Massively

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[MMObility: What needs to happen to make the mobile market shine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/mmobility-what-needs-to-happen-to-make-the-mobile-market-shine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/mmobility-what-needs-to-happen-to-make-the-mobile-market-shine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/17/mmobility-what-needs-to-happen-to-make-the-mobile-market-shine/#commentsFiled under: Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, Mobile, Miscellaneous, MMObility

Life is Magic screenshot

I've recently written about what the MMO future might look like, but in case you haven't read that piece yet, I can sum it up for you. Essentially I see the new generation being so used to gaming and communicating on portable yet powerful devices that the sit-down keyboard and mouse setup might very well be doomed. Even major PC manufacturers and sellers are noticing the trend. Take a visit to your local Gamestop or equivalent game shop and you will notice that the chains have started to sell tablets as well.

All of this tablet gaming might wound the current style of MMOs. I suspect that within the next decade or two it will all come full circle back to massive three-dimensional worlds on tech that becomes even more powerful and common, so we have to look at what the mobile market can do currently to keep MMOs in the lineup.

Continue reading MMObility: What needs to happen to make the mobile market shine

MMObility: What needs to happen to make the mobile market shine originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angry birdsAngryBirdsbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedgoogleGPSingresslocation-basedmidgard-risingmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionorder-and-chaos-onlinephonesecond-lifesmartphoneVendetta-Onlinewords-with-friendsFri, 17 May 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Order & Chaos Online shakes things up with a major patch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/order-and-chaos-online-shakes-things-up-with-a-major-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/order-and-chaos-online-shakes-things-up-with-a-major-patch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/10/order-and-chaos-online-shakes-things-up-with-a-major-patch/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Patches, News Items, Mobile

Go ahead and make a joke about whether or not this would qualify as some sort of crusade related to immolation.

Order & Chaos Online is definitely trending a bit closer to the chaos side today. Gameloft's mobile MMO is getting a major patch to shake up a number of the game's systems, starting with the level cap rising to 70. That alone will shake up player expectations, but the addition of two new areas for players to explore is going to give fans plenty of new options on their way to that expanded level cap.

Not a fan? Well, then, none of that is going to matter to you. But you can get into the game easier than before, with the patch allowing new users to sign in via Facebook accounts. There are also more mounts, pets, and a beauty salon for changing your character's appearance. So there's plenty to enjoy, but if you're playing it on your phone, you should probably pull your car off to one side of the road before downloading. Otherwise you'll be causing entirely the wrong sort of chaos out of the game.

Gallery: Order & Chaos Online gallery

[Source: Gameloft press release]

Order & Chaos Online shakes things up with a major patch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapp-storeappsgameloftiphonemobilemobile-titlesorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-onlinepatchpatchesportable-gamesportable-mmosportable-titlestabletWed, 10 Apr 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Avabel Online is almost everything I dislike about mobile MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/mmobility-avabel-online-is-almost-everything-i-dislike-about-mo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/mmobility-avabel-online-is-almost-everything-i-dislike-about-mo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/mmobility-avabel-online-is-almost-everything-i-dislike-about-mo/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Mobile, MMObility

Avabel Online screenshot

The mobile MMO market is still so young and underdeveloped that it seems unfair to judge it too harshly. Calling it devoid of quality content is sort of like describing the dark days of early graphical MMOs, a time filled with games that were nothing but a grind wrapped in what we thought was a pretty package. In hindsight, those three-day waits and incredibly tedious levels were "fun" only when we consider that they were all we had to choose from.

The mobile market is about 80% crap as it is right now; this is true. I say that as someone who is a massive fan of the platform. For what it's worth, the rest of the standard MMO market is around 80% crap as well, but there are a lot more titles to choose from. Mobile has its star titles and wonderful developers, but when a game like Avabel Online pops up, I cringe at the possibility that an entire generation of gamers might grow up on such tedium.

Continue reading MMObility: Avabel Online is almost everything I dislike about mobile MMOs

MMObility: Avabel Online is almost everything I dislike about mobile MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcane-legendsavabelavabel-onlinebeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionorder-and-chaos-onlinephonesmartphonespacetime-studiosstar-legendsFri, 29 Mar 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Fifteen fun free MMORPGs for your tablet or smartphone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/mmobility-fifteen-fun-free-mmorpgs-for-your-tablet-or-smartphon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/mmobility-fifteen-fun-free-mmorpgs-for-your-tablet-or-smartphon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/mmobility-fifteen-fun-free-mmorpgs-for-your-tablet-or-smartphon/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Mobile, Casual, MMObility, Sandbox

Avabel screenshot

Mobile MMORPGs are still hard to come by. Sure, there are a ton of pseudo-MMOs and developers who claim to have created an MMO, but the fact is that persistence -- a key to defining what an MMO is -- is often gone from many of these games. I want to be able to log out of the game while the rest of the digital world goes on without me. Or better yet, and in the case of most MMORTS titles, I want to log out of the game and continue to have an effect on the world through trades, wars, or the fallout of diplomacy.

Even though the market is often bare, there are still quite a few MMOs out there. Many of them are fun as well! I know, I know, I am making it seem as though the smartphone or tablet MMO market is empty of all content, but the truth is that for its age, it's doing very well. There are more and more coming out all of the time, and hopefully I'll be there to cover them. In the meanwhile, enjoy a list of the specific titles that rest on my Nexus 7 3G tablet, just waiting to be played anywhere and any time!

Continue reading MMObility: Fifteen fun free MMORPGs for your tablet or smartphone

MMObility: Fifteen fun free MMORPGs for your tablet or smartphone originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcane-legendsavabelbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddark-legendsfeaturedgoogleingresskabamlife-is-magiclocation-basedmidgard-risingmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmonexus-7opinionorder-and-chaos-onlineparallel-kingdomparallel-mafiaparallel-zombiesperbluephonepocket-legendsRed-Robot-Labssmartphonespacetime-studiosstar-legendstabletthe-hobbit-kingdoms-of-middle-earthtibiaMEwarspear-onlineFri, 22 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny revisit: Order and Chaos Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/rise-and-shiny-revisit-order-and-chaos-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/rise-and-shiny-revisit-order-and-chaos-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/02/rise-and-shiny-revisit-order-and-chaos-online/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Video, Game Mechanics, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Mobile, Casual, Rise and Shiny

Order and Chaos Online screenshot

It's been over a year since I last officially looked at Order and Chaos Online. The funny thing is that when I reread my older article, I immediately notice how my experience has not really altered since then. I pretty much had the exact play experience. What has changed is my appreciation for much of what the game does. I am still impressed by certain parts and quite bored by others, but overall the presentation is where the mobile title shines.

There have been a few developments over the last year but not many. One of the biggest was the addition of mounts. I checked them out and basically spent my time between the two servers: one for Android players and another for iOS. I even struggled with streaming the game from my iPad!

Continue reading Rise and Shiny revisit: Order and Chaos Online

Rise and Shiny revisit: Order and Chaos Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanBlizzardf2pfeaturedfree-to-playGameloftgooglehands-onIOSipadjoymaxKnight-Agelivestreammassively-tvmobilenexus-7order-and-chaos-onlinerise-and-shinystreamtwitchtwitch-tvvideoWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 02 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny: Vendetta Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/26/rise-and-shiny-vendetta-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/26/rise-and-shiny-vendetta-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/26/rise-and-shiny-vendetta-online/#commentsFiled under: Sci-Fi, Video, EVE Online, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Casual, Rise and Shiny, Livestream, Sandbox

Vendetta Online screenshot

For the record, Vendetta Online has been in development since 1998 and launched an alpha in 2002. EVE Online was released in North America in 2003. So although it might be too close to call or lost in the foggy details of gamer's memories, it's safe to say that EVE Online did not invent space, spaceships, speedy space travel, trading, or ship-to-ship combat. Still, feel free to post fill the comment section with "EVE-clone," a common phrase that pops up whenever Vendetta Online is mentioned or shown.

Now that we have that out of the way, what is Vendetta Online? It's a multi-platform, twitch-based, science-fiction universe that offers free-form travel and character development. At least that's what I have read. So far in my time with the game, I have experienced only a smattering of what it seems to offer. I've traveled a lot, gunned down a few enemies, and read a lot of text. While I know I have touched but the tip of the iceberg, I still had fun this week. And yes, I pretended to "fly" my spacecraft by running through the house while playing on my Nexus 7 tablet.

And yes, I provided the WOOSH and BRAKKA BRAKKA sounds myself. (That's how you know it's space.)

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Vendetta Online

Rise and Shiny: Vendetta Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanccpeveeve-onlinef2pfeaturedfree-to-playGameloftguild-softwareguild-software-inchands-onlivestreammassively-tvorder-and-chaos-onlinerise-and-shinysci-fispacestreamtwitchtwitch-tvvendettaVendetta-OnlinevideoSun, 26 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Order & Chaos dropping subscription, adding PvP modes and mounts [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/08/order-and-chaos-dropping-subscription-adding-pvp-modes-and-mounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/08/order-and-chaos-dropping-subscription-adding-pvp-modes-and-mounts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/08/order-and-chaos-dropping-subscription-adding-pvp-modes-and-mounts/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Business Models, Patches, Previews, PvP, Free-to-Play, Mobile, Dungeons

Order & Chaos dropping subscription, adding PvP modes and mounts

Gameloft's mobile MMO is entering a new phase in its lifecycle. The studio announced that Order & Chaos is not only due for a major update, but is dropping its nominal subscription fee to make it completely free-to-play.

The update, which is slated to be pushed to iOS devices later this month, will contain important features for the pint-sized title. First up are PvP combat arenas, which come in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, and 4v4 varieties. Next is the addition of four new mounts to the game: two horses and two giant wolves. Finally, Gameloft is adding the second part of the Salien dungeon for hardcore adventurers.

Previously, Order & Chaos charged $0.99 a month or $2.99 for six months to access on top of the original app purchase price. Gameloft is also developing a spin-off title called Order & Chaos Heroes.

[Update: Gameloft contacted us to clarify that there is still a fee for the game's download, but there is no subscription fee and current players will pay nothing extra.]

[Source: Gameloft press release]

Order & Chaos dropping subscription, adding PvP modes and mounts [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeonf2pfantasyfree-to-playgameloftinfographicipadmobilemobile-mmomountmountsorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-heroesorder-and-chaos-onlinepatchpreviewpvpsaliensubscriptionupdateWed, 08 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Order & Chaos celebrates its first anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/01/order-and-chaos-celebrates-its-first-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/01/order-and-chaos-celebrates-its-first-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/01/order-and-chaos-celebrates-its-first-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Events (In-Game), Mobile, Anniversaries

Order & Chaos celebrates its first anniversary

Gameloft's hit mobile MMO, Order & Chaos: Online, has reached its one-year anniversary, and the studio is breaking out the goods to celebrate. To spread the joy, Gameloft is giving three months of game time, 25 runes, and a free gift box to all players.

There's plenty to do inside the game as well, as the anniversary update adds quests, pets, fireworks, mini-games, and a lottery to enjoy. Order & Chaos recently received an upgrade that allows it to be played over 3G as well as wifi and upgraded its graphics for the retina display on the most recent iPad.

The team also put together an infographic to show off the game's impressive numbers. According to the chart, over three million characters have been created, 831 million creatures have been slain, 35,500 guilds have been created, and 14 million messages have been sent.

Order & Chaos celebrates its first anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryfantasyfree-game-timegameloftgiveawayin-game-eventinfographicipadmobilemobile-mmoorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-onlinerunesFri, 01 Jun 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Order and Chaos Online developer discusses server-linking and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/order-and-chaos-online-developer-interview/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Interviews, News Items, Mobile, Community Q&A

Order and Chaos

In honor of the game's paper anniversary, Order & Chaos: Online producer Arnaud Bonnard took the time to do some Q&A with user-submitted questions about what is one of the biggest mobile MMOs available.

Arnaud shared some of the toughest parts of development, which were the pressure of creating a world vast enough to entertain players for months (and now years) and ensuring that everything was as stable and functional as possible from a technical point. He followed up by reliving the joy of a successful launch and the success that the game met with over time. He talked a bit about updates and DLC, which come out every one or two months and are generally still drawn from the original design document for Order & Chaos: Online, given that the world design was much bigger than could possibly fit into the game originally.

Bonnard also addressed the server separation between Android, iOS, and Mac devices: Not only would it be time-consuming to link all the operating systems, but such a system would mean that patches could only be deployed once every device was supported, which would be tricky and cause too many extra delays. As far as Order and Chaos' future is concerned, he's optimistic. There are new graphic features coming down the pipe as well as "lots of ideas for the game" as the company looks forward to another fantastic year thanks to fan support.

Catch all the intricacies of Bonnard's answers for yourself over at Gameloft.

Order and Chaos Online developer discusses server-linking and more originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arnaud-bonnardGameloftmac-mmomobile-mmoorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-onlineSat, 19 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gameloft bringing Order & Chaos Online to your Mac]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/gameloft-bringing-order-and-chaos-online-to-your-mac/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/gameloft-bringing-order-and-chaos-online-to-your-mac/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/gameloft-bringing-order-and-chaos-online-to-your-mac/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Business Models, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, Casual

Order & Chaos Online - Two avatars fighting

It's been nearly a year since Gameloft released Order & Chaos Online to iOS and Android devices. The mobile fantasy MMORPG migrated to Facebook later in the summer of 2011, and now it's coming to a full-scale Mac near you.

Gameloft has just published a new trailer heralding Order & Chaos as "the MMORPG for Mac," and the video says that the client will be available for downloading in the Mac App store before the end of the month.

Order & Chaos features two playable factions and four classes, and you can get a glimpse of the promotional clip after the cut.

[Source: Gameloft press release]

Continue reading Gameloft bringing Order & Chaos Online to your Mac

Gameloft bringing Order & Chaos Online to your Mac originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualf2pfree-to-playgameloftmac-mmomac-mmorpgmobileorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-mac-clientorder-and-chaos-onlinetrailervideoTue, 20 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The 16 MMOs in my pocket]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/mmobility-the-16-mmos-in-my-pocket/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/mmobility-the-16-mmos-in-my-pocket/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/mmobility-the-16-mmos-in-my-pocket/#commentsFiled under: Opinion, Free-to-Play, Browser, Mobile, Hands-On, Casual, MMORTS, Miscellaneous, MMObility

HTC Inspire picture

I have a smartphone that is pretty much filled to the brim with actual, functional, persistent MMORPGs. Some of them are three-dimensional romps through massive worlds filled with dungeons and dragons; others are representational browser-based games that work through the phone's native browser; and the rest are hardly nothing more than a few dots on the screen and impressionistic gameplay.

Still, they are MMOs. I love having access to them, and over the last year I have actually grown to love simple, clever design and basic artwork over almost anything else. Forget Guild Wars 2; we'll hear enough about that to make us choke. Sure, it might be a fun game, but I'm a tech guy from the Bizarro universe. I prefer to see how little tech I need to game with. I want to push the limits even lower.

Anyway, it's springtime here in Texas, so it's time to clean out all sorts of crap from my life. I organize all of my hundreds of songs, films, movies and art pieces and get my digital life in order as well. This process includes tweaking my current line-up of basic technology and downloading any updates for the games that exist on those devices. It's time to cull the weak and glorify the wonderful.

Continue reading MMObility: The 16 MMOs in my pocket

MMObility: The 16 MMOs in my pocket originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapplebeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddark-legendsdie2niteelemental-knights-online-the-worldempire-onlinefeaturedglitchHTC-inspireillyriadillyriad-gamesIOSiphoneMMObilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoOnLiveopinionorder-and-chaos-onlineparallel-kingdomperbluephonepocket-legendssmartphonespacetime-studiosstar-legendsstewart-butterfieldthe-infinite-blacktibiaMEtiny-specktraviantraviansVendetta-Onlinewarspear-onlineworld-of-midgardFri, 02 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The year in mobile]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/mmobility-the-year-in-mobile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/mmobility-the-year-in-mobile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/mmobility-the-year-in-mobile/#commentsFiled under: Screenshots, Interviews, News Items, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Mobile, Casual, MMObility

What a year, huh? We gamers have seen a lot of changes, but especially in the mobile market. New devices came and went, technologies spread out even further in the world, and MMO gaming established itself on the smallest screens possible. Of course, the mobile market is not as large as the standard MMO market, but it is definitely growing. As more devices appear, more players come to fill up the games.

Our phones are not what they used to be, even five years ago. They are now truly tiny and powerful computing devices that are always connected. A player can literally live all of his digital life on one small device. If we look at the laptop and netbook market, we see even more growth and power. All of these devices need games to play on them, and MMOs fit perfectly into the mobile lifestyle.

Click past the cut and I'll recap many of the best stories from Massively's mobile coverage!

Continue reading MMObility: The year in mobile

MMObility: The year in mobile originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedchromeconquer-onlineempire-onlinef2pfacebookfeaturedfleckfree-to-playftpGameloftglitchgraal-onlinehotdog-studiohphp-touchpadIOSipadiphoneMMObilitymobilenc-softOnLiveorder-and-chaos-onlinepocket-legendsself-aware-gamesshadow-citiesspacetime-studiosstar-legendsstewart-butterfieldtiny-speckworld-of-magicWorld-of-WarcraftyslandiaFri, 30 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Order & Chaos security compromised, accounts hacked]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/order-and-chaos-security-compromised-accounts-hacked/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/order-and-chaos-security-compromised-accounts-hacked/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/order-and-chaos-security-compromised-accounts-hacked/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, Mobile

Order & Chaos Online banner

Bad news for Order & Chaos Online players today. It would appear that the popular mobile MMO from Gameloft is suffering from some security issues resulting in a number of players' accounts being compromised.

The issue seems to be stemming from two major holes in the game's security. There is reportedly an exploit with Gameloft's website which allows players to change another player's password, and usernames and passwords are sent between the client and server in plain text, which makes it a breeze for anyone with the smarts to run interception. Hopefully these issues will be fixed soon, but until then, stay tuned in the event that more develops.

[Thanks to Andrew for the tip!]

Order & Chaos security compromised, accounts hacked originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfree-to-playgamelofthackhackedmobileorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-onlinesecuritysecurity-compromisesecurity-issuesWed, 19 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The rise of the browser]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/mmobility-the-rise-of-the-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/mmobility-the-rise-of-the-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/mmobility-the-rise-of-the-browser/#commentsFiled under: Opinion, Browser, Miscellaneous, MMObility

Over the last week I have been obsessing over Glitch, the new browser-based MMORPG brought to us by Tiny Speck. I will go into details of why in my Rise and Shiny column, but for now, let's just say that I think it is one of the greatest things I have come across in a long time. For the record, I was talking about Glitch before it was popular (that hipster cred should get my a free pair of glasses in Glitch!) and was excited about starting this column because of games like Glitch.

In short, I knew that the browser market was huge, and I knew it was only going to grow bigger. Yes, I know what you're thinking, and yes I am claiming that we are starting to see the end of the heavy-duty client and demand for expensive hardware and upgrades. It's a big prediction, but click past the cut and let me explain.

Continue reading MMObility: The rise of the browser

MMObility: The rise of the browser originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galactica-onlinebeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedChromeBooksclub-penguinDofusearth-eternalf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpglitchgoogleillyriadjagged-alliance-onlinekultanmilmoMMObilityorder-and-chaos-onlinepuzzle-piratesrunescapespiral-knightsstar-legendsstar-trek-infinite-spaceufo-onlinewakfuFri, 07 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: What makes a good mobile game to me]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/mmobility-what-makes-a-good-mobile-game-to-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/mmobility-what-makes-a-good-mobile-game-to-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/mmobility-what-makes-a-good-mobile-game-to-me/#commentsFiled under: Business Models, Opinion, Mobile, Casual, Humor, Miscellaneous, MMObility

Fleck screenshot

Over the time I have been exploring mobile gaming, especially since I have been writing this column, I've discovered exactly what I like and dislike about the genre. Mobile MMOs are the tiniest niche within the greater world of MMOs. Some would say that MMOs are even a tiny corner of gaming in general. While I don't quite agree, I would say that explaining my column to random game shop employees or curious friends is quite the challenge.

"You write about games... on your phone?"

"Yes, massively multiplayer games."

"Huh?"

Luckily there are many new ones that offer a much more robust gaming experience. I can proudly show people examples of games like Order and Chaos Online, Star Legends or Illyriad. Of course, I sift through many poor examples before I get to the good ones. So let's take this opportunity to discuss what I think makes for a good game. Click past the cut and feel free to add your ideas in the comments section!

Continue reading MMObility: What makes a good mobile game to me

MMObility: What makes a good mobile game to me originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanfarmvillefeaturedfleckillyriadmafia-warsMMObilitymobilemobile-mmoorder-and-chaos-onlineouter-empiressmartphonestar-legendstibiaMETue, 30 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: August 15-21, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/mv-guide-august-15-21-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/mv-guide-august-15-21-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/mv-guide-august-15-21-2011/#commentsFiled under: Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

Drakensang Online -- MV Guide

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During livestream events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's scheduled for this week!

Continue reading MV Guide: August 15-21, 2011

MV Guide: August 15-21, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aftershockbigpointblizzardchampions-onlinecryptic-studiosdark-orbitdrakensang-onlinefeaturedgameloftgunshinelivestreammv-guidemv-tvnadirimorder-and-chaos-onlinesupercelltwisted-tribeWorld-of-WarcraftwowMon, 15 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Order & Chaos Online now available on Facebook]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/order-and-chaos-online-now-available-on-facebook/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/order-and-chaos-online-now-available-on-facebook/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/order-and-chaos-online-now-available-on-facebook/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, Browser, Mobile, Casual

Order and Chaos is branching out from its iOS roots, as Gameloft has brought the mobile MMORPG to the Facebook social networking platform. The title is free-to-play through level 10, at which point users will need to fork over Facebook credits in lieu of a subscription fee. A Gameloft press release details the pricing structure as follows:

1 day: 1 FB Credit
1 month: 10 FB Credits
3 months: 20 FB Credits
6 months: 30 FB Credits

If you're wondering, 50 Facebook credits equals approximately $5.00, so you're looking at a pretty sweet deal when it comes to accessing a game that has been labeled the mobile equivalent of World of Warcraft. Order and Chaos features four races (Elves, Humans, Orcs, and Undead), as well as over 1000 skills, 2000 unique equipment items, and 500 quests.

Order & Chaos Online now available on Facebook originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedf2pfacebookfantasyfree-to-playgameloftmobileorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-onlinepress-releasesocial-networkingThu, 21 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Order and Chaos Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/03/rise-and-shiny-recap-order-and-chaos-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/03/rise-and-shiny-recap-order-and-chaos-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/03/rise-and-shiny-recap-order-and-chaos-online/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Video, Previews, Opinion, Mobile, Hands-On, Humor, Hands-On (Massively's), Rise and Shiny

I'd like to start this article off by giving Gameloft, publisher of Order and Chaos Online, a lot of respect. Tons of respect. Oodles of respect. It seems to be a company that gets an idea (or borrows one) and just does it. While so many people are talking about designing and creating for the mobile gaming world, Gameloft has busily cranked out scores of high-quality titles. Yes, many of those titles bear remarkable resemblance to other non-mobile titles, but let's be really honest here: Modern MMO design is not really chock-full of original ideas. In fact, the lack of of daring design is what drove me to the indie and mobile markets. Both of those markets are new enough, or small enough, that they take chances.

Gameloft's games generally work, as well. Its shooters might be slightly on rails, and its RPGs might be pretty linear, but all of its attempts at hitting the mark add up to a lot of profit and a lot of successful shots. The company has more good games than bad. Anyway, if the major publishers aren't going to take the time to make a decent mobile port or morph of their best titles, Gameloft has shown that it is more than willing to. I generally like that.

Not surprisingly, the company did a fantastic job of making a portable, enjoyable World of Warcraft with Order and Chaos Online. Click past the cut and I'll tell you what I thought about it.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Order and Chaos Online

Rise and Shiny recap: Order and Chaos Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanfeaturedGameloftgilfors-taleshtcHTC-inspireIOSipadlivestreammobilemobile-mmoorder-and-chaos-onlineriftWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 03 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: June 27 - July 3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/mv-guide-june-27-july-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/mv-guide-june-27-july-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/mv-guide-june-27-july-3/#commentsFiled under: Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of games to take a look at. During Livestream events, you can participate in the live chat to learn about the game, ask questions, and spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, Livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's scheduled for this week!

Continue reading MV Guide: June 27 - July 3

MV Guide: June 27 - July 3 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-of-godscrypticfeaturedflorensiafrogsterlivestreamlivestreamingmv-guidemv-tvorder-and-chaos-onlinepets-vs-monstersromrunes-of-magicstar-trek-onlinestoMon, 27 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What payment model should mobile MMOs adopt?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/the-daily-grind-what-payment-model-should-mobile-mmos-adopt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/the-daily-grind-what-payment-model-should-mobile-mmos-adopt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/the-daily-grind-what-payment-model-should-mobile-mmos-adopt/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Business Models, Culture, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Daily Grind, Mobile, Miscellaneous

Right now, two of the biggest mobile MMOs cling to radically different payment plans. Pocket Legends offers up the core gameplay for free with a heavy reliance on microtransactions, while Order & Chaos Online charges a (small) monthly fee to play.

The problem is that gamers who might be OK with either subscriptions or microtransactions when it comes to MMOs on the big screen balk at treating these little screen versions the same way. The question is whether gamers will be more comfortable getting the first taste for free and paying small charges on top of that or signing up for a monthly fee and expecting subscription-level service thereafter.

What do you think? If MMO studios are to make any money off the mobile market, how should they go about doing it? What would you be comfortable paying for a reasonably good game, assuming that you'd play a mobile title?

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!

The Daily Grind: What payment model should mobile MMOs adopt? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelf2pfree-to-playmobilemobile-mmoopinionorder-and-chaos-onlinepayment-modelpayment-planpocket-legendssubscriptiontdgthe-daily-grindMon, 27 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: City of Eternals]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/rise-and-shiny-recap-city-of-eternals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/rise-and-shiny-recap-city-of-eternals/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/rise-and-shiny-recap-city-of-eternals/#commentsFiled under: Betas, Screenshots, Opinion, Hands-On, Humor, Rise and Shiny, Livestream

City of Eternals is somewhat of an enigma to me. I've heard of it off and on through the last few years. I've seen it before, and it doesn't seem as though it has changed much, if at all. I am familiar with it just because I have been covering games for a long time, yet I've never really checked it out. Sure, I poked my head into it through Facebook once or twice, but to be honest, I didn't really like what I saw. I am all about independent, different-looking, or not-so-pretty games... heck, if I weren't, I'd have nothing to play but bloated "AAA" grindfests.

But there's just something about the skinny-jean, pleather-wearing vampire scene that I cannot stand. My wife is into True Blood, the campy, vamp-heavy, naked-people festival that shows on the HBO network, but at least the show has fun with it and builds up interesting characters. City of Eternals seems to be stuck in that cheesier area of vampire fandom, though.

Still, I played it over the last week and started to enjoy it a bit, for a few different reasons. Click past the cut and I'll tell you about it.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: City of Eternals

Rise and Shiny recap: City of Eternals originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedcity-of-eternalscoef2pfeaturedflashflash-basedfree-to-playftphboipadlivestreammobileohaiorder-and-chaos-onlinerunescapeskinny-jeanstrue-bloodvampirevampiresvideovideosWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 26 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Fifty games for the mobile lifestyle]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/mmobility-fifty-games-for-the-mobile-lifestyle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/mmobility-fifty-games-for-the-mobile-lifestyle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/mmobility-fifty-games-for-the-mobile-lifestyle/#commentsFiled under: Anarchy Online, Asheron's Call, Wurm Online, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Browser, Casual, Free Realms, MMObility

I like lists. Lists help keep my candy-coated brain functioning. I see so many games, devices, and developers that I need to write things down periodically or become lost. Not so long ago I made a list of 25 games for your shiny new laptop, but I wanted to update it with other devices as well. I'd like to clarify the devices I have, though, especially since it was brought to my attention that a lot of players use laptops as their primary gaming machines. When I refer to a laptop, it is far from a gaming machine and could not run games like EverQuest II or Age of Conan.

So here are some stats: I have an HTC Inspire, an iPhone 3GS, an iPad, a Phenom Triple-core PC desktop with an Nvidia 9800 card, six gigs of ram and onboard sound. My laptop is an HP G62 with an AMD Athlon II P340 dual core processor, three gigs of ram and an AMD graphics chip built in. I also have a more powerful gaming PC, but that is often referred to as "the wife's machine" around here, and it is so packed with her items that I rarely touch it. So most of these games can be run on their native devices, and if they are meant for PC, probably on netbooks as well. When I'm playing on netbooks, resolution is often the major issue. Some games just will not fit on the tiny screens without some slight modding.

Anyway, click past the cut to see the list. The first 11 are my favorites, the ones that I play often, if not every day. The rest are in no particular order, so keep that in mind as well. Remember that this year is going to be an incredible one for mobile, thanks to the new games I found at E3. So this list will change!

Continue reading MMObility: Fifty games for the mobile lifestyle

MMObility: Fifty games for the mobile lifestyle originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mystical-landadventurequest-worldsAnarchy-Onlineasherons-callatmosphirbattlestar-galactica-onlinebeau-hindmanccpcity-of-eternalsClone-Wars-Adventurescrowns-of-powerdark-orbitdark-orbit-gamesdie2niteDofusdomain-of-heroesdragon-fabledungeon-blitzeden-eternaleve-onlineeverquestf2pfeaturedfleckfree-realmsfree-to-playftpfusion-fallgilfors-talesglitchgunshineillyriadkingsisle-entertainmentlinkrealmsmabinogiMapleStorymilmoministry-of-warmiramagiaMMObilitymobilemonkey-questmonster-forestnadirimNexonorder-and-chaos-onlinepets-vs-monsterspirate-galaxypocket-legendspockie-ninjapoptropicapuzzle-piratesrunescapeshin-megami-tensei-imagine-onlineSOEspiral-knightsThreeRingstravianswakfuwizard-101World-of-WarcraftzentiaTue, 21 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Order & Chaos Online rakes in $1 million in first 20 days]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/order-and-chaos-online-rakes-in-1-million-in-first-20-days/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/order-and-chaos-online-rakes-in-1-million-in-first-20-days/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/order-and-chaos-online-rakes-in-1-million-in-first-20-days/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, News Items, Mobile

Gameloft's iOS MMORPG Order and Chaos is reporting gains of over $1 million in revenue during its first 20 days of availability. The game itself has drawn many comparisons to World of Warcraft (even by our own Beau Hindman) but brings the genre to iOS-enabled devices for added mobility. Order & Chaos runs on a subscription model, with three months included in the $6.99 application purchase cost.

Gameloft's senior VP of publishing Gonzague de Vallois is clearly content with the game's success. "We are pleased to know that our customers have embraced our innovative business model, and we are anxious to further enrich the gaming experience with this first update, which is eagerly anticipated by our fans," he says. The aforementioned update is said to include new quest content and server transfer services, amongst other features. The game is available on the Apple Store, and more information can be found on the official forums.

Order & Chaos Online rakes in $1 million in first 20 days originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 May 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1-milliongameloftgonzague-de-valloisiosmobileoacorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-onlineTue, 31 May 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Order and Chaos online bring potential to the market]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/mmobility-order-and-chaos-online-bring-potential-to-the-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/mmobility-order-and-chaos-online-bring-potential-to-the-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/03/mmobility-order-and-chaos-online-bring-potential-to-the-market/#commentsFiled under: New Titles, Opinion, Browser, Mobile, Casual, Humor, Miscellaneous, MMObility

As soon as I saw the trailer for Order and Chaos Online, I knew it would at least sell very well initially. Would the World of Warcraft-clone (note the first-time use of the phrase I normally despise) also sell beyond its three months of free time given out with the client purchase? Would players really want to subscribe to a game that is a simple clone of one of the most accessible MMOs in existence?

I think they would, simply because it is a mobile version. The mobile market should have taught us these lessons already. It is a market of different players -- and play sessions -- than we might be familiar with when sitting down in front of our PCs. It doesn't need to be a seperate beast, however, and it can be enjoyed as an extension of the standard PC market. In fact, call me a convert. I paid for and downloaded Order and Chaos Online as soon as I could. Will I sub past the initial three free months? I don't know, but let me tell you why I think the game and the company matter.

Continue reading MMObility: Order and Chaos online bring potential to the market

MMObility: Order and Chaos online bring potential to the market originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbeau-hindmanbrowserfast-and-furiousfeaturedGameloftHaloiphoneMMObilitymobileorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-onlineWorld-of-WarcraftTue, 03 May 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Order & Chaos Online available in Canadian App Store [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/order-and-chaos-online-available-in-canadian-app-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/order-and-chaos-online-available-in-canadian-app-store/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/26/order-and-chaos-online-available-in-canadian-app-store/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Business Models, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Mobile

We took a brief look at Order & Chaos Online last month courtesy of a trailer on the game's Facebook page. Now, it looks as if the mobile World of Warcraft knockoff could be coming to an iOS device near you in the very near future.

Touch Arcade is reporting that Gameloft has released the pocket MMORPG to the Canadian App Store, a move the publication says is "standard operating procedure for a wide-scale beta of sorts." Apparently other mobile dev outfits have used the Canadian market as a barometer both for how their games will be received and as a testbed for necessary tweaks.

Gameloft has set Order & Chaos' price point at $6.99, which includes three months' worth of subscription time. You read that right: It's a sub-based mobile game, with single-month rates of $.99 while three-month and six-month packages go for $1.99 and $2.99 respectively. Head to Touch Arcade for more details.

[Update: The game is now available in the U.S. market as well!]

Order & Chaos Online available in Canadian App Store [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebusiness-modelsfantasygameloftiosipadiphoneipod-touchmobilemobile-mmoorder-and-chaosorder-and-chaos-onlinepocket-mmosubscription-basedtouch-arcadeTue, 26 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iOS MMO commercials draw attention]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/ios-mmo-commercials-draw-attention/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/ios-mmo-commercials-draw-attention/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/ios-mmo-commercials-draw-attention/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Video, New Titles, Free-to-Play, Casual, Miscellaneous

As our own Beau Hindman knows well, mobile MMOs are on the verge of taking off in a big way, and now they have the commercials to prove it.

Pocket Legends, the hit iOS and Android MMO from last year, may be the first mobile online RPG to release a nation-wide commercial. The ad, which features a high-schooler with a not-so-embarrassing secret in his pocket, will air on G4, Cartoon Network and Comedy Central, to name just a few venues.

As Pocket Legends is often described as "World of Warcraft in your hand," it's kind of ironic that developer Gameloft is also making pretty much that. Gameloft is renowned for releasing thinly disguised copies of hit games, so it stands to reason that it would take a crack at the reigning champion. The studio just released an online teaser for Order & Chaos Online on its Facebook page, and it's hard not to see the inspiration-slash-knockoff.

You can check out both commercials after the jump!

Continue reading iOS MMO commercials draw attention

iOS MMO commercials draw attention originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comedy-centralcommercialcommercialsg4gameloftiosiphoneipodipod-touchmobile-mmomtvorder-and-chaos-onlinepocket-legendsspacetime-studiosteaserworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 22 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST