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: How long do you really plan to play a new title?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/02/the-daily-grind-how-long-do-you-really-plan-to-play-a-new-title/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/02/the-daily-grind-how-long-do-you-really-plan-to-play-a-new-title/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/02/the-daily-grind-how-long-do-you-really-plan-to-play-a-new-title/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Let's be honest with ourselves for a moment. While we like to talk about being a lifetime member of a new game, we generally are referring to the game's lifespan rather than our own. No matter how awesome a game is on release, it's going to show signs of age over time, and some of us just don't have the attention span or the will to stick with a game for years on end. It's unusual to even get the chance to be in a game from opening day to closing day, and there are few Ultima Online players who were there at launch and refuse to start a new game until they're completely finished with this one.

So we leave. And when we buy a new game, in the back of our minds we pretty much know that an online game is a long-term commitment, but not necessarily a lifetime one. So how long do you expect to be playing a new game once you buy it? Did you purchase RIFT expecting to get a solid six months out of it before you moved on, or did you pick up Aion just for the free trial month? Or did you go the other route, buying Star Trek Online at launch and sticking with it for at least two or three years before changing games?

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: How long do you really plan to play a new title? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionculturegameplaylife-of-playlifetimenew-gamesnew-titlesopinionplanningplaytimeriftstar-trek-onlinestotdgthe-daily-grindultima-onlineuoSat, 02 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The story of the story]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/storyboard-the-story-of-the-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/storyboard-the-story-of-the-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/storyboard-the-story-of-the-story/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Two weeks ago, I went over the bare minimums of running a long-standing story in an MMO. Specifically, I was covering the more administrative and less narrative aspects of keeping a story going, due in no small part to the fact that you can't actually plan most of a story in a consensual environment. Instead, what you plan are setpieces and isolated incidents for everyone to interact with, smaller bits of stage setting that weave together into a larger and more satisfying whole.

If you couldn't guess, though, today I'm going to focus more on the latter. For an ongoing story in a game, you need to have some structure and some motivation to keep moving, so you're going to have to know a bit about creating engaging scenes and keeping everyone engaged. This, of course, is no small task in a tabletop game, where you have complete control of surrounding events and are creating a scene to facilitate the characters of others. It gets wonderfully more complex when you're setting up a scene for your character without any control of NPCs or surrounding environments.

Continue reading Storyboard: The story of the story

MassivelyStoryboard: The story of the story originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backgroundcolumncraftingfeaturedgroup-coordinationgroup-planningloreopinionplanningroleplayingrpstoriesstorystoryboardFri, 04 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: World of Craft-craft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/16/the-mog-log-world-of-craft-craft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/16/the-mog-log-world-of-craft-craft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/16/the-mog-log-world-of-craft-craft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Crafting is optional in Final Fantasy XIV, but that word doesn't mean what it usually means in games. You don't have to take any local levequests or take part in crafting to level up, but you'll find yourself far more constrained and advancing your physical level far more slowly if you ignore the crafting side of things. It should be obvious, really -- combining local and regional guildleves gives you plenty of content, but just doing one or the other might leave you feeling a bit spare, and a full half of the classes are crafting classes to begin with.

Of course, the problem quickly turns from "should I bother crafting" to "where do I start?" And that's not even touching on issues of inventory, crafts that work well with others, and which crafts support which classes. So this week, I'm going to take a look at crafting as I've seen it thus far and offer some tips on keeping yourself balanced and sane. Or at least minimizing the enraged outburst when you botch the synthesis at 99%.

Continue reading The Mog Log: World of Craft-craft

MassivelyThe Mog Log: World of Craft-craft originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesclass-abilitiesclassescraftingcraftsdisciplines-of-the-handfeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivplanningproductionsquaresquare-enixstrategysynthesisSat, 16 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How much planning do you want for your character?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/the-daily-grind-how-much-planning-do-you-want-for-your-characte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/the-daily-grind-how-much-planning-do-you-want-for-your-characte/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/the-daily-grind-how-much-planning-do-you-want-for-your-characte/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

All MMOs require some amount of planning for your character ahead of time. Sometimes it's just a matter of choosing whether you want to be a warrior or a healer (with apologies to game-specific terms), but sometimes you wind up in a game with a much longer list of options. There are differing talent builds in World of Warcraft, different Virtue specializations in Lord of the Rings Online, and buckets of different skill loadouts for Guild Wars. And that's not getting into the bevy of class options available in Dungeons and Dragons Online.

But some people really dislike that approach. After all, it kind of does suck if you get to level 50 only to find that you made a bad choice back at level 14 that's going to screw your character forever. That's where you get reversible choices and non-permanent selections... but you still have to make some choices early on that you can't undo later. So how much do you like to plan out your characters in advance? Do you prefer games that let you make all your choices as you go, with no wrong options? Or do you like making long and detailed arrangements for your characters' future?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How much planning do you want for your character? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-developmentcharacter-planningchoicesdevelopment-choicesopinionplanningspecializationsspecstdgthe-daily-grindThu, 16 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Lasting past level two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/storyboard-lasting-past-level-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/storyboard-lasting-past-level-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/storyboard-lasting-past-level-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So you have what you are absolutely certain is a spectacular idea for a character. You spend the better part of a week planning and preparing for this new addition to your stable of alts. Then you create your character, get into the starting area, and you start going to town... and then you log off. And you never touch that character again, because every time you think about logging back in, a deep malaise takes over and you quickly switch to someone else.

It's not that you didn't genuinely want to play the character. But for whatever reason, that concept that you had which was so solid turned out to be lacking a fundamental element: something to make you stick with him. It's a bad fate for a good concept, and today, we're taking a closer look at how you can try to ensure that your newest baby doesn't end up getting tossed out with the bathwater.

Continue reading Storyboard: Lasting past level two

MassivelyStoryboard: Lasting past level two originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicecharacter-conceptcharacter-typeconceptconceptsfeaturedopinionplanningpracticeproblem-conceptsroleplayingrpstoryboardtipsFri, 13 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: A group effort]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/storyboard-a-group-effort/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/storyboard-a-group-effort/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/storyboard-a-group-effort/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Roleplaying is like many other activities in MMOs -- it can't be done alone. That means that no matter how much of an antisocial player you might be for the rest of the game, you'll need a number of other people to make any roleplaying work. By extension, any longer storylines and character development require people working together with some level of consistency. You can technically have a character's development take place without the same audience, of course, but it won't mean as much to the late arrivals.

Put very simply, you want a coherent overarching sequence of events that you can point to for your characters. This is going to require some level of group coordination, and group RP events are a great excuse for roleplaying bonds to form anyway, so it's fully endorsed. For this week's Storyboard, we're going to take a look at running a group event in the smoothest way possible, ranging from a simple one-off night of adventure to a long guild-wide storyline that ends with time travel. (You know the story is really getting overwrought when the time travel makes things simpler, see.)

Continue reading Storyboard: A group effort

MassivelyStoryboard: A group effort originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charactersdebatesdisputeseventsfeaturedgenrein-game-eventsneutralityplanningplayer-run-eventsplottingroleplayingrpschedulingstoryboardFri, 30 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The metagame and its importance to MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/the-metagame-and-its-importance-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/the-metagame-and-its-importance-to-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/the-metagame-and-its-importance-to-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,


What is the metagame? It can mean a lot of different things depending on context, but all of the meanings share the sense that the metagame is not the game itself, but something above and affecting the game as a whole. In a casual game of poker, the metagame could be as simple as one of the players having an exceedingly poor poker face which makes betting that much easier. On a more complex scale, you have things such as the entire Band of Brothers incident on EVE Online, which has been called by some as what amounts to a forum war that was fought out over the space of the game.

That's a Terrible Idea recently had a post regarding the problem of MMOs as "serious" games due to how they interact with the entire concept of the metagame. As the post outlines, you're first cut out from the endgame by the leveling game, which is changing the variables of the game itself, and when you finally reach the end of the curve most of the strategy involves memorizing specific character builds and raid strategies. The metagame, in this case defined as "the process of strategizing and conceptualizing out of the game," thrives on the viability of different strategies and the necessity of discussion. While there are certainly sites devoted to this sort of theoretical work, they frequently involve simply boiling everything down to a single optimal setup. Take a look at the article (and, if needed, the supplementary piece on terminology), as it's interesting for anyone with an affection for the genre and its overall development.

MassivelyThe metagame and its importance to MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>level-curvelevelingmetagamesmetagamingplanningserious-gamesstrategiesstrategizingthats-a-terrible-ideaSun, 13 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE and Sun Tzu's "The Art of War"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/eve-and-sun-tzus-the-art-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/eve-and-sun-tzus-the-art-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/20/eve-and-sun-tzus-the-art-of-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Sun Tzu: Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.

The 6th century B.C. military treatise, The Art of War by Sun Tzu, serves admirably as a tract on corporate espionage and warfare in EVE Online's far future backdrop of New Eden. It is, after all, a corporation-dominated setting and game where player organizations perpetually fight for supremacy over their competitors. As The Art of War is required reading in some MBA programs, it stands to reason it could have some practical applications to a game based around military conglomerates. Warfare in EVE, while limited by game mechanics as to what's possible (as all games are of course), can have a heavy social component. Paired with the sandbox nature of the game, there are numerous possibilities in EVE that most other MMOs simply don't offer, or can't offer through their respective game mechanics.

Much of The Art of War focuses on deception, situational awareness, and overcoming your opponents through cunning rather than brute force. Of course, brute force has worked rather well for some prominent alliances, but without strategic thinking guiding their campaigns, it would all come undone at some point. Strategy is the focus of a new series of articles from Black Claw of EVE Online blog "The Travels of Black Claw." He's just kicked off the first in this series based on a guide to warfare he created for his EVE corporation. First up is "The Art of War: Laying Plans" -- which deals with assessing your own organization and the relative strength of the opposition, then figuring out how best to counter that opposition. Black Claw stated that next up will be "Waging War." Sun Tzu's The Art of War also deals with topics like stages of a competitive campaign, the importance of varying tactics, and the use of spies. Assuming Black Claw continues with his guide along these lines, it should be an interesting series of articles.

MassivelyEVE and Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-clawccpccp-gamesconflictcunningdeceptioneveeve-onlinegame-mechanicsnew-edenopinionplanningpvpsandboxstealthstrategysun-tzusun-zithe-art-of-warthe-travels-of-black-clawwarwarfareMon, 20 Oct 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively goes to Dragon*Con: Monday events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/massively-goes-to-dragon-con-monday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/massively-goes-to-dragon-con-monday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/massively-goes-to-dragon-con-monday-events/#comments All times Eastern. Post will be updated as schedule changes, so be sure to bookmark this and check back! Also of note: frosty adult beverages will be on sale at all night-time ballroom events.

Athens Room:

10:00 AM
 Anarchy Online: Q&A with Funcom
Jorgen Tharaldsen and Terri Perkins from Funcom will answer your questions about Anarchy Online and show you that Rubi-ka is very much alive and well.
11:30 AM
 Gaia Online: Q&A with Gaia Interactive
Gaia is hosting a special Gaia Online gathering where Gaia Online members can meet each other and hang out while making new friends. Come get to know your fellow Gaian's on a personal level. In addition to hanging out, all attendees will receive a special prize!
1:00 PM
 Free MMOGs you should check out
Want to play MMOs, but are on a tight budget? This is the place for you! Krystalle Voecks from Massively discusses some interesting MMOs on the 'net that cost absolutely nothing to play.
2:30 PM
 Post MMOrtem / Survivor's gathering
Don't miss your chance to take a parting shot at our staff and let them know what went wrong (or right) this year. If we missed a game that you wanted to see, this is your best chance to let us know about it. Bring coffee... and donuts... and anything else that might cure a hangover.

MassivelyMassively goes to Dragon*Con: Monday events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlantaconventiondc-2008dragon-condragonconevent-coverageeventsmmo-trackmmogmmorpgpanelsplanningscheduleswow-insiderTue, 26 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively goes to Dragon*Con: Sunday events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/massively-goes-to-dragon-con-sunday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/massively-goes-to-dragon-con-sunday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/massively-goes-to-dragon-con-sunday-events/#comments All times Eastern. Post will be updated as schedule changes, so be sure to bookmark this and check back! Also of note: frosty adult beverages will be on sale at all night-time ballroom events.

Athens Room:

10:00 AM
 Star Wars Galaxies: Q&A with SOE
In MMO parlance, "A long time ago..." is 5 years, and "...a galaxy far, far away" means "on the Internet." Join Alan "Brenlo" Crosby for a look at Sony Online Entertainment's version of George Lucas' universe.
11:30 AM
 AQ Worlds
How do you fit a massively multiplayer game in a web browser? Meet the friendly team from Artix Entertainment and find out! They are the creators of popular (and slightly campy) web games AdventureQuest, DragonFable and MechQuest. Join them and see how they are making their way through building their first MMO. Battle on!
1:00 PM
 Maintaining Wife (or Husband) faction
Tired of fighting your worst battles after the raid is over? Come and join Kevin Stallard and Krystalle Voecks from Massively as they discuss how to keep your significant other happy while still having time to play your favorite games.
2:30 PM
 Age of Conan: Q&A with Funcom
Come chat with Jorgen Tharaldsen and Terri Perkins from Funcom, as they discuss upcoming changes and take your questions.
4:00 PM
 Champions Online: Q&A with Cryptic
Meet Sam Clifford, Senior Designer at Cryptic Studios and developer of the Superhero MMORPG "Champions Online," as he shows off some of the features of this upcoming game and answers your questions.
5:30 PM
 Second Life: Games within the metaverse
Just what is Second Life and how do I use it to have fun? You have questions, this panel has answers. A brief overview of SL will no doubt devolve into discussions of the building, the scripting, fashion, the currency, and the games within Linden Lab's virtual world.
12:00 AM
 Late Night Machinima
In the finest traditions of "Late Night Kung Fu Theater" and "The Late Late Late Movie", we present the lighter side of Machinima. Join Christina "Romily" Rollins for some of the finest fan-made films using characters from your favorite MMO games.

Augusta Room:

10:00 AM

 Legal and ethical Issues in MMO gaming (The gold-farming panel)
Back by popular demand, come and let your "Inner Johnny Cochran" out for an hour. If the gold is farmed, who gets harmed? Who really owns all that stuff that you work (play) so hard to get or make? If you came to Dragon*Con seeking legal advice, you should probably seek professional (psychiatric) help. If, however, you want to come and get into a good discussion, then this is the place to be.
11:30 AM

 EverQuest: Q&A with SOE
Join us for a chat with Alan "Brenlo" Crosby as we discuss one of the oldest and most popular MMORPGs of all time. From the Kunark expansion to Living Legacy, EQ has come a long way.
1:00 PM
 EverQuest II: Q&A with SOE
Alan Crosby (Brenlo) will talk about what Sony has planned for EQ2 and will answer your questions.
2:30 PM
 So you'd like to work in the MMO industry?
Scott Holden from CCP Games (EVE Online). Mark Capps (Unreal), and Mark Crump will answer your questions about how to get into the Massively Multiplayer Online Gaming industry. If you're an artist, designer, programmer, writer, or just a fan of the genre, join us for an inside look at how it all happens.
4:00 PM
 WoW Add-ons
MMORPGs in general, and World of Warcraft in particular, never seem to have a user interface that does everything we want it to. There are millions of add-ons out there that promise to do everything from dress you appropriately to cast your spells for you with a simple click of the mouse. How do you find them? What is dangerous? What's coming in Wrath?? Krystalle Voecks and Mark Crump have some answers that may help.
5:30 PM
 Tabula Rasa: Player Gathering
Come and meet your fellow Tabula Rasa players. Share some war stories of fighting the Bane, hoist a cold beverage or two, and have a good time.

Capital Ballroom:

7:00 PM


MMO Trivia contest
We have prizes up for grabs -- but this game isn't about loot; It's about bragging rights. Everyone plays, anyone can win. You can pre-register as a team on the DC MMO website or catch up with the D*C MMO staff in person at any of our panels during the weekend. The only "charge" to play is that you have fun!
10:00 PM

 World of Warcraft: An evening with WoW Insider & Massively
Here it is. The one you've all been asking for since last year, when we packed not one, but two rooms and had to turn away 300 more people because we couldn't cram anyone else in the door. The WoW party is back with a vengeance. Come and represent the Alliance or the Horde in a battle of epic partying. We're going to punt gnomes, nerf warlocks, and make last year's get together look like a tea party. Oh, and we'll have some schwag too. You know, if you're into that kind of thing.

MassivelyMassively goes to Dragon*Con: Sunday events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlantaconventiondc-2008dragon-condragonconevent-coverageeventsmmo-trackmmogmmorpgpanelsplanningscheduleswow-insiderTue, 26 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively goes to Dragon*Con: Saturday events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/massively-goes-to-dragon-con-saturday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/massively-goes-to-dragon-con-saturday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/massively-goes-to-dragon-con-saturday-events/#comments All times Eastern. Post will be updated as schedule changes, so be sure to bookmark this and check back! Also of note: frosty adult beverages will be on sale at all night-time ballroom events.

Athens Room:

10:00 AM
 [Updated] Free Realms: Demo / Q&A with SOE
Join us as Sony Online Entertainment's Alan "Brenlo" Crosby shows us this upcoming free-to-play MMO offering. Free Realms marks an exciting new direction for SOE, sure to interest gamer kids and parents! Get a look before the beta!
11:30 AM
 Force of Arms: Q&A with Wardog Studios
This talk will cover the history, strategies, methods of developing Force of Arms along with features and an insider look at this Sci-fi mech MMOG. Also included will be a look at creating a MMO as an independent entity, both in the technical and business aspects.
1:00 PM
 Pirates of the Burning Sea: Q&A with Flying Lab
Yarr, matey! Come and meet the motley crew from Flying Lab as they answer your questions about Pirates of the Burning Sea.
2:30 PM
 Champions Online: Q&A with Cryptic
Meet Sam Clifford, Senior Designer at Cryptic Studios and developer of the Super-hero MMORPG Champions Online. Sam will be showing off some of the features of this upcoming game and answering your questions.
4:00 PM
 WAAAGH! Tales from the Warhammer Online beta
The Dragon*Con staff has managed to get an inside look at Mythic's upcoming title, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, and they're going to tell you all about it. Join us.
12:00 AM
 Late Night Machinima
Come join Christina "Romily" Rollins for more gaming machinima than you even knew was out there. Feature both award-winning artists and up-and-coming names in the machinima scene!

Augusta Room:

11:30 AM

 Stargate Worlds: Sneak preview
Sure, D*C has a Stargate track, but what about the upcoming game? Join some of the D*C crew for discussion and a look at this hot new title.
1:00 PM

 City of Heroes/City of Villains: Player meet-up
Pulchritudinous people of Paragon City, and rambunctious rabble of the Rogue Isles -- come and meet your fellow fearless friends at the City of Heroes and Villains gathering. Share your war stories and meet some old friends, or make some new ones.
2:30 PM
 WoW Drama (aka Schadenfreude 101)
World of Warcraft? Drama? Nooooooo. Join WoW Insider and Massively as we look at some of the things we've seen and heard from the forums, commenters, and more. Bring your own tales of epic lulz to share in this free-form style panel!
4:00 PM
 The Future of Machinima
We've all seen the exploits of Leeroy Jenkins and Red vs. Blue. Machinima is now turning into an art form, Hollywood production tool, and a new type of media in its own right. Join Christina "Romily" Rollins and her special guests, including Matt Kelland, for a look at Machinima today and where it's headed next.
5:30 PM
 Lord of the Rings Online: Player gathering
Are you a tricksy Hobbit? Are you a Dwarf who has been tossed one time too many? Are you an Elf having a really bad (or good) hair day? This is the place for you. Come and meet your fellow LotRO players and swap some tales from the online version of Middle-earth.

Sheraton Capitol Ballroom:

4:30 PM


MMO Costume Contest check-in
Come one, come all! From basic costumes, to highly detailed, entries are welcome from any and all MMOs! Just have a notecard/piece of paper/scrap of bar napkin with your name, the game your costume is from, and a quick description. Note: Contestants for the MMO costume contest must check in no later than 5:00 PM.
5:30 PM

 MMO Costume Contest
Last year, we had an idea, 2 weeks notice, and landed a packed house and a full overflow room. This year, we're ready to do it even bigger, and with even more awesome prizes! Come watch - or dress as your favorite MMO character and join in as Krystalle Voecks from Massively hosts the 2nd Annual MMORPG Costume Contest. Special guest star judges include Jorgen Tharaldsen from Funcom and Alan "Brenlo" Crosby from Sony Online Entertainment.
7:00 PM

 Age of Conan: Demo and Q&A with Funcom
Join us for a chat with Jorgen Tharaldsen and Terri Perkins from Funcom as we discuss what is right, what is wrong, and what is changing with Age of Conan.

