Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How well do you really know your computer?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/the-daily-grind-how-well-do-you-really-know-your-computer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/the-daily-grind-how-well-do-you-really-know-your-computer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/the-daily-grind-how-well-do-you-really-know-your-computer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ask the average gamer how well they know their computer while in-game, and you'd get the impression that MMO players are technological geniuses able to assemble a working motherboard out of toothpicks and a photo of Richard Dean Anderson. When we're being put to the test, a lot of us feign knowledge that we don't actually possess, and then later ask our friend who really does know something about computers why the hard drive started acting weird when we put our magnets on the case.

But here on Massively, you can be at least moderately anonymous when you admit that most of your computer knowledge comes from sticking the cordy-thing in the socket and hoping it doesn't blow up. Or that you really can assemble a working motherboard from toothpicks and MacGuyver promotional stills. So tell us, in all honesty, how much do you really know about the central tool of your hobby? Are you moderately competent, highly skilled, or unabashedly clueless?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our 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 The Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How well do you really know your computer? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitycomputercomputerscultureegohonesthonestyno-just-tell-the-truthopinionpersonal-abilitytdgthe-daily-grindMon, 25 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Adventure in a Forsaken World with some help from your friends at Massively]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/18/adventure-in-a-forsaken-world-with-some-help-from-your-friends-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/18/adventure-in-a-forsaken-world-with-some-help-from-your-friends-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/18/adventure-in-a-forsaken-world-with-some-help-from-your-friends-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you're a fan of Perfect World Entertainment, or if you've enjoyed Battle of the Immortals, Jade Dynasty, Ether Saga Online, or Perfect World, then we've got something that will be right up your alley. It's called Forsaken World, and it's the next offering from the guys at PWE.

Forsaken World is an interesting little title, as we've discussed on Massively before. Not only is a vampire-esque race counted amongst the game's races, but the game also features large scale plotlines and a varied group of classes. Forsaken World seems to be a very deep game, but none of us can say that for sure until we play it. And if you're looking to play the game, then just take a leap after the break to find out how to nab yourself a key!

Continue reading Adventure in a Forsaken World with some help from your friends at Massively

MassivelyAdventure in a Forsaken World with some help from your friends at Massively originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 May 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beta-keyclosed-betaclosed-beta-key-giveawaycomputercontestforsaken-worldibuypoweribuypower-chimera-2perfect-world-entertainmentpwesweepstakesTue, 18 May 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Here comes your nineteenth system meltdown]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/the-daily-grind-here-comes-your-nineteenth-system-meltdown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/the-daily-grind-here-comes-your-nineteenth-system-meltdown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/the-daily-grind-here-comes-your-nineteenth-system-meltdown/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We play enough games on the computer to know better than your average user. We're fully aware that the machine doesn't hate us, for one thing. But we sometimes turn it on, and suddenly find that our graphics card has decided to turn into a miniature sun within the plastic case, melting all of our valuable components into a reasonably-sized dinner plate at a time when we can't really drop the thousand-odd dollars on a new machine. Thus begins the process of pulling things out, confirming that they're dead, calling tech support and being told that you should buy a new computer, and you wondering where your pleasant evening has gone.

Perhaps you didn't find your computer going nova. Maybe it decided to just fail to boot for no reason, necessitating a hard drive replacement. Or perhaps it was your connection erupting in a shower of failure followed by a string of support techs claiming to dispatch new people and lying. Whatever the case, in a hobby that seems to be constantly subject to a particularly draconic form of Murphy's Law, we ask you: what's the worst meltdown you've had? Was it the most costly to fix, the most inopportune time, or just frustrating and stressful for some other reason?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Here comes your nineteenth system meltdown originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>computercomputer-troubleculturehatemalfunctionmechanical-troublemurphys-lawopinionragesystem-failuresystem-meltdowntdgthe-daily-grindMon, 14 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Win an Anarchy Online-themed desktop from Funcom and GameRigs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/28/win-an-anarchy-online-themed-desktop-from-funcom-and-gamerigs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/28/win-an-anarchy-online-themed-desktop-from-funcom-and-gamerigs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/28/win-an-anarchy-online-themed-desktop-from-funcom-and-gamerigs/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It seems to be the year of the Science Fiction MMO-themed desktop PC. A couple months back, CCP and Commodore joined forces to sell us EVE Online enthusiast desktops. This time, GameRigs and Funcom put together the above-pictured Anarchy Online computer, and are giving it away in a sweepstakes.

It looks sexy and all, but we were disappointed to see that the provided system specs are rather vague. It has an "Intel Core 2 processor" and an "NVIDIA GeForce graphics card." Well, that could be anything, but hey, it's free, ain't it? And do you really need a GeForce GTX 280 to run 2001's Anarchy Online? Not so much!

It looks like you don't have to do anything but fill out a form to enter the sweepstakes. You don't even have to be an Anarchy Online subscriber. You do have to be a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec; now that's not fair!), though.

MassivelyWin an Anarchy Online-themed desktop from Funcom and GameRigs originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineaocasecomputercontestcustomdesktopfuncomgamerigsmodsweepstakeswinSat, 28 Jun 2008 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: Choking on graphics]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/player-vs-everything-choking-on-graphics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/player-vs-everything-choking-on-graphics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/player-vs-everything-choking-on-graphics/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I managed to get my hands on an Age of Conan beta key this morning, so off I went to excitedly download the client. I'm a big fan of Robert E. Howard's original pulps, and I've been looking forward to the grim and gritty world of Hyboria for a while now. Most of what I've read about it so far has been very positive (with a few notable exceptions due to some of the design choices). Our own write-up of the overall beta experience from Michael Zenke was very encouraging with regard to the combat, gameplay, and feel of the world. Overall, it seems like there's a lot to be excited about. There's just one glaring issue that everyone seems to be having: the graphics are choking their machines.

This isn't a new phenomenon. It seems like every new game on the market in the last few years wants to beat our poor, 1-3 year old computers into lifeless heaps of rubbish with their outlandish and ridiculous system requirements. Even World of Warcraft, a game celebrated for its accessibility and ability to be run on older machines, wasn't that way at launch (though it was substantially better than its major competitors at the time, EverQuest 2 and City of Heroes). However, this strategy of supercharged visuals has made things hard for a number of games. Vanguard in particular suffered a lot of criticism for having ridiculous system requirements when it launched, and that's just one example. Given that people would like to actually be able to play these games, why on earth do game designers insist on shoving next-gen graphics down our throats when the vast majority of us have last-gen machines (or worse)?

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: Choking on graphics

MassivelyPlayer vs. Everything: Choking on graphics originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 May 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilityage-of-conancity-of-heroescomputercomputerscriticismeverquest-2featuredgraphicsgraphics-cardhardwarehardware-salesplayer-vs-everythingsystemsystem-requirementstabula-rasavanguardworld-of-warcraftFri, 02 May 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[How the MMO crawled out of the MUD]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/how-the-mmo-crawled-out-of-the-mud/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/how-the-mmo-crawled-out-of-the-mud/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/04/how-the-mmo-crawled-out-of-the-mud/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Clockwork Gamer has a good juicy post up about how MMOs first learned how to do things from MUDs, and since today is Old School Day, I thought it was appropriate. Wait, you haven't heard of Multi-User Dungeons? If you've never played one, you'll probably be shocked that they used to fascinate people-- imagine an old-school computer, with its green text on a black screen, dialing into another computer and entering a text-based virtual world. As in, you dial up your favorite BBS, and a message greets you "You are in an inn. There are exits north and west," and from there, you type in words telling the computer what to do, while other users play the game with you. You can try the whole thing with the java client here if you want.

A far cry from the virtual worlds we know today, yes, but that's where it started. CG actually focuses on the higher level of things (in many MUDs, players could actually form guilds, and wander around the world together-- "go north"-- killing dragons-- "attack dragon with great mace"), but even the most basic of MMO thrills was originated in the MUD world. "Seeing" a virtual character pass through the room you're in ("Kingofworld enters the room. Kingofworld leaves the room.") was a thrill, because you knew that there was someone else, looking at a screen just like you, behind that character. On the other hand, as CG points out, there were a lot of things that MUDs could do that graphical MMOs can't nowadays.

Continue reading How the MMO crawled out of the MUD

MassivelyHow the MMO crawled out of the MUD originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Nov 2007 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bbschatclockwork-gamercomputerfeaturedmmosmudMUDsold-schooltext-basedvirtual-worldSun, 04 Nov 2007 11:15:00 EST