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[EVE Evolved: Bringing back the glory days]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/21/eve-evolved-bringing-back-the-glory-days/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/21/eve-evolved-bringing-back-the-glory-days/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/21/eve-evolved-bringing-back-the-glory-days/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

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In years gone by, exploring the unknown far reaches of the EVE Online universe meant setting a course for nullsec. With no way to install a permanent residence in the most lucrative far-off systems, players would launch dangerous expeditions into the deep with the hope of striking it rich. Nullsec was the only place to mine rare ores containing megacyte and zydrine, and piracy wasn't as common as it is today. For putting themselves at the risk of pirates, miners were rewarded with an income stream greater than that of any other profession in the game. It was a golden age in exploration that wasn't to repeat itself until March 2009's Apocrypha expansion opened 2500 hidden wormhole systems for exploitation.

Things have changed considerably since those early days of EVE. Player-built starbases and outposts have transformed the face of nullsec, allowing alliances to build themselves an empire in the void. December 2009's Dominion expansion brought a complete revamp of the nullsec sovereignty mechanics, allowing alliances to upgrade their space but dramatically increasing the cost of system ownership. Despite all of these updates and improvements, over the past several years we have somehow lost a lot of what made nullsec great in its glory days. Local industry has been replaced by risk-free logistics, and nullsec's risky but rewarding mining profession is now greatly overshadowed by safe highsec mission-running.

With a new iterative nullsec revamp scheduled to begin this winter, I use this week's EVE Evolved to speculate on what can be done to bring back the glory days of nullsec industry.

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MassivelyEVE Evolved: Bringing back the glory days originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arkonorbistotccpccp-eveccp-gamescrokitedysprosiumeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexpansionfeaturedglory-daysindustrymanufacturingminingmoonmoonsoreoutpostplayer-generated-contentplayer-housingplayer-owned-stationpvestarbasetech-1tech-2tech-3territorial-warfareSun, 21 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Duncan Jones has high expectations for Warcraft film]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/03/duncan-jones-has-high-expectations-for-warcraft-film/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/03/duncan-jones-has-high-expectations-for-warcraft-film/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/03/duncan-jones-has-high-expectations-for-warcraft-film/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Video game adaptations generally make for pretty bad cinema. Whether its Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil, or Tomb Raider, films that originate on a PC or gaming console aren't normally mentioned in the same breath as Citizen Kane or The Godfather. Duncan Jones, director of 2009's indie smash Moon (and the forthcoming Jake Gyllenhaal vehicle Source Code), says that perception could change with Sam Raimi's World of Warcraft adaptation.

"I really believe World of Warcraft could be the launch of computer games as good films. And from the little I've read of interviews with him the way he's approaching it makes so much sense," Jones told Badass Digest over the holidays.

So why have so many video game adaptations failed to capture audience hearts and minds? Jones posits that it may be due to the fact that few filmmakers understand games or gamers. "I'm very cynical of the number of directors who say they're actual gamers [...] I'm a real gamer and I think there are less real gamers involved in directing only because you have to spend so much time making films that there's no time to be a hardcore gamer," he said.

MassivelyDuncan Jones has high expectations for Warcraft film originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cultureduncan-jonesfilminterviewsjake-gyllenhaalmmo-industrymoonsam-raimisource-codeWorld-of-Warcraftwowwow-filmwow-movieMon, 03 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Second Life takes you to the moon (almost)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/second-life-takes-you-to-the-moon-almost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/second-life-takes-you-to-the-moon-almost/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/second-life-takes-you-to-the-moon-almost/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Tucked away on one side of the Space Frontier Sandbox in Second Life is a reproduction Saturn V , apparently to scale, at rest on the launch-pad and serviced by the customary gantry. The individual pieces are made by different Second Life users, but the combined work is that of one Wicked Quasimodo, who has turned it into a very authentic-seeming launch, flight and (eventually) moon-landing simulation.

A HUD object provided on the launch pad provides all the NASA ambience that you'd expect from a detailed simulation. While still a work-in-progress, and with a few little glitches, it remains a very atmospheric experience.

Continue reading Second Life takes you to the moon (almost)

MassivelySecond Life takes you to the moon (almost) originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 May 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apollo-11lunar-landermoonnasaopinionsecond-lifesecond-life-placesspace-frontier-sandboxvirtual-worldswicked-quasimodoMon, 18 May 2009 11:00:00 EST