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[The Secret World Game Director's letter dishes more details on Issues 7 & 8]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/the-secret-world-game-directors-letter-dishes-more-details-on-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/the-secret-world-game-directors-letter-dishes-more-details-on-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/31/the-secret-world-game-directors-letter-dishes-more-details-on-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

TSW Game Director's letter dishes more details on Issues #7 & 8 We already knew that Issue #7 would bring The Secret World a spy-like experience. And now, thanks to the Game Director's letter for May, we also have the title, snazzy cover art, and a glimpse at the climactic ending. We even get an expected time-frame for release; while an exact date is not given, it appears that it will hit the end of June, according to the cover art, and Director Joel Bylos himself states it will coincide with TSW's first anniversary.

Issue #7: A Dream to Kill ends with filth infiltrating Agartha itself through the newly discovered Tokyo entrance, and players will continue to fight this threat with group and solo content until Tokyo can finally be entered.

Bylos also reveals information about Issue #8, including the Virtual Training Scenarios and the Augment System. To prove readiness to enter Tokyo to the Council of Venice, players will have to complete training scenarios that will have random elements thrown in, making each experience different. The Augment system is a new advancement system that will allow players to improve their existing abilities by providing customization in the roles of damage, support, healing, and survivability.

MassivelyThe Secret World Game Director's letter dishes more details on Issues 7 & 8 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 May 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A-Dream-to-Killbuy-to-playfactionfantasyfuncomGame-Directors-letterhorrorIssue-7Issue-7-A-Dream-to-Killissue-8Joel-Bylosmythologysci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldTokyotswFri, 31 May 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan game director talks about server tech, tradeskills, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/age-of-conan-game-director-talks-about-server-tech-tradeskills/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/age-of-conan-game-director-talks-about-server-tech-tradeskills/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/age-of-conan-game-director-talks-about-server-tech-tradeskills/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Age of Conan game director talks about server tech, tradeskills, and more
Joel Bylos, the game director for Age of Conan, has put out this month's game director letter. In it, he addresses his team's plan for addressing "most of the concerns and requests" that players have.

Through a three-phase process, Age of Conan will come closer to having the same server functionality as The Secret World. Servers will be moved to the same physical place, then servers with the same ruleset will be merged, and then cross-server queues and functionality will be implemented. The tradeskill system is getting a massive revamp. Key changes there include the near removal of quests from tradeskill progression. Dragon's Spine and Unchained content is starting to get scheduled, bit by bit, for release.

You can read the full dev letter on the official site.

MassivelyAge of Conan game director talks about server tech, tradeskills, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedconanf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhyboriajoel-bylosthe-secret-worldunchainedTue, 30 Apr 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Get a glimpse of The Secret World's work-in-progress Tokyo playfield]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/get-a-glimpse-of-the-secret-worlds-work-in-progress-tokyo-playf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/get-a-glimpse-of-the-secret-worlds-work-in-progress-tokyo-playf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/23/get-a-glimpse-of-the-secret-worlds-work-in-progress-tokyo-playf/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Orochi Group HQ
Want a sneak peek at The Secret World's upcoming Tokyo playfield? You only have to sit through a 13-hour train ride to get it! OK, not really, but that's what one enterprising fan did in order to see if Issue #6's Last Train to Cairo would eventually reach its destination. If you haven't played through the new content yet, there's a climatic train sequence that involves a series of boss fights, and since players can be defeated, fall off the train, or otherwise fail to complete their objectives, the train keeps going (and going... and going).

One fan decided to stay on the train for 13 hours to see what would happen, and while she didn't make it to Cairo, she was rewarded with a visit from Funcom game director Joel Bylos near the end of her marathon livestream. Bylos subsequently ported her to the work-in-progress Tokyo zone for an impromptu tour.

Tokyo plays a significant role in TSW's overarching narrative. Players first visit it during the game's subway tutorial sequence, and the shadowy Orochi Group bases its headquarters there. While the preview shows off a rough version of the zone, complete with missing textures and very few NPCs, it also shows off a ginormous playfield and gives TSW fans reason to be excited for upcoming content updates. The Tokyo sequence starts around the 13:47:00 mark of the livestream linked below.

[Thanks Elania!]

MassivelyGet a glimpse of The Secret World's work-in-progress Tokyo playfield originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy-to-playfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorjoel-byloslast-train-to-cairomythologysci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-tokyoskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-tokyotokyotswtsw-issue-6tsw-tokyotsw-tokyo-livestreamSat, 23 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom's Joel Bylos on the centralized TSW, AoC, and AO team]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/07/funcoms-joel-bylos-on-the-centralized-tsw-aoc-and-ao-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/07/funcoms-joel-bylos-on-the-centralized-tsw-aoc-and-ao-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/07/funcoms-joel-bylos-on-the-centralized-tsw-aoc-and-ao-team/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Massively Exclusive Bylos expounds on the centralized team for AO, AoC, and TSW
By now, most MMO gamers are pretty familiar with the fact that Funcom underwent restructuring. But what does that mean; what exactly did it entail? The term "restructuring" in itself signifies changes but does nothing to actually enlighten folks on what the changes are. Other than the fact that Joel Bylos was named creative director for all three of Funcom's titles -- Age of Conan, Anarchy Online, and The Secret World -- and that the team will be in one centralized in location, we know little of the details.

How many developers survived the restructuring and relocated to remain on the team? Is this move foreshadowing one or more games slipping into maintenance mode? How will the coveted dev attention be divvied up? What does the future hold? Devoid of facts, players are left left wondering about how these changes will impact their favorite games.

While chatting with Joel Bylos in an exclusive interview, I was able to ask some of these very questions.

Continue reading Funcom's Joel Bylos on the centralized TSW, AoC, and AO team

MassivelyFuncom's Joel Bylos on the centralized TSW, AoC, and AO team originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanarchy-onlineaoaocaoc-unchainedbuy-to-playcentralized-temaclassic-mmoconanf2pfactionfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfuncomhorrorhyboriainterviewinterviewsJoel-Bylosmassively-exclusiveMassively-exclusive-interviewmassively-exclusive-interviewsmythologyrestructuringsci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtswunchainedThu, 07 Mar 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom's Bylos named creative director on AoC, AO, and TSW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/bylos-named-funcom-creative-director-overseeing-tsw-aoc-and-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/bylos-named-funcom-creative-director-overseeing-tsw-aoc-and-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/bylos-named-funcom-creative-director-overseeing-tsw-aoc-and-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Bylos named Funcom creative director, overseeing TSW, AoC, and AO
Funcom has announced that The Secret World creative director Joel Bylos is now the creator director for all three of the firm's MMORPGs. This includes TSW, Age of Conan, and Anarchy Online. Bylos has penned letters from the game director for TSW and AoC, while AO's Dave "Ilaliya" Williams passes the torch via a forum post.

Bylos' TSW letter talks additional content plans up to and including Issue #12 (the live game currently sits on Issue #5, with #6 scheduled for early March). Bylos has a special place in his heart for AoC stemming from his time as the lead designer on the Rise of the Godslayer expansion, and his initial game director letter reflects on both coming home and the opportunities for expanding Hyboria. He also talks a bit about the pros and cons of having a single production team working on three live titles.

Finally, outgoing AoC producer Craig "Silirrion" Morrison recaps his four years at the helm and hints at a "new opportunity within the MMO world."

[Thanks to David for the tip.]

MassivelyFuncom's Bylos named creative director on AoC, AO, and TSW originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanarchy-onlineaoaocaoc-unchainedbuy-to-playbylos-new-creative-directorclassic-mmoconancraig-morrisonf2pfactionfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhorrorhyboriajoel-bylosmythologysci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldsilirrionskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtswunchainedTue, 26 Feb 2013 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chaos Theory Extra: Bylos interview unearths more about TSW's Issue #6]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/chaos-theory-extra-bylos-interview-unearths-more-about-tsws-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/chaos-theory-extra-bylos-interview-unearths-more-about-tsws-is/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/25/chaos-theory-extra-bylos-interview-unearths-more-about-tsws-is/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Chaos Theory Extra Bylos interview unearths moreabout TSW's Issue #6
By now, it's no secret that I am excited for The Secret World's next update with its new story arc and new reward systems. Oh, and whips -- we can't forget the whips. I did, after all, mention it a bit earlier today. So it shouldn't be any surprise that I want to find out as much as I can about The Last Train to Cairo. With that in mind, I caught up with Creative Director Joel Bylos to unearth a few more tidbits about Issue #6 and beyond to pass along to you.

Keep reading for a discussion on the state of the team's relocation, word on when players can expect their first trip to Venice, and a few hints about future auxiliary weapons as well as the inspiration behind this update.

Continue reading Chaos Theory Extra: Bylos interview unearths more about TSW's Issue #6

MassivelyChaos Theory Extra: Bylos interview unearths more about TSW's Issue #6 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-faction3-factionsbuy-to-playchaos-theoryconspiracyconspiracy-thriillerdark-days-are-comingdragonfactionfaction-pvpfantasyfeaturedfuncomhorrorilluminatiinterviewinterviewsissue-6Issue-6-The-Last-Train-to-CairoJoel-Bylosmythologyopinionsci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-chaos-theoryskill-basedsubscriptionlesstemplarsThe-Last-Train-to-Cairothe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-chaos-theorythree-factionthree-faction-pvpthree-factionstswtsw-chaos-theorytsw-dragonMon, 25 Feb 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom game directors talk relocation, effects on TSW, AoC, and AO development [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/25/funcom-game-directors-talk-relocation-effects-on-tsw-aoc-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/25/funcom-game-directors-talk-relocation-effects-on-tsw-aoc-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/25/funcom-game-directors-talk-relocation-effects-on-tsw-aoc-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Funcom logo
Funcom has published game director letters for all three of its MMOs this morning, and one of the topics on everyone's mind is of course the studio's reorganization. As it turns out, the dev teams for The Secret World, Age of Conan, and Anarchy Online will all be operating out of the company's Raleigh, North Carolina facility which was previously the sole domain of the Funcom customer service team.

TSW's Joel Bylos notes that the move will cause some "development turbulence," and that the game's DLC and update schedule will slow down temporarily as a result. He has more details on both the game's Issue #6 update and veteran rewards in his letter. AoC's Craig Morrison says that the fantasy title isn't going anywhere, although he also acknowledges some staff turnover due to the relocation. He also notes that having the game's dev team and community team in the same building will be a huge benefit. Finally, Anarchy Online's update echoes the first two, but game director Dave "Ilaliya" Williams writes that the engine upgrade, server migration, and new player experience are all still on the table.

[Update]: Funcom has also published an update on the restructuring process on its main website.

[Thanks to David for the tip!]

MassivelyFuncom game directors talk relocation, effects on TSW, AoC, and AO development [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanarchy-onlineaoaocaoc-unchainedbuy-to-playclassic-mmoconancraig-morrisondave-williamsf2pfactionfantasyfree-to-playfuncomhorrorhyboriailaliyajoel-bylosmythologysci-fantasysci-fisecret-worldsilirrionskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtswunchainedFri, 25 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bylos's bunker life, the End of Days, and other Secret World news]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/byloss-bunker-life-the-end-of-days-and-other-secret-world-new/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/byloss-bunker-life-the-end-of-days-and-other-secret-world-new/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/byloss-bunker-life-the-end-of-days-and-other-secret-world-new/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Bylos's bunker life, the End of Days, and other Secret World news
Last we heard from Joel Bylos, creative director for The Secret World, he had locked himself away in his bunker and hunkered down for the end of the world. But don't think that means we've seen the last of him! In fact, Bylos continued his end of days video log from within that fortified haven. How well did he actually cope being sequestered away from the world with only Zoe, the two-dimensional bunker-mate? Watch and see for yourself in the final video after the break.

In other news, Bylos also hosted a livestream party today in London's Crusades nightclub and answered questions from fans. We scooped up a few bits of news amid the din of revelers. First, the dev team is currently working on Black Ops, special dynamic PvP events that occur out in the world. In relation to that, Bylos revealed that there won't be multi-faction cabals because the team will be stepping up factional conflict; one way they will do this is by adding PvP XP. Outside of PvP, puzzle raids are also in the works for groups of players to solve together.

Next, according to Bylos, folks are "guaranteed to see Venice before Tokyo, but it is not a new zone." In response to queries about player housing, Bylos answered that the team has to see where it falls on the list of priorities after things settle down with the new payment model.

And last but not least, the special End of Days events will run through January 7th. So hop on in and enjoy a world overrun by Mayan zombies!

Continue reading Bylos's bunker life, the End of Days, and other Secret World news

MassivelyBylos's bunker life, the End of Days, and other Secret World news originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Black-Opsbuy-to-playEnd-of-DaysEnd-of-Days-chronicleEnd-of-Days-eventsfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorhumorJoel-BylosmythologyPvPPvP-XPsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtswvideoFri, 21 Dec 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive: The Secret World's Joel Bylos vs. Armageddon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/exclusive-the-secret-worlds-joel-bylos-vs-armageddon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/exclusive-the-secret-worlds-joel-bylos-vs-armageddon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/19/exclusive-the-secret-worlds-joel-bylos-vs-armageddon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Massively Exclusive Interview Bylos vs Armageddon
It's no secret that The Secret World's creative director Joel Bylos has been deeply affected by the most recent end-of-the-world predictions. He even started a video log to share his new-found convictions. In that first log, he advocated for the removal of subscriptions so that everyone would have the chance to enjoy TSW before the end came. Shortly after, the game indeed adopted the buy-to-play model. Then Bylos took off to begin preparing his survival bunker.

But that video is over a week old. How has Bylos been coping with the impending Armageddon since then? I took a break from my Issue #5 adventures and caught up with the self-proclaimed end-of-days prophet to see how he's been faring, find out what he has learned about the apocalypse, and maybe get a hint on when the next video log will release!

Continue reading Exclusive: The Secret World's Joel Bylos vs. Armageddon

MassivelyExclusive: The Secret World's Joel Bylos vs. Armageddon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocalypsearmageddonbuy-to-playEnd-of-Daysend-of-the-worldfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorhumorinterviewinterviewsJoel-Bylosmassively-exclusivemassively-exclusive-interviewsmythologyopinionsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlessthe-secret-worldtswWed, 19 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World releases Issue #5 teaser, announces End of Days events [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/the-secret-world-releases-issue-5-teaser-announces-end-of-days/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/the-secret-world-releases-issue-5-teaser-announces-end-of-days/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/the-secret-world-releases-issue-5-teaser-announces-end-of-days/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World releases issue #5 teaser, announces End of Days eventsWhen Funcom announced that The Secret World was abolishing subscriptions and converting to a "pay once, play forever" model, the studio also noted that Issue #5 would be included free for everyone who had the game by the end of December. So now that the free-to-play question is answered, inquiring minds want to know what the next monthly update includes!

Well, folks, we'll have to wait a bit longer on the full answer to that, but we do have a hint of the upcoming story; the cover art lets us know it deals with The Vanishing of Tyler Freeborn. We also have a special comic to start the story off after the break.

Of course, the world is supposed to be ending, so what does that mean for TSW? Senior designer Tanya Short has jumped on the end-of-days bandwagon. In the latest dev blog, she details the special events that will begin on Friday the 21st, including special dynamic events and limited-time currency to spend on potions, unique weapon skins, and even a pet. As expected in any horror apocalypse, zombie attacks escalate everywhere and three giant nigh-invulnerable Harbingers will be roaming the lands. Will players find the single weakness of each that will bring down the behemoths before the world crashes? There is also a contest for the top player throughout the apocalypse with a title and pet reward, so hop on in and play a part in the end!

[Updated with second version of comic. So tell us, which do you prefer?]

View Poll

Continue reading The Secret World releases Issue #5 teaser, announces End of Days events [Updated]

MassivelyThe Secret World releases Issue #5 teaser, announces End of Days events [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy-to-playdev-blogend-of-daysEnd-of_daysfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorissue-5joel-bylosmythologysci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedsubscriptionlesstanya-shortthe-secret-worldThe-Vanishing-of-Tyler-FreeborntswTue, 18 Dec 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Secret World creative director goes crazy, kicks off End of Days chronicle]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/10/the-secret-worlds-dev-video-blog-begins-end-of-days-chronicle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/10/the-secret-worlds-dev-video-blog-begins-end-of-days-chronicle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/10/the-secret-worlds-dev-video-blog-begins-end-of-days-chronicle/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Secret World creative director goes crazy, kicks off End of Days chronicle
As we creep closer and closer to December 21st, more people seem to be paying attention to the cries of "The world is ending!" instead of reveling in holiday cheer. One recent convert to the end-of-days hype train is none other than Joel Bylos, creative director of The Secret World. After a weekend of poking around and researching the subject, Bylos decided that the world will definitely end at 11:11 on that fateful date and started a video blog to count down the remaining time.

In the first installment, Bylos gets wistful about the fate of The Secret World. Then he gets a brilliant idea to bring more players to the game to experience the conspiracies for themselves. Charging into a meeting room, he spouts his idea to eradicate the game's subscription requirements. After all, who needs money when the world is ending? Management, however, seems less than convinced. Don't believe me? Watch the video after the break and see for yourself!

[Source: Funcom press release]

Continue reading Secret World creative director goes crazy, kicks off End of Days chronicle

MassivelySecret World creative director goes crazy, kicks off End of Days chronicle originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>end-of-daysEnd-of-Days-chronicleend-of-the-worldfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorjoel-bylosmythologysci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswvideovideo-blogMon, 10 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World's Issue #5 to feature large new story arc, more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-secret-worlds-issue-5-to-feature-large-new-story-arc-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-secret-worlds-issue-5-to-feature-large-new-story-arc-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/22/the-secret-worlds-issue-5-to-feature-large-new-story-arc-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Secret World's Issue #5 to feature large new story arc, more
What's The Secret World game director Joel Bylos doing for Thanksgiving? We have no idea, but Funcom has released his latest letter to the community this morning.

Much of Bylos' text recaps the recently released Issue #4, but he also teases the upcoming Issue #5 which will feature a "single, larger story arc" instead of the customary missions spread across the game's various locales. There's also a new auxiliary weapon in the works, and Funcom is caving to popular demand by making investigation missions repeatable (for reduced rewards, of course). There's more, but you'll need to head to the official TSW website to check it out.

MassivelyThe Secret World's Issue #5 to feature large new story arc, more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>factionfantasyfuncomhorrorjoel-bylosmythologysci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswThu, 22 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ragnar Tørnquist returning to his roots with Dreamfall Chapters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/ragnar-tornquist-returning-to-his-roots-with-dreamfall-chapters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/ragnar-tornquist-returning-to-his-roots-with-dreamfall-chapters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/ragnar-tornquist-returning-to-his-roots-with-dreamfall-chapters/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
In September Funcom announced that Joel Bylos was taking over Ragnar Tørnquist's position of game director for The Secret World, leaving many of us wondering what the mastermind behind the renowned The Longest Journey series was getting up to. Well, now we finally know, and fans of TLJ will certainly be pleased to discover that Tørnquist is returning to his roots.

Today, Ragnar announced that his new studio, Red Thread Games, is commencing development of Dreamfall Chapters, which will continue the story that began with The Longest Journey over a decade ago. Rock, Paper, Shotgun has posted a new interview with Tørnquist detailing what lies ahead for the world of Dreamfall and how Ragnar's new gig will affect his work on The Secret World (spoiler alert: He's remaining on the TSW team as Creative Director), so whether you're an avid adventure gamer or a die-hard fan of TSW, it's certainly worth a read. For all the juicy details, just click on through the link below to get to the full interview.

MassivelyRagnar Tørnquist returning to his roots with Dreamfall Chapters originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dreamfall-chaptersdreamfall-the-longest-journeyfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorjoel-bylosmythologyragnar-tornquistred-thread-gamessci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-longest-journeythe-secret-worldtswThu, 01 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chaos Theory: Reticles and roleplay in The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/chaos-theory-reticles-and-roleplay-in-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/chaos-theory-reticles-and-roleplay-in-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/chaos-theory-reticles-and-roleplay-in-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Chaos Theory It's reticle, dudes, reticule is a purse
Funcom is a lot of things, but quitter isn't one of them. The company and its flagship The Secret World title have been through the proverbial poostorm in recent weeks, but the devs are doing their damnedest to come out swinging. What in tarnation am I talking about? Joel Bylos' state-of-the-game letter from yesterday, of course.

The newly minted Game Director dumped a wall o' text on us that hinted at a couple of exciting developments in store for everyone's favorite horror/conspiracy MMO. Let's chat them up after the cut.

Continue reading Chaos Theory: Reticles and roleplay in The Secret World

MassivelyChaos Theory: Reticles and roleplay in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-faction3-factionschaos-theoryconspiracyconspiracy-thriillerdark-days-are-comingdragonfactionfaction-pvpfantasyfeaturedfuncomhorrorilluminatiissue-4issue-fourjoel-bylosmythologyopinionreticle-combatreticle-not-reticuleroleplayroleplayingrpsci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-chaos-theorysecret-world-reticlesecret-world-reticle-combatskill-basedtemplarsthe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-chaos-theorythree-factionthree-faction-pvpthree-factionstswtsw-chaos-theorytsw-dragontsw-reticleThu, 11 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom prepping The Secret World for reticle combat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/10/funcom-prepping-the-secret-world-for-reticule-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/10/funcom-prepping-the-secret-world-for-reticule-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/10/funcom-prepping-the-secret-world-for-reticule-combat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Funcom prepping The Secret World for reticule combat
Most of you Secret World fans know that the game has featured a changing of the guard in its development ranks. While Ragnar Tornquist remains as Creative Director, former Lead Content Designer Joel Bylos is now the Game Director, and as such he's penned his first state-of-the-game letter which just went live on TSW website.

After a lengthy introduction, Bylos gets down to the business of update schedules. First up is Issue #4 and the long-awaited New York City raid. More importantly, the update will introduce reticle combat. Bylos says it's something the game has needed for a long time, but he's also conscious of the fact that some players may prefer to do without. "I feel it makes combat a lot more direct and exciting. We are not forcing it upon anyone, though. You will be able to freely switch between traditional targeting and the reticle depending on what you feel is best for you," he explains.

Bylos also hints at "an entirely new animation backend for the Dreamworld engine," which should allow the firm to address common complaints regarding TSW's avatar movement. There's more, too, including a bit on puzzle raids, but you'll need to head to the official website to read it all.

MassivelyFuncom prepping The Secret World for reticle combat originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcombatdreamworldfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorjoel-bylosmythologyreticlereticle-combatsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswtsw-animationstsw-issue-4tsw-state-of-the-gameWed, 10 Oct 2012 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom: Secret World 'not going free-to-play any time soon' [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/funcom-secret-world-not-going-free-to-play-anytime-soon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/funcom-secret-world-not-going-free-to-play-anytime-soon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/funcom-secret-world-not-going-free-to-play-anytime-soon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Funcom - Secret World 'not going free-to-play anytime soon'
Funcom's still riding the roller-coaster that is The Secret World, but as of today the Norwegian development firm has no plans to do away with the game's subscription fee. "No it's not going free-to-play any time soon," Funcom communications director Erling Ellingsen told Eurogamer. "There's currently no plans for making it free-to-play."

The game is in fact profitable as a subscription title, Ellingsen says, and creative director Ragnar Tornquist says that Funcom has content plans laid out through May of 2013. Tornquist and game director Joel Bylos spend a good bit of the interview talking about the challenges TSW faced last summer, from mediocre reviews to the need to launch and enable continued development to the stiff MMO competition.

"MMOs are hugely expensive, and of course Guild Wars 2 has sold a lot, and of course it's a big success. That game cost a lot of money and they're going to have to sell a lot of copies, especially without a subscription model. It is a dangerous path," Tornquist said. "It might be the right path for MMOs; as a consumer, as a player, I appreciate it. As a developer I'm with Joel in thinking that it is unfortunate for a lot of smaller companies or medium-sized companies."

[Update: TSW may not be going F2P soon, but it's certainly getting cheaper. Tipster Brant points out that the game is currently 50% off on Steam.]

MassivelyFuncom: Secret World 'not going free-to-play any time soon' [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>erling-ellingsenfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorjoel-bylosmythologypostmortem-doesnt-mean-what-eurogamer-thinks-it-meansRagnar-Tornquistsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswTue, 02 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom rehires staff, confirms TSW group investigation missions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/01/funcom-rehires-staff-confirms-tsw-puzzle-raids/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/01/funcom-rehires-staff-confirms-tsw-puzzle-raids/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/01/funcom-rehires-staff-confirms-tsw-puzzle-raids/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Funcom rehires staff, confirms TSW puzzle raids
New Game Director Joel Bylos dropped several juicy tidbits about the future of The Secret World on the Flash Point podcast. One of the biggest of these is that Funcom is growing once more following recent layoffs. "We have already brought back three people," he said, "It gives us hope and it's great to see those faces back at the office."

He said that a second auxiliary weapon -- which players assume to be the chainsaw -- is coming with next month's Issue 4, and the Halloween event scheduled in a couple weeks will have players digging through Irish lore books. If you like the game's investigation missions, you'll be pleased to hear that The Secret World will be introducing group versions of these types of quests.

But will the team be able to keep up with the monthly updates? Bylos is firmly confident that it can be done, as the structure for issue development is in place.

Bylos admits that it's "absolutely vital" for the studio to advertise the game better and communicate clearly what the game is to potential players. He also said that the team is working on helping players overcome the game's higher difficulty, particularly with starter decks that are coming soon and easier story boss fights.

[Thanks to Elania for the tip!]

MassivelyFuncom rehires staff, confirms TSW group investigation missions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auxiliary-weaponschainsawchainsawsfactionfantasyfuncomhalloweenhalloween-eventhorrorinterviewirishirish-loreissue-4joel-bylosmythologypreviewrehiresci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswMon, 01 Oct 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World gets a new game director, title and date of Issue #3 announced [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/24/the-secret-world-gets-a-new-game-director-title-of-issue-3-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/24/the-secret-world-gets-a-new-game-director-title-of-issue-3-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/24/the-secret-world-gets-a-new-game-director-title-of-issue-3-ann/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Secret World gets a new game director, title of Issue #3 announced
Funcom's finally named a replacement for The Secret World's game director spot: Joel Bylos. Bylos is moving up from his previous position as lead content designer, and Ragnar Tørnquist is pulling back from his role as senior producer to pour his energies into being creative director.

Bylos is psyched at the move: "Being given the opportunity to lead the game into a bold, new future is definitely a dream come true for me. I am very proud of what we as a team have created with The Secret World, and it is truly a brilliant canvas that will allow us to create more groundbreaking MMO experiences for many years to come. The Secret World is only really getting started, and with a game world that draws upon our own, real world, there is no limit to what sort of amazing stories we can tell and fantastic locations we can visit in the upcoming content updates."

Bylos and Tørnquist are hard at work leading the team through the next two patches. Funcom announced that this month's Issue #3 is titled The Cat God and Issue #4 will feature the New York City monster raid.

[Update: We've now learned that Issue #3 releases tomorrow. Thanks to Dalazar and Elania for the tip!]

MassivelyThe Secret World gets a new game director, title and date of Issue #3 announced [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creative-directorfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorissue-3issue-4joel-bylosmartin-bruusgaardmythologyragnar-tørnquistRagnar-Tornquistraidsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-cat-godthe-secret-worldtswMon, 24 Sep 2012 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom, CCP, Snail devs talk skill-based MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/funcom-ccp-devs-talk-about-skill-based-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/funcom-ccp-devs-talk-about-skill-based-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/funcom-ccp-devs-talk-about-skill-based-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Secret World screenshot
Although the majority of MMOs are level-based, some games are bucking the trend. The Secret World, EVE Online, and Age of Wushu are three titles that eschew the standard system in favor of offering players a more open gaming experience. In a recent interview, GameSpot talked with developers from these games about level-free MMOs.

Why should games forgo the popular trend and throw levels out? To give players freedom and allow them to play they way they want is the reason cited by both Funcom Lead designer Joel Bylos and Tyler Rawlins, Marketing Associate for Snail Games.

Bylos sums up Funcom's design philosophy like so: "You should not be playing a game to get to the top level. You should be playing a game to have fun." He also admitted that The Secret World changed from level-based to skills mid-development when the team decided that the genre had grown stale in that sense. Kristoffer Touborg, lead game designer for CCP, noted how players get to participate in the gaming experience for EVE even without being in the actual game thanks to the title's far-reaching meta experience.

Are skill-based systems on the rise? Watch the full video after the cut to find out.

Continue reading Funcom, CCP, Snail devs talk skill-based MMOs

MassivelyFuncom, CCP, Snail devs talk skill-based MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-wulinage-of-wushuasiaccpccp-gameschinachinesechinese-mmoeveeve-onlinegpotatointernet-spaceshipsinterviewjet-liJoel-BylosKristoffer-Touborgmartial-artsming-dynastysandboxsci-fiskill-basedskill-based-mmossnail-gamessnail-games-usaspreadsheets-onlineTyler-RawlinsvideowushuwuxiaTue, 21 Aug 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World devs to host exclusive livestream on Friday the 13th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/the-secret-world-devs-to-host-exclusive-livestream-on-friday-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/the-secret-world-devs-to-host-exclusive-livestream-on-friday-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/the-secret-world-devs-to-host-exclusive-livestream-on-friday-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World
Forget superstition: This Friday the 13th is a lucky day for The Secret World fans who want to delve deeper into the world of conspiracies. Tomorrow at 11 a.m. EDT, Creative Director and Senior Producer Ragnar Tørnquist and Lead Content Designer Joel Bylos will host a livestream of themselves playing select parts of the game while offering commentary and discussing the development process. To watch, join TSW's official Twitch.TV channel, TheSecretWorld.

Don't want to wait until tomorrow to see some The Secret World action? Then watch Massively TV tonight at 8:00 p.m. EDT for a two-hour special stream showing off investigation missions. You can still catch the special developer livestream tomorrow!

[Source: Funcom press release]

MassivelyThe Secret World devs to host exclusive livestream on Friday the 13th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exclusive-livestreamfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorjoel-byloslivestreammassively-tvmassivelytvmythologynewsRagnar-Tornquistsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswThu, 12 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2012: Watch Funcom's full The Secret World presentation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/gdc-2012-watch-funcoms-full-the-secret-world-presentation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/gdc-2012-watch-funcoms-full-the-secret-world-presentation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/19/gdc-2012-watch-funcoms-full-the-secret-world-presentation/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

TSW
If you found your appetite whetted for The Secret World after reading Jef's writeup from GDC, then make room in your life for 35 minutes of Funcom's full presentation from the conference! Senior Producer Ragnar Tørnquist, Lead Designer Martin Bruusgaard, and Lead Content Designer Joel Bylos take turns showing off in-game footage and discussing the game mechanics at play.

Topics covered in the presentation include character creation, the creepy/sexy Dragon starter experience, how achievements work, story, crafting, and the lands of Transylvania.

While the video isn't 100% pristine -- Funcom apologized for the less-than-perfect lighting during the presentation -- it's so chock-full of information and footage that you won't even notice. Give it a whirl after the jump!

Continue reading GDC 2012: Watch Funcom's full The Secret World presentation

MassivelyGDC 2012: Watch Funcom's full The Secret World presentation originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementscharacter-creationcraftingdragonfactionfantasyfuncomgdcgdc-2012horrorJoel-Byloslesbian-sexloreMartin-BruusgaardmythologypresentationRagnar-Tørnquistsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedstorythe-secret-worldtransylvaniatswMon, 19 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Is The Secret World a sandbox?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/some-assembly-required-is-the-secret-world-a-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/some-assembly-required-is-the-secret-world-a-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/some-assembly-required-is-the-secret-world-a-sandbox/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - Is The Secret World a sandbox?
I'm more excited than I thought I would be for The Secret World. After playing it at last week's Game Developer's Conference and getting a preview of the game's crafting system, I think it's safe to say my anticipation went up a few notches.

The real-world setting and horror-fantasy elements have always been appealing, but a general lack of info throughout 2011 -- coupled with Funcom's decision to add a cash shop to a subscription game -- conspired to knock The Secret World down a few pegs. Now I'm almost willing to forgive the business model faux pas because it seems like the game will feature significant sandbox elements.

Is it a sandbox, though?

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Is The Secret World a sandbox?

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Is The Secret World a sandbox? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conspiracycraftingfactionfantasyfeaturedfuncomgame-mechanicshorroris-the-secret-world-a-sandboxjoel-bylosmartin-bruusgaardmmo-storymythologyopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsandparksarsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedsome-assembly-requiredstorythe-secret-worldthemeparktradeskillingtradeskillstswuser-generated-contentFri, 16 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World ends Illuminati Week with new interview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/the-secret-world-ends-illuminati-week-with-new-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/the-secret-world-ends-illuminati-week-with-new-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/the-secret-world-ends-illuminati-week-with-new-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- The Secret World
The Secret World's Illuminati Week is drawing to a close, and to round out the excitement, the game's Lead Content Designer Joel Bylos sat down for an Illuminati-centric interview with IGN. Joel outlines what kind of players would find themselves most suited to a life with the Illuminati, what principles the society upholds, and even what sort of faction-specific abilities Illuminati players can look forward to. While he's not too forthcoming on that last point, he does reveal that "[Illuminati faction abilities] will reflect the Illuminati obsession with combing magic and technology to greatest effect." To get the full details and round out your Illuminati fix, just click on through to the interview below.

MassivelyThe Secret World ends Illuminati Week with new interview originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>factionfaction-abilitiesfactionsfuncomilluminatiilluminati-weekinterviewinterviewsjoel-bylosthe-illuminatithe-secret-worldtswFri, 13 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World designers talk progression, hand-holding, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/the-secret-world-designers-talk-progression-hand-holding-and-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/the-secret-world-designers-talk-progression-hand-holding-and-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/the-secret-world-designers-talk-progression-hand-holding-and-m/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Secret World - boss fight
The Secret World is up for discussion at Rock, Paper Shotgun this morning, and Funcom designers Joel Bylos and Martin Bruusgaard spend quite a bit of time going over various details of the upcoming horror-conspiracy MMORPG.

Those of you wondering how the game's classless skill-based advancement system is going to work will definitely want to read through the piece, as there is a lot of information in terms of both how the The Secret World feels and how it directs players in comparison to more traditional themepark titles.

"I believe World of Warcraft uses a very heavy hand to guide players. It says, 'pick up this stuff here, go and do these missions in this place here, do all the quests then go to this place here and do the quests there,'" Bylos explains. "In our game, we try not to be as heavy handed. It's much more of a light touch and comes through in the places you visit and the people you meet."

MassivelyThe Secret World designers talk progression, hand-holding, and more originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classlessdesignfantasyfuncomhand-holdinghorrorinterviewjoel-bylosmartin-bruusgaardmmo-industryprogressionsecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswWorld-of-WarcraftwowMon, 28 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on impressions of The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/hands-on-impressions-of-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/hands-on-impressions-of-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/hands-on-impressions-of-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Scary monster dude in The Secret World
Last month, Funcom held a special hands-on event for The Secret World at its Montreal, Canada offices, where we sent freelancer François Blondin to cover all the exciting details. François also got to play the game for several hours, giving us a fresh perspective on what TSW has to offer MMO gamers.

In Funcom's upcoming The Secret World, the game's three factions -- Templars, Illuminati and Dragons -- face off, compete, and collaborate (all at the same time!) amidst the nightmarish creatures being revealed throughout the world. But choose your allegiance carefully: Your faction determines your path and special bonuses for the whole game, and faction-switching won't be an option. Join me for a hands-on look at the game's current incarnation!

Gallery: The Secret World

Continue reading Hands-on impressions of The Secret World

MassivelyHands-on impressions of The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorcash-shopchakrascollisioncombatcraftingdemodouble-dippingdragonsequipmentexclusivefactionsfeaturedfuncomgearhands-onhiveilluminatiimpressionsjoel-bylosmartin-bruusgaardmontrealpreviewpvepvpquestingquestsRagnar-Tornquistskill-basedskillsstatssubscriptiontemplarsthe-hivethe-secret-worldthree-queststswweaponswheel-of-skillsMon, 21 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom hosting The Secret World Templar Q&A on Facebook]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/funcom-hosting-the-secret-world-templar-qanda-on-facebook/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/funcom-hosting-the-secret-world-templar-qanda-on-facebook/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/funcom-hosting-the-secret-world-templar-qanda-on-facebook/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World - templar girl
Want to know more about The Secret World's Templar faction? Aside from reading up on everything related to Templar Week, the best thing you can do is tune in to Funcom's next Facebook developer Q&A session.

The shindig happens tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. EST, when lead content designer Joel Bylos and writer Ben Schroder will be fielding your Templar-related questions. Funcom's press release says that interested gamers are free to submit their questions in advance, but the devs may not be able to answer everything.

Thus far Templar Week has served up some new screens, art, and a few mission details, and the dev Q&A looks to be the icing on the cake. Funcom also notes that the Illuminati faction will be getting a similar week-long publicity treatment in the near future.

[Source: Funcom press release]

MassivelyFuncom hosting The Secret World Templar Q&A on Facebook originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ben-schroderdev-questionseventsfantasyfuncomhorrorjoel-bylosquestion-and-answerreal-world-eventstemplartemplar-weektemplarsthe-secret-worldtswThu, 17 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World announces group and raid sizes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/the-secret-world-announces-group-and-raid-sizes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/the-secret-world-announces-group-and-raid-sizes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/the-secret-world-announces-group-and-raid-sizes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Secret World: Groups
As you may have heard, The Secret World gathers up modern-day legends and conspiracy theories and asks, "What if they were all true?" Of course, if these stories were true, then there would have to be a group of people preventing the world from crashing down in utter chaos, right? The Secret World has three such groups, in fact: the Illuminati, the Templars, and the Dragon.

That's the big picture, but what about smaller groups? In an interview with The Electric Playground, Lead Content Designer Joel Bylos explains the general idea behind the group dynamics:
We really feel that an MMO is a shared experience, right? It's very important that people work together to solve these problems. That's the greatest sort of feeling of achievement: when you work together with other people to overcome something.
He goes on to say that it may be possible for players with similar builds to actually be viable even when they're grouped together. He specifically mentioned a group of all tanks' being able to tackle a dungeon if they all had a self heal. But how many players are actually in groups? Bylos says five, and raid groups are 10. No more worrying about finding those other 30 people you would need for those 40-man dungeons, thank goodness!

MassivelyThe Secret World announces group and raid sizes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeonsEAElectronic-ArtsFuncomgroup-dynamicsgroupsjoel-bylosraid-groupsecret-worldthe-secret-worldTSWWed, 14 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World designers talk optimal builds, travel, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/the-secret-world-designers-talk-optimal-builds-travel-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/the-secret-world-designers-talk-optimal-builds-travel-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/the-secret-world-designers-talk-optimal-builds-travel-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Funcom devs have been hitting the publicity circuit lately in support of The Secret World, and GamePro has a new video interview featuring lead designer Martin Bruusgaard and lead content designer Joel Bylos. The pair spend a good nine minutes talking about various aspects of their upcoming fantasy-horror MMO, with particular attention given to the game's skill system and the builds it makes possible.

"In certain areas, people will need to have the correct effects to be optimal," Bylos explains. "In solo play especially, you will want to have a certain build." You can still progress any way you see fit, though, and Bylos was quick to point out that Funcom's intent is to provide a flexible character building system. That said, it's clear that build flexibility can come at the expense of perfect optimization, and ultimately Funcom is striving for a balance between playing how you want to play and tweaking your build as you go in order to progress through content.

The interview also touches on travel in The Secret World, and Bylos drops a few interesting hints about the use of hollow-earth myths to facilitate the globe-jumping that players will experience when traveling between far-flung locales like New York, Seoul, or London. Check out all the details after the cut.

Continue reading The Secret World designers talk optimal builds, travel, and more

MassivelyThe Secret World designers talk optimal builds, travel, and more originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildsfantasyfuncomgame-mechanicshorrorinterviewjoel-bylosmartin-bruusgaardskill-deckskill-systemskillsthe-secret-worldtswvideoWed, 13 Jul 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New Secret World dev walkthrough delves into the Savage Coast]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/new-secret-world-dev-walkthrough-delves-into-the-savage-coast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/new-secret-world-dev-walkthrough-delves-into-the-savage-coast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/new-secret-world-dev-walkthrough-delves-into-the-savage-coast/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

All right now, all you occultists, paranormal investigators, and conspiracy theorists, it's your turn to squeal with delight. Funcom has treated the world to a spankin'-new dev walkthrough of The Secret World's Savage Coast instance. You may remember we got our first look at the Savage Coast at the beginning of the month. Now, we get to go in for a first-hand look at just what makes this coast so savage.

The walkthrough -- which is so expansive it has to be presented in three parts -- begins with our dev tour-guides Martin Bruusgaard (Lead Designer) and Joel Bylos (Lead Content Designer) jumping into the dungeon linked to the Solomon Island zone, which they note is the first that players will encounter as they play through The Secret World. After a short preview of the quest-receiving experience (which includes voice acting that's rather good, especially for a game still in development), it descends into a rollercoaster ride into the mouth of madness.

The developers take on the Draugh (undead Norse warriors out for vengeance) and their masters throughout the course of the dungeon, which culminates in a scene straight out of Lovecraft's best. We'd hate to spoil the whole thing for you (and it's so long we really don't have the space!), but believe us, it's well worth the watch for any TSW fan. So head on past the cut for the full walkthrough videos!

Continue reading New Secret World dev walkthrough delves into the Savage Coast

MassivelyNew Secret World dev walkthrough delves into the Savage Coast originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cthulhu-fhtagndev-tourdev-walkthroughdraughdungeonfuncominstancejoel-byloslovecraftlovecraftianmartin-bruusgaardsavage-coastsweet-merciful-god-what-is-thatthe-savage-coastthe-secret-worldtswvideovideoswalkthroughFri, 08 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joel Bylos on building a better Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/joel-bylos-on-building-a-better-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/joel-bylos-on-building-a-better-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/joel-bylos-on-building-a-better-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If you were given the chance to build your very own world from scratch, how would you do it? What would you include? Would it be a world of beauty or dark dreamscapes? And would the inhabitants enjoy their stay or flee in terror?

To the team at Funcom tasked with fashioning The Secret World's... world, this isn't a hypothetical question, but a practical one. In a new developer blog post, Lead Content Designer Joel Bylos returns to share a behind-the-scenes view of how a game world is made.

Bylos says that there are four aspects to world-building: identifying purpose, research, building flow, and prototyping and production. Because The Secret World takes place on our planet in the here-and-now, the team has a reference point to begin, but layers a "secret history" on top of it. Bylos explains by saying, "This is the history of an area as only a member of The Secret World can experience it; the footprints of the secret societies and their past conflicts; the truth behind the local myths and legends; the echoes of ancient magic and forgotten rituals."

Of course, it's one thing to design something what you think is interesting and fun -- it's another to see if it works out in practice. All of this planning on paper is just the first stage of getting it in the game, which Bylos promises will come in an upcoming post.

MassivelyJoel Bylos on building a better Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conspiracycontent-designcontent-designerflowfuncomjoel-bylospurposeresearchsecret-historysecret-societiessecret-societythe-secret-worldthere-is-a-city-on-the-moontswworldworld-buildingThu, 23 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: Joel Bylos talks The Secret World's endgame (and a bunch of other stuff)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/massively-exclusive-joel-bylos-talks-the-secret-worlds-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/massively-exclusive-joel-bylos-talks-the-secret-worlds-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/massively-exclusive-joel-bylos-talks-the-secret-worlds-endgame/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Funcom is ramping up the publicity for The Secret World this week, and Massively's getting in on the action via an exclusive interview with lead content designer Joel Bylos.

Earlier we told you how TSW's devs are hard at work putting a supernatural (and conspiratorial) twist on some of the world's most well-known cities, and we recently sat down with Bylos to talk about everything from using Google Maps to navigate Funcom's version of New York, to the nature of the term "open world," to the use of random game objects by the player.

Bylos also has some interesting things to say about The Secret World's sandbox elements and its endgame, and you'll find all that and more after the cut.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Joel Bylos talks The Secret World's endgame (and a bunch of other stuff)

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: Joel Bylos talks The Secret World's endgame (and a bunch of other stuff) originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conspiaciesendgameexclusivefantasyfeaturedfuncomhorrorinterviewjoel-byloslondonnew-yorkopen-worldrandom-objectssandboxseoulskill-basedskillsthe-secret-worldworld-sizeFri, 03 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom building a bridge between the real and the fantastic in The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/funcom-building-a-bridge-between-the-real-and-the-fantastic-in-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/funcom-building-a-bridge-between-the-real-and-the-fantastic-in-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/funcom-building-a-bridge-between-the-real-and-the-fantastic-in-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Funcom has released a new dev blog focused on The Secret World, and today's entry is penned by lead content designer Joel Bylos. Much like with yesterday's video teaser, the focus is on the game's environments, and in particular, its localization in the real world.

Bylos, who also served as a content designer on Funcom's Age of Conan expansion before moving to The Secret World, says that the game aims to capture the essence of the modern era while adding a supernatural and conspiratorial twist to places you think you know. "Above ground, New York looks just like the New York you have visited in real life. If you really wanted to, you could find the exact same area depicted in the game on Google Maps. But beneath the streets sprawls the corporate-industrial juggernaut of the Illuminati, known only as the Labyrinth," Bylos explains.

The dev blog goes on to mention the game's mission system as another tool for grounding the narrative in reality. Whether you're burning zombies, performing an exorcism with a vacuum cleaner, or chasing ghosts with mirrors, The Secret World looks to use the mundane as a window into the fantastic. Check out the game's official website for the full dev blog.

MassivelyFuncom building a bridge between the real and the fantastic in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-blogdev-diaryfantasyfuncomhorrorjoel-byloslocationsmissionsnarrativenew-yorkreal-world-locationssecret-worldstorythe-secret-worldtswvacuum-cleaner-exorcismTue, 31 May 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Secret World dev diary talks story, context]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/secret-world-dev-diary-talks-story-context/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/secret-world-dev-diary-talks-story-context/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/secret-world-dev-diary-talks-story-context/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Sleuthing for more story-centric info regarding Funcom's upcoming horror-conspiracy MMORPG? Look no further than The Secret World's latest video dev diary featuring commentary from designers Ragnar Tornquist and Joel Bylos as well as lead writer Dag Scheve.

The trio highlights The Secret World's use of the real world as both location and character, with Bylos calling it "the greatest resource of all." The video shows a few new clips courtesy of the game's cinematics, but Tornquist is quick to point out that cinematics don't tell the whole tale when it comes to The Secret World's narrative. In spite of the fact that every character in the game is motion-captured and fully voiced, the story is "embedded into the world. You have to look for it, you have to search for it. The story is exploration and the story is discovery," Tornquist explains.

Funcom also seeks to challenge gamers in ways that depart from the traditional MMORPG paradigm, and Bylos says that "we're not just asking them to click a mouse button over and over again, but to think about what they do." Put on your thinking caps and click past the cut for the full video.

Continue reading Secret World dev diary talks story, context

MassivelySecret World dev diary talks story, context originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cinematicsdag-schevedev-diaryfantasyfuncomhorrorinvestigationjoel-bylosmissionsmmo-storyRagnar-Tornquistsabotagestorythe-secret-worldtswvideoMon, 30 May 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Engaging the brain: Funcom talks about the immersiveness of story in The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/engaging-the-brain-funcom-talks-about-the-immersiveness-of-stor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/engaging-the-brain-funcom-talks-about-the-immersiveness-of-stor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/engaging-the-brain-funcom-talks-about-the-immersiveness-of-stor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"No designer could ask for more to draw upon," The Secret World's Joel Bylos says. "This world, our world, is the greatest resource of them all."

And so begins a fascinating trip down the dark alleys of storytelling in Funcom's upcoming MMO. In a dev diary posted at MMORPG.com, The Secret World team suggests it's more interesting to set the game in our world instead of in rehashed fantasy lands. By embracing the concept of "everything is true," the writers open the door to every conspiracy theory, every urban legend, and every branch of pseudoscience known to man.

"The story is exploration. The story is discovery," Bylos promises. He says that the ultimate goal of the storytelling team is to get players to stop mindlessly clicking and to start engaging the story on a conscious level. This includes investigating events, hunting for clues and solving puzzles. No, this isn't Scooby-Doo Online (although that would be awesome).

It's also interesting to note that every character in the game has full voice-over and motion capture as a way to pull you into the story instead of jolt you out of it. Bylos also outlines the different types of missions, which include stealth and infiltration, action, investigation, and story.

[Thanks Even!]

MassivelyEngaging the brain: Funcom talks about the immersiveness of story in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conspiraciesconspiracyconspiracy-theoriesdev-diarydeveloper-diaryhorrorimmersionimmersivenessinvestigationjoel-bylosmmorpg.compsuedosciencepuzzlesRagnar-Tornquistscooby-doo-onlinestoriesstorystorytellingthe-secret-worldtswurban-legendsvideowritingFri, 27 May 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom hints at Secret World death penalty, sabotage missions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/05/funcom-hints-at-secret-world-death-penalty-sabotage-missions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/05/funcom-hints-at-secret-world-death-penalty-sabotage-missions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/05/funcom-hints-at-secret-world-death-penalty-sabotage-missions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

All is very hush hush around Funcom's The Secret World. While a good bit of new info surfaced at last month's GDC, there are still more questions than answers regarding the firm's followup to Age of Conan.

That said, occasionally the devs will dangle a tasty morsel, and in a new interview at Game Snafu, Funcom designer Martin Bruusgaard does just that with regard to TSW's death penalty mechanics. "We will not implement a death system that can be exploited as a fast travel system, because dying in The Secret World should be a sign of failure, and not optimization in any way. We don't want to punish the players in a form where they can lose stuff, neither items nor experience, but rather penalize on time," he explains.

Designer Joel Bylos also chimes in with some interesting bits about the game's questing mechanics, chief among them a hint about new sabotage missions. "These missions share a similar gameplay style to the original Deus Ex game -- avoiding security cameras, disabling traps and hacking computers, etc. Generally the traps are dynamic only in the sense that players can disable/enable them in the world. This becomes interesting when other players can accidentally trigger an alarm in the camp you are sneaking through," Bylos says. Check out the full interview at Game Snafu.

MassivelyFuncom hints at Secret World death penalty, sabotage missions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conspiraciesdeathdeath-penaltyfuncominterviewjoel-bylosmartin-bruusgaardmissionssabotagesabotage-missionsskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswTue, 05 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2011: Funcom talks The Secret World's PvE, PvP, and ARG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/gdc-2011-funcom-talks-the-secret-worlds-pve-pvp-and-arg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/gdc-2011-funcom-talks-the-secret-worlds-pve-pvp-and-arg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/gdc-2011-funcom-talks-the-secret-worlds-pve-pvp-and-arg/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Many of you are no doubt as anxious as we are to get your hands on Funcom's new The Secret World MMORPG (with a new website!). The skill-based end-of-the-world riff has been shrouded in a good bit of mystery for a good long while, but we've finally managed to snag a few minutes of face time with the title. This year's GDC marked the first opportunity for anyone outside of Funcom's alpha team to lay eyes on the game, and we've got some pretty juicy details to pass on.

Join us after the cut for the new trailer as well as a recap of Funcom's presentation, which was spearheaded by Ragnar Tornquist and featured designers Martin Bruusgaard and Joel Bylos. Discussion topics include PvP, PvE missions, and character progression.

Gallery: The Secret World: GDC 2011

Continue reading GDC 2011: Funcom talks The Secret World's PvE, PvP, and ARG

MassivelyGDC 2011: Funcom talks The Secret World's PvE, PvP, and ARG originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tigers, PvP, corruption, and more are coming with Age of Conan's next expansion, Rise of the Godslayer. Xfire has hosted a sneak peek live broadcast hosted by game director Craig Morrison and lead expansion designer Joel Bylos, and the two have shown off some of the inner workings of the expansion, including some of the changes and additions players will find.

We here at Massively were watching closely and taking notes, so if you didn't get the chance to watch the video then no worries! As we said before, we have your back and we're ready to take you headlong into the blood and corruption of Age of Conan's expansion.

Continue reading What's to come in Rise of the Godslayer

MassivelyWhat's to come in Rise of the Godslayer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you're playing Age of Conan, the odds that you're looking forward to the upcoming Rise of the Godslayer expansion are... pretty much one to one. The news on the expansion has been fairly slow in coming since its announcement earlier this year, but it looks like we're due for a big burst of new information on Monday. Funcom has announced that the developers will be hosting a streaming demo of the game on December 7th via Xfire.

The demo, hosted by game director Craig Morrison and the expansion lead designer Joel Bylos, will begin at noon PST (3 PM for those of us on the other coast). Scheduled to last for an hour, it promises to cover both the content in the demo -- which is all slated to be new material -- as well as the expansion in general, which is targeted for release in the first half of 2010. Both the developers and their hosts at Xfire are excited about the chance to show off a live demo, and odds that the game's playerbase is excited are, again, probably one in one. So clear some time to catch the broadcast on Monday, and see what's in store for Age of Conan as it journeys into the eastern empire of Khitai.

[ via WarCry ]

MassivelyAge of Conan offers streaming expansion demo Monday originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccraig-morrisondemoexpansionsfuncomjoel-byloslive-deompreviewsrise-of-the-godslayerstreaming-demovideoxfireFri, 04 Dec 2009 22:00:00 EST