Marriott Atrium Ballroom (A601 & A602):

10:00 PM


General MMO Meet & Greet / Mingle
Looking for something to do? Want to make new friends and meet other MMO players? This is the place to be! All MMO players from all games are welcome!

MassivelyMassively goes to Dragon*Con: Saturday events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlantaconventiondc-2008dragon-condragonconevent-coverageeventsmassivelymmo-trackmmogmmorpgpanelsplanningscheduleswow-insiderTue, 26 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively goes to Dragon*Con: Friday events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/dragon-con-scheduling-friday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/dragon-con-scheduling-friday-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/dragon-con-scheduling-friday-events/#comments
All times Eastern. Post will be updated as schedule changes, so be sure to bookmark this and check back! Also of note: frosty adult beverages will be on sale at all night-time ballroom events.

Athens Room:

10:00 AM -
11:30 AM
 DC MMO quest registration
Be an NPC or PC, it's up to you. If you would like to be an NPC for the weekend-long Dragon*Con MMO quest, sign up to receive your instructions. Participation is free!
1:00 PM
 Best of MMO videos
It's like America's Funniest Home Videos, only for gaming videos. Well, slightly more snarky than AFHV and with significantly less Bob Saget. Hosted by Krystalle Voecks.
2:30 PM
 EVE Online: Q&A with CCP
Meet Scott Holden, Lead Mission Designer for EVE Online. Come discuss all the goings on in New Eden!
4:00 PM
 Vanguard: Q&A with SOE
Alan "Brenlo" Crosby and the good folks at Sony Online Entertainment will be here to answer your questions about Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. Come and meet the folks who make it all possible.
5:30 PM
 Achievements in Machinima
What is the current state of the art in Machinima? Christina "Romily" Rollins presents some of the best award-winning machinima from around the globe. Including winners from the Machinima Festival Europe '07, these cutting edge, avant-garde pieces are turning heads and blazing new trails for future machinimists.
12:00 AM
 Machinima Feature: BloodSpell
BloodSpell is Strange Company's first feature length project and is written and directed by Machinima pioneer, Hugh Hancock. Join Christina Rollins (aka Romily) to see BloodSpell, the first feature-length Machinima animated film made using the game Neverwinter Nights. Don't miss this pioneering machinima epic!

Augusta Room:

1:00 PM

 Stargate Worlds: Sneak preview
Sure, D*C has a Stargate track, but what about the upcoming game? Join some of the D*C crew for discussion and a look at this hot new title. [This panel repeats on Saturday at 11:30 AM in the Athens room.]
2:30 PM

 Herding cats 101 (aka Guild Management)
Sometimes the largest challenge in an MMO isn't the raiding; it's getting a group together in the first place. Find out how leaders of successful large guilds get things done - and manage to stay sane.Trevor Legg from <Lost Order of Akalabeth> and Michael McGreevy from <Children of Midian> share their tips and tricks.
4:00 PM
 Guild Wars player gathering
Come meet your fellow Guild Wars players. Make some new friends, and share some dreams for GW2!
5:30 PM
 MMO Etiquette School
Join Mark Crump, Kevin Stallard and Krystalle Voecks (and any other industry folk who decide to pop by) for an old fashioned raucous roundtable of MMOG war stories. Laugh along as the panel and audience swap tales of horror, hilarity and honor in MMOs. For those of you new to MMOGs, this is a great (and funny) object lesson on just what not to do.

Sheraton Capital Ballroom:

7:00PM


World of Warcraft Q&A and Wrath of the Lich King preview
Join Massively and WoW Insider as we answer questions on everything from "old school" raiding to the latest Wrath of the Lich King information in a "no marketing-speak allowed" throw-down. We will also be showing video footage of your first steps as a Death Knight from the current WotLK beta. Note: big fat Wrath spoilers!
10:00 PM

 Funcom's Age of Conan party
According to Conan, the best things in life involve crushing enemies and "der lamentations of der vomen". We can't promise any of that, but we can promise good music, good fun, and good times with the Funcom crew. Come to this hot Hyborean party for prize giveaways, music, contests, and more.

MassivelyMassively goes to Dragon*Con: Friday events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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