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[A Star Trek Online interview about time travel and travel time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/a-star-trek-online-interview-about-time-travel-and-travel-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/a-star-trek-online-interview-about-time-travel-and-travel-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/a-star-trek-online-interview-about-time-travel-and-travel-time/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We've said before that the main source of information on Star Trek Online at this point is hints and implications peppered through interviews with Cryptic Studios' Jack Emmert. The latest of those interviews is lighter on details than were previous conversations, but it's still worth a read.

Speaking to Ten Ton Hammer at Gen Con, Emmert started out vaguely answering questions about character customization. Nothing new there. But it got a bit more interesting when he used time travel as an example of something pivotal to the franchise, but that's made difficult to implement by technological and budgetary limitations. He spoke as if he'd already given a great deal of thought to it; perhaps that's a clue that despite the problems, time travel is something Cryptic intends to put in the game.

Other topics included the uniqueness of Star Trek ship design, instancing, procedurally-generated areas for exploration, and travel time.

MassivelyA Star Trek Online interview about time travel and travel time originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cryptic-studiosexplorationgen-congen-con-08gen-con-2008gen-con-indygencongencon-2008instancinginterviewjack-emmertshipsstar-trekstar-trek-onlineten-ton-hammertime-traveltravel-timeWed, 27 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gen Con 08: Turbine tells us what's in store for AC, Part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/gen-con-08-turbine-tells-us-whats-in-store-for-ac-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/gen-con-08-turbine-tells-us-whats-in-store-for-ac-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/gen-con-08-turbine-tells-us-whats-in-store-for-ac-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Given that the game has been around for so long, do you see this addition of modern MMO features as something that the player base is really clamoring for, or are you sort of scaling that against what other games have right now?

Really, it's what the players are asking for. That's one of the things we pride ourselves on: listening to the players. Feedback and player concerns are very important to us.

Continue reading Gen Con 08: Turbine tells us what's in store for AC, Part 2

MassivelyGen Con 08: Turbine tells us what's in store for AC, Part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100th-patch100th-updateacaiandy-cataldoartificial-intelligenceasherons-callcommunity-managerexpansionfactionsgen-congen-con-2008gen-con-indygencongencon-2008gencon-indyindianapolisinterviewpatchpvpquest-trackingquestssocietiesturbineupdateTue, 19 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gen Con 08: Turbine tells us what's in store for Asheron's Call]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/gen-con-08-turbine-tells-us-whats-in-store-for-asherons-call/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/gen-con-08-turbine-tells-us-whats-in-store-for-asherons-call/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/19/gen-con-08-turbine-tells-us-whats-in-store-for-asherons-call/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

At Gen Con, we spoke with Turbine's Andy Cataldo, the Community Manager for Asheron's Call, about the future of this historic game. Cataldo told us a lot about AC's epic 100th update. The update is coming within the next few weeks, and it's a doozy. According to Cataldo, AC players will get a whole new faction system, three land areas to battle over, tons of new loot and spells, and various other improvements to the game, particularly to enemy AI.

In addition to working its regular monthly event and patch schedule, Turbine is attempting to respond to player demand for a variety of new features in the 100th and all future updates. Particular emphasis is being placed on adding features common in modern MMOs, such as a quest tracking menu. AC has been around for almost ten years, so it has some catching up to do!

Learn more about Turbine's big push to modernize the game, add lots of new content, and more in the interview after the break.

Continue reading Gen Con 08: Turbine tells us what's in store for Asheron's Call

MassivelyGen Con 08: Turbine tells us what's in store for Asheron's Call originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100100th-updateacaiandy-cataldoartificial-intelligenceasherons-callcommunity-managerexpansionfactionsfeaturedgen-congen-con-2008gen-con-indygencongencon-2008gencon-indyindianapolisinterviewjoystiq-featuresmassively-featurespatchpvpquest-trackingquestssocietiesturbineupdateTue, 19 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jack Emmert named as GenCon industry guest of honor]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/jack-emmert-named-as-gencon-industry-guest-of-honor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/jack-emmert-named-as-gencon-industry-guest-of-honor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/jack-emmert-named-as-gencon-industry-guest-of-honor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Jack 'Statesman Jackalope' Emmert is to be one of the Industry Guests of Honor at GenCon, to be held Aug. 14-17 in Indianapolis. Best known for his work on City of Heroes, in which he took over from original lead designer Rick Dakan, Jack is now the chief creative officer in the Cryptic team working on Champions Online.

Jack Emmert is definitely qualified to speak about iterative game design, as the City of Heroes design process featured no small number of clinkers that were identified as such by the player base, despite looking good at the design stage. Jack's self-deprecatingly frank about his early mistakes, and explains how he's learned from them: 'We assumed a player would get the mission, go into the instance, realize that he was facing a "boss," leave the mission, find a friend, and then tackle the "boss" together. I was pretty darn naïve back then.' Jack's willingness to engage with the player base had the unfortunate secondary effect of giving dissatisfied players an articulate target for their frustration. Even now, Jack is still remembered in some quarters as a sort of uber-bogeyman armed with a colossal nerf bat.

Continue reading Jack Emmert named as GenCon industry guest of honor

MassivelyJack Emmert named as GenCon industry guest of honor originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champions-onlinecity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcrypticgencongencon-2008jack-emmertjackalopestatesmanTue, 24 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST