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[CCP reveals World of Darkness details to bloodthirsty fans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/ccp-reveals-world-of-darkness-details-to-bloodthirsty-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/ccp-reveals-world-of-darkness-details-to-bloodthirsty-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/ccp-reveals-world-of-darkness-details-to-bloodthirsty-fans/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Vampire the Masquerade
Details about CCP's World of Darkness are popping out of White Wolf's The Grand Masquerade in New Orleans this weekend, and they're definitely worth draining for every last sweet drop of... information. While the game is still in pre-production -- and as such, nothing is set in stone -- the devs weren't hesitant to dish out a lot of the ideas and features that they hope will make this the best vampire MMO to date.

It's CCP's desire to emulate LARPing (live-action roleplaying) as much as possible with World of Darkness, with plenty of metaplots running inside the game and without. Players will begin as a mortal human who can make the choice to become a kindred (vampire) or stay mortal for the duration of their characters' lives. There's a very real danger that characters might experience "final death" -- permadeath -- if they take too many risks. If you get in over your head, you can retreat to your character's Haven for safety.

The entire game will take place at night and on one server, and CCP is definitely aiming it toward the hardcore set. Nudity, gore, and insanity effects are all par for the course.

If players push outside of the acceptable boundaries too often, they'll lose "humanity" points and could become flagged for constant attack by other players and NPCs. Play your cards right and you may become the prince of the city. The game will change over time with dynamic events, and CCP promises that there will be real consequences for player decisions.

Look for our World of Darkness interview with CCP coming later this week.

[Thanks Pilgrim for the tip!]

MassivelyCCP reveals World of Darkness details to bloodthirsty fans originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesfinal-deathgorehardcorehaveninsanitykindredlarplarpingnew-orleansnuditypermadeathprincepvpthe-grand-masqueradevampirevampire-the-masqueradevampireswhite-wolfworld-of-darknessSun, 18 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Going to The Grand Masquerade in New Orleans? We want you!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/going-to-the-grand-masquerade-in-new-orleans-we-want-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/going-to-the-grand-masquerade-in-new-orleans-we-want-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/07/going-to-the-grand-masquerade-in-new-orleans-we-want-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

New Orleans cemetary
If you're attending The Grand Masquerade on September 15th through the 18th this year and you're interested in meeting up with CCP and White Wolf for an interview, we want to give you some money. No seriously, we want to pay you to meet some game devs, and you can even be dressed like a vampire while you do it. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, huh?

The Grand Masquerade is the annual event held by White Wolf in New Orleans, Louisiana as a fan gathering for World of Darkness. Since White Wolf and CCP are working on a World of Darkness MMO, we're especially interested in getting some first-hand information out of the event. This year, they've confirmed that more details on the MMO will be revealed, so we're especially excited to be a part of it.

Read on after the jump for details on how you can apply to represent Massively at The Grand Masquerade.

Continue reading Going to The Grand Masquerade in New Orleans? We want you!

MassivelyGoing to The Grand Masquerade in New Orleans? We want you! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpeventsnew-orleansthe-grand-masqueradewhite-wolfworld-of-darknessWed, 07 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP to take the mask off of World of Darkness at The Grand Masquerade]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/14/ccp-to-take-the-mask-off-of-world-of-darkness-at-the-grand-masqu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/14/ccp-to-take-the-mask-off-of-world-of-darkness-at-the-grand-masqu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/14/ccp-to-take-the-mask-off-of-world-of-darkness-at-the-grand-masqu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We've been biting our nails waiting for CCP to fully unwrap its promised World of Darkness MMO, but so far the company is playing its dark cards close to the chest. However, if you happen to be in New Orleans later this month, you may be among the first to pry substantial information from the slavering jaws of the developers.

Last month, CCP community developer Shane DeFreest strongly hinted that the upcoming White Wolf convention, The Grand Masquerade, would be the company's first big step to show the game to the anxious public. The convention website has since posted a list of event panels for the weekend, which includes a session entitled "Tell the World of Darkness Development team what you want to see in the MMO" as well as several other MMO-specific panels.

The Grand Masquerade will run from September 23-26, 2010, at the Roosevelt Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New Orleans. As the future of the World of Darkness is revealed, Massively will be sure to bring you the news. Just... not until we make our own dark pacts first.

[Thanks Cliff!]

MassivelyCCP to take the mask off of World of Darkness at The Grand Masquerade originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpconventionevent-panelsgrand-masqueradenew-orleansroosevelt-waldorf-astoria-hotelshane-defreestthe-grand-masqueradewodworld-of-darknessworld-of-darkness-onlineTue, 14 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Loyola University professor drives City of Heroes/Villains players crazy, all for sociology]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/loyola-university-professor-drives-city-of-heroes-villains-playe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/loyola-university-professor-drives-city-of-heroes-villains-playe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/loyola-university-professor-drives-city-of-heroes-villains-playe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Twixt was one of those names on the Freedom server of City of Heroes that would just drive everyone nuts. He was a PvPer who would find some of the craziest ways to annoy the heck out of his opponents, such as teleporting them right in front of the Longbow agents at the hero base in PvP zones. A year ago, however, the man behind the keyboard finally drew back his mask to reveal a sociology professor from Loyola University outside New Orleans.

Now his study on City of Heroes/Villains is finally coming forward, revealing a controversial look at how defying the cultural rules of a population can turn a person into a social outcast. The study's goal was to play only by the developer's rules, ignoring any extra rules that might be created by the population. For example, the concept of "kill stealing" and "fair fights" are thrown out the window as they are created by the population, not the game. Think of it like EVE Online -- if the game allows it, he does it.

While the study is intriguing in the fact that it covers the "new frontiers" of virtual worlds, it also brings into question some of the ethics involved with working undercover in a population, such as causing undue stress via what we consider to be griefing.

For a full report, check out the story as reported by The Times-Picayune.

[Thanks Petterm, Scopique!]

MassivelyLoyola University professor drives City of Heroes/Villains players crazy, all for sociology originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicbreakingcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovculturegriefinglongbowloyola-universitynew-orleansrecluses-victorysocialstudytwixtTue, 07 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST