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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[MMObility: Command and Conquer's new twist on the MMORTS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/mmobility-command-and-conquers-new-twist-on-the-mmorts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/mmobility-command-and-conquers-new-twist-on-the-mmorts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/mmobility-command-and-conquers-new-twist-on-the-mmorts/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, Screenshots, Game mechanics, Previews, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Mobile, Casual, MMORTS, Miscellaneous, MMObility

Command and Conquer screenshot

I've had my fill of MMORTS games. I love them, and I mean love them, but after being asked to look at the 567,386th title from the genre, I am getting a wicked case of tunnel vision. Sometimes I wish I could hit a switch and see these games with the eyes of a brand-new player, to truly judge their quality without any preconceptions. That's not possible, unfortunately.

Luckily, once in a while there comes along a title that feels fresh or does enough with design to seem new and clever. Command and Conquer Tiberium Alliances stands out from the crowd with its interesting combat and a casual approach to hardcore gaming. I have to admit that, at first, I was a bit bummed at having to take a look at yet another epic strategy game that would probably not feel that epic, but my mind was changed after a solid week of playing.

Continue reading MMObility: Command and Conquer's new twist on the MMORTS

MMObility: Command and Conquer's new twist on the MMORTS originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedCommand-and-Conquercommand-and-conquer-tiberium-alliancesfeaturedmmobilitymmortsmobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesmartphoneTiberiumFri, 25 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: An exclusive look at the Runespan in RuneScape]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/mmobility-an-exclusive-look-at-the-runespan-in-runescape/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/mmobility-an-exclusive-look-at-the-runespan-in-runescape/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/mmobility-an-exclusive-look-at-the-runespan-in-runescape/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Interviews, Patches, News items, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Mobile, Hands-on, Casual, Miscellaneous, MMObility, Crafting

RuneScape screenshot

Jagex, developer of the ever-popular browser-based game RuneScape, is known for its rapid development schedule. Heck, I fully expect that this article will be outdated by the time I finish its rough draft. Players of the Jagex flagship MMO can log in to find new items, places to explore, and quests to do almost weekly. I tend to poke my nose into the game several times a week, so I know that a more casual player has endless amounts of content to run through. I might level up my construction skill and then switch to something completely different. I just recently spent an afternoon playing with just the new bonfire skill.

Of course, those pesky developers are at it again: giving me more content to go through even though my highest skills hover around only the level 40 mark. This time it's the Runespan, a brand-new area that helps players level runecrafting by offering them a one-stop shop that is more casual and non-competitive than the normal runecraft experience.

I got the chance to call up some of the lead developers on the phone and ask not only about the Runespan but about the new FPS improvements, so be sure to check that out!

Continue reading MMObility: An exclusive look at the Runespan in RuneScape

MMObility: An exclusive look at the Runespan in RuneScape originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedclassic-mmof2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playinterviewinterviewsjagexjagex-games-studiommobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonepreviewpreviewsrsrunescapesandboxsmartphonethe-runespanFri, 18 May 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Glitch's new updates stretch players' imaginations]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/mmobility-glitchs-new-updates-stretch-players-imaginations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/mmobility-glitchs-new-updates-stretch-players-imaginations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/mmobility-glitchs-new-updates-stretch-players-imaginations/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Patches, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, MMObility, Sandbox, Crafting

Glitch screenshot

When Tiny Speck, maker of the wonderfully odd browser-based sandbox Glitch, announced that it would be taking the game back to a beta state in order to retool many of the game's most essential systems, I was skeptical. Heck, I've remained skeptical. I stopped streaming the game due to time constraints but continued to log in and enjoy it. More specifically, I didn't feel like continuing to stream it until the new releases were officially released. I tend to enjoy betas but want to hold back my opinions until games are actually open, and this return to beta made me feel the same way.

Lately, however, the changes being tested and implemented into the game have just been too cool to stay hushed about. Housing is receiving wonderful, wonderful updates that will allow for complete creative freedom that is rarely seen in MMO housing. The UI is transforming as well, and new skills and creatures are being introduced.

Beta or not, there is some crazy-cool stuff going on in the land of Ur. In fact, check out these brand new patch notes!

Continue reading MMObility: Glitch's new updates stretch players' imaginations

MMObility: Glitch's new updates stretch players' imaginations originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>back-to-betabeau-hindmanbetabrowserbrowser-basedcasualf2pfantasyfeaturedflashfree-to-playglitchhipsterhousing-changesmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonesandboxsmartphonetiny-specktinyspeckunlauncheningFri, 11 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The pros and cons of Tibia's browser version]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/mmobility-the-pros-and-cons-of-tibias-browser-version/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/mmobility-the-pros-and-cons-of-tibias-browser-version/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/mmobility-the-pros-and-cons-of-tibias-browser-version/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Fantasy, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Miscellaneous, MMObility

Tibia screenshot

Tibia is an MMO that has been hanging in there for many, many years. You have to give it respect for that alone. When you add on the fact that the game seems to be updated relatively frequently and boasts a pretty good-sized playerbase, it becomes even more intriguing. I've played it in the past and have enjoyed the simple graphics and slower-paced gameplay. I like how NPCs chat with you, old-school EverQuest-style, and how there seems to be a lot more to the game than meets the eye.

There are plenty of eyesores, however. The developers recently released Tibia in a beta browser form. While the client was always easy enough to download and run on my multitude of devices, I always prefer to just jump into my browser and load it up.

I found a lot of neat little systems but also quite a few bugs or odd design choices. Colors and layout can be a problem, and I am not the biggest fan of Flash-based MMOs. Still, I am enjoying myself so far and look forward to more. Let's talk about what I found over these last several hours with Tibia's browser-based version.

Continue reading MMObility: The pros and cons of Tibia's browser version

MMObility: The pros and cons of Tibia's browser version originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedf2pfeaturedflash-basedfree-to-playfreemiumftpisometric-viewMMObilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoOld-schoolopinionphonesmartphonetibiaUltima-OnlineFri, 04 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Killing the bland in Iruna Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/mmobility-killing-the-bland-in-iruna-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/mmobility-killing-the-bland-in-iruna-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/mmobility-killing-the-bland-in-iruna-online/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Bugs, Business models, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Humor, MMObility

Iruna Online screenshot

Once again, Droid Gamers sent me a sweet tip regarding yet another Android-based MMO. This time around, it's Iruna Online, a real and actual MMO complete with open worlds, "millions" of other players, quests, equipment and monsters. In fact, the game reminds me in some ways of Final Fantasy XI. Iruna Online is not the first mobile MMO that has felt like the Square-Enix favorite, perhaps because they all share a similar art style. As I played, it struck me that the newer smartphones have enough power to run a game that looks as good as Final Fantasy XI, albeit with some graphics options turned down or off.

The similarities basically end there, however. Iruna Online is one of the newer stock of mobile MMOs that show mobile massively multiplayer gaming is really here. It should not be shocking or surprising anymore. Just as in the PC market, we are going to see many titles stream from the Eastern market. Many of them will be duds, but many will also be very, very cool.

Continue reading MMObility: Killing the bland in Iruna Online

MMObility: Killing the bland in Iruna Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-xigoogle-playHTC-inspireiruna-onlineMMObilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonepreviewsmartphonesmartphone-mmoSquare-EnixFri, 27 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The 16 MMOs in my pocket]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/mmobility-the-16-mmos-in-my-pocket/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/mmobility-the-16-mmos-in-my-pocket/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/mmobility-the-16-mmos-in-my-pocket/#commentsFiled under: Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Mobile, Hands-on, Casual, MMORTS, Miscellaneous, MMObility

HTC Inspire picture

I have a smartphone that is pretty much filled to the brim with actual, functional, persistent MMORPGs. Some of them are three-dimensional romps through massive worlds filled with dungeons and dragons; others are representational browser-based games that work through the phone's native browser; and the rest are hardly nothing more than a few dots on the screen and impressionistic gameplay.

Still, they are MMOs. I love having access to them, and over the last year I have actually grown to love simple, clever design and basic artwork over almost anything else. Forget Guild Wars 2; we'll hear enough about that to make us choke. Sure, it might be a fun game, but I'm a tech guy from the Bizarro universe. I prefer to see how little tech I need to game with. I want to push the limits even lower.

Anyway, it's springtime here in Texas, so it's time to clean out all sorts of crap from my life. I organize all of my hundreds of songs, films, movies and art pieces and get my digital life in order as well. This process includes tweaking my current line-up of basic technology and downloading any updates for the games that exist on those devices. It's time to cull the weak and glorify the wonderful.

Continue reading MMObility: The 16 MMOs in my pocket

MMObility: The 16 MMOs in my pocket originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapplebeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddark-legendsdie2niteelemental-knights-online-the-worldempire-onlinefeaturedglitchHTC-inspireillyriadillyriad-gamesIOSiphoneMMObilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoOnLiveopinionorder-and-chaos-onlineparallel-kingdomperbluephonepocket-legendssmartphonespacetime-studiosstar-legendsstewart-butterfieldthe-infinite-blacktibiaMEtiny-specktraviantraviansVendetta-Onlinewarspear-onlineworld-of-midgardFri, 02 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aeria Games unveils Aeria Mobile, inaugural titles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/aeria-games-unveils-aeria-mobile-inaugural-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/aeria-games-unveils-aeria-mobile-inaugural-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/aeria-games-unveils-aeria-mobile-inaugural-titles/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Mobile

Aeria Games, publisher of popular free-to-play titles such as Eden Eternal, announced in a press release today that it has established Aeria Mobile in order to deliver quality games to "the underserved mobile core gaming arena." The division is coming into the world with three inaugural mobile games. The first of these is Eden Eternal: Monster Arena. The game is (obviously) set in the world of Eden Eternal and "brings the beloved anime-style gameplay of the popular franchise to an innovative accelerometer-based shooter RPG."

Next up on the list is Tuff Tanks, a "turn-based artillery shooter set in a colorful world of monsters and tanks." The turn-based title will be familiar to fans of the Worms series, and it will allow players to face off against computer opponents or against one another. The third and final release title for Aeria Mobile is known as Armygeddon, "a turn-based military strategy game set in a near-future setting that features episodic single-player content and asynchronous multiplayer combat." So if you need to get your gaming fix on the go, Aeria Games has you covered. To check out the library and find out how to get your hands on the games for yourselves, just click on through the link below to the official Aeria Mobile site.

[Source: Aeria Games press release]

Aeria Games unveils Aeria Mobile, inaugural titles originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriaaeria-gamesaeria-mobilearmygeddoneden-eternal-monster-arenaf2pfree-to-playindustrymmo-industrymobilemobile-gamingtuff-tanksFri, 02 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT companion app brings chat, events, and loot to Android]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/rift-companion-app-brings-chat-events-and-loot-to-android-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/rift-companion-app-brings-chat-events-and-loot-to-android-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/rift-companion-app-brings-chat-events-and-loot-to-android-and/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Mobile, RIFT

RIFT Mobile

RIFT is stepping up its mobile connectivity game with the newly released RIFT mobile companion app, now for Android. The application contains what you might expect from a companion app, such as friend and guild chat, officer chat, and other guild capabilities, but it also features unique bits like zone event notifications, which can notify you when a zone event begins on your server. Of course, you can also filter which of these battles deserves a notification.

Perhaps most interestingly, you can also earn in-game loot by participating in what appears to be some kind of minigame. This game can reward players with crafting items, planar treasure, and artifacts, which are sent directly to their characters' mail-boxes. For the most part, it looks to be a pretty good tool for people who want to stay connected to the game even when they're not at their computers.

For the full details on the app, just click on through the link below. Meanwhile, if you want to skip the fluff and just grab the app, it's available for free on the iTunes store and now on the Android Market.

RIFT companion app brings chat, events, and loot to Android originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappdroidiosiphoneipodmobilemobile-companion-appmobile-gamingriftrift-apprift-companion-apprift-mobilerift-mobile-companion-apprift-planes-of-telaratriontrion-worldsThu, 26 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nexon signs agreement with Unity Technologies for development platform]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/nexon-signs-agreement-with-unity-technologies-for-development-pl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/nexon-signs-agreement-with-unity-technologies-for-development-pl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/nexon-signs-agreement-with-unity-technologies-for-development-pl/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, News items, Browser, Mobile, Miscellaneous

If you know MMOs, odds are good you know what Nexon is -- one of the biggest free-to-play publishers in South Korea with a stable of several games that have been quite successful in the US as well. You may not know of Unity Technologies, however. That may well change, as Nexon has just signed a license agreement with Unity Technologies to allow the company the rights to utilize the Unity development platform for further projects.

The Unity platform is meant to allow easier deployment of applications to alternative platforms, with the platform being in place for browsers, iOS, Android, and other systems. Nexon's agreement with Unity allows them full rights to the software for any and all subsidiaries, as well as the right to modify and alter the source code as necessary. Which projects Nexon has in the pipeline that might utilize this technology are unknown at this time, but it seems that the company is dedicated to branching out into alternative platforms.

[Source: Nexon/Unity Technologies press release]

Nexon signs agreement with Unity Technologies for development platform originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidarrangementsbrowser-gamingbrowsersdevelopmentdevelopment-platformindustry-dealsiosmmo-industrymobilemobile-devicesmobile-gamingnexonnexon-usasoftwareunity-technologiesTue, 17 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Spacetime Studios working on new mobile MMO Dark Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/spacetime-studios-working-on-new-mobile-mmo-dark-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/spacetime-studios-working-on-new-mobile-mmo-dark-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/spacetime-studios-working-on-new-mobile-mmo-dark-legends/#commentsFiled under: New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Mobile

Spacetime Studios, the developer of popular mobile MMO titles Pocket Legends and Star Legends, has announced that it has begun work on a new mobile game following the Legends format. The new title, about which we know virtually nothing aside from the fact that it exists, is called Dark Legends. Ominous, right? DroidGamers reports that Spacetime Studios CEO Gary Gattis has stated that "Dark Legends will be a bit of a departure from the formula that Pocket Legends established as we innovate on lessons learned." So there's clearly a new twist to the studio's standard gameplay, but we'll just have to wait and see what that twist may be.

Spacetime Studios working on new mobile MMO Dark Legends originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dark-legendsdroidf2pfree-to-playgary-gattismobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmospocket-legendsspacetime-studiosstar-legendsTue, 03 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Monkey Quest goes portable]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/monkey-quest-goes-portable/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/monkey-quest-goes-portable/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/monkey-quest-goes-portable/#commentsFiled under: New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Mobile, Kids

Is it a blast of combos, or did he blast a combo? Truly an existential mystery.

If you or your children are fond of Nickelodeon's Monkey Quest, you may have run into the unavoidable problem that the game requires you to be home. Like many other games, however, Monkey Quest is hopping on the mobile bandwagon with Monkey Quest: Thunderbow. Available now for the iPhone and iPad, the game stars a specific monkey from the world of Ook, the eponymous Thunderbow, as he seeks to dethrone the evil cat king Zotan.

Gameplay is managed in a similar style as the popular Angry Birds games, with the caveat being that Angry Birds doesn't allow you to earn special items and equipment for use in the main Monkey Quest game. Regular updates are planned for the game to help keep players engaged and interested as Thunderbow continues his quest. So if you've got one of the portable devices and your child can't get enough monkey business, it's worth a look.

[Source: Nickelodeon press release]

Monkey Quest goes portable originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleappsipadiphoneipodmobile-appsmobile-gamesmobile-gamingmonkeymonkey-questmonkey-quest-thunderbowmonkeysnew-titlesnewsnickelodeonookFri, 16 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you play any mobile MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/26/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-any-mobile-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/26/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-any-mobile-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/26/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-any-mobile-mmos/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Daily Grind, Mobile, Casual

Pocket Legends -- Screenshot originally submitted to One Shots by Mark S.

A guildie of mine and I were discussing phones this week, and we came to the joint conclusion that for us, mobile gaming, especially the mobile MMO market, is no draw at all when it comes to our phone selection. Unlike Beau, who writes Massively's mobile gaming column, MMObility, I don't relish the thought of playing any serious MMO while peering at a tiny screen or trying to make a character run around with an awkward swipe of my finger. I'll play a little single-player time-waster to, well, waste time, but deep gaming is reserved for a big comfy chair and a jumbo-sized screen. I certainly wouldn't tailor a phone or slate purchase around gaming.

And yet the mobile gaming market is exploding, so someone out there must be playing these wee little MMOs, like Pocket Legends, shown in tablet form in the above screenshot. In fact, these games might just be the perfect snack while you're trying to surreptitiously get your game on at family holiday events or while waiting in an endless shopping line. So are you a mobile MMO gamer? And if so, what mobile MMOs do you play?

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!

The Daily Grind: Do you play any mobile MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgmobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionphonepocket-legendsslatesmartphonespacetimespacetime-studiostablettdgthe-daily-grindSat, 26 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mark Jacobs elaborates on departure from EA Mythic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/mark-jacobs-elaborates-on-departure-from-ea-mythic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/mark-jacobs-elaborates-on-departure-from-ea-mythic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/mark-jacobs-elaborates-on-departure-from-ea-mythic/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, Legal, Miscellaneous

Mark Jacobs

It's been a couple of years since Mark Jacobs abruptly left -- or perhaps was let go -- from EA Mythic, but curiosity around the split persists in the MMO industry. Yesterday, Jacobs opened up about the event that occurred after EA's acquisition of Mythic and BioWare.

Long story short: The merge brought about changes, and Jacobs wasn't on board with them. "They made a decision on a direction they wanted to go and obviously, as we put out in our joint statement, that wasn't a direction that had a role for me, or at least the role that I wanted. It really is as simple as that. Or at least publicly. Whatever went on behind the scenes, whatever we talked about, I have no intention of sharing that," he said.

Jacobs insists that EA has been kind to him in the subsequent years. "One thing I'll say publicly about EA, they have been very good in what they've said post-departure regarding me. Similarly I've been good about what I've said about them post departure."

He has since gone on to form a new company to create social and mobile games. In an ironic twist, Jacobs says that the idea for getting into the social gaming market took root while he was at Mythic, but he left before acting on that notion.

Mark Jacobs elaborates on departure from EA Mythic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythiccity-state-entertainmentdepartureeaea-biowareea-mythicfirefiredfiringJohn-riccitiellomark-jacobsmobile-gamesmobile-gamingmythicsocial-gamessocial-gamingsplitTue, 04 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mark Jacobs returns to the gaming industry with City State Entertainment]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/mark-jacobs-returns-to-the-gaming-industry-with-city-state-enter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/mark-jacobs-returns-to-the-gaming-industry-with-city-state-enter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/mark-jacobs-returns-to-the-gaming-industry-with-city-state-enter/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous

City State group pic

If you've been around the MMO scene for a while, you'll remember Mark Jacobs as the co-founder of Mythic Entertainment and the force behind Dark Age of Camelot and Warhammer Online.

He's been out of the gaming industry since his departure from EA, but according to an exclusive interview with Forbes.com, he's back with a new company. "Jacobs revealed that his new company is called City State Entertainment, and [...] the company aims to create games for the mobile, tablet and social networking space," says Forbes.com's Tracey John.

Mark tells Forbes that social game development allows for a faster development cycle and lower costs, which equals more freedom to simply have fun making games. "We don't have to worry if the hardcore gamers are going to get incredibly upset because we're doing something a certain way. We don't have to worry if our game is going to sell another 20 copies. We're just looking to make fun, enjoyable games."

Check out the full interview at Forbes.com

Mark Jacobs returns to the gaming industry with City State Entertainment originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-state-entertainmentdaocdark-age-of-camelotforbesforbes.commark-jacobsmobile-gamingmythicsocial-gamingtablet-gameswarWarhammer-OnlineFri, 30 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Russian MMO market to continue growing through next year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/russian-mmo-market-to-continue-growing-through-next-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/russian-mmo-market-to-continue-growing-through-next-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/13/russian-mmo-market-to-continue-growing-through-next-year/#commentsFiled under: Culture, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous

Allods Online counts.

For a long time, China has been the country to look to for MMO growth. The country's rapid acquisition of technology and popular internet cafes has led to an explosion in growth and online gaming. But China isn't the only country steadily rising in quantities. According to a study by Newzoo, the Russian game market is already a $1.5 billion industry, with $270 million of that going directly toward MMOs, making our favorite genre tied with general PC gaming for overall spending.

Among the more interesting upshots of the study are the fact that women compose 49% of the overall gamer market in Russia, a remarkably even split considering the setup of most developed nation; 69% of the spent money goes toward online or mobile games. In many ways, the Russian gaming market has already overtaken the European markets in terms of overall numbers and spending, according to Newzoo CEO Peter Warman. The company also created a useful set of infographics regarding the overall breakdown of data.

[Source: Newzoo press release]

Russian MMO market to continue growing through next year originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-issuesgaming-industryindustry-analysisinternationalmmo-industrymobile-gamingnewzooonline-gamingoverall-spendingpeter-warmanTue, 13 Sep 2011 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC Europe 2011: Richard Garriott says mobile and social titles are 'the future of games']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/gdc-europe-2011-richard-garriott-says-mobile-and-social-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/gdc-europe-2011-richard-garriott-says-mobile-and-social-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/gdc-europe-2011-richard-garriott-says-mobile-and-social-titles/#commentsFiled under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, Tabula Rasa, Massively Event Coverage, Miscellaneous

Richard Garriott

Delivering the final keynote address at this year's GDC Europe, Richard Garriott said that the industry is rapidly moving away from MMOs as we know them and toward mobile and social gaming -- and that companies need to hop on board, lest they be left behind.

Garriott used his iPhone as an example of this new direction: "I am now much more of a gamer than I ever been in my whole life, but the vast majority of the gaming I have played has been on this machine. I'm a devout believer that this is the current and near-term future of games."

He defines this "new era" of gaming by having cheap games that are simple to use and connect you with real-world friends. While he thinks earlier social games like FarmVille were too simple and unappealing, Garriott says that they're evolving quickly.

During the speech, Garriott expressed regret that his team didn't stick by the original vision for Tabula Rasa, and he urged fellow developers not to trade in their dreams in order to follow the company line. His new company Portalarium plans to "reinvent roleplaying yet again" by releasing a series of products that will capitalize on social gaming and retrain players to think beyond mere combat to a wider experience.

GDC Europe 2011: Richard Garriott says mobile and social titles are 'the future of games' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>farmvillegame-developers-conferencegdcgdc-2011iphonekeynotekeynote-addresskeynote-speechmobile-gamingPortalariumprivate-astronautprivate-astronaut-is-a-funny-termreinvent-roleplayingrichard-garriottroleplayingsocial-gamingtabula-rasaWed, 17 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft buys smartphone app studio]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/ncsoft-buys-smartphone-app-studio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/ncsoft-buys-smartphone-app-studio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/ncsoft-buys-smartphone-app-studio/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, News items, Mobile

In the past, NCsoft has been rather cautious about mobile gaming, and aside from dipping a toe in the pool with an Aion smartphone app, the South Korean game developer has remained on the sidelines. Yesterday the company announced that it's diving in headfirst via the acquisition of Hotdog Studio, a Seoul-based mobile developer known for Dark Shrine.

We've known for some time now that NCsoft also has plans to include mobile functionality with Guild Wars 2, and its iOS/Android program will enable chatting, real-time map viewing, and other as-yet unrevealed functionality.

NCsoft acquired 58.3 percent of Hotdog's shares, and is looking to "enhance our ability in the smart phone environment," according to a publisher representative.

NCsoft buys smartphone app studio originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-exchangeandroidguild-wars-2gw2hotdoghotdog-studioiosmmo-industrymobilemobile-appsmobile-gamingncsoftsmartphoneThu, 28 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wargaming.net forms partnership to expand into mobile gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/wargaming-net-forms-partnership-to-expand-into-mobile-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/wargaming-net-forms-partnership-to-expand-into-mobile-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/wargaming-net-forms-partnership-to-expand-into-mobile-gaming/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, Legal, World of Tanks, Miscellaneous

World of Tanks on an iPhone? Perhaps, perhaps not, but something similar might be a possibility as Wargaming.net announced that it's teamed up with mobile game developer DAVA Consulting. The two companies have formed a "strategic partnership" for a long-term plan to take the highly successful World of Tanks team into the realm of mobile gaming.

The partnership will allow Wargaming.net to start exploring gaming possibilities on mobile platforms, including iOS devices. DAVA is located in Eastern Europe and provides a wide variety of services from bottom-up application development, consulting, handling ports, and game testing.

Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi apparently wants to make as big of a splash on the iPhone as the company did with the PC: "Having known the DAVA team for some time, we are thrilled to have them spearhead our efforts in the mobile games and applications development. We are looking forward to establishing a strong presence on the mobile market and DAVA is the best partner to assist us."

Wargaming.net forms partnership to expand into mobile gaming originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>davadava-consultingf2pfree-to-playiosiphonemobile-gamingmobile-mmostrategic-partnershipVictor-Kislyiwargaming.networld-of-tankswotThu, 30 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Men outspend women on mobile social games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/men-outspend-women-on-mobile-social-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/men-outspend-women-on-mobile-social-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/men-outspend-women-on-mobile-social-games/#commentsFiled under: Economy, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous

Ladies (or gentlemen), is your man a gamer? If so, you may finally have a worthwhile retort for the next time he scoffs and rolls his eyes at that $10 non-combat pet you just had to have. A recent study by MocoSpace surveyed 1,500 "mobile social gamers" about their spending practices within social games. The results? "While 53 percent were male, and 47 percent female, 69 percent of men were buying virtual goods, while only 31 percent of females did."

Venturebeat adds: "On top of that, those male gamers are responsible for 90 percent of virtual goods that are purchased inside the games." The article goes on to note the recent practices of selling in-game items for real-world currency in World of Warcraft and EverQuest, though no numbers are available regarding the gender parity of those who purchased such items. For the full article -- which naturally could not resist one not-so-subtle stab at the SOE network outage -- click on over to MSNBC's Technoblog.

Men outspend women on mobile social games originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 May 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economicseconomymen-vs-womenmicrotransactionsmobile-gamingmocospacemoneymsnbcspendingspending-habitsventurebeatFri, 27 May 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you interested in mobile MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/14/the-daily-grind-are-you-interested-in-mobile-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/14/the-daily-grind-are-you-interested-in-mobile-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/14/the-daily-grind-are-you-interested-in-mobile-mmos/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Mobile, Miscellaneous

With the growing ubiquity of smart phones, tablet PCs, and other devices that hook up to the internet on the road, mobile MMOs have begun to take off. Admittedly, the gameplay is still not wholly complex, but games like Pocket Legends have staked their futures on the novelty of an MMO you can play from anywhere while doing almost anything. While you might be able to fault the overall depth of the experience, being able to log into a massive and persistent world on a portable device is still worth some novelty.

Of course, the real question is whether or not there's any merit to the game beyond novelty. After all, if you're on the go, you're generally doing something that would require concentration, not tapping at your phone's screen. The field is still expanding, but today we ask -- are you interested in mobile MMOs? Are they the sort of thing that tickles your fancy? Or do you see them as a neat idea that ultimately isn't really suited to the way you like to play online in the first place?

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!

The Daily Grind: Are you interested in mobile MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>droidipadiphonemobilemobile-devicesmobile-gamingopinionpocket-legendssmartphonestabletsSat, 14 May 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Mobile MMO predictions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/mmobility-mobile-mmo-predictions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/mmobility-mobile-mmo-predictions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/mmobility-mobile-mmo-predictions/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Opinion, Browser, Humor, Miscellaneous, MMObility

My job is so dependent on my knowing current trends and being up on all the latest titles. I also try to have a good idea about what might be coming. Really, it's not that hard to get a grasp on future trends; one trip to the mall to witness wild packs of 10-year-old girls, all running around gossip-texting on their own iPhones, provides all the evidence to show that mobility and personalization are going to be having a very good decade.

Anyone who is reading this column is probably familiar with the constant upward swing of technology. Peek into any MMO gamer's closet and you will likely find scores of gaming PC parts stacked up amongst retail game boxes (for some reason, we keep those). Over the years, your average MMO gamer will spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on the hobby.

Now the mobile market is following that trend, sort of. Instead of requiring a constant upgrade of individual parts, mobile manufacturers simply require a new purchase of the latest all-in-one device. Some of these devices are good and some bad, but everyone will have one in the next 10 years. If you don't think so, compare the price, power and number of decent PCs now to 10 years ago. Then compare the number of mobile devices in the world from just four years ago to the number right now.

Click past the cut and let's see if we can come up with some interesting predictions.

Continue reading MMObility: Mobile MMO predictions

MMObility: Mobile MMO predictions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowser-basedcellularfeaturedipadiphoneMMObilitymobilemobile-gamingTue, 12 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2011: Spacetime pontificates on pocket MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/02/gdc-2011-spacetime-pontificates-on-pocket-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/02/gdc-2011-spacetime-pontificates-on-pocket-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/02/gdc-2011-spacetime-pontificates-on-pocket-mmos/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, MMO industry, Free-to-play, Massively Event Coverage, Miscellaneous

Although portable MMOs seem like the next logical step in enabling our online gaming addiction, remarkably few titles have graced the field as yet. Of the select few, Spacetime Studio's Pocket Legends heads the pack in style and popularity. It appeals to a wide range of players because the basic game is free; the developer charges players only for expansions and other item shop goodies.

Cinco Barnes took the opportunity to speak at GDC about how Spacetime sorted out the complex issues surrounding portable MMOs, how the studio came up with the payment structure, and what the team learned as it goes forward with its next MMO, Blackstar.

Pocket Legends' roots go back to 2005 when Spacetime Studios took some seed money from NCsoft and began work on a large-space sci-fi MMO for PCs. While the project went bust and NCsoft pulled funding, Spacetime came away with the technology it developed if not the deep pockets to compete in the field. By 2009, the company became enamoured with the iPhone as a gaming device and decided to take the tools it had developed to create a unique game for that platform.

Continue reading GDC 2011: Spacetime pontificates on pocket MMOs

GDC 2011: Spacetime pontificates on pocket MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidblackstarcash-shopcinco-barnesdesignf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgame-designgame-developers-conferencegauntletgdcgdc-2011iosipadiphoneipoditem-shopmobile-gamingpocket-legendssmartphonespacetimespacetime-studiosWed, 02 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest II is now mobile]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/27/everquest-ii-is-now-mobile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/27/everquest-ii-is-now-mobile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/27/everquest-ii-is-now-mobile/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, News items, Free-to-play, Mobile

Have you ever thought during a boring business meeting, "What is going on in Norrath?" Perhaps that's what the designers at Sony Online Entertainment were thinking when they developed the mobile application for EverQuest II.

Today, SOE announced EverQuest II Mobile. This free application is designed to keep you connected to your friends and characters in EverQuest II. Whether you're on an iPhone, BlackBerry, or Android phone, you can now speak to other Norrathians via any world channel or in-game email. You can track your character's location with the world map. Your character's profile, stats, and equipment are available for viewing. Most importantly, you can see what your guildmates are doing with the guild map tracker.

For all the information about this new innovation from SOE, check out the official website or head to the iPhone, Android, or Blackberry store.

EverQuest II is now mobile originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidBlackBerryEQ2EQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iiiphonemobile-applicationsmobile-gamingSOESony-Online-EntertainmentThu, 27 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Four games I'm dying to play in 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/free-for-all-four-games-im-dying-to-play-in-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/free-for-all-four-games-im-dying-to-play-in-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/22/free-for-all-four-games-im-dying-to-play-in-2011/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Mobile, Casual, Free for All

The year 2010 was a great year in gaming. If anyone tells you any different, look him in the eye -- you've just met a madman. In fact, 2010 did so much for me, personally, that it might be hard to top it for a while. I actually started getting paid to write my blog entries this year, discovered so many wonderful new developers this year, and played more hours than in all of the previous years combined.

As luck would have it, there are already several new games being announced that are making 2011 look like an even bigger year for me. Browser-based technology is only growing more robust and rich, indie gaming is finally starting to get a lot of the respect it deserves, and I now have the ability to contact almost any developer I want for use in my columns. All of this adds up to some exciting times ahead, for sure. All thanks to Massively, of course.

There are four games in particular that I am very excited about. More will come, I'm positive, but these four have already cast huge spells on me. Click past the cut to see what you should be excited about, too!

Continue reading Free for All: Four games I'm dying to play in 2011

Free for All: Four games I'm dying to play in 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mystical-landankamaankama-gamesbattlestar-galacticabattlestar-galactica-onlinebeau-hindmanBigpointbigpoint-gamesbrowserbrowser-basedbsg-onlineDofusdofus-2.0end-of-the-year-2010featuredfree-for-allfree-to-playftpglitchIndieindie-gamesmobile-gamingSquare-Enixunityunity-enginewakfuWed, 22 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SEGA's Kingdom Conquest hits iPhone and iPod Touch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/segas-kingdom-conquest-hits-iphone-and-ipod-touch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/segas-kingdom-conquest-hits-iphone-and-ipod-touch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/segas-kingdom-conquest-hits-iphone-and-ipod-touch/#commentsFiled under: Launches, New titles, War, Free-to-play

Game studios have been eying Apple's pocket prodigies as a platform for MMOs for some time now, so it's no surprise that SEGA has stepped up to deliver its own hybrid strategy/RPG MMO in hopes of gaining a foothold on this market. It's called Kingdom Conquest and should feel familiar enough to both the MMO dungeon crawling crowd and the Facebook strategy app fans.

Kingdom Conquest is split into two modes that work in synergy with each other. In the kingdom building mode, players will construct a city from the ground up, form alliances with other players, build armies and wage war to control territory. This is augmented by the action mode, in which anywhere from one to four players may group to tackle dungeons, which not rewards them with not only armor and weapons but items to use in their cities.

While it bills itself as a free-to-play title (and it is certainly free to download), Kingdom Conquest makes no bones about its reliance on microtransactions. Players looking to create an edge for their city and alliance can spend real money on buffs and shorter building queues to boost their progress ahead.

If you want to check it out, it's one quick trip to the iTunes App store away!

SEGA's Kingdom Conquest hits iPhone and iPod Touch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appapp-storeapplef2pfacebookfree-to-playiphoneipodipod-touchkingdom-conquestmicrotransactionsmobile-gamingsegastrategy-rpgWed, 17 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Android client for Pocket Legends enters beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/android-client-for-pocket-legends-enters-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/android-client-for-pocket-legends-enters-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/android-client-for-pocket-legends-enters-beta/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Fantasy, News items, Free-to-play, Mobile

Pocket Legends turned a few heads when it was first launched as an MMO playable on the iPhone, but it's time for the game to expand beyond its roots. Past time, Droid users might say, as they've been suffering through no MMOs for their preferred phone for some time. But the wait is over -- the game has just entered a beta for the Android platform, making it not only the first mobile 3-D MMO but the first multiplatform mobile MMO.

You can download the game through the link on the front page of the site and through the Android market. It requires Android 2.1 to run successfully. A support forum has already been put together for players taking part in the beta, which is assured to have its fair share of issues as the porting is perfected. Still, this means that for the first time in the history of these dueling platforms, iPhone and Droid owners can walk hand in hand... well, while playing Pocket Legends, anyhow.

Android client for Pocket Legends enters beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapp-storesbetabetasdroidf2pfree-to-playiphonemobilemobile-appsmobile-gamingmobile-mmoplpocket-legendsspacetime-studiosThu, 11 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Pocket Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/17/rise-and-shiny-recap-pocket-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/17/rise-and-shiny-recap-pocket-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/17/rise-and-shiny-recap-pocket-legends/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Reviews, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-play, Mobile, Hands-on, Casual, Massively Hands-on, Rise and Shiny

Over the last two weeks, I have been taking a look at Pocket Legends, a fully functioning MMO made for the mobile player. I did not publish a Rise and Shiny last week (I was busy writing up my GDCO coverage) but that is a good thing -- I had no real time to play the game anyway. I've jumped in and out, played through a few dungeons and scoured the cash shop. After hearing Cinco Barnes from Spacetime Studios -- the developer of Pocket Legends -- I really saw how well the company's design choices were working in practice.

What I found is a game that works and is stable. While that isn't the most glamorous description, you would be hard-pressed to find a game that has succeeded without either of those traits. The key here is that it runs while in the palm of your hand (or lap, in the case of the iPad). But let me take you through a bit more of the game before I pass judgment.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Pocket Legends

Rise and Shiny recap: Pocket Legends originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appapp storeAppStorebeau-hindmancash-shopf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumftpipadiphoneMicrotransactionsmobilemobile-gamingpocket-legendsrise-and-shinyspacetime-studiosvelvet-rope-modelSun, 17 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDCO 2010: UTV True Games wows with three new titles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/gdco-2010-utv-true-games-wows-with-three-new-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/gdco-2010-utv-true-games-wows-with-three-new-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/gdco-2010-utv-true-games-wows-with-three-new-titles/#commentsFiled under: Historical, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, Previews, PvP, PvE, Free-to-play, Browser, Massively Interviews, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage

One of the most thrilling aspects of this job is visiting game studios. It's essentially like stepping into a toy factory, complete with strange noises and funny personalities. Nerf guns are a staple, and each desk or station is decorated with all types of toys, posters, and other trophies from Nerd-dom. UTV True Games is no different, so when we were asked to sit down with three (count 'em, three) different teams to preview some new titles, we knew we were in for a good time.

Of course, our professionalism prevented us from actually clapping and going "sqqquuueeeee!" every time a new product was shown, but it's very possible that the teams would not have cared anyway. So what did we see? What do we have to look forward to from the same people that brought us Mytheon? Well, click past the cut and let's take a look!

Continue reading GDCO 2010: UTV True Games wows with three new titles

GDCO 2010: UTV True Games wows with three new titles originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsAppStorebeau-hindmancash-shopeve-onlinef2pfaxionfaxion-onlinefeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumftpgame-developers-conferenceGDCgdc-2010gdc-online-2010gdc10gdcogdco-2010interviewInterviewsipadiphonemicro-transactionmicro-transactionsMicrotransactionsmobilemobile-gamesmobile-gamingmy-bruteMyBruteplanet-crasherspvpsky-legendssnoopy-flying-aceTrue-Gamesutv-true-gamesMon, 11 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Smith and Tinker talk of green goo, Marvel partnership]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/smith-and-tinker-talk-of-green-goo-marvel-partnership/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/smith-and-tinker-talk-of-green-goo-marvel-partnership/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/13/smith-and-tinker-talk-of-green-goo-marvel-partnership/#commentsFiled under: Sci-fi, Galleries, Polls, Launches, New titles, Previews, PvP, Free-to-play, Browser, Trading card games, Casual, Kids

Smith and Tinker is a company that is building products for today's "roaming audience," such as 2009's collectible-monster game Nanovor. Essentially, tweens battled microscopic silicon-based monsters that lived deep within their PCs. While it garnered much attention, Smith and Tinker decided it was time for a re-do. Now, we have Nanovor Evolution, a newly rendered 3-D multi-platform version of the game that offers "every player complete gaming satisfaction anywhere and everywhere, and by evolving our Nanovor digital collective game and future titles onto multiple platforms, we are on track to making that a reality."

The new version runs within a browser, with future versions available on iPhone and iPad. After our discussion, I decided to a look at the game myself. True to the company's word, it loaded and ran within my browser and looked great. I walked through an animated tutorial, customized my avatar, learned the basics of combat, and was introduced to the public area -- a square for players to chat safely and challenge each other to matches. Really, it's a miniature version of many full-scale MMORPGs, built to be played on many different devices and while on-the-go.

Take a look after the jump to catch a glimpse at the action!

Continue reading Smith and Tinker talk of green goo, Marvel partnership

Smith and Tinker talk of green goo, Marvel partnership originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedbrowserscash-shopfeaturedfree-to-playftpipadiphoneMarvelMarvel ComicsMarvelComicsmobilemobile-gamingnanovornanovor-evolutionsmith-and-tinkersuperherosuperheroestrading-card-gameMon, 13 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Editorial: What could Apple's new iPad mean for MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/editorial-what-could-apples-new-ipad-mean-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/editorial-what-could-apples-new-ipad-mean-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/editorial-what-could-apples-new-ipad-mean-for-mmos/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, News items, Opinion

If you consider yourself any type of technophile at all, you're probably well aware of Apple's announcement yesterday regarding their new iPad. This is basically the love child of an iPod Touch and a tablet PC, allowing users to take a fairly powerful slab of computing power with them wherever they go. While it might not be as beefy as your desktop machine or even a mid-range laptop, it has caused a giant wave of interest from consumers. So how does this affect us, as MMO gamers? We're glad you asked!

Interestingly enough, Apple wanted to make sure that some gaming press were there for this huge unveiling of their new product. Our sister site Joystiq made an appearance for the in-person announcement in San Francisco yesterday and made some interesting observations about the role that gaming will play with the iPad. So follow along after the break as we explore the many possibilities that the iPad has as a next-gen mobile online gaming device that may or may not interest us.

Continue reading Editorial: What could Apple's new iPad mean for MMOs?

Editorial: What could Apple's new iPad mean for MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3gapplehardwareipadiphonelaptopmobile-gamingnetbooknotebooktablet-pcThu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video teases World of Warcraft Vollee client for iPhone ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/25/world-of-warcraft-vollee-client-for-iphone-video-wt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/25/world-of-warcraft-vollee-client-for-iphone-video-wt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/25/world-of-warcraft-vollee-client-for-iphone-video-wt/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Video, MMO industry, News items, Rumors

We've heard about World of Warcraft coming to mobile phones - especially the iPhone - for quite some time now. We've seen video of people running WoW remotely and using different applications to stream the game, but it's generally been pretty lackluster and requires way too much messing around to use successfully. We've also heard rumors that Vollee, already working on a Second Life iPhone port, might have been tapped for a World of Warcraft port as well. This morning, video has been found that seems to show off a functional Vollee port for World of Warcraft. Whether this is actually legit or not, we can't say - but it certainly looks pretty awesome!

We're attempting to get confirmation from Blizzard or Vollee regarding the authenticity of this video now, and will let you know when we hear anything. For now, enjoy a look at what may well be the future face of mobile MMO gaming behind the break!

Continue reading Video teases World of Warcraft Vollee client for iPhone

Video teases World of Warcraft Vollee client for iPhone originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardbreakingiphoneiphone-3gmobile-gamingportvolleeworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 25 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What the Nintendo DSi, PSP 3000, and iPhone mean for MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/what-the-nintendo-dsi-psp-3000-and-iphone-mean-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/what-the-nintendo-dsi-psp-3000-and-iphone-mean-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/what-the-nintendo-dsi-psp-3000-and-iphone-mean-for-mmos/#commentsFiled under: MMO industry, Opinion, Consoles

Last night, on the other side of the world, Nintendo announced its intention to step up the battle between Sony and Apple for the soul of the handheld gamer. We talk semi-regularly on Massively about the hardcore console battle, with games like Age of Conan and Champions Online heading for the 360 and SOE's stable of new titles (DCUO, The Agency, Free Realms) heading for the PlayStation 3. The handheld battle hardly ever gets discussed here on the site, though, and that's a shame. The modern ubiquity of handheld gaming is really the future of 'console' gaming, and with all three handheld platforms featuring built-in internet connectivity the age of "MMOs on the go" is inevitable.

Join us as we walk through each of the three handheld platforms, discussing what their potential is for playing MMOs and what we currently know about MMO plans for the platform. Even though they're pretty quiet, there are more than you think. Who knows, perhaps the WoW nation of today will be tapping out messages to each other on their DS handhelds five years from now?

Get prepped on Mobile MMOs >>

Gallery: What the Handheld War means for MMOs

MMObile Potential

Nintendo DSi

The 'mini' Massively Multiplayer Online Game

Future social MMOs find their home

Crafter's Paradise

What the Nintendo DSi, PSP 3000, and iPhone mean for MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple-iphoneconsole-gamingdsdsifeaturediphonejoystiqfeaturesmmosmobilemobile-gamingnintendo-dsnintendo-dsipsppsp-3000Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOGology: Mobile MMOGs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/mmogology-mobile-mmogs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/mmogology-mobile-mmogs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/30/mmogology-mobile-mmogs/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, EVE Online, MapleStory, Game mechanics, Ragnarok Online, Opinion, Second Life, Free-to-play, MMOGology, Mobile

Several weeks ago at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) Steve Jobs announced the 3G iPhone. The announcement wasn't much of a shock to industry experts since other cell phones have been using 3G networks for several years. In order to remain competitive, it was only natural for Apple to hop on the 3G bandwagon.

What was, perhaps, more unexpected was the consumer friendly price point of $199.00. Of course there are a few not-so-hidden caveats involved with that sweet price point. First you have to qualify for the subsidized price, then there's the mandatory two year contract with AT&T and an increase in the price of the iPhone's data plan. Regardless, what it means to gamers is a budding mobile gaming platform. The iPhone now has its own software developer's kit (SDK), 3G network capabilities, and is priced to sell. Increased accessibility, higher data transfer speeds, and the ability for developers to conjure up new applications can only mean good things for the future of mobile MMOGs - especially on the iPhone.

Of course, maybe the future of mobile MMOGs seems so bright because its current state is so dim. As someone who has never even attempted to play an MMOG on a mobile device, I'm curious as to what exactly is out there and if anything is worth my time. If you're curious too, join me for some more info on mobile MMOGs after the break. I'll discuss the current state and limitations of the platform, some existing offerings, and take a look at what the future might hold.

Continue reading MMOGology: Mobile MMOGs

MMOGology: Mobile MMOGs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcell-phonecell-phone-gamingfeaturedjoystiqfeatureslinden-labmaplestorymobilemobile-gamingmobilephonesecond-lifeshadow-of-legendSmartcellSmartcell-Technologyvolleeworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 30 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST