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[EVE Evolved: Emergence in the sandbox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/15/eve-evolved-emergence-in-the-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/15/eve-evolved-emergence-in-the-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/15/eve-evolved-emergence-in-the-sandbox/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We often hear about the amazing things players get up to in EVE Online, from full-scale political wars and massive heists to collaborative business ventures and high-profile kills. While we can all enjoy these tales of high-powered exploits from afar, they can be difficult to relate to the actual game experience. Most of us will never be the puppet master pulling the strings of alliance warfare or the mastermind of some great theft, but we don't have to be. Smaller examples of emergent and opportunistic gameplay exist all over EVE in the daily play of thousands of individuals.

I've always thought of EVE less as a game and more as a giant social sandbox with spaceships -- a story about what people do when left alone in each other's company. Players naturally take on roles for which they have a strong aptitude, crafting completely new gameplay styles for themselves in the process. The entrepreneurs among us spy opportunities never imagined by the game's developers, tech-savvy individuals sell web-services, and artists craft propaganda for recruitment or a war on their enemy's morale. Countless players carve their own game out of the EVE universe, and there's no reason you can't be one of them.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at some of the unique gameplay experiences players have engineered for themselves over the years and the community that makes EVE what it is.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Emergence in the sandbox

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Emergence in the sandbox originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamescreative-writingdjemergenceemergent-gameplayeveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-radiofeaturedfictionhulkageddoniskkillboardlotterieslotterynew-edennew-eden-radiopropagandaradioRed-vs-Bluesandboxscamsomer.blinksomerset-mahmspreadsheets-in-spacesupply-and-demandthefttradingtrustvideoswritersSun, 15 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Winners of "Declare your Loyalty" contest announced for City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/winners-of-declare-your-loyalty-contest-announced-for-city-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/winners-of-declare-your-loyalty-contest-announced-for-city-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/02/winners-of-declare-your-loyalty-contest-announced-for-city-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Sometimes you notice them and sometimes you don't, but the background touches in City of Heroes are always there. They're little reminders that you're moving through a city full of people. The Rogue Isles has its share of shady billboards and decorations (including no-questions-asked investigators and a minion recruitment service), while Paragon City has law firms and socially-conscious advertisements about the Rikti. And Praetoria has propaganda for Emperor Cole... and against him. That's the crux of the now-concluded contest to declare your loyalty in artistic form for Going Rogue, and the winners of said contest have been announced.

There are three winners in each category, for both Loyalist propaganda and Resistance subversion. Two of the pieces of Resistance graffiti and one of the Loyalist billboards have also been adopted by the developers -- they will be featured in Going Rogue, albeit in a slightly-altered form. The gallery of winners showcases both the original submissions and the slight alterations made for the appearance in-game. City of Heroes players who haven't yet picked a side -- or those who are just interested in seeing some nicely-done propaganda pieces -- should head on over to take a look.

MassivelyWinners of "Declare your Loyalty" contest announced for City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Any City of Heroes fan will likely recognize and have an answer for the question "Loyalist or Resistance?" It's all part of the ongoing campaign for the game's upcoming expansion, Going Rogue, and ties to the main storyline -- whether you're a Loyalist of Tyrant's totalitarian utopia, or a no-holds-barred Resistance member willing to topple Tyrant at any cost. Paragon Studios is taking the campaign one step further to celebrate both the impending release and the six-year anniversary: they're letting players make a permanent mark on the world of Praetoria based upon their allegiance.

There are two halves to the contest, based upon one's affiliation. If you're a Loyalist, you are tasked with designing a suitable propaganda poster for Emperor Cole, extolling his virtues and those of his society. On the other hand, Resistance members will design graffiti to spread the message of freedom and encouraging others to rise up. There's a lot of fun to be had with the contest, and the prizes are pretty substantial -- even without the fact that the best entries may very well wind up in Praetoria when Going Rogue launches. Take a look at the full rules, and start declaring your City of Heroes affiliation -- the contest runs until May 14th.

MassivelyCity of Heroes launches "Declare Your Loyalty" contest originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 May 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcontestscovcoxgoing-roguegraffitiloyalistparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioesparagon-studiospropagandaresistanceSat, 01 May 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Motivating the troops]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/eve-evolved-motivating-the-troops/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/eve-evolved-motivating-the-troops/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/eve-evolved-motivating-the-troops/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

In EVE Online, pilots are encouraged to join player-run corps in order to find a place in the game they can belong and meet like-minded people with similar goals. As the CEO of a small EVE corporation, I've often found the hardest part of running a corp is keeping the members motivated. In a previous article, I gave advice on running a corporation, from details on keeping your assets secure against theft to the different types of operations a corp can go on. Following that, I explored the importance of corporate goals and a few of the things corps routinely work together to achieve. Maintaining motivation is integral to both running corp operations and achieving goals. Demotivated pilots will rarely join in on corp activities and are more likely to leave the corp in search of a better one. This is a particularly big problem in PvP-based organisations like faction warfare corps, pirate squads or territorial alliances.

In this short article, I look at four of my favourite ways a corp can motivate their pilots.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Motivating the troops

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Motivating the troops originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedmedalsmotivationpropagandapvpSun, 04 Apr 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic isn't spreading Klingon propaganda, but it's still awesome]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/27/cryptic-isnt-spreading-klingon-propaganda-but-its-still-aweso/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/27/cryptic-isnt-spreading-klingon-propaganda-but-its-still-aweso/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/27/cryptic-isnt-spreading-klingon-propaganda-but-its-still-aweso/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You there! You look like the kind of aspiring individual who knows what's best for him or her. Why, we bet that if you had to choose between the cowardly Federation or mighty Klingon Empire, you'd make the right decision. Would you? Of course you would. That's right, you're a proud and courageous warrior, it's so obvious now.

We asked Cryptic if they were involved, but their official response was that, sadly, they weren't. Even still, the video is nothing but pure awesome and we hope that whomever is responsible makes a Federation variant at some point -- or even a Borg version!

Check out the video after the break, and afterwards you will come to love Qo'noS as much as we now do.

Continue reading Cryptic isn't spreading Klingon propaganda, but it's still awesome

MassivelyCryptic isn't spreading Klingon propaganda, but it's still awesome originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ataricrypticcryptic-studiosfederationklingonklingon-empireklingonspropagandastar-trekstar-trek-onlinestoTue, 27 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Join the WAR: the propaganda posters of Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/05/join-the-war-the-propaganda-posters-of-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/05/join-the-war-the-propaganda-posters-of-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/05/join-the-war-the-propaganda-posters-of-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The folks at Mythic Entertainment have impressed us again and again with their ability to sell their game with a smile. Whether it's via the production podcasts, Paul Barnett's video blogging, their in-person appearances or Mark Jacobs' personal blog the team has tried to put Warhammer Online in front of us in some different ways. So, really, it's not surprising that they've offered up some fantastic propaganda-style posters espousing the various benefits of WAR races.

There are some funny, funny slogans in there, one for each race. "Stunty tastes like Chicken" may be the most direct, but they're all clever. "It's our World, you just Die in it" for the Dark Elves, "Would you Kill for a Beer?" for the Dwarves and "Kill them all, let Sigmar sort them out" for the Empire are probably this blogger's favorite. You can check out the whole set of posters in our gallery below, or on the official Warhammer Online site. Which one is your favorite?

Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyJoin the WAR: the propaganda posters of Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Oct 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mythic-entertainmentposterspropagandawarwarhammer-onlineSun, 05 Oct 2008 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The good and the bad of EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/19/the-good-and-the-bad-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/19/the-good-and-the-bad-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/19/the-good-and-the-bad-of-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,


MMO blogger Ardwulf has been running a series of posts on what he views as the best MMOs on the market, recently covering EverQuest II and now EVE Online. His piece is a basic overview of EVE, but one that looks at the concepts behind the game, rather than how they're executed through game mechanics.To that end, Ardwulf views the title as something that captures the essence of 'space' -- cold, vast, and often hostile. Perhaps even intimidating. He notes that EVE's PvP isn't limited to breaching the hulls of your opponents in space. PvP is alive and well in terms of market warfare and propaganda, two avenues a character may take in their career that might not seem readily apparent.

Still, despite Ardwulf's praise for the unique aspects of the game, he also cites some of the negative aspects of the title: "There are no classes, no levels, no bosses, no avatars, no aggro, no pets, no text dumps telling you where to go next... someone coming in from a few years of WoW and nothing else has every right to be caught flatfooted." So while EVE Online certainly isn't a game for everyone, it does appeal to players seeking something different from the standard fantasy MMO fare which dominates the industry. If you're interested in reading more about the game from the perspective of someone who's acutely aware of the good as well as the bad in EVE Online, check out Ardwulf's piece on what he views as one of 'the best MMOs on the market.'

MassivelyThe good and the bad of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ardwulfccpccp-gameseveeve-onlinefantasygame-mechanicsindustrymarketopinionpropagandapvpsci-fiSat, 19 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Chronicle puts players at the center of factional warfare]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/eve-chronicle-puts-players-at-the-center-of-factional-warfare/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/eve-chronicle-puts-players-at-the-center-of-factional-warfare/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/eve-chronicle-puts-players-at-the-center-of-factional-warfare/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The latest EVE Chronicle is called "The Dark End of Space." This installment connects the events seen in the full Empyrean Age trailer (namely, Jamyl Sarum's utter obliteration of a greater Minmatar fleet) with the lowsec militia conflicts and missions that have embroiled EVE Online's players in factional warfare. Indeed, "The Dark End of Space" focuses on how each of the four races -- despite having conflicting goals and ideologies -- view the capsuleers... the actual players in EVE Online: "A group of people so powerful they're practically a faction unto themselves. Immortal, fearless and wealthy beyond imagining. Born of all four empires but beholden, in truth, to no one but themselves. And utterly untapped, in this little skirmish of ours."

"The Dark End of Space" shows how each of the races face similar difficulties, and how the players of EVE are thought by each faction to be the solution to their problems. EVE dev CCP Abraxas says of the newest Chronicle: "... this one breaks rank and instead focuses on the capsuleers. It explains how we went from the end of the novel to the onset of factional warfare, and how you guys got pulled into it." This could get very interesting if factional propaganda enters into the game, with each race's militia trying to further sway the capsuleers to their cause and tip the balance of power in the Empyrean Age. But for the time being, the Empyrean Age novel, the trailer, and the Chronicles are intertwined, and it seems that EVE's players are firmly at the center of what is to come.

MassivelyEVE Chronicle puts players at the center of factional warfare originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amarrbackstorycaldaricapsuleerccpccp-abraxasccp-gameschronicleempyrean-ageeveeve-chronicleeve-onlinefactional-warfarefictiongallenteloremilitiaminmatarnovelpropagandapvepvproleplayingstorylineterritorial-controlMon, 07 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST