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[Battle.net Balance boots up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/battle-net-balance-boots-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/battle-net-balance-boots-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/battle-net-balance-boots-up/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Battle.net
Diablo III may not be out yet, but that's no good reason not to be filling up your virtual coffers for the day that it hits the streets! Blizzard has thrown the switch on Battle.net Balance, activating its online payment service that allows players to charge up their Battle.net funds to purchase various Blizzard game services.

The new Balance system can be used to buy World of Warcraft game time (although you can't set up a recurring subscription with it), in-game pets and mounts, paid account services in WoW such as character transfers, digital copies of Blizzard titles, and the opportunity to buy and sell items on Diablo III's auction house. It's important to note that not all regions will be able to participate in Diablo III's real-money transactions, however.

Once real money has been funneled into Battle.net Balance, it cannot be converted back into cash. Blizzard does state that in some regions, players will have an option to get cash back on Diablo III auction sales via PayPal. The company also mentioned that there is a cap on how much any player can have in his or her Balance account and that there are potentially region-specific expiration dates for Balance funds.

MassivelyBattle.net Balance boots up originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netbattle.net-balancebattlenetd3diablo-3diablo-iiidiiigame-timemicrotransactionsmountmountspaypalpetpetsreal-money-tradingreal-money-transactionsrmtsubscriptionsvirtual-walletworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 07 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's Battle.net Balance boasts big business]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/blizards-battle-net-balance-boasts-big-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/blizards-battle-net-balance-boasts-big-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/blizards-battle-net-balance-boasts-big-business/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Battle.net
Choo choo -- the Blizzard Micotransactrain is leaving the station! Whether or not you're aboard with Blizzard's increasing fixation on monetizing all aspects of its games, this train is certainly picking up steam. Its next station is called Battle.net Balance, and with it comes a whole new paradigm for the Blizzard empire. (Many apologies for using the word "paradigm.")

In effect, Battle.net Balance is a virtual wallet where players can purchase -- or "charge up" according to Blizzard's parlance -- points to then spend on items and services in World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and elsewhere. Diablo III players who earn Battle.net currency in-game can save those points through the service to spend later. The system can also be used to pay for WoW gametime.

However, the system comes with an important caveat: Once you've converted real-world money into Battle.net Balance, there's no getting it back as cash. So if you've got plans to make a living playing Diablo III, you might want to think again (although "certain regions" will be able to cash out via PayPal).

Battle.net Balance is heading our way in the near future, and if this affects your game, you might be interested to read the informative FAQ that goes into more detail.

MassivelyBlizzard's Battle.net Balance boasts big business originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle.netbattle.net-balancebattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcurrencyd3diablo-3diablo-iiidiiimicrotransactionsmicrotransactrainpaypalreal-money-tradingrmtuniversal-currencyworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 09 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Bloodline Champions gets a revamp]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/not-so-massively-bloodline-champions-gets-a-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/not-so-massively-bloodline-champions-gets-a-revamp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/19/not-so-massively-bloodline-champions-gets-a-revamp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
Welcome to Not So Massively, our weekly roundup of the top news from popular multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) and other multiplayer online games that aren't quite MMOs. Published every Monday, the column covers games such as League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth, Rise of Immortals, Bloodline Champions and more.

The big news for MOBA fans this week is the release of Bloodline Champions' colossal Dawn of the Relics update, which has breathed new life into the impressive indie title. Rise of Immortals reveals details of its first post-launch Immortal Trovoc this week, and he's a great big freakin' dragon. In addition to releasing a champion spotlight on Riven, Riot Games this week published new information on how minions will feature in League of Legends: Dominion's point-capturing gameplay.

Blizzard revealed this week that PayPal will be handling sales in Diablo III's controversial real-money auction house. In preparation for opening the D3 beta to the public, Blizzard also released a series of new class pages and a Diablo III skill calculator. Fans of the Tribes series will be glad to know that its online multiplayer sequel Tribes: Ascend has officially started accepting applications to join the upcoming closed beta.

Skip past the cut for details of this week's biggest news from the world of MOBAs and other online games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Bloodline Champions gets a revamp

MassivelyNot So Massively: Bloodline Champions gets a revamp originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionauction-housebetabetasbloodline-championsdiablodiablo-3diablo-iiidiablo-iii-betafeaturedhi-rez-studiosleague-of-legendslolmobanewsnot-so-massivelynsmonline-gameonline-gamespaypalpetroglyphrise-of-immortalsrmtroitribestribes-ascendvideoMon, 19 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Study finds that 75% of online gamers purchase virtual goods]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/21/study-finds-that-75-of-online-gamers-purchase-virtual-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/21/study-finds-that-75-of-online-gamers-purchase-virtual-goods/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/21/study-finds-that-75-of-online-gamers-purchase-virtual-goods/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Are you one of the steadfast, stalwart gamers who absolutely refuses to shell out money on cash shops, microtransactions and virtual services apart from subscriptions? If so, you're in the minority -- a study by VGMarket showed that three out of every four online gamers purchased a virtual good in the past year. This shouldn't come as a surprise, however.

The survey isn't strictly indicative of MMORPG gamers; it was taken from over 2,200 players who were either part of PlaySpan Marketplace, Facebook, or purchasers of Ultimate Game Cards. Still, the results are fascinating, as a whopping 64% admitted to spending money on cash-shop items at least once a month, with 9% going so far as paying for virtual goods on a daily basis.

Other statistics from the survey are equally interesting. PC gamers spent an average of $37 a year on virtual goods, and PayPal is by far the most popular method of payment. Oh, and the most-purchased good? In-game currency. (There, that shouldn't be too controversial, right? Right?) You can read the full survey results over at VentureBeat!

MassivelyStudy finds that 75% of online gamers purchase virtual goods originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictionbar-graphs-are-sexycash-shopfacebookgold-buyinggold-sellingin-game-currencyitem-shopmicrotransactionspaypalplayspan-marketplacermtsparkle-ponysparkleponysurveyultimate-game-cardventurebeatvirtual-goodsvirtual-servicesWed, 21 Jul 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Confessions of a gold scammer and identity thief]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/confessions-of-a-gold-scammer-and-identity-thief/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/confessions-of-a-gold-scammer-and-identity-thief/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/19/confessions-of-a-gold-scammer-and-identity-thief/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"We have met the enemy and he is us." The player identified as "Patrick" is not the malevolent monstrosity we'd like to see. Nor is he a victim of circumstance, at that. He acts for all the world like a perfectly normal gamer, and if you didn't know he'd scammed between $10,000 and $20,000 in a year of reprehensible behavior, you certainly wouldn't be able to guess. That's what makes a video interview with him, mirrored and annotated at PlayNoEvil and originally recorded by Marcus Eikenberry, so odd on many levels.

The full interview lasts thiry-eight minutes, which makes it a bit long for casual viewing. The article which mirrors the video notes some of the highlights, including when he almost breathlessly exhorts the moment he realized that there was nothing in PayPal's EULA that prevented him from not transferring his EVE Online account to a purchaser on Craigslist.

His rationalizing of the actions include the loss of his job and financial instability, even as he begins the interview explaining how he would scam players in both EVE Online and World of Warcraft for fun. His words are unsettling, but what makes them all the more eerie is the fact that without the foreknowledge... there's no way to tell his voice from any of ours. When you have the time, the whole interview is well worth looking at if you're at all interested in account security and the culture of scammers.

MassivelyConfessions of a gold scammer and identity thief originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-securityaccount-theftcon-manconfidence-gamecraigslisteveeve-onlinepatrickpaypalplaynoevilscammerscamsworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 19 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your preferred payment method?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/01/the-daily-grind-what-s-your-preferred-payment-method/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/01/the-daily-grind-what-s-your-preferred-payment-method/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/01/the-daily-grind-what-s-your-preferred-payment-method/#commentsFiled under: ,


Credit cards (including debit cards), Paypal, Microsoft Points, game-time cards. Every payment method has its positives and negatives. As a famous and profitable social-media personality, you probably have more dollars in your Paypal account than you do on your credit card. You can get a Paypal debit card for that, that you can use pretty much anywhere you'd use regular plastic.

Microsoft Points or game-time cards? They've got definite advantages - you can buy them when you've got a little extra cash in your account, and use them when you need them rather than getting awkwardly billed on the very day of the month your mortgage payment is due (two days before you get paid each month - oh, yes. We've been there!)

Given a variety of payment options, how would you prefer to pay for your MMOG subscriptions, if you had the choice?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your preferred payment method? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>credit-carddebit-cardgame-time-cardmicrosoft-pointspaypaltdgthe-daily-grindThu, 01 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online player loses USD 19,000 in shady virtual currency deal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/30/eve-online-player-loses-usd-19-000-in-shady-virtual-currency-dea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/30/eve-online-player-loses-usd-19-000-in-shady-virtual-currency-dea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/30/eve-online-player-loses-usd-19-000-in-shady-virtual-currency-dea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


The sci-fi game EVE Online is set apart from many other massively multiplayer online games by its economy. While there are currently problems with the game's market due to a serious exploit, the economy isn't getting reset anytime soon. The currency of EVE's virtual economy is the Inter Stellar Kredit (ISK). As in the real world, money can be power in EVE's 'New Eden' galaxy. Most online games built around a virtual economy will ultimately need to deal with the real money trading (RMT) issue -- either make it a bannable offense or support and regulate it in some way. CCP Games figured if RMT is happening whether they want it to or not, they may as well have some way to regulate it.

EVE Online has a few legitimate ways to bring real world money into the game. Game Time Cards (EVE Time Codes) can be converted to ISK without risk of getting your teeth banhammered in by CCP Games. They offer a secure way to sell game time to players where neither party can be scammed, and more recently a way to turn game time into an item (PLEX) that can be sold on the open market in-game. When a player buys that item, he or she extends their account subscription. The upside for some players is that they can actually pay their subscription fees in the ISK they've earned in-game, for others it enables them to buy a faction battleship or a number of other virtual items.

But... some people just go too far with all this, and buy ISK in huge amounts. Even worse is doing so outside of the EULA-safe methods. This was the case with an EVE player in Denmark, who paid 100,000 Danish Krones (the rough equivalent of 13,500 Euros or USD 19,000) for currency from a shady ISK seller outside of the secure system, and was ultimately left with empty pockets, even after the case ended up in court.

Continue reading EVE Online player loses USD 19,000 in shady virtual currency deal

MassivelyEVE Online player loses USD 19,000 in shady virtual currency deal originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbusiness-modelsccpccp-gamesdenmarkeconomyeveeve-onlineforumsgoldiskisk-sellerlegalmmo-industrypaypalreal-money-tradingrmtscamsci-fishadyvirtual-currencyvisawotlankorTue, 30 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dungeon Runners now accepts Paypal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/18/dungeon-runners-now-accepts-paypal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/18/dungeon-runners-now-accepts-paypal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/18/dungeon-runners-now-accepts-paypal/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Just when you thought NCsoft's Dungeon Runners just couldn't get any better, they break out with a new way to pay. Now, Paypal is an option when paying for your premium membership. Of course the free-to-play option is still available, but they just make it so enticing to get that premium membership with extra storage space, better items and freedom from ads.

This Paypal usage does have some restrictions, of course. It only applies to those products purchased from the PlayNC Store and NCcoin purchases. It's also important to note that Paypal is not a payment option for any recurring subscription fee payment plans, only for the premium membership itself.

MassivelyDungeon Runners now accepts Paypal originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dungeon-runnersnccoinncsoftpaypalpremium-membershipFri, 18 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayNC store expands payment options by adding PayPal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/plaync-store-expands-payment-options-by-adding-paypal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/plaync-store-expands-payment-options-by-adding-paypal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/plaync-store-expands-payment-options-by-adding-paypal/#commentsFiled under: , ,

NCsoft wants to make it easier for their PlayNC shoppers looking to buy one or more of the following MMOGs in their stable: Tabula Rasa, CoX, Guild Wars, and other digital-boxed goods. They've gone so far they are now accepting PayPal as a payment option. PayPal has a variety of different payment and transfer methods linked to one's PayPal account. The new payment option is only available for digital code purchases and not NCcoin or subscriptions. Support for Euros and British pounds will be added tomorrow.

The pay-to-download business is booming, more and more MMOG companies are taking advantage of alternative non-credit card payment options. It sure beats driving down to the local big-box store.

MassivelyPlayNC store expands payment options by adding PayPal originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscredit-carddigital-downloaddungeon-runnersguild-warsmoneynccoinncsoftpay-to-downloadpayment-optionspaypalplayncplaync-storetabula-rasaTue, 01 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An interview with Geoff Iddison of Jagex]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/an-interview-with-geoff-iddison-of-jagex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/an-interview-with-geoff-iddison-of-jagex/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/an-interview-with-geoff-iddison-of-jagex/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Recently, it was announced that former PayPal and eBay executive Geoff Iddison was taking over as CEO for Jagex, best-known for their browser-based fantasy MMO RuneScape. Then we heard about the launch of Jagex's latest project FunOrb in February of this year. In a recent GamesIndustry.biz interview with Geoff Iddison, we learn more about his projected role with this new casual games portal and what he thinks about the future of the MMO market.

Of course Jagex plans on keeping up with RuneScape also, as they've just rolled out a German version last year, and plan on introducing another European language version later this year. With FunOrb, they're tackling the casual market, as so many other companies are doing lately as well. While the casual market is an inevitable direction for these companies, we hope their investment in RuneScape proves that the more dedicated market is not being shunned in the process.

MassivelyAn interview with Geoff Iddison of Jagex originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ebayfunorbgeoff-iddisoninterviewjagexpaypalq-and-arunescapeWed, 14 May 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA-Land shutting down]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/ea-land-shutting-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/ea-land-shutting-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/ea-land-shutting-down/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Electronic Arts' new baby, EA-Land, is apparently not going ahead, with news coming down a few hours ago that this replacement for The Sims Online is going to be closing.

The Sims Online closed and merged into the new EA-Land world in February this year, but it appears that whatever targets EA management might have set for the project weren't met, and it is now going to go away, closing around Midnight on the last day of July, this year.

Continue reading EA-Land shutting down

MassivelyEA-Land shutting down originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingeaea-landelectronic-artslucmmo-industrypaypalsecond-lifethe-sims-onlinetsovirtual-worldsWed, 30 Apr 2008 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Comic Watch: Shakes and Fidget explain the Burning Crusade races]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/26/comic-watch-shakes-and-fidget-explain-the-burning-crusade-races/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/26/comic-watch-shakes-and-fidget-explain-the-burning-crusade-races/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/26/comic-watch-shakes-and-fidget-explain-the-burning-crusade-races/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Oskar Pannier & Marvin Clifford are the creators of 'Shakes and Fidget', a webcomic set in the World of Warcraft universe. Shakes and Fidget are a human and gnome, respectively, and they travel Azeroth for the sole purpose of getting into trouble, apparently. This works out well for all of us, as seen in this strip, entitled 'A New World', as they travel through the Dark Portal and meet the two new races from the Burning Crusade expansion.

I have to hand it to any author who uses the word 'invidious'. In fact, I'm gonna start up a webcomic wherein every episode features a ten-cent word for your reading pleasure. The main character is a dinosaur named Thesaurus Rex. You can make Paypal donations to my personal email address.

MassivelyComic Watch: Shakes and Fidget explain the Burning Crusade races originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>azerothburning-crusadecomic-watchcomicsdark-portalmarvin-cliffordoskar-pannierpaypalshakes-and-fidgetthesaurus-rexwebcomicworld-of-warcraftTue, 26 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinion - user-operated banks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/opinion-user-operated-banks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/opinion-user-operated-banks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/opinion-user-operated-banks/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In the wake of Linden Lab's ban on unregistered Second Life banks, we may as well go out on a limb a little and present an opinion on the situation - and potentially unpopular one at that.

If you want the short, short version, it goes 'WTF'. Everyone else, grab a coffee.

Continue reading Opinion - user-operated banks

MassivelyOpinion - user-operated banks originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankeconomyeve-onlinefeaturedingopinionpaypalsecond-lifeFri, 11 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST