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 Perfect Ten: MMO mascots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/the-perfect-ten-mmo-mascots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/the-perfect-ten-mmo-mascots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/the-perfect-ten-mmo-mascots/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Everyone knows that a good mascot can make a difference between a video game's death and rabid popularity. Mario, Master Chief, Duke Nuke 'Em, Pac-Man, Samus Aran, Pyramid Head -- each one of these mascots isn't merely an aspect of the game, they are the virtual spokesperson (or spokesthing) which represents the game itself.

Yet when you think about it, MMOs have had a tougher time producing mascots than other video game genres, partially because unlike other games, you don't play as the mascots, and partially because when you have a cast of thousands of NPCs, picking out one to elevate above the rest is a difficult job.

Difficult, that is, but not impossible. Today we're going to look at ten MMO mascots (MMOscots?) that studios have tried to promote as the face of these games, to varying degrees of success.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMO mascots

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMO mascots originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>13371337-speakanarchy-onlineanetangelaoapril-foolsarenanetarthasbatmanbe-the-broccoliblizzardbroccolicharrchatdycity-of-heroescohddodevildungeons-and-dragons-onlineea-mythicelfy-mcnoclotheseqeverquesteye-of-the-northf2pfaxion-onlinefeaturedfree-realmsfree-to-playguild-warsguild-wars-eye-of-the-northgwgwenjack-emmertleetleet-speakleetslich-kinglistlistsmascotmascotsmythicmythic-entertainmentperfect-10perfect-tenplayboyprince-arthasretconretconningsarah-morrisonsoesquigsquigsstatesmantabula-rasathe-jokerthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenturbinewarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowWrath-of-the-Lich-KingThu, 28 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Shapeshifters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-perfect-ten-shapeshifters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-perfect-ten-shapeshifters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-perfect-ten-shapeshifters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Because we are true geeks, last weekend my wife and I went to see X-Men: First Class. Afterward, we got into a discussion about what mutant power we'd pick for ourselves if we had the choice. I was torn between teleportation and quick healing, while my wife wanted to be able to turn into cash to pay off our mortgage. I think one of us is more grounded in the real world than the other.

But the more I think about it, the more I was intrigued with the idea of a shapeshifter. To be anyone would give you unparalleled freedom -- and plenty of chances to get into mischief, too. Come to think of it, it's probably best I'm not granted that particular superpower.

However, plenty of MMOs do give players the chance to shift between their normal forms and something else entirely. While there are far more than 10 examples that the brain trust over here came up with, I'm going to pick out my favorites to highlight.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Shapeshifters

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Shapeshifters originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureraliensanarchy-onlineaoarchetypechronicles-of-spellborncity-of-heroescohcount-choculadervishdruiddruidsdwarfeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifacehuggerfeaturedfurygrim-reaperguild-warsgwkheldiankheldiansleetlichlich-formmoonkinmorphmorphsmysticnecromancerperfect-10perfect-tenpolymorphriftrift-planes-of-telarashapeshiftshapeshiftersshapeshiftingteam-edwardteam-jacobthe-chronicles-of-spellbornthe-countultima-onlineuovampirevampire-formwardenworgenworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 16 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare releases Jedi armor progression video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/bioware-releases-jedi-armor-progression-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/bioware-releases-jedi-armor-progression-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/bioware-releases-jedi-armor-progression-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Due to what could be considered a lack of hard info on everyone's favorite Star Wars archetype, BioWare has had many fans crying out in terror. Today, said fans were suddenly silenced, though not because something terrible has happened. On the contrary, the traditional Star Wars: The Old Republic Friday update brings us a breathless look at glowstick-powered combat footage courtesy of the new Jedi Knight armor progression trailer.

The clip runs a smidge over two minutes and features ample opportunity to feast our eyes on various animations, attacks, and of course armor sets and outfits. There's no voiceover, and those of us who haven't played the game at the various cons may not know exactly what we're looking at, but it nonetheless looks (and sounds) pretty cool. Don't take our word for it, though, see for yourself after the cut.

Continue reading BioWare releases Jedi armor progression video

MassivelyBioWare releases Jedi armor progression video originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorarmor-progressionbiowareeaelectronic-artsglowstickglowsticksjedijedi-knightleetsci-fismugglers-are-betterstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictortrailersvideoFri, 25 Mar 2011 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Girdle of Anarchy: My expedition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-girdle-of-anarchy-my-expedition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-girdle-of-anarchy-my-expedition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-girdle-of-anarchy-my-expedition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I have a confession to make: Returning to Anarchy Online was the driving force behind starting The Game Archaeologist. Oh sure, I pretended to be all business-like when I approached my boss and said, "You know, Señor Schuster, we are doing a disservice to some of the older MMOs and their fans by not covering these games, and I think, nay, insist we remedy that immediately." But of course, what I was thinking was, "Pay me to engage in hardcore nostalgia, dude!"

It worked. *cue rubbing hands together and laughing maniacally*

You see, Anarchy Online was my very first MMO. It wasn't my first MMO love, mind you -- that was City of Heroes. But AO holds a special place in my heart as the game that introduced me to the wonderful world of online RPGs. It was tough, near-incomprehensible, and quite buggy at the start, but I've never lost affection for the world of Rubi-Ka.

So after my looking back at Anarchy Online's history, asking you to share your stories, and talking with Funcom's devs, it was time for me to return and see if this world still holds magic... or if it has lost its way.

Gallery: Anarchy Online

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Girdle of Anarchy: My expedition

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Girdle of Anarchy: My expedition originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineaoauto-attackcity-of-heroescoheee-pcfeaturedfuncomgimpguild-warsgwhands-oninterviewipadleetmusicnetbookrubi-kascoreshadowlandssparkleflutter-the-supa-destroyerthe-game-archaeologistworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 28 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Girdle of Anarchy: The history]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-girdle-of-anarchy-the-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-girdle-of-anarchy-the-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-girdle-of-anarchy-the-history/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"The future in your hands," Funcom promised gamers in the early days of the new decade. As the MMORPG genre slowly took shape and grew in popularity, game studios were still babes in the woods, feeling out this brave and complex new world without a standard handbook to guide them to success. EverQuest focused on large group content and raids, Dark Age of Camelot featured Realm vs. Realm conflict, and RuneScape brought the MMO to the browser. Everyone desperately hoped he had the next big hook that would reel in gamers by the thousands, especially Norwegian developer Funcom, which made headlines in 1999 with its highly acclaimed adventure The Longest Journey.

Funcom took one look at the small but expanding MMO market, got together in a group huddle, and said, "You know what guys? This fantasy thing, it's everywhere. Let's do something different. Let's drill for sci-fi gold. And let's throw in robots, cuddly rodents, randomly generated missions and a bitter rivalry between factions. Geronimo!"* (*Quote fabricated by author.)

And thus, almost a decade ago, Anarchy Online hit the industry like a sack of broken features. It wasn't the stellar debut Funcom desired, but the game endured and went on to carve itself out a workable plot of land. This month, The Game Archaeologist trades in his rugged leather attire for space armor and a high-powered laser rifle. The year is 29475, and the place is Babylon 5. Er, Rubi-Ka.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Girdle of Anarchy: The history

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Girdle of Anarchy: The history originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1337age-of-conanalien-invasionanarchy-onlineaocbabylon-5clansdante-alighieridaocdark-age-of-camelotearth-and-beyondeqeverquestf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfroobsfuncomgeronimoleetleetslegacy-of-the-xanlost-edennorwaynotumnotum-warsomni-tekperksrubi-karubi-owns-a-ka-true-storyshadowlandstabula-rasathe-divine-comedythe-game-archaeologistthe-longest-journeythe-matrix-onlinethe-secret-worldTue, 07 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Comic Watch: Backward Compatible ganks the SciFi Channel's MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/comic-watch-backward-compaitble-ganks-the-scifi-channels-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/comic-watch-backward-compaitble-ganks-the-scifi-channels-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/comic-watch-backward-compaitble-ganks-the-scifi-channels-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We've featured Backward Compatible here on Comic Watch before, and the hits just keep on comin'. This episode is particularly timely, concerning itself with the recent speculation over the SciFi/Trion project.

We have to admit, an episode of any television show spoken entirely in l33t would be difficult to watch all the way through, but would be worth getting through just once. Notice the nice touches in this comic -- the SciFi logo in the lower-right corner, and the references to the two great pulpy science fiction adventure series of all time.

MassivelyComic Watch: Backward Compatible ganks the SciFi Channel's MMO originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backward-compatiblecomic-watchleetscifitrionSat, 07 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST