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 Digital Continuum: SWTOR is in a year far, far away part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/the-digital-continuum-swtor-is-in-a-year-far-far-away-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/the-digital-continuum-swtor-is-in-a-year-far-far-away-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/the-digital-continuum-swtor-is-in-a-year-far-far-away-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: SWTOR is in a year far, far away part 2

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: SWTOR is in a year far, far away part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In a recent set of statements to Gamasutra, Mike Hickey, an analyst with Janco Partners, brought up the profitability of an MMO set within the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

While Hickey notes that success would only be possible if Take-Two partnered up with another company who had a well designed infrastructure and MMO experience, the whole paragraph is certainly a nod in the direction of online crime games at large -- a genre relatively untapped in the MMO landscape.

Certainly a Grand Theft Auto MMO would be the new gorilla of the online space, one can't easily forget about the stylized and anticipated offering from Crackdown developer Realtime Worlds, All Points Bulletin. A GTA MMO would certainly be nice, but APB will certainly be setting the bar for all upcoming crime MMOs, regardless of a GTA entry into the scene.

MassivelyGTA MMO would be a profitable venture, analyst suggests originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 May 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbcrackdowngamasutragrand-theft-autogrand-theft-auto-ivgta-mmorealtime-worldsrockstarrockstar-gamestake-twotake-two-interactiveFri, 29 May 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Over $100 million invested in Trion and its unusual distribution platform]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/25/over-100-million-invested-in-trion-and-its-unusual-distribution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/25/over-100-million-invested-in-trion-and-its-unusual-distribution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/25/over-100-million-invested-in-trion-and-its-unusual-distribution/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Trion announced that it has managed to get another $70 million in invested funds, bringing the total amount to over $100 million. For reference: that's somewhere in the ballpark of the development cost Grand Theft Auto IV, and about half of what Blizzard has spent on World of Warcraft since its 2004 launch.

Trion is the company co-founded by EA alum Lars Buttler and Might and Magic creator Jon Van Caneghem, which announced that it'll be making a game in concert with The Sci-Fi Channel, as well as a fantasy console MMO we know little about.

We've talked a bit about Trion's plans and business model before, but here's a refresher: it is creating development tools for making games that will run completely server-side. The graphics will be drawn on the client, but everything else -- physics, game logic, etc., will occur on the server and be downloaded to the user's computer. This serves two important functions. It greatly reduces the minimum hardware specifications for games and it makes piracy extremely difficult. We're not going to say yet that it makes piracy impossible, because, well, "life finds a way."

MassivelyOver $100 million invested in Trion and its unusual distribution platform originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eafundinggrand-theft-auto-ivinvestmentjon-van-caneghemlars-buttlermight-and-magictrionworld-of-warcraftThu, 25 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Conan grandly thieves Europe from Niko Bellic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/conan-grandly-thieves-europe-from-niko-bellic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/conan-grandly-thieves-europe-from-niko-bellic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/conan-grandly-thieves-europe-from-niko-bellic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


In charts reporting the latest game sales numbers in Europe, Age of Conan landed the #1 spot in both Sweden and Germany, surpassing even Grand Theft Auto IV.

Take that with a grain of salt, though, as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of GTA4 were counted separately, and each appeared in high spots in both countries' charts. It seems likely that in Sweden, at least (where GTA4 occupied second and third place), GTA4 still outsold AoC when all platforms are added up. In Spain, AoC placed fourth.

Funcom has already launched additional servers to accommodate an impressive player base. AoC might get even bigger when it goes cross-platform.

MassivelyConan grandly thieves Europe from Niko Bellic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 May 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocchartseuropefuncomgermanygrand-theft-auto-ivgta4next-generationsalesspainswedenFri, 30 May 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan and the question of next-gen MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/age-of-conan-and-the-question-of-next-gen-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/age-of-conan-and-the-question-of-next-gen-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/age-of-conan-and-the-question-of-next-gen-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Darren over at The Common Sense Gamer is wondering out loud whether or not it's fair to point at Age of Conan's combat system as its true next generational feature. He wants to know if -- like the Nintendo Wii -- what make's something truly next generational is the way you interact with it. His point being that the way Age of Conan's combat system works causes the player to become much more invested in what's happening on their screen.

We do wonder if it's just the combat system that makes AoC so much fun. As Darren mentions in his post, there's something to be said for the game's graphical prowess and visual feel that makes it so unabashedly Conan.

Continue reading Age of Conan and the question of next-gen MMOs

MassivelyAge of Conan and the question of next-gen MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 May 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoceidosfuncomgrand-theft-auto-ivgta-ivthe-common-sense-gamerwiiSat, 24 May 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Gaming Iconoclast: Jumping Ship]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/the-gaming-iconoclast-jumping-ship/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/the-gaming-iconoclast-jumping-ship/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/12/the-gaming-iconoclast-jumping-ship/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Kriss Kross will make you wanna... or maybe they won't.In the spring, a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.
-- Alfred, Lord Tennyson

No matter where you go, there you are.
-- Buckaroo Banzai

Recently, in The Daily Grind, Brenda brought up the subject of taking up a new game in addition to, or instead of, one you currently play, and there were some very insightful responses in the comments. We here at TGI have been mulling over the same issue lately as well. There's apparently something in the air or water these days that leads to such ruminations. Not necessarily outright dalliances, per se, but as a gedankenexperiment into the merits of leaving our current realm or realms and striking out for greener fields.

There seems to be a generalized atmosphere swirling around this notion of changing games lately, but why? For some players, it's idle speculation; for others, serious contemplation. For developers, it's either cause for concern or Miller Time. Is it merely widespread anticipation of Warhammer Online and Age of Conan? Is it boredom with the current crop of MMO titles?

Or is everybody out there just playing Grand Theft Auto IV?

Continue reading The Gaming Iconoclast: Jumping Ship

MassivelyThe Gaming Iconoclast: Jumping Ship originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 May 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananarchy-onlineblizzard-entertainmentburning-crusadecity-of-heroesea-mythicfuncomgrand-theft-auto-ivlord-of-the-rings-on...lotromidwayncsoftrockstar-gamessoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiestabula-rasathe-burning-crusadethe-gaming-iconoclastwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingMon, 12 May 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOGology: Grand Theft MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/grand-theft-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/grand-theft-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/grand-theft-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


On Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 Rockstar Games released Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV), one of the most anticipated games of 2008. Based on early reviews (all of which have been unanimously positive) it looks like the latest installment in the series has exceeded expectations. Everything about GTA IV appears to have been kicked up a notch. The graphics are more realistic, the gameplay has been refined and tightened, and the characters and storyline have more depth. While this type of evolution is to be expected, one of the most interesting new features about GTA IV is that you can play it online. Unlike previous versions of the Grand Theft Auto series, this one will allow Xbox 360 and PS3 owners the ability to play with up to sixteen friends online. While sixteen players doesn't exactly qualify as "massively multiplayer", it's a step in the right direction for those of us eagerly anticipating a GTA-style MMO.

It seems like a natural progression for Rockstar to bring their venerable series to the massively multiplayer arena. After all, you've got a built in, recognizable franchise name based around the most classic multiplayer concept known to man - cops and robbers. I think every child has played a real life version of this game at some point in their lives (although perhaps more G rated). It's one of those universal themes that everyone instantly "gets", and yet, no MMO developer has cashed in on the concept. The time seems ripe for Rockstar to join Blizzard in the money printing business.

So how realistic is it that Rockstar might be producing a Grand Theft Auto MMO? Is such a game already in development? I did a little digging and I'll show you what I've been able to find thus far after the break. I'll also fill you in on a few MMOs with similar concepts that you might be able to play as early as this time next year.

Continue reading MMOGology: Grand Theft MMO

MassivelyMMOGology: Grand Theft MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletincops-and-robberscrime-gamescrimecraftfeaturedgrand-theft-autogrand-theft-auto-ivgrand-theft-auto-mmogrand-theft-auto-mmogjoystiqfeaturesrealtime-worldsRealtime-Worlds-Ltd.rockstarvogster-entertainmentTue, 29 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST