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[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[Rock, Paper, Shotgun gets an inside look at The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/rock-paper-shotgun-gets-an-inside-look-at-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/rock-paper-shotgun-gets-an-inside-look-at-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/rock-paper-shotgun-gets-an-inside-look-at-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Illuminati, Templars, and Dragons alike, sit down and listen up. The ever-so-entertaining and informative John Walker over at Rock, Paper, Shotgun has an exclusive inside look at Funcom's upcoming MMORPG The Secret World. The title, which is being headed up by adventure game visionary Ragnar Tørnquist, is set in the real world, though with a few dark and dangerous twists.

Mr. Walker spends a good deal of time talking about the much-talked-about ARG-esque connection between The Secret World and our reality. He goes into detail about a particular puzzle offered by the game which requires players to do a good deal of real-world research in order to reach their in-game goal, which sounds absolutely fascinating. Combat is also touched on, with Mr. Walker noting that "while its delivery is relatively traditional... there's enough that's different here to be interesting." For the full, fascinating read, head on over to Rock, Paper, Shotgun!

MassivelyRock, Paper, Shotgun gets an inside look at The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-reality-gameargcombatdragonilluminatijohn-walkerpuzzlepuzzlesrock-paper-shotgunrpssecret-worldtemplarthe-secret-worldtwsTue, 05 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Off the beaten path]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/enter-at-your-own-rift-off-the-beaten-path/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/enter-at-your-own-rift-off-the-beaten-path/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/enter-at-your-own-rift-off-the-beaten-path/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Conventional MMO wisdom says that one should stick to the roads as much as possible when questing. Roads have become the "safe zone" of online games, a place where mobs are less likely to attack and adventurers are less likely to become lost. RIFT, however, turns this MMO convention on its head and does everything it can to break us of this predictable -- and boring -- habit.

For one thing, the roads in RIFT are not safe. At any moment, a rampaging invasion or event boss may be wandering down them, looking for easy prey. I've seen more than one jaded MMO vet express a type of dawning pleasure when this has happened, especially considering the reputation modern games have for coddling their populations.

For another thing, there are a lot of incentives to strike off the beaten path and explore the world instead of staring at a packed trail that's been walked a million times before. RIFT encourages players to do so in subtle ways, ways that I deeply appreciate as an explorer type.

In today's Enter at Your Own Rift, we're going to look at three reasons that blazing your own way in the wilderness is more fun -- and even beneficial -- than sticking to the highway. Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Off the beaten path

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Off the beaten path originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 May 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementachieverartifactscollectionsenter-at-your-own-riftexplorerexploringfeaturedpuzzlepuzzlesriftrift-junkierift-planes-of-telarasilverwoodsparklesparkliestriontrion-worldsWed, 11 May 2011 17:00:00 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[Conquer the Keys of Fate, win a copy of Sentinel's Fate!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/conquer-the-keys-of-fate-win-a-copy-of-sentinels-fate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/conquer-the-keys-of-fate-win-a-copy-of-sentinels-fate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/conquer-the-keys-of-fate-win-a-copy-of-sentinels-fate/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"Seccia quickly looked over the treasured keys one last time. Her fingers lightly traced the ornate engravings on the two platinum and ten golden keys as a smile pulled itself across her lips. She took a deep breath before slowly wrapping them up in a large piece of canvas, hiding the package at the bottom of her backpack.

"In a few short minutes she had finished packing her camping supplies and had donned her armor. Without a second look back across her apartment she quickly moved towards the front door, praying that the right adventurers would find her before it's too late."

This Monday at 8:30 PM EST, join Massively as we set out on a bold quest across not only the face of Norrath, but the internet itself! Our intrepid Dark Elven reporter, Seccia Ravenloft, is holding the keys for brand new copies of EverQuest II's Sentinel's Fate collector's edition and retail edition! To claim them, however, one must track her down, wherever she is hiding, and politely request a key.

Tracking her down, however, will lead you through multiple puzzles and riddles in a race against the rest of Norrath! You will need an active EverQuest II subscription to participate in this contest, readers, so be sure to reactivate if you're interested in winning yourself a brand new expansion pack. Full instructions will be posted here and on the EverQuest II Community News forum come Monday, so keep your eye out!

Can you conquer the Keys of Fate?

MassivelyConquer the Keys of Fate, win a copy of Sentinel's Fate! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>collectors-editioncontesteq-iieq2everquest-2everquest-iiexpansionkeys-of-fatenorrathpuzzleretail-keysscavenger-huntsentinels-fatesoesony-online-entertainmentFri, 12 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest II unveils a new puzzle upon Norrath, and we've got some pieces of it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/everquest-ii-unveils-a-new-puzzle-upon-norrath-and-weve-got-so/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/everquest-ii-unveils-a-new-puzzle-upon-norrath-and-weve-got-so/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/everquest-ii-unveils-a-new-puzzle-upon-norrath-and-weve-got-so/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Once again, we've gotten another package from that strange community Dark Elf, Kiara. This time, however, instead of sending us a set of tablets, we've gotten sheets of paper containing some foreign language!

We're told that once the language is successfully deciphered, it should provide clues to a brand new questing opportunity to those who play EverQuest II. If you've been itching for more information on Sentinel's Fate, then look no further than these various scripts to provide you with information -- if you can crack them.

We've placed our four sections of writing in the article after the break, so be sure to click on the continue reading button to get a glimpse of the stuff you'll need to understand. We hear you'll need a big forehead to beat this one. *wink wink*


Continue reading EverQuest II unveils a new puzzle upon Norrath, and we've got some pieces of it

MassivelyEverQuest II unveils a new puzzle upon Norrath, and we've got some pieces of it originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contesteq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifeaturedkiarapuzzlequestsentinels-fatesoesony-online-entertainmentTue, 09 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively proclaims victory and rage over all citizens of Norrath!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/massively-proclaims-victory-and-rage-over-all-citizens-of-norrat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/massively-proclaims-victory-and-rage-over-all-citizens-of-norrat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/massively-proclaims-victory-and-rage-over-all-citizens-of-norrat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

See, this is what happens when we let Seccia write titles for us. Ughs... sorry about that readers. We don't proclaim any victory, nor do we have any rage towards the citizens of Norrath or EverQuest II. We are, as always, unbiased in our viewpoints... unlike some new Dark Elven interns.

However, Seccia has noted that we've received a package today from a member of her elven bretheren, a certain community management elf by the name of Kiara. Enclosed were two pieces of a shattered tablet, one named "Victory" while the other was entitled "Rage." We're not sure what this whole thing will form once it's put together, but we do know that other fansites have more pieces of the tablet. (Oh, Dark Elves and their puzzles.)

We've put the pictures of victory and rage after the break, so good luck with assembling the tablet and we can't wait to see what it reveals!

Continue reading Massively proclaims victory and rage over all citizens of Norrath!

MassivelyMassively proclaims victory and rage over all citizens of Norrath! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2featuredmini-gamepuzzlesentinels-fatesoesony-online-entertainmenttabletTue, 26 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: What is Love?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/anti-aliased-what-is-love/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/anti-aliased-what-is-love/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/08/anti-aliased-what-is-love/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


So what is love? That's certainly the metaphysical question of the ages, isn't it? Is it simply an attraction to another gender, or is it a deep bond between two people that goes beyond mere friendship, and more into the realm of headbanging, suit and sunglasses wearing pride? Do I have the authority to take on questions such as this in my editorial column?

Heck no! That's why we're going to spend this week talking about Eskil Steenberg's indie-MMO, Love! We've been covering Love extensively this week, announcing that the alpha was available and showing off some really beautiful in-game footage. But, even with all of that, we never got into the meat of the game. What is Love about? What do you do in it? Why is it so special to us on the Massively staff?

Those questions and more will be answered in this week's edition. So come on in, the Love is great!

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: What is Love?

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: What is Love? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedeskil-steenbergfeaturedfpsindieindie-mmolovemonolithmystopen-worldprocedural-generationpuzzlesandboxtower-defenseThu, 08 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lineage II mystery event has players hunting down puzzle pieces]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/09/lineage-ii-mystery-event-has-players-hunting-down-puzzle-pieces/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/09/lineage-ii-mystery-event-has-players-hunting-down-puzzle-pieces/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/09/lineage-ii-mystery-event-has-players-hunting-down-puzzle-pieces/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Lineage II has a mystery event on the way, but NCsoft is remaining silent about the details. Instead, they've turned the announcement itself into a game for the players. Lineage II Community Manager Lyzira has hidden clues in the form of puzzle pieces for players to find, presumably tucked away in the Lineage II website.

Once all of the pieces are found, the next in-game event will be revealed, literally spelled out with the completed jigsaw puzzle. A player named Ghast kicked this off earlier in the week by finding the first piece and since then five more players have found and added pieces to the puzzle. Plenty remain to be found however, and the event info is still fragmented at best. Have a look at the Lineage II mystery event site and see if you can make sense of the message.

MassivelyLineage II mystery event has players hunting down puzzle pieces originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-managerfantasyforumslineage-2lineage-iilyzirancsoftpuzzlepuzzlesSun, 09 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Crafty WAR marketing reveals the "Rosetta Bones," hints at upcoming contest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/crafty-war-marketing-reveals-the-rosetta-bones-hints-at-upcom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/crafty-war-marketing-reveals-the-rosetta-bones-hints-at-upcom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/crafty-war-marketing-reveals-the-rosetta-bones-hints-at-upcom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


First it was a movie and a box of hair dye that announced the coming of the Choppa and Slayer in Warhammer Online. Then it was the infamous "violent valentine" cards that announced the Night of Murder event coming to WAR. Now... now we have blogs receiving bones with glyphs and letters on them. You have to hand it to Mythic's marketing department. They have some pretty inventive ways to do announcements, one has to admit.

This announcement however, is pretty big. In conjunction with the release of the Land of the Dead, blogs all about the blogosphere will be getting "Rosetta Bones." These bones will feature different symbols on their faces, each linked with a letter of the alphabet. The bones will also be accompanied with a map that points out special tomb unlocks, a flag to show which version the bones belong to (Europe or North American audiences will be getting different bones) and a parchment page containing storyline clues for what will be occuring in the future.

Continue reading Crafty WAR marketing reveals the "Rosetta Bones," hints at upcoming contest

MassivelyCrafty WAR marketing reveals the "Rosetta Bones," hints at upcoming contest originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blogscall-to-armscartouchecontestland-of-the-deadmythicmythic-entertainmentpuzzlerosetta-bonetomb-kingstomb-of-knowledgewarwarhammer-onlineWed, 10 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Four days with Dungeons & Dragons Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/11/the-digital-continuum-four-days-with-dungeons-and-dragons-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/11/the-digital-continuum-four-days-with-dungeons-and-dragons-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/11/the-digital-continuum-four-days-with-dungeons-and-dragons-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


7:41pm Tuesday, April 7th

I just spent my first night with Dungeons and Dragons Online since it first launched in 2006, and came away from the experience pleasantly surprised. The trial client download was snappy, at around 45 minutes. The graphics have definitely seen an upgrade and overall my initial experience has been one of enjoyment. I was expecting to be left a little wanting and instead ended tonight's session quite begrudgingly. Why?

I needed to write this first entry. And oh yeah, I also required some food, too.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Four days with Dungeons & Dragons Online

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Four days with Dungeons & Dragons Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ddodnddungeons-and-dragons-onlineeberronfeaturedkorthospuzzlestormreachthe-digital-continuumturbinewizards-of-the-coastwotcSat, 11 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 09: Eskil Steenberg on bringing the Love]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/gdc09-eskil-steenberg-on-bringing-the-love/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/gdc09-eskil-steenberg-on-bringing-the-love/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/24/gdc09-eskil-steenberg-on-bringing-the-love/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We're always on the lookout for innovation in the MMO genre, so that's why Love has caught our eye. Developed by one man, Eskil Steenberg, Love is a procedurally-generated game, which essentially means that the entire world - including almost watercolor-looking graphics, different locations, etc. - are created randomly as you adventure through the world. Currently set to support 200 people per shard, Love is an interesting take on the massive genre.

Within the world of Love, users will be treated to a completely free-form adventure that will involve complex chains of missions. According to Steenberg, "You want to have cool adventures with cool things, but part of the fun is just to adventure; to just explore it. [Love] is the ultimate in player-versus-environment. The idea is that there are ways to control and manipulate things in the world - cities are like networks of interesting stuff rather than just static cities - which makes it more of a puzzle than a regular MMO. You can figure out your own ways to hack your environment, if you will; find your own way of doing different things to make it your own story."

Steenberg's talk at GDC about creating a game like Love, and the tools involved will be held later today at 4:45 Pacific, which promises to be a very interesting discussion. Of course, if you're not able to make it to the Game Developer's Conference, but are curious about Love and just how the project has proceeded with just one person working on it, Steenberg has been so kind as to post the long version of his presentation on his blog for us to enjoy. So if Love seems like an interesting game to you, be sure to check out the main site for more information and procedurally-generated graphics from the current alpha. We'll definitely be keeping an eye on this one as it progresses.

MassivelyGDC 09: Eskil Steenberg on bringing the Love originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>discussionEskil-Steenberggdc-09gdc09panelplayer-versus-environmentprocedurally-generatedpuzzlepvereplayabilityTue, 24 Mar 2009 16:00:00 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[MindFuse's The World of Gatheryn detailed, kinda dated]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/mindfuses-the-world-of-gatheryn-detailed-kinda-dated/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/mindfuses-the-world-of-gatheryn-detailed-kinda-dated/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/mindfuses-the-world-of-gatheryn-detailed-kinda-dated/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


MindFuse Games, which a couple of weeks ago announced it had raised $1 million in funding for a Victorian-themed MMO, sent out a press release yesterday officially announcing and providing details about the game, which is called The World of Gatheryn. Gatheryn is not merely Victorian, as we originally reported -- there are steampunk elements too.

The focus seems casual, although the graphics are quite strapping for an independent game. MindFuse promises character customization, apartments, and puzzles, while specifically singling out violent conflict as a no-go. It seems to be a mostly laid back, friendly, social affair, but aimed at grown ups rather than pre-teens, in contrast to a lot of other casual titles.

When we say the game has been pseudo-dated, it's a bit of a stretch: the press release says it'll be released in 2009. When in 2009? Your guess is as good as ours, but we'll bet it's not soon.

MassivelyMindFuse's The World of Gatheryn detailed, kinda dated originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementapartmentscasualcustomizationgatherynmindfusepuzzlepuzzlessteampunkvictorianworld-of-gatherynThu, 30 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOGology: Will mobile MMOGs evolve genre expectations?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/mmogology-will-mobile-mmogs-evolve-genre-expectations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/mmogology-will-mobile-mmogs-evolve-genre-expectations/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/mmogology-will-mobile-mmogs-evolve-genre-expectations/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

What makes an MMOG an MMOG? When we talk about massively multiplayer games, certain expectations immediately form in our minds. Looking at the components of the acronym itself it seems pretty straightforward. We know that MMOG stands for massively multiplayer online game. The qualifications of what constitute an MMOG seemingly describe themselves right in that acronym. MMOGs are games that, on some level, support a large number of players in an online multiplayer environment. Despite that simple definition we often have preconceptions about MMOGs that are much more specific. Preconceptions like level grinding, subscription fees and a dearth of willing healers.

Early in their existence MMOGs were easy to define by example simply because there were far fewer games available. Games like Ultima Online and Everquest clearly helped set the standards of the genre. On their terms, massively multiplayer means hundreds of other player avatars running around and whacking mobs in the same environment. They also established gameplay standards based on computer roleplaying game staples such as gaining experience to level up, upgrading gear and growing the character's skills and abilities.

But as the genre has expanded and evolved so has our definition of what constituents an MMOG. As I discussed in my last column, mobile MMOGs have very unique challenges to overcome in order to prove successful; but their success will undoubtedly come in time. As those successes arrive, our expectations of MMOGs will likely change. Today I'll be looking at a specific game that claims to be an MMOG for the iPhone and iTouch. It defies the typical conventions of what we'd consider an MMOG. I'll describe some of the interesting features it offers after the break and you can decide whether or not it qualifies as a true MMOG. One thing I'll tell you right off the bat though; even though it's unconventional, it's fun and addictive.

Continue reading MMOGology: Will mobile MMOGs evolve genre expectations?

MassivelyMMOGology: Will mobile MMOGs evolve genre expectations? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aurora_Feintfeaturediphoneitouchjoystiqfeaturesmobile-mmomobile-mmorpgpuzzlepuzzle-gamespuzzle-mmostetrisMon, 14 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Could a survival horror MMO work?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/the-daily-grind-could-a-survival-horror-mmo-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/the-daily-grind-could-a-survival-horror-mmo-work/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/the-daily-grind-could-a-survival-horror-mmo-work/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Survival horror games like Silent Hill or Fatal Frame are fairly niche single player genres and that certainly has something to do with how they operate: scaring the bonkers out of people. While the big scares are certainly a high point within these games, it's the ever present sense of dread that makes the best of them truly horrifying. Some games like to give players terrible controls to heighten the scare factor, while others use forced camera angles. Yet this isn't the problem with transitioning them into MMO-form. The innate problem with making a horror MMO stems from the logical school of thinking that people probably don't want to be terrified for hours on end. Which is pretty reasonable when you think about it. Still, this isn't to say that a horror genre of some sort couldn't persist as a wonderful niche game like this within the greater MMO market.

The question we pose today dear readers is: Do you think a horror MMO of some sort could work? Also, roughly how would it work? Any tolerable MMO obviously can't be hours of radio noise followed up by wiggling, throbbing, convulsing aberrations popping out at you. Well it could be that, although somehow we doubt such a game would find much success. One possible idea is to borrow from Myst Online with a persistent world that favors puzzle-solving over combat situations. We kind of like that concept.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Could a survival horror MMO work? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fatal-framehorrormystmyst-onlinepuzzlesilent-hilluruuru-liveWed, 09 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[China's forgotten gamers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/chinas-forgotten-gamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/chinas-forgotten-gamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/chinas-forgotten-gamers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Frank Yu over at Gamasutra wrote a piece recently that didn't exactly slip through the cracks, but was certainly overshadowed by more pressing concerns that affected online gaming in Asia. Yu's 'China's Forgotten Gamers' -- from his China Angle column -- is a look at the invisible population of gamers in the country that industry demographics simply cannot account for. In North America and Europe, subscriptions, registered downloads and box sales provide an accurate picture of who's playing a given title; China is a different story altogether. Credit cards are nowhere near as prevalent among the Chinese as they are abroad; box sales have largely been a failure due to piracy. Added to the mix is the fact that not everyone can afford to play games legitimately, and so some Chinese gamers find ways to play outside of the system.

Although the reported numbers of gamers playing the various titles in China are large, Yu says, "In China, we track game players by subscriber or registration numbers, or by the amount of money they spend giving companies revenue. If they don't register or pay money, they are somewhat invisible to the industry or, from the business viewpoint, irrelevant."

Continue reading China's forgotten gamers

MassivelyChina's forgotten gamers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turbine has been rolling out web-based games to promote The Lord of the Rings Online's upcoming expansion, The Mines of Moria. The first two games -- King Under the Mountain and Swig and Toss -- had a Dwarven theme. Now, a brand new, Hobbit-themed game called Eleventy Seven Morsels has been unveiled.

Eleventy Seven Morsels is sweet for its simplicity; all you do for the most part is pick up a morsel from the board -- simple, right? Well, there's a bit of strategy involved. Morsels you pick up are distributed around the board with a certain pattern, and you have to try to distribute them in your favor instead of your opponent's. If you visit the website, you can read the rules to see exactly what all that means.

As was the case with the previous two games, avid players will receive a little something -- a poster featuring art from the expansion, in this case.

MassivelyHobbits will enjoy the new Mines of Moria web game originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 May 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boardcasualeleventy-seven-morselshobbitslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromines-of-moriaminigamepromotionalpuzzleturbineunlock-the-mines-of-moriawebFri, 30 May 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Puzzle Quest creators go MMO with Warlords Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/puzzle-quest-creators-go-mmo-with-warlords-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/puzzle-quest-creators-go-mmo-with-warlords-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/13/puzzle-quest-creators-go-mmo-with-warlords-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We will admit to playing hours upon hours of Puzzle Quest, but the problem with that game is there's not persistence to your accomplishments. Sure, some versions have an online mode but it's just not the same as having the entire game designed around a dedicated online space. Well with the launch of Warlords Online -- the newest game to come forth from Infinite Interactive -- our Puzzle Quest MMO ambitions have been realized.

Continue reading Puzzle Quest creators go MMO with Warlords Online

MassivelyPuzzle Quest creators go MMO with Warlords Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredinfinite-interactivejoystiqfeaturespuzzlepuzzle-questwarlords-breachwarlords-onlineThu, 13 Mar 2008 20:38:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Pick a genre, any genre]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/03/the-daily-grind-pick-a-genre-any-genre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/03/the-daily-grind-pick-a-genre-any-genre/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/03/the-daily-grind-pick-a-genre-any-genre/#commentsFiled under: ,

For today's edition of The Daily Grind, we thought we'd ask you what you were looking for in your next big MMO? Are you one of the many for whom fantasy is the universe you want to escape into? Or are you looking for something new? I know many of us were sad to see Perpetual's title Gods and Heroes get shelved, as Historical MMOs are definitely a cool concept. Personally, I have to admit, I'm hoping someone will eventually option someone like Phillip K. Dick or William Gibson and we'll see a strong cyberpunk MMO in the Sci-Fi genre.

How about you? If you had your pick of any genre that you'd like to see some new MMOs in, what would you pick? Would you like to be a dark elf, or a civil war soldier? Take the poll, leave your thoughts, and let's see what you all want.

What genre do you want to see more MMOs in?
Fantasy
Horror
War
Sci-Fi
Historical
Puzzle
Sports
Super-hero
Real-life
Something else you didn't list (comment below please)
Free polls from Pollhost.com

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Pick a genre, any genre originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Nov 2007 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browsercyberpunkfantasyfree-to-playgenregenreshistoricalhorrorpollpuzzlesci-fisportssuper-herosuper-villainthe-daily-grindwarSat, 03 Nov 2007 08:01:00 EST