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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Shroud of the Avatar gets serious about housing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/shroud-of-the-avatar-gets-serious-about-housing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/shroud-of-the-avatar-gets-serious-about-housing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/22/shroud-of-the-avatar-gets-serious-about-housing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Shroud of the Avatar gets serious about housing
The Portalarium team has heard the many, many questions that potential players and Kickstarter backers have about Shroud of the Avatar's player housing system, and so they have released a video to help clear up several of the details.

Houses in Shroud of the Avatar are purchased with in-game currency, exist in a shared space, and can be traded between players. Unlike early-era Ultima Online, Shroud won't render you vulnerable to burglars and thieves; house items will remain safe, although sometimes the house itself will be taken out of commission during a siege.

There are several different types of player houses, from city houses to village cottages, that can be decorated on both the inside and the outside. The team decided to go with a deed system that will allow players to buy, sell, and trade the land on which houses are built. If a deed is acquired through the Kickstarter campaign, the house will be maintenance-free for life.

You can watch the devs discuss the housing system after the jump.

Continue reading Shroud of the Avatar gets serious about housing

MassivelyShroud of the Avatar gets serious about housing originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdfundingfantasyhousingkickstarterlord-britishplayer-housingportalariumrichard-garriottsandboxshroud-of-the-avatarvideoFri, 22 Mar 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Shroud of the Avatar tops $1 million in funding, adds stretch goals]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/19/shroud-of-the-avatar-tops-1-million-in-funding-adds-stretch-go/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/19/shroud-of-the-avatar-tops-1-million-in-funding-adds-stretch-go/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/19/shroud-of-the-avatar-tops-1-million-in-funding-adds-stretch-go/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Shroud of the Avatar adds stretch goals, rewards
Lord British's Shroud of the Avatar Kickstarter project has officially surpassed its $1 million funding goal with 19 days to go. That means stretch goals and bonus rewards, and the project website has been updated with a listing that includes a pet system (both social- and combat-focused) and seasonal weather functionality.

Bonus rewards have also been added to all of the backer tiers beginning at the $60 founder level. New goodies include various avatar titles, in-game house decor, physical collector's items, and more.

[Thanks Don!]

MassivelyShroud of the Avatar tops $1 million in funding, adds stretch goals originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdfundingfantasykickstarterlord-britishportalariumrichard-garriottshroud-of-the-avatarshroud-of-the-avatar-kickstarterTue, 19 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tracy Hickman tapped for writing duties on Shroud of the Avatar]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/tracy-hickman-tapped-for-writing-duties-on-shroud-of-the-avatar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/tracy-hickman-tapped-for-writing-duties-on-shroud-of-the-avatar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/15/tracy-hickman-tapped-for-writing-duties-on-shroud-of-the-avatar/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I'm not saying there are going to be dragons, but there will be dragons.
If you were a fan of fantasy games in the 1980s, you know Richard Garriott from the Ultima series. (Our younger readers are more familiar with him as someone who went to space.) Odds are good that you were also familiar with Tracy Hickman, co-author of the popular Dragonlance novels during the '80s. And if that sounds like two great tastes that taste great together, you'll be happy to know that Tracy Hickman has been announced as the lead story designer for Garriott's upcoming Shroud of the Avatar.

Hickman's writing credits aside from the Dragonlance series include the Death Gate Cycle, the ongoing Dragonships series, and the online serial novel Dragon's Bard. There's no word on whether his frequent co-authors will be joining in on the writing duties as well, but even Hickman alone should make some old-school fantasy fans very happy about the direction of the upcoming game.

MassivelyTracy Hickman tapped for writing duties on Shroud of the Avatar originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdfundingdesign-teamdevelopmentkickstarterloremanagementnewsportalariumrichard-garriottshroud-of-the-avatarsotatracy-hickmanFri, 15 Mar 2013 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott explains why Shroud of the Avatar is on Kickstarter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/richard-garriott-explains-why-shroud-of-the-avatar-is-on-kicksta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/richard-garriott-explains-why-shroud-of-the-avatar-is-on-kicksta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/13/richard-garriott-explains-why-shroud-of-the-avatar-is-on-kicksta/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Pictured: Not space.
Richard Garriott has been to space, but his upcoming game, Shroud of the Avatar, is not in space. It is on Kickstarter, and according to Garriott himself in a recent interview, that's because it allows him to release a game without oversight. Garriott claims that the unnamed games he's released to sub-par reception have been chiefly the result of publishers meddling with the finished product, whereas the games he has been allowed to finish his way have been classics.

While the game is not explicitly tied to the Ultima franchise for copyright reasons, Garriott sees it as very much being in the spirit of the older games, since Ultima IX ended with the world more or less destroyed. He also discusses influences on the game world's design and how players can switch between single-player and online modes of operation without a problem. If you're looking forward to the game, you can get more details in the full interview.

MassivelyRichard Garriott explains why Shroud of the Avatar is on Kickstarter originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdfundinginterviewkickstartermassively-single-playeroptionalonlineportalariumpreviewrichard-garriottshroud-of-the-avatarsotaWed, 13 Mar 2013 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Shroud of the Avatar promises offline mode with no DRM]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/shroud-of-the-avatar-promises-offline-mode-with-no-drm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/shroud-of-the-avatar-promises-offline-mode-with-no-drm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/12/shroud-of-the-avatar-promises-offline-mode-with-no-drm/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Shroud of the Avatar promises offline mode with no DRM
As Richard Garriott's Shroud of the Avatar Kickstarter campaign continues, the team has posted an update on a few topics that in no way have to do with the recent SimCity kerfuffle.

The post states that the team is creating an offline version of the game for those who prefer that style (or find it more convenient). While players won't be able to take their offline character into the online version, there may be the possibility of doing the reverse.

Other words of comfort include the promise that Shroud of the Avatar "will not use any form of DRM" for its offline mode and that the single-player version won't be littered with microtransactions.

[Thanks to Don for the tip!]

MassivelyShroud of the Avatar promises offline mode with no DRM originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital-rights-managementdrmfantasykickstarterlord-britishoffline-modeportalariumrichard-garriottsandboxshroud-of-the-avatarsingle-playersingle-player-modeTue, 12 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: What's your feeling on Garriott's Shroud of the Avatar?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/leaderboard-whats-your-feeling-on-garriotts-shroud-of-the-ava/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/leaderboard-whats-your-feeling-on-garriotts-shroud-of-the-ava/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/11/leaderboard-whats-your-feeling-on-garriotts-shroud-of-the-ava/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Shroud of the Avatar prototype screenshot
Richard Garriott's recent Shroud of the Avatar announcement was greeted with both huzzahs and catcalls (though the former seem to outnumber the latter if the project's current Kickstarter numbers are any indication).

Now that Lord British has spent the weekend answering questions via livestream and elaborating on game mechanics in the press, what do you think about the new project? Are you backing Shroud's Kickstarter, or are you taking a wait-and-see approach? Or do you not care one whit? Let us know via the voting booth after the cut.

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: What's your feeling on Garriott's Shroud of the Avatar?

MassivelyLeaderboard: What's your feeling on Garriott's Shroud of the Avatar? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalleaderboardlord-britishone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollsportalariumrichard-garriottsandboxshroud-of-the-avatarversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 11 Mar 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Garriott's Shroud of the Avatar to feature 'personalized multiplayer']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/10/garriotts-shroud-of-the-avatar-to-feature-personalized-multipl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/10/garriotts-shroud-of-the-avatar-to-feature-personalized-multipl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/10/garriotts-shroud-of-the-avatar-to-feature-personalized-multipl/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Garriott's Shroud of the Avatar to feature 'personalized multiplayer'
Richard Garriott's new Shroud of the Avatar project is proving pretty popular on Kickstarter. As of press time it's already raised over $600,000 of its $1 million goal with 28 days to go.

Why all the excitement? It would be easy to single out Lord British's Ultima pedigree, but it's also worth noting that the project itself seems to be aiming for those old-school gamers who are feeling a little left out due to the homogenization of current-gen MMOs. Garriott recently spoke to GamesIndustry.biz and elaborated on Shroud of the Avatar's mechanics, which he described as "personalized multiplayer" rather than massively multiplayer.

The game is "the antithesis of what people have been doing with MMOs these last few years," Garriott explained. "They not only build every stitch of technology from scratch, they build a giant world, and they build them all in the exact same horrifically difficult but no longer impressive model. At one time it was brilliant, but now they're all the same."

Shroud will have Garriott staples like a classless character system, virtues, housing, and extensive crafting, but it won't have thousands of players thrown together on a typical MMO-like server.
There is no server where everyone that is connected that happens to walk onto the same map will all see each other. If you do that it's terribly complicated and it's largely a waste of time for you. If you're walking on the streets of New York you don't really care about most of the people going by the other way. The only people you care about are the people you've met before or you are likely to meet again in the future. We can determine that by whatever information you're willing to give us, and if you're not willing to give us information we'll use a heuristic to pull people into your current play space. It's much cheaper, for you and for us, and much more likely to be relevant to you."
Garriott also says that while you can play Shroud of the Avatar offline, it will still be persistent. "Everyone's in the same world," he notes. "If you log on just once a month, you'll have downloaded the current state of affairs of ownership and the current blueprint of people's houses. Everyone who has a shop that sells things, whatever it is that has been built up in the world you'll get to see. Your world will advance because of the contributions of other players."

MassivelyGarriott's Shroud of the Avatar to feature 'personalized multiplayer' originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fantasylord-britishportalariumrichard-garriottsandboxshroud-of-the-avatarSun, 10 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Garriott kickstarting Shroud of the Avatar multiplayer RPG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/garriott-kickstarting-shroud-of-the-avatar-multiplayer-rpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/garriott-kickstarting-shroud-of-the-avatar-multiplayer-rpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/08/garriott-kickstarting-shroud-of-the-avatar-multiplayer-rpg/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Garriott kickstarting Shroud of the Avatar multiplayer RPG
Richard Garriott is officially returning to his RPG roots with a new project called Shroud of the Avatar. Lord British has launched a Kickstarter project, and while the FAQ reveals that the new title isn't an MMO, it will have some sort of co-op/multiplayer component. As you might expect, it's a fantasy world with a heavy emphasis on sandbox elements, exploration, combat, and storytelling.

Shroud of the Avatar is currently planned only for the PC, though the game's website does allow for possible mobile functionality via stretch-goal funding. Currently, Garriott is looking to raise $1 million over the next four weeks. You can watch his pitch video after the cut. He's also livestreaming at LordBritishPresents.com.

Continue reading Garriott kickstarting Shroud of the Avatar multiplayer RPG

MassivelyGarriott kickstarting Shroud of the Avatar multiplayer RPG originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdfundingfantasykickstarterlord-britishportalariumrichard-garriottsandboxshroud-of-the-avatarvideoFri, 08 Mar 2013 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott throws end-of-the-world party, world survives in style]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/richard-garriott-throws-end-of-the-world-party-world-survives-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/richard-garriott-throws-end-of-the-world-party-world-survives-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/richard-garriott-throws-end-of-the-world-party-world-survives-i/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Richard Garriott throws endoftheworld party, world survives in style
If you've got the means and know-how to throw the world's best apocalyptic party, would there be anything from stopping you doing it? Nothing got in the way of Portalarium's Richard Garriott when he wanted to create one of the most cool- and insane-sounding end-of-the-world bashes on December 21st in Austin, Texas.

"We thought this date shouldn't pass without an interactive soiree," Garriott explained. The creator of Ultima Online is famous for throwing strange elaborate parties, including a Titanic get-together where he sunk the boat with the party-goers on it.

Garriott created a 30-foot Mayan pyramid as the centerpiece of the event. Around the pyramid were four apocalypse-themed tents, including an alien tent with a Sputnik replica and a hedonism display with naked zebra ladies prancing about.

The $1,000-plus door charge for the party went toward the X Prize Foundation.

MassivelyRichard Garriott throws end-of-the-world party, world survives in style originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocalypseend-of-the-worldend-of-the-world-partyevilfunnyhumorpartyportalariumrichard-garriottultimaultima-onlineultimate-collectorThu, 03 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Portalarium hit with layoffs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/portalarium-hit-with-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/portalarium-hit-with-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/portalarium-hit-with-layoffs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Portalarium hit with layoffsIf there's one thing that sucks, badly, about December, it's layoffs. Portalarium, Richard Garriott's social games studio, has been reducing in-house redundancies.

