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[Second Wind: Spiral Knights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/second-wind-spiral-knights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/second-wind-spiral-knights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/18/second-wind-spiral-knights/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Spiral Knights
There's something to be said for the rise of browser-based games. What once was an elephant graveyard of bad ideas, low-res graphics, and trite or incomplete game mechanics has now evolved into a veritable playground of new ideas and fun casual titles. Games like City of Steam and Drakensang Online continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in a browser window, delivering engaging experiences with depth and high fidelity.

Browser game represent some of the coolest technological innovations in the MMO niche. They also, often, represent the very worst in predatory monetization schemes and "pay-to-win" exploitation.

Spiral Knights does both. And it does both well.

Continue reading Second Wind: Spiral Knights

MassivelySecond Wind: Spiral Knights originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiummicrotransactionmicrotransactionspost-launchpremiumpuzzle-piratesre-reviewreviewsci-fantasysci-fisecond-impressionssecond-looksecond-windsegaspiral-knightssteamthree-ringsthree-rings-designupdated-impressionsThu, 18 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[April Fools' Day around the virtual world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/april-fools-day-around-the-virtual-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/april-fools-day-around-the-virtual-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/01/april-fools-day-around-the-virtual-world/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

April Fools Day around the virtual world
If our awesome Massively Online Kickstarter project didn't clue you in, it's April Fools' Day and liars, fibbers, and jokesters are everywhere. Some might be annoyed with the constant misdirection, but we find that it brings out a lot of creativity and humor in an industry that often needs more of both.

You probably saw Guild Wars 2's incredible (and playable) Super Adventure Box, but that's not the end of the pranks that went around in the virtual world. There are strange new offerings in DDO's store, The Repopulation has an insane list of patch notes, SWTOR announced dance combat, and Puzzle Pirates is allowing players to sail... a barrel. Then there's Super Hero Squad Online's Bag-Man, World of Warcraft's Crabby, World of Tanks' zombies, EVE Online: Odyssey's new features, Razer's Mousephone, and TERA's small-ass monsters trying to get you to turn that frown upside-down.

Those musically inclined will undoubtedly enjoy RuneScape: The Musical, and those in need of a bedtime story should turn to The Elder Scrolls Online. And if you haven't played League of Legends: CHEW, then you haven't lived. Just saying.

MassivelyApril Fools' Day around the virtual world originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april-foolsapril-fools-2013april-fools-dayapril-fools-day-2013ddoeve-onlineguild-wars-2kickstarterleague-of-legendsmassively-onlinepuzzle-piratesrazerrunescapesuper-adventure-boxsuper-hero-squad-onlineswtorterathe-elder-scrolls-onlinethe-repopulationworld-of-tanksworld-of-warcraftMon, 01 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Creative MMO minigames]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/28/the-perfect-ten-creative-mmo-minigames/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/28/the-perfect-ten-creative-mmo-minigames/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/28/the-perfect-ten-creative-mmo-minigames/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten Creative MMO minigames
Few people are without opinions on minigames in MMOs. Some love 'em, some hate 'em, and some just ignore 'em. Some even despise that I won't type "th." Takes all types, really. Personally, I'm all for including new types of enjoyable systems that can be repeated, particularly if it benefits my character in some way.

There's also this perception that minigames are just for kids. It's true that more kid-centric titles like Free Realms and Clone Wars Adventures thrive on minigames like you thrive on deep-fried butter balls, but these little diversions exist all over the place in "grownup" titles too. Holidays are a favorite time to trot them out, although there are plenty that exist year-round.

Today we're going to look at 10 creative minigames that have tickled my fancy over the year. Yes, I used the word "fancy." Whatcha gonna do about it?

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Creative MMO minigames

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Creative MMO minigames originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanetarenanetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbuy-to-playcrypticcryptic-studioseqeq-2eq-iieq1eq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iif2pfallen-earthfantasyfefeaturedfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveg1gameforgegameforge-berlingamersfirstguild-wars-2gw2humorlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrominigamesncsoftopinionp10perfect-10perfect-tenperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpost-apocpost-apocalypticpuzzlepuzzle-piratespweromrounduprunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxsci-fisegasoesonysony-online-entertainmentstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinesteamstotaboreatelonthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenthree-ringsthree-rings-designtop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listturbineturbine-entertainmentvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgwarcraftwastelandsworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 28 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Puzzle Pirates sails into new frontier: Tablets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/puzzle-pirates-sails-into-new-frontier-tablets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/puzzle-pirates-sails-into-new-frontier-tablets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/22/puzzle-pirates-sails-into-new-frontier-tablets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Puzzle Pirates sails into new frontier tablets
Avast ye mateys! After 10 years of working together to sail ships and fight foes utilizing puzzles, players in Puzzle Pirates get to set off on a completely new adventure. Well OK, to be precise the adventures will actually remain the same, but how players can access them will change; the pirate-themed social game focusing on cooperation is heading to tablets.

Three Rings co-founder and CEO Daniel James explained that the company has been exploring the possibility of bringing the game to mobile devices since last year, and now it's reached the point where expanding platforms is feasible. Players will be able to switch between the PC and the tablet, playing the same game on the same account. Plans are also in the works to make the game accessible on other devices as well. James did note that with this change, anticipated upcoming features such as the Kraken will be delayed until after the launch of the game on tablets.

Want to learn more about Puzzle Pirates? Check out Massively's exclusive interview with James.

MassivelyPuzzle Pirates sails into new frontier: Tablets originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Daniel-Jamesmobilemobile-gamingpuzzlepuzzle-piratessegasteamtabletthree-ringsthree-rings-designFri, 22 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Yo ho ho: Happy 10th birthday, Puzzle Pirates]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/yo-ho-ho-happy-10th-birthday-puzzle-pirates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/yo-ho-ho-happy-10th-birthday-puzzle-pirates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/yo-ho-ho-happy-10th-birthday-puzzle-pirates/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Puzzle Pirates artwork
Puzzle Pirates is still way ahead of its time, despite the fact that it just turned 10 years old. For many years, MMOs have tried to get players to work together in real time in myriad ways, yet Puzzle Pirates is the only one that has approached the problem exactly in this way: having each player work a different puzzle to represent different activities. One player controls the direction and speed a ship travels, two players work a "bilging" puzzle to help keep water from filling in, perhaps a few more players man the sails, and another plays a puzzle that represents keeping the ship repaired.

What you end up with is a pretty realistic depiction of a team working together to sail the high seas, fight NPCs, and attack other players. This same puzzle-based gameplay works its way throughout the entire game, making for a very unique and in-depth experience. It also ensures that players become experts at certain puzzles, something that easily represents the way a real-life sailor would become an expert at his or her station.

In a word, it's brilliant. Massively checked in with CEO Daniel James on the occasion of the game's birthday. Read on for the scoop!

Continue reading Yo ho ho: Happy 10th birthday, Puzzle Pirates

MassivelyYo ho ho: Happy 10th birthday, Puzzle Pirates originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybeau-hindmanbirthdaydaniel-jamesf2pfree-to-playftpinterviewinterviewspuzzlepuzzle-piratespuzzlesSandboxsandbox-mmothree-ringsthree-rings-designtrailersUltima-OnlinevideovideosWed, 24 Oct 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist interviews Puzzle Pirates' Matt Jensen]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/24/the-game-archaeologist-interviews-puzzle-pirates-matt-jensen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/24/the-game-archaeologist-interviews-puzzle-pirates-matt-jensen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/24/the-game-archaeologist-interviews-puzzle-pirates-matt-jensen/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Game Archaeologist interviews Puzzle Pirates' Matt Jensen
Two weeks ago, we opened the book to a strange game indeed. The odd combination of swashbucklers and minigames has sentenced Puzzle Pirates to the fringe of MMO society, yet it's thrived there as an offbeat title that caters to a... very select and fanatical crowd.

Which is totally cool with me, by the way. I love MMOs that take a path less-traveled.

Today I got the pleasure of sitting down with Puzzle Pirates Lead Developer Matt Jensen to talk about what it's like to work on the lovechild of Captain Hook and Bejeweled. If nothing else, he convinced me that it would be awesome to work at Three Rings Design because the dress code every day is peg legs and frilly blouses. His team also has one of the coolest offices ever.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist interviews Puzzle Pirates' Matt Jensen

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist interviews Puzzle Pirates' Matt Jensen originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ahoybejeweledclassicclassic-mmosclassicseverquestfeaturedgame-archaelogistlego-indiana-jonesmatt-jensennew-cokenostalgiaopinionpiratepiratespuzzlepuzzle-piratessegaswashbucklersthe-game-archaeologistthree-ringsthree-rings-designyohoho-puzzle-piratesTue, 24 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist: Puzzle Pirates]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/the-game-archaeologist-puzzle-pirates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/the-game-archaeologist-puzzle-pirates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/the-game-archaeologist-puzzle-pirates/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Game Archaeologist Puzzle Pirates
Up until this point in my life, Puzzle Pirates has always been that "oh yeah, that actually exists!" game to me. Even when I do lists of pirates in MMOs, this title slips right off of my radar. Maybe it's because Puzzle Pirates doesn't make waves (har!) these days, or maybe it's been around for so very long. I can't be the only one; the last time Massively talked about Puzzle Pirates was three years ago.

I think that part of Puzzle Pirates' forgettability is that it doesn't exactly scream MMO. I mean, its combat is more cerebral than anything else, it's all cutesy and stuff, and even its name suggests a casual flash title than anything deep and substantive.

Yet I have friends with a long and abiding love for this game, people who always chide me when I forget it. So to peer pressure I bow: It's high past time that we gave Puzzle Pirates its due as part of the MMO genre. Avast, ye landlubbers, and swab those peepers: We be goin' to sea!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Puzzle Pirates

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: Puzzle Pirates originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ahoyBang-Howdybejeweledclassicclassic-mmosclassicsdaniel-jamesDoctor-Who-Worlds-in-Timeeverquestfeaturedgame-archaelogistmichael-baynemiddle-earth-onlinenostalgiaopinionpiratepiratespuzzlepuzzle-piratessegaSierra-OnlineSpiral-Knightssteamswashbucklersthe-game-archaeologistthree-ringsthree-rings-designubisoftworld-of-warcraftyohoho-puzzle-piratesTue, 10 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Three Rings prepares to connect Puzzle Pirates' oceans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/three-rings-prepares-to-connect-puzzle-pirates-oceans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/three-rings-prepares-to-connect-puzzle-pirates-oceans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/three-rings-prepares-to-connect-puzzle-pirates-oceans/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Puzzle Pirates - green-clad avatars
Three Rings is making some interesting changes to its Puzzle Pirates MMO. A new post on the game's official forums outlines what's in store for the new year, and in a nutshell, players will be able to sail between many of the game's oceans (which, in regular MMO-speak, are actually the game's servers).

"We've been working on a way to consolidate the game's oceans for quite some time now, and after much deliberation, we determined that the fairest way to go about this is to combine the geographies of two oceans on one server," Three Rings explains.

The post hints at massive new explorable areas and also reassures players that their existing properties will be unaffected in spite of the mergers. There's a large FAQ in the thread as well, so head over to the Puzzle Pirates board for all the details.

MassivelyThree Rings prepares to connect Puzzle Pirates' oceans originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consolidationf2pfantasyfree-to-playocean-consolidationpatchespuzzle-piratesthree-ringsthree-rings-designupdatesFri, 09 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SEGA acquires Spiral Knights creator Three Rings Design]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/sega-acquires-spiral-knights-creator-three-rings-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/sega-acquires-spiral-knights-creator-three-rings-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/sega-acquires-spiral-knights-creator-three-rings-design/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SEGA logo
SEGA announced today that it has acquired indie developer Three Rings Design. Three Rings is no newcomer to the MMO industry, with popular titles such as Puzzle Pirates and the new Spiral Knights. SEGA's Senior VP of Digital Business, Haruki Satomi, says of the acquisition, "We are proud to welcome them as the newest member of the SEGA family, and look forward to seeing what great things we can create together over the coming years." Three Rings CEO Daniel James seems quite pleased as well, stating that his company is "honored to be joining such a legendary team and look forward to collaborating on amazing ideas together." We know we're looking forward to seeing what this unique combination manages to produce as well. We'll just have to wait and see.

MassivelySEGA acquires Spiral Knights creator Three Rings Design originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessdaniel-jamesharuki-satomiindustrypuzzle-piratessegaspiral-knightsthree-ringsthree-rings-designThu, 17 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Ten terrific titles for this nifty new netbook]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/mmobility-ten-terrific-titles-for-this-nifty-new-netbook/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/mmobility-ten-terrific-titles-for-this-nifty-new-netbook/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/mmobility-ten-terrific-titles-for-this-nifty-new-netbook/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Inspiron Duo picture
I mentioned this new gaming toy of mine last week, and it finally arrived. I immediately loved how it felt and weighed. Sure, there are lighter netbooks, but many of them feel more fragile. This Inspiron Duo has a rubberized edging to it, and the flip-screen feels snappy but firm. I was happy right away. It's a higher-quality netbook with a decent-quality tablet included.

After I tweaked it and purged it of bloatware, I had to get some games going on it, and not just casual Facebook games but real MMOs. I spent a few days going through my list of titles to see which ones would work on the netbook and how many will work well with the touchscreen. I wanted games that would give a normal netbook fits but not lag excessively. Note that my netbook's screen is 1366x768, while the cheapest ones out there are normally 1024x600. Adjustments might need to be made there. I came up only with 10 games for now, but expect more in the future.

Click past the cut to see the list!

Continue reading MMObility: Ten terrific titles for this nifty new netbook

MassivelyMMObility: Ten terrific titles for this nifty new netbook originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mystical-landbeau-hindmanf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpglitchgolden-agegunshineillyriadinspiron-duomabinoginadirimnetbooknetbook-gamesnetbook-mmosNexonnexon-americapuppet-guardianpuzzle-piratestechnologyUltima-Onlinewizard101Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: The rise of the browser]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/mmobility-the-rise-of-the-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/mmobility-the-rise-of-the-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/mmobility-the-rise-of-the-browser/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Glitch screenshot
Over the last week I have been obsessing over Glitch, the new browser-based MMORPG brought to us by Tiny Speck. I will go into details of why in my Rise and Shiny column, but for now, let's just say that I think it is one of the greatest things I have come across in a long time. For the record, I was talking about Glitch before it was popular (that hipster cred should get my a free pair of glasses in Glitch!) and was excited about starting this column because of games like Glitch.

In short, I knew that the browser market was huge, and I knew it was only going to grow bigger. Yes, I know what you're thinking, and yes I am claiming that we are starting to see the end of the heavy-duty client and demand for expensive hardware and upgrades. It's a big prediction, but click past the cut and let me explain.

Continue reading MMObility: The rise of the browser

MassivelyMMObility: The rise of the browser originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galactica-onlinebeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedChromeBooksclub-penguinDofusearth-eternalf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpglitchgoogleillyriadjagged-alliance-onlinekultanmilmoMMObilityorder-and-chaos-onlinepuzzle-piratesrunescapespiral-knightsstar-legendsstar-trek-infinite-spaceufo-onlinewakfuFri, 07 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: August 22-28, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/mv-guide-august-22-28-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/mv-guide-august-22-28-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/22/mv-guide-august-22-28-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MV Guide, Hellgate
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During livestream events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's scheduled for this week!

Continue reading MV Guide: August 22-28, 2011

MassivelyMV Guide: August 22-28, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champions-onlinechoose-my-adventurefusion-fallguild-warshellgatelego-universelivestreammv-guidemv-tvpoptropicapuzzle-piratesrunescapeMon, 22 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: My week in mobile]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/mmobility-my-week-in-mobile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/mmobility-my-week-in-mobile/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/16/mmobility-my-week-in-mobile/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Calendar picture
I love exploring the mobile gaming world. I also really enjoy window-shopping on different websites, looking at the latest mobile technologies. If I really let my imagination run, I can picture society in only a dozen or more years: people walking around while constantly being connected to their family and friends, playing games while video chatting.

Of course, I also wonder whether this would be a good thing or not, but I forget the concern as soon as I spy the latest patch for one of my favorite MMOs. The last week was an eventful one, and as usual I was all over the digital map. Why don't you click past the cut and see what happened? I promise I'll skip the parts about what I had for breakfast (always two pieces of toast, a cup of tea, and a fruit smoothie) and will get right to the better digital parts.

Continue reading MMObility: My week in mobile

MassivelyMMObility: My week in mobile originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanBest-Buychrome-oschromebookeve-onlinef2pfeaturedfree-to-playftplaptopMMObilitymobilenetbookouter-empirespuzzle-piratesTue, 16 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Creating a hidden-object mobile MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/mmobility-creating-a-hidden-object-mobile-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/mmobility-creating-a-hidden-object-mobile-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/mmobility-creating-a-hidden-object-mobile-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Around the time we left for E3, I discovered some of the hidden-object games published by Big Fish Games. I have enjoyed puzzle games in the past, but these seemed to have a nice, dependable quality to them that I had not seen before. On the way home -- during the last several hours of our trip, when it became hard to settle down -- I pulled out Moonfell Wood, a lovely hidden-object game set in a magical world of fairies and princesses. (I think the target audience was obvious.)

It was just a trial, but it was very relaxing. The music was nice and the puzzles were challenging but not mind-crushing, and my wife would look over my shoulder once in a while to point out one of the objects or to help solve a puzzle. It really got me to thinking: could a hidden-object MMO be created for the mobile market?

I think it could. Click past the cut and let's discuss it.

Continue reading MMObility: Creating a hidden-object mobile MMO

MassivelyMMObility: Creating a hidden-object mobile MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbig-fish-gamesdarkfell-woodf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftphidden-objectIOSipadiphoneMMObilitymobilepuzzlepuzzle-piratesthree-rings-designtreasure-seekers-3videoTue, 19 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Middle-earth Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-middle-earth-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-middle-earth-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-middle-earth-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I had so much fun walking down the halls of "What if?" last week that I thought I'd keep the streak going for the rest of the month (if you'll allow for some summertime indulgence). It's not that I necessarily wanted MMO history to turn out differently than it did, but it's always tantalizing to wonder what the field would look like with different games out there. Would they have proven more popular than our current crops? Would they have pushed the envelope of innovation?

Of course, it's easy to project greatness onto never-released titles, bemoaning that "if only MMO X had launched, we would've had the perfect game!" What ifs are interesting but should never be taken as absolute fact.

This week I wanted to look at a project that's related to an MMO near and dear to my heart. As most of you know, I'm somewhat of a Lord of the Rings Online nut here at Massively. Sure, the rest of the staff is upset that I smoke pipeweed inside and never wear shoes, but that's just how far I go to understand the game.

But even my LotRO isn't immune to a massive what if. Known to some but not to all, Turbine wasn't the first MMO studio to take a crack at Tolkien's license -- no, for that we have to travel back to 1998 and revisit Sierra On-Line. It was this company that had a brief but memorable run designing Middle-earth Online, aka "What if LotRO had permadeath?" It's a fascinating glimpse into an entirely different approach to the IP, and even though it died a fairly early death, it's important to be remembered. Frodo lives!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Middle-earth Online

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Middle-earth Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2-d3-dbalrogcraig-alexanderdaniel-jameselveseqeverquestfeaturedfourth-agefrodofrodo-livesi-hate-elvesisometricjoe-ludwigjrr-tolkienkings-questlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromeomiddle-earth-onlinemonster-playpermadeathpkpkingplayer-killingpsychologypuzzle-piratessierrasierra-onlinespace-queststephen-nicholsthe-game-archaeologistthe-professorthe-realmthe-realm-onlinetolkienultima-onlineuovivendivivendi-universalTue, 21 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Fifty games for the mobile lifestyle]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/mmobility-fifty-games-for-the-mobile-lifestyle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/mmobility-fifty-games-for-the-mobile-lifestyle/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/mmobility-fifty-games-for-the-mobile-lifestyle/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

I like lists. Lists help keep my candy-coated brain functioning. I see so many games, devices, and developers that I need to write things down periodically or become lost. Not so long ago I made a list of 25 games for your shiny new laptop, but I wanted to update it with other devices as well. I'd like to clarify the devices I have, though, especially since it was brought to my attention that a lot of players use laptops as their primary gaming machines. When I refer to a laptop, it is far from a gaming machine and could not run games like EverQuest II or Age of Conan.

So here are some stats: I have an HTC Inspire, an iPhone 3GS, an iPad, a Phenom Triple-core PC desktop with an Nvidia 9800 card, six gigs of ram and onboard sound. My laptop is an HP G62 with an AMD Athlon II P340 dual core processor, three gigs of ram and an AMD graphics chip built in. I also have a more powerful gaming PC, but that is often referred to as "the wife's machine" around here, and it is so packed with her items that I rarely touch it. So most of these games can be run on their native devices, and if they are meant for PC, probably on netbooks as well. When I'm playing on netbooks, resolution is often the major issue. Some games just will not fit on the tiny screens without some slight modding.

Anyway, click past the cut to see the list. The first 11 are my favorites, the ones that I play often, if not every day. The rest are in no particular order, so keep that in mind as well. Remember that this year is going to be an incredible one for mobile, thanks to the new games I found at E3. So this list will change!

Continue reading MMObility: Fifty games for the mobile lifestyle

MassivelyMMObility: Fifty games for the mobile lifestyle originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mystical-landadventurequest-worldsAnarchy-Onlineasherons-callatmosphirbattlestar-galactica-onlinebeau-hindmanccpcity-of-eternalsClone-Wars-Adventurescrowns-of-powerdark-orbitdark-orbit-gamesdie2niteDofusdomain-of-heroesdragon-fabledungeon-blitzeden-eternaleve-onlineeverquestf2pfeaturedfleckfree-realmsfree-to-playftpfusion-fallgilfors-talesglitchgunshineillyriadkingsisle-entertainmentlinkrealmsmabinogiMapleStorymilmoministry-of-warmiramagiaMMObilitymobilemonkey-questmonster-forestnadirimNexonorder-and-chaos-onlinepets-vs-monsterspirate-galaxypocket-legendspockie-ninjapoptropicapuzzle-piratesrunescapeshin-megami-tensei-imagine-onlineSOEspiral-knightsThreeRingstravianswakfuwizard-101World-of-WarcraftzentiaTue, 21 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's April Fools' Day [adjective] roundup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/massivelys-april-fools-day-adjective-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/massivelys-april-fools-day-adjective-roundup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/01/massivelys-april-fools-day-adjective-roundup/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The favorite day of the year for anyone named April has [verb ending in ed] the internet, making some web surfers [emotion] and others [emotion]. In [adjective] Massively fashion, we felt it best to gather all this news [adverb]. After all, what would an event be without a [adjective] Massively roundup?

World of Warcraft [past tense verb] not just one internet prank but four for the [plural noun] of BattleNet. Turbine invited its [plural noun] to be the broccoli for [adjective] race in Dungeons and Dragons Online. The [plural title] of Star Wars: The Old Republic did not want to leave the Wookiee [plural noun] from playing their [adjective] game, so they created a Shyriiwook interface for all those [adjective] people. However, the prank that takes the [food] has to be ArenaNet's new Guild Wars 2 class, the Commando; Anet created [adjective] videos complete with jiggle physics and placed helicopters into the current Guild Wars game.

After the cut, we have [past tense verb] all the [adjective] pranks in this year's batch of favorite MMOs. Now you won't have to [verb] around the internet to find them yourself! But if you do [verb] something not on our list, let us know in the comments.

Continue reading Massively's April Fools' Day [adjective] roundup

MassivelyMassively's April Fools' Day [adjective] roundup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>april-foolsapril-fools-2011arenanetCCPdark-age-of-camelotDDOdungeons-and-dragons-onlineEAEVEeve-onlinefeaturedfirefallforsaken-worldfuncomgazillion-entertainmentglobal-agendaguild-warsGuild-Wars-2hi-rez-studiosholidayholidaysincarnaLEGO-Universemad-libmad-libsmad-libs-april-fools-day-2011Mythic-Entertainmentperfect-world-entertainmentpocket-legendspuzzle-piratesred-5-studiosround-uprounduproundupssecret-worldSOESonySony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesthe-secret-worldTurbine-Entertainmentwizard-101Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Puzzle Pirates]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/27/rise-and-shiny-recap-puzzle-pirates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/27/rise-and-shiny-recap-puzzle-pirates/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/27/rise-and-shiny-recap-puzzle-pirates/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Puzzles Pirates is pretty deceiving when you first look at it. The decade-old game looks closer to what you might have expected from LEGO Universe than it does a strategic, puzzle-based combat game. But as you get more into the basics of the game, you realize that many of the tricks up Puzzle Pirate's sleeve would be awesome if featured in other games. The puzzles are integrated into your experience flawlessly, and the grouping system is wonderful.

In fact, I couldn't stop thinking about why other games don't feature systems like those in Puzzle Pirates. Name me a game that does group combat, ship combat or even crafting based on puzzles! I think that the perceived silliness of puzzles, or the perceived juvenile nature of puzzles, keeps them out of popular developer's minds. It's not as though raiding or other group activities in other games are high art or much more than a very basic puzzle. Stand here, push that. Repeat. Now move. Push that, followed by this. Repeat.

So let's look at how Puzzle Pirates plays, how the community members fare, and what issues I did have with this brilliant puzzler. Click past the cut!

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Puzzle Pirates

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Puzzle Pirates originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancash-shopf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreemiumftpLiveStreamPiratespuzzlepuzzle-piratespuzzlesrise-and-shinythree-ringsthree-rings-designyarryohohoSun, 27 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First Impressions: Spiral Knights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/26/first-impressions-spiral-knights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/26/first-impressions-spiral-knights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/26/first-impressions-spiral-knights/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

If you were one of the lucky few who grabbed a Spiral Knights beta key recently, then you will appreciate the joy I feel when talking about this game. It's simply a toy -- a ray-gun or a tin robot. It does what it is supposed to do and does it on a variety of machines without many issues. It is mechanized fun, simple and to the point, yet somehow also endearing and even sweet.

Perhaps the tiny robots and adorably destructive weaponry implemented by the folks at Three Rings help to bind the game to our hearts, because I found myself worrying that the little robot I was aiding would never find the materials he needed to escape from the dreadful gearworks and steam engines I was forced to investigate.

Confused? Well, go log in and try it out or click past the cut to hear my explanation!

Continue reading First Impressions: Spiral Knights

MassivelyFirst Impressions: Spiral Knights originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmandungeon-crawlerf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpHack-and-Slashlobbymario-brotherspreviewpreviewspuzzlepuzzle-piratesrobotsspiral-knightssteamcutesteampunkthree-ringsSat, 26 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: March 21 - 28, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/mv-guide-march-21-28-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/mv-guide-march-21-28-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/21/mv-guide-march-21-28-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of games to take a look at. During Livestream events, you can participate in the live chat to learn about the game, ask questions, and spend some time with Massively staff and readers.

Ready to see what's on the schedule for the week? Follow along to see!

Continue reading MV Guide: March 21 - 28, 2011

MassivelyMV Guide: March 21 - 28, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dc-universe-onlinedcuofeaturedguild-warsgwlivestreammv-guidepuzzle-piratesromrunes-of-magicstar-trek-onlinestoMon, 21 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Twenty-five free MMOs for that shiny new laptop]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/29/free-for-all-twenty-five-free-mmos-for-that-shiny-new-laptop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/29/free-for-all-twenty-five-free-mmos-for-that-shiny-new-laptop/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/29/free-for-all-twenty-five-free-mmos-for-that-shiny-new-laptop/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

So there you are, reading a column from your favorite Massively writer on your shiny new laptop. You might be stuck with your parents and family because of the snow, or you might simply want to find a new MMORPG to play on the device. Perhaps you broke down and bought that cute pink netbook at Target, and now you need something to do with it besides reading your favorite writer of all time?

Don't worry, because I've taken the time to compile and test 25 MMOs that will work wonderfully on your new toy! Yes, there are real MMOs out there that are not dependent on the latest graphics card or six gigs of ram. These are fully realized worlds, complete with chat windows and socializing. I will make a note if the game might have some difficulty on the oldest of hardware -- or the least powerful -- so keep an eye out for that. Otherwise, download away!

For the record, this is my new toy. I got it for work, but you know the first thing I had to do was try out gaming on it. Click past the cut to see the list!

Continue reading Free for All: Twenty-five free MMOs for that shiny new laptop

MassivelyFree for All: Twenty-five free MMOs for that shiny new laptop originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurequest-worldsbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedcanaan-onlinecash-shopcode-of-everanddarkorbitdarkwindDofusdomain-of-heroeseternal-landsf2pfeaturedfragoriafree-to-playftpfusionfallglitchgolemizerheroes-of-might-and-magic-onlineindependentIndielinkrealmsmabinogiMapleStorymight-and-magic-heroes-kingdomsmilmopoptropicapuzzle-piratesrunescapeshadowtaletalesweavertibiaunitywizard-101wizard101Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Thirteen spooky free-to-play Halloween events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/free-for-all-13-spooky-free-to-play-halloween-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/free-for-all-13-spooky-free-to-play-halloween-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/free-for-all-13-spooky-free-to-play-halloween-events/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ah, Halloween. The dark Xmas. Around our house, Halloween is king. Despite the fact that we have no kids to dress up and parade around the neighborhood, we will still hand out tons of candy to all the trick-or-treaters. Until that spooky night, however, we love to spend the time exploring different Halloween events in our favorite MMORPGs.

MMOs are perfect for such events -- they have the players to fill them out, the ability to host whatever kind of event they want, and a lot of optional blood and gore. Some of the events fit perfectly in their game-world, and some stick out like a stock broker on D&D night. Either way, there is always a lot of fun to be had, and sometimes very cool loot to snag! (Like that sweet ride pictured above -- got it on my first try.)

Read on for some of my favorite events -- none of them costing a dime.

Continue reading Free for All: Thirteen spooky free-to-play Halloween events

MassivelyFree for All: Thirteen spooky free-to-play Halloween events originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonbeau-hindmancostume-contestf2pfeaturedflyfffree-realmsfree-to-playFreejackftpglobal-agendagrand-fantasiahalloweenin-game-eventsmabinogiMapleStorypuzzle-piratesvindictuswizard-101zentiaWed, 27 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Where's the agency in MMOGs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/22/where-s-the-agency-in-mmogs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/22/where-s-the-agency-in-mmogs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/22/where-s-the-agency-in-mmogs/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Not the upcoming unreleased title from Sony Online Entertainment, but agency in the sense of making choices to effect change. As MMOG players, do we technically have any agency at all, or is that taken out of our hands, limiting us simply to selecting which ways we allow the game to push us around?

As players, of course, we get to choose our quests and missions from those that are made available to us, but of course there's no change effected. No sooner do we rescue the frightened hobbit, Lalia, from her folly in the Barrow Downs in Lord of the Rings Online, than she is wandering lost on the hillside once more, ready to be rescued again and again. And indeed, with a group, you can help to rescue her over and over and over. Until you get thoroughly tired of it.

Continue reading Where's the agency in MMOGs?

MassivelyWhere's the agency in MMOGs? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barrow-downsblackwing-lairfilikulfree-realmsgame-mechanicslalialord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromorianefarianNornuanopinionpuzzle-piratesraidingWed, 22 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A closer look at revenues in free-to-play MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/a-closer-look-at-revenues-in-free-to-play-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/a-closer-look-at-revenues-in-free-to-play-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/a-closer-look-at-revenues-in-free-to-play-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The free-to-play business model in the MMO industry is one that lets users play a game for free in hopes that a percentage of that userbase will opt to embrace microtransactions, allowing F2P game operators to potentially bring in more revenue per month than they would maintain through subscription fees. We periodically see announcements of yearly revenue from some of the larger companies, but these figures are typically announcements of average revenue per paying user (ARPPU), emphasis on 'paying'. But how much money are free-to-play MMOs really making? This is the subject of an article at Gamasutra written by Paul Hyman titled, 'What Are The Rewards Of 'Free-To-Play' MMOs?"

Hyman catches up with Raph Koster (Metaplace), Daniel James from Three Rings Design (Puzzle Pirates), and Jeremy Liew from Lightspeed Venture Partners (a funding source for F2P MMOs) to discuss the microtransaction model.

Continue reading A closer look at revenues in free-to-play MMOs

MassivelyA closer look at revenues in free-to-play MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arppuarpudaniel-jamesf2pfree-to-playgamasutrainterviewsjeremy-lliewlightspeed-venture-partnersmetaplacemicrotransactionspaul-hymanpuzzle-piratesraph-kosterthree-rings-designvirtual-currencyvirtual-goodsWed, 10 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why you should be playing Puzzle Pirates: Swordfighting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/15/why-you-should-be-playing-puzzle-pirates-swordfighting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/15/why-you-should-be-playing-puzzle-pirates-swordfighting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/15/why-you-should-be-playing-puzzle-pirates-swordfighting/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


"Why you should be playing ..." is a free form column from Massively.com intended to inform you about our favorite parts of our favorite games. We want you to know why we play what we do!

Free to play MMOs just don't get the respect they deserve. The problem is that that the entire submarket is painted by the same brush. Yes, there are many examples of not-so-great Asian MMOs poorly translated and dumped on the US market as free-to-play titles. Despite that, not only are some imports well done but home-grown free games are increasingly high quality. Three Rings has been making high quality free games for years, and Puzzle Pirates is their flagship title.

You probably already know the outline of the gameplay just from the name; it's an MMO where everyone does pirate-y things via puzzles. Everything is a puzzle in the game, from sailing and bilging to drinking contests. One of the most popular games in Puzzle Pirates is the swordfighting contest, and rightly so. Truly massively multiplayer, based on the Puzzle Fighter 2 console game, swordfighting is craftily, beautifully fun. Read on below the cut for my thoughts on why this simple puzzling technique may be one of the most engaging combats you can enjoy in an MMO.

Continue reading Why you should be playing Puzzle Pirates: Swordfighting

MassivelyWhy you should be playing Puzzle Pirates: Swordfighting originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredpuzzlepuzzle-piratespuzzlesswordfightingwhy-you-should-be-playingMon, 15 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Puzzle Pirates celebrates five years of puzzley skulduggery]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/puzzle-pirates-celebrates-five-years-of-puzzley-skulduggery/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/puzzle-pirates-celebrates-five-years-of-puzzley-skulduggery/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/puzzle-pirates-celebrates-five-years-of-puzzley-skulduggery/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It's hard to imagine that Puzzle Pirates launched five years ago, but it's true. The online game from Three Rings has seen quite a lot over the years, too. In fact, according to Three Rings there have been over 250 million hours of puzzling, 4 million Puzzle Pirate accounts and one and a half million forum posts. That's a ton of puzzle skulduggery, not to mention the laundry list of past game updates. We can only hope for the same kind of content in Whirled.

As part of the celebration for five years going, Three Rings is recognizing all their longtime pirates with a special in-game trophy to show off. We hope Puzzle Pirates and its players see another five fine years of updates, pirating and puzzling on the high seas!

MassivelyPuzzle Pirates celebrates five years of puzzley skulduggery originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarypiratepiratespuzzlepuzzle-piratesthree-ringstrophyThu, 11 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A whole new Whirled: The future of Flash MMOs with Daniel James]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/a-whole-new-whirled-the-future-of-flash-mmos-with-daniel-james/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/a-whole-new-whirled-the-future-of-flash-mmos-with-daniel-james/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/12/a-whole-new-whirled-the-future-of-flash-mmos-with-daniel-james/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Earlier this week we had the chance to speak with Mr. Daniel James, the CEO and co-founder of Three Rings. Makers of successful online titles Puzzle Pirates and Bang! Howdy, the company is well known for the quality of its work and the quirkiness of its GDC parties. They've been working on a third project, Whirled, for the better part of 2008 and it just launched into full live service earlier this week. We spoke with Mr. James about the whys and logic behind Whirled, about the power of user-created content, and the power of offering actual compensation for hard work and talent.

Read on below the cut for our talk with Mr. James, and a thorough exploration of a brand-new Whirled.

Gallery: Whirled

Continue reading A whole new Whirled: The future of Flash MMOs with Daniel James

MassivelyA whole new Whirled: The future of Flash MMOs with Daniel James originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bang-howdydaniel-jamesinterviewmicrotransactionspuzzle-pirateswhirledWed, 12 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Three Rings officially launches Whirled project]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/10/three-rings-officially-launches-whirled-project/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/10/three-rings-officially-launches-whirled-project/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/10/three-rings-officially-launches-whirled-project/#commentsFiled under: ,


Whirled, an ambitious web/virtual world hybrid from Three Rings, launched into Beta early this year. We were incredibly impressed with the project even back then, bouncing pieces of tofu or not. From there the project has only grown by leaps and bounds, and word now comes down that Whirled has officially launched! The interactive web environment now offers a microtransactional system where you can make money directly from your content. You can make or play games, chat with a wide array of players, or just enjoy the numerous and creative rooms players have generated over the last eight months.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Daniel James about the new vision of Whirled, and you'll be able to read that discussion tomorrow. For the time being, go check out Venturebeat's analysis of the project or (if you're so inclined) read upon the full press release below the cut. PS: If you play, we recommend Brawler Whirled or Corpse Craft. They're both fantastic!

Gallery: Whirled

Continue reading Three Rings officially launches Whirled project

MassivelyThree Rings officially launches Whirled project originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingdaniel-jamespuzzle-piratesthree-ringswhirledMon, 10 Nov 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Can a space colonization MMO work? (part two)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/27/the-digital-continuum-can-a-space-colonization-mmo-work-part/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/27/the-digital-continuum-can-a-space-colonization-mmo-work-part/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/27/the-digital-continuum-can-a-space-colonization-mmo-work-part/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Can a space colonization MMO work? (part two)

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Can a space colonization MMO work? (part two) originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bejeweledcolonizationearthfree-realmsmarsmirrors edgeMirrorsEdgepeggleportalpuzzle-piratesseedsoespacestark-trekterraformingthe-digital-continuumSat, 27 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Piracy pays off after all]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/one-shots-piracy-pays-off-after-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/one-shots-piracy-pays-off-after-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/30/one-shots-piracy-pays-off-after-all/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Puzzle Pirates might not get as much love from Massively as a certain other pirate-themed MMO, but that doesn't mean we don't like the cuter side of being a privateer. Today's One Shots comes to us from Gaea, one of the newbie support staff at Puzzle Pirates. We see that she travels in style, with everything but the kitchen sink arranged on the deck of her ship. Gaea writes:

Ahoy! While I'm not technically a GM as we use the term Oceanmaster, it's
still pretty good. Behold as I answer support events, settle disputes, ban
evildoers, sail a ship, and stay looking good, all at the same time! Yarr!

Do you have a pimped out space in your MMO of choice as well? Elite gear or rare items of some kind? Send us your screenshots at oneshots AT massively DOT com. After all, there's no point in being pimp if you don't flaunt it. Just remember to give us a brief description of what we're seeing and show off a bit.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Piracy pays off after all originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfree-to-playone-shotspiracypiratespuzzle-piratesscreenshotsSat, 30 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Birthday fun on the Puzzle Pirate GM seas]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/one-shots-birthday-fun-on-the-puzzle-pirate-gm-seas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/one-shots-birthday-fun-on-the-puzzle-pirate-gm-seas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/one-shots-birthday-fun-on-the-puzzle-pirate-gm-seas/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


As some of you may remember, we recently sent out a call for different GMs to send along some of their favorite screenshots. The above screenshot was in response to that call, and comes to us from Ocean Master Eurydice. She helps players out in Three Rings' incredibly addictive, free-to-play game Puzzle Pirates! Here's what she had to say:

I'm a GM on Puzzle Pirates, although over here we call them Ocean Masters. I saw your call for GM pictures and got this OKd with a supervisor. (Always good to check first...) [This] is a screenshot of my first ship, called the Queen of Shadows. It was colorfully decorated a couple years ago for my birthday by wonderful co-workers -- on their off time! It is where I stand when on duty on the Midnight Ocean (a server). We stand on ships so that we can have quiet while we answer petitions, but we can pop off at a moment's notice and be with the players if we need to. As you may be able to make out from the faint messages in the lower left-hand corner, there are parts of the ship not pictured here that are so decorated that I can't walk around them.

That seems like it's definitely a fun place to work if your co-workers decide to pull silly pranks like crowding your ship full of flowers and blocking you from moving around too much! (You know, especially when you also have awesome GM-type powers and can just move the flowers around.) Are you a GM who would like to show off something fun from your game? Send those screens in to us here at oneshots AT massively.com, along with whatever you'd like to say about them. It's almost as much fun as a ship full of flowers.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: Birthday fun on the Puzzle Pirate GM seas originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eurydiceGMocean-masterocean-mastersone-shotspuzzle-piratesscreenshotscreenshotsthree-ringsFri, 08 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Craig Sherman: WoW not a success]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/09/craig-sherman-wow-not-a-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/09/craig-sherman-wow-not-a-success/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/09/craig-sherman-wow-not-a-success/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It appears that Gaia's Craig Sherman thinks that World of Warcraft isn't a success when compared to the hundreds of millions of "willing-to-play" teenagers it hasn't managed to claim as subscribers. A ridiculous claim, as success is a relative term -- especially when comparing free-to-play titles with something like World of Warcraft. We're not saying that games like Maple Story or Puzzle Pirates aren't good, they're just a different breed of MMOs.

Maybe we should measure MMO success by degree of pop-culture status: Has Maple Story had commercials featuring William Shatner, Mr. T and Vern Troyer? Will Puzzle Pirates become a theatrical film anytime soon? No, but that doesn't make these games any less successful in their own right. Plus, that's a ridiculous way of measuring success. There's a lot of differences in these games, but one thing is for sure -- World of Warcraft is definitely a successful game.

MassivelyCraig Sherman: WoW not a success originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardgaia-interactivegaia-onlinemaple-storynexonpuzzle-piratesthree-rings-designworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 09 Apr 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Three Rings' Whirled now in open beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/three-rings-whirled-now-in-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/three-rings-whirled-now-in-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/three-rings-whirled-now-in-open-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Three Rings, the makers of Puzzle Pirates, has just gone live with the open beta of its browser-based, 2D social space, Whirled. Whirled has all the features that have become de rigeur for a virtual world these days: minigames, a personal page-embeddable room for your avatar, purchasable objects, and basic creation tools.

Also, how can you not love a VW where the default avatar is an adorable piece of tofu? Yes, tofu. And it dances. Expect a First Impressions post for Whirled in the near future, boogieing soy critters and all!

MassivelyThree Rings' Whirled now in open beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingopen-betapuzzle-piratesthree-ringstofuvirtual-worldwhirledMon, 31 Mar 2008 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do we really need greater Web integration?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/22/the-daily-grind-do-we-really-need-greater-web-integration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/22/the-daily-grind-do-we-really-need-greater-web-integration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/22/the-daily-grind-do-we-really-need-greater-web-integration/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

You hear it all the time, especially when pundits talk about Second Life: how our virtual worlds and MMOs will one day become so integrated with the World Wide Web that you'll be able to check your bank balance from World of Warcraft; you'll order books from within Everquest; you'll chat with AIM friends while still in Pirates of the Burning Sea. Sure, at first glance, it seems like a good, maybe even necessary. But think about it -- when you're playing your favorite game, do you really need to do any of those things? Isn't that the reason you play in the first place, to get away from other concerns?

When we're in Second Life, we're engaged with talking and playing with our SL friends. When cutting a swath of destruction through marauding bands of orcs in Lord of the Rings Online, we're miles away from worrying about what our stocks are doing. And just think of how much concentration Puzzle Pirates demands -- do you really want to dilute it with putting together an important email? What does greater Web integration mean to you?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do we really need greater Web integration? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bank-balanceeverquestintegrationlord-of-the-rings-onlineorcspirates-of-the-burning-seapuzzle-piratessecond-lifestocksthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftSat, 22 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Under The Hood: Puzzling Developments]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/under-the-hood-puzzling-developments/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/under-the-hood-puzzling-developments/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/under-the-hood-puzzling-developments/#commentsFiled under: , ,



There's an interesting counterpoint to the increasing amount of games following the traditional MMO mechanics layout. No, I'm not talking about space MMOs and the mechanics they follow. We covered those last week! I'm talking about the gradual seepage of puzzlers into the genre. It's a budding paradigm, and has both failings and virtues. Naturally, it's time to dissect them.

Continue reading Under The Hood: Puzzling Developments

MassivelyUnder The Hood: Puzzling Developments originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineeq2everquest-2featuredgame-mechanicspuzzle-piratespuzzlesunder-the-hooduthworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 21 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Puzzle Pirates creators land a big sack of booty]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/puzzle-pirates-creators-land-a-big-sack-of-booty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/puzzle-pirates-creators-land-a-big-sack-of-booty/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/puzzle-pirates-creators-land-a-big-sack-of-booty/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Venture Beat site is reporting that Three Rings, the developer of the fantastic Puzzle Pirates and the unique microtransaction title Bang! Howdy!, landed a big chest of gold this past summer. I imagine the gold was given to them in the form of American currency, as the company negotiated for some $3.5 million in venture capital money. The site also notes that the company's unique virtual currency platform is enormously successful, with $4 million in revenue reported by the company for 2007.

Though the site's article on the investment is light on what that VC money will be used for, they do briefly discuss Three Rings' work on the Whirled platform: The success of [the virtual currency] model has helped propel the company to 30 employees and is planning its new social networking game world, Whirled, where users will be able to create their own avatars, games, rooms, music, and pets.

[Via Next Generation]

MassivelyPuzzle Pirates creators land a big sack of booty originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daniel-jamespuzzle-piratesthree-ringsventure-capitalThu, 06 Mar 2008 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The top 5 free MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/the-top-5-free-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/the-top-5-free-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/the-top-5-free-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


It's been said that the best things in life are free. Whoever said it probably didn't have MMOs in mind, but it's certainly true that there are many quality games out there that are completely free to download and play. Here's a list of the top 5 free massively multiplayer online games.

Now, to pre-empt the equally massive glut of angry emails and comments I'm sure to receive for leaving someone's favorite title off of this list, I'm going to state right up front that these choices are based completely on the number of times I've heard them mentioned with favor by a variety of different sources. I make no guarantees of having played any of these MMOs, so they're not necessarily my personal picks. But if I keep hearing people mention them in different contexts, there must be something to them. In short, these games are popular for a reason, and if you haven't played them, you might find that they're worth your download. We begin after the jump!

Continue reading The top 5 free MMOs

MassivelyThe top 5 free MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disneydungeon-runnersfeaturedflagship-studiosfree-to-playmaple-storymythosncsoftnexonpirates-of-the-caribbean-onlinepuzzle-piratesthree-ringstop-5-free-mmosThu, 21 Feb 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Puzzle Pirates: The Carpenting Minigame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/puzzle-pirates-the-carpenting-minigame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/puzzle-pirates-the-carpenting-minigame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/puzzle-pirates-the-carpenting-minigame/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Here's the latest in my exploration of Puzzle Pirates, as begun here and continued here. The Carpenting minigame looks at first glance like Tetris, the same way that the Bilging minigame looks like Bejeweled. This impression lasted for all of one minute after gameplay began, as pieces never fell, rows never disappeared, everything was the same color, and there wasn't even a hint of Slavic undertones to the music.

However, Carpenting does provide some serious anxiety, the way later levels of Tetris do. The full scoop, after the jump.

Gallery: Puzzle Pirates

Continue reading Puzzle Pirates: The Carpenting Minigame

MassivelyPuzzle Pirates: The Carpenting Minigame originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bejeweledbilgecarpentingmassivelypuzzle-piratesslavictetrisMon, 05 Nov 2007 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Puzzle Pirates: The Bilge Minigame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/22/puzzle-pirates-the-bilge-minigame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/22/puzzle-pirates-the-bilge-minigame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/22/puzzle-pirates-the-bilge-minigame/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I've finally gotten around to checking out Puzzle Pirates. I love puzzles, I love pirates, I love the spaces between words; it's a match made in Heaven. So, I thought I'd share with you all my experiences. I began with the usual character creation, moved on to the Notice Board, and, as it was recommended, picked the Bilge minigame. It's for starters!

Bilgeing (if that's the correct term), is a lot like playing Bejeweled. In fact, it's so much like Bejeweled that I kept trying to play it like Bejeweled, and flailed around for a bit before I realized the main differences. 1) There is no vertical swap; it's all horizontal. 2) You want to clear top-to-bottom, rather than the reverse. In Bejeweled, clearing from the bottom cascades the jewels above you, typically resulting in jewel eliminations that you might not even have seen. Until I realized this in the Bilge minigame, I was missing a lot of elimination opportunities.

More after the jump!

Gallery: Puzzle Pirates

Continue reading Puzzle Pirates: The Bilge Minigame

MassivelyPuzzle Pirates: The Bilge Minigame originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Oct 2007 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bilgemassivelyminigamepuzzle-piratesMon, 22 Oct 2007 07:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Puzzle Pirates from the beginning]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/19/puzzle-pirates-from-the-beginning/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/19/puzzle-pirates-from-the-beginning/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/19/puzzle-pirates-from-the-beginning/#commentsFiled under: , ,


How is it that I've never played Puzzle Pirates? Since its inception, folks around the 'Net have been extolling its virtues. Have I just been too busy? Too involved in making money, feeding my family, spending facetime with friends? What's wrong with me?

With this post, I'll be rectifying all that. I'll be starting up my new career with Puzzle Pirates and documenting it every step of the way with my impressions, accompanied by screenshots. While this may be old hat to some of you, perhaps it'll help the rest of you determine whether or not life on the high seas is worth your time. Avast, ye scurvy dogs! Strike the mainsails or I'll keelhaul the lot o' ye!

MassivelyPuzzle Pirates from the beginning originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 03:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beginningmassivelypuzzle-piratesFri, 19 Oct 2007 03:19:00 EST