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[Behind the Mask: I lost my best friend to Gigabolt]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/behind-the-mask-i-lost-my-best-friend-to-gigabolt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/behind-the-mask-i-lost-my-best-friend-to-gigabolt/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/29/behind-the-mask-i-lost-my-best-friend-to-gigabolt/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Powers in Champions Online vary widely in the eyes of the playerbase. Some powers, like Mind Lock and Arcane Vitality, remain mostly unknown, while other powers, like Regeneration and Haymaker, take center stage. Sometimes this reputation is due to a present or former imbalance like Collective Will, and sometimes it's due to an unknown combination of factors, like Roomsweeper (probably because Might is the most played powerset in the game).

And sometimes, like in the case of Gigabolt, it might just be something else.

Powers are balanced in CO according to a variety of mathematical factors, such as activation time, range, energy cost, and damage dealt. But the devs also try to have their powers balanced around another factor: Fun. On a 1-10 scale, most powers in Champions hover around a 3-4 on the fun scale, with the standout powers pushing up to a 5-6 and possibly as high as 7 or even 8 for good synergies between several powers. When a power gets too fun, like the Incisive Wit advantage for Kinetic Darts, the devs make sure to issue a patch to fix the imbalance.

Except for Gigabolt.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: I lost my best friend to Gigabolt

MassivelyBehind the Mask: I lost my best friend to Gigabolt originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Behind-the-Maskchampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosfeaturedfriendshumoropinionsarcasmThu, 29 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The irreverent Britishness of Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/the-irreverent-britishness-of-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/the-irreverent-britishness-of-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/the-irreverent-britishness-of-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


This blogger, being a Brit himself, is wondering whether Warhammer Online won't be the most significant (and successful) British cultural export since Monty Python. Yes, it's made by EA Mythic, but there's no denying that Britishness saturates it through and through. Hardly surprising, given that the original Warhammer wargames and roleplaying games were a product of the British gaming scene. But how is that fish-and-chips lovely-cuppa-tea flavor different from what gamers are used to?

The most obvious point of contact is humor: like the aforementioned Python, the humor is unmistakeably British. All the same elements are there. For example, snotty high-class attitudes and the mockery thereof. The satirical portrayal of some of the Elves, both High and Dark, isn't a million miles from Python's Upper Class Twit of the Year, and the snide cut-glass voices of the Dark lot (and their interactions with the greenies) recall Blackadder.
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Continue reading The irreverent Britishness of Warhammer Online

MassivelyThe irreverent Britishness of Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britishea-mythichumorsarcasmwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 30 Sep 2008 12:00:00 EST