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 New York Times reviews Free Realms]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/21/the-new-york-times-reviews-free-realms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/21/the-new-york-times-reviews-free-realms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/21/the-new-york-times-reviews-free-realms/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


These realms may not be completely free, but darn if the New York Times loves them anyhow. It's a little strange to see a major publication like the NY Times reviewing Free Realms, let alone any review for an MMO from any outlet. Still, the fact that SOE's little free-to-play game-that-could smacked down the one million accounts mark in record time probably has a little to do with this much attention.

As far as reviews go, this one is highly positive and praising of both Free Realms and SOE, and its not very surprising at this point. Just about everyone has had nothing but good things to say about the title -- not that any game is without its faults, especially at launch.

The message the NY Times' review ends with is one we agree upon. Free Realms is definitely a triumph for the company that lost much of its EverQuest thunder to Blizzard's World of Warcraft. And really, there's no greater proof than having everyone talking about the game. Well that one million account record is also good proof, we suppose.

MassivelyThe New York Times reviews Free Realms originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 May 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardclub-penguineverquestfree-realmsnew-york-timesny-timessoeworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 21 May 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The New York Times logs back in to World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/06/the-new-york-times-logs-back-into-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/06/the-new-york-times-logs-back-into-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/06/the-new-york-times-logs-back-into-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The online gaming industry -- actually, the world -- has been changed by World of Warcraft. The game has become a cultural phenomenon played by 11 million people, so it's gotten quite a bit of mainstream media attention -- that is to say, it's not just a geek thing.

The New York Times has often dedicated a word or two to MMOs like WoW and EVE Online, but it seems that NY Times writer Seth Schiesel was away from the former nearly a year. Like just about everyone else, though, he's been lured back into the world of Azeroth by the recently released Wrath of the Lich King expansion. He wrote a touching piece about the all his feelings when he returned, nothing the expansion's relatively casual design and describing the experience of connecting with old friends after a year of change. He went into it with trepidation, but it ended up being a homecoming.

But perhaps we can read something else into his return. You might look at it as a sign that the appeal for these games will never fade. Everyone can get hooked on the social experience World of Warcraft and games like it provide, and Wrath's success might be evidence that this young form of entertainment has its best years ahead of it.

MassivelyThe New York Times logs back in to World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardeditorialexpansionnew-york-timesopinionworld-of-warcraftwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingSat, 06 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shall we play a game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/shall-we-play-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/shall-we-play-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/shall-we-play-a-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When you think of a rapidly developing Asian nation, fast becoming a global superpower and now harnessing the potential of supercomputing, what's the first purpose for this supercomputer that comes to mind? Hint: think video games, not war games. Regardless of your first thought, we're betting you wouldn't have guessed "World of Warcraft"... but it's true.

China's World of Warcraft servers are run by The9, who own Blizzard's distribution rights in the country. "Earlier this year, The9 boasted of hosting more than one million World of Warcraft players online at the same time.To support the complex calculations required to create the game's graphics, The9 owns more than 10 supercomputer systems," Ashlee Vance reports for The New York Times.

Continue reading Shall we play a game?

MassivelyShall we play a game? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiablizzardchinafantasymmo-industrynew-york-timessupercomputersupercomputingthe-new-york-timesthe9war-gameswargamesworld-of-warcraftwowwow-insiderTue, 18 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leadership in EVE Online applicable to real-world ventures]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/leadership-in-eve-online-applicable-to-real-world-ventures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/leadership-in-eve-online-applicable-to-real-world-ventures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/leadership-in-eve-online-applicable-to-real-world-ventures/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

EVE Online has been getting increased mainstream media coverage. Recently the New York Times covered EVE's Council of Stellar Management (CSM) summit in Reykjavik, as well as the self-styled 'bad guy' alliance Band of Brother's initiative to annihilate their rivals in New Eden, wiping them from New Eden's star maps.

A new MMO article at Forbes takes a close look at the corporate paradigm of EVE Online, both in-game and out. The piece touches on the views of Goonswarm alliance leader and CSM delegate Sean Conover (aka Darius Johnson, CEO of Goonfleet) and the real-world CEO of CCP Games, Hilmar Veigar Petursson. The Icelandic CEO states: "There isn't a lot of difference between what you can apply within the game and out of it... It's more about social skills than gaming skills. It's very hard to stay on top."

Continue reading Leadership in EVE Online applicable to real-world ventures

MassivelyLeadership in EVE Online applicable to real-world ventures originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allianceband-of-brothersbobccpccp-gamesceocorpcorporationentrepreneurentrepreneurshipeveeve-onlineforbesgame-mechanicsgoonfleetgoonswarmguildhardcorehilmarleadershipmainstreammaxmedianew-york-timesnytpoliticsreykjavikskillssocial-skillsTue, 22 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SL art and architecture sells for US$100,000?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/sl-art-and-architecture-sells-for-us-100-000/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/sl-art-and-architecture-sells-for-us-100-000/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/sl-art-and-architecture-sells-for-us-100-000/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Notable Second Life artist, China Tracy, has apparently sold an installation in the virtual world for US$100,000, according to the New York Times - other sources suggest that the purchase price may be 100,000 Euros, not US dollars. The NYT is scanty on specifics as to what was sold (and we're not able to locate the specific site), but it appears to be an SL site and architecture (maybe RMB City), rather than any specific item of artwork.

We're not actually sure quite yet, based on the information available, whether this constitutes an actual sale or if it is actually capital for development of the site. Right now, we're suspecting that it is the latter, and that the representation of it as a sale is not necessarily technically correct.

[via New World Notes]

MassivelySL art and architecture sells for US$100,000? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Mar 2008 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cao-feichina-tracycultureeconomynew-york-timesrmb-citysecond-lifevirtual-worldsFri, 14 Mar 2008 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Beanie Babies Online entertains kids, sells toys]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/beanie-babies-online-entertains-kids-sells-toys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/beanie-babies-online-entertains-kids-sells-toys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/beanie-babies-online-entertains-kids-sells-toys/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ty -- the company behind Beanie Babies -- has teamed up with Animax to take on Webkinz with a somewhat similar online service called Beanie Babies 2.0. Unlike Webkinz, the different levels of service will only unlock when children buy new real-world Beanie Babies. The toys ship with some sort of registration code that will progress the account to the next level when entered at the Beanie Babies 2.0 website.

Usually we're glad to see virtual worlds and online games adopted by the culture at large, but we're not so crazy for this one. It looks less like a meaningful experience for kids than it looks like a sneaky attempt to use technology to sell more Beanie Babies. Sure, Ty is a business, and it needs to profit. But we're more quick to admire businesses that try to do something constructive with their products as well -- like Fluid Entertainment and its environment-friendly kids' game. At the very least, the game should be fun on its own, right?

Beanie Babies 2.0 has no such aspirations. The New York Times thought it fitting to call it "Catalog 2.0."

MassivelyBeanie Babies Online entertains kids, sells toys originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animaxbeanie-babiesbeanie-babies-2.0flashkidsnew-york-timestoystyvirtual-worldswebkinzWed, 12 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daedalus Project tracks MUD]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/the-daedalus-project-tracks-mud/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/the-daedalus-project-tracks-mud/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/the-daedalus-project-tracks-mud/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Actually, it tracks MMOs, but what a clever title, huh? The Daedalus Project is the demographic/analysis website created and maintained by Nick Yee, a graduate student of Stanford University in the field of Communications who now works at the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). Nick's site is noteworthy both for the online surveys of MMO players that are open to anyone who wants to participate, and also for the conclusions he draws based on those survey results.

This statistical data has been used by Washington Post, CBS, TechWeek, CNET, the Associated Press, Nature.com, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal, among other publications. Nick always has a survey or two running, so if you're interested in contributing your experiences and thoughts to the collective (and growing) body of knowledge concerning MMOs, you can do so at the 'Current Surveys' section of his site.

For those of us interested in metadata, The Daedalus Project is a genuine boon, and we hope he continues his necessary and groundbreaking work well into the future.

[Thanks, Nick!]

MassivelyThe Daedalus Project tracks MUD originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>associated-presscbscnetdemographicsmetadatanature.comnew-york-timesnick-yeepalo-alto-research-centerparcstanfordstanford-universitysurveystechweekthe-daedalus-projectwall-street-journalwashington-postFri, 29 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Study shows men's brains hard-wired for games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/study-shows-mens-brains-hard-wired-for-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/study-shows-mens-brains-hard-wired-for-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/study-shows-mens-brains-hard-wired-for-games/#commentsFiled under: ,


When it comes to gaming, the popular perception is that it's a man's domain. (Of course, you'd be hard pressed to make that point around Massively HQ, as many of our most prolific writers and senior bloggers are of the fairer sex.) Traditionally, this has been pinned on sociological factors that discourage women from developing as close a relation with computers as men. While there is still probably a kernel of truth to that, a new study out of the Stanford University School of Medicine points to biological factors hard-wired into the brain as the cause. Reportedly, MRI scans taken of both men and women while playing a simple game showed a marked difference in the areas of the brain responsible for feelings of reward and addiction. Men simply got more of a buzz out of games than women, by and large.

What amused me was the description of the game they used in testing, which they described as having no real prescribed goal -- the test subjects simply clicked a series of images depicting balls as they slowly approached a wall. The more quickly they clicked the images, the more ground they gained. Without any instruction, the men in the study "appeared more motivated to acquire terrain." No real prescribed goal? Players motivating themselves to acquire terrain? Feelings of reward and addiction? If I didn't know any better, I'd swear they were using an MMO for that study! At the same time, short of casual Popcap-style games, MMOs probably enjoy one of the highest female to male ratios in the industry, so I'd stop short of saying that sociology has nothing to do with it. Still, very interesting stuff.

MassivelyStudy shows men's brains hard-wired for games originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biological-factorsbrainsmennew-york-timesnytimessexstanfordstanford-university-school-of-medicinestudywomenTue, 19 Feb 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The New York Times finds EVE Online intriguing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/the-new-york-times-finds-eve-online-intriguing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/the-new-york-times-finds-eve-online-intriguing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/the-new-york-times-finds-eve-online-intriguing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The New York Times published an article on EVE Online this morning. NYT writer Seth Schiesel focused on EVE's growth and emphasis on player freedom.

Hilmar Petursson (CCP's CEO) told Schiesel in a phone interview that there are "basically two schools of thought for operating an online community. There is the theme-park approach and the sandbox approach. Most games are like Disneyland, for instance, which is a carefully constructed experience where you stand in line to be entertained." He said that CCP takes the sandbox approach, creating a world where players are free to define their own experiences.

The article also describes the current political climate in EVE Online's worth, including the Band of Brothers blueprints scandal and other things. If you're already an EVE player, you won't find anything new in the article, but if you're not, it's bound to be an eyebrow-raising read.

MassivelyThe New York Times finds EVE Online intriguing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>articleband-of-brothersbobccpeveeve-onlinehilmar-peturssonnew-york-timesnytscandalseth-schieselWed, 28 Nov 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Simon says: no to settlement]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/simon-says-no-to-settlement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/simon-says-no-to-settlement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/simon-says-no-to-settlement/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Rase Kenzo (aka Thomas Simon) has rejected settlement with the parties represented by lawyer Frank Taney. The settlement offer involved $2,000USD compensation to each of the six plaintiffs, and $5,000USD in legal fees. It probably doesn't get much cheaper than that, in the USA.

Nevertheless, Kenzo has rejected the settlement, indicating that he thinks it's too much, and besides, he doesn't have the money. Instead, he's opting for a potentially much more expensive court case - though he is trying to find a lawyer who will take the case pro-bono.

Continue reading Simon says: no to settlement

MassivelySimon says: no to settlement originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>frank-taneylegalnew-york-timesrase-kenzoreutersrobert-leatherwoodsecond-lifethomas-simonTue, 27 Nov 2007 22:30:00 EST