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[Funcom and Stray Bullet license Allegorithmic's Substance Air platform for their MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/funcom-and-stray-bullet-license-allegorithmics-substance-air-pl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/funcom-and-stray-bullet-license-allegorithmics-substance-air-pl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/funcom-and-stray-bullet-license-allegorithmics-substance-air-pl/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Two developers have simultaneously turned to a brand new texturing solution for their future MMOs, according to Gamasutra. Both Funcom and Stray Bullet have licensed Allegorithmic's "Substance Air" middleware package, a new set of programs that lets developers keep high resolution textures as extremely small files and even let users modify textures for in-game customization options.

Funcom is almost a given for which game this would apply to, as The Secret World is the only game currently on their radar. Stray Bullet, best known as the creators of Shadowbane, is a bit trickier when it comes to saying how it will impact on their new MMO offering.

Simply known as the "future fantasy MMO," Stray Bullet has also licensed Simutronics's HeroEngine, the same engine that's currently powering Star Wars: The Old Republic. What they're up to is anyone's guess, but the presence of the extremely versatile HeroEngine and the addition of Substance Air could be pointing to a nice level of user-customization and/or "on-the-fly" developing coming with their latest unannounced fantasy offering.

MassivelyFuncom and Stray Bullet license Allegorithmic's Substance Air platform for their MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>customizationfuncomheroenginemiddlewareshadowbanesimutronicsstar-wars-the-old-republicstray-bulletstray-bullet-gamessubstance-airtexturingthe-secret-worlduser-created-contentThu, 16 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A look at the most significant MMO trends of 2008]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/24/a-look-at-the-most-significant-mmo-trends-of-2008/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/24/a-look-at-the-most-significant-mmo-trends-of-2008/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/24/a-look-at-the-most-significant-mmo-trends-of-2008/#commentsFiled under: , ,


As we get more involved in what makes an MMO player tick, development studios are trying their hardest to keep up with the trends. Ten years ago, we were happy to have any environment in which to socialize and experience a gaming world with our friends, or meet other gamers with the same interests. Now though, if a lightsaber looks "too big", there will be riots in the streets... or at least the forums.

Over at Gamasutra, our own Michael Zenke takes a look at the hottest MMO trends in 2008, and what we should watch in regards to how they'll evolve into 2009. Some of these include microtransactions in the West, user-created content and the fact that the Triple A fantasy genre has been solved. Check out the entire article, and whether you agree or disagree, let us know what you think in the comments below.

MassivelyA look at the most significant MMO trends of 2008 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008gamasutramicrotransactionsmiddlewaremmo-trendsnewssandboxtrendstriple-aWed, 24 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[38 Studios to use NaturalMotion's Morpheme engine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/38-studios-to-use-natural-motions-morpheme-engine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/38-studios-to-use-natural-motions-morpheme-engine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/38-studios-to-use-natural-motions-morpheme-engine/#commentsFiled under: , ,

38 Studios, the star-studded development studio working on a mysterious MMO codenamed Copernicus, has announced that it will use an animation engine called Morpheme. Morpheme has also been used in EVE Online and Heavenly Sword. Its creator is a company called NaturalMotion, which also created the related and acclaimed Euphoria engine used in Grand Theft Auto IV and the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

Jon Laff, 38 Studios' chief technology officer, was quoted in the press release saying, "Morpheme allows us to create very high-quality character animations quickly, cutting down on a lot of intensive animation design and implementation time." Uh, good! Wouldn't want you to pick middleware that slows you down instead!

So for those who are keeping track: Copernicus now uses BigWorld, Unreal Engine 3, and Morpheme. It's got the trifecta!

Massively38 Studios to use NaturalMotion's Morpheme engine originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosanimationbigworldcopernicusengineeuphoriajon-laffmiddlewaremorphemenatural-motionnaturalmotiontechnologyunreal-engine-3Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Twofish to make microtransaction economies easier with middleware]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/twofish-to-make-microtransaction-economies-easier-with-middlewar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/twofish-to-make-microtransaction-economies-easier-with-middlewar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/twofish-to-make-microtransaction-economies-easier-with-middlewar/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Gamasutra notes that a new middleware company is offering online game developers tools to manage their in-game economies. Twofish is the name of the startup, and their offering (Twofish Elements) is intended to plug directly into the backend of any in-development Massively Multiplayer Online Game. Their product seems to be geared at allowing indie developers to offer a microtransaction economy similar to the one Nexon uses in Maple Story.

The company was founded two years ago, in part by Lee Crawford - a veteran of Yahoo! Games, Shockwave.com and Segasoft Networks. In order to prove out their technology they're also developing an online game to utilize it. Entitled Edgeracers, the offering will feature "the culture of car customization and casual racing", and should release within the next few months. Crawford has a few comments featured in the announcement writeup, and (along with many players) views the move to microtransactions as a rough road for games and developers. "We see Twofish Elements being a way to help independent publishers and developers compete on a level footing ... In our view, the world is moving towards the mass-market consumer and, ultimately, the hardcore player going to free-to-play with microtransactions," Crawford said.

MassivelyTwofish to make microtransaction economies easier with middleware originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economyedgeracersgamasutramaple-storymicrotransactionsmiddlewarenexontwofishTue, 12 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST