Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ragnar Tørnquist returning to his roots with Dreamfall Chapters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/ragnar-tornquist-returning-to-his-roots-with-dreamfall-chapters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/ragnar-tornquist-returning-to-his-roots-with-dreamfall-chapters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/ragnar-tornquist-returning-to-his-roots-with-dreamfall-chapters/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
In September Funcom announced that Joel Bylos was taking over Ragnar Tørnquist's position of game director for The Secret World, leaving many of us wondering what the mastermind behind the renowned The Longest Journey series was getting up to. Well, now we finally know, and fans of TLJ will certainly be pleased to discover that Tørnquist is returning to his roots.

Today, Ragnar announced that his new studio, Red Thread Games, is commencing development of Dreamfall Chapters, which will continue the story that began with The Longest Journey over a decade ago. Rock, Paper, Shotgun has posted a new interview with Tørnquist detailing what lies ahead for the world of Dreamfall and how Ragnar's new gig will affect his work on The Secret World (spoiler alert: He's remaining on the TSW team as Creative Director), so whether you're an avid adventure gamer or a die-hard fan of TSW, it's certainly worth a read. For all the juicy details, just click on through the link below to get to the full interview.

MassivelyRagnar Tørnquist returning to his roots with Dreamfall Chapters originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dreamfall-chaptersdreamfall-the-longest-journeyfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorjoel-bylosmythologyragnar-tornquistred-thread-gamessci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-longest-journeythe-secret-worldtswThu, 01 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom hints at Halloween tricks and treats in The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/funcom-hints-at-halloween-tricks-and-treats-in-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/funcom-hints-at-halloween-tricks-and-treats-in-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/funcom-hints-at-halloween-tricks-and-treats-in-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Funcom hints at Halloween tricks and treats in The Secret World
In a blog post prefaced with a spoiler alert, Senior Designer Tanya Short delved into The Secret World's upcoming Halloween event that was initially mentioned when The Cat God went live. Players already know that Halloween plays prominently in the game, as holiday decorations abound throughout Solomon Island, and Ragnar Tornquist himself likened it to Christmas in terms of holiday importance for TSW.

The official spook day content will be released around October 15th. According to Short, players can look forward to a more light-hearted experience than the main plot. In fact, she states, "Halloween should be more like 'an episode of Buffy.'" The storyline will begin in Kingsmouth and will flesh out a couple of cat characters who have been waiting in the wings as well as add depth to the stories of two known characters. Stonehenge is also in the spotlight, and players can get a Head-O-Lantern for a limited time.

For more details (and a close up look at Irusan, King of Cats), check out the full dev blog.

MassivelyFuncom hints at Halloween tricks and treats in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-blogdev-diaryeventfactionfantasyfuncomHalloweenHalloween-eventhorrorin-game-eventin-game-eventsmythologyRagnar-Tornquistsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedTanya-Shortthe-secret-worldtswThu, 04 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom: Secret World 'not going free-to-play any time soon' [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/funcom-secret-world-not-going-free-to-play-anytime-soon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/funcom-secret-world-not-going-free-to-play-anytime-soon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/02/funcom-secret-world-not-going-free-to-play-anytime-soon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Funcom - Secret World 'not going free-to-play anytime soon'
Funcom's still riding the roller-coaster that is The Secret World, but as of today the Norwegian development firm has no plans to do away with the game's subscription fee. "No it's not going free-to-play any time soon," Funcom communications director Erling Ellingsen told Eurogamer. "There's currently no plans for making it free-to-play."

The game is in fact profitable as a subscription title, Ellingsen says, and creative director Ragnar Tornquist says that Funcom has content plans laid out through May of 2013. Tornquist and game director Joel Bylos spend a good bit of the interview talking about the challenges TSW faced last summer, from mediocre reviews to the need to launch and enable continued development to the stiff MMO competition.

"MMOs are hugely expensive, and of course Guild Wars 2 has sold a lot, and of course it's a big success. That game cost a lot of money and they're going to have to sell a lot of copies, especially without a subscription model. It is a dangerous path," Tornquist said. "It might be the right path for MMOs; as a consumer, as a player, I appreciate it. As a developer I'm with Joel in thinking that it is unfortunate for a lot of smaller companies or medium-sized companies."

[Update: TSW may not be going F2P soon, but it's certainly getting cheaper. Tipster Brant points out that the game is currently 50% off on Steam.]

MassivelyFuncom: Secret World 'not going free-to-play any time soon' [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>erling-ellingsenfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorjoel-bylosmythologypostmortem-doesnt-mean-what-eurogamer-thinks-it-meansRagnar-Tornquistsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswTue, 02 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World gets a new game director, title and date of Issue #3 announced [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/24/the-secret-world-gets-a-new-game-director-title-of-issue-3-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/24/the-secret-world-gets-a-new-game-director-title-of-issue-3-ann/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/24/the-secret-world-gets-a-new-game-director-title-of-issue-3-ann/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Secret World gets a new game director, title of Issue #3 announced
Funcom's finally named a replacement for The Secret World's game director spot: Joel Bylos. Bylos is moving up from his previous position as lead content designer, and Ragnar Tørnquist is pulling back from his role as senior producer to pour his energies into being creative director.

Bylos is psyched at the move: "Being given the opportunity to lead the game into a bold, new future is definitely a dream come true for me. I am very proud of what we as a team have created with The Secret World, and it is truly a brilliant canvas that will allow us to create more groundbreaking MMO experiences for many years to come. The Secret World is only really getting started, and with a game world that draws upon our own, real world, there is no limit to what sort of amazing stories we can tell and fantastic locations we can visit in the upcoming content updates."

Bylos and Tørnquist are hard at work leading the team through the next two patches. Funcom announced that this month's Issue #3 is titled The Cat God and Issue #4 will feature the New York City monster raid.

[Update: We've now learned that Issue #3 releases tomorrow. Thanks to Dalazar and Elania for the tip!]

MassivelyThe Secret World gets a new game director, title and date of Issue #3 announced [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creative-directorfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorissue-3issue-4joel-bylosmartin-bruusgaardmythologyragnar-tørnquistRagnar-Tornquistraidsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-cat-godthe-secret-worldtswMon, 24 Sep 2012 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Chaos Theory: The Secret World's bright (player-driven?) future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/chaos-theory-the-secret-worlds-bright-player-driven-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/chaos-theory-the-secret-worlds-bright-player-driven-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/06/chaos-theory-the-secret-worlds-bright-player-driven-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Chaos Theory - The Secret World's bright playerdriven future
Apologies for not following through with part three of my crafting guide this week. I fully intended to do so, but a couple of interesting things happened over the past few days that merit some discussion.

First off, Ragnar Tornquist published what can only be called a defiant state of the game letter. The Secret World's creative director engaged in some rabble-rousing penmanship that managed to inspire a metaphorical fist-pump from yours truly, even though I've been covering games long enough to cast a cynical eye toward similar rally-the-troops developer rhetoric.

Tornquist admitted that TSW's competition is stiff, in particular new releases like Guild Wars 2 and Mists of Pandaria, but he didn't shy away from singing his game's praises. More importantly, he reiterated what early adopters have known for a while now: The Secret World is that increasingly rare MMO horse of a different color, and despite financial and personnel losses, Funcom knows it has a winner on its hands and is fighting to keep it.

Continue reading Chaos Theory: The Secret World's bright (player-driven?) future

MassivelyChaos Theory: The Secret World's bright (player-driven?) future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-faction3-factionschaos-theoryconspiracyconspiracy-thriillercraig-morrisondark-days-are-comingdragonDreamworlddreamworld-enginefactionfaction-pvpfantasyfeaturedfuncomfuncom-financialsfuncom-layoffshorrorilluminatimmo-narrativemmo-storymythologynarrativeopinionplayer-driven-contentplayer-generated-contentRagnar-Tornquistsci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-chaos-theorysecret-world-state-of-the-gameskill-basedstorytemplarsthe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-chaos-theorythree-factionthree-faction-pvpthree-factionstswtsw-chaos-theorytsw-dragonuser-generated-contentThu, 06 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom assures players of The Secret World's 'bright future']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/funcom-assures-the-secret-worlds-bright-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/funcom-assures-the-secret-worlds-bright-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/31/funcom-assures-the-secret-worlds-bright-future/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Funcom assures us of The Secret World's bright future
After increasingly bad news out of Funcom in regard to The Secret World's unexpectedly low sales, Creative Director and Senior Producer Ragnar Tørnquist penned a State of the Game address today outlining the studio's plans for keeping The Secret World just as it is.

"We're not going to play it safe," Tørnquist assures players. "We won't be introducing classes or levels, elves or dwarves, and regardless of the competition, we won't back down from our original vision. We're going to keep doing what we're good at. We'll continue to push the boundaries, and we'll keep reinventing the wheel (quite literally). Five years ago, we set out to revolutionise the genre, and the revolution has just begun."

Tørnquist points to a "bright future" for The Secret World with the upcoming second issue, named Digging Deeper, and a third yet-unnamed issue that will tie in with the game's Halloween event.

MassivelyFuncom assures players of The Secret World's 'bright future' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digging-deeperfactionfantasyfuncomhorrormythologyRagnar-Tornquistsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswFri, 31 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sound guru brings The Secret World's ur draug monster to life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/sound-guru-brings-the-secret-worlds-ur-draug-monster-to-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/sound-guru-brings-the-secret-worlds-ur-draug-monster-to-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/13/sound-guru-brings-the-secret-worlds-ur-draug-monster-to-life/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Sound guru brings The Secret World's ur draug monster to life
If you've ever wondered how MMO sound designers do their thing, a new developer video by Creating Sound will probably be music to your ears.

Sound designer and "audio generalist" Alexandre Saba takes us through the creation of The Secret World's ur draug sound suite. What the heck is an ur draug? It's a "creature from the deepest, darkest oceans, a Lovecraftian, god-like creature," according to TSW creative director Ragnar Tornquist.

Since Funcom couldn't just go out and mic the nearest ur draug, it turned to Saba, who performs a number of foley tricks to bring the creature's bellow, skin, and wing sounds to life. Look, listen, and learn after the cut.

Continue reading Sound guru brings The Secret World's ur draug monster to life

MassivelySound guru brings The Secret World's ur draug monster to life originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex-sabaalexandre-sabadev-videofactionfantasyfoleyfuncomhorrorlovecraftmythologyRagnar-Tornquistsci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-soundskill-basedsoundsound-designthe-secret-worldtswur-draugvideoFri, 13 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World devs to host exclusive livestream on Friday the 13th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/the-secret-world-devs-to-host-exclusive-livestream-on-friday-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/the-secret-world-devs-to-host-exclusive-livestream-on-friday-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/12/the-secret-world-devs-to-host-exclusive-livestream-on-friday-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World
Forget superstition: This Friday the 13th is a lucky day for The Secret World fans who want to delve deeper into the world of conspiracies. Tomorrow at 11 a.m. EDT, Creative Director and Senior Producer Ragnar Tørnquist and Lead Content Designer Joel Bylos will host a livestream of themselves playing select parts of the game while offering commentary and discussing the development process. To watch, join TSW's official Twitch.TV channel, TheSecretWorld.

Don't want to wait until tomorrow to see some The Secret World action? Then watch Massively TV tonight at 8:00 p.m. EDT for a two-hour special stream showing off investigation missions. You can still catch the special developer livestream tomorrow!

[Source: Funcom press release]

MassivelyThe Secret World devs to host exclusive livestream on Friday the 13th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exclusive-livestreamfactionfantasyfuncomhorrorjoel-byloslivestreammassively-tvmassivelytvmythologynewsRagnar-Tornquistsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswThu, 12 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chaos Theory: Tornquist on The Secret World's launch, future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/chaos-theory-tornquist-on-the-secret-worlds-launch-and-the-fut/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/chaos-theory-tornquist-on-the-secret-worlds-launch-and-the-fut/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/chaos-theory-tornquist-on-the-secret-worlds-launch-and-the-fut/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Chaos Theory Tornquist on The Secret World's launch and the future
You know, this is probably obvious if you've read my coverage of The Secret World thus far, but I'll just go ahead and fess up: I dig the game, and watching Funcom knock the cover off the ball is gratifying in a strange sort of way.

That's why I didn't get too upset when my opportunity to interview creative director Ragnar Tornquist was upstaged by the firm's huge news dump this afternoon. The company shocked gamers and industry watchers by promising monthly content updates and a whole bunch of other stuff, some of which I had asked about in a series of questions we sent Funcom earlier in the week.

The resulting answers are still worth a read, though, particularly if you're pinching yourself over TSW's successful launch and its rosy future.

Continue reading Chaos Theory: Tornquist on The Secret World's launch, future

MassivelyChaos Theory: Tornquist on The Secret World's launch, future originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-faction3-factionschaos-theoryconspiracyconspiracy-thriillerdark-days-are-comingdragonfactionfaction-pvpfantasyfeaturedfuncomhorrorilluminatimythologyopinionragnar-tornquistragnar-tornquist-interviewsci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-chaos-theorysecret-world-interviewsecret-world-monthly-contentsecret-world-new-contentskill-basedtemplarsthe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-chaos-theorythe-secret-world-monthly-contentthree-factionthree-faction-pvpthree-factionstswtsw-chaos-theorytsw-dragontsw-monthly-contentTue, 10 Jul 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World to feature new content 'on a regular, monthly basis']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/the-secret-world-to-feature-new-content-on-a-regular-monthly-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/the-secret-world-to-feature-new-content-on-a-regular-monthly-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/the-secret-world-to-feature-new-content-on-a-regular-monthly-b/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Secret World - crab boss thing
Ragnar Tornquist has taken to The Secret World forums to deliver the title's inaugural state-of-the-game post. It's an exciting read for fans of Funcom's horror/conspiracy MMO, as he hints at quite a few updates and surprises waiting in the wings.

"We're going to be releasing fresh and tasty new content to our subscribers on a regular, monthly basis," Tornquist says, before going on to explain that Funcom's version of fresh and tasty includes monthly mission packs. New investigation, action, and sabotage missions are in the works, all of them featuring full voice, cutscenes, and media pop-ups.

Improved character customization options are incoming, as is TSW's first raid (apparently set in New York City). Oh, did we mention new weapon types and a new PvP dungeon in a new geographical area? Yeah, that's coming too. So is a dungeon finder tool, seasonal events, and "two large, new and incredibly exciting adventure zones."

Still not satisfied? OK, how about new pets and new social functionality designed to "allow roleplayers and would-be thespians to spread their wings?" We think that just about covers it, but in case we missed something, check out the full letter on TSW forums.

MassivelyThe Secret World to feature new content 'on a regular, monthly basis' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingfactionfantasyfuncomhorrormythologyoh-myragnar-tornquistsci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-new-missionssecret-world-raidsskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswtsw-monthly-contentTue, 10 Jul 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom unveils armory-like Chronicle for The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/09/the-secret-world-opens-beta-today-for-a-new-player-record-chron/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/09/the-secret-world-opens-beta-today-for-a-new-player-record-chron/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/09/the-secret-world-opens-beta-today-for-a-new-player-record-chron/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World opens beta today for a new player record, Chronicle
Imagine that -- keeping an upcoming feature of The Secret World a secret! Yet Funcom pulled it off, announcing today via a letter from creative director and senior producer Ragnar Tornquist the aptly named new player record that will actually chronicle a player's journey through TSW.

Starting now, players active within the last four days can log into Chronicle and check out their stats on their profile page and compare themselves with players across the world using the PvP and PvE leaderboards. But that's only the beginning. Tornquist goes on to say,
"We have a lot of great features planned, and we will be integrating the service more with the game and also, hopefully, with mobile devices and social networks in the future. We are going to add more stats, more features, more leaderboards, and more user control. We might also look at giving rewards tied to your status and standing on Chronicle."
The beta is public so the team can gather as much community feedback as possible, so jump in, check it out, and give your feedback to help shape Chronicle's future.

[Source: Funcom press release]

MassivelyFuncom unveils armory-like Chronicle for The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorycharacter-profileChronicleChronicle-betafactionfantasyfuncomhorrorleaderboardsmythologynew-featureprofileRagnar-Tornquistsci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-armoryskill-basedthe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-armorytswtsw-armoryMon, 09 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom shares fall, Tornquist defends The Secret World's sub fee]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/06/funcom-shares-fall-tornquist-defends-the-secret-worlds-sub-fee/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/06/funcom-shares-fall-tornquist-defends-the-secret-worlds-sub-fee/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/06/funcom-shares-fall-tornquist-defends-the-secret-worlds-sub-fee/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Secret World - incoming F2P zombies
It's not all roses for Funcom following the launch of The Secret World earlier this week. Gamespot is reporting that company shares on the Norwegian Stock Exchange fell by almost 40 percent in recent days.

Earlier this week Funcom CEO Trond Arne Aas stepped down, citing internal restructuring as the cause. The company has thus far not responded to media requests for comment on its financial fortunes. The Secret World opened to positive reviews in both the gaming press and MMO fan circles, despite having a subscription fee in an era when gamers are increasingly clamoring for free content.

Creative director Ragnar Tornquist recently chatted about the game's business model with Rock, Paper Shotgun. "The subscription fee and our business model supports a big, ongoing team. We have content plans for a very long time. We have content that's going to be coming on a regular, ongoing basis," he explained.

MassivelyFuncom shares fall, Tornquist defends The Secret World's sub fee originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessbusiness-modelsf2p-zombiesfactionfantasyfuncomfuncom-shares-fallfuncom-stockhorrormythologyRagnar-Tornquistsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtrond-arne-aastswFri, 06 Jul 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tornquist: The Secret World's combat 'radically different' [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/04/tornquist-the-secret-worlds-combat-radically-different/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/04/tornquist-the-secret-worlds-combat-radically-different/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/04/tornquist-the-secret-worlds-combat-radically-different/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Secret World - Fusang Projects boss
The Secret World creative director Ragnar Tornquist recently checked in with Rock, Paper Shotgun for a post-launch interview. The first half of the piece offers up some interesting commentary on the state of MMOs, non-combat gameplay, and inevitable comparisons to the genre standard.

"Have we been traditional in some ways? Sure," Tornquist says. "But I think those who say that our combat is like WoW's combat, they really haven't gotten beyond the surface. At the beginning maybe it feels like that. But if you play for 12, 15, 20 hours, it's quite clear that it's radically different."

Tornquist also muses on non-combat gameplay, of which TSW has a fair amount. In a nutshell, though, conflict is what drives games, and so combat will always be a primary focus. "I think solving puzzles all the time, it's not going to last hundreds of hours. I think people would get bored a lot quicker," he says.

[Update]: RPS has finally posted the second portion of the interview which talks about quest design and TSW's business model.

MassivelyTornquist: The Secret World's combat 'radically different' [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>factionfantasyfuncomhorrorinterviewmythologynon-combat-gameplayragnar-tornquistsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldtswWed, 04 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World lowers UK sub fee, details pre-order access times [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/the-secret-world-lowers-eu-sub-fee-details-pre-order-access-tim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/the-secret-world-lowers-eu-sub-fee-details-pre-order-access-tim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/27/the-secret-world-lowers-eu-sub-fee-details-pre-order-access-tim/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Secret World - Savage Coast amusement mile
It's two days and counting until The Secret World's early access period. As such, Funcom is ramping up the publicity in a number of spots around the web. First up is a new interview with creative director Ragnar Tornquist at Gamespot. He talks about the title's contemporary setting as well as the crunch of last-minute adjustments before the user floodgates open on Friday.

Gamespot is also showing a six-minute preview video of the Savage Coast, Transylvania, and Egypt, which we've embedded for you below after the break.

There have also been a couple of noteworthy updates on the official Secret World forums regarding the early release period. Firstly, Funcom notes that everyone who pre-ordered will get access on June 29th at noon EDT. However, early pre-orders and those who have purchased the Grand Master Pack will be able to log in "even earlier."

Finally, Funcom has dropped the monthly subscription fee "to make it more in line with pricing in Europe." The new number is £11.49 including VAT.

[Update: Funcom has also posted server names and designations for Friday's early access launch as well as an explanation for how the game's single-server technology will impact players. Thanks to Varrakys and Acidbaron for the tip!]

Continue reading The Secret World lowers UK sub fee, details pre-order access times [Updated]

MassivelyThe Secret World lowers UK sub fee, details pre-order access times [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaearly-accessfactionfantasyfuncomhorrormythologyopen-betaragnar-tornquistsci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-early-accessskill-basedthe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-early-accesstswtsw-early-accesstsw-eu-sub-feetsw-sub-feevideoWed, 27 Jun 2012 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Ragnar Tornquist about The Secret World via Reddit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/ask-ragnar-tornquist-anything-about-the-secret-world-via-reddit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/ask-ragnar-tornquist-anything-about-the-secret-world-via-reddit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/ask-ragnar-tornquist-anything-about-the-secret-world-via-reddit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World - Transylvania trio
If you're interested in The Secret World, and you're not busily playing the public beta tomorrow at noon EDT, you might want to head over to Reddit for an AMA with Funcom's Ragnar Tornquist.

What's an AMA? It stands for "ask me anything," and it's basically an exchange of questions and answers between fans and content producers. In this case, the producer is the man behind not only The Secret World but also well-regarded adventure titles like Dreamfall and The Longest Journey.

Further info is available via Reddit and Tornquist's Twitter feed.

MassivelyAsk Ragnar Tornquist about The Secret World via Reddit originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>factionfantasyfuncomhorrormythologyRagnar-Tornquistragnar-tornquist-amaragnar-tornquist-ask-me-anythingredditsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedthe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-amathe-secret-world-ask-me-anythingtswtsw-amatsw-ask-me-anythingFri, 22 Jun 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with The Secret World's mission system]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/hands-on-with-the-secret-worlds-mission-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/hands-on-with-the-secret-worlds-mission-system/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/hands-on-with-the-secret-worlds-mission-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World - Kingsmouth quest NPC
So The Secret World's mission system treads well off the beaten MMO path. It's pretty cool, actually, though portions of it may irritate quest-grinders who just want to blow through zones on their way to the game's equivalent of a max-level toon.

For the rest of us, there's a nifty interface, some challenging puzzles, and plenty of well-written quest text and dialogue to keep us entertained for weeks at a time.

Continue reading Hands-on with The Secret World's mission system

MassivelyHands-on with The Secret World's mission system originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-gamesfactionfantasyfeaturedfuncomhorrorkingsmouthmythologypreviewpreviewsragnar-tornquistsci-fantasysecret-worldsecret-world-impressionssecret-world-mission-guidesecret-world-missionsskill-basedsupply-runthe-kingsmouth-codethe-secret-worldthe-secret-world-mission-guidethe-secret-world-press-betatswtsw-guidestsw-quest-guidetsw-questingThu, 17 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World launching June 19th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/the-secret-world-launching-june-19th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/the-secret-world-launching-june-19th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/the-secret-world-launching-june-19th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Secret World - launching June 19th
Funcom has decided to push back The Secret World's launch by a couple of months. The Norwegian development firm originally intended its horror-conspiracy MMO to ship in April, but a new press release has targeted June 19th instead.

Creative director Ragnar Tørnquist says the new launch window will allow Funcom to make the title that much more compelling. "Allowing for even more time to polish the game really shows just how much faith Funcom as a company has in The Secret World, and how committed we are to making it the best it can be," he explains.

Tørnquist also hints at further beta opportunities for both fans and curiosity seekers. "The additional time will also allow us to carry out even more quality beta testing, and soon we will also be announcing several public beta events where hundreds of thousands of gamers will get to test the game prior to launch," he says.

The Secret World is a skill-based MMO set in the modern age. It mixes traditional MMO progression with a unique skill deck system and story-driven questing.

[Source: Funcom press release]

MassivelyThe Secret World launching June 19th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabreakingconspiracyfantasyfuncomhorrorlaunch-dateRagnar-Tornquistsecret-world-launchsecret-world-launch-dateskill-basedthe-secret-worldTue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: The upcoming contenders]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-contenders/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-contenders/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-contenders/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
While I'm on board the Star Wars: The Old Republic train (at least until SOE's Star Wars: The New Republic comes out in 2014 and forces SWTOR to shut down), I can certainly sympathize with the frustration that non-fans are feeling right about now. There are few things more annoying than not being into the latest craze -- or hating it outright -- and yet being unable to escape it.

So I'm here to say to you today that, like World of Warcraft, SWTOR isn't the be-all, end-all of the MMO field. It's a part of it, but just one part, and there are many, many others in the works as we speak. Mama always told me never to put all your eggs in one basket anyway, so I'm spreading my eggcitement across many cyber-nests.

This is the bone I'm throwing to all of you this week: a list of 10 Midichlorian-free MMOs that have me -- and should have you -- extremely buzzed about their development. In putting together this list, I realized that there are so many promising prospects that I divided them into two groups. This week I'm presenting the strongest contenders that should make it to launch with a solid product, while next time I'll list promising prospects that may be more of a long shot. I'm 47% confident that I will not forget your most-anticipated title.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The upcoming contenders

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: The upcoming contenders originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>38-studiosarcheagearenanetbetacarbine-studiosccpchampions-onlinecopernicuscurt-schillingdark-millennium-onlinedc-universe-onlinedust-514eve-onlineeverquest-nextfeaturedfuncomgamescom-2011guild-wars-2gw2jake-songlistmarvelmarvel-universe-onlinencsoftperfect-10perfect-tenproject-copernicusr-a-salvatorera-salvatoreRagnar-Tørnquistragnar-tornquistsandboxsandparkterathe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenthe-secret-worldthqtodd-mcFarlanetswultima-onlineupcoming-mmoswarhammer-40kwildstarxl-gamesxlgamesThu, 01 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on impressions of The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/hands-on-impressions-of-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/hands-on-impressions-of-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/hands-on-impressions-of-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Scary monster dude in The Secret World
Last month, Funcom held a special hands-on event for The Secret World at its Montreal, Canada offices, where we sent freelancer François Blondin to cover all the exciting details. François also got to play the game for several hours, giving us a fresh perspective on what TSW has to offer MMO gamers.

In Funcom's upcoming The Secret World, the game's three factions -- Templars, Illuminati and Dragons -- face off, compete, and collaborate (all at the same time!) amidst the nightmarish creatures being revealed throughout the world. But choose your allegiance carefully: Your faction determines your path and special bonuses for the whole game, and faction-switching won't be an option. Join me for a hands-on look at the game's current incarnation!

Gallery: The Secret World

Continue reading Hands-on impressions of The Secret World

MassivelyHands-on impressions of The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorcash-shopchakrascollisioncombatcraftingdemodouble-dippingdragonsequipmentexclusivefactionsfeaturedfuncomgearhands-onhiveilluminatiimpressionsjoel-bylosmartin-bruusgaardmontrealpreviewpvepvpquestingquestsRagnar-Tornquistskill-basedskillsstatssubscriptiontemplarsthe-hivethe-secret-worldthree-queststswweaponswheel-of-skillsMon, 21 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ragnar Tørnquist divulges the secrets of the Templars in new interview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/ragnar-tornquist-divulges-the-secrets-of-the-templars-in-new-int/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/ragnar-tornquist-divulges-the-secrets-of-the-templars-in-new-int/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/ragnar-tornquist-divulges-the-secrets-of-the-templars-in-new-int/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- The Secret World
The Secret World's week of the Templars continues today with a new interview over at IGN. The game's head-honcho, Ragnar Tørnquist, gives fans the skinny on what drives the ancient order of the Templars. The organization's goal is simple: Eradicate evil at all costs. Of course, the Templars are rather scrupulous in regard to what qualifies as evil. For instance, they firmly believe that the use of blood magic is unclean, but that doesn't stop them from using it for themselves. Fight fire with fire and all that. For the full 411 on what the Templars are all about, head on over to the full interview.

MassivelyRagnar Tørnquist divulges the secrets of the Templars in new interview originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funcomilluminati-4-lifeinterviewknights-templarragnar-tørnquistragnar-tornquisttemplartemplarsthe-secret-worldtswThu, 17 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Week of the Templars storms The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/week-of-the-templars-storms-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/week-of-the-templars-storms-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/week-of-the-templars-storms-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Secret World
Moving away from the Far East machinations of the Dragon faction, The Secret World is instead heading to the refined, cultured setting of the UK as it shines a spotlight on the Templar faction for an entire week.

The Templars are perhaps the most famous of The Secret World's three factions, with historical roots in the Crusades starting in the 12th century. While they may not maintain a low profile, the Templars do keep a tight lid on the inner workings of this secret society. Senior Producer Ragnar Tørnquist describes the organization succinctly: "Uncompromising and fiercely brutal, the Templars is an organization with a single goal: to eradicate evil no matter how long it takes them. This is a great opportunity to shed some light on this secret society."

The Week of the Templars will cover the range of artwork, videos, and interviews. To kick it off, Funcom has released six new screenshots of the Templars, including the group's base of operations and agents in action. You can take a look at them all in the gallery below.

Gallery: The Secret World

MassivelyWeek of the Templars storms The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dragondragonsfuncomgalleryRagnar-Tørnquistragnar-tornquistscreenshotstemplartemplarsthe-secret-worldthe-week-of-the-templarstswweek-of-the-templarsMon, 14 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World's Dragon Week continues with new video, interview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/the-secret-worlds-dragon-week-continues-with-new-video-intervi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/the-secret-worlds-dragon-week-continues-with-new-video-intervi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/the-secret-worlds-dragon-week-continues-with-new-video-intervi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- The Secret World Dragon
Dragon Week is in full swing over at The Secret World, and today players get a double dose of Dragon with a new video and an interview with Ragnar Tørnquist. The video highlights a previous trailer's character -- referred to hereafter as Milkshake Girl -- and her initiation into the Dragon. Poor Milkshake Girl's idea of chaos prior to the Dragon was "a messy apartment," but disorderly living spaces have nothing on the Dragon concept of chaos, as the video points out.

The interview focuses entirely on, surprise, the Dragon faction and the lore behind it. Tørnquist is reluctant to give away any juicy gameplay details, however, and refuses to reveal what faction-specific abilities the Dragon will have access to. But if you're a lore junkie, read on: Tørnquist discusses the hierarchy of the Dragon, the organization's modus operandi, the central characters of the faction, and the group's relation to the Templar, Illuminati, and the Council of Venice. So head on over to IGN for the full interview, jump past the cut for the video, and remember, Dragon Week isn't over yet. Check back tomorrow to see what else Funcom has in store.

Continue reading The Secret World's Dragon Week continues with new video, interview

MassivelyThe Secret World's Dragon Week continues with new video, interview originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dragondragon-weekfactionfactionsfuncominterviewmilkshake-girlragnar-tornquistthe-secret-worldtrailertrailerstswvideovideosThu, 20 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World kicks off Week of the Dragon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/the-secret-world-kicks-off-week-of-the-dragon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/the-secret-world-kicks-off-week-of-the-dragon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/the-secret-world-kicks-off-week-of-the-dragon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- The Secret World
Take a seat, Templars and Illuminati -- it's the Dragons' time to shine. Over at The Secret World's official site, Funcom has announced this week as Dragon week, meaning that as the week goes by, we'll be granted new information and assets focused on the Seoul-based secret society. The game's director, Ragnar Tørnquist, says, "Revealing new things about the Dragon is exciting for us, as the very nature of the Dragon is to stay hidden and create chaos behind the scenes to reach their ultimate goal." So it should be interesting to see what kind of tricks the organization has up its sleeves.

Whether you're a Dragon initiate looking to find out more about your chosen secret society or you're a member of the Templars or Illuminati ready to build a dossier on your opposition, keep your eyes open in the coming week as the shady secrets of the Dragon are brought to light. In the meantime, though, check out the gallery below for six new Dragon-centric screenshots.

Gallery: The Secret World

MassivelyThe Secret World kicks off Week of the Dragon originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dragondragonsfactionsfuncomgalleriesgalleryragnar-tornquistscreenshotscreenshotssecret-societiessecret-societythe-secret-worldtswweek-of-the-dragonMon, 17 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom talks The Secret World at NYCC]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/funcom-talks-the-secret-world-at-nycc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/funcom-talks-the-secret-world-at-nycc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/funcom-talks-the-secret-world-at-nycc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Secret World - starring Fox Mulder
MMORPG.com's got the details on Funcom's appearance at last weekend's New York City Comic Con. Ragnar Tornquist and Dag Scheve were on hand to hype The Secret World, and the duo was the main attraction on a panel that fielded fan questions and showed off some new gameplay footage.

Several of the questions from the audience related to The Secret World's progression mechanics, and Tornquist stated that despite the fact that the game has no levels, there will be plenty of activities for grind aficionados. The term horizontal progression was mentioned, as were various skills and gear (the latter of which serves as a gate between different bits of the game's content). Check out the rest of the recap, along with a video embed, at MMORPG.com.

MassivelyFuncom talks The Secret World at NYCC originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comic-conconventionsdag-schevefantasyfuncomgrindhorrorhypemmo-industrynew-titlesnew-york-city-comic-connyccprogressionRagnar-Tornquistreal-world-eventsthe-secret-worldtswMon, 17 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World dev diary video delves into The Secret War]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/the-secret-world-dev-diary-video-delves-into-the-secret-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/the-secret-world-dev-diary-video-delves-into-the-secret-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/the-secret-world-dev-diary-video-delves-into-the-secret-war/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- The Secret World
Time to don your tin-foil hats, conspiracy theorists. It's time once again to delve into the mysteries of The Secret World. Funcom has released a new developer diary video outlining The Secret War, which is the PvP component of the upcoming horror title.

We got our first look at the PvP aspect of the game back in August at PAX Prime. This is the first time, however, that we have video to show players just what they can expect from the three-faction paranormal brawls. The video highlights both small-scale PvP, such as the game's Stonehenge and El Dorado battlefields, and the game's large-scale, persistent PvP. For the full video, click on past the cut.

Gallery: The Secret World

Continue reading The Secret World dev diary video delves into The Secret War

MassivelyThe Secret World dev diary video delves into The Secret War originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diaryfuncompersistent-pvppvpragnar-tornquistthe-secret-warthe-secret-worldtswvideovideosThu, 13 Oct 2011 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The panel is true: The Secret World preps a NYCC appearance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/the-panel-is-true-the-secret-world-preps-a-nycc-appearance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/the-panel-is-true-the-secret-world-preps-a-nycc-appearance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/the-panel-is-true-the-secret-world-preps-a-nycc-appearance/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

NYCC
MMO fans traveling out to the Big Apple for the New York Comic Con next weekend have another potential "must see" on their event list: an exclusive panel of The Secret World with the devs.

The panel will take place on Friday, October 14th at 4:00 p.m. EDT in room 1A24. It's here that Funcom devs Ragnar Tørnquist and Dag Scheve will not only present an all-new live demo of the upcoming conspiracy MMO but field questions from the audience in as candid a manner as possible.

Of course, considering the game in question, we note that this could be a trap by the Old Gods to swallow the souls of all those attending and turn them into husks to do the Old Gods' bidding, but that's just the chance you'll have to take.

MassivelyThe panel is true: The Secret World preps a NYCC appearance originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dag-Schevedemodev-q-and-afuncomlive-demonew-york-comic-connyccnycc-2011old-godspanelq-and-aRagnar-Tornquistthe-secret-worldtswFri, 07 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World shares details on sharing stories]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/the-secret-world-shares-details-on-sharing-stories/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/the-secret-world-shares-details-on-sharing-stories/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/the-secret-world-shares-details-on-sharing-stories/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This portion of the story could have been avoided if you were nicer to Little Sisters.
While it's not the poster child for story in MMOs, The Secret World is putting a big emphasis on giving players an engaging and in-depth story to enjoy as they unravel conspiracies and search for the truth. A new developer diary by Ragnar Tornquist explains how the story is woven into every element of the game, from the simple introduction of quests right down to the mechanics of fighting enemies.

Tornquist emphasizes that the entire setting of the game is in many ways based solely upon storytelling, on myths and urban legends and half-remembered stories of youth. One of the development goals for the game is to keep players digging, investigating the story and piecing it together. According to the diary, every mission opens with a fully voiced and motion-captured cinematic, and aside from the main story missions, players can tackle these challenges in any order, allowing for players to have unique stories as they make their way through the labyrinth of half-truths. It's an interesting look behind the curtain, and it should give players looking forward to The Secret World a few more ideas to be excited about.

MassivelyThe Secret World shares details on sharing stories originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorydeveloper-diariesdevelopmentfuncomgame-storyloremissionspreviewsragnar-tornquiststorystorytellingthe-secret-worldtswThu, 29 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ragnar Tørnquist discusses TSW's skill system, investigations, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/ragnar-tornquist-discusses-tsws-skill-system-investigations-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/ragnar-tornquist-discusses-tsws-skill-system-investigations-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/ragnar-tornquist-discusses-tsws-skill-system-investigations-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- The Secret World
Dark days are coming, my friends. All the myths are true, and evil lurks around every corner. Thankfully, we've gotten our hands on a new PC Gamer interview with The Secret World's creative director Ragnar Tørnquist, which should help to cast some light on these grim prophecies.

It's already well-known that The Secret World won't hinge on classes and levels but instead will allow players to craft their own skill sets from a number of set categories. Ragnar expounds on this system, explaining that players will have access to something called a Base Gear Manager, which essentially provides a way for players to quickly swap between preset groups of abilities and equipment in order to adapt to the situation at hand.

While players will likely find themselves falling into the traditional MMO archetypes of tanks, healers, DPS, and so forth, Tørnquist points out that The Secret World won't be as instance-heavy as other games and will provide a plethora of open-world events that will allow players to come together as an ad hoc group to, say, keep a police station from being overrun by the forces of evil.

Perhaps most interesting, though, are the bits of information revealed about the game's unique Investigation Missions. Tørnquist provides two examples of what players can expect from the ARG-inspired missions. One involves hunting down an in-game location based on a fortune teller's visions, while the other is a bit more in-depth, requiring players to look up information on a famous painter in order to progress. He also hints that the team may put up websites regarding in-game information that players will have to hack into in order to progress the investigation.

For the full interview, which is full of interesting nuggets and anecdotes from Tørnquist himself, just click on the link below.

MassivelyRagnar Tørnquist discusses TSW's skill system, investigations, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funcominterviewinvestigationinvestigation-missioninvestigation-missionspc-gamerprogressionragnar-tørnquistragnar-tornquistskillsthe-secret-worldtswTue, 27 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA['Blow your minds': The Secret World dreams of large-scale PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/blow-your-minds-the-secret-world-dreams-of-large-scale-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/blow-your-minds-the-secret-world-dreams-of-large-scale-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/23/blow-your-minds-the-secret-world-dreams-of-large-scale-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Secret World
While the big news from The Secret World out of Gamescom was its April 2012 launch window, that's not all the developers had to say about this creeptastic title. Ragnar Tornquist opened up to Ten Ton Hammer about the game's epic large-scale PvP fights between the three factions of the Dragons, the Illuminati, and the Templars.

Unlike The Secret World's smaller PvP battlefields, the warzones are persistent with a much larger population. So instead of waiting for a match, experienced players can hop right into a warzone for the glory and honor of their faction. In the warzones, players can capture respawn points to help out their faction and work on their secret society ranking while doing it. Tornquist said that the first warzone is in a Chinese city, although it doesn't have a name yet.

Tornquist stated that the game should provide players with "several hundred hours" of PvE experience, not to mention the title's PvP and optional internet quests that will have the dedicated hunting through websites for arcane clues.

Funcom's project lead thinks the total sum of The Secret World will be unlike anything we've ever seen before: "When the story and the respective events are ready to show off, we are going to blow your minds."

Massively'Blow your minds': The Secret World dreams of large-scale PvP originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-reality-gameargbattlefieldbattlefieldsbetafuncomgamescomgamescom-2011large-scale-pvplaunchpersistent-pvppvpRagnar-Tornquistthe-secret-worldtswwarzonewarzonesTue, 23 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World's Tornquist talks truth, pain, and non-combat gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/the-secret-worlds-tornquist-talks-truth-pain-and-non-combat-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/the-secret-worlds-tornquist-talks-truth-pain-and-non-combat-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/the-secret-worlds-tornquist-talks-truth-pain-and-non-combat-g/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Rock, Paper Shotgun is back with part two of its interview with The Secret World's Ragnar Tornquist. Part one debuted yesterday and detailed a bit of the history behind the game's development as well as blurbs about factions, puzzles, and ARG thingamajigs.

Today's installment talks about everything from Tornquist's recurring real world/hidden world motifs, to the endings of Lost and Dreamfall, to unfulfilled fan expectations. As you might expect, the interview errs heavily on the side of the philosophical rather than delving into gameplay specifics.

Everything from the nature of truth, to Funcom's Secret World agenda, to the reticence of the gaming industry to evolve beyond kill-everything-that-moves is up for discussion. On this last point, Tornquist hints at the challenges inherent in designing non-combat gaming experiences. "It's difficult. You can't sacrifice fun. But then of course the idea of fun is ambiguous. Does it always have to be fun? Can't it be painful too?"

MassivelyThe Secret World's Tornquist talks truth, pain, and non-combat gaming originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conspiracyfan-expectationsfantasyhorrorinterviewinterviewsnon-combatnon-combat-gameplayperceptionphilosophyRagnar-Tornquistthe-secret-worldtruthtswThu, 07 Jul 2011 12:00:00 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[Secret World dev diary talks story, context]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/secret-world-dev-diary-talks-story-context/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/secret-world-dev-diary-talks-story-context/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/30/secret-world-dev-diary-talks-story-context/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Sleuthing for more story-centric info regarding Funcom's upcoming horror-conspiracy MMORPG? Look no further than The Secret World's latest video dev diary featuring commentary from designers Ragnar Tornquist and Joel Bylos as well as lead writer Dag Scheve.

The trio highlights The Secret World's use of the real world as both location and character, with Bylos calling it "the greatest resource of all." The video shows a few new clips courtesy of the game's cinematics, but Tornquist is quick to point out that cinematics don't tell the whole tale when it comes to The Secret World's narrative. In spite of the fact that every character in the game is motion-captured and fully voiced, the story is "embedded into the world. You have to look for it, you have to search for it. The story is exploration and the story is discovery," Tornquist explains.

Funcom also seeks to challenge gamers in ways that depart from the traditional MMORPG paradigm, and Bylos says that "we're not just asking them to click a mouse button over and over again, but to think about what they do." Put on your thinking caps and click past the cut for the full video.

Continue reading Secret World dev diary talks story, context

MassivelySecret World dev diary talks story, context originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cinematicsdag-schevedev-diaryfantasyfuncomhorrorinvestigationjoel-bylosmissionsmmo-storyRagnar-Tornquistsabotagestorythe-secret-worldtswvideoMon, 30 May 2011 13:00:00 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[Ragnar Tornquist talks of The Secret World's progression, power and purpose]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/ragnar-tornquist-talks-of-the-secret-worlds-progression-power/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/ragnar-tornquist-talks-of-the-secret-worlds-progression-power/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/19/ragnar-tornquist-talks-of-the-secret-worlds-progression-power/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"It's simply true freedom of progression!" Ragnar Tornquist exclaims in a new interview with Gaming Nexus. After giving a broad overview of The Secret World's structure, Tornquist spends time discussing just what will make this upcoming MMO so appealing.

According to him, just because TSW is lacking levels doesn't mean that you'll soon run out of ways to advance your character: "Collecting powers and building these decks of seven actives, seven passives, is a large part of that, and it'll take players hundreds and hundreds of hours to create enough decks to tackle most of the content in the game -- and that doesn't even take into account PvP."

Because players will be locked into a faction, Funcom is working hard to keep the balance of skills similar between all three secret societies. Even so, there will be abilities unique to each side.

Interested in Funcom's use of alternate reality games (ARGs) as part of The Secret World's experience? It looks as though these will be a bigger part of the game than we previously thought: "In fact, with our investigation missions, players will have to go outside the game in order to solve intriguing puzzles based on real history, myth, legends, conspiracy theories, and they'll also need to cooperate with other players via forums or chat in order to basically solve these really deep and complex ARG style problems. Some missions are designed to take weeks to crack, even with the help of the entire community."

MassivelyRagnar Tornquist talks of The Secret World's progression, power and purpose originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-reality-gamealternate-reality-gamesargeverything-is-truefuncomgamign-nexusragnar-tornquistthe-secret-worldtswTue, 19 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: Mostly meta edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/17/global-chat-mostly-meta-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/17/global-chat-mostly-meta-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/17/global-chat-mostly-meta-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

It's a given that a lot goes on at Massively besides what you see on the front page. We're pretty busy behind the scenes -- and sometimes we even find time to play some of these MMO things we've heard so much talk about! This week we've turned the focus a bit inward, so follow along after the jump to take a look!

Continue reading Global Chat: Mostly meta edition

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Mostly meta edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aurickleBreltarcataclysmfeaturedglobal-chatImperialpandaopinionRagnar-Tornquistthe-secret-worldtswWorld-of-warcraftwowwurmwurm-onlineSun, 17 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: A case for player-generated content (or why MMO story is complete and utter bollocks)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/the-soapbox-a-case-for-player-generated-content-or-why-mmo-sto/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/the-soapbox-a-case-for-player-generated-content-or-why-mmo-sto/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/the-soapbox-a-case-for-player-generated-content-or-why-mmo-sto/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

I read with great interest Ragnar Tornquist's recent blog posting concerning story in The Secret World. After I got over the initial impulse to roll my eyes at yet another developer jumping on the BioWare-induced story, story, story bandwagon, I found that Tornquist had a couple of interesting points to make.

Unfortunately, he also missed an opportunity to strike a blow in favor of player-generated story content. While this is totally unsurprising coming from a man who has built his career on interactive storytelling prowess, it was nonetheless disappointing on several levels.

Yes, yes, I know, Tornquist is a wunderkind developer, you'd have his babies, and who am I to question his almighty design wisdom? Regardless, I am questioning portions of this particular blog piece, because MMOs are an exceedingly inadequate vehicle for storytelling of the kind that developers are espousing lately. That's not to say massively multiplayer titles shouldn't have a narrative component, though. Join me after the cut to find out why MMO makers ought to stick to systems and math and leave the storytelling to the folks who do it best.

Continue reading The Soapbox: A case for player-generated content (or why MMO story is complete and utter bollocks)

MassivelyThe Soapbox: A case for player-generated content (or why MMO story is complete and utter bollocks) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4th-pillarbiowareccpccp-gameseveeve-onlinefeaturedfourth-pillarfuncommmo-stories-suckmmo-storymmo-storytelleropinionplayer-generated-contentplayer-stoiesRagnar-Tornquistroleplayroleplayingsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardstorystory-in-mmosstorytellerthe-fourth-pillarthe-secret-worldthe-soapboxtswworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 12 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World readying seven years of content, new trailer released]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/the-secret-world-readying-seven-years-of-content-new-trailer-re/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/the-secret-world-readying-seven-years-of-content-new-trailer-re/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/the-secret-world-readying-seven-years-of-content-new-trailer-re/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Someone -- or something -- opened the news floodgates at The Secret World offices today, and apparently the stream was diverted directly to Eurogamer (with a tributary reaching IGN as well). There are several noteworthy pieces of info to pass along regarding Funcom's conspiracy-horror epic, starting with the fact that the Norwegian developer has already laid out seven years' worth of post-launch content updates. "We have actually begun not only design work but art work on content that's due after launch that has been planned from the get-go," game director Ragnar Tornquist tells Eurogamer.

Despite assuring GDC audiences that The Secret World "is not a console game, it's not a game that tries to be anything like that," Tornquist acknowledged that Funcom is considering options beyond the PC. While the PC version is still the current focus, he leaves open the possibility of a console port if TSW turns out to be a big success. "You really need to make a different game [for consoles]. How different that will be, it's hard to say," Tornquist explains.

Finally, IGN has gotten its hands on the newest trailer for The Secret World, and though the clip (titled Everything is True) manages to avoid showing much gameplay footage during its three-minute running time, it nonetheless delivers a considerable amount of atmosphere due a combination of effective editing, music, and titles. See for yourself after the cut.

Continue reading The Secret World readying seven years of content, new trailer released

MassivelyThe Secret World readying seven years of content, new trailer released originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingconsole-portconsolesconspiracycontenteverything-is-truefuncomhorrormodern-day-settingRagnar-Tornquistskill-basedstorythe-secret-worldtrailertswvideoThu, 07 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The fourth pillar of fear: Ragnar Tørnquist dishes on story in The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/the-fourth-pillar-of-fear-ragnar-tornquist-dishes-on-story-in-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/the-fourth-pillar-of-fear-ragnar-tornquist-dishes-on-story-in-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/the-fourth-pillar-of-fear-ragnar-tornquist-dishes-on-story-in-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

BioWare and ArenaNet aren't the only MMO studios to be beating on the drums of storytelling lately -- Funcom feels just as strongly that good stories not only have a place in MMOs but are essential to making memorable games.

In a new post over at The Secret World, Ragnar Tørnquist attempts to whet our appetite for a main course of storytelling. "The story in The Secret World is a giant jigsaw puzzle. That's really the only way to describe it. There are thousands of pieces scattered all over the game world, both figuratively and geographically, and as you play the game, you are actively uncovering -- unearthing -- the stories, large and small, that form the enormous tapestry of a backstory that goes back aeons."

All aspects of The Secret World are "infused with story," Tørnquist promises; the game will connect players to the world through context and meaning. He hopes that TSW's mysteries will keep players coming back to the game due to our insatiable desire to know the secrets behind them. He also hints that some of these stories will feature tough decisions and painful consequences: "Joining the ranks of the shadow-masters, it's in your best interest to play by their rules, follow their agenda, ensure that the secret world remains a secret, and if that means making compromises and allowing people to get hurt... Well. No one ever said being a hero would be easy."

These mysteries will come to light during many of the player missions, which we heard about yesterday. While we wait for the launch, Tørnquist encourages us to check out the elements of story that Funcom's released already such as fake websites and other ARG activities.

MassivelyThe fourth pillar of fear: Ragnar Tørnquist dishes on story in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetargbiowarefcomfourth-pillarfuncomloremysteriesRagnar-Tornquiststorystorytellingthe-secret-worldtswWed, 06 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2011: Funcom talks The Secret World's PvE, PvP, and ARG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/gdc-2011-funcom-talks-the-secret-worlds-pve-pvp-and-arg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/gdc-2011-funcom-talks-the-secret-worlds-pve-pvp-and-arg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/gdc-2011-funcom-talks-the-secret-worlds-pve-pvp-and-arg/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Many of you are no doubt as anxious as we are to get your hands on Funcom's new The Secret World MMORPG (with a new website!). The skill-based end-of-the-world riff has been shrouded in a good bit of mystery for a good long while, but we've finally managed to snag a few minutes of face time with the title. This year's GDC marked the first opportunity for anyone outside of Funcom's alpha team to lay eyes on the game, and we've got some pretty juicy details to pass on.

Join us after the cut for the new trailer as well as a recap of Funcom's presentation, which was spearheaded by Ragnar Tornquist and featured designers Martin Bruusgaard and Joel Bylos. Discussion topics include PvP, PvE missions, and character progression.

Gallery: The Secret World: GDC 2011

Continue reading GDC 2011: Funcom talks The Secret World's PvE, PvP, and ARG

MassivelyGDC 2011: Funcom talks The Secret World's PvE, PvP, and ARG originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-missionsalternate-reality-gameargbreakingdemosfantasyfeaturedfuncomgame-developers-conferencegdcgdc-2011horrorinvestigationinvestigation-missionsjoel-bylosmartin-bruusgaardmetameta-gamemiscellaneouspreviewprogressionRagnar-Tornquistskill-basedskill-wheelskillsthe-secret-worldtswThu, 10 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive Interview: The Secret World to open the flood gates of info soon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/massively-exclusive-interview-the-secret-world-to-open-the-floo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/massively-exclusive-interview-the-secret-world-to-open-the-floo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/massively-exclusive-interview-the-secret-world-to-open-the-floo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Conspiracy theorists rejoice! Funcom's Lovecraftian horror MMO known as The Secret World is looking to get substantially less secretive over the next little while, and we've got a new interview with Funcom's Erling Ellingsen to prove it.

The company's Director of Communications sat down with us to talk about the plans to reveal The Secret World to, well, the world, and if you're even the slightest bit curious about the skill-based MMO headed up by legendary developer Ragnar Tornquist, you'll want to follow along with us after the cut. Ellingsen spills the beans about the title's unique marketing campaign and also hints at the fact that we'll be treated to more traditional (and game-focused) information -- including gameplay footage -- in the coming months.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive Interview: The Secret World to open the flood gates of info soon

MassivelyMassively Exclusive Interview: The Secret World to open the flood gates of info soon originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>erling-ellingsenexclusivefeaturedfuncomhorrorinterviewlovecraftiannew-titlesRagnar-Tornquistrevealsskill-basedMon, 17 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST