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[The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The battle-scarred blogger]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-the-battle-scarred-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-the-battle-scarred-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-the-battle-scarred-b/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Shadowbane
I've long since enjoyed doing this column because, to me, it feels like the next best thing to having been there back in the day, playing these games. No one MMO player can occupy all titles at once, so experiences are bound to pass us by. Fortunately, the gamers who were there have long memories and are often more than willing to share a story or two if given half the chance.

After last week's initial foray into our Shadowbane retrospective, I fished around for a hearty veteran of the minotaur wars who was willing to step up and answer a few questions without succumbing to post-traumatic stress disorder. Within a minute, my good friend Grimnir bit into the topic, and I reeled him in as he flopped and gasped for air. At some point, this metaphor got away from me, but no worries. Hit that jump and let's cast our nets down memory river and see what we can dredge up!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The battle-scarred blogger

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The battle-scarred blogger originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blogbloggerdaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkfalldramaeveeve-onlinef2pfactionfeaturedfishing-metaphorfree-to-playgankgankergankinggrimnirgrimnirs-grudgesguild-vs-guildmudmudsopen-world-pvppkpkersplayer-citiespolitical-systempoliticspvpracial-divideracismrebootriftsandboxshadowbanethe-game-archaeologisttrash-talkubisoftwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowwow-cloneTue, 09 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Sandboxes and the cop-out of FFA PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/the-soapbox-sandboxes-and-the-cop-out-of-ffa-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/the-soapbox-sandboxes-and-the-cop-out-of-ffa-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/the-soapbox-sandboxes-and-the-cop-out-of-ffa-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


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

Last week, our own Jef Reahard mounted the Massively Soapbox with an article titled Sandboxes and the fear of FFA PvP. In it, he argued that open PvP was a natural and necessary part of any solid sandbox MMO. He also made waves by suggesting that FFA PvP is crucial to the roleplaying experience and that roleplayers should really face their "fears" and give it a try.

I'm a sandbox gamer and a PvPer at heart. I played the early years of Ultima Online and lived the adrenaline rush of full and brutal PvP and thievery. Dark Age of Camelot's RvR sucked up another year of my life. Star Wars Galaxies remains my sandbox of choice, and I've braved a World of Warcraft PvP server since launch. I know this territory very well. I'll knock it, because I have more than tried it -- in several tasty flavors.

And even though I'm an unabashed Jef-fangirl, I think there are a few debatable issues with his article. Hit the jump for some good old-fashioned counterpoints!

Continue reading The Soapbox: Sandboxes and the cop-out of FFA PvP

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Sandboxes and the cop-out of FFA PvP originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchyBlizzardccpCCP-Gamesconsequencesdeath-mechanicea-mythiceveeve-onlinefeaturedffaffa-pvpgankergriefergriefersImmersionopen-pvpopen-world-pvpopinionpve-sandboxpvppvp-sandboxroleplayroleplayerRolePlayersRolePlayingRPSandboxsandbox-mmosandparksoapboxSOESony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-soapboxThemeParktrammelUltima-OnlineUOWorld-of-WarcraftwowTue, 04 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Era of suicide ganking in EVE Online coming to a close]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/era-of-suicide-ganking-in-eve-online-coming-to-a-close/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/era-of-suicide-ganking-in-eve-online-coming-to-a-close/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/era-of-suicide-ganking-in-eve-online-coming-to-a-close/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


CCP Games has addressed the long-standing problem of suicide ganking in EVE Online in their latest dev blog, titled "Serious Security." CCP Fear stepped up to inform the player base that, yes, the devs do take the issue of suicide ganking seriously, and that they're going to take action. The proposed changes, outlined below, are not going into effect immediately, nor do they impact actions taken as part of Empire war declarations. However, they will be implemented with the next major update to EVE, which will be Empyrean Age 1.1, rolling out this Fall. The dev blog focuses on CONCORD improvements and the increased consequences of suicide ganks.

CCP Fear states: "We have been looking at suicide ganking and overall security standing issues, and how these features affect the general landscape of EVE. We are not happy with the current ease of suicide ganking and the relative 'no hassle' it has become. In many cases, unsuspecting victims have no chance to escape, nor any help from CONCORD. We want to change this."

Continue reading Era of suicide ganking in EVE Online coming to a close

MassivelyEra of suicide ganking in EVE Online coming to a close originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balanceccpccp-fearccp-gamesconcordcriminaldevdev-blogempyrean-ageeveeve-onlineexpansionexpansionsgame-mechanicsgankgankerhighseclocklowsecnerfnew-edennyphuroutlawpiracypiratepvpsci-fistandingssuicidesuicide-ganksuicide-gankertackleWed, 06 Aug 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA['What If' Mechanics: Notoriety]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/09/what-if-mechanics-notoriety/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/09/what-if-mechanics-notoriety/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/09/what-if-mechanics-notoriety/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I got to thinking about the nature of quests in most MMOs, and how they're as generic as possible, to appeal to a specific class, or race, or faction. And then I was reading Kevin's Pirates of the Burning Sea post, and got to musing how cool it would be if there were a worldwide system in place to accumulate notoriety.

By that I mean, what if your in-game exploits actually affected the way you're perceived? What if you were such a notorious ganker, for example, that the game suddenly put a reward on your head? What if you logged in one day and found that you were on the Public Enemies list, and other players could receive substantial coin for taking you out? Or the opposite: what if you were widely known for your altruism, and that affected other players' perception of you, to the point where they would see actual physical changes in your avatar, such as a halo of light around your head?

MMOs are great for the shared social experience, but I'd like to see one's actions having a lasting effect in-game, where reputation affects more than your status among NPCs. Is this something that's already in place somewhere?

Massively'What If' Mechanics: Notoriety originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gankermassivelynotorietypirates-of-the-burning-seapublic-enemyquestsreputationSun, 09 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST