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[World of Darkness creative director talks design and the MMO mainstream]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/world-of-darkness-creative-director-talks-design-and-the-mmo-mai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/world-of-darkness-creative-director-talks-design-and-the-mmo-mai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/world-of-darkness-creative-director-talks-design-and-the-mmo-mai/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

World of Darkness - Masquerade rose
A new interview at Gamasutra posits that CCP is gunning for mainstream success with its upcoming World of Darkness MMO. The EVE Online developer has cornered what's left of the hardcore sandbox market, so now it's looking to marry EVE's emergent gameplay with more familiar MMO staples. "The way to drag people in will be traditional themepark-style PvE play. Once players get into the setting, they'll see the appeal of the sandbox play," says WoD creative director Reynir Hardarson.

Despite the concessions to mainstream accessibility, EVE's influence on World of Darkness will be more than superficial. "The live-action roleplayers of the Vampire the Masquerade tabletop game play this way," Hardarson explains. "It's really about politics and power plays."

Why don't more MMO developers try their hand at sandbox mechanics? Hardarson says designing for emergent play is difficult because you can't test it. It's worth it, though, because MMOs that hand-hold and limit players to a linear path miss the point. "I'm not a five-year-old. If I want to go in the cave and I want to die, that's my problem," Hardarson says.

MassivelyWorld of Darkness creative director talks design and the MMO mainstream originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilityccpccp-gamesemergent-designemergent-gameplayfantasygothichorrorinterviewmainstreammmo-mainstreamplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentreynir-hardarsonsandboxsupernaturaluser-generated-contentvampirevampireswhite-wolfwodworld-of-darknessTue, 24 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Simplicity itself]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/flameseeker-chronicles-simplicity-itself/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/flameseeker-chronicles-simplicity-itself/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/flameseeker-chronicles-simplicity-itself/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 concept art
ArenaNet is designing Guild Wars 2 to appeal to bucketloads of people. The studio's got the PvP and competition, the high-end dungeon challenge, the super-cooperative and dynamic PvE content, the compelling and branching storyline, the flashy (and occasionally sensibly flashy) armors -- there's a lot going on. Part of what makes that possible is the use of very approachable systems.

These simple systems pop up all over the place: the straight-forward lists of boons and conditions that affect players, the common capture point mechanic over which more intricate PvP objectives can be layered, and the relatively small pool of skills from which to assemble a build. The beauty of their simplicity is that the simplicity itself isn't a limiting factor -- you can't do only simple things with them.

In this way, simple systems have a low entry barrier and a high complexity capacity. That means that more people can enjoy the game with relatively little skill and that there's a lot of room for time, dedication, and finesse to lead to outstanding results. Anyone can play, but not everyone can (or will) master elements of the game.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Simplicity itself

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Simplicity itself originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcbtdynamic-eventsemergent-gameplayeventsfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw1gw2ncsoftopinionskill-comboskillsTue, 17 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Salem dev talks permadeath, griefing, and skill-based gameplay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/some-assembly-required-salem-dev-talks-permadeath-griefing-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/some-assembly-required-salem-dev-talks-permadeath-griefing-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/some-assembly-required-salem-dev-talks-permadeath-griefing-an/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - architecture banner
Hello, sandbox faithful, and welcome to a special interview edition of Some Assembly Required. We recently had a chance to pitch some questions to the team behind Seatribe's upcoming Salem title, and creative director Björn Johannessen was kind enough to answer them.

Salem is being advertised by publisher Paradox as "the crafting MMO," but it's also rife with throw-back mechanics including a huge amount of player freedom and a permadeath/punishment system similar to the one in Johannessen's Haven & Hearth.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Salem dev talks permadeath, griefing, and skill-based gameplay

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Salem dev talks permadeath, griefing, and skill-based gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bjorn-Johannessencash-shopcraftingemergent-gameplayexclusivef2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgriefinghaven-and-hearthinterviewitem-shopno-tradeparadoxParadox-Interactivepermadeathpermadeath-prevents-griefingplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsalemsandboxseatribeskill-systemsome-assembly-requiredsoul-boundtradeskillsFri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Is the sandbox dead?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/some-assembly-required-is-the-sandbox-dead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/some-assembly-required-is-the-sandbox-dead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/some-assembly-required-is-the-sandbox-dead/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - header with plans
Let's face it, folks, 2011 has been a fairly bad year for sandbox MMORPGs. Whether we're talking about the premature (and, ahem, forced) demise of Star Wars Galaxies, EVE Online's public relations disasters and its capitulation to the cash-shop-in-a-sub-based game fad, or Earthrise's rough launch, there hasn't been a lot to celebrate for fans of non-linear MMO gameplay in quite a while.

I've even had several friends ask me point blank: Is the sandbox dead? The short answer is not just no, but hell no. Join me after the cut for a few bright spots as we look to the future, take stock of the present, and try to forget about the past.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Is the sandbox dead?

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Is the sandbox dead? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-tale-in-the-desertasherons-callavataravatar-creationsaventurinecraftingdarkfalldawntideearthriseemergent-gameplayeveeve-onlinefeaturedis-the-sandbox-deadmastheadmasthead-studiosopinionperpetuumplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsandbox-optionssome-assembly-requiredstar-wars-galaxiesswgturbineultimaultima-onlineuoworking-as-intendedwurmwurm-onlinexsyonFri, 02 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Emergence in the sandbox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/15/eve-evolved-emergence-in-the-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/15/eve-evolved-emergence-in-the-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/15/eve-evolved-emergence-in-the-sandbox/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We often hear about the amazing things players get up to in EVE Online, from full-scale political wars and massive heists to collaborative business ventures and high-profile kills. While we can all enjoy these tales of high-powered exploits from afar, they can be difficult to relate to the actual game experience. Most of us will never be the puppet master pulling the strings of alliance warfare or the mastermind of some great theft, but we don't have to be. Smaller examples of emergent and opportunistic gameplay exist all over EVE in the daily play of thousands of individuals.

I've always thought of EVE less as a game and more as a giant social sandbox with spaceships -- a story about what people do when left alone in each other's company. Players naturally take on roles for which they have a strong aptitude, crafting completely new gameplay styles for themselves in the process. The entrepreneurs among us spy opportunities never imagined by the game's developers, tech-savvy individuals sell web-services, and artists craft propaganda for recruitment or a war on their enemy's morale. Countless players carve their own game out of the EVE universe, and there's no reason you can't be one of them.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at some of the unique gameplay experiences players have engineered for themselves over the years and the community that makes EVE what it is.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Emergence in the sandbox

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Emergence in the sandbox originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Spotlight is a bi-weekly feature in which we interview prominent members of EVE Online's player community or development team. Every two weeks, we'll be shining the spotlight on a player or developer who has a significant impact on EVE to highlight the efforts of EVE's most influential people.

If there's one thing I've learned about EVE Online's community, it's that every now and then a player will create something unexpected that changes the way many of us play the game. Every time I think everything has already been done in EVE, someone always comes along with something new and innovative to blow away my expectations. Early players will remember the introduction of corporate killboards, for example, which not only changed the way combat was seen in-game but also spawned an entire killboard hosting industry. The introduction of public investment schemes was another such moment, bringing in completely new ways to play the game.

The last emergent innovation from the EVE community to really grab my eye was Somer.Blink, a web-based gambling game contained entirely within EVE Online. Gambling in EVE has been going on for some time with the EOH poker league and similar schemes, but Somer.Blink brought casino-style gambling to the masses. When I first took a look at Somer.Blink, the organisation behind the site was in its infancy and it had yet to break many significant milestones. Having now served over 24 trillion ISK in winnings, the site has transformed its creators Somer Industries from a fledgling corporate venture into one of EVE's true financial giants. Even the theft of over 125 billion ISK in prizes didn't seem to slow down this gambling behemoth, which now generates enough ISK to effect major change in New Eden.

In this EVE Spotlight, I talk to Somer Industries representative Somerset Mahm about how the business got started, where all the ISK generated goes and what the future holds for the corporation.

Continue reading EVE Spotlight: An interview with Somer Industries

MassivelyEVE Spotlight: An interview with Somer Industries originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Of all the things that define EVE Online, it's the stories of criminality that stand out the most. The criminal underworld of New Eden is so deeply ingrained in EVE that CCP even made a selling point of it in the latest official trailer. Last week, I began to tell the true tale of one EVE pilot's thirst for revenge and the corporate infiltration techniques he used to get close to his target. In this week's conclusion of the story, Scott's plans for revenge come to fruition. But is Scott really the victim he believes himself to be, or has greed blinded him to what he's doing? If you haven't read part 1 of the story, skip back to read last week's EVE Evolved column before reading on.

Newbies again

Once in Zeeqo's corp, Scott and his crew began the slow task of setting their target up for a colossal fall. Simply destroying Zeeqo's mining barge could be a swift and fitting retribution, but Scott had a much harsher punishment in mind. Zeeqo would be made to pay for his mistake several times over. The plan for retribution hinged on Zeeqo's weekend freighter runs to Jita, a time at which he flew his most expensive and indefensible ship. This gave the three infiltrators only five days to befriend their target and work out how best to capitalise on his weekly haul.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Death of an Industrialist, part 2

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Death of an Industrialist, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's often said that the EVE Online universe is a dark and harsh place, the market overflowing with con-artists and the skies filled with pirates looking for some easy prey. The sandbox style of New Eden enables emergent gameplay like market manipulation, corporate infiltration, spying and theft. When faced with the choice, some players choose to be ruthless outlaws who will stop at nothing to further their own goals. Political puppet-masters pull the strings on the alliance war machines from behind the scenes, spies infiltrate corporations to gather intelligence, and thieves plot their way to riches.

The latest official game trailer makes a big point of this side of EVE, telling an incredible story of revenge and theft that closely mirrors the reality of New Eden. As if to highlight the point made by the trailer, this week EVE player Bad Bobby confirmed that he'd stolen a total of 850 billion ISK from players in the investment market. Concluding a plan set in motion years ago, Bobby pulled off the theft last week of his supposedly secured Titans4U company. In keeping with this recent theme of theft and corruption, this week's EVE Evolved is a story of revenge, corporate infiltration, social deception and utter destruction. I've embellished the story in places and names have been changed to protect the privacy of all those involved, but the events described are real.

In this week's article, I begin to tell the very real tale of an EVE player's revenge -- a precision strike against an industrialist who made one fatal mistake.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Death of an industrialist

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Death of an industrialist originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I've briefly mentioned housing in previous articles, but I haven't done any in-depth looks into it. Plus, with the addition of new house contracts, the housekeeper system, and some creative ideas I've discovered, I thought it was about time to give housing some exposure.

For the uninitiated, Runes of Magic's housing is a feature that lets you have an instanced area for yourself to store items, earn bonuses, and decorate to your heart's content. I've seen some players refer to RoM's housing as Everquest II lite. Apart from a handful of boss furniture-recipes, you don't craft the majority of furniture. You can buy furniture from NPCs or select from a wide range of choices in the cash shop. Once inside your house, you'll have access to the housing interface. Your items of choice can be moved into the furniture slots and then placed anywhere you want. You can get a more detailed how-to guide on housing from the Runes of Magic Wiki. In this article, I want to take a look at some creative things you can do with furniture and housing.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Fun with housing

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Fun with housing originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>decordecoratingdecorating-tipsemergent-gameplayfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefurnitureguild-castleshomeshousehousekeeperhousinglost-pages-of-taboreaplayer-houseplayer-housingplayer-housing-informationromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentstorageMon, 30 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How MMOs infect other games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/26/how-mmos-infect-other-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/26/how-mmos-infect-other-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/26/how-mmos-infect-other-games/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Games are rather viral in the way that their ideas spread around. You start off with perfectly self-contained genres, perhaps, but before long your characters are leveling up in a sports game and going through jumping puzzles in an action game (or a first-person shooter if you're unlucky). Next thing you know, you're shooting hoops before racing a car and shooting people and then solving a riddle... you get the idea. MMOs seem like they'd be largely immune to this -- after all, many of their conventions not ported from elsewhere, such as persistent online play, are fairly unique to them. However, Spinks has a fascinating essay regarding the way that, for better or for worse, MMOs are becoming closely entwined with other games.

In short, while she notes that the mechanics haven't always made the jump from, for instance, World of Warcraft to Dragon Age, the design of the game's structure and the tactics available have. She notes the increasing prevalence of the "holy trinity" in non-MMO games (Final Fantasy XII being another excellent example), the ways in which our ideas about discussing both the game itself and the tactics it requires have expanded, and the ways that our attitudes toward our characters in a game have changed as MMOs have diversified, expanded, and improved. Insightful and astute, fans of gaming should find more than a little food for thought within the full article.

MassivelyHow MMOs infect other games originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online's sandbox approach to game design is one where where centralized, well-developed clusters of solar systems are controlled by NPC factions while vast, lawless tracts of space can be claimed by the players themselves. This 0.0 space (aka nullsec) contains some of EVE's most valuable resources plus offers complete freedom from the laws imposed in high security NPC space. It's the frontier -- the wild west -- that alliances of EVE's capsuleers clash with one another to control.

For all the freedom to use diplomacy, espionage, and outright warfare to get the most out of 0.0 space, players have long been hindered by the game mechanics of "sovereignty" -- EVE's system of establishing control over territory and reaping the various rewards that come with such control. The changes CCP Games are making to the game with the Dominion winter expansion aren't just about altering a few game mechanics related to territorial control -- they're about changing the rules of the sandbox itself.

Continue reading EVE Online devs explain their plans for revamping the sandbox

MassivelyEVE Online devs explain their plans for revamping the sandbox originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancesccp-greyscaledev-blogdominionemergent-gameplayeve-onlineexpansionsgame-mechanicsguildsmoonssandboxsci-fisovereigntyterritorial-controlTue, 15 Sep 2009 20:15:00 EST