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 SysOp's Sinister Stratagem]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-sysops-sinister-stratagem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-sysops-sinister-stratagem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/31/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-sysops-sinister-stratagem/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When you think of MMORPGs, I wouldn't blame you if your mind stayed rooted firmly in the past decade or so, perhaps taking a brief vacation to 1997 before returning to today's 3-D polygonal glory. But it's not like people just woke up in the late 90's, looked at each other, and said, "Hmm. Online multiplayer RPGs. Let's make it happen!"

On the contrary, history had been building up to that moment for quite some time. Tabletop RPGs and computer MUDs (multi-user dungeons) were both important ancestors of modern MMOs, just as was a mostly forgotten piece of software lore: the bulletin board system, also known as the BBS.

In layman's terms, BBSes were like pocket internets -- host computers that allowed anyone to dial up and use special programs remotely. While BBSes weren't (initially) tied together like the world wide web, they featured a lot of the elements that would make the WWW so popular, such as email, forums, and, yes, online games.

Today's special one-shot Game Archaeologist will take a brief look at the history of the BBS, as well as a couple of its games that could be considered "MORPGs" (like the renowned website, the "Massively" part would be a while in coming). Dial up, gentle readers, and make your hissing modem noises!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the SysOp's Sinister Stratagem

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the SysOp's Sinister Stratagem originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baudbbsbulletin-boardbulletin-board-systemcbbsccpdoor-gameseveeve-onlnefeaturedgreat-blizzard-of-1978in-game-moduleslegend-of-the-red-dragonlordmacguyvermodemmudmudsmulti-user-dungeonof-teeth-and-clawsrandom-eventsrandy-suessseth-able-robinsonstar-trekSTDssysopsysopssystems-operatorsthe-escapistthe-game-archaeologisttrade-warstrade-wars-2002ward-christensenxmodemyou-are-pwned-by-a-grueTue, 31 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Evolution as it does and doesn't apply to MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/evolution-as-it-does-and-doesnt-apply-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/evolution-as-it-does-and-doesnt-apply-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/evolution-as-it-does-and-doesnt-apply-to-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A few days ago, we discussed the lack of innovation in the MMO market at the moment, as well as some of the underlying reasons behind it. The topic prompted We Fly Spitfires to postulate the idea that we needed an MMO that broke most if not all of the established and accepted rules of the genre. In his own parlance, we needed a mutation instead of a steady evolution.

Those of you familiar with evolutionary science might be quirking your eyebrow a bit, as did Of Teeth and Claws, where it was pointed out that mutation is a part of evolution. Continuing the analogy, it's a part of the slow improvement we see in our genre of choice, as the source leading to feature implementation and improvement. And as Killed in a Smiling Accident added, evolution is not a straight line, nor does it select features based on inherent quality -- the current "standard features" have evolved because they're best at succeeding in the current environment (that is, the market).

Ultimately, aside from fascinating extension of the analogy, the biggest point to be taken away from both this discussion and the previous one is that change in the genre isn't something which will happen overnight. While the powerful influence that World of Warcraft has placed upon the genre is beginning to abate a bit, it'll be quite some time before it's discarded wholesale.

MassivelyEvolution as it does and doesn't apply to MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>evolutiongame-developmentgame-featuresgenre-improvementimprovementinnovationkilled-in-a-smiling-accidentmutationof-teeth-and-clawswe-fly-spitfiresworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 17 Jan 2010 20:00:00 EST