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[Major nerf of ECM ships coming to EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/major-nerf-of-ecm-ships-coming-to-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/major-nerf-of-ecm-ships-coming-to-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/major-nerf-of-ecm-ships-coming-to-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


While this can hardly be considered flavor of the month (as it would've been a *really* long month), ECM (jamming) ships in EVE Online are considered to be overpowered by many players. Ships with bonuses to ECM modules are able to prevent target lock by other ships, drastically reducing the combat effectiveness of their opposition. After all, you generally can't shoot what you can't get a target lock on, and some of these ships can jam from extremely long ranges.

With this in mind, CCP Games is taking a look at ECM ships and considering redefining their roles in the EVE Online. Game designer CCP Chronotis has written in the official site's Game Development Forum about what the devs would like to do to fix ships with bonuses to ECM. In a nutshell, CCP is considering altering the ships (and ECM use in general) in terms of range. Some ships might become 'short range brawlers' while others become 'long range snipers.' Chronotis proposes specific changes to ECM ships, detailing their reworked stats as they will appear on the Singularity test server in the coming days, and invites input from the playerbase on the matter.

Despite the widespread perceived need for ECM changes to be made, some of the player response to the proposed changes is critical so far. Regardless, one thing is clear -- the days of Falcon alts are numbered. Have a look at what CCP is considering doing, and let us know if you agree or disagree with these changes.

[Via A Misguided Adventurer]

MassivelyMajor nerf of ECM ships coming to EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-misguided-adventurerbalancingbreakingccp-chronotisccp-gamesecmecm-shipseveeve-onlinefalconfalconsgame-mechanicsjamjammingnerfnerfbatpvpsci-fixiphosTue, 24 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth dev journal focuses on weapon balance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/fallen-earth-dev-journal-focuses-on-weapon-balance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/fallen-earth-dev-journal-focuses-on-weapon-balance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/fallen-earth-dev-journal-focuses-on-weapon-balance/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO Fallen Earth has the potential to bring a very different kind of setting to the fantasy-dominated landscape in massively multiplayer titles. One of the interesting aspects of Fallen Earth is the variety of weaponry players can obtain. In true Mad Max fashion, the game's weaponry can can often be found and modified objects, bringing a 'use what works' approach to inflicting harm upon your fellow survivors in the wasteland. Then again, other weapon choices will be decidedly high tech. Could this create a disparity between the haves and have-nots in terms of improvised vs. manufactured weaponry?

Fallen Earth's system designer Brandes Stoddard has written a developer journal for MMORPG.com that's focused on how the dev team is balancing the game's weapons. Hopefully, he relates, they're creating weapons that fill the right niches -- no one weapon should be the best for every task, but should really be the ideal choice for certain situations. Check out his dev journal over at MMORPG.com for images of some of the weapons players will be able to use in Fallen Earth, and read about why shotguns probably won't be an i-win button once the game's ready for release.

MassivelyFallen Earth dev journal focuses on weapon balance originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebalancingbrandes-stoddardcrossbowdev-blogdeveloper-journalfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcgame-mechanicsnerfbatpost-apocalypticsci-fishotgunzip-gunMon, 23 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Three things official/unofficial forums can and can't do]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/07/three-things-official-unofficial-forums-can-and-cant-do/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/07/three-things-official-unofficial-forums-can-and-cant-do/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/07/three-things-official-unofficial-forums-can-and-cant-do/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ryan Shwayder, a game designer for 38 Studios, recently put in his two cents on the official vs. unofficial forums argument. He originally called official forums a necessary evil but when prompted by Warhammer Alliance forum administrator, Garthilk, to name three things official forums could do that unofficial forums couldn't, he changed his tune a bit.

In a response post, Blackguard (aka Ryan Shwayder), commented that both forum-types were necessary and neither actually evil. He then listed off three things official forums could do that unofficial forums couldn't. To bring some balance, he also listed three pros of unofficial forums. Ryan believes official forums have a leg up on developer-to-player communication, ownership (the forums won't close if admins lose interest), and integration with official web tools and in-game features. Alternatively, unofficial forums have a leg up with less restrictive codes of conduct, a stronger focus on micro-communities, and feature innovation through creativity. Some of the commenters on his post shared a sentiment that they would like to see official forums focus more on developer-to-player communication and technical support, while the unofficial forums focus more on class forums and creative discussion. What are your thoughts?

We recently had a chance to interview both WHA and IGN regarding Mythic's official forum announcement and we will share that with you early next week.

MassivelyThree things official/unofficial forums can and can't do originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you happen to run into him, don't tell him we said this, but we keep very close e-tabs Ryan "Blackguard" Shwayder, following him around forums and checking his blog rather frequently. It's not that we have some unnatural affection for the man (although we do), it's more of a professional curiosity. We're watching and waiting from the shadows for the day when Ryan will perhaps have a bit too much to drink and sit down at his computer and finally dish all the details for 38 Studios' top-secret project, for which he is both a game designer and community manager.

In the latest post on his blog, Ryan notes the overwhelming acceptance of PvP servers not only in World of Warcraft, but in the recently released Age of Conan as well, with over 50% adoption in that case. They've gone from begrudged niche in some cases to being as necessary for a sustained end-game as raiding or crafting. Specifically, Shwayder notes, "Now that it's clear there is money in PvP and it's not niche, I'm betting we start to see some high-budget PvP MMOs soon." Is that right? High-budget PvP MMOs in the future? Like, we don't know... Copernicus?

MassivelyPvP servers are an unstoppable force originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosage-of-conancopernicusnerfbatpvppvp-serversryan-shwayderworld-of-warcraftTue, 17 Jun 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[April Fools' on Nerfbat: Shwayder forming 10-man studio]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/april-fools-on-nerfbat-shwayder-forming-10-man-studio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/april-fools-on-nerfbat-shwayder-forming-10-man-studio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/april-fools-on-nerfbat-shwayder-forming-10-man-studio/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ryan Shwayder has apparently decided that typical development studios are simply too cumbersome, so he's looking to start his own studio and, taking a cue from Blizzard, reduce the business model from raid-sized to the much friendlier 10-man format. Evidently, this will help keep development costs well under the $1 billion mark recently cited by Activision's Bobby Kotick as the magic number it would take to dethrone WoW. The new studio, known as Mad Alchemist, is already hard at work designing a project code-named Vernal Equinox, which will be the culmination of their minimalist design philosophy.

Of course, if you want to tighten that belt, you have to lose some fat. Consequently, Shwayder's team had to cut some features from the Vernal Equinox design doc in order to accommodate their design philosophy. Since players always have so many complaints about things like the level grind, gear acquisition, class balance, and things like that, they're going to do away with them entirely. In fact, because downtime can also be so frustrating for players, they've decided to do away with multiplayer entirely. Vernal Equinox will be the first offline MMO!

We've got to give props to Ryan for delivering one of the first April Fools' blog posts today to actual make this blogger chuckle.

MassivelyApril Fools' on Nerfbat: Shwayder forming 10-man studio originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april-fools-08mad-alchemistnerfbatryan-shwaydervernal-equinoxTue, 01 Apr 2008 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[38 Studios using BigWorld to make its big world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/27/38-studios-using-bigworld-to-make-its-big-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/27/38-studios-using-bigworld-to-make-its-big-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/27/38-studios-using-bigworld-to-make-its-big-world/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

What do you get when you get when you combine a major league baseball player (Curt Schilling), a famed fantasy author (R.A. Salvatore), and a great comic book guru (Todd McFarlane)? You get 38 Studios, and 38 Studios is working on a new MMO codenamed "Copernicus."

Now the studio has licensed the BigWorld engine for Copernicus. Since the game is at a very early stage of development, we know very little about it at this point, except that its prestigious managers are optimistic about its future. Reps from both 38 Studios and BigWorld made nondescript statements saying things like, "BigWorld provides the most proven, robust, and technically solid game engine available," and "we are thrilled to be working with such a professional and talented group of game developers." Good for them!

Brett Close described the rationale behind the choice in greater detail in an interview with Ten Ton Hammer. Excellent server-side tech and tools that will help the team get the game to market as fast as possible were the given reasons.

Massively38 Studios using BigWorld to make its big world originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosbigworldbrett-closecopernicuscurt-schillingenginelicensenerfbatra-salvatoreryan-shwaydertodd-mcfarlaneWed, 27 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Statistical Anxiety Separation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/09/the-digital-continuum-statistical-anxiety-separation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/09/the-digital-continuum-statistical-anxiety-separation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/09/the-digital-continuum-statistical-anxiety-separation/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

One thing I've taken to recently is lurking over at the Nerfbat forums, where many great minds discuss a lot of different things concerning massively games. One idea in particular has given me a spark of -- probable -- insanity in regards to something I've been giving plenty of thought to lately. The insane idea is this: What would a massively game be like if character avatars had no stats?

After reading though several different concepts presented in the thread responsible for this lunacy of mine, I started to wonder why every one of them focused on keeping with the fantasy motif. To me, it seemed obvious that if you're going to delve into a massively game where the characters have no numerical (or numerical-like) levels, stats or personal equipment it, was going to have to happen in something other than your standard fantasy adventure.

That's when two unexpected things came together for me and I realized something. A game where characters don't have any stats attached to them could exist with a difficult-to-design IP that's quite near and dear to me. What's the property, you ask?

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Statistical Anxiety Separation

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Statistical Anxiety Separation originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredmissionnerfbatnerfbat-forumsranksspacespaceshipsstar-trekstar-trek-onlinestarfleetstoSat, 09 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Time, time, time is on the designer's side]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/time-time-time-is-on-the-designers-side/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/time-time-time-is-on-the-designers-side/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/time-time-time-is-on-the-designers-side/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Taking a break from his recent infatuation with updating the back-end of his website and rattling his plastic saber at Moorgard, Ryan Shwayder has posted a new rant that gives his perspective on the pervasive, though oft-bemoaned, time-sink quest. You know the one -- that fed ex quest where you're sent to an NPC fifteen or twenty minutes away, click through a few windows of text, then run back for your piddling little reward. Ryan argues that while those quests certainly have their place, especially when it comes to introducing and endearing players to new zones, in excess they make for very dry and mundane gameplay.

I take Ryan's point, but I still think there's more to the issue. He says that while filling up a game with fun content is difficult, it can be done without artificially extending the durability of the content. Perhaps my perception is limited by experience, but it's hard for me to imagine an MMO that doesn't rely substantially on wasting time to spread out the rewards and keep gamers coming back time and again. Part of what makes accomplishments in MMOs so much more profound is the sheer volume of time it often takes to complete them. Without that commitment, would these accomplishments mean as much? Would getting Anathema/Benediction on my Priest way back when have meant as much if I could have farmed for it for a couple days? I doubt it.

MassivelyTime, time, time is on the designer's side originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accomplishmentsanathemabenedictionfed-ex-questsnerfbatquestsryan-shwaydertimetime-sinkWed, 06 Feb 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Nerfbat forums have returned!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/the-nerfbat-forums-have-returned/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/the-nerfbat-forums-have-returned/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/the-nerfbat-forums-have-returned/#commentsFiled under: , ,

For those of you who have been around the MMO block, this is undoubtedly some welcome news. Of course, for those of you new to the world of MMOs, but who just love the genre (like we do) this is a great announcement! Ryan "Blackguard" Shwayder, game designer for 38 Studios and custodian of the Nerfbat, has re-opened his Nerfbat forums! Originally opened in 2006, they've been re-imagined for 2008. With recent topics ranging from talking about Alts, if MMOs on Consoles and PC are able to be equally good, and other tasty poll tidbits, this is sure to be a great place to get your discussion on with other MMO fans and fiends.

Added on top of that, Ryan says that he'll also periodically be putting out more "Tales from the Tavern" posts, highlighting the hot topics from the Nerfbat forums. This is especially useful if you like to read along, but just don't have the time for another forum right now. Either fully immersive or bite-sized, you can't beat a good discussion. We'll see you there!

MassivelyThe Nerfbat forums have returned! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosdiscussionforumsmmo-industrynerfbatnerfbat-forumsryan-shwayderThu, 03 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Evolving past fantasy Pt.1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/29/the-digital-continuum-evolving-past-fantasy-pt-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/29/the-digital-continuum-evolving-past-fantasy-pt-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/29/the-digital-continuum-evolving-past-fantasy-pt-1/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Over the past couple of weeks the MMO blogosphere has once again been discussing the ever-pertinent question of "Why fantasy?" in regards to the MMO and its heritage; MUDs and tabletop gaming. The subject has been covered quite well from many different points of view and opinions, none of which are inherently wrong and all of which are worth a read if the subject interests you in any way.

The reasons are especially well covered in a round-table that Damion Schubert posted to Zen of Design earlier this year. Many of these reasons that materialized from the round table appear quite valid, yet I don't see eye-to-eye with these concepts. In my opinion, several of them seem arbitrary and some could be applied in opposition of fantasy. In fact, the more I read on the subject of "Why fantasy?" the more I think, "All the more reason to evolve beyond fantasy."

I'm going to address the well summed-up list posted by Damion Schubert piece by piece, as it lays out the most compelling evidence for why fantasy continues to reign supreme. So if you find yourself lost on what I'm talking about, feel free to refer to the original article in question. Now, we'll take a look into this list and see just how much of it really holds up against an argument for something other than fantasy.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Evolving past fantasy Pt.1

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Evolving past fantasy Pt.1 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscoxcryptic-studiosdamion-schubertfalloutfantasyfeaturedindustryjeff-freemanjoystiqfeaturesnerfbatsci-fistar-warsterra-novatolbod'swarwarhammer-onlinezen-of-designSat, 29 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively wins a Gnomey for Best MMO News Source]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/massively-wins-a-gnomey-for-best-mmo-news-source/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/massively-wins-a-gnomey-for-best-mmo-news-source/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/massively-wins-a-gnomey-for-best-mmo-news-source/#commentsFiled under:

If you twist our arm just right, you can get us to toot our own horn. We're humbled and surprised to have been selected by the inimitable Nerfbat as the winner of this year's Gnomey for Best MMO News Source in the 2007 Nerfbat MMO Blog Awards! Though we've only been around for a short time, we plan to continue bringing you hot and fresh (and frequent!) news about all the MMOs already out there, new games on deck, and especially the rumoured titles around the corner. We're going to do our best to live up to our Gnomey! A big thanks goes to all of our readers who contribute great enthusiasm, insightful comments, intelligent feedback and timely tips -- thanks for helping us make this site a fun place to hang!

MassivelyMassively wins a Gnomey for Best MMO News Source originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardsgnomeymassivelynerfbatThu, 20 Dec 2007 16:00:00 EST