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[Fan-made My Little Pony MMO gathers a following]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/fan-made-my-little-pony-mmo-gathers-a-following/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/fan-made-my-little-pony-mmo-gathers-a-following/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/30/fan-made-my-little-pony-mmo-gathers-a-following/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Pony should pony pony
Yesterday bronies across the world rejoiced as Kotaku reported on the production of not just one but two upcoming My Little Pony MMOs. Both My Little Pony Online and Equestria Online are set in the fictional world of the popular series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, and use graphics and characters from that setting.

On further investigation, both of the startup MMOs appear to be fan projects being developed without the official backing of copyright holder Hasbro Studios. As such, the projects may run into legal difficulties as they continue development using characters, artwork and names from the My Little Pony series.

The cartoon series that inspired these fan projects was originally aimed at a young female audience, but its popularity among an adult male crowd grew when it became a huge internet meme. There may even be enough fans of the series to make an official MMO commercially viable, as developers on My Little Pony Online have noted a clear interest in the development of their game.

MassivelyFan-made My Little Pony MMO gathers a following originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>equestria-onlinefan-projectfan-projectshasbrohasbro-studioskotakumlp-onlinemlponlinemmo-industryMy-Little-Ponymy-little-pony-friendship-is-magicmy-little-pony-onlinenewsSun, 30 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Former LEGO Universe dev: 'I have decided to get out of the MMO game']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/former-lego-universe-dev-i-have-decided-to-get-out-of-the-mmo-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/former-lego-universe-dev-i-have-decided-to-get-out-of-the-mmo-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/former-lego-universe-dev-i-have-decided-to-get-out-of-the-mmo-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We're all familiar with that guy who gets burned out on his game and makes a very public and lengthy rant as to why he's quitting on the official forums. But what happens when a developer does the same thing to a larger audience? Today we found out, as former LEGO Universe dev Ryan Seabury wrote an open letter saying why he left NetDevil -- and why he'll never work on MMOs again.

Seabury cites four reasons: that the "MMO" label has lost its meaning, it takes too long and is too stressful to develop new games, it's difficult to play around with creative concepts, and the market is trending toward indie titles anyway. He left to start up END Games Entertainment so that he and others of a similar mind could indulge in "a ridiculous variety of game ideas" instead of treading the waters of the status quo.

His letter is largely upbeat as he focuses on the joys of game development and play, and he thinks that it's high past time studios break out of old mindsets to embrace the new: "We have come to a point where the game concept trumps such insignificant bullet points, and global social connectivity is a given. From a creative standpoint, this is fantastic. Ideas are king once again; the industry feels as vibrant to me as the golden nostalgia years I experienced as a kid growing up through the coin-op and early console eras, except we've finally ditched the nerd-in-basement stigma."

You can read Seabury's full letter over at Kotaku.

MassivelyFormer LEGO Universe dev: 'I have decided to get out of the MMO game' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>end-gamesend-games-entertainmentindiekotakulegolego-grouplego-universenetdevilopen-letterryan-seaburyTue, 24 May 2011 13:00:00 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[ArenaNet interview gives new details on the Guild Wars 2 Thief]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/arenanet-interview-gives-new-details-on-the-guild-wars-2-thief/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/arenanet-interview-gives-new-details-on-the-guild-wars-2-thief/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/arenanet-interview-gives-new-details-on-the-guild-wars-2-thief/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

ArenaNet unveiled new information on the Guild Wars 2 Thief early this morning via an interview and skill video on Kotaku, giving eager fans more insight into the demo videos released last week at GDC.

The interview with Eric Flannum, Jon Peters, and Isaiah Cartwright builds on much of what we already know: dual pistols, stealth skills, stealing, and so on. The skill video reinforces much of what the developers have to say as well, but what's new? Follow along after the jump for the latest scoop on the Thief!

Continue reading ArenaNet interview gives new details on the Guild Wars 2 Thief

MassivelyArenaNet interview gives new details on the Guild Wars 2 Thief originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetguild-wars-2guild-wars-2-thiefgw2kotakuncsoftstealingstealththiefFri, 11 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA["WoW in space": Bungie's MMOFPS named Destiny]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/wow-in-space-bungies-mmofps-named-destiny/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/wow-in-space-bungies-mmofps-named-destiny/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/wow-in-space-bungies-mmofps-named-destiny/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A couple of years ago, fans of the Halo franchise were crushed to find out that their favorite first-person shooter probably wasn't going to make the leap to MMO space. However, the company behind the Halo phenomenon has been diligently at work on another highly speculated-about project -- and it looks as though this project could go a long way to giving the fans what they want.

According to Kotaku, Bungie has been developing a massively multiplayer first-person shooter named Destiny. Previously code-named "Tiger," Destiny is described by Kotaku's unnamed source as being "World of Warcraft in space" and will run on all-new technology developed by the studio, including unique online connectivity and matchmaking software.

Bungie is currently in a 10-year publishing agreement with Activision Blizzard, so presumably Destiny will be published by the company. Last year, Blizzard's Rob Pardo applauded the idea of a Bungie MMO, although he refused to comment on a collaboration between the two studios.

Massively"WoW in space": Bungie's MMOFPS named Destiny originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbungiebungie-studiosdensity-i-mean-destinydestinyfpshalokotakummofpsrob-pardotigerworld-of-warcraftwowwow-in-spaceThu, 17 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA abandoning offline game development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/ea-abandoning-offline-game-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/ea-abandoning-offline-game-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/08/ea-abandoning-offline-game-development/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Kotaku points out a grim omen for the future of offline gaming in the form of some comments from Electronic Arts executive Frank Gibeau. In an interview at Develop, Gibeau minces few words about the future of the firm's business model.

"They're [EA studio heads] very comfortable moving the discussion towards how we make connected gameplay -- be it co-operative or multiplayer or online services -- as opposed to fire-and-forget, packaged goods only, single-player, 25-hours-and you're out. I think that model is finished. Online is where the innovation, and the action, is at," he says.

While it's clear why publishers are desperate to move everything online (hello monetization and DRM), the benefits to the consumer are decidedly less apparent. Whether the larger gaming industry adopts an MMO-style access model remains to be seen, but EA is clearly moving in that direction.

MassivelyEA abandoning offline game development originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedevelopmentdo-not-wantdrmeaElectronic-ArtsFrank-Gibeaugaming-industrykotakummo-industryoffline-gamingonlineWed, 08 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE's The Agency delayed until late 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/soes-the-agency-delayed-until-late-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/soes-the-agency-delayed-until-late-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/soes-the-agency-delayed-until-late-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Whatever happened to The Agency? Inquiring minds want to know, and since Sony Online Entertainment's internal memos haven't been given the WikiLeaks treatment, we'll have to take company president John Smedley at his word. "There was a moment in time in our company where we looked at our own stuff with a clear eye and saw we have to do better," Smedley told Kotaku in a recent interview. Translation: it ain't ready 'til it's ready.

While the spy MMO's launch would seem to be quite a ways off, fans should be glad to hear that it hasn't been shelved entirely. We haven't seen hide nor hair of the title since E3 2010, but hopefully the extra time will serve to boost the game's stock in the same vein as SOE's other upcoming MMO. DC Universe, originally scheduled to launch last November, has apparently benefited from the extra test cycles if the scuttlebutt surrounding yesterday's NDA-drop is to be believed.

MassivelySOE's The Agency delayed until late 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delaysjohn-smedleyjoystiqkotakushootersoesoe-seattleSony-Online-Entertainmentspyspy-mmothe-agencyTue, 07 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Smedley says EQII players aren't WoW players, but may see their own Cataclysm]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/smedley-says-eqii-players-arent-wow-players-but-may-see-their/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/smedley-says-eqii-players-arent-wow-players-but-may-see-their/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/smedley-says-eqii-players-arent-wow-players-but-may-see-their/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

It's absolutely no surprise to anyone that MMO companies pay attention to what the others are doing. Turbine looked at free-to-play models and took a chance that has paid off. Cryptic is now testing the waters. Even Sony Online Entertainment has done this with Free Realms and EverQuest II. And of course, everyone watches what Blizzard is doing. After all, with 12 million subscribers, there are things to be learned from the champion MMO company. Now, with World of Warcraft's new expansion on the horizon, SOE's president, John Smedley, offered up some of his opinions to Kotaku -- opinions on Cataclysm and on how Blizzard's decisions relate to SOE's own future plans for EverQuest II.

According to the posted statements, not only have the heads at SOE been considering a worldwide reboot like Cataclysm, but the news is that it is something they've considered for "many years." Beyond this surprise (after all, there was already a cataclysmic event in Norrath's lore -- players just didn't get to play that part as it fell between EverQuest and EverQuest II) was the even larger surprise that came with Smedley's assertion that EverQuest II players are not World of Warcraft players. "We have five years of World of Warcraft experience behind us to know that people that play EverQuest II don't play World of Warcraft. We don't see big dips in concurrency. We see a tiny drop for awhile."

For the rest of the interview, head over to Kotaku and check it out in its entirety. It's definitely interesting reading.

MassivelySmedley says EQII players aren't WoW players, but may see their own Cataclysm originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-EntertainmentcataclysmeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-2-extendedeverquest-iiinterviewjohn-smedleykotakummo-industryopinionpresidentsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 03 Dec 2010 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The pain and suffering of MMO shutdowns]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/29/the-pain-and-suffering-of-mmo-shutdowns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/29/the-pain-and-suffering-of-mmo-shutdowns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/29/the-pain-and-suffering-of-mmo-shutdowns/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Like life itself, the MMO industry doesn't often seem fair -- promising games can die premature deaths while creaky antiques continue to chug along just fine. When an MMO like APB or Tabula Rasa announces that it's closing its doors after only a couple years (or months), the first reaction is usually to ask, "What in Sam Hill happened and why are they doing this to me?" Yet what isn't always considered is the emotional fallout on behalf of the devs.

Over at Kotaku, Michael Fahey examined the fallout when MMOs are shuttered prematurely, using the examples of Auto Assault and The Matrix Online as case studies. NetDevil spent four years developing the former, which lasted a mere fraction of that time -- 16 months -- as a live game. Ryan Seabury testifies to the pain that this causes for a dev team: "I won't lie, it hurts like hell still over four years later... Naturally, if a universe like Auto Assault that you sort of mentally attach to over multiple years suddenly ceases to exist, it's like a part of you dies." He personally points to NCsoft as the reason for Auto Assault's closure, stating that the game might still be in operation if it wasn't for the publisher's lack of faith.

On the flip side, The Matrix Online had a longer run and plenty of time to prepare for the end once word was passed down. Then-Community Manager Daniel Myers says that the decision was a matter of dollars and sense. Still, Myers admits that it continues to affect him: "There are still days that I wish I could log in and see the Megacity again. I don't know [if] that will ever completely stop. I kind of hope it doesn't."

MassivelyThe pain and suffering of MMO shutdowns originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apbauto-assaultcanceleddaniel-myerskotakumegacitymmo-closingsncsoftnetdevilryan-seaburysera-lives-in-the-matrixshutdownsoetabula-rasathe-matrix-onlinewho-is-sam-hillFri, 29 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Net Dragon announces development of Transformers MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/03/net-dragon-announces-development-of-transformers-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/03/net-dragon-announces-development-of-transformers-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/03/net-dragon-announces-development-of-transformers-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's certainly not a new idea -- the concept of a Transformers MMO is one that's attractive to a lot of fans.

It looks like those fans will be getting their wish -- Chinese game developer Net Dragon has entered a licensing agreement with Hasbro to produce that very thing. The news is very recent, of course, but we have a few important details. The game is scheduled to launch in 2011, and will be available in "China and Asia, including Russia, the CIS member states, the Middle East and North Africa region."

There's no word on release in other areas, but we'll keep our eyes open for more news. For the time being, you can check out the press release on the Net Dragon site (English translation).

[via Kotaku]

MassivelyNet Dragon announces development of Transformers MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hasbrokotakunet-dragontransformerstransformers-mmoTue, 03 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[APB's lead designer discusses pricing model]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/09/apbs-lead-designer-discusses-pricing-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/09/apbs-lead-designer-discusses-pricing-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/09/apbs-lead-designer-discusses-pricing-model/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Kotaku has an interesting article regarding the recently announced pricing options for Realtime Worlds' All Points Bulletin. The urban crime MMORPG made waves late last month with their unique access model that allows gamers the ability to purchase time blocks in certain sections of the game world in addition to the traditional all-encompassing monthly access fee.

E.J. Moreland, APB's lead designer, draws a distinction between players that are likely to prefer the game's gunplay versus those that will be more interested in the socialization options in the game, which are considerable. "With the social district there is a compelling investigation to be made into making the social district entirely free to play, building that out to be a stand alone. There is going to be two kinds of audiences in APB: People who want to play the action game and think it's cool and then people for whom customization is the driver," he says.

Moreland goes on to state that the Realtime Worlds team is planning on adding to the social game in short order, beginning with player housing. Check out the full article over at Kotaku.

MassivelyAPB's lead designer discusses pricing model originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 May 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbbusiness-modele.j.-morelandkotakumicro-transactionspricing-modelrealtime-worldsrmtsubscriptionsSun, 09 May 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blogger discusses EverQuest addiction]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/21/blogger-discusses-everquest-addiction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/21/blogger-discusses-everquest-addiction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/21/blogger-discusses-everquest-addiction/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's easy to talk about gaming addiction as an abstract concept, but whether or not you think the idea holds a lot of water there are an awful lot of studies and examinations of it that just won't go away. Still, the concept is easy to deny. The human element, however, makes it much more real and that much harder to ignore. Which is why, ultimately, it's probably a good thing for everyone that Kotaku's editor Mike Fahey has written up his story of his EverQuest addiction -- the origin, the escalation, and the recovery of sorts.

Mike describes how the death of his relationship led to him escaping into the video game that increasingly was preferrable to his normal life -- which, in turn, led to him winding up without his car, then without a job, and then ultimately to the point that we could probably see coming, where the game became preferrable to pursuing a romantic relationship. He chronicles the downward slide, followed by the slow crawl back out of being addicted -- but, at the end, he doesn't conclude that EverQuest itself is the problem.

As he himself puts it regarding his addiction: "I hid. I ran from my problems, hiding away in a virtual fantasy world instead of confronting the issues that might have been easily resolved if I had addressed them directly." His story focuses not upon the game, but on his own responses and how they were what was ultimately responsible for what happened and where he wound up. It's an interesting piece for the conclusion alone, and worth reading for anyone with even the slightest stake in the topic of game addiction -- which, for those of us who play MMOs, should really just include all of us.

MassivelyBlogger discusses EverQuest addiction originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictioncultureeqeverquestgame-addictionkotakumike-faheyopinionsoesony-online-entertainmentWed, 21 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[All Points Bulletin closed beta has begun]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/19/all-points-bulletin-closed-beta-has-begun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/19/all-points-bulletin-closed-beta-has-begun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/19/all-points-bulletin-closed-beta-has-begun/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Urban crime (game) enthusiasts, rejoice! The All Points Bulletin closed beta has begun, according to reports at both Eurogamer and Kotaku. It was rumored that the beta would begin this month and it seems there are presently three windows of gameplay a week in the All Points Bulletin CBT -- Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings, says Eurogamer's Oli Welsh. Those interested in ripping up the streets as either a Criminal or an Enforcer can still apply to become an All Points Bulletin beta tester at the game's official site.

APB is in development at Realtime Worlds in Scotland, and aims to bring a new level of online interaction to multiplayer urban crime games. Check out Massively's coverage of All Points Bulletin for more on what Realtime Worlds is creating.

MassivelyAll Points Bulletin closed beta has begun originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbbetasbreakingcbtclosed-betacrimedundeeeurogamerkotakummo-industrynew-titlesrealtime-worldsscotlandurban-crimeMon, 19 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The challenges of storytelling in EVE Online's player-driven setting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/the-challenges-of-storytelling-in-eve-onlines-player-driven-set/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/the-challenges-of-storytelling-in-eve-onlines-player-driven-set/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/the-challenges-of-storytelling-in-eve-onlines-player-driven-set/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


MMO storylines finding their way into books is becoming increasingly common, but typically it's the fantasy titles we see in print. Guild Wars, Warhammer Online, and of course World of Warcraft all have their lore fleshed out in paperback form. But sci-fi lends itself well to novelization as well, and in the MMO scene as it exists today, EVE Online is a prime example. The game's far-future setting of New Eden is known for its sweeping warfare between vast empires, republics, and federations, but the game's lore has also shown there's a lot happening on a much smaller level.

That sweeping warfare was the focus of the first EVE Online novel, The Empyrean Age written by Tony Gonzales, and this was tied in with the storyline events leading up to all-out war between the game's races. However, EVE's creators CCP Games will be showing a different side to the game with the second novel, The Burning Life, written by Hjalti Danielsson.

Continue reading The challenges of storytelling in EVE Online's player-driven setting

MassivelyThe challenges of storytelling in EVE Online's player-driven setting originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-crecenteccp-gamesfictionhjalti-danielssonkotakulorenew-edennovelnovelizationsandboxsci-fistorytellingthe-burning-lifethe-empyrean-agetony-gonzalesMon, 13 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR classes are getting smuggled after all]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/swtor-classes-are-getting-smuggled-after-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/swtor-classes-are-getting-smuggled-after-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/31/swtor-classes-are-getting-smuggled-after-all/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We love magazines, because they sometimes feature interviews which reveal information before it's actually released online -- it does happen! Kotaku has discovered that Edge Magazine's newest issue contains an interview with James Ohlem, director for Star Wars: The Old Republic, and within said interview he reveals the Smuggler classes' existence. Giving the scanned image featured above, we can only assume Smugglers are a Republic class -- that there's a Trooper standing next to him.

According to the Ohlem, via the scanned image, "Ord Mantell is a war-torn world and it's where the Smuggler starts off, when his ship gets stolen. He's pretty angry; imagine what Han Solo would've been like if the Millennium Falcon got taken." Sounds like a good place to start for the law-bending, blaster toting class.

Chances are good this will be a part of next week's E3 2009 news, so keep a lookout for more official details when that time comes. Until then, we'll be dreaming of blockades ran and witty lines read.

MassivelySWTOR classes are getting smuggled after all originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 May 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebreakingeaelectronic-artsjames-ohlemkotakulucas-artsord-mantellsmugglerstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorSun, 31 May 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DC Universe Online preview covers the basics]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/11/dc-universe-online-preview-covers-the-basics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/11/dc-universe-online-preview-covers-the-basics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/11/dc-universe-online-preview-covers-the-basics/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


This new preview of DC Universe Online over at Kotaku doesn't really have any new information in it for people who've been keeping up on the game. However, it does at least put it all in once place, which makes it a useful article to give to anyone not in the know about SOE's upcoming superhero MMO.

One specific thing the article mentions is that aside from the big superstars of the DC Universe, there's not a whole lot differentiating the game from City of Heroes. We'd like to point out that from what we've seen and experienced with the game, that isn't entirely true. Combat is quite a lot different than NCsoft's original guys-in-capes offering. If anything, a closer comparison would be to Cryptic's upcoming Champions Online, which seems to sit somewhere between City of Heroes and DC Universe Online, overall.

Then again, we really can't make that kind of call until all the games are out to play. But by this time next year, that should likely be the case.

MassivelyDC Universe Online preview covers the basics originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atarichampions-onlinecity-of-heroescoxcrypticdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuokotakuncsoftsoesony-online-entertainmentMon, 11 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Bethesda likely to sue Interplay over inaction on Fallout MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/rumor-bethesda-likely-to-sue-interplay-over-inaction-on-fallout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/rumor-bethesda-likely-to-sue-interplay-over-inaction-on-fallout/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/rumor-bethesda-likely-to-sue-interplay-over-inaction-on-fallout/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We must confess our lack of shock concerning today's rumor that Bethesda could be taking legal action against the previous owner of the Fallout IP. The rumor traces back to the MMO rights for everyone's favorite post-apocalyptic jaunt.

Interplay was supposed to have engaged in full-scale development on the Fallout MMO by last Thursday, April 9th and this apparently also included raising the funds for the game as well. We know some sort of movement had been made, but apparently it was too little, too late. That's a tall order for any company to pursue, especially one with a very sordid financial history.

Should Bethesda move forward with this and win, we can only assume the company will pursue its own Fallout MMO. Then again, who's to say they haven't been planning for such an occurrence all along? Bethesda was contacted for comment, but declined to do so.

MassivelyRumor: Bethesda likely to sue Interplay over inaction on Fallout MMO originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdafalloutfallout-3fallout-mmointerplaykotakupost-apocalypticThu, 16 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LEGO Universe not clicking together in 2009]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/lego-universe-not-clicking-together-in-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/lego-universe-not-clicking-together-in-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/lego-universe-not-clicking-together-in-2009/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We've got bad news for all the LEGO maniacs out there, who've been looking forward to LEGO Universe in 2009. They're going to have to wait a bit longer for NetDevil's take on massively multiplayer LEGO play, according to Kotaku's Brian Crecente, who reports that LEGO Universe may not even see a 2010 release date.

Despite the economic troubles many MMO developers are coping with these days, this news about LEGO Universe is not necessarily a bad thing. Kotaku spoke with the director of business development for the LEGO group, Mark Hansen, who said, "Within the company we have made a strategic decision within LEGO to make a delay of LEGO Universe. It will not be coming out in 2009. The reason is, we have a luxury right now, the business is going good. We have products that are not digital, the physical products, with them going so well we don't want to take focus away from them."

Continue reading LEGO Universe not clicking together in 2009

MassivelyLEGO Universe not clicking together in 2009 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-crecentecasualdelayskidskotakulaunch-delaylauncheslegolego-universemark-hansenmmo-industrynetdevilTue, 17 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa burial ground, behind EB Games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/tabula-rasa-burial-ground-behind-eb-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/tabula-rasa-burial-ground-behind-eb-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/tabula-rasa-burial-ground-behind-eb-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Despite the title of this Kotaku post, I still refuse to call Tabula Rasa a bad game. Sure it's certainly not an encouraging sign to see dozens of sealed TR boxes filling a dumpster behind an EB Games in Canada, but I am not going to jump on that wagon.

In this Kotaku post, we see two reader-submitted photos of said dumpster, and it really makes me sad to think about where those games could have gone instead. I wonder if they first tried to give them away for free, or perhaps the EB Games upper management told them that it's not even worth the shelf space, considering their PC shelf space is shrinking every day anyway. Would you have taken a free copy of Tabula Rasa, just to play it out completely free these last six weeks? Am I being a complete fanboy? Yes, but I know I've never had a stronger compulsion to dumpster dive in my life.

MassivelyTabula Rasa burial ground, behind EB Games originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesdumpster-divingeb-gameskotakuncsofttabula-rasatrMon, 05 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kotaku outlines differences between PlayStation Home and Second Life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/03/kotaku-outlines-differences-between-playstation-home-and-second/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/03/kotaku-outlines-differences-between-playstation-home-and-second/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/03/kotaku-outlines-differences-between-playstation-home-and-second/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


There has been plenty of speculation on PlayStation Home and how it compares and contrasts with Second Life as a virtual world. Heck, the creative director spoke about it months ago stating that Second Life players would probably not find much of interest in PS Home. Well, Kotaku has stepped in to explore just that subject.

For those not wanting to get too down and dirty with the full tale, Second Life has much more personal customization. Everything from outfits to dance moves to land masses can be user-generated and added to the world. On the other hand, PlayStation Home allows for minimal add-ons, focusing on creating rich, stable environments - even if that means sacrificing little things like avatar diversity. But with much more content promised, PS Home may well become a better contender for virtual world time.

MassivelyKotaku outlines differences between PlayStation Home and Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avataravatarscomparisonkotakuplaystation-homeps-homesecond-lifevirtual-worldvirtual-worldsSat, 03 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take-Two Interactive considering subs and microtransactions for top titles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/16/take-two-interactive-considering-subs-and-microtransactions-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/16/take-two-interactive-considering-subs-and-microtransactions-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/16/take-two-interactive-considering-subs-and-microtransactions-for/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Subscriptions have been the bread and butter of MMOs since the days of Ultima Online, but subs may be coming to some popular standalone PC titles from Take-Two Interactive, presumably the Grand Theft Auto franchise and BioShock. Brian Crecente of Kotaku reports that "at the BMO Capital Markets conference, Take-Two head honcho Strauss Zelnick seemed very up on the idea of downloadable content, micro-transactions and even... subscriptions."

This falls in line with their business model of periodically offering downloadable content to either extend the storyline of a game, or to simply offer varied gameplay experiences. Downloadable content and microtransactions could solve some of the issues game publishers have with their titles being re-sold, allowing them to have a continuous revenue stream, and perhaps dissuading many consumers from reselling that game in the first place. Regular content refreshes could ensure that these games don't go stale and end up relegated to a dusty bookshelf. Zelnick implied that this business model, should it come to be, would likely only affect Take-Two's biggest titles. This implies changes to the business models for Grand Theft Auto and BioShock, although the words "Midnight Club Online" also seem apt.

But do you feel that adding the trappings of the MMO business model, namely subs and microtransactions, would enhance your experience with a standalone title, both as a gamer and as a consumer? Are more MMO-like PC games a good thing, or are you more of an MMO purist?

MassivelyTake-Two Interactive considering subs and microtransactions for top titles originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioshockbmo-capital-marketbrian-crecentebusiness-modelsdownloadable-contentgrand-theft-autogtakotakumicrotransactionsmidnight-clubmmo-industrystrauss-zelnicksubssubscriptionstake-two-interactiveultima-onlineSun, 16 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One gamer's descent into powerleveling]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/one-gamers-descent-into-powerleveling/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/one-gamers-descent-into-powerleveling/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/one-gamers-descent-into-powerleveling/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

At the end of last year, the Australian version of gaming blog Kotaku put up a series on the lengths to which one gamer went to experience World of Warcraft. He had already made the decision to quit the game, and decided to give it one last go via a power-leveled character. The series details the research put into the decision, and chronicles his experiences as he watches his new avatar ascend the ranks from the sidelines.

What's especially interesting is his final conclusion about the whole experience. When all is said and done, the anonymous author walks away from his powerleveled character barely having made it through his mid-60s. There might be a life lesson in the whole thing, and the series is well worth considering if you've ever considered such a service.

MassivelyOne gamer's descent into powerleveling originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardkotakupower-levelingpowerlevelingrmtworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 16 Jun 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA["Free-To-Play" model pulls in a dollar per user in the west]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/free-to-play-model-pulls-in-a-dollar-per-user-in-the-west/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/free-to-play-model-pulls-in-a-dollar-per-user-in-the-west/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/free-to-play-model-pulls-in-a-dollar-per-user-in-the-west/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

One dollar per user per month may not sound like a huge revenue for any game, but when you start thinking in the terms of the user base of games like Habbo Hotel, Club Penguin and RuneScape you start to realize how much a dollar is really worth.

Lightspeed, a venture capital firm, recently did a few calculations to come up with the figures of how much revenue is generated by a single user in today's most successful free-to-play, microtransaction supported MMOs. What they came up with is a pretty interesting look at how much a "successful" MMO will make. For example, Habbo Hotel pulls in around $1.30 on average for each of their active users per month, while RuneScape pulls in 84 cents per active user per month.

The one figure that stood out from the pack was Second Life, which pulled in 9 dollars per user per month thanks to things like land ownership and the premium subscription that land owners have to buy to be able to own property. Even with Second Life in the mix, it's interesting to see that these types of MMOs don't make much per user, yet still can pull in great amounts of revenue by entertaining huge player bases.

[Via Kotaku]

Massively"Free-To-Play" model pulls in a dollar per user in the west originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>club-penguindisneyeconomyfree-to-playhabbo-hoteljagexkotakulightspeedlinden-labmicrotransactionrunescapesecond-lifeslsubscription-basedMon, 16 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom apologizes for involuntary breast reductions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/funcom-apologizes-for-involuntary-breast-reductions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/funcom-apologizes-for-involuntary-breast-reductions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/funcom-apologizes-for-involuntary-breast-reductions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We'll have to be completely honest with you; ever since Jorgen Tharaldsen's famous proclamation,"You'll see titties," the topic of Age of Conan and its famously epic mammaries is one that comes up rather frequently around the Massively offices. What can we say, we're admirers of the female form... also, we like boob jokes. In any case, we were rather distressed to hear of some Age of Conan players complaining that their in-game counterparts were lacking a certain lactoid luster.

It might seem like a frivolous complaint, but from the images provided by a forum user named Gust, it's become evident that the change in chesticle size is actually significant. And Funcom is taking the complaint seriously, saying in part, "Funcom can confirm that some of the female models in the game have had the size of their breasts changed. This is due to an unintended change in data that was introduced in an earlier patch, data which controls the so-called morph values associated with character models and the size of their respective body parts. We are working on a fix for this and your breasts should be back to normal soon." It's sporting of them admit their mistake, and hopefully they'll have it fixed as quickly as many of the other bugs they've had since launch.

[Via Kotaku]

MassivelyFuncom apologizes for involuntary breast reductions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocboobsbreastsbugscharacter-modelsfemaleforumsfuncomgustkotakuTue, 03 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Square-Enix's creatively-named Virtual World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/07/square-enixs-creatively-named-virtual-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/07/square-enixs-creatively-named-virtual-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/07/square-enixs-creatively-named-virtual-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The acerbic lads at Kotaku bring the snark once again with their announcement of an announcement over Square-Enix's upcoming virtual world called Virtual World ... virtual world. There, I couldn't resist.

The post's comparison to Second Life, however, is slightly off-the-mark, as SL doesn't run on ad revenues, while Sony's Home certainly will. Similarly, Virtual World will feature ads for Square-Enix games, and given that Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon will be a Wii title, there could be other Wii titles on display as well.

Besides the ability to have tea with a Chocobo, will there be any reason for people to want to enter Virtual World? And besides, everybody knows Chocobos like Gysahl Greens anyway -- I mean, duh.

MassivelySquare-Enix's creatively-named Virtual World originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chocobos-mysterious-dungeongysahl greenskotakumassivelyplaystation-homesonysquare-enixvirtual-worldwiiFri, 07 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST