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[Analyst believes Star Wars: The Old Republic had a $500 million price tag]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/analyst-believes-star-wars-the-old-republic-had-a-500-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/analyst-believes-star-wars-the-old-republic-had-a-500-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/analyst-believes-star-wars-the-old-republic-had-a-500-million/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Half a billion dollars to choke someone with your mind. Not an awful investment.
Is Star Wars: The Old Republic the next big thing in MMOs? The same old thing in a new shell? Innovative? Routine? Polished? Buggy? Ask seven different people and you'll get nine different opinions. The one thing that everyone can agree on is that the game was expensive, and while most analysts are estimating somewhere between $100-$300 million, analyst Doug Creutz suspects that Electronic Arts has sunk nearly half a billion dollars into the project.

This is in stark contrast to the estimate from analyst Michael Pachter, who targeted the price tag at roughly $80 million when all was said and done. Unfortunately, the precise cost won't be known unless EA decides to release the game's official budget and how much was spent on development, which seems unlikely. What is certain is that the performance of Star Wars: The Old Republic is going to be under close scrutiny over the coming months among both fans of the game and fans of financial speculation.

[Thanks to Ben for the tip!]

MassivelyAnalyst believes Star Wars: The Old Republic had a $500 million price tag originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analystbiowarebioware-mythiccostdevelopment-costeaea-biowareelectronic-artsfinancial-analystinvestmentmmo-industryprice-tagstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 17 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What turns you off to a game before you even try it?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/the-daily-grind-what-turns-you-off-to-a-game-before-you-even-tr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/the-daily-grind-what-turns-you-off-to-a-game-before-you-even-tr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/the-daily-grind-what-turns-you-off-to-a-game-before-you-even-tr/#commentsFiled under: , ,

System Specs
In today's gaming market, we know nearly every detail of an MMO well before launch. Developers are more and more open with their products, possibly in response to the demands of a customer base with an incredible amount of competition for its dollar.

With so many choices and so much information available, gamers can afford to be choosy and make some decisions even before installing. Today we want to hear what you look at before you try a game. There are plenty of details that we know we do want, but what about the things that make you cringe and reconsider playing the game? Be it a free-to-play business model, a particular genre, a particular engine, or reportedly long download times, what is your dealbreaker?

Hit the comment button and tell us all about it!

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: What turns you off to a game before you even try it? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browser-basedcostdealbreakersdownload-timesf2pfree-to-playgenreopinionpreviewstdgthe-daily-grindTue, 08 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gods and Heroes entices players with extended trial, lower cost and a new class]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/gods-and-heroes-entices-players-with-extended-trial-lower-cost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/gods-and-heroes-entices-players-with-extended-trial-lower-cost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/gods-and-heroes-entices-players-with-extended-trial-lower-cost/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gods and Heroes
Gods & Heroes wants you to play it. Like, really, really bad. So much so, in fact, that the Roman-themed MMO is launching a multi-pronged campaign on potential players in an attempt to rope them into the game.

The first prong of the campaign is an extended free trial. Starting today, players can check out the full game for a week by simply signing up on the site. "By extending the trial period from three to seven days, new players will have a chance to really dig into the heart of the game and we know they'll like what they find," Heatwave's Anthony Castoro said.

The cost of Gods & Heroes is coming down as well, hitting a more reasonable $29.99 for both boxed and digital versions of the game. Castoro hopes that this will help interested parties get past any financial barriers and will widen the playerbase: "The community has spoken and our analytics confirm that players really enjoy Gods & Heroes once they've experienced it."

Finally, Heatwave is adding a chunk of new content to the game, including the ranged Scout class and a free archer minion for loyal subscribers. The undead minion Batillus will be granted to players who subscribed prior to August 1st.

MassivelyGods and Heroes entices players with extended trial, lower cost and a new class originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7-day-trialAnthony-CastoroarcherBatillusbonuscostdiscountfree-trialgods-and-heroesheatwaveheatwave-interactiverangedranged-classscoutseven-day-trialtrialThu, 01 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Subs and cash shops - Two great tastes that taste awful together]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/the-soapbox-subs-and-cash-shops-two-great-tastes-that-taste-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/the-soapbox-subs-and-cash-shops-two-great-tastes-that-taste-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/the-soapbox-subs-and-cash-shops-two-great-tastes-that-taste-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Lion dislikes sub + cash shop
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Hoo boy, The Secret World. On the one hand, I was really looking forward to it. On the other hand, it's now joined the likes of EVE Online, pretty much every Sony Online Entertainment title ever made, Star Trek Online, Champions Online, and Funcom's own Age of Conan in my personal double-dipping doghouse.

Yeah, The Secret World is going to have a subscription model (hooray) and a cash shop (boo, hiss, and zomgwtf). This should surprise no one, really, since game industry devs have been going all Gordon Gekko on us for a while now, but it was nonetheless a disappointing reveal on several levels.

Equally disappointing are the folks who defend the subscription-plus-cash-shop model and erroneously refer to it as an example of consumer-friendly choice.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Subs and cash shops - Two great tastes that taste awful together

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Subs and cash shops - Two great tastes that taste awful together originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelscash-shopchampions-onlinechoiceconsumer-choicecostcryptic-studiosdouble-dippingeconomicseveeve-onlineevilf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomgordon-gekkogreedgreed-is-goodjeff-strainmarketingmmo-industrymoneyopinionplayer-choicesecret-worldsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-trek-onlinesub-plus-cash-shopsubscriptionsubscription-basedsubscription-modelsubscription-plus-cash-shopthe-secret-worldthe-soapboxtswused-car-salesmenTue, 30 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final Fantasy XIV grants players a month of freedom and revamped markets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/final-fantasy-xiv-grants-players-a-month-of-freedom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/final-fantasy-xiv-grants-players-a-month-of-freedom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/15/final-fantasy-xiv-grants-players-a-month-of-freedom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Player opinions have been strongly mixed on Final Fantasy XIV, something that hardly needs to be reiterated. Even the game's supporters have occasionally been a touch leery about paying for their first month of the game with the current state of polish. Which means that it should be good news for players all around that Square-Enix is extending the normal "free month" to encompass an additional month, placing early adopters out of the realm of billing until November.

Aimed primarily at purchasers of the collector's edition with its headstart, the extension will be credited to any and all accounts created before October 19th. Billing will be credited for another 30 days, giving a total of 60 days free time within the game world. The official announcement assured the community that the development team is listening to all the feedback received, and wishes to thank Final Fantasy XIV's players for their devotion to the game. Considering that the game has just seen its first pass of reorganization for the market system and a director dispatch on the game's future, it's a morning of good news for the game's players.

[Thanks to Bartillo and FusionX for the tip!]

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV grants players a month of freedom and revamped markets originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>billingbreakingcostearly-launchextensionffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfree-extensionfree-monthfree-timefree-triallaunchmarket-reorganizationmarket-wardsnew-titlespatchpatchesplaytimepricingsquaresquare-enixupdateversion-updateFri, 15 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your briefest MMO dalliance?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/the-daily-grind-whats-your-briefest-mmo-dalliance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/the-daily-grind-whats-your-briefest-mmo-dalliance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/the-daily-grind-whats-your-briefest-mmo-dalliance/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There are some games that we play for months on end and never even bat an eye at the timing. And then there are games that we are given for free and never pick up after two days of play, even if we have no particular reason for leaving them behind. Usually we talk about the games that suck us in and transport us to a new realm, but it's wrong to ignore the games that don't make it very far out of the shrink-wrapped bundle.

Maybe you always wanted to like City of Heroes, but after four trials that didn't grab you it just wasn't worth the effort. Maybe you had pre-ordered Star Trek Online and decided after the pre-order early launch that you didn't actually want to play it any longer. Or perhaps you'd played on World of Warcraft for one night, then heard about the endgame and walked right back out without looking back. What game has had the shortest lifespan for you as an active player? If it was a game that you did pay for, did you do anything to try and recoup the loss?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your briefest MMO dalliance? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abandoned-gamescity-of-heroescohcostopinionpersonal-historyplayplaytimeshortshort-playtimestar-trek-onlinestotdgthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 24 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would a cheaper subscription get you playing more?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/08/the-daily-grind-would-a-cheaper-subscription-get-you-playing-mo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/08/the-daily-grind-would-a-cheaper-subscription-get-you-playing-mo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/08/the-daily-grind-would-a-cheaper-subscription-get-you-playing-mo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Let's face it - things are rough insofar as the general economy goes. People are being much more cautious with their cash, and especially now, they want much more value for their dollar when it comes to entertainment spending. What used to be OK at $15 may no longer be such a good deal, and with more free-to-play games coming all the time, players have a lot more options for entertainment.

In the comments for the poll we ran the other morning, there were some who noted that they've kept Lord of the Rings Online accounts in part because they felt it was a good value for an MMO. Others noted that they've switched to free-to-play games like Runes of Magic, or pay-once like Guild Wars to get their gaming on. Beyond that I also know a few parents who have opted to switch to FusionFall for family gaming, since it gives you the ability to have four different accounts for $9.95 a month. With that under consideration, this morning we thought we'd ask you - would a cheaper subscription cost for MMOs across the board (say, all of them drop to the $9.95 model of Lord of the Rings Online - or maybe even offer some lifetime options) get you to play more games - or perhaps jump around and try out other games? Would a cheaper subscription rate bring you back to a game account you may have let lapse due to harder times?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Would a cheaper subscription get you playing more? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costeconomic-slumpeconomyfree-to-playsubscriptiontdgthe-daily-grindvalueWed, 08 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The cost of failure, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/eve-evolved-the-cost-of-failure-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/eve-evolved-the-cost-of-failure-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/eve-evolved-the-cost-of-failure-part-2/#commentsContinue reading EVE Evolved: The cost of failure, part 2

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The cost of failure, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battleshipccpcheapcostcruiserdeath penaltyDeathPenaltyeveeve-onlinefeaturedfrigateinsuranceiskjoystiqfeaturesmoneytech 2Tech2Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The cost of failure]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/eve-evolved-the-cost-of-failure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/eve-evolved-the-cost-of-failure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/eve-evolved-the-cost-of-failure/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The harsh death penalty in EVE Online is something that's talked about a lot. I even touched on the issue myself when I compared EVE Online's style of PvP to Age of Conan and when I investigated the phenomenon of suicide ganking. In EVE, your ship being destroyed means millions of your hard-earned isk is flushed down the drain. If you're unlucky enough not to get away in your escape pod, you'll be killed and recloned, costing yet more isk and destroying any expensive implants in your head. The brutal death penalty associated with PvP in EVE is responsible for putting a lot of players off playing the game but is the taste of death really as bitter as people make it out to be?

In this article, I examine the cost of defeat in PvP and how to minimise these costs without ruining your PvP performance.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The cost of failure

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The cost of failure originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battleshipccpcheapcostcruiserdeath penaltyDeathPenaltyeveeve-onlinefeaturedfrigateinsuranceiskjoystiqfeaturesmoneytech 2Tech2Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic lets slip the dogs of WAR: Warhammer Online launches Sept. 18th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/mythic-lets-slip-the-dogs-of-war-warhammer-online-launches-sept/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/mythic-lets-slip-the-dogs-of-war-warhammer-online-launches-sept/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/mythic-lets-slip-the-dogs-of-war-warhammer-online-launches-sept/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Electronic Arts and Mythic Entertainment have announced the official launch date for Warhammer Online: September 18th! That goes for the regions of North America, Europe, and Oceania.

Additionally, game time pricing has been revealed. In North America, a month-to-month subscription will go for the standard $14.99 per month. Three month and six month plans will be available at $41.97 and $77.94, respectively. For Europe, it'll be one month for 12.99€ (£10.31), three months for 35.97€ (£28.55), and six months for 65.94€ (£52.34).

Earlier today, the EA store was updated with an August 23rd date, but that apparently was an error. September 18th is it folks! Get ready for some Realm on Realm action! Check out the full press release behind the jump.

Continue reading Mythic lets slip the dogs of WAR: Warhammer Online launches Sept. 18th

MassivelyMythic lets slip the dogs of WAR: Warhammer Online launches Sept. 18th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcostcostseaea-mythicelectronic-artslaunchlaunch-datemythicmythic-entertainmentplanspricesrelease-dateseptember-18september-18thsubscriptionsubscriptionswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineWed, 06 Aug 2008 09:40:00 EST<![CDATA[How much is too much? WAR to push the envelope?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/17/how-much-is-too-much-war-to-push-the-envelope/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/17/how-much-is-too-much-war-to-push-the-envelope/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/17/how-much-is-too-much-war-to-push-the-envelope/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When you sit down and look at the costs involved in being an MMO fanatic, the dollars per hour of entertainment ratio is actually pretty good. After an initial down-payment comparable to any other game out, you pay a paltry $15 a month to keep the servers running, keep the developers churning away at new content, and toss a couple bucks at the corporate investors to keep them behind the MMO phenomenon. A whole month's entertainment comes out to be cheaper than a night at the movies, unless you're using a senior citizen's discount. But as good a value as we get, are we poised on the brink of another across-the-board price hike? Keen and Graev make an extremely pertinent observation in TTH's Warhammer Online FAQ. Namely, they're quoting EA Mythic's Mark Jacobs as saying that WAR's subscription fees could quite possibly exceed the $14.99 a month mark.

It just has to be EA that's talking about doing this, doesn't it? As much as I try to resist falling into the trap of bashing EA for being a thoughtless corporate machine, they're just always getting themselves into trouble like this. I'm not quite ready to renounce the capitalist system and move to a commune in the jungles of Costa Rica just yet, but they really are making me think about it. What about WAR would justify the increase in costs over the competition? Is it because part of the core demographic actually plays the tabletop game, where you can drop over $70 on a single unpainted pewter miniature? Unlikely. Is it because of the higher cost of oil means that it's harder to fuel the server farms it's going to take to keep a game like WAR going? Not exactly, but closer. Or is it just because they can? Circle takes the square.

MassivelyHow much is too much? WAR to push the envelope? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcosteaea-mythicmythicsubscription-feeswarwarhammer-onlineThu, 17 Jan 2008 13:00:00 EST