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Video series chronicles the evolution of MUDs to MMOs

Jef Reahard — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous

If you're looking for a reasonably short video primer on the history of MMOs, look no further than a series of clips recently uploaded to YouTube. According to some genre heavyweights, though, you shouldn't take all the info presented at face value. Former sandbox (and current social games) developer Raph Koster weighs in on the clips at his personal blog, and he offers up a laundry list of "oddities, errors, and omissions."

MUD pioneer Richard Bartle shows up in Koster's comment thread, and he's even more direct. "I wonder why so few of those who make this kind of documentary actually ask the people they're talking about whether what they're saying about them is factually correct? It's not like we're dead or anything," Bartle muses.

Why watch the vids, then? Mainly for the exposure to pre-2004 MMORPGs, according to Koster. The clips are "worth a look, even if only to get a rare glimpse of actual video footage from some of the older games that many folks today don't even know existed," he says. Check out all three installments after the break.

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Video series chronicles the evolution of MUDs to MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Massively: Massively is one of those multiple-robot Transformers edition

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous

The technical term depends on how much of a fan you are and whether or not you want to be a jerk. The only term that has been officially used with any regularity is "combiner," which describes nicely what's going on but isn't terribly evocative. "Gestalt" is always a popular fan term, but it's also clearly the sort of term that bored 20-year-old psych student comes up with when talking about a cartoon online instead of doing homework.

You know what? Let's just say we're a supergroup, like Asia. That's easier.

So while you're queueing up "Heat of the Moment" and cursing me for getting that song stuck in your head for the next four days, it's time for Ask Massively, which this week features questions about the staff's opinions on games past, present, and future. Fun for everyone! And of course, you can send in your question to ask@massively.com, or you can just leave it in the comment field.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Massively is one of those multiple-robot Transformers edition

Ask Massively: Massively is one of those multiple-robot Transformers edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grouping versus soloing as the genre evolves

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Grouping, Opinion, Academic

Back in the day, there were two ways to play most MMOs -- you could form a group with other players, or you could stay inside the cities and wait. Those days are long gone, of course, and it's a rare game that doesn't allow a player to do quite a bit without the support framework of a group. But there's a point to be made about what's been lost in the process, and We Fly Spitfires has an interesting take on how we now have to be pushed and prodded into grouping. There was a time when people were expected to group to complete tasks, but players are increasingly opposed to the idea as more and more becomes possible to solo and we grow less and less patient for finding a group.

Unsurprisingly, Game by Night brings up the obvious counterpoint: that evolving game design has relegated forced grouping to the past. There are more MMO players now than there were back then, and the majority of them started on games such as World of Warcraft or City of Heroes where grouping was only occasionally necessary, and even then only for specific tasks. By removing the requirement, player expectations become different, and there's no longer a sense from most of the playerbase that soloing should be possible for a majority of tasks. It's a debate that's been had over and over through the years, but as the solo play model becomes more and more expansive, it no doubt will be revisted time and again -- and attitudes toward it will shift as the playerbase does.

Grouping versus soloing as the genre evolves originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Evercracked! looks back at EverQuest history

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, EverQuest, Interviews, MMO industry

Everyone has their own lists of what games have been the most important in the grand scheme of the industry, but it's pretty impossible to argue that EverQuest doesn't deserve a spot near the top of the list. While time hasn't seen the classic game and its sequel remain the 900-pound-gorilla of the industry, it still holds a place near and dear to many people's hearts. More to the point, the impact it had on MMOs as a whole is undeniable. That's why the new Evercracked! video series running on IGN should bring a nice dose of joy, nostalgia, and general good feelings to a number of people.

Hosted by Jace Hall, the series is slated to include interviews with veteran players and designers, behind-the-scenes footage, and a general collection of trivia and recollections. The first episode is now available, with new episodes going live every week until December 10th, so really, what's keeping you? The game has inspired countless people into the genre, including the original sources of the industry's current big success story. Even if you're just looking for historical purposes, it's likely to contain some amusement. And if you got your start in the genre with EverQuest, well, that's all the better.

Evercracked! looks back at EverQuest history originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: MMOs jumping the shark?

Krystalle Voecks — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, The Daily Grind, Humor

There are many who may argue that some MMOs have already jumped the shark. Two of the examples that came up in our recent debates were EverQuest and of course, Star Wars Galaxies. SWG is perhaps the most obvious one for any potential shark-jumping with their decision to switch to the NGE, and thus completely dropping a new game into players' laps. The idea was to bring more people into SWG, but so far as we've been able to tell, it's still fairly low-population whenever we've logged in. Of course, the unintended consequence also involved many of the original players leaving the game, torching the game box, who have since then taken every possible chance to curse the names of all involved with the NGE. The line in EverQuest is blurry; some say it was Kunark, some say it was Planes of Power, and still others say that it hasn't really ever jumped since there's still a devoted fanbase.

Today we'd like to ask you -- do you think that it's possible for an MMO to ever actually "jump the shark?" Would you consider SWG to be alone in that distinction (assuming it applies) like some of the people we spoke to? Do you think that there are far more games that have passed the point of no return than what we've listed? What point do you think is too far? And do you see any games giving off warning bells that they are nearing the danger point?

The Daily Grind: MMOs jumping the shark? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ancient Gaming Noob talks to WorldIV about how far we've come

Mike Schramm — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Guides, Interviews

One of the things I love about being a gamer (and especially an MMO gamer in particular) is that we're here to see history in the making right now. We were around when Ultima was being played, and when World of Warcraft was being formed and becoming known as the first mainstream MMO. The guys writing on blogs right now and the players playing in game at this very moment are literally the pioneers of the field. And so it's exciting to see what we gamers have to say-- that's why this interview with Ancient Gaming Noob is such a great read.

Not only does he talk about some of the great MMOs he's played since 1985, but you can get a real sense of how far gamers and games have come. Just thirty years ago, they were the realm of arcade games and quarters, and now, AGN is finding time for them among his family, and picking LEGO Universe as a game he and his daughter can play together. He also has some great insights on blogging about MMO gaming, and it's completely true: "more than crickets" is all you can really hope for.

Nice read. So exciting to think that for all the progress and evolution online games and gaming has made, we're still living in the first generation of gamers. Us kids playing MUDs and Asteroids are grown with families of our own now, and it's amazing to look back at all the different audiences playing games nowadays and realize that it's still only the beginning.

Ancient Gaming Noob talks to WorldIV about how far we've come originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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