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[E3 2010: Your complete Massively coverage roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/e3-2010-your-complete-massively-coverage-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/e3-2010-your-complete-massively-coverage-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/e3-2010-your-complete-massively-coverage-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The 2010 edition of the gaming nirvana known as E3 has come and gone, and Massively was there to bring you three days of exclusives, firsts, and hands-on impressions for all your favorite MMORPG titles, studios, and developers. This year's Expo saw plenty of news and announcements regarding highly anticipated games, as well as plenty of information on assorted titles large and small.

We thought it best to collate our coverage into a complete and concise roundup post for your viewing pleasure, so read along after the cut to make sure you didn't miss anything. You can also check out all of our E3 galleries along the way.

Continue reading E3 2010: Your complete Massively coverage roundup

MassivelyE3 2010: Your complete Massively coverage roundup originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galacticabiowareblack-prophecyClone-Wars-Adventuresdc-universe-onlinedragon-neste3-2010en-masseen-masse-entertainmentfeaturedfinal-fantasy-xivforsaken-worldglobal-agendajumpgate-evolutionLEGO-Universelord-of-the-rings-onlinemassively-event-coveragemassively-hands-onmassively-interviewsmight-and-magicmmo-industryNeed-for-Speednew-titlesnexonrift-planes-of-telararoundupsoestar-wars-the-old-republicswordsman-onlinetaikodomteratera-onlinethe-agencyvindictuswar40kwarhammer-40kMon, 21 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2010: Erez Goren talks to Massively about Global Agenda's future, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/e3-2010-erez-goren-talks-to-massively-about-global-agendas-fu2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/e3-2010-erez-goren-talks-to-massively-about-global-agendas-fu2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/e3-2010-erez-goren-talks-to-massively-about-global-agendas-fu2/#commentsContinue reading E3 2010: Erez Goren talks to Massively about Global Agenda's future, part 2

MassivelyE3 2010: Erez Goren talks to Massively about Global Agenda's future, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dome-citye3e3-2010erez-gorenexclusivegame-mechanicsglobal-agendaglobal-agenda-hi-rezhi-rezhi-rez-global-agendahi-rez-stdioes-global-agendahi-rez-studiosinterviewmassively-exclusive-interviewsmassively-interviewsopen-zonepreviewpreviewssandstormsandstorm-patchsandstorm-phase-2War-zoneswarzonesWed, 16 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2010: Erez Goren talks to Massively about Global Agenda's future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/e3-2010-erez-goren-talks-to-massively-about-global-agendas-fut/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/e3-2010-erez-goren-talks-to-massively-about-global-agendas-fut/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/e3-2010-erez-goren-talks-to-massively-about-global-agendas-fut/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Sci-fi MMOFPS Global Agenda took last year's E3 Expo by storm, securing awards and impressing attendees. Launching earlier this year, the game has been rapidly updated and evolved based on player feedback. The Sandstorm Phase 1 patch recently overhauled huge areas of gameplay and delivered a lot of new content. The Global Agenda team are back at E3 this year, hoping to impress with a look at their up-coming Sandstorm Phase 2 patch. We sent our very own E3 reporter Sera Brennan to get the details from Erez Goren, founder and CEO of Hi-Rez Studios.

In this bumper two-part feature, we get to grips with Global Agenda's new open zones, warzones and game-mode updates. We tackle the issues you asked for as we quiz Erez Goren on whether the game may be on its last legs, the game's shift in focus to PvE and what new game mechanics the team have up their sleeves.

Continue reading E3 2010: Erez Goren talks to Massively about Global Agenda's future

MassivelyE3 2010: Erez Goren talks to Massively about Global Agenda's future originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dome-citye3e3-2010erez-gorenexclusivefeaturedgame-mechanicsglobal-agendaglobal-agenda-hi-rezhi-rezhi-rez-global-agendahi-rez-stdioes-global-agendahi-rez-studiosinterviewmassively-exclusive-interviewsmassively-interviewsopen-zonepreviewpreviewssandstormsandstorm-patchsandstorm-phase-2War-zoneswarzonesWed, 16 Jun 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Massively interview with Cryptic's Bill Roper and Jack Emmert]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/a-massively-interview-with-cryptics-bill-roper-and-jack-emmert/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/a-massively-interview-with-cryptics-bill-roper-and-jack-emmert/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/a-massively-interview-with-cryptics-bill-roper-and-jack-emmert/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As promised after yesterday's Cryptic Studios news, today we have an interview with the developer's new Chief Operations Officer Jack Emmert and Chief Creative Officer Bill Roper. If you're wondering exactly what these new titles mean and what Jack and Bill have planned for the future of both Champions Online and Star Trek Online, you'll definitely want to check this one out.

Massively: When did the move to Chief Creative Officer occur and what's your overall job like now compared to your previous position as Executive Producer?

Bill Roper: When Jack took on more COO responsibilities, he wanted someone who could spend more specialized, day-to-day time with the teams. For the past month I've been working with the Executive Producers and various leads within those teams to provide design, support, and guidance as requested. I'm also a liaison between the teams and the executives supporting and helping represent their individual game visions. I assist in coordinating systems and content concepts and technologies between the teams while being involved in their top-level design. Shifting from the very focused day-to-day duties on Champions Online to a broader role is a rejuvenating new challenge, and the teams have really welcomed me on. I'm not coming in with "the word from above" that must be followed. I'm here to support the vision keepers and creators of each game - to be a sounding board for ideas and a source of creative energy they can tap into.

Continue reading A Massively interview with Cryptic's Bill Roper and Jack Emmert

MassivelyA Massively interview with Cryptic's Bill Roper and Jack Emmert originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperblizzardchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosfeaturedinterviewInterviewsjack-emmertmarvelmassively-interviewsst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotrek-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 31 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews Bill Roper on Champions Online's Revelation update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/massively-interviews-bill-roper-on-champions-onlines-revelation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/massively-interviews-bill-roper-on-champions-onlines-revelation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/massively-interviews-bill-roper-on-champions-onlines-revelation/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Recently we had the chance to speak with Champions Online's executive producer Bill Roper about the forthcoming Revelation update. More specifically, we asked him about the new zone Vibora Bay, its quest structure and Cryptic's plans moving beyond the Revelation update, as well. Of course, we couldn't discuss this first major content update without asking about the decision to make it free... but you'll just have to check out our interview after the break for that part.

Continue reading Massively interviews Bill Roper on Champions Online's Revelation update

MassivelyMassively interviews Bill Roper on Champions Online's Revelation update originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosfeaturedinterviewmassively-interviewsrevelationWed, 24 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews PoxNora: Major updates and a website revamp]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/massively-interviews-poxnora-major-updates-and-a-website-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/massively-interviews-poxnora-major-updates-and-a-website-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/massively-interviews-poxnora-major-updates-and-a-website-revamp/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's been far too long since we first had the pleasure of introducing readers to PoxNora. So long, in fact, that we contacted SOE to see about speaking with the good people in Tucson, AZ about their strategy game that incorporates card collecting, online persistence and progression mechanics into a delightful cocktail of an online game.

There's a lot of changes coming to PoxNora, changes that for the first time will be revealed in this interview with SOE Community Manger Tony "RadarX" Jones. A new website, a new Rune Manager, a new Champions stat system, new maps and hints at the future of PoxNora are just a few of the topics covered beyond the break.

Did we mention all these updates are coming within the next few weeks? Oh, we've also got shiny imagery.

Continue reading Massively interviews PoxNora: Major updates and a website revamp

MassivelyMassively interviews PoxNora: Major updates and a website revamp originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-managerfeaturedinterviewmassively-interviewspoxnoraradarxrevampsoetony-jonesupdateuser-interfacewebsiteWed, 03 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's Black Prophecy Q&A: Mission Systems]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/massivelys-black-prophecy-qanda-mission-systems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/massivelys-black-prophecy-qanda-mission-systems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/massivelys-black-prophecy-qanda-mission-systems/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Massively has been following the development of the sci-fi MMO Black Prophecy very closely, and was pleased that the title's developer Reakktor Media wanted to do a series of focused Q&As with us on several aspects of the game. Our last such Q&A started at the beginning with character creation, but in our second installment of the Black Prophecy interview series we discussed the game's mission design. To that end, we posed some questions to Lorenz Dames, the Lead Game Designer on Black Prophecy.

Lorenz explained a great deal about how Reakktor is approaching solo content vs. group-oriented gameplay. He also told us how Reakktor Media is merging the completion of mission objectives with dogfighting your fellow players through PvP missions, where other players will try to counter your efforts to complete goals. Our interview should provide Black Prophecy fans with a solid overview of the game's mission design, which will be an essential aspect of the sci-fi MMO's gameplay.

Gallery: Black Prophecy

Continue reading Massively's Black Prophecy Q&A: Mission Systems

MassivelyMassively's Black Prophecy Q&A: Mission Systems originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy is one of the hotly anticipated games on the horizon that sci-fi MMO fans have been wanting to hear more about. Until recently though, Reakktor Media wasn't quite ready to reveal many of the specifics of what the game will offer. We've known that Black Prophecy's gameplay will differ from titles in the genre like EVE Online -- with Reakktor's game a bit more accessible in terms of learning curve and with a more dynamic feel to piloting space ships. Plus, if the screenshots and video footage are an accurate indication, Black Prophecy will be visually stunning as well.

Business-wise, things have recently changed for the better at Reakktor Media and the Black Prophecy project is once again moving ahead at full speed. More info about this title is on the way as well; Reakktor was kind enough to agree to do a series of focused Q&As at Massively about various facets of the game. Over time, this series will cover topics ranging from Black Prophecy's modification system to details about how players will build space stations. Since we're going to look at some of the fundamental aspects of Black Prophecy, it makes sense that we'd begin this series where the players themselves will begin -- at character creation.

In our first Q&A in this series, Massively spoke with Jens Kortboyer, Lead Artist on Black Prophecy, who walked us through the design decisions Reakktor made in creating the look of the Genides and Tyi characters, as well as the visual choices players will have when starting out.

Gallery: Black Prophecy

Continue reading Massively's Black Prophecy Q&A: Character Creation

MassivelyMassively's Black Prophecy Q&A: Character Creation originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-prophecycharacter-creationfeaturedgermanyinterviewsjens-kortboyerlead-artistmassively-interviewsnew-titlesreakktorreakktor-mediasci-fiSat, 19 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interview with Aion's new community manager]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/massively-interview-with-aions-new-community-manager/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/massively-interview-with-aions-new-community-manager/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/massively-interview-with-aions-new-community-manager/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Aion is easily one of the biggest MMOs of the year, so when a new North American community manager took over recently we decided it was the perfect time for an interview with the new team member, Andrew Beegle -- known as Tamat to community members.

We asked Tamat about new methods of community interaction, the hotly anticipated experience boost patch and even some personal questions about our new community manager. You can never really know enough about the person serving as the conduit to your main MMO -- at least that's what we tell them!

Continue reading Massively interview with Aion's new community manager

MassivelyMassively interview with Aion's new community manager originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aioncommunityexperienceexperience-boostexperience-patchfeaturedinterviewkoreakoreanmassively-interviewsnc-westncsoftnorth-americanorth-americanpatchservertamattranslationWed, 28 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[AGDC09: EVE's Nathan Richardsson on the Dominion expansion and beyond]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/19/agdc09-eves-nathan-richardsson-on-the-dominion-expansion-and-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/19/agdc09-eves-nathan-richardsson-on-the-dominion-expansion-and-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/19/agdc09-eves-nathan-richardsson-on-the-dominion-expansion-and-b/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


Massively was on the ground at the Game Developers Conference 2009 in Austin this week, and had a chance to sit down with Nathan "Oveur" Richardsson, Executive Producer of EVE Online. We discussed EVE's winter expansion, Dominion, and the new dimensions to the sci-fi MMO's setting that CCP Games hopes to introduce. We also learned a bit more about the company's plans to expand EVE into other platforms, namely through the COSMOS social network which will tie in with the game from Dominion onward.

Continue reading AGDC09: EVE's Nathan Richardsson on the Dominion expansion and beyond

MassivelyAGDC09: EVE's Nathan Richardsson on the Dominion expansion and beyond originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agdc-2009capital-shipsccp-gamesconsolescosmosdominiondust-514eve-onlineexpansionsfeaturedgame-mechanicsinterviewsiphonemassively-interviewsmmo-industrymobilenathan-richardssonoveurpen-and-papersandboxsci-fisocial-networkingsovereigntywhite-wolfSat, 19 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New perspective on EVE Online's latest bank embezzlement part two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement-part-tw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement-part-tw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement-part-tw/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We read about these things happening periodically, an EVE player pulls a runner with some huge amount of ISK and all sorts of drama ensues. It makes me wonder, what has the real life impact of this theft been on those of you involved with EBANK?

If you are to trust the forum trolls, EVE is JUST a game. But having spent 2 years on this project, real-life money and a lot of sweat and tears, it hurts to see EBANK's name being dragged through the mud, and putting up with the drama. It of course causes a huge amount of real-life stress, and makes you wonder about a few things. I even almost managed to miss 2 exams, due to having to deal with this. But it also gave us the opportunity to realize just how many people EBANK have helped.

2% of EVE's playerbase has an EBANK account, and we came to be the biggest investment venture in EVE, peaking at 2.5 TRILLION ISK. That, to me, is a pretty big thing, which I'm proud to take part in. But I can't answer this question on my own, hence here's my new CEO's take on it:

Continue reading New perspective on EVE Online's latest bank embezzlement part two

MassivelyNew perspective on EVE Online's latest bank embezzlement part two originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apiathrebankingbanksccp-gamescharlie-eriksene-onebankebank-ricdiceconomyembezzlementeoneulaeve-onlineeveconomicsisklavista-vistamassively-interviewsplayer-run-venturesricdicrmtscamscamstosThu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New perspective on EVE Online's latest bank embezzlement]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/new-perspective-on-eve-onlines-latest-bank-embezzlement/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


EVE Online is a deep sandbox game with the most complex player-driven economy found in any massively multiplayer title. There's enough depth, in fact, that players can establish their own financial ventures in-game, in the forms of bonds and IPOs, and even institutions like banks. However, EVE Online is a game where some players create while others undermine or outright destroy. Trust is a valuable and rare commodity in EVE's setting of New Eden; there are always risks of deception and betrayal. But those willing to take risks are generally the ones who are most successful. Of the player-run banks presently operating in the game, EBANK has billed itself as "the largest financial entity ever seen in EVE."

The secrets of its success? A solid Board of Directors and knowledgeable staff, various safeguards preventing any one individual from accessing all bank assets and, yes, some of that rare commodity called trust.That trust was damaged recently though, when EBANK's (now-former) CEO Ricdic, well-known to the game's playerbase, embezzled the virtual funds he was entrusted with. Although this is permissible by EVE's developers CCP Games, selling in-game currency for real-world cash is not. Ricdic has been banned from the game but his actions triggered a run on the virtual bank, and have shaken the faith many players have in EBANK.

Massively spoke about the incident with LaVista Vista, a former member of the game's Council of Stellar Management who sits on the Board of Directors of this virtual bank in EVE; he also provides commentary and analysis of virtual worlds and EVE on the Eveconomics blog. LaVista told us about the parallels that can be drawn between a banking crisis in the virtual galaxy of New Eden and that of the real world, and how what happens in a game can impact real lives.

Continue reading New perspective on EVE Online's latest bank embezzlement

MassivelyNew perspective on EVE Online's latest bank embezzlement originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How have the launches of FusionFall and Free Realms affected Earth Eternal? Have you changed your development or goals in any way because of the success of those two games, or have you stayed the course and continued to build things your way, disregarding those two games?

Not really, no. Games like Runescape and Habbo have had more influence on our plans than either of those two games, simply because they're so much bigger. FusionFall and Free Realms have gotten a lot of press in the last year, but neither of them have achieved the level of success that games like Runescape and Habbo have.

Actually, nobody really knows how Free Realms is doing outside of SOE. Three million registrations doesn't tell you much about how many active players they have as you don't know how quickly players are churning out of the experience. With the massive dollars they spent on marketing too, it'd be surprising if they couldn't get a few million registrations. The challenge for them (and everyone else in this space, including us) is to convert that fleeting attention into long-term, loyal players.

"We're more in the vein of a classic fantasy MMO than a collection of minigames."
How will Earth Eternal separate itself from the growing free-to-play genre in America? What will make this game stand out?

We're a different kind of experience from FusionFall or Free Realms. We're more in the vein of a classic fantasy MMO than a collection of minigames. I think where we stand out is by offering the best browser-based fantasy MMO out there. We've made the decision to have no humans, elves, or dwarves (or gnomes, hobbits, or anything else too close to human), preferring instead to offer everything from humanoid lizards and falcons to the Clockwork and Yeti. We're definitely fantasy but we want to stay away from the pack, almost all of whom have the humans/elves/dwarves thing going on. We've also got an enormous number of races for players (unlike the two games you mentioned) - 22 at launch.

Considering all of Earth Eternal's development, what part of the game are you the most proud of? What is that one feature you can't wait to show off?

The number one thing I'm proud of is how much our team has managed to do on relatively little funding for an open world 3D MMO (about five million dollars.) As far as game features go the biggest feature I'm looking forward to showing off is our Groves system, which will be introduced at final launch, a few months after we go into open beta.

Thanks so much for your time, Matt!

MassivelyMassively speaks with Sparkplay Media's CEO on Earth Eternal pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earth-eternaleefantasyfree-realmsfree-to-playfusionfallhabbohabbo-hotelinterviewiron-realms-entertainmentmassively-interviewsmatt-mihalymudsrunescapesparkplay-mediaTue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively speaks with Sparkplay Media's CEO on Earth Eternal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/massively-speaks-with-sparkplay-medias-ceo-on-earth-eternal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/massively-speaks-with-sparkplay-medias-ceo-on-earth-eternal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/massively-speaks-with-sparkplay-medias-ceo-on-earth-eternal/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


With Sparkplay Media's first game, Earth Eternal, going into beta, we got the chance to sit down with the CEO of the company, Matt Mihaly, and pick his mind on a variety of things related to setting up shop in the free to play genre.

Matt's no stranger to the massively multiplayer space, holding a strong background as the CEO and founder of Iron Realms Entertainment, a company dedicated to creating multi-user dungeons (MUDs) including Imperian, Aetola, Achaea, and Lusternia. If that wasn't enough, Achaea was one of the first games to introduce the sales of virtual goods, making him one of the pioneers of the base that free-to-play games now stand on.

So what's his thought process behind Earth Eternal? What are some of the things we can expect from the MMO that's sporting over 22 races? Hit the continue reading link, and find out!

Continue reading Massively speaks with Sparkplay Media's CEO on Earth Eternal

MassivelyMassively speaks with Sparkplay Media's CEO on Earth Eternal originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceoearth-eternaleefeaturedfree-realmsfree-to-playfusion-fallhabbo-hotelinterviewiron-realms-entertainmentjoystiqfeaturesmassively-interviewsmatt-mihalymudsrunescapesparkplay-mediaTue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Community Spotlight: CrazyKinux]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/eve-community-spotlight-crazykinux/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/eve-community-spotlight-crazykinux/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/15/eve-community-spotlight-crazykinux/#commentsFiled under: , ,

CrazyKinux is one of the standout players in EVE Online who has contributed to the game in significant ways. He's known as Treenara Mazouk in New Eden, but most players simply call him 'CrazyKinux'. His site, CrazyKinux's Musing, is a popular destination for players curious about EVE Online or looking for info about how to get started, as well as a hub of activity for the EVE player community.

Beyond the four years and counting he's been a vocal member of the player community, CrazyKinux has provided commentary on EVE through The Drone Bay podcast and later on MicroWarpCast. The writers at Massively had the good fortune to work with CrazyKinux in the past, with his Have Clone, Will Travel column, but he's since gone on to have a bigger impact on the game. CrazyKinux turned his attention to the EVE community itself, where much of the out-of-game interaction between players had been on forums or on player blogs that often existed in their own microcosm. He linked them together into a cohesive community and the momentum has resulted in hundreds of EVE players writing about their experiences in New Eden, and the most active bloggers participate in regular, intelligent discussions about the game in "EVE Blog Banters".

CrazyKinux is one busy man, but Massively recently caught up with him to discuss the community of EVE players he's helped bring together and what it is about the game and its playerbase that motivated him to make this happen.

Continue reading EVE Community Spotlight: CrazyKinux

MassivelyEVE Community Spotlight: CrazyKinux originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009 proved to be a significant event for the gaming industry once again, with a fair amount of news and announcements related to MMOs. Massively was there on the ground for E3 this year and we've been putting up breaking announcements, interviews, and hands-on previews throughout.

Given how much info came out of E3 on Massively, here's a roundup of our coverage, day-by-day. Be sure to check out the rest after the jump as there's plenty more content, plus you'll find E3 galleries for these games as you click through. To cap it all off, we've also put together an E3 2009 wrapup video for you at the end of this post. Read on to see where the MMO industry is headed in the next year and beyond!

Continue reading E3 2009: A complete roundup of Massively's coverage

MassivelyE3 2009: A complete roundup of Massively's coverage originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinchampions-onlinedragonica-onlinedungeon-fighter-onlinee3-2009final-fantasy-xivfree-realmsglobal-agendaheroes-of-telarahomejade-dynastyjumpgate-evolutionmassively-event-coveragemassively-hands-onmassively-interviewsmmo-industrymythosnew-titlesperfect-worldperfect-world-age-of-spiritsperfect-world-internationalrohan-blood-feudroundupstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-agencytorchlightMon, 08 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2009: Bill Roper on character themes and customization in Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/e3-2009-bill-roper-on-character-themes-and-customization-in-cha/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/e3-2009-bill-roper-on-character-themes-and-customization-in-cha/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/e3-2009-bill-roper-on-character-themes-and-customization-in-cha/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The superhero MMO genre has been ruled by one game and one game alone for the past five years: City of Heroes. NCsoft's title being quite literally the only game in town for superhero fans is about to change, with competitors like DC Universe Online and Champions Online on the way. We have a good idea of what to expect with DCUO given the recognizable characters the game incorporates, but what of Champions Online which is based upon the Champions pen and paper RPG?

We've wondered what Cryptic Studios will do to differentiate Champions Online from the competition; Massively had a chance to sit down with Bill Roper, the game's executive producer, to discuss that question at E3 2009.

Gallery: Champions Online Main Gallery

Continue reading E3 2009: Bill Roper on character themes and customization in Champions Online

MassivelyE3 2009: Bill Roper on character themes and customization in Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There is a slow but steady shift in direction in the MMO industry from being dominated by fantasy titles to one where gamers have other options, namely in terms of sci-fi and post-apocalyptic games. The smaller game studios producing these titles have some big challenges ahead of them, not the least of which is whether or not MMO gamers will embrace settings and gameplay elements that depart from the fantasy MMO paradigm. One of those newcomers to the MMO scene is Masthead Studios who are developing the post-apocalyptic Earthrise.

This first title from Masthead Studios will present gamers with a futuristic, dystopian setting where two major factions struggle for control over the island of Enterra, the last refuge of humanity after the burn. Continoma are the technocratic elite; they hold the keys to genetic immortality and enforce their ordered societal views on the population they've resurrected. The game's other major faction, Noir, is a shadow government -- the resistance. Earthrise's setting and factional struggles aren't limited to simple right-and-wrong scenarios, though, and this carries over to the gameplay. Players or guilds may align with one faction or another for their own benefit, but the game's numerous sub-factions provide other options for allegiances, or even the possibility of shifting those allegiances.

We had the opportunity to see Earthrise firsthand at GDC 2009 but we've always got more questions. Fortunately, Masthead Studios was willing to oblige. We've had another chance to speak with Masthead Studios CEO Atanas Atanasov about some of the core concepts and lore behind Earthrise, and how their approach to the game and the genre should allow a great deal of freedom for players.

Gallery: Earthrise

Continue reading Massively Interview: Masthead Studios' CEO on Earthrise and freedom of choice

MassivelyMassively Interview: Masthead Studios' CEO on Earthrise and freedom of choice originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atanas-atanasovbackstorychoicecontinomadystopiaearthisefactionsfeaturedgame-mechanicsguild-vs-guildguildsinterviewsloremassively-interviewsmasthead-studiosnoirpost-apocalypticsandboxsci-fisettingWed, 03 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Council of Stellar Management's impact on the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/30/the-council-of-stellar-managements-impact-on-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/30/the-council-of-stellar-managements-impact-on-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/30/the-council-of-stellar-managements-impact-on-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Massively: Was giving the players this degree of input a frightening prospect for the developers and the designers?

Pétur: [Laughs] Yes. I've been hearing the other companies in the industry asking if we've completely lost our minds. Of course it's a difficult step, but we wouldn't have have a game without the players, so I think it's a logical step to take. Even though it's a frightening one.

Massively: Now that you've been doing this for a while, is it still as frightening now, seeing what the CSM is coming up with?

Pétur: No. They still surprise us sometimes but in a good way. It's becoming a very valuable tool for us to have. It's important.

Dr. EyjoG: Pétur and I work in the unit of Research and Statistics and what we are increasingly finding happening over the past two months is that the developers come to us and ask 'What do you think the CSM would think of this?' And now we can answer, 'Well, just ask them.'

Pétur: There are at least three cases off the top of my head where the CSM was asked by the developers themselves about a feature they were thinking about, what the players' take on this might be.

Continue reading The Council of Stellar Management's impact on the game

MassivelyThe Council of Stellar Management's impact on the game originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>council-of-stellar-managementcsmelectionseveeve-onlineeyjolfur-gudmundssongame-mechanicsgdcgdc-2009interviewsmassively-interviewsmmo-industrypetur-johannes-oskarssonplayer-governancepoliticsreykjaviksci-fivotingThu, 30 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively speaks with EVE Online devs about Council of Stellar Management]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/30/massively-speaks-with-eve-online-devs-about-council-of-stellar-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/30/massively-speaks-with-eve-online-devs-about-council-of-stellar-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/30/massively-speaks-with-eve-online-devs-about-council-of-stellar-m/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The Council of Stellar Management in the sci-fi game EVE Online is a fairly unique concept in the massively multiplayer online game industry. As an MMO matures and the number of subscribers increases by thousands of new players every year, representing very different playstyles and outlooks on how the game is evolving, there are few companies out there that would ask the players themselves to advise on how best to move forward. But this is exactly what CCP Games is doing with EVE.

Following their GDC 2009 presentation on virtual democracies, Massively had a chance to speak with Dr. Eyjólfur Guðmundsson, CCP's lead economist, (also know as Dr. EyjoG) and Pétur Jóhannes Óskarsson, a researcher at CCP who is in the unique position of pursuing a Master's degree in Philosophy while facilitating a system where political philosophies can play out virtually.

Continue reading Massively speaks with EVE Online devs about Council of Stellar Management

MassivelyMassively speaks with EVE Online devs about Council of Stellar Management originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively is watching the influx of sci-fi MMOs very closely and we're happy to point out that gamers will soon have a number of options for space-based gameplay. While gamers will be flying and dogfighting in Jumpgate Evolution this summer, there's another dark horse in the running for your play time: Black Prophecy, a sci-fi MMO in development at Reakktor Media.

Whereas the reigning sci-fi MMO title EVE Online has a well-deserved reputation for appealing to a hardcore audience, Black Prophecy is decidedly more casual. This is a design decision that Reakktor feels will keep their game accessible to a wider audience, although they state that hardcore players will still find the content is engaging on a collective level. We fired off some questions to Reakktor Media's Simon Bachmann, development director on Black Prophecy, about what the game will offer sci-fi fans and some of what we can expect from Black Prophecy's gameplay.

Gallery: Black Prophecy

Gallery: Black Prophecy Concept Art

Continue reading Massively speaks with Black Prophecy development director Simon Bachmann

MassivelyMassively speaks with Black Prophecy development director Simon Bachmann originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The newest generation of smartphones has begun to deliver on the ideal of having continual access to your data on the go with persistent web connections. As such, the iPhone is becoming ubiquitous, helped no doubt by its ease of use and the ever-growing number of apps available to users. In the relatively short time the iPhone has existed, it's already begun to have an impact on the gaming world. Given how stat-centric massively multiplayer online titles are, it was inevitable that there would be some steps made towards a marriage between the iPhone and our games; some developers are creating iPhone apps that extend certain aspects of MMOs beyond the game client.

This can be especially useful with a game like EVE Online, where players typically have a number of things going on, even while they're not logged in to play. While the EVE iPhone apps don't act as game clients, players can, for instance, check in on the skill progression of their characters, check their wallet balances as market transactions and contract sales take place while away from the client, and in general keep tabs on their virtual involvements in New Eden.

Capsuleer 2.0 is one such iPhone and iPod touch app for EVE Online that aims to be a portal into New Eden for whenever players are away from their computers and on the go; in some respects, it's a persistent real-world analog to EVE's in-game Neocom used to keep tabs on your characters. Capsuleer 2.0 was approved by Apple just this week, so Massively caught up with its two creators to find out more about what they've been up to. Marcus Dickinson is known in EVE as Roc Wieler and is likely a familiar name to many players from his Roc's Ramblings blog. The other half of the Capsuleer duo is Chris Whiteford (PyjamaSam in EVE Online), and they were both kind enough to take some time out to speak with us about their work on Capsuleer as well as their plans for its future. Read on for Massively's Capsuleer interview and our impressions of the app in a brief visual tour.

Gallery: A look at Capsuleer 2.0

Respected. Revered. Immortal.Welcome to Capsuleer 2.0Import Control SystemCapsuleer InterfaceCharacter Selection Screen

Continue reading Massively looks at Capsuleer 2.0, an iPhone app for EVE Online

MassivelyMassively looks at Capsuleer 2.0, an iPhone app for EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, with expansions, you said that you'll be starting out with New York, London, and Seoul, right?

Yes. Those will be the first cities, the hub cities, available at the start of the game.

Now, the gameplay takes you beyond that, yes?

Oh yeah, absolutely. We're not doing all New York, or all of London, or all of Seoul. We are actually doing very tight and very constrained neighborhoods there. That's where you'll start your gameplay, but they won't be the large, huge open zones where you have tons of gameplay or tons of monsters. That will be left to areas like Egypt and New England, which will be more expansive and include more open-world mechanics and other things that we're not revealing quite yet. We will also be including more instanced and team-based areas as well.

Regarding expansion packs, yeah, we're going to expand beyond what we already will include. It's not like we're going to run out of content, the world is a big place.

Yes, I was going to ask if it will expand into more locations and cities throughout the world.

Yes, it certainly will, but it won't be limited to just that. We have more interesting locations but they won't be limited to just our world. We will be including locations throughout time and space itself.

I want to emphasize that this won't be something like Grand Theft Auto with magic, with a focus on huge, huge open cities. They are reasonably small places where you will start out and take the adventure from there. But one very important thing to note is that this sounds like a very fragmented world. London, New York, Seoul, those cities are a long way away from each other. But we are creating, or at least trying to create, a pretty seamless world. This means there are ways of getting from London to New York very quickly, and we are focusing on that. You won't be just walking up to a plane, clicking on it, and getting a red line that quickly points to where you're going and boom, you're there. You will be moving in real-time from London to New York, just a lot quicker.

There's alot of traditional MMO components that are around now. We're kinda in a new generation of MMO, and people are tired of World of Warcraft model and they're looking for something new. This is certainly in that realm. Are you guys trying to get away from traditional models, like crafting, and moving to something new?

Ah, I can't really talk about crafting right now. What I can say is that while combat is a core focus, we really want other non-combat stuff in the game. We're just not going to be talking about them as of yet. But there will be gameplay that isn't all about fighting monsters or exploring. There will be other things that you will be able to do.

Like you said earlier, like mysteries?

That, yes, that also and there will be other ways for people to play in the game, to participate in the game, that isn't about traveling around the world. Exactly what that is, I can't say as of yet.

Now, will there be a player driven economy?

Well, I can't speak much about that now, but there will be ways for players to take part in the economy. Sorry for being so cryptic, but trying to keep this very focused and very narrow for now.

And player guilds?

Ah, we are going to have cabals, yes. There will be a point to making cabals, and it will play a very large role in the game, but exactly what that is I'm not going to say as of now.

We are a game and we are focusing on the social aspects of the game. We are, in some aspects, a story driven game and alot of it you can play solo, but we really want to emphasize that it is an MMO. There will be stuff that will require you to team up with people in small groups and also in larger teams, without me going into deeper detail.

I hate having to keep saying I can't talk about this stuff.

Oh, so what about in-game factions?

...and I can't talk about that. *laughs*

Ok, so what about the range between hardcore and casual?

Yeah, well, we always say we're going to cover all of it, but the fact is that you can't the game for everybody. So I think we're leaning towards... *sighs* I wouldn't say the casual, because when you talk about MMOs and casual you usually end up at Club Penguin or something like that, and we're really not there. We're somewhere between halfway, I think. There's tons of stuff for the hardcore MMO players, like the whole skill based system and the tweaking that you do to those types of systems with numbers and all the items we'll have, and that will be a hardcore player's dream. But I think in terms of time investment and what's required of you, we're leaning towards the middle ground. It will be fun for MMO players, but it will be equally fun for someone who just likes the idea of a world that has a bunch of other people in it, is completely open, you can play it online, and you can chat, but doesn't feel so unfriendly and unwelcoming as other MMOs.

So, would your target audience be someone who has played MMOs?

I think a large part of our target audience is who are playing or have played MMOs. We want it to be different enough for them to come back or a game that is different enough to have them come to play it with their friends. In addition to action/adventure gamers who play games like Fable 2 for the Xbox 360 and just want to try their hand at something that's online and not feel completely eliminated and have something that's recognizable to them.

We'd like to thank Ragnar for meeting with us at the GDC, and we're looking forward to more information on The Secret World!

MassivelyGDC09: Interview with The Secret World's creator, Ragnar Tørnquist pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Huxley: The Dystopia is a massively multiplayer online first-person shooter (MMOFPS) in development at NHN USA. We haven't heard much about the title since mid-2008, so we were happy that NHN USA was willing to sit down with us at GDC 2009. We spoke with Andy Hong, Huxley's Project Manager, who showed us some of the basic concepts behind the game.

Huxley is a persistent world built upon Unreal Engine 3 foundations and is a game that differs from many of the MMOs we cover at Massively. Like other titles entering the market such as Global Agenda, Huxley is a marriage of the twitch combat of a first person shooter with classes, skills, trading, banking, and player housing we associate with MMOs. "At the core of the gameplay in Huxley, at its heart, it's an FPS," says Hong. But the depth of the rest of Huxley's gameplay, not limited to its quest and crafting systems, makes it a title quite unlike any pure FPS.

Gallery: Huxley: The Dystopia

Continue reading GDC09: Massively previews Huxley, a hybrid sci-fi MMO and FPS

MassivelyGDC09: Massively previews Huxley, a hybrid sci-fi MMO and FPS originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternativeandy-hongavengerbattlegroundclasseseconomyenforcereskafeaturedhuxleyhuxley-the-dystopiahybridijji.comjoystiq-featuresmassively-event-coveragemassively-interviewsmmo-industrymmofpsnew-titlesnhn-usanostaloniaphantompost-apocalypticpreviewspvpquestsracesrealm-controlsapiensvirtual-combatvirtual-pvpwebzenworld-controlMon, 30 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC09: Massively previews Earthrise page 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/29/gdc09-massively-previews-earthrise-page-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/29/gdc09-massively-previews-earthrise-page-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/29/gdc09-massively-previews-earthrise-page-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,



The struggle for dominance

Earthrise will be a very PvP-centric title, with open PvP and full looting adding greater risk to combat. How long will players have to loot fallen opponents (or allies)?

Atanasov says, "There will be a time limit. Right now we're planning for 30 seconds, which means that once you die nobody can pick up your inventory for that first 30 seconds. So you have the time to choose whether or not you want your inventory back," at a cost, of course.

A key game mechanic that's central to Earthrise's combat is a player's "battle rating" which is a numerical ranking of how tough you are (as presently skilled/equipped) and conversely how tough your opposition is. Your own battle rating and that of your opponents determines the experience you can gain from defeating them, or how juicy a target you are to them.

Your battle rating is determined by a few factors. The armor and weapons you equip and the abilities you've learned largely dictate battle rating. A target's battle rating will be visible to you and determines how much experience you'll get from taking down a mutant or other opponent.

The battle rating system will also give players flexibility in how quickly they advance. For example, you may be very strong but if you want greater experience gains from taking on weaker opponents you can choose to use weaker gear to match. In effect, you lower your own battle rating but earn more rewards by facing a greater challenge. The battle rating system isn't just a system that determines individual gains, it will also carry over to groups. Atanasov says, "I would say it's very unique in the MMO field. Nobody has tried it so far. I hope it will work well and will bring some new ideas to the future of MMO games."

Continue reading GDC09: Massively previews Earthrise page 2

MassivelyGDC09: Massively previews Earthrise page 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The futuristic game Earthrise is one of the upcoming sci-fi massively multiplayer games that we can see on the horizon. It's the first MMO developed by Sofia-based Masthead Studios and features the post-apocalyptic setting of a world divided between utopian idealism and revolution. Massively had a chance to sit down with Masthead Studios CEO Atanas Atanasov at the Game Developers Conference 2009 where he gave us a walkthrough of Earthrise, shedding some light on what this new title may bring to the MMO world.

Gallery: Earthrise

Continue reading GDC09: Massively previews Earthrise

MassivelyGDC09: Massively previews Earthrise originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Sleepers

The inhabitants of these uncharted solar systems may take offense to your encroachment upon their territory, however. The Sleepers, an ancient race of NPCs known for their mastery of virtual reality and cryogenics, will provide the greatest PvE challenges players have ever faced in EVE Online through their guardian drones. Their AI is far beyond what players are used to going up against in PvE. The Sleepers will have varying levels of strength and adaptation to player threats. They do seem to have a particular hatred for their creators at CCP, given their ultra-violent response to Ward's arrival at a structure the Sleeper drones constructed in space. They move in on him, dishing out *all* damage types: beams sizzle for EM and Thermal damage; warheads obliterate for Kinetic and Explosive damage. Fortunately Ward's Proteus is set up to deal with this ("I'm going to put on a GM shield extender, or when we go through there I'm going to get wasted!") making his ship virtually impossible to kill, letting us witness the Sleeper offensive in safety.

Continue reading Massively's Apocrypha expansion hands-on: The Sleepers

MassivelyMassively's Apocrypha expansion hands-on: The Sleepers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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True Exploration

For many EVE Online players, the Apocrypha expansion is the advent of true exploration. Exploration has been a mini-profession in EVE for some time now, and there are a number of dedicated explorers in the game. That said, the profession has been difficult to learn and players typically go through exploration probes like kleenex, in the hope that they'll find a hidden pocket of space to exploit. Critics of exploration have pointed out that they're not truly exploring new places, simply scanning down what's just hidden to most other players.

The Apocrypha expansion will bring true exploration to the game, allowing players to find and enter wormholes leading to uncharted regions of space. Roughly 2500 new solar systems await EVE's explorers willing to brave the challenges within this hostile space.

Continue reading Massively's Apocrypha expansion hands-on: True Exploration

MassivelyMassively's Apocrypha expansion hands-on: True Exploration originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epic Mission Arcs and Lore

EVE Online's setting of New Eden is one with a rich backstory, which is always being fleshed out further through regular Chronicles (short stories found on the game's official site), video footage tied into the game's lore and, as of last year, brought to life in the Empyrean Age novel.

While not all players opt to delve into this aspect of the game, the content is there to immerse yourself in. The problem is that there's a disconnect between the story and gameplay because of how mission running (quests) work in EVE and the repetition that characterizes them.

Continue reading Massively's Apocrypha expansion hands-on: Epic Mission Arcs and Tech III

MassivelyMassively's Apocrypha expansion hands-on: Epic Mission Arcs and Tech III originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocryphaccp-gamesccp-hammerheadccp-tonygeve-onlineexpansionshands-onlegionlegolokimassively-hands-onmassively-interviewsnoah-wardproteussci-fistrategic-cruiserstech-3tech-iiitengutony-gonzalesFri, 06 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's EVE Online Apocrypha expansion hands-on]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/06/massivelys-eve-online-apocrypha-expansion-hands-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/06/massivelys-eve-online-apocrypha-expansion-hands-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/06/massivelys-eve-online-apocrypha-expansion-hands-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


Massively got word that EVE Online lead game designer Noah Ward, aka CCP Hammerhead, would be in New York City last week. We jumped at the chance to find out more about the Apocrypha expansion, and Ward was kind enough to give us our own hands-on demo while answering our questions about where EVE Online is heading. We were pleasantly surprised to find that EVE's lead writer Tony Gonzales was on hand as well. Fans of the game's backstory will know him for writing The Empyrean Age novel, which chronicled the events leading up to New Eden's factional warfare.

Apocrypha will be the most significant expansion in EVE's history to date, introducing new -- and some controversial -- features while revamping existing aspects of the game. Ultimately the aim of CCP Games with Apocrypha is to make EVE accessible to more gamers while adding depth for the existing playerbase. The Apocrypha expansion launch will coincide with EVE Online's retail release on March 10th. Leading up to that date, a number of the CCP developers have dropped info about what's on the way through dev blogs and the occasional interview, but the expansion seen as a whole is mind-blowing. What we have for you here is the most complete look at the Apocrypha expansion offered to date, in one place, and much of it from the developers themselves. We've tackled Apocrypha in four parts: the New Player Experience, Epic Mission Arcs & Tech III, True Exploration, and the Sleepers.

Strap yourself in and get ready for Massively's exclusive hands-on with the Apocrypha expansion for EVE Online.

Gallery: EVE Online Apocrypha expansion

Continue reading Massively's EVE Online Apocrypha expansion hands-on

MassivelyMassively's EVE Online Apocrypha expansion hands-on originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocryphaattributesccp-gamesccp-hammerheadccp-tonygempyrean-ageeveeve-onlineexpansionsfeaturedgame-mechanicsjoystiqfeaturesloremassively-hands-onmassively-interviewsmmo-industryneural-remappingnew-edennew-player-experiencenoah-wardracesskill-injectionskill-queueskillstony-gonzalesFri, 06 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Community Spotlight: LaVista Vista]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/03/eve-community-spotlight-lavista-vista/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/03/eve-community-spotlight-lavista-vista/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/03/eve-community-spotlight-lavista-vista/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The idea of players being elected as representatives of the subscriber base is a dimension to EVE Online that sets it apart from all other MMOs. This player-elected Council of Stellar Management works with the sci-fi title's developer, CCP Games, to ensure that the game design and balancing of EVE Online reflects the interests of the subscribers. Player politics related to a divisive community of gamers can be complicated, however.

Since its inception, the Council of Stellar Management has faced intense criticism and no small amount of skepticism about how effective they will ultimately be. In other words -- EVE's Council of Stellar Management is a fairly accurate simulation of how the public reacts to real-world governance. Still, some of the original CSM delegates chose to stick it out and seek re-election for a second term. One of those delegates, now in his second term in office, is LaVista Vista. He's well-known to the EVE community for his level-headed approach to balancing the game and his experience with the different 'walks of life' of EVE's playstyles. These qualities make him an ideal representative of the interests of the players themselves and it came as little surprise that he was re-elected.

Massively recently caught up with LaVista Vista, who was happy to discuss some of his experiences as a dedicated EVE player as well as a Council of Stellar Management representative.

Continue reading EVE Community Spotlight: LaVista Vista

MassivelyEVE Community Spotlight: LaVista Vista originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancesbankbanksccp-gamescouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmcultureebankeconomyelectionseveeve-community-spotlighteve-onlinefeaturedfinancegame-mechanicsguildsinterviewsjoystiqfeatureslavista-vistalotka-volterramassively-interviewspiracysci-fivetoTue, 03 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews EVE's Lead Economist part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/massively-interviews-eves-lead-economist-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/massively-interviews-eves-lead-economist-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/massively-interviews-eves-lead-economist-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The starbase exploit has been some big news lately. How does it impact your ability to assess the state of EVE's economy, and are there assumptions you've made in the past that you need to reassess now?

It's a good thing that you mentioned the starbase exploit because we are in the final stages of creating a very thorough dev blog on that, which will hopefully be published very soon. [Note: this interview was conducted just prior to the release of the investigation's findings.]

There are certain things with the POS exploit that made it very difficult to detect. You basically needed to be able to go to that particular starbase and look at it, look at the setup and so on. It was difficult for us to detect it otherwise, except from the code once we knew what we were looking for.

From a market perspective the EVE economy has become so big that in order for you to impact the market you will really have to have large quantities. And as will be shown in this dev blog that will be published, the scale of the exploit really didn't start until late 2008... to the large industrial scale so that it started to impact the market.

Continue reading Massively interviews EVE's Lead Economist part 2

MassivelyMassively interviews EVE's Lead Economist part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alchemyccpccp-gamescontroversycouncil-of-stellar-managementcsmdr-eyjogeconomic-crisiseveeve-onlineeve-time-codesexploiteyjolfur-gudmundssongame-mechanicsicelandindustrymassively-interviewsmmo-industryplexpos-exploitreykjavikrmtsandboxstarbase-exploitThu, 19 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews EVE Online Lead Economist Dr. EyjoG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/massively-interviews-eve-online-lead-economist-dr-eyjog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/massively-interviews-eve-online-lead-economist-dr-eyjog/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/massively-interviews-eve-online-lead-economist-dr-eyjog/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The sci-fi game EVE Online is unique amongst the other massively multiplayer online titles on the market. One major aspect of the game is that its far future setting of New Eden functions as one server, where players can build up empires -- or topple those of their rivals -- across more than 5000 solar systems. Beyond its scale, what distinguishes EVE Online from other games is that it has a player-driven virtual economy, the backbone of the game. EVE's economy has been a major draw for players interested in market and crafting sophistication generally unseen in an online game.

EVE's creators, CCP Games, have fostered a setting where players can do what they want in the 'sandbox', a setting where the tools are in place for players to use as they see fit. Nearly every ship, module, and item used by a player in the game was produced by another player in New Eden at some point. Fight for military dominance and control vast regions of space, or corner the market as part of an industrial conglomerate -- it's all possible in EVE. In fact, the game's warfare and industry are very much intertwined, making EVE's virtual economy a dynamic one. Monitoring and researching this economy is important to CCP Games, and to further that goal, they've hired real world economist Dr. Eyjólfur Guðmundsson (aka CCP EyjoG).

Massively recently caught up with Dr. EyjoG, who told us about his rather unique position at CCP Games, and what he's learned about virtual economies along the way.

Continue reading Massively interviews EVE Online Lead Economist Dr. EyjoG

MassivelyMassively interviews EVE Online Lead Economist Dr. EyjoG originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banksccpccp-gamescouncil-of-stellar-managementcraftingcsmdr-eyjogdynasty-bankingeconomic-theoryeconomicseconomyeveeve-onlineeyjolfur-gudmundssonfeaturedicelandinstitutionsiposjoystiqfeaturesmarketmassively-interviewsnew-edenplayer-run-venturesreykjaviksci-fivirtual-economicsvirtual-economyThu, 19 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews Crovan about EVE Alliance PvP Tournament VI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/31/massively-interviews-crovan-about-eve-alliance-pvp-tournament-vi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/31/massively-interviews-crovan-about-eve-alliance-pvp-tournament-vi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/31/massively-interviews-crovan-about-eve-alliance-pvp-tournament-vi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


The sci-fi themed game of EVE Online is one dominated by the players themselves, many of whom join together to form alliances. Those alliances vie for control of the New Eden galaxy, sparking continual warfare and political upheaval among the thousands of pilots flying in EVE at any given time. That's really the beauty of the game: the developers provide the setting, but it's the players who make it what it is. Alliance struggles are one of the defining features of the game, but not all scores are settled through massive fleet engagements. Some alliances opt to engage one another in an arena -- viewed by thousands of EVE's pilots -- the Alliance PvP Tournament.

Alliance Tournament VI kicked off last weekend, continues this weekend with qualifying rounds, and will culminate in final rounds in February, which will be streamed as live video. As the Tournament is so significant to the players, each year CCP Games invites PvP experts from among the playerbase to be the tournament's commentators. Among those veteran combat pilots in EVE Online, Crovan certainly stands out. He, along with a small team of other PvP experts, was selected to provide live commentary on the matches. This should come as no problem for him, given the PvP experience gained from his time with now-legendary Mercenary Coalition and being a familiar voice to many of us with The Drone Bay podcast.

Since The Drone Bay is the official podcast of the tournament, Crovan is recognizable to many listeners as the voice of the EVE Online Alliance Tournament VI. The fact that he's been a past Alliance Tournament competitor also gives him some additional perspective on the event. It's been a while since we spoke with Crovan -- we were fortunate enough to have him with us at Massively in the past through his excellent Rogue Signal column. We caught up with Crovan this week, however, and he told us everything we wanted to know about the Alliance Tournament.

Gallery: EVE Alliance Tournament VI

Absolution

Continue reading Massively interviews Crovan about EVE Alliance PvP Tournament VI

MassivelyMassively interviews Crovan about EVE Alliance PvP Tournament VI originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A short while ago we had the chance to speak with Craig Morrison, the new director for Funcom's pulp fantasy epic Age of Conan. Morrison assumed the helm after the previous (development) director Gaute Godager stepped down, and since then the AoC team has been making a concerted effort to reach out to players. Perhaps drawing on lessons from other companies that have experienced player perception problems, the Funcom director seems to be making a deliberate campaign out of player recruitment, feedback, and communication.

Join us as we reflect on this initiative, discuss issues that the Funcom staff see as most important to the Age of Conan playerbase, and walk through features associated with the most recent expansive patch. Read on for the full details and insight into this unique MMO.

Gallery: Age of Conan Artwork

Thirsty Dog Inngore 4yetiguardiangore 1

Continue reading Massively catches up with the new Age of Conan director

MassivelyMassively catches up with the new Age of Conan director originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccraig-morrisonfeaturedfuncominterviewjoystiqfeaturesmassively-interviewsTue, 11 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews Clear Skies creator Ian Chisholm Page 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/massively-interviews-clear-skies-creator-ian-chisholm-page-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/massively-interviews-clear-skies-creator-ian-chisholm-page-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/massively-interviews-clear-skies-creator-ian-chisholm-page-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Can you tell me a bit about how you make the Clear Skies films? My understanding is the overriding vision for Clear Skies is yours, that you write the scripts and do much of the work involved with turning them into proper films, but how do you collaborate with others in creating Clear Skies?

Pretty much I did everything bar the voice acting in the first film, and even then a lot of that. I didn't bring anyone else into it as I didn't want to use up a lot of someone else's time and then have the project fail for some reason. Also I'm a bit of a control freak, relying on other people is difficult for me! I've found this time around that there isn't much I can farm out anyway, it's a bunch of esoteric skills that I've now got refined to the point that it's faster for me to do things than it is to teach others -- I attempted to teach lipsyncing to someone else but I may have well tried teaching them Martian. What I have got is a good friend working on reskinning some models, and a chap I spoke to ingame that has been working on level designs for various games for years. He's doing me some new sets for Gallente and Amarr ships, ensuring they will have a different visual style to my Caldari and Minmatar ones. He's really good, enthusiastic, and importantly has got a good history in sticking with a project to the end.

Continue reading Massively interviews Clear Skies creator Ian Chisholm Page 2

MassivelyMassively interviews Clear Skies creator Ian Chisholm Page 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One of the most significant works of machinima created in recent years is Clear Skies, an unconventional amalgam of the gritty, far future setting of EVE Online tempered with a more human touch, imbued with life through clever writing and exacting manipulation of Half-Life 2 character models. Fans and critics alike have praised Clear Skies since its release. Indeed, the film recently took top honors at Machinima Filmfest 2008, garnering a Mackie award for Best Long Format Film.

This success at the festival was met with astonishment from Clear Skies creator Ian Chisholm as well as from his collaborators, John Guthrie and Richie Powles. But it was decidedly less of a surprise to the many fans of the film, a seemingly ever-growing number judging by the number of times Clear Skies has been downloaded from EVE-Files.

Massively recently caught up with Clear Skies creator Ian Chisholm, who was gracious enough to provide us with a sequence of production stills from Clear Skies 2, explaining how he brings a scene to life in stages from voice recording, to choreography, to the culmination of this work in the final footage. While we had his attention, Ian also discussed what drives a man to dedicate years of his life to a project of this caliber, and what he has in store for us with Clear Skies 2.

Gallery: Behind the scenes of Clear Skies 2

Raw voice recordingLipsyncingChoreographyHammer map editorShot from final footage

Continue reading Massively interviews Clear Skies creator Ian Chisholm

MassivelyMassively interviews Clear Skies creator Ian Chisholm originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I read E-ON so I know you've really got your finger on the pulse of EVE, but given the magazine's quarterly publishing schedule, how do you meet the challenges of covering a game that's always evolving?

My finger isn't on the pulse at all. Never has been. I just know where to find the pulse when I need it.

It's difficult to be topical and obviously the magazine could be seen to date quite quickly, but I don't feel that aspect detracts from the the magazine at all. If anything it enhances it. I've always likened E-ON to a snapshot of EVE. Each issue captures EVE in a moment that will never exists again. For example, in the first issue we published a profile of a much-loved EVE fansite called EVE-I. Soon after publication EVE-I went down and never returned. (It actually went down before publication, but the admins assured me it would be back.) At the time it was slightly embarrassing that the we had a glowing profile of the site and some people on the forums found that amusing, but as time has gone by and memory has faded, EVE-I has been forgotten by all but the oldest veterans. The point is that the site is no longer active, it no longer even exists.... except in E-ON.

It's a similar story with the "Darwin's Contraption" movie, which we previewed in Issue #005, and maybe the EVE: Ascension mod (#009) will never see the light of day, but in E-ON all these great fan projects can be celebrated for their efforts, if not their achievements.

As for the ever-changing nature of EVE, it's precisely because EVE never stands still that there are always deep seams of material to mine for content. I actually feel that we could do an issue of E-ON every six weeks, perhaps monthly, but I'm not sure my superiors share that view because it's a fair bit of work that goes into design and production and MMM are a very small outfit, but there certainly is never a problem filling an issue with words -- quite the opposite.

Continue reading Massively interviews E-ON editor Zapatero Part 2

MassivelyMassively interviews E-ON editor Zapatero Part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamese-oneoneveeve-onlinegames-journalisminterviewsjournalismmagazinemassively-interviewsmmo-industryrichie-shoemakersci-fizapateroTue, 04 Nov 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews E-ON editor Zapatero]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/04/massively-interviews-e-on-editor-zapatero/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/04/massively-interviews-e-on-editor-zapatero/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/04/massively-interviews-e-on-editor-zapatero/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


EVE Online is a deep and complex game, and even those who've played EVE for years find there are still facets of gameplay they've never mastered. This is compounded by the game's unique nature as a massive galaxy primed for exploration and domination by its players, whose actions and machinations affect one another in a single setting that's never quite the same from one day to the next.

EVE is always evolving, both in terms of the dynamics between players and the game itself, seen as a whole. But unlike most MMOs, EVE Online has an official magazine, called E-ON, which has kept pace with how the game and its player efforts have changed over the years. To flip through the E-ON back issues is to see the documented evolution of EVE Online. In fact, E-ON manages to stay ahead of the curve due in part to its access to CCP Games, but mostly through the efforts of the players themselves whose writing talents make up the entirety of E-ON. The man behind E-ON is Richie Shoemaker, aka "Zapatero." He's the one who's been guiding the publication along since day one, and ensuring its content digs beneath the surface of the game. He's interviewed EVE's players and developers alike, but it occurred to us... Zapatero has an excellent perspective on the game yet is rarely interviewed, himself.

Massively recently caught up with Zapatero in between his continent hopping, and got him to tell us a bit about his approach to covering EVE and what the player community is capable of creating.

Continue reading Massively interviews E-ON editor Zapatero

MassivelyMassively interviews E-ON editor Zapatero originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Band of Brothers fields the largest capital ship fleet in the game. Obviously this provides your alliance with an advantage, but how do you respond to what many players feel is a problem of capital ship proliferation? Do you miss the days before capital ships and POS warfare became the norm?

EVE is ever-changing. It has evolved since the early alpha and beta days to early release, to today's EVE. It will never stop changing, and the players have to evolve with it. You can always say "remember the good old days", but, that's just nostalgia. Evolve or die, adapt or be overcome.

I could say I miss ninja-mining, I could say I miss dura-Mallers, I could say I miss splash damage from torpedoes, I could say I miss the days before POS's were in the game. But all in all, EVE is a larger game, a larger world, a more complex world today than when it started. Changes are a part of your EVE-life. Embrace it.

The most important ship in EVE is not a capital ship; it's the battleship.

Continue reading EVE Community Spotlight: SirMolle Part 2

MassivelyEVE Community Spotlight: SirMolle Part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancealliance-warfareband-of-brothersccpccp-gamescommunity-spotlightconflictendgameeveeve-community-spotlighteve-onlinegame-mechanicsguildsinterviewsmassively-interviewsmaxnew-edenplayer-owned-stationpospvpsci-fiterritorial-controlFri, 31 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST