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[Pitchblack Games seeking testers for new HeroEngine MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/pitchblack-games-seeking-testers-for-new-heroengine-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/pitchblack-games-seeking-testers-for-new-heroengine-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/pitchblack-games-seeking-testers-for-new-heroengine-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Want to get in on the ground floor with a new HeroEngine sci-fi MMORPG? No, we're not talking about Star Wars: The Old Republic beta access but rather the opportunity to test an as-yet unnamed title from Pitchblack Games.

The company's website has a suitably dystopian far future feel to it, but there's not a whole lot of info on the game itself beyond a piece of concept art. Pitchblack has informed Massively that anyone and everyone can sign up for testing, though, so jump in and see for yourself.

The HeroEngine originally powered Simutronics' Hero's Journey MMORPG before being licensed by BioWare for its upcoming Star Wars opus. Head to the official Pitchblack website for more.

MassivelyPitchblack Games seeking testers for new HeroEngine MMO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementsbetahero-engineheros-journeymmo-industrypitchblackpitchblack-gamespress-releasesci-fisimutronicstestingFri, 29 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom and Stray Bullet license Allegorithmic's Substance Air platform for their MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/funcom-and-stray-bullet-license-allegorithmics-substance-air-pl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/funcom-and-stray-bullet-license-allegorithmics-substance-air-pl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/funcom-and-stray-bullet-license-allegorithmics-substance-air-pl/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Two developers have simultaneously turned to a brand new texturing solution for their future MMOs, according to Gamasutra. Both Funcom and Stray Bullet have licensed Allegorithmic's "Substance Air" middleware package, a new set of programs that lets developers keep high resolution textures as extremely small files and even let users modify textures for in-game customization options.

Funcom is almost a given for which game this would apply to, as The Secret World is the only game currently on their radar. Stray Bullet, best known as the creators of Shadowbane, is a bit trickier when it comes to saying how it will impact on their new MMO offering.

Simply known as the "future fantasy MMO," Stray Bullet has also licensed Simutronics's HeroEngine, the same engine that's currently powering Star Wars: The Old Republic. What they're up to is anyone's guess, but the presence of the extremely versatile HeroEngine and the addition of Substance Air could be pointing to a nice level of user-customization and/or "on-the-fly" developing coming with their latest unannounced fantasy offering.

MassivelyFuncom and Stray Bullet license Allegorithmic's Substance Air platform for their MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>customizationfuncomheroenginemiddlewareshadowbanesimutronicsstar-wars-the-old-republicstray-bulletstray-bullet-gamessubstance-airtexturingthe-secret-worlduser-created-contentThu, 16 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview with Simutronics CEO David Whatley]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/11/interview-with-simutronics-ceo-david-whatley/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/11/interview-with-simutronics-ceo-david-whatley/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/11/interview-with-simutronics-ceo-david-whatley/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The MMO Gamer have interviewed David Whatley, the President and CEO of Simutronics, who are making HeroEngine and their upcoming MMO called Hero's Journey. HeroEngine is billed as a streamlined engine for creating MMOs with development taking place inside the games themselves so that all of the development team can work together in a live environment with changes being seen by the entire team immediately. So far the highest profile game to use HeroEngine is Star Wars: The Old Republic.

The interview covers their design philosophy of bring their experience with MUDs into MMO development, how they became a middleware company after people started to want to use their engine and how they're hoping that their technology will reduce development times and costs for any games that use it. Whatley also points out that until a AAA game, he suggests Star Wars: The Old Republic, released there won't be any empirical data on how much time using their engine will save a developer but he believes that it will mean games can be developed in about half the time. This saving can either be used to produce a game twice as quickly, or to develop twice the game that you would normally be able to produce.

You can check out the full interview over at The MMO Gamer.

MassivelyInterview with Simutronics CEO David Whatley originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hero-engineheroengineheroes-journeysimutronicsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorMon, 11 May 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC09: How HeroEngine revolutionizes MMORPG game design]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/gdc09-how-heroengine-revolutionizes-mmorpg-game-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/gdc09-how-heroengine-revolutionizes-mmorpg-game-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/gdc09-how-heroengine-revolutionizes-mmorpg-game-design/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Let's be frank, MMOs are a pain in the rear to design. You have large teams working collaboratively to build huge expanses of terrain, hundreds upon thousands of objects in the world that players can interact with, server architecture to worry about, and even more in-depth things that the standard player may not even notice or consider.

But if you've been on the site recently and have been checking out our coverage of the GDC, then you may have heard us and developers talking excitedly about HeroEngine, the new MMO developing tool from Simutronics. HeroEngine is powering games like The World of Gatheryn and this funny Star Wars game from those BioWare people, as well as other companies that haven't announced their new projects as of yet.

So why is HeroEngine so amazing? Well, we got the inside scoop straight from Simutronics as we visited their booth at the GDC.

Continue reading GDC09: How HeroEngine revolutionizes MMORPG game design

MassivelyGDC09: How HeroEngine revolutionizes MMORPG game design originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d-studio-maxcollaborative-developmentdevelopersdevelopmentgame-designgame-developmentgdc-2009gdc09hero-engineheroengineheros-journeyphotoshopreal-timesimutronicsvirtual-worldsTue, 31 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wired's vaporware column adds Hero's Journey next to Duke Nukem Forever]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/30/wireds-vaporware-column-adds-heros-journey-next-to-duke-nukem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/30/wireds-vaporware-column-adds-heros-journey-next-to-duke-nukem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/30/wireds-vaporware-column-adds-heros-journey-next-to-duke-nukem/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


And everyone at the Massively offices scratched their heads at the same time and said, "Huh?" All right, so Hero's Journey has been in production for, well, forever, but just because the game isn't coming out anytime soon doesn't exactly warrant it on the vaporware list at position number 8.

Especially as the game's engine, the now well-known HeroEngine, has been licensed by BioWare for this Star Wars game you might have heard about. The HeroEngine development has caught on like wildfire, and even Simutronics's own Neil Harris has said to Massively that the game is on the back burner while the engine development is in the forefront.

But, they still haven't left the game entirely in the dust. They've said that the game still has a long way to come in terms of content and polishing, but they're still letting people log in and play -- even when they're not around. The website even features in-game footage and screenshots, a bit more than Duke blowing some smoke at the camera and uttering a classic Duke-ism.

With all that said, Hero's Journey hasn't been pressing for release or gaining undue hype. It's a game that has been sitting in the corner, lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike. Plus, with most vaporware, we're usually left hanging -- wondering what exactly those developers have been doing with their time when they should have been developing. With Simutronics, we know exactly what they've been doing -- making a great engine. So that leaves the question, is it still vaporware if we know we shouldn't expect it?

MassivelyWired's vaporware column adds Hero's Journey next to Duke Nukem Forever originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d-realmsdevelopmentduke-nukem-foreverheroengineheros-journeyhypesimutronicsteaservaporwarewiredTue, 30 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare chooses HeroEngine for SWTOR development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/bioware-chooses-heroengine-for-swtor-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/bioware-chooses-heroengine-for-swtor-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/bioware-chooses-heroengine-for-swtor-development/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It was announced today that BioWare has chosen the HeroEngine from Simutronics to develop Star Wars: The Old Republic. We're already hearing the unasked question: What is the HeroEngine, James, and why should I care?

The name 'HeroEngine' may ring a bell with some Massively readers, as it's often associated with the Hero's Journey MMO. Hero's Journey is a title created by Simutronics that demoes the capabilities of their development platform and tools. The HeroEngine is a collaborative platform that allows for development in real-time, where teams in different locations can build the world while simultaneously playing the game live, with changes that take effect instantaneously. That is to say, no nightly builds are required with the HeroEngine. For us, the players, BioWare's use of the HeroEngine means Star Wars: The Old Republic may come to market sooner.

MassivelyBioWare chooses HeroEngine for SWTOR development originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredeveloper-toolsdevelopmentheroengineheros-journeymmo-industrysci-fisimutronicsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorWed, 10 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: How to pick the MMO for you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/anti-aliased-how-to-pick-the-mmo-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/anti-aliased-how-to-pick-the-mmo-for-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/anti-aliased-how-to-pick-the-mmo-for-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Let's be honest for a moment - there are a ton of MMOs out there. We have everything from fantasy, to dystopian future, to fantasy, to horror, to fantasy, to pirates, to fantasy, to sci-fi, and even all the way down to fantasy. While this is great for people who love choice, this is a complete nightmare (or should I say Bloodymare, ha ha, gaming puns) for anyone who's new to the genre or wants to start off with a fresh game that's different from what they're playing.

How do you separate the good from the bad? How do you know if you'll stick to a game? You don't want to gamble with an expensive game only to find out that you totally hate it and wish it would burn in the deepest depths of hell. (I'm looking at you, Risk Your Life.) So, do you rely on what your friends tell you or what reviewers tell you?

In my opinion, no one knows you except you. So when you sit down and want to pick the right game the first time, here's a few pointers and suggestions to get you started.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: How to pick the MMO for you

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: How to pick the MMO for you originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4chanage-of-conanalbatross-18anarchy-onlineaocblizzardccpcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovdragonrealmseaeb-gameseveeve-onlineeverquesteverquest-2featuredfinal-fantasy-xiflagship-studiosfuncomgamestopguild-warsgwhellgatehellgate-londonhgljoystiqfeaturesl2lineage-2listerinelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromaplestorymortal-kombatncsoftnewbiesnexonphantasy-star-universepirates-of-the-burning-seapirates-of-the-caribbeanplanetsideplayonlinepotbspotcopsurunescapesimutronicssoesony-online-entertainmentsquare-enixsystem-requirementstabula-rasaturbineturbine-entertainmentultima-onlineunreal-tournamentvanguardworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 14 May 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: I wear funny hats and I'm proud of it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/anti-aliased-i-wear-funny-hats-and-im-proud-of-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/anti-aliased-i-wear-funny-hats-and-im-proud-of-it/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/anti-aliased-i-wear-funny-hats-and-im-proud-of-it/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Since when did role-playing become a dirty word? Apparently even mentioning the initials of the dreaded "RP" is enough to make people want to prove John Gabriel's Greater Internet Dickwad Theory as loudly as possible. Players go out of their way to make others feel uncomfortable and to ruin any sort of fun some people may have. Is it because it's the internet? Or have we forgotten the history of the role-playing game?

Because I can't exactly spend a whole column talking about the horrors of the internet (NSFW) I'm going to be focusing on the place of role-playing and how it got interjected into these online games of ours.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: I wear funny hats and I'm proud of it

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: I wear funny hats and I'm proud of it originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedblizzarddrdragonrealmsdungeons-and-dragonselectronic-artsepic-loot-for-allgary-gygaxgrindjohn-gabriels-greater-internet-dickwad-theorylinden-lablyra-studiosmudmushrichard-garriottrole-playingroleplayerroleplayingsecond-lifesimutronicssltwilight-empireulultima-onlineunderlightworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 29 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zenimax Online bulks up with HeroEngine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/zenimax-online-bulks-up-with-heroengine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/zenimax-online-bulks-up-with-heroengine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/26/zenimax-online-bulks-up-with-heroengine/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In the latest story in a painfully slow drip, Zenimax Online Studios, the new massively multiplayer cousin of Bethesda Softworks, has announced a partnership with Simutronics to license their HeroEngine development platform. HeroEngine includes a number of middleware tools like SpeedTree, FaceGen, and Scaleform GFx as well as a development suite that allows developers to update their games in real-time, instead of using a series of cumbersome builds that are apt to change day to day.

Among the other big name clients using HeroEngine is Bioware Austin, who are themselves currently in the process of developing their first MMO. Personally, I think any news that lends itself to speeding along development of Zenimax's new project (which may or may not be Elder Scrolls Online), is welcome news. In an age where the development cycle for blockbuster games is in the ballpark of three years, developers need to search out any kind of shortcut they can find. And at the very least, this is the sort of shortcut that lets them focus more of their efforts on those facets of the game that we actually see.

MassivelyZenimax Online bulks up with HeroEngine originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-mmobiowareelder-scrolls-onlineheroenginesimutronicszenimax-online-studiosMon, 26 Nov 2007 13:29:00 EST