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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 Daily Grind: What will be the next big thing for MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/the-daily-grind-what-will-be-the-next-big-thing-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/the-daily-grind-what-will-be-the-next-big-thing-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/the-daily-grind-what-will-be-the-next-big-thing-for-mmos/#commentsFiled under: Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Dog show!

When MMOs began, they were all about the sword and sorcery. The fantasy genre was such a big part of RPGs that the transition to MMORPGs only made sense for the magic-wielders among us.

When people got sick of fantasy, it was all about sci-fi. Several developers have branched out into other less popular genres from there, but it's no secret that the MMOFPS is settling in to make 2012 its year.

But what happens after that? What do you think will be the next genre-of-choice for MMO developers and/or players?

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!

The Daily Grind: What will be the next big thing for MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>and-thenfantasygenremmofpsopinionsci-fitdgthe-daily-grindFri, 13 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Which non-existent MMO genre would you play?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/the-daily-grind-which-non-existent-mmo-genre-would-you-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/the-daily-grind-which-non-existent-mmo-genre-would-you-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/the-daily-grind-which-non-existent-mmo-genre-would-you-play/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

It's difficult to think of a historical or cultural genre that hasn't already been covered by an MMO. We have everything from medieval fantasy to dystopian sci-fi and just about everything in between, but we don't have everything just yet. For example, we don't have a wild west MMO. We don't have an undersea Atlantis MMO. But would anything too quirky or specialized even work as an MMO?

More interestingly, what would you like to see in an untapped MMO genre? Certainly not everyone wants to see only fantasy or sci-fi! Right?

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!

The Daily Grind: Which non-existent MMO genre would you play? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindgenreopiniontdgthe-daily-grindunder-the-seaFri, 16 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How do you define MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-define-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-define-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-define-mmo/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

My taxonomy is completely incomprehensible!

Defining "MMORPG" isn't difficult: it means "massively multiplayer online roleplaying game." It's an acronym. But drawing the line between what is and is not an MMO is significantly more difficult. Guild Wars has persistence and shared areas, for instance, but as soon as you leave a town, you're in an instance unique to you and your party. There are elements of persistence in games like League of Legends. Heck, there was a time when people wondered if you could call World of Warcraft an MMO with its instanced dungeons and lack of housing.

As with a lot of subjective categories, there's really no right or wrong place to draw the line, but pretty much everyone seems to think that there's a line to draw. More often than not, it's not even a matter of quality so much as a set of consistent characteristics. So what about you? Where do you draw the line between an MMO and something else? How do you define a game as being an MMO instead of a similar sort of game?

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!

The Daily Grind: How do you define MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturegenregenre-discussiongenre-opinionmmommo-featuresmmorpgopiniontdgthe-daily-grindSun, 22 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What turns you off to a game before you even try it?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/the-daily-grind-what-turns-you-off-to-a-game-before-you-even-tr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/the-daily-grind-what-turns-you-off-to-a-game-before-you-even-tr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/the-daily-grind-what-turns-you-off-to-a-game-before-you-even-tr/#commentsFiled under: Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

System Specs

In today's gaming market, we know nearly every detail of an MMO well before launch. Developers are more and more open with their products, possibly in response to the demands of a customer base with an incredible amount of competition for its dollar.

With so many choices and so much information available, gamers can afford to be choosy and make some decisions even before installing. Today we want to hear what you look at before you try a game. There are plenty of details that we know we do want, but what about the things that make you cringe and reconsider playing the game? Be it a free-to-play business model, a particular genre, a particular engine, or reportedly long download times, what is your dealbreaker?

Hit the comment button and tell us all about it!

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!

The Daily Grind: What turns you off to a game before you even try it? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browser-basedcostdealbreakersdownload-timesf2pfree-to-playgenreopinionpreviewstdgthe-daily-grindTue, 08 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Namaste Entertainment charts the history of MMOs [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/namaste-entertainment-charts-the-history-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/namaste-entertainment-charts-the-history-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/namaste-entertainment-charts-the-history-of-mmos/#commentsFiled under: Galleries, Culture, MMO industry, Massively Meta, Miscellaneous

History of MMO infographic

It's one thing to have a vague sense of what MMOs came out when, but it's another thing entirely to see a huge chunk of history plotted out in one comprehensive chart. It's also dang cool to see.

During her research into user-generated content in MMOs for Storybricks, Namaste Entertainment's Kelly Heckman built a giant graphic to get a handle on how games developed over the years. She not only plotted them by year released, but also lumped them in with their respective genres and showed which games inspired others. The end result gives the viewer a bird's eye view of the industry as it's grown in the past decade and a half.

"It turned out so well we made the movie with it and plan to release the source so anyone can make a movie with it," Heckman said. You can walk through this giant infographic in the gallery below, and make sure to hit the jump to watch the accompanying video that makes use of the chart.

[Update: Here's a direct link to a much bigger version of the infographic.]

Gallery: Namaste Entertainment

Continue reading Namaste Entertainment charts the history of MMOs [Updated]

Namaste Entertainment charts the history of MMOs [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>categorieschartgenregenreshistoryhistory-of-mmosindustryinfographicmmo-chartnamastenamaste-entertainmentstorybricksvideoWed, 10 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What game would you play if you had the time?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/the-daily-grind-what-game-would-you-play-if-you-had-the-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/the-daily-grind-what-game-would-you-play-if-you-had-the-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/the-daily-grind-what-game-would-you-play-if-you-had-the-time/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

There are a lot of MMOs on the market at the moment, and while it can be argued that many of them are drawing inspiration from the same well, there's still plenty of variety available. You can roam in post-apocalyptic Nevada, soar through a variety of spaceways, or slay a truly staggering number of different dragons in the myriad worlds available online. But you are limited by one force no matter what -- you only have so much time during a single day. That means that there's necessarily a game you'd love to play, but you just don't have the time.

No matter what, the game you can't quite fit into your schedule is a game you like. It's usually just a case of not liking it quite enough to ditch the game (or games) you spend most of your time on. So what game would you love to play if you had more time for it? Is it an old favorite you've moved past, a new game that interests you, or a title that's long been on your radar but never quite moved into being a must-play venture?

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!

The Daily Grind: What game would you play if you had the time? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>free-timegamesgames-you-likegenregenre-breadthlimitationsopinionsettingstdgthe-daily-grindtimeThu, 10 Mar 2011 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the dragon of the deep dungeon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-dragon-of-the-deep-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-dragon-of-the-deep-dungeon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-dragon-of-the-deep-dungeon/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Game mechanics, Roleplaying, The Game Archaeologist, Miscellaneous

The Game Archaeologist is a lazy adventurer-slash-professor who dons his trademark cap for a weekly expedition through some of the most famous MMOs of the past few decades. Each month, he chooses a different title in order to examine its highlights, talk with its developers, and invite its fans to share their experiences.

Part of the holy mission of the Game Archaeologist is to ferret out the roots of history that ultimately led to MMORPGs as we know them today. Another part of the mission is to root out ferrets, as my claw-scarred arms can attest. Some of that history is fairly recent, but today we're going to travel back -- way back -- to a time before many of you were born. Including me, as a matter of fact.

The year is 1974. The world is hip-deep in the throes of shag carpeting, driftwood furniture and the strains of Grand Funk Railroad. It truly seemed like nothing would ever be cool or non-earth-toned again. At this, the lowest moment in all of history, game designers Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson took the concept of miniature wargaming, merged it with a fantasy motif, and sold it under the name Dungeons & Dragons. Geeks everywhere had a reason to rejoice, and through this roleplaying game the foundations for MMOs were laid.

Let's take a brief survey through D&D, giving special emphasis to how this great-granddaddy of RPGs passed down a legacy that we enjoy in our modern online titles. Also, there will be popcorn.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the dragon of the deep dungeon

The Game Archaeologist and the dragon of the deep dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4th-editionbandicootcharacter-sheetscs-lewiscyberpunkdave-arnesondndDungeons-and-Dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlinee.t.etfantasygary-gygaxgenregiant-spidersHello-Kittyhello-kitty-onlinehorrorjack-vancejrr-tolkienkirklord-of-the-ringslovecraftmichael-moorcockpen-and-paperrobert-e-howardroleplaying-gamerpgspace-elfspockstar-treksteampunkthe-game-archaeologistwesternxpTue, 21 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: A group effort]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/storyboard-a-group-effort/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/storyboard-a-group-effort/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/storyboard-a-group-effort/#commentsFiled under: Events, in-game, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard

Roleplaying is like many other activities in MMOs -- it can't be done alone. That means that no matter how much of an antisocial player you might be for the rest of the game, you'll need a number of other people to make any roleplaying work. By extension, any longer storylines and character development require people working together with some level of consistency. You can technically have a character's development take place without the same audience, of course, but it won't mean as much to the late arrivals.

Put very simply, you want a coherent overarching sequence of events that you can point to for your characters. This is going to require some level of group coordination, and group RP events are a great excuse for roleplaying bonds to form anyway, so it's fully endorsed. For this week's Storyboard, we're going to take a look at running a group event in the smoothest way possible, ranging from a simple one-off night of adventure to a long guild-wide storyline that ends with time travel. (You know the story is really getting overwrought when the time travel makes things simpler, see.)

Continue reading Storyboard: A group effort

Storyboard: A group effort originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charactersdebatesdisputeseventsfeaturedgenrein-game-eventsneutralityplanningplayer-run-eventsplottingroleplayingrpschedulingstoryboardFri, 30 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite pseudo-MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/25/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-pseudo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/25/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-pseudo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/25/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-pseudo-mmo/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind

In recent years, the field of games that could conceivably be referred to as MMOs has exploded. Naturally, there has to be a cutoff at some point, and we here at Massively use finely tuned metrics to determine what does and doesn't qualify. (Our magic 8-ball is exceptionally tuned.) But just below that are games that are very similar to an MMO, even if they don't quite make it there, and with the border so fuzzy, players are bound to cross over.

Naturally, what constitutes a pseudo-MMO versus a full game is going to be a very subjective line, and there are games such as Global Agenda and MAG that straddle the line aggressively. So what game do you enjoy that's similar to an MMO, but doesn't quite make the cut? Is it one of the two aforementioned games? Are you still of the mind that Guild Wars isn't quite there but is still a lot of fun? Or do you dig on something else entirely, like League of Legends?

The Daily Grind: What's your favorite pseudo-MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gagenregenre-debatesglobal-agendaguild-warsgwleague-of-legendsmagonline-gamesopinionpseudo-mmotdgthe-daily-grindFri, 25 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Redefining MMOs: The rise of F2P]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/21/redefining-mmos-the-rise-of-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/21/redefining-mmos-the-rise-of-f2p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/21/redefining-mmos-the-rise-of-f2p/#commentsFiled under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, Redefining MMOs

These days it seems like you can't move three feet in the MMO space without bumping into a Free-to-Play (or F2P) game. As the person who writes First Impressions from time to time, I play quite a lot of them. As such, I'm always looking at new F2P games that pop up, from tiny indie titles to mega-corporate offerings. Just about any subset you can imagine is represented out there: flash games, isometric, side-scrollers, mini-games, embeddable web-only, local client. Curious about what genres you might find? How about fantasy, steampunk, post-apocalyptic, casual, cartoon, pirate, anthropomorphic, space, and so much more. If it hasn't been made yet, wait six months - someone will probably do it, considering. Quality, too, runs the gamut. Some games are incredibly addictive, while others make you want to take a run at the dev team with a sock full of quarters.

Continue reading Redefining MMOs: The rise of F2P

Redefining MMOs: The rise of F2P originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>changesf2pfeaturedfreefree-to-playfreemiumgenreitem-mallredefining-mmosshiftssubscriptionFri, 21 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is space the "final frontier" for MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/the-daily-grind-is-space-the-final-frontier-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/the-daily-grind-is-space-the-final-frontier-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/the-daily-grind-is-space-the-final-frontier-for-mmos/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, The Daily Grind

"Space: the final frontier." Sounds a bit short-sighted, doesn't it? I mean, no offense to the ghost of Gene Roddenberry, but we've barely scratched the surface of what's out there beyond our atmosphere. To claim that it is the "final frontier" to be explored, charted, and colonized may not be entirely accurate. But, it does make for a catchy slogan and a great series of TV shows, movies, and games (ok, games... historically, not so much).

Thus far, "space" may appear to be the final frontier in MMOs as well, but to claim it as such is also short-sighted. The creativity of the human mind is a great thing. I'm sure we'll conjure up some novel concepts or twists on old themes or settings and make them work. The two biggest MMO sub-genres so far are undoubtedly Fantasy and Science Fiction (often space-oriented). Superhero MMOs are making a run for it and so are MMOs in post-apocalytic settings. There are even a plethora of oddly-themed kids games too.

Are there any genres we haven't thoroughly tapped yet? What about Horror? Mystery? Crime? Modern warfare? As for settings, what about Earth present? Earth historic? Alternate dimensions? Fairly tales? What genres and settings are you itching to explore?

The Daily Grind: Is space the "final frontier" for MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fairy-talesfantasygene-roddenberrygenregrimehistorichorrorkidsmodern-warfaremysterypastpost-apocalypticpresentsci-fispacestar-treksub-genresuper-heroWed, 12 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Redefining MMOs: Terminology]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/redefining-mmos-terminology/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/redefining-mmos-terminology/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/redefining-mmos-terminology/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Super-hero, Culture, MMO industry, Academic, Virtual worlds, MMOFPS, MMORTS, Redefining MMOs

As we look back at the past several years of the MMO scene, we see a genre that has gone through significant evolutionary leaps. With those pioneering days of text MUDs and blocky graphics behind us, today we enjoy professionally developed games with impressive development teams and massive budgets behind them. The genre's depths have been thoroughly explored and we've even categorised the features we've come to love and expect from our favourite online retreats. Every part of the genre, from the types of gameplay available to the terminology we use, has been routinely evolving and redefining itself over time.

With professional MMO development soaring and a whole new generation of promising titles on the way, we stand on the cusp of what could be the next big evolutionary leap for online gaming. In the coming weeks and months, Massively will be examining how the MMO genre has been redefined during the current generation of games and where it's headed in the next. If you have something important to say on the topic, feel free to post a comment on page 2 or even write your own "Redefining MMOs" blog post and leave a comment with the URL.

In this introductory article, I ask why we use the terminology we do when talking about MMOs and if perhaps it's starting to change.

Continue reading Redefining MMOs: Terminology

Redefining MMOs: Terminology originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fantasyfeaturedgenrejoystiqfeaturesmmommofpsmmorpgmmortsnext-genredefining MMOsRedefiningMmossci-fispacesuper-heroterminologyThu, 02 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How did you discover MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/the-daily-grind-how-did-you-discover-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/the-daily-grind-how-did-you-discover-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/the-daily-grind-how-did-you-discover-mmos/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Age of Conan, EverQuest, Lord of the Rings Online, Culture, MMO industry, The Daily Grind

MMOs are a strange kind of genre to get into. With console games like BioShock or Gears of War, it's usually the hype or the fact everybody on the entire planet is playing which persuades me to buy/rent a game. MMOs however require a little more patience and have a steeper learning curve. You need to be in it for the longish haul and most aren't exactly pick up and play. Not if you're me anyway. In my case I got into MMOs because of friends and then because of my job. I started off not knowing a thing about this strange online genre and suddenly three years later they make up a good fifty percent of my income as a freelance journalist. But at the same time titles like EverQuest, WoW and more recently AoC and LotRO lingered in my peripheral radar for months before they were released, only getting my full attention once the shiny collector's editions were all sold out.

So, constant readers, how did you discover the strange new world of the MMO? Do you just play one or do you now find yourself torn between many different words and cultures. Were you initially sceptical about this MMO lark, or did you embrace online gaming with enthusiasm and have not looked back since?

The Daily Grind: How did you discover MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-aoceverquestgenrelord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinemmoniche-marketthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 26 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is it IP or people? ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/the-daily-grind-is-it-ip-or-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/the-daily-grind-is-it-ip-or-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/the-daily-grind-is-it-ip-or-people/#commentsFiled under: Opinion, The Daily Grind

Yesterday after the announcement of the new Marvel MMO, a bit of lively discussion sparked up on Twitter between Shuttler from Limited Edition, Brenda "Tipa" Holloway, West Karana blogmistress and Massively alumni, and me. There was of course, the discussion of Marvel's MMO re-entering the scene, but also the question came up of whether the IP is what draws people in to a particular MMO, or if it's the people? Tipa and I generally felt that, much like World of Warcraft's success, pulling new people in has a lot to do with people suggesting the game to their friends, who then jump in and start playing it. Shuttler suggested that for those who aren't getting in via friends, IP may be the most important thing that brings new players to the table. After all, how likely are you to walk into a store and pick up an MMO in a genre you don't particularly care about - even if it has millions of players - when a genre you like (superheroes, in the original discussion) has an MMO?

So this morning I wanted to open this discussion up to you all, as it was an interesting topic. What do you think pulls in new people to MMOs? For new players, do you think it's more important to have a recognizeable IP like Star Trek, Marvel, DC, Star Wars - or is it more important to have good word of mouth from people you know? When you started out, what got you into the genre? Was it friends telling you about a great MMO they were playing, or did you decide to check out a particular game because of the story/genre behind it? How important do you think IP is in the initial hook? Are there other factors that you feel are more important to bringing new players to the MMO genre? Or is it a combination of all of them, really?

The Daily Grind: Is it IP or people? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>genreintellectual-propertyipmmonew-playershuttlerthe-daily-grindtipatwittertwitter-topicWed, 18 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Five big failings of the MMO genre (and a rebuttal to same)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/five-big-failings-of-the-mmo-genre-and-a-rebuttal-to-same/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/five-big-failings-of-the-mmo-genre-and-a-rebuttal-to-same/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/five-big-failings-of-the-mmo-genre-and-a-rebuttal-to-same/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry

Tom Chick is a well known and (generally) respected games journalist probably best known for his contentious reviews and championing of the New Games Journalism movement. He also isn't a big fan of the MMO genre. At least he isn't today, in a writeup on his Sci-Fi Channel co-branded site Fidget. The article is entitled Five Reasons MMOs Are Broken, and follows up that contentious beginning with a breakdown of the MMO genre. His primary issues seem to revolve around the established contrivances of the genre itself, such as the concept of aggro or respawning enemies. He's also very frustrated by the innumerable barriers put up between players, the levels/classes/dungeons/servers/gear restrictions that stop us from playing with our friends.

As blogger Scott Jennings points out, more than the genre he's specifically breaking down World of Warcraft. He's effectively using WoW as a synonym for MMO, and as a result Jennings (and us) can point out that some of his failings have already been addressed. Read into Scott's dissection of Chick's writing for more analysis and insight on this issue and the supposed failings of the genre. Then, let us know what you think below. Is the MMO genre really that flawed ... or is it just the standard Diku-style successor that's old hat?

Five big failings of the MMO genre (and a rebuttal to same) originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game-designgenremmo-industrymmosscott-jenningstom-chickWed, 28 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott wants to get back into fantasy gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/richard-garriott-wants-to-get-back-into-fantasy-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/richard-garriott-wants-to-get-back-into-fantasy-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/richard-garriott-wants-to-get-back-into-fantasy-gaming/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Real life, MMO industry

The impending closure and lack of expected success from Tabula Rasa is not going to deter Richard Garriott from giving the online gaming business another shot. In a recent interview with the BBC, Garriott expressed his intentions to get back into MMO business. "After 25 years at Origin, the last thing I wanted to make was yet another medieval fantasy game," he said. "Now, after a very interesting break, I'm keen to get back into the fray and work on a new game. Probably medieval fantasy and probably online; there's something very powerful about getting people together."

Also in this interview is a bit of insight from Warhammer Online's Paul Barnett into what 2009 may bring. "I expect to see some large studios go under and some big name titles fail," Barnett predicts. Whether this next year will see a fantasy MMO announcement from Garriott or Barnett's prediction of failure come true, you can't deny that it's an exciting time in the world of MMOs.

[Via Wired]

Richard Garriott wants to get back into fantasy gaming originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009fantasygenrencsoftpaul-barnettrichard-garriottwarhammer-onlinewiredWed, 31 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's Kaplan drops hints about next-gen MMO's genre and platforms]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/blizzards-kaplan-drops-hints-about-next-gen-mmos-genre-and-pla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/blizzards-kaplan-drops-hints-about-next-gen-mmos-genre-and-pla/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/blizzards-kaplan-drops-hints-about-next-gen-mmos-genre-and-pla/#commentsFiled under: Interviews, New titles, News items, Rumors

Speaking to MTV Multiplayer, World of Warcraft game director Jeffrey Kaplan dropped several vague hints about Blizzard's "next-gen MMO," which is called that because so far the only info we've seen has been in job postings carrying that label. The hints don't count for much, but they're the most we've heard about the game so far.

Kaplan, who revealed he is involved in the project, was asked if the game's genre would be science fiction, post-apocalyptic, or historical, and while laughing he responded: "all of those combined!" We're not sure what to make of that. Citing the console experience of the development team, he also hinted at what we already suspected: Blizzard is at least considering releasing its next MMO on consoles. However, the game is "early in development," which makes us wonder if it might not be for today's consoles, but rather the next generation.

Blizzard's Kaplan drops hints about next-gen MMO's genre and platforms originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardblizzconblizzcon-2008blizzcon2008consolesgenreinterviewjeff-kaplanjeffrey-kaplannext-gen-mmorumorsspeculationworld-of-warcraftTue, 14 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest Daedalus Project research highlights genre appeal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/newest-daedalus-project-research-highlights-genre-appeal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/newest-daedalus-project-research-highlights-genre-appeal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/newest-daedalus-project-research-highlights-genre-appeal/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, Academic

The Daedalus project is the most important research project into MMO player demographics in the world. Run by the unflappable Nick Yee, it's a fantastic look into the minds of MMO guild leaders, female players, old players, young players, and everyone in between. Past Daedalus articles have tackled issues like playing with romantic partners, the willingness of players to buy gold online, and the importance of achieving goals in a virtual setting.

The newest round of research delves into some fascinating stuff. Probably this round's most interesting data surrounds genre preferences. Have you ever wondered how much people want to play super-hero games vs. sci-fi titles? Whether guys want to play vampires, or whether girls want to play vampire hunters online? All of these questions and more are addressed in the Game Choices article in this round of the Project. Plus! Find out how the demographics of guilds pan out, what the thought process is behind character creation, preferences in class role, and the logic behind choosing a 'main character'. Check it out!

Newest Daedalus Project research highlights genre appeal originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daedalusdaedalus-projectgenrenick-yeeFri, 10 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is the genre too commercial?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/the-daily-grind-is-the-genre-too-commercial/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/the-daily-grind-is-the-genre-too-commercial/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/01/the-daily-grind-is-the-genre-too-commercial/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Every industry has its Wild West period. Seemingly crazy folks move forward with what turn out to be not-so-crazy ideas. They work together (or in competition) to usher in something totally fresh and new. Some of them stumble. Okay, most of them stumble. But some of them create something so inspiring it births a whole new industry.

If you played the early MMOs, you know that it was an exciting frontier. But in recent years the industry has settled into a groove. Yes, it's been a turbulent groove, but it's impossible to deny that in terms of design, most games these days are following a similar formula. This formula -- introduced by EverQuest (well, Dikus, actually!) and refined by World of Warcraft -- is used now because it works. It makes money most of the time -- more often than the other formulas or the wild-eyed ideas, anyway.

But since the genre has settled on this formula, has it lost something? Has the massive success of World of Warcraft replaced the exciting frontier with a commercial empire that's short on inspiration and character? Put another way: do you feel like the new games are so focused on commercial appeal that there's no trace of love or passion for the endless as-yet-unimagined possibilities of virtual worlds left over?

The Daily Grind: Is the genre too commercial? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commercialcommercialismdikudiku-muddikumudeverquestfrontiergenreindustrytdgthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftFri, 01 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Your favorite genre]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/29/the-daily-grind-your-favorite-genre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/29/the-daily-grind-your-favorite-genre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/29/the-daily-grind-your-favorite-genre/#commentsFiled under: Opinion, The Daily Grind

There's a pretty even split here on the team when you ask everyone what their favorite genre is. A goodly portion of us really love paladins, shamans, thieves, and shadow knights. The worlds of fantasy are their stomping ground and they absolutely love nothing more than questing, raiding, and adventuring along in a more mystical world. The other chunk of the team seems to love the cold hard clank of metal on metal, dogfights in space, alien menace, cybernetics and laser beams. The sci-fi world of mankind is their home, lands that span galaxies, in worlds we can only dream of traveling to. Of course, there are also those who love other genres, which are equally as interesting, if a little less widely-written for, like games based on historical lands, or the occasional zombie horror MMO.

This morning we thought we'd ask you which genre really appeals to you. Are there any particular genres that you'll follow more closely than others just to see the new titles coming out for it? Or do you tend to genre hop, enjoying them all pretty equally?

The Daily Grind: Your favorite genre originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fantasygenrehistoricalhorrorsci-fisuper-herotgdthe-daily-grindSat, 29 Mar 2008 08:10:00 EST<![CDATA[My 2008 MMO hopes and wishes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/my-2008-mmo-hopes-and-wishes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/my-2008-mmo-hopes-and-wishes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/my-2008-mmo-hopes-and-wishes/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Real life, Sci-fi, Fury, Pirates of the Burning Sea, MMO industry, Pirates of the Caribbean Online, Opinion, Second Life, Mythos, Massively Meta, Virtual worlds, All Points Bulletin

2007 was an incredible year for MMOs, with tons of updates to existing games and a benign rash of new titles as well. I'm not much for predictions, but I'll tell you what I'm hoping for in 2008, since you all asked so nicely:

Blizzard to out-Diablo Mythos with their new MMO -- Let's face it, playing Mythos is ten kinds of fun, and most of that fun revolves around the type of gameplay that the original Diablo invented, and Diablo II refined. Mythos currently fills the gaping void left behind by Blizzard's continuing not to update the Diablo universe with a new game, but wouldn't you like to see it done up properly?

Google to provide some real competition for Linden Lab -- Right now, Second Life is the only cat of its breed, and it's snoozing in the sun. The ability for users to create their own content is arguably SL's biggest draw, and it's fueled many careers, but the interface issues, rolling restarts, updates that fix things only to break other things, and age verification problems leave me wanting someone to learn from these mistakes and bring us something better. We know Google's working on something ... here's hoping it's a Third Life.

A new genre -- So far, we've had Fantasy MMOs rule the day, with Science Fiction a close second, and a hodgepodge of other titles kind of experimenting with concepts a little bit. And pirates. But I'm looking for something new. Something that combines my love of cryptography with Cthulhu, perhaps. Or something that lets me relive my days playing cops and robbers. Whatever it is, this is the year to strike!

Resolutions? Hmm. I guess I resolve to keep playing those smaller MMOs and telling you what I think of them, and trying not to be too dismissive of those I find lacking. Ooh, that's gonna be difficult -- I'm quite fond of the snark, I am. What are your New Year's MMO hopes and wishes?

My 2008 MMO hopes and wishes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20072008blizzardcthulhudiablofantasygenregooglelinden-labmythospiratesscience-fictionsecond-lifewishesWed, 02 Jan 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Favorite Genre]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/the-daily-grind-favorite-genre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/the-daily-grind-favorite-genre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/the-daily-grind-favorite-genre/#commentsFiled under: Opinion, The Daily Grind

In the MMO market, the fantasy genre seems to dominate. You've got your World of Warcraft, your EverQuests, your Lord of the Rings Online... but sometimes the same old, same old does get boring -- and we're starting to see more games on the market covering other genres. So, what's your favorite MMO genre? Is it the old standby of fantasy, or do you enjoy your gaming a little less traditional?

The Daily Grind: Favorite Genre originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fantasyfeaturedgenregenresmmommorpgthe-daily-grindThu, 08 Nov 2007 08:10:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Pick a genre, any genre]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/03/the-daily-grind-pick-a-genre-any-genre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/03/the-daily-grind-pick-a-genre-any-genre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/03/the-daily-grind-pick-a-genre-any-genre/#commentsFiled under: Opinion, The Daily Grind

For today's edition of The Daily Grind, we thought we'd ask you what you were looking for in your next big MMO? Are you one of the many for whom fantasy is the universe you want to escape into? Or are you looking for something new? I know many of us were sad to see Perpetual's title Gods and Heroes get shelved, as Historical MMOs are definitely a cool concept. Personally, I have to admit, I'm hoping someone will eventually option someone like Phillip K. Dick or William Gibson and we'll see a strong cyberpunk MMO in the Sci-Fi genre.

How about you? If you had your pick of any genre that you'd like to see some new MMOs in, what would you pick? Would you like to be a dark elf, or a civil war soldier? Take the poll, leave your thoughts, and let's see what you all want.

What genre do you want to see more MMOs in?
	Fantasy
	Horror
	War
	Sci-Fi
	Historical
	Puzzle
	Sports
	Super-hero
	Real-life
	Something else you didn't list (comment below please)

Free polls from Pollhost.com

The Daily Grind: Pick a genre, any genre originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Nov 2007 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browsercyberpunkfantasyfree-to-playgenregenreshistoricalhorrorpollpuzzlesci-fisportssuper-herosuper-villainthe-daily-grindwarSat, 03 Nov 2007 08:01:00 EST