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[The Mog Log: A decade of Final Fantasy XI]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-mog-log-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Generally speaking, when I celebrate anniversaries, I celebrate the point when the game actually came out in a language that I could play it. This is relevant in the case of Final Fantasy XI, since the game took a year and a half to reach the shores of America (also known as "the place I live"). I learned my lesson about trying to learn a language just to muddle through a game back with Final Fantasy III.

However, when one of our eagle-eyed readers pointed out to me the milestone that the game had hit, that made an impact because even if I couldn't understand any of the game's text back when it launched, a decade is a long time for continuous operation of anything. So rather than talking about the Legacy campaign as I'd planned, I think I'd rather talk about the legacy of Final Fantasy XI this week, including where the game has gone from its state at launch. You know, when a Black Mage could make the entire world bow and you still got attacked when riding a chocobo.

Continue reading The Mog Log: A decade of Final Fantasy XI

MassivelyThe Mog Log: A decade of Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yes, I plan to have something bizarre for this every anniversary.
Last year, I had planned to change up the focus of Storyboard a little. The "high and wide" format had been working, but I was worried that the column just wouldn't have legs if I didn't start going for more focused and narrow applications. So I spent several months working on just the right way to do more game-specific columns in here.

You don't remember them, of course, because none of them was ever posted. Those several months of work did not produce a single viable column.

At the capstone of the second year of Storyboard, I'm forced to basically eat crow about one of my major plans for the last year because it turns out that not only did it not work but it didn't need to work in the first place. I managed to fill up another year of columns just fine without going into great detail about one game over another, and as it turns out, I'm a lot happier with this year as a whole anyway.

Continue reading Storyboard: The second anniversary of Storyboard

MassivelyStoryboard: The second anniversary of Storyboard originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarycolumncolumnsfeaturedlooking-backopinionretrospectiveroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpstorystoryboardFri, 18 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Eight years of city life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-eight-years-of-city-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-eight-years-of-city-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/a-mild-mannered-reporter-eight-years-of-city-life/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
There are some things that were broken this year in City of Heroes beyond a shadow of a doubt. Then there were things that weren't necessarily broken depending on whom you asked. But one thing has been broken absolutely and completely: my format for these retrospectives.

See, from one point of view, this was a content-light year. I mean, we had two new issues and that's it. On the other hand, one of those was the launch of City of Heroes Freedom, and the result has been a steady stream of partial updates, minor improvements, new installments in the signature story arc, and so on. In previous years, going issue-by-issue worked as a way to look back over the course of the year, but it just doesn't work any longer.

But then, it's not supremely necessary. There are three big things that have defined the game for the past year: Freedom, the Incarnate system, and new toys. So we're going to break the format that doesn't really work and just talk about those in order.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Eight years of city life

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Eight years of city life originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporteranniversarycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedommild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosretrospectivesuperherosuperheroesyear-in-reviewWed, 25 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Status report, last year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/a-mild-mannered-reporter-status-report-last-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/a-mild-mannered-reporter-status-report-last-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/a-mild-mannered-reporter-status-report-last-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
What with one thing and another, a year has passed. At this time last year, things were very different for City of Heroes, and so I started up my usual trifecta of columns on the past year with a look back at what I said the game needed and how it's done on those fronts. So it's time for the second annual iteration because as we all know, the first annual anything doesn't really count. And if your memory is getting rusty from a year ago, by all means, take the time to refresh it.

Certainly if you had told me back then that every major superhero game would be free-to-play before the year was up, I wouldn't have believed it. But that's what's happened, and as the game has shifted, so has the market around it. That means that the game has really had to face off against its two "direct" competitors on a straight footing, and that might not have been in the game's best interests as a whole.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Status report, last year

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Status report, last year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxculturef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedommild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionother-gamesparagonparagon-studiosretrospectivesuperherosuperheroesyear-in-reviewWed, 18 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Looking back at RIFT's first year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-looking-back-at-rifts-first-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-looking-back-at-rifts-first-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/enter-at-your-own-rift-looking-back-at-rifts-first-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Rift carnival
As I ran around smacking loot piñatas (finally, someone acknowledges these things for what they are), I wondered how on earth RIFT's first year went by so fast. The Carnival of the Ascended is just around the corner, and on March 1st, the game officially celebrates its first birthday.

In just one year, RIFT has seen seven game updates, a handful of world events, and all sorts of new additions and improvements to the world of Telara. Rather than being a straight-up retrospective, this week's Enter at Your Own Rift is looking back on the first year with a Justin-style list of highlights and even a glimpse of what's coming in 1.8.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Looking back at RIFT's first year

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Looking back at RIFT's first year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birthdaycarnival-of-the-ascendedchroniclesember-isleenter-at-your-own-riftfantasyfeaturedinstant-adventureskaren-bryanmaster-dungeonsopinionplanar-attunementretrospectiveriftrift-1.8rift-birthdayrift-mentoringrift-one-year-oldrift-planes-of-telarascott-hartsmansoul-presetssoul-systemtelaratriontrion-worldswarfront-accoladeswarfrontsWed, 29 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: One year, two courses]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-mog-log-one-year-two-courses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-mog-log-one-year-two-courses/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/the-mog-log-one-year-two-courses/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
Today does not quite mark the two-year anniversary of The Mog Log. That was back on January 24th, but I decided to run just a wee bit late with annual retrospectives. We're now close enough to the year mark for argument's sake, which gives me a chance to look back at how the past year of the column has shaken out, what's gone right, and what hasn't. That ties into the issue that one invariably finds when a single column covers two games: There's a split.

Whether or not you like Final Fantasy XIV, you can't argue that the past year has brought an onslaught of changes to the game. On the flip side, there's been less going on in Final Fantasy XI than in any of the game's previous years of operation. As a result, I've had a difficult dilemma to try to juggle: There's one game moving at high speed and one staying rather stagnant, but I don't want to give undue attention to one over the other.

Continue reading The Mog Log: One year, two courses

MassivelyThe Mog Log: One year, two courses originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncolumnsfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivmeanderingmeta-columnopinionretrospectivesquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logSat, 04 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Firing Line: Global Agenda year two retrospective]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/the-firing-line-global-agenda-year-two-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/the-firing-line-global-agenda-year-two-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/03/the-firing-line-global-agenda-year-two-retrospective/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Firing Line - Global Agenda turns two
You! Yeah, you! You still haven't played Global Agenda, have you? I know, I know, you're going to get around to it, it's on your list, blah blah and etc. While you've been dilly-dallying about, Hi-Rez Studios' sci-fi shooter has gone and turned two years old!

That's OK, though, because the game has more options, more content, and more pew-pew than at any time in its history, and thanks to a gaggle of anniversary events, now is the perfect time to saddle up.

Continue reading The Firing Line: Global Agenda year two retrospective

MassivelyThe Firing Line: Global Agenda year two retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryf2pfeaturedfiring-linefree-agentfree-to-playglobal-agendahi-rezhi-rez-studiosmmo-shootermmotpsopinionpatchesrecursive-colonyretrospectivesci-fithe-firing-linethird-person-shootertwo-year-anniversaryupdatesyes-it-is-an-mmoFri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A critical year]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-critical-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-critical-year/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/01/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-critical-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
It's been a little over two years now that I've been writing a regular column on City of Heroes, and in one sense that still feels very strange to me. I'm guessing that the novelty of doing this for a living is never going to entirely go away, for reasons that really have nothing to do with the topic of this column. But I'm not going to dwell on the more meta facts here; I'm going to focus instead on the past year of the column.

This year was a try for something slightly different in both the tone and approach that I'd been taking with these columns. I finished off one major project, started another one, and along the way, I found that I gathered a very different attitude over time. In relationship terms, the first year of A Mild-Mannered Reporter was apparently still the "gushing" phase of a new relationship. This year has been much more about the flaws that City of Heroes has, both in structure and in design choices.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A critical year

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: A critical year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-freedomcity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxfeaturedfreedomncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosretrospectiveyear-in-reviewWed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/a-vanguard-fifth-anniversary-year-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/a-vanguard-fifth-anniversary-year-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/a-vanguard-fifth-anniversary-year-in-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Vanguard screenshot
It's that time again -- time to look back on a year of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and see what changed and what stayed exactly the same. The game is now five years old, and the last year has been relatively exciting for the community. Vanguard is just one of those titles that seems to want to last forever. The playerbase is loyal, mature, and truly dedicated to this aging title. Will the players' efforts pay off?

We took a look back on the last year to see what the larger announcements were. There were some surprises and even updates (yes, actual updates to the game), something that is still affecting the community. While other games might publish monthly or even weekly updates, the Vanguard players are the camels of the greater MMO community and have learned to live off very little development fuel.

Bear in mind that as I type this, an update is being played through on the test server.

Continue reading A Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review

MassivelyA Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybeau-hindmanbirthdaycorpse-runningdeath-mechaniceqeverquestf2pfan-fairefeaturedfree-to-playftphardcorelive-gamerpatchesretrospectivesilium-grantsiliusSOESony-Online-EntertainmentupdatesvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesMon, 30 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Year One: A look back at DCUO on its first anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/year-one-a-look-back-at-dcuo-on-its-first-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/year-one-a-look-back-at-dcuo-on-its-first-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/11/year-one-a-look-back-at-dcuo-on-its-first-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

DC Universe Online - Zatanna
Given the popularity of Batman, Superman, and the rest of the DC Comics license, you'd think an MMO based in and around Gotham City and Metropolis would be nothing short of wildly successful.

If anything, though, DC Universe Online (as well as dearly departed Sony Online Entertainment titles like Star Wars Galaxies and The Matrix Online) has proved that big-name IPs are not a surefire recipe for an MMO blockbuster. While DCUO has picked up a head of steam over the past couple of months, it took a free-to-play business model conversion to help the superhero title achieve success in its rookie year.

Continue reading Year One: A look back at DCUO on its first anniversary

MassivelyYear One: A look back at DCUO on its first anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1-year-anniversaryaction-mmoanniversarybatmancomicsdc-comicsdc-universe-onlinedcuodlcf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgreen-lanternlantern-corpsone-year-anniversarypatchesretrospectivesinestrosoeSony-Online-EntertainmentsuperherosupermanupdatesWed, 11 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dr. Greg Zeschuk talks about the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/dr-greg-zeschuk-talks-about-the-launch-of-star-wars-the-old-re/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/dr-greg-zeschuk-talks-about-the-launch-of-star-wars-the-old-re/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/dr-greg-zeschuk-talks-about-the-launch-of-star-wars-the-old-re/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

An army of one. Plus companion.
It's been just about a month since Star Wars: The Old Republic began its early access period, throwing open the doors for players all around the world. But the release wasn't just an interesting point for the many players anticipating the game -- after all, it had been BioWare's big project for many years. Fan site TORwars recently had a chat with Dr. Greg Zeschuk about his thoughts on the game at launch and a look back at what could have gone differently.

As Zeschuk says, there were definitely some aspects of the development that he would do differently if he could go back in time, including expanding the testing schedule and roster. He also shares his stories of getting his character going once the game went live, something that wound up being unexpectedly problematic. It's not filled with world-shattering revelations about the future of the game, but for players who are starting to look back over their first month with the game, it's certainly a nice look at the other side of the fence.

MassivelyDr. Greg Zeschuk talks about the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredevelopmentdr-greg-zeschukgreg-zeschukinterviewnewsopinionretrospectivestar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 09 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Brad McQuaid reminisces about the birth of EverQuest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/brad-mcquaid-reminisces-about-the-birth-of-everquest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/brad-mcquaid-reminisces-about-the-birth-of-everquest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/brad-mcquaid-reminisces-about-the-birth-of-everquest/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The advent of the Internet dragon.
Maybe you're a big fan of EverQuest. Maybe you were at one point, but your ardor has cooled. Maybe you never liked it. Whatever your opinion on the game, you can't deny that it had a massive impact on the face of MMOs as a whole. In a new interview, Brad McQuaid talks about the genesis of EverQuest through development and what the game looked like from the other side, before it was a known fact that the game would be a success or even functional.

And yes, according to McQuaid, there were several points at which the team was worried that the game wouldn't work at all. Between the issues of 3-D performance and network issues, it was far from a certainty that the game could be played and enjoyed by a large enough number of people. The difficulty level of the game wasn't on the list of worries -- from the design team's perspective, that was half of the enjoyment of the game. Read the full interview for more anecdotes and opinions about the early development of one of the first big MMO successes.

MassivelyBrad McQuaid reminisces about the birth of EverQuest originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brad-mcquaiddesigndevelopmentearly-gamesearly-mmoseqeverquestgaming-historyhistoryinterviewinterviewsretrospectivesoesony-online-entertainmentverantWed, 04 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: 2011, year of freedom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/a-mild-mannered-reporter-2011-year-of-freedom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/a-mild-mannered-reporter-2011-year-of-freedom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/a-mild-mannered-reporter-2011-year-of-freedom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
It's just about time for us to bit 2011 a fond farewell, something that I'm sure some of us will be glad to do. And just as I did last year, I thought now would be a good time to look back at the five biggest stories pertaining to City of Heroes over the last 12 months -- including the very obvious one. But there were other stories, some of which might not be about the game proper do but still impact the market.

I will definitely say that last year seemed to have a larger number of stories that shook up the status quo in the game. In comparison to last year's various major changes, Paragon Studios took this year in a bit more of a low-key route, the huge shift in the game's business model notwithstanding. But it was still a year of changes, just like every year, so let's take a trip down memory lane at my picks for the top five stories.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: 2011, year of freedom

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: 2011, year of freedom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncolumnscovcoxfeaturedncsoftnewsnews-storiesopinionparagonparagon-studiosretrospectiveWed, 28 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Eye of the earthquake]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/the-mog-log-eye-of-the-earthquake/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/the-mog-log-eye-of-the-earthquake/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/24/the-mog-log-eye-of-the-earthquake/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header image by A. Fienemann
This has not been a normal year. Not for me, certainly -- I certainly didn't expect back in January that I'd be facing a week without power later in the year -- but not for Final Fantasy XI or Final Fantasy XIV either. None of us was expecting both games to be shut down for a while in response to a horrible earthquake hitting Japan, for example. But barring something truly bizarre happening over the next week, the year is finally winding down to a close, so we can look back on what's taken place with analytical minds.

Even without the earthquake, though, this hasn't been a usual year for either game. Admittedly, Final Fantasy XIV hasn't had a "usual" year to use as a baseline, but it was certainly a tumultuous one for players and developers. And Final Fantasy XI... well, it's had an unusual year more in terms of what didn't happen. Take a look past the break as I take a look down memory lane.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Eye of the earthquake

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Eye of the earthquake originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>changescolumnearthquakefeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivopinion-the-mog-logpatchesretrospectivesquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logupdatesSat, 24 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Happy birthday Perpetuum!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/some-assembly-required-happy-birthday-perpetuum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/some-assembly-required-happy-birthday-perpetuum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/some-assembly-required-happy-birthday-perpetuum/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - blueprint header
Welcome back to Some Assembly Required, dear readers. This week marks something of a milestone for Perpetuum, the sci-fi sandbox set in the distant future on a far-flung planet known as Nia. Yes, the mech-based MMORPG has survived its first year (without a free-to-play conversion crutch!), and more than that, it's even grown a little bit. That's no small feat for an indie title in today's overcrowded MMO marketplace, never mind a niche sandbox that's been called a ground-based EVE Online.

Join me after the break for a recap of Perpetuum's first 12 months.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Happy birthday Perpetuum!

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Happy birthday Perpetuum! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1-year-anniversaryanniversaryanniversary-retrospectiveavataravatar-creationsccpccp-gameseveeve-onlineexpansionexpansionsfeaturedgame-mechanicsintrusionintrusion-2.0niaone-year-anniversaryopinionperpetuumplayer-contentplayer-economyplayer-generated-contentretrospectivesandboxsarsci-fisome-assembly-requiredterra-incognitaFri, 25 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/a-look-back-at-a-cataclysmic-year-for-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Year of the Dragon Who Perches On Stuff While Dripping Lava.
It's been a big year for World of Warcraft, especially considering that the MMO behemoth is currently hitting its seventh year of operation. Considering its nigh-ubiquitous nature in the MMO sphere, it's hard to imagine that there was a time without it. And this past year of the game almost perfectly synchronizes with the latest expansion, Cataclysm, an expansion that was bound and determined to head back to the old and re-work everything up to new standards.

So how did that work out? What's been happening with the game over the past year? Let's pick up in December because that's when the story really begins, a story that involves a dragon smashing huge chunks of both continents to pieces. The result was a complete revamp of the game's lower-level areas, the addition of several new high-level areas, and a redesign of the way the game handled progression. It kicked off a war against primal forces and Old Gods for players, and that's without even getting in to the mechanical shifts.

Continue reading A look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft

MassivelyA look back at a cataclysmic year for World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardanniversaryblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmexpansionsfeaturedmists-of-pandariamopopinionretrospectivetbcthe-burning-crusadeworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwow-cataclysmwrathWrath-of-the-Lich-KingWed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tattered Notebook: EQII turns seven, time for a retrospective]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/tattered-notebook-eqii-turns-seven-time-for-a-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/tattered-notebook-eqii-turns-seven-time-for-a-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/05/tattered-notebook-eqii-turns-seven-time-for-a-retrospective/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

EQII ring war
You can say a lot of things about EverQuest II's past year, but I'm sure everyone will agree that it's been memorable. A year ago, I had just begun my turn at the helm of this column, and it seems like the game is in a similar position now as it was back then, with a lot accomplished but even more unanswered questions. For a look back at the first six years, be sure to check out my retrospective column from last year. In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll play catch up and look back at the past year in EverQuest II and the events that shaped the game.

Continue reading Tattered Notebook: EQII turns seven, time for a retrospective

MassivelyTattered Notebook: EQII turns seven, time for a retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birthdayeq2eq2xeqiieqii-retrospectiveeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-2-extendedeverquest-iieverquest-ii-extendedfeaturedkaren-bryanRetrospectivetattered-notebookSat, 05 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist salutes Asheron's Call's 12th anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-game-archaeologist-salutes-asherons-calls-12th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-game-archaeologist-salutes-asherons-calls-12th-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-game-archaeologist-salutes-asherons-calls-12th-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Asheron's Call
Turning 12 is a wake-up call for most people because they realize that next year they will officially be teenagers. We just hope that Turbine's ready for that when Asheron's Call breaks curfew, sasses back, and starts developing a romantic interest in other MMOs.

One of the privileges of writing The Game Archaeologist column here on Massively is that I get to watch over these classic MMOs as they marinate in maturity. Despite new titles being announced or released literally every day, these long-running games are the established old guard that have nothing to prove at this point. It's hard not to be a little in awe of that and gush at it.

So congratulations to Asheron's Call, one of the first batch of 3-D MMOs that hit the scene back in the late '90s, for reaching its 12th anniversary! How bizarre is it to think that Asheron's Call came out the same year that we were freaking out about Y2K, seeing how far George Lucas could fall with The Phantom Menace, and paying about $1.22 a gallon for gas in the U.S.? AC almost seems legendary when you realize how far back it stretches.

Join us as we sing the praises of Dereth and its citizens after the jump!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist salutes Asheron's Call's 12th anniversary

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist salutes Asheron's Call's 12th anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12th-anniversary1999acandy-cataldoanniversaryasherons-callderetheqeverquestfeaturedgeorge-lucasretrospectivespecial-editionstatisticstestimoniesthe-game-archaeologistthe-phantom-menacetrailerturbineturbine-entertainmentvideoThu, 03 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Vindictus: A one-year retrospective]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/vindictus-a-one-year-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/vindictus-a-one-year-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/vindictus-a-one-year-retrospective/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Vindictus
It's time for a celebration, y'all. It's been a year since Nexon's popular physics-based hack-'n'-slash title, Vindictus, officially launched, and what a year it's been. Between constant content updates, seasonal events, awards, and more, Vindictus has had a rather successful first year, and it doesn't seem to show any signs of stopping.

So exactly how far has Vindictus come since the title's inception a year go? Well, follow along past the cut and join us as we take a short look at the game's history and find out how it holds up today.

Continue reading Vindictus: A one-year retrospective

MassivelyVindictus: A one-year retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdayf2pfeaturedfirst-anniversaryfirst-birthdayfree-to-playhands-onimpressionsnexonone-yearretrospectivesecond-impressionsvindictusThu, 27 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: A six-month retrospective]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-six-month-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-six-month-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/enter-at-your-own-rift-a-six-month-retrospective/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Rift invasion
About a year ago I was on a little show called The Rift Podcast with Arithion, Desi, and Trion Community Manager Cindy Bowens. It's hard to believe, but at the time, there was just a trickle of buzz surrounding RIFT and only a few details were available about the game. We're now six months into release, and it's worth taking a look back at some of the memorable moments for RIFT from beta and beyond. There have been many changes in-game, and while the ride wasn't always smooth, it's surprising how much has been added in game in such a short time.

In this week's Enter at your own Rift, we'll journey back to beta and look at some of the peaks and valleys as it reached its six-month milestone.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: A six-month retrospective

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: A six-month retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cindy-bowensenter-at-your-own-riftfeaturedhammerknellkaren-bryanplanar-attunementretrospectiveriftrift-connectrift-invasionsriver-of-soulsscott-hartsmantriontrion-worldsworld-eventsWed, 12 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: A year that wasn't]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/the-mog-log-a-year-that-wasnt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/the-mog-log-a-year-that-wasnt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/24/the-mog-log-a-year-that-wasnt/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header image by A. Fienemann
So it's been a year since the release of Final Fantasy XIV. Well, all right, that's a a bit debatable, what with the differing launch times for the collector's edition and the general retail edition, but for the purposes of this article and my own memory, I'm going to go ahead and focus on that one-year anniversary right now. I remember driving down to pick the game up a year ago on Thursday. That's close enough.

And there's a lot that's changed since the game was released. It's a well-known fact that I liked the game even in its initial state, but it had some pretty major issues and some points of lacking implementation. And it doesn't feel like we're a year out from launch as a result of all the things that the game has changed since launch, with each patch bringing not just new content but major overhauls to the existing game. So was there even a point to launching the game right then, considering both the reception and the fact that we're still without a subscription charge?

Continue reading The Mog Log: A year that wasn't

MassivelyThe Mog Log: A year that wasn't originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarydesignfeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivhiromichi-tanakalaunchesmajor-updatesnaoki-yoshidaopinionpatchesretrospectivesquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logSat, 24 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Winging right along]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/16/the-mog-log-winging-right-along/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/16/the-mog-log-winging-right-along/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/16/the-mog-log-winging-right-along/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Out of every expansion that Final Fantasy XI has sported, Wings of the Goddess feels the most incidental to me in some ways. Not that it was bad or unimportant or anything of the sort, just that it wasn't quite like the other expansions in the game's history. Part of that is because of the fact that it was released at a time when I was taking an extended break from Final Fantasy XI, but part of that is because it's probably the least ambitious of all the game's expansions.

Rise of the Zilaart was unambitious, but for most gamers in North America, it wasn't really a distinct expansion so much as another part of the core game. Chains of Promathia and Treasures of Aht Urhgan were both ambitious, with the former probably being the least successful of the lot and the latter probably standing out as the "best" expansion. That leaves WotG in the unenviable position of being the mediocre expansion, just good enough to beat out the nadir but not nearly good enough to reach the game's apex.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Winging right along

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Winging right along originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnexpansionfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiopinionretrospectivesquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logwings-of-the-goddessSat, 16 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The year of bionic chickens in review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/storyboard-the-year-of-bionic-chickens-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/storyboard-the-year-of-bionic-chickens-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/storyboard-the-year-of-bionic-chickens-in-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Saying "year one" sounds so pretentious. Besides, it wasn't year one for roleplaying -- just year one for the column, with this installment serving as the capstone. And as I'm wont to do on anniversaries, I'd like to take the opportunity to look back at what worked, what didn't, and what I could be doing to make the column a bit better.

Also: the header images. (I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the impromptu guessing game that's grown up around the headers' three images. I will also admit that's motivating today's image.)

When I first started the column, I had a loose list of things I wanted to address over time, some of which wound up coming out early on and some of which fell off the radar altogether. Despite that, I knew that Storyboard was going to be a tricky column to write, because it covers an immensely wide field of topics. We certainly have other roleplayers on staff writing columns about roleplaying in a given game, but I wanted to make this something bigger, to talk about roleplaying in a broad sense as well as specific. That meant -- and still means -- dancing around a lot of issues, working with a lot of different play styles, and trying to keep things entertaining for the entire audience.

Continue reading Storyboard: The year of bionic chickens in review

MassivelyStoryboard: The year of bionic chickens in review originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarycolumnfeaturedhindsightopinionretrospectiveroleplayingrpstoryboardFri, 20 May 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes posts the second part of its developer retrospective]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/city-of-heroes-posts-the-second-part-of-its-developer-retrospect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/city-of-heroes-posts-the-second-part-of-its-developer-retrospect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/city-of-heroes-posts-the-second-part-of-its-developer-retrospect/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you've been playing City of Heroes since its salad days, you're probably familiar with all of the many changes the game has seen since launch. But while player retrospectives are all well and good, it's rare that you get to find out developer memories of the game from launch to the present. The development team at Paragon Studios has previously released the first part of a retrospective on the game's early days, and the newest installment has just gone live today.

This retrospective focuses on the team's favorite City of Heroes videos as well as the experience of the game on launch and the most memorable moments from fan conventions. Whether you're a longtime player or you just picked the game up recently, it's a great chance to look back at the earliest days from release. And if you're still in a celebratory mood after the retrospective, it's probably worth noting that the game is hosting its reactivation week starting now.

MassivelyCity of Heroes posts the second part of its developer retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryanniversary-eventscity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxlaunchncsoftnostalgiaparagonparagon-studiosretrospectiveThu, 12 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[City of Heroes developers look back and show off the team]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/city-of-heroes-developers-look-back-and-show-off-the-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/city-of-heroes-developers-look-back-and-show-off-the-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/city-of-heroes-developers-look-back-and-show-off-the-team/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

While we've been taking our own stroll down memory lane with City of Heroes, there are people who haven't just been playing the game for seven years but actively working on it the whole time. With the anniversary still fresh in everyone's mind, the developers have begun posting a series of retrospectives on the game's past, with the first installment asking a number of staff members which of the game's several updates was the all-time best.

If that's not quite what you're looking for, today has also seen the latest issue of the Intrepid Informer, introducing players to VFX artist Keetsie Braz da Cunha. While the VFX team might not always be one of the most visible elements of the game, the little sparkles and shines are what gives City of Heroes its spark (pun intended). So take a look behind the scenes to see what it's like making superheroes look appropriately super along with fountains looking appropriately foamy.

MassivelyCity of Heroes developers look back and show off the team originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 May 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxkeetise-braz-da-cunhancsoftnostalgiaparagonparagon-studiosretrospectiveseven-year-anniversarystaffupdatesThu, 05 May 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Seven years in the city, part two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/a-mild-mannered-reporter-seven-years-in-the-city-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/a-mild-mannered-reporter-seven-years-in-the-city-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/a-mild-mannered-reporter-seven-years-in-the-city-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Welcome back to the second part of our look back through the past year of City of Heroes. The last installment, in case you missed it, discussed the first two issues that went live over the past year, Issue 17 and Issue 18. And here's a quick recap: They were pretty awesome, but they were lacking much for the high-end portion of the game. This time we're turning our gaze forward to the later two issues, the good and the bad.

And there was some bad that came with these updates, a certain level of unavoidable badness. I called this part of the game's history the fall of the unleveled empire, and while I don't think we've quite obtained empire status, there are those among us -- including me -- who either believed that leveling past a certain point would always be an option or believed at least that level-locking was something that happened to other games. Enough meandering about it -- let's finish up our look at City of Heroes in its seventh year of operation.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Seven years in the city, part two

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Seven years in the city, part two originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporteranniversarycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncovcoxfeaturedincarnate-systemincarnatesissue-19issue-19-strike-packissue-19.5issue-20ncsoftparagonparagon-studiospatchesretrospectivestrike-packupdatesWed, 04 May 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The right now in review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-right-now-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-right-now-in-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/20/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-right-now-in-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

About a year ago, we saw the six-year anniversary of City of Heroes, and along with the overly long and yet still not comprehensive retrospective, I wrote a column about what the game needed for the future. It was a reasonable column at the time, what with a year stretching out ahead of us, another potential competitor on the horizon, and the game's latest and greatest expansion still not available for play. But time makes liars of us all, and there are a lot of things that have happened over the past year.

So before we look back on the game over the past year, let's take a look at what we needed then, what's happened since, and where I was enormously wrong. (I'm nothing if not honest.) And let's also look around at games other than City of Heroes, because let's face it, if you're in the genre of superheroic MMOs, you can't ignore the other two competitors in the fairly narrow field. When I first talked about the future, we were awaiting DC Universe Online's launch, and we weren't expecting any big business-model moves out of Champions Online.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The right now in review

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: The right now in review originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporteranniversarycity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcolumncovcoxfeaturedncsoftoften-wrongopinionparagonparagon-studiosretrospectiveWed, 20 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Letter to the Black Prophecy community outlines the state of the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/letter-to-the-black-prophecy-community-outlines-the-state-of-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/letter-to-the-black-prophecy-community-outlines-the-state-of-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/letter-to-the-black-prophecy-community-outlines-the-state-of-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's been about a month since European players were able to head out to the black... Black Prophecy, that is. American players have been able to sign up for the closed beta, but it's not quite the same as the experience on the live servers. But whether you're in the beta or playing live, the new letter to the community from Patrick Streppel has plenty of interesting information about the current state of the game.

As Streppel puts it, while the game is still undergoing major polishing patches, both gamigo and Reakktor Media are confident with the game as a released free-to-play game. The game's first major patch is slated for June and will feature a variety of new endgame elements as well as a new weapon type. Further down the line, the development team wants to enhance the PvP experience to keep the two factions of the game's lore at odds and in conflict. Black Prophecy players and testers alike should read the letter, as it's an interesting look behind the scenes after the first month of launch.

MassivelyLetter to the Black Prophecy community outlines the state of the game originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testingblack-prophecycommunitydevelopmentf2pfree-to-playgamigolaunchpatrick-streppelreakktor-mediareleaseretrospectiveupcoming-contentupcoming-patchesThu, 14 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Darkfall's development history detailed in lengthy blog post]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/darkfalls-development-history-detailed-in-lengthy-blog-post/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/darkfalls-development-history-detailed-in-lengthy-blog-post/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/darkfalls-development-history-detailed-in-lengthy-blog-post/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Sandbox MMOs attract a certain type of player. They also attract a certain type of developer, and one such former Darkfall programmer has penned a lengthy retrospective piece examining the history of the fantasy title from 1997 to the present. Yes, we said 1997, as that's when Darkfall was originally conceived.

Ricki Sickenger writes about everything from the bursting of the dot com bubble (which affected Darkfall's investor relations during the Razorwax days) to a 1999 issue of Game Developer Magazine -- and a John Carmack quote -- that inspired Darkfall's devs and prompted them to use Java for the game's logic.

Sickenger's blog post is technically oriented, and non-programmers may experience a bit of glassy-eyed indifference when he goes into the details of the team's unique approach to Java and C++, but it's nonetheless a fascinating report from the front lines of one of the more successful indie MMORPGs in recent memory.

MassivelyDarkfall's development history detailed in lengthy blog post originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aventurineaventurine-sadarkfalldarkfall-onlinedev-blogdev-diarydevelopmentfantasypvepvpretrospectivericki-sickengersandboxMon, 07 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Istaria's development team looks back and forges ahead]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/istarias-development-team-looks-back-and-forges-ahead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/istarias-development-team-looks-back-and-forges-ahead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/istarias-development-team-looks-back-and-forges-ahead/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

For a lot of gamers, Istaria's main point of fame is the fact that it's the game in which you can play as a dragon, which is a bit reductive of the game as a whole, a game that underwent significant changes and improvements over the past year. A retrospective was recently put together by the development team to highlight the upgrades that the game has seen, including a revamped mid-game content band and a general re-evaluation of some of the less clear-cut quest objectives.

But there's always room to improve, something the team is acutely aware of. In a companion piece, the core principles of the game are outlined along with design goals for the next year, including greater integration between the bipedal and draconic potions of the game, more connection between adventurers and crafters, and a broad enhancement to keeping the first few moments in the game as memorable as possible. Istaria fans should be happy to see the design goals stated so openly, and it's to the team's credit that it's aiming high for this year's patches.

[Thanks to Joe for the tip!]

MassivelyIstaria's development team looks back and forges ahead originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designdesign-principlesdevelopmentdragonsfuture-patcheshorizonsIstariaistaria-chronicles-of-the-giftedpast-patchespatch-plansretrospectivevirtriumFri, 04 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Terrible twos? A look at Darkfall on its second anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/terrible-twos-a-look-at-darkfall-on-its-second-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/terrible-twos-a-look-at-darkfall-on-its-second-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/terrible-twos-a-look-at-darkfall-on-its-second-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's hard to believe that two years have passed in the lands of Agon, but passed they have, and Darkfall is celebrating its second anniversary this week. Aventurine's FFA PvP sandbox title has turned out to be one of the more resilient MMORPGs in recent memory, surviving a disastrous launch and a lingering (and undeserved) reputation as a haven for parolees, sociopaths, and griefers. It's also managed to grow its dev team, release three expansions, and carve out a respectable niche for itself in an increasingly competitive massive industry.

What's the secret to the game's success? Can Aventurine become the next CCP and ride the coattails of a non-linear MMORPG to indie greatness? Is Darkfall, purportedly the hardest of the hardcore PvP games, really a fantastic PvE sandbox in disguise? Join us after the cut for some thoughts on these topics as well as a peek at the highlights from Darkfall's first two years.

Continue reading Terrible twos? A look at Darkfall on its second anniversary

MassivelyTerrible twos? A look at Darkfall on its second anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2-year-anniversaryanniversaryaventurineaventurine-saconquer-the-seascorspe-lootingdarkfalldarkfall-onlineexpansionsfantasyfeaturedffaforumfallfull-loothellfreezeopinionpvepvpretrospectivesiegestwo-year-anniversaryFri, 25 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Agenda: Year one retrospective and interview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/01/global-agenda-year-one-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/01/global-agenda-year-one-retrospective/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/01/global-agenda-year-one-retrospective/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

What a difference a year makes, eh? Round about February of 2010, Hi-Rez Studios was an unknown indie developer gearing up to unleash a newfangled "spy-fi" shooter on an unsuspecting populace. Fast forward 12 months and Global Agenda has morphed from a relatively standard Team Fortress-style kill-'em-all to an actual MMO. Killing is still the order of the day, as few MMOs are so completely focused on fast-paced bloodletting, but Global Agenda has added an impressive amount of bulk over the past year, with more on the way.

Hi-Rez also managed to successfully change the game's business model in 2010 and ultimately ended up molding Global Agenda into one of our favorite MMOs. Suit up, grab your crescent jetpacks, and fly past the cut for a few reasons why as well as a look at the game's evolution to date. There's even an interview with Hi-Rez's Todd Harris on page two!

Continue reading Global Agenda: Year one retrospective and interview

MassivelyGlobal Agenda: Year one retrospective and interview originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1-year-anniversary1-year-oldanniversaryf2pfree-to-playglobal-agendaglobal-agenda-conquestglobal-agenda-hi-rezglobal-agenda-patch-1.1global-agenda-patch-1.3global-agenda-sandstormhi-rezhi-rez-global-agendahi-rez-studiosone-year-anniversaryretrospectivesandstormsandstorm-global-agendasandstorm-patchsandstorm-phase-2sci-fishooterTue, 01 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: A year of two games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/29/the-mog-log-a-year-of-two-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/29/the-mog-log-a-year-of-two-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/29/the-mog-log-a-year-of-two-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's really hard to believe that I've been writing this column for an entire year, especially when the start of it seems so fresh in my mind. Back in January of 2010, the first installment went live on a Sunday, sort of a television-style early premier event before moving to a regular timeslot on Saturday. Though it was mostly a collection of links to useful sites for fans of Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV, it was still the start of something that's clearly stood the test of time, at least a year's worth.

To be totally accurate, I should say that the first anniversary of the column fell on Monday. But I decided to go a little bit later than an exact year, so this week is when we're looking back over the past year of columns. And it's been an interesting time to be doing such a column, since we've had a rollercoaster ride with Final Fantasy XIV's launch and subsequent issues, not to mention the groundswell of content for Final Fantasy XI. So I'm going to take a look back to see what worked, what didn't, and what would best be never spoken of again.

Continue reading The Mog Log: A year of two games

MassivelyThe Mog Log: A year of two games originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010-in-reviewarchivecolumnsfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivnostalgiaopinionpast-columnspast-discussionsretrospectivesquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logSat, 29 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploring Eberron: The calm before the storm]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/exploring-eberron-the-calm-before-the-storm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/exploring-eberron-the-calm-before-the-storm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/28/exploring-eberron-the-calm-before-the-storm/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Dungeons and Dragons Online will be celebrating its fifth birthday in exactly one month. There's no doubt that the game has come a very long way in the past five years, bringing wonderful or horrible changes, depending on whom you ask.

Turbine is hinting at big things coming during the month of February as part of the events commemorating the fifth anniversary, but since all is quiet for now, I thought it might be a good time to look at how Turbine has done things up to this point and at what's planned for Exploring Eberron in February.

Before we continue, I want to mention a great sale in the DDO store. The store is always marking down some item or another, but this one is broader than the standard "20% off this or that" sale. (Not that those aren't great -- we all love to save our Turbine Points!) This weekend's sale knocks half the point cost off all XP, SP, and HP potions, so it's a great time to stock up.

Follow along after the jump and let's start gearing up for February!

Continue reading Exploring Eberron: The calm before the storm

MassivelyExploring Eberron: The calm before the storm originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5th-anniversaryanniversaryddoDungeons-and-Dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineexploring-eberronfeaturedfifth-anniversaryRetrospectiveturbineTurbine-EntertainmentFri, 28 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Auld lang syne]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/26/a-mild-mannered-reporter-auld-lang-syne/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/26/a-mild-mannered-reporter-auld-lang-syne/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/26/a-mild-mannered-reporter-auld-lang-syne/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A year ago on January 27th, viewers of the site were treated to a header image in which Mr. Swift poked hopelessly at a keyboard. This was the header for the first installment (or "issue" if you want to be thematic) of A Mild-Mannered Reporter, covering all things City of Heroes. And for those of you who are just now glancing at your calendar, yes, that was just about a year ago.

Those of you who remembered my sign-off for the last column (the one that mentioned this would be an anniversary column) are in slightly better shape. These things happen once a year, and I figured one day early is better than six days late.

And it's been quite a year for the game and the column alike, with plenty to talk about every Wednesday. So let's take a trip down memory lane and look back at a year of the column with another year just around the corner. If you're just coming into the column now, or if you want to look back at some old favorites, now's the time.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Auld lang syne

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Auld lang syne originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reportercity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxfeaturedgame-guidesgame-mechanicsgoing-rogueguideslooking-backmemory-lanencsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosretrospectiveWed, 26 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: I left my heart in Whitegate]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/15/the-mog-log-i-left-my-heart-in-whitegate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/15/the-mog-log-i-left-my-heart-in-whitegate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/15/the-mog-log-i-left-my-heart-in-whitegate/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There's still nothing much happening in Final Fantasy XI or Final Fantasy XIV at the moment. Well, OK, there's plenty happening, just not a great deal of news to discuss. I imagine that won't last very long, especially with the Final Fantasy XIV poll having ended on Friday, but right now seems like the perfect time to reflect on the past. And that inevitably leads me back to Final Fantasy XI, to my favorite expansion and the one that feels most vibrant to a North American player.

Treasures of Aht Urhgan wasn't the only expansion that was released here, naturally, but it was unique in the game's lifespan. Rise of the Zilaart came with the game from the initial NA launch, Chains of Promathia produced very divided opinions (which several columns covered, if you missed it), and Wings of the Goddess is really just a slight funhouse reflection of Vana'diel proper. But Aht Urghan was new, vibrant, and the sort of expansion you could really sink your teeth into. It was, I'd say, the best one the series had.

Continue reading The Mog Log: I left my heart in Whitegate

MassivelyThe Mog Log: I left my heart in Whitegate originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assaultbackstorybesiegedblue-mageclassescorsairfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiin-hindsightloremissionsopinionpuppetmasterretrospectivesquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logtreasures-of-aht-urhganSat, 15 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Community and what it means in game development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/flameseeker-chronicles-community-and-what-it-means-in-game-deve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/flameseeker-chronicles-community-and-what-it-means-in-game-deve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/10/flameseeker-chronicles-community-and-what-it-means-in-game-deve/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last week, I did an analysis and recap of ArenaNet's Retrospective video. The recap was released at the same time as the video, so at the time I had no clue what community reaction would be. Because of this, I was watching the general feedback with great interest, and I found that a lot of commentary focused on a particular quote from Chris Lye -- one that I particularly enjoyed. "You know, we're not a video game company, we're a community building company. We just happen to have one of the coolest ways to build a community, which is through a video game."

It's an attitude shared by pretty much the entire ArenaNet staff, and it's one that drew a bit of criticism and a lot of discussion in game and on the forums. Follow along after the jump as I take a peek at the pros and cons of this philosophy.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Community and what it means in game development

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Community and what it means in game development originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetarenanet-retrospectivefeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesguild-warsGuild-Wars-2gwgw2ncsoftretrospectiveMon, 10 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Greatest Hits Vol. 2010]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/19/the-anvil-of-crom-greatest-hits-vol-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/19/the-anvil-of-crom-greatest-hits-vol-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/19/the-anvil-of-crom-greatest-hits-vol-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Oh no! It's the end of a calendar year! It's that arbitrary point in space and time at which bloggers, journalists, and basically anyone who makes a living via the written word foists off a bunch of top 10 (or five, or other random number) lists on his loyal readers. Sadly folks, I'm no different, and though I'll gladly poke fun at the tradition, I'll also engage in it this week here at The Anvil of Crom.

Looking back, it's been quite an eventful year, both for Age of Conan and for Massively's coverage of the game. From the Rise of the Godslayer expansion to the various nerfs, buffs, rants, and interviews, 2010 has been one for the Hyborian history books.

Turn the page for eight reasons why.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Greatest Hits Vol. 2010

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Greatest Hits Vol. 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010age-of-conananvil-of-cromaocchristmas-2010controversyend-of-the-yearend-of-the-year-2010f2pfeaturedfree-to-playholiday-2010opinionretrospectiverise-of-the-godslayerrounduproundupsthe-anvil-of-cromtop-8Sun, 19 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: Six years of EverQuest II]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/the-tattered-notebook-six-years-of-everquest-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/the-tattered-notebook-six-years-of-everquest-ii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/the-tattered-notebook-six-years-of-everquest-ii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I looked down at the dog-eared journal and shivered. As excited as I was to finally be in possession of The Tattered Notebook, I recalled the fates of its previous owners. First, seemingly out of madness, Seccia made a sudden and unexpected career change to blog about kittens. Now, Scarve, a Ratonga, has disappeared in the night, leaving behind only a wedge of cheese, this tattered notebook, and a tiny stuffed Kerran doll. Rumors spread of his appearance among a shadowy cult of Gnomish tinkerers, but it's unclear whether he's with them by choice or by force.

Regardless, I took a deep breath and opened the cover. What a perfect time to begin adding my entries to the journal, right at the celebration of EverQuest II's six-year anniversary! To celebrate, the game is holding its second annual Festival of Heroes, from November 19-30. In honor of this milestone, my first entry into The Tattered Notebook is a retrospective of those past six years, with an eye towards the future.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Six years of EverQuest II

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Six years of EverQuest II originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-packanniversaryappearance-slotbillybirthdaybloodline-chroniclesdesert-of-flamesechoes-of-faydwereqEQ2EQIIeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iiexchangeexchange-serversf2pfallen-dynastyfan-fairefan-faire-2010featuredfestival-of-heroesfree-to-playfreemiumhousingkingdom-of-skymarketplaceNorrathplayer-housingRetrospectiverise-of-kunarksentinels-fateSOEsoe-eq-2SONYSony-Online-Entertainmentsplitpaw-sagathe-shadow-odysseythe-tattered-notebookMon, 08 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Five years of scum and villainy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-five-years-of-scum-and-villainy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-five-years-of-scum-and-villainy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/a-mild-mannered-reporter-five-years-of-scum-and-villainy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Let's face it, being a supervillain is fun. Sure, you root for the hero, because blowing up the entirety of California would probably be a bad thing, but in your heart you think that having come up with a plan to wipe out an entire state is pretty darn cool. City of Heroes might have launched letting players just take the role of a heroic sort, but five years ago tomorrow, they launched the game's first expansion, the appropriately named City of Villains.

Of course, these days few players think of CoV as an expansion. Since the two games were merged two years ago, the very concept seems almost ridiculous, and the two have long felt like halves of a whole. City of Heroes is generally accepted as the name of the game, despite a better fashion sense and leveling experience over in the Rogue Isles. But let's take a step back through to 2005 and honor this hive of scum and... well, you know the rest.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Five years of scum and villainy

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Five years of scum and villainy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypescity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclass-balanceclass-dynamicsclassescohcovcoxexpansionexpansionsfeaturedmissionsncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospvpretrospectivetextwritingWed, 27 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST