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[Fantasy Earth Zero shutting down on March 24th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/fantasy-earth-zero-shutting-down-on-march-24th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/fantasy-earth-zero-shutting-down-on-march-24th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/fantasy-earth-zero-shutting-down-on-march-24th/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sad news today for fans of Fantasy Earth Zero -- after officially launching less than a year ago, the game will be shutting down in North America in just under two months. Gamepot USA has posted a full statement explaining the game's shutdown schedule as well as the policies on refunds for any game currency purchased within the last month. The game's cash shop has been closed, with all servers set to quadruple experience and money so that players can enjoy the time that's left.

Fantasy Earth Zero took the long way around to get released stateside in the first place, after being developed by Square-Enix and then nearly shut down in Japan due to poor sales. An emotional farewell letter has also been posted, something fans of the game will no doubt wish to read. There's still time left to enjoy the accelerated servers before the shutdown, but when the lights go out on March 24th, they won't be coming back on.

[Thanks to Jeffrey for the tip.]

MassivelyFantasy Earth Zero shutting down on March 24th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancellationf2pfantasy-earth-zerofarewellfezfree-to-playgame-cancellationgame-shutdowngamepotgamepot-usagoodbyenewsrefundserver-shutdownshutdownso-longsquaresquare-enixterminationThu, 03 Feb 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When have you said goodbye?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/30/the-daily-grind-when-have-you-said-goodbye/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/30/the-daily-grind-when-have-you-said-goodbye/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/30/the-daily-grind-when-have-you-said-goodbye/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Spend enough time in any game, and you're bound to form connections. It's the structure of MMOs, after all -- they aren't meant to be played all alone. And yet as time wears on, no matter how close a friend you've found in another player, you will find yourself going in different directions. There comes a point when either you or your best friends in-game are leaving, and you have to say your goodbyes.

Even though you never mean to lose touch with your friends from an old favorite, it's hard to maintain a friendship when your point of common interest is gone. Sometimes you can manage it, but frequently you have to accept that the good memories of the past are just that. So when have you had to say goodbye to your friends from a game? Was it a friendship that came back in a later game down the road, or do you look back wistfully at the good times you had?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: When have you said goodbye? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>departurefarewellgoodbyeleavingoff-into-the-sunsetso-longtdgthe-daily-grindSat, 30 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOGology: Phasing phwns the phuture]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/mmogology-phasing-phwns-the-phuture/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/mmogology-phasing-phwns-the-phuture/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/mmogology-phasing-phwns-the-phuture/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It's been fascinating to watch MMOGs evolve over the past fifteen years I've been playing them. They started out as text based worlds populated by a few hundred people with over-active imaginations. Today they're a mainstream hobby endorsed by celebrities like Mr. T and William Shatner. Whoulda thunk?

As the genre has matured so have the parameters of what defines an MMOG. One of my biggest gripes with them has always been that the worlds we play in are too often static and unchanging. You feel as though your character and his actions never have any real or lasting effect on the world around him.

Thankfully that has begun to change with the recent advent of a technology dubbed as "phasing". For those of you that haven't played Blizard's Wrath of the Lich King, phasing allows players to view a changed version of their world based on triggering events like the completion of quests. It's amazing that it isn't more talked about because phasing has and will continue to change the way we experience dynamic storytelling in MMOGs.

Continue reading MMOGology: Phasing phwns the phuture

MassivelyMMOGology: Phasing phwns the phuture originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardfarewellfeaturedjoystiqfeaturesmarc-nottkephasingphasing-technologysingle-playerworld-of-warcraftMon, 23 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Future of Mythos beta uncertain ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/lead-dev-travis-baldree-updates-mythos-community-and-uncertainty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/lead-dev-travis-baldree-updates-mythos-community-and-uncertainty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/lead-dev-travis-baldree-updates-mythos-community-and-uncertainty/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Mythos beta testers are experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions as they await official word on what will happen to Mythos. The bad news struck Friday, July 11th. It was confirmed that the ranks were culled as layoffs (over 30 confirmed at VE3D's count) occurred at Flagship Studios, developers of Hellgate: London and Mythos. Staff at PingO, an online services subsidiary felt the impact too. To help shed some new light there is a response from Travis Baldree, Lead developer on Mythos.

In a post entitled, "A Fond Farewell" Baldree espouses gratitude to the Mythos beta community, the close relationship between employees, and does not disclose any specific details on the future of Mythos. Baldree is also unsure of how long Mythos in its current beta form will remain operational, but claims he will inform the community when possible. While Baldree did hint at reopening beta testing in the future, the question regarding on who owns the intellectual property and rights is probably going to be decided in a legal battle. Other developers that worked on Mythos also posted their farewells and appreciation to the beta community in the same thread. (We have copied Baldree's post after the jump in case the forums shutdown.)

[Via Warcry]

Continue reading Future of Mythos beta uncertain

MassivelyFuture of Mythos beta uncertain originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betasbreakingfarewellflagshipflagship-studioshellgate-londonmythosnew-titlestravis-baldreeWed, 16 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[AO designer says adieu, moves on to The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/ao-designer-says-adieu-moves-on-to-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/ao-designer-says-adieu-moves-on-to-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/ao-designer-says-adieu-moves-on-to-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Anarchy Online content designer Nina "Aythem" Sund has been writing developer journal entries over at Ten Ton Hammer for several months, sharing game design wisdom and insider anecdotes with players. Her latest entry had a different tone, though. She used the medium to bid farewell to AO players as she moves on to work on Funcom's next MMO, The Secret World.

As a parting gift, she spent the rest of her entry telling fans how they too can become game designers. Hers is good advice if that's an aspiration for you. Unfortunately, she didn't slip out any news or information on The Secret World, which as so far been very, well ... secret. Ten Ton Hammer attached two bits of concept art, though, so savor that!

We hope Funcom will continue to support AO even though it now has Age of Conan and The Secret World to worry about, too. Sund was a popular quest designer at AO; we're glad she'll be adding her touch to TSW, but poor AO!

MassivelyAO designer says adieu, moves on to The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineaoaythemblogcontent-designercontent-writerdesignerdevblogfarewellfuncomgoodbyejournalnina-sundquestten-ton-hammerthe-secret-worldtransferwriterWed, 25 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST