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[Some Assembly Required: I saw the wilds of Salem (and lived to tell about it)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/some-assembly-required-i-saw-the-wilds-of-salem-and-lived-to-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/some-assembly-required-i-saw-the-wilds-of-salem-and-lived-to-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/some-assembly-required-i-saw-the-wilds-of-salem-and-lived-to-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - Salem dev tour
I spent an hour romping through the woods of Salem last Friday with Seatribe head honcho Bjorn Johannessen. The tiny indie company (current dev population: two) is hard at work on its followup to Haven and Hearth, an acquired taste of a sandbox game notable for its no-holds barred approach that includes permadeath and the ability to summon (and kill) criminal characters -- even while their lulz-loving puppet-masters are offline.

Publisher Paradox bills Salem as "the crafting MMO," and boy it's not kidding. Over the course of this particular dev tour, I saw crazy amounts of tradeskill functionality, all kinds of cool world-building stuff, and ultimately, more than enough reasons to spend time with the game when it launches later this year.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: I saw the wilds of Salem (and lived to tell about it)

MassivelySome Assembly Required: I saw the wilds of Salem (and lived to tell about it) originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bjorn-Johannessenbodily-humorscraftingf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgame-mechanicshistoricalhumorsmetagamenew-englandopinionparadoxparadox-interactivepermadeathpgcplayer-contentplayer-created-contentplayer-generated-contentsalemsalem-skillssandboxsarseatribeskill-basedsome-assembly-requiredtradeskillinguser-generated-contentFri, 18 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The leveling effect]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/storyboard-the-leveling-effect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/storyboard-the-leveling-effect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/storyboard-the-leveling-effect/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

You're in some grand company.
A couple of weeks ago, I took a look at some of the issues that crop up when you start considering in-game details in the context of roleplaying. Today, I'm doing something very similar but in the opposite direction. Instead of fitting verisimilitude into the game world, I'm trying to fit game mechanics into the game world. And if you've ever tried to explain in-character what level you are, you should understand that this is an arduous task to say the least.

Of course, to some people, the very idea is ridiculous. There's a reason why gameplay and story generally remain in two different baskets: When you start trying to mix them too closely, everything gets dicey. The problem, of course, is that level isn't just a mechanical concept; it's tied to almost everything in the game world. And that begets all sorts of questions, the same sort that you start asking when you ask yourself about time, but from a different angle.

Continue reading Storyboard: The leveling effect

MassivelyStoryboard: The leveling effect originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncolumnsfeaturedicin-characterlevelsmeta-issuesmetagameoocopinionout-of-characterroleplayingrpstoryboardverisimilitudeFri, 07 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New End of Nations trailer goes meta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/new-end-of-nations-trailer-goes-meta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/new-end-of-nations-trailer-goes-meta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/18/new-end-of-nations-trailer-goes-meta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- End of Nations
You can't fight here, this is the war room! Wait, you can? Nevermind, carry on. Today we have a new trailer from Gamescom highlighting Trion Worlds' End of Nation's metagame. The developers are careful to note that anyone can contribute to their nation's war effort, whether you're a green novice or a hardened veteran.

The trailer also takes some time to highlight the different types of battle maps available to players, from the standard PvP map to the monumental mega maps, which feature up to 50 players on the map, each will a full army. The battles raging on each of these maps will determine which faction controls the territory, and each territory grants its controlling faction a different advantage. It's up to the players to decide which territory would most benefit their faction's current needs, and then to bring the firepower and capture the territory. For the full trailer, blast your way past the cut.

Continue reading New End of Nations trailer goes meta

MassivelyNew End of Nations trailer goes meta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>end-of-nationseongamescomgamescom-2011metametagamemmortsrtsstrategytrailertrailerstriontrion-worldsvideovideosThu, 18 Aug 2011 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Tanks releases Ultimate Conquest mode]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/world-of-tanks-releases-ultimate-conquest-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/world-of-tanks-releases-ultimate-conquest-mode/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/world-of-tanks-releases-ultimate-conquest-mode/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Wargaming.net is finally taking the wraps off its much-anticipated World of Tanks clan wars mechanics, and hundreds of clans are gearing up to wage war across the title's expansive map. Ultimate Conquest is now live and features its own web destination complete with clan rankings, a world map, and a handy guide.

The clan wars map currently encompasses Northern and Mediterranean Europe and will eventually include Asia, Africa, and North America. "We've been working on this for so long, and now we are proud to say that the Ultimate Conquest has begun. This mode is a huge leap for the whole project, as it will add an important strategic element everyone has been so passionately waiting for," says clan wars coordinator Kirill Mal. You can learn more about the World of Tanks metagame at the official North American or European portals, and you also check out our clan wars-focused GDC interview with Victor Kislyi. And we've got a new clan wars tutorial video for you just after the cut.

Continue reading World of Tanks releases Ultimate Conquest mode

MassivelyWorld of Tanks releases Ultimate Conquest mode originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clan-warsclan-wars-mapconquest-mapf2pfree-to-playhistoricalkirill-malmetagametankstrailerultimate-conquestvictor-kislyivideowarworld-of-tanksworld-war-2world-war-iiww2Thu, 19 May 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE's spies and metagamers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/eves-spies-and-metagamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/eves-spies-and-metagamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/12/eves-spies-and-metagamers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


EVE Online is one of the few MMOs where players in guilds (corporations and alliances) have some valid concerns about spies from rival groups infiltrating their ranks. The concept of being a spy or saboteur is a profession of sorts that arose in the game. There aren't any game mechanics that necessarily enable spying or make it into a viable profession, nor are there any rules that prohibit most of these activities.

Wes from EVE Tribune recently wrote a piece called "Metagaming", dealing with how espionage can impact rival corporations and alliances in EVE. Wes asks, "Why is everyone so paranoid about spies and metagaming?" then goes on to explain how espionage in EVE works, categorizing spies by their modus operandi:

Continue reading EVE's spies and metagamers

MassivelyEVE's spies and metagamers originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancesccpccp-gamescorporationscultureespionageeveeve-onlineeve-tribuneforumsgame-mechanicsguildsintelintelligencemetagamemetagamingmolesparanoiapoliticspvpsabotagesaboteurspiesspyspyingteamspeakwesSun, 12 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Battlefield Heroes trailer hits the beach]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/01/new-battlefield-heroes-trailer-hits-the-beach/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/01/new-battlefield-heroes-trailer-hits-the-beach/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/01/new-battlefield-heroes-trailer-hits-the-beach/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

When last we heard, there was no other information about the upcoming casual MMO Battlefield Heroes other than 'It's in development'. Well, now we have more -- a lot more.

According to the trailer, BH is completely free to download and play, features full leveling of your character, a matching service that ensures that you only play against others of your level, an overarching 'metagame' to measure your progress against, and it's still slated for a Summer release.

It's worth checking out the website for the developer blog, as anyone who's interested in how a game like this comes together will find items of interest both now and going forward. Perhaps our earlier question about whether or not the WWII setting will feel limiting is mitigated by the fact that for all intents and purposes, you'll be playing an olive drab colored online version of Mario Kart.

[Via Joystiq]

MassivelyNew Battlefield Heroes trailer hits the beach originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-heroescasualdicejoystiqmario-kartmatching-servicemetagameolive-drabtrailerworld-war-2wwiiSat, 01 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EST