Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist: Richard Garriott's haunted cache]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/the-game-archaeologist-richard-garriotts-haunted-cache/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/the-game-archaeologist-richard-garriotts-haunted-cache/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/the-game-archaeologist-richard-garriotts-haunted-cache/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Richard Garriott
Whenever you get really into a new hobby, it's natural to want to blab about it to anyone who drifts into your gravitational field. That's why we all talk about MMOs, right? It's also why any friends, family members, and coworkers have had to put up with excited rambling about my discovered love for Geocaching.

Some of you probably know Geocaching, as it's been around for over a decade now. For those of you who haven't, it's a worldwide treasure hunt that involves over a million and a half "caches" of various sizes that are hidden and then marked with GPS coordinates. Players head to the official site or one of the open-source projects to get the coordinates and go hunting for them. There's a useful two-minute introduction to this hobby on YouTube if you're curious.

I noted on our Massively Speaking podcast that Geocaching has a lot in common with MMOs: Both encourage questing and exploration, both have treasure to be found, and both plug you into a community of adventurers. Listener Terrence heard this and send in an email with an interesting revelation that ties these two hobbies even closer together, as a game developer brought his online world to a real-world location.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you Richard Garriott's haunted cache.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Richard Garriott's haunted cache

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: Richard Garriott's haunted cache originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britannia-manorcacheclassicclassic-mmoclassic-mmosclassicseaelectronic-artsfantasyfeaturedgame-archaelogistgeocachegeocachinginternational-space-stationisslord-britishmudmythicmythic-entertainmentnostalgiaocean-flooropinionrichard-garriottsecond-pass-mushthe-game-archaeologistthe-guardians-questthe-necropolis-of-britannia-manortitanictorilmudtrailertrailersultimaultima onlineuovideovideosTue, 22 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond prepares to plumb the depths of space for adventure]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-prepares-to-plumb-the-depths-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-prepares-to-plumb-the-depths-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/astronaut-moon-mars-and-beyond-prepares-to-plumb-the-depths-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond
While NASA's shuttle mission may be over and the International Space Station's future in doubt, there is one place that space exploration is moving forward: online. Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond is looking more promising by the day, especially now that the team has secured almost $40,000 via Kickstarter to help fund the project.

So why did NASA agree to an MMO of all things? Daniel Laughlin, project manager of NASA's Learning Technologies, sees the two as having a lot in common. Talking with Universe Today, Laughlin said, "Based on the existing literature as well as my own experiences gaming, an MMO was the logical choice for a game project for NASA."

While NASA is partnered with the development team, the space agency is not funding the game -- hence the use of Kickstarter to raise money for Astronaut. It takes place in 2035 as mankind is just starting to colonize the solar system, and it promises to use real physics and technology to simulate these efforts.

Khal Shariff says that players should expect a lot of crafting, use of proper gear, and missions that flow together for a bigger storyline. Interestingly enough, it seems that even NASA has room for a few new heroes. "We have protagonists in the game, and I won't say much about them, because I don't want to spoil the opening scene of Chapter One," Shariff said. He hopes that players will enjoy the melding of science fiction with science fact: "We want you to sit down and curl up with one session and have a feeling like you had when you read the best short science fiction stories, especially like those of Clarke. There is plenty of adventure to plumb."

MassivelyAstronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond prepares to plumb the depths of space for adventure originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arthur-c-clarkeastronautastronaut-moon-mars-and-beyondcolonizationdaniel-laughlininternational-space-stationkhal-shariffkickstarterlearning-technologiesnasasci-fiscience-factscience-fictionscifisolar-systemuniverse-todayMon, 12 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch a video of Richard Garriott's geeky but enviable space voyage]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/watch-a-video-of-richard-garriotts-geeky-but-enviable-space-voy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/watch-a-video-of-richard-garriotts-geeky-but-enviable-space-voy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/watch-a-video-of-richard-garriotts-geeky-but-enviable-space-voy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

By now a lot of you know that Richard Garriott, creator of Ultima Online and Tabula Rasa, is in space. Sadly, since we didn't watch the live broadcast of his liftoff, we only know this through second-hand reports. But it's all going to be okay -- the NASA TV broadcast has been uploaded to YouTube, so if you missed it as we did then you too can watch an eccentric and wealthy nerd experience his lifelong dream. We've embedded it after the jump. Enjoy!

Garriott lifted off on October 12th, carrying with him the DNA of Operation Immortality participants, including some Tabula Rasa players. Shortly after liftoff he displayed to the camera a Logos message to the camera on the spacecraft -- simultaneously an inspiring quote about space travel from a Russian scientist ("Earth is the cradle of humanity but mankind will not be in the cradle forever.") and a hint at upcoming additions to Tabula Rasa.

[Via Joystiq]

Continue reading Watch a video of Richard Garriott's geeky but enviable space voyage

MassivelyWatch a video of Richard Garriott's geeky but enviable space voyage originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The list of celebrities donating their digitized DNA for Tabula Rasa's Operation Immortality is becoming a bit staggering, but this latest one should help perk your interest. Jo Garcia, Playboy Magazine's Cyber Girl of the Year for 2008 will be the latest to store her digitized DNA on the International Space Station along with others like Stephen Hawking, Stephen Colbert, Tim Draper and more.

Although the title of Cyber Girl of the Year has nothing to do with gaming, Garcia considers herself an avid gamer. "People don't understand that that the whole gaming world is not just for geeks, and assume that every person who plays video games is a geek that wears glasses," Garcia said in a recent interview with Kotaku. "It's a misnomer that needs to be put to rest."

MassivelyPlayboy model to join TR's Operation Immortality originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesdnainternational-space-stationjo-garciamodelnc-westncsoftoperation-immortalityplayboyrichard-garriotttabula-rasatrMon, 29 Sep 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa's Operation Immortality extended]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/tabula-rasas-operation-immortality-extended/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/tabula-rasas-operation-immortality-extended/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/04/tabula-rasas-operation-immortality-extended/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Since we first told you about Tabula Rasa's Operation Immortality, it has grown quite a bit. All sorts of top athletes, artists and musicians have signed onto the project to have their DNA digitized and sent into space through the Immortality Drive. This special hard drive will travel with Richard Garriott to the International Space Station on October 12th and stay there in the event that humanity needs a restart.

Originally, this project was to end on August 31st, for anyone interested in participating. However, we're happy to report that this deadline has now been extended until September 29th, 2008. This gives you even more time to vote on mankind's greatest achievements, send a personal message from the website or win a chance to have your digitized DNA included on the Immortality Drive. So if you still haven't taken part in this historical event, you might want to head on over to the project's website and give it a shot.

MassivelyTabula Rasa's Operation Immortality extended originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesinternational-space-stationncsoftoperation-immortalityrichard-garriotttabula-rasatrThu, 04 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST