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: Do you mourn games that never were?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/the-daily-grind-do-you-mourn-games-that-never-were/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/the-daily-grind-do-you-mourn-games-that-never-were/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/the-daily-grind-do-you-mourn-games-that-never-were/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Missing things you never had sometimes beats missing things you used to have.
With the sudden and unexpected shutdown of Dominus prior to its launch, the game joins a long line of titles canceled before ever seeing the light of day. Some of them were expansions or campaigns, like Guild Wars: Utopia; some were full games, like the various Ultima Online sequels planned over the years. But none of them ever saw general release. They existed only as test clients and unrealized screenshots.

Obviously, it's difficult to feel the same sense of loss for these games. Star Wars Galaxies is gone now, but it was released and playable at one time. But for some people, the games that never really existed can be a little bit sadder. They weren't cut down in their prime; they were cut down before they even had a chance. So do you mourn games that never were? Do you reminisce about what could have been? Or do you save your sorrow for games that did get released and then faded away?

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: Do you mourn games that never were? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grinddead-gamesdominusgames-that-never-wereopinionpre-releasepre-release-shutdownproject-shutdownshutdownstillborn-gamestdgthe-daily-grindSun, 06 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Karos Online shutting down, Rosh Online welcoming refugees]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/karos-online-shutting-down-rosh-online-welcoming-refugees/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/karos-online-shutting-down-rosh-online-welcoming-refugees/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/karos-online-shutting-down-rosh-online-welcoming-refugees/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Karos Online
We haven't heard much about Karos Online since its 2010 launch. It seems as though the title struggled to find an audience over the past two years and is now facing the end of its days. The team announced that Karos Online will be shutting down soon and urged its community to migrate to Rosh Online.

As of today, new accounts for Karos are disabled, and current players will be unable to purchase in-game currency for the cash shop. Karos Online will spend its next week spinning down its wheels before turning off the lights on April 13th.

Happily, Ignited Games has created a generous welcome package for Karos players willing to make the jump to Rosh Online. The benefits for doing so include in-game goodies and the conversion of cash shop currency to a compatible equivalent. On top of that, Karos players can jump into higher-level Rosh characters depending on how high they leveled their Karos contemporaries.

[Thanks for the tip, Jeff!]

MassivelyKaros Online shutting down, Rosh Online welcoming refugees originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closuref2pfree-to-playin-game-currencykaroskaros-onlinemigrationpromotionroshrosh-onlineshutdownsunsetsunsettingwelcome-packageFri, 06 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest Mac fans fight for survival; SOE responds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/everquest-mac-fans-fight-for-survival-soe-responds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/everquest-mac-fans-fight-for-survival-soe-responds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/everquest-mac-fans-fight-for-survival-soe-responds/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

EverQuest Mac
While many players are celebrating the announcement of EverQuest's upcoming free-to-play transition, there is one EQ community that was crushed by the news. The small but dedicated fanbase of EverQuest: Macintosh Edition found out that with F2P, EQMac and its one server would be sunsetted on the same date.

EQMac fans have begun to stage a campaign to save their favorite game, but it looks like there will be no budging SOE's mind on the matter. SOE President John Smedley took to the forums today to answer specific questions about the shutdown. "It breaks my heart to have to do this," he laments, before admitting that it's a done deal. Smedley cites the fact that the codebase is so ancient that only one SOE programmer knows how to work it, the player population is too small, and SOE was never that "proud" of the version.

However, Smedley promised that he will run a poll to see if there's enough interest in a Mac port of the current version of EverQuest. If the response is big enough, he says, the company will consider doing it. Meanwhile, the game will be available for current players free of charge until the March 29th shutdown. SOE has a celebration planned for its final hurrah.

EQMac came out in 2003 and was unique for remaining "frozen in time" in the years since, receiving no further active development or expansions. We will be covering this game and its shutdown more in-depth in a future Game Archaeologist column, so stay tuned.

MassivelyEverQuest Mac fans fight for survival; SOE responds originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleeqeq-forumseqmaceverquesteverquest-macintosheverquest-macintosh-editionf2pforumsfree-to-playjohn-smedleymacmac-editionmac-portmac-versionpollshutdownsmedleysoeSony-Online-EntertainmentsunsetsunsettingTue, 31 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pack up your toys: LEGO Universe is shutting down at midnight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/pack-up-your-toys-lego-universe-shutting-down-at-midnight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/pack-up-your-toys-lego-universe-shutting-down-at-midnight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/pack-up-your-toys-lego-universe-shutting-down-at-midnight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LEGO Universe
The clock is chiming, and kids (and the young at heart) everywhere are asking for just a little more time with LEGO Universe. Unfortunately the struggling MMO has gotten no reprieve from the imaginary video game governor, and its servers will go offline tonight at midnight EST.

The shutdown FAQ encourages LEGO Universe players to share their favorite memories on the forums and ends with a heartfelt message from the team:
"Our decision to end LEGO Universe is similar to decisions we also make with LEGO Product collection, where favourite sets come and go to make space for new sets. It was time for LEGO Universe to end and hopefully new digital LEGO experiences will come in the future."
We first heard of LEGO Universe's closure last November, when the studio announced that the game's freemium model was not bringing in enough paying customers to keep the title afloat. LEGO Universe is a youngling in the MMO genre, having released in October 2010, making the game one year and three months old at the time of its shutdown.

Refunds for those who had a paid subscription on file after December 31st, 2011 will be distributed early next month. Unused LEGO game cards may also be exchanged for LEGO e-gift cards.

MassivelyPack up your toys: LEGO Universe is shutting down at midnight originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closeclosingclosuref2pfree-to-playfreemiumlegolego-grouplego-universeshutdownMon, 30 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Force reflection]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/hyperspace-beacon-force-reflection/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/hyperspace-beacon-force-reflection/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/hyperspace-beacon-force-reflection/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Force reflection
"Always in motion is the future," Yoda reflected to Luke Skywalker in the greatest of all Star Wars movies, The Empire Strikes Back. Even for a Jedi master, the future is unpredictable and always fluid. Likewise, I made predictions about Star Wars: The Old Republic that were completely off base and some that were spot on. Of course, the ones I got wrong were part of the BioWare plot to subvert everything I do. That's right, I'm looking at you, Georg Zoeller.

This week, I'm going to borrow a phrase from the SWTOR-RP website: Force Reflection. Every weekday, these roleplayers pose a question about SWTOR, Star Wars, or some sort of roleplay trope to get you to think about how you play you character. However, I'm going to use the phrase to think back on the predictions I made in this column, specifically the first article of this year. Which ideas did I get correct? Which ideas did I get totally wrong? I can't be one hundred percent correct all the time. I have to leave room for some errors or else I'd lose my secret job as a psychic-hotline operator.

Jump past the break to judge for yourself.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Force reflection

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Force reflection originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarecustomizable-shipsdelayEAElectronic-Artsfeaturedgeorg-zoellerHK-47james-ohlenlaunch-delayLucasArtsoperationsopinionplanetplanetsraidRevanshipsshutdownspeculationStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsunsettingSWTORthe-old-republicTORTue, 27 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: One last jump to lightspeed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/some-assembly-required-one-last-jump-to-lightspeed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/some-assembly-required-one-last-jump-to-lightspeed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/some-assembly-required-one-last-jump-to-lightspeed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies - Tatooine twin sunset
Eulogizing Star Wars Galaxies is difficult. In fact, I've written some 2,200 articles since signing on with Massively a couple of years ago, and none of them has come close to being as painful as this particular wall o' text.

The fact that I even used the word eulogy in reference to a video game says it all, really. Join me after the cut for as brief a remembrance as I can manage.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: One last jump to lightspeed

MassivelySome Assembly Required: One last jump to lightspeed originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closingcraftingeconomyeuologyfeaturedgame-closinghousingopinionplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsci-fiserver-closingserver-shutdownshutdownsoesome-assembly-requiredSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmosunsetswgtradeskillingwe-will-miss-you-swgFri, 16 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final SWG producer's letter thanks community]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/final-swg-producers-letter-thanks-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/final-swg-producers-letter-thanks-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/final-swg-producers-letter-thanks-community/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies - YT2400 Blue Harvest over Mos Eisley
Community was one of many things that set Star Wars: Galaxies apart from your average MMO, and Sony Online Entertainment's Tony "Teesquared" Tyson took a moment to thank the game's faithful in what serves as the final producer's letter for the shuttered sandbox title.

Tyson touches on several highlights including housing, crafting, entertaining, and space-sim mechanics that were unique to SWG, and he ultimately concludes that the game "was, and will always be, a meaningful and memorable part of my life, an experience I'll treasure and share with anyone who wants to hear a good story."

SOE launched SWG on June 26, 2003 and powered down the servers one final time early this morning.

MassivelyFinal SWG producer's letter thanks community originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitycraftinghousingproducers-lettersandboxsci-fishutdownsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentspacestar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmoswgteesquaredtony-tysonFri, 16 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies updates players on the end]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/star-wars-galaxies-updates-players-on-the-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/star-wars-galaxies-updates-players-on-the-end/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/star-wars-galaxies-updates-players-on-the-end/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

And yet somewhere, even after the servers shut down, a twi'lek will be dancing.
December 15th. That's not the end of the world -- it's the end of multiple worlds because it's the day that Star Wars Galaxies will have its last hurrah followed by silence. But there are still a couple of weeks left, and considering that one of the game's big pushes has been the Galactic Civil War, we think it's only fair for the ending of the game's service to be accompanied by the ending of the war with a decisive victory.

On December 14th, at 9:00 p.m. PST (midnight EST), the Civil War scoreboards will close, with a final winner declared overall. This will be accompanied by server restarts, followed by a number of optional battles and skirmishes in the 15th. So spend the next two weeks getting ready for the last push to grab all the marbles because when the shutdown comes on December 15th, the war will be over... for good.

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies updates players on the end originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ending-eventseventsgalactic-civil-wargalaxies-shutdowngame-endinggcwpvpshutdownsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswswgupdatesThu, 01 Dec 2011 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hangame MMO accidentally deleted, shut down forever]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/hangame-mmo-accidentally-deleted-shut-down-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/hangame-mmo-accidentally-deleted-shut-down-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/hangame-mmo-accidentally-deleted-shut-down-forever/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

M2
There's a good chance you've never heard of M2, a small free-to-play MMO developed by Japanese company Sankando and operated by Hangame, and if it wasn't for a major misstep last month, your ignorance might've gone on indefinitely. Due to a recent accident, the MMO was deleted and won't be coming back. Ever.

The story goes like this: On October 21st, M2 suffered a critical server issue and the game was taken offline to check it out. Unfortunately, the problem was widespread and the company could not restore the game's data from whatever backups it did or did not have. With no other option but to declare the title dead on arrival, Hangame posted an announcement that it somehow deleted an entire MMO and could not -- or would not -- restart it from scratch.

Hangame has since apologized and is offering conditional refunds to affected players, who were undoubtedly miffed when the money they spent on M2's microtransactions went poof during one October night.

MassivelyHangame MMO accidentally deleted, shut down forever originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentaccidental-deletionbackupbackupscritical-server-failuredeletedf2pfree-to-playhangamem2microtransactionsSankandosavesave-gameserver-failureshutdownTue, 15 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Alt1 Games shutting down Troy Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/alt1-games-shutting-down-troy-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/alt1-games-shutting-down-troy-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/alt1-games-shutting-down-troy-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Can someone at least let me out of here first? Anyone?
After only three months of commercial operation, Troy Online is going to be discontinuing operations as of November 30th. According to the official notice, within the short span of time that the game has been available, Alt1 Games has noticed a level of bugs and errors that the developers considered unacceptable, leading to the decision to shut down service at the end of the month and re-launch the game at a later date.

The obvious question for players, of course, becomes "what about the stuff that I bought out of the cash shop?" If you still have remaining coins for the in-game store or unused cash shop items in your character's inventory, you are eligible for a refund by contacting the customer support center by November 22nd, with refunds being credited between the 23rd and the 24th. It's a sad whimper for the game's operation to end on, but at least players won't be left out in the cold with any unused money.

MassivelyAlt1 Games shutting down Troy Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alt1alt1-gamesdiscontinuationf2pfree-to-playgame-shutdownnewsserver-shutdownshutdowntroytroy-onlineThu, 03 Nov 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE apologizes for delay of SWG customer loyalty free trials]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/soe-apologizes-for-delay-of-swg-customer-loyalty-free-trials/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/soe-apologizes-for-delay-of-swg-customer-loyalty-free-trials/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/soe-apologizes-for-delay-of-swg-customer-loyalty-free-trials/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Screenshot -- Star Wars Galaxies
Many Star Wars Galaxies players were disappointed to find that the free membership trials promised to them by October 15th had not been delivered. Well, Sony's sorry too, but don't worry: The company is making it up to players by... actually activating the free trials this time!

An official post over at the Star Wars Galaxies forums apologizes for the delay and offers players free trials for five SOE titles: DC Universe Online, Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, Free Realms, EverQuest, and EverQuest II. While most of these games are technically free-to-play, Sony's offer will upgrade all prior SWG account-holders to paid membership status for each game until December 31st of this year. So if you had a SWG account in good standing prior to October 15th, head on over to the official forum thread for details on how to claim your free trials.

MassivelySOE apologizes for delay of SWG customer loyalty free trials originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apologyclone-wars-adventuresdc-universe-onlinedcuoeqeq-2eq-iieverquesteverquest-2everquest-iifree-realmsfree-trialfree-trialsshutdownsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgTue, 25 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythos Europe shutting down October 27th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/mythos-europe-shutting-down-october-27th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/mythos-europe-shutting-down-october-27th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/mythos-europe-shutting-down-october-27th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Mythos
European Mythos fans should say their farewells, as Frogster has announced that the game's European servers will be shutting down on October 27th. According to the official forum post, while "MYTHOS enjoyed great popularity with the launch in April and the numerous registered users ensured a good start [...] The desired long-term success unfortunately did not follow," and for that reason, the game's service is being discontinued.

In order to make the game's twilight hours enjoyable for players, the dev team is sending missing quest items to all players so that they can go into the great beyond with a clean quest log. Purchases from the cash shop are no longer possible, and all servers have the maximum experience and luck buffs. Players whose accounts have been registered and active in the past three months will also be given vouchers redeemable for diamonds and/or mounts in Runes of Magic, in hopes that players will find a new home in Frogster's other popular title.

For the full server shutdown details, check out the forum post over on the Mythos official site.

MassivelyMythos Europe shutting down October 27th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>europef2pfree-to-playfrogstermythosmythos-europeshut-downshutdownWed, 19 Oct 2011 15:30:00 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[Divine Souls is taking a time out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/divine-souls-is-taking-a-time-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/divine-souls-is-taking-a-time-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/divine-souls-is-taking-a-time-out/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Divine Souls Steam Ogre Boss
It's not you; it's them. Specifically, it's the development team behind Divine Souls. The game has been out for only a little while, but the team is apparently unhappy with the reception thus far, not to mention the game's bugs and other instabilities. So without any major notice, the game has been essentially put on hiatus, going offline so that the team can put it back on the drawing board for more refinements and adjustments.

While the game has already been taken down, there's no set timeframe for when it will come back online; the closure notice acknowledges that it may be some time before the bug fixes and refinements are complete. Players will receive a partial refund for any in-game currency purchase since the game's launch, with the amount refunded dependent on how close to the closure it was purchased. It's not an ending, just a pause, but it's still sad news for the game.

[Thanks to Paul for the tip!]

MassivelyDivine Souls is taking a time out originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>divine-soulsf2pfree-to-playgrandprixhiatusmicrotransactionsoutsparkshutdowntemporary-shutdownTue, 04 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How do you deal with extended downtimes?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-deal-with-extended-downtimes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-deal-with-extended-downtimes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-deal-with-extended-downtimes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Yeah, this is more important than raid night anyway.
Sometimes, games go down for maintenance, or your power goes out, or there's an internet hiccup. You have to deal with a bit of time out of the game, and it's no big deal. But other times, you have to deal with an extended hiatus from your game of choice due to massive natural disasters or other catastrophic circumstances. You might have bigger problems than just not logging in to Star Trek Online, but it doesn't change the fact that you're going to be out of circulation for a bit.

If you've been messing around exclusively with low-level characters that have nothing time-related on their plates, naturally, you won't be affected. But if you're in the midst of endgame work in RIFT or long-term roleplaying in Lord of the Rings Online, being out for a long stretch of time can cause some issues. So how do you work around it? And equally importantly, how do you manage your time when you're taking an unwanted hiatus from one of your hobbies for a while?

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: How do you deal with extended downtimes? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakculturedowntimehiatusinteractionopinionserver-shutdownshutdowntdgthe-daily-grindtimeMon, 05 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies puts the end of the saga in the hands of the players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/star-wars-galaxies-puts-the-end-of-the-saga-in-the-hands-of-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/star-wars-galaxies-puts-the-end-of-the-saga-in-the-hands-of-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/star-wars-galaxies-puts-the-end-of-the-saga-in-the-hands-of-the/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Star Wars Galaxies
This is how the galaxy ends: not with a wimper, but with a mighty bang.

At least, that's what SOE hopes as Star Wars Galaxies' devs map out the final few months for this sunsetting MMO. Instead of weeping into a glass of strange blue milk, the team is issuing a challenge to the Imperials or Rebels. The stakes? The fate of the galaxy, once and for all.

SOE is ramping up the Galactic Civil War in the game, by adding new events and opportunities to win points for your respective side. The Civil War got a little bigger with the recent GU20 update that put the war footing on an interplanetary scale.

At some point before the December 15th shutdown, the game will tally up the score and determine who won -- for all time. Depending on which side comes out victorious, the ending of the game itself will change. If you're a neutral party, don't worry; SOE is making sure that you can participate in shutdown events as well.

Take note, as only players that subscribe or have an account in good standing prior to September 15th can participate in this final battle, since registration -- and game charges -- will cease after that date.

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies puts the end of the saga in the hands of the players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancellationcivil-wardamn-neutralseventgalactic-civil-wargu20imperialsin-game-eventrebelsshutdownsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiessunsetsunsettingswgMon, 29 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Be here now]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-soapbox-be-here-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-soapbox-be-here-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-soapbox-be-here-now/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fond, sepia-toned memories of SWG.
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Games die. It's an unpleasant reality but a reality just the same, with the highest-profile death on the horizon being Star Wars Galaxies. Business decisions get made, and unfortunately, sometimes those decisions boil down to "this game is no longer worth the money to keep it running." If you're lucky, the announcement comes with a great deal of time for you to wrap up what you've always wanted to do in the game; if you're unlucky, you might have a couple of weeks before the servers go dark.

So what do you do as a player? How do you cope with the fact that the game is shutting down? There are a lot of approaches, but I think it's unfortunate that most of the reactions seem to center around some last-ditch effort to save the game from oblivion. It's entirely missing the point to try and pull the game back from the brink of death, and it does a disservice to both the game and the players when you spend your last days desperately fighting a foregone conclusion.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Be here now

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Be here now originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closingclosing-eventsclosuredyingdying-gamefeaturedgame-closergame-shutdownopinionserver-shutdownshutdownsoapboxstar-wars-galaxiesswgtabula-rasathe-matrix-onlinetmotrTue, 09 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kitsu Saga closing down]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/kitsu-saga-closing-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/kitsu-saga-closing-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/kitsu-saga-closing-down/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's never a fun day when an MMO gives up the ghost, and unfortunately today marks just such an occasion for Kitsu Saga. Aeria Games is shutting down the game for good, and a somber announcement on the official website marks the beginning of the end.

"This was a very difficult decision for us and has only been made after much deliberation. We'd like to thank those who played Kitsu Saga and especially those who stuck with it through the more difficult times," the news blurb states.

Aeria also offers up a bit of info regarding AP Spender compensation, and the long and short of it is that refunds may take a while to process due to the large number pending (Aeria estimates seven to 10 business days after July 14th). Head to the official Kitsu Saga website for the details.

MassivelyKitsu Saga closing down originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aeriaaeria-gamesbusiness-modelsf2pfantasyfree-to-playgame-closingkitsukitsu-sagammo-industryrefundsservers-closingshutdownsunsettingThu, 14 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Online services restored]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/eve-online-services-restored/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/eve-online-services-restored/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/eve-online-services-restored/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We reported earlier today about a DDOS attack launched against the EVE Online servers, but we have good news for the game's players. After a prolonged outage, the servers are back online, with an official update from CCP's COO. According to the update, the team is continuing to monitor the situation closely, but at this time it does not appear that there was any breach of the company's infrastructure nor any risk of personal data being leaked.

As noted in the letter, the shutdown was an immediate reaction to the threat of any security breach, taken in the hopes of staving off any serious threats to the game or its players. The company apologizes to players affected by the downtime as well as the lack of any subsequent notification, but most EVE Online players will just be happy that the game is back online and should remain so barring any unforeseen complications.

MassivelyEVE Online services restored originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamesddosddos-attackeveeve-onlineonline-securitysecurityservice-interruptionshutdownupdatesTue, 14 Jun 2011 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: Lineage shutdown, Lion's Arch, and Sith Inquisitor trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/the-mmo-report-lineage-shutdown-lions-arch-and-sith-inquisit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/the-mmo-report-lineage-shutdown-lions-arch-and-sith-inquisit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/the-mmo-report-lineage-shutdown-lions-arch-and-sith-inquisit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Today's MMO Report, sadly, suffers from a distinct lack of Casey Schreiner. But all is well, as G4's Morgan Webb has stepped up to the plate to cover for Casey as he celebrates his 30th birthday.

The first order of business is the announcement that NCSoft will be shutting down the North American Lineage servers on June 29th. All inactive accounts for the 13-year-old game have been reactivated, and the game will be free-to-play until the servers go dark.

Secondly, we move on to the much-anticipated Guild Wars 2 and the confirmation that Lion's Arch, a social hub featured in the first game, would be making its return in Guild Wars 2. Be sure to check out our coverage of the unveiling of the fly-through video and some analytical commentary from our own Rubi Bayer.

Next up is some screen-time for Minecraft. While the game is not strictly an MMO, there's no doubt that the indie title has gained immense popularity in the gaming community. Morgan reports that Minecraft creator Notch is contemplating holding a Las Vegas launch party... err, convention tentatively dated for November 11th.

Star Wars: The Old Republic's Sith Inquisitor made its trailer debut earlier this week. Being described by Morgan as "the one player character you really don't want to meet in a dark alley," the class incorporates elements of both spellcasters and stealth classes into one mean, Force-fueled combination.

Lastly, we have a fly-through video of the starting zones of Perfect World Entertainment's Ether Saga Odyssey. The free-to-play MMO launched late last month.

For the full Casey-and-mailbag-deprived video, scuttle on past the cut.

Continue reading The MMO Report: Lineage shutdown, Lion's Arch, and Sith Inquisitor trailer

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Lineage shutdown, Lion's Arch, and Sith Inquisitor trailer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcasey-schreinerether-sagaether-saga-odysseyether-saga-onlineguild-wars-2gw2inquisitorlineagelions-archminecraftmorgan-webbncsoftperfect-world-entertainmentpweserver-shutdownshutdownsith-inquisitorstar-wars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-mmo-reportthe-old-republictorThu, 19 May 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft shutting down Lineage in North America]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/ncsoft-shutting-down-lineage-in-north-america/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/ncsoft-shutting-down-lineage-in-north-america/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/11/ncsoft-shutting-down-lineage-in-north-america/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Before Aion, before Guild Wars, before anything else for NCsoft, there was Lineage. Not the sequel (which actually takes place significantly before the first title) but the original game, released not too long after Ultima Online came on to the scene. While the game is old, it's long maintained a viable community within North America... but apparently not quite viable enough. Today, NCsoft announced that as of June 29th, the game's servers will be shutting down for good in North America.

Players who had registered previously have had their accounts reactivated in good standing, and all recurring billing has been cancelled from this date onward. The community team for the game is also promising some live events to help memorialize the game and let it go out with a bang rather than a whimper. We can also expect to see a few new live server rule pushes. Still, it's a sad day for Lineage fans, who are well advised to look at the official announcement and the refund policy to see how the plans for the remaining time will affect them.

MassivelyNCsoft shutting down Lineage in North America originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closing-eventsclosing-monthgame-shutdownlineagencsoftshutdownshutdown-noticeterminationWed, 11 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Shut a game down or let it waste away?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/09/the-daily-grind-shut-a-game-down-or-let-it-waste-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/09/the-daily-grind-shut-a-game-down-or-let-it-waste-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/09/the-daily-grind-shut-a-game-down-or-let-it-waste-away/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's not exactly a good time to be a player of Vanguard. Actually, it hasn't been a good time for more than a year now -- while the game isn't shutting down, the December letter that essentially announced the game's development was no longer ongoing was a serious blow to the game's vitality. What's in the game now may very well be all that will ever be in the game. Of course, you can argue that the players are still better off than members of The Matrix Online's community, since that game went completely offline.

But is that really better? Many Vanguard fans almost wanted the game to turn off when SOE made the first announcement, and perhaps in some ways it's better to shut down with grace than waste away on progressively slower and smaller updates. Which would you rather face in your favorite game? A slow fading into the darkness, where the game is still online but less vibrant with each day? Or a cancellation that removes the game forever, cutting you off from an old friend but granting closure?

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: Shut a game down or let it waste away? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>content-patchesexpansionsgame-mechanicsopinionpatchesshutdowntdgthe-daily-grindthe-matrix-onlinetmoupdate-scheduleupdatesvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgSat, 09 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Japan's earthquake having aftershocks in the MMO world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/13/japans-earthquake-having-aftershocks-in-the-mmo-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/13/japans-earthquake-having-aftershocks-in-the-mmo-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/13/japans-earthquake-having-aftershocks-in-the-mmo-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Unless you've deliberately avoiding learning about what's going on in the world, you've doubtlessly heard of the massive earthquake that hit Japan on Friday. Our thoughts and good wishes go to any and all of our readers, and their friends and families, directly affected by the disaster. But it hits people in many ways, and it's even reaching into the MMO sphere, with both Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV shutting down completely for at least a week of service.

While the servers for both games had been kept running briefly after the disaster, the massive power failures across Japan resulted in widespread shortages. The service is expected to be down for at least a week from today, and players will receive no bills for the month due to the interruption. Sony Online Entertainment has no games based out of the island nation, but it has also suspended billing for all players in the region and has pointed players to disaster relief centers. We can only hope that other companies follow suit where possible, as a tragedy of this scale demands a response.

MassivelyJapan's earthquake having aftershocks in the MMO world originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>billing-suspensionbreakingearthquakeemergency-shutdownffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivjapanjapan-earthquakesreal-worldreal-world-crisisreal-world-emergencyshutdownsoesony-online-entertainmentsquare-enixsuspensionSun, 13 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Faunasphere shutting down on March 15th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/20/faunasphere-shutting-down-on-march-15th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/20/faunasphere-shutting-down-on-march-15th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/20/faunasphere-shutting-down-on-march-15th/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's a sad day when a game shuts down, especially one that caters to an unusual audience. Faunasphere, a game about cleaning up a pollution-riddled world while developing your personal animals, has announced its shutdown on March 15th. All subscription options have been removed, all subscriptions or microtransaction currency purchases after January 14th are being refunded, and the developers at Big Fish Games are working to make sure that the month until the closing is memorable and enjoyable for players.

In a brief FAQ regarding the closure, the development team addresses several potential player questions, including the game's integration with Facebook (which kept the servers running for longer than would have otherwise been possible) and the issue of any outstanding funds sunk into the game. There's also a thread set up for players to exchange contact information, in the hopes that some of the community might retain its cohesion. Our condolences go out to the Faunasphere players and development team affected by the shutdown.

MassivelyFaunasphere shutting down on March 15th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-fish-gamescancellationclosurecommunitycommunity-cohesionf2pfacebookfacebook-integrationfaunafaunasphereflash-based-gamesflash-gamesfree-to-playgame-shutdownshutdownSun, 20 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fantasy Earth Zero shutting down on March 24th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/fantasy-earth-zero-shutting-down-on-march-24th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/fantasy-earth-zero-shutting-down-on-march-24th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/fantasy-earth-zero-shutting-down-on-march-24th/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sad news today for fans of Fantasy Earth Zero -- after officially launching less than a year ago, the game will be shutting down in North America in just under two months. Gamepot USA has posted a full statement explaining the game's shutdown schedule as well as the policies on refunds for any game currency purchased within the last month. The game's cash shop has been closed, with all servers set to quadruple experience and money so that players can enjoy the time that's left.

Fantasy Earth Zero took the long way around to get released stateside in the first place, after being developed by Square-Enix and then nearly shut down in Japan due to poor sales. An emotional farewell letter has also been posted, something fans of the game will no doubt wish to read. There's still time left to enjoy the accelerated servers before the shutdown, but when the lights go out on March 24th, they won't be coming back on.

[Thanks to Jeffrey for the tip.]

MassivelyFantasy Earth Zero shutting down on March 24th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancellationf2pfantasy-earth-zerofarewellfezfree-to-playgame-cancellationgame-shutdowngamepotgamepot-usagoodbyenewsrefundserver-shutdownshutdownso-longsquaresquare-enixterminationThu, 03 Feb 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ben Bateman details the fall of Realtime Worlds and APB]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/ben-bateman-details-the-fall-of-realtime-worlds-and-apb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/ben-bateman-details-the-fall-of-realtime-worlds-and-apb/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/ben-bateman-details-the-fall-of-realtime-worlds-and-apb/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Interested in an insider's view of the fall of All Points Bulletin and its development studio Realtime Worlds? Eurogamer takes a look at the last days of the now-defunct MMOFPS in a lengthy article that focuses on former community manager Ben Bateman.

If you're looking for an in-depth exposé of why the game failed and who is responsible, you won't find that here, as the piece is heavy on the human interest angle and light on actual details beyond the plush (by game industry standards) working conditions. Still, it's worth a read, both for Bateman's perspective and his relentless positivity in the face of a uniformly bad situation.

"They essentially said, 'here are the 50 people that we want to keep on. Please go to room X.' It was tough," says Bateman, recalling the Begbies Traynor administration meeting that sealed the company's fate.

MassivelyBen Bateman details the fall of Realtime Worlds and APB originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-gameapbben-batemaneurogamerRealtime-WorldsRealTimeWorldsshutdownTue, 02 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The pain and suffering of MMO shutdowns]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/29/the-pain-and-suffering-of-mmo-shutdowns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/29/the-pain-and-suffering-of-mmo-shutdowns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/29/the-pain-and-suffering-of-mmo-shutdowns/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Like life itself, the MMO industry doesn't often seem fair -- promising games can die premature deaths while creaky antiques continue to chug along just fine. When an MMO like APB or Tabula Rasa announces that it's closing its doors after only a couple years (or months), the first reaction is usually to ask, "What in Sam Hill happened and why are they doing this to me?" Yet what isn't always considered is the emotional fallout on behalf of the devs.

Over at Kotaku, Michael Fahey examined the fallout when MMOs are shuttered prematurely, using the examples of Auto Assault and The Matrix Online as case studies. NetDevil spent four years developing the former, which lasted a mere fraction of that time -- 16 months -- as a live game. Ryan Seabury testifies to the pain that this causes for a dev team: "I won't lie, it hurts like hell still over four years later... Naturally, if a universe like Auto Assault that you sort of mentally attach to over multiple years suddenly ceases to exist, it's like a part of you dies." He personally points to NCsoft as the reason for Auto Assault's closure, stating that the game might still be in operation if it wasn't for the publisher's lack of faith.

On the flip side, The Matrix Online had a longer run and plenty of time to prepare for the end once word was passed down. Then-Community Manager Daniel Myers says that the decision was a matter of dollars and sense. Still, Myers admits that it continues to affect him: "There are still days that I wish I could log in and see the Megacity again. I don't know [if] that will ever completely stop. I kind of hope it doesn't."

MassivelyThe pain and suffering of MMO shutdowns originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apbauto-assaultcanceleddaniel-myerskotakumegacitymmo-closingsncsoftnetdevilryan-seaburysera-lives-in-the-matrixshutdownsoetabula-rasathe-matrix-onlinewho-is-sam-hillFri, 29 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: The natives are restless]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/18/the-mog-log-the-natives-are-restless/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/18/the-mog-log-the-natives-are-restless/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/18/the-mog-log-the-natives-are-restless/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Allow me a little bit of woolgathering. When I started working for Massively, it was October of last year, and Final Fantasy XIV had just been announced as the official title for the game code-named "Rapture" and unofficially codenamed "the sequel to Final Fantasy XI" by everyone else who had seen a single screenshot. About four days after you read this, the game is going to be officially live for players around the world willing to shell out an extra bit of cash for various doodads and a headstart.

This is kind of baffling. Objectively, you know that the game is getting close to release, but it's not made real until the release is right at your doorstep. So before I go too far off the deep end and start thinking about things like the franchise having started when I was four, let's move on to the discussions coming out of the impending launch. And really, do come back next week when Final Fantasy XIV comes out, as I'm sure we'll have plenty of things on launch day. (Very sure, in fact.)

Continue reading The Mog Log: The natives are restless

MassivelyThe Mog Log: The natives are restless originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitydirectorfatiguefatigue-systemfeaturedffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivfuturegame-directorlaunchlevel-caplevel-curvelevelingseptember-version-updateserver-mergesshutdownsquaresquare-enixstabilitytabula-rasathe-sky-is-not-actually-fallingtrupcoming-launchvideoworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 18 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Earth Eternal facing the prospect of shutdown]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/earth-eternal-facing-the-prospect-of-shutdown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/earth-eternal-facing-the-prospect-of-shutdown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/08/earth-eternal-facing-the-prospect-of-shutdown/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There's incredibly bad news today about Earth Eternal, the free-to-play browser-based MMO from Sparkplay Media. Or we should say formerly from Sparkplay Media, as it appears that hard times have hit the company with resounding force. In an extremely sad letter, CEO Matt Mihaly has informed players that Sparkplay Media has been all but shut down, with only two remaining employees (including himself) taking care of closing down the company and trying to sell the game to another service provider.

Although the game is not currently being shut down, Mihaly is frank about its prospects: it entirely depends on whether or not another company will pick up the hosting costs of running Earth Eternal. For the time being, the game has made all of its microtransaction items free for all players, in hopes that whatever the game's ultimate fate, players can enjoy it for a little while longer. Our consolations go out to the team behind the game, and we offer our sympathies for what has no doubt been a painful process for the entire staff.

MassivelyEarth Eternal facing the prospect of shutdown originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionbreakingbreaking-newsbrowser-basedbrowser-mmoclosureearth-eternaleef2pfree-to-playlayoffsmatt-mihalypossible-shutdownshutdownsparkplaysparkplay-mediaSun, 08 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[There.com is closing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/there-com-is-closing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/there-com-is-closing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/there-com-is-closing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Virtual worlds have had a rocky time in the marketplace. Focusing on user-generated content, it takes a while for enough users to become active and enough market traction to be established for them to start becoming financially viable. Earlier this year marked the shutdown of Metaplace, Raph Koster's entry into the field of virtual worlds. Now another long-running part of the field is closing down, as There.com has just announced the service will be closing on March 9th.

A retrospective on the game's history is available on CNET, discussing the world's status as being a competitor for Second Life without ever quite gaining the traction that its bigger cousin managed. While the environment was seen as slightly more kid-and-media friendly due to restrictions on adult-only content, the project had a difficult time turning a profit. After seven years, it's finally overwhelmed the company.

The official announcement includes a number of resources for those who have invested money in There.com to regain it prior to the shutdown, with extensive buyback programs and refunds available for all participants. Our condolences to the team on this sad turn of events.

MassivelyThere.com is closing originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscnetgame-endingmarket-tractionmarketplacemetaplaceraph-kosterrefundssecond-lifeservice-endingshutdownthere.comvirtual-worldsTue, 02 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Final Fantasy XI's March update may be the last for the game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/23/rumor-final-fantasy-xis-march-update-may-be-the-last-for-the-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/23/rumor-final-fantasy-xis-march-update-may-be-the-last-for-the-g/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/23/rumor-final-fantasy-xis-march-update-may-be-the-last-for-the-g/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It looks like we're getting another version update to Final Fantasy XI in March. The update's existence was broken by the official site today, promising more information when VanaFest rolls around in only five days. All we know at the moment is that it will feature expanded missions and improvements across the board, which is more or less standard fare for the game's large updates.

Of course, that means the update certainly isn't the big news that's promised at the upcoming fan festival. But there's a rumor flying around that we might want to enjoy this update a lot. Square-Enix, it's hinted, won't have the game slowly bleed out as Final Fantasy XIV comes into its own -- they're going to outright shut the game down. An employee posted and then retracted a statement implying that the venerable game would shut its doors to make way for Final Fantasy XIV.

Confirmed? Not by a long shot. Square has stated they've got more in store for the game, and more than a few players are hoping that a new expansion is the big secret to be revealed at the fan festival. Still, we'll find out soon enough what the future holds for Final Fantasy XI... and perhaps we'd best treasure our time with it now, just in case.

MassivelyRumor: Final Fantasy XI's March update may be the last for the game originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivmarch-version-updaterumorsshutdownsquaresquare-enixvanafest-2010version-updatexbox-360Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Where do you go after the end of the world?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/15/the-daily-grind-where-do-you-go-after-the-end-of-the-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/15/the-daily-grind-where-do-you-go-after-the-end-of-the-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/15/the-daily-grind-where-do-you-go-after-the-end-of-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Let's say that the unthinkable -- or at least, the undesirable -- happens tomorrow. Your favorite game's servers shut down today for good, and you're left with fond memories and little else. In the ancient refrain of the bartender, you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here. So that leaves you with the obvious question: where do you go now?

Some people would prefer to take a break from MMOs as a whole for a while, since the idea of investing time and effort into another one seems a bit less reasonable after you've watched one die. On the other hand, some people would like to get right back into the business of questing and slaughtering, even if they have to move back to an old standby to do it. Still others jump on to the next big thing with renewed vigor and start talking about how it'll be everything the now-dead game wanted to be but wasn't.

So what's your feeling? If your favorite game went belly-up this morning, would you soldier on to a different game, start looking for an upcoming release, or just move on with your life and leave MMOs behind?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Where do you go after the end of the world? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ac2asherons-call-2dead-gamegame-shutdownmoving-onshutdowntdgthe-daily-grindMon, 15 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Avoiding a sinking game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/25/avoiding-a-sinking-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/25/avoiding-a-sinking-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/25/avoiding-a-sinking-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


With the holiday season usually comes a healthy dose of gift money, and what comes with extra money for many people reading the site is new games. It's not as if the past year has been exactly spare on game releases, although the success of several is a bit up in the air. But be forewarned -- if you needed the reminder, 2009 could very well be the year we learned that no title is immune to being shut down, with Tabula Rasa and The Matrix Online being among the highest-profile games to finally be shut down for good due to sales figures.

Bio Break has an excellent post on what is termed "avoiding the Titanic" -- in short, making sure that you're not signing up for a game that's going to just leave you high and dry. The recent announcement from Vanguard is among the examples cited, although some fans would be quick to point out it's not a death knell for the game. But it doesn't sound like the game is going to advance far beyond its current state, and for many games, that means a slow bleeding-out. Of course, avoiding titles that are perceived as hopeless can be a self-fulfilling prophecy, but it's worth keeping in mind that perhaps that money might be better spent if you question a game's near future.

MassivelyAvoiding a sinking game originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bio-breakgames-cancelledgames-shut-downncsoftshutdownsinking-shipssoesony-online-entertainmenttabula-rasathe-matrix-onlinetitanictmotrvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesFri, 25 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Warhammer Online merges two more servers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/warhammer-online-merges-two-more-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/warhammer-online-merges-two-more-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/24/warhammer-online-merges-two-more-servers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It wasn't entirely unexpected -- after all, Jeff Skalski gave some indications this might be coming in our recent interview with him -- but it's still unbalancing. Warhammer Online community manager Andy Belford confirmed today that two of the game's servers, Dark Crag and Phoenix Throne, will be shutting down. The population of these servers will be allowed a free transfer to two other servers each -- Iron Rock or Badlands for Dark Crag, Gorfang or Volkmar for Phoenix Throne. He also mentions that there will be a 20% bonus to experience and renown in the weeks following the transfer, to at least slightly take the sting off the event.

It looks as if there will be slightly more servers in the European region, as they have a total of 13 still open... but several of those are due to the different languages, and at least one of the realms is scheduled for shutdown. As for what this means for the game itself... it's hard to call it anything but bad news, even with the promises of a boost incoming to ease the impact. We know that Warhammer Online's future looks a bit shaky after recent events, but this is more dire than any of us had expected or hoped. We'll keep up on any news as it becomes available.

[ Thanks to JP for the tip. ]

MassivelyWarhammer Online merges two more servers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy-belfordcharacter-transferfree-transferjeff-skalskimythicmythic-entertainmentnews-itemsserver-mergeserver-shutdownshutdownwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 24 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate: London is dead, for real this time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/hellgate-london-is-dead-for-real-this-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/hellgate-london-is-dead-for-real-this-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/05/hellgate-london-is-dead-for-real-this-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's up! It's down! It's up! It's down! It's... sideways?

That's the story for the ever growing saga of Hellgate: London in a nutshell. This time, however, it's not coming back and there should be no more rumors that it is coming back. HanbitSoft, the Asian publisher of the game, has finally clarified to GameCyte that they do not have the publishing rights to Hellgate: London in the United States or Europe, just in Asia, excluding Japan.

Currently those rights are held by Namco-Bandai, who have made the decision to shut down the Hellgate servers as of February 1st.

So it's not coming back. Even though it will still have press releases in English and have updates being made by a US developer, it's not coming back. However, if you really want to play, we suggest moving to Asia, as it will still be going strong over there.

MassivelyHellgate: London is dead, for real this time originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagshipflagship-studiosfree-to-playgamecytehanbitsofthellgatehellgate-londonnamco-bandairevivalserversshutdownThu, 05 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dismissed! The final moments of Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/dismissed-the-final-moments-of-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/dismissed-the-final-moments-of-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/dismissed-the-final-moments-of-tabula-rasa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Despite any glimmer of hope from fans that the game could somehow be saved, NCsoft's Tabula Rasa closed down last night in a truly epic display of community and developer involvement.

It's not often that we get to see the last second of an MMO's life, so it's important that we showcase those videos depicting the final moments. Quite a few videos have popped up already, with many more out there on YouTube. We've collected and embedded a few of the very first videos available just below the cut, courtesy of iRacerMatt, our reader Poozle, Plukh and the wonderful tribute video at WarCry. Plus, be sure to check out our visual tribute to TR through a gallery of player screenshots.

Gallery: Remembering Tabula Rasa through screenshots

Tabula Rasa and NCsoft Devs, we salute youRuuuuun!A Thrax HybridEx-Community Coordinator Critters in game at a FNFOne of the earliest Friday Night Fight events in Alia Das

Continue reading Dismissed! The final moments of Tabula Rasa

MassivelyDismissed! The final moments of Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closuredestination-gamesfinalencsoftshutdowntabula-rasatrvideosSun, 01 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa's shutdown salute schedule]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/27/tabula-rasas-shutdown-salute-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/27/tabula-rasas-shutdown-salute-schedule/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/27/tabula-rasas-shutdown-salute-schedule/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Listen up, soldiers! We're going to post this once and only once, so I want all eyes and ears on this blog post! Do you get me!?

*Waits to hear the chorus of "We get you, sir!" coming from the computer monitor.*

We have gotten word from AFS High Command that the Bane are preparing for an all out attack against the Allied Free Sentients in Tabula Rasa. This will be the single largest troop movement that the battlefields have seen to date. This is why all soldiers are being asked to fortify all AFS bases in preparation of an attack on Saturday at 8 PM GMT for the Centarus (EU) server and again at 8 PM CST for the Hydra server.

These attacks will be lead by the infamous Neph, cousin race to the benevolent Eloh. Neph are the most intelligent commanders that the Bane has to throw against us, but we will fight them back!

The attacks are expected to last until midnight GMT and midnight CST. If we are unsuccessful with our defense, and should we be overrun, then we will make sure that their victory will cost them everything! The Penumbra Division has been ordered to ready the last resort weapon and only fire it should we still be under attack at midnight. If we're going down, we're taking them, and the server, with us!

Hoo-rah, soldiers!

MassivelyTabula Rasa's shutdown salute schedule originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afsallied-free-sentientsattackbanebasebreakingdefenseeloheventin-game-eventnephpenumbrargtrrichard-garriotts-tabula-rasashutdowntabula-rasaFri, 27 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hellgate's US/EU servers and website slam shut]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/02/hellgates-us-eu-servers-and-website-slam-shut/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/02/hellgates-us-eu-servers-and-website-slam-shut/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/02/hellgates-us-eu-servers-and-website-slam-shut/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The show is now over for the Hellgate: London that we once knew. The game's servers and the official website have poofed, and stranded fans will now turn their attention towards HanbitSoft's grand plans to revive the troubled title in a free-to-play format, complete with new content and gameplay changes. HanbitSoft's press release did not specify a date for the re-launch, nor did it say which territories it will be servicing, so we're looking at a bit of downtime for the moment.

Scott from the Pumping Irony blog has written about his time spent online during Hellgate's final hours. Plenty of players turned up to see the "end of the world", and many donated their soon-to-be-worthless in-game currency to the War Drive NPC, granting buffs to the masses. Scott's transcript of the last few moments of chat are an indication of the kind of solidarity and sadness that the most faithful fans displayed as their world was crumbling around them. It's all on HanbitSoft now to save these folks from their Hellgate-less existence.

MassivelyHellgate's US/EU servers and website slam shut originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flagshipflagship-studiosfree-to-playhanbitsofthellgatehellgate-londonserversshutdownMon, 02 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: The ones that got away]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/the-daily-grind-the-ones-that-got-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/the-daily-grind-the-ones-that-got-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/the-daily-grind-the-ones-that-got-away/#commentsFiled under: ,

Oh, Hellgate: London! How could a post-apocalyptic zombie shoot 'em up have gone so very wrong? Though your servers are shutting down at the end of January, never again to return to US or European shores, we ran into this collector's edition box just yesterday, placed at an appealing eye-level on a Circuit City shelf, just begging the innocent passerby to take it home (or perhaps, considering the game's rocky history, simply to give it a good hug). And it's not the only MMO that's leaving us in early 2009: Tabula Rasa is closing at the end of February. (Though unlike Hellgate, which isn't even accepting new subscriptions at this point, TR is free to play for everyone until the servers shut down.) These are hardly the only games to have met an unfortunate end: remember Earth and Beyond? Auto Assault? Oh, MMOs, why must you go away and leave us oh so alone? (Not that we here at Massively are at all bitter about MMO closures. These games were only our best friends once upon a time.) So this morning, in honor of that lonely Hellgate box, which MMOs going or gone do you miss?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: The ones that got away originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closedhellgatehellgate-londonshutdowntabula-rasaMon, 29 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft clarifies its rationale for closing Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/ncsoft-clarifies-its-rationale-for-closing-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/ncsoft-clarifies-its-rationale-for-closing-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/ncsoft-clarifies-its-rationale-for-closing-tabula-rasa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Last week we spoke very briefly with NCsoft's Director of Public Relations David Swofford about the company's decision to close Tabula Rasa. He reiterated the basic statement we heard from several sources surrounding the call: this was all about the bottom line.

David Swofford: We had to weigh Tabula Rasa against everything else that was out there. From our standpoint it was strictly a call ... it wasn't as successful as we needed it to be. We had to take this position.

From our perspective, from the readers of Massively we just feel like there is a little bit of confusion. We spoke with Mr. Reid just two months ago, and the headline we used was 'Tabula Rasa is Triple-A and here to stay'. It just seems like it has been a quick turnaround in two months from 'we have every confidence in this game going forward' to 'we have to shut the game down.' Has something happened in the last two months that prompted this?

Mr. Swofford: My reaction is that definitely at the time we thought we had something good going on ... we had the Operation Immortality promotion going, things were looking good, the team was working on the product. As David said, we considered it a Triple-A level product for the company. Things do change. I think he also said, and I'll reiterate, that we're constantly looking at projects. It's not like you have them out there and you let them go for a while, we're constantly monitoring them and weighing them against the success that they're having against the current market.

I think things changed quite a bit since when you did that interview.

Thank you for clarifying that - it's good to be able to get that explained, there was definitely a sense of confusion on the site.

Mr. Swofford: No, no, we understand. This was not a popular thing and certainly not a pleasant thing to do on our end. When you look at it from a business sense it was really what we needed to do.

MassivelyNCsoft clarifies its rationale for closing Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david-swoffordfeaturedinterviewncsoftshutdownsunsettabula-rasatrMon, 01 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST