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[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: , , ,

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.

MassivelyMen 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[Anti-Aliased Special Edition: Net neutrality, the FCC, Comcast, and Glenn Beck]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/anti-aliased-special-edition-net-neutrality-the-fcc-com/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/anti-aliased-special-edition-net-neutrality-the-fcc-com/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/anti-aliased-special-edition-net-neutrality-the-fcc-com/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So today's Wednesday and yes, I know, my column usually doesn't run on Wednesday. However, thanks the recent ruling against the Federal Communications Commission in their net neutrality case, it seems that there's a very relevant topic to talk about as soon as possible.

Let me open by saying this -- net neutrality isn't another one of those overblown media stories, or something that we should put off on the backburner. Yet, while everyone's talking about net neutrality, few people are really talking about what it is, why you should care, and why you can't trust everything you're hearing about net neutrality. I've heard more than a few mistruths about the subject recently -- including a whole string of mistruths from everyone's favorite comedy network, Fox News.

So today, let's set some things straight and talk about net neutrality. This is very serious stuff for the avid MMO gamer, the casual online gamer, or, well, anyone who touches the Internet.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased Special Edition: Net neutrality, the FCC, Comcast, and Glenn Beck

MassivelyAnti-Aliased Special Edition: Net neutrality, the FCC, Comcast, and Glenn Beck originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appeals-courtassociated-pressblizzard-downloadercomcastcomcast.netfccfederal-communications-commissionfox-newsglenn-beckinternet-capinternet-usagelegalmsnbcnet-neutralitynetworknetwork-neutralityneutralneutralitypeer-to-peerpeer-to-peer-networkingservice-packageturbine-updaterWed, 07 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plenty of gaming options for today's 'tweens]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/plenty-of-gaming-options-for-todays-tweens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/plenty-of-gaming-options-for-todays-tweens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/plenty-of-gaming-options-for-todays-tweens/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

According to this MSNBC article, there are no less than 200 youth-oriented virtual worlds and MMOs either in development or on the market. Some of these titles even boast account numbers that rival Facebook and MySpace as analysts estimate 30M users in Club Penguin, 52M users in Neopets, and 90M in Habbo.

Is this really surprising though? Probably not when you consider that kids today aren't totally different in this generation than previous generations. 'Tweens have always liked to socialize, play, and simply "hang out." The difference nowadays is that parents tend to have looser restrictions and the kids can accomplish most of the things they like to do without even leaving a computer chair. The rules and tools have changed.

The article also talks about a 89/10/1 rule that most F2P/RMT games aim for. This rule assumes that 89% of people will play your game for free, 10% will pay the minimum, and 1% will spend lots of money. Apply that rule to the recent announcements that both Free Realms and Runes of Magic have surpassed 1M users. If the rule applies, it means 100,000 people are paying the basic fees (~$5/month) and 10,000 are spending oodles on extras ($15+/month). That's roughly $650,000 per month, which isn't half bad depending on your development costs.

MassivelyPlenty of gaming options for today's 'tweens originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>club-penguinfacebookfree-realmsgaminghabbo-hotelkidsmmorpgmsnbcmyspaceneopetsrunes-of-magictweensvirtual-worldsFri, 22 May 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Machinima news interviews?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/26/the-daily-grind-machinima-news-interviews/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/26/the-daily-grind-machinima-news-interviews/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/26/the-daily-grind-machinima-news-interviews/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Yesterday we were treated to an interview on MSNBC that was held within Lord of the Rings Online. Aside from the fact that it's refreshing to see news coverage where games aren't being blamed for the world's ills, it was interesting to see them using game footage in this fashion. That said, people have been doing interviews in virtual worlds like Second Life for quite some time, and using machinima for everything from PR to corporate training. Still, we wondered - is this something you'd like to see more often on mainstream TV - machinimated interviews from different MMOs? Would you, for example, tune in to watch an interview with Vin Diesel if he were on his (rumored) Resto Shaman in World of Warcraft? Would you be more or less likely to watch interviews with game developers or PR people if they were held in their respective games? Or is that a bit too geeky for you, and you'd prefer to stick with in-person interviews?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Machinima news interviews? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-interviewinterviewlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromachinimamsnbcnewsstar-interviewsThu, 26 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MSNBC: Live from Middle-Earth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/25/msnbc-live-from-middle-earth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/25/msnbc-live-from-middle-earth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/25/msnbc-live-from-middle-earth/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Usually when a major news outlet picks up a story about a video game, it's in relation to how destructive they are, or how unmoral they are, or it will just be a really dry interview with a game designer that everyone's going to forget about in two hours. So when we got word that MSNBC was interested in the Lord of the Rings Online, we weren't expecting this oddly amusing interview.

Todd Kenreck, roving reporter and elven guardian, has taken it upon himself to brave the locales of Middle-Earth and catch up with LotRO's live producer Aaron Campbell. He braves the Misty Mountains, travels through Bree-Land, and gets all of the information from Aaron as the two chat in the scenic Rivendell. The entire interview is done inside of the game in a machinima style, and makes a pretty nice visual case for playing LotRO.

We've embedded the full video after the break, so everyone can enjoy some solid reporting from the lands of Middle-Earth.

Continue reading MSNBC: Live from Middle-Earth

MassivelyMSNBC: Live from Middle-Earth originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-campbellinterviewlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromachinimamsnbcmsnbc.comoverviewrivendelltodd-kenreckvideoWed, 25 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Academic research into EverQuest II already proving fruitful]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/academic-research-into-everquest-ii-already-proving-fruitful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/academic-research-into-everquest-ii-already-proving-fruitful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/academic-research-into-everquest-ii-already-proving-fruitful/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Massively recently mentioned that Sony Online Entertainment and academia are teaming up to plumb the depths of EverQuest II's server logs, with benefits for both the researchers and SOE. (For the record, private subscriber info hasn't been made available to the academic community, according to an SOE statement on the matter.) The data logs and opt-in survey results are already proving fruitful, according to a piece run today on MSNBC by Games editor Kristin Kalning. Her piece raises the point that EverQuest II's gamers, despite being a global community, spend far more time socializing with friends, family, and acquaintances than with the wider playerbase.

This isn't to say that EQII players are insular, but it does emphasize the fact that games aren't simply a hobby or an escape for those surveyed, and are very much a way to keep in touch with family and friends. In other words, they tend to take their offline relationships online, Kalning writes.

Continue reading Academic research into EverQuest II already proving fruitful

MassivelyAcademic research into EverQuest II already proving fruitful originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiaacademiccultureeverquest-2everquest-iifantasygendergender-disparitykristin-kalningmmo-industrymsnbcmsnbc.comon-the-levelresearchroleplayingsoesony-online-entertainmentMon, 23 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Champions Online gameplay video, screens and writer interview surface]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/17/new-champions-online-gameplay-video-screens-and-writer-intervie/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/17/new-champions-online-gameplay-video-screens-and-writer-intervie/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/17/new-champions-online-gameplay-video-screens-and-writer-intervie/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

It looks like Champions Online is surfacing in some new places with a new gameplay video up on MSNBC and an interview with John Layman, the game's writer, up on Comic Book Resources. The video isn't in the best resolution, but it's enough to see that the visuals and new powers are really starting to come along.

A lot of ambient lighting seems to have been added, which is making the game look much more visually appealing. We did notice some of the animations were certainly looking finished, while some weren't quite there yet. A caveat: If obsessively following MMOs-in-development for over nine years has taught us anything, it's that games often don't look "finished" until they just about ready to ship.

The interview with John Layman comes with a cache of new screens, which are the first set that really make the game look good in a paused state -- something not achieved until now. As for the discussion with Layman, it's entirely worth a read if you're interested in Champions Online at all.

MassivelyNew Champions Online gameplay video, screens and writer interview surface originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ataricbrchampionschampions-onlinecomic-book-resourcescrypticgameplayjohn-laymanmsnbcvideoSat, 17 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Red5 sends recruitment messages that won't self-destruct]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/21/red5-sends-recruitment-messages-that-wont-self-destruct/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/21/red5-sends-recruitment-messages-that-wont-self-destruct/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/21/red5-sends-recruitment-messages-that-wont-self-destruct/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The adage usually goes "it's hard to find good help these days." And it's all too true in the gaming industry. While other industries may shun players of MMORPGs, game development companies are actively looking to recruit top-notch talent. Competition is tough to get the best developers, especially when the projects they might be working on cannot be revealed. So to break the monotony of typical recruiter phone calls, Red 5 came up with a unique way to get potential employees interested.

Their Golden Ticket system sent 100 developers an unmarked FedEx box. Inside was another box, labeled 1, that featured art from the game under development and looked vaguely like it might have come from a Mission: Impossible set. Then, in a sort of modern Russian nesting doll manner, the potential employee uncovered the full group of five boxes. Within the fifth box was an iPod, personally engraved for that recipient, along with a code to enter on the Red5 website. The iPod, once hooked up with the site, played a personalized message inviting the developer to the Red5 offices to check out the facility and interview. Quite a unique, if paranoia-inducing, way to get new applicants.

MassivelyRed5 sends recruitment messages that won't self-destruct originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>employmentmsnbcrecruitingred-5red-5-studiosred5videoSun, 21 Dec 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Can WoW make your child a better citizen?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/can-wow-make-your-child-a-better-citizen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/can-wow-make-your-child-a-better-citizen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/can-wow-make-your-child-a-better-citizen/#commentsFiled under: , ,

What's this? An article on a mainstream news site proclaiming that gaming will not turn our children into mini Charles Mansons? It's true! According to a story published at MSNBC, the Pew Internet & American Life Project is discovering that online games are positively affecting our children's civic experiences. The research doesn't simply track how much time kids are spending in social games, but it's delving into what the children are doing with that time.

"Video games can provide hands-on learning opportunities for kids that can be much more meaningful than reading a textbook," this article states. It goes on to make an interesting analysis of social interaction in our favorite online games, "Helping a newbie get his sea legs in a game simulates the real-world experience of volunteering. And playing games online can expose kids to people with worldviews that differ from their own - in positive and negative ways."

MassivelyCan WoW make your child a better citizen? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>childrenkidsmsnbcpewpew-internet-and-american-life-projectreal-lifeworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 16 Sep 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Smedley talks "MMO Reinvention" with MSNBC]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/25/smedley-talks-mmo-reinvention-with-msnbc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/25/smedley-talks-mmo-reinvention-with-msnbc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/25/smedley-talks-mmo-reinvention-with-msnbc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

John Smedley and the rest of Sony Online Entertainment want you to focus on reinventing the MMO. With games on their list like The Agency and Free Realms, what else would they want you to think?

While sitting down with MSNBC's Kristin Kalning, Smedley talked about the old days of MMOs, when EverQuest was the pinnacle of MMO game design, and how that has changed in recent years with the advent of World of Warcraft. But what is to be taken away from this interview is how SOE wishes to take the genre into a new direction, targeting shooter fans with The Agency and the 12-year-old crowd with Free Realms.

Appealing to both genders and creating new objectives that aren't just "kill stuff" are top priorities in how Smedley wishes to see MMOs change. He points out that it's clear that the market can expand, especially when RuneScape has more players than World of Warcraft, and how different methods can be used to capture that market.

It's clear that SOE is very interested in taking back their MMO crown, and even more clear that they're going into untouched waters to do it. However, the MSNBC article proves very insightful, and we all know that MMOs can use a little bit of a change up every now and then.

MassivelySmedley talks "MMO Reinvention" with MSNBC originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 May 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>free-realmsinterviewjohn-smedleykristen-kalningMSNBCreinventsoesony-online-entertainmentthe-agencySun, 25 May 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MSNBC readers rate World of Warcraft as most addicting game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/msnbc-readers-rate-world-of-warcraft-as-most-addicting-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/msnbc-readers-rate-world-of-warcraft-as-most-addicting-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/11/msnbc-readers-rate-world-of-warcraft-as-most-addicting-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Kristen Kalning, the games editor of MSNBC, asked her readers, "What game hooked you and why?" After the flood of e-mails finished cascading through her inbox and she tallied the votes in each one, it wasn't surprising that World of Warcraft came up as the leader.

While she does say that other games like City of Heroes, and other non MMO games like Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, and even Guitar Hero came up, her article took the time to mostly focus on the addicting properties of WoW. Readers added their own tales of addiction and the addiction of others, and Kalning relates some of the most woe-worthy stories she received in her inbox.

However, the article isn't all doom and gloom. One reader took the time to talk about how Guild Wars helped her with her shyness while another reader explained the proud feeling his Halo 3 accomplishments give him. It's always nice to see that games aren't harming the social habits of every gamer who picks up a controller or keyboard and mouse.

If you're fascinated by addiction, or just looking for a story to scare your WoW addicted spouse, be sure to drop by and check out her article, as well as the original. If it's the addicted spouse, however, may we interest you in a detox clinic?

MassivelyMSNBC readers rate World of Warcraft as most addicting game originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 May 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictionarenanetblizzardcall-of-duty-4city-of-heroescod4cohguild-warsguitar-herogwh3halo3kalningkristenkristen-kalningmsnbcmsnbc.comncsoftworld-of-warcraftSun, 11 May 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What makes games addictive?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/what-makes-games-addictive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/what-makes-games-addictive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/what-makes-games-addictive/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

(Hint: It's not the taste!) Video game addiction is a topic that tends to occupy the attention of the mainstream media any time there's a slow news day, and even sometimes (like yesterday, for instance) when it's not. Videogames; how they're making junkies of your kids, news at 11! It's an issue that we here at Massively are quite sensitive to, and we've written about it it again and again and again.

So imagine our delight when MSNBC, being the paragons of gaming wisdom that they are, took a crack at the subject, trying to to discern what combination of elven temptresses and subliminal messages will get people hooked on games, and MMOs in particular. Their answer, not surprisingly, is that MMOs offer an extremely gratifying system of toil and reward that keep players coming back for that next achievement. And when people are bereft of strong social ties in their work-a-day lives, they're susceptible to becoming addicted. Excuse us if we don't recoil in shock and surprise.

MassivelyWhat makes games addictive? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictionaddictiveindustrymainstream-mediamsnbcsensationalismWed, 23 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft: has the focus shifted?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/23/ncsoft-why-has-the-focus-shifted/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/23/ncsoft-why-has-the-focus-shifted/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/23/ncsoft-why-has-the-focus-shifted/#commentsFiled under: , ,

NCsoft -- known for such stunningly beautiful games as Guild Wars and Lineage/Lineage II -- is slowly expanding its focus in Korea into the non-game sector. Working with in-house studio Openmaru, the company is building a series of online services to aid in comforting investors. Admittedly, the South Korean Won (KRW) is trading in a slightly stronger position against the United States Dollar (USD) now than it was in October, but that doesn't stop their concern over seeing NCsoft's stock slowly spiral downward from 86,4000 KRW in October (approximately $94.43/share) to 45,000 KRW ($48.27/share) as of Friday's market close. As a result of this move, CEO Kim Taek-jin has promised that the company will increase its investment in online applications, including data and schedule management programs and social-networking services.

Continue reading NCsoft: has the focus shifted?

MassivelyNCsoft: has the focus shifted? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Nov 2007 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingCity-of-HeroesCity-of-VillainsCoHCoVCoXGamerankings.comKim-Taek-jinLineageLineage-IIMMORPGMSNBCNCsoftOnline-ServicesOpenmaruScott-TavesStockTabula-RasaFri, 23 Nov 2007 21:30:00 EST