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[Storyboard: Roleplaying hasn't gone anywhere]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/storyboard-roleplaying-hasnt-gone-anywhere/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/storyboard-roleplaying-hasnt-gone-anywhere/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/06/14/storyboard-roleplaying-hasnt-gone-anywhere/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I think I used one of these before? Not sure.
Certain phrases just tend to stick in my craw. For example, the idea that back in the day MMORPGs really supported roleplaying, but now they don't any more. You can't really lose yourself in modern games. You get the idea; I've talked about this before.

The calls that roleplaying is dead are quite convincing except for the fact that roleplaying continues and does not appear to be going anywhere. If anything, I'd argue (from anecdotes, so without much scientific merit) that roleplaying populations seem to be expanding, which makes sense, since with more and more people playing games online, more and more of them are going to be totally keen on pretending to be an elf.

But I can understand the sentiment because from another perspective it can seem totally on the mark. So I'm going to just go for the simple version and discuss the ways in which things haven't changed all that much after all.

Continue reading Storyboard: Roleplaying hasn't gone anywhere

MassivelyStoryboard: Roleplaying hasn't gone anywhere originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredhistoryopinionrantingrecollectionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 14 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrating Guild Wars' 8th anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/celebrating-guild-wars-8th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/celebrating-guild-wars-8th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/28/celebrating-guild-wars-8th-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Guild Wars
Today is Guild Wars' eighth anniversary. Depending on which tradition you follow, I should be getting the game either bronze, salt, linens, or lace as a gift. Since I don't happen to have any of those handy, I'd like to reflect upon the rich life that Guild Wars has led so far. The game didn't start out with all of the neato features that it has now, so I'd like to look a bit at its evolution over time. I can't hit every update ever, but I thought we'd take a stroll down memory lane and look at some of the key moments in the game's life.

Continue reading Celebrating Guild Wars' 8th anniversary

MassivelyCelebrating Guild Wars' 8th anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetanniversaryarenanetbuy-to-playembark-beacheye-of-the-northfactionsfantasyfeaturedgame-mechanicsguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-factionsguild-wars-nightfallguild-wars-propheciesgwgw1gw2hard-modehistoryncsoftnightfallopinionpatchpatchespropheciessorrows-furnaceupdateupdateszaishenzaishen-challengeSun, 28 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Five years of EVE Evolved]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/eve-evolved-five-years-of-eve-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/eve-evolved-five-years-of-eve-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/21/eve-evolved-five-years-of-eve-evolved/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
About five years ago, on April 27th, 2008, I joined the Massively team and wrote the very first issue of the EVE Evolved column. Five years later, the column is still going strong and delivering its weekly dose of EVE Online to thousands of readers. I used to worry about running out of ideas to write about, but regular game updates and hilarious player shenanigans mean there's always something interesting going on in New Eden. When EVE hits its 10th anniversary in May, this column will have been running for just over half of the game's lifetime. In that time, I've written over 250 in-depth articles, guides, in-game stories and opinion pieces on EVE Online and a few on DUST 514.

As usual, I'll be celebrating this anniversary by rounding up this year's column highlights and giving away two 30-day Pilot's License Extensions to two lucky readers. To enter the competition, write a comment explaining which EVE Evolved articles from this year you liked best and what topics you'd like to see covered in the coming year. You will need an active EVE account to claim the prize, so be sure to include your character name in your comment if you want to be in with a chance. If you'd rather not give out your character name or don't have an EVE account but would like to give the game a go, you can sign up a new trial account and use the name of your new character.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look back at the highlights from the column's fifth year!

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Five years of EVE Evolved

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Five years of EVE Evolved originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetanniversaryapocryphaasakaibaitingbounty-hunterbounty-huntingccpccp-gamesconsolecrimewatchcruisersdecadedustdust-514eoneveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexpansionexpansionsexplorationfeaturedfive-year-anniversaryfive-yearsfpsfrigatesgame-designguideguideshistoryhulkinfernolowsecmmofpsnyphurodysseyopinionopinion-piecepiracyplaystationplaystation-3ps3pvepvpretributionrisk-vs-rewardsandboxsci-fiship-fittingship-fittingsship-setupsshooterspeculationstoriesstorystorytellingthe-battle-for-caldari-primewormholewormholesSun, 21 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The Battle for Caldari Prime]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/eve-evolved-the-battle-for-caldari-prime/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/eve-evolved-the-battle-for-caldari-prime/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/eve-evolved-the-battle-for-caldari-prime/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved The Battle for Caldari Prime
The empires of EVE Online have long and bloody histories that, until now, have been played out largely through fictional chronicles and in-character news posts. This week saw conflict erupt in-game between two NPC empires in the Battle for Caldari Prime live event. The neutral CONCORD faction has managed to maintain order between the four main empires of New Eden for decades, but that doesn't stop the Gallente and Caldari factions occasionally violating the peace.

The Caldari were originally part of the Gallente Federation but gained independence in a war lasting almost a hundred years. Following an attack on a Gallente city, a right-wing faction in the Gallente government seized power and ordered the bombing of the Caldari homeworld. Millions of Caldari citizens were evacuated from the homeworld, a planet that has been under dispute ever since. Caldari Prime resides in the Luminaire system and is officially inside Gallente territory, but recent events have seen the tables turn.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the story behind the recent Battle for Caldari Prime, accusations that the event was staged and scripted, and what the future may hold for live events in EVE.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The Battle for Caldari Prime

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The Battle for Caldari Prime originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bottle-lightningcaldaricaldari-primeccpccp-gamesconsoledustdust-514eveeve-evolvedeve-onlineeventeventsevents-in-gamefakefakedfeaturedfpsgallenteground-combathistoryleviathanlive-eventlive-eventslivestreamloreluminaireMercenariesmmofpsnpcnuke-them-from-orbitopinionplaystationplaystation-3ps3pvpriggedrole-playrole-playingRolePlayingrpsandboxsci-fishiigerushooterstagedstorystorylinestreamtitanvideowarSun, 24 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Making EVE history]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/03/eve-evolved-making-eve-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/03/eve-evolved-making-eve-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/03/eve-evolved-making-eve-history/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
EVE Online has the odd distinction of being one of the only MMOs in which the developers have almost no control over the active storyline. There have been plenty of fiction articles written about the game's backstory, and the NPC factions occasionally butt heads in short news pieces, but none of it feels very real. It's only when these events actually occur inside the game world that they become real, and when that happens, the outcome is at the mercy of players.

2010's spectacular Sansha abduction live event was the perfect example of this, with thousands of players becoming immersed in a very real emerging storyline. The story was fluid and evolved based on what players did, and so it made the NPC factions come alive in a way that fiction never could. While the scripted NPC portions of these storylines certainly constitute part of EVE's history, the most interesting tales follow the unexpected actions of players and alliances.

The fascinating thing is that the audience for these stories extends far beyond the playerbase itself, with news of high-profile events occasionally taking the global gaming media by storm. But for every 3,000-man battle and 200 billion ISK scam that's reported, there are hundreds of smaller events that would be just as interesting to read about or watch a video on. Most of these events have been lost to the mists of time, kept secret or talked about only among those directly involved ... until now.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the types of NPC-based and player-run stories that happen regularly in EVE and speculate on CCP's upcoming plans to document and preserve that history.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Making EVE history

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Making EVE history originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asakaibattleccpccp-gamesconsoledustdust-514eveeve-evolvedeve-onlineeve-wikieventsfeaturedfictionfpsheisthistorylivestreamLiveStreamingmmofpsplaystationplaystation-3politicsps3roleplayingsandboxscamsci-fiscreenshotscreenshotsshooterstoriesstreamingvideovideoswikiSun, 03 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: History of the Interstellar Starbase Syndicate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/11/eve-evolved-history-of-the-interstellar-starbase-syndicate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/11/eve-evolved-history-of-the-interstellar-starbase-syndicate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/11/eve-evolved-history-of-the-interstellar-starbase-syndicate/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
Today's EVE Online is packed to the brim with warring alliances smashing each other's property to pieces, but it wasn't always like that. In EVE's early days, there were so few players that much of nullsec was wasteland and you could often go 40 jumps across the lawless regions without seeing a single soul. Conquerable stations were added for players to fight over in 2003's Castor expansion, but they were few and far between. It wasn't until player-owned structures were first introduced with Exodus that nullsec really started out on its path to full-scale colonisation and all-out war.

The first player-owned structures introduced were Starbases, which offered not only a place to stash your loot and ships but also a whole new industry based on reacting moon minerals together. Moon minerals have been a major point of contention in nullsec balance discussions over the years, but most alliances weren't all that interested in moons when the industry first appeared. Starbases took all day to set up, refueling and emptying them required constant hauling, and just scanning all the moons in a region for minerals was a massive undertaking. In the summer of 2005, player Count TaSessine saw this problem as an opportunity and grabbed it with both hands as he formed the Interstellar Starbase Syndicate.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look back at the history of one of EVE's early alliances, its creator's dream for a civilian nullsec, and the changes that eventually led to the alliance's destruction.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: History of the Interstellar Starbase Syndicate

MassivelyEVE Evolved: History of the Interstellar Starbase Syndicate originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaaalliancealliance-politicsalliance-warfarealliancesborealiscalicoccpccp-gamesconsidocount-tasessineeveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefabricafeaturedfleet-warfaregreat-southern-warhistoryiacinterstellarinterstellar-alcohol-conglomerateinterstellar-starbase-syndicateissloremarginismcmercenary-coalitionnullsecnyphurpoliticspvpsandboxsci-fiserenity-steelestinsterritorial-controlterritorial-warfarethe-great-southern-wartychowarwarfareSun, 11 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar rocks out with the Granok]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/wildstar-rocks-out-with-the-granok/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/wildstar-rocks-out-with-the-granok/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/wildstar-rocks-out-with-the-granok/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fought with a lot of people in the war.
Stone is patient, stone is durable, and stone hurts a whole lot when applied to someone else's forehead. WildStar's Granok follow a philosophy they call the Way of Stone, and all of those principles apply to the race as a whole. The latest installment of WildStar Wednesday takes a look at the slate-skinned giants, explaining the race's culture and how they went from their isolated and primitive existence on the planet Gnox to being starfaring mercenaries.

The Dominion originally approached the Granok hoping to use them as durable shock troops and laborers, but the Granok as a whole refused the offer, prompting a war with the superpower that the Granok quickly began losing. It was only when a leader emerged willing to fight dirty that the tide began to turn for the Granok, setting into motion their eventual exile from Gnox. Take a look at the full article for all the details on these stony soldiers of fortune and the war for their planet, one that ended with a victory almost as bad as defeat.

MassivelyWildStar rocks out with the Granok originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycarbinecarbine-studiosgranokhistorylorencsoftracessandparksci-fantasysci-fisettingwildstarwildstar-wednesdaywsWed, 24 Oct 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Remembering my time in City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-remembering-my-time-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-remembering-my-time-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-remembering-my-time-in-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It didn't allow me to connect with other people as a crippled youth, but that's due to my non-crippled-youth status.
Not long after my first column on the City of Heroes shutdown, I received an email that contained several of the testimonials from this full-to-bursting thread on the Save CoH boards. And they're not the only ones out there. There are countless stories about what the game means to people, ranging from the silly to the sublime, stories that can only really accumulate in a game that's run for eight solid years.

When it comes to recollections about the game, I'm not Mercedes Lackey or Scott Kurtz or even Eric Burns-White. I'm what the byline says: a mild-mannered reporter. But I'm also a guy with a lot of feelings about the game, one that I've been playing on and off for nearly all of its eight-year run. To be blunt, I've got the microphone and you don't. So I'm going to go ahead and throw my hat into the ring when it comes to remembering City of Heroes, starting with the game that I played at launch for less than two weeks.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Remembering my time in City of Heroes

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Remembering my time in City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomhistorymild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospersonal-historyrecollectionsave-cohsuperherosuperheroeswoolgatheringWed, 03 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO explains history of mounted combat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/lotro-explains-history-of-mounted-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/lotro-explains-history-of-mounted-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/lotro-explains-history-of-mounted-combat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LotRO explains history of mounted combat
As the core feature for Lord of the Rings Online's upcoming Riders of Rohan expansion, mounted combat is understandably the focus of many player concerns and questions. To hopefully answer a few, Turbine's unleashed a horse-sized developer diary about how mounted combat came to be and how it functions in the game right now.

The diary begins by recalling the history of mounts in the game, back to the very earliest days when they were barely implemented in time for launch. The notion of mounted combat went from insurmountable to a strict on-rails system to a much more free-form system. It also dropped several ideas along the way, such as momentum, horse attacks, and purely generic combat skills.

War-steeds will take some getting used to, according to the devs: "Probably the very first thing you notice when you ride your War-steed for the first time is that it moves completely differently than your standard horse or goat. The War-steed is a large creature and its part of a much larger system, one that requires some skill, time, and practice to master."

MassivelyLotRO explains history of mounted combat originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diarydeveloper-diaryexpansionf2pfantasyfree-to-playhistorylord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromounted-combatmountsriders-of-rohanrorturbineturbine-entertainmentwar-steedwar-steedsThu, 27 Sep 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles Extra: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria, part two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/09/flameseeker-chronicles-extra-a-brief-history-of-tyria-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/09/flameseeker-chronicles-extra-a-brief-history-of-tyria-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/09/flameseeker-chronicles-extra-a-brief-history-of-tyria-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

From Giganticus Lupicus to Guild Wars 2
Earlier this week we started looking at the history of everything leading up to Guild Wars 2 in what is probably a grave disservice to the lore writers at ArenaNet. When we left off, the Charr and humans were still bickering over Ascalon, players had just saved the world at the end of Prophecies, and there were still some 253 years left before the start of Guild Wars 2. Now it's time for the events from Eye of the North through Guild Wars Beyond and into the present day. This lore overview isn't even pretending to be all-encompassing, but it might help you understand what the dragon nonsense is about and what's going on with the world you're stepping into. Except where events had exceptional impact, we'll largely ignore what's going on in Cantha and Elona, or else we'd need two whole more posts.

I hope it goes without saying that there are lore spoilers ahead, as well as Eye of the North, Guild Wars Beyond, and companion novel (Ghosts of Ascalon and Edge of Destiny) spoilers. You have been warned.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles Extra: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria, part two

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles Extra: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria, part two originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-brief-history-of-tyriaanetarenanetcompanion-novelsedge-of-destinyeotneye-of-the-northfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesghosts-of-ascalonguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-beyondguild-wars-loregwgw-beyondgw-loregw1gw2historylorencsoftopinionspoilersThu, 09 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/flameseeker-chronicles-a-brief-history-of-tyria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/flameseeker-chronicles-a-brief-history-of-tyria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/07/flameseeker-chronicles-a-brief-history-of-tyria/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

From Giganticus Lupicus to Guild Wars 2
I see a lot of questions about whether or not people who want to play Guild Wars 2 should jump into the original in the (increasingly diminishing) time left before launch. I don't think there's really a one-size-fits-all answer to that question. For those of you who are worried about missing a bunch of lore and history, however, I can do a little to help with an introduction to Tyria, its history, and the events leading up to Guild Wars 2. This won't be exhaustive (see the word brief in the title?), but it might help you understand what the dragon nonsense is about and what's going on with the world you're stepping into. Except where events had exceptional impact, this focuses mostly on what happened in the continent (not the entire world) of Tyria.

I hope it goes without saying that there are lore spoilers ahead, as well as Guild Wars campaign spoilers.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: A brief history of Guild Wars 2's Tyria originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-brief-history-of-tyriaabaddonanetarenanetcataclysmfantasyfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesflameseeker-propheciesglintgod-bless-the-wiki-communityguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-loreguild-wars-propheciesgwgw-loregw1gw2historykrytaloremagicncsoftNO-REALLY-SPOILERSopinionpre-searingpropheciessearingshining-bladeSPOILERSstorystorylinethe-cataclysmthe-forgottenthe-godsthe-miststhe-rifttyriawhite-mantleTue, 07 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Squee edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/ask-massively-squee-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/ask-massively-squee-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/07/ask-massively-squee-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Also loving the forests here. Brings to mind some of FFXI's forest zones, which I loved.
Part of me could be nervous about what's coming next for Final Fantasy XIV, since it'll mean a lot of big changes for the game and it may no longer be quite the same place I now call home. But most of me is looking at new screenshots and squeeing. Literally squeeing. I mean that I am shaking my fists, beaming with joy, and making a high-pitched noise resembling that of a boiling teakettle. It won't excite everyone, but boy does it excite me.

Seeing as I'm being a bit self-indulgent with this week's Ask Massively opener -- which happens about half of the time, I know -- you might not be surprised that this week's question is a little more indulgent, discussing what's expected of MMOs. If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment of the column, leave it in the comments below or mail it to ask@massively.com. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Squee edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Squee edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnask-massivelycultureexperiencefeaturedgaming-historyhistoryhumormassively-metametammo-experienceonline-experienceopinionThu, 07 Jun 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Eligium's world history, chapter 1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/massively-exclusive-eligiums-world-history-chapter-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/massively-exclusive-eligiums-world-history-chapter-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/31/massively-exclusive-eligiums-world-history-chapter-1/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Eligium
Maybe you've been following Eligium since it was first announced. Maybe you've been interested after reading our impressions of the title from GDC. Maybe you're only just now hearing about it. Whatever camp you fall into, the game is continuing along with its testing and nearing an official release. And while some players might be interested only in leveling particularly involved mounts and enjoying some wide-open exploration, others want to know a little more about the world the game inhabits.

We've seen snippets of the game's lore from the various racial reveals, but the team at Frogster is putting together a series on the game world's history in more detail. The first installment gives a quick and broad overview of the pre-history of the game's setting; it's just after the cut. If you're interested in the game, enjoy, and keep your eyes peeled for future installments in the history updates.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Eligium's world history, chapter 1

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Eligium's world history, chapter 1 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstoryeligiumeligium-the-chosen-onef2pfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-usagame-historyhistorylorelore-historypreviewsshanda-gamesshanda-interactiveSat, 31 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Brad McQuaid reminisces about the birth of EverQuest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/brad-mcquaid-reminisces-about-the-birth-of-everquest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/brad-mcquaid-reminisces-about-the-birth-of-everquest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/brad-mcquaid-reminisces-about-the-birth-of-everquest/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The advent of the Internet dragon.
Maybe you're a big fan of EverQuest. Maybe you were at one point, but your ardor has cooled. Maybe you never liked it. Whatever your opinion on the game, you can't deny that it had a massive impact on the face of MMOs as a whole. In a new interview, Brad McQuaid talks about the genesis of EverQuest through development and what the game looked like from the other side, before it was a known fact that the game would be a success or even functional.

And yes, according to McQuaid, there were several points at which the team was worried that the game wouldn't work at all. Between the issues of 3-D performance and network issues, it was far from a certainty that the game could be played and enjoyed by a large enough number of people. The difficulty level of the game wasn't on the list of worries -- from the design team's perspective, that was half of the enjoyment of the game. Read the full interview for more anecdotes and opinions about the early development of one of the first big MMO successes.

MassivelyBrad McQuaid reminisces about the birth of EverQuest originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brad-mcquaiddesigndevelopmentearly-gamesearly-mmoseqeverquestgaming-historyhistoryinterviewinterviewsretrospectivesoesony-online-entertainmentverantWed, 04 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-the-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Meridian 59
A colony founded through a magical nexus, Meridian 59 had it all going on -- until, that is, the portal to the colony collapsed and it was left to fend for itself. Monsters swarmed over the land, politics split the community into factions, and adventurers were called to rise up and become the heroes that were desperately needed. And all it took was $10.95 a month and an internet connection.

Welcome to 1996 and one of the very first -- if not the first (more on that later) -- graphical MMOs to hit the scene. Meridian 59 may not have been one of the biggest games in the genre, but it was arguably one of the most important, the John Adams to World of Warcraft's Abraham Lincoln. If you were wondering, Darkfall was Chester A. Arthur.

It seems fitting to end 2011 by touching upon this significant title that, against all odds, continues to operate today. Meridian 59 weathered studio shutdowns, newbie developers in every sense of the word, and a world that wasn't quite sure what to make of these fancy-schmancy massively interactive roleplaying games. MIRGs! Oh, that would've been such a better acronym, but I digress. Let's set the wayback machine to 1978 to see how one amateur game led to another that led to the birth of an industry.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3doAlan-E-Klietzandrew-KirmseArchetype-InteractivebiowareChris-KirmsecompuserveDamion-Schubertdarkfalldoomduke-nukem-3dfeaturedheretichistoricalhistoryinterplayKingdom-of-the-Nexusmeridian-59mike-sellersmudmud-likenear-death-studiospsychochildqrich-vogelrob-ellisrob-ellis-iiscepter-of-gothstar-wars-the-old-republicsteve-sellersstorybricksswtorthe-realmthe-realm-onlineultima-onlineultima-online-third-dawnuoworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 13 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video series chronicles the evolution of MUDs to MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/video-series-chronicles-the-evolution-of-muds-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/video-series-chronicles-the-evolution-of-muds-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/video-series-chronicles-the-evolution-of-muds-to-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ultima Online
If you're looking for a reasonably short video primer on the history of MMOs, look no further than a series of clips recently uploaded to YouTube. According to some genre heavyweights, though, you shouldn't take all the info presented at face value. Former sandbox (and current social games) developer Raph Koster weighs in on the clips at his personal blog, and he offers up a laundry list of "oddities, errors, and omissions."

MUD pioneer Richard Bartle shows up in Koster's comment thread, and he's even more direct. "I wonder why so few of those who make this kind of documentary actually ask the people they're talking about whether what they're saying about them is factually correct? It's not like we're dead or anything," Bartle muses.

Why watch the vids, then? Mainly for the exposure to pre-2004 MMORPGs, according to Koster. The clips are "worth a look, even if only to get a rare glimpse of actual video footage from some of the older games that many folks today don't even know existed," he says. Check out all three installments after the break.

Continue reading Video series chronicles the evolution of MUDs to MMOs

MassivelyVideo series chronicles the evolution of MUDs to MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturehistoryhistory-of-mmosMiscellaneousmmo-historymmo-industrymmosmudmudsraph-kosterrichard-bartlevideovideosThu, 01 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[38 Studios opens a website portal to Project Copernicus' world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/38-studios-opens-a-website-portal-to-project-copernicus-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/38-studios-opens-a-website-portal-to-project-copernicus-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/38-studios-opens-a-website-portal-to-project-copernicus-world/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Amalur
While 38 Studios' top-secret Project Copernicus MMO lacks a proper title or most of its details, at least we can now visit the world that it and its single-player RPG brother, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, inhabits.

The studio launched a pair of websites devoted to the game world and its first game today. Over on Amalur, 38 Studios has unleashed its loremasters to share with you the stories, features, histories, and settings of this fantasy landscape. And while Reckoning is just a prequel to the eventual MMO, its website contains quite a few lore snippets as well as a world map to pour over while you're planning your future conquests.

As part of the twin projects, R.A. Salvatore has created over 10,000 years of fictional history for the world of Amalur, stretching from The Deep Gloam to the Age of Heroes. Reckoning takes place during the Age of Arcana, with Copernicus happening some time thereafter.

Massively38 Studios opens a website portal to Project Copernicus' world originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosamalurcopernicushistorykingdoms-of-amalurkingdoms-of-amalur-reckoningloremapmapsproject-copernicusr-a-salvatorer.a.-salvatorera-salvatorereckoningsalvatorestorywebsitewebsite-launchwebsitesTue, 08 Nov 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you prefer historical settings?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/the-daily-grind-do-you-prefer-historical-settings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/the-daily-grind-do-you-prefer-historical-settings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/the-daily-grind-do-you-prefer-historical-settings/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

R.I.P., Imperator
This week, Massively's Karen Bryan attended a GDC talk by Charles Cecil, the creator of Broken Sword, on the topic of writing games that employ history and historical themes. Cecil wisely noted that historical themes tap in to the audience's shared mythology to generate a compelling game and to serve as the foundation for accessible puzzles relevant to the storyline. And yet strict historical themes in MMOs, even when not diluted with more fantastic elements, can also betray immersion -- would it really make sense for a game about the American Revolution to allow female characters to become military generals?

Dark Age of Camelot certainly saw its share of success pairing real-world European legend and modern 20th-century fantasy, while its cousin Imperator, set in a futuristic Roman Empire, was canceled in favor of another Mythic game. World of Tanks thrives off historical realism, whereas the upcoming The Secret World is making an art-form of layering myth over mundane. Still, history-flavored games are very much in the minority, perhaps because they allow studios much less freedom of lore design. What do you think -- do historical (or pseudo-historical) MMOs work for you? Do you prefer pure escapism, or would you rather play in a "home-turf" setting whose real-world backstory is your own?

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 prefer historical settings? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgbroken-swordcharles-cecildaocdark-age-of-camelotgdcgdc-austin-2011historical-themeshistoryimperatorlegendmythmythicmythologyopinionreal-worldsettingtdgthe-daily-grindthe-secret-worldtswwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-tankswotThu, 13 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten things to do in Star Wars Galaxies before it's gone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ten-things-to-do-in-star-wars-galaxies-before-its-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ten-things-to-do-in-star-wars-galaxies-before-its-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ten-things-to-do-in-star-wars-galaxies-before-its-gone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies - Butterflies included especially for Jef
When SOE announced that Star Wars Galaxies would be sunsetted by the end of the year, many players despaired. They gave up. They saw their long years (eight years!) of play turn to dust. But others looked on the impending closure as incentive to do all those things they'd been putting off, all the activities they just hadn't gotten around to. There hadn't been time. The game is too big for anyone to do it all.

And that's precisely why Star Wars Galaxies is a legend among sandbox fans despite the NGE disaster. It's a living museum of great MMO ideas from the past, of player-driven economies, of open-world housing, of high-end, game-supported roleplay, of roaming in a game that lets you dictate the terms of your play. It's a rare relic you should see in the flesh, today, right now, before it's gone. You can pick up a weapon and fight in any MMO (excepting A Tale in the Desert, that is), but there are so many things you can do in Star Wars Galaxies that you can't do anywhere else with the same level of immersion. And I'm going to tell you which 10 you should do first... before it's too late.

Continue reading Ten things to do in Star Wars Galaxies before it's gone

MassivelyTen things to do in Star Wars Galaxies before it's gone originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-tabappearance-tabarmoratabatmospheric-flightcantinachat-bubbleschronicleschronicles-systemcityclothingcosmetic-outfitcraftingdanceremoteentertainerfeaturedhistoryhousehousingimage-designerinstrumentithorianjtljump-to-lightspeedmayormoodsmusicianngeopen-world-housingpilotplayer-cityplayer-run-cityroleplayroleplayingsandboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-warsy-and-iconicstarshipsunsetswgswtorthe-old-republictortradervendorWed, 05 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Timeline]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/hyperspace-beacon-timeline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/hyperspace-beacon-timeline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/hyperspace-beacon-timeline/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Timeline
When I started the Holocron Files last week, it slipped my mind that I have been doing this column for a year and a half and that not everyone has been following every issue. When I wrote about the Pureblood Sith, it was really meant to be a refresher course, not a comprehensive chronicle. It's extremely difficult to capture the full history of a species in about a thousand words. That being said, I understand that not everyone has a perspective on the Star Wars timeline, especially the time leading up to Star Wars: The Old Republic.

I don't think it's any secret that BioWare stories are extremely deep, and Lead Writer Daniel Erickson has a nerdgasm every time someone interviews him about Star Wars history. The established history leading up to TOR will play a major role in the story that unfolds in the game, otherwise the development team would not have had the wherewithal to create the timeline videos for the website.

Following the break, I would like to set you up for future, more comprehensive articles about the Star Wars lore. Although this column is certainly not exclusively about lore, when I bring up another Holocron File, I want reader to have a decent understanding of when these events fall in Star Wars history. So rev up your time machine to 88 miles per hour! This Hyperspace Beacon is about to go back in time -- way back!

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Timeline

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Timeline originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdasAjunta-PallAleema-KetoBioWareCorelliacoruscantdaniel-ericksondromund-kaasEAElectronic-Artsexar-kunfeaturedFirst-Great-SchismFreedon-Naddgalactic-republicgreat-hyperspace-warhistoryHuttaHuttsInfinite-empireJedi-ExileKarness-MuurkorribanKrathloreLucasArtsMalakMandalor-the-ultimateMandalore-theFirstmandaloriannaga-sadownomi-sunriderOnderonord-mantellOssusrakataRevanSacking-of-CoruscantSatal-KetoSecond-Great-SchismSithStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-lore-guidethe-old-republicThird-Great-SchismtimelinetorTythonVultarXoXaanYavin-IVTue, 27 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files - Pureblood Sith]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/hyperspace-beacon-holocron-files-pureblood-sith/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/hyperspace-beacon-holocron-files-pureblood-sith/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/hyperspace-beacon-holocron-files-pureblood-sith/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron File, Pureblood Sith
Moreso than any other MMO intellectual property, the Star Wars IP carries a rich, deep history, shaped not only by its creator, George Lucas, but also by the many artists, writers, and directors of the many television series, games, books, and comics. When you step into Star Wars: The Old Republic, you are weaving yourself into a story with over 30 years of constant growth and development. Unlike other fictional histories, this one was guided by many hands, and much of the lore has been muddled over years of retcons and rewrites.

Every so often until the release of the game, I will explore the important bits that lead to the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic. Unlike other MMOs, this game is developed specifically to draw the player into the story. To help ease you into this rich lore, I am creating a series I call the Holocron Files. And first, I begin with the mysterious TOR species know as the Pureblood Sith. Where do these beings come from? Why are they important to SWTOR lore? And what can we expect to see from them in game? Leap past the break to find out.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files - Pureblood Sith

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files - Pureblood Sith originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdasBioWareEAElectronic-Artsfeaturedhistoryholocron-filesHundred-Year-DarknessHyperspace-WarkorribanloreLucasArtsMassassinaga-sadowSecond-Great-SchismSithSith-PurebloodStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-lore-guidethe-old-republictorTue, 20 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Building a better empire]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/28/eve-evolved-building-a-better-empire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/28/eve-evolved-building-a-better-empire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/28/eve-evolved-building-a-better-empire/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image: Building a better empire
It's often said that EVE Online is 99% endgame, with only the tutorials and epic mission arcs really providing directed gameplay. Once you get out into the open world, the game is dominated by sandbox laws and social interaction. This is most clear in the lawless nullsec regions where alliances war over territory and build their own empires in the void.

Last week I looked back at the early days of nullsec industry and examined the problems industry has developed over the years. With a massive nullsec revamp scheduled to begin this winter, I went on to speculate on how the game could be changed to bring back the glory days of nullsec industry. Although adequately incentivised local mining and production could transform player-created empires, those aren't the only areas of gameplay being revisited. Sovereignty mechanics, fleet warfare, small gang warfare, exploration and small-scale territorial control will all eventually be redesigned as part of the massive iterative overhaul.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the history of EVE's empire-building and territorial warfare mechanics, some of the problems faced by the sovereignty system, and how those aspects of EVE could possibly be changed for the better.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Building a better empire

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Building a better empire originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancealliance-warfareccpccp-eveccp-gamescolonisationdreadnoughtempireempire-buildingeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedhistoryinfrastructureinterstellar-starbase-syndicateissmapmostly-harmlessnullsecoutpostplayer-owned-starbaseplayer-owned-stationpvpsovereigntystarbaseterritorial-controlterritorial-warfareterritorywarwarfareSun, 28 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Tanks mirrors history with Battle for the Dnieper special event]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/world-of-tanks-mirrors-history-with-battle-for-the-dnieper-speci/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/world-of-tanks-mirrors-history-with-battle-for-the-dnieper-speci/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/world-of-tanks-mirrors-history-with-battle-for-the-dnieper-speci/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- World of Tanks
Wargaming.net has long touted World of Tanks' historical accuracy when it comes to its tanks' designs and specs. The studio very clearly knows its history, as evidenced by the forthcoming Battle for the Dnieper event.

The event, which commemorates a massive World War II battle involving nearly four million people, brings players a couple of opportunities. For starters, from August 25th to 26th, all profit gained by players using the Hummel, SU-8, and M41 SPGs will be doubled. Players will also be able to rename tanks and purchase new ones at highly discounted prices. Topping off the event is the Call of Heroes contest, which challenges players to see who can acquire the highest number of achievements before the end of the contest on August 29th. So what are you waiting for, soldier? Get out there and show everyone else who the real hero is.

MassivelyWorld of Tanks mirrors history with Battle for the Dnieper special event originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-for-dnieperbattle-for-the-dniepercompetitioncontesteventf2pfree-to-playhistoricalhistoryin-game-eventsalewargamingwargaming.networld-of-tankswotWed, 24 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Namaste Entertainment charts the history of MMOs [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/namaste-entertainment-charts-the-history-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/namaste-entertainment-charts-the-history-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/namaste-entertainment-charts-the-history-of-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

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

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

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

Gallery: Namaste Entertainment

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>categorieschartgenregenreshistoryhistory-of-mmosindustryinfographicmmo-chartnamastenamaste-entertainmentstorybricksvideoWed, 10 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Out of all your characters, who's the favorite?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/the-daily-grind-out-of-all-your-characters-whos-the-favorite/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/the-daily-grind-out-of-all-your-characters-whos-the-favorite/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/the-daily-grind-out-of-all-your-characters-whos-the-favorite/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Play MMOs long enough and you'll amass your own little army of characters. Some details might be the same from game to game, even if you're not much of a roleplayer, but there's no doubt a vast difference in capability and what abilities are even available to a given player. Sure, you can have a similar-looking elf in both World of Warcraft and RIFT, but odds are good that the two will play completely differently.

Maybe you only have a couple of games in your history and you're immune to the urge of making dozens of alts, or perhaps you've got a hundred characters spread over dozens of games. Whatever the case, there are no doubt one or two names that stand out in the list. So who's your favorite character out of the ones you've played? Is it a character that stands out due to class abilities, roleplaying, or some other sentimental connection?

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: Out of all your characters, who's the favorite? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altscharacter-abilitiescharacter-historycharactersculturehistorynostalgiaopiniontdgthe-daily-grindMon, 08 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-the-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Way back when I used to haunt the corridors of Gamestop and not shun the place due to its stinky evil, I remember being enticed with these fancy-pantsy "MMORPG" boxes when I'd see them on the shelf. I must have picked up Shadowbane a dozen or so times to check out the blurbs on the back, mentally weighing whether or not this would be the one to introduce me to online gaming, but ultimately it was not to be.

It's probably for the best, considering that Shadowbane was primarily PvP and I'm a PvE guy at heart. Plus, the title never really took off the way that publisher Ubisoft had hoped, spending most of its six years of operation lurking in the background of the MMO industry instead of sharing the spotlight.

But still, six years! That's far longer than any of the titles we've been talking about these past couple months, and considering that Shadowbane won last week's poll to become this month's topic, there are obviously strong feelings lurking among you. What did Shadowbane try to do differently, how did it stay alive as long as it did, and what was its downfall? Hit the jump to find out!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineappleapple-versiondaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkfallddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineeqeverquestf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgamestopgamezoneguild-citieshistoryLouis-Lamarchemacmac-versionmudopen-world-pvppatch-22player-built-citiesplayer-citiesplayer-citypolitical-systemprimeresetreset-buttonreset-switchrise-of-chaossandboxshadowbaneshadowbane-rebootshadowbane-resetsiege-warfarethe-game-archaeologistthrone-of-oblivionubisoftwolfpackwolfpack-studiosTue, 02 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Chapter 3 character background tie-ins]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/lost-pages-of-taborea-chapter-3-character-background-tie-ins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/lost-pages-of-taborea-chapter-3-character-background-tie-ins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/lost-pages-of-taborea-chapter-3-character-background-tie-ins/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The lore in Runes of Magic can sometimes be frustrating. There's an incomplete -- and vague -- history that sparks questions of who did what and when. Sometimes, there are references to reoccurring incidents without anyone knowing anything of who was involved or when it happened. As new chapters are released, some of those questions are answered and story-holes are filled, but new questions get added as well. We are veering off the beaten track in this week's Lost Pages of Taborea to dive into some lore.

There's a growing amount of story for lore-hungry players to discuss and I wanted to revisit some Chapter 3 lore that helps us to understand a little more about the history and present-day in the world of Taborea. The following article is written for those players who may already know about the game's lore, but want to know even more. Given the overall amount of story and the way it's spread out through levels, zones and time-frames, I almost didn't feel the need to put any spoiler warnings on this post. Instead, I left out details learned from going inside the various dungeons.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Chapter 3 character background tie-ins

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Chapter 3 character background tie-ins originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androthangrenantaikolonartiscaninechapter-3chapter-iiidalanisdark-elvesfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehistoryjeremy-strattonjyr-najyrnajyrna-elveskalokalonkalumekawak-angerfangkawaks-tombking-kalumelechifleoninelorelost-pages-of-taboreanorthern-janost-forestracesroleplayingromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentshadorsismondstorytemple-of-the-moonthe-elder-kingdomsthe-great-banishmentthe-voidthunderhoof-hillstirsov-firebootMon, 01 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima Worlds Online: Origin]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-ultima-worlds-online-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-ultima-worlds-online-o/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-ultima-worlds-online-o/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Two months ago, we heard a rumor (which has since gone quiet) that a new Ultima Online sequel might be in the oven in Electronic Art's kitchen. As with any rumor, it was important to take it with a grain of disbelief, although a pinch of hope seems appropriate in this case as well. After all, Ultima Online's been begging for a sequel ever since the hit MMO started facing stiff competition in the form of 3-D worlds like EverQuest and Asheron's Call.

For some of us gamers, word of a UO sequel feels like deja vu, and rightly so. This wouldn't be the first time that EA embarked on a project to make a more modern Ultima Online, nor would it be the second time. Indeed, the saga of Ultima Online's canceled sequels is as torrid as it is steamy and lusty. Ignore the words in the previous sentence, as those are just to up the hits on search engines.

In our continuing series on the "what ifs?" of axed MMOs, we're going to head into a two-parter full of savage truth, dangerous decisions, and full-frontal nerdery. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the saga of Ultima Online 2.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima Worlds Online: Origin

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima Worlds Online: Origin originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acasherons-callcataclysmdavid-swofforddeja-vudueleaelectronic-artseqeverquestfeaturedfull-frontal-nerderygamespotharry-potter-onlinehistoryjukalineagemeerpkpkingplayer-killingpvprichard-garriottsequelsequelssteampunkthe-game-archaeologisttrailerultima-onlineultima-online-2ultima-worlds-onlineultima-worlds-online-originuouo2uwouwoovideowing-commander-onlineWorld-of-WarcraftTue, 28 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Atlantica Online entering the realm of the Three Kingdoms]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/atlantica-online-entering-the-realm-of-the-three-kingdoms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/atlantica-online-entering-the-realm-of-the-three-kingdoms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/atlantica-online-entering-the-realm-of-the-three-kingdoms/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If you've never read Romance of the Three Kingdoms or studied a bit of Chinese history, you're missing out on a drama full of intrigue, cleverness, and sweeping battles. Fortunately for players of Atlantica Online, you don't need to know the history to enjoy the upcoming Three Kingdoms update. Slated for release on the 26th of April, the update will contain a variety of new quests and systems along with a new mercenary hero, Guan Yu.

The quests will center around the Battle of Red Cliffs, with players getting the chance to rub shoulders with well-known figures such as Cao Cao and Liu Bei. Players can also enjoy the new Expedition Team feature, which allows mercenaries to be dispatched for side objectives while the player focuses on the more pressing battles of the day. Check out some of the concept art in the gallery below, and if you're fond of Atlantica Online, make sure to check out the new update on the 26th.

Gallery: Atlantica Online

MassivelyAtlantica Online entering the realm of the Three Kingdoms originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlanticaatlantica-onlinef2pfree-to-playgalleriesgalleryhistoricalhistoryndoorsndoors-interactivenewsnexonnexon-usapatchesthree-kingdomsupcoming-patchesupdatesTue, 19 Apr 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest giving away 12 one-year subscriptions for its 12th anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/everquest-giving-away-12-one-year-subscriptions-for-its-12th-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/everquest-giving-away-12-one-year-subscriptions-for-its-12th-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/everquest-giving-away-12-one-year-subscriptions-for-its-12th-ann/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Twelve years ago, several brave adventurers took their first steps into the world of EverQuest and helped to shape the MMO genre. Now, Sony Online Entertainment is gearing up to celebrate all the myriad achievements between that first day and now -- and the company is kicking everything off with a huge giveaway just perfect for dedicated Norrathians! Earlier today SOE announced a Facebook contest that will hook a dozen lucky winners up with a full year of EverQuest game time. However, much like the game it honors, this giveaway quest is only for those adventurers who savor a challenge.

Starting today, the SOE community team will post a daily image on Facebook that has a trivia question on it. All you have to do is drop by the EverQuest Facebook page, look at the image, and mail your answer in to the company's contest email address. From there, one winner will be picked from all the correct answers received each day until all 12 days' worth of giveaways are done. So, if you're up on your Norrathian trivia and would like to land some free game time, then point your browser at the SOE Facebook page and check out all the details!

MassivelyEverQuest giving away 12 one-year subscriptions for its 12th anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12th-anniversary12th-birthdayanniversarycommunity-teamcontesteqeverquestfacebookfree-game-timehistorynorrathsoeSony-Online-EntertainmenttriviaFri, 04 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: For over a thousand generations...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/hyperspace-beacon-for-over-a-thousand-generations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/hyperspace-beacon-for-over-a-thousand-generations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/15/hyperspace-beacon-for-over-a-thousand-generations/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I know this column has covered a lot of lore in its nine months -- wow, nine months! I can't believe it's been that long. We have discussed the Empires of the past and future, the Jedi's rise and fall, and the lore behind each of the eight classes. Cultures have been examined and specific characters have been spotlighted in this column. But how important is all this backstory to Star Wars: The Old Republic? Is my bad-ass bounty hunter even going to care what a gray Jedi is? He sure isn't going to give a bantha's butt about the color of the Jedi's lightsaber.

I know you're going to tell me, "But Larry, you're a roleplayer. You know how important lore is!" I do; it is important. But how much lore is too much? Even as a roleplayer, I have found that sometimes knowing too much can be detrimental to the roleplay experience. On top of that, how horrible is it, especially as a new roleplayer, to have someone tell you that you can't wear black as an Imperial officer unless you're a member of the Stormtrooper Corps. Crap! Now I have redo everything!

What I'd like to discuss today are some essential pieces of lore the average person living in The Old Republic should know, so that I can give existing roleplayers a different perspective on how to handle their characters' knowledge. If you're floating in the middle saying to yourself, "I'm not really a roleplayer, but I do like a game with a good story," keep reading. You and the vast majority of future SWTOR players will definitely get something out of this.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: For over a thousand generations...

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: For over a thousand generations... originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarecharacter-developmentEAElectronic-ArtsfeaturedhistoryloreLucasArtsroleplayroleplayingStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-lore-guidethe-old-republictorTue, 15 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PotBS devs share some cake with Massively]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/potbs-devs-share-some-cake-with-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/potbs-devs-share-some-cake-with-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/25/potbs-devs-share-some-cake-with-massively/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

How did you celebrate your third birthday party? We imagine that the Pirates of the Burning Sea developers celebrated it a lot like you might have: with pirates, talking birds and the occasional PvP fight. Of course, you probably didn't choose to participate in an interview with the best MMO website in existence, mainly because it more than likely didn't exist back then.

Our trusty eyepatches in place, we waylaid Russell "Rusty" Williams (Flying Lab's CEO) and Jason "Mr Nutty" Gettel (Lead Designer), who answered some of our "burning" questions. So sit back, put your bib on, blow out your candles, and click past the cut to see what they had to say on this special anniversary!

Continue reading PotBS devs share some cake with Massively

MassivelyPotBS devs share some cake with Massively originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3rd-anniversarybeau-hindmaneve-onlineflying-labflying-lab-softwarehistorical-mmohistoryPiratesPirates-of-the-Burning-Seaplayer-versus-playerpotbspvpSOESony-Online-Entertainmentthird-anniversarythird-year-anniversaryTue, 25 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: A brief history]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/wasteland-diaries-a-brief-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/wasteland-diaries-a-brief-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/wasteland-diaries-a-brief-history/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Fallen Earth has a relatively short history, as far as the power struggles on the server. Yes, in case you didn't know it, Fallen Earth is a single-server game. Everything I'll discuss in this post occurred on that single shard. The power struggles in the wastelands, be they between factions or clans, have been ever-changing. It seems that no one group retains power for very long. They say that history is written by the victors. And they could be right, but since we lack clear winners, I'll write it.

There isn't really a way to assert dominance in Fallen Earth in any kind of overt way. But there are subtleties that player groups can control. In some cases, they can even hold a resource with which to extort the playerbase. In the future we may see a true struggle for resources in an apocalyptic wasteland, but for now we will have to be content with simply crushing our enemies. After the break I'll chronicle the past year or so and outline how the power struggle evolved through that time period. Not everyone will agree with my perception of the events, but I'll do the best I can to remain unbiased.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: A brief history

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: A brief history originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clan-warsclansconflict-townsexilefallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfeaturedfist-of-the-empirefoehistoryicarus-studiosoffice-parkpark-citypvpravenwood-divisionsaintssoldiers-of-fortunesuspicious-cheesewolves-of-warFri, 10 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Forbidden RuneScape: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/30/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-forbidden-runescape-the-highligh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/30/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-forbidden-runescape-the-highligh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/30/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-forbidden-runescape-the-highligh/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

I don't know about you, but when I first heard of RuneScape a few years back, it was sold to me as "the poor person's World of Warcraft." In fact, I knew several teens who couldn't afford a monthly WoW subscription and had to "make do" with RuneScape as an alternative, and so I mentally filtered the title as being outside of my sphere of interest and moved on with my life.

That was when I started to crochet. All adventurers should know how to crochet as a survival trait.

In retrospect, I should've ignored the stigma and checked it out for myself, because while the above may be true for some, RuneScape deserved a lot better than to be blown off by a dismissive comment. No matter how some have pigeon-holed it as being less than worthy of proper MMO status, RuneScape is a behemoth of a game in both size, features and playerbase. In fact, as of right now, RuneScape holds the #2 spot for players, boasting a population well into the eight digits.

So as of this month, we shall endeavor to put away any ignorant stances as we explore one of the most popular and longest-running MMOs of our time. Join me after the jump as I share RuneScape's greatest highlights -- and exactly why none of us should underestimate this game again.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Forbidden RuneScape: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Forbidden RuneScape: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountsactive-playersandrew-gowerbandwidthbest-buybrowserbusiness-modelsdellf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumgameboyguinness-world-recordshighlightshistoryhousingi-miss-farscapejagexpaul-gowerplayer-owned-housingpohrunescaperunescape-2runescape-classicskill-basedskill-based-mmosskillsthe-game-archaeologistWorld-of-WarcraftwowTue, 30 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you want elaborate lore?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/14/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-elaborate-lore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/14/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-elaborate-lore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/14/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-elaborate-lore/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Most games have lore. Sometimes the lore is exceptionally simple, but then you have games such as Lord of the Rings Online, in which the lore is thick enough to fill several books with artificial languages. Sometimes the lore is that thick even when you don't have a series of books to base the game on, such as Final Fantasy XI's expecting you to read up on the history of the Crystal War and the three nations and the conflict against the beastmen long before you start getting into more obscure pieces of information like Altana and the Hydra Corps and so forth. The question is, is it actually a benefit?

Certainly, it's nice to have a sense of why you're doing something in a game world, but in the immediate sense, you usually just need to know that you kill that guy with ice magic because he's immune to fire. Giving you a huge amount of lore for every part of the game does wonders for immersion, but it also can shackle you with either required reading to follow what's going on or huge blocks of quest text just to go kill 10 rats. How detailed do you really want your game's lore to be? Do you prefer something detailed and robust, or just something that gives you the vaguest necessary reasons for why you should kill a guy immune to fire?
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 want elaborate lore? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstoryff11ffxifinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xigame-historyhistorylord-of-the-rings-onlinelorelotroopinionrequired-readingtdgthat-guy-is-immune-to-fire-kill-him-with-icethe-daily-grindSun, 14 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist's chat with Andy Cataldo]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/the-game-archaeologists-chat-with-andy-cataldo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/the-game-archaeologists-chat-with-andy-cataldo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/the-game-archaeologists-chat-with-andy-cataldo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There are only a handful of people in the world who can boast that they're working on an MMO that dates back to the '90s. As community lead for Asheron's Call, Turbine's Andy Cataldo is a member of that exclusive club, going from an avid player of the game to part of the AC crew. Don't tell him that his game is old in the joints and unstable going down stairs; to Andy, Asheron's Call is still one of the most exciting MMOs on the market, and he is not shy in sharing his passion for it.

In our third week of looking back at the esteemed history of Asheron's Call, the Game Archaeologist got in touch with Mr. Cataldo to ask him why AC has yet to go the free-to-play route, what the team is planning for AC's 11th anniversary, how the graphics update is coming along, and whether it's still possible to party like it's 1999. Let us clasp our hands together attentively and read!

The Game Archaeologist: Please introduce yourself, your role on the team, and how long you've been working on Asheron's Call.

Andy Cataldo: My name is Andy Cataldo. I am currently the Community Lead for the Asheron's Call franchise. My focus is helping communicate between the players and various teams here in Turbine, and vice versa. I also do most of the website and launcher updates, as well as any community events. I have been working on Asheron's Call now for over six years.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist's chat with Andy Cataldo

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist's chat with Andy Cataldo originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>11th-anniversaryacandy-cataldoasherons-callasherons-call-and-andy-cataldo-have-the-same-initialsderethempyreansf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgraphics-updatehistoryinterviewInterviewsolthoiolthoi-playthe-game-archaeologistturbinevoid-magicTue, 19 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Gil rules everything around me]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/the-mog-log-gil-rules-everything-around-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/the-mog-log-gil-rules-everything-around-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/the-mog-log-gil-rules-everything-around-me/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

My original plan for this week was to step back into the experiment with soloing that I started in Final Fantasy XI what feels like an eternity ago, but the recent updates about Final Fantasy XIV's market system prompted a comment that interested me. A reader noted that the auction block in Final Fantasy XI was partly responsible for the enormous gilselling issue that's plagued the game more or less since its release stateside, with the theory going that the market wards and so forth in Final Fantasy XIV were a specific response to this.

It seems fitting, in light of all of the gilselling issues that we've gone through in Vana'diel, to take a look at the sordid history of the currency in the game and at how likely it is to translate to the new kid on the block. I don't think the problem lies so much with the sellers as with the environment that Square-Enix unintentionally created, as well as with the perfect storm of circumstances that devalued the currency of the game to near-worthlessness with no alternatives. That's right -- it's time to look back six years or so to the launch of the game in the U.S.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Gil rules everything around me

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Gil rules everything around me originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economicseconomyfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgilsellergoldsellerhistorylaunchmarketmarket-wardsopinionplayer-driven-economyplaystation-2playstation-3ps2ps3rmtsquaresquare-enixstaggered-launchSat, 02 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively exclusive: The lore of TERA's Castanics, Part II]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/massively-exclusive-the-lore-of-teras-castanics-part-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/massively-exclusive-the-lore-of-teras-castanics-part-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/12/massively-exclusive-the-lore-of-teras-castanics-part-ii/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

While TERA is being developed overseas by Bluehole Studio, the western localization and lore is in the hands of the excellent team at En Masse Entertainment, whose members are busy crafting a deep and interesting backstory for the world. At this time, we know that there will be six different races players can choose from in the upcoming game. En Masse is making sure that each of the races is getting its own unique history, such as the lore developer blog we've been given for the fiercely independent Castanics!

In this second installment of the story Fates Be Damned by R. K. MacPherson, we catch up with Havelock, Calastra, Zufikar, and other Castanics as they try to make sense of what happened in the last tale. Why did this moment of malicious betrayal change the future of an entire race and cause them to leave their homeland? Read on past the break to find out as we dive into part II of our exclusive TERA developer blog!

Gallery: TERA: Castanica

Continue reading Massively exclusive: The lore of TERA's Castanics, Part II

MassivelyMassively exclusive: The lore of TERA's Castanics, Part II originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorybluehole-studiocastaniccastanicsdev-blogen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfates-be-damnedfeaturedhistoryloremassively-exclusiver-k-macphersonteraThu, 12 Aug 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A Tale in the Desert launches Tale 5 today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/07/a-tale-in-the-desert-launches-tale-5-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/07/a-tale-in-the-desert-launches-tale-5-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/07/a-tale-in-the-desert-launches-tale-5-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

For all that the MMO industry is occasionally decried as being a large gathering of copycats, there are some interesting outliers amidst a field of fantasy kill-fests. A Tale in the Desert is a prime example -- set in ancient Egypt, with a focus on character interaction and nonviolent problem resolution, it's really in a class of its own. And with the new installment of the game launching today, it's the perfect time for players who aren't familiar with the game to start mingling with newcomers. The fourth installment wrapped up in July, which makes for a quick turnaround into the newest iteration.

Unlike many other games in the genre, A Tale in the Desert runs for a while, then rests and starts over with new systems in place. This installment is featuring new Foraging and Aquaculture mechanics, allowing new ways to harvest plants and the ability to grow papyrus. The game is free for the first 24 hours of play, and each iteration tends to last for around six months. If the idea of a combat-free, crafting-focused game appeals to you, now would be the perfect time to head out into the lands of the Pharaoh.

MassivelyA Tale in the Desert launches Tale 5 today originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-tale-in-the-deserta-tale-in-the-desert-5atitdatitd-5craftingcrafting-systemsegenesisegypthistoricalhistorymmo-industryno-combatnon-combat-gamesocial-mmotale-5Sat, 07 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Virtual Whirl: A brief history of Second Life, 2008-2010 and beyond]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/10/the-virtual-whirl-a-brief-history-of-second-life-2008-2010-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/10/the-virtual-whirl-a-brief-history-of-second-life-2008-2010-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/10/the-virtual-whirl-a-brief-history-of-second-life-2008-2010-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

This week, we cover the final installment of our summarized history of Second Life and Linden Lab (check out the first installment or the second, if you missed them). It's only possible to cover a tiny fraction of the events that took place in the space we have here, but the highlights paint an interesting picture.

We'll be working our way from 2008 to June 2010, and looking at what future directions we expect from there.

Continue reading The Virtual Whirl: A brief history of Second Life, 2008-2010 and beyond

MassivelyThe Virtual Whirl: A brief history of Second Life, 2008-2010 and beyond originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amsterdambusiness-modelscongresscultureeconomyfeaturedfrank-herberthistoryhypergridietfintellectual-propertyirsjohn-zdanowskikathleen-craiglayoffslegallinden-labmark-kingdonmillions-of-usmitch-kaporOnRezopinionorangephilip-rosedalereutersrezzable-productionsrobin-harpersecond-lifesecond-life-enterprisesecond-life-viewersingaporesl-policystep-uptaser-international-inctelstraterms-of-servicethe-daily-mailthe-virtual-whirlTrademarkVATviewer-2virtual-worldsworld-stock-exchangewsexstreetxstreet-slyoko-onoSat, 10 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST