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[The Daily Grind: What is the unofficial soundtrack to your favorite MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-daily-grind-what-is-the-unofficial-soundtrack-to-your-favor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-daily-grind-what-is-the-unofficial-soundtrack-to-your-favor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-daily-grind-what-is-the-unofficial-soundtrack-to-your-favor/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Testament
Official soundtracks are great; don't get me wrong. But sometimes I like to just throw on some of my own music to better mimic my mood at the time of playing. There are still albums from the late '80s that remind me of Wasteland or Pool of Radiance every time I listen to them -- almost 25 years later!

As talented as our favorite game theme composers are, we don't always want to listen to the default soundtrack every time. So what gets you through your game of choice? Do you enjoy some metal? Classical? Country? Oldies? Dubstep... or whatever the kids listen to these days? Let us know!

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What is the unofficial soundtrack to your favorite MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindmusicopinionsoundtrackstdgtestamentthe-daily-grindthemeFri, 18 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: Lord of the Rings Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/why-i-play-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/why-i-play-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/why-i-play-lord-of-the-rings-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - Oatbarton archway
It's confession time, folks. I change MMOs like most people change socks, so while many of my colleagues write about their long-term MMO love and possibly a backup game or two in this column, I'm more inclined to write about four different titles in as many weeks. In fact, by the time you finish reading this, I may well have moved on to something else.

That's OK, though, and that's one of the great things about the modern MMO space: There are just so damn many games that there's really no excuse for ever getting bored. And this week's infatuation is Lord of the Rings Online.

Continue reading Why I Play: Lord of the Rings Online

MassivelyWhy I Play: Lord of the Rings Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>editorialf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-inn-leaguelotro-music-systemmassively-metametamiddle-earthmmo-musicmusicmusic-systemnon-combatnon-combat-gameplaynostalgiaop-edopinionplayer-generated-contentroast-muttontolkienturbineturbine-entertainmentuser-generated-contentwhy-i-playwhy-i-play-lotroWed, 25 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar records score, dishes out free music]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/wildstar-records-score-dishes-out-free-music/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/wildstar-records-score-dishes-out-free-music/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/wildstar-records-score-dishes-out-free-music/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

WildStar
This week's WildStar spotlight takes the focus off the look of the game and puts it on the melodious strains of its soundtrack. In it, Carbine Studios Lead Composer Jeff Kurtenacker steps in front of the camera to talk about creating and recording the score for this upcoming MMO.

"The recording process is pretty fascinating and pretty complicated, actually," Kurtenacker began. He said that the score starts with his recording basic MIDI tunes for use in the game's early testing. Following that, he assembles musicians to record the proper score, including "cues" (short pieces) and longer tracks.

His favorite part of the recording day comes when there's silence right at the beginning and then the first notes fill the air. "That always to me is a fantastically amazing moment," he said.

On top of the video, which you can check out after the jump, Carbine's provided two free music tracks to download and enjoy: Enemy Camp Battle and Rescue Mission.

Continue reading WildStar records score, dishes out free music

MassivelyWildStar records score, dishes out free music originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosJeff-Kurtenackermp3mp3-downloadsmusicmusic-downloadsncsoftsandparksci-fantasysci-fiscoresoundtrackwildstarwsFri, 06 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine enlists Chance Thomas to score LotRO, DDO expansions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/turbine-enlists-chance-thomas-to-score-lotro-ddo-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/turbine-enlists-chance-thomas-to-score-lotro-ddo-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/turbine-enlists-chance-thomas-to-score-lotro-ddo-expansions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Chance Thomas
If you were disappointed by the absence of new music in Lord of the Rings Online's last couple of expansions, then today is a good opportunity to break out the headphones in celebration. Composer Chance Thomas has announced that Turbine contracted him to create an "all-original orchestral, choral and acoustic ensemble score" for this fall's Riders of Rohan.

It's not just LotRO audiophiles who have cause to rejoice, either: Thomas is also on board with creating the music for Dungeons and Dragons Online's first expansion, Menace of the Underdark.

Thomas' career in video game music dates back to the late '90s with Quest for Glory V. LotRO players know him best as one of the composers for both Shadows of Angmar and Mines of Moria. Menace of the Underdark will release June 25th, while Riders of Rohan is scheduled for some time this fall.

MassivelyTurbine enlists Chance Thomas to score LotRO, DDO expansions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chance-thomascomposerddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineexpansionexpansionsf2pfantasyfree-to-playlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromenace-of-the-underdarkmines-of-moriamusicriders-of-rohanscoreshadows-of-angmarsoundtrackturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 06 Mar 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lime Odyssey dev blog features the music of Yasunori Mitsuda]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/lime-odyssey-dev-blog-features-the-music-of-yasunori-mitsuda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/lime-odyssey-dev-blog-features-the-music-of-yasunori-mitsuda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/lime-odyssey-dev-blog-features-the-music-of-yasunori-mitsuda/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Lime Odyssey - musical avatar
It's time for another Lime Odyssey dev blog, and today's piece focuses on the free-to-play fantasy title's soundtrack. Aeria Games tapped veteran composer Yasunori Mitsuda to create the score, and though this is Mitsuda's first MMO project, it's definitely not his first video game suite. You've heard his work before if you've played Chrono Cross, Chrono Trigger, and Xenogears, and you can hear his latest in the sound samples we've got for you after the break.

Click through to read a bit about the themes for Blue Coral, West Tumbara, and Pripet.

[Source: Aeria Games press release]

Continue reading Lime Odyssey dev blog features the music of Yasunori Mitsuda

MassivelyLime Odyssey dev blog features the music of Yasunori Mitsuda originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriaaeria-gamesdev-blogdev-diaryf2pfantasyfree-to-playlime-odysseymusicortascoresoundtrackyasunori-mitsudaSat, 11 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Full SWTOR-themed hip hop album released]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/full-swtor-themed-hip-hop-album-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/full-swtor-themed-hip-hop-album-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10/full-swtor-themed-hip-hop-album-released/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If the one thing missing from your life has been music to show the world how much you love Star Wars: The Old Republic, rejoice! Your wait has come to an end. Richie Branson, who put out his first SWTOR-themed song late last year, has released Cold Republic Episode I: The Empire Likes Rap, which has the peculiar honor of being the world's first SWTOR mixtape. Are you a Hutt Ball phenomenon? Are you hot like a pot on the stove that's boilin'? Does it take more than seven men to kill you 'cause you're a tank -- and can you, in point of fact, take that to the bank? This might be just the thing for you!

It's worth noting that the characters represented in the album also tip holo dancers hundred thousand credit bills and stick their missiles in all the ladies' exhaust ports. Your mileage will definitely vary.

MassivelyFull SWTOR-themed hip hop album released originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cold-republicMixTapemusicno-ladies-like-swtor-obviouslyraprichie-bransonStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-empire-likes-rapFri, 10 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part two)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/26/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
The last time on the Perfect Ten, disaster struck the good ship Poseidon and the surviving readers were running out of air as they tried to escape the flipped-over vessel. Also, we were counting down the top 20 MMO themes, but that's of small consolation to the soon-to-be bereaved friends and families, don't you think?

Because we play these games extensively, it's not uncommon for MMO music -- and themes -- to become vilified by the sheer number of times we've heard them. That's a little unfair to a three-minute piece of soundtrack that slaves every day to feed his wife and kids, doing the best he can in a trying situation. So perhaps we can put aside melodic oversaturation to look at these tracks anew, shall we?

With half of them out of the way, it's time to look into the elite of the elite: the 10 best MMO themes of all time. According to me. A guy you don't know. You've got goosebumps, don't you?

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part two)

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part two) originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acallodsallods-onlineasherons-calleqeq2everquesteverquest-2everquest-iifeaturedgranado-espadaguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2jeremy-soulelistmusicperfect-tenromrunes-of-magicscorestar-trek-onlinestosword-of-the-new-worldthe-perfect-tenthemetheme-musictitle-themeturbineultima-onlineuoworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: Battle of the Bards]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/leaderboard-battle-of-the-bards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/leaderboard-battle-of-the-bards/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/leaderboard-battle-of-the-bards/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Leaderboard: World of Warcraft
I have to say, I'm just always fascinated by Bards (and Bard-type classes) in MMOs. They seem so odd juxtaposed with steely warriors and mystic wizards that half the time I think they're a running joke that somewhere along the line people started taking seriously. I mean, pulling out a guitar in the middle of a gang gunfight in Chicago is a good way to ruin a perfectly good musical instrument, but in fantasy worlds this sort of thing happens and nobody even blinks. In some places, a fully decked-out hair metal band can wreck havoc on any raid boss.

Bards appeal to the contrarian in us, with the attitude of "it's OK to be a jack of all trades, as long as you're rocking a sweet axe." In some MMOs their music is used to conjure up buffs, while in others their notes cause aural damage on the level of Ke$ha to monsters. Have family members who keep telling you to turn that racket down? Bards in games are constantly told to crank it up -- and play multiple songs simultaneously, if at all possible. Plus, Bards are not unknown to the ways of the sword, which always amuses group leaders who now have a squishy character charging into combat shouting, "Stab! Stabby stab!"

Today is a first, as we're giving you more than one choice for Leaderboard voting. Please don't pass out. It's a Battle of the Bards, with most of the major MMOs reporting in for duty! Which Bard tops them all? Cast your vote after the jump!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Battle of the Bards

MassivelyLeaderboard: Battle of the Bards originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bardbardsbattle-of-the-bardsentertainerfeaturedguitarkeshaleaderboardluteminstrelmusicmusic-attackopinionpollskaldtroubadourvotevotesvotingMon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Music to watch the stars by]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/eve-evolved-music-to-watch-the-stars-by/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/eve-evolved-music-to-watch-the-stars-by/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/22/eve-evolved-music-to-watch-the-stars-by/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

EVE Online title image
EVE Online received some big graphical overhauls with the recent Crucible expansion, and every ship will have its graphics iterated on in future patches as part of with the ongoing V3 project. A great deal of time and money is poured into keeping EVE's graphics at the bleeding edge of the industry, and yet the game's music has barely changed since launch in 2003. Warped ambient compositions like Red Glowing Dust gave a feeling of depth and scale to early EVE's empty universe, and the electronic beats of tracks like Below the Asteroids and Merchants, Looters and Ghosts have become iconic sounds of EVE. The music still manages to impress new players, but with so much of EVE being overhauled, I think it's time to give the music another look.

Very few game studios pay as much attention to music as to graphics, the user interface, or gameplay, but the right music has the power to completely transform a player's experience. Just like in a movie, music can evoke an emotional response and so alter a person's perception of events. Fighting monsters in a fantasy MMO or shooting down pirates in EVE might not be a terribly epic activity, but throw in some epic music and suddenly it feels a lot more real. I wrote about the psychological effect of music in MMOs several years ago, and the topic is as relevant today as it was then.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at three different types of music that could improve EVE and suggest how CCP could take advantage of each type to give EVE the soundtrack it deserves.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Music to watch the stars by

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Music to watch the stars by originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambientbackground-musicccpccp-gamescombat-musiccrucibleeqeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieraeveeve-evolvedeve-onlineeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iifantasyfeaturedmusicopinionpvppvp-musicsandboxsci-fisyncsynchronizationSun, 22 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part one)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/the-perfect-ten-best-mmo-theme-songs-part-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
As I've well established both here on Massively and elsewhere, I'm somewhat of a nut for video game music. Whereas others might collect vintage hair metal tracks or the latest Justin Bieber opus, I'm always digging through obscure (and not-so-obscure) official soundtracks to games like Wipeout and Kirby. Video game scores can be right up there with the best that the film industry puts out, and the fact that they tie into personal experiences that we've played through can lend them sentimental weight.

So for the next two Perfect Tens, I scoured all the MMO theme songs that I could get ahold of in an attempt to formulate a list of the very best. It was originally slated to be just one list, but after an hour or so of listening to tracks and having friends and fellow staffers weigh in on the subject, I knew it was impossible to keep it there.

Two important things to note for this list. First, I wanted to keep to just the title/login screen tracks so that I wouldn't be working on this for the next 2.5 years. Second, unlike most past Perfect Tens where there's no significance to the order of the list, in this case we're going to have a genuine countdown to the best MMO theme song of all time. And I expect to take no flak about it, do you hear me? Good. Let's begin.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part one)

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part one) originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanbiowareblade-and-souldarkfalldarkfall-onlinefeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-xiharry-potterlistmabinogimusicNobuo-Uematsuperfect-10perfect-tenpiratespirates-of-the-burning-searunescapescorestar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenthemetheme-musictitle-musictop-10top-20transformerstwilightwizard101wurm-onlineThu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Top 10 of '11]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/wings-over-atreia-top-10-of-11/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/wings-over-atreia-top-10-of-11/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/wings-over-atreia-top-10-of-11/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Wings Over Atreia header
Where in the Seraphim Lords did the year go? Daevas aren't the only ones who fly; time certainly has one powerful set of wings (though I haven't quite determined whether they are light or dark)! It's a bit hard for me to believe that a full year has come and gone. Yet even as I doubt, a cursory glance back over the past 12 months shows me I didn't Rip Van Winkle the time away.

In fact, much has transpired in Aion since 2011 rolled in. Between pining away for things to come and dreaming of things that may never be, chronicling the life and social scene of Atreia, offering guides and hints, and reporting on (sometimes surprise) announcements, Wings Over Atreia has covered a variety of topics over the past year. While each column is but one glimpse, together they show the evolution of our game.

Traipse past the break and down memory lane with me as we reminisce about Aion in the time-honored Massively tradition of top-10 lists.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Top 10 of '11

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Top 10 of '11 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamealter-egodaevas-of-our-livesdramafeaturedhousingmusicnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionrantrantsreal-liferoleplayroleplayersroleplayingtop-tentop-ten-listtrolltrollsWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 02 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Solorius medley]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/wings-over-atreia-solorius-medley/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/wings-over-atreia-solorius-medley/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/wings-over-atreia-solorius-medley/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Wings Over Atreia header
It's simply inescapable: Everywhere I go, I am inundated with tunes invoking the holiday spirit. It started a while ago, and I thought I had artfully dodged it by turning off the radio, avoiding stores, and just keeping immersed in game. But now, even when I log into Aion I cannot escape; just one quick port into Sanctum or Pandemonium and the tinkling tunes of the season waft to my ears. So why fight it, why resist? Heck, why not join in the throngs of holiday revelers by belting out the songs while shopping, entertaining guests, or even cruising through the drive-through? After all, I am not a Grinch, just a gamer. And the last thing we need is people thinking Aion negatively influences our lives, right?

Solorius is just around the corner, so in the spirit of giving, I am going to share with you a compilation of some of my favorite holiday tunes because I want to be in the spirit and I want to help spread the cheer! Well, that and because of the old adage that the only way to get rid of a tune that's stuck in your head is to pass it on.

So fold your wings, grab some 'nog, and join me past the cut for a little Duel-tide spirit! And don't be shy -- sing along! (No one's listening, I promise.)

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Solorius medley

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Solorius medley originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamefeaturedholiday-cheerhumormusicnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionSoloriussongsWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 12 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[May the score be with you: SWTOR releases one music track a day until launch [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/may-the-score-be-with-you-swtor-releases-one-music-track-a-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/may-the-score-be-with-you-swtor-releases-one-music-track-a-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/may-the-score-be-with-you-swtor-releases-one-music-track-a-day/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SWTOR
A long time ago in a boombox far, far away... your MP3 folder was growing dusty from disuse and laughable with its lack of coolness. The IMPERIAL COMPOSERS of BioWare stepped in to quash your pitiful musical rebellion by offering you a FREE soundtrack piece every day until launch. Also, the evil gangster JABBA THE HUTT is immune to Jedi mind tricks, FYI.

This is true: As a special treat to its fans, BioWare is doling out one music track from its Star Wars: The Old Republic score every day, starting today and going until the December 20th launch. These tracks are available on both on the SWTOR Facebook page and official YouTube channel.

The first track is called The Mandalorian Blockade and is composed by Mark Griskey, Wilbert Roget II, Gordy Haab & Lennie Moore. Give it a listen after the jump!

[Update: It looks like music is not the only thing the BioWare folks have in store for you in the lead up until launch. Apparently, the team is doing at least one more round of beta testing starting tomorrow, so check your inboxes!]

Continue reading May the score be with you: SWTOR releases one music track a day until launch [Updated]

MassivelyMay the score be with you: SWTOR releases one music track a day until launch [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareea-biowarefacebookgiveawayGordy-HaabLennie-MooreMark-Griskeymusicmusic-previewmusic-trackscoresoundtrackstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortrackvideoWilbert-Roget-IIyoutubeThu, 01 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Thanksgiving leftovers and what's new in Hyboria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/the-anvil-of-crom-thanksgiving-leftovers-and-whats-new-in-hybo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/the-anvil-of-crom-thanksgiving-leftovers-and-whats-new-in-hybo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/the-anvil-of-crom-thanksgiving-leftovers-and-whats-new-in-hybo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The Anvil of Crom - angry man banner
What's up, Age of Conan fans? Hopefully all of you had an overindulgent Thanksgiving (I'm picturing clusters of barbarians hunched around roaring campfires, gnawing the blackened meat off the bones of whatever game animal happened to pass by).

For my part, I spent the last couple of days avoiding work, gaining weight, and catching up on recent news from Funcom's Hyboria. I've been a bit distracted with various online shooters lately, but I always find myself coming back to AoC because of its unique fantasy world and rough-and-tumble themepark mechanics. Join me after the break for a few recent tidbits that piqued my interest.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Thanksgiving leftovers and what's new in Hyboria

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Thanksgiving leftovers and what's new in Hyboria originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.13.1-patchage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedanvil-of-cromaocaoc-soundtrackaoc-unchainedcape-of-bottomless-thirstconandrinking-capef2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playhyboriainterviewknut-avenstroup-haugenknut-haugenmusicnews-roundupopinionroundupsavage-coast-of-turanscoresiegesiege-performancesoundtrackthe-anvil-of-cromxfireSun, 27 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Party planning committee, assemble!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/29/the-road-to-mordor-party-planning-committee-assemble/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/29/the-road-to-mordor-party-planning-committee-assemble/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/29/the-road-to-mordor-party-planning-committee-assemble/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor
Considering that Fellowship of the Ring begins with a huge party -- thrown in honor of Bilbo Baggins' eleventy-first birthday -- I think it's appropriate that Lord of the Rings Online is conducive to parties. I'm not just talking about dev-designed festivals, although those are great; I'm referring to parties that the community whips up from time to time.

Part of the appeal of LotRO to me is that it isn't just all about killing and leveling; it's also about exploring and living in this virtual Middle-earth. Life for the Free Peoples means celebrating even in the midst of oppressive evil, and it's in keeping with the spirit of the enterprise to throw a shindig now and then.

Turbine's given us quite a few tools and resources to use when assembling a party, and I thought that today we'd take an unusual detour from the Road to Mordor and go through the steps of throwing a memorable and enjoyable soirée. Ready to cut loose? Footloose? Good! Let's tear up the dance floor!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Party planning committee, assemble!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Party planning committee, assemble! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alebeerdancingdrinkingdrunkexplosionsfeaturedfireworksfreeze-taglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromusicpartiespartyparty-planningplayer-housingplayer-musicroad-to-mordorshindigsoireetagthe-road-to-mordorturbine-entertainmentweatherstockSat, 29 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Asheron's Call 2
MMO sequels are funny animals. Sequels (along with prequels and "reimaginings") are ingrained into the entertainment industry so deep that it makes sense that MMO studios would follow suit. And yet these types of games -- with their ever-growing nature and heavy involvement with loyal playerbases -- are not always conducive to such projects. More often than not, a sequel to an online game becomes its ancestor's main competition, which is not a desirable outcome for the studio.

Perhaps back in the early 2000s, studios simply didn't know better. There's good evidence that the typical "hit video games need a sequel" mindset ran rampant across the industry, from the multiple attempts at Ultima Online 2 to the release of the don't-call-it-a-sequel sequel of EverQuest II. Perhaps developers didn't realize that MMO players didn't necessarily want to be uprooted and moved to a new game every few years.

While sequels, spin-offs and remakes are still present, the genre learned a hard lesson with Asheron's Call 2 in the first half of the decade. Asheron's Call was a success on Microsoft and Turbine's behalf, and a sequel -- with vastly improved graphics and deeper gameplay -- seemed like a logical next step. Unfortunately, it was a Greek tragedy in the making, destined for a short but memorable life in our world.

This month we're going to look at the brief shining star of Asheron's Call 2 and get all sorts of misty-eyed romantic over it!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acac1ac2asherons-callasherons-call-2asherons-call-2-legionsawardcanceledcancellationclassclassesderetheqiieverquest-iiexpansionfallen-kingsfeaturedgeoff-scottguildshero-2.0hero-systemjonathan-hannakingdom-vs-kingdomkvklegionsmatthew-fordmicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosmmo-sequelsmusicmusic-systemplayer-musicpvpRandy-Spongsequelsequelsthe-game-archaeologistturbineturbine-entertainmentultima-online-2Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar gives players a taste of the sound of the world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/wildstar-gives-players-a-taste-of-the-sound-of-the-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/wildstar-gives-players-a-taste-of-the-sound-of-the-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/wildstar-gives-players-a-taste-of-the-sound-of-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle.
It's hard not to find something familiar in WildStar's fusion of the wild west aesthetic with the exploration of an unfamiliar planet in deep space. That having been said, most people anticipating the game would likely find nothing to fault with that combination in terms of visuals. But what will the game sound like? That's what this week's WildStar Wednesday addresses, with a piece by Jeff Kurtenacker about composing the music you'll hear in-game.

As Kurtenacker puts it, the biggest challenge as a composer is to create music that combines the game's diverse thematic points into a unified score, producing the right mixture of wonder, adventure, and a bit of old frontier exploration. But if all the technical discussion of composition is a bit beyond you, the post also includes two sample tracks from the game's soundtrack, a chance for players to get a sense of what to expect from the finished experience. The tracks are brief, but they're certainly the sort of thing that gets you in the mindset of the game -- and that's just what they're there for.

MassivelyWildStar gives players a taste of the sound of the world originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiocarbinecarbine-studiosJeff-kurtenackermusicncsoftpreviewssoundssoundtracktracksupdateswildstarwildstar-wednesdayWed, 28 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Issue #4 -- Making music in LotRO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/some-assembly-required-issue-4-making-music-in-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/some-assembly-required-issue-4-making-music-in-lotro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/some-assembly-required-issue-4-making-music-in-lotro/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required
Music to my ears. The Sound of Music. It ain't over 'til the fat lady (er, Dwarf) sings. Time to face the music. Pay the piper.

There is no way around it -- music is such an integral part of our lives and culture that there is almost no way to take a step without its influence showing in some part of our lives, be it an idiom, a movie, a popular catchphrase, or even just a tune stuck in our heads that we cannot escape. Music is so woven into the thread of our beings that it is surprising that more music cannot be found in the world of MMOs. Luckily for us, one world has embraced this connection to music and made it an involved part of the game.

Unlike any other games, Lord of the Rings Online has moved beyond just adding a background score and a few canned clips of music to the game. In fact, it has introduced an entire system allowing players to not only play a variety of instruments in the game but compose original pieces and play together in bands as well. The musically inclined can either play live or convert popular music into ABC files, and the not-so-inclined can use said files files to play right along with their friends. When it comes to harnessing creativity, the music system in LotRO tops the charts.

Want to see how you too can strike up the band and show off your creative prowess with the lute, the theorbo, the clarinet, or even the cowbell? Tune in past the cut for Some Assembly Required's look at the music industry in LotRO.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Issue #4 -- Making music in LotRO

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Issue #4 -- Making music in LotRO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ABCf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playguideinstrumentinstrumentslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromusicmusic-guidepgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxturbineTurbine-EntertainmentFri, 19 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamania announces musical MMO Tiara Concerto]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/gamania-announces-musical-mmo-tiara-concerto/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/gamania-announces-musical-mmo-tiara-concerto/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/gamania-announces-musical-mmo-tiara-concerto/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Have you ever thought to yourself that bards are such a supremely cool idea for a character class that they ought to have a whole game devoted to them? Apparently you're not the only one, as Gamania today announced its upcoming game, Tiara Concerto, a game focused around musical gameplay in floating castles in the sky. And with all joking aside, it seems like a pretty interesting concept at face value, although it's a bit difficult to divine how well it will play out over time.

According to the game's backstory, the game takes place 800 years in the past, with humanity on the brink of eradication due to the ambiguous sinning of mankind. The Seven Wise Men helped preserve civilization in floating palaces, developing the art known as "tuning" to allow musical melodies to be used as weapons. While the localization appears to be a bit scattered, the trailer just past the cut certainly promises some interesting visuals if nothing else. You can also look at the official Facebook page, which features a series of comics translated to English to help introduce the game's concepts and play style.

Continue reading Gamania announces musical MMO Tiara Concerto

MassivelyGamania announces musical MMO Tiara Concerto originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamaniagamania-digital-entertainmentlocalizationmusicnew-gamesnewstiara-concertotrailerupcoming-titlesvideoMon, 01 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Soundtrack bonanza!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/the-road-to-mordor-soundtrack-bonanza/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/the-road-to-mordor-soundtrack-bonanza/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/the-road-to-mordor-soundtrack-bonanza/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

One of the probably-not-very-interesting things about me is that I'm somewhat of a video game soundtrack aficionado. Ever since MP3s became all the rage, I've been collecting my favorite tunes from console and computer games, often replacing the in-game score with my own personal soundtrack.

MMO soundtracks, as a whole, are hit or miss with me. While there are many incredible pieces out there, a bulk of what you find is low-key atmospheric stuff that isn't meant to be on anyone's Top 40 playlist. Lord of the Rings Online has its up and downs as a soundtrack, but overall it really does evoke the spirit of Middle-earth. It's hard to imagine playing the game, especially the early levels, without hearing these tracks.

I've collected both the soundtracks to Shadows of Angmar and Mines of Moria and have been saving them for a special occasion. Today is that special occasion. These were composed by Chance Thomas (who's scored many Lord of the Rings-related games) and Stephen DiGregorio. Ranging from bombastic to sinister to folksy, this score covers the gamut of themes and emotions related to the journey of the Ring. It's cool to listen to it independently of the game, as you can appreciate the score for what it is -- and see how the pieces evoke memories of your times in LotRO.

Instead of individually reviewing all 40 or so tracks, I'm simply going to pick my 10 most favorite to share with you!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Soundtrack bonanza!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Soundtrack bonanza! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chance-thomasdrums-in-the-deepelvesfeaturedhobitslord-of-the-rings-onlinelothlorienlotromines-of-moriamoriamusicostrivendellscoreshadows-of-angmarshiresoundtracksoundtracksstephen-digregoriothe-hobbitthe-road-to-mordorthorinthorin-oakenshieldtom-bombadiltop-10tracksFri, 08 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA composers discuss musical themes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/tera-composers-discuss-musical-themes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/tera-composers-discuss-musical-themes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/20/tera-composers-discuss-musical-themes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

As game budgets grow, production values usually do as well, and this is pretty apparent in the spate of high-quality musical scores surrounding many modern MMORPGs. Titles as diverse as Guild Wars, Age of Conan, and Lord of the Rings Online boast cinema-style ear candy and instantly recognizable theme music, and TERA is gearing up to become the latest MMORPG to follow suit.

Renowned composers Inon Zur (Dragon Age, Fallout 3) and Rod Abernethy (RAGE, Dead Space) have been working on TERA's score since 2009, and the duo has made use of the Northwest Sinfonia Orchestra and world-class production and mixing facilities to bring the music of Arborea to life.

Zur and Abernethy are interviewed in a new piece over at ZAM, and clicking on the link will bring you discussion on regional and racial musical content as well as personal insights from both men regarding their work on Bluehole Studio's action MMO.

MassivelyTERA composers discuss musical themes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholebluehole-studioen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyinon-zurinterviewmusicrod-abernethyscoresoundtrackteraMon, 20 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PLAY! Video game symphony will feature music from Guild Wars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/play-video-game-symphony-will-feature-music-from-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/play-video-game-symphony-will-feature-music-from-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/play-video-game-symphony-will-feature-music-from-guild-wars/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Are games art? It's a long-running debate, but one thing that can't really be disputed is the artistic merit of many video game soundtracks. The compositional stylings of Jeremy Soule, in particular, are among the most memorable in the growing catalogue of epic game scores.

On June 21st and 22nd, Seattle-area concertgoers can feast their ears on the live sounds of Soule's Guild Wars score (as well as several other seminal game-related works including Soule's instantly recognizable themes for Morrowind and Oblivion). The music is all part of PLAY! A Video Game Symphony, and ArenaNet is highlighting the performance on its official blog.

Tickets are available now at the Seattle Symphony website (or by calling 206.215.4747). If you're going, be sure to say hello to the Guild Wars artists on hand for signings in the Benaroya Hall lobby.

MassivelyPLAY! Video game symphony will feature music from Guild Wars originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>concertcultureeventsguild-warsguild-wars-soundtrackgwjeremy-soulemusicreal-world-eventsscoresoundtrackThu, 09 Jun 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LotRO musicians prepare for Weatherstock 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/lotro-musicians-prepare-for-weatherstock-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/lotro-musicians-prepare-for-weatherstock-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/lotro-musicians-prepare-for-weatherstock-2011/#commentsFiled under: ,

With summer almost upon us, the fair free folk of Middle-earth are gearing up for the largest player-organized in-game event of the year: Weatherstock 2011! Lord of the Rings Online adventurers from around the world will flock to the summit of Weathertop in the Lone-lands on the Landroval server to hear nine excellent outfits perform in an epic Battle of the Bands.

A Casual Stroll to Mordor has all of the essential details for this event, which runs from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday, June 18th. Among those contributing to the concert are The Green Hill Music Society, The Breakfast Club, and The Blackheart Pirates. Each band will perform a trio of songs (plus a possible encore) in an effort to take home one of three awards.

Weatherstock is made possible by LotRO's unique music system, which allows players to compose and perform songs with a variety of instruments. This is always a fun event, and the LotRO Lorebook has additional information for those attending (hint: turn off names!). Mark this on your calendar so that you don't miss the excellent tunes!

MassivelyLotRO musicians prepare for Weatherstock 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-casual-stroll-to-mordorbandsbattle-of-the-bandbattle-of-the-bandsconcertcstmgreen-hill-music-societyin-game-eventlandrovallone-landslord-of-the-rings-onlinelorebooklotromusicmusic-systemplayer-eventplayer-eventsplayer-run-eventthe-blackheart-piratesthe-breakfast-clubturbineturbine-entertainmentweatherstockweatherstock-2011weathertopwoodstockSun, 05 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nick Jonas is Wizard101's mystery composer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/nick-jonas-is-wizard101s-mystery-composer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/nick-jonas-is-wizard101s-mystery-composer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/nick-jonas-is-wizard101s-mystery-composer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The cat is out of the bag and the teenage girls are out of their minds: Wizard101 has announced that Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers is the "mystery composer" whom we've been trying to guess for the past couple of weeks.

Jonas both wrote and produced the soundtrack for Wizard101's latest world of Wintertusk, which includes seven pieces of music. Apparently, the songwriter was psyched to be a part of a video game for the first time: "This was a first for me. I never produced or wrote music for a game or in this case, a whole world before. So I jumped at the chance to work with KingsIsle. It was very cool to be part of a project that allowed me to help create the mood for Wintertusk and interact with an audience in an entirely new way."

Players can even meet Nick Jonas -- well, his virtual equivalent -- in the game and watch as his character conducts an orchestra. The world of Wintertusk with all of its "cool" music is currently open for all to experience.

MassivelyNick Jonas is Wizard101's mystery composer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-loves-nick-jonasjonas-brotherskingsislekingsisle-entertainmentmusicmystery-composernick-jonasorchestrascoresingersongwritersoundtrackthe-cool-music-pun-is-from-shawn-not-mewintertuskwizard101Wed, 11 May 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: An interview with Dynamedion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/lost-pages-of-taborea-an-interview-with-dynamedion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/lost-pages-of-taborea-an-interview-with-dynamedion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/21/lost-pages-of-taborea-an-interview-with-dynamedion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A lot of people like music in video games, and for good reason. Today there are some amazing tracks being recorded by professionals and artists for us to listen to as we own noobs, take down mighty dragons, and explore serene vistas. The world of video game composing even has its own fanbase filled with players who pay close attention to who is making the musical score to tomorrow's buzz-worthy game. I have personally clawed around in the dark for months looking for scraps of information on Runes of Magic's soundtrack. Some fragments have been unearthed here and there, but I was finally able to get in touch with the source.

Dynamedion is the music production company behind many of the tracks in RoM. It has a number of games listed on its resume, including Halo Legends, Alan Wake, Call of Duty 4 and many more. I nabbed an interview with some of the lead composers to try to get some more information about the music in RoM. Where did the inspiration for these tracks come from? Who worked on them? Did they steal all the music from Bardy Woods? Set your metronome to epic fantasy and click to read on.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: An interview with Dynamedion

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: An interview with Dynamedion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiocomposercomposersdynamedionfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivejeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamusicromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentscoresongsongssoundtrackthemetheme-songtilman-sillescuMon, 21 Feb 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with SWTOR's Jedi Knight on Tython]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/hands-on-with-swtors-jedi-knight-on-tython/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/hands-on-with-swtors-jedi-knight-on-tython/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/hands-on-with-swtors-jedi-knight-on-tython/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Last month, Massively was invited to LucasArts for a whole day's experience with BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic. One of the perks of living on the West Coast is that I get to attend all these awesome in-depth Silicon Valley events and really expand on Massively's sessions at various conventions!

For all my enthusiasm, I have to admit I approached this hands-on with no small amount of trepidation. I'm a huge Star Wars fan (I still play Star Wars Galaxies!), but I fell out of "expert" range on the saga a decade ago. Like many of you readers, I've been wary of the hype and even warier of delusions of grandeur on the part of game companies trying to do justice to the IP. I was really afraid that it wouldn't be as good as I'd hoped and that I'd walk away disappointed.

And given the parts I saw, SWTOR's not as good as I'd hoped. It's better.

Gallery: SWTOR Jedi Immersion Day

Continue reading Hands-on with SWTOR's Jedi Knight on Tython

MassivelyHands-on with SWTOR's Jedi Knight on Tython originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebioware-eaclassescodexcombatdaniel-ericksondialogueeaElectronic-Artsexclusivefeaturedgallerygroup-dialoguegroupinghand-onhands-onjedijedi-knightlightsaberLucasArtsmoviemusicpadawanpreviewpreviewsscreenshotscreenshotsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicStephen-Reidswtorswtor-hands-onthe-old-republictortrailertythonvideovoiceoverWed, 15 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Knut Haugen talks game music, film music, and inspiration]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/05/the-anvil-of-crom-knut-haugen-talks-game-music-film-music-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/05/the-anvil-of-crom-knut-haugen-talks-game-music-film-music-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/05/the-anvil-of-crom-knut-haugen-talks-game-music-film-music-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Welcome, my fellow barbarians, to another installment of The Anvil of Crom. This week I've got a bit of a treat for the music fans in the audience -- which is basically everyone, amirite? Yes, I finally got the chance to ask a few questions of Funcom's Knut Avenstroup Haugen, the man responsible for Age of Conan's sweeping soundscapes and evocative musical score.

Even if you're not an Age of Conan fan, you'll want to check out what Haugen has to say about the creative process, musical inspiration and research, and the crucial role that work ethic plays for the artist.

Join me after the cut as we talk about all that and more.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Knut Haugen talks game music, film music, and inspiration

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Knut Haugen talks game music, film music, and inspiration originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananvil-of-cromanvil-of-crom-interviewsaoccomposerfeaturedfuncomhyborian-adventuresinterviewknut-avenstroup-haugenknut-haugenmusicopinionrise-of-the-godslayerscoresoundtrackthe-anvil-of-cromSun, 05 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Community check-up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/the-road-to-mordor-community-check-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/the-road-to-mordor-community-check-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/the-road-to-mordor-community-check-up/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It's a quiet week around these here parts, what with the Thanksgiving holiday in NA and the lull before the November Update hits on the 29th. As such, I thought it'd be a great time to catch up on the current state of the community, especially as we've seen so many new bloggers and sites and podcasts arrive on the scene in the past year.

I've always said that Lord of the Rings Online is truly blessed with not just a stellar community but an active one as well. Some MMOs see very little in the way of fan-created sites, keeping most of the community action centered on official forums and the like. However, when it comes to LotRO, we have not only the MyLotro.com blogs set up by Turbine, but a cornucopia of web delights fashioned by hard-working players.

So to say "Thanks!" to this wonderful community, today I want to highlight some of the best LotRO resource websites, blogs and podcasts that consistently go above and beyond in making our slice of the MMO landscape a delight to visit.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Community check-up

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Community check-up originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ales-and-talesarmorblogsclasscommunityezinefeaturedfishinggearhobbitimmersionlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-wikimapmusicmusic-systemmylotromylotro.compodcastPodcastsresourcesturbineTurbine-EntertainmentwardenweaponswikiFri, 26 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's in your ears while you play?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/20/the-daily-grind-whats-in-your-ears-while-you-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/20/the-daily-grind-whats-in-your-ears-while-you-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/20/the-daily-grind-whats-in-your-ears-while-you-play/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When it's time to sit down and play an MMO, very few of us do so in total silence. Even neglecting the occasional burst of profanity at the game, there's usually a wide selection of game audio to be heard, ranging from environmental noises like rustling leaves to simple and evocative music that stays with you even if you leave the game behind. But for all the care put into it, the in-game music can eventually get boring to many players.

Maybe you still have the game soundtrack turned on, and you occasionally just stop and listen to one of your favorite melodies. Perhaps you've moved on to listening to a favorite playlist on iTunes or Pandora while you play, or you might turn off the sound altogether to focus on the business of voice chat. There's even a chance you've decided to be charmingly meta and listen to another game's soundtrack altogether. What are you listening to while you play your favorite game?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's in your ears while you play? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiointernet-radioituneslisteningmusicmusical-tastesopinionradiosoundtdgthe-daily-grindvoice-chatSat, 20 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Music to kill by: The making of Rift's score]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/music-to-kill-by-the-making-of-rifts-score/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/music-to-kill-by-the-making-of-rifts-score/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/music-to-kill-by-the-making-of-rifts-score/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The musical score is often one of the little-appreciated aspects of MMOs, providing mood, tone and emotion for the player while hopefully refraining from being annoying or too repetitive.

In a new dev diary, Trion Worlds showcases the audio talent behind Rift: Planes of Telara's score. Audio Director Yannis Brown and Composer Inon Zur (Dragon Age: Origins, Fallout: New Vegas) talk about how the music lends itself to character identity and the environment's atmosphere, while giving us an aural sneak peek of Rift's tunes. One of the cool concepts the audio team is the creation of multi-layered music tracks that provide the same theme in different degrees of intensity based on how big the rifts have grown.

Hit the jump to watch the diary and hear for yourself whether this will be a game in which the default score stays on -- or gets quickly turned off in favor of personal playlists.

Continue reading Music to kill by: The making of Rift's score

MassivelyMusic to kill by: The making of Rift's score originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>composerdev-diarydragondragon-ageDragon-Age-Originsfallout-new-vegasinon-zurmusicriftrift-planes-of-telarasoundtracktriontrion-worldsvideoyannis-brownMon, 08 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Squashing the negativity bug]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/31/the-anvil-of-crom-squashing-the-negativity-bug/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/31/the-anvil-of-crom-squashing-the-negativity-bug/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/31/the-anvil-of-crom-squashing-the-negativity-bug/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MMORPGs tend to attract a rather ranty segment of the gaming population. Actually, let me back up. MMORPG forums tend to attract a rather ranty segment of the gaming population. Whether or not a given game's general population is as perennially dissatisfied as the vocal folks on the official boards is a matter of conjecture, but conventional wisdom holds (and I happen to agree) that most of the people are contentedly playing while a subset are engaging in all manner of forum drama.

Writers aren't immune to this negativity bug either, as occasionally things will rub us the wrong way about our favorite genre (or a particular game), and we'll feel the need to speak out. I've been battling this particular demon lately myself, and whether it's a matter of burnout, stress, or simply observing that a lot of things really do suck, I feel it's important to occasionally step back and examine why exactly I'm playing a particular game as well as spending a part of my professional life covering this genre. It stands to reason that I wouldn't be here if everything were all bad all the time, so this is as fine a time as any to highlight some of the good.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Squashing the negativity bug

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Squashing the negativity bug originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananvil-of-cromaocbells-and-whistlesfeaturedfuncomimmersionknut-avenstroup-haugenmusicopinionpvepvpthe-anvil-of-cromworldworld-designSun, 31 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Neverdaunt:8Bit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/03/rise-and-shiny-recap-neverdaunt-8bit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/03/rise-and-shiny-recap-neverdaunt-8bit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/03/rise-and-shiny-recap-neverdaunt-8bit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

I have a buddy who creates all types of music, and recently he decided to experiment with 8-bit. We've talked about it, and at first I think he was worried about how I would feel about it. After all, I've been playing in heavy rock bands since I was around 13 years old, so my disdain for most things electronica or artificial is pretty well-known. For the record, I do not hate all sounds that are created by a computer -- I just haven't found much that I like.

So, as I watched 8-bit become a slightly hipper and hipper form of music, my tolerance has had time to adjust. True 8-bit art and design is about reduction, if you ask me -- it's about breaking down everything into single blocks of color or sound, and then rearranging those bits in an attempt to recreate something beautiful.

When done well, 8-bit can be fun and exciting. Neverdaunt:8Bit is done well, for sure. While it is still only in "early" testing, it shows a ton of promise -- even if it is only made up of a few basic blocks of noise and color.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Neverdaunt:8Bit

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Neverdaunt:8Bit originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8bit8BitMusicbeau-hindmandigitalf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpgraphicsminecraftmusicneverdauntneverdaunt-8bitpvprise-and-shinyscott-pilgrim-vs-the-worldsecond-lifesimlishSun, 03 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Girdle of Anarchy: My expedition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-girdle-of-anarchy-my-expedition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-girdle-of-anarchy-my-expedition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/28/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-girdle-of-anarchy-my-expedition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I have a confession to make: Returning to Anarchy Online was the driving force behind starting The Game Archaeologist. Oh sure, I pretended to be all business-like when I approached my boss and said, "You know, Señor Schuster, we are doing a disservice to some of the older MMOs and their fans by not covering these games, and I think, nay, insist we remedy that immediately." But of course, what I was thinking was, "Pay me to engage in hardcore nostalgia, dude!"

It worked. *cue rubbing hands together and laughing maniacally*

You see, Anarchy Online was my very first MMO. It wasn't my first MMO love, mind you -- that was City of Heroes. But AO holds a special place in my heart as the game that introduced me to the wonderful world of online RPGs. It was tough, near-incomprehensible, and quite buggy at the start, but I've never lost affection for the world of Rubi-Ka.

So after my looking back at Anarchy Online's history, asking you to share your stories, and talking with Funcom's devs, it was time for me to return and see if this world still holds magic... or if it has lost its way.

Gallery: Anarchy Online

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Girdle of Anarchy: My expedition

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Girdle of Anarchy: My expedition originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineaoauto-attackcity-of-heroescoheee-pcfeaturedfuncomgimpguild-warsgwhands-oninterviewipadleetmusicnetbookrubi-kascoreshadowlandssparkleflutter-the-supa-destroyerthe-game-archaeologistworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 28 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Making of Eorzea video sits down with Final Fantasy XIV's composer Uematsu]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/new-making-of-eorzea-video-sits-down-with-final-fantasy-xivs-co/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/new-making-of-eorzea-video-sits-down-with-final-fantasy-xivs-co/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/new-making-of-eorzea-video-sits-down-with-final-fantasy-xivs-co/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

For many people, Nobuo Uematsu's name is inextricably linked to the Final Fantasy series. And with good cause -- he's one of the people most closely associated with the feel of the series, with several of his compositions having become ubiquitous even within games he didn't score. Having been the sole composer for Final Fantasy XIV, the newest Making of Eorzea video sits down with Uematsu and discusses the experience of composing the full score for the game.

While Uematsu estimates it's been about ten years since he was in charge of a full score for a game, there's little argument to be had about his suitability for the job. He discusses both the scope of the project and his experiences in composing such memorable tracks as the theme song -- which, in his own words, was sung by Susan Calloway at his own insistence. See more about the music of Final Fantasy XIV in the video, embedded after the cut.

Continue reading New Making of Eorzea video sits down with Final Fantasy XIV's composer Uematsu

MassivelyNew Making of Eorzea video sits down with Final Fantasy XIV's composer Uematsu originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>composingcompositiondocumentaryffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivmaking-ofmaking-of-eorzeamusicnobuo-uematsuscoresoundtracksquaresquare-enixsusan-callowaytheme-songvideo-documentaryTue, 31 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Istaria]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/25/rise-and-shiny-recap-istaria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/25/rise-and-shiny-recap-istaria/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/25/rise-and-shiny-recap-istaria/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Each week Rise and Shiny asks you to download and try a different free-to-play, indie or unusual game, chosen by me, Beau Hindman. Some of the games will be far out of your gaming comfort zone, and some will pleasantly surprise you. We will meet each Tuesday and Friday night at 9 p.m. EDT (8 p.m. CDT), followed by this column the Sunday after. I welcome any suggestions for games, either in the comments or at beau@massively.com.

Istaria: Chronicles of the Gifted is not a new game, by any means. You probably remember it being called Horizons. I have tried this game probably several times over the last few years. Despite having a decent enough time with each attempt, I never had as much fun as I have during this last week of playing. Let this advice stick: give a game several chances, if you can. Don't let a developer's financial woes dissuade you from giving it a go again. Most of the time you can try it again without spending a dime.

I'm glad I returned to Istaria. Everything seemed to click for me, more than it did before. It could be that I never took the time to really get to know the quests or the abilities my character gained, and it could be that I played mostly solo during that time. Over this last week I adventured with an elf and a few dragons, and found a world, game, and community that was pretty darn inviting.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Istaria

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Istaria originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbeauhindmandragonsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftphorizonsistariaistaria-chronicles-of-the-giftedmusicoldies-but-goodiespeople-still-play-thisreviewsrise-and-shinyscoutSun, 25 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Music, audio, webcomics and more: It is super-reveal Friday for SWTOR's fans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/music-audio-webcomics-and-more-it-is-super-reveal-friday-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/music-audio-webcomics-and-more-it-is-super-reveal-friday-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/music-audio-webcomics-and-more-it-is-super-reveal-friday-for/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With Comic*Con less than a week away, BioWare is passionately preparing for the stellar event. And to tease us into wanting more, the development team threw us a gigantic Fan Friday for Star Wars: The Old Republic. What secrets were revealed in the newest issue of the Blood of the Empire? What can be divulged in a Developer's Blog about audio? How do we discover this secret the SWTOR Community Manager wants to tell us? And music in an MMO? Is that important? The Developer's Dispatch wants to show us.

All of these and other important questions will be answered if you click the little "Read more" button below.

Continue reading Music, audio, webcomics and more: It is super-reveal Friday for SWTOR's fans

MassivelyMusic, audio, webcomics and more: It is super-reveal Friday for SWTOR's fans originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audioBioWareblood-of-the-empiredeveloper-blogdeveloper-dispatchEAea-biowareElectronic-Artsexal-kresshfacebookforumsJesse-HarlinLucasArtsMaggotmusicorion-kelloggsean-dahlbergsecretsStar-Warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorteneb-kelthe-old-republictwitterwebcomicFri, 16 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom releases Godslayer soundtrack package]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/13/funcom-releases-godslayer-soundtrack-package/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/13/funcom-releases-godslayer-soundtrack-package/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/13/funcom-releases-godslayer-soundtrack-package/#commentsFiled under: , ,

To go along with their recently released making-of music trailer, Funcom has made the soundtrack to Rise of Godslayer available for purchase in both MP3 and disc format. The deluxe DVD packaging contains 23 tracks composed by Knut Avenstroup Haugen and performed by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. It also features trial clients for Age of Conan, game art, and an in-game flute exclusive to the soundtrack package.

The music itself needs no introduction, and features a diverse selection of instruments and artists including a taiko-drum ensemble and world-class ethnic solo masters.

Currently both the retail package and the MP3 downloads are only available in Europe via CDON.com, but Massively will keep you updated when the music becomes available in the States.

MassivelyFuncom releases Godslayer soundtrack package originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocbonus-itemflutefuncomknut-avenstroup-haugenmusicprague-philharmonicrise-of-the-godslayersoundtrackSun, 13 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan's "Making the Music" trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/aoc-making-the-music-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/aoc-making-the-music-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/11/aoc-making-the-music-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MMORPGs aren't really celebrated for their music, and while a few have managed to come up with a catchy theme here or there, none come close to the cinematic grandeur and sheer variety of Knut Avenstroup Haugen's original score for Age of Conan.

Happily, Haugen has returned to score the Rise of the Godslayer expansion, and Funcom has released a nifty behind-the-scenes style video detailing the music creation process. The three and a half minute clip features interviews with Haugen as well as game director and executive producer Craig Morrison, along with a hefty dose of in-game footage.

"This time around, my inspiration for the music came from mainly Chinese and Japanese folk music. It's been a very different experience, and I think it's going to be a very interesting score," Haugen says. "The visuals of the game, and the storyline, has played a huge part as an inspirational source for me as I write the music. There are so many things in the game that evoke feeling and musical ideas."

Check out the video after the cut.

Continue reading Age of Conan's "Making the Music" trailer

MassivelyAge of Conan's "Making the Music" trailer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conancraig-morrisonfuncomknut-avenstroup-haugenmusicsoundtrackFri, 11 Jun 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite MMO soundtrack?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/03/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-soundtrack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/03/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-soundtrack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/03/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-soundtrack/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's commonly said that MMO players eventually turn off the game's soundtrack in favor of their own tunes, voice chat or even silence. Most MMO tunes are forgettable the first time you hear them, nevermind the 1,000th, so scores are dumped in the trash and forgotten forever.

Except that's not always the case, now is it? Sometimes there's an MMO with a gifted composer who crafts tunes so ear-catching that you even listen to them (gasp) outside of the game. Sometimes there are MMOs in which you consider the soundtrack to be an essential part of the game experience, and refuse to ever disable it.

For today, we want to hear about your favorite MMO soundtrack. Which is your favorite? Are you in love with any particular track? Have you ever gone to great lengths to obtain a particular piece of music for your MP3 player or a CD? What score will you refuse to mute, even when a cute elfish vixen or lad comes up to chat?

(Bonus points to commenters who provide a YouTube link to their favorite scores -- and to the genuis who thinks that this is a great time for a Rickroll, well, call this a preemptive strike.)

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your favorite MMO soundtrack? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>musicnever-gonna-give-you-upnever-gonna-hold-you-backnever-gonna-let-you-downopinionostrickrollscoresoundtracktdgthe-daily-grindThu, 03 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zur and Abernethy making TERA music]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/18/zur-and-abernethy-making-tera-music/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/18/zur-and-abernethy-making-tera-music/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/18/zur-and-abernethy-making-tera-music/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Bluehole Studio and En Masse Entertainment continue to impress with their ability to put together a top notch roster of talent for TERA. The forthcoming fantasy MMORPG will feature a musical score by Inon Zur and Rod Abernethy as well as the Northwest Sinfonia Orchestra. The soundtrack makes use of traditional acoustic guitar, various ethnic instrumentation and vocal performances.

Zur is a prolific composer responsible for the Dragon Age, Fallout 3, and Prince of Persia scores, while Abernethy's extensive body of work includes music for The Hobbit, Alpha Protocol, and Dead Space.

"The general direction for the music for TERA was to have an original score that sounded grand and to match the large-scale in-game world, mixed with some warm sounding music," said Mr. An Yong Jin, Bluehole's Audio Director. "Inon has created world-class quality, epic orchestral music, which is his best attribute; his sweeping symphonic music is outstanding. Rod's beautiful compositions for TERA span a wide scope of musical styles. His expertly crafted blend of acoustic guitar and orchestral compositions is incredible for enhancing the musical atmosphere and their popular music appeal."

[Thanks Greg!]

MassivelyZur and Abernethy making TERA music originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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