Senior programmer Paul Evans broke the news Friday on Twitter, saying that Portalarium "had to lay off people" and that he was one of those people. He also said that "the whole thing was a surprise."

Portalarium representatives confirmed to GamesIndustry International that the studio is "reducing staff to the appropriate levels to support and grow [its] recently launched products."

As ever, we wish the best to those affected.

MassivelyPortalarium hit with layoffs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>games-industryindustrylayoffspaul-evansport-casino-blackjackport-casino-pokerportalariumultimate-collectorultimate-rpgMon, 17 Dec 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Garriott's Portalarium partnering with Zynga for Ultimate Collector]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/garriotts-portalarium-partnering-with-zynga-for-ultimate-collec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/garriotts-portalarium-partnering-with-zynga-for-ultimate-collec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/garriotts-portalarium-partnering-with-zynga-for-ultimate-collec/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Garriott's Portalarium partnering with Zynga for Ultimate Collector
Former Ultima Online guru Richard Garriott is joining forces with Zynga, the social gaming behemoth that has been hemorraging users and executives in recent months.

Garriott's Portalarium company will use the Zynga Platform to launch its Ultimate Collector game, which is currently undergoing a limited Facebook beta.

"Ultimate Collector is really three games in one," Garriott says via press release. "It's a collecting game where players go on a major hunt for collectibles ranging from toys, gadgets, historical weapons, novelties and famous art and display those collections in their homes. It's a shopping game where players can visit shops and stores in our game, some of them from national retailers, to purchase items and add to their collections. And it's a world building game that allows players to outfit a home, show off their collections to their friends, sell virtual items to other collectors and make in-game money to upgrade their house and grow it even larger."

MassivelyGarriott's Portalarium partnering with Zynga for Ultimate Collector originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedcasualevilfacebookgarriottoh-how-the-mighty-have-fallenportalariumrichard-garriottsocialultimaultimate-collectorzyngaFri, 07 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott's Portalarium raises $7 million in funding]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/richard-garriotts-portalarium-raises-7-million-in-funding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/richard-garriotts-portalarium-raises-7-million-in-funding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/richard-garriotts-portalarium-raises-7-million-in-funding/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In space, this game totally looks awesome.
Richard Garriott designed Ultima Online and Tabula Rasa, and he has also been to outer space. This has apparently convinced several investors that funding his new company Portalarium is a sound decision, as it was recently announced that Portalarium has secured roughly $7 million in investment capital.

The money is being pushed into the final stages of development on the company's first title, Ultimate Collector, which is slated for release later this summer on Facebook, mobile, and browser-based platforms. Some of the funds are also earmarked for development on the company's second game, alternately known as both Ultimate RPG and New Britannia, which does not yet have a release window.

The chief investment firm was London-based m8 Capital, but several other sources also contribued to the groundswell of support, including Richard Garriott himself. Last month, the company announced that it will be working through the Zynga Platform Partners program to publish Ultimate Collector.

MassivelyRichard Garriott's Portalarium raises $7 million in funding originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-gamesbusinessfacebookfundinggaming-industryindustry-figuresindustry-newsinvestmentmmo-industrymobileportalariumrichard-garriottsocial-gamingultimate-collectorzyngaTue, 10 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Portalarium announces Ultimate Collector: Garage Sale as first title]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/portalarium-announces-ultimate-collector-garage-sale-as-first-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/portalarium-announces-ultimate-collector-garage-sale-as-first-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/07/portalarium-announces-ultimate-collector-garage-sale-as-first-t/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ultimate Collector: Garage Sale
Richard Garriott's recent startup, Portalarium, had many people wondering what would be the first thing to come out of this mad scientist's new studio. Well, wonder no more. Now we know that Portalarium's first title will be a Facebook game known as Ultimate Collector: Garage Sale, which focuses on -- you guessed it -- collecting things that you buy at garage sales. We couldn't make this up if we tried.

Players can create an avatar and customize their houses, and then go shopping at estate sales, garage sales, pawn shops, and so forth in order to complete collections of items. These item collections can then be displayed in your house as a trophy of sorts, or you can sell them to make a quick buck. We'll just have to wait and see how this bizarre project shapes up in the coming months.

MassivelyPortalarium announces Ultimate Collector: Garage Sale as first title originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementgarage-salenew-titlenew-titlesportalariumrichard-garriottultimate-collectorultimate-collector-garage-saleWed, 07 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott predicts the death of consoles as a gaming medium]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/richard-garriott-predicting-the-death-of-consoles-as-a-gaming-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/richard-garriott-predicting-the-death-of-consoles-as-a-gaming-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/richard-garriott-predicting-the-death-of-consoles-as-a-gaming-me/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ground Control to Major Tom, your circuit's dead, there's something wrong - can you hear me, Major Tom? Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Considering his influence on the realm of MMOs, many gamers would argue that it's hard to dismiss Richard Garriott's thoughts on development out of hand. A recent interview with the man includes him predicting the fall of traditional console gaming in favor of portable devices, and the end of MMOs as a major market share compared to social and casual games. As Garriott puts it, the era of MMOs was chiefly between 2000 and 2010, and the explosion in social gaming is now a new part of the overall game development cycle.

Naturally, since Garriott's current company, Portalarium, is targeting specifically that demographic, he might be just a little bit biased. But he's hardly the first industry insider to claim that modern games need to be easily be picked up with little to no up-front cost. Take a look at the full interview for more, including Garriott's thoughts on how present designers are lazy and his self-comparison to Tolkien.

MassivelyRichard Garriott predicts the death of consoles as a gaming medium originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casual-gamingindustry-figuresindustry-insidersinterviewsmmo-industryopinionsportalariumrichard-garriottsocial-gamingWed, 30 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott blames Blizzard for ignoring the social gaming field]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/richard-garriott-blames-blizzard-for-ignoring-the-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/richard-garriott-blames-blizzard-for-ignoring-the-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/richard-garriott-blames-blizzard-for-ignoring-the-social-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Portalarium

Richard Garriott, who heads up social games outfit Portalarium, publicly put the screws to Blizzard and other major MMO companies for overlooking the casual gaming space. In fact, he says that World of Warcraft's biggest challenger won't be from another AAA title, but from the "Zyngas of the world."

Talking to Industry Gamers, Garriott accused Blizzard and EA of dropping the ball when it came to social gaming, which Zynga has since explored and exploited. "The only reason Zynga exists is because people like EA, people like Blizzard, failed to step in," he said.

Garriott sees these small start-ups as having great potential in the near future. "I think within a few years, you'll see that's not really the case," he said. "I think you'll see that the quality level that comes up through the casual games will rival the quality of traditional massively multiplayer games and then, because it's not something you have to subscribe to, because it's something that virally spreads, and especially because, as people churn out of a big MMO they've got to go somewhere."

Garriott's Portalarium is currently working on an upcoming project that is "much more like Ultima Online than people might expect."

MassivelyRichard Garriott blames Blizzard for ignoring the social gaming field originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcasual-gamescasual-gamingeaElectronic-ArtsPortalariumrat-tailRichard-Garriottsmack-talksocial-gamessocial-gamingultima-onlineuoworld-of-warcraftwowzyngaWed, 02 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott running Portalarium with robots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/richard-garriott-running-portalarium-with-robots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/richard-garriott-running-portalarium-with-robots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/richard-garriott-running-portalarium-with-robots/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mechano-British disapproves of your childish antics!
Have you ever wished that instead of having to go to your job, you could just turn on the computer, log in to an avatar in the same manner as an MMO, and take care of everything that way? Perhaps to the surprise of no one, Richard Garriott has begun doing precisely that at his company, Portalarium. Rather than commuting between New York and the studio in Austin, Garriott has a small robotic avatar to allow him a face-to-video-monitor presence in Austin even when he's away.

The robot itself is a $15,000 Anybot QB from the eponymous company Anybots, Inc, which Garriott claims was originally purchased so that his mother could virtually attend his wedding in France. He also stresses that it's not a means of keeping tabs on employees, merely a way to bridge the gap between two very distant locations. And really, if you had just won millions of dollars in a lawsuit, wouldn't you be attending all events via robot?

MassivelyRichard Garriott running Portalarium with robots originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commutingindustry-figuresmmo-industryportalariumrichard-garriottrobotsThu, 27 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC Europe 2011: Richard Garriott says mobile and social titles are 'the future of games']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/gdc-europe-2011-richard-garriott-says-mobile-and-social-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/gdc-europe-2011-richard-garriott-says-mobile-and-social-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/gdc-europe-2011-richard-garriott-says-mobile-and-social-titles/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Richard Garriott
Delivering the final keynote address at this year's GDC Europe, Richard Garriott said that the industry is rapidly moving away from MMOs as we know them and toward mobile and social gaming -- and that companies need to hop on board, lest they be left behind.

Garriott used his iPhone as an example of this new direction: "I am now much more of a gamer than I ever been in my whole life, but the vast majority of the gaming I have played has been on this machine. I'm a devout believer that this is the current and near-term future of games."

He defines this "new era" of gaming by having cheap games that are simple to use and connect you with real-world friends. While he thinks earlier social games like FarmVille were too simple and unappealing, Garriott says that they're evolving quickly.

During the speech, Garriott expressed regret that his team didn't stick by the original vision for Tabula Rasa, and he urged fellow developers not to trade in their dreams in order to follow the company line. His new company Portalarium plans to "reinvent roleplaying yet again" by releasing a series of products that will capitalize on social gaming and retrain players to think beyond mere combat to a wider experience.

MassivelyGDC Europe 2011: Richard Garriott says mobile and social titles are 'the future of games' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>farmvillegame-developers-conferencegdcgdc-2011iphonekeynotekeynote-addresskeynote-speechmobile-gamingPortalariumprivate-astronautprivate-astronaut-is-a-funny-termreinvent-roleplayingrichard-garriottroleplayingsocial-gamingtabula-rasaWed, 17 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott to deliver Game Developers Conference Europe keynote]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/richard-garriott-to-deliver-game-developers-conference-europe-ke/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/richard-garriott-to-deliver-game-developers-conference-europe-ke/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/richard-garriott-to-deliver-game-developers-conference-europe-ke/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Are you planning to venture to the wilds of Europe for the upcoming Game Developers Conference Europe? If so, you're in for a treat, as the father of Ultima will be delivering the keynote speech. That's right, the one and only spacefaring game developer Richard Garriott will give a presentation at the conference discussing social gaming, its future, and what mark it may leave on the gaming industry as a whole.

Garriott is perhaps known best for being the creator of the Ultima series (and the victim of assassination in the early days of Ultima Online), but his most recent foray in the industry came in the form of Portalarium, a social gaming company. Frank Sliwka, event director of GDC Europe, notes that "there are few developers with Richard Garriott's history, pedigree and vantage point, having been a defining force in the realm of traditional hardcore games, birthing the RPG and MMORPG genres, to now helping lead the way within the world of social games," so the speech will almost certainly be enlightening for anyone with an interest in the subject. GDC Europe will be taking place from August 15-17, so if you're looking to make the journey to gaming mecca, go ahead and start making plans!

MassivelyRichard Garriott to deliver Game Developers Conference Europe keynote originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-europegame-developers-conference-europe-2011gdcgdc-2011gdc-europegdc-europe-2011keynoteportalariumrichard-garriottsocial-gamingWed, 15 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott talks cross-game platforms and leaving MMOs behind]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/richard-garriott-talks-cross-game-platforms-and-leaving-mmos-beh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/richard-garriott-talks-cross-game-platforms-and-leaving-mmos-beh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/richard-garriott-talks-cross-game-platforms-and-leaving-mmos-beh/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Even though Richard Garriott has moved on from the days of Ultima Online and the sadly defunct Tabula Rasa, it's hard not to pay some attention to the man behind what's frequently considered the first modern MMO. A recent interview with Gamasutra reveals that the man himself is no longer really invested in MMOs as a genre, however. According to him, "Even the kinds of games that you might think I would make, I don't generally play, because they're often just too much of a hassle to get into them."

The bulk of the interview is dedicated to discussing Garriott's social gaming company, Portalarium, and his plans to try to leverage games into a shared network similar to Steam rather than using Facebook's built-in integration. It's a look into the man's latest project, which should prove of interest to those still following him, even if he's no longer interested in MMOs as such.

MassivelyRichard Garriott talks cross-game platforms and leaving MMOs behind originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>garriottinterviewmmo-industrynewsportalariumrichard-garriottsocial-gamingsocial-mediaFri, 10 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott's Portalarium project gets more funding]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/richard-garriotts-portalarium-project-gets-more-funding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/richard-garriotts-portalarium-project-gets-more-funding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/richard-garriotts-portalarium-project-gets-more-funding/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Portalarium, the social networking startup founded by Richard "Lord British" Garriott, is picking up a bit of momentum thanks to a round of new funding. London-based m8 has contributed an undisclosed amount of capital to Garriott's Austin, Texas studio, which thus far has published two Facebook gambling games (Port Casino Poker and Port Casino Blackjack).

Total funding for Portalarium stands at $3.6 million, and the company plans to release CenterPort sometime in 2012. CenterPort is a graphically advanced social networking app that "will be the virtual world social hub for the OpenLife ecosystem, a broad yet fully integrated meta-community," according to the studio's website.

Garriott, most famous for the seminal Ultima series (which for MMO gamers peaked with Ultima Online in 1997), launched Portalarium in September 2009.

MassivelyRichard Garriott's Portalarium project gets more funding originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedcasualcenterportf2pfacebook-gamesfree-to-playfundinglord-britishmmo-industryopen-life-ecosystemopenlifeport-casino-blackjackport-casino-pokerportalariumportalarium-playerRichard-GarriottWed, 01 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott discusses ongoing plans for Portalarium]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/richard-garriott-discusses-ongoing-plans-for-portalarium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/richard-garriott-discusses-ongoing-plans-for-portalarium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/richard-garriott-discusses-ongoing-plans-for-portalarium/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

As much as some may poke fun at Facebook and other social media based games, those games have an enormous market share that's still growing. Let's face it: These games attract not only all manner of gamers but also the most casual of non-gaming users, such as your Great-Aunt Martha or partners who generally dislike video games. With that in mind, Edge caught up with Richard Garriott at DICE Summit recently to catch up on how things are progressing with his foray into the social gaming world: Portalarium.

While we knew about Portalarium's initial offerings such as the card game, it appears that the company has much bigger plans in store. Garriott discusses the success of many of the titles in the social gaming space and how that relates to his own personal world-building experiences with Ultima Online. Further, he notes that Portalarium's current main title is "not a game about farming... operating a shop... [or] managing your pets." There is also some discussion of making in-game purchases tie to microlending sites like Kiva to benefit projects in other countries, which is certainly worth reading as well. If you're curious about where Portalarium is going or interested in reading some ideas from an industry vet, then pop over to Edge and check out the full interview with Garriott.

MassivelyRichard Garriott discusses ongoing plans for Portalarium originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcasual-gamesdice-summitdice-summit-2011facebookkivamicrolendingmmo-industryportalariumrichard-garriottsocial-gamingsocial-mediaThu, 10 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott on the state of social gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/richard-garriott-on-the-state-of-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/richard-garriott-on-the-state-of-social-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/richard-garriott-on-the-state-of-social-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Legendary game creator Richard Garriott raised a few eyebrows when he announced a foray into social gaming last fall. The MMORPG maestro and occasional astronaut seemed a rather unlikely candidate for the casual games space after spearheading the likes of Ultima Online and Tabula Rasa. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Garriott revealed that he's taking no prisoners when it comes to his new endeavor, offering his views on the large number of crapware titles cluttering the casual space as well as his company's plans to distribute its tools for free in order to help standardize the sector and raise the quality bar.

"There's tons of small start-ups who we are seeing take lots of investment and lots of activity and large acquisition costs -- who are creating, literally, junk. Stuff that people aren't playing that much and if you play it it's not much fun," Garriott opined.

Garriott's new company, Portalarium, has thus far produced Port Casino Poker and Port Casino Blackjack, both playable via Facebook, and is now shifting its focus to a new title that has more in common with UO. Details on the new game are slated to be revealed over the next two weeks.

MassivelyRichard Garriott on the state of social gaming originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcasual-gamesf2pfacebookfree-to-playgarriottinterviewslord-britishportalariumrichard-garriottsocial-gamestabula-rasaultima-onlineMon, 14 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Garriott's Portalarium going the social media route]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/garriotts-portalarium-going-the-social-media-route/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/garriotts-portalarium-going-the-social-media-route/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/garriotts-portalarium-going-the-social-media-route/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Our friends at Joystiq tipped us off to the latest endeavor for MMO legend Richard Garriott (and no, it doesn't involve the intrepid developer orbiting the earth). While speaking at the Austin, Texas-based Fantastic Arcade event, Lord British dropped a few hints regarding the social media stylings that his latest company (and game), Portalarium, will feature.

"You play it by clicking on a link, nothing to pay for up front, no real installation and only if you decide you really want to play it will we decide how to eventually charge you money for it," Garriott enthused.

While we're not quite as excited as we would be if he'd announced an updated Ultima Online project, Portalarium bears watching, if only to see whether Garriott can still walk the walk. "Since everybody else is doing Flash and Java games, I can kick their ass pretty easy," he told attendees.

MassivelyGarriott's Portalarium going the social media route originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browser-basedbrowser-gamefantastic-arcadefantastic-festlord-britishportalariumRichard-Garriottsocial-mediaultimaUltima-Onlineultima-online-2-pleaseFri, 24 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott talks about Portalarium and the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/19/richard-garriott-talks-about-portalarium-and-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/19/richard-garriott-talks-about-portalarium-and-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/19/richard-garriott-talks-about-portalarium-and-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Earlier this week we told you about Richard Garriott's latest venture, turning an eye to the social media trend with his new business venture Portalarium. Our sister site Joystiq spent some time with him discussing the company and its future.

Before delving into where Garriott is going, Joystiq explored a bit about where he's been. They talked about the infamous venture into space, and the even more infamous NCsoft lawsuit, then moved on to what Portalarium is all about and what Garriott hopes to accomplish with it.

Portalarium's aim is essentially to tap into the growing social network gaming genre and do it bigger and better. The interview covers the basics of how the business model will work as well as Garriott's views on what the market is lacking and how he plans to fill in those gaps. It's an interesting read, so head over to Joystiq and take a look at the full interview!

MassivelyRichard Garriott talks about Portalarium and the future originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>general-britishjoystiqlord-britishncsoftportalariumRichard-Garriottsocial-mediaFri, 19 Feb 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Garriott returns to gaming with Portalarium]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/17/garriott-returns-to-gaming-with-portalarium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/17/garriott-returns-to-gaming-with-portalarium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/17/garriott-returns-to-gaming-with-portalarium/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It should come as no surprise to anyone that Richard Garriott isn't a man content to rest on his laurels. Just after we hear that the documentary about his space trip is coming out, we now hear that he's found a new niche in the multi-player gaming industry. Only this time, he's not developing a traditional MMO as one might suspect. Instead, Garriott has revealed his involvement in a start-up called Portalarium, which is setting out to get a chunk of that browser-based social game cash floating around on Facebook and other social media networks.

Currently, Portalarium isn't so much a games company as a games engine company. According to a great writeup about this new company by Dean Takahashi over on GamesBeat, their general feeling is that the current crop of Facebook games are "relatively primitive in terms of game play." The Portalarium team plans to make richer, more engaging games that will manage to give players a high-quality game while still remaining in a browser and not needing a separate download. In all, it's a fascinating article -- both in terms of technology, and in terms of what Garriott has been up to (there's a bit about Tabula Rasa in there too) -- so be sure to pop over there and give the full article a read.

MassivelyGarriott returns to gaming with Portalarium originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browser-basedfacebookgame-enginelord-britishpokerportalariumrichard-garriottWed, 17 Feb 2010 15:00:00 EST