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 problem with 'exciting' starting zones]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/the-problem-with-exciting-starting-zones/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/the-problem-with-exciting-starting-zones/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/the-problem-with-exciting-starting-zones/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We love it when game designers make an observation that sometimes escapes us, like Dusty Monk's insightful post about the issue surrounding starting zones -- specifically in Cryptic Studio's last three games. His problem stems from the way in which the developer is responding to gamers' demands of a starting zone experience that doesn't involve a newly minted character thwacking sickly rabbits with a twig. It's an old -- almost passe -- gripe that was well founded back in the first half of the 00's.

As many of you no doubt know, City of Villains, Champions Online and Star Trek Online tutorials all begin by inundating the character with chaotic immediacy, and information. Dusty's problem is the combination of these two elements. He posits that any sense of urgency is killed immediately upon the opening of a substantially novella-like text window. On the flip side of that problem, he contends that it's tough to learn a new system(s) while a Hollywoood blockbuster is taking place around you.

And like any good person with an opinion, he's got a solution for the problem, too.

Continue reading The problem with 'exciting' starting zones

MassivelyThe problem with 'exciting' starting zones originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetblizzardblockbusterchampions-onlinecity-of-villainscovcryptic-studiosddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinedusty-monkguild-warshollywoodncsoftrabbitssickly-rabbitsstar-trek-onlinestoturbinetutorialtwigworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 19 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Movies based on MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/the-daily-grind-movies-based-on-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/the-daily-grind-movies-based-on-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/the-daily-grind-movies-based-on-mmos/#commentsFiled under: ,

Word is that there will be a new Conan movie next year, and that Age of Conan will tie in with it. Of course, the movie isn't based on Age of Conan; both are independently based on Robert E. Howard's pulp fiction stories. Nevertheless, the Massively office is now full of ideas for MMO-based movies.

There have been rumors of EverQuest and World of Warcraft films in the past. Some would say there's a fundamental problem with the idea though: there's no story to adapt! Let's face it: movies adapted from computer and video games have usually been pretty damned terrible. But if there is a disconnect between the two different styles of storytelling, then maybe MMOs are the perfect games to adapt to film. Since they only provide a setting, screenwriters, directors, and producers can create a medium-appropriate story of their own.

Then again, isn't that what they do most of the time anyway? What do you think; could an MMO be adapted into a good movie? Why or why not? And if it can, which virtual would would you lke to see on the silver screen?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Movies based on MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adaptationage-of-conanblizzardcinemaconandiscussioneverquestfilmfuncomhollywoodmoviesopinionscreenplaysoetdgthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftTue, 26 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ION 08: A five year forecast for MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/ion-08-a-five-year-forecast-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/ion-08-a-five-year-forecast-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/ion-08-a-five-year-forecast-for-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


There's always a lot of discussion about what's going to be the next big thing in the MMOs industry. We all love to talk about the future and that's largely because it's a very interesting topic. So we just had to attend the "Online Games in 2013" panel at ION 08. This panel was actually introduced by Peter Freese, the ION Conference Director. It was easily one of the most packed panels I've been to thus far which is saying a lot since all the panels have been pretty well populated already.

The panel consisted of Erik Bethke (GoPets Ltd), Scott Jennings (NCsoft), Bridiget Agabra (Metaverse Roadmap) and Damion Schubert (BioWare). With a group of people like this I was expecting some varied and compelling conversation on the topic of MMOs in 2013. In the end we got just that and a quite a bit more.

Gallery: ION 08: MMOs in 2013

Continue reading ION 08: A five year forecast for MMOs

MassivelyION 08: A five year forecast for MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 May 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardbiowareblizzardbridget-agabraccpcity-of-heroesclub-penguindamion-schuberterik-bethkefeaturedgopetshabbohollywoodindieionion-2008ion08ion2008joystiqfeaturesmetaplacemetaverse-roadmapmicrotransactionsncsoftpeter-freeseplaystation-3rightsscott-jenningsworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 15 May 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[ION 08: MMOs and the television content model (SGW)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/ion-08-mmos-and-the-television-content-model-sgw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/ion-08-mmos-and-the-television-content-model-sgw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/ion-08-mmos-and-the-television-content-model-sgw/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Joseph Ybarra, SVP of strategic operations at Firesky, the publishing subsidiary of Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment, presented a session today at ION 08 about the Stargate Worlds production model that borrows heavily from Hollywood and TV models. The goal for SGW is to approach content updates for the game more like a production cycle for television, in which an episode takes a predictable amount of time to complete (14-16 weeks in the case of Stargate Atlantis).

After some background on Firesky and CME, Ybarra showed the Stargate Worlds trailer and launched into a discussion of the strategy with SGW. The idea is to adopt a movie model for the development phase and a TV model for the post-launch "live" phase. They chose to use the BigWorld middleware platform and Unreal Engine technologies in an effort to use proven tools: "don't reinvent the wheel." This allows them to both minimize risk and focus on the content.

Continue reading ION 08: MMOs and the television content model (SGW)

MassivelyION 08: MMOs and the television content model (SGW) originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bigworldcheyenne-moutanin-entertainmentCMEepisodic-contentfeaturedFireskyHollywoodIONion-2008ION08ION2008joseph-ybarraSGWstargate-worldstelevisionTVunreal-engineWed, 14 May 2008 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Upcoming MMO movies (and why they'll suck)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/upcoming-mmo-movies-and-why-theyll-suck/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/upcoming-mmo-movies-and-why-theyll-suck/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/upcoming-mmo-movies-and-why-theyll-suck/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Dorothy Parker once said "The only 'ism' Hollywood believes in is plagiarism." While not technically plagiarism, the practice of mining popular properties of other media is a time-honored mainstay of Hollywood's. Why invent a new franchise when you can adapt one that already exists? Well, if we're talking about translating videogames to cinema, there are at least 3 reasons against that we can think of right away: Street Fighter: The Movie, Double Dragon, and Doom. Oh, and the entire body of work of Uwe Boll.

With such a history of failure, why does Hollywood keep banking on videogames as good sources of material? Because it's always desperate for the next big hit, and adaptation is seen as being easier than originality, even though by now it's apparent that it's not quite as simple as it seems. An even better question is: why exactly don't these translations work? What is it about games that makes for poor films? Let's see if we can answer this question and assess the potential success/failure of some upcoming MMO movies.

Continue reading Upcoming MMO movies (and why they'll suck)

MassivelyUpcoming MMO movies (and why they'll suck) originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10000-bc300batmanblizzardchris-metzenchristopher-lambertcity-of-heroesdiablodoomdorothy-parkerdouble-dragoneverquestfeaturedfrank-millerhollywoodjoystiqfeatureslord-of-the-ringsmichael-gordonmmo-moviesmortal-kombatpeter-jacksonraidenresident-evilstarcraftstreet-fighter-the-moviesuperhero-moviessuperman-returnsthe-dark-knightthomas-tulltolkientom-desantotransformersuwe-bollvideogame-moviewarcraft-2watchmenworld-of-warcraftwrath-of-the-lich-kingx-menThu, 03 Apr 2008 11:30:00 EST