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: How much grouping should be required in a game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/the-daily-grind-how-much-grouping-should-be-required-in-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/the-daily-grind-how-much-grouping-should-be-required-in-a-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/11/the-daily-grind-how-much-grouping-should-be-required-in-a-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

However much grouping a game requires, there will always be a camp arguing a game has too much and another arguing it has not enough. This is inevitable.
A good group arguably makes any game more fun. No matter how much fun you're having in any game, be it Star Wars: The Old Republic or Global Agenda or whatever else, there are players who believe it's better when you're running with other people, telling jokes or roleplaying or even just working in unison. Of course, others would point out that's all if you have a good group. A bad group can turn even something fun into a real misery, which sort of defeats the purpose of playing a game. And that's not getting into the time it takes to form a group or coordinate several people... or the fact that some players just prefer not to group.

So how much grouping should an MMO require out of its players? Should pretty much all content require a group, forcing players to work together and build a real sense of community at the expense of any solitary play? Or should pretty much all content not require a group, letting everyone group with players as they wish without hard restrictions -- and making large chunks of the game single-player for all intents and purposes?

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 much grouping should be required in a game? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contentdaily-grindendgamegame-contentgame-mechanicsgroup-playgroupinggroupslevelingopinionsolosolo-playsoloingtdgthe-daily-grindSun, 11 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar's Troy Hewitt talks about the game's design philosophy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/wildstars-troy-hewitt-talks-about-the-games-design-philosophy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/wildstars-troy-hewitt-talks-about-the-games-design-philosophy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/13/wildstars-troy-hewitt-talks-about-the-games-design-philosophy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It never goes smooth! Why can't it ever go smooth?
It's likely to be a while longer before anyone gets to lay hands on WildStar's beta, much less the finished game, but there's still a lot to look forward to. A recent interview with producer Troy Hewitt might help salve a bit of that anticipation as Hewitt discusses the game's design philosophy and content systems. As he explains, Carbine Studios embraced the idea that players should be allowed to play how they want, when they want, and with whomever they want.

This extends to the game's content at multiple levels; Hewitt explains that solo and group content shouldn't be at odds, that even people who prefer to level and play solo are still enjoying the fact that they experience a persistent world with other players. There's also a lot of talk about players crafting their own stories as they explore the game world, something augmented by the game's split between different player types. Take a look at the full interview if you're following the game avidly, as there are plenty of interesting tidbits -- even if you might have preferred a release date.

MassivelyWildStar's Troy Hewitt talks about the game's design philosophy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studioscontentdesigndesign-philosophygroupgroupinginterviewncsoftnew-titlesnewspreviewssolosoloingtroy-hewittupcoming-titleswildstarMon, 13 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Patch 1.19]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/08/the-mog-log-patch-1-19/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/08/the-mog-log-patch-1-19/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/08/the-mog-log-patch-1-19/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
So there was a Final Fantasy XIV patch on Tuesday. Maybe you heard about it. It was only all over the parts of the internet that care about Final Fantasy XIV, and even some that don't. This was not a patch in the traditional sense; it was a huge reworking and revamping of several parts of the game.

It's a big patch, that's what I'm getting at. And I've spent the past several days diving into it with all the time I've had because this is the sort of thing that really changes a lot of core assumptions about the game.

So it's been a time of empirical testing, a time of leveling, a time of dropping a lot of gil on new pieces of equipment and getting ready to tell my readers whether this patch was everything promised or fell flat. And truth be told, there's too much to address even in one column. But I can at least get started.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Patch 1.19

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Patch 1.19 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncolumnsexperiencefeaturedffff14ffxivffxiv-patch-1.19final-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivgrand-companiesguildleveslevelinglevequestslevesmajor-updatesopinionpatchesquestssoloingsquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logupdatesSat, 08 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you like having the freedom to play solo?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/13/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-having-the-freedom-to-play-solo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/13/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-having-the-freedom-to-play-solo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/13/the-daily-grind-do-you-like-having-the-freedom-to-play-solo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Groups are always great for dramatic screenshots.
MMOs are social experiences at their core, but there's still something about having freedom on your character of choice. At times, everyone likes to step away from being responsible for other people, and operating solo means that you get to take full credit for your own success and failure. But the quality of that operation depends on the game -- Final Fantasy XI characters were largely helpless solo past a certain point, while there's little in Star Trek Online that a solo player can't handle with some patience.

Obviously, being able to get plenty done solo means that you can indulge your time in the game more freely and not have to worry too much about other availability. But it also does detract from the grouping experience, and it can lead to a rahter one-note game where every enemy has to fall prey to the same solo tactics. So do you think solo-friendly game are a good thing? Do you want your games to feature a fair amount of self-reliance, or do you miss the old days where parties were the default for content?

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 like having the freedom to play solo? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedesigngame-designgame-mechanicsgroupinggroupsopinionplaystylesolosoloingtdgthe-daily-grindSat, 13 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Endgame = end of game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/28/wings-over-atreia-endgame-end-of-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/28/wings-over-atreia-endgame-end-of-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/28/wings-over-atreia-endgame-end-of-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It happens. All good things must come to an end... except (hopefully) your favorite MMORPG. After all, the whole idea of the MMO is to keep going endlessly, right? To supposedly ever-evolve -- there is no final "win" that concludes the story as in single-player RPGs. However, what do you do when you hit the level cap and have "been there and done that" with everything in game? I guess that's the disadvantage of not having a sandbox; as much I love the graphics and my friends in NCsoft's Aion, there really is just a finite list of things to do.

Now before anyone gets up-in-arms or sneers "I told you so," no, I am not quitting and I haven't given up on the game. I still enjoy it. It just so happens that my mind zeroed in on the topic this week as I logged in over the course a few days and just stared at my screen, wondering what I wanted to do. While I was feeling under the weather a bit (which dampened my endurance and enthusiasm to complete any major dungeons), I started wondering about what there actually is to do in Aion after you reach and sit at maximum level for a while.

For me, the two things that keep me interested in my virtual worlds are the community and friends that I find in game as well as exploring and experiencing new things. One involves the company providing regular content updates; the other allows for player-created content. But once there is nothing left to explore or experience, friends can drift away... so what does that leave? Pondering this subject and watching the community around me actually brought up some expected -- and some not quite expected -- answers.

Join me past the cut to look at different ways Daevas spend their time in Atreia and how they keep their interest sparked.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Endgame = end of game?

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Endgame = end of game? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamealtaltsatreiabeshmundir-templecontentdark-portaleventsfeaturedgoalgoal-settinggoalsgoalsettinggroupingnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionpvpriftingrifting-changesskinssolosoloingsoloing-instancestrolltrollsudas-templeupdatesWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 28 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploring Eberron: One isn't the loneliest number]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/exploring-eberron-one-isnt-the-loneliest-number/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/exploring-eberron-one-isnt-the-loneliest-number/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/exploring-eberron-one-isnt-the-loneliest-number/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Two weeks ago on Exploring Eberron, I talked about my preview of the Crystal Cove event in Dungeons and Dragons Online. Design director Ian Currie and producer Eric Boyer joined me on the Lamannia server to show me around the upcoming event. It was a great time, but I was still very curious about how the event would go once it arrived on the live servers.

The thing about a developer tour is that you get to see the best of everything -- and that is both a blessing and a curse. It's great on one hand, because I can see the event and have the details explained to me without my having to navigate the hectic and busy aspect of a crowd of players all participating at once.

On the other hand, there was an important question that I really couldn't find the answer to until the event was live and I tried it on my own. One of the things I love about DDO is that it acknowledges and provides for the solo player. Right from character creation, the game tells you which classes are and are not good for soloing, and the addition of casual mode offered even more options. It seemed that a server-wide event like this might have a harder time keeping up that tradition, and I wanted to find out for myself.

So how did it go? Follow along after the jump and see!

Continue reading Exploring Eberron: One isn't the loneliest number

MassivelyExploring Eberron: One isn't the loneliest number originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crystal-coveddoDungeons-and-Dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeventexploring-eberronf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpgroupingsoloingturbineTurbine-EntertainmentFri, 25 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: Solo vs. group]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/wings-over-atreia-solo-vs-group/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/wings-over-atreia-solo-vs-group/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/wings-over-atreia-solo-vs-group/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

OK, now get your collective minds all out of the gutter! There we go. Of course, the title speaks to gaming styles and preferences in Aion. Lately, I've had the topic of grouping crop up in different discussions, from the trend of decreasing group sizes (Star Wars Galaxies had groups of 20, then Lineage II had groups of nine, followed by other games with a maximum group size of six) to questioning the need to group at all. To group, or not to group: Is that really the question?

I touched on this topic a bit a few weeks ago, but an adventure this past week brought my attention back to it; I discovered that you no longer need a full group for one of the more frustrating quests in the game (once you factor in trying to get a group when the rift is up and not have it camped on the other side by the enemy!). Instead, you can complete the quest with just two or three Daevas, a feat unheard of previously due to the difficult dungeon in enemy territory.

Granted, we completed our quest, which would have been impossible otherwise given the circumstances. But on a broader scale, what's with the trend of phasing out group content in MMOs and catering to the solo crowd? This phenomenon puzzles me. When a game is an MMO (read "massively multiplayer"), why discourage grouping by making almost all content accessible to the solo crowd -- especially in Aion (where learning good group dynamics can be crucial in large scale warfare)? In a time when social skills seem to be struggling to survive, why open yet another opportunity for people to avoid interaction?

Type /Invite and join me past the cut to examine this phenomenon and weigh in with your preferred gaming style in our comments.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Solo vs. group

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Solo vs. group originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gameBeluslanbeshmundir-templefeaturedgroupinggrouping-incentivesgroupslootnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionpugpugsrngsolosoloingudas-templeWings-Over-AtreiaxenoMon, 07 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Sex, violence, and the solo gamer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/06/the-anvil-of-crom-sex-violence-and-the-solo-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/06/the-anvil-of-crom-sex-violence-and-the-solo-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/06/the-anvil-of-crom-sex-violence-and-the-solo-gamer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

OK, those of you who clicked on this week's issue of The Anvil of Crom hoping to read a sordid expose filled with tawdry, titillating screenshots from Funcom's M-rated Age of Conan MMO might be disappointed. I know, I know, a headline like that is a dastardly writer trick. Blame it on the fact that I happened across an old Natalie Wood film with a catchy title while scrounging about for this week's topic.

At any rate, I will be mentioning violence, as it's hard to talk about Age of Conan without it. Hopefully that will earn your forgiveness. Really though, I'm itching to spend a bit of virtual ink on the solo gamer, particularly as he or she relates to Funcom's sword and sorcery epic, so join me after the cut for a look at how the lone wolf fares in Hyboria.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Sex, violence, and the solo gamer

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Sex, violence, and the solo gamer originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananvil-of-cromaocconanfantasyfeaturedforgotten-cityfuncomopinionpvepvprefuge-of-the-apostatesolosolo-contentsolo-playersoloingsoloisttarantia-villasthe-anvil-of-cromthe-breachvillasSun, 06 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Scrappers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-scrappers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-scrappers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/a-mild-mannered-reporter-in-the-case-of-scrappers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We're in a small lull for City of Heroes at the moment, and truth be told it's well-deserved. After several months of invasions, updates, previews of the upcoming issues and so forth... it's nice to finally have a chance to just lean back and breathe a little bit. Of course, said breathing will involve a fair bit of superpowered antics, but as involved as that might be for the characters, the players don't have to be constantly looking to the future.

So while we technically should be working through the Incarnate System, the odds are better than even that we'll all be rolling alts over the holiday season. We play City of Heroes; alts are in our blood. So in a move that can only have been brought on by an almost criminal overdose of liquor, I've decided to start taking a look at the powersets of the archetypes, starting with the alt-friendly Scrapper. This should be of benefit to those who have never played a Scrapper, including players who are starting the game for the first time and who by definition haven't tried one before.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Scrappers

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: In the case of Scrappers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterabilitiesarchetypearchetypescity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclass-abilitiesclassescohcolumncovcoxfeaturedgroupingncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosplaystylepowerspowersetsscrapperssoloingthematic-choicesWed, 15 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Playing alone together]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/the-soapbox-playing-alone-together/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/the-soapbox-playing-alone-together/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/the-soapbox-playing-alone-together/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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

It's sitting there in my quest log, frustrating me with its presence and quite possibly calling me names when I'm not around. "It" is a fellowship (group) quest for Lord of the Rings Online that I need to complete to continue Volume 2 of the epic storyline. This particular quest has been moldering in my log for over two weeks now, and I'm starting to think I'll never get it done.

I hate it. Oh, sure, I know that there's plenty of other things to do, I know that if I'm diligent I'll find a group sooner or later, and I know that eventually enough of my kinship will need to do it and we'll throw together a "help each other out" posse. But I absolutely, completely hate being dependent on others for my gaming, and it always grates when I hit a wall that cannot be passed unless I gather a few friends -- or, more likely, a motley crew of puggers -- to get around it all.

Yup, that's right, I'm a solo MMO player. I'm the very oxymoron of what some consider to be the quintessential MMO experience, which is to play an online game together with thousands of others. I like to do my own thing, go my own way, and 95% of the time, chew through content as a one-man act. I don't mind being with other people for fun and adventures, but I don't want to need them to progress.

And I'm part of a growing majority of MMO gamers.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Playing alone together

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Playing alone together originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eqeverquestfeaturedgroupgroupingguildkinshiplord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropugpuggersoapboxsolosoloingthe-soapboxwarWarhammer-Onlinewelfare-epicsTue, 26 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: We all live in a community submarine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/the-mog-log-we-all-live-in-a-community-submarine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/the-mog-log-we-all-live-in-a-community-submarine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/23/the-mog-log-we-all-live-in-a-community-submarine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This week, like the week before, has seen an explosion of controversy about Final Fantasy XIV. I have not really taken part, as I have been far too busy playing Final Fantasy XIV to care one way or the other. But after a month of people's impressions, it seems like the perfect time to dive back into the meat of the community topics -- much like we did last month around the same time, as a matter of fact.

Sadly, Final Fantasy XI has been fairly quiet, both due to the anger generation systems its successor features and due to a general sense of community burnout. After all, we're about two months away from another version update, and thus far we've heard nothing about what's due for December. Still, jump on past the cut for discussions about Final Fantasy XI as well as FFXIV, with the usual dosage of commentary to accompany each.

Continue reading The Mog Log: We all live in a community submarine

MassivelyThe Mog Log: We all live in a community submarine originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventuring-fellowconjecturedataminingfeaturedfeedbackffff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivfuture-additonsfuture-updateskillstealingkillstealslevel-gamelevelingleveling-gameobscure-referencesopinionpersonaquality-of-lifereviewreviewssolosoloingsquaresquare-enixstealingsummonsummonersummoningsummonsthe-sky-is-not-actually-fallingthievesSat, 23 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: This edition is so stupid]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/a-mild-mannered-reporter-this-edition-is-so-stupid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/a-mild-mannered-reporter-this-edition-is-so-stupid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/20/a-mild-mannered-reporter-this-edition-is-so-stupid/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Guys, I have to warn you straight up... this edition is really stupid. It's just plain stupid. I'm not saying that it's bad, and I'm not saying it's not worth reading -- I'm just saying that it's really surprisingly dumb. You're all fond of City of Heroes, and I am too, but considering how dumb this week's edition is, maybe you should do something else for however long you would normally read one of my columns. I guess there are some pretty good things on YouTube these days.

Oh, wait, sorry, it looks like I was reading my notes wrong. It's not that this edition is stupid, it's that the community threads we're spotlighting today are all about things that are stupid. Because there are things here and there within City of Heroes that are just a little dumb, when you get right down to it. Also, it gave me a thematic hook for this column, so that's good too. Click on past the cut for this week's highlights!

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: This edition is so stupid

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: This edition is so stupid originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archvillainsartart-teamcharacter-customizationcity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxcustomizationdifficultyfeaturedgiant-monstershamidonncsoftparagonparagon-studiospraetoriasoloablesoloingstupidsuper-boostersuper-boostersWed, 20 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What content keeps holding you back?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/the-daily-grind-what-content-keeps-holding-you-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/the-daily-grind-what-content-keeps-holding-you-back/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/07/the-daily-grind-what-content-keeps-holding-you-back/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Back when I was in the middle of Naxxramas in World of Warcraft, there was an iron wall that held my entire guild back, and that was Grobbulus. It was insane. We could clear every other wing of the raid without a single wipe, even managing the much more difficult Four Horsemen battle without any problems, but every time we wound up facing the slime daddy it was a night of wipes and frustration. When we finally took him down, the rest of the raid fell to us in a matter of an hour. For some reason, that one boss was just such a hurdle.

It could be a mission that you can't solo and can't get help with in City of Heroes. Maybe it's a raid boss in Lord of the Rings Online. Or maybe it's a certain episode in Star Trek Online in which a bug breaks the game and prevents you from completing your objectives. Whatever the reason, we all have something in our games that just refuses to let us past, content that we'd happily never do again if we could get past it the first time. So what's your iron wall?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What content keeps holding you back? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contentcontent-issuescontent-problemendgameendgame-contentendgame-progressiongroupingopinionprogressionprogression-issuesraidsroadblocksoloingtdgthe-daily-grindTue, 07 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Anvil of Crom: Traveling the Silk Road]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/the-anvil-of-crom-traveling-the-silk-road/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/the-anvil-of-crom-traveling-the-silk-road/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/29/the-anvil-of-crom-traveling-the-silk-road/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Last week we spoke briefly with Funcom executive producer and game director Craig "Silirrion" Morrison regarding Age of Conan's random encounter mechanic, which will invoke a series of one-off solo instances designed to add a bit of flavor to the journey to Hyboria's Far East. We also checked out five of the 11 available instances: four sea-faring adventures and one rare-spawn quest-giving encounter.

This week, we'll step through the remaining five adventures, all of them land-locked, in addition to taking a quick look at the second rare spawn. Voyage past the cut for more.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Traveling the Silk Road

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Traveling the Silk Road originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-random-encountersanvil-of-cromanvil-of-crom-guidesaoccraig-morrisonfar-eastfeaturedfuncomguidesinstanceinstanceskhitaikhitai-random-encountersopinionsilirrionsilk-roadsilk-road-instancesolosoloingthe-anvil-of-cromSun, 29 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flameseeker Chronicles: Heroes ruined Guild Wars]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/flameseeker-chronicles-heroes-ruined-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/flameseeker-chronicles-heroes-ruined-guild-wars/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/flameseeker-chronicles-heroes-ruined-guild-wars/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Oh, settle down. I'm not stating that as a fact, I'm just repeating what others have said. It's an old argument, but one that's recently come to my attention several times over the past week, so I want to take a look at the argument today.

Heroes came to Guild Wars near the end of 2006 with the introduction of Nightfall. They were a huge upgrade from the much-maligned Alesia and her companions. Sure, you had to level them up, but you had as much control over their runes and insignias, skill bars, and weapons as you did your own.

The addition gave players the option to add three of these customized companions, making it much easier to continue adventuring even if you couldn't get a group at the moment. It sounds perfect, right? Not everyone agrees, and it's a debate that flared back up in the past months when the possibility was raised of companions in Guild Wars 2.

Hit the handy "read more" button to check out both sides of the argument.

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Heroes ruined Guild Wars

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Heroes ruined Guild Wars originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alesia-you-are-not-a-tankanetarenanetbonusfeaturedflameseeker-chroniclesgroupingguild-warsguild-wars-heroesguild-wars-nightfallgwhero-henchheroeskoss-is-like-a-wild-beast-unchainedmissionncsoftnightfallopinionpugpugssoloingstop-that-orion-everything-is-dead-alreadyMon, 26 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Tattered Notebook: No one is left behind]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/the-tattered-notebook-no-one-is-left-behind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/the-tattered-notebook-no-one-is-left-behind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/the-tattered-notebook-no-one-is-left-behind/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

'Allo again, lovelies. Last week has been a week of danger and intrigue as I battled through Nektulos Forest and worked on getting my unique Shadowknight armor. During all of this, though, I thought to myself -- how can I apply any of these experiences to my notebook entry for this coming week?

Then of course, it hit me. Why not just explain what I've been doing to get through the areas in a short amount of time? A few tips and tricks for playing the level game? Sure, I've been up and down with grouping and preparations for Sentinel's Fate, but many players are always intimidated when entering a game and "being behind."

Well, don't worry about being behind. You're not entering the game late at all when it comes to EverQuest II, especially thanks to the recent additions to the game in Sentinel's Fate. Interested in catching up and experiencing some great content? Then click on through after the break!

Also, I'm still looking for questions anyone has on EverQuest II, so I can answer them in an upcoming Tattered Notebook. Ask me anything, from EverQuest II questions, guild leadership and raiding questions, and even questions on my Dark Elven heritage. Send them over to seraphina@massively.com, and she'll be sure to forward them on through the Norrathian Express mail to me.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: No one is left behind

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: No one is left behind originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contentdungeonseq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifeaturedgroupinglevel-capplotlinequestingsentinels-fatesoloingstorylinethe-golden-paththe-tattered-notebooktimelinesveteran-rewardsTue, 02 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: You've got questions, we've got deflections]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/27/the-mog-log-youve-got-questions-weve-got-deflections/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/27/the-mog-log-youve-got-questions-weve-got-deflections/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/27/the-mog-log-youve-got-questions-weve-got-deflections/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It's time to kick off one of the features that we're hoping will become a regular standby on The Mog Log -- community questions and answers. It's a chance for you to all ask the questions about the game that you'd like answered, and a chance for me to shuffle awkwardly and stare at my feet. Kidding aside, if you have a Final Fantasy XI or Final Fantasy XIV question that you'd like answered, send them to me, and I'll happily answer them to the best of my ability. It's all the edification of research without the actual research part.

We'll start with a question from Simon:
"Are we sure about when the beta for FFXIV is going to start?"

Nothing is certain, least of all what Square-Enix decides to do. Right now, they're content with not filling us in on the start date of beta, but they might very well share that tomorrow at VanaFest. On the flip side, they might hold on to that tidbit until after the stateside launch of Final Fantasy XIII, just to keep excitement up for the title. Keep your eyes peeled tomorrow, we should know then.

Continue reading The Mog Log: You've got questions, we've got deflections

MassivelyThe Mog Log: You've got questions, we've got deflections originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>characterexpansionsfeaturedff11ff14ffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivgendergrindmitoqeroedegyansoloingsquaresquare-enixthe-mog-logwings-of-the-goddessxbox-360Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you prefer leveling grouped or solo?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/28/the-daily-grind-do-you-prefer-leveling-grouped-or-solo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/28/the-daily-grind-do-you-prefer-leveling-grouped-or-solo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/28/the-daily-grind-do-you-prefer-leveling-grouped-or-solo/#commentsFiled under: , ,


While there are some MMOs that try to handle their progression differently, the bulk of them probably offer some form of combat-centric leveling. Killing large quantities of NPCs, doing quests and exploring dungeons is the norm. However, whether these things are done alone or with others is usually still left up to the player. These days games are very accommodating when it comes to classes having the ability to solo. Sure, some will be better than others, but for the most part soloing should at least be an option.

What we'd like to ask you today is how you approach this choice. Do you like to join up with a band of fellow adventurers and take on harder content to get your levels, or even just tackle solo content faster together? Perhaps you have a regular group that negates the need for the often-tiresome "Looking For Group" process. Alternatively, you might enjoy the ability to log on and get straight into leveling on your own, without relying on others. Maybe you've been scarred by too many bad groups! For some, leveling solo is just a time thing -- you have no time to wait around for LFGing and the group formation process, which can sometimes take longer than you were planning to be online. To these folks we ask: when you do have the time, do you make use of it to group, or are you happier just soloing anyway?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you prefer leveling grouped or solo? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>groupgroupslevelingsolosoloingtdgthe-daily-grindTue, 28 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Pondering of Purpose...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/17/a-pondering-of-purpose/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/17/a-pondering-of-purpose/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/17/a-pondering-of-purpose/#commentsFiled under: , ,


"Why aren't there any co-op RPGs?", the podcast cohost asked me during the week. I thought about it a bit and realised I was struggling to name even one. He's something of a console gamer, and was obviously coming at the question from the FPS side of things; Gears of War, Halo and similar, where cooperative campaign play seems to be a common thing. I ran through the list of big recent Role Playing Games through my head; Oblivion, Mass Effect, Fallout 3, Knights of the Old Republic, Bioshock, etc and quickly realised his point; RPGs tend not to confuse their earnest storytelling with the messy inclusion of multiple protagonists.

"That's what MMOs are for," I replied, and surprised myself by actually meaning it. While a well-told interactive novel, played through at a leisurely pace, is a welcome thing for me, it isn't something I'd feel the need to be online for, and not really something I'd want to share; not while I'm actually playing it at least. But for a more social shared experience, a campaign that a group of friends can work at together over many weeks, the MMO is the obvious choice. Or is it?

Continue reading A Pondering of Purpose...

MassivelyA Pondering of Purpose... originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Over the years I've played in MMOs, I've seen a lot of the social structure changing. I don't think it's entirely just my perception as an old fart - it's more a process of the games changing as well. In EverQuest for example, getting to endgame (at least without lots of death runs) involved grouping. In contrast, you can solo from 1-80 in World of Warcraft without ever having to group up once. While this has opened the genre up to lots of new players who normally wouldn't likely have played MMOGs, some might say it's also taken something away.

This morning we wanted to ask you if you felt it was better to have what we'll call a 'classic' MMORPG experience - one where grouping, at least for some small measure of time - is a required mechanic before you hit endgame, or experience all that the game has to offer? Or do you prefer the current MMOSPG (massively multiplayer online single-person game) feel of "in the world with others, but just soloing and chatting" that is seemingly becoming more common? Do you find that games designed for MMOSPG experiences turn you off since nobody will group? Alternately, do you find MMO games that require grouping annoy you?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: MMORPG or MMOSPG? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>difficultygroupingmechanicsmmorpgmmospgsoloingMon, 06 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Yu rack disriprine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/anti-aliased-yu-rack-disriprine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/anti-aliased-yu-rack-disriprine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/18/anti-aliased-yu-rack-disriprine/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


A few nights ago, I was in one of the worst pick-up groups I have ever seen. It was World of Warcraft, we were in Halls of Lightning, and we had opened up with a dramatic wipe on the first boss. (He wasn't even in his powered mode, which surprised me.)

Valiantly, we tried the battle again, but found the same effect. Everyone looked like they had enough gear -- I had done that boss with "worse" people backing me up. Of course, while I was pondering that, the squabbling had already begun in the party. Priest blames hunter, hunter blames mage, mage blames paladin, then the paladin stops pondering why we were failing, realizes people were blaming her, and becomes flustered that someone would actually blame her for the wipe. Meanwhile, the rogue sat in stealth and went afk. Perfect party dynamics.

Before long I found myself outside of Halls of Lightning again, sitting on the steps in my pristine holy plate armor. I held up a sign that said, "Will tank 4 food," while I kept up hopes that another party would take me in. (Note: Apparently Game Informer used "Will tank 4 food" in their latest magazine, which just read 5 minutes ago, well after this article was completed. Scary.)

Party dynamics seem to be on the decline, but why? Pick-up groups were always a scary prospect, but lately they seem to have become something entirely more nightmarish. What the heck has changed?

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Yu rack disriprine

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Yu rack disriprine originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedcommunitydeath-penaltydungeonsendgameexp-lossfeaturedgroupinginstancesjoystiqfeaturespartiespartyingpenaltiespick-up-grouppugpugsquestsraidingsoloingworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 18 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Soloing your way through LotRO's last 20 levels]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/soloing-your-way-through-lotros-last-20-levels/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/soloing-your-way-through-lotros-last-20-levels/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/soloing-your-way-through-lotros-last-20-levels/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Turbine has just released their final guide to soloing in Lord of the Rings Online, as this one covers the levels 40 through 60. In this one we get some advice on a part of the game that most people wouldn't realize is actually soloable. This begins with the Bree reputation and Deed quests that bring you back to the Barrow-downs to conquer the dungeon known as Haudh Iarchith. At what level is this dungeon soloable, though? That's the question.

Another great area to level your 40+ character is in Forochel, which was added to the game with Book 13. Or perhaps you'd like a less-brutal version of an arctic wasteland. You can head just north of Rivendell to the snowy peaks of the Misty Mountains for some great solo quests out of Gloin's Camp and inside the famed Goblin Town. From here, access to Moria is not far away. Your final 10 levels will be done most effectively in the Mines themselves, as you aspire for that max level of 60. Be sure to check out the complete seven-page guide on the LotRO official site for more on soloing your way through all levels.

MassivelySoloing your way through LotRO's last 20 levels originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrosolosoloingturbineWed, 21 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Soloing LotRO from levels 20 to 40]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/soloing-lotro-from-levels-20-to-40/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/soloing-lotro-from-levels-20-to-40/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/soloing-lotro-from-levels-20-to-40/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


As Turbine continues their series of guides for soloing Lord of the Rings Online, this newest one explains the trek from levels 20 though 40 sans fellowship. This five-page guide runs through some of the best moments you'll have in these 20 levels, and the most effective ways to play them.

At this point, you gain several more options for where to play, and at level 20 you can start entering the Lone-lands and the North Downs. You will also start your level 30 class quests and have the chance to buy your first mount at level 35. If you're getting worried about affording your horse around these levels approaching 35, Turbine has some hints for that, or you can read our handy guide on the same topic. We can't wait to see what Turbine has in store for their next guide for levels 40-60, coming soon!

MassivelySoloing LotRO from levels 20 to 40 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guidehorselord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromid-levelmountsoloingturbineWed, 14 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Soloing Lord of the Rings Online from 1 to 20]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/soloing-lord-of-the-rings-online-from-1-to-20/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/soloing-lord-of-the-rings-online-from-1-to-20/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/soloing-lord-of-the-rings-online-from-1-to-20/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Not everyone is a social gamer, even in an MMO. There are many players who would just rather play by themselves, while still occasionally joining a pick-up group or their kinship for the more difficult quests. There's nothing wrong with that, as Turbine acknowledges in a new series of guides for Lord of the Rings Online aimed at the solo player.

In this first guide, the focus is soloing through levels 1 through 20. There are helpful tips and tricks on everything from picking the right quests for you to knowing when to run. It's a wonderful seven-page article just filled with so much helpful information, that even the veteran players may find it useful for any new alts.

MassivelySoloing Lord of the Rings Online from 1 to 20 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guidelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrosolosoloablesoloingturbineWed, 07 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOGology: Looking for incentive to group]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/mmogology-looking-for-incentive-to-group/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/mmogology-looking-for-incentive-to-group/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/mmogology-looking-for-incentive-to-group/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



In a post-World of Warcraft world the concept of grouping while leveling has changed. Where grouping was once essential to survival in MMOGs, today it's an optional extra. As a result, leveling up can feel pretty lonely. In most MMOGs it's no longer necessary to group unless you're running an instanced dungeon or the rare quest geared toward a specific number of players. While I love the fact that I can play WoW on my own terms and my own schedule I feel like I'm missing out on the whole "massively multiplayer" thing. Isn't that the reason we play MMOGs to begin with? Why should we wait until end-game raid content to play together?

Most people don't group while leveling because there's no real incentive to group. Soloing nets you more XP than grouping and most of the content is easy to take on by yourself. There's no waiting around for others, no sharing of loot, and no arguing about what to do when. So why bother? I'd like to see developers provide players with more incentive to level up together. In my opinion, MMOGs should always work to increase entertainment value when players work together. Read on to explore ways to achieve that objective.

Continue reading MMOGology: Looking for incentive to group

MassivelyMMOGology: Looking for incentive to group originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardfeaturedgroupinggroupsjoystiqfeatureslevelinglfgsoloingworld-of-warcraftMon, 05 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars: The best solo quasi-MMOG out there?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/guild-wars-the-best-solo-quasi-mmog-out-there/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/guild-wars-the-best-solo-quasi-mmog-out-there/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/guild-wars-the-best-solo-quasi-mmog-out-there/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Three glorious years, over five million boxes sold. Guild Wars has come along way in that time, and it's no surprise that NCsoft's darling is still managing to stake out new players. Shamus from over on Twenty-Sided is one latest victim, in his post: Guild Wars: Massively Single Player, Shamus delves into Guild Wars with fresh eyes and posits about why it's a great single player experience. Of course, solo players use their own henchmen and heroes to help unfold that epic story.

When EverQuest reigned king long before WoW, soloist proponents were booed away with a common message: "Go play a single player game, MMORPGs focus around grouping and solo content has no place here." Today, most MMOGs offer solo play but in such a way that progression is meaningful, but grouping is still encouraged for the best rewards.

Continue reading Guild Wars: The best solo quasi-MMOG out there?

MassivelyGuild Wars: The best solo quasi-MMOG out there? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-netguild-warsgwncsoftshamussingle-playersolosolo-versus-groupsoloingtwenty-sidedThu, 19 Jun 2008 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Omega solo solution]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/the-digital-continuum-omega-solo-solution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/the-digital-continuum-omega-solo-solution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/the-digital-continuum-omega-solo-solution/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


There was a time in my MMO playing when I would spend hours looking for a group in games like Final Fantasy XI. No television was watched and no handheld gaming devices were manipulated during those prolonged waiting periods. I just sat there chatting with whomever I could in-game. Today, I don't think I could see myself doing this even with the aid of a Nintendo DS or a PSP with which to chip away the hours. Hell, I probably couldn't even do this with one of my favorite shows like Lucky Louie or Flight of the Concords.

This is why it warms my heart to know that Champions Online will contain not only solo content across every level, but some kind of secret endgame feature called the Omega System. My first reaction upon this revelation was simply, "Wow" I certainly hope that with a title like "The Omega System" Cryptic has a compelling endgame feature planned that will amaze everyone or at the very least please everyone.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Omega solo solution

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Omega solo solution originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>championschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosdefenderendgamefeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-xiflight-of-the-concordsironcladjoystiqfeaturesjusticiarlucky-louienintendo-dsomega-systempspsolosoloingsquare-enixthe-digital-continuumSat, 07 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: Hell is other people]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/behind-the-curtain-hell-is-other-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/behind-the-curtain-hell-is-other-people/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/behind-the-curtain-hell-is-other-people/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

How often do you your social experiences in MMOs actually satisfy you? How many times have you been part of a PUG that lasted longer than the bare minimum of time it took to finish the instance and left you with the feeling that you'd met some decent people, instead of with a headache from grinding your teeth in frustration for the past hour and a half?

Despite the fact that I'm in a guild full of great people whose sole concern is not being top of the damage meters or who has the most DKP stored up, I still spend a fair amount of time playing solo. Sometime I feel like I'm cheating myself a little bit by intentionally missing out on the social side of World of Warcraft a lot of the time. I guess time is a factor more often than not; being a slave to the evil, capitalist ways of the decadent West, I work a full-time job which involves a fair amount of commuting each day, so on most weeknights I have to juggle what time I have at home, and sometimes I simply can't squeeze in a run through any instance, and I refuse to be the player who skips out of the instance half way through.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: Hell is other people

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: Hell is other people originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-curtainfeaturedhell-is-other-peoplepugpugssolosoloingThu, 05 Jun 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: Rebuilding EverQuest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/player-vs-everything-rebuilding-everquest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/player-vs-everything-rebuilding-everquest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/player-vs-everything-rebuilding-everquest/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ask any MMOG player about EverQuest, and you'll get one of three responses: either they loved it, they hated it, or they didn't play it (and don't want to). Nobody thinks that it was just a mediocre game, and a lot of people look back fondly on their time there, warts and all. There were a lot of warts. When I was chatting with Scott Hartsman at this year's IMGDC, he explained to me that EverQuest was rife with any number of "pain points" which later games were able to identify, fix, and build upon to make their own game better. Taking most of what was good about EverQuest and cutting most of what was bad was one of the things that helped World of Warcraft dethrone the game and take its seat as the number one MMORPG on the market.

However, not everyone agrees with all of the "improvements" that Blizzard made to the genre when they created WoW. The arguments over what should and shouldn't be left out of a great MMORPG continue to this day, and there's no quick and easy guide to what's MMOG gold. Plenty of companies are learning the hard way that cloning World of Warcraft isn't a winning strategy. It's a great game, but that doesn't mean it's the only way to play. My question for you all today is this: What if instead of EverQuest 2, Sony had given us EverQuest 2.0? EverQuest 2 was a spiritual successor at best to the original game (Vanguard is much closer to an actual sequel). If SOE had remade the DikuMUD-inspired world of Norrath, set in the same time period, with an updated graphics engine and the pain points fixed differently than WoW chose to do, what might it have looked like? More importantly, is it something you'd want to play?

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: Rebuilding EverQuest

MassivelyPlayer vs. Everything: Rebuilding EverQuest originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 May 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classesclassicdeath-penaltyeverquesteverquest-2featuredgame-designpain-pointsplayer-vs-everythingremakesoloinguser-interfacevanguardwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftThu, 15 May 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are MMOs the future of gaming?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/13/the-daily-grind-are-mmos-the-future-of-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/13/the-daily-grind-are-mmos-the-future-of-gaming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/13/the-daily-grind-are-mmos-the-future-of-gaming/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Raph Koster certainly thinks so. He feels that single-player gaming is a phase we all went through, and that online, interconnected gaming is simply the next evolutionary step -- or, possibly, a return to form. 'People always play games together. All of you learned to play games with each other,' he said, citing a reason for shared gaming's return to prominence. The problem is, however, that MMOs don't exactly scratch the same itch that single-player games do, and ironically, that's an itch engendered by the mere existence of single-player games, a kind of weird self-fulfilling prophecy. We learned to like single-player games because we were offered single-player games.

So how does this affect the MMO experience? With a sophisticated enough platform, there's no reason to think that a fully-immersive single-player experience couldn't exist cheek-by-jowl with an MMO experience. People talk about soloing, but that's just a concession, a way around the issue. What if, for example, while playing Bioshock, you arrived at endgame and left Rapture, only to discover a world filled with other players who've gone through the same experience? Is the future of gaming synthesis, rather than exchanging one form of gameplay for another?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are MMOs the future of gaming? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioshockraph-kosterraptureshared-gamingsingle-playersoloingsynthesistdgthe-daily-grindSun, 13 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How Ken Levine (maker of BioShock) plays World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/how-ken-levine-maker-of-bioshock-plays-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/how-ken-levine-maker-of-bioshock-plays-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/20/how-ken-levine-maker-of-bioshock-plays-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Ken Levine is best known for his work on such games as Thief, System Shock 2 and (most recently) BioShock. Before a talk at GDC this morning about the storytelling BioShock we noticed a World of Warcraft icon very prominent in the quicklaunch bar on his Mac. Over the course of the lecture Levine reinforced his online influences by several times referencing some of Blizzard's talented design. We chatted with him for a few minutes after the talk ended, and he confirmed that he's a big fan of the game. In fact, he just recently leveled a druid to 57 - solo, as that's the way he generally plays.

He also touched on the depth of WoW's design in a response to differences between BioShock and System Shock 2: "Feature-wise it's not really that different from System Shock 2. We wanted to make sure every player understood what they were doing on an instictual level - not that they were doing 2d6 of fire damage. That meant there were limitations. In a game like WoW, on the other hand, they can make stuff that's incredibly deep because you're watching the numbers scroll by. My friend Joe likes to brag "My tank has 12,612 armor points!" Which in a game is a distinction that's meaningful to some extent - some people really like min/maxing, some people area really about the world, and I didn't want to get trapped in the middle."

MassivelyHow Ken Levine (maker of BioShock) plays World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioshockfeaturedgdc08gdc08fanboyhowtheyplaywowken-levinepvesoloingworld-of-warcraftWed, 20 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Is single-player content hurting MMORPGs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/is-single-player-content-hurting-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/is-single-player-content-hurting-mmorpgs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/12/is-single-player-content-hurting-mmorpgs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The term "solo friendly" is commonly cited as a virtue of newer MMO titles. Many MMO related forums have threads such as this one over at MMORPG.com which discuss the "soloability" of player classes within an MMORPG. In fact many of the elements of games such as Everquest which players have complained about over the years such as "forced grouping," "camping spawns," or "racing for non-instanced content" have all but been removed from the most recent MMORPG releases.

When was the last time you saw two guilds racing to kill the same mob in World of Warcraft? How many of you have spent more than 30 minutes on a corpse recovery in City of Heroes? (That is a trick question, since there is no need to recover your corpse in that game.)

Continue reading Is single-player content hurting MMORPGs?

MassivelyIs single-player content hurting MMORPGs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cohcoxeverquestfeaturedjoystiqfeaturessingle-playersolosolo-playsoloingworld-of-warcraftMon, 12 Nov 2007 15:30:00 EST