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: Talk this way]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/storyboard-talk-this-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/storyboard-talk-this-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/storyboard-talk-this-way/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Nobody is talking in this picture. Ironic?
One of the great problems presented to roleplayers is the challenge of presenting audio via text.

We don't think about it all the time because most of the time it's easy to construct the sound of something from context. Sure, simply saying that your character sighs could mean any number of things, but contextually it's usually obvious whether it's meant as a gesture of exasperation or a sign of relaxed contentment. "Yes, I'm sure your new weapon will make a huge difference in the war" could be sarcastic or serious, but there are generally enough clues in the situation to make the difference obvious.

But there's one obvious case in which that breaks down, and that's in the matter of accents. After all, people from two different regions shouldn't quite sound the same... but there's also no effective way to communicate how one voice or another sounds different. And the most common solution is essentially a matter of making your character's words borderline unreadable in the hopes that you convey a sliver of your intention.

Continue reading Storyboard: Talk this way

MassivelyStoryboard: Talk this way originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accentsdialoguediscussionfeaturedopinionrantsroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpsoundsstorystoryboardvoicewhat-is-this-I-cant-evenFri, 23 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you skip dialogue?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/the-daily-grind-do-you-skip-dialogue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/the-daily-grind-do-you-skip-dialogue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/the-daily-grind-do-you-skip-dialogue/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

SWTOR
A very clever Massively poster once remarked that BioWare is indeed famous for story -- the same story, over and over. OK, so he was exaggerating for effect, but even I sometimes feel as if I've seen this scene before once or twice in BioWare's storygames. That hasn't driven me to skip over cutscenes or dialogue, not yet, but judging by how many gamers are already sitting in the endgame of Star Wars: The Old Republic, I have to wonder whether that's exactly what everyone else is doing.

So 'fess up -- are you wearing out your spacebar key skipping through dialogue, or are you drinking in every last line?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you skip dialogue? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebrianna-royce-tdgdialogueeaelectronic-artsfourth-pillarlucasartsopinionsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstoryswtortdgthe-daily-grindthe-old-republictorMon, 30 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Guild life in SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/the-guild-counsel-guild-life-in-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/the-guild-counsel-guild-life-in-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/the-guild-counsel-guild-life-in-swtor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

swtor
If you thought the future looked cloudy for guilds in MMOs, Star Wars: The Old Republic's launch stomped out any doubts. The pre-launch list of guilds was so enormous that it rivaled the total player populations of other MMOs. But there are some interesting aspects to guild life in SWTOR, and this week in The Guild Counsel, we'll take a closer look at them.

If you're interested in some first impressions from a guild perspective, or if you're wondering how to make a guild now that the game has launched, read on for a look at guild life in SWTOR.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Guild life in SWTOR

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Guild life in SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicebankbanksbiowarecreating-a-guild-in-swtordialogueeaelectronic-artsfeaturedguildguild-adviceguild-bankguild-counselguild-leadershipguild-managementguildskaren-bryanleadershiplucasartsopinionsci-fistar+wars+the+old+republicstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstarwarstheoldrepublicswtorswtor+guildswtor+guild+bankswtor+guildsswtorguildswtorguildbankswtorguildsthe+old+republicthe-guild-counselthe-old-republictheoldrepublictorvoice-chatThu, 22 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 devblog highlights cinematic conversations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/guild-wars-2-devblog-highlights-cinematic-conversations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/guild-wars-2-devblog-highlights-cinematic-conversations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/guild-wars-2-devblog-highlights-cinematic-conversations/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- Guild Wars 2 cinematic conversation
"One of the things we game developers always have to struggle with is reconciling our ambition with the reality of a production environment," begins today's Guild Wars 2 dev blog. That principle of balance comes into play in the case of the game's cinematic conversations, as the blog notes. James Boer goes on to detail many of the unique strategies used in Guild Wars 2's dialogue scenes in order to ensure that precious balance between ambition and pragmatism.

For instance, characters are designed in such a way that they don't look terribly good during close-ups, and there is no easy way to integrate facial animation. As a result, the team settled on a compromise, pushing the characters farther into the background. This, combined with the painted backgrounds utilized during conversations, lends a unique style to GW2's cinematic dialogues. For the full details, just head on over to the ArenaNet dev blog.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 devblog highlights cinematic conversations originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcinematic-conversationscinematicsconversationsdev-blogdev-blogsdev-diariesdev-diarydialogueguild-wars-2gw2james-boerncsoftTue, 22 Nov 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Can't talk, slaying darkspawn edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/ask-massively-cant-talk-slaying-darkspawn-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/ask-massively-cant-talk-slaying-darkspawn-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/ask-massively-cant-talk-slaying-darkspawn-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If it wasn't obvious through previous posts, I'm rather keen on the whole Dragon Age franchise. Which means that yes, I've been playing the stupid Facebook game that has just gone into open beta. The next revolution in gaming it is not, but it's got just enough of the setting to tide me over for the moment. Plus, it has player housing, which is conspicuously absent from most of the more modern MMOs out there.

Seriously, guys -- if it's able to fit into a Flash game on Facebook, you can fit it into your umpteen-millionth triple-A title. Get on that.

But I'll put aside the slaying of darkspawn and associated questions about how they're this far north, because it's time for another edition of Ask Massively. This round, we're talking about reviewing new MMOs, the conceptual space of games, and Star Wars: The Old Republic. As always, you can feel free to leave your questions in the comment field or send them along to ask@massively.com.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Can't talk, slaying darkspawn edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Can't talk, slaying darkspawn edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelychoicescolumndialoguediversityfeaturedgameplay-choicesmarksopinionoptionsreviewsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorThu, 24 Mar 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with SWTOR's Jedi Knight on Tython]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/hands-on-with-swtors-jedi-knight-on-tython/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/hands-on-with-swtors-jedi-knight-on-tython/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/hands-on-with-swtors-jedi-knight-on-tython/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Last month, Massively was invited to LucasArts for a whole day's experience with BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic. One of the perks of living on the West Coast is that I get to attend all these awesome in-depth Silicon Valley events and really expand on Massively's sessions at various conventions!

For all my enthusiasm, I have to admit I approached this hands-on with no small amount of trepidation. I'm a huge Star Wars fan (I still play Star Wars Galaxies!), but I fell out of "expert" range on the saga a decade ago. Like many of you readers, I've been wary of the hype and even warier of delusions of grandeur on the part of game companies trying to do justice to the IP. I was really afraid that it wouldn't be as good as I'd hoped and that I'd walk away disappointed.

And given the parts I saw, SWTOR's not as good as I'd hoped. It's better.

Gallery: SWTOR Jedi Immersion Day

Continue reading Hands-on with SWTOR's Jedi Knight on Tython

MassivelyHands-on with SWTOR's Jedi Knight on Tython originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebioware-eaclassescodexcombatdaniel-ericksondialogueeaElectronic-Artsexclusivefeaturedgallerygroup-dialoguegroupinghand-onhands-onjedijedi-knightlightsaberLucasArtsmoviemusicpadawanpreviewpreviewsscreenshotscreenshotsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicStephen-Reidswtorswtor-hands-onthe-old-republictortrailertythonvideovoiceoverWed, 15 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's in-depth interview with SWTOR Community Manager Stephen Reid]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/massivelys-in-depth-interview-with-swtor-community-manager-step/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/massivelys-in-depth-interview-with-swtor-community-manager-step/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/massivelys-in-depth-interview-with-swtor-community-manager-step/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last Friday, Star Wars: The Old Republic finally revealed the Crew Skills crafting system. In a slightly less important announcement, BioWare also announced its new Community Manager, Stephen Reid. OK, I'm teasing. It is very important announcement. Since Sean Dahlberg stepped down, the community team has been without a face and voice to the community. Those left behind had to put in extra effort into providing the fans with the latest releases from the SWTOR news room, and for a while, the community was unsure who, if anyone, would be able to fill the shoes. Now, Stephen Reid has taken the helm of the massive community starship.

Now since we have a new voice of the SWTOR community team, Massively thought it would be interesting to get his thoughts on the game, on the community, and on how we, the fans, could best make Star Wars: The Old Republic the game it should be. Massively Senior Editor Brianna Royce sat down with Stephen at a recent LucasArts event for an in-depth interview -- join us past the break to see what he had to say!

Continue reading Massively's in-depth interview with SWTOR Community Manager Stephen Reid

MassivelyMassively's in-depth interview with SWTOR Community Manager Stephen Reid originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AlderaanBioWarebioware-eacommunitycommunity-debatescommunity-managercommunity-teamdevelopersdialogueeaElectronic-Artsfeaturedgazilliongazillion-entertainmentimmersionLucasArtsmetricsroleplayRolePlayingsingle-player-MMOStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicStephen-Reidstoryswtorthe-old-republictortriontrion-worldsThu, 18 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Testing the SWTOR waters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/14/hyperspace-beacon-testing-the-swtor-waters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/14/hyperspace-beacon-testing-the-swtor-waters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/14/hyperspace-beacon-testing-the-swtor-waters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Testing the SWTOR waters
If you didn't know already, just over a week ago three writers from Massively, including me, traveled to Seattle, Washington for PAX Prime. During that time, besides catching the flu, we were able to catch a glimpse of some of the games that have yet to be released. We were able to play games like TERA, The Force Unleashed II, Guild Wars 2, RIFT, End of Nations, and many, many others. Some were pretty good; others, not-so-much -- but most seemed very polished and perfect for presentation.

Of course, you all know I was there to see Star Wars: The Old Republic. I caught a lot of it. There were six of the eight classes available for demo at the gorgeous LucasArts booth. (BioWare did have a booth there, too, but the team was displaying some small game it was trying to get off the ground called Dragon Age 2.) Visitors had a chance to try out the smuggler, trooper, agent, bounty hunter, and both Sith classes. Because of the enormous lines that constantly encircled the booth, I was only able to play three of the classes: smuggler, trooper, and Sith inquisitor.

For this edition of the Hyperspace Beacon, I will give you my impressions of the gameplay for those classes. However, I want to take a slightly different look at them. At E3, Massively's editor Seraphina Brennan was able to give her impressions of the smuggler class -- she covered the mechanics and so on. Although I will touch on the combat mechanics, I have decided to focus on some of the features BioWare is famous for: cinematics, character development, and overall storytelling. Follow after the break, and I will give you an honest breakdown of how SWTOR measures up to its predecessors.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Testing the SWTOR waters

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Testing the SWTOR waters originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alyson-bridgeBioWareblaine-christinecinematiccinematographyclassesdaniel-ericksondialoguedialogue-designeaElectronic-Artsfeaturedfire-extinguisherhands-oninquisitorjennifer-halelaglatencyLucasArtsopinionoverhead-mappax-2010pax-prime-2010QuestsrpgsmugglerStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-hands-onthe-old-republictortroopervoice-overswarpingTue, 14 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New ArenaNet blog post details dialogue in Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/06/new-arenanet-blog-post-details-dialogue-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/06/new-arenanet-blog-post-details-dialogue-in-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/06/new-arenanet-blog-post-details-dialogue-in-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Just yesterday, we talked a bit about the fact that Guild Wars 2 fans love the small details just as much as the large ones. As we learn more and more about Guild Wars 2, so much of what is exceptional about the game is found in those little details. Attention to the little things, right down to the stitching on a ranger's armor piece, adds up to create an overall sense of immersion and depth that helps make a good game a great one.

That attention to detail comes heavily into play when the GW2 team looks at how the story is presented. Way back in May, Lead Designer Colin Johanson spoke at length about the traditional system of quests and quest text. We know that ArenaNet is actively rejecting the traditional -- and immersion breaking -- system, but what will take its place?

We got some exciting news on that very thing last night, and as always, it's all in the details. Follow along after the jump to see for yourself.

Continue reading New ArenaNet blog post details dialogue in Guild Wars 2

MassivelyNew ArenaNet blog post details dialogue in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetarenanet-blogaudiobobby-steincolin-johansondialoguefeaturedguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-audiogw2jeremy-soulencsoftvoice-overvoiceoverFri, 06 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Erickson dishes dialog choices for Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/03/erickson-dishes-dialog-choices-for-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/03/erickson-dishes-dialog-choices-for-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/03/erickson-dishes-dialog-choices-for-star-wars-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Bioware has touted the fourth missing pillar from MMOs since the the first video introduction of Star Wars: The Old Republic: Story. This concept of great character development and plot on top of an intense combat experience has been Bioware's staple since, well, forever. Player choice propels every Bioware story in a very dynamic way, so we have no doubt Bioware will deliver. In fact, earlier this week we reported that SWTOR will boast the equivalent of 50 novels worth of dialog -- an insane amount of possible storytelling, to say the least. Yesterday, Daniel Erickson gave us a bit more to chew on in the SWTOR official forum.

In the developer walk-through, we witnessed the dialog system in action. Not only will one player lead the conversation, but others in his group will be able to chime in as well, thus intensifying the story. How this system works has not been defined, yet players have high hopes for it.

What Erickson did touch on in his post is the idea of choice. He tells us that dialog choice will differ in each class. A Sith will naturally want to choose the darker choice in the dialog tree, whereas the smuggler will naturally want the funny or flirty choice. Those choices will usually be the top option, but, Erickson says, "Want to be a hardcase Smuggler? A wry action hero Bounty Hunter? A charming Inquisitor? Choices are much broader than just good and evil." Multiple options will be available for those players who want to explore different paths for their character.

MassivelyErickson dishes dialog choices for Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>50-novels-worthBioWarecharacter-developmentclassesdaniel-ericksondialogueEAElectronic-ArtsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstorytellingswtorThu, 03 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Roleplaying advice for veterans and newbies alike]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/the-tattered-notebook-roleplaying-advice-for-veterans-and-newbi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/the-tattered-notebook-roleplaying-advice-for-veterans-and-newbi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/the-tattered-notebook-roleplaying-advice-for-veterans-and-newbi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hello there adventurers! Seccia has taken the week off to go visit the remainder of her family in Neriak so I'm stepping in to help out with her column!

This week in The Tattered Notebook, I thought it would be a good time to talk about roleplaying a character. Roleplaying isn't just jumping into a game world and talking in a funny accent. It's also not just making up a character and spamming a scene with emotes.

Good roleplaying skills take both time and practice to learn. And while I can't teach you everything in the space of a single column, I can give roleplayers, both veterans of the craft and newbies, a few tips to polish up your roleplaying skills and enhance the power of a scene.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Roleplaying advice for veterans and newbies alike

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Roleplaying advice for veterans and newbies alike originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actingcharacter-developmentconflictdialogueeq2eqiieverquest-iifeaturedimprovimprovisational-actingloreplotlinesroleplayingsoesony-online-entertainmentthe-tattered-notebookTue, 09 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR has dialogue trees, irreversible choices, love interests]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/21/swtor-has-dialogue-trees-irreversible-choices-love-interests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/21/swtor-has-dialogue-trees-irreversible-choices-love-interests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/21/swtor-has-dialogue-trees-irreversible-choices-love-interests/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In the midst of all the frenzy over the announcement of Star Wars: The Old Republic, we learned that players will have NPC companions like they do in single-player BioWare games. But there's more: BioWare has said that players will be able to engage in dialogue trees with their companions, and the decisions made in those trees will have irreversible implications.

Anger your companion, and he or she might leave your party forever, or become your enemy. BioWare also hinted that romances with NPCs will be possible -- again, as in the single-player games. This all fits nicely into SWTOR's commitment to storytelling as an addition to traditional MMO gameplay. Things just gets better and better, don't they?

Some questions are raised by this: how will players socialize with one anotherwhen they're constantly tied up in dialogue trees? Will it use the old BioWare dialogue method found in the KotOR games, or will it use the new, cropped Mass Effect one? Stay tuned, ya'll!

Gallery: Star Wars: The Old Republic Concept Art


Star Wars: The Old Republic is here! Bioware has finally unveiled Star Wars: The Old Republic, their new MMO! Massively's got you covered on all the details -- from liveblogging the announcement to screenshot galleries and more. Join us in the Galaxy far, far away!

MassivelySWTOR has dialogue trees, irreversible choices, love interests originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredialogdialog-treesdialoguedialogue-treesfeaturedlucasartsstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 21 Oct 2008 18:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: Age of Conan closed beta impressions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/player-vs-everything-age-of-conan-closed-beta-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/player-vs-everything-age-of-conan-closed-beta-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/player-vs-everything-age-of-conan-closed-beta-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Everyone and their brother seems to be writing about Age of Conan over the last few days, but hopefully you're hungry for a little more. I've spent the last day and a half trying out different classes and playing through the various starting missions, and I'm ready to serve up some impressions. If you want the quick and dirty version, I'm really impressed with what Funcom has done. This game is worth your money. I'll try to talk about the aspects of the game that I haven't seen discussed much yet, as well as the stuff that everyone is talking about.

It's also important to note that I've been playing with the closed beta client -- not the open beta one. There is a serious difference. I should mention that when I wrote Friday's article, I hadn't yet played the game and I was basing my arguments largely on the claims of people who had had bad experiences with the open beta client. I still stand by my arguments about making games with outlandish system requirements, but I think Age of Conan will run just fine on many systems. Keeping all of that in mind, here's what I think of the game.

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: Age of Conan closed beta impressions

MassivelyPlayer vs. Everything: Age of Conan closed beta impressions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 May 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-guideaocbetacombatdialogueenvironmentfeaturedfuncomgameplaygraphicsmissionnpcsplayer-vs-everythingpreviewquestsstabilityMon, 05 May 2008 11:00:00 EST