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[Ask Massively: On mourning a netbook edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/ask-massively-on-mourning-a-netbook-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/ask-massively-on-mourning-a-netbook-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/ask-massively-on-mourning-a-netbook-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

No, it's not a picture of River. I can't take a picture of her right now, she's wounded. It would be wrong.
Well, I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later. My stalwart little netbook, River, finally developed a serious problem: Her screen developed a pair of nasty cracks. I've had her for only a couple of years, but she's been a great portable machine and a real help at getting work done. Now if only it weren't such an enormous pain finding someplace where I could get her repaired, as I'd really prefer not to replace her. But it might come to that.

Even with an injured performer, however, the show must go on, and the show in question is Ask Massively. This week, we're fielding questions about ArcheAge and working in the gaming field, something that I'm sure is of interest to many of our readers. If you've got a question you'd like to see in a future installment of the column, mail it to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited for brevity and/or clarity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: On mourning a netbook edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: On mourning a netbook edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archeageask-massivelycareerscolumncolumnsdevelopmentfeaturedgaming-industryjobslocalizationmmo-industryopinionwester-releaseThu, 26 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pando Networks studies growth of F2P MMOs, makes infographic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/pando-networks-studies-growth-of-f2p-mmos-makes-infographic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/pando-networks-studies-growth-of-f2p-mmos-makes-infographic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/pando-networks-studies-growth-of-f2p-mmos-makes-infographic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Pando chart
Pando Networks, creator of the ubiquitous Pando Media Booster, has done a study on the growth of the F2P MMO industry. The data, which can be viewed in a handy infographic after the cut, shows that the number of people downloading free-to-play online games grew by 450% between 2009 and 2011. According to the study, the increase in players has come from a number of large titles -- such as Lord of the Rings Online -- making the switch to a F2P model. Also mentioned is the ever-popular MOBA, League of Legends.

The study also notes that this huge growth isn't just happening in the United States or Europe; it's a worldwide phenomenon. In Latin America, the number of people downloading F2P titles rose by 595%, while the number of people downloading free-to-play titles in Japan and Australia rose by 392% and 234%, respectively. For the full infographic, just click on past the cut and have a look.

[Source: Pando Networks press release]

Continue reading Pando Networks studies growth of F2P MMOs, makes infographic

MassivelyPando Networks studies growth of F2P MMOs, makes infographic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pf2p-growthfree-to-playgaming-industrygrowthindustryinfographicleague-of-legendslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropandopando-networksstudiesstudyThu, 15 Dec 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Russian MMO market to continue growing through next year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/russian-mmo-market-to-continue-growing-through-next-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/russian-mmo-market-to-continue-growing-through-next-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/russian-mmo-market-to-continue-growing-through-next-year/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Allods Online counts.
For a long time, China has been the country to look to for MMO growth. The country's rapid acquisition of technology and popular internet cafes has led to an explosion in growth and online gaming. But China isn't the only country steadily rising in quantities. According to a study by Newzoo, the Russian game market is already a $1.5 billion industry, with $270 million of that going directly toward MMOs, making our favorite genre tied with general PC gaming for overall spending.

Among the more interesting upshots of the study are the fact that women compose 49% of the overall gamer market in Russia, a remarkably even split considering the setup of most developed nation; 69% of the spent money goes toward online or mobile games. In many ways, the Russian gaming market has already overtaken the European markets in terms of overall numbers and spending, according to Newzoo CEO Peter Warman. The company also created a useful set of infographics regarding the overall breakdown of data.

[Source: Newzoo press release]

MassivelyRussian MMO market to continue growing through next year originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-issuesgaming-industryindustry-analysisinternationalmmo-industrymobile-gamingnewzooonline-gamingoverall-spendingpeter-warmanTue, 13 Sep 2011 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you among the 10% who finish what they start?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/the-daily-grind-are-you-among-the-10-who-finish-what-they-star/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/the-daily-grind-are-you-among-the-10-who-finish-what-they-star/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/the-daily-grind-are-you-among-the-10-who-finish-what-they-star/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Guild Wars Pre-Searing screenshot
Last week, CNN published an article declaring that video game attrition is significantly higher than we might have suspected. According to the post, 90% of gamers don't finish the video games they start. CNN lists several possible reasons for this phenomenon: the rising age of the average gamer (37), shortening attention spans, different life focuses, gaming platforms, game lengths, and a roster of new games -- particularly the more profitable and time-consuming multiplayer games -- that's becoming increasingly bloated.

Setting aside the question of whether MMOs even have endings at all, we have to wonder whether MMO gamers suffer this same inability to see a game through to the finish line. Whatever you consider the "end" of your MMOs, do you ever get there? Are you among the 10% of gamers who finish what they start?

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: Are you among the 10% who finish what they start? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbrianna-royce-tdgcnnendendingendingsfinish-linefinishedgaming-industryguild-warsgwncsoftopiniontdgthe-daily-grindSat, 20 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision Blizzard posts record profits, WoW subs declining [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/activision-blizzard-posts-record-profits-with-a-large-share-fro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/activision-blizzard-posts-record-profits-with-a-large-share-fro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/activision-blizzard-posts-record-profits-with-a-large-share-fro/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The most recent World of Warcraft expansion has garnered its fair share of criticisms from players, but for better or for worse that hasn't made a dent in the parent company's empire. Activision Blizzard hasn't just been surviving but thriving, posting a record profit for the first quarter of 2011 -- $503 million in net income, more than $100 million over the year before. To the surprise of absolutely no one, Blizzard Entertainment was responsible for a large portion of that profit, bringing in $170 million all by its lonesome.

Needless to say, this has serious implications for the MMO world, especially with the long-awaited Star Wars: The Old Republic still on deck for this year -- a game rumored to have a nearly ruinous budget reaching well into the $200 million territory. While some of Blizzard's profit no doubt came from StarCraft II, the numbers involved will nevertheless send the message that there's still a great deal of profit to be had in MMOs, or at least in World of Warcraft.

[Update: Our sister publication WoW Insider is reporting that during the earnings call earlier this afternoon, Blizzard admitted to a drop in WoW's subscriber levels, from pre-Cataclysm levels of 12 million to 11.4 million at the end of March.]

MassivelyActivision Blizzard posts record profits, WoW subs declining [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbusinessfinancialgaming-industrymmo-industryprofitsworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 09 May 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Online gaming rakes in over $14.5 billion in 2010]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/23/online-gaming-rakes-in-over-14-5-billion-in-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/23/online-gaming-rakes-in-over-14-5-billion-in-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/23/online-gaming-rakes-in-over-14-5-billion-in-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Parents of many of the gaming industry professionals would scold them by saying, "You can never make a living playing video games." The industry overcame that stigma many years ago, but online gaming still carried that stench of worthlessness. However, that is no longer the case. ABI Research of Arizona says that online gaming is expected to exceed $14.5 billion this year.

The most staggering figure is the projected influence MMOs have in the overall online gaming industry. A report by ABI Research claims, "The MMO market is expected to be larger in 2010 at $7.6 billion, but will show a lower CAGR of 12.8%, reaching almost $14 billion by 2015." Although the report downplays MMOs, this does mean that over half the revenue for online gaming this year will come from MMOs, and the total MMO revenue will potentially double in just five years.

Games through connected devices, like the PlayStation 3, have promising potential as well, according to the report. This bodes well for cross-platform games like DC Universe Online, but the report also says that console online games will only make up 10% of the total online gaming market.

Next time your parents tell you that video games will never amount to anything, you have a couple of reports to show them that claim otherwise. But good luck convincing them.

MassivelyOnline gaming rakes in over $14.5 billion in 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abi-researchdc-universe-onlinedcuogaming-industryindustryindustry-growthstock-marketWorld-of-WarcraftWoWThu, 23 Dec 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EA abandoning offline game development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/ea-abandoning-offline-game-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/ea-abandoning-offline-game-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/ea-abandoning-offline-game-development/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Kotaku points out a grim omen for the future of offline gaming in the form of some comments from Electronic Arts executive Frank Gibeau. In an interview at Develop, Gibeau minces few words about the future of the firm's business model.

"They're [EA studio heads] very comfortable moving the discussion towards how we make connected gameplay -- be it co-operative or multiplayer or online services -- as opposed to fire-and-forget, packaged goods only, single-player, 25-hours-and you're out. I think that model is finished. Online is where the innovation, and the action, is at," he says.

While it's clear why publishers are desperate to move everything online (hello monetization and DRM), the benefits to the consumer are decidedly less apparent. Whether the larger gaming industry adopts an MMO-style access model remains to be seen, but EA is clearly moving in that direction.

MassivelyEA abandoning offline game development originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedevelopmentdo-not-wantdrmeaElectronic-ArtsFrank-Gibeaugaming-industrykotakummo-industryoffline-gamingonlineWed, 08 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO market revenue to hit $14.4 billion in 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/mmo-market-revenue-to-hit-14-4-billion-in-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/mmo-market-revenue-to-hit-14-4-billion-in-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/mmo-market-revenue-to-hit-14-4-billion-in-2012/#commentsFiled under: ,


We hear news stories concerning the rising cost of food, gas and general living expenses almost daily, but curiously enough, the game industry is proving itself recession-proof. Not only does it seem safe from the downward spiral plaguing all other facets of the economy, but it's on the rise, and is predicted to continue its steep climb for awhile.

According to a recent study by accounting and financial services giant PricewaterhouseCoopers, revenue from the MMO genre of PC gaming will increase to $14.4 billion in 2012 from $6.6 billion in 2007, with special thanks to Blizzard for pulling in over $1 billion on their own in 2007 with World of Warcraft. This is good news for the PC gaming market, as it is predicted that overall, PC gaming will see a revenue slip of 1.2 percent annually, from $3.8 billion in 2007 to $3.6 billion in 2012, thanks to the predicted rise in console popularity. Does this mean the MMO sector will be supporting the PC gaming market in a few years?

MassivelyMMO market revenue to hit $14.4 billion in 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardgaming-industrymmo-marketpc-gamingpricewaterhousecoopersrecessionworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 20 Jun 2008 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Why mainstream media hates the Internet, games, MMOs and you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/why-mainstream-media-hates-the-internet-games-mmos-and-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/why-mainstream-media-hates-the-internet-games-mmos-and-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/why-mainstream-media-hates-the-internet-games-mmos-and-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

From the Sexbox and Mass Effect to World of Warcraft, Everquest and even face-to-face Dungeons and Dragons, the mainstream media hates your hobbies. They're turning you into suicidal addicts, mass-murderers, inappropriate touchers, criminals and terrorists, right?

Well, seeing that you don't seem to be any of those things, has it occurred to you to wonder just why such FUD keeps turning up over and over. No, it's not Luddism (well, it's mostly not Luddism as it's commonly thought of). For the most part, this is about money.

Continue reading Why mainstream media hates the Internet, games, MMOs and you

MassivelyWhy mainstream media hates the Internet, games, MMOs and you originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessculturefeaturedgaming-industryhypemediammo-industryMMOsopinionvirtual-worldsMon, 11 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why Second Life belongs at Massively]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/why-second-life-belongs-at-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/why-second-life-belongs-at-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/why-second-life-belongs-at-massively/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Or: Why gamers and virtual worlders should care about each other.

We're shy of a month in to Massively's existence, and one of the more persistent bits of feedback we continue to receive regards the inclusion of Second Life content on a site about MMOs. There are really two questions to answer here:
  1. Does Second Life coverage belong on Massively at all?
  2. Is the amount of Second Life content disproportionate to its mindshare?
I will herein state a claim for a definitive yes on point 1, and readily admit that point 2 is arguably a matter of taste. Maintaining editorial balance surrounding all of the many, varied games we cover is an ongoing process, and we've selected a suite of "core games" based on many factors including subscriber/member numbers, overall buzz and mindshare in the industry, and input from a secret algorithm I would love to call "interestingness" if it weren't already taken. We are proud to offer in-depth Second Life coverage as one of those core current titles.

Overall, we're taking a broad definition of the concept of MMO here at Massively. While the majority of our coverage concerns traditionally "gamer"-oriented titles like City of Heroes, Tabula Rasa, Lord of the Rings Online et al, we're also providing both news and feature content surrounding more casual, often browser-based titles like Dofus, Runescape, and Flyff. Despite popular perception as niche titles, some of these games are rivaling the big dogs in terms of membership and hours played. In an industry toying with the idea of whether or not Facebook is an MMO and witnessing Google almost surely building one, we see projects like MetaPlace further blurring the lines between web-based social networking and Gaming with a capital G. In the middle of those two trends -- hardcore and casual games getting mashed up, and MMOs and the web getting mashed up -- sits Massively; and we're excited to be covering it all as it happens.

Continue reading Why Second Life belongs at Massively

MassivelyWhy Second Life belongs at Massively originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesseditorialentertainmentfeaturedgaming-industrymassivelymediaMMOstechnologyvirtual-worldsWed, 28 Nov 2007 07:30:00 EST