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: What vanity pet would you like to see in your favorite MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/the-daily-grind-what-vanity-pet-would-you-like-to-see-in-your-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/the-daily-grind-what-vanity-pet-would-you-like-to-see-in-your-f/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/25/the-daily-grind-what-vanity-pet-would-you-like-to-see-in-your-f/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Fallen Earth
Last week Turbine announced all sorts of huge updates for Dungeons and Dragons Online in 2012. Among exciting talk of expansions, Druids, and level cap increases, one little item may have slipped under some folks' radar. Vanity pets are coming to DDO in 2012 -- specifically, "fun and cute DnD critters," according to Executive Producer Fernando Paiz.

Justin and I chatted a bit about that on this week's Massively Speaking, and Justin put forth the awesome idea of a tiny Beholder pet. I loved the idea and it set me to thinking. Vanity pets in MMOs are such a frivolous little thing, yet they're such fun to so many people, and it seems like everyone has a wish list of "wouldn't it be cool if..." vanity pets.

So what's yours? Would you love a little Beholder in DDO? Would you love to see Fallen Earth offer a prairie chicken pet to go with your mount? Tell us what vanity pet you'd love to see trailing along behind your character!

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What vanity pet would you like to see in your favorite MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinefallen-earthfeg1gamersfirstopinionopinionspetstdgthe-daily-grindturbinevanity-itemsvanity-petsWed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you like need vs. greed loot distribution?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-need-vs-greed-loot-distribution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-need-vs-greed-loot-distribution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-need-vs-greed-loot-distribution/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Credit to the lovely and talented Ember Isolte
MMO gaming: It's all about the loot.

OK, maybe not all about it, but there sure is a lot of thought and angst devoted to the items that fall from various AI-creature piñatas -- who got the best stuff, who didn't get any stuff, and how it's not fair that he got better stuff than you did.

Different games may offer different methods of loot distribution, like a round-robin option or Guild Wars' pre-assigned drops, but need before greed is still a long-standing and familiar method. So what do you think? Does the system, which relies largely on players rolling fairly, still work well, or has its time passed?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you like need vs. greed loot distribution? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dropslootloot-distributionnbgneed-before-greedneed-greed-passneed-v-greedneed-versus-greedneed-vs-greedopinionopinionstdgthe-daily-grindTue, 17 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you a part of your game's community out of game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/the-daily-grind-are-you-a-part-of-your-games-community-out-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/the-daily-grind-are-you-a-part-of-your-games-community-out-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/the-daily-grind-are-you-a-part-of-your-games-community-out-of/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Guild Wars
The foundation of an MMO is people playing together. While there are plenty of soloers -- and the smart developer will make content for them as much as for the group players -- there's a definite community inside of an MMO.

That community often continues after logout, though. Thanks to forums both official and not, social media groups, IRC chat, and even real-world meetups, players can continue the social interactions beyond guild or group chat. Of course, that's if they're comfortable with it. Players vary widely on this, so where do you stand? Do your in-game friendships extend beyond the walls of Azeroth, Telara, The Wasteland, or Tyria, or do you prefer that what happens in game stay in game?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you a part of your game's community out of game? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>friendshipsfriendships-in-gameopinionopinionsrelationshipstdgthe-daily-grindTue, 10 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: January 1-7, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/global-chat-january-1-7-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/global-chat-january-1-7-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/global-chat-january-1-7-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Livestreaming!
We love hearing what the Massively community has to say. What better way to salute the smartest reader opinions and posts than by sharing them in a weekly column? Join us every Sunday morning for Global Chat, where we do just that!

This week we've got a poke at the lighter side of game bugs, some thoughts on development costs and how they affect us in the end, and some compliments (we always love those). Ready to see what they are? Click past the cut and let's get started!

Continue reading Global Chat: January 1-7, 2012

MassivelyGlobal Chat: January 1-7, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baby-choo-choobigginbiowarecommenterscommentsdust-514ea-biowareeve-evolvedfeaturedgetdownglobal-chatlaunch-timinglivestreammv-tvnibbanaopinionopinionssoapboxstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-dance-bugthe-soapboxSun, 08 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you use an official wiki in your game of choice?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/the-daily-grind-would-you-use-an-official-wiki-in-your-game-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/the-daily-grind-would-you-use-an-official-wiki-in-your-game-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/the-daily-grind-would-you-use-an-official-wiki-in-your-game-of/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Guild Wars wiki
Some of us were chatting around the Massively (virtual) water cooler yesterday and came to the conclusion that one thing a lot of MMOs are missing is a reliable, up-to-date official wiki.

With a few exceptions like the Guild Wars Wiki or EVElopedia, the majority of the MMO game list lacks a comprehensive official wiki -- a central hub for update news, gear and loot details, gameplay guides, and so on. Many games have but don't maintain them, and many more don't have them at all. Is this something that should be remedied, or is the lack of supply due to the lack of demand?

What do you think -- should more developers put resources toward the creation, expansion, and maintenance of this sort of thing?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Would you use an official wiki in your game of choice? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>evelopediagame-guidesgame-wikiguild-wars-wikiofficial-wikiopinionopinionstdgthe-daily-grindwikiTue, 03 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: December 25-31, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/01/global-chat-december-25-31-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/01/global-chat-december-25-31-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/01/global-chat-december-25-31-2011/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Predictions
We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

Welcome to the first Global Chat of 2012! This week is all about some of your responses to our MMO predictions for 2012. You all chipped in plenty of great thoughts, so follow along after the break for the best of what our readers had to say last week!

Continue reading Global Chat: December 25-31, 2011

MassivelyGlobal Chat: December 25-31, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browser-basedcommenterscommentsfeaturedglobal-chatlilkittenmassivelys-mmo-predictions-for-2012mists-of-pandariamopopinionopinionsseffridsolitudezeroworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 01 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Did you get gaming gifts for the holidays?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/the-daily-grind-did-you-get-gaming-gifts-for-the-holidays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/the-daily-grind-did-you-get-gaming-gifts-for-the-holidays/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/the-daily-grind-did-you-get-gaming-gifts-for-the-holidays/#commentsFiled under: , ,

All of those boxes contain computer hardware.
The holiday season is winding down and the gift-giving days are done. People are sitting back and enjoying their break from school or work, and maybe enjoying some new items that Santa dropped in their stockings. Last weekend the Massively staffers talked about what gaming-related goodies they were hoping to receive, and we posed the same question to you.

So what's the verdict? Were your holiday gaming wishes fulfilled? Is your Steam wish list shorter? Is your pile of gaming boxes taller? Do you have some shiny new game time codes to use? Leave a comment and let us know what your newest gaming goodies are!

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Did you get gaming gifts for the holidays? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>giftsholiday-giftsholidaysopinionopinionstdgthe-daily-grindwish-listsTue, 27 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: December 18-24, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/25/global-chat-december-18-24-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/25/global-chat-december-18-24-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/25/global-chat-december-18-24-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Leaderboard's Hybrid entry
We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

Merry Christmas, Massively readers! We're enjoying some time with our loved ones today here at Massively, and we hope you're doing the same. We've prepared a few things for you to read in your downtime today, though. One of them is this week's Global Chat, so follow along after the break for the best of what our readers had to say last week!

Continue reading Global Chat: December 18-24, 2011

MassivelyGlobal Chat: December 18-24, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balanceclassesehraf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgaming-definitionsmechwarrior-onlinemmonot-an-mmoopinionopinionsryansam-not-spamSun, 25 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Forward impressions of patch 1.20]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/the-mog-log-forward-impressions-of-patch-1-20/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/the-mog-log-forward-impressions-of-patch-1-20/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/17/the-mog-log-forward-impressions-of-patch-1-20/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
As I write this, patch 1.20 is not actually live just yet. All I have to go on is a monster list of patch notes and the various previews we've been given thus far. Of course, by the time you're reading this, the patch will have released, and I have no doubt that some people will have played through everything it has to offer a couple of times over. So I'm working at a bit of a disadvantage.

In some ways I'm actually not in that terrible a spot. The last two patches have done great things for Final Fantasy XIV, and the patch notes are long enough that I can at least make some reasonable guesses about how things will play out. So I'm going to do precisely that, with the obvious caveat that I might be punching at the wind. Long story short: I'm confident about this patch; only a few bits irritate me.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Forward impressions of patch 1.20

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Forward impressions of patch 1.20 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesachievementsarmoury-systemclass-abilitiesclassescolumnfeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.20final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgame-mechanicsgrand-companiesopinionopinionspatchpatchessquare-enixsystemsthe-mog-logSat, 17 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What MMO holiday event are you looking forward to?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/the-daily-grind-what-mmo-holiday-event-are-you-looking-forward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/the-daily-grind-what-mmo-holiday-event-are-you-looking-forward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/the-daily-grind-what-mmo-holiday-event-are-you-looking-forward/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Fallen Earth
December is here, and with it comes the usual crop of MMO holiday events. Developers may tweak events to fit the game lore or pull straight from the real-world holiday season, but the foundation of each celebration is usually similar. Special drops from enemies, seasonal quests with fun loot, and extra goodies in the cash shops can all be found throughout MMO-land during most of December.

So what are you most looking forward to? Will you be sticking with the familiar, long-running traditions of Wintersday in Guild Wars? Are you hoping for more of last year's hilariously misinterpreted holiday traditions from the citizens of Fallen Earth's Wasteland? Or are you dying to check out RIFT's very first holiday celebration? What holiday event are you looking forward to and why?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What MMO holiday event are you looking forward to? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>holidayholiday-2011in-game-eventsopinionopinionstdgthe-daily-grindTue, 06 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Narrative voices]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/the-mog-log-narrative-voices/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/the-mog-log-narrative-voices/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/03/the-mog-log-narrative-voices/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header image by A. Fienemann
One of the things that I've said for years about both Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV is that these are MMOs that love story. Other MMOs have a narrative, sure, but it's in Vana'diel and Eorzea that story is really a big part of the game's appeal. There's a definite push in both games for players to take part in a narrative, to feel as if they're taking part in an epic story.

So let's not kid ourselves. There's another game coming out that offers to do the exact same thing, and it's doing so with a real set of chops. Star Wars: The Old Republic is on its way, and it's staking claim to the same territory with a very different presentation.

Both Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV are niche games that are never going to have the same sort of mass-market appeal as BioWare's behemoth; that much is a given. But the real question is what happens when one of the big selling points of these niche games is co-opted. Is the story in Star Wars: The Old Republic better? Will it even matter? What happens when someone else decides that story is a good place to hang a design philosophy?

Continue reading The Mog Log: Narrative voices

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Narrative voices originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycolumnfeaturedffff11ff14final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivloreopinionopinionssquaresquare-enixstar-wars-the-old-republicstoryswtorthe-mog-logSat, 03 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott predicts the death of consoles as a gaming medium]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/richard-garriott-predicting-the-death-of-consoles-as-a-gaming-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/richard-garriott-predicting-the-death-of-consoles-as-a-gaming-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/richard-garriott-predicting-the-death-of-consoles-as-a-gaming-me/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ground Control to Major Tom, your circuit's dead, there's something wrong - can you hear me, Major Tom? Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Considering his influence on the realm of MMOs, many gamers would argue that it's hard to dismiss Richard Garriott's thoughts on development out of hand. A recent interview with the man includes him predicting the fall of traditional console gaming in favor of portable devices, and the end of MMOs as a major market share compared to social and casual games. As Garriott puts it, the era of MMOs was chiefly between 2000 and 2010, and the explosion in social gaming is now a new part of the overall game development cycle.

Naturally, since Garriott's current company, Portalarium, is targeting specifically that demographic, he might be just a little bit biased. But he's hardly the first industry insider to claim that modern games need to be easily be picked up with little to no up-front cost. Take a look at the full interview for more, including Garriott's thoughts on how present designers are lazy and his self-comparison to Tolkien.

MassivelyRichard Garriott predicts the death of consoles as a gaming medium originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casual-gamingindustry-figuresindustry-insidersinterviewsmmo-industryopinionsportalariumrichard-garriottsocial-gamingWed, 30 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: November 20-26, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/global-chat-november-20-26-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/global-chat-november-20-26-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/27/global-chat-november-20-26-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Global Chat
Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

Games we love, games we don't, and games we're not sure of are all on the menu for this week's Global Chat. Everyone loves to talk over upcoming games and expansions, sharing his thoughts and debating various points. Follow along after the cut to see what our readers had to say about that last week!

Continue reading Global Chat: November 20-26, 2011

MassivelyGlobal Chat: November 20-26, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commenterscommentsfeaturedglobal-chatopinionopinionsSun, 27 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: September 26-October 2, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/02/global-chat-september-26-october-2-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/02/global-chat-september-26-october-2-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/02/global-chat-september-26-october-2-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Some Assembly Required
Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

We're all about crafting and complaining in this week's Global Chat -- hopefully not at the same time, though. Follow along after the jump to see some of what our readers had to say this week, and pitch in on a conversation you may have missed!

Continue reading Global Chat: September 26-October 2, 2011

MassivelyGlobal Chat: September 26-October 2, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commenterscommentscomplainingcraftingglobal-chatopinionopinionssandboxsome-assembly-requiredthe-daily-grindSun, 02 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: September 3-10, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/11/global-chat-september-3-10-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/11/global-chat-september-3-10-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/11/global-chat-september-3-10-2011/#commentsFiled under: , ,

He knows you are both delicious and made of meat.
Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

We're all about comparing communities this week on Global Chat -- free-to-play vs. pay-to-play communities as well as PvE and PvP. As an added bonus, we've got a laugh to share from a Massively contest winner. Follow along after the jump to see what some of our readers had to say this week, then lend your voice to the discussion!

Continue reading Global Chat: September 3-10, 2011

MassivelyGlobal Chat: September 3-10, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commenterscommentsdark-walkerglobal-chatmikeopinionopinionspumpkinonheadSun, 11 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Tough decisions edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/global-chat-tough-decisions-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/global-chat-tough-decisions-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/global-chat-tough-decisions-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

Today's Global Chat focuses on developer decisions. From business models to mechanics and even platforms, our readers had some interesting things to say. Follow along after the jump to read, then add your own thoughts!

Continue reading Global Chat: Tough decisions edition

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Tough decisions edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bulldozerftwccpcommenterscommentsdarkwalkerdust-514eve-onlinefeaturedfeaturesgame-featuresglobal-chatopinionopinionsSun, 26 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Follow the money edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/19/global-chat-follow-the-money-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/19/global-chat-follow-the-money-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/19/global-chat-follow-the-money-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

This week's Global Chat is all about paying for things, not paying for other things, and giving even more things multiple chances. Follow along after the jump to see some of the best of what our readers had to say!

Continue reading Global Chat: Follow the money edition

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Follow the money edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commenterscommentscrypticfallen-earthfefeaturedgamersfirstglobal-chatopinionsstar-trek-onlinestoSun, 19 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Free-to-play edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/08/global-chat-free-to-play-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/08/global-chat-free-to-play-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/08/global-chat-free-to-play-edition/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

Free-to-play seemed to be the name of the game this week. Our readers were looking for new free-to-play games, talking about the business model, and making suggestions to one another. Follow along after the jump to see what everyone had to say in this week's Global Chat!

Continue reading Global Chat: Free-to-play edition

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Free-to-play edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Azsamaelcommenterscommentscommunityf2pfakeassnamefeaturedfree-to-playftpglobal-chatopinionstwisvelSun, 08 May 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Valorie Vamp edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/30/global-chat-valorie-vamp-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/30/global-chat-valorie-vamp-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/30/global-chat-valorie-vamp-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

This has been an interesting week, complete with virtual vixens, potentially nervous investors, and not-Paladins. If you've missed a few Massively articles that had some great discussion, this is your chance to weigh in, so follow along after the break to see what the Massively writers liked best in this week's Global Chat.

Continue reading Global Chat: Valorie Vamp edition

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Valorie Vamp edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chatcomment-threadscommentscommunityEAgamecrushglobal-chatguild-wars-2opinionopinionsreader-commentsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorSun, 30 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you like more sprite graphics?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/03/the-daily-grind-would-you-like-more-sprite-graphics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/03/the-daily-grind-would-you-like-more-sprite-graphics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/03/the-daily-grind-would-you-like-more-sprite-graphics/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Back in the time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, nearly all video game graphics were produced as a series of animated pixels, or "sprites" as they're more frequently known. Sprites have evolved from the basic pixel-block format seen in old Atari games to being complex collections of fluid animation, producing graceful and evocative art. Of course since each and every frame of a sprite's animation has to be hand-drawn and can often be quite involved, vector-based three-dimensional graphics have become the standard for games both online and offline.

World of Warcraft and other triple-A titles are never likely to be dominated by sprite graphics, since the result is usually less character customization, more work for the art team, and only a negligible actual benefit. But what about you, the player? Do you like seeing games where the landscapes and avatars are rendered with sprites instead of polygons? Does it give you a sense of nostalgia and familiarity? Or do you dislike the style and want to see a move away from what was once the predominant graphical style?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's The Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Would you like more sprite graphics? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appearanceartgraphical-stylegraphicsopinionopinionsspritestdgthe-daily-grindvisual-impactvisualsSun, 03 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you have essential peripherals?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-essential-peripherals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-essential-peripherals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/02/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-essential-peripherals/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The funny thing about getting used to a new way of playing a game is that sometimes you just can't go back. Case in point: the Razer Naga. It's the sort of mouse that forces dedicated action bar clickers to start using hotkeys, and it's hard to start using one without getting deeply invested in the way that it feels in-play. After all, when you can free up your left hand completely for movement... suffice to say that it earns its moniker as an MMO mouse.

Sometimes it's a favorite headset or a particular keyboard with a familiar layout. We all get accustomed to the computer we use for gaming, but is there a specific piece of hardware that feels just plain vital to log on and play your favorite game? Is it something that notably improves your performance, or just a familiar item that's been a constant through your years of playing online?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's The Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you have essential peripherals? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onsadditional-hardwareaddonsextra-hardwaregaming-preipheralskeyboardsmiceopinionopinionsperipheralstdgthe-daily-grindSat, 02 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Singing the PUG blues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/the-daily-grind-singing-the-pug-blues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/the-daily-grind-singing-the-pug-blues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/the-daily-grind-singing-the-pug-blues/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Recently I've been having a hard time finding a decent pickup group in Age of Conan. I'm excited to run some of the Khitai 6-man instances as well as the old-world dungeons that I've yet to experience like The Iron Tower, Onyx Chambers, and Atzel's Fortress. That said, whether it's due to being under-geared and one of the thousands of DPS-types crowding the server, or the fact that the high-level game is very cliquish and/or guild-focused, I can't seem to make it work. If it's gear that's holding me back, then it's the classic chicken-or-egg dilemma (how can I get geared if I can't get a dungeon group?). If the answer is a guild, well I've got one, but I'm one of the very few high-level players; the rest are still slogging their way through the middle levels.

Whatever the reason, PUGs (or actually the lack of them) are becoming something of an annoyance. What about you, Massively readers? Are you constantly on the outside looking in or can you get a group whenever you want? Does your game of choice feature a plethora of endgame PUGs or is it mostly premade guild groups?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Singing the PUG blues originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6-man-dungeonsage-of-conanaocatzels-fortressdungeonsfuncomim-so-ronerykhitaionyx-chambersopinionspickup-groupPUGpugsthe-daily-grindthe-iron-towerThu, 19 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 100: The state of MMOs with Richard Garriott]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/massively-speaking-episode-100-the-state-of-mmos-with-richard-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/massively-speaking-episode-100-the-state-of-mmos-with-richard-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/massively-speaking-episode-100-the-state-of-mmos-with-richard-g/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Massively Speaking Episode 100 marks an epic milestone with an epic episode! Lord British himself joins Shawn and Rubi for some chat on the past, present and future of MMOs. Topics include everything from the early days of Ultima Online to the possible reincarnation of Tabula Rasa and beyond.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to shawn AT massively DOT com. Maybe we'll read your letter on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 100: The state of MMOs with Richard Garriott

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 100: The state of MMOs with Richard Garriott originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 May 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>epicepisode-100featuredmassively-speakingopinionspodcastingPodcastsRichard-Garriotttabula-rasaultima-onlineWed, 19 May 2010 12:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 100Massively.com Staff61:46podcasts<![CDATA[An interview with veteran supergroups in City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/an-interview-with-veteran-supergroups-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/an-interview-with-veteran-supergroups-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/an-interview-with-veteran-supergroups-in-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Today is rather the day of City of Heroes, and with good cause -- six years old, with many changes and exciting new parts in the wings. And the game is still open to new players of all sorts, with plenty to enrapture players who've never once set foot in Paragon City. But there's also a special place for players and groupings that have been around for nearly all of the game's lifespan -- something that's quite an accomplishment for more than half a decade.

We were lucky enough to have a chance to speak with two veteran supergroups as part of the anniversary celebration: ICONS and Fusion Force. To help compare and contrast responses, we asked both groups the same set of questions, and what follows is their responses. Some of them are close to one another (for instance, everyone seems to want to go into space), but others are very different, even with similar amounts of experience. Whether you're a City of Heroes veteran yourself or just curious about the game's history, jump on past the cut for our chat with some of the game's longer-running player groups.

Continue reading An interview with veteran supergroups in City of Heroes

MassivelyAn interview with veteran supergroups in City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxexperiencefeaturedguildinterviewsopinionopinionsparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioesquestionssupergroupteamupdatesWed, 28 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What spurs you to try a game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/the-daily-grind-what-spurs-you-to-try-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/the-daily-grind-what-spurs-you-to-try-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/the-daily-grind-what-spurs-you-to-try-a-game/#commentsFiled under: , ,

For most of us, MMOs can be loosely grouped into three categories. The first consists of games that you're playing or no longer wish to play, where you bought the box and dove in for better or worse. In the second category are games that you have zero interest in playing. But the third category is the most nebulous in some ways -- games that you want to try but haven't for whatever reason. Sometimes it's a lack of time, sometimes it's a feature or two you'd rather see implemented before you commit. Sometimes it's even just a matter of wanting to see if the game has a future, which can be a terribly self-fulfilling prophecy.

But there's a hurdle there, even if it's just a small one. So what pushes you off the fence, so to speak, and gets you to try a new game? Is it an upcoming expansion? A free trial or a discounted upgrade? Friends enjoying the game, perhaps even gifting it to you? Or do you just wait a little on new games to see how they shake down, making a commitment only when you think it will be well-placed?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What spurs you to try a game? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expansionsfree-trialfriendsopinionssalestdgthe-daily-grindwhat-you-should-be-playingWed, 31 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What do you think of Cryptic?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-of-cryptic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-of-cryptic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-think-of-cryptic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There are few companies these days that generate emotions as strong as those generated by Cryptic Studios. They weren't particularly controversial when they produced City of Heroes, but their subsequent efforts in both Champions Online and Star Trek Online have produced a great deal of contention. Between the launch day issues of Champions Online, the controversy of Cryptic's microtransaction stores, and concerns regarding the amount of content in the game... well, they're contentious. Of course, they also have their fans, have produced two games within a remarkably short timeframe, and are clearly dedicated to both communication and player-targeted development.

Considering that today is the first big content release for Star Trek Online and the recent information regarding Bill Roper's departure from Champions Online (although he's remaining with Cryptic), it seems an appropriate time to ask about opinions. So, what are your thoughts on the company? Do you like the work that they're doing, or do you think they're on the wrong track? Are you currently playing one or both of their games, are you a former player, or have you refused to play them for whatever reason?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What do you think of Cryptic? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosopinionsst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotdgthe-daily-grindtrek-onlineThu, 18 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Five reasons to play Aion (continued)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/19/five-reasons-to-play-aion-continued/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/19/five-reasons-to-play-aion-continued/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/19/five-reasons-to-play-aion-continued/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Continue reading Five reasons to play Aion (continued)

MassivelyFive reasons to play Aion (continued) originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionlaunchncsoftnew-titlesopinionsreasons-to-playtop-fiveSat, 19 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online's target audience (part 2)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/01/warhammer-onlines-target-audience-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/01/warhammer-onlines-target-audience-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/01/warhammer-onlines-target-audience-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Like I said before, Mythic screwed up royally in implementation. By broadening their appeal to too many people they diluted the quality of their feature set and in the process made some really odd design decisions (e.g., Let's ramp up this huge RvR campaign and then put a bunch of city PvE at the end of it - an attempt at balancing RvR and PvE content that failed abysmally).

What are the two biggest complaints leveled at WAR by ex-WAR players? One: The RvR endgame is meaningless, boring, and repetitive. Two: The exact same thing can be said about PvE - except all the way through.

How can you make RvR the main focus of your game without pissing off PvE folks and vice versa? You can definitely try and balance them 50/50, but let's be real here. Mythic can barely balance their classes, let alone entire aspects of an MMO. Let's also be fair -- it's a pretty damned hard task to achieve.

Make PvE gear 5% easier to get than RvR gear and you're going to start a civil war within your community. There's already latent animosity between both camps to begin with.

So, who is left playing WAR these days? Oddly enough, a friend and I were discussing this a few nights ago over the phone (which inspired this post by the way). We think the people playing WAR these days are made up of hardcore RvR folks who have had their fill of DAOC, other PvPers, Warhammer tabletop fans happy to experience the IP in a new medium, and a number of disgruntled ex-WoW folks (and other MMOs).

Those aren't actually bad audiences to work with and they can definitely be built upon. Target content to these players while fixing performance issues and WAR may start growing rather than holding steady or potentially even shrinking.

On the other hand, we feel these audiences are also prime candidates for a couple upcoming MMOs.

First, we have Aion. This is the next big RvR-focused WoW-clone (Yes, I said it!) coming to market. We think the Abyss concept will appeal to many WAR players interested in PvP because the combat is just as refined (maybe even more so) and the PvP is slightly more meaningful and hardcore. We also think it will appeal to many WoW players who choose to play on PvP servers.

Next, we have Warhammer 40K. Sure, it's a ways off yet, but we have a feeling this game will grab many WAR players who call themselves hardcore tabletop fans. It's worth mentioning that WH40K will also feature PvP and that it may even be more advanced, including vehicles and destructible terrain. That said, a lot can happen between now and release. It's risky business to bet on an MMO based on pre-beta feature lists.

WAR's biggest audience right now is made up of people interested in RvR/PvP, but we think many of these players could easily jump to one or several upcoming RvR/PvP MMOs in search of their next thrill. The titles include: Aion, Global Agenda, Mortal Online, Earthrise, and maybe even Darkfall once it releases its NA-1 server. Options for PvPers are growing in the MMO genre.

MassivelyWarhammer Online's target audience (part 2) originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mythic-entertainmentopinionspvervrwarwarhammer-onlineWed, 01 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinions flare from ex-NCsoft employees about TR's closing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/opinions-flair-from-ex-ncsoft-employees-about-trs-closing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/opinions-flair-from-ex-ncsoft-employees-about-trs-closing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/opinions-flair-from-ex-ncsoft-employees-about-trs-closing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As Tabula Rasa approaches its end days, the anger, sadness and I-told-you-so sentiments are rising up more than ever. This week marks an interesting occasion where two former NCsoft employees each wrote detailed stories on their own perspectives regarding the sci-fi MMO's downward spiral.

First we have this post by Adam Martin, former CTO of NCsoft Europe, where he explains his views on why the game failed. Granted, he admits he wasn't actually on the TR team, but he was privy to the internal mailing lists and information about the game from Alpha to launch. As a response, we have a post from Scott Jennings, who sums it all up fairly well with this statement: "The biggest failing, though, was that it was in development about twice as long and spent twice as much as it had any right to. And that's what promotes it, in this snarky outside blogger's view, from understandable failure to extinction-level company-slaying train wreck."

Update: Although Adam Martin's post states that he was the European CTO at the time, we get word from NCsoft that he was never the CTO for NCsoft Europe. He was the Lead Programmer.

MassivelyOpinions flare from ex-NCsoft employees about TR's closing originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closuredestination-gameslum-the-madncsoftncsoft-europeopinionsperspectivescott-jenningstabula-rasatrFri, 16 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[As the Worlds Turn: Our Inheritance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/as-the-worlds-turn-our-inheritance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/as-the-worlds-turn-our-inheritance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/as-the-worlds-turn-our-inheritance/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ask any gamer, hardcore, softcore, nerdcore ... whatever, if they have a particular game in their gaming history that holds a special place in their heart. Their eyes might swell with tears as they wax romantic over the joys, perils, challenges and victories of their beloved game from days gone by. Then they'll stare off into space as their mind swims in fond memories. Maybe not but you get the picture. Most of us have a special game from our past. For me, and for many out there, that game was Diablo II.

I could go on and write an entire piece dedicated to the grandfather of action RPGs. It was and still is that good. Wait ... still is? The game is nearly eight years old and still finds relevance in today's crowded, over-hyped, multi-billion dollar gaming industry full of failed blockbusters and strange game announcements? How can this be? I'll tell you why: Diablo II presented a game full of refined mechanics and gameplay that is still being used today and while it wasn't a true MMO, many of those conventions are used in modern-day MMO development. The mechanics were good but after eight years can some refinement and advancement be too much to ask? As much as I loved, and still love, Diablo II, I'm also anxious to move on.

Continue reading As the Worlds Turn: Our Inheritance

MassivelyAs the Worlds Turn: Our Inheritance originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>as-the-world-turnsdungeon-runnersfeaturedgame-designgame-mechanicshellgate-londonmythosopinionsFri, 21 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ron Paul march in Azeroth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/ron-paul-march-in-azeroth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/ron-paul-march-in-azeroth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/02/ron-paul-march-in-azeroth/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Here's video via Gamepolitics.com of the march that took place last night in Azeroth (a.k.a. the World of Warcraft) to support Ron Paul, a Republican candidate for the president of the United States. We originally reported on this topic over at WoW Insider (which, if I may say so, was one of the reasons so many people showed up), and we'll have more coverage of the march last night there soon.

But while Gamepolitics gives a good man-on-the-scene writeup, they also avoid the real question here: does real-world politics belong in a world like Azeroth at all? No one questions it when politicians show up in Second Life-- in fact, the few Second Lifers I know take it as a badge of honor that their world is important enough to host those folks. And certainly there are places where politics don't belong-- on WoW's roleplaying servers, discussion of the real-world is a no-no.

But let's not forget that we players aren't just avatars in a game- we're real people with opinions of our own to express, whether they be political or otherwise. Whether they should have or not (and many players on Whisperwind, where the rally took place, where extremely unhappy with the queues and congestion on their server last night), they expressed those opinons last night.

Update: Looks like Paul also wins the presidential naming race.

MassivelyRon Paul march in Azeroth originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>azerothexpressionopinionspoliticalrallyrealreal-worldroleplayingron-paulsecond-lifevirtualworld-of-warcraftWed, 02 Jan 2008 20:30:00 EST