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: Who will be our MMO development heroes of tomorrow?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/the-daily-grind-who-will-be-our-mmo-development-heroes-of-tomor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/the-daily-grind-who-will-be-our-mmo-development-heroes-of-tomor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/25/the-daily-grind-who-will-be-our-mmo-development-heroes-of-tomor/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Greatest American Hero
The lifespan of the MMO genre is still fairly short when you take general gaming into consideration. Fifteen years ago, most of us wouldn't have dreamed of what's available online today, thanks to the innovators who brought together graphical roleplaying games and the MUDs of the day. People like Richard Garriott, Raph Koster, Starr Long, J. Todd Coleman, and a handful of others helped create what we know today as MMORPGs.

But who will be the innovators and trend-setters of tomorrow's MMOs? We see a lot of innovation these days, but ascribing those ideas to one person isn't as easy (or applicable) as it was in the early days of five-man studios. Still, there are geniuses in these modern studios making some much-needed improvements that will carry on for many years.

So if you're a player and you know of someone who will be known for his or her innovation in the future, let us know. If you're a developer who wants to call out a co-worker for something he or she has done to change the genre, get that name out there!

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: Who will be our MMO development heroes of tomorrow? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>heroesinnovationj-todd-colemanmmo-industryopinionraph-kosterrichard-garriottstarr-longtdgthe-daily-grindSat, 25 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A day in the life of Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/a-day-in-the-life-of-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/a-day-in-the-life-of-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/a-day-in-the-life-of-tabula-rasa/#commentsFiled under: , ,

With the closing of Games For Windows magazine, it's easy to say that Edge magazine is one of the finest videogame-related periodicals on the planet. They collaborate with the folks at the Next Generation site to bring their content to the web, and today they have up a fantastic piece on NCsoft's Tabula Rasa. The article walks through an exhaustive amount of information on the title's launch, and the issues that have come up for the Destination Games team since then.

The article kicks off with background on NCsoft's expansion into the western marketplace, and the long road Tabula Rasa took to market. Although they don't have any pictures of the space unicorn days, they're definitely implied. The article's author speaks extensively to Starr Long, discussing the miscommunication about the number of people fired and TR's financial success from a few months back. Long offers, "It's not as big as we wanted it to be, but it's big enough right now, and people are still buying the game and we're getting lots of retail activations every day."

From there, they launch into a discussion of the the game's growth, and the endless customer service battle any MMO has to put up with. Long concludes with hopeful comments for the future of games on the PC: "I think Peter Molyneux was saying at GDC something like PC gaming is 'all Sims and WOW', which I think is a little too doom and gloom for me ... There have been plenty of times when you've had the one game to rule them all, I mean I remember in 1994 when Myst came out and everyone was saying: 'If you're not like Myst you're screwed.' I don't really buy into that philosophy."

MassivelyA day in the life of Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 May 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesedgeedge-magazinencsoftstarr-longtabula-rasatrFri, 02 May 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa: State of the Game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/tabula-rasa-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/tabula-rasa-state-of-the-game/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/tabula-rasa-state-of-the-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


If you've been keeping track of the brouhaha surrounding Tabula Rasa over the last few weeks(i.e., fiscal reports, doomsday prophecies, etc.), you know it has been an interesting roller coaster ride. One that extended all the way from Korea to Austin, and back again. Apparently Starr Long, Producer for TR, thought it was time for a "state of the game" address to update everyone.

Now some of you (and you know who you are) who actively cheer for the demise of a game (shame on you) might want to close your eyes. You'll undoubtedly consider this nothing more then damage control and PR spin. But for those of you who actually enjoy playing fun games, take heart.

Obviously NCsoft has poured a lot of money, time and resources into continuing post-launch development of Tabula Rasa. They are in this to make money, not make you happy or you over there sad. So, regardless of the feeble cries from those who make it a hobby of proclaiming the sky is falling, and shouting on street corners that the end is near - this MMO isn't just going to burn up and fade away.

Continue reading Tabula Rasa: State of the Game

MassivelyTabula Rasa: State of the Game originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Dev-Cornerncsoftrichard-garriottstarr-longState-of-the-Gametabula-rasaTRThu, 06 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Starr Long talks Tabula Rasa's future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/starr-long-talks-tabula-rasas-future-working-title/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/starr-long-talks-tabula-rasas-future-working-title/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/starr-long-talks-tabula-rasas-future-working-title/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Laura Genender, community manager for MMORPG.com, recently spoke with Starr Long, producer for Tabula Rasa, about the future of this sci-fi fragfest. What they have planned will most assuredly keep players coming back for more. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Control Points will eventually be controllable by clans, and yes - other clans can then challenge them for it. This will be absolutely huge!
  • A revamp of the Logos tablet seems imminent. For starters, players will be able to hear the entire story of the Eloha all at once instead of just bits and pieces at a time.
  • Higher end game areas are being planned and "big plans" are in store for upper level content, some of which is already being worked on for release in near-future patches.
  • A crafting revamp will occur early next year based on player feedback.
  • Within the next few months they hope to release more new level 50 instances, Hybrids, PAUs, and the Clan ownership of Control Points. Just to name a few.
For the complete manifest of new features, be sure to read the entire interview with Starr Long on MMORPG.com.

MassivelyStarr Long talks Tabula Rasa's future originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gameslaura-genendermmorpg.comncsoftrichard-garriottstarr-longtabula-rasaTRThu, 13 Dec 2007 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Starr Long talks Personal Armor Units]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/starr-long-talks-personal-armor-units/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/starr-long-talks-personal-armor-units/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/20/starr-long-talks-personal-armor-units/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I love me some giant robots.Destination Games have been talking quite a bit recently about what's to come in Tabula Rasa, but the main focus is on ... giant robots! TenTonHammer have a sneak peek up, talking to Starr Long, discussing the Personal Armor Units -- no screenshots or concept art, unfortunately, but there's decent descriptions.

Personal Armor Units, as they're known, are TR's version of mounts. The names of five are known so far -- Angel, Ghoul, Grendel, Shiva, and Spectre. According to Paul Sage, Lead Designer of TR, you'll get access to your PAU at level 40. All we know so far is that Grendel is Grenadier only, Spectre seems to be Spy only, and that you can fight in them. These ain't no horses!

There's some details about other end-game content in TR, though whether that will come in the same update as PAUs is anyone's guess.

MassivelyStarr Long talks Personal Armor Units originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angeldestination-gamesghoulgiant-robotsgrendelpaul-sagepersonal-armor-unitsshivaspectrestarr-longtabula-rasaTue, 20 Nov 2007 23:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively interviews: Starr Long of Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/massively-interviews-starr-long-of-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/massively-interviews-starr-long-of-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/05/massively-interviews-starr-long-of-tabula-rasa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Two weeks before the launch of NCsoft's latest MMO, Tabula Rasa, Massively had a chance to sit down and chat with the game's producer, Starr Long, in their Austin offices. We discuss Tabula Rasa's past, present, and future -- including a first glimpse at the game's ambitious expansion plans. So what's there to look forward to in Tabula Rasa? Alien-human hybrid races, a major expansion a year (each featuring an entirely new planet), and major content patches every few months. Need to know more? Keep reading!

Continue reading Massively interviews: Starr Long of Tabula Rasa

MassivelyMassively interviews: Starr Long of Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destination-gamesfeaturedgarriottinterviewjoystiqfeaturesncsoftrichard-garriottstarr-longtabula-rasatr-launch-tourMon, 05 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST