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[Dark Legends launches on Apple devices, hits 500K players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/dark-legends-launches-on-apple-devices-hits-500k-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/dark-legends-launches-on-apple-devices-hits-500k-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/dark-legends-launches-on-apple-devices-hits-500k-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Dark Legends
The tortured souls of the underworld Apple users have twiddled their thumbs and sharpened their canines for over a month now, a month that Android and Chrome users have played Dark Legends to their hearts' content. After that long wait, iOS owners can stop penning brooding poetry on Livejournal and start playing the game proper: Spacetime Studios has released Dark Legends on the App Store.

Apple users can now joining the 500,000-plus Dark Legends community by simply downloading the game from the store and getting their vamp on. Edward-wannabes have a daunting task in front of them, however, as all of the darker fantasy forces are out to be a serious pain in their neck.

Dark Legends follows in the wake of Spacetime's enormously popular Pocket Legends and Star Legends. It's available as a free download with optional in-app purchases and can be played over wifi, edge, 3G, and 4G networks.

Our own Beau is livestreaming Dark Legends today on Massively TV, so be sure to see what he thinks of the game!

[Source: Spacetime Studios press release]

MassivelyDark Legends launches on Apple devices, hits 500K players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapp-storeappleapple-app-storechromedark-legendsdraculaedwardf2pfree-to-playiosipadiphoneipod-touchitouchlaunchmobilemobile-mmoobscure-livejournal-referencepocket-legendsspacetimespacetime-studiosstar-legendsvampireMon, 07 May 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Dark Legends' cash shop, Thinix, and Parallel Mafia's launch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/mmobility-dark-legends-cash-shop-thinix-and-parallel-mafias/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/mmobility-dark-legends-cash-shop-thinix-and-parallel-mafias/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/mmobility-dark-legends-cash-shop-thinix-and-parallel-mafias/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dark Legends screenshot
I know this is not what you want to hear if you are a fan of Spacetime Studios and were really excited about it new title, Dark Legends, but here goes: The energy mechanic that seems to have so many players upset is really not that bad at all. See, at some point many games decided to use a limited amount of energy to fuel character actions, and once it runs out, it seems like game over. It has always been the case (ever since Farmville first made the mechanic so popular that misguided gamers thought Zynga had somehow invented it) that energy in these sorts of games refills naturally, over time, for free.

I played through Dark Legends on launch night and was able to complete an entire campaign with some energy left over. Sure, I had to pause once to refill a couple of bars (they take five minutes each to refill), but other than that, I had no issues with it. If the energy becomes an issue at later levels, I do not know.

Let's not confuse things here: The energy mechanic in Dark Legends is nothing new, it's not a scam, and it does not force players to do anything. Allow me to explain, then we're moving on to other mobile MMO news.

Continue reading MMObility: Dark Legends' cash shop, Thinix, and Parallel Mafia's launch

MassivelyMMObility: Dark Legends' cash shop, Thinix, and Parallel Mafia's launch originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmandark-legendsfeaturedinspiron-duoIOSiphoneMMObilitymobileparallel-mafiaperbluespacetime-studiosthinixvideoFri, 13 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Parallel Mafia is not a typical Mafia game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/mmobility-parallel-mafia-is-not-a-typical-mafia-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/mmobility-parallel-mafia-is-not-a-typical-mafia-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/mmobility-parallel-mafia-is-not-a-typical-mafia-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Parallel Mafia icon
If you have played Parallel Kingdom by PerBlue before, then a lot of what I am going to describe might sound familiar. If not, then it might sound very unique and exciting. The truth is that I have been attempting to get into Parallel Kingdom for a while but always found myself a bit overwhelmed, so I was excited to be invited to check out PerBlue's new title Parallel Mafia. I hoped that I might squeeze in some questions about Parallel Kingdom while I had the team on the line. Sure enough, I not only got introduced to the new title but left the interview knowing a lot more about Parallel Kingdom. I have been playing heavily since then. As I compare the two titles, I can see a lot of similarities, but there are some nice differences as well.

Both titles are location-based MMORPGs. I have always wanted more options in the genre, but I imagine it's a tough one to develop in. What's the point of the real-life connection? Why would players want to play in a game that is basically spawned on top of Google Maps?

Continue reading MMObility: Parallel Mafia is not a typical Mafia game

MassivelyMMObility: Parallel Mafia is not a typical Mafia game originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedgoogle-mapsiOSiphonelocation-basedmafia-warsmmobilitymobileperbluepocket-legendssmartphonespacetime-studiosstar-legendsUltima-OnlineZyngaFri, 16 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The 16 MMOs in my pocket]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/mmobility-the-16-mmos-in-my-pocket/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/mmobility-the-16-mmos-in-my-pocket/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/mmobility-the-16-mmos-in-my-pocket/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

HTC Inspire picture
I have a smartphone that is pretty much filled to the brim with actual, functional, persistent MMORPGs. Some of them are three-dimensional romps through massive worlds filled with dungeons and dragons; others are representational browser-based games that work through the phone's native browser; and the rest are hardly nothing more than a few dots on the screen and impressionistic gameplay.

Still, they are MMOs. I love having access to them, and over the last year I have actually grown to love simple, clever design and basic artwork over almost anything else. Forget Guild Wars 2; we'll hear enough about that to make us choke. Sure, it might be a fun game, but I'm a tech guy from the Bizarro universe. I prefer to see how little tech I need to game with. I want to push the limits even lower.

Anyway, it's springtime here in Texas, so it's time to clean out all sorts of crap from my life. I organize all of my hundreds of songs, films, movies and art pieces and get my digital life in order as well. This process includes tweaking my current line-up of basic technology and downloading any updates for the games that exist on those devices. It's time to cull the weak and glorify the wonderful.

Continue reading MMObility: The 16 MMOs in my pocket

MassivelyMMObility: The 16 MMOs in my pocket originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapplebeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddark-legendsdie2niteelemental-knights-online-the-worldempire-onlinefeaturedglitchHTC-inspireillyriadillyriad-gamesIOSiphoneMMObilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoOnLiveopinionorder-and-chaos-onlineparallel-kingdomperbluephonepocket-legendssmartphonespacetime-studiosstar-legendsstewart-butterfieldthe-infinite-blacktibiaMEtiny-specktraviantraviansVendetta-Onlinewarspear-onlineworld-of-midgardFri, 02 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Let's make a mobile MMO, part four]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/mmobility-lets-make-a-mobile-mmo-part-four/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/mmobility-lets-make-a-mobile-mmo-part-four/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/mmobility-lets-make-a-mobile-mmo-part-four/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Game Sketches
So here we are at the last part of a four-part mini-series in which Dave Toulouse, indie developer of games like Golemizer and Star Corsairs, and I have attempted to make a working mobile MMO. I started the series with the hopes of fostering discussion over design as well, and we have gotten some great conversations going in the comments section! I think many MMO gamers dream about game design at some point, and some go beyond that point and actually create a game. It can be tough, as this series has shown, just to get the basics down.

Well, here we are at the last. I wanted to go over some of the best ideas the readers had, cover what we were able to do with the actual game, and debate how much further it would need to go to be considered officially "done."

Continue reading MMObility: Let's make a mobile MMO, part four

MassivelyMMObility: Let's make a mobile MMO, part four originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindbrowserbrowser-baseddave-toulousef2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpgolemizerhtcIOSipadiphoneMMObilitymobilesmartphonestar-corsairsworgoltFri, 24 Feb 2012 10:00:00 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[RIFT companion app brings chat, events, and loot to Android]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/rift-companion-app-brings-chat-events-and-loot-to-android-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/rift-companion-app-brings-chat-events-and-loot-to-android-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/rift-companion-app-brings-chat-events-and-loot-to-android-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

RIFT Mobile
RIFT is stepping up its mobile connectivity game with the newly released RIFT mobile companion app, now for Android. The application contains what you might expect from a companion app, such as friend and guild chat, officer chat, and other guild capabilities, but it also features unique bits like zone event notifications, which can notify you when a zone event begins on your server. Of course, you can also filter which of these battles deserves a notification.

Perhaps most interestingly, you can also earn in-game loot by participating in what appears to be some kind of minigame. This game can reward players with crafting items, planar treasure, and artifacts, which are sent directly to their characters' mail-boxes. For the most part, it looks to be a pretty good tool for people who want to stay connected to the game even when they're not at their computers.

For the full details on the app, just click on through the link below. Meanwhile, if you want to skip the fluff and just grab the app, it's available for free on the iTunes store and now on the Android Market.

MassivelyRIFT companion app brings chat, events, and loot to Android originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappdroidiosiphoneipodmobilemobile-companion-appmobile-gamingriftrift-apprift-companion-apprift-mobilerift-mobile-companion-apprift-planes-of-telaratriontrion-worldsThu, 26 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Raising the quality bar: gamigo CEOs talk F2P success]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/raising-the-quality-bar-gamigo-ceos-talk-f2p-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/raising-the-quality-bar-gamigo-ceos-talk-f2p-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/raising-the-quality-bar-gamigo-ceos-talk-f2p-success/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

gamigo
If you want to get the full scoop on how to make a free-to-play publishing studio work, there are few better people to talk to than the guys running Germany-based gamigo. Co-CEOs Patrick Streppel and Rainer Markussen have had years to experiment and learn from the free-to-play market, as gamigo has been involved with dozens of titles across the globe.

Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, the duo says that the studio splits their attention between self-produced titles and already-made Asian MMOs that are transplanted to a different market, and the two are quite different indeed. "With our self-produced titles we are trying to merge the two branches, so in a game like Cultures Online you have traditional browser-game monetisation like saving time, spending a little bit of money here and there. But they also have the more Asian-style revenue streams like crafting, enchanting, and paying for increasing the probability of success," Streppel said.

The CEOs state that F2P actually caters better to hardcore players since those players will presumably be around for a long time and F2P will save them money over subscriptions. They also discuss how gamigo's had to "raise the quality bar" to stay competitive. The free-to-play world isn't about cutting-edge graphics, Streppel says, but instead "balancing, more about features, about gameplay depth."

Because of their experiences, the CEOs have said that they've had to abandon complete genres such as sports and racing that proved to be failures for the company. They also predict that F2P will be coming soon to consoles in a big way, just as the iPhone and iPad market has embraced it.

MassivelyRaising the quality bar: gamigo CEOs talk F2P success originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asian-mmobusiness-modelcultures-onlinef2pfree-to-playgamesindustry.bizgamigointerviewipadiphonePatrick-StreppelRainer-MarkussenTue, 10 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Of apps and patches]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/enter-at-your-own-rift-of-apps-and-patches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/enter-at-your-own-rift-of-apps-and-patches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/enter-at-your-own-rift-of-apps-and-patches/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Rift grotto
On the surface, things have been relatively quiet in RIFT. The Fae Yule Event moved along merrily, but there hasn't been much revealed about update 1.7 yet. Fans are so used to the rapid pace of updates that they've made a minigame out of guessing what's coming and when it will arrive.

But if you're wondering whether the team took the holidays off and left behind its work, fear not! Just a few days ago, Trion Worlds revealed a new iPhone app called RIFT Mobile and held its first developer Q&A with the community, during which it provided lots of new tidbits of information for RIFT fans to look forward to. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, we'll look at the highlights.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Of apps and patches

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Of apps and patches originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>defiantsenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedguardianshal-hanlinIPhonekaren-bryanmobile-appriftrift-mobileroleplayingsmartphonetelaratriontrion-worldsupdate-1.7Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The year in mobile]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/mmobility-the-year-in-mobile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/mmobility-the-year-in-mobile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/mmobility-the-year-in-mobile/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

What a year, huh? We gamers have seen a lot of changes, but especially in the mobile market. New devices came and went, technologies spread out even further in the world, and MMO gaming established itself on the smallest screens possible. Of course, the mobile market is not as large as the standard MMO market, but it is definitely growing. As more devices appear, more players come to fill up the games.

Our phones are not what they used to be, even five years ago. They are now truly tiny and powerful computing devices that are always connected. A player can literally live all of his digital life on one small device. If we look at the laptop and netbook market, we see even more growth and power. All of these devices need games to play on them, and MMOs fit perfectly into the mobile lifestyle.

Click past the cut and I'll recap many of the best stories from Massively's mobile coverage!

Continue reading MMObility: The year in mobile

MassivelyMMObility: The year in mobile originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedchromeconquer-onlineempire-onlinef2pfacebookfeaturedfleckfree-to-playftpGameloftglitchgraal-onlinehotdog-studiohphp-touchpadIOSipadiphoneMMObilitymobilenc-softOnLiveorder-and-chaos-onlinepocket-legendsself-aware-gamesshadow-citiesspacetime-studiosstar-legendsstewart-butterfieldtiny-speckworld-of-magicWorld-of-WarcraftyslandiaFri, 30 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Monkey Quest goes portable]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/monkey-quest-goes-portable/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/monkey-quest-goes-portable/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/monkey-quest-goes-portable/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Is it a blast of combos, or did he blast a combo? Truly an existential mystery.
If you or your children are fond of Nickelodeon's Monkey Quest, you may have run into the unavoidable problem that the game requires you to be home. Like many other games, however, Monkey Quest is hopping on the mobile bandwagon with Monkey Quest: Thunderbow. Available now for the iPhone and iPad, the game stars a specific monkey from the world of Ook, the eponymous Thunderbow, as he seeks to dethrone the evil cat king Zotan.

Gameplay is managed in a similar style as the popular Angry Birds games, with the caveat being that Angry Birds doesn't allow you to earn special items and equipment for use in the main Monkey Quest game. Regular updates are planned for the game to help keep players engaged and interested as Thunderbow continues his quest. So if you've got one of the portable devices and your child can't get enough monkey business, it's worth a look.

[Source: Nickelodeon press release]

MassivelyMonkey Quest goes portable originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleappsipadiphoneipodmobile-appsmobile-gamesmobile-gamingmonkeymonkey-questmonkey-quest-thunderbowmonkeysnew-titlesnewsnickelodeonookFri, 16 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iOS MMO Lords at War to launch this Friday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/new-iphone-and-ipad-mmo-lords-at-war-to-launch-this-friday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/new-iphone-and-ipad-mmo-lords-at-war-to-launch-this-friday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/14/new-iphone-and-ipad-mmo-lords-at-war-to-launch-this-friday/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Lords at War
Veraxon Entertainment announced today that its new free-to-play iPad and iPhone title, Lords at War, will launch this Friday. The title is a resource-management strategy game that takes place in the World of Midgard, where a war between the factions of Alliance and Fury is taking place. Players will have to build up a city, raise an army, and go to war for their faction of choice. The title is available on iOS this Friday.

MassivelyiOS MMO Lords at War to launch this Friday originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfree-to-playiosipadiphonelords-at-warmobileresource-managementstrategyveraxonveraxon-entertainmentWed, 14 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Glitch developer says mobile gaming is dominating the games industry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/glitch-developer-says-mobile-gaming-is-dominating-the-games-indu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/glitch-developer-says-mobile-gaming-is-dominating-the-games-indu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/24/glitch-developer-says-mobile-gaming-is-dominating-the-games-indu/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Glitch
Forget consoles and PCs -- mobile gaming is prepped to be the number one gaming platform for the next decade, according to Glitch developer Tiny Speck. Vice President of Product and Operations Kakul Srivastava says we're already seeing it everywhere: "It is what is happening right now. I think the killer console is going to be your mobile device. That is absolutely where people will play more rich and involving, and even graphically intensive games."

With the newest editions of smartphones outpacing their predecessors and coming out much faster than the next console generation, Srivastava thinks it's not surprising that mobile gaming has momentum in the industry. "That pace of change is why mobile devices are going to be the console of the future. The way player interaction and player needs are changing, it's much faster than the five to seven years [of console development] that we're talking about," she said.

She points to BioWare's comments that the studio would be looking into mobile versions of its established franchises as an example of this shift.

MassivelyGlitch developer says mobile gaming is dominating the games industry originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbiowareconsoleconsolesgame-platformgamesindustry.bizgaming-platformglitchiphoneKakul-Srivastavapcsmartphonestiny-speckMon, 24 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: More news and tech from the world of mobile]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mmobility-more-news-and-tech-from-the-world-of-mobile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mmobility-more-news-and-tech-from-the-world-of-mobile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mmobility-more-news-and-tech-from-the-world-of-mobile/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Giant Cell Phone screenshot
Welcome again to MMObility, your weekly stop for all things mobile! I've decided that it would be a good idea to make this column concentrate not only on the games for your phones, tablets and netbooks but on some of the different tech and items that any mobile fan will probably love. The games are the centerpiece, of course, but this is no fast-moving genre like "standard" MMORPGs... so filling in some of the gaps between development cycles with tech talk only makes sense.

This week I have a bit of news and a bit of tech. Feel free to chime in with your comments, especially if you have anything to add that might help people play better or shop better. Now, click past the cut!

Continue reading MMObility: More news and tech from the world of mobile

MassivelyMMObility: More news and tech from the world of mobile originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedcrystal-sagaf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftphp-touchpadIOSiphonemmobilitymobilestyluswarspear-onlineworld-of-dragonsTue, 06 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple releases Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles to the app store]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/apple-releases-star-legends-the-blackstar-chronicles-to-the-app/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/apple-releases-star-legends-the-blackstar-chronicles-to-the-app/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/apple-releases-star-legends-the-blackstar-chronicles-to-the-app/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Star Legends
It's been a long time winding its way through the Apple approving process, but Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles is now available for iOS devices. The game, which is free with optional microtransaction purchases, is a universal app, so it will play on the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad.

Apple users have had to wait significantly longer to get their hands on Star Legends than Android players, as the Android version was released much earlier this month. Spacetime Studios promises gamers that a "majority" of the content of the game is completely free-to-play, and characters can reach the level cap without having to pay a dime.

If you're interested in our impressions of this sci-fi blastathon, check out our Rise and Shiny Recap of Star Legends!

Gallery: Star Legends

MassivelyApple releases Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles to the app store originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapp-storeappleapple-storeblackstarf2pfree-to-playiosipadiphoneipod-touchituneslaunchmobilemobile-mmoreleaserise-and-shinyspacetime-studiosstar-legendsstar-legends-the-blackstar-chroniclesFri, 26 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC Europe 2011: Richard Garriott says mobile and social titles are 'the future of games']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/gdc-europe-2011-richard-garriott-says-mobile-and-social-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/gdc-europe-2011-richard-garriott-says-mobile-and-social-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/gdc-europe-2011-richard-garriott-says-mobile-and-social-titles/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Richard Garriott
Delivering the final keynote address at this year's GDC Europe, Richard Garriott said that the industry is rapidly moving away from MMOs as we know them and toward mobile and social gaming -- and that companies need to hop on board, lest they be left behind.

Garriott used his iPhone as an example of this new direction: "I am now much more of a gamer than I ever been in my whole life, but the vast majority of the gaming I have played has been on this machine. I'm a devout believer that this is the current and near-term future of games."

He defines this "new era" of gaming by having cheap games that are simple to use and connect you with real-world friends. While he thinks earlier social games like FarmVille were too simple and unappealing, Garriott says that they're evolving quickly.

During the speech, Garriott expressed regret that his team didn't stick by the original vision for Tabula Rasa, and he urged fellow developers not to trade in their dreams in order to follow the company line. His new company Portalarium plans to "reinvent roleplaying yet again" by releasing a series of products that will capitalize on social gaming and retrain players to think beyond mere combat to a wider experience.

MassivelyGDC Europe 2011: Richard Garriott says mobile and social titles are 'the future of games' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>farmvillegame-developers-conferencegdcgdc-2011iphonekeynotekeynote-addresskeynote-speechmobile-gamingPortalariumprivate-astronautprivate-astronaut-is-a-funny-termreinvent-roleplayingrichard-garriottroleplayingsocial-gamingtabula-rasaWed, 17 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Shadow Cities confuses the heck out of me]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/mmobility-shadow-cities-confuses-the-heck-out-of-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/mmobility-shadow-cities-confuses-the-heck-out-of-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/mmobility-shadow-cities-confuses-the-heck-out-of-me/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I like unusual games. No, really, I love them. I would rather puzzle away at some oddball of a game than be forced to play the same old game that I have played before. I don't mind taking my time with a new title, learning its rules and lore. Of course, my goal is not to hunt down every morsel of information about a game, either. There is a fine balance between knowing how to play a game and practically keeping a cheat sheet next to my laptop or phone.

Sometimes a game comes along and makes me really scratch my head. It's rare, though, especially in this age of YouTube videos and newbie Q and A threads. Shadow Cities has given me more of a hard time than almost any other game in recent memory.

The question is: is this a good thing or a bad thing? Click past the cut and we'll discuss it.

Continue reading MMObility: Shadow Cities confuses the heck out of me

MassivelyMMObility: Shadow Cities confuses the heck out of me originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpIOSiphoneMMObilitymobileshadow-citiesTue, 02 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: is mobile at risk?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/mmobility-is-mobile-at-risk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/mmobility-is-mobile-at-risk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/26/mmobility-is-mobile-at-risk/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It doesn't take much effort to see evolving and emerging trends in today's connected world. Memes, popular fashion, even popular methods of becoming inebriated -- basically if we humans hear, read or talk about it we will probably take it on as our own. It's just how we are, we need to fit in with each other a lot of the time in order to feel connected.

I suppose it should be no surprise that we do this with our video games as well. In fact, I would go so far as to say that most of the games I find borrow very heavily from each other, sometimes to the point that I wonder if the developers didn't literally just cover their game with a new title and skin and ship it out to players. This is a time in which the same-old same-old is shrugged off because developers "didn't promise anything revolutionary." That's right, we players have gone on to provide an excuse for shoddy development, so many developers don't even have to.

It happened with "social" gaming...everyone and their Aunt Tilly jumped into making a Farmville ripoff. The few fantastic titles were covered up by a sea of copycats. Now, is it going to happen in the mobile market? Can such a new market already be seeing it?

Click past the cut and let's talk about it.

Continue reading MMObility: is mobile at risk?

MassivelyMMObility: is mobile at risk? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidangry-birdsbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedcastlecraftf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftphaypi-kingdomhypeIOSipadiphonemafia-warsMMObilitymob-warsmobilepocket-legendsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorTue, 26 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Creating a hidden-object mobile MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/mmobility-creating-a-hidden-object-mobile-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/mmobility-creating-a-hidden-object-mobile-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/mmobility-creating-a-hidden-object-mobile-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Around the time we left for E3, I discovered some of the hidden-object games published by Big Fish Games. I have enjoyed puzzle games in the past, but these seemed to have a nice, dependable quality to them that I had not seen before. On the way home -- during the last several hours of our trip, when it became hard to settle down -- I pulled out Moonfell Wood, a lovely hidden-object game set in a magical world of fairies and princesses. (I think the target audience was obvious.)

It was just a trial, but it was very relaxing. The music was nice and the puzzles were challenging but not mind-crushing, and my wife would look over my shoulder once in a while to point out one of the objects or to help solve a puzzle. It really got me to thinking: could a hidden-object MMO be created for the mobile market?

I think it could. Click past the cut and let's discuss it.

Continue reading MMObility: Creating a hidden-object mobile MMO

MassivelyMMObility: Creating a hidden-object mobile MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbig-fish-gamesdarkfell-woodf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftphidden-objectIOSipadiphoneMMObilitymobilepuzzlepuzzle-piratesthree-rings-designtreasure-seekers-3videoTue, 19 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: My iPhone versus my Android]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/mmobility-my-iphone-versus-my-android/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/mmobility-my-iphone-versus-my-android/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/mmobility-my-iphone-versus-my-android/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I've been lucky enough lately to surround myself with some pretty nifty gadgets. It's not hard, really, being that my mobile phone provider gives me a large discount every two years. Coincidentally, my phones need to be upgraded about every two years, so it works out perfectly. Lately, though, I've been using my phones less and less as phones and more as gaming devices. I text to communicate and also make heavy use of the cameras. They might be called a "phone" but making phone calls is the least I do.

We were generally an iPhone household for a while. When my wife's old original iPhone was upgraded to a 3GS, I got the old one. When we upgraded her to an iPhone 4, I got the 3GS and my mother got the original. (She loves it by the way.) We also have an iPad 1 and 2, but no Android tablet... yet. I do have my HTC Inspire Android phone, though. I've spent enough time with all of them to form a pretty strong opinion on both.

Now, this is not going to be a tech-talk filled column. I don't do that sort of thing. I don't care if I save a few frames per second -- that stuff varies so much anyway. I am going to just lay out how they work for me specifically, and maybe you readers can fill in some blanks with your opinion.

Continue reading MMObility: My iPhone versus my Android

MassivelyMMObility: My iPhone versus my Android originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpiphoneMMObilitymobileopinionTue, 12 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wargaming.net forms partnership to expand into mobile gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/wargaming-net-forms-partnership-to-expand-into-mobile-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/wargaming-net-forms-partnership-to-expand-into-mobile-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/wargaming-net-forms-partnership-to-expand-into-mobile-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

World of Tanks on an iPhone? Perhaps, perhaps not, but something similar might be a possibility as Wargaming.net announced that it's teamed up with mobile game developer DAVA Consulting. The two companies have formed a "strategic partnership" for a long-term plan to take the highly successful World of Tanks team into the realm of mobile gaming.

The partnership will allow Wargaming.net to start exploring gaming possibilities on mobile platforms, including iOS devices. DAVA is located in Eastern Europe and provides a wide variety of services from bottom-up application development, consulting, handling ports, and game testing.

Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi apparently wants to make as big of a splash on the iPhone as the company did with the PC: "Having known the DAVA team for some time, we are thrilled to have them spearhead our efforts in the mobile games and applications development. We are looking forward to establishing a strong presence on the mobile market and DAVA is the best partner to assist us."

MassivelyWargaming.net forms partnership to expand into mobile gaming originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>davadava-consultingf2pfree-to-playiosiphonemobile-gamingmobile-mmostrategic-partnershipVictor-Kislyiwargaming.networld-of-tankswotThu, 30 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Third-party development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/19/eve-evolved-third-party-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/19/eve-evolved-third-party-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/19/eve-evolved-third-party-development/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

When EVE Online was first released in 2003, it was a primitive beast from a small indie studio operating out of a tiny office in Reykjavik, Iceland. Although EVE has been expanded over the years, not all of that development has come from creator CCP Games. EVE players routinely step in to fill gaps in the game's functionality through the development of third-party applications, websites and tools. Early apps like the EVEMon skill planner were very limited in what information they could access about a player's character, but with the introduction of the EVE API system, a huge wealth of information became available.

Since then, we've seen a resurgence of third-party app and tool development, producing impressive apps like Capsuleer and Aura for the iPhone. We've also seen some incredibly useful websites like the ICSC jump planner suite, gambling site SOMER.blink and the Dotlan EVE maps with regularly updating statistics. Most app developers work on the projects in their spare time, and until now they've relied on donations or advertising revenue to keep up with server costs or keep development worth the time invested. As EVE is CCP's intellectual property, it's illegal for anyone to make money from it without the company's permission. This week, CCP released the first draft of a contract that would allow developers to monetise their apps, but the proposal was not received well by the EVE community.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at third-party app development and what's wrong with the proposed deal.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Third-party development

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Third-party development originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappappsauracapsuleerccpccp-atlasccp-eveccp-gamesccp-zuluchribbadevblogdevelopersdevelopmentdierdra-vaaleveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedintellectual-propertyipiphonelegallegalesemonetizationmonetizeopinionplayer-developersplayer-developmentthird-partythird-party-applicationsthird-party-developmentSun, 19 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: As I pack these devices for E3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/mmobility-as-i-pack-these-devices-for-e3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/mmobility-as-i-pack-these-devices-for-e3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/mmobility-as-i-pack-these-devices-for-e3/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As I sit here waiting for a fresh reinstall of Windows Vista on one of my desktop PCs, I decided to take stock of all of the equipment currently in my nerd life. It's funny that when you have access to more devices, habits start to form around those devices. My morning ritual is typically to get up, start up the laptop, and prepare breakfast while it readies. Then I sit down and poke around on Twitter, check email, or catch up on different blog sites. Sometimes I will make a cup of tea and sit in the stoop of the backdoor with my iPad, waiting for my wife to get up.

Over time I have discovered that some devices work better for certain tasks than others. For example, I prefer to write my articles on my basic laptop, but I prefer to finalize them with photos and re-editing on my desktop. I now would rather check my email and Twitter on my iPad (I got my wife's old one when she moved up to an iPad 2) and would rather use my iPhone for music than my HTC: Inspire. It's odd, what a mix of devices I have now... but how inconvenient.

So I wanted to go over a few comparisons between all of the devices and talk about what I might find at E3 next week. Click past the cut!

Continue reading MMObility: As I pack these devices for E3

MassivelyMMObility: As I pack these devices for E3 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basede3e3-2011featuredhtcipadiphonelaptopMMObilitymobilemobile-mmoTue, 07 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Three new games for your browser or smartphone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/mmobility-three-new-games-for-your-browser-iphone-or-android/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/mmobility-three-new-games-for-your-browser-iphone-or-android/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/mmobility-three-new-games-for-your-browser-iphone-or-android/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Welcome once again to your weekly source for all things mobile, portable, browser and handheld. Some weeks I want to discuss something deeper, something that really gets our blood boiling and our gears cranking. It seems as though there are many of you who think that mobile technology as it is now is going to stay as it is for a long time. With that presumption comes a sort of dismissal of the mobile market as nothing more than a toy right now. To clear up some of the confusion, I want to note that my love for mobile games and devices has almost nothing to do with the technology that exists now.

Sure, I love my HTC Inspire and my iPhone. My wife uses her iPad so much (and she's a PC gamer, too) that we need to get her an iPad 2 just for the increased usability. She has an iPhone 4, and I also have a basic laptop that we use the heck out of. It's easy to see that mobility means a lot to us. Even with all the wonderful technology that exists now, I am turned on by the stuff that will exist soon. Mark my words.

And then there are weeks like this one, a rough one of migraines, PC issues (another reason I like mobile) and other real-life stuff. So instead of diving into a deep discussion about the meaning of the term MMO or how to pick the best portable device, I decided to just show you three new games that have caught my eye. Click past the cut and check them out!

Continue reading MMObility: Three new games for your browser or smartphone

MassivelyMMObility: Three new games for your browser or smartphone originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 May 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aigrindandroidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedeverquestf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpipadiphonemmobilitymmortsrtstraviantravian-gamestraviangamestraviansveraxonveraxon-entertainmentwarspear-onlineworld-of-midgardWorld-of-WarcraftTue, 24 May 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The constants of the console]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/mmobility-the-constants-of-the-console/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/mmobility-the-constants-of-the-console/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/mmobility-the-constants-of-the-console/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Once again I find myself envious of the console gamer lifestyle. If you think about it even for a bit, you can see how they almost have the best of all gaming worlds. Most popular console titles support some version of multiplayer that can simulate an MMO. Granted, players don't have access to potentially thousands of players at once and all that "massive" entails, but if we are even mildly honest, we'd admit that a great many MMO players spend their time in an instanced dungeon with the same handful of people, most of the time.

A console is also portable and standard. If you buy a console game, you pretty much know it will run on your system. Sure, there are hiccups here and there, but those would be generally the same hiccups that all players would have. The games are made for the console, not the other way around. My jealousy has begun to affect how I play -- I am starting to find ways to step further and further away from the standard PC setup, and hopefully I will never utter the words "upgrade my PC" again.

Browser-based and portable gaming are much like the console market. Let's discuss how so and why this really makes me feel good. Click past the cut!

Continue reading MMObility: The constants of the console

MassivelyMMObility: The constants of the console originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedbrowser-based-MMOsfeaturedflash-basediphonejavammobilitymobilesmartphoneunityTue, 17 May 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you interested in mobile MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/14/the-daily-grind-are-you-interested-in-mobile-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/14/the-daily-grind-are-you-interested-in-mobile-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/14/the-daily-grind-are-you-interested-in-mobile-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With the growing ubiquity of smart phones, tablet PCs, and other devices that hook up to the internet on the road, mobile MMOs have begun to take off. Admittedly, the gameplay is still not wholly complex, but games like Pocket Legends have staked their futures on the novelty of an MMO you can play from anywhere while doing almost anything. While you might be able to fault the overall depth of the experience, being able to log into a massive and persistent world on a portable device is still worth some novelty.

Of course, the real question is whether or not there's any merit to the game beyond novelty. After all, if you're on the go, you're generally doing something that would require concentration, not tapping at your phone's screen. The field is still expanding, but today we ask -- are you interested in mobile MMOs? Are they the sort of thing that tickles your fancy? Or do you see them as a neat idea that ultimately isn't really suited to the way you like to play online in the first place?

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: Are you interested in mobile MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>droidipadiphonemobilemobile-devicesmobile-gamingopinionpocket-legendssmartphonestabletsSat, 14 May 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DOFUS: Battles available in the App Store]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/dofus-battles-available-in-the-app-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/dofus-battles-available-in-the-app-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/dofus-battles-available-in-the-app-store/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

What's more fun than using the word DOFUS in a sentence? Using the words DOFUS: Battles, of course. Happily, the devs at Ankama have given us ample reason to do both thanks to the newly released iOS title called, you guessed it, DOFUS: Battles.

The strategy game is available in the App Store today for both iPhones and iPads and is an interesting blend of RPG, RTS, and tower defense mechanics, all tied to the game world of the wildly successful DOFUS MMORPG. Players will manage an army consisting of 12 heroes and a dragon, and the new game borrows 12 classes from its parent MMO and spices things up with 28 levels, three minigames, and more than 170 unique equipment items.

DOFUS: Battles currently comes in four flavors: a free version with battle and class limitations, the full version, and two corresponding HD versions for higher screen resolutions. You can learn more at the game's official site.

MassivelyDOFUS: Battles available in the App Store originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 May 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ankamaapp-storedofusdofus-battlesf2pfantasyfree-to-playiosipadiphonemobilepress-releaseFri, 13 May 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Order and Chaos online bring potential to the market]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/mmobility-order-and-chaos-online-bring-potential-to-the-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/mmobility-order-and-chaos-online-bring-potential-to-the-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/mmobility-order-and-chaos-online-bring-potential-to-the-market/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserfast-and-furiousfeaturedGameloftHaloiphoneMMObilitymobileorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-onlineWorld-of-WarcraftTue, 03 May 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Order & Chaos Online available in Canadian App Store [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/order-and-chaos-online-available-in-canadian-app-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/order-and-chaos-online-available-in-canadian-app-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/order-and-chaos-online-available-in-canadian-app-store/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We took a brief look at Order & Chaos Online last month courtesy of a trailer on the game's Facebook page. Now, it looks as if the mobile World of Warcraft knockoff could be coming to an iOS device near you in the very near future.

Touch Arcade is reporting that Gameloft has released the pocket MMORPG to the Canadian App Store, a move the publication says is "standard operating procedure for a wide-scale beta of sorts." Apparently other mobile dev outfits have used the Canadian market as a barometer both for how their games will be received and as a testbed for necessary tweaks.

Gameloft has set Order & Chaos' price point at $6.99, which includes three months' worth of subscription time. You read that right: It's a sub-based mobile game, with single-month rates of $.99 while three-month and six-month packages go for $1.99 and $2.99 respectively. Head to Touch Arcade for more details.

[Update: The game is now available in the U.S. market as well!]

MassivelyOrder & Chaos Online available in Canadian App Store [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebusiness-modelsfantasygameloftiosipadiphoneipod-touchmobilemobile-mmoorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-onlinepocket-mmosubscription-basedtouch-arcadeTue, 26 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: A handful of games for your portables]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/mmobility-a-handful-of-games-for-your-portables/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/mmobility-a-handful-of-games-for-your-portables/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/mmobility-a-handful-of-games-for-your-portables/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

To be honest, there are not nearly as many true MMOs available for your iPhone or Android device as I would like. It's a new market, of course, and the number of offerings is growing, but typically a lot of the MMO gaming you will be doing on your phone will be through your browser. This isn't a bad thing when you consider the quality of many of the browser games out there, but more MMOs cannot come quickly enough. So when I find one that I like, I would like to tell as many people as I can.

And when I find more than that, I have to say something about all of them. Normally I would do a report on each game individually, but in this case, I have not had as much time with each game to give a full and decent report. It will be up to you, fair reader, to investigate these games with me. Don't worry -- they won't cost you much at all.

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

Continue reading MMObility: A handful of games for your portables

MassivelyMMObility: A handful of games for your portables originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapp storeAppStorebeau-hindmanbetaeve-onlinefeaturedHTC-inspireiosiphoneMMObilitymobilemobile-mmorpgouter-empiresrunessmartphoneyslandiaTue, 19 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard adds WoW guild chat to iPhone Mobile Armory app]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/blizzard-adds-wow-guild-chat-to-iphone-mobile-armory-app/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/blizzard-adds-wow-guild-chat-to-iphone-mobile-armory-app/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/blizzard-adds-wow-guild-chat-to-iphone-mobile-armory-app/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you're hopelessly addicted to guild chat -- and you've got an iPhone or iPod Touch -- Blizzard has a new app designed to make sure you never miss another moment of drama. A new remote guild chat feature has been added to the World of Warcraft Mobile Armory app, and players are now able to chat and send whispers via their Apple mobile device.

You'll pay $2.99 per month for the privilege, and the WoW remote subscription also grants you access to the game's auction house functionality while you're on the move. Blizzard is demoing the service -- and waiving fees -- for a limited time, during which the guild chat feature will be enabled on select servers (currently Fizzcrank and Lightbringer). More details are available at the official announcement page.

There's no official word on an Android version, though ZAM reports that it "should be released soon."

MassivelyBlizzard adds WoW guild chat to iPhone Mobile Armory app originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housefantasyguild-chatiosiphoneipod-touchmobilemobile-armorymobile-armory-appremote-guild-chatworld-of-warcraftwowwow-remote-auction-housewow-remote-servicesTue, 19 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Mobile MMO predictions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/mmobility-mobile-mmo-predictions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/mmobility-mobile-mmo-predictions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/mmobility-mobile-mmo-predictions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

My job is so dependent on my knowing current trends and being up on all the latest titles. I also try to have a good idea about what might be coming. Really, it's not that hard to get a grasp on future trends; one trip to the mall to witness wild packs of 10-year-old girls, all running around gossip-texting on their own iPhones, provides all the evidence to show that mobility and personalization are going to be having a very good decade.

Anyone who is reading this column is probably familiar with the constant upward swing of technology. Peek into any MMO gamer's closet and you will likely find scores of gaming PC parts stacked up amongst retail game boxes (for some reason, we keep those). Over the years, your average MMO gamer will spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on the hobby.

Now the mobile market is following that trend, sort of. Instead of requiring a constant upgrade of individual parts, mobile manufacturers simply require a new purchase of the latest all-in-one device. Some of these devices are good and some bad, but everyone will have one in the next 10 years. If you don't think so, compare the price, power and number of decent PCs now to 10 years ago. Then compare the number of mobile devices in the world from just four years ago to the number right now.

Click past the cut and let's see if we can come up with some interesting predictions.

Continue reading MMObility: Mobile MMO predictions

MassivelyMMObility: Mobile MMO predictions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowser-basedcellularfeaturedipadiphoneMMObilitymobilemobile-gamingTue, 12 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Security 'RIFT' has closed for iOS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/security-rift-has-closed-for-ios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/security-rift-has-closed-for-ios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/security-rift-has-closed-for-ios/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The developers at Trion Worlds have given the players an active way to close the RIFT in security for the iPhone. As reported a couple of weeks ago, RIFT is following in World of Warcraft's footsteps with a mobile authenticator. Most of the time, being called a clone of WoW is a negative mark on the game, but in this case, it's a matter of personal security.

RIFT launched its authenticator on the Android platform first, giving those customers more peace of mind in the wake of reports of holes in the game's security. Today, Community Manager Erick "Zann" Adams posted that the authenticator is now available for the iPhone and other iOS products as well.

Because of the growing popularity of MMOs and other online games, these extra security measures are more than welcomed by the gaming community. If you are a RIFT player, then you can rush to the iTunes store or the Android market to pick up the authenticator or jump to the RIFT game site to find out more information.

MassivelySecurity 'RIFT' has closed for iOS originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid-marketauthenticatorerick-adamshackerhackingiosiphoneiTunes-storeRIFTrift-planes-of-telarasecuritysmartphoneTriontrion-worldszannMon, 11 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[iOS MMO commercials draw attention]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/ios-mmo-commercials-draw-attention/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/ios-mmo-commercials-draw-attention/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/ios-mmo-commercials-draw-attention/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

As our own Beau Hindman knows well, mobile MMOs are on the verge of taking off in a big way, and now they have the commercials to prove it.

Pocket Legends, the hit iOS and Android MMO from last year, may be the first mobile online RPG to release a nation-wide commercial. The ad, which features a high-schooler with a not-so-embarrassing secret in his pocket, will air on G4, Cartoon Network and Comedy Central, to name just a few venues.

As Pocket Legends is often described as "World of Warcraft in your hand," it's kind of ironic that developer Gameloft is also making pretty much that. Gameloft is renowned for releasing thinly disguised copies of hit games, so it stands to reason that it would take a crack at the reigning champion. The studio just released an online teaser for Order & Chaos Online on its Facebook page, and it's hard not to see the inspiration-slash-knockoff.

You can check out both commercials after the jump!

Continue reading iOS MMO commercials draw attention

MassivelyiOS MMO commercials draw attention originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comedy-centralcommercialcommercialsg4gameloftiosiphoneipodipod-touchmobile-mmomtvorder-and-chaos-onlinepocket-legendsspacetime-studiosteaserworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 22 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pocket Legends adds in all new content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/pocket-legends-adds-in-all-new-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/pocket-legends-adds-in-all-new-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/pocket-legends-adds-in-all-new-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Having met the challenge of packing a whole bunch of fun into a pocket-sized portable experience, the team at Spacetime Studios has turned to stuffing even more fun into its mobile MMO, Pocket Legends. The newest patch has been released and offers much-needed fixes and updates to the game as well as an exciting new area for players to adventure through.

In patch 1.7, players are treated to a new area called Oasis Towne. This area offers up a host of new quests for players to do including all new daily quests, fun new areas to roam in like a museum, and all-new armor sets for players. For more details, head over to the Pocket Legends site, read up on the patch notes, and join the discussion.

MassivelyPocket Legends adds in all new content originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddroidipadiphoneipodmobile-gamemobile-mmooasis-townepatchpocket-legendspocket-legends-patch-1.7spacetimespacetime-studiosMon, 07 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2011: Grey Area's Shadow Cities redefines mobile MMORPGs and immersion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/gdc-2011-gray-areas-shadow-cities-redefines-mobile-mmorpgs-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/gdc-2011-gray-areas-shadow-cities-redefines-mobile-mmorpgs-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/gdc-2011-gray-areas-shadow-cities-redefines-mobile-mmorpgs-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

How does being the main character in a techno-cyberpunk fantasy MMORPG grab you? And when we say "you," we really mean you, as opposed to a digital avatar or a pre-made character archetype. While we're at it, how does playing said MMORPG in the real world, specifically your home town and any cities you may visit, sound?

If you answered "pretty freaking awesome" like we did, keep reading.

We sat down with the guys from Grey Area at last week's GDC to talk about the firm's slick new location-based iPhone MMO called Shadow Cities. We came away with the feeling that while many MMO companies talk a good game when it comes to innovation and driving the genre forward, this small Finnish startup is actually walking the walk.

Continue reading GDC 2011: Grey Area's Shadow Cities redefines mobile MMORPGs and immersion

MassivelyGDC 2011: Grey Area's Shadow Cities redefines mobile MMORPGs and immersion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app-storefantasyfeaturedgame-developers-conferencegdcgdc-2011grey-areagrey-area-labsipadiphonemikko-hamalainenmobilesci-fishadow-citiessmartphonetechnomagevideoville-vesterinenMon, 07 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2011: Spacetime pontificates on pocket MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/02/gdc-2011-spacetime-pontificates-on-pocket-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/02/gdc-2011-spacetime-pontificates-on-pocket-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/02/gdc-2011-spacetime-pontificates-on-pocket-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Although portable MMOs seem like the next logical step in enabling our online gaming addiction, remarkably few titles have graced the field as yet. Of the select few, Spacetime Studio's Pocket Legends heads the pack in style and popularity. It appeals to a wide range of players because the basic game is free; the developer charges players only for expansions and other item shop goodies.

Cinco Barnes took the opportunity to speak at GDC about how Spacetime sorted out the complex issues surrounding portable MMOs, how the studio came up with the payment structure, and what the team learned as it goes forward with its next MMO, Blackstar.

Pocket Legends' roots go back to 2005 when Spacetime Studios took some seed money from NCsoft and began work on a large-space sci-fi MMO for PCs. While the project went bust and NCsoft pulled funding, Spacetime came away with the technology it developed if not the deep pockets to compete in the field. By 2009, the company became enamoured with the iPhone as a gaming device and decided to take the tools it had developed to create a unique game for that platform.

Continue reading GDC 2011: Spacetime pontificates on pocket MMOs

MassivelyGDC 2011: Spacetime pontificates on pocket MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidblackstarcash-shopcinco-barnesdesignf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgame-designgame-developers-conferencegauntletgdcgdc-2011iosipadiphoneipoditem-shopmobile-gamingpocket-legendssmartphonespacetimespacetime-studiosWed, 02 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone MMO Shadow Cities raises $2.5 million in investments]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/iphone-mmo-shadow-cities-raises-2-5-million-in-investments/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/iphone-mmo-shadow-cities-raises-2-5-million-in-investments/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/iphone-mmo-shadow-cities-raises-2-5-million-in-investments/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

As smartphones become increasingly ubiquitous, it's inevitable that we'll start seeing unique uses of the technology involved -- something we're already seeing with Shadow Cities. The iPhone MMO is rather unique, tracking your location and putting you into an active battle with creatures placed on the GPS-enabled map. It's an innovative concept, a sort of game-oriented FourSquare, and one that's apparently intrigued investors enough to pony up big money to the tune of $2.5 million.

This infusion of funding ties into plans to release the game in the US soon, as developer Grey Area has currently only released the game in its native Finland. Players will focus on taking dominion over the streets and completing quests, with the game itself following the free-to-play model complete with cash shop. Shadow Cities is certainly a novel product, and we'll be taking the time to chat with the studio about the game's development and future at GDC next week.

MassivelyiPhone MMO Shadow Cities raises $2.5 million in investments originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-updatesdevelopmentdevelopment-costsf2pfree-to-playgdcgdc-2011gpsgps-mmogrey-areainvestmentsiphonemobile-mmoportable-mmoshadow-citiesupdatesThu, 24 Feb 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spacetime Studios gearing up to release new Blackstar mobile MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/spacetime-studios-gearing-up-to-release-new-blackstar-mobile-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/spacetime-studios-gearing-up-to-release-new-blackstar-mobile-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/spacetime-studios-gearing-up-to-release-new-blackstar-mobile-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Spacetime Studios, makers of the famed Pocket Legends mobile MMORPG, has officially announced the impending release of its long-in-development Blackstar, a story-intensive sci-fi yarn previously set to be published by NCsoft. The game has survived a number of hiccups including developer layoffs and a period of limbo prior to Spacetime's acquisition of the IP, and is now being prepped for a Q2 2011 release on both Android and iOS devices. Blackstar tells the story of a far-future conflict between a coalition of aliens (and their necro-cyborg allies) and the futuristic humans of the United Colonies Defense Force.

The title features a 3D, real-time, persistent MMO world with three character classes, customizable skills and thousands of items to collect and equip. The game is powered by the Spacetime Engine, and looks to bring mobile MMO polish and production design to a new level. "We were able to nurture the IP to its maximum potential through years of development -- a luxury never before seen in mobile gaming. If you ever dreamed of a fully-featured sci-fi MMO that you can take anywhere, look for the first chapter of the Blackstar saga soon," says Spacetime CEO Gary Gattis.

Have a look at the game's official website for more info, and also check out some pre-production video footage after the cut.

Continue reading Spacetime Studios gearing up to release new Blackstar mobile MMO

MassivelySpacetime Studios gearing up to release new Blackstar mobile MMO originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidblackstariOSiPhonemobilemobile-mmonecro-cyborgnew-titlessci-fispacetimespacetime-studiostrailervideoThu, 10 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Five mobile MMOs that are not Pocket Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/02/free-for-all-five-mobile-mmos-that-are-not-pocket-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/02/free-for-all-five-mobile-mmos-that-are-not-pocket-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/02/free-for-all-five-mobile-mmos-that-are-not-pocket-legends/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Mobile MMO gaming is all the rage, didn't you know? All the cool kids are doing it! Well, a lot of them, anyway -- and I can't really vouch for their level of cool. Still, mobile MMO gaming might seem to some as though it is primitive and in its infancy, simply because it is. If you've watched the development of the genre and you realize that it is only about as old as recent smartphones, though, you'd be nothing but impressed at the sheer speed of it all.

Even this year I've seen games pop up from seemingly nowhere, gather tons of players, and prove that gaming on a three-inch screen is completely possible. If you figure the iPad and cheaper (yet more powerful) netbooks into the equation, you find that MMOs work just fine on smaller screens. The recent announcement of the Nintendo 3DS didn't get my blood boiling at all. After all, 3-D didn't make a good movie out of Avatar -- what makes anyone think that is can save pixely single-player games?

The price is right, as well. Most of the mobile MMOs I have found lately (I looked at around 11) were totally free or very cheap. Compare that to the price of your average 3DS game, and I think you'll have a winner.

Click past the cut to see my short list of cool smartphone MMOs.

Continue reading Free for All: Five mobile MMOs that are not Pocket Legends

MassivelyFree for All: Five mobile MMOs that are not Pocket Legends originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanempire-onlinef2pfeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-xifree-to-playftpgraal-classicipadiphonemobilemobile-gamngpocket-mmosportableseven-swordssmartphoneworld-of-magicyslandiaWed, 02 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST