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 Game Archaeologist and the Nights of Old Winter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/23/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-nights-of-old-winter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/23/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-nights-of-old-winter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/23/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-nights-of-old-winter/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Here's a question for you: How much do you really, really have to love a game to pay $8.00 an hour to play it? Considering how much we tend to whine about a flat $15/month fee, I'm guessing the answer is, "Only if it loved me long time."

And yet, in 1991 this wasn't considered crazy extortionist practices -- it was dubbed "Being a pioneer." While online RPGs were nothing new by then, nobody had tackled the jump from text-based RPGs (MUDs and BBS doors) to graphical games due to the technology (limited modem speeds and access) and funding involved. It took the efforts of a Superfriends-style team to make this happen with Neverwinter Nights: Stormfront Studios developed the game, TSR provided the Dungeons & Dragons license, SSI published it under its Gold Box series, and Aol handled the online operations.

Thus, 19 years ago -- six years before Ultima Online and 13 before World of Warcraft -- the first multiplayer graphical RPG went online and helped forge a path that would lead to where we are today. With only 50 to 500 players per server, Neverwinter Nights may not have been "massively," but it deserves a spot of honor as one of the key ancestors to the modern MMO.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Nights of Old Winter

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Nights of Old Winter originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>america-onlineaolbbsbiowarebuck-rogerscrypticcryptic-studiosdon-daglowdual-classDungeons-and-Dragonsemmy-awardeverquestfeaturedforgotten-realmsgold-boxin-game-eventlord-nashermudmulticlassneverwinter-nightsneverwinter-nights-2neverwinter-nights-aolneverwinter-nights-mmoobsidianObsidian-Entertainmentpool-of-radiancepvppvp-ladderssisteve-casestormfront-studiossuperfriendstabula-rasathe-game-archaeologisttsrultima-onlineworld-of-warcraftTue, 23 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploring Eberron: Neverwinter nightcaps]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/27/exploring-eberron-neverwinter-nightcaps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/27/exploring-eberron-neverwinter-nightcaps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/27/exploring-eberron-neverwinter-nightcaps/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Depending on how much stock you put in the rumors or in Cryptic in general, this past week's announcement of a second Dungeons & Dragons MMO -- pardon me, an "OMG" -- either rocked you back on your heels or cooled off your heels. Something to do with heels, at any rate.

In a Daily Grind this past May, I asked readers how they would make another D&D MMO. There were a lot of thoughtful responses, a few instances of keyboard gibberish, and a contingent adamant that the D&D license was locked up in DDO and couldn't be handed out elsewhere. I guess the latter argument is a moot point right now -- obviously, Turbine doesn't have a monopoly on an online D&D -- although its existence brings to mind not just a few questions.

Is the world big enough for two online D&D titles? What does this announcement mean for our beloved DDO? Is Neverwinter positioning itself to be direct competition, or a different entity altogether? Has the Cryptic crew learned its lessons? In my final Exploring Eberron (Rubi returns next week, so you may start doing your happy dance... now), I'm going to answer all of these queries in such a way that your world will forever be rocked. On its heels.

Continue reading Exploring Eberron: Neverwinter nightcaps

MassivelyExploring Eberron: Neverwinter nightcaps originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.5atarichampions-onlinecoco-opcrypticcryptic-studiosddodnddont-be-a-heelDungeons-and-Dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeberronexploring-eberronf2pfaerunfeaturedforgotten-realmsfourth-editionfree-to-playftpguild-warsjack-emmertlawsuitneverwinterNeverwinter-Nightsneverwinter-nights-2neverwinter-nights-mmoomgplanescapeplayer-generated-contentso-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fishstar-trek-onlinestothe-return-of-rubiturbineturbine-vs-atariFri, 27 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic and Atari announce Neverwinter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/23/cryptic-and-atari-announce-neverwinter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/23/cryptic-and-atari-announce-neverwinter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/23/cryptic-and-atari-announce-neverwinter/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The speculation has been going on for quite a while, and it's finally been confirmed: The Neverwinter Nights MMO is coming.

Well, sort of. Neverwinter will be developed by Cryptic, and Gamespot was lucky enough to get a little one-on-one time with COO Jack Emmert. Something that he was careful to point out was that this is not a full-blown, persistent MMO: "I wouldn't say MMORPG at all -- Neverwinter is a cooperative RPG."

The Neverwinter site is up and running, with plenty of interesting details about the game. It's based on 4th edition D&D, set for launch in 2011, and is inspired by R.A. Salvatore's upcoming trilogy. The first book in that series arrives in October, so by the time Neverwinter launches, the world should be fully established.

For the time being, Cryptic and Atari have provided a fair amount of resources for hopeful (and skeptical) fans to keep up with development. The official site contains a newsletter signup page, some brief backstory, and the full press release. You can also follow game news on Twitter and Facebook.

MassivelyCryptic and Atari announce Neverwinter originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4th-editionataribreakingco-opcorpgcrypticcryptic-studiosdndDungeons-and-Dragonsfaerunforgotten-realmsjack-emmertneverwinterNeverwinter-Nightsneverwinter-nights-mmonwnnwn-mmoplayneverwinterr-a-salvatorer.a.-salvatoreMon, 23 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Atari close to announcing a Neverwinter Nights MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/rumor-atari-close-to-announcing-a-neverwinter-nights-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/rumor-atari-close-to-announcing-a-neverwinter-nights-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/rumor-atari-close-to-announcing-a-neverwinter-nights-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you're getting a strong sense of deja vu at the title up above, we can't blame you -- after all, we've been covering this supposed MMO announcement for a couple years now. However, a pair of recent developments have led us to believe that Atari is on the verge of announcing the long-anticipated Neverwinter Nights MMO.

The first piece of concrete news is a brief statement from the recent GenCon Indy, where Critical-Hits.com went to a D&D products seminar and heard the representatives state that Atari has an upcoming D&D video game. Unfortunately, they were unable to obtain any further information about it at the convention.

Following up on this statement, Superannuation did a bit of digging and discovered that Atari recently purchased a slew of domain names, including visitneverwinter.com, playneverwinter.com and neverwintergame.com. Add these facts together with the promised announcement of Cryptic's new MMO this summer, and we could be hearing official confirmation of a Neverwinter Nights MMO any day now. Stay tuned!

MassivelyRumor: Atari close to announcing a Neverwinter Nights MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ataricritical-hits.comcrypticd-and-ddddomain-registrationgencongencon-10gencon-2010gencon-indygencon-indy-10neverwinter-nightsneverwinter-nights-mmoneverwintergameplayneverwintersuperannuationvisitneverwinterTue, 10 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast sues Atari over Dungeons & Dragons rights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/18/hasbro-wizards-of-the-coast-sues-atari-over-dungeons-and-dragons-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/18/hasbro-wizards-of-the-coast-sues-atari-over-dungeons-and-dragons-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/18/hasbro-wizards-of-the-coast-sues-atari-over-dungeons-and-dragons-r/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

You might be wondering right now, "What's Massively doing covering a lawsuit between two companies that aren't MMO companies over a non-MMO product?" Well, dear readers, if you would come with us on a trip down memory lane, you might remember a certain MMO developer suing a certain publisher over a certain set of rights pertaining to, you guessed it, Dungeons & Dragons Online.

Well, it seems that Atari has sub-licensed the Dungeons & Dragons rights out to Namco-Bandai, and Hasbro isn't too fond of that. Namco-Bandai is seen as a competitor to Hasbro's products, and Hasbro's contract with Atari specifically forbids them from doing any licensing like this. Namco-Bandai has recently purchased Atari's distribution wing in Europe, renaming it to Namco-Bandai partners.

Continue reading Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast sues Atari over Dungeons & Dragons rights

MassivelyHasbro/Wizards of the Coast sues Atari over Dungeons & Dragons rights originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ataribreakingcompetitorcryptic-studiosdnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlinehasbrolegalnamco-bandaineverwinter-nights-mmoturbinewizards-of-the-coastFri, 18 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST