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[Blizzard and NetEase renew license deal for WoW in China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/blizzard-and-netease-renew-license-deal-for-wow-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/blizzard-and-netease-renew-license-deal-for-wow-in-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/21/blizzard-and-netease-renew-license-deal-for-wow-in-china/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

World of Warcraft - Pandaren monk
World of Warcraft may be bleeding subs in America thanks to newer competition, but don't tell that to Chinese publisher NetEase. The firm just renewed its licensing deal with Blizzard, which will cover localization and operation considers through 2015.

NetEase operates WoW in mainland China (and has since 2009); it also handles Warcraft III, Starcraft II, and Battle.net distribution duties. GamesIndustry.biz notes that the deal was consumated "just ahead of the launch of the fourth WoW expansion, Mists of Pandaria, which is widely regarded as being designed with the Chinese market in mind."

MassivelyBlizzard and NetEase renew license deal for WoW in China originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchina-wowchinese-marketfantasymists-of-pandarianeteasenetease-dealpublishingwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowwow-chinaWed, 21 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Victory: The Age of Racing changes publishers, burns rubber into beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/victory-the-age-of-racing-changes-publishers-burns-rubber-into/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/victory-the-age-of-racing-changes-publishers-burns-rubber-into/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/victory-the-age-of-racing-changes-publishers-burns-rubber-into/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Victory: The Age of Racing
It's been quite some time since we last heard from Vae Victis regarding its F2P racing MMO, Victory: The Age of Racing. The game was originally slated to be a 1960s Formula One racing title, but over time it has evolved to take place in a distant, post-apocalyptic future when humanity has been reduced to small pockets of survivors. Maybe said survivors held a council meeting to decide what they should be doing with their time: repopulating the earth, planting sustainable crops, scavenging for food... the choices are endless. But apparently one thing was more important than all that: racing.

Victory was originally picked up to be published by GamersFirst, but after three years of deliberation, Vae Victis decided to self-publish the title "to best fulfill each particular need it will have and finally create the best possible product for our beloved players." The official post goes on to announce the initiation of Victory Beta 1, which is "a new version of the game that offers dozens of new features and fixes," such as the addition of a matchmaking system, achievements, new game modes, the Pro class for experienced players, and much more. For the full details, head on over to Vae Victis' blog, and then click on over to the game's official site to get behind the wheel.

MassivelyVictory: The Age of Racing changes publishers, burns rubber into beta originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pformula-onefree-to-playgamersfirstpublishingracingracing-gameself-publishingvae-victisvictoryvictory-the-age-of-racingFri, 03 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bigpoint may co-publish Star Trek: Infinite Space]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/bigpoint-may-co-publish-star-trek-infinite-space/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/bigpoint-may-co-publish-star-trek-infinite-space/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/bigpoint-may-co-publish-star-trek-infinite-space/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Screenshot -- Star Trek: Infinite Space
There may be hope yet for Star Trek: Infinite Space. The title's future was called into question when a series of layoffs wracked Gameforge, causing the studio to state that the Star Trek title would be cancelled unless it could acquire a co-publisher. A post on the Star Trek: Infinite Space official forums stated that Bigpoint has taken an interest in the title. Now all that remains is to wait and see how Gameforge responds to Bigpoint's offer. Stay tuned, and we'll be sure to bring you the latest as it develops.

MassivelyBigpoint may co-publish Star Trek: Infinite Space originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bigpointbigpoint-gamesco-publisherf2pfree-to-playgameforgepublisherpublishingstar-trek-infinite-spacestisTue, 22 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Frogster CEO forms new F2P publishing company]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/former-frogster-ceo-forms-new-f2p-publishing-company/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/former-frogster-ceo-forms-new-f2p-publishing-company/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/17/former-frogster-ceo-forms-new-f2p-publishing-company/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Andreas Weidenhaupt
Fans of free-to-play games just received yet another outlet for their addiction, as former Frogster CEO Andreas Weidenhaupt has announced the founding of a new publishing company, named Infernum. The company will be working to bring free-to-play MMOs from around the world to Western audiences.

Weidenhaupt claims, "The market for high-quality MMO games that are free to play is growing dynamically and we intend to become a major player in the space." The company is already hard at work bringing those "high-quality MMO games" to its customers, with Weidenhaupt noting, "We've already begun assembling a top-notch team and are looking to fully utilize our resources by bringing some great games to the western world in 2012." So if you're in the market for a shiny new F2P title, keep your eye on Infernum and find out what it will be bringing to the table.

MassivelyFormer Frogster CEO forms new F2P publishing company originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andreas-weidenhauptf2pfree-to-playfrogsterindustry-newsinfernumpublishingpublishing-companyWed, 17 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Outspark announces Flint publishing platform]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/outspark-announces-flint-publishing-platform/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/outspark-announces-flint-publishing-platform/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/outspark-announces-flint-publishing-platform/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Outspark -- makers of popular free-to-play MMOs Fiesta, Luvinia, and more -- announced today the release of its new publishing platform, Outspark Flint. It's a logical addition, considering the company's recent move to publishing third-party titles.

Outspark believes that Flint will bring new MMO titles into the reach of the more than 200 million players that Outspark commands. The first game on the Flint platform is Lord of Ages, an MMORTS which went live last week. Outspark claims that "the platform is enabling Lord of Ages to reach an even larger audience." The platform itself is an "open API that provides third-party developers and operators with all of the tools necessary for distribution, user acquisition, analytics, monetization, marketing and operations." Whether this new platform indeed helps Outspark reach its goals or not, we'll have to wait and see.

MassivelyOutspark announces Flint publishing platform originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>distributionf2pflintfree-to-playlord-of-agesoutsparkoutspark-flintplatformpublishingthird-partythird-party-publishingThu, 07 Jul 2011 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ signs German publishing deal for Gods and Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/thq-signs-german-publishing-deal-for-gods-and-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/thq-signs-german-publishing-deal-for-gods-and-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/thq-signs-german-publishing-deal-for-gods-and-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising is only a few days away from release, and THQ Germany has just announced that it will be publishing the Roman mythology MMO in, you guessed it, Germany when the title hits retail on June 24th.

"Gods & Heroes offers an outstanding MMO experience and is the perfect fit for our THQ Partner's distribution portfolio in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. We're very excited to be able to send MMO fans on an unforgettable journey to ancient Rome," said THQ managing director Stefan Krings via press release.

Gods & Heroes was developed by Heatwave Interactive and features personal ancestral estates, 130 unique minions, and traditional MMO combat. You can learn more, as well as pre-order the game, at the official website.

MassivelyTHQ signs German publishing deal for Gods and Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fantasygods-and-heroesgods-and-heroes-rome-risingheatwaveheatwave-interactivemythologypress-releasepublishingroman-mythologystefan-kringsthqthq-germanyThu, 16 Jun 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[En Masse signs with Atari for TERA North American retail distribution]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/en-masse-signs-with-atari-for-tera-north-american-retail-distrib/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/en-masse-signs-with-atari-for-tera-north-american-retail-distrib/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/en-masse-signs-with-atari-for-tera-north-american-retail-distrib/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

What do En Masse Entertainment and Atari have in common? As of this morning, both entities are officially working to bring TERA to North American shores in 2011. According to a new press release, Atari has signed on as the exclusive retail distributor for the action fantasy MMO which released in Korea earlier this year.

"When we first played TERA, we could see that it had all the elements of an MMO hit," said Lee Jacobson, SVP of Licensing and Digital Publishing at Atari. "Our expertise in retail marketing and bringing MMOs to market combined with TERA's obvious quality makes this a great fit for both companies."

TERA was developed by Bluehole studio, with En Masse serving as both co-producer and North American publisher. The game allows players to join the Valkyon federation and fight to save it from mythical monsters and warring gods while engaging in dynamic combat that places a high premium on player skill.

MassivelyEn Masse signs with Atari for TERA North American retail distribution originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atariblueholebluehole-studioen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasymmo-industrynorth-american-releasepublishingretail-distributionretail-editionteratera-onlineThu, 17 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[QVS to distribute RIFT in Australia]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/qvs-to-distribute-rift-in-australia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/qvs-to-distribute-rift-in-australia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/qvs-to-distribute-rift-in-australia/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The global distribution picture for Trion Worlds' RIFT MMORPG just got a bit clearer thanks to an announcement made by the developer earlier today. Trion signed a multi-year retail deal with QVS, a renowned publisher in both Australia and New Zealand.

Thanks to the new agreement, Kiwis and Aussies alike will be saying g'day to RIFT's dynamic content, familiar class-based gameplay, and lush graphics along with the rest of the world when the title launches in early 2011. "We are excited to join forces with QVS to bring RIFT to gamers throughout Australia and New Zealand. Working with QVS allows us to expand our commitment to deliver quality games to gamers worldwide," says Trion's David Reid.

MassivelyQVS to distribute RIFT in Australia originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiafantasymmo-industrynew-zealandpublisherpublishingqv-softwareqvsriftrift-planes-of-telaratriontrion-world-networktrion-worldsWed, 15 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Trion answers Ubisoft-related questions about Rift]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/trion-answers-ubisoft-related-questions-about-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/trion-answers-ubisoft-related-questions-about-rift/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/trion-answers-ubisoft-related-questions-about-rift/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With Rift's closed beta starting this Friday, an early 2011 launch date is looking likely. In service of that, Trion Worlds is busily getting its house in order and gearing up to push the fantasy epic live around the world. Earlier today Massively reported on Trion's announcement that gaming megalith Ubisoft would be publishing the upcoming MMORPG in Europe. The Ubisoft name-drop brought to light some reader concerns about the draconian DRM schemes the publisher is (in)famous for, so we decided to go straight to the source to clear things up.

Join us after the cut for an impromptu interview with Trion Worlds Senior VP of Publishing David Reid.

Continue reading Trion answers Ubisoft-related questions about Rift

MassivelyTrion answers Ubisoft-related questions about Rift originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david-reiddrmeuropean-publisherexclusivefantasyinterviewpublishingriftrift-planes-of-telarasvp-publishingtriontrion-world-networktrion-worldsubisoftWed, 01 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft to shoulder Rift's European publishing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/ubisoft-to-shoulder-rifts-european-publishing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/ubisoft-to-shoulder-rifts-european-publishing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/ubisoft-to-shoulder-rifts-european-publishing/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With Rift's launch looming closer by the day, forces are coming into play faster now than ever before. Trion Worlds has announced that it is partnering with Ubisoft to publish Rift in Europe. Ubisoft, which has studios in countries all across the globe, will be tasked with releasing the game in France, Benelux, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Nordics. This deal includes multiple years of service starting in 2011.

While Ubisoft has handled smaller MMOs, such as Might and Magic Heroes Kingdom, Rift represents the largest MMO client to date for the company.

Trion Worlds' CEO Lars Buttler sees this as a great move for the game: "To join forces with an industry leader such as Ubisoft on our first title further demonstrates the potential Rift has to be a game-changer in the online gaming space. We are thrilled to be working with Ubisoft, one of world's leading publishers, as we reaffirm our commitment to deliver quality products to gamers around the world."

While Ubisoft is not without its fair share of controversies, no one can deny that the publisher has clout across the market. Rift's closed beta starts later this week, and all signs still point toward an early 2011 release.

MassivelyUbisoft to shoulder Rift's European publishing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austriabeneluxeuropefrancegermanyLars-Buttlermight-and-magic-heroes-kingdomnordicpublishingriftrift-planes-of-telaraswitzerlandthe-ubisofter-side-of-searstriontrion-worldsubisoftWed, 01 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Runescape's Mark Gerhard talks self-publishing success]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/runescapes-mark-gerhard-talks-self-publishing-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/runescapes-mark-gerhard-talks-self-publishing-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/16/runescapes-mark-gerhard-talks-self-publishing-success/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Jagex, makers of the successful browser-based MMORPG Runescape, went through a who's who listing of game publishers before ultimately deciding to fly solo and self-publish their free-to-play fantasy title. Company CEO Mark Gerhard minced few words when speaking about the trials and tribulations of securing a publishing deal during a talk at this week's Develop Conference.

"We went to publishers like Activision and EA and said we've got an awesome browser game, and they said **** off. We went back and said we've got a million users and they said bull****. The necessity forced us to become a publisher," Gerhard said.

Ultimately, Jagex was able to parlay their success into an investment deal with Sony, and is also releasing multiple additional titles including War of Legends, an iPhone game called Bouncedown, and numerous casual titles via the FunOrb gaming portal. Check out the original article at Game Politics for more details.

MassivelyRunescape's Mark Gerhard talks self-publishing success originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bouncedownbrowser-basedf2pfree-to-playfunorbiphonejagexmark-gerhardpublisherspublishingrunescapeself-publishwar-of-legendsFri, 16 Jul 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Namco Bandai to distribute Cities XL in United Kingdom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/namco-bandai-to-distribute-cities-xl-in-united-kingdom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/namco-bandai-to-distribute-cities-xl-in-united-kingdom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/namco-bandai-to-distribute-cities-xl-in-united-kingdom/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Fresh off their merger and complete with a new-ish name, Namco Bandai has announced a UK publishing deal for urban management MMO Cities XL. More specifically, the publisher is set to distribute the Monte Cristo developed title in the UK, Italy, Nordic countries, Iberica, New Zealand and Australia. Distribution elsewhere will be handled by Monte Cristo themselves.

If you're looking for more information on Cities XL, we've got a detailed hands-on preview written by our very own Shawn Schuster. Plus, we're still offering the opportunity to win a shiny beta key so you can try the game out for yourself. It's a good time to be both an MMO and city builder fan, which is strange to write but feels oh-so-good.

MassivelyNamco Bandai to distribute Cities XL in United Kingdom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiabetacities-xlgamesindustry.bizhands-onibericaitalymonte-cristonamco-bandainew-zealandnordicpublishingukunited-kingdomWed, 08 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumors surface of extras included with EVE Online retail release]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/04/rumors-surface-of-extras-included-with-eve-online-retail-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/04/rumors-surface-of-extras-included-with-eve-online-retail-release/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/04/rumors-surface-of-extras-included-with-eve-online-retail-release/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Some of the biggest news to come out of EVE Fanfest 2008 was the publishing deal struck between CCP Games and Atari. The March retail release will mark the first time the game can be seen on store shelves since EVE Online's launch over five years ago. Players have wondered what benefits there might be in purchasing the game at a store, versus the game most of us have always known, which has been a purely digital distribution. While this is still relegated to the category of "rumor", images of the box and descriptions of its content have begun to turn up on the sites of retailers.

One UK game retailer lists the details what's included with the box: 60 days of game time, instant access to factional warfare (i.e. automatic standings via an in-game certificate), a guide to the game's careers, a VIP Pass (essentially the Buddy Program), and a special edition ship -- which, in this case, is listed to be a shuttle with increased cargo space. Fair enough, but is it real? Well if your German isn't too rusty, you can also see details of the retail release as they're listed at Amazon in Germany.

Continue reading Rumors surface of extras included with EVE Online retail release

MassivelyRumors surface of extras included with EVE Online retail release originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonataribuddy-programbusiness-modelsccpccp-gamesccp-sputnikdev-blogeveeve-fanfest-2008eve-onlineforumsmmo-industrypublishingpublishing-dealretailretail-releaserumorrumorsWed, 04 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take-Two officially no longer publishing Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/take-two-officially-no-longer-publishing-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/take-two-officially-no-longer-publishing-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/take-two-officially-no-longer-publishing-champions-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It was a just about five months ago that 2K games' publishing deal with Cryptic Studios was announced. The publishing label in the Take-Two collective had scored the rights to publish Champions Online in the midst of a steamy summer season, and the independent developer behind the game seemed thrilled. It's cold now, and the recent purchase of Cryptic by Atari seems to have changed and reshaped that original business relationship. Gamespot is reporting that Take-Two is now officially on the outs when it comes to publishing Champions Online.

A post-earnings conference call with analysts saw Take-Two president Ben Feder specifically stating "We no longer intend to publish the MMOG Champions Online due to Atari's acquisition of Cryptic." Gamespot further wonders whether the game will attempt to launch in early 2009. The loose "Spring 2009" timeframe was suggested when the game was first announced, and it remains to be seen whether the developer can stick to that timeframe post-acquisition. Massively will continue to follow this story as it develops.

MassivelyTake-Two officially no longer publishing Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ataribreakingbusinesschampions-onlinecryptic-studiospublishingtake-twoThu, 18 Dec 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hanbitsoft admits their Hellgate rights don't extend to US/EU]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/05/hanbitsoft-admits-their-hellgate-rights-dont-extend-to-us-eu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/05/hanbitsoft-admits-their-hellgate-rights-dont-extend-to-us-eu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/05/hanbitsoft-admits-their-hellgate-rights-dont-extend-to-us-eu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hellgate London's state of flux over the past week has been somewhat infuriating for us to follow. No doubt it must be even moreso for players who just want to know if they'll get their game back after Namco Bandai's servers close in the spring. First it seemed that Hanbitsoft would be rezzing the game worldwide, then it was less clear based on Redbana's development. Now it seems even Hanbitsoft has acknowledged that they don't have rights to the game in the US and EU.

WarCry is reporting based on a press release from Namco specifically stating that they own the IP for publishing here in the states and over in Europe. Gamecyte follows that announcement up with a more detailed look, noting that Hanbitsoft would like to run the game and do some profitsharing with Namco for these two lucrative markets. Namco's position on the matter, though, seems to be that the service is closing and everyone is moving on. So - for the time being - it looks like we'll be bidding farewell to Hellgate London.

MassivelyHanbitsoft admits their Hellgate rights don't extend to US/EU originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hanbitsofthellgate-londonipnamco-bandaipublishingWed, 05 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[2K Games to publish Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/2k-games-to-publish-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/2k-games-to-publish-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/10/2k-games-to-publish-champions-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Look, up in the sky! It's a bird- no wait, it's a plane! No! It's 2K Games (the publishing label of Take-Two) announcing that they'll be publishing Cryptic Studio's upcoming Champions Online for both the Xbox 360 and PC in North America. Sorry, the opportunity presented itself and we couldn't resist. As you may or may not know, we here at Massively follow both Cryptic and their MMOs very closely -- you could call us fans. So it's great that the game officially has a publisher, because that only further solidifies Champions Online as a very real MMO. It's also worth noting that this makes Champions Online the very first MMO published by 2K games.

This revelation -- while wonderful for everyone involved -- is also a change of tune from Cryptic's original plans to publish in-house. We're honestly happy to know that more money and manpower can now be spent on creating their next MMO (and subsequently other MMOs) rather than publishing them in tandem. No firm release date has yet to be announced but all good things will come in time, cousin.

Massively2K Games to publish Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesbreakingchampionschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosmicrosoftpublisherpublishingxbox-360Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft begins selling 14-day MMO trials at retail]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/ncsoft-begins-selling-14-day-mmo-trials-at-retail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/ncsoft-begins-selling-14-day-mmo-trials-at-retail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/ncsoft-begins-selling-14-day-mmo-trials-at-retail/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

NCsoft Europe announced that it has begun selling in the U.K. what it calls "starter packs" for some of its games - City of Heroes, City of Villains, Guild Wars, and Lineage II. Tabula Rasa will follow later in the year. The packs cost £1.99 at retail, and come with all game content plus a two week trial subscription period, encouraging players to return to buy the game at retail when the period ends.

This is essentially your standard 14-day trial -- a staple in the industry -- made available through retail for would-be subscribers who might not come across such opportunities on the web. NCsoft hopes that this move will net some new customers -- especially for its struggling properties.

"In an ever increasingly digitally orientated retail environment, encouraging players to return to retail is a win-win for both outlet and publisher," said an NCsoft rep. We had heard that the whole digital download thing could be the saving grace of the PC platform, but whatever!

MassivelyNCsoft begins selling 14-day MMO trials at retail originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 May 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdemoeuropeguild-warslineage-2lineage-iincsoftncsoft-europepublishingretailsubscriptiontabula-rasatrialukThu, 15 May 2008 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[APB's Walter Kong on financial flexibility]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/apbs-walter-kong-on-financial-flexibility/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/apbs-walter-kong-on-financial-flexibility/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/apbs-walter-kong-on-financial-flexibility/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In a new interview with Walter Kong, the Senior Vice President of Business Development at Realtime Worlds, explains the logic behind his team's recent reacquisition of the publishing rights for their upcoming game All Points Bulletin. Their latest round of fund-raising, which netted them a cool $50 million, gives them the a much higher degree of flexibility than they would have had under Webzen, so they took the opportunity to go independent, for a while anyway.

Kong explained that just because that just because they moved out from under Webzen doesn't mean they are necessarily looking to self-publish; they just want to keep their options open. What seems clear from the way they've handled themselves so far is that all the veteran blood, including CEO David Jones -- the brainchild of the Grand Theft Auto series, has made them shrewd in the ways of the business. Here's hoping they're as savvy at making their game as they are financing it.

MassivelyAPB's Walter Kong on financial flexibility originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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