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[38 Studios appears to be getting no new help]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/38-studios-appears-to-be-getting-no-new-help/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/38-studios-appears-to-be-getting-no-new-help/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/38-studios-appears-to-be-getting-no-new-help/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Curt Schilling
The bad news continues to accumulate for Rhode Island developer 38 Studios. According to Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee, the company has received a grand total of no outside investment. It also has not received any of the tax credits that it requested, leaving the studio still deep in the hole. Chafee has stated that he is doing everything in his power to prevent the studio's closure.

Staff members are also leaving the company at an alarming rate, with CEO Jen MacLean and senior VP of product development John Blakely both confirming their departures from the company. The hiring of both individuals was trumpeted as a mark of success as recently as March of this year, and Blakely was still employed by 38 Studios as recently as Monday evening. There's even talk of the company's health insurance running out. None of this news suggests that Curt Schilling's company will make a quick turnaround -- if indeed it makes a turnaround at all.

Massively38 Studios appears to be getting no new help originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studioscurt-schillingfinancefinancesindustryindustry-turnoverjen-macleanjohn-blakelylayoffslegalmmo-industrynewspotential-shutdownproject-copernicusupdatesWed, 23 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[38 Studios announces the addition of more industry vets to the team]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/38-studios-announces-the-addition-of-more-industry-vets-to-the-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/38-studios-announces-the-addition-of-more-industry-vets-to-the-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/38-studios-announces-the-addition-of-more-industry-vets-to-the-t/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Reckoning
Fresh off the launch of its single player game, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, 38 Studios has announced the addition of two new members to their team. John Blakely, who has worked for SOE and Zynga, will become their senior vice president of development, while Mark Hansen has come from LEGO Systems Inc. to take on the role of senior vice president of business operations. They both took the time to speak with Massively about their experience in the industry as well as their upcoming roles with 38 Studios. Read on for highlights from the interview!

Continue reading 38 Studios announces the addition of more industry vets to the team

Massively38 Studios announces the addition of more industry vets to the team originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studioscopernicuscurt-schillingfeaturedjohn-blakelyken-rolstonmark-hansenr.a.-salvatoretodd-macfarlaneThu, 15 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alter-Ego: Update 3 and more in store]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/28/alter-ego-update-3-and-more-in-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/28/alter-ego-update-3-and-more-in-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/28/alter-ego-update-3-and-more-in-store/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Good things are on the horizon in DC Universe Online, heroes, and villains! After having the chance to sit in on a roundtable discussion with Jens Andersen, Mark Anderson, and Lorin Jameson on Thursday, I am confident that the team in charge of the game's development is taking a good hard look at all the feedback it's been receiving from players. Aside from getting a chance to hear more about the soon-to-be-released Update 3, we were able to get a handful of answers for some burning questions that players have been asking about recently -- and some screenshots in the gallery below to give you a sneak peek!

Additionally, we managed to get a hint of things to come, as we're certain anyone who was watching Thursday night's DC Universe Online stickam chat noticed. For those who didn't make it, don't worry -- I'll be running down several interesting points from that event too since it meshes well with the roundtable discussion. All you have to do to get the super-scoop is join me behind the break!

Gallery: DC Universe Online

Continue reading Alter-Ego: Update 3 and more in store

MassivelyAlter-Ego: Update 3 and more in store originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alter-egobatmanchris-caoclayfacedc-comicsdc-universe-onlinedcuodcuo-update-3featuredgu3jens-andersenjohn-blakelylorin-jamesonmark-andersonpenguin-robotspoison-ivyras-al-ghulsoesony-online-entertainmentswamp-thingtwo-faceupdate-3vertigovertigo comicsVertigoComicsSat, 28 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alter-Ego: Only doom in the hall]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/21/alter-ego-only-doom-in-the-hall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/21/alter-ego-only-doom-in-the-hall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/21/alter-ego-only-doom-in-the-hall/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Just after my column went live last week, we saw the Sony Online Entertainment servers start to come back online. Those of us who consider DC Universe Online our MMO home were able to once again get our hero or villain on and meet up with friends we'd been relegated to catching up with on Facebook. (Don't get me wrong, Facebook is fine for what it is, but it can't compare with getting to bash virtual superhero or supervillain heads in alongside your league-mates!)

As I mentioned last week, the restoration also came with a nice variety of goodies. With the added outage time tacked onto the 30 days, everyone was awarded 45 days of free play time, which isn't too shabby. I'd also note that the 45 days free applies to all Sony Online Entertainment game accounts you might have -- whether or not they were active at the time of the outage. This offers DC Universe Online players who may have opted to cancel after the first month the perfect chance to log in and check out the content updates that have gone live since launch, without having to spend a dime.

The real question is this: What type of future might we see for DCUO in the aftermath of the outages, especially with so many players screaming that they were leaving? Join me behind the break as I look at our first week back on the mean streets.

Continue reading Alter-Ego: Only doom in the hall

MassivelyAlter-Ego: Only doom in the hall originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-caodc-universe-onlinedcuodcuo-update-3deadmeatexecutive-producerfeaturedfuture-of-the-gamegame-directorgame-outagejohn-blakelylorin-jamesonmark-andersonmark-halashnetwork-outageopinionradar-xsoesony-online-entertainmenttony-jonestunsoupdate-3Sat, 21 May 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[John Blakely leaves SOE for Zynga]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/john-blakely-leaves-soe-for-zynga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/john-blakely-leaves-soe-for-zynga/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/john-blakely-leaves-soe-for-zynga/#commentsFiled under: , ,

These days fans are hungry for any word from Sony Online Entertainment, which has been mostly quiet following the hacking intrusion that required Sony to take down its MMOs on May 2nd. While we have received some news out of the company, unfortunately today's word is a sad one: John Blakely, SOE's vice president of development, has left the company to join Zynga.

Kotaku reports that Blakely's LinkedIn resumé mentioned that he left SOE in April to become a general manager at Zynga in Austin. SOE has confirmed his departure, thanking Blakely for his "passion and leadership" and stating that he has been replaced by Lorin Jameson. Jameson was the executive director of development at SOE's Austin studio.

In addition to being SOE's VP of development, Blakely filled the role of executive producer for DC Universe Online and senior producer for EverQuest II during his stay at the company.

MassivelyJohn Blakely leaves SOE for Zynga originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 May 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austindc-universe-onlinedcuoeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2p-for-rubihackinghacking-intrusionjohn-blakelykotakulinkedinLorin-Jamesonsoesonysony-online-entertainmentzyngaThu, 12 May 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DC Universe Online promises "all-star voice cast"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/dc-universe-online-promises-all-star-voice-cast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/dc-universe-online-promises-all-star-voice-cast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/22/dc-universe-online-promises-all-star-voice-cast/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Just a few days after the preorder bonuses were released and beta signups began for DC Universe Online, Sony Online Entertainment unveiled the central lineup of voice actors for the game.

Some of the names are familiar and unsurprising, but still nice to have confirmed. Mark Hamill will be voicing The Joker once again, and Kevin Conroy returns as Batman. SOE highlighted the two returning actors with a short video on the DCUO site entitled "The Voices of the Game."

Fans of Joss Whedon's work were interested to see several familiar names in the list: Gina Torres as Wonder Woman, James Marsters as Lex Luthor, and Adam Baldwin as the voice of Superman.

Michelle Forbes rounds out the cast list list as the voice of Circe.

John Blakely, SOE's Vice President of Development, says "We're excited that not only will Mark and Kevin bring their talent back to the DC Universe as part of DC Universe Online, but we've hit the jackpot with a full cast that are veterans of movies, TV shows and games that our fans are crazy about."

MassivelyDC Universe Online promises "all-star voice cast" originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-baldwinbatmandc-comicsdc-universe-onlinedcuogina-torresjames-marstersjohn-blakelyjokerkevin-conroylex-luthormark-hamillsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentsupermanthe-jokervoice-actorvoice-actorsvoice-castwonder-womanThu, 22 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DC Universe Online interview with Executive Producer John Blakely]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/dc-universe-online-interview-with-executive-producer-john-blakel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/dc-universe-online-interview-with-executive-producer-john-blakel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/dc-universe-online-interview-with-executive-producer-john-blakel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Sony Online Entertainment's (SOE) upcoming MMO DC Universe Online (DCUO) was well-received at Comic-Con '08 and has the potential of connecting with gamers and comic fans on a whole new level -- allowing them to play alongside the heroes they grew up with in comic books and cartoons. Christian Donlan from Eurogamer has an interview with John Blakely, VP of Development at SOE Austin and Executive Producer of DCUO, from the 2008 Fan Faire in Las Vegas.

Eurogamer spoke with Blakely about keeping underperforming titles alive, remaining flexible in terms of DC Universe Online's vision vs. its evolution over time, and the fan reception to DCUO at Comic-Con '08. The interview touches on the choice to bar gamers from playing established heroes in the DC Universe like Batman and DCUO's payment model as well.

Continue reading DC Universe Online interview with Executive Producer John Blakely

MassivelyDC Universe Online interview with Executive Producer John Blakely originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmanchristian-donlancomic-bookcomic-book-characterscomic-concomic-con-2008dc-comicsdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoeurogamerfan-fairefan-faire-2008fantasyinterviewsjohn-blakelysoesony-online-entertainmentsuper-herosuper-heroessupermanworld-of-warcraftMon, 18 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Comic-Con 08: Hands-on with DC Universe Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/comic-con-08-hands-on-with-dc-universe-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/comic-con-08-hands-on-with-dc-universe-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/comic-con-08-hands-on-with-dc-universe-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Two weeks ago at E3, the Massively staff had their first glimpse of DC Universe Online gameplay footage. Developers showing the trailer promised players could play equally well whether on a PC or PS3, engage in battles unlike any before and push the limits of the Unreal physics engine that is the technological base of the game. After getting my hands on a pre-Alpha build of the game this week at Comic-con, I can tell you one thing for sure: this game delivers on its promises.

I've rarely had so much fun playing an MMO in such an early stage of development. Running up the sides of skyscrapers at superspeed, picking up city buses and smashing them into enemies, encasing the bad guys in blocks of ice and punting them two city blocks, the list goes on. These activities not only make the player feel truly heroic, but create an environment where players can coordinate their attacks with each other to defeat supervillains in all new and unexpected ways.

Continue reading Comic-Con 08: Hands-on with DC Universe Online

MassivelyComic-Con 08: Hands-on with DC Universe Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bizzarochris-caocomic-concomic-con-08featuredgreen-lanternjohn-blakelyjoystiqfeatureslex-luthorsoesony-online-entertainmentsupergirlsuperhero-gameplaysupermanMon, 28 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Check out a DC Universe Online interview, gameplay video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/25/check-out-a-dc-universe-online-interview-gameplay-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/25/check-out-a-dc-universe-online-interview-gameplay-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/25/check-out-a-dc-universe-online-interview-gameplay-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Mahalo spoke with DC Universe Online Executive Producer John Blakely at Comic Con this week and videotaped the conversation, along with a whole bunch of gameplay. The gameplay includes a player running around at lightning speed, scaling walls, picking up and throwing cars, and some gunplay.

In the interview, Blakely said that to watch DCUO's MySpace page for updates about the release date and other news. Specific gameplay info was thin, but he did suggest that player skill will matter just as much as your character's abilities. They all say that, though, and unfortunately it's usually only half true.

Mahalo also recorded video of a panel on which famous comic book writer Stan Lee glowingly talked about storytelling in video games. We've embedded both parts of that video beyond the jump.

Continue reading Check out a DC Universe Online interview, gameplay video

MassivelyCheck out a DC Universe Online interview, gameplay video originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comic-bookscomic-concomic-con-2008comic-con2008dc-comicsdc-universe-onlinedcuointerviewjohn-blakelymahalopanelsoesonystan-leestorystorytellingvideoFri, 25 Jul 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[E308: A top to bottom exploration of DC Universe Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/e308-a-top-to-bottom-exploration-of-dc-universe-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/e308-a-top-to-bottom-exploration-of-dc-universe-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/e308-a-top-to-bottom-exploration-of-dc-universe-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Superman soars above the skies in Metropolis. Batman swings from rooftop to rooftop in Gotham City. The world of DC comics is an extremely venerable IP, with numerous evocative characters, locations, and villains. It's set to be the backdrop for one of the most ambitious new titles planned by Sony Online Entertainment: DC Universe Online. We had the chance to talk with DCUO Creative Director Chris Cao and SOE-Austin VP of development John Blakely all about the game.

Join us as we explore the game from top to bottom, uncovering tidbits about the game's raid gameplay, the underlying technology, holiday events, and the game's business model. We even ask about the game's launch date, with pretty well expected results. For a taste, here is what the game is capable of as far as world events: "We actually have a dynamic content system. What that means is that we hand-craft each event (like an armored car robbery or a hostage situation) and then we spin them up dynamically based on who is there and what they're doing. It allows us to easily replace every single encounter in Metropolis and Gotham and suddenly have Brainiac Attack or the Thanagarians Invade. Next week at Comic-Con you'll be able to play through that event."

Continue reading E308: A top to bottom exploration of DC Universe Online

MassivelyE308: A top to bottom exploration of DC Universe Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-caodc-comicsdc-universe-onlinedcuoe3e3-2008e3-dcuoe308featuredjim-leejohn-blakelyjoystiqfeaturessoesony-online-entertainmentThu, 17 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E308: DC Universe Online already 'released' inside SOE]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/e308-dc-universe-online-already-released-inside-soe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/e308-dc-universe-online-already-released-inside-soe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/e308-dc-universe-online-already-released-inside-soe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We had a lengthy chat with the folks behind Sony Online Entertainment's upcoming super-hero MMO, DC Universe Online. Creative Director Chris Cao and SOE-Austin VP of development John Blakely were extremely forthcoming with details and preview information on the gigantic game. Make sure to check back over the next day or so for more on your passage into the world of the DC heroes. For now, we wanted to mention that (surprise) the game is already released! At least, within the halls of SOE, the game is very much a live product.

Chris Cao: John Blakely has started a "play it like it's live" initiative. We actually run everything like it's a live service. We do update notes to ourselves. We basically do everything you would do as a normal MMO that's already live because we've learned that changing that rhythm going from pre-launch to live is where most of the mistakes happen. Suddenly you are doing things faster, suddenly you're assuming consumer concerns instead of your own. By being our own consumers and being a provider to the company we get that experience up-front. By the time we get it out to you guys, we'll be old hat at it. We've already been doing it a year and we're going to keep going throughout the development process.

Gallery: E308: DC Universe Online concept art

Continue reading E308: DC Universe Online already 'released' inside SOE

MassivelyE308: DC Universe Online already 'released' inside SOE originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-caodc-universe-onlinedcuoe3-2008e3-dcuoe308featuredjohn-blakelyjoystiqfeaturessoesoe-austinsony-online-entertainmentWed, 16 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EST