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[Studios join forces to form Gamer Safety Alliance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/studios-join-forces-to-form-gamer-safety-alliance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/studios-join-forces-to-form-gamer-safety-alliance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/studios-join-forces-to-form-gamer-safety-alliance/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gamer Safety Alliance logo
This week is Gamer Safety Week, and before you laugh at the thought of getting injured while playing your favorite MMO, we should point out that the safety has more to do with your accounts than your person.

Nine major game companies have joined forces to form the Gamer Safety Alliance, an organization that seeks "to break down traditional competitive barriers and share information and best practices within the computer and video game industry."

Participating firms include Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Turbine, NCsoft, Nexon, Square Enix, Sony Online Entertainment, MindCandy, and En Masse Entertainment. SOE leads things off with a lengthy article on how to protect yourself from account fraud.

MassivelyStudios join forces to form Gamer Safety Alliance originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free Realms
A couple of years ago, Massively readers engaged in a great discussion that doesn't get covered nearly as much as it should. Thanks to former Massively columnist Lisa Poisso, the column MMO Family was born, and she and the readers looked at how MMOs affect the family, both the positives and the potential dangers.

I'm excited to have the opportunity to start the column up again because I think a lot has changed in the short time since the column went on hiatus. We'll revisit a few issues that Lisa brought up and some of the more recently released MMO titles to see which ones are the best for family-centered gaming. To kick things off, I'd like to explore why MMOs are good for kids and for the family unit as a whole. When it comes to talk about kids and gaming, the discussion tends to revolve around the negatives, like violence, antisocial behavior, or lack of physical activity. No one will argue that MMOs, as with most anything, can have detrimental effects when played to excess. But to focus on the negatives is to ignore the vast amount of benefits that gaming can provide. Read on for a few examples.

Continue reading MMO Family: Why games are good for family

MassivelyMMO Family: Why games are good for family originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>club-penguindestructoidfamilyfamily-gamingfeaturedGDC-Online-2011hamza-azizkaren-bryankidsmegan-bellmind-candymmo-familymoshi-monsterspax-east-2011wizard101Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively exclusive: Inside the mind of Mind Candy's Michael Smith]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/massively-exclusive-inside-the-mind-of-mind-candys-michael-smi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/massively-exclusive-inside-the-mind-of-mind-candys-michael-smi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/massively-exclusive-inside-the-mind-of-mind-candys-michael-smi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


I recently had the opportunity to sit down and spend some quality time with the CEO of Mind Candy, Michael Smith. I picked his brain about Mind Candy's newest game, Moshi Monsters, how they're going to attract and protect the kids that play it, and what some of Michael's favorite past-time activities are. Plus, we even discussed a little background on Perplex City, and the status of the anticipated alternate reality game, Perplex City Season 2.

Interested in what goes on in the mind of one of Britain's most innovative game developers? Read on after the break and find out!

Continue reading Massively exclusive: Inside the mind of Mind Candy's Michael Smith

MassivelyMassively exclusive: Inside the mind of Mind Candy's Michael Smith originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualclub-penguinexclusivefeaturedinterviewinterviewsjoystiqfeatureskidsmichael-smithmind-candymonstermoshi-monstersperplex-citypxcstardollwebkinzWed, 30 Apr 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost. The Monster. Reward: Cuteness.]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/lost-the-monster-reward-cuteness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/lost-the-monster-reward-cuteness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/lost-the-monster-reward-cuteness/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Do you like cuteness? Do you like monsters? Do you like puzzles?

If you said yes to all three, then do we have the multiplayer game for you! As we reported earlier, Mind Candy, the crazy developers behind the super-huge alternate reality game Perplex City, have been working on something for the children. Their result is Moshi Monsters, a cross between a Tamagotchi, Brain Age, and sheer attitude.

The picture to the right is Smigglesnuff. Smigglesnuff likes two things: the word "miasma" and choptastic moves. Oh, sure, she enjoys the tickles I give her, but don't mess with her unless you want your face re-arranged. Go visit her if you want to find out for yourself.

Continue reading Lost. The Monster. Reward: Cuteness.

MassivelyLost. The Monster. Reward: Cuteness. originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabrowsercartooneducationalflashfree-to-playkidsmichael-smithmind-candymoshi-monstersneopetsnew-titlepreviewsmigglesnuffwebkinzWed, 23 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08: Thinking outside the virtual world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-thinking-outside-the-virtual-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-thinking-outside-the-virtual-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-thinking-outside-the-virtual-world/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Tuesday afternoon, Michael Acton Smith, CEO of Mind Candy, presented attendees at the GDC's Worlds in Motion summit with an interesting look at the confluence between real goods and virtual worlds. For some background on where Smith is coming from, Mind Candy "creates games and puzzles that span multiple media.... [they] use all forms of technology to tell stories and interact with... [their] audiences." They run Perplex City, an alternate reality game that uses clues puzzles in the real world combined with web-based resources to create a unique type of gameplay. Their upcoming game Moshi Monsters is an adoptable pet game geared towards kids. Smith says it's a "new type of virtual pet experience." The pets will be very alive with their own emotions (driven by a behavior engine which will cause your pet to act different ways depending on how you treat it) that will be reflected in the pet's animations. The game will also incorporate a number of social tools, so both you and your pet monster can hang out with friends. And, of course, there will be toys, oh glorious toys. (Some already available, though the game itself is still in beta and closed to the public.)

Gallery: GDC08: Worlds in Motion summit day 2

Continue reading GDC08: Thinking outside the virtual world

MassivelyGDC08: Thinking outside the virtual world originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barbiegirlsbe-bratzbeanie-babiesbuild-a-bearbuild-a-bearvillefeaturedgdcgdc08gdc08fanboyhabbohabbo-hotelmaplestorymichael-acton-smithmind-candymoomoshi-monstersneopetsshining-starsthinkgeektoyswebkinzwimworld-of-warcraftworlds-in-motionwowThu, 21 Feb 2008 07:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Moshi Monsters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/moshi-monsters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/moshi-monsters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/moshi-monsters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Moshi Monsters is a new virtual world by MindCandy, the folks behind Perplex City. It appears to be a cross between MySpace and a Tamagotchi, with minigames thrown into the mix. It's got bright colors, it's got cute sound effects, and it's got monsters. And it's frankly adorable. Of course, it is aimed at kids, and there's a clear mandate by the creators to provide a safe experience, so parents need not worry.

One of the features touted by the preview video is that of buying things for your monster to keep it happy. If this isn't a clear indication that the concerns mentioned in this post are valid, then I don't know what is. Surely there could be better ways to provide the things your monster needs? Couldn't you grow its food, make its toys? I'm sure one could argue that running a virtual world this way teaches kids the importance of managing money, but there are better ways to do that without making it part and parcel of playtime, which in all other respects is completely whimsical and fantastical.

Still, I'm a big fan of monsters. While Moshi Monsters is still in beta, I'm looking forward to seeing more of how it all works together.

MassivelyMoshi Monsters originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massivelymind-candymoshi-monstersmyspaceperplex-citytamagotchiFri, 30 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST