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[Star Wars: The Old Republic hit with layoffs [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/star-wars-the-old-republic-hit-with-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/star-wars-the-old-republic-hit-with-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/star-wars-the-old-republic-hit-with-layoffs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Sith cinematic
BioWare doctors Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka have posted a blurb on the official Star Wars: The Old Republic website confirming the downsizing of the game's development team. The update is short on details and long on superlatives relating to the sci-fi MMO's successful launch, so we're not sure who was laid off at this point.

The docs say that it's business as usual going forward for SWTOR and that the game will continue to grow over time. "We still have a very substantial development team working on supporting and growing the game, and we feel we are in a strong position, with your continued involvement and feedback, to continue to build Star Wars: The Old Republic as one of the most compelling and successful online experiences in the world today," the statement reads.

[Update: SWTOR Community Manager Stephen Reid has today changed his LinkedIn page indicating that his tenure with the studio ended in May 2012, suggesting that he might be one of those affected by these layoffs. We'll keep you posted as we learn more.]

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic hit with layoffs [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-layoffsbreakingeaelectronic-artsgreg-zeschuklucasartsray-muzykasci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-the-old-republic-layoffssubsubscription-feeswtorswtor-layoffsthe-old-republictortor-layoffsTue, 22 May 2012 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The inevitable Mass Effect MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-soapbox-the-inevitability-of-a-mass-effect-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-soapbox-the-inevitability-of-a-mass-effect-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-soapbox-the-inevitability-of-a-mass-effect-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Mass Effect - The Normandy (SR1)
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 don't know about you, but I've yet to play Mass Effect 3. This is not by choice, mind you, and now that I've returned from the wilds of last week's GDC, it's time to settle in for another 30-hour tour with Shepard and company.

What does this have to do with MMOs? Well, nothing really, except that BioWare hasn't exactly closed the door on a Mass Effect title. On the contrary, the company's dynamic doctor duo have hinted at the fact that this, ahem, theoretical game would need to be somewhat different from the firm's maiden MMO voyage.

At this point I think an ME MMO is inevitable, so join me after the cut to discuss whether BioWare can really break the mold with its second effort as well as what that effort could look like.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The inevitable Mass Effect MMO

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The inevitable Mass Effect MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-comfort-zonecomfort-zonecutscenesdesignea-biowareeditorialelectronic-artsfeaturedfourth-pillargreg-zeschukmass-effectmass-effect-mmommo-comfort-zonemmo-industrymmo-storyop-edopinionplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpossibility-spacerantrantsray-muzykasandboxsandparksci-fisoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardstorythe-fourth-pillarthe-soapboxthemeparkuser-generated-contentTue, 13 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare doctors discuss Mass Effect MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/bioware-doctors-discuss-mass-effect-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/bioware-doctors-discuss-mass-effect-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/bioware-doctors-discuss-mass-effect-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mass Effect - Commander Shephard
The fast-approaching Mass Effect 3 hype bomb doesn't have much to do with MMOs, except maybe it does. Gamespot cornered BioWare doctors Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka and asked the duo point-blank about a Mass Effect MMO, and the answer might surprise you.

"It's daunting, but the neat thing is it would lend itself to a different type of gameplay. It's fun to think about," Zeschuk told the website. Does that mean that the so-called fourth pillar of MMO story won't factor as heavily into the theoretical title as it does in Star Wars: The Old Republic?

It's anyone guess at this point, but Muzyka offers a further fanboy nugget that hints at the possibility of a new direction for BioWare MMOs. "When you deliver a game, and you deliver it for a player, you have to capture what they think is the possibility space," he explains. "You need to let them do everything they think they should do, and you can't block them from doing anything they think they should be able to do. You have to nail all the features and content that should be in that possibility space."

MassivelyBioWare doctors discuss Mass Effect MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareea-biowareElectronic-Artsgreg-zeschukinterviewmass-effectmass-effect-mmoray-muzykasci-fiMon, 27 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare: Mac version of Star Wars: The Old Republic is something it's 'looking at next']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/bioware-mac-version-of-star-wars-the-old-republic-is-something/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/bioware-mac-version-of-star-wars-the-old-republic-is-something/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/bioware-mac-version-of-star-wars-the-old-republic-is-something/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk are quite dedicated to their fans. At least that's a recurring theme for them when talking about their company's moves in new directions, to which both repeatedly referred during a recent interview in midtown Manhattan. "We know there's a big Mac audience of BioWare fans ... we know that's an important and large audience. And we want to serve that audience," Muzyka told me when asked about a potential Mac version of the his company's latest major release, Star Wars: The Old Republic.

"I'd say 'not yet,'" Zeschuk assured me when I told him that, as a BioWare fan, I'm unable to play The Old Republic on my less than two-year-old MacBook. Though Muzyka was quick to remind me that I can technically play the game on a Windows partition, he also admitted that it wasn't an ideal situation. "We've done a lot of Mac ports before of our games. We haven't announced any details yet for The Old Republic, but we know that's an important and large audience."

Neither would offer a strict timetable on the Mac version, but Zeschuk did note, "That's definitely one of the things we're looking at next. We want to get this launch under our belt and everything stabilized and happy, and then we'll look at other platforms, and that's obviously one of the first ones."

MassivelyBioWare: Mac version of Star Wars: The Old Republic is something it's 'looking at next' originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-labeleaea-biowareelectronic-artsgreg-zeschukmacosxpcportray-muzykastar-wars-the-old-republicMon, 02 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare's docs: Free-to-play can't invest and create at our level]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/biowares-docs-free-to-play-cant-invest-and-create-at-our-leve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/biowares-docs-free-to-play-cant-invest-and-create-at-our-leve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/biowares-docs-free-to-play-cant-invest-and-create-at-our-leve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

BioWare Docs
If BioWare's not in a war against the free-to-play business model, it certainly is skirmishing with the notion that F2P is the only way to go. In speaking with our sister site Joystiq, BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk defended the traditional subscription model by saying that it not only works but allows dev teams to achieve games on a larger scale.

Zeschuk mentioned that it was simply a case of the right business model for the right game: "I'm not saying it's better or worse. It just doesn't supplant the other things. 'Cause we can do some things no one else can. The free-to-play people can't invest to the level we can invest, and can't create something of the size and scale of something we can create."

Even with its love of the subscription model for Star Wars: The Old Republic, BioWare is open to free-to-play where it sees fit. Muzyka dropped a tantalizing hint as to the company's F2P aspirations: "We have some other stuff we haven't announced yet coming from our play-for-free team that I'm really excited about. It's gonna bring back some IP that people have a lot of fond memories around."

MassivelyBioWare's docs: Free-to-play can't invest and create at our level originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythicbusiness-modeldocsdoctorsdoctors-whoeaea-biowaref2pfree-to-playGreg-ZeschukinterviewjoystiqmythicRay-Muzykastar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-two-docsthe-two-doctorswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewrath-of-heroesWed, 28 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA-BioWare acquires KlickNation, rebrands it BioWare Social]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/ea-bioware-acquires-klicknation-rebrands-it-bioware-social/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/ea-bioware-acquires-klicknation-rebrands-it-bioware-social/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/02/ea-bioware-acquires-klicknation-rebrands-it-bioware-social/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

BioWare logo
All the cool kids are into social gaming these days, so it should come as no surprise when some of the bigger gaming firms start testing the waters. BioWare looks to be next on that list according to a report at GamesIndustry.biz that details Electronic Arts' acquisition of KlickNation.

KlickNation operates social games including SuperHero City and Six Gun Galaxy, and while the company's monthly active user base has declined from 1.3 million to 400,000, EA and BioWare see it as a growth opportunity. KlickNation's expertise in building innovative and compelling RPGs for social platforms makes them a seamless tuck-in with the BioWare team at EA," says Ray Muzyka.

The new unit has been renamed BioWare Social, and thus far the company has not announced any concrete plans relating to new or existing titles.

MassivelyEA-BioWare acquires KlickNation, rebrands it BioWare Social originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: Freedom
I was taken aback by BioWare's lifting of the NDA on Star Wars: The Old Republic last Friday. Few of us saw that coming. I highly suspect that wasn't when the devs originally intended to drop the NDA. I mean, really, when media sites were allowed to produce videos and livestream, there was bound to be some confusion. Perhaps BioWare couldn't contain all of it. Even on my end it was very confusing; there were weird stipulations on the embargo because BioWare didn't want parts of the story completely ruined. That's one of the reasons I kept my stream as simple as I could.

However, now the gloves are off. SWTOR enthusiasts can write about anything they want. Unfortunately, unlike other people who can talk about the game now, I have only been back in beta for two weeks, and the characters I played previously have been wiped. I am happy to tell you that I have a Sith Warrior and Sith Inquisitor on Dromund Kaas and Smuggler on Nar Shaddaa with a peppering of other characters on various other planets. I have PvPed alongside one of the best PvPers I've ever met, and I have plenty to talk about in the coming weeks until launch.

Beyond the break, I want to share with you my plan for the next three weeks until launch, and then when I'm done, I'd like to take your suggestions. As a teaser, I've added a few screenshots into the gallery below, pics of places my Smuggler has been over the last couple of weeks. I haven't labeled them, so maybe you can guess where he's been.

Gallery: Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR Adventures in Beta

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Freedom

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Freedom originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars The Old Republic - some dudes fighting or something
As Star Wars: The Old Republic's release date looms larger on the calendar, BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk are starting to be seen with increasing frequency on the PR circuit. The latest sighting comes courtesy of The Gaming Liberty, and the dynamic doctor duo offers up some interesting commentary on SWTOR and the logic behind setting up BioWare's new customer service center in Ireland rather than Canada or the U.S.

There's a "fair, reasonable tax and regulatory structure the government here [in Ireland] has provided for us which creates an entrepreneurial environment [...] which is a big bonus," Muzyka explains.

The interview also touches on lore inspirations for both The Old Republic and the classic single-player Knights of the Old Republic RPG, as well as the team's confidence in its new massively multiplayer product. "One of the most common things we're already hearing is that people seem to find it hard to go back to other MMOs once they play The Old Republic," Muzyka said.

MassivelyBioWare says gamers find it hard to go back to other MMOs after playing SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareea-biowareelectronic-artsgreg-zeschukinterviewoutsourcingray-muzykasci-fiscifistar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 17 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare founders: We make the decisions, not EA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/bioware-founders-we-make-the-decisions-not-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/bioware-founders-we-make-the-decisions-not-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/bioware-founders-we-make-the-decisions-not-ea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

BioWare co-founders
BioWare has a message for critical fans who blame the company's perceived inadequacies on its corporate overlords at Electronic Arts. "I always chuckle because we are EA, we're BioWare -- we're both, and we still have huge autonomy in terms of what we do," co-founder Greg Zeschuk recently told Eurogamer.

Zeschuk and partner Ray Muzyka cover a lot of ground during the sit-down, and the docs indicate that they still play BioWare's games despite delegating day-to-day development duties to various project leads. "Most of our games, before we ship them, we finish them several times. The Old Republic, we're probably at that level or higher, in terms of hours," Zeschuk says.

Times have changed though, as both men acknowledge that today's BioWare is not the same company that made Neverwinter Nights or MDK2. "Way, way back, years ago, we didn't even consider those [commercial elements], we just made stuff," Zeschuk explains.

MassivelyBioWare founders: We make the decisions, not EA originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaea-biowareelectronic-artsgreg-zeschukinterviewray-muzykasci-fiscifistar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 03 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare open to the possibility of a Mass Effect MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/bioware-open-to-the-possibility-of-a-mass-effect-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/bioware-open-to-the-possibility-of-a-mass-effect-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/bioware-open-to-the-possibility-of-a-mass-effect-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mass Effect 2
If you've been among the vocal crowds demanding that BioWare stop fiddling around with that "Star Wars thing" and get on a Mass Effect MMO as soon as possible, today might be your day of vindication. It turns out that BioWare's co-founders are very much open to the possibility of an online edition of its popular Mass Effect franchise.

Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk recently fielded the ever-popular question in a much more upbeat tone than ever before. Zeschuk says the studio will evaluate a potential Mass Effect MMO in the near future: "You never know. I think once The Old Republic is done, we'll take a fresh look at the market."

"We're focused very much on The Old Republic, Mass Effect 3 and Wrath of Heroes, and all the other things we've announced, and haven't announced, but we also have the opportunity to look at our franchises in a way we haven't ever before. There are lots of new platforms and lots of new business models," Muzyka added.

Mass Effect: The MMO is one of those speculative rumors that seems to never die. Analysts have predicted that such an MMO could top Star Wars: The Old Republic's numbers.

MassivelyBioWare open to the possibility of a Mass Effect MMO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioWare Doctors
With the question of "When will Star Wars: The Old Republic ever launch?" finally answered, inquiring minds have turned to the future of the as-of-yet unreleased MMO. In an interview with Gamesindustry.biz, BioWare's Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk covered many topics, including the studio's plans following December 20th. "We have a really aggressive plan post launch to build content and take the feedback to heart that we're getting from players and what they want for continued expansions, and use that feedback to build new content," Muzyka promised.

The conversation also included a probing question about the decision to limit initial sales of the game. Muzyka says that stability and service are high priorities in the company: "You have to build the infrastructure to support a certain size launch and we're also thinking really long term at Bioware EA for this, there are going to be many, many consumers coming to the game over time and we're going to be expanding it out."

Other topics covered include the funny exploits that players have discovered in beta, the challenges and joys of working on the Star Wars IP, and the issue of free-to-play business models versus subscriptions. In regards to the latter, Zeschuck isn't worried that SWTOR decided to go the sub route. "The trend for free-to-play doesn't supplant great top quality premium games that support a subscription," he said, while going on to laud the flexibility of F2P formats.

MassivelyBioWare's Doctors: 'We have an aggressive post-launch plan' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareea-biowaref2pfree-to-playgamesindustry.bizgreg-zeschukinterviewlaunchpost-launch-plansray-muzykareleasestar-wars-the-old-republicsubssubscriptionswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 27 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview with BioWare's Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk details studio philosophy and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/interview-with-biowares-ray-muzyka-and-greg-zeschuk-details-stu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/interview-with-biowares-ray-muzyka-and-greg-zeschuk-details-stu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/interview-with-biowares-ray-muzyka-and-greg-zeschuk-details-stu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

BioWare holds a reputation in the gaming community for consistently releasing polished, high-quality games, especially when it comes to in-depth narratives. Have you ever wondered about the studio's philosophy in regard to game creation? Ever wondered what it is that drives BioWare, and moreover -- since this is Massively, after all -- how it influences the ongoing development of Star Wars: The Old Republic? In a rather lengthy interview with Gamasutra, BioWare's Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk give gamers a peek behind the curtain at what really makes BioWare tick.

There's a plethora of interesting information in the interview, ranging from the company's philosophy of imbuing each game with emotion -- leading to the strong narratives for which BioWare is so renowned -- to the qualities Ray and Greg think will separate The Old Republic from the elephant in the room that is World of Warcraft. The interview itself is far too lengthy to adequately summarize in the length of a news post, but one point that stands out is that, despite being an absolute powerhouse in the gaming industry, BioWare still focuses heavily on humility. Being able to admit when mistakes have been made and learning from the experience is something that many studios could certainly learn from. For the full, information-packed interview, head on over to Gamasutra.

MassivelyInterview with BioWare's Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk details studio philosophy and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 May 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"It's a big bet, but it's the right kind of bet to make for EA."

These are the words of BioWare's Ray Muzyka, responding to a conference call to EA investors in which the company admitted that Star Wars: The Old Republic will need to pull in at least 500,000 subscribers to become profitable. This is substantially less than the two million subscriber mark that industry analysts previously predicted.

During the conference call, EA CEO John Riccitiello drew a line in the sand between financial failure and victory for The Old Republic: "At half a million subscribers, the game is substantially profitable, but it's not the sort of thing we would write home about. Anything north of one million subscribers is a very profitable business. Essentially it turns on a dime from being quite sharply negative in terms of its EPS [Earnings Per Share] impact to positive the day the product ships. So it's our view that we can be very successful without fundamentally challenging the market leader [World of Warcraft] because we think we'll probably hit the smaller competitors harder when we get out there. Of course, we have no particular ambition to be a distant number two. Our ambitions are higher than that, but we throttle back a little bit relative to our financial projections."

While Riccitiello admitted that the title has seen "significant development costs," he claims that costs proposed by the public are far higher than the actual costs of The Old Republic's development. He declined to share the actual costs or the number of staff working on the game.

EA also announced that The Old Republic's release date will be in calendar 2011. BioWare has as recently as this January targeted a spring 2011 release. EA's estimate puts its launch somewhere between March 31st and December 31st of this year.

MassivelyThe "big bet": EA aims at a half-million subscribers to make SWTOR profitable originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareconference-callea-biowareinvestorsJohn-riccitiellolaunchlaunch-dateprofitprofitabilityray-muzykareleaserelease-datestar-wars-the-old-republicsubscribersswtorthe-old-republictorworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 02 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bigpoint vs. BioWare: CEO says The Old Republic will never be profitable]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/07/bigpoint-vs-bioware-ceo-says-the-old-republic-will-never-be-pr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/07/bigpoint-vs-bioware-ceo-says-the-old-republic-will-never-be-pr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/07/bigpoint-vs-bioware-ceo-says-the-old-republic-will-never-be-pr/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As a high-profile MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic is proving itself to be a big target for attack. Bigpoint, the German game developer that's working on Battlestar Galactica Online, stepped up to take a swing at the as-of-yet-unreleased title.

At the London Games Conference, Bigpoint CEO Heiko Hubertz made the bold prediction that The Old Republic will never see a profit: "If you look at Star Wars from EA and BioWare, they estimated a development budget of over $100 million. This is an online game for many million of subscribers, so the publisher does not understand that a subscription model is not the future. With microtransactions maybe I see the game having a chance but I don't think that EA or BioWare will ever be profitable with this game."

EA BioWare has yet to release a definite pricing plan for TOR, although it is widely believed it will be subscription-based. Earlier this year, Dr. Ray Muzyka said that there will be "more of the traditional business model with maybe some twists as well."

MassivelyBigpoint vs. BioWare: CEO says The Old Republic will never be profitable originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galactica-onlinebigpointbiowareea-biowareheiko-hubertzlondong-games-conferenceMicrotransactionsray-muzykastar-wars-the-old-republicsubscription-modelthe-old-republictoryour-jedi-mind-tricks-dont-work-on-meSun, 07 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare doctors "disappointed" in EA Louse]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/bioware-doctors-disappointed-in-ea-louse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/bioware-doctors-disappointed-in-ea-louse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/bioware-doctors-disappointed-in-ea-louse/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


BioWare founders Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka recently sat down for a lengthy interview with Eurogamer. The doctors discussed Dragon Age II, Mass Effect 2, and more importantly for MMORPG fans, Star Wars: The Old Republic. In terms of a release window, Muzyka confirmed 2011 for the Star Wars opus but wouldn't commit to the first half, second half, or any other portion of the year.

The interview also addressed the recent rant by EA Louse that, in part, predicted The Old Republic would be "one of the greatest failures in the history of MMOs" and that also decried working conditions at BioWare-Mythic. Zeschuk and Muzyka mentioned the fact that BioWare recently won a top 100 employers award and invests both time and money into bettering the workplace environment for employees. When pressed as to the credibility of the anonymous poster, the doctors dismissed the posting as difficult to act upon. "We sit down and do an open forum with all the employees and get feedback from them. We welcome one-on-one feedback. When we get stuff we can improve and act on we do it," Muzyka said.

Finally, the interview touches on the financial gamble that TOR represents for BioWare and Electronic Arts, and neither founder comes across as particularly concerned. "We know millions and millions of people out there love this universe, and we're delivering a great game experience in that universe," Muzyka said. Head to Eurogamer for the full article text.

MassivelyBioWare doctors "disappointed" in EA Louse originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mythiceaea-louseelectronic-artsgreg-zeschukray-muzykaStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicFri, 05 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Baldur's Gate was almost an MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/baldurs-gate-was-almost-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/baldurs-gate-was-almost-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/baldurs-gate-was-almost-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

For those of you who remember Baldur's Gate, we want you to close your eyes and imagine it as an MMO. For the time it released (the mid-90s), it quite possibly could have been the first MMO, at that.

At a recent GDC Europe panel for BioWare, studio founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk had some fun with the audience, reminiscing on what might have been. The original game's title was Battleground Infinity and was pitched to five publishers as a massively multiplayer online game that revolved around mythological gods.

Interplay are the ones who pushed the doctors toward the Dungeons & Dragons RPG route, which I'm pretty sure worked out for them in the end.

MassivelyBaldur's Gate was almost an MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baldurs-gatebattleground-infinitybiowaredungeons-and-dragonsgdc-europe-2010greg-zeschukpanelray-muzykarpgMon, 16 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare and EA expect 2+ million subs, potential pricing model 'twists']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/bioware-and-ea-expect-2-million-subs-potential-pricing-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/bioware-and-ea-expect-2-million-subs-potential-pricing-model/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/bioware-and-ea-expect-2-million-subs-potential-pricing-model/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As if the idea of 100% voiced dialogue trees wasn't ambitious enough in an MMO property, word has now come out that EA and BioWare are expecting to have two million subscriptions for Star Wars: The Old Republic. In a genre where only one game has ever exceeded two million subscribers at $15 per month, that's a very high standard to put yourself up against. There again, we are talking about Star Wars, beloved by geeks the world over. We're also talking about BioWare, who have blown many gamers away with the awesomeness of Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age: Origins.

The other thing that gives us pause is the recent discussion in regards to some "potential pricing twists" that Dr. Ray Muzyka of BioWare mentioned while talking to the folks at Kotaku. While subscriptions are being mentioned, others have noticed some indications for microtransactions as well. Whether we're looking at a blended model like Champions Online, more the traditional sub with less-often used macrotransactions like World of Warcraft, or something else altogether remains to be seen. In any event, it's certainly going to be interesting to watch whether or not Star Wars: The Old Republic will be able to retain the subscriber numbers they hope to.

MassivelyBioWare and EA expect 2+ million subs, potential pricing model 'twists' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeamicrotransactionmicrotransactionspricing-plansRay-Muzykastar-wars-the-old-republicsubscriptionswtorFri, 19 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare talks Warhammer Online's forthcoming expansions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/bioware-talks-warhammer-onlines-forthcoming-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/bioware-talks-warhammer-onlines-forthcoming-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/bioware-talks-warhammer-onlines-forthcoming-expansions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In a recent GDC 2010 interview with UGO, BioWare's Dr. Ray Muzyka said of Warhammer Online, "Right now it's [a] really profitable business unit within my group." Muzyka went on to say they've actually seen more people come into the game since enacting the free-to-play model on the game's earlier levels, and that he personally felt they were working.

In fact, by the sounds of it, Warhammer Online is due for some interesting announcements in the future. Another of Muzyka's comments on the title was, "We have new content planned and all kinds of cool expansions for it." We don't know how much more clear cut a message can be than that. And hey, it's good news! We're looking forward to our playable Skaven and Lizardmen, Mythic and BioWare.

MassivelyBioWare talks Warhammer Online's forthcoming expansions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsgdcgdc-2010gdc10greg-zeschukmythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentray-muzykatracey-johnugowarwar-eawarhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-eaFri, 19 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[George Lucas involved with The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/10/george-lucas-involved-with-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/10/george-lucas-involved-with-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/10/george-lucas-involved-with-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


This may not come as much of a surprise to Star Wars fans but according to BioWare's own Ray Muzyka, George Lucas is keeping an eye on Star Wars: The Old Republic. Of course, Lucas tends to keep an eye on generally everything LucasArts does, so this isn't so much a revelation as it is confirmation. Although it's important to point out that Muzyka has never personally shown anything to Lucas, not even that awesome CG trailer from E3, apparently.

We can't say we're too surprised, either. While Lucas may have never played World of Warcraft, he certainly must've felt a disturbance in the cash-flow force. With the potential of Star Wars: The Old Republic reaching new heights in the MMO industry, you can bet Lucas isn't the only one keeping an eye on things.

MassivelyGeorge Lucas involved with The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaelectronic-artsgeorge-lucaslucasartsray-muzykastar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorFri, 10 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Muzyka thinks new Mythic/BioWare group is a collaboration opportunity]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/muzyka-thinks-new-mythic-bioware-group-is-a-collaboration-opport/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/muzyka-thinks-new-mythic-bioware-group-is-a-collaboration-opport/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/muzyka-thinks-new-mythic-bioware-group-is-a-collaboration-opport/#commentsFiled under: ,

Gamasutra and BioWare co-founder Ray Muzyka sat down to chat about EA's first genre-focused group, aptly named the RPG/MMO Group. The original announcement was kind of vague, which really got people speculating over what it meant. ("RPG" before "MMO" in the group title? That must be a sign! Of what, who knows.)

In the interview, Muzyka finally explains just what exactly the new Group entails: "It's a collaboration opportunity. Each of the groups continues to make the same thing in their [own locations]. But it's fuelling and enabling more communication, collaboration, best practice sharing, encouraging each other to play each others' games -- but no formal change per se in what anybody's doing."

There do not appear to be any plans for co-development or tech-sharing between Mythic and BioWare just yet, but it is something the group is looking at. "We're all part of the same company at the end of the day. We're studios within the same organization, which is a group now within the EA Games label."

Tech-sharing could really be to Mythic's benefit right now as they're still grappling with server stability and client performance issues nearly a year after release. It has gotten to the point where they are even considering stripping fortresses, the primary culprit for such issues, from Warhammer Online.

MassivelyMuzyka thinks new Mythic/BioWare group is a collaboration opportunity originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaaaghbiowareeagamasutramythic-entertainmentray-muzykarpgmmo-groupMon, 29 Jun 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic's Mark Jacobs leaves EA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/mythics-mark-jacobs-leaves-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/mythics-mark-jacobs-leaves-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/mythics-mark-jacobs-leaves-ea/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Mark Jacobs, the former General Manager of Mythic Entertainment and Lead Designer of Warhammer Online, has left EA on 23rd June, the company announced today. This comes as part of restructuring plans within EA which includes both Mythic and BioWare and have culminated in the formation of a new, as-yet-unnamed, studio which will focus on RPGs and MMOs.

The new studio will be led by BioWare co-founder and General Manager Ray Muzyka, who will become Group General Manager. BioWare's other co-founder Greg Zeschuk will become Group Creative Officer while Rob Denton will succeed Jacobs as General Manager.

You can certainly expect more from us as this story develops.

[Via The Examiner]

MassivelyMythic's Mark Jacobs leaves EA originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mmobreakingbreaking-newsbreakingnewselectronic-artsgreg-zeschukmark-jacobsmergersmythic-entertainmentray-muzykarob-dentonWed, 24 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare's founders emphasize the importance of storytelling in their games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/biowares-founders-talk-about-the-importance-of-storytelling-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/biowares-founders-talk-about-the-importance-of-storytelling-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/biowares-founders-talk-about-the-importance-of-storytelling-in/#commentsFiled under: , ,

BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk were the keynote speakers at Game Developers Conference Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia yesterday. Their speech was titled Emotionally Engaging Narrative: Gaming's New Frontier. Given BioWare's huge portfolio of successful story-driven games, it's no surprise they had a lot to talk about.

Not all game-types need a good narrative to be successful or fun (e.g., Bejewelled, Tetris, etc.), but MMORPGs could probably benefit from a greater emphasis on compelling and engaging storytelling. Both Ray and Greg talked about various types of narrative, including linear and non-linear, active and passive, and internal and external.

We know that story will be the fourth pillar of design in Star Wars: The Old Republic and here's an example of external narrative they say we'll see when it releases: "Manipulation of world server data based on a broad range of user activities can actually change the game world." We're not quite sure what that means, but here are a couple guesses: Online voting to determine the next expansion race or fan fiction making it into the game's narrative.

MassivelyBioWare's founders emphasize the importance of storytelling in their games originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaregamasutragreg-zeschuknarrativeray-muzykastar-wars-the-old-republicstorystorytellingswtorFri, 15 May 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare CEO on potential future MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/09/bioware-ceo-on-potential-future-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/09/bioware-ceo-on-potential-future-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/09/bioware-ceo-on-potential-future-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

With the MMO world all abuzz about BioWare's upcoming MMORPG, Star Wars: The Old Republic, it's not too terribly surprising to hear that they're considering other MMO projects down the line. Gamers have already shown they're very receptive to BioWare joining the MMO fray, at least if the comments here are any indication. With the potential of making more money than just the initial box sales, having a successful MMO in the fold has to be an attractive proposition for game companies in today's market - even with the risks. Of course, while we're not surprised they jumped in on PC MMO gaming, we were a bit surprised to once again hear MMOs and consoles come into the discussion.

In an interview with Play, BioWare CEO Dr Ray Muzyka discusses the potential of crossing over briefly, remarking "There's challenges with the interface - making sure that the features players expect in an MMO are enabled and are feasible on a console. If those can be overcome, and I think it would be a good challenge to try, then yeah... people like playing with other players." Guess we'll have to wait and see how SWTOR goes for BioWare first, but who knows - perhaps SOE will see some more competition for PS3 MMOs after all.

[Via Joystiq]

MassivelyBioWare CEO on potential future MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareconsoleconsole-mmommonew-mmosps3ray-muzykastar-wars-the-old-republicswtorMon, 09 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare CEO also wishing for a one console world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/bioware-ceo-also-wishing-for-a-one-console-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/bioware-ceo-also-wishing-for-a-one-console-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/bioware-ceo-also-wishing-for-a-one-console-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We've heard this one before, folks, that classic vision of a one-console world. Apparently, BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka shares in this big publisher/developer fever dream, and who could blame him? The idea of developing one game on a single console with a massive install base on a closed platform is quite obviously a great deal for a developer, and also for publishers having to put up the cash. But ultimately there's no reason for competition in a world like that, which a large part of the reason console gaming thrives as it does now.

At least it looks like BioWare has a strong affinity for consoles yet. So maybe there's a console version of Star Wars: The Old Republic in our future, although whether or not it's going to be on the one console to rule them all or not is still up in the air, we guess.
Star Wars: The Old Republic BioWare has finally unveiled Star Wars: The Old Republic, their new MMO! Massively's got you covered on all the details. Check out our comprehensive guide on everything we know so far about the game, or just peruse our screenshot/concept art galleries. Join us in the Galaxy far, far away!

MassivelyBioWare CEO also wishing for a one console world originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareconsoleeaelectronic-artskotorray-muzykastar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorThu, 29 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare CEO is confident in the state of PC gaming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/bioware-ceo-is-confident-in-the-state-of-pc-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/bioware-ceo-is-confident-in-the-state-of-pc-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/bioware-ceo-is-confident-in-the-state-of-pc-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , ,


BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka is standing behind PC games, directly opposing all of the naysayers that shout the doom of PC gaming from on high.

A recent article over at Computer And Video Games.com pointed to Muzyka's confident stance as well as his expression of changing the definition of PC gaming, such as counting in the large growth of MMOs, flash games, and other casual experiences that any PC user can easily access.

"MMOs are one way that's occurring... And there are more people playing flash-based games and casual games, even core games that are played in a casual way, so maybe [they have] a more core experience and you only play them for short bursts or for half an hour or something," Muzyka was quoted as saying.

One only needs to look at the success of games such as World of Warcraft or any other MMO, as well as the very healthy Steam distribution service to note that PC gaming is far from dead.

MassivelyBioWare CEO is confident in the state of PC gaming originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecasual-gamesceocomputer-and-video-gamesflash-gamesmmospc-gamespc-gamingray-muzykasteamTue, 20 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First look at Star Wars: The Old Republic in PC Gamer magazine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/first-look-at-star-wars-the-old-republic-in-pc-gamer-magazine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/first-look-at-star-wars-the-old-republic-in-pc-gamer-magazine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/first-look-at-star-wars-the-old-republic-in-pc-gamer-magazine/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If ever there was a thing to go all googly-eyed over, it's the first look a Star Wars: The Old Republic. While it's a shame that such information isn't being released onto the web, at least we've got it earlier than most people were expecting. PC Gamer magazine has gotten an exclusive first look at BioWare's incubating MMO, including interviews with creative director James Ohlen, principal lead writer Daniel Erickson, and BioWare co-founders Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk.

The issue also apparently has exclusive screenshots for anyone brave enough to look. We're sure that what we've seen so far are very early conceptual designs, but it still pains us to see log-sized lightsabers -- even if BioWare is willing to laugh at themselves over it.

MassivelyFirst look at Star Wars: The Old Republic in PC Gamer magazine originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredaniel-ericksoneaelectronic-artsgreg-zeschukhalloweenjames-ohlenkotorlightsaberlightsaberspc-gamerray-muzykastar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorFri, 07 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare founders appreciate Conan, tease their MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/bioware-founders-appreciate-conan-tease-their-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/bioware-founders-appreciate-conan-tease-their-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/bioware-founders-appreciate-conan-tease-their-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

BioWare's founders, Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk, have been cagey about the in-development BioWare MMO for months now. Unwilling to do more than talk around the edges of the project, what they have said about it at events like GDC is highly intriguing. In a chat with the folks at the MTV Multiplayer blog, the doctors offer yet more teasing hints about the game, while simultaneously praising the recently launched Age of Conan from Funcom.

They view Conan's success as an indicator there is still room in an already-crowded marketplace. They also note that they take very seriously the concerns of solo-oriented and console-only gamers. In essence, Zeschuk says, they've been looking at other games and considering their own path regarding the interactions between players. ""Instead of forcing players to do things; allow them options and choices," said Muzyka. "They can tailor their experience. This is what we're trying to do with our game, as well. This is why we tend to not make linear games. The consumer expects that."" The good doctors also don't rule out the possibility their own title will make its debut on a console ... though they don't say it will either.
Age of Conan Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Age of Conan destination page, including all of our interviews, hands-ons, galleries and original features!

MassivelyBioWare founders appreciate Conan, tease their MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocbiowarefuncomray-muzykaWed, 02 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Muzyka: BioWare MMO is innovative, polished like WoW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/muzyka-bioware-mmo-is-innovative-polished-like-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/muzyka-bioware-mmo-is-innovative-polished-like-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/muzyka-bioware-mmo-is-innovative-polished-like-wow/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Gamasutra spoke at length with BioWare head honcho Ray Muzyka about living under the EA banner, and his company's vision for its up-and-coming MMO. He assured Gamasutra that the unique identity of BioWare has been preserved despite EA's acquisition, and pointed out studios like DICE and Criterion as other EA acquisition success stories. He noted also that BioWare now has non-mandatory access to all the tools and technologies of the EA family.

Of the Austin studio's mysterious MMO project, he said: "It's going to feel like a BioWare game. It's going to have the best of breed of MMO features, and some new innovations that when we reveal them, hopefully they'll be impactful for people." As we learned a while back, he has a positive opinion about World of Warcraft and Blizzard. "I think they've done a great job," he said. "But the fact that people want to play that kind of game is an opportunity to really deliver that level of polish and quality, and innovate in a few key areas, while they continue to innovate in a few key areas, too."

Still no word on what those innovations are. Keep on guessing!

MassivelyMuzyka: BioWare MMO is innovative, polished like WoW originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austinbiowarebioware-mmoblizzardeaelectronic-artsgamasutrainterviewkotor-mmoray-muzykaworld-of-warcraftMon, 19 May 2008 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08 Highlights: The future of Virtual Worlds and the end of GDC08]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/02/gdc08-highlights-the-future-of-virtual-worlds-and-the-end-of-gd/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/02/gdc08-highlights-the-future-of-virtual-worlds-and-the-end-of-gd/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/02/gdc08-highlights-the-future-of-virtual-worlds-and-the-end-of-gd/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


The Future of MMOs

The Future of MMOs panel liveblog

Team Massively was there to live blog one of the most anticipated panels of GDC08. On it were a few names you might have heard of, like Cryptic Studios' Jack Emmert, Nexon's Min Kim, BioWare's Ray Muzyka, and Rob Pardo (who has apparently worked on some sort of popular fantasy game). We blogged a blow-by-blow account of the jabs, cuts, and parries from these Massive genre heavyweights.

Gallery: GDC08: The Future of MMOs

Continue reading GDC08 Highlights: The future of Virtual Worlds and the end of GDC08

MassivelyGDC08 Highlights: The future of Virtual Worlds and the end of GDC08 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Mar 2008 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareblizzardcryptic-studiosfuture-of-mmo-panelgdc08gdc08-highlightsgirl-scholarshipjack-emmetmin-kimnetdevilnexonraph-kosterray-muzykarob-pardosoevideo-capturevideo-recordingvoice-chatwil-wrightworlds-in-motionxfireSun, 02 Mar 2008 12:56:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08: Massively is Live at the Future of MMOs panel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,



Today at GDC Massively is liveblogging a sort of 'MMO Keynote', a panel entitled simply "The Future of MMOs". A simple title, perhaps, but probably the most anticipated event for Massive game designers and fans alike. On it are a few names you might have heard of, like Cryptic Studios' Jack Emmert, Nexon's Min Kim, BioWare's Ray Muzyka, and Rob Pardo (who has apparently worked on some sort of popular fantasy game). Moderated by MMORPG.com's Jon Woods, it's sure to offer some insights into the games of tomorrow.

Below the cut is our blow-by-blow account of the jabs, cuts, and parries from these Massive genre heavyweights. The last time I saw a get-together like this was at the Austin Game Conference, and the result was a spectacular confrontation. If ... you know ... you like MMOs. Otherwise it's a bunch of guys talking generalities about "those addictive games".

If the idea of the mind behind World of Warcraft talking about the games that he loves, along with observations from one of the founders of BioWare, combined with the insights of a tabletop gaming champion and a pioneer of Korean gaming doesn't interest you ... why are you here?

Read on!

Gallery: GDC08: The Future of MMOs

Continue reading GDC08: Massively is Live at the Future of MMOs panel

MassivelyGDC08: Massively is Live at the Future of MMOs panel originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareblizzardbreakingcryptic-studiosfeaturedgdc08gdc08fanboyjack-emmertmaplestorymin-kimnexonray-muzykarob-pardoworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 21 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[More evidence that BioWare's MMO isn't KotOR [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/more-evidence-that-biowares-mmo-isnt-kotor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/more-evidence-that-biowares-mmo-isnt-kotor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/more-evidence-that-biowares-mmo-isnt-kotor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Joystiq reported today that an EA investor report listed a new Knights of the Old Republic title and the "New MMO" separately. This is not a logical certainty, of course, but it seems unlikely that the Austin-developed MMO is KotOR if there's already another KotOR title in development, given that the LucasArts/BioWare collaboration announcement implied only one title.

This comes after an industry insider specifically named BioWare as a company that's not developing a Star Wars MMO. So our hopes have become a mere whimper by now. Tragic.

Well, BioWare's Ray Muzyka will be talking about the future of MMOs at the Game Developers Conference this month. Maybe he'll mention what it is now that we're fairly confident it's not KotOR. Probably not, but we can hope.

[EDIT: BioWare has contacted us and informed us that the EA investor report is referring only in a general fashion to the KotOR IP; EA did not intend to imply that any specific new title is in development. The listing of "KotOR" does not speak to the existence or nonexistence of a new KotOR title. We apologize for the error.]

MassivelyMore evidence that BioWare's MMO isn't KotOR [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeajoystiqknights-of-the-old-republickotorkotorolucasartsray-muzykastar-warsswtorWed, 13 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic Studios announces its Game Developers Conference schedule]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/cryptic-studios-announces-its-game-developers-conference-schedul/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/cryptic-studios-announces-its-game-developers-conference-schedul/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/12/cryptic-studios-announces-its-game-developers-conference-schedul/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It looks like Cryptic Studios is set to take GDC by storm this year as they just announced their plans to send five of their people to speak at the San Francisco based event being held from Feb. 18th through to the 22nd. The team members from Cryptic are Chief Creative Officer Jack Emmert (formally Jack "Statesman" Emmert), Character Artist Matt Highison, Director of Game Programming Shannon Posniewski, Audio Director Michael Henry and President of Cryptic Studios Michael Lewis.

We are very interested in hearing what these Cryptic members have to say on the subject of massively games. Hopefully we'll finally get some answers on what to expect in their future if not some hints at the very least.

Continue reading Cryptic Studios announces its Game Developers Conference schedule

MassivelyCryptic Studios announces its Game Developers Conference schedule originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareblizzardcryptic-studiosea-mythicgame-developers-conferencegdcjack-emmertmark-jacobsmatt-highisonmichael-henrymichael-lewisray-muzykarob-pardoshannon-psniewskiTue, 12 Feb 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare likes WoW but thinks it can do better]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/bioware-likes-wow-but-thinks-it-can-do-better/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/bioware-likes-wow-but-thinks-it-can-do-better/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/bioware-likes-wow-but-thinks-it-can-do-better/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

GameInformer published an interview with BioWare President Greg Zeschuk and CEO Ray Muzyka in its December 2007 issue. Most of the questions in the interview focused on the EA acquisition, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age, but one did probe for information on the (KotOR?) MMO in development at BioWare's Austin studio.

Both Zeschuk and Muzyka admitted to being players and fans of World of Warcraft, but expressed dissatisfaction with the way that making progress in the game is so time-consuming that "it's almost like having another job." They said they are thinking about ways to make the genre more accessible and easier to "pick up and play and have fun."

"We certainly like the games," said Muzyka, "but the staying power hasn't been as strong. They totally enthrall a certain set of people, but we thought about how to make it an experience where you don't have to have a massive investment of itme."

Blizzard had similar aspirations with World of Warcraft, and it succeeded in its goal; WoW is far more accessible than previous entries in the genre. Can BioWare expand the appeal of MMOs even further?

MassivelyBioWare likes WoW but thinks it can do better originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austinbiowarebioware-mmoblizzarddragon-ageeagameinformergreg-zeschukinterviewkotorkotor-mmomass-effectray-muzykaworld-of-warcraftTue, 27 Nov 2007 19:30:00 EST