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[Warhammer Online: Three years later]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/warhammer-online-three-years-later/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/warhammer-online-three-years-later/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/warhammer-online-three-years-later/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

WAR
To this day, I don't know what quite came over me when I decided to throw my chips into the blogging scene to cover Warhammer Online, eight months before the game launched. Like many of you, I had been a long-time reader of MMO blogs, but I was intimidated at trying my hand at joining in, perhaps elevating these writers to the status of legendary wordsmiths who penned unequaled prose in our lifetimes.

Or I just didn't want to be one of a thousand World of Warcraft bloggers who dominated the scene. Just a thought.

In any case, it was a terrific decision to do so on my part. I found that I had a passion not only for MMOs but for talking about them, and I loved connecting with other writers and readers and players, which happens with blogging. I've been asked from time to time if I regret picking Warhammer Online as the game that I latched onto for a couple of years, and I always say no -- no regrets. The game was fun, but the coverage was an unparalleled rollercoaster of anticipation, hype, fun, speculation, promise, disappointment, and above all, ideas. Wonderful, flawed, captivating ideas.

I haven't touched WAR since 2010, so perhaps I'm not the best source for the latest and greatest in the game. But what I do have to offer is a humble blogger's perspective on what went right, what went wrong, and why I'm ultimately happy that WAR came into being and is chugging along on today, its third anniversary.

Continue reading Warhammer Online: Three years later

MassivelyWarhammer Online: Three years later originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybears-bears-bearsbetablizzardddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinedyefeaturedguild-warshypelaunchliving-citiesliving-guildslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromark-jacobsmythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpublic-questsserversskavensquig-herdertabula-rasathird-anniversarythree-yearstome-of-knowledgetrinketswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 18 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic: Wrath of Heroes gets rid of 'all the boring crap' of WAR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mythic-wrath-of-heroes-gets-rid-of-all-the-boring-crap-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mythic-wrath-of-heroes-gets-rid-of-all-the-boring-crap-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/mythic-wrath-of-heroes-gets-rid-of-all-the-boring-crap-of-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wrath of Heroes
Mythic is taking an interesting approach in promoting its new MOBA, Warhammer Online Wrath of Heroes -- it's throwing Warhammer Online under the bus. At the Wrath of Heroes reveal panel at PAX, the Mythic team talked up its new project as something that Heroes' parent game is not.

The team found that people liked WAR but couldn't justify investing in it, so Mythic wanted to create an experience for them. The team took what it saw as one the more popular aspects of WAR -- the scenarios -- and modified them to pit three teams (six on each) against each other for quick, 15-minute gameplay sessions. On death, you can choose any hero in your arsenal so you can adjust to whatever your team needs.

This game format allowed the team to strip away the parts of the game it saw as unnecessary. "We went, you know what? If you play the MMO, we give you all this cool equipment on your adventure, and it's a neat thing to do, but let's just get rid of the boring crap and give people cool [stuff] to wear," Paul Barnett said.

Citing the accumulation of multiple -- and sometimes quite situational -- skills over the course of "748,000 hours of grinding," Barnett said that his team got rid of this approach by focusing on only five skills per hero in Wrath of Heroes. He thinks that the small incremental progress of skills and skill effects in Warhammer Online is "dull" and instead extolls Wrath of Heroes for picking the best skills, effects and armor so that players don't have to worry about getting all of them.

You can watch the full reveal panel of Wrath of Heroes after the jump.

[Thanks to Joris for the tip!]

Continue reading Mythic: Wrath of Heroes gets rid of 'all the boring crap' of WAR

MassivelyMythic: Wrath of Heroes gets rid of 'all the boring crap' of WAR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6v6v6bioware-mythiccarrie-gouskosdark-age-of-camelotdeveloper-panelea-mythicf2pfree-to-playgamespotgearmobamythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpaxpax-prime-2011reveal-panelthrow-under-the-buswarwarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-wrath-of-heroeswrath-of-heroesTue, 06 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-climaxs-warhammer-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-climaxs-warhammer-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/12/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-climaxs-warhammer-onli/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Let's begin with a little personal history. Back in 2008, I decided to get into the blogging scene by jumping on board the latest MMO hotness -- in this case, Warhammer Online. As I was growing increasingly tired of World of Warcraft, WAR seemed to offer a refreshing alternative: a darker world full of brutal PvP and awesome new ideas. So I joined the elite ranks of bloggers (hey, stop laughing so hard) and spent the better part of two years jawing about Mythic's latest fantasy project.

And while Warhammer Online was, in my opinion, a solid product, it certainly failed to live up to the extremely high expectations held by both the development team and the players. No matter how it turned out, I really enjoyed talking about WAR, especially in the days leading up to its launch.

One of the first articles I ever wrote for my blog WAAAGH! dealt with the first attempt to bring Warhammer Online into the MMO genre (as a fun aside, it was one of the first times I got my name on Massively!). It's a "what if?" tale that's tantalizing to consider -- an entirely different studio, Climax Online, creating a much darker version of Warhammer than we've ever seen online. The tale of the game's rise and fall (and subsequent rise and fall again) captivated me, and I wanted to expand my old article as part of our recent series into exploring MMOs canceled before their launch.

So what if Climax had brought Warhammer Online to bear? Would it have eclipsed Mythic's vision or been its own animal? Hit the jump and let's dive into the pages of ancient history!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicadventureraltdorfcharacter-designclassclassesclimaxclimax-groupclimax-onlineDavid-Nicholsondwarvese3e3-2003e3-2004ea-mythicelvesfeaturedgames-workshopgamezonehalflingsKarl-Jefferylive-eventsmagicmaster-assassinmicrosoftmythicmythic-entertainmentogresoverlordpaul-barnettplaystationpvpreiklandrobin-dewsrogueseasonssegasilent-hillskill-basedsunglassessypwaaghwarwar-is-everywherewarhammerwarhammer-fantasywarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-age-of-reckoningwarriorweatherweather-eventsTue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: A new Ultima MMO might be in the works]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/rumor-a-new-ultima-mmo-might-be-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/rumor-a-new-ultima-mmo-might-be-in-the-works/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/rumor-a-new-ultima-mmo-might-be-in-the-works/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The modern era of MMOs began in 1997 with a little game called Ultima Online, and it's fair to say that the genre would look very different if that first example hadn't gone live. These days, outside of a dedicated playerbase and stalwart fans, the game is no longer at the center of attention. But there are a lot of players who still remember it fondly as an introduction to the field... and there are hints here and there that it might be time for a sequel to the game that started it all.

It's a known fact that Paul Barnett has been hinting at a secret project that is quite possibly an RPG, and it's also no secret that Electronic Arts is recruiting for an MMO programmer at its Redwood location. The company has also stepped up defending its trademarks for the Ultima franchise of late, which leads to a bit of interesting speculation. Could it be time for Ultima Online to get a sequel and a new generation of players, a project which has been started and stopped twice before? There's surely something happening behind the scenes...

MassivelyRumor: A new Ultima MMO might be in the works originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioware-mythiceaelectronic-artsmythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpossible-sequelrumorrumorsspeculationultima-onlineultima-online-2uouo2Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Game developers are not rock stars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/the-soapbox-game-developers-are-not-rock-stars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/the-soapbox-game-developers-are-not-rock-stars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/the-soapbox-game-developers-are-not-rock-stars/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Take a moment to think of your single favorite game developer. Is this person your favorite because of his talent? Maybe he made a game that influenced you growing up, or he has a charming personality for interviews. Whatever the reason, we probably all have our favorite game developers whom we hold on a pedestal of greatness.

But did this one person make the game entirely by himself? Did Sid Meier write every line of code for the Civilization games? Did Richard Garriott draw every texture in Tabula Rasa? No, of course they didn't, but their names are right there on the box, showing ownership. Despite my own fanboy appreciation of certain devs, the title of this article says it all. With a few notable exceptions, those who make our favorite games make up a collective group of talented people who come together under proper leadership and design guidelines to create something that keeps us entertained for hours/weeks/months/years.

So why do we pick out one or two and treat them like rock stars?

Continue reading The Soapbox: Game developers are not rock stars

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Game developers are not rock stars originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcliffybcommunity-teamculteaelectronic-artsepic-gamesfeaturedGhostcrawlergreg-streetlate-night-with-jimmy-fallonmythicopinionpaul-barnettrichard-garriottrock-starsrockstarssid-meiersoapboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentspotlighttabula-rasatalk-showthe-soapboxturbineTurbine-Entertainmentwarhammerwarhammer-onlineTue, 15 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Who's your dev crush?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/the-daily-grind-whos-your-dev-crush/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/the-daily-grind-whos-your-dev-crush/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/the-daily-grind-whos-your-dev-crush/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In our tiny part of the pop culture world, players seem to be as absolutely fascinated with the people and personalities at work behind their favorite games as they are with the games themselves. These developers are, for all intents and purposes, the celebrities of the MMO world, and as such, are subject to much scrutiny and intense feelings.

I've noticed that the mere mention of a famous developer, community manager or industry leader on Massively is often enough to set off a huge string of comments that typically revolve around how we feel about the person rather than what he or she is currently doing. For example: Paul Barnett. Bill Roper. Richard Garriott. Raph Koster. Eliot Lefebvre. Right now, there are dozens of readers who have skipped the remainder of this article to provide a reactionary comment down below.

But for the rest of you, I'd like to know: Who is your "dev crush"? Which developer do you follow most closely? Which one do you believe in the most? Who excites you with his or her work? If you had to have just one developer's babies, whose genes would be most welcome in your household? (OK, that last bit is probably too much, but you get the idea.)

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Who's your dev crush? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-ropercrushdev-crushdeveloperdevelopersdevseliot-lefebvreopinionpaul-barnettRaph-Kosterrichard-garriotttdgthe-daily-grindThu, 26 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Prognosticating the future of MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/prognosticating-the-future-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/prognosticating-the-future-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/prognosticating-the-future-of-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Barring Ouija boards, magical leprechauns and time-traveling DeLoreans, it's pretty much impossible to predict the future -- but that doesn't stop people from trying, no sir. In a recent "The State of the MMO in 2010" over at Eurogamer, Jim Rossignol chats with Paul Barnett (EA Mythic), Colin Dwan (Fallen Earth) and Torfi Frans Olafsson (EVE Online) in an attempt to pin down where MMOs stand as of now, and where they're likely to go.

The article begins by stating that the defining line surrounding what is and is not a MMO has become blurred, and will only become more so in the future. Whether we like it or not, different payment models, server types and even genres (such as sports MMOs) have broadened the definition of the genre. Many folks are worried that F2P titles and "quasi-MMOs" like FarmVille may trigger the end of traditional subscription-based MMOs.

Continue reading Prognosticating the future of MMOs

MassivelyPrognosticating the future of MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardccpcolin-dwanea-biowareea-mythiceurogamereve-onlinefallen-earthfarmvilleicarus-studiosjim-rossignolmagical-leprechaunsmythicpaul-barnettthe-old-republictortorfi-frans-olafssonworld-of-warcraftWed, 21 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion: Picking your class by personality, not numbers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/aion-picking-your-class-by-personality-not-numbers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/aion-picking-your-class-by-personality-not-numbers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/aion-picking-your-class-by-personality-not-numbers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


MMO players come in all shapes and sizes and boast a variety of personality traits. Picking a race, class, and faction combination in your favorite MMO can sometimes give an insightful look at the player behind the keyboard. At least, Paul Barnett thinks so: "Most of the people I've met who like Dwarfs basically look like Dwarfs."

That may be true because I'm a pretty tall and lean person and I hate playing Dwarves. Then again, my MMO history includes playing a number of Kobolds in Dark Age of Camelot and Goblins in Warhammer Online, so I could just be really strange.

While browsing the Aion community forums, we came across an interesting post. One of the board members has written up a quick and quirky guide for choosing one of the game's eight classes based on one's personality. Obviously, numbers and stats play a huge factor in making class decisions for many players, but this could be a more healthy approach.

At the very least, you will gain a better understanding of the kinds of people playing these classes, which could give you a strategic advantage when you run into them on the battlefield.

MassivelyAion: Picking your class by personality, not numbers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionclass-choiceclassesdark-age-of-camelotnc-westncsoftpaul-barnettpersonalitypersonality-traitswarhammer-onlineMon, 29 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview with Real Time Worlds' David Jones]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/19/interview-with-real-time-worlds-david-jones/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/19/interview-with-real-time-worlds-david-jones/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/19/interview-with-real-time-worlds-david-jones/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Back in April we were starting to worry about APB because we hadn't seen or heard anything new about the game in a while. Thankfully, the information is starting to flow again due to E3 and an impending "early 2010" release date. GamesIndustry recently caught up with Realtime Worlds' Creative Director, David Jones and he had a lot of interesting things to say.

You won't learn anything earth-shattering about APB, but this interview gives us a good look at one of the leading forces behind the MMO (darn that pesky label). Given the global economic downturn, David feels his studio needs to focus now more than ever because there's not much chance of raising more venture capital. He's also very happy about the publishing partnership with EA because he feels they'll be able to help build APB a strong marketing presence at retail. Maybe the loaning of Paul Barnett is icing on the cake?

For all of you hoping for closed beta, you might be waiting a little longer since APB is still in an internal testing phase. For all of you worrying about a F2P/RMT business model, your fears can probably be eased since David feels that an online distribution strategy is "maybe pushing the envelope too far" for APB.

MassivelyInterview with Real Time Worlds' David Jones originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbdavid-jonese3-2009eagamesindustry.bizinterviewpaul-barnettreal-time-worldsFri, 19 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2009: Massively's day 3 roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/e3-2009-massivelys-day-3-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/e3-2009-massivelys-day-3-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/e3-2009-massivelys-day-3-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,


We've completely zerg rushed E3 2009, attending press events, demonstrations and sure, hitting some parties as well. But we've also gone out and interviewed the people behind the games that will be arriving on the MMO scene in the next year and we've got a lot to tell you in the coming days.

As the constant hustle of E3 2009 came to a close yesterday and the swarm of game journos scatters, now is when we really shift into high gear; Massively's content over the next few days will feature loads of info and interviews fresh from E3. We'd say to keep your eyes open for it, but honestly you won't be able to miss it. For now though, here's a quick roundup of yesterday's coverage:

Still hungry? We've also put together galleries for these MMOs after the jump:

Continue reading E3 2009: Massively's day 3 roundup

MassivelyE3 2009: Massively's day 3 roundup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-spiritsall-points-bulletinapbcrimedungeon-fighter-onlinee3-2009ether-saga-onlinefantasyfree-to-playjade-dynastymassively-event-coveragemassively-hands-onmmo-industrypaul-barnettperfect-worldperfect-world-internationalroundupstar-wars-the-old-republicsuicide-girlsswtorvideoFri, 05 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2009: APB gets the Paul Barnett hype treatment]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/e3-2009-apb-gets-the-paul-barnett-hype-treatment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/e3-2009-apb-gets-the-paul-barnett-hype-treatment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/e3-2009-apb-gets-the-paul-barnett-hype-treatment/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


At E3 this entire week, EA is promoting their biggest and brightest new titles at their enormous booth in the LA Convention Center's South Hall. This includes two titles we're excited about: SWTOR and APB. To help promote APB yesterday, EA's Paul Barnett got the crowd hyped up for the game with some free t-shirts and a couple Suicide Girls to help toss them out to the audience.

On top of this, APB's Dave Jones was interviewed by Paul on the stage, and two short trailers were shown. The first one was basically what we saw last year, showcasing the amazing character customization options available in the MMO. Yet, we were also shown some in-game footage with characters created by the APB testing community basically, the new trailer we showed you earlier in the week). You can check out our shaky-cam footage of the event right after the jump below.

Continue reading E3 2009: APB gets the Paul Barnett hype treatment

MassivelyE3 2009: APB gets the Paul Barnett hype treatment originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbdave-jonese3-2009ealive-eventspaul-barnettrealtime-worldsvideoThu, 04 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Paul Barnett predicts the decline of future asset-heavy MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/paul-barnett-predicts-the-decline-of-asset-heavy-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/paul-barnett-predicts-the-decline-of-asset-heavy-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/paul-barnett-predicts-the-decline-of-asset-heavy-mmos/#commentsFiled under: ,

Mythic Entertainment's Creative Director for Warhammer Online, Paul Barnett, was recently interviewed by Ablegamers and had some interesting things to say about the current state and future of online gaming and asset-heavy MMOs.

To illustrate why he thinks online games are becoming much more mainstream, Paul uses a personal and generational example. His mother is hesitant to buy anything on credit because her generation believes credit is evil. Paul himself is wary of online purchases because of the potential for fraud and identity theft. His son, however, believes there is little difference between buying something online and buying something from the corner store.

He also talks about the iPhone generation and how he believes asset-light games that provide shorter bursts of fun are going to have the widest appeal moving forward because they're cheap, mobile, entertaining, and disposable.

Established asset-heavy games may not see a huge initial decline, but he does predict a decline in the start-up of these types of games because they are extremely costly and require large teams to make. They are also traditionally geared more toward a heavy investment of player time. If asset-heavy games are to continue successfully, Paul believes they'll have to allow for more flexible "time control."

[Via: When casual can get too casual]

MassivelyPaul Barnett predicts the decline of future asset-heavy MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 May 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>credit-cardfraudfutureiphonemythic-entertainmentonline-gamingopinionpaul-barnettwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 26 May 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Paul Barnett interviewed at length on Land of the Dead]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/paul-barnett-interviewed-at-length-on-land-of-the-dead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/paul-barnett-interviewed-at-length-on-land-of-the-dead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/26/paul-barnett-interviewed-at-length-on-land-of-the-dead/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you've got time on your hands and are interested in reading the ramblings of Mythic Entertainment's Paul Barnett, then we'd like to direct your attention towards an interview at MMOGamer. Topics range from PR offices to all sorts of details on how Warhammer Online is doing and it's upcoming Land of the Dead update. We'll warn you now, a good amount of the meaty information is dispersed among lots and lots of strange Barnettisms and stories. We hope you like stories.

Granted, there's a lot more off-topic discussion, but it's all strange and left field type stuff so at the very least we found it endearing and strangely entertaining -- especially the story of Paul's son and his epic rise to being is father's ultimate griefer.

On a final, but definitely the most interesting note, it turns out that an in-game model of Paul Barnett was once used to test all the death animations. We kind of wish that such a thing could be seen by the public, and are considering writing a formal letter of request, asking Mythic to think of our dear readers.

MassivelyPaul Barnett interviewed at length on Land of the Dead originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 May 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsland-of-the-deadmmogamermythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 26 May 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer's 1.3 (Land of the Dead) public test has begun]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/warhammers-1-3-land-of-the-dead-public-test-has-begun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/warhammers-1-3-land-of-the-dead-public-test-has-begun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/warhammers-1-3-land-of-the-dead-public-test-has-begun/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mythic just began rolling out phase one of their highly anticipated 1.3 patch (Land of the Dead) for Warhammer Online. This phase will focus primarily on combat and careers and the new expedition mechanic, so players won't actually be able to enter the new Tomb Kings zones just yet.

What's that saying; "Good things come to those who wait?" Keep telling yourself that - it will get you through the long and chilly desert nights.

This will be the fifth massive patch for WAR subscribers in 2009 and its contents rival any of the others. Just to name a few highlights, patch 1.3 will introduce The Land of the Dead, a new sigil system that replaces wards, additional keep upgrades, and additional career balance focusing on AoE and crowd control abilities.

Land of the Dead information came pouring out of Baltimore this week as Mythic was participating in Games Workshop's annual Games Day event. Our very own Colin Brennan was there and got plenty of juicy details, including a zone overview, hands on impressions, and interviews with Mark Davis, Josh Drescher, and Paul Barnett. He hasn't even posted everything yet, so keep checking in! The 1.3 patch is set to launch mid-June.

MassivelyWarhammer's 1.3 (Land of the Dead) public test has begun originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>games-day-2009games-workshopjosh-dreschermark-davismythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettsigilswarwar-1.3-patchwarhammer-onlineFri, 15 May 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Games Day '09: A moment with Paul Barnett and Josh Drescher pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/games-day-09-a-moment-with-paul-barnett-and-josh-drescher-pt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/games-day-09-a-moment-with-paul-barnett-and-josh-drescher-pt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/games-day-09-a-moment-with-paul-barnett-and-josh-drescher-pt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

So, I know this is on many player's minds. Is this going to replace city raid content?

Josh: No.

Ok then.

Josh: Well, I mean the short answer is no.

Paul: My answer is totally no.

"This is a long term, total commitment from our studio to our players and to our newer players coming along."
Josh: Long answer, I've been with Mythic for eight years. I was here before Camelot launched and we know what this type of content does to a greater RvR campaign. While the RvR campaign is certainly more diverse and larger in Warhammer than in Camelot, but we know pragmatically that by tying the content to the campaign and requiring success on the battlefield to gain access to this content, that success may push you towards capital city content. Even if RvR is not your focus and your focus is to get down into the dungeon, you're going to wind up working your way towards the capital city. It just happens organically, so we're really not concerned about that too much.

At the end of the day, if people end up deciding that they enjoy this content more than city capture, we never felt that we need to integrate the players into the game in one set, specific way. Personally, I really love scenarios over everything else. I don't have much time to play, so for me, 15 minute scenarios are the way to play. That doesn't mean I won't engage in RvR, but overall I get 15 minutes here, 15 minutes there, and scenarios will always be my core fascination.

But there are other people who like large-scale raid content, who don't like RvR or PvP. This is a great way to have them go down and get that Disney Land experience while running through well-thought out content, but there's also that added danger that at any moment enemy players can swarm in. Also, as Paul likes to say...

Paul: I don't like building fart balloons.

*Laughs*

Paul: It's like the extended cut of a great movie. You have the main core of the movie, but you also have that extended stuff. You can watch the main core of the movie, but if you really want to obsess and you really want to see all of the detail you can watch the extended cut. It's more of the same, but it's new and cool. That's what it is. The movie is still the movie, our game is still our game, regardless.

Ok, so, this is basically a small expansion, honestly. Where do you see Warhammer going from here?

Paul: Go straight, go straight, go straight, go straight. This is a long term, total commitment from our studio to our players and to our newer players coming along. Try it out, it's never going away, it's only going onwards and upwards.

Josh: I agree with Paul. Our boxed expansion schedule, such as it is, is probably going to mirror very closely to what we did in Camelot -- an alternating sequence of free expansions via patches and then boxed retail expansion content. Almost certainly you will see retail expansions in the near future, but you will certainly keep seeing free expansions as well.

"To go to a person at a time like this when unemployment is rampant, the economy is in the tank, and retirement funds have gone away and say, "Hey, can I have 10 to 15 dollars of your money every month to play my game?" is actually a pretty bold request."
We've always felt the relationship we, the developer, have with our players should be something more than just simple money extraction. At least 50 percent of it should be grateful generation of wonderful things for them to have for free.

All right. Now the hard question. 300,000 subscribers -- how do you guys feel about that? It's the number you started with, and it's the number you currently hold now.

Josh: There is no start and there is no now. Now, as a company, we're legally not allowed to comment on those numbers any further than what was reported, but we're very happy with the enthusiasm and continued dedication of people all over the world who have played Warhammer for the last nine months.

It's been a really difficult time not just for the games industry, but for everyone. To go to a person at a time like this when unemployment is rampant, the economy is in the tank, and retirement funds have gone away and say, "Hey, can I have 10 to 15 dollars of your money every month to play my game?" is actually a pretty bold request. So for people to come to us and say that the commitment we've shown and the game that we've built is worth that kind of display, we have nothing but thanks for those people. We are unbelievably grateful that they've stuck with us and we hope that this type of content that we've been developing for the last nine months is an indication of our dedication to our end of this type of interaction. They trust us to do this, and we're trying to make good on our end of it and bring great things to them consistently.

We are very happy with where the game is. We would obviously love to have more people try Warhammer, which is why we have the trial out...

Paul: Which you can download right now!

Josh: And we're very happy to continue on into the future. Also, this event is the last thing I'm allowed to do before I go get married. I'm very excited, I'm getting married next Saturday.

Paul: It's an exclusive for Massively!

Josh: I love you Aubrey, please continue marrying me. Put that in big bold letters. Breaking news: Josh loves Aubrey.

I will totally do that. Josh, Paul, thank you so much for your time!
The sands of the Tomb Kings are coming as the final release in the Call to Arms live expansion, the Land of the Dead approaches! Massively has your back with coverage from Mythic Entertainment at Games Day '09, so get your WAAGGGHHH ready for RvR mayhem as Massively re-arms for WAR!

MassivelyGames Day '09: A moment with Paul Barnett and Josh Drescher pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 May 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-to-armsdark-age-of-camelotdarkness-fallsgames-day-2009interviewjosh-drescherland-of-the-deadmarriagemarriage-proposalmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpvepvprvrscenarioswarwarhammer-onlineWed, 13 May 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Games Day '09: A moment with Paul Barnett and Josh Drescher (also, Josh loves Aubrey)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/games-day-09-a-moment-with-paul-barnett-and-josh-drescher-als/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/games-day-09-a-moment-with-paul-barnett-and-josh-drescher-als/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/games-day-09-a-moment-with-paul-barnett-and-josh-drescher-als/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Even with all of the excitement occurring at Games Day, Mythic's Paul Barnett and Josh Drescher still had a moment to sit down with us at Massively and talk a little shop about Warhammer's overall status, Mythic's future direction of the game, and why players should come back and experience the Land of the Dead.

But they're tricky folks, Paul and Josh! They even tried to turn the interview back around at us at some points! But we stayed strong for you readers, and were able to get some interesting answers out of them regarding Warhammer Online. Also, we have exclusive coverage that Josh indeed loves his fiancee, Aubrey. Yay marriage!

Interested in the full interview? Hit that link and read on!

Continue reading Games Day '09: A moment with Paul Barnett and Josh Drescher (also, Josh loves Aubrey)

MassivelyGames Day '09: A moment with Paul Barnett and Josh Drescher (also, Josh loves Aubrey) originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 May 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-to-armscurse.comdark-age-of-camelotdarkness-fallsfeaturedgames-day-2009interviewjosh-drescherjoystiqfeaturesland-of-the-deadmythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpvepvpraiders-of-the-lost-arkrvrthe-mummythe-rocktrapswarwarhammer-onlineWed, 13 May 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Apparently, the reaper likes to WAAGGGGHHHH!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/12/apparently-the-reaper-likes-to-waagggghhhh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/12/apparently-the-reaper-likes-to-waagggghhhh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/12/apparently-the-reaper-likes-to-waagggghhhh/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Here's something we never expected to put in the same sentence -- Blue Öyster Cult and Warhammer Online. Yes, you heard us completely correctly and this isn't some kind of hallucination.

Eric Bloom (a level 40 sorcerer on Ironfist, mind you) and fellow bandmate Richie Castellano went for a tour of the Mythic Entertainment offices back in March. What ended up happening after was not only a tour but also a step into the recording booth as they teamed up with Paul Barnett, Josh Drescher, and Brad Derrick to record "Kiss My Axe (While I Drink My Beer)!"

The song is a ballad dedicated to the dwarven slayer's ways of drinking, killing, killing, and did we mention drinking? If there's any man who doesn't fear the reaper, it's certainly a dwarven slayer.

Mythic is offering their song free for download over at the Warhammer Online main site.

[Via Giant Bomb]

MassivelyApparently, the reaper likes to WAAGGGGHHHH! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blue-oyster-cultbocbrad-derrickdwarven-slayereric-bloomjosh-drescherkiss-my-axemusicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettrichie-castellanoslayerwarwarhammer-onlineSun, 12 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Do developers consider disabled gamers enough?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/09/do-developers-consider-disabled-gamers-enough/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/09/do-developers-consider-disabled-gamers-enough/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/09/do-developers-consider-disabled-gamers-enough/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Have you ever stopped to consider the large percentage of gamers who are disabled? Do you think game developers consider this as well? In a recent article at MSNBC, the topic has been discussed as it pertains to the public's awareness of disabled gamers. "It doesn't take a whole lot," says Nissa Ludwig, a disabled gamer who was interviewed for the article. "I think if you save one life by changing an interface, you should get on that."

Mythic's Warhammer Online actually won an award last year for the AbleGamers.com 2008 Accessible Game of the Year for adding color-blind features, flexibility for those with mobile impairments and more. Mythic's Paul Barnett is sympathetic to the cause as he himself is color-blind, dyslexic and hearing-impaired. "Some people are, through no fault of their own, living a restricted physical life - on our world, you can fly, ride, get married, run, jump and swim," Barnett points out.

Continue reading Do developers consider disabled gamers enough?

MassivelyDo developers consider disabled gamers enough? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ablegamers.comaccessibilitydisabilitiesdisabled-gamersmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettwarwarhammer-onlineThu, 09 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC09: Paul Barnett and Jeff Skalski interview (part 3)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/gdc09-paul-barnett-and-jeff-skalski-interview-part-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/gdc09-paul-barnett-and-jeff-skalski-interview-part-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/gdc09-paul-barnett-and-jeff-skalski-interview-part-3/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Massively's very own Shawn Schuster had a chance to catch up with Warhammer Online Creative Director Paul Barnett and RvR Producer Jeff Skalski at GDC 2009. They chatted about the recent player (re)acquisition campaign, server merges, Land of the Dead, and much more.

What can we expect to see with the new Tomb Kings content?

Barnett: Crazy egyptians Warhammer style! It's like the Powerslave album cover by Iron Maiden has come to life in the Warhammer world. Tomb Kings are the dry undead, unlike the wet undead you get in the Empire like ghouls, zombies, and vampires. These are the dry undead, like mummies, skeletons, dusty bone giants, and liches. They're bringing their casket of souls and lots of sand with them. Players will see new developments on how PQs are done and an excellent system for how you get armor sets. We will have phenominal big dungeons in the same vein of Lost Vale (same team). End-level baddies like you wouldn't believe. They're doing things people haven't seen in these sort of games. Sequences where you go down corridors and encounter traps you will have to disable. You can then re-enable them to work against your enemies.

Skalski: This is our successor to Darkness Falls. We're pretty excited about it.

You really seem to support your fansites by interacting with them in interesting ways (e.g., sending them exclusive images on memory sticks or DVDs with cryptic timestamps). How did this idea come about and will it continue?

Barnett: There's definitely more to come and it has nothing to do with evil marketing either. All the efforts have been self-generated by our production team coming up with cooky and crazy ideas all by themselves. That said, marketing is great at knowing a good thing when they see it. They have jumped in on the new one we're about to do. It's an example of our internal love affair with the game and showing that to the players. What we're doing for Land of the Dead is going to be just as fun and silly. It one might have a bit of a marketing flavor because we've been given more leeway and support from them, but it's still coming from fanatical people in the company who are huge fans of the game.

MassivelyGDC09: Paul Barnett and Jeff Skalski interview (part 3) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdcgdc-2009interviewjeff-skalskimythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 31 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC09: Paul Barnett and Jeff Skalski interview (part 2)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/gdc09-paul-barnett-and-jeff-skalski-interview-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/gdc09-paul-barnett-and-jeff-skalski-interview-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/gdc09-paul-barnett-and-jeff-skalski-interview-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Massively's very own Shawn Schuster had a chance to catch up with Warhammer Online Creative Director Paul Barnett and RvR Producer Jeff Skalski at GDC 2009. They chatted about the recent player (re)acquisition campaign, server merges, Land of the Dead, and much more.

How have the server splits and now merges worked out for you?

Barnett: It has been good because the game is based around RvR - it's a critical mass game. WAR flourishes and blossoms when the game does things players want it to do, which is mainly group RvR combat. A decision was made early on to limit server queues by opening additional servers. It was right in the short term but caused caustic harm to critical mass over time. Servers with high populations had stronger retention and player enjoyment was much higher. In hindsight, we should have had less servers to start with.

Why do you think fans enjoy your Live Events so much?

Barnett: The live arcs are there to show that the game is alive and well, that we've got a dedicated team working on it, that we continue to make iterative improvements based on player feedback, and that we're willing to add new features at no extra cost. They just make the game feel better. In some cases it's us meeting past promises, and in other cases we're trying to develop and blossom the game's possibilities. We wrap them up in story arcs to give them a tone, feel, and texture.

What kind of feedback are you getting on the Slayer and Choppa?

Skalski: Everyone was extremely excited to see the Slayer. The best feedback came from people who enjoy playing simple roles in RvR - people who like to go into a fight with two axes and do lots of damage without worrying too much about a complex mechanic.

Barnett: Most people are going through the usual dial face of player response. Some people think they're underpowered. Some people think they're overpowered. Some people don't think they were ever tested in the first place. Some think they were tested well. The choppa is more powerful than the slayer. The slayer is more powerful than the choppa. All that kind of stuff!

MassivelyGDC09: Paul Barnett and Jeff Skalski interview (part 2) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdcgdc-2009interviewjeff-skalskimythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 31 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC09: WAR interview with Paul Barnett and Jeff Skalski]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/gdc09-war-interview-with-paul-barnett-and-jeff-skalski/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/gdc09-war-interview-with-paul-barnett-and-jeff-skalski/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/gdc09-war-interview-with-paul-barnett-and-jeff-skalski/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Massively's very own Shawn Schuster had a chance to catch up with Warhammer Online Creative Director Paul Barnett and RvR Producer Jeff Skalski at GDC 2009. They chatted about the recent player (re)acquisition campaign, server merges, Land of the Dead, and much more.

There has been a strong push to attract new and ex-players to Warhammer recently. Are we witnessing the rebirth of WAR?

Skalski: The title of our live expansion arc is Call to Arms and this has meaning both inside and outside the game. Outside, we have the recruit-a-friend program, free trial, and retrial. We are trying to make potential players aware of all the improvements we have made to performance, game mechanics, bugs, etc.. We are heavily focused on this free live expansion and have no immediate desire to release a boxed expansion.

Continue reading GDC09: WAR interview with Paul Barnett and Jeff Skalski

MassivelyGDC09: WAR interview with Paul Barnett and Jeff Skalski originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredgdcgdc-2009interviewjeff-skalskijoystiqfeaturesmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 31 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Come on in, the WAR is lovely]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/come-on-in-the-war-is-lovely/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/come-on-in-the-war-is-lovely/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/come-on-in-the-war-is-lovely/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Warhammer Online has plenty on their plate for the coming months. The whole Call to Arms expansion is bringing live events, two new classes, a brand new dungeon themed from the Tomb Kings, and plenty of changes and additions to RvR combat.

So what does creative director Paul Barnett and executive producer Jeff Hickman do on their spare time? Well they go to the New York Comic Con and film silly videos about Warhammer with MTV Multiplayer! While the video is amusing, the two also get into some of the nuts and bolts of WAR, including a few reasons why any player should give their game a try and what they're doing to make the whole experience better. Also, they have giant foam warhammers. You just can't turn down giant foam warhammers.

MassivelyCome on in, the WAR is lovely originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-to-armscomic-con-2009dwarf-slayerjeff-hickmanmythic-entertainmentnew-york-comic-con-2009orc-choppapaul-barnettrvrwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 17 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The WAR on Twitter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/the-war-on-twitter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/the-war-on-twitter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/the-war-on-twitter/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It seems that any game company that wants to get the word out about what they're doing, or simply to generate buzz, leverages social networking. Many companies are now using that diminutive yet potent power of Twitter and Mythic Entertainment is no different.

The WAR Herald has announced that it's now twittering updates on Warhammer Online hot fixes, dev blogs, and topics of interest to the WAR community in general. The WAR Herald isn't Mythic's only Twitter presence though -- both Paul Barnett and Josh Drescher have feeds as well, followed by a growing legion of Warhammer Online fans.
Warhammer Online Coverage Mythic has announced the first expansion to Warhammer Online! Check out the announcement itself, the two brand-new classes coming to the game, and the enormous new dungeon/zone slated for a few months away! Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyThe WAR on Twitter originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communityjosh-dreschermythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettsocial-networkingthe-war-heraldtwitterwarwar-heraldwarhammer-onlineMon, 16 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Huge Lands of the Dead update via WAR/Eurogamer dev chat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/huge-lands-of-the-dead-update-via-war-eurogamer-dev-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/huge-lands-of-the-dead-update-via-war-eurogamer-dev-chat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/huge-lands-of-the-dead-update-via-war-eurogamer-dev-chat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Eurogamer just hosted a live dev chat with Mythic Entertainment's Warhammer Online staff. Present in this conversation were Executive Producer Jeff Hickman, Senior Creative Director Paul Barnett, Senior Designer (careers) Rob Hinkle, and Live Producer Destin Bales.

Mythic staff elaborated on many parts of their game and business from launching in new countries, to the new Slayer and Choppa careers, and balance. Perhaps the biggest reveal was a plethora of new information about Lands of the Dead. They spilled the beans on a number of interesting details, including a live event leading up to LotD that will essentially be a huge Order vs. Destruction battle for who can gain early and exclusive access to the dungeon (for a limited time). This "RvR-gated ultimate sandbox" zone is expected to change hands nightly and will have content for smaller group sizes up to that of a warband (24 players). Paul Barnett elaborated on some similar mechanics to Darkness Falls from DAOC by saying LotD will have, "tokens, other loot methods, a wide level range, and the thrill of your enemy always breathing down your back."

Do yourself a favour and check out the entire dev chat log because there are so many more details than this!

MassivelyHuge Lands of the Dead update via WAR/Eurogamer dev chat originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dark-age-of-camelotdarkness-fallsdestin-balesdev-chatjeff-hickmanmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettrob-hinklervrwarwarhammer-onlineThu, 05 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the scenes with Paul Barnett, featuring a big surprise]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/30/behind-the-scenes-with-paul-barnett-featuring-a-big-surprise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/30/behind-the-scenes-with-paul-barnett-featuring-a-big-surprise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/30/behind-the-scenes-with-paul-barnett-featuring-a-big-surprise/#commentsFiled under: , ,


What do Joss Whedon-created television character Angel and Paul Barnett have in common? Well, apparently they've both undergone a spell that's changed them into puppets. Creepy. Well, it's also kinda cute too. Okay, fine, it's really cute, but we're only admitting it because Paul knows where we all live and now that he's a puppet with knowledge of sharp kitchenware, we really can't be taking any chances.

We've even got word from secret sources that this may not be the last time we see Paul in his true form. In fact, our informant has told us that it's possible we may see a reappearance in a certain podcast featuring particular productions.

Keep an eye out after the break...

Continue reading Behind the scenes with Paul Barnett, featuring a big surprise

MassivelyBehind the scenes with Paul Barnett, featuring a big surprise originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angelangie-kay-webbjoss-whedonjustin-webbmuppetmuppetsmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpuppetpuppetswarhammer-onlineFri, 30 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Comic-Con 09: Warhammer Online pulling out all the stops]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/comic-con-09-warhammer-online-pulling-out-all-the-stops/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/comic-con-09-warhammer-online-pulling-out-all-the-stops/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/comic-con-09-warhammer-online-pulling-out-all-the-stops/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Courtesy of Wlodi's Photostream at FlickrGet ready for WAR, comic geeks (it's a rule that geeks can call other geeks geeks)! Paul Barnett and Jeff Hickman of Mythic Entertainment will be leading a team of Warhammer Online developers and community managers to New York Comic Con '09 next weekend (Feb. 6-8), and by the looks of their ambitious schedule, it seems they really want to impress new and old fans alike. For a full list of NYCC events for the hardcore gamer, check out the official NYCC-09 gaming page.

Their booth (#1449) will be set up all weekend and should he a hive of activity where attendees can chat with the WAR team, mingle with other players, nab some sweet swag, and check out the latest WAR gear. Saturday, Feb. 7 will be their busiest day, starting with Jeff and Paul hosting a presentation chock-full of goodies about Call to Arms, Bitter Rivals, and the two new careers (Room #1A08 @ 11:15AM). This will be followed by poster signings at 2:30PM, a MMO Round Table discussion at 5:30PM (Room #1A24), and a Dev Meet & Greet at 9:00PM (Dave & Busters Time Square). Not to be outdone, Sunday, Feb. 8 will feature an RvR competition starting at 12:00PM where teams of nine will battle in a best two out of three elimination match. Premade characters will be provided and the winners will earn "awesome" in-game items and renown as the first official WAR RvR Tournament champions.

Further details below the cut...

Continue reading Comic-Con 09: Warhammer Online pulling out all the stops

MassivelyComic-Con 09: Warhammer Online pulling out all the stops originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jeff-hickmanmythic-entertainmentnew-york-comic-connyccpaul-barnettwarhammer-onlineWed, 28 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[This year's GDC offers a lot for MMO fans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/24/this-years-gdc-offers-a-lot-for-mmo-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/24/this-years-gdc-offers-a-lot-for-mmo-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/24/this-years-gdc-offers-a-lot-for-mmo-fans/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


A fan of MMOs? This year's Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco will have a lot to offer you. Every year GDC offers game developers and (by proxy) the gaming public an inside look at the way the industry as a whole is swinging. The Game Design track is, in this blogger's opinion, always the most interesting. 2009, above and beyond the average, is going to appeal to those of us with a love of online gaming. Two well-known MMO industry leaders will be speaking at the event. Those aside, there are numerous talks that fall well within the interests of folks who like open world environments and roleplaying combined.

Whether you're going or just reading coverage, you're definitely not going to want to miss Cruise Director of Azeroth: Directed Gameplay within World of Warcraft. Jeff Kaplan will talk about the guidelines and philosophies behind making the uber-popular game, and (tantalizingly) will be going into the evolution of Blizzard's quest design leading up to Wrath of the Lich King. The other big draw is going to be Making an MMO Based on a Beloved IP (Without Pissing Everyone Off), done by none other than Mythic Entertainment's Paul Barnett. Barnett will be speaking to the challenges of working with an established IP, as well as sharing humorous anecdotes from the years-long dev process. There are plenty more tantalizing events on the docket; be sure to check out the Cliff's notes at GameSetWatch.

MassivelyThis year's GDC offers a lot for MMO fans originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designdesign-trackgdcgdc-09jeff-kaplanmmo-industrypaul-barnettSat, 24 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WAR's new Zone Domination system in development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/18/wars-new-zone-domination-system-in-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/18/wars-new-zone-domination-system-in-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/18/wars-new-zone-domination-system-in-development/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Without a doubt one of the liveliest people we know of in the MMO industry, Paul Barnett, put out a YouTube video this week in celebration of his birthday, and brought Warhammer Online devs Jeff Hickman and Colin Shannon in for some updates on the game. Perhaps the most interesting thing revealed is WAR's new Zone Domination system which is currently in the works. It's intended to supplement Warhammer Online's realm-vs.-realm system by providing more compelling ways to capture zones. Hickman says, "If you can capture everything in a zone and hold it, claiming the Keeps and dominate that zone, then you have a very good chance of capturing the zone." Or, as Barnett summarizes, Zone Domination will give players more reasons for defending and holding objectives.

Colin Shannon also provides an update on the reduction of crashes in WAR, and there's (perhaps) a ray of hope mentioned at the end for having multiple items in the mail system. Check out the video embed below the cut for more on the state of the game, and what new features WAR players should be getting in a forthcoming patch.

Continue reading WAR's new Zone Domination system in development

MassivelyWAR's new Zone Domination system in development originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>colin-shannonfantasygame-mechanicsjeff-hickmanmailmail-systempatchespaul-barnettrealmrealm-vs-realmrealmsrvrterritorial-controlvideovideoswarwarhammer-onlineyoutubezone-controlzone-dominationSun, 18 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online's fortress changes begin rolling out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/warhammer-onlines-fortress-changes-begin-rolling-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/warhammer-onlines-fortress-changes-begin-rolling-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/warhammer-onlines-fortress-changes-begin-rolling-out/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Players had been experiencing some stability issues playing Warhammer Online's endgame Fortresses -- the bits before the capital cities -- until yesterday, when a new system went into place for the Phoenix Throne, Dark Crag, Vortex, and Darklands servers. This system is going to be rolled out over the coming days onto all of the game servers, which is a plan that smacks of cautiousness on Mythic's part. Or in other words, they're being wise and avoiding server imploding en mass.

So what's the big fix? Well, it's an implementation of a threshold system. What was happening before, is that Fortresses would get so full of players -- 500 or 600 of them -- that the entire thing would essentially crash for everyone. It was a big crash-a-thon. Now, when the player count approaches certain thresholds the game will start teleporting rank 35 and below players entering the fortress area into the nearest warcamp. Then, rank 37 players at the next threshold, before finally rank 39 at a final threshold. Mythic hasn't stated what the exact numbers are for each of these caps, but hopefully it's a high enough count that too many players shouldn't feel frustrated when they attempt to join in the battle and find themselves staring at a vendor or trainer.

This is just the first fix of what Jeff Hickman recently promised as one of many (see video above) that should be coming sometime in the future. And with the rapid-fire rate that past updates have hit the game, we have no reason to believe otherwise.
Warhammer Online Coverage WAR has gone 1.1! Check out our full coverage of the 1.1a patch, along with our interviews exploring upcoming content and the open RvR changes. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyWarhammer Online's fortress changes begin rolling out originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsfortressjeff-hickmanmythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpvpwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineThu, 08 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott wants to get back into fantasy gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/richard-garriott-wants-to-get-back-into-fantasy-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/richard-garriott-wants-to-get-back-into-fantasy-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/richard-garriott-wants-to-get-back-into-fantasy-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The impending closure and lack of expected success from Tabula Rasa is not going to deter Richard Garriott from giving the online gaming business another shot. In a recent interview with the BBC, Garriott expressed his intentions to get back into MMO business. "After 25 years at Origin, the last thing I wanted to make was yet another medieval fantasy game," he said. "Now, after a very interesting break, I'm keen to get back into the fray and work on a new game. Probably medieval fantasy and probably online; there's something very powerful about getting people together."

Also in this interview is a bit of insight from Warhammer Online's Paul Barnett into what 2009 may bring. "I expect to see some large studios go under and some big name titles fail," Barnett predicts. Whether this next year will see a fantasy MMO announcement from Garriott or Barnett's prediction of failure come true, you can't deny that it's an exciting time in the world of MMOs.

[Via Wired]

MassivelyRichard Garriott wants to get back into fantasy gaming originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009fantasygenrencsoftpaul-barnettrichard-garriottwarhammer-onlinewiredWed, 31 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic owns up to Warhammer Online contribution problem]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/06/mythic-owns-up-to-warhammer-online-contribution-problem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/06/mythic-owns-up-to-warhammer-online-contribution-problem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/06/mythic-owns-up-to-warhammer-online-contribution-problem/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


In a bid to make us all feel slightly uncomfortable while at the same time explaining the source of the Warhammer Online RvR contribution issue that players recently uncovered, Paul Barnett has posted a new video. The reason we say that the video makes a person slightly uncomfortable is because, well, we've just never seen a developer being wrist-slapped in person before. It's one of those wild things that we all assume happens, but are never privy too. Although really, you can feel the video's mix of "funny ha-ha" and "you're a twit" as you watch it.

So it's all mostly on the humorous side with Barnett starting off by explaining that a tiny piece of crazy code originally intended for Public Quests was supposedly removed from the game prior to ship. It turns out that wasn't true, and the code found its way into the RvR influence system only to muck up the whole game from it's cozy new home. Unfortunately, Mythic is only able to say that the patch fix is coming "soon" and leave us hanging until then -- hopefully "then" and "soon" end up being sometime this month.

Still, good on Mythic for owning up to the mistake It would've been easy enough for them to just fix the code quietly and move on, but they decided to be honest and upfront with the community instead. You can find Paul's video after the break, or catch Lum's lengthier breakdown of the video on Broken Toys.
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

Continue reading Mythic owns up to Warhammer Online contribution problem

MassivelyMythic owns up to Warhammer Online contribution problem originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcontributioneaelectronic-artsmythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettrvrwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineSat, 06 Dec 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Returning WAR classes detailed in newest production podcasts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/29/returning-war-classes-detailed-in-newest-production-podcasts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/29/returning-war-classes-detailed-in-newest-production-podcasts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/29/returning-war-classes-detailed-in-newest-production-podcasts/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


In this month's newsletter we get not one, but two production podcast videos from Mythic that discuss the Black Guard and Knight of the Blazing Sun careers. The downside is that they're not really the same type of animation-infused productions we've seen in the past. We're sure it's because everyone at Mythic is either working diligently on upcoming patches or taking a much needed break after launch. Either way, the videos do go into more detail about the returning tank classes than any of the recent text we've seen on the official Warhammer Online website. So if you're looking to learn more about things like mastery paths and how Paul Barnett interprets the classes, you should definitely give the videos a look.

We're looking forward to both the event and addition of two more tank careers to Warhammer Online. You can never have enough meat shields, after all.

MassivelyReturning WAR classes detailed in newest production podcasts originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-guardeaelectronic-artsknight-of-the-blazing-sunmythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettproduction-podcastwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineWed, 29 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic working on expansion and 'new-new classes']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/mythic-working-on-expansion-and-new-new-classes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/mythic-working-on-expansion-and-new-new-classes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/mythic-working-on-expansion-and-new-new-classes/#commentsFiled under: , ,


If you go to Paul Barnett's personal blog, you'll discover two enticing things. One, there's a lot of videos with him doing his thing in a pretty much unfiltered manner. And two, you can grab sneak peeks at upcoming Warhammer Online updates and fixes in general. Today Paul posted a video in where he flashes a sheet of paper filled with his thoughts on expansions and new careers, but not just one's we've heard of apparently. Nope, Paul quickly points out that these are "new-new careers" before Mr. Josh Drescher (also featured in the video) pulls the latch shut on that topic. Oh, how they love to tease us.

So now we're left the with a question: Are these new-new careers to possibly replace one of the old ones, or for an eventual expansion? We wouldn't be surprised if they were for both, honestly. Don't put it past Paul -- a man who just finished having a wonderful time playing D&D over the weekend -- not to have oodles of careers ideas written on pieces of paper. Check after the break for the latest video update.

Continue reading Mythic working on expansion and 'new-new classes'

MassivelyMythic working on expansion and 'new-new classes' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>careerdungeons-and-dragonseaelectronic-artsexpansionjosh-dreschermythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettwarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineTue, 28 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Check out the Warhammer rock anthem by Hamtoucher (Paul Barnett and others)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/01/war-rocksong-by-hamtoucher-feat-paul-barnett-and-others/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/01/war-rocksong-by-hamtoucher-feat-paul-barnett-and-others/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/01/war-rocksong-by-hamtoucher-feat-paul-barnett-and-others/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We're not exactly sure how to say this, so we're just going to come out and say it: The Warhammer Online guys are an odd if not lovable group. Some of them are so very odd/lovable that they've formed a group called Hamtoucher, who have put together a song and music video entitled "W.A.R Rocksong" that you really need to see and hear. You get to witness all sorts of madness like people performing strange dances, people dressed us in glam rock hair and face paint, people sneaking around in boxes and of course people being very excited for Warhammer Online. It wouldn't be complete without that last part, of course.

So we urge you to take a few minutes out of your day and give it a look. At worst, you'll be left with the uncomfortable feeling of having just watched several grown adults making silly dances and faces, while at best you'll also be left with that feeling -- only you'll really have enjoyed it! See it after the cut.

Continue reading Check out the Warhammer rock anthem by Hamtoucher (Paul Barnett and others)

MassivelyCheck out the Warhammer rock anthem by Hamtoucher (Paul Barnett and others) originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artshamtouchermythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettwarwar-rocksongwarhammerwarhammer-onlineWed, 01 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic releases trio of WAR launch day videos]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/mythic-releases-trio-of-war-launch-day-videos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/mythic-releases-trio-of-war-launch-day-videos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/mythic-releases-trio-of-war-launch-day-videos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


As busy as the Mythic folks have been gearing up for launch this week, they still took the time to have some fun and meet some fans. All of their antics have been recorded for your viewing pleasure, with the credits posing as a particularly entertaining -- if not lengthy -- video. Also, our hope is that Josh and everyone exposed to too much radio-frequency energy at least gain some kind of superpowers. There's a lot to watch between the three separate videos, but it's all fairly entertaining for any fan of the Warhammer Online guys. We hope they're starting to recover from launch day at least a little bit, but if these videos are any indication then they've only just begun.

MassivelyMythic releases trio of WAR launch day videos originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bannercreditseaelectronic-artsgamestopjeff-hickmanjosh-dreschermythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettsigningwarwarhammer-onlineFri, 19 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Barnett casts irreverence spell, Mythic pops damage control ability]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/barnett-casts-irreverence-spell-mythic-pops-damage-control-abil/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/barnett-casts-irreverence-spell-mythic-pops-damage-control-abil/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/barnett-casts-irreverence-spell-mythic-pops-damage-control-abil/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Long-time followers of Paul Barnett are likey familiar with his occasional misquotes of the past. If you've not paid much attention to the resident "Crazy British Bloke" of Mythic Entertainment, all you need to know is that he's a joyous, entertaining and sometimes abstrusely sarcastic fellow. However it's hard to take something like, "They [EA] know nothing about launching MMOs in Europe, unless it's spending lots of money closing them down I suppose." as purely sarcastic in nature. Still, we're all familiar with how text doesn't exactly convey tone and body language all too well. So we're willing to give Paul the benefit of the doubt here, as is Mark Jacobs who has recently said of the whole thing, "What Paul said about EA not knowing anything about launching MMOs: you know, Paul likes to exaggerate - of course EA knows things about launching MMOs. EA is responsible, certainly, for one of the most important MMOs of all time, and that was Ultima [Online]." Clearly Mythic is doing some damage control here, but on the eve of launch they can't really be blamed for it.

It seems that as great as Paul Barnett is for creatively directing a game (Warhammer Online is filled with bits of creative awesomeness) and helping to excite people about his game, he's also a double-edged sword that sometimes swings the wrong way. Regardless, we all love him for speaking his mind, even if it means that sometimes we all cautiously glance sideways at one another.

MassivelyBarnett casts irreverence spell, Mythic pops damage control ability originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsmark-jacobsmythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettwarwarhammer-onlineWed, 17 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online director expects three million subscribers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/warhammer-online-director-expects-three-million-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/warhammer-online-director-expects-three-million-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/warhammer-online-director-expects-three-million-subscribers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Warhammer Online Creative Director Paul Barnett said in an interview that he's (literally) betting that WAR will achieve one million subscribers within a year and three million at its peak. Apparently there's an office betting pool at Mythic about this subject. If Barnett's right, he stands to win ... wait for it ... $26. Wow. Enjoy your large pizza, man!

It's an ambitious bet. Even Barnett himself described it as "bullish." Time will tell if another word -- similar to that one but with a relocated "i" and an added "t" -- will be more appropriate. If all 1.5 million shipped retail boxes sell and there's close to 100% player retention after the first month (that last bit is very unlikely), the game will quickly be halfway to the end goal. But we know from past experience that significant attrition can be a problem.

The interview is full of other cocky statements, about World of Warcraft and other topics. If you're interested, grab yourself a grain of salt and start reading!

MassivelyWarhammer Online director expects three million subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betfutureinterviewmythicmythic-entertainmentnumberspaul-barnettpoolprojectionssalessubscriptionwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftWed, 17 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What makes Warhammer Online special, by Paul Barnett]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/what-makes-warhammer-online-special-by-paul-barnett/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/what-makes-warhammer-online-special-by-paul-barnett/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/15/what-makes-warhammer-online-special-by-paul-barnett/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In speaking with Mythic Entertainment's Paul Barnett, it's hard to misapprehend anything the man says. He's a guy with a forceful personality and a definite sense of 'go-get it done' spirit. It's exhausting just to watch him work, honestly, but also very engaging. In a conversation we had with the Creative Director via email Mr. Barnett offered up a few of his favorite things about Warhammer Online, things that he's noticed players have really responded to.

The man himself was kind enough to elaborate on these notes, for a feature encompassing the things that make WAR special. These are the things that Barnett has noticed players going ga-ga for, especially players that have jumped into MMOs in the past. From the Tome of Knowledge to little things like inventory management, check out the 11 things that make Warhammer the game it is today - in Paul Barnett's own words.

Gallery: Warhammer Online

MassivelyWhat makes Warhammer Online special, by Paul Barnett originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>favorite-thingsfeaturedgalleryhumormythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettwarwarhammer-onlineMon, 15 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch video of Warhammer's Barnett in his natural habitat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/14/watch-video-of-warhammers-barnett-in-his-natural-habitat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/14/watch-video-of-warhammers-barnett-in-his-natural-habitat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/14/watch-video-of-warhammers-barnett-in-his-natural-habitat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

G4's MMO-specific showcase, The MMO Report, can be a kind of entertaining show. This week, in honor of the rapidly-approaching launch of Warhammer Online, they're airing the first of a two-part special from Mythic's Virginia headquarters. If you're a fan of nature documentaries, there may be overtones of Steve Irwin's work here. "Crikey, looks like we've got a real live game designer here! Check out his man-dolls!"

More seriously, it's a great look at Barnett and the Warhammer team's philosophy background. Check out the video to see Paul describing the team 'finding the voice' of each race, the evils of marketing, and why his office is designed the way it is. The whole thing is embedded below the cut. Click on through!

Continue reading Watch video of Warhammer's Barnett in his natural habitat

MassivelyWatch video of Warhammer's Barnett in his natural habitat originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>humormmo-reportmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettwarwarhammer-onlineSun, 14 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The BigCast @PAX08 Special: Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/the-bigcast-pax08-special-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/the-bigcast-pax08-special-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/the-bigcast-pax08-special-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Massively's sister site Big Download has a very special podcast with Jeff Hickman, Paul Barnett and Josh Drescher from Warhammer Online. Of course, you probably don't need us to tell you that these fellows made for a very interesting podcast, but what you do need to know is that this edition of the BigCast is very NSFW, so it may be wise to wear some headphones. As it happens, there isn't much talk about Warhammer Online. Instead, you'll hear a lot Mr. Barnett asking everyone questions and the ever-informative Josh Drescher pitch a very wonderful radio ad for Bacon Salt -- because everything should taste like bacon.

As someone who was a part of this endeavour into the unknowns of German hotels, taxis and of course, Bacon Salt, this blogger can tell you it was a wild ride that you won't be remiss for listening in on.

MassivelyThe BigCast @PAX08 Special: Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bacon-saltbig-downloadbigcastjeff-hickmanjosh-drescherkyle-hornermythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpax-2008podcastwarwarhammer-onlinexav-de-matosWed, 03 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST