Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What are your MMO desktop necessities?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-must-have-mmo-necessities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-must-have-mmo-necessities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/09/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-must-have-mmo-necessities/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When it comes to settling in for a nice long session of gaming in comfort, everybody has certain things he can't do without. Personally, I've gotten so addicted to having two monitors on my desktop machine that I can't imagine not having the extra screen for chatting, work, looking things up, reading forums, or other things of that nature. I'm also very attached to my Razer Diamondback mouse, which has a couple of extra buttons for keybinds. Add to that some form of caffeinated beverage, a comfy office chair, and my favorite gaming headset, and I'm a happy camper.

This morning we wanted to ask what items in your desk setup you can't live without. Do you have a particular mouse or keyboard you think is best? Are you also a fan of multiple monitors? Perhaps your gaming corner includes a place to prop your feet up or something fancy like a combination mini-fridge and warmer? Drop down into the comments and tell us about the must-have items that make your particular gaming space a home.

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What are your MMO desktop necessities? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comfortmorning-topicopinionpc-gamingperipheralstdgthe-daily-grindWed, 09 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Building a Khitai PC]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/the-anvil-of-crom-building-a-khitai-pc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/the-anvil-of-crom-building-a-khitai-pc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/the-anvil-of-crom-building-a-khitai-pc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So I've finally started to have technical issues with Age of Conan. Despite being in the original closed beta, the launch weekend headstart, and several bug-ridden months of playtime after that, I've never really been unable to run the game until recently.

I'm playing with the same PC I used back when the game debuted in 2008; the only concession to hardware advancements I've made in the past two years is an updated video card. For some reason though, Khitai has become increasingly unplayable on my rig. This is curious because I was in the Godslayer beta with no problems, just like I tooled around in the Gateway zone when the expansion went live with no problems.

After the last couple of patches though, I'm unable to play in Hyboria's far east for more than a few minutes before a memory crash takes me back to the desktop. Also, I've had to completely bottom-out my graphical settings to be able to load into the new zones (and even with this concession, it literally takes four to six minutes -- yes I've timed it -- of staring at the loading screen and progress bar).

Slog past the cut for more.

Gallery: Age of Conan - Khitai PC Build

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Building a Khitai PC

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Building a Khitai PC originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananvil-of-cromanvil-of-crom-guidesaocbuild-a-gaming-pcbuild-a-pcfeaturedfpsframe-ratesfuncomgaming-pc-buildkhitaiopinionpc-buildpc-gamingperformancethe-anvil-of-cromSun, 08 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you play MMOs on a PC or console?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-mmos-on-a-pc-or-console/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-mmos-on-a-pc-or-console/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/the-daily-grind-do-you-play-mmos-on-a-pc-or-console/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


It seems a trend is forming. MMOs were traditionally the stuff of PCs simply because of the mouse and keyboard. But now all consoles, from the Wii to the PS3, are becoming more PC-like with the ability to connect to the internet and chat to your friends while you play. This means titles like Free Realms will start on PC but they will also head console-side, in this case the PS3. We've seen controllers used to play PC games with mixed results and many publishers have shied away from consoles, however powerful they might be or lucrative the releases.

Now personally I prefer playing on PC simply because it's more comfortable to do so at my desk with two 27" screens that are at eye level. There's something awkward about having my nose pressed against a flat screen TV playing on a controller or balancing a keyboard on my knees, and I'm still trying to find a place for the mouse. In the past couple of years, we've seen numerous games jump from console to PC thanks to Games for Windows, but now titles are starting to make the reverse jump. We've got DC Universe Online and The Agency to look forward to, and that's just this year. What I want to know, constant readers, is which format you prefer? Do you like the idea of playing on your 360 or PS3? Do the controllers bug you or are you a PC purist?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you play MMOs on a PC or console? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 May 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoledaily-grinddc-universe-onlinefree-realmsmmopcpc-gamingpcsthe-daily-grindTue, 12 May 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare CEO is confident in the state of PC gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/bioware-ceo-is-confident-in-the-state-of-pc-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/bioware-ceo-is-confident-in-the-state-of-pc-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/bioware-ceo-is-confident-in-the-state-of-pc-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , ,


BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka is standing behind PC games, directly opposing all of the naysayers that shout the doom of PC gaming from on high.

A recent article over at Computer And Video Games.com pointed to Muzyka's confident stance as well as his expression of changing the definition of PC gaming, such as counting in the large growth of MMOs, flash games, and other casual experiences that any PC user can easily access.

"MMOs are one way that's occurring... And there are more people playing flash-based games and casual games, even core games that are played in a casual way, so maybe [they have] a more core experience and you only play them for short bursts or for half an hour or something," Muzyka was quoted as saying.

One only needs to look at the success of games such as World of Warcraft or any other MMO, as well as the very healthy Steam distribution service to note that PC gaming is far from dead.

MassivelyBioWare CEO is confident in the state of PC gaming originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecasual-gamesceocomputer-and-video-gamesflash-gamesmmospc-gamespc-gamingray-muzykasteamTue, 20 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you want more console MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/13/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-more-console-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/13/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-more-console-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/13/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-more-console-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


MMOs are primarly a PC business. They started here, and they're certainly dominating the PC gaming industry, one hard drive at a time. But why must we limit the MMO to simply the PC machine? What about the untouched masses of the console market? Why must we keep our games to ourselves when we should share freely with the others?

Ok, ok, controller vs. keyboard issues aside, what do all of you think about console MMOs? We already have Final Fantasy XI and Phantasy Star Universe on the Xbox 360 and PS2. We also have The Agency eventually making a debut on the PS3 and the rumored Age of Conan release on the Xbox 360, but 4 MMO games is nowhere near the many many games we have on our PCs.

Do you want to log into Xbox Live or PlayStation Network and boot up your favorite MMO? Would you rather sit on your couch and raid instead of your computer chair? Can cats and dogs live together in harmony? Readers, we need your opinions!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you want more console MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsole-gamingconsole-mmoffxifinal-fantasy-xipc-gamingphantasy-star-universeplaystation-networkpsnpsusquare-enixthe-daily-grindxblxbox-livexbox360Sat, 13 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard humbly denies keeping PC gaming alive]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/blizzard-humbly-denies-keeping-pc-gaming-alive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/blizzard-humbly-denies-keeping-pc-gaming-alive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/05/blizzard-humbly-denies-keeping-pc-gaming-alive/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


In a recent interview with PC Retail, Blizzard's COO Paul Sams gives us a look into the present and future state of the company after the launch of the record-breaking Wrath of the Lich King expansion for World of Warcraft. Sams touches on the work Blizzard is doing between Starcraft II, Diablo III and their upcoming "unannounced" MMO, still in the works.

What we found most interesting about this interview was Sams' view on PC gaming, discouraging that water-cooler rumor that MMOs (namely WoW) are keeping PC gaming alive in this troubled market. He points out that their support of games like Starcraft II and Diablo III shows that they believe in the longevity of PC gaming across the board. "I think that there's always going to be a very big place for PCs - they are multi-use devices." Sams stated. "Consoles are brilliant, but at this stage are not multi-use devices, or at least not compared to a PC."

[Via WoWInsider]

MassivelyBlizzard humbly denies keeping PC gaming alive originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzarddiablo-3diablo-iiipaul-samspc-gamingpc-retailstarcraft-2starcraft-iiworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 05 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOGology: The price to play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/mmogology-the-price-to-play-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/mmogology-the-price-to-play-part-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/mmogology-the-price-to-play-part-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



October 20th marked the 30th anniversary of the very first Multi-User Dungeon (MUD). For those that don't remember MUDs, these text based multiplayer computer games were the precursors of modern MMOGs. I think it's safe to say that multiplayer computer gaming was the exclusive domain of hardcore gamers and geeks back then. People playing MUD1, Elendor MUSH or Pern MUSH were nerds, like myself, that knew computers, knew gaming, and loved roleplaying online. With the advent of online games with graphics, MMOGs like Everquest and Ultima Online began to attract a wider variety of gamers. The gaming demographic began to shift.

Modern MMOGs like World of Warcraft ushered in a new era of gaming and a very different demographic of gamer. WoW's colorful, friendly style, easy to use interface and simple gameplay concepts make it very easy to pick up and play. WoW appeals to almost everyone: parents, kids, men, women, and people that might not normally play video games. It's about as close to mainstream as you can get in a MMOG. While the Wii is often credited with finally capturing traditional non-gamers, I submit that MMOGs like WoW did it first and continue to do it well.

A key to WoW's success also lies is its low system requirements. Recent MMORPGs like Age of Conan and Warhammer may have more sophisticated graphics, but their higher system requirements work against their success in capturing a broad demographic of gamer. High system requirements are not just problematic for those particular games, but for the health and growth of PC gaming in general. Let's face it, when compared to console gaming, computer gaming isn't as cheap, accessible or simple. In order for MMOGs to continue to thrive, something needs to change at the hardware level. Without competitive pricing and standardization, PC gaming will continue to wither.

Continue reading MMOGology: The price to play

MassivelyMMOGology: The price to play originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c64commodore-64commodore64consoleconsolesfeaturedjoystiqfeaturesmmommogpcpc-gamingMon, 03 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Josh Drescher interviewed about Warhammer Online on the BigCast]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/23/josh-drescher-interviewed-about-warhammer-online-on-the-bigcast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/23/josh-drescher-interviewed-about-warhammer-online-on-the-bigcast/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/23/josh-drescher-interviewed-about-warhammer-online-on-the-bigcast/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


This week, our sister site Big Download's weekly podcast features a casual interview with Warhammer Online's associate producer Josh Drescher. Topics covered range from how things went leading up to the day of launch last Thursday, the current situation on previously cut content, how said content would be implemented when eventually returned and ... frozen whales and Bacon Salt? We're not sure exactly how to describe it to you without being even more confusing, so you'll just have to listen in for yourselves. There's also lots of discussion of PC gaming topics and tomfoolery abound for anyone looking to pass the time on a drive home or at the office desk as they whittle away the hours.

MassivelyJosh Drescher interviewed about Warhammer Online on the BigCast originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bacon-saltbig-downloadbigcastfrozen-whalejosh-dreschermythicmythic-entertainmentpc-gamingwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 23 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve sees MMOs as the future of the medium]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/valve-sees-pc-gaming-and-mmos-as-the-future-of-the-medium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/valve-sees-pc-gaming-and-mmos-as-the-future-of-the-medium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/valve-sees-pc-gaming-and-mmos-as-the-future-of-the-medium/#commentsFiled under: ,

We've talked previously about the tug-of-war that seems to be happening between the PC-yes and the PC-no crowd. Gabe Newell, head of the well-known Half-Life developer Valve, firmly stood up in the PC-yes column late last month. His impassioned statements were even referenced by the folks at Blizzard in their own denouncement of PC platform haters earlier this month.

It's worth noting, though, that Newell sees MMOs specifically as the future of PC gaming. Valve itself is looking at the subscription fee and microtransaction models for future projects. They're also looking to the genre itself, something we've talked about here on the site once or twice before. Ultimately, they feel, the Wrath of the Lich King expansion is going to do more for the medium of videogames than the best efforts of groups like the PC Gaming Alliance. Make sure to check out Newell's now-slightly stale comments with a new eye towards the MMO-love.

MassivelyValve sees MMOs as the future of the medium originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gabe-newellpc-gamingvalveworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 11 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PC Gaming Alliance seeking to set guidelines]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/21/pc-gaming-alliance-seeking-to-set-guidelines/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/21/pc-gaming-alliance-seeking-to-set-guidelines/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/21/pc-gaming-alliance-seeking-to-set-guidelines/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As much as we like gaming on our PCs, even the most stalwart fanboy has to concede that sometimes the whole process is just a huge pain in the butt. While installing Age of Conan for the first time the other day, this blogger spent no less than five hours downloading the client, patching Windows Vista, updating video drivers, then tracking down a hack to undo the damage down when those video drivers didn't work properly. While there are supposedly a "maze of challenges" ahead with porting the game to consoles, those problems are largely Funcom's and not the consumers'.

This is something that the recently-formed PC Gaming Alliance (PCGA) would like to solve. Rick Carini, CTO of gaming technology at Dell and chairman of the PCGA, posits that this needless complexity is the barrier impeding the continued growth of PC gaming. Even hardcore gamers find themselves stymied sometimes by this. The PCGA is looking to push for standards on the side of game makers and computer manufacturers to ensure that a computer sold as a "gaming PC" should be able to run the majority of games. We're not sure what, if anything, will come of the PCGA's work, but we're hopeful they can develop some sort of standard to bring more warm bodies into the fold.

MassivelyPC Gaming Alliance seeking to set guidelines originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocconsolesdriversfuncomgamasutrainstallationpc-gamingpc-gaming-alliancepcgarick-cariniSat, 21 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO market revenue to hit $14.4 billion in 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/mmo-market-revenue-to-hit-14-4-billion-in-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/mmo-market-revenue-to-hit-14-4-billion-in-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/mmo-market-revenue-to-hit-14-4-billion-in-2012/#commentsFiled under: ,


We hear news stories concerning the rising cost of food, gas and general living expenses almost daily, but curiously enough, the game industry is proving itself recession-proof. Not only does it seem safe from the downward spiral plaguing all other facets of the economy, but it's on the rise, and is predicted to continue its steep climb for awhile.

According to a recent study by accounting and financial services giant PricewaterhouseCoopers, revenue from the MMO genre of PC gaming will increase to $14.4 billion in 2012 from $6.6 billion in 2007, with special thanks to Blizzard for pulling in over $1 billion on their own in 2007 with World of Warcraft. This is good news for the PC gaming market, as it is predicted that overall, PC gaming will see a revenue slip of 1.2 percent annually, from $3.8 billion in 2007 to $3.6 billion in 2012, thanks to the predicted rise in console popularity. Does this mean the MMO sector will be supporting the PC gaming market in a few years?

MassivelyMMO market revenue to hit $14.4 billion in 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardgaming-industrymmo-marketpc-gamingpricewaterhousecoopersrecessionworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 20 Jun 2008 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[NVIDIA VP heralds the end of PC-exclusive games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/10/nvidia-vp-heralds-the-end-of-pc-exclusive-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/10/nvidia-vp-heralds-the-end-of-pc-exclusive-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/10/nvidia-vp-heralds-the-end-of-pc-exclusive-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


The supposed "war" between consoles and PCs has been raging since the time the great MC Hammer walked the earth, with proponents of both sides taking pot-shots at the other for nearly as long as we can remember. We thought we'd heard just about every kind of comment that could be said between the two sides, but a recent interview with NVIDIA's Roy Taylor has proved us quite mistaken. According to Taylor, the future gaming as we know it is going to be a flip of the trend we've seen over the last ten years ago. Where once PC games served as the baseline and were ported over to consoles, now console games will be the baseline and PCs will be the recipients of enhanced ports. In other words, the end of the PC-exclusive is nigh.

If you just look at MMOs, which continue to drive the popularity of PC gaming, you can see that this is plainly false. While there are a number of MMOs scheduled to be released for consoles, with high profile names like Age of Conan, Champions Online, All Points Bulletin, and perhaps even Dungeons and Dragons, nobody has proven they can navigate the "maze of challenges" that come with cross-platform MMO development, let alone make a profit doing it. And in this blogger's mind, until MMOs officially cross-over to the dark side, it's too early to proclaim the PC-exclusive dead.

MassivelyNVIDIA VP heralds the end of PC-exclusive games originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanall-points-bulletinchampions-onlineconsolesdungeons-and-dragons-onlineNVIDIApc-exclusivespc-gamingPCsRoy-TaylorTue, 10 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Announcing Joystiq's newest sibling: Big Download (beta!)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/announcing-joystiqs-newest-sibling-big-download-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/announcing-joystiqs-newest-sibling-big-download-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/announcing-joystiqs-newest-sibling-big-download-beta/#commentsFiled under:


We have some special Big News to deliver to you dear, MMO-besotten readers: Massively has a brand new sibling to group with and we'll be playing with our new PC gaming-focused sister site, Big Download, quite a bit. In partnership with our good friends at GameDaily, we're taking the wraps off the beta version of a full-fledged, fast and free PC downloads engine married to a news and features blog powered by Joystiq -- chock full of all the Special Goodness TM our writers bring to you daily, including a number of names from the Massively roster you'll recognize.

At Big Download you'll get all the news and views fit to print about PC gaming, a file tracking system that remembers your favorite titles, and no waiting, no fees access to demos, patches, mods, trailers and more. We're inviting you to come on in, make yourself at home and start poking everything with sticks. Like any modern web product we're launching in beta version -- there may be kinks and rough edges to be worked out, so bear with us, mind the dust and be sure to send us any feedback you have so we can make all the final fixes. Unlike certain products that stay in beta forever we hope to remove the beta tag with all due swiftness and come out with guns blazing. Big guns.

We hope to see you at Big Download, where all the news is big and all the downloads are above average!

MassivelyAnnouncing Joystiq's newest sibling: Big Download (beta!) originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 May 2008 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-downloadbigdownloadjoystiqlaunchespcpc-gamingThu, 08 May 2008 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Green is mean?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/green-is-mean/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/green-is-mean/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/02/green-is-mean/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Gaming industry behemoth Peter Molyneux recently sat down to discuss his views on innovation in the MMO universe. Molyneux believes 'innovation is much more difficult when a lot of money is on the line.' Massively has touched upon this subject before which means that...it's happening? Oh no! Our multiplying subscriptions are all going to kill off our own content! I should have never given away my Xbox to focus on EVE! Take a deep breath because before we all panic, there are some important things to consider.

With the MMO industry seeing astronomical numbers tossed their way for funding, perhaps he is correct. Much of the criticism around the early release of games like SWG was blamed on the desire to make returns on the huge investments put into the cost of development and production. When ten, twenty, or more recently, Real Time Worlds' fifty million dollars, is on the line, the wallet will become a huge factor towards the development and timetable of any game.

On the other hand, that massive amount of money we all wish we had is drawing in designers, producers, investors, and of course, gamers. As Alex St. John pointed out in a recent interview, 'the PC is the home of the most profitable game in history, generating more revenue than the top 10 console games combined.' St. John is certainly right about one thing, (US)$1.2 billion is certainly a way of attracting attention. But WoW is only one of many successful MMOs. The list keeps growing and with each success story comes more interest in creating new and innovative experiences.

So where will this new found fortune take the MMO industry? Will the interest generated by new financial resources force developers to focus on profitable returns? Or will that funding bring with it more players, more attention, and more dedication to generating exciting worlds?

MassivelyGreen is mean? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex-st-johnconsole-gamingmmopc-gamingpeter-molyneuxsubscriptionsworld-of-warcraftWed, 02 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sins developer says not to blame pirates]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/sins-developer-says-not-to-blame-pirates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/sins-developer-says-not-to-blame-pirates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/sins-developer-says-not-to-blame-pirates/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It seems like many developers in recent months (with a few notable exceptions) have been trying to take an honest appraisal of the declines in sales PC game makers have seen across the board over the last half-decade. Piracy is the old boogeyman which, while it is still a serious plague on the industry, is far from being the lone culprit. A few weeks ago, Brad Wardell of Stardock, the publisher behind the spectacular Sins of the Solar Empire, posted a rant on his blog here he points to the fact that his company's game has risen to #1 on the PC sales charts despite having no piracy protection; proof positive that piracy isn't the lone factor in PC gaming's stagnation.

Wardell offers a number of other explanations. For one, other developers are still too focused on the "cool factor" instead of profitability. A lot of times, it seems games are developed to garner magazine covers and not to make money. Many developers also develop games that are likely to be snapped up in China, where piracy usually cannibalizes most of their market share. (Thankfully, this is a factor MMOs are more resilient to, given the way they are monetized.) The other factor playing to the industry's disadvantage, he says, is that they're only just now realizing that developing games for hardware that next to nobody owns means that next to nobody will buy your game. (We're looking at you here, Age of Conan.) Some pretty interesting opinions from a guy succeeding just outside the mainstream.


[Via GamePolitics]

MassivelySins developer says not to blame pirates originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brad-wardellironcladpc-gamingpiracysins-of-a-solar-empirestardockTue, 25 Mar 2008 14:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Tim Sweeney's beef with Intel and PC gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/tim-sweeneys-beef-with-intel-and-pc-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/tim-sweeneys-beef-with-intel-and-pc-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/tim-sweeneys-beef-with-intel-and-pc-gaming/#commentsFiled under: ,

Are PCs good for gaming? The short answer is yes, Tim Sweeney (of Unreal fame) is wrong because computers play many of the best games the platform has to offer without much struggle. Games like The Orange Box, Guild Wars, World of Warcraft, The Sims 2, Company of Heroes or The Lord of the Rings Online all run fairly well without too much muscle behind them.

His primary complaint (and ours too, actually) is that integrated graphics chips which are installed on the computers that stores like Best Buy sell, are in no way capable of playing the newer games sold at the very same stores. Intel is largely to blame for this, but of course if you've ever looked into buying a brand new video card, then you know they're not the only culprits of PC gaming's issues.

Continue reading Tim Sweeney's beef with Intel and PC gaming

MassivelyTim Sweeney's beef with Intel and PC gaming originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanarena-netatiblizzardcompany-of-heroesfuncomguild-warsintelnvidiapc-gamingthe-orange-boxthe-sims-2tim-sweeneyvalveworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 12 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Molyneux laments the state of PC gaming, blames WoW and The Sims]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/molyneux-laments-the-state-of-pc-gaming-blames-wow-and-the-sims/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/molyneux-laments-the-state-of-pc-gaming-blames-wow-and-the-sims/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/molyneux-laments-the-state-of-pc-gaming-blames-wow-and-the-sims/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Gamesindustry.biz has posted an article that features comments from outspoken game designer Peter Molyneux, and his thoughts on the current state of PC gaming -- and he's not awfully happy. The primary causes for his concern are the two enormous PC successes, World of Warcraft and The Sims. While the remarkable sales for these games should mean that new people are brought to PC gaming, he felt that they may be taking too much of the pie: "You've got The Sims and World of Warcraft sucking all the air out of the PC market. It's just incredible."

Molyneux also called to question the casual gaming market on the PC. He admitted that some of the earlier successful casual games such as Peggle were all fine and dandy, but as of late the trend for casual-game developers has been to look at what's already doing well and simply re-brand it with a total lack of innovation. Rock star game designer "CliffyB" of Epic Games also recently voiced his opinions on PC gaming, saying that it is in "disarray" and that his studio will focus on console games for the time being.

MassivelyMolyneux laments the state of PC gaming, blames WoW and The Sims originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cliff-bleszinskicliffybepicepic-gameslionheadlionhead-studiosmolyneuxpc-gamingpeter-molyneuxthe-simswowWed, 20 Feb 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW dominates the greater PC retail landscape in 2007]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/wow-dominates-the-greater-pc-retail-landscape-in-2007/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/wow-dominates-the-greater-pc-retail-landscape-in-2007/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/wow-dominates-the-greater-pc-retail-landscape-in-2007/#commentsFiled under: , ,


I don't know whether we should pretend to be surprised or not, but according to a report by the NPD group peeped by Gamasutra, which tracks game sales in retail outlets in the United States, World of Warcraft stood triumphantly on top of the PC Gaming pile for the year 2007, taking the number one and two spots on the list by a wide margin. Burning Crusade clocked in at #1 with 2.25 million and vanilla World of Warcraft came in second with 914k. The next highest contender was the Sims 2 Seasons Expansion Pack which clocked in it a relatively paltry 433k units sold. The PC game industry in general took in revenue of $910.7 million in sales, though that figure was down from $970 million last year. It's unclear whether this general downturn was due to a lack of good games compared to consoles or the relative untraceability of digital downloads, or what, but regardless the dominance by WoW is striking.

No other MMOs managed to crack the top 10 (nor did we really expect them to), but it'll be interesting to see whether the twin terrors that are Age of Conan and Warhammer Online can join WoW at the pinnacle of PC gaming success this time next year. If Blizzard can generate sales for their original game (which, by the way, launched in 2004 for crying out loud) that eclipse the next highest competitor two times over, you have to assume that Funcom and Mythic are hoping to grab at least a piece of that sweet, sweet NPD pie this year. Whether they choose to use the revenue to buy four wheels of fury is their own prerogative, however.

MassivelyWoW dominates the greater PC retail landscape in 2007 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burning-crusadenpd-salespc-gamingsalesworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 25 Jan 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WoW is the "train driving PC gaming," says John Carmack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/wow-is-the-train-driving-pc-gaming-says-john-carmack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/wow-is-the-train-driving-pc-gaming-says-john-carmack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/wow-is-the-train-driving-pc-gaming-says-john-carmack/#commentsFiled under: ,

Game maker John Carmack, famous for developing landmark PC titles Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake, sat down for a chat with Gamasutra earlier this week to discuss the state of the greater PC game industry. Normally, the shooter visionary wouldn't have much to say that would be of interest to those of us with massively multiplayer games on our minds, but in a discussion about what sets the PC platform apart from consoles, Carmack specifically cited MMOs as one of the few remaining genres that continue to bring in new players to the table, referring to them as the "train driving PC gaming."

While we agree with Carmack's assessment of the PC landscape today, we can't help but wonder how much longer the PC is going to be the exclusive domain of the MMO. With rumors of the next Blizzard MMO transitioning to consoles, NCsoft's plans to develop a new property for the PS3, and Nintendo getting into the MMO game, it looks like consoles are poised to play catch-up. The full interview will run on Friday, so we'll have to see if Carmack addresses this challenge later this week.

MassivelyWoW is the "train driving PC gaming," says John Carmack originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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