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: Do you like minigames in MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/02/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-minigames-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/02/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-minigames-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/02/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-minigames-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Quick: What does cooking in Free Realms, diplomacy in Vanguard, fishing in World of Warcraft and horse racing in Lord of the Rings Online have in common? Other than being fantastic wastes of time (I kid, I kid), they're all types of minigames added to our MMOs by ambitious developers who were looking for ways other than "smash with club" to accomplish tasks in game.

Some minigames are little more than whimsical diversions, set out for players looking to blow a few minutes on a cute activity. Other minigames are crucial to achieving goals, as players engage in them to get money, level up professions or even succeed at a raid.

So how do you feel about minigames in MMOs? Are they too "kiddy" and should best be left for Nintendo DS players and Flash game fanatics? Do you like the variety and spice they add to the game? Do you even want to see more of them as alternate ways to advance other than combat?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you like minigames in MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last night, on the other side of the world, Nintendo announced its intention to step up the battle between Sony and Apple for the soul of the handheld gamer. We talk semi-regularly on Massively about the hardcore console battle, with games like Age of Conan and Champions Online heading for the 360 and SOE's stable of new titles (DCUO, The Agency, Free Realms) heading for the PlayStation 3. The handheld battle hardly ever gets discussed here on the site, though, and that's a shame. The modern ubiquity of handheld gaming is really the future of 'console' gaming, and with all three handheld platforms featuring built-in internet connectivity the age of "MMOs on the go" is inevitable.

Join us as we walk through each of the three handheld platforms, discussing what their potential is for playing MMOs and what we currently know about MMO plans for the platform. Even though they're pretty quiet, there are more than you think. Who knows, perhaps the WoW nation of today will be tapping out messages to each other on their DS handhelds five years from now?

Gallery: What the Handheld War means for MMOs

MMObile PotentialNintendo DSiThe 'mini' Massively Multiplayer Online GameFuture social MMOs find their homeCrafter's Paradise

MassivelyWhat the Nintendo DSi, PSP 3000, and iPhone mean for MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple-iphoneconsole-gamingdsdsifeaturediphonejoystiqfeaturesmmosmobilemobile-gamingnintendo-dsnintendo-dsipsppsp-3000Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[E308: Disney Interactive Studios shows off Club Penguin on the DS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/15/e308-disney-interactive-studios-shows-off-club-penguin-on-the-d/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/15/e308-disney-interactive-studios-shows-off-club-penguin-on-the-d/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/15/e308-disney-interactive-studios-shows-off-club-penguin-on-the-d/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

At E3 today, Disney Interactive Studios announced their lineup of new titles releasing later this year. All of these titles were developed with family in mind, and most are exclusive to the console market. Yet, in relation to MMO news, they've also shown off their new Club Penguin expansion which will be released for the Nintendo DS.

Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force will introduce kids to all new adventures in the Club Penguin world. They will be able to connect with friends via DGamer, Nintendo Wi-Fi connection and ad hoc play. They will be able to wirelessly connect with the existing virtual Club Penguin world using the Nintendo DS to unlock special features and upload coins to their online penguin account. Elite Penguin Force is set to release just in time for the holiday season later this year.

MassivelyE308: Disney Interactive Studios shows off Club Penguin on the DS originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>club-penguindisneydisney-interactivee3-2008e308kidsnintendo-dsTue, 15 Jul 2008 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Omega solo solution]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/the-digital-continuum-omega-solo-solution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/the-digital-continuum-omega-solo-solution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/the-digital-continuum-omega-solo-solution/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


There was a time in my MMO playing when I would spend hours looking for a group in games like Final Fantasy XI. No television was watched and no handheld gaming devices were manipulated during those prolonged waiting periods. I just sat there chatting with whomever I could in-game. Today, I don't think I could see myself doing this even with the aid of a Nintendo DS or a PSP with which to chip away the hours. Hell, I probably couldn't even do this with one of my favorite shows like Lucky Louie or Flight of the Concords.

This is why it warms my heart to know that Champions Online will contain not only solo content across every level, but some kind of secret endgame feature called the Omega System. My first reaction upon this revelation was simply, "Wow" I certainly hope that with a title like "The Omega System" Cryptic has a compelling endgame feature planned that will amaze everyone or at the very least please everyone.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Omega solo solution

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Omega solo solution originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosdefenderendgamefeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-xiflight-of-the-concordsironcladjoystiqfeaturesjusticiarlucky-louienintendo-dsomega-systempspsolosoloingsquare-enixthe-digital-continuumSat, 07 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo uninterested in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/nintendo-uninterested-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/nintendo-uninterested-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/nintendo-uninterested-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Despite the hopes and well-wishes of Nintendo console owners everwhere, the big N has reaffirmed that they basically have zero interest in a Massively Multiplayer game right now. A Gamespot interview with company president Satoru Iwata clarifies that, in order for Nintendo to get involved such a game would have to be appealing for everyone aged '5 to 95'. That certainly explains why Square/Enix expressed no interest in porting Final Fantasy XI to the Wii console shortly after its launch.

Iwata goes on to say that the Mii customization system is about as complicated as they want to make an interface right now. Further, they're not interested in competing with the virtual world services on the market right now. If they were to enter the markplace, they'd "focus on doing things that nobody else would do ... We'd be sure to make it something that nobody would call it a product similar to another company's offering." There have been persistent stories about companies developing an MMO for the DS, though. Perhaps the handheld's unique nature would allow them to go outside their comfort zone a bit more?

How sweet would a Massive game on the Wii be though, eh?

[Via Eurogamer]

MassivelyNintendo uninterested in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingconsoledsnintendonintendo-dsnintendo-wiiwiiWed, 06 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Korean devs get busy: MapleStory DS, Mabinogi XBox 360 port in '08]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/korean-devs-get-busy-maplestory-ds-mabinogi-xbox360-port-in-08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/korean-devs-get-busy-maplestory-ds-mabinogi-xbox360-port-in-08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/08/korean-devs-get-busy-maplestory-ds-mabinogi-xbox360-port-in-08/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Time for your dose of Korean MMO-ness.

Nexon, a publisher of MapleStory, talked to Gamasutra about the upcoming MapleStory port for the DS, and about an XBox 360 port of the thus-far-Korean-only PC MMO Mabinogi. MapleStory DS development is going well and should see a Korean release in mid-2008. It will probably come to the West some time after that. The game is similar to the PC version, but only supports four players via Wi-Fi.

Mabinogi is a traditional anime-style MMORPG. It's had some success in the Korean market but no exposure at all in North America or Europe. Nexon plans to port the game to the XBox 360. As Gamasutra points out, the Korean market for the XBox 360 is extremely small, so we may be able to assume this means the 360 version of Mabinogi will be arriving in Western markets somewhere down the line.

MassivelyKorean devs get busy: MapleStory DS, Mabinogi XBox 360 port in '08 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsgamasutrakoreanmabinogimaple-storymaplestorymicrosoftnexonnintendonintendo-dsxboxxbox-360Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:42:00 EST