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[Free for All: So, what does "MMORPG" mean?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/08/free-for-all-so-what-does-mmorpg-mean/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/08/free-for-all-so-what-does-mmorpg-mean/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/08/free-for-all-so-what-does-mmorpg-mean/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

As a reader of Massively, you should have a pretty good idea what MMORPG means. Not just what it stands for, but what it feels like, looks like, and behaves like. The problem is, despite common definitions, the games keep coming in different shapes and sizes -- and from all over the world. While I receive many comments about the Western coverage that Massively features, I would only be doing half my job if I reported on only the latest half a dozen games to break the multi-million-dollar budget mark in America.

The world is a smaller place, especially now. And across the world there are MMORPGs that are being played and enjoyed in many different ways. There are PvP games, games that place players into instance after instance with only a handful of other players, all while offering the potential to hang out with thousands of other people. Is an instanced combat game still an MMO? How about a game like Mabinogi, which maintains a persistent world, but is broken into several invisible channels for players to skip in to and out of?

This is impossible, but I think I will try to define exactly what MMO means -- now, in this current market.

Continue reading Free for All: So, what does "MMORPG" mean?

MassivelyFree for All: So, what does "MMORPG" mean? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmandefining-mmosdefinitionsfeaturedfree-for-allfriends-listguild-warslarpmabinogimassivemassivelymassively-multiplayermassively-multiplayer-onlinemassively-multiplayer-online-gamemassively-multiplayer-online-gamesmmommorpgmobile-gamesmultiplayerphonesreal-liferoleplayroleplayingsocializationsocializingtechnologyterminologywesternWed, 08 Sep 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Socialize, now]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/11/the-digital-continuum-socialize-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/11/the-digital-continuum-socialize-now/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/11/the-digital-continuum-socialize-now/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Socialization is dead!

Isn't it?

Well actually, that's a tough one. Certainly, the perception that socialization is becoming a lesser factor to more and more developers has become the norm among most people. That doesn't necessarily mean they're correct. So, let's examine the general landscape of yesteryear and beyond to see what's really going on when it comes to human interaction in our massively multiplayer online games.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Socialize, now

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Socialize, now originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aventurineblizzardccpcity-of-heroescivilizationcivilization-networkcohdarkfallddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineebberon-unlimitedeberroneveeve-onlinefacebookfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfeaturedgazilliongazillion-entertainmentlegolego-universelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroncsoftnetdevilopinionsid-meiersocialsocializationthe-digital-continuumturbineworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 11 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ways of designing social into virtual spaces]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/ways-of-designing-social-into-virtual-spaces/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/ways-of-designing-social-into-virtual-spaces/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/29/ways-of-designing-social-into-virtual-spaces/#commentsFiled under: , ,


One of the strongest glues between a person and their favorite MMO is friendship and community. However, those two things don't come without strong socialization, which in turn is something that doesn't happen in an MMO entirely by accident. A recent blog post by Raph Koster discusses the many ways of making virtual spaces more social by thoughtful design, a subject that we here at Massively take a lot of interest in, strangely enough.

While the first two chunks of Raph's post are arguments for actionable design to encourage socialization, it's the last piece of the post where the fleshy part resides. While there are numerous good suggestions for designing better social opportunities, the ones that strike us as our most desirable for MMOs are gifting, mentors, looking for conversation tools and alternate advancement systems for social elements. Those four items are certainly something that more titles could use -- especially as more and more games integrate web tools similar to Facebook.

It's hard to say whether or not we'll actually see any of these taken to heart in many MMOs, but it's nice to wish for things -- and maybe if we pester developers hard enough they'll figure it out sooner rather than later.

MassivelyWays of designing social into virtual spaces originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternate-advancement-systemfacebookgiftinglooking-for-conversationmentorsraph-kostersocialsocial-networkingsocializationThu, 29 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fanfest details emerge on EVE's Walking in Stations expansion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/fanfest-details-emerge-on-eves-walking-in-stations-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/fanfest-details-emerge-on-eves-walking-in-stations-expansion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/fanfest-details-emerge-on-eves-walking-in-stations-expansion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In further news coming from EVE Fanfest 2008, CCP Games has given a press-only presentation detailing the upcoming Walking in Stations expansion for EVE Online. While this is an aspect of the game that's so far been a divisive issue among EVE players, the expansion will allow players to step out of their ships and interact as highly detailed avatars in ship station interiors and captain's quarters aboard their own ships (presumably while docked in a station hangar).

Walking in Stations is a project that's drawn on the talents of "special effects artists from the world of television and movies into the video game medium, a number of whom have been brought on to the team at CCP," writes Jon Wood of MMORPG.com, reporting from Reykjavik.

Continue reading Fanfest details emerge on EVE's Walking in Stations expansion

MassivelyFanfest details emerge on EVE's Walking in Stations expansion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambulationavataravatarsbarsccpccp-gamescustomizationeveeve-onlineexpansionsiskjon-woodmini-gamesmmorpg.comsocializationwalking-in-stationsFri, 07 Nov 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How will Ambulation change EVE Online?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/18/the-daily-grind-how-will-ambulation-change-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/18/the-daily-grind-how-will-ambulation-change-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/18/the-daily-grind-how-will-ambulation-change-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Going purely by the recent NY Comic Con video, EVE Online's upcoming expansion Ambulation will be an incredible addition to the game universe. Aside from the sheer fun to be had in designing your avatar, the socialization component has the potential to cause players to reevaluate their interactions with others, both friends and enemies.

There will likely be some über-hardcore, there-from-the-launch, "back in MY day" kinds of users who will feel that this ability to step outside of the ship is a dilution of what makes EVE great. There is also something to be said for the argument that this could possibly attract more people to try out EVE, by adding something familiar (a controllable human avatar), thus inflating the population to the point where things no longer feel the same -- sort of the "bridge and tunnel crowd" attitude. What are your thoughts? Are you for or against this new expansion? What do you think its effect on the game will be?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How will Ambulation change EVE Online? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 May 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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