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 Daily Grind: Would you play an MMO made by Rockstar Games?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-an-mmo-made-by-rockstar-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-an-mmo-made-by-rockstar-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-an-mmo-made-by-rockstar-games/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

GTA IV destruction
I think its safe to say that most of us reading this have our own favorite MMO studios and developers, but when I'm dabbling on my console or in the single-player PC gaming realm, I find myself constantly attracted to all games made by Rockstar Games. Red Dead Redemption, GTA IV, L.A. Noire, and the upcoming Max Payne 3... are you kidding me, Rockstar? Here, just take my money straight out of my bank account. It's yours!

Ahem. Anyway. You could say I'm a fan of the studio. And while I'm completing yet another play-through of GTA IV, I can't help but think about how well Rockstar might be able to do a massively multiplayer, persistent online world. I'm not talking about a game made like a Rockstar game (like APB: Reloaded); I'm talking about any subject matter being turned into an MMO by Rockstar Games.

So I know I want to see a Rockstar MMO, but what about you? Should it stick to what it knows best (amazing single-player games) or join the BioWares of the world and make an MMO once and for all?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Would you play an MMO made by Rockstar Games? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>opinionrockstarrockstar-gamestdgthe-daily-grindWed, 31 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR hype in hyperspace]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/hyperspace-beacon-swtor-hype-in-hyperspace/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/hyperspace-beacon-swtor-hype-in-hyperspace/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/hyperspace-beacon-swtor-hype-in-hyperspace/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Hyperspace Beacon is a weekly guide and discussion by Larry Everett about the yet-to-be-released game Star Wars: The Old Republic.

In a world where MMOs are now commonplace, it seems as though he who has the hippest hype wins. E3 was all about convincing the media that your game or toy was the latest and greatest thing to hit the electronics industry since Pac-man. The media, being the attention-fiends they are, ate it all up. Even Massively wasn't exempt from basking in the spoils of temporary celebrity. I mean, really, did we do a featured news story on Gaia? Yes -- one. But we did no less than ten articles featuring SWTOR coming out of E3. According to some, we're now "Massively: Your daily news about SWTOR and some of these other games over here."

So with all this hippity-hype everywhere, pouring from all the latest sites popping up and just longing to be the your best source of SWTOR news, how do you determine which is the best? What do you read? What do you ignore? Which is rumor? Which is truth? Who is that masked man? And did you find the Sith Inquisitor in the midriff top as cute as I did? I know, right?! The answers to these questions aren't easy. Sometimes you need a guide to help you through the hype, a hype(rspace) beacon, if you will. This Beacon is here help you calculate the jump. So strap yourself in, kid. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR hype in hyperspace

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: SWTOR hype in hyperspace originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWaredaniel-ericksondarth-haterDarthHaterdeborah-shinEAElectronic-Artsexpectationshope-trailerhypehype-machinehyperspace-beaconKnights-of-the-Old-Republicmass-effectMos-Eisley-RadioPodcastsRed-Bullrich-vogelRockStarsean-dahlbergStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicTOROcasttwitterMon, 28 Jun 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Go west young man]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/31/the-daily-grind-go-west-young-man/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/31/the-daily-grind-go-west-young-man/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/31/the-daily-grind-go-west-young-man/#commentsFiled under: ,

Well, my wandering game eye is at it again, this time casting lustful glances over at the single-player space, and more specifically Rockstar's recently released Red Dead Redemption. Many of you are no doubt joining me in taking a bit of a break from MMOs to spend some time in the sprawling frontier sandbox, and I'm wondering if I'm the only one who thinks such a setting is fertile ground for the AAA MMORPG treatment.

I say AAA because an indie game based on the early American frontier has been languishing in lack-of-funding hell for seven years now, and it makes me sad to think that no established company has the gumption to pony up for a massive excursion to the land of six shooters and well-worn cowpokes. With Rockstar's game tearing up the sales charts, there is clearly an interest in the subject matter, and toodling around in the game's free-roam mode brings to mind all kinds of interesting possibilities for something new in our favorite genre.

So, what say you Massively readers? Why not the Old West? While we're at it, if Bioware can make the genre jump, why not Rockstar?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Go west young man originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 May 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>frontier-1859old-westopinionred-dead-redemptionRockStarthe-daily-grindwesternMon, 31 May 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: SWTOR is in a year far, far away part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/the-digital-continuum-swtor-is-in-a-year-far-far-away-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/the-digital-continuum-swtor-is-in-a-year-far-far-away-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/27/the-digital-continuum-swtor-is-in-a-year-far-far-away-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: SWTOR is in a year far, far away part 2

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: SWTOR is in a year far, far away part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardbiowareblizzardeaelectronic-artsgrand-theft-auto-ivgtaivkonamilucasartsmetal-gear-solid-4mgs4rockstarstar-warsswtorworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 27 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GTA MMO would be a profitable venture, analyst suggests]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/gta-mmo-would-be-a-profitable-venture-analyst-suggests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/gta-mmo-would-be-a-profitable-venture-analyst-suggests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/gta-mmo-would-be-a-profitable-venture-analyst-suggests/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


In a recent set of statements to Gamasutra, Mike Hickey, an analyst with Janco Partners, brought up the profitability of an MMO set within the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

While Hickey notes that success would only be possible if Take-Two partnered up with another company who had a well designed infrastructure and MMO experience, the whole paragraph is certainly a nod in the direction of online crime games at large -- a genre relatively untapped in the MMO landscape.

Certainly a Grand Theft Auto MMO would be the new gorilla of the online space, one can't easily forget about the stylized and anticipated offering from Crackdown developer Realtime Worlds, All Points Bulletin. A GTA MMO would certainly be nice, but APB will certainly be setting the bar for all upcoming crime MMOs, regardless of a GTA entry into the scene.

MassivelyGTA MMO would be a profitable venture, analyst suggests originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 May 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbcrackdowngamasutragrand-theft-autogrand-theft-auto-ivgta-mmorealtime-worldsrockstarrockstar-gamestake-twotake-two-interactiveFri, 29 May 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[All Points Bulletin to become Grand Theft Auto Online?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/all-points-bulletin-to-become-grand-theft-auto-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/all-points-bulletin-to-become-grand-theft-auto-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/08/all-points-bulletin-to-become-grand-theft-auto-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Eurogamer is reporting on rumors of what could be the holy grail of online gaming: a Grand Theft Auto massively multiplayer game. Rumors are circulating that Realtime Worlds reaquired the publishing rights for their in-development All Points Bulletin for a very specific purpose. Originally to be published by Webzen, Realtime now hopes to sell the game to Rockstar as a framework for a GTA MMO.

According to the site, they were tipped off that a GTA transition was the rationale behind the rights re-purchase. The article goes on to report that Realtime is claiming ignorance of this rumor. They admit that they pulled back the APB rights from Webzen to "give them some options", and that they'd be open to working with other companies to see the game published. Rockstar hasn't, as yet, commented on the rumor.

Have you been enjoying GTA IV? Would you jump into a GTA MMO?

MassivelyAll Points Bulletin to become Grand Theft Auto Online? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 May 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinbreakinggrand-theft-autogtarealtime-worldsrockstarrumorwebzenThu, 08 May 2008 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOGology: Grand Theft MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/grand-theft-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/grand-theft-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/grand-theft-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


On Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 Rockstar Games released Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV), one of the most anticipated games of 2008. Based on early reviews (all of which have been unanimously positive) it looks like the latest installment in the series has exceeded expectations. Everything about GTA IV appears to have been kicked up a notch. The graphics are more realistic, the gameplay has been refined and tightened, and the characters and storyline have more depth. While this type of evolution is to be expected, one of the most interesting new features about GTA IV is that you can play it online. Unlike previous versions of the Grand Theft Auto series, this one will allow Xbox 360 and PS3 owners the ability to play with up to sixteen friends online. While sixteen players doesn't exactly qualify as "massively multiplayer", it's a step in the right direction for those of us eagerly anticipating a GTA-style MMO.

It seems like a natural progression for Rockstar to bring their venerable series to the massively multiplayer arena. After all, you've got a built in, recognizable franchise name based around the most classic multiplayer concept known to man - cops and robbers. I think every child has played a real life version of this game at some point in their lives (although perhaps more G rated). It's one of those universal themes that everyone instantly "gets", and yet, no MMO developer has cashed in on the concept. The time seems ripe for Rockstar to join Blizzard in the money printing business.

So how realistic is it that Rockstar might be producing a Grand Theft Auto MMO? Is such a game already in development? I did a little digging and I'll show you what I've been able to find thus far after the break. I'll also fill you in on a few MMOs with similar concepts that you might be able to play as early as this time next year.

Continue reading MMOGology: Grand Theft MMO

MassivelyMMOGology: Grand Theft MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletincops-and-robberscrime-gamescrimecraftfeaturedgrand-theft-autogrand-theft-auto-ivgrand-theft-auto-mmogrand-theft-auto-mmogjoystiqfeaturesrealtime-worldsRealtime-Worlds-Ltd.rockstarvogster-entertainmentTue, 29 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SocioTown enters open beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/sociotown-enters-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/sociotown-enters-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/sociotown-enters-open-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


SocioTown? Seriously, didn't anyone in the marketing department realize the potential implications of an ironic name like that? Despite the fact that SocioTown is not a new title by Rockstar Games, as the name would suggest, it is still creating a buzz. Who knows, maybe the out-of-context name will be a bonus for the game's sales. Heck, it worked for the Wii.

So besides the name, how is this new browser-based social-networking MMO any different from the others currently working their way through open beta? According to the website, SocioTown is "the biggest and most sophisticated browser-based 3D virtual world to date". Your friend network is automatically based on who you talk to the most, which is an interesting feature. You can even perform your own music within the game, to be rated by the other players in real time. If they love it, you're on the fast track to rehab, but if they hate it, you could end up with a temporary music ban! Now we just need one of those in real life.

MassivelySocioTown enters open beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browser-basedcasualoutside-the-boxrockstarsociotownwiiMon, 14 Apr 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rockstar founder calls GTA MMO "the Holy Grail"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/rockstar-founder-calls-gta-mmo-the-holy-grail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/rockstar-founder-calls-gta-mmo-the-holy-grail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/rockstar-founder-calls-gta-mmo-the-holy-grail/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


In case you haven't seen it, Crispin Boyer of EGM sat down for an interview with Rockstar founder Sam Houser to talk in-depth about all things Grand Theft Auto. In addition to some tasty preview bits, Boyer raked Houser over the coals a little bit, trying to glean from him what the future of the franchise might be. In terms of multiplayer, Houser didn't shy from expressing his enthusiasm for the idea of a GTA MMO. Specifically, he said such a title, "is very, very doable and is a very, very compelling proposition." In a subsequent question he refers to a mainstream subscription-based MMO on a console as "the Holy Grail."

The problem, as Houser sees it, is in combining the GTA gameplay with the idea of a persistent world. Without the right constraints, the game might amount to little more than a city of a couple thousand players all shooting at each other with rocket launchers, instead of an interesting, compelling MMO experience. From the tenor of his comments, it doesn't seem like Houser and Rockstar currently have any specific plans for an MMO just yet, but we imagine they're going to be paying very close attention to Realtime Worlds' All Points Bulletin when it comes out later this year, as its 'cobs and robbers' gameplay is the closest to GTA we've seen yet.

MassivelyRockstar founder calls GTA MMO "the Holy Grail" originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbbreakingcops-and-robberscrispin boyerCrispinBoyergrand-theft-autogtagta-mmorealtime-studiosrockstarFri, 07 Mar 2008 15:45:00 EST