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: Which MMO deserves the movie treatment?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-deserves-the-movie-treatment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-deserves-the-movie-treatment/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/07/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-deserves-the-movie-treatment/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The World of Warcraft movie is coming, barring one of those infamous Hollywood accidents that seem to happen to many movies before they're finished. We've covered the others before, with a gloomy outlook. But statistically, surely at least one of them will be watchable.

So if not City of Heroes, or Everquest, which property might make a good movie? Which one has a good setting, visually interesting powers or abilities, a rich storyline, and engaging characters? Tabula Rasa might be a fun romp if it could avoid comparison to Starship Troopers. Perhaps Hellgate: London might make a good Summer spookfest. Weigh in with your thoughts!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Which MMO deserves the movie treatment? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroeseverquesthellgate-londonmoviesstarship-trooperstabula-rasatdgthe-daily-grindworld-of-warcraftSat, 07 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why Fantasy, and not Science Fiction, Part Eleventy-Billion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/why-fantasy-and-not-science-fiction-part-eleventy-billion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/why-fantasy-and-not-science-fiction-part-eleventy-billion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/23/why-fantasy-and-not-science-fiction-part-eleventy-billion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

As my compadre Eli writes here, there is reasoning available that Fantasy MMOs have flourished due to there being a greater preponderance of Fantasy titles, in various media, upon which to draw inspiration to sustain an MMO. The lack of substantive Science Fiction titles of the time, therefore, leads to the correlating dearth of such MMOs. However, this argument only mentions in passing what I think is the more crucial element, which is this:

Fantasy titles are about the Hero's Journey, or the Epic. Science Fiction titles are about exploration of ideas. One of these story types makes for better adaptation to immersive gameplay. Guess which?

Now, I will back up a bit and acknowledge that as a blanket statement, what I said does not (and should not be considered to) cover every Fantasy or Science Fiction title everywhere. Clearly, Star Wars is the most well-known Epic SF story, but then again, Lucas based the plot almost entirely on Joseph Campbell's monomyth, which was itself formulated around the epic myths and stories of history. And perhaps one of the finest Fantasy titles ever written, John Crowley's Little, Big, uses Fantasy tropes to examine the idea of the complexity of human relationships, rather than one character's journey to overcome evil. But having made those concessions, let me make my case.

Continue reading Why Fantasy, and not Science Fiction, Part Eleventy-Billion

MassivelyWhy Fantasy, and not Science Fiction, Part Eleventy-Billion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blade-runnercyberpunkepiceve-onlineextrapolativefantasygeorge-lucasheros-journeyjohn-crowleyjohnny-mnemonicjoseph-campbelllittle-bigmax-headroommonomythneocron-onlinescience-fictionspace-operastarship-troopersstrange-daystabula-rasathe-matrixthe-terminatorworld-of-warcraftWed, 23 Jan 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What's NCSoft Europe working on?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/whats-ncsoft-europe-working-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/whats-ncsoft-europe-working-on/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/whats-ncsoft-europe-working-on/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Trawling the web is a tedious process that rarely yields significant results without a great deal of patient sifting. However, when one does strike something valuable, it makes it all worthwhile. To wit: NCsoft Europe is on a hiring spree for a previously-unannounced project!

In fact, it gets better. Looking at NCE's website gives us a page of concept art that seems to indicate a science fiction/Starship Troopers-esque military title with a slight mystical leaning. This is big! NCsoft is a -- forgive me -- massively prolific studio, with no less than seven MMOs under their belts. Can no one stop their madness? Do we really want to? No! Keep 'em coming!

We'll keep on top of this as more develops!

MassivelyWhat's NCSoft Europe working on? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>concept-arthiringncsoftncsoft-europescience-fictionstarship-troopersFri, 04 Jan 2008 14:45:00 EST