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[BioWare opens Ireland customer service center]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/bioware-opens-ireland-customer-service-center/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/bioware-opens-ireland-customer-service-center/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/26/bioware-opens-ireland-customer-service-center/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Luck o' the Irish and all that
European fans of Star Wars: The Old Republic have long been clamoring for more information regarding the title's presence in the mythical land across the Atlantic, and we have some potentially good news for those people. EA announced today that a new BioWare customer service center has been opened in Galway, Ireland. Speaking at the facility's inauguration ceremony, EA Senior Vice President Ray Muzyka said, "MMO launches are complex, and we are determined to set a new standard for a high quality, stable, smooth launch for our fans. Our new BioWare facility and team in Galway is critical to ensuring we deliver on that goal."

It's a first for BioWare as well, as this is BioWare's premier location outside of North America. Hopefully the studio's opening will live up to its goal of ensuring that the inevitably massive launch of The Old Republic goes smoothly both in North America and across the pond.

MassivelyBioWare opens Ireland customer service center originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecustomer-service-centereaelectronic-artseuropeeuropeangalwayirelandirishruedasstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 26 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bethesda's Todd Howard not interested in an Elder Scrolls MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/bethesdas-todd-howard-not-interested-in-an-elder-scrolls-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/bethesdas-todd-howard-not-interested-in-an-elder-scrolls-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/bethesdas-todd-howard-not-interested-in-an-elder-scrolls-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Skyrim
Whenever the subject of untapped RPG franchises that could make the jump to MMOs comes up, Bethesda's Elder Scrolls series is almost always mentioned. After all, if Blizzard and BioWare made the jump, why not the folks behind Oblivion?

In talking with our sister site Joystiq at PAX, Bethesda's Todd Howard fields the question with blunt honesty. "I like this kind of game better," he said. "You know, it's what most of us are into. I'm not really an MMO guy. I respect them, I look at them, but I don't play them. It feels more real to me when I'm the hero and it's crafted for that. A community aspect to it, I recognize a lot of people would want that in a game like this, but it changes the flavor for me.

Of course, one man's feelings toward the genre aren't always enough to stave off corporate demands, but Howard says that isn't the case: "We can just do our thing, and it's kind of grown with each game. So there was no pressure from anybody above me to say 'Hey, you need to change this.'"

That doesn't mean Bethesda will forever abstain from MMOs, however. Bethesda's parent company, ZeniMax Media, built an MMO customer support facility in Ireland earlier this year, an indication that online gaming may very well be in the company's future.

MassivelyBethesda's Todd Howard not interested in an Elder Scrolls MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdaBethesda-Softworksbiowareblizzardelder-scrossirelandjoystiqoblivionpaxpax-prime-2011skyrimtesthe-elder-scrollstodd-howardzenimaxzenimax-mediaWed, 31 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: The vet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/the-game-archaeologist-goes-to-earth-and-beyond-the-vet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/the-game-archaeologist-goes-to-earth-and-beyond-the-vet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/the-game-archaeologist-goes-to-earth-and-beyond-the-vet/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Space: the final frontier... except for 4chan, which is a lot scarier to explore. These are the voyages of the Starship Massively. Its five-year mission: to explore strange, new worlds; to seek out new life and blow it out of the sky; to boldly exploit trade routes like no one has done before!

Erp, better stop there before I begin infringing on the Captain's Log's territory! In any event, we at The Game Archaeologist Institute for Fuzzy Nostalgia continue to forge ahead with the Earth & Beyond dig, carefully dusting off memories and screenshots to preserve in a blog-shaped museum.

It's one thing to talk of a game, but another to speak with one who was there at the time, so I went on a hunt through the dark recesses of the internet to find seasoned Earth & Beyonders. This search took me about two minutes before one of my associates practically opened the floodgates of fanboy gushing to drown me in his enthusiasm for this title. One interview, hundreds of screenshots and an Electronic Arts dev bible later, and we at the institute knew that we hit the motherlode.

Join us for a civilized discussion with an Earth & Beyond vet as he shares with us crumpets and recollections.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: The vet

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: The vet originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arduacanadacaptains-logcelestial-horizonclaudia-christiancolumbia-disastercommand-and-conquerdev-bibleeaearth-and-beyondechoes-of-nonsenseelectronic-artseveeve-onlineexplorerfantasyfeaturedfederationinterviewirelandJenquaijump-to-lightspeedlord-of-the-ringsnet7sci-fiscience-fictionspace-shuttle-columbiastar-trekstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgtea-and-crumpetsthe-game-archaeologisttitanwargameswestwoodTue, 08 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What little events do you celebrate?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/the-daily-grind-what-little-events-do-you-celebrate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/the-daily-grind-what-little-events-do-you-celebrate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/17/the-daily-grind-what-little-events-do-you-celebrate/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's Saint Patrick's Day, and if you're in the US that means a celebration of Irish culture... or at least, it means a celebration of wearing green clothing and drinking an exceptional amount for the middle of the week. And while it's not the biggest holiday, some people look forward to it as much or more than major seasonal events. A few games even celebrate the event, such as Fallen Earth with a pub crawl and Everquest II with its Brewday celebrations. It's a holiday with no real overarching purpose except enjoyment, and that's hardly a bad goal.

Every game has little events that keep running long after they're no longer hugely pertinent. Every gamer has anniversaries or dates they remember, or holidays that they feel are important even if the game doesn't have a holiday event. So what small holidays or events do you observe in your favorite games? Do you make a point of memorizing important in-game lore dates and celebrating their anniversaries? Do you take part in no-longer-vital elements, such as the Elemental Invasions in World of Warcraft? Or do you just take the opportunity on days like today to outfit your Star Trek Online crew in green uniforms and hang around drunk?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What little events do you celebrate? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversariescelebrationsdrinkingenjoymenteqiieverquest-iifallen-earthfeintoxicationirelandirishsaint-patricks-daystar-trek-onlinestotdgthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 17 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[UK game tax policies has Realtime Worlds considering move to Ireland]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/28/uk-game-tax-policies-has-realtime-worlds-considering-move-to-ire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/28/uk-game-tax-policies-has-realtime-worlds-considering-move-to-ire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/28/uk-game-tax-policies-has-realtime-worlds-considering-move-to-ire/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Realtime Worlds is becoming synonymous with Scotland's game development with their upcoming title All Points Bulletin, but there are reports the company may consider relocating to Ireland. As one of Scotland's most prominent development studios, Realtime Worlds is keenly aware that as the computer games industry grows the UK lags behind other countries in terms of tax incentives. (Edge Online has an excellent overview of the situation which details how UK firms pay tax on R&D while countries like Canada and France provide rebates for game developers.) The situation as it affects Realtime Worlds and other Dundee-based companies is that if corporate tax breaks aren't possible in Scotland, they may need to head to greener pastures. Even moreso if such pastures include a 5-year tax holiday, which was mentioned at last weekend's Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin.

Herald Scotland quotes Colin Macdonald, Realtime Worlds Studio Manager, as saying,"If the package on offer in Ireland was attractive we'd have to give it serious consideration. [...] Dundee is a great place to be based, one of the main hubs for computer games in Britain, but at the end of the day we've got to look after our bottom line."

Continue reading UK game tax policies has Realtime Worlds considering move to Ireland

MassivelyUK game tax policies has Realtime Worlds considering move to Ireland originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbcolin-macdonalddublindundeeeconomyedge-onlineherald-scotlandirelandmmo-industryrealtime-worldsscotlandtaxesunited-kingdomMon, 28 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dragonica enters open beta in Europe]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/11/dragonica-enters-open-beta-in-europe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/11/dragonica-enters-open-beta-in-europe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/11/dragonica-enters-open-beta-in-europe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The free-to-play game Dragonica has entered open beta in Europe as of June 10th. Dragonica is a 3D side-scrolling MMO developed by Barunson Interactive and operated by gPotato (Gala Networks Europe Ltd.). The title is currently offered in English, French, and German languages and has very low system requirements, so it should run well on older hardware or even on netbooks from what Gala Networks Europe states.

Just for additional clarification, this open beta is for the EU's Dragonica operated by gPotato, not to be confused with the North American version of the game titled Dragonica Online, which we previewed at E3 2009.

MassivelyDragonica enters open beta in Europe originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barunson-interactivebetasdragonicadublineueuropeeuropean-unionfantasyfree-to-playgala-networks-europegpotatoirelandnew-titlesThu, 11 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST