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['We hear you loud and clear': CCP clarifies third-party application licensing fees]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/we-hear-you-loud-and-clear-ccp-clarifies-third-party-applicat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/we-hear-you-loud-and-clear-ccp-clarifies-third-party-applicat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/22/we-hear-you-loud-and-clear-ccp-clarifies-third-party-applicat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

What should be a week of rejoicing following EVE Online's Incarna expansion going live has been soured by controversy over seemingly high-priced microtransactions and debate over fees associated with third-party application licensing.

Today, CCP has come out to address the second point and clarify its position. CCP Guard admits that the company didn't do the best job in explaining how third parties can charge a real-world money fee for their services apart from in-game currency, and he reposts an illuminating transcript of an interview with CCP Zulu regarding the licensing.

The problem came in the form of $99 licensing fees to use this new service, a charge that EVE players felt was extremely high. Apparently CCP agrees and will be looking into changing it to a "token charge" that will make the contract between CCP and the third party binding without it being a financial obstacle.

You can read the full explanation over at EVE Online, and while you're at it, you can snag yourself the expansion on Steam for $10.

Massively'We hear you loud and clear': CCP clarifies third-party application licensing fees originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesccp-guardccp-zulucontracteveeve-onlineguardinterviewisksaleservicessteamthird-partythird-party-licensingthird-party-serviceszuluWed, 22 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Third-party development acquiring monetization options from EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/third-party-development-acquiring-monetization-options-from-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/third-party-development-acquiring-monetization-options-from-eve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/third-party-development-acquiring-monetization-options-from-eve/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you're running a service in EVE Online at the moment, you're running it for free. If you're developing an application for the game, you're doing it for free. This isn't unusual, really -- pretty much any fan-developed application or service is done free of charge. But that's soon to change for fans of CCP's cutthroat game, as a new developer blog outlines upcoming changes that will allow developers to charge for services, applications, and website access.

For a $99 license fee, developers and service providers will be able to sign up and start charging money for their products while having full access to the EVE Online API. The entry itself goes into more details on the restrictions of the program and what it will mean for non-commercial sites (which will not be required to pay any sort of fee). It's an interesting move, one that means that the game will be able to develop a more robust real-world economy to complement the in-game activities.

MassivelyThird-party development acquiring monetization options from EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applicationsbusinessbusiness-modelsbusiness-practicesccpccp-gameseveeve-onlinefeesmmo-industrymonetizingpaymentservicessoftware-developmentthird-party-developmentwebsitesWed, 15 Jun 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE takes services offline due to serious issue]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/soe-takes-services-offline-due-to-serious-issue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/soe-takes-services-offline-due-to-serious-issue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/soe-takes-services-offline-due-to-serious-issue/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This Monday morning, Sony Online Entertainment customers are waking up to discover that all of their games' services are down. Apparently, the company has discovered a serious issue while following up with the previous weeks' hacker intrusion and is taking steps to rectify it.

The Station.com posted the following notice:
Dear valued SOE Customers,

We have had to take the SOE service down temporarily. In the course of our investigation into the intrusion into our systems we have discovered an issue that warrants enough concern for us to take the service down effective immediately. We will provide an update later today (Monday).
We'll update this story as it develops.

MassivelySOE takes services offline due to serious issue originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 May 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackedhackerhackershackingservers-downservicessoesonysony-online-entertainmentstationstation.comMon, 02 May 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Square-Enix restoring Final Fantasy XI and XIV game services on March 25th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/square-enix-restoring-final-fantasy-xi-and-xiv-game-services-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/square-enix-restoring-final-fantasy-xi-and-xiv-game-services-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/22/square-enix-restoring-final-fantasy-xi-and-xiv-game-services-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It looks like the lights are coming back on in both Vana'diel and Eorzea in a few days, as Square-Enix has published a press release on its website updating fans and customers on its power conservation initiative.

Final Fantasy XI and XIV game servers were shut down on March 13th in an effort to curtail non-essential power usage in the aftermath of the Tohoku earthquake. According to Square, services for both MMORPGs, as well as its PlayOnline portal, will be back online this Friday, March 25th.

The FFXIV website also details Square's efforts to reduce its energy footprint, which includes reductions in both lighting and air conditioning usage in addition to the server shutdowns. The company also states that services may be interrupted again if recovery efforts warrant it, and that monthly fees for the April billing cycle will be waived.

MassivelySquare-Enix restoring Final Fantasy XI and XIV game services on March 25th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthquakefantasyffxiffxivfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgame-servicesmmo-industrynews-itemspower-conservationservicestohoku-earthquakeTue, 22 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[En Masse's response to microtransaction speculation: TERA is not a microtransaction game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/en-masses-response-to-microtransaction-speculation-tera-is-not/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/en-masses-response-to-microtransaction-speculation-tera-is-not/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/en-masses-response-to-microtransaction-speculation-tera-is-not/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In one of our recent TERA articles, we speculated that TERA may be going towards a microtransaction/subscription model thanks to the wording in a press release sent out by Digital River, TERA's online shop service. However, senior producer Brian Knox has sent us a statement that sets the facts straight: TERA is not a microtransaction game.
"After a press release by Digital River announcing our e-commerce partnership a few players expressed concerns that TERA would be a micro-transaction game in addition to requiring a subscription fee; that is not the case," said Knox.

"TERA is not a micro-transaction or cash-shop item game. The game is built and designed to function as a subscription-based game. We would have to make dramatic changes to the game's design to support micro-transactions and there is no intention of doing so."

Continue reading En Masse's response to microtransaction speculation: TERA is not a microtransaction game

MassivelyEn Masse's response to microtransaction speculation: TERA is not a microtransaction game originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingbrian-knoxcash-shopcharacter-servicesdigital-riveren-masseen-masse-entertainmentitem-mallitem-shopmicrotransactionsservicesstatementterathe-exiled-realm-of-arboreaFri, 13 Aug 2010 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[One billion people will flock to virtual worlds by 2017]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/one-billion-people-will-flock-to-virtual-worlds-by-2017/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/one-billion-people-will-flock-to-virtual-worlds-by-2017/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/06/one-billion-people-will-flock-to-virtual-worlds-by-2017/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Market research and consulting firm Strategy Analytics has forecasted a surge in virtual world registrations over roughly the next decade. The firm's study is titled 'Market Forecasts for Virtual World Experiences - from Habbo Hotel to Second Life and Beyond - 2008 to 2017.' It posits that roughly 22 percent of global broadband users will participate in one or more virtual worlds on some level. The end result will be a global virtual world market with one billion registrants. That throng of virtual world residents will provide an estimated eight billion USD in service opportunities for companies that learn how to do business effectively in these spaces.

Strategy Analytics has been keeping a close eye on virtual worlds of late. The firm released another report on the growing market in May, as well as a presentation seemingly geared towards fledgling companies wishing to capitalize on what might seem to them an abstract, if not bizarre, new market. Adrian Bowles, Executive Director of Virtual World Strategies at Strategy Analytics, writes, "For this generation it is as natural to interact with a friend represented by a flying cat as it is for real world senior citizens to gather in a town center and reminisce," for his 'Finding Business Value in Virtual Worlds' presentation. The Strategy Analytics next-decade projections are specifically for non-gaming virtual worlds. Were they to include the massively multiplayer online market, the global figures would likely be drastically higher.

MassivelyOne billion people will flock to virtual worlds by 2017 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesshabbo-hotelmarketsecond-lifeservicesstrategy-analyticsvirtual-worldvirtual-worldsFri, 06 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turbine having server and service issues]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/turbine-having-server-and-service-issues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/turbine-having-server-and-service-issues/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/turbine-having-server-and-service-issues/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As of 12:35pm Eastern, Turbine is having some troubles with all of their services. This includes not only Lord of the Rings Online, but all Turbine games as far as we know. It's not such a good time to be having issues since plenty of players are sitting at their computers awaiting the Book 12 update for LotRO today.

The problem is hitting not only the game servers, but website services as well -- so be wary if you're thinking of going into your Turbine account right now. They have informed us that people are on-site at their data center and are trying to find a solution to the server problem. Also, there is currently no known time at which this problem will be fixed, but as soon as we have an update we'll be sure to let you know when everything is back to normal.

[UPDATE] Turbine has said that this is not caused by the Book 12 update, which was apparently successfully put onto the servers and tested by QA before these issues began. So when the servers finally do go back up, the update will be readily available.

[UPDATE 2] The servers are back up and it looks as though everything is now back to normal.

MassivelyTurbine having server and service issues originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>book-12breakingddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroservicesturbineWed, 13 Feb 2008 14:07:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO subscriptions to be included in NPD reports]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/mmo-subscriptions-to-be-included-in-npd-reports/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/mmo-subscriptions-to-be-included-in-npd-reports/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/11/mmo-subscriptions-to-be-included-in-npd-reports/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The NPD group already has a prestigious reputation as the most trusted tracker of gaming industry related sales figures. Now it's seeking to augment that reputation by tracking subscription data in addition to initial software sales. This will enable the NPD group to provide businesses and others with detailed market info regarding all sorts of subscription plan based services -- from XBox Live to IGN Insider to MMOs like World of Warcraft, The Lord of the Rings Online, and EVE.

The reports will chart new subscriptions, renewals, and total market share using a sample group of "more than 3 million consumers who have agreed to complete online surveys."

We already know that World of Warcraft is number one among subscription-based, gamer-oriented MMORPGs in the North American and European markets, but hopefully these new reports will provide fairly accurate estimates about titles for which we don't have any official numbers, such as The Lord of the Rings Online.

MassivelyMMO subscriptions to be included in NPD reports originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eveindustrylord-of-the-rings-onlinenpdnpd-groupnumberssalesservicessubscriptionsworld-of-warcraftMon, 11 Feb 2008 21:00:00 EST