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[Massively exclusive: TERA lore dev blog]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/massively-exclusive-tera-lore-dev-blog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/massively-exclusive-tera-lore-dev-blog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/01/massively-exclusive-tera-lore-dev-blog/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

While we had a chance to get our hands on with the upcoming mmo TERA at GDC 2010, there was little we could glean about the overall lore of the world beyond the broadest of brush-strokes. That's why we were so glad when the folks at En Masse Entertainment offered to give us some exclusive insight on some of the history of this interesting new world.

This developer blog, written by David Noonan, Lead Writer at En Masse Entertainment, turns an eye towards the history of the High Elves, but in a fascinating way. Written in the format of a research paper -- complete with editorial remarks from a wizened professor -- it gives us a closer look at the bloody, violent, and fascinating culture of one of the elder races in TERA.

While TERA's warlike High Elves are cautiously accepted now in the ranks of the Valkyon Federation, they're still not entirely trusted by the other member-races. Only recently did they stop their bloody and bitter wars -- and the memory of the world's inhabitants have not yet faded in terms of what the "Children of Karas" once did. The High Elves, aware that their own survival is dependent upon cooperation with any other enemies of the Argon invaders, actively look past those previous differences; their cause is now that of saving all life on the planet. They act with strength, patience, and honor to achieve their goals of moving "forward, together and strong" -- a tenet that is just as important to the High Elf race as the benedictions spoken at meals in elven homes for well over 3,000 years.

Curious about lore on the High Elves of TERA? Join us behind the break for the dev blog from David Noonan or check out the gallery below for a handful of exclusive new screenshots!

Gallery: TERA

Continue reading Massively exclusive: TERA lore dev blog

MassivelyMassively exclusive: TERA lore dev blog originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david-noonandev-blogdeveloper-blogen-masse-entertainmentexclusivefeaturedlead-writerloremassively-exclusiveteraThu, 01 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic lead writer Daniel Erickson on scope of the project]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/star-wars-the-old-republic-lead-writer-daniel-erickson-on-scope/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/star-wars-the-old-republic-lead-writer-daniel-erickson-on-scope/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/star-wars-the-old-republic-lead-writer-daniel-erickson-on-scope/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


If you've been following along with our coverage of Star Wars: The Old Republic you'll know that BioWare has placed incredible emphasis on writing for SWTOR. As the game is fully voiced, the complete script is roughly 40 novels in length. G4tv's The Feed has a GamesCom 2009 video interview with SWTOR Lead Writer Daniel Erickson that explains more about what a huge undertaking the game has been from a writing perspective.

Erickson explains that BioWare's challenges aren't necessarily about having the ability to pull this off, it's more a matter of scale, particularly with the French and German localizations. He tells G4, "We think we've got the biggest voice over project in entertainment history."

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic lead writer Daniel Erickson on scope of the project

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic lead writer Daniel Erickson on scope of the project originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredaniel-ericksong4g4tvgamescom-2009interviewslead-writerloresci-fistar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-feedvideoMon, 31 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games video interview on player interaction with fiction]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/ccp-games-video-interview-on-player-interaction-with-fiction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/ccp-games-video-interview-on-player-interaction-with-fiction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/ccp-games-video-interview-on-player-interaction-with-fiction/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


The backstory of EVE Online is something that CCP Games has put a great deal of time and effort into creating. As all MMOs are ongoing works, so too are EVE's backstory and the storyline that players experience. To that end, CCP has people like Lead Writer Tony Gonzales (author of The Empyrean Age novel) and Lead Content Creator Scott Holden to flesh out the setting's past, while ensuring that the future of EVE's story remains open enough to allow players to do as they choose.

MMORPG.com caught up with Tony Gonzales and Scott Holden at Gen Con, and got them to speak about the story of EVE in a video interview. They discussed how factional warfare finally came to be in EVE, player response to the Empyrean Age expansion, and how CCP is working to better integrate the backstory with gameplay. Be sure to check out MMORPG.com's Empyrean Age interview if you'd like to hear CCP's views on player-driven versus story-driven action.

MassivelyCCP Games video interview on player interaction with fiction originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstoryccpccp-gamesempyrean-ageeveeve-onlineexpansionsfactionfactional-warfarefactionsfictionfuturegame-mechanicsinterviewslead-content-creatorlead-writerloremmorpgnew-edennullsecpvepvpsandboxsci-fiscott-holdenstorystorylinetony-gonzalesvideoSat, 30 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Matt Daniels talks about his role as WAR's lead writer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/23/matt-daniels-talks-about-his-role-as-wars-lead-writer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/23/matt-daniels-talks-about-his-role-as-wars-lead-writer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/23/matt-daniels-talks-about-his-role-as-wars-lead-writer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Writing a compelling game story is no easy feat. Now imagine being responsible for the innumerable and layered storylines in an MMO, constantly evolving and needing to fit with everything else -- sounds like a nightmare, doesn't it? Lead writer for Warhammer Online Matt Daniels would beg to differ. He has penned a new developer diary, in which he goes over his role in bringing the Warhammer setting to life, and it sounds like it's nothing but fun. A big challenge, but still fun.

It seems we somehow missed the previous developer diary as well, which features content director Destin Bales talking about the roughly-ten-thousand pages of documentation that the content team has come up with for WAR. This covers a huge range of things, from the basic premise of the game, to very detailed content information. You'll even get to read an example of the work found in the content documents, with a full description of the "Mount Bloodthorn" zone pasted at the bottom of the article. Check out both Daniels' and Bales' dev diaries, and we'll be sure to keep our eyes out for the next one.

MassivelyMatt Daniels talks about his role as WAR's lead writer originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-reckoningcontent-directordestin-balesdev-diarydeveloper-diaryea-mythiclead-writermatt-danielsmount-bloodthornmythicwarwarhammerSun, 23 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EST