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[Free for All: Istaria's updates, community, and future development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/free-for-all-istarias-updates-community-and-future-developme/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/free-for-all-istarias-updates-community-and-future-developme/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/free-for-all-istarias-updates-community-and-future-developme/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Istaria concept art
Before anyone asks in the comments section: Yes, Istaria is still around. I've noticed that many players seem to think if something is out of their sight, it's out of every other player's mind too, but the truth is that there are many, many smallish and indie MMOs in existence that not only continue to do well but offer unique gameplay for anyone who might be interested. Istaria is even still referred to as Horizons by many, even though that change was made a long, long time ago. Despite all of the outdated opinions and its status as an "older" game, interesting things are happening in the world of Istaria.

I took some time and asked Amarie Ancalimon, Community Relations manager from Virtrium, about the latest string of patches and updates. I got plenty of information back, so let's get to it!

Continue reading Free for All: Istaria's updates, community, and future development

MassivelyFree for All: Istaria's updates, community, and future development originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amarie-ancalimonbeau-hindmandragonsf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumhorizonsinterviewinterviewsistariaopinionvelvet-ropevirtriumWed, 23 May 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Downgrading an Age of Conan account to F2P]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-anvil-of-crom-downgrading-an-age-of-conan-account-to-f2p/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom - Comparing Age of Conan's free and premium services
As I mentioned last time, I'm currently test-driving the EU servers. As such, my Age of Conan subscription fee is spoken for, and my US server characters are now relegated to free-to-play status. Since I'm still deciding on an EU main (I just rerolled after getting a PoM to 22), I figured I'd use this week's column to take a quick look at my veteran account through the eyes of a free-to-play customer.

When AoC Unchained debuted last summer, I read the account services matrix like everyone else, but to be frank, I didn't pay it much attention because I'd always been a subscriber. In the back of my mind, I figured that anyone who's halfway serious about Age of Conan would want to sub up, and my experiences this weekend have only reinforced that notion.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Downgrading an Age of Conan account to F2P

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Downgrading an Age of Conan account to F2P originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaa-f2paccount-downgradeage-of-conanage-of-conan-account-downgradeage-of-conan-extended-trialage-of-conan-f2p-matrixage-of-conan-free-vs-premiumage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-account-downgradeaoc-advanced-ridingaoc-downgradeaoc-mountsaoc-unchainedaoc-veteran-rewardsbusiness-modelsconandowngradef2pf2p-conversionsf2p-matrixf2tfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfree-to-tryfreemiumfreemium-conversionfuncomgodslayerhyboriakhitaikhitai-f2popinionrise-of-the-godslayerthe-anvil-of-cromtrialunchainedMon, 21 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Planet Cyrene adds to the high-stakes worlds of Entropia]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/free-for-all-planet-cyrene-adds-to-the-high-stakes-worlds-of-en/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/free-for-all-planet-cyrene-adds-to-the-high-stakes-worlds-of-en/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/free-for-all-planet-cyrene-adds-to-the-high-stakes-worlds-of-en/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Planet Cyrene screenshot
I'm not much of a shooter fan and probably never will be. Sure, I have as much fun blasting my way through monsters as the next gamer, but I rarely have the patience or physical stamina to overcome the pains and frustrations of shooter PvP. After all, my first rule of PvP applies especially well to shooters: There is always someone better than you. Planet Cyrene, the new world being added to the impressive portfolio of Entropia Universe, tasks players tasks similar to those found in Planet Calypso and mixes in PvP arenas that promise to frustrate (or delight) players, depending on their skill level. I sat down with Ed Robles III, lead developer for Planet Cyrene, to see just how nasty and expensive things might get.

Remember, this is the Entropia Universe we are talking about, and that means players will spend real money on bullets, armor, and practically everything else. Fortunately, players can earn items that are worth real money as well. Call it gambling or whatever you want, but it still seems to be a pretty successful formula.

Continue reading Free for All: Planet Cyrene adds to the high-stakes worlds of Entropia

MassivelyFree for All: Planet Cyrene adds to the high-stakes worlds of Entropia originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmaned-robles-IIIentropia-universef2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiummmofpsopinionplanet-calypsoplanet-cyrenereal-money-transactionsvelvet-ropeWed, 16 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Zeroing in on my favorite free-to-play mains]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/free-for-all-zeroing-in-on-my-favorite-free-to-play-mains/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/free-for-all-zeroing-in-on-my-favorite-free-to-play-mains/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/free-for-all-zeroing-in-on-my-favorite-free-to-play-mains/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

My Vanguard main
I felt a little nostalgic this week. Heck, at my age, I feel nostalgic every time I smell chimney smoke or hear Christmas music. I suspect it will only grow more common with age. MMOs have been such a huge part of my life for well over a decade now that I feel nostalgic about many of the things that happened during that time, and for many of the characters I have grown -- and lost.

I'm not overly sentimental about it, but it is interesting how we feel about the pixelated versions of ourselves, the ones we control while sitting at a keyboard or while touching a tablet. I don't want to downplay how important gaming can be for many of us, either. Once, years ago, I met a fellow player in a social game called There. She was a wonderful person who had over time lost the ability to walk. She loved the freedom that the avatar gave her. Needless to say, she was very connected to her character.

I made a short list of some of my favorite characters from the years. As I think about it, this list says a lot about me as a gamer and about the types of games I love.

Continue reading Free for All: Zeroing in on my favorite free-to-play mains

MassivelyFree for All: Zeroing in on my favorite free-to-play mains originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbeau-turkeyChangyouf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-realmsfree-to-playfreemiumglitchjagexmilmoopinionrunescapeRyzomSOESONYSony-Online-Entertainmentspellbornthe-chronicles-of-spellborntheretiny-speckVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvelvet-ropezentiaWed, 09 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The pros and cons of Tibia's browser version]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/mmobility-the-pros-and-cons-of-tibias-browser-version/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/mmobility-the-pros-and-cons-of-tibias-browser-version/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/mmobility-the-pros-and-cons-of-tibias-browser-version/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Tibia screenshot
Tibia is an MMO that has been hanging in there for many, many years. You have to give it respect for that alone. When you add on the fact that the game seems to be updated relatively frequently and boasts a pretty good-sized playerbase, it becomes even more intriguing. I've played it in the past and have enjoyed the simple graphics and slower-paced gameplay. I like how NPCs chat with you, old-school EverQuest-style, and how there seems to be a lot more to the game than meets the eye.

There are plenty of eyesores, however. The developers recently released Tibia in a beta browser form. While the client was always easy enough to download and run on my multitude of devices, I always prefer to just jump into my browser and load it up.

I found a lot of neat little systems but also quite a few bugs or odd design choices. Colors and layout can be a problem, and I am not the biggest fan of Flash-based MMOs. Still, I am enjoying myself so far and look forward to more. Let's talk about what I found over these last several hours with Tibia's browser-based version.

