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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Allods Online's patch 3.0.2 bringing mentor system, new Astral space]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/free-to-play/" rel="tag">Free-to-play</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/allods-online/" rel="tag">Allods Online</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/"><img alt="Screenshot -- Allods Online" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2012/04/allods-1335805247.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
	<a href="http://www.massively.com/category/allods-online"><em>Allods Online</em>'s</a> astral space is about to get just a little bit bigger thanks to the game's recently announced patch 3.0.2. The title's publisher, <a href="http://www.massively.com/tag/gpotato">gPotato</a>, announced today that the game's May content update will be bringing "a host of fixes and tweaks alongside some significant new features, including a new mentoring system and a new sector of astral space dedicated to free-for-all treasure hunting."<br />
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	The game's mentoring system allows experienced, high-level players to impart their wisdom and knowledge upon new characters of the same faction and archetype. The system is managed entirely through the game's mentor interface, which also helps to match prospective apprentices with a mentor. Mentors can receive a number of rewards, including gold and marks of diligence, depending on the amount of time the mentor spends with his apprentice. The update is also unveiling a new area of astral space wherein players will compete in a free-for-all battle for randomly spawning treasure, but be warned: The more players are in the zone, the higher the chance that a demon will show up to try to wreck your day. Players will have a limited amount of time to contend with opposing players and marauding demons and to gather the most loot possible before time's up.<br />
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	To get a sneak peek at these shiny new features, just head on past the cut and have a look at the update's official trailer.<br />
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	[Source: gPotato press release]</div><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Allods Online's patch 3.0.2 bringing mentor system, new Astral space</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/">Allods Online's patch 3.0.2 bringing mentor system, new Astral space</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/20227316/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/allods-onlines-patch-3-0-1-bringing-mentor-system-new-astral-s/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>allods</category><category>allods-online</category><category>astral</category><category>astral-space</category><category>astrum-nival</category><category>f2p</category><category>fantasy</category><category>free-to-play</category><category>gala-net</category><category>gpotato</category><category>mentor</category><category>mentor-system</category><category>mentoring</category><category>mentoring-system</category><category>mentors</category><category>patch</category><category>patches</category><category>trailer</category><category>trailers</category><category>update</category><category>updates</category><category>video</category><category>videos</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Matt Daniel]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Aion 2.5 on PTS today, new class skills video released]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/aion-2-5-on-pts-today-new-class-skills-video-released/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/aion-2-5-on-pts-today-new-class-skills-video-released/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/aion-2-5-on-pts-today-new-class-skills-video-released/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/fantasy/" rel="tag">Fantasy</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/trailers/" rel="tag">Trailers</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/aion/" rel="tag">Aion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/game-mechanics/" rel="tag">Game mechanics</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/patches/" rel="tag">Patches</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://gameguide.na.aiononline.com/aion/Patch+Notes+2.5"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/05/aionpets.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
<a href="http://aiononline.com"><em>Aion's</em></a> 2.5 <a href="http://gameguide.na.aiononline.com/aion/Patch+Notes+2.5">patch</a> is right around the corner, and today marks the update's official debut on <a href="http://ncsoft.com">NCsoft's</a> North American player test server (<a href="http://gameguide.na.aiononline.com/aion/Aion+2.5+PTS+FAQ">PTS</a>). The patch, otherwise known as <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/aion-2.5">Empyrean Calling</a>, brings several new game features to the denizens of Atreia including a mentor system, expanded character customization options, a graphics engine update, new legion features, pet interaction, and new PvE instances.<br />
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To celebrate the milestone, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/ncsoft">NCsoft</a> has released a new trailer that shows off some new class skills that are also coming with 2.5. Sixteen different skills, two for each of <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/aion"><em>Aion's</em></a> classes, are shown in action as well as via textual descriptions.<br />
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Have a look at the trailer after the cut, and don't forget to head to the PTS to get an early glimpse of all the updates.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/aion-2-5-on-pts-today-new-class-skills-video-released/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Aion 2.5 on PTS today, new class skills video released</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/aion-2-5-on-pts-today-new-class-skills-video-released/">Aion 2.5 on PTS today, new class skills video released</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 12 May 2011 15:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/aion-2-5-on-pts-today-new-class-skills-video-released/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19938692/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/aion-2-5-on-pts-today-new-class-skills-video-released/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2.5</category><category>2.5-patch</category><category>aion</category><category>character-customization</category><category>customization</category><category>empyrean-calling</category><category>fantasy</category><category>mentor</category><category>mentor-system</category><category>mentoring</category><category>mentors</category><category>ncsoft</category><category>new-instances</category><category>new-skills</category><category>pet-interaction</category><category>pets</category><category>pve</category><category>trailer</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 12 May 2011 15:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you have an MMO mentor?]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-an-mmo-mentor/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-an-mmo-mentor/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-an-mmo-mentor/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind/" rel="tag">The Daily Grind</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;">
	<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind"><img border="1" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/05/syrio.jpg" vspace="4" /></a></div>
Many of us come to MMORPGs alone, seeking a temporary reprieve from the hustle and bustle of our offline lives via bits of escapist fantasy. Others come in groups or join groups upon arrival, the better to learn the various sub-systems of particular titles as well as engage in endgame pastimes like raiding, PvP, and economic domination.<br />
<br />
Despite the increase in solo-friendly MMO fare in recent years, it is a rare gamer who rises to the top all by her lonesome, especially when it comes to competitive activities that demand a certain amount of knowledge, skill, or both.<br />
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Today's <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/the-daily-grind">Daily Grind</a> is all about your MMO mentors. Specifically, do you (or did you) have one? Are you one yourself? What, if anything, did your mentor teach you about MMOs that you might not have discovered on your own?<br />
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<img align="left" alt="" border="0" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.massively.com/media/2010/09/coffee.jpg" style="padding-right: 10px;" vspace="0" /><em>Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's <a href="http://www.massively.com/category/the-daily-grind/">Daily Grind</a>!</em><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-an-mmo-mentor/">The Daily Grind: Do you have an MMO mentor?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Mon, 09 May 2011 08:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-an-mmo-mentor/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19931548/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-an-mmo-mentor/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>game-discussion</category><category>gamer-discussion</category><category>mentor</category><category>mentoring</category><category>mentors</category><category>mmo-discussion</category><category>mmo-hot-topics</category><category>mmo-issues</category><category>mmo-topics</category><category>mmorpg-discussion</category><category>mmorpg-hot-topics</category><category>mmorpg-topics</category><category>opinion</category><category>tdg</category><category>the-daily-grind</category><category>waterdance</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2011 08:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Storyboard: Archetype discussion - the Mentor]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-mentor/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-mentor/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-mentor/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/roleplaying/" rel="tag">Roleplaying</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/storyboard/" rel="tag">Storyboard</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/misc/" rel="tag">Miscellaneous</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.massively.com/category/storyboard"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2011/02/storyboard-39-epl-207.jpg" /></a></div>
I keep expecting to run out of ideas for the various archetypes that I've been discussing, but more of them keep coming to me. The past six columns have all highlighted characters who are distinct from one another yet at the same time make compelling centers to their own stories. For roleplaying purposes, they move to the forefront of the ensemble cast when needed and slip to the middle the rest of the time.<br />
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But not everyone whose name is in the credits is necessarily going to be The Hero. Today's archetype probably won't be remembered as the one who accomplished any great deeds, unless you look at it by association. But she's still a vital character to any group, someone who provides an emotional and moral center amidst a horde of conflicting personalities -- even if no one might remember it. Today we're taking a look at the Mentor and all of the things that she brings to the table even from a more subtle role.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-mentor/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Storyboard: Archetype discussion - the Mentor</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-mentor/">Storyboard: Archetype discussion - the Mentor</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-mentor/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19833708/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/storyboard-archetype-discussion-the-mentor/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>archetype</category><category>archetype-discussion</category><category>background</category><category>backstory</category><category>character-origins</category><category>column</category><category>experience</category><category>featured</category><category>lore</category><category>mentor</category><category>mentors</category><category>metagaming</category><category>opinion</category><category>roleplaying</category><category>rp</category><category>storyboard</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliot Lefebvre]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chris Cao talks mentors and progression in DC Universe]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/chris-cao-talks-mentors-and-progression-in-dc-universe/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/chris-cao-talks-mentors-and-progression-in-dc-universe/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/chris-cao-talks-mentors-and-progression-in-dc-universe/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/super-hero/" rel="tag">Super-hero</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/video/" rel="tag">Video</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/interviews/" rel="tag">Interviews</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/new-titles/" rel="tag">New titles</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/dc-universe-online/" rel="tag">DC Universe Online</a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/dcuniverseonline/video/6275420?hd=1#toggle_video"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2010/09/dc-universe-online-wallpaper.jpg" /><br />
</a></div>
<a href="http://www.soe.com">SOE's</a> Chris Cao has checked in with <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/dcuniverseonline/video/6275420?hd=1#toggle_video">Gamespot</a> via a video interview that details several different aspects of the upcoming <a href="http://www.dcuniverseonline.com/"><em>DC Universe Online</em></a> superhero action MMORPG. Right off the bat, the goal is to immerse the players in the rich history of the license by choosing an established <a href="http://www.dccomics.com/dccomics/">DC Comics</a> superhero as a mentor during character creation. Meta-based heroes might follow Superman, for example, while tech-based players will initially look up to Bruce Wayne's caped crusader alter-ego. <br />
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Cao also talks a bit about the game's progression. Every even level you'll advance your powers, first by choosing a base power like fire and then expanding on it as you level. Initially you'll be setting people on fire, then detonating anything that's on fire, followed by the ability to spread fire. "<em>Every other level you'll get to choose more of those types of abilities</em>," Cao says. Every odd level you'll choose skills, which are based on your weapon or your movement style. Skills basically give you combos, whereas powers give you the iconic, superhero-ish abilities you've come to expect in a comic-inspired game.<br />
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Check out the video, and the extensive gameplay footage, after the cut.<p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/chris-cao-talks-mentors-and-progression-in-dc-universe/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Chris Cao talks mentors and progression in DC Universe</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/chris-cao-talks-mentors-and-progression-in-dc-universe/">Chris Cao talks mentors and progression in DC Universe</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/dcuniverseonline/video/6275420?hd=1#toggle_video>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/chris-cao-talks-mentors-and-progression-in-dc-universe/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19628760/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/10/chris-cao-talks-mentors-and-progression-in-dc-universe/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>chris-cao</category><category>dc-comics</category><category>dc-universe</category><category>dc-universe-online</category><category>DcUniverse</category><category>dcuniverseonline</category><category>dcuo</category><category>dcuo-gameplay</category><category>dcuo-gameplay-footage</category><category>gameplay-footage</category><category>gamespot</category><category>interview</category><category>mentors</category><category>origins</category><category>soe</category><category>Sony-Online-Entertainment</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jef Reahard]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Linden Lab to disband moribund mentor group]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/linden-lab-to-disband-moribund-mentor-group/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/linden-lab-to-disband-moribund-mentor-group/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/linden-lab-to-disband-moribund-mentor-group/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/guilds/" rel="tag">Guilds</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/opinion/" rel="tag">Opinion</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-life/" rel="tag">Second Life</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/virtual-worlds/" rel="tag">Virtual worlds</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://massively.com/tag/second-life-mentors"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/11/tan-second-life-mentors-580.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>Yesterday at the morning <a href="http://secondlife.com/"><em>Second Life</em></a> mentors' meeting, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/linden-lab">Linden Lab</a> staff announced that Linden Lab's sponsored mentor group, which had been functionally closed (in all but name) for approximately a year now, would finally be disbanded in practice. The move doesn't really come as much of a surprise to observers of the Lab's sponsored volunteer programs over the last eighteen months.</p>
<p>Almost immediately more ex-mentor <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/second-life"><em>Second Life</em></a> social groups than we could comfortably count sprang up, as people prepared to maintain their network of contacts without the overarching group umbrella. While there was surprisingly little actual yelling, some members of the organization feel the blame lies squarely at the feet of Linden Lab's CEO Mark Kingdon, though there's not a lot of apparent evidence to justify that.</p><p><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/linden-lab-to-disband-moribund-mentor-group/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Linden Lab to disband moribund mentor group</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/linden-lab-to-disband-moribund-mentor-group/">Linden Lab to disband moribund mentor group</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/linden-lab-to-disband-moribund-mentor-group/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/19245824/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/linden-lab-to-disband-moribund-mentor-group/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>linden-lab</category><category>m-linden</category><category>mark-kingdon</category><category>mentors</category><category>opinion</category><category>second-life</category><category>second-life-answers</category><category>second-life-mentors</category><category>second-life-volunteers</category><category>sl-community-translation</category><category>sl-policy</category><category>sl-resident-help-network</category><category>volunteers</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Tateru Nino]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ways of designing social into virtual spaces]]></title><link>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/ways-of-designing-social-into-virtual-spaces/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/ways-of-designing-social-into-virtual-spaces/</guid><comments>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/ways-of-designing-social-into-virtual-spaces/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/culture/" rel="tag">Culture</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/mmo-industry/" rel="tag">MMO industry</a>, <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/category/news-items/" rel="tag">News items</a></p><div align="center"><img hspace="4" vspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/massively.joystiq.com/media/2009/01/hellosocial425heder.jpg" alt="" /><br /></div>
One of the strongest glues between a person and their favorite MMO is friendship and community. However, those two things don't come without strong socialization, which in turn is something that doesn't happen in an MMO entirely by accident. <a href="http://www.raphkoster.com/2009/01/28/ways-to-make-your-virtual-space-more-social/">A recent blog post by Raph Koster</a> discusses the many ways of making virtual spaces more social by thoughtful design, a subject that we here at Massively <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/the-digital-continuum-social-failings-of-all-mmos/">take a lot of interest in</a>, <em>strangely</em> enough.<br /><br />While the first two chunks of Raph's post are <a href="http://www.worldiv.com/blog/?p=989">arguments for actionable design</a> to encourage socialization, it's the last piece of the post where the fleshy part resides. While there are numerous good suggestions for designing <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/30/expanding-choices-in-social-gaming-and-flash-mmos/">better social opportunities</a>, the ones that strike us as our most desirable for MMOs are gifting, mentors, looking for conversation tools and <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/discovering-champions-onlines-evidence-and-investigation-system/">alternate advancement systems</a> for social elements. Those four items are certainly something that more titles could use -- especially <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-goes-web-2-0/">as more and more games</a> integrate <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/turbine-to-launch-a-lotro-focused-social-networking-site/">web tools similar to Facebook</a>.<br /><br />It's hard to say whether or not we'll actually see any of these taken to heart in many MMOs, but it's nice to wish for things -- and maybe if we pester developers hard enough they'll figure it out sooner rather than later.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ffffcc;border:1px solid #ffff99;clear:both;"><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com"><img src="http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif" alt="Massively" style="float:left;padding:0 5px 5px 0;" /></a><a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/ways-of-designing-social-into-virtual-spaces/">Ways of designing social into virtual spaces</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://massively.joystiq.com">Massively</a> on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.<br style="clear:both;"></p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.raphkoster.com/2009/01/28/ways-to-make-your-virtual-space-more-social/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/ways-of-designing-social-into-virtual-spaces/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/forward/1444503/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/ways-of-designing-social-into-virtual-spaces/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>alternate-advancement-system</category><category>facebook</category><category>gifting</category><category>looking-for-conversation</category><category>mentors</category><category>raph-koster</category><category>social</category><category>social-networking</category><category>socialization</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kyle Horner]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
