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[Why I play Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/why-i-play-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/why-i-play-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/why-i-play-star-wars-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

SWTOR
I believe I'm like most people when I say that I cling to nostalgia. I love it when parts of my adolescence are made into movies or video games. Yes, despite it being an explode-y Michael Bay movie, I loved Transformers, and I can't tell you how many times I watched Lord of the Rings when Peter Jackson adapted J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece into a blockbuster. But despite Ghostbusters' status as my favorite single movie of all time, the original Star Wars trilogy had more impact on my childhood than anything else in my life. I still get childhood chills when I think about it.

From the music to the action figures, I loved them all. I still have a picture of me at six years old riding an AT-AT. Yes, even at six, I knew exactly what an AT-AT was. And although I called a lightsaber a light-saver, I grew up with Star Wars entrenched in my psyche. It was only natural that when the video games revolving around the series came out, I would take up that cause. You guys remember the crazy wireframe Death Star trench arcade? You'd better believe I was there playing that.

When Star Wars entered the MMO space, I was there with bells on. But it's not just this longing to recapture my childhood that propels me to that galaxy far, far away in Star Wars: The Old Republic. The spice addiction runs quite a bit deeper.

Continue reading Why I play Star Wars: The Old Republic

MassivelyWhy I play Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acactivisionasherons-callbiowareblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcommunityeaelectronic-artseqeverquestfantasyfeaturedgalaxieshyperspace-beaconlucasartsmythicmythic-entertainmentnostalgiaopinionsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstorytellingswgswtorthe-old-republictorturbineturbine-entertainmentultimaultimaonlineuowarcraftwhy-i-playworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 02 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: The other gatekeepers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/storyboard-the-other-gatekeepers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/storyboard-the-other-gatekeepers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/storyboard-the-other-gatekeepers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Was Sascha Baron Cohen a major NPC in Vampire? I think that sounds right.
If there's one thing that I've proven incapable of doing with tabletop gaming, it's remembering the names of NPCs.

Not the ones related to this week's adventure, mind you; those I remember just fine. But throw out a big signature NPC and I suddenly find myself completely blank. It's bad enough that the only character I can think of off the top of my head is Caine from Vampire: the Masquerade, who mostly occupies a spot in my head for totally unrelated reasons. I can't help but think that if some clever GM tried to insert a major storyline character into an adventure, I'd wind up being the guy in the party who asked someone breathtakingly important if I could borrow some money.

In the case of MMOs, I often have a bit more of an advantage. After all, Statesman and my character have a bit more interaction in City of Heroes than my characters in other games have with the setting-specific NPCs that I'd really like to be able to name off the top of my head. But even though I can remember who Thrall is, he suffers from the exact same problem as all the others -- as long as I'm not playing him, he's just plain not important.

Continue reading Storyboard: The other gatekeepers

MassivelyStoryboard: The other gatekeepers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columnculturefeaturedopinionroleplayingrpstorystoryboardstorytellingFri, 30 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The joys of scripting the apocalypse: A behind-the-scenes look at Fallen Earth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/the-joys-of-scripting-the-apocalypse-a-behind-the-scenes-look-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/the-joys-of-scripting-the-apocalypse-a-behind-the-scenes-look-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/the-joys-of-scripting-the-apocalypse-a-behind-the-scenes-look-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Fallen Earth
What's it like to have a post-apocalyptic landscape as your writing canvas? According to Marie Croall, it's pure heaven. Fallen Earth's lead designer opened up to Rock, Paper, Shotgun about the joys of writing and designing the myriad of quests for the game, as well as the free-to-play transition, plans for PvP, and the dynamic world events.

Croall is part of a slimmed-down team of 12 developers who currently develop Fallen Earth's content. Saying that the team is always trying to "push the envelope" when it comes to the stories told, she notes that each area contains the imbued spirit of each writer: "I worked on a lot of the conflict towns early on and we knew that this was a place for people to kill each other, so a lot of the missions ended up being really thinly veiled insults."

One of the aspects of Fallen Earth that Croall loves is how crazy the team can get. In one instance, the team decided to redo the starter town of Boneclaw by dropping a missile right into it. "We killed off all the players that were there, all the NPCs, and left it as a radiation zone for a good two months, while we made the new town. We flat out nuked it because it wasn't doing what we wanted it to do. Boom!"

While Fallen Earth skirts the line between sandbox and theme park, Croall says the team is devoting a great deal of resources to beefing up the former. "The more features we add, the more ways for players to drive themselves, it makes the world better, it makes it feel like what we saw it as," she said.

MassivelyThe joys of scripting the apocalypse: A behind-the-scenes look at Fallen Earth originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boneclawf2pfallen-earthfree-to-playgamers-firstinterviewloremarie-croallnukepvprock-paper-shotgunsandboxstoriesstorystorytellingworld-eventswriterwriterswritingSun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Story time!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/choose-my-adventure-story-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/choose-my-adventure-story-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/02/choose-my-adventure-story-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

[Insert Final Fantasy victory theme here]
Welcome back, Choose My Adventurers! Last week I took you on a leisurely stroll through my beginning days in Final Fantasy XIV's Limsa Lominsa and asked you lovely folks to choose what I should do next. Wouldn't you know it, you told me to go and finish up the storyline. So that's exactly what I did! This week, however, by popular demand, I'm going to be doing less play-by-play re-enactment and giving more of my impressions on whether the game is... you know... good.

So strap yourselves in and head on past the cut and let's see what Eorzea had in store for me this week.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Story time!

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Story time! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choose-my-adventurecinematicscmacutscenesfeaturedff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivlorepollpollsstorystorylinestorytellingWed, 02 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The battle for story]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-soapbox-the-battle-for-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-soapbox-the-battle-for-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-soapbox-the-battle-for-story/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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

When I was in grad school, one of my favorite classes spent a couple of sessions talking about the use and importance of story in teaching. It opened my eyes to the fact that stories are one of the most universal elements of the human experience, from antiquity to modern times, ranging from a little kid playing with toys to an adult penning a novel. We simply love to tell and listen to stories -- they grab our attention, spark our imagination, teach us valuable lessons, and create lasting memories.

But somewhere along the years, something went horribly wrong when it came to MMOs and stories. MMOs were always supposed to be the ultimate platform for storytelling, as both developers and players could pitch in to weave epic sagas, and for a while that seemed to be the case. Lately, however, I've seen a movement that is thrashing hard against stories in MMOs, typically using one of the following two statements: "Get your stupid story out of my game!" or "Stories are better left to other forms of entertainment."

It's made me a sad panda to realize that MMO storytelling is under attack by the very players who should embrace it, and often they're acting as if they're being dragged, kicking and screaming, into future MMOs where story is placed as a priority. Make no mistake: The battle for story is on, and the stakes have never been higher.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The battle for story

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The battle for story originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetasherons-callbacklashbiowarednddungeons-and-dragonsepic-sagafeaturedfuncomguild-wars-2gw2lord-of-the-rings-onlinelorenamaste-entertainmentriftroleplayingrprpgrpgssandboxstar-wars-the-old-republicstoriesstorystorybricksstorytellingtaletalesteam-fortress-2the-secret-worldtheme-parktriontrion-worldsturbineTue, 01 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Secret World shares details on sharing stories]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/the-secret-world-shares-details-on-sharing-stories/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/the-secret-world-shares-details-on-sharing-stories/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/the-secret-world-shares-details-on-sharing-stories/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This portion of the story could have been avoided if you were nicer to Little Sisters.
While it's not the poster child for story in MMOs, The Secret World is putting a big emphasis on giving players an engaging and in-depth story to enjoy as they unravel conspiracies and search for the truth. A new developer diary by Ragnar Tornquist explains how the story is woven into every element of the game, from the simple introduction of quests right down to the mechanics of fighting enemies.

Tornquist emphasizes that the entire setting of the game is in many ways based solely upon storytelling, on myths and urban legends and half-remembered stories of youth. One of the development goals for the game is to keep players digging, investigating the story and piecing it together. According to the diary, every mission opens with a fully voiced and motion-captured cinematic, and aside from the main story missions, players can tackle these challenges in any order, allowing for players to have unique stories as they make their way through the labyrinth of half-truths. It's an interesting look behind the curtain, and it should give players looking forward to The Secret World a few more ideas to be excited about.

MassivelyThe Secret World shares details on sharing stories originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorydeveloper-diariesdevelopmentfuncomgame-storyloremissionspreviewsragnar-tornquiststorystorytellingthe-secret-worldtswThu, 29 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Storyteller]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/24/one-shots-storyteller/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/24/one-shots-storyteller/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/24/one-shots-storyteller/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I'm always captivated with NPC life in MMOs -- what these not-so-essential characters are doing in the background of our unbridled heroism. Here's a charming scene in Lord of the Rings Online's Hobbiton, where a matronly storyteller is spinning a yarn for two fascinated children and one sleeping slacker. My only regret is that you never hear the story; I guess that's between these characters and them alone.

This past week, Massively writers spotlighted some of their personal favorite One Shots. Starting tomorrow will be free-for-all week for you, our readers. Send any eye-catching, beautiful, scary, or generally epic screenshot to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll pick the best of the best for this week's One Shots!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: Storyteller originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>galleryhobbithobbitonlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotronpcone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsstorystorytellerstorytellingSun, 24 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[In the beginning: Guild Wars 2 shows off Ascalon Catacombs intro cinematic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/in-the-beginning-guild-wars-2-shows-off-ascalon-catacombs-intro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/in-the-beginning-guild-wars-2-shows-off-ascalon-catacombs-intro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/in-the-beginning-guild-wars-2-shows-off-ascalon-catacombs-intro/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Dungeons without context tend to just blend in with the other 55,000 instances we've run in our MMO careers, so a gripping backstory can make all the difference in how memorable a good dungeon run can be.

ArenaNet has released a new introductory cinematic for Guild Wars 2's Ascalon Catacombs that helps bring players -- those both unfamiliar to the Guild Wars lore and heavily steeped in it -- up to speed. A Charr narrates a slice of history from the first game, leading up to how this dungeon was created and why it's so full of teed-off ghosts.

In an attached developer blog, Horia Dociu tells us why these cinematics aren't just window dressing but essential to the experience: "These cinematics play at the key moments of the story mode in each of the eight dungeons in Guild Wars 2, setting the mood and delivering valuable info. Stylistically, we're pushing the concept of a visual storybook as a form of communicating to the player -- we want the cinematics to feel like moving paintings."

You can watch the full intro to Ascalon Catacombs after the jump!

Continue reading In the beginning: Guild Wars 2 shows off Ascalon Catacombs intro cinematic

MassivelyIn the beginning: Guild Wars 2 shows off Ascalon Catacombs intro cinematic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetascalon-catacombsascalonian-catacombsbackstorycharrcinematicdev-blogdev-diarydeveloper-blogghostsguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2Horia-Dociuintro-cinematicloremoving-paintingsncsoftstorystorytellingvideoThu, 30 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Engaging the brain: Funcom talks about the immersiveness of story in The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/engaging-the-brain-funcom-talks-about-the-immersiveness-of-stor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/engaging-the-brain-funcom-talks-about-the-immersiveness-of-stor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/27/engaging-the-brain-funcom-talks-about-the-immersiveness-of-stor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"No designer could ask for more to draw upon," The Secret World's Joel Bylos says. "This world, our world, is the greatest resource of them all."

And so begins a fascinating trip down the dark alleys of storytelling in Funcom's upcoming MMO. In a dev diary posted at MMORPG.com, The Secret World team suggests it's more interesting to set the game in our world instead of in rehashed fantasy lands. By embracing the concept of "everything is true," the writers open the door to every conspiracy theory, every urban legend, and every branch of pseudoscience known to man.

"The story is exploration. The story is discovery," Bylos promises. He says that the ultimate goal of the storytelling team is to get players to stop mindlessly clicking and to start engaging the story on a conscious level. This includes investigating events, hunting for clues and solving puzzles. No, this isn't Scooby-Doo Online (although that would be awesome).

It's also interesting to note that every character in the game has full voice-over and motion capture as a way to pull you into the story instead of jolt you out of it. Bylos also outlines the different types of missions, which include stealth and infiltration, action, investigation, and story.

[Thanks Even!]

MassivelyEngaging the brain: Funcom talks about the immersiveness of story in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conspiraciesconspiracyconspiracy-theoriesdev-diarydeveloper-diaryhorrorimmersionimmersivenessinvestigationjoel-bylosmmorpg.compsuedosciencepuzzlesRagnar-Tornquistscooby-doo-onlinestoriesstorystorytellingthe-secret-worldtswurban-legendsvideowritingFri, 27 May 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Three years of EVE Evolved]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/24/eve-evolved-three-years-of-eve-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/24/eve-evolved-three-years-of-eve-evolved/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/24/eve-evolved-three-years-of-eve-evolved/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A few days shy of three years ago, I joined Massively and published the very first edition of this column. Since April 27th, 2008, EVE Online players have received their weekly dose of EVE Evolved every Sunday at 6 p.m. EDT. I still remember the first few articles as if they were published only a few months ago, and three years on I'm almost surprised that the column is still going strong. I often worry about running out of ideas, but as the column's name suggests, EVE is continually evolving and providing new things to discuss. The column now houses over 150 articles on a huge range of topics, from in-depth multi-part guides drawing from first-hand experience to expansion speculation, opinion pieces and even stories.

As usual, I'm celebrating the anniversary of the column by running a competition for readers. With the column's readership having grown a lot over the years, I'll be expanding the prize pool this year by giving away three massive mystery prizes worth over 500 million ISK each to three lucky entrants. To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment stating what your favourite EVE Evolved article this year was, what topic you'd like to see covered in a future edition of the column, or what in-game player or organisation you'd like to see featured in an EVE Spotlight interview. You will need an active EVE account to claim the prize, but there's no need to post your character name here. The winners will be contacted via email and their names will be announced in this post on Sunday the 1st of May.

UPDATE: Congratulations go to Uniqdragon, mdubs28 and Thorium88, who will be contacted via email to arrange receipt of their prizes.

In this week's retrospective EVE Evolved, I look back at some of the highlights from the third year of the column.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Three years of EVE Evolved

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Three years of EVE Evolved originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryccpccp-eveccp-gamesdeceiteveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedguideguidesmassively-metaopinionopinion-piecestorystorytellingtheftthree-yearsSun, 24 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The fourth pillar of fear: Ragnar Tørnquist dishes on story in The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/the-fourth-pillar-of-fear-ragnar-tornquist-dishes-on-story-in-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/the-fourth-pillar-of-fear-ragnar-tornquist-dishes-on-story-in-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/06/the-fourth-pillar-of-fear-ragnar-tornquist-dishes-on-story-in-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

BioWare and ArenaNet aren't the only MMO studios to be beating on the drums of storytelling lately -- Funcom feels just as strongly that good stories not only have a place in MMOs but are essential to making memorable games.

In a new post over at The Secret World, Ragnar Tørnquist attempts to whet our appetite for a main course of storytelling. "The story in The Secret World is a giant jigsaw puzzle. That's really the only way to describe it. There are thousands of pieces scattered all over the game world, both figuratively and geographically, and as you play the game, you are actively uncovering -- unearthing -- the stories, large and small, that form the enormous tapestry of a backstory that goes back aeons."

All aspects of The Secret World are "infused with story," Tørnquist promises; the game will connect players to the world through context and meaning. He hopes that TSW's mysteries will keep players coming back to the game due to our insatiable desire to know the secrets behind them. He also hints that some of these stories will feature tough decisions and painful consequences: "Joining the ranks of the shadow-masters, it's in your best interest to play by their rules, follow their agenda, ensure that the secret world remains a secret, and if that means making compromises and allowing people to get hurt... Well. No one ever said being a hero would be easy."

These mysteries will come to light during many of the player missions, which we heard about yesterday. While we wait for the launch, Tørnquist encourages us to check out the elements of story that Funcom's released already such as fake websites and other ARG activities.

MassivelyThe fourth pillar of fear: Ragnar Tørnquist dishes on story in The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetargbiowarefcomfourth-pillarfuncomloremysteriesRagnar-Tornquiststorystorytellingthe-secret-worldtswWed, 06 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: You are not a storyteller]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/storyboard-you-are-not-a-storyteller/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/storyboard-you-are-not-a-storyteller/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/21/storyboard-you-are-not-a-storyteller/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I know that some of you are looking at that title in disbelief. Others are probably just reading already, figuring that in a few lines I'm going to set up what the central joke is and explain how I'm subverting the title -- you know, a nice eye-catching title that draws everyone in, then a paragraph or two where I explain how I'm not being serious.

That's not what we're doing here. That title is one hundred percent accurate. If you are a roleplayer, you are not a storyteller. Close, maybe, even in the same basic food group, but you're not a storyteller.

I've spent the better part of the last several months talking about how to work on telling a story, developing a character, all of that stuff. But it occurred to me that I was leaving out a very important part of the equation, something that I was aware of in the back of my mind -- and many of you likely are aware of, as well -- but I never said outright. I'm saying it right now. Roleplaying is not storytelling, and if you're trying to be a storyteller, something is not going right.

Continue reading Storyboard: You are not a storyteller

MassivelyStoryboard: You are not a storyteller originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstoryfeaturedloreopinionplaystylerantroleplayingrpstorystoryboardstorytellingFri, 21 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Why don't you like roleplaying?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/09/the-daily-grind-why-dont-you-like-roleplaying/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/09/the-daily-grind-why-dont-you-like-roleplaying/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/09/the-daily-grind-why-dont-you-like-roleplaying/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you're playing an MMO, you're roleplaying. No, you might not be peppering your speech with authentic Klingon or trying to simulate the dialogue of a nigh-immortal elf, but you're still pretending to be someone other than yourself on the screen. And yet roleplaying remains an intensely divisive force in MMOs; there are players who swear by it and players who go out of their way to interfere with it. Even if you fall into the former camp, odds are pretty much absolute that you've spent good chunks of time cursing at one particularly obnoxious storyline or another.

Whether or not you take part in large-scale roleplaying, today we ask -- what don't you like about it? If you're a non-participant, does it seem like too much work for too little reward? If you RP regularly, do you dislike the inter-player drama that so frequently results? If you're actively opposed, do you feel it takes development time away from more important game elements? Or do you have some other dislike completely unrelated to any of that?

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: Why don't you like roleplaying? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedramaopinionplayer-interactionroleplayingrprp-dramastorytellingtdgthe-daily-grindwork-versus-rewardSun, 09 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Jef's soapbox smells like a wet Wookiee]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/hyperspace-beacon-jefs-soapbox-smells-like-a-wet-wookiee/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/hyperspace-beacon-jefs-soapbox-smells-like-a-wet-wookiee/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/hyperspace-beacon-jefs-soapbox-smells-like-a-wet-wookiee/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Disclaimer: This column is entirely the opinion of the Hyperspace Beacon's writer and does not necessarily reflect that of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, remember: fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering -- whatever that means. So, maybe you should skip this column if this opinion is too much for you to handle.

I know in my last column I said I would continue the story of Nomi Sunrider, and I will, just not this week. I felt Jef's Soapbox article about the hype surrounding Star Wars: The Old Republic required some sort of response.

The denotation of "hype" doesn't bother me. Stimulating the audience's excitement about a game is kind of the job of a game's producers. Teasing people with parts of the story or gameplay is common. It's the connotation of "hype" that drives me bats when people apply it to STWOR. Nearly every person, who uses "hype" when talking about SWTOR, seems to indicate that BioWare and LucasArts are attempting to sell the audience something that is not truly what it is. Do they tease? Sure, but the BioWare PR managers are not selling you death sticks. I contest that the people who are selling the death sticks are the fans.

Follow after the break and I will explain.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Jef's soapbox smells like a wet Wookiee

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Jef's soapbox smells like a wet Wookiee originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWareblaine-christinedaniel-ericksondarth-haterDeath-stickseaElectronic-Artsfeaturedfourth-pillarjef-reahardLucasArtsmatt-boudreauxMos-Eisley-Radioopinionplayer-generated-contentrichard-bartlesoapboxStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstorytellingswgswtorThe-Force-Unleashedthe-old-republictorTue, 26 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Death of an Industrialist, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/19/eve-evolved-death-of-an-industrialist-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/19/eve-evolved-death-of-an-industrialist-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/19/eve-evolved-death-of-an-industrialist-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Of all the things that define EVE Online, it's the stories of criminality that stand out the most. The criminal underworld of New Eden is so deeply ingrained in EVE that CCP even made a selling point of it in the latest official trailer. Last week, I began to tell the true tale of one EVE pilot's thirst for revenge and the corporate infiltration techniques he used to get close to his target. In this week's conclusion of the story, Scott's plans for revenge come to fruition. But is Scott really the victim he believes himself to be, or has greed blinded him to what he's doing? If you haven't read part 1 of the story, skip back to read last week's EVE Evolved column before reading on.

Newbies again

Once in Zeeqo's corp, Scott and his crew began the slow task of setting their target up for a colossal fall. Simply destroying Zeeqo's mining barge could be a swift and fitting retribution, but Scott had a much harsher punishment in mind. Zeeqo would be made to pay for his mistake several times over. The plan for retribution hinged on Zeeqo's weekend freighter runs to Jita, a time at which he flew his most expensive and indefensible ship. This gave the three infiltrators only five days to befriend their target and work out how best to capitalise on his weekly haul.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Death of an Industrialist, part 2

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Death of an Industrialist, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamesemergenceemergentemergent-gameplayeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedheistindustrialistindustrialistsindustryinfiltrationnyphursandboxscottsocial-engineeringspyspyingstorystorytellingtheftzeeqoSun, 19 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR devs dive deep in Jedi design in this week's dispatch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/swtor-devs-dive-deep-in-jedi-design-in-this-weeks-dispatch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/swtor-devs-dive-deep-in-jedi-design-in-this-weeks-dispatch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/swtor-devs-dive-deep-in-jedi-design-in-this-weeks-dispatch/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The character type that will likely be played the most in Star Wars: The Old Republic will be the Jedi. BioWare has been conscious of this from the early stages of the game. This is evident in the fact that there are two distinct Jedi classes: the knight and the consular. Yet, the designers have been the most tight-lipped about these two classes. They have said this is because they wish to get it just right before talking about it. But with this week's Fan Friday, things have changed.

On the official SWTOR website, a new Developer Dispatch called Designing the Light Side has popped up. In the five-and-a-half-minute video, SWTOR writers, artists, and animators discuss the most important things it takes to create the two light side factions. "We want to give players the opportunity to be the heroic Jedi like Luke Skywalker or the darker, more avenging type of Jedi like his father, Anakin," Hall Hood, a senior writer, explains in the video.

On which side of the moral spectrum do you fall? Are you a hero-of-the-ages light sider, or a ends-justifies-the-means gray Jedi? Watch the video after the break and let us know.

Continue reading SWTOR devs dive deep in Jedi design in this week's dispatch

MassivelySWTOR devs dive deep in Jedi design in this week's dispatch originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationArnold-JorgensenBioWareBryan-erckcombat-animationconsulardeisgnDesigning-the-light-sidedeveloper-dispatcheaHall-HoodJason-Attardjedijedi-consularjedi-knightJo-Berryknightlight-sideLucasArtsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstorytellingswtorthe-old-republictorwritingFri, 17 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Death of an industrialist]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/12/eve-evolved-death-of-an-industrialist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/12/eve-evolved-death-of-an-industrialist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/12/eve-evolved-death-of-an-industrialist/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's often said that the EVE Online universe is a dark and harsh place, the market overflowing with con-artists and the skies filled with pirates looking for some easy prey. The sandbox style of New Eden enables emergent gameplay like market manipulation, corporate infiltration, spying and theft. When faced with the choice, some players choose to be ruthless outlaws who will stop at nothing to further their own goals. Political puppet-masters pull the strings on the alliance war machines from behind the scenes, spies infiltrate corporations to gather intelligence, and thieves plot their way to riches.

The latest official game trailer makes a big point of this side of EVE, telling an incredible story of revenge and theft that closely mirrors the reality of New Eden. As if to highlight the point made by the trailer, this week EVE player Bad Bobby confirmed that he'd stolen a total of 850 billion ISK from players in the investment market. Concluding a plan set in motion years ago, Bobby pulled off the theft last week of his supposedly secured Titans4U company. In keeping with this recent theme of theft and corruption, this week's EVE Evolved is a story of revenge, corporate infiltration, social deception and utter destruction. I've embellished the story in places and names have been changed to protect the privacy of all those involved, but the events described are real.

In this week's article, I begin to tell the very real tale of an EVE player's revenge -- a precision strike against an industrialist who made one fatal mistake.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Death of an industrialist

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Death of an industrialist originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamesemergenceemergentemergent-gameplayeveeve-ccpeve-evolvedeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefeaturedheistindustrialistindustrialistsindustryinfiltrationnyphursandboxscottsocial-engineeringspyspyingstorystorytellingtheftzeeqoSun, 12 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Forced species]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/hyperspace-beacon-forced-species/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/hyperspace-beacon-forced-species/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/hyperspace-beacon-forced-species/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Forced species
The Hyperspace Beacon is a weekly guide and discussion by Larry Everett about the yet-to-be-released game Star Wars: The Old Republic.

This week I was excited about the new species introduced to Star Wars: The Old Republic, and the lore-lover in me is still extremely elated despite what some of the commenters said on the announcement article. However, I've had time to think about a few things, and the seed of internal conflict sowed itself in my fanboy psyche. It did not break me, but I do question some of the decisions BioWare has made regarding species-to-class choices.

I do not like to draw attention to negative posts because I believe arguments can be made without berating other people and defiling the English language. But one of the posts in the recent space-combat-on-rails article reflected some of the fans' sentiment towards the game when the poster said this about BioWare's developers: "They have their formula and every new game is just fresh paint." Although I don't think it is exactly that simple, there is a bit of truth in that statement. But that does not, by any means, destine this game for failure (right, Final Fantasy?). BioWare does have a formula, but when it sticks to this formula, it usually produces something very successful.

BioWare's mantra is "story." The company has chanted this from the first day SWTOR was announced, yet for me something still seems a bit amiss. Upon examining past BioWare games, I am not quite sure the reasons for tying species to a specific class actually make sense -- at least not for the reasons the company offers. Perhaps when you follow me through the rest of this article you can help me resolve this inner conflict.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Forced species

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Forced species originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarechissclasseseaea-biowareElectronic-ArtseverquestfeaturedKnights-of-the-Old-Republiclord-of-the-rings-onlineLucasArtsmass-effectMirialanoptionsprofessionsracesroleplayRolePlayingspeciesStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstorystorytellingswtorthe-old-republictorunique-snowflakeTue, 10 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SDCC 2010: A SWTOR Managing Editor who doesn't solve problems by killing all the kittens]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/interviewing-a-swtor-managing-editor-who-doesnt-solve-problems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/interviewing-a-swtor-managing-editor-who-doesnt-solve-problems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/interviewing-a-swtor-managing-editor-who-doesnt-solve-problems/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We all know that know that story is the fourth pillar for The Old Republic. We also know BioWare has the reputation for having some of the most compelling stories in the gaming industry. In fact, story is written into its mission statement: "BioWare's vision is to deliver the best story-driven games in the world." So it is no surprise at all that when the team came to Comic-Con this past weekend, it consisted of mostly writers.

Massively's Dan O'Halloran nabbed the Managing Editor on SWTOR, Alexander Freed, for a conversation. Freed has scribed much of the story and dialogue for this epic MMO, as well as been the writer for the exciting adventures of Teneb Kel in The Blood of the Empire webcomic.

Continue on after the break to catch Alexander Freed's insight into what the different types of quests will be available in SWTOR, what compelling choices players have to make, and what it takes to write for a project of this magnitude.

Continue reading SDCC 2010: A SWTOR Managing Editor who doesn't solve problems by killing all the kittens

MassivelySDCC 2010: A SWTOR Managing Editor who doesn't solve problems by killing all the kittens originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alexander-freedBioWareblood-of-the-empireEAea-biowareeden-studiosElectronic-Artsfeaturedguardians-of-orderimperial-agentinterviewjohn-ostranderkilling-kittenslucas-artssdcc-2010sithStar-Warsstar-wars-legacystar-wars-the-old-republicstorystory-tellingstorytellingswtorthe-old-republicTORwebcomicwhite-wolfwriterwritingMon, 26 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Blaster at my side]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-blaster-at-my-side/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-blaster-at-my-side/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-blaster-at-my-side/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hey, kids, the name's Han Solo. I've been asked to step in here because I know a thing or two about smuggling. I know many of you are lookin' to jump into this line of work, and I'm going to tell you right now: it ain't gonna be easy. You gotta live by your guts, kids. You hav'ta be smooth, and you can't let crazy green Rodians get under your skin. In fact, if a Rodian does come lookin' for you, I suggest you shoot him first. It'll save you some trouble in the long run, but don't forget to pay for the mess.

Maybe I should start with some of the greatest smugglers out there. That should help detour you from the insanity of this profession. Although none of 'em is as good as I am, Lando Calrissian, Dash Rendar, and even an old smuggler named Hylo Visz made their marks on history. Their lives were wrought with risky maneuvers, near-misses, and some damned good luck. So I guess if you think you've got what it takes, keep reading -- I'll meet you after the break.

[Thank you to Lois van Baarle for letting us use her artwork for the main banner. You can see more of her work at Loish.net.]

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Blaster at my side

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Blaster at my side originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bespinBioWareboba-fettChewbaccacloud-citydash-rendarEAhan-solohothHydian-wayhylo-viszlando-calrissianlorelucas-artsLucasArtsmandaloriannerf-herderoutriderrole-playrole-playingroleplayRolePlayingsabaccsmugglesmuggledsmugglersmugglerssmugglers-rulesmugglingStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstorystorytellingswtorswtor-lore-guideMon, 05 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Disillusionment with MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/disillusionment-with-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/disillusionment-with-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/disillusionment-with-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Because I never studied nor considered studying psychology, you may doubt my words, but I will still tell you that many people go through a phase in life in which things become less shiny for them. What, there really is no Santa Claus? Those awesome space battles on TV are just tiny plastic miniatures hanging from fishing-line? World of Warcraft didn't invent Naga? Sooner or later the curtain will be pulled back on something you found new or fascinating in your life. Losing that sense of excitement from something you thought was different or new can leave a gaping hole of disillusionment.

The short history of MMOs is not immune to providing plenty of room for players to become disillusioned. Like television, movies, and books, MMOs don't use 100% new content that developers invented out of thin air. I've been on many MMO forums and have seen players at different stages of disillusionment seemingly frothing at the mouth about being sick of elves in fantasy MMOs, and accusing one MMO of stealing a name or even a similar-sounding name from an MMO they would defend as "more original." The fact is that most concepts and ideas have already been done, and it can just be hard to deal with. Who doesn't get a little disillusioned when he grows up and finds out his dad or mom really isn't the smartest or strongest person in the world? If I haven't disappointed you enough then follow along as I spoil even more of your favorite MMOs -- but hopefully I can also show you that disillusionment isn't the end.

Continue reading Disillusionment with MMOs

MassivelyDisillusionment with MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apathyAvatarbattlestar-galacticadisillusioneddisillusionmentelvesgetting-boredlord-of-the-ringslorelotrominotaurNaganew-ideasno-elvesnothing-newPocahontasrehashretelling-old-storiesRolePlayingsomething-newSquidstorystorytellingteratin-mantolkienworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 29 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: It's all about the lore]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/lost-pages-of-taborea-its-all-about-the-lore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/lost-pages-of-taborea-its-all-about-the-lore/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/lost-pages-of-taborea-its-all-about-the-lore/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


I thought long and hard about how to approach a story-based post for Runes of Magic. In the end, I felt it was best not to write on the lore, but about the lore. To sit down and lay out what happens for you felt like cheating you of actual game play. I didn't want to write what I thought would essentially be a long list of spoilers, but rather try and paint a picture of Taborea. Something that could hopefully act as a book review -- in a way -- to let you know the flavor of the world without spelling it all out.

I applaud Runewaker for the work they've done to include a rich amount of story into RoM. They're a Taiwanese developer making an MMORPG for a largely Western audience. Then, the German publisher Frogster has to deal with localizing everything into English. Those are no easy hurdles to jump and still end up with a story as good as the one Runewaker and Frogster give us. Before translating even begins, they have to deal with imagining a Western tale. RoM has become very popular and Runewaker is no doubt