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[City of Heroes performs 'Death of a Statesman']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/city-of-heroes-performs-death-of-a-statesman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/city-of-heroes-performs-death-of-a-statesman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/city-of-heroes-performs-death-of-a-statesman/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Lore nerds may note who's missing among the pallbearers and who's included.
He's been the face on the package, the man on the cover, the big guy above all other big guys. But today, he is no more. Statesman, the most iconic hero in the City of Heroes lore, is going to meet his end, and it's time for everyone to say goodbye. Episode 5 of the signature story arc is live today, and while the titular question "Who Will Die?" has been answered, it's time to see what happens when Statesman does meet his end.

There's more to do than just go play through the arc, however. A new issue of the Intrepid Informer is available in which Matt Miller discusses why the team decided that now is the right time to kill off the game's biggest hero. And if you need a little more help catching up with the story so far, the final vidoc on the arc is embedded just past the cut, giving players a recap of what the Freedom Phalanx is, what is represents, and what this death means for Paragon City.

Continue reading City of Heroes performs 'Death of a Statesman'

MassivelyCity of Heroes performs 'Death of a Statesman' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-freedomcity-of-villainscohcovcoxfreedom-phalanxintrepid-informerlorelore-characterslore-figuresmatt-millerncsoftnpcsparagonparagon-studiospatchesplotsignature-story-arcstatesmanupdateswho-will-dieTue, 17 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO storyline writing: ArenaNet style]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/11/mmo-storyline-writing-arenanet-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/11/mmo-storyline-writing-arenanet-style/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/11/mmo-storyline-writing-arenanet-style/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In a recent interview with Ten Ton Hammer, ArenaNet's Bobby Stein explains a great deal about the process of creating such an intriguing storyline as we have in Guild Wars. The company's Writing Team Lead speaks candidly about how they were able to concentrate the plot into the most efficient and interesting quest lines, walking that fine line between a boring wall of text and "nothing more than quest dispensers."

Speaking briefly on the upcoming Guild Wars 2, Stein adds, "We were able to keep the coolest things from the world while letting the rest remain in the annals of history. Despite all that has changed, Tyria is very much in need of heroes. A lot can change in a few hundred years. New races have risen to prominence. New threats have surfaced. You'll see threads of current Guild Wars history, along with some new stories." Even as there's no new information on Guild Wars 2 here, it's still a compelling article for those interested in learning more about the storyline writing process from one of the best in the business.

MassivelyMMO storyline writing: ArenaNet style originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetbobby-steinguild-warsguild-wars-2plotquestsstorylineten-ton-hammerTue, 11 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The future of storytelling in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/the-future-of-storytelling-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/the-future-of-storytelling-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/16/the-future-of-storytelling-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


We can't help but wonder what the future of MMO storylines may eventually evolve into. So many players have so many various preferences when it comes to their favorite game's plot, that it's not an issue of pleasing everyone at the same time, but what the majority wants. Tobold addresses this issue in his latest blog entry, and speculates on whether or not the MMO storyline will progress in the same evolutionary line as movies have, where they began as novelties of moving pictures and soon became rich with real plots and immersion for the viewers.

But if we follow the current trend of what's popular in MMOs, we'll see that the most popular games have little to no storyline. It takes a certain type of person to read every quest text and have a comprehensive understanding of what's going on in the game, and why they need to save the half-naked woman from the bad guys. That type of person seems to be a rarity, judging by the subscription numbers of the lore- and story-based games such as LotRO and AoC. But does this mean those games should stop being made? We certainly hope not, because it's always nice to have an intelligent game to play when you get burned out on grinding mobs and running errands.

MassivelyThe future of storytelling in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocfuncomfutureplotstorylinetoboldMon, 16 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: More Plot Please]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/behind-the-curtain-more-plot-please/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/behind-the-curtain-more-plot-please/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/behind-the-curtain-more-plot-please/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

So, I've been playing Bioshock pretty much non-stop for the past few days, and it's got me thinking. Not only did it get me thinking that I'm super clever for figuring out the twist about ten minutes into the game, it also got me thinking about story and plot and the importance they play in games. The story in Bioshock is handled masterfully - it's handed out to you in a careful and controlled manner, feeding you it piece by piece with just enough to keep you hooked, but not so much that you're getting hit with an info dump every half an hour.
I'd like to see more story in my MMOs. Certainly, an MMO needs to have a good story set up around it, something to give the world some life, and get you interested from the word go. Or it may not, maybe you just want out-and-out PvP with no RP noobs or lore geeks to bother you, in which case I feel a little sad for you and I ask you kindly to move along and find another column to read.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: More Plot Please

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: More Plot Please originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioshockeveeve-onlinefeaturedloreplotpvpquestsrpstorystorylineworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 10 Jan 2008 16:00:00 EST