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 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Soapbox: 'L2P' and the antisocial MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/31/the-soapbox-l2p-and-the-antisocial-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/31/the-soapbox-l2p-and-the-antisocial-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/31/the-soapbox-l2p-and-the-antisocial-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Soapbox When words don't mean what they say
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

I'm amazed how often I still hear the phrase "learn to play." It's become a nasty term that makes me suspect those saying it just don't want other gamers around at all. And I can hardly blame them when the MMO market is pushing a markedly single-player agenda.

MMOs tout our ability to play with friends and interact with others, but in the end, they are selfish games that breed and attract selfish gamers. In modern MMOs, interaction barely rises above single-player co-op. Guild Wars 2 exemplifies this by dropping you in a world with the potential for thousands of players to be all around you, but its alienating mechanics often make you feel like a lonely ghost who wants nothing more than to hug someone.

L2P and other stock insults are rooted in something ugly: the literally antisocial nature of many MMOs.

Continue reading The Soapbox: 'L2P' and the antisocial MMO

MassivelyThe Soapbox: 'L2P' and the antisocial MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcultureeditorialelitismelitistelitist-jerksentitlemententitlementsfantasyfeaturedguild-wars-2gw2jeremy-strattonncsoftnegativenegativityop-edopinionpessimismpessimisticrantrantssoapboxsub-culturethe-soapboxTue, 31 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are MMO communities inclusive or exclusive?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/the-daily-grind-are-mmo-communities-inclusive-or-exclusive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/the-daily-grind-are-mmo-communities-inclusive-or-exclusive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/the-daily-grind-are-mmo-communities-inclusive-or-exclusive/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Daily Grind
In my opinion, one of the best aspects of MMO gaming is the communities that form around these titles (and MMOs in general). The excitement and passion of these games can foster spirited discussion and a sense of belonging for those looking to connect with like minds. Friendships can and are formed, groups band together for a shared purpose, and game communities develop their own lingo and histories.

Yet these communities can also be one of the worst aspects of MMOs. They've been known to turn forums into pits of decomposing humanity, trolling and ranting with no end in sight. They can turn on an individual who doesn't know all of the mores and unwritten rules of how things are said and done. They can certainly rank a person's importance based on how long and how involved he or she's been with the game, relegating newbies to an eternal kiddie's table of condescension.

So which of these do you find to be true more often? Are MMO communities -- especially ones surrounding your current games -- accepting and inclusive to newcomers, or are they elitist and exclusive?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are MMO communities inclusive or exclusive? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitiescommunityculturedaily-grindelitistexcludingexclusivegame-communitiesincludinginclusiveopiniontdgthe-daily-grindWed, 14 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: The separation of newbie and expert]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/behind-the-mask-the-separation-of-newbie-and-expert/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/behind-the-mask-the-separation-of-newbie-and-expert/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/behind-the-mask-the-separation-of-newbie-and-expert/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Champions Online screenshot
Last week on Behind the Mask, we got into a little discussion about why Champions Online's Elite difficulty needs to be buffed (and possibly also the very hard difficulty as well). This led to a discussion of whom Elite would be tailored for. I'm sure this is a big issue over at Cryptic right now. If Elite is increased in difficulty, whom should it be designed to suit?

I was asked this burning question a few times, and I've made my opinion clear: that Elite should be for the top tier, the tip of the iceberg of player ability. Don't take that to mean Gold players only. There is a sharp divide between an expert Silver player and a poor Gold player. In fact, the poor Gold player is likely to be worse than a bad Silver player. How good is good enough? This week, we'll find out.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: The separation of newbie and expert

MassivelyBehind the Mask: The separation of newbie and expert originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcasual-playerchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosdifficulty-leveldifficulty-slidereliteelite-difficultyelitistfeaturednoobnoviceperfect-world-entertainmentpvewe-love-casualsThu, 06 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: Cliques are the bane of roleplaying]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/behind-the-mask-cliques-are-the-bane-of-roleplaying/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/behind-the-mask-cliques-are-the-bane-of-roleplaying/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/behind-the-mask-cliques-are-the-bane-of-roleplaying/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Although Demonflame has just launched and is quite an entertaining little addition, there have been a few things in Champions Online that have been bothering me. I spend a large amount of my time in CO roleplaying, and I have a pretty tight circle of friends. The problem is that I tend to be sort of exclusive when it comes to roleplaying with people.

I'm not openly mean in most situations, but I tend to avoid certain kinds of people. You know the types: godmodders, selfish jerks, and people with only the thinnest grasp of the English language. Most of my friends kind of tolerate these people, but I am pretty adamant when it comes to keeping them out of my RP.

Unfortunately, this kind of makes me a tool. No one wants to roleplay with idiots and godmodders, but no one wants a loudmouthed jerk making a big deal out of everything, either. This realization made me understand why people form tight, exclusive cliques and how to get involved in them.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Cliques are the bane of roleplaying

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Cliques are the bane of roleplaying originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-maskchampionschampions-onlinecliquescocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studioselitistenglish-do-you-speak-itenglish-languageextrovertsfeaturedroleplayingrp-circlesThu, 21 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Elitist alliances and RvR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/29/waging-war-elitist-alliances-and-rvr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/29/waging-war-elitist-alliances-and-rvr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/29/waging-war-elitist-alliances-and-rvr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

No matter where you go in the MMO-verse, rivalries are bound to happen, and Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is no different. In most cases, these rifts are the exception and not the norm; whether they manifest as a heated argument in scenarios, or a realm-wide feud between established guilds or alliances, there's always going to be some sort of drama. This week, Waging WAR takes a look at how the exception to the rule can affect the game as a whole.

A few days ago I was playing on one of my Tier 2 alts running around with an open warband in the Shadowlands. We were taking some keeps and battlefield objectives for renown and influence, since the Tier 2 High Elf elite influence item is well worth the effort. As it turns out, a few of my guildmates were also leveling in the same warband. We ran into a keep defense at Spite's Reach that we weren't really prepared for, but we managed to muster a decent siege in short order. The hot oil started pouring and some area-of-effect magic started to blanket the warband on the ground as we pounded on the door. One of the players in my guild, a dedicated veteran (though not an officer), refused to heal someone else in the warband. I asked him why and he told me that it was because the person was in another specific guild, with no real reason beyond that simple fact.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Elitist alliances and RvR

MassivelyWaging WAR: Elitist alliances and RvR originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancealliancesEAElectronic-ArtseliteelitismElitistendless-trialguildsmythicMythic-Entertainmentopinion-columnopinion-pieceOpinonpvprvrrvr-city-siegessiege-warfaresiegeswaging-warWARwarbandWarhammerWarhammer-OnlineSat, 29 May 2010 13:00:00 EST