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[Bill Roper named Disney Interactive head of game development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/bill-roper-named-disney-interactive-head-of-game-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/bill-roper-named-disney-interactive-head-of-game-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/bill-roper-named-disney-interactive-head-of-game-development/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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Bill Roper's been flying under the radar since leaving Cryptic Studios in 2010. He briefly surfaced as VP of the Marvel Franchise division of Disney Interactive Media Group last summer, and he's now stepping into the role of head of game development.

Roper replaces Alex Seropian, who helped found Bungie in the 1990s before joining Disney when it acquired his Wideload Games studio in 2009.

Roper is a former Blizzard vice president and founder of Flagship Studios, which was mostly known for developing the original incarnation of Hellgate: London.

MassivelyBill Roper named Disney Interactive head of game development originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex-seropianbill-ropercryptic-studiosdisneydisney-interactive-media-groupflagship-studiosmmo-industryroperwideload-gamesTue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythos European open beta starts today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/mythos-european-open-beta-starts-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/mythos-european-open-beta-starts-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/mythos-european-open-beta-starts-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's been a long road home for Mythos, the free-to-play hack-and-slash MMO from HanbitSoft and Frogster. The game, which enters its European open beta phase today, originally began its life at ill-fated Flagship Studios and was resurrected after the company's dissolution.

After a lengthy development cycle, Mythos has officially thrown open its doors to all registered players (over 100,000 of them to date) in preparation for the game's April 28th launch day. A Frogster press release indicates that additional optimization and localization will continue throughout the open beta, and considerable new content will be introduced as well. The level cap will be raised from 27 to 50, and adventurers will be able to explore the snow-capped Umbral Peaks.

Players can download Mythos for free at the official website or pick up a retail box version at stores or online retailers. The box copy includes several bonus items as well as a two-day head start on the game's official release.

MassivelyMythos European open beta starts today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betadungeon-crawlereuropean-betaeuropean-releasef2pfantasyflagship-studiosfree-to-playfrogsterhack-and-slashhanbitsofthead-startmythosopen-betapress-releaserelease-dateretail-boxretail-versionTue, 12 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper reflects on Hellgate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/bill-roper-reflects-on-hellgate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/bill-roper-reflects-on-hellgate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/bill-roper-reflects-on-hellgate/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


How exactly does a well-funded studio composed of Blizzard veterans end up creating one of the more spectacular failures in recent gaming history? That's a question that Gamasutra attempts to answer in a new interview with former Flagship (and Cryptic) CEO Bill Roper.

The debacle that was Hellgate: London stemmed mainly from over-ambition, Roper says, coupled with the lack of capital necessary to support the don't-release-til-it's-ready mentality that much of the staff experienced at Blizzard. "There was always the support there [at Blizzard] to say, 'You know what? If that's what you need to make this game great, then that's what we'll get for you. We'll figure it out.' It's obviously very different when you are an independent company, right, and not owned by somebody."

The interview also touches on Flagship's involvement with Mythos as well as Roper's experiences dealing with the Hellgate fallout and extensive (and often personal) fan backlash. "It went from 'I didn't like your game' or 'I don't think your company makes good games' to the personal assault level," he says.

MassivelyBill Roper reflects on Hellgate originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperblizzardcrypticcryptic-studiosfantasyFantasy FootballFantasyFootballflagshipflagship-studiosgamasutrahellgatehellgate-londoninterviewsmythosthird-party-titleMon, 07 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythos closed beta date announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/mythos-closed-beta-date-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/mythos-closed-beta-date-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/24/mythos-closed-beta-date-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Add another title to the standing-room only MMO beta crowd crammed into the first few months of 2011. HanbitSoft has just announced that its free-to-play hack and slash Mythos title will slice and dice its way into closed beta on February 8th. Beta signups are currently ongoing at the game's official website, and the devs have also let slip that a special sneak peek event will take place for registered beta participants between January 27th and 31st.

During testing, Mythos players will be able to explore the Greenreach and Bloodbristle Desert regions as well as level their characters to 27.

Mythos was originally developed by the now-defunct Flagship Studios before being picked up by and completed by HanbitSoft. Frogster is handling publisher duties for the game's European launch.

MassivelyMythos closed beta date announced originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabloodbristle-desertclosed-betadungeonsf2pfantasyflagship-studiosfree-to-playgreenreachhack-and-slashhanbitsoftmythosspecial-eventMon, 24 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Halloween MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/the-perfect-ten-halloween-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/the-perfect-ten-halloween-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/the-perfect-ten-halloween-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

We're only a few days away from Halloween, and already the Massively office staff is dressing up in anticipation. Shawn's post-apocalyptic gear is at odds with Rubi's tastefully modest Guild Wars Elementalist outfit. Greg's Squig is in the corner battling it out with Larry's Chewbacca. Bree is dudded up as a giant red corrective marker; Jef's free-to-play outfit requires microtransactions to view in full; and Kyrstalle is photographing it all with her Poloroid One-Shot camera. I think Eliot showed up in full plate armor and riding a mechanical bull, but that just may be his normal work attire.

So as everyone else is goofing off in the spirit of the holidays, it remains to me, your lovable intern, to hack out a top 10 list in honor of All Hallow's Eve. It's the least I can do since they're paying me in candy.

While every MMO incorporates horror at some point (even, yes, Hello Kitty Online's Cat-Tastrophie zone), and it's nearly impossible to escape a clutch of giant spiders in any game you visit, I've picked out 10 MMOs that best deliver a slice of October 31st. Some are old, some new, some canceled and some yet to come, but these are 10 of the spookiest MMOs in the world.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Halloween MMOs

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Halloween MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanccpchewbaccaddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineeaster-eggselementalistfallen-earthfeaturedflagship-studiosflagshippedfluffy-chickensfree-for-allguild-warshalloweenhalloween-2010halloween2010hellgate-londonhello-kitty-onlinehumorhyborialovecraftmansquitomicrotransactionsone-shotsonyx-chamberspersonal-record-best-for-number-of-tagspost-apocalypticrequiem-bloodymarerequiem-memento-morisquigstephen-kingsyfythe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenthe-secret-worldtop-10top-10-listundead-labsvampire-the-masqueradewarWarhammer-Onlineworld-of-darknesswurm-onlinezombiezombie-mmoThu, 28 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Frogster releases Mythos cinematic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/frogster-releases-mythos-cinematic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/frogster-releases-mythos-cinematic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/frogster-releases-mythos-cinematic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Looking to get your Mythos fix prior to the game's 2011 release? Look no further than the just-released trailer courtesy of Frogster. The video, which runs a little over a minute and a half, serves as both a teaser and the upcoming free-to-play MMO's opening cinematic.

Mythos, a throw-back dungeon crawler, has somewhat of a checkered history, given that it was originally developed by now-defunct Flagship Studios before being shuttered and subsequently kick-started by HanbitSoft. The game is now being published by Redbana in North America and Frogster in Europe, and it features solo and group PvP, three distinct classes, and a unique visual style inspired by comic books.

Check out our interview with the Mythos dev team and don't forget to sample the trailer after the cut.

Continue reading Frogster releases Mythos cinematic

MassivelyFrogster releases Mythos cinematic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeon-crawlerf2pfantasyflagship-studiosfree-to-playfrogsterftphanbitsoftmoviemythosopening-cinematicredbanatrailervideoFri, 30 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Still clicking: Our exclusive interview with the Mythos dev team]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/15/still-clicking-our-exclusive-interview-with-the-mythos-dev-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/15/still-clicking-our-exclusive-interview-with-the-mythos-dev-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/15/still-clicking-our-exclusive-interview-with-the-mythos-dev-team/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Considering Mythos' stormy post-Flagship past and its relatively low profile over the past half year, we were pleased to see the team at Redbana unveil a website revamp last month, complete with a slew of vibrant new screenshots to tease the upcoming closed beta. The infrastructure revealed in the images suggests that the game has come a long way since we last checked in with the team; although many players might once have pigeon-holed Mythos as "just another Diablo clone," it's now maturing into a hybrid MMORPG that seems to have as much in common with Blizzard's other fantasy game as with the click-fests of yesteryear.

Curious, we commandeered the team at Redbana in order to ask about the progress of the game. Meet up with us after the break as we discuss the transition to Redbana, overcoming the Diablo stigma, camera perspectives, map travel, character customization, and the likelihood that Mythos will be free-to-play. Oh, and did I mention you can play satyrs and cyclopes?!

Continue reading Still clicking: Our exclusive interview with the Mythos dev team

MassivelyStill clicking: Our exclusive interview with the Mythos dev team originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bana-cashBlizzardcharacter-customizationclick-click-clickclick-festDiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-clonediablo-iidiablo-iiiDungeon-SiegefeaturedFlagshipflagship-studiosflagshippedfree-cameraguild-warsgwhellgate-londoninterviewInterviewsinventoryIsometriclord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromapmap-travelmapsmythologymythosredbanaskill-treeskill-treesstashtitan-questtorchlightWorld-of-WarcraftwowThu, 15 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Redbana releases Mythos screens, relaunches website]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/23/redbana-releases-mythos-screens-relaunches-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/23/redbana-releases-mythos-screens-relaunches-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/23/redbana-releases-mythos-screens-relaunches-website/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Redbana has let loose a little bit of new information regarding their upcoming Mythos MMORPG. Along with revamping the game's official website, the North American publisher has released five new screenshots of the title in action. The shots show everything from the user interface, to the in-game map, to dungeon and outdoor combat.

Mythos, a Diablo-esque dungeon crawler, was originally produced at Flagship Studios before being acquired by HanbitSoft, and features a classic isometric perspective along with a deep itemization system.

Check out the new screens that we've collected for you in the gallery below, and don't forget to stop by the game's new website.

Gallery: Mythos

MassivelyRedbana releases Mythos screens, relaunches website originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diablodungeon-crawlerflagship-studioshanbitsoftisometricitemizationmythosredbanawebsite-relaunchWed, 23 Jun 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythos reveals Pyromancer art]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/mythos-reveals-pyromancer-art/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/mythos-reveals-pyromancer-art/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/mythos-reveals-pyromancer-art/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Redbana has released new artwork of the Pyromancer class in their upcoming Mythos MMORPG. The title, originally developed by Travis Baldree (FATE, Torchlight) at Flagship Studios but now the property of HanbitSoft, is a Diablo-style dungeon crawler, complete with isometric perspective and high levels of itemization and randomization.

Redbana is the North American publisher for Mythos, and has released the Pyromancer screens as the first of what promises to be a steady stream of information that will lead up to the beta tests and full release later this year. The Pyromancer, as you might expect, relies on fiery magic to burn enemies into submission, and fans can get a leg up on checking out the sorcery and other game elements by signing up for the Mythos newsletter at the official website.

Gallery: Mythos

MassivelyMythos reveals Pyromancer art originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betadiabloflagship-studioshanbitsoftisometricmythospyromancerredbanasorcererFri, 16 Apr 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[HanbitSoft acquires worldwide publishing rights for Hellgate: London]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/18/hanbitsoft-acquires-worldwide-publishing-rights-for-hellgate-lo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/18/hanbitsoft-acquires-worldwide-publishing-rights-for-hellgate-lo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/18/hanbitsoft-acquires-worldwide-publishing-rights-for-hellgate-lo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It's been a long and turbulent ride for Hellgate: London, stretching all the way back to its rather troubled Halloween 2007 launch under the banner of the ill-fated Flagship Studios. This stretched through a bewildering morass of licensing disputes, general misinformation, and mixed signals (like continual English press releases for the game in a non English-speaking market. *ahem*) in the wake of the Flagship Studios closure and subsequent legal wranglings between T3 Entertainment/HanbitSoft and NAMCO BANDAI. Still, despite some of the flaws both in terms of business decisions made and the game itself, the title has its fans and many were sad to see Hellgate: London's servers in North America and Europe go dark.

Liken it to a yo-yo, a roller coaster, or what have you -- it's been confusing, but there have been glimmers of hope of the game one day returning to Western regions. An official release from Hellgate: London's license holder HanbitSoft today is perhaps the most solid bit of info we've received about the future of the game outside of Korea. In HanbitSoft's own words: "HanbitSoft Inc., announced today that the company has obtained the publishing rights for Hellgate in North America, Europe and Japan from NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.. HanbitSoft and NAMCO BANDAI Games America, the formal owner of the publishing rights in these regions, have entered into an agreement for the game to be distributed by HanbitSoft in the future."

Continue reading HanbitSoft acquires worldwide publishing rights for Hellgate: London

MassivelyHanbitSoft acquires worldwide publishing rights for Hellgate: London originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiabreakingeuropeflagship-studioshanbitsofthellgatehellgate-londonhellgate-resurrectionhg-lhorrorkorealegallicensingmmo-industrynamco-bandainorth-americat3-entertainmentMon, 18 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's interview with Mythos: gearing up for launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/massivelys-interview-with-mythos-gearing-up-for-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/massivelys-interview-with-mythos-gearing-up-for-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/massivelys-interview-with-mythos-gearing-up-for-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Today marks another milestone for the almost-forgotten Mythos MMO. As we mentioned a few months ago, the Diablo-esque game has been resurrected and we can now report that it has been picked up by Redbana US. New closed beta registration was started in August and we're well on our way to actually getting this game launched. With this new information, we assembled some questions (thanks to former Managing Editor, Michael Zenke for most of these questions) for the Mythos team on this special occasion.

So the milestone at this stage of the game's life is a newly-revamped website, just released and announced today. Check it out for a teaser video, lore entries, their brand new forums and much more!

Continue reading Massively's interview with Mythos: gearing up for launch

MassivelyMassively's interview with Mythos: gearing up for launch originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diabloflagship-studioshanbitsoftinterviewmythosredbanaTue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An insight into the art of Torchlight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/10/an-insight-into-the-art-of-torchlight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/10/an-insight-into-the-art-of-torchlight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/10/an-insight-into-the-art-of-torchlight/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


While many eyes are glued to the revitalization of the Mythos IP, many other eyes are looking in the direction of Runic Games's Torchlight. For those not in the know, Torchlight is being made by the original Mythos team -- the ones who were on staff at the time of Flagship Studios's untimely closing -- while Mythos is now in the hands of HanbitSoft, the publisher who had a massive stake in Flagship.

While Torchlight won't be ready for the MMO scene anytime soon, the developers are still coming up with the single-player game that will be the base component for the MMO edition. With that in mind, we'd thought you'd like to check out this Gamasutra article that focuses on the art style and history of Torchlight and how exactly Mythos has impacted that style. It's a great read (although it's a little long at six pages of narrative) and a must see for all fans of the upcoming action RPG.

MassivelyAn insight into the art of Torchlight originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artart-directionflagship-studioshanbitsoftmythosrunic-gamestorchlightThu, 10 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: FPS 'mah MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/21/the-daily-grind-fps-mah-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/21/the-daily-grind-fps-mah-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/21/the-daily-grind-fps-mah-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Combat systems are always an integral part of games, as they provide the main source of conflict and challenge for most players. Lately, however, we've been seeing a change in how our MMOs handle combat. Traditional systems have always been based on click targeting and skill usage, but a number of MMOs have opted to utilize new technology and integrate aiming and elements of first-person shooters into their systems.

PlanetSide has been one of the first (as it's built to be a first-person shooter MMO, obviously) but other games like Darkfall, Face of Mankind, Hellgate: London, Huxley, APB, and others have embraced the aiming concept. Our question to you today is what do you think of this shift? Do you like having to aim in your games, as it presents a new level of skill-based gameplay, or does the aiming just not work for you, as lag and other factors can give some players a hefty disadvantage?

Take your thoughts, pull them out of your head, smash them against your keyboards, and let them land on our webby page. We're used to these sort of things.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: FPS 'mah MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aimingapbaventurinedarkfallduplex-systemsface-of-mankindflagship-studiosfpshellgate-londonhuxleyijji.commmofpsopinionplanetsiderealtime-worldssoesony-online-entertainmenttargetingthe-daily-grindwebzenFri, 21 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythos teaser and closed beta registration page emerges]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/15/mythos-teaser-and-closed-beta-registration-page-emerges/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/15/mythos-teaser-and-closed-beta-registration-page-emerges/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/15/mythos-teaser-and-closed-beta-registration-page-emerges/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Things are stirring behind the scenes in the world of Mythos, the little MMO that could. A newly launched site offers a very small teaser, but also, a closed beta registration form which is of far more interest. While Mythos was much-loved in its previous form, we don't doubt the followers of the Diablo-esque dungeon-crawler are keen to see if the magic is still there in HanbitSoft's re-envisioning.

If you're not up on the history of this title, now (at its new beginning) seems a good time for us to sum things up. It started out as a way for Flagship Studios to test their networking technology for the then-upcoming Hellgate: London, but soon grew into a popular game in its own right through a widespread closed beta test. It was all set to transition from experiment to fully-fledged title and move into open beta when the well-documented trouble at Flagship derailed the whole thing.

However, Flagship's Korean publisher HanbitSoft acquired the game's license and decided to make use of it. They reassured eager fans only a few months ago that Mythos would be re-born better than ever. Only time will tell if that's true, but with this new closed beta registration, it shouldn't be too long before a select group finds out for themselves. In the meantime, all of the old Mythos devs will be working away on Torchlight at Runic Games. Torchlight undoubtedly stands to be significant competition for Mythos in the future, but it won't be ready (in its MMO form at least) any time soon.


