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Entropia Universe players buy the moon

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Entropia Universe, Culture, News Items, Free-to-Play

How would you like to own the moon? In the real world, it's not really possible. In Entropia Universe it's quite possible and has in fact already happened. A group of players purchased a moon for $150,000 as part of the game's 10-year anniversary celebration. But it's not just a super-expensive piece of property, it's a chance for the owners to make something unique and long-term in the game world.

MindArk, the company behind Entropia Universe, offered the moon as a chance for players to shape something freely while sharing profits earned from the new location. That means that the investors have essentially licensed out a part of the game for their own development and customization even as it remains a part of the overall gameworld. The moon is expected to be fully added to the game in Q2 or Q3 of this year. If you're curious about the specifics in the community, you can check out the full rundown on the official site.

Entropia Universe players buy the moon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Art of Wushu: Making silver through harvesting

Patrick Mackey — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Historical, Economy, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Guides, Age of Wushu, The Art of Wushu

I got a lot of backlash over the last installment of The Art of Wushu. While the issues over pay-to-win are understandable, an overwhelming number of you seemed to disbelieve the amount of silver I was able to produce daily. Some of you protested my 1D/daily figure (which is on the high side), while others questioned whether I could make even 500L per day. My email was flooded with people asking me to share some of my secrets.

I was going to talk about movement and parkour this time, but because you guys asked, you'll get an answer. "How do I make money in Age of Wushu," you ask? Let's cover the easy ways to make money. These are methods that literally any player, regardless of subscription status or level, can take advantage of. This time we're going to cover harvesting -- what sells and what doesn't. Let's get started.

Continue reading The Art of Wushu: Making silver through harvesting

The Art of Wushu: Making silver through harvesting originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Would you rather have more money or more time for gaming?

Justin Olivetti — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Money and time: Two things we always wish we had more of and yet come up short. When it applies to gaming, these are the two factors that can take a fun experience and pump it up. So which is better?

As a married father of three, time is always in short supply in my household. Some website is always making me write about games instead of playing them, and I would be lying if I said I didn't have fantasies about creating a clone who could game 24/7 on the side. Having more time for gaming is always a perk.

But money for gaming ain't half bad, either. It can be used to purchase games, buy merchandise, pay subscriptions, snap up groovy cash shop items, and even (sometimes) make up for a lack of time to play.

So would you rather have more money or more time for MMO gaming?

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: Would you rather have more money or more time for gaming? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Soapbox: I demand to pay more for this!

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous

Champions Online launched amidst a bunch of controversy. Admittedly, this was back in a time when we as a community had a much lower bar for controversy, but still, there were accusations and recriminations flying around like, well, superheroes. One of the chief complaints was that the game had a subscription fee, but it also had a cash shop right from launch. Scandalous!

These days we don't blink too much at this sort of thing. Pretty much every game in the world has a cash shop now, and the rare exceptions are games that try to pretend it's something else. But there are still a lot of people who object to the idea, who would much rather have a subscription or nothing or see everything from the cash shop free to subscribers.

I am not one of those people. In fact, I'm happy when a game goes into the free model or just opens up a cash shop of any stripe. The way I see it, there are some definite upsides to having a cash shop.

Continue reading The Soapbox: I demand to pay more for this!

The Soapbox: I demand to pay more for this! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: How much did you spend in cash shops last month?

Justin Olivetti — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

I had a dream last night. And since I know how popular telling other people about your dreams is, here I go: I dreamed that I was writing a blog post detailing what money I spent on MMOs last month between subscriptions and cash shops. Then I woke up and decided that I have a very boring dream life and that this might make for a good Daily Grind topic.

The truth is, I probably spent about $35 in November on MMO cash shops, and that was all in one place: Guild Wars 2. I wanted to snag a few of the Halloween offerings, bump up my inventory space, and enlarge my bank. I'd say that $35 was pretty high for me compared to an average month, as I'm usually only tempted to take out my wallet when an absolute must-buy goes on sale.

So fess up: How much did you spend in cash shops last month? Be honest as the IRS is watching you!

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: How much did you spend in cash shops last month? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Trek Online explains the nuances of dilithium

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Economy, News Items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-Play

Dilithium -- how can Star Trek Online explain it? Perhaps the development team can take and frame-by-frame it to have players mine, refine, and spend it. And that's just what's been done in a new development diary explaining to new players and returning players how dilithium works. It's the game's universal currency, in short, but it also serves to bridge the gap between having plenty of real money and having lots of in-game money with less real money.

Dilithium is rewarded to players through several means, but it's awarded as unrefined ore. The refining process is slow, with players having a soft limit of about 8000 refined dilithium a week (veteran and subscription players can refine slightly more). You can also trade it for the game's microtransaction currency on a live market. Once you have it, you can use it to buy new ships, rare crafting items, special gear, and certain Duty Officers. The full guide should answer any lingering questions you have about the currency, although it does not ask at any point if the players are down with dilithium.

Star Trek Online explains the nuances of dilithium originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Soapbox: Everybody wins

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous

I make no bones about the fact that despite working in this industry for three years, I know there are parts about MMOs and the culture around them that I just do not get. For example, I still have no idea what possesses someone to think that "toon" is a good term for characters. But on a slightly more serious note, I have no idea what makes people cheer for a game to fail.

You see it everywhere. World of Warcraft subscription numbers drop; people cheer. Something bad happens to EVE Online's community; people cheer. A game goes free-to-play; people announce the game's impending demise and begin cheering prematurely. A game closes down; people cheer.

I don't get this. All right, I get it on the most basic level, inasmuch as this is a game you don't like and you're willing to publicly crow about your schadenfreude. The thing is that this is never a good thing. Cheering for a game you dislike to do badly does not result in anything good.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Everybody wins

The Soapbox: Everybody wins originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online's New Eden Open tournament starts tomorrow

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Events (Real-World), PvP, News Items

EVE Online is a game all about competition, frequently with everyone else who happens to be within range of your weapons. As a result, it seems like an oversight that the game hasn't already gotten in on the prestigious field of competitive online gaming. That changes starting tomorrow with the first New Eden Open, a tournament of players competing for a grand total of $10,000 in prize money, hopefully not being carried on a vulnerable freighter in the form of PLEX.

The contest kicks off tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. EST complete with continuous live coverage on the official stream channel. Twenty-seven teams will be taking part in the double-elimination tournament, with the grand prize sitting at $6,000. Matches will be run each weekend until the finals on December 2nd. If you're on one of the competing teams, make sure your ships are up to snuff, and even if you're not in for the prize money, be sure to tune in and cheer for your favorite players.

EVE Online's New Eden Open tournament starts tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XIV explains changes to money and items

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Economy, Game Mechanics, News Items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV

A lot of changes are coming to Final Fantasy XIV when the relaunch finally comes around. Changes to currency and item properties are among the less interesting of those changes, but they're certainly going to have a big impact on the game. A new update from the development team explains in depth what will be changing, what items will be removed, and what will happen to currency values.

The currency one is what's going to throw the largest number of players for a loop, as the game is reducing all money values to a tenth of what they once were. To reduce numbers, all money is getting the ones digit removed, meaning that players will be 10% as wealthy as they are now, but all vendor prices will be 10% of their current values. Net purchasing power should be identical.

There will also be a number of items removed from the game, altered, or otherwise changed with the new version. Players will lose several key items and ammunition, and other items will be bound to a player to prevent trading. Take a look at the full rundown for all the particulars on graphics, money, and other mechanical shifts to inventory management.

Final Fantasy XIV explains changes to money and items originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Soapbox: The trouble with Kickstarter

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, Culture, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous

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.

It was right around the time that the Shadowrun Online Kickstarter went live that I started to wonder whether Kickstarter was doing some nasty things to the development practices of MMOs.

This isn't a commentary on Shadowrun Online itself, exactly. The game asked for players to put up $500,000 to fund development, and while that's an awful lot of money to ask from the pockets of fans, it still doesn't qualify as being high-budget by the standards of the industry. But in some ways, it's the apotheosis of something that started with several other games being funded on Kickstarter -- this sense that Kickstarter is the path of the future, that it's the ultimate litmus test of whether or not your MMO is worth developing and a great way to draw in venture capitalists for more funding.

I'm not convinced that this is a good thing for the health of MMO development. You can look at it as a way for strange niche titles to get their funding without convincing outside sources that it's worth the effort, but as we're ramping up to seeing the fruits of these projects (or lack thereof), I'm wondering whether it just allows ideas to get further along before they self-destruct.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The trouble with Kickstarter

The Soapbox: The trouble with Kickstarter originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: Easy money in SWTOR

Larry Everett — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, PvE, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guides, Hyperspace Beacon

Players have complained about Star Wars: The Old Republic's Legacy system's being a huge money sink. Why would I want to blow 275,000 credits to gain 30% extra XP? I'm not sure that the return is worth the investment unless you want to level multiple alts or level strictly through PvP, but I can understand BioWare's thinking regarding this sink. True, at the guild summit, we were told that the vast majority of level 50s have less than 500,000 credits in the bank, but I think you will agree that the money sink is needed when you see just how quickly money can be earned in SWTOR.

I've been asked multiple times by other players, "What is the fastest way to make money?" Well, just as in any other MMO, there isn't any way to make money superfast from zero. But doing daily quests can certainly help you out with most money struggles. What if I told you that you can make nearly 200,000 credits in less than two hours? That 30% PvP XP increase doesn't seem so far away now, does it? Because any amount of credits can be instantly sent to any of your alts on the same server (including ones of the opposite faction), you can make this fast money on your level 50 and ship it quickly to the alt you wish to power level.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Easy money in SWTOR

Hyperspace Beacon: Easy money in SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: How do you prefer to get your money in-game?

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Game Mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

No matter what game you're playing, you need money. Luckily, pretty much every game on the market also has multiple options to earn that money. There are things to beat up and quests to be done, but usually there are other options beyond that. Playing the auction house in World of Warcraft, running teleportation services in Final Fantasy XI, or any number of business ventures in EVE Online allow you to make your money however you see fit.

Some players find that manipulating auction house prices and playing a virtual stockbroker is the most fun path to riches. Others prefer to just make their money through quests, and if they wind up a bit poorer for it, so be it.

So how do you like to make money when you're playing a game? Is it more on the intricate market manipulation side of things, or is it a fairly straightforward practice of just clearing content?

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: How do you prefer to get your money in-game? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No relief in sight for 38 Studios after emergency meeting [Updated]

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: MMO Industry, News Items, Legal, Miscellaneous

Generally, when your company defaults on a major loan, you might expect an emergency meeting about the loan and the company's future would produce some results. But apparently today's meeting between 38 Studios owner Curt Schilling and Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee resulted in... absolutely nothing. Specifically, Rhode Island's Economic Development Corporation will take no immediate action to prevent the studio from going under, with Chafee on record as asking, "How do we avoid throwing good money after bad?"

It's a loaded question if you consider that the failure of 38 Studios would put the state's taxpayers on the hook for more than $112 million. Schilling has declined to elaborate on the company's state in interviews, and he has not made public how much more funding the company is seeking. It's bad news for the studio, bad news for the state, and bad news for any fans still looking forward to the possibility of Project Copernicus in the future.

[Update: Joystiq reports that "it appears 38 Studios put up all present and future IP by the company as collateral," meaning that if the studio defaults, the state of Rhode Island will own all of its game assets. We've tucked some of the ensuing news coverage in the video behind the break.]

Continue reading No relief in sight for 38 Studios after emergency meeting [Updated]

No relief in sight for 38 Studios after emergency meeting [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: 38 Studios may be having financial trouble

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:20:00 EST

Filed under: Lore, News Items, Rumors, Miscellaneous

38 Studios is one of many developers whose first big game (Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning) was rumored to lead into an MMO further on down the line. It looks like there may be storm clouds on the horizon before that project even gets moving, however, as the company may be facing financial issues. Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee has apparently been meeting with owner Curt Schilling to work on "different issues," with Chafee noting that his administration has always tried to ensure that Rhode Island companies remain financially solvent.

If you consider that Rhode Island invested about $75 million in the company, it's obvious that the government has an interest in making the company remain viable over the long term. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was a moderate hit, but that might not be enough for the company as it develops. We'll have more on this story as it develops, hopefully with better news.

Rumor: 38 Studios may be having financial trouble originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 64% of Chinese gamers spend money on online games

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Economy, MMO Industry, Free-to-Play, Miscellaneous

Gaming in China is serious business, especially once you consider that a strong majority of players dish out money to support their habit every month. Analyst group Niko Partners polled 500 Chinese gamers and found that 64% of them dropped money on online titles monthly, including many free-to-play and MMO games. Considering that China has 180 million players and a $5.8 billion gaming market, the country continues to be watched closely as a major economic force in the online realm.

And while MMOs still account for a good portion of the income, they've lost some ground to other types of games, according to Niko Partners Managing Partner Lisa Cosmas Hanson. "Online games revenues are now more distributed among various platforms and genres than they have been in past years, when MMORPGs compiled the vast majority of domestic revenue," she said.

Other interesting details from this report include the news that players are spending less time per week on games and that one in 10 players in the country is over 40 years of age.

Report: 64% of Chinese gamers spend money on online games originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft explains NA and EU Collector's Edition price difference [Updated]

Matt Daniel — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Economy, MMO Industry, News Items, Guild Wars 2

Many European Guild Wars 2 fans have been left scratching their heads over the pricing discrepancies between the U.S. and European Collectors' Editions of the title. As followers of the game are probably aware, the U.S. edition is being sold for $149.99 US while the European version is being sold for £129.99/€149.99.

The problem, of course, is that with the current exchange rates, £129.99 is closer to $206 US and €149.99 is just under $200 US, making the European versions of the game considerably pricier. NCsoft explained to PC Gamer today that the reason behind this discrepancy is that "currency fluctuations, distribution costs, taxes and market conditions in addition to the cost of goods are all contributing factors when setting pricing. These vary dramatically between NA and EU and our pricing is competitive and adjusted accordingly." As the article notes, this might make sense if we assume that the CE of the game is manufactured in the U.S., but even with the extra shipping costs, it's a pretty hefty addition to an already sizeable price tag.

[Update: NCsoft points out that the EU pricing includes VAT taxes (20%), while the North American pricing is pre-tax.]

NCsoft explains NA and EU Collector's Edition price difference [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cash rules everything around Pathfinder Online

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items, Sandbox

The latest in the series of Pathfinder Online developer diaries has just recently gone live, and this time it's covering something near and dear to the heart of many gamers: money. Even if you don't play an MMO specifically for the size of your bankroll, everyone likes having cash to spend and money in the bank. The diary explains that the heart of the game's economic system will be a currency known simply as coin, which is meant to be the driving force behind the virtual economy in-place.

Beyond the basics of the game's economic theory, however, the entry also reveals something of the game's business model, explaining that players will also be able to spend real money to purchase Skymetal Bits. These Bits work as microtransaction currency, running the gamut of the usual microtransaction services (skill training, cosmetic items, special content, and so forth). If you've been following the game along thus far, you'll probably want to see what information the latest entry is providing.

Cash rules everything around Pathfinder Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New WAKFU dev diary highlights player freedom, sandbox features

Jef Reahard — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Economy, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries, Sandbox, Crafting

If it's true that MMORPGs have become more linear as the genre has grown, it's also true that Ankama is setting out to do something different with WAKFU. The French development firm has released a new video dev diary titled Power to the Player, and it outlines how the free-to-play game is tackling some of the challenges inherent in sandbox design.

"We really wanted to make WAKFU a game based on freedom, a game which puts the player in control," says Ankama designer Azael. "Most current MMOs create a game and then insert the player. With WAKFU we aimed to create the game around the players."

WAKFU features very few NPCs (and no traditional vendor NPCs at all), and it also boasts mobs that don't drop money. Players create the game's currency themselves by harvesting ores and making use of minting machines, and players are also responsible for seeding the world with monsters since they don't respawn on their own. You can learn more about WAKFU by viewing the video after the break.

Continue reading New WAKFU dev diary highlights player freedom, sandbox features

New WAKFU dev diary highlights player freedom, sandbox features originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Newest F2P blog for Star Trek Online talks about dilithium

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-Play

Star Trek Online has always had a variety of currencies for players, each allowing access to different stocks of items. But another form of money is coming into the game, and much like gold-pressed latinum, it's something that has a long history in lore. The rare and valuable dilithium is being introduced as a new form of reward, and the latest entry in the Path to F2P series discusses just how the new form of money will work.

The most important role that the ore will play will be in replacing the existing free ship tokens that had previously come when players achieved a new rank. Earning a new ship will now be a more difficult and involved task, with a discount coupon and a free offering of refined dilithium to make it easier to earn a ship on a rank increase, but it won't be automatic. The entry goes on to state that the current implementation on the test server is not quite right, and it includes more discussion about how much effort is meant to be involved in getting a brand-new ship.

Newest F2P blog for Star Trek Online talks about dilithium originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Soapbox: Subs and cash shops - Two great tastes that taste awful together

Jef Reahard — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, Culture, Economy, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous

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.

Hoo boy, The Secret World. On the one hand, I was really looking forward to it. On the other hand, it's now joined the likes of EVE Online, pretty much every Sony Online Entertainment title ever made, Star Trek Online, Champions Online, and Funcom's own Age of Conan in my personal double-dipping doghouse.

Yeah, The Secret World is going to have a subscription model (hooray) and a cash shop (boo, hiss, and zomgwtf). This should surprise no one, really, since game industry devs have been going all Gordon Gekko on us for a while now, but it was nonetheless a disappointing reveal on several levels.

Equally disappointing are the folks who defend the subscription-plus-cash-shop model and erroneously refer to it as an example of consumer-friendly choice.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Subs and cash shops - Two great tastes that taste awful together

The Soapbox: Subs and cash shops - Two great tastes that taste awful together originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study suggests one in three gamers has purchased virtual goods

Jef Reahard — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, Culture, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, Consoles, Casual

Let's say you're playing an MMO with two of your mates. They could be online friends, real-world friends, or some combination of both. According to a new study conducted by PlaySpan and VGMarket, one of you has used real-world money to purchase virtual items.

The research was compiled last month and samples a pool of 1,000 gamers drawn from a VGMarket database. While the one-in-three statistic is interesting in its own right, even more compelling is the evidence that suggests 57 percent of participants purchase virtual items on a monthly basis.

You might think that social networking games are responsible for the lion's share of these percentages, but VGMarket's data show console games with online play accounting for 51 percent of the purchases, with social titles claiming second place at 30 percent (MMOs came in third, if you're curious). The study presents quite a number of curious factoids despite its relatively small sample size, and you can check out all the findings at the official PlaySpan website. It's also worth noting that downloading the full study requires providing PlaySpan with your personal info via a web registration form.

Study suggests one in three gamers has purchased virtual goods originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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League of Legends boasts 15 million registered players

Jef Reahard — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play

League of Legends has officially surpassed the 15 million player plateau. That means it's time for a smattering of silly stats from the marketing department to help illustrate just how large that number really is.

In a new press release published this morning, Riot Games touts everything from its peak concurrency numbers (500,000), to its daily player totals (1.4 million), to the headline-grabbing registered players figure. While those numbers are quite impressive, Riot doesn't stop there. "An average of ten games of LoL start every second of every day," the company says, before adding that "gamers spend 3.7 million hours in-game [...] every day."

The title's first season of competitive play is coming to a close, and Riot CEO Brandon Beck has a hearty thank you in store for the title's faithful. "We're committed to continuing to match their dedication with our relentless focus on ongoing enhancements to the player experience with great new features, content, and polish - and we have some very exciting surprises in store just around the corner," he says.

League of Legends boasts 15 million registered players originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Chat: Broke and richer for it edition

Justin Olivetti — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Economy, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Global Chat, Miscellaneous

Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

This week we're looking at all things money: Who has it, who doesn't, and why it makes the world go 'round. Naturally, Massively writers are richer than seven kings of Arabia combined and aren't concerned with such petty matters, but it seems to weigh heavily upon some of your heads. Hit the jump and let's see what the buzz was like in the comments section this past week!

Continue reading Global Chat: Broke and richer for it edition

Global Chat: Broke and richer for it edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Do you like the idea of monetizing third-party utilities?

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, Economy, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Between licensing issues and the general way of the internet, we've gotten used to the idea that MMO services outside of the company don't cost anything. World of Warcraft players might rely on Wowhead's database services, but that's free to anyone who knows where to look. But with the recent EVE Online move to allow third parties to make money on applications and services, there are some interesting questions to be asked about the way things work now.

On the one hand, charging money for services means that it's possible for good services and databases to go professional, helping to ensure a higher level of quality. On the other hand, no one likes paying money for something that used to be free, and the idea that said free services may not always be free is a bitter pill to swallow. So what do you think? Are you happy with the idea that independent developers can make money off of a game, or does the EVE Online change fill you with apprehension?

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 like the idea of monetizing third-party utilities? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Free-to-Play, The Road to Mordor

I have a confession to make. My name is Justin, and I'm a Lord of the Rings Online altoholic.

I know. I have a problem! I'm weak! DON'T STARE WITH THOSE ACCUSING EYES!

I always start out in games with the best of intentions: I'm going to stick with just one character, at least until I hit the level cap. I'll only make new characters to reserve names I like. I won't get class envy and wonder what's on the other side of the fence. I'll stay strong! I'll be an oak!

And then I turn out to be a willow tree, blowing about in the winds of whimsy, and suddenly I end up with alts staggered all over the leveling track. It's all right; I've come to embrace my altoholic tendencies because it really is who I am as a gamer. I like to sample everything, to try out different approaches to the game, and if I don't end up with a maxed-out uber-raider, then I can live with it.

If you follow this pattern and are prone to rolling up a lot of alts in LotRO, there are several advantages you can gain over the monogamous players out there. Today I want to take a look at how you can make your alts work for you, if only to give you an excuse to keep rolling them!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you

The Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Men outspend women on mobile social games

Matt Daniel — Fri, 27 May 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed 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.

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Gamigo doubles down to celebrate its 10-year anniversary

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 13 May 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, News Items, Free-to-Play, Promotions

Birthdays are usually a time when you get to have more things for yourself -- people bring you cake and presents while letting you act more or less however you want. But Gamigo is turning that formula on its ear just a bit. The publisher of several free-to-play games (such as Black Prophecy and King of Kings 3) is celebrating its 10th anniversary by giving away some bonuses to players, starting with a chance to get twice as much in-game money.

While each individual game will be getting some more specific promotions in the coming days, every 10th player who purchases money from a game's cash shop will receive double the amount purchased. It's a decent chance to double the size of your in-game wallet at no extra charge, although the promotion is only running for the next 10 days. If you'd had your eyes on a big purchase lately, now might be the time to put down the money -- you just might get lucky.

Gamigo doubles down to celebrate its 10-year anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Chat: Dollars and cents edition

Rubi Bayer — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, Culture, Economy, Opinion, Global Chat, Miscellaneous

Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

Global Chat this week is all about money. Be it real-world cash or piles of virtual gold, money is the foundation of much of our MMO experience. Ready to see what some of our best commenters had to say about all sorts of transactions this week? Follow along after the jump!

Continue reading Global Chat: Dollars and cents edition

Global Chat: Dollars and cents edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Are you in favor of alternative currency?

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Economy, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

It seems to me that more and more MMO developers are utilizing alternative types of currency in our games. Whether they're tokens, barter scraps, or golden leaves, we're now having to chase down all manner of currencies to get the goodies we want.

Our subject for discussion today: Is this a good thing or not? On one hand, I can understand that alternative currency helps to limit the amount of damage that gold sellers and farmers can do, and it provides incentives for players to participate in certain zones or activities. On the other hand, it feels as though these alternative currencies are cluttering up our bags, confusing our minds, and devaluing the standard currency in the game.

So looking at your favorite games, are you in favor of barter systems and tokens as an alternative to gold, silver and copper? Should every game have a barter wallet if so? Or do you wish that devs would cut it out and stick with one type of money as the standard?

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 in favor of alternative currency? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Soapbox: Time is money, friend

Brianna Royce — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, Culture, Lore, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Casual, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous

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.

MMOs are plagued by nasty -isms. Racism. Sexism. Nationalism. Ageism. Orientalism. Homophobia. Misogyny. OK, so those last two aren't really -isms, but you get my point. No matter how much we want our fantasy games to be zones of escapism, these prejudices chase us there. Sometimes we bring them with us as unwanted baggage that spills out in chat channels and character choices. And sometimes they're inherent in the game design itself.

Classism is one such problem you'd think the internet would reduce or conceal, but the divide between the haves and have-nots is stronger in MMOs than ever. To illustrate that point and how it affects us as gamers, I'd like to talk about another set of games ruled not by skill or talent but by money.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Time is money, friend

The Soapbox: Time is money, friend originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist and the Forbidden RuneScape: The R-Team

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, RuneScape, Free-to-Play, Browser, The Game Archaeologist

The Game Archaeologist is a lazy adventurer-slash-professor who dons his trademark cap for a weekly expedition through some of the most famous MMOs of the past few decades. Each month he chooses a different title to examine its highlights, talk with its developers, and invite its fans to share their experiences.

They come from all over the world just for one shot to be the elite of the elite. After a rigorous selection process, the survivors undergo months of hardcore training. Fingers aching from the strain and eyes itchy with sleep deprivation, these ripped warriors emerge to battle evil wherever it rears its ugly head. Budapest, probably. Or Easter Island. They loot with wild abandon, they craft with purpose, and they aren't afraid to jam on the caps lock button to make their voices heard.

So if you need their help -- and if you can afford them -- maybe you can hire the R-Team.

As we continue our month-long RuneScape safari, it's high past time that we hear from the R-Team members themselves. Four past and present RuneScape players graciously laid out the case as to why this MMO rocks socks off. To make a good thing even better, Jagex sent in five new screenshots for your enjoyment.

So what are you waiting for? Hit that jump like you mean it!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Forbidden RuneScape: The R-Team

The Game Archaeologist and the Forbidden RuneScape: The R-Team originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Does game currency matter?

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Economy, Opinion, The Daily Grind

They say that money makes the world go 'round, and this used to always be true in RPGs. Without solid bank, your character would be swinging a cardboard sword at enemy dragons and weeping from the humiliation. But once you performed enough virtual muggings, you'd be rolling in dough and able to equip the very best gear and weapons.

It struck me the other day that MMOs used to be more like this as well -- that the acquisition of gold, platinum or credits was a necessity to fund your character's gear. Older titles, like Anarchy Online, still function under this premise. However, it seems to me that with the rise of usable dropped loot, the value of money has decreased to the point where vendors are, in fact, a joke. Even stranger is the rise of alternative currencies in MMOs for decent gear that are gained through specific tasks instead of just picking it up off any old mob.

So does game currency matter to you? Is it there merely for a few pricey items (i.e., money sinks like mounts) or do you feel it has more purpose? Do you see some MMOs that give more worth to currency over others? Do you focus your time on building up wealth, or is money merely for travel costs and repair bills?

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: Does game currency matter? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WoW reaches 12 million concurrent subscribers

Jef Reahard — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Business Models, MMO Industry, News Items

It seems that World of Warcraft's oft-rumored (or is that wished-for) demise has been exposed as the usual forum scuttlebutt, thanks to a report today that confirms the MMORPG behemoth is cruising along with 12 million concurrent subscribers in tow. Our friends over at WoW Insider tipped us off to Blizzard's latest milestone, which you can view for yourself via a press release on the official European website.

With the December release of Cataclysm looming, things are looking up for the massive genre's reigning champion, and while many of WoW's would-be competitors are turning to free-to-play business models to survive, the gap between Azeroth and the various also-rans only seems to be growing.

WoW reaches 12 million concurrent subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Money money money! Money!

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 25 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, The Daily Grind

Money: it makes the world go 'round. It's also one of those necessary staples to keep your character happy and well-outfitted. Whether used to get that sweet piece of loot on the auction house, fund a mount, pay for skills and repairs, or just to feel (for once) like a billionaire, it doesn't hurt to amass as much money in game as possible.

So what's your trick, your technique for raking in the dough? Are you a minimal earner, vendoring all of your loot and just getting by? Do you farm crafting components to auction off, or are you a crafty crafter who makes high-demand products? Do you complete every quest possible -- not for the XP, but for the cold, hard cash? Have you tip-toed down the dark side of RMT for easy gold?

We'd love to hear your secret for becoming an in-game Scrooge McDuck. So how do you make your money?

The Daily Grind: Money money money! Money! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 May 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It pays to love Darkfall

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Contests, Making money, News Items

Do you like Darkfall? Does it go above and beyond the call of duty, insofar as paying a company a monthly subscription for their game can be described as a duty? Or, if you would consider your love for the game somewhat more pedestrian, would you be willing to go above and beyond for the tune of five thousand dollars? (Yes, yes, read it in the Dr. Evil voice if you must.) Then you may want to take a look at the recently announced contest on the official forums, the celebration of the game's birthday with the new "I Love Darkfall" contest.

Thraiax made the official announcement, calling for the game's fans to do... well... whatever they see fit. The contest makes no distinctions about how a fan shows their love, be it a video, artwork, or something completely out of left field. All that matters is that it shows the depth of your love for the game. The best entry, judged by the staff, will receive a whopping $5,000 prize, proof that love can indeed pay your bills. More will be revealed in the next few days, but for the time being, start thinking of how best to show your love. (Flowers probably won't work here.)

It pays to love Darkfall originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Hey big spender!

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Making money, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Gil. Gold. Adeena. ISK. Influence. Infamy. Chips. Crowns. Whatever the game calls it (and there are a lot more words aside from those) money is an important part of most MMOs. Much like money in the real world, it generally follows three simple rules: you need it, you don't have enough of it, and you can't get it fast enough. And we all deal with it in our own way.

But when the time comes, almost every one of us will pony up seemingly astronomical sums for that one thing. It might be a mount, maybe weapons or armor, perhaps a piece of furniture in a game with player housing. Whatever the item is, the cost of obtaining it becomes a non-obstacle, and your cash display turns into a new experience bar that you need to fill for your precious treasure.

So, what was your biggest purchase? Was it something that was once expensive but now cheap, or is it still pricey as ever? Were you happy to have it or regretful at blowing your bankroll? And perhaps most importantly, do you still have it and use it, or has it long since been replaced?

The Daily Grind: Hey big spender! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kung Foo! closed beta event

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Contests, Events (In-Game), Making money, Free-to-Play, Kung Foo!

If you've been involved in a beta over the last several weeks and haven't been boldly going where no gender-neutral-pronoun has gone before, you've probably been taking a look at Kung Foo!. Statistically speaking. Maybe you're in on the Hello Kitty Online: Rise of Cthulhu beta testing, we're not sure. Anyway. If you have been testing Kung Foo! recently, you'll be familiar with the volume and intensity of events that the community team has been organizing to keep the beta tests as engaging as possible. In preparation for Closed Beta 2 next week, they've announced another testing event... and the rewards are cold, hard cash.

Well, cold, hard, item-mall cash. Which is still a nice freebie.

The servers will go live for Closed Beta 2 on January 26th, 4 PM PST (7 PM for those of us running on EST), and the event will start an hour later at 5 PM PST on Realm 4. The official blog for Perfect World Entertainment will update this blog entry with a screenshot hinting at where the GM is hiding. Be the first to find him, and you win $50 worth of Zen currency. Easy money, isn't it? And a perfect way to get more excited about the game's launch when testing starts.

Kung Foo! closed beta event originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Being in it for the money

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, MMO Industry, Making money, Opinion

We might fight a lot of enemies in our MMOs, but a number of players will agree that there's one enemy that is bigger than anything else: the company that makes the game. Blizzard, Square-Enix, Funcom, Bioware -- according to this branch of the playerbase, they don't care at all about the people playing their game. All they're concerned about is making money. They just want to get your money by any means necessary.

However, the people who claim that say that like it's a bad thing.

Nobody ever smiles and says "boy, I'm sure glad Sony Online Entertainment is in this for the money." Oddly enough, when you start to think about it, the fact of the matter is that it's not only transparent that these companies are in it for the money, it's a good thing. We should be happy that most of these companies are there to get our money by any means necessary.

Continue reading Being in it for the money

Being in it for the money originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Korea rules that virtual currencies can be exchanged for real money

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lineage 2, Making money, News Items, Legal, Virtual Worlds

The odd thing about us gamers is that we seem to think of the various doodads in our games as being real -- even more to the point, as being ours. We think and act as if we're owed some compensation if we're deprived of them. Which is silly, really -- after all, that Monster Signa isn't a real staff, that Deputy Chain Coat isn't a real coat, and all that gold isn't real money.

Except that now, in South Korea, it is. A ruling by the nation's supreme court has stated that virtual currency is the equivalent of real-world money. Even more sweeping are the details of the case that led to the ruling, in which two men were on trial for exchanging a large amount of Lineage II Adeena for cold, hard currency.

For those of you who might not be drawing the link, the core there is that selling in-game currency for real money is essentially just an exchange of currency and perfectly legal in South Korea. This could have sweeping implications for RMT operations the world over, not to mention free-to-play games and... well, online games in general. The official story is available online from both the Korea Times and JoongAng Daily.

Korea rules that virtual currencies can be exchanged for real money originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Code something for Ryzom's new API, win cash!

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Contests, Culture, Game Mechanics, Launches, Ryzom

If you're bored, have some free time, and enjoy coding programs then do we have the contest for you! The team over at Ryzom have put together a brand new API for their game, and they're celebrating its launch with a contest for budding developers! Even better, the prizes are all monetary!

What the Ryzom team is looking for is people who can utilize their new API for whatever gadgets, tools, or websites they can dream up. The winning use of the API will be the one that displays innovation, usefulness, ease-of-use, multilingual support, validity and completeness, and optimized coding. Popularity, stability, and availability will be taken into consideration as well with all coding entries.

The winning entry will receive 3,000 euros (approximately 4,200 US dollars), second place will receive 1,000 euros (1,400 US dollars), and third place will be netting 500 euros (700 US dollars.)

So what are you waiting for? Get coding!

[Thanks, J3kyll!]

Code something for Ryzom's new API, win cash! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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