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The Daily Grind: Do you game on a Mac?

Brianna Royce — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Mac, Humor, Miscellaneous

War. War never changes... the platform war, that is. But even those of us who game from the comfort of decked-out PCs can feel sorry for our Mac brethren when one of the Apple MMO offerings, already in short supply, goes dark. That's exactly what's happening to the Mac version of classic EverQuest: SOE is sunsetting the single Mac server due to low population and ancient code. Apple gamers must get a PC or sample one of the other Mac-friendly MMOs like Warhammer Online, Fallen Earth, Ryzom, or Free Realms.

So today we ask: Do you play MMOs on a Mac, and if so, which games? And is it really as bad as PC-loyalists like to think?

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

The Daily Grind: Do you game on a Mac? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioWare: Mac version of Star Wars: The Old Republic is something it's 'looking at next'

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, MMO industry, Star Wars: The Old Republic

BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk are quite dedicated to their fans. At least that's a recurring theme for them when talking about their company's moves in new directions, to which both repeatedly referred during a recent interview in midtown Manhattan. "We know there's a big Mac audience of BioWare fans ... we know that's an important and large audience. And we want to serve that audience," Muzyka told me when asked about a potential Mac version of the his company's latest major release, Star Wars: The Old Republic.

"I'd say 'not yet,'" Zeschuk assured me when I told him that, as a BioWare fan, I'm unable to play The Old Republic on my less than two-year-old MacBook. Though Muzyka was quick to remind me that I can technically play the game on a Windows partition, he also admitted that it wasn't an ideal situation. "We've done a lot of Mac ports before of our games. We haven't announced any details yet for The Old Republic, but we know that's an important and large audience."

Neither would offer a strict timetable on the Mac version, but Zeschuk did note, "That's definitely one of the things we're looking at next. We want to get this launch under our belt and everything stabilized and happy, and then we'll look at other platforms, and that's obviously one of the first ones."

BioWare: Mac version of Star Wars: The Old Republic is something it's 'looking at next' originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Glitch developer says mobile gaming is dominating the games industry

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Mobile, Miscellaneous

Forget consoles and PCs -- mobile gaming is prepped to be the number one gaming platform for the next decade, according to Glitch developer Tiny Speck. Vice President of Product and Operations Kakul Srivastava says we're already seeing it everywhere: "It is what is happening right now. I think the killer console is going to be your mobile device. That is absolutely where people will play more rich and involving, and even graphically intensive games."

With the newest editions of smartphones outpacing their predecessors and coming out much faster than the next console generation, Srivastava thinks it's not surprising that mobile gaming has momentum in the industry. "That pace of change is why mobile devices are going to be the console of the future. The way player interaction and player needs are changing, it's much faster than the five to seven years [of console development] that we're talking about," she said.

She points to BioWare's comments that the studio would be looking into mobile versions of its established franchises as an example of this shift.

Glitch developer says mobile gaming is dominating the games industry originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DC Universe Online moving to super servers

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 01 May 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, News items, Consoles, DC Universe Online

Server merges are an odd thing for any game. On the one hand, they help produce more populated servers, give players more choices of companions, and generally can help keep the community more closely tied. On the other hand, they're rarely seen as a sign that the game is in good health, since it means fewer servers for players to select from. Whether you see it as a good sign or a bad one, DC Universe Online is presenting it as an unambiguously good feature, dubbing the upcoming merges as creating "super servers."

Starting with testing on the PC next week, the game will be migrating to four total servers -- two for each region (US and Europe) and two for each platform (PC and PS3) -- which means that all U.S. PC players will be on the same server. Unfortunately for many DC Universe Online players, this does mean that console and PC players will remain on separate server lists, which may prove detrimental in the long run. Players should keep their eyes open for more news regarding the merge in the coming weeks.

DC Universe Online moving to super servers originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gamigo opens the news floodgates

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, New titles, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, MMORTS, Post-Apocalyptic

"Cry havoc, and unleash the titles of war" might as well be gamigo's cry, as today it has seen fit to give us what can only be termed as a new title news explosion. Aside from offering up an interesting tidbit on its upcoming space dogfighter, Black Prophecy, the company has released information on a handful of other new titles that should pique the interest of gamers who are looking for something beyond the standard free-to-play MMO fare. Better still, some of these titles will be available in-browser, helping to open up more "jump in and game" free-to-play options.

Grimlands offers something for players who have been waiting for a post-apocalyptic title that promises the ability to evolve their own playstyles -- and cities. UFO Online: Fight for Earth features a tactics-heavy browser-based MMO environment where players will battle against each other and enemy NPCs in a world overrun with gobsmackingly enormous amounts of aliens. Magic Campus offers adventure in a turn-based world where players build a powerful cadre of pets and mentor others in the ways of magic -- all in their browsers.

Sound intriguing? Join us behind the break for a first look at screenshots and video from these upcoming gamigo titles!

Continue reading Gamigo opens the news floodgates

Gamigo opens the news floodgates originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alter-Ego: Nine tips for PvP in DC Universe Online

Krystalle Voecks — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, New titles, PvP, Opinion, Consoles, Humor, DC Universe Online, Alter-Ego

First things first: I'm going to admit openly that I'm not even close to the world's best PvPer, as anyone who has ever faced off in PvP against me can tell you. Up until recently, I tended to be the ultra-carebear player who generally avoids PvP combat altogether (outside of EVE Online). However, by ignoring PvP in DC Universe Online, one also ignores a decent chunk of the game's content. Between the open-world Green Lantern ring wars, quests to take on heroes or villains of a certain level range, Arena matches, and Legends play, there's a lot to do -- not to mention the challenge of playing on a PvP server. Worse still, PvE players will find their quest logs become cluttered messes full of PvP-related quests that can't be dropped -- an annoying prospect at best.

So with this in mind, I've compiled a handful of general tips for those PvE fans who don't tend to mess with PvP in DC Universe Online as well as players who have only dabbled in it. Are there I-win-button tips behind the break? Not really. However, it's good solid advice that's helped me improve my skills from utterly noobtastic insta-death to holding my own. If that sounds interesting to you, then join me behind the break for the list!

Continue reading Alter-Ego: Nine tips for PvP in DC Universe Online

Alter-Ego: Nine tips for PvP in DC Universe Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alter-Ego: Using a controller with DC Universe Online on PC

Krystalle Voecks — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Hands-on, Consoles, DC Universe Online, Guides, Alter-Ego

This week I'm actually going to detour slightly from the game and instead feature one of my favorite hacks for playing DC Universe Online. Well, OK, not a hack -- more like a fun project for the nerdily inclined. Part of the reason I've decided to detour is an email I received earlier this week from Rusty, who asked: "I am very interested in trying the controller on my PC and would welcome your opinion on the best way to accomplish this. I'm leery of downloading software to make this happen. Would you mind sharing your experience?"

As such, this week I'm dedicating my column to helping my fellow PC fiends get their controller on in DC Universe Online. Depending on your personal level of hardware nerditry, your extant pieces/parts, and your budget, this can range from incredibly inexpensive on up to ridiculously awesome. Hungry for more? Join me after the break!

Continue reading Alter-Ego: Using a controller with DC Universe Online on PC

Alter-Ego: Using a controller with DC Universe Online on PC originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Fight fire with fire

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Screenshots, One Shots, Consoles, DC Universe Online

While the heroic and villainous deeds completed every day in DC Universe Online are becoming somewhat familiar, there are other dangers that await careless players in the world at large. If you're a fire-based tank, an overzealous fireman could really wreck your day. Thankfully, fire-based heroes don't seem to set off fire alarms! Today's amusing One Shots comes to us from Sean W., who writes in: "This is a screenshot of my hero Solar Wave on the server Virtue and Vice in DC Universe Online. It is amazing finding this amount of detail everywhere in the game. The funny part is that the fire station is just outside when you come out of Grodd's lair."

Have you snapped a fun shot of your MMO hero or villain recently? If so, we're always on the lookout for great screenshots to feature. Just email your image to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a note about what we're seeing in the image. Please make sure your screenshot is at least 1024px wide and has no visible UI elements. Yours could be the next picture we feature here on Massively!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

One Shots: Fight fire with fire originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Out with the old, in with the new

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

New year, new rig.

Yup, you got it folks. I had the lucky chance to start the new year in Aion with a spiffylicious new gaming computer. As a disclaimer, it is very possible to play and enjoy Aion on lower-end machines; I know, because I have friends who play on laptops (although most do not participate in sieges) and I myself enjoyed the game using my less-than-stellar rig with the graphics set to just one notch below max.

However, in order to participate in large-scale PvP and sieges, I was forced to lower all settings to rock-bottom and use shift+F12 to remove all enemy and ally rendering (remember folks, when you do this always have enemy names turned on!). Even with these measures, I would often still have difficulty moving -- not the best situation for an assassin who depends on quick strikes and even quicker evasions. I could still sorta do my job (scouting was best) and enjoy the fights, although I would often find myself dead before I even knew I was being hit. I have experienced Atreia this way for the past year, but there just comes a time in a Daeva's life when you want to participate more fully in sieges -- to see the battles as well as fight.

After saving, I came to the conclusion last fall that I was able to go ahead and put together a new gaming rig (and yes folks, a girl can build her own machine!). While not top-of-the-line, it was a still a decent upgrade and would provide a new gaming experience. In true gamer's style, I sat down New Year's Eve and assembled my new toy.

So, what difference does the new rig make while playing? Jump past the cut to see what I have pulsing in my case and just how much of a difference it has made.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Out with the old, in with the new

Wings Over Atreia: Out with the old, in with the new originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Valve's Gabe Newell recognizes the innovation of MMOs

Jef Reahard — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Culture, MMO industry, News items, Opinion

Think the PC is losing its grip as the dominant platform when it comes to gaming innovation? Not so fast, says Valve's Gabe Newell. In fact, he even cites MMOs as a leading cause of the PC platform's continued innovation. And when Newell speaks, gamers and game makers listen, as his company is an industry heavyweight responsible for the likes of Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, and Counterstrike (not to mention the Steam digital distribution platform).

Yesterday, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Newell sung the praises of Intel's new GPU/CPU and also offered a counterpoint to those who feel that consoles like the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 have overtaken the PC as industry catalysts.

"We see [the PC] as the center of innovation of everything that's going on, whether it's microtransactions, MMOs, free-to-play, or something like CityVille which -- after its first month -- has 84 million people playing," Newell said. "To us, this is just an indication of why open platforms are where innovations are going to occur."

Valve's Gabe Newell recognizes the innovation of MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: DC Universe -- PC or PS3?

Jef Reahard — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Launches, New titles, The Daily Grind, DC Universe Online

Well, it's officially official. The MMO space will have its newest superhero contender on January 11th courtesy of SOE's DC Universe Online. Whether you're a DC Comics fan, an SOE fan, or that guy who has to try every new game that comes down the pipe, chances are a good number of you will be strapping on your cape and tights soon after the first of the year.

The only question is your platform of choice.

SOE is taking the unusual step of releasing DCUO on the traditional PC platform as well as the PlayStation 3 console simultaneously, adding another title to the latter's rather sparse MMO lineup. Today's Daily Grind is an easy one: What's your preferred DCUO launch hardware?

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

The Daily Grind: DC Universe -- PC or PS3? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gamescom 2010: DC Universe Online trailer impresses

Jef Reahard — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Trailers, Video, Events, real-world, New titles, News items, DC Universe Online

Our friends at Joystiq have the scoop on the latest trailer for DC Universe Online, the forthcoming superhero MMORPG from Sony Online Entertainment. Unlike last month's cinematic story trailer, this one is all gameplay, and it features heavy doses of action (yes, that guy did toss a helicopter on top of a skyscraper), as well as a voice-over narrative that hints at how player characters can co-exist with DC legends while carving out their own niche.

DCUO launches in November for both the PC and Playstation 3 platforms, and you can sign up for beta, as well as pre-order, at the game's official website. Don't forget to fly past the cut to view the trailer.

Continue reading Gamescom 2010: DC Universe Online trailer impresses

Gamescom 2010: DC Universe Online trailer impresses originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log: Layers upon layers of questions

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Opinion, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV, The Mog Log

There's a lot coming down the pipeline for fans of both Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XI. And there are a lot of questions to be asked, even though not all of them quite mirror those of your beloved author. (Those questions are generally shouted at the sky, insinuating it can hear me and that it needs to give me a beta key.) But while I'm not busy staring at a harsh, uncaring sky, I can certainly offer you a fair number of answers.

hatri1181 asks:
"I scored really low on the benchmark, but my system beats the living hell out of the min specs. Does that make any sense to anyone else?"

Yes. The benchmark isn't totally accurate, as many people were screaming as soon as it was released, and it features several odd points. Points such as being sponsored by one of two major GPU manufacturers, and highlighting the most congested areas of gameplay with no options to turn settings down, only up -- the sort of things that have resulted in people being fully capable of running the benchmark and having scores telling them they could not.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Layers upon layers of questions

The Mog Log: Layers upon layers of questions originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phantasy Star Universe to shut down PS2 & PC servers

Krystalle Voecks — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Phantasy Star Universe, MMO industry, News items

It's always a sad day when we have to report an MMO is shutting down. Then you have cases like today's announcement about Phantasy Star Universe where it's a mixed bag. In this case the PS2 and PC versions will be closing down as of March 31st. Meanwhile, the Xbox 360 version (yes, another console MMO does exist) is doing well and will remain online.

On January 29th, the Maximum Attack G+ event will start up across all three Phantasy Star Universe platforms, at which point anyone who has a paid subscriber on the PC or PS2 will be converted to a free account until the servers go dark. According to a heartfelt post by GM Edward@Sega, these closures are necessary because "[t]he population is simply too low for us to be able to continue to support this platform." The good news is that since there will only be one primary western market platform moving forward, this should allow Sega to close the expansion release gap between the US and Japanese versions.

So while this next Maximum Attack G+ event will be a bittersweet one for some, at least Phantasy Star Universe will live on in the 360 version -- and there's always the single-player offline version of PSU for PC and PS2 players as well. Hopefully some veteran players will get the chance to make the jump as losing your favorite world is definitely no fun.

Phantasy Star Universe to shut down PS2 & PC servers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMOrigins: Dissection of a gamer

Brooke Pilley — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, MMOrigins

The Misty Mountains
You are on a steep rocky slope and just above lies the remnants of an ancient rock slide. Far below you can see the Redhorn pass through breaks in tree canopy as well as the winding Anduin River. The sky is overcast, with a strong northerly wind raining down icy lances. The air is thin, making it difficult to breathe.
*Labero the Black Numenorean* is here riding a pack horse tending his wounds.

o S W C Move: Tired> Backstab $target
You begin to silently move behind your victim...

Oh the memories! That text-based multi-user dungeon (MUD) experience may have been the most influential on my gaming career, but it certainly wasn't the first. No, for that we'd have to travel back in time several more years; the day I unwrapped my first gaming console. It was a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and the year was 1989. Follow me as I take a trip down memory lane and recount the main influencers on my MMO timeline.

Continue reading MMOrigins: Dissection of a gamer

MMOrigins: Dissection of a gamer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: A starry night, kupo

Krystalle Voecks — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Final Fantasy XI, One Shots

We're glad to see that players are taking us up on our invitation to show off worlds we don't often get to see here on One Shots. Yesterday we were treated to the bizarre fashion stylings of a flying ninja, and today we're given a look at nighttime in Final Fantasy XI. This star-filled screenshot comes to us from Focant, who writes in to tell us a bit more about this scene: Nighttime in Jugner Forest during the calm between Orc attacks on the outpost held by San d'Oria. The sky in the most recent expansion Wings of the Goddess is by far the most vibrant in the game to date. Rarely will you journey into the past and not be in awe at the beautiful land that also happens to host the bloody and horrendous Crystal War.

If you've spotted a screenshot here that showed off one of the cool aspects of a zone, but somehow missed another part you think is pretty cool too, why not send your own viewpoint in? We're always on the lookout for more screenshots - especially of games we don't see as often as we'd like. Just email them to us at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and what game the image is from. We'll do the rest, and you'll get the credit!

Gallery: One Shots

One Shots: A starry night, kupo originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2009: Final Fantasy XIV is not PS3 exclusive, more details revealed

Seraphina Brennan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, New titles, Consoles, Massively Interviews, Massively Event Coverage, Final Fantasy XIV

Today we got to spend some time with the team of Final Fantasy XIV in a seekret Square-Enix press conference at E3 and land some goodies about the game.

While the team was generally tightlipped about what they had planned for their next MMO, the one thing they were very clear about was that PC users will be able to jump into the Final Fantasy experience once more. While the game is currently a console exclusive for the PS3, a Windows version will be releasing at the same time.

In addition, the team did mention that they were still "considering all hardware possibilities" regarding the game. While it's not a full confirmation that the game will be coming to other consoles, it doesn't exactly write out the possibility either. Perhaps the game will be a timed exclusive, much like FFXI has done, rather than a full exclusive, but there is no clear indication that this is the path they will take at this time.

So what else has the team revealed? Follow us after the break and we'll drop the other details we know on FFXIV.

Gallery: E3 2009: Final Fantasy XIV screenshots

Continue reading E3 2009: Final Fantasy XIV is not PS3 exclusive, more details revealed

E3 2009: Final Fantasy XIV is not PS3 exclusive, more details revealed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2009: Global Agenda impressions, continued

Mike Schramm — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, New titles, PvP, PvE, Hands-on, MMOFPS, Global Agenda

My "Engineer" equipped, we ran over to the PvE mission master, grabbed a mission, and then got a cinematic of a dropship taking off and landing in the zone. After a little experimentation with the force fields and turrets (Robotics characters put down a marker which then needs to be repaired up to full strength with a special weapon), we dropped into the building, and were instantly confronted with some Star Wars-style droid robots. With the character at mid-level already, they were a little tougher than beginners will find, so at first, when we tried just a straightforward assault with the "flubber" gun, they got the better of us. But after a short delay (death brings just a few seconds' respawn time, and then you can respawn and warp back into the battle through a respawn beacon), we went back into the fray, and when we used our special skills (put up a one-way forcefield and created a turret and a robotic pet to help us fight), we finished off the robots (including a "worker," who served to bring in reinforcements and had to be taken down first, and a bigger ED209-esque boss robot).

Next up, we tried jumping in to some PvP. Players in Global Agenda will be able to level up via either PvE or PvP -- PvE missions will accept 1-4 players, and while the enemies may be the same (though Harris said they were experimenting with putting players in at different spawn points or switching up enemy spawns a little bit to give the levels some more variety), they'll scale in difficulty depending how many friends you bring along. PvP missions are more common shooter settings (Attack and Defend, Capture the Flag, Escort), though sometimes with a special twist: The CTF maps are actually "capture the robot," where the flag is actually a giant mech that players need to jump in and return to their side to score.

This time, we specced a medic together, and saw a few of the different ways you can play that class: you can make it very much like a TF2 medic with just a single target healing gun, or go with a chain-healing gun (that can hit multiple targets with the tradeoff of being weaker), or you can choose a "nanite" weapon, which hits with single shots rather than a channeling stream, and provides a heal over time when they hit. All weapons and abilities are governed by an energy stat, which works like mana in other MMOs -- there's no ammo, so if you have energy, you can fire, otherwise you'll have to seek cover and rest. Lower level guns can be fired indefinitely, but more powerful guns have a rate of fire just limited by how much energy you use with each shot.

Turns out our medic did pretty well -- not only did we keep up some friendly players in the Attack and Defend map, but with the medic's boost ability (all classes also build up "boost" as they play, and when you fill that meter, you can use a special move that usually affects the whole team, very much like Call of Duty 4's perks), we laid down some great AoE healing that turned us into a pretty powerful force on our own, too. PvP was actually lots of fun -- given that the game is still in alpha, it wasn't completely balanced yet, but the feeling of a good shooter is there: we took attack points, Robotics turrets defended until they were overpowered, medics held up tanks through enemy assaults, and Recon characters snuck around with stealth and tried backstabbing with melee.

But while the action is in a good place, the rest of the world still needs work. Harris says that outside of battle, there will be similarly instanced social areas to go through, but the places we saw were still pretty generic: you can visit mission givers, buy armor in an auction house, and buy dye to customize that armor, but otherwise the social areas were pretty lifeless. There were still people running around -- the game is currently in an alpha, and is starting up a closed beta this summer -- but there's no open world, no place to watch matches in action, and no real social mechanics to tie people together. At the highest levels of the game, the world depends on huge guilds working as a team: players will be competing for hundreds of different maps to try and advance their Global Agenda (see what we did there?). But while there will be a pickup matchmaking system in place, with no open world, it'll be interesting to see how players find each other. A little social boost might go a long way.

But other than that, Global Agenda is shaping up well -- Hi Rez is doing a great job of mixing in some uncommon influences and combining them with the persistent MMO genre. We'll definitely be on the lookout for the beta later this year.

E3 2009: Global Agenda impressions, continued originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Square-Enix to debut unannounced MMO at E3?

Seraphina Brennan — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, Rumors

While we've known of a new Square-Enix MMO that has been in the works for some time now, we've recently received information that Square might be showing off this unannounced title during a special press conference on Wednesday at E3.

The conference doesn't have specific details as to what's going to be presented, but fellow press site Gameplayer has made the claim that it will be this unannounced project, codenamed Rapture. Rapture will be a PC and PS3 only title, with Sony announcing the game during their own press conference, scheduled for Tuesday.

Currently only Gameplayer has announced these details, putting this story firmly in the category of rumor. However, Massively.com's Shawn Schuster, Elizabeth Harper, and Krystalle Voecks will be on site to follow up on the story and deliver the latest announcements as they occur during our coverage of E3. If this is a taste of what Square-Enix has to offer us, then it's going to be one heck of a week next week!

Rumor: Square-Enix to debut unannounced MMO at E3? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Do you play MMOs on a PC or console?

Lesley Smith — Tue, 12 May 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Super-hero, Free-to-play, The Daily Grind, Free Realms, DC Universe Online

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?

The 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.

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Starting out in Vana'diel: Community, controls and cooperation

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Guides, Leveling, Tips and tricks, Grouping, PvE

Hello there adventurers! It's Thursday, and that means more tips for those of you who are new to Vana'diel.

This time around we have some less documented topics to talk about -- the controls of Final Fantasy XI, how to get into groups and how to run groups, and answer one of the questions presented by reader Green Armadillo in last column's comment area.

I know these topics may seem weird for a recurring feature that is suppose to be a guide to starting out in Final Fantasy XI. You would think I would be tackling more game play issues or tips on how to level. However, these topics play right into getting the most out of your FFXI experience. Knowing these things is going to help you tremendously in Vana'diel, so let's stop talking about it and get down into it.

Continue reading Starting out in Vana'diel: Community, controls and cooperation

Starting out in Vana'diel: Community, controls and cooperation originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marvel signs 10-year contract, sees an MMO in its future

Krystalle Voecks — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, MMO industry, News items, Marvel Heroes

After the deal with Cryptic and Microsoft fell through, we weren't too terribly sure we'd ever hear another peep out of Marvel insofar as getting a game into the MMO space. However, it would seem that they've given it some thought - or more likely, thought about all the money that's here to be made - and decided to proceed on getting their own MMO into the market anyway. According to a story from the Wall Street Journal, Marvel has signed a 10-year deal with Gazillion Entertainment (previously NR2B Research, per VentureBeat) that will encompass not only a Marvel Universe online game that will tie into a Cartoon Network series, but also a renewal of the Marvel Universe MMO project for PC and consoles with Gazillion's subsidiary, Gargantuan Studios.

Considering that Champions Online is in closed beta already, DC Universe Online is showing some pretty solid previews, and City of Heroes is still chugging along with a devoted player-base, it's going to be an uphill battle from the word go for this Marvel MMO. Sure, there will be comics loyalists who prefer the Marvel universe to the DC universe, but with four superhero MMOs to choose from? Everyone involved should remember that in MMOs, no amount of retconning will help a game that doesn't bring its best from the start.

[Via Joystiq]

Marvel signs 10-year contract, sees an MMO in its future originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online interview confirms details of retail release

James Egan — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Business models, Expansions, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry

One of announcements that came out of EVE Online's most recent Fanfest was news that the game will be sold on retail shelves this March, with the release of the Apocrypha expansion. A publishing deal struck between EVE's developer CCP Games and Atari means that the game may well see an influx of players in the coming months.

MMORPG.com's Managing Editor Jon Wood caught up with Ryan Dancey, Chief Marketing Officer at CCP Games, and the two discussed how EVE's shift away from being a purely digital product will affect the game. Also notable is that Dancey gives the details of what that $39.95 (€39.99) for the box will buy: Mac and PC versions; a Career Guide for new pilots; 60 days of game time that can be converted into PLEX; automatically have needed standings for factional warfare; a VIP pass which functions like the Buddy Program; and a shuttle with expanded cargo capacity. These extras were previously rumored to be included with the EVE retail purchase, but Ryan Dancey's comments in the MMORPG.com interview would seem to confirm those rumors.

Have a look at the rest of the interview focused on EVE Online's retail release for more on how the publishing deal between CCP Games and Atari is shaping up.

EVE Online interview confirms details of retail release originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: How important is cross-platform play?

Krystalle Voecks — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, Consoles

After reading the recent interview between Tracey John of MTV Multiplayer and DC Universe Online developers Wes Yanagi and Jens Andersen, we're left with the impression that bringing the PS3 and PC players to the same servers may be unlikely. There's some legit concerns there, with PC players leaning towards text chat at first, and console players going straight for VOIP, but the question would be - how badly would this hurt the two sides? Some of the more successful console MMOs such as FFXI and Phantasy Star Universe have cross-platform play. Others do not, and while they maintain a community - it seems to be a smaller one on the whole, with any new players often struggling to find anyone - much less an entire group.

This morning we thought we'd ask - how important do you feel is cross-platform play to you? Would you, if you liked the game, prefer to play on your PC, or on the console? If you've played Final Fantasy XI or Phantay Star Universe, do you find yourself avoiding anyone using the PC version due to typing vs VOIP? For that matter, if you're on the PC version, do you avoid those who don't type? Should the server types be separated, or should they find a way to bridge the gap?

The Daily Grind: How important is cross-platform play? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Issues with DC Universe Online cross-play not entirely technical, also cultural

Kyle Horner — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Interviews, New titles, News items, DC Universe Online

Will cross-platform play be a part of DC Universe Online come launch day? In light of a recent interview between Tracey John of MTV Multiplayer and DCUO devs Wes Yanagi and Jens Andersen, it's not looking too good.

While the official answer was more of a "We'll see." the overall direction of the two developers' response to the cross-play question was to punctuate the social discrepancies between PC MMO players and console users. They cited the PC MMO ritual of getting to know someone in text chat before speaking via TeamSpeak or Ventrilo, then followed that with the console experience: Microphones, matchmaking and lots of subsequent smacktalking. A fair point.

Although, on the other hand, Playstation 3's don't come with a standard headset like Xbox 360's. In fact, many users seem to have been adjusting just fine to text in the recently launched Home service -- although there seems to be plenty of griefing. So while console and PC MMO players may not blend well as is, the PS3 is a bit of an anomaly when it comes to communique in the first place. So who knows?

Did you enjoy this? We've donned our capes and tights to explore SOE's DC Universe Online in-depth. Come explore more of Metropolis and Gotham with your friends at Massively!

Issues with DC Universe Online cross-play not entirely technical, also cultural originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DCUO interview details cross-platform play and rumored release dates

Kyle Horner — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Interviews, New titles, News items, DC Universe Online

Our sister site Joystiq had the opportunity to sit down the DC Universe Online's Senior Producer Wes Yanagi at the New York Comic-con, and cleared up some of our current curiosities about the game. Firstly, Yanagi took the opportunity to debunk any rumors of a later 2009 or early 2010 release date for the game and stated, "I would say that we don't have a date right now. There's really no date." That sounds pretty cut and dry to us, and it makes sense considering SOE hasn't even moved the game out of alpha testing yet.

Additionally, Yanagi also commented on cross-platform play between PC and PS3 versions, stating that it's not in the game as of right now. However, it's something SOE would like to do, but simply can't confirm. Since there apparently aren't any advantages between PS3 controllers and keyboard/mouse combos, we'd like to see cross-platform play make it into the game.

There's much more great stuff in the interview, so check it out if you're looking forward to DC Universe Online as much as we are!

Did you enjoy this? We've donned our capes and tights to explore SOE's DC Universe Online in-depth. Come explore more of Metropolis and Gotham with your friends at Massively!

DCUO interview details cross-platform play and rumored release dates originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Is your rig pimpin', or just plain ghetto?

William Dobson — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, The Daily Grind

We came across an interesting post at the Twenty Sided blog, titled "PC Games Retirement Home", in which Shamus Young commented on his lack of the need to purchase a new PC in recent times. Although he is certainly a gamer, the next PC games that he is looking forward to won't roll around for quite some time now that he's done with Fallout 3, and most of his video-gaming will be fulfilled by his console setup. In the past, his computer upgrades were frequent, but without major jumps in technology, or compelling PC games on the horizon to force his hand, he's managed to stay with the same PC for the last three years. He isn't saying that PC gaming is dead, but it's impossible to deny that the landscape has changed.

He does acknowledge, however, that MMOs are still enjoying some success on the PC platform. Does this mean that MMO gamers have kept up the PC-enthusiast's tradition of owning all the latest hardware? Although it's possible to play many MMOs with an older PC (especially browser-based games or titles like World of Warcraft that aim to fit the masses) newer MMOs such as Age of Conan or Lord of the Rings Online have been designed to take advantage of the latest PC hardware, and you will undoubtedly have a better experience on a flashier gaming rig. A tired old PC might even be a barrier to entry when trying out the most cutting-edge MMOs.

So we ask you, as MMO gamers: do you have a beastly PC that you upgrade/replace quite frequently, or have you found that a respectable older rig has been able to satisfy your MMO needs over the last few years?

The Daily Grind: Is your rig pimpin', or just plain ghetto? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free Realms impressions from CES 2009

James Egan — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Consoles, Free Realms, Kids

Sony Online Entertainment had a presence at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show, and offered a hands-on demo of their much-vaunted title Free Realms. For those who haven't previously heard of this game -- and why it's already caught the attention of the gaming press -- it's a massively multiplayer online game geared towards younger players (E10+ ESRB rating) with parental controls providing another layer of security from evil netizens. Despite this target demographic, and perhaps because of the sweet simplicity of the game's concepts and unique art style shown off thus far, a fair number of adults are eager to play it as well.

Added to its appeal is that Free Realms will be playable on both PC and the PS3; it's one of the three upcoming PC/Console MMOs on the way from Sony -- along with The Agency and DC Universe Online. Free Realms will have most of the trappings of your standard fantasy MMO fare -- which might seem like the kiss of death coming from a company already offering multiple fantasy MMO titles -- but Free Realms will have its own unique twists that differentiate it from most other MMOs on the market. Free Realms is slated for release in Q2 2009, free of charge, and will be funded through microtransactions, purchasable extras, and in-game ads.

Matt Casamassina from IGN has written an excellent preview of Free Realms and nails down some details which were hazy until CES 2009. While the IGN Free Realms preview is short, it's simply packed with details about the game and worth checking out if Free Realms appeals to you.

Free Realms impressions from CES 2009 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Funcom re-reaffirms Conan 360 in addition to The Secret World

Kyle Horner — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Age of Conan, MMO industry, News items, The Secret World

In a world of cut-backs and shutdowns, it's pretty easy to start worrying about things you never had the need to worry about before. Sometimes it can get so bad, that things need to be said more than once. Case in point: Funcom's Xbox 360 version of Age of Conan and their next MMO project, The Secret World. In a recent discussion with GamesIndustry.biz Funcom said not to worry about either projects, as they're both on track. The console Age of Conan will contain all updates to the PC version upon shipping -- which is a good thing, considering how buggy it was -- and The Secret World's development team is actually expanding.

So while AoC on the PC is to remain their current primary focus, things are still moving forward with other projects. We only hope this is still the case in the next six-to-twelve months time, especially with how the global economy seems to be playing out.

Having fun in Conan's homeland? Make sure to check out all of our previous Age of Conan coverage, and stick with Massively for more news from the Hyborian Age!

Funcom re-reaffirms Conan 360 in addition to The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMOGology: The price to play pt. 2

Marc Nottke — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Opinion, MMOGology, MUDs, Consoles, Casual

Why do people continue to game on the PC? There are many reasons; some of them obvious. I'm going to mention what I feel are the three most important.

The first reason is one I alluded to earlier: versatility. You can do so many other things with a PC besides game. You can surf the web, you can email your friends, you can edit your photographs and mix your own music, you can edit your goofy home movies and upload them to YouTube. These are all things that you can't currently do with a console. For many families, buying a gaming console isn't an affordable option. These folks want one device that does as much as possible. The fact that computers can play games is a nice bonus. There will always be gamers out there that game on the PC because that's the only option they have. As we've seen with the recent boom of cell phone games, people will play games on anything capable of gameplay.

The second reason is that consoles don't provide the intimate gaming experience that is only possible through the mouse/keyboard control format. Not only are a computer's controls fluid and pin-point accurate, but using them requires the gamer to sit up close with his computer. It's a very different experience than laying on the couch with a control pad far from the TV. The mouse and keyboard are the ideal control inputs for controlling first person shooters, strategy games and MMOGs. For MMOGs in particular, the PC is really the only option - for now. Some MMOGs like Age of Conan have already decided to release console versions, and other MMOGs have attempted the same in the past with limited success. In any case, the MMOG, FPS and RTS are the few genres that continue to keep PC games on store shelves. They succeed primarily because of their input interface.

Continue reading MMOGology: The price to play pt. 2

MMOGology: The price to play pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMOGology: The price to play

Marc Nottke — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Culture, Opinion, MMOGology, MUDs, Consoles, Casual

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

MMOGology: 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.

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Patches pose a problem for DC Universe Online cross-platform play

Samuel Axon — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Launches, New titles, Patches, News items, DC Universe Online

DC Universe Online Creative Director Chris Cao told MTV's Multiplayer blog that SOE hopes to support cross-platform play between PlayStation 3 and PC DCUO players, but isn't ready to commit to it just yet.

Cao said that cross-platform play is still high on the priority list, but no definite promise has been made because delivering game updates to PS3 users is a very different process than delivering them to PC users. SOE is still trying to figure out how to do simultaneous updates on both platforms.

We've heard about this problem before, of course. Funcom is facing something similar as it works to port Age of Conan to the Xbox 360. SOE is in a good position to deal with it though, since it is actually a part of the company that's responsible for the PlayStation Network authentication process. "I think if anybody is going to do it and make it simultaneously seamless for people it's going to be us," said Cao. "It's just that we haven't done it yet, so we don't like to promise what we haven't delivered yet."

Patches pose a problem for DC Universe Online cross-platform play originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrazyKinux answers EVE Online questions for WoW players

Samuel Axon — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Sci-fi, EVE Online

If you're a World of Warcraft player looking for something completely different, head over to CrazyKinux's blog and read what he has to say to WoW players looking to make the move to the alien beast that is EVE Online. It reads a bit like one of those articles designed to ease PC users into a transition to Apple's Mac computers.

EVE blogger, Drone Bay podcast co-host, and former Massively contributor CrazyKinux covers many of the bases, noting many of the strongest differences (skill-based instead of level-based character advancement, everyone is on one server instead of scattered between hundreds of small servers, etcetera). He also links to several articles written by him and others that are helpful to newbies.

It's a fantastic post -- a perfect starting point for anyone considering the switch, or even for folks just curious about what EVE is all about. CrazyKinux ends on a pretty funny quote, too: "EVE is like a sandbox with land mines. Deal with it." But don't let that scare you. Really. We named it our #1 Sci-Fi MMO a while back; admittedly that's not saying much, but it ought to count for something, right?

CrazyKinux answers EVE Online questions for WoW players originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX08: Talking with Champions Online's content lead, Zeke Sparkes

Kyle Horner — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Super-hero, Interviews, New titles, Massively Interviews, Massively Event Coverage, Champions Online

After speaking with John Layman at PAX08, our second Champions Online interview was with content lead Zeke Sparkes. We talked sound effects, travel powers, character creation, controls and zone creation among other things. In fact, we actually got a short period of hands-on time with the game prior to the interview.

So far, Champions Online had only been playable with the Xbox 360 controller, but we were able to finally try the keyboard and mouse controls at PAX. Instead of hitting a face button on the Xbox controller to do your basic attack, you tap an assigned number-key on your keyboard. As you do this, you build up energy and can move through the rest of the powers, which for us were set to the rest of the numbered keys. Overall, the keyboard and mouse controls feel tight and responsive for a game scheduled to launch in Spring of 2009.

Continue reading PAX08: Talking with Champions Online's content lead, Zeke Sparkes

PAX08: Talking with Champions Online's content lead, Zeke Sparkes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMOs on Big Download's most anticipated games list

Samuel Axon — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Expansions, New titles, Warhammer Online

In addition to offering game-related downloads, our sister site Big Download covers PC news in general -- not just MMOs. But when it put together a list of the most anticipated games of the coming season, two MMOs figured prominently: Warhammer Online and World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King.

In addition to simply listing the games, Big Download rates each release's chance of success. Of WotLK it says "near-perfect ... as close to a slam dunk as you're likely to get." On the other hand, it's a bit more skeptical about Warhammer Online. The article says that WAR's chances of success are "in question" because new MMOs in general usually have a rough time of it.

Check out the feature for more details, and to see what the other games on the list are if you're into more than just MMOs.

MMOs on Big Download's most anticipated games list originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E308: First footage of DC Universe Online

Kyle Horner — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Trailers, New titles, News items, DC Universe Online

Did you hear? Jim Lee showed up at the E3 2008 Sony press conference and not only talked about DC Universe Online, but showed it too! Our initial thoughts on the video? While purportedly still pretty early on (even though Lee mentioned that they'd been working on the project for three years now) the footage doesn't look bad at all. However, it does remind us quite a bit of the EverQuest 2 graphics engine. We just hope that it's only a visual resemblance and not a technical one -- as that engine has some troubles we'd rather like to not see in DC Universe Online.

It's quite nice to see all of our favorite characters represented in this trailer. We even get some Black Adam love, which was entirely unexpected! We're sure to have more information about the game for you as E3 continues, so stay tuned, go order some spandex and keep your bat-radar on!

Hungry for more DCUO news? Massively got the scoop at E3 from Creative Director Chris Cao, SOE-Austin VP of development John Blakely, and Executive Creative Director for the project, Jim Lee. Check out the roundup of all the DCUO coverage from E3 including interviews, screenshots, a full breakdown of the trailer and analysis of DCUO's role on the console. Plus, don't miss the rest of our E3 coverage!

E308: First footage of DC Universe Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buy this box for $60 or go to hell

James Egan — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Economy, Events, real-world, News items

"Buy this box for $60 or go to hell, I don't want your money." That's the message on the tunnel vision of boxed game sales that Alex St. John, CEO of WildTangent, is trying to get across to the gaming industry. The dominant business model in PC gaming largely ignores the possibilities of in-game transactions and ad-sponsored gameplay. St. John spoke on the need to pursue new gaming revenue models at the recent ION Game Conference in Seattle and more recently, at the 6th annual Wedbush Morgan Securities Management Access Conference in New York City. Gamasutra followed St. John at both events, where the WildTangent CEO raised some eyebrows when he asserted,"In a few years any business not making money from ads is leaving half their money on the table."

According to St. John, the industry fixation on boxed sales will be the downfall of a number of companies that fail to change their business models and embrace in-game or in-world revenue streams. "There's a wide open opportunity here. Anybody can get into this, and everything the traditional publishers and game companies know about doing business will ensure their failure," he stated at ION.

Continue reading Buy this box for $60 or go to hell

Buy this box for $60 or go to hell originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 May 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Funcom: "maze of challenges" ahead for cross-platform Conan

Samuel Axon — Wed, 28 May 2008 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Interviews, New titles, News items, Consoles

Age of Conan is not the first MMO to release on consoles as well as the PC. Phantasy Star Universe and Final Fantasy XI were among the vanguards there. Unfortunately, the existing precedents haven't made it look easy. There are a lot of issues to consider. Will Xbox Live (or the PlayStation Network, if the game ever lands on Sony's shores) download regulations prevent prompt bug patching? Will PC users be forced to use voice chat, or will 360 users be forced to buy keyboards? How does one design a user interface that will be equally effective with a console controller and a keyboard/mouse combo?

According to Funcom Project Manager Jorgen Theraldsen, these and other questions have been at the forefront of the development team's thoughts since the beginning. In an interview with MMORPG, he revealed that AoC's combat system has gone through nine iterations throughout Funcom's quest to make it appealing to console users. He admitted that the team still faces "a maze of challenges." At the same time, he assured PC users that the game will not be simplified or held back to make things easier for 360 players. A fine balance, that.

Choosing between the two platforms is probably easy, but many potential players only have one or the other. Funcom will have to keep them all happy if this is going to work. That won't be an easy task.

Funcom: "maze of challenges" ahead for cross-platform Conan originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 May 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMOGology: Age of Conan, PC vs 360

Marc Nottke — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Age of Conan, New titles, Opinion, MMOGology, Consoles

Age of Conan's official release date is tomorrow (May 20, 2008) and MMOG players around the world are salivating at the chance to get down and dirty in the world of Hyboria. In fact, the level of interest is so intense that as I'm writing this article I can't even access the official Age of Conan website due to the high volume of traffic. With Funcom reporting one million beta test subscriptions, it looks like Conan may lay down some serious competition in the MMOG market.

Any time an MMOG looks to bring in big numbers, people inevitably ask whether or not it can challenge the current king of the hill, Blizzard's World of Warcraft. Personally, I don't think that's Funcom's goal. Sure they want to be successful, but unlike Blizzard, they aren't targeting a broad demographic of players. Instead, it appears that Funcom's goal is to capture a mature audience of hardcore gamers. The violence and sexual content that give Conan a Mature rating are obviously two indications of this target audience. Another indicator is the game's steep system requirements.

Typically steep system requirements are a barrier to many gamers. However, unlike most other MMOGs, Age of Conan won't be solely available on the PC. Gamers have the unique option of playing AoC on Xbox 360 and possibly on PS3. I'll discuss AoC's system requirements and the pros and cons of both platforms after the break.

Continue reading MMOGology: Age of Conan, PC vs 360

MMOGology: Age of Conan, PC vs 360 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Announcing Joystiq's newest sibling: Big Download (beta!)

Barb Dybwad — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Massively Meta

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!

Announcing 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.

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