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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Clone Wars Adventures not (immediately) affected by EA/Disney deal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/clone-wars-adventures-not-immediately-affected-by-ea-disney-de/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/clone-wars-adventures-not-immediately-affected-by-ea-disney-de/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/clone-wars-adventures-not-immediately-affected-by-ea-disney-de/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Clone Wars Adventures not immediately affected by EADisney deal
If you're a Star Wars fan, you've no doubt heard of EA's acquisition of an exclusive multi-year license for creating games based on the iconic space story, a license that spans multiple platforms. But what does that mean for current -- or even past -- Star Wars MMOs that aren't connected to that studio? Massively jumped on the case and contacted SOE to find out what, if any, effect this agreement between EA and Disney would have on its past and present titles.

Specifically, we asked if Clone Wars Adventures would be forced to shut down when the current license expires. Of course, we also slipped in a question as to whether or not that deal prevented any possibility of a return of Star Wars Galaxies. As for CWA, the studio replied "Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures is fully armed and operational, and this week's announcement does not affect our current agreement with Lucasfilm." So the browser-based games appears safe -- at least for now. The studio, however, declined to comment on SWG.

MassivelyClone Wars Adventures not (immediately) affected by EA/Disney deal originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 May 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedclassic-mmoclone-warsclone-wars-adventurescwaEAEA-Disney-licensing-dealfamilygalaxieskid-friendlykidslobbyminigamesandboxsci-fantasysci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgoWed, 08 May 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Final moments of MMOs, part 1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-perfect-ten-final-moments-of-mmos-part-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-perfect-ten-final-moments-of-mmos-part-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-perfect-ten-final-moments-of-mmos-part-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten Final moments of MMOs
Maybe many of us would just rather remember MMOs as they were in life rather than at the moment of their demise. But I believe that how a game went out is incredibly fascinating for many reasons and worthy of examination.

It's in these final moments when an entire community has to say goodbye. It's in these moments that the developers mourn as well before pulling the plug. It's in these moments that history is being made one last time. And it goes without saying that it's in these moments that everyone curses the unfairness of it all.

Today we're going to watch the first half of 10 videos featuring MMOs in their final moments. It's here we'll see how weird, crazy, sad, and interesting things can get. Maybe you were part of one (or more) of these moments or are simply curious what it was like. Either way, it's the end of the world as we know it. And we feel fine.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Final moments of MMOs, part 1

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Final moments of MMOs, part 1 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic-mmocomposercomposersdungeon-runnerseqoaeverquest-online-adventuresfeaturedfinal-momentsgalaxiesgame-musicjukeboxjukebox-heroesjustin-olivettimmo-jukeboxmmo-musicmusicmxoopinionsandboxsci-fishutdownsoesony-online-entertainmentsoundtracksoundtracksstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgswgotabula-rasathe-matrix-onlineThu, 11 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: ???]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/one-shots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/one-shots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/one-shots/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

One Shots
There's a lot going on in our lead picture here. There are question marks, a fungus person, a pointedly staring frog, and enough colors to give Crayola a run for its money. But what is it about? What does it mean?

Reader Stacy helps clear things up: "That's mah frog. This was around April Fool's last year (those question marks are fireworks from that in-game event and are amazing in motion). This was my first house; I got it for free from the EverQuest in-game card game, so I did not have much decoration. I bought a bunch of pets from a man down the street and set them loose, then set off all my fireworks and partied the night away with frog and friends."

See, if we did most of these activities in real life, we'd be in jail. Aren't MMOs grand?

Continue reading One Shots: ???

MassivelyOne Shots: ??? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bring-back-one-shotsclassic-mmoeqeq1everquestf2pfantasyfree-to-playgalaxiesgalleriesgalleryneocronneocron-2one-shotspics-or-it-didnt-happenreader-screenshotsreader-submissionssandboxsci-fiscreenshotscreenshotssoesonysony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgouser-submissionsSun, 24 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: What's the best Star Wars MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/leaderboard-whats-the-best-star-wars-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/leaderboard-whats-the-best-star-wars-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/leaderboard-whats-the-best-star-wars-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

SWG is the best Star Wars MMO regardless of this poll result!
Star Wars has gotten the MMO treatment not once, not twice, but three times. This is assuming that you count SOE's Clone Wars Adventures browser title, which I do since it features extensive progression, non-combat activities, and a slew of other MMO-like features in spite of its heavy use of instancing.

Then there's Star Wars Galaxies, of course, followed by Star Wars: The Old Republic. For today's Leaderboard, help us pick the best Star Wars MMO (or at least, the most popular according to Massively commenters). Vote after the cut!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: What's the best Star Wars MMO?

MassivelyLeaderboard: What's the best Star Wars MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalbiowarebrowserbrowser-basedclassic-mmoclone-warsclone-wars-adventurescwaeaelectronic-artsf2pfamilyfree-to-playgalaxieskid-friendlykidsleaderboardlobbylucasartsminigameone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollssandboxsci-fantasysci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 04 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Kick(start)ing the sandbox genre]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/some-assembly-required-kick-start-ing-the-sandbox-genre-into-hi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/some-assembly-required-kick-start-ing-the-sandbox-genre-into-hi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/some-assembly-required-kick-start-ing-the-sandbox-genre-into-hi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Some Assembly Required Kickstarting the sandbox genre into higher gear
Sandbox aficionados are known to reminisce about the "good old days." You know, that time long lost in the past when the greats of open-world play like Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies (pre-NGE of course) enjoyed their heyday. Many a lamentation has also been heard about how things have never been the same, or how nothing has filled that void.

Of course, the sandbox never died. In 2012 we started the year off with a guide to games sporting sandbox features to scratch a variety of virtual world itches and we ended with a look at some promising upcoming titles for 2013. With plenty of choices abounding, why are sandbox fans still decrying the lack of a home? It could be because they want one home for everyone to settle in together, basically one game to rule them all. But how realistic is that?

Even with the plethora of offerings now, many folks want to play their ideal sandbox, and everyone has their own idea of what the perfect one would be (and conversely, what would kill it). Perhaps the answer, then, is to forget about a single universal home that accommodates the masses and actually create a number of niche games where people find exactly what they are looking for. Wait, that's already happening? Enter Kickstarter.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Kick(start)ing the sandbox genre

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Kick(start)ing the sandbox genre originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>above-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologieschris-robertscitadel-of-sorceryclassic-mmocrowd-fundingcrowdfundingeaelectronic-artsembers-of-caerusfantasyfeaturedgalaxiesgame-mechanicsgoblinworksGreed-MongerKickstarterkickstarter-campaignKickstarter.comlord-britishmichael-dunhammythicmythic-entertainmentnotoriousnotorious-gamesopinionorigins-of-malupathfinderpathfinder-onlinepgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpnppost-apocpost-apocalypticPrison-Worldpvprepopulationsandboxsandparksarsci-fantasysci-fishowing-supportsoesome-assembly-requiredsony-online-entertainmentspaceshipstar-citizenstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgothe-repopulationultimaultima onlineuoVendetta-OnlinexsyonFri, 01 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: The ultimate MMORPG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/some-assembly-required-the-ultimate-mmorpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/some-assembly-required-the-ultimate-mmorpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/some-assembly-required-the-ultimate-mmorpg/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required 17
It's been raining for four days straight, and I've been cooped up in my house with nothing but a head cold and a bunch of time to think about my ideal sandbox MMORPG.

For this week's Some Assembly Required, then, I'm shamelessly borrowing the format from Massively's MMO Blender column to construct a perfect(ly) theoretical hybrid. I've done so once before, but this time I'm going to put the focus on fantasy instead of on the sci-fi stylings of Star Citizen and Star Wars Galaxies.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: The ultimate MMORPG

MassivelySome Assembly Required: The ultimate MMORPG originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic-mmocraftingeconomyeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfrankengamefree-to-playgalaxiesgame-mechanicsmakers-marknamed-crafting-itemsnon-combat-gameplayopinionperfect-mmopgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsarsci-fisoesome-assembly-requiredsonysony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgotradeskillingFri, 18 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Interview: Dr. Lawrence Sanders on MMO loyalty]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/massively-interview-dr-lawrence-sanders-on-mmo-loyalty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/massively-interview-dr-lawrence-sanders-on-mmo-loyalty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/massively-interview-dr-lawrence-sanders-on-mmo-loyalty/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Aion
Beyond amazing character design, compelling narratives, and the presence of dragons, there is one thing that all MMOs depend upon for success: player loyalty. Without returning subscribers, a loving community, or folks dropping a few dimes in the cash shop now and again, MMOs simply wouldn't be a feasible way for a games studio to do business. Smart development teams have player retention departments tasked specifically with tracking and analyzing the rise and fall of player allegiances and finding ways to leverage loyalty is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the creation process.

Even the non-gaming world is getting in on the fray. Back in November, researchers at the University at Buffalo School of Management published a study tracing the roots of player loyalties in a variety of MMO environments. The study outlined the mentalities of MMO gamers and the things that successfully encouraged them to keep coming back for more looting, more grinding, and more /hugging. Most importantly, the study declared that an MMO that increases loyalty by just 5% can increase profits by 25-95%.

We sat down with Dr. Lawrence Sanders, co-author of the study, to dive a little deeper into the researchers' methods, results, and plans for future MMO investigation.

Continue reading Massively Interview: Dr. Lawrence Sanders on MMO loyalty

MassivelyMassively Interview: Dr. Lawrence Sanders on MMO loyalty originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-wulinage-of-wushuaionccpccp-gameschinaclassic-mmoe-loyaltyeaelectronic-artseveeve-onlinef2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgalaxiesgaming-studiesgvghistoricalinternet-spaceshipsinterviewinterviewsjet-lil1Lawrence-Sanderslineagelineage-1lineage-2lineage-iiloyaltyncsoftplayer-eventsplayer-generated-contentpvpsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinestudiestanktankstruly-freeultimaultima onlineuniversity-at-buffalouowarwarcraftworld-of-tanksworld-of-warcraftwotwowwushuWed, 09 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite non-combat feature?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/07/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-non-combat-feature/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/07/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-non-combat-feature/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/07/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-non-combat-feature/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Daily Grind
Non-combat features don't get a lot of love in popular MMOs these days, but there have nonetheless been some interesting experiments in this department over the years. From RIFT's housing to Star Wars Galaxies' Entertainers to Lord of the Rings Online's music system, several genre titles have strayed from the straight and narrow of violence and character progression.

Upcoming titles like Age of Wushu and ArcheAge are adding new wrinkles as well, so for today's Daily Grind we'd like to hear your thoughts on non-combat MMO features. Specifically, which one is your favorite?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your favorite non-combat feature? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaage-of-wulinage-of-wushuarche-agearcheageasiachinachinesechinese-mmoclassic-mmoconquestdaily-grindf2pfantasyfree-to-playgalaxiesgpotatogvgjet-likidnappinglord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromartial-artsming-dynastynon-combatnon-combat-gameplayopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrsandboxsandparksci-fisnail-gamessnail-games-usasoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgotdgthe-daily-grindthree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsturbineturbine-entertainmentwushuwuxiaxl-gamesxlgamesMon, 07 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What obscure mechanic should become a standard MMO feature?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/the-daily-grind-what-obscure-mechanic-should-become-a-standard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/the-daily-grind-what-obscure-mechanic-should-become-a-standard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/the-daily-grind-what-obscure-mechanic-should-become-a-standard/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Daily Grind - What obscure mechanic should become a standard MMO feature?
Over the weekend we learned that The Repopulation will be implementing some sort of Entertainer skill set that is at least partly inspired by similar mechanics in Star Wars Galaxies. SWG's signature non-combat profession is still unique in MMO annals, though, and we got to wondering if there are other nifty mechanics that should be revisited in newer games.

What do you think? Is there a particular class, system, or MMO mechanic that you'd like to see become an MMORPG standard?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What obscure mechanic should become a standard MMO feature? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>above-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologiesclassic-mmodaily-grindentertainerentertainersgalaxiesopinionrepopulationrepopulation-entertainersandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswg-entertainerswgotdgthe-daily-grindthe-repopulationMon, 03 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[University study explores game loyalty in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/university-study-explores-game-loyalty-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/university-study-explores-game-loyalty-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/university-study-explores-game-loyalty-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

University study explains gamer loyalty
Developers who want to build a loyal fan base (and subsequently increase profits) might want to check out the findings of a new study conducted by the University at Buffalo School of Management. One of the study's conclusions is something that many MMO gamers probably suspect: Giving players more control of their characters and building a community fosters loyalty.

Dr. Lawrence Sanders, co-author of the study, discussed how most research focuses on the addictive nature of games instead of the reasons behind players committing to one game over another. He wrote, "Our study looked at how to make [games] more competitive in the marketplace." Sanders pointed out that research shows an increase in customer retention by as little as 5% can increase profits by 25 to 95%.

So how can developers create the fierce loyalty found in MMO communities surrounding games like World of Warcraft and Star Wars Galaxies? According to the results of the study, which will be published in the International Journal of Electronic Commerce, Sanders suggested that "to build a player's feeling of ownership toward his character, gamemakers should provide equal opportunities for any character to win a battle. They should also build more selective or elaborate chat rooms and guild features to help players socialize."

MassivelyUniversity study explores game loyalty in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentclassic-mmofantasygalaxiesgaming-studiesLawrence-Sandersloyaltysandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgouniversity-at-buffalowarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 16 Nov 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Gearing up for SWTOR Update 1.5]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/hyperspace-beacon-gearing-up-for-swtor-update-1-5/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/hyperspace-beacon-gearing-up-for-swtor-update-1-5/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/hyperspace-beacon-gearing-up-for-swtor-update-1-5/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon Gearing up for SWTOR Update 15
Star Wars: The Old Republic fans have been anticipating this week since the middle of the summer, and many players who dropped the game shortly after launch are looking forward to trying it out again. Veteran players are most likely familiar with how gear progression works in this game, but those returning will probably need a refresher course. After all, BioWare has made some significant changes, especially to PvP, since the game launched. It's quite understandable if you return to the game and are completely lost when considering how viable your current gear is.

Today, I'm going to speak to the returning players and help them put their gear to rights once Update 1.5 launches. If you are a solo PvEer who hasn't looked too hard at endgame gear progression, a PvPer who hasn't looked at the PvE side much, or a raider who wants to dabble in PvP, this mini-guide will help you get started and will give you the gear-progression goals you should shoot for.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Gearing up for SWTOR Update 1.5

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Gearing up for SWTOR Update 1.5 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclassic-mmoeaelectronic-artsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgalaxiesgame-updategeargear-progressionhyperspace-beaconlucasartsNGEnovember-15opinionpatchPvEPvPsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorupdate-1.5Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[David Braben is kickstarting a new multiplayer Elite sequel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/david-braben-is-kickstarting-a-new-multiplayer-elite-sequel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/david-braben-is-kickstarting-a-new-multiplayer-elite-sequel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/david-braben-is-kickstarting-a-new-multiplayer-elite-sequel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Online title image
Elite and its sequel Frontier: Elite II were arguably two of the most influential early space games ever made. They dropped the player into an immense sci-fi sandbox with just a tiny ship and a handful of credits. You could work your way up to larger and larger hauling ships, fight off pirates intent on taking your loot, travel the stars in search of lucrative deals or just wormhole into deep space. If that sounds familiar, it's because Elite was part of the inspiration for sci-fi MMO EVE Online.

Space in Frontier was especially deep, with a full-scale galaxy containing 100 billion stars and several empires with their own legal systems and trading outposts. Players could choose to raid other ships or play it straight, mining moons, scooping fuel from gas giants, and landing on planets to survey them for materials. The magic that made this colossal universe possible was procedural generation and some incredibly good programming by developer David Braben.

Today David took to Kickstarter to launch possibly the most anticipated sequel in the history of sci-fi sandbox games. Elite: Dangerous promises a Frontier-style sandbox with modern 3D graphics, a ton more content, and a seamless peer-to-peer multiplayer experience with no lobbies. Whether this will qualify as an MMO or not remains to be seen, but the project promises to blur the line between what is and isn't massively multiplayer.

MassivelyDavid Braben is kickstarting a new multiplayer Elite sequel originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brabenccpccp-gamesdaviddavid-brabeneliteelite-dangerouseveeve-onlinefrontiergalaxiesgalaxykickstarterkickstarter-projectskickstarter-ukplanetplanetsprocedural-generationprocedurally-generatedsandboxsci-fisequelstarstarsukunited-kingdomTue, 06 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A tale of two shutdowns starring City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-tale-of-two-shutdowns-starring-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-tale-of-two-shutdowns-starring-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-tale-of-two-shutdowns-starring-city/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A few weeks left.
It's been about a year since Star Wars Galaxies was shut down, and for a lot of people that wound is still fresh. For a sadly vocal minority, that wound is so fresh as to provoke a lot of groundless vitriol toward any available target -- but that's not the point. The point is that what happened to that game is happening again, to City of Heroes, and the players are just as powerless to stop it.

Except that it's not the same thing, not really. There are different reasons behind the closure of City of Heroes, different protests, and different player organizing taking place. The result is a scenario that's both a clear parallel to an earlier tragedy and its own unique blend of awful circumstances at the same time.

When we first heard the announcement, fellow City of Heroes player and former Star Wars Galaxies player Brianna Royce asked me if I felt the same way about CoH as I had about SWG. As we talked about it, though, it became clear that there were certain parallels being drawn that just didn't work. So I'm going to talk about what happened to both games, starting with the very significant difference between the two games shutting down.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A tale of two shutdowns starring City of Heroes

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: A tale of two shutdowns starring City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterbusinessbusiness-decisionscity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassic-mmocohcorporate-managementcovcoxf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgalaxieslegallucasartsmild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiossandboxsave-cohsci-fishutdownsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessuperherosuperheroesswgswgoWed, 31 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Blender: Jef's SWG/Star Citizen mashup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/26/mmo-blender-jefs-swg-star-citizen-mashup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/26/mmo-blender-jefs-swg-star-citizen-mashup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/26/mmo-blender-jefs-swg-star-citizen-mashup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

MMO Blender: Jef's SWG/Star Citizen mashup
Thus far I've managed to keep my nose out of Massively's MMO Blender column. This is primarily because I don't need 1000 words to describe the ideal MMORPG when a short phrase like "Star Wars Galaxies minus the IP" basically sums everything up.

That said, something happened a couple of weeks ago that caused me to expand on this idea. Chris Roberts returned to the ranks of gamemakers, and when he announced his Star Citizen multiplayer title (which I desperately hope he renames, incidentally), it set in motion an MMO flight of fancy that I would love to experience.

Continue reading MMO Blender: Jef's SWG/Star Citizen mashup

MassivelyMMO Blender: Jef's SWG/Star Citizen mashup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Oct 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armchair-game-designchris-robertsclassic-mmoeconomyfavorite-mmofeaturedgalaxiesgame-designgame-mechanicsjedi-suckmechanicsmission-generatormmo-blendermmo-mechanicsmmo-mix-tapemmo-mixologymmo-storyopinionplayer-generated-contentsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentspace-simstar-citizenstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-galaxies-minus-the-ipstar-wars-galaxies-without-the-ipstorytellerswgswg-minus-the-ipswg-without-the-ipswgouser-generated-contentFri, 26 Oct 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your most-hated MMO zone?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/the-daily-grind-whats-your-most-hated-mmo-zone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/the-daily-grind-whats-your-most-hated-mmo-zone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/the-daily-grind-whats-your-most-hated-mmo-zone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Daily Grind What's your most hated MMO zone
Star Wars Galaxies may have been my favorite MMO, but its pre-NGE Rage of Wookiees expansion introduced what I consider the worst MMO zone of all time: Kashyyyk. Unlike the wide-open planets that populated the SWG galaxy at launch, the tiny playable areas of Kashyyyk were a maze of tall zone walls and tight corridors, with a multi-level, below-ground, explorable themepark-style area and an inadequate map to ensure that you were totally getting lost on this ride.

It was also a no-build planet, meaning no homes or storyteller decorations (not that there would have been anywhere to put them anyway), so the whole location felt completely isolated from the rest of the game. And while the NGE version of the zone made it one of the few spots for quest-based, mid-tier leveling in the game, it was too difficult and scattershot for actual middlebies. Oh, and did I mention that vehicles and instant-transport ships mysteriously didn't work beneath the top jungle layer? Hope you enjoy running all the way back out again!

All right, picking on sunsetted games is just mean, especially when I'd take SWG back in a heartbeat, flaws and all. So what about you -- what's your most-hated MMO zone?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your most-hated MMO zone? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad-designbad-zonebrianna-royce-tdgclassic-mmodaily-grindgalaxieskachirhokashyyykopinionplanetrage-of-the-wookieessandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgotdgthe-daily-grindwookieezoneFri, 19 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: No game lives forever]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/the-soapbox-no-game-lives-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/the-soapbox-no-game-lives-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/the-soapbox-no-game-lives-forever/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Soapbox No game lasts forever 23
The lifespan of a video game is a funny thing. There are some games that have a definite end, yet you'd wish they'd last forever. These games measure life in replayability, run-through length, or multiplayer matches, but they lack permanence and persistence. Still, you can usually dust them off years from now and still have fun with them.

MMOs are a different breed, aren't they? They promise the inverse of the solo game, with a world that goes on, content that keeps flooding in, and the illusion that it will last forever. Yet when the switch is turned off, there's no going back. You can't pick it up 10 years from now and give it another go.

It's why the news that an MMO is closing up shop comes as such a devastating blow to many of us. As MMOs attempt to emulate the persistence of life, so too do they illustrate the finality of death.

Continue reading The Soapbox: No game lives forever

MassivelyThe Soapbox: No game lives forever originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto-assaultcity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassic-mmocohcovcoxdeatheditorialf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgalaxieslego-universencsoftop-edopinionparagonparagon-studiosrantrantssandboxsci-fisoapboxsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetsunsetssuperherosuperheroesswgswgotabula-rasathe-matrix-onlinethe-soapboxTue, 16 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: My preciousss]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/14/one-shots-my-preciousss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/14/one-shots-my-preciousss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/14/one-shots-my-preciousss/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

One Shots My preciousss
A must-stop on the Lord of the Rings Online tour is the former home of one of Middle-earth's most infamous inhabitants. In a recent journey, One Shots submitter Carolina stopped to take a picture of the finger-painting Gollum left behind:
Here is a warning picture I encountered while exploring Goblin Town in Lord of the Rings Online. Proceeding deep into the cave shows you this sign that something terrible lies ahead.
Personally, I think Gollum could have had a great career doing his own portraits. Check out this and several other terrific entries after the break.

Continue reading One Shots: My preciousss

MassivelyOne Shots: My preciousss originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbring-back-one-shotsclassic-mmoconsoleconsolesdcuoeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playgalaxiesgalleriesgalleryguild-warsgwlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroncsoftone-shotspics-or-it-didnt-happenplaystation-3playstation3ps3reader-screenshotsreader-submissionssandboxsci-fiscreenshotscreenshotssoesonysony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessuperherosuperheroesswgswgoturbineturbine-entertainmentuser-submissionsSun, 14 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Worst expansion names of all time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/the-perfect-ten-worst-expansion-names-of-all-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/the-perfect-ten-worst-expansion-names-of-all-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/the-perfect-ten-worst-expansion-names-of-all-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten Worst expansion names of all time
When SOE announced that EverQuest's 19th expansion would be titled Rain of Fear, I instantly found myself tripping over the name. I shouldn't have -- it's a few simple words that are first round picks for spelling contests -- but it defied the traditional naming conventions for MMO expansions. Many people I talked to kept wanting to write "reign" instead because "rain" seemed like a deliberate misspelling by some intern in Smedley's empire.

Homophones aside, Rain of Fear is hardly the worst expansion title I've ever seen. The industry has had its share of bad names, from the confusing to the downright unpronounceable. Sure, we get used to these titles, and perhaps it's nit-picky to lug them out at such a late point in many of their lifespans, but petty is my middle name. My first name is Tom. And these are 10 poorly named expansions. Deal with it.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Worst expansion names of all time

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Worst expansion names of all time originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineaoccpccp-gamescity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassic-mmocohconquestcovcoxddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeaelectronic-artseqeq-2eq-iieq1eq2eqiieveeve-onlineeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iiexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiforgotten-realmsfree-to-playfreedomFreyafuncomgalaxiesgeorge-lucasgoing-roguehumorinternet-spaceshipsjohn-smedleylineagelineage-2lineage-iilord-britishmenace-of-the-underdarkmythicmythic-entertainmentncsoftopinionp10paragonparagon-studiosperfect-10perfect-tenpvprage-of-the-wookieesrain-of-fearred-moon-risingriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararounduprvrSamurai-Empiresandboxsarah-palinsci-fisoesonysony-online-entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinesquaresquare-enixstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstom-legionsuperherosuperheroesswgswgoThe-Legacy-of-Ykeshathe-notum-warsthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenThe-Splitpaw-Sagathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listTreasures-of-Aht-Urhgantriontrion-worldsturbineturbine-entertainmentultimaultima onlineunderdarkuoThu, 11 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[First impressions of PlanetSide 2 through the eyes of an FPS noob]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/first-impressions-of-planetside-2-through-the-eyes-of-an-fps-noo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/first-impressions-of-planetside-2-through-the-eyes-of-an-fps-noo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/first-impressions-of-planetside-2-through-the-eyes-of-an-fps-noo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

First Impressions PlanetSide 2 from the eyes of an FPS noob
Rather than give anyone the wrong impression, let me begin by saying that first-person shooters are far from being my thing. I don't pant in anticipation for the latest Battlefield or Modern Warfare game. I do, however, like my share of third-person shooters. Global Agenda and the Mass Effect series come to mind immediately. So what in the world would make someone like me interested in Sony Online Entertainment's latest craze, PlanetSide 2?

RPGs are my thing, and I have always had respect for SOE as a developer. Despite some obvious mistakes the company's made when under the umbrella of large intellectual properties like DC Comics and Star Wars, SOE has handled its own IPs very well. It was also one of the first Western AAA studios to step into the world of free-to-play (with Free Realms, which continues to perform well). And now PlanetSide 2 proclaims that online FPS titles can not only provide exciting vehicle combat but do so in a persistent world.

So when SOE invited Massively to join Game Designer Margaret Krohn on a guided tour of PlanetSide 2, I thought, "Why not? At least I'll get to shoot some people in the face."

Continue reading First impressions of PlanetSide 2 through the eyes of an FPS noob

MassivelyFirst impressions of PlanetSide 2 through the eyes of an FPS noob originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testbeta-testingdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoeqeverquestf2pfeaturedFirst-Impressionsfirst-person-shooterfpsfrfree-realmsfree-to-playgagalaxiesGame-Mechanicsglobalagendahands-onmargaret-krohnmmofpsplanetsideplanetside-2previewpreviewspsps2sci-fisettingshootersoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgtestingthird-person-shootertpsultimaultimaonlineuovisualsThu, 30 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Blender: Larry's roleplay sandbox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/17/mmo-blender-larrys-roleplay-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/17/mmo-blender-larrys-roleplay-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/17/mmo-blender-larrys-roleplay-sandbox/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

MMO Blender Larry's roleplay sandbox
I can't say that I represent every roleplayer in the MMO space, but I have been a part of MMO roleplay communities going on eight years now. I think it's safe to say that I have a pretty good handle on what roleplayers want out of MMOs. Fortunately, there are existing game designs that can give us what we are looking for.

When developers stop giving roleplayers new content, we -- unlike other gamers -- start to create our own. In fact, the vast majority of us don't rely on the game developers to give us any story content beyond the backdrop of the world our characters are living in, but that's not to say there aren't tools developers can give us that help with our level of immersion. Let's explore what makes a great sandbox for an MMO roleplayer.

Continue reading MMO Blender: Larry's roleplay sandbox

MassivelyMMO Blender: Larry's roleplay sandbox originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>above-and-beyond-technologiesanetarenanetarmchair-game-designbiowarecity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassic-mmocohcovcoxcrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfantasyfavorite-mmofeaturedfree-to-playgalaxiesgame-designgame-mechanicsguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2hero-enginelarry-everettmechanicsmmo-blendermmo-mechanicsmmo-mix-tapemmo-mixologyncsoftNeverwinter-Nightsopinionparagonparagon-studiosperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwerepopulationroleplayroleplayerRolePlayingRPsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstosuperherosuperheroesswgswgothe-repopulationFri, 17 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do MMO sunsets kill your investment in other MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/13/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-sunsets-kill-your-investment-in-other-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/13/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-sunsets-kill-your-investment-in-other-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/13/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-sunsets-kill-your-investment-in-other-mm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Zentia
When Star Wars Galaxies' sunset was announced not much more than a year ago, it made me more than sad -- it made me distrustful. I knew that games had shut down before, but they were usually unlucky or unprofitable. In spite of the NGE, SWG maintained a healthy population for a second-gen MMO, and SOE was supporting it better than some studios support their current-gen games, so I fooled myself into thinking it'd be around forever like the rest of SOE's titles. And when I realized it wouldn't, my investment in other games fell off sharply. Why pour years into a world that can be ended arbitrarily before its time?

Zentia's impending closure brought that distrust to the surface again. Western audiences have a hard enough time adopting "foreign" games with funky localization and pay-to-win cash shops, so losing one of the best imports inspires no faith that other games will survive long enough to make an investment of time (and money) worth it.

What about you? Do MMO sunsets kill your desire to invest in other MMOs?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do MMO sunsets kill your investment in other MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgchang-youchangyouclassic-mmoclosuredaily-grinddistrustf2pfantasyfree-to-playgalaxiesopinionpixel-softpvpsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgswgotdgthe-daily-grindzentiaMon, 13 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE's John Smedley tackles an epic AMA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/soes-john-smedley-tackles-an-epic-ama/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/soes-john-smedley-tackles-an-epic-ama/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/soes-john-smedley-tackles-an-epic-ama/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

SOE's John Smedley tackles an epic AMA
What do you get when the president of SOE steps up to the mic at Reddit and tells the crowd to ask him anything? You get everything ranging from the NGE to former employee critiques to humble origin stories.

The crowd didn't waste time getting John Smedley to apologize for Star Wars Galaxies' NGE once again. "Stupid decisions. Complete and utter fail and I am very sorry," he said. After that, the topic quickly turned to SOE's rising star, PlanetSide 2.

Smedley said that he's been closely involved with the design of PS2. With the beta beginning on Monday, he also assured the crowd that it should take around two to three weeks to include everyone who has keys. He said that the game's coming along swimmingly: "I play the game three to four hours a day now. It's rough but fun as hell."

Smedley also admitted that SOE is working on additional undisclosed IPs. When asked about SWTOR's transition to F2P, he stated, "It is the only way to go for new games. It was the right decision for SWTOR (which is a fantastic game). Wait until you see our next round of games after PS2."

MassivelySOE's John Smedley tackles an epic AMA originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amaask-me-anythingbiowareclassic-mmocommunity-q-and-aeaelectronic-artsfpsgalaxiesjohn-smedleylucasartsmmo-shootermmofpsplanetsideplanetside-2ps2q-and-aredditsandboxsci-fishootersoesonysony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorFri, 03 Aug 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you have a fallback MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-a-fallback-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-a-fallback-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-a-fallback-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies. This is a shot of my droid engineer and moisture farmer's heavily decorated diner on Bria. Thanks a lot, Lucasarts.
My first fallback MMO, though I'd not have called it that at the time, was Ultima Online. Whenever I got sick of EverQuest or Dark Age of Camelot, I found myself wandering back to my houses in Britannia. World of Warcraft took over for a while, and then Star Wars Galaxies (yes, post-post-NGE) became my safe MMO -- the world to which I could retreat after a particularly nasty break-up with the latest and greatest themepark shiny, something that seemed to happen with increasing frequency as post-WoW games rushed to launch and left me wanting more.

More recently, I've set up camp in City of Heroes. I don't play it every day, but since it went free-to-play, it's always there when I need to tool around in something happily familiar that hits all the right nostalgia notes.

What about you folks? Do you have a fallback MMO, a game you return to when you're in between games?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you have a fallback MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jul 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgclassic-mmodaily-grindeaelectronic-artsfallbackfallback-gamefallback-mmofantasygalaxieslord-britishmythicmythic-entertainmentopinionsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgotdgthe-daily-grindultimaultima onlineuowarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 21 Jul 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Tips for roleplaying in The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/17/hyperspace-beacon-tips-for-roleplaying-in-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/17/hyperspace-beacon-tips-for-roleplaying-in-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/17/hyperspace-beacon-tips-for-roleplaying-in-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon Tips for roleplaying in The Old Republic
I had a game developer tell me recently that he wished more players were like roleplayers because roleplayers are easier to cater to. Having been in MMO roleplay communities for the last nine years, I have to both disagree and agree with him. Roleplayers need special tools and good quality-of-life mechanics (like sitting in chairs!) in order to find a game extremely enjoyable. However, he was correct when talking about content. When the content runs out -- when every raid is on farm, when PvP is no longer a challenge, or when all that's left is dailies to grind -- the majority of players start to slip out of the game. But when developer content runs out for a roleplayer, she begins to make her own content, if she hasn't already been doing just that. And the game is still fun!

When I started roleplaying in an MMO for the first time, a friend of mine who started with me summarized my feelings about roleplaying that game: "This is the reason I started playing in the first place." What he meant was that when he started playing Star Wars Galaxies, he wanted to live in the Star Wars universe, and roleplaying actually allowed him to do that.

Star Wars: The Old Republic offers its own opportunities for immersion. It's not the same as SWG, but it does share the same universe. So how do you get involved in the fun that roleplayers have in SWTOR? I'm glad you asked. I have some quick and dirty tips for you on how to get started in your epic Star Wars MMO adventure!

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Tips for roleplaying in The Old Republic

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Tips for roleplaying in The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclassic-mmoeaelectronic-artseliot-lefebvrefeaturedgalaxiesgod-moddinggod-modingguidehyperspace-beaconin-characterlucasartsmeta-gamingopinionout-of-characterpower-emotingpower-gamingroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstorystoryboardswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 17 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Blender: Larry's Firefly Effect]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/06/mmo-blender-larrys-firefly-effect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/06/mmo-blender-larrys-firefly-effect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/06/mmo-blender-larrys-firefly-effect/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

MMO Blender: Larry's Firefly Effect
Many MMOs suffer from not actually having immersive worlds. As a player, I always find a separation between what I am doing and what the rest of the playerbase sees. My personal gameplay has little to no effect on anyone else. MMO communities need to have more interdependency -- positive and negative.

I also believe that player choice also plays a major part in making a believable world, and I don't just mean just in some arbitrary dialogue choice, although that can be part of it. Actions in the world should play a part, too.

Many MMOs have the pieces already in place to make wonderful, immersing worlds, but for some reason, no one has ever put all the pieces together. What does it take to make a believable, fun world for a player to not only live in but feel that he is a part of the greater universe?

Continue reading MMO Blender: Larry's Firefly Effect

MassivelyMMO Blender: Larry's Firefly Effect originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-reloadedanetapbapb-reloadedapbrarenanetbiowareclassic-mmoconsoleconsolescrimecrypticcryptic-studiosdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoeaelectronic-artsf2pfactionsfantasyfeaturedfireflyfree-to-playgalaxiesgamersfirstguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2joss-whedonlarry-everettlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolucasartsncsoftperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentplaystation-3playstation3ps3pvppwesandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstosuperherosuperheroesswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorturbineturbine-entertainmentFri, 06 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Nine years of Star Wars Galaxies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/26/hyperspace-beacon-nine-years-of-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/26/hyperspace-beacon-nine-years-of-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/26/hyperspace-beacon-nine-years-of-star-wars-galaxies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Nine years of Star Wars Galaxies
As you might have guessed from the title, I'm taking a tiny break from writing about Star Wars: The Old Republic this week. Although it might seem like odd timing to change the pace of my articles with Update 1.3 releasing today, I figured that the update will be here next week, but Star Wars Galaxies' birthday comes around only once a year. Last weekend, the first Star Wars MMORPG would have celebrated its ninth year in service.

Being the first Star Wars MMO will always be an honor Galaxies will hold. But that's not the only thing that drew so many people to the game. I often find myself thinking back wondering what could have been. Besides my love for Star Wars, that game held a lot of significance in my life. It was my first serious MMO and my first step into MMO roleplay. If Star Wars Galaxies were still around, would I still be playing? More importantly, what would I be doing in that game that I really can't do in the current Star Wars MMO?

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Nine years of Star Wars Galaxies

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Nine years of Star Wars Galaxies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars Galaxies - player shop
With all the MMOs currently available, there's bound to be a game out there that resonates with just about everyone. That doesn't mean it's the perfect game, though, nor does it mean that said game has all the features you desire.

If you play in this genre long enough, you'll likely run across a mechanic or a fluff feature so endearing that you wish developers would implement it in every succeeding MMO. For me, that feature is the ability to name crafted items. Star Wars Galaxies' crafting system allowed for this (and it even allowed you to name the sub-components), which added an immeasurable amount of immersion and enjoyment on a personal level.

What about you, Massively readers? What incidental feature do you wish every MMO would adopt?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What incidental feature do you wish every MMO would adopt? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Cathar
It's probably a bit predictable that this Holocron File would be about the Cathar. But I'm not above being predictable when it's important or timely. In this case, the Cathar were announced to be the next playable species in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Hopefully, it is just one of the next playable species. I know many people are looking forward to playing Nautolans or Togrutas, which are a bit more iconic if you consider the popularity of Kit Fisto and Ahsoka Tano. But the Cathar are not without iconic figures. Knights of the Old Republic fans will remember Juhani as one of your possible companions, and serious Star Wars fans will remember Sylvar and Crado from the Tales of the Jedi comic book.

Personally, I have yet to create a Jedi Knight character (yeah, I know, call me what you will), so I think the Cathar look to be a good species for that class. However, given the history and overall disposition of the Cathar species, I think it could easily fall into any class story. Maybe that is why it was chosen as the next species over the aforementioned Nautolans and Togrutas. As with any species I play, I like to learn as much about it as I can. Thankfully, the Cathar are a pretty easy species for gathering this information, not that Wookieepedia is a great source on the topic.

So what are Cathar all about? Where do they come from? We'll find out in this week's Holocron Files.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Cathar

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Cathar originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perfect Ten
First things first: Whatever MMO release is currently ticking you off is the worst launch of all time. It would be folly of me to try to convince you otherwise. You've been roundly slapped in the face and you don't want me to convince you that the pain was in vain. I understand.

Getting past that, however, would it be possible to examine the subsequent 10 worst launches in the MMO industry? If your trauma isn't too great, that is. It would be? Terrific!

What constitutes a horrible game launch is varied, although each and every one of the following games made an unfortunate blunder that caused the title to stumble instead of sprint out of the gate. It's not the end of the story, of course, but it does make for a good tale to tell to youngsters camping in the open woods or a particularly seedy LAN center.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Worst MMO launches of all time

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Worst MMO launches of all time originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Anvil of Crom - Age of Conan turns four, looks to Star Wars Galaxies for inspiration
The last time I did an anniversary retrospective for Age of Conan, we had a recent expansion, some new dungeon content, and several class revamps fresh on our minds. The year before that, we had the earth-shaking combat and itemization changes. This past year, the major development was, of course, the switch to a freemium business model, followed closely by the game's first adventure pack.

Join me after the break for a quick rundown on the last 12 months as they happened in Hyboria, as well as an anniversary interview with game director Craig "Silirrion" Morrison that sheds a bit of light on the crafting revamp.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Age of Conan turns four, taps SWG for crafting inspiration

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Age of Conan turns four, taps SWG for crafting inspiration originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Miraluka
As I mentioned in my Why I Play Star Wars: The Old Republic piece, Dark Forces and Jedi Knight were two of the Star Wars video games I enjoyed most. Obviously, this was before Knights of the Old Republic. In Jedi Knight, the main antagonist was Jerec. Although it's never mentioned where Jerec comes from or even what species he was, his most distinguishing feature is the cover over his eyes. At the time, players thought it was a type of cybernetic implant similar to that worn by Geordi LaForge in Star Trek: The Next Generation. It wasn't until the Tales of the Jedi comic book series that we learned that Jerec and others are a part of the Force-seeing humanoid species known as the Miraluka.

If you choose to play a Jedi Knight or a Jedi Consular (or if you have 1.5 million credits to unlock it through the Legacy system), you can play as a Miraluka. I have been fascinated by this species since Jerec of Jedi Knight and Shoaneb Culu in the Tales of the Jedi after that. So this week, let's talk about this captivating species, its culture, its connection to the Force, and what its role is during the time of The Old Republic.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Miraluka

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Miraluka originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR
I believe I'm like most people when I say that I cling to nostalgia. I love it when parts of my adolescence are made into movies or video games. Yes, despite it being an explode-y Michael Bay movie, I loved Transformers, and I can't tell you how many times I watched Lord of the Rings when Peter Jackson adapted J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece into a blockbuster. But despite Ghostbusters' status as my favorite single movie of all time, the original Star Wars trilogy had more impact on my childhood than anything else in my life. I still get childhood chills when I think about it.

From the music to the action figures, I loved them all. I still have a picture of me at six years old riding an AT-AT. Yes, even at six, I knew exactly what an AT-AT was. And although I called a lightsaber a light-saver, I grew up with Star Wars entrenched in my psyche. It was only natural that when the video games revolving around the series came out, I would take up that cause. You guys remember the crazy wireframe Death Star trench arcade? You'd better believe I was there playing that.

When Star Wars entered the MMO space, I was there with bells on. But it's not just this longing to recapture my childhood that propels me to that galaxy far, far away in Star Wars: The Old Republic. The spice addiction runs quite a bit deeper.

Continue reading Why I play Star Wars: The Old Republic

MassivelyWhy I play Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate Tokyo
Maybe I'm alone in this, but my jaw just dropped when I came home this past week to see that Massively posted the news that Shadowbane is coming back to life. Granted, it's only going to happen in China, but still, that's pretty incredible. Shadowbane's been in the ground for three years now, and if I had to pick an MMO that deserved resurrection, this particular one would be farthest from my mind (no offense if you liked the game; it's just that there are so many others that are even more worthy).

But how can this not give you hope? Many of us have lost an MMO we loved or at least had a decked-out character populating the character select screen, and the thought of that game coming back against all odds is a goosebump-rising one. It may also smack of justice served, as some MMOs fail not because of faulty gameplay but because of mismanagement by the studio, complex legal wrangling, or bad marketing.

Today let's look at a few examples of dead MMOs that were brought back to life and what this may mean for the future of the industry. Zombie MMOs! Not, you know, MMOs with zombies.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: When dead MMOs come back to life

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: When dead MMOs come back to life originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: Advice from a master
I had the pleasure of playing Star Wars Galaxies with Brian "OddjobXL" Rucker for at least five years before his unfortunate passing last week. We never met in person, but he was a great influence on my life despite my having only recently found out what he looked like. One of the great things about the internet is that personality really shines through when you don't have a preconceived notion of who someone is based on how he looks. Brian was one of those people whose personality stood out from the rest of the community because of the stories he created and wisdom he imparted to others.

When he played SWG, he posted quite a bit as Mandash Grim on the Starsider Galaxy roleplay website; when a good chunk of those players decided to give Star Wars: The Old Republic a go, he moved with them to SWTOR-RP. On this forum, he talked about how SWTOR influenced RP, even though it was not exactly the way he envisioned it.

It's hard to summarize in a thousand words his gaming philosophies, which had such an influence on me, but I'd like to highlight a few key things he wrote that I believe summarize his feelings on something everyone reading this column probably loves: Star Wars MMO storytelling.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Advice from a master

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Advice from a master originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebrian-ruckerclassic-mmocommunityeaelectronic-artsfeaturedgalaxieshyperspace-beaconlucasartsoddjob-xloddjobxlopinionroleplayingrpsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 24 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Prolific MMO blogger Brian 'OddjobXL' Rucker passes away]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/prolific-mmo-blogger-brian-oddjobxl-rucker-passes-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/prolific-mmo-blogger-brian-oddjobxl-rucker-passes-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/prolific-mmo-blogger-brian-oddjobxl-rucker-passes-away/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Rucker's SWG avatarThe MMO roleplaying community lost one of its most prolific authors this week as Brian "OddjobXL" Rucker passed away at the age of 48.

Rucker maintained a blog called The Roleplayer's Redoubt on MMORPG.com, and he was also featured in Massively's The Game Archaeologist, where he talked at length about MUDs, MUSHs, and Star Wars Galaxies.

Massively columnist Larry Everett remembers Rucker as "a very prominent member of both of my websites and a personal inspiration to me as a gamer, writer, and roleplayer." Rucker, known as Cap'n in SWG circles, covered roleplaying in dozens of disparate MMO titles. He also offered plenty of sage advice for both newbs and veterans alike.

[Thanks to Laura for the tip.]

MassivelyProlific MMO blogger Brian 'OddjobXL' Rucker passes away originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perfect Ten
When a beloved friend, family member, hero, or role model dies, we feel the pain of that loss and grieve in many different ways. Part of that grieving and healing process is often entails those left behind constructing some sort of tribute to the dearly departed. Sometimes this comes in the form of a shrine of flowers, sometimes it's the establishment of a charity, and sometimes it's creating an in-game memorial that thousands if not millions of people will see over the course of years.

So while death and illness are depressing topics to dwell upon, I find the many MMO tributes that studios and even gamers have erected to be inspiring and a celebration of individual players' lives. With the help of my fellow Massively staffers, I researched 10 wonderful in-game tributes that serve to honor the lives of fellow gamers.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMO tributes to real-life people

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMO tributes to real-life people originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heroes (which would make an awful MMO, btw)
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

We're not heroes, at least in the ubiquitous Hollywood sense. We're teachers and janitors and businessmen, and we may occasionally be heroic in the eyes of our kids or our colleagues, but rarely are we celebrated beyond a tiny circle of family and friends.

Games can meet this emotional need, at least temporarily, and that's a major reason they've become such a booming business over the last couple of decades. We get to be Kratos for a couple of hours, or fem-Shepard or a thousand other pixelized pariahs -- until we set foot in an MMORPG, that is.

Software companies sell pre-packaged heroism in ways that book publishers and filmmakers can only dream of, and it doesn't really matter that it's fake heroism or impersonal heroism crafted on an assembly line and shipped out to millions of consumers. Shouldn't it matter, though, when it comes to MMORPGs?

Continue reading The Soapbox: Nobody's hero

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Nobody's hero originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: Making sense of Legacy
Last week, I spent some time in Austin, Texas, at BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic studio. One of the many things I saw was the Legacy System. Although it's a great tool, it is far from the good storytelling device it's intended to be. But perhaps we can make some sense out of it.

The Legacy leveling system begins when one of your characters completes chapter one. Without revealing too many spoilers, I can say that chapter one ends in a non-planetary quest just after the main Alderaan quest line. Based on the average, your character should be level 32 when this happens (or if you're like me, you were level 30 and a friend helped you pass the final stage). At this point, you begin to gain legacy levels, which Lead Systems Designer Damion Schubert says cap at level 50 currently (that's 50 legacy levels, not 50 combat levels).

Until last week, we were uncertain what the legacy levels would actually give us. Thanks to the latest SWTOR video, we now know that the Legacy System provides rewards ranging from ship customization items to species unlocks. I won't be able to talk about all the Legacy additions in this article, but I can hit the highlights.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Making sense of Legacy

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Making sense of Legacy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredamion-schubertdaniel-ericksoneaelectronic-artsfeaturedgalaxiesgeorg-zoellerheroic-abilitieshyperspace-beaconlegacy-systemlucasartsopinionpatch-1.2patchessandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentspecies-unlockstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 13 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: What if the game leaves you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-guild-counsel-what-if-the-game-leaves-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-guild-counsel-what-if-the-game-leaves-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-guild-counsel-what-if-the-game-leaves-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

SWG sunset
In previous Guild Counsel columns, we've tackled the issue of players leaving their guilds or even their games, but what about when the game leaves you? Recently, this has become an issue that, sadly, we're seeing more and more often, with announced closings of MMOs and even studios.

This week, Star Wars Galaxies' eight-year-plus run will come to an end, and the servers will shut down at midnight EST tonight. I saw a terrific tribute video made by Kyranna Mythina from the Starsider server, and I wanted to get some thoughts about the game and its closing. Read on for Kyranna's best memories of the game as well as thoughts about the end... and where to go from there.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: What if the game leaves you?

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: What if the game leaves you? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic-mmofeaturedgalaxiesgame-closureguildguild-counselguildskaren-bryanopinionsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgothe-guild-counselThu, 15 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How will you say farewell to SWG?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-daily-grind-how-will-you-say-farewell-to-swg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-daily-grind-how-will-you-say-farewell-to-swg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-daily-grind-how-will-you-say-farewell-to-swg/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies screenshot
Star Wars Galaxies' final day is here. Since last June's announcement that SOE's Star Wars game would be shut down on December 15th, the sandbox fans on the Massively staff have grown ever more sad, and the early arrival of Star Wars: The Old Republic has seemed like salt in the wound. For my part, I can hardly stand to log in without lamenting all the MMO design achievements that will be lost when the servers go dark.

And yet log in I will because a game only has one ending. Some of our writers will be chronicling the last hour on a livestream; others will be hanging out in social centers like Mos Eisley to watch the twin suns set. I'm planning to join a few guildmates near the location of our first guild city, formed just over eight years ago. What about you, readers? Where will you be at the end -- how will you say farewell to SWG?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How will you say farewell to SWG? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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