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[One Shots: Welcome to pop culture week!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/one-shots-welcome-to-pop-culture-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/one-shots-welcome-to-pop-culture-week/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/one-shots-welcome-to-pop-culture-week/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Guild Wars: Factions screenshot
Pop culture week kicks off here on One Shots with a submission from Massively reader Tanek.
While I like many of the references to pop culture I see in MMOs (Star Trek, Firefly, Oprah Winfrey), it is the slightly more obscure ones that stand out for me. Like one that can be found on the Jade Sea in Guild Wars: Factions. Zenos, a Luxon famous for his writings about his squad's adventures, had tragedy hit his last expedition.

As it is told by one of his crew: "On our last journey into the far reaches of the Big Green, Zenos' longtime partner and best friend, Bestenon, was unexpectedly eaten... completely devoured... by a mysterious monster of the unknown. And so we prepare for one more expedition, not for knowledge, or even for gold. No, Zenos seeks revenge against the monster, and we, his loyal crew, will join him"

It is, of course, the plot of the movie The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. As you continue the quest and gather up a squad for a new expedition to find the mysterious monster on the Jade Sea, each person you meet is another reference to a character in the movie. Here you see a screenshot of Zenos himself, planning his last, greatest adventure.
We're celebrating pop culture in our MMOs this week. Developers sneak references in all over games, whether it be via NPCs, quests, or items, and we want to see your favorites. Grab a screenshot, tell us a bit about what it is, and send it to oneshots@massively.com. We'll be featuring the best of these all week.

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: Welcome to pop culture week! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetgalleriesgalleryguild-warsgwncsoftone-shotspop-culturescreenshotscreenshotsMon, 08 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite MMO Easter egg?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/06/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-easter-egg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/06/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-easter-egg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/06/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-mmo-easter-egg/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Easter eggs have always struck me as weird. On one hand, the bunny keeps hiding them, so I guess he doesn't want you to find them. But then he makes them brilliantly colored, which blends in with nature not at all. So which is it, Easter bunny? Do you want us to find your eggs or not?

In a similar fashion, some MMO Easter eggs are cleverly hidden, undiscovered by most who run on by. Those eggs tend to reward the observant, the meticulous and the just plain lucky. Then there are the eggs that the developers all but shove in your face as if to say, "Hey! Look at this! It is wacky and out of place and breaks the fourth wall!" Those eggs are available to all, usually whether you want them or not.

So what are your favorite Easter eggs in MMOs? Are they oblique references to pop culture hidden in item description text? A remote area that's almost inaccessible unless you know the exact trick to getting there? A secret buried inside a quest that unveils itself if you know just where to look? What makes you gurgle with delight when discovered?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your favorite MMO Easter egg? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eastereaster-bunnyeaster-eggsfourth-wallgrown-men-gurglehidden-secretsopinionpop-culturepop-culture-referencessecretstdgthe-daily-grindFri, 06 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Games with potential]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/04/the-daily-grind-games-with-potential/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/04/the-daily-grind-games-with-potential/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/04/the-daily-grind-games-with-potential/#commentsFiled under: ,


One of the things people chalk growth in an MMO up to is the strength of the IP - especially when you're talking about an established IP in popular culture like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, etc. Of course, some others will point out that there's something to be said for a completely new experience with an interesting story or idea behind it. City of Heroes, while based on comic books, wasn't based on any one comic in particular. EverQuest was general fantasy. World of Warcraft, while based on the Warcraft RTS wasn't nearly as much of a pop-culture buzzword then as it is now.

Assuming all games have good mechanics - do you think that having a well-known IP can offer more potential in terms of creating an MMO these days, or do you feel that a well-timed new concept with a fresh new IP would do better? What particular games do you think have the most potential - and are they new franchises, or old, established stories already well-known to popular geekdom? Will it take a new spin on an old IP to really make things interesting in terms of upcoming games?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Games with potential originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 May 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conceptsfamiliarityinterestipmmo-developmentpop-cultureMon, 04 May 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Doing the (WoW) dew?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/05/the-daily-grind-doing-the-wow-dew/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/05/the-daily-grind-doing-the-wow-dew/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/05/the-daily-grind-doing-the-wow-dew/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Let's face it; it's Mountain Dew. Even if it weren't all tied up in Summoner Geeks pop-culture nerditry, we'd probably drink it anyway. So the idea of mixing Mountain Dew with World of Warcraft is essentially mating money to money and waiting patiently for more money to come out of it. The question is - how many of us will buy in on this? I already know most of the Massively team - and the WoW Insider team, of course - will pick some up if just for display. We figured we'd ask this morning, how likely are you to try World of Warcraft Mtn Dew? If WoW isn't your game, would you drink it if they made a variety for your favorite MMO - like low-sec EVE Black Mtn Dew as an example? Or will you just buy it because you'll be buying Mountain Dew anyway?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Doing the (WoW) dew? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardmmomountain-dewmtn-dewpop-culturesodasummoner-geeksworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 05 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Your favorite MMO pop culture reference? ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/02/the-daily-grind-your-favorite-pop-culture-reference/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/02/the-daily-grind-your-favorite-pop-culture-reference/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/02/the-daily-grind-your-favorite-pop-culture-reference/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It seems like no matter which way you turn in many MMOs, you'll eventually find a pop-culture reference nestled in there somewhere. While World of Warcraft may be perhaps the most blunt about using them with quests named after things as varied as a Peter Murphy song and a Kevin Smith movie, we know they're by no means the only designers who have added references. This morning, we thought we'd ask you what some of your favorite MMO pop culture references are? Have you ever run across one that just made you stop and laugh? Shake your head? Anything you think is a pop-culture reference but perhaps aren't quite sure?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Your favorite MMO pop culture reference? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funpop-culturepop-culture-referencessillyworld-of-warcraftwowx-filesMon, 02 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First power sets and more in newest Champions Online preview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/first-power-sets-and-more-in-newest-champions-online-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/first-power-sets-and-more-in-newest-champions-online-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/11/first-power-sets-and-more-in-newest-champions-online-preview/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Gamespot recently got the chance to visit Cryptic Studios and take a look at Champions Online. They brought back a video and some tasty new information regarding the newest superpowered MMO on the block. One of the biggest pieces of news was that there are currently thirteen powersets featured in the game and four of them are powered armor, beast, darkness, and dark energy. These sets contain various powers within them and can be mixed and matched to your heart's desire.

There's also some mention of the Champions Online history in the preview, but if you don't feel like reading through all of that you can see Jack Emmert explain it in our video preview here on the site. We happen to dig the fact that this world is set in another version of our own and the opportunity for Cryptic to make pop-culture references tickles our imagination for what in-game experiences will end up being like. Also, feel free to check out our recently updated Champions Online gallery as it contains a ton of new images for your visual delight.

Gallery: Champions Online Main Gallery

MassivelyFirst power sets and more in newest Champions Online preview originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosgamespotjack-emmertpop-culturepower-setsFri, 11 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Office's Dwight takes to Second Life, hilarity ensues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/the-offices-dwight-takes-to-second-life-hilarity-ensues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/the-offices-dwight-takes-to-second-life-hilarity-ensues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/29/the-offices-dwight-takes-to-second-life-hilarity-ensues/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


As fans of NBC's hit 'The Office' are probably well aware, last Thursday's episode "The Ad" gave a fair bit of screen time to Second Life. Games don't usually get a terribly fair treatment in popular media, as writers tend to perpetuate popular stereotypes about players as unsociable, unhealthy, or both for the sake of making an easy joke.

And while we have to concede that The Office's take on Second Life did focus on the escapism for which many people play the game, the punchlines were in all the right places. (See: Dwight's Second Life character playing an MMO within the MMO, to help escape further.) Check out the full episode on NBC's website, it's a good one.

MassivelyThe Office's Dwight takes to Second Life, hilarity ensues originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dwightescapismnbcofficepop-culturesecond-lifethe-officetvMon, 29 Oct 2007 18:10:00 EST