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 Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in October]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-classic-mmos-in-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-classic-mmos-in-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-classic-mmos-in-october/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

SWG
Today we're going to start a new feature of this column in which we devote a week to catching up with previous Game Archaeologist spotlights and see what's going on in these classic MMOs. I figured that it was a shame to give these titles a big burst of publicity and then dump them like yesterday's news. After all, if these games' communities are still alive and kicking, and if the developers are churning out new content, then it's worth a monthly mention, don't you think?

I won't just be regurgitating news here; I'll also peek at the various official forums to see what the community is talking about and highlight discussions and debates that are of interest. Not every classic MMO will be featured every month in this space, as I'll try to rotate around to make sure they all get their fair share of mentions.

October was an interesting month for classic MMOs in that several of them produced extremely newsworthy stories that got front-page mention on Massively. On a special note, I won't be covering Asheron's Call today as we're prepping a special anniversary tribute for later this month!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in October

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in October originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daocdark-age-of-cameloteqeq2eqiieverquesteverquest-iifeaturedhalloweenmoviepumpkin-moon-risingscott-jenningssoestar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgtgathe-game-archaeologistveil-of-alarisTue, 01 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Devs reminisce on Dark Age of Camelot's 10th birthday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/10/devs-reminisce-on-dark-age-of-camelots-10th-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/10/devs-reminisce-on-dark-age-of-camelots-10th-birthday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/10/devs-reminisce-on-dark-age-of-camelots-10th-birthday/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Birthday cake
Dark Age of Camelot turns 10 this week, and if that doesn't make you feel old, well, you're probably not very old (and while we're at it, kindly remove yourself from our lawn). At any rate, Scott Jennings waxes nostalgic about the fantasy RvR title on his personal blog by posting a remembrance from original Mythic producer Matt Firor.

The piece is heavy on the meta details, and a read-through will give you an idea of how drastically the MMO industry has changed over the past decade. Firor talks about Mythic's scramble to meet the crushing demand for more servers and the resulting mad dash for the nearest computer retailer to purchase a dozen desktops that were quickly loaded with Linux and whipped into an ad-hoc server cluster.

There are more interesting details, of course, and you can read them all at Broken Toys.

MassivelyDevs reminisce on Dark Age of Camelot's 10th birthday originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-year-anniversaryanniversarydaocdark-age-of-camelotfantasymatt-firormythicnostalgiarealm-versus-realmrvrscott-jenningsserver-clusterserversMon, 10 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you follow industry personalities?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/the-daily-grind-do-you-follow-industry-personalities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/the-daily-grind-do-you-follow-industry-personalities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/the-daily-grind-do-you-follow-industry-personalities/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Every field has celebrities of one stripe or another, and MMOs are no different. Some of them start off as programmers, some start as producers, and some start as commentators that later move into an official capacity. Some have a track record of success, some have a big success and a big failure, and some are considered to be solely at fault for anything that goes wrong in a game. But no matter what the background, they're personalities of note, whose words start having an impact on people even when they're not working on a big project. People listen to them, quote them, and take note of their various projects.

Especially in light of recent personality-based developments, it's certainly worth asking how much people really follow the paths of programmers outside of playing their games. The MMO industry doesn't follow Richard Garriott like mainstream media follows Brad Pitt, but he still finds ways to be seen even when he's between major projects. Do you follow specific people in the gaming industry, either out of liking what they've done or wanting to avoid what they're working on? Or does the practice annoy you, and all you want to focus on is the actual games they produce?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you follow industry personalities? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brad-pittcelebritiesdeveloperspersonalitiesproducersprogrammersrichard-garriottscott-jenningstdgthe-daily-grindvipsFri, 12 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft's Game Survelliance Unit speaks out on account security]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/ncsofts-game-survelliance-unit-speaks-out-on-account-security/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/ncsofts-game-survelliance-unit-speaks-out-on-account-security/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/20/ncsofts-game-survelliance-unit-speaks-out-on-account-security/#commentsFiled under: ,

The extra attention to security measures at NCsoft continues, with the latest being a message on the Aion site from Scott Jennings (GM Luminary) of NCsoft's Game Surveillance Unit.

The point of the message is to make sure the players understand what a large, aggressive business the RMT market is. There is a huge amount of money on the line, and those involved are working very hard to make sure the profits keep rolling in. Jennings explained what NCsoft views as their job in this fight and what they've been doing on their end, even detailing a few specific examples of security testing.

The message continued with a much longer list: what players can do on their end to protect themselves. While much of it may seem obvious to veteran players, with account security attacks becoming ever more frequent and aggressive, it's a pretty good idea for everyone to read through what Jennings has to say, and be sure you're protecting yourself as much as you can.

MassivelyNCsoft's Game Survelliance Unit speaks out on account security originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Account-Securityaionguild-warsncsoftrmtscott-jenningsWed, 20 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A bird's-eye view of China's MMO market]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/a-birds-eye-view-of-chinas-mmo-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/a-birds-eye-view-of-chinas-mmo-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/15/a-birds-eye-view-of-chinas-mmo-market/#commentsFiled under: , ,


To a western MMO developer, China's market is alluring in much the same way that winning the lottery is alluring to everyone else. There's a huge market right there, even disregarding the almost stereotypical amount of gold farming associated with the country, but thus far western games have yet to make much of a dent. The only one that's been largely successful is World of Warcraft, and even that has a bit of a tortured history. Scott Jennings has taken the opportunity to expound a bit on what makes China so appealing as an MMO market and why it's been so difficult to get a solid footing in.

One of the points he makes is that, by and large, China hasn't attracted a good portion of the western market either -- Perfect World International comes the closest to making a splash, and it's nowhere near the popularity of, say, Runes of Magic. He also discusses several of the difficulties in negotiations between western businesses and the Chinese counterparts, as well as the government's vested interest in ensuring the market stays solidly in China. The full article also offers as comprehensive a breakdown of the entire World of Warcraft controversy as you're likely to find in one place, making it an excellent reference point for anyone interested in the vagaries of the worldwide market.

MassivelyA bird's-eye view of China's MMO market originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We're finishing up our 2009 Reader's Choice Awards, but that doesn't mean we can't take note of the fact that the last year of the decade hasn't exactly been a stellar years. We've watched a recession hit hard, several games turn the lights off for good, several others lose staff, and generally not had the best of years. And it's something that's even more obvious if you're in the thick of game development. Scott Jennings has taken a few moments to look back at what he sees as the three major developments of 2009: layoffs, Facebook, and microtransactions.

Of course, as someone who had an unpleasant brush with the recession, it's understandable that Jennings wouldn't be predisposed to mention things such as the free-to-play model making large inroads via high-profile titles such as Free Realms and Dungeons and Dragons Online. But the article is interesting as a retrospective of the many south turns the industry took this year, as are his guesses from a year ago regarding what things would look like. Here's hoping that 2010 provides us with slightly better news -- believe it or not, we don't like announcing shutdowns or layoffs any more than you like reading them.

Massively2009 from a developer's point of view originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy Holidays everybody! Hope you're all having an exciting time that's full of epic loot drops from purple gift packages sent by the jolly NPC in the red suit.

This week's column is a holiday-tacular rant fest as I feel like tackling one of the major sticking points of an MMO player's behavior: the need to pursue vindication. This isn't something unique to MMO culture or even video game culture at large. We all feel this rather odd need to defend our decisions or opinions to others, even if they will never ever agree with us.

However, when it comes to MMOs, vindication can be a bad thing. When communities become polarized in thought and begin to shut out others it can hurt the game's growth and the game's sense of community.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: The Quest of Vindication

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: The Quest of Vindication originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>darkfallfeaturedgroup-polarizationlumlum-the-madopinionpsychologypvpscott-jenningsscott-lum-the-mad-jenningssyncainetoboldvindicationThu, 24 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The dangers of PvP-focused games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/21/the-dangers-of-pvp-focused-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/21/the-dangers-of-pvp-focused-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/21/the-dangers-of-pvp-focused-games/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The trouble with PvP is... well, there are several problems with PvP. The problems of balance are always there, of course, as they are in every aspect of the game. There are the problems of making PvP both accessible to new players and rewarding for veterans, their are issues with keeping people engaged in the game without being gimmicky, there are issues with even such little things as how players get equipment. But as Scott Jennings notes in his most recent column, a lot of the problems with PvP-centric games center around perceptions -- both those of the players, and those of the developers.

Developers who make PvP-centric games frequently are players of games themselves, of course, and so when they strike off to make a game with "PvP done right" they can sometimes fall victim to tunnel vision regarding their game. (Jennings cites Shadowbane, Darkfall, and Fury as examples here.) But there's also a problem of perception from the player end, as whether or not a class is overpowered often pales in comparison to whether or not the players believe it's overpowered. From Guild Wars to EVE Online, every PvP game has had to contend with these issues, so it would be well-advised to take a look at the full column if you're at all interested in the design of games.

MassivelyThe dangers of PvP-focused games originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetccp-gamesdarkfalldeveloper-perceptioneveeve-onlinefuryguild-warsgwlum-the-madplayer-perceptionpvppvp-balancepvp-focuspvp-gamesscott-jenningsshadowbanetrammelMon, 21 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The art of the expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/06/the-art-of-the-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/06/the-art-of-the-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/06/the-art-of-the-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Expansions are a fact of life for MMOs. We all know it, and while we might not necessarily like the fact that at least once a year we probably have to drop another chunk of change just to keep playing the game, we accept it as the price of progress. (And if you're a Guild Wars player, it's not like you also have a subscription to pay for on top of it.) Scott Jennings has taken his most recent regular column to talk about the ways expansions work -- both their benefits and the drawbacks they have. Because as he points out, more is usually better, but sometimes more just means more.

Ranging from the free large content patches used by games like Lineage II and Darkfall to more conventional expansions, and discussing World of Warcraft: Cataclysm as one of the major points of deviation in the usual expansion model, the article talks about the benefits and drawbacks of the almost ubiquitous selling model for the genre. While it's not a revolutionary look, it's something that every MMO player -- and many designers -- could do well to look at. More understanding is never a bad thing, after all, and if we can avoid another Chains of Promathia we'll all be better off.

MassivelyThe art of the expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicbusiness-modelscataclysmchains-of-promathiadarkfalleqeverquestexpansionsffxifinal-fantasy-xigame-mechanicsl2lineage-2lineage-iilum-the-madopinionscott-jenningsworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 06 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The breadth of morality in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/02/the-breadth-of-morality-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/02/the-breadth-of-morality-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/02/the-breadth-of-morality-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,


It's been touched on before, but there's still more thought to be put into it: morality in MMOs, if you think about it, can be a touchy business at best. Scott Jennings recently took the opportunity to discuss the genre's stance in light of the Modern Warfare 2 controversy, pointing out that the genre as a whole has generally failed to touch on morality tacitly but has frequently done so passively. The game we play are almost relentlessly imperialistic, as he puts it, with an unambiguous march toward taking everything at gunpoint (or sword-point, or laser-cannon-point) and becoming the undisputed master of all you survey.

It's equally true in EVE Online, where the game implicitly sends you up against all other players in a bid for maximum possible gain, or in World of Warcraft, where you can find yourself invading homes for no reason or killing people for holding a legitimate grudge. The only games that even start escaping from the whitewashed attitude are superhero games such as City of Heroes and Champions Online, and even there you most likely send several thugs to the hospital without so much as an effort to negotiate. Whether this can or should change isn't easy to say -- much of the rationale behind it is tied to the game design rather than player choice. It's a topic worth considering, however, and one that will doubtlessly be addressed more as the industry grows in maturity.

MassivelyThe breadth of morality in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champions-onlinecity-of-heroescocohcultureeveeve-onlinelum-the-madmoralityopinionscott-jenningsvirtual-worldsworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 02 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why RMT won't go away]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/why-rmt-wont-go-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/why-rmt-wont-go-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/why-rmt-wont-go-away/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


"Companies should just stop gold farmers." It's a consistent complaint in many games, with "gold" replaced by your game's currency of choice. As complaints go, it's right around "somebody should do something about all the problems" in terms of overall utility, but heck, no one likes the practice and it should just be eliminated, right? Well, as Scott Jennings has pointed out recently, it's not quite that easy.

As Lum points out, there are several common misconceptions about the entire process. Among them are the idea that the game company doesn't step in because they're getting kickbacks, which is pointed out to fail the simple test of Occam's razor. When developers want to get more money from an existing game, there are usually better ways to run it, such as the Champions Online model or the Dungeons and Dragons Online approach. He also tackles the infamous statement that the farmers are paying customers and therefore the company has even less incentive to stop them.

So if everyone hates RMT, why is it still around? The article briefly touches upon it, but We Fly Spitfires had a recent post that articulates more specifically: more people buy gold than would necessarily admit it. Since no one will admit to it, no one ever asks, and as a result there's a large culture of silence that publicly despises it and privately takes part. In short? As long as there's a customer base, the farming will continue. Food for thought all around.

MassivelyWhy RMT won't go away originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If there's one thing that MMO gamers all agree on, it's the short list of things we almost universally hate: cheaters, gold (or equivalent currency) farmers searching for your credit card, and bugs. Oh, the dreaded bugs. They do so much damage to your gameplay experience, why doesn't the company just fix them? The inimitable Scott Jennings tackles this question in his latest column on game design, explaining that the main reason bugs don't get fixed faster is because doing so is much harder than it seems.

As he points out, the architecture of an MMO is a tricky thing at the best of times, frequently only held together with the coded equivalent of a wing and a prayer. Some bugs are so massively detrimental to the game that they get to jump to the head of the class, but others are annoying and bad but not at the highest priority. Or -- as sometimes happens despite everyone's best efforts -- fixing the bug would require doing so much damage to the rest of the game that it's better to work around it. If you're wondering why your favorite company hasn't fixed a much-hated bug, this article should prove an interesting read.

MassivelyScott Jennings discusses fixing bugs in live games originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bug-fixesbugsculturegame-mechanicslum-the-madmmo-industryopinionscott-jenningsThu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Scott Jennings MMO interview prep]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/05/scott-jennings-mmo-interview-prep/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/05/scott-jennings-mmo-interview-prep/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/05/scott-jennings-mmo-interview-prep/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It looks like Scott "Lum the Mad" Jennings started up a new column over at MMORPG.com granting players a rare peek behind the MMO industry curtain. His first article covers some of the things you can expect to be confronted with if you are ever lucky enough to land a game designer interview with an MMO studio. Given the competitive job market out there, these insights should not be taken lightly, even though they are just one man's opinion. But what a man!

No, we're not talking about his wild charisma and manly beard. Okay, that too, but Lum has been around the MMO block in various roles from programmer to lead designer. Put simply, his advice is valuable. The biggest point he made that stuck out to us was the suggestion to have opinions and back them up. "[A]s a designer you are being paid, in large part, to have opinions. Your job will be to analyze parts of the game and determine whether it will work, how it can be broken, and whether or not it will be fun."

So, whether you're an aspiring game designer or simply interested in boosting your interview skills in general (not a bad idea in these trying times), we recommend you take a gander at Lum's new column.

MassivelyScott Jennings MMO interview prep originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game-designgetting-a-jobinterviewinterview-skillslum-the-madmmo-industrymmorpg.comscott-jenningsThu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Unraveling the mystery of John Deere Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/unraveling-the-mystery-of-john-deere-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/unraveling-the-mystery-of-john-deere-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/unraveling-the-mystery-of-john-deere-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Scott "Lum the Mad" Jennings, well-known blogosphere participant and game designer, has recently been working on a game that is now sadly canceled. This is bad both for the natural sadness of a game having been canceled and the voyeuristic MMO fan impulse to ask, "Well, what was it going to be?" We don't know. The only reference made was to the cryptic in-joke name of John Deere Online. In his own words: "As a condition of my severance I can't discuss a great deal, and anything I say here will most likely be picked up by the MMO news sites (wave, wave!)."

Well, he's right about that last part. But neither waiting for him to change his mind nor camping outside his front door has yielded any new information, so perhaps we can take a look at more pieces of information and speculate? After all, we know of at least two of his co-workers. From them and from the little which Scott Jennings himself has said, we can derive the following bits of information: that they were working for 2K Games, developing an MMO based on an existing franchise, that the game would have been strategy-based, and that it might possibly have had something to do with tractors.

Considering that Jon Jones mentions on his LinkedIn page that he "created a series of low polygon highly optimized building models with a small set of textures that can be reused across that nation's entire series of buildings appropriate to that age," it's difficult to argue with the conclusion that the team was working on a Civilization MMO. But 2K Games also could mean Elder Scrolls projects... which might be pertinent, as both Jon Jones and Matthew Weigel have been working on Dungeon Runners. It's all idle speculation, sadly, and for all we know the game really would have been a massively multiplayer tractor simulator. (In which case it might even be for the best - lawnmowers would probably have been totally overpowered against seeders in PvP.)

MassivelyUnraveling the mystery of John Deere Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Richard Bartle wrote an interesting QBlog post on the art of quest design using WoW's Stranglethorn Vale zone as a model. This elicited a number of responses from various MMO bloggers. Scott Jennings had very few positive things to say about STV, while Tobold mused about STV's relevance in today's MMO landscape given its age and Syp and Raegn pointed out a perceived condescension.

It's always time to grab a hot cup of coffee when someone vocally disagrees with Dr. Bartle because he will always engage in a discussion and defend his views. He took special offense to Syp and Raegn when called out as being condescending in his original article and urged more people to write things about MMOs that make others re-think and take the genre more seriously.

In response to Syp, Bartle wrote: "If you haven't done this kind of analysis, OK, I'm calling you out: write one. Go on, choose any quest from WoW and explain what it's saying. You say you can see behind the curtain: show us. I want the art, not the craft. I don't intend to seem arrogant or mean here, although I'm sure that won't make any difference to how what I just asked is interpreted. I'm pushing because I want to encourage people to think of MMOs as art, not as low culture."

In response to Raegn, Bartle wrote: "I urge you, if you see something you like, that takes MMOs in a new direction, that says something that makes you think (you don't have to agree with it - so long as it makes you think), then please give it publicity. Then, you'll have people who genuinely deserve your praise, not someone who is merely where they are through an accident of history."

MassivelyRichard Bartle encourages MMO writers to make people think originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artdesignquestsraegnrichard-bartlescott-jenningsstranglethorn-valesyptoboldworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 22 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic used NCsoft forums for beta recruiting, not really sorry though [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/cryptic-used-ncsoft-forums-for-beta-recruiting-not-really-sorry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/cryptic-used-ncsoft-forums-for-beta-recruiting-not-really-sorry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/cryptic-used-ncsoft-forums-for-beta-recruiting-not-really-sorry/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


So some new developments have been made concerning allegations that Cryptic Studios was using the City of Heroes forums for Champions Online beta recruitment.

Massively commenter PunkRockDiva has pointed us to a forum post by Cryptic associate community relations manger IronAngel, who relayed a message from his boss, Ivan Sulic. Within that message Ivan confirmed the rumor, saying there was no ill intent in what happened. He then explained why it happened -- that community, PR and marketing are in the middle of restructuring. "Shills, poaching, bullshotting... No chance, man. We make good games and we hope people will play them. Best anyone can do, right?" Was how Mr. Sulic concluded his message.

If the name Ivan Sulic sounds familiar, you may remember him as the Hellgate: London community manager telling players concerned about the game's lack of a LAN mode, "Who the fuck cares?" Well, we're pretty sure a lot of people care nowadays, Mr. Sulic. This was all dug up by Scott Jennings, who posted his opinion of the whole matter on his website, Broken Toys.

As Scott points out, it's not an apology if you make light of the matter and pretend it's not a big deal. As people who love the MMO genre, this is not the sort of behavior we want the industry to feel is acceptable. And as such, when a developer has upcoming titles we very much want to play -- like Champions Online and Star Trek Online -- it evaporates our desire to support them.

Continue reading Cryptic used NCsoft forums for beta recruiting, not really sorry though [Updated]

MassivelyCryptic used NCsoft forums for beta recruiting, not really sorry though [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabreakingbroken-toyschampionschampions-onlinecity-of-heroescohcrypticcryptic-studiosf13ironangelivan-sulricncsoftscott-jenningsThu, 19 Mar 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Is free-for-all PvP really for nobody?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/the-digital-continuum-is-free-for-all-pvp-really-for-nobody/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/the-digital-continuum-is-free-for-all-pvp-really-for-nobody/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/the-digital-continuum-is-free-for-all-pvp-really-for-nobody/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Many MMOs with the "hardcore" PvP mentality are often argued as an experience that isn't for everyone -- something for a very set niche. Or in other words, these games aren't for people who prefer a little structure and intelligently crafted incentive to participate.

Don't get me wrong, I love me some crunchy PvP snacks. What I don't have any affection for is a system that promotes players being douchetards. Sure, we're going to get them regardless, but encouraging the behavior is just not smart at all and it makes for a terrible experience.

Here's the problem: If these PvP-centric games aren't for "carebears", then who are they for? Griefers? Well when you design a game that only they want to play, then yes.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Is free-for-all PvP really for nobody?

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Is free-for-all PvP really for nobody? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpeve-onlinefeaturedfree-for-allgriefersgriefingjoystiqfeaturesopen-pvpopen-worldopinionpvpscott-jenningsthe-digital-continuumSat, 21 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[So, you think you're a hardcore PvPer, eh?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/so-you-think-youre-a-hardcore-pvper-eh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/so-you-think-youre-a-hardcore-pvper-eh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/so-you-think-youre-a-hardcore-pvper-eh/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Darkfall hype has shot through the roof these past few days. Since the NDA was lifted, many reviews have surfaced and they all say pretty much the same thing; Darkfall is technically sound but lacks content polish, and due to its core game design and griefing potential, will only really appeal to the hardcore PvPer. And by "hardcore PvPer," they mean pre-Trammel UO slash AC Darktide fans. Haaardcore.

A few interesting blog posts popped up yesterday that bring something a bit new to the table. Tobold shared his Darkfall beta experience and suggested that while the game may find it's niche, it will be a very small one because most gamers prefer to play it safe. He points out that even in other PvP-centric games like EVE and UO, people tend to congregate in the safe havens if given the option. Scott Jennings also weighed in on hardcore PvPers. He believes people may appreciate the idea of hardcore PvP in the abstract, but tend to wuss out when push comes to shove. He cites past experience with the quick to rise and fall of PvP servers in DAOC. Finally, Keen lets us know that he finally got his pre-order after refreshing the order page for many hours. He shares a quote from lead Darkfall dev, Tasos, who says they are receiving 20 times the amount of web traffic to their order page than originally estimated.

MassivelySo, you think you're a hardcore PvPer, eh? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurineasherons-calldarkfallkeenscott-jenningstasos-flambourastoboldultima-onlineSat, 21 Feb 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Scott Jennings puts a cap on the whole "Fixing MMOs" thing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/04/scott-jennings-puts-a-cap-on-the-whole-fixing-mmos-thing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/04/scott-jennings-puts-a-cap-on-the-whole-fixing-mmos-thing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/04/scott-jennings-puts-a-cap-on-the-whole-fixing-mmos-thing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

One of the greatest things about blogging is when an interesting back-and-forth conversation takes place across multiple blogs discussing the same topic. Blogger A makes an interesting post. Blogger B responds with his own slant. Blogger C leads the discussion in a new direction. And then Blogger B comes back around and puts a cap on it all. In this case, Tom Chick pointed out five things that are broken with MMOs (interesting because he doesn't really like MMOs). Scott Jennings responded by saying not all MMOs are WoW. Tim Dean then supported Tom's original statements, offering ten ways to fix MMOs. Now Scott has come back around to comment on Tim's list from a game developer's perspective.

Normally this wouldn't seem like a big deal, but you must consider the vast amount of combined industry experience all three parties have. Oh, and their points are actually pretty darn good too. You should check out this ongoing saga and weigh in on the conversation by adding a comment on any of their blogs. That's another great thing about this media platform.

MassivelyScott Jennings puts a cap on the whole "Fixing MMOs" thing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mmo-industryopinionscott-jenningstim-deantom-chickWed, 04 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[If it's broken, then fix it!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/if-its-broken-then-fix-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/if-its-broken-then-fix-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/if-its-broken-then-fix-it/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Last week, you may recall our coverage on Tom Chick's "5 Ways MMOs are broken" and Scott Jenning's rebuttal article. This week brings a new story to the table of rebuttal with Trembling Hand's author Tim writing a post on his 10 ways to fix the problems with MMOs.

Tim is in full agreement with Chick on how broken MMOs are these days, as he too has felt the wear and tear of the genre. Tim's newest post, however, points to the many areas where MMOs could improve, such as added AI to monsters, removal of classes and levels and moving towards skill based systems, and even something as simple as encouraging grouping through experience bonuses and the reduction of chain quests.

Tim's full article is a lengthy read, but includes many great points and is worth checking out.

MassivelyIf it's broken, then fix it! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game-designmmos-are-brokenmmos-are-fixedschrodingers-tagscott-jenningstom-chicktrembling-handTue, 03 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Five big failings of the MMO genre (and a rebuttal to same)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/five-big-failings-of-the-mmo-genre-and-a-rebuttal-to-same/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/five-big-failings-of-the-mmo-genre-and-a-rebuttal-to-same/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/28/five-big-failings-of-the-mmo-genre-and-a-rebuttal-to-same/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Tom Chick is a well known and (generally) respected games journalist probably best known for his contentious reviews and championing of the New Games Journalism movement. He also isn't a big fan of the MMO genre. At least he isn't today, in a writeup on his Sci-Fi Channel co-branded site Fidget. The article is entitled Five Reasons MMOs Are Broken, and follows up that contentious beginning with a breakdown of the MMO genre. His primary issues seem to revolve around the established contrivances of the genre itself, such as the concept of aggro or respawning enemies. He's also very frustrated by the innumerable barriers put up between players, the levels/classes/dungeons/servers/gear restrictions that stop us from playing with our friends.

As blogger Scott Jennings points out, more than the genre he's specifically breaking down World of Warcraft. He's effectively using WoW as a synonym for MMO, and as a result Jennings (and us) can point out that some of his failings have already been addressed. Read into Scott's dissection of Chick's writing for more analysis and insight on this issue and the supposed failings of the genre. Then, let us know what you think below. Is the MMO genre really that flawed ... or is it just the standard Diku-style successor that's old hat?

MassivelyFive big failings of the MMO genre (and a rebuttal to same) originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game-designgenremmo-industrymmosscott-jenningstom-chickWed, 28 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Opinions flare from ex-NCsoft employees about TR's closing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/opinions-flair-from-ex-ncsoft-employees-about-trs-closing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/opinions-flair-from-ex-ncsoft-employees-about-trs-closing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/opinions-flair-from-ex-ncsoft-employees-about-trs-closing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As Tabula Rasa approaches its end days, the anger, sadness and I-told-you-so sentiments are rising up more than ever. This week marks an interesting occasion where two former NCsoft employees each wrote detailed stories on their own perspectives regarding the sci-fi MMO's downward spiral.

First we have this post by Adam Martin, former CTO of NCsoft Europe, where he explains his views on why the game failed. Granted, he admits he wasn't actually on the TR team, but he was privy to the internal mailing lists and information about the game from Alpha to launch. As a response, we have a post from Scott Jennings, who sums it all up fairly well with this statement: "The biggest failing, though, was that it was in development about twice as long and spent twice as much as it had any right to. And that's what promotes it, in this snarky outside blogger's view, from understandable failure to extinction-level company-slaying train wreck."

Update: Although Adam Martin's post states that he was the European CTO at the time, we get word from NCsoft that he was never the CTO for NCsoft Europe. He was the Lead Programmer.

MassivelyOpinions flare from ex-NCsoft employees about TR's closing originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closuredestination-gameslum-the-madncsoftncsoft-europeopinionsperspectivescott-jenningstabula-rasatrFri, 16 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lum the Mad on the many pros and few cons of WAR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/lum-the-mad-on-the-many-pros-and-few-cons-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/lum-the-mad-on-the-many-pros-and-few-cons-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/lum-the-mad-on-the-many-pros-and-few-cons-of-war/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Scott Jennings, known to the blogosphere by his nom-de-keyboard Lum the Mad (a reference that crusty old D&D players like this blogger have no trouble recognizing) has set out to amend his image as Mark Jacobs' personal imp of torment, and post a hearty list of things he likes about Warhammer Online which he thinks other games should learn from.

The list is fair, honest, and educational - did you know you can earn the title 'AAAAHHHH' by jumping off cliffs enough times? - and makes some sound points. He's particularly on the money when writing about WAR's open groups, which he sees as much more radical and innovative than the more commonly trumpeted public quests. It's a feature we've also appreciated; instead of looking for a group or sending messages to ask if there is room in one, you can just dive on in to any open group nearby.
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!

Continue reading Lum the Mad on the many pros and few cons of WAR

MassivelyLum the Mad on the many pros and few cons of WAR originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ea-mythiclum-the-madscott-jenningswarwarhammer-onlineWed, 15 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Scott "Lum the Mad" Jennings responds to David Reid's NCsoft West comments]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/scott-lum-the-mad-jennings-responds-to-david-reids-ncsoft-wes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/scott-lum-the-mad-jennings-responds-to-david-reids-ncsoft-wes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/scott-lum-the-mad-jennings-responds-to-david-reids-ncsoft-wes/#commentsFiled under: ,

Earlier today we featured remarks from David Reid, Vice President for Publishing at the newly forming NCsoft West branch. During our discussion we talked about NCsoft's shift from a publisher of games big and small to one focused solely on AAA big-budget titles. One of the individuals impacted by that decision was well known MMO industry commentator and designer Scott Jennings. Sometimes known as "Lum the Mad", Jennings was part of a team that was dispersed as a result of the creation of NCsoft West, and is now working at John Galt Games (makers of Web Wars).

We asked Mr. Jennings to respond to Mr. Reid's comments, as an individual personally impacted by NCsoft's decision to move towards a AAA-only strategy. The designer had quite a few things to say about that decision. "It was my belief, and still is, that it is entirely possible to make smaller, less bloated titles that appeal less to the mass market and more to market niches that are underserved to date, which are easier to design and develop for when you aren't married to a $50 million+ budget."

Please click through to read Scott Jennings' full response to the NCsoft decision below the cut.

Continue reading Scott "Lum the Mad" Jennings responds to David Reid's NCsoft West comments

MassivelyScott "Lum the Mad" Jennings responds to David Reid's NCsoft West comments originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david-reidfeaturedinterviewnc-austinncsoftncsoft-westscott-jenningsWed, 24 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Broken Toys: Broken models. Start thinking differently, says Lum]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/broken-toys-broken-models-start-thinking-differently-says-lum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/broken-toys-broken-models-start-thinking-differently-says-lum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/broken-toys-broken-models-start-thinking-differently-says-lum/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Scott Jennings, rather better known as Lum the Mad, made quite a splash recently when Wagner James Au at GigaOm published a piece called Why The MMORPG Subscription-Based Business Model Is Broken. Well, Jennings didn't exactly mean that, and he didn't exactly not mean that. Heck, really, the issue is a fairly complex one and Jennings takes some pains to clear up what he was talking about in more than nine words, and adds more than a little value besides.

Certainly, 15 dollars per month by twelve months with multiple subscriptions seriously eats into your annual games budget, even though a single subscription is often quite affordable in and of itself.

Jennings acknowledges, though, that subscription-based MMOGs can be fun, and that they can rake in the big bucks as well. That's not really the broken part. To get your fledgling MMOG to release and maybe get a piece of that money pie, it's actually irresponsible to innovate under current publishing models.

Continue reading Broken Toys: Broken models. Start thinking differently, says Lum

MassivelyBroken Toys: Broken models. Start thinking differently, says Lum originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>broken-toysbusiness-modelslum-the-madmmo-industryopinionscott-jenningsTue, 26 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why the subscription-based business model is broken]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/24/why-the-subscription-based-business-model-is-broken/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/24/why-the-subscription-based-business-model-is-broken/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/24/why-the-subscription-based-business-model-is-broken/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

After Scott Jennings' departure from NCsoft earlier this month, he quickly announced his newest home at the small casual game startup John Galt Games, most-famously known for their Web Wars browser-based game. But to add insult to injury, Lum the Mad, as he's most affectionately known, took this opportunity to let us all know how he felt about the current subscription-based business model with most popular MMOs. It's "an arms race that few can even hope to compete in, much less win," says Jennings.

This issue is often a heated debate among players and developers alike, but what does Jennings suggest we do about it? "Embracing open source development, crowd-sourcing content, targeting different platforms such as the Web or mobile phones, all of these are valid," suggests Jennings. He also points to the increasing costs of MMO development these days, and how some smaller-budget MMOs like Club Penguin and RuneScape have does much more with much less.

Now that an industry heavyweight like Jennings has made the leap, and we see more big-name online games shutting down or losing staff, will others soon follow?

MassivelyWhy the subscription-based business model is broken originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelsjohn-galt-gameslum-the-madncsoftscott-jenningssubscriptionweb-warsSun, 24 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan: Is it a fun mess or just a mess?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/age-of-conan-is-it-a-fun-mess-or-just-a-mess/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/age-of-conan-is-it-a-fun-mess-or-just-a-mess/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/age-of-conan-is-it-a-fun-mess-or-just-a-mess/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


One patch after another they descend with a clear purpose: fix the holes, eradicate the bugs, and to modify and further improve. Since its launch, Age of Conan has been overwhelmed with significant game-changing patches, leaving many wondering whether or not Age of Conan launched several months earlier than it should have.

Two bloggers recently set the contrast displaying both their points well. Scott Jennings, AKA Lum the Mad, in a post titled "It's the Fun, Stupid," espouses that Age of Conan is a mess, albeit a very fun one. On the opposite side, a more dissenting opinion comes from Heartless Gamer. In his post titled, "Age of Conan Troubles Continue to Surface," he believes Funcom would have been much better off if they added more content and didn't launch for at least a few more months, and this negligence is one reason why he is not playing Age of Conan. Both sides understand that the game is far from perfect, and that every MMOG goes through their growing pains, but one is having fun and the other didn't. It all boils down to the fun factor which is of course completely subjective to each player.

It leaves us with one question for our readers: Is Age of Conan a fun mess, or just a mess?

MassivelyAge of Conan: Is it a fun mess or just a mess? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocfunfuncomheartless-gamerlaunchmmog-bloggerscott-jenningsTue, 17 Jun 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lum the Mad weighs in on the MMO industry's future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/lum-the-mad-weighs-in-on-the-mmo-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/lum-the-mad-weighs-in-on-the-mmo-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/lum-the-mad-weighs-in-on-the-mmo-industry/#commentsFiled under: ,

Scott Jennings has been known as 'Lum the Mad' for years now, posting regularly to a website of the same name in the murky mists of the MMO genre's past. Though "The Rantings of Lum the Mad" was a collaborative effort, Mr. Jennings well-known efforts on the site led to a lengthy stint with Mythic Entertainment. Since 2006 he's been working with NCsoft in Austin on an as-yet-unannounced massively multiplayer game. The folks at Ten Ton Hammer caught up with Lum at this month's ION conference. There, they asked a few questions about what he's working on, as well as some broader queries about the industry as a whole. If you've ever followed Mr. Jenning's writing on his current Broken Toys site, you're probably already aware he's got some great ideas about where the genre should be going.

Scott confirmed that the title he's working on is a typical fantasy MMO. But, he notes, it's a collaborative effort between a number of veterans of the genre. On the industry as a whole, the MMO commentator is fairly firm: World of Warcraft has set a standard that must be met. Anything that doesn't "will fail and deserve[s] to fail." Beyond that, Lum and the site discuss open world PvP, the sticky wicket of investment money, and the daunting challenge of MUDflation. Says Jennings, "There are ways to give players more tools in their toolbox that don't completely blow the ability spectrum out of wack. It's one of those things that's very upward focused, and that's why you need tons and tons of testing cause it's the quickest way to kill your game."

MassivelyLum the Mad weighs in on the MMO industry's future originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 May 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ion08lum-the-madmmo-industrymudflationncsoftscott-jenningsSat, 24 May 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ION 08: A five year forecast for MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/ion-08-a-five-year-forecast-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/ion-08-a-five-year-forecast-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/ion-08-a-five-year-forecast-for-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


There's always a lot of discussion about what's going to be the next big thing in the MMOs industry. We all love to talk about the future and that's largely because it's a very interesting topic. So we just had to attend the "Online Games in 2013" panel at ION 08. This panel was actually introduced by Peter Freese, the ION Conference Director. It was easily one of the most packed panels I've been to thus far which is saying a lot since all the panels have been pretty well populated already.

The panel consisted of Erik Bethke (GoPets Ltd), Scott Jennings (NCsoft), Bridiget Agabra (Metaverse Roadmap) and Damion Schubert (BioWare). With a group of people like this I was expecting some varied and compelling conversation on the topic of MMOs in 2013. In the end we got just that and a quite a bit more.

Gallery: ION 08: MMOs in 2013

Continue reading ION 08: A five year forecast for MMOs

MassivelyION 08: A five year forecast for MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 May 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardbiowareblizzardbridget-agabraccpcity-of-heroesclub-penguindamion-schuberterik-bethkefeaturedgopetshabbohollywoodindieionion-2008ion08ion2008joystiqfeaturesmetaplacemetaverse-roadmapmicrotransactionsncsoftpeter-freeseplaystation-3rightsscott-jenningsworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 15 May 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lawyers representing gold farmers threaten Lum the Mad]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/lawyers-representing-gold-farmers-threaten-lum-the-mad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/lawyers-representing-gold-farmers-threaten-lum-the-mad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/lawyers-representing-gold-farmers-threaten-lum-the-mad/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Late last month Scott "Lum the Mad" Jennings put up a post on his well-known MMOG blog site about an ongoing legal battle. It involves former IGE (yeah, the gold farmers) CEO Brock Pierce and co-founder of the company Alan Debonneville. Lum's excellent post, which quotes heavily from the lawsuit documents unearthed by the site Virtually Blind, does little more than sum up the case in one location. Not only have we been following the case along with the VB site, but numerous others have as well.

And yet, in a post on the Broken Toys site today, Lum notes that somehow he's the one that has received legal threats from Brock Pierce's legal team. They've basically asked him to take down the post by the close of business today (February 15th). Mr. Jennings, being a practical person and with no interest in going toe-to-toe with lawyers, is planning to do just that. He does get off a nice shot back at them in his response, saying "I welcome your client's renewed dedication to legal documentation and remind him that there are several outstanding end user licensing agreements attached to games I have assisted in operating in the past, regarding the explicitly forbidden trade of virtual items and characters in said games that he and his company have performed and expedited, that would benefit from his and his company's attention."

Of course, their harshly worded note has prompted responses from other MMOGbloggers, such as these posts from Ryan Shwayder and Matt Mihaly. Perhaps Pierce's team should have considered the impact before they asked Lum to take down his post about the lawsuit. This one, over here on his site. His post concerning Brock Pierce and Alan Debonneville. This post right here.

MassivelyLawyers representing gold farmers threaten Lum the Mad originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan-debonnevillebreakingbrock-piercefarmersgold-farminghernandez-vs-igeigelawyerslegal-threatslum-the-madrmtscott-jenningsstonewallingFri, 15 Feb 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Scott Jennings on how to make PvP not suck]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/scott-jennings-on-how-to-make-pvp-not-suck/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/scott-jennings-on-how-to-make-pvp-not-suck/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/11/scott-jennings-on-how-to-make-pvp-not-suck/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

haha u died lolJust in case any of us design a PvP ruleset for a massively multiplayer online game, Scott Jennings has helpfully posted a 13-step guide to "PvP done right" on his personal blog, BrokenToys.org.

It's a potent mixture of common sense, personal opinion, and thousands upon thousands disagreeing that classes are needed. It's a great primer, aphorisms or not, and written wonderfully. Put simply, PvP in a game needs to work -- if it's an impossible concept or impossible to implement, nothing else matters. Personally, I'd go as far as to say the simpler the concept, the better the execution -- of course, that's a huge sweeping statement, but be it Team Fortress 2 or World of Warcraft or Chess, the depth doesn't come from the rules, it comes from the implementation. Except Cricket.

All decisions will upset someone. It's just about having a realistic, well-defined goal for PvP in your game and going from there -- and accepting that there will always be an awful lot of criticism, rage, and Fury.

MassivelyScott Jennings on how to make PvP not suck originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auranbalancebrokentoyscricketfurykeep-it-simple-stupidmechanicspvpragerulesscott-jenningstabula-rasateam-fortress-2world-of-warcraftTue, 11 Dec 2007 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An interview with two MMO luminaries]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/an-interview-with-two-mmo-luminaries/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/an-interview-with-two-mmo-luminaries/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/an-interview-with-two-mmo-luminaries/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Over on the F13.net site, they have up a great, lengthy interview with David Rickey (former world builder for Dark Age of Camelot, among other things) and Scott Jennings. This literate, insightful discussion between the two noted designers and F13's yoru touches on a number of topics that are almost guaranteed to interest you. There's also Mongolian Barbecue, if you like that sort of thing.

Specific subjects include:
  • How they got into the industry.
  • Their own personal game-making heroes.
  • Taking game design seriously.
  • The role of games.
  • The MMO target audience.
  • The work process.
  • The maturation of the MMO audience.
My favorite excerpt from the conversation probably stems from that last point, and springs from the mouth of Dave: You look at the movies from the thirties and forties, when they were just finally figuring out how to really make good movies. But you didn't have a lot of complexity - you had good guys, you had bad guys, you generally could always tell who was who. It wasn't until the fifties, and especially the sixties, that you started to see conflicted heroes, anti-heroes, the bad guy who reaches redemption in the last act. All of this kind of narrative depth didn't occur until both the medium and the audience had matured beyond the simplistic.

MassivelyAn interview with two MMO luminaries originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dave-rickeyf13interviewlum-the-madscott-jenningsMon, 26 Nov 2007 23:00:00 EST