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[Leaderboard: Gaming on desktops vs. laptops]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/leaderboard-gaming-on-desktops-vs-laptops/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/leaderboard-gaming-on-desktops-vs-laptops/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/leaderboard-gaming-on-desktops-vs-laptops/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Gaming platforms
I have both a desktop and laptop computer that I use regularly. My desktop is my mainstay; a gaming fortress with loads of power and storage space with a 22" screen. My laptop is the best portable gaming machine that $650 could buy, which was surprisingly quite a lot. While it doesn't have the muscle of my desktop, it will run most everything just fine -- and let me do so while I'm reclining on the couch, in bed, or in line at the DMV (their wifi is awesome).

It strikes me that there's no gold standard when it comes to gaming platforms for MMOs. Excluding mobile and console devices for the moment, I'm vastly curious how many of you prefer to game on a desktop or a laptop. Do you enjoy the extra bang for the buck that desktop machines give you, or is your trusty laptop with its size and portability all the technology you'll ever need?

Let's hash it out on the Leaderboard today: Is it better to go with a gaming desktop or laptop? Vote after the jump and then back up your opinion in the comments!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Gaming on desktops vs. laptops

MassivelyLeaderboard: Gaming on desktops vs. laptops originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royaldesktopdmvgaming-desktopgaming-laptopgaming-platformlaptopleaderboardone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionplatformpollpollsversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 07 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Conquer Online taking itself on to the iPad]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/conquer-online-taking-itself-on-to-the-ipad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/conquer-online-taking-itself-on-to-the-ipad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/conquer-online-taking-itself-on-to-the-ipad/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The ballad of FurnitureNPC is even longer than that of Captain Placeholder.
Conquer Online took the step toward cross-platform play options not so long ago with the release of a Mac client, but it's moving forward yet again. The game is going to be launching on the iPad as well in the very near future, complete with a touch-based interface and all of the game's existing free-to-play content. While the iPad has seen its share of MMO-style games since its introduction, this is the first time an established game has been ported over to the platform.

And make no mistake, there are a lot of features available to players, as evidenced by the game guide for players planning on moving in to the iPad version. Take a look past the cut for a trailer previewing the gameplay and mechanics on the tablet, and keep your eyes peeled for the exact release date. It's not quite the World of Warcraft demo someone managed to run on the iPad a few years back, but it's still quite interesting.

[Source: Press release]

Continue reading Conquer Online taking itself on to the iPad

MassivelyConquer Online taking itself on to the iPad originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conquer-onlinef2pfree-to-playiosipadmobilemobile-devicesnewsplatformplatformsportingportspreview-trailerpreviewstrailertrailersvideovideo-previewvideosThu, 29 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Outspark announces Flint publishing platform]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/outspark-announces-flint-publishing-platform/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/outspark-announces-flint-publishing-platform/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/outspark-announces-flint-publishing-platform/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Outspark -- makers of popular free-to-play MMOs Fiesta, Luvinia, and more -- announced today the release of its new publishing platform, Outspark Flint. It's a logical addition, considering the company's recent move to publishing third-party titles.

Outspark believes that Flint will bring new MMO titles into the reach of the more than 200 million players that Outspark commands. The first game on the Flint platform is Lord of Ages, an MMORTS which went live last week. Outspark claims that "the platform is enabling Lord of Ages to reach an even larger audience." The platform itself is an "open API that provides third-party developers and operators with all of the tools necessary for distribution, user acquisition, analytics, monetization, marketing and operations." Whether this new platform indeed helps Outspark reach its goals or not, we'll have to wait and see.

MassivelyOutspark announces Flint publishing platform originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>distributionf2pflintfree-to-playlord-of-agesoutsparkoutspark-flintplatformpublishingthird-partythird-party-publishingThu, 07 Jul 2011 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is your rig pimpin', or just plain ghetto?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/the-daily-grind-is-your-rig-pimpin-or-just-plain-ghetto/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/the-daily-grind-is-your-rig-pimpin-or-just-plain-ghetto/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/the-daily-grind-is-your-rig-pimpin-or-just-plain-ghetto/#commentsFiled under: ,

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?

MassivelyThe 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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>computersdaily-grindgaming-rigpcplatformrigshamus-youngtdgthe-daily-grindMon, 26 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOs and the iPhone SDK]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/mmos-and-the-iphone-sdk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/mmos-and-the-iphone-sdk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/mmos-and-the-iphone-sdk/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

As you may already know if (like me) you are an iPhone owner, Apple spent the better part of this morning laying out just what will be in the iPhone SDK, which is basically a set of tools program developers can use to create applications for the shiny little touchscreen cell phone. Wait, did we say applications? I certainly meant games -- Apple (which is not, as of late, known for their gaming prowess) had EA and other game companies appear on stage to show off what kind of games can be based on the platform. I also spend some of my time blogging on TUAW, which is Weblogs, Inc's Apple blog, and I went on record there a while ago saying that the iPhone is the best handheld gaming device ever. Given what we saw today (along with the fact that programmers will have access to the gadget's multitouch, accelerometer, and even microphone and camera features), I believe that more than ever -- all we need is some games to play on it.

So what does this all mean for massively multiplayer games? Lots.

Continue reading MMOs and the iPhone SDK

MassivelyMMOs and the iPhone SDK originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appledevelopersdevicefeaturedgaminghandheldiphonemobileplatformsdktuawThu, 06 Mar 2008 21:30:00 EST