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[Guild Wars 2 gets all social before the beta weekend [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/guild-wars-2-gets-all-social-before-the-beta-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/guild-wars-2-gets-all-social-before-the-beta-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/guild-wars-2-gets-all-social-before-the-beta-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Or you could just hang out by the punch bowl and not talk to anyone. That's also an option.
There's no shortage of players waiting eagerly to jump into Guild Wars 2 beta testing this weekend, but that's still several days away. It's very possible that you really need a steady shot of Tyria a little earlier than that. Fortunately for you, there are options open as the community team pushes interaction in a big way. The game's Facebook page is the center of a rather art-centric promotion: As the page nears half a million Likes, the team is releasing a new piece of art for every 10,000 new fans.

Not your cup of tea? That's all right, as the team has also set up a Pinterest page to show off the best game-related fan projects. There are also boards set up on the same page where you can show off screenshots of each race, whether you're opting for the diminutive Asura or the towering Norn. It's a good chance for everyone to get involved in the Guild Wars 2 community before the weekend gets underway, even if it won't make the test start any faster.

[Updated with clarification regarding the picture forums.]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 gets all social before the beta weekend [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabeta-testingbeta-weekendfacebookfantasyforumforumsguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftnewsofficial-forumspinterestsocialsocial-mediatwitterMon, 23 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Entropia Universe brings recruiting app to Facebook]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/entropia-universe-brings-recruiting-app-to-facebook/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/entropia-universe-brings-recruiting-app-to-facebook/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/entropia-universe-brings-recruiting-app-to-facebook/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Entropia Universe - fantasy village
Entropia Universe has always skirted the line between game and advertising scheme, and the latest evidence of this is a new social media program developed by MindArk and Socialtype that aims to reward existing players for recruiting new ones.

MMO recruitment drives are nothing new, but the kicker here is that the potential recruits can experience a slice of Entropia via their Facebook accounts. MindArk is using a software app called Bamboo to connect the MMO and Facebook portions of Entropia. Bamboo "turns your players into a highly-motivated marketing army," according to the app's website. "Bamboo users become ambassadors. They earn points for promoting your game through their social network. Every action is incentivized."

MindArk says that the Entropia atmosphere has been ported to the Facebook app via its UI, graphics, and lore. New users can also add to said lore via their own unique plots.

[Source: MindArk press release]

MassivelyEntropia Universe brings recruiting app to Facebook originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingbambooentropiaentropia-facebookentropia-universef2pfacebookfree-to-playmindarkmmo-social-mediasocial-mediasocial-media-integrationsocialtypeWed, 11 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Diablo III launch site collapses under the weight of fans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/new-diablo-iii-launch-site-collapses-under-the-weight-of-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/new-diablo-iii-launch-site-collapses-under-the-weight-of-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/new-diablo-iii-launch-site-collapses-under-the-weight-of-fans/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Diablo III title image
With just over a month left until Diablo III is released, Blizzard launched its new Darkness Falls, Heroes Rise minisite to get people excited. Fans can enter an art contest with some big prizes or create a banner to unlock an exclusive in-game banner sigil that will never be given away outside this event. The site is one big social media campaign, with exclusive content that unlocks when players share enough contest entries on Facebook and Twitter. Fansite DiabloFans revealed that the unlocks will include developer diaries, wallpapers and more. Once the share meter reaches 100%, a final epic unveiling will occur that Blizzard's Bashiok says "is going to melt people's brain meats."

When the site first launched, fans reported everything from PHP errors to lost connections and 404 pages. The site has since been stabilised but doesn't appear to be working as intended. The galleries are no longer updating, confirmation emails are not being sent for entries, and the unlock level hasn't budged from 0%. As we'll need just under 3% per day to meet the 100% goal, players are concerned that if the meter isn't broken, then expectations may have been set too high.

MassivelyNew Diablo III launch site collapses under the weight of fans originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidiablofansdiablofans.comfacebookfantasygothic-fantasymultiplayeronline-multiplayerrpgsharesocial-mediasocial-networkingtwitterSun, 08 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do social media tie-ins annoy you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/the-daily-grind-do-social-media-tie-ins-annoy-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/the-daily-grind-do-social-media-tie-ins-annoy-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/the-daily-grind-do-social-media-tie-ins-annoy-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

GW2 Facebook
When ArenaNet thanked Guild Wars 2 beta applicants with a special video earlier this week, the move was met with a surprising amount of angst-ridden complaining because the video was gated behind a "Like" button on Facebook. Some gamers just didn't want to sign up for Facebook just to see a video or resented the idea that the thank-you was really just a clever marketing trick to advertise the game to their friends.

While complaining does seem a bit like looking a gift horse in the mouth (and it was easy enough to find a copy of the video on YouTube within five minutes anyway), I can still understand why some folks are irritated by the permeation of social media into every corner of the MMOsphere, from news sites like ours to clicking "Like" for free stuff to auto-Tweeting in-game accomplishments.

What about you? Do social media tie-ins annoy you?

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 social media tie-ins annoy you? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetangstarenanetbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindfacebookfantasyguild-wars-2gw2likencsoftopinionsocial-mediatdgthe-daily-grindtwitterSat, 17 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Revisiting anonymity in our games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-revisiting-anonymity-in-our-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-revisiting-anonymity-in-our-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-revisiting-anonymity-in-our-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Rift Ascended
It seems like ages ago, but back in July of 2010, Blizzard shook the MMO world with the announcement of RealID. You probably recall the firestorm, but the long and short of it is that Blizzard was planning to make all posts in the forums display each poster's real-life first and last name. The protests against it were so loud that Blizzard backed down from the move and life resumed as usual.

The intend was to integrate social media into Blizzard games, particularly Facebook, but it became a huge can of worms because it forced everyone who wanted to post on the forums to reveal their true names. But social media is continuing to grow, and there are lots of ways that game companies have made use of it. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, let's look at Trion's approach and revisit the idea of anonymity in MMOs.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Revisiting anonymity in our games

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Revisiting anonymity in our games originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anonymityblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmententer-at-your-own-rifteqeverquestfacebookfeaturedkaren-bryanprexusreal-idrealidriftriftconnectsocial-mediasonySony-Online-Entertainmenttriontrion-worldstwitterwowWed, 14 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC Online 2011: Raph Koster speaks on the gamification of real life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/gdc-online-2011-raph-koster-speaks-on-the-gamification-of-real/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/gdc-online-2011-raph-koster-speaks-on-the-gamification-of-real/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/gdc-online-2011-raph-koster-speaks-on-the-gamification-of-real/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Raph Koster - sock puppet
Raph Koster spoke at the recently concluded GDC Online 2011, and if the summary on Gamasutra is any indication, his message was somewhat mixed.

Unsurprisingly, the former sandbox maestro (and current social gaming evangelist) had a lot of positive things to say about Facebook. On the other hand, he said that going too far down the accessibility road can lead to "bad art."

He also opined that "design is about constraining people," but that games still have the potential for player creativity, and that Facebook has more user-generated content than games or virtual worlds. If you're confused yet, you're not alone, as Koster also mentioned something about wizards, magic circles, and his belief that the world is becoming more game-like (and thus there's no one better to shape it than game developers). "Let's watch out not to let the pointsification and rulesification, quantification, and reductionism that we have always loved about what we do -- let's not let that change who we are," Koster said.

Check out his notes and slides from the talk via his blog, linked below.

MassivelyGDC Online 2011: Raph Koster speaks on the gamification of real life originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilityfacebookgdc-2011gdc-onlineGDC-Online-2011kosterMiscellaneousraph-kostersocial-gamingsocial-mediaFri, 14 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Runes of Magic partners with Overwolf for social media functionality]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/runes-of-magic-partners-with-overwolf-for-social-media-functiona/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/runes-of-magic-partners-with-overwolf-for-social-media-functiona/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/06/runes-of-magic-partners-with-overwolf-for-social-media-functiona/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Runes of Magic hub
Overwolf is making its presence felt in the MMORPG marketplace of late, and the latest collaboration between the social media developer and a major game company takes place in Runes of Magic. The free-to-play fantasy title now features something called the Magic Hub, and if you're into Facebook as well as easily publishable screenshot and video captures, you'll want to check it out.

The Overwolf software also integrates instant messaging functionality that players can use without leaving the Runes of Magic client, not to mention game database searching functionality and account settings access. "Our new partnership with Overwolf will bridge the gap between the fantasy world of online gaming and the accessibility of social platforms," says Frogster's Daniel Ulrich.

[Source: Frogster Press Release]

MassivelyRunes of Magic partners with Overwolf for social media functionality originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilitycant-we-just-alt-tabconveniencedaniel-ulrichf2pfantasyfree-to-playfrogstermagic-huboverwolfpress-releaseromrunes-of-magicsocial-gamingsocial-mediataboreaTue, 06 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[gPotato partners with Overwolf for social media client]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/gpotato-partners-with-overwolf-for-social-media-client/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/gpotato-partners-with-overwolf-for-social-media-client/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/30/gpotato-partners-with-overwolf-for-social-media-client/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Game evangelist
gPotato is partnering with Overwolf to launch a new in-game client overlay, according to a new press blurb released this morning. Who the heck is Overwolf? The company was founded in 2010 and is responsible for the Overwolf Client, a product that "adds social features and functionality to games enabling players to share, socialize and evangelize for their favorite game."

The software features an integrated web browser, Facebook, Twitter, MSN, and Skype support, as well as the ability to record and share in-game videos and screenshots. gPotato's in-game client is customized and optimized for its stable of free-to-play games, and you can see the service in action via the beta that is currently attached to Aika Online.

MassivelygPotato partners with Overwolf for social media client originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>evangelistfantasyfree-to-playgame-evangelistgpotatommo-industryoverwolfoverwolf-clientpress-releasesocial-gamingsocial-mediasocial-networkingTue, 30 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Is Real website presents visual record of EVE, hosts launch contests]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/eve-is-real-website-presents-visual-record-of-eve-hosts-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/eve-is-real-website-presents-visual-record-of-eve-hosts-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/eve-is-real-website-presents-visual-record-of-eve-hosts-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Two weeks ago, EVE Online developer CCP Games announced a new advertising campaign with a twist. An external marketing company was hired to create a unique virtual museum of EVE artwork, screenshots and videos that would function as a growing visual record of what EVE means to its players. People interested in seeing what EVE is all about could then skim through the site and hopefully get a better impression of what it's like to be part of the EVE community. Players got a head-start in uploading content to the EVE Is Real website last week and we've been eagerly awaiting the website officially going live. Although no official announcement has been made, it appears that the EVE Is Real website has launched.

To encourage players to upload their work, the site's creators are running launch contests with some huge prizes. The top 20 images uploaded to the site will win their owners a brand new EVGA GeForce GTX 460 SE graphics card, and the video that gets the most votes will secure its creator an expensive Alienware gaming desktop machine. Submissions end on August the 18th, and the voting phase then takes place between August the 18th and September the 1st. If you've created some nice screenshots, an epic EVE video or even an awesome My Little Pony version of the latest EVE trailer, submit it before August the 18th for your chance to win.

In an interesting move, CCP will be rewarding every single EVE player with several thousand of its new microtransaction currency Aurum if the website takes off. A running total is maintained of the number of times images and videos on the site have been shared via Facebook and Twitter, and at certain share levels every single EVE player will be gifted a lump sum of Aurum.

MassivelyEVE Is Real website presents visual record of EVE, hosts launch contests originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alienwareaurumccpccp-eveccp-gamescompetitioncontesteveeve-ccpeve-is-realeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefacebookgeforcelaunchscreenshotsocial-mediasocial-networkingtrailertwittervideoWed, 20 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: A chat with Linda "The Brasse" Carlson]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/the-guild-counsel-a-chat-with-linda-the-brasse-carlson/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/the-guild-counsel-a-chat-with-linda-the-brasse-carlson/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/the-guild-counsel-a-chat-with-linda-the-brasse-carlson/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

By night, she's the impeccably-dressed, bearded dwarf that MCs Fan Faires and never turns down a good pint of ale. But by day, she's the Community Relations Director for SOE, and she dons several different caps as part of her job with the company.

At Fan Faire, she took the time to speak with Massively about a variety of topics, including forum wars, social media, the future of SOE's Facebook games, and even a revamp of the popular Guide program in EQ and EQII.

Read below the cut for highlights from the interview.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: A chat with Linda "The Brasse" Carlson

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: A chat with Linda "The Brasse" Carlson originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-managerdungeon-overlordEverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iifacebookfan-fairefan-faire-2011fortune-leagueguide-programguidesguild-counsellinda-carlsonsocial-mediasoesoe-fan-faire-11soe-fan-faire-2011the-agency-covert-opsthe-brassetwitterThu, 14 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrate Massively's 10,000th Twitter follower with a gaming prize package from Massively!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/celebrate-massivelys-10-000th-twitter-follower-with-a-gaming-pr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/celebrate-massivelys-10-000th-twitter-follower-with-a-gaming-pr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/celebrate-massivelys-10-000th-twitter-follower-with-a-gaming-pr/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Back in May, we celebrated our 9,000th Twitter follower with a contest. One lucky reader/Twitter-follower picked up a brand-new Steam game, and the event was such fun that we decided to follow up with something even bigger for the next milestone.

We're closing in on 10,000 Twitter followers this weekend, and we want to celebrate the occasion by giving one of those followers a surprise gaming package from Massively.

Want to be in the running? Simply follow us on Twitter right now, retweet our tweet of this contest any time from now until Friday at 12 p.m. Eastern, and we'll randomly select a winner from among those retweeters. We'll then announce the winner and present the prize pack on Friday afternoon. Good luck -- we'll see you on Twitter!

MassivelyCelebrate Massively's 10,000th Twitter follower with a gaming prize package from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestcontestsfree-steam-gamegiveawaygiveawayssocial-mediasteamtwitterWed, 13 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott talks cross-game platforms and leaving MMOs behind]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/richard-garriott-talks-cross-game-platforms-and-leaving-mmos-beh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/richard-garriott-talks-cross-game-platforms-and-leaving-mmos-beh/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/10/richard-garriott-talks-cross-game-platforms-and-leaving-mmos-beh/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Even though Richard Garriott has moved on from the days of Ultima Online and the sadly defunct Tabula Rasa, it's hard not to pay some attention to the man behind what's frequently considered the first modern MMO. A recent interview with Gamasutra reveals that the man himself is no longer really invested in MMOs as a genre, however. According to him, "Even the kinds of games that you might think I would make, I don't generally play, because they're often just too much of a hassle to get into them."

The bulk of the interview is dedicated to discussing Garriott's social gaming company, Portalarium, and his plans to try to leverage games into a shared network similar to Steam rather than using Facebook's built-in integration. It's a look into the man's latest project, which should prove of interest to those still following him, even if he's no longer interested in MMOs as such.

MassivelyRichard Garriott talks cross-game platforms and leaving MMOs behind originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>garriottinterviewmmo-industrynewsportalariumrichard-garriottsocial-gamingsocial-mediaFri, 10 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Odds and Ends]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/the-guild-counsel-odds-and-ends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/the-guild-counsel-odds-and-ends/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/the-guild-counsel-odds-and-ends/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With summer approaching, school coming to an end, and summer travel right around the corner, I find that this is a good time of year to step back, take stock, and reflect on things. It's easy as a guild leader to put the blinders on and get on the treadmill of day-to-day management. But it's worth pausing every now and then to consider the bigger picture.

In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll do just that. Read on for a few thoughts on some of the odds and ends of guild management.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Odds and Ends

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Odds and Ends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardeq2eqiiEverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedguildguild-adviceGuild-counselguild-leadershipguild-managementguildsrift-connectsocial-mediaSOESony-Online-Entertainmenttitantriontrion-worldsThu, 09 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Live chat on Ustream with the Gods & Heroes developers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/live-chat-on-ustream-with-the-gods-and-heroes-developers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/live-chat-on-ustream-with-the-gods-and-heroes-developers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/live-chat-on-ustream-with-the-gods-and-heroes-developers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of the big upsides to the communication venues available online is that players of MMOs can connect with developers like never before. Gods & Heroes fans will have a chance to connect with the development team tomorrow via Ustream chat, giving hopeful players a chance to ask almost anything they could want about the decidedly Roman game. Starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT, the chat is open to any players via the development team's regular live streaming channel.

If you can't make the event itself or you just want to try to get a question in early, the team is ready for that as well. Questions may be submitted early via Twitter, Facebook, or the game's official forums; the team is planning to round up the best questions and answer them on the air. If Gods & Heroes is on your radar for future play, you might want to take the time tomorrow night to get involved in the live broadcast.

MassivelyLive chat on Ustream with the Gods & Heroes developers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 May 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chatdeveloper-chatdevelopmentfacebookghgods-and-heroesheatwaveheatwave-interactivelive-chatsocial-mediatwitterustreamMon, 23 May 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are social media connections in MMOs useless?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/the-daily-grind-are-social-media-connections-in-mmos-useless/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/the-daily-grind-are-social-media-connections-in-mmos-useless/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/the-daily-grind-are-social-media-connections-in-mmos-useless/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I first started to notice it in Champions Online. Cryptic gave us the ability to broadcast our achievements in the game over Twitter: "CapnCrunch has reached level 10!" At the time, it felt like a silly idea that wouldn't catch on, but for some reason, it has. More and more we're seeing studios working hard to integrate popular social networks into their MMOs, and more and more I'm wondering... why?

RIFT has been big on doing this, implementing the ability not only to set your account to automatically tweet achievements ("Hey guys, I jumped off a bridge and didn't die!") but also to post them in Facebook. The game also allows you to record video and take screenshots to post online, which seems to me to be more useful but still probably not as captivating to a potential personal audience as one might hope.

So my question today concerns these social media connections in MMOs -- are they useless? Are they just a fad that few people use? Do the ones who do use them end up annoying their followers with a stream of spam messages? Or do people actually enjoy the ability to have their games tie in with their social networks and see how their friends are progressing?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are social media connections in MMOs useless? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementschampionschampions-onlinefacebookmyspaceopinionriftscreenshotssocial-mediasocial-networksocial-networkingsocial-networkstdgthe-daily-grindtumblrtweettweetstwittervideoyoutubeWed, 18 May 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrate our 9,000th Twitter follower with a new Steam game from Massively!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/celebrate-our-9-000th-twitter-follower-with-a-new-steam-game-fro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/celebrate-our-9-000th-twitter-follower-with-a-new-steam-game-fro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/celebrate-our-9-000th-twitter-follower-with-a-new-steam-game-fro/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Have you been keeping up with the social media side of Massively? Our Facebook page and Twitter feed keep our readers up on the latest news stories and Livestream information, and we've got a fondness for doing surprise giveaways there as well. Our new forums are home to chatter on gaming, guilds, news, and anything else our readers feel like discussing. We've got some great resources for you, but today the spotlight is on our Twitter feed.

If you haven't remedied the lack of Massively Twitter in your life, there's no better time than now. We're rapidly approaching our 9,000th follower and celebrating with a very nice gift for one of our Twitter followers. As soon as someone rings that 9,000th bell, one of our followers will get to choose any single game in the Steam store (up to a $50 value), courtesy of Massively.

So are you ready for the easiest contest entry ever? Simply follow us on Twitter right now, retweet the contest, and if we we reach 9,000 (go ahead and say it) by Sunday the 15th at 11:59 p.m. EDT, we'll select a winner from among our followers so she or he can choose a new game. Good luck -- we'll see you on Twitter!

MassivelyCelebrate our 9,000th Twitter follower with a new Steam game from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestcontestsfree-steam-gamegiveawaygiveawayssocial-mediasteamtwitterFri, 13 May 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WonderCon MMORPG industry panel explores key topics of the day]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/wondercon-mmorpg-industry-panel-explores-key-topics-of-the-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/wondercon-mmorpg-industry-panel-explores-key-topics-of-the-day/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/wondercon-mmorpg-industry-panel-explores-key-topics-of-the-day/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

At last month's WonderCon in San Francisco, three MMO industry experts sat down to do a panel on many of the pressing questions and issues that players have these days. The lively panel, moderated by PC Gamer's Josh Augustine, consisted of Dirk Metzger (Zentia), Scott Hartsman (RIFT) and Nick Huggett (Runes of Magic), each taking turns to address some of the questions that are commonly asked about these games and the industry at large.

These topics included player retention, free-to-play vs. subscription business models, the endless comparisons to World of Warcraft, why MMOs tend to be fantasy-based, some of the biggest mistakes in the genre, how to appeal to both hardcore and casual players, the differences between the Asian and North American market, and the struggle to provide player-created content.

The rise of social media also has a significant effect on MMO development, according to Hartsman. "What that kind of forces us to do, bluntly, is make better games right off the bat, because people will tell you if your game sucks."

You can watch the video highlights of the panel after the jump.

Continue reading WonderCon MMORPG industry panel explores key topics of the day

MassivelyWonderCon MMORPG industry panel explores key topics of the day originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asianbusiness-modelcasualDirk-Metzgerf2pfree-to-playhardcoreindustry-panelNick-Huggettnorth-americanpanelplayer-retentionriftromrunes-of-magicscott-hartsmansocial-mediasubscriptionvideowonderconworld-of-warcraftzentiaMon, 02 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott discusses ongoing plans for Portalarium]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/richard-garriott-discusses-ongoing-plans-for-portalarium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/richard-garriott-discusses-ongoing-plans-for-portalarium/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/10/richard-garriott-discusses-ongoing-plans-for-portalarium/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

As much as some may poke fun at Facebook and other social media based games, those games have an enormous market share that's still growing. Let's face it: These games attract not only all manner of gamers but also the most casual of non-gaming users, such as your Great-Aunt Martha or partners who generally dislike video games. With that in mind, Edge caught up with Richard Garriott at DICE Summit recently to catch up on how things are progressing with his foray into the social gaming world: Portalarium.

While we knew about Portalarium's initial offerings such as the card game, it appears that the company has much bigger plans in store. Garriott discusses the success of many of the titles in the social gaming space and how that relates to his own personal world-building experiences with Ultima Online. Further, he notes that Portalarium's current main title is "not a game about farming... operating a shop... [or] managing your pets." There is also some discussion of making in-game purchases tie to microlending sites like Kiva to benefit projects in other countries, which is certainly worth reading as well. If you're curious about where Portalarium is going or interested in reading some ideas from an industry vet, then pop over to Edge and check out the full interview with Garriott.

MassivelyRichard Garriott discusses ongoing plans for Portalarium originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcasual-gamesdice-summitdice-summit-2011facebookkivamicrolendingmmo-industryportalariumrichard-garriottsocial-gamingsocial-mediaThu, 10 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Lessons from the world of indie and free-to-play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/free-for-all-lessons-from-the-world-of-indie-and-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/free-for-all-lessons-from-the-world-of-indie-and-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/free-for-all-lessons-from-the-world-of-indie-and-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

I'm no expert at anything. I'm sort of like the Mario of gaming -- not an ace in one particular area, but relatively experienced in all. Luckily, this has worked out for me. Name a title; I either have played it or know about it. Name a developer, and I can probably tell you something about it that sticks out. Granted, this ability might not come in handy when Twitter is exploding in the usual "Hey, we all love football" Sunday chatter, but look where you're reading this now. On this turf, being a well-rounded gamer has its advantages.

Over the last 11 years, I've noticed quite a few trends and picked up on some unique ways that developers do business. I would never say that the information I have is 100 percent accurate, but it does come from a very open mind. I'll also not pretend that all these lessons will lead to massive piles of cash and free booze. Some of them are examples of what not to do.

In fact, stop listening to me. Go read the examples right now, after the jump.

Continue reading Free for All: Lessons from the world of indie and free-to-play

MassivelyFree for All: Lessons from the world of indie and free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alganonaventurinebeau-hindmanbrowsercash-shopdarkfallderek-smartf2pfacebookfaunaspherefeaturedfree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumftpindependentIndieIndieDesignerskingsislekingsisle-entertainmentRyzomsocial-mediatwitterwizard101Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE invites players back to try out Incursion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/eve-invites-players-back-to-try-out-incursion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/eve-invites-players-back-to-try-out-incursion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/eve-invites-players-back-to-try-out-incursion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As anyone who follows EVE Online should know, Incursion, the 14th expansion to the game, will introduce new avatars. For many MMO players, the graphics-quality -- especially the quality of the player character -- is an enormous draw or repellent. CCP recognizes this, so it has offered something not many companies do. The developers would like former players to come back for five days to try out Incursion on the test server Singularity before the expansion is officially launched. Specifically, they would like you to try the character creator and the social media tools in EVE Gate.

This morning many former EVE players received an email asking them to come back. If you had an active account between March 13th, 2009 and November 3rd, 2010, you may want to check the inbox attached to your EVE account, as you probably have an invite in there. Unfortunately, active and expired trial accounts don't count, but Steam is offering a the full downloadable game plus a 30-day subscription.

To read more about the character creator, be sure to check out the developer blog, and while you're there, read up on EVE Gate and its mix of social media and gaming. With Incarna releasing next summer, Incursion is a the perfect opportunity to try out the precursor to walk-on stations -- today.

MassivelyEVE invites players back to try out Incursion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CCPCCP-Gamescharacter-creationcharacter-creatoreveeve-gateeve-onlineincarnaIncursionsingularitysocial-mediaSTEAMsteam-poweredMon, 08 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Garriott's Portalarium going the social media route]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/garriotts-portalarium-going-the-social-media-route/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/garriotts-portalarium-going-the-social-media-route/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/24/garriotts-portalarium-going-the-social-media-route/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Our friends at Joystiq tipped us off to the latest endeavor for MMO legend Richard Garriott (and no, it doesn't involve the intrepid developer orbiting the earth). While speaking at the Austin, Texas-based Fantastic Arcade event, Lord British dropped a few hints regarding the social media stylings that his latest company (and game), Portalarium, will feature.

"You play it by clicking on a link, nothing to pay for up front, no real installation and only if you decide you really want to play it will we decide how to eventually charge you money for it," Garriott enthused.

While we're not quite as excited as we would be if he'd announced an updated Ultima Online project, Portalarium bears watching, if only to see whether Garriott can still walk the walk. "Since everybody else is doing Flash and Java games, I can kick their ass pretty easy," he told attendees.

MassivelyGarriott's Portalarium going the social media route originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browser-basedbrowser-gamefantastic-arcadefantastic-festlord-britishportalariumRichard-Garriottsocial-mediaultimaUltima-Onlineultima-online-2-pleaseFri, 24 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Quick, come follow us on Digg before our wagon tips over!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/quick-come-follow-us-on-digg-before-our-wagon-tips-over/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/quick-come-follow-us-on-digg-before-our-wagon-tips-over/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/quick-come-follow-us-on-digg-before-our-wagon-tips-over/#commentsFiled under: ,


You know what the best way to avoid dying of dysentery is? It's following your friendly, neighborhood MMO site on Digg! Following us on Digg grants you a 99.8% chance of not dying from dysentery when trekking through the dangerous landscape that is the virtual Oregon Trail.

Following us also affords you other amazing benefits, like getting all of our best headlines sent straight to you! You can vote on the content we post, so be sure to vote up the stories on our site that you love! Plus, if all of that wasn't neat enough, the things you Digg about MMOs can be shared with us, and we might even cover it! All of this helps us learn what content you lovely readers want to see on the site, and it gives you another say in how we do things here at Massively.

So what do you have to do to get all of these benefits and a free set of buffalo meat? All you have to do is visit our Digg page and follow us! That's it! Don't have a Digg account? Well you can get yourself one in no time flat.

MassivelyQuick, come follow us on Digg before our wagon tips over! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diggdigg-has-died-of-cholerafollow-massivelyfollow-us-on-diggnew-diggoregon-trailsocial-mediasocial-networkingthe-new-diggThu, 02 Sep 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott talks about Portalarium and the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/19/richard-garriott-talks-about-portalarium-and-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/19/richard-garriott-talks-about-portalarium-and-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/19/richard-garriott-talks-about-portalarium-and-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Earlier this week we told you about Richard Garriott's latest venture, turning an eye to the social media trend with his new business venture Portalarium. Our sister site Joystiq spent some time with him discussing the company and its future.

Before delving into where Garriott is going, Joystiq explored a bit about where he's been. They talked about the infamous venture into space, and the even more infamous NCsoft lawsuit, then moved on to what Portalarium is all about and what Garriott hopes to accomplish with it.

Portalarium's aim is essentially to tap into the growing social network gaming genre and do it bigger and better. The interview covers the basics of how the business model will work as well as Garriott's views on what the market is lacking and how he plans to fill in those gaps. It's an interesting read, so head over to Joystiq and take a look at the full interview!

MassivelyRichard Garriott talks about Portalarium and the future originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>general-britishjoystiqlord-britishncsoftportalariumRichard-Garriottsocial-mediaFri, 19 Feb 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom offers prizes for friends and followers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/19/funcom-offers-prizes-for-friends-and-followers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/19/funcom-offers-prizes-for-friends-and-followers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/19/funcom-offers-prizes-for-friends-and-followers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Tis the season for getting cool things -- and for making new friends. Funcom obviously agrees, as they've got a contest going where they'll be giving away some pretty nice prizes for people who become friends, fans, or followers on their various Facebook and Twitter accounts. The idea is pretty simple: for every one of the Funcom accounts you link up with, you'll be entered in the drawing for prizes. So, with two accounts each for Age of Conan, Anarchy Online The Secret World, as well as for Funcom in general, there are 8 different ways you could land some sweet swag.

Among the prizes for this giveaway are free game time; beta access to Age of Conan's next expansion, Rise of the Godslayer; a guaranteed spot in hotly anticipated The Secret World beta test; in-game items for Age of Conan and Anarchy Online; and "much, much more" according to their information. With Rhode Island and Florida excluded from the ranks (that pesky "must buy a bond for your prizes" thing we're sure) most everyone else can enter for a chance to score some sweet Funcom goodies. If you're looking for where exactly to link up your accounts, they've even listed the links on the Age of Conan site, making the clicky-clicky that much easier. Just make sure you've joined up before January 4th, 2010 when the contest ends. Good luck!

MassivelyFuncom offers prizes for friends and followers originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananarchy-onlinebeta-accesscontestfacebookfansfollowersfree-game-timefriendsfuncomin-game-itemssocial-mediathe-secret-worldtwitterSat, 19 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GameX coverage begins tomorrow!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/22/gamex-coverage-begins-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/22/gamex-coverage-begins-tomorrow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/22/gamex-coverage-begins-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

GameX, the Northeastern video game industry summit and expo, is starting tomorrow! As we said earlier this week, we'll be there, getting face time with guests, visiting Mythic Entertainment and Hi-Rez Studios, and getting you information on some of your favorite titles.

In addition to our coverage here on the site, we'll be updating our Twitter account with things we see at the expo and pictures! Now instead of running to us every five minutes for your Massively fix, you can get updates, pictures, and more from us in the form of tweets! If you're not currently following @massively, or if you're not on Twitter, now is the time to both sign up and add us to your follow list!

MassivelyGameX coverage begins tomorrow! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaelectronic-artsescapistescapist-magazinegame-expogamexgamex-2009global-agendahi-rezhi-rez-studiosmythicmythic-entertainmentphiladelphiasocial-mediasocial-networkingthe-guildtwitterwarwarhammer-onlineyahtzee-croshawThu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[HKO's social features are more than meets the eye]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/hkos-social-features-are-more-than-meets-the-eye/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/hkos-social-features-are-more-than-meets-the-eye/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/27/hkos-social-features-are-more-than-meets-the-eye/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


There's a certain temptation to believe that so-called casual games are inherently less complex than their more hardcore cousins. Whether it's born of experience, arrogance, or just plain ignorance, most people probably assume that a game like Hello Kitty Online is going to leave them wanting for features. Having just read an interview with Ali Aslanbaigi, Game Master Manager for HKO, this blogger can say that this certainly doesn't seem like the case.

Aslanbaigi explains how they plan to integrate email, blogging, and user video from the Sanriotown portal into the game experience itself, making Hello Kitty Online a social media hub as much as it is casual MMO. Say what you will about the relative complexity of an Age of Conan -- Hello Kitty Online isn't just trying to compete with the big MMOs on the block, it's looking to take its place alongside Facebook, MySpace, and other social media giants. It's ambitious, to say the least.

MassivelyHKO's social features are more than meets the eye originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 May 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ali-aslanbaigifacebookhello-kitty-onlinehkomyspacesanrio-digitalsanriotownsocial-mediasocial-networkingTue, 27 May 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Are Club Penguin's days of growth numbered?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/are-club-penguins-days-of-growth-numbered/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/are-club-penguins-days-of-growth-numbered/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/21/are-club-penguins-days-of-growth-numbered/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


An interesting report on social media by the Nielsen group recently found that Club Penguin, the kid-friendly browser-based MMO acquired by Disney last year for a robust $350 million, may be plateauing or even declining in growth in the face of newer, more competitive social media experiences. While the Nielsen methodology is never made expressly clear (and no direct competitors managed to crack the Top 10), the report does indicate that using the same methodology, they found a 250% growth rate year-over-year just last August.

MMO vet Raph Koster is less than surprised by this development, attributing the slight decline in unique visitors more to the increased competition in that space, rather than any specific detriment in Club Penguin itself. Raph speculates that we'll continue to see the market fragment as more kiddie MMOs enter the market. And, judging my store shelves these days, they're coming in droves. While he seems to be of the opinion that the days of these niche MMOs competing in the same arena as MySpace and Facebook are over, that doesn't mean there isn't a lot of money to be made and kids to be entertained.

MassivelyAre Club Penguin's days of growth numbered? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 May 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualclub-penguindisneyfacebookkiddiemarket-fragmentationmyspacenielsenraph-kostersocial-mediaWed, 21 May 2008 19:00:00 EST