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[Wings Over Atreia: What's in a name?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/18/wings-over-atreia-whats-in-a-name/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/18/wings-over-atreia-whats-in-a-name/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/18/wings-over-atreia-whats-in-a-name/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Classic balladry informs us that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Would the same hold true of an Elyos or an Asmodian? OK, maybe sweet-smelling and back hair don't necessarily mix (and let's not even ask how long that Elyos has been stuffed in all-encompassing armor), but there is no denying the impact a name has in Aion.

Unlike those handed us at our birth (and with few exceptions kept throughout our lives), names in games are completely self-inflicted; we have control over what the floaty text above our heads announces to the rest of our pixel world. And announce it does -- more than many people even stop to think about. A name is so much more than just a convenient way to send whispers or in-game mail to others within Aion; with only a glance, your name implies much about you, your playstyle, and your personality. It is not uncommon for people to actually base their grouping decisions, their legion recruitment, their trust in you, and more on just a simple glance at your in-game moniker or your legion tag.

Whether the impact is born of reputation or of first impressions, others have a reaction to and make decisions based simply on names. Fly past the cut to see how different monikers influence the world we live, fly, and fight in.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: What's in a name?

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: What's in a name? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamebotsfeaturedfirst-impressionFirst-Impressionsleeroy-jenkinsLeeroyJenkinsnamesnamingncsoftncsoft-aionPvPWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 18 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft miniatures game launches]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/world-of-warcraft-miniatures-game-launches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/world-of-warcraft-miniatures-game-launches/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/world-of-warcraft-miniatures-game-launches/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


One of the biggest names in the trading card industry is Upper Deck Entertainment. Given the success of their World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, they've released a follow-up game this week: The World of Warcraft Miniatures Game.

The World of Warcraft Miniatures Game went on sale worldwide as of Tuesday, November 11th. There are 70 different miniatures, including Warchief Thrall, Varimathras, and yes... even Leeroy Jenkins. There's a bonus for your actual WoW characters as well -- miniatures booster packs come with sample packs from the WoW Trading Card Game which might include Loot cards. Essentially, they're unlocks for "cosmetic in-game upgrades for their online World of Warcraft characters". Check out the Upper Deck launch announcement for their World of Warcraft Miniatures Game for the full details.
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft miniatures game launches originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccgcollectible-card-gamefantasyleeroy-jenkinsmmo-industrytrading-card-gametrading-card-gamesupper-deckupperdeckupperdeck-entertainmentworld-of-warcraftwowwow-miniatures-gameFri, 14 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cinemassively: World of WifeCraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/cinemassively-world-of-wifecraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/cinemassively-world-of-wifecraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/cinemassively-world-of-wifecraft/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

(Viewers be warned that this video contains plenty of bleeped language and some innuendo.)

Have you ever thought about what would happen if real life worked like World of Warcraft? The Fark.tv crew put that to the test in their sketch comedy, World of Wifecraft. We particularly enjoyed the reference to the legend that is Leeroy Jenkins.

When the wives get fed up with their WoW playing ways, they bring their husbands to a special doctor, who tells them to "level up" with their spouses. However, the guys soon discover that it's not so easy to win their way back into the hearts of their significant others. Will they complete their quests and get to level 40, or will they realize that they are no match for their level 70 wives?

[Thanks, Drewbie!]

If you have machinima or movie suggestions from any MMO, please send them to machinima AT massively DOT com, along with any information you might have about them.

MassivelyCinemassively: World of WifeCraft originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 May 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcinemassivelyfarktvleeroy-jenkinsworld-of-warcraftworld-of-wifecraftwowFri, 23 May 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Your favorite gamer term]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/the-daily-grind-your-favorite-gamer-term/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/the-daily-grind-your-favorite-gamer-term/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/17/the-daily-grind-your-favorite-gamer-term/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It could be because you saw it in an online comic (like the awesome MacHall comic to the right) saw a friend using it, picked it up from a forum, or just are amused by the pop-culture nature of it all. But there are some phrases that have become part and parcel of MMO language. There are a lot of non-WoW playing people who know just what you mean when you yell "Leeeroyyy Jennnkinnns" or when you start saying "throw more dots, more dots" (note: NSFW language in videos)

We see it in-game, hear it at conventions, and we may even use it ourselves -- generally among friends or guildmates who won't look at us funny for it. But we wanted to ask -- what kinds of gaming phrases have made their way into your conversations? Do you have any particular terms you've adopted and made your own catch-phrase?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Your favorite gamer term originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>catchphrasesfeaturedgamer-lingoin-ur-base-killing-ur-mansleeroy-jenkinsmore-dotstdgthe-daily-grindMon, 17 Mar 2008 08:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: And now for something completely different...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/ask-massively-and-now-for-something-completely-different/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/ask-massively-and-now-for-something-completely-different/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/ask-massively-and-now-for-something-completely-different/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The inexorable march of time has once again brought us to another installment in the great MMO knowledge repository known as Ask Massively. It seems that we have received a lot of questions of a philosophical nature in recent weeks. Since I'm an "all work and no play..." kind of guy, I thought we might take things in a completely new direction this week.

Note: By "All work and no play..." I'm referring to a rather banal cliche regarding the necessity of balance in one's personal and professional lives and not a certain movie where Jack Nicholson plays a writer who goes completely off his rocker. No sirree, I'm completely mentally stable and don't have the slightest desire to choke the life out of...

Sorry, where was I?

Oh yes.

This week, I'd like to explore the more whimsical side of World of Warcraft, and other MMORPGs as well. Our question comes from my guildmate and good friend Muskulls who wondered aloud in guild chat one day.

How many times will I die if I take a level 5 character to every flightpath on all three continents?

The answer, in case you're wondering is around 90. However the question isn't as important as the underlying issue that it brings to my mind. Have you ever "walked away" from the storyline given to you in a game and done your own thing?

Continue reading Ask Massively: And now for something completely different...

MassivelyAsk Massively: And now for something completely different... originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelyeverquestfansyfeaturedflowers-of-happinessleeroy-jenkinswarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftFri, 29 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Your best wipe?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/26/the-daily-grind-your-best-wipe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/26/the-daily-grind-your-best-wipe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/26/the-daily-grind-your-best-wipe/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Pretty well anyone who has ever been in a party quest, or on a raid in an MMO has a story of this nature to share. In time they become the center of in-jokes in your group of friends, or guild. The truly spectacularly silly ones can even go on to become Internet history. Today, we'd like to hear about your funniest wipes! Just what went wrong? Or, for that matter, what went right when it came to making them so funny?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Your best wipe? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funny-party-wipegroupleeroy-jenkinsraidthe-daily-grindtotal-party-killtpkwipeSat, 26 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An argument for random battles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/an-argument-for-random-battles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/an-argument-for-random-battles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/an-argument-for-random-battles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

After writing about the upcoming Concerto Gate here, I started thinking about the random battle aspect, and how my first reaction was to deride it. Then I started thinking about the current state of pre-planned, visible enemy encounters, and what that does to player expectation.

When you wander around in, say, WoW, with the possible exception of PvP areas, there's almost no such thing as a surprise attack. You can see your opponents, attack them first, even avoid enemies you know will trounce you. This lends itself to a more planned, bloodless approach to combat. Sure, it's still fun, but think for a moment of the challenge of being suddenly beset by a hidden enemy.

Continue reading An argument for random battles

MassivelyAn argument for random battles originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combatconcerto-gateleeroy-jenkinspeacebloomraidsrandom-battlesvenom-web-spiderworld-of-warcraftTue, 22 Jan 2008 15:30:00 EST