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[Hyperspace Beacon: The Gray Jedi]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/21/hyperspace-beacon-the-gray-jedi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/21/hyperspace-beacon-the-gray-jedi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/21/hyperspace-beacon-the-gray-jedi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

"For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times. Before the Empire." Ben Kenobi explained this to a young Luke Skywalker when he gave the boy Anakin's lightsaber. Although this statement introduced us to the Jedi, it gave us only a brief glimpse into what it means to be one. In subsequent movies and books, the Jedi Knights were fleshed out to be anything from Buddhist Monks, Taoists, and Knights Templar. Maybe they are really a combination of all of them. George Lucas has never specifically mentioned where his inspiration for these warriors of a more civilized age came from, but one thing has been consistent: Jedi are the heroes -- or at least they are supposed to be.

In a brief conversation at PAX, Daniel Erickson, Lead Writer for Star Wars; The Old Republic, told me that BioWare is exploring a more "gray side" to its storytelling. Those who have played Knights of the Old Republic or either Mass Effect game know that this is new ground for BioWare. If your character walked the line between paragon and renegade in the Mass Effect games, your choice made it quite difficult to get a good ending. I believe Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw, a reviewer for the Escapist, explained it most succinctly in his review of Mass Effect 2: "When you're choosing to free a race of slaves or force them to dance about while you take pictures of them, you're not thinking 'What would I do in this situation?' You're thinking, 'Which option gives me the best $%^&head points because I need them to persuade Crewman A to take her top off?'" Will SWTOR change this perception of BioWare moralism?

Continue reading after the break as we explore this anti-heroic stance and the controversy regarding the Gray Jedi.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: The Gray Jedi

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: The Gray Jedi originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ben-Yahtzee-CroshawBioWaredaniel-ericksonDark-sideDywaeaElectronicArtsescapistfeaturedGray-JediGrey-JediIon-SilentalJensaariJolee-BindoLeor-Hallight-sidelucasartsMysticsNikkos-TyrisPotentiumqui-gon-jinnStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-lore-guidethe-old-republictorunifying-forceVosswitches-of-dathomirTue, 21 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GameX coverage begins tomorrow!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/22/gamex-coverage-begins-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/22/gamex-coverage-begins-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/22/gamex-coverage-begins-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

GameX, the Northeastern video game industry summit and expo, is starting tomorrow! As we said earlier this week, we'll be there, getting face time with guests, visiting Mythic Entertainment and Hi-Rez Studios, and getting you information on some of your favorite titles.

In addition to our coverage here on the site, we'll be updating our Twitter account with things we see at the expo and pictures! Now instead of running to us every five minutes for your Massively fix, you can get updates, pictures, and more from us in the form of tweets! If you're not currently following @massively, or if you're not on Twitter, now is the time to both sign up and add us to your follow list!

MassivelyGameX coverage begins tomorrow! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsescapistescapist-magazinegame-expogamexgamex-2009global-agendahi-rezhi-rez-studiosmythicmythic-entertainmentphiladelphiasocial-mediasocial-networkingthe-guildtwitterwarwarhammer-onlineyahtzee-croshawThu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Escapist: A folk hero for the online age]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/the-escapist-a-folk-hero-for-the-online-age/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/the-escapist-a-folk-hero-for-the-online-age/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/the-escapist-a-folk-hero-for-the-online-age/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Tom Endo over at The Escapist has written an interesting editorial in which he suggests the idea that we all need a villain as a vessel for people's frustration with authority such as Bonnie and Clyde or Robin Hood. In the case of MMOs, that anti-hero is the Griefer, who will push the game mechanics to and past their breaking point or intended use in order get ahead.

Second Life has had more than its fair share of griefers over the years, and it's true that in games such as Eve Online, the actions of the players have had a massive impact on the game. Some might say that with some games they have had more than the developer itself. Such is the case with the various self-styled bad-boy corporations and alliances throughout the years in that game, or the actions leading up to the Felluca/Trammel split in Ultima Online. But Endo puts forward the idea that players need these griefers and the stories that they create, despite the true nature of their actual actions.

Head on over to The Escapist to read the full article and see if you agree with his ideas.

MassivelyThe Escapist: A folk hero for the online age originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>escapisteve-onlinegriefergriefersgriefingtom-endoultima-onlineFri, 08 May 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zero Punctuation braves interstellar spreadsheets in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/zero-punctuation-braves-interstellar-spreadsheets-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/zero-punctuation-braves-interstellar-spreadsheets-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/zero-punctuation-braves-interstellar-spreadsheets-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Zero Punctuation's Yahtzee has reached geek culture superstardom by sacrificing sacred cows. By profanely slamming popular franchises such as Halo and Super Smash Bros., he's brought down the wrath -- and the web traffic -- of virtually the entire gaming community. There's a running joke through many of his animated reviews, though: he hates MMORPGs.

Both Tabula Rasa and Age of Conan got the full treatment, and Yahtzee has even criticized some single-player games (such as The Witcher) just for sharing gameplay elements with MMORPGs. His fans apparently thought he was being a bit too harsh. "Not all MMORPGs are the same," they presumably said. "Try EVE Online. It's different!"

And so he did. It turns out that "different" might be in the eye of the beholder. Or just as likely, MMORPGs can never be different enough for Yahtzee! The humorous (and as usual, NSFW) video review is embedded above, courtesy of The Escapist.

MassivelyZero Punctuation braves interstellar spreadsheets in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananimationben-croshawescapistescapist-magazineeveeve-onlinehalo-3humorreviewsuper-smash-brostabula-rasathe-escapistvideoyahtzeeyahtzee-croshawzero-punctuationThu, 04 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST