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[MMObility: Battle of the browsers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/mmobility-battle-of-the-browsers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/mmobility-battle-of-the-browsers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/mmobility-battle-of-the-browsers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Before I get too far in this new column, I need to take stock of my weaponry. I now have almost everything I need: an iPhone, an iPad, a new HTC Inspire Android phone, one basic laptop of choice, and a pretty decent gaming rig (if a little old). I have everything I need to test out games across different browsers and devices. I am prepared to slug these pieces of hardware wherever I need to; I am ready to walk with them in hand.

It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

I could use some advice, though. I have my preferences, but I wonder what my readers think. Which browser do you prefer? Why? For example, I am in love with Chrome for various reasons, but some games have issues with it. Do I weigh the good against the bad and claim it as my default anyway? Lately, I have all the major browsers bookmarked on my desktop, waiting to go. What about security? I'll be honest: I'm not an expert.

Click past the cut and let's discuss. Maybe you can help me.

Continue reading MMObility: Battle of the browsers

MassivelyMMObility: Battle of the browsers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-gamesbrowser-gamingbrowser-securitybrowser-warschromef2pfeaturedfirefoxfree-to-playftpgoogleinternet-explorermicrosoftministry-of-warmozillaoperasafarisecurityTue, 29 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's Lively: Live public beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/googles-lively-live-public-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/googles-lively-live-public-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/googles-lively-live-public-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Open to the public just today, it seems hard to believe that Google's new Lively service is the much-vaunted virtual world product Project Snowcrash aka MyWorld that has been in secret beta-testing for some time.

Lively is a series of web-embeddable virtual spaces (think Metaplace) that function as a series of otherwise disconnected chatrooms (think IMVU or Twinity). You download the browser plugin for Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer (both Windows only, sorry folks), sign in with your google account, create a room or join one and you're ready to go. Just make sure you've signed into the Lively website at least once -- otherwise you'll have the Joining Room message forever.

A selection of 'hip' human and furry avatars are available, along with an assortment of clothing. There is no user-created content at this time. We'll have some more impressions for you once we've given this a once-over around the office, so stay tuned.

MassivelyGoogle's Lively: Live public beta originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabreakingbrowsercasualfirefoxfree-to-playgoogleimvulauncheslivelymetaplacemicrosoft-internet-e...new-titlesproject-snowcrashtwinityvirtual-worldsWed, 09 Jul 2008 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First Impressions: PMOG, the passively multiplayer game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/24/first-impressions-pmog-the-passively-multiplayer-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/24/first-impressions-pmog-the-passively-multiplayer-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/24/first-impressions-pmog-the-passively-multiplayer-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


We first reported on PMOG here on Massively back at the end of January. It's the product of a videogame startup called GameLayers, Inc., and claims to be a "passively multiplayer game." But unlike most online games, there are no clients or servers -- the game itself is played with just an extension for the Firefox browser, and instead of wandering a vast virtual world with dragons or aliens, you wander around the weirdest virtual landscape out there... the Internet itself.

It's an interesting idea, but does it work? I've been playing PMOG for about a month (the game is now in open beta), and I've amassed quite a stash of virtual cash and almost reached level four. Read on to see my impressions of the "passively multiplayer online game," and find out whether it's something worth extending your browser into.

Continue reading First Impressions: PMOG, the passively multiplayer game

MassivelyFirst Impressions: PMOG, the passively multiplayer game originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorbetadatapointsexogamesextensionfirefoxfirst-impressionsgamelayersimpressionslightpostsminespassively-multiplayerpassively-multiplayer-online-gamepmogst-nicksvirtual-worldMon, 24 Mar 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PMOG beta opens up for passively multiplayer fun]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/11/pmog-beta-opens-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/11/pmog-beta-opens-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/11/pmog-beta-opens-up/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

PMOG, the "passively multiplayer MMO," has been seeing some action around the virtual Massively office lately -- the game is basically a Firefox extension that sits in your browser, and lets you deploy mines, leave goodies, and create quests out of the actual webpages that you visit, and since we visit lots of pages around here, we're some pretty good players.

And now, after a showing at SXSW this week (which we should hear about soon), PMOG has opened its doors to the beta -- if you haven't started playing yet, you can sign up on their main page. In fact, here's an even better deal: I'm working on an achievement in game for inviting people, so you want an invite, leave a comment below, and I'll send you one myself.

It remains to be seen how the folks behind PMOG are going to fund this thing, but while it's in beta, things are ad-free and passively fun. The virtual landscape is still a little empty (most geek sites are pretty much plotted out, but some of the farther reaches of the net are completely quiet), but the more people that get in the beta, the more fun this game promises to be.

MassivelyPMOG beta opens up for passively multiplayer fun originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorfirefoxfuninternetmassivelyminespassively-multi-playerpmogsxswvirtual-landscapewebwebpagesTue, 11 Mar 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PMOG, the passively multiplayer game, hits beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/31/pmog-the-passively-multiplayer-game-hits-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/31/pmog-the-passively-multiplayer-game-hits-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/31/pmog-the-passively-multiplayer-game-hits-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


PMOG is a multiplayer game that's not actually a game... or is it? Developed by a few programmers who have been fishing around for funding in a few different places, PMOG is actually a Firefox extension that turns web browsing into a "passively multiplayer online game"-- as you surf different web sites, you can gain experience points and currency, and then you can use those to build a virtual empire on a meta-level. Users can build traps and set off on missions on the web, and even wage war over web sites themselves. "Playful annotation of the web at large" is how they describe it-- sounds fun.

It's just recently started up a closed beta, and apparently there's still more testing to go through before the concept is opened up for everyone to jump in on. There are other concerns, too-- privacy, and how they'll make their money (will they require users to visit certain sites or see ads to play?), but hopefully those questions will be answered soon, as they plan to have a demo at GDC (Massively will be there and keep our eyes open for it). The Passively Multiplayer concept itself is definitely an interesting one, though-- it only takes a small, even inconsequential reward system to turn something that's usually boring into something that people get excited about.

[Via Wonderland]

MassivelyPMOG, the passively multiplayer game, hits beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingdemofirefoxgdcmeta-browsingpassively-multiplayerpmogvirtual-empireweb-browserThu, 31 Jan 2008 16:29:00 EST