Continue reading MMObility: The pros and cons of Tibia's browser version

MassivelyMMObility: The pros and cons of Tibia's browser version originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedf2pfeaturedflash-basedfree-to-playfreemiumftpisometric-viewMMObilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoOld-schoolopinionphonesmartphonetibiaUltima-OnlineFri, 04 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Why social gaming could destroy MMOs and how we can fight it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/free-for-all-why-social-gaming-could-destroy-mmos-and-how-we-fi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/free-for-all-why-social-gaming-could-destroy-mmos-and-how-we-fi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/free-for-all-why-social-gaming-could-destroy-mmos-and-how-we-fi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

CastleVille screenshot
I am a huge fan of social media. Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus -- it all makes sense to me and has shown to be a very useful tool in not only communicating with friends but finding new games, developers, and websites. My Twitter feed provides enough news and information that I can skip any standard media. I haven't watched a local newscast for a long, long time. On top of that, I can communicate with readers in real time, sharing photos and tidbits of cool.

Has social media affected MMO gaming? It definitely has. Watch any smart developer's Twitter feed and you will see the community team interacting directly with players, answering questions, hosting contests, and helping players feel as though the developers are actual people. Social media has also changed how we connect to our games, MMO or not.

All of this means that everything is social now. Going to the dentist? Share it with your friends. Defeated a boss monster on your Xbox? Tweet it. Just picked up that epic sword in Dark Age of Camelot? Post it to your Facebook. Heck, many MMOs now have a Twitter or Facebook option built right into the client. All of this instant connectivity is nice, but it's possible that the "massively" part of MMO will soon apply to any game. What will this do to the genre?

Continue reading Free for All: Why social gaming could destroy MMOs and how we can fight it

MassivelyFree for All: Why social gaming could destroy MMOs and how we can fight it originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancityvilledark-age-of-camelotf2pfacebookfarmvillefeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgoogle-plushero-academylord-of-the-rings-onlineopinionsocialsocial-gamingsocial-networkingtwittervelvet-ropeZyngaWed, 02 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: New browser-based converts shine light on issues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/free-for-all-new-browser-based-converts-shine-light-on-issues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/free-for-all-new-browser-based-converts-shine-light-on-issues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/free-for-all-new-browser-based-converts-shine-light-on-issues/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Fiesta Social screenshot
I recently threw out a prediction that within five years, most of our MMO content will be coming through our browsers. To be more specific, I think that most players in the United States will be enjoying their favorite MMOs within a browser. That can mean several things but does not refer to games like Free Realms, a client-based game that is only signed-into at the browser level. As with any discussion about genres, mechanics or styles in the MMO world, I have to be very specific.

It's pretty likely that a very large percentage of the US playerbase is already playing browser-based games. Look at the American market for games like RuneScape, Battlestar Galactica Online, Club Penguin, Drakensang Online, Evony, and Ministry of War and you might just find millions of players.

Next we need to consider that there are more games coming into the browser market. This new batch is essentially a group of standard, client-based MMOs that are porting themselves to the browser. I tend to be a little skeptical about some of these in the short-term, for several reasons.

Continue reading Free for All: New browser-based converts shine light on issues

MassivelyFree for All: New browser-based converts shine light on issues originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8realmsbattlestar-galactica-onlinebeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedclub-penguindrakensang-onlineevonyf2pfeaturedffafiesta-onlinefiesta-socialfree-for-allfree-realmsfree-to-playfreemiumftpillyriadjagexministry-of-waropinionrunes-of-magicrunescapetibiavelvet-ropeWed, 25 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: Stronghold Kingdoms]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/rise-and-shiny-stronghold-kingdoms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/rise-and-shiny-stronghold-kingdoms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/rise-and-shiny-stronghold-kingdoms/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Stronghold Kingdoms screenshot
There are certain designs in the MMORTS genre that have frankly started to burn me out. I was a bit worried that I had reached my tolerance point and would not be able to stomach another city-builder until I had put some time between me and my latest preview or first impressions. It's an amazing genre, and as I have argued before, it's more MMO than most MMOs. As in many genres, successful design is copied. The ironic thing is that all of these copies often dilute the market, making it worse on everyone. As much as I love the genre, I am a bit sick of running into the same design, stereotypical settings, and mechanics. Of course, we cannot take these copies and paint the whole genre with a terrible brush; if we did that, all of MMOdom would be in trouble. Still, I'm sick of it.

Luckily Firefly Worlds, maker of Stronghold Kingdoms, has a very persistent "PR ninja" who made a point to poke at me on Twitter. Usually, we funnel all PR contact to our lead editors for organization purposes, but hey, I can't resist a nice voice and a lovely looking game... and I have a high tolerance for fun people.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Stronghold Kingdoms

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Stronghold Kingdoms originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pfeaturedFireflyfirefly-worldsfree-to-playfreemiumftpgemstone-ivhands-onlivestreammassively-tvmudrise-and-shinystreamstreaming-videostronghold-kingdomstwitchtwitch-tvtwitchtvvideoSun, 15 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Looking for the near-perfect MUD-like browser MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/free-for-all-looking-for-the-near-perfect-mud-like-browser-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/free-for-all-looking-for-the-near-perfect-mud-like-browser-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/free-for-all-looking-for-the-near-perfect-mud-like-browser-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Browser screenshot
I need your help. If you are a reader, then I need you to open your memory boxes and take a look around at the bottom. Shuffle around where all the remnants of favorite past MMOs settle and see if you can find me something. If you are a developer who is reading this, then you might indeed have some special insight into my issue.

I need a game. A special game. It must fit a certain mold that is very particularly fitted to my very specific needs and wants. It's a tall order, to say the least.

Now, I understand how to use Google. At least once a week I am asked something along the lines of "Where do you find these weird games you cover?" I am always tempted to link the questioner to Google and walk away, but generally I tell him it is a combination of different efforts: some searching, some tipping from readers, and more than a smidge of good luck. Also understand that I have a lot of good titles keeping me busy, but I tend to become sort of obsessed with little projects along the way. So what do I need this week?

I need a semi-graphical, browser-based MUD-like MMO that features great customization for characters, text, and interface, that's what.

Continue reading Free for All: Looking for the near-perfect MUD-like browser MMO

MassivelyFree for All: Looking for the near-perfect MUD-like browser MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedbrowser-based-MMOsdie2nitedomain-of-heroesf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgraphical-mudmagic-duelmagicduelmudopinionWed, 11 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: I got the Second Life inventory management blues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/04/free-for-all-i-got-the-second-life-inventory-management-blues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/04/free-for-all-i-got-the-second-life-inventory-management-blues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/04/free-for-all-i-got-the-second-life-inventory-management-blues/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Second Life screenshot
Every year I attempt to go through my Second Life inventory in the hope that it actually works out for me. I really do want to get rid of the 7,000+ items I have after eight years in the game (my game-birthday is on May 26th!), but it's such a daunting task. Where do you start? Is organization really even needed? Well, yes it is, from what I have heard. Everyone is running in-world carrying endless pockets filled with everything possible, and that's going to cause some lag and effort on the server's part.

Also, I have an obsession with minimizing my life. I hate physical stuff. It takes up room, collects dust, and just sits there. Sure, I maintain all of my art if I can and some other important items like pictures and cute little knick-knacks, but otherwise, if I don't use it, it gets tossed, sold, or set on the curb for the junk-people to grab.

I feel the same way about Second Life. There's a mental burden that years of junk presses onto someone, digital representation or not. It's no wonder those people in that Hoarders show look so down; it's a hard life to lose the ability to throw anything away, ever.

I am making a stand, slowly. I am going to get this inventory under control by coming up with some ideas to help me along.

Continue reading Free for All: I got the Second Life inventory management blues

MassivelyFree for All: I got the Second Life inventory management blues originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanEverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfeaturedfree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumftpinventory-managementLindenlinden-labsecond-lifeSOESony-Online-EntertainmentWed, 04 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: From realistic dragons to a dragon icon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/free-for-all-from-realistic-dragons-to-a-dragon-icon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/free-for-all-from-realistic-dragons-to-a-dragon-icon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/free-for-all-from-realistic-dragons-to-a-dragon-icon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Remanum screenshot
Ah, graphics. If ever there was a deciding factor for most gamers, it would be graphics. How does a game look? How do the graphics make you feel as a player? I'm as guilty as anyone else who might consider himself to be a graphics snob of sorts, but I lean more in the opposite direction. For whatever reason, I am not as easily impressed as I once was and tend to go for more representational graphics. I'm not quite at the stage where my MMO gaming has been reduced to a blob of text on my screen, but I definitely enjoy simplicity.

The problem is that many MMOs do not provide that precise formula to hit my graphics sweet spot, or as in the more common scenario, there are parts of certain titles that I would adore if only they hadn't been packaged with the rest of the game. Ryzom, for example, is one of my favorite freemium titles. To this day, it packs more graphical punch and originality than games a quarter of its age.

Now I find myself leaning more toward very basic graphics delivered smartly through my browser. I've even gone through an Anime obsession! Yes, it's been one of those years.

Continue reading Free for All: From realistic dragons to a dragon icon

MassivelyFree for All: From realistic dragons to a dragon icon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgraphicsguild-wars-2mudsnadirimopinionparallel-kingdomperblueremanumryzomtraviantravian-gamesvelvet-ropeWed, 28 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ngmoco exec: Free-to-play is not exploitative]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/ngmoco-exec-free-to-play-is-not-exploitative/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/ngmoco-exec-free-to-play-is-not-exploitative/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/ngmoco-exec-free-to-play-is-not-exploitative/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

F2P Summit
Delivering the keynote address at the current Free to Play Summit in London, Ngmoco Sweden General Manager Ben Cousins came out in strong support of the business model. He said that his response to people asking if F2P takes advantage of players is always the same: "Any business model where 95 percent of people who don't pay cannot be exploitative."

As most F2P players never spend money in such games and tend to play the most, Cousins thinks that the model works in favor of the gamer. He also stated that freemium games are not set up to trick people into paying, saying that it's "ineffective" if that is the case as a vast majority resists doing so.

Cousins addressed the news stories of people who dangerously splurge on in-game purchases as a rarity: "I've never come across a big spender on a free-to-play game who has maxed out their credit cards. The big spenders I've met generally know what they're doing. Even the $5,000 spenders are not being exploited, they are just people who have found their big hobby."

Ngmoco publishes freemium titles on the iOS and Android platforms, including games like We Rule and We City.

MassivelyNgmoco exec: Free-to-play is not exploitative originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ben-cousinsbusiness-modelbusiness-modelsf2pf2p-summitfree-to-playfree-to-play-summitfreemiumin-app-purchaseskeynote-addressngmocongmoco-swedenwe-citywe-ruleWed, 28 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Becoming a mediocre trader in several free titles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/free-for-all-becoming-a-mediocre-trader-in-several-free-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/free-for-all-becoming-a-mediocre-trader-in-several-free-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/free-for-all-becoming-a-mediocre-trader-in-several-free-titles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Mabinogi ship banner
I often find myself achieving little things in many different games while other gamer buddies of mine are busily conquering actual gods or dragons within one or two particular titles. Sure, I would love to join a group of battleworn adventurers as they took down one of the final bosses in almost any game, but I rarely find the time to work a character into the ranks of the ascended.

OK, so I have time, but not if I wanted to do what I do here. That is to say, I am not dedicated to one game because it is my job to tell you readers about several games. About every game. About as many games as possible. I can't do that while maintaining a high DPS score. It's a give and take, but I love to explore, fortunately.

Let me tell you about how I love to trade or craft in some of my favorite titles and why it's important to me.

Continue reading Free for All: Becoming a mediocre trader in several free titles

MassivelyFree for All: Becoming a mediocre trader in several free titles originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedbrowser-based-mmoclassic-mmocode-clubcraftingf2pfantasyfeaturedffafletchingfree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumftpglitchjagexjagex-games-studiomabinoginexonopinionparallel-kingdomperbluersrunescapesandboxtiny-specktradetradingvelvet-ropewurmwurm-onlineWed, 21 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Two years and counting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/free-for-all-two-years-and-counting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/free-for-all-two-years-and-counting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/07/free-for-all-two-years-and-counting/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Free for All two year anniversary banner
On March 9th, 2012, this column will turn two years old. I thought it would be a fun idea to look back on those two years and recount what I might have learned. I've learned a lot, actually. When I was first hired to write a column about free-to-play games, I thought I would be covering relatively simple topics, stuff like "how much would you pay for a horse?" or "how many free-to-play games do you have on your hard drive?" Pretty soon I realized that free-to-play, to many people, represents a sort of gaming movement and genre rather than a payment model.

The discussions have been open, frank, and sometimes infuriating. It's easy for me to write so simply that it can seem as though I am attempting to make a larger point, and it's much easier to make much more of the term "free-to-play" than is necessary. I have seen the lines being drawn by many players who feel that free-to-play is a sort of scary neighbor who threatens the peaceful existence of their neighborhood, while many others couldn't care less.

Like I said, I have learned a lot.

Continue reading Free for All: Two years and counting

MassivelyFree for All: Two years and counting originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animeanniversarybeau-hindbeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-plfree-to-playfreemiumftpindependentindiemaplestoryopinionvelvet-ropeWed, 07 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: How I'm preparing for the release of Wakfu]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/free-for-all-how-im-preparing-for-the-release-of-wakfu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/free-for-all-how-im-preparing-for-the-release-of-wakfu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/free-for-all-how-im-preparing-for-the-release-of-wakfu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Wakfu screenshot
I'm not your typical fanboy. I get excited about an upcoming game, but generally I will not believe in its greatness until I play it. Usually I can get my hands on the game before it comes out so I can see what the fuss is about, but I never find myself that ramped up until release day. Then, and only then, will I really pay attention.

Wakfu is one of those games I know is going to at least be different from its rivals. I have already played a bit in all of the betas and now know that it is far from your typical MMO. The classes are different and fun; the lore and artwork is amazing. It runs on almost any PC. The game doesn't insult the player with hand-holding and non-stop popups. It really does walk that fine line between a sandbox and a more linear game.

So how am I preparing for the release of this unique game?

Continue reading Free for All: How I'm preparing for the release of Wakfu

MassivelyFree for All: How I'm preparing for the release of Wakfu originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceankamaankama-gamesbeau-hindmanbetaf2pfeaturedfree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumftpIsometriclaunchlaunchesSquare-EnixSquareEnixTurn-basedwakfuWed, 29 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Previously on MV TV: The Week of February 18th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-february-18th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-february-18th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-february-18th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Previously on MVTV logo
It's time again to look back on the previous week of MassivelyTV and dig up the greatest moments that we could find! The best thing about this column is that if you have missed the earlier week's streams due to real life hassles, you can now sit back in the comforting arms of the weekend and watch hours and hours of livestreaming action -- only the choicest cuts picked by the staff.

And this week we have some goodies for sure. Starting off, Richie jumped back into Guild Wars, Mike acted like a newb in 0.0 space in EVE Online, and Adventure Mike stole a time machine and visited Nexus: Kingdom of the Winds once again. Plus we saw more Guild Wars action with Adventure Mike, RuneScape on my Thursday stream, and a bit of Zentia!

Make some popcorn, sit back, and click past the cut. Well, click past the cut and hit play first, then sit back. Unless you have a wireless mouse, then you can... well, you get me.

Continue reading Previously on MV TV: The Week of February 18th

MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: The Week of February 18th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetArena-Netbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedccpCCP-GamesChangyoueve-onlinef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumftpguild-warslive-eventslivestreammvtvnexus-kingdom-of-the-windspreviously-on-mv-tvpvprunescapeSandboxtwitch-tvtwitchtvzentiaSun, 26 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Comparing the payment models of Second Life and Pocket Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/free-for-all-comparing-the-payment-models-of-second-life-and-po/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/free-for-all-comparing-the-payment-models-of-second-life-and-po/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/22/free-for-all-comparing-the-payment-models-of-second-life-and-po/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Second Life and Pocket Legends screenshots
Over the last few weeks I have been taking a look at different free-to-play payment models in the hopes of showing just how much variety there is in today's market. The term free-to-play is open to interpretation, and every time I become involved in a discussion about what the term means, I come to the same point: Show me the game and I'll tell you how "free" it is. While more titles than not can be enjoyed completely for free, it's important to note that every game needs to make money, so every developer hopes some players pay for something.

We also must note that the term "free-to-play" is almost like the term "rock-and-roll." It is a general term that can be broken into many sub-genres. In other words, don't be so uptight about the literal meaning of the word. If you are not sure, check out the game in question.

Continue reading Free for All: Comparing the payment models of Second Life and Pocket Legends

MassivelyFree for All: Comparing the payment models of Second Life and Pocket Legends originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowsercash-shopeden-eternalf2pfeaturedfree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumftpglitchjunebudlinden-lamilmomonetizationpocket-legendssecond-lifspacetime-studiostiny-speckWorld-of-WarcraftWed, 22 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Comparing the payment models of Glitch and Ryzom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/free-for-all-comparing-the-payment-models-of-glitch-and-ryzom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/free-for-all-comparing-the-payment-models-of-glitch-and-ryzom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/08/free-for-all-comparing-the-payment-models-of-glitch-and-ryzom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Ryzom screenshot
I thought it might be a cool idea to do a comparison of free-to-play models for my next few articles. As free-to-play has become more and more popular, cash shops and tiers of service have become much more important to how a player might enjoy or interact with a game. While the standard free-to-play model, the most popular one by far, is one that allows players to download a free client, has no subscription at all, and tacks on a cash-shop, the freemium variant is quickly becoming widespread. Freemium seems to be the model of choice for many Western games that were previously subscription-only.

The problem is that I do not really like the freemium model. I'm old-school, I guess. I enjoy the model that was imported to the States maybe eight years ago. A free client with a cash shop on top is all I need to steer my fun by. I'd rather skip any sort of tiered service as well.

There are exceptions to the rule, of course.

Continue reading Free for All: Comparing the payment models of Glitch and Ryzom

MassivelyFree for All: Comparing the payment models of Glitch and Ryzom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowsercash-shopf2pfallen-earthfeaturedfree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumftpgamersfirstglitchMicrotransactionsRyzomSandboxtiny-speckWed, 08 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pack up your toys: LEGO Universe is shutting down at midnight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/pack-up-your-toys-lego-universe-shutting-down-at-midnight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/pack-up-your-toys-lego-universe-shutting-down-at-midnight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/pack-up-your-toys-lego-universe-shutting-down-at-midnight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LEGO Universe
The clock is chiming, and kids (and the young at heart) everywhere are asking for just a little more time with LEGO Universe. Unfortunately the struggling MMO has gotten no reprieve from the imaginary video game governor, and its servers will go offline tonight at midnight EST.

The shutdown FAQ encourages LEGO Universe players to share their favorite memories on the forums and ends with a heartfelt message from the team:
"Our decision to end LEGO Universe is similar to decisions we also make with LEGO Product collection, where favourite sets come and go to make space for new sets. It was time for LEGO Universe to end and hopefully new digital LEGO experiences will come in the future."
We first heard of LEGO Universe's closure last November, when the studio announced that the game's freemium model was not bringing in enough paying customers to keep the title afloat. LEGO Universe is a youngling in the MMO genre, having released in October 2010, making the game one year and three months old at the time of its shutdown.

Refunds for those who had a paid subscription on file after December 31st, 2011 will be distributed early next month. Unused LEGO game cards may also be exchanged for LEGO e-gift cards.

MassivelyPack up your toys: LEGO Universe is shutting down at midnight originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closeclosingclosuref2pfree-to-playfreemiumlegolego-grouplego-universeshutdownMon, 30 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Checking out Rosh Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/free-for-all-checking-out-rosh-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/free-for-all-checking-out-rosh-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/free-for-all-checking-out-rosh-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Rosh Online screenshot
Recently I was asked to take a press tour for Rosh Online, a new "massive war" MMO from Ignited Games. Press tours can be a lot of fun. You get to chat with the developers and ask direct questions about specific things that are happening right then in front of you, and you get to hear detailed explanations about systems that might normally take a while to figure out while you explore deeper parts of the world.

The problem with jumping right into a game that you have never played before is that you can't really get an exact sense of what it is like to be a real, brand-new player. It's important to know how that feels so that it can be passed on to potential newbies. Either way, I enjoyed my time with Rosh Online, but I did have quite a few issues with it. I'm sure a lot will change over time, especially since this game is brand-new, but in the meanwhile I'll tell you all about it.

Click past the cut!

Continue reading Free for All: Checking out Rosh Online

MassivelyFree for All: Checking out Rosh Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionbeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumftpguild-warsignited-gamesopinionPKpvprappelzrosh-onlinerosh-online-the-return-of-karosvelvet-ropeWed, 07 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Firing Line: A look at World of Tanks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/the-firing-line-a-look-at-world-of-tanks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/the-firing-line-a-look-at-world-of-tanks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/the-firing-line-a-look-at-world-of-tanks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Firing Line - header with various shooter avatars
I'm not the biggest tank fan in the world. Don't get me wrong; I'm a red-blooded American male who loves engines, horsepower, and most types of heavy machinery, but for whatever reason, I've never looked at a tank and come away particularly aroused.

Imagine the surprise, then, when I loaded up World of Tanks a couple of weeks ago and found myself having a jolly old time. Wargaming.net's free-to-play action title is a deceptively simple shooter with a lot of depth under the hood, and despite what some players refer to as pay-to-win shenanigans, I highly recommend it.

Continue reading The Firing Line: A look at World of Tanks

MassivelyThe Firing Line: A look at World of Tanks originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilityaccessibleeasy-to-learn-hard-to-masterf2pfeaturedfiring-linefree-to-playfreemiumhands-onimpressionsmmo-shooteropinionpay-2-winpay-to-winshootertanksthe-firing-linewargaming.networld-of-tanksworld-of-tanks-impressionsWorld-War-IIwotww2wwiiFri, 25 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RedBedlam announces browser sandbox called The Missing Ink]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/redbedlam-announces-browser-sandbox-called-the-missing-ink/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/redbedlam-announces-browser-sandbox-called-the-missing-ink/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/redbedlam-announces-browser-sandbox-called-the-missing-ink/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Missing Ink - sandbox browser MMO
How does a free-to-play browser-based fantasy sandbox grab you? It sounded pretty interesting to us, and developer RedBedlam looks to have it ready for early alpha testing in mid-December. The new title is called The Missing Ink, and it's currently scheduled for a Q3 2012 launch on PCs, Macs, and "unspecified tablets," according to Eurogamer.

RedBedlam previously operated the Roma Victor MMO from 2006 through early 2011, and the company plans to implement some sort of freemium business model for the new game. Hit the source link below for a screenshot gallery and a first-look video.

MassivelyRedBedlam announces browser sandbox called The Missing Ink originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalpha-testingbrowserbrowser-basedf2pfantasyfree-to-playfreemiummissing-inkred-bedlamredbedlamroma-victorsandboxthe-missing-inkFri, 25 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE touts one million new DCUO players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/soe-touts-one-million-new-dcuo-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/soe-touts-one-million-new-dcuo-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/soe-touts-one-million-new-dcuo-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DC Universe Online - Harley and Robin
The success notices keep rolling in for DC Universe Online. This time Sony Online Entertainment is touting the fact that one million new players have joined the game's community over the past week. Executive director of development Lorin Jameson says that the numbers are split 50/50 between the PC and PlayStation 3 platforms, and he also intimates that more good news is in the works for fans of the superhero MMO.

"We have a lot of exciting things coming up for players to enjoy in the game and are thrilled at the initial enthusiasm for the game's free-to-play transition," Jameson said via press release.

[Source: SOE press release]

MassivelySOE touts one million new DCUO players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmanbusiness-modelsdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuof2pfree-to-playfreemiumlegendarylorin-jamesonpress-releasesoeSony-Online-EntertainmentsuperherosupermanFri, 11 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: A four-month F2P report card]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/the-anvil-of-crom-a-four-month-f2p-report-card/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/the-anvil-of-crom-a-four-month-f2p-report-card/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/the-anvil-of-crom-a-four-month-f2p-report-card/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom angry man banner
Greetings barbaric faithful, and welcome to another installment of the Anvil of Crom. In between bouts of getting frustrated with the Isle of the Iron Statues dungeon this week (I know, I know, it's sooooo easy, and how bad can I be if I have trouble with it?!), I've been giving a fair amount of thought to Age of Conan's free-to-play experiment.

It's been nearly four months since the devs rolled out the freemium Unchained patch, and that's ample time for me to have formed a few opinions (and to have revised a few others). Join me after the cut for some discussion on what works, what doesn't, and what I hope to see going forward.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: A four-month F2P report card

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: A four-month F2P report card originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-unchainedbusiness-modelscommentaryf2pf2p-report-cardfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfree-to-tryfreemiumlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrommo-industryopinionthe-anvil-of-cromtrialsturbineunlimited-trialSun, 30 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE announcing DCUO's freemium launch date tomorrow]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/soe-announcing-dcuos-freemium-launch-date-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/soe-announcing-dcuos-freemium-launch-date-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/26/soe-announcing-dcuos-freemium-launch-date-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DC Universe Online - Fighting Bane with Nightwing
Well folks, we'd love to tell you the official date that DC Universe Online is switching to its freemium business model. The only problem is that Sony Online Entertainment isn't making that information available until tomorrow.

Why this post, then?

So you can mark your Bat-calendars of course! SOE will make the date official at 7:30 p.m. EDT on October 27th via its Stickam portal (so, yes, this is effectively an announcement about an announcement). As we reported last month, SOE will be moving DCUO to a tiered access plan and eliminating the barrier that is the monthly subscription fee -- although gamers who choose to continue paying it in the form of the Legendary plan will enjoy numerous perks including free DLC and lots of character slots.

[Source: SOE press release]

MassivelySOE announcing DCUO's freemium launch date tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmanbusiness-modelscomic-bookcomicsdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuof2pfree-to-playfreemiumgotham-citylegendary-planmetropolissoeSony-Online-EntertainmentsuperherosupermanWed, 26 Oct 2011 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: EVE isn't the only game with PLEX]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/16/eve-evolved-eve-isnt-the-only-game-with-plex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/16/eve-evolved-eve-isnt-the-only-game-with-plex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/16/eve-evolved-eve-isnt-the-only-game-with-plex/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
The past several years have seen a complete revolution in the online gaming market, and with it the MMO industry as we know it. An industry once dominated by monthly subscriptions is now rapidly giving way to games with free-to-play, freemium and hybrid payment models. EVE Online developer CCP Games has repeatedly expressed concern that EVE could go the way of the dinosaurs if it doesn't adapt its business model to this new market. While I'm forced to agree with the general sentiment behind that statement, I don't think the developers at CCP recognise just how far ahead of the curve they've been with their own business model since the introduction of the 30-day Pilot's License EXtension (PLEX).

PLEX essentially allow players to pay for an EVE subscription with in-game ISK, and it provides a legitimate way for players to buy ISK in a way that doesn't harm the in-game economy. It's a clever system that undercuts illicit RMT business, generates additional revenue for the company, and has even been used for charity drives, but EVE isn't the only game to use the system. The success of PLEX in EVE has spurred several other MMOs to follow suit over the years, both in the subscription-based and free-to-play arenas. Runes of Magic, TERA, Star Trek Online and even World of Warcraft have borrowed a page from CCP's book in one way or another, and it's paying off for them big time.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I put the PLEX system under the microscope to find out exactly what makes it tick, and I look at other MMOs implementing similar systems.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: EVE isn't the only game with PLEX

MassivelyEVE Evolved: EVE isn't the only game with PLEX originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbusiness-modelsccpccp-eveccp-gamescrypticcryptic-studiosdiamondsdilithiumeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgoldguardian-cubiskplexrunes-of-magicstar-trek-onlinesubscriptionWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 16 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take justice to the streets in City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/take-justice-to-the-streets-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/take-justice-to-the-streets-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/take-justice-to-the-streets-in-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

CoH Street Justice
If you're not satisfied taking out thugs with merely a katana or a kick, then Paragon Studios has your answer: Street Justice. It's a brand-new powerset just released in City of Heroes Freedom, available to Scrappers, Brutes, Stalkers, and Tankers. It looks like a flashier mashup of the Martial Arts and Super Strength sets, and according to a post by Paragon's Phil "Synapse" Zeleski, Street Justice is like many of the newer CoH sets in that it comes with a special mechanic, in this case, combo levels and finishing moves that give more freedom to the player than does the similar gameplay hook of Dual Blades.

Street Justice is available for purchase in the game's cash shop for 800 Paragon Points (about $10 US). It is one of two new powersets not granted freely to VIP subscribers. Check out the video after the break to peek before you buy.

Continue reading Take justice to the streets in City of Heroes

MassivelyTake justice to the streets in City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cash-shopcity-of-heroesCity-of-Villainscohcovcoxf2pfree-to-playfreemiumncsoftparagonparagon-marketparagon-pointsparagon-studiosphil-zeleskipowersetpowersetsstreet-justicesynapsevipTue, 04 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[This Week In MMO: Rated M for mature edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/this-week-in-mmo-rated-m-for-mature-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/this-week-in-mmo-rated-m-for-mature-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/this-week-in-mmo-rated-m-for-mature-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

TWIMMO: World of Darkness
It's another Thursday, and another week for Gamebreaker.TV's This Week in MMO. What's in store for this installment? Massively's very own Editor-in-Chief Shawn Schuster and Community Manager Rubi Bayer join regular host Gary Gannon in "mature" discussion about MMOs.

First up, Gary, Shawn, and Rubi run through the topic of the mature rating in MMOs such as CCP's World of Darkness. Then our intrepid hosts guide us through the magical and technological starting zone for the Asura in Guild Wars 2. Also, saving Metropolis just became cheaper -- free, in fact! Shawn and Rubi discuss DC Universe Online's entry to the free-to-play market. Where is the future of MMO-subscription models going? Freemium? When Shawn spoke to SOE President John Smedley, Smed certainly favored it.

Moving on to another action-based game, Rubi reveals TERA's PR speak within its endgame Q&A statements, and Shawn admits that the small raid size in The Secret World isn't quite big enough for him.

Catch all that and more in the full Gamebreaker.TV video after the break!

Continue reading This Week In MMO: Rated M for mature edition

MassivelyThis Week In MMO: Rated M for mature edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetAsurablue-hole-studiosccpDCdc-universe-onlineEAElectronic-Artsen-masse-entertainmentendgamef2pfree-to-playfreemiumftpFuncomgamebreaker-tvgary-gannonGuild-Wars-2GW2humanjohn-smedleync-softncsoftRaid-Sizeraidsrubi-bayershawn-schusterSOESonySony-Online-Entertainmentstarting-zoneterathe-secret-worldTSWVampireWarner-BrosWODworld-of-darknessThu, 22 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: SOE's John Smedley reveals F2P model for DC Universe Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/massively-exclusive-soes-john-smedley-reveals-f2p-model-for-dc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/massively-exclusive-soes-john-smedley-reveals-f2p-model-for-dc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/massively-exclusive-soes-john-smedley-reveals-f2p-model-for-dc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

DC Universe Online - Batman and Robin PvP
For those of us who lack Batman's financial resources, maintaining several monthly MMO subscriptions can be a challenge. Sony Online Entertainment recognizes this, and as a result, the company has just announced that DC Universe Online will be officially joining the freemium revolution toward the end of October.

The new business model will feature a familiar tiered access plan with three membership levels. The Free, Premium, and Legendary plans feature full access to the current game while offering different levels of "convenience and flexibility." Free players will be limited to two character slots, and new "downloadable game packs/updates, additional character slots, powers, and more" will be available for purchase via microtransactions.

Premium players, i.e., folks who have spent at least $5 US on the game (including former subscribers and in-game item purchasers), will receive additional character slots, inventory slots, and higher cash limits. Legendary players will take home "maximum features and benefits" including free DLC, more than 15 character slots, and more than 80 inventory slots, all for the regular $14.99 monthly fee. DCUO will also continue to be available on SOE's Station Pass (and subscribing to the monthly all-in-one service nets you Legendary status in DCUO as well as access to all of SOE's MMORPGs).

Finally, Massively sat down with SOE president John Smedley and producer Lorin Jameson to chat about the new model, and you can find that transcription after the break.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: SOE's John Smedley reveals F2P model for DC Universe Online

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: SOE's John Smedley reveals F2P model for DC Universe Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmanbreakingbusiness-modelcash-shopcomicsconveniencedc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoexclusivef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgotham-citygreen-lanterninterviewitem-shopitem-storejohn-smedleylegendarylorin-jamesonmassively-exclusivemetropolismicrotransactionsnon-recurring-paymentplaystion-3premiumps3rmtsoesony-online-entertainmentsuperherosupermantiered-accesswonder-womanMon, 19 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Older gamers more likely to drop money in cash shops to save time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/older-gamers-more-likely-to-drop-money-in-cash-shops-to-save-tim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/older-gamers-more-likely-to-drop-money-in-cash-shops-to-save-tim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/older-gamers-more-likely-to-drop-money-in-cash-shops-to-save-tim/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Your rabbit ears aren't getting any younger, and that's a lot of loot for ten bucks.
How long are you willing to wait for your next level in a given game? According to a recent study, the older you are, the less likely you'll wait and the more likely you'll be to just whip out a credit card and buy an experience booster. Flurry Analytics conducted a survey of mobile and social gamers and found that older players are far more likely to just spend some money if it'll save some painful grinding in the long run.

While the study was focused on the social gaming side of the coin, the business model is not dissimilar from that employed by many free-to-play MMOs that frequently offer in-game options to earn items that can also be purchased outright. And the logical conclusion is drawn -- younger players have less disposable income but more time to buckle down and grind, while older players have more responsibilities and more free money to spend. It's an interesting look at the spending patterns, one which looks to be increasingly relevant as free-to-play options continue to multiply.

MassivelyOlder gamers more likely to drop money in cash shops to save time originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-modelsculturef2pfree-to-playfreemiumpay-habitspay-to-playplay-habitssciencesocial-gamingstudiesstudySat, 10 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine unveils LotRO expansion point costs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/turbine-unveils-lotro-expansion-point-costs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/turbine-unveils-lotro-expansion-point-costs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/08/turbine-unveils-lotro-expansion-point-costs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - Rise of Isengard key art
Those of you who didn't get around to pre-ordering Lord of the Rings Online's Rise of Isengard expansion earlier this summer will probably want to mosey over to the game's official forums. Turbine has revealed the point costs for all of the new content, and due to the variety of items on offer, it may take you a few minutes to piece together what you want (and what it'll cost you).

The short version is that the expansion quests and deeds will set you back 3,250 Turbine points, while the new Draigoch raid will cost an additional 1,250 TP. There's also a bindable item called Derudh's Stone that grants a permanent 25% XP bonus on monster kills through level 64, and it is priced at 995 TP. Finally, the new Update 5 instances, currently slated for a December release, will run you 1,495 TP.

There's more info, and a load of comments and discussion, at the official LotRO boards.

MassivelyTurbine unveils LotRO expansion point costs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cash-shopderudhs-stoneDraigochexpansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playfreemiumitem-shoplord-of-the-rings-onlinelotronew-instancesrise-of-isengardtpturbineTurbine-Entertainmentturbine-pointsThu, 08 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Another attempt at free-to-play vs. freemium]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/free-for-all-another-attempt-at-free-to-play-vs-freemium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/free-for-all-another-attempt-at-free-to-play-vs-freemium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/free-for-all-another-attempt-at-free-to-play-vs-freemium/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fallen Earth chart
I'm one of those types who can't just let certain things go. When I see someone talking on Facebook about issues with his pet, I have to chime in. (I'm sort of an amateur animal behaviorist.) If I hear someone talking about her favorite bands, I usually have to let her know which ones I love. (I'm a music snob.) I'm just sort of a nosy individual. Since I can admit that, I think I deserve a pass when I volunteer information that wasn't asked for.

But I work at Massively. We're a website about, you know, games, and not just games, but MMOs, some of the least understood of all games. People and even developers seem to confuse what MMO means, and they especially confuse what a free-to-play MMO should offer. Once again I am going to take a crack at it, but not just because I am nosy. Mainly I want to clear this up so people will know what to expect from a title and whether there is going to have to be any money involved.

Click past the cut and let's have at it!

Continue reading Free for All: Another attempt at free-to-play vs. freemium

MassivelyFree for All: Another attempt at free-to-play vs. freemium originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanddoeq2eq2xeqiiEverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfallen-earthfeaturedfree-realmsfree-to-playfreemiumftpillyriadlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromabinogiperfect-world-internationalpwiRyzomWed, 07 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wizard101 celebrates another anniversary of taking over the world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/wizard101-celebrates-another-anniversary-of-taking-over-the-worl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/wizard101-celebrates-another-anniversary-of-taking-over-the-worl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/wizard101-celebrates-another-anniversary-of-taking-over-the-worl/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Wizard 101 bat screenshot
Ah, Wizard101. My, how you have grown. So much has happened over the last three years that we thought it would be a good idea to take a look at some of the milestones that happened during that time. Instead of going all the way back to the beginning, we'll be covering the major happenings over the last year. If we wrote up all of the patches and major updates to the game from the beginning, we would be here all night.

Feel free to retell some of your favorite memories in the comments section, and join us in wishing a happy birthday to KingsIsle and its baby, Wizard101! Click past the cut!

Continue reading Wizard101 celebrates another anniversary of taking over the world

MassivelyWizard101 celebrates another anniversary of taking over the world originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybeau-hindmancash-shopccgcelestiaCollectible-Card-Gameexpansionf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumftpkingsislekingsisle-entertainmentwizard101wysteriaFri, 02 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan: Unchained (aka F2P) starts tomorrow [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/age-of-conan-unchained-a-k-a-f2p-starts-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/age-of-conan-unchained-a-k-a-f2p-starts-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/age-of-conan-unchained-a-k-a-f2p-starts-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Yeah, you read that headline right. Age of Conan: Unrated is now Age of Conan: Unchained according to a new Craig Morrison interview over at PC Gamer. Oh, and that free-to-play launch date we've been asking for? It's tomorrow today.

Funcom is inviting both new and old players to check out a good portion of its Hyborian content on the house, and the company will also be unveiling its cash shop (complete with a new "temptress" pet that helps the title live up to its mature rating).

Unchained also marks the release of new content in the form of the Forgotten City and The Breach solo instances. As we told you last month, these new dungeons scale to your level and offer an experience designed to relieve the monotony of the well-traveled Noble District villas. Stick with Massively all weekend as we bring you the latest AoC: Unchained news and impressions, and don't forget to check out the Unchained launch trailer after the break.

[Update]: Funcom has also posted its traditional monthly dev update, which focuses on all of the new content coming soon to AoC (and there is a lot of it). In addition to the two dungeons debuting today with Unchained, players can look forward to the long-awaited House of Crom dungeon (no, really!), new tier four raids, the Savage Coast of Turan stuff, and of course, Blood and Glory.

[Update 2]: AoC 2.6, and F2P, is in fact going live today -- June 30th -- and the game launcher is currently down for patching. Funcom's Glen "Famine" Swan confirms as much on the official forums, and we'll link the patch notes as soon as they're available.

Continue reading Age of Conan: Unchained (aka F2P) starts tomorrow [Updated]

MassivelyAge of Conan: Unchained (aka F2P) starts tomorrow [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedblood-and-glorybreakingbusiness-modelsconancraig-morrisonf2pfaminefantasyforgotten-cityfree-to-playfreemiumfuncomhouse-of-cromhybrid-business-modelinterviewsmmo-industrysavage-coast-of-turansilirrionsolo-dungeonsthe-breachthe-house-of-cromtrailerunchainedvideoThu, 30 Jun 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anarchy Online celebrates 10 years this weekend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/anarchy-online-celebrates-10-years-this-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/anarchy-online-celebrates-10-years-this-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/anarchy-online-celebrates-10-years-this-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It seems like there's an MMO anniversary happening every other day around these parts. While it's indeed commendable for some of these games to last a year or three, Funcom's Anarchy Online has just reached the lofty summit reserved for the likes of EverQuest and Ultima Online: Yep, Rubi-Ka is 10 years old and still going strong.

Funcom has issued a press release that's heavy on the innovative aspects of the world's first sci-fi MMORPG. "Instancing, massive player vs. player combat, digital download of games, in-game advertisement, virtual world radio, concerts, virtual items, and freemium business models" are just a few of the initiatives that showed up early in Anarchy Online. The release also serves to accentuate how much has changed since the game's genesis, as it notes that AO's original 1995 design document questioned the future viability of the internet and hoped for 2,500 subscribers.

No 10-year anniversary would be complete without a respectable bash, and Funcom's release also outlines the festivities coming your way in the form of events and new content. The party (jointly produced by Funcom and Gridstream Productions) starts tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. EDT and will continue into the weekend. Even if you're not up for virtual dancing, you'll want to check it out for a new birthday raid, new vehicles, clothing, gear, action figures, and pets. Head to the official website to learn more.

MassivelyAnarchy Online celebrates 10 years this weekend originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-year-anniversaryanarchy-onlineanniversaryaobirthday-raidf2pfree-to-playfreemiumfuncomin-game-eventinstancinglongevitymmo-industrynew-contentnew-gearnew-petspartyrubi-kasci-fiThu, 23 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes producer's letter talks Freedom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/city-of-heroes-producers-letter-talks-freedom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/city-of-heroes-producers-letter-talks-freedom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/city-of-heroes-producers-letter-talks-freedom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

In case you've been living under a Paragon City-sized rock over the past couple of days, it's worth repeating that City of Heroes is gearing up to add a boatload of new freemium options with its Freedom update. Today's producer's letter addresses the watershed news and also gives a glimpse behind the curtain at the balancing act achieved by Paragon Studios developers while simultaneously working on Issues 19 - 21 (and supporting Issue 18).

While some players no doubt see the onset of a freemium business model as an indication that a game's best days are behind it, Paragon's planned path forward for content creation seems to suggest otherwise.

What are some of these new content nuggets? "An all-new tutorial will introduce new players to Paragon City and the Rogue Isles like never before, and lets heroes and villains choose their archetype independently of their alignment," says the letter. Additionally, players can expect an Atlas Park makeover as well as new mission content in both Atlas Park and Mercy Island. New zones are in the works too, as are new costumes, powers, characters, and villains. In short, there's rarely been a better time to be a City of Heroes fan, so head to the official website to read all about it.

MassivelyCity of Heroes producer's letter talks Freedom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-freedomcity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfree-to-playfreedomfreemiumncsoftparagonparagon-studiossuperheroWed, 22 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LEGO Universe going freemium this August]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/lego-universe-going-freemium-this-august/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/lego-universe-going-freemium-this-august/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/lego-universe-going-freemium-this-august/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Fallen Earth? Check. City of Heroes? Check. Which AAA MMORPG act is warming up to take the stage next on the free-to-play 2011 world tour? That would be LEGO Universe, and the LEGO Group has announced via press release that the kid-friendly building-block title will be joining its formerly subscription-based brethren in the freemium ranks as early as this August.

Interestingly, LEGO Universe will continue to make its money via paid memberships, with no microtransactions planned at this time. Free players will have access to a limited selection of game content for an unlimited period of time. If the trial content tickles their fancy, tire-kickers are then free to pony up $10 per month for full access.

LEGO Universe is also doing away with its physical media, as new users will find that the game is transitioning to a download-only model for both paid and free players. Full details on the content available to free players isn't yet available, but check back with us frequently as we bring you all the latest updates.

MassivelyLEGO Universe going freemium this August originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelsdigital-downloadsf2pfree-to-playfreemiumlegolego-grouplego-universemmo-industrysubscriptionstrialTue, 21 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[KingsIsle brings Wizard101 goodies to Canada]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/kingsisle-brings-wizard101-goodies-to-canada/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/kingsisle-brings-wizard101-goodies-to-canada/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/kingsisle-brings-wizard101-goodies-to-canada/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

KingsIsle Entertainment, maker of the very popular card-based freemium title Wizard101, announced today that it will be releasing a brand-new mega-bundle pre-paid card to stores across the country. Here's how the cards work: Players pay a set amount and receive a card with a code that, once redeemed in-game, can add all sorts of gold, goodies, and other options. The new card features a new flying carpet mount, a massive sultan's palace complete with a mirage, 5000 crowns to be used in the cash shop, and several other fun items. It's no wonder the cards have become one of the best-selling cards at Gamestop -- they offer an all-in-one package that is easy to pick up.

Canadians worried about getting their hands on these cards can rest easy -- KingsIsle is pushing the cards into major Canadian retailers this fall. Concerned players who have been "surprisingly vocal" about the lack of card access will also get the chance to own exclusive pets available only in their area. This move will bring Wizard101's combined retail presence to over 50,000 stores. Not bad -- not bad at all.

So, what's next for the freemium giant? Well, KingsIsle just partnered with Gameforge to bring the game overseas. Interesting things happen when you have to port a fully voice-acted game like Wizard101 to a place like Germany. The UI and map has to be tweaked to allow room for the longer written language, and everything needs to be localized. There are also cultural differences to consider, and the cash shop can be received differently than here in the U.S.

The new game cards will be offered for $39, but the items included are valued at over $100.

MassivelyKingsIsle brings Wizard101 goodies to Canada originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancanadacash-shopf2pfree-to-playfreemiumftpgameforgegermanykingsislekingsisle-entertainmentmega-bundlepre-paid-cardsultans-palacetcgtrading-card-gamewizard101Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Empires Online to launch this fall]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/age-of-empires-online-to-launch-this-fall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/age-of-empires-online-to-launch-this-fall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/age-of-empires-online-to-launch-this-fall/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Eurogamer reports today that Microsoft Game Studios' Age of Empires Online is slated for a fall release. The freemium RTS game is currently in open beta and will be releasing in both digital download and retail box forms. While the game itself will be free-to-play, there will be a cash store that sells a variety of upgrades for players to purchase. These include vanity items that allow players to give their capital cities a unique bit of flair, new civilizations for the player to control (the game launches with only two: Greek and Egyptian), and upgrade packs such as the "pro premium civilization" upgrade pack, which will provide players with a level 20 civilization and is described as being "geared towards hardcore RTS gamers." The exact release date and pricing will be announced at the end of the month.

If you're interested in giving the game a spin prior to its official release or just want to find out more about the upcoming title, you can head over to the Age of Empires Online official site, have a look around, and sign up for the beta.

MassivelyAge of Empires Online to launch this fall originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-empires-onlineaoeaoe-onlinef2pfree-to-playfreemiumlaunchmicrosoft-game-studiosreal-time-strategyreleasertsMon, 09 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Is a subscription the new sign of trouble?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/free-for-all-is-a-subscription-the-new-sign-of-trouble/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/free-for-all-is-a-subscription-the-new-sign-of-trouble/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/free-for-all-is-a-subscription-the-new-sign-of-trouble/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I hate to continually harp on the payment model as a source for material, but let's be honest: How a player pays for a game does affect how and whether he will play. Heck, it's obvious through my comments and emails that some people will literally avoid the coolest-looking game they have ever seen if it has a cash shop tacked on or it is using a free-to-play business model. Oddly enough -- and this is an honest observation -- I rarely hear a free-to-play fan say that he will avoid a game just because of its payment model. Perhaps the long hair and free-loving ways of the free-to-player helps to keep his mind open to payment models from all walks of life? Damn frippies.

Another common conversational theme that shows up almost every time we have this discussion is that free-to-play has done something wrong. Some seem to think that the free-to-play "movement" is equal to Walmart moving into their hometown, bringing lower-quality products and slower customer service with it. Of course, those same people might not admit to visiting Walmart for all of their needs and grabbing some batteries and chapstick from the impulse-buy section. It is often said that free-to-play is reserved for games that were in trouble, as if it were some sort of last-minute life preserver. Even in this scenario of free-to-play as the hero, the term becomes twisted into a shady businessman, swooping in on the elderly section of town after a tornado. Now, I've covered the possible racial and xenophobic connections to this hate for games and payment models from "Asia," and I would rather not rehash it now. I'm beginning to think the real explanation might be much simpler.

Click past the cut and let's discuss.

Continue reading Free for All: Is a subscription the new sign of trouble?

MassivelyFree for All: Is a subscription the new sign of trouble? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AAAbeau-hindmanddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineEQ2eq2xeqiieqII-extendedEverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumfridayftplord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromemeslap-chopsubscriptionturbinewalmartWed, 20 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST