Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Storyboard: One hundred moments and done]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/storyboard-one-hundred-moments-and-done/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/storyboard-one-hundred-moments-and-done/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/storyboard-one-hundred-moments-and-done/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

No, I'm not ending the column, but now people will read the whole thing because they'll suspect I am. Unless, of course, you read the alt text.
All good things must come to an end.

Roleplaying is all about creating a shared space for your character to inhabit with other characters. It's about crafting trials and challenges that can be overcome through narrative means; it's about building a set of experiences together. And all of the columns I've written up to this point have been entirely about making that work well and creating a shared environment that's fun for everyone.

But it can end. One day, you may log in to find that the people you've been roleplaying alongside are no longer there -- that the friends you once had have left, the allies you once charished have moved on, and your universe has narrowed by degrees until it's just you. After all of the roleplaying you've done, it tuns out that your group of fellow roleplayers has slowly drifted away until the only person who remembers these stories is you. And it seems fitting, for the 100th column, to talk about what happens when you're left remembering a universe that never was.

Continue reading Storyboard: One hundred moments and done

MassivelyStoryboard: One hundred moments and done originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communityconclusionsdepartureendingfeaturedleavingopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 20 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar design director Tim Cain joins Obsidian Entertainment]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/wildstar-design-director-tim-cain-joins-obsidian-entertainment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/wildstar-design-director-tim-cain-joins-obsidian-entertainment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/wildstar-design-director-tim-cain-joins-obsidian-entertainment/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tim Cain
It would appear that Carbine Studios is down one great talent, as the studio's former Design Director, Fallout designer Tim Cain, has departed for greener pastures. The news was discovered via Cain's Linkedin account, confirming rumors of his departure that abounded over the summer. Greener pastures, in this case, means Obsidian Entertainment, which is perhaps best-known for Neverwinter Nights 2, Knights of The Old Republic 2, and Fallout: New Vegas. The studio is currently working on a game based on Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time book series.

While it's unknown whether or not Cain will be returning to his old stomping grounds of the Fallout universe, it would be considerably apropos. As for Carbine, it remains to be seen who will replace Cain in the position of Design Director, but here's to hoping it's someone who can do justice to the promising sci-fi MMO.

MassivelyWildStar design director Tim Cain joins Obsidian Entertainment originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosdepartureobsidianobsidian-entertainmenttim-caintimothy-caintransferwildstarWed, 12 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mark Jacobs elaborates on departure from EA Mythic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/mark-jacobs-elaborates-on-departure-from-ea-mythic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/mark-jacobs-elaborates-on-departure-from-ea-mythic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/mark-jacobs-elaborates-on-departure-from-ea-mythic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mark Jacobs
It's been a couple of years since Mark Jacobs abruptly left -- or perhaps was let go -- from EA Mythic, but curiosity around the split persists in the MMO industry. Yesterday, Jacobs opened up about the event that occurred after EA's acquisition of Mythic and BioWare.

Long story short: The merge brought about changes, and Jacobs wasn't on board with them. "They made a decision on a direction they wanted to go and obviously, as we put out in our joint statement, that wasn't a direction that had a role for me, or at least the role that I wanted. It really is as simple as that. Or at least publicly. Whatever went on behind the scenes, whatever we talked about, I have no intention of sharing that," he said.

Jacobs insists that EA has been kind to him in the subsequent years. "One thing I'll say publicly about EA, they have been very good in what they've said post-departure regarding me. Similarly I've been good about what I've said about them post departure."

He has since gone on to form a new company to create social and mobile games. In an ironic twist, Jacobs says that the idea for getting into the social gaming market took root while he was at Mythic, but he left before acting on that notion.

MassivelyMark Jacobs elaborates on departure from EA Mythic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythiccity-state-entertainmentdepartureeaea-biowareea-mythicfirefiredfiringJohn-riccitiellomark-jacobsmobile-gamesmobile-gamingmythicsocial-gamessocial-gamingsplitTue, 04 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When have you said goodbye?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/30/the-daily-grind-when-have-you-said-goodbye/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/30/the-daily-grind-when-have-you-said-goodbye/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/30/the-daily-grind-when-have-you-said-goodbye/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Spend enough time in any game, and you're bound to form connections. It's the structure of MMOs, after all -- they aren't meant to be played all alone. And yet as time wears on, no matter how close a friend you've found in another player, you will find yourself going in different directions. There comes a point when either you or your best friends in-game are leaving, and you have to say your goodbyes.

Even though you never mean to lose touch with your friends from an old favorite, it's hard to maintain a friendship when your point of common interest is gone. Sometimes you can manage it, but frequently you have to accept that the good memories of the past are just that. So when have you had to say goodbye to your friends from a game? Was it a friendship that came back in a later game down the road, or do you look back wistfully at the good times you had?
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 have you said goodbye? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>departurefarewellgoodbyeleavingoff-into-the-sunsetso-longtdgthe-daily-grindSat, 30 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Exit, pursued by a bear]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/27/storyboard-exit-pursued-by-a-bear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/27/storyboard-exit-pursued-by-a-bear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/27/storyboard-exit-pursued-by-a-bear/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Roleplaying is not a universal activity, sadly. What happens among a group of characters winds up being canon in a very limited sense for that group of characters. Sure, you know the relationships between your fellow adventurers intimately, but you can still admit that anyone outside of your circle of roleplaying may have no idea who these people are. It's essentially a shared illusion, one that is easily broken when someone lets out the dread incantation of "sorry, guys, I'm quitting."

It's bad enough when you're suddenly asked to accept the vagaries of television, trying to convince us that two clearly different actors are the same person, or that a character we've enjoyed is just "on a trip" that's lasted for the better part of two years. It's even worse than the entire illusion of events that requires you to accept that someone has gone missing from a major storyline. How do you accommodate a player leaving without too much damage to the shared illusion?

Continue reading Storyboard: Exit, pursued by a bear

MassivelyStoryboard: Exit, pursued by a bear originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicedeathdeparturefeaturedleavingleaving-playersopinionplayer-departureroleplayingrpstand-insstoryboardstorylinessubstitutesFri, 27 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[David Allen leaves Alganon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/10/david-allen-leaves-alganon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/10/david-allen-leaves-alganon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/10/david-allen-leaves-alganon/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's been a strange ride over at Alganon of late. The game's announcement of a shift to a subscription-free model came out on the heels of David Allen's statements that the game would never go even remotely free-to-play. It seems that it didn't exactly happen on his watch, as Quest Online has just announced Mr. Allen's departure from the company. There's no reason given, although speculation can (and no doubt will) run rampant. Replacing David Allen is Derek Smart, creator of the Battlecruiser 3000AD game series, and something of a contentious figure in the gaming world.

The company continues to push forward that the game's "official" launch is in mid-April, after having retroactively turned the opening in December of last year into a "soft launch." What this means for the game as a whole is still uncertain, although the number of shakeups of late certainly don't suggest that it's been a resounding success thus far. Alganon players should keep their eyes peeled for any news about the game, as a new president usually means that there will be some significant changes in store.

MassivelyDavid Allen leaves Alganon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganondavid-allendeparturederek-smartlaunchlaunchesmanagementqolquest-onlinesoft-launchWed, 10 Mar 2010 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Community manager Daeke leaves Cryptic, Stormshade to replace him]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/community-manager-daeke-leaves-cryptic-stormshade-to-replace-him/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/community-manager-daeke-leaves-cryptic-stormshade-to-replace-him/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/community-manager-daeke-leaves-cryptic-stormshade-to-replace-him/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

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

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

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

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

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingchampions-onlinecocommunitycommunity-managercryptic-daekecryptic-studiosdaekedavid-bassdeparturevibora-bayWed, 03 Feb 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet's co-founder comments on Jeff Strain's departure from NCsoft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/arenanets-co-founder-comments-on-jeff-strains-departure-from-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/arenanets-co-founder-comments-on-jeff-strains-departure-from-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/arenanets-co-founder-comments-on-jeff-strains-departure-from-n/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

As we reported on yesterday, Jeff Strain, the co-founder of ArenaNet, has parted ways with NCsoft. Jeff's visions were certainly a driving factor behind ArenaNet's growth and Guild Wars production, but it's important to note that his leaving will not directly impact ArenaNet, as he has been away from the company and paired with NCsoft West since 2008.

On the tails of his departure comes a comment from Mike O'Brien, ArenaNet's other founder and Jeff's long time friend. Mike not only sends well wishes to his former founding partner, but also reaffirms that Guild Wars 2 production will not be affected by Jeff's departure. Mike has even gone as far to say that we're getting close to finally getting tangible news on their new masterpiece.

Mike's full statement can be found after the break.

[Thanks Goonja!]

Continue reading ArenaNet's co-founder comments on Jeff Strain's departure from NCsoft

MassivelyArenaNet's co-founder comments on Jeff Strain's departure from NCsoft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetbreakingdepartureguild-warsguild-wars-2jeff-strainmike-obriennc-westncsoft-westWed, 12 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST