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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: DragonRealms]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/rise-and-shiny-dragonrealms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/rise-and-shiny-dragonrealms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/rise-and-shiny-dragonrealms/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

DragonRealms website artwork
As a part of MUD May, I just had to play at least one MUD for Rise and Shiny. I have a handful of favorite MUDs, like GemStone IV, BatMUD, and Achaea, but I have never really given DragonRealms a chance. Until now. I've poked into it here and there, but every time I found myself on the Simutronics website, I always logged into GemStone IV. I heard that DragonRealms was a lot different, more hardcore, and filled with PvP, and after spending an initial week with the game and the killer community, I can say that it is different, but mainly in a few outstanding ways. Of course I might find much more that sets the game apart if I played it for several years like some of the people I met in game, but for now I'll settle with telling you what I've learned so far.

The usual embedded video in this article serves two purposes. First, it's an interview piece I did with Eric Latham, Producer at Simutronics. Next, it's a glance at DragonRealms, from character creation to a bit of gameplay. It's not as in-depth as my other videos, but it keeps in the greater theme of MUD May.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: DragonRealms

MassivelyRise and Shiny: DragonRealms originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anno-onlinebeau-hindmanDragonrealmseric-lathamf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgemstone-ivhands-onlivestreammassively-tvmudMUD-MayMUDsmulti-user-domainmulti-user-dungeonrise-and-shinysimutronicsstreamthe-settlers-onlinetwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 19 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Celebrating MUD May with Gemstone IV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/free-for-all-celebrating-mud-may-with-gemstone-iv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/free-for-all-celebrating-mud-may-with-gemstone-iv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/15/free-for-all-celebrating-mud-may-with-gemstone-iv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

GemStone IV website screenshot
MUD May has been a blast so far, but I won't lie to you and say that I hope to even make a dent in the decades-old history of many of these titles. I decided instead to use some examples from my favorite MUDs that I have come across over the last couple of years. It's admittedly been a challenge to think about what to cover. Do I cover the communities? The in-game mechanics? The publishers?

This week I decided to attempt to kill several birds with a handful of stones (and questions) and snagged Simutronics Producer Eric Latham for an video interview. Simutronics has been in the business for 26 years, and the publisher makes my favorite MUD, Gemstone IV. Latham has been with the company for 15 of those years! Technically I am using the interview and video as part of my Rise and Shiny series, but the questions and answers are more relevant to the general topic of MUDs. You might see it now as well as later, but it will hopefully provide some insight into the world of making MUDs.

Continue reading Free for All: Celebrating MUD May with Gemstone IV

MassivelyFree for All: Celebrating MUD May with Gemstone IV originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmaneric-lathamf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgemstonegemstone-ivmudMUD-MayMUDsopinionsimutronicsvelvet-ropeWed, 15 May 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: MMOs are to kids what MUDs are to us]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/the-soapbox-mmos-are-to-kids-what-muds-are-to-us/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/the-soapbox-mmos-are-to-kids-what-muds-are-to-us/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/the-soapbox-mmos-are-to-kids-what-muds-are-to-us/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Vendetta Online on the iPad
I love MUDs. When I go through a several-hour long MUD session, I feel as if I took part in a greater story, and most of the fun was not based on stats or gear. MUDs let me escape into a world because they are about story first. I think I'm pretty rare, though. I can't find many other writers who seem to write about MUDs unless they are referencing them like some sort of relic from the past. The truth is that MUDs are still being loved, played, and enjoyed by thousands. Covering MUDs is as important as covering any other MMO. They're still part of the bigger picture.

I'm sure many of you reading this now could not care less about MUDs. You might have played one years ago, but generally they are seen as the cute elderly citizens of MMOdom. That's cool if that's how you feel, but now think about this: The new generation, kids between 13 and 20 years old, will look at many of our large PCs and 20 gig MMOs the same way modern gamers look at MUDs.

Continue reading The Soapbox: MMOs are to kids what MUDs are to us

MassivelyThe Soapbox: MMOs are to kids what MUDs are to us originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmandelleditorialfeaturedIOSipadiphonemudMUDsmulti-user-dungeonop-edopinionpcpc-gamingrantrantssmartphonesoapboxtablet-pctabletsthe-soapboxTue, 14 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny revisit: Mabinogi remains magical]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/rise-and-shiny-revisit-mabinogi-remains-magical/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/rise-and-shiny-revisit-mabinogi-remains-magical/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/12/rise-and-shiny-revisit-mabinogi-remains-magical/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mabinogi screenshot
I try to take deeper looks at certain titles at least once a year. These are special games that prove to me that MMORPGs are still the best gaming you can participate in, pixel for pixel. Mabinogi is one of those titles. It's also one of those titles that almost makes me want to quit writing about games. Ironically, the more you write about games, the less time you have to play specific titles, games that could easily suck away hours of your life every day. These are virtual worlds with open character development and grand, sweeping storylines. If I had the time, I'd probably spend most of it in Mabinogi.

During this week's revisit, I knew I had to accomplish several things. First, I needed to clean up my quest list. Mabinogi is wonderful in the way it offers a player tons and tons of content and storylines, but they can be visited in a non-linear fashion that leads to confusion. Second, I wanted to revel in the glory that was the newly free extended inventory. Third, I wanted to check out the new systems and tweaks that have come along since I last dived into the game.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny revisit: Mabinogi remains magical

MassivelyRise and Shiny revisit: Mabinogi remains magical originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanDragonrealmsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onlivestreammabinogimassively-tvmudMUD-MayNexonnexon-americarise-and-shinySandboxstreamtwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 12 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: An intro to basic combat in MUDs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/free-for-all-an-intro-to-basic-combat-in-muds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/free-for-all-an-intro-to-basic-combat-in-muds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/free-for-all-an-intro-to-basic-combat-in-muds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Gemstone IV artwork
Welcome back to the second installment of MUD May! Almost any time I write an article, I try to keep new players in mind. It's fun to see the reaction from readers when I talk about MUDs or other "classic" MMO models and how these games can pull in fresh blood. Many people seem to forget that there are new players coming into MMO gaming all the time, and MUDs should be no different. Over the next few columns, I will be pulling examples from five games: Gemstone IV, Dragonrealms, Threshold RPG, BatMUD, and Achaea to explain how some basic MUD systems work.

With that in mind, I'd like to use this week's installment to explain -- in a very simple way -- how combat might feel in a MUD. One of the biggest hurdles for a new MUD player is often the massive amount of information that is built from decades of development. MUD players often sneer at the thought of simplifying the entry for new players. To be fair, this unwelcoming attitude is common in gaming in general. I feel differently, however, and want to explain some of the basics of these fantastic MMOs -- simply -- in a way that illustrates just how cool MUDs can be.

Continue reading Free for All: An intro to basic combat in MUDs

MassivelyFree for All: An intro to basic combat in MUDs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achaeaBatMUDbeau-hindmanDragonrealmsf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgemstone-ivmudMUD-MayMUDsopinionsimutronicsthreshold-rpgvelvet-ropeWed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Introduction to MUD May]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/free-for-all-introduction-to-mud-may/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/free-for-all-introduction-to-mud-may/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/01/free-for-all-introduction-to-mud-may/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Gemstone IV character description screenshot
For the month of May, I will be using this column to cover the world of MUDs aka multi-user-domains or dungeons. MUDs are text-based MMORPGs, and playing one is sort of like playing through a choose-your-own-adventure book with potentially thousands of other players. I'm not so arrogant to think that I could cover the decades of MUD development within the span of five articles, but I've had a go at it in the past and want to examine the topic more. Why?

There are many reasons, and to kick off this series, I'd like to talk about them. After today, my columns will concentrate on interviews with developers and players to explain how and why MUDs still work, and I hope that all of this will encourage many of you who have never tried a MUD to pick one out now. The recent buzz surrounding Twine-based games and interactive storytelling is perfect fuel for MUDs to come back into the spotlight. Unless, of course, many of the issues with the insulated community of MUDers sabotage the perfect timing.

Let's get started.

Continue reading Free for All: Introduction to MUD May

MassivelyFree for All: Introduction to MUD May originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achaeabeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedffaforced-rpfree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgemstone-ivmudMUD-MayMUDsmulti-user-dungeonopinionroleplayRolePlayingthreshold-rpgvelvet-ropeWed, 01 May 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: My favorite female armor sets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/free-for-all-my-favorite-female-armor-sets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/free-for-all-my-favorite-female-armor-sets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/24/free-for-all-my-favorite-female-armor-sets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Brienne picture
Of all of the crazy characters from HBO's Game of Thrones, Brienne is easily my favorite. Why is she my favorite? It's not because she's just heroic or brave or any of the things that people often attribute to her; it's because she's a survivor. Much of that survival comes from her armor and the fact that she knows well enough to be able to protect herself! The actress Gwendoline Christie has talked about how uncomfortable the armor is to wear. I've heard the producers say that the metal skin is supposed to look sort of mismatched, and I love that. It only makes it stronger.

I often wish MMOs represented armor in better ways, especially for female characters. Some MMOs do a better job than others, and some MMOs do a decent job some of the time. Here are some of my picks for my favorite armor sets for female humans, orcs, goblins or... well, you get the point.

(Please don't post Game of Thrones spoilers in the comments section.)

Continue reading Free for All: My favorite female armor sets

MassivelyFree for All: My favorite female armor sets originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancostumesdesigneverquestEverQuest-2f2pfeaturedfemale-armorffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgemstone-ivGuild-Wars-2illyriadmudopinionRolePlayingRyzomVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvelvet-ropeWed, 24 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Blender: Game of Thrones, MUDs, and the perfect quest text]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/mmo-blender-game-of-thrones-muds-and-the-perfect-quest-text/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/mmo-blender-game-of-thrones-muds-and-the-perfect-quest-text/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/19/mmo-blender-game-of-thrones-muds-and-the-perfect-quest-text/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Game of Thrones Ascent screenshot
Nothing seems to suck me into a game more than a good story. The brilliant thing is that the story doesn't have to be complicated or intense as long as it's original and easy to follow. I want characters to meet, locations to discover. I need to immerse myself into a story more than I need to raise a level or obtain powerful loot. In this edition of MMO Blender, I wanted to use three main games as prime examples of systems that, when combined together in some form, would deliver the best story-driven experience I can imagine.

There are several factors to consider: story, movement, character, and interaction. I want to use War of Dragons as an example of movement in a mostly text environment, Gemstone IV for character and interaction, and Game of Thrones Ascent for story. Hopefully, when I am done, I'll have convinced someone to give me a few million dollars to create this dream MMO.

Continue reading MMO Blender: Game of Thrones, MUDs, and the perfect quest text

MassivelyMMO Blender: Game of Thrones, MUDs, and the perfect quest text originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armchair-game-designbeau-hindmanbrowserfavorite-mmofeaturedgame-designgame-mechanicsgame-of-thronesgame-of-thrones-ascentgemstone-ivmechanicsmmo-blendermmo-mechanicsmmo-mix-tapemmo-mixologymudopiniontext-basedwar-of-dragonsFri, 19 Apr 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist: Rubies of Eventide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/09/the-game-archaeologist-rubies-of-eventide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/09/the-game-archaeologist-rubies-of-eventide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/09/the-game-archaeologist-rubies-of-eventide/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Game Archaeologist Rubies of Eventide
I can't say that Rubies of Eventide has been on my radar, like, ever. And yet practically every time I've asked for suggestions of a game to cover in this column, it seems like someone pipes up asking that Rubies gets a little publicity. That tells me that there's some underground love for this title.

There are two things that separate Rubies of Eventide from the rest of the MMO pack and make it a fascinating case study. The first is that it's one of the very few MUDs that was transformed into a graphical MMO while retaining its roots in old-school play. The second is that it had an absolutely ridiculous number of playable classes: 104, to be precise. Some days I really miss the era when game designers would aspire to reach these incredible numbers.

Faced with the prospect of an early death, Rubies of Eventide miraculously survived and ran for six interesting years. Let's take a look at a MUD-turned-MMO this week, shall we?

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Rubies of Eventide

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: Rubies of Eventide originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classicclassic-mmosclassicscyber-warriordoseverquestf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreeformfreeform-character-creationgame-archaelogistjeff-grubbjulia-howelinguistMnemosynemudnostalgiaopinionroerubies-of-eventidesandboxtentacle-grapethe-game-archaeologistturn-based-combatUltima-OnlineSat, 09 Feb 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultima Forever wants you to learn about yourself]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/ultima-forever-wants-you-to-learn-about-yourself/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/ultima-forever-wants-you-to-learn-about-yourself/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/08/ultima-forever-wants-you-to-learn-about-yourself/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ultima Forever wants you to learn about yourself
Mythic Lead Designer Kate Flack has an interesting interview up on Gamasutra about her experiences with developing MUDs and how she's rejecting the industry standard when it comes to crafting Ultima Forever (legal disclaimer: This online multiplayer title is not an MMO, but hey, it's online Ultima so shh.).

Flack says that because most MMOs are based on a DikuMUD standard, they all more or less play the same. She says that there's a freedom to starting from a different standard and developing from there: "It's a way of playing that doesn't necessarily have the same assumptions underlying them. It gives you a breadth of background and heritage that you can pull from. Just because it's always been done that way doesn't mean I have to do it the same way."

Part of this design shift is in asking "sophisticated questions about ethics" to players, which is a vital part of the Ultima franchise. Flack says that Ultima Forever will be more nuanced and involve tough choices that will make a personal impact on gamers: "I want to make you stop, think, and go, 'Huh!' and then learn about yourself, because games can do that."

MassivelyUltima Forever wants you to learn about yourself originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsfantasygame-designkate-flacklord-britishmobilemudmythicmythic-entertainmentsandboxultimaultima onlineultima-foreverultima-online-2UltimaOnlineuouo2Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RvR Unchained: Mark Jacobs returns to Camelot]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/rvr-unchained-mark-jacobs-returns-to-camelot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/rvr-unchained-mark-jacobs-returns-to-camelot/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/rvr-unchained-mark-jacobs-returns-to-camelot/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

RvR Unchained Mark Jacobs returns to Camelot
It was no coincidence that Mark Jacobs was open to talking about his Warhammer Online experiences with us recently. If you deduced that it was the prelude to his MMO comeback attempt, you were right.

Jacobs' City State Entertainment announced today that it's working on a new MMO under the working title of Camelot Unchained. And yes, it will be RvR-focused with three realms duking it out: Arthurian, Tuatha Dé Danann, and Viking. Camelot Unchained will tie RvR conflict into player housing and a dynamic economy as well.

Because this tightly focused concept may prove to be too difficult to draw publisher support, the 13-person studio is turning to a future Kickstarter campaign for support. Obviously, we have no shortages of questions about this project, but we contained ourselves to the 10 most burning queries that we presented to Jacobs. Read about the future of Camelot after the jump!

Continue reading RvR Unchained: Mark Jacobs returns to Camelot

MassivelyRvR Unchained: Mark Jacobs returns to Camelot originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aradatharthurarthurian-legendbreakingcamelotcamelot-unchainedcity-state-entertainmentdaocdark-age-of-camelotfeaturedinterviewinterviewsking-arthurmark-jacobsmudnew-titlepreviewpreviewspvprealm-vs-realmrvrthree-factionwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 05 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist: Steve Nichols' The Realm Online debriefing, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/01/the-game-archaeologist-steve-nichols-the-realm-online-debriefi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/01/the-game-archaeologist-steve-nichols-the-realm-online-debriefi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/01/the-game-archaeologist-steve-nichols-the-realm-online-debriefi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Game Archaeologist Steve Nichols debriefs The Realm, part 2
This week we continue our interview with Steve Nichols, one of the original lead developers on The Realm Online. After his work on this pioneering title, Nichols expanded his MMO resume with projects such as the never-seen Middle-earth Online (MEO), the seminal Freelancer, the PvP-centric Shadowbane, and the cult classic Dungeon Runners. These days, Nichols is with Retired Astronaut Collective, continuing to create games for all of us nutty players to enjoy.

In this riveting conclusion to our talk on The Realm Online, Nichols discusses the difficulties of the game's promotions, lessons learned from his time on the project, and the sundry secrets of hanky-panky in this early MMO.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Steve Nichols' The Realm Online debriefing, part 2

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: Steve Nichols' The Realm Online debriefing, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classicclassic-mmosclassicscyber-sexdavid-slaybackdungeon-runnersfeaturedfreelancergame-archaelogistgraphical-mudgriefinginterviewken-williamsleisure-suit-larrymeomiddle-earthmiddle-earth-onlinemudmudsnorseman-gamesnostalgiaopinionshadowbanesierrasierra-on-linestephen-nicholssteve-nicholsthe-game-archaeologistthe-realmthe-realm-onilnethe-sierra-networkSat, 01 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist: Steve Nichols' The Realm Online debriefing, part 1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/17/the-game-archaeologist-steve-nichols-debriefs-the-realm-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/17/the-game-archaeologist-steve-nichols-debriefs-the-realm-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/17/the-game-archaeologist-steve-nichols-debriefs-the-realm-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Game Archaeologist Steve Nichols debriefs The Realm Online, part 1
It's been called one of "the internet's forgotten games," and yet there are those who will never forget the impact that The Realm Online had in their gaming lives. For some gamers in the mid-'90s, it was the very first taste of a graphical MMO. Though it was little more than two-dimensional cartoon graphics added to the then-standard MUD setup, The Realm Online nevertheless helped to forge a path to the brave new world of MMOs.

The Realm, as it was originally called, was a project of Sierra On-Line. Development on the title began in late 1995, with a 1996 beta and launch following soon after. As with other early graphical MMOs, Sierra had little experience or comparisons to draw from while making The Realm but somehow made it work anyway. The resulting game featured a strong emphasis on roleplay, trade, and turn-based combat, although a robust questing experience this was not.

Sierra On-Line never fully got behind The Realm, eventually selling it off to Codemasters in the early 2000s, which then turned around and handed off the title to its current operator, Norseman Games. To date, it's one of the longest continuously operating graphical MMOs in existence and can still be enjoyed by today's gamers.

We reached out to one of the lead developers on The Realm Online, Stephen Nichols, who agreed to an interview on the condition that we give him a very big horn in a tent. Just kidding; the horn is from his private stock. Let's get to it!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Steve Nichols' The Realm Online debriefing, part 1

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: Steve Nichols' The Realm Online debriefing, part 1 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classicclassic-mmosclassicsdavid-slaybackfeaturedgame-archaelogistgraphical-mudgriefinginterviewken-williamsleisure-suit-larrymudmudsnorseman-gamesnostalgiaopinionsierrasierra-on-linestephen-nicholssteve-nicholsthe-game-archaeologistthe-realmthe-realm-onilnethe-sierra-networkSat, 17 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Fourteen MMOs that you can play anywhere]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/mmobility-fourteen-mmos-that-you-can-play-anywhere/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/mmobility-fourteen-mmos-that-you-can-play-anywhere/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/mmobility-fourteen-mmos-that-you-can-play-anywhere/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Remanum screenshot
I thought it'd be fun to make a list of go-anywhere MMOs this week. It's not really hard to find portable MMOs that run on laptops or netbooks. The real issue is locating MMOs that can be played on your desktop while you're at work (while the boss isn't looking, of course!), then on your phone at lunch, and then on your laptop while you sit in bed later that night.

The technology to make constantly accessible MMOs is there, namely in the form of HTML5. Adobe recently announced that not only is it moving away from Flash for mobile devices, but it is also specifically targeting Android Jelly Bean. There is a new wave of web technologies coming that will hopefully, once and for all, put an end to the need for special lists like this one. Not all of my choices are HTML5-based, but I tried to keep all of them open for all devices. If you notice any oddities while playing them on a certain device, let me know in the comments section so I can note it. I get a lot of requests for lists like this, so I want to keep things tight.

In the meanwhile, enjoy the list. There are others out there, but I wanted to pick out some that give pretty much the same result across whichever device you use.

Continue reading MMObility: Fourteen MMOs that you can play anywhere

MassivelyMMObility: Fourteen MMOs that you can play anywhere originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achaeabeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedbrowserquestdark-legendsdomain-of-heroesfeaturedfleckgrepolisillyriadillyriad-gamesmight-and-magic-heroes-kingdommmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmomudo-gamesogameopinionparallel-kingdomparallel-mafiaperbluephonepocket-legendsremanumsmartphonespacetime-studiosstar-legendstraviantravian-gamesFri, 13 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Blender: Beau's portable, accessible, and casually immersive mashup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/mmo-blender-beaus-portable-accessible-and-casually-immersive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/mmo-blender-beaus-portable-accessible-and-casually-immersive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/mmo-blender-beaus-portable-accessible-and-casually-immersive/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Die2Nite screenshot
I've been pretty excited to take my turn at the MMO Blender wheel. Sure, we all have ideas about how we would build our dream MMOs by mixing up different parts from favorite games, but honestly, I wanted to use my time here to make a point: MMO gaming needs to climb outside of the box, soon. Since there is more and more emphasis on mobile and casual gaming, my game will take that in into consideration.

But games have to be fun too, right? I think they can be fun, immersive, and casual all at the same time. I'm hoping that my examples will show how other developers have combined the three such that players can access the game from anywhere. It's also important to me that my game be simple to play and accessible for players with disabilities, so let's just say that I have included all of the proper features like adjustable colors for the color-blind, resizable text, and maybe even audio cues to help those with sight issues.

I've been given a budget of one million-billion internet bucks, so let's get to it... this game is not going to build itself!

Continue reading MMO Blender: Beau's portable, accessible, and casually immersive mashup

MassivelyMMO Blender: Beau's portable, accessible, and casually immersive mashup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armchair-game-designbeau-hindmanbrowser-baseddie2nitef2pfavorite-mmofeaturedfree-to-playftpgame-designgame-mechanicsgemstone-ivhtml5illyriadillyriad-gamesmechanicsmmo-blendermmo-mechanicsmmo-mix-tapemmo-mixologymudopinionremanumRyzomryzom-ringspiral-knightsthe-chronicles-of-spellborntraviantravian-gamesFri, 13 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: Aardwolf MUD]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/08/rise-and-shiny-aardwolf-mud/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/08/rise-and-shiny-aardwolf-mud/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/08/rise-and-shiny-aardwolf-mud/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Aardwolf MUD banner
This week I dove into yet another MUD in the hopes of finding even better gameplay than I found in titles like Gemstone IV and Threshold RPG. It's a bit of a daring attempt for me, especially considering that I often suffer from migraines when I have to concentrate on text on my monitor so much. Funny enough, when I get a MUD client set up just how I want, I have no issues and can play for a few hours at a time. MUDs are relaxing much of the time and don't feel as rushed as standard MMOs do. That relaxation must help with the migraines!

At first, I was bit hesitant in saying Aardwulf MUD is akin to the titles I have covered in the past. Something about the site, and the fact that the game did not force roleplay, turned me off, and I was determined to find it lacking.

Luckily, I was proven wrong and even suckered fellow Massivelyite (Massivelyian?) Jeremy Stratton into the game; he's contributed a few of his thoughts today too.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Aardwolf MUD

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Aardwolf MUD originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aardwolfaardwolf-MUDbeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgemstone-ivhands-onlivestreammassively-tvmudMUDingMUSHclientrise-and-shinystreamthreshold-rpgtwitchtwitch-tvuncharted-waters-onlineUWOvideoSun, 08 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: Divina]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/01/rise-and-shiny-divina/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/01/rise-and-shiny-divina/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/01/rise-and-shiny-divina/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Divina screenshot
Ah, another week; another Anime-inspired free-to-play game, right? Well, not so fast. I've become pretty dismissive lately in my minimalist-gamer haze, but games like Divina, the title I looked at over the past week, are some of the only titles that are quite reliable. Sure, there are hundreds of these games now and hundreds more coming soon. It's important to take each one individually, just as I would any title, and judge it on its own (mostly) unique parameters.

In other words, sure it looks similar to other games I've seen before and plays like a lot of other games I've seen before, but it's a free game with a cash shop on top, a reliable formula especially in this day and age of complicated tiered programs and "semi" subscription games. Also, games like Divina can be plain fun -- and fun to look at.

Of course, I'm simplifying, so allow me to tell you about my week and you can judge for yourself.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Divina

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Divina originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aardwulfanimebeau-hindmandivinaf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgamaniahands-onlivestreammassively-tvmudrise-and-shinystreamtwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 01 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: How MUDs can stay relevant in today's 3-D world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/free-for-all-how-muds-can-stay-relevant-in-todays-3-d-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/free-for-all-how-muds-can-stay-relevant-in-todays-3-d-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/13/free-for-all-how-muds-can-stay-relevant-in-todays-3-d-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

BatMUD website screenshot
My latest passion is MUDs, or multi-user-dungeons. Essentially, they are text-based MMOs. Imagine a choose-your-own-adventure book that is played with hundreds or thousands of other players. I have found more freedom in the text-based worlds of some titles, freedom to make the character I want to make. I've also found many of the common, underlying problems with MMOs in MUDs as well. These are issues that might have started with MUDs, being that they are some of the oldest multiplayer games in existence today.

I wanted to take a look at how many of these MUDs could keep themselves in the game. It's not as though they need the help; many of them have been steadily chugging along for a decade or more. What I would like to see is many of them add more players, add to their developer teams, and actually stick around for 10 more years.

Is it possible? I think so.

Continue reading Free for All: How MUDs can stay relevant in today's 3-D world

MassivelyFree for All: How MUDs can stay relevant in today's 3-D world originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BatMUDbeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgemstone-ivmudMUDsmulti-user-dungeonopinionsocial-mediathreshold-rpgvelvet-ropeWed, 13 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Making the perfectly flawed character]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/free-for-all-making-the-perfectly-flawed-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/free-for-all-making-the-perfectly-flawed-character/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/06/free-for-all-making-the-perfectly-flawed-character/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Vanguard screenshot
Whenever I play a new MMO, the first thing I want to know is who I am supposed to be inside this particular game world. I would like to have as much control over the conception of my character as possible, but let's be honest: Great customization is not as common as many of us would like. This might explain my attraction to games that offer the ability to craft a true, unique character, even if only in looks. I love a good cash shop and the ability to make my character essentially me -- if I were the me inside that other world.

I don't play MMOs to be the hero, at least not most of the time. I don't want to kill the largest boss or get the best armor. I'll leave that to gamers who like that sort of thing. I play an MMO to sort of lose myself inside the world of a character of my own making. Over the years I've noticed a pattern in how I establish a great character, one that I want to continue playing. Originally, I wanted to refine this process into a list in case other players wanted to compare, but the list keeps evolving, so instead, I'll give some examples of how I have been creating unique and wonderfully flawed main characters in some of my favorite MMOs.

Continue reading Free for All: Making the perfectly flawed character

MassivelyFree for All: Making the perfectly flawed character originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgemstone-ivhalflingheroheroesheroicmabinogimudMUDsopinionRolePlayingSOESONYSony-Online-EntertainmentVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvelvet-ropeWed, 06 Jun 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: Threshold RPG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/rise-and-shiny-threshold-rpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/rise-and-shiny-threshold-rpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/rise-and-shiny-threshold-rpg/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Threshold RPG screenshot
It's the third week in a row I have decided to spend with a MUD, or multi-user-dungeon. I've explained it before, but in case you are not familiar, a MUD is a text-based MMO. That's right: you play by typing commands and exploring environments, all in text form. I started this exploration with Gemstone IV, an amazing MUD that seems to be the gold standard for MUDs. I am still playing it and finding out how amazing it is. I moved on to BatMUD, a slightly more basic MUD that offered a great client but frustrated me. Honestly though, my time with BatMUD was a little unfair and I need to revisit the game. It really has some wonderful elements.

Now that I have moved on to Threshold RPG, another ancient MUD from before the time of mostly graphical MMOs, I feel as though I have finally reached an understanding as to how MUDs work and what makes them incredible adventures still to this day.

Threshold is more basic than all of them so far, but that's a good thing in many ways. There's also a lot that is lacking, and several tweaks that need to be made.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Threshold RPG

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Threshold RPG originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfrogdicehands-onlivestreammassively-tvmudmulti-user-dungeonrise-and-shinystreamthe-pride-of-taernthresholdthreshold-rpgthresholdrpgtwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 27 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist: Richard Garriott's haunted cache]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/the-game-archaeologist-richard-garriotts-haunted-cache/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/the-game-archaeologist-richard-garriotts-haunted-cache/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/the-game-archaeologist-richard-garriotts-haunted-cache/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Richard Garriott
Whenever you get really into a new hobby, it's natural to want to blab about it to anyone who drifts into your gravitational field. That's why we all talk about MMOs, right? It's also why any friends, family members, and coworkers have had to put up with excited rambling about my discovered love for Geocaching.

Some of you probably know Geocaching, as it's been around for over a decade now. For those of you who haven't, it's a worldwide treasure hunt that involves over a million and a half "caches" of various sizes that are hidden and then marked with GPS coordinates. Players head to the official site or one of the open-source projects to get the coordinates and go hunting for them. There's a useful two-minute introduction to this hobby on YouTube if you're curious.

I noted on our Massively Speaking podcast that Geocaching has a lot in common with MMOs: Both encourage questing and exploration, both have treasure to be found, and both plug you into a community of adventurers. Listener Terrence heard this and send in an email with an interesting revelation that ties these two hobbies even closer together, as a game developer brought his online world to a real-world location.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you Richard Garriott's haunted cache.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Richard Garriott's haunted cache

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: Richard Garriott's haunted cache originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britannia-manorcacheclassicclassic-mmoclassic-mmosclassicseaelectronic-artsfantasyfeaturedgame-archaelogistgeocachegeocachinginternational-space-stationisslord-britishmudmythicmythic-entertainmentnostalgiaocean-flooropinionrichard-garriottsecond-pass-mushthe-game-archaeologistthe-guardians-questthe-necropolis-of-britannia-manortitanictorilmudtrailertrailersultimaultima onlineuovideovideosTue, 22 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: BatMUD]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/rise-and-shiny-batmud/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/rise-and-shiny-batmud/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/rise-and-shiny-batmud/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

BatMUD UI screenshot
Here I am making myself crazy once again. Why? Why do I insist on visiting games that I know will provoke issues both physical and mental? I guess it's because lately I have been fascinated with MUDs, or multi-user-dungeons. They are better described as text-based MMOs or choose-your-own-adventure books written with thousands of other players. It's a fascinating concept, especially when you consider how dissimilar it is to today's modern, easy-to-play offerings. The ancient design of the MUD now feels fresh, so much so that I have decided to dedicate a future article about the possibility of MUDs' viability in today's three-dimensional world.

I have found some good and some very bad over the last several weeks. I've also stumbled across brand-new versions of the migraines that often bother me when I concentrate way, way too hard on PC text. I have to admit that my issues do not seem that common, but it is important to look at a game from all angles, even from the angle of someone who has specific issues. BatMUD has tested my patience over the last few weeks and several hours. It's also shown me some wonderful adventure and sparked my imagination.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: BatMUD

MassivelyRise and Shiny: BatMUD originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BatMUDbeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onlivestreammassively-tvmudmulti-user-dungeonrise-and-shinystreamthreshold-rpgtwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 20 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Previously on MV TV: The week of May 12th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/previously-on-mv-tv-the-week-of-may-12th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Previously On banner
What a week of livestreaming! We've got quite the variety and tons of hours of video to watch. What's that? You had to work and missed half of the cool streams we showed? Don't worry! I gather all of the best streams from the week's collection and list them for you right here. Still, you need to bookmark our livestream page so you can see which videos are going to be shown during the week, but if you miss any, you can check out the recap here. That's why we do it.

This week we had a lot to offer. First we had good old Mike jumping into EVE Online for some space action, then into TERA for some scantily clad combat! He then explores some of the great browser-based game Drakensang Online. MJ brought a ton of goodies to the streaming table, goodies like a run-through in EverQuest II, some base-jumping in City of Heroes, a bit of hardcore survival in Xsyon, and a flight around the beautiful lands of Aion. I rounded out the end by streaming some BatMUD, a cool MUD that has been around since many of you have been in diapers!

Click past the cut and grab some popcorn. Keep the butter light but add some salt. Thanks.

Continue reading Previously on MV TV: The week of May 12th

MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: The week of May 12th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionascensionBatMUDBigpointblueholebluehole-studiosbrowser-basedccpccp-gamescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdrakensangdrakensang-onlineen-masseen-masse-entertainmenteq-2eq-iiEQ2eqiieveeve-onlineEverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreedominternet-spaceshipslivestreamingmassively-streamteammassively-tvmudmv-tvmvtvnc-softncsoftnotoriousnotorious-gamesparagonparagon-studiospost-apocpost-apocalypticpvpround-uproundupsandboxsci-fantasysci-fiSOEsonySony-Online-Entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinestreamstreamersstreamingstreamteamsuperherosuperheroesteratruly-freetwitchtwitch-tvvideovideosxsyonSun, 20 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist: Dark Sun Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/the-game-archaeologist-dark-sun-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/the-game-archaeologist-dark-sun-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/the-game-archaeologist-dark-sun-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dark Sun Online
Computer RPG players in the late '80s and early '90s were surely familiar with Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) and its now-infamous Gold Box series. The series, so named because of their distinctive gold packaging, ran on a solid engine that helped the company churn out over a dozen titles within a five-year span. From Dungeons & Dragons' Pool of Radiance to Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday, these titles quickly became revered among the gaming community. I personally have very fond memories of playing both Buck Rogers titles, despite not having ever watched the show.

While the Gold Box series has not become as timeless or replayable as late '90s classics like Baldur's Gate and Fallout, they definitely had a huge impact on the PC scene and helped elevate the CRPG genre. Following the Gold Box engine, SSI went on to produce another engine that it used for a completely new series set in the D&D campaign setting of Dark Sun. Dark Sun: Shattered Lands (1993) and Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager (1994) were both modest hits, and when it came time for a third game in the series, SSI decided to make the leap to the then-untested realm of online gaming.

What followed was a wild two-year experiment in MMOs that happened prior to the Ultima Online and EverQuest generation. While ultimately unsuccessful in achieving its potential or gaining a large audience, Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands made a valiant attempt at achieving the inevitable future of gaming.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Dark Sun Online

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: Dark Sun Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Al-QadimAndre-VrignaudAOLathasattatt-interchangeBaldurs-GateBuck-Rogersbuck-rogers-countdown-to-doomsdayclassicclassic-mmosclassicsCompuServeCountdown-to-Doomsdaycrimson-sandsdark-sundark-sun-onlinedark-sun-online-crimson-sandsDark-Sun-Shattered-LandsDark-Sun-Wake-of-the-RavagerdnddosDungeons-and-DragonsFalloutfeaturedgame-archaelogistGameStormGEniegold-boxgold-box-enginehackhackinginterchangemudmushNeverwinter-NightsnostalgiaopinionPool-of-Radiancerich-donnellyrick-donnellyshattered-landsssistrategic-simulations-inctenthe-game-archaeologistThe-Shadow-of-YserbiusthunderscapeTotal-Entertainment-Networkwake-of-the-ravagerwindowswindows-95Word-of-Aden-ThunderscapeTue, 15 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: Dark Legends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/rise-and-shiny-dark-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/rise-and-shiny-dark-legends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/rise-and-shiny-dark-legends/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dark Legends screenshot
Dark Legends, the new title from mobile MMO king Spacetime Studios, is already creating a buzz with its liberal use of an energy pool that is sapped as players go through standard gameplay. If this mechanic were packaged any differently and inside a sandbox, it's possible that people would call it "realistic" or "hardcore." Unfortunately, problems set in as soon as players realized that playing the game for hours on end would require some infusion of real-life funds or the ability to kill pretty large chunks of time in non-combat areas.

I would argue that the gameplay does not have to be designed for marathon gaming sessions. It's very possible that the "casual" part of the game's description actually means "casual." I still had issues with the mechanic; don't get me wrong. But if I was bothered by anything it would be Dark Legends' lack of borrowing features from Pocket Legends, Spacetime's flagship mobile MMO, which offers actual persistent areas and other MMO staples.

Of course, it's possible that Spacetime is simply trying something new. Heaven forbid it should attempt a new design!

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Dark Legends

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Dark Legends originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BatMUDbeau-hindmanBioWareccpdark-legendseve-onlinef2pfeaturedfree-to-playhands-onlivestreammassively-tvmudrise-and-shinyspacetimespacetime-studiosstar-wars-the-old-republicstreamswtortwitchtwitch-tvvideoSun, 13 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: Gemstone IV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/rise-and-shiny-gemstone-iv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/rise-and-shiny-gemstone-iv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/rise-and-shiny-gemstone-iv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Gemstone IV screenshot with map
This article was a long time coming. Not only have I avoided taking a look at any sort of pure MUD for many years, but I meant to write this up last week but real life interrupted my plans. I just didn't think it was fair to write up a first impressions based on only a few hours of play. I was quite hesitant to take a deeper look at Gemstone IV mainly because I knew that the non-stop reading would surely create more migraines that might derail my work again. I was very worried, actually.

Luckily, the Gemstone IV client is customizable enough to allow me to create a "book-style" experience: black text on a white background. I don't think I'm alone in my inability to view bright, colored text on a dark background comfortably. If I were, popular websites would still look like they were from 1996. We've moved past ugly fonts and horrible color combinations.

Unfortunately it took me most of the time with Gemstone IV just to learn how to play, make the text comfortable to read, and understand what my character was supposed to be doing. Once I got comfortable, though, I honestly had one of the most enchanting times in a game yet.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Gemstone IV

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Gemstone IV originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetArena-Netarenanetbeau-hindmandark-legendsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgemstone-ivGuild-Wars-2hands-onLiveStreammassively-tvmudmulti-user-dungeonriftrise-and-shinyspacetime-studiosstreamstreamingtext-based-adventurestwitchtwitch-tvtwitchtvvideoWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 29 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: Stronghold Kingdoms]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/rise-and-shiny-stronghold-kingdoms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/rise-and-shiny-stronghold-kingdoms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/15/rise-and-shiny-stronghold-kingdoms/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Stronghold Kingdoms screenshot
There are certain designs in the MMORTS genre that have frankly started to burn me out. I was a bit worried that I had reached my tolerance point and would not be able to stomach another city-builder until I had put some time between me and my latest preview or first impressions. It's an amazing genre, and as I have argued before, it's more MMO than most MMOs. As in many genres, successful design is copied. The ironic thing is that all of these copies often dilute the market, making it worse on everyone. As much as I love the genre, I am a bit sick of running into the same design, stereotypical settings, and mechanics. Of course, we cannot take these copies and paint the whole genre with a terrible brush; if we did that, all of MMOdom would be in trouble. Still, I'm sick of it.

Luckily Firefly Worlds, maker of Stronghold Kingdoms, has a very persistent "PR ninja" who made a point to poke at me on Twitter. Usually, we funnel all PR contact to our lead editors for organization purposes, but hey, I can't resist a nice voice and a lovely looking game... and I have a high tolerance for fun people.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Stronghold Kingdoms

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Stronghold Kingdoms originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanf2pfeaturedFireflyfirefly-worldsfree-to-playfreemiumftpgemstone-ivhands-onlivestreammassively-tvmudrise-and-shinystreamstreaming-videostronghold-kingdomstwitchtwitch-tvtwitchtvvideoSun, 15 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Looking for the near-perfect MUD-like browser MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/free-for-all-looking-for-the-near-perfect-mud-like-browser-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/free-for-all-looking-for-the-near-perfect-mud-like-browser-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/free-for-all-looking-for-the-near-perfect-mud-like-browser-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Browser screenshot
I need your help. If you are a reader, then I need you to open your memory boxes and take a look around at the bottom. Shuffle around where all the remnants of favorite past MMOs settle and see if you can find me something. If you are a developer who is reading this, then you might indeed have some special insight into my issue.

I need a game. A special game. It must fit a certain mold that is very particularly fitted to my very specific needs and wants. It's a tall order, to say the least.

Now, I understand how to use Google. At least once a week I am asked something along the lines of "Where do you find these weird games you cover?" I am always tempted to link the questioner to Google and walk away, but generally I tell him it is a combination of different efforts: some searching, some tipping from readers, and more than a smidge of good luck. Also understand that I have a lot of good titles keeping me busy, but I tend to become sort of obsessed with little projects along the way. So what do I need this week?

I need a semi-graphical, browser-based MUD-like MMO that features great customization for characters, text, and interface, that's what.

Continue reading Free for All: Looking for the near-perfect MUD-like browser MMO

MassivelyFree for All: Looking for the near-perfect MUD-like browser MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots
One Shots is making a tentative return in its new format and timeslot this weekend! Kicking off the screenshot-madness is Johanis, who's delivered a gorgeous shot of what looks suspiciously like a sparklepony in RIFT (and seriously makes me want to resub). He writes in,
I wanted to share a picture of Samya, my level 20 Mathosian Mage in RIFT. This particular shot was taken just as she had received her achievement awarded for climbing to the highest mountain in Silverwood. I had to climb quite a few mountains before I hit this spot, and the view made the climb worth it. Just beautiful. She was also quite proud to be riding her newly acquired Nebula mount, which she earned during the current Carnival.
Johanis' screenshot, along with a few other gems from this week, is just behind the cut!

Continue reading One Shots: A new dawn

MassivelyOne Shots: A new dawn originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-oneshotsbring-back-one-shotsdiscworlddiscworld-mudfantasygalleriesgallerymudone-shotsreader-screenshotsreader-submissionsriftrift-literift-planes-of-telarascreenshotscreenshotstriontrion-worldsuser-submissionsSun, 08 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist discovers the Island of Kesmai]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/the-game-archaeologist-discovers-the-island-of-kesmai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/the-game-archaeologist-discovers-the-island-of-kesmai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/the-game-archaeologist-discovers-the-island-of-kesmai/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Island of Kesmai
It was the mid-'80s, and I was just a kid in love with his family's IBM PC. Not having a wealth of capital at the time, I relied on hand-me-down copies of software that rolled in from friends and family and probably the Cyber-Mafia. Practically none of the disks came with instructions (or even labels, sometimes), and as such I felt like an explorer uncovering hidden gems as I shoved in 5 1/4" floppy after 5 1/4" floppy. Some titles were great fun, some were so obtuse I couldn't get into them, and some were obviously meant for those older and wiser than I.

One game that fell into the latter category was a brutally difficult RPG that smelt of Dungeons & Dragons -- a forbidden experience for me at the time. It was just a field of ASCII characters, jumbled statistics, and instant death awaiting me around every corner. I gave it a few tries but could never progress past the first level, especially when I'd keep running out of arrows, so I gave up.

Unbeknownst to me, I had my first brush with Rogue, an enormously popular dungeon crawler that straddled the line between the description-heavy RPGs and arcade titles like Gauntlet. Rogue defined the genre when it came out in 1980, spawning dozens of "Roguelikes" that sought to cash in on the craze. Not five years after its release, Rogue got a worthy successor that decided it could bring this addicting style of gameplay to the larva form of the Internet. It was called Island of Kesmai, but you may call it "Sir, yes sir!"

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist discovers the Island of Kesmai

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist discovers the Island of Kesmai originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureBill-Loudenclassicclassic-mmosclassicscompuservedungeons-of-kesmaifeaturedgame-archaelogistisland-of-kesmaijohn-taylorkelton-flinnkesmaikesmai-corporationlord-of-the-ringsmegawarsmudmud1nostalgiaopinionrichard-bartlerogueroguelikethe-game-archaeologistuniversity-of-virginiavaxzorkTue, 06 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist moves into Lucasfilm's Habitat: Part 1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/the-game-archaeologist-moves-into-lucasfilms-habitat-part-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/the-game-archaeologist-moves-into-lucasfilms-habitat-part-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/the-game-archaeologist-moves-into-lucasfilms-habitat-part-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Habitat
For some of you reading this, you may simply never have known a world before the internet existed by virtue of your age. It's not your fault, but as generational divisions go, this was a biggie. The internet saturates so much of our lives now that it's even difficult for those of us born prior to the '90s to remember how we functioned without smartphones, Google searches, and terabytes of cheap entertainment on demand. I think there were video game arcades in the mall or something.

Because of this, some of you will not understand the import of how it felt when technology advanced to the point that people could reach out online and interact with others, first through written communication and later through applications and games. What we take for granted in today's MMOs -- the constant presence of thousands of real humans interacting with us in a virtual space -- simply blew the minds of those who first encountered it.

And way back when, those encounters depended on the person and technology available. Some folks had access in the '60s and '70s to the early form of the internet and email in universities and government offices, but these close encounters of the virtual kind only started to make its way into households in the '80s (and even then, mostly to those plugged into the geek community). The developers of these programs -- the MUDs, the BBSes, CompuServe, etc. -- were truly pioneers forging a path while trying to figure things out on the fly.

So it amazed me to hear that I've been missing out on a key part of MMO history by overlooking Lucasfilm's Habitat, which wasn't quite an MMO by modern standards and yet created a graphical virtual world with many of the elements that were adopted into later projects. In our two-week look at Habitat, we'll see just how eerily similar this 1986 title is to what we know today -- even though it came out on the Commodore 64.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist moves into Lucasfilm's Habitat: Part 1

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist moves into Lucasfilm's Habitat: Part 1 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bbschip-morningstarcommodore-64compuservedikudiku-clonednddungeons-and-dragonsfeaturedfujitsufujitsu-habitatgraphical-mudhabitathack-the-gibsonlucasartslucasfilmlucasfilmslucasfilms-habitatmudquantumlinkrandy-farmertgathe-game-archaeologistvernor-vingevideovzoneswilliam-gibsonworldsawayTue, 10 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist seals up 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/the-game-archaeologist-seals-up-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/the-game-archaeologist-seals-up-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/the-game-archaeologist-seals-up-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
You know what I love about the end of each year? The lists. Man, but I'm a sucker for lists, especially when they come in "best of" varieties. In the lull between Christmas and New Year's, there typically isn't a lot happening in the world of entertainment, so it's a good time to look back before we head forward.

And so it is for The Game Archaeologist. 2011 marks the second year I've been doing this column, and it's been one of my personal favorite series to write. Every week I'm learning more and more about the history of the MMO genre, and I'm encouraged to see just how much passion and interest there are for the titles that started it all and got us to where we are today.

So before we head into 2012, let's take one last glimpse back at the road we've traveled. If you've missed out on any of these columns or want to revisit your favorite classic MMO, I've compiled a huge list of everything I talked about this year, from histories to interviews to player stories. There's also a special request for you (yes, you) at the end of this column, so do me a favor and hit that jump!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist seals up 2011

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist seals up 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011a-tale-in-the-desertac2Andrew-Tepperasherons-callasherons-call-2Ben-Chamberlainbrian-greenclimaxdark-age-of-cameloteaearth-and-beyondeqEric-Heimburgeverquestfeaturedimperator-onlineJosef-HalllineagelistlistsMeridian-59Middle-earth-Onlinemudmulti-user-dungeonmxomythicaplanetsidepsychochildRade-StojsavljevicrarebitRichard-Bartleround-uproundupshadow-of-yserbiusshadowbaneStuart-Zissuteppytgathe-game-archaeologistthe-matrix-onlinethe-shadow-of-yserbiusThom-TerrazasTodd-ColemanTrue-Fantasy-Live-OnlineUltima-Worlds-Online-OriginUltima-X-OdysseyWarhammer-Onlineworld-of-warcraftyear-in-reviewTue, 03 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: An interview with Brian Green (part 1)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/20/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-an-interview-with-br/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/20/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-an-interview-with-br/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/20/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-an-interview-with-br/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Meridian 59
Last week we began to examine one of the most significant MMOs in history: Meridian 59. While it never rose to the level of fame and subscriber numbers as its successors did, Meridian 59 was a daring pioneer that paved the way for all that followed. Its story is almost like a movie, with the title born from the fruits of two amateur programmers, surviving studio shutdowns and huge competition, and persevering from 1996 through today.

As I'll recount over the next two episodes of The Game Archaeologist, I sat down with Brian Green, a blogger and game developer who oversaw the resurrection of Meridian 59 in the early 2000s and ran it for the better part of a decade. Green graciously agreed to participate, saying that he always loves talking about games -- and this one in particular.

The Game Archaeologist: Hi! Please introduce yourself and your current position and project.

Brian Green: I'm Brian "Psychochild" Green, a long-time MMO designer and programmer. I'm known for my professional blog and my work on Meridian 59. I'm currently working on the Storybricks project as the MMO Wizard. We're a startup, so that means I do whatever needs to be done at the moment.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: An interview with Brian Green (part 1)

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: An interview with Brian Green (part 1) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dobrian-greenc++codingeaelectronic-artsfarsidefeaturedgenocidehighlandsinterviewKerovniameridian-59mudn64near-death-studiosoriginprogrammingpsychochildqrob-ellisrob-ellis-iiStephen-R-Donaldsonthe-game-archaeologistThomas-Covenantultima-onlineTue, 20 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/the-game-archaeologist-crosses-meridian-59-the-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Meridian 59
A colony founded through a magical nexus, Meridian 59 had it all going on -- until, that is, the portal to the colony collapsed and it was left to fend for itself. Monsters swarmed over the land, politics split the community into factions, and adventurers were called to rise up and become the heroes that were desperately needed. And all it took was $10.95 a month and an internet connection.

Welcome to 1996 and one of the very first -- if not the first (more on that later) -- graphical MMOs to hit the scene. Meridian 59 may not have been one of the biggest games in the genre, but it was arguably one of the most important, the John Adams to World of Warcraft's Abraham Lincoln. If you were wondering, Darkfall was Chester A. Arthur.

It seems fitting to end 2011 by touching upon this significant title that, against all odds, continues to operate today. Meridian 59 weathered studio shutdowns, newbie developers in every sense of the word, and a world that wasn't quite sure what to make of these fancy-schmancy massively interactive roleplaying games. MIRGs! Oh, that would've been such a better acronym, but I digress. Let's set the wayback machine to 1978 to see how one amateur game led to another that led to the birth of an industry.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3doAlan-E-Klietzandrew-KirmseArchetype-InteractivebiowareChris-KirmsecompuserveDamion-Schubertdarkfalldoomduke-nukem-3dfeaturedheretichistoricalhistoryinterplayKingdom-of-the-Nexusmeridian-59mike-sellersmudmud-likenear-death-studiospsychochildqrich-vogelrob-ellisrob-ellis-iiscepter-of-gothstar-wars-the-old-republicsteve-sellersstorybricksswtorthe-realmthe-realm-onlineultima-onlineultima-online-third-dawnuoworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 13 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video series chronicles the evolution of MUDs to MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/video-series-chronicles-the-evolution-of-muds-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/video-series-chronicles-the-evolution-of-muds-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/video-series-chronicles-the-evolution-of-muds-to-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ultima Online
If you're looking for a reasonably short video primer on the history of MMOs, look no further than a series of clips recently uploaded to YouTube. According to some genre heavyweights, though, you shouldn't take all the info presented at face value. Former sandbox (and current social games) developer Raph Koster weighs in on the clips at his personal blog, and he offers up a laundry list of "oddities, errors, and omissions."

MUD pioneer Richard Bartle shows up in Koster's comment thread, and he's even more direct. "I wonder why so few of those who make this kind of documentary actually ask the people they're talking about whether what they're saying about them is factually correct? It's not like we're dead or anything," Bartle muses.

Why watch the vids, then? Mainly for the exposure to pre-2004 MMORPGs, according to Koster. The clips are "worth a look, even if only to get a rare glimpse of actual video footage from some of the older games that many folks today don't even know existed," he says. Check out all three installments after the break.

Continue reading Video series chronicles the evolution of MUDs to MMOs

MassivelyVideo series chronicles the evolution of MUDs to MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturehistoryhistory-of-mmosMiscellaneousmmo-historymmo-industrymmosmudmudsraph-kosterrichard-bartlevideovideosThu, 01 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist's excellent EverQuest Online Adventures: The memories]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/the-game-archaeologists-excellent-everquest-online-adventures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/the-game-archaeologists-excellent-everquest-online-adventures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/the-game-archaeologists-excellent-everquest-online-adventures/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EQOA
It's been a good month looking back at EverQuest Online Adventures, wouldn't you agree? Educational, almost. While this title is just about as far from the mainstream MMO eye as can be these days, it's heartening to know it's still out there, still running, and still capable of evoking fond memories from current and former players.

While we did attempt to contact SOE for an interview to see if we could find out anything new -- or even old -- about EQOA, it failed to materialize. As a wonderful consolation prize, however, this week we'll hear from three players who have extensive experience in the game. So let's hit this column running and equip our +2 Ears of Paying Attention!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist's excellent EverQuest Online Adventures: The memories

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist's excellent EverQuest Online Adventures: The memories originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsole-mmoeqoaeverquest-online-adventuresfeaturedfrontiersgriefermoomudmudsmushnorwaypalplaystationplaystation-2ps2soeSony-Online-Entertainmenttraintrain-to-zoneTue, 22 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The clever design behind War of Dragons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/mmobility-the-clever-design-behind-war-of-dragons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/mmobility-the-clever-design-behind-war-of-dragons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/11/mmobility-the-clever-design-behind-war-of-dragons/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

War of Dragons screenshot
Ah, the things that rev up the imagination of gamers. Right now I can almost feel the excitement as players all over the world are waiting to jump into games like Skyrim or Star Wars the Old Republic. I'm a bit excited as well, but honestly none of those titles tantalizes me like some of the browser-based goodies I have been playing lately. It could be the model railroad world of RuneScape or the epic scale of Illyriad that is inspiring me, making me spend hours of dog walking or drinking tea while daydreaming of game creation.

I've also stumbled across this newish world of semi-graphical, browser-based, MUD-like MMOs. They have shown me that text and description can still be very powerful tools, especially mixed with graphics or even basic animation. Then I stumbled upon War of Dragons, a wonderful browser-based MMO that shows me just how amazing browser-based gaming can be.

Click past the cut and I'll explain.

Continue reading MMObility: The clever design behind War of Dragons

MassivelyMMObility: The clever design behind War of Dragons originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanBethesda-Softworksbrowserbrowser-basedbrowser-based-MMOscoldplayfeaturedgreen-dayMMObilitymudskyrimstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortoolTurn-basedwar-of-dragonsFri, 11 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: MagicDuel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/rise-and-shiny-recap-magicduel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/rise-and-shiny-recap-magicduel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/23/rise-and-shiny-recap-magicduel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

MagicDuel screenshot
My job is to hunt down unique and hopefully exciting new games for my readers to try. Some actually try them, and others just enjoy reading about their choices and might try them later. Either way, I am proud to show off some of the gems I find, but I am a little sad when I have to say, "This game sucks."

And MagicDuel, an odd browser-based MUD sort of game, sucks. Of course I will need to explain this to you or I'll risk coming off of some sort of buffoon who does not know how to navigate a simple point-and-click adventure, so click past the cut and I will tell you why.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: MagicDuel

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: MagicDuel originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowser-basedf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpgolden-agemagicduelmobilemudrise-and-shinySun, 23 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The battle-scarred blogger]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-the-battle-scarred-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-the-battle-scarred-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-the-battle-scarred-b/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Shadowbane
I've long since enjoyed doing this column because, to me, it feels like the next best thing to having been there back in the day, playing these games. No one MMO player can occupy all titles at once, so experiences are bound to pass us by. Fortunately, the gamers who were there have long memories and are often more than willing to share a story or two if given half the chance.

After last week's initial foray into our Shadowbane retrospective, I fished around for a hearty veteran of the minotaur wars who was willing to step up and answer a few questions without succumbing to post-traumatic stress disorder. Within a minute, my good friend Grimnir bit into the topic, and I reeled him in as he flopped and gasped for air. At some point, this metaphor got away from me, but no worries. Hit that jump and let's cast our nets down memory river and see what we can dredge up!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The battle-scarred blogger

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The battle-scarred blogger originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blogbloggerdaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkfalldramaeveeve-onlinef2pfactionfeaturedfishing-metaphorfree-to-playgankgankergankinggrimnirgrimnirs-grudgesguild-vs-guildmudmudsopen-world-pvppkpkersplayer-citiespolitical-systempoliticspvpracial-divideracismrebootriftsandboxshadowbanethe-game-archaeologisttrash-talkubisoftwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowwow-cloneTue, 09 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/the-game-archaeologist-uncovers-shadowbane-the-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Way back when I used to haunt the corridors of Gamestop and not shun the place due to its stinky evil, I remember being enticed with these fancy-pantsy "MMORPG" boxes when I'd see them on the shelf. I must have picked up Shadowbane a dozen or so times to check out the blurbs on the back, mentally weighing whether or not this would be the one to introduce me to online gaming, but ultimately it was not to be.

It's probably for the best, considering that Shadowbane was primarily PvP and I'm a PvE guy at heart. Plus, the title never really took off the way that publisher Ubisoft had hoped, spending most of its six years of operation lurking in the background of the MMO industry instead of sharing the spotlight.

But still, six years! That's far longer than any of the titles we've been talking about these past couple months, and considering that Shadowbane won last week's poll to become this month's topic, there are obviously strong feelings lurking among you. What did Shadowbane try to do differently, how did it stay alive as long as it did, and what was its downfall? Hit the jump to find out!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineappleapple-versiondaocdark-age-of-camelotdarkfallddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineeqeverquestf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgamestopgamezoneguild-citieshistoryLouis-Lamarchemacmac-versionmudopen-world-pvppatch-22player-built-citiesplayer-citiesplayer-citypolitical-systemprimeresetreset-buttonreset-switchrise-of-chaossandboxshadowbaneshadowbane-rebootshadowbane-resetsiege-warfarethe-game-archaeologistthrone-of-oblivionubisoftwolfpackwolfpack-studiosTue, 02 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST