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 Soapbox: The perils of passive gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/the-soapbox-the-perils-of-passive-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/the-soapbox-the-perils-of-passive-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/the-soapbox-the-perils-of-passive-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Couch potato cat
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

My folks don't really understand my infatuation with video games (and MMORPGs in particular). "How can you sit there and play a game for two or three hours at a time?" my mom is fond of asking. Ironically, this usually happens on a visit that ends where most of our visits do: on the couch in front of the television.

Don't get me wrong; she's no couch potato, and in fact she has the meanest green thumb you'll ever see. When the sun goes down, though, my parents (like most of their generation, I'll wager) park their butts in front of the TV. That I should park my own posterior in front of the computer is exceedingly strange to them even though online gaming is to the 21st century what television was to the 20th.

I wonder, though, if games are starting to become more passive forms of TV-like entertainment.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The perils of passive gaming

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The perils of passive gaming originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualchallengecomplexitycouch-potatoeditorialeqeq1everquestf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-mechanicsgames-vs-tvhardcorehardcore-vs-casualinteractivitylets-playlivestreamlivestreamingmmo-industryop-edopinionpassivepassive-consumptionpassive-gamingpassive-vs-activepassivitypaying-to-skip-contentperils-of-passive-gamingrantrantsskipping-contentsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardsoesonysony-online-entertainmentthe-perils-of-passive-gamingthe-soapboxTue, 01 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Diablo III's competitors speak up and LoL reveals Lulu]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/not-so-massively-diablo-iiis-competitors-speak-up-and-lol-reve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/not-so-massively-diablo-iiis-competitors-speak-up-and-lol-reve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/not-so-massively-diablo-iiis-competitors-speak-up-and-lol-reve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
The big announcement we've all been waiting for has finally arrived: Diablo III has a release date! This week the beta was wiped to prepare for launch, and Blizzard's Jay Wilson responded to questions about the cash auction house in hardcore mode. Competing title Path of Exile continued development toward its own release, and Torchlight II gave players a unique look under the hood of the game with a breakdown of item drop statistics. Runic Games congratulated the Diablo team on its release date announcement and published an open letter to fans urging them to just wait a little longer for their Torchlight fix.

In MOBA news, League of Legends revealed its next champion, Lulu, and explored the game's rapidly growing German community. Dota 2 added classic DotA hero Shadow Demon and performed some much-needed tweaks to bots, and Rise of Immortals released the official Azcadelia immortal spotlight. Heroes of Newerth released Gunblade, an original ranged agility carry hero that was been met with some strong disapproval in the community. Blacklight: Retribution's open beta updates continued this week with the release of its Vertigo map, a battleground set in the roofspaces of a sprawling industrial complex.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III's competitors speak up and LoL reveals Lulu

MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III's competitors speak up and LoL reveals Lulu originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoaction-rpgauction-houseAzcadeliabattlenetblacklightblacklight-retributionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcompetitive-gamingd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidotadungeon-crawlere-sporte-sportsesportesportsf2pfantasyfeaturedfpsfree-to-playgermangermanygothic-fantasygrinding-geargrinding-gear-gamesgunbladehardcorehardcore-modehcheroes-of-newerthhonleague-of-legendslollulummofpsmobamultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-multiplayerpath-of-exileperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespoepvppweriotriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsrmahrmtroiround-uprounduprpgrunic-gamess2s2-gamesshadow-demontorchlightvertigovideoMon, 19 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Diablo III will see you in hell... mode]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/diablo-iii-will-see-you-in-hell-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/diablo-iii-will-see-you-in-hell-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/diablo-iii-will-see-you-in-hell-mode/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If you were among the players put out because Diablo III seems too pretty to be hardcore, you'll be happy to know that Blizzard hopes to re-earn your love, not with art but with gameplay. The company has released a video in which key DIII devs talk up the game's nightmare, hell, and inferno difficulty modes. They promise a veritable ass-kicking complete with hours of wiping and mounting repair costs. Quoth the devs:
"Normal mode was pretty casual. It's very fun -- you're one-clicking and you're having laughs. Once you get into Nightmare mode, it starts turning into all business. [...] The game really starts [...] at Nightmare. [...] The way the game is tuned right now, people have no idea what they're getting themselves into."
Perhaps not coincidentally, the Battle.net World of Warcraft blog is now daring gamers to join a community-driven Iron Man WoW Challenge. Participants eschew luxuries like buffs, talents, and grouping and charge into the world to see just how high they can level. Death, of course, means game over for the hardest of the hardcore.

The Diablo III vid is embedded just behind the break!

Continue reading Diablo III will see you in hell... mode

MassivelyDiablo III will see you in hell... mode originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivisionbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygothic-fantasyhardcorehardcore-modehellinfernoiron-man-challengemultiplayeronline-multiplayerroguelikerpgvideowarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 10 Feb 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Where does gaming fall on your priority list?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/the-daily-grind-where-does-gaming-fall-on-your-priority-list/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/the-daily-grind-where-does-gaming-fall-on-your-priority-list/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/the-daily-grind-where-does-gaming-fall-on-your-priority-list/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Priorities Shmiorities
Back before I had a family, it wasn't unusual for me to play a video game for eight-hour stretches at a time every day. But now that I'm a father of three, I don't even want to think about playing a game unless I'm playing with my family or it's after their bedtime. On the other side of that coin, there are plenty of people who put gaming before just about everything else in their lives. When you're "too busy" to work or spend time with your family, but not too busy to raid every night, that's a problem in my opinion.

This might sound odd coming from a guy who has made gaming his career, but I respect balance and moderation. I could go on and on about how so many people are losing their perspective on having fun by being "hardcore," but I'll save that for a Soapbox article one day. In the meantime, I want to know how you feel about gaming on your priority list. Is it numero uno, towards the end, or somewhere in between?

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: Where does gaming fall on your priority list? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>familygame-discussiongamer-discussionhardcoremmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsopinionprioritiestdgthe-daily-grindFri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Let's make a mobile game, part one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/mmobility-lets-make-a-mobile-game-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/mmobility-lets-make-a-mobile-game-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/mmobility-lets-make-a-mobile-game-part-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Wurm Online screenshot
I thoroughly enjoy reading your comments, especially when the discussion turns to game design or suggestions for development. I decided it was high time that I sat down and experienced, even if just a little, how the design process goes. I've had plenty of peeks at different studios, but I wanted to know what it is like to actually make a game from basically beginning to end.

So for the next four weeks, I will be doing something special. I invited indie developer Dave Toulouse, maker of Golemizer and Star Corsairs, to help me in this journey. If you'd like to find out more about Dave, you can visit his official website, follow him on Twitter, or even read an interview I did with him a while ago. He really is the epitome of the indie spirit, and I am so thankful that he volunteered to do this with me.

The goal is to start with a basic idea and framework, and using input from our discussions and from reader comments, assemble a very basic working mobile MMO. So let's get started!

Continue reading MMObility: Let's make a mobile game, part one

MassivelyMMObility: Let's make a mobile game, part one originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedbrowser-based-mmodave-toulousedie2nitef2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpglitchgolemizerhardcoreillyriadIOSiphoneMMObilitymobilepollpollsstar-corsairsworgoltwurm-onlineFri, 03 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/a-vanguard-fifth-anniversary-year-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/a-vanguard-fifth-anniversary-year-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/a-vanguard-fifth-anniversary-year-in-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Vanguard screenshot
It's that time again -- time to look back on a year of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and see what changed and what stayed exactly the same. The game is now five years old, and the last year has been relatively exciting for the community. Vanguard is just one of those titles that seems to want to last forever. The playerbase is loyal, mature, and truly dedicated to this aging title. Will the players' efforts pay off?

We took a look back on the last year to see what the larger announcements were. There were some surprises and even updates (yes, actual updates to the game), something that is still affecting the community. While other games might publish monthly or even weekly updates, the Vanguard players are the camels of the greater MMO community and have learned to live off very little development fuel.

Bear in mind that as I type this, an update is being played through on the test server.

Continue reading A Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review

MassivelyA Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybeau-hindmanbirthdaycorpse-runningdeath-mechaniceqeverquestf2pfan-fairefeaturedfree-to-playftphardcorelive-gamerpatchesretrospectivesilium-grantsiliusSOESony-Online-EntertainmentupdatesvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesMon, 30 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Raph Koster: Immersion is not a core game virtue]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/raph-koster-immersion-is-not-a-core-game-virtue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/raph-koster-immersion-is-not-a-core-game-virtue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/raph-koster-immersion-is-not-a-core-game-virtue/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies - Cantina gambling
Yeah, you read that right, virtual world fans. One of the more celebrated sandbox MMORPG developers is apparently throwing in the towel when it comes to immersion. Raph Koster wrote what can only be termed a lament on his personal blog today, saying that "immersion does not make a lot of sense in a mobile, interruptable world."

Koster characterizes immersion as a style whose time has come and gone, and he concludes that games are no longer for dreamers due to their far-reaching popularity. "I mourn the gradual loss of deep immersion and the trappings of geekery that I love," Koster writes. "I see the ways in which the worlds I once dove into headlong have become incredibly expensive endeavors, movies-with-button-presses far more invested in telling me their story, rather than letting me tell my own."

Whether you agree with him or not, it's a sobering read coming from one of the chief creative forces behind Star Wars Galaxies and Ultima Online.

MassivelyRaph Koster: Immersion is not a core game virtue originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>at-least-it-has-a-karateka-screenshotcasualdepressingdesignhardcoreimmersionkosterMiscellaneousopinionraph-kosterroleplaysandboxstar-wars-galaxiesswgultima-onlinevirtual-worldsFri, 13 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you play in self-enforced hardcore mode?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-in-self-enforced-hardcore-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-in-self-enforced-hardcore-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-in-self-enforced-hardcore-mode/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Salem
The permadeath-in-MMOs issue has been debated to death. Most of us have probably either played in a Diablo-esque hardcore mode or gaped at the stones required to publish a true MMORPG with permadeath (hi, Salem). But who says you need game mechanics to make permadeath a reality?

I've gamed with roleplayers who took their characters deadly seriously and would delete their characters if they were killed off within the context of the game. (So much for the idea that roleplayers are casuals, eh?) Their web of self-inflicted rules is so complex (maiming? dice rolls? emote-combat?) that playing with such RPers can actually become stressful, especially if you don't want to be responsible for their having to delete and reroll.

What about you folks? Do you play or roleplay in a self-enforced hardcore mode? Do you do it because it's fun, because it makes gameplay more intense, or because you like a good challenge?

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: Do you play in self-enforced hardcore mode? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbrianna-royce-tdgcharacterdeathdeleteddiablohardcorehardcore-modeopinionParadox-Interactivepermadeathroleplayersroleplayingrpsalemtdgthe-daily-grindMon, 09 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you rush to endgame?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-rush-to-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-rush-to-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/31/the-daily-grind-do-you-rush-to-endgame/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

SWTOR screenshot
Welcome to the endgame... the endgame of 2011! We gamers love to say that MMOs are about the journey, not the destination, but that doesn't seem to stop us from zipping up the levels the instant a game or expansion launches. Hardcore players had hit level 50 in Star Wars: The Old Republic within just a few days of the pre-order early access, before the game had even landed on store shelves. In a game designed to be about telling and participating in a story, players have to be the firstest with the mostest -- the first to cap, the first to get achievements, the first to beat bosses, even the first to master tradeskills. The game doesn't reward you for stopping to smell the flowers, after all.

Of course, hardcore achiever players are often the first to start moping when they realize they've burned through months of content in a week -- and all their friends are still busy catching up anyway. What about you, Massively folks? Do you take your time, savoring all the sights and really drinking in the game on your first playthrough -- or do you rush to the lonely endgame?

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: Do you rush to endgame? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcappedendgamehardcorelaunchlauncheslevel-50levelinglevelsmax-levelopinionpowerlevelPowerLevelingrushstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortdgthe-daily-grindSat, 31 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC Online 2011: BioWare's Damion Schubert takes a wrecking ball to the casual vs. hardcore model]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/gdc-austin-2011-biowares-damion-schubert-takes-a-wrecking-ball/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/gdc-austin-2011-biowares-damion-schubert-takes-a-wrecking-ball/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/gdc-austin-2011-biowares-damion-schubert-takes-a-wrecking-ball/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

GDC - Damion Schubert
"I'm trying to finish a product, Star Wars: The Old Republic, which I am not going to talk about today." Thus began BioWare's Damion Schubert's seminar, Double Coding: Making Online Games for Both the Casual and the Hardcore, at this year's GDC Online. "This is more of a weary man, sort of stream-of-consciousness design theory talk."

Schubert wanted to call the talk "Moving Beyond Double Coding," which is a term that comes from cartoons, of all places. Double coding is content that reaches two different groups of people at the same time. Looney Tunes, for example, would entertain both adults and kids because the writers and animators designed it so.

With MMOs, Schubert says that devs are often trying to double code the games for both casual and hardcore players. This is where the well-known slogan "easy to play, hard to master" originates. He held up Blizzard as a primary example of this model. Blizzard's "donut," as Schubert calls it, has a casual outer ring and a hardcore center for both types of players. By double coding, Blizzard ensures that casual players can invite their hardcore friends to experience the game and vice-versa.

However, this model is faltering, and Schubert pinpoints why after the jump!

Continue reading GDC Online 2011: BioWare's Damion Schubert takes a wrecking ball to the casual vs. hardcore model

MassivelyGDC Online 2011: BioWare's Damion Schubert takes a wrecking ball to the casual vs. hardcore model originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>benchmarksbiowareblizzardcasualclassesconventiondamien-schubertdamion-schubertdesign-theoryeventfeaturedgame-design-theorygdcgdc-2011gdc-onlineGDC-Online-2011hardcoreinvestmentlifestylemetricspainrolesspectrumstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 13 Oct 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rage against the extreme: Introducing L.A.W -- Living After War]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/rage-against-the-extreme-introducing-l-a-w-living-after-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/rage-against-the-extreme-introducing-l-a-w-living-after-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/rage-against-the-extreme-introducing-l-a-w-living-after-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

L.A.W
Are you brave? A little nuts? A mutated cat-like thing with a giant sword and a healthy resistance to radiation? Then you, like most Massively readers, are set for the apocalypse and prime for the latest post-nuclear MMO, L.A.W -- Living After War.

Set a couple hundred years in the future, the title sees self-imposed exiled survivors of a nuclear holocaust return to Earth to start civilization and Walmart all over again. But it turns out Earth isn't empty, and the abominations unto nature itself aren't willing to give up their turf without a fight. It... plays better if you imagine thrash metal music in the background.

L.A.W's two factions boasts three classes apiece, and we're intrigued at the mention of a transformation ability that can turn us into "mighty creatures." Players will punctuate these PvP struggles with -- of course -- stock market trading and crafting.

Get a feel for L.A.W with our first look screenshots below and a trailer after the jump. On board? Then head on over to the site and sign up for the closed beta!

Gallery: L.A.W -- Living After War

Continue reading Rage against the extreme: Introducing L.A.W -- Living After War

MassivelyRage against the extreme: Introducing L.A.W -- Living After War originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alaplayaapocalypseextremegalleryhardcorehardcore-to-the-extremel.a.wlawliving-after-warmmofpspost-apocalypticpost-nuclearscreenshotsstock-market-tradingtrailervideowalmartWed, 05 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Salem livestream set for September 27th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/salem-livestream-set-for-september-27th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/salem-livestream-set-for-september-27th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/salem-livestream-set-for-september-27th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Salem - concept art
Paradox Interactive is highlighting a new opportunity for fans of the upcoming Salem MMORPG to get a first-hand look at how game development is progressing. A live demo will be streamed over Paradox's Twitch.tv channel on Tuesday, September 27th, offering curious onlookers the first real glimpse of the game that bills itself as "the crafting MMO" while also featuring PvP and permadeath.

Salem is a free-to-play browser-based MMORPG that takes place in a fantastical New England, and though the game has its share of "light-hearted gothic" elements and "a charming and cute art style," it also has quite a dark side in terms of hardcore mechanics and dangerous creatures based on colonial folklore.

MassivelySalem livestream set for September 27th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedcraftingdemof2pfantasyfree-to-playhardcorelive-demonew-englandparadoxParadox-InteractivepermadeathsalemsandboxtradeskillsThu, 22 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Aeria Games acquires Punch Entertainment, brags about growth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/aeria-games-acquires-punch-entertainment-brags-about-growth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/aeria-games-acquires-punch-entertainment-brags-about-growth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/aeria-games-acquires-punch-entertainment-brags-about-growth/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Aeria Games - logo
Even if you've never heard of Aeria Games, chances are you've heard of one of the company's free-to-play MMO titles. A new press release touts the California-based firm's recent growth and boasts of its desire to cater to "hardcore and medium-core players who play as much as four hours per day."

Aeria's latest acquisition includes the internal development team at Punch Entertainment as well as an unnamed iOS and Android game that will soon be added to a stable of titles that numbers over 30 strong, including Shaiya and Eden Eternal.

"As we move forward, we will continue to form strategic partnerships and grow our development teams while building and acquiring more engaging content to reward our dedicated power gamers," said Aeria CEO Lan Hoang.

[Source: Aeria press release]

MassivelyAeria Games acquires Punch Entertainment, brags about growth originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriaaeria-gamesbroswer-basedbrowserbrowser-gameeden-eternalf2pfantasyfree-to-playhardcorelan-hoangmedium-corepower-gamerpower-gamerspress-releasepunch-entertainmentshaiyayay-usTue, 20 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP reveals World of Darkness details to bloodthirsty fans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/ccp-reveals-world-of-darkness-details-to-bloodthirsty-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/ccp-reveals-world-of-darkness-details-to-bloodthirsty-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/ccp-reveals-world-of-darkness-details-to-bloodthirsty-fans/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Vampire the Masquerade
Details about CCP's World of Darkness are popping out of White Wolf's The Grand Masquerade in New Orleans this weekend, and they're definitely worth draining for every last sweet drop of... information. While the game is still in pre-production -- and as such, nothing is set in stone -- the devs weren't hesitant to dish out a lot of the ideas and features that they hope will make this the best vampire MMO to date.

It's CCP's desire to emulate LARPing (live-action roleplaying) as much as possible with World of Darkness, with plenty of metaplots running inside the game and without. Players will begin as a mortal human who can make the choice to become a kindred (vampire) or stay mortal for the duration of their characters' lives. There's a very real danger that characters might experience "final death" -- permadeath -- if they take too many risks. If you get in over your head, you can retreat to your character's Haven for safety.

The entire game will take place at night and on one server, and CCP is definitely aiming it toward the hardcore set. Nudity, gore, and insanity effects are all par for the course.

If players push outside of the acceptable boundaries too often, they'll lose "humanity" points and could become flagged for constant attack by other players and NPCs. Play your cards right and you may become the prince of the city. The game will change over time with dynamic events, and CCP promises that there will be real consequences for player decisions.

Look for our World of Darkness interview with CCP coming later this week.

[Thanks Pilgrim for the tip!]

MassivelyCCP reveals World of Darkness details to bloodthirsty fans originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesfinal-deathgorehardcorehaveninsanitykindredlarplarpingnew-orleansnuditypermadeathprincepvpthe-grand-masqueradevampirevampire-the-masqueradevampireswhite-wolfworld-of-darknessSun, 18 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate expanding to Tokyo on September 22nd]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/hellgate-expanding-to-tokyo-on-september-22nd/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/hellgate-expanding-to-tokyo-on-september-22nd/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/hellgate-expanding-to-tokyo-on-september-22nd/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Hellgate Global - Tokyo concept art
If you were wondering why HanbitSoft and T3Fun rechristened Hellgate: London as Hellgate: Global prior to resurrecting it as a free-to-play title earlier this summer, now you know.

The action-horror MMO is expanding to a new burned-out husk of a metropolis, and on September 22nd, you're invited to partake in more grisly demon-slaying action in what remains of post-apocalyptic Tokyo. The city features 24 new levels as well as new monsters and boss mobs. There are also a couple of new game modes on tap, including Cow Room (which pits players against hordes of zombies) and Base Defense (which is exactly what it sounds like).

Finally, Hell Mode gets an encore, and hardcore types who want better loot, more XP, and more it'll-put-hair-on-your-virtual-chest challenge are welcome to queue up and prove their e-manliness.

[Source: T3Fun/HanbitSoft press release]

MassivelyHellgate expanding to Tokyo on September 22nd originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>base-defensecow-roomexpansionf2pfree-to-playgame-mechanicshanbitsofthardcorehell-modehellgatehellgate-globalhellgate-londonhellgate-tokyommofpspatchespress-releaseshootert3funThu, 15 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively Extra: An interview with Dungeon Overlord's Chris Mayer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/not-so-massively-extra-an-interview-with-dungeon-overlords-chr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/not-so-massively-extra-an-interview-with-dungeon-overlords-chr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/not-so-massively-extra-an-interview-with-dungeon-overlords-chr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

For the past two weeks, I've found myself inexplicably addicted to online Facebook game Dungeon Overlord. Players in Dungeon Overlord design and build their own dungeons and then lead raids against other players' dungeons to steal resources, kill defending creatures or just generally smash stuff up. It's a competitive twist that developer Night Owl Games hopes will attract the more hardcore gamer. We interviewed Night Owl Games CEO Chris Mayer to find out more about the game, which is currently in a playable open beta stage and is still under development.

Massively: Several game mechanics take a long period of time to complete, from minutes to hours, or even days. Why was this slow pace selected for the game?

Chris Mayer: This game was designed to be a browser game that hardcore gamers could play when they aren't able to sit down for a "traditional" gaming session. We wanted people to be able to play for a few minutes before work, during their lunch, on a study break, or for a few minutes before logging on to their favorite PC game. So we designed the game around the player planning actions and then coming back later to check on them. Also, since this is a massively multiplayer strategy game you need time for other players to react to what one player does.

Read on to find out how you can raid other players' dungeons, build up your defenses, and even revolt against the self-appointed king player in charge of your mountain.

Continue reading Not So Massively Extra: An interview with Dungeon Overlord's Chris Mayer

MassivelyNot So Massively Extra: An interview with Dungeon Overlord's Chris Mayer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-mayerconqueringdungeondungeon-overlordfacebookfacebook-gamesfeaturedhardcoreinterviewnight-owl-gamespillagingpvpraidingMon, 01 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Blood, glory, and some Deathwish impressions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/10/the-anvil-of-crom-blood-glory-and-some-deathwish-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/10/the-anvil-of-crom-blood-glory-and-some-deathwish-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/10/the-anvil-of-crom-blood-glory-and-some-deathwish-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Oy, Funcom, you're absolutely killing me here. Last week I had a column written prior to a guess-what-we're-launching-Unchained-today announcement. This week I was typing away on a review of some of the new instance content that showed up alongside the F2P update when the hey-Blood-and-Glory-launches-tomorrow bomb dropped.

A veritable mad scramble ensued here at The Anvil of Crom offices, and as the piles of wadded up loose-leaf and discarded notes fluttered about, I was left wondering when my previous two pieces were going to see the light of day.

If I sound somewhat perturbed, I'm not really, as this is a fantastic spot for any game columnist -- or Age of Conan fan -- to occupy. There's a lot of new content and not enough time to write about it; really we should all be so lucky. Sooo, that's my lengthy way of saying won't you join me after the cut for some initial impressions of hardcore PvP, AoC-style.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Blood, glory, and some Deathwish impressions

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Blood, glory, and some Deathwish impressions originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4chanage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedblood-and-glorycommunitycorpse-lootingdeathwisedeathwishegadsf2pfantasyfeaturedffaffa-pvpfree-to-playhardcorehardcore-pvpopinionpvppvp-servertrollingtrollsSun, 10 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan's hardcore PvP ruleset releasing tomorrow]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/age-of-conans-hardcore-pvp-ruleset-releasing-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/age-of-conans-hardcore-pvp-ruleset-releasing-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/age-of-conans-hardcore-pvp-ruleset-releasing-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

What's a good encore for the week following a huge, game-altering freemium revamp? How about a new and much-anticipated server ruleset. Yep, Funcom is gearing up to release Age of Conan's hardcore Blood and Glory PvP shards tomorrow according to an update on the official boards.

The American and European servers are scheduled to receive four hours of maintenance, after which time two new shards, Deathwish (US) and Rage (EU), will be brought online. These aren't just any servers, either. The Blood and Glory ruleset features free-for-all PvP throughout the game world, corpse-looting, and one character per account.

Age of Conan's PvP community has been very vocal in its disdain for the game's turn towards the PvE side of the MMO street in recent years, and the new ruleset will finally give the die-hards an opportunity to put their money where their mouth is. For more on the ruleset, check out our exclusive interview with Funcom's Craig Morrison as well as our Blood & Glory opinion piece.

[Thanks to Blasius for the tip!]

MassivelyAge of Conan's hardcore PvP ruleset releasing tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedblood-and-glorybreakingcorpse-lootingcraig-morrisondeathwisef2pfantasyffa-pvpfree-to-playfuncomhardcorehardcore-pvppvp-serverspvp-shardsrageunchainedWed, 06 Jul 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan game director talks Blood and Glory server rules]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/age-of-conan-game-director-talks-blood-and-glory-server-rules/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/age-of-conan-game-director-talks-blood-and-glory-server-rules/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/age-of-conan-game-director-talks-blood-and-glory-server-rules/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Age of Conan's game director has penned a new developer diary at MMORPG.com. The subject is the new Blood and Glory server ruleset, and if you haven't been keeping up with Hyboria lately, suffice it to say that the initial announcement made a lot of waves last February due to its player looting and free-for-all components.

Craig Morrison's new post talks about how the desires of MMO veterans are often mutually exclusive with the industry-wide accessible design trend, and he goes on to outline Funcom's desire to give its displaced PvP fans something to sink their teeth into.

In terms of ruleset specifics, they include no transfers, no offline levels, no guards, no Shrines of Bori, limited player looting, and open PvP restored to White Sands and the Underhalls. PvP kills will also grant additional XP in comparison with the game's normal servers. Finally, Morrison says that Battlekeep rewards will be adjusted, though he gives no specifics as of yet. For additional coverage, check out our March 2011 Blood and Glory interview with Morrison as well as our server ruleset and sharding discussion.

MassivelyAge of Conan game director talks Blood and Glory server rules originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessiblityage-of-conanage-of-conan-unratedaocaoc-unratedblood-and-glorycasualcorpse-lootingcraig-morrisonf2pfantasyffa-pvpfree-to-playhardcorepvppvp-serverserver-rulesetssilirrionFri, 10 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How should MMOs appeal to both hardcore and casual players?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-should-mmos-appeal-to-both-hardcore-and-cas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-should-mmos-appeal-to-both-hardcore-and-cas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-should-mmos-appeal-to-both-hardcore-and-cas/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's the eternal struggle between players and the eternal headache of developers: the hardcores vs. the casuals. On one hand, you have a group of gamers who devour content like locusts, min/max in ways that make college professors weep in envy, and spend oodles of time in MMOs as a matter of fact. On the other hand, there are those who lack the drive, the time, or the intense competitiveness, preferring instead to enjoy content at their own leisure, staying within a comfortable zone, and working on large goals in small bits at a go.

With such a diverse range of players, making MMOs appeal to both crowds (and everyone in between) is enough to make one cross-eyed. Recently at WonderCon, several MMO developers were asked about this very topic, but today we'd like to get your opinion.

How should MMOs be designed to best appeal to both hardcore and casual players? Is it a futile task -- should studios simply pick one or the other to go after? Is there a magic formula that games haven't tried yet, one you've figured out? Let us know!

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: How should MMOs appeal to both hardcore and casual players? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcasualsgrindhardcorehardcore-vs-casualhardcoreslocustsmin-maxtdgthe-daily-grindwonderconSat, 07 May 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WonderCon MMORPG industry panel explores key topics of the day]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/wondercon-mmorpg-industry-panel-explores-key-topics-of-the-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/wondercon-mmorpg-industry-panel-explores-key-topics-of-the-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/wondercon-mmorpg-industry-panel-explores-key-topics-of-the-day/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

At last month's WonderCon in San Francisco, three MMO industry experts sat down to do a panel on many of the pressing questions and issues that players have these days. The lively panel, moderated by PC Gamer's Josh Augustine, consisted of Dirk Metzger (Zentia), Scott Hartsman (RIFT) and Nick Huggett (Runes of Magic), each taking turns to address some of the questions that are commonly asked about these games and the industry at large.

These topics included player retention, free-to-play vs. subscription business models, the endless comparisons to World of Warcraft, why MMOs tend to be fantasy-based, some of the biggest mistakes in the genre, how to appeal to both hardcore and casual players, the differences between the Asian and North American market, and the struggle to provide player-created content.

The rise of social media also has a significant effect on MMO development, according to Hartsman. "What that kind of forces us to do, bluntly, is make better games right off the bat, because people will tell you if your game sucks."

You can watch the video highlights of the panel after the jump.

Continue reading WonderCon MMORPG industry panel explores key topics of the day

MassivelyWonderCon MMORPG industry panel explores key topics of the day originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asianbusiness-modelcasualDirk-Metzgerf2pfree-to-playhardcoreindustry-panelNick-Huggettnorth-americanpanelplayer-retentionriftromrunes-of-magicscott-hartsmansocial-mediasubscriptionvideowonderconworld-of-warcraftzentiaMon, 02 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Generosity scandal rocks sci-fi sandbox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/generosity-scandal-rocks-sci-fi-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/generosity-scandal-rocks-sci-fi-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/generosity-scandal-rocks-sci-fi-sandbox/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Players of [hardcore MMO] reeled today over the the latest scandal to hit the game. According to our sources, a character by the name of [player #1] of [guild name] flew his [spaceship name] above a neglected outpost on [game location], dumping over [huge number] [game currency] on the players below. The money has an approximate value of [huge number] USD.

"[Player #1] is a travesty," one angry citizen declared. "This game is about scamming and swindling idiots out of their money, not giving it away like some namby-pamby carebear in [themepark MMO]."

"I could have been killed!" insisted [player #2], who spends his game time [tradeskill ending in -ing] in the town. "All that [game currency] was really heavy. What if it had landed on my [body part]?"

[Player #3], who is not an economist, suggested that donations of this magnitude ruin the economy. "We can't just go around throwing free [game currency] out of spaceships. It causes inflation and hurts [insulting term for newbie players]."

[Game company] could not be reached for comment.

Games Journalism sure is hard work, so we've decided to take a break today and let you write your own news! Too many stories about RIFT on Massively lately? Not enough about the game of your choice? No problem! Much in the style of Mad Libs, today is your day to create the news you want to read, all day on the :30s. Simply fill in the blanks and it's yours. Have fun!

MassivelyGenerosity scandal rocks sci-fi sandbox originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carebeargenerosityhardcoreingratitudeinternet-spaceshipsmad-libs-april-fools-day-2011sandboxscandalsci-fithe-hero-of-cantonFri, 01 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Combat, casuals, and birthday cake]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/27/the-anvil-of-crom-combat-casuals-and-birthday-cake/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/27/the-anvil-of-crom-combat-casuals-and-birthday-cake/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/27/the-anvil-of-crom-combat-casuals-and-birthday-cake/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

So I've got a week's worth of healing under my belt, or more accurately, a week's worth of playing a healer class. Suffice it to say that I'm in uncharted territory here, despite the fact that I rolled through the familiar environs of Tortage and the semi-familiar environs of the Wild Lands this past week.

Along the way, I met with a handful of friendly Massively readers, took a bunch of purty screenshots, and generally had a swell time. In a little over 15 hours of play, I managed to get my Bear Shaman to 30 and came away with a fairly solid understanding of the class's utility in low-level PvE. I also got reacquainted with Age of Conan's melee combat system, which, depending on your perspective, either makes Funcom's MMO the best thing on the market or one to avoid at all costs.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Combat, casuals, and birthday cake

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Combat, casuals, and birthday cake originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conan-choose-my-adventureanvil-of-cromaocaoc-choose-my-adventureaoc-cmabear-shamanbscasualchoose-my-adventureclassesdemonologistfantasyfeaturedfuncomhardcoreoakarmopinionshamanshammythe-anvil-of-cromSun, 27 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrate EQ's 12 years with a look back and an interview with John Smedley]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/celebrate-eqs-12-years-with-a-look-back-and-an-interview-with-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/celebrate-eqs-12-years-with-a-look-back-and-an-interview-with-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/celebrate-eqs-12-years-with-a-look-back-and-an-interview-with-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Time grows many layers, and this is especially true in MMORPGs. After all, not only are new quests, stories and chunks of content added to a game as it goes along, but the players themselves add their own memories and experiences to the mix. MMOs truly are virtual worlds, and they change over time and become richer. EverQuest is no exception. After 12 years of adventure, danger, and story-telling, the game shows no signs of stopping.

What is planned for the game? How will the last 12 years affect the decisions for the next 12 years? EverQuest has been one of the flagships of the genre, but how does a game of its age maintain any type of market visibility? Massively sat down with SOE President John Smedley, EQ Assistant Lead Designer Alan VanCouvering, and Associate Producer Harvey Burgess to find out. We'll also be taking a look back at the long history of Norrath and will even throw in some nuggets about EverQuest Next.

Click past the cut and let's take a look!

Continue reading Celebrate EQ's 12 years with a look back and an interview with John Smedley

MassivelyCelebrate EQ's 12 years with a look back and an interview with John Smedley originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12th-anniversaryAlan-VanCouveringanniversarybeau-hindmanbirthdaychampions-of-norratheqEQ2EQIIeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iieverquest-nexteverquest-online-adventuresfeaturedfippy-darkpawhappy-birthdayhardcoreharvey-burgessinterviewjohn-smedleyNorrathshadows-of-luclinSOESony-Online-EntertainmentWorld-of-Warcraftwowwow-cloneWed, 16 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2011: BioWare's Damion Schubert on designing for loners]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/gdc-2011-biowares-damion-schubert-on-designing-for-loners/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/gdc-2011-biowares-damion-schubert-on-designing-for-loners/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/gdc-2011-biowares-damion-schubert-on-designing-for-loners/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Nothing stirs up a good MMO debate like the age-old question of whether or not the genre should cater to solo players. BioWare's Damion Schubert, lead systems designer on the upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic, recently added a bit of fuel to that particular fire during a presentation at last week's GDC in San Francisco.

Schubert's talk focused on loners in the massively multiplayer space, and while it's no surprise to anyone that TOR is being built with the solo player in mind, it may come as a bit of a revelation that BioWare isn't aiming to "dumb down" the MMORPG as some fans have suggested.

On the contrary, Schubert states that MMOs feature "hardcore stuff. This is hardcore gameplay, and we have to figure out how to get the solo player in a position where they want to take part in this, where they feel comfortable with the social circles, where they feel like they can be contributors."

Continue reading GDC 2011: BioWare's Damion Schubert on designing for loners

MassivelyGDC 2011: BioWare's Damion Schubert on designing for loners originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredamion-schubertdesignea-biowareexclusivefeaturedgame-developers-conferencegdcgdc-2011han-solohardcorelonerlonerspanelsci-fisocialsocial-designsolostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicyoure-doing-it-wrongMon, 07 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Classism and the oxymoron of the casual MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/the-soapbox-classism-and-the-oxymoron-of-the-casual-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/the-soapbox-classism-and-the-oxymoron-of-the-casual-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/the-soapbox-classism-and-the-oxymoron-of-the-casual-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Seeing as how it's becoming something of a Massively tradition to offer rebuttals to my Soapbox articles, I figured it was time to turn the tables. A few weeks ago, our own Bree Royce penned a piece about class warfare in MMORPGs. Though it contained a number of valuable insights, I feel it struck the wrong chord when it comes to discussing the reasons "hardcore" MMO players dislike the pervasive trend towards accessibility.

While the thrust of Bree's article dealt with classism and my response started out with a similar focus, this week's column has since morphed into more of a pseudo-rant on the casual vs. hardcore debate. Yes, the terms are malleable, and yes, this debate is eternal, but it's eternal because it matters (inasmuch as anything related to entertainment can matter).

Join me after the cut for a traditionalist's take on MMOs and discover why they aren't "casual" games -- and why this has very little to do with social class.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Classism and the oxymoron of the casual MMO

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Classism and the oxymoron of the casual MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilityaccessibleaccessible-mmoscasualcasually-hardcoreculturedc-universe-onlinefeaturedglobal-agendahardcoremass-marketmmo-industryopinionsandboxsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardthe-soapboxthemeparkvindictusWorld-of-WarcraftTue, 01 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Age of Conan's Craig Morrison on Blood and Glory, grind, and the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/massively-exclusive-age-of-conans-craig-morrison-on-blood-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/massively-exclusive-age-of-conans-craig-morrison-on-blood-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/massively-exclusive-age-of-conans-craig-morrison-on-blood-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Interesting times are just over the horizon for Age of Conan, and whether it's due to the Dreamworld game engine upgrade or the recently announced Blood and Glory PvP servers, Funcom's sword and sorcery epic isn't standing still as it moves toward its third anniversary in May of 2011.

On the heels of the PvP ruleset announcement, we sat down with Funcom executive producer and AoC game director Craig "Silirrion" Morrison for a chat about ruleset specifics, PvP balance, grind, and what we're likely to see once Dreamworld hits the live servers. Join us after the cut for all that and more.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Age of Conan's Craig Morrison on Blood and Glory, grind, and the future

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Age of Conan's Craig Morrison on Blood and Glory, grind, and the future originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoaocbalanceblood-and-glorycorpse-lootingcraig-morrisondreamworlddreamworld-enginedreamworld-upgradeendgamefantasyfeaturedfuncomgrindhardcorehardcore-pvphyboriainterviewplayer-lootingpvp-balancepvp-serversserver-rulesetssilirrionTue, 01 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan readying new hardcore PvP servers with corpse looting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/age-of-conan-readying-new-hardcore-pvp-servers-with-corpse-looti/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/age-of-conan-readying-new-hardcore-pvp-servers-with-corpse-looti/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/age-of-conan-readying-new-hardcore-pvp-servers-with-corpse-looti/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Hardcore killas rejoice! Funcom has heard your cries of injustice and is in the process of putting together a new server ruleset for the old-school PKers in the audience. Age of Conan game director Craig "Silirrion" Morrison unveiled the news in his most recent monthly dev update, and while a few things remain up in the air (chiefly a release date and official server names), it looks like most everything else has been hammered out.

In a nutshell, Funcom will be adding one new server to both the US and EU versions of AoC, each featuring the new PvP ruleset (tentatively titled Blood and Glory). The new realms will require players to start fresh -- i.e., there are no character transfers. The hardcore shards will also restrict players to one character and will lack NPC guards. PvP will be re-enabled in the Underhalls and White Sands portions of Tortage, and a player looting system will take effect (though details on this are scarce at the moment).

Funcom hopes to have the new shards deployed in early May, with some version of the ruleset making an appearance on the test servers prior to that date.

MassivelyAge of Conan readying new hardcore PvP servers with corpse looting originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocblood-and-glorycorpse-lootingcraig-morrisonfantasyfuncomhardcorenew-rulesetsnew-serverspvpsilirriontortageunderhallswhite-sandsThu, 24 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: A hardcore raider shines light on F2P issues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/free-for-all-a-hardcore-raider-shines-light-on-f2p-issues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/free-for-all-a-hardcore-raider-shines-light-on-f2p-issues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/09/free-for-all-a-hardcore-raider-shines-light-on-f2p-issues/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

My gaming moods come and go, but generally I always avoid heavy grinding. I am 36 -- all grown up -- and the last thing I want to do is put myself into a position in a game that makes me feel like I am working instead of playing. In fact, I think participating in a heavy grind will only encourage developers to make more of the same, so I try to do my part by avoiding it. I hope this doesn't sound harsh, but I believe that heavy grinding is ruining gaming. Allow me to explain.

We humans love to establish rules and boundaries. Many of us need rules and boundaries or we don't know what to do with ourselves. We like to achieve goals, and some of us are obsessed with surpassing those goals. Have you ever stopped to wonder how we got to the point that a standard work day is eight hours and how the weekend is set on the days it is? This is all due to our ability to fall in line, to give into the demands that we place on ourselves, to give into a set of rules and guidelines. One only need attend an average wedding to see how ridiculously far we accept certain guidelines in the name of tradition. Funerals can be equally silly.

What does this have to do with free-to-play gaming? Well, click past the cut and we'll chat about it.

Continue reading Free for All: A hardcore raider shines light on F2P issues

MassivelyFree for All: A hardcore raider shines light on F2P issues originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancash-shopcultf2pfeaturedfree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumftphardcorehardcore-raiderhardcore-raidingopinionraidingreligionWorld-of-WarcraftWed, 09 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Time is money, friend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/the-soapbox-time-is-money-friend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/the-soapbox-time-is-money-friend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/the-soapbox-time-is-money-friend/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

MMOs are plagued by nasty -isms. Racism. Sexism. Nationalism. Ageism. Orientalism. Homophobia. Misogyny. OK, so those last two aren't really -isms, but you get my point. No matter how much we want our fantasy games to be zones of escapism, these prejudices chase us there. Sometimes we bring them with us as unwanted baggage that spills out in chat channels and character choices. And sometimes they're inherent in the game design itself.

Classism is one such problem you'd think the internet would reduce or conceal, but the divide between the haves and have-nots is stronger in MMOs than ever. To illustrate that point and how it affects us as gamers, I'd like to talk about another set of games ruled not by skill or talent but by money.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Time is money, friend

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Time is money, friend originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilityaristocracybarrier-to-entrycasual-gamercasualsclassclassismelitismf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumhardcoreismsluxuriesmoneyolympicsopinionpoorbiesrabblesnobberysnobssoapboxsubscriptionsubscriptionsthe-soapboxTue, 08 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: Hardcore mode]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/wasteland-diaries-hardcore-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/wasteland-diaries-hardcore-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/wasteland-diaries-hardcore-mode/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So during your wait for Sector 4, have you conquered it all in Fallen Earth? You've overcome every obstacle and achieved every achievement? You've amassed wealth beyond dreams and have become a king among men in the wastes? Maybe not, but let's assume you have. What do you do now? Well, I've got some terrific news for you. Fallen Earth has a hardcore mode. It's a realism mod of sorts. But the catch is: Nothing is changed on the server side. All modifications will be made client-side (and they will be made legally).

This mode will take a large amount of self-discipline. It will be very easy to cheat. Many of the rules that will be imposed on you will also be enforced by you. In order for it to be considered truly hardcore, apocalyptic-realism, you can't cheat. Even Fallout: New Vegas has a hardcore mode. Of course, I played it in hardcore mode and still found it too easy. I had to impose rules on myself to keep it challenging (like no V.A.T.S. allowed). I also found that the ability to save right before a big decision or fight also alleviates some of the difficulty. Of course, I could impose further restrictions on myself to make the game more difficult. With that in mind, after the cut, I'll show you how to do just that with Fallen Earth.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Hardcore mode

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Hardcore mode originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>difficultydifficulty-levelfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfefeaturedhardcorehardcore-modeicarusicarus-studiosrealismsatirewastelandwasteland-diarieswastelandsFri, 14 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Why do you PvP in an MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/14/the-daily-grind-why-do-you-pvp-in-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/14/the-daily-grind-why-do-you-pvp-in-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/14/the-daily-grind-why-do-you-pvp-in-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ah, PvP. It's right up there with politics and religion when it comes to divisive topics. A recent interview with Earthrise's Atanas Atanasov got us to thinking about PvP, and more specifically about why people choose to do it in MMORPGs.

Even the most hardcore PvP fans would be hard-pressed to argue with the fact that the vast majority of MMOs are designed with PvE in mind, and those that feature PvP usually do so as an afterthought. There are exceptions of course, but only a few of these are still among the living. Even Darkfall, supposedly the hardest of the hardcore, just released a PvE-focused expansion.

In general, MMOs are about character progression and gear/item accumulation, whereas PvP is theoretically about player skill and tactics. Why then do people try to force the square peg that is PvP into the round hole that is an MMORPG? It's not like there's a shortage of competitive online multiplayer games, designed expressly to showcase player skill and cater to the killer in all of us. In a nutshell: Why do you PvP in an MMO?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our 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 The Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Why do you PvP in an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Atanas-Atanasovgame-discussiongamer-discussionhardcoremmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicspvepvptdgthe-daily-grindwhy-do-you-pvp-in-an-mmoThu, 14 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Burnout: Report says Chinese gamers losing interest in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/burnout-report-says-chinese-gamers-losing-interest-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/burnout-report-says-chinese-gamers-losing-interest-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/burnout-report-says-chinese-gamers-losing-interest-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Is there a point at which oversaturation, cultural prominence and old habits collapse under their own weight? According to a recent survey by Chinese market analyst Niko Partners, trends are shifting away in China from hardcore MMO gaming to more casual fare like social networking games.

GamesIndustry.biz reports that self-defined "hardcore" gamers in one of the largest MMORPG markets in the world have grown tired of the thousands of carbon-copy MMOs out there and have rebelled against the monotony by taking their business elsewhere.

Niko Partners' Lisa Cosmas Hanson sees a pattern to this trend: "We believe that the Chinese market has taken up SNS (social networking site) gaming in earnest, and that the hardcore gamers have shifted their preferences to include these games alongside the casual gamers who naturally appreciate them. The hardcore gamers are growing weary of the monotony of themes in the Chinese MMORPGs, and they want to extend their social interactions to games that attract a more diverse user base."

By 2014, the analyst says that there will be 141 million online gamers in China, and the casual games market will grow from 23% to encompass 30% of all online revenues -- approximately $3 billion US.

MassivelyBurnout: Report says Chinese gamers losing interest in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burnoutcasualcasual-gameschinachinesechinese-marketfacebookGamesindustry.bizhardcoreniko-partnersover-saturationsnssocial-networkingwhat-me-worryWed, 06 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: Finding the sandbox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/waging-war-finding-the-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/waging-war-finding-the-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/04/waging-war-finding-the-sandbox/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In this installment of Waging WAR, Greg takes a look at Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning from a few different angles and goes in search of the proverbial "sandbox" in a game that contains neither sand nor boxes.

Somewhere along the line during my childhood, I developed a habit for playing games with nearly every game I've ever played. I can even remember a time in my early teens when I sat down with a few friends and collaborated on making our own version of battlechess. Pages of chicken-scratched rules and several dice results-tables later, and we were off and running for a solid week of the most entertaining chess matches I've ever played. Or there was that time with The Sims when I started creating experimental families and then leaving my computer on overnight and not interacting with them, just to see how successful they could be without my help. I could bore you for hours on end with examples of how I twisted the rules and made my own games from the games I've played.

I suppose I can blame my penchant for metagaming on my early introduction to pen-and-paper roleplaying (i.e., D&D 1st Ed., to be specific). All I had was a sheet of paper, a handful of dice, a description of the world around me, and my imagination. By its very nature, PnP gaming is sandbox gaming. The reason I'm bringing this up now is that, until WAR, I had pretty much been able to "find the sandbox" in any MMO I was able to get my hands on. Whether it was building hardcore Dungeons & Dragons Online characters, roleplaying in City of Heroes, or achievement-chasing in World of Warcraft, I've never really been troubled with finding something to do when the grind started to wear me down. But now, with WAR, I'm finding most of my old tricks for MMO metagaming just aren't working.

To read about what I've tried, and why it didn't work in WAR, follow along after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: Finding the sandbox

MassivelyWaging WAR: Finding the sandbox originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mythicchampions-onlinecity-of-heroesCity-of-Villainsddoddo-unlimitedDiabloDungeons-and-Dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineEAea-mythicfeaturefeaturedfeaturesgunbadhardcorehunters-valekeepersmass-effect-2mass-effect-2-pcmass-effect-dlcmythicmythic-eaMythic-EntertainmentMythicEntertainmentpermadeathPNPpvpRedEyerole-playrole-playingroleplayRolePlayingrvrSandboxThe-Simstometome-of-knowledgetome-unlockswaging-warwarWarhammer-OnlineWorld-of-WarcraftWorldOfWarcraftwowSat, 04 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: I can finally stop playing Mortal Online now]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/anti-aliased-i-can-finally-stop-playing-mortal-online-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/anti-aliased-i-can-finally-stop-playing-mortal-online-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/anti-aliased-i-can-finally-stop-playing-mortal-online-now/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A long time ago, well before Mortal Online launched, I was really looking forward to playing the game. The first-person only perspective made me drool, the Unreal Engine 3 powered graphics engine looked top-notch, the endless amount of customization of weaponry made me giddy, and the sprawling open world made me bow in awe. This was a game that sat at the top of my "WANT NAO" list, and I'm not even a person who's really huge into PvP. I just wanted an Elder Scrolls/Ultima Online inspired sandbox.

Upon finally playing the game, however, all I found was a nightmare of errors, glitches, and missing systems. Mats Persson, one of the developers of Star Vault, was right: this game does lack polish, user friendliness, and many systems that could turn this sandbox into a true sandbox. Instead, all I found was a buggy, glitchy, never-ending, pointless deathmatch in an MMO world. Keep reading, and I'll be more than happy to explain every aspect of my time with Mortal Online.

If you're interested in commenting on this article, then you have to trek all the way to page 3 this week. Just a heads up!

Gallery: Mortal Online Screenshots

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: I can finally stop playing Mortal Online now

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: I can finally stop playing Mortal Online now originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaanti-aliasedbetabugsdelayed-launchglitcheshardcorelow-concurrencymortal-onlineold-school-designopinionpvprecommendationsandboxsera-really-isnt-a-carebear-but-you-wont-listen-to-her-about-thastar-vaultultima-onlineunfinishedunfinished-gameThu, 02 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: The collective jealous community glance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/24/the-mog-log-the-collective-jealous-community-glance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/24/the-mog-log-the-collective-jealous-community-glance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/24/the-mog-log-the-collective-jealous-community-glance/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

It's a hard time to be playing Final Fantasy XI. On the one hand, it ought to be a great time -- a lot of neat features were included with the June version update (several of which I waxed poetic about in the recent developer tour), and there's quite a roadmap for the months ahead. But that roadmap also has an enormous bump that's shaped like a 14... specifically, Final Fantasy XIV. Or maybe it's just me. All I know is that the next thousand-plus hours can't pass quickly enough. (Although Going Rogue should really take the edge off.)

But this column isn't just about me and my hangups -- it's about the community. It's especially about community this week, as we're taking a look at all of the insanity running through various discussions far and wide. Square certainly has given us plenty to talk about over the past month, whether you're avidly playing Final Fantasy XI or just looking forward to Final Fantasy XIV. So let's look at some noteworthy threads while I stare longingly at the promised game.

Continue reading The Mog Log: The collective jealous community glance

MassivelyThe Mog Log: The collective jealous community glance originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abysseacasualcommunitydead-horsesdiscussionsfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgeorge-carlinhardcorejune-version-updatelevel-caplevel-speedlevelsquest-auto-complete-9000releaserelease-datesquaresquare-enixstrawmanvisions-of-abysseaSat, 24 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aventurine: MMORPGs are not casual games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/aventurine-mmorpgs-are-not-casual-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/aventurine-mmorpgs-are-not-casual-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/aventurine-mmorpgs-are-not-casual-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Aventurine, the indie developers behind the free-for-all PvP sandbox known as Darkfall, recently sat down with Rock, Paper Shotgun for a revealing question and answer session. Lending their voices to the discussion were lead developer Tasos Flambouras and RPS' Kieron Gillen. The interview touches on everything from the game's new 14-day trial, to the extensive changes since launch, to changes in the MMORPG genre.

"It's pretty amazing to us how little the MMO genre has changed over time. It seems to be the same successful basic recipe with little variation. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of good games, but they don't really bring many new things to the table. Everyone wanted to make the Everquest killer and now they want to make the World of Warcraft killer. To do that they probably have to make a variation on the theme rather than innovate and dare to be different," Flambouras says.

He also comments on the unique nature of MMORPGs as well as the ideal Darkfall player. "When you play any MMOG, you're making an investment, these are not casual games and they continuously evolve," he says.

Check out the full interview at Rock, Paper Shotgun.

MassivelyAventurine: MMORPGs are not casual games originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aventurinecasualdarkfallhardcoreinterviewkieron-gillenpvptasostasos-flambourasTue, 29 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ZAM interviews TERA's Brian Knox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/zam-interviews-teras-brian-knox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/zam-interviews-teras-brian-knox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/zam-interviews-teras-brian-knox/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


En Masse Entertainment's Brian Knox answers some moderately tough questions about the studio's upcoming TERA action MMORPG. The interview, courtesy of ZAM.com, touches on a little bit of everything including what makes TERA a next-generation title, enemy challenge levels, and the difficulties in appealing to both hardcore and casual gamers.

"The good thing about action combat is that it lets the player's skill determine the complexity. We worked very hard to make the game intuitive for any gamer, and we believe players will really be able to stretch the system. For example, one person playing as a sorcerer might be more inclined to use area-of-effect skills and dodging, whereas another may choose to use direct damage skills and focus on healing. Each class has a lot of variables, and gamers are going to be able to play the game the way they want," Knox says.

You can check out the full interview at ZAM.com.

MassivelyZAM interviews TERA's Brian Knox originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combatbrian-knoxcasualcombaten-masseen-masse-entertainmenthardcoreteratera-onlinezamWed, 02 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Interview: the 'necessary evil' of a steep learning curve]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/eve-interview-the-necessary-evil-of-a-steep-learning-curve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/eve-interview-the-necessary-evil-of-a-steep-learning-curve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/eve-interview-the-necessary-evil-of-a-steep-learning-curve/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Worlds in Motion has published an interesting interview with CCP Games' senior producer Torfi Olafsson. The piece focuses on the deliberate decision by the Icelandic development studio to produce EVE Online exclusively for a hardcore audience, as well as a few brief comments about the ongoing fight against RMT.

"Well, we always knew that the game would be hardcore. The majority of the players are players that immigrate from other MMOs then say, "Okay. I've reached the level cap. That was great. Now, I want something that's really challenging," Olafsson says. "We took strides in trying to improve it [the learning curve], but I think that as well is a necessary evil. The challenge and learning curve is a necessary evil if you want to provide the game that delivers such a broad range of experience."

The article paints a portrait of a stubborn studio that refuses to bow to industry pressures of increasing accessibility. "There are a lot of gamers out there that are hardcore players but just don't know it yet. So, we're trying to attract those," Olafsson comments. Check out the full piece over at Worlds in Motion.

MassivelyEVE Interview: the 'necessary evil' of a steep learning curve originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpCCP-Gameseveeve-onlinehardcorehardcore-gamerinterviewsandboxworlds-in-motionTue, 01 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Playing casually or just killing time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/14/eve-evolved-playing-casually-or-just-killing-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/14/eve-evolved-playing-casually-or-just-killing-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/14/eve-evolved-playing-casually-or-just-killing-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

MMOs are a popular hobby for hardcore and casual players alike. While some people love getting firmly embedded in their favourite MMO every night, a growing number of players prefer to log in occasionally and just kill a few hours at a time. EVE Online is no exception, with a mix of both casual and hardcore players. Taking part in things like alliance warfare, starbase industry or corporate management may require that a player log in every night but most other avenues of gameplay don't. A lot of EVE's gameplay can be picked up for a few hours and set back down with no added responsibility. In fact, player demographic data shows that most players prefer to live in the more casual environment of high security space. So what kind of things can you do if you just fancy playing internet spaceships for a few hours?

In this opinion piece, I look at five of my favourite ways to kill a few hours in the name of EVE. What's your favourite way to spend a few hours?

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Playing casually or just killing time

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Playing casually or just killing time originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcasual-gamercasual-gamescasual-gamingccpccp-eveccp-gamesefteveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-fitting-tooleve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-radioexplorationfactional-warfarefeaturedgameplayhardcorehardcore-casualhardcore-gamerhardcore-vs-casuallevel-4-missionsmissionMissionsopinionpvpwormholesSun, 14 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST