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 leave your current MMO for its sequel?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-leave-your-current-mmo-for-its-sequel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-leave-your-current-mmo-for-its-sequel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-leave-your-current-mmo-for-its-sequel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 Engineer
With Guild Wars 2 in the offing, long-time Guild Wars fans have an interesting dilemma on their hands. Trading up is probably a foregone conclusion in most cases, but abandoning Guild Wars altogether may sting a bit if you've invested a lot of time and energy into the original incarnation of Tyria.

The same could be said for faithful EverQuest fans when EverQuest II rolled around in 2004, and perhaps again whenever Sony Online Entertainment formalizes its EverQuest Next project. For today's Daily Grind, then, we'd like to know how easily you could leave your current MMO if a sequel were to materialize. We know you'd check out the new shiny, but would you leave the older title for good?

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 leave your current MMO for its sequel? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetdaily-grindeqeq-2eq-iieq-nexteq1eq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-3everquest-iieverquest-nextf2pfantasyfree-to-playguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2mmo-sequelsncsoftopinionsequelssoesonysony-online-entertainmenttdgthe-daily-grindThu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: City of Heroes 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-city-of-heroes-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-city-of-heroes-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/a-mild-mannered-reporter-city-of-heroes-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
Before the comments light up, I'm just going to say outright that City of Heroes 2 does not currently exist. We've heard no news about it, no announcements, nothing beyond the speculation of many City of Heroes players such as myself. I'm deviating (again) from the set schedule and talking about a purely hypothetical sequel that all of us are kind of expecting but that does not, at this point, exist. But considering all of the recent talk about Guild Wars 2, I think it's apropos.

Let's assume, for the purpose of this article, that Paragon Studios is knee-deep in development of City of Heroes 2 and simply isn't telling anyone. What sort of things would the game need? What would be the best possible route for the game to take? How could it satisfy fans of City of Heroes while drawing in new players? I don't have the absolute answers... but it sure does make for some interesting speculation, based on the things the team has been doing over the past several years.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: City of Heroes 2

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: City of Heroes 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist -- AC2
I've been a long-time follower of Eric Heimburg on his blog, Elder Game, where he and a friend have spent years delivering insightful commentary about MMOs and supermodels (well, mostly MMOs). Because I'm not that observant a fellow and I assume that most fellow bloggers are mere players like I am, I didn't realize until a little while ago that he and his co-writer were former Turbine developers who had worked on Asheron's Call and Asheron's Call 2.

You can see where this is going.

Once I learned that, I knew I had to get him to contribute to this series. I began a multi-year wooing campaign that involved skywriting, cupcakes, celebrity kiss-o-grams, envelopes stuffed with unmarked bills, and all the tea in China. Of course, this was well after he'd already said "yes" to it, but I like to keep up appearances.

So hit the jump as I talk to a guy who was on the flipside of Asheron's Call 2 as a producer and generally swell fella!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The former dev

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The former dev originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acac2asherons-callasherons-call-2asherons-call-2-legionsdaocdark-age-of-camelotdrudgeEric-HeimburgfeaturedinterviewJohn-Lindemuthkingdom-vs-kingdomlegionslive-eventslive-teammicrosoftmicrosoft-game-studiosmmo-sequelspvpRick-Schmitzsequelsequelstea-in-chinathe-game-archaeologistturbineturbine-entertainmentworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 18 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are MMO sequels doomed to fail?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/the-daily-grind-are-mmo-sequels-doomed-to-fail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/the-daily-grind-are-mmo-sequels-doomed-to-fail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/the-daily-grind-are-mmo-sequels-doomed-to-fail/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Asheron's Call 2 -- That's a couple of my guildies and I checking out AC2 beta way back forever ago
Massively's Justin Olivetti has been covering the late great Asheron's Call 2 in this month's Game Archaeologist series. In it, he and his interview subjects suggest that the early closure of the game was due in part to the fact that AC2 was a sequel -- and worse, it was a sequel to a game that was still running alongside of it.

It isn't as though all sequels are failures; EverQuest and EverQuest II are both still around, after all, though EQII has never quite risen to the relative prominence of its predecessor. And Guild Wars 2 is right around the corner ("when it's ready"). But we can certainly point to other sequels that never even made it to launch, like Ultima Online 2 and Ultima X: Odyssey, which were canned specifically because the developer believed they would hurt their big brother, classic Ultima Online. What do you think? Are sequels generally a bad idea, too risky, doomed to fail? Are GW2 and EQII among the few exceptions that prove the rule? Or should we embrace a modern, graphically enhanced "re-envisioning" (as PlanetSide 2 is putting it) of old and beloved games?

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: Are MMO sequels doomed to fail? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acac1ac2asherons-callasherons-call-2brianna-royce-tdgeqEQ2EQIIeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iiguild-warsguild-wars-2opinionplanetsideplanetside-2sequelsequelstdgthe-daily-grindultima-onlineUltima-Online-2ultima-x-odysseyuouxoMon, 17 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The fansite managers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-fansite-man/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-fansite-man/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-fansite-man/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Asheron's Call - The Game Archaeologist
Back when I covered Asheron's Call for The Game Archaeologist, I got an impassioned email from a former fansite operator who made me promise that I'd drop her a line when the time came to talk about Asheron's Call 2, as she was not only a huge fan of the title but still in contact with many former players who carry a torch for Turbine's long-departed MMO. One thing led to another, and I ended up talking to both her and a fellow AC2 fansite manager about the ups and downs of covering the second coming of Dereth...

The Game Archaeologist: Please introduce yourself, your current job position, and how you got involved with Asheron's Call 2 back in the day?

Kiersten Samwell: I'm Kiersten Samwell, Community Relations and Social Media Manager for KingsIsle Entertainment, the creator of Wizard101. I used to be the Site Manager for Warcry's Crossroads of Dereth/Asheron's Call site as Ellen Ripley, so it was natural to work with the site manager of their Asheron's Call 2 fansite as well. His name is Roberto, and he was just an incredible site manager. Of course, being an avid AC1 player, I enjoyed AC2 for both its similarities to and its differences from AC1.

Robert Hackett: Hi, I'm Robert Hackett, the Managing MMO Editor of GamersInfo.net. I actually got invited to one of the betas along with a friend of mine. The lag was so bad (the day I logged in may have been a stress test; I can't remember) that I told my friend that there was no way my rig could handle that. Fast forward to the month after release and Ophelea from the old AC Crossroads site begged me to come over to AC2 and be an editor for the database she was trying to build. Logged in and the game was a million percent better. I stayed to work on the database and eventually fell in love with it beyond "work!"

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The fansite managers

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The fansite managers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acac-crossroadsac2ac2-warcryasherons-callasherons-call-2atmosphereAubereancraftingddodeja-vuderethdungeons-and-dragons-onlineEllen-Ripleyfallen-kingsfeaturedgamersinfo.netinterviewKiersten-Samwellkingsislekingsisle-entertainmentlegacylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromicrosoftOpheleapost-apocalypticRobert-Hackettsequelsequelsshutdownstar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-game-archeologistturbineturbine-entertainmentwarcrywizard101world-of-warcraftwowTue, 11 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/the-game-archaeologist-answers-asherons-call-2-the-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Asheron's Call 2
MMO sequels are funny animals. Sequels (along with prequels and "reimaginings") are ingrained into the entertainment industry so deep that it makes sense that MMO studios would follow suit. And yet these types of games -- with their ever-growing nature and heavy involvement with loyal playerbases -- are not always conducive to such projects. More often than not, a sequel to an online game becomes its ancestor's main competition, which is not a desirable outcome for the studio.

Perhaps back in the early 2000s, studios simply didn't know better. There's good evidence that the typical "hit video games need a sequel" mindset ran rampant across the industry, from the multiple attempts at Ultima Online 2 to the release of the don't-call-it-a-sequel sequel of EverQuest II. Perhaps developers didn't realize that MMO players didn't necessarily want to be uprooted and moved to a new game every few years.

While sequels, spin-offs and remakes are still present, the genre learned a hard lesson with Asheron's Call 2 in the first half of the decade. Asheron's Call was a success on Microsoft and Turbine's behalf, and a sequel -- with vastly improved graphics and deeper gameplay -- seemed like a logical next step. Unfortunately, it was a Greek tragedy in the making, destined for a short but memorable life in our world.

This month we're going to look at the brief shining star of Asheron's Call 2 and get all sorts of misty-eyed romantic over it!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Two months ago, we heard a rumor (which has since gone quiet) that a new Ultima Online sequel might be in the oven in Electronic Art's kitchen. As with any rumor, it was important to take it with a grain of disbelief, although a pinch of hope seems appropriate in this case as well. After all, Ultima Online's been begging for a sequel ever since the hit MMO started facing stiff competition in the form of 3-D worlds like EverQuest and Asheron's Call.

For some of us gamers, word of a UO sequel feels like deja vu, and rightly so. This wouldn't be the first time that EA embarked on a project to make a more modern Ultima Online, nor would it be the second time. Indeed, the saga of Ultima Online's canceled sequels is as torrid as it is steamy and lusty. Ignore the words in the previous sentence, as those are just to up the hits on search engines.

In our continuing series on the "what ifs?" of axed MMOs, we're going to head into a two-parter full of savage truth, dangerous decisions, and full-frontal nerdery. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the saga of Ultima Online 2.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima Worlds Online: Origin

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima Worlds Online: Origin originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acasherons-callcataclysmdavid-swofforddeja-vudueleaelectronic-artseqeverquestfeaturedfull-frontal-nerderygamespotharry-potter-onlinehistoryjukalineagemeerpkpkingplayer-killingpvprichard-garriottsequelsequelssteampunkthe-game-archaeologisttrailerultima-onlineultima-online-2ultima-worlds-onlineultima-worlds-online-originuouo2uwouwoovideowing-commander-onlineWorld-of-WarcraftTue, 28 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Sequelitis]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/the-perfect-ten-sequelitis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/the-perfect-ten-sequelitis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/the-perfect-ten-sequelitis/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

As a long-time movie buff, I've always been fascinated by sequels. I know, they have a terrible reputation and everyone gets this face like he's digesting a porcupine when discussing them, but there's something fun about them as well. I think we always want a good story to continue, to see what happens next, and to answer the question, "What would the first film be like if it were put in the hands of a complete boob?" It would be an entertaining trainwreck, that's what.

Even though the MMORPG genre is in its toddler stage, it's seen a number of sequels, prequels and spin-offs, just the same as other types of entertainment. Video game sequels for hit titles are safer financial investments than striking out into new territory, so it makes sense that MMO studios would follow this pattern as well.

Right now there are loads of MMO sequels and spin-offs in the works -- including EverQuest Next, PlanetSide Next, Guild Wars 2, Mabinogi 2, MapleStory 2, Phantasy Star Online 2, Dust 514, and even a possible Ultima Online sequel -- so it's safe to say that the trend won't be dying down anytime soon. However, today I want to look at 10 sequels that already made it to release and briefly examine how they stacked up to their predecessors. Oh yes, there will be blood after the jump -- and I will drink your milkshake!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Sequelitis

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Sequelitis originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 May 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It happens all the time: When a new game is coming out we attempt to compare it to something familiar. "Jumpgate Evolution is like EVE combined with Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed." "Guild Wars 2's battles are scalable like Warhammer's." Even Rich Vogel, the Executive Producer for Star Wars: The Old Republic, couldn't get away from comparing his crafting system to an existing MMO when we interviewed him at E3. "It will be very similar to what WoW has," is what he said. Granted, Blaine Christine later set our minds at ease at PAX: "I think it's a different take on crafting than what people will be expecting. It's not the standard implementation." Unfortunately, the stigma of comparison was already there.

One of my favorite features of MMO creation is the fact that there are no real rules regarding gameplay style. Granted, in the early days of MMO design, a creator had to consider the heavy latency of dial-up connections, so most games were designed to be turn-based. However, now there really is no limit to gameplay style, so there are no rules regarding what makes a game an MMO besides its having a persistent online world. There are no rules that say a game must have similar gameplay to other games that came before, even a prequel. Guild Wars 2 is a great example of this, yet people, inevitably, are going to attempt to compare Guild Wars and its sequel -- sometimes to the point of being unfair about it.

Current Star Wars fans cannot help but compare SWTOR to Star Wars Galaxies. Follow me after the break as I make an attempt to debunk this stigma.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Star Wars Galaxies 2

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Star Wars Galaxies 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWareblaine-christinechoose-your-own-adventuredaniel-ericksondialogue-systemdungeon-masterDungeons-and-dragonse3eaElectronic-Artseve-onlinefeaturedgalaxiesgameplaygameplay-styleguided-tourGuild-Wars-2jump-to-lightspeedjumpgate-evolutionLucasArtsPAXpen-and-paperpen-and-paper-roleplayingrich-vogelsequelsequelsspace-gamestar-foxStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstigmaswgswtorthe-old-republictie-fightertortwitchyWorld-of-Warcraftx-wing-vs-tie-fighterTue, 05 Oct 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hiromichi Tanaka interview discusses the Final Fantasy online installments]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/hiromichi-tanaka-interview-discusses-the-final-fantasy-online-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/hiromichi-tanaka-interview-discusses-the-final-fantasy-online-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/29/hiromichi-tanaka-interview-discusses-the-final-fantasy-online-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

There's a lot of material coming up for Final Fantasy XIV. So much, in fact, that according to Hiromichi Tanaka, the game has plans that stretch out for as far off as next winter. When we last took a look at the interview, it had only been translated up through the first section, but the two additional sections include further information on the future of the new game as well as Final Fantasy XI.

Final Fantasy XI is slated for more high-level content with the climbing level cap, as much of the existing endgame content was balanced around players at the previous cap of 75. Final Fantasy XIV, on the other hand, was designed in many ways to break away from some of the conventions that its predecessor had in place, while at the same time retaining some of the elements that Tanaka believed were particular strengths. Take a look at the full interview for a rundown of what's in store for both games in the near future.

MassivelyHiromichi Tanaka interview discusses the Final Fantasy online installments originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conceptscontentendgameffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivfuture-patchesgame-planshiromichi-tanakainterviewslevel-caplevel-cap-raiselevel-capspatchesplanned-updatesplanssequelssquaresquare-enixtranslationsupcoming-contentWed, 29 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Gonna be the future soon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/12/a-mild-mannered-reporter-gonna-be-the-future-soon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/12/a-mild-mannered-reporter-gonna-be-the-future-soon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/12/a-mild-mannered-reporter-gonna-be-the-future-soon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This week's listening, if you by some chance didn't catch it, will be from the inimitable Mr. Jonathan Coulton. Not because the song is all that thematically appropriate (I did not leave a note on War Witch's desk, for starters), but because it's Jonathan Coulton. And it offsets the tone of this article, which is going to be... well... kind of negative.

Not negative in the sense that City of Heroes is dying, because it's not. The game is full of life, flush with energy and diverse ideas. Rumors of its death have been greatly exaggerated for well on a year or so now, and I personally couldn't be happier about the state of affairs. For every problem it has, it has five or six great points, and every time I'm cresting a hill on my enjoyment there's another hill of sliced, buttered awesome in front of me.

But City of Heroes is going to need to start taking steps to ensure its long-term sustainability. It needs to start realizing that their good fortune is not going to last. And so today will be a bit negative, as the long-forgotten second part of the anniversary column... where we look to the future, and see what needs to happen.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Gonna be the future soon

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Gonna be the future soon originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 May 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champions-onlinecity-of-heroescity-of-villainscocohcovcoxdc-universe-onlinedcuoexpansionsfeaturedgoing-roguegraphicsimprovementsparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioesparagon-studiossequelsultra-modeupgradesWed, 12 May 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Riddle me this, riddle me that]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-riddle-me-this-riddle-me-that/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-riddle-me-this-riddle-me-that/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/a-mild-mannered-reporter-riddle-me-this-riddle-me-that/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We've all heard the repeated statement that there are no stupid questions. This is pretty obviously incorrect, and can be proven as such by asking what color has the most pizza, or how much a clearly-priced item costs, or how you mine for fish. But when it comes to being unsure about things in City of Heroes, that old chestnut rings true. Certainly you can ask questions that have obvious answers in retrospect, but there's enough to learn and know about the game that it's never a bad idea to ask a question.

We'll kick off with a question asked by Sharko:
"Are we ever going to see new Epic Archetypes in the game?"

The developers have been fairly close-lipped on this point, and for somewhat good reason. Making a new archetype requires a concept that doesn't fit within any of the existing power frameworks, has enough to do that it can sustain itself for the same range of play as the other archetypes, and usually requires some complex balancing against the other archetypes to avoid being more powerful or less. With the breadth of options available to current City of Heroes characters, there's not always a lot of new space to squeeze in something else.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Riddle me this, riddle me that

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Riddle me this, riddle me that originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxepic-archetypeexpansionfeaturedgoing-rogueparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioessequelstraveltravel-powersWed, 03 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: All the community news that's fit to print]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/a-mild-mannered-reporter-all-the-community-news-thats-fit-to-p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/a-mild-mannered-reporter-all-the-community-news-thats-fit-to-p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/a-mild-mannered-reporter-all-the-community-news-thats-fit-to-p/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In a city marked by constant alien invasions, assaults from an island controlled by a sadistic villain, rampant street crime, and various technological and magical disasters, there's always something to talk about. There's usually more than a few things for players to talk about on top of that, which certainly helps keep our interest in City of Heroes even when we're not right in the thick of things.

After all, whatever else you might say about the game and its flaws -- it's fun. It gives you a fun ride of being a superhero or supervillain. If you can't enjoy a conversation about that, really, you're just plain getting jaded.

Naturally, having discussions about nothing more than "it's fun" would get a little old, but that's certainly not all of the discussions about the game. Just about half. Today, we're taking a look at some of the other half, spotlighting some of the most interesting, though-provoking, or just plain funny discussions and threads coming out of the City of Heroes community.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: All the community news that's fit to print

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: All the community news that's fit to print originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcoh-issue-17community-spotlightcomparisonscovcoxfeaturedgoing-roguegrammarissue-17number-crunchingnumbersparagonparagon-cohparagon-studioespatchessequelsequelsspellingWed, 24 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What news makes you excited and happy about a game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/03/the-daily-grind-what-news-makes-you-excited-and-happy-about-a-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/03/the-daily-grind-what-news-makes-you-excited-and-happy-about-a-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/03/the-daily-grind-what-news-makes-you-excited-and-happy-about-a-g/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We'll freely admit that yesterday's Daily Grind was a bit... how should we say it... pessimistic. Certainly MMOs and their associated industry aren't always sunshine and light, and we'd never pretend that they are, but that doesn't mean we can't occasionally perk things up a little bit. So today, we're shifting to the other side of the coin.

Because let's be honest. We don't stay in this hobby to complain -- that's just a fringe benefit. There are bits and pieces here and there that fill us with joy and a sense that all is right with the world around us. Sometimes it's something as little as finding out that long-awaited features are going to be added to a game, sometimes it's the promise of a much-wished sequel to a well-loved game, and sometimes the mere presence of an expansion makes us get all dizzy with glee.

Today, readers, we ask you: what sort of news makes you happy? What stories do you have about bits of information that made you instantly exclaim how cool something was going to be? Little moments like that are what keep us interested, so let's celebrate them a little bit. What news do you think of as great news?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What news makes you excited and happy about a game? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cultureexpansionshappynews-itemsopinionpatchessequelstdgthe-daily-grindTue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Final Fantasy XIV is a good, good thing pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/anti-aliased-final-fantasy-xiv-is-a-good-good-thing-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/anti-aliased-final-fantasy-xiv-is-a-good-good-thing-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/anti-aliased-final-fantasy-xiv-is-a-good-good-thing-pt-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


The real beauty of all of this is that a Final Fantasy game is never truly a sequel. Each world that they create in the series is unique and tells its own story. They don't copy the same battle system from game to game, they're always looking to innovate, and they're always pushing their own boundaries. The "Final Fantasy" name is more of a pedigree than it is a continuous set of works.

With all of that in mind, we can be sure that 14 and 11 will be different enough to work side by side. For these guys, it's not about the grind -- it's about the story. I think we can be certain that the new world we're about to explore will be very different than Vana'diel and follow a completely different line of thought with a new twist on their own battle system.

It's not about an MMO

If there's any point that makes me want this game the most, it's the fact that this game isn't being developed to be an MMO. This game is being developed to be a Final Fantasy title. I may have lost you on that, so let me explain.

When many developers begin to approach their new MMO, they approach it as an MMO. They look at it and think about the grind, the world, the interactions, and the other titles in the market. They stare at World of Warcraft for hours and analyze the market so they can capture their audience. Because of this, all games seem to follow this "MMO formula." Grind, level, grind, level, grind, level, endgame. Emphasis is being put on the game and not on the experience.

Final Fantasy XIV is not being developed from the perspective of an MMO -- it's being developed from the perspective of a Final Fantasy console game that just happens to be online. When you pick up Final Fantasy XI, you feel the presence of an MMO, but you also feel the presence of a Final Fantasy game. Storylines, adventuring, characters, and a rich world all seem to pop to the forefront. Even the battle system, which is an MMO battle system, screams Final Fantasy because of the way abilities, camera angles, and party dynamics work.

This is what our genre needs. We do not need to make another MMO for the sake of making another MMO. We're done with MMOs. We want games that feature a massively multiplayer online component. Instead of breaking the Final Fantasy series apart so it fits into the context of an MMO, we're breaking MMO components apart to fit in the context of Final Fantasy. It will feature systems that are unlike any other MMO because they don't come from another MMO -- they come from Final Fantasy.

Two other games are attempting to do this right now -- Star Wars: The Old Republic and All Points Bulletin. Part of the reason we're all excited for these two is because they don't look to be another MMO for MMOs sake. SWTOR is grabbing from Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect's playbook. APB is grabbing from GTA's playbook.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a very, very good thing.
Colin Brennan is the weekly writer of Anti-Aliased who owns Final Fantasy XI for way too many platforms. When he's not writing here for Massively, he's rambling on his personal blog, The Experience Curve. If you want to message him, send him an e-mail at colin.brennan AT weblogsinc DOT com. You can also follow him on Twitter through Massively, or through his personal feed.

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Final Fantasy XIV is a good, good thing pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbbiowareffxiffxivfinal-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgame-designgraphicsrealtime-worldssequelssquare-enixstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortechnologyFri, 05 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Final Fantasy XIV is a good, good thing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/anti-aliased-final-fantasy-xiv-is-a-good-good-thing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/anti-aliased-final-fantasy-xiv-is-a-good-good-thing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/05/anti-aliased-final-fantasy-xiv-is-a-good-good-thing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


So, unless you've been under a rock, you probably heard Sony squeeing in happiness about Final Fantasy XIV Online, otherwise known as just FFXIV. This is indeed the next MMO that Square-Enix has been hiding from prying eyes, and unlike the indications we got from the company a year ago, this is another Final Fantasy Online.

The reception, however, is quite mixed. Some people, like myself, are really psyched up for this next release in the online series. Others, however, are questioning why make a game like FFXIV when you already have FFXI. Why not just keep on working on FFXI? Don't we all remember how bad sequels work out in the MMO market? Why tempt fate by making a sequel?

Personally, I think the creation of this game is a good idea with all things considered. Final Fantasy brings a different perspective of play to the market -- one that it desperately needs at this point in time. What am I jabbering on about? Come on, follow me, and let's talk about why FFXIV is a good, good thing.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Final Fantasy XIV is a good, good thing

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Final Fantasy XIV is a good, good thing originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinanti-aliasedapbbiowarefeaturedffxiffxivfinal-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgame-designgraphicsjoystiqfeaturesrealtime-worldssequelssquare-enixstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorFri, 05 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST