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 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[Creating a new world: 38 Studios discusses the formation of Amalur's IP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/creating-a-new-world-38-studios-discusses-the-formation-of-amal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/creating-a-new-world-38-studios-discusses-the-formation-of-amal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/creating-a-new-world-38-studios-discusses-the-formation-of-amal/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Reckoning
As MMO fans, we're keeping a close eye on 38 Studios for its development of Project Copernicus, the MMO that will serve as the follow-up to next month's Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. The risk factor of not only developing two major intertwined projects in parallel but to have the additional task of creating a brand-new IP in which to put them must be a pressing one, which is why CVG sat down with Reckoning Lead Designer Ian Frazier to talk about challenges the studio has been tackling.

Frazier outlines the balance the studio's struck between its three big-name creators -- Todd McFarlane (art), R.A. Salvatore (story), and Ken Rolston (design) -- not to mention the ideas that pour in from founder Curt Schilling. Fortunately, Frazier says that these larger-than-life personalities mesh well together: "The nice thing that's worked out is, I think if we'd got three famous game designers, it would have been a disaster: big egos, they're all on the same plane, it wouldn't have worked out. What makes this work is they're all different."

Even though Rolston previously worked on The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, Frazier said the designer wanted to try his hand at something fresh with a better combat system. "They're all great games," Frazier said of the Elder Scrolls series, "and I think they're progressively better, but they're all the same game. It's not like they're radically changing with time."

Frazier said Reckoning has been compared to a "single-player WoW" as well as Dragon Age and Fable, but he insists that the world and ideas the team's been creating will take it far past those basic comparisons.

You can take your first peek into the world of Amalur with the Reckoning demo -- and let us know what you think in the comments!

MassivelyCreating a new world: 38 Studios discusses the formation of Amalur's IP originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studioscopernicusCurt-Schillingcvgdragon-ageegoegoselder-scrollsfableIan-FrazierinterviewKen-Rolstonkingdoms-of-amalur-reckoningoblivionR.A.-Salvatorera-SalvatorereckoningTodd-McFarlaneworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 27 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Preview the world of Copernicus with 38 Studio's Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/preview-the-world-of-copernicus-with-38-studios-kingdoms-of-ama/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/preview-the-world-of-copernicus-with-38-studios-kingdoms-of-ama/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/preview-the-world-of-copernicus-with-38-studios-kingdoms-of-ama/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

38 Studios has been in the news quite a bit over the last year despite not having a released game under its belt. While the upstart company still lacks a finished product, it's one step closer with today's release of the first gameplay trailer for Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning.

The footage from the upcoming single-player RPG gives fans a first look at the world of Amalur, which 38 Studios will revisit in the Copernicus MMO to follow. In addition to featuring company president (and former World Series MVP) Curt Schilling, Reckoning boasts an impressive array of talent from both 38 Studios and Big Huge Games including lore-master R.A. Salvatore, former Morrowind and Oblivion lead designer Ken Rolston, and Spawn creator Todd McFarlane.

The video clip showcases a good look at Amalur's fantasy trappings, glimpses of combat with several creatures (including a big bad), and a 2012 release date. Check out all the details after the cut.

Continue reading Preview the world of Copernicus with 38 Studio's Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning trailer

MassivelyPreview the world of Copernicus with 38 Studio's Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studosamalurcopernicuscurt-schillingfantasyken-rolstonkingdoms-of-amalurkingdoms-of-amalur-reckoningr.a.-salvatorereckoningtodd-mcfarlanetrailertrailersvideoTue, 12 Apr 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GenCon 2010: Fantasy fencing with 38 Studios]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/09/gencon-2010-fantasy-fencing-with-38-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/09/gencon-2010-fantasy-fencing-with-38-studios/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/09/gencon-2010-fantasy-fencing-with-38-studios/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

One thing is for certain: When you are sitting in the crosshairs of Curt Schilling and R.A. Salvatore during an interview, it's easy to become bowled over by their collective intensity and passion, especially when it comes to their interest in games and fantasy worlds.

While GenCon Indy lacked its usual MMORPG presence this year, Massively was able to grab a few minutes of face time with 38 Studios' founder and lead writer as they passed through the convention. It was a bit of an odd interview, however, as two of the biggest topics -- 38 Studios' move to Rhode Island and any solid details about their top-secret MMO -- were off the table for discussion. Do not fret, as that certainly didn't stop us from trying to pry for a few hints along the way. Schilling and Salvatore were obviously eager to spill the beans about Copernicus, but they are still biding their time until the right moment.

Happily, the duo didn't mind us fencing with them for facts, and were quite open about their single-player RPG lead-up to Copernicus, their general philosophy of designing the MMO, and why they've waited so long to unveil it to the public. Read on, gentle gamers, for a few ripostes, parries and lunges with two of the biggest figures in the industry right now.

Continue reading GenCon 2010: Fantasy fencing with 38 Studios

MassivelyGenCon 2010: Fantasy fencing with 38 Studios originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosamalurart-stylecopernicuscurt-schillingeqeq2everquestEverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedforgotten-realmsgencongencon-10gencon-2010gencon-indygencon-indy-10guildsiconsjustin-is-a-hobbitjuttenken-rolstonkingdoms-of-amalurkingdoms-of-amalur-reckoningmass-effectmother-earthoblivionr.a.-salvatorera-salvatorereckoningscopethe-elder-scrolls-iv-obliviontodd-mcFarlaneuiultima-onlinewarcraft-3world-buildingworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 09 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC10: Copernicus' Project Mercury being published by EA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/gdc10-copernicus-project-mercury-being-published-by-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/gdc10-copernicus-project-mercury-being-published-by-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/09/gdc10-copernicus-project-mercury-being-published-by-ea/#commentsFiled under:

If you have been eagerly awaiting news on the top-secret Copernicus over at 38 Studios, you'll be pleased to hear that 38 Studios broke the silence today. "Project Mercury," a single-player title set in the Copernicus universe, will be coming to the PC, XBox 360 and PS3. 38 Studios signed a publishing deal with EA to bring the game to market.

"Project Mercury" is described as "an epic single-player role-playing game," and is being developed by 38 Studios-owned Big Huge Games under the guiding hand of Ken Rolston (Morrowind and Oblivion). This will be the first Copernicus project launched by Curt Schilling's team after years of anticipation and heavy speculation. As NASA's Project Mercury set out to test the boundaries of space by putting a man into orbit, "Project Mercury" looks to be testing the waters of single-player RPGs before diving into the realm of MMOs, similar to the approach of fan-favorite Torchlight.

Stay tuned to Massively, as we meet with Copernicus' R. A. Salvatore later this week at GDC to pick his brain.

MassivelyGDC10: Copernicus' Project Mercury being published by EA originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studios38-studios-copernicus38-studios-project-mercuryBig-Huge-Gamescopernicuscurt-schillingEAgdc-2010ken-rolstonproject-mercuryr.a.-salvatorera-stalvatorestalvatorTue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST