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[Free for All: Five popular cash-shop item types]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/free-for-all-five-popular-cash-shop-item-types/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/free-for-all-five-popular-cash-shop-item-types/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/free-for-all-five-popular-cash-shop-item-types/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Over the next few weeks, I would like to take a look at cash shops. Despite many good experiences I have had with them, even my referring to a cash shop can conjure up not-so-happy images for many players. For myself, a cash shop gives me a sense similar to a visit to a toy store -- a toy store where everything is dirt cheap. Good cash shops can not only make you want to spend money, but give you an item or experience that was well worth your cash.

Before getting into the heavy-lifting topics, I will go over five of my favorite cash-shop item "types." Bear in mind that there is always some game that features some variant of each of these types. Also remember that there are always more categories, but that these represent what I think are the most popular and make the most money. Feel free to suggest any categories that you think do something similar, or correct me where you think I'm wrong.

Continue reading Free for All: Five popular cash-shop item types

MassivelyFree for All: Five popular cash-shop item types originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonbeau-hindmancash-shopddoderek-smartdungeons-and-dragons-onlinedungeons-and-dragons-online-unlimitedEQ2eq2xEQIIEverQuest-2everquest-2-extendedeverquest-iif2pfeaturedfree-realmsfree-to-playftplord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromabinogimicrotransactionMicrotransactionsNexonShin-Megami-Tenseishin-megami-tensei-imagineSOESony-Online-EntertainmentturbineWed, 22 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Indian company purchases fifty percent stake in Codemasters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/indian-company-purchases-fifty-percent-stake-in-codemasters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/indian-company-purchases-fifty-percent-stake-in-codemasters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/indian-company-purchases-fifty-percent-stake-in-codemasters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


While some gamers in the US may not be immediately familiar with Codemasters, we know our readers across the pond will immediately recognize them as the company with the rights to publish Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons and Dragons Online, and (the "who-knows-when-it-will-release") MMO Jumpgate Evolution overseas. With that said, last year we heard that the COO at Codemasters, Tony Williams, decided to step down from Chief Organizational Officer. Not too long after that, there were rumors that Warner Brothers was looking into buying the company. Today, it seems that a company from India called Reliance Big Entertainment has pounced, and now owns a 50% stake in Codemasters.

Apparently, Reliance Big Entertainment is very well known in India. It's subsidiary company, Zapak Digital Entertainment, owns the largest online gaming portal in the country as well. This gaming-specific company will be the one in charge of overseeing the investment in UK-based Codemasters.

As to what this could mean for MMO gamers in the EU, we'll have to wait and see. Perhaps Reliance/Zapak will see fit to close the gap in differences from the Turbine-controlled version of Lord of the Rings Online. Or perhaps this new company will finally roll the Codemasters version of Dungeons and Dragons Online over to the same free-to-play model that has been such a huge success for Turbine in the States. No matter what, this is going to be interesting to watch.

[via Joystiq]

MassivelyIndian company purchases fifty percent stake in Codemasters originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codemasters-onlineCodemasters-Studios-Guildfordddo-module-7dungeons-and-dragons-online-unlimitedEUfree-to-play-fpsjgejumpgate-evolutionlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotro-book-14reliance-big-entertainmentUkTimeszapakzapak-digital-entertainmentTue, 06 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Rain on the docks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/10/one-shots-rain-on-the-docks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/10/one-shots-rain-on-the-docks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/10/one-shots-rain-on-the-docks/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


As we saw this morning in our Daily Grind topic, many eyes are turning back to Turbine's Dungeons & Dragons Online. We're hoping that with the influx of new people headed there we'll see bunches of great One Shots from there like today's image. This one was sent in to us by Tsyris, who sent in a quick note about this image: [Here's a picture of] my fighter looking at a beautiful rainy evening at The Harbor in Dungeons and Dragons Online.

Are you wandering in a world we don't often see? We want to see images from you, if so! Just email us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. We'll post it out here and give you the credit!

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Rain on the docks originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinedungeons-and-dragons-online-unlimitedfreemiumone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsturbineThu, 10 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's DDO Unlimited developer tour]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/massivelys-ddo-unlimited-developer-tour/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/massivelys-ddo-unlimited-developer-tour/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/massivelys-ddo-unlimited-developer-tour/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Love can sometimes be a fickle thing, but I'm pretty sure that I love what Turbine has done with the DDO Store in Dungeons and Dragons Online Unlimited. I'll admit that initially I was a little concerned with the concept of an in-game store, but after playing with it at bit and asking some questions my fears have pretty much melted away.

I was lucky enough to be given a developer tour of the Dungeons and Dragons Online Unlimited beta last Friday, and had a thoroughly good time. The DDO Store is a streamlined and snappy experience. The store doesn't simply attempt to shove its wares onto the unsuspecting player. Instead, it attempts -- and largely succeeds -- in being a helpful, generally friendly addition to the game.

Gallery: DDO Unlimited Tour


Continue reading Massively's DDO Unlimited developer tour

MassivelyMassively's DDO Unlimited developer tour originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amrathddoddo-storeddo-unlimiteddev-tourdeveloper-tourdungeons-and-dragons-onlinedungeons-and-dragons-online-unlimitedfavored-soulfeaturedhezrouturbineTue, 30 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DDO: Eberron Unlimited details surface, new class revealed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/ddo-eberron-unlimited-details-surface-new-class-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/ddo-eberron-unlimited-details-surface-new-class-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/ddo-eberron-unlimited-details-surface-new-class-revealed/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Well, we can't say we exactly saw this one coming. Turbine has pulled back the curtain on some details for Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited, namely the new class being added with the major business model shift. Although, we've also learned there'll be new combat updates and a return of Stormreach's marketplace, which was destroyed last year.

As for the new class, it's been revealed to be the Favored Soul. According to Turbine's press release, "Favored souls draw on divine magic to both heal and destroy. Like clerics, favored souls have access to powerful healing spells, but they are also more skilled with weapons than any other spell caster. Like sorcerers, they get a larger number of spell points than other spell casters and cannot freely switch spells at taverns or rest shrines." So it sounds like we're dealing with a cross between a Cleric and a Sorcerer, which is pretty awesome actually. What sorts of weapons -- and screens of the class itself -- remains to be seen, sadly.

Still, we should have even more details in the coming weeks and hopefully Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited will launch sometime this summer.

MassivelyDDO: Eberron Unlimited details surface, new class revealed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaddodungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-online-unlimitedeberronfavored-soulfree-to-playsubscriptionturbinewizards-of-the-coastwotcWed, 24 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DDO Unlimited screens show off in-game store]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/ddo-unlimited-screens-show-off-in-game-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/ddo-unlimited-screens-show-off-in-game-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/18/ddo-unlimited-screens-show-off-in-game-store/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Turbine has released twelve new screens for their revamp of Dungeons & Dragons Online, which will add the "Unlimited" modifier sometime after its current beta run. In our gallery, you'll find several looks at the various windows and interfaces in which the non-subscribing players will have the opportunity to purchase additional content piecemeal, while they play.

It's pretty interesting to see a previously pure subscription style game go this direction, and we're very curious to see how it plays out for Turbine and the Dungeons & Dragons Online community. This business model shift could bring in a lot of new blood, and may in the long run bring about additional content that wouldn't have been possible to develop otherwise.

If you really want to know more about the upcoming changes and exactly what they mean for DDO and its community, check out our interview with Turbine on the subject, our write-up on the topic by Massively's Colin Brennan or our recent Massively Speaking podcast with DDOCast host Jerry Snook. Can you tell we're interested in this one yet?

Gallery: Dungeons & Dragons Online: Unlimited

MassivelyDDO Unlimited screens show off in-game store originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betacolin-brennanddoddo-storeddocastddoudungeons-and-dragons-onlinedungeons-and-dragons-online-unlimitedfree-to-playjerry-snooksubscriptionturbineunlimitedThu, 18 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST