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[Rumor: SOE devs are the focus of Infinity Ward hiring [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/08/rumor-soe-devs-are-the-focus-of-infinity-ward-hiring/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/08/rumor-soe-devs-are-the-focus-of-infinity-ward-hiring/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/08/rumor-soe-devs-are-the-focus-of-infinity-ward-hiring/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As we reported back in November, there have been rumors of a Call of Duty MMOFPS floating around for a while now. With nothing more than a rumor to hold on to at that time, we filed that nugget away in the corner of our brains and went on about our business. However, it appears that another rumor about Infinity Ward looking in the direction of MMOs has bubbled up -- this time on Destructoid. Apparently the current word from industry insiders is that they are targeting and hiring away MMO developers from Sony Online Entertainment.

If these rumors are true, the resultant game could be the source of many fanboy head-explosions -- and we're not talking headshots. Hiring SOE's developers gives IW a ready-made team that is very familiar with the nuts and bolts of coding MMOs. Add to it the rabid fanbase tied to the Call of Duty franchise, and mix in the fact that Infinity Ward is owned by Activision Blizzard, and you can see where we're going with this. Could a Call of Duty MMO be the super-secret MMOFPS that Blizzard is involved with? Is this why SOE has started working on PlanetSide 2: to compete with a potential MMOFPS hybrid from Infinity Ward, Blizzard, and their own ex-employees? While it's all rumor right now, and thus anyone's guess, it certainly makes for a potentially tasty batch of kool-aid.

[Edited to add] Alan "Brenlo" Crosby, Executive Producer for EverQuest II contacted us to let us know that the rumor about the Lead Developer for EverQuest II going to Infinity Ward is absolutely false. He suggested that the rumor may have instead started since previous SOE Lead Developers Jon L. Davis and Rick Baker are working at Infinity Ward currently. So while it seems that current SOE people are off the table, it certainly doesn't stop the potential of a CoD MMO -- especially with talented ex-SOE employees already in-house over at Infinity Ward.

[via Joystiq]

MassivelyRumor: SOE devs are the focus of Infinity Ward hiring [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardbreakingcall-of-dutycodinfinity-wardkool-aidmmommofpsrumorsecret-projectsoesony-online-entertainmentFri, 08 Jan 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LFG in Call of Duty?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/lfg-in-call-of-duty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/lfg-in-call-of-duty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/lfg-in-call-of-duty/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Well, it's a possibility, at any rate. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, was officially released November 10th with what the LA Times described as a "Hollywood-scale launch". The launch expenses turned out to be money well spent, as the game had generated $550 million in sales as of last Saturday. Fans lined up days in advance to pick up their copy of Modern Warfare 2, complete with free night vision goggles.

While this was all very nice for Activision Blizzard, it was the end of the article that really got MMO fans interested: "One person close to the company said it also was considering adapting Call of Duty as a massively multi-player online world. The genre, in which Activision's Blizzard Entertainment subsidiary is a leader, requires huge upfront investments but can be very profitable as players pay a monthly subscription fee."

The possibility of a Call of Duty MMO is an exciting one for a very large group of gamers, and Blizzard is certain to be aware of that. We will definitely be keeping an eye out at Massively for more news on this possibility.

[Thanks Abel!]

MassivelyLFG in Call of Duty? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardCall-of-Dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-2infinity-wardlaunchmodern-warfare-2Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Dealing with delay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/25/the-digital-continuum-dealing-with-delay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/25/the-digital-continuum-dealing-with-delay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/25/the-digital-continuum-dealing-with-delay/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Back in 1999 when I was just a 14 teenager with way too much free time on his hands, I had finally got Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete for my PlayStation. Saying the game saw delays would be quite an understatement and up until that time I had been pretty frustrated with the whole ordeal. Nobody likes it when games are delayed and back then I was no exception.

But thinking back to how wonderfully translated (and semi-ported from the Sega Saturn) the game was, it was quite worth the wait. Although I may not have realized it at the time, the delays were entirely the right choice. And as it turns out, they usually are, not that everyone can make that observation.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Dealing with delay

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Dealing with delay originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 May 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ataricall-of-dutychampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosdelaydelayedfeaturedinfinity-wardlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolunar-silver-star-story-completemmosplaystationthe-digital-continuumturbineworking-designsMon, 25 May 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Rock Band, the MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/04/the-digital-continuum-rock-band-the-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/04/the-digital-continuum-rock-band-the-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/04/the-digital-continuum-rock-band-the-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


At first thought, a Rock Band-inspired MMO may not sound like the greatest idea to everyone. I've actually entertained the idea for a long time now, only shove it aside as a crazy notion. But the thing kept popping back into the forefront of my mind so often that I couldn't discount it as happenstance. I've become enamored with the idea, because let's face it; a Rock Band MMO has the potential to ooze- no, to gush pure liquid awesome.

Gallery: Rock Bandia Online

Strange bedfellowsStyle and settingPersistenceWay to playPersonalization and progression

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Rock Band, the MMO originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-netcall-of-dutycall-of-duty-4codcod-4cod4featuredguild-warsguild-wars-2harmonixinfinity-wardjoystiqfeaturesmtv-gamesncsoftrock-bandrock-band-2Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Activision Blizzard locks down senior management with long-term deals]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/activision-blizzard-locks-down-senior-management-with-long-term/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/activision-blizzard-locks-down-senior-management-with-long-term/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/activision-blizzard-locks-down-senior-management-with-long-term/#commentsFiled under: , ,


In sports, it's fairly common practice for successful teams to sign their top talent to long-term contract extensions--both to shore up a sense of security for the owners over the long term, but also to demonstrate in straight forward monetary terms how much they mean to the team. This is not quite unlike what has happened over at Activision-Blizzard, where the senior talent at Blizzard has signed five-year contracts with the company to reaffirm their commitment to the team. It's not immediately clear how many people this is meant to include.

Activision-Blizzard also reportedly offered similar deals to blockbuster developers Infinity Ward and Neversoft, who are responsible for the other big money-making franchises in the ActiBlizz portfolio. When you consider the speculation from the other day that developers might be gaining greater control of their projects and the news that EA Mythic is getting their Mythic Entertainment moniker back, it seems likes its a good time to be a proven developer. They suddenly have leverage they could only grumble for over the past few years.

MassivelyActivision Blizzard locks down senior management with long-term deals originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzarddevelopersinfinity-wardlong-term-dealneversoftpublisherssenior-managementFri, 11 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Leash on developers slackening thanks to Blizzard?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/leash-on-developers-slackening-thanks-to-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/leash-on-developers-slackening-thanks-to-blizzard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/leash-on-developers-slackening-thanks-to-blizzard/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Few developers in the world have the leverage with their publishers that Blizzard has enjoyed over the years. Where most companies involved in major mergers or corporate hullabaloo end up being cut up and sold for scrap, Blizzard actually had a major say in which parties their parent company dealt with. The resulting mega-corp is even partially adopting their name. Not bad for a developer started many moons ago by a trio of UCLA grads.

Some are now speculating that the spectacular success of outfits like Blizzard and Bungie may be prompting publishers to reconsider their relationships with other rockstar development houses like Infinity Ward, the folks behind the best of the Call of Duty series. It seems the suits are finally coming around to the idea that trusting in their proven talent can yield benefits far exceeding the cost of a delay here and there. EA, for instance, appears to be demonstrating patience with Mythic's treatment of Warhammer Online, but only time will tell whether these aren't just isolated cases.

MassivelyLeash on developers slackening thanks to Blizzard? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardcall-of-dutydeveloperseaea-mythicinfinity-wardmythicpublisherswarhammer-onlineWed, 09 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard takes third in comprehensive best developer of 2007 list]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/blizzard-takes-third-in-comprehensive-best-developer-of-2007-lis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/blizzard-takes-third-in-comprehensive-best-developer-of-2007-lis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/blizzard-takes-third-in-comprehensive-best-developer-of-2007-lis/#commentsFiled under: , ,

What do you get when you take Game Developer magazine, Game Developer Research division, Gamasutra and combine their various developer information gathering efforts? Well, you get an all-encompassing list of the top 50 best developers of 2007 that takes not only weekly sales and ratings into account, but an anonymous survey on developer reputation fielded by Gamasutra itself. The survey asked community members to score game developers on overall reputation and direct interaction working for or with said developer, where they had actually done such.

The list puts Blizzard at third for Burning Crusade, just under Infinity Ward at second for Call of Duty 4 and Nintendo Kyoto (Brain Age, Wii Play) at first. It's an interesting method of rating developers, since they have to of had a game released the previous year to be eligible -- yet rankings also depend on developer reputation, which is a longterm concept. We weren't surprised to see Blizzard sitting pretty high on the list, beating out a lot of other developers responsible for some pretty great titles last year. (sorry, Valve)

There is a nagging question in the back of our minds, however: Which carries more weight in determining placement on the list -- sales or reputation?

MassivelyBlizzard takes third in comprehensive best developer of 2007 list originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbrain-ageburning-crusadecall-of-duty-4gamasutragame-developer-magazinegame-developer-research-divisioninfinity-wardnintendowii-playFri, 07 Mar 2008 20:30:00 EST