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SOE president John Smedley announces that all players will be able to play on any server

Matt Daniel — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous

It's no secret that Sony Online Entertainment has been in more than a little hot water in the wake of the recently announced region locks that were to be put in place following the studio's deal with ProSiebenSat.1, but there may still be a silver lining on the horizon. SOE president John Smedley tweeted earlier today that the studio has "come up with a plan to allow ALL players to play on any servers they want." While details are still to come, this should be incredibly welcome news for players of SOE titles who weren't looking forward to playing without their international friends.

Smedley promises us that there are "more details to follow," so stay tuned and hopefully we'll have some idea of what's in the works before too long.

SOE president John Smedley announces that all players will be able to play on any server originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE responds to ProSiebenSat.1 fiasco, says it's not a done deal

Jef Reahard — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Business models, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play

Sony Online Entertainment has finally responded to the ProSiebenSat.1 brouhaha. Director of Global Community Relations Linda "Brasse" Carlson gave frustrated fans a faint glimmer of hope with a forum post last night that basically said the controversial deal isn't quite a done deal.

In a nutshell, SOE plans to divide its long-time gaming community by region, with European player accounts handed off to ProSiebenSat.1 and Alaplaya. The announcement sent shockwaves through the EverQuest II community, as many guilds and sub-communities feature players from both sides of the Atlantic.

The forced transfer of player accounts and personal information from SOE to Alaplaya also raised eyebrows, as some in the player community voiced concerns over security and convenience since Alaplaya reserves the right to delete inactive accounts after 90 days and has been accused of publishing real names on past-due accounts (the company has denied the latter).

SOE's forums have been on fire over the past two days, with dozens of bans handed down by moderators (including one to noted community leader Morgan Feldon of EQ2Wire). Feldon's fansite is the place to go for info about the ongoing drama; it provides a wealth of opinion on why the proposed deal sucks for players as well as a collection of community reactions. Aside from Brasse's post, SOE has been silent about the deal, which comes on the heels of the firm's generating quite a bit of fan goodwill by reversing its decision to shelve the Mac version of EverQuest.

SOE responds to ProSiebenSat.1 fiasco, says it's not a done deal originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Daevas of Our Lives casting call

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Humor, Wings Over Atreia

It's ironic: The topic I detest experiencing most in Aion is actually the most fun to write about. Whenever I think back to my favorite columns, the almost-too-surreal-to-believe antics of the drama-impaired (or should I say drama-addicted?) always rank near the top of the list. Perhaps chronicling these antics for the amusement of others is simply my choice form of therapy when I'm confronted with them. They say laughter is the best medicine, and who can't help but laugh when reading over the train-wreck that is drama? Seraphim Lords know that living through it is torture and avoidance truly is the best policy, but something about it can be simply fascinating... from a distance.

Over the past couple of years, Wings Over Atreia has provided the opportunity to witness Aion's drama vicariously without the danger of involvement or having any splatter on you Gallagher-style. During this time, different episodes of Daevas of Our Lives have offered glimpses of the various cast members. But what about a deeper look into the psyche of these seemingly unreal -- yet based on reality -- characters? This week offers a more detailed introduction to the current members of the cast as well as a new addition.

So whether you run away screaming at the first hint of impending drama in game or grab a giant bowl of popcorn and settle in for the show, this handy guide can help keep the who's-who straight for you when you're viewing future (or past) episodes. And if you're a perpetrator of said drama, don't be surprised if your antics are broadcast on the next episode of Daevas of Our Lives.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Daevas of Our Lives casting call

Wings Over Atreia: Daevas of Our Lives casting call originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Top 10 of '11

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

Where in the Seraphim Lords did the year go? Daevas aren't the only ones who fly; time certainly has one powerful set of wings (though I haven't quite determined whether they are light or dark)! It's a bit hard for me to believe that a full year has come and gone. Yet even as I doubt, a cursory glance back over the past 12 months shows me I didn't Rip Van Winkle the time away.

In fact, much has transpired in Aion since 2011 rolled in. Between pining away for things to come and dreaming of things that may never be, chronicling the life and social scene of Atreia, offering guides and hints, and reporting on (sometimes surprise) announcements, Wings Over Atreia has covered a variety of topics over the past year. While each column is but one glimpse, together they show the evolution of our game.

Traipse past the break and down memory lane with me as we reminisce about Aion in the time-honored Massively tradition of top-10 lists.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Top 10 of '11

Wings Over Atreia: Top 10 of '11 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storyboard: The reflection lies

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

When I was younger, I got very excited at the thought that therapists would ask people to roleplay. In my mind, this was a great idea. After all, if Joe and Jane go to see a marriage counselor, they could walk out of the session realizing that each of them always has the other's back, especially when facing down an ancient red dragon as a cleric and a fighter. Plus, it's something for the couple to do together. It wasn't until I was older that I found out that the roleplaying under discussion was something different.

At least, it's theoretically different.

I've talked many times about how roleplaying is many things to many different people, but one of the big potential pitfalls comes when you're roleplaying with people you know because some people play characters that are still, fundamentally, part of the player. And if you're plaing alongside someone whose characters are more personal than yours, it can cause some very odd disconnects that you might not even recognize until after the fact.

Continue reading Storyboard: The reflection lies

Storyboard: The reflection lies originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What was your worst mistype?

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, The Daily Grind, Humor, Miscellaneous

It happens. Sometimes it's a typo. Sometimes you forget what chat channel you're in. And sometimes you really meant to hit the button for a reply, but you wound up announcing intensely personal details into the guild chat channel, which is followed by the awkward pause that inevitably ends only when one of your guildmates asks whether you're seeing a doctor about that rash.

Of course, sometimes it's not merely a matter of laughter or a bit of personal shame. Sometimes you're having a serious discussion about guild officers, one you weren't quite ready to broadcast. Or dropping a word or two changes the entire meaning of what you said, so that your guild is left wondering why you just said someone is a complete idiot because you left out the "not." And sometimes it's just plain gibberish.

Given enough time in MMOs, you're going to acquire quite a history of typos and incorrectly sent messages. So what was your worst mistype? Was it a case that incited some terrible drama, or was it just the sort of thing for which people still mock you due to the severe shame?

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: What was your worst mistype? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CCP releases EVE's emergency CSM meeting minutes

Jef Reahard — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Business models, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Sandbox

There's no drama like internet spaceship drama, and the boohoos stemming from last summer's EVE Online Incarna expansion -- and the associated monoclegate controversy -- continue to make waves.

CCP has finally gotten around to releasing the minutes from the "emergency" Council of Stellar Management meeting that took place in Iceland from June 30th through July 1st. According to CCP Xhagen, the lengthy delay was due to the fact that "it takes time to create a document that everyone can accept. It is important to keep in mind that CSM meeting minutes are not released unless both CCP and the CSM give their approval."

The document summarizes the discussions and presents the brouhaha surrounding captain's quarters performance, the Noble Exchange, and CCP's future plans for virtual goods from the perspective of both devs and player representatives. The PDF ultimately serves as a useful summary of EVE's latest drama explosion, and you can read it in its entirety by following the link below.

CCP releases EVE's emergency CSM meeting minutes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Drama llama -- DUCK!

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Humor, Wings Over Atreia

Hey, I warned you long ago that music influences everything I do! (If you haven't heard The Llama Song, I highly recommend Googling it!)

More than just a nod to one of my favorite songs, the title is a tip off that this week will involve another episode of our favorite I-wish-it-only-happened-to-someone-else show: Daevas of Our Lives. Yes folks, despite the the attempts of many -- though unfortunately not all -- to avoid the steaming piles left on the roads in the wake of the dreaded Drama Llama, sometimes someone flings the stuff around and you just can't dodge fast enough to avoid the splatter. And that smell doesn't disappear when you log out.

A couple of weeks ago, Wings Over Atreia took a look at relationships within Aion. As pointed out then, not all relationships within game or legion are bad, but the propensity for drama is certainly higher. Those who share too much personal information soon find that the situation becomes uncomfortable for them -- or others -- when things start going wrong. And nothing feeds a hungry Drama Llama like a relationship gone bad.

So don some rain gear (or maybe a Hazmat suit) and venture past the cut if you dare for this week's episode of Daevas of Our Lives -- The Break Up.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Drama llama -- DUCK!

Wings Over Atreia: Drama llama -- DUCK! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storyboard: Balancing the failing act

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

Two weeks ago, we talked about the essence of roleplaying and making your character miserable, helped substantially by having your character fail at pretty much everything he or she sets out to do. That's all well and good in the abstract, sure, but I also mentioned that there's a distinct problem with having your character go too far in the direction of self-pity and hopeless failure. Eventually it starts to be something of a downer rather than an endearing character trait, and that's no good either.

Unfortunately, noting that a balance is important is very different from actually providing some guidelines on how to achieve that balance. And while there's always some room for fuzziness, having some idea of what to aim for is a good place to start off. So this week, I'm going to take a closer look at bringing your character's failures right into that sweet spot between hopeless misery and mild inconvenience. You want to fail, sure -- but you don't want your character to be a bummer to interact with.

Continue reading Storyboard: Balancing the failing act

Storyboard: Balancing the failing act originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storyboard: Talk about the passion

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

Two of the earliest columns I did for Storyboard were all about romance in roleplaying. If you've forgotten them, they can be found here and here, but if you don't feel like reading a couple thousand words just to continue with this column, the gist was pretty simple. In short -- don't. But since you're going to anyway, take the usual steps to avoid any sort of spilling drama.

Actually, I should just make a column of usual tips to avoid spilling drama in roleplaying and save myself a lot of time.

It's been more than a year since those were written, and to my great joy they're still relevant and useful. But at the same time, there's more to be said on the topic, albeit in bits and pieces. So (possibly against my better judgment) I'm diving face-first into the sea of love once again to talk about a couple of points that I either didn't discuss the first time around or only briefly touched on.

Continue reading Storyboard: Talk about the passion

Storyboard: Talk about the passion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Till log do us part

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

The sounds of the bluetail crestliches filled the air as the creamy white leaves drifted about on the breeze. Lifting his muscular arms encased in formal attire instead of the customary platemail, Pwnzoo stretched and rolled his shoulders, trying to relax as he waited, eyes avoiding the guests who arrayed themselves around him. Soon, he thought. My sweetheart will arrive soon and all will be well. He cracked his neck and took a deep breath.

Relationships. They are everywhere; heck, Aion even nods (and markets) to relationships by offering a wedding dress/tuxedo through the NCsoft Store. When something commands as much of your time and attention as playing your favorite MMO does, relationships of some type are bound to form. And some are even lucky enough to have their real-life partners play right alongside them; wife-aggro takes on a whole new meaning when she shanghais you for an Udas Temple run!

Whether they're in-game, a part of real life, or just an online fling love affair, relationships can and do have a profound affect on game play in Aion for everyone, not just those within said relationship. And while a Balaur's share of the effect is drama, that luckily is not the totality of it! Sometimes relationships create stability and camaraderie for groups and are beneficial to the community.

Lovers'-leap over the break for Wings Over Atreia's look at relationships and their effects in Atreia.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Till log do us part

Wings Over Atreia: Till log do us part originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The battle-scarred blogger

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Interviews, Shadowbane, Free-to-play, The Game Archaeologist

I've long since enjoyed doing this column because, to me, it feels like the next best thing to having been there back in the day, playing these games. No one MMO player can occupy all titles at once, so experiences are bound to pass us by. Fortunately, the gamers who were there have long memories and are often more than willing to share a story or two if given half the chance.

After last week's initial foray into our Shadowbane retrospective, I fished around for a hearty veteran of the minotaur wars who was willing to step up and answer a few questions without succumbing to post-traumatic stress disorder. Within a minute, my good friend Grimnir bit into the topic, and I reeled him in as he flopped and gasped for air. At some point, this metaphor got away from me, but no worries. Hit that jump and let's cast our nets down memory river and see what we can dredge up!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The battle-scarred blogger

The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The battle-scarred blogger originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storyboard: Ten tips to avoid drama burnout, part two

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

Last week, I posted the first half of ten tips to avoid getting burnt out on roleplaying drama. Ironically enough, it immediately preceded a week which involved almost nonstop in-character drama which was, not coincidentally, completely free of any real-world drama. (At least to the best of my knowledge.) My hat goes off to the people involved (I'm lucky to be part of some excellent groups), and I'm very glad that I had all of this fresh in my mind.

If you haven't read the first part of the column, I advise you to do so first, but let's recap just in case. The goal here is to provide tips to help reduce real-world drama and minimize hurt feelings spilling into the real world. I don't claim that this will be in any way a cure-all, but these tips should at least help reduce the odds of screaming matches that scare you off roleplaying for good. Everyone on the same page? Then let's move on to the second half.

Continue reading Storyboard: Ten tips to avoid drama burnout, part two

Storyboard: Ten tips to avoid drama burnout, part two originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storyboard: Ten tips to avoid drama burnout, part one

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous

Roleplaying doesn't create drama. Sure, we all hear stories about roleplaying drama, but it'd be more fair to say that MMOs create drama. There are epic arguments that erupt over who gets a piece of armor that will be obsolete in a few months, it's not really reserved to having players sitting around and talking. The difference, of course, is that the lower the stakes, the higher the drama and the more petty politics can get. It's the sort of thing where petty politics can get so bad people step away forever, because the fun of roleplaying is just not worth the irritation.

Needless to say, you don't want that. If you enjoy roleplaying, you want to keep it as unspoiled as possible for as long as possible. So for this week's column, I'm going to cover the first half of ten tips that I find help ensure that you don't wind up getting knee-deep in drama that ruins the roleplaying. It won't always prevent drama from occurring, but it can help make sure it's nothing more than a mild misunderstanding.

Continue reading Storyboard: Ten tips to avoid drama burnout, part one

Storyboard: Ten tips to avoid drama burnout, part one originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Why do you like internet drama?

Jef Reahard — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Earlier this week we asked how you felt about character wipes and whether you'd continue playing in light of one. Among the interesting responses was one that opined that the drama resulting from character wipes would be quite enjoyable to experience even if said wipes would not.

As the comment was upvoted a number of times, it's fair to surmise that many folks agreed with the sentiment. It's also no secret that large portions of the internet are built on drama, and some MMORPGs thrive on it -- we're looking at you EVE Online -- as do many smaller in- and out-of-game communities. The more interesting question, and the subject of today's Daily Grind, is why.

Why does the distress of another individual (or several thousand individuals, in the case of theoretical character wipes) make for desirable entertainment? In short, why do you like internet drama?

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: Why do you like internet drama? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: EVE drama due to bolster waning TV soap schedule

Beau Hindman — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Business models, Culture, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, Humor, Free for All

Much was said recently about the latest EVE Online "drama." If you've talked and written about MMORPGs as long as I have, you'd be very rich if you were paid a nickel every time you heard the word. Drama, when applied to the world of MMOs, ends up feeling like a funeral for an insect... more than a little dramatic. As someone who has played EVE a bit off and on (I have a six-year-old account, but only a 10,000,000-SP character), I was more than a little surprised at the response -- but not really surprised.

In fact, the recent drama -- hell, any EVE drama -- comes off as rather humorous. The same thing happened when World of Warcraft began selling the infamous sparklepony or when Lord of the Rings Online decided to sell a special skeleton steed in its cash shop (I was lucky enough to get one during the holiday event). Players screamed that they would be canceling, that they would protest in some form or another, and that they would never buy a product from the developer, go anywhere near anyone who shared the same name as any of the developers, or even utter the name of their poor, lost avatars again. Yet, here we are.

Every time something like this happens, it happens for a few distinct reasons. Click past the cut and I'll fill you in.

Continue reading Free for All: EVE drama due to bolster waning TV soap schedule

Free for All: EVE drama due to bolster waning TV soap schedule originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: When do you start getting involved with the community?

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 27 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Culture, New titles, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

When a new game is on the horizon, people start gathering. It's inevitable, really; long gone are the days when you learned about a new game by seeing it on store shelves. MMOs are frequently announced years in advance, and players will start gathering in anticipation long before a release date is confirmed. Games like Guild Wars 2 and Star Wars: The Old Republic already have large and active communities despite not yet being playable or even purchasable by the many fans eagerly following the news.

Obviously, getting involved with the community earlier means getting your name recognized faster and getting an earlier feel for how the game's playerbase will shake down. But there's a downside, too -- if you're in from day one, the game might develop into something you don't wind up liking, be delayed, or be canceled. You also run the risk of burning out from community drama and general debates about a game you aren't yet playing. So how early do you like to get involved in the community of MMOs you're anticipating? During closed beta? Open beta? Release? Or do you like to wait for a couple months to see who sticks around?

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: When do you start getting involved with the community? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: I have a complaint!

Karen Bryan — Thu, 12 May 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Complain, complain, complain. If you're a guild leader, chances are you've had a moment or two when you've felt like all you do in game is handle members' issues. And if you haven't led a guild, one of the main reasons you've probably avoided doing so is because you don't want to handle the drama of member complaints.

Whether you're a tough-as-nails captain or a fresh-faced greenhorn with good intentions, member complaints are one of the biggest things that wears you down and even causes you to give up leadership and leave altogether. In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll look at a few ways to handle guild complaints while hopefully keep your sanity at the same time.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: I have a complaint!

The Guild Counsel: I have a complaint! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: What's in it for me?

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

That does it. No more Ms. Nice Wings. This time I am just going to unleash! Let my rant all hang out. Admittedly, I am not normally one to complain; I can see the good in most every situation, and I can roll with the punches like it's an Olympic event. But even my feathers get ruffled sometimes. It's true! And sometimes you just can't bite your tongue anymore or all you will have is a very sore tongue.

Now I know I am not a rant-master like Jef, but even fledgling ranters must begin somewhere. And this week, I found just such a place: immature, self-serving, can't-pull-their-thumbs-outta-their-ears-unless-there-is-something-in-it-for-them-gamers in Aion. You know the type -- those who think the world revolves around them. Those whose spoiled-rotten antics ruin groups and legions alike and who are the reason why many a block list is so full. They without whom drama would die a quick death and be a forgotten plague. They're the bane of chat channels everywhere -- they are the trolls.

Throw yourself past the cut for a look at some recent Aion tantrums and sure-fire ways to minimize the effects of blatant immaturity. Careful, though -- I cannot be held responsible for any resemblance to gamers near you.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: What's in it for me?

Wings Over Atreia: What's in it for me? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Shakespeare in Aion

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

OK, OK, maybe Shakespeare is a bit melodramatic, but the idea of taking on a role and playing it out on a stage is not a foreign idea -- even in Aion. It just so happens that this stage is not under your feet but in virtual space instead. Besides, I happen to love Shakespeare, so props to me for mentioning him in a gaming column!

Now, I am the first to admit that NCsoft doesn't make it easy for a gamer to roleplay in Aion; there are scant few tools to support this style of play. But that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Despite this dearth, there is in fact a whole community comprised of legions both large and small as well as individuals. These players use personal connections and a player-created chat channel in-game as well as external tools such as the Aion Roleplayers website to bind themselves together and support the community as a whole.

So what exactly is roleplay, and how viable is it in the world of Atreia? Exit stage left (past the cut) to define RP, debunk some RP myths, and explore RP in general Aion.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Shakespeare in Aion

Wings Over Atreia: Shakespeare in Aion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Perfect Ten: The 10 people you meet in MMO hell

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Humor, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous

"Hell is other people," the jaunty Jean-Paul Sartre wrote in No Exit. In this play, three characters are locked together in a small room, where they gradually realize that they are there to torment each other for all of eternity. Plus, there are no toilets, and that's going to get unpleasant fast.

It's fun for the whole family -- get your tickets today!

We've all met folks in game who leave an unpleasant taste in our mouths for a long time after. With the all of the good of social games comes the seedy underbelly (henceforth referred to as "Camden, New Jersey"), and for every stellar soul you connect with, there is another lying in wait to destroy your day. If MMO heaven is full of supportive guildies and grammatically correct chat channels, then think of MMO hell as a pick-up group gone horribly awry as you run a dungeon that never ends, a dungeon you can never quit.

While we'd never voluntarily go to MMO hell, it was inevitable that some of its denizens have escaped to walk amongst us in our games even today. Who are these nefarious devils? Hit the jump to find out!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The 10 people you meet in MMO hell

The Perfect Ten: The 10 people you meet in MMO hell originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Feeding trolls

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

"WoW was the first MMO."
"WTF you --------- [bless the filter]."
"Your mom just left here."

Channel /3 will be the death of me. Or perhaps just my sanity. If not, then it may be the cause of some random homicides soon.

Although I had another topic all planned out (and already mostly penned), I had an about-face for this week's article. This subject is something that is always on the edge of my mind, and as of late, it has been more front and center. In fact, this week has seen discussions on the matter with friends, colleagues, legion-mates, and even my munchkins. The hot topic? Trolls.

Aion players know that /3 is the LFG (looking for group) channel, and occasionally you can actually find people looking for groups there! However, because it is the only server-wide channel, people mostly use it for any type of random chatter. And by chatter, I mean a range of sexual comments, preening, raging, and flat-out trolling. Granted, sometimes following along with /3 chatter is simply amusing, but oftentimes it becomes annoying or even outright offensive. In any case, it's hard to pick out anything of value through the fast-paced spam.

Now don't get me wrong; I am all for quips and banter and building a community, but it seems that the folks with any amount of consideration and class stay quiet for the most part. If we were to judge society off of universal chat channels, I think I would be all for large-scale nuclear annihilation; people treat others in virtual worlds like they wouldn't dream of vis-à-vis. Why is that? And what can we do to increase civility, decrease trolling, and improve gaming experiences overall?

Cross the bridge (don't stop to feed the trolls!) to explore these points with me and share some amusing trolling moments from your server! (Please keep it clean folks!)

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Feeding trolls

Wings Over Atreia: Feeding trolls originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively gets the scoop on Empire & State, a new political MMO

Beau Hindman — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, Previews, Free-to-play, Browser

Ah, we love the smell of a brand-new company. Massively staffers are known to daydream about potentially wonderful new products that might emerge from the cacophony of modern game development. So when we heard about a brand-new company being headed by a hotshot 22-year-old named Brayden Olson, we immediately had a contest to design movie trailers for the story. "Too Young to Fail" beat out "Level 22." EVE Online columnist Brendan Drain provided the voice-over. It was epic.

When reality hits, though, we need to hear details. We sat down with Toby Ragaini, the newly appointed Director of Product Development of Novel, Inc., the start-up headed by Olsen. Toby came from the world of Big Fish Games, where he was Vice President in charge of games like Faunasphere. If you've played Asheron's Call, you've experienced some of his handiwork, as well.

Click past the cut to see what he has to say about the company's new political MMO project called Empire & State.

Continue reading Massively gets the scoop on Empire & State, a new political MMO

Massively gets the scoop on Empire & State, a new political MMO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Why don't you like roleplaying?

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Roleplaying, Miscellaneous

If you're playing an MMO, you're roleplaying. No, you might not be peppering your speech with authentic Klingon or trying to simulate the dialogue of a nigh-immortal elf, but you're still pretending to be someone other than yourself on the screen. And yet roleplaying remains an intensely divisive force in MMOs; there are players who swear by it and players who go out of their way to interfere with it. Even if you fall into the former camp, odds are pretty much absolute that you've spent good chunks of time cursing at one particularly obnoxious storyline or another.

Whether or not you take part in large-scale roleplaying, today we ask -- what don't you like about it? If you're a non-participant, does it seem like too much work for too little reward? If you RP regularly, do you dislike the inter-player drama that so frequently results? If you're actively opposed, do you feel it takes development time away from more important game elements? Or do you have some other dislike completely unrelated to any of that?

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: Why don't you like roleplaying? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Death of a legion

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

It happens. You might be trucking along, grinding your own business when BAM! Suddenly your /l chat is gone. What the... ? Yup, your legion just disbanded. Or perhaps the leader just disappears offline for an extended period of time. Could be that the leadership drives members away by its actions (or inaction). So the death knell tolls.

With reasons ranging from real life (work, family) to game mechanics (boredom, frustration) to the most frequent culprit, drama (cyber-relationships gone bad, over-inflated egos, power-hungry control freaks), legions fold. It is a fact of gaming -- though not always a negative one. But in Aion, where reputation, ranking, and Abyss contribution are significant factors to players, the death of a legion can have more consequences than just missing a chat channel. If you are lucky and have forewarning, you can plan ahead to minimize the impact on your gaming experience.

If your legion has folded -- or is about to -- what are your options? Let's drop our wings and dive past the cut to explore some available paths to take when this fact of e-life happens.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Death of a legion

Wings Over Atreia: Death of a legion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Top 10 of 2010

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

It's the end of the year, and although many are in food- and good-cheer-induced comas, we will still drag ourselves to the keyboard to delve into Aion. Why? Because we enjoy our game. And maybe, just maybe, there is a smattering of addiction in there. I'm not judging, mind you, as I also logged some holiday time with a shugo!

Many things have happened throughout the year, and this Daeva has flown about, soaking up the news and activities, in order to report them back to you. From the sweeping changes of three major patches (expansions, updates -- whatever you choose to call them) adding content, removing content, and re-adding content (*cough* rifting *cough*), to holiday events, to everyday life in Atreia, 2010 has had its ups and downs, with a variety of twists and turns thrown in. The year certainly cannot be called uneventful. And in true end-of-the-year count-down style, I am going to rattle off my top 10 favorite columns of Aion tidbits.

So what columns made the cut? Grab a noisemaker and shimmy on past the break to see which were my favorites as well as share yours in the comments!

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Top 10 of 2010

Wings Over Atreia: Top 10 of 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Altaholics anonymous

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

OK, now I've done it... my status as an oddity at Massively is exposed for all the world to see. I confess -- I do not like to play alts. Whew. There, I said it. That wasn't so hard. And being unique is not such a bad thing, right?

In gaming, and in Aion especially, I definitely feel out of place for this philosophy. After all, Aion not only encourages but rewards you for playing alts; what other game gives you an impressive armor set and weapon only after you reach mid-level on numerous characters? And even for those who eschew playing alts, there are times when you are forced to do so (like I was). Pathetic available inventory space? Make a mule. Miss lower-level solo instances because they were introduced after you were too high of a level? Make a noob. But these are only a couple of examples involving mechanics. What makes people create so many alts that they need spreadsheets just to know who has what and is where?

Head past the cut to delve into the pros and cons of managing multiple characters in Atreia.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Altaholics anonymous

Wings Over Atreia: Altaholics anonymous originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Daevas of Our Lives -- The siege

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

The battle was sore. The sound of wings beating the hot air of the Abyss filled the ears of all of us, soldier and commander alike. Singed feathers, both black and white, floated about, as fireballs flew between factions, pelting any who could not dodge fast enough. Shadowy forms dove, weaving between the raining arrows, looking for targets. Sounds of steel clashing rang out as spies tried to sneak past enemy lines in search of kisks. The battle was immense, a sea of red crashing against us, trying to claim what was rightfully ours! We knew we must give our all to repel the enemy onslaught.

In the heat of battle, immediate decisions had long-reaching consequences; the tide of battle could turn on a single kinah. All voices hushed as the Commander, MrAwesumPants, issued the order that would bring victory, that would bring us closer to eradicating this threat upon true Daeva. One force was dispatched to take the artifact and activate it. "Do it. Do it now. Do it. Do it. Do it now. Do it do it do it do it now do it do it do it now... now... now... now... get it. DO IT NOW... come ON! Are you paying attention? NOW NOW NOW!! DO IT DO IT DO IT! NOWNOWNOWNOWNOWNOWNOW!!! Do it. Don't do it. OMG you *expletive* I can't believe you just did that!"

Everyone could hear the spittle dripping from his mic, spraying against his monitor. The hush continued.

Have you ever sat in a faction Ventrilo server and heard the siege leader repeat an order like a rapid-fire machine gun for what seemed like five minutes straight, then right as it is being accomplished, immediately rescind the order, demand his followers stop, then totally berate whoever followed the order? No joke -- true story. If you thought drama was just for individuals or legions in Aion, think again! There is a seemingly endless supply of siege drama to keep Daevas entertained -- or disgusted.

Settle back and tune in past the cut for the latest episode of Daevas of Our Lives.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Daevas of Our Lives -- The siege

Wings Over Atreia: Daevas of Our Lives -- The siege originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Making the cut

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

"What position are you applying for?" The interviewer listens and nods.

"Mmhmm. Thank you. Now, what special skills can you bring to the team?"

"Please list all previous experience and describe your major accomplishments." A pause.

"Have you the required equipment to adequately perform your duties?"

The interviewer is quiet while sizing up the applicant.

"I'm sorry, but you just don't quite have what we are looking for. Next!"

Sound familiar? No, this isn't a job interview -- this is the rigmarole many players experience simply to get into a group in NCsoft's Aion. You might think that time of day or availability of people in the right level range would have the most affect on forming up a group, whether in a legion or a PUG. Instead, players often must contend with an entirely different beast before even stepping foot into an instance: group elitism.

Unless you have a regular group of friends with identical play times or a very supportive legion, you are apt to occasionally find yourself in the situation of seeking a group while traipsing about Atreia. Even with a regular group, there are going to be times you are left more-or-less on your own and just want to get something done. Thus begins the (oft times unpleasant) task of creating or finding a group. Like a microcosm of drama played out in short spurts, group formation showcases a variety of less-than-desirable attributes: greed; envy; lust; selfishness; and inflated egos. Just how exclusive can this process become? Your inclusion could ride solely on your class, equipment, or skill set, and have nothing to do with your ability and skill as a player. Heck, even your name may keep you out of groups.

Join me past the cut to explore elitism in group dynamics in Aion.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Making the cut

Wings Over Atreia: Making the cut originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Daevas of Our Lives

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Culture, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

Like sand through the hourglass, so are the Daevas of Our Lives...

The lovers sat under the trees in central Sanctum, purple leaves drifting about them, lost in each other's eyes. "Oh Pwnzoo, you are my hero!" coos the cleric, fingers resting lightly on her companion's +8 pauldrons.

"For you, my darling, I will slay Vile Judge Kromede a thousand times over!" The gallant knight puffs out his chest a little more. "I will fly to the ends of the Abyss, I will..."

"Ooh, darling, hold that thought, I have to log... " [logs to character select, then back on]

"Ooh, there you are, my sweet prince Castfast!" The ranger leaps into the arms of the sorceror waiting at the Mystic Spring of Anathe. "I have dreamed of the moment we can be together... Oh, whoops, I'll be right back." [logs out again, then back on]

The lithe spirit master peeks around the columns in Eltnen Fortress. "I have been awaiting our time together breathlessly, Ninjaarrow," she drawls as she bats her eyes at the dashing ranger across the way. "But our time is short, I am needed for a run at Kysis soon..."

For any who dare to deny that MMOs (Aion included) are drama-laced soap operas in-and-of themselves, I propose that they A) have never played in a guild/legion/kinship/corporation, B) have played in a very special solo bubble all of their online days, or C) are just plain delusional. Even those who eschew drama to the very core of their being see it around them like generator plasma balls in Dark Poeta and must employ superior evade skills to dodge it.

Stay tuned past the cut for some amusing episodes of Aion's own prime-time drama, along with some strategies for dealing with it.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Daevas of Our Lives

Wings Over Atreia: Daevas of Our Lives originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second Life's Emerald client facing obsolescence

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Second Life, Virtual worlds

Recent months have not been wholly kind to Second Life, and those circumstances don't seem finished just yet. The Emerald client, one of the most popular third-party viewers -- estimated to be used by as many as half of all players -- has fallen out of favor with Linden Labs and is no longer an officially endorsed option. Scott Jennings has posted a full rundown of the client's history, charting its progress from the earliest inception of the project to its current status of having fallen from grace.

The short version (or as short a version as you can get for drama four years in the making) is that Emerald's coders included some rather... hack-tacular backdoors in the client's coding. This is a downside for reasons that should not need to be specified, but does add up to some major problems for the large playerbase still using Emerald. Second Life has had a hard time getting its users to switch to the 2.0 viewer, and about the only upside may be that the removal of Emerald will change that... but the overall drama isn't going to be kind for either the Emerald project or Linden Labs itself.

Second Life's Emerald client facing obsolescence originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Passing the personality test

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Humor, Wings Over Atreia

As you readers know, last month I embarked on my trek to acquire some shiny new gold gear in Aion, setting my sights on Miragent armor. Of course, all of you who have already walked this path know that it takes quite a bit of doing, and as I am on task three... well, you knew there was no way I would complete it in just one week and be able to finish the series! So in the interim, we have the chance to take a small break and delve into another topic -- one that has been on my mind quite a bit lately.

For any who has read up on the staff (isn't it fun being nosy!), you know that the social dynamics of gaming fascinates me. Oh, they alternately make me shake my head, LOL, and even groan, but I am enthralled just the same. Like a train wreck that rivets your attention, the social aspects of MMOs allow me to sit back and watch with detached awe, wondering how in the Seraphim Lords some things can actually transpire. I mean, did someone really just do that?! Indeed, the personalities that emerge whenever you gather a group of people together truly intrigues me, and I'd like to share with you some that I have seen running rampant in Aion.

Grab your Rorschach test and blot your way past the cut to check out these gaming personalities. Have a chuckle seeing where your friends and legion-mates (or maybe even you) fall. Any resemblance to actual gamers, past or present, is definitely intended!

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Passing the personality test

Wings Over Atreia: Passing the personality test originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: When have you gotten dramatic?

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Humor

Nobody likes drama in an MMO. We might enjoy pretending to have drama, but actual explosions and confrontations between players aren't anyone's idea of a good time. After all, most of us get enough of that every day at work or school. And while a small portion of a game's playerbase will throw a tantrum any time the world doesn't bow and scrape to their whims, for the most part, players understand that no one wants to play nanny. Everyone behaves like mature adults.

But there comes a time when you don't. It's a simple human frailty that sooner or later, the stars will align and you will throw a world-class tantrum about how someone else got the Ultimate Orb of Perfect Energy. All of us have done it, and odds are most of us will wind up doing it again. So when have you lost your composure and started some epic drama? Do you feel bad about it in hindsight?

The Daily Grind: When have you gotten dramatic? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ankhesentapemkah removed from EVE's Council of Stellar Management

Brendan Drain — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, News items

EVE Online's democratically elected Council of Stellar Management has been the cause of a great deal of controversy since the programme's inception. The idea that players can bring their concerns on game design issues to a player-elected representative has been popular with forum-posters. Council members work tirelessly to compile lists of issues that are important to the player-base, then present them to CCP in the CSM Summit every six months. While the council has managed to push through some very important issues and work on key features, it's been the focus of several scandals and a great deal of EVE drama.

Controversial council member Eva "Ankhesentapemkah" Jobse was removed from the council today. The official reason given for her dismissal was "a breach of the non-disclosure agreement (NDA)." The exact nature of the breach has not been publicised as the sensitive nature of the data involved renders the issue a private matter between Eva and CCP Games. As usually happens when information isn't available, the forums have exploded with speculation over what exactly Eva did that breached the NDA. Although Eva has yet to comment publicly on the issue, fellow council member Sokratesz was quick to allay suspicions that it was due to information posted in her personal CSM blog.

When reached for comment, Eva had the following to say: "All I can say at the moment is that out of respect for the CSM, the players of EVE, as well as the good people at CCP, I cannot give any details besides my personal conviction that CCP's statement is not in relation to any of my recent publications, and that I do not share CCP's conclusion that there has in fact been an NDA breach. I am currently engaged in following up this situation with CCP." Eva plans to keep her followers updated on her situation via her CSM blog as the situation develops.

Ankhesentapemkah removed from EVE's Council of Stellar Management originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storyboard: I only have eyes for you

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Humor, Storyboard

Welcome back to another edition of Storyboard, wherein I'm going to tackle an issue that is very near and dear to my heart. Matter of fact, it's near and dear to almost everyone's heart, and it's a topic that I'm sure I'm either going to revisit or avoid wholeheartedly in the future, because we're stepping into an emotional minefield. Today, we're going to be talking about romantic relationships in roleplaying.

Okay, now that some of the readers have run screaming from the room (which was kind of unnecessary, they could have just closed the browser), let's clarify that we are talking about romantic relationships, not anything else that could fall under the header of romance. That magical night you shared with a Mithra in Bastok Markets is an entirely different topic that I have no real interest in covering here. So we're at least into the realm of just plain emotional awkwardness, and that's for the best, as there's more than enough material there to cover for years.

Continue reading Storyboard: I only have eyes for you

Storyboard: I only have eyes for you originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Everybody wants to rule the guild (probably)

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Guilds, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Others have said it before, but it bears repeating: Human beings take part in politics with the most intensity when there's the least at stake. You only have to look at the political dynamics of guilds (by any name) to see the principle in action. Even though the organizations are wholly voluntary, people fight for their position within the guild ferociously. Internal and intra-corporation conflicts in EVE Online are so vicious that some incidents are almost legendary. The drama that can erupt in guilds of almost any size and purpose is familiar to almost any player.

Some people, of course, work overtime to either ignore politics or stay uninvolved. But there are often an awful lot of people who want an officer position as soon as it becomes available, sometimes with very little consideration for what being an officer might actually entail. The fact that more people want power than know what to do with it is an old truism. Where do you stand in the schematic? Do you try to advance yourself in your guild's power structure, or are you happier being a smaller part of the machine?

The Daily Grind: Everybody wants to rule the guild (probably) originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storyboard: Best practices

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 28 May 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard

Roleplaying is a finicky business. If organizing endgame raid groups is like herding cats, organizing coherent roleplaying is like herding cats with even more ego. And no promise of rewards. And with only other players to provide a threat. And you're herding them with a Nerf bat that many of them are more inclined to just play with. And you have to balance it around activities such as endgame raiding.

It takes a lot to get roleplaying going and keep it going, is what we're getting at. It's a testament to how passionately people feel about roleplaying that, despite all of this, it happens on a consistent basis and usually without too much (unintentional) drama. But it's hard work for everyone involved, and that just inspires people to be more passionate about it as an aggregate. Hence the creation of a column entirely devoted to roleplayers and the careful art of crafting, playing, and working through characters.

Continue reading Storyboard: Best practices

Storyboard: Best practices originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: How well do you know your game buddies?

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 27 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Guilds, Opinion, The Daily Grind

While it's increasingly possible to play an MMO without being forced to interact with others, it's a bit like renting a tuxedo for a trip to McDonald's. Connections get formed (however mercenary they may be at the start) and you find yourself with a circle of friends you play with. Of course, while it's helpful to know who these people are, it's not absolutely necessary to know much aside from their character names and their roles in a group.

Some people are content to leave their knowledge of cohorts there; others prefer to go the extra mile and find out the players and personalities behind the avatars. And it can help the play experience to know that Swizzle the Thief is actually a CPA in Gary, Indiana who's thinking about marrying his girlfriend. It's not going to help the group in the strictest sense, though, and getting too attached can lead to some major drama. What about you? Do you tend to know a lot about the people you game with, or would you generally prefer not to know?

The Daily Grind: How well do you know your game buddies? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 May 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Do you invite your friends?

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Not every game has one, but several do -- the opportunity to invite a friend who hasn't played the game before, or try and entire someone back to the game again after a prolonged absence. After all, we have friends we know outside of our games that still enjoy flying around and smashing orcs (or alien horrors, or gang members, or anyone unlucky enough to wander into your space), and it's fun to bring people you interact with anyway into your favorite virtual world. You've got automatic leveling partners and people who know how you like to work, what could go wrong?

Well, they could not like it. Actually, they could get annoyed at you bugging them about the game and decide not to play based solely upon that. Or they could wind up going in a completely different field of the game than you enjoy, or they might bring a whole bunch of real-world drama into a world you had been using to avoid that drama. So there might be good reasons to let your friends just keep enjoying whatever they like and keep your MMO friends separate. What do you do? Do you invite your old buddies, or do you stick with the fresh start?

The Daily Grind: Do you invite your friends? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MyGameMug.com: Filtering out the asshats

Shawn Schuster — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Guilds, Grouping

Perhaps you've tried your hand at guild recruiting before, but things didn't exactly turn out as expected. You've found what you believed was the perfect tank, but he developed into a nightmare guildie. He had all the skills, all the experience, but who knew his emotional state would have the stability of a Twitter server.

This is where WoW Headhunter comes in. WoW Headhunter works in the realm of guild recruitment, making it easier for guild leaders to find qualified candidates based not only on skill and credential but also on personality. This works both ways, for guild leaders seeking the perfect members, and for players seeking the perfect guild fit. Not sure how something like that could happen? Keep reading after the cut below for more info and exclusive guild leader interviews explaining the service.

Continue reading MyGameMug.com: Filtering out the asshats

MyGameMug.com: Filtering out the asshats originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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