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[Portions of Twinity virtual world taken offline]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/portions-of-twinity-virtual-world-taken-offline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/portions-of-twinity-virtual-world-taken-offline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/portions-of-twinity-virtual-world-taken-offline/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Twinity - Avatars partying
Twinity users are experiencing a bit of lawyerly inconvenience according to virtual world blogger Tateru Nino. Portions of the Metaversum GmbH sim have been taken offline for unspecified reasons, and Nino speculates that "someone's team of undead zombie lawyers woke up and started asserting intellectual property rights and licensing restrictions."

The Twinity project makes use of both Google Maps and 3-D data to recreate cities like Singapore, London, Miami, and New York, but patrons will need to put their online party plans on hold for the time being.

Twinity's dev team posted a cryptic explanation, along with its intent to "try to reactivate the cities in the future."

MassivelyPortions of Twinity virtual world taken offline originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>intellectual-propertyIntellectual-Property-Rightslawyerslegalmetaversummetaversum-gmbhmmo-industryTateru-Ninotwinityvirtual-worldsWed, 11 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The SOPAbox: Defeating online piracy by destroying the internet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/the-sopabox-defeating-online-piracy-by-destroying-the-internet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/the-sopabox-defeating-online-piracy-by-destroying-the-internet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/the-sopabox-defeating-online-piracy-by-destroying-the-internet/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

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

Unless you've been living under a rock, chances are you've heard of SOPA and PIPA. The Stop Online Piracy Act and PROTECT IP Act are two radical pieces of copyright legislation currently being pushed through the US government. Although the stated intent of the new legislation is to provide companies with additional tools with which to combat piracy, the bill's loose wording has raised some serious alarm bells. Opponents to the proposed law say it would give corporations the ability to shut down any almost any website under the guise of protecting copyright infringement.

Gamers will be affected worst of all, as the loose wording of the law makes any website with user-submitted content potentially vulnerable to a shut down order. That could include YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, any blog with a comment section, or even any online game with a chat system. Perhaps the scariest part is that you'll be affected even if you're not in the US, as one of the new law's enforcement mechanisms is to remove a site from the DNS records, a move that assumes the US has jurisdiction over the global Domain Name System. AOL is among many huge companies strongly opposing SOPA, and so naturally Massively opposes it too.

In this week's massive two-page Soapbox, I make the case for why you should be worried about SOPA, and I suggest what can be done to tackle piracy in the games industry. Comments can be left on page two.

Continue reading The SOPAbox: Defeating online piracy by destroying the internet

MassivelyThe SOPAbox: Defeating online piracy by destroying the internet originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brendan-draincopyrightcopyright-infringementdnsdnssecdomaindomain-namesfeaturedfirst-amendmentfree-speechfreedom-of-speechgovernmenti-dont-want-to-live-on-this-planet-any-moreillegalintellectual-propertyiplawlegalmiscMiscellaneousnyphurpiracypiratesprotect-ipsoapboxsoapbox-brendan-drainsopasopaboxthe-soapboxthe-sopaboxus-governmentvideoTue, 10 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Otherland dev talks timelines and Tad Williams' influence]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/otherland-dev-talks-timelines-and-tad-williams-influence/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/otherland-dev-talks-timelines-and-tad-williams-influence/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/otherland-dev-talks-timelines-and-tad-williams-influence/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Otherland - windmill and floating chess piece doohickeys
MMORPGs based on pre-existing intellectual properties are a tricky business, and for every Lord of the Rings Online -- which at least makes an attempt at remaining faithful to its source material -- there's a Star Wars Galaxies or a Star Trek Online that sacrifices canonical authenticity on the altar of gameplay.

Then there's Otherland, gamigo's ambitious MMO based on Tad Williams' famous sci-fi cycle. A new interview with gamigo CEO Patrick Streppel sheds a bit of light on the title's timeline and canon and teases fans with glimpses of what they'll see and do when they plug in to what amounts to a virtual world set in a virtual world.

"Tad [Williams] has been very involved in the project from the beginning and provided lots of input to the development team on top of the source material. He is truly passionate about his vision being turned into a game," Streppel says. How will the game present that vision? It is "essentially a sequel" to the novels, and as a result of the dramatic conclusion at the end of the fourth and final book, it will now "be up to the players to get [Otherland] back online." The interview also delves briefly into gameplay topics, character creation, and more, so head to MPOGD.com to have a look.

MassivelyOtherland dev talks timelines and Tad Williams' influence originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canonf2pfree-to-playgamigointellectual-propertyinterviewipotherlandpatrick-streppelsci-fitad-williamsvirtual-worldThu, 06 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[More talk of an Avatar MMO surfaces from director James Cameron]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/more-talk-of-an-avatar-mmo-surfaces/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/more-talk-of-an-avatar-mmo-surfaces/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/more-talk-of-an-avatar-mmo-surfaces/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

James Cameron and Sam Worthington on the Avatar set
Hollywood IPs don't have the greatest track record when it comes to making the transition to the MMORPG space, but celebrated film director James Cameron recently told IGN that he thinks his Avatar franchise is up to the task.

In an interview that touches on 3-D entertainment, single-player gaming, and real-world themepark rides, Cameron also says that "Avatar is a perfect IP for an MMO." The massively multiplayer portion of the project seems to be in its infancy, as the director notes that the fictional universe established in the 2009 blockbuster needs to be fleshed out and expanded via the upcoming sequels before consumers can fully grasp how big Avatar really is.

"The film is really just a leaping off point," Cameron says, "so we've got to create a rich and diverse world that lives well beyond the films." This isn't the first time that scuttlebutt about an Avatar MMO has hit the intarwebs. Cameron's producing partner Jon Landau floated the topic in early 2010, and UbiSoft originally planned to release an Avatar MMO in conjunction with the film's holiday 2009 debut.

MassivelyMore talk of an Avatar MMO surfaces from director James Cameron originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avataravatar-mmoavatars-playing-avatarsfilmintellectual-propertyinterviewipjames-cameronkill-ten-navimmo-industrymoviessci-fiscifiWed, 28 Sep 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Let's stop the tomfoolery edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/ask-massively-lets-stop-the-tomfoolery-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/ask-massively-lets-stop-the-tomfoolery-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/22/ask-massively-lets-stop-the-tomfoolery-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

IM IN UR NOUN, VERBING UR OTHER NOUN
Last week, it was brought to my attention that our header image of ham rendered the entire column completely inappropriate for several of our readers. And you know what? That comment was entirely right. We've subsisted on ridiculous headers and general japery for far too long in this serious and businesslike column, and it's time to bring the calm and measured dignity that people expect -- nay, demand -- from Ask Massively.

Unfortunately, this decision comes too late to avoid the fact that this week's header image is a kitten attempting to scale the back of an adult cat's head. It will probably help if you imagine both of these cats wearing business suits and discussing profit margins.

Moving along: This week's questions should provide you with clean and intellectual discourse, covering free-for-all PvP and the recent free-to-play announcements from Sony Online Entertainment. If you have a question for a future edition of the column, please leave it in the comment field or mail it along to ask@massively.com.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Let's stop the tomfoolery edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Let's stop the tomfoolery edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelybusiness-modelscolumnf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhumorintellectual-propertylicenseslicensingopinionplaystylessoesony-online-entertainmentThu, 22 Sep 2011 15:00:00 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[The Soapbox: Respect the IP (or, why MMOs can't)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/the-soapbox-respect-the-ip-or-why-mmos-cant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/the-soapbox-respect-the-ip-or-why-mmos-cant/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/the-soapbox-respect-the-ip-or-why-mmos-cant/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


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

Luke: What a piece of junk!

Han: She'll make point five past lightspeed. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. I've made a lot of special modifications myself. But we're a little rushed, so if you'll just get on board, we'll get out of here.

Luke: Lawlz. You can't pilot that thing. It's a YT-1300 and you're a Rebel-aligned Smuggler!

Han: %&*$ ...

Ah yes, continuity. It might as well be a four-letter word, at least when it comes to MMORPGs based on existing intellectual properties. Sure, producers pay a lot of lip service to faithfully recreating beloved works in an online space, but the reality inevitably ends up looking like the love child of Frankenstein's monster and a duck-billed platypus.

Why then do we keep seeing MMOs riffing on Star Wars, Star Trek, Tolkien, and even Battlestar Galactica? Easy money, of course. A better question, and one I hope to answer at the conclusion of today's Soapbox, is why "MMORPG" automatically equals butchered continuity. In a nutshell, why is it so hard to respect the IP?

Continue reading The Soapbox: Respect the IP (or, why MMOs can't)

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Respect the IP (or, why MMOs can't) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanbiowarecanonconancontinuitycrypticcryptic-studiosfeaturedfuncomintellectual-propertyipip-based-mmosjeffrey-steefellord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelorelore-nazismmo-prime-directiveopinionrespect-the-ipsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardSOESony-Online-Entertainmentstar-trekstar-trek-onlinestar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtorthe-soapboxtolkienturbineTurbine-EntertainmentTue, 16 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you like to see your favorite IP as an MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/22/the-daily-grind-would-you-like-to-see-your-favorite-ip-as-an-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/22/the-daily-grind-would-you-like-to-see-your-favorite-ip-as-an-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/22/the-daily-grind-would-you-like-to-see-your-favorite-ip-as-an-mm/#commentsFiled under: ,

Dune sandworm
MMORPGs often take their inspiration from existing intellectual properties including novels, films, and even pre-existing games. A few of the comments on yesterday's edition of The Daily Grind got us to thinking about untapped IPs that could conceivably be made into online games. Whether they should be made into online games is another thing entirely.

Take George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire opus, by most accounts one of the landmarks of fantasy literature and an absurdly detailed feat of world- and character-building. Would it make a great MMO? Eh, I'm not so sure. The ground-work would certainly be there, but at the end of the day, it would likely turn into some sort of faction grind, skill grind, or level grind, and much of the human drama that makes the books what they are would be lost. A similar fate might befall Frank Herbert's Dune, another genre classic based in a world that lends itself to game settings, but again featuring a narrative driven by memorable characters, not PvP, questing, or lulz-worthy avatar names.

What do you think, Massively readers? Would you like to see your favorite world given the MMO treatment, or are you skeptical that it would be the same old same old with new skins and a built-in audience?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Would you like to see your favorite IP as an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookschampionschampions-onlineintellectual-propertylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromoviesopinionsong-of-ice-and-firestar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-daily-grindSun, 22 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Virtual Whirl: A brief history of Second Life, 2008-2010 and beyond]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/10/the-virtual-whirl-a-brief-history-of-second-life-2008-2010-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/10/the-virtual-whirl-a-brief-history-of-second-life-2008-2010-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/10/the-virtual-whirl-a-brief-history-of-second-life-2008-2010-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amsterdambusiness-modelscongresscultureeconomyfeaturedfrank-herberthistoryhypergridietfintellectual-propertyirsjohn-zdanowskikathleen-craiglayoffslegallinden-labmark-kingdonmillions-of-usmitch-kaporOnRezopinionorangephilip-rosedalereutersrezzable-productionsrobin-harpersecond-lifesecond-life-enterprisesecond-life-viewersingaporesl-policystep-uptaser-international-inctelstraterms-of-servicethe-daily-mailthe-virtual-whirlTrademarkVATviewer-2virtual-worldsworld-stock-exchangewsexstreetxstreet-slyoko-onoSat, 10 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Online operators avoid balls-up with football trademarks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/online-operators-avoid-balls-up-with-football-trademarks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/online-operators-avoid-balls-up-with-football-trademarks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/online-operators-avoid-balls-up-with-football-trademarks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The last time we saw any statistical data on overall awareness of intellectual property issues, it seemed that awareness of copyright and trademarks was quite appallingly low - and actual accurate knowledge about them was a very rare thing indeed.

Surprisingly few people seem to know their way around the don't-do basics, and with record numbers of trademarks being registered in recent years, it is actually nice to see that some online operators have got a firm grip on things this year.

Honestly, if you tossed a press release on our collective desk touting your virtual environment or MMOG having items or outfits available in support of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa[TM] ... well, it'd probably cause an avalanche of pizza boxes ... but after we got the mess cleared, we'd probably assume that your promotional stuff was littered with unlicensed FIFA trademarks. It's happened before.

Continue reading Online operators avoid balls-up with football trademarks

MassivelyOnline operators avoid balls-up with football trademarks originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copyrightculturefiesta-onlinefifaFIFA-World-Cupfree-to-playgamigogo4goalintellectual-propertylegallinden-labmmo-industryopinionsecond-lifetrademarkuser-generated-contentvirtual-worldsTue, 29 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Is SWTOR worth 2 million users]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/anti-aliased-is-swtor-worth-2-million-users/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/anti-aliased-is-swtor-worth-2-million-users/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/anti-aliased-is-swtor-worth-2-million-users/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So, some big news out of the Electronic Arts/BioWare camp today -- it's going to take one million subscribers to break even on Star Wars: The Old Republic, and EA is shooting for two million subscribers on the game. Those are some pretty intense numbers for a game, but when you're sinking as much money into a project as they're sinking into SWTOR, those are the numbers you need.

But, are they realistic numbers? This isn't the first time EA poured their heart and soul into a MMO, only to find that the subscriptions weren't to their liking. Then again, when you're dealing with a well known IP and an already successful RPG developer who knows how to handle said IP, you might just have the recipe for a subscriber explosion.

So that's this week's question -- Is SWTOR worth two million users?

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Is SWTOR worth 2 million users

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Is SWTOR worth 2 million users originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2-million-playersanti-aliasedbiowarebioware-mmobusinesseafeaturedgameplayintellectual-propertyiplucasartsmarketingopinionstar-wars-the-old-republicsubscribersswtorFri, 19 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What IP do you want to see as an MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/06/the-daily-grind-what-ip-do-you-want-to-see-as-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/06/the-daily-grind-what-ip-do-you-want-to-see-as-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/06/the-daily-grind-what-ip-do-you-want-to-see-as-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There are certainly a lot of intellectual properties out there that would make for an excellent MMO. Running down the list of major games currently running shows no shortage of games based on popular franchises -- Star Trek Online, Warhammer Online, Star Wars Galaxies, Age of Conan, Champions Online -- and the trend shows no sign of slowing. But there are other franchises that could conceivably make a number of people happy -- Transformers, The Dark Tower, Doctor Who, Mass Effect, Babylon 5, and so on ad infinitum.

Of course, there are licenses that are unlikely to ever be adapted for MMOs, either because their heyday of popularity has passed or because they're just not in quite the right market. Still, we can dream, and in our heads we might have an idea for the world's best MMO based off of Macross. What intellectual property would you love to have a chance to play as an MMO? Do you think there's a chance it might happen, or are you fairly certain that it's just going to remain an idle fantasy?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What IP do you want to see as an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocbabylon-5champions-onlinecodoctor-whointellectual-propertylicensed-gameslicensed-propertiesmass-effectstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-galaxiesstoswgthe-dark-towertransformerswarwarhammer-onlineSat, 06 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What compromises would you make to reduce Second Life copyright infringement?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/01/what-compromises-would-you-make-to-reduce-second-life-copyright/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/01/what-compromises-would-you-make-to-reduce-second-life-copyright/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/01/what-compromises-would-you-make-to-reduce-second-life-copyright/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Seems that most of what you hear in and about Second Life recently revolves around creator rights, copyrights, trademarks, intellectual property rights, infringement and so forth. It's not that intellectual property infringement is new - you can certainly replicate content with the official viewer if you know how - but it is in the limelight and a major feature of Second Life discussions by virtue of assorted high-profile infringements, and legal actions.

Copyright infringement can't be made to go away. Since the Statute of Anne in 1710 originally codified copyrights in law, infringement has only been somewhat quelled by various means, never practically eliminated. In these predominantly digital times, there are many new tradeoffs could be made that could reduce the incidence of infringement, but at the cost of also reducing functionality.

Continue reading What compromises would you make to reduce Second Life copyright infringement?

MassivelyWhat compromises would you make to reduce Second Life copyright infringement? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copyrightcopyright-infringementeconomyintellectual-propertylegalopinionsecond-lifestatute-of-annetrademarkvirtual-worldsSun, 01 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Second Life roadmap: Content-management/Intellectual-property]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/05/a-second-life-roadmap-content-management-intellectual-property/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/05/a-second-life-roadmap-content-management-intellectual-property/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/05/a-second-life-roadmap-content-management-intellectual-property/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Linden Lab yesterday published a "Content Management Roadmap" for Second Life, which outlines directions that they'll be taking towards Intellectual Property in future. Why then, you might wonder, is it not called an "Intellectual Property Roadmap"? We think that's because - to the Lab - Intellectual property issues all resolve down to content-management, at the platform level.

The roadmap covers five main sections, three of which basically comprise methods of helping honest folks stay honest, one which recognizes and rewards top-sellers, and one which allows more expeditious property violation notices. We're not really sure how much of a roadmap this really is, as it purports to cover less than six months, and describes projects already near completion. Nevertheless, it's interesting reading.

Continue reading A Second Life roadmap: Content-management/Intellectual-property

MassivelyA Second Life roadmap: Content-management/Intellectual-property originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dmcaeconomyfeaturedintellectual-propertylegallinden-labopinionsecond-lifesecond-life-nebraskavirtual-worldsWed, 05 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What license would you like to see as an MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/29/the-daily-grind-what-license-would-you-like-to-see-as-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/29/the-daily-grind-what-license-would-you-like-to-see-as-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/29/the-daily-grind-what-license-would-you-like-to-see-as-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The announcement of the Twilight MMO made many book fans rejoice while many others simply grumbled while they slapped their hands against their faces. While we all may not agree with it, it's coming our way whether we like it or not.

Out of all of this commotion, however, an interesting breakfast question arises -- what license would you like to see turned into an MMO? What book, film, or TV series do you think could handle the transition from static property to virtual gaming landscape?

Harry Potter was one of our guesses, as an MMO set in the first wizarding war would probably work out nicely without getting in the way of the story. But this isn't about us readers, it's about you. Comment away and let us know what you'd like to see hit the gaming store shelves as an MMO.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What license would you like to see as an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>harry-potterharry-potter-mmointellectual-propertylicensethe-daily-grindtwilighttwilight-mmoWed, 29 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[More hints of a Fallout MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/more-hints-of-a-fallout-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/more-hints-of-a-fallout-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/more-hints-of-a-fallout-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We've alternately consulted both our Magic 8 Ball and a Ouija board for answers to the Fallout MMO question. As in, will there be one? We think we've got a handle on the licensing intricacies of Fallout between ZeniMax Media (parent company of Bethesda Softworks) and Interplay thanks to a stellar article written by Daedren for r1ft Gaming. Briefly stated, Bethesda owns the rights to the Fallout IP, but not a Fallout MMO. Interplay holds the Fallout MMO rights, but only if they could raise $30 million and begin development by April 2009. Interplay has mentioned an MMO project with a tongue-in-cheek codename Project V13 (a nod to Fallout) but we've heard little of this game beyond that 2008 announcement that a dev team was being formed. In addition, we reported just last week that ZeniMax Media is hiring for an MMO division, project(s) unknown. While it hints at the potential to bring Fallout into the MMO space, we're still chalking it up to rumor.

That rumor got a bit juicier today though when we came across something of interest at our sister site Big Download. The original Fallout designer Jason Anderson, formerly the creative director for Project V13, has parted company with Interplay to work for inXile on a new RPG. We're still not certain if the various bits of news we've found in the last few weeks indicates a potential ZeniMax/Bethesda Fallout MMO or if Interplay's Project V13 will chug along just fine without Jason Anderson, so we're still firmly in the realm of "rumor," albeit an interesting one to fans of all things post-apocalytic.

MassivelyMore hints of a Fallout MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesda-softworksbig-downloadfalloutfallout-mmointellectual-propertyinterplayinxileipjason-andersonmmo-industrypost-apocalypticproject-v13rightsrpgrumorrumorssci-fizenimaxzenimax-mediaWed, 18 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is it IP or people? ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/the-daily-grind-is-it-ip-or-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/the-daily-grind-is-it-ip-or-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/the-daily-grind-is-it-ip-or-people/#commentsFiled under: ,


Yesterday after the announcement of the new Marvel MMO, a bit of lively discussion sparked up on Twitter between Shuttler from Limited Edition, Brenda "Tipa" Holloway, West Karana blogmistress and Massively alumni, and me. There was of course, the discussion of Marvel's MMO re-entering the scene, but also the question came up of whether the IP is what draws people in to a particular MMO, or if it's the people? Tipa and I generally felt that, much like World of Warcraft's success, pulling new people in has a lot to do with people suggesting the game to their friends, who then jump in and start playing it. Shuttler suggested that for those who aren't getting in via friends, IP may be the most important thing that brings new players to the table. After all, how likely are you to walk into a store and pick up an MMO in a genre you don't particularly care about - even if it has millions of players - when a genre you like (superheroes, in the original discussion) has an MMO?

So this morning I wanted to open this discussion up to you all, as it was an interesting topic. What do you think pulls in new people to MMOs? For new players, do you think it's more important to have a recognizeable IP like Star Trek, Marvel, DC, Star Wars - or is it more important to have good word of mouth from people you know? When you started out, what got you into the genre? Was it friends telling you about a great MMO they were playing, or did you decide to check out a particular game because of the story/genre behind it? How important do you think IP is in the initial hook? Are there other factors that you feel are more important to bringing new players to the MMO genre? Or is it a combination of all of them, really?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Is it IP or people? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>genreintellectual-propertyipmmonew-playershuttlerthe-daily-grindtipatwittertwitter-topicWed, 18 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WarCry explores types of game settings]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/27/warcry-explores-types-of-game-settings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/27/warcry-explores-types-of-game-settings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/27/warcry-explores-types-of-game-settings/#commentsFiled under: ,

Should MMOs try to become to gaming what Rocky is to movies? A series of sequels with the same base setting, familiar characters, and expected outcomes? Or should they create a new world with each release? This is the debate offered in a recent article from WarCry, exploring the types of intellectual property offered by MMORPGs.

In the past year, we have heard announcements from some of the largest MMO companies that AAA titles were being closed and games with tremendous recognition may not be getting sequels. It seems there is a movement towards the new and unfamiliar out there, even as the lists of new titles are filled with the likes of Star Wars: The Old Republic, Star Trek Online, and DC Universe Online. So it begs the question, are the games you're most looking forward to based on what has come before or a fresh new world and lore to explore for the first time?

As a caveat to an example used in Mr. Steinhauer's article, this blogger would point out that the Forgotten Realms setting was originally from Dungeons & Dragons settings and had a rather extensive series of novels behind it.

MassivelyWarCry explores types of game settings originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dc-universe-onlinedungeons-and-dragonsforgotten-realmsintellectual-propertyrockystar-trek-onlinestar-wars-the-old-republicswtorwarcrySat, 27 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE players get free advertising during live PvP tournament broadcast]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/20/eve-players-get-free-advertising-during-live-pvp-tournament-broa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/20/eve-players-get-free-advertising-during-live-pvp-tournament-broa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/20/eve-players-get-free-advertising-during-live-pvp-tournament-broa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


A popular event in EVE Online is returning this winter: the Alliance PvP Tournament, which kicks off late January, continuing through to final rounds in February. The final rounds of the Alliance PvP Tournament will be broadcast live, which is the basis for the latest announcement from CCP Games. EVE Online dev CCP Fallout has stated there will be free advertising slots for players to use during the live broadcast of the tournament finals. As CCP Fallout says, "Simply put: this is the biggest ad space available for EVE players and yet it will cost you absolutely nothing to submit an advertisement."

We cringe at the thought of some of the video footage that could make it into the live broadcast (while looking forward to it as well), but CCP Games has laid out some general and technical guidelines that should keep the live broadcast relatively clean. Also, they've opened up the use of some of their intellectual property for players to use in producing their adverts -- namely the EVE Online music and sound effects. (Although it must be noted that you actually have to use their music and sound effects, due to copyright issues that would inevitably result from widespread Rick-rolling.)

Continue reading EVE players get free advertising during live PvP tournament broadcast

MassivelyEVE players get free advertising during live PvP tournament broadcast originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingalliance-pvp-tournamentccpccp-falloutccp-gameseveeve-onlineintellectual-propertymmo-industrypvppvp-tournamentsci-fiSat, 20 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[IP vs. IP: Is LotRO better than AoC?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/ip-vs-ip-is-lotro-better-than-aoc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/ip-vs-ip-is-lotro-better-than-aoc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/04/ip-vs-ip-is-lotro-better-than-aoc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Let's face it, in the past, big-name intellectual properties in the form of an MMO haven't fared too well. We're looking at you, Matrix Online. However, Lord of the Rings Online has proven that the curse of the brand IP might be breakable. Enter Age of Conan. As an IP, the game is touted as being exactly what Robert E. Howard would have made, if he were an MMO developer. Although according to a recent article at MMOcrunch, they're not exactly seeing it that way.

The article, entitled Why LotRO is Better than AoC, touches on many of the current problems in this Funcom blockbuster, as the writer gives their opinion on how and why it just doesn't do it for them. The predominant message here seems to be that they don't understand why Funcom left all the good stuff for the end of the game. Why play 100+ hours to get to the actual fun part? Is this something we'll see from more developers in the future, or will they learn from the mistakes of current MMOs and just give us the goodies right up front. It breaks down to that fundamental question we ask from MMOs: should you need to work towards an ultimate goal, or should you be able to just have fun the entire time? Can't we have both?

MassivelyIP vs. IP: Is LotRO better than AoC? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccodemastersfuncomintellectual-propertylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrommocrunchturbineFri, 04 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Optioning IP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/18/the-daily-grind-optioning-ip/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/18/the-daily-grind-optioning-ip/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/18/the-daily-grind-optioning-ip/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of the things we've often discussed behind the scenes here is what movie or comic book universe we thought would make a good setting for an MMO. There's been talk of both DC and Marvel's universe, which (hopefully) we'll see get off the ground. We've seen Star Wars (and hope to see it done again, only better this time), Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, and many others. But there are still ideas out there to be optioned, and some that could make for very interesting MMOs. My personal "want" would have to be a world based on Blade Runner. Yeah, yeah, not supposed to be a bunch of replicants on earth, etc. I know the holes in the storyline are a mile wide, but you have to admit it could be gorgeous. Still, there are lots of other movies and books out there to option. If someone put you in control of IP acquisition, what property would you immediately jump on and develop into an MMO?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Optioning IP originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booksfeaturedintellectual-propertyipmoviesthe-daily-grindTue, 18 Dec 2007 08:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Guide Hawk, and intellectual property - Linden Lab responds, sort of]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/guide-hawk-and-intellectual-property-linden-lab-responds-sor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/guide-hawk-and-intellectual-property-linden-lab-responds-sor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/guide-hawk-and-intellectual-property-linden-lab-responds-sor/#commentsFiled under: , ,

After Aimee's post on the actions of Guide Hawk (or guidehawk_ltd) with respect to using resident's imagery to promote his guide book, I asked Linden Lab about Guide Hawk's claim that he paid and has authorization from Linden Lab for use of the material and their name for promotion of his auctions.

Linden Lab's response was - well, they declined to answer the question.

Continue reading Guide Hawk, and intellectual property - Linden Lab responds, sort of

MassivelyGuide Hawk, and intellectual property - Linden Lab responds, sort of originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copyrightguide-hawkintellectual-propertylinden-labsecond-lifeThu, 15 Nov 2007 05:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Intellectual property: If it's not nailed down ...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/10/intellectual-property-if-its-not-nailed-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/10/intellectual-property-if-its-not-nailed-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/10/intellectual-property-if-its-not-nailed-down/#commentsFiled under: ,



A person who operates under the name Guide Hawk or guidehawk_ltd has been marketing Second Life related goods on eBay by using an array of images taken from other users. But here's the kicker ... he has watermarked these images and defends them as his own! Some examples include Khamindie by Arahan Claveau and an image by Lena Kennedy. Not the least of this person's victims is Linden Lab itself, whose trademark logo is used to promote the products without the "No infringement is intended" notice required of any website or blog that uses the logo which might cause brand confusion.

A simple misunderstanding? Well Lena Kennedy contacted Guide Hawk and by his response it would seem Guide is sticking to his guns. Here is what he had to say:

Continue reading Intellectual property: If it's not nailed down ...

MassivelyIntellectual property: If it's not nailed down ... originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copyrightintellectual-propertylinden-labsecond-lifeSat, 10 Nov 2007 18:23:00 EST