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[The Guild Counsel: Are guild leaders a health hazard?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/the-guild-counsel-are-guild-leaders-a-health-hazard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/the-guild-counsel-are-guild-leaders-a-health-hazard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/the-guild-counsel-are-guild-leaders-a-health-hazard/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Earlier this week, Massively reported on a poll conducted by Bigpoint concerning gamer stereotypes. The good news is that the results of the voluntary survey showed that gamers are not overweight shut-ins who live in their grandmother's basements. The bad news is that there's some skepticism on the validity of the results, since the poll was a voluntary survey and there's no way to prove that the participants were telling the truth.

However, there have been a number of in-depth studies over the years that have shown some surprising trends in who exactly plays MMOs and more importantly what their behavior is like in game. For this week's Guild Counsel, we're going to take a closer look at MMO players and touch on the role that guild leaders might play in steering player behavior in-game.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Are guild leaders a health hazard?

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Are guild leaders a health hazard? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7-11-gamerBigpointdemographicsEQ2EQIIerik-bethkeEverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedguild-counselguild-leadersguild-leadershipguild-managementguildsmichael-zenkeplayer-stereotypesSOESony-Online-EntertainmentstudiessurveysurveysThu, 10 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC09: Applied RMT Design with GoPets and Live Gamer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/28/gdc09-applied-rmt-design-with-gopets-and-live-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/28/gdc09-applied-rmt-design-with-gopets-and-live-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/28/gdc09-applied-rmt-design-with-gopets-and-live-gamer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Massively sat in on a GDC 2009 session this week titled Applied RMT Design which was part of the Worlds in Motion Summit. Andrew Schneider, Founder and President of Live Gamer and Erik Bethke, CEO of GoPets, Ltd. presented a case study on balancing a game's primary and secondary markets, using GoPets as an example of how it can be done.

The market for virtual goods in massively multiplayer online games and virtual worlds is worth billions. Not all of this is grey market, and more games are now being designed with microtransactions in mind. Live Gamer aims to bring greater legitimacy to microtransactions through a regulated secondary market providing benefits to companies as well as the players themselves. Thus far they've worked with EverQuest II, Vanguard, and GoPets, with Acclaim's 9 Dragons on the way.

Bethke and Schneider kick off their talk by explaining the fact that RMT in MMOs is inevitable, explaining how developers can be proactive about incorporating RMT into their titles rather than having it exist outside of the game. Live Gamer works with developers to create a legitimate system for trading virtual items for real money, one that's safe and secure. Of course, legitimizing RMT can also stir up controversy.

Gallery: GDC09: RMT Design panel

Continue reading GDC09: Applied RMT Design with GoPets and Live Gamer

MassivelyGDC09: Applied RMT Design with GoPets and Live Gamer originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7-11andrew-schneiderbusiness-modelscase-studycasualeconomyerik-bethkeeventsfree-to-playgame-designgdcgdc-2009gopetslive-gamermicrotransactionsmmo-industryprimary-marketreal-money-tradingreal-money-transactionsrmtsecondary-marketvirtual-goodsvirtual-itemsworlds-in-motionworlds-in-motion-summitSat, 28 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AGDC08: On avatar rights and virtual property]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/agdc08-on-avatar-rights-and-virtual-property/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/agdc08-on-avatar-rights-and-virtual-property/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/agdc08-on-avatar-rights-and-virtual-property/#commentsFiled under: , ,


If you're anything like the average MMO gamer, you click through that 'shrinkwrap license' without even batting an eyelash. The End User License Agreement, or EULA, is just a speedbump in the logon process for game players. For game companies, though, they're extraordinarily important documents. They require legal consultation, careful thought, and even more careful wording. They do exactly what the name says, spelling out the rights a player has in an online world.

Noting that he really enjoys it when panel participants argue and disagree, Erik Bethke brought together a group of people to debate and discuss the issue of user rights. Along with Bethke, author Erin Hoffman, legal representative Greg Boyd, startup VP Scott Hartsman, and noted industry designer and analyst Raph Koster filled out the panel. Read on for notes from their fascinating discussion, which covered everything from government intervention in online worlds to the 'ownership' of virtual property.

Continue reading AGDC08: On avatar rights and virtual property

MassivelyAGDC08: On avatar rights and virtual property originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agdcagdc-2008avatar-rightserik-bethkeerin-hoffmanfeaturedgreg-boydplayer-rightsraph-kosterscott-hartsmanMon, 15 Sep 2008 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[ION 08: A five year forecast for MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/ion-08-a-five-year-forecast-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/ion-08-a-five-year-forecast-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/ion-08-a-five-year-forecast-for-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


There's always a lot of discussion about what's going to be the next big thing in the MMOs industry. We all love to talk about the future and that's largely because it's a very interesting topic. So we just had to attend the "Online Games in 2013" panel at ION 08. This panel was actually introduced by Peter Freese, the ION Conference Director. It was easily one of the most packed panels I've been to thus far which is saying a lot since all the panels have been pretty well populated already.

The panel consisted of Erik Bethke (GoPets Ltd), Scott Jennings (NCsoft), Bridiget Agabra (Metaverse Roadmap) and Damion Schubert (BioWare). With a group of people like this I was expecting some varied and compelling conversation on the topic of MMOs in 2013. In the end we got just that and a quite a bit more.

Gallery: ION 08: MMOs in 2013

Continue reading ION 08: A five year forecast for MMOs

MassivelyION 08: A five year forecast for MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 May 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardbiowareblizzardbridget-agabraccpcity-of-heroesclub-penguindamion-schuberterik-bethkefeaturedgopetshabbohollywoodindieionion-2008ion08ion2008joystiqfeaturesmetaplacemetaverse-roadmapmicrotransactionsncsoftpeter-freeseplaystation-3rightsscott-jenningsworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 15 May 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[ION 08: Virtual worlds for the masses]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/ion-08-virtual-worlds-for-the-masses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/ion-08-virtual-worlds-for-the-masses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/ion-08-virtual-worlds-for-the-masses/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


What's a virtual world? Why do we even call them virtual worlds when we could easily call them digital worlds, or just simply, worlds? This was just one of the many interesting topics discussed at ION 08 this year in a panel entitled, "Redefining Virtual Worlds for Mass Markert Consumption" which is quite the mouthful. So lets put things in a more understandable -- and far more interesting -- perspective.

Whether you're talking about Club Penguin, Gaia Online or Second Life the truth of the mater is that these "worlds" are here to stay and they all share similarities -- social interaction. Not only are they here to stay, but they've only just begun to grow as a market. Which is why this panel was all the more interesting. The panel includes Erik Bethke (GoPets Ltd), John K. Bates (Mindark/Entropia Universe), Craig Sherman (Gaia Online), Rob Lanphier (Linden Lab/Second Life) and was moderated by David Elchoness (Association of Virtual Worlds).

Gallery: ION 08: Game Conference gallery

Continue reading ION 08: Virtual worlds for the masses

MassivelyION 08: Virtual worlds for the masses originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardassociation-of-virtual-worldsblizzardclub-penguincraig-shermandavid-elchonessentropia-universeerik-bethkefeaturedgaia-interactivegaia-onlinegopetsionion-2008ion08john-k-batesjoystiqfeatureslinden-labmindarkrob-lanphierrob-lindensecond-lifeworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 14 May 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08: Why are goal structures important to MMOs and VWs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/gdc08-why-are-goal-structures-important-to-mmos-and-vws/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/gdc08-why-are-goal-structures-important-to-mmos-and-vws/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/gdc08-why-are-goal-structures-important-to-mmos-and-vws/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


The following is a quite excellent session from the Worlds in Motion GDC track given by Erik Bethke, CEO of GoPets. The takeaway message is about what virtual worlds can learn from MMOs in terms of providing intelligent goal structures.

Erik: How do we apply MMO goal structures to virtual worlds (and to almost everything)? Virtual worlders tend to hate games like WoW because they're not "erudite" enough but look at this screenshot (shows slide of a UI from a raid) and look at how complicated the user interface is. With 10 million people playing, is it hardcore or is it casual? I get really frustrated with arguments about UI: the raid screenshot proves that even this level of complexity can break through to a larger audience.

Shows slide of quest-giver goblin in WoW: "virtual worlds are missing the little guys with exclamation points above their heads." Looking at other examples of goal structures: look at how successful Puzzle Quest got by combining Bejeweled with RPG elements. Look at Chore Wars -- suddenly I get excited about walking the dog (laughter). Even something like the LinkedIn registration process -- I logged in one day and saw that my "progress bar" was only at 40% and how can I live with that?! I had to level up in LinkedIn. I found out I needed to get testimonials from my contacts to get higher -- it was a group quest! I got pissed that I couldn't solo LinkedIn (lots of laughter).

Continue reading GDC08: Why are goal structures important to MMOs and VWs?

MassivelyGDC08: Why are goal structures important to MMOs and VWs? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualchore-warserik-bethkefeaturedgdc08gdc08fanboygoal-structuresgoalsgopetshardcorejoystiqfeatureslinkedinpuzzle-questuiTue, 19 Feb 2008 17:25:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08: What if your mana bar was green?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/gdc08-what-if-your-mana-bar-was-green/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/gdc08-what-if-your-mana-bar-was-green/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/gdc08-what-if-your-mana-bar-was-green/#commentsFiled under: , ,


At a morning GDC session, GoPets' Erik Bethke gave a standing-room-only-crowd some sage advice:

People who use green for mana bars instead of blue for mana bars... that's just hubris.

Of course what he means by this is that developers who defy basic gaming trends are setting themselves up for failure. To continue the mana bar metaphor, players have become accustomed to blue mana bars and green health bars from a long history of games. Mixing up this very basic element will only make a game less accessible. On the flip side of this, however, is innovation. If no one breaks the traditional molds, we may never see better games. But at the same time it's hard to argue with Bethke's example: why change a game element that players are accustomed to? It could make the difference between a game that's intuitive and quickly picked up by new players and a game that loses players before the tutorial's finished.

Gallery: GDC 08: Worlds in Motion summit

MassivelyGDC08: What if your mana bar was green? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethkeErik-Bethkegdcgdc08gdc08fanboygopetshealth-barinnovationmana-barMon, 18 Feb 2008 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08: Exercise - the MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/gdc08-exercise-the-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/gdc08-exercise-the-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/gdc08-exercise-the-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Early this afternoon during Erik Bethke's discussion of the cross-over between Virtual Worlds and Massively multiplayer games, he hit on a fantastic idea that I'd love to see explored. What if you could incentivize people to do things that were good for them by giving them goal structures? Players provide goals for themselves all the time in ostensibly 'goal-less' virtual worlds, from Second Life to Club Penguin.

In an aside, Bethke noted that assigning goal structures - reasons to play - is actually a fairly easy part of game design. Though it takes some effort to make those goals fun and interesting, working them up in the first place is a fairly trivial piece of work.

So what if you could make eating right and exercising fun by leveling up and earning loot?

Gallery: GDC 08: Worlds in Motion summit

Continue reading GDC08: Exercise - the MMO?

MassivelyGDC08: Exercise - the MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>erik-bethkeexercisefeaturedgdc08gdc08fanboyvirtual-worldsworlds-in-motionMon, 18 Feb 2008 19:30:00 EST