MassivelyMythos teaser and closed beta registration page emerges originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingclosed-betaflagship-studioshanbitsoftmythosregistrationrunic-gamesteasertorchlightSat, 15 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2009: Torchlight will morph from single player game to MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/e3-2009-torchlight-will-morph-from-single-player-game-to-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/e3-2009-torchlight-will-morph-from-single-player-game-to-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/e3-2009-torchlight-will-morph-from-single-player-game-to-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Coming from the desginers who made Diablo, Mythos, Mythos II and Fate, we're expecting quite a lot from their new title, Torchlight. This classic Diablo style 2D hack-and-slasher can in every way be considered the spiritual successor to Mythos, and in some ways even more closer to the original Diablo. For instance, Torchlight is a town with another world underneath it -- that and it's going to be a single player RPG before it goes MMO. But rest assured, it will go MMO in a year to a year and a half.

First, we'll discuss features that will exist at singleplayer launch later this year, then we'll cover the new elements planned when the game expands into a massively multiplayer game. Check it all out after the jump along with gameplay footage, complete with Felicia Day of The Guild trying her hand at a beta version of the Action RPG.

Gallery: E3 2009: Torchlight

Continue reading E3 2009: Torchlight will morph from single player game to MMO

MassivelyE3 2009: Torchlight will morph from single player game to MMO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e3e3-2009felicia-dayflagship-studiosmythosrunic-gamesthe-guildtorchlightFri, 05 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper shares his industry experiences ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/bill-roper-shares-his-industry-experiences/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/bill-roper-shares-his-industry-experiences/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/bill-roper-shares-his-industry-experiences/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There's a lengthy interview with Bill Roper over at Gamasutra, and it's well worth spending a few minutes reading it if you're at all interested in the games industry. From his time at Blizzard, to helming Flagship Studios, and now his relatively new position at Cryptic, Roper has seen and heard a lot, and the interview is all about him having a chance to share his "hard-won wisdom".

When Flagship Studios and Hellgate: London came up, Roper was quick to point out that the venture as a whole was not an entirely bad experience, or one that he'd prefer to forget; rather, there was a lot of learning to be had from going through it: "I can say, 'These are the things that were amazingly successful at Blizzard and how they worked. And these were the things that were amazingly unsuccessful at Flagship.' And so, I think I learned as much from the failure, if not more, than the successes."

The full interview covers a lot more than just Flagship, and even if you aren't familiar with Roper, it's interesting to hear the industry insights of a veteran.

MassivelyBill Roper shares his industry experiences originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperblizzardchampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosflagship-studioshellgate-londoninterviewMon, 18 May 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[We're assured that Mythos is coming back]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/were-assured-that-mythos-is-coming-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/were-assured-that-mythos-is-coming-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/were-assured-that-mythos-is-coming-back/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Mythos seems to hold a cult fan status among those who were lucky enough to play the game before last year's Flagship kerfuffle unceremoniously halted the games' production -- and with good reason. The game was a lot of fun, as all those cult fans know. Which is why we're torn about this news.

It appears as though Hanbitsoft -- the Korean developer who picked up the rights to Mythos last year -- has come out and said they fully intend to bring the game back into the world. They've also said they realize the game is basically inspired fully by Diablo, and plan to, "-put in more content for more exciting multiplayer." That's great and all, but we worry that the beta that we played last year and this retooled Korean flavored version aren't going to elicit the same kind of excitement.

This is also compounded by the fact that, well, the original Mythos team has already formed Runic Games and will be presenting their spiritual successor to Mythos, entitled Torchlight, at E3 in just about a month. Now, while Torchlight is only a single player RPG for the time being, Runic has clearly stated their plans to build it into an MMO down the road. So for now, with one game the closer, we'll just decide to be excited for E3 come early June.

MassivelyWe're assured that Mythos is coming back originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 May 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarddiabloe3e3-2009flagship-studioshanbitsoftkoreanmythosrunic-gamestorchlightThu, 07 May 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ex-Mythos devs discuss upcoming MMO project at Runic Games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/28/ex-mythos-devs-discuss-upcoming-mmo-project-at-runic-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/28/ex-mythos-devs-discuss-upcoming-mmo-project-at-runic-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/28/ex-mythos-devs-discuss-upcoming-mmo-project-at-runic-games/#commentsFiled under: , ,


A few of us on the Massively staff were gutted when Mythos became a casualty of the Flagship Studios closure. We later learned that some of the former Mythos devs had formed a new studio called Runic Games; just the other day we picked up on a partnership between Runic Games and Perfect World to release a new title called Torchlight. Aside from this, we'd heard precious little about what's in the works at Runic Games, but an interview we've come across sheds some more light on what the former Mythos devs have been up to.

Travis Baldree from Runic Games discusses how they're building Torchlight as an MMO, although its first incarnation will be a single player title, one that actively supports modders. The interview also discusses the story and art of Torchlight, as well as its music, programming, and the toolsets which will be made available to players. In fact, Runic Games' Greg Brown says, "Hopefully, nearly everything I've been working on will be usable by players who want to modify the game." If you were interested by what you saw of Mythos and want to know what those devs have in store for gamers with Torchlight, you'll want to give the interview a read at the Runic Insider site.

MassivelyEx-Mythos devs discuss upcoming MMO project at Runic Games originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fantasyflagship-studiosgreg-brownmythosnew-titlesperfect-worldrunic-gamesrunic-insidertravis-baldreeTue, 28 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Runic Games partners with MMO portal Perfect World for their upcoming game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/22/runic-games-partners-with-mmo-portal-perfect-world-for-their-upc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/22/runic-games-partners-with-mmo-portal-perfect-world-for-their-upc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/22/runic-games-partners-with-mmo-portal-perfect-world-for-their-upc/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Perfect World Entertainment, the MMO portal of the self-titled Perfect World International and Ether Saga Online, has announced a partnership between themselves and the phoenix game studio Runic Games for the publishing rights of the upcoming MMO, Torchlight.

This is a large step forward for Runic Games, the previous Mythos game team of the now defunct Flagship Studios. Their agreement with Perfect World is for global publishing rights, meaning Torchlight could be seeing an international release.

Little is currently known about Torchlight, other than the game will be focusing on a single city and centered around the acquisition of a magical ore that imbues equipment with power, but also has a downside to it as well. The game has a bit of a cartoony, playful character to it, as seen in some early concept art shown on the main Runic Games website.

MassivelyRunic Games partners with MMO portal Perfect World for their upcoming game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcityether-saga-onlineflagship-studiosflagshippedmagic-oremythosoreperfect-worldperfect-world-internationalpublishpublishing-rightsrunic-gamestorchlightWed, 22 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free, shiny and simple. A winning recipe for wider audiences?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/free-shiny-and-simple-a-winning-recipe-for-wider-audiences/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/free-shiny-and-simple-a-winning-recipe-for-wider-audiences/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/free-shiny-and-simple-a-winning-recipe-for-wider-audiences/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Scarcely a fraction of gamers are involved in MMOGs. The percentage is a little higher if you're a gamer over 25, but below that, the odds are that only 1-2% of gamers are into MMOGs. But the gamer market is expanding. That is, the number of gamers who are involved in MMOGs is growing at a rate less than a twentieth of the growth of the hobby.

Or to put it another way, the pool of potential customers is growing much larger than the customers the industry already has, if only the industry can find a way to make MMO gaming, as a hobby, more attractive to gamers who have hitherto shown little or no interest in it.

There are several approaches the industry has and is attempting in order to reach out into that broader pool of would-be players.

Continue reading Free, shiny and simple. A winning recipe for wider audiences?

MassivelyFree, shiny and simple. A winning recipe for wider audiences? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionbusiness-modelscity-of-heroesflagship-studiosfree-to-playfreecellguild-wars-2minesweepermmo-industryncsoftopiniontabula-rasaMon, 13 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London wants to come back, it really does]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/hellgate-london-wants-to-come-back-it-really-does/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/hellgate-london-wants-to-come-back-it-really-does/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/hellgate-london-wants-to-come-back-it-really-does/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Still confused on the true status of Hellgate: London? Well, let us help confuse you a bit more. According to Korean publisher HanbitSoft, they're interested in resurrecting the game in the U.S. and Europe, but their hands are tied by Namco Bandai. Of course HanbitSoft acquired the title from Flagship, who was the original developer of the game. On top of this, the game is alive and well in Korea under HanbitSoft's domain.

Maybe Kee Young Kim, CEO of HanbitSoft, can explain it better: "HanbitSoft does own the intellectual property of Hellgate: London and is interested in providing the game in the US and Europe, but is unable to do so at this time because Namco Bandai has the publishing rights for those regions." Any way you look at it, it seems Hellgate: London is trying hard to come back to its loyal fans.

MassivelyHellgate: London wants to come back, it really does originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagship-studioshanbitsofthellgate-londonnamco-bandaiFri, 03 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London is dead, for real this time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/hellgate-london-is-dead-for-real-this-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/hellgate-london-is-dead-for-real-this-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/hellgate-london-is-dead-for-real-this-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's up! It's down! It's up! It's down! It's... sideways?

That's the story for the ever growing saga of Hellgate: London in a nutshell. This time, however, it's not coming back and there should be no more rumors that it is coming back. HanbitSoft, the Asian publisher of the game, has finally clarified to GameCyte that they do not have the publishing rights to Hellgate: London in the United States or Europe, just in Asia, excluding Japan.

Currently those rights are held by Namco-Bandai, who have made the decision to shut down the Hellgate servers as of February 1st.

So it's not coming back. Even though it will still have press releases in English and have updates being made by a US developer, it's not coming back. However, if you really want to play, we suggest moving to Asia, as it will still be going strong over there.

MassivelyHellgate: London is dead, for real this time originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagshipflagship-studiosfree-to-playgamecytehanbitsofthellgatehellgate-londonnamco-bandairevivalserversshutdownThu, 05 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate's US/EU servers and website slam shut]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/02/hellgates-us-eu-servers-and-website-slam-shut/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/02/hellgates-us-eu-servers-and-website-slam-shut/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/02/hellgates-us-eu-servers-and-website-slam-shut/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The show is now over for the Hellgate: London that we once knew. The game's servers and the official website have poofed, and stranded fans will now turn their attention towards HanbitSoft's grand plans to revive the troubled title in a free-to-play format, complete with new content and gameplay changes. HanbitSoft's press release did not specify a date for the re-launch, nor did it say which territories it will be servicing, so we're looking at a bit of downtime for the moment.

Scott from the Pumping Irony blog has written about his time spent online during Hellgate's final hours. Plenty of players turned up to see the "end of the world", and many donated their soon-to-be-worthless in-game currency to the War Drive NPC, granting buffs to the masses. Scott's transcript of the last few moments of chat are an indication of the kind of solidarity and sadness that the most faithful fans displayed as their world was crumbling around them. It's all on HanbitSoft now to save these folks from their Hellgate-less existence.

MassivelyHellgate's US/EU servers and website slam shut originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagshipflagship-studiosfree-to-playhanbitsofthellgatehellgate-londonserversshutdownMon, 02 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper of Cryptic Studios discusses Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/bill-roper-of-cryptic-studios-discusses-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/bill-roper-of-cryptic-studios-discusses-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/bill-roper-of-cryptic-studios-discusses-champions-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MMO-centric website Allakhazam is running an interesting piece on Champions Online. Tamat, the site's Editor-in-Chief, caught up with Bill Roper, the Design Director for Champions Online at Cryptic Studios. The interview ranges from what Roper does at Cryptic to some of mistakes learned along the way -- particularly in the wake of what happened with Flagship Studios and Hellgate: London.

The interview covers a good range of topics, discussing Roper's transition from the business side of an MMO developer to focusing on creating a game, and how trying to compete with WoW isn't a concern for Cryptic with Champions Online. Roper also discusses the idea of bringing some of the original pen and paper Champions Online system to the MMO. He says, "We're including the core concepts of talents, perks, and even exposing the stats system to a degree. We've streamlined some of the concepts of the game to make it more accessible to a broader range of players, but without losing the beauty of what makes Champions the great game and IP it is."

Have a look at the full interview with Cryptic's Bill Roper over at Allakhazam for more on the directions Champions Online will be taking.

MassivelyBill Roper of Cryptic Studios discusses Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allakhazambill-roperchampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosflagship-studioshellgate-londoninterviewsmmo-industrypen-and-paperrpgtamatworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 28 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London staying alive through free-to-play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/hellgate-london-staying-alive-through-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/hellgate-london-staying-alive-through-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/hellgate-london-staying-alive-through-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Always named in the popular lists of "Failures for 2007/2008", Hellgate: London may not be dying off as easily as we thought. As reported by Gamasutra, HanbitSoft has announced that they will be keeping the game alive as a free-to-play model after the initial closure date of January 31st, 2009. They can do this (despite Namco-Bandai's decision to close the game) because they own the IP, engines and source codes for the Flagship Studios title.

In November of last year, we touched on this a bit, as HanbitSoft mentioned their continued efforts with the game, which might even include an expansion. At that time, the rumor was that it would be available only in Asia, yet this newest announcement is for global availability. This brings up an interesting thought though: If Hellgate: London can do it, can the others?

MassivelyHellgate: London staying alive through free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pflagship-studiosfree-to-playgamasutrahanbitsofthellgate-londonnamco-bandaiMon, 26 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[2008 wasn't a good year for MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/2008-wasnt-a-good-year-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/2008-wasnt-a-good-year-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/2008-wasnt-a-good-year-for-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,


One of the blog posts over at the Hellforge community that is getting some traction is Agamemnon's look back at the MMO failures of 2008. Included are looks into why Tabula Rasa, Hellgate: London, Age of Conan, and Pirates of the Burning Sea either outright failed (in the case of Tabula Rasa and Hellgate) or were unable to get the subscriber numbers they expected with their launches.

What separates this blog post from the myriad of other posts on the same subject is that the article ends with the many things that these games all did wrong and other developers should learn from. Little things, like listening closely to the feedback from your beta testers, fostering a community, and learning to stay away from the concept of "we'll patch it to perfection." It's a good analysis of the many failures of other games, and a kind tip of the hat to the things an MMO can do right, such as Mythic's openness with Warhammer Online.

Massively2008 wasn't a good year for MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>failureflagship-studiosflying-labfuncomhellforgehellgate-londonhglmythic-entertainmentncsoftpatchpirates-of-the-burning-seapotbsrgtrsubscriberstabula-rasawarwarhammer-onlineMon, 12 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper addresses community questions for Champions Online, himself]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/bill-roper-addresses-community-questions-for-champions-online-h/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/bill-roper-addresses-community-questions-for-champions-online-h/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/02/bill-roper-addresses-community-questions-for-champions-online-h/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


A special edition of Ask Cryptic for Champions Online is out now and it features Bill Roper answering all sorts of highly interesting questions. The most interesting answer from Bill concerns his involvement with the game, as it's now beyond concept and initial design stages. Apparently, Bill's past experience at Blizzard involved coming in during the polish and release phase of a game -- which is something he was never involved in at Flagship. That and the continued support for future content will be Bill's role at Cryptic with concern to Champions Online. Oh, he also expresses an interest in doing voice work for the infamously awesome Foxbat. Intriguing.

The other thing we took away from this was that the game is getting pretty close to beta, which would mean that it's on track for an early 2009 release date. We must admit our shock at the possibility, as most MMOs suffer at least one delay during the development process. Could this one prove to be an exception to the rule? We certainly hope so.

MassivelyBill Roper addresses community questions for Champions Online, himself originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesask-crypticbill-roperblizzardchampionschampions-onlinecrypticflagship-studiosfoxbatTue, 02 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper featured in Champions Online's newest Meet the Team]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/bill-roper-featured-in-champions-onlines-newest-meet-the-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/bill-roper-featured-in-champions-onlines-newest-meet-the-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/bill-roper-featured-in-champions-onlines-newest-meet-the-team/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Even though former Blizzard veteran and Flagship CEO Bill Roper just recently joined Cryptic Studios as a design director, it hasn't taken them long to sit him down and put together a brand new "Meet The Team" segment for his position with the Champions Online team. If you haven't read many (or any) of these often interesting interviews just yet, we highly recommend giving this one a chance. Not only does Bill speak about his time with Blizzard, but also the essential lessons he's taken from being the CEO of Flagship and how he plans on applying them to his work at Cryptic.

Attentive readers will notice that the interview also hints at the progress of Champions Online. With Bill discussing his interest in implementing the crafting system, which isn't in the game yet, but also mentioning that the title is pretty far along. Most MMOs in development experience a delay or two, but by the sounds of it we may actually get to play this one on time.

MassivelyBill Roper featured in Champions Online's newest Meet the Team originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperblizzardchampionschampions-onlinecraftingcrypticcryptic-studiosflagshipflagship-studiosWed, 12 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flagship founder Bill Roper joins Cryptic Studios]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/flagship-founder-bill-roper-joins-cryptic-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/flagship-founder-bill-roper-joins-cryptic-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/flagship-founder-bill-roper-joins-cryptic-studios/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


With the future of Hellgate: London on thin ice, it should be no surprise that Flagship Studios co-founder and CEO, Bill Roper, has sought greener pastures. As was just announced, Roper has joined Cryptic Studios as their new Design Director for Champions Online. Cryptic's CEO John Needham is optimistic about the acquisition: "Bill brings a ton of creative energy to the Cryptic office and we're thrilled to have him join our team. His years of gaming and online experience are huge assets to all of our projects, and Bill will assist us in furthering our studio's vision to create innovative, exciting MMO gameplay. "

These years of gaming and online experience Needham mentions include a long list of impressive titles. Not only did Roper work as a producer and developer on many classics like the Warcraft trilogy, StarCraft and Diablo, but he also dabbled in some voiceover work for many of these games as well. Roper is now a key asset for Champions Online, and we look forward to more news on his work with the game.

MassivelyFlagship founder Bill Roper joins Cryptic Studios originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperblizzardchampions-onlinecryptic-studiosdesign-directorflagship-studioshellgate-londonMon, 03 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Are all MMOs just extended vaporware?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/02/are-all-mmos-just-extended-vaporware/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/02/are-all-mmos-just-extended-vaporware/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/02/are-all-mmos-just-extended-vaporware/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Massively multiplayer online games can be a difficult industry to break into and succeed. For every Blizzard or Sony Online Entertainment, there are several smaller companies brimming with ideas about how to inject change into the MMO market. Some succeed by breaking from the World of Warcraft paradigm. Most do not.

Writer James Matson writes about these titles that begin full of promise but ultimately meet a chilly reception by MMO gamers, in an article at Atomic. He touches on the fact that the sometimes high price of the box sale paired with monthly MMO fees, sustained over some months, leads to some serious disappointment when the MMO fails and the servers go dark. Matson specifically cites the examples of Auran's Fury and (what is currently Namco-Bandai's) Hellgate: London. "This would appear to the be the first tendrils of a new kind of gaming plague that's arrived with MMOs, games that can be rendered useless due to mismanagement, poor sales or just bad luck," Matson writes.

Continue reading Are all MMOs just extended vaporware?

MassivelyAre all MMOs just extended vaporware? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atomicauranblizzardflagship-studiosfuryhellgate-londonjames-matsonnamco-bandairedbanaredbana-usasoesony-online-entertainmentt3-entertainmentworld-of-warcraftwowwow-paradigmSun, 02 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate London status: Purgatory]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/hellgate-london-status-purgatory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/hellgate-london-status-purgatory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/hellgate-london-status-purgatory/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


There have been so many twists and turns with the future of Hellgate: London (and Mythos) that it's hard to know what will happen next. We've heard on a few occasions that Hellgate: London was about to face its demise, only to be saved. Adding to the confusion was the dispute over who even owned Hellgate: London, Flagship Studios or HanbitSoft. After Flagship folded, HanbitSoft's claims seemed to be genuine, and the IP was left in the hands of T3 Entertainment. Subscriptions, however, were then suspended. Shortly afterwards Namco-Bandai swept in, prominently featured HG: L on its site... and subsequently removed it. Despite this, the game has been kept running ever since, although Namco-Bandai's stated that the servers will shut down at the end of January, 2009.

Gaming site HellForge has picked up on what we're not ready to call anything more than 'rumor' at this point, but something that perhaps bodes well for the future of the game. Another company name has been thrown into the mix: Redbana (based in Taiwan, connected with the aforementioned T3 Entertainment). HellForge writes: "Further research leads to findings of a new San Francisco office for the company, which is where Hellgate offices were located previously." This seems to be in line with what we reported about the future of both titles in August. While we hope this information could be a positive sign for Hellgate: London and perhaps Mythos as well, at this point it's still largely conjecture.

[Via Blue's News]

MassivelyHellgate London status: Purgatory originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperflagship-studioshanbitsofthellforgehellgate-londonhglhorrormmo-industrymythosnamco-bandairedbanarumorrumorst3-entertainmenttaiwanThu, 30 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London to shut down in February]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/24/hellgate-london-to-shut-down-in-february/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/24/hellgate-london-to-shut-down-in-february/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/24/hellgate-london-to-shut-down-in-february/#commentsFiled under: ,


The game's official site has the news that Hellgate: London is going to go sunset at the beginning of next year. February will see the closure of all of the game's servers. Until that point, the service will continue to be free of charge. All the way back in July we reported on the suspension of new subscriptions and the acquisition of the property by Namco-Bandai. Now it appears as though the company has decided to cut its losses.

The announcement on the game's site spins it in a very upbeat way, stating that they would "continue to support customers of PC game Hellgate[TM]: London with online server support and play through January 31, 2009 despite the closure of Flagship Studios." We've heard no further details on the service since the middle of the summer; hopefully we'll have further details for you soon.

MassivelyHellgate: London to shut down in February originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingflagship-studioshellgate-londonnamco-bandaiFri, 24 Oct 2008 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Flagship Studios' founder finally speaks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/flagship-studios-founder-finally-speaks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/flagship-studios-founder-finally-speaks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/flagship-studios-founder-finally-speaks/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


If you've been wondering just exactly what happened with Flagship Studios over the past year or so, then you should really give a listen to the thoughts of Bill Roper, founder of Flagship. The poor guy pretty much spills his guts to 1up.com's Jeff Green about everything that happened and is happening with the people and projects from Flagship. It's a surprisingly lengthy interview, clocking in at eight pages. It's totally worth the read if you want a gritty insight into just how much went into not only Hellgate: London and Mythos, but the team that put those titles together.

It's not often that we get such a wide and deep look into a developer. We're counting ourselves lucky that Bill seems to be such a open and forthcoming guy, otherwise we might have never known anything beyond rumors and speculation. If everyone previously involved with Flagship lands on their feet, it will be in no small part due to Bill Roper's efforts.

MassivelyFlagship Studios' founder finally speaks originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1upbill-roperflagshipflagship-studioshellgate-londonmythosMon, 18 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[From the ashes of Mythos, Runic Games is born]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/10/from-the-ashes-of-mythos-runic-games-is-born/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/10/from-the-ashes-of-mythos-runic-games-is-born/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/10/from-the-ashes-of-mythos-runic-games-is-born/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The fate of the former Flagship Studios staff is something a number of our readers have been wondering about, particularly after the confusion and drama surrounding the Hellgate: London and Mythos IPs. The writers at Massively have been curious about this as well, until now. We've gotten word from Joystiq that former Flagship Studios Seattle staff -- specifically, the Mythos team -- have formed a new company called Runic Games.

Max Schaefer and Travis Baldree are at the helm of Runic Games, and have stated that their forthcoming projects will be announced in the coming days. There are no further details at this time, but Runic Games now has a site where the announcement of their resurrection is posted. Massively extends its congratulations on making a quick comeback, and here's hoping Runic Games will bring some of that Mythos magic to their new projects.

MassivelyFrom the ashes of Mythos, Runic Games is born originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Aug 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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These have been some turbulent times for both Mythos and Hellgate: London. Following the closing of Flagship Studios, recent news revealed Namco-Bandai Games as Hellgate: London's saviors, while the fate of Mythos remained uncertain, but grim. However just over a week later, the Hellgate: London page at Namco-Bandai has already disappeared.

In another turn of events, Gamasutra reports that Korea's T3 Entertainment, perhaps best-known for their online music game Audition, is seeking programmers for its new development studio in San Francisco: "T3 Entertainment is searching for creative minds to passionately continue development of Hellgate: London and Mythos, along with other new games, which are being published by HanbitSoft Inc." This may put to rest the dispute over IP which HanbitSoft was engaged in with Flagship Studios, as T3 Entertainment is HanbitSoft's largest stockholder. With any luck, the opening of a North American studio signifies a healthier future for both Mythos and Hellgate: London. We'll keep you posted, once more details become available.

MassivelyMythos lives! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Didn't really think we'd be talking about this game ever again, but it's nice to be wrong. Tipster Matt let us know that a Senior Director for Business development has posted to the official Hellgate:London forums letting everyone know that 'word' is coming soon. On Monday Ping0 employee Tiggs posted to the same thread, telling folks not to worry. Now it appears that, via this post by Namco's Zack "Ozuri" Karlsson, there really is nothing to worry about.

Says Karlsson, "The game is up, the servers are not going away in the short term and any major changes to status will be communicated in advance. I'd like to ask for your patience as we try to figure it all out and chart a new course. We value your community, your commitment, and your passion for Hellgate and we will make sure that any solution that we architect will support all of you as best as we are able. Thanks again. We hope to have a real announcement shortly." Vague, yes, but one thing isn't vague at all: Hellgate: London now has an official game page on the Namco-Bandai site. Looks like the legacy of Flagship will live on!
Thanks for the tip, Matt!

MassivelyHellgate: London saved by Namco-Bandai originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingflagship-studioshellgatehellgate-londonnamco-bandaiWed, 23 Jul 2008 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Were you going to play Mythos?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/the-daily-grind-were-you-going-to-play-mythos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/the-daily-grind-were-you-going-to-play-mythos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/the-daily-grind-were-you-going-to-play-mythos/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We hope you knew what Mythos was -- or is, depending on how things play out -- because the game was a whole lot of fun even in beta. In fact it really seemed ready for prime time and that was several months ago. We really don't know what the future holds for the game, but right now it's on indefinite hiatus and that makes us wear our sad faces. So for today's The Daily Grind we're asking you: Did you plan on playing the game once it came out of beta?

As a free-to-play game, Mythos stood a chance to become a wonderful "instead" game. What we mean is that it was the perfect game to play instead of your regular evening or weekend getaway game. Don't feel like grinding through more dungeons in Lord of the Rings Online or World of Warcraft today? Play Mythos instead, it's easy-going hack n' slash fun! The examples are beyond several. Well, they were beyond several. We truly hope to see a rushed revival for those of you (us included) that were planning on playing the game once it launched.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Were you going to play Mythos? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The announcement blared last Friday. The Mythos beta would shutdown and placed on hiatus that very night. It didn't leave much time to say goodbye, the suddenness left many unable to attend but Massively was present in your stead.

"Farewell friends, farewell Mythos" echoed throughout the Stonehill Market. Players congregated and crowded the area to praise Mythos and say their goodbyes. "I don't know what game to play next," cried several others. It's the people behind the characters that matter, the emotions are real, honest, and believable. The death of any MMOG is always a disheartening experience but it also brings cause to celebrate and forge a lasting adventure into a lifetime memory.

Several appreciative and ever thankful Mythos developers were of course present. Lead Developer, Travis Baldree spawned a cataclysmic event for the players to partake in that lasted well into the night. Mythos players joked that it took a crashed server to defeat them as they settled in for the fireworks. Mythos CM, Tiggs made her presence felt by continually talking and laughing with the community. As the final seconds approached the world quaked, and before Mythos collapsed offline the lasting words ringed out: "You will be remembered." It was a very fitting tribute and gracious sentiment indeed. It was a good nine months, and we hope to see Mythos back again one day.

Gallery: Mythos

MassivelyMythos is dead but its memory lives on originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It wasn't long ago that Max Schaefer, a Flagship Studios cofounder and operations chief, admitted to mistakes that the company encountered with Hellgate: London. Now, in a strange twist of irony the players are learning firsthand the lessons of Flagship's failures. The Mythos beta ended as it was placed on hiatus last night, possibly being the last time players will grace the world of Uld. Not long after that the Mythos beta forums went dark but before they did Max Schaefer left a wonderful message to the community.

"They say it's not so much the destination as it is the journey that's important. We're really hoping that's the case around here these days. I can't really believe I'm writing a post like this, but here we are faced with the unpleasant task of taking a hiatus from this crazy project. Unlike most games, Mythos has been running with our testing community for almost its whole life. I really feel like we've all done this together. And despite this bump in the road, I think we've succeeded wildly. This is undoubtedly the best game community I've ever seen. This is the best game development team in the world, in both Seattle and San Francisco. The things we've learned here, and with you all, will be with us forever.

Continue reading Max Schaefer thanks Mythos community

MassivelyMax Schaefer thanks Mythos community originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's official: Flagship Studios' Mythos beta has ceased to be. It's expired and gone to meet its maker. Bereft of life, it rests in peace. It is, in fact, an ex-MMO. Hellgate London subscriptions have halted, and it might soon join Mythos in the great void. There are hopes that they'll be back under a different banner -- or that Hellgate might not close at all -- but if only the worst happens, these two games will certainly be missed by many.

They are not the first ones we've lost, though. Underlight, Earth & Beyond, and Asheron's Call 2 have all gone the way of the 8-track tape. Saga of Ryzom went under as well, though it looks like it might make a comeback. Think about those games for a moment, or any others you've lost; which lost MMOs do you want back the most? Do you want them back because you played them and now you miss them, or because you never got to play them at all?

Consider this the Flagship Studios memorial Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Which deceased MMO do you miss the most? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asherons-call-2closeddeadearth-and-beyondflagship-studioshellgate-londonmythosryzomsaga-of-ryzomtdgthe-daily-grindunderlightSat, 19 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST