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[The Soapbox: My MMORTS is more MMO than your MMORPG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/the-soapbox-my-mmorts-is-more-mmo-than-your-mmorpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/the-soapbox-my-mmorts-is-more-mmo-than-your-mmorpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/the-soapbox-my-mmorts-is-more-mmo-than-your-mmorpg/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Golden Age screenshot
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Have you ever played an MMORTS? No, I'm not talking about a single-player PC strategy game or city sim; I mean an MMORTS. There are so many to choose from that it would be hard for me to even begin to list them all, but I'll try. There's Illyriad, Ministry of War, Evony, Call of Gods, Dragons of Atlantis, Thirst of Night, 8Realms, Lord of Ultima, Golden Age and many, many others. Either you recognize some of those titles or you do not. Oddly enough, I've found that many standard, three-dimensional-world explorers do not consider MMORTS titles to be MMOs. I'm not sure why, but every time I stream an MMORTS live or write about one, I have to answer, at least once, the concern from the audience that what I am playing is not really an MMO.

The reality is that the MMORTS, as a design mechanic, genre, and style, is very much an MMO. I'd like to explain why in the hopes that many of you might grow to enjoy the genre as much as I do and that some much-needed light shines on the fact that the MMORTS is actually one of the last true MMOs around.

I think the task is to define "MMO" and to show how MMORTS fits in. We've attempted it before, but for a quick refresher, let's go over what I consider an MMO to be. You can add your own definitions in the comments section. I have no problems admitting that my definition could probably use some tweaking.

Continue reading The Soapbox: My MMORTS is more MMO than your MMORPG

MassivelyThe Soapbox: My MMORTS is more MMO than your MMORPG originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8realmsbeau-hindmacall-of-godsdefining-mmosdragons-of-atlantisevonyfeaturedgolden-ageillyriadillyriad-gameslord-of-ultimaministry-of-warmmommorpgmmortssoapboxthe-soapboxthirst-of-nightFri, 09 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How do you define MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-define-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-define-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-define-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

My taxonomy is completely incomprehensible!
Defining "MMORPG" isn't difficult: it means "massively multiplayer online roleplaying game." It's an acronym. But drawing the line between what is and is not an MMO is significantly more difficult. Guild Wars has persistence and shared areas, for instance, but as soon as you leave a town, you're in an instance unique to you and your party. There are elements of persistence in games like League of Legends. Heck, there was a time when people wondered if you could call World of Warcraft an MMO with its instanced dungeons and lack of housing.

As with a lot of subjective categories, there's really no right or wrong place to draw the line, but pretty much everyone seems to think that there's a line to draw. More often than not, it's not even a matter of quality so much as a set of consistent characteristics. So what about you? Where do you draw the line between an MMO and something else? How do you define a game as being an MMO instead of a similar sort of game?

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 Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How do you define MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturegenregenre-discussiongenre-opinionmmommo-featuresmmorpgopiniontdgthe-daily-grindSun, 22 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Stir-crazy edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/ask-massively-stir-crazy-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/ask-massively-stir-crazy-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/ask-massively-stir-crazy-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It looked like this, except higher resolution, and with a fat guy wielding a sword
With no power, no real Internet access, no running water, and no access to just about anything, I was getting a little bit stir-crazy. Fortunately, I've made use of my training as a Boy Scout and assembled a crude pastiche of elements to bring some of my favorite electronic online games into the offline space. Success has been mixed. Sitting in dowtown and periodically shouting that a level 34 Dragoon was looking for a party produced exactly the right reaction to simulate logging in to Final Fantasy XI, but my attempt at "logging in" to City of Heroes resulted in a lengthy discussion with police regarding the appropriateness of waving a Nerf sword at teenagers.

My makeshift attempts at answering this week's lineup for Ask Massively, however, have proved pretty fruitful all around. Skip on past the break for discussions about some very meta considerations, not the least of which being a potential subdivision of the site. As always, leaving a question in the comments or mailing it to ask@massively.com will quite possibly get it included in a future edition of the column. Sometimes even if the question is ridiculous.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Stir-crazy edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Stir-crazy edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answersappearanceask-massivelycapitalizationfeaturedgrammarhumormmommorpgopinionpunctuationquestionsquestions-and-answersThu, 01 Sep 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: Don't fear the reaper]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/wasteland-diaries-dont-fear-the-reaper/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/wasteland-diaries-dont-fear-the-reaper/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/wasteland-diaries-dont-fear-the-reaper/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Dying in Fallen Earth is not much different than it is in most other games. It's usually just a temporary setback or a very minor inconvenience. But for some, it seems to be more than that. In this week's Wasteland Diaries, I would like to ponder what might go through the mind of a gamer when he takes a dirt-nap in-game. In the past few decades I've spent playing PC games, I've seen some pretty over-the-top reactions to dying. I've tried to infer what might be going through some of these extremely emotional people's minds when they buy the farm. Various death penalties evoke wildly different emotions in general, so I'll start there.

When you die in Fallen Earth, you lose all of your current non-stance buffs. Most buffs can be easily re-applied, except for your food, drinks and other consumables. It's still not a major loss, especially now that food and drink components are ultra-cheap. If there's nobody around to rez you, you must respawn at the cloner and take a 5% durability hit on your equipped gear. It's still not a big deal. And you'll get cumulative cloning sickness, which can get pretty nasty, but you have to die a lot in a short period of time to warrant tier five. And the sickness only lasts five minutes. After the cut, I'll delve deeper into the plight of the struck-down avatar and try to determine what it all means.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Don't fear the reaper

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Don't fear the reaper originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buffscloner-sicknessconsumablesdeathdeath-penaltyfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfeaturedfpsicarusicarus-studioslifenetmmorpgplayer-lootingpvprespawnshooterFri, 22 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Transformers MMO to become a reality]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/transformers-mmo-to-become-a-reality/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/transformers-mmo-to-become-a-reality/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/14/transformers-mmo-to-become-a-reality/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The time has come for Autobots and Decepticons to roll out into the MMO world! As of this morning, we've heard news that Hasbro has entered into a contract agreement with Jagex (most commonly known for its popular free-to-play title, RuneScape) to develop a brand-new game based on the incredibly popular Transformers IP.

While details on just what players can expect from the Transformers MMO are still scarce at this point, the release states that the developers are aiming to launch the game sometime in 2012. Will this also be a free-to-play title, considering Jagex's experience? Will this be geared more toward children than adults? Will we be able to build our own super-awesome Transformers or just play as iconic characters? At this point it's all up in the air, but rest assured we'll keep our ears open for more news.

MassivelyTransformers MMO to become a reality originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakinghasbrohasbro-toysjagexjagex-game-studiosjagex-ltdmmommorpgrunescapetransformerstransformers-mmoMon, 14 Mar 2011 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamigo opens the news floodgates]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/gamigo-opens-the-news-floodgates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/gamigo-opens-the-news-floodgates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/gamigo-opens-the-news-floodgates/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

"Cry havoc, and unleash the titles of war" might as well be gamigo's cry, as today it has seen fit to give us what can only be termed as a new title news explosion. Aside from offering up an interesting tidbit on its upcoming space dogfighter, Black Prophecy, the company has released information on a handful of other new titles that should pique the interest of gamers who are looking for something beyond the standard free-to-play MMO fare. Better still, some of these titles will be available in-browser, helping to open up more "jump in and game" free-to-play options.

Grimlands offers something for players who have been waiting for a post-apocalyptic title that promises the ability to evolve their own playstyles -- and cities. UFO Online: Fight for Earth features a tactics-heavy browser-based MMO environment where players will battle against each other and enemy NPCs in a world overrun with gobsmackingly enormous amounts of aliens. Magic Campus offers adventure in a turn-based world where players build a powerful cadre of pets and mentor others in the ways of magic -- all in their browsers.

Sound intriguing? Join us behind the break for a first look at screenshots and video from these upcoming gamigo titles!

Continue reading Gamigo opens the news floodgates

MassivelyGamigo opens the news floodgates originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementsbetablack-prophecybrowser-basedconcept-artcross-platformf2pfantasyfeaturedflashfree-to-playgallerygamigoGrimlandsjrpgmacmagic-campusmmommofpsmmoomgmmorpgmmortsnew-titlespcpost-apocalypticpreviewsscreenshotscreenshotsteaser-trailertrailerufo-onlineufo-online-fight-for-earthunityunity-enginevideoThu, 10 Mar 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Alter-Ego: DCUO's console conundrum]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/19/alter-ego-dcuos-console-conundrum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/19/alter-ego-dcuos-console-conundrum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/19/alter-ego-dcuos-console-conundrum/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With the first month of DC Universe Online now in the past, the time has come for that all-important MMO decision -- is the game worth renewing? For some, the answer is no. The first major patch still has not dropped; it's meant to offer us many fixes and the new content we've been told is coming. Some players have hit the level cap and aren't interested in leveling alts or doing endgame content. Whatever each person's reason may be, the shine is wearing off for some.

Meanwhile, Hal Halpin, President of the Entertainment Consumer's Association, recently wrote a piece that presented another reason that some may not be renewing: Console gamers are feeling that Sony Online Entertainment has been less than open about the game's being locked to a single account. Many are upset about not being able to trade DC Universe Online in for another game now that their free month is up. His reasoning? "The problem, of course, is that console games are sold and the ownership conveyed, along with rights." There's only one flaw in that statement: This isn't anything new -- not even on consoles.

Continue reading Alter-Ego: DCUO's console conundrum

MassivelyAlter-Ego: DCUO's console conundrum originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>console-mmodc-universedc-universe-onlinedreamcastdude-wait-whatecaentertainment-consumer-associationentertainment-consumers-associationeulafeaturedhal-halpinlicenselicensesmmommorpgPlayStationplaystation-2playstation-3Playstation3ps2ps3reselling-gamessingle-usesoesony-online-entertainmentthe-ecatostrading-gamesSat, 19 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alter-Ego: Working together is hard to do]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/29/alter-ego-working-together-is-hard-to-do/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/29/alter-ego-working-together-is-hard-to-do/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/29/alter-ego-working-together-is-hard-to-do/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Wake me up when chat is working.
The news earlier this week that DC Universe Online is now Sony Online Entertainment's best-selling game probably won't come as much of a surprise to anyone who has actually played it. There's an enormous amount of fun to be had in running through the game, and the storylines are incredibly well thought-out. However, for all that I personally love the game, there is one thing that I and many other people I've talked to find to be incredibly lacking, and in this case, it's something so integral to the MMOG experience as to essentially make or break parts of the game.

Essentially, what point is there to an MMO in which you can't really reliably interact with the other people you're playing with? It's also rather eye-opening just how much your enjoyment of a game like this can be impacted when you can't effectively talk to other people. As such, this week I'll look at several crucial problems with the DC Universe Online chat interface, as well as things that can be done to improve the overall experience.

Continue reading Alter-Ego: Working together is hard to do

MassivelyAlter-Ego: Working together is hard to do originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alter-egochatchat-problemscontrollerdc-comicsdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoissuesmmogmmorpgmmospgmumbleopinionrantskypesocial-interactionsocial-systemssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentteamspeakventrilovoice-chatvoipwhere-is-my-massively-multiplayerSat, 29 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's ho-ho-holiday MMO roundup for 2010]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/17/massivelys-ho-ho-holiday-mmo-roundup-for-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/17/massivelys-ho-ho-holiday-mmo-roundup-for-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/17/massivelys-ho-ho-holiday-mmo-roundup-for-2010/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's that time of year again -- when snow falls in lands that normally don't even see weather effects! When you're supposed to love your fellow elf, human, dwarf -- or at least maim them in the nicest, most brotherly way possible. As one would expect with a plethora of MMOs out on the market, there are gobsmackingly huge numbers of events to take advantage of. Being the festive holiday folks we are (well, OK, some of us anyway), we've gathered up a listing of some of the many things going on. So if you're curious about just what holiday merriment can be found out there, grab some egg nog (alcohol optional), click past the break, and dive into our festive roundup of holiday events.

Also, be sure to keep an eye on Massively as Rubi continues giving great gifts to gamers galore in our 12 Days of Giveaways event!

Continue reading Massively's ho-ho-holiday MMO roundup for 2010

MassivelyMassively's ho-ho-holiday MMO roundup for 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>christmasholiday-2010holidays-2010mmommorpgmobile-mmoroundupwinterwinter-holidaywinter-holiday-2010winter-holiday-eventFri, 17 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: Catackalysm special]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/the-mmo-report-catackalysm-special/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/the-mmo-report-catackalysm-special/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/the-mmo-report-catackalysm-special/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

First things first, to really understand this week's intro to The MMO Report, you need to do a wee bit of homework, assuming you don't already get the reference in the title anyway. Pop over here and watch this user-created video about the upcoming World of Warcraft expansion. We'll wait.

OK, all caught up? Great. Off we go then!

This week, Casey is joined by the lovely (and World of Warcraft-addicted) Morgan Webb, who sits down with Game Designer Tom "Kalgan" Chilton for a chat about the myriad things that have come in Cataclysm. Sure, it's chock-full of the normal things one would expect, like talk about things players both old and new will be experiencing in the expansion. Morgan also gets Tom to tell us more about some of his favorite quests in the revamped areas, as well as a bit more insight into Blizzard's development cycles for this expansion -- certainly a hot topic this week. In all, this will definitely be a treat for any World of Warcraft loving gamer.

We've tucked the video behind the break for your enjoyment, or you can catch The MMO Report every Thursday on G4TV.

Continue reading The MMO Report: Catackalysm special

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Catackalysm special originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcasey-schreinercataclysmG4TVgame-designerKalganmmommorpgmorgan-webbthe-mmo-reporttom-chiltontom-chilton-interviewWorld-of-WarcraftwowFri, 10 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Frogster acquires unnamed Shanda Games MMORPG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/frogster-acquires-unnamed-shanda-games-mmorpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/frogster-acquires-unnamed-shanda-games-mmorpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/frogster-acquires-unnamed-shanda-games-mmorpg/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Frogster's online gaming portfolio just got a bit bigger, though details are scarce as to the name and the nature of the company's newest acquisition. The German publishing giant, most famous for bringing Runes of Magic to the masses, announced that it has secured the rights to a new fantasy MMORPG from Shanda Games, a Chinese developer.

The unnamed title will reportedly distinguish itself by featuring a setting developed expressly for Western audiences, and Frogster plans to launch the game using a free-to-play business model some time in 2012. "This deal with Shanda Games adds yet another prominent MMORPG to our portfolio. By licensing the game for North America and Europe, we have taken another step in establishing Frogster as one of the leading MMO game publishers in the world," said Andreas Weidenhaupt, a Frogster executive board member.

MassivelyFrogster acquires unnamed Shanda Games MMORPG originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionf2pfantasyfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivefrogster-internationalmmorpgpublishersrunes-of-magicshandashanda-gamesshanda-games-limitedShandaGamesMon, 29 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamer pays a buttload of cash to play an MMO on a huge screen]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/gamer-pays-a-buttload-of-cash-to-play-an-mmo-on-a-huge-screen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/gamer-pays-a-buttload-of-cash-to-play-an-mmo-on-a-huge-screen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/gamer-pays-a-buttload-of-cash-to-play-an-mmo-on-a-huge-screen/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you had $15,000.00, what would you do with it? Pay some bills? Maybe upgrade a few holiday gifts? Well, if you're the guy featured in this video from MMOsite, apparently the thing to do with all that spare cash is renting out the biggest honking video screen one can find and playing an MMO. Yes, indeed, for the low, low price of roughly 1,500 dollars a minute, you too can subject random passers-by to a raw display of your mad online skillz and leetness for a whopping 10 minutes.

All joking aside, this guy has managed to pull off one crazy stunt -- being the first MMO gamer to get his game on across a gobsmackingly enormous freaking screen. (The second-longest LCD screen in the world, even.) As for the game of choice? If you guessed World of Warcraft, you'd be wrong. Apparently his online poison of choice is a game called Magic World Online 2. (Although after looking at the site, perhaps it's not that far off.) What's next? Well, we'll wait for the inevitable e-peenery of someone renting out the entirety of Fremont street's 1,500-foot long Las Vegas LCD skyscreen. For those who would like to see this particular display, the video is embedded behind the break.

Continue reading Gamer pays a buttload of cash to play an MMO on a huge screen

MassivelyGamer pays a buttload of cash to play an MMO on a huge screen originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>enormous-monitorgamerlcd-monitorslcd-screenmmommorpgmonitornot-the-way-i-would-spend-15krecord-sizesecond-largestvideoMon, 29 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[[Updated] Massively's big fat Black Friday roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/24/massivelys-big-fat-black-friday-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/24/massivelys-big-fat-black-friday-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/24/massivelys-big-fat-black-friday-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Can you feel the love? The food comas? The day of sitting around napping while the kids sneak into the kitchen for another piece of pie? As you can see from the holiday e-card we've gotten, the gorging has already started in certain MMOs. However, for the rest of us who aren't virtual-demented-clown versions of Mr. Creosote, the promise of great deals looms once the turkey and pie are dispensed with. As we here at Massively are always on the lookout for a good deal, we've rounded up some MMO and hardware deals worth putting on your wish list.

Join us behind the break for some of the best 100% frosting-covered-clown-free bargains we've found. Also, if you spot anything particularly tasty in terms of sale prices, be sure to let us all know in comments!

[Updated] Switched the image out due to unintended offense, and adding more deals in as we find them!

Continue reading [Updated] Massively's big fat Black Friday roundup

Massively[Updated] Massively's big fat Black Friday roundup originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-fridayblack-friday-2010dealsfeaturedgameshardwareholidayholidaysholidays-2010mmommofpsmmorpgsalesalessoftwarespecialsthanksgivingthanksgiving-2010Wed, 24 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Documentary filmmaker takes on MMORPGs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/09/documentary-filmmaker-takes-on-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/09/documentary-filmmaker-takes-on-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/09/documentary-filmmaker-takes-on-mmorpgs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As popular as World of Warcraft has become, we almost take it for granted that everyone on the planet is familiar with (or has at least heard of) MMORPGs. Despite the fact that gaming has become relatively mainstream over the last few years, MMORPGs remain mysteriously inaccessible to portions of the populace, and filmmaker Ben Gonyo aims to change all that with a new documentary called Gamers.

Gamers sees Gonyo immerse himself in MMO subculture for the better part of two years, and features interviews with over 100 gamers, designers, critics, psychologists, comedians, and celebrities -- including Curt Schilling and R.A. Salvatore. The film is currently airing on the Documentary Channel on both DISH and DirectTV, and you can check out various previews and trailers at the film's official website, as well as after the cut. Finally, be on the lookout for a Massively review in the near future.

Continue reading Documentary filmmaker takes on MMORPGs

MassivelyDocumentary filmmaker takes on MMORPGs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ben-gonyoculturecurt-schillingdocumentaryfilmgamersgamers-filminterviewsmmorpgpreviewsra-salvatoretrailersworld-of-warcraftTue, 09 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: So, what does "MMORPG" mean?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/08/free-for-all-so-what-does-mmorpg-mean/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/08/free-for-all-so-what-does-mmorpg-mean/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/08/free-for-all-so-what-does-mmorpg-mean/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

As a reader of Massively, you should have a pretty good idea what MMORPG means. Not just what it stands for, but what it feels like, looks like, and behaves like. The problem is, despite common definitions, the games keep coming in different shapes and sizes -- and from all over the world. While I receive many comments about the Western coverage that Massively features, I would only be doing half my job if I reported on only the latest half a dozen games to break the multi-million-dollar budget mark in America.

The world is a smaller place, especially now. And across the world there are MMORPGs that are being played and enjoyed in many different ways. There are PvP games, games that place players into instance after instance with only a handful of other players, all while offering the potential to hang out with thousands of other people. Is an instanced combat game still an MMO? How about a game like Mabinogi, which maintains a persistent world, but is broken into several invisible channels for players to skip in to and out of?

This is impossible, but I think I will try to define exactly what MMO means -- now, in this current market.

Continue reading Free for All: So, what does "MMORPG" mean?

MassivelyFree for All: So, what does "MMORPG" mean? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmandefining-mmosdefinitionsfeaturedfree-for-allfriends-listguild-warslarpmabinogimassivemassivelymassively-multiplayermassively-multiplayer-onlinemassively-multiplayer-online-gamemassively-multiplayer-online-gamesmmommorpgmobile-gamesmultiplayerphonesreal-liferoleplayroleplayingsocializationsocializingtechnologyterminologywesternWed, 08 Sep 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DragonCon 2010: MMO track listing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/dragoncon-2010-mmo-track-listing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/dragoncon-2010-mmo-track-listing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/dragoncon-2010-mmo-track-listing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's time once again for our yearly invasion of Dragon*Con in Atlanta, Georgia! While, yes, we will have several members of our team covering everything going on at PAX, Dragon*Con offers us a chance to get involved with the community and give back some of the love we get during the year. (Oh yes, and some of the snark too.) Of course, it doesn't hurt that Dragon*Con is also an enormous 4-day long party for just about everything any geek would ever be interested in!

If you've been wondering what's going on this year with the MMO track, which we'll be back to help with for our fourth year straight, then join us after the break for this year's panel listing! Also, for those friends who haven't picked it up (or anyone curious), the online pocket guide to the overall con is available for download.

Continue reading DragonCon 2010: MMO track listing

MassivelyDragonCon 2010: MMO track listing originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dcdc-2010dragon-condragoncondragoncon-2010mmommo-trackmmorpgtrack-listingTue, 31 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Waging WAR: A healer's advice for melee-DPS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/07/waging-war-a-healers-advice-for-melee-dps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/07/waging-war-a-healers-advice-for-melee-dps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/07/waging-war-a-healers-advice-for-melee-dps/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Waging WAR starts the month of August with a look at archetypes in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning and the way they work together in RvR and scenarios. Although Greg's rules apply to pretty much any class-based, group-based, PvP-centric game, he prefers to think of them as particular to WAR, since there's a bunch of game-specific slang in there that he's too lazy to change.

Having a role to play is integral to the massively multiplayer online experience, but when the term "roleplay" comes up, it usually means something very specific and closely related to dramatic acting. Taken in a broader sense, it means that we choose our roles when we project the most imaginative aspect of our psychic selves and ask the question "who (or what) do I want to be?" Thus, our vicarious adventures begin. For the purposes of social gaming, it should come as no surprise that those classes usually fit another staple in the MMO universe -- the role trinity of tanker, healer, and damager. While the bond between the healer and tanker is obvious, the unspoken pact between healer and damager is just as sacred and yet all too easily forgotten. For those who were unaware such a promise existed, it goes something like, "I, the healer, promise to keep you alive so you can kill stuff in the face (better)." However, in many cases, the damaging character is delegated an expendable role, compared to the tank's priority or the healer's own survival. These are exceptions that the melee-damager is usually aware of and even comfortable with.

But today I'm not here to challenge those roles like I normally would when talking about damage-healer hybrids. As a specialized healer, I've defined a few, easy-to-remember rules that I believe every melee-damage player should follow in group situations (PUG or premade - there is little difference when it comes to these rules). Solo play is an entirely different realm and beyond the scope of this column; I want to focus on the special synergy between healer and melee-damager, and to dispense advice to those brave, wayward souls in their never-ending quest to face blades as they bring their own to bear.

I'll bestow these tidbits of wisdom after the break.

Continue reading Waging WAR: A healer's advice for melee-DPS

MassivelyWaging WAR: A healer's advice for melee-DPS originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebioware-mmorpgbioware-mythicdpsdpsingEAea-mythicfeaturefeaturedhealer-questionshealersholy-trinitymeleemelee-combatmelee-DPSmmommorpgmythicmythic entertainmentmythic-eaMythic-EntertainmentMythicEntertainmentsquared-addontankTrinitywaging-warWarhammerwarhammer-eaWarhammer-OnlineWarhammer-Online-Age-of-Reckoningwarhammer-online-eaSat, 07 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Red 5 still planning on making their MMO [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/08/red-5-still-planning-on-making-their-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/08/red-5-still-planning-on-making-their-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/08/red-5-still-planning-on-making-their-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

You have to give Red 5 Studios credit for tenacity, if nothing else. When they initially announced their connection with Intel via licensing the Offset Engine, the plan was to use Red 5's upcoming fantasy MMO, codenamed Project Offset, to showcase Intel's high-end Larrabee processors. However, last month, Intel decided to scrap their plans for the Offset Engine, and redirect the Larrabee processor towards more business-type uses. Meanwhile, despite Red 5 having financial difficulties requiring a layoff of staff, they're continuing on. This is all thanks, in large part, to China's The9, who have stepped in to give them a $20 million infusion of cash in exchange for a majority stake in their company.

While some startup studios might fold after a series of large setbacks like this, word is that development on Project Offset continues, according to a story on Gamasutra. Only now, it's running on a "highly modified" version of the original Intel Offset Engine, giving this graphics intensive first-person MMO life. While details are still thin as ever beyond the game being a fantasy title, we hope that this newest partnership with The9 coupled with the recent infusion of cash helps their studio get back on track.

[Update: We've received word from Red 5 that they have no relationship to the canceled Project Offset, but they are still using a highly modified Offset Engine to continue their work on their own game.]

MassivelyRed 5 still planning on making their MMO [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>intelmmommorpgoffset-enginered-5red-5-studiosthe9Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: MMOre haiku for you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/the-daily-grind-mmore-haiku-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/the-daily-grind-mmore-haiku-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/the-daily-grind-mmore-haiku-for-you/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Just the other day
We had a post about tanks
It featured haiku

That post was so fun
We wanted to share the love
With everyone here

So today we have
MMO haiku madness
for all the games here

Kudos or bitching
On MMOs, in haiku
Should be amusing

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: MMOre haiku for you originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>free-for-allhaikuhumormmommorpgtdgthe-daily-grindMon, 28 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Does this qualify as "massive?"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/27/free-for-all-does-this-qualify-as-massive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/27/free-for-all-does-this-qualify-as-massive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/27/free-for-all-does-this-qualify-as-massive/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I was interested in hearing some of the responses to my WURM Online column last week, so of course I went looking. It didn't take me long and I found mostly positive responses. Over the years I have noticed that some of my writings can be pretty misunderstood, and usually because the idea I am trying to explain is such a basic one that people just make too much out of it. In the column in question I was essentially trying to do one thing: to tell people that WURM Online is a lot of fun.

Still, some people seemed to think that I was saying something else, and some people even questioned why I would talk about it. In the words of one comment: "Is it even massive?" The person that wrote that seemed to be questioning whether or not the size of the playerbase in WURM dictated a "massive" title, or coverage in Massively. I can see why some players have this numbers paranoia, being that many titles are currently blurring the lines between single player, instanced and persistent worlds. Many of these games are free-to-play.

Continue reading Free for All: Does this qualify as "massive?"

MassivelyFree for All: Does this qualify as "massive?" originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedEAfeaturedfree-to-playftplord-of-ultimammorpgtable-topTue, 27 Apr 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Time running out on Dragonica Online promotion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/time-running-out-on-dragonica-online-promotion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/time-running-out-on-dragonica-online-promotion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/time-running-out-on-dragonica-online-promotion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Last month, we announced that Dragonica Online was so confident that they had a quality free-to-play product that they decided to put the myth to the test. It takes a certain amount of guts to say that not only is your game the best, but that you'll give customers cash towards their game of choice if they don't think so. Fortunately for players of free-to-play side-scrolling MMOs, publisher THQ*ICE did just that.

Since February 23rd, the promotion has resulted in thousands of eager new players taking up the challenge. Over 95% of the players involved in the challenge have named Dragonica Online the winner in the showdown, giving THQ*ICE more than a little bragging rights. Still, all good things must come to an end, and the chance to earn a share of the $50,000 prize runs out on March 31st.

All you need to do to get in on the action is to head over to the official Dragonica site, register a new account, and tear up some mobs with some friends. Once you've hit level 19 and banked a few friend points, if you think that whatever side-scrolling MMO you played before Dragonica was more fun, THQ*ICE will hook you up with a $5 Ultimate Game Card that you can use for numerous free-to-play titles. If you liked what you saw during your time playing Dragonica, they will give you $5 towards Dragonica's online store plus a free in-game gift pack.

If you've never had the chance to experience Dragonica Online but were always interested, now is the time to check it out. With only 6 days left, time is running out fast to get in on the deal.

Gallery: Dragonica Online gallery

Regular wolvesBoss wolfRegular raccoonRaccoon Plumber bossBoss: Lavalon

MassivelyTime running out on Dragonica Online promotion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestdragonicadragonica-onlinef2pfree-to-playgiveawaymmorpgSide-scrollerside-scroller-showdownthq-iceultimate-game-cardThu, 25 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA unleashes trailer on the masses]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/tera-unleashes-trailer-on-the-masses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/tera-unleashes-trailer-on-the-masses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/tera-unleashes-trailer-on-the-masses/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The upcoming action RPG fantasy MMO TERA from Bluehole Studio and En Masse Entertainment definitely caught our eyes at GDC 2010. While our fearless leader Shawn got a chance for (several) hands-on sessions with this intriguing new title, the trailer from GDC has come out today for the rest of us who weren't so fortunate as to make it to the conference.

What is most impressive about this trailer to us (beyond the fact that nobody seems to fall out of those skimpy metal bikinis) is that the footage was created using all in-game resources. If that's the case, the in-game graphics -- including facial emotes -- are quite impressive. Of course, considering how deep the game's various systems appear to go based on that hands-on at the convention, we're not surprised to find the graphics are equally as impressive.

So if you haven't had a chance to see TERA in action, be sure to check out the trailer behind the break. Between all the details we keep hearing about and luscious visuals like this, we think this is definitely going to be a game to watch.

Continue reading TERA unleashes trailer on the masses

MassivelyTERA unleashes trailer on the masses originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionbluehole-studioen-masse-entertainmentgameplay-footagein-game-graphicsmmommorpgrpgteratera-onlinetrailervideoThu, 25 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Love launch day roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/love-launch-day-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/love-launch-day-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/25/love-launch-day-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Eskil Steenberg's Love
Today is the day that Eskil Steenberg launches his indie procedurally-generated art-house MMO, Love. As if the idea of one man creating his very own MMO weren't ambitious enough, Steenberg also created a comprehensive set of tools to build the entire game from scratch. If you're curious for more information on this beautifully unique MMO, we've gathered up some highlights from our coverage of Love here for you to check out. Perhaps we'll see you in game!

Anti-Aliased: What is Love?
So what is love? That's certainly the metaphysical question of the ages, isn't it? ... That's why we're going to spend this week talking about Eskil Steenberg's indie-MMO, Love!
A first look at the Love alpha
The graphical style floats somewhere between impressionist and Abstract, with only the suggestions of people and things. Gone are the "customize your character heavily" moments of an MMO. You simply log in and your character is immediately created - an amorphous entity ready to take part in all that Love has to offer.
Two new videos bring the Love
Since we've heard about Eskil Steenberg's concept for a procedurally generated MMO, we've been craving a close look at Love. Luckily for those of us who have only heard about it through news sources, he's decided to publish a video presentation showing off just what gameplay is like in Love....

Continue reading Love launch day roundup

MassivelyLove launch day roundup originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eskil-steenbergindependentindielaunch-daylovemmommorpgroundupThu, 25 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: The glow of Love]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/one-shots-the-glow-of-love/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/one-shots-the-glow-of-love/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/one-shots-the-glow-of-love/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When it comes to looking for new gaming ideas, there's no denying Eskil Steenberg's procedurally-generated art-house MMO, Love stands out. Now in beta, Eskil has been working hard at improving the game since the last time we looked at it. Today, we have a gorgeous One Shots from the beta to share with you. This came in with a report in from the front lines, courtesy of GamingLove's iamacyborg, who writes:

This is a screenshot of a player settlement in Eskil Steenberg's game, Love, on the UK1 server. We had the base set up on top of a few pillars, over a lake, with a force-field (that pink ball) protecting the important tokens. Here's a video someone took of the settlement a little while after the screenshot was taken, once we'd set up a perimeter defence with some blaster turrets.

Are you playing something we haven't seen before - or only see rarely? If so, why not take a moment and send some screenshots in? Just mail them to us at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. We'll post it out here and give you the credit.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: The glow of Love originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>art-housebetaeskil-steenbergindielovemmommorpgone-shotspaid-betaprocedurally-generatedscreenshotscreenshotsMon, 01 Feb 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Court documents say Bethesda's MMO already under dev, rumor says it's Elder Scrolls]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/court-documents-show-bethesdas-mmo-already-underdev-rumor-says/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/court-documents-show-bethesdas-mmo-already-underdev-rumor-says/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/court-documents-show-bethesdas-mmo-already-underdev-rumor-says/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In this most recent round of court scuffles between Interplay and Bethesda over the Fallout MMO rights, it would seem that some details are coming to light about what's going on at Bethesda's MMO "branch", Zenimax Media. According to filings, the word is that there are close to 100 people working on an MMO that costs "tens and tens of millions of dollars" and has been under development since late 2006. Apparently these same filings claim that the title is a "World of Warcraft" type MMO. Of course, considering World of Warcraft is about as equal to McDonalds in terms of brand recognition with its millions and millions served, saying something is like World of Warcraft could mean anything from 'it's a DIKU-based, kill-ten-rats, FedEx, fantasy MMO that looks rather a lot like WoW' on up to 'it's somewhere in the general MMO neighborhood.'

Now, to follow this interesting tidbit up, the word is that Bethesda is moving to have this particular chunk of testimony censored to protect trade secrets. To stir the pot a bit further on why they might be scrambling to block it, VG247 have a source they claim is reliable confirming this is the often-rumored Elder Scrolls MMO. What's more, their source says the Elder Scrolls MMO should have been announced last year.

Continue reading Court documents say Bethesda's MMO already under dev, rumor says it's Elder Scrolls

MassivelyCourt documents say Bethesda's MMO already under dev, rumor says it's Elder Scrolls originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworksbreakingfallout-3interplaymmommorpgoblivionrumorthe-elder-scrollsunder-developmentzenimax-mediaWed, 20 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Roleplaying and the lack of it in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/03/roleplaying-and-the-lack-of-it-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/03/roleplaying-and-the-lack-of-it-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/03/roleplaying-and-the-lack-of-it-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We refer to our genre as MMOs in shorthand, frequently, as an abbreviation of MMORPG. Of course, there are entries that don't fit the mold -- Planetside makes no pretense of being an RPG, for instance, while Second Life is really a virtual environment rather than a game per se. But the roots of the term do define what most MMOs are fundamentally aiming at: being an RPG with a massive component of players. Which is ironic, because as We Fly Spitfires points out, they're not really RPGs at all. They feature the stats and the leveling, but nothing of the larger sense of place and story that the genre hails as its strengths.

Compared to games such as Dragon Age: Origins or Oblivion, it's clear that for all the strength of options we might have in some MMOs, we lack any sense of real character specialization or unique progression. Part of the concern, of course, is content -- you don't want to necessarily force any player who didn't happen to make the right choices in a dialogue tree to miss out on a major endgame event. The ubiquity of communication also helps herd players toward a specific set of specializations or ability tree, with little to no deviation encouraged.

But there's more that can be done, and games such as Star Wars: The Old Republic seem to have a greater intent to focus on individual story and progression. Even if you don't necessarily like the impromptu acting which is usually associated with roleplaying in the genre, it's hard to deny that a greater sense of individual choice and uniqueness would be intoxicating.

MassivelyRoleplaying and the lack of it in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-customizationchoicescustomizingdaodragon-age-originsmmorpgmoral-choicesoblivionplanetsideroleplayingrpgsecond-lifeslstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorwe-fly-spitfiresSun, 03 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOrigins: The play's the thing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/13/mmorigins-the-plays-the-thing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/13/mmorigins-the-plays-the-thing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/13/mmorigins-the-plays-the-thing/#commentsFiled under: ,


When it comes to my roots in MMOs, I actually have to start fairly early on with my general introduction to tech geekery. Growing up in my house was a somewhat strange affair. You see, back when computers used to take up entire rooms and ran on giant reels of tape -- later plastic key cards and paper tapes -- my father was working with them. Being part of our household meant one was essentially living with a highly technical mind that worked on and loved things like supercomputers. I experienced ideas and machines that many in the world hadn't, save in movies or on TV. It also meant that there were some pretty strange technical odds and ends floating around our home.

Continue reading MMOrigins: The play's the thing

MassivelyMMOrigins: The play's the thing originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cosplayfeaturedlarplive-action-role-playingmmommoriginsmmorpgmmospgopinionrole-playrole-playingvampire-the-masqueradevtmwodworld-of-darknessFri, 13 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aeria Games licenses Grand Fantasia]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/05/aeria-games-licenses-grand-fantasia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/05/aeria-games-licenses-grand-fantasia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/05/aeria-games-licenses-grand-fantasia/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Aeria Games has recently announced their acquisition of a new game license to publish for our territories -- Grand Fantasia.

Grand Fantasia's twist on the traditional MMORPG model is a focus on a virtual pet model of pet management in addition to the standard combat fare of MMOs. All players are given access to "sprite" companions that serve a variety of functions in the game, from things like crafting to accessing areas.

The game is done in a strong cartoon/anime style, with magical fantasy being the driving theme. The closed beta for the game hasn't been announced yet, but the teaser website is up and showing initial trailers and screenshots for the game. But, why travel so far away when you can just watch our embedded version of the trailer in this very post! Just hit the continue reading button, and watch Aeria's latest game in motion.

Continue reading Aeria Games licenses Grand Fantasia

MassivelyAeria Games licenses Grand Fantasia originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriaaeria-gamesclosed-betafantasygrand-fantasiammorpgpet-managementspriteteasertrailervirtual-petMon, 05 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How many MMOs do you have installed?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/13/the-daily-grind-how-many-mmos-do-you-have-installed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/13/the-daily-grind-how-many-mmos-do-you-have-installed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/13/the-daily-grind-how-many-mmos-do-you-have-installed/#commentsFiled under: ,

Recently there's been a handful of MMO bloggers who have decided to go on a game purge. The idea is to take a really close look at all the games on your drive and blow all the MMORPGs off your machine that you're not playing anymore - and don't expect to play again. While I'm not suggesting everyone do drive maintenance (of course, if you're in the mood to, feel free) it did stop to make me think. Apparently Ardwulf had 13 MMOs on his drive before he purged them down to 4, Heartless_ went from 6 to (potentially) 2, and while Syncaine doesn't report the number of games blown away in the reformat, he's down to 2 as well. Gordon from We Fly Spitfires isn't quite sure what to uninstall, since - as he rightly notes - MMOs are a pain in the arse to reinstall and patch again later.

In the spirit of a good hard look at your desktop, this morning I figured it would be fun to ask how many MMOs everyone has on their machines currently? I'm a bit of an abberation at 30, however I built my office desktop with 2+ terabytes of drive space specifically so I could leave MMOs on it. (You never know when you'll need to log in for work.) In comparison, my other half (also an MMO fiend) generally keeps only about 4-5 on his drive at a time, if that many. How about you? How many MMOs are currently on your machine? How many are collecting dust? How many are you actively playing?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How many MMOs do you have installed? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drive-spaceinstalledmmommorpgopinionsillytdgthe-daily-grindSun, 13 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How many MMOs do you play at one time?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/18/the-daily-grind-how-many-mmos-do-you-play-at-one-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/18/the-daily-grind-how-many-mmos-do-you-play-at-one-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/18/the-daily-grind-how-many-mmos-do-you-play-at-one-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


MMOs tend to have dedicated fan bases and everyone has their favourite: Aion, City of Heroes, WoW, Guild Wars, Lord of the Rings Online ... the list goes on and on. Everyone has their own personal favourite or the hip one that everyone and their pet goldfish is currently engrossed in. For example, I'm renowned for my adoration of the gorgeous Korean MMO that is Aion as well as my passion for WoW.

Personally, these are the only two MMOs which do it for me enough that I will spend copious amounts of time exploring, questing and flying around pretty aimlessly. So two is my limit, I will occasionally play a couple extra, if I have to review something or a beta comes up but there's often little to keep me going past that. Yet Aion and WoW remain, filling the void and I couldn't be happier. Especially as there's more than enough happening between the two of them at the moment to keep me very busy. So I'm wondering, ever constant readers, how many MMOs do you juggle on a regular basis? Answer in the usual way by dropping your thoughts into the comment box below.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How many MMOs do you play at one time? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-the-tower-of-eternityaion-tower-of-eternitycity-of-heroesguild-warslord-of-the-rings-onlinemmommo-jugglingmmorpgthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftTue, 18 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gazillion Entertainment and Abu Dhabi Media form joint MMO studio ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/gazillion-entertainment-and-abu-dhabi-media-form-joint-mmo-studi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/gazillion-entertainment-and-abu-dhabi-media-form-joint-mmo-studi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/gazillion-entertainment-and-abu-dhabi-media-form-joint-mmo-studi/#commentsFiled under: ,


When Gazillion Entertainment's existence was first revealed to the public, the immensity of the company made many of us wonder whether or not their ultimate goal was world domination. Which brings us to today and Gazillion's newly announced joint MMO studio project with Abu Dhabi Media, a partnership aimed at bringing massively multiplayer online games to Arabic countries in the Middle East.

Well played Gazillion, well played. We can just see their CEOs now, stroking their skinned cats, arching a single eyebrow. What will their next project be? Our guess is a death ray on the moon, or maybe an asteroid rigged with massive jet engines and aimed at the Earth until their villainous demands are met.

Whatever Gazillion Entertainment's future plans are, we're pretty sure they involve some kind of space-located doomsday device.

MassivelyGazillion Entertainment and Abu Dhabi Media form joint MMO studio originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abu-dhabi-mediagazilliongazillion-entertainmentmiddle-eastmmommorpgtg-dailyThu, 06 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What addicts you to MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/the-daily-grind-what-addicts-you-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/the-daily-grind-what-addicts-you-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/21/the-daily-grind-what-addicts-you-to-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

PvPer? PvE lover? Are you all about the raids? Are you in it for the small group content? Achievement grabber? Battlegrounds dominator?

What drives your passion for MMOs? We usually put this type of stuff into more catch-all terms, such as "PvE player" or "PvP player" but we want to know exactly what pulls you into MMOs. No more of this beating around the bush and talking about large swaths of content.

So today's question is thus -- what is that one element that really keeps you coming back for more? It could be from any game or any genre, we just want to know what it is. Tell us a nice story about why it excites you so much as well, because we want to know what makes you tick.

When you feel the need for speech then head on down to our comment box and go to town. Let your keyboard free your feelings and shout them out for the whole internet to hear!

Ready, steady, go!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What addicts you to MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlegroundsevercrackeverquestfunmmorpgopinionpvepvpraidthe-daily-grindwinningTue, 21 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Redefining MMOs: Massively Singleplayer?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/redefining-mmos-massively-singleplayer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/redefining-mmos-massively-singleplayer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/redefining-mmos-massively-singleplayer/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Last month when members of the Massively team were tossing around ideas for a new series called, "Redefining MMOs," I jumped all over the more solo direction MMOs have taken lately. I wanted to point out that today's MMOs are less about we and more about me. I wanted to list off a dozen or so features I felt were responsible for killing social gaming. I wanted to rekindle the debate over whether or not this is a good or bad thing.

It seems I'm a bit late to the party because two bloggers, Ryan Shwayder and Keen, beat me to it by a few days. Wolfshead also put together a fascinating post on MMO communities, which is only slightly related to what I planned to talk about but still well worth the read.

So, instead of trying to reinvent the wheel here, I'm going to add on to the discussion already taking place. It should be said up front that I'm a heavy solo and casual player, which is a bit strange given my stance on the issue. I'm slightly bothered by the recent trend toward individual content and individual rewards. It seems the line is blurring between singeplayer RPGs and MMORPGs every day. Luckily, a few titles are keeping the dream alive.

Please share your thoughts on page three.

Continue reading Redefining MMOs: Massively Singleplayer?

MassivelyRedefining MMOs: Massively Singleplayer? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aocdaocdarkfalleqmmorpgredefining-mmossingleplayerwarwowThu, 16 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Drawing you in, one freemium at a time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/15/drawing-you-in-one-freemium-at-a-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/15/drawing-you-in-one-freemium-at-a-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/15/drawing-you-in-one-freemium-at-a-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


It seems the general media has gotten a whiff of the freemium cocktails that developers have been cooking up, as USA Today reports on some of the new freemium MMO games to hit the streets. The article also offers some insight into how these games support themselves -- namely through the use of item shops and microtransactions.

While their reporting offers nothing huge and shocking to well-read gamers, the whole fact that this article has appeared in the lifestyle section of USA Today shows that our genre is beginning to reach out past the average gamer and draw in the new initiates to gaming. As much as we like to think its our masterpieces that truly shape our genre, it's games like this that get the majority of our population interested in the things we do.

MassivelyDrawing you in, one freemium at a time originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlefield-heroesf2pfree-realmsfree-to-playfreemiumgamingmmorpgusa-todayvideo-gamesWed, 15 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Procedurally-generated MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/the-daily-grind-procedurally-generated-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/the-daily-grind-procedurally-generated-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/the-daily-grind-procedurally-generated-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


With the way MMOs keep changing and growing, there's some very exciting things on the horizon for players wanting something more than what's currently out there. For example, Eskil Steenberg is working on a unique procedurally-generated MMO - you could call it an art-house MMO - named Love. What we've seen of it has been utterly fascinating so far, and the fact that he's developing it solo ensures it will hopefully come out precisely as he wants it. Outside of that, a friend of mine named Jason tossed out a post this morning about another procedurally-generated engine - the CityEngine - that can generate enormous cities completely on the fly. As he mentioned, can you imagine using it to create a horror MMO where you can essentially wander for huge distances, in and out of buildings before you find another player? Completely open and playable building interiors? Zombies? In a sandbox? We'd be happy to just play there as a seriously spooky fragfest.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, we wanted to ask you - what do you think of the idea of procedurally-generated content? Do you think this is really the only logical choice in terms of building enormous open-ended sandbox MMO worlds for the future, or do you think the tightly designed and scripted worlds we have now are the only way to go? Can you see procedurally-generated games becoming a part of the mainstream, or is the tech too open ended for us? Are we ready to break free and tell our own stories?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Procedurally-generated MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cityengineeskil-steenberghorrorlovemmommorpgprocedurally-generatedzombieMon, 13 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Redefining MMOs: Terminology]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/redefining-mmos-terminology/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/redefining-mmos-terminology/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/redefining-mmos-terminology/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


As we look back at the past several years of the MMO scene, we see a genre that has gone through significant evolutionary leaps. With those pioneering days of text MUDs and blocky graphics behind us, today we enjoy professionally developed games with impressive development teams and massive budgets behind them. The genre's depths have been thoroughly explored and we've even categorised the features we've come to love and expect from our favourite online retreats. Every part of the genre, from the types of gameplay available to the terminology we use, has been routinely evolving and redefining itself over time.

With professional MMO development soaring and a whole new generation of promising titles on the way, we stand on the cusp of what could be the next big evolutionary leap for online gaming. In the coming weeks and months, Massively will be examining how the MMO genre has been redefined during the current generation of games and where it's headed in the next. If you have something important to say on the topic, feel free to post a comment on page 2 or even write your own "Redefining MMOs" blog post and leave a comment with the URL.

In this introductory article, I ask why we use the terminology we do when talking about MMOs and if perhaps it's starting to change.

Continue reading Redefining MMOs: Terminology

MassivelyRedefining MMOs: Terminology originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fantasyfeaturedgenrejoystiqfeaturesmmommofpsmmorpgmmortsnext-genredefining MMOsRedefiningMmossci-fispacesuper-heroterminologyThu, 02 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ryzom's patch 1.5 also brings a brand new roleplaying website]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/12/ryzoms-patch-1-5-also-brings-a-brand-new-roleplaying-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/12/ryzoms-patch-1-5-also-brings-a-brand-new-roleplaying-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/12/ryzoms-patch-1-5-also-brings-a-brand-new-roleplaying-website/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Roleplaying is on most MMORPGs, but it can be hard to find. Sometimes the greater roleplaying community all flocks to one server, leaving you in the dust if you happen to make a character on another server without knowing it. Sometimes they're spread across all servers, only holding events at times you can't make because of your schedule. And still other times there are just very few roleplayers in a game, and that's how it is.

Well if you were looking for roleplay, look no further than Ryzom. Accompanying patch 1.5 is a brand new area of Ryzom's website -- a whole site dedicated to the roleplaying community. Roleplaying is pretty big business in Ryzom, so it serves the company well to create a whole series of tools aimed directly at roleplayers.

The big part of this announcement is the integration of the animation team with the roleplaying website. The community will be able to work hand in hand with the animators to aid their events and create things that the roleplaying community desires.

To celebrate the launch of the site, an event will be held to gather the community tomorrow, June 12th, at 7 PM GMT (2 PM EST.)

[Thanks, Petter!]

MassivelyRyzom's patch 1.5 also brings a brand new roleplaying website originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eventin-game-eventmmorpgpatch-1.5roleplayroleplayingrpgryzomFri, 12 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ijji.com unleashes new screenshots for Huxley, Soul of the Ultimate Nation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/ijji-com-unleashes-new-screenshots-for-huxley-soul-of-the-ultim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/ijji-com-unleashes-new-screenshots-for-huxley-soul-of-the-ultim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/ijji-com-unleashes-new-screenshots-for-huxley-soul-of-the-ultim/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Ijji.com sent us a whole slew of information about two of its upcoming titles to us today, and we figured that we should pass on the love. If you're looking forward to either Huxley: The Dystopia or Soul of the Ultimate Nation, you'll be happy to hear that we added 10 new screenshots of each to our galleries today. Huxley's screenshots show a few more battle scenes, including the scoped in view on one of their guns, while SUN has elected to show off some spectacular landscapes accompanied by some nice armors.

If that wasn't enough, we also have two trailers, one featuring gameplay and the other a pre-rendered video, for Soul of the Ultimate Nation, featuring the Shadow class, included in this post right after the break. The Shadow looks like one heck of a wicked rogue class, so take the leap across the break to see his high flying, fast running stunts that even put the Team Fortress scout to shame.

Gallery: Huxley: The Dystopia

Gallery: Soul of the Ultimate Nation

Continue reading Ijji.com unleashes new screenshots for Huxley, Soul of the Ultimate Nation

MassivelyIjji.com unleashes new screenshots for Huxley, Soul of the Ultimate Nation originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgfree-to-playgameplayhuxleyhuxley-the-dystopiaijji.commediammofpsmmorpgscreenshotssoul-of-the-ultimate-nationsuntrailervideoTue, 09 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2009: Final Fantasy 14 MMO coming exclusively to PS3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/e3-2009-final-fantasy-14-mmo-coming-exclusively-to-ps3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/e3-2009-final-fantasy-14-mmo-coming-exclusively-to-ps3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/02/e3-2009-final-fantasy-14-mmo-coming-exclusively-to-ps3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Just a few moments ago, we got the news here that Square Enix will be bringing a new MMORPG to the PlayStation 3 - Final Fantasy 14! As you can imagine, the floor here at the Sony press conference erupted into cheers not only at the statement that not only will the Final Fantasy franchise be coming back to the PlayStation, but that it will also be an exclusive title, not releasing on other consoles. (Kind of a reverse of last year's news, really.)

For a first look (in case you happened to miss the show) enjoy a pile of pictures from the front line of today's announcement!

[Edited to note]: Since there has been some confusion, FFXIV is exclusive to PS3 in terms of console gaming only. FFXIV will be available for PC as well, although system requirements aren't being given at this time.

Gallery: E3 2009: Final Fantasy XIV

Massively is on the ground in Los Angeles this week and covering all the latest E3 MMO news coming from the convention. Check out our breaking coverage (or all the Joystiq network E3 reporting) and keep your eye on Massively's front page for the latest developments.

MassivelyE3 2009: Final Fantasy 14 MMO coming exclusively to PS3 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakinge3e3-2009exclusivefinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivmmommorpgps3square-enixTue, 02 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Most influential MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/the-daily-grind-most-influential-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/the-daily-grind-most-influential-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/the-daily-grind-most-influential-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

While Beckett has compiled their listing of 20 industry people they feel are the most influential across the board, we realized that, by and large, many MMO players just don't know who all the names are behind an MMO. As such, we got to thinking about what games were more or less influential than others. Would you say Meridian 59 was influential? EverQuest? Do you throw out a nod to MUDs? Would WoW make the list as a true innovator, or just as a refinement? As such, this morning, we're asking you - what do you think are some of the most influential MMOs? Which ones shaped the genre and led it in new directions? If given the chance, who would you vote for?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Most influential MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 May 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dikummogmmorpgmost-influential-mmomudopiniontdgthe-daily-grindFri, 29 May 2009 08:00:00 EST