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[Mythos Europe attracts 250,000 players in two weeks, throws double XP weekend]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/mythos-europe-attracts-250-000-players-in-two-weeks-throws-doub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/mythos-europe-attracts-250-000-players-in-two-weeks-throws-doub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/mythos-europe-attracts-250-000-players-in-two-weeks-throws-doub/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's only been 15 days since Mythos Europe launched, but the resurrected action MMO is already seeing impressive results. According to Frogster, over 250,000 players have jumped into the game for some hectic hack-n-slash fun.

The company also provided some revealing statistics as it monitored its quarter-million playerbase. Apparently, the most popular class is the Bloodletter (40% of players), followed by the Pyromancer (32%) and Gadgeteer (28%). A full third of the playerbase chose the human race, with 28% going over to the Gremlins, 27% to the Satyrs, and 15% to the Cyclops. Finally, 66% of the characters created are male. So if you want to be a rarity, rolling a female Cyclops Gadgeteer is the way to go!

To celebrate this auspicious milestone, Frogster is rewarding its enthusiastic players with double XP for quests and monster kills this weekend. You can catch all of Mythos' double XP action from now until Monday at 12:00 p.m. EDT.

MassivelyMythos Europe attracts 250,000 players in two weeks, throws double XP weekend originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 May 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analysisbloodletterbreakdownclassescyclopsdouble-xpdouble-xp-weekendeventfrogstergadgeteergendergremlinhanbitsofthumanin-game-eventmythosmythos-eumythos-europeplayerbasepyromancerracessatyrstatisticsFri, 13 May 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[John Smedley thinks Free Realms is on track for 100 million players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/05/john-smedley-thinks-free-realms-is-on-track-for-100-million-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/05/john-smedley-thinks-free-realms-is-on-track-for-100-million-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/05/john-smedley-thinks-free-realms-is-on-track-for-100-million-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If you think World of Warcraft's 12 million players is impressive, SOE dares you to think bigger -- a lot bigger. John Smedley told GamesIndustry.biz that he sees Free Realms growing to up to 100 million players over time.

Before last week's PlayStation 3 launch, Free Realms boasted 17 million players, a number that is sure to increase now that the game is available on a console as well.

But 100 million? Smedley doesn't think that's so far-fetched: "[Seventeen million] is a phenomenal number, and we're very pleased with its success -- and it's really keeping going. I don't see this thing stopping until it hits 100 million. I think it could take five or six years -- that should give you some idea [of the time frame we're looking at]. But I don't see any reason why it can't go to 100 million, because there are so many kids out there."

Smedley also hopes that the PS3 won't be the only console to which Free Realms and other SOE titles migrate, citing the recently announced NGP as a potential candidate: "Sony's announced the NGP, and if that isn't a perfect machine for doing MMOs on, then I don't know what is. So it's too soon to tell for sure but I think you're going to start seeing free-to-play gaming on consoles as well."

MassivelyJohn Smedley thinks Free Realms is on track for 100 million players originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100-millionfree-realmsgamesindustry.bizjohn-smedleyngpplayerbaseplaystation-3ps3soesony-online-entertainmentworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 05 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan server merger was requested by the players?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/age-of-conan-server-merger-was-requested-by-the-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/age-of-conan-server-merger-was-requested-by-the-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/age-of-conan-server-merger-was-requested-by-the-players/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Early last week we discussed the upcoming server merge coming to Funcom's Age of Conan. Announced by new game Director Craig Morrison, the merge will combine a few of the lower population servers and (hopefully) will give players a more vibrant play experience. Jørgen Tharaldsen, Product Director for the game, has now stated publicly that they went ahead with plans for the merge only because of a vocal outcry from the playerbase in that direction.

Speaking with the site Strategy Informer, Tharaldsen stated "I think that people who are playing Conan are actually very happy about the news, and indeed it's been one of the most requested things from our playerbase. The essence of any MMO is the social experience, and right now people are spread out a bit too thin across the servers." He goes on to note that server merges only primarily help players that are already in the game. Convincing new players to try out the title is the next step, one they're currently working on behind the scenes at the company. We'll follow the story of AoC's server merge as it moves forward.
[Via 1up]
Warhammer Online Coverage 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!

MassivelyAge of Conan server merger was requested by the players? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocfuncomplayerbaseserver-mergeTue, 07 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Social Gaming Summit: Casual MMOs and Immersive Worlds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/the-social-gaming-summit-casual-mmos-and-immersive-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/the-social-gaming-summit-casual-mmos-and-immersive-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/the-social-gaming-summit-casual-mmos-and-immersive-worlds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Friday the 13th: An inauspicious day for the superstitious crowd, but a great day for attendees of the Social Gaming Summit, held in San Francisco. The day saw a schedule full of great panels, populated by some of the industry's finest movers and shakers, among them representatives from Gaia Online, Nexon, Three Rings, and Gamasutra, among others too numerous to list here.

A particular highlight of the conference for this blogger was the panel entitled "Casual MMOs and Immersive Worlds", which provided a lively discussion on what it means to create a virtual social space, how to monetize free-to-play content, and what exactly is a casual MMO? Trying to divide attention between listening raptly and taking notes is difficult; here is the result, along with the panelists, after the jump.

Continue reading The Social Gaming Summit: Casual MMOs and Immersive Worlds

MassivelyThe Social Gaming Summit: Casual MMOs and Immersive Worlds originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auditioncasual-gamesclub-penguineventfeaturedfree-to-playgaia-onlinejoystiqfeaturesk2-networkkart-riderlostmaple-storymassively-event-coveragemicrotransactionsneopetsnexonpanelplayerbasescionsocial-gaming-summittexas-hold-emWed, 18 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom boasts 400,000 players in Age of Conan so far]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/26/funcom-boasts-400-000-players-in-age-of-conan-so-far/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/26/funcom-boasts-400-000-players-in-age-of-conan-so-far/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/26/funcom-boasts-400-000-players-in-age-of-conan-so-far/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

An official release from Funcom has announced that Age of Conan is one of the most successful PC titles "of all time." Since the game's release last Tuesday the Oslo company says that some 400,000 players have stalked the lands of Hyboria. A full half of those players are from the North American continent. If you recall, the company said that it had put roughly 700,000 boxes into the retail channel. Though they don't give specific numbers, the release says "an astounding number of concurrent gamers were logged on to the game, making Age of Conan one of the busiest MMOs in the western hemisphere." The official website received heavy traffic as well, with "2.2 million unique visitors" in the last ten days.

The release also notes the game's extremely positive reaction from review sites, with "the first 20 reviews [giving] Age of Conan an average score above 90%." Obviously that's some selective statistical selection, but generally the response among the playerbase seems to be fairly positive. Keen and Graev's decision to skip the game aside, everyone this blogger has talked to seems to be enjoying themselves. Even if Age of Conan isn't a "WoW-killer", or fails to retain these numbers beyond the next few months, it's clear that Funcom has a successful launch on their hands.

Continue reading Funcom boasts 400,000 players in Age of Conan so far

MassivelyFuncom boasts 400,000 players in Age of Conan so far originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 May 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocbreakingfuncomlaunchplayerbasestatisticsMon, 26 May 2008 11:00:00 EST