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[Ask Massively: Big questions deserve big answers edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/ask-massively-big-questions-deserve-big-answers-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/ask-massively-big-questions-deserve-big-answers-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/ask-massively-big-questions-deserve-big-answers-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Assume the fish is a question, not just an enormous sunfish. Public domain photos are odd.
Some questions are just too good to leave to my sole discretion. I like to think that I can provide a reasonable response to a number of questions, but I also think there are some questions that merit more opinions. Case in point: a question last week from potaco about whether or not it's harder to focus on a single game instead of several games as a Massively employee. So I'm consolidating responses from the whole team right now, and we'll have an answer to that question this week.

This week's Ask Massively is still packed, however, with questions about getting a new computer for World of Warcraft and Star Wars: The Old Republic as well as whether or not Guild Wars 2 will provide credible competition for other games when it launches. If you've got a question you would like to see answered in a future installment of the column, mail it along to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited slightly for brevity and/or clarity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Big questions deserve big answers edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Big questions deserve big answers edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alt-textanswersask-massivelycolumncolumnscomputersfeaturedguild-wars-2gw2hardwarenew-computerspoliciespurchasesq-and-aquestionsquestions-and-answersshoppingThu, 23 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World answers community questions about the Illuminati]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/the-secret-world-answers-community-questions-about-the-illuminat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/the-secret-world-answers-community-questions-about-the-illuminat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/the-secret-world-answers-community-questions-about-the-illuminat/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I'd love to tell you what you're shooting at, but you don't have the clearance. I also would love to tell you if bullets hurt it or not.
Do you have questions about the Illuminati? Of course you do -- that's sort of their whole method of operation. But when it comes to The Secret World, some of those questions got answered via yesterday's community question-and-answer session on Facebook. While you'll have to Like the page in order to view all of the answers, you're rewarded for doing so with a breadth of facts about the secretive power-mongers and hoarders of secrets.

Among the first questions was the simple one of how the Illuminati aren't in control of everything in the game world if their operatives have infiltrated the highest level of government; as it happens, with the world exploding and lighting up with the supernatural, the Illuminati are too concerned with working overtime to keep things under wraps to try to take total control. The answers also reinforce the idea that the Illuminati crave power and competence above all, up to the organization's willingness to discard lesser members for valuable information. You can take a peek at the full set of answer on Facebook, but keep in mind that you're going to need to Like the page first.

MassivelyThe Secret World answers community questions about the Illuminati originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorycommunityfactionsfuncomilluminatilorenewspreviewsq-and-aquestionsquestions-and-answerssecret-societiessocietiesthe-secret-worldtswupdatesMon, 16 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR's Reid hosting Reddit AMA tomorrow]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/swtors-reid-hosting-reddit-ama-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/swtors-reid-hosting-reddit-ama-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/swtors-reid-hosting-reddit-ama-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Huttball pre-match
Got a few burning questions for BioWare on the heels of Star Wars: The Old Republic's blockbuster launch? Get them ready, because community manager Stephen Reid is throwing himself to the wolves preparing a Reddit-based AMA event for this Wednesday.

What's AMA? It stands for ask me anything, and it'll be interesting to see if Reid is able to answer the slew of questions sure to be forthcoming. The tomfoolery starts at 3:00 p.m. Eastern on December 28th, and the Reddit posting features a few preliminary notes. "The format is simple: ask Mr. Reid a question and he will do his best to respond to as many as possible within his area of expertise; he is not a game designer but still has many interesting things to share about the game," it explains.

MassivelySWTOR's Reid hosting Reddit AMA tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amaask-me-anythingbiowareea-biowareelectronic-artsquestionsredditrockjawsci-fistar-wars-the-old-republicstephen-reidswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 27 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 devs fielding your questions this Wednesday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/guild-wars-2-devs-fielding-your-questions-this-wednesday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/guild-wars-2-devs-fielding-your-questions-this-wednesday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/guild-wars-2-devs-fielding-your-questions-this-wednesday/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 - engineer opens fire
How is ArenaNet countering the massive Star Wars-related hype bomb that's detonating across the MMO industry this week? Hopefully by ignoring it and continuing to work on Guild Wars 2. That said, the company is trotting out Jon Peters and Johnathan Sharp to field fan questions during a live IRC chat later in the week.

The shindig goes down on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. EST, and if you're not familiar with the IRC platform, Guild Wars 2 Guru has a helpful web client that will speed you on your way. You'll need to submit your questions for moderator approval (translation: don't expect an answer to beta or release date queries), so head to GW2 Guru to read all the rules.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 devs fielding your questions this Wednesday originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetdev-diaryfatnessguild-wars-2gw2ircirc-chatjohnathan-sharpjon-petersquestionsMon, 12 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MechWarrior Online developers answer forum questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/mechwarrior-online-developers-answer-forum-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/mechwarrior-online-developers-answer-forum-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/mechwarrior-online-developers-answer-forum-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The future of warfare looks a lot like the rush hour of Detroit.
If you're looking forward to the future of warfare today, you're probably keeping a close eye on the development of MechWarrior Online. And the developers are no doubt aware of this, as they've just posted a lengthy set of answers on the game's official forums, covering a broad range of topics from update speed to character development. While the answers confirm that at this point the software is still yet to see an alpha test, there's still a great deal of information therein.

Aside from a few answers that are likely to prove discordant come launch (such as plans for biweekly update patches), the team is aiming at starting off with a strong PvP environment with persistent world elements in a similar fashion to MAG. PvE will not be in at launch, but it is on the table for later release. That's only the barest summary of the information in the full set of answers, which should keep any intent pilot eagerly anticipating his or her personal 'Mech.

[Thanks to nimzy for the tip!]

MassivelyMechWarrior Online developers answer forum questions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answersdesignf2pfree-to-playgameplaymechwarriormechwarrior-onlinemwopersistencepersistent-worldpirahna-gamespvepvpq-and-aquestionsquestions-and-answersWed, 16 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: This is a sneaking mission edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/ask-massively-this-is-a-sneaking-mission-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/ask-massively-this-is-a-sneaking-mission-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/ask-massively-this-is-a-sneaking-mission-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I'm also sad that peachifruit isn't doing an MGS4 comic. Or finishing her P4 comic. She did good parodies.
Let's get something straight: Even though I'm late to the party with Metal Gear Solid 4, I'm a fan of the series. It's not perfect by any means, but it's one of my favorite franchises of all time. That having been said, why is it always a sneaking mission? Just once, I'd like to be told that this is a march-in-with-an-automatic-gun-and-shoot-people-in-the-face mission. But no, solo sneaking mission, every single time. I know, it's the series hallmark, but since my second playthrough is already going to be a bloodbath with a stealth unit equipped, part of me wants to do that on the first playthrough. Just once.

Appropriately enough, this week's questions for Ask Massively involve stealth in MMOs. They also involve subscription fees, but that doesn't really segue naturally. If you've got a question you'd like to see in a future installment of the column, feel free to leave it in the comments or mail it along to ask@massively.com.

Continue reading Ask Massively: This is a sneaking mission edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: This is a sneaking mission edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answersask-massivelycolumnfeaturedfeesgame-mechanicshumoropinionquestionsstealthsubscription-feessubscriptionsThu, 10 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Stir-crazy edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/ask-massively-stir-crazy-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/ask-massively-stir-crazy-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/ask-massively-stir-crazy-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It looked like this, except higher resolution, and with a fat guy wielding a sword
With no power, no real Internet access, no running water, and no access to just about anything, I was getting a little bit stir-crazy. Fortunately, I've made use of my training as a Boy Scout and assembled a crude pastiche of elements to bring some of my favorite electronic online games into the offline space. Success has been mixed. Sitting in dowtown and periodically shouting that a level 34 Dragoon was looking for a party produced exactly the right reaction to simulate logging in to Final Fantasy XI, but my attempt at "logging in" to City of Heroes resulted in a lengthy discussion with police regarding the appropriateness of waving a Nerf sword at teenagers.

My makeshift attempts at answering this week's lineup for Ask Massively, however, have proved pretty fruitful all around. Skip on past the break for discussions about some very meta considerations, not the least of which being a potential subdivision of the site. As always, leaving a question in the comments or mailing it to ask@massively.com will quite possibly get it included in a future edition of the column. Sometimes even if the question is ridiculous.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Stir-crazy edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Stir-crazy edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answersappearanceask-massivelycapitalizationfeaturedgrammarhumormmommorpgopinionpunctuationquestionsquestions-and-answersThu, 01 Sep 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: You're missing the best part of the appearance tab news edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/25/ask-massively-youre-missing-the-best-part-of-the-appearance-ta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/25/ask-massively-youre-missing-the-best-part-of-the-appearance-ta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/25/ask-massively-youre-missing-the-best-part-of-the-appearance-ta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I keep thinking I'll get tired of using this image when I want to make a point about WoW, but I don't. I really don't.
I've made no secret of the fact that I've long since fallen out of love with World of Warcraft, but I think people are missing the best element of the whole addition of an appearance tab. Sure, it's something that players have been asking to get for years on end without receiving a response, but the best part is that its addition essentially invalidates every single answer we've received to date about why it can't be done. That amuses me to no end.

This week's Ask Massively has nothing to do with that news, however; instead, it covers the excitement of upcoming games, the lack of upcoming games, and the relevance of functions within games. I'd promise a zebra as well, but he had places to go. As always, you can leave your questions for a future installment in the comment field or mail them along to ask@massively.com, whichever you prefer.

Continue reading Ask Massively: You're missing the best part of the appearance tab news edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: You're missing the best part of the appearance tab news edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answersappearanceask-massivelycancelled-gamescolumnfeaturedhumorjumpgate-evolutionopinionquestionsquestions-and-answersupcoming-gamesvaporwarewildstarwsThu, 25 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Answering email]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/lost-pages-of-taborea-answering-email/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/lost-pages-of-taborea-answering-email/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/lost-pages-of-taborea-answering-email/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Runes of Magic screenshot
Today's email comes to us from Jack Readman.
Dear Jeremy: As the subject suggests, I am curious about Runes of Magic. I have given it several tries before and can say I enjoyed it, but I always left it after a while due to distractions. Currently I'm playing RIFT and enjoying the endgame raiding and to a lesser extent the 5-mans. So I do like my PvE content. What does RoM have to offer in this regard? I love The housing thing and other diversions like that. What else is there? Tell me what is great about RoM and what gives it its flavor? How dependent do you have to be on the cash shop?
Thanks for writing, Jack. I'm sure many players have very similar questions when approaching Runes of Magic for the first time. I've tried to formulate a response akin to how I'd explain RoM to my friends -- if they'd actually want to listen to me for as long as this article is.

I can only offer my opinions, but ultimately what you think of RoM is up to you. I play RIFT, but I haven't gotten beyond level 20. I'm also not really into endgame in RoM yet, although I think I'm fairly familiar with the MMO as a whole. Keep in mind certain features will net you different answers depending on how a player approaches MMOs in general. I can tell you right off the bat that the majority of RoM's dungeons are six-man or twelve-man, but for the rest of my verbose answers, you'll have to click past the break.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Answering email

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Answering email originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>describing-romdescribing-runes-of-magicemailfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehow-tohow-to-describe-romhow-to-describe-runes-of-magichow-would-you-describe-romhow-would-you-describe-runes-of-magicjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreaopinionquestionsquestions-and-answersreader-emailromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentviewer-emailwhat-is-romwhat-is-runes-of-magicwhat-makes-rom-popularwhat-makes-runes-of-magic-popularwhats-so-great-about-runes-of-magicwhy-should-i-play-runes-of-magicMon, 15 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs talks about environments and the undead]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/undead-labs-talks-about-environments-and-the-undead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/undead-labs-talks-about-environments-and-the-undead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/undead-labs-talks-about-environments-and-the-undead/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The upcoming zombie games from Undead Labs are aiming to give players a feeling of genuinely surviving in a world ruled by shambling corpses. To make that work correctly, players are going to need lots of little touches here and there to reinforce just what has gone wrong and what sort of threat living humans are facing. In the most recent set of questions and answers from the development team, more elements of the environment and interaction with same are spelled out, giving prospective survivors an idea of what to expect.

While the game isn't planned to be an ornate physics simulator, there will be a practical limit to how much an individual can carry -- and while vehicles can carry more, the problems of noise and fuel will place some limits on stacking an SUV to the brim with heavy weapons. Hunting wildlife and handling aquatic environments will both be issues in the game, with the obvious caveat that humans drown far more easily than zombies. There are a lot of other interesting tidbits in the full rundown as well as some valuable takeaways that aspiring survivors would do well to internalize.

MassivelyUndead Labs talks about environments and the undead originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answersclass-3post-apocalypticq-and-aquestionssurvivalsurvival-horrorundead-labsunder-developmentzombie-survivalzombiesMon, 13 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Career day edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/ask-massively-career-day-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/ask-massively-career-day-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/ask-massively-career-day-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

As you read this, depending on the time this goes live, I will either be knee-deep in a Career Day presentation or be coming down off the high of getting to talk about my job to a bunch of middle-school children. I'm writing this before I'll know whether it went well or not, but I'm hopeful. Truth be told, I have exactly the sort of job now that I would have loved to hear about when I was a young boy, so I'm expecting this will be pretty fun.

Plus I'll be having school lunch again for the first time since my high school graduation. That's got to be worth a few points on the nostalgia-o-matic, right?

This week's Ask Massively is thus an honorary career day edition, as we tackle questions about careers, classes, and professions throughout the wide world of gaming. On deck this week are questions about Guild Wars and doing things you oughtn't with classes, World of Warcraft's lockstep class system, and the range of flexibility in Star Wars: The Old Republic. As always, you can send off your own questions to ask@massively.com or leave them in the comment field for next week's column.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Career day edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Career day edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advanced-classesanswersask-massivelyclass-abilitiesclass-balancingclass-structureclassescolumnsfeaturedmulti-classingopinionquestionsquestions-and-answersThu, 12 May 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another month, another round of answers for Star Trek Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/another-month-another-round-of-answers-for-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/another-month-another-round-of-answers-for-star-trek-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/another-month-another-round-of-answers-for-star-trek-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

About once a month, Star Trek Online has producer Dan Stahl sit down and answer the newest round of player questions regarding the game's future additions. It's May, of course, which means that it's time for the newest Ask Cryptic, covering the recent additions to the game's microtransaction store as well as plans for Season 4 and beyond. And as always, while there are more features being asked about than are planned for the next major update, there are very few elements not planned for eventual inclusion.

Further ship customization is discussed, with the implementation of Duty Officers in Season 4 promised to help add more differentiation between individual ships. There's also mention of the debate about bringing lower-tier ships up to par for use in endgame activities, which is currently not on the table but is still under heavy debate in both development and on the forums. Players of Star Trek Online are encouraged to check out the latest round of answers for more info.

MassivelyAnother month, another round of answers for Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 May 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answersask-crypticc-storecrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studioscustomizationdan-stahlfuture-patchesfuture-updatesmicrotransactionsquestionsseason-4st-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestosto-season-4trek-onlineFri, 06 May 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: The face of hatred edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/ask-massively-the-face-of-hatred-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/ask-massively-the-face-of-hatred-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/ask-massively-the-face-of-hatred-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Wii Fit Plus is the devil. It is a devil that I fight with on a daily basis, and I fight it by running for a long stretch at a time, and yet for some paradoxical reason I have never defeated it. The only reason there are no screaming obscenities in this opening paragraph is that I'm not allowed to dip into blatant cursing.

Also, I've dropped about 20 pounds over the past four months, so I can't say that it's not having an effect. But seriously, balance board, no one cares if my center of balance is 0.1% to the right. Shut up.

This week's Ask Massively is a fairly meta edition of the column, as our questions concern the other major face of hatred on display: the comment system. We're also fielding questions about the plethora of online games that aren't quite MMOs but aren't quite anything else either. As always, you can leave your questions in the comment field or mail them to ask@massively.com.

Continue reading Ask Massively: The face of hatred edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: The face of hatred edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answersask-massivelycommentingcommentsfeaturedleague-of-legendslolmassively-metapseudo-mmosquestionsThu, 07 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: This is why I will get eaten by wolves edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/ask-massively-this-is-why-i-will-get-eaten-by-wolves-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/ask-massively-this-is-why-i-will-get-eaten-by-wolves-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/ask-massively-this-is-why-i-will-get-eaten-by-wolves-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

That picture, right there, is why I will be eaten by wolves. My first reaction is not to run in terror or fire a shotgun; it is to lean over and slap my thighs and ask with deathly urgency who is a good boy. I can only assume this instinct has been inserted by some malicious part of nature that decided "fight or flight" would be much more entertaining if some of the primates also had a "stand there cooing at a vicious predator before being eaten."

In other news, it's been way too long since we had an animal picture heading up this column.

For this week's edition of Ask Massively, we will not actually be discussing wolves. Instead, we'll be talking pack sizes -- er, group sizes. Also, we'll be taking a look at defeating World of Warcraft and what to do afterward. As always, you can ask more question in the comment field or by mailing them along to ask@massively.com.

Continue reading Ask Massively: This is why I will get eaten by wolves edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: This is why I will get eaten by wolves edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelychampionschampions-onlinecodc-universe-onlinedcuofeaturedff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgaglobal-agendaguild-warsgwlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroquestionsquestions-and-answersriftstar-trek-onlinestoteravindictuswarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 10 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Questionable freshness]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-questionable-freshness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-questionable-freshness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/19/a-mild-mannered-reporter-questionable-freshness/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We've been on a bit of a kick for new players lately, and that's not by coincidence. Sure, City of Heroes has a well-established playerbase by this point, but it's not like the game is exactly hostile to new players. And while I wanted to do another session of questions and answers, I wanted to wait until I had a good crop of questions that pertain to the newer crowd -- players less familiar with the game or with a given archetype, players who are interested in learning more but unable to find a cogent resource amidst scattered threads on the forums and one-off references in posts.

Let's face it, after nearly seven years, a lot of us don't need or want references to these things any longer. We don't need someone explaining to us about Enhancement Diversification or why someone other than the healer asks what you need for a wakie when you die. A newer player might have no idea about these things, though, and so we're mixing up the format a bit here. Let's get back to basics and look at some questions that might seem simple if you know the answer -- but don't tend to get answered if you don't.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Questionable freshness

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Questionable freshness originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterabilitiesanswersbrutebrutescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdefensefeaturedgame-mechanicsinherent-fitnessinherent-powersncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosq-and-aquestion-and-answerquestionsresistancestaminaWed, 19 Jan 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Happy St. Patrick's Day edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/ask-massively-happy-st-patricks-day-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/ask-massively-happy-st-patricks-day-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/ask-massively-happy-st-patricks-day-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Aye, it's that time of year again, time for a celebration of culture and everything we can shoehorn under the aegis of getting drunk on green-tinted beer. We hope you're spending the day with friends and family, listening to traditional music and possibly enjoying a meal of corned beef and cabbage to celebrate the occasion. Spring is in the air, and it's the perfect time to get out and celebrate with the people you know and care about.

What? Sticking to the holiday that's actually happening is boring.

Luckily, sticking to Ask Massively isn't boring, at least not if you like getting your questions answered. Jump on past the break for questions about the new site layout as well as the venerable EverQuest, and of course our requisite question of ridiculousness at the end. So jump on past the break, and if you have a question you'd like to see answered here, feel free to leave it in the comments or mail ask@massively.com.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Happy St. Patrick's Day edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Happy St. Patrick's Day edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answersask-massivelydesigneqeq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iiextendedf2pfree-to-playholidayholidayslayoutq-and-aquestionsquestions-and-answerssite-designsoesony-online-entertainmentThu, 25 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DC Universe directors talk ranged vs. melee combat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/dc-universe-directors-talk-ranged-vs-melee-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/dc-universe-directors-talk-ranged-vs-melee-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/dc-universe-directors-talk-ranged-vs-melee-combat/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Sony Online Entertainment is going absolutely video crazy with DC Universe Online. Not that we mind of course. The latest release is a new edition of Inside the Studio, hosted by game director Chris Cao and creative director Jens Andersen. The dynamic duo are here to answer your Facebook-submitted questions, and they touch on everything from maps and city exploration to the game's headline system and combat mechanics.

Most of the time is devoted to combat, of course, as player skill and combat customization are clearly DCUO's talking points. The directors have some interesting things to say about ranged vs. melee combat, even going so far as to indicate that melee is the more important of the pair. "What we found that gave the most satisfying superhero experience is really a big brawler. But it's a brawler with ranged weapons," Cao says.

If that makes you scratch your head like we scratched ours, keep watching, as it starts to make a bit more sense as the discussion continues.

MassivelyDC Universe directors talk ranged vs. melee combat originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris-caodc-universe-onlineDcUniversedcuniverseonlinedcuodcuo-comicfacebookinside-the-studiojens-andersenmelee-combatquestionsranged-combatsoeSony-Online-EntertainmentvideoThu, 04 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Three years of coffee talk]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/the-daily-grind-three-years-of-coffee-talk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/the-daily-grind-three-years-of-coffee-talk/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/the-daily-grind-three-years-of-coffee-talk/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Three years! Three years we've been here at Massively, talking about all manner of things! Speaking as someone who has been here from the start, it's all been like butter. Like butter, I tell you! Along the way, every morning, we've gotten up, grabbed our coffee and enjoyed some coffee talk here on The Daily Grind. From simple questions about things like favorite music in MMOs to more in-depth discussion about systems, lore, character development, and more, we've given you over a thousand different topics so you could talk amongst yourselves -- like now, when we're a little verklempt.

There. OK. It's passed.

This morning, we thought it would be fun to give you the chance to ask us (and of course, the other Massively readers) something in honor of our third birthday as a site. Ever wanted to know what a day in the Massively virtual offices is like? Does Shawn really have a post-apocalyptic costume? Does Eliot randomly say "kupo?" If you've got burning questions, we've got answers. Just leave them in the box below, bubeleh... and you know... we'll talk.
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: Three years of coffee talk originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birthdaybirthday-2010hopefully-snl-has-a-sense-of-humor-and-doesnt-sue-usmassivelyquestionssillytdgthe-daily-grindthird-birthdayTue, 02 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Answering unasked questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/25/the-mog-log-answering-unasked-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/25/the-mog-log-answering-unasked-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/25/the-mog-log-answering-unasked-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Sometimes, you wind up with what amounts to a perfect case of convergence. After a busy and stressful week, there's nothing I'd like more than to have an opportunity to relax with an enjoyable game -- and gee, Final Fantasy XIV came out on Wednesday. Seeing the release means a lot to me for a variety of reasons, but the most immediate reason is it means I have something to do from the moment I wake up Saturday to the moment I go to sleep Sunday. I couldn't be happier about that.

Of course, a certain amount of confusion is going to go hand-in-hand with that, so I'm slightly cheating on our regular format, helped by the fact that this month has been a little light on normal questions. The last Saturday of the month always covers questions and answers... but this month, I'm going to be covering the questions that come up most frequently while playing Final Fantasy XIV that don't fall under any of our prior articles on the game. So yes, it's another week without much Final Fantasy XI love. I beg your forgiveness, but I will stay the course.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Answering unasked questions

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Answering unasked questions originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesaetherytecharacter-abilitiesclass-abilitiescollectors-editionearly-launchfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivguildlevesheadstartnew-launchnew-titlesquestionsreleasespecial-editionsquaresquare-enixtransportationSat, 25 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Donut budget edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/ask-massively-donut-budget-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/ask-massively-donut-budget-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/26/ask-massively-donut-budget-edition/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's time for another installment of Ask Massively, where this site's fine staff gives advice and answers to your questions through the very scientific involvement of blindfolds and dart boards.

This week, we talk about news from The Secret World and specifics on DCUO's bonuses. Follow along after the jump for the answers and be sure to get your own questions in to either ask@massively.com or as a comment to this post.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Donut budget edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Donut budget edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceanswersask-massivelymassively-metaopinionquestionsThu, 26 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Buy Guild Wars now! edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/ask-massively-buy-guild-wars-now-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/ask-massively-buy-guild-wars-now-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/ask-massively-buy-guild-wars-now-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In this week's installment of Ask Massively, we address topics such as external vs. internal game wikis, EVE Online's continuing sound issues, which Guild Wars chapter to buy and... well, that's really about it. But we do it with love and hugs in every word.

Click right past the jump below for this week's answers. If you'd like to see your MMO- or site-related questions answered next week, add them to the comments below or send them to ask@massively.com. Also, take note that starting next week, Ask Massively will be moving to Thursdays.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Buy Guild Wars now! edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Buy Guild Wars now! edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceanswersask-massivelyeve-onlinefeaturedguild-warsq-and-aquestionswikisFri, 02 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[[Updated] You have questions and developers have answers: Send us your burning E3 questions!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/you-have-questions-and-developers-have-answers-send-us-your-bur/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/you-have-questions-and-developers-have-answers-send-us-your-bur/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/you-have-questions-and-developers-have-answers-send-us-your-bur/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"When we're at a show, you're at the show."

If you've never heard our event coverage motto before, well, let me tell you exactly what it means. It means that you're going to get up-to-the-minute news about your favorite MMOs, both current and upcoming. It means that you're going to get pictures, screenshots, videos, and more from the editors on the ground at E3. And, lastly, it means that you're going to get analysis from our opinion columnists and game-specific columnists on the MMOs you want to hear about most. If you don't believe us, take a look at our recent history.

It means that the minute we hear it, you'll hear it and more. And, to that end, we want you to be more involved in our coverage!

This year we have more appointments with MMO developers than ever before, and we want to make sure that we're asking the questions you want answered. So if you have a burning question that you want to make sure is asked, simply drop it here on this post in the comments section! Plus, we want to hear what you're looking forward to hearing about at this E3 too, so tell us your favorites!

Keep an eye on the site next week for all of our E3 2010 coverage, starting June 15th! You won't want to miss it!

For a full list of the companies we'll be interviewing, click past the break!

[Update: Added Electronic Arts to the list for Need for Speed World.]

Continue reading [Updated] You have questions and developers have answers: Send us your burning E3 questions!

Massively[Updated] You have questions and developers have answers: Send us your burning E3 questions! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commentcommentscommunitycommunity-interviewcommunity-questionse3e3-2010interviewquestionsTue, 08 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Community Q&A: Send your questions in for the Fallen Earth devs!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/community-qanda-send-your-questions-in-for-the-fallen-earth-devs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/community-qanda-send-your-questions-in-for-the-fallen-earth-devs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/community-qanda-send-your-questions-in-for-the-fallen-earth-devs/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Well hey there Massively community! I hope you guys have enjoyed our Fallen Earth giveaway and corresponding in-game event, but we're not done with Fallen Earth yet!

We have received a chance to visit the secret Fallen Earth headquarters and we'd like you guys to throw some questions our way for the dev team! We're going to be videotaping all of the studio's secrets and transmitting them back to you guys, but we're also going to throw your questions at the development team while they're on video.

So if there's anything you ever wanted to know about the wasteland, or any questions you wanted to ask about the team's upcoming plans or patch schedule, then be sure to drop your questions off in the comments section of this post! We'll pick the best of the bunch and ask them during our video tour in two weeks, so be on the lookout for the upcoming post!

MassivelyCommunity Q&A: Send your questions in for the Fallen Earth devs! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 May 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commentscommunity-interviewcommunity-qnafallen-earthicarus-studiosinterviewmassively-mobquestionsstudio-tourwastelandFri, 21 May 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An interview with veteran supergroups in City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/an-interview-with-veteran-supergroups-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/an-interview-with-veteran-supergroups-in-city-of-heroes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/28/an-interview-with-veteran-supergroups-in-city-of-heroes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Today is rather the day of City of Heroes, and with good cause -- six years old, with many changes and exciting new parts in the wings. And the game is still open to new players of all sorts, with plenty to enrapture players who've never once set foot in Paragon City. But there's also a special place for players and groupings that have been around for nearly all of the game's lifespan -- something that's quite an accomplishment for more than half a decade.

We were lucky enough to have a chance to speak with two veteran supergroups as part of the anniversary celebration: ICONS and Fusion Force. To help compare and contrast responses, we asked both groups the same set of questions, and what follows is their responses. Some of them are close to one another (for instance, everyone seems to want to go into space), but others are very different, even with similar amounts of experience. Whether you're a City of Heroes veteran yourself or just curious about the game's history, jump on past the cut for our chat with some of the game's longer-running player groups.

Continue reading An interview with veteran supergroups in City of Heroes

MassivelyAn interview with veteran supergroups in City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxexperiencefeaturedguildinterviewsopinionopinionsparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioesquestionssupergroupteamupdatesWed, 28 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask us questions for the City of Heroes developers!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/ask-us-questions-for-the-city-of-heroes-developers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/ask-us-questions-for-the-city-of-heroes-developers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/22/ask-us-questions-for-the-city-of-heroes-developers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

As the game's fans are no doubt well aware, City of Heroes is hosting a developer Q&A via forumspring.me on Friday. They'll be answering live questions from the players, which is all well and good... but we all know that there's the chance, however slim, that your question might not get answered. Luckily for our readers, we've got the opportunity to ensure that your questions get heard by the development team. And all you have to do is leave us a comment with your question!

The three best questions, as chosen by our staff, will be submitted for an assured answer during the question and answer setting. Leave a comment here by 11:59 PM EST on Thursday, April 22nd if you want it to be up for consideration. We'll take a look at all of them, and the results will be visible for everyone. It's not quite as good as having a burning whip to force the team to answer questions, but it's probably the next best thing for City of Heroes fans. (We hear those whips cost a fortune anyway.)

MassivelyAsk us questions for the City of Heroes developers! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answerscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdevelopmentdevelopment-teamforumspring.melive-chatlive-q-and-aparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioesquestionsThu, 22 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Answers (and disclaimers)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/the-mog-log-answers-and-disclaimers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/the-mog-log-answers-and-disclaimers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/27/the-mog-log-answers-and-disclaimers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In this edition of the Mog Log, every question you have ever had will be answered completely accurately. (Disclaimer: these questions must pertain to either Final Fantasy XI or Final Fantasy XIV. And they must have been asked via e-mail or comments. And it must be noted that "I don't know" is an accurate answer to a question. Also, this aside is now longer then the introductory sentence.) Aren't you excited as possible? I know I am.

We'll start off with a question from Dormer:
"Why aren't we getting more information from the beta?"

We're not sure, but we can certainly speculate. The most logical reason is that the testing is closer to an alpha than anything and they're not letting people in that they can't trust implicitly. Square-Enix has a pretty good track record at keeping things quiet when they want to, and they're likely making sure that nothing leaks out from this phase. How much of an NDA further phases of Final Fantasy XIV's testing will have is a mystery. But there's another reason for the possible dearth of information. (Which we've intentionally put behind the cut to inspire you to keep reading.)

Continue reading The Mog Log: Answers (and disclaimers)

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Answers (and disclaimers) originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abysseaaddonsanswersfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgroupingpartyparty-versus-partyq-and-aquestion-and-answerquestionssolosquare-enixuixbox-360Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How do you support players that don't trust your support?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/how-do-you-support-players-that-dont-trust-your-support/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/how-do-you-support-players-that-dont-trust-your-support/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/how-do-you-support-players-that-dont-trust-your-support/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Let's face facts -- people don't like admitting that they don't know something or need help. They'd rather hammer at the problem until they solve it themselves, or they'd rather ask a trusted friend for help. Kids are super guilty of this, as they'd rather not tell an adult when they can't do something themselves.

So how do you work with kids when you're the support staff of their favorite game?

Steve Wilson, customer service manager of FusionFall, decided to do some digging with support groups to find what they could do better in their customer support. What did he find out? Simplicity is key -- something that goes way beyond just the 8 to 13-year-old demographic.

Customers don't want to be railroaded through a knowledgebase, nor sent to be put on hold with phone support. They'd rather perform a quick in-game chat to have their problems solved.

He also found out that players would rather consult with other players than a member of a support team, which is why why FusionFall puts such a strong emphasis on their community forums and the support section. Players can ask questions of their fellow players while a support agent can chime into the threads when necessary. It maximizes the agent's time, and it allows the player to feel comfortable. A win-win all around!

[Via Parature]

MassivelyHow do you support players that don't trust your support? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccrcustomer-supportfusionfallhelpknowledgebasephone-supportquestionssupportTue, 30 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaders have questions, and Darkfall's Tasos Flambouras has answers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/leaders-have-questions-and-darkfalls-tasos-flambouras-has-answ/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/leaders-have-questions-and-darkfalls-tasos-flambouras-has-answ/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/16/leaders-have-questions-and-darkfalls-tasos-flambouras-has-answ/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Darkfall blogger extraordinaire Paragus recently sat down with some of the biggest alliance leaders of Agon, collecting questions to take back to Aventurine's very own Tasos Flambouras for answering.

While not all of the questions are actually questions (we see those declarative statements, you can't hide them from our prying eyes), Tasos attempts to provide answers to some of Darkfall's biggest problems. Crashing during battles, game mechanics overthrowing battle strategies, six hour sieges, political options in the interface, inability to purchase the game, and the burning question of what Aventurine is doing to deal with cheaters are all covered in this lengthy two page interview.

The entire interview has been posted to MMORPG.com. If you're looking for a peek inside of the mind of Aventurine, or the mind of Tasos, in the very least, don't hesitate to jump on over and catch his answers to some burning questions.

MassivelyLeaders have questions, and Darkfall's Tasos Flambouras has answers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancesaventurinecheaterscity-siegedarkfalldarkfall-onlinehackersinterviewparagusquestionssiegestasostasos-flambourasThu, 16 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TR's lead designer answers your questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/trs-lead-designer-answers-your-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/trs-lead-designer-answers-your-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/trs-lead-designer-answers-your-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


How often do you get the opportunity to ask a big-time developer a question and actually hear their answer? Unless you travel to a gaming conference and stand in line for an hour, this isn't likely to happen, but on the next episode of TabulaCast, the hosts John and Matt will be interviewing Tom Potter, the leader designer for Tabula Rasa. They will be asking him questions submitted by the listeners regarding the game and his new role in the lead designer seat after taking over for Paul Sage last month. Of course, not all questions will be on the show, but only the very best will be chosen.

This is a very exciting interview for the folks at TabulaCast who have previously interviewed some of the "leaders" in the Tabula Rasa player community including PlanetTR's main admin DeadRinger, Ten Ton Hammer's TR lead Tony "Radar X" Jones as well as both Community Coordinators: Amy "Critters" Crider and Tia "Avatea" from NCsoft Europe.

MassivelyTR's lead designer answers your questions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiolead-designerncsoftncsoft-europepodcastquestionstabula-bloggertabula-rasatabulacasttom-potterWed, 18 Jun 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan Dev goes on berserk question-answering rampage]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/age-of-conan-dev-goes-on-berserk-question-answering-rampage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/age-of-conan-dev-goes-on-berserk-question-answering-rampage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/age-of-conan-dev-goes-on-berserk-question-answering-rampage/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

What was in LordOrion's coffee this morning? The FunCom developer began by making two parallel threads on the Age of Conan forums, one on the US forums and one on the EU. Each one was a 'leak', with the EU getting a preview of PvP gear, and the US getting an image of what looked like a dungeon of some sort, with no further hints as to what it might be.

That done, he began to answer direct questions. The players on both sides of the Atlantic wasted no time in firing them off, while expressing their gratitude (and disbelief) that FunCom was actually talking to them for a change. Now that the flurry of posts has died down, we've collated all the new information from both sides, presented in interview format and edited for relevance and context.

Continue reading Age of Conan Dev goes on berserk question-answering rampage

MassivelyAge of Conan Dev goes on berserk question-answering rampage originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananswersaocbreakingcraftingforumsfuncomjoystiqfeatureslord-orionpvepvppvp-consequencespvp-gearquestionsquestssiegesWed, 11 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Raph Koster answers a letter from a 12-year-old]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/raph-kosters-answers-a-letter-from-a-12-year-old/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/raph-kosters-answers-a-letter-from-a-12-year-old/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/12/raph-kosters-answers-a-letter-from-a-12-year-old/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Pretty darn cool of Raph Koster to answer this letter from a 12-year-old kid on his blog. And though we've heard the guy talk before, it's fun to see him boil down exactly what he's doing into language a younger kid would understand. It's one thing to talk about "complex server cluster architectures," but it's another to hear Koster explain what an "Integrated Development Environment" is in simple terms.

And I like his characterization of programming, too -- I've always told someone I'm trying to teach to use a computer that they "don't do what you want them to do, only what you tell them to do." That's the crux of a good programmer -- he or she knows how to tell the computer do to the right things.

Definitely a good read for insight into the mind of an MMO maker, whether you're 12 or 112.

MassivelyRaph Koster answers a letter from a 12-year-old originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3Dansweredintegrated-development-environmentlettermmoprogrammingquestionsraph-kosterWed, 12 Mar 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Babies, rings, and the Wild West]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/ask-massively-babies-rings-and-the-wild-west/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/ask-massively-babies-rings-and-the-wild-west/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/10/ask-massively-babies-rings-and-the-wild-west/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,


Thursday again, and that means its time for round two of our new advice column, Ask Massively. This week we're tackling what will happen to Lord of the Rings Online in 2008 (with guest shots from almost all the Massively staff), as well as creating some MMO offspring, and why cowboys and indians haven't jumped on the MMO bandwagon yet.

If you'd like to ask a question of Ask Massively, it's super simple-- just leave your question as a comment on this post to get it answered next week, or leave us a note via our tipline. This week's Ask Massively kicks off right after the jump, so click the link below!

Continue reading Ask Massively: Babies, rings, and the Wild West

MassivelyAsk Massively: Babies, rings, and the Wild West originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelybabiesbirthfeaturedheritagelord-of-the-rings-onlinequestionssecond-lifetriviawild-westThu, 10 Jan 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: The beginning]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/ask-massively-the-beginning/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/ask-massively-the-beginning/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/03/ask-massively-the-beginning/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Ask Massively is a brand new feature here on Massively-- it's your chance to take control of the little conversation we've got going on, and ask us MMO experts whatever you want. Want to know what MMO you should be playing, or why something in your favorite MMO is a little strange? Have a question about the site, or need an MMO standby explained? We're here to explain and elucidate the answers to all your queries, whatever they be.

To ask a question of Ask Massively, you can either put it in the comments on this post (for next week's edition), or drop us a note on the tipline. And this column will run entirely on your questions, so please let us know if there's something you want to know, no matter how complicated or how silly.

Click the link below to check out the first edition of Ask Massively! A warning: for the first edition, I cheated a little bit-- these are all questions from my friends. But next week, you'll have the chance to get a question of your own answered.

Continue reading Ask Massively: The beginning

MassivelyAsk Massively: The beginning originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceanswersask-massivelycommentersdesignfeaturedmmoquestionsreadersrsstraveltravelingworld-of-warcraftThu, 03 Jan 2008 22:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Vince D'Amelio has your answers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/vince-damelio-has-your-answers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/vince-damelio-has-your-answers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/vince-damelio-has-your-answers/#commentsFiled under:

Have a question you'd like to pose to Vince D'Amelio, City of Heroes Senior Programmer? If so, the WarCry Network wants to hear from you.

The concept behind the "Ask a Dev" series is elegant in its simplicity: find a CoX developer who has the time to answer questions, ask the community what questions they most wish answered, then put the two together and have the issues addressed by the minds behind the game.

So go ahead, ask your questions, you know you want to. And remember, there's no such thing as a stupid question, only a stupid Rikti.

MassivelyVince D'Amelio has your answers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ask-a-DevCity-of-HeroesCommunityCoXDeveloperQ-and-AQuestionsRiktiSenior-ProgrammerVince-DAmelioWarCryWarCry-NetworkThu, 15 Nov 2007 21:30:00 EST