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[Red 5 Studios CEO denounces consoles and publishers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/red-5-studios-ceo-denounces-consoles-and-publishers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/red-5-studios-ceo-denounces-consoles-and-publishers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/red-5-studios-ceo-denounces-consoles-and-publishers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Firefall
"Who needs publishers any more? I certainly don't. I couldn't care less about them at this stage," said Red 5 Studios CEO Mark Kern. In a candid interview with Eurogamer, Kern ripped into both consoles and publisher-led models as relics on their way out the door.

Kern said that the pressure that publishers put on studios are death to the industry, resulting in either "an indie game or... a massive AAA, IP-backed sequel with derivative gameplay." He thinks that there's no middle ground, and it disturbs him how many studios fire staff right after a game launches.

Instead, the man behind Firefall believes that the free-to-play model puts the power back in the hands of the developers who then can concentrate on making games without having to kowtow to the publishers and distributors. "Look at Riot Games and League of Legends. They have more users than World of Warcraft does. That's crazy. And they don't have a publisher," Kern said.

Citing the expense and sluggish reaction of console development, Kern also predicts that mobile and PC gaming are on their way to take over the field. "Something has to change," he concludes. "Consoles, I believe, are dead."

MassivelyRed 5 Studios CEO denounces consoles and publishers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbusiness-modelconsoleconsoles-are-deaddistributordistributorsdotae-sportesporteurogamerf2pfantasyfirefallfirst-person-shooterfpsfree-to-playinterviewleagueleague-of-legendslolmark-kernmmo-shootermmofpsmobapublisherpublisherspvpred-5red-5-studiosriotriot-gamessci-fishooterwarwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 03 May 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[James Ohlen hits back against critics, defends SWTOR's innovation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/james-ohlen-hits-back-against-critics-defends-swtors-innovatio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/james-ohlen-hits-back-against-critics-defends-swtors-innovatio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/james-ohlen-hits-back-against-critics-defends-swtors-innovatio/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SWTOR metacritic
Star Wars: The Old Republic Game Director James Ohlen isn't surprised that the game's received the flak it has from a segment of reviews and fans. In a candid interview with Eurogamer, Ohlen addresses both the issues of being a "big target" for critics and the claims that SWTOR's lacking innovation.

For the most part, players and critics have praised the game, Ohlen shares, and BioWare is seeing an "exceptionally high" desire among its playerbase for continued subscriptions. But was BioWare prepared for the backlash as well? Ohlen says it was: "We knew that there was going to be people who wanted us to fail. But that's just the nature of the game. If you're going to build a huge game and try to go out to a lot of people, you're going to have people who just react poorly."

He does push back hard against claims that SWTOR failed on the innovation front, stating, "We wanted to take the lessons that have been developed in that genre over years and years and years and basically refine them, much like other companies do with other genres. So, I don't know, it's just the way it is, but I don't see us as not being innovative. We're actually a lot more innovative within the MMO space than comparable games in other spaces like the first-person genre, the action genre -- games like that."

MassivelyJames Ohlen hits back against critics, defends SWTOR's innovation originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backlashbiowarecriticea-biowareeurogamerinnovationinnovativejames-ohlenmetacriticmetacritic-scorereviewreview-scoresstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorvideo-game-genresThu, 12 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott: 'Exceptionally unusual pressures' helped tank Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/richard-garriott-exceptionally-unusual-pressures-helped-tank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/richard-garriott-exceptionally-unusual-pressures-helped-tank/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/richard-garriott-exceptionally-unusual-pressures-helped-tank/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Tabula Rasa
What truly happened with the sad tale of Tabula Rasa, the scifi MMO that had the full backing of Richard Garriott and NCsoft -- and yet lasted only 15 months before being shuttered? For the full scoop, it's good to go right to the source: General British himself.

Garriott sat down with Eurogamer for a candid dissection of what went wrong with Tabula Rasa. Ultimately, he feels that he did not do enough to make the game the best it could've been. Initially, Garriott's team brought on several Asian developers to help shape the title to be appealing to the Eastern market.

The partnership didn't work out, and after two years the team basically started over. By then, Tabula Rasa was already struggling. "So Tabula Rasa started its two-year late restart under exceptionally unusual pressures and with understandable corporate discontent, which made it very difficult to finish," he said.

Garriott then acknowledges that the MMO's failure has caused players to be wary about his future projects: "Since Ultima Online was a fair time back and Tabula Rasa had its troubles, it makes perfect sense that people would go, 'I'm cautious as to what my expectations are.'"

MassivelyRichard Garriott: 'Exceptionally unusual pressures' helped tank Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiaeastern-marketeurogamerfailuregeneral-britishinterviewncsoftrichard-garriottshawns-babytabula-rasatrultima-onlineuoTue, 13 Dec 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Scott Hartsman: RIFT going F2P would be a 'large net negative' for the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/scott-hartsman-rift-going-f2p-would-be-a-large-net-negative-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/scott-hartsman-rift-going-f2p-would-be-a-large-net-negative-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/scott-hartsman-rift-going-f2p-would-be-a-large-net-negative-f/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

RIFT
With so many former subscription-only MMOs turning to free-to-play/hybrid business models these days, one might assume that Trion Worlds feels the pressure to do the same with RIFT -- but that is far from the case. Speaking with Eurogamer, Scott Hartsman confirmed that Trion has "absolutely no plans whatsoever" to transition RIFT to a F2P model. He cited strong business and a growing game as reasons why the company is happy where it's at.

Embracing F2P, in Hartsman's opinion, would end up hurting more than helping in this situation: "One of the assumptions people make is you can just take a game and throw a switch and change the model. For starters, you'd have to decide that that would be a good thing, and I do not think it would be -- that would be a fairly large net negative for RIFT and the RIFT community."

While Hartsman confirms that F2P attracts large amounts of users, he also says that it fundamentally changes how an MMO studio approaches the game itself. "Take a free-to-play game or a social game, where the business is all about -- the social games' word for it is, 'going whaling,'" he said. "The idea is you have a paying player subsidising the play of, potentially, dozens or hundreds of other users. And so you have to be willing to create a game that has the ability to make huge sums of money from relatively small numbers of people. Once you decide that you are going to enter the whaling business, it's a different mindset and a different set of goals you're designing for entirely."

MassivelyScott Hartsman: RIFT going F2P would be a 'large net negative' for the game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eurogamerf2pfree-to-playriftscott-hartsmansubscriptiontriontrion-worldswhalingWed, 16 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 wins Eurogamer's Game of the Show]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/guild-wars-2-wins-eurogamers-game-of-the-show/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/guild-wars-2-wins-eurogamers-game-of-the-show/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/guild-wars-2-wins-eurogamers-game-of-the-show/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars 2
Not many games can claim that they stood up to Batman and prevailed, but Guild Wars 2 fought off the Dark Knight and more to win the Editors' Game of the Show at this past weekend's Eurogamer Expo.

Competing against such high-profile titles like Battlefield 3 and Batman: Arkham City, Guild Wars 2 came out as the clear favorite of the editorial staff at Eurogamer. Guild Wars 2 was picked from a field of 10 nominees for its scope and ideas. Eurogamer's Tom Bramwell handed out the high praise: "It was almost impossible to choose between some of this year's nominees, but Guild Wars 2 eventually won us over with its incredible depth and intelligent new approach to MMO design."

Eurogamer Expo 2011 attracted over 34,500 attendees, who made up what the show runners claim is the largest audience for the convention yet.

[Source: Eurogamer Network press release]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 wins Eurogamer's Game of the Show originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetawardbest-in-showbest-of-the-showeurogamereurogamer-expoEurogamer-Expo-2011games-industry.bizguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftTom-BramwellMon, 26 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[End of Nations not launching in 2011, aiming for 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/25/end-of-nations-not-launching-in-2011-aiming-for-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/25/end-of-nations-not-launching-in-2011-aiming-for-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/25/end-of-nations-not-launching-in-2011-aiming-for-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

End of Nations
If the end of the world happens in 2012, then End of Nations might be the cause. Or effect. Or just an innocent bystander. In any case, Trion Worlds' MMORTS has moved its projected release window from late 2011 to sometime next year.

The news came at this past weekend's Eurogamer Expo 2011, where Trion demoed the game live to an excited crowd. The studio also showed off some of the in-game store options that players have to pick from, including unit colors and skins. End of Nations will be free-to-play with these optional microtransactions, but Trion promises that there will be no way for players to "pay to win."

Trion was mum when asked about End of Nations' beta at the expo. The studio announced last month that the title would be going free-to-play from the get-go, a move that it hopes will draw in prospective armchair generals by the droves.

MassivelyEnd of Nations not launching in 2011, aiming for 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaend-of-nationseurogamereurogamer-expoeurogamer-expo-2011f2pfree-to-playlaunchmicrotransactionsreleaserelease-daterelease-windowtriontrion-worldsSun, 25 Sep 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOs may be on the horizon for OnLive]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/mmos-may-be-on-the-horizon-for-onlive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/mmos-may-be-on-the-horizon-for-onlive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/mmos-may-be-on-the-horizon-for-onlive/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Onlive title image
The OnLive gaming platform officially launched in the US last year, bringing a new on-demand gaming service to homes with broadband internet connections. OnLive hosts and renders games on a computing cloud and delivers the resulting video feed over the internet. The potentially revolutionary system lets people play high-end games on low-end computers, but has a minimum bandwidth requirement of 2Mbit.

OnLive celebrated its UK release this week during Eurogamer Expo in London, and we were on the floor to ask the OnLive staff some questions about the service. Representatives were able to confirm that there are plans to bring MMOs to the OnLive service in the future but no solid deals had been made. The only thing keeping MMOs out of the game catalogue is the fact that no deals have been signed with MMO publishers.

OnLive representatives stated that it would be unlikely to see Activision-Blizzard's games like World of Warcraft on OnLive, but that Star Wars: The Old Republic and other MMOs could eventually be licensed to both the PC client and the home console. Talks are already underway with Electronic Arts, which released its first game on the system this week to coincide with the UK launch. When asked about latency issues, staff explained that the service already supports a large number of multiplayer titles with similar connectivity requirements to MMOs and latency is not a problem in those games.

MassivelyMMOs may be on the horizon for OnLive originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eurogamereurogamer-expoEurogamer-Expo-2011newsonliveonlive-ukstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorukunited-kingdomFri, 23 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO subscription dollars in decline for the first time since 2002]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/mmo-subscription-dollars-in-decline-for-the-first-time-since-200/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/mmo-subscription-dollars-in-decline-for-the-first-time-since-200/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/mmo-subscription-dollars-in-decline-for-the-first-time-since-200/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Money and lots of it
With all of the free-to-play MMOs coming onto the market and the F2P conversion of formerly subscription-only titles, it should come as no surprise that the subscription model is losing its grip on the industry. Eurogamer reports that starting in 2010, the money brought in from MMO subscriptions has actually gone into decline for the first time ever since analysts began tracking it in 2002.

2010's subscription revenue added up to $1.58 billion, a respectable amount but still 5% less than 2009. 2009 saw a 10% bump in subscriptions, and 2008 witnessed 21.6% growth. Connect the dots, and subscription revenue has most likely peaked and begun a downhill slide. Analysts predict that by 2015, revenue from subs will be as low as $1.33 billion. However, with the popularity of RIFT this year and the coming storm of Star Wars: The Old Republic, the subscription model may see a resurgence.

On the flip side, microtransactions from F2P models are rising exponentially, jumping 24% from 2009 to 2010 to account for $1.13 billion. With the two models combined, the industry saw a very modest 5% increase last year in revenue.

Screen Digest analyst Piers Harding-Rolls sees the writing on the wall: "The focus of many PC game operators has clearly shifted to micro-transaction‐based models -- in part due to competition in the subscription market especially in the high‐end MMOG segment, but also because of the flexibility micro-transactions offer operators in monetising gamers."

MassivelyMMO subscription dollars in decline for the first time since 2002 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2002200820092010analysisanalysteconomyeurogamerf2pfree-to-playmicrotransactionsPiers-Harding-Rollsprofitrevenueriftscreen-digeststar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubssubscriptionsubscriptionsswtorthe-old-republictorThu, 15 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare: The Old Republic will be 'one of the biggest launches ever in the history of gaming']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/bioware-the-old-republic-will-be-one-of-the-biggest-launches-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/bioware-the-old-republic-will-be-one-of-the-biggest-launches-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/bioware-the-old-republic-will-be-one-of-the-biggest-launches-e/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic
While Star Wars: The Old Republic looks to be on track for a holiday release, BioWare's Dr. Greg Zeschuk admits to being "daunted" by the size and scope of the project. "This game's launch is going to be one of the biggest launches ever in the history of gaming," he said.

When talking with Eurogamer, Zeschuk said that the studio is trying to make sure that everything is "solid" enough before it pulls the trigger and releases the game, but it is also trying to get the game out the doors as fast as it can. Currently, the game is being tested by thousands of players daily, a number that is expected to increase dramatically once September's expanded testing cycle hits. "It's literally live right now," he said.

Whether The Old Republic will stand or fall, it won't be for a lack of preparation on BioWare's behalf. Zeschuk paints a picture of the hectic work being done behind the scenes: "It's one thing to get the game done, another to ensure you can login thousands of people a minute. It's a different sort of requirement. The things you need to get done to ship this are very different from a standard game. A standard game, this is like five of them, right? Our job is really simple: making sure it's great when it comes out."

MassivelyBioWare: The Old Republic will be 'one of the biggest launches ever in the history of gaming' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-scenesbeta-testingdauntedeurogamerGreg-Zeschukinterviewlaunchreleasesolidstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortestingthe-old-republictorFri, 26 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dark Millennium Online to be playable at E3 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/dark-millennium-online-to-be-playable-at-e3-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/dark-millennium-online-to-be-playable-at-e3-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/dark-millennium-online-to-be-playable-at-e3-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

While last week's E3 is still fresh in our minds and hearts, THQ is giving us a great reason to look forward to next year's expo: the chance to get our hands on Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium Online.

Eurogamer reports that THQ is committing to this time frame. Danny Bilson says that WAR40K will be the highlight of the company's display: "Next year, I promise you, next E3. I've already got plans for what the booth is like. The centrepiece of the booth will be that MMO."

We caught only a glimpse of a teaser trailer for the game at this year's E3. Vigil Games is hard at work on the $50+ million project, and Bilson says that it's looking good and on track for a launch between April 2012 and March 2013.

"It looks fabulous. I like it. I can't speak to it now, or people will kill me. But, I'll tell you what, it plays differently. A little bit... This thing is gonna be special," he said. "We're going to come out when we come out in a big way. I feel like we're fully competitive with the other guys. It'll be seven years in the making when it comes out. We're competing with the best games in the world. You can't mess around with this thing."

MassivelyDark Millennium Online to be playable at E3 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Danny-Bilsondark-millennium-onlinedmoe3e3-2011e3-2012eurogamerteaserthqtrailervigil-gameswar40kwarhammerwarhammer-40000-dark-millennium-onlineWarhammer-40Kwarhammer-40k-dark-millennium-onlineThu, 16 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic lists 2011 event appearances]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/star-wars-the-old-republic-lists-2011-event-appearances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/star-wars-the-old-republic-lists-2011-event-appearances/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/star-wars-the-old-republic-lists-2011-event-appearances/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Are you ready for the Star Wars: The Old Republic Hyperdrive or Bust World Tour 2011? OK, that might not be an official thing (and seriously, wouldn't you love a t-shirt with that on it?), but BioWare has announced the community events that TOR will be attending this year.

So if you're willing to make the journey and eager to get some face-time with both the game and the developers, here's where you can make it happen:
You can read all of the details of The Old Republic's worldwide journey on the Star Wars: The Old Republic Community Events page.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic lists 2011 event appearances originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecommunity-eventsdreamhackdreamhack-2011e3e3-2011electonic-entertainment-expoeurogamereurogamer-expogamescomgamescom-2011new-york-comic-connew-york-comic-con-2011nyccparis-games-weekparis-games-week-2011paxpax-2011pax-primepax-prime-2011san-diego-comic-consan-diego-comic-con-2011sdccsdcc-2011star-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorFri, 20 May 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft: Guild Wars 2 beta coming later this year, will probably release in 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/guild-wars-2-beta-coming-later-this-year-will-probably-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/guild-wars-2-beta-coming-later-this-year-will-probably-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/guild-wars-2-beta-coming-later-this-year-will-probably-release/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Do you want the good news or the bad news? The good news is that Guild Wars 2 fans hoping to get their hands on this title this year may get their wish -- but the bad news is that it looks as though the release is still a while away.

According to Eurogamer, Guild Wars 2 will enter beta testing in the second half of this year. The news came out in a conference call with NCsoft's Jaeho Lee, who also indicated that the title wouldn't release until 2012:
"Starting from year 2012, we believe substantial growth will be driven by new blockbuster titles like [Blade & Soul] and Guild Wars 2. Also, Guild Wars 2 will go into beta testing stage in the second half of this year."
However, until we hear a definite release date, we'll take this with a pinch of salt, especially considering that ArenaNet's mantra is "When it's ready" -- and this isn't the first time Lee has said something similar. Hopefully, "ready" will come quickly.

MassivelyNCsoft: Guild Wars 2 beta coming later this year, will probably release in 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 May 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabeta-testbeta-testingblade-and-soulconference-calleurogamerguild-warsguild-wars-2gw2Jaeho-Leelaunchncsoftreleasewhen-its-readyWed, 18 May 2011 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Four more years, four more years!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/the-road-to-mordor-four-more-years-four-more-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/the-road-to-mordor-four-more-years-four-more-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/the-road-to-mordor-four-more-years-four-more-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

While four years is not a nice round number -- or even a halfway number like five -- it's a substantial milestone for any MMORPG. Debuting in early 2007, Lord of the Rings Online introduced something we'd never seen before: a fully realized 3-D virtual Middle-earth where we could not only enjoy a deep MMO but explore the lands and meet the people we'd only read about before.

It might not be a universal truth that all LotRO players are big Tolkien fans, but I'm sure enough that it's a sizable chunk of the playerbase. There's something special about the IP that gives a weight and richness to the game, especially when a long-time reader of the books is given leave to actually go on adventures through Eriador, Moria and Mirkwood. It's a giant sight-seeing tour of lore, a thrill with every brush one has with the source material.

It's heady to consider that four years ago we were but starting on this journey, feeling out the mechanics of combat, crafting and pie-running. Four years later, LotRO has emerged to be one of the most significant MMOs of the past decade, growing strong with no signs of slowing down.

Hit the jump as we reminisce about the ups, the downs, and the off-the-beaten-path hikes of our beloved game as it celebrates its fourth anniversary.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Four more years, four more years!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Four more years, four more years! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4th-anniversaryaaron-campbellacadam-merskyanniversaryasherons-callatlas-of-middle-earthblizzardddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineepic-storylineeriadoreurogamerf2pfeaturedfourth-anniversaryfree-to-playgame-chroniclesjeffrey-steefeljrr-tolkienlegendary-itemslord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrometacriticmiddle-earthmirkwoodmoriapvmpradianceseoulshadows-of-angmarskirmishessouth-koreatolkienturbineturbine-entertainmentwarner-broswbworld-of-warcraftwowwow-cloneFri, 22 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 designers discuss the last three Guild Wars 2 professions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/23/guild-wars-2-designers-discuss-the-last-three-guild-wars-2-profe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/23/guild-wars-2-designers-discuss-the-last-three-guild-wars-2-profe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/23/guild-wars-2-designers-discuss-the-last-three-guild-wars-2-profe/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Are the Mesmer and Assassin returning to Guild Wars 2 or not? Speculation on these two professions has been ongoing and enthusiastic among Guild Wars fans, and designers Eric Flannum and Jon Peters added a hefty dose of fuel to the fire in their interview with Eurogamer today.

The two didn't offer a definitive answer on these two classes but hinted that the Mesmer profession might not be returning exactly as we know it. Jon Peters commented that "people who enjoy that playstyle will be happy," but didn't offer further clarification. Eric Flannum did confirm that we have one more light armor class and two more medium armor classes -- what those are remain to be seen, hopefully very soon.

Check out the full interview at Eurogamer.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 designers discuss the last three Guild Wars 2 professions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetassassineric-flannumeurogamerguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2jon-petersmesmerncsoftWed, 23 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Eskil Steenberg talks LOVE, progression, and making indie MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/eskil-steenberg-talks-love-progression-and-making-indie-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/eskil-steenberg-talks-love-progression-and-making-indie-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/eskil-steenberg-talks-love-progression-and-making-indie-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Eskil Steenberg's LOVE has been flying well under the radar of late, even more so than is usual for an indie MMORPG. A little phenomenon called Minecraft happened over the past year since LOVE's launch, and while both games hail from Sweden, that's about where the similarities end. In fact, comparing LOVE to any other game is rather challenging (but also instructive), as evidenced by a new Eurogamer interview.

Steenberg is literally a one-man development show, and the piece covers a lot of fascinating ground including everything from how you measure the title against more traditional fare to how players react when confronted with LOVE's open-ended paradigm shift. Gamers will "play a game like mine... and they'll go back and play something scripted and say 'oh my God this is so archaic.' It's like if you play Dragon's Lair today. I'm not controlling it, it's all fake," Steenberg says.

The interview also touches on why Steenberg opted for a non-traditional approach to massive development, or put another way, why he didn't fall into lockstep behind World of Warcraft (and EverQuest before it) as the vast majority of the industry has done. "I'm trying to do something completely different," Steenberg says. "What they're doing is limiting what you do. You follow, you grind upwards. [Progression] is something you should do if you want to make money because you get that hook. But I was never interested in making my players addicts."

MassivelyEskil Steenberg talks LOVE, progression, and making indie MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictseqeskil-steenbergeurogamereverquestgrindinginterviewslovemmo-industryprogressionsandboxworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 16 Feb 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE's Smedley says MMO copycats incoming, drops hints on PlanetSide Next release]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/soes-smedley-says-mmo-copycats-incoming-drops-hints-on-planets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/soes-smedley-says-mmo-copycats-incoming-drops-hints-on-planets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/soes-smedley-says-mmo-copycats-incoming-drops-hints-on-planets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Big things are happening at SOE these days, and whether you're talking about the newly minted DC Universe Online or the company's PlanetSide followup and spy-centric The Agency, it's an exciting time to be a fan. Eurogamer brings us a bit of info regarding potential release windows for both PlanetSide Next and The Agency, and the former looks to be gracing our desktops much sooner than we expected given the general lack of information to date.

"We're looking at late first quarter, early second quarter [2011]," says SOE head honcho John Smedley in regard to the long-awaited PlanetSide sequel. Players will have to wait a bit longer to get their espionage fix, as The Agency is still slated to arrive "late this year."

Why so long? It boils down to SOE's desire to differentiate itself from the competition. "There's some stuff coming out in the next two or three months, MMO-wise, and a lot of it is generic copycats of other games," Smedley tells Eurogamer. He also talks a bit about the impending arrival of Free Realms on the Playstation 3, intimating that the free-to-play title will spread its console wings in early February.

MassivelySOE's Smedley says MMO copycats incoming, drops hints on PlanetSide Next release originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eurogamerf2pfree-realmsfree-to-playinterviewjohn-smedleyplanetsideplanetside-2planetside-nextrelease-datesrelease-windowssci-fishootersoeSony-Online-Entertainmentthe-agencyMon, 17 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE's Smedley talks platforms, sub fees, and DCUO post-release content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/soes-smedley-talks-platforms-sub-fees-and-dcuo-post-release-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/soes-smedley-talks-platforms-sub-fees-and-dcuo-post-release-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/soes-smedley-talks-platforms-sub-fees-and-dcuo-post-release-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

While thousands of DC Comics fans are rolling up spandex-clad superheroes (and villains) in SOE's newly launched DC Universe Online MMO, SOE itself is busy extolling the virtues of what some are calling the first real console massively multiplayer title. In an interview at Eurogamer, SOE boss John Smedley talks a bit about the challenges of building an MMO for two platforms simultaneously.

"This game is built from the ground up to be playable on both the PlayStation 3 and PC, so it really makes a big difference as opposed to just porting it," he said. Smedley goes on to answer a few questions related to the size of the post-release development team (between 50 and 75 people) as well as whether or not the much-hyped monthly content updates will carry a charge above and beyond the sub fee (they won't).

"The monthly subscription fee means players can expect a lot of new content from us. And I say a lot -- I really mean that. This is something that we feel obligated to the players, because they are paying monthly sub fee," Smedley explained. Check out the full text at Eurogamer and hit up the official DCUO website for more info on the game.

MassivelySOE's Smedley talks platforms, sub fees, and DCUO post-release content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmodcDC Comicsdc-comicsdc-universe-onlineDcComicsdcuoeurogamerinterviewjohn-smedleylaunchnew-titlesplaystation3ps3smedleysoeSony-Online-EntertainmentsuperheroFri, 14 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft will reign for another 20 years according to industry analysts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/world-of-warcraft-will-reign-for-another-20-years-according-to-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/world-of-warcraft-will-reign-for-another-20-years-according-to-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/world-of-warcraft-will-reign-for-another-20-years-according-to-i/#commentsFiled under: , ,

With all of the recent focus on World of Warcraft following its latest expansion, it's no surprise that the industry leader is at the center of another round of "What will topple WoW?" discussions.

In an article on Eurogamer, industry analysts and developers lend their thoughts as to what made World of Warcraft so dang popular to begin with, and what it will take -- if anything -- for another game to beat its popularity, subscription numbers and cultural footprint. Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter declared that nothing will top the title for at least 20 years due to an insurmountable lead, although this became debated by the other participants.

Cryptic's Jack Emmert thinks WoW will be "chipped away at" instead of toppled. Age of Conan's Craig Morrison thinks that nobody can consciously plan to overcome WoW's lead saying, "You don't topple a cultural phenomenon. But you can join one." GamersFirst's Bjorn Book-Larsson doesn't think there's a need for WoW to be toppled due to the size of the market.

Codemasters' Dave Solari imagines that the winning formula "would have mass market appeal, with instant accessibility, would work on all platforms, particularly mobile, be incredibly viral and social -- like a feature-rich FarmVille." Undead Labs' Jeff Strain thinks that MMO studios should be looking at it a different way: "They should instead be striving to achieve the same level of success with their own game ideas."

Some even speculate that Blizzard is the only studio capable of besting its own game, perhaps with its second MMO that's due to be announced in 2012. Head on over to Eurogamer for the full discussion.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft will reign for another 20 years according to industry analysts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocBjorn-Book-LarssonblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcataclysmcodemasterscraig-morrisoncrypticcryptic-studiosdave-solarieurogamerfarmvillegamers-firstjack-emmertjeff-strainMichael-Pachterundead-labsWedbush-MorganWorld-of-Warcraftworld-of-warcraft-cataclysmwowThu, 09 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA puts faith in The Old Republic's lifespan and profits]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/ea-puts-faith-in-the-old-republics-lifespan-and-profits/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/ea-puts-faith-in-the-old-republics-lifespan-and-profits/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/ea-puts-faith-in-the-old-republics-lifespan-and-profits/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With all the cries of doom and gloom against Star Wars: The Old Republic -- not to mention accusations of a wildly bloated production budget -- one may be led to believe that TOR will fail even before it sees the light of day. EA, on the other hand, is expressing a calm confidence in the game's potential longevity and financial success.

According to Eurogamer, EA's CFO Eric Brown predicts that TOR will not only last over a decade, but will be profitable even if there are fewer than a million subscribers: "Our assumptions for break-even and profitability are not seven-digit subscribers. We think we can run and operate a very successful and profitable MMO at different levels. The key thing here is to really perfect the product. We're shooting for an extremely high quality game experience. We view this as a 10-year opportunity."

Brown previously admitted that TOR is the single largest project in the history of EA, and industry analysts have predicted that the title would need at least a million subscribers to break even.

MassivelyEA puts faith in The Old Republic's lifespan and profits originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budgetcfoeaelectronic-artseric-browneurogamerprofitstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubscribersten-yearsthe-old-republictorWed, 08 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Square-Enix working hard to "regain trust" with players and investors]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/square-enix-working-hard-to-regain-trust-with-players-and-inve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/square-enix-working-hard-to-regain-trust-with-players-and-inve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/square-enix-working-hard-to-regain-trust-with-players-and-inve/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's been a rocky couple months for Final Fantasy XIV. Due to extensive feedback from the playerbase and mixed reviews, Square-Enix extended the free trial period for new players to a full two months -- a rarity in the industry -- as the company worked to shore up FFXIV's weaker points.

Due to all this, Square-Enix has been watched closely by investors and players regarding the future course of the game. President Yoichi Wada recently stated during a money report that the company is doing all it can to improve the situation: "We're quickly working on reforms... We'd like to put our full power into regaining trust."

Eurogamer reports that FFXIV has sold 630,000 units worldwide as of September 30th, including 230K in Europe and 210K in North America. According to IGN, FFXIV was the third-best selling title from the company in the past six-month period. Square-Enix points to a couple bright spots in the near future -- a partnership with China's Shanda Games and the upcoming spring 2011 release of Final Fantasy XIV on the PS3 -- that should help boost sales.

MassivelySquare-Enix working hard to "regain trust" with players and investors originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinaeurogamerff14ffxivfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivignps3salesshanda-gamessquare-enixtrial-periodyoichi-wadaFri, 05 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jack Emmert: Star Trek Online may go F2P yet -- if you play Champions, that is]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/jack-emmert-star-trek-online-may-go-f2p-yet-if-you-play-cham/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/jack-emmert-star-trek-online-may-go-f2p-yet-if-you-play-cham/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/jack-emmert-star-trek-online-may-go-f2p-yet-if-you-play-cham/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Talk about whiplash! Ever since last week's announcement of Champions Online's move to a hybrid free-to-play model, all eyes have turned to Cryptic's other MMO, Star Trek Online, as a possible candidate for this treatment. While STO's Dan Stahl said that Champions' move had "no direct impact" on Star Trek's business model, the outspoken Jack Emmert seems more open to the possibility.

In an interview with Eurogamer earlier today, Emmert addressed the issue head-on and allowed for a future where F2P STO happened. For now, the company is going to wait and see how Champions fares before making any decisions about STO's future: "We're not sold one way or the other with Star Trek yet. If people want Star Trek to go free-to-play then get in and play Champions and help make it a great success, because that would send a strong message. If we did Turbine's level of success that would certainly merit the discussion!"

However, Jack Emmert says the decision isn't his alone and refused to commit one way or the other. He does hint at a fourth project that Cryptic is working on, one which is not fantasy-based and is "close to my heart."

For speculation on what a free-to-play Star Trek Online might look like, make sure you read Ryan's column on the subject.

MassivelyJack Emmert: Star Trek Online may go F2P yet -- if you play Champions, that is originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosdan-stahleurogamerf2pfree-to-playjack-emmertpicard-plays-wowstar-trekstar-trek-onlinestoThu, 04 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jack Emmert says subscription MMOs have to prepare to beat WoW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/jack-emmert-says-subscription-mmos-have-to-prepare-to-beat-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/jack-emmert-says-subscription-mmos-have-to-prepare-to-beat-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/jack-emmert-says-subscription-mmos-have-to-prepare-to-beat-wow/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Jack Emmert, the designer behind MMOs such as City of Heroes and Champions Online, spoke to Eurogamer recently about the trend of free-to-play MMOs vs. subscription MMOs -- a timely discussion with Champions due to go free-to-play sometime next year. Jack said in the interview that games like World of Warcraft and Star Wars: The Old Republic are going to be the games that will lead the subscription market, and that all other games, especially those with a budget of $50 million or less, should consider a F2P business model. He says in the article, "I don't believe that subscriptions are dead because there are 10 million or so people subscribing to WoW that beg to differ. What I think is there are simply not as many people willing to pay another subscription in addition to WoW, in addition to their Xbox Gold membership."

As the MMO market expands and more gaming consoles offer online pay-to-play subscriptions, the choices for consumers expand as the money in their wallets shrinks. Jack comments about you, about the gaming connoisseur, and about F2P: "[Y]ou're just sampling it, giving it a shot, seeing if it works. If it doesn't, no harm no foul - you don't play." Given Cryptic's corporate decisions regarding F2P, the success of the Turbine's F2P games, and the rising quality of F2P games overall, he may be on to something. Catch the whole interview on Eurogamer.

MassivelyJack Emmert says subscription MMOs have to prepare to beat WoW originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studioseurogamerf2pfree-to-playjack-emmertWorld-of-WarcraftwowTue, 02 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ben Bateman details the fall of Realtime Worlds and APB]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/ben-bateman-details-the-fall-of-realtime-worlds-and-apb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/ben-bateman-details-the-fall-of-realtime-worlds-and-apb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/ben-bateman-details-the-fall-of-realtime-worlds-and-apb/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Interested in an insider's view of the fall of All Points Bulletin and its development studio Realtime Worlds? Eurogamer takes a look at the last days of the now-defunct MMOFPS in a lengthy article that focuses on former community manager Ben Bateman.

If you're looking for an in-depth exposé of why the game failed and who is responsible, you won't find that here, as the piece is heavy on the human interest angle and light on actual details beyond the plush (by game industry standards) working conditions. Still, it's worth a read, both for Bateman's perspective and his relentless positivity in the face of a uniformly bad situation.

"They essentially said, 'here are the 50 people that we want to keep on. Please go to room X.' It was tough," says Bateman, recalling the Begbies Traynor administration meeting that sealed the company's fate.

MassivelyBen Bateman details the fall of Realtime Worlds and APB originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-gameapbben-batemaneurogamerRealtime-WorldsRealTimeWorldsshutdownTue, 02 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[So a Warlord, a Stormcaller and a Justicar walked into a Rift...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/so-a-warlord-a-stormcaller-and-a-justicar-walked-into-a-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/so-a-warlord-a-stormcaller-and-a-justicar-walked-into-a-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/22/so-a-warlord-a-stormcaller-and-a-justicar-walked-into-a-rift/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

OK, so the title above isn't so much a setup for a hilarious joke as a ham-handed introduction to three recently revealed souls -- specialty subclasses -- from Rift: Planes of Telara. MMORPG.com unveiled these never-before-seen souls over the past week.

The Warlord is a melee soul that focuses more on controlling the tide of battle by buffing allies and debuffing the enemy, but can get in over her head quickly if separated from the pack. If you've always been partial to battle clerics, then the Justicar is right up your alley -- he is a powerful front-line fighter who builds up healing power through fighting, which can then be used to restore others. Finally, the Stormcaller is a mage specialty who uses a potent mix of air and water magic to call down the thunder on her foes.

Continuing with Trion Worlds' worldwide promotional tour for Rift, Eurogamer wrote up a spiffy hands-on piece while Germany's Gameswelt.TV interviewed design producer Hal Hanlin. You can watch the latter after the jump!

Continue reading So a Warlord, a Stormcaller and a Justicar walked into a Rift...

MassivelySo a Warlord, a Stormcaller and a Justicar walked into a Rift... originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>and-the-rift-says-watch-where-youre-going-palclasseseurogamergameswelt.tvhal-hanlininterviewjusticarmmorpg.comriftrift-planes-of-telarasoulsstormcallertriontrion-worldsvideowarlordFri, 22 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Trion's Hal Hanlin: Rift will be "sitting very comfortably in 2012 and beyond"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/trions-hal-hanlin-rift-will-be-sitting-very-comfortably-in-20/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/trions-hal-hanlin-rift-will-be-sitting-very-comfortably-in-20/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/trions-hal-hanlin-rift-will-be-sitting-very-comfortably-in-20/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In a recent interview, Trion Worlds' Hal Hanlin told Eurogamer that Rift: Planes of Telara has three major factors in its favor: world-class talent, world-class technology and world-class money. Because of these factors, the team is gearing up to eat at the big boy's table come Rift's 2011 launch.

Hanlin, Rift's design producer, considers his job to fashion an immersive, exciting and engaging playscape: "I obsess over the details of design and making sure that everyone has what they need to make a game you want to bring your 20 closest friends to play."

The interview covers many of the features which Hanlin considers to be Rift's selling points, such as the dynamic invasions. Currently, the title is boasting over 100 events, but the team still has the option to include additional ones. However, quantity for the sake of quantity is not worth it. "More is not better," Hanlin said. "Better is better." As a result, one of the chief mandates of the company is to create "multiple paths" for players to choose from a variety of activities instead of a linear leveling path.

How does Hanlin see the game doing post-release? "Our longevity is going to be better than a lot of MMOs introduced to the market, because there's always something to see that's changed... I think we're going to be sitting very comfortably in 2012 and beyond."

MassivelyTrion's Hal Hanlin: Rift will be "sitting very comfortably in 2012 and beyond" originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dynamic-eventseurogamereventshal-hanlininterviewinvasionsriftrift-planes-of-telaratriontrion-worldsWed, 20 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO to go: Panasonic designing a handheld online gaming machine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/05/mmo-to-go-panasonic-designing-a-handheld-online-gaming-machine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/05/mmo-to-go-panasonic-designing-a-handheld-online-gaming-machine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/05/mmo-to-go-panasonic-designing-a-handheld-online-gaming-machine/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While game studios are slowly forging a path to bringing MMOs to established handheld devices like the iPhone, Panasonic is looking to flip that paradigm on its head. Eurogamer reports that the company has been developing a handheld device specifically for MMOs and is poised for a major reveal.

Called "The Jungle," this clamshell unit boasts a high-resolution screen, keyboard, touchpad, directional pad and several input ports. It is rumored to run the Linux OS and could work with MMO titles such as Battlestar Galactica Online and RuneScape, according to the company.

The Jungle's website is scarce on content at the moment, but on its Manifesto page the developers state: "Our mission: Create an ecosystem around online gaming. At the core is a new mobile device concept designed specifically for online gamers. We're also working with leading online game developers to create some exciting new content."

Whether there is a significant demand for such a product is up in the air, but this is intriguing enough to follow for the time being.

MassivelyMMO to go: Panasonic designing a handheld online gaming machine originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galactica-onlinebsgoeurogamerhandheldhandheld-deviceshandheld-mmoiphonejunglelinuxmanifestopanasonicrunescapethe-junglewelcome-to-the-jungleTue, 05 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Realtime Worlds lays off staff, puts APB up for sale [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/rumor-realtime-worlds-lays-off-staff-puts-apb-up-for-sale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/rumor-realtime-worlds-lays-off-staff-puts-apb-up-for-sale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/rumor-realtime-worlds-lays-off-staff-puts-apb-up-for-sale/#commentsFiled under: , ,

One of the most recent MMOs to hit the market is already in deep trouble, according to multiple reports popping up over the internet. According to unconfirmed rumors, Realtime Worlds has fired the entirety of its MyWorld team, made drastic cuts and layoffs elsewhere, and might be putting APB up for sale. Announced last month, MyWorld was to be a social gaming experience scheduled for a 2011 launch.

If these rumors are true, then Realtime Worlds is mired in financial trouble and is scrambling to keep from going under. A VG247 source reported, "As of 11:30 GMT Realtime Worlds have put a large proportion on their workforce on gardening leave ranging from 4-8 weeks. APB's staff will be reduced to admin and a skeleton staff of devs and artists to keep it running and do general updates, but this looks like the end of RTW."

A developer on the APB European forums briefly addressed the situation by saying, "As we''ve announced we had to restructure the company to make it so that we can focus totally on APB. APB is still going strong and we fully intend to support 100%."

We do know that Realtime Worlds fired several employees last month in an effort to restructure the company. Massively has contacted Realtime Worlds for comment, and we will update you as soon as we hear anything.

[Update: Realtime Worlds has issued a statement confirming that some MyWorld employees, though not all, have been made "redundant," but that APB itself remains intact. "APB continues to be our primary development focus, and we remain fully committed to the game and its players." According to 1UP, Colin Macdonald emphasized that Realtime Worlds has "got the whole team working on making APB as good as it can be. It's a shame things haven't turned out the way we had envisaged them, but then the beauty of online gaming is that we can address problems and keep on improving experiences. We're completely behind APB, it's got huge potential, and we'll continue to make new content for it." Stay tuned for more updates!]

MassivelyRumor: Realtime Worlds lays off staff, puts APB up for sale [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbcutseurogamerfinanceslayoffsmyworldrealtime-worldsrestructuringrumorsalevg247Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jagex pregnant with its third MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/29/jagex-pregnant-with-its-third-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/29/jagex-pregnant-with-its-third-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/29/jagex-pregnant-with-its-third-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Look who's expecting: Jagex, the maker of RuneScape, not only has one bun in the oven (Stellar Dawn) but another MMO cooking as well. In an interview with Eurogamer, Jagex CEO Mark Gerhard announced that the company is working on a new fantasy title.

"A lot of what we've done to push the boundary for Stellar Dawn will benefit RuneScape and another MMO we're working on," Gerhard said. "We've got the advantage in that we share the same MMO tech platform. From there it's really down to the studios to decide how its [sic] used."

While he was reluctant to share the name of the baby, er, new game, Gerhard said that it was not a sequel to RuneScape. This follows their recent announcement of Stellar Dawn, the company's "biggest MMO to date." You can read the full article at Eurogamer.

MassivelyJagex pregnant with its third MMO originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingceoeurogamerhes-having-a-babyjagexmark-gerhardnew-mmonew-titlerunescapestellar-dawnThu, 29 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare Mythic says "Never!" to Real ID]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/bioware-mythic-says-never-to-real-id/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/bioware-mythic-says-never-to-real-id/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/bioware-mythic-says-never-to-real-id/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Worried that Blizzard's Real ID system may be coming to an MMO near you? BioWare Mythic has a few words of reassurance on that point: "No. Never. Never. No." This was the response by Warhammer Online's Carrie Gouskos to Eurogamer when asked if BioWare Mythic was mulling over a Real ID-type feature for its games.

BioWare Mythic's general manager Eugene Evans supported that sentiment and expanded on it: "We wouldn't do it. I'm surprised they did it, and for a group that is so close to their community, it was amazing that they misread it that poorly. I'm pleased to see them reacting to the community. We should all learn to listen to our communities. Their community made it very clear what the right answer is."

This follows the controversial decision -- later retracted by Blizzard -- to force World of Warcraft forum posters to use their real names in an attempt to cut down on trolling and forum spam. Since the controversy, other MMO studios have come out strongly against Real ID, so it's good to see that this includes the folks behind Warhammer Online, Dark Age of Camelot and Star Wars: The Old Republic.

MassivelyBioWare Mythic says "Never!" to Real ID originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythicblizzardbreakingcarrie-gouskoseaea-bioware-mythiceugene-evanseurogamermythicreal-idwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 26 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bobby Kotick muses about a Call of Duty MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/bobby-kotick-muses-about-a-call-of-duty-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/bobby-kotick-muses-about-a-call-of-duty-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/bobby-kotick-muses-about-a-call-of-duty-mmo/#commentsFiled under: ,

Activision Blizzard owns one of the most profitable gaming franchises in the world with Call of Duty, and Bobby Kotick knows it. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Kotick was open about his ambitions with the series, saying that he wishes that they would create an online subscriber version. It's not a new sentiment from Kotick, as he's been saying as such for years, although it certainly is pretty straight-forward.

Kotick threw a few logs onto the fire of speculation: "I would have Call of Duty be an online subscription service tomorrow. I think our audiences are clamouring for it. If you look at what they're playing on Xbox Live today, we've had 1.7 billion hours of multiplayer play on Live. I think we could do a lot more to really satisfy the interests of the customers. I think we could create so many things, and make the game even more fun to play."

No stranger to controversial statements, it's hard to tell if Activision Blizzard's CEO was just shooting the breeze or hinting at an upcoming title from the publisher. In any case, a Call of Duty MMO would be major news indeed if it happened, so we'll be sure to keep our eyes on Activision -- and our ears on Kotick for any possible confirmation.

[Via Eurogamer]

MassivelyBobby Kotick muses about a Call of Duty MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzard-activisionbobby-kotickcall-of-dutycall-of-duty-mmoeurogamerwall-street-journalTue, 22 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Prognosticating the future of MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/prognosticating-the-future-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/prognosticating-the-future-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/prognosticating-the-future-of-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Barring Ouija boards, magical leprechauns and time-traveling DeLoreans, it's pretty much impossible to predict the future -- but that doesn't stop people from trying, no sir. In a recent "The State of the MMO in 2010" over at Eurogamer, Jim Rossignol chats with Paul Barnett (EA Mythic), Colin Dwan (Fallen Earth) and Torfi Frans Olafsson (EVE Online) in an attempt to pin down where MMOs stand as of now, and where they're likely to go.

The article begins by stating that the defining line surrounding what is and is not a MMO has become blurred, and will only become more so in the future. Whether we like it or not, different payment models, server types and even genres (such as sports MMOs) have broadened the definition of the genre. Many folks are worried that F2P titles and "quasi-MMOs" like FarmVille may trigger the end of traditional subscription-based MMOs.

Continue reading Prognosticating the future of MMOs

MassivelyPrognosticating the future of MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardccpcolin-dwanea-biowareea-mythiceurogamereve-onlinefallen-earthfarmvilleicarus-studiosjim-rossignolmagical-leprechaunsmythicpaul-barnettthe-old-republictortorfi-frans-olafssonworld-of-warcraftWed, 21 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Raph Koster on the future of Metaplace]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/05/raph-koster-on-the-future-of-metaplace/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/05/raph-koster-on-the-future-of-metaplace/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/05/raph-koster-on-the-future-of-metaplace/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

January first of this year brought about the closing of Metaplace, sad news for everyone involved. Shortly before the announcement was made, Eurogamer had an interview with game designer Raph Koster regarding Metaplace. In the end, they made the decision to release the interview in spite of the closing, as it contained some very good insight into the goals of the staff as well as information about the inner workings.

The interview is especially interesting in light of the fact that Metaplace has repeatedly stated that it is not going anywhere, and that we should expect to see more very soon. "Metaplace Inc. isn't about to go away. In fact, we have some pretty exciting plans to announce in the not too distant future," Koster stated. Since we can assume that the basic philosophy and overall goals of the team remain the same, the interview is definitely still relevant for anyone who was a fan of Metaplace. Take a look at the full interview here, and enjoy!

MassivelyRaph Koster on the future of Metaplace originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eurogamerinterviewmetaplacemetaplace-closingraph-kosterTue, 05 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dan Stahl talks Star Trek Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/dan-stahl-talks-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/dan-stahl-talks-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/dan-stahl-talks-star-trek-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Eurogamer Portugal had the good fortune to chat with Cryptic's Dan Stahl, the producer of Star Trek Online last week for an overview of the highly-anticipated MMO. The interview covered some ground we've seen before, some we have not, and gave his perspective about the creation of STO.

Eurogamer and Stahl talked about his view of things like ship customization vs. remaining true to the Star Trek "look", combat styles on the ground and on ships, and general content. His enjoyment and pride on the game shines through clearly and makes the interview a fun read. "I really think that people who play the game for the first time will look at the game and say 'Wow, they nailed it.'" The translation of the article can be read courtesy of Google Translate, with the original here.

As a little extra bonus, Eurogamer treated us to a beautiful new gameplay trailer which can be viewed here.

Star Trek Online is scheduled for launch in February 2010.

MassivelyDan Stahl talks Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ataricrypticcryptic-studiosdan-stahleurogamerinterviewstar-trek-onlinestoTue, 24 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam estimated at selling to 70% of PC market]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/steam-estimated-at-selling-to-70-of-pc-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/steam-estimated-at-selling-to-70-of-pc-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/steam-estimated-at-selling-to-70-of-pc-market/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Where did you buy your last MMO and where will you buy your next? Chances are you'll be getting it on Steam or so the story goes according to Brad Wardell, head honcho over at Stardock. We're inclined to agree with his assertion that Valve's digital distribution platform holds roughly 70% of the PC market as many of us here at Massively have been buying our MMOs -- and PC games in general -- on the service for some time now.

So is it a good thing or a bad thing for MMO players? Our experience with purchasing games like Aion and Champions Online through the service has been positive, and so long as no complications arise via patches or other client issues we see no reason to stop utilizing the service unless better offers appear.

The only real MMO-related issue we can see is with collector's editions. Some games offer a different set of bonus material for people who opt out of the physical copy and go for the digital, but certain items like art books, mouse pads and other bric-a-brac can't be delivered through a wire... at least, not until sometime in the far flung future.

Now, as far as the Steamworks integration issue goes... Well, that's a whole other sack of fishes.

MassivelySteam estimated at selling to 70% of PC market originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionataribrad-wardellchampionschampions-onlinedigital-distributioneurogamerimpulsencsoftopinionstardocksteamvalveFri, 20 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Subscribe to Age of Conan and receive The Secret World beta access]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/subscribe-to-age-of-conan-and-receive-the-secret-world-beta-acce/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/subscribe-to-age-of-conan-and-receive-the-secret-world-beta-acce/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/11/subscribe-to-age-of-conan-and-receive-the-secret-world-beta-acce/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Funcom recently announced their plans to get older players back into Age of Conan and boost multi-month subscription rates. Players with inactive subscriptions are invited to retry the game for two weeks and receive a double experience bonus. Those who sign up for multi-month subscriptions will receive these additional bonuses:

  • 3-month sub: Beta access to The Secret World
  • 6-month sub: Beta access + in-game helmet that boosts experience gain by 10%
  • 12-month sub: Beta access + helmet + a free copy of Conan expansion Rise of the Godslayer
Age of Conan has received many updates in the year and a half since its release. However, MMO players can be an unforgiving bunch, so these incentives to give the game another shot are quite necessary. And it's extra-smart given all the excitement around The Secret World. Considering how many players would be willing to pay for beta access, a subscription to a vastly improved AoC is just icing on the cake.

For those interested in catching up on AoC, check out the most recent game director's letter, new content, and revised subscription options. Have a burning question for Funcom about this or anything else? Ask it here.
Warhammer Online Coverage Having fun in Conan's homeland? Make sure to check out all of our previous Age of Conan coverage, and stick with Massively for more news from the Hyborian Age!

MassivelySubscribe to Age of Conan and receive The Secret World beta access originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocArnold-Schwarzeneggerbetabonuserling-ellingseneurogamerfuncomsubscriptionthe-secret-worldtswWed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Trek Online release date set]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/05/star-trek-online-release-date-set/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/05/star-trek-online-release-date-set/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/05/star-trek-online-release-date-set/#commentsFiled under: ,


According to Eurogamer, Cryptic has confirmed that Star Trek Online is set for a February 2nd, 2010 release date in the U.S., and a February 5th, 2010 release in Europe. This comes about a month after Cryptic previously confirmed that STO was set for a first quarter 2010 release.

STO is currently in closed beta, allowing those lucky select fans a chance to the game out. If you previously had purchased the Champions Online lifetime or six month subscription package, you will also be getting a chance to try the game out during the closed beta stage.

We'll be sitting down with the STO development team soon, and are looking to take all the questions you have about the ships of STO; so hurry up and get them in before 12 p.m. PST tomorrow!

[Edit: We contacted Cryptic to confirm Eurogamer's story, and they say that this is not the official release date, but they will be announcing it very soon.]

MassivelyStar Trek Online release date set originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcrypticcryptic-studioseurogamerrelease-datestar-trek-onlinestar-trek-online-release-datestar-trek-online-ship-datestosto-releasesto-release-datesto-ship-dateThu, 05 Nov 2009 21:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Demo impressions of Star Trek Online from Eurogamer Expo 2009]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/demo-impressions-of-star-trek-online-from-eurogamer-expo-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/demo-impressions-of-star-trek-online-from-eurogamer-expo-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/02/demo-impressions-of-star-trek-online-from-eurogamer-expo-2009/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We recently mentioned that Star Trek Online fans would get a chance to play through a demo of the game at Eurogamer Expo last week. One of the first reports we've read about the Star Trek Online demo comes from Oli Welsh at Eurogamer who was uniquely positioned to check out the game (it was their Expo after all.) Welsh begins by writing, "Trekkies can put one fear to rest right now: Star Trek Online feels just like Star Trek." Although this might assuage a bit of the apprehension some gamers have about trying yet another Star Trek game, Welsh is up front about the fact that the demo he played through was a contained single player experience. It's too soon to say what gameplay will feel like when hundreds of other players are thrown into the mix.

He writes about the demo's transitions between locations via warp jumps, keyboard navigation of star ships (standard WASD, with additional throttle control), and the pacing of ship combat. Welsh also walks the reader from the bridge of a Federation vessel down to the surface of a planet where Klingon opponents await. Fans of the game should read Eurogamer's hands on with Star Trek Online and may also be interested in the video footage of STO gameplay from Limited Edition, shot at this year's Eurogamer Expo (starting at 02:40. They've also captured gameplay of Global Agenda as well.) We've got a video embed of that for you after the jump.

Continue reading Demo impressions of Star Trek Online from Eurogamer Expo 2009

MassivelyDemo impressions of Star Trek Online from Eurogamer Expo 2009 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combatcrypticcryptic-studiosdemoeurogamereurogamer-expoeurogamer-expo-2009federationgameplayglobal-agendahands-onjohn-nicholsonklingonlimited-editionnew-titlesoli-welshpvequestssci-fishuttlerstar-trekstar-trek-onlinestovideoMon, 02 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[More Age of Conan subscription incentives coming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/more-age-of-conan-subscription-incentives-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/more-age-of-conan-subscription-incentives-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/more-age-of-conan-subscription-incentives-coming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Funcom's Erling Ellingsen recently informed Eurogamer about future Age of Conan subscription "initiatives" being planned, which are to follow the new price reduction of multi-month subscriptions . It's of particular interest that Funcom is planning further pricing specials, as they've been doing a lot to bring players back to the game ever since launch. Should their efforts pay off, it's likely that The Secret World will see a significant development boost, which is something we'd be very happy about as fans of Ragnar Tornquist.

However, nobody knows yet if the current "initiatives" have been helping, as Erling wasn't able to comment on current numbers. So until some hard numbers come in -- hopefully of the positive nature -- it's anybody's guess on how the game will perform. It's possible that there's a free-to-play model in the game's future, especially since it wouldn't be the first time a Funcom game has gone that route. However, only time will tell where King Conan and his followers end up.

MassivelyMore Age of Conan subscription incentives coming originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananarchy-onlineaoaocerling-ellingseneurogamerfuncomlaunchragnar-tornquistsubscriptionThu, 29 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jagex cancels MechScape at significant cost, restarts anew]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/jagex-cancels-mechscape-at-significant-cost-restarts-anew/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/jagex-cancels-mechscape-at-significant-cost-restarts-anew/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/29/jagex-cancels-mechscape-at-significant-cost-restarts-anew/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Jagex CEO Mark Gerhard has indeed confirmed the cancellation of MechScape, although you wouldn't quite know it from his comments, which seem excited to be working on a different title with a new direction. This isn't the first time an in-development MMO has been rebooted in favor of a completely new direction, although Tabula Rasa at least kept its original name.

Why the sudden decision? According to Gerhard, MechScape wasn't able to avoid the same pitfalls of RuneScape. Of course, making such a move is going to cost Jagex millions, but their current financial success will be shouldering the weight. The new game -- known as Stellar Dawn -- should be coming in 2010 and will be based on the MechScape graphics engine.

The big changes planned for Stellar Dawn are content and combat focused, although no specifics were given by Gerhard. It's a bold move, no doubt, and sometimes this industry favors such decisions -- other times it punishes them significantly. Whether you look at this as stalled (Tabula Rasa) or prolonged (everything Blizzard) development, you have to admit it creates a notable amount of interest in Jagex's 2010 game.

MassivelyJagex cancels MechScape at significant cost, restarts anew originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010blizzardbreakingcancelcancelledeurogamerjagexmark-gerhardmechscaperunescapestellar-dawntabula-rasaThu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Players to get hands-on time with Star Trek Online at Eurogamer Expo]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/players-to-get-hands-on-time-with-star-trek-online-at-eurogamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/players-to-get-hands-on-time-with-star-trek-online-at-eurogamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/players-to-get-hands-on-time-with-star-trek-online-at-eurogamer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Some people have already gotten into the closed beta for Star Trek Online, but for the rest of us it's going to be a waiting game. There may be good news for some of our UK-based readers, though. Those in attendance at this week's Eurogamer Expo will get to experience both ship-based action and ground combat firsthand in a Star Trek Online demo Cryptic Studios has set up. According to Eurogamer, Cryptic will allow Expo attendees to fight a fleet of Klingons and follow that up with an away mission on a planet's surface, where they will encounter the "Guardian of Forever."

Eurogamer Expo will run October 27-28 in Leeds, and October 30-31 in London. You can check out the full details of this public hands-on of Star Trek Online in the Eurogamer announcement.

Gallery: Star Trek Online Gallery

MassivelyPlayers to get hands-on time with Star Trek Online at Eurogamer Expo originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betascbtclosed-betacrypticcryptic-studiosdemodemonstrationeurogamereurogamer-expohands-onklingonklingonsleedslondonmmo-industrynew-titlessci-fistar-trek-onlinestoMon, 26 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST