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[Storyboard: Another chance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/storyboard-another-chance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/storyboard-another-chance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/18/storyboard-another-chance/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Character regrets are a tricky thing. To be sure, they're a tricky thing that we've already discussed when it comes to making characters, but that's hardly the end. Then you have to bring your character out of the controlled environment of the character creator and into the madness of actual open play. And if you haven't created a regretful character... odds are you've still seen the problem.

Even when you've crafted a character with a dark past and a lot of regrets without falling into maudlin traps... none of that means anything if other players don't know about it. You fall into the trap of telling people you've met not half an hour before about your character's full life history and all her mistakes, and then people get bored and quite possibly wander off.

I focus a lot on character creation, but all of the best backstory in the world won't help you if you don't know how to weave it into actual play. So today I'm going to talk about how to take your character's backstory of mistakes and poor choices and bring it into actual play without sounding like you'll confess your innermost secrets to random passersby.

Continue reading Storyboard: Another chance

MassivelyStoryboard: Another chance originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycharactercolumnculturefeaturefeaturedinteractionsopinionpersonalityplayroleplayingrpstoryboardtipsFri, 18 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your briefest MMO dalliance?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/the-daily-grind-whats-your-briefest-mmo-dalliance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/the-daily-grind-whats-your-briefest-mmo-dalliance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/24/the-daily-grind-whats-your-briefest-mmo-dalliance/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There are some games that we play for months on end and never even bat an eye at the timing. And then there are games that we are given for free and never pick up after two days of play, even if we have no particular reason for leaving them behind. Usually we talk about the games that suck us in and transport us to a new realm, but it's wrong to ignore the games that don't make it very far out of the shrink-wrapped bundle.

Maybe you always wanted to like City of Heroes, but after four trials that didn't grab you it just wasn't worth the effort. Maybe you had pre-ordered Star Trek Online and decided after the pre-order early launch that you didn't actually want to play it any longer. Or perhaps you'd played on World of Warcraft for one night, then heard about the endgame and walked right back out without looking back. What game has had the shortest lifespan for you as an active player? If it was a game that you did pay for, did you do anything to try and recoup the loss?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your briefest MMO dalliance? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abandoned-gamescity-of-heroescohcostopinionpersonal-historyplayplaytimeshortshort-playtimestar-trek-onlinestotdgthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 24 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What is your MMO time worth?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/the-daily-grind-what-is-your-mmo-time-worth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/the-daily-grind-what-is-your-mmo-time-worth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/08/the-daily-grind-what-is-your-mmo-time-worth/#commentsFiled under: ,

Tobold wrote an interesting blog post the other day about the value of time and gaming. In an earlier post, he mentioned that he had spent over 4,579 hours playing World of Warcraft since release. In another, he proclaimed his intentions to spend $100 on Free Realms in its first week. For some reason, his readers reacted more strongly to the FR post than the WoW one.

The reaction seems a bit strange when you consider what Tobold must have spent on his WoW subscription over the years. It's even stranger still when you consider what he could have earned or accomplished if even half those hours were spent on some kind of side job or other "productive" activity. On a purely entertainment level, he's probably getting a pretty good deal in both WoW and FR based on the money he pay to play and you can't work all the time if you want a healthy lifestyle.

We're curious; when it comes to gaming, what is your time worth? Do you take too much, too little, or a balanced amount of downtime for gaming and why?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What is your MMO time worth? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 May 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancegamingplaytimetoboldvalueworkFri, 08 May 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Play.com having WAR pre-order problems]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/play-com-having-war-pre-order-problems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/play-com-having-war-pre-order-problems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/play-com-having-war-pre-order-problems/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


When we last reported on Warhammer Online's pre-order foibles, we knew that the confusion was far from over. There were too many variables going into the distribution of those promotional codes for everything to go strictly according to plan. Predictably, there's some confusion coming in the wake of WAR Europe's announcement that Play.com would soon be distributing the pre-order packs, which include the codes for the Open Beta, the head start, and the exclusive in-game items.

The problem is, European customers who ordered through Play have evidently been hearing differently from customer service. Today some European staffers have finally gotten on top of the problem, explaining that their distribution partners (who act as intermediaries between EA Mythic and Play) were the ones who had informed them the pre-order goodness was going out soon. Apparently some wires were crossed, and people are hearing different information. They've promised to get the situation sorted out promptly.

MassivelyPlay.com having WAR pre-order problems originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>europeopen-betaplayplay.compre-orderWARwar-europewarhammer-alliancewarhammer-onlineWed, 18 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: But all my friends play!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/the-daily-grind-but-all-my-friends-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/the-daily-grind-but-all-my-friends-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/the-daily-grind-but-all-my-friends-play/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Why do we play MMOs? Sure, we could spend all day discussing game design, new content, casual vs. hardcore, class balance (nerf <insert class here>!), PvP, crafting, leveling curve, and economy... but in the end what makes us log on to a game day after day, through nerfs, bugs, and server meltdowns? Chances are, it's not the gameplay -- it's the people. Would you still play your favorite game were it not for your guild (or clan, or fellowship)? Or is your MMO-ing all about the game?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: But all my friends play! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredfriendfriendsguildguildsmmommorpgplaywhyFri, 11 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST