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[Previously on MV TV: The week of May 19th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-19th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-19th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-19th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Previously On banner
Missing livestreams is so 2011! There's no excuse now, what with the livestream schedule page going up every week, the constant reminders across Twitter, and the super-cool regulars we have who hang out in the chat room with us. But, alas, some of you do occasionally miss a stream or two and need someone to point out what you might have missed. That someone would be me, and this column is the place to go.

Last week we had all sorts of cool stuff. Some of the highlights? First we had Richie with some Diablo III Hell-smashing action, MJ deciding to run some dungeons in EverQuest II and Aion, finishing up her Choose My Adventure run in City of Heroes and checking up housing decorations in Vanguard. I'm known to run a stream or two as well, and this week I showed off the new fully voice-acted quest Song from the Depths in RuneScape.

Click past the cut and enjoy!

Continue reading Previously on MV TV: The week of May 19th

MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: The week of May 19th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiondiablo-3diablo-iiiEQ2EverQuest-2EverquestIif2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpjagexlivestreamingmassively-streamteammassively-tvmv-tvmvtvnc-softround-uprounduprunescapeSOESony-Online-Entertainmentstreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamtwitchtwitch-tvvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesvideovideosSun, 27 May 2012 10:00:00 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: 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[Previously on MV TV: The week of April 14th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-april-14th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-april-14th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-april-14th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Previously On logo
So you accidentally missed your favorite MassivelyTV livestream featuring your favorite Massively personality or writer? Don't worry; we'll forgive you as long as you promise to bookmark our MassivelyTV guide and check back on this weekly recap. That way you are sure not to miss another stream, and you wouldn't need to come back to us, begging for a link. You could also follow Massively on Twitter, one of the best ways to be alerted to new things.

This week we featured a Tboo Thursday, one of our most popular livestreams, which stars resident APB: Reloaded expert Taryn. We also had some more World of Warcraft Mists of Pandaria action from Richie, a bit of newbie content in EverQuest II with MJ at the helm, a quick introduction to skybox building in Second Life hosted by me, Mike's return to EVE Online in his shiny new Drake, and Adventure Mike's leap back into Final Fantasy XIV. Pretty exciting stuff if you're into giant rats, explosions, beautiful sunsets, and piles of bullets.

Continue reading Previously on MV TV: The week of April 14th

MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: The week of April 14th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apb-reloadedbeau-hindmanBlizzardccpEQ2eve-onlineEverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfeaturedffxivfinal-fantasy-xivfree-to-playftpgamersfirstlinden-labLiveStreamLiveStreamingmassivelytvmists-of-pandariamj-guthriepreviously-on-mv-tvsecond-lifeSOESony-Online-EntertainmentSquare-Enixtwitchtwitch-tvvideoWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 22 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: The importance of those first moments in a game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/free-for-all-the-importance-of-those-first-moments-in-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/free-for-all-the-importance-of-those-first-moments-in-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/free-for-all-the-importance-of-those-first-moments-in-a-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Forum post screenshot
This week, I decided to download and install Aion. I haven't played it since beta. Although I was not impressed with it at the time, my favorite Aion columnist has been covering the game in such a way that I knew some good things had happened to the game. And after all, it's free now. Right?

I was nervous from the moment I installed the game. NCsoft hosts a notoriously odd account management system. Sure, once you break the code and understand how to make an account for your master account that signs into your game account (or something like that), it might seem elementary. Until that moment, though, the system makes you feel like an idiot. It makes you feel as though the publisher literally doesn't want you to play the game.

I had a week filled with such moments. The frustration I felt led me to today's topic.

Continue reading Free for All: The importance of those first moments in a game

MassivelyFree for All: The importance of those first moments in a game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-3.0beau-hindmancity-of-heroescompetitionf2pfirst-momentsfree-for-allfree-to-playftpgemstone-ivgripingncsoftnewbienewbiesragewhiningWed, 18 Apr 2012 17:00:00 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: 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[Previously On MVTV: The week of March 24th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/previously-on-mvtv-the-week-of-march-24th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/previously-on-mvtv-the-week-of-march-24th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/previously-on-mvtv-the-week-of-march-24th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Previously On banner
Ah, spring is in the air. You know what that means! That means that we get to sit inside, away from all of the sunshine and pollen, and watch others play through video games that we just don't have access to or haven't given a chance yet. This week, we worked hard to bring you some more of our digital adventures and got some of our biggest viewership numbers ever! Remember, if you come across a game we haven't covered yet or want to see a certain title covered, take the time to tell us. Give us the website, why we should look at it, and any other information you think we need to know, and you just might see it live on MVTV!

First Blake jumped into Global Agenda for his Lunchtime Livecast; then Richie took some time to try out the Mists of Pandaria beta for World of Warcraft. Adventure Mike explored some content in Final Fantasy XIV, while plain old Mike burned some space dust in EVE Online and cast many spells in RIFT. I decided to look at Nadirim because it's been a while and gave the Rise and Shiny treatment to Remanum.

Be sure to bookmark our livestream MV Guide, a sort of TV Guide for our livestreams. That way you can blame only yourself when you miss one of our awesome streams!

Continue reading Previously On MVTV: The week of March 24th

MassivelyPreviously On MVTV: The week of March 24th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanBlizzardccpeve-onlinef2pfeaturedfinal-fantasy-xivfree-to-playftpLiveStreamLiveStreamingmists-of-pandarianadirimpreviously-on-mv-tvremanumriftSquare-Enixtravian-gamestriontwitchtwitch-tvvideoWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 01 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE answers Vanguard free-to-play questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/soe-answers-vanguard-free-to-play-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/soe-answers-vanguard-free-to-play-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/soe-answers-vanguard-free-to-play-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Vanguard screenshot
With the recent announcement from Sony Online Entertainment that Vanguard: Saga of Heroes will be going free-to-play sometime this summer, questions immediately began to surface. How will it effect current players? Will it be anything like the other free-to-play titles that SOE runs? Well, we were as curious as anyone else, so we fired off a few questions to SOE in the hopes of snagging some more insight into the transformation.

We received our answers from Andy Sites, Director of Development, and the ever-familiar Salim Grant, Creative Director.

It's an exciting time to be a Vanguard player, but will putting a free title on a game that has struggled in the past make any difference? Time will tell. In the meanwhile, click past the cut to check out what SOE had to say!

Continue reading SOE answers Vanguard free-to-play questions

MassivelySOE answers Vanguard free-to-play questions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy-sitesbeau-hindmancash-shopconversionf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playftpinterviewinterviewslive-gamerMicrotransactionssalim-grasalim-grantsandboxsoesonysony-online-entertainmenttelonvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgTue, 27 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: A few bad design apples ruin the whole bunch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/mmobility-a-few-bad-design-apples-ruin-the-whole-bunch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/mmobility-a-few-bad-design-apples-ruin-the-whole-bunch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/mmobility-a-few-bad-design-apples-ruin-the-whole-bunch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ministry of War artwork
The MMORTS genre is easily one of my favorite genres. There's so much potential in a game that is essentially a giant, endless boardgame with thousands of players. An epic scale occurs in even the smallest of titles because players control not only one or two grand heroes but entire armies that swarm from sprawling cities. Though many of Massively's readers might not hear a lot from the genre, I believe this genre to be one of the most popular out there. Browser-based access doesn't hurt, either, and generally the MMORTS titles I find do a great job of covering their design bases.

You know I have to play Devil's Advocate, however. Despite the fact that the genre is packed full of potentially wonderful gaming sessions, there is so, so much that needs to improve. The negative stereotypes exist for a reason, and I want to shine a light on a few of the more popular titles to show just how one or two bad design and business decisions might reflect poorly on the entire genre.

Continue reading MMObility: A few bad design apples ruin the whole bunch

MassivelyMMObility: A few bad design apples ruin the whole bunch originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriabeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedevonyf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpgolden-ageministry-of-warmmobilitymmortsmobileopinionsnail-gamesstrategyFri, 23 Mar 2012 19:00:00 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[Rise and Shiny: Lime Odyssey]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/rise-and-shiny-lime-odyssey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/rise-and-shiny-lime-odyssey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/rise-and-shiny-lime-odyssey/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Lime Odyssey screenshot
Lime Odyssey is an Anime-themed free-to-play MMO brought to us from publisher Aeria Games. It features three unique races and... oh, forget it. You already know this probably. The game has a lot of buzz behind it, and Aeria is known to put out some great titles. I knew that when I was invited to check out the alpha for a first impression of Lime Odyssey, I would find a game that was high-quality and beautiful and ran well.

Sure enough, I did find that game. There's something magical about so many Korean titles. Many of them sport some of the most refreshing and original artwork and music, and the engines that many of those titles use is perfectly fit for almost any machine. Yes, there are the three races to choose from, the great Anime graphics, the neat crafting system, and combat systems and much more. My only regret is that I was able to spend only a few days in the game.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Lime Odyssey

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Lime Odyssey originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriaallods-onbeau-hindbeau-hindmanblizzardbrowser-basf2pfeaturedfree-tofree-to-playftpgpotatohands-onlivestreamlord-of-thelotromassively-tvrealm-of-the-mad-godrise-and-shirise-and-shinystreamstreaming-videturbinetwitchtwitch-tvtwitchtvvideoworld-of-warwowSun, 18 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Previously on MVTV: The week of March 10th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/previously-on-mvtv-the-week-of-march-10th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/previously-on-mvtv-the-week-of-march-10th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/18/previously-on-mvtv-the-week-of-march-10th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Previously On banner
This week was another exciting week for livestreaming. If you missed it, don't worry! I'm here to show off some of the best moments from the previous week. Of course, you could always bookmark our Livestream guide so that you never miss a show again!

This week we have some EVE Online action with Mike, followed by his adventures in RIFT. Richie is back in Guild Wars for some adventures in Kryta. I took a tour of some amazing art spots in Second Life to show just how wonderful the world is for artists and other creative people, then I finally finished my One Piercing Note quest in RuneScape (with the help of the chat room, of course!). Are you curious about Lime Odyssey? I was allowed to be the very first person to stream it live during alpha. I have to say, it sure is a polished alpha. I thought I was playing a released title. Lastly, Psykopig checked out Age of Conan and made us all laugh... he's good at that!

Continue reading Previously on MVTV: The week of March 10th

MassivelyPreviously on MVTV: The week of March 10th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeria-age-of-conanallodsanetankamaarena-netarenanebeau-hindmanbiowarebrowserccpeve-onlinef2pfeaturedfree-to-plaftpfuncomgpotatoguild-warsguild-wars-2jagexlime-odysseylinden-lablivestreamingmassively-streamteammassively-tvmv-tvmvtvpreviously-on-mv-tvround-uprounduprunescapesecond-lifesqaure-enstar-wars-thestreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamswtortwitchtwitch-tvvideovideoswakfuSun, 18 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Utilizing Windows 8 to help with MMO chores]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/mmobility-utilizing-windows-8-to-help-with-mmo-chores/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/mmobility-utilizing-windows-8-to-help-with-mmo-chores/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/mmobility-utilizing-windows-8-to-help-with-mmo-chores/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Windows 8 preview screenshot
Not so long ago, I told you about my acquisition of an Inspiron Duo netbook, a 10-inch device that was not only a small laptop but also a touchscreen tablet device. It is a very sturdy device, and the flip-around screen works well. The main problem with the device was that it came with Windows 7 while only sporting a dual core processor and two gigs of RAM. The other main issue was that the 10-inch screen has a 1366x768-pixel resolution, meaning that it was often uncomfortable to read on it or play games unless I zoomed in.

Recently Microsoft released the Windows 8 public preview, so I downloaded it after reading that it was really geared for tablet or touchcreen devices. Sure enough, the same 10-inch netbook that was not getting a lot of use around here suddenly became faster and much more friendly to the eyes.

It's perfect timing, as well, especially since I will be starting my "chores" experiment in which I see whether scheduling my gameplay each day will help me with an issue I have been having.

Continue reading MMObility: Utilizing Windows 8 to help with MMO chores

MassivelyMMObility: Utilizing Windows 8 to help with MMO chores originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galactica-onlinebeau-hindmanBigpointbsg-onlinecastle-empirechoresdie2niteduof2pfeaturedfree-to-pftpglitchgolden-agegunshineillyriadinspiron-duojagexjunebud-abmilmominitroopersmiramagiamirimagiammobilitymmortsmobilepocket-legendsriotzonerunescaspacetime-studiosstar-legendstouchscreentwinoidFri, 09 Mar 2012 19:30:00 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[Rise and Shiny: A bit of Wakfu, a smidge of Spiral Knights, and some Lime Odyssey]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/rise-and-shiny-a-bit-of-wakfu-a-smidge-of-spiral-knights-and-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/rise-and-shiny-a-bit-of-wakfu-a-smidge-of-spiral-knights-and-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/04/rise-and-shiny-a-bit-of-wakfu-a-smidge-of-spiral-knights-and-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Rise and Shiny banner
This week in Rise and Shiny, things did not go as planned. This sort of thing actually happens often enough to almost be a problem: I pick out a title or am tasked with taking a look at a certain game, but communication lines are crossed and the game I was supposed to give a first impressions-style look at closes down its beta in the middle of the week. Like I said, it does happen, enough to force me to plan out my articles on a month-long calendar. Even then, things can change.

So instead of talking about the game I said I was going to be this week, Seven Souls Online, I decided to go over the three games that I gleefully jumped into over the last few days. This will not be a typical first impression-style piece but instead will hint at the specific adventures I had while playing these games.

These wonderful, wonderful games.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: A bit of Wakfu, a smidge of Spiral Knights, and some Lime Odyssey

MassivelyRise and Shiny: A bit of Wakfu, a smidge of Spiral Knights, and some Lime Odyssey originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriaaeria-gamesankamabeau-hindmanf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playftphands-onlime-odysseypoliticsrise-and-shinyryzomsandboxsci-fantasysci-fisegaspiral-knightsSquare-Enixsquenixsteamstrategystrategy-mmosubsubscriptionthree-ringsthree-rings-designturn-based-combatwakfuSun, 04 Mar 2012 12:00:00 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[Rise and Shiny recap: Dark Ages]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/rise-and-shiny-recap-dark-ages/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/rise-and-shiny-recap-dark-ages/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/rise-and-shiny-recap-dark-ages/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Dark Ages screenshot
Some games grab you from the moment you see them. Sure, I get grabbed a lot, but I know when a game appears to be different or interesting. As I watched Adventure Mike play Nexus: Kingdom of the Winds on MassivelyTV over the last few weeks, I knew that I had to play it. But wait! Mike was playing it himself and doing a good job of exploring the game for the viewers. I couldn't just take that first impression from him and claim it as mine!

So I looked up KRU Interactive, found out its cool history with Nexon games, and decided to try Dark Ages instead. It looks similar to Nexus, so I thought I would be in for a great time.

The very first thing that I came across after logging into the game was a description of waking up in an inn room. It was a mysterious beginning, and I loved how the moment reminded me of how often our characters are just thrown into a world without much of a cutscene or explanation.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Dark Ages

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Dark Ages originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8bitbeau-hindmandark-agesf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpkru-interactiveLiveStreamLiveStreamingmabinogimassively-tvmassivelytvNeoWiznexonrise-and-shinyrise-and-shiny-recapseven-souls-onlinetwitch-tvtwitchtvvideowurm-onlineSun, 26 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[MMObility: Let's make a mobile MMO, part four]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/mmobility-lets-make-a-mobile-mmo-part-four/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/mmobility-lets-make-a-mobile-mmo-part-four/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/mmobility-lets-make-a-mobile-mmo-part-four/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Game Sketches
So here we are at the last part of a four-part mini-series in which Dave Toulouse, indie developer of games like Golemizer and Star Corsairs, and I have attempted to make a working mobile MMO. I started the series with the hopes of fostering discussion over design as well, and we have gotten some great conversations going in the comments section! I think many MMO gamers dream about game design at some point, and some go beyond that point and actually create a game. It can be tough, as this series has shown, just to get the basics down.

Well, here we are at the last. I wanted to go over some of the best ideas the readers had, cover what we were able to do with the actual game, and debate how much further it would need to go to be considered officially "done."

Continue reading MMObility: Let's make a mobile MMO, part four

MassivelyMMObility: Let's make a mobile MMO, part four originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindbrowserbrowser-baseddave-toulousef2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpgolemizerhtcIOSipadiphoneMMObilitymobilesmartphonestar-corsairsworgoltFri, 24 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[Rise and Shiny recap: Fiesta Online browser version]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/19/rise-and-shiny-recap-fiesta-online-browser-version/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/19/rise-and-shiny-recap-fiesta-online-browser-version/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/19/rise-and-shiny-recap-fiesta-online-browser-version/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Fiesta Online screenshot
Fiesta Online is getting pretty long in the tooth. Heck, it's a game I have played and returned to several times over the years, and I've never quite stuck with it. Don't get me wrong -- the game is quite nice-looking for its style and always seems to have a ton of players on, but there are a lot of titles I would love to be spending time with. Unfortunately, I have to pick and choose, and a game like Fiesta Online will normally land on the list of games that I play very infrequently. I had a great time recently when I toured some high-level content with the developers and was more excited to hear about a browser version of the game coming out soon.

Why would a browser version matter? I have predicted (and I am still sticking by this prediction) that most MMO content will be delivered via the browser within five years. The truth is that most MMO players probably play a browser game already, especially when you consider games like RuneScape, Dark Orbit, Battlestar Galactica Online, Club Penguin and scores of others, but I mean to say that the browser will become the accepted way to get your MMO content. Yes, one day we will look back, giggle, and say, "We used to download and install massive files just to play a game!"

So how does Fiesta Online's browser version perform, and what is the point of having one in the first place?

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Fiesta Online browser version

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Fiesta Online browser version originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedbrowser-based-mmof2pfeaturedFiestafiesta-onlinefree-to-playftpLiveStreamNexonnexus-kingdom-of-the-windoutsparkrise-and-shinytwitchtwitch-tvSun, 19 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Let's make a mobile game, part three]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/mmobility-lets-make-a-mobile-game-part-three/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/mmobility-lets-make-a-mobile-game-part-three/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/17/mmobility-lets-make-a-mobile-game-part-three/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Worgolt title
Last week we continued our discussion about how to make a mobile game, and the Massively readers offered up some great input. I wish I had the space to write up every single comment, but instead I will pick some of my favorites and we can discuss it from there. Unfortunately, real life has pushed development on the game back just a bit. Dave Toulouse, my indie developer partner-in-crime in this series, not only has two games of his own to run, Star Corsairs and Golemizer, but is now dealing with my silly emails. So while last week's column got some great ideas in the comments section, we were really only able to switch out the artwork, name the game, and add a tad bit of lore.

Fear not, fair readers! I will break down the development that is still planned on being pushed into the game over the last week, and it's important to note that Dave and I plan on coming back to the experiment over time. I'd like to update the game and continue discussion since it has been so interesting so far! In the meanwhile, click here to go to the official game page!

Continue reading MMObility: Let's make a mobile game, part three

MassivelyMMObility: Let's make a mobile game, part three originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedbrowser-based-mmodave-toulousef2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpgolemizerindependentIndieMMObilitymobilestar-corsairsworgoltFri, 17 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Comparing the payment models of RuneScape and Illyriad]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/free-for-all-comparing-the-payment-models-of-runescape-and-illy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/free-for-all-comparing-the-payment-models-of-runescape-and-illy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/free-for-all-comparing-the-payment-models-of-runescape-and-illy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Illyriad and RuneScape maps
Last week, I introduced you to two of my favorite free-to-play or freemium payment models. Payment models are endlessly fascinating because so many players normally didn't think about them until free-to-play and freemium models stopped being something that only came from foreign shores. Now, everyone has an opinion about which payment model is the best. I tend to love simple ones, as close to simple as I can get. If a game is truly wonderful, however, I don't care if the developers ask players to cut off their right arms. I've paid my fair share and continue to do so.

In fact, in one of the most disturbing trends of the last few years, players have begun bemoaning the lack of a free version of their favorite game. I see it all the time: players publicly wishing for the time that their favorite game will go free-to-play so they can return without paying a dime. Sure, I can understand being strapped for cash and needing an easy way to get back to an old title, but come on... those titles might not be around much longer if players do not support them in the first place. I am not a fan of free-to-play because I am cheap or because I need to avoid paying developers what they deserve. I have said it before, and I will say it again: I am a fan of free-to-play because it lets me decide when I want to spend my money. There's a big difference.

So let's chat about two of my favorite game's payment models.

Continue reading Free for All: Comparing the payment models of RuneScape and Illyriad

MassivelyFree for All: Comparing the payment models of RuneScape and Illyriad originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedcash-shopeve-onlinef2pfeaturedffa-pvpfree-for-allfree-to-playftpillyriadillyriad-gamesjagexjames-niesewandMicrotransactionspayment-modelspvprunescapeWed, 15 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Cloud Nine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/rise-and-shiny-recap-cloud-nine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/rise-and-shiny-recap-cloud-nine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/rise-and-shiny-recap-cloud-nine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Cloud Nine screenshot
You know, I haven't been as head over heels in love with the graphics of a game in a long time as I am with Cloud Nine. As I get older, I find myself disliking more realistic graphics and tend to enjoy cartoony, or even better, stylized graphics that do not quite push into cartoony territory. It's not like I'm trying to relive my youth; I just take a game more "seriously" when it attempts to look less serious while actually being pretty serious. I'm talking about games like Free Realms or Ryzom or Glitch: games that are cartoony and not ultra-realistic but do boast some serious gameplay or even lore behind the art. I love that.

So when I first logged into Cloud Nine, you can imagine how I felt.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Cloud Nine

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Cloud Nine originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindChangyoucloud-ninef2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpLiveStreamnetgamerappelzrose-onlinetwitch-tvtwitchtvvideozentiaSun, 12 Feb 2012 14:00:00 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[Winner of Mabinogi's Merchant of Venice contest highlighted]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/winner-of-mabinogis-merchant-of-venice-contest-highlighted/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/winner-of-mabinogis-merchant-of-venice-contest-highlighted/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/winner-of-mabinogis-merchant-of-venice-contest-highlighted/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Mabinogi screenshot
If you are familiar with the Mabinogi-hosted contest from November called The Merchant of Venice, California, then you know that the popular free-to-play developer and publisher Nexon asked players to participate in order to win a free trip to the company's California studios to play, relax and discuss the new content. The event celebrated the release of the Merchant of Venice update. The addition gave players the ability to literally transport goods across the lands of Mabinogi. Players gain levels, earn in-game cash that can be used to buy special items and weapons, and gain access to better items to be traded. All expansions in the popular free-to-play title are free.

Sayre, a player from the Mari server, was invited to meet the developers, tour the office and even give some advice about how to make the game better. He received a free Alienware computer, 500 USD in cash and three nights in a hotel right on Venice Beach! In order to qualify for the contest drawing, players were required to have reached merchant level 9 in each of the game's towns.

Click past the cut to watch an exclusive preview of the tour!

Continue reading Winner of Mabinogi's Merchant of Venice contest highlighted

MassivelyWinner of Mabinogi's Merchant of Venice contest highlighted originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancontestexpansionf2pfree-to-playftpmabinogimerchant-of-venicenexonnexon-americavideoTue, 07 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: PlaneShift]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/05/rise-and-shiny-recap-planeshift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/05/rise-and-shiny-recap-planeshift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/05/rise-and-shiny-recap-planeshift/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

PlaneShift screenshot
As with many of the games I choose for this column, I am a bit lost as to how long the game has been in existence, what sort of time has passed since the game first began to allow players into its world, and what the exact state of the game currently is. With PlaneShift, a game that seems to have existed since I was 12 years old and has remained in some sort of testing or beta phase since then, I am even more unclear. Really, it shouldn't matter, but I can see the importance of knowing whether the game you are about to play is in testing or has even been released yet.

Without those key words, a player can become confused. Is this quest broken, missing parts, or just poorly designed? Is the game world empty because it's midnight or because the testing crowd is on at different times? I've heard from developers who keep their games in a beta state for years and years, and it usually means that they simply want a sort of explanation as to why the game feels incomplete. I say release it already and perhaps you'd attract more players anyway.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: PlaneShift

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: PlaneShift originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acasherons-callbeau-hindmanbetaeqeverquestf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpIndieLiveStreamold-schoolplaneshiftrise-and-shinytwitch-tvSun, 05 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Let's make a mobile game, part one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/mmobility-lets-make-a-mobile-game-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/mmobility-lets-make-a-mobile-game-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/mmobility-lets-make-a-mobile-game-part-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Wurm Online screenshot
I thoroughly enjoy reading your comments, especially when the discussion turns to game design or suggestions for development. I decided it was high time that I sat down and experienced, even if just a little, how the design process goes. I've had plenty of peeks at different studios, but I wanted to know what it is like to actually make a game from basically beginning to end.

So for the next four weeks, I will be doing something special. I invited indie developer Dave Toulouse, maker of Golemizer and Star Corsairs, to help me in this journey. If you'd like to find out more about Dave, you can visit his official website, follow him on Twitter, or even read an interview I did with him a while ago. He really is the epitome of the indie spirit, and I am so thankful that he volunteered to do this with me.

The goal is to start with a basic idea and framework, and using input from our discussions and from reader comments, assemble a very basic working mobile MMO. So let's get started!

Continue reading MMObility: Let's make a mobile game, part one

MassivelyMMObility: Let's make a mobile game, part one originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedbrowser-based-mmodave-toulousedie2nitef2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpglitchgolemizerhardcoreillyriadIOSiphoneMMObilitymobilepollpollsstar-corsairsworgoltwurm-onlineFri, 03 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Old Second Life documentary still highlights truths]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/free-for-all-older-second-life-documentary-still-highlights-tru/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/free-for-all-older-second-life-documentary-still-highlights-tru/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/free-for-all-older-second-life-documentary-still-highlights-tru/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Second Life documentary screenshot
So I was working on this week's Free for All last night when a buddy of mine asked me if I had seen a certain older Second Life documentary. I didn't think I had before, but it turns out that my usual record of consuming everything MMO still stands, and it was fun to re-watch the older documentary again for several reasons.

One of the most important things I noticed about the film was just how universal to MMO gaming the documentary was. The issues it brought up are still issues, the problems with virtual worlds are still problems, and the fact that any technology older than six months looks laughable on film is still true. It was also encouraging to see how well Second Life has aged since 2007, but it's slightly depressing to see just how horrible MMO documentaries can be at showing the entire picture.

Continue reading Free for All: Old Second Life documentary still highlights truths

MassivelyFree for All: Old Second Life documentary still highlights truths originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2Lbeau-hindmanBlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentdocumentariesdocumentaryf2pfeaturedfour-cornersfree-for-allfree-to-playftplinden-labphilip-rosedalesandboxsecond-lifeSLvideovideosvirtual-sexvirtual-worldsWorld-of-Warcraftwowyou-only-live-twiceWed, 01 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/a-vanguard-fifth-anniversary-year-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/a-vanguard-fifth-anniversary-year-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/a-vanguard-fifth-anniversary-year-in-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Vanguard screenshot
It's that time again -- time to look back on a year of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and see what changed and what stayed exactly the same. The game is now five years old, and the last year has been relatively exciting for the community. Vanguard is just one of those titles that seems to want to last forever. The playerbase is loyal, mature, and truly dedicated to this aging title. Will the players' efforts pay off?

We took a look back on the last year to see what the larger announcements were. There were some surprises and even updates (yes, actual updates to the game), something that is still affecting the community. While other games might publish monthly or even weekly updates, the Vanguard players are the camels of the greater MMO community and have learned to live off very little development fuel.

Bear in mind that as I type this, an update is being played through on the test server.

Continue reading A Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review

MassivelyA Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybeau-hindmanbirthdaycorpse-runningdeath-mechaniceqeverquestf2pfan-fairefeaturedfree-to-playftphardcorelive-gamerpatchesretrospectivesilium-grantsiliusSOESony-Online-EntertainmentupdatesvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesMon, 30 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Urban Rivals]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/rise-and-shiny-recap-urban-rivals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/rise-and-shiny-recap-urban-rivals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/29/rise-and-shiny-recap-urban-rivals/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Urban Rivals screenshot
I would like to start off by saying that Urban Rivals, a multiplayer collectible card game, is not an MMO. While I always try to play MMOs for this column, occasionally my "grab a random MMO, one that was recommended by a reader a while ago, and write about it" method needs some tweaking. I don't always get a chance to vet a game mainly because I want to go through the very first stages of play while streaming live on Mondays, so sometimes less-than-Massive games squeeze through. File this under Not So Massively.

Other than that, I found some neat design in the game. I didn't find anything that would just blow us away as gamers, but it has some cool ideas and artwork all the same. There's also the mobile version of the game to consider -- a universal app for the iPhone or iPad that allows for gaming anywhere.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Urban Rivals

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Urban Rivals originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowser-basedcard-based-mmoCollectible-Card-GameEQ2EverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpLegends-of-Norrathlonmagic-the-gatheringplaneshiftstar-wars-pocketmodelsurban-rivalsSun, 29 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The best Glitch apps and websites]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/mmobility-the-best-glitch-apps-and-websites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/mmobility-the-best-glitch-apps-and-websites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/mmobility-the-best-glitch-apps-and-websites/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Glitch database screenshot
Glitch is a wonderful game, but it can be a bit confusing. The sheer number of items, places, and ingredients can make navigating the world of Ur difficult. I decided I needed some assistance living in the world of the giants. It took but one post on the forums before the helpful community overwhelmed me with choices. The developer of Glitch, Tiny Speck, made sure that players and third-party developers can have a go at making applications or websites that connect to the game's information and characters. I had no idea how many people had created some sort of app or website so far!

I started to try them all out, and as of the time of this writing, I have barely scratched the surface. There are apps or websites for almost anything you can think of. I have already found some that I really like, and I wanted to share them with you. Feel free to let me know which ones you like, and why, in the comments section.

Continue reading MMObility: The best Glitch apps and websites

MassivelyMMObility: The best Glitch apps and websites originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsbeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpglitchglitchenMMObilitymobiletiny-speckwebsitesFri, 27 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Looking for experiences, not challenges]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/free-for-all-looking-for-experiences-not-challenges/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/free-for-all-looking-for-experiences-not-challenges/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/free-for-all-looking-for-experiences-not-challenges/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Wurm Online screenshot
When I was around 20, I used to watch my girlfriend's younger brother play Nintendo games. It was a pretty intense scenario. He would become so angry when a boss fight took away one of his lives or when a leap at a moving platform would fail that he often chucked that poor controller at the wall. It happened again years later after we'd graduated to the internet and PC gaming. The strangest thing is that he would return to the challenge over and over until it either broke his will or his device or he finally conquered the challenge. I never quite got it. Surely such frustration sucked any enjoyment out of the entire process?

I tend to be more lazy when it comes to my digital adventure. I hate to repeat content, and I would rather leave the raiding and boss fights to those with more patience or to those who simply have a desire to win that matches their tolerance for frustrating situations. I would rather become a trader, crafter, roleplayer, explorer, or even adventurer in certain titles.

Just spare me the overwhelming challenges while I game.

Continue reading Free for All: Looking for experiences, not challenges

MassivelyFree for All: Looking for experiences, not challenges originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancash-shopcode-clubf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-ftpjagexMicrotransactionsraidingrolf-janssonrunescapevindictuswizard-101wizard101wurm-onlineWed, 25 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Thirst of Night]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/rise-and-shiny-recap-thirst-of-night/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/rise-and-shiny-recap-thirst-of-night/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/rise-and-shiny-recap-thirst-of-night/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thirst of Night screenshot
I love my MMORTS games, for sure. I've had to work on my ability to look at them with the freshest eyes that I can possibly muster, mainly because I see so many of them. It really is a genre of details. The gameplay in different titles is often almost exactly the same, but little details will set them apart. Thirst of Night, a new MMORTS by Kabam, tries hard to set itself apart from the pack, but does it do enough?

I also have to consider that, for many players, these experiences I go through every week are brand-new experiences. For a good number of people, the games I cover are their first or second ones. While it is hard for me to fathom, I have to keep that in mind. So while I saw a game this week that was lacking and tired in some areas, I know that those same areas would be pretty exciting to a new gamer.

Like I said, I'm working on it.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Thirst of Night

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Thirst of Night originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpkabamlivestreammmortsrise-and-shinythirst-of-nighttwitch-tvurban-rivalsvideoSun, 22 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: A second look at Fallen Earth's free model]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/free-for-all-a-second-look-at-fallen-earths-free-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/free-for-all-a-second-look-at-fallen-earths-free-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/free-for-all-a-second-look-at-fallen-earths-free-model/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Fallen Earth screenshot
I used to be head-over-heels in love with Fallen Earth. I was on an immersion kick and had even designed a set of rules that dictated how my character would "live" in the world. Fallen Earth provided me with a lot of great tools to become immersed, and it was the type of game that really stuck out from the pack. Of course, it also sported uglier character models than Lord of the Rings Online and was more brown than a bakery at the earlier levels, but it was neat.

I gave up on the title after a while and became too busy with other games to return. Then, the free-to-play version of the title came out. I still ignored it because of scheduling, but recently I have been returning to it. I am finding a lot of bugs and an overall lack of polish that I had forgotten about, but it's still a really cool game.

So how does the free version stack up to the subscription model? How free is it? Let's take a look.

Continue reading Free for All: A second look at Fallen Earth's free model

MassivelyFree for All: A second look at Fallen Earth's free model originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancash-shopddodungeon-and-dragonseq2eqiiEverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfallen-earthfefeaturedfree-for-allfree-to-playftpg1gamersfirstlord-of-the-rings-onlineMicrotransactionspost-apocalypticsandboxwizard101Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively tours Fiesta's new Expedition to Adealia]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/massively-tours-fiestas-new-expedition-to-adealia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/massively-tours-fiestas-new-expedition-to-adealia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/massively-tours-fiestas-new-expedition-to-adealia/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fiesta screenshot
Who doesn't love checking out a game's new content? I love it, for sure. So I was more than happy to sit down and ride along with the developers of Fiesta as they showed off their new expansion, Expedition to Adealia. The tour wasn't all rainbows and kittens, that's for sure. I found myself surrounded by towering monsters, crazy children brandishing giant knives, and massive, fire-breathing boss-monsters. It was fun, but I had no idea this cute Anime title could be so hardcore!

Luckily for me, my hosts had the ability to heal or resurrect me when needed. I didn't do too shabbily, though, and I shot arrows like bullets, bringing down every mighty beast I came across. It was fun, yes, but a real slaughter. Well, for the monsters at least.

And for those of you who'd like to host your own dance party in the game, Outspark was kind enough to provide Massively with plenty of goodie bag codes to give away. To get this free item, head to the redemption page and enter the item code MassivelyFiesta. You have until the 31st of January to redeem it.

Journey on to see just what I found during my tour of the Adealia expansion!

Continue reading Massively tours Fiesta's new Expedition to Adealia

MassivelyMassively tours Fiesta's new Expedition to Adealia originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adealiabeau-hindexpansionexpedition-to-adealiaf2pfeaturedFiestafiesta-onlinefree-to-playftphands-onhousehousingin-game-toursoutsparkplayer-housingtoursSun, 15 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Wakfu]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/rise-and-shiny-recap-wakfu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/rise-and-shiny-recap-wakfu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/rise-and-shiny-recap-wakfu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wakfu screenshot
In June, I drove down to Austin, Texas, to once again participate in GDC Online. I do it every year if I can, and I love it. It's a smaller event when compared to the larger E3s and other conventions, but it is more personal and up-close. My favorite speaker at this last event had to be David Calvo from Ankama Games. When he first came out barefoot, I was honestly worried that the chat would be all about goofy, "deep" design techniques that had no real use in practice. In the end, his talk was deep but was really just asking developers to have fun and try new things. Yes, I know: new things. Crazy, huh?

If Wakfu is any proof, those design theories are put to practice every day at Ankama. Wakfu, for me, is a breath of fresh air in so many ways. Even though I am somewhat used to the design and art style, thanks in large part to playing the previous title Dofus, I still find myself loving how simply complex much of Wakfu is.

There are issues that come with complexity, however.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Wakfu

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ankamaankama-gamesbeau-hindmandavid-calvoDofusf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpglitchjagexLiveStreampreviewrise-and-shinyrunescapeRyzomsoeSony-Online-EntertainmentSquare-Enixstreamingthe-chronicles-of-spellbornthirst-of-nighttwitch-tvVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesvideowakfuSun, 15 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: The still-satisfying world of action MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/free-for-all-the-still-satisfying-world-of-action-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/free-for-all-the-still-satisfying-world-of-action-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/free-for-all-the-still-satisfying-world-of-action-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vindictus screenshot
Look, I'm a red-blooded American gamer. I even call it 'Merica. So it should be no surprise when I feel like getting down with a melee-based chop-'em-up or have the desire to leap, jump and bounce my way through countless levels. In other words, action. We 'Mericans love our action games. I have my particular favorites, for sure, and within that list are my favorites of favorites that get the nod for different reasons. Honestly I'm not into action-based games just for the challenge. I don't need to make repeated attempts at downing a boss to have fun. I enjoy the immediate response that an action game gives me. I love to click the mouse button and see my character's sword swing or gun fire. It's satisfying.

Of course, action games can have their drawbacks. Not only do they tend to produce a euphoric haze that can only be described as "stoner glare" and an open-mouthed state of hypnosis, but they can take a toll on delicate, drum-beaten wrists like mine as well. I take the good with the bad, I guess. Click past the cut and I'll let you know my favorite F2P action MMOs.

Continue reading Free for All: The still-satisfying world of action MMOs

MassivelyFree for All: The still-satisfying world of action MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionaction-mmobeau-hindmabrowser-baseddragon-nestdungeon-fighter-onlinef2pfeaturedffafpsfree-for-allfree-to-playftpjef-reahardjunebud-abmericanmilmommofpsNexonnexon-americaperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentrusty-heartsSide-scrollerspiral-knightsthe-firing-linethree-ringsvindictusWed, 11 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: The Kingdom of Loathing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/rise-and-shiny-recap-the-kingdom-of-loathing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/rise-and-shiny-recap-the-kingdom-of-loathing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/rise-and-shiny-recap-the-kingdom-of-loathing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Kingdom of Loathing screenshot
The Kingdom of Loathing is no new kid on the block. The hand-drawn indie hit has been around for nine years now. There are fansites and 24-hour radio stations dedicated to the game, and there are even conventions hosted in its honor! Needless to say, the game has a following. I knew that I would be stepping into a huge puddle of "snark" when I decided to take a look at the game this week. I knew darn well that I would be tested, that my limits as someone who cannot stand to chat with anyone who answers everything with the equivalent of "your mom" would be pushed and pushed hard. I had a feeling.

Surprisingly, I found some really charming aspects to the game. Unfortunately, the game didn't seem to share my enthusiasm for its quaint design. Because it's existed for nine years, I expected to find some fine-tuned stick figure gameplay, but the game seemed content with sort of rehashing the same stuff over and over. Of course, since this column is all about playing a game enough to form only a first impression, I did not reach the higher levels and might have missed something. I just wish the game would have been more confident in its delivery.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: The Kingdom of Loathing

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: The Kingdom of Loathing originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asymmetric-publicationsbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpkingdom-of-loathingLiveStreamrise-and-shinySquare-Enixthe-kingdom-of-loathingtwitchtwitch-tvwakfuSun, 08 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST