Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Give indie a chance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/the-soapbox-give-indie-a-chance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/the-soapbox-give-indie-a-chance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/the-soapbox-give-indie-a-chance/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

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Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

It's a pretty cool thing to introduce readers to new games. It's especially cool when the new game I am showing them would otherwise have completely passed under their radar, mainly because they receive most of their gaming news from other sites or from the blueshirts at Best Buy. I find no greater satisfaction than when someone tells me, "I didn't think I would like a game like that." When a player who normally feels comfortable engaging only with standard mechanics like linear questing, class-based gameplay, or raiding finds himself obsessed with some odd browser-based strategy game, everyone wins.

Once that player gets hooked on one of my favorite indie titles, most of the hard work is over. The real challenge comes a few steps before that: getting the player to actually try the game in the first place. I've tried a lot of different tactics over the years, from using guilt or shame to acting as though only cool people play the game in question. Unfortunately, it feels as though the audiences have become increasingly resistant. I have to think that the recent crop of easily digestible AAA titles has not helped the situation at all.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Give indie a chance

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Give indie a chance originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanfeaturedgive-indie-a-chanceglitchindependentindependent-developersindependent-gamesIndiejohn-lennonriftRyzomsoapboxstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-soapboxtrionTue, 31 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Imagine Peace today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/imagine-peace-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/imagine-peace-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/imagine-peace-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Friðarsúlan in Icelandic, otherwise known as the Imagine Peace Tower has been recreated at least three times in Second Life that we're aware of. The tower of light, dedicated to the late John Lennon, consists of a geothermally powered base, and shines its light as much as four kilometres into the sky. Around the base are the words imagine peace in 24 languages.

This third Second Life recreation of the light tower was commissioned by Yoko Ono, artist, peace-activist, musician and Lennon's widow.

After the lighting ceremony for the physical tower in Iceland, Ono will be unveiling this Second Life version on Imagine Peace Island (SLURL) at 3:30PM US Pacific time today.

The tower will illuminate 15 minutes after sunset each Second Life day, and remain lit until the next Second Life dawn. Sunset on the island takes place at 3:30, 6:30 and 10:30 (both AM and PM) US Pacific time each day.

Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

MassivelyImagine Peace today originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cultureicelandimagine-peace-islandimagine-peace-towerjohn-lennonsecond-lifevirtual-worldsyoko-onoFri, 09 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST