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[MMO Family: Why games are good for family]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/mmo-family-why-games-are-good-for-family/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/mmo-family-why-games-are-good-for-family/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/mmo-family-why-games-are-good-for-family/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Free Realms
A couple of years ago, Massively readers engaged in a great discussion that doesn't get covered nearly as much as it should. Thanks to former Massively columnist Lisa Poisso, the column MMO Family was born, and she and the readers looked at how MMOs affect the family, both the positives and the potential dangers.

I'm excited to have the opportunity to start the column up again because I think a lot has changed in the short time since the column went on hiatus. We'll revisit a few issues that Lisa brought up and some of the more recently released MMO titles to see which ones are the best for family-centered gaming. To kick things off, I'd like to explore why MMOs are good for kids and for the family unit as a whole. When it comes to talk about kids and gaming, the discussion tends to revolve around the negatives, like violence, antisocial behavior, or lack of physical activity. No one will argue that MMOs, as with most anything, can have detrimental effects when played to excess. But to focus on the negatives is to ignore the vast amount of benefits that gaming can provide. Read on for a few examples.

Continue reading MMO Family: Why games are good for family

MassivelyMMO Family: Why games are good for family originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>club-penguindestructoidfamilyfamily-gamingfeaturedGDC-Online-2011hamza-azizkaren-bryankidsmegan-bellmind-candymmo-familymoshi-monsterspax-east-2011wizard101Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: PAX East panel explores online communities]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/the-guild-counsel-pax-east-panel-explores-online-communities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/the-guild-counsel-pax-east-panel-explores-online-communities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/the-guild-counsel-pax-east-panel-explores-online-communities/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There were two things that really stood out for me at PAX East: the ridiculously long lines and the throngs of fans who happily sat down together to play games face to face. On the surface, PAX East might seem to be about who has the best card deck or who has the quickest twitch reflexes, but it's actually much more than that.

We've looked at the growing importance of online communities and the relationships that have been created by them, so it's little surprise that PAX was full of players who were there to meet and play with friends they met through gaming. And among the many panels this weekend, there was one that explored this very issue. The speakers were all experienced managers of online communities, and they shared their stories of how they got started and why these communities are so important. Read on to hear their stories.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: PAX East panel explores online communities

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: PAX East panel explores online communities originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2old2playastro-gamingclanscommunitiescommunityDerek-nolandestructoidfeaturedfrag-dollsfriendshipguild-counselguild-managementguildshamza-azizmorgan-romineonline-communitiesonline-friendshipsonline-relationshipspaxpax-2011pax-eastPAX-East-2011real-lifeross-furmansfx360stan-pressThu, 17 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Lord of the Rings Online heading to Xbox 360]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/04/rumor-lord-of-the-rings-online-heading-to-xbox-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/04/rumor-lord-of-the-rings-online-heading-to-xbox-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/04/rumor-lord-of-the-rings-online-heading-to-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We've come across a rumor about Lord of the Rings Online over at Destructoid, from Brad Nicholson. If his information is correct, Lord of the Rings Online may have an Xbox 360 release in its future. Nicholson writes, "According to a reliable source, Turbine is currently eyeing their MMO, Lord of the Rings: Online, for an Xbox 360 release. The source added that Turbine has hit a snag, unrelated to the development process. Microsoft, allegedly, won't commit to allow Turbine to utilize a free-to-play model, which is what the developer desires for the console version of LotRO."

Nicholson writes that he contacted Turbine about the matter, but they neither confirmed nor denied that LotRO on 360 is in the works. Joystiq also got in touch with Turbine's PR director Adam Mersky, who stated, "We saw that rumor, too... We're not talking about what we're working on specifically, only that we're making a console MMO and actively working with Microsoft and Sony." Mersky added that their unnamed console project is progressing and that they'll have something to show by this summer.

MassivelyRumor: Lord of the Rings Online heading to Xbox 360 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-merskybrad-nicholsonconsoleconsole-mmodestructoiddirector-of-public-relationsfantasyjoystiqlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromicrosoftpr-directorrumorrumorssonyturbinexbox360Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST