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: Are social media connections in MMOs useless?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/the-daily-grind-are-social-media-connections-in-mmos-useless/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/the-daily-grind-are-social-media-connections-in-mmos-useless/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/the-daily-grind-are-social-media-connections-in-mmos-useless/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I first started to notice it in Champions Online. Cryptic gave us the ability to broadcast our achievements in the game over Twitter: "CapnCrunch has reached level 10!" At the time, it felt like a silly idea that wouldn't catch on, but for some reason, it has. More and more we're seeing studios working hard to integrate popular social networks into their MMOs, and more and more I'm wondering... why?

RIFT has been big on doing this, implementing the ability not only to set your account to automatically tweet achievements ("Hey guys, I jumped off a bridge and didn't die!") but also to post them in Facebook. The game also allows you to record video and take screenshots to post online, which seems to me to be more useful but still probably not as captivating to a potential personal audience as one might hope.

So my question today concerns these social media connections in MMOs -- are they useless? Are they just a fad that few people use? Do the ones who do use them end up annoying their followers with a stream of spam messages? Or do people actually enjoy the ability to have their games tie in with their social networks and see how their friends are progressing?

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: Are social media connections in MMOs useless? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementschampionschampions-onlinefacebookmyspaceopinionriftscreenshotssocial-mediasocial-networksocial-networkingsocial-networkstdgthe-daily-grindtumblrtweettweetstwittervideoyoutubeWed, 18 May 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Talking Sony and identity protection with LifeLock]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/talking-sony-and-identity-protection-with-lifelock/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/talking-sony-and-identity-protection-with-lifelock/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/talking-sony-and-identity-protection-with-lifelock/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As Sony continues to struggle to restore service to both the PlayStation Network and Sony Online Entertainment's MMOs following a hacking intrusion that resulted in millions of customer identities being compromised, players are understandably concerned about how secure their information is with similar companies.

Even though Sony promised to provide a year's worth of identity theft protection for affected customers, part of the responsibility for safeguarding against such theft lies with us. As such, we spoke with Mike Prusinski, the Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications for LifeLock, an identity theft protection service. We asked him about what we should be doing to protect our identities online -- and what Sony could have done better in the first place.

Massively: What are the most common ways that people have their identities stolen?

Mike Prusinski: Though there are no statistics that point to one way over another, consumers get their personal information lost through stolen laptops, hackers, stolen mail, trash, skimming devices, scams (email, phone calls and personal visits), peer-to-peer networks and public websites.

Continue reading Talking Sony and identity protection with LifeLock

MassivelyTalking Sony and identity protection with LifeLock originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 May 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>credit-card-frauddata-breachEpilisonfacebookfeaturedhackhackedhackershackingidentity-theftinterviewlifelockMike-Prusinskimyspacepasswordpasswordsplaystation-networksoesonysony-online-entertainmentState-of-Texas-Comptroller-Officestolen-accountsTue, 10 May 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The world is safe: Twilight MMO not a confirmed project]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/29/the-world-is-safe-twilight-mmo-not-a-confirmed-project/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/29/the-world-is-safe-twilight-mmo-not-a-confirmed-project/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/29/the-world-is-safe-twilight-mmo-not-a-confirmed-project/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Thanks to some astute Joystiq commenters and a MySpace photo of a newspaper article, it seems we might all breathe a collective sigh of relief. The Twilight MMO isn't an official, confirmed project as of yet.

The current Twilight: The Video Game is being created by Brandon Gardner, a student of game design from Blountstown, Florida. BrainJunk Studios currently consists of a volunteer staff, all working together on the concept of a Twilight game. Currently, Gardner is still studying with Westwood College Online, seeking out a bachelor's degree in game design as he works on his pet project.

So, in conclusion, we're all temporarily spared... at least for the time being.

MassivelyThe world is safe: Twilight MMO not a confirmed project originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blountstownbrainjunk-studiosbrandon-gardnerbreakingjoystiqmyspacenewspapernot-confirmedphotostudenttwilighttwilight-mmovampireswerewolvesWed, 29 Jul 2009 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW and SL not all there is to MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/14/wow-and-sl-not-all-there-is-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/14/wow-and-sl-not-all-there-is-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/14/wow-and-sl-not-all-there-is-to-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

GigaOM has posted up a fascinating feature by Wagner James Au which claims that World of Warcraft and Second Life, the two best known of the MMO major players, are not the be all and end all of virtual worlds. Far from it. The post was Inspired by the release of a report by Engage Digital which claims investors 'poured $237 million into virtual world-related start ups and payment systems last quarter'. That's quite a large number and not actually that surprising given the number of new MMOs and virtual worlds which have been popping up on the internet.

The post goes on to explain that an MMO's success does not depend entirely on vast subscriber numbers or players. Rather, it's more to do with the platforms. Au cites examples of MMO and virtual worlds only available on specific platforms or social networks including Facebook and MySpace which are just as popular as either WoW or SL, they just might not be as well known. Regardless, the post is quite a surprising read and definitely worth a peek if you need reminding that Azeroth and Second Life are not the only virtual worlds out there in cyberspace.

MassivelyWoW and SL not all there is to MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engage-digitalfacebookgigaommmo-industrymyspacesecond-lifeworld-of-warcraftTue, 14 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DC Universe teases their Comic-Con exclusive poster]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/dc-universe-teases-their-comic-con-exclusive-poster/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/dc-universe-teases-their-comic-con-exclusive-poster/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/dc-universe-teases-their-comic-con-exclusive-poster/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Who does this lovely face belong to? That's for you to decide as DC Universe Online teases their exclusive San Diego Comic-Con poster on their Myspace blog.

The full poster, which will be given out to anyone who visits the DCUO booth at Comic-Con, hasn't been revealed just yet. However, according to bad puns placed on official blogs, we will be "clawing" to get our hands on one. Catwoman? Huntress? (We're voting for Catwoman, personally.) Either way, it looks like another iconic hero will be revealed and confirmed as appearing in the final game.

Now all we have to do is barge our way into Comic-Con, use our ingenious grapple guns to swing over across the convention floor, and then steal all of the posters so no one will ever know who the new hero is. Then that will lead into our plans for world domination... oh, wait, we probably shouldn't have blogged that out loud.

Um, er... Who do you guys think it is?

MassivelyDC Universe teases their Comic-Con exclusive poster originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blogcatwomancomic-condc-universe-onlinedcuoexclusive-itemexclusive-postermyspaceposterteaserThu, 09 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plenty of gaming options for today's 'tweens]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/plenty-of-gaming-options-for-todays-tweens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/plenty-of-gaming-options-for-todays-tweens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/plenty-of-gaming-options-for-todays-tweens/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

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

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

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

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>club-penguinfacebookfree-realmsgaminghabbo-hotelkidsmmorpgmsnbcmyspaceneopetsrunes-of-magictweensvirtual-worldsFri, 22 May 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Second Life pwns Gordon Freeman, Warhammer Online, others]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/second-life-pwns-gordon-freeman-warhammer-online-others/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/second-life-pwns-gordon-freeman-warhammer-online-others/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/second-life-pwns-gordon-freeman-warhammer-online-others/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Wagner James Au at New World Notes is carrying some surprising data from ratings giant, Nielsen Media Research. From actual measurements of usage across over 180,000 homes in the USA, Linden Lab's Second Life (paradoxically measured under the 'PC games' category) rates the number two most played title, just behind World of Warcraft.

Forget Warhammer Online, or EVE Online, they don't even make the top ten. World of Warcraft and Second Life beat out Gordon Freeman (Half Life 2), Civilization IV and StarCraft. As for actual weekly usage, Second Life is top of the pops at an average of 760 minutes per user per week. World of Warcraft earns the top spot with 653 minutes per user per week, but has a whole lot more users.

How about Google's YouTube, the 800 pound gorilla and market leader of online video? Just 47 minutes per week (figure from C|net).

Facebook? 84 minutes per week. Myspace, just 10.5 minutes per week (figures from ITProPortal).

This data is measured from actual homes, as we mentioned. Almost 200,000 of them, so it isn't just data that's centric to the hardcore gamer. This is a random sampling of ordinary people.

Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

MassivelySecond Life pwns Gordon Freeman, Warhammer Online, others originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 May 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcivilization-iveve-onlinefacebookgordon-freemanhalf-life-2hamlet-aumyspacenew-world-notesnielsen-gamesstarcraftwagner-james-auwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftyoutubeThu, 07 May 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Multiverse reveals a peek at their upcoming flash development platform]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/10/multiverse-reveals-a-peek-at-their-upcoming-flash-development-pl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/10/multiverse-reveals-a-peek-at-their-upcoming-flash-development-pl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/10/multiverse-reveals-a-peek-at-their-upcoming-flash-development-pl/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Imagine booting up your computer to play your favorite online game with your friend, except he's in an airport waiting for a flight and you're at home in your office chair. You see a glorious 3-D world from the comfort of your computer monitor, and he sees a two dimensional isometric view from his hunched view over his mobile phone. You use your mouse to click your action buttons and fight monsters, and he just taps the screen with his finger. You're questing together, winning battles together, except you see the world entirely in 3-D and he's seeing it in 2-D.

If you're thinking that this scenario is entirely implausible, you would be wrong. MMO tools developer Multiverse has recently unveiled a sneak peek at their upcoming flash toolset by launching the flash based game Multiverse Battle.

Continue reading Multiverse reveals a peek at their upcoming flash development platform

MassivelyMultiverse reveals a peek at their upcoming flash development platform originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2d3dbattlecorey-bridgesdeveloper-toolsfacebookflashfriendsterinterviewkongregatemmomultiversemultiverse-battlemyspacesocial-networkvirtual-worldsTue, 10 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An inside look at the DC Universe Online studio]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/06/an-inside-look-at-the-dc-universe-online-studio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/06/an-inside-look-at-the-dc-universe-online-studio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/06/an-inside-look-at-the-dc-universe-online-studio/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The latest bit of info about the upcoming game DC Universe Online comes to us through a video walk-through of the developers' own Hall of Justice. Michael Daubert, Studio Art Director for DC Universe Online, blogs on Myspace about what it's like to work on the game in the setting they've created.

It's a place where every Friday is "Green Lantern Friday" when studio employees either wear GL's requisite green or Sinestro yellow. Monday is "Batman Monday"-- we think you get the picture. But having Wednesdays devoted to Aquaman... dubious. One pictures employees bringing their goldfish to work and willing them to perform office tasks. One tradeoff for having to dress in orange and green is that employees at the Austin studio are surrounded by artwork for DC Universe Online from Jim Lee and the Wildstorm Productions studio. The video gives us a glimpse at the roughly 1200 pieces of concept art Lee and his team have produced that literally wallpaper the studio. Plus you get to meet some of the dev team as Daubert alternately attempts to stay awake through Scrum explanations or avoid tirades from his colleagues. Unfortunately we can't embed the video for you right here, but if you head over to the DC Universe Online site, you can't miss it.

MassivelyAn inside look at the DC Universe Online studio originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aquamanart-directoraustinbatmanconcept-artdc-universe-onlinegreen-lanternjim-leemichael-daubertmyspacescrumsinestrosoesonysony-online-entertainmentstudio-art-directorvideowildstorm-productionsSat, 06 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic goes Web 2.0]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-goes-web-2-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-goes-web-2-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-goes-web-2-0/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's never been easier for an MMO to promote itself with the growing prevalence of social networking plaforms. Star Wars: The Old Republic, only officially announced this week, has already established a following on Facebook. It's also on the usual suspect MySpace, and you can follow BioWare's frequent Twitter updates on the game. Star Wars: The Old Republic also has a Flickr photostream up and running. BioWare has stated that even more is on the way, with plans for a YouTube Channel as well as Digg and Delicious integration.

It seems that most in-development MMOs are seizing onto the fact that Web 2.0 and all that it brings are crucial to making gamers aware of what they're doing. Is it overkill? You decide. But it should be interesting to see how MMOs leverage social networks as time goes on. A good example of what's possible may very well be what's happening right now in Superstruct, a multiplayer game played out almost entirely over social networks and the web. Interesting times.
Star Wars: The Old Republic BioWare has finally unveiled Star Wars: The Old Republic, their new MMO! Massively's got you covered on all the details -- from liveblogging the announcement to screenshot galleries and more. Join us in the Galaxy far, far away!

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic goes Web 2.0 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredeliciousdiggfacebookflickrmyspacesocial-networkingstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsuperstructswtortwitterviralviral-marketingwebweb-2.0youtubeThu, 23 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Violently networking as APB comes to Facebook]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/an-interview-about-apb-facebook-and-marketing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/an-interview-about-apb-facebook-and-marketing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/28/an-interview-about-apb-facebook-and-marketing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Social networking and virtual worlds are related technologies; they're both digital spaces where people can form and maintain relationships with one another. Social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook are commonly used to market products and services. MMOs are both products and services, so putting them on Facebook makes sense.

Realtime Worlds thinks so, anyway, as it has opened an official APB Facebook page where it can hold contests, and post news and media, and where fans can converse about the game. While pages are often used as half-hearted attempts to keep brands visible, Realtime Worlds is swinging for the fences by making its APB page an integral part of its public relations strategy.

WarCry talked to Realtime Worlds community manager Chris "Ulric" Dye about that decision, and he described in detail what the company is trying to do and why it's trying to do it. It's an interesting read, and there are a couple more general game-related questions slipped in. Most of them are artfully dodged, though! Nevertheless, Dye announced a fan art contest. Go to the Facebook page and submit your "best APB-themed graffiti/artwork" to win an as-yet-unannounced prize!

MassivelyViolently networking as APB comes to Facebook originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbartworkchris-dyecommunitycontestfacebookinterviewmarketingmyspaceprizerealtime-worldssocial-networkingulricThu, 28 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DC Universe Online wants to add you as a friend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/dc-universe-online-wants-to-add-you-as-a-friend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/dc-universe-online-wants-to-add-you-as-a-friend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/dc-universe-online-wants-to-add-you-as-a-friend/#commentsFiled under: ,

Stop the presses! Those of you just itching for information about DC Universe Online can now check out its profile on MySpace. That's right, well before there's an official webpage, you can get access to screenshots, wallpapers, icons, and concept art. There's also a dev blog, with interviews and video diaries to come.

What's even more exciting for fans is the chance to attend the DCUO party at this year's ComicCon by making the profile your top friend, and printing the page out to show DC as proof. The party will be held July 25th at the Sweetwater Saloon in San Diego. Wow, who knew the Internet was such a great connective service?

Gallery: DC Universe Online


[Via Big Download]

MassivelyDC Universe Online wants to add you as a friend originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcomicconconcept-artconsoledc-universe-onlinedcuodev-blogiconsinterviewsmyspacepartyprofilescreenshotssoesony-online-entertainmentvideo-diarieswallpapersWed, 02 Jul 2008 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock out with Turbonegro's Conan tribute, "Destroy All Monsters"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/28/rock-out-with-turbonegros-conan-tribute-destroy-all-monsters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/28/rock-out-with-turbonegros-conan-tribute-destroy-all-monsters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/28/rock-out-with-turbonegros-conan-tribute-destroy-all-monsters/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Norwegian punk rock band Turbonegro have added their Age of Conan soundtrack contribution "Destroy All Monsters" to their Myspace page. From reading the group's website, it becomes clear that they're at least a little bit loopy; but that's the way we love our rock-stars, right? They sat down for an interview with IGN, in which we find out that the band has ruthlessness, masculinity, and of course, swordsmanship in common with old Conan, and that they have progressed to the child-eating stage of their careers.

The track was performed live at the Age of Conan launch party, and we're told that a high-def clip of this occasion will be available soon. The soundtrack for the game will launch in Norway on the 30th of June, and in August for the rest of the world.

MassivelyRock out with Turbonegro's Conan tribute, "Destroy All Monsters" originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocconandestroy-all-monstersfuncommusicmyspacesoundtrackturbonegroSat, 28 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO 2.0 and the next generation of online gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/mmo-2-0-and-the-next-generation-of-online-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/mmo-2-0-and-the-next-generation-of-online-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/mmo-2-0-and-the-next-generation-of-online-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Geoff at MMOCrunch wrote an interesting piece on the 'next gen' in online gaming. Specifically, why there is no next gen. He comments on some of the recent successes in the MMO space, namely the subscription numbers of the Big Five MMO's and the smooth release of Age of Conan. He also hails EVE Online's break from typical MMO archetypes as a kind of successful deviance, but one that hasn't truly changed how we play.

The forward momentum in the online gaming industry has brought a great deal of fanfare but little true innovation, Geoff asserts. Sure, some MMO's are successful, but it seems they're all a re-hash of what's been done before. A little more polish, a few more features... he laments the fact that "there seems to be very little that is truly pushing the genre towards the next step." He looks to how the web has changed, improved exponentially, while online gaming hasn't kept pace.

Continue reading MMO 2.0 and the next generation of online gaming

MassivelyMMO 2.0 and the next generation of online gaming originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 May 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanarchetypedeviancedevianteve-onlinefacebookiminnovationmmocrunchmyspacesocial-networkingsuccesssuccessfultwitterwebweb-2.0Fri, 30 May 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[HKO's social features are more than meets the eye]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/hkos-social-features-are-more-than-meets-the-eye/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/hkos-social-features-are-more-than-meets-the-eye/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/hkos-social-features-are-more-than-meets-the-eye/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


There's a certain temptation to believe that so-called casual games are inherently less complex than their more hardcore cousins. Whether it's born of experience, arrogance, or just plain ignorance, most people probably assume that a game like Hello Kitty Online is going to leave them wanting for features. Having just read an interview with Ali Aslanbaigi, Game Master Manager for HKO, this blogger can say that this certainly doesn't seem like the case.

Aslanbaigi explains how they plan to integrate email, blogging, and user video from the Sanriotown portal into the game experience itself, making Hello Kitty Online a social media hub as much as it is casual MMO. Say what you will about the relative complexity of an Age of Conan -- Hello Kitty Online isn't just trying to compete with the big MMOs on the block, it's looking to take its place alongside Facebook, MySpace, and other social media giants. It's ambitious, to say the least.

MassivelyHKO's social features are more than meets the eye originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 May 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ali-aslanbaigifacebookhello-kitty-onlinehkomyspacesanrio-digitalsanriotownsocial-mediasocial-networkingTue, 27 May 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Are Club Penguin's days of growth numbered?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/are-club-penguins-days-of-growth-numbered/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/are-club-penguins-days-of-growth-numbered/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/are-club-penguins-days-of-growth-numbered/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


An interesting report on social media by the Nielsen group recently found that Club Penguin, the kid-friendly browser-based MMO acquired by Disney last year for a robust $350 million, may be plateauing or even declining in growth in the face of newer, more competitive social media experiences. While the Nielsen methodology is never made expressly clear (and no direct competitors managed to crack the Top 10), the report does indicate that using the same methodology, they found a 250% growth rate year-over-year just last August.

MMO vet Raph Koster is less than surprised by this development, attributing the slight decline in unique visitors more to the increased competition in that space, rather than any specific detriment in Club Penguin itself. Raph speculates that we'll continue to see the market fragment as more kiddie MMOs enter the market. And, judging my store shelves these days, they're coming in droves. While he seems to be of the opinion that the days of these niche MMOs competing in the same arena as MySpace and Facebook are over, that doesn't mean there isn't a lot of money to be made and kids to be entertained.

MassivelyAre Club Penguin's days of growth numbered? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 May 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualclub-penguindisneyfacebookkiddiemarket-fragmentationmyspacenielsenraph-kostersocial-mediaWed, 21 May 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ION 08: What can game developers learn from web 2.0?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/ion-08-what-can-game-developers-learn-from-web-2-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/ion-08-what-can-game-developers-learn-from-web-2-0/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/ion-08-what-can-game-developers-learn-from-web-2-0/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


This is becoming a popular topic. Adam Martin, lead core programmer at NCsoft, tackled this topic today in one of ION's morning sessions entitled "Web 2.0: How I learned to stop worrying and love the internet." In light of the low cost, high audience model of web destinations like Facebook and Myspace, are MMOs even a good idea at all? Is WoW the last major MMO we're going to see?

Martin started off with a brief history of MMOs starting with Ultima Online and Lineage in 1997. UO did well for years, remaining in the top 3 or 4 properties in terms of subscriber numbers, while Lineage was absolutely dominating the Asian market. When Everquest came along two years later it addressed a number of the technological problems that had been massively underrated previously, although patching was still a big and painful issue.

Continue reading ION 08: What can game developers learn from web 2.0?

MassivelyION 08: What can game developers learn from web 2.0? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 May 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>developerfacebookfeaturedIONion-2008ION08joystiqfeaturesmyspaceweb2.0Tue, 13 May 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Korea loves games, except virtual worlds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/korea-loves-games-except-virtual-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/korea-loves-games-except-virtual-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/korea-loves-games-except-virtual-worlds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

WorldsInMotion.biz has covered a report from the Korea Times stating that the virtual world business over there is beginning to falter.

While we're embracing technology like Facebook and MySpace, bringing these social networking sites into our mainstream culture, Korea is experiencing a slump in their business. Cyworld, the leading social network in Korea, has reported 6% loss in their service revenue. To cope, Cyworld is going to be upgrading to a fully functional virtual space, instead of the current "room system" that it has now, in an attempt to attract more users.

In comparison, MySpace Korea's launch was almost disastrous, their opening week garnering 1/20th of what Cyworld gets a week in traffic. It's quite easy to say, perhaps the virtual bubble has burst?

MassivelyKorea loves games, except virtual worlds originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 May 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cyworldfacebookkoreamyspacesecond-lifesecond-life-koreasocial-networkingvirtual-spacesvirtual-worldsworlds-in-motionTue, 06 May 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GuildCafe expands its horizons with GamerDNA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/guildcafe-expands-its-horizons-with-gamerdna/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/guildcafe-expands-its-horizons-with-gamerdna/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/guildcafe-expands-its-horizons-with-gamerdna/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

GuildCafe has been often called the Myspace or Facebook for MMO players, but not only is it much more than that, it's expanding even further. This summer, the mega-guild social site will be changing its focus onto a new venture (and company name) called GamerDNA. This new site will have much more than GuildCafe offers currently, and will cater to a larger audience of Xbox gamers, and eventually all platforms. This all stems from the fact that the site has recently received a $3 million Series A investment from Boston's Flybridge Capital Partners.

According to GamerDNA's founder and CEO Jon Radoff, "the idea behind GamerDNA is to provide a means of identity-a place where players can record all the stories around all of the cool stuff they've done, be it achievements, accomplishments, or experiences they've had." So in essence, it will help broaden the players experiences in-game, as well as help other players experience games they may not play yet on a much more personalized level. All of this done in a larger scope, reaching a wider audience than GuildCafe alone could do targeted at the MMORPG market alone.

[Thanks Sam!]

MassivelyGuildCafe expands its horizons with GamerDNA originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookflybridgegamerdnaguild-warsguildcafeguildsmyspaceuberguildsworld-of-warcraftwowxbox360Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mytopia reinvents Yahoo! Games for the MySpace generation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/mytopia-reinvents-yahoo-games-for-the-myspace-generation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/mytopia-reinvents-yahoo-games-for-the-myspace-generation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/mytopia-reinvents-yahoo-games-for-the-myspace-generation/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Are casual, social games the wave of the future? In years to come, will we lovers of the swinging sword, the flashing fireball and the gigantic gun be left reminiscing about the "good old days" as we sign on for another evening of massively multiplayer bingo? The makers of Mytopia took a look into their crystal ball, saw the success of MySpace and Facebook and casual-game havens like Popcap, Yahoo! and Neopets and said, "These great tastes... would taste great together!"

Thus was born Mytopia, a Flash-based virtual world where you can create your own super-deformed avatar (like Wii's Miis) and play popular board and card games with people from around the world, build friends lists, send email, and gamble away virtual money challenging other players to backgammon, chess, Sudoku and several other similar games. It works not only as a standalone web site, but also as an application you can install in Facebook, MySpace or Bebo. No matter how you arrive in Mytopia, though, you'll be able to play with everyone else -- there's only one game world shared by all.

Mytopia has a cheerful art style, bouncy music, and well-rendered board games. What it does not have, though, is bloody avatar fights in the Battledome. Come on. Even Neopets has that.

[Via Techcrunch]

MassivelyMytopia reinvents Yahoo! Games for the MySpace generation originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backgammonbebochessfacebookflashflash-gamesmiimyspacemytopianeopetspopcappopcap-gamessudokuwiiyahooyahoo-gamesTue, 25 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Metaplace sends Metachat live on Myspace]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/metaplace-sends-metachat-live-on-myspace/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/metaplace-sends-metachat-live-on-myspace/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/metaplace-sends-metachat-live-on-myspace/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A few of the Metaplace folks have announced that their first virtual world has been released on MySpace in the form of an app called Metachat, which you can add to your Myspace account right now. In terms of virtual worlds, it's not much -- there's a chat room, obviously, and a little soccer ball kicking area, and some RSS integration in terms of stock quotes, some weather info, and even translation features.

But even better than what it is is the potential that something like this represents. Social networks are already dabbling in social games (and planning even more interaction between the two), so a virtual space like Metachat may be the first virtual world that most of its users enter. It's a far cry from some of the more mature virtual worlds like World of Warcraft and Second Life (not that those two are all that mature, actually), but spaces like Metachat are a big sign of the coming collision of social networking and virtual worlds.

MassivelyMetaplace sends Metachat live on Myspace originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookfunmetachatmetaplacemyspacersssoccersocial-networkingvirtual-spacesvirtual-worldsThu, 13 Mar 2008 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08: Facebook and the social gaming revolution]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/gdc08-facebook-and-the-social-gaming-revolution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/gdc08-facebook-and-the-social-gaming-revolution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/gdc08-facebook-and-the-social-gaming-revolution/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We can hear what you're thinking. Facebook, a gaming platform? It's what we thought, too, when we attended the Facebook and the new web of Social Gaming panel at the Worlds in Motion summit yesterday afternoon. "Facebook" and "gaming" didn't seem to belong together in the same sentence. But as it turns out, Facebook and similar social networks aren't just for making friends anymore -- they're also a lucrative platform for viral web-based games. The numbers these games are hitting are similar to Second Life's and they're targeting a demographic the rest of the industry doesn't touch: not women, not teens, not ages 18 to 25, but people.

Social networks such as Facebook already have an immense audience -- the question is, once you have all of these people connected together through Facebook, what are they supposed to do? I'm sure you've already guessed the answer: game.

Continue reading GDC08: Facebook and the social gaming revolution

MassivelyGDC08: Facebook and the social gaming revolution originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookfeaturedgdcgdc08gdc08fanboymyspacesocial-gamingwarbookTue, 19 Feb 2008 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Metaverse U conversation: Raph Koster, Cory Ondrejka, Howard Rheingold]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/metaverse-u-conversation-raph-koster-cory-ondrejka-howard-rhe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/metaverse-u-conversation-raph-koster-cory-ondrejka-howard-rhe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/metaverse-u-conversation-raph-koster-cory-ondrejka-howard-rhe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We headed to the Metaverse U event at Stanford University this weekend to hear a smorgasboard of prominent thinkers and workers in the fields of virtual worlds and online gaming have a meeting of the minds. Below is a recap (caveat: some paraphrasing involved!) of one of our favorite sessions featuring a conversation with Metaplace's Raph Koster, former Linden Lab CTO Cory Ondrejka, and social media and online community guru Howard Rheingold.

Henrik Bennetsen (moderator): (Introduces 3 panelists and asks Raph to kick off with his thoughts on virtual worlds)

Raph: From the beginning, virtual communities has never been about the "virtual." All the oddities come from the mediation, not from human nature. We build trellises, and communities are plants growing on them... you get to shape them a little bit, and sometimes in very bad ways if you're not careful. We tend to think we have more power than we do when architecting these things. I wince at the title "community manager" ("relations" would be better) because it perpetuates the myth that we have power to control what users do. Mediation gives us a window into things that in the real world can be hard to see. Virtual communities are an opportunity to see how people tick.

Cory: Having spent 7 years building Second Life, the interactions and collisions with the real world are what make it interesting. We had only 400 users at launch and we were ecstatic! Can you imagine that today (especially for companies with big name investors)? I think about virtual worlds as communication technology. I agree there's a need for customer service and arguments about the declaration of avatar rights are important but yet I feel there's something off in these arguments... (he's referring to earlier conversation about declarations of avatar rights)

Gallery: Metaverse U 2008

Continue reading Metaverse U conversation: Raph Koster, Cory Ondrejka, Howard Rheingold

MassivelyMetaverse U conversation: Raph Koster, Cory Ondrejka, Howard Rheingold originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonescory-ondrejkadopplreventsfacebookfeaturedhoward-rheingoldlinden-labmetaplacemetaversemetaverse-umobilesmyspaceraph-kostersecond-lifeslstanfordtwitterUOvirtual-worldsMon, 18 Feb 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Codemasters announce "Connect 2008", MMORPG event for Europeans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/codemasters-announce-connect-2008-mmorpg-event-for-europeans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/codemasters-announce-connect-2008-mmorpg-event-for-europeans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/codemasters-announce-connect-2008-mmorpg-event-for-europeans/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Codemasters Online are the European distributors of quite a number of MMOs, including Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons and Dragons Online, RF Online, and ArchLord. These games and more will feature at a brand new community event hosted by Codemasters in the UK called "Connect 2008", as revealed on LotRO's European site today.

The event will span 2 days, from the 14th to the 15th of March this year, and there will be 400 networked PCs to play Codemasters' current and future games, including some that they say are as-of-yet unannounced. There will of course be some gaming swag for attendees, and the chance to talk with some of the people behind the games -- not to mention meeting other people from your game's community.

You will be required to purchase a ticket for the event (although they aren't on sale yet) and there is apparently going to be a fairly limited supply. If a trip to England sounds like your cup of tea, then you'll want to keep checking the official Connect 2008 website for updated ticketing info -- or simply to watch the giant countdown clock -- and you can also sign up to a newsletter to stay on top of the latest word. Or, if you want to get really involved, they have even set up Myspace and Facebook profiles.

MassivelyCodemasters announce "Connect 2008", MMORPG event for Europeans originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>codemasterscodemasters-onlineconnectconnect-08connect-2008ddoeuropeeuropeanfacebooklotromyspacerfoFri, 04 Jan 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Moshi Monsters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/moshi-monsters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/moshi-monsters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/moshi-monsters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Moshi Monsters is a new virtual world by MindCandy, the folks behind Perplex City. It appears to be a cross between MySpace and a Tamagotchi, with minigames thrown into the mix. It's got bright colors, it's got cute sound effects, and it's got monsters. And it's frankly adorable. Of course, it is aimed at kids, and there's a clear mandate by the creators to provide a safe experience, so parents need not worry.

One of the features touted by the preview video is that of buying things for your monster to keep it happy. If this isn't a clear indication that the concerns mentioned in this post are valid, then I don't know what is. Surely there could be better ways to provide the things your monster needs? Couldn't you grow its food, make its toys? I'm sure one could argue that running a virtual world this way teaches kids the importance of managing money, but there are better ways to do that without making it part and parcel of playtime, which in all other respects is completely whimsical and fantastical.

Still, I'm a big fan of monsters. While Moshi Monsters is still in beta, I'm looking forward to seeing more of how it all works together.

MassivelyMoshi Monsters originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>massivelymind-candymoshi-monstersmyspaceperplex-citytamagotchiFri, 30 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Social networks and gaming: are Myspace and Facebook MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/25/social-networks-and-gaming-are-myspace-and-facebook-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/25/social-networks-and-gaming-are-myspace-and-facebook-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/25/social-networks-and-gaming-are-myspace-and-facebook-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Just because you aren't slaying bandits and completing fetch-quests when you're on Facebook doesn't mean it isn't an MMO. Or at least that's what Gabe Zichermann has asserted in a USATODAY.com article on social networks and online games. Zichermann is making a game called "rmbr", which will be played by tagging and sharing photos.

A quote from Zichermann on the issue: "The reason why Facebook is a really compelling MMO is because it's fun and you get something out of it". That sounds pretty sketchy, but if you think about what MMOG means, these social networks like Facebook and Myspace do almost have the bases covered -- they have a large number of people online and interacting with each other -- all that's left to satisfy is the "game" part, giving people more things to do essentially, and with applications like Scrabulous already incorporated in to Facebook, it seems like only a matter of time before this happens.

Continue reading Social networks and gaming: are Myspace and Facebook MMOs?

MassivelySocial networks and gaming: are Myspace and Facebook MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookgabe-zichermannmyspacenexonrmbrscrabuloussecond-lifesocial-networksSun, 25 Nov 2007 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Now you can wear your social networks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/now-you-can-wear-your-social-networks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/now-you-can-wear-your-social-networks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/now-you-can-wear-your-social-networks/#commentsFiled under: ,


In a world of Web 2.0, it can be a little intimidating trying to find others on the social network that you love. Doubly so if you're looking for a real life friend that shares your interests. Why wear your heart on your sleeve when you can wear your web presence on your shirt?

Aram Bartholl compiled a list of the best known social networks, including their icons and coloring, and put them on a shirt with checkboxes. There are the obvious ones, such as Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn, but there's also a box for Second Life! In my vision of a perfect world, I hope to run across at least a few people wearing these shirts with the SL box checked while I'm out and about. Get yours today and help me live my dream!

[Via Gizmodo]

MassivelyNow you can wear your social networks originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aram-barthollfacebookgizmodolinkedinmyspaceshirtslMon, 12 Nov 2007 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Spiral Trance to perform in Second Life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/10/spiral-trance-to-perform-in-second-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/10/spiral-trance-to-perform-in-second-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/10/spiral-trance-to-perform-in-second-life/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You may not have heard of Spiral Trance - I hadn't. Listening to their tunes off their MySpace page, they're obviously a hard-rock band with solid, melodic metal tones that reminds me a bit of (and I'm showing my age here) Deep Purple and Blue Oyster Cult. They won Wisconsin's 2006 Song of the Year award, and were nominated for 2007 Rock Band of the Year.

Well, they're coming to do a gig in Second Life on 21 November, at the Psycho Drive Rock Club.

Continue reading Spiral Trance to perform in Second Life

MassivelySpiral Trance to perform in Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emediawiremidwest-entertainersmyspacepsycho-drive-rock-clubroxi-bingyispiral-tranceSat, 10 Nov 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Without a clue - why there isn't more competition for Second Life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/without-a-clue-why-there-isnt-more-competition-for-second-lif/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/without-a-clue-why-there-isnt-more-competition-for-second-lif/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/without-a-clue-why-there-isnt-more-competition-for-second-lif/#commentsFiled under: ,

Actually there's quite a few reasons that there's little competition to Second Life in existance or planned - at least the sort of competition that a Second Life user would think of as a competitor to Second Life (hint: They don't think TSO is, or Kaneva, or Red Light Center, or Project Entropia or IMVU. Many don't count Active Worlds or There as competition either).

One of those reasons is that even people who think they're in the same industry or who are pundits and commentators on the industry don't have any idea what Second Life is. They don't use it, so they don't know what people are getting out of it. So when they come to build a 'Second Life Killer', they build something that does not (as far as the average user of Second Life can see) have much of anything that competes.

Continue reading Without a clue - why there isn't more competition for Second Life

MassivelyWithout a clue - why there isn't more competition for Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>active-worldsdigital-phocusfacebookguy-bendovimvujourneysmyspaceproject-entropiared-light-centersecond-lifesony-homethe-sims-onlinethere.comtsoTue, 06 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST