management team, and as a game developer and publisher, is that all of our players have an opinion on pretty much every aspect of our games...and they're not afraid to let us know about it! What's the issue, then? Well, when you have the largest free MMO in the world in your game catalogue with millions of players, that's one hell of a lot of opinion to attempt to digest, respond to and factor into game development.

Continue reading Jagex Community Dev Diary: Striking a balance

MassivelyJagex Community Dev Diary: Striking a balance originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cmcommunity-dev-diarycommunity-managerdev-diaryfeaturedfeedbackjagexkelvin-plomerpaul-mayerrunescapeThu, 01 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East 2010: Community manager panel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/pax-east-2010-community-manager-panel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/pax-east-2010-community-manager-panel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/pax-east-2010-community-manager-panel/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Community managers are the very definition of a paradox. They're some of the most public faces of the game, yet their role is often least understood. They serve many masters -- developers, players, marketing, press -- and are beholden to all of them at once. They're often on the blunt end of unrestrained love and unfathomable anger. No matter what they are, one thing is for sure: their job rocks.

At least, according to a CM panel at PAX East entitled "Community Managers: More than Forum Monkeys." In it, five CMs from various studios shared just what goes on with their job, what limits they deal with, and what are the highs and lows of working in the public limelight 24/7. Meghan Rodberg (Turbine), Aaron Trites (Harmonix), Morgan Romine (Frag Dolls), Jess Folsom (Bioware Austin) and Linda Carlson (Sony Online Entertainment) spent a candid hour with an audience pulling back some of the mystique and misconceptions of their positions as supposed monkey tamers.

Hit the jump to read about the inner workings of these fabulous five community managers.

Continue reading PAX East 2010: Community manager panel

MassivelyPAX East 2010: Community manager panel originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-tritesbiowarebioware-austincmscommunity-managerfacebookfeaturedfrag-dollsharmonixjess-folsomlinda-carlsonmeghan-rodbergmorgan-rominepax-eastpax-east-2010shadowbanesoesony-online-entertainmentturbinetwitterMon, 29 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spellborn dropping out of the Japanese market]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/spellborn-dropping-out-of-the-japanese-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/spellborn-dropping-out-of-the-japanese-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/spellborn-dropping-out-of-the-japanese-market/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The somewhat European inspired fantasy MMO The Chronicles of Spellborn is shutting down its Japanese service, causing a stir of worry and discussion about the title's future in other territories within the community at large. To make matters worse, the one person who could've cleared up any confusion, TheHistorian, is no longer with publisher Acclaim as community manager for the game. Given that he was the sole link between the community and developers, it's no wonder people are feeling a bit unsettled by the whole affair.

While the closure of The Chronicles of Spellborn Japan isn't a good thing, it doesn't necessarily spell out a dark future for the title. A business deal could've gone sour, or perhaps the audience in Japan just wasn't strong enough to maintain the title. Just in cast something does happen, however, we'll be keeping an eye out for any further development.

MassivelySpellborn dropping out of the Japanese market originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimclosedcmcommunity-managereuropeeuropeanjapanshut-downshutting-downspellbornspellborn-internationalspellborn-japanthehistorianTue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Planet Calypso welcomes their new community manager while looking to the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/planet-calypso-welcomes-their-new-community-manager-while-lookin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/planet-calypso-welcomes-their-new-community-manager-while-lookin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/planet-calypso-welcomes-their-new-community-manager-while-lookin/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The team over at First Planet Company, the minds behind the MMO/Second Life hybrid Planet Calypso, have recently welcomed a brand new community manager onto their staff -- Hanne Einan Gulbrandsen. Gulbrandsen is the game's first dedicated community manager, bringing the virtual world in line with the company practices of other MMO companies.

But, while Gulbrandsen settles into his new office and title, First Planet Company has also detailed their development roadmap for this year -- going over future additions such as vehicles, a new questing/mission system, and the addition of fish to the world (as shown above.) The mission system will finally give Calypso MMO style storyline quests, offering players a new way to play the game and experience the planet's lore. How these new quests will impact the game's real money-based economy will be interesting, especially if doing them offers in-game rewards.

Continue reading Planet Calypso welcomes their new community manager while looking to the future

MassivelyPlanet Calypso welcomes their new community manager while looking to the future originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-managerentropia-universefirst-planet-companyfishhanne-gulbrandsenloremindarkmissionsplanet-calypsoquestsvehiclesvu10Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Making it as an MMO blogger: The community manager interviews part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/05/making-it-as-an-mmo-blogger-the-community-manager-interviews-pa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/05/making-it-as-an-mmo-blogger-the-community-manager-interviews-pa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/05/making-it-as-an-mmo-blogger-the-community-manager-interviews-pa/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you enjoyed our community management feature from yesterday, we present you with part 2!

What level of honesty should bloggers have regarding the benefits and flaws of your game in balancing the interests of the readers and the interests of your company?


David Bass: Bloggers should always be honest. But they should also be fair. Yes, game X might have some issues, but is the company consistently working to improve the game? Are you seeing excellent communication from the team? No MMO is perfect, that's for certain, but in addition to learning where our flaws are, we're also interested to learn what we're doing right. Bloggers aren't there to cater to us as a company, and if your blog is heading in that direction, most readers will notice that and may choose to shy away from it. If you stick to being honest on your blog, that's what will get the company to notice you.

Continue reading Making it as an MMO blogger: The community manager interviews part 2

MassivelyMaking it as an MMO blogger: The community manager interviews part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bloggersbloggingcommunitycommunity-managementcommunity-managerfeaturedFri, 05 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Making it as an MMO blogger: An interview with top community managers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/making-it-as-an-mmo-blogger-an-interview-with-top-community-man/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/making-it-as-an-mmo-blogger-an-interview-with-top-community-man/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/04/making-it-as-an-mmo-blogger-an-interview-with-top-community-man/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ahh, that eternal debate about what differentiates a gaming blogger from a gaming journalist. We could go on and on about specifics on both sides, but the fact is, we all have the same goals in mind: writing about what we love.

Ravious at Kill Ten Rats approached us with an idea he's been working on for a few months involving MMO bloggers and their relationship with community managers. We thought this was a brilliant idea as a valuable hub of information for MMO bloggers, and offered to help him get it kick-started. So we sent off his questions to nine of the top community managers in the industry to get their take on how bloggers can establish and grow a favorable working relationship with them. With so much information here, we broke it into two parts: one today and the conclusion tomorrow. Follow along for their answers to part one!

Continue reading Making it as an MMO blogger: An interview with top community managers

MassivelyMaking it as an MMO blogger: An interview with top community managers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bloggersbloggingcommunitycommunity-managementcommunity-managerfeaturedThu, 04 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Community manager Daeke leaves Cryptic, Stormshade to replace him]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/community-manager-daeke-leaves-cryptic-stormshade-to-replace-him/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/community-manager-daeke-leaves-cryptic-stormshade-to-replace-him/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/community-manager-daeke-leaves-cryptic-stormshade-to-replace-him/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Today, Cryptic_Stormshade confirmed what the Champions Online community was speculating on since the early morning hours -- that Cryptic_Daeke, the Champions Online community manager, has parted ways with Cryptic Studios.

David "Daeke" Bass's leaving comes amidst heavy fire from the community on Cryptic's most recent endeavor, the addition of Vibora Bay in Champions Online. Daeke was the first member of the Cryptic staff to acknowledge that Vibora Bay would be a piece of paid content, and not a free patch to the game.

The switch in community managers is sudden and unexpected, leaving many in the Champions Online community wondering if this event and Vibora Bay's announcement are somehow related. Stormshade, however, has declined to speak any further on Daeke's departure, simply stating, "Daeke has moved on to other things. We wish him the best of luck wherever that path takes him."

Stormshade has now stepped away from Star Trek Online to become the new CM for Champions. We here at Massively would also like to take the time to wish Daeke the best and luck with whatever he pursues next.

MassivelyCommunity manager Daeke leaves Cryptic, Stormshade to replace him originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingchampions-onlinecocommunitycommunity-managercryptic-daekecryptic-studiosdaekedavid-bassdeparturevibora-bayWed, 03 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews PoxNora: Major updates and a website revamp]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/massively-interviews-poxnora-major-updates-and-a-website-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/massively-interviews-poxnora-major-updates-and-a-website-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/massively-interviews-poxnora-major-updates-and-a-website-revamp/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's been far too long since we first had the pleasure of introducing readers to PoxNora. So long, in fact, that we contacted SOE to see about speaking with the good people in Tucson, AZ about their strategy game that incorporates card collecting, online persistence and progression mechanics into a delightful cocktail of an online game.

There's a lot of changes coming to PoxNora, changes that for the first time will be revealed in this interview with SOE Community Manger Tony "RadarX" Jones. A new website, a new Rune Manager, a new Champions stat system, new maps and hints at the future of PoxNora are just a few of the topics covered beyond the break.

Did we mention all these updates are coming within the next few weeks? Oh, we've also got shiny imagery.

Continue reading Massively interviews PoxNora: Major updates and a website revamp

MassivelyMassively interviews PoxNora: Major updates and a website revamp originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-managerfeaturedinterviewmassively-interviewspoxnoraradarxrevampsoetony-jonesupdateuser-interfacewebsiteWed, 03 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthrise developers on the beauty of speed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/earthrise-developers-on-the-beauty-of-speed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/earthrise-developers-on-the-beauty-of-speed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/earthrise-developers-on-the-beauty-of-speed/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Masthead Studios CEO Atanas Atanasov recently dropped some info about the company's upcoming sci-fi MMO Earthrise, briefly mentioning the advantages and disadvantages of Exploration and Battle Modes in an interview. The Masthead Studio developers are following up with more on this topic in their latest installment of Question of the Week, "The Beauty of Speed".

Players who aren't wielding weapons will be able to move faster, potentially evading combat situations. Entering this "Exploration Mode" in combat can also impart some benefits, namely that enhanced speed couples with shield regeneration. That speed could allow a player to minimize the damage inflicted upon them by attacks but also leaves them open to greater risk of harm, should they take a direct hit. The tradeoff for that speed is lowered damage resistance. Earthrise will offer certain abilities that affect battlefield movement as well. Have a look at "The Beauty of Speed" for more on Earthrise's combat system, and the related discussion taking place among the game's community members.

MassivelyEarthrise developers on the beauty of speed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Atanas-Atanasovcombat-modecommunity-managerearthriseexploration-modegame-mechanicsmasthead-studiosmollnew-titlespost-apocalypticsci-fiWed, 27 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online reveals tidbits about 1.3.4]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/warhammer-online-reveals-tidbits-about-1-3-4/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/warhammer-online-reveals-tidbits-about-1-3-4/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/warhammer-online-reveals-tidbits-about-1-3-4/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

After the storm of updates, changes, and news over the holidays, Warhammer Online has been pretty quiet lately. Under the circumstances, that might be a little more unsettling for the game's players. But the silence has at long last been broken, as community manager Andy Belford recently shared some information with the community about what can be expected when patch 1.3.4 arrives. And at least one of the announced features is something that should make a large number of players quite thankful -- the promise of weapons available via RvR gameplay instead of PvE.

Belford stresses that the weapons will be purchased via a currency system that works with the game's scenarios, rather than any existing medallions or crests. As a connected point, he mentioned that scenarios were due for some more evaluation, with the promise of re-evaluating or removing several of the less popular options. There are also changes planned in the way that the game handles capturing cities, clearly designed to make defending captured areas more of a tactical decision for players. The patch is intended to go live on the test server by the second week of February at the absolute latest, which should be good news for all Warhammer Online fans.

MassivelyWarhammer Online reveals tidbits about 1.3.4 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy-belfordcommunity-managereaelectronic-artsmythicmythic-entertainmentpatch-previewrvrwarwar-patch-1.3.4warhammerwarhammer-onlineweaponsMon, 25 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Niche roles for small guilds in Earthrise]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/niche-roles-for-small-guilds-in-earthrise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/niche-roles-for-small-guilds-in-earthrise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/niche-roles-for-small-guilds-in-earthrise/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Earthrise is an upcoming post-apocalyptic/sci-fi MMO from Masthead Studios that we've been keeping an eye on. As a sandbox MMO, Earthrise takes place on a single but vast island called Enterra. This means finite territory and ultimately a trigger for conflict between guilds. Given there's strength in numbers, it stands to reason that collective action taken by large guilds could allow them to become political and economic powerhouses in the game. But what about smaller guilds? Will Earthrise have niches for small to medium-sized guilds or will they always be in the shadow of the larger player entities?

This won't be a game where only the largest guilds can succeed, according to Moll, the Earthrise Community Manager. She explains that while territorial conquest will not be an endeavor best suited to small guilds, much less solo players, these smaller groups will be able to tap into a steady stream of resources and income. One way is to provide services to the playerbase and even the larger guilds.

Continue reading Niche roles for small guilds in Earthrise

MassivelyNiche roles for small guilds in Earthrise originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The latest Earthrise Question of the Week is all about quests in the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO. "Central to the PvE experience, quests in Earthrise are designed to help introduce the players to the tense cultural and political scene that shapes the two conflicting factions fighting for control over the island of Enterra," explains Moll, the game's Community Manager.

There are faction-specific quests unique to either Continoma or Noir, but Earthrise's game mechanics will let players defect to a rival faction to experience another walk of life on Enterra island. Switching allegiances will not be a trivial matter, however, and the consequences a player assumes for doing so will limit how often most characters defect.

Continue reading The rewards of faction loyalty in Earthrise

MassivelyThe rewards of faction loyalty in Earthrise originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earthrise is an upcoming sandbox MMO that will have strong emphasis on guild-vs.-guild conflicts and PvP. The game will also have a deep crafting system, something that may interest players looking for more than PvP in a sci-fi MMO. Earthrise developer Masthead Studios has stated in the past that it'll be possible for players to craft unique, customized items and perhaps even establish a reputation for producing certain wares. The latest Question of the Week answered by the Earthrise developers sheds a little more light on how crafting and mass production will work in the game. Specifically, Masthead Studios explains how mass production will apply to some of the game's rarest craftable items.

Moll, Earthrise's Community Manager, explains how a blueprinting process creates Designs which are used by crafters; these are essentially templates combined with ingredients/materials to create items. Each Design will have a finite property called Edge which gets burned off over time through the manufacturing process. The limited use of Design Edges mean that the game's rarest or most elite items can't be created in large production runs, in other words keeping them rare and elite in a game where mass production is possible.

Continue reading Masthead Studios explains crafting and mass production in Earthrise

MassivelyMasthead Studios explains crafting and mass production in Earthrise originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueprintingblueprintscommunity-managercraftingdesignsearthriseedgeelitegame-mechanicsmanufacturingmass-productionmasthead-studiosmollnew-titlesqotwraresandboxsci-fiWed, 21 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Neutrality and criminality in the dystopian setting of Earthrise]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/12/neutrality-and-criminality-in-the-dystopian-setting-of-earthrise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/12/neutrality-and-criminality-in-the-dystopian-setting-of-earthrise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/12/neutrality-and-criminality-in-the-dystopian-setting-of-earthrise/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The developers at Masthead Studios dropped some info about their post-apocalyptic MMO Earthrise today, explaining how they've designed the game to allow freedom of choice. In true sandbox style, players will not be forced to choose between the main factions of Continoma or Noir and can, in fact, remain neutral. Earthrise Community Manager Moll writes in the latest Question of the Week, "Aside from Continoma and Noir as major Factions, there are 10 smaller political groups (called Organizations), and 4 of them will be Neutral and will provide neutral players with quests that allow them to build their Reputation and unlock rewards that cater to their political standings."

Cloning, which may prove to be one of the most vital services players will require, will be independent of faction standings, Moll explains. On that topic of cloning, Earthrise fans have also wondered how criminals can gain access to the same advanced infrastructure used by the more legitimate factions. Or, for that matter, how do criminals gain access to the various resources and markets used by non-criminal players?

Continue reading Neutrality and criminality in the dystopian setting of Earthrise

MassivelyNeutrality and criminality in the dystopian setting of Earthrise originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Players having more input or control over the games they play is an interesting direction some MMO companies are taking. While not every company will establish something structured as EVE Online has with the Council of Stellar Management or (as Massively reader Se7en pointed out yesterday) Star Wars Galaxies has with its Galactic Senate, the simple fact that game developers are making efforts to allow more player input is encouraging. Masthead Studios is a newcomer to the MMO scene with Earthrise, a far future post-apocalyptic title, but already they're showing an interest in getting player feedback as they develop the game. The devs at Masthead will now have a "Community Consensus" on the Earthrise forums which brings up key issues with the game's design, to learn how players feel about these aspects of the title.

It's not clear yet exactly how much input the players will really have on Earthrise but if the devs are willing to listen to the playerbase, we'd say this is a step in the right direction. The first Community Consensus deals with an issue that will likely be hotly debated -- adding additional incentive for player killing, with greater benefits at higher levels of notoriety.

Continue reading Earthrise developers seeking player input

MassivelyEarthrise developers seeking player input originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One of the interesting things that happens when you create a sandbox MMO where players can establish political systems, even empires, is that factions of those players will form and work against their opposition. In some cases, this is through large scale PvP campaigns. But another, more subtle aspect to warfare between guilds is espionage, should the game developer allow it. Fortunately for Earthrise players, Masthead Studios won't just allow espionage in their post-apocalyptic game -- they encourage it.

Espionage is the focus of the latest Question of the Week asked by a member of the Earthrise community. It seems that spying will be an important aspect of conflicts between guilds, but so will visits to other guild territories for trade runs. Masthead Studios implies that there will be a pass system used to allow non-guild members access to a guild's territory: "Even though one might expect only allies and friends to the guild would be allowed to visit using a pass system, it is possible for clever spies of enemy guilds to find a way to sneak in and report to their headquarters about the development of enemy bases."

Continue reading Hints of espionage in Earthrise

MassivelyHints of espionage in Earthrise originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's safe to say that there are more than a few gamers out there who would like alternatives to the numerous fantasy MMO titles on the market. For many, this means sci-fi MMOs. The game companies that are developing these sci-fi games aren't necessarily the Blizzards and SOEs of the MMO industry; it's often smaller companies like Masthead Studios and Reakktor Media creating something a bit different from what we've played before.

In the case of the spaceship-centric Black Prophecy, the game is well into development but they're still seeking a publisher. Reakktor told Massively they're in talks with potential publishers, but until they make an announcement we're following along with what news there is about the game. This led us to a brief interview at Thirteen 1 with Black Prophecy Community Manager Christian Schuett.

Continue reading Black Prophecy interview highlights game's tactics

MassivelyBlack Prophecy interview highlights game's tactics originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lineage II has a mystery event on the way, but NCsoft is remaining silent about the details. Instead, they've turned the announcement itself into a game for the players. Lineage II Community Manager Lyzira has hidden clues in the form of puzzle pieces for players to find, presumably tucked away in the Lineage II website.

Once all of the pieces are found, the next in-game event will be revealed, literally spelled out with the completed jigsaw puzzle. A player named Ghast kicked this off earlier in the week by finding the first piece and since then five more players have found and added pieces to the puzzle. Plenty remain to be found however, and the event info is still fragmented at best. Have a look at the Lineage II mystery event site and see if you can make sense of the message.

MassivelyLineage II mystery event has players hunting down puzzle pieces originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Although the post-apocalyptic MMO Earthrise is still in development, the game's creators at Masthead Studios take a question from the player base each week and turn it into a mini dev blog. Granted, some of the mechanics as they exist now may very well change before Earthrise launches, but it's still a nice peek into the development of the game.

The latest from Masthead Studios is "Fighting, Factions, and Guards" which explains Earthrise's system of establishing safety near the major cities and greater risk the further you venture from them.

Gallery: Earthrise

Continue reading The interplay between faction standings and PvP in Earthrise

MassivelyThe interplay between faction standings and PvP in Earthrise originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earthrise is the first massively multiplayer online game from Masthead Studios, an independent game developer in Bulgaria. The game has a dystopian setting, a single (but vast) island refuge is all that remains of the human race after the world was bathed in nuclear fire. As expected of a post-apocalyptic MMO, there will be areas of the game that are comprised of blasted out buildings and various gutted structures, but the island setting of Enterra will offer a wide variety of terrain for players to explore and exploit.

Moll, Earthrise's community manager, explains in a recent blog post: "As we developed Earthrise, we made sure that the world is tailored in such a way so it provides different game experiences - the whole island is divided almost equally between plains, hills and mountains."

Continue reading Earthrise devs on how terrain will impact gameplay

MassivelyEarthrise devs on how terrain will impact gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Although the game is still in its early beta stages, the Earthrise developers at Masthead Studios have been very proactive about discussing the post-apocalyptic title with the community. They've been dropping breadcrumbs each week about Earthrise's features and game mechanics, not giving too much info on the title, but enough to form a clearer picture of what Earthrise will be like. This week, they're focusing on player-controlled resources.

Earthrise community manager Moll explains that the game's rare resources will be used in many different scopes of activity, ranging from crafting gear and vehicles to building and enhancing structures in conquered territories. As to the latter -- building bases and command centers -- player organizations will need to make some tradeoffs.

Continue reading Earthrise devs on player controlled resources

MassivelyEarthrise devs on player controlled resources originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last week we wrote about the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO Earthrise and how players will be able to use mechas to establish trade and supply routes or, conversely, to hijack them. This brings up another transportation-related question, or several really. How will teleportation work in Earthrise? What limitations will be put on it? Is teleportation accessible to individuals or is it a guild-level ability? The latest Question of the Week entry from the Earthrise devs at Masthead Studios answers these questions and more.

The game's sandbox setting of Enterra is a massive island with many zones. Conventional modes of transportation may not always be the best option for players who need to get from one place to another, hence the developers have included teleportation (travel, not combat) game mechanics, but characters seeking instantaneous travel will need to pay fees for the privilege. There will be two simple types of teleportation -- short range for within zones, and long range, which can be a jump from one end of Enterra to another. The further you travel, the more you pay. Teleporters will be run by NPC factions, available to players aligned with that faction or neutrals, but Earthrise's guilds will also be able to establish their own teleporters.

Continue reading Earthrise developers explain how teleportation will affect gameplay

MassivelyEarthrise developers explain how teleportation will affect gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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