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The Perfect Ten: Clever ideas

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, City of Heroes, EVE Online, Guild Wars, Game mechanics, Warhammer Online, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Star Trek Online, Vanguard, Guild Wars 2, Humor, RIFT, TERA, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous

I'm a sucker for a good, clever idea. You know the type: the ideas that make you slap yourself on the forehead and shout, "Why didn't I think of that first?" Or for the less humble of us out there, "Why, I did think of that first! But I got lost on the way to the patent office and I'm pretty sure that someone stole my dream journal to pilfer my genius notions!"

While critics point their fingers at the MMO industry and proclaim it a barren wasteland of innovation, there are quite a few awesome -- if small -- ideas that bubble up in MMO and move the genre forward. Maybe they're teeny-tiny baby steps; maybe they're giant hopscotch leaps over the six-spot with the rock in the middle. But these ideas can and have had the power to change how these games are made and played.

So this week I'm saluting 10 clever ideas, both large and diminutive, as a reward for a job well done!

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The Perfect Ten: Clever ideas originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Does Vanguard's diplomacy system deserve another shot?

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 12 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, Vanguard, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

While I've never played Vanguard, I'll admit that I've always been fascinated by the game's diplomacy system. It was rather ambitious at the time it was first announced, as the devs boasted about how they were creating a whole new "sphere" of play by turning dialogues between you and NPCs into a deep, involved minigame.

Some people loved it -- and still do -- while others ignored it entirely. In any case, Vanguard's well-known struggles to stay afloat have kept the larger MMO community from experiencing the diplomacy system, which I feel is a shame. I've always hoped that other MMO devs would take this idea and run with it, creating a "next generation" version that would work well in contemporary games, sort of how Warhammer Online's public questing was picked up and revised for games that would follow (just as WAR picked it up from Ultima Online).

So my question to you today is, does Vanguard's diplomacy system deserve another shot? Should MMO devs take a closer look at the typically skimpy interactions between characters and NPCs to see if they can be improved? Or should this system best be left alone?

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!

The Daily Grind: Does Vanguard's diplomacy system deserve another shot? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jagex preparing to conquer the world with 8Realms

Justin Olivetti — Sun, 08 May 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Historical, Interviews, New titles, Browser, Miscellaneous

"What's next?" is the question on everyone's lips when it comes to successful MMO studio Jagex. The RuneScape developer has many projects in the works, including Stellar Dawn and Transformers Online. However, the company is hoping that you'll also take notice of 8Realms, its social empire builder that lets you cultivate a civilization from scratch and conquer the world with your cunning.

As 8Realms entered closed beta this past week, Lead Developer Claire Blackshaw spoke with CVG about the game's focus. "Our approach is always a strategy first and social second," she said. "Though I do think the most appealing aspect of games such as Diplomacy is the social element."

She thinks that the game can challenge genre favorite titles like Civilization and Total War while remaining accessible to the lunch break strategist: "8Realms can fit into your day, firing it up at lunch to launch a few attacks or make sure your research is going as planned. Also because of the social element you have wars break out which get you very worked up."

The team is also proud of how far it has advanced the capability of browser-based games alone. "We made current browser tech jump through hoops, and using our own server-side technology pushed what's possible in terms of scaling," Blackshaw said.

Jagex preparing to conquer the world with 8Realms originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 May 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storyboard: To flow like water

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, in-game, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard

After having heard about a small explosion of RP drama earlier this week (not within my immediate sphere, but relayed to me anyway), I was initially going to make this week's post all about that most hated of all interactions. Then I found myself thinking about it a bit more, and I realized that really, most RP drama has an easily identifiable source that's easy to change if you actually want the change. And the solution is so simple it's almost insulting.

Be flexible.

Seriously, it's that simple. It's so fundamental that I put it into the very first column I wrote for this franchise, which should tell you something. But even though -- or maybe because -- it's so obvious, it's also stunningly easy to overlook our own inflexibilities. It's one of those things that we all know on a conscious level and ignore in practice, and if that's not rant-worthy, boy, I don't know what is.

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Storyboard: To flow like water originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This ain't like dusting crops, boy: The Old Republic expounds on crafting and PvP

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Previews, PvP, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Earlier this week, BioWare promised a couple of Star Wars: The Old Republic "juicy reveals" at this year's Winter Showcase in London, and it looks as though it might have delivered. The studio went into detail about two key systems in the game: crafting and PvP Warzones.

Darth Hater reports that Warzones will be just one of the types of PvP arenas in the TOR. Warzones feature set teams with specific objectives. In the case of Alderaan's Warzone, it involves taking over turrets and blasting the enemy's drop ship to pieces -- once this happens, the match is over and tokens and XP is awarded. This Warzone was shown to be 8v8, although BioWare did not mention if the Warzones scaled in group size. BioWare also hinted about another Warzone that takes place on a derelict spaceship.

Turning to crafting, BioWare is implementing something called the Crew Skill system. Players will send their crew on assignments to accomplish various objectives, including gathering (Bio Analysis, Slicing), crafting (Artifice, Biochem) and missions (Diplomacy, Treasure Hunter). Companions are typically suited to do one of these tasks better than the others. These tasks can be queued up in advance, and will have different benefits -- for example, Diplomacy can spread a player's influence and impact morality points, while Treasure Hunting will turn up treasures (and, presumably, junk) based on a random number generator.

This ain't like dusting crops, boy: The Old Republic expounds on crafting and PvP originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Choose My Adventure: The isle of noob

Krystalle Voecks — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Opinion, Vanguard, Hands-on, Choose My Adventure

This week found me diving into the Isle of Dawn to check out the newer starting area in Vanguard. What I found there wasn't entirely surprising, since I had heard about the learning curve in the game, but it still managed to throw me enough curve balls to keep me on my toes. Between trying my hand at crafting, dabbling in diplomacy, and attempting to switch my brain from my normal stabby-rogue-self to playing a melee healbot for more than just myself, there was a lot to get my head around in Vanguard.

Curious as to how this first week of Choose My Adventure played out? Wondering what kinds of things I experienced during my travels? Well, join me behind the break as I take a look at my first steps in Telon!

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Choose My Adventure: The isle of noob originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Captain's Log: Impressions of diplomacy in Star Trek Online

Ryan Greene — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Patches, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Meet the Team, Captain's Log, Guides

Peace be with you, readers. Today, we convene once again for a new edition of Captain's Log, in which we discuss, with mutual respect for all opinions, Star Trek Online. Begging your pardon if you disagree, but I thought it appropriate that we explore one of the game's brand-new features: diplomacy.

With the advent of Season 2: Ancient Enemies, Treksters and STO fans the world over may breathe a sigh of relief. Cryptic Studios finally introduced a dedicated system for being all peaceable and stuff, like on the teevee. So how does this diplomacy business work, and is it any good? Read on to find out.

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Captain's Log: Impressions of diplomacy in Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dan Stahl highlights more of Star Trek Online's future direction

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, Patches, News items, PvE, Star Trek Online

Star Trek Online's Dan Stahl has been fairly vocal since he took the executive producer post at the beginning of last month. We had our own chance to speak with him recently, where he discussed everything from the then-upcoming Season 2 content to the rumors about the game adopting a free-to-play model. His most recent interview at ZAM covers several of the same pieces of territory, but as one would expect with the time elapsed and the release of Season 2, there are several new pieces of information within.

The weekly episodes are one of the major points of discussion, with the first one premiering in late August. Stahl discusses the episodes focusing around the Deferi, a race with ties to both the Federation and the Klingons, but not explicitly allied with either. He also discusses plans for an overhaul to exploration, likening the current system to "a small box where you fly around and go through random doors," something that the team is planning on changing for Season 3. The full interview is well worth a read for what it contains -- nothing earth-shattering, but more signs that Star Trek Online's direction is getting progressively stronger.

Dan Stahl highlights more of Star Trek Online's future direction originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More details on weekly episodes in Star Trek Online's Season 2

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, Patches, News items, Star Trek Online

If you're playing Star Trek Online, odds are good that you've come by your affection for the game via a prior love of the series. While we haven't had a new show on television in several years, almost every fan has fond memories of sitting down each week for the latest installments of the story. According to a new 10-question interview with Daniel Stahl, that's exactly what the team hopes to replicate (pun intended) with the weekly episodes that are coming along with Season 2. Each one is meant to give players something new to look forward to on a weekly basis, ranging from first contact with an alien race to placing your ship in perilous situations.

Speaking of first contact, there's more information on diplomatic missions, which seem as if they'll not simply be standalone ventures but also components of existing content. (The once-dreaded planetary aid missions, for example, fall under their aegis.) One of the rewards for progressing through the diplomatic ranks is the chance to make first contact and define the first impression the Federation makes -- something that any fan of the series will tell you is an important event. Star Trek Online players eager for more information on Season 2 can read the full list of questions, which include a preliminary target of the last week in July.

More details on weekly episodes in Star Trek Online's Season 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively exclusive interview: Dawntide's Martin "Wiz" Anward

Brianna Royce — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Economy, Interviews, PvP, Dawntide

The hype-machine for Working as Intended's incoming MMO, Dawntide, resumed at the end of May with the announcement of the start of open beta. Dawntide promises to be a skill-based, open-PvP sandbox a la Shadowbane or Darkfall, with territory to claim, castles to build, sieges to undertake, and boats to navigate waterways usually neglected in other games. And though the game isn't quite finished structurally, we have to agree that what's done is beautiful, and what's planned is ambitious. Might this be the ultra-realistic, survival-of-the-fittest sandbox you're looking for?

We were fortunate to score an interview with Working as Intended's CEO, Martin Anward, who gave us an inside look at Dawntide's development and his team's plans for the future. Join us past the break as we ask him about boats, crafting, boats, death penalties, boats, ganking, boats, FOTM builds, boats, and boats!

Continue reading Massively exclusive interview: Dawntide's Martin "Wiz" Anward

Massively exclusive interview: Dawntide's Martin "Wiz" Anward originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Newest Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online highlights gaps between series and game

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, News items, Opinion, Star Trek Online

The trouble with making Star Trek Online is that there are a lot of parts that work great in a dramatic television series that don't necessarily work as well in a game. As much fun as it might be to have your bridge officers get together for a poker game, there's a dearth of useful ways to integrate it into gameplay in a meaningful sense. That having been said, the team at Cryptic is clearly interested in trying to add as many iconic elements from the series as possible, as spotlighted in the most recent set of Ask Cryptic answers on the official site.

A prime example are individual bridge officer stories -- they want to add them, but there are so many variables that the effort winds up feeling more generic instead of more personal. However, there are ideas and hopeful plans for adding more personalities to bridge officers, as well as the potential to respec your officers (although that also runs into minor problems). There's also some information about the upcoming Diplomatic missions to help spice up exploring the nebulae around the galaxy. Star Trek Online players are encouraged to take a look at the full list of answers, which covers quite a bit of space in both design and lore.

Newest Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online highlights gaps between series and game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Trek Online and the breadth of content

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, New titles, Patches, Star Trek Online

If you're a fan of the franchise, there are things that you likely want to be in Star Trek Online that aren't there yet. Ship interiors, missions taking place on board the ship, improved ground combat, diplomatic missions... it's not a difficult list to fill out. Executive producer Craig Zinkievich conducted a recent interview in which he was taken to task on several of these points, which he responded to in a fairly straightforward fashion. The short answer is that it's not a lack of want from the team, just a matter of time and resources to be invested.

For example, as he points out, ship interiors (a much called-for feature) can post a slight problem due to the nature of the ships. Galaxy-class starships are the size of a small city, so they want to incorporate the feature in a way that makes it a meaningful use of a player's time. The interview covers a range of topics from exploration and diplomacy to shoring up the weaker points of combat (mostly ground combat, as players would expect). Take a look for a few more ideas about the future direction of Star Trek Online, up to and beyond the upcoming "Common Ground" content patch.

Star Trek Online and the breadth of content originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO pacifism: Expanding combat alternative systems

Brooke Pilley — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: PvP, PvE, Opinion

Murder. Death. Kill. These words are synonymous with most MMORPGs (oh, and 1993's Demolition Man too, but let's not go there). There have been a number of systems introduced to the genre since its birth, but combat (PvE and PvP) has always been at the forefront. One blogger wants that to change.

Syp of BioBreak has been playing a lot of LOTRO lately and he's starting to feel like Turbine are a bunch of nature-haters forcing players into the roll of exterminator extraordinaire. "It's not just 'kill 10 rats,' it's 'kill 10 of every freakin' last thing that ever walked, crawled, slithered or flew over the earth, just because'." This got him wondering about what the alternatives were. If done well, what activities would he choose over combat?

He came up with a fairly extensive list of established features that could use some buffing up in his opinion, including: crafting, mini-games, puzzles, trading card games, vehicle action, achievements, and diplomacy/politics. Head on over to read his thoughts.

MMO pacifism: Expanding combat alternative systems originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively interviews Star Trek Online executive producer Craig Zinkievich

Kyle Horner — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: New titles, News items, Star Trek Online, Massively Interviews

It's safe to say that everyone here at Massively is excitedly awaiting Cryptic Studio's forthcoming Star Trek Online. So our very first interview with executive producer Craig Zinkievich was both a great opportunity and an enlightening experience. Beyond the cut, you'll find answers on player-made starships, holodecks, diplomatic encounters and much more.

Gallery: Star Trek Online Gallery

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Massively interviews Star Trek Online executive producer Craig Zinkievich originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively visits Stargate Worlds: The interview

Samuel Axon — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Interviews, New titles, Stargate Worlds, Massively Interviews

During our visit to Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment's Arizona studio, we got to sit down with five of the top minds on the Stargate Worlds team -- studio head Dan Elggren, creative director Chris Klug, art director Howard Lyon, VP of technology Demetrius Comes, and senior marketing manager Kevin Balentine. This exclusive, in-depth, and conversational interview is overflowing with information about everything in the game, including TV series tie-ins and cameos, episodic content, combat, graphics, mini-games, and much, much more. This meaty interview is an essential read for any Stargate or MMO fan. We've split it up into four parts for easy reading. Enjoy!

Gallery: Massively visits Stargate Worlds

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Massively visits Stargate Worlds: The interview originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Player vs. Everything: The importance of morale

Cameron Sorden — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Grouping, Opinion, Player vs. Everything

We've all been there. Any little thing can start it. Maybe the tank messes up and pulls two groups when he meant to pull one. Maybe the healer was distracted by his cat and some people die. Maybe the mage doesn't watch her aggro and the mobs take out the DPS. Something happens, and the group wipes. The seed of doubt is planted: Can this group really pull this dungeon off? Am I grouped with a bunch of idiots? How big is my repair bill going to be tonight?

It's like watching a chain of dominoes. Sometimes, the group can laugh off a wipe or two. But if a simple mistake turns into a pattern of someone screwing up, or if luck goes against you and you have a few simple mistakes in a row, people start losing their morale. Suddenly, people aren't using their consumables (why bother when you're just going to die again?). The tanks and healers get frustrated and start getting sloppy. The DPS gets angry and starts getting cocky. Everyone thinks everyone else is a moron, and each pull is a little less likely to succeed than the last. Each wipe spirals you further down. Finally, people start having mysterious "emergencies" and have to leave the group (do a /who check to see them farming somewhere in 30 minutes). You might not realize it, but your group's morale is hugely important to your success.

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: The importance of morale

Player vs. Everything: The importance of morale originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Is there a place for diplomacy in an MMO?

Akela Talamasca — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Politics

'Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent', wrote Isaac Asimov, and to a certain extent, that's true. But in an industry that caters to these primal impulses -- and thriving off of them, as well -- is there room for the non-violent path? Certainly, the violent response is more fun than talking it out, at least in an urge overkill kind of way, but surely that's just a matter of implementation.

If we truly want to simulate any sort of real-life experience in our games, the full range of social interactions ought to have a place, including politics. And it's one thing to try to reason with an AI, but if you can create a lasting peace with another human player, you have something to be proud of. But is it necessary, or would diplomacy in a combat-oriented game merely detract from the experience?

The Daily Grind: Is there a place for diplomacy in an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Public diplomacy through jazz in Second Life

Eloise Pasteur — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Second Life, Politics

In the days of Second Life Insider, before becoming Massviely, we had already reported on USC microcontinent and Annenberg Island, home of the USC Center for Public Diplomacy at the Annenberg School in Second Life. We had also reported on the arrival of the MacArthur Foundation and their desire to understand virtual worlds and support activities that support their main aims that happen to operate within this environment.

Eureka Dejavu, also known as Rita J. King, is one of those exploring Second Life for the MacArthur Foundation, and as part of her work she attended Black Watch, a play and discussion about morality and violence, and the Virtual Jazz Festival hosted by the US State Department on Annenberg Island. Obviously rather different in style as well as location, but both fostering the ideals of peaceful cultural exchange rather than an exchange of bullets. Her piece makes for a good read of itself, and her blog is well worth a look as it presents a view on Second Life as a tool for developing consciousness and morality.

Public diplomacy through jazz in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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