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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Diablo III's auction house ruined the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/the-soapbox-diablo-iiis-auction-house-ruined-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/the-soapbox-diablo-iiis-auction-house-ruined-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/21/the-soapbox-diablo-iiis-auction-house-ruined-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Soapbox Diablo III's Auction House ruined the game
After his departure from the Diablo III development team, Game Director Jay Wilson released a statement that the introduction of an auction house "really hurt the game." While players predicted doom the moment the Real Money Auction House was announced, Jay argued that the gold auction house was equally to blame for the game's fall from grace following an absolutely stellar launch sales. I don't normally agree with what Jay has to say on Diablo III, but in this case he does have a very valid point.

Diablo II was consistently popular for over a decade thanks to its immense replayability. At its core, D2 was a game about building new characters and gearing them up by any means necessary. Every enemy in the game was a loot pinata just waiting to be popped, and players farmed endlessly for a few sought-after unique items. You almost never found an item that was ideal for your particular class and build, but you could usually trade for what you needed via trade channels and forums.

Blizzard claimed that the auction house was intended just to streamline this process, but when Diablo III launched, it was clear that the entire game had been designed to make the auction house almost necessary for progress. The fault here lies not just with the concept of an auction house but with the game designers.

That's right: I'm here to argue not only that Jay Wilson was right about the auction house ruining Diablo III but also that it was his own damn fault.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Diablo III's auction house ruined the game

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Diablo III's auction house ruined the game originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 May 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlanetSide 2 screenshot
I was this close to saving myself a lot of time by finishing this article with only a few simple words: Why do I play PlanetSide 2? Because it's fun. I'm pretty sure my boss would want me to expand on it just a bit, however, but let me drive those three words home: Because it's fun. I think we are all familiar with the word "fun," but it's something that we really don't hear enough about in MMOs. I don't think we play MMOs mainly because they're fun; I think we play them because they pull out other emotions in us, emotions like wonder or awe. They might help fill in social needs that are sometimes hard to fill out in real life. These are all positive and worthy reactions, but they're different from sheer fun.

I have oodles of fun in PlanetSide 2. Gobs of it. Barrels of fun. The fun is powerful in this one. You get the point. PlanetSide 2 actually makes me laugh to myself, makes me yell at the screen -- you know, those noises you hear from someone who is having a blast. Of course, there are a few other reasons I play PlanetSide 2 as well, so I'll fill you in on those.

Continue reading Why I Play: PlanetSide 2

MassivelyWhy I Play: PlanetSide 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>editorialfeaturedfpsmassively-metametammo-shootermmofpsnostalgiaop-edopinionplanetsideplanetside-2ps2sandboxsci-fishootersoesonysony-online-entertainmentwhy-i-playFri, 17 May 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: MMOs are to kids what MUDs are to us]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/the-soapbox-mmos-are-to-kids-what-muds-are-to-us/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/the-soapbox-mmos-are-to-kids-what-muds-are-to-us/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/the-soapbox-mmos-are-to-kids-what-muds-are-to-us/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Vendetta Online on the iPad
I love MUDs. When I go through a several-hour long MUD session, I feel as if I took part in a greater story, and most of the fun was not based on stats or gear. MUDs let me escape into a world because they are about story first. I think I'm pretty rare, though. I can't find many other writers who seem to write about MUDs unless they are referencing them like some sort of relic from the past. The truth is that MUDs are still being loved, played, and enjoyed by thousands. Covering MUDs is as important as covering any other MMO. They're still part of the bigger picture.

I'm sure many of you reading this now could not care less about MUDs. You might have played one years ago, but generally they are seen as the cute elderly citizens of MMOdom. That's cool if that's how you feel, but now think about this: The new generation, kids between 13 and 20 years old, will look at many of our large PCs and 20 gig MMOs the same way modern gamers look at MUDs.

Continue reading The Soapbox: MMOs are to kids what MUDs are to us

MassivelyThe Soapbox: MMOs are to kids what MUDs are to us originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmandelleditorialfeaturedIOSipadiphonemudMUDsmulti-user-dungeonop-edopinionpcpc-gamingrantrantssmartphonesoapboxtablet-pctabletsthe-soapboxTue, 14 May 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Your MMO is going to die, and that's OK]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/the-soapbox-your-mmo-is-going-to-die-and-thats-ok/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/the-soapbox-your-mmo-is-going-to-die-and-thats-ok/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/07/the-soapbox-your-mmo-is-going-to-die-and-thats-ok/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

City of Heroes
There is no question about it: Bringing games online has fundamentally changed the way we play and interact with one another. Thanks to the web, we can share games with our friends from thousands of miles away. We can hang out with people who live in other countries and learn about human beings who exist in completely different realities. Playing MMOs is an incredible, unique experience that gives players an honest chance at turning their favorite personal hobby into a full-on social engagement.

For any of these experiences to be possible, a game must be connected to the web. Without a server humming away in someone's basement or the cold, dark corridors of an MMO developer's hushed office, the games we talk about here on Massively simply wouldn't exist. The side effect of this online requirement is that every online game, no matter how popular it may be at the moment, has a finite lifespan. Eventually, your favorite game is going to die.

This is a good thing. Here's why.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Your MMO is going to die, and that's OK

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Your MMO is going to die, and that's OK originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroesclosuresdeatheditorialfeaturedop-edopinionrantrantsriftsoapboxstar-wars-galaxiessunsetsunsetsthe-soapboxWorld-of-WarcraftTue, 07 May 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: My lore problem]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/the-soapbox-my-lore-problem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/the-soapbox-my-lore-problem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/30/the-soapbox-my-lore-problem/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2
"In the distant forests of El'quen, a dark evil stirs. Marrowgore the Unhunter, imprisoned for a thousand years in Cauldron Lake by the Eye of Son'drak, has broken free. Now, he and his evil BoneSlurpers stage an all-out war on the United Provinces. You, a freshly christened hero known for valorous acts both on and off the battlefield, must take charge of the Sacred Axeblade of Loqtai, harness the power it contains, and send the Unhunter back to his watery prison.

"But first, can you get me nine wolf pelts?"

Continue reading The Soapbox: My lore problem

MassivelyThe Soapbox: My lore problem originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalphasbetabeta-testbeta-testingbetasbetawatchclosed-betacutsceneeditorialfeaturedgame-testinglaunchlaunchesloremassively-metammo-loreop-edopen-betaopinionplotrantrantsroundupsoapboxstorystorytellingtestingthe-soapboxtropesTue, 30 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: Villagers and Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/why-i-play-villagers-and-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/why-i-play-villagers-and-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/12/why-i-play-villagers-and-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Villagers and Heroes screenshots
Villagers and Heroes, formerly called A Mystical Land, surprised me. I had gone several weeks if not a few months without logging in to the game for longer than a half an hour, so you can imagine my surprise when I realized that the game not only had been improved but had added systems that I thought it never would. In other words, the game was suddenly a world, a fully realized browser-based MMORPG. Despite my feeling that the game was going to languish in state of semi-completion, suddenly it had housing, more crafting, a better UI, and a fully stocked cash shop.

I've streamed the game before, but now I find myself logging in a lot more than ever. And now, after hosting a livestream with associate designer Cameron England (embedded after the cut), I'm really having fun with the game and have noticed that it offers a lot more than games that are much more well-known.

This is why I play Villagers and Heroes.

Continue reading Why I Play: Villagers and Heroes

MassivelyWhy I Play: Villagers and Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mystical-landbeau-hindmanbrowser-basedcameron-englandcraftingeditorialf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftphousinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromad-otter-gamesmassively-metametanostalgiaop-edopinionSandboxvillagers-and-heroeswhy-i-playFri, 12 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: You can't go back again]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/09/the-soapbox-you-cant-go-back-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/09/the-soapbox-you-cant-go-back-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/09/the-soapbox-you-cant-go-back-again/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Soapbox You can't go back again
Returning to an old MMO love is a tradition for us vets, isn't it? I see people doing it a lot, and I'm certainly not immune to giving in to these whims. It usually starts out mild: hearing a friend talk about the game, remembering a good time you had in it, or seeing a big chunk of shiny new content come down the pike. Suddenly you've signed up again and logging in like you never left. It feels so familiar.

It feels so alien.

And that's when you realize: You really can't go back again.

It's a dreadful realization, one that makes you lunge for the clock and attempt to turn back time with a sheer force of will. Stages of grief set in: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Sometimes you work in "snack food binge" in there as well. Why, you wonder, can't this be just like last time? It's a game, so why can't you recapture the same magic?

Continue reading The Soapbox: You can't go back again

MassivelyThe Soapbox: You can't go back again originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Soapbox Game developers actually are rockstars
Shortly after this column series started, Massively's Shawn "Epic Beard" Schuster planted his feet on the wooden crate to tell us that game developers are not rockstars. And as much as it frightens me to disagree with him, I believe I have a moral obligation to let him know that he was wrong. Sure, his article pointed out that it takes a team to create a spectacular game and that the personalities of the gaming industry cannot do it by themselves. As he put it, even though Sid Meier didn't code all of Civilization and Richard Garriott didn't construct all of Tabula Rasa, their names sat proudly on the box. But just like rockstars, those two names and many more developers' names belong on the covers of their respective games.

Rockstars from Aerosmith to Beyonce are more than the faces on the covers of their albums. In college, I used to create CD covers for local recording artists, so I can tell you first-hand that even though there was only one name on the front, there were many names on the inside jacket, just as there are many names in game credits. So how exactly are game developers like superstar musicians? The analogy fits in nearly every single way.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Game developers actually are rockstars

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Game developers actually are rockstars originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-gontieraerosmithAscapbeyoncebiowarebungieCivilizationdayzdouble-fineeddie-veddereditorialedmund-mcmillenfeaturedgabe-newellhaloindie-game-the-movieJustin-BieberkickstarterKnights-of-the-Old-RepublicKnights-of-the-Old-Republic-2kurt-cobainLucasArtsmatt-walstmicheal-stipeObsidian-Entertainmentop-edopinionrantrantsRichard-Garriottscott-weilandshawn-schustershroud-of-the-avatarSid-Meiersoapboxstone-temple-pilotssuper-meat-boytabula-rasateam-meatthe-soapboxthree-days-graceTim-Schafertommy-refenesUltima-OnlinevalveTue, 02 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Dispelling the 'easy' myth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/the-soapbox-dispelling-the-easy-myth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/the-soapbox-dispelling-the-easy-myth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/26/the-soapbox-dispelling-the-easy-myth/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Easy Myth
A few weeks ago, I took a nice long look at World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria. Then I wrote about it. My impressions, like most things on the internet, were met with both ardent agreement and defiant protest. Everyone has an opinion, especially when it comes to World of Warcraft -- some people love the game, some people hate it, and some give it a resounding "eh."

I don't mind people disagreeing with me. People react to games differently, and what works for me may not work for you. But there was one specific critique that rose, repeatedly, in the great debate raging in that article's comments section. A critique that, frankly, I cannot abide:

"World of Warcraft is too easy."

Continue reading The Soapbox: Dispelling the 'easy' myth

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Dispelling the 'easy' myth originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yes, there are many shades of this that can be toxic.
There are a lot of reasons I love MMOs, but one of the reasons is the fact that there are so many possible goals in any given game and so many different reasons to pursue them. Even in games with more limitations, you've still got a surfeit of character options, moreso than in almost any other genre. I love to roleplay a character who wouldn't normally be the main character of a story, explore what makes her tick, and give her space and the ability to be heroic and skilled as she deserves.

What I'm less enthusiastic about is when someone asks why in the world I'm playing a particular race and class combination because obviously my character is now sub-optimal.

There's an emphasis on optimization in most MMOs, a push to create the best possible version of a character in gameplay terms that I'm not entirely on-board with. It's one with comprehensible origins, but it's unfortunately taken on a lot of ugly dimensions that sometimes short-change what MMOs can be.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Be as bad as you like

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Be as bad as you like originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad-playerscultureeditorialfeaturedfungood-playershumorop-edopinionplayer-skillrantrantsskillsoapboxthe-soapboxTue, 19 Mar 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: No sympathy for cheating]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/the-soapbox-no-sympathy-for-cheating/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/the-soapbox-no-sympathy-for-cheating/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/the-soapbox-no-sympathy-for-cheating/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Assuming no one can get through a test without cheating because you can't implies that you're the smartest person in the room. Which is invalidated when you're not smart enough to figure out a way to do things without cheating.
Some years ago, a good friend of mine was chatting with me after he had received a three-day suspension from Final Fantasy XI. "I don't see why they suspended me," he said, with what I assume was an exaggerated shrug and a hang-dog expression. "I mean, I was using FleeTool, but I was just hacking my movement to be faster in cities. It's not like I was really cheating."

"So you were using a known cheating tool."

"Yeah, but just in the cities."

What followed were several sentences from my end filled with so much profanity that attempting to type them out here would make it look as if my vocabulary consisted almost solely of the word "redacted." He had been expecting some sympathy from me, some compassion for his plight. As it turned out, I didn't have any. If you get nailed for cheating, you deserve exactly what you get.

Continue reading The Soapbox: No sympathy for cheating

MassivelyThe Soapbox: No sympathy for cheating originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bug-exploitsbugscheaterscheatingculturedirty-filthy-cheaterseditorialexploitsfeaturedop-edopinionrantrantssoapboxthe-soapboxTue, 12 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Yes, Virginia, sexism still exists]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/05/the-soapbox-yes-virginia-sexism-still-exists/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/05/the-soapbox-yes-virginia-sexism-still-exists/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/05/the-soapbox-yes-virginia-sexism-still-exists/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This is fairer than it could be. That does not make it fair.
About two years ago (two decades in internet years), I wrote a piece about sexism as it pertains to MMOs. I didn't write anything about it for a long while afterward because I would just be reiterating points that were stated in the first article, something I'm not fond of doing. But when I wrote another article praising a game for mostly getting equality right, well...

I'm not fond of rehashing old points. But I'm also not fond of the idea that people have evolved from saying "it's not sexist" to "oh, there's no sexism here in the first place."

As I said two years ago, there's a lot that MMOs get right that gaming in general still gets wrong. But there's also a lot that MMOs get wrong still. So I want to look at the issue, look at some of the common attempts to pretend it's not really an issue, and possibly provide some links of relevant interest. There are a lot of those.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Yes, Virginia, sexism still exists

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Yes, Virginia, sexism still exists originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cultural-issuescultureeditorialequalityfeaturedfeminismgendergender-discussioninequalitymisogynyop-edopinionrantrantssexismsexysexy-armorsoapboxsocial-issuesthe-soapboxTue, 05 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: No game is cooler]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/the-soapbox-no-game-is-cooler/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/the-soapbox-no-game-is-cooler/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/the-soapbox-no-game-is-cooler/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Your game is just as cool as this. Yes, right down to the dorky goggles.
I don't think I'm ever going to understand why some people have what seems to be an outright phobia about bright colors. There are people who look down on WildStar and World of Warcraft and Free Realms because the games are colorful, stylized, and uniquely designed. I can't understand it, but I can accept it, even if I disagree with the premise. We've all got our own tastes.

What I can't accept is people who try to argue that as a result, another game is somehow inherently better than these games because it's "not as cartoony."

This is something that crops up time and again in MMO fandom, this sort of never-ending back-and-forth over how one game is cooler than others because of reasons. Here's the skinny, people: Your game is not cooler than anyone else's video game. Your playstyle is not cooler. Your choices in story are not cooler. And if you're trying to play games based on which game is the coolest, you are officially doing this wrong.

Continue reading The Soapbox: No game is cooler

MassivelyThe Soapbox: No game is cooler originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chest-poundingcoolcoolnesscultureeditorialfeaturedhumorop-edopinionposturingrantrantssoapboxstylethe-soapboxyou-are-not-so-coolTue, 26 Feb 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: Clone Wars Adventures]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/why-i-play-clone-wars-adventures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/why-i-play-clone-wars-adventures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/21/why-i-play-clone-wars-adventures/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Clone Wars Adventures - Dueling Shaak Ti
I'm Jef, and I love Star Wars. This is the part where the rest of you addicts chime in with "hi Jef," before we go about trying to cure ourselves of a life-long obsession. Except we're not going to do that today, are we? In fact, I'm going to dangle another death stick that you may not have considered as of yet.

It's called Clone Wars Adventures.

Continue reading Why I Play: Clone Wars Adventures

MassivelyWhy I Play: Clone Wars Adventures originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedclone-warsclone-wars-adventurescwaeditorialfamilyfeaturedkid-friendlykidslightsaber-duellobbymassively-metametaminigamenostalgiaop-edopinionrepublic-defendersci-fantasysci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstarfighterwhy-i-playwhy-i-play-clone-warsThu, 21 Feb 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Commitment issues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/the-soapbox-commitment-issues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/the-soapbox-commitment-issues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/19/the-soapbox-commitment-issues/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Romance is not saying that you could never love anyone else; romance is saying that even with all of your faults, I choose to be with you.
I have friends who have a hard time settling down into just one game. This is not inherently a problem; if you want to jump into many games a month at a time, more power to you. But that's not the case with these folks. They want to be in one place, to stick to just one or two games.

These friends look to me, not because my friends assume I am a font of all wisdom as it pertains to MMOs but because I'm pretty stable in games. Barring my participation in things like Choose My Adventure, the games I play are staples. I've been playing Final Fantasy XIV and Star Wars: The Old Republic since launch, the only thing that stopped me from playing City of Heroes was a shutdown, and even my briefer incursions last four months or more. So how do I do it?

The answer is the same as the answer to how you make a long-term relationship work: You commit.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Commitment issues

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Commitment issues originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anchoranchorscommitmentconstancycultureeditorialfeaturedop-edopinionrantrantsreliabilitysoapboxstabilitythe-soapboxvagabondswandererswanderlustTue, 19 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The stuff from the stuff]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/12/the-soapbox-the-stuff-from-the-stuff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/12/the-soapbox-the-stuff-from-the-stuff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/12/the-soapbox-the-stuff-from-the-stuff/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Soapbox The stuff from the stuff
There was a great quote from the second season of the short-lived sitcom Sports Night when one of the characters chastises a friend who's overreacting by saying, "You've got to be able to separate the stuff from the stuff." Translated from Sorkinese, it means you need to stop lumping everything into one generic category to be upset about and instead sift through what's important and what is not.

I think this is quite applicable to the MMO community, as I see countless examples of people who just can't separate the stuff from the stuff. Everything, for some people, is a matter of utmost importance and worthy of a spontaneous riot on the same level as everything else. There are no degrees of importance; a mild nerf to a player's class is equally demanding of a 10-paragraph rant as a studio going back on its word just to screw players.

Not everything is life or death. A sign of maturity is learning to pick your battles and to mellow out the rest of the time. Let's see if we can take some steps together toward that goal.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The stuff from the stuff

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The stuff from the stuff originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmenteditorialfantasyfeaturedmr-magooop-edopinionpenny-arcadeperspectiverantrantssoapboxsports-nightthe-soapboxwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 12 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/why-i-play-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/why-i-play-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/07/why-i-play-star-wars-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Why I Play Star Wars The Old Republic
There is something about the cold of space and the hum of my faithful ship that makes Star Wars: The Old Republic feel like home. Or wait, it might actually be the hum of my lightsaber and the cold attitude of my companion.

Oh, forget it: Star Wars is awesome, and I'm going to tell you why. I'm a member of Massively's Stream Team, which produces live coverage of MMO titles every week with commentary and special features. So you won't be surprised to find out that this is an unconventional edition of Why I Play in that it's actually a livestream-style video rather than an article. Have a look and listen after the cut!

Continue reading Why I Play: Star Wars: The Old Republic

MassivelyWhy I Play: Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaeditorialelectronic-artsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playlucasartsmassively-metametanostalgiaop-edopinionsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstream-teamstreamteamswtorthe-old-republictorvideovideoswhy-i-playThu, 07 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I play: Lord of the Rings Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/why-i-play-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/why-i-play-lord-of-the-rings-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/31/why-i-play-lord-of-the-rings-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

LOTRO Falathlorn House
A year ago I came to Massively as an odd-man-out of sorts. I had very little experience with MMOs, but for the previous two years I had podcasted and blogged about Star Trek Online. That being my only experience with the genre, I had very little interest in (read: I was fearful of) trying any other game. Trying another game meant that I was leaving my comfort zone and also, maybe, risking the perception that I was being disloyal to the game that gave me so much enjoyment.

However, a new friend and co-worker, Justin Olivetti, changed my mind. Because of him and his great The Road to Mordor columns here at Massively I decided to take the plunge and give Lord of the Rings Online a try. So in June of last year I took the plunge and I have found myself smitten by yet another MMO based on a powerhouse franchise that I adore.

Continue reading Why I play: Lord of the Rings Online

MassivelyWhy I play: Lord of the Rings Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Captains Logcraftingcryptic-studioseditorialfeaturedflock of moosenjustin olivettikinshipkinshipsLord of the Ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromassively-metametanostalgiaop-edopinionperfect-world-entertainmentstar trekstar trek onlineStarTrekterilynn shullThe HobbitThe Road to Mordorthe silmarillionturbinewarner+brotherswhy-i-playThu, 31 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Joy in the little things]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/29/the-soapbox-joy-in-the-little-things/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/29/the-soapbox-joy-in-the-little-things/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/29/the-soapbox-joy-in-the-little-things/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Aion Wings
Some people play MMOs because they love the challenge. Some are there for the social aspects. Still others stick with their favorite titles because they're deeply in love with the content or lore. Every single gamer reading this post has a different reason for logging into their MMO of choice instead of watching television, reading a book or choosing any other type of recreation.

There is no right way to enjoy a game. Despite the fact that our comments section is often filled with people letting others know what they "should" or "shouldn't" be playing based on their affinity for certain in-game functions, having fun is a very personal experience that depends entirely on your tastes and desires. If you're having a good time in a game, you're doing it right.

It's all about the little things.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Joy in the little things

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Joy in the little things originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentccpccp-gamescreating-fundesigndetailseditorialeveeve-onlinef2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playhistoricalinternet-spaceshipsop-edopinionpvprantrantssandboxsci-fisoapboxspreadsheets-onlinetanktanksthe-soapboxwarwarcraftwargaming.netwin-conditionsworld-of-tanksworld-of-warcraftwotwowTue, 29 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Can we reward fun over persistence?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/the-soapbox-can-we-reward-fun-over-persistence/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/the-soapbox-can-we-reward-fun-over-persistence/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/the-soapbox-can-we-reward-fun-over-persistence/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Well, some of us are already having fun.
MMOs are games of repetition. Advancing past a certain point is always a matter of doing the same thing over and over, whether it's repeating raids in World of Warcraft, playing the market in EVE Online, or taking part in the same event to clear daily achievements in Guild Wars 2. Whether or not you enjoy these repeat performances can make the difference between the grind from hell and a pleasant upward climb, but it's still a game of repetition.

It's not exactly the ideal state of being. Nearly every new game seems to recognize this and advertise itself as free from grinding, which at best is true in a very narrow sense. You won't be grinding daily quests, but you'll be grinding events or PvP maps or dungeons. So why don't we have a game out there that rewards fun instead of persistence? Is it possible to create a game that's free of repetition and focused on enjoyable experiences?

Continue reading The Soapbox: Can we reward fun over persistence?

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Can we reward fun over persistence? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balanceboredomdesign-balanceeditorialenjoymentfeaturedfungrindop-edopinionrantrantsrecreationrepeat-contentrepetitionsoapboxthe-soapboxTue, 22 Jan 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/why-i-play-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/why-i-play-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/why-i-play-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

EVE Online
When I was a child, I was obsessed with space. In elementary school, I'd spend my library time reading books with titles like "The Moon" or "Space for Kids." It wasn't so much that I planned to be an astronaut (poor eyesight and math incompetency quickly blocked this ambition) but that I wanted to know what was out there, among the stars and moons and planets. "It can't," I reasoned as a very precocious second-grader, "be empty."

Unfortunately, I never did make it to space. I haven't walked on the moon, flown a starship, or engaged in a series of humiliating and challenging physical conditioning challenges (oh, The Right Stuff, how I love thee). What I did do, however, was discover EVE Online.

It's sort of the next best thing. And here's why.

Continue reading Why I Play: EVE Online

MassivelyWhy I Play: EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameseditorialeveeve-onlineeve-online-infernoeve-online-retributionfeaturedinternet-spaceshipsmassively-metametanostalgiaop-edopinionsandboxsci-fispreadsheets-onlinewhy-i-playFri, 18 Jan 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Stop reminding me that I'm playing a game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/08/the-soapbox-stop-reminding-me-that-im-playing-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/08/the-soapbox-stop-reminding-me-that-im-playing-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/08/the-soapbox-stop-reminding-me-that-im-playing-a-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I'm clearly in a fantasy world in DC Universe Online, because it's a world where a woman other than Barbara Gordon can wear the bat-symbol.
To me, the most amazing part of a video game is the way that it can steal you away from the real world in a way that nothing else quite can. A good book or film will take your focus for several hours, but you're still aware that there's a layer between you and the media. A good game blurs that, lets you creep into the game world for a while and experience things you never would otherwise. There are moments of wonder and joy that you can feel from a few hours in games that are simply unmatched.

So please, stop ruining it.

MMOs in particular have gotten bad about this. It's ironic, as the genre as a whole lends itself to people taking a step into another world. But what's changed isn't a matter of systems or mechanics, just a sense of what designers feel are completely acceptable breaks between in-game reality and the real world. It's annoying. So stop reminding me that I'm playing a game, will you?

Continue reading The Soapbox: Stop reminding me that I'm playing a game

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Stop reminding me that I'm playing a game originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cultureeditorialescapismfeaturedhumorimmersionop-edopinionpop-culturerantrantsreminderssettingsoapboxthe-soapboxverisimilitudeTue, 08 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The heartbreak of altitis]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/01/the-soapbox-the-heartbreak-of-altitis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/01/the-soapbox-the-heartbreak-of-altitis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/01/the-soapbox-the-heartbreak-of-altitis/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Soapbox The heartbreak of altitis
In the MMO culture, there are those who alt and those who don't. Sometimes there's a hilarious rift between the two factions, as one side can't understand why you wouldn't want to try out all of the game's classes and the other side can't understand why you wouldn't specialize and excel in a single character.

I'm one of those who alt, which is a blessing as much as it is a curse. I blame City of Heroes for starting me out on the path to altoholism. C'mon, it was simply impossible to play that game and not be rolling a new superhero concept every other day. By the time I moved on to more "traditional" titles, I was hooked on the idea of alts.

It's a curse as much as it is a blessing. I'll be the first to advocate that alting can give you a wider perspective in a game, offer you more play flexibility, and perhaps keep you in a title far longer than if you played a single character until you burned out. But there's a darker side to it, a path to heartbreak. For those of us who alt, this is the unspoken danger that lurks in every reroll.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The heartbreak of altitis

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The heartbreak of altitis originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltoholicaltscharactercharacterscity-of-heroeseditorialfeaturedop-edopinionrantrantsrerollsoapboxthe-soapboxTue, 01 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: What MMOs could learn from social gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/25/the-soapbox-what-mmos-could-learn-from-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/25/the-soapbox-what-mmos-could-learn-from-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/25/the-soapbox-what-mmos-could-learn-from-social-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

So, who wants to hear about my latest plot of land in TyriaWorld?
I mentioned a couple of months ago that social gaming isn't going to destroy MMOs. That's good news for everyone other than Richard Garriott and Zynga stockholders. But I think taking this as a sign that we can ignore social gaming for now and forever as an aberration would be... a mistake, to put it lightly.

See, there are things that social games do even better than MMOs tend to. And the hint is right there in the name. No, I'm not implying that these are better games; I'm saying that social games are generally much better about handling the social side of the equation. And the MMO industry as a whole would do well to pick up on the hints.

Not everything, of course. We all have recurring nightmares about that one person on Facebook whose timeline is nothing but a series of dubious achievements in social games. But there are a lot of elements scattered throughout the games as a whole that could be oddly useful if taken as a whole.

Continue reading The Soapbox: What MMOs could learn from social gaming

MassivelyThe Soapbox: What MMOs could learn from social gaming originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designeditorialfeaturedgroupinghelpingmutual-benefitop-edopinionrantrantssoapboxsocial-gamessocial-systemssocializingthe-soapboxworking-togetherTue, 25 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/why-i-play-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/why-i-play-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/13/why-i-play-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Why I Play The Secret World
I grit my teeth and issue a soft sound of anguish as my character dies yet again. I corpse run back, revive, and carefully plan my next approach. I dart in, tag an enemy cultist, and then pull him out of the path of his patrolling friends. I know I can take one at a time, but more than that will end me. I've found that out through bloody and bruised experience.

The fight is tough; it takes me a good half-minute to put him down. The quest counter inches forward, mocking me with the fact that I'm still just on the first part of a six-tier mission. And I've been doing it for 45 minutes now.

I focus. I triumph. The next stage has me figuring out a code and then attempting to open a door while mummies burst from sarcophagi all around me. I blow every cooldown I have and invent a few more tricks to survive. The door opens. I step through. There before me is a giant monster from the pit of hell watching me with blood-red eyes. I'm nervous because if I fail here, I have to do the last stage all over again. I mutter a curse at Funcom's developers and then run in screaming.

And I'm loving every minute of it.

This is The Secret World, the title that bowled me over to become one of my all-time favorite MMOs. Despite plenty of noticeable flaws, its daring approach to a stuck-in-the-mud industry more than compensates for that. This is why I play it.

Continue reading Why I Play: The Secret World

MassivelyWhy I Play: The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>editorialfactionfantasyfeaturedfuncomhorrormassively-metametamythologynostalgiaop-edopinionsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswwhy-i-playThu, 13 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: DC Universe Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/why-i-play-dc-universe-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/why-i-play-dc-universe-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/06/why-i-play-dc-universe-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Why I Play DC Universe Online
Batman.

He's why I initially played DC Universe Online. He's why I bought the collector's edition pre-launch, and he's generally why I got worked up into a sweaty lather of fanboy expectation that couldn't possibly be met by an MMO with a finite budget.

A couple of years on, I've rediscovered DCUO, and now the reason I play it (a lot) boils down to three letters: SOE.

Continue reading Why I Play: DC Universe Online

MassivelyWhy I Play: DC Universe Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsolesdc-universedc-universe-onlinedc-universe-online-reviewdc-universe-reviewdcuodcuo-revieweditorialf2pfeaturedfree-to-playmassively-metametanostalgiaop-edopinionplaystation-3playstation3ps3soesony-online-entertainmentsuperherosuperheroeswhy-i-playwhy-i-play-dcuoThu, 06 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: I demand to pay more for this!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/the-soapbox-i-demand-to-pay-more-for-this/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/the-soapbox-i-demand-to-pay-more-for-this/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/the-soapbox-i-demand-to-pay-more-for-this/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Buy me, my friends!
Champions Online launched amidst a bunch of controversy. Admittedly, this was back in a time when we as a community had a much lower bar for controversy, but still, there were accusations and recriminations flying around like, well, superheroes. One of the chief complaints was that the game had a subscription fee, but it also had a cash shop right from launch. Scandalous!

These days we don't blink too much at this sort of thing. Pretty much every game in the world has a cash shop now, and the rare exceptions are games that try to pretend it's something else. But there are still a lot of people who object to the idea, who would much rather have a subscription or nothing or see everything from the cash shop free to subscribers.

I am not one of those people. In fact, I'm happy when a game goes into the free model or just opens up a cash shop of any stripe. The way I see it, there are some definite upsides to having a cash shop.

Continue reading The Soapbox: I demand to pay more for this!

MassivelyThe Soapbox: I demand to pay more for this! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelscash-shopcash-shopseditorialfeaturedfinancialmicrotransactionsmoneyop-edopinionprofitspromotionsrantrantssalesshut-up-and-take-my-moneysoapboxthe-soapboxTue, 04 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The trinity isn't so bad]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/the-soapbox-the-trinity-isnt-so-bad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/the-soapbox-the-trinity-isnt-so-bad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/27/the-soapbox-the-trinity-isnt-so-bad/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

You go on ahead. We'll wait here to see what eats you.
The role trinity in MMOs has gotten a pretty hard drubbing over the last two years or so. Ask a lot of people with knee-jerk responses and they'll tell you that it's what's killing MMOs. Well, unless they tell you that tab-targeting is killing MMOs. Or themeparks. Or free-to-play. Or World of Warcraft or Star Wars: The Old Republic or subscription fees or lack of housing, or...

All right, so there are people quick to announce the death of MMOs based on pretty much any feature that the announcer dislikes. But the trinity has still been falling out of vogue with players. Guild Wars 2 even made a selling point out of the fact that it didn't have a proper trinity, instead having a series of roles that no one seems entirely clear on. There's a very consistent idea floating around that a game based on the standard trifecta is in some way flawed or not trying hard enough.

Except that the trinity isn't a bad thing. Tank, healer, and DPS is not a model that's lacking in some crucial area. And it deserves a bit more appreciation than it gets.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The trinity isn't so bad

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The trinity isn't so bad originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designdesign-elementseditorialfeaturedgame-designgame-mechanicsgroup-mechanicsholy-trinityop-edopinionoverall-mechanicsrantrantsrole-trinitysoapboxthe-soapboxthe-trinitytrinityTue, 27 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Everybody wins]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/20/the-soapbox-everybody-wins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/20/the-soapbox-everybody-wins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/20/the-soapbox-everybody-wins/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I'm glad to not play WoW any longer, but I don't cheer the idea of everyone still playing it losing their game.
I make no bones about the fact that despite working in this industry for three years, I know there are parts about MMOs and the culture around them that I just do not get. For example, I still have no idea what possesses someone to think that "toon" is a good term for characters. But on a slightly more serious note, I have no idea what makes people cheer for a game to fail.

You see it everywhere. World of Warcraft subscription numbers drop; people cheer. Something bad happens to EVE Online's community; people cheer. A game goes free-to-play; people announce the game's impending demise and begin cheering prematurely. A game closes down; people cheer.

I don't get this. All right, I get it on the most basic level, inasmuch as this is a game you don't like and you're willing to publicly crow about your schadenfreude. The thing is that this is never a good thing. Cheering for a game you dislike to do badly does not result in anything good.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Everybody wins

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Everybody wins originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behaviorbusinesscommentscommunitycultureeditorialfailingfailuresfeaturedgame-shutdowngame-stylesmaking-moneymoneyop-edopinionplay-stylesrantrantsschadenfreudeshutdownsoapboxthe-soapboxTue, 20 Nov 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Remembering that games are games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/the-soapbox-remembering-that-games-are-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/the-soapbox-remembering-that-games-are-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/the-soapbox-remembering-that-games-are-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

RIFT Boss Fight
I think it's safe to assume that we all love games. If we didn't, I wouldn't be in this crowded, noisy coffee shop writing this and you wouldn't be blowing off some sort of important responsibility reading it. We're all here together, engaged in this somewhat-anonymous internet back-and-forth, because games have touched our lives. It sounds corny, but it's true.

For many of us, games have a deeply personal and specific meaning. We like the games we like not so much for their craftsmanship or content but for the way they engage our minds and spirits. Games create incredible, irreplaceable moments infused with emotional resonance, and it's only natural we would feel some sort of personal connection when a piece of digital entertainment syncs just right.

It is precisely this personal connection that leads many of us to act like total morons.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Remembering that games are games

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Remembering that games are games originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Call-of-Dutycommentscommunityeditorialeve-onlinefeaturedfriendshipgamingguild-warsGuild-Wars-2hugsInternetop-edopinionpay-to-winrantrantssoapboxSoul-Caliburthe-soapboxwind-wakerwizard101world-of-tanksWorld-of-WarcraftWoWTue, 13 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/why-i-play-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/why-i-play-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/08/why-i-play-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Why I Play The Secret World
I'll be the first to admit that I've been one of The Secret World's biggest fanboys ever since Funcom first announced its horror-flavored entry to the MMO space. I spent many a conversation extolling the game's many virtues to my gaming friends. "It's like real life if the universe were written by horror authors," I enthused, rambling on and on about the innovative investigation missions, the unique skill wheel progression system, the fresh modern-day setting, and so on and so forth. Then finally the fateful day came that TSW went live, and I loved it... for a while. But for some reason, it just didn't click, and so TSW sat unloved, guilt-inducingly staring at me from my desktop.

Last week, I finally gave into the guilt and hopped back into the game. I had kept my subscription running, as I knew that even if I wasn't actively playing, I still wanted to support Funcom's endeavors with what I felt was a remarkably refreshing entry into the stagnant MMO marketplace. Last I left my Illuminati agent Rouage, he had hit something of a brick wall in Blue Mountain thanks to a very short-sighted and subpar character build. I figured I'd probably be replaying Kingsmouth and/or Savage Coast just to get the AP to rectify my build anyway, so I scrapped him and started from the beginning. This time, it clicked. So here I am to tell you why it clicked, and of course, why I play The Secret World.

Continue reading Why I Play: The Secret World

MassivelyWhy I Play: The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>editorialfactionfantasyfeaturedfuncomhorrorinvestigation-missioninvestigation-missionsloremassively-metametanostalgiaop-edopinionrole-playrole-playingroleplayingrpsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedskill-wheelstorythe-secret-worldtswwhy-i-playThu, 08 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The problem with power creep and progression]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/the-soapbox-the-problem-with-power-creep-and-progression/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/the-soapbox-the-problem-with-power-creep-and-progression/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/the-soapbox-the-problem-with-power-creep-and-progression/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Soapbox Power creep! How to keep MMO progression fun and interesting
We've all seen it. You might not have put a name to it, but it's there. As MMOs get older, certain dungeons become obsolete. Or maybe that fantastic top-level gear you once had to have is completely worthless now and isn't even in normal gear progression anymore. That is power creep, the phenomenon by which content becomes completely worthless as a game ages. I can't imagine being on the developer's side when power creep starts rearing its ugly head. All that time a developer spent sculpting the content to be the perfect match of mechanics and story becomes wasted.

Power creep can't be avoided, right? Developers have to make new content to keep people interested in the game. And themepark games have to have a linear progression, right? We also don't want the disparity between the new players and the old players to be too great because it will discourage population growth. Then how in the world do we stop this never-ending cycle? How do we keep MMO progression fun and interesting without content falling off the end of the treadmill?

Continue reading The Soapbox: The problem with power creep and progression

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The problem with power creep and progression originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why I Play APB Reloaded
Those of you who have followed me on this quaint little internet of ours for any reasonable amount of time know that I'm a sandbox guy. I love freedom, choice, and the leg room to explore and build to my heart's content. I'm not a big fan of PvP, general chat, bored griefers, or people acting like idiots. But in direct contrast to this claim, APB: Reloaded is one of my all-time favorite MMOs.

APB: Reloaded is one of those games that I happily jump into when I'm feeling bored with other games or just miss real action. When I'm solo, it's a bit of an outlet for any stress or frustrations I might have because I can just be a complete jerk and it's part of the game. But when I'm with a group, the dynamic changes completely. Sure, the game has its problems and is notorious for the lag and cheater issues, but that doesn't really affect why I play the game.

Then why do I play APB: Reloaded?

Continue reading Why I Play: APB Reloaded

MassivelyWhy I Play: APB Reloaded originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gaming group picture from SOElive
I originally thought I would craft this Soapbox to discuss the differences between Western and Eastern gamers. But in my research, I ended up noticing the differences and the similarities between the two gaming cultures -- in fact, the similarities were more prominent. Yes, there are gamers who game in stereotypical ways; there are gamers from China, Korea, and Japan who are stereotypically "Asian."

But Westerners can behave as stereotypes as well. The good news is that we're all blending together.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Meeting the 'Asian gamer' stereotype on common ground

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Meeting the 'Asian gamer' stereotype on common ground originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiaasian-gamerbeau-hindmandebunking-stereotypeseasteast-vs-westeastern-gamerseditorialfeaturedinternet-cafekoreaop-edopinionpc-bangpc-cafesrantrantssoapboxsouth-koreastereotypestereotypesthe-soapboxwestwestern-gamersTue, 23 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: DC Universe Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/18/why-i-play-dc-universe-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/18/why-i-play-dc-universe-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/18/why-i-play-dc-universe-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

DC Universe Online screenshot
I've played pretty much every superhero MMO that has come out since 1999. That means City of Heroes, Champions Online, Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, Hero Smash, and of course, DC Universe Online. There's something about superhero culture that speaks to all of us, and I think the feeling of roleplaying better or cooler versions of ourselves is the key. I tend to roll characters who are almost too much like me. They're superheroes, sure, but a bit weaker, smaller, and thinner than your usual caped crusader. Fortunately, almost every title has let me experiment, although sometimes my character has to resemble me... after working out for many years and wielding cosmic rays.

At first, DC Universe Online did not impress me as much as some of the others. It did have several issues when it launched, some that are still in need of fixing, but over time, SOE has shown just what a priority continuing development is. Patches are frequent and robust, the item mall is restocked with cool items often, and the transition to free-to-play gives players more choices than ever before.

But that's all technical mumbo-jumbo. This column is called Why I Play, not "Here Are Some Details About This Game." So why exactly do I find myself logging into DC Universe Online every week?

Continue reading Why I Play: DC Universe Online

MassivelyWhy I Play: DC Universe Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanconsoleconsolesdcdc-comicsdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoeditorialf2pfeaturedfree-to-playmassively-metametanostalgiaop-edopinionplaystation-3playstation3ps3riftSOESONYsony-onlineSony-Online-EntertainmentsuperherosuperheroesWarhammerWarhammer-Onlinewhy-i-playThu, 18 Oct 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: No game lives forever]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/the-soapbox-no-game-lives-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/the-soapbox-no-game-lives-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/the-soapbox-no-game-lives-forever/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Soapbox No game lasts forever 23
The lifespan of a video game is a funny thing. There are some games that have a definite end, yet you'd wish they'd last forever. These games measure life in replayability, run-through length, or multiplayer matches, but they lack permanence and persistence. Still, you can usually dust them off years from now and still have fun with them.

MMOs are a different breed, aren't they? They promise the inverse of the solo game, with a world that goes on, content that keeps flooding in, and the illusion that it will last forever. Yet when the switch is turned off, there's no going back. You can't pick it up 10 years from now and give it another go.

It's why the news that an MMO is closing up shop comes as such a devastating blow to many of us. As MMOs attempt to emulate the persistence of life, so too do they illustrate the finality of death.

Continue reading The Soapbox: No game lives forever

MassivelyThe Soapbox: No game lives forever originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There's no huge monster there. We're good.
To the developers of the MMO industry, I say this to you: Your game has some pretty big issues.

No, stop. Don't go consult the PR team. Don't talk with the community managers. Don't spend time explaining why those issues aren't really issues. Just say it with me. Your game has some pretty big issues. I don't care what game you call your own; it's still replete with issues, including ones that by all rights should have been fixed months ago. Just say that with me, and then possibly follow it with a "sorry."

There. That wasn't so bad, was it? Kind of liberating, actually. There's a lot to be said for owning up to the failures of your game and admitting that some things are just plain wrong. I can think of great reasons to just take a deep breath, eat crow, and just say that part of your game is a mess.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Own your game's mistakes

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Own your game's mistakes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugsculturedesigneditorialfeaturedgame-designmistakesoopsop-edopen-letteropinionpoor-choicesrantrantssoapboxthe-soapboxTue, 02 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: Free Realms]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/19/why-i-play-free-realms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/19/why-i-play-free-realms/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/19/why-i-play-free-realms/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Free Realms screenshot
Free Realms has been going really strong, as far as I can tell, since the beginning. I definitely remember the distinct buzz that came from the beta, and I remember bloggers and podcaster friends proclaiming that the game was going to go gangbusters. We MMOers often forget just what sort of impact certain titles have made on the market. As soon as these special titles are released into the world, we become used to them and often take them for granted.

Free Realms has always been one of those special titles. But think about it: We hear from it regularly but often forget to notice just how packed with players it can be and how much variety in gameplay it offers. In fact, Free Realms is probably one of the least appreciated sandboxes in the world of MMOs right now because it has been so successfully integrated into the MMOsphere.

Yes, I said sandbox. Yes, I'm serious. I'd go so far as to say that Free Realms is almost a perfectly designed sandbox, although some of its design is not for everyone. Like Mabinogi, another underappreciated open world of a game, Free Realms might turn off the typical sandbox aficionado, who might not like its graphics or young audience. That's unfortunate because the world of Free Realms is more vast that many of us think.

Continue reading Why I Play: Free Realms

MassivelyWhy I Play: Free Realms originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not pictured: figuring out in older editions why ancient elves were unable to figure out how to be paladins.
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Older tabletop roleplaying games are a mess.

I realize that some our readers may not have had the unique pleasure of getting introduced to gaming via a handful of dice and a pencil, but let me give you the very short version. A long time ago, a game called Dungeons & Dragons was written, and it was the first roleplaying game. Since then, we've seen a lot of other roleplaying games come out with different ideas and different themes. We've also seen a lot of other roleplaying games meant to intentionally hearken back to the days when Dungeons & Dragons was the only game in town.

This is almost never a good idea.

Nor is the idea unique to tabletop games. In fact, we're seeing the same thing in the MMO space. There are games that market themselves by promising to be a return to the days of Ultima Online or points related, a throwback to the old school of gaming. I'm pretty sure Vanguard was the first of that movement. And while I understand the sentiment, it pretty much always ends in tears for some very good reasons.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The classic Dungeons & Dragons problem

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The classic Dungeons & Dragons problem originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic-gamesdevelopmenteditorialfeaturedmmo-industrymoving-forwardnostalgiaold-schoololder-gamesop-edopinionrantrantssoapboxthe-soapboxthrowback-gamesTue, 18 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why I Play: RIFT]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/12/why-i-play-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/12/why-i-play-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/12/why-i-play-rift/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Yeah, the vortex is normal. Killed real estate values a few years back, I tell you what.
For those of you who desperately need to know why I play RIFT in one line, I'll make it easy for you: I play RIFT because I really used to like World of Warcraft.

When World of Warcraft first launched, it was difficult to explain just how astonishing the game really felt. The innovations that it brought to the table have become so commonplace over the years that we forget how stunning they really were. And when I first logged in, I had visions of what the world could support, the things that could be done, and the ways that players would get to explore hidden vistas and small corners of the world.

As it happened, World of Warcraft went along quite well for several years, but somewhere along the line the magic faded for me. I can point to exactly when, but that's not the goal because RIFT seems to catch a lot of those dropped promises and put them into the game. And it's a game of extremes, with summits and valleys aplenty, but there's enough to like that I don't mind the bad so much.

Continue reading Why I Play: RIFT

MassivelyWhy I Play: RIFT originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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