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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Storyboard: Making villains work]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/storyboard-making-villains-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/storyboard-making-villains-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/10/storyboard-making-villains-work/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

So how am I going to make the header screwy next week? I have a few ideas.
A while ago, I talked about the fact that roleplaying in MMOs most closely resembles comic books. This is apropos of the current discussion because both mediums have a fundamental issue with how villains are supposed to work. A good villain should be roundly trounced by the end of a story, but you also want to bring back a villain for more antics later on. So as I begin the follow-up to my recent column on the topic, the question becomes how you can make a villain who's entertaining and satisfying to encounter without becoming boring or making everyone wonder why no one has stabbed him yet.

To be fair, there's no way to absolutely fix this problem. Someone will always have the idea that stabbing the villain to death will alleviate the problem, and that assumption is pretty much right. But there are ways to minimize the issue without making everyone seem like a colossal twit or creating the soap opera problem (wherein everyone is a malicious jerk every so often and no one seems to make long-term changes). This week I want to examine how both antagonistic and malicious villains can be played to avoid those pitfalls.

Continue reading Storyboard: Making villains work

MassivelyStoryboard: Making villains work originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 May 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antagonistscharactersfeaturedjerksopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardvillainsFri, 10 May 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard to fix exploit with Diablo III's votekick system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/08/blizzard-to-fix-exploit-with-diablo-iiis-votekick-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/08/blizzard-to-fix-exploit-with-diablo-iiis-votekick-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/08/blizzard-to-fix-exploit-with-diablo-iiis-votekick-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Crap. Everyone else hates me so I just... froze like this. Could you demons stay put for a few seconds until we can get back to fighting? Or... yeah, rip out my viscera, that's probably better.
Playing Diablo III in Hardcore mode is a harrowing experience. No matter how good you are as a player, there's always the real worry that one careless move will mean the end of a character you've worked hard to level. Unfortunately, sometimes that careless move is simply playing in a public game, as griefers have been exploiting the votekick system to cause players to die and lose everything through no fault of their own.

As it currently stands, a player who has been kicked by popular vote will be rooted in place for 10 seconds while the character is ejected. Griefers have used this to kick players in the middle of monster-heavy rooms, resulting in 10 seconds of uninterrupted monster beatdowns with no chance of reprieve.

So how to fix this? Well, Blizzard plans to remove the 10 second lockout in the near future to ensure that a kicked player can still move and respond rather than get pointlessly murdered. There's no word on whether this will be a hotfix or rolled into a larger patch, but it's definitely on the horizon. Until it goes live, though, you might not want to have your hardcore characters on a public game.

MassivelyBlizzard to fix exploit with Diablo III's votekick system originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiifantasygame-mechanicsgothic-fantasygriefgriefergriefersgriefinghardcorehardcore-modehotfixjerksmultiplayeronline-multiplayerpatchpatchespublic-gamesroguelikerpgvote-kickvotekickTue, 08 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: To be the jerk]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/storyboard-to-be-the-jerk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/storyboard-to-be-the-jerk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/storyboard-to-be-the-jerk/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Find and replace every instance of the word jerk with the word pony. That's your bonus article for the week.
I've talked many times about the pitfalls of playing a jerk. What I haven't done is mention the benefits of playing one, starting with the fact that playing a jerk can be all kinds of fun. You've got your garden-variety jerks, you've got jerks who are stunningly competent and who treat everyone else as a lesser person because of that, you've got jerks who just don't care about other people, you've got jerks clinging to antiquated beliefs that don't line up with reality... so many jerks, so many ways to make mistakes.

But also so many ways to play one correctly. Heck, you can play a character who takes pretty awful actions from time to time without issue -- why not a character for whom "awful" is the default setting? There has to be a way to make a jerk who works, right?

The answer is yes, most definitely. Jerks are playable. But you have to be a bit more careful about it because as I've mentioned in previous weeks, if your first impression is "pointless jerk," no one will want to hang out with you. So let's talk about playing one in such a way that your character comes across correctly while still being worth a closer look.

Continue reading Storyboard: To be the jerk

MassivelyStoryboard: To be the jerk originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicecharacter-traitsdemeanorfeaturedjerkjerksnegative-traitsopinionroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 04 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Summoner's Guidebook: Making League of Legends a better place]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/the-summoners-guidebook-making-league-of-legends-a-better-plac/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/the-summoners-guidebook-making-league-of-legends-a-better-plac/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/the-summoners-guidebook-making-league-of-legends-a-better-plac/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Summoner's Guidebook Making League of Legends a better place
It's no surprised that League of Legends has a very caustic community. Players on messageboards all over the internet (including our comments section) can attest to the fact that LoL's community leaves a lot to be desired. Unfriendly players and offensive language are the norm, and these bad attitudes keep many summoners from logging in.

Riot hasn't let the issue lie, though. The Tribunal was a good first step toward building a better community, and if reports are to be believed, it does a fairly good job. However, simply punishing players doesn't encourage good behavior. That's where the latest effort, the Honor system, comes into play.

Honor allows players to give positive feedback to friendly or supportive players, either friend or foe. Gaining honor alerts a player of his or her good behavior, and Riot has hinted that it may be the basis of future rewards. Is it a good step in the right direction, or will it just encourage "honor trading?"

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Making League of Legends a better place

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Making League of Legends a better place originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>being-a-better-gamercaustic-playerbasef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfriendlyfriendly-playerhonorhonorable-opponentjerkjerksleagueleague-of-legendslolmobanice-playeropinionrageragequitriotriot-gamessummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebooktribunalThu, 04 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: In defense of PvP -- a carebear's conversion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/wings-over-atreia-in-defense-of-pvp-a-carebears-conversion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/wings-over-atreia-in-defense-of-pvp-a-carebears-conversion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/wings-over-atreia-in-defense-of-pvp-a-carebears-conversion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wings Over Atreia header image
Squealing in delight, the gamer continues down the list, eyes feasting on line after line of the perfect features. Everything ever wanted, dreamed of, right here. Could it be? Could this be The One? Visions of gaming nirvana dance about the gamer's mind. Oh the fun that shall be had! Almost quivering, unable to contain the excitement, eyes finally chance upon the line... wait, what's this? PvP? Window closed/box tossed back on the shelf. What a piece of garbage.

Sound familiar? How many times have we heard the phrase "It would have been perfect without PvP" or see gamers just pass over a title that fit their wants and needs almost to a "T" just because of that one feature without even giving it a chance? How many people have been captivated by the beauty and promise of Aion but refrained from trying it because of two little words: "open PvP"? Plenty. Even among my own circle of friends I have heard that refrain many a time. To that I say: It's your loss.

In fact, I propose that PvP can be not only tolerated but actually enjoyed by almost everyone. And this week's Wings Over Atreia is dedicated to showing you how. Poppycock! you say? Now, before you dismiss me out of hand, please consider where this declaration is coming from. No one can (accurately) accuse me of being a PvPer. In fact, I more fully fall into the quintessential carebear category than anywhere else -- I am a casual-ish player and a roleplayer. Even so, I can now make the following (qualified) statement:

My name is MJ. And I like PvP.*

Don't believe that you, too, can make this statement? Take the leap past the break for a look at some tips on how to come to enjoy this integral feature more and not let fear keep you away from Aion.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: In defense of PvP -- a carebear's conversion

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: In defense of PvP -- a carebear's conversion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamearenascarebearfeaturedfunhaving-funjerksnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionpvppvpersWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 05 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Scott Hartsman says gold farming hurts our games more than we know]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/scott-hartsman-says-gold-farming-hurts-our-games-more-than-we-kn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/scott-hartsman-says-gold-farming-hurts-our-games-more-than-we-kn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/scott-hartsman-says-gold-farming-hurts-our-games-more-than-we-kn/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gold buying is one of those aspects of MMO culture that is seemingly universally denounced, yet enough people partake in the practice to keep the wheels of this grey market activity going. Scott Hartsman may be saying the obvious when he denounced gold farming and selling to Gamasutra, but apparently it is still something we need to hear.

The Trion Worlds general manager shared a glimpse of just how hard these activities hit games, and how concerned he and other studio execs are about the proliferation of credit card fraud that results: "It's those kinds of things where people laugh and go, 'Oh, that never happens.' No. It happens. It happens a s**tload. To the point where, over the last three or four years, I would dare anybody to ask an exec at a gaming company how much they've had to pay in MasterCard and Visa fines, because of fraud. It happens a lot."

According to Hartsman, the more these events take place, the more money studios spend on paying fines and dealing with them instead of reinvesting funds into the games themselves -- all because of the "jerks" perpetuating the crimes.

MassivelyScott Hartsman says gold farming hurts our games more than we know originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>credit-card-fraudgamasutragold-buyinggold-farmergold-farminggold-sellinggrey-markethackhackedhackersjerksmastercardrmtscott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsvisaThu, 21 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Crime and punishment in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/anti-aliased-crime-and-punishment-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/anti-aliased-crime-and-punishment-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/anti-aliased-crime-and-punishment-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

You're grinding in World of Warcraft's Stranglethorn Vale (voted most ganktastic by our friends at WoW Insider) when a level 70 druid finds it hilarious to moonfire your lowbie buttocks and camp your corpse for the next eight hours. You're grinding in Lineage II when suddenly someone completely rips you apart with Demon Sword Zariche, and the proceeds to do it over and over again. Face of Mankind players saw the days of other players killing player character police officers "just because it was fun and easy". Final Fantasy XI players dealt with the controversy of monster player killing, known as an MPK. Diablo had the problem of people raising you, killing you, raising you, killing you, raising you, killing you, raising you, killing you... I think you got the point.

Griefing is a problem in MMOs -- a very big problem. As more users enter our wonderful worlds of fantasy and intrigue, more and more of them think it's hilarious to make others suffer and waste time. So why is this phenomenon occuring, and what can developers do about it?

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Crime and punishment in MMOs

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Crime and punishment in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 May 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocblizzardccpcrimedeath-penaltydiabloeveeve-onlineface-of-mankindfeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-xifomfuncomgriefingjanoff-bulmanjerksjoystiqfeatureslegal-systemlineage-2ncsoftojomprisonpsychologysocial-psychologysquare-enixworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 29 May 2008 17:00:00 EST