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[PAX 2011: Funcom discusses The Secret World's PvP, ARG, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/pax-2011-funcom-discusses-tsws-pvp-arg-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/pax-2011-funcom-discusses-tsws-pvp-arg-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/pax-2011-funcom-discusses-tsws-pvp-arg-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- The Secret World -- Stonehenge
Funcom had an impressive presence at PAX Prime 2011, and along with that presence came a wealth of information about its upcoming horror MMORPG, The Secret World. In addition to showing off the Polaris five-man instance, the team also highlighted a new solo mission demo and revealed some new information about the title.

From missions to PvP to character progression, the team had a lot to say. For the full details on both small- and large-scale PvP, skill progression, and the game's ARG and puzzle elements, head on past the cut.

Continue reading PAX 2011: Funcom discusses The Secret World's PvP, ARG, and more

MassivelyPAX 2011: Funcom discusses The Secret World's PvP, ARG, and more originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-reality-gameargbattlegroundscharacter-progressiondynamic-lightsel-doradofeaturedfuncomlarge-scale-pvppax-2011pax-prime-2011persistent-battlegroundspersistent-pvppuzzlespvpshambhalaskill-progressionstonehengethe-secret-warthe-secret-worldtswWed, 31 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ragnar Tørnquist discusses The Secret World's history, factions, puzzles, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/ragnar-tornquist-discusses-the-secret-worlds-history-factions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/ragnar-tornquist-discusses-the-secret-worlds-history-factions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/06/ragnar-tornquist-discusses-the-secret-worlds-history-factions/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Funcom's Ragnar Tørnquist, project lead of the upcoming The Secret World, sat down with John Walker over at Rock, Paper, Shotgun to chat about everything TSW. The interview is delightfully in-depth, and is actually only the first part of the entire interview, so TSW fans have something to look forward to as well.

In part one, Mr. Walker talks with Tørnquist about the history of The Secret World and how it arrived at the point it's at today. They also spend a bit of time discussing the game's three factions -- particularly the enigmatic Dragons -- and their potential motivations and interactions. And lastly, of course, they talk about the game's ARG-esque puzzles, which blur the line between game and reality for a more immersive experience. For the whole first part of the interview (which is really a must-read for fans of TSW), head on over to Rock, Paper, Shotgun.

MassivelyRagnar Tørnquist discusses The Secret World's history, factions, puzzles, and more originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-reality-gameargdragonsfactionsfuncomilluminatiinterviewjohn-walkerpuzzlesragnar-tornquistrock-paper-shotgunrpstemplarthe-secret-worldtswWed, 06 Jul 2011 14:00:00 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[The Daily Grind: Would you like more exploration options?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/the-daily-grind-would-you-like-more-exploration-options/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/the-daily-grind-would-you-like-more-exploration-options/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/the-daily-grind-would-you-like-more-exploration-options/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Let's not mince words -- when you hear about a new location in any MMOs, you know it's being added so you can go in and kill its inhabitants. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, especially seeing as every new level brings MMO characters new ways to dice, filet, and otherwise demolish said inhabitants. But as many players have noted, it would be nice if there were occasionally other options, such as the puzzles and traps that Dungeons and Dragons Online places in some of its adventures.

So would you like to see more exploration options in MMOs? Would you enjoy the chance to have a new location where you had to puzzle your way past traps and not draw your sword (or gun or electrical magic or whatever)? How about exploring a landscape without certain knowledge about what was on the other side? Or do you feel that's a thing of the past and so long as answers and guides are freely available online that exploration can't quite be replicated?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Would you like more exploration options? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>areasexplorationexploringgame-mechanicsopinionpuzzlestdgthe-daily-grindtrapsviolencezonesMon, 13 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Engaging the brain: Funcom talks about the immersiveness of story in The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/engaging-the-brain-funcom-talks-about-the-immersiveness-of-stor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/engaging-the-brain-funcom-talks-about-the-immersiveness-of-stor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/engaging-the-brain-funcom-talks-about-the-immersiveness-of-stor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"No designer could ask for more to draw upon," The Secret World's Joel Bylos says. "This world, our world, is the greatest resource of them all."

And so begins a fascinating trip down the dark alleys of storytelling in Funcom's upcoming MMO. In a dev diary posted at MMORPG.com, The Secret World team suggests it's more interesting to set the game in our world instead of in rehashed fantasy lands. By embracing the concept of "everything is true," the writers open the door to every conspiracy theory, every urban legend, and every branch of pseudoscience known to man.

"The story is exploration. The story is discovery," Bylos promises. He says that the ultimate goal of the storytelling team is to get players to stop mindlessly clicking and to start engaging the story on a conscious level. This includes investigating events, hunting for clues and solving puzzles. No, this isn't Scooby-Doo Online (although that would be awesome).

It's also interesting to note that every character in the game has full voice-over and motion capture as a way to pull you into the story instead of jolt you out of it. Bylos also outlines the different types of missions, which include stealth and infiltration, action, investigation, and story.

[Thanks Even!]

MassivelyEngaging the brain: Funcom talks about the immersiveness of story in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conspiraciesconspiracyconspiracy-theoriesdev-diarydeveloper-diaryhorrorimmersionimmersivenessinvestigationjoel-bylosmmorpg.compsuedosciencepuzzlesRagnar-Tornquistscooby-doo-onlinestoriesstorystorytellingthe-secret-worldtswurban-legendsvideowritingFri, 27 May 2011 10:00:00 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[The Game Archaeologist's fear and loathing in the Kingdom: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/the-game-archaeologists-fear-and-loathing-in-the-kingdom-the-h/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/the-game-archaeologists-fear-and-loathing-in-the-kingdom-the-h/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/the-game-archaeologists-fear-and-loathing-in-the-kingdom-the-h/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It is, in so many ways, the antithesis of a modern MMORPG. It has crude stick figure drawings instead of lush 3-D graphics. It limits your daily activities to a handful of encounters. It often mocks, belittles and berates you for your stupidity. It uses meat for currency and has a character class that dabbles in pasta-based magic. It's been in open beta for the better part of a decade now. And its endgame is actually an end-of-the-game instead of an eternal raiding grind.

I speak, of course, about The Kingdom of Loathing, one of the oddest online RPGs on the net -- and one of the most beloved. When I mulled over the game for this month's retrospective, I found myself really wanting to talk about KoL but a little unsure whether it truly belongs in the pantheon of accepted MMOs. At best, it's on the fringe; while you do play in a world populated by hundreds, if not thousands, of other players at any given time, it's mostly a solo exercise apart from the chat channel. However, it is a persistent world, it does hold many of the trappings of MMORPGs, and the creators have come up with clever ways for players to interact within a turn-based RPG. I'm also a huge fan, having dabbled in KoL off and on for over four years now, and I love recommending it to friends.

So what the heck -- we're doing it. Kingdom of Loathing is a great success story in its own right and has a lot to teach the rest of the MMO industry about unconventional methods of structuring and presenting these games. Hit the jump and we'll run down eight highlights that separate KoL from the rest of the pack and make it a game well worth your spare time.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist's fear and loathing in the Kingdom: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist's fear and loathing in the Kingdom: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>an-adventurer-is-youascensionbeyond-the-palefamiliarfeaturedfunnyhaikuhaiku-dungeonhobopolishumorjickkingdom-of-loathingkolmisspelled-cemetaryninja-pirate-zombie-robotorc-chasmpastamancerpunpunnypuzzlesthe-game-archaeologistTue, 02 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Win a copy of EverQuest II: Sentinel's Fate tonight in Massively's "Keys of Fate" event! [Closed!]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/15/win-a-copy-of-everquest-ii-sentinels-fate-tonight-in-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/15/win-a-copy-of-everquest-ii-sentinels-fate-tonight-in-massively/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/15/win-a-copy-of-everquest-ii-sentinels-fate-tonight-in-massively/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

You have an EverQuest II subscription (or want to sign up for a trial?) You want to participate in a fun event, solve a few puzzles, and have a chance at winning a collector's edition key for Sentinel's Fate just in time for tomorrow's launch? Then do we have the offer for you!

Tonight, starting at 8:30 PM ET (5:30 PM PT), boot up your EverQuest II to the Lucan d'Lere server and get your browsers pointed to Massively.com. We're hosting an across-the-internet scavenger hunt, finishing out with a race across Norrath to find our roving Dark Elven reporter, Seccia Ravenloft.

Seccia has been equipped with not one, but two key codes that will unlock the Sentinel's Fate collector's edition in addition to 10 key codes that will unlock the standard retail version. All of these keys will let you access the Sentinel's Fate headstart, which begins tomorrow!

Need all the details? We have them right after the break!

Continue reading Win a copy of EverQuest II: Sentinel's Fate tonight in Massively's "Keys of Fate" event! [Closed!]

MassivelyWin a copy of EverQuest II: Sentinel's Fate tonight in Massively's "Keys of Fate" event! [Closed!] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contesteq-iieq2eventeverquest-2everquest-iiexpansionfeaturedin-game-eventkeys-of-fatemeet-massivelypuzzlesscavenger-huntsentinels-fatesoesony-online-entertainmentstation-cashMon, 15 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[All hail the Kingsmouth Horror: The Secret World pays homage to Lovecraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/all-hail-the-kingsmouth-horror-the-secret-world-pays-homage-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/all-hail-the-kingsmouth-horror-the-secret-world-pays-homage-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/all-hail-the-kingsmouth-horror-the-secret-world-pays-homage-to/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

For a while now, the community over at The Secret World has noticed things in the game that are distinctly influenced by the writings of horror master H.P. Lovecraft. From the original poster that revealed a beast that reminded many of Cthulhu to the whole idea of secret societies and monsters that exist beyond time and space. So when The Secret World community members stumbled upon a website for the fictional town of Kingsmouth, many weren't surprised.

Kingsmouth, a mash-up of Lovecraft's Kingsport and Innsmouth (and, to an unnamed extent, Arkham), is the typical New England town that Lovecraft so loved to talk about. It's sleepy, it's quiet, it's community is entrenched, and there are probably more monsters than people. Lovecraftian references are abound from the aptly named Miskatonic River (see Miskatonic University) to the town's presence as a port on the coastline.

Of course, with the addition of a brand new website, new puzzles are bound to pop up. The Secret World community is already pouring over the website, so jump into the discussion if you think you found something. Of course, for those of you who aren't into the whole conspiracy angle, we got the screenshots of Kingsmouth for you below. Beware though, the originals are small, as apparently the Kingsmouth locals don't know how to upload quality pictures.

Gallery: The Secret World


MassivelyAll hail the Kingsmouth Horror: The Secret World pays homage to Lovecraft originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-reality-gameargbreakingconspiracyfictional-websitefuncomh-p-lovecraftkingsmouthmainemistakonicpuzzlesragnar-tornquistthe-secret-worldMon, 25 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you a puzzler?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/the-daily-grind-are-you-a-puzzler/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/the-daily-grind-are-you-a-puzzler/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/the-daily-grind-are-you-a-puzzler/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Puzzles. People seem to have a love/hate relationship when it comes to putting a puzzle in their favorite game. Sometimes they're hailed as a great element of game design, while other times people would like to take your puzzle, punt it over the Great Wall of China, and then pray it lands on something sharp and pointy.

But we don't care what those other, non-reader people think. We here at Massively care about what you, our readers, think. Those non-reader people aren't as cool as you guys, obviously. So hey, because you're so cool, do us a favor and tell us what you think of puzzles in your favorite games today. Would you like to see more puzzles in MMOs? Or would you rather we just leave that whole game mechanic out and look towards other design elements?

If you write your opinion into comment box and push the button, you'll feel good about today. Really. Go ahead, try it!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you a puzzler? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>opinionpuzzlesthe-daily-grindThu, 21 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What are your expectations of The Secret World?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/07/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-expectations-of-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/07/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-expectations-of-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/07/the-daily-grind-what-are-your-expectations-of-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Massively was on the ground at the Penny Arcade Expo over the weekend, and one of the games we saw that really has some promise is The Secret World. It's quite a departure from the fantasy genre in MMOs, with elements of horror, mysteries and conspiracies, hidden knowledge sought by secret societies... ok, we can say no more. But it's killing us that we can't talk about it quite yet. We've seen the gameplay but Funcom will unleash unspeakable occult forces upon us, like lawyers, if we spill what we know. Of course we'll have a feature story on The Secret World up on Massively soon -- but in the meantime, we want to ask what you think about the impending arrival of horror to the MMO scene.

Funcom is clearly trying to set the tone for the game with their latest trailer, which might have given us clues about the kinds of things we'll see in TSW. But as we all know, a cinematic isn't always the best representation of a game title. So do you think The Secret World will be a dark, mature title? Or will it be Cthulhu-lite? Sound off and let us know about your expectations of The Secret World!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What are your expectations of The Secret World? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cthuludark-days-are-comingfuncomhorrormaturemmo-industrymysterynew-titlesoccultopinionpax-2009puzzlessecret-societiestdgthe-daily-grindthe-secret-worldMon, 07 Sep 2009 08:00:00 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[What you missed in The Matrix Online pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/03/what-you-missed-in-the-matrix-online-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/03/what-you-missed-in-the-matrix-online-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/03/what-you-missed-in-the-matrix-online-pt-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Hiding in plain sight

After the vampires and lupines were quelled, a new issue of the Sentinel and a concurrent game update brought new images into the Matrix. Colorful billboards advertising bug spray began appearing all over the city, confusing some and intriguing others. The first visual puzzle of The Matrix had been covertly unleashed on players.

The solution wasn't hard, but far from obvious. The second page of the new in-game newspaper, The Sentinel, showed a colorful "terrorist alert level chart." While it was an obvious mockery of everyone's favorite homeland security poster, astute players saw that the same colors were being used on the in-game billboards. Each billboard contained a number somewhere in it's slogan, such as "Blue brand pesticide kills bugs four times faster than the competition!" These numbers, along with their corresponding colors and the terrorist alert level chart were the keys.

Players took the numbers and re-arranged the terrorist alert level in that order. If the blue billboard had the number four on it, then it went fourth in the order. If red had one, then it went first in the order and so forth. As the chart was re-arranged, the first letters of the "alert" status began to spell out a word. Definite, Elevated, Likely, Possible, Huge, Imminent -- DELPHI. The final part of the puzzle was a small poster that had appeared in certain clubs, advertising an extermination service that could be contacted by e-mailing an address at Monolith Entertainment, the game's current developer.

Players e-mailed the address, asking to consult The Oracle of Delphi. Wishes were soon granted as Seraph appeared in-game to not only fight players who solved the puzzle, but also wisk them away to meet with the Oracle herself. Other players got to consult the Oracle via their real life e-mail, creating an alternate reality game of sorts with The Matrix. Either way, the event made one thing clear: The Assassin was made entirely of blowflies and could be destroyed with specially designed killcodes -- bug spray.

And that was just the beginning...

This entire article has simply focused on two of the first events in The Matrix Online's storyline. Every bit of it was unrepeatable and lead to some amazingly memorable moments in the game. The type of moments that stay with you forever.

Very few, if any, games are able to accomplish this phenomenon. Who cares if you kill Yogg-Saron? Who cares if you defeat the Witch King of Angmar? Other players are going to eventually do that in droves because the content is repeatable.

But the Matrix was able to wrap everybody up into an evolving storyline, philosophy, and sense of community. Players worked together and fought one another on more levels than just PvP and PvE. They formed bonds with characters who didn't even exist while forming bonds with others around them that were willing to believe in the same things they did. They roleplayed willingly in order to keep the story going beyond what the developers had planned.

All of this was amazing, and I can only hope to see another game take the same ideas and drive them to a level beyond what that Matrix could offer. These were amazing ideas, but just too far ahead of their time.

MassivelyWhat you missed in The Matrix Online pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>characterseventsin-game-eventmonolithmorpheusmxopuzzlessoesony-online-entertainmentstorylinethe-matrix-onlineMon, 03 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What you missed in The Matrix Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/03/what-you-missed-in-the-matrix-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/03/what-you-missed-in-the-matrix-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/03/what-you-missed-in-the-matrix-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Yes, The Matrix Online sucked. Its gameplay was an abhorrent pile of repetitive garbage that offered no real direction other than doing storyline-less missions until you hit 50, in which there was no endgame. The combat was interesting, as it offered scripted camera shots for insane kung-fu flips and hits, but it wasn't enough to "save" the game. I hear you.

But if you think the above paragraph is all The Matrix Online had to offer, then you are sadly mistaken. You missed out on storyline events, PvPvE, amazing roleplayers, writers, and graphic artists. You missed out on philosophy, politics, memorable characters, and puzzles. You actually missed out on the bulk of what The Matrix Online had to offer, all of which makes the game's passing more painful.

MxO wasn't World of Warcraft, and it certainly had enough dark spots in the game design. But the game and its developers brought a very different style of play to the MMO scene -- one that should be commemorated with a few looks back on some of the best events the game had to offer.

Continue reading What you missed in The Matrix Online

MassivelyWhat you missed in The Matrix Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>characterseventfeaturedin-game-eventjoystiqfeaturesmonolith-entertainmentmorpheusmxopuzzlessoesony-online-entertainmentstorylinethe-matrix-onlineMon, 03 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO pacifism: Expanding combat alternative systems]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/mmo-pacifism-expanding-combat-alternative-systems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/mmo-pacifism-expanding-combat-alternative-systems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/mmo-pacifism-expanding-combat-alternative-systems/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Murder. Death. Kill. These words are synonymous with most MMORPGs (oh, and 1993's Demolition Man too, but let's not go there). There have been a number of systems introduced to the genre since its birth, but combat (PvE and PvP) has always been at the forefront. One blogger wants that to change.

Syp of BioBreak has been playing a lot of LOTRO lately and he's starting to feel like Turbine are a bunch of nature-haters forcing players into the roll of exterminator extraordinaire. "It's not just 'kill 10 rats,' it's 'kill 10 of every freakin' last thing that ever walked, crawled, slithered or flew over the earth, just because'." This got him wondering about what the alternatives were. If done well, what activities would he choose over combat?

He came up with a fairly extensive list of established features that could use some buffing up in his opinion, including: crafting, mini-games, puzzles, trading card games, vehicle action, achievements, and diplomacy/politics. Head on over to read his thoughts.

MassivelyMMO pacifism: Expanding combat alternative systems originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementscombatcraftingdiplomacymini-gamespoliticspuzzlestrading-card-gamevehicleThu, 28 May 2009 19:00:00 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[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[The Daily Grind: do traps and puzzles make content more fun?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/24/the-daily-grind-do-traps-and-puzzles-make-content-more-fun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/24/the-daily-grind-do-traps-and-puzzles-make-content-more-fun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/24/the-daily-grind-do-traps-and-puzzles-make-content-more-fun/#commentsFiled under:

In a showcase of coming Age of Conan content, Erling Ellingson pointed out new traps as a main feature of the revamped dungeons. The dungeons would feature cunning Indiana Jones style hazards, with non-obvious solutions, such as firing an arrow into a huge stone eye in order to slay an otherwise unkillable snake.

However, everyone who's seen the video will now know what to do in that event. That's the thing with puzzle-type content: once you know the trick, you've solved it. A tough boss is just as tough each time you encounter it, but you only ever have to solve a puzzle once.

Having said that, puzzles can offer a level of satisfaction that boss-fighting and minion-crushing just can't. Some players welcome an intellectual challenge in an MMO. The original tabletop roleplaying games that preceded MMOs still feature puzzles and pitfalls, so why not MMOs?

Should content designers include puzzle-type content as well as the tactical challenges of combat? Do you enjoy finding a puzzle in the course of a quest, or does that sort of thing detract from the pace of play? Is trick-and-trap content that has a clever solution a waste of developer resources, or an important facet of MMO gaming?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: do traps and puzzles make content more fun? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>puzzlesthe-daily-grindtrapstricksSun, 24 Aug 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[Stargate Worlds dev chat is not entirely without new info]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/stargate-worlds-dev-chat-is-not-entirely-without-new-info/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/stargate-worlds-dev-chat-is-not-entirely-without-new-info/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/stargate-worlds-dev-chat-is-not-entirely-without-new-info/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Information about Stargate Worlds is oh-so-sparse. That's why we were excited to hear that MMORPG.com was to host a live chat with several of the developers behind the game. The chat happened yesterday and we did get some juicy details on a few things. Player quests will be tied into the story line. We're guessing they'll be similar Lord of the Rings Online's quests. Also, quests can be acquired through means other than talking to NPCs. The game's puzzle system allows archaeologists and scientists to level up in their fields outside of combat.

And yes, it's been confirmed that the character advancement is level-based. A fan asked whether it was level or skill-based and the developer didn't even understand what the fan meant by "skill-based." If only the MMO industry could remember the days before EverQuest! The developers consistently dodged questions like "what makes Stargate Worlds better or unique compared to competing games" by either saying "it's Stargate" or, well ... that's pretty much it. Even when they were asked a question along the lines of "what makes this game special, and don't say anything about it being Stargate," they still sneakily fell back on "it's Stargate."

They did say that the combat system is unique because it's influenced by squad-based shooters, but even that sounds strangely familiar. Hopefully we'll see some more promising info come up as Cheyenne gets further along in SGW's development cycle. In the mean time, read the vagueness that is the chat log or the summary article.

MassivelyStargate Worlds dev chat is not entirely without new info originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chatcheyennecheyenne-mountaincheyenne-mountain-entertainmentlevel-basedlive-chatmmorpgpuzzlesquestssgwstargatestargate-worldsFri, 09 Nov 2007 17:30:00 EST