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[EVE Evolved: EVE isn't the only game with PLEX]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/16/eve-evolved-eve-isnt-the-only-game-with-plex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/16/eve-evolved-eve-isnt-the-only-game-with-plex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/16/eve-evolved-eve-isnt-the-only-game-with-plex/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
The past several years have seen a complete revolution in the online gaming market, and with it the MMO industry as we know it. An industry once dominated by monthly subscriptions is now rapidly giving way to games with free-to-play, freemium and hybrid payment models. EVE Online developer CCP Games has repeatedly expressed concern that EVE could go the way of the dinosaurs if it doesn't adapt its business model to this new market. While I'm forced to agree with the general sentiment behind that statement, I don't think the developers at CCP recognise just how far ahead of the curve they've been with their own business model since the introduction of the 30-day Pilot's License EXtension (PLEX).

PLEX essentially allow players to pay for an EVE subscription with in-game ISK, and it provides a legitimate way for players to buy ISK in a way that doesn't harm the in-game economy. It's a clever system that undercuts illicit RMT business, generates additional revenue for the company, and has even been used for charity drives, but EVE isn't the only game to use the system. The success of PLEX in EVE has spurred several other MMOs to follow suit over the years, both in the subscription-based and free-to-play arenas. Runes of Magic, TERA, Star Trek Online and even World of Warcraft have borrowed a page from CCP's book in one way or another, and it's paying off for them big time.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I put the PLEX system under the microscope to find out exactly what makes it tick, and I look at other MMOs implementing similar systems.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: EVE isn't the only game with PLEX

MassivelyEVE Evolved: EVE isn't the only game with PLEX originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbusiness-modelsccpccp-eveccp-gamescrypticcryptic-studiosdiamondsdilithiumeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgoldguardian-cubiskplexrunes-of-magicstar-trek-onlinesubscriptionWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 16 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online offers temporary free premium archetypes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/champions-online-offers-temporary-free-premium-archetypes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/champions-online-offers-temporary-free-premium-archetypes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/champions-online-offers-temporary-free-premium-archetypes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Champions Online
If you're a Silver-tier Champions Online player who's always wanted to play a premium archetype but can't quite scrounge up the coin, furbish up your superhero tights and get ready to roll a new character. Cryptic Studios has today announced a limited-time promotion that allows free players to test out selected pay archetypes for the grand total of absolutely nothing.

The Savage archetype is first up; he's accessible for seven days starting today, followed by a week each for the Void, the Master, the Inventor, the Tempest, and the Devastator. If you roll a character to try out the weekly premium archetype, you can either retrain him as the next trial archetype (or any other free or previously purchased archetype) or pony up for the premium one after you've tested him out in person.

As an added bonus, Cryptic is offering all players a free character slot -- just log in between October 14th and November 3rd and claim yours through the C-Store's "bonus" tab.

MassivelyChampions Online offers temporary free premium archetypes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypechampionschampions-onlinecharactercharacter-slotclasscocrypticcryptic-studiosfree-as-in-free-beerfree-charactergoldperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpremiumpromotionpwesilversuperheroThu, 13 Oct 2011 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard introduces RMT loophole in World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/blizzard-introduces-rmt-loophole-in-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/blizzard-introduces-rmt-loophole-in-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/blizzard-introduces-rmt-loophole-in-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Pet
Normally, the introduction of yet another pet in Blizzard's online pet store wouldn't raise any eyebrows. This time, however, the company is making one small change with a vanity pet that could have huge consequences in the game itself.

World of Warcraft's newly announced Guardian Cub is on its way to the pet store and will retail for $10. The difference between this and other pets available in the store is that the Cub will not bind to the player who purchased it but rather will remain bind-on-equip -- and tradable -- until it is used. Effectively, this turns the Cub into a $10 currency item that can be traded for in-game gold, a fact that Blizzard openly acknowledges in the pet's FAQ:
While our goal is to offer players alternative ways to add a Pet Store pet to their collection, we're OK with it if some players choose to use the Guardian Cub as a safe and secure way to try to acquire a little extra in-game gold without turning to third-party gold-selling services. However, please keep in mind that there's never any guarantee that someone will purchase what you put up for sale in the auction house, or how much they'll pay for it. Also, it's important to note that we take a firm stance against buying gold from outside sources because in most cases, the gold these companies offer has been stolen from compromised accounts. While some players might be able to acquire some extra gold by putting the Guardian Cub in the auction house, that's preferable to players contributing to the gold-selling "black market" and account theft.
Player reaction has been strong and varied, with many seeing this as a full endorsement of RMT in WoW.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

MassivelyBlizzard introduces RMT loophole in World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-marketblizzardgoldgold-sellinggold-tradingguardian-cubonline-storepetpet-storepetsreal-money-tradingrmtstorevanity-petworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 11 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Fixing the economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/lost-pages-of-taborea-fixing-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/lost-pages-of-taborea-fixing-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/lost-pages-of-taborea-fixing-the-economy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic screenshot
I've got one more article concerning the current state of Runes of Magic's economy. To round out my trilogy, I'm taking a look at actual fixes to what could be seen as a broken mechanic. If the current inflation is indeed seen as something that is broken and could quickly damage the playability in RoM, then the fixes would likely be band-aids. It would take too long to rework an entire system filled with thousands of items, each affecting the other. The fix would also need to be implemented quickly. That puts some limitations on our speculations. What does the fix need to concentrate on?

The problem seems boil down to the excess amounts of gold that can be hoarded -- hundreds and hundreds of millions can be saved up. It's also possible for high-level, well-geared players to accumulate gold rather quickly. In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, I want to take a look at gold sinks (including one Frogster is testing), gold-caps, and some other ways to tame the economy.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Fixing the economy

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Fixing the economy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economic-recoveryeconomic-stimuluseconomicseconomyfeaturedfixing-the-economyfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegoldgold-faucetgold-fixgold-sinkinflationjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 03 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/lost-pages-of-taborea-state-of-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/lost-pages-of-taborea-state-of-the-economy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/lost-pages-of-taborea-state-of-the-economy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic screenshot
For months now, it's been no secret that Runes of Magic's economy has been out of whack. I've been sitting on this article, watching and waiting to see what would happen next. The assumption, of course, is that I think something will happen. I keep thinking that Runewaker, Frogster and RoM will align like stars to zap the economy back to its previous state, or that RoM's economy will act like a large, slowly deflating balloon, but nothing's happened for months. That's not to say the something that could happen will never happen. This period of severe inflation is a drop in the bucket compared to the life of the game. But what if the economy stays the way it is?

I've stopped asking questions that pointed and started asking how this new economy makes sense. I don't think anything is more wrong with the economy now than it was before. Prices are higher, much higher, on everything. For some, that's enough of a problem, but is it a problem for the operation of RoM? In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, follow me down the rabbit hole to see how the weird might actually be normal.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>currencydiamond-pricesdiamondseconomyfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegoldinflationjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentMon, 19 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic uploads Star Trek Online's free-to-play plans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/cryptic-uploads-star-trek-onlines-free-to-play-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/cryptic-uploads-star-trek-onlines-free-to-play-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/cryptic-uploads-star-trek-onlines-free-to-play-plans/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Star Trek Online
Curious about how a free-to-play Star Trek Online will look? We are too, which is why we're glad that Cryptic's followed up the unofficial announcement of STO's F2P conversion with specific and numerous details.

On the site's new Free-to-Play page, Star Trek Online reveals what silver (free) and gold (subscribers and lifetimers) members will be able to access in the game. Free players will be able to enjoy a majority of the game's content, including character creation, all of the missions, the basic ships, the full range of levels, and special task forces. While free players won't be able to create their own missions through the Foundry system, they will be able to test out ones made by subscribers. The biggest restrictions a free account player will face are a limited mail system, reduced inventory space, and only two character slots.

Subscribers and lifetime members will enjoy certain perks under the new system, including a monthly stipend of store points, priority login, respec tokens, Foundry access, and other basic MMO staples.

It's interesting to note that when the game changes to the new system later this year, Klingon content for subscribers and free players will unlockable at level 25 instead of the current low level access. This is so that Cryptic can spend more time working on this weaker aspect of the game. The new system will also replace several types of currencies with a single new one, Dilithium, which will be used to purchase ships and gear.

There are plenty more details on the site, including an FAQ and Features Matrix. Stay tuned later this week for an in-depth analysis of this information and a Q&A session with Cryptic in our STO column, Captain's Log!

MassivelyCryptic uploads Star Trek Online's free-to-play plans originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticf2pfeatures-matrixfoundryfreefree-playersfree-to-playgoldklingonklingon-contentperfect-world-entertainmentperfect-world-internationalpwisilverstar-trek-onlinestosubscribersTue, 06 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: How gold farming really hurts the economy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/enter-at-your-own-rift-how-gold-farming-really-hurts-the-econom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/enter-at-your-own-rift-how-gold-farming-really-hurts-the-econom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/enter-at-your-own-rift-how-gold-farming-really-hurts-the-econom/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

RIFT: Sanctum under threat
Recently, Trion Worlds CCO and RIFT Executive Producer Scott Hartsman talked to Gamasutra about how gold farming is a much bigger threat than we assume, particularly because of the large amount of credit card fraud. Those who played RIFT at launch probably recall the large wave of hacked accounts early on. According to Hartsman, the hacking attempts were so quick and so intense that the game could have been "denial-of-serviced off the internet" when it launched.

As I was browsing the Auctioneer the other day, I was reminded of Scott's statement because gold farming has sucked a lot of the fun out of in-game economies in virtual worlds. Markets early on were lively, unpredictable, exciting, and full of freedom but very vulnerable because of the growing illegal trade of in-game currency for real money. In an effort to combat the rising real-life value of gold, games like RIFT have moved away from gold toward a system of non-tradeable tokens. But while these tokens have helped to curb the value of gold and reduce the demand for third-party RMTs, they've also removed a lot of the freedom from players. After the cut, we'll take a closer look at how exactly that's happened and why it hurts the economy.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: How gold farming really hurts the economy

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: How gold farming really hurts the economy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>currencycurrency-tradingenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedfree-marketgoldgold-farmingmarketplaquesreal-money-tradingriftrmtRMTsscott-hartsmanthird-party-tradingtriontrion-worldsWed, 10 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: A history of Diamonds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-a-history-of-diamonds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-a-history-of-diamonds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-a-history-of-diamonds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's been a long time since we've heard anything about Diamonds being reinstituted into Runes of Magic's auction house. Since that fateful day they were removed, a lot of new players have joined, veterans have left and some things that should not have been forgotten... were lost.

Having Diamonds in the auction house is an important feature that was planned from the get-go. It allows for seamless trading and player-controlled price fluctuations that keep all items obtainable for everyone. It's about having the freedom to play multiple ways. Options are more numerous than simply paying and having everything opened up or not paying and being stuck. With RoM's cash-shop items being integrated into the title's gameplay, there's a grayscale that lets players have many more options in how they want to play.

It's not an overly complex issue, but one worth looking back on. Getting Diamonds back in the auction house isn't a lost cause, but the issue has dragged on to the point that long time players may have given up all hope. This edition of Lost Pages of Taborea is all about looking back at the beginning and bringing players up to speed on diamonds in (or not-in) the auction house.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: A history of Diamonds

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: A history of Diamonds originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housecash-shopcurrencydiamondsfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegiftinggoldjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreareal-money-transactionsrmtromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmenttradingMon, 18 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wargaming.net's World of Warplanes to share currency with World of Tanks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/wargaming-nets-world-of-warplanes-to-share-currency-with-world-of-tanks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/wargaming-nets-world-of-warplanes-to-share-currency-with-world-of-tanks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/15/wargaming-nets-world-of-warplanes-to-share-currency-with-world-of-tanks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Whether you feel more comfortable on the ground or in the skies, Wargaming.net has you covered. The studio announced today some new details on the economic system for its upcoming title World of Warplanes. According to the press release, it will follow the model of its predecessor World of Tanks with gold, credits, and experience as the primary forms of currency.

With the addition of World of Warplanes to its stable, however, Wargaming.net plans to allow "global interaction" between the two titles. This means, in case you couldn't guess, that all of those different forms of currency will be shared between the two games. This, in turn, means that any player that has racked up an obscene amount of gold/credits/experience in World of Tanks can put their excess currencies toward their advancement in World of Warplanes. If you want to get a jump on the competition before World of Warplanes' launch, you can sign up for World of Tanks at the official site.

MassivelyWargaming.net's World of Warplanes to share currency with World of Tanks originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creditscurrencyeconomyexperiencef2pfree-to-playgoldhigh-quality-header-artwarwargamingwargaming.netwopworld-of-tanksworld-of-warplaneswotFri, 15 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Safer diamond gifting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-safer-diamond-gifting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-safer-diamond-gifting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/18/lost-pages-of-taborea-safer-diamond-gifting/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The crazy, fast-paced leveling done over the second anniversary raised safety concerns over player-to-player diamond trading. There were droves of players reaching either level-cap or close to it when Frogster multiplied experience gain by five for Runes of Magic's second birthday. I'm sure it made a lot of players happy (including me). I gained over 20 levels on my secondary. As a residual effect, it has allowed many new players and diamond swindlers to get multiple new characters to very high levels.

Until Runewaker hashes out a way to allow diamond trading back on the auction house or creates an alternative system, players have to enter agreements involving trust. This work-around is the gifting feature that lets players buy and automatically send cash-shop goods to another player. Two players agree on a gold-to-diamonds price, one gifts the item directly to the other player, and the buyer has to mail the gold to the player. There's no security blanket on this approach. The buyer could send his gold and never receive the item, or the sender could gift an item and never receive payment.

There are some natural deterrents to being ripped off, and players have taken it upon themselves to reduce the risk factor. A player can very quickly get a bad reputation for dishonesty, and that makes it nigh impossible to get into a guild, siege war, pick-up-group or any content with others. Players liberally share info and keep track of reputations to help ensure they don't lose any diamonds or gold. New players will still come and go and not always fully grasp these unwritten safeguards. Today, I want to take a look at ways to better protect yourself, ways that can reduce frustration and allow you to concentrate on enjoying your time in Taborea.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Safer diamond gifting

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Safer diamond gifting originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buying-diamondscash-shopdiamond-giftingdiamond-tradingdiamondsdiamonds-for-goldfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegifting-itemsgoldjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentselling-diamondstradingMon, 18 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Dollars and cents edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/10/global-chat-dollars-and-cents-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/10/global-chat-dollars-and-cents-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/10/global-chat-dollars-and-cents-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

Global Chat this week is all about money. Be it real-world cash or piles of virtual gold, money is the foundation of much of our MMO experience. Ready to see what some of our best commenters had to say about all sorts of transactions this week? Follow along after the jump!

Continue reading Global Chat: Dollars and cents edition

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Dollars and cents edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consumerismcurrencyf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpglobal-chatgoldgold-farmersgold-sellershaldursonmoneyopinionpoordevilriftrmtsnakecobraSun, 10 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you in favor of alternative currency?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/the-daily-grind-are-you-in-favor-of-alternative-currency/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/the-daily-grind-are-you-in-favor-of-alternative-currency/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/the-daily-grind-are-you-in-favor-of-alternative-currency/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It seems to me that more and more MMO developers are utilizing alternative types of currency in our games. Whether they're tokens, barter scraps, or golden leaves, we're now having to chase down all manner of currencies to get the goodies we want.

Our subject for discussion today: Is this a good thing or not? On one hand, I can understand that alternative currency helps to limit the amount of damage that gold sellers and farmers can do, and it provides incentives for players to participate in certain zones or activities. On the other hand, it feels as though these alternative currencies are cluttering up our bags, confusing our minds, and devaluing the standard currency in the game.

So looking at your favorite games, are you in favor of barter systems and tokens as an alternative to gold, silver and copper? Should every game have a barter wallet if so? Or do you wish that devs would cut it out and stick with one type of money as the standard?

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 in favor of alternative currency? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternative-currencybarterbarter-systemcurrencygoldgold-farmergold-farmersgold-sellergold-sellersmoneyopiniontdgthe-daily-grindtokentokensWed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Tanks offers pre-order packages that come with your very own toy tank]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/world-of-tanks-offers-pre-order-packages-that-come-with-your-ver/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/world-of-tanks-offers-pre-order-packages-that-come-with-your-ver/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/world-of-tanks-offers-pre-order-packages-that-come-with-your-ver/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Unless you're very, very rich or a movie kid powered by a montage, chances are you'll never have a tank to call your own in life. Fortunately, Wargaming.net is getting ready to hand us the next best thing: keys to a virtual tank when World of Tanks launches on April 12th.

Fans looking to stock up on goodies for launch should be interested in World of Tanks' pre-purchase program. While the game itself is free-to-play, it will be funded by microtransactions via in-game gold. Until April 12th, players have the opportunity to shell out for one of three pre-order packages to get a good discount on the cost of gold (around 10%) as well as snag a unique tank that comes with special abilities. The "heavy" package will feature the American M6A2E1 tank, the "medium" package has the German Pz. Kpfw. V/IV, and the "light" offers the Soviet A-32 tank.

North American players can look over the pre-order packages here, while the European gamers must travel afar to a completely different website. In the meantime, check out 12 brand-new World of Tanks screenies below!

Gallery: World of Tanks

MassivelyWorld of Tanks offers pre-order packages that come with your very own toy tank originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfree-to-playgallerygoldlaunchmicrotransactionspre-orderpre-order-packagesscreenshotstanktankswargaming.networld-of-tanksworld-war-iiwotww2wwiiThu, 24 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have you ever bought gold?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/12/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-bought-gold/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/12/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-bought-gold/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/12/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-bought-gold/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Practically every MMO ever made has some kind of currency-based trade system, and if that currency takes time or effort to acquire, you can bet someone somewhere will pay hard cash to shortcut the process. Although most game EULAs forbid the practice of buying currency for cash, players are often unaware that they could be banned if caught. Websites selling virtual currency are often linked to shady dealings such as harvesting credit card details, key-logging buyers' computers or even just not delivering purchased goods. The effects are often felt in-game too, as methods used to generate currency for sale often include abuse of exploits, farming limited resources using bots, and hacking accounts.

Developers of subscription MMOs have fought against the RMT (real money trade) business using a variety of strategies. In late 2009, CCP Games banned 6,200 accounts linked to botting and RMT in one day as part of operation Unholy Rage. RuneScape developer Jagex took an even tougher stance, putting severe restrictions on the movement of gold between players. This week, we heard the news that a leaked client database from an EVE ISK-selling organisation had named hundreds of EVE Online characters as buyers. While many of the characters named were temporary accounts created to receive ISK anonymously, life has been made very hard for all characters named in the leak. So have you ever bought gold, ISK or any other MMO currency? If so, what were your reasons for buying it, and what would you do if your character were suddenly exposed as a buyer or banned?

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: Have you ever bought gold? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banbottinggame-discussiongamer-discussiongoldgold-buyergold-sellerhacked-accountiskisk-buyerisk-sellermmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsopinionrmttdgthe-daily-grindSat, 12 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Never put off until tomorrow a daily for today!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/wings-over-atreia-never-put-off-until-tomorrow-a-daily-for-toda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/wings-over-atreia-never-put-off-until-tomorrow-a-daily-for-toda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/wings-over-atreia-never-put-off-until-tomorrow-a-daily-for-toda/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Chances are, if you have spent any time in Atreia since the release of Aion's 1.9 patch, you have been participating in daily quests. If, however, you have been living under the same rock as I have (it's plenty roomy here, really), then you either don't know what I am talking about, put it off, or just never put much thought into it, period. Personally, I kept thinking, "I'll get to it in a bit," but never actually got to it. After all, there is quite a bit to do already in Aion, and my days were pretty full. I admit that I didn't even really know why I should put my time into them. After some cajoling from a shocked legionmate who insisted I was sorely missing out, I finally cracked down and got started. Boy, have I been missing out!

The daily quest is a new(er) system that rewards players for completing a task with special tokens along with XP. These tokens are then exchanged for special items, including titles, gear, AP items, godstones, and even special pets. In many cases, these quests can be completed in just a few minutes each day. Sure, it takes some time to save up for the rewards, but it wasn't nearly as arduous as I had initially thought.

If you haven't started on daily quests, want a few hints on maximizing your token earning potential, or just want to laugh at me for taking so long to jump on the bandwagon, jump past the cut and see why daily quests are well worth the time and effort. Trust me, you want to get started today!

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Never put off until tomorrow a daily for today!

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Never put off until tomorrow a daily for today! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gameAParmorarmor-setsbalaureadailiesdaily-questdaily-questsenchantment-stonesfeaturedgodstonesgoldgold-armormanastonesnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionpvepvprngSilentera-Canyonweekly-questWeekly-QuestsWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 14 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Forbidden RuneScape: The R-Team]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-forbidden-runescape-the-r-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-forbidden-runescape-the-r-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-forbidden-runescape-the-r-team/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


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 to examine its highlights, talk with its developers, and invite its fans to share their experiences.

They come from all over the world just for one shot to be the elite of the elite. After a rigorous selection process, the survivors undergo months of hardcore training. Fingers aching from the strain and eyes itchy with sleep deprivation, these ripped warriors emerge to battle evil wherever it rears its ugly head. Budapest, probably. Or Easter Island. They loot with wild abandon, they craft with purpose, and they aren't afraid to jam on the caps lock button to make their voices heard.

So if you need their help -- and if you can afford them -- maybe you can hire the R-Team.

As we continue our month-long RuneScape safari, it's high past time that we hear from the R-Team members themselves. Four past and present RuneScape players graciously laid out the case as to why this MMO rocks socks off. To make a good thing even better, Jagex sent in five new screenshots for your enjoyment.

So what are you waiting for? Hit that jump like you mean it!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Forbidden RuneScape: The R-Team

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Forbidden RuneScape: The R-Team originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budapesteaster-islandfeaturedgoldhackingi-love-it-when-an-article-comes-togetherjagexkill-ten-ratskill-xlibrarymoneymoney-makingpkpkingplayer-killerplayer-killingpvpquestquestingquestsr-teamrunescapethe-game-archaeologistthe-r-teamworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 14 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE details EQ2X free Gold membership weekend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/19/soe-details-eq2x-free-gold-membership-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/19/soe-details-eq2x-free-gold-membership-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/19/soe-details-eq2x-free-gold-membership-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Curious about the Gold membership level in Sony Online Entertainment's new EverQuest II Extended service? Make sure you're around from November 19th to November 21st, as EQ2X is putting on its first Free Gold Membership Weekend.

All EQ2X accounts will be granted full access to Gold membership perks including higher spell tiers, equipment grades, extra bag, bank, and character slots, and relaxed restrictions on coin and journal quests. What happens to your extra characters and higher level spells after the free trial weekend? They'll be off-limits if you revert back to the F2P Silver or Bronze access levels, or available immediately if you upgrade to Gold.

Check out all the membership details on SOE's matrix, as well as a detailed overview of the game itself. Finally, the free weekend discussion thread contains plenty of good information as well.

MassivelySOE details EQ2X free Gold membership weekend originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EQ2eq2xEQIIEverQuest-2everquest-2-extendedeverquest-iifree-gold-weekendgoldsoeSony-Online-EntertainmentFri, 19 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Miragents -- let there be pants!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/20/wings-over-atreia-miragents-let-there-be-pants/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/20/wings-over-atreia-miragents-let-there-be-pants/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/20/wings-over-atreia-miragents-let-there-be-pants/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Whew. I made it through acquiring three pieces of the Miragent armor set in Aion relatively intact -- even with the majority of my sanity (although, I really didn't have that much to start with!). A decent accomplishment, I must say. However, a girl simply can't be running around Atreia without pants! So with my eyes affixed on the fourth piece of my set, I take a deep breath and plow ahead on the next lap.

The biggest cause of grief for most Aion players is none other than this fourth quest of the Miragent/Fenris questline -- the leggings. If (when, should I use when here?) you succeed, there will never be heard more exalted shouts of joy among all the lands. In fact, you can't convince me that the Reian tribe in Gelkmaros doesn't hear these carried on the winds. Yet if you fail? Such weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth as to bring to mind fiery pits of brimstone will reverberate throughout Atreia instead; even the walls of the Temple of Scales are sure to tremble at such a cacophony of anguish.

With Assault on Balaurea released and the consequent introduction of new armors for levels 51-55, is there any reason to continue clawing my way up the Miragent/Fenris mountain? Perusing the new offerings of gear demonstrated that yes, indeed, it is worth staying in the race; Miragent armor still comes out as a very strong choice in gold apparel for the high-level Daeva.

Admit it, how many of you want to skip to the end to see if I made my first attempt at crafting the Hot Heart of Magic? Mmhmm, thought so. Go ahead -- peek past the cut to follow the next step of the journey and see how exactly I fared.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Miragents -- let there be pants!

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Miragents -- let there be pants! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamearmorarmor-setsassault-on-balaureafeaturedfenrisgearGelkmarosgoldGrindInggisonmiragentnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 20 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Miragent -- the saga continues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/06/wings-over-atreia-miragent-the-saga-continues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/06/wings-over-atreia-miragent-the-saga-continues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/06/wings-over-atreia-miragent-the-saga-continues/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In past weeks, we delved into the world of max-level armor in NCsoft's Aion, weighing some pros and cons of the different sets, and you have trotted along with me as I began a mad dash for Miragent armor. Well, it began as a dash (yay for the first quest!), but it was interrupted by stops and starts (the second quest). I have successfully acquired the first two pieces of this set. Now, the question is -- can I make it any further? The ultimate grind is the next step, followed by the craft from which nightmares are formed. This week, we chronicle the next lap of the race, our pace slowing to a steady gait during quest number three, then finally picking up speed near the end and sprinting onward toward the fourth.

As many players from both factions can attest, just about the single most frustrating thing about Aion has got to be the Miragent/Fenris armor quest-lines. While it is hard to ignore the bonuses and stats on these two sets, can the end really justify the means for most Daeva? Is it truly worth it?

Any time I pop into the Dredgion, the answer is clear -- it is. Nothing makes the team groan more than a full-Fenris group. Well, save for half being all +10 enchanted! So with an eye on that ultimate prize, I -- like many Daeva before, and many Daeva to come -- continue forward with determination and the hope of ultimate glory. OK, so we would settle for the matching set and just being finished!

Jog past the cut to follow the next step in our journey towards a complete set of Miragent armor.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Miragent -- the saga continues

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Miragent -- the saga continues originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.9aionaion-gamearmorarmor-setarmor-setsbalaurdark-poetafeaturedfenrisgoldmax-levelmiragentnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aiont-labstheobomostlabWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 06 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Money money money! Money!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/25/the-daily-grind-money-money-money-money/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/25/the-daily-grind-money-money-money-money/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/25/the-daily-grind-money-money-money-money/#commentsFiled under: ,

Money: it makes the world go 'round. It's also one of those necessary staples to keep your character happy and well-outfitted. Whether used to get that sweet piece of loot on the auction house, fund a mount, pay for skills and repairs, or just to feel (for once) like a billionaire, it doesn't hurt to amass as much money in game as possible.

So what's your trick, your technique for raking in the dough? Are you a minimal earner, vendoring all of your loot and just getting by? Do you farm crafting components to auction off, or are you a crafty crafter who makes high-demand products? Do you complete every quest possible -- not for the XP, but for the cold, hard cash? Have you tip-toed down the dark side of RMT for easy gold?

We'd love to hear your secret for becoming an in-game Scrooge McDuck. So how do you make your money?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Money money money! Money! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 May 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionauction-housecashfarminggoldgold-farminglootmoneyopinionsynonyms-for-moneytdgthe-daily-grindTue, 25 May 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Hey big spender!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/the-daily-grind-hey-big-spender/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/the-daily-grind-hey-big-spender/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/16/the-daily-grind-hey-big-spender/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Gil. Gold. Adeena. ISK. Influence. Infamy. Chips. Crowns. Whatever the game calls it (and there are a lot more words aside from those) money is an important part of most MMOs. Much like money in the real world, it generally follows three simple rules: you need it, you don't have enough of it, and you can't get it fast enough. And we all deal with it in our own way.

But when the time comes, almost every one of us will pony up seemingly astronomical sums for that one thing. It might be a mount, maybe weapons or armor, perhaps a piece of furniture in a game with player housing. Whatever the item is, the cost of obtaining it becomes a non-obstacle, and your cash display turns into a new experience bar that you need to fill for your precious treasure.

So, what was your biggest purchase? Was it something that was once expensive but now cheap, or is it still pricey as ever? Were you happy to have it or regretful at blowing your bankroll? And perhaps most importantly, do you still have it and use it, or has it long since been replaced?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Hey big spender! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adeenacashchipscrownsexpensivefundsgilgoldinfamyinfluenceiskmoneymoolahtdgthe-daily-grindTue, 16 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The most efficient way to make money in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/the-most-efficient-way-to-make-money-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/the-most-efficient-way-to-make-money-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/the-most-efficient-way-to-make-money-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Cash flow in many games is almost as big a problem as it can be in real life. We've recently had our resident EVE Online column running a series on the best ways to make ISK in the game, and you can barely throw a stone without hitting a site offering a guide to make X ludicrous amount of gold per hour in World of Warcraft. But we may have reached the end of all this maneuvering, as We Fly Spitfires has recently posted the most efficient way to make money in every game, ever. Go ahead and take a look right now, but fair warning -- it requires some out-of-game work. And your credit card.

Now, before you start sending angry letters, take a moment to consider the point. It's not that the author is condoning RMT, simply that he's pointing out how much we seem to want to streamline the process of playing the game when, really, we already know the absolute fastest way to increase our virtual coffers. That doesn't make it commendable or ethical, but if we're so keen on speeding ourselves up, we might do well to remember that the journey, not the destination, is more frequently our reason for playing.

MassivelyThe most efficient way to make money in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buying-goldbuying-moneyefficiencygoldin-game-economymaking-moneyopinionrmtwe-fly-spitfiresSun, 13 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online goes gold, will ship as previously scheduled]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/15/champions-online-goes-gold-will-ship-as-previously-scheduled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/15/champions-online-goes-gold-will-ship-as-previously-scheduled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/15/champions-online-goes-gold-will-ship-as-previously-scheduled/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Good news for everyone looking forward to jumping -- or flying, or teleporting for that matter -- into Champions Online at the beginning of next month: the official site has proudly announced that the game has gone gold (meaning it's fit for retail distribution) and will be available for purchase on the previously designated release date of September the 1st.

The short news update post also confirmed that the open beta will be going ahead as planned, starting Monday the 17th of August. It's possible that a delay in the release date would have meant a later open beta too, but thankfully we won't have to find out. We expect that a lot of you will have received your open beta keys (from pre-orders or Fileplanet subscriptions) and are getting your clients ready for the kickoff as this news hits. Not long now folks!

MassivelyChampions Online goes gold, will ship as previously scheduled originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosdistributiongoldopen-betaretailshippingSat, 15 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The fight against RMT in EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/the-fight-against-rmt-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/the-fight-against-rmt-in-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/the-fight-against-rmt-in-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It's an unfortunate reality that most any massively multiplayer online game running has to cope with outside influences on an in-game economy because of real money trading (RMT). Game developers tackle the problem in different ways. For instance, Final Fantasy XI has an anti-RMT task force and Warhammer Online has a zero-tolerance name-and-shame approach to RMT. Other companies grab the bull by its horns and base their game around a virtual item trade they can regulate.

The problem of RMT has affected EVE Online just as it has other MMO titles, if not moreso given how its player-driven economy and the Interstellar Kredit (ISK) currency is central to the game. Beyond the potential revenue lost to the black market when players pay real cash for their ships and modules or buy huge sums of ISK outright, there are also issues with players getting their accounts cleaned out by the shady companies (ostensibly) selling the ISK. When that cleverly-named player "ajakdsk" links you to his ISK selling site in a chat channel, following that link could infect your computer with a keylogger, resulting in a fire sale on whatever they find in your account.

EVE Online's creators CCP Games have taken a two-prong approach to handling these issues.

Continue reading The fight against RMT in EVE Online

MassivelyThe fight against RMT in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-hacksaccount-securitybanbanhammerbansccp-gamesdev-blogdev-blogseconomyeveeve-onlinegm-grimmigoldgold-farminggold-sellersgold-spammeriskmmo-industryplexreal-money-tradingreal-money-transactionsrmtsci-fiTue, 11 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Station launcher moves out of beta, adds voice chat support]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/station-launcher-moves-out-of-beta-adds-voice-chat-support/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/station-launcher-moves-out-of-beta-adds-voice-chat-support/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/station-launcher-moves-out-of-beta-adds-voice-chat-support/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

So the beta launcher is finally un-betaed! Sony has officially pushed the Station Launcher into the "final version," dropping in voice chat, simplified menus, faster servers for downloads, and the ability to run the launcher without administrative rights as well.

The fun stuff, however, is really contained within the voice update. This new voice, dubbed "station voice," lets you communicate with friends from within the game or outside of the game. Creating a room from outside of the game is done with your in-game character, letting people who are on the station launcher join you, or people inside of the game join your room from the inside, no launcher required.

Plus, the other new features like the upgraded servers that will give more downstream bandwidth for game updates, are certainly nothing to sneeze at.

This doesn't mean that Sony is done with upgrading and changing the launcher, as they've already pledged to continue taking user feedback and pushing that into their product to constantly make a better launcher.

For the full patch notes, check them out on the EverQuest forums, located in this thread.

MassivelyStation launcher moves out of beta, adds voice chat support originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaeqeq2everquesteverquest-2goldlaunchermxopatchespirates-of-the-burning-seapotbsserverssony-online-entertainmentsony-stationstar-wars-galaxiesstationstation-launcherstation.comswgthe-matrix-onlineupdatevanguardvoice-chatMon, 29 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New legislation in China outlaws gold farming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/new-legislation-in-china-outlaws-gold-farming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/new-legislation-in-china-outlaws-gold-farming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/new-legislation-in-china-outlaws-gold-farming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Gold farmers. We know you hate them... We know. And we've mentioned the associated gold spam as being the bane of many MMO players' existence a number of times in the past. But is the situation ever going to change?

Perhaps, given the new legislation coming out of China this week. Of course while all gold farmers certainly aren't based in China, a substantial percentage of gold farming operations are in fact run from the country. Such operations may now find themselves under greater scrutiny by the Chinese authorities; the government has now established its first official rule on the use of virtual currency in China.

Essentially, it states that virtual currency cannot leave the sphere of influence of its issuer. (Exact wording: "The virtual currency, which is converted into real money at a certain exchange rate, will only be allowed to trade in virtual goods and services provided by its issuer, not real goods and services.") If the law is actually obeyed and enforced, it would curb all manner of black market activities in China connected with the virtual.

Continue reading New legislation in China outlaws gold farming

MassivelyNew legislation in China outlaws gold farming originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiablack-marketbreakingchinaeconomygoldgold-farmergold-farminglawlegalministry-of-commerceministry-of-culturemmo-industryrulesvirtual-currencyvirtual-goodsMon, 29 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Five regrettably true things about online economies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/five-regrettably-true-things-about-online-economies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/five-regrettably-true-things-about-online-economies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/five-regrettably-true-things-about-online-economies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

While online economies can seem to be (and often are) fundamentally different from AFK economies, there's a key component that makes any online economy function in ways that are all-too-familiar.

That's us. You and me. People.

Whether bags of treasure fall out of dead rats, or the economy is reliant on texture artists, modelers and scripters, it's people that make online economies with fundamentally alien premises work in some very surprisingly quotidian ways.

Continue reading Five regrettably true things about online economies

MassivelyFive regrettably true things about online economies originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>botbusiness-modelscultureeconomygoldlinden-dollarsopinionsecond-lifevirtual-worldsworld-of-warcraftWed, 10 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Outspark to reward Fiesta's fastest levelers with 1 million Spark Cash]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/outspark-to-reward-fiestas-fastest-levelers-with-1-million-spar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/outspark-to-reward-fiestas-fastest-levelers-with-1-million-spar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/outspark-to-reward-fiestas-fastest-levelers-with-1-million-spar/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The free-to-play game Fiesta from publisher Outspark has announced the game's "Race for 1,000,000" contest, which will be held in tandem with the launch of Fiesta's newest server Cypion on June 3rd. In celebration of the opening, Outspark will give 1,000,000 Spark Cash to the first three players to reach the game's level cap of 105.

The promotion's site is counting down to the Cypion launch, at which time more info (namely rules and restrictions) about "Race for 1,000,000" will be posted.

MassivelyOutspark to reward Fiesta's fastest levelers with 1 million Spark Cash originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 May 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestsfiestafree-to-playgoldoutsparkspark-cashvirtual-currencySun, 31 May 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Runes of Magic community manager Jörg Koonen on game currencies and reducing gold spam]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/runes-of-magic-community-manager-jorg-koonen-on-game-currencies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/runes-of-magic-community-manager-jorg-koonen-on-game-currencies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/runes-of-magic-community-manager-jorg-koonen-on-game-currencies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


With only two months of operation under its belt, fantasy game Runes of Magic already seems to be enjoying a great deal of popularity. Runes of Magic uses the free-to-play business model, which is discussed in an interview with community manager Jörg "Kerensky" Koonen. Sam "Azerian" Maxted from ZAM caught up with Koonen to discuss the game's launch and where the title is headed in future updates, but their talk quickly turned to some of the details of how the game's economy operates.

Koonen discusses how players have responded to Runes of Magic's microtransaction system through the in-game Item Shop, and that by design the Item Shop doesn't sell certain types of items. "We do not sell any weapons or armour or such," he says. "All of this has to be collected by the players through the game." However, Runes of Magic also uses non-microtransaction currencies and some players are concerned that their gold lacks real value in the game. Koonen says that the developers are looking into this. They're presently gathering feedback from the playerbase and are willing to introduce other measures, if necessary, to ensure that non-microtransaction currencies serve a purpose in RoM.

Continue reading Runes of Magic community manager Jörg Koonen on game currencies and reducing gold spam

MassivelyRunes of Magic community manager Jörg Koonen on game currencies and reducing gold spam originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 May 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>azerianbusiness-modelseconomyf2pfantasyflesh-eating-locustsfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgoldgold-spaminterviewsjorg-koonenkerenskymicrotransactionsrunes-of-magicsam-maxtedtokensvirtual-currenciesvirtual-currencyzamSun, 31 May 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirates of the Burning Sea takes bold step to curb mission farming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-takes-bold-step-to-curb-mission-farmi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-takes-bold-step-to-curb-mission-farmi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/pirates-of-the-burning-sea-takes-bold-step-to-curb-mission-farmi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The latest devlog for Pirates of the Burning Sea is written by Lum and focuses on improving the game's mission system, particularly fixing the problem of mission farming. Lum writes, "When we create big mission arcs, we design them to be a fun, engaging, and most importantly, a linear experience. We want players to get a sense of story and to do something interesting. We also want to reward players who accomplish the goals for those missions."

He says that mission farming and the in-game monetary rewards aren't necessarily the problem, although it's not what the devs had in mind for players. Lum says that since people stop to repeat the most lucrative parts of a given mission arc, they're not experiencing the game as it was intended for the players. Even worse, some players make faction choices on the basis of how lucrative a certain mission with that faction is. Flying Lab Software wants to change missions in Pirates of the Burning Sea so that players are continually progressing through stories rather than motivated to remain in place to reap the gold harvest.

Gallery: Pirates of the Burning Sea core gallery

Continue reading Pirates of the Burning Sea takes bold step to curb mission farming

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea takes bold step to curb mission farming originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>devlogexperiencefactionsfantasyfarmingflying-labflying-lab-softwaregoldhistoricallootlummission-farmingmissionsnpcnpcsopen-seapiratespirates-of-the-burning-seapvequest-farmingquestsMon, 18 May 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Live Gamer's Andy Schneider on legitimizing RMT in games and virtual worlds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/27/live-gamers-andy-schneider-on-legitimizing-rmt-in-games-and-vir/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/27/live-gamers-andy-schneider-on-legitimizing-rmt-in-games-and-vir/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/27/live-gamers-andy-schneider-on-legitimizing-rmt-in-games-and-vir/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Most mentions of real money trading (RMT) in massively multiplayer online games and virtual worlds conjure up images of virtual sweatshops and the resulting blitz of gold spam. Despite how loudly many protest against the idea of RMT in games, the fact remains that there is a market for this and people spend a lot of real world money on virtual goods every year.

Live Gamer is a company that aims to legitimize real money trading, creating a way for players to spend their cash without the risks inherent in dealing with shady gold and item sellers. It also ensures that money spent on virtual goods is going back into the pockets of the game companies. While services such as Live Gamer don't end the debate on whether or not RMT should be permitted in the first place, it's clearly here to stay, and some game publishers are getting proactive about real money trading.

Continue reading Live Gamer's Andy Schneider on legitimizing RMT in games and virtual worlds

MassivelyLive Gamer's Andy Schneider on legitimizing RMT in games and virtual worlds originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andrew-schneiderandy-schneidergoldinterviewslive-gamermicrotransactionsmmo-gamermmo-industryreal-money-tradingreal-money-transactionsrmtsteven-crewsvirtual-currencyvirtual-goodsvirtual-worldsMon, 27 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Gold Trading Exposed': Getting the player and industry perspective]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/10/gold-trading-exposed-getting-the-player-and-industry-perspect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/10/gold-trading-exposed-getting-the-player-and-industry-perspect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/10/gold-trading-exposed-getting-the-player-and-industry-perspect/#commentsFiled under: ,

A few weeks ago, we mentioned that the first installment of Nick Ryan's 'Gold Trading Exposed' has gone live over at Eurogamer. While we've all encountered bots and spammers, this insightful series of articles is trying to get behind the whispers and artfully placed dwarves to discover what makes gold farmers tick and why we, the MMO-playing public, buy gold in the first place.

Well this is where Nick comes in, after a general overview in part one, he's spoken to the gold farmers themselves but in the final two installments he's gone a step further by talking to their customers and, finally, the developers including Blizzard themselves.

The player-centric part of the series focuses on that old horror story: that buying gold can lead to characters (and even guild banks) being stripped of their worldly goods and left, stumbling, in some deity-forsaken corner of a virtual world - and that's if you're lucky.

Continue reading 'Gold Trading Exposed': Getting the player and industry perspective

Massively'Gold Trading Exposed': Getting the player and industry perspective originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cockroacheseconomyeurogamergoldgold-farmergold-farmingFri, 10 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Gold Trading Exposed' a look at multi-billion dollar grey market in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/gold-trading-exposed-a-look-at-multi-billion-dollar-grey-marke/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/gold-trading-exposed-a-look-at-multi-billion-dollar-grey-marke/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/gold-trading-exposed-a-look-at-multi-billion-dollar-grey-marke/#commentsFiled under: ,

If there are any massively multiplayer online games on the market (with virtual economies) that *aren't* overrun at times with gold spammers that multiply like cockroaches, we have yet to hear about it. While the various MMO developers and operators have their own approaches to the problem, ranging from public humiliation of spammers to an anti-RMT strike force that exists to root them out and eliminate them, a key (*the* key) part of this equation for grief is the playerbase itself.

"Gold Trading Exposed" is the first in a series of articles tackling the issues surrounding RMT written for Eurogamer by Nick Ryan. Over time, Ryan will look at the multi-billion dollar trade in virtual gold through the eyes of all parties involved -- the gold traders, the developers, and of course the players themselves (many of whom deny they buy gold). Ryan points out there there's no small amount of hypocrisy from MMO playerbases which profess a hatred for the gold selling trade since, after all, there must be a reason that gold sellers thrive and multiply.

Continue reading 'Gold Trading Exposed' a look at multi-billion dollar grey market in MMOs

Massively'Gold Trading Exposed' a look at multi-billion dollar grey market in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cockroacheseconomyeurogamergoldgold-farmergold-farminggold-spammergold-spammingmmo-industrynick-ryanreal-money-tradingreal-money-transactionsrmtscumTue, 24 Mar 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Why do they beg?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/09/the-daily-grind-why-do-they-beg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/09/the-daily-grind-why-do-they-beg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/09/the-daily-grind-why-do-they-beg/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


In just about every MMO you play, you'll find one. They crowd around auction houses, inns, and pretty much any place where players like to concentrate in large numbers. Some like to whisper, some ask in local, some beg in trade, some yell to the entire zone - but they're essentially all the same - they want you to give them your money. Most of the time, the request is made via broken, crappy English (at least we think it's English) that would be best left on a cell phone - if that. Sure, they get money sometimes, but they also get put on permanent ignore, yelled at, cursed at, spat at, and more. So why do you think they do it? Just trying to get cash easily, or are they getting some enjoyment out of annoying the hell out of other players? Why do you think people /beg?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Why do they beg? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>begbeggarsbegginggilgoldmmommorpgplatMon, 09 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why do people buy virtual goods in MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/why-do-people-buy-virtual-goods-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/why-do-people-buy-virtual-goods-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/09/why-do-people-buy-virtual-goods-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Massively multiplayer online gamers spend hours -- so many hours -- working towards obtaining virtual gear. Epic armor sets, mounts, player housing, faction ships... the list goes on, and will continue to go on. Our collective fascination with these intangibles ensures our desire for them -- and for those things beyond a player's reach solely within the virtual realm, real world cash makes all things possible.

This is the research focus of Ph.D. student Vili Lehdonvirta of the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology, who breaks down our buyer's impulse according to three criteria:

  • Functional attributes, such as speed, hitpoints, teleportation.
  • Hedonic attributes, or how the virtual gear looks or sounds, its provenance or its connection to the background fiction of the setting, and of course customizability.
  • Social attributes, particularly the prestige accorded with ownership of a rare item.
Have a look at his "Virtual item sales as a revenue model: identifying attributes that drive purchase decisions" for a thorough analysis of why many of us are so inclined to obtain something that's ultimately ephemeral, which goes beyond the simpler "useful vs. decorative" angle.

MassivelyWhy do people buy virtual goods in MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicarmorarmor-setculturefaction-shipgeargoldlootmmo-industrymountmountsplayer-housingreal-money-tradereal-money-tradingrmtvirtualvirtual-goodsvirtual-itemsvirtual-worldsFri, 09 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How much have you spent on your MMO habit?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/the-daily-grind-how-much-have-you-spent-on-your-mmo-habit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/the-daily-grind-how-much-have-you-spent-on-your-mmo-habit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/the-daily-grind-how-much-have-you-spent-on-your-mmo-habit/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Once upon a time, I sat down with a calculator and counted the months I'd spent playing World of Warcraft, multiplied by $15, added in costs for game boxes and character transfers... and came to a sum, in the end, that shocked me. (Though, considering the hours of enjoyment I've gotten from the game thus far, perhaps it shouldn't.) And that number was without spending a dime on buying characters, gear, gold, or paying for leveling. Putting the ethics of RMT aside for the moment, I must say I'm glad of it, as it means I've never had the opportunity to loose even more cash to an MMO, as in yesterday's story of an EVE player who lost $19,000 buying ISK. (Yes, you read that number correctly. It's a one and a nine followed by three zeros. Count 'em: three!) While that certainly makes my financial losses seem practically frugal by comparison, The Daily Grind is all about getting your opinions. So today, I ask: how much have you spent feeding your MMO habit?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How much have you spent on your MMO habit? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>goldiskmoneyreal-money-tradereal-money-tradingrmttdgwarcraftwowWed, 31 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online player loses USD 19,000 in shady virtual currency deal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/30/eve-online-player-loses-usd-19-000-in-shady-virtual-currency-dea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/30/eve-online-player-loses-usd-19-000-in-shady-virtual-currency-dea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/30/eve-online-player-loses-usd-19-000-in-shady-virtual-currency-dea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


The sci-fi game EVE Online is set apart from many other massively multiplayer online games by its economy. While there are currently problems with the game's market due to a serious exploit, the economy isn't getting reset anytime soon. The currency of EVE's virtual economy is the Inter Stellar Kredit (ISK). As in the real world, money can be power in EVE's 'New Eden' galaxy. Most online games built around a virtual economy will ultimately need to deal with the real money trading (RMT) issue -- either make it a bannable offense or support and regulate it in some way. CCP Games figured if RMT is happening whether they want it to or not, they may as well have some way to regulate it.

EVE Online has a few legitimate ways to bring real world money into the game. Game Time Cards (EVE Time Codes) can be converted to ISK without risk of getting your teeth banhammered in by CCP Games. They offer a secure way to sell game time to players where neither party can be scammed, and more recently a way to turn game time into an item (PLEX) that can be sold on the open market in-game. When a player buys that item, he or she extends their account subscription. The upside for some players is that they can actually pay their subscription fees in the ISK they've earned in-game, for others it enables them to buy a faction battleship or a number of other virtual items.

But... some people just go too far with all this, and buy ISK in huge amounts. Even worse is doing so outside of the EULA-safe methods. This was the case with an EVE player in Denmark, who paid 100,000 Danish Krones (the rough equivalent of 13,500 Euros or USD 19,000) for currency from a shady ISK seller outside of the secure system, and was ultimately left with empty pockets, even after the case ended up in court.

Continue reading EVE Online player loses USD 19,000 in shady virtual currency deal

MassivelyEVE Online player loses USD 19,000 in shady virtual currency deal originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbusiness-modelsccpccp-gamesdenmarkeconomyeveeve-onlineforumsgoldiskisk-sellerlegalmmo-industrypaypalreal-money-tradingrmtscamsci-fishadyvirtual-currencyvisawotlankorTue, 30 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Saving for that horse: a mid-level guide to making money in LotRO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/saving-for-that-horse-a-mid-level-guide-to-making-money-in-lotr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/saving-for-that-horse-a-mid-level-guide-to-making-money-in-lotr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/saving-for-that-horse-a-mid-level-guide-to-making-money-in-lotr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Over at MMORPG.com, their Lord of the Rings Online correspondent Jim Braner has written a comprehensive guide to finding riches in LotRO entitled "Lord of the Rings Online: Making and Keeping Silver in your 20s." This is a great little guide, as it explains many of the common-sense nuances of the game that can be used to your pocketbook's advantage. For example, instead of paying for a ride from the Forsaken Inn to Ost Garuth, why not just run there? Sure it will take some extra time, but think of the drops and resources you'll be able to gather along the way.

One of the most underrated points of this guide is one that I firmly believe, yet can rarely convince others to trust. Keeping up with new armor every 5-6 levels will actually help you save money. Of course this only applies if you are a Tailor or Metalsmith, or know one fondly, as buying armor from a merchant is a complete waste. As stated in this guide, that new armor is more durable, and with a higher armor rating, you'll die less. This will cut down significantly on your item repair bills, and ultimately keep more money in your pocket.

While these suggestions are all great, I couldn't help but add a few more to the list. Check out some of my own tips on making and saving money in mid-level LotRO just after the cut below.

Continue reading Saving for that horse: a mid-level guide to making money in LotRO

MassivelySaving for that horse: a mid-level guide to making money in LotRO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredgoldguidelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromaking-moneymid-levelmines-of-moriammorpg.comsilverMon, 08 Dec 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Where's the grind?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/23/eve-evolved-wheres-the-grind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/23/eve-evolved-wheres-the-grind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/23/eve-evolved-wheres-the-grind/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,


Everyone who plays MMOs will be familiar with the concept of "grind", possibly one of the most debated topics in the MMO industry. Grind is essentially where users are forced to repeat something over and over again to get what they want. An example would be killing a certain type of monster repeatedly to get a certain piece of rare loot they can drop. Some people, such as World of Warcraft's Jeff Kaplan, suggest that grind and progression are essentially the same thing. Jeff asserts that we call progression a "grind" when it's not a fun experience and that grinding can be properly tuned. Whether you love it or hate it, repetitive elements exist in all MMOs and are necessary to maintaining long-term playability.

No grind in EVE Online?:
EVE Online is a game that's often lauded by players as having eliminated the grind present in other MMOs. However, it's clear that EVE still has a large amount of repetitive gameplay that can be considered grind. While nothing is forcing you to run missions over and over again or mine for hours on end, those areas of gameplay where heavy grind exists are very heavily used. When given a universe in which they don't have to grind, why then do so many players actively seek out something repetitive to grind on?

Join me as I take a look at the industry obsession with grind and identify where the grind is (and isn't) in EVE Online.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Where's the grind?

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Where's the grind? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpeveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedgoldgrindgrindingiskjoystiqfeatureslevelminingmissionsmoneyprofessionssandboxsci-fiskillworld of warcraftworld-of-warcraftWorldOfWarcraftSun, 23 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[China's virtual goods taxation sparks price increases and controversy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/19/chinas-virtual-goods-taxation-sparks-price-increases-and-contro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/19/chinas-virtual-goods-taxation-sparks-price-increases-and-contro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/19/chinas-virtual-goods-taxation-sparks-price-increases-and-contro/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


China's State Administration of Taxation recently imposed a 20 percent income tax rate on profits made from virtual currency and virtual items, sparking price increases for virtual goods. While this tax rate (if actually enforced) clearly impacts the virtual space, it also affects transactions happening outside of MMO servers and virtual world grids. The taxation policy could ultimately extend to the virtual currencies linked to the largest IM providers in China such as Tencent, drastically increasing the percentage of the population affected by the new laws. Despite this, the positive benefits of eliminating gray and black markets for virtual items and currency may outweigh the drawbacks for gamers and users of the various digital services in China.

Questions remain about what will and will not be taxed in the virtual space, but it's clear that individuals who gain virtual income are expected to declare their profits and pay taxes on this, and do so within seven days of having earned the profit, according to Shanghai Daily.Taxpayers who can provide proof of the value of this property or the value of the transaction are taxed at 20 percent on their profits, while those who cannot provide sufficient verification are taxed at three percent of the total transaction value. But how many people are affected by this new system?

Continue reading China's virtual goods taxation sparks price increases and controversy

MassivelyChina's virtual goods taxation sparks price increases and controversy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiablack-marketchinacontroversyeconomicseconomygoldgray-marketlawlegalmmo-industryrmtshanghaishanghai-dailytaxtaxestencentvirtual-currencyvirtual-goodsvirtual-itemsvirtual-taxationvirtual-worldszhu-shenshenWed, 19 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST