Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should weather systems impact gameplay?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/19/the-daily-grind-should-weather-systems-impact-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/19/the-daily-grind-should-weather-systems-impact-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/19/the-daily-grind-should-weather-systems-impact-gameplay/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Daily Grind Should weather systems impact gameplay
We've talked about weather systems and day/night cycles before, although generally MMOs and gamers seem to think of them mostly as cosmetic features that are fine to have as long as they don't get in the way. But what if they do get in the way? What if weather actually has an impact on your character and the game world?

What if a pass got snowed in so that you couldn't reach a certain area? What if whiteout conditions kept you from seeing that face-eating monster 10 feet away? What if wind gave your character an extra bounce in his or her step if it came from behind or actually slowed you down if you were facing into it? What if lakes dried up in drought or lightning could strike metal objects (like, um, your plate mail)? Would it be more immersive for you or just more annoying?

Seeing as most of the potential ways that weather could interact with us are negative, this might be a silly question. Still, I'm putting it out there: Should weather systems impact gameplay, and if so, how?

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: Should weather systems impact gameplay? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindday-night-cycleday-night-cyclesopinionsnowtdgthe-daily-grindweatherweather-systemsWed, 19 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you like getting email updates regarding MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-getting-email-updates-regarding-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-getting-email-updates-regarding-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/18/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-getting-email-updates-regarding-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I seriously don't care about Nightmare Mode Anything.
Yesterday morning I received an email from Star Wars: The Old Republic to let me know that the latest game patch went live and I should totally play and check it out. Which is kind of pointless, because I have been playing. I didn't stop playing. Playing has been happening consistently the whole time. The mail shares a space in the same folder I reserve for mails like the ones from EVE Online urging me to come back after playing for one month seven years ago.

Admittedly, working for this site means that there are very few bits of MMO information that don't manage to hit our ears at some point. But are these mails ever received with any real joy or interest? I ask you, dear readers: Do you like getting email updates regarding MMOs? Or would you prefer that games of all stripes stop pestering you and let you play what and when you want?

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: Do you like getting email updates regarding MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>come-backcome-back-lettersculturedaily-grindemailhumornewslettersopinionspamtdgthe-daily-grindupdate-lettersTue, 18 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should mounts do something other than transport?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/16/the-daily-grind-should-mounts-do-something-other-than-transport/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/16/the-daily-grind-should-mounts-do-something-other-than-transport/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/16/the-daily-grind-should-mounts-do-something-other-than-transport/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Daily Grind Should mounts do something other than transport
While I'm totally rocking the minivan these days (no, I was never cool), I actually love my car. It's not just an object that transports me from point A to B; it's a mobile base of operation. It has hookups for my gadgets, diaper bags, DVD players, and so on. It's home away from home, as it should be.

What about our mounts in MMOs? Most of them do nothing other than give us a nice increase in speed, with a select few granting us a pilot's license and clearing us for flight. But do they have functions other than just transporting us? Once in a while I read about a mount that allows you to pick up passengers, or one that offers a vending service, or even one that fights alongside of you.

What do you think? Should mounts do something other than just transport, and if so, what?

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: Should mounts do something other than transport? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindminivanmountmountsopiniontdgthe-daily-grindtransportationwar-steedSun, 16 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How do you socialize in MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/15/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-socialize-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/15/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-socialize-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/15/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-socialize-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Saying that the only merit of MMOs is getting a huge group to kill a dragon is like saying that the only merit of books is as paperweights.
I had a friend once in World of Warcraft who had never taken part in a single dungeon. She knew she wasn't geared very well and hadn't built a very solid character, and she didn't feel like dragging others down. She focused instead on socializing through roleplaying and helping out lower-level players with extra money. That was fun for her, far more so than trying to force herself into the raiding endgame, and it was something she just couldn't do in a single-player environment.

For some people, being social in an MMO means doing group content or nothing. For others, being social means putting on a musical performance in Lord of the Rings Online even while you prefer to solo rather than group to clear content. So what about you? How do you like to socialize in MMOs? Is it strictly through content, other activities, or a mixture of both?

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: How do you socialize in MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>companionshipculturedaily-grindinteractionsopinionsocialsocializingtdgthe-daily-grindSat, 15 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are petitions to resurrect MMOs a waste of time?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/the-daily-grind-are-petitions-to-resurrect-mmos-a-waste-of-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/the-daily-grind-are-petitions-to-resurrect-mmos-a-waste-of-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/the-daily-grind-are-petitions-to-resurrect-mmos-a-waste-of-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Tabula Rasa
We've received several tips over the last few weeks about a petition players are circulating in the hopes of resurrecting NCsoft's ill-fated MMO shooter Tabula Rasa. Even Richard Garriott himself tweeted about the campaign. But inside the Massively virtual offices, most of us just shrugged sadly. We've seen how these petitions go. Every once in a while, a sunsetted game returns from the dead, but MMO players are awash in petitions for games that never came back. Just ask the 21,845 gamers who signed the Save City of Heroes petition last autumn.

So what do you think -- are petitions to resurrect or save MMOs a waste of time? Or do you sign them anyway, just in case there's a tiny chance they might work?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are petitions to resurrect MMOs a waste of time? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asherons-call-2brianna-royce-tdgcity-of-heroesdaily-grindopinionpetitionpetitionsrichard-garriottsunsetsunsetstabula-rasatdgthe-daily-grindFri, 14 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How do you define MMOFPS?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/13/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-define-mmofps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/13/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-define-mmofps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/13/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-define-mmofps/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Battleground Europe is an MMOFPS
The Massively chat room was the setting for an interesting discussion about MMO definitions recently. And, as often happens, said discussion ended up inspiring a Daily Grind. This one here, in fact. We were talking about the term MMOFPS and more specifically, the definition of it. It's one of those thorny, subjective things quite like MMORPG or even MMO, and all of the people participating in the discussion had different takes on it.

So, for today's Daily Grind, we're asking you to weigh in. What specifically makes an MMOFPS an MMOFPS as opposed to an MMO shooter or more simply, an online shooter?

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: How do you define MMOFPS? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindfpsmmo-shootermmofpsopinionshootertdgthe-daily-grindThu, 13 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do other players exist in the game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/12/the-daily-grind-do-other-players-exist-in-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/12/the-daily-grind-do-other-players-exist-in-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/12/the-daily-grind-do-other-players-exist-in-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Daily Grind Do other players exist in the game
First things first: Nobody's suggesting that you're hallucinating all of the other players in what is actually a single-player game. While that might make for an interesting albeit quite specific movie, that's not the scenario I'm contemplating today.

Instead, I started wondering if, within the context of the game, its NPCs, and its lore, do other players actually exist? Your character is widely acknowledged as existing by every quest-giver out there. You are the hero, after all. Unless the world is full of scam artists, you're the only person who needs to save the princess and escort the prince, and once that's done, the world shouldn't need rescuing more than once.

But is there evidence that other players are acknowledged by NPCs? Does anyone notice that there are a million other heroes running around too? Or is the game so focused on making you feel like you're the center of the universe that it engages in a blanket denial that there might be other axe-toting do-gooders out there? Am I going mad? Probably.

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: Do other players exist in the game? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindescortexistencelorenpcopinionquest-giverquestgiverssave-the-princesssave-the-princess-save-the-worldtdgthe-daily-grindWed, 12 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How far in advance will you get excited about a game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/the-daily-grind-how-far-in-advance-will-you-get-excited-about-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/the-daily-grind-how-far-in-advance-will-you-get-excited-about-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/11/the-daily-grind-how-far-in-advance-will-you-get-excited-about-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The robots didn't make me love the game, but they did help seal the deal.
Following WildStar since its first cinematic trailer way back when has been an interesting experience, partly because I've been so consistently lucky. I started following the game when we knew virtually nothing, and for all I knew then it could easily have turned out to be a game I'd never willingly play. That hasn't been the case, but the earlier you get on board with a game, the more your enthusiasm consists of a thin hope and some vague notions.

Of course, Kickstarter projects are based almost entirely on you being a fan without ever playing the game. But for some people, following a game that's only been announced is setting yourself up for disappointment. So how far in advance will you get excited about a game? Do you get psyched from developer diaries and early screenshots, or do you wait until you play a beta build and find out the game is fun?

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: How far in advance will you get excited about a game? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedaily-grindfuturefuture-gamesgame-announcementsnew-titlesopinionplayer-experiencepreviewstdgthe-daily-grindupcoming-titlesTue, 11 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have MMOs gone as far as they can go?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/the-daily-grind-have-mmos-gone-as-far-as-they-go/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/the-daily-grind-have-mmos-gone-as-far-as-they-go/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/10/the-daily-grind-have-mmos-gone-as-far-as-they-go/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mirror's Edge - Don't look down
Do you ever feel like MMOs have gone as far as they can go? I don't mean to be a downer, especially on a Monday, but occasionally I'll play a single-player title that knocks my socks off and -- as an incurable MMO fan -- the first thing I think of is could/should this be made into an MMO? And usually the answer to that question is no, it can't be done because of technical limitations, latency, or lack of gamer interest.

Over the weekend I played Mirror's Edge, a first-person platforming thing that I missed way back in 2009. I fell in love with the free-running, the expansive environments, and the vertigo-inducing perspectives and I realized, sadly, that all of those things and many more simply aren't in the cards for MMOs. I know that not everything has to be an MMO, but I'd love to experience Mirror's Edge with a persistent world behind it, as well as share it with my MMO-playing buddies.

What about you, Massively readers? Do you think MMOs have gone as far as they can go, or do you think we're in store for anything new and exciting beyond continual refinements to the existing formula?

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: Have MMOs gone as far as they can go? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindfaithfree-runnerfree-runninginnovationmirrors-edgeopinionplatformingtdgthe-daily-grindMon, 10 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you subscribe for loyalty bonuses?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-subscribe-for-loyalty-bonuses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-subscribe-for-loyalty-bonuses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-subscribe-for-loyalty-bonuses/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Daily Grind Do you subscribe for loyalty bonuses
Just because a game labels itself free-to-play doesn't mean that it lacks the option to subscribe. In fact, many so-called F2P titles offer a hybrid business model that seeks to attract the bees with the free honey and convince them to eventually rent out a spot on the honeycomb.

As a frugal eagle, I don't like to subscribe if I can help it. Yet once in a while I do, either to support the game or (far more likely) to nab some of those sweet loyalty bonuses that subscribers get. Whether it's extra currency, boosts, cosmetic items, or that fancy forum title that makes me the envy of absolutely no one, subscription has its perks.

So do you subscribe to an MMO to enjoy those extra frills? Are you eager to see what the next round of veteran rewards will give to you?

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: Do you subscribe for loyalty bonuses? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindf2pfree-to-playloyalty-programloyalty-rewardsopinionsubscriptiontdgthe-daily-grindveteran-rewardsSun, 09 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your ideal group size?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/08/the-daily-grind-whats-your-ideal-group-size/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/08/the-daily-grind-whats-your-ideal-group-size/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/08/the-daily-grind-whats-your-ideal-group-size/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Triple troll team time!
World of Warcraft is introducing flexible raids soon, allowing you to experience major content with any size of group that you want. Assuming, of course, that you want to experience that content with at least nine other people. The flexibility is nice, but it doesn't allow you to run with any group size that you want.

But maybe that isn't an issue for you in the slightest. Maybe your ideal group size is a dozen people. Perhaps you'd prefer five people along with you, or seven, or just two. City of Heroes scaled most content to group size no matter what, asking players to bring as many people along as they liked and not worry about having too many or too few.

So let's throw the question over to you, dear readers. What's your ideal group size? Are you happiest in small groups, pairs, large groups, or massive onslaughts whose numbers block out the sun?

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's your ideal group size? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedaily-grindendgameendgame-groupsgroup-contentgroup-sizegroupsopinionplayerssizetdgthe-daily-grindSat, 08 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What must E3 deliver to MMO fans this year?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/the-daily-grind-what-must-e3-deliver-to-mmo-fans-this-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/the-daily-grind-what-must-e3-deliver-to-mmo-fans-this-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/07/the-daily-grind-what-must-e3-deliver-to-mmo-fans-this-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

E3 Map
The 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo kicks off next week, and Massively will be on the show floor feeding opinions and news and videos back to you this year as every year. Our lineup is more than respectable when it comes to upcoming MMOs; we'll be looking at blockbuster MMOs like The Elder Scrolls Online, WildStar, ArcheAge, and Final Fantasy XIV as well as up-and-comers like HEX and Black Gold, just to name a few.

But even with a full roster of games to preview, I've worried the last few years that E3 is being eclipsed, at least for MMO fans, by more player-friendly and MMO-friendly venues like PAX. What do you guys think -- am I wrong? What must E3 deliver to MMO fans specifically this year to seem more like a chance for the industry to showcase games in one convenient location and less like an advertising platform for the biggest companies as they trample each other with hype?

Bonus question: What, above all else, do you want Massively's attendees to focus on at E3 this year?

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 must E3 deliver to MMO fans this year? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgconconventionconvention-coveragedaily-grinde3e3-2013electronic-entertainment-expoevent-coverageexpohypemassively-event-coverageopiniontdgthe-daily-grindFri, 07 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you aim for beta tester rewards?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/the-daily-grind-do-you-aim-for-beta-tester-rewards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/the-daily-grind-do-you-aim-for-beta-tester-rewards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/06/the-daily-grind-do-you-aim-for-beta-tester-rewards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Daily Grind - Do you aim for beta tester rewards?
So, World of Warplanes is apparently gearing up for open beta, and I'm kicking myself for sitting on an alpha tester account that I've had for over a year. Why? Well because Wargaming.net is going to be giving away some sort of spiffy exclusive aircraft to beta testers.

The catch is that you need to log 700 beta battles to qualify, and even if I were to somehow average 10 per day, it would take me... let's see, 700, divide by 10... 70! days to get there. Now, free-to-play open betas do tend to go on for-frickin'-ever, so maybe I have a chance.

In any case, The Daily Grind isn't about my first world problems, it's about you and yours. So, do you aim for beta tester rewards, or do you just try to do your part to make the game better?

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: Do you aim for beta tester rewards? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beta-tester-rewardsdaily-grindf2pfree-to-playhistoricalopinionplaneplanespvprewardstdgthe-daily-grindwarwargaming.netwarplanewarplanesworld-of-warplaneswowpThu, 06 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What was the best year for MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/05/the-daily-grind-what-was-the-best-year-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/05/the-daily-grind-what-was-the-best-year-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/05/the-daily-grind-what-was-the-best-year-for-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Daily Grind What was the best year for MMOs
Some time ago I became frustrated that I couldn't find a comprehensive timeline of when MMO launches and expansions happened, so I decided to make one myself. I've always been fascinated with the overall unfolding of history across this genre, and I've also wondered one important question that comes from such examination: What was the best year for MMOs?

There are definitely some years that have seen more releases than others, but maybe the answer to that question doesn't lie in sheer numbers. Perhaps it's in quality or significance. Was the best year 1997, when Ultima Online came out and really put MMOs on the map? Or was it perhaps 2004 with its incredible trio of City of Heroes, World of Warcraft, and EverQuest II? Would you say that 2009 was significant, as DDO ushered in a wave of sub-to-F2P conversions? I think there's even a good case to be made for 2012, what with its large amount of high-quality releases.

But this isn't about what I think; The Daily Grind is about your opinion. If you had to pick the absolute best year for MMOs, what year would that be?

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 was the best year for MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescohdaily-grindddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineeq2everquest-iif2pfree-to-playmmo-timelineopiniontdgthe-daily-grindtimelineultima-onlineuoworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 05 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you get married in-game if you could?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/the-daily-grind-would-you-get-married-in-game-if-you-could/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/the-daily-grind-would-you-get-married-in-game-if-you-could/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/04/the-daily-grind-would-you-get-married-in-game-if-you-could/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's not exactly subtlety, I admit.
In-game marriages are largely a thing of the past. Outside of outliers like RIFT, MapleStory and Final Fantasy XIV, most games don't and won't feature the option to tie the knot inside your game of choice. Which might be seen as a bit sad, but it also raises the question of whether or not you'd use the feature even if it were available.

Maybe you enjoy roleplaying, maybe you want to have a tongue-in-cheek ceremony, or maybe you play with your spouse and want to be married on multiple levels. Or maybe you think the idea of being pretend married in a pretend game is kind of hopelessly silly to begin with. So today we ask -- if you had the option of getting married in your game of choice, would you take advantage of it? Or do you think it's more or less the apex of unnecessary fluff features in games?

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: Would you get married in-game if you could? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosmeticsculturedaily-grindflufffluff-featuresfriendshipsin-game-marriagemarriageopinionrelationshipstdgthe-daily-grindTue, 04 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How's your Windows 8 gaming experience?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/the-daily-grind-hows-your-windows-8-gaming-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/the-daily-grind-hows-your-windows-8-gaming-experience/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/03/the-daily-grind-hows-your-windows-8-gaming-experience/#commentsFiled under: ,

This Win 8 screen makes me nervous
We don't often use The Daily Grind to ask the community for advice, but hey, what the heck. I've got to upgrade to Windows 8 for a non-gaming application, and I'm trying to decide whether to roll the dice and do it on my primary (i.e., gaming) desktop or relegate the new OS and the problem child app to one of my less desirable but more expendable PCs.

My hesitation stems from a substantial backlog of Steam games, both new and old, that may or may not function under Windows 8. I'm also curious if anyone has any experience running AAA MMOs like DC Universe Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic, TERA, and others on Windows 8. And no, this isn't a Windows-8-sucks thread, at least from my perspective, it's more of an informal poll.

So, in a nutshell, how has your Windows 8 gaming experience been thus far? Has everything gone swimmingly or have you had any issues?

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: How's your Windows 8 gaming experience? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindopiniontdgthe-daily-grindwinwin-8win8windows-8windows-8-gamingMon, 03 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which MMO story has moved you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/02/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-story-has-moved-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/02/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-story-has-moved-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/02/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-story-has-moved-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Daily Grind Which MMO story has moved you
Sometimes I don't think that MMO writers get enough credit for the truly great tales that are embedded into our game experiences. Perhaps that's because there's a lot of fluffy nonsense tales that surround them, or perhaps it's because we're just so used to skipping past the story to reach the objective. Even so, I have to believe that there are stories that touch and move us in MMOs, because I've encountered several of them.

I have a particularly strong connection to many of the accounts that unfold in The Secret World. One story that I pieced together via lore discoveries and missions is the tale of Carrie Killian. We never meet her in the game, but we do explore the burned shell of the Black House, where this fortune teller was burned alive after a mob rampage. After learning all of the events, I had a lot more sympathy for this poltergeist than I did for the townsfolk.

So which MMO story has moved you? Which has remained lodged in your memories even unto this day?

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 MMO story has moved you? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-housecarrie-killiandaily-grindloreopinionstorytaletdgthe-black-housethe-daily-grindthe-secret-worldSun, 02 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite game that doesn't work in the US?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/01/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-game-that-doesnt-work-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/01/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-game-that-doesnt-work-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/01/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-game-that-doesnt-work-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Westerns do work. Unless they don't.
So we all found out yesterday that MMOs do not work in the US. The only two that have ever been successful at all were EverQuest and World of Warcraft. This much come as a shock to the teams behind EVE Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic, The Secret World, Guild Wars 2, Star Trek Online, Lord of the Rings Online, Second Life, Defiance, EverQuest II, RIFT, Neverwinter, and countless other titles. Or the plethora of titles still running in maintenance mode.

You get the idea.

So today we're going to just plant our tongues firmly in our cheeks. Pick a game you like that is not one of the two MMOs that has been successful in the US, and explain why you like it. There's no need to say anything bad about the many other games that don't work in the US, just wax poetic about your favorite game that doesn't work.

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's your favorite game that doesn't work in the US? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedaily-grindfailurefandomfansgushinghumoropiniontdgthe-daily-grindSat, 01 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you use Kickstarter to pre-order MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-kickstarter-to-pre-order-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-kickstarter-to-pre-order-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-kickstarter-to-pre-order-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

TUG's ten-dollar kickstarter tier
In MJ's interview with TUG's Peter Salinas last week, Salinas said that the most interesting thing about the community reveal of Nerd Kingdom's sandbox MMO was just how many people consider Kickstarter to be a pre-order system instead of, you know, a way to kickstart a game they want to see made. This jibes with Massively columnist Brendan Drain's observations earlier this week that "the most popular reward level for video game Kickstarters is almost always the lowest-priced tier that provides a digital copy of the game."

I'm so guilty of this. I put exactly as much money into the TUG and Shroud of the Avatar Kickstarter pots as I had to in order to secure myself the cheapest pre-order copy of the games I could, but I didn't chip in for an Android game Kickstarter from a dev who couldn't offer the game .apk in any tier. I don't know whether I feel bad. I want to see the games made, and I willingly pay for my copy; I consider my discount a fair tradeoff for paying them years before I'll download a client. But that's my personal limit: a pittance and a vote of confidence, really. I'm guessing most gamers aren't so fabulously wealthy as to heavily fund indie games even if they wanted to, and those who could do so probably have a lot of other worthy non-gaming causes that take precedence.

So do you also take advantage of cheap pre-order tiers on Kickstarter? Do you hunt for the tier with exactly the right combination of swag? Or do you approach each Kickstarter knowing you want to donate a certain amount, regardless of what you get in return?

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: Do you use Kickstarter to pre-order MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindkickstarteropinionpeter-salinaspre-ordershroud-of-the-avatartdgthe-daily-grindtugFri, 31 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What obscure fluff feature would you like to see in other games?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/the-daily-grind-what-obscure-fluff-feature-would-like-to-see-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/the-daily-grind-what-obscure-fluff-feature-would-like-to-see-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/30/the-daily-grind-what-obscure-fluff-feature-would-like-to-see-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

You probably can't see this Bright Wizard's medals, but he has some, trust me
The other day I was thinking about Warhammer Online. I've no idea why. I haven't played the game in ages and to be perfectly frank, I didn't much care for it when I was playing. One thing I fondly recall, though, was that nifty feature that let you display medals and assorted military-style decorations on your avatar.

I can't recall seeing that in another MMO, and it's one of those quirky quality-of-life things that I wish every game would implement. What about you, Massively readers? Is there an obscure fluff feature out there you're particularly fond of and that you'd like to see become a standard?

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 obscure fluff feature would you like to see in other games? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatar-medalsdaily-grindeaelectronic-artsendless-trialfantasyfluffmedalsmythicmythic-entertainmentopinionpvprvrtdgthe-daily-grindwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineThu, 30 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When's the last time you logged out in frustration?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/the-daily-grind-whens-the-last-time-you-logged-out-in-frustrat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/the-daily-grind-whens-the-last-time-you-logged-out-in-frustrat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/29/the-daily-grind-whens-the-last-time-you-logged-out-in-frustrat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Daily Grind When's the last time you logged out in frustration
The other night I had to take a break from The Secret World, because it was either that or ram my head through the monitor. A particularly tricksy mission boss had been kicking my butt up and down the alley until all of my armor was broken and my soul was reduced to a whimpering, pathetic noise. It got so bad that my character, upon resurrection, would face me, fall to her knees, and beg that I not send her back into that meat grinder once more.

I'm sure I'll get it next time, but I just had to take a break to cool down and regroup. That happens sometimes, you know?

So what about you? When is the last time you logged out in frustration and why? Was it just a hard quest, a difficult mechanic, or progress that was wiped out in the blink of an eye?

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: When's the last time you logged out in frustration? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy-to-playdaily-grindfactionfantasyfrustratedfrustrationfuncomhorrorlogged-outmythologyopinionsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlesstdgthe-daily-grindthe-secret-worldtswWed, 29 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What game should you like but don't?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/the-daily-grind-what-game-should-you-like-but-dont/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/the-daily-grind-what-game-should-you-like-but-dont/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/28/the-daily-grind-what-game-should-you-like-but-dont/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I know this guy is supposed to be our king, but I kind of completely hate him.
We all like different games. That's a good thing; a world where EVE Online, World of Warcraft, and Second Life co-exist is a better one for everyone. But every so often a game comes along that plays exactly to our tastes, one that everyone we like seems to think is the greatest MMO to come out in a long while, one that gets so much praise that you try it out.

And you don't like it. It's not just that you can see its flaws; you actively don't like the game and don't want to play it.

Today, we aren't asking just about the games you don't like but about the games you should like and yet don't. The games that seem to be designed just for you, ones that you can recognize as good, but ones you still don't actually enjoy playing. So what game do you feel that you should like when you don't?

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 game should you like but don't? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grinddislikeflawsgame-mechanicsgames-you-should-likeopiniontdgthe-daily-grindTue, 28 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you gaming on Memorial Day?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/27/the-daily-grind-are-you-gaming-on-memorial-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/27/the-daily-grind-are-you-gaming-on-memorial-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/27/the-daily-grind-are-you-gaming-on-memorial-day/#commentsFiled under: ,

Marvel Heroes - Captain AmericaSeeing as how it's Memorial Day in the States, I thought I'd ask about your holiday gaming habits.

Do you make sure to save some holiday time for gaming, or do you only get around to it after you've unwound in other ways?

How much gaming are you doing this Memorial Day? If you don't have the day off or you're in a country that doesn't observe this particular holiday, how much gaming do you plan to do on your next holiday?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you gaming on Memorial Day? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindholidaysmemorial dayMemorialDayopiniontdgthe-daily-grindMon, 27 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is automation preferable to MMO closures?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/26/the-daily-grind-is-automation-preferrable-to-mmo-closures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/26/the-daily-grind-is-automation-preferrable-to-mmo-closures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/26/the-daily-grind-is-automation-preferrable-to-mmo-closures/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Daily Grind Is automation preferrable to MMO closures
I'm sure you've heard about this whole automating Guild Wars 1 business, yes? ArenaNet has decided to pull the plug on any further live development in favor of putting the title on autopilot. That means for the Guild Wars faithful -- and yes, people do still play that game even with the sequel out there -- that the future of the title will be more or less the same as the present.

The studio says that by doing this it will have ensured that Guild Wars will be able to keep on trucking for a good while yet. I know that when faced with MMO shutdowns, players have begged for studios to put those titles on autopilot rather than close them down. Still, if an MMO isn't being updated and doesn't have a development future, is that a game worth playing? Isn't ongoing development and change one of the hallmarks of this genre?

So what do you think? Is automation preferable to closing down an MMO?

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: Is automation preferable to MMO closures? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetauto-pilotautomationautopilotdaily-grindfantasyguild-warsgwncsoftopiniontdgthe-daily-grindSun, 26 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should big guilds have a mechanical advantage over smaller ones?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/25/the-daily-grind-should-big-guilds-have-a-mechanical-advantage-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/25/the-daily-grind-should-big-guilds-have-a-mechanical-advantage-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/25/the-daily-grind-should-big-guilds-have-a-mechanical-advantage-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Defeating The Infernal One with the power of pure, unadulterated rock.
No matter how hard you try, you cannot defeat large-group endgame bosses with an awesome guitar solo. Big guilds offer you the people needed to tackle this sort of content. In some games, though, big guilds get even more. World of Warcraft guilds level faster with more people, and Star Wars: The Old Republic will be adding a bonus to guilds based on their overall sizes (although you'll easily get the bonus so long as no original members of the guild have left). In some places, size matters.

Should it matter? Organizing and maintaining a guild with 50 members is a lot more work than one with 15 members, so mechanical bonuses certainly give some incentive. Those bonuses also lead to guilds wanting to be bigger without necessarily getting any better; more live bodies, no matter the quality. And bigger guilds can already have advantages over smaller guilds. So should big guilds have a mechanical advantage over smaller ones? Or should the size be its own reward?

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: Should big guilds have a mechanical advantage over smaller ones? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonusesdaily-grindgame-mechanicsgroup-sizeguild-bonusesguild-sizeguildsopinionother-peopleother-playerstdgthe-daily-grindSat, 25 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you re-buy a game for bonuses?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-re-buy-a-game-for-bonuses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-re-buy-a-game-for-bonuses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-re-buy-a-game-for-bonuses/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

And take my money.
So Final Fantasy XIV has announced its relaunch date, along with another collector's edition for people to buy. I'd like to point out here that I still have the original collector's edition sitting on a shelf in my office, and it has been stated clearly that all of the digital gewgaws for the collector's edition will be awarded to people with the old version. Yet I still have to fight the urge to buy another CE anyway, because there's an art book and other physical trinkets.

MMOs especially are games that you should never need to re-purchase. But sometimes you can find a game packaging something nice in with another purchase, and it almost becomes worth it to have another copy despite not needing a second account. So would you re-buy a game for new bonuses, either in-game or just bonus trinkets? Or does the very idea seem ridiculous to you?

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: Would you re-buy a game for bonuses? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonus-itemsbonusesbuying-things-you-owncollectors-editiondaily-grindin-game-itemsopinionpurchasere-buyre-purchasespending-moneytdgthe-daily-grindtrinketsFri, 24 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you like appropriate movie tie-in content in your MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/the-daily-grind-would-you-like-appropriate-movie-tie-in-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/the-daily-grind-would-you-like-appropriate-movie-tie-in-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/23/the-daily-grind-would-you-like-appropriate-movie-tie-in-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Superman arrestedI don't know if SOE has any plans to capitalize on the wave of Superman hype sweeping the nerdosphere on account of Zack Snyder's upcoming Man of Steel film. The firm's DC Universe Online title features the big blue boy scout rather prominently, of course, and the timing seems right if there aren't a bunch of legal stumbling blocks.

SOE has done movie tie-ins with an MMO before, way back in 2005 when its Rage of the Wookiees expansion added a bunch of Episode III-themed content to Star Wars Galaxies. Last summer, though, the firm didn't really acknowledge Christopher Nolan's final Batman film in DCUO, so it may not be in the cards for Supes either.

Regardless of what actually happens, would you like to see appropriate movie tie-in content in certain MMOs? Or do you prefer to keep the properties separate?

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: Would you like appropriate movie tie-in content in your MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsolesdaily-grinddc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuof2pfree-to-playman-of-steelopinionplaystation-3playstation3ps3soesony-online-entertainmentsuperherosuperheroessupermantdgthe-daily-grindThu, 23 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How do you handle a closed MMO still on the shelf?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-handle-a-closed-mmo-still-on-the-she/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-handle-a-closed-mmo-still-on-the-she/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/22/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-handle-a-closed-mmo-still-on-the-she/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Daily Grind How do you handle a closed MMO still on the shelf
No, that header picture wasn't taken in 2007; it was taken 4 days ago at a Walmart near me. What's even better is the fact that I took a similar picture about two years ago of the same product in the same store, but nothing's ever been done about it.

The question is, is it up to me to tell the store clerks about how wrong this is, or do I contact someone higher up at Walmart? Perhaps I should go straight to NCsoft with this one? I can't imagine the dismay in a child's eyes when he buys the game, rips it open and installs it, only to find out that no Bane will be dropping down in front of his leech gun any time soon. Think of the children!

So, wise Massively readers, how would you handle this situation? Or have you seen a closed game on a store shelf before? Did you report it? Let us know!

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How do you handle a closed MMO still on the shelf? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindopiniontdgthe-daily-grindyes-i-almost-bought-itWed, 22 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you think MMO gamemaking is fundamentally broken?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-mmo-gamemaking-is-fundamentally-br/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-mmo-gamemaking-is-fundamentally-br/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-mmo-gamemaking-is-fundamentally-br/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Scott Hartsman
Buried in the brouhaha that is the latest round of Trion layoffs was the opinion of former RIFT producer Scott Hartsman. The MMO industry veteran offered his sympathies on Twitter and also offered to help affected former employees with job intros and the like.

Hartsman also hinted at his views on current industry trends, saying that "this model of gamemaking is so fundamentally broken." Given the limitations of Twitter and fact that Hartsman didn't elaborate, it's hard to know exactly what he meant, though we can extrapolate based on his prior positions on F2P and the context surrounding the Trion situation.

What about you, Massively readers? Do you agree with Hartsman? Is this model of MMO gamemaking fundamentally broken?

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: Do you think MMO gamemaking is fundamentally broken? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelsdaily-grindf2pfree-to-playopinionscott-hartsmantdgthe-daily-grindunsustainablewhalesTue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When are rollbacks and wipes absolutely necessary?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-daily-grind-when-are-rollbacks-absolutely-necessary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-daily-grind-when-are-rollbacks-absolutely-necessary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/20/the-daily-grind-when-are-rollbacks-absolutely-necessary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

When are rollbacks absolutely necessary
In the last few weeks, two big games we cover on Massively have been slammed with exploits that have injured their respective economies: Diablo III and Neverwinter. In Diablo III's case, a gold duping bug apparently pumped insane amounts of cash into the economy. Neverwinter's exploits run the gamut from Foundry abuses to negative auction hall bids that don't consume gold to classes that can one-shot bosses making farming trivial. According to these claims, NW exploiters are making off with thousands of real-life dollars when cashing out their ill-gotten funds.

In both cases, players called for characters wipes and rollbacks, believing each exploit severe enough to merit a clean slate. But in Diablo III's case, while the studio dealt harshly with the exploiters, the developers disagreed with the need for wipes and do-overs, presumably having concluded that such drastic measures would impact the legit playerbase far more than would a dented economy. Neverwinter, on the other hand, chose to roll back the servers, causing widespread uproar.

That brings us to today's question: Which studio was right? How bad does an exploit have to be before character wipes and server rollbacks are absolutely necessary?

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: When are rollbacks and wipes absolutely necessary? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Blizzardbrianna-royce-tdgcharacter-wipecryptic-studiosdaily-grinddiablo-3diablo-iiieconomyexploitexploitsneverwinteropinionperfect-world-entertainmentpwerollbackrollbacksserver-wipetdgthe-daily-grindwipewipesMon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Why do you play an anthropomorphic race?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/the-daily-grind-why-do-you-play-an-anthropomorphic-race/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/the-daily-grind-why-do-you-play-an-anthropomorphic-race/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/the-daily-grind-why-do-you-play-an-anthropomorphic-race/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Daily Grind Why do you play an anthropomorphic race
A Daily Grind discussion last week on MMO races that we detest got me thinking about anthropomorphic races -- you know, the animals-on-hind-legs dudes and dudettes. The frog-people. The cow-people. The cat-people. The wolf-people. The leopard-people. The rat-people. The lizard-people. The panda-people. Really, the sky's the limit when you can turn any animal into a humanoid playable race. I'm only disappointed that we haven't seen platypus-people or manatee-people yet in MMOs.

Without bringing the "imaginary racism" this time, I'm genuinely curious what propels people to play an anthropomorphic race. The easy jab would be to say that it's just catering to the furries out there, but I think that's not universally true. What's the appeal of playing a dog-person? It can't just be racials such as "mark your territory" and "excess slobber."

So I want to hear from the folks who play one of these races and hear what your reason is for picking an animal-humanoid character. Don't be defensive. I'm not attacking you; I'm merely curious. Is it the road less traveled? Is it an affection you have for a particular animal? Is it a rebellion against the boring fantasy races out there?

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: Why do you play an anthropomorphic race? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>caitlincathardaily-grindfroglokkurasashaopinionpandaranraceracesratongasarnaktaurentdgthe-daily-grindworgenSun, 19 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you still excited to try RIFT's free-to-play option?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/the-daily-grind-are-you-still-excited-to-try-rifts-free-to-pla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/the-daily-grind-are-you-still-excited-to-try-rifts-free-to-pla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/the-daily-grind-are-you-still-excited-to-try-rifts-free-to-pla/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I don't have any idea what hand I should place this on. It looks kind of gross.
If you'd missed it, RIFT recently announced that the game will go free-to-play on June 12th. Obviously, the hope is to bring in a variety of new players, but the circumstances surrounding the announcement can result in a bit of whiplash when deciding whether or not to count yourself among those getting into the game.

On the one hand, RIFT is making humble promises about the item shop... but on the other hand, the development team also promised the game would never go free-to-play. Trion Worlds did just get hit by layoffs, but it's been said those layoffs don't affect RIFT's staff. It's long had consistent updates, but those updates have dropped off sharply this year.

Is trying the game out a good idea? A bad one? Today, we ask our readers to decide. Carefully weighing all the evidence, are you still excited to try RIFT's free-to-play option? Or do you think you'll be giving it a pass?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you still excited to try RIFT's free-to-play option? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquestdaily-grindf2pfantasyfree-to-playopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrtdgthe-daily-grindthree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsSat, 18 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do Kickstarter perks put you off from MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/the-daily-grind-do-kickstarter-perks-put-you-off-from-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/the-daily-grind-do-kickstarter-perks-put-you-off-from-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/the-daily-grind-do-kickstarter-perks-put-you-off-from-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Star Citizen art
Last week, drama swirled around Chris Roberts' Star Citizen pseudo-MMO when he announced and then clarified that certain early crowdfunders will receive lifetime insurance on their ships once the game launches. Potential players rightfully worried that such a move could taint the economy and create a special class of characters with pay-to-win perks that place everyone else at a serious disadvantage.

MMO players are becoming inured to the idea that Kickstarting a game might land them a poster or tattoo or title or even beta access, but non-cosmetic advantages seem to rile everyone up. It's one thing when Camelot Unchained offers special chat and another altogether when it promises big-time donors their own in-game islands. Then again, without such generous Kickstarter pledges, the games might never be made for the rest of us to play at all, so maybe the trade-off is worth it.

What do you think? Does it bother you that gamers with money can buy their way into godhood before a game is even made? Are there Kickstarter perks that put you off from future MMOs?

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: Do Kickstarter perks put you off from MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcamelot-unchainedchris-robertscrowdfundingdaily-grindislandkickstarteropinionpay-to-winship-insurancestar-citizentdgthe-daily-grindwhalesFri, 17 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which MOBA do you recommend for newbs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/the-daily-grind-which-moba-do-you-recommend-for-newbs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/the-daily-grind-which-moba-do-you-recommend-for-newbs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/16/the-daily-grind-which-moba-do-you-recommend-for-newbs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SMITE - Isis
Thus far I've sat out the whole MOBA craze. I don't have a good reason, really, other than all of the rest of the games on my plate coupled with a lack of time to play them. Lately I'm getting more and more intrigued, though, and I've been nosing around websites and forum communities to see which title might make a good starting point.

SMITE looks promising, and I'm a big fan of Hi-Rez thanks mostly to all the fun I had in Global Agenda. Infinite Crisis looks cool, too, though admittedly that's because I'm an incurable fan of the IP. And of course there's League of Legends, HoN, and the other big dogs. What say you, Massively MOBA players? Do you recommend a particular MOBA for newbs?

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 MOBA do you recommend for newbs? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindmobamoba-newbmobasopiniontdgthe-daily-grindThu, 16 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which game has the best character animations?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/the-daily-grind-which-game-has-the-best-character-animations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/the-daily-grind-which-game-has-the-best-character-animations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/the-daily-grind-which-game-has-the-best-character-animations/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Daily Grind Which game has the best character animations
Character animations seem to be only noticed when they don't come off right. It's often a matter of subjective opinion whether or not these animations are pleasing or jarring, of course, but the fact remains that animations that don't meet players' standards are the target of long, long-winded rants.

I try to give credit where credit is due. MMOs that show off fluid, good-looking animations are deserving of praise. For me, the litmus test is whether or not a game can portray jumping in a natural way. That's harder than you'd think; I've seen so many titles that have characters jumping with stiff spines, awkward arm angles, or the grace of a boiled squash.

So instead of lambasting games for bad animations, let's focus on those that pull off natural- and good-looking animations today. Seriously, it's going to be tough for some of you to put a lid on the negativity, but I believe in you. Which game has the best character animations?

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 game has the best character animations? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationanimationscharacter-animationcharacter-animationsdaily-grindjumpingopinionsquashtdgthe-daily-grindWed, 15 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you like the increasing trend of active combat in MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-the-increasing-trend-of-active-comb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-the-increasing-trend-of-active-comb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-the-increasing-trend-of-active-comb/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

No percentage chance to dodge for you, miss.
Back in the day, combat in MMOs was nice and sedate. You had a weapon, the other guy had a weapon, and you both walked up and hit one another with weapons until one of you died. To ensure that you succeeded at that goal, you had huge bars of abilities filled with various tricks to make the other guy die a little more than you did. It was a bit passive, is what we're getting at.

Recent MMOs have been swinging to the other extreme, with players having a handful of abilities and a mandate to dance around the screen like a hyperactive rabbit. Titles like WildStar and The Elder Scrolls Online are previewing themselves partly on the strength of active combat. Do you like the increasing trend of active combat in MMOs? Or do you wish that we could go back to more sedate combat systems, possibly with those darn kids getting off our lawns in the process?

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: Do you like the increasing trend of active combat in MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combatactive-combatcombatculturedaily-grindgame-mechanicshumormobilityopinionreflexestdgthe-daily-grindtwitchtwitch-reflexesTue, 14 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have you ever been sidetracked by game music?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-been-sidetracked-by-game-music/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-been-sidetracked-by-game-music/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/13/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-been-sidetracked-by-game-music/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Shooting firstYou know what sucks? Hearing a cool piece of game music and having no idea what it's called or where to hear it again, that's what. I mean, it sucks in a first-world-problems sort of way, but still.

It happened to me over the weekend as I was playing Star Wars: The Old Republic. My Imperial Agent was toodling along, doing the nefarious things that Imperial Agents do, when the most dastardly fanfare I've heard this side of the Imperial March came blaring out of my speakers.

It was glorious.

Naturally, I haven't heard the phantom track since, even after much fumbling about trying to recreate the in-game circumstances during which it originally played. I even turned to the soundtrack CD that came with the collector's edition that's been gathering dust in my closet since 2011. It wasn't on there, of course, since soundtrack producers have some unwritten rule about leaving off half the soundtrack (and jumbling the tracks they deign to include) when they make an album. I've also been unable to find the track on YouTube's extensive SWTOR soundtrack playlists.

So, what say you, Massively readers? Has a piece of game music ever derailed a play session? Which one?

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: Have you ever been sidetracked by game music? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredaily-grindeaelectronic-artsf2pfirst-world-problemsfree-to-playlucasartsmmo-soundtrackopinionsci-fisoundtrackstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-soundtracktdgthe-daily-grindthe-old-republictorMon, 13 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which MMO races do you detest?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-races-do-you-detest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-races-do-you-detest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-races-do-you-detest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Daily Grind Which races do you detest
My loathing of Elves is not only well-documented here on Massively, but stretches back to my childhood. I've just never liked them, period. Maybe it's because they're the preppie cool kids in my mind's John Hughes movie, or maybe it's their incredible haughty arrogance and froofy love of flowerwear. In any case, I don't like them, I don't play them, and I feel perfectly fine wishing all manner of humiliating harm upon them. After all, they're pretend and that makes it OK, right?

So in the tongue-in-cheek spirit of imaginary racism, which pretend species makes your skin crawl in MMOs? Can you not abide by Dwarves no matter what? Do Gnomes irk you? Will your eyes roll out of your head if you see another humanoid cat race invade your gaming space? Let's get our hate on this morning! Whee!

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 MMO races do you detest? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>caithlincathardaily-grinddwarveselfelvesgnomeshumorno-elvesopiniontdgthe-daily-grindSun, 12 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How long can you play a game in one sitting?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/the-daily-grind-how-long-can-you-play-a-game-in-one-sitting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/the-daily-grind-how-long-can-you-play-a-game-in-one-sitting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/11/the-daily-grind-how-long-can-you-play-a-game-in-one-sitting/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Now just two dozen more fights like that and I'll be halfway through the day and my level.
You've got nothing else to do on a lazy Saturday. You've got plenty of food and beverages, a comfortable seat, and a burning desire to get something accomplished in your game of choice. So you settle down, you log in, and you start running around and getting stuff done.

Exactly how long is it going to be until you get up?

We're not asking about when you get up to grab more chips or run to the bathroom or whatever. Today's question is just about how long you can sit in front of the screen without needing to get up and do something else for a little while. How long can you play a game in one sitting? Does it depend on the game, with group-based games like Final Fantasy XI meriting a longer session compared to solo-friendly titles like World of Warcraft? Or can you tolerate only a certain amount of time before you need a break no matter what?

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: How long can you play a game in one sitting? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-day-gamingculturedaily-grindmarathon-sessionsopinionplay-sessionstdgthe-daily-grindSat, 11 May 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should World of Warcraft go free-to-play?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/the-daily-grind-should-world-of-warcraft-go-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/the-daily-grind-should-world-of-warcraft-go-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/the-daily-grind-should-world-of-warcraft-go-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

World of Warcraft
There's only one Western subscription MMO that can stand to lose 1.3 million subs in three months and shrug it off: World of Warcraft. But shrug it off doesn't appear to what Activision-Blizzard is doing. During the investor call that revealed the heavy sub losses, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick acknowledged the changing market and his plans to adapt with speedier content. "It's important to note that the nature of online games has changed," he said, "and [that] the environment [is] becoming far more competitive, especially with free-to-play games." And Blizzard president Mike Morhaime suggested the company is "studying" the comings and goings of players and how to entice former players to return.

Well, we don't have to look much further than Star Wars: The Old Republic's recent rejuvenation to figure out that free-to-play is one of the better ways to entice gamers to return (and open their wallets). Surely, Blizzard has to be wondering whether F2P might be a huge boost to the game as it's approaching its ninth birthday later this year. What do you think -- will World of Warcraft eventually go free-to-play, and more importantly, should 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: Should World of Warcraft go free-to-play? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionActivision-Blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbobby-kotickbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindf2pfantasyfree-to-playinvestor-callMike-Morhaimeopinionreturning-playersstar-wars-the-old-republicsub-lossessubscriptionswtortdgthe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 10 May 2013 08:00:00 EST