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[Faunasphere shutting down on March 15th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/20/faunasphere-shutting-down-on-march-15th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/20/faunasphere-shutting-down-on-march-15th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/20/faunasphere-shutting-down-on-march-15th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's a sad day when a game shuts down, especially one that caters to an unusual audience. Faunasphere, a game about cleaning up a pollution-riddled world while developing your personal animals, has announced its shutdown on March 15th. All subscription options have been removed, all subscriptions or microtransaction currency purchases after January 14th are being refunded, and the developers at Big Fish Games are working to make sure that the month until the closing is memorable and enjoyable for players.

In a brief FAQ regarding the closure, the development team addresses several potential player questions, including the game's integration with Facebook (which kept the servers running for longer than would have otherwise been possible) and the issue of any outstanding funds sunk into the game. There's also a thread set up for players to exchange contact information, in the hopes that some of the community might retain its cohesion. Our condolences go out to the Faunasphere players and development team affected by the shutdown.

MassivelyFaunasphere shutting down on March 15th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are you looking for some MMO fun in your brief downtime through the day, but don't have the time to sink into a dungeon run in your game of choice? MMO Crunch has discovered the perfect solution: 5-Minute MMORPG.

It's a simple, cute flash game that promises level 80 in five minutes, offers exploding opponents, turns lag into a feature, and is easy enough to allow you to pick up the basics on the first try. At ten players per map, it's a bit on the skimpy side for an MMO, but it fits with the general theme of quick and streamlined. The ironic humor certainly helps the fun, as well.

The game is free, requires no download, and is a surprisingly fun MMO-lite for those who want to play but are short on time.

MassivelyIntroducing 5-Minute MMORPG originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5-minute-mmocopenhagen-game-collectivef2pflash-gamesfree-to-playmmo-crunchWed, 02 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Flash Games Summit looks at social gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/flash-games-summit-looks-at-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/flash-games-summit-looks-at-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/flash-games-summit-looks-at-social-gaming/#commentsFiled under: ,

The arena of social gaming is a hotly contested one, with two equally enthusiastic schools of thought on whether or not they even count as MMOs. Regardless of your opinion, social gaming is here to stay, and more and more developers are turning their attention to the games (and the profits they potentially represent.) The very nature of social gaming allows development teams to take it in either direction: a distinctly non-MMO direction such as Bejeweled, or the ever-growing MMO format.

It's a relatively new and growing market, and several developers sat down earlier today to take a look at it during the Flash Games Summit. Moderator Sana Choudray of Traffichoney led a discussion of what is needed for a successful social game, as well as where they stand now and where they will go in the future.

While the developers acknowledged that social gaming is lacking at the moment, they all agreed that it's only going to grow over the next year or two. The full discussion is well worth a read.

MassivelyFlash Games Summit looks at social gaming originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookFacebookGamesflash-gamesflash-games-summitsana-choudraysocial-gamessocial-gamingTue, 09 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare CEO is confident in the state of PC gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/bioware-ceo-is-confident-in-the-state-of-pc-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/bioware-ceo-is-confident-in-the-state-of-pc-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/bioware-ceo-is-confident-in-the-state-of-pc-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , ,


BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka is standing behind PC games, directly opposing all of the naysayers that shout the doom of PC gaming from on high.

A recent article over at Computer And Video Games.com pointed to Muzyka's confident stance as well as his expression of changing the definition of PC gaming, such as counting in the large growth of MMOs, flash games, and other casual experiences that any PC user can easily access.

"MMOs are one way that's occurring... And there are more people playing flash-based games and casual games, even core games that are played in a casual way, so maybe [they have] a more core experience and you only play them for short bursts or for half an hour or something," Muzyka was quoted as saying.

One only needs to look at the success of games such as World of Warcraft or any other MMO, as well as the very healthy Steam distribution service to note that PC gaming is far from dead.

MassivelyBioWare CEO is confident in the state of PC gaming originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecasual-gamesceocomputer-and-video-gamesflash-gamesmmospc-gamespc-gamingray-muzykasteamTue, 20 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[OurWorld wants casual gamers to pay and play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/ourworld-wants-casual-gamers-to-pay-and-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/ourworld-wants-casual-gamers-to-pay-and-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/ourworld-wants-casual-gamers-to-pay-and-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The new kids on the scene, FlowPlay, have recently come out with their first creation - OurWorld. Combining the elements of your standard virtual space with the addictive qualities of casual flash based games, OurWorld hopes to keep you playing the night away.

The game is built from the ground up for the average gamer by combining addictive flash games, like Raft Wars and Storm The House, with a virtual space very similar to Habbo Hotel or Club Penguin. You walk around and talk with other people, but the main pull is to play these flash games to receive "flow", the in-game currency. You use the flow to spin the prize wheel, which gives you experience to level your avatar and wear new clothing as well as coins to buy more clothing.

Continue reading OurWorld wants casual gamers to pay and play

MassivelyOurWorld wants casual gamers to pay and play originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 May 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualflash-gamesflowplayourworldsubscriptionvirtual-worldsThu, 08 May 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mytopia reinvents Yahoo! Games for the MySpace generation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/mytopia-reinvents-yahoo-games-for-the-myspace-generation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/mytopia-reinvents-yahoo-games-for-the-myspace-generation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/mytopia-reinvents-yahoo-games-for-the-myspace-generation/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Are casual, social games the wave of the future? In years to come, will we lovers of the swinging sword, the flashing fireball and the gigantic gun be left reminiscing about the "good old days" as we sign on for another evening of massively multiplayer bingo? The makers of Mytopia took a look into their crystal ball, saw the success of MySpace and Facebook and casual-game havens like Popcap, Yahoo! and Neopets and said, "These great tastes... would taste great together!"

Thus was born Mytopia, a Flash-based virtual world where you can create your own super-deformed avatar (like Wii's Miis) and play popular board and card games with people from around the world, build friends lists, send email, and gamble away virtual money challenging other players to backgammon, chess, Sudoku and several other similar games. It works not only as a standalone web site, but also as an application you can install in Facebook, MySpace or Bebo. No matter how you arrive in Mytopia, though, you'll be able to play with everyone else -- there's only one game world shared by all.

Mytopia has a cheerful art style, bouncy music, and well-rendered board games. What it does not have, though, is bloody avatar fights in the Battledome. Come on. Even Neopets has that.

[Via Techcrunch]

MassivelyMytopia reinvents Yahoo! Games for the MySpace generation originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backgammonbebochessfacebookflashflash-gamesmiimyspacemytopianeopetspopcappopcap-gamessudokuwiiyahooyahoo-gamesTue, 25 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The future of Disney Online: An interview with SVP Steve Parkis]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/28/the-future-of-disney-online-an-interview-with-svp-steve-parkis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/28/the-future-of-disney-online-an-interview-with-svp-steve-parkis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/28/the-future-of-disney-online-an-interview-with-svp-steve-parkis/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Last week, Disney Online merged multiple online divisions into a single entity now called Disney Online Studios. I had a chance to talk to the Senior Vice President in charge of it all, Steve Parkis, about the vision for one of the world's most recognizable brands as it tackles the fast-rising casual online gameplay market.

Before now, Disney's online efforts spanned over many different areas: developing Flash based casual games; acquiring the online community, Club Penguin; and building the successful family-oriented MMORPGs ToonTown Online and Pirates of the Caribbean Online. Steve's mission is to bring all of those together to make Disney.com a dedicated casual games destination.

He believes that casual players are more than just Women 35+ and that there is a large, untapped market of players that Disney's brand can draw in. But how does he plan to do that?

Continue reading The future of Disney Online: An interview with SVP Steve Parkis

MassivelyThe future of Disney Online: An interview with SVP Steve Parkis originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cars-onlinedisney-fairiesdisney-onlinedisney-online-studiosdisney.comfeaturedflash-gamesjack-sparrowpixarpixie-hollowsteve-parkisThu, 28 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST