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[ArenaNet: Guild Wars 2 a 'reaction' to sluggish MMO design]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/arenanet-guild-wars-2-a-reaction-to-sluggish-mmo-design/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
Do you believe that the MMO genre has been stuck in a rut over the past few years? So does Christopher Lye, the global brand director for ArenaNet, who publicly denounced the post-World of Warcraft trend in the industry as stagnant.

In an interview with Gamasutra, Lye stated that Guild Wars 2 is walking the walk when it comes to genuinely challenging the status quo in the industry. "Honestly, I think the problem is that there's been a lack of change in MMO design and that Guild Wars 2 is a reaction to that," he said. "People will call this risky, but we think it's riskier just to churn out the same MMO that everyone has played before."

Lye pointed to Guild Wars 2's scaling dynamic event system and its action combat as examples of how ArenaNet is forging its own path. Observing that player consumption of content is "virtually insatiable," Lye said that the team has developed tools to allow it to implement changes and additions to dynamic events in hours, not weeks.

Is this industry stagnation coming to an end? Lye says yes: "We're finally seeing a point where companies realize that they're not going to create the next great MMO by just copying what's come before."

MassivelyArenaNet: Guild Wars 2 a 'reaction' to sluggish MMO design originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combatactivisionanetarenanetbetablizzardblizzard-entertainmentchris-lyechristopher-lyedynamic-eventsfantasygamasutraguild-wars-2gw2industryinterviewmmo-industryncsoftstagnanttrendwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 21 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard hiring Diablo III network engineer to work on consoles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/blizzard-hiring-diablo-iii-network-engineer-to-work-on-consoles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/blizzard-hiring-diablo-iii-network-engineer-to-work-on-consoles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/blizzard-hiring-diablo-iii-network-engineer-to-work-on-consoles/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Diablo III
As 2012 rolls in, many gamers are rejoicing that they might make it to a year that Diablo III actually releases. Blizzard's action-RPG will certainly be a hit on the PC, although console fans may have more hope today that Diablo III could reach the shores of their platform.

According to a job posting on Gamasutra, Blizzard is hiring a "Senior Software Engineer Console Network" to work on the Diablo team. It's a full-time position that will be in charge of designing and working on network systems for a console title. One of the requirements for the job is that the person have worked on a major Xbox 360 or PS3 title and have a good amount of experience with PSN and Xbox Live.

While this is not the first indication that Blizzard is working on a console version of Diablo III, it certainly lends credence to the notion that the company is actively working on it. The studio previously said that the title "is probably coming to consoles."

MassivelyBlizzard hiring Diablo III network engineer to work on consoles originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzard-entertainmentconsoleconsole-mmodiablodiablo-3diablo-iiigamasutraplaystation-networkpsnsenior-software-engineer-console-networkxboxxbox-360xbox-liveThu, 29 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free-to-play spending poised to become the majority in the US]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/free-to-play-spending-poised-to-become-the-majority-in-the-us/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/free-to-play-spending-poised-to-become-the-majority-in-the-us/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/09/free-to-play-spending-poised-to-become-the-majority-in-the-us/#commentsFiled under: , ,

City of Heroes
Free-to-play is on the rise -- we all knew that, but perhaps we didn't quite grasp how much it's gone up. Gamasutra reports that online players have boosted their F2P spending a whopping 24% this year over last, with F2P revenues cornering 47% -- versus 39% in 2010 -- of the MMO market in the US.

Analysts predict that we're on track to see $1.2 billion spent on free-to-play MMOs in 2011. This surge of F2P spending isn't just confined to North America, however. Europe, Asia, and other emerging countries already see a majority of MMO spending dedicated to F2P versus other business models.

The report states that US players spend 26 million hours daily in MMOs. Your average US player is 84% likely to be enjoying browser-based titles and 50% likely to be invested in a client-based game.

NewZoo CEO Peter Warman thinks 2012 will be a decisive year for F2P in more ways than one: "Recent lay-offs and the sudden death of LEGO Universe are serious warnings for the MMO games industry. Success will also strongly depend on how MMO companies extend their unique gameplay and IP across other game platforms, specifically mobile."

MassivelyFree-to-play spending poised to become the majority in the US originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelbusiness-modelsf2pfree-to-playgamasutralego-universenewzoonorth-americaPeter-WarmanrevenuespendingusWed, 09 Nov 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare Mythic isn't playing favorites with free-to-play and subscriptions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/bioware-mythic-isnt-playing-favorites-with-free-to-play-and-sub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/bioware-mythic-isnt-playing-favorites-with-free-to-play-and-sub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/bioware-mythic-isnt-playing-favorites-with-free-to-play-and-sub/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Wrath of Heroes
BioWare Mythic says that the market is big enough to support both free-to-play and subscription models -- and everything else in between. Talking with Gamasutra, GM Eugene Evans said that the company has to acknowledge that there are people who don't like F2P and those who do, and it's important to reach out to both groups.

With Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes in beta testing, BioWare Mythic is testing the waters of free-to-play while preparing for Star Wars: The Old Republic's massive subscription launch. "We often got asked about taking our old games free-to-play, and in the case of Warhammer, we felt there was a different way of doing it," he opined, going on to say that the Mythic branch was learning a lot about polish and quality from the BioWare team.

Evans commented on the observation that the widening global market means that no one business model is guaranteed to work in every country: "We're all still figuring out what free-to-play means, what the best way to monetize is, and how to run it as a business and engage players in ways they're prepared to accept."

MassivelyBioWare Mythic isn't playing favorites with free-to-play and subscriptions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythicbusiness-modelsEugene-Evansf2pfree-to-playgamasutramythicpolishstar-wars-the-old-republicsubssubscriptionsubscriptionsswtorwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-wrath-of-heroeswrath-of-heroesMon, 24 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free Realms clocks 20 million players over two-and-a-half years [Update]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/free-realms-clocks-20-million-players-over-two-and-a-half-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/free-realms-clocks-20-million-players-over-two-and-a-half-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/free-realms-clocks-20-million-players-over-two-and-a-half-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Free Realms
Sony Online Entertainment's most glorious shining star in its MMO library has another merit badge for its sash today. Free Realms just toppled the 20 million player mark, which includes all registrations since the game launched in 2009. This number reflects both PC and PlayStation 3 users.

John Smedley is, of course, as pleased as punch: "This benchmark is an honor and a true testament of SOE's success with free-to-play games."

It turns out that the PS3 was a godsend for the already hot title, as over three million additional console and PC players jumped on board the Free Realms train following new platform's release. While SOE didn't comment on how many of those new players stuck around after the entire system was taken offline for the better part of a month, this milestone speaks well to the game's popularity.

The company is not releasing information as to how many of those 20 million are still actively playing the game.

[Update: Clarified numbers on console players added after the PS3 launch.]

MassivelyFree Realms clocks 20 million players over two-and-a-half years [Update] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20-million20-million-playersconsolefrfree-realmsgamasutraplaystation-3ps3registered-playerssoesony-online-entertainmentThu, 20 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Innovating outwards: The joining of EVE Online with DUST 514]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/innovating-outwards-the-joining-of-eve-online-with-dust-514/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/innovating-outwards-the-joining-of-eve-online-with-dust-514/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/innovating-outwards-the-joining-of-eve-online-with-dust-514/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

DUST 514
Even though the PC-using EVE Online and the PlayStation 3-playing DUST 514 gamers may be separated by platform boundaries, CCP fans in both worlds will be joined at the hip in an odd, first-of-its-kind symbiotic relationship when DUST 514 launches. It's an intriguing prospect, but fans are wondering just how CCP is going to pull it off and how the two games will interact in practice.

DUST 514 producer Thomas Farrer sat down with Gamasutra to shed some light on the nitty-gritty details behind the auspicious plan. Farrer says that the buzz over DUST isn't as big as the team hoped, but he thinks this is due to the project taking a completely new angle on the industry: "Often, particularly in first-person games, games often look very inwards when it comes to how they are trying to innovate or move things forward. What we've tried to do is look more outwards."

Farrer outlined how the two titles will share the same economy, corporate structure, and social features. He says that the already-constructed EVE Online universe was a boon to the team's plans, since the established setting provided a perfect backdrop to a persistent shooter MMO, and that the two teams are in constant contact with each other as the project goes forward.

Of course, some computer players are put out that DUST 514 will be exclusive to the PS3, but Farrer acknowledges the slight possibility that it might not always be so: "Right now, we're pretty much just entirely focused on PlayStation. That's what we're going to remain focused on at least for the foreseeable future. But you know, who knows what happens in the future."

MassivelyInnovating outwards: The joining of EVE Online with DUST 514 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesdust-514eveeve-onlinefpsgamasutrainnovateinnovationinterviewmmofpspersistent-shooterplaystation-3ps3scifithomas-farrerFri, 02 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The slippery slope: Analysing the decline of World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/the-slippery-slope-analysing-the-decline-of-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/the-slippery-slope-analysing-the-decline-of-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/the-slippery-slope-analysing-the-decline-of-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , ,

WoW sunset
It's the word on the street these days: World of Warcraft is no longer quite the king that it used to be. The massive title has lost around one million subscribers over the past year, even with Cataclysm releasing last December. Gamasutra sat down with Blizzard for a frank talk about why the title is in decline, and what the studio has planned to counter this trend.

While Blizzard is pleased with the tune-up that Cataclysm provided to the landscape and questing, some players cite the erosion of difficulty and challenge as a reason for their leaving. Lead Systems Designer Greg Street acknowledges this, but says that the WoW team is in uncharted territory: "We just don't have a lot of examples of games that have lasted this long and been this popular for so long to show the right way to do it. I think coming up with new mechanics and new systems is relatively easy, the problem is integrating it with what we already have. World of Warcraft today is so much more complicated than it was when it launched six or seven years ago."

Ultimately, it may come down to players becoming bored more quickly as Blizzard struggles to pump out content to keep their attention. UC Irvine's Thomas Debeauvais conducted a study of 2,865 WoW players across the world, and found that 75% of them had stopped playing the game for at least a month while still being subscribed to it. Blizzard says that it wants to provide faster content updates and continue to overhaul the game's mechanics and graphics to give the players a reason to stay.

MassivelyThe slippery slope: Analysing the decline of World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>11-millionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmdeclinegamasutragreg-streetsubscriberssubscriptionssurveyThomas-Debeauvaisworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 31 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Scott Hartsman says gold farming hurts our games more than we know]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/scott-hartsman-says-gold-farming-hurts-our-games-more-than-we-kn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/scott-hartsman-says-gold-farming-hurts-our-games-more-than-we-kn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/scott-hartsman-says-gold-farming-hurts-our-games-more-than-we-kn/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gold buying is one of those aspects of MMO culture that is seemingly universally denounced, yet enough people partake in the practice to keep the wheels of this grey market activity going. Scott Hartsman may be saying the obvious when he denounced gold farming and selling to Gamasutra, but apparently it is still something we need to hear.

The Trion Worlds general manager shared a glimpse of just how hard these activities hit games, and how concerned he and other studio execs are about the proliferation of credit card fraud that results: "It's those kinds of things where people laugh and go, 'Oh, that never happens.' No. It happens. It happens a s**tload. To the point where, over the last three or four years, I would dare anybody to ask an exec at a gaming company how much they've had to pay in MasterCard and Visa fines, because of fraud. It happens a lot."

According to Hartsman, the more these events take place, the more money studios spend on paying fines and dealing with them instead of reinvesting funds into the games themselves -- all because of the "jerks" perpetuating the crimes.

MassivelyScott Hartsman says gold farming hurts our games more than we know originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>credit-card-fraudgamasutragold-buyinggold-farmergold-farminggold-sellinggrey-markethackhackedhackersjerksmastercardrmtscott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsvisaThu, 21 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New Gamasutra feature looks to define fairness in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/new-gamasutra-feature-looks-to-define-fairness-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/new-gamasutra-feature-looks-to-define-fairness-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/new-gamasutra-feature-looks-to-define-fairness-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Buying power! Class Balance! Easy mode! We'd be willing to bet that those pharses invoke some pretty strong feelings in many of you. When it comes to MMORPGs -- especially those of the free-to-play variety -- fairness is often a huge concern. Whether it's in the form of class balance, content tuning, or buying to win, equality is a delicate subject.

Mr. Simon Ludgate over at Gamasutra realizes this, and has put together an incredibly in-depth feature discussing the philosophy of fairness in MMORPGs. The feature is packed with star-power, with commentary from En Masse's Brian Knox, Trion Worlds' Scott Hartsman, Richard Garriott, and more. For the full, in-depth, and interesting feature, head on over to Gamasutra.

MassivelyNew Gamasutra feature looks to define fairness in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebuying-powerclass-balancedefining-fairnessequalityfairnessgamasutrasimon-ludgateTue, 05 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT approaching the one million sell-through mark]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/rift-approaching-the-one-million-sell-through-mark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/rift-approaching-the-one-million-sell-through-mark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/rift-approaching-the-one-million-sell-through-mark/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

For some, success is measured in how fun a game is and how much it accomplishes that which it promised. For others, success is all about the cold, hard numbers -- subscribers, units sold, accounts created, concurrent players. Today, Trion Worlds considers RIFT a success on the latter front as well as the former, as it announced that the company is nearing the million sell-through mark for the game.

A unit sold-through means that a copy of RIFT -- physical or digital -- has been sold to a customer, not merely shipped to retail. In an interview with Gamasutra, Trion's David Reid says that the company's $50 million title is doing well with direct competition against established fantasy MMOs like World of Warcraft.

"We're really pleased with what we're seeing. And beyond that, it was a pleasure to see in the latest Activision Blizzard earnings call that RIFT was inquired about when Blizzard announced their subscriber numbers went from 12 million to 11.4 million," Reid said. "You can do some math... we know very well where those 600,000 people are."

Trion is becoming well-known for its aggressive marketing push behind RIFT, which Reid thinks is paying off handsomely: "We know we have a very stick game, we know we are getting a lot of success right now... If in fact the 600,000 players [Blizzard] lost came to RIFT, I don't think they'll be getting those 600,000 people back as quick as they did from Aion, Conan, Warhammer and the like."

MassivelyRIFT approaching the one million sell-through mark originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardage-of-conanaionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentdavid-reidgamasutrainterviewriftrift-planes-of-telarasell-throughsubscriber-numberstriontrion-worldsunitsunits-sold-throughwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftTue, 07 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Perfect World Entertainment surpasses market expectations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/perfect-world-entertainment-stuns-itself-by-surpassing-market-ex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/perfect-world-entertainment-stuns-itself-by-surpassing-market-ex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/perfect-world-entertainment-stuns-itself-by-surpassing-market-ex/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Perhaps the belief that free-to-play games are bad and do not make money is unfounded. If you asked anyone with stock in Perfect World Entertainment, he would tell you that F2P is where it's at. The creator of the Perfect World International and Forsaken World has stunned the market as it reported a 15% revenue increase last quarter (January 2011 to March 2011) over last year (January 2010 to March 2010.)

However, the biggest surprise is the amount of profit the company generated. The 110% growth over last year greatly surpassed the high-end expectations of the company itself. CEO Michael Chi attributed the stellar growth to the recent release of Forsaken World and Empire of the Immortals. But the profit is due to more than the entry of these two games into the market. "At the same time, we also experienced lower sales and marketing expenses as we did not have as many new launches as we did in the previous quarter. All of these factors contributed to our strong bottom-line growth in the first quarter," Chi explains in a Gamasutra article.

Perfect World Entertainment hopes for continued growth as it continues to solidify its place in the F2P market with more games coming soon.

MassivelyPerfect World Entertainment surpasses market expectations originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>empire-of-the-immortalsf2pforsaken-worldfree-to-playftpgamasutramarket-growthMichael-chiperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentperfect-world-internationalprofitpwepwiTue, 24 May 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Arena University offers real-world experience for interns]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/arena-university-offers-real-world-experience-for-interns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/arena-university-offers-real-world-experience-for-interns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/arena-university-offers-real-world-experience-for-interns/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Most industries offer internship programs to help transition potential employees from sitting in a classroom to earning a paycheck, and the gaming industry is no exception.

While ArenaNet has offered a type of internship program within the gaming industry since 2010, they've recently progressed into new territory with their Arena University. ArenaNet's SVP of global business, Randall Price, spent some time chatting with Gamasutra about the program, detailing how it prepares graduates for the real world.

Participants in Arena University work with the goal of seeing their art in game; for example, some of the bits and pieces in today's Lion's Arch flythrough video came straight from Arena University. The purpose of the program, according to Randall, is much more than just offering a few college credits. The ArenaNet staffers who work with the interns keep a eye toward teaching their interns not only game design, but also office workflow, communication, and creation as it applies to current projects.

MassivelyArena University offers real-world experience for interns originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 May 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarena-universityarenanetgamasutragame-designguild-wars-2gw2internshipsncsoftrandall-priceWed, 11 May 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Controlling share in Bigpoint purchased for $350 million]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/controlling-share-in-bigpoint-purchased-for-350-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/controlling-share-in-bigpoint-purchased-for-350-million/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/controlling-share-in-bigpoint-purchased-for-350-million/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The prolific MMO developer Bigpoint is answering to couple of new bosses today. According to Gamasutra, Summit Partners and TA Associates have banded together to heavily invest in the company -- and by doing so, to take a controlling share in Bigpoint. The two firms, which are now on the board of directors, have jointly invested $350 million into Bigpoint. These funds will recapitalize the studio and expand its presence worldwide.

Bigpoint founder and CEO Heiko Hubertz, who controls 30 percent of the company, appears optimistic: "The investment by TA Associates and Summit Partners is a validation of Bigpoint's leadership position within the gaming industry, and will give us a huge boost toward becoming one of the most successful gaming companies worldwide."

Bigpoint has a wide portfolio of titles including Battlestar Galactica Online, DarkOrbit, and the upcoming Drakensang Online.

MassivelyControlling share in Bigpoint purchased for $350 million originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galactica-onlinebigpointboard-of-directorsbsocontrolling-sharedarkorbitdrakensang-onlinegamasutraheiko-hubertzinvestorssummit-partnerst-and-a-associates-is-a-completely-different-companyta-associatesTue, 26 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst says one million subscribers are attainable for SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/analyst-says-one-million-subscribers-are-attainable-for-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/analyst-says-one-million-subscribers-are-attainable-for-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/analyst-says-one-million-subscribers-are-attainable-for-swtor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

At the Electronic Arts fourth-quarter shareholders conference earlier this year, CEO John Riccitiello stated this about his soon-to-be-released MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic: "At half a million subscribers, the game is substantially profitable, but it's not the kind of thing we would write home about. Anything north of a million subscribers, it's a very profitable business." This has been questioned by fans and shareholders alike as all wonder whether the game could actually reach the goal of one million subscribers. According to Janco analyst Mike Hickey, the answer is yes!

Gaming business website Gamasutra quoted Hickey as saying that Janco "suspect[s] a willingness from investors to believe [500,000] to 1 million Star Wars MMO subscribers is an attainable target." Hickey has been focused on games and the gaming industry for some time now, specifically on EA, so the rise and fall of EA-published Warhammer Online cannot be off his radar when he makes his predictions about SWTOR. Ultimately, Hickey states that one million subscribers will mean $161.9 million in gross sales and up to $35 million in total profit for EA if his prediction is true.

Although there is still no exact release date for Star Wars: The Old Republic, we will know how close to the mark Hickey's prediction is when the game launches later this year.

MassivelyAnalyst says one million subscribers are attainable for SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1-million-accounts1-million-dollars1-million-subscribersBioWareEAElectronic-ArtsGamasutrajancojanco-partnersJohn-riccitielloLucasArtsmike-hickeyStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorWarhammer-OnlineMon, 25 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rescuing Final Fantasy: FFXIV producer discusses the game's future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/rescuing-final-fantasy-ffxiv-producer-discusses-the-games-futu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/rescuing-final-fantasy-ffxiv-producer-discusses-the-games-futu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/rescuing-final-fantasy-ffxiv-producer-discusses-the-games-futu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Most MMO launches have a few bumps in the road during the first six months or so -- it's almost par for the course. Final Fantasy XIV definitely had more than its fair share, but the team at Square-Enix is working hard to get back on track.

FFXIV producer Naoki Yoshida sat down for a chat with Gamasutra about several aspects of the rocky launch and aftermath. Yoshida gave his thoughts on what the team has planned for the future, where the company stands now, and what caused so many problems in the first place: "XIV had many issues. There was technology trouble, in-game trouble. The game at the time of release did not live up to expectations that players had of current generation MMOs. Like, 'this should be in a current generation MMO,' and that wasn't there."

The three-page interview also carries some in-depth answers on community feedback and how the team is responding to it, the suspension of subscription fees, Yoshida's philosophy on customer communication, and much more.

He's got big plans and high hopes for the future of FFXIV -- you can read the full interview at Gamasutra.

MassivelyRescuing Final Fantasy: FFXIV producer discusses the game's future originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ffxivfinal-fantasy-xivgamasutrainterviewnaoki-yoshidasquareSquare-EnixFri, 01 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA's Chris Lee on making a Korean MMO into an American hit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/teras-chris-lee-on-making-a-korean-mmo-into-an-american-hit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/teras-chris-lee-on-making-a-korean-mmo-into-an-american-hit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/teras-chris-lee-on-making-a-korean-mmo-into-an-american-hit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The recent announcement regarding a mind-meld between En Masse Entertainment and Atari for the purposes of bringing Bluehole Studio's TERA to North America has generated a fair bit of industry buzz. Not only does it indicate an impending release date (though En Masse remains coy about anything other than a "2011" date), but it also signifies to fans of AAA Asian-themed MMOs that they'll soon have an alternative to Aion and Lineage II.

Gamasutra recently chatted up En Masse publishing vice president Chris Lee about the challenges inherent in bringing TERA to the West, and surprisingly, the "westernization" catch-phrase -- and associated deflections -- were nowhere to be found. Lee instead focused on how En Masse has a long road ahead when it comes to turning a Korean MMO into an American hit (regardless of the title's inherent quality). "One of the biggest misconceptions in the business is that a good game will sell itself," Lee says.

Lee also spoke to TERA's decision to bypass the free-to-play craze as well as the title's unique combat mechanic, which is "a large departure from traditional MMOs, regardless of region."

MassivelyTERA's Chris Lee on making a Korean MMO into an American hit originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoatariBlueHolebluehole-studiobusiness-modelschris-leecrowded-marketen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasygamasutrainterviewinterviewskorean-mmolocalizationmmo-industryteratera-ontera-onlineFri, 18 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard COO: We hope Titan will still be growing in 20 years]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/blizzard-coo-we-hope-titan-will-still-be-growing-in-20-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/blizzard-coo-we-hope-titan-will-still-be-growing-in-20-years/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/blizzard-coo-we-hope-titan-will-still-be-growing-in-20-years/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Finding (or developing) the first real World of Warcraft-killer is something of a holy grail for MMO fans and developers alike. The extraordinary success of Blizzard's fantasy title has set the company and its flagship product on a seemingly unreachable pedestal in terms of financial success and subscriber numbers.

Conventional wisdom says that's unlikely to be duplicated any time soon, if ever, but Blizzard COO Paul Sams isn't so sure. In a new interview with Gamasutra, he talks a bit about Titan, the code name for the as-yet-unannounced followup to World of Warcraft. "I believe [it's] the most ambitious thing we've ever attempted," Sams told Gamasutra. "And I feel like we have set our company up to succeed on that. We have some of our most talented and most experienced developers on that team. Many of the people that built World of Warcraft are full time on that other team."

Will WoW's 12 million subscribers jump ship and make Titan the raging success that its predecessor was? "The thing that we hope will happen is that it will not stop World of Warcraft but we believe it will eclipse it," Sams said, before adding that he expects Titan to be an industry force over the next two decades.

MassivelyBlizzard COO: We hope Titan will still be growing in 20 years originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbusinessbusiness-modelsfantasygamasutrainterviewmmo-industrypaul-samssci-fititanWorld-of-Warcraftwowwow-killerWed, 09 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare's Rich Vogel talks gaming history, Ultima, and the first MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/biowares-rich-vogel-talks-mmo-history-ultima-and-the-first-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/biowares-rich-vogel-talks-mmo-history-ultima-and-the-first-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/biowares-rich-vogel-talks-mmo-history-ultima-and-the-first-mm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Quick, what was the first MMO?

No, this isn't the global chat of your favorite game, and no the answer doesn't start with World and end with Warcraft. According to veteran designer (and current Star Wars: The Old Republic producer) Rich Vogel, Meridian 59 was the first MMO, as there were "a lot of firsts with that game, for sure. It was really the first 3D visual of a virtual world, if you want to say that."

In a new interview at Gamasutra, Vogel talks about everything from M59, to Star Wars Galaxies, to Ultima Online (and how the PvP minority managed to ruin it for virtual world enthusiasts everywhere). "Frankly when you give people a simulator and the ability to do anything in the world you have to have limits, you have to have constraints that they understand," Vogel explains. UO's free-form PvP, coupled with the thieving mechanic and the ability to manipulate the game world to your advantage, was a recipe for griefing that caught the game's developers completely off guard.

"It went through eight or nine iterations before we kind of found a balance of what really worked and what didn't. But it was certainly an experience and many people talk about their experiences in UO. The experience there, no one's ever been able to duplicate today," Vogel says.

MassivelyBioWare's Rich Vogel talks gaming history, Ultima, and the first MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamasutrainterviewmeridian-59mmo-industrypvprich-vogelsandboxstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtorthe-first-mmothe-old-republicultima-onlineuoTue, 08 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Right on the first try: Trion Worlds' Buttler confident in RIFT's launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/right-on-the-first-try-trion-worlds-buttler-confident-in-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/right-on-the-first-try-trion-worlds-buttler-confident-in-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/28/right-on-the-first-try-trion-worlds-buttler-confident-in-rift/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"Nimble." "Dynamic." "Satisfied." "Revolution." These are just a few choice words that Trion Worlds CEO Lars Buttler has to say about his company's flagship game on the eve of RIFT's official launch.

Speaking with Gamasutra, Buttler walks a fine line between expressing confidence in and overselling RIFT's qualities. "This is the most social game in the history of gaming," he declared, pointing out how the game interacts with Twitter and open grouping to pull a myriad of players together.

What's the formula for a successful MMO in Buttler's opinion? "We took the time to try to get it right. We built the right technology first, we built an entire new platform architecture first, we then recruited the best team on the planet, and then we took a lot of time to build a complete and polished game, and then also focused very very strongly on slightly improving the things that are already great in MMORPGs, and introducing a lot of things that we and many gamers think are missing."

Buttler also hopes that RIFT will be one of a coming wave of MMOs that will usher in a more widespread acceptance of the genre as an entertainment staple, not just a fringe activity. He predicts that the revolution that happened with casual gaming will now spread to core games and break down barriers.

MassivelyRight on the first try: Trion Worlds' Buttler confident in RIFT's launch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamasutrainterviewlars-buttlerlaunchnimblerevolutionriftrift-planes-of-telaratriontrion-worldstwitterMon, 28 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper reflects on Hellgate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/bill-roper-reflects-on-hellgate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/bill-roper-reflects-on-hellgate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/bill-roper-reflects-on-hellgate/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperblizzardcrypticcryptic-studiosfantasyFantasy FootballFantasyFootballflagshipflagship-studiosgamasutrahellgatehellgate-londoninterviewsmythosthird-party-titleMon, 07 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard plays nice with World of StarCraft modder]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/blizzard-plays-nice-with-world-of-starcraft-modder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/blizzard-plays-nice-with-world-of-starcraft-modder/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/blizzard-plays-nice-with-world-of-starcraft-modder/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Gaming giant Blizzard Entertainment has officially weighed in on the World of StarCraft controversy, and the verdict is something of a happy ending for fans of the MMO-flavored mod and its mastermind Ryan Winzen. Gamasutra reports that Winzen has been invited to meet the StarCraft II development team, and his hard work won't be for naught despite the removal of his YouTube preview videos.

"It was never our intention to stop development on the mod or discourage the community from expressing their creativity through the StarCraft II editor. As always, we actively encourage development of custom maps and mods for StarCraft II, as we've done with our strategy games in the past," Blizzard said in a prepared statement.

The company went on to explain that issuing a take-down order for the offending videos is part of its standard procedure when dealing with fan mods and possible copyright infringement and that it is "looking forward to seeing development of the mod continue," according to Gamasutra.

MassivelyBlizzard plays nice with World of StarCraft modder originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentgamasutralegalmmo-industrymoddingmodsryan-winzenstarcraftstarcraft-2starcraft-iiworld-of-starcraftFri, 21 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[F2P giant Perfect World experiencing financial downturn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/f2p-giant-perfect-world-experiencing-financial-downturn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/f2p-giant-perfect-world-experiencing-financial-downturn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/f2p-giant-perfect-world-experiencing-financial-downturn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's rare to hear news of under-performing free-to-play titles these days, but Gamasutra is running a piece on the recent stumble of industry titan Perfect World Entertainment. The Chinese online game maker recently saw its third quarter profits fall 28.8 percent to $31.9 million and also experienced a stock price dip of 16.2 percent.

According to the report, PWE's television and film business revenues surpassed expectations and helped keep the company profitable, but the performance of the online gaming division took a notable downturn (due in part to the weak returns on Battle of the Immortals). Though PWE predicts a one to five percent gaming growth spurt in the fourth quarter of 2010, analyst firm Janco Partners is decidedly less optimistic. "Aggregate portfolio online game portfolio metrics continue to disappoint and we're not confident new game releases will stabilize a decidedly negative performance trend," the firm said.

You'll find all the details at Gamasutra.

MassivelyF2P giant Perfect World experiencing financial downturn originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-of-the-immortalsboif2pfinancial-performancefinancialsfree-to-playgamasutrajanco-partnersmmo-industryperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentstock-price-dropWed, 17 Nov 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[It puts the dog food in the basket or else it gets the hose again: Ubisoft announces Petz World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/it-puts-the-dog-food-in-the-basket-or-else-it-gets-the-hose-agai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/it-puts-the-dog-food-in-the-basket-or-else-it-gets-the-hose-agai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/it-puts-the-dog-food-in-the-basket-or-else-it-gets-the-hose-agai/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Several MMOs, such as Free Realms, flirt with the concept of virtual pet ownership and conditioning, but it looks like Ubisoft is ready for a full-fledged commitment to the concept with Petz World. Gamasutra reported that Firma Studio is developing the free-to-play MMO, which will be published by Ubisoft in 2011.

Based on the popular Dogz and Catz virtual pet simulators that date all the way back to the stone age of the internet (1995!), Petz has since expanded the franchise to include a wide variety of animals including hamsters, tigers and horses. In these games, players "adopt" a virtual pet of their choice, provide for their needs, and train their behavior through repeated actions. Repeated actions -- that sounds right up an MMO's alley, doesn't it?

Ubisoft hopes that Petz World will bring parents and children closer together through the gameplay. The MMO will involve a large variety of collecting, achievements and unlockables as players scour the world for cool pets and conquer special challenges. Ubisoft's Chris Early thinks there's enough to appeal to a wide demographic: "This game is a unique way for children and parents to play games together."

This is the latest move by the publisher to expand into the casual MMO landscape, following other titles like Might and Magic: Heroes Kingdoms.

MassivelyIt puts the dog food in the basket or else it gets the hose again: Ubisoft announces Petz World originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>catzchris-earlydoggiesdogzdogz-and-catz-living-together-mass-hysteriafirma-studiosfree-realmsgamasutrahorsieskittiesmight-and-magic-heroes-kingdomspet-simulatorpetzpetz-fantasypetz-worldubisoftUbisoft-Montrealvirtual-petSat, 02 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spacetime announces cross-platform mobile play, prepares to license game engine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/01/spacetime-announces-cross-platform-mobile-play-prepares-to-lice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/01/spacetime-announces-cross-platform-mobile-play-prepares-to-lice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/01/spacetime-announces-cross-platform-mobile-play-prepares-to-lice/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Spacetime Studios, the makers of the wildly successful Pocket Legends MMO, has just announced a new influx of funding that will enable continued development on the Spacetime Engine and licensing of said development platform to other game makers beginning in 2011.

Gamasutra reports that Spacetime is also claiming an industry first for Pocket Legends in terms of the ability for players on Windows PC, Android, and iOS systems to play on the same shared servers. "Providing players, no matter where they are, with a single deep, seamless 3D MMO gaming experience on multiple devices has been a dream of ours since the company was founded. We feel we're at the forefront of a whole new market for MMO game developers," said Spacetime CEO Gary Gattis.

MassivelySpacetime announces cross-platform mobile play, prepares to license game engine originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidgamasutragary-gattisiosipadiphonemobilemobile-mmopocket-legendsSpaceTimespacetime-enginespacetime-studiosventure-capitalwindowsFri, 01 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LEGO Universe creative director on building a LEGO MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/27/lego-universe-creative-director-on-building-a-lego-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/27/lego-universe-creative-director-on-building-a-lego-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/27/lego-universe-creative-director-on-building-a-lego-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The thought of a LEGO MMO seems like a pretty simple one. LEGO bricks themselves are a pretty basic concept, but that doesn't translate to quick and easy development according to Ryan Seabury.

Ryan is the creative director of LEGO Universe, and he gave Gamasutra some insight into how things work behind the scenes. From the first days of planning to the current state of beta testing, the interview is one of the most in-depth discussions of the game that we've seen so far. Ryan explores the possibility of LEGO Universe on consoles, talks about the game's target audience, LEGO's insistence on keeping the in-game bricks true to the brand and even NetDevil's plans for keeping player-crafted structures rated PG.

Check out Gamasutra for the full interview.

MassivelyLEGO Universe creative director on building a LEGO MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamasutrainterviewlegolego-universenetdevilryan-seaburyMon, 27 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Paragon Studios spills the secrets of success]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/paragon-studios-spills-the-secrets-of-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/paragon-studios-spills-the-secrets-of-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/paragon-studios-spills-the-secrets-of-success/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In a day and age when brand-new MMOs can run into serious trouble within the first few months following launch, it's remarkable to consider that City of Heroes has endured the test of time, studio transitions and competition, and still be running strong in the grand old year of 2010. Recently, the folks at Paragon Studios sat down with Gamasutra to celebrate CoH's six-year milestone, and pontificate on why the title succeeded when others failed.

Senior producer Jesse Caceres and art lead David Nakayama shared particular pride in how CoH has grown and adapted over the years. One of the examples they cite is their recent "Ultra Mode" upgrade to the graphics engine, which allows players to pump up the pretty visuals that would've been all but impossible in 2004. Another reason for their success, according to the pair, is that the team worked hard to provide gamers with play choices, such as the ability to roll a villain or to create their own adventures through the Mission Architect system.

Caceres has an additional idea regarding the game's longevity: its community. "I don't know if it's just the nature of our game or what, but our community is very mature... I think that kind of back-and-forth and that discourse that we have with our player base is one of the reasons why we have such a dedicated following."

You can read the full interview and glean all of Paragon Studios' secrets at Gamasutra.

MassivelyParagon Studios spills the secrets of success originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-rogueCity-of-VillainscohDavid-Nakayamagamasutrainterviewjesse-caceresmission-architectparagon-studiosultra-modeThu, 19 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[En Masse Vice President discusses goals for present and future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/en-masse-vice-president-discusses-goals-for-present-and-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/en-masse-vice-president-discusses-goals-for-present-and-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/en-masse-vice-president-discusses-goals-for-present-and-future/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


TERA has been generating a huge amount of interest in the MMO world these days, and the team at En Masse Entertainment is feeling pretty confident about where things are headed.

En Masse Vice President Chris Lee spent some time chatting with Gamasutra about the company's past, present, and future, as well as what he sees in store for TERA. TERA is, of course, the main focus these days; the team is working to make the game's quality live up to expectations, developing it for the Western market, and generally preparing for a successful launch.

But what about post-launch? What's in store for En Masse in the coming years? The team has no plans to slow down, and they want to expand a bit. "Our goal would be to go beyond what Bluehole's producing. I think they're the type of studio that's going to produce blockbuster hits, but take multiple years in between each one." They're hoping for a "small portfolio of high-quality titles" to introduce to the MMO market.

Fans aren't the only ones attracted by En Masse's success, by the way. Runes of Magic publisher Frogster liked what it saw, and has secured publishing rights to bring TERA to Europe, broadening the game's scope even further.

Check out the full story at Gamasutra.

MassivelyEn Masse Vice President discusses goals for present and future originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluehole-studiochris-leeen-masseen-masse-entertainmentgamasutrainterviewteratera-onlineWed, 14 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE vets create new studio for TCGs based on upcoming MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/soe-vets-create-new-studio-for-tcgs-based-on-upcoming-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/soe-vets-create-new-studio-for-tcgs-based-on-upcoming-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/soe-vets-create-new-studio-for-tcgs-based-on-upcoming-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

They're not quite Three Wolf Moon, but the folks over at Dire Wolf Digital have their own special brand of magic waiting in the wings. Formed by several Sony Online Entertainment veterans, including Scott Martins, Paul Dennan, Ryan Anderson and Bruce Mitchener, Dire Wolf Digital will focus on creating online trading card games (TCGs). The SOE vets have several TCGs under their belt, including Legends of Norrath and the Free Realms TCG.

What's interesting for MMO fans is that Dire Wolf Digital is working on a project in conjunction with an upcoming MMORPG. Per the press page: "The company is currently producing a trading card game based on an upcoming massively-multiplayer online game, and is in pre-production on additional social and strategy game projects for 2011."

Of course, we have no idea what this upcoming MMO is, but the talent involved makes Dire Wolf Digital worth watching. Considering that the team has previously worked on several TCGs for SOE and elsewhere, it certainly appears to have the pedigree necessary to succeed in the field.

MassivelySOE vets create new studio for TCGs based on upcoming MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bruce-mitchenerdire-wolf-digitalfree-realmsfree-realms-tcggamasutralegends-of-norrathnew-mmopaul-dennanryan-andersonscott-martinssoeSony-Online-Entertainmenttcgthree-wolf-moontrading-card-gameWed, 14 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA["Icelandic Model" is ideal for small MMO start-ups, says Alexander Gianturco]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/20/icelandic-model-is-ideal-for-small-mmo-start-ups-says-alexand/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/20/icelandic-model-is-ideal-for-small-mmo-start-ups-says-alexand/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/20/icelandic-model-is-ideal-for-small-mmo-start-ups-says-alexand/#comments When Iceland isn't belching volcanic ash that brings sky travel to its knees, it's kicking butt in the MMO world. EVE Online is widely seen as one of the greatest MMO success stories -- a small yet incredibly complex title from a small-fry studio (CCP) that's seen steady growth over the years instead of the typical rise, crest and fall of most other titles.

In a recent chat with Gamasutra, Alexander "The Mittani" Gianturco followed up his talk at GDC 2010 by outlining just why CCP's business model may be the Rosetta Stone for future games to follow. According to Gianturco, the crash-and-burn of many MMOs is due to the insistence that their games stick to the "Big Content" model (à la World of Warcraft), which requires a huge amount of resources and time before launch. He says that this is "near suicidal" for most studios to pursue.

Continue reading "Icelandic Model" is ideal for small MMO start-ups, says Alexander Gianturco

Massively"Icelandic Model" is ideal for small MMO start-ups, says Alexander Gianturco originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 May 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-tale-in-the-desertalexander-gianturcobig-contentccpccp-find-out-what-you-mean-to-meeveeve-onlinegamasutragdc-2010icelandicelandic-modelreinvest-profitsthe-mittanivolcanoworld-of-warcraftThu, 20 May 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jagex Founders join Sunday Times Rich List]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/jagex-founders-join-sunday-times-rich-list/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/jagex-founders-join-sunday-times-rich-list/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/jagex-founders-join-sunday-times-rich-list/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Earlier this month, we talked a bit about the impressive revenue and profits that Jagex have seen over the past few years, mostly thanks to the long-running success of Runescape. The company began small but saw steadily increasing success over the years, eventually pulling in record profits.

The revenue numbers gave Jagex another feather in their cap as founders Andrew and Paul Gower joined the Sunday Times Rich List with their £138 million fortune. The brothers earned another £39 million in 2009, making them the "483rd richest in the UK, ahead of the likes of David Bowie (£100m), Sir Tom Jones (£135m) and Phil Collins (£108m)." Solely from a game industry standpoint, the runner-up for the richest developer title goes to Jon Burton, the developer of Traveller's Tales. He netted a respectable £75 million when his company was purchased by Time Warner.

Check out the full story at Develop Online.

[via Gamasutra]

MassivelyJagex Founders join Sunday Times Rich List originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrew-gowerdevelop-onlinegamasutrajagexjon-burtonpaul-gowerrunescapetravellers-talesMon, 26 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trion names upcoming MMORTS, renames Heroes of Telara]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/trion-names-upcoming-mmorts-renames-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/trion-names-upcoming-mmorts-renames-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/trion-names-upcoming-mmorts-renames-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you've been waiting for information on... well, pretty much anything from Trion Worlds, it's your lucky day. Trion has come forth with information about three projects that have gotten a fair amount of attention in the past, but left fans wanting to know much more.

To begin with, Heroes of Telara is no longer Heroes of Telara. The game has been renamed Rift: Planes of Telara, a new title that reflects one of the most important mechanics of the game.

Trion also revealed a little more information about the mysterious SyFy MMO that they're working on. No elaborate details are forthcoming quite yet, but we now know that it will be an "MMO action game" set on Earth between 50-100 years in the future.

Finally, Trion unveiled End of Nations, which they say will be "the world's first premium massively multiplayer real-time strategy game." The fact that the game was an MMORTS has never been a secret, given that Trion actually named the game MMORTS for a while, but we've got a fair amount of new information with the unveiling. The game is aimed at existing fans of the genre rather than looking for converts, so players will be able to jump right into what they enjoy.

Check out the full story on End of Nations and Trion's other projects over at Gamasutra.

MassivelyTrion names upcoming MMORTS, renames Heroes of Telara originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>end-of-nationsGamasutraheroes-of-telararift-portals-of-telarasyfytriontrion-world-networktrion-worldsMon, 26 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Eskil Steenberg: Why is LOVE so unusual?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/eskil-steenberg-why-is-love-so-unusual/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/eskil-steenberg-why-is-love-so-unusual/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/eskil-steenberg-why-is-love-so-unusual/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Eskil Steenberg's LOVE stood out from the MMO crowd from the first time it was presented at GDC two years ago. It didn't fit neatly into any pre-determined genre and the game's appearance was different from anything we were used to.

Two years later, LOVE has launched, and Steenberg is thrilled to see his work reach this point. He spent some time recently chatting with Gamasutra about how the game developed the way it did, what its focus is, and what he hopes players will take away from it.

LOVE isn't only unusual because of its appearance, Steenberg says. It also stands out because the focus is somewhere completely different than your traditional MMO games. Players cooperate to develop and build the world, interacting with it as they see fit: "It becomes almost like playing a RTS but one where you're playing a peon in an army, and you can decide what to do -- you can stay at home and build, you can explore, you can do all kinds of things," Steenberg explained.

That's just the beginning of what makes LOVE so unusual, though. The full interview is an interesting look at the mind behind the game, and can be read at Gamasutra.

MassivelyEskil Steenberg: Why is LOVE so unusual? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eskil-steenbergGamasutrainterviewlovequel-solaarTue, 06 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spacetime's Pocket Legends hits Apple's app store]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/spacetimes-pocket-legends-hits-apples-app-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/spacetimes-pocket-legends-hits-apples-app-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/spacetimes-pocket-legends-hits-apples-app-store/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While there have been many attempts at reproducing the MMORPG experience on Apple's incredibly popular iPhone and iTouch devices, the limitations in technology and connection speed have kept these applications from hitting the big time. Spacetime Studios hopes to change all that, as they just revealed a new MMO for the app store: Pocket Legends.

Boasting 3D graphics, three classes and accessibility across iPhone, iTouch and iPad devices, Pocket Legends might be considered an "MMO-lite," but it still contains all the necessary ingredients. Players can choose from one of three anthropomorphic animal classes -- a cat sorceress, a bird archer, and a bear tank -- and head off for a career full of dungeon running, chest looting, and stat leveling. Grouping is also possible (and encouraged!), with thousands of players connecting over a server. Spacetime promises that players can not only play Pocket Legends on almost all of Apple's portable devices (except the first edition of the iPhone), but the game can be accessed via WiFi, 3G and even EDGE networks.

Continue reading Spacetime's Pocket Legends hits Apple's app store

MassivelySpacetime's Pocket Legends hits Apple's app store originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appappleblackstarempire-of-nightf2pgamasutragary-gattisipadiphoneitouchpocket-legendsspacetime-studiostouch-arcadeSun, 04 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Curt Schilling says majority of savings spent on 38 Studios]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/curt-schilling-says-majority-of-savings-spent-on-38-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/curt-schilling-says-majority-of-savings-spent-on-38-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/curt-schilling-says-majority-of-savings-spent-on-38-studios/#commentsFiled under: ,

Retired Red Sox player Curt Schilling has approached the development of 38 Studios with the same drive and enthusiasm as he did his baseball career, a fact that comes as no surprise to those who know what an avid MMO gamer he is. A recent article on Gamasutra took a closer look at the development of 38 Studios.

Schilling felt confident in his endeavor from the very beginning, making an initial investment of $5 million and hiring a lineup of very familiar names including R.A. Salvatore, Todd McFarlane, and several others. Once the project was underway, he increased the investment in a big way: "I have put the majority of the money I've earned in my life on the table. If I make another financial investment, I will have crossed the point of no return from a personal investment and company standpoint."

The financial and personal commitments have been significant, as with any large business venture, but Schilling remains very confident in the project: "I have no doubt I am on the cusp of creating a multi-million dollar company[...]"

Take a look at the full story on Gamasutra.

MassivelyCurt Schilling says majority of savings spent on 38 Studios originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studios38-studios-investmentcurt-schillingfinancialGamasutraInvestmentr.a.-salvatoretodd-mcFarlaneTue, 30 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Derek Smart and ex-Alganon employees butt heads]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/derek-smart-and-ex-alganon-employees-butt-heads/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/derek-smart-and-ex-alganon-employees-butt-heads/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/derek-smart-and-ex-alganon-employees-butt-heads/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

News of last week's shakeup of the Alganon team has been sparking a lot of talk in the gaming community, and the fans aren't the only ones with something to say. Derek Smart is taking Alganon back to the drawing board in a big way, but he's still finding time to maintain his policy of very open communication: "The fact is that in our industry, the less you say, the more people will fill in the blanks for you."

You're not going to find many blanks to fill in here. Gamasutra reported the news Monday, and Smart posted some clarifications to the story in the comments section. He had quite a bit to say over the next 24 hours, and Hue Henry and Jason Blood stopped by to add their voices to the conversation as well. The discussion that followed was interesting to say the least, and offered quite a bit of insight into their thoughts on the matter.

The comments section, while long, is well worth a look, particularly if you're familiar with the participants or a fan of Alganon.

MassivelyDerek Smart and ex-Alganon employees butt heads originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonderek-smartgamasutrahue-henryjason-bloodquest-onlineThu, 18 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Americans spend $3.8 billion on MMO gaming in 2009]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/10/americans-spend-3-8-billion-on-mmo-gaming-in-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/10/americans-spend-3-8-billion-on-mmo-gaming-in-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/10/americans-spend-3-8-billion-on-mmo-gaming-in-2009/#commentsFiled under: ,

Do you feel like you spent a lot on MMOs last year? Well, you're not alone. It's no secret that the MMO industry is a huge one, and all of those box sales, Steam downloads, sub fees, and item shop purchases added up to a pretty impressive number.

Gamasutra reported today that MMO gamers in the US spent $3.8 billion on their hobby in 2009. What's interesting about this figure is that it follows the trend you find in free-to-play games these days: of the 46 million Americans playing MMOs, only 46% of them spent any money at all on games. The rest, approximately 25 million, were completely free-to-play. Even so, American gamers are clearly more enthusiastic about opening their wallets for games than other countries, with the total coming to about 15 times more than any European MMO market.

You can take a look at the full report and more number crunching at Gamasutra.

MassivelyAmericans spend $3.8 billion on MMO gaming in 2009 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfree-to-playGamasutraitem-shopsmmo-industrymmo-sales-2009subscriptionWed, 10 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Building The Secret World: An interview with Ragnar Tornquist]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/building-the-secret-world-an-interview-with-ragnar-tornquist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/building-the-secret-world-an-interview-with-ragnar-tornquist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/14/building-the-secret-world-an-interview-with-ragnar-tornquist/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As the buzz surrounding Funcom's upcoming title The Secret World increases, we continue to hear more from the developers in the form of things like concept art and some spooky game footage.

The latest dose of information is an interview with Funcom's Ragnar Tornquist. He spent some time with Gamasutra recently, and their interview tells all about building a cozy little corner of hell in Kingsmouth. The discussion ran the gamut from fantasy genre oversaturation to the creation of a game set in the real world.

The extensive interview is well worth a read for anyone interested not only in The Secret World, but in the thought process behind game design as well. Tornquist explores his history as a gamer and how it helped to shape the way he is creating The Secret World.

The interview covers quite a bit of ground and reveals plenty of new information about TSW. It can be found here -- enjoy!

MassivelyBuilding The Secret World: An interview with Ragnar Tornquist originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FuncomGamasutrainterviewkingsmouthRagnar-Tornquistthe-secret-worldTSWSun, 14 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Red 5 Studios lays off one-third of its staff]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/rumor-red-5-studios-lays-off-one-third-of-its-staff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/rumor-red-5-studios-lays-off-one-third-of-its-staff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/rumor-red-5-studios-lays-off-one-third-of-its-staff/#commentsFiled under: ,

Their official site reads "Red 5 Studios is seeking highly talented and driven programmers to help us build a AAA massively multiplayer title."

Well, maybe not. A report from Gamasutra gives the news that we never like to hear or report: Red 5 Studios -- founded by former World of Warcraft team members -- has laid off approximately 30 people. This report comes from a "reliable source" close to Red 5, and if the number is accurate, it's nearly a third of their 100-man team. (That figure from a December 2008 interview with CEO Michael Weingartner.)

Red 5 Studios has been around since 2005, and as a rule has stayed very quiet regarding their ambitions for their upcoming MMO. They secured funding in 2006 and made some staff changes in 2008, but it's been mostly silent on the Studio 5 front for the most part, until now.

Our best wishes go out to those affected by the layoff, and to all involved.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in as a tip!]

Update: Red 5 has confirmed and clarified this rumor via a press release announcing the restructuring of the company: "As part of the restructuring, some team members chose to part ways while others were let go."

MassivelyRumor: Red 5 Studios lays off one-third of its staff originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BreakingGamasutralayofflayoffsmmo-industryred-5red-5-studiosWed, 27 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Asia discusses China operations, DUST 514]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/04/ccp-asia-discusses-china-operations-dust-514/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/04/ccp-asia-discusses-china-operations-dust-514/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/04/ccp-asia-discusses-china-operations-dust-514/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The Asia branch of CCP Games had modest beginnings -- the company's Shanghai office was simply formed to administer EVE Online in China, although there was always the hope that the team would eventually be able to develop new games as well. Now CCP's Shanghai office is growing into a full-fledged game development studio with their work on DUST 514, a ground-based console MMOFPS that ties in with the galactic struggle for control between players in EVE Online.

A recent interview with Gamasutra's Christian Nutt discusses CCP Asia and their work on DUST 514 from both a western and eastern perspective. Environment Director Larry Herring and Lead Level Designer Jing Yu Zhu give us a better idea of the challenges (and red tape) involved with developing games for Western markets in China, and a look at the console game development scene in Shanghai.

Continue reading CCP Asia discusses China operations, DUST 514

MassivelyCCP Asia discusses China operations, DUST 514 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiaccpccp-asiaccp-gameschinachristian-nuttconsolesdust-514environment-directoreveeve-onlinegamasutrainterviewsjing-yu-zhularry-herringlead-level-designermmo-industrysci-fishanghaiMon, 04 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Looking behind the scenes at Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/02/looking-behind-the-scenes-at-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/02/looking-behind-the-scenes-at-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/02/looking-behind-the-scenes-at-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When you are playing your favorite MMO, how much do you think about what goes on behind the scenes? If your interest goes beyond general gameplay and lies within the actual nuts and bolts of how it all works, Gamasutra has a feature that will fascinate you.

"Restless Entities Never Sleep" is a feature that takes a close look behind the scenes of Warhammer Online, exploring the multiple complicated processes that keep the game up and running. The feature explores the basics of how the servers keep the game up and running and what exactly they do, and continues with excerpts from a previous interview with Online Technical Director Andrew Mann. They also cover the challenges of trying to maintain the servers and minimize downtime, as well as improvements planned (or hoped for) down the road.

As a few readers noted, it's an Intel-sponsored feature and it shows a bit, but that doesn't make it any less interesting to the tech-minded out there. The full feature can be found here.

MassivelyLooking behind the scenes at Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrew-mannGamasutramythicMythic-EntertainmentwarWarhammer-OnlineSat, 02 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST