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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: MMOs that died in development hell]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/the-perfect-ten-mmos-that-died-in-development-hell/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/the-perfect-ten-mmos-that-died-in-development-hell/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/09/the-perfect-ten-mmos-that-died-in-development-hell/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Perfect Ten MMOs that died in development hell
If you know me, you probably know that I have a weird fascination with alternate history. You know, the daydreams of historians when they're not rewriting the past to suit the latest trends. "What if?" my mind wonders, especially when it comes to MMOs.

You see, for every game that actually makes it to launch, there are several that die gasping and alone in the bowels of development hell. Sure, many of these are pathetic creatures that didn't really stand a chance anyway, but there are some that could have made an impact on the industry if they had reached release and been halfway decent. We'll never know what a world would look like with these games in them, but we can always muse, "What if?"

Continuing Perfect Ten's recent dark streak, here are 10 MMOs that died in development hell; it's to our eternal loss that we'll never get to play them.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMOs that died in development hell

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMOs that died in development hell originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studioscheyanne-mountain-entertainmentcodemastersdark-age-of-cameloteafeaturedhalohalo-mmohumorimperator-onlinejagexjumpgatejumpgate-evolutionlevel-5microsoftmythicmythicaopinionp10perfect-10perfect-tenproject-copernicusra-salvatoreroundupstargate-worldsstellar-dawnthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenthqtodd-mcFarlanetop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtrue-fantasy-livetrue-fantasy-live-onlineultima-xultima-x-odysseywar40kwarhammer-40000-dark-millennium-onlineThu, 09 May 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Game developers actually are rockstars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/the-soapbox-game-developers-actually-are-rockstars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/the-soapbox-game-developers-actually-are-rockstars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/the-soapbox-game-developers-actually-are-rockstars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Soapbox Game developers actually are rockstars
Shortly after this column series started, Massively's Shawn "Epic Beard" Schuster planted his feet on the wooden crate to tell us that game developers are not rockstars. And as much as it frightens me to disagree with him, I believe I have a moral obligation to let him know that he was wrong. Sure, his article pointed out that it takes a team to create a spectacular game and that the personalities of the gaming industry cannot do it by themselves. As he put it, even though Sid Meier didn't code all of Civilization and Richard Garriott didn't construct all of Tabula Rasa, their names sat proudly on the box. But just like rockstars, those two names and many more developers' names belong on the covers of their respective games.

Rockstars from Aerosmith to Beyonce are more than the faces on the covers of their albums. In college, I used to create CD covers for local recording artists, so I can tell you first-hand that even though there was only one name on the front, there were many names on the inside jacket, just as there are many names in game credits. So how exactly are game developers like superstar musicians? The analogy fits in nearly every single way.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Game developers actually are rockstars

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Game developers actually are rockstars originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-gontieraerosmithAscapbeyoncebiowarebungieCivilizationdayzdouble-fineeddie-veddereditorialedmund-mcmillenfeaturedgabe-newellhaloindie-game-the-movieJustin-BieberkickstarterKnights-of-the-Old-RepublicKnights-of-the-Old-Republic-2kurt-cobainLucasArtsmatt-walstmicheal-stipeObsidian-Entertainmentop-edopinionrantrantsRichard-Garriottscott-weilandshawn-schustershroud-of-the-avatarSid-Meiersoapboxstone-temple-pilotssuper-meat-boytabula-rasateam-meatthe-soapboxthree-days-graceTim-Schafertommy-refenesUltima-OnlinevalveTue, 02 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaked dev blog: Bungie's Destiny project 'still quite like Halo']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/leaked-dev-blog-bungies-destiny-project-still-quite-like-halo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/leaked-dev-blog-bungies-destiny-project-still-quite-like-halo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/leaked-dev-blog-bungies-destiny-project-still-quite-like-halo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Leaked dev blog - Bungie's Destiny project 'still quite like Halo'
Remember Bungie? Its Halo franchise helped define the console shooter genre, and even though it surrendered the IP to Microsoft and had nothing to do with this week's ginormous Halo 4 release, the firm is still on our radar.

That's because its Destiny project is still in full swing, and Kotaku has published excerpts from an internal Demonware blog, whose author got some hands-on time with the game at a recent company function.

So, wait, who or what is Demonware? It's a development firm that "handles online infrastructure for Activision's titles and also lists Bungie" as a partner, Kotaku says. In any event, a senior Demonware employee wrote the following on the company blog (which has since been removed):

"This is not a dedicated server game, but there is some simulation and coordination running in their server infrastructure. The game was up and down a lot, playing in a team of three we did manage to experience entering a zone to find other players already taking on the bad guys. It's cooperative so we helped out [...] before both groups went their separate ways." The author went on to compare the game's "sense of exploration" to Elite, and he also said that Destiny is "still quite like Halo."

MassivelyLeaked dev blog: Bungie's Destiny project 'still quite like Halo' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bungiebungie-leakdemonwaredestinydestiny-leakhaloleakonline-shootershooterWed, 07 Nov 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The community]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-community/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Game Archaeologist
Time machines are expensive, and with gas the price it is today, it's not always viable to fuel up your DeLorean and travel back to the early 2000s just to check out some of those long-gone MMOs. Fortunately, jawing about them with former players and developers is the next best method of revisiting canceled MMOs.

It's been a personal treat to spend the month covering a game I never got to see when it was live. Asheron's Call 2 seems like it was a special game that tried hard and resulted in spectacular ideas and flaws alike. We've gotten to hear from former fansite owners and a developer on the team, which leaves just one group to check in with: the players themselves.

So today it's all about reminiscing over AC2 with the players who still carry a torch for this title and perhaps have a poster of it on the ceiling over their beds. I wouldn't be surprised if there's one or two people out there who made "children" out of discarded Asheron's Call 2 boxes and have enrolled them in elementary school only to be declined because they couldn't be authenticated. That's just how much love there is out there for this game.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The community

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The community originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ac2aionasherons-callasherons-call-2classdeloreanfeaturedffafree-for-allhalolord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolugianmicrosoftmr-robotopvpracetime-travelturbineturbine-entertainmentwarner-broswbworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 25 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Coloring inside the lines: An interview with PlanetSide 2's Tramell Isaac]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/coloring-inside-the-lines-an-interview-with-planetside-2s-tram/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/coloring-inside-the-lines-an-interview-with-planetside-2s-tram/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/coloring-inside-the-lines-an-interview-with-planetside-2s-tram/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

PlanetSide 2
I think we're all allowed our moments of pure geek squeeing when we bump into the people responsible for some of our favorite video games of yesteryear. So I had to apologize to Tramell Isaac in advance for gushing over his work on the first two Fallout titles, games that are among my all-time favorites. He didn't seem to mind, and he spent a few minutes shooting the breeze about his favorite designs in the game -- designing Robobrain and the Vault Boy cards that accompanied the player perks.

MMO fans will probably best know Isaac from his work on the original PlanetSide, a project that is near and dear to his heart. Sony Online Entertainment brought him back on board to be the senior art director for PlanetSide 2. This makes sense -- after all, who else would best know how to evolve the series' design than the guy who started it?

Isaac was kind enough to sit down on the phone with me to talk about how PlanetSide 2's visuals are shaping up, following his own blog post on the subject. Hit the jump to find out why each faction is going with a very specific color scheme, how microtransactions will affect how awesome you look, and just what Batman has to do with any of it.

Continue reading Coloring inside the lines: An interview with PlanetSide 2's Tramell Isaac

MassivelyColoring inside the lines: An interview with PlanetSide 2's Tramell Isaac originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artart-teambatmanbatman-beginschristopher-nolancolorsethalointerviewinterviewsnew-conglomerateplanetsideplanetside-2ps2soeSony-Online-Entertainmentterran-republictim-burtontramell-isaactribesvanu-sovereigntywarhammer-40kFri, 30 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Order and Chaos online bring potential to the market]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/mmobility-order-and-chaos-online-bring-potential-to-the-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/mmobility-order-and-chaos-online-bring-potential-to-the-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/mmobility-order-and-chaos-online-bring-potential-to-the-market/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

As soon as I saw the trailer for Order and Chaos Online, I knew it would at least sell very well initially. Would the World of Warcraft-clone (note the first-time use of the phrase I normally despise) also sell beyond its three months of free time given out with the client purchase? Would players really want to subscribe to a game that is a simple clone of one of the most accessible MMOs in existence?

I think they would, simply because it is a mobile version. The mobile market should have taught us these lessons already. It is a market of different players -- and play sessions -- than we might be familiar with when sitting down in front of our PCs. It doesn't need to be a seperate beast, however, and it can be enjoyed as an extension of the standard PC market. In fact, call me a convert. I paid for and downloaded Order and Chaos Online as soon as I could. Will I sub past the initial three free months? I don't know, but let me tell you why I think the game and the company matter.

Continue reading MMObility: Order and Chaos online bring potential to the market

MassivelyMMObility: Order and Chaos online bring potential to the market originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserfast-and-furiousfeaturedGameloftHaloiphoneMMObilitymobileorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-onlineWorld-of-WarcraftTue, 03 May 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bungie admits to MMO hoax]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/05/bungie-admits-to-mmo-hoax/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/05/bungie-admits-to-mmo-hoax/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/05/bungie-admits-to-mmo-hoax/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Are they or aren't they? This is the multi-million dollar question for Bungie Studios, who had all but confirmed that it was working on a MMO of sorts. Apparently, this was either a ruse, a goof or a massive misunderstanding, as a Bungie representative clarified David Aldridge's comments at GDC as being nothing more than a tongue-in-cheek joke.

Bungie fans, prepare to have your heart broken, in three... two... one: "In rehearsal Aldridge was convinced that everybody got the joke. It was all in the delivery, he assured us, and he was certain it was clear that he was playfully riffing off of the recent rumors. Unfortunately, most people can't figure David out -- they can't process him. And we don't expect them to. You can't process David Aldridge with a normal brain. You'd need tiger blood and Adonis DNA."

While the studio tried to laugh off the miscommunication, this is sad news indeed for MMO fans who had hoped that Bungie was jumping into the ring. Last month we heard unconfirmed reports that this alleged MMOFPS was being developed under the code-name of Destiny.

MassivelyBungie admits to MMO hoax originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adonis-dnabungiebungie-studiosdavid-aldridgedestinygame-developers-conferencegdcgdc-2011halohalo-mmohoaxjokemmofpstiger-bloodSat, 05 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2011: Bungie's MMO won't be WoW in space]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/gdc-2011-bungies-mmo-wont-be-wow-in-space/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/gdc-2011-bungies-mmo-wont-be-wow-in-space/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/gdc-2011-bungies-mmo-wont-be-wow-in-space/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The top secret MMO project from Bungie continues to raise fan and industry eyebrows despite the absence of any real information about the title. The game, rumored to carry the code name Destiny, will be massively multiplayer, and it will be set against a space/sci-fi backdrop. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess as to what will actually emerge from the Halo-maker's secret laboratory.

Joystiq has unearthed a blurb about the project from this week's GDC, wherein Bungie lead network engineer David Aldridge was overheard referring to the game as "massively multiplayer" as well as the fact that it won't be "WoW in space."

MassivelyGDC 2011: Bungie's MMO won't be WoW in space originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bungiebungie-destinybungie-mmobungie-studiosbungivisiondestinyhalohypemicrosoftmmommo-industryrumorssci-fiscience-fictionspace-mmowow-in-spaceFri, 04 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA["WoW in space": Bungie's MMOFPS named Destiny]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/wow-in-space-bungies-mmofps-named-destiny/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/wow-in-space-bungies-mmofps-named-destiny/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/wow-in-space-bungies-mmofps-named-destiny/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A couple of years ago, fans of the Halo franchise were crushed to find out that their favorite first-person shooter probably wasn't going to make the leap to MMO space. However, the company behind the Halo phenomenon has been diligently at work on another highly speculated-about project -- and it looks as though this project could go a long way to giving the fans what they want.

According to Kotaku, Bungie has been developing a massively multiplayer first-person shooter named Destiny. Previously code-named "Tiger," Destiny is described by Kotaku's unnamed source as being "World of Warcraft in space" and will run on all-new technology developed by the studio, including unique online connectivity and matchmaking software.

Bungie is currently in a 10-year publishing agreement with Activision Blizzard, so presumably Destiny will be published by the company. Last year, Blizzard's Rob Pardo applauded the idea of a Bungie MMO, although he refused to comment on a collaboration between the two studios.

Massively"WoW in space": Bungie's MMOFPS named Destiny originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbungiebungie-studiosdensity-i-mean-destinydestinyfpshalokotakummofpsrob-pardotigerworld-of-warcraftwowwow-in-spaceThu, 17 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Reasons why it's great to be an MMO fan today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/the-perfect-ten-reasons-why-its-great-to-be-an-mmo-fan-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/the-perfect-ten-reasons-why-its-great-to-be-an-mmo-fan-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/the-perfect-ten-reasons-why-its-great-to-be-an-mmo-fan-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

After my last Perfect Ten list, I strongly debated creating a new one revolving around the issue of spiders and their relation to insects and gigantism, but my editor told me that that wasn't enough of an MMO topic to suit Massively's needs. So, bowing and scraping in apology, I must instead present to you my back-up plan: Ten reasons why it's great to be an MMO fan today.

I can hear some of you grimacing right now: "But Justin -- if that is your real name -- are you really so doe-eyed and naïve? Don't you know that all MMOs suck, that it's all the same old crud, and that you have gray in your beard?"

That's where I'm different, I guess. I'm not blind to some of the serious issues that plague the MMO industry, and I've had my fair share of burnout, disillusion and frustration with the games, but I can't bring myself to become an MMO cynic. On the contrary, I feel that part of being an MMO fan is that it's fun to look on the bright side and get excited about this hobby we all share. So in that spirit, I present to you 10 reasons why it's a great time to be an MMO fan right now more than ever before.

And, yes, I'm still calling spiders "bugs." You can't stop me. I'm immune to all conventional weapons!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Reasons why it's great to be an MMO fan today

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Reasons why it's great to be an MMO fan today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addbusiness-modelscharitieschristmascyniceveeve-onlinef2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playhalohorrorlongevitylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromaddennaivencsoftpolygamypost-apocalypticpvepvppvpbdtthrpsandboxscifisocialspiders-are-insectssubscriptionsuperherotheme-parkThu, 18 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's Pardo talks Bungie MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/blizzards-pardo-talks-bungie-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/blizzards-pardo-talks-bungie-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/blizzards-pardo-talks-bungie-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A Bungie MMORPG is a rumor that simply won't die. Whether it's Joe Staten hinting at a persistent world during the recently concluded GDC, or Bobby Kotick telling investors that one of the reasons Bungie signed with Activision was to avail itself of Blizzard's vast customer service expertise, scuttlebutt about a Halo-themed MMO is a speculative fire that's hard to douse.

In a new interview at Next Gen, Blizzard boss Rob Pardo (co-designer on World of Warcraft) says his company could share resources with Bungie on an MMO project and furthermore, he'd love to play it. "I think that's one of the other reasons we've been so successful at Blizzard -- all of us play and love games. We're as big a fans as anybody. I would love to play a Bungie MMO. I think it would be cool," he said at last week's Blizzcon.

Pardo was also quick to point out that Blizzard is very focused on their own development, and talk of a Bungie collaboration is somewhat premature. "There are a lot of ifs there. It would have to be a very specific proposal," he said.

MassivelyBlizzard's Pardo talks Bungie MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ActivisionActivision-BlizzardblizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentblizzconbungieBungie-StudiosBungieStudioshalohalo-mmointerviewjoe-statenrob-pardospeculationMon, 25 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you play a Halo MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-a-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-a-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-a-halo-mmo/#commentsFiled under: ,

More than a few of us here at Massively dabble with single-player games when we're not on the clock, whether it be real-time strategy, roleplaying, first-person shooters, or some genre-bending hybrid. Every so often, a major release comes along that transcends its particular niche in the game industry and gets everyone talking.

Love it or hate it, Halo: Reach is such a title. Released to much critical acclaim this week, the title is currently chewing its way up the sales charts as bazillions of gamers trade Master Chief for Noble Six and partake of Bungie's swansong in the series that put them (as well as Microsoft Games and the Xbox) on the map.

The question of the day, dear readers, is twofold: Are you checking out Reach, and more appropriately, would you play a Halo MMO?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Would you play a Halo MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bungeehalohalo-reachmaster-chiefMicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-Studiosnoble-6noble-sixopinionsingle-playertdgthe-daily-grindWed, 15 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What if...? Ten canceled MMOs that could've changed history]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/what-if-ten-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/what-if-ten-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/10/what-if-ten-canceled-mmos-that-couldve-changed-history/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

What if...? Some of the most intriguing questions known to mankind start with those two words, as well as the most maddening. What if...? An entire genre known as "alternate history" is derived from these questions, with scholars and average blokes alike speculating on what might have happened if things went just a little differently. What if Hitler got the bomb first? What if Microsoft developed the iPod instead of Apple? What if Abraham Lincoln decided to see a different play that night?

When it comes to MMORPGs, what if's can drive one up the wall. In this volatile genre, more projects have started, canceled, launched, struggled, faded and morphed into new creations than most of us know. Today, we want to look at 10 MMOs that were axed before their launch, 10 MMOs that could've changed gaming history as we know it... if only they got the chance to prove themselves.

Let's take a journey, you and I, through history itself, and ponder the greatest of questions: How would the MMO industry be different if these titles had made it to release? Click the first picture on the gallery below to start.

Gallery: What if...? Ten canceled MMOs that could've changed history

1. True Fantasy Live Online2. Ultima Worlds Online: Origin3. Halo Online4. Imperator Online

MassivelyWhat if...? Ten canceled MMOs that could've changed history originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-historycancelledclimaxcrypticeafeaturedgods-and-heroeshaloimperatorjagexlevel-5marvel-universe-onlinemechscapemicrosoftMicrosoft-Game-Studiosmiddle-earth-onlinemythicMythic-Entertainmentmythicaoriginperpetual-entertainmentRichard-Garriottrunescapestar-trek-onlinesuper-hero-squad-onlinetrue-fantasy-live-onlineultima-onlineultima-online-worlds-originswarhammer-onlinewhat-ifThu, 10 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth devs answer radioactive questions in Stratics chat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/fallen-earth-devs-answer-radioactive-questions-in-stratics-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/fallen-earth-devs-answer-radioactive-questions-in-stratics-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/fallen-earth-devs-answer-radioactive-questions-in-stratics-chat/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's always nice when developers let their hair down, shaking out their majestic manes in slow-motion glory while their eyes sparkle with a thousand points of... I'm sorry, where was I? Anyway, part of the powerhouse Fallen Earth team recently sat down with Stratics' House of Commons to answer community questions about the game in a free-form chat, which was recorded and posted on Globaltech ATLAS. Icarus devs present were Tiggs (Community Director), Chris Deavellar (Art Director), Cory Farris (Senior Environment Artist) and Wes Platt (Director of Content Development).

Topics included new Blood Sports maps, the day/night cycle, supercross, pop culture references and questions about the art and graphics of the game. One of the questions wondered why they couldn't add more body types into the game, which earned a revealing answer: "If we do implement new chracter [sic] types, it will require new rigging, new animation (about 1000 of them), and new boltons just for one new toon. You'll notice that games like Gears of War and Halo only have men? That's because they couldn't even afford to spend time doing a female toon. It's a LOT, LOT, LOT of work."

Globaltech ATLAS has the full transcript, so feel free to pour over the entire conversation, including a few "after hours" questions!

MassivelyFallen Earth devs answer radioactive questions in Stratics chat originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 May 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blood-sportschris-deavellarcory-farrisfallen-earthgears-of-warglobaltech-atlashalohouse-of-commonsicarusicarus-studiosmaking-girls-is-a-lot-of-workpop-culture-referencesstraticssupercrosstiggstranscriptwes-plattFri, 21 May 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA adds veteran industry talent]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/tera-adds-veteran-industry-talent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/tera-adds-veteran-industry-talent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/tera-adds-veteran-industry-talent/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

En Masse Entertainment isn't messing around, judging by today's announcement regarding several game industry heavyweights joining forces with the publisher of the forthcoming TERA MMORPG. "We want En Masse Entertainment to serve as a magnet for creative talent. As we build toward the launch of TERA, we are adding veteran strength to all facets of the company to ensure a topnotch action MMO experience for our customers," said CEO Dr. Jae-Heon Yang.

New TERA team members include Aaron LeMay, a veteran of major action franchises including Halo and Saint's Row. Also signing on are Matt Atwood, former Global Public Relations Lead at BioWare and responsible for overseeing both Dragon Age and Mass Effect. David Noonan, a former Dungeons and Dragons game designer and Aion writer also joins the TERA crew, as does Microsoft Xbox Live Operations Center veteran Markus Schweig.

Head on over to the official TERA forums for the full press release.

MassivelyTERA adds veteran industry talent originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-lemayaionbiowaredavid-noonandragon-ageen-masse-entertainmenthaloindustry-veteransmarkus-schweigmass-effectmatt-atwoodmicrosoftsaints-rowTERAxbox-liveMon, 12 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Ensemble staffer talks about cancelled Halo MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/former-ensemble-staffer-talks-about-cancelled-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/former-ensemble-staffer-talks-about-cancelled-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/12/former-ensemble-staffer-talks-about-cancelled-halo-mmo/#commentsFiled under: ,

Here's a blast from the past for you: Halo MMO. The project from Ensemble studios -- codenamed Titan -- left a lot of disappointed fans when Ensemble closed and development was canceled.

We've not heard much from that area for several months, but IncGamers got a chance today to speak to Dusty Monk for some new information on the now-defunct MMO. Dusty -- now the founder of Windstorm Studios -- was a staffer for Ensemble and pretty heavily focused on the Halo project. He's got some interesting things to say about what could have been: "We had all this incredible talent, we had the right people, the right passion, we had a phenomenally successful IP - the Halo IP."

If you're a Halo fan thinking wistfully about what could have been, you'll definitely want to check out what else he had to say in this interview with IncGamers.

[Thanks to Belinda for the tip!]

MassivelyFormer Ensemble staffer talks about cancelled Halo MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dusty-monkensemble-studiosHalohalo-mmoignwindstorm-studiosMon, 12 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Is this concept art from the canceled Halo MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/22/is-this-concept-art-from-the-canceled-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/22/is-this-concept-art-from-the-canceled-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/22/is-this-concept-art-from-the-canceled-halo-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Last year, the news that a Halo MMO was once in development left us all wondering "what if?". The game was being made by Ensemble Studios, who put out the Xbox 360 RTS Halo Wars. The screenshot that was plastered over most stories about the cancellation looked decidedly World of Warcraft-y, and an Ensemble representative later said that the more advanced versions of the game fit the Halo theme much better. Perhaps it looked a bit like this. Some internet sleuthery on fansite Halo.Bungie.Org has uncovered this gallery of concept art from former Ensemble Studios artist Dylan Cole. The art doesn't appear to be from Halo Wars, and our friends at Joystiq raised the question: could this be from the canceled Halo MMO?

The art is marked as being from the "Halo Universe", which may simply be referring to the general Halo world -- but maybe it isn't. At the moment it's all speculation, and Joystiq has contacted Dylan Cole to see if anything can be cleared up. Whatever it was for, it's some fine work and well worth checking out, particularly for Halo fans (of which we hear there are a few). Start at page one of the gallery here.

MassivelyIs this concept art from the canceled Halo MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canceleddylan-coleensemble-studioshalohalo-mmohalo-universeTue, 22 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony, Turbine, Jagex, Blizzard, and NCsoft named in patent infringement lawsuit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/sony-turbine-jagex-blizzard-and-ncsoft-named-in-patent-infri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/sony-turbine-jagex-blizzard-and-ncsoft-named-in-patent-infri/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/16/sony-turbine-jagex-blizzard-and-ncsoft-named-in-patent-infri/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


It seems to be a World of Lawsuits (TM) recently in our industry. Bloggers are being sued for libel, NCsoft is being sued for patent infringement, Linden Labs is being sued for trademark violations, Turbine is suing Atari, and now five companies are all being sued over a patent dispute.

The Boston Globe has reported that Paltalk Holdings Inc. has filed a complaint in Texas against Sony Corp., Activision Blizzard Inc., Turbine Inc., NCsoft Corp., and Jagex Ltd. all for games that violate their patent on computers sharing data so that all users can see the same virtual environment. The games in question are EverQuest, World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Guild Wars, and RuneScape (in order of the companies as named above.)

What makes this lawsuit different from the standard patent shakedowns that we've been reporting on is that the patent has already been successfully used in court. Paltalk has already sued, and won against, Microsoft.

Continue reading Sony, Turbine, Jagex, Blizzard, and NCsoft named in patent infringement lawsuit

MassivelySony, Turbine, Jagex, Blizzard, and NCsoft named in patent infringement lawsuit originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardbreakingeverquestguild-warshalohalo-2jagexlawsuitlegallord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromicrosoftncsoftpaltalksettlementsoesony-corpturbineworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 16 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[2029 enters alpha testing phase]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/25/2029-enters-alpha-testing-phase/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/25/2029-enters-alpha-testing-phase/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/25/2029-enters-alpha-testing-phase/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Post-apocalyptic fans rejoice! Yet another game in your favorite science fiction genre is moving ahead with development, as free-to-play title 2029 goes into alpha testing as of Monday, May 25th. Unsure of how the game plays? You can find a newbie guide here that'll give you a pretty thorough rundown of all the MMORTS features designed into the game.

It looks to be an interesting blend of sci-fi and real-time strategy, with a dash of fantasy as well. We also saw some screenshots with a definite hint of Halo and StarCraft. So if you enjoy those settings, it couldn't hurt to give this a look even if you're vaguely interested. After registering an account for the game, you can go for a direct download or a torrent version of the game client -- always a nice option to have.

Massively2029 enters alpha testing phase originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2029alphablizzardbungiefree-to-playhaloiggmmommortspost-apocalypticrtsstarcraftMon, 25 May 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gazillion Entertainment Names Stuart Moulder as VP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/21/gazillion-entertainment-names-stuart-moulder-as-vp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/21/gazillion-entertainment-names-stuart-moulder-as-vp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/21/gazillion-entertainment-names-stuart-moulder-as-vp/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Gazillion Entertainment have announced that their expansion into the MMO market continues with hiring Stuart Moulder as their new Vice President of Studios, with responsibility for game development across all of their studios. Gazillion recently announced that they had purchased Netdevil, who are developing Jumpgate Evolution and LEGO Universe. They also announced that they are developing two games based on the Marvel superhero licence.

Moulder has most recently worked as Senior Vice President at Screenlife where he was responsible for bringing the Scene It? license to games as helping with the sale of the company to Paramount Digital. He also spent eight years at Microsoft where he was responsible for acquiring and managing companies such as Halo developer Bungie, Age of Empires and Halo Wars developer Ensemble Studios and veteran developers FASA of Mechwarrior and Shadowrun fame, although since he has left Microsoft we have seen Ensemble Studios and FASA shut down and Bungie has become independent.

MassivelyGazillion Entertainment Names Stuart Moulder as VP originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 May 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-empiresbungiebungie-studiosfasafasastudiosgazilliongazillion-entertainmenthalohalo-warsjumpgatejumpgate-evolutionlego universeLegoUniversemechwarriormicrosoftnetdevilparamount-digital-entertainmentscene-itscreenlifeshadowrunstuart-moulderThu, 21 May 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Further details emerge on the canceled Halo MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/17/further-details-emerge-on-the-canceled-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/17/further-details-emerge-on-the-canceled-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/17/further-details-emerge-on-the-canceled-halo-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Shacknews had the chance to speak with Ensemble director of technology Dave Pottinger, who had quite a bit to say about the Halo MMO. The biggest surprise revealed was that the game had gotten a green light and was in development for a good length of time before leadership changed at Microsoft, and the title was canceled. Pottinger also acknowledge the fact that conceptual screens leaked were in fact designed with a very World of Warcraft mentality, although he stressed that what Ensemble actually ended up with internally at the time had more emphasis on feeling like the traditional Halo universe.

Combat was also a topic of discussion. Pottinger says the game's combat had a very classic MMO feel to it, but there was a leaning towards an "actiony" feel. Whether or not Ensemble's Halo MMO was or is a good idea, there's no denying the fact that a properly made title could still appeal to a lot of people.

MassivelyFurther details emerge on the canceled Halo MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardbreakingbungiedave-pottingerensembleensemble-studioshalohalo-mmomicrosoftshacknewsworld-of-warcraftMon, 17 Nov 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bungie considers the challenges of a Halo MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/bungie-considers-the-challenges-of-a-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/bungie-considers-the-challenges-of-a-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/14/bungie-considers-the-challenges-of-a-halo-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Bungie community and PR director Brian Jarrard recently told gamesindustry.biz that a Halo MMO has been the subject of "heated discussions" at the house that built Master Chief. Jarrard opines on the topic for a while, concluding that a lot of new lore and characters on top of the already-extensive universe that is Halo for a workable MMO.

That point of view rings quite true with us here at Massively. Typically, any time a non-MMO property is tapped for entry into the genre there are mountains of conceptual alterations that need to be made -- not to mention the catch 22 Jedi concession. You can't have a compelling Star Wars MMO without Jedi, however there needs to be some serious lore considerations if a developer is to allow hundreds of players run around their game world as laser-sword swinging, neo-space faring, monk/samurai. The same rule applies to the rare and elite Spartan warriors of the Halo universe.

MassivelyBungie considers the challenges of a Halo MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-jarrardbungieensemble-studiosgamesindustry.bizhalohalo-mmojedimaster-chiefspartanstar-warsTue, 14 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ensemble Studios was working on Halo MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/23/closed-ensemble-studios-were-working-on-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/23/closed-ensemble-studios-were-working-on-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/23/closed-ensemble-studios-were-working-on-halo-mmo/#commentsFiled under:


Gamasutra has broken the news that Ensemble Studios, responsible for Halo Wars, was working on a Halo MMO. It's not clear at what stage the project was canned, but Gamasutra's analysis based on available material is that it was probably cancelled in mid to late 2007.

Gamasutra has also gained access to some prototype UI and level screenshots. With the help of our own lead blogger here at Massively, Michael Zenke, they've attempted to unscramble how the UI might function. Michael points out the clear similarities with the World of Warcraft interface, identifying what appear to be a mana bar, inventory button, talent tree and other functions. Louis Wu of the unofficial Halo website halo.bungie.org offers expert commentary on the level shots, identifying the familiar and the hitherto unseen aspects.

As Gamasutra points out in the article, there are multiple development teams at work on Halo-related projects right now. It's therefore possible that a Halo MMO could still exist, but if it does, there's not a whisper of its presence so far.

Update: Apologies for referring to Ensemble Studios as 'closed'; they are scheduled to be closed after the release of Halo Wars, but this has not yet taken place.

Update 2: Gamespot's Rumor Control department has taken a long hard look at the evidence, and has pointed to a Flickr photostream containing 50 images of what appears to be a Halo MMO in development.

MassivelyEnsemble Studios was working on Halo MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingensembleensemble-studioshalohalo-mmomicrosoftTue, 23 Sep 2008 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Running the numbers on a Halo MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/running-the-numbers-on-a-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/running-the-numbers-on-a-halo-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/running-the-numbers-on-a-halo-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

What property would sends chills through fandom on two sides of a genre divide? What title could you almost guarantee to spark interest and even further expand the MMO genre? How about Bungie's Halo? We've talked about the possibility of a Halo MMO once or twice before, but it was just that, talk. In light of the E3 Bungiegate hoorah, Rock Paper Shotgun is running the numbers on how likely Bungie's big announcement was to have been a massively multiplayer FPS set in the Halo world.

It all comes down, essentially, to the statement by Microsoft that the next Halo title won't star Master Chief. "Lateral thinking", as RPS puts it, can easily see the possibility of yourself stepping into the 'title' role in an interaction with the franchise. Certainly the groundwork is there - we know that Bungie has some lore tucked away behind the scenes. They know lots about that world we haven't seen in the games yet, and odds are they'd love to get it out somehow. Halo 3, by the same token, has a bunch of MMO-like elements already embedded. Much like Call of Duty 4, your participation in multiplayer matches impacts a persistent 'character'. The site has a few links for you to follow (including one to an interesting Microsoft research paper), and some videos as well.

All of this is just speculation, just the same. What do you think? Are we likely to see a brand new Bungie-helmed MMOFPS sometime in the future?

MassivelyRunning the numbers on a Halo MMO originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bungiehalohalo mmoHaloMmorumorsxbox-360Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Gaming Iconoclast: A side of PlanetSide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/the-gaming-iconoclast-a-side-of-planetside/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/the-gaming-iconoclast-a-side-of-planetside/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/the-gaming-iconoclast-a-side-of-planetside/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

"Come on, you apes! Do you want to live forever?"
- Unknown WWI platoon Sergeant, as quoted in the epigraph of Starship Troopers, Robert Heinlein

This sort of chaos, of being flung into the maw of an overwhelming and relentless foe, very succinctly sums up the jovial insanity of Massively's foray into PlanetSide's world-event realm as so-called Black Ops. Replete with frenetic action, us-versus-the-world attitude, and the ever-so-helpful seismic and meteoric stylings of a GM eavesdropping on our Skype chat, TGI hopes that our incursion into PlanetSide's universe provided an entertaining distraction to the folks for whom it's been a long-time daily driver.

Our efforts could politely have been called "lambs to the slaughter." They could less-politely be visualized as a well-worn combat boot meeting a sensitive part of TGI's anatomy, perhaps the one he sits upon, repeatedly and with great vigor.

It was glorious.

Continue reading The Gaming Iconoclast: A side of PlanetSide

MassivelyThe Gaming Iconoclast: A side of PlanetSide originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2kgamesbioshockblizzard-entertainmentbungiebungie-studiosepic-gamesfeaturedhaloid-softwarejoystiqfeaturesplanetsidepvepvpquake-3soesonythe-gaming-iconoclastunreal-tournamentworld-eventsworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 18 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get your stealth on with Global Agenda]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/15/get-your-stealth-on-with-global-agenda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/15/get-your-stealth-on-with-global-agenda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/15/get-your-stealth-on-with-global-agenda/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Or, maybe not. Global Agenda is an upcoming title by Hi-Rez Studios that calls itself 'spy-fi'; puzzle that one out, go ahead, we'll wait. Purportedly espousing a game system of tactical espionage, the gameplay video available seems more like Halo than Splinter Cell. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Using the Unreal Engine 3, everything looks nice and moves smoothly. Other features of the game include racing for advanced technology before other players receive it; capturing and holding strategic locations; and special tech like stealth suits, holographic disguises, and remote control robots. This shows promise, and we'll keep our ear to the ground -- or at least, our sonic wavelength remote analyzer.

MassivelyGet your stealth on with Global Agenda originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>espionageglobal-agendahalohi-rez-studioshologramsrobotssplinter-cellspy-fistealthunreal-engine-3Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Huxley: In-game hyper-active footage from the Korean beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/huxley-in-game-hyper-active-footage-from-the-korean-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/huxley-in-game-hyper-active-footage-from-the-korean-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/17/huxley-in-game-hyper-active-footage-from-the-korean-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



Huxley is shaping up to be a true to its roots MMOFPS. The second phase of the Korean beta test wrapped up testing focused on the dynamic hyper FPS style gameplay as seen in the footage above provided by Game Videos. During the open beta the testing will focus more on the MMO elements, which are the aspects I'm more interested in because underneath the fancy graphics and hyped up blurbs Huxley is well... Another FPS, but with a tasty grind! Huxley is being developed for the both the PC and Xbox 360 by H-studio under the Webzen flagship. There is still no word on when the non-Korean beta test is planned.

Continue reading Huxley: In-game hyper-active footage from the Korean beta

MassivelyHuxley: In-game hyper-active footage from the Korean beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betafpshalohuxleymmofpsvideoswebzenxbox-360Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Xfire notes slump in PC playtime, dubs it "Halo 3 effect"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/xfire-notes-slump-in-pc-playtime-dubs-it-halo-3-effect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/xfire-notes-slump-in-pc-playtime-dubs-it-halo-3-effect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/xfire-notes-slump-in-pc-playtime-dubs-it-halo-3-effect/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


If ever there was an industry prone to cannibalism, it would be the games industry. If gamers aren't playing one game, chances are it's because another game has captured their attention with its siren song. According to data by Xfire and reported by Gamesindustry.biz, hours played by subscribers to its service did not pick in October as expected. July and August are typically slow months for PC games, as many players take the rare opportunity to go outside and many also make the move to college during that period. But instead of rising again as the seasons changed, October numbers actually continued to fall. They've chosen to dub this the "Halo 3 effect," as Microsoft's hit shooter sent shock waves not just through the game industry, but through the larger entertainment business as well, reportedly stunting sales of moving ticket sales through that period as well.

Xfire has a subscriber base over 8 million strong, so while they might not be the perfect indicator of larger trends in the game industry, they're certainly one of the best representative samples available. World of Warcraft continued to dominate the overall numbers, with 332,139 hours played during October, beating out perennial PC favorites Call of Duty 2 and Counterstrike: Source. The rest of the MMO crowd ambled behind, with EVE Online being the second most popular massive game, followed by Lord of the Rings Online, Lineage II, and Star Wars Galaxies.

It makes you wonder what would happen if the rumored Halo MMO comes to fruition.

MassivelyXfire notes slump in PC playtime, dubs it "Halo 3 effect" originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>evehalohalo-3hours-playedlineagelotropc-gameswowxfireThu, 15 Nov 2007 13:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Making fun be worth it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/making-fun-be-worth-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/making-fun-be-worth-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/13/making-fun-be-worth-it/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Zen of Design has a great post up about how MMO game mechanics should "incentivize fun" in the gameplay. The main example Damion uses is the "daily quests" recently introduced to World of Warcraft-- Blizzard originally gave all players a goal of 5000g for their epic mounts, but then realized that they hadn't given players enough ways to earn that money-- most people were left grinding random spots to make the cash. So they then created "daily quests"-- daily timer quests that were repetitive and easy that gave lots of money. Play the game for x number of minutes every day, get all the cash you need.

But as Damion says, the daily quests serve a purpose, but they aren't actually fun. Lots of players see them as a job, and the fact that they are repetitive (in a bad way-- he says a game like Civilization actually makes repeating gameplay interesting) makes them a necessity rather than an incentive to play the game.

Now, the good news is that in the latest patch, Blizzard is working to fix this-- they've introduced daily quests that ask players to play fundamental parts of the game, and so there are now crafting daily quests, as well as battleground and instance quests. But these are fixes after the fact-- the way to really incentivize fun is to watch what players themselves want to do during development, and then reward that. Halo isn't an MMO, technically, but Bungie noticed that players were dying strange deaths in game, and then actually changed the game to reward players for their activities. Same deal with MMOs-- find out what players want to do in your game, and then give them rewards for doing just that.

MassivelyMaking fun be worth it originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcivilizationdaily-questsdesignfunhaloincentiveworld-of-warcraftzen-of-designTue, 13 Nov 2007 19:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Next Halo game: FPS MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/next-halo-game-fps-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/next-halo-game-fps-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/next-halo-game-fps-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


So now that Bungie and Microsoft have parted ways, what's next for the Halo universe? The latest rumor says Master Chief and company are headed to an first person shooter MMO. That... would be spectacular, given that's done right. Halo is already basically an MMO, considering all the persistent stats, customization and tracking that Bungie has put into it. All it really needs is a virtual world for the Covenant (or what's left of it), Earth, and the Flood to fight it out in, and we're off to the rocket races.

The rumor, which is actually from the latest EGM, recommends Bungie for such a task, and there has been speculation that Bungie will go to an MMO next also (although, there's been speculation that every big game developer is working on an MMO, so don't hold your breath on that one either). But it's true that while PlanetSide is entertaining, we haven't yet seen a next generation FPS MMO done right. Could be that Bungie are just the ones to do it.

[ via X3F ]

MassivelyNext Halo game: FPS MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bungieegmfirst-person-shooterfpshalomicrosoftmmoplanetsidestatsvirtual-worldxbox360fanboyThu, 25 Oct 2007 15:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Speculation: Bungie's next project is an MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/speculation-bungies-next-project-is-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/speculation-bungies-next-project-is-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/09/speculation-bungies-next-project-is-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: ,


I'm not quite sure where Hardcore Casual gets this from (I'm guessing it's somewhere between thin air and someplace a little more "intimate"), but he's got an interesting bit of speculation coming off of the big news last week that Halo-maker Bungie and their publisher Microsoft are cutting some ties. He traces Bungie's growth along side Blizzard's (Myth: Warcraft:: Oni: Ghost), and concludes that, now that they're free of Halo and Microsoft's direct influence, Bungie's next project will be their World of Warcraft: an MMO.

Now that is an interesting idea. Like Blizzard, Bungie has always been all about the possibilities of online play, and even though Halo 3 is not actually an MMO, there is no shortage of ways for people to interact with each other through the game-- from Forge to the different coop modes, to the "XP" system in multiplayer, Bungie knows how to get people online and keep them there. And Bungie definitely knows how to build worlds-- the Halo universe alone has inspired many books and countless pages of fan fiction and speculation, not to mention that there are big hints that it's connected to Bungie's other big series of games, Marathon. When you look at Bungie's past and the type of games that they've created, they definitely do seem like a great candidate to make a popular MMO.

Of course, whatever Bungie does next is up to Bungie, and, as Blizzard well knows, taking on as big a responsibility as an ongoing MMO can change a company all the way down to its foundation-- for better or worse. But as much as he probably just made it up, Hardcore Casual is right-- Bungie's got the reach, the funds, and the knowhow to create the next big virtual world. Whether they choose to tackle it or not is up to them.

MassivelySpeculation: Bungie's next project is an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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