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[EVE Evolved: Preparing for the Inferno expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/eve-evolved-preparing-for-the-inferno-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/eve-evolved-preparing-for-the-inferno-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/eve-evolved-preparing-for-the-inferno-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
The Inferno expansion is set to launch on Tuesday May 22nd, promising a complete revamp of EVE Online's war declaration system and a whole host of new modules. If you're in a wardec corp, you'll need to make a few adjustments to the way you operate when the patch goes live. The minimum war fee will increase to 50 million ISK even if you're declaring war on a small corporation, making very small corps less-appealing targets. The fee increases based on the number of members in the target corp, but it doesn't start increasing until around the 130-member mark. If you want to get your money's worth, you'll be best off picking a target corp with 100-150 members or selecting very high-value small targets.

Be very wary of wardeccing large alliances after the patch. While the previous war system swung in favour of the attacker, the new system has gone to the opposite extreme. Large corps and alliances are now significantly more costly and dangerous to declare war on, especially as the defender can now call mercenaries into the war at any time. Players have complained that the increasing war costs could be abused by getting all alliance members to add alts to the corp, but this would be a logistical nightmare to apply in practice and would increase fees by only a few hundred million ISK. If alt padding becomes a problem, CCP will undoubtedly step in and revise the fee structure.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the new modules and gameplay changes coming in Tuesday's Inferno expansion and give some tips on preparing for the patch.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Preparing for the Inferno expansion

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Preparing for the Inferno expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancillaryarchaeologybhaalgornblobblobbingblueprintblueprintsccpccp-gamesdominixeveeve-evolvedeve-onlineexpansionexplorationfeaturedfleetganghackinginfernolabsmagnetometricmagsheathneutraliserpvpradarresearchsandboxsci-fishield-boostershield-tankingtanktankingtech-1tech-2wormholeSun, 20 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Study links MMOs to 'problem' game-playing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/study-links-mmos-to-problem-game-playing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/study-links-mmos-to-problem-game-playing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/study-links-mmos-to-problem-game-playing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Addicted gamer
Despite the fact that video game addiction lacks both a definition and a diagnosis, "researchers around the world continue to investigate methods of determining, treating, and preventing" it, according to Gamespot.

The American Psychiatric Association recently rejected a movement to incorporate game addiction into its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, but that hasn't stopped folks at the National Development and Research Institute from publishing the findings from a survey conducted with 3,380 adult gamers.

The study found that five percent of participants reported "moderate to extreme problem game-playing." Commonly reported problem titles included Call of Duty, the Grand Theft Auto series, online poker games, and World of Warcraft. The team concluded that "there is evidence to suggest that problem game-playing is linked to particular kinds of game genres" and that further research is needed.

MassivelyStudy links MMOs to 'problem' game-playing originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictionamerican-psychiatric-associationgame-addictionmmo-industrynational-development-and-research-instituteresearchresearchers-conclude-that-more-research-is-neededstudysurveyvideo-game-addictionWorld-of-WarcraftwowFri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Midwestern Conference on Health Games to feature MMO presentation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/midwestern-conference-on-health-games-to-feature-mmo-presentatio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/midwestern-conference-on-health-games-to-feature-mmo-presentatio/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/midwestern-conference-on-health-games-to-feature-mmo-presentatio/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Midwestern Conference on Health Games logo
Academic conferences aren't normally hotspots for MMO players, but you may find a few at this year's Midwestern Conference on Health Games in Indianapolis. One of the talks scheduled for October 28th is called Benefits of Massive[ly] Multiplayer Online Games for Gifted Students, and Steven Moore, husband of presenter Dr. Beth Moore, wrote in to give us the skinny on his wife's research.

"Benefits of MMO games will be presented with a focus on the social/emotional health of gifted students. Gifted students need opportunities to build social skills and collaborate with others, enhance leadership abilities, roleplay, and problem solve --all of which MMOs provide the framework [for]," Moore says.

MassivelyMidwestern Conference on Health Games to feature MMO presentation originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiaacademic-presentationgifted-kidsgifted-studentshealth-gamesmidwestern-conference-on-health-gamesMiscellaneousmmo-industrypresentationresearchMon, 17 Oct 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is your bandwidth too slow?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/the-daily-grind-is-your-bandwidth-too-slow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/the-daily-grind-is-your-bandwidth-too-slow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/the-daily-grind-is-your-bandwidth-too-slow/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A Series of Tubes
Pando Networks recently released a study measuring internet speeds all across the world. Not surprisingly, South Korea came out at the top of that list with an average download speed of 2,202 KBps.

To MMO gamers, our connection is our life. We don't enjoy a hiccup in the tubes, but it gives us a handy excuse when we die in PvP, right? Government restrictions, lack of proper infrastructure, and a general lack of technological understanding and foresight all contribute to the slow speeds that plague the rest of the civilized world.

So with this Pando study in mind, we'd like to conduct an informal study of our own among the greatest internet citizens of all time: the Massively readers. What's your internet speed? Is it too slow, too fast (impossible!), or just right for your gaming needs?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Is your bandwidth too slow? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bandwidthopinionpandopando-networksresearchseries-of-tubesspeedtdgthe-daily-grindFri, 23 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How fat are your tubes? Pando Networks studies average US net speeds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/how-fat-are-your-tubes-pando-networks-studies-average-us-net-sp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/how-fat-are-your-tubes-pando-networks-studies-average-us-net-sp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/27/how-fat-are-your-tubes-pando-networks-studies-average-us-net-sp/#commentsFiled under: ,

Pando Networks, a content delivery provider for a variety of free-to-play MMOs such as Lord of the Rings Online and MapleStory, has released a study on the average download speeds across the United States. To do this, the company tracked the download speeds of 4 million gamers' games and patches from January to June 2011.

So what were the findings? Well, the fastest state in the US was Rhode Island, with an average of 894 KBps. The slowest state, with a download speed nearly a third of Rhode Island's, was Idaho, which came in with a rather paltry average of 318KBps. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the study also found that download speed averages tended to be highest in "fairly affluent, metropolitan suburbs," such as the prosperous Andover suburb of Boston. On the other end of the spectrum there are cities such as Yuma, AZ, Mission, TX, and Pocatello, ID, where speeds don't break 290 KBps.

The study also got a look at the average speeds of major ISPs, with Comcast at the top spot with an average speed of 890KBps, and with Verizon (788KBps) and Cox (757KBps) coming in close behind. Roadrunner is the caboose of the group with a download speed average of 673KBps. Curious about how fat the interweb tubes are in your city or state? Jump past the cut for some spiffy interactive maps courtesy of Pando.

Continue reading How fat are your tubes? Pando Networks studies average US net speeds

MassivelyHow fat are your tubes? Pando Networks studies average US net speeds originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-series-of-tubesdownload-speedfat-tubesinternet-speedmiscellaneouspandopando-networksresearchstudiesstudyWed, 27 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joel Bylos on building a better Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/joel-bylos-on-building-a-better-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/joel-bylos-on-building-a-better-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/joel-bylos-on-building-a-better-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If you were given the chance to build your very own world from scratch, how would you do it? What would you include? Would it be a world of beauty or dark dreamscapes? And would the inhabitants enjoy their stay or flee in terror?

To the team at Funcom tasked with fashioning The Secret World's... world, this isn't a hypothetical question, but a practical one. In a new developer blog post, Lead Content Designer Joel Bylos returns to share a behind-the-scenes view of how a game world is made.

Bylos says that there are four aspects to world-building: identifying purpose, research, building flow, and prototyping and production. Because The Secret World takes place on our planet in the here-and-now, the team has a reference point to begin, but layers a "secret history" on top of it. Bylos explains by saying, "This is the history of an area as only a member of The Secret World can experience it; the footprints of the secret societies and their past conflicts; the truth behind the local myths and legends; the echoes of ancient magic and forgotten rituals."

Of course, it's one thing to design something what you think is interesting and fun -- it's another to see if it works out in practice. All of this planning on paper is just the first stage of getting it in the game, which Bylos promises will come in an upcoming post.

MassivelyJoel Bylos on building a better Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conspiracycontent-designcontent-designerflowfuncomjoel-bylospurposeresearchsecret-historysecret-societiessecret-societythe-secret-worldthere-is-a-city-on-the-moontswworldworld-buildingThu, 23 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers reveal initial Wizard101 findings]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/researchers-reveal-initial-wizard101-findings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/researchers-reveal-initial-wizard101-findings/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/09/researchers-reveal-initial-wizard101-findings/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

"The stereotype of the dysfunctional, male teen gamer no longer holds," say the researchers behind an extensive new study based on Wizard101. "At any time during the game, your teammate could be a kid, a neighbor, or a grandparent."

Trinity University academics recently partnered with KingsIsle Entertainment to survey more than 30,000 Wizard101 players regarding online habits, inter-generational play, and family gaming. The findings are the result of one of the largest studies of online game players to date and were collected via an anonymous survey in March 2011. The results speak to a diverse playerbase that spans multiple generations and that also invests a portion of its out-of-game time in creative projects directly related to the game. Twenty percent of adult respondents indicated extra-game activity focused on Wizard101 (usually blogging), while 54% of children engaged in game-related activities including blogging, artwork, video production, and creative writing.

Check out the full press release after the cut.

Continue reading Researchers reveal initial Wizard101 findings

MassivelyResearchers reveal initial Wizard101 findings originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicsf2pfantasyfree-to-playkingsislekingsisle-entertainmentmmo-industrypress-releaseresearchstereotypessurveysurveystrinity-universitywizard-101wizard101Mon, 09 May 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Corporate benefits and new players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/08/eve-evolved-corporate-benefits-and-new-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/08/eve-evolved-corporate-benefits-and-new-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/08/eve-evolved-corporate-benefits-and-new-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

In a recent article, I explored the effect that power players have on EVE Online's subscription retention. In particular, I suggested that CCP has stopped developing features with EVE's power players in mind and that this could be the cause of a worrying downward trend in new player retention. It's the responsibility of corp leaders and organisers to give players a place in EVE, to provide them with something to do and to instill them with the ambition to continue playing in the long term. I believe that CCP has let those organisers and leaders down by failing to provide the updated tools necessary to give players a purposeful place in the universe or give them a good start to the game.

A similar issue I've touched on before is the importance of corporate goals in EVE. I've always been amazed at the willingness of EVE players to donate their time and effort to achieve a collective goal rather than a personal one. People are far more likely to join a corporate mining op, for example, if the proceeds will be donated to the corp funds or the minerals will be used in a corp production scheme. Similarly, I've found players to be much more enthusiastic about a mission night or wormhole op if the intent is to fund the production of a corp capital ship or the purchase of starbase fuel.

With CCP's summer focus aimed at helping new players get into good corporations, this week's opinion-filled EVE Evolved examines some of the developments necessary to make that goal possible.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Corporate benefits and new players

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Corporate benefits and new players originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>benefitsblueprintblueprintsccpccp-eveccp-gamescorpcorporationeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-universityfeaturedfree-shipsgoalsguild-perksmanufacturingmotivationnew-playernew-player-experiencenew-playersnewbienewbiesopinionresearchSun, 08 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: So you want to be a crafter?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/wasteland-diaries-so-you-want-to-be-a-crafter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/wasteland-diaries-so-you-want-to-be-a-crafter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/wasteland-diaries-so-you-want-to-be-a-crafter/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fallen Earth has a complex, robust crafting system. The vast majority of the items in the game can be crafted from things you find lying on the ground. I am not exaggerating when I say "vast majority" because it's well over 90%. You can literally level your way to the cap simply by scavenging and crafting. It used to be much easier, but it is still possible. Tradeskills are different from other skills in Fallen Earth in that you raise them through use rather than spending AP on them. The system itself can be quite daunting when you are first starting out, but once you have a basic grasp of how it works, the rest is pretty intuitive.

In this post, I'll touch on the basics of crafting. I'm no expert, but I do have a completely maxed-out social/crafter that has most of the game's recipes in his repertoire. You may know what you are doing, but I think even the most learned of crafters might learn something from this piece. The novice crafter will learn a few simple tricks (tricks that I wished I had known when I was just starting out) that will make his life a little easier out there. It's tough when you just want to make something with your hands and there are legions of bloodthirsty miscreants trying to kill you. So grab your toolkits and click past the cut for more.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: So you want to be a crafter?

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: So you want to be a crafter? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-houseconflict-townscrafterscraftingcrafting-queuecrafting-systemfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfeaturedicarusicarus-studiosmaterialsmerchantsnodespvp-zonesrecipesresearchsalvagingscavengingscavenging-nodestradeskillsFri, 29 Apr 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ethnologist researches the development of social skills in World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/ethnologist-researches-the-development-of-social-skills-in-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/ethnologist-researches-the-development-of-social-skills-in-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/ethnologist-researches-the-development-of-social-skills-in-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A lot of players probably think that World of Warcraft breeds social skills, to the extent that contempt for one's fellow human beings can be considered a social skill. But according to Peter Stenberg of Umea University in Sweden, there are some actual developments taking place when you play. Stenberg has just released a thesis detailing the social developments he observed during his 250-day stint in the game, discussing the ways in which the virtual environment begins to blend into the real world and develop complex social structures.

As Stenberg puts it, the overall atmosphere of the game forms a collective and developed society apart from the real world, something he claims "challenges the rather persistent view of the computer game enthusiast as a lone figure with only a flickering screen for company." Of course, veteran players of MMOs have no doubt noticed a wide variety of social structures that develop within a game, but Stenberg's work is interesting if for no other reason than it's meant as a serious examination of the phenomenon.

MassivelyEthnologist researches the development of social skills in World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitycommunity-developmentculturei-will-do-science-to-itreal-lifereal-worldresearchsciencesocial-dynamicssocial-skillssocial-structuressocietyworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 22 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: Free ride]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/wasteland-diaries-free-ride/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/wasteland-diaries-free-ride/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/wasteland-diaries-free-ride/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Grand Canyon Province is where Fallen Earth is set. It is a vast place, and the public transit system is completely obliterated. Most of the towns are separated by kilometers, so walking (or running) from place to place would be sheer folly. Luckily there are alternatives to walking. If you've played Fallen Earth for any length of time, you probably know what I'm getting at. Transportation in the Grand Canyon can cost next to nothing once you get it figured out.

The goal of this post will be to get a new player up and running in the wasteland. Actually, up and driving and/or riding, rather. Once you know what to do, getting around is practically free. There are a number of ways to get yourself a better ride. Some of them involve a bit of work in-game and a good deal of time (mostly while you are offline). But there are shortcuts if your goal is to be tearing up the highways of Fallen Earth on a motorcycle as soon as possible. After the cut, I'll give you a step-by-step method of providing yourself with better transportation right up until you have a bike.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Free ride

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Free ride originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atvcraftingcrafting-vehiclesfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfeaturedhorsesicarusicarus-studiosmotorcyclemountmountsresearchscavengetradeskillsvehiclesFri, 28 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Are gaming subscriptions "going the way of the dodo?"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/are-gaming-subscriptions-going-the-way-of-the-dodo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/are-gaming-subscriptions-going-the-way-of-the-dodo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/are-gaming-subscriptions-going-the-way-of-the-dodo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Duck and cover, subscription gamers, as the sky is finally falling (according to a report from Parks Associates, at any rate). The research firm has collated data that suggests one in five active U.S. gamers spends money on virtual items. What's not clear is the definition of "active," nor why the 20 percent of F2P users is highlighted while the remaining 80% is not.

The report ostensibly samples "a wide swath of the online gaming market, including MMOs, console games, casual social titles, and cloud-based game offerings." It also notes a 7% decrease in online gaming subscriptions from 2008 to 2010, a period which also happens to coincide with the once-in-a-generation economic disaster that is still ongoing.

Nevertheless, Parks' Pietro Macchiarella feels that the data makes it "increasingly difficult to justify subscription fees. Thanks to social games and free-to-play MMOs, both casual and hardcore players have the option of playing quality games online for free," he says. Check out the source article at Industry Gamers.

MassivelyAre gaming subscriptions "going the way of the dodo?" originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelbusiness-modelseconomyf2pfree-to-playnumbersopinionparks-associatespollingresearchresearch-firmsubscriptionsubscriptionsWed, 10 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: The Industrial-Sized Knowledgebase]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/eve-evolved-the-industrial-sized-knowledgebase/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/eve-evolved-the-industrial-sized-knowledgebase/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/eve-evolved-the-industrial-sized-knowledgebase/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The EVE Evolved column has been home to dozens of in-depth guides on various aspects of EVE Online. Over the past two years, I've written multi-part guides to many industrial and PvP-oriented topics. On the topic of research and development, we've covered tech 1 research, invention, reverse engineering and five top tips for researchers. Perhaps more useful was the three part series on trading, which first covered the basics before delving into advanced trading strategies and a few useful tips. Other guides which have proven popular among newer players included our three-part guide to mission-running, and the recent three-page guide to exploration.

Members of the EVE community regularly produce new guides and tools to help players make the most of their time in New Eden. This week, EVE player Laci surprised the EVE community with the release of an impressive new guide aimed at new players and industralists. The comprehensive 416-page Industrial-Sized Knowledgebase (or ISK for short) covers practically everything a new player could want to know about the game. Until now, the guide had been available only in Hungarian. After intensive translation and design work, the full guide has been released in English.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I take a look at this impressive guide and ask its creator Laci a few questions about it.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: The Industrial-Sized Knowledgebase

MassivelyEVE Evolved: The Industrial-Sized Knowledgebase originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedguideguideshaladaLaciminingmissionmission-runningnullsecplanetary-interactionplayer-owned-starbaseplayer-owned-stationposprofessionspveresearchship-fittingstarbasetradingSun, 29 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Unintended source of passive income to be removed from EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/23/unintended-source-of-passive-income-to-be-removed-from-eve-onlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/23/unintended-source-of-passive-income-to-be-removed-from-eve-onlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/23/unintended-source-of-passive-income-to-be-removed-from-eve-onlin/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There are many of ways to make ISK in EVE Online, from mission-running and ratting to trading and research. Some methods, like mission-running, are very active processes in which the amount of ISK made is directly proportional to the amount of time spent playing. Other processes, such as trading or moon-mining, are largely passive endeavours in which ISK is made even while the pilot is offline. One such source of passive income, which has been around since the tech 2 invention system came in, is datacore collection. Players with high enough standings and the right skills trained in the science field can sign up to do research with various R&D agents throughout EVE. The agents automatically give players research points every day for free, which can later be redeemed for datacores to be sold on the market.

Datacore collection itself is an intended game mechanic, and this system for supplying datacores doesn't look like it will be changing any time soon. The issue is that characters on expired accounts will still accrue research points every day. Using this so-called "ghost research" loophole, some players have been farming datacores with an unfair advantage over active pilots. Abusers typically set up accounts with three research characters each, then let those accounts expire. Several months later, each account will be re-activated to harvest the datacores. In a recent devblog, CCP Soundwave explained that this issue came from a list of important player-voted issues that was presented to CCP by the Council of Stellar Management. The unintended loophole will be closed in a hotfix in the near future.

MassivelyUnintended source of passive income to be removed from EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineexploitghost-researchiskmaking-moneyresearchresearch-and-developmenttech-2Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Family: Video game violence provokes aggression in some kids but not others]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/mmo-family-video-game-violence-provokes-aggression-in-some-kids/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/mmo-family-video-game-violence-provokes-aggression-in-some-kids/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/15/mmo-family-video-game-violence-provokes-aggression-in-some-kids/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MMO Family is your resource for leveling a gaming-specced family ... From tips on balancing gaming with family life to finding age-appropriate niches for every family member, MMO Family offers you advice on MMO gaming of the family, by the family and for the family.

Sensible parents have long recognized that the way kids react to video game violence varies according to their personalities. A recent post at Bitmob illustrated one parent's recognition of the innocence with which his four-year-old son approached an opportunity to play Grand Theft Auto. "I understand not every kid is like mine, so I wouldn't recommend that every parent allow their child to play Grand Theft Auto," he wrote. "But I would recommend that you listen and pay attention to your little ones to determine what they are capable of handling and what they are not ready for yet."

Now, new research tells us how to determine exactly that. A report in the June issue of Review of General Psychology has pinpointed the factors that determine why violent video games provoke hostile behavior in some teens but not in others.

Continue reading MMO Family: Video game violence provokes aggression in some kids but not others

MassivelyMMO Family: Video game violence provokes aggression in some kids but not others originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aggressionchildchild-friendlychildrenfamilyfamily-friendlyfamily-gamingfeaturedgrand-theft-autointernetkid-friendlykidsparentsresearchvideo-games-liveviolenceviolentTue, 15 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How much do you expect from people?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/20/the-daily-grind-how-much-do-you-expect-from-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/20/the-daily-grind-how-much-do-you-expect-from-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/20/the-daily-grind-how-much-do-you-expect-from-people/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Intellectually, everyone in a given game understands that everyone plays at their own pace, spends their chosen amount of time studying the game, and so forth. Asking more than someone's willing to commit is just asking for failure, and it's just a game after all. But in practice, you find yourself playing Guild Wars and you can't help but start screaming for someone to stop attacking Glint because she's using Crystal Hibernation, you stop attacking then, everyone knows that! And in extreme cases, you might even kick the person from your party like a bad habit, because come on. That's basic knowledge.

Of course, there are the people who genuinely remember every single scaling skill value in Guild Wars and would be shocked that you don't instantly know that. We all expect different things amounts of knowledge from players in games, so how much do you expect from others? Do you expect people to know the strategies of a fight before they head into content? Do you expect to do some explaining? Or are you that mythical person that patiently explains everything about the game, even after wiping on the same boss repeatedly?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How much do you expect from people? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>explainingguild-warsgwknowledgepatienceresearchstrategytdgthe-daily-grindTue, 20 Apr 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Agenda tier one and tier two blueprints revealed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/23/global-agenda-tier-one-and-tier-two-blueprints-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/23/global-agenda-tier-one-and-tier-two-blueprints-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/23/global-agenda-tier-one-and-tier-two-blueprints-revealed/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Craftable loot is always important business, and in Global Agenda it's no different. There are always some neat surprises waiting for those who are willing to gather some items, do some research, and get to work in the fabrication chambers.

Xzaph over at the HexAgenda fansite has put together a pretty comprehensive screenshot list of Global Agenda's tier one and tier two blueprint offerings, confirming that there are a few more tricks in those crafting recipes than people have believed. Did you know that you can craft yourself a small squadron of androids to watch your back as pets, or put together a mini-nuke to completely wipe away any resistance within 200 feet?

Beyond being able to build those types of tricks in battle, it seems that there's also an item that must be crafted before your agency can take over a specific region -- the Sovereign Forge -- which may lead to us seeing more "key" items appearing down the road in Alliance vs. Alliance, should the Forge work out.

MassivelyGlobal Agenda tier one and tier two blueprints revealed originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliance-vs-allianceavablueprintsconquestcraftingglobal-agendaglobal-agenda-conquesthi-rez-studiosresearchtier-1-blueprintstier-2-blueprintsSat, 23 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Research: Five top tips, page 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/03/eve-evolved-research-five-top-tips-page-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/03/eve-evolved-research-five-top-tips-page-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/03/eve-evolved-research-five-top-tips-page-2/#commentsContinue reading EVE Evolved: Research: Five top tips, page 2

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Research: Five top tips, page 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueprintccpccp-gameseveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedguideindustryinventionproductionprofitresearchreverse-engineeringtech-1tech-2tech-3tipstips-and-tricksSun, 03 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Research: Five top tips]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/03/eve-evolved-research-five-top-tips/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/03/eve-evolved-research-five-top-tips/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/03/eve-evolved-research-five-top-tips/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

In the past three weeks, I've covered the ins and outs of research in EVE Online, from Tech 1 blueprints and the Tech 2 invention system to Tech 3 and reverse engineering. In my nearly six years of playing EVE, I've delved into every traditional profession and picked up some valuable tips and insights on each one. Having been involved in every aspect of the Tech 1, 2 and 3 industries, I've built up a fairly complete picture of how the research portion of any industry interacts with its production lines. In this final part to the EVE Evolved guide to research, I give five top tips that I consider invaluable for anyone getting into research and industry.

#5 - Chasing profit:
To keep your profit margins high in any business, you'll need to adjust your choice of products frequently to keep up with what's recently profitable. The most important tool you'll ever have in any industry is a spreadsheet or application to calculate build costs for you. By updating the prices on your spreadsheet regularly, you can quickly spot which items are profitable to build and stay ahead of the curve. This is important because in some areas, like the market for Tech 2 modules, it can take as little as a week for an item to go from high profit to making a loss. In EVE's highly competitive markets, it's the most agile players able to stay on top of market trends who make the most ISK. There are several freely available applications and websites that can help with practically every industry but I've always found it useful to make my own spreadsheets.

Skip past the cut for four other invaluable tips on reverse engineering chances, invention profit margins, predicting trends and more.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Research: Five top tips

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Research: Five top tips originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueprintccpccp-gameseveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedguideindustryinventionproductionprofitresearchreverse-engineeringtech-1tech-2tech-3tipstips-and-tricksSun, 03 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Research: Reverse Engineering and Tech 3, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/27/eve-evolved-research-reverse-engineering-and-tech-3-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/27/eve-evolved-research-reverse-engineering-and-tech-3-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/27/eve-evolved-research-reverse-engineering-and-tech-3-part-2/#commentsContinue reading EVE Evolved: Research: Reverse Engineering and Tech 3, part 2

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Research: Reverse Engineering and Tech 3, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueprintccpccp-gamesengineeringeveeve-evolvedeve-onlineguidelegionlokiprofitproteusreresearchreversereverse-engineeringskillssleepersstrategic-cruiserssubsystemtech-1tech-2tech-3tengutipstips-and-trickswormhole-explorationwormholesSun, 27 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Research: Reverse Engineering and Tech 3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/27/eve-evolved-research-reverse-engineering-and-tech-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/27/eve-evolved-research-reverse-engineering-and-tech-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/27/eve-evolved-research-reverse-engineering-and-tech-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

In the first two parts of this guide to Research in EVE Online, I covered the basics of Tech 1 blueprint research and the "Invention" system that allows players to make their own Tech 2 blueprint copies. The reverse engineering process used to make Tech 3 blueprints is a lot like invention except with a new set of materials, equipment and skills. Though the process used to create it will be familiar to inventors, the end product is a strange beast. Unlike Tech 2, Tech 3 isn't just a straight improvement over lower tech levels and doesn't use Tech 1 or 2 as a base. Instead, it's an entirely new technology used to make custom, modular ships. At the moment, the only Tech 3 products we have are the modular "Strategic Cruiser" class but more is planned for future patches. Tech 3 frigates are rumoured to be next on the development table and it's entirely possible that we'll see strange new Tech 3 modules thrown into the mix too at some point.

In today's part of this bumper guide to research, I look into EVE's newest addition to the researcher's repertoire as I examine Tech 3 and "Reverse Engineering". I'll look at how it all fits together to make a finished product, what's required to get involved and best practices for staying profitable in what has become a very competitive marketplace.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Research: Reverse Engineering and Tech 3

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Research: Reverse Engineering and Tech 3 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueprintccpccp-gamesengineeringeveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedguidelegionlokiprofitproteusreresearchreversereverse-engineeringskillssleepersstrategic-cruiserssubsystemtech-1tech-2tech-3tengutipstips-and-trickswormhole-explorationwormholesSun, 27 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Research: Invention and Tech 2, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/20/eve-evolved-research-invention-and-tech-2-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/20/eve-evolved-research-invention-and-tech-2-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/20/eve-evolved-research-invention-and-tech-2-part-2/#commentsContinue reading EVE Evolved: Research: Invention and Tech 2, part 2

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Research: Invention and Tech 2, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueprintbpcbpoccpccp-gamesdatacoredecryptoreveeve-evolvedeve-onlinegame-mechanicsinterfaceinventionresearchskillst2tech-2Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Research: Invention and Tech 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/20/eve-evolved-research-invention-and-tech-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/20/eve-evolved-research-invention-and-tech-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/20/eve-evolved-research-invention-and-tech-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

In last week's first part to this multi-part guide to research in EVE Online, I covered the basics of Tech 1 blueprint research. Tech 2 blueprints are an entirely different animal and the way players get their hands on them has changed vastly over the years. The first system put in place was an agent-based lottery system. Players would set up research contracts with the various NPC R&D agents in EVE, who would then generate a certain number of research points per day. Whenever new Tech 2 items were released into the game, original blueprints were passed out via these agents.

Each research point you had became a ticket in an on-going lottery and the prize was essentially a license to print money. After many player-run cartels, rampant price gouging and one incident of developer misconduct, CCP replaced the blueprint lottery with the "Invention" system. Although the invention system contains no way to get an original Tech 2 blueprint, it does allow players to upgrade Tech 1 blueprint copies into limited-run Tech 2 versions.

In this second part of my guide to research in EVE, I look into Tech 2 blueprints. I delve into the invention system, explain how to make your own Tech 2 blueprints and look at all the variables that could help you get an edge in a competitive marketplace.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Research: Invention and Tech 2

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Research: Invention and Tech 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueprintbpcbpoccpccp-gamesdatacoredecryptoreveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedgame-mechanicsinterfaceinventionresearchskillst2tech-2Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Research: Tech 1 blueprints, page 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/eve-evolved-research-tech-1-blueprints-page-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/eve-evolved-research-tech-1-blueprints-page-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/eve-evolved-research-tech-1-blueprints-page-2/#commentsContinue reading EVE Evolved: Research: Tech 1 blueprints, page 2

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Research: Tech 1 blueprints, page 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While it's most often lauded for its PvP, not everything in EVE Online is about shooting people. Research and manufacturing are two of EVE's most popular PvE professions because of the small time commitments they require. A lot of things in EVE are built from blueprints and through research, you can be one of the people supplying those blueprints. Whether you want to improve your own blueprints to increase manufacturing profit margins or make blueprint copies for sale, it's worth looking into doing your own research. Jobs can be set up to run for days on end, taking you as little as a few minutes per week to manage. This can augment your income from active sources like mining, trading or mission-running.

In this article, I look at the basics of tech 1 blueprint research, the skills required to make the most of your time and how you could run your own research labs in the relative safety of high security space.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Research: Tech 1 blueprints

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Research: Tech 1 blueprints originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueprintblueprintsccpccp-gamescopyeveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedguideguideshighseclabmepeposresearchstarbaseSun, 13 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Second Life Orange Island experiment comes to an end]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/second-life-orange-island-experiment-comes-to-an-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/second-life-orange-island-experiment-comes-to-an-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/second-life-orange-island-experiment-comes-to-an-end/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Orange Island, a research project of the Orange telecommunications company, is set to close its doors after a long (and quite successful) run in Second Life. Orange Island opened in late 2007 as an experimental project, with the goal of gaining a better understanding of virtual environments, users and their culture, content-creation and collaboration and the challenges of real-time immersive social environments.

That experimental project comes to a close on Tuesday, 29 September at 11AM SLT (US Pacific time), with a final open (voice) meeting with the Orange Island team (and guests) to discuss the project and virtual environment experiences.

In the days that follow, the team will be publishing a report of their findings and results from the project. During the course of the Orange Island project, Orange brought a lot to the Second Life user community, an example that not every corporate presence has emulated, unfortunately. They will be missed, but we're definitely looking forward to their findings.

Are you a part of the most widely-known collaborative virtual environment or keeping a close eye on it? Massively's Second Life coverage keeps you in the loop.

MassivelySecond Life Orange Island experiment comes to an end originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiccultureorangeorange-islandresearchsecond-lifevirtual-worldsFri, 25 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Researcher zeroes in on kids playing RuneScape]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/06/researcher-zeroes-in-on-kids-playing-runescape/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/06/researcher-zeroes-in-on-kids-playing-runescape/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/06/researcher-zeroes-in-on-kids-playing-runescape/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Hey kids! Do you want to try an experiment? No, you won't get paid but you will help further scientific research through the process of "cognitive ethnography." Not interested? Hmmm, well, you do get to play video games... Oh, you are interested! Let me just get you these waivers to sign...

Constance Steinkuehler is an MMO researcher studying teens and tweens in the world of RuneScape. Her research aims to find commonalities in thought process between young individuals who play MMOs. Her work will also assess the impacts of game play over a longer period on their daily lives, social relationships, and school work. Given the abundance and accessibility of games aimed at youth these days, it will be interesting to see how they influence us humans in our more impressionable years.

MassivelyResearcher zeroes in on kids playing RuneScape originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cognitionconstance-steinkuehlerresearchrunescapeteenstweensyouthMon, 06 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Majority of buyers use game "gift cards" for themselves]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/majority-of-buyers-use-game-gift-cards-for-themselves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/majority-of-buyers-use-game-gift-cards-for-themselves/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/23/majority-of-buyers-use-game-gift-cards-for-themselves/#commentsPlaySpan, creators of the Ultimate Game Card, released findings on March 20 that nearly 80 percent of those purchasing the gift cards are using them for themselves. The UGC, which sells alongside other gift cards on store shelves, has a special code redeemable online at the company's website that can be applied toward over 200 online games. The games supported range from triple-A MMOGs to casual, browser-based games.

PlaySpan's research notes that nearly 50 percent of their customers are age 14-18, and they likely purchase the cards because they're too young to have credit cards of their own. Virtual Goods News has crunched the numbers further.

MassivelyMajority of buyers use game "gift cards" for themselves originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>financegame-cardmoneyplayspanresearchultimate-game-cardMon, 23 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Putting MMOG research under the ethical microscope]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/putting-mmog-research-under-the-ethical-microscope/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/putting-mmog-research-under-the-ethical-microscope/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/putting-mmog-research-under-the-ethical-microscope/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


As MMOGs creep into mainstream culture they are becoming a valuable place to conduct scientific research on social systems and behaviors. Are certain MMOGs as addictive as cocaine? Do certain MMOG players use these games to escape from real life or stay more connected? Do certain MMOG players make better citizens? These are just some of the recent questions being asked by academics around the world.

An interesting and informative paper titled Playing a Good Game: Ethical Issues in Researching MMOGs and Virtual Worlds has just been published in the International Journal of Internet Research Ethics. The paper examines a number of ethical issues encountered when researching MMOGs and virtual worlds. What should be considered public or private in these spaces? What can researchers study, record, and reproduce without informed consent or permission? Should researchers simply observe or actively participate in the online community/ies they are studying? Part one of this paper develops a theoretical framework for researching MMOGs and part two presents qualitative data from interviews with five MMOG researchers (City of Heroes, City of Villains, Lineage I, Lineage II, and Second Life). The resulting data can be used to guide future research ethics in the MMOG space.

[Via Terra Nova]

MassivelyPutting MMOG research under the ethical microscope originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainsethicslineagelineage-2researchsecond-lifesocialThu, 05 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Academic research into EverQuest II already proving fruitful]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/academic-research-into-everquest-ii-already-proving-fruitful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/academic-research-into-everquest-ii-already-proving-fruitful/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/academic-research-into-everquest-ii-already-proving-fruitful/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Massively recently mentioned that Sony Online Entertainment and academia are teaming up to plumb the depths of EverQuest II's server logs, with benefits for both the researchers and SOE. (For the record, private subscriber info hasn't been made available to the academic community, according to an SOE statement on the matter.) The data logs and opt-in survey results are already proving fruitful, according to a piece run today on MSNBC by Games editor Kristin Kalning. Her piece raises the point that EverQuest II's gamers, despite being a global community, spend far more time socializing with friends, family, and acquaintances than with the wider playerbase.

This isn't to say that EQII players are insular, but it does emphasize the fact that games aren't simply a hobby or an escape for those surveyed, and are very much a way to keep in touch with family and friends. In other words, they tend to take their offline relationships online, Kalning writes.

Continue reading Academic research into EverQuest II already proving fruitful

MassivelyAcademic research into EverQuest II already proving fruitful originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academiaacademiccultureeverquest-2everquest-iifantasygendergender-disparitykristin-kalningmmo-industrymsnbcmsnbc.comon-the-levelresearchroleplayingsoesony-online-entertainmentMon, 23 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE says no private info was included in EQ2 research logs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/soe-says-no-private-info-was-included-in-eq2-research-logs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/soe-says-no-private-info-was-included-in-eq2-research-logs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/17/soe-says-no-private-info-was-included-in-eq2-research-logs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Sony Online Entertainment released a statement today concerning the buzz surrounding their database research for EverQuest 2. Apparently this information is not entirely true, according to SOE, as the personal information in these logs was not included. What does this mean for those concerned players out there? It means you have nothing to worry about.

According to the official statement, which can be found after the jump below, none of the information in these logs was connected to any real names or what's known as Personally Identifiable Information (PII). In addition, no player chat logs were shared with the researchers. Even in the situation where players voluntarily participated in a blind survey, the private information of those volunteers was kept confidential as well. Follow along below for the complete official statement from SOE.

Continue reading SOE says no private info was included in EQ2 research logs

MassivelySOE says no private info was included in EQ2 research logs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbreakingnewseverquest-2personalprivateresearchsoesony-online-entertainmentTue, 17 Feb 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony opens complete EverQuest 2 database to researchers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/sony-opens-complete-everquest-2-database-to-researchers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/sony-opens-complete-everquest-2-database-to-researchers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/sony-opens-complete-everquest-2-database-to-researchers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The players of EverQuest 2 might be pleased to learn that their gameplay may further science. They may be less enthused, however, to learn that a complete record of their interactions with one another is being studied by researchers. Following a session at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, ars technica's John Timmer reports, "With the cooperation of Sony, a collaborative group of academic researchers at a number of institutions have obtained the complete server logs from the company's EverQuest 2 MMORPG." That's right. This is everything you've ever done in the game, but it's all in the name of science.

The researchers are among those who believe that massively multiplayer online games can be used to model real world collective behavior. The task ahead of them is a daunting one, with close to 60 TB of data to pore over. "The end result is a log that included four years of data for over 400,000 players that took part in the game, which was followed up with demographic surveys of the users. All told, it makes for a massive data set with distinct challenges but plenty of opportunities," Timmer writes.

Continue reading Sony opens complete EverQuest 2 database to researchers

MassivelySony opens complete EverQuest 2 database to researchers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaasacademicars-technicacultureeducationeq-2eq2everquest-2everquest-iifantasyjohn-timmermmo-industryplayer-interactionresearchsocial-interactionsoesonysony-online-entertainmentMon, 16 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games introducing new economic measure in EVE]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/27/ccp-games-introducing-new-economic-measure-in-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/27/ccp-games-introducing-new-economic-measure-in-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/27/ccp-games-introducing-new-economic-measure-in-eve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

CCP Games generally takes a hands-off approach to EVE Online's economy, letting the collective actions of players determine what happens. But at times there are bottlenecks in terms of supply. CCP Greyscale cites the example of how the limited number of T2 blueprint originals (BPOs) decreased availability of items while driving up prices. CCP stepped in by introducing 'invention', where players can attempt to create higher-end items via R&D, eliminating the issue of supply and normalizing prices.

CCP Greyscale's latest dev blog is called "Alchemy" and looks at the newest issue they've identified with EVE's economy, the inflated price of rare moon minerals. Greyscale says, "In particular, two rare moon minerals - dysprosium and (to a lesser extent) promethium - are becoming ever-more expensive as increased demand puts pressure on a limited supply. This is likely to become an increasingly large issue as time goes on, with prices for these minerals continuing to rise due to demand, and the increased price being passed on to the consumer of the final product." As we've mentioned in the past, these rare minerals in New Eden are something that the largest, most powerful alliances have sought to control and thus has been one of the drivers of conflict in lawless 0.0 space.

Continue reading CCP Games introducing new economic measure in EVE

MassivelyCCP Games introducing new economic measure in EVE originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>0.0alchemyblueprintblueprintsbpcbpoccpccp-dr-eyjogccp-gamesccp-greyscalecraftingdr-eyjogdysprosiumeconomyeveeve-onlineeyjolfur-gudmundssonforumsgame-mechanicsindustryinventionmanufacturingmineralspromethiumresearchscarcitysci-fiMon, 27 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The advantages of being an online gaming parent]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/the-advantages-of-being-an-online-gaming-parent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/the-advantages-of-being-an-online-gaming-parent/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/the-advantages-of-being-an-online-gaming-parent/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The issue of parenting as it relates to online gaming is not only a delicate one, but its popularity is growing as more children are getting into the virtual space. We would be willing to bet that a healthy percentage of Massively readers are gamers with children. Not only that, but as online gamers age, their children inevitably continue into the next generation of online gamers.

According to a new video podcast by Palo Alto Research Center's Nick Yee, parents who game have an advantage over those who don't game. This video -- the first in his series -- aims to show non-gaming parents how they can set reasonable guidelines and provide leverage for their children's online activities. He interviews several parents and gets their own experiences with how they raise their online gaming children. You'll find the complete 12-minute video right after the jump.

[Thanks Efrem!]

Continue reading The advantages of being an online gaming parent

MassivelyThe advantages of being an online gaming parent originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>childrenkidsnick-yeepalo-alto-research-centerparentingpodcastresearchvideoWed, 24 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[UC Irvine to compare WoW players from America, China]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/uc-irvine-to-compare-american-chinese-wow-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/uc-irvine-to-compare-american-chinese-wow-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/13/uc-irvine-to-compare-american-chinese-wow-players/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The University of California at Irvine has been granted $100,000 to study the differences between Chinese and American World of Warcraft players, according to the Orange County Register. The study will mostly focus on explaining why American players are much more likely to employ modifications such as Cosmos than Chinese players are, but project lead Bonnie Nardi made some interesting observations outside the scope of this particular endeavor.

For example, she noted that Chinese players are for some reason more likely to talk about the aesthetic appearance of the game than are Americans. Whereas American players often play with their children, parents, or siblings, Chinese players are unlikely to do that. "The older generation dislikes video games," she said, and playing with siblings is obviously rare since most Chinese of the gaming generation have none.

"The vast majority of Chinese players are not gold farmers," she said. "They're ordinary players like anyone. The media has blown that story out of all proportion. Many people think Chinese play for a job. They play for fun." Enlightening stuff. We're looking forward to seeing what else comes out of her research.

[Via Ten Ton Hammer]
One of Azeroth's millions of citizens? Check out our ongoing coverage of the World of Warcraft, and be sure to touch base with our sister site WoW Insider for all your Lich King needs!

MassivelyUC Irvine to compare WoW players from America, China originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicasiablizzardbonnie-nardicosmosculturefamilymodificationsmodsone-child-policyorange-countyparentsresearchsiblingsstudyuc-irvineuciucirvineuiuniversity-of-californiaworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 13 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Research profiles the typical fantasy MMO player]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/07/research-profiles-the-typical-fantasy-mmo-player/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/07/research-profiles-the-typical-fantasy-mmo-player/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/07/research-profiles-the-typical-fantasy-mmo-player/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Researcher Dmitri Williams and his team have been doing some very hardcore MMO-related research. Thanks to Raph Koster, they were given free reign with the whole of SOE's EverQuest II-related user statistics. They've produced the first of many papers, this one called "Who plays, how much, and why? Debunking the stereotypical gamer profile," which is completely and freely available online.

There are a bunch of interesting things about EverQuest II player demographics in there, some of which is surprising. For example, older players play more than younger players, and EQ2 players in general are physically healthier than the general population. There's a shocker! Of course, EQ2 arguably has a different sort of playerbase than something like EVE Online, or even other dikus like World of Warcraft. It's too bad we can't see the differences.

More studies are coming, though (but all of them from EQ2 data). Williams and his international team of researchers are planning to uncover information about gender differences and more in future papers.

[Via Raph Koster]

MassivelyResearch profiles the typical fantasy MMO player originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1UP's Scott Sharkey has written an article titled "Hook It to My Veins: Can Videogaming be an Addiction?" in which he provides anecdotal experiences with excessive gaming and conversations with two experts -- researcher/author Neils Clark and psychology lecturer Dr. Nadine Pelling. The conclusion is made pretty quickly: yes, video games can be an addiction. Big surprise there! But the details can be wishy-washy, it turns out.

Virtual worlds are the subject of in-depth analysis. Clark borrows from a theory by J.R.R. Tolkien by suggesting that gaming addiction is about a conflict between what ought to be a primary world, and a secondary fantasy world. Gamers with a problem have difficulty prioritizing, or even acknowledging that the gaming world is secondary. Immersion is an important part of enjoying a game, right? But if you're thinking about how you need to make sure the primary world gets its due attention, then you're not immersed anymore -- so begins the problem.

Continue reading Psychologists talk gaming addiction, online friendships

MassivelyPsychologists talk gaming addiction, online friendships originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1upaddictionfriendshipsimmersionnadine-pellingneils-clarkprimary-worldpsychologyrelationshipsresearchresearchersecondary-worldvirtual-worldsworld-of-warcraftSun, 31 Aug 2008 14:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Asheron's Call's 100th update is live and kicking]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/asherons-calls-100th-update-is-live-and-kicking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/asherons-calls-100th-update-is-live-and-kicking/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/asherons-calls-100th-update-is-live-and-kicking/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The much-heralded 100th Asheron's Call update has finally arrived! In addition to new areas and monsters, it notably adds in the highly anticipated faction system, with three distinct societies that players can join. There are also two new towns which may be captured in PvP. The society that controls a town will have access to the Black Market, which sells special items unavailable anywhere else.

A new tier of loot has been added -- mostly for levels 150 and up -- which includes armor sets for players above level 180 and items used in crafting new spells. Yep, there are new spells -- a whole level of them in fact! Level 8 spells may either be researched in the traditional way, or learned via combination of certain item drops from the new tier.

The complete release notes, including details on how to acquire items in the new loot tier, are available at Turbine's AC website. This is a huge update (accompanied, of course, by the August event), and it's a great time to feel proud that you're among the special few playing Asheron's Call today.

MassivelyAsheron's Call's 100th update is live and kicking originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A survey performed by researchers Parks Associates titled "Electronic Gaming in the Digital Home II" concluded that there is very little room for market expansion for subscription-based MMOs. On the whole, users surveyed preferred the free-to-play model. The poll data suggested that mostly only the hardcore users already playing MMOs were willing to play subscription-based games, and that only 2% of gamers not currently playing MMOs would consider a non-free-to-play game.

Hardcore MMORPG players tend to frown on or look down on microtransaction-based games, but aside from World of Warcraft, most of the industry's growth has occurred via free-to-play. In fact, the director behind the research project (named Yuanzhe Cai) was quoted saying: "World of Warcraft, with over 10 million players, exceeded expectations for subscription-based MMORPGs, but it's unlikely any other publishers will achieve the same in the near term using a subscription model."

Perhaps we'd better get used to microtransactions, eh?

MassivelyResearch: Subscription model unappealing to vast majority of users originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelsfreefree-to-playmicrotransactionsparks-associatespollresearchrmtstudysubscriptionssurveyworld-of-warcraftyuanzhe-caiWed, 23 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamers are not social misfits after all!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/gamers-are-not-social-misfits-afterall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/gamers-are-not-social-misfits-afterall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/gamers-are-not-social-misfits-afterall/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's been what, three hours since we've heard the last research study on gaming addiction? It almost seems like we could feed every starving child in the world with this research money given to these studies, but with the ever-growing popularity of online gaming, the concern is certainly no surprise.

In a shocking change of pace though, a recent study conducted by Australia's Victoria University psychology Honours graduate Dan Loton shows that gamers are in fact not social rejects. Out of 621 gamers -- mostly male, mostly Australian -- only 93 could be described as "problem gamers". This is defined as people who spend more than 50 hours a week playing online games. Curiously enough, Loton added, "We found that those who played Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games, such as World of Warcraft, were more likely to exhibit problematic game play." Aww, and we were so close, too.

MassivelyGamers are not social misfits after all! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictionaustraliagaming-addictionresearchsocialsocial-rejectstudyvictoria-universitySat, 14 Jun 2008 19:30:00 EST