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[TUG tech video shows off in-house engine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/tug-tech-video-shows-off-in-house-engine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/tug-tech-video-shows-off-in-house-engine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/18/tug-tech-video-shows-off-in-house-engine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

TUG concept art
Recently Nerd Kingdom promised more demonstrations of the tech behind its new TUG MMO hopeful. The company has made good with a new video that shows off the in-house engine, and lead programmer Brandon Nelson starts things off with an interesting tidbit about the game's contouring algorithm. "An algorithm like dual contouring gives us the ability to have the same quality of terrain that other games have, but not have to have them generated by level designers," Nelson explains.

There's quite a lot of additional info packed into the clip's six-minute running time, all of which you can see for yourself after the break. You can also learn more about TUG via the project's Kickstarter site.

Continue reading TUG tech video shows off in-house engine

MassivelyTUG tech video shows off in-house engine originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 May 2013 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brandon-nelsoncontouring-algorithmcrowdfundingdevelopmentkickstarternerd-kingdomopen-worldopen-world-sandboxsandboxtugtug-videoSat, 18 May 2013 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Darkness development shown at EVE Fanfest 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/world-of-darkness-development-shown-at-eve-fanfest-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/world-of-darkness-development-shown-at-eve-fanfest-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/26/world-of-darkness-development-shown-at-eve-fanfest-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

World of Darkness development shown at EVE Fanfest 2013
When the World of Darkness MMO was first announced in November 2006, it was just an idea and we knew that it wouldn't be released any time soon. The chance to play a sandbox game set in the Vampire: The Masquerade universe nevertheless made fans of the series go nuts, but now over six years later we haven't seen much progress on the game. At EVE Fanfest 2013 today, CCP laid the current state of development bare for all to see and showed some plans for the coming year. There are now 70 people on the WoD team, and they've spent the past week working on everything from art tools and server infrastructure to vampire powers and social options.


"You're a powerful, immortal lord of the night. You don't want to stitch a shirt."
Development plans for 2013 include working on out-of-game web-based social tools, clothing systems, and PvE game environments. There are also plans to work on item creation, but direct crafting is probably not on the cards. As the presenter put it, "You're a powerful, immortal lord of the night. You don't want to stitch a shirt." Though the game is still in the pre-production stage, CCP was keen to show off the tools it's made to speed up the development process. "Some of these videos are a bit dry and technical," joked the presenter, but it came across as more real and honest than another trailer or musings on theoretical gameplay.

Continue reading World of Darkness development shown at EVE Fanfest 2013

MassivelyWorld of Darkness development shown at EVE Fanfest 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingdevelopmentDirectX-11dx11eveeve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2013eve-onlineeve-online-fanfesteve-online-fanfest-2013eventevent-coveragefanfestgame-developmentgraphicsicelandmassively-event-coveragerekyjaviksandboxvampirevampire-the-masqueradewodworld-of-darknessworld-of-darkness-onlineFri, 26 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tracy Hickman tapped for writing duties on Shroud of the Avatar]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/tracy-hickman-tapped-for-writing-duties-on-shroud-of-the-avatar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/tracy-hickman-tapped-for-writing-duties-on-shroud-of-the-avatar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/tracy-hickman-tapped-for-writing-duties-on-shroud-of-the-avatar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I'm not saying there are going to be dragons, but there will be dragons.
If you were a fan of fantasy games in the 1980s, you know Richard Garriott from the Ultima series. (Our younger readers are more familiar with him as someone who went to space.) Odds are good that you were also familiar with Tracy Hickman, co-author of the popular Dragonlance novels during the '80s. And if that sounds like two great tastes that taste great together, you'll be happy to know that Tracy Hickman has been announced as the lead story designer for Garriott's upcoming Shroud of the Avatar.

Hickman's writing credits aside from the Dragonlance series include the Death Gate Cycle, the ongoing Dragonships series, and the online serial novel Dragon's Bard. There's no word on whether his frequent co-authors will be joining in on the writing duties as well, but even Hickman alone should make some old-school fantasy fans very happy about the direction of the upcoming game.

MassivelyTracy Hickman tapped for writing duties on Shroud of the Avatar originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdfundingdesign-teamdevelopmentkickstarterloremanagementnewsportalariumrichard-garriottshroud-of-the-avatarsotatracy-hickmanFri, 15 Mar 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Take over DUST 514's planets one piece at a time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/take-over-dust-514s-planets-one-piece-at-a-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/take-over-dust-514s-planets-one-piece-at-a-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/take-over-dust-514s-planets-one-piece-at-a-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

If you're tired of EVE's figurative backstabbing, go planetside and get literal.
DUST 514 doesn't just interact with EVE Online by being set in the same universe. Taking control of territory and planetary surfaces has always been part of the design goals behind the shooter, reminiscent of the interstellar control offered by the older game, and the latest development blog examines how players will go about taking over a planet. It all starts by taking control of a district on a temperate planet, with each habitable world in the game universe harboring anywhere between five and 24 individual districts.

Controlling a district gives you access to military clones, the backbone of your economy and defense force. You can also use the clones to expand into new territory or sell excess stock. Of course, your facilities are vulnerable during clone production, offering rival corporations a chance to swoop in and take control... possibly with the aid of a tactical orbital strike courtesy of allies in starships. It's a multifaceted system that promises to give players plenty of reasons to conduct negotiations solely via sharp bits of metal.

MassivelyTake over DUST 514's planets one piece at a time originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesconquestconsolecontrol-spheresdevelopmentdustdust-514eveeve-onlinefpsmmofpsnewspatchesplanetary-conquestplanetary-controlplaystationplaystation-3previewsps3regional-controlsandboxsci-fishooterupcoming-patchesThu, 14 Mar 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Champions Online, Lemurian events, and you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/a-mild-mannered-reporter-champions-online-lemurian-events-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/a-mild-mannered-reporter-champions-online-lemurian-events-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/a-mild-mannered-reporter-champions-online-lemurian-events-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Sometimes I just can't seem to stop stirring the pot.
Every so often, I'm told that I don't understand an issue under discussion, and it's entirely true. There are a lot of issues out there, and the best I can do is get some of the information, form an opinion, and then change that opinion based upon new information. So I do my best, but I'm going to be wrong sometimes.

Other times I'm told I don't understand an issue when I actually do, and the problem is that the issue under discussion is not the most relevant issue.

So let's talk a little bit more about Champions Online and the Lemurian Invasion. If you haven't been paying attention, this spawned a little bit of controversy among the playerbase and more when I said that the people raising a stink were wrong. They still are, even if they're also right about an unconnected issue I only brushed against before.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Champions Online, Lemurian events, and you

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Champions Online, Lemurian events, and you originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterchampionschampions-onlinechampscocontentcrypticcryptic-studiosdevelopmentendgameendgame-contentexclusivityf2pfeaturedfree-to-playin-game-eventsmild-mannered-reporteropinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwesuperherosuperhero-genresuperheroesWed, 13 Mar 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic developers discuss the swan song of Wrath of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/mythic-developers-discuss-the-swan-song-of-wrath-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/mythic-developers-discuss-the-swan-song-of-wrath-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/mythic-developers-discuss-the-swan-song-of-wrath-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Part of the problem is that these guys just were never all that angry.
Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes is shutting down near the end of the month, but it turns out that the developers have a few last hurrahs for the game. A recent fansite interview sheds some light on the new heroes that are coming out during the game's final month of operation, with 17-18 heroes being fast-tracked for release. The game's main currency, Gold, will be able to purchase everything in the cash shop including Gold Boost items, intentionally creating plenty of money for players to enjoy the last bits of the game.

What's not coming? Most anything else that was in development, including some heroes that the developers just didn't have enough time to finish. There were also Scenarios in development that aren't close enough to completed to be functional; while pushing out heroes quickly is a priority, a half-finished Scenario is fun for no one. Fans looking for fine details on exactly which traditional Warhammer factions will be represented in the last month can look at the full interview.

MassivelyMythic developers discuss the swan song of Wrath of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclosing-eventsclosing-featuresdevelopmentdevelopment-processeaelectronic-artsfantasyheroesinterviewmobamythicmythic-entertainmentpvpserver-shutdownshutdownwarhammerwarhammer-wrath-of-heroeswohwrath-of-heroesFri, 01 Mar 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Camelot Unchained plans to bring random back]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/camelot-unchained-plans-to-bring-random-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/camelot-unchained-plans-to-bring-random-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/camelot-unchained-plans-to-bring-random-back/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Also swords. Swords will figure prominently.
Mark Jacobs knows the problem with your games: They're too predictable. What MMOs need are some good old-fashioned chaos. What happened to the days when you would turn in a quest for which the reward could be endgame armor or it could be a piece of moldy cheese? Let's bring that back into style!

All right, not that far. The latest Camelot Unchained development blog is all about randomness, however, with Jacobs laying out another design principle centering around the need for a strong random element in play. Jacobs sees a need for unpredictable outcomes as one of the core elements of a game, something to keep you playing because the game cannot be expected to run a specific course every time.

This extends to both the combat system and the state of the world in general, with the former embracing more factors than simple levels and the latter being a bit more dynamic and unpredictable. If you're interested in reading more on this point, take a look at the full rundown at the official site.

MassivelyCamelot Unchained plans to bring random back originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camelotcamelot-unchainedcity-statecity-state-entertainmentcsedesigndevelopmentdevelopment-diaryfoundational-principlegame-mechanicsmark-jacobsnewsphilosophypreviewpvprandomrvrTue, 26 Feb 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Entropia Universe raises a glass to its 10th anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/entropia-universe-raises-a-glass-to-its-10th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/entropia-universe-raises-a-glass-to-its-10th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/entropia-universe-raises-a-glass-to-its-10th-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Entropia Universe raises a glass to its 10th anniversary
Entropia Universe, the "massively multiplayer online real cash economy," typically has been best known for its ludicrously expensive sales of virtual property and structure. Now it has another reason to be in the spotlight: The MMO(sigh)RCE has made it to its 10th anniversary.

The title launched on February 1st, 2003, and has generated loads of money through the creation, sale, and purchase of its online worlds. According to MindArk, Entropia Universe is a favorite of the Guinness Book of World Records when it comes to the most valuable virtual items ever sold.

MindArk recently released a mobile app for Entropia Universe and outlined a 2013 roadmap through the anniversary and beyond.

[Source: MindArk press release]

MassivelyEntropia Universe raises a glass to its 10th anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013-roadmapandroidanniversariesanniversarydevelopmentdevelopment-plansdevelopment-previewentropiaentropia-facebookentropia-universef2pfree-to-playgame-mechanicsmindarkmmommorcemobilemobile-appnew-yearproject-entropiareal-cash-economyroadmapvirtual-tycoonFri, 01 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vendetta Online pushes its Kickstarter program with new videos]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/29/vendetta-online-pushes-its-kickstarter-program-with-new-videos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/29/vendetta-online-pushes-its-kickstarter-program-with-new-videos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/29/vendetta-online-pushes-its-kickstarter-program-with-new-videos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I know what you're thinking, but it apparently has twitch combat, so it's not quite like that.
Kickstarter isn't just being used by studios trying to get a new MMO off the ground. In the case of Vendetta Online, it's being used to fund something that the game otherwise simply wouldn't have. After nearly a decade of continual operation, the sandbox title wants to expand beyond desktop computers (it already has clients for Linux, Macintosh, and Windows, not to mention an Android client) by porting over to the iPad while launching a major graphical upgrade.

Not convinced? The founder of Guild Software, John Bergman, has taken the time to outline some of what the small team wants to do with the added funding for development. First he discusses the dynamic warfare systems with full-on RTS elements, and next he discusses how new graphics will improve the game overall rather than just making it prettier. The campaign's modest $100,000 goal is already a quarter of the way to completion as of this writing, so if this seems like it'd be right up your alley, it's well worth a closer look.

MassivelyVendetta Online pushes its Kickstarter program with new videos originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>client-portsclientsdevelopmentgame-clientsgame-mechanicsguild-softwarejohn-bergmankickstarternew-mechanicsnew-systemsportspreviewsvendetta-onlinevoTue, 29 Jan 2013 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Entropia lays out a roadmap for development in 2013]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/entropia-lays-out-a-roadmap-for-development-in-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/entropia-lays-out-a-roadmap-for-development-in-2013/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/20/entropia-lays-out-a-roadmap-for-development-in-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

And yes, you can still hunt strange animals.
Did you know that Entropia Universe will be 10 years old next year? Possibly not, but if you did, you probably also know how much the team at MindArk has done to improve the game over the past year. That team is looking to make 2013 even better, and to that end they've put out a roadmap for 2013's development.

Aside from the obvious anniversary celebration, the developers are hard at work fixing up areas for veteran players, trying to improve the return on several activities and making the game easier to get started with. There are also plans for new server infrastructure and an entirely new taming system, both of which should make existing players happier with the game as a whole.

Beyond even that, the team has plans for shoring up the game's financial transactions in several ways. New functionality with PayPal and improved starter packs are in the works. Players can also expect to see a full rollout of the Calypso Land Deed system and accompanying political mechanics within the next year. So here's to a decade of development, and let's hope the team can manage another one.

[Source: MindArk press release]

MassivelyEntropia lays out a roadmap for development in 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Dec 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013-roadmapanniversariesanniversarydevelopmentdevelopment-plansdevelopment-previewentropia-universef2pfree-to-playgame-mechanicsmindarknew-yearproject-entropiaroadmapThu, 20 Dec 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[First Impressions: Marvel Heroes isn't a heroic marvel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-marvel-heroes-isnt-a-heroic-marvel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-marvel-heroes-isnt-a-heroic-marvel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/first-impressions-marvel-heroes-isnt-a-heroic-marvel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

HYDRA, for when you need a villainous group whose motivation lies solely in villainy.
Despite my best efforts, I couldn't get into Diablo. I tried several times, but whatever strange alchemy kept turning me off from other roguelikes was still in full effect. Despite that, I can respect that the game has made an enormous impact on gaming as a whole -- even disregarding the effect it had upon MMOs and RPGs in general, we're currently amid a glut of Diablo derivatives (including Diablo III itself).

This is relevant because Marvel Heroes is very clearly meant to be Diablo: Online With Superheroes Edition.

So I'm not fond of the design style. But I'm very fond of superheroes, and especially fond of the Marvel universe. A well-done Diablo-style game could have easily won me over and convinced me that while this wasn't the Marvel game I necessarily wanted, it was good enough. The trouble is that the game doesn't have the marriage of playstyle and source material that it needs; it wants to be Diablo with a superhero skin, and it misses both marks.

Continue reading First Impressions: Marvel Heroes isn't a heroic marvel

MassivelyFirst Impressions: Marvel Heroes isn't a heroic marvel originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionaction-mmobetabeta-impressionsbetascharactersdesigndevelopmentdiablof2pfeaturedfirst-impressionsfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgazilliongazillion-entertainmenthands-onmarvelmarvel-heroesmarvel-universemarvel-universe-onlinemechanical-elementsmhmuoopinionpreviewpreviewssecret-identitysuperherosuperheroesMon, 17 Dec 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What do venture capitalists see when they look at games?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/what-do-venture-capitalists-see-when-they-look-at-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/what-do-venture-capitalists-see-when-they-look-at-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/what-do-venture-capitalists-see-when-they-look-at-games/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Do venture capitalists dream of money trees? Yes. As we all do.
Kickstarter has gained a great deal of traction lately, but by and large new games are still funded the same way they've always been funded: by venture capitalists willing to shell out money in hopes of seeing a return on investment. That being said, the games industry looks at venture capitalists more as fountains of money than actual people, a necessary evil at best. A new piece penned by Jeremy Liew of Lightspeed Venture Partners sheds some light on what goes on behind the scenes when capitalists are approached for funding.

Liew makes a point of mentioning that one of the features he looks for is the idea that the studio can turn out another good game after the first one, mentioning CCP Games and Jagex as both lagging behind. He also points out the power of community, noting that League of Legends gained much of its current popularity by completely taking over the DOTA community. While the piece is focused on gaming as a whole rather than just MMOs, fans of video games will no doubt find several points of interest within the full article.

MassivelyWhat do venture capitalists see when they look at games? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-discussionbusiness-modelscostsdevelopmentdevelopment-costsfinancinginvestmentsjeremy-liewkickstarterlightspeed-venture-partnersmarketing-costsmmo-industryproductionventure-capitalventure-capitalistsThu, 06 Dec 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ mod is going for the hobo appeal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/dayz-mod-is-going-for-the-hobo-appeal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/dayz-mod-is-going-for-the-hobo-appeal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/dayz-mod-is-going-for-the-hobo-appeal/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

DayZ mod is going for the hobo appeal
For all DayZ fans who feel that the inclusion of powerful weapons and relatively plentiful supply caches don't accurately portray their personal vision for a horrible post-apocalyptic zombie world, then a new mod in the making might do the trick. Called DayZ 2017, the mod seeks to progress the game world forward five years to a time when everything's a lot harder to come by.

Modder Luke Hinds explained his reasoning on the DayZ 2017 website: "I now want to go back to basics and really focus on what made Rocket's mod really tick with players, and that was scarcity and threat. The main changes will be taking out most loot and making what's left very rare."

Hinds cites films such as The Book of Eli and The Road as inspiration. He created "hobo-like" characters who look far more worn-down and a combat that slants more toward melee than ranged. DayZ 2017 hopefully will arrive by the end of the year.

Recently, the makers of DayZ cracked down on a different mod that sought to monetize the game through a bounty system.

MassivelyDayZ mod is going for the hobo appeal originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-iibohemia-interactivedayzdayz-2017developmentluke-hindsmodificationsmodsnewsstandalonesurvivaltexturesthe-book-of-elithe-roadupcoming-titleswipwork-in-progresszombiezombiesFri, 16 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ cracks down on 'Bounty' mod]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/dayz-cracks-down-on-bounty-mod/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/dayz-cracks-down-on-bounty-mod/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/dayz-cracks-down-on-bounty-mod/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

DayZ fans start realmoney bounty mod
You'd be hard-pressed to find a dedicated DayZ player who doesn't think the game's already exciting enough. Even so, there is a trio of gamers who have decided that the hardcore zombie survival mod needs some spicing up. Hence, the creation of a real-money version of the game called DayZ Bounty.

DayZ Bounty requires players to pay per life but offers income in return if the gamer is good enough to take out NPCs and other humans. Co-creator James Ortiz said that it made the game far more interesting: "We figured that if people had a value on their life... there'd be something to fear besides the zombies."

Unfortunately for the Bounty team, DayZ's creators are calling for an end to the mod. A spokeperson for the development team said that Bounty "undermined" the title, and asked for a cessation of the project. "It changes the focus of DayZ from being a creative, enjoyable, gritty gaming experience to a game that is based almost solely on financial gain," the spokesperson explained, "and that is not something we want to be associated with."

MassivelyDayZ cracks down on 'Bounty' mod originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-iibohemia-interactivebountybounty-systemdayzdayz-bountydevelopmentgalleriesgalleryinteriormodificationsmodsnewsscreeniesscreenshotscreenshotsstandalonesurvivaltexturesupcoming-titleswipwork-in-progresszombiezombiesWed, 07 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar reveals the State of the Game in October]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/wildstar-reveals-the-state-of-the-game-in-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/wildstar-reveals-the-state-of-the-game-in-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/17/wildstar-reveals-the-state-of-the-game-in-october/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Now, you can luxuriate in a nice jail cell, but if your hand touches metal, I swear by my pretty floral bonnet, I will end you.
It's been anything but a quiet month for the development team behind WildStar. Sure, the game isn't out for you to play at the moment, but there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes. According to the latest WildStar Wednesday by executive producer Jeremy Gaffney, part of the trouble with an MMO is that you simultaneously have to deliver more content than a normal boxed game while being more flexible to player feedback.

So what's been going on behind the scenes? The development team has been working on designing the game's mid-level zones, distinct from the low-level zones that have been previewed thus far. There's also more work being done on the game's second faction and the earliest implementations of raids, PvP matches, and instanced dungeons. If you're an avid fan of the game, you'll want to check out the latest dispatch for a few more teases of what you can expect from future Wednesday reveals and the game's eventual launch.

MassivelyWildStar reveals the State of the Game in October originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosdevelopmentdevelopment-processncsoftpre-testingpreviewssandparksci-fantasysci-fistate-of-the-gamewildstarwildstar-wednesdaywsWed, 17 Oct 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ development screenshots released]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/dayz-development-screenshots-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/dayz-development-screenshots-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/dayz-development-screenshots-released/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DayZ development screenshots released
The development as DayZ as a standalone title is rolling ever forward. To give fans a hint of the sort of progress being made, the development team shared a few work in progress screenshots of some interiors in the game.

The art team's recent focus (as you might've guessed from the content of the screenshots) has been on going through and giving each building an interior. Moving forward, the developers will be working on balancing complexity within cities and an interest in scavenging opportunities with a need for greatly increased performance.

Gallery: DayZ work in progress interiors

MassivelyDayZ development screenshots released originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-iibohemia-interactivedayzdevelopmentgalleriesgalleryinteriormodificationsmodsnewsscreeniesscreenshotscreenshotsstandalonesurvivaltexturesupcoming-titleswipwork-in-progresszombiezombiesMon, 15 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Midgard opens up Kickstarter campaign]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/world-of-midgard-opens-up-kickstarter-campaign/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/world-of-midgard-opens-up-kickstarter-campaign/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/world-of-midgard-opens-up-kickstarter-campaign/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

You know you're old-school when your logo is on fire.
All right, so you've probably seen your fair share of Kickstarters for MMORPGs by now. Including ones aiming at being an old-school revival. And you've seen a lot of them offering to let you play on both mobile devices and on your desktop...

Wait, that part is kind of new. And if it appeals to you, you should probably take a look at World of Midgard's new Kickstarter project. The game is currently running in a beta state, but the development team wants to move forward and complete the game in a suitable fashion. That means a need for money, and that's why the game is opening the doors to crowdsourcing.

The project offers an exclusive mount for players who donate just up to the $15 level, with increasingly extravagant rewards for those who offer more. If it sounds like your cup of tea, take a look at the project and consider sending a few dollars along to help development.

MassivelyWorld of Midgard opens up Kickstarter campaign originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbetacrowdsourcingdevelopmentfundingioskickstartermobilemobile-devicesmultiplatformnewsprojectsveraxon-entertainmentworld-of-midgardFri, 05 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet's plans for supporting Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/arenanet-talks-about-supporting-guild-wars-2-moving-forward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/arenanet-talks-about-supporting-guild-wars-2-moving-forward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/arenanet-talks-about-supporting-guild-wars-2-moving-forward/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

GW2
Guild Wars 2 has been live for more than a month. Now that ArenaNet has more or less dealt with initial problems like server stability, absurd imbalance, and exploits, the company can start looking forward. ArenaNet devs have long talked about providing new content and huge support for the game, and a blog post this morning details some of their plans for that. ArenaNet has "formed multiple live teams focused on expanding Guild Wars 2 in the long term."

So what are those teams, and what do they do? The Live Security team is all about cracking down on bots, spammers, and scammers. The Live Response team is made up of the fine folks addressing balance issues and bugs. The Living World focuses on adding new content and rewards for PvE and WvW. There's a PvP and Esports team focused on making Guild Wars 2 the best PvP game it can be. Holidays and Events have their own special team, dedicated to keeping up the Guild Wars legacy of amazing holiday content. In addition, the Holidays and Events team will be creating one-off events that occur in the world. The Mac and Performance team is working on getting Guild Wars 2 to run on the widest possible range of hardware. Bonus teams will take care of any projects that don't fall in the direct domain of other teams. Last but not least, the Commerce team will be keeping an eye on the Guild Wars 2 economy and thinking up new goodies for the Black Lion Trading Company.

Hit up the full post for all the gory details.

MassivelyArenaNet's plans for supporting Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetdevelopmentfantasyguild-wars-2gw2holiday-teamlive-teamncsoftrestructuringsecurityteamsThu, 04 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Two years of spinning wheels in Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/29/the-mog-log-two-years-of-spinning-wheels-in-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/29/the-mog-log-two-years-of-spinning-wheels-in-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/29/the-mog-log-two-years-of-spinning-wheels-in-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Has it really been two years since Final Fantasy XIV launched? My collector's edition box was purchase two years ago, and I wrote my last anniversary column a year ago, so I guess it must have been. And yet I still don't feel as if it's actually happened yet.

You'll note that last year's column was mostly about what happened as a result of the game's launch. That wasn't by accident. Launch led to a massive restructuring of the game's design team, and not too long after the one-year mark, the team announced that it was basically remaking the game from the ground up. That fact has dominated the past year, and it's impossible to overstate the importance that announcement has had for the Final Fantasy XIV community. Everything circles around the promise of 2.0 these days.

What has that meant for the actual years of the game's operation? Sadly, nothing good. The game has made huge strides, but we as players have been stuck in a nasty little loop.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Two years of spinning wheels in Final Fantasy XIV

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Two years of spinning wheels in Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-realm-rebornanniversaryconsoleconsolesdevelopmentfantasyfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-version-2.0final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivholding-patternmog-lognaoki-yoshidaopinionsquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logtwo-year-anniversarySat, 29 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ receiving a standalone version before the year is out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/dayz-receiving-a-standalone-version-before-the-year-is-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/dayz-receiving-a-standalone-version-before-the-year-is-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/dayz-receiving-a-standalone-version-before-the-year-is-out/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Next year everyone will finally be tired of zombies. It'll all be about fighting werewolves.
Are you interested in zombie survivalist fantasies but not interested in buying an unrelated first-person shooter? DayZ has already garnered a fan following despite being a mod for an existing game, but a standalone version of the game is in the works for release before the end of the year. Creator Dean Hall has stated that in terms of what the team wants to accomplish (some of which was outlined in our interview on the game), the alpha version absolutely has to be out by the end of the year.

Hill has not named an exact price, but he has made it clear that the standalone version will be cheap. He's also made a point of stating several of his longer-term plans for the standalone version, including the spread of diseases, makeshift first-aid remedies, and the eventual inclusion of vehicles. All of it is very ambitious, but that's part of the reason that the team is dead-set on having the standalone game out before the end of December.

MassivelyDayZ receiving a standalone version before the year is out originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-iibohemia-interactivedayzdevelopmentmodificationsmodsnew-titlesnewspatch-plansrelease-plansstandalonesurvivalupcoming-titleszombiezombiesThu, 27 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic launches update 1.4 and takes aim at faster patches]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/star-wars-the-old-republic-launches-update-1-4-and-takes-aim-at/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/star-wars-the-old-republic-launches-update-1-4-and-takes-aim-at/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/star-wars-the-old-republic-launches-update-1-4-and-takes-aim-at/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Hey, dude. Oh, we're just chilling, fighting alien horrors, you know. What's new with you?
The fourth major update for Star Wars: The Old Republic is live right now, but some players may find patch 1.4 a bit lighter than previous updates. According to a new development blog, this isn't by accident but by design. Creative director James Ohlen explains that the development team's previous strategy of launching a single big update every few months did result in big patches but at the cost of long stretches without anything new for players.

Starting with 1.4 and moving onward, the team is moving to prioritize more frequent updates. Ohlen places a rough estimate of every six weeks but notes that it's only an estimate and a target rather than a firm schedule. He goes on to state that the team is planning on three more patches by the end of the year in addition to the free-to-play conversion, with more large-scale improvements and updates due in 2013. If you're mostly just interested in cutting through 1.4's new raid mode, of course, most of this is immaterial, but you can still check out the trailer for the patch just after the break.

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic launches update 1.4 and takes aim at faster patches

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic launches update 1.4 and takes aim at faster patches originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredevelopmentdevelopment-blogeaelectronic-artsjames-ohlenlucasartspatch-launchschedulesci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorswtor-patch-1.4the-old-republictortrailertrailersupdate-schedulevideovideosWed, 26 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 patches up dungeon rewards and difficulty]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/guild-wars-2-patches-up-dungeon-rewards-and-difficulty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/guild-wars-2-patches-up-dungeon-rewards-and-difficulty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/guild-wars-2-patches-up-dungeon-rewards-and-difficulty/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Now I have all of the tokens! I am the queen of Tokenania! That's how it works, right?
If you've had your fill of helping NPCs around the world and advancing your personal story in Guild Wars 2, you're probably going to head into one of the game's dungeons. You may have noticed some changes to the way that the dungeon rewarded your accomplishments if you've already done that today. These changes are the result of the game's newest patch, which has altered the reward structure for dungeon tokens and some of the encounter mechanics within individual dungeons.

Players now receive dungeon tokens by reaching the end of an explorable chain rather than via individual boss kills, which prevents players from farming the first boss that drops tokens. To help increase the overall rewards from a single run, the chains will offer 20 tokens on completion and an additional 40 the first time you clear one in a given day. Thus, clearing all three chains in a given dungeon in one day will reward you with 180 tokens in total. Read up on the full changes, along with some minor balance adjustments and bugfixes, in the full patch notes.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 patches up dungeon rewards and difficulty originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetdevelopmentdungeondungeon-updatesdungeonsfantasygame-mechanicsguild-wars-2gw2improvementsncsoftnewspatchpatchesrewardsTue, 25 Sep 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A personal tribute to Paragon Studios]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-personal-tribute-to-paragon-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-personal-tribute-to-paragon-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-personal-tribute-to-paragon-studios/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We stand until the end.
When I started my career at Massively, I wasn't hired to be the City of Heroes guy. I wasn't hired to be the anything guy, although I quickly earned a reputation. It was a few months after I got hired that I got the opportunity to start doing a pair of weekly columns, one on City of Heroes and one about the online Final Fantasy installments. This was due to the fact that my affection for City of Heroes was well-known on staff, and I was already knee-deep in the game, so...

It wasn't quite three years ago, but it was close enough. And I've said many times that my professional career has been tied in directly with City of Heroes because of that. As I've grown as a writer and a journalist, I've been working alongside City of Heroes. So today I'm not going to talk as much about the game itself. I'm going to talk about the people of Paragon Studios, some of whom I had the good fortune to interact with over the years and all of whom seem to be absolutely astonishing human beings.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A personal tribute to Paragon Studios

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: A personal tribute to Paragon Studios originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporteranecdotescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdevelopmentdevelopment-teamf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomhosun-leelayoffsmild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospersonalsave-cohshutdownstaffsuperherosuperheroesWed, 19 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anarchy Online's director leaves the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/18/anarchy-onlines-director-leaves-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/18/anarchy-onlines-director-leaves-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/18/anarchy-onlines-director-leaves-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This is never good news.
Parting is such sweet sorrow, and fans of Anarchy Online are receiving a full dose of that sorrow. Fia Tjernberg, the game's current director, has announced in a forum post that she is leaving her post as director due to the deteriorating health of a family member and the numerous Funcom layoffs. As she puts it, her departure ensures that the existing staff will have less pressure to reduce its numbers, which she feels is better for the health of the game in the long run.

Tjernberg stresses that the team behind Anarchy Online has completed or nearly completed a number of wonderful projects that improve the overall game experience, including the graphical revamp, which is slated to be released in the near future. At this time there has been no announcement of who will be the game's next director. This comes in the wake of Tjernberg's previous statements regarding the layoffs and Anarchy Online and last week's announcement that senior content designer Brad McAtee is departing the game.

[Thanks to David for the tip!]

MassivelyAnarchy Online's director leaves the game originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineaobrad-mcateeclassic-mmodesigndevelopmentdevelopment-teamf2pfia-tjernbergfree-to-playfuncomfuncom-layoffsgame-directorlayoffsmmo-industryproductionsci-fistaff-reductionTue, 18 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The classic Dungeons & Dragons problem]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/18/the-soapbox-the-classic-dungeons-and-dragons-problem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/18/the-soapbox-the-classic-dungeons-and-dragons-problem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/18/the-soapbox-the-classic-dungeons-and-dragons-problem/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Not pictured: figuring out in older editions why ancient elves were unable to figure out how to be paladins.
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Older tabletop roleplaying games are a mess.

I realize that some our readers may not have had the unique pleasure of getting introduced to gaming via a handful of dice and a pencil, but let me give you the very short version. A long time ago, a game called Dungeons & Dragons was written, and it was the first roleplaying game. Since then, we've seen a lot of other roleplaying games come out with different ideas and different themes. We've also seen a lot of other roleplaying games meant to intentionally hearken back to the days when Dungeons & Dragons was the only game in town.

This is almost never a good idea.

Nor is the idea unique to tabletop games. In fact, we're seeing the same thing in the MMO space. There are games that market themselves by promising to be a return to the days of Ultima Online or points related, a throwback to the old school of gaming. I'm pretty sure Vanguard was the first of that movement. And while I understand the sentiment, it pretty much always ends in tears for some very good reasons.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The classic Dungeons & Dragons problem

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The classic Dungeons & Dragons problem originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic-gamesdevelopmenteditorialfeaturedmmo-industrymoving-forwardnostalgiaold-schoololder-gamesop-edopinionrantrantssoapboxthe-soapboxthrowback-gamesTue, 18 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should companies offer release schedules for updates?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/16/the-daily-grind-should-companies-offer-release-schedules-for-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/16/the-daily-grind-should-companies-offer-release-schedules-for-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/16/the-daily-grind-should-companies-offer-release-schedules-for-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Or you can just keep smiling, nodding, and ignoring the promises.
If you've been following the news about The Secret World lately, you know that the game's second monthly update has now been delayed until next week, meaning that it's missing the "monthly" mark entirely. That's part of the development process; projects wind up taking more time than you expect. That's normal. But it does mean that the promise of "monthly content updates" isn't coming to fruition, and that promise may have been better off never being made in the first place.

Lots of companies promise a certain rate of content delivery, and more often than not those targets get missed on a regular basis. Making the promise does serve a purpose, however, as it helps players know that the game's team is still hard at work. So are promises of update schedules a good thing? Or should studios stop saying that there will be a regular stream of updates when it so rarely comes to 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: Should companies offer release schedules for updates? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>content-delayscontent-schedulesculturedaily-grinddelaysdevelopmentfactionfantasyfuncomhorrormythologyopinionpatch-pacingpatch-schedulesrelease-schedulessci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedtdgthe-daily-grindthe-secret-worldtswupdate-pacingSun, 16 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Glitch status report discusses the impending relaunch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/glitch-status-report-discusses-the-impending-relaunch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/glitch-status-report-discusses-the-impending-relaunch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/glitch-status-report-discusses-the-impending-relaunch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The original draft for this post also included a subplot regarding a prince and a dragon, but that was cut for relevance.
Once upon a time, there was a game called Glitch. This game launched, and it made several people very happy, but it made its designers sad because it didn't feel ready for launch. So the designers called backsies on launch and took the game back to beta for more development and refinement. It's been nine months since then, and according to the latest developer update, the game is almost up to the point it should have been during its first launch... but not quite.

The blog post explains that there were three core things that the design team wanted in the game before the official relaunch: a better introduction for new players, imagination and upgrades as a core advancement system, and a better land and housing system. While those features are in place, they've just brought on new challenges for the designers and new updates that need to be added. The overall takeaway is that if you're not playing now, you will be able to soon, as the game is almost as the designers want it, and then we can all live happily ever after.

MassivelyGlitch status report discusses the impending relaunch originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>back-to-betabetabeta-againbrowserbrowser-basedcasualdeveloper-blogdevelopmentf2pfantasyflashfree-to-playglitchhipsterlaunch-backsiesre-betarelaunchsandboxtinyspeckunlauncheningTue, 04 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lord of the Rings Online explains crafting changes coming with Riders of Rohan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/lord-of-the-rings-online-explains-crafting-changes-coming-with-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/lord-of-the-rings-online-explains-crafting-changes-coming-with-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/29/lord-of-the-rings-online-explains-crafting-changes-coming-with-r/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I built the plants myself and let the house grow right there. In hindsight I should have done it the other way around.
One of the major issues facing crafters in Lord of the Rings Online is that gathering professions don't line up with crafting professions. Leveling up a non-gathering skill takes more resources than you gather while leveling up the appropriate gathering skill. The newest developer diary explains how Riders of Rohan addresses this problem with new "processing" recipes that allow you to turn a resource into shavings, which can subsequently be turned back into the original item.

That's not the only change coming to crafting with the new expansion. Players can expect two full sets of armor for the crafting, one at level 80 and one at level 85. There are also new crafting instances, new crafted relics, and a new rank added on to craft guild reputations. If you like to get your hands dirty with crafting in Lord of the Rings Online, swing on over to the developer diary for the full details.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online explains crafting changes coming with Riders of Rohan originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crafterscraftingcraftsdeveloper-diarydevelopmentexpansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroplayer-craftingrecipesresourcesriders-of-rohanrorturbineturbine-entertainmentWed, 29 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond renamed to Starlite with beta incoming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/27/astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-renamed-to-starlite-with-beta-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/27/astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-renamed-to-starlite-with-beta-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/27/astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-renamed-to-starlite-with-beta-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In orbit, astronauts all carry holograms of the solar system.
In the wake of NASA successfully landing a robot rover on Mars recently, you might be wondering what happened to the NASA-themed MMO titled Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond. The first thing that's happened to it is that the project has been retitled Starlite. Project Whitecard Studios Inc. hopes the new name will be less cumbersome and also provide a better idea of what the game is about at a glance.

Development has progressed on the game as well, with a beta expected to begin sometime before the end of 2012. Prospective players can experience the game on mobile devices and browsers to minimize barriers to entry. If you're interested in a game focused on the technical side of space travel and exploring to the boundary of our solar system, keep a close watch for news on the upcoming beta.

[Source: Project Whitecard Studios Inc. press release]

MassivelyAstronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond renamed to Starlite with beta incoming originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyondbetabetasbrowserbrowser-gamesdevelopmentmathematicsmindarkmobilemobile-gamesnasanasa-mmoproject-whitecard-studios-increal-lifespace-explorationspace-simluatorspace-travelstarlitestemMon, 27 Aug 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan's plans to borrow tech from The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/31/age-of-conan-monthly-update-talks-content-pacing-and-technology/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/31/age-of-conan-monthly-update-talks-content-pacing-and-technology/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/31/age-of-conan-monthly-update-talks-content-pacing-and-technology/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

You could probably import more stuff from The Secret World, really. Howard and Lovecraft were contemporaries.
Funcom's focus of late has obviously been on The Secret World, but that doesn't mean the company has forgotten about Age of Conan. Quite the opposite, in fact; the success of The Secret World's single server technology means that Age of Conan can start moving to an equivalent server architecture. According to the newest monthly update, the process will probably not be finished until early next year, but it will allow people to freely switch shards to play with friends and enjoy cross-server events.

One of the other updates -- and one that will have far-reaching implications for the game -- regards the current pace of content development and deployment. The development team is considering moving away from large content updates and toward smaller updates at a faster pace. Feedback is being requested from the community on this and other topics, so if you're an Age of Conan stalwart, you should examine the full letter and give the company your opinion.

MassivelyAge of Conan's plans to borrow tech from The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedconandesigner-updatesdevelopmentdevelopment-updatef2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomfuture-developmenthyboriamechanical-changessingle-server-technologytechnologyunchainedupdatesTue, 31 Jul 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vanguard welcomes the return of Brad McQuaid]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/05/vanguard-welcomes-the-return-of-brad-mcquaid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/05/vanguard-welcomes-the-return-of-brad-mcquaid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/05/vanguard-welcomes-the-return-of-brad-mcquaid/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

And everything worked out perfectly fine with no bad blood whatsoever.
If you're a fan of Vanguard, you know full well who Brad McQuaid is. If you're a fan of EverQuest, you're probably also familiar with the name. And now, the man behind both games has returned to Vanguard after a lengthy hiatus to rejoin the development team. Considering the game is heading toward a free-to-play conversion in the not-too-distant future, it can certainly be seen as an auspicious event.

McQuaid is the focus of the game's newest Developer Spotlight, where he discusses his role in starting the game and in its early development. He confesses that he took a long break from playing the game, but he seems quite happy with how it's developed in his absence. Looking to the future, McQuaid also talks about making loot drops and quest rewards more viable throughout the game, encouraging players to explore a variety of zones instead of just a few old standards. The interview is remarkably low-key considering that the man in question was one of the driving forces behind the game's original launch. Players can draw their own conclusions about what McQuaid's return will mean for the game in the long run.

[Thanks to Ryan for the tip!]

MassivelyVanguard welcomes the return of Brad McQuaid originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jul 2012 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brad-mcquaidbreakingdeveloper-spotlightdevelopersdevelopmentf2pfantasyfree-to-playnewssandboxsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttelonvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgThu, 05 Jul 2012 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet explains golden rules of Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/arenanet-explains-golden-rules-of-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/arenanet-explains-golden-rules-of-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/03/arenanet-explains-golden-rules-of-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2
How do you think Guild Wars 2 came about? Mystic dream-journeys to consult with unicorn sages atop mountains of inspiration? Late-night voodoo with developers dancing around a bubbling pot of inactive World of Warcraft accounts? Well, ArenaNet game designer Ben Miller is here to set the record straight. In a recent blog post, Miller outlined some of the golden rules that have served as ArenaNet's polestar on the journey of creating Guild Wars 2.

The first and most important rule is to make the world come alive and lay the foundation of the game's design philosophy. The world of Tyria has been thoroughly established, from geopolitical histories to cultural development to ecosystems. This kind of planned-out depth makes certain that game-world elements added in throughout the design process fit in the world being created and that the game has a consistent and coherent feel, which adds to its liveliness. The second rule, that cooperation is key, is behind mechanics like individually tracked resource nodes, a universal revival ability, and loot and XP rewards for everyone who helps kill a foe or complete an event.

Continue reading ArenaNet explains golden rules of Guild Wars 2

MassivelyArenaNet explains golden rules of Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetben-millerdesign-elementsdevelopmentdevelopment-processfantasygame-designguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftUIunicorn-sagesTue, 03 Jul 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Max Schafer claims Diablo III was originally an MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/max-schafer-claims-diablo-iii-was-originally-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/max-schafer-claims-diablo-iii-was-originally-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/15/max-schafer-claims-diablo-iii-was-originally-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

World of Diablocraft.
It always requires you to be online. It lets friends drop in, often without warning, to take part in whatever you're doing. It has an elaborate auction house, complete with microtransactions. Diablo III isn't an MMO, but in the eyes of many fans, it certainly seems to be aping the style of MMOs, and whether or not that's a good thing depends on your point of view. But according to recent statements from Runic Games co-founder Max Schafer, that's no accident, as many years ago, the game was an MMO.

Schafer states that prior to his departure, the team was essentially aiming at doing for the Diablo franchise what World of Warcraft did to the Warcraft franchise. Changes in upper management prompted Schafer's departure, and his current studio Runic Games is known for its very Diablo-like Torchlight franchise. While it's been a long time since development on a Diablo MMO was in the cards, it seems some of those roots wound up making it to launch after all.

MassivelyMax Schafer claims Diablo III was originally an MMO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3developmentdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasymax-schaefermmo-developmentmultiplayernewsonline-multiplayerretrospectiveroguelikerpgrunic-gamestorchlightFri, 15 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ryan Shwayder revives MMO lessons series]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/ryan-shwayder-revives-mmo-lessons-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/ryan-shwayder-revives-mmo-lessons-series/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/ryan-shwayder-revives-mmo-lessons-series/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ryan Shwayder revives MMO lessons series
Former 38 Studios designer Ryan Shwayder is using his time off to work on his personal blog and share his perspective as a developer. He's revived a series from years ago called MMO Lessons, adding the 37th and 38th entries over the past two days.

His 37th lesson is to create memorable moments. "It is impossible to make every adventure in your game memorable, exciting, and unique," Shwayder writes. "But you can create incredible moments for your players and purposefully distribute them throughout the experience so players experience highs as they play the game."

Shwayder also defends kill quests but says that they usually need context or a twist to keep them fresh and fun: "Kill quests get a bad rap, but there's nothing inherently wrong with them."

MassivelyRyan Shwayder revives MMO lessons series originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosdevdevelopmenteqiieverquest-iikill-questslessonsmemorable-momentsmmo-lessonsnerfbatRyan-ShwaydersoeWed, 13 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gambitious launching itself as a game-focused crowdsourcing center]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/05/gambitious-launching-itself-as-a-game-focused-crowdsourcing-cent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/05/gambitious-launching-itself-as-a-game-focused-crowdsourcing-cent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/05/gambitious-launching-itself-as-a-game-focused-crowdsourcing-cent/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's like being a very tiny venture capitalist. Complete with tiny monocle.
Crowdsourcing is becoming the new trend, with Kickstarter projects serving as the new hotness for getting a game start-up funded. So it's not hard to understand why Gambitious is promoting itself as an alternative to Kickstarter, specifically as a means to fund game development via crowdsourced projects. Gambitious has more to it than just the idea being a game-focused alternative to the Kickstarter giant, however; it includes an option for investors and backers to take part in equity funding.

Traditionally, Kickstarter backers receive only a few bonuses for funding a project, and if that project goes on to wild success after the initial funding, the backers are left out. Equity funding allows people to play a more traditional venture capitalist role, investing money in return for dividends on successful projects. While this option is available only in Europe at the moment due to legal issues, it's a new take on funding a game, and depending on future developments, Gambitious might make a name for itself in the indie gaming market.

MassivelyGambitious launching itself as a game-focused crowdsourcing center originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-modelscrowdsourcedcrowdsourcingdevelopmentdevelopment-fundingfundinggambitiousgaming-industryindustryinvestinginvestmentsinvestorskickstartermmo-industrynewsTue, 05 Jun 2012 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth receives a State of the Game update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/05/fallen-earth-receives-a-state-of-the-game-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/05/fallen-earth-receives-a-state-of-the-game-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/05/fallen-earth-receives-a-state-of-the-game-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Why are there always growly people in bars after the end of the world?
For Fallen Earth players, May was all about the Global Territory Control update. But now it's June, and the game's developers have been rather quiet since then. The team is rectifying that in the newest State of the Game letter, letting fans know that it's just been a quiet month of balancing and addressing bugs from the patch. Now that those issues are addressed, the team can look toward the future again.

Among the promised future additions are farms, meant to be the PvE equivalent of harvesters. The team wants to ensure that harvesters are providing enough of a reward for player effort to be worthwhile, so some more balancing is necessary, but the core idea is that the higher-risk actions of harvesters yield greater rewards than farms. There's also a promise of the development team trying to be more active with responses to players, something that should be a welcome start after a fairly quiet month.

MassivelyFallen Earth receives a State of the Game update originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>developmentdevelopment-blogf2pfallen-earthfefree-to-playfuture-patchesfuture-updatesg1gamersfirstpatchespost-apocpost-apocalypticsandboxsci-fistate-of-the-gameupdateswastelandsTue, 05 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA's Chris Lee shares the trials and joys of transforming an MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/teras-chris-lee-shares-the-trials-and-joys-of-transforming-an-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/teras-chris-lee-shares-the-trials-and-joys-of-transforming-an-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/teras-chris-lee-shares-the-trials-and-joys-of-transforming-an-m/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

TERA
What was En Masse VP of Publishing Chris Lee's favorite memory of working on TERA? According to a new dev diary, it was when Lee got his hands on the first English-translated build of the game: "At that time we were learning first-hand the strengths and weaknesses of each class, how a balanced party made a difference in the instances, and how much damn fun it was to kill a BAM."

Saying that it was a "different game" when the studio first got involved with TERA's Westernization, Lee said that the team had to identify problem spots that would need changing in order to bring it to market in North America and Europe. One of the biggest changes was making the game far more solo-friendly after level 20.

Lee shared a few anecdotes about life at En Masse, including a competition between team members to level as quickly as possible in beta and then again in live. He's excited to see the game gaining traction with a diverse community: "What's really interesting is the variety of people that TERA has drawn. In addition to our strong community, we have seen tweets from NFL players, Penny Arcade editors, and even Felicia Day about playing the game."

MassivelyTERA's Chris Lee shares the trials and joys of transforming an MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bambamsblueholebluehole-studioschris-leedev-diarydevelopmenten-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyfelicia-daynflpenny-arcadeterawesternizationTue, 29 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Firefall video blog says farewell to levels, hello to skill]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/firefall-video-blog-discusses-a-farewell-to-levels-and-a-return/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/firefall-video-blog-discusses-a-farewell-to-levels-and-a-return/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/firefall-video-blog-discusses-a-farewell-to-levels-and-a-return/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Not a farewell to arms, mind you. That would make the game kind of silly.
The team at Red 5 Studios has been working hard on making Firefall the best game it can be, and as it turns out, that happens to be a game without traditional levels. A new video blog featuring lead designer Scott Youngblood and development VP James Macauley drops the news that the level system is being discarded and replaced with a much more organic system for player growth.

Under the new system, players still earn EXP. That EXP will be spent on specific upgrades at a player's discretion rather than marking off specific levels, allowing you to unlock the upgrades that feel relevant in the order you want them. It also places less emphasis on levels in head-to-head matchups, something Macauley stresses is important to the team.

There's more than just the removal of levels at work, however; the development team is also overhauling crafting to be more complex and rewarding as well as developing a new system of equipment tiers to keep players advancing. The full diary just past the break only gives brief glimpses of several new systems, but Firefall fans should be quite happy with what's over the horizon.

Continue reading Firefall video blog says farewell to levels, hello to skill

MassivelyFirefall video blog says farewell to levels, hello to skill originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>design-blogdevelopmentdevelopment-blogf2pfirefallfirst-person-shooterfpsfree-to-playfuture-patchesfuture-updatesjames-macauleylevelsmmo-shootermmofpsnewsno-levelspvpred-5red-5-studiossci-fiscott-youngbloodshootervideovideo-blogvideosvlogwarTue, 22 May 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: A decade of Final Fantasy XI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Generally speaking, when I celebrate anniversaries, I celebrate the point when the game actually came out in a language that I could play it. This is relevant in the case of Final Fantasy XI, since the game took a year and a half to reach the shores of America (also known as "the place I live"). I learned my lesson about trying to learn a language just to muddle through a game back with Final Fantasy III.

However, when one of our eagle-eyed readers pointed out to me the milestone that the game had hit, that made an impact because even if I couldn't understand any of the game's text back when it launched, a decade is a long time for continuous operation of anything. So rather than talking about the Legacy campaign as I'd planned, I think I'd rather talk about the legacy of Final Fantasy XI this week, including where the game has gone from its state at launch. You know, when a Black Mage could make the entire world bow and you still got attacked when riding a chocobo.

Continue reading The Mog Log: A decade of Final Fantasy XI

MassivelyThe Mog Log: A decade of Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryconsoleconsolesdecadedesigndevelopmentfantasyfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xilaunch-anniversarymog-logopinionretrospectivesquaresquare-enixsquenixthe-mog-logSat, 19 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst predicts The Elder Scrolls Online will launch with a subscription fee]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/analyst-predicts-the-elder-scrolls-online-will-launch-with-a-sub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/analyst-predicts-the-elder-scrolls-online-will-launch-with-a-sub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/analyst-predicts-the-elder-scrolls-online-will-launch-with-a-sub/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We're a bit of a ways out from getting dynamic screenshots here.
Are you hoping that The Elder Scrolls Online will be part of the classic subscription model rather than go the free-to-play route? According to analyst Nicholas Lovell, founder of Gamesbrief, the odds are good that you'll get your wish. Lovell notes that since the game began development in 2007, when subscription games were at their apex, Bethesda is likely to launch using the more familiar business model. Whether or not it will remain as a subscription game is another matter.

Of course, the price of play is far from the minds of most fans -- the real question is what the game will look like when it's actually playable. Director Matt Firor recently sat down to discuss the game's earliest stages of development, the relationship between ZeniMax Online Studios and Bethesda, and working within the lore of the established IP. It's an interesting look behind the scenes of development, and if you're interested in the game, watching the video is certain to be six minutes well spent.

MassivelyAnalyst predicts The Elder Scrolls Online will launch with a subscription fee originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftdaggerfalldesigndevelopmentelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlinematt-firormorrowindnicholas-lovellnick-lovelloblivionplease-dont-suckpvpsandboxskyrimsubscriptionsubscription-feestamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpzenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosWed, 09 May 2012 18:00:00 EST