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: Risk vs. reward in lowsec]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/eve-evolved-risk-vs-reward-in-lowsec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/eve-evolved-risk-vs-reward-in-lowsec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/eve-evolved-risk-vs-reward-in-lowsec/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
In EVE Online's early years, one of its core design philosophies was adherence to a strict risk vs. reward balance scheme. There were riches out there to be found, but to get them, you had to put yourself in the firing line. Police ships patrolled high-security space to keep players safe from piracy, but the only resources available there were low-bounty frigate NPCs and inexpensive ores like Veldspar, Scordite and Omber. In the lawless far-reaches of nullsec, huge NPC bounties and rare ores containing Megacyte and Zydrine tempted hundreds of pilots to head out and make their fortunes.

Nullsec offered absolutely no protection against player attacks, and the only safety to be found was in sheer military force. The biggest and best corporations hoarded these gold mines for themselves, locking down the few entrances into the regions and patrolling the skies for unwanted visitors. Low-security space offered a middle-ground between these two extremes, a place where the everyday pilot could enjoy increased income and pirates were easier to spot. At some time in the past nine years, lowsec lost its place in the game and became simply not worth the effort. But how did that happen, and what can be done to fix it?

In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at why lowsec systems are now ghost towns and suggest an alternative design philosophy that I think could revitalise these under-used areas.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Risk vs. reward in lowsec

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Risk vs. reward in lowsec originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balanceblast-miningbooster-manufacturingboostersccpccp-gamesconcordcriminalcriminalitydrug-manufacturingdrugseveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedhighsecillegallowsecmission-runningmissionsnullsecopinionrewardriskrisk-vs-rewardsandboxsci-fismugglersmugglingSun, 13 May 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lineage II celebrates Play Your Way with October Bonanza]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/lineage-ii-celebrates-play-your-way-with-october-bonanza/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/lineage-ii-celebrates-play-your-way-with-october-bonanza/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/13/lineage-ii-celebrates-play-your-way-with-october-bonanza/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Lineage II -- October Bonanza banner
Lineage II players, are you ready for a bonanza!? If you said no, then too bad! To celebrate the game's new Play Your Way business model, NCSoft is throwing an October Bonanza that players surely don't want to miss.

It all kicked off on October 12th with new Loyalty Subscription Gifts. Any player who purchases a new subscription between now and the 31st of October will receive some fine gifts, including a Dynasty Weapon Box and five Birthday Present Packs.

On top of that, from October 19th until November 2nd, players will be receiving weekly thank-you gifts from NCSoft to show the studio's gratification to them for their loyalty. These gifts are Potion Support Packs, a Supplies Support Pack, and a Dimensional Support Pack.

And last up, NCSoft's Player Commendation event will be beginning on the 19th and continuing until November 9th. During this event, players will receive a 50% XP bonus and a 100% Fame boost, a buffing blessing, and the ability to gain Player Commendation points, or PC points. PC Points are points earned just for being logged into the game, which accumulate over time and can be exchanged for a variety of useful items.

For the full details on the upcoming event, check out Lineage II's official site.

MassivelyLineage II celebrates Play Your Way with October Bonanza originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bonanzalineage-2lineage-iiloyaltyncsoftoctober-bonanzaplayer-commendationpromotionrewardrewardsThu, 13 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ARGO Online celebrates new ranking system with contest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/argo-online-celebrates-new-ranking-system-with-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/argo-online-celebrates-new-ranking-system-with-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/29/argo-online-celebrates-new-ranking-system-with-contest/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Games paying us to play? Ridiculous! What's next -- dogs and cats sleeping together? Mass hysteria?

'Tis true, dear readers; ARGO Online is rewarding top players with in-game AP worth hundreds of real-world dollars. This giveaway is part of a promotion to celebrate ARGO's brand-new ranking system, in which players can compete to see who accumulates the most XP in each level tier. There's also a second ranking ladder that lists players according to wins and losses.

During this month, alaplaya is tallying up the initial pack leaders and will be rewarding the best of the best with in-game currency at the end of the 30 days. Lowest level characters have a shot at $50 worth of AP while level-capped folks can compete for $150. In total, alaplaya is giving out $500 just for players giving ARGO their all, which is a pretty sweet deal for those already into the game.

If ARGO Online is an unknown entity to you, check out our first impressions and see if it's up your alley!

MassivelyARGO Online celebrates new ranking system with contest originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alaplayaapargoargo-onlineawardawardscontestin-game-currencyplayer-rankingrankingranking-ladderranking-systemrewardrewardsFri, 29 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online gains profits and players as a free-to-play [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/champions-online-gains-profits-and-players-as-a-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/champions-online-gains-profits-and-players-as-a-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/17/champions-online-gains-profits-and-players-as-a-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Since Champions Online's relaunch as a free-to-play title a little less than a month ago, any player who has logged into the game has undoubtedly noticed the sheer number of folks running around Millennium City and environs. There are spandex-clad super-people everywhere you look, and groups are significantly easier to get. These are all good things for MMO players! Today we're also treated to the first official word on the success of the relaunch from Cryptic Studios and Atari, which both declare that the move to free-to-play has been -- as we suspected -- a huge success. To celebrate, they're offering all players, both subscribed and free-to-play, a thank-you gift for helping to make the game's reboot so great!

The present offered is a free experience-boosting item that can be picked up from the Champions Online C-Store for at least the next little while. While the companies have not released any specific subscriber or traffic numbers, they have noted that unique logins, concurrent users, and revenue totals have increased by "over 1,000 percent" since Champions Online went free-to-play. As John Needham, CEO of Cryptic Studios, stated in the release: "We're extremely proud of what the Champions team has accomplished with the Free for All launch. It's a pleasure to thank our fans and welcome new ones with this gift." As for how long the gift will be around and whether it is one per account or one per character is currently anyone's guess as the item does not appear to be in the C-Store as of this writing. The gift appears to be a one-hour, 20% experience boost that you can acquire once per account. They also appear to be tradable!

[Update: We've updated this post as the gift is now available in the C-Store, and we've also added the most recent trailer behind the cut. Enjoy! And guys... remember to keep the comments clean and on track with our CoC!]

Continue reading Champions Online gains profits and players as a free-to-play [Updated]

MassivelyChampions Online gains profits and players as a free-to-play [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1000-percent-increaseataric-storechampions-onlinecoconcurrent-usersconversioncrypticcryptic-studiosexperience-boostexperience-boosterf2pfreefree-for-allfree-to-playfreebieJohn-needhamnumbersrebootrelaunchrestartrewardTrailerVideoThu, 17 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite title?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/23/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-title/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/23/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-title/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/23/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-title/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In real life, many of us lack a distinguished title. Oh sure, sometimes we get called "Sport" when someone forgets our name, or "Stupid Lady!" when we drive over a dog, but the "Reverends" and "Doctors" and "Honorables" and "Flag Admirals" tend to escape our grasp. What do you have to do to get one of these? Pay a hundred bucks at the DMV?

Happily, MMOs are more than willing to dispense titles -- AKA "Name Bling" -- to any and all who show up and perhaps slaughter a town's worth of critters. Warhammer Online, Star Trek Online, Lord of the Rings Online and many of the new MMOs boast a title system. And why not? After all, it's one of the easiest reward systems to throw into the game from the devs' side, and players just go nuts over them.

So what title is your absolute favorite, and what did you have to do to earn it? I was always partial to WAR's "AHHHHHHH" title, which was earned by falling to your death 25 times. Because if you're that accident-prone, you might as well get compensated for it. What about you?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your favorite title? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ahhhhhhhdoctorflag-admiralhonorablelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionreverendrewardsportstar-trek-onlinestotdgthe-daily-grindtitletitleswarwarhammer-onlineThu, 23 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tales of Fantasy set to begin alpha]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/08/tales-of-fantasy-set-to-begin-alpha/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/08/tales-of-fantasy-set-to-begin-alpha/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/08/tales-of-fantasy-set-to-begin-alpha/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Things are liable to get busy in the Tales of Fantasy community, because starting on March 10th the upcoming free-to-play MMO will be entering its alpha phase. IGG has already invited established guilds to jump into the Alpha and have at it, but will be sweetening the deal with copious rewards, too.

The actual reward is 2,000 Platinum given to the winning guild as well as special gift packages for each individual guild member. What's interesting is that these rewards are for the eventual closed beta, making them all slightly less permanent. Of course, we're pretty certain that most people will be pleased enough with getting into the alpha test to begin with. And really, that's a lot of in-game money to throw around. What do you want to bet guild leaders are already considering keeping it all to themselves?

MassivelyTales of Fantasy set to begin alpha originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphabetaclosed-betacontestf2pfree-to-playguildguildsiggopen-betarewardtales-of-fantasytales-of-fantasy-gametales-of-fantasy-mmotesttofMon, 08 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: The Darkfall prophecies pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/anti-aliased-the-darkfall-prophecies-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/anti-aliased-the-darkfall-prophecies-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/anti-aliased-the-darkfall-prophecies-pt-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The double-edged sword to this is that the player is going to require a time investment. It's going to take more than stats and big numbers to win battles in these parts, and those things take time to learn. Knowing the environments, knowing how to gauge enemies, and knowing where to go in case of emergency are going to be things that are learned through use and not by giant pointing arrows or help boxes.

But, when you do learn them, you'll probably find that you'll enjoy this game more than other games on the market. Once again, talk to any EVE player who's ever killed another player or destroyed a player-owned station, or done anything of note. They'll talk excitedly and smile the entire time they tell you the story.

Epic is more than just purple text, it's a philosophy

The number one reason to get your hands on Darkfall seems to be the environment itself. Exploration is finally a viable option, as exploring can lead you to some amazing discoveries and treasures. Cities seem to be well designed and crafted from the limited view we've been presented with. And, of course, some of the scenes are amazingly gorgeous and worthy of a fantasy novel.

All of this is heightened by the tension that an ambush can happen at any moment. Things could go from blissfully calm to deadly in a heartbeat. Player action is the root of the game, and not an incidental item left outside of the menu. The design is set up so that players drive what the game has to offer, a page taken directly from EVE Online's book of plays.

Games should stop telling their players that things are epic, and instead make players feel like things are epic. Darkfall seems to understand this, and incorporates it into as many aspects of their design as possible.

So, what's the final word?

Even with all of these good things in store, even with the looks we have of the game, I'm going to be bluntly honest. Darkfall's hype is bigger than it's bite. We're not looking at the savior of MMOs or anything like that. Players are going to walk away feeling disappointed not because Darkfall is a bad game, but because they may not understand what they're getting into.

Darkfall will be a good, solid game that will follow up on amazing concepts, but those concepts are not made for the general population of players. Let me stress that this is not a bad thing. Darkfall will certainly have a home amongst the well made games of our time. But players who are buying into the hype and not researching what they're getting into may find that this may not be the game for them.

Players with backgrounds in Lineage II, EVE Online, and Ultima Online will find things to love here. But players with more modern MMO experience, like World of Warcraft or Lord of the Rings Online, may find that the game world is too harsh and unforgiving.

But if you can get through that harshness and stick it out, you're going to find experiences in this game that you will be completely unable to find in other games. You will walk away from Darkfall with tales to tell your friends, I guarantee it.
Colin Brennan is the weekly writer of Anti-Aliased who is interested, yet cautious, about Darkfall Online. When he's not writing here for Massively, he's over running Epic Loot For All! with his insane friends. If you want to message him, send him an e-mail at colin.brennan AT weblogsinc DOT com.

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: The Darkfall prophecies pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aventurinedarkfallepichypeopinionpvprewardriskWed, 21 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: The Darkfall prophecies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/anti-aliased-the-darkfall-prophecies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/anti-aliased-the-darkfall-prophecies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/anti-aliased-the-darkfall-prophecies/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Darkfall. Everyone talks about it. Our mailboxes get flooded with requests about it. Comments regarding the game are both frothingly energetic and intensely angry. Just writing a piece about it can get a writer wacked.

So, let me paint a giant target on my back, cover myself in delicious meat, and walk right into the lion's den of MMOs. This column is dedicated to Darkfall's gameplay mechanics; presenting an analysis of what we know so far from released beta tester announcements and gameplay footage. This is, by no means, a comprehensive analysis of everything Darkfall has to offer. This is just one man's opinion column at work, looking at the ups and downs of what Darkfall might bring to the table.

I'm doing all of this to answer one eerily simple yet dastardly complex question: Can Darkfall live up to the hype around it?

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: The Darkfall prophecies

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: The Darkfall prophecies originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedaventurinecitiescity-buildingcity-siegedarkfalldarkfall-onlineepicfeaturedjoystiqfeaturesopinionpvpquestsraidrewardriskWed, 21 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mark Jacobs on changes to WAR's open RvR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/25/mark-jacobs-on-changes-to-wars-open-rvr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/25/mark-jacobs-on-changes-to-wars-open-rvr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/25/mark-jacobs-on-changes-to-wars-open-rvr/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Mythic Entertainment's Mark Jacobs posted a Warhammer Online dev blog today, titled "Open RvR Update" which maps out the future of open realm-vs-realm in the game. Jacobs writes that the coming months will bring some changes and additions to WAR:
  • An RvR Influence system. "This system is designed to reward our oRvR players with lots of new stuff that you can only get through oRvR," he says.
  • Increased visibility of open RvR, made possible through numerous improvements such as improved maps and travel systems, second bind points, a campaign HUD, and tier-wide messaging about the status of battlefield objectives and keeps.
  • Greater incentives for oRvR participation, namely through keep quests, 'Daily Event Quests,' and chained RvR missions.
  • Better rewards for guilds that take and control keeps, and a system of keep upgrades.
  • Allowing characters to gain oRvR "Fame", linked to the Tome of Knowledge and thus rewards, titles, and experience that come with oRvR success.
Jacobs cautions though, "Please keep in mind that these changes/systems apply to oRvR only and not to scenarios. This is not all we are working on but these do reflect the majority of oRvR additions that we are currently working on/planning for the next few months." Jacobs hopes that open RvR enhancements will inject more risk and challenge into this aspect of the game, and ultimately more rewards. Check out his dev blog where he outlines the changes to open RvR and let us know, do you think Mythic is headed in the right direction with this system revamp?
Warhammer Online Coverage Did you enjoy this? Make sure to check out our Warhammer guides: Massively's Character Creation Guide and our WoW Player's Guide to Warhammer. Plus, don't miss any of our ongoing coverage as Massively goes to WAR!

MassivelyMark Jacobs on changes to WAR's open RvR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementsbreakingdev-blogexperiencefamefantasygame-mechanicsguildsmark-jacobsmmo-industrymythicmythic-entertainmentopen-rvrpvpquestsrealm-vs-realmrewardriskrvrtitlestome-of-knowledgewarwarhammer-onlineTue, 25 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[What draws players to EVE while keeping others away?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/17/what-draws-players-to-eve-while-keeping-others-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/17/what-draws-players-to-eve-while-keeping-others-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/17/what-draws-players-to-eve-while-keeping-others-away/#commentsFiled under: , ,


EVE Online is the type of game that doesn't have the broad appeal of fantasy that titles like World of Warcraft. Certainly, it attracts a number of players who are looking for an edgier game experience where actions have consequences. For some, the consequences can be steep, causing those gamers to shy away from EVE. Being wary of your fellow pilots is always a good idea, but it's not all piracy and suicide ganks. The game offers freedom to do what you want in the sandbox, but most EVE pilots stay on the right side of the law.

Sam Guss is a writer at EVE-Mag.com, an up and coming site that focuses on EVE Online, who wrote a piece that caught our eye at Massively. His article is titled "Is EVE for You?" and looks at what the attraction to the game is for him, and speculates about the wider appeal of EVE to other dedicated players. If you're an EVE fan, what is it that sets the game apart from other MMOs? And for those that don't play EVE Online, what aspects of the game keep you away?

MassivelyWhat draws players to EVE while keeping others away? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capsuleercarebearcarebearsccpccp-gamesconsequenceseveeve-mageve-onlinegankhardcorehighseclowsecopinionpilotpiracypiraterewardrewardsriskriskssam-gusssandboxsci-fisuicide-gankSun, 17 Aug 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The high price of trust in EVE]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/10/the-high-price-of-trust-in-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/10/the-high-price-of-trust-in-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/10/the-high-price-of-trust-in-eve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Trust is a rare commodity in EVE Online, and is one of those aspects of the game that makes it at once interesting and frustrating. That friendly person who offers you assistance in a mission, wants to sell you a faction module, or seeks to join your corporation may very well be waiting to backstab you when you least expect it. This might sound bad, but it's not necessarily a terrible thing in terms of enjoying the game. Indeed, some may feel that it adds to the risk inherent in EVE, and thus the thrill. The fact that players can manipulate trust within the rules of the game is one of the aspects of EVE that sets it apart from most other MMOs.

The risk vs. reward stakes are raised when trust comes into play with groups of players. Collective action through corporations or alliances will, at some point in time, entail trust. It may be a CEO or director lifting restrictions on access to resources for a member of the corp, hoping that the faith placed in the recruit wasn't a bad move. In other scenarios, the situation is reversed -- a director decides to cut and run, seizing assets and leaving the corporation shocked and understandably enraged.

Continue reading The high price of trust in EVE

MassivelyThe high price of trust in EVE originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliancebetrayalccpccp-gamesceocorpcorp-theftcorp-thiefcorporationcrimeculturedirectoreveeve-mageve-onlinegame-mechanicsopinionpoliticsrewardrisksci-fisoleramnustrustSun, 10 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The freedom of living in EVE Online's lawless space]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/10/the-freedom-of-living-in-eve-onlines-lawless-space/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/10/the-freedom-of-living-in-eve-onlines-lawless-space/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/10/the-freedom-of-living-in-eve-onlines-lawless-space/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In EVE Online, there are few things as feared by highsec dwellers as going into 0.0 space. These lawless tracts of New Eden do come with certain perils -- as CONCORD isn't there to protect you -- but there are arguably more benefits to flying in 0.0 than there are drawbacks. Still, there will always be a dichotomy in EVE between players who like the game for the freedom 0.0 offers, and those who prefer the safety of highsec.

In 'Living the good life in 0.0,' EVE blogger Xiphos explains his choice to leave Empire space behind. "In 0.0, you are free. Free of Concord, free of hundreds of players, and free to set your own destiny... it is the untamed wild west, where fortune, power, and glory are right for the taking and few have yet to reach out and grasp it," Xiphos writes. Of course, being a member of Agony Unleashed, an EVE corp that provides in-game PvP courses, doesn't hurt in terms of knowing how to handle yourself in 0.0. Have a look at 'Living the good life in 0.0' and see Xiphos' take on the appeal of flying in lawless space. Do you agree with Xiphos' view of the game, and have you largely abandoned highsec in favor of 0.0 and all that comes with it, or simply to experience the most from the game?

[Via CrazyKinux]

MassivelyThe freedom of living in EVE Online's lawless space originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>0.0agony-unleashedbloggercarebearccpccp-gamesconcordempireeveeve-onlinehighseclawlesslowsecopinionpvprewardrisksci-fixiphosSun, 10 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO MMOnkey: The rat Skinner, or negative reinforcement in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/mmo-mmonkey-the-rat-skinner-or-negative-reinforcement-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/mmo-mmonkey-the-rat-skinner-or-negative-reinforcement-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/mmo-mmonkey-the-rat-skinner-or-negative-reinforcement-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Kanchek - Ancient Rat Warrior, painting by Ed Cox
Like the wardens in Everquest 2 or the druids in World of Warcraft, reinforcement in MMOs is not always what it appears to be. In an earlier column we wrote about how positive reinforcement, as defined by behaviorist learning theory, occurs whenever the player receives something beneficial and pointed out a number of the simple ways this kind of reinforcement is used in MMOs. A second column used the bounty and collection quests in EQ2 as examples of how positive reinforcement could be well (the bounty quests) or poorly (the collection quests) implemented.

Several Massively readers who enjoy the collection quests took us to task and pointed out some of the ways EQ2's collection quests can be rewarding in terms of gold, experience and loot. They also made the point that bounty quests, like hot elf chicks, are old, tired and overused as staples of MMO play. I mean, really, who wants to kill another 20 rats for Fatboy the quest giver? Not me, and I'm guessing many of you don't either.

Continue reading MMO MMOnkey: The rat Skinner, or negative reinforcement in MMOs

MassivelyMMO MMOnkey: The rat Skinner, or negative reinforcement in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 May 2008 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bounty-questcollection-questcorpse-runningeverquest-iifeaturednegative-reinforcementpositive-reinforcementreinforcementrewardworld-of-warcraftFri, 23 May 2008 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO MMOnkey: MMOs as conditioned learning engines (Part 2)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/mmo-mmonkey-mmos-as-conditioned-learning-engines-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/mmo-mmonkey-mmos-as-conditioned-learning-engines-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/09/mmo-mmonkey-mmos-as-conditioned-learning-engines-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

I die and you finish your bounty quest. Bummer.
In a previous column we looked at some of the many ways that game designers use positive reinforcement and reward in MMOs. Positive reinforcement occurs whenever an action is accompanied by or results in something pleasant or enjoyable. When a person is positively reinforced or rewarded they are more likely to repeat the action that is associated with the reward. The importance of reinforcement for MMOs is obvious; the more the player is rewarded, the more likely she is to play the game.

A deeper understanding of how reinforcement works in MMOs can be gained by comparing an example of where it's done well with a case where it's done poorly and Everquest 2 provides just the examples we need.

Continue reading MMO MMOnkey: MMOs as conditioned learning engines (Part 2)

MassivelyMMO MMOnkey: MMOs as conditioned learning engines (Part 2) originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 May 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The behaviorists were like the orcs of psychology. Limited in vision, arrogant, belligerent and intolerant, they ruled the world of scientific psychology with an iron fist from the 1920s through the 1950s. Many of them were very capable scientists, however, and much of their work, especially in their signature area of learning, has stood the test of time. The behaviorists' biggest mistake lay in insisting that the principles of learning they discovered provided a complete and thorough explanation of what people do and why they do it. They thought they had the whole story. They didn't. They only had part of the story but it was an important part. We don't want to make the same mistake the behaviorists made and think their learning theories fully explain what we see people do in MMOs. But we also don't want to ignore the very powerful effects the principles of learning they discovered are having in every successful MMO on the market because when you get right down to it, games like World of Warcraft couldn't be better conditioning engines if they had been designed by B.F. Skinner himself.

Behaviorist learning theory is commonly know as operant conditioning and it is based on the simple idea that actions that are accompanied by good, pleasant, or desirable outcomes are more likely to be repeated while actions that are accompanied by outcomes that are bad, unpleasant or undesirable are less likely to be repeated. In other words, actions that are rewarded are likely to recur and actions that are punished are not. People didn't need the behaviorists to tell them this; the behaviorists' contributions were to clearly distinguish between different kinds of rewards and punishments and to demonstrate how each had different effects on what people do and how they do it. The behaviorists called the learning procedure that has the largest effect on how we play MMOs positive reinforcement. This type of learning occurs whenever a person does something and gets something they enjoy or value as a result. When people are positively reinforced, they are more likely to repeat or continue the action they were doing when they were rewarded and MMOs shower their players with positive reinforcement.

For your own positive reinforcement on this topic, read on.

Continue reading MMO MMOnkey: MMOs as Conditioned Learning Engines (Part 1)

MassivelyMMO MMOnkey: MMOs as Conditioned Learning Engines (Part 1) originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eq2everquest-2game-designlearninglevelinglootreinforcementrewardrewardsThu, 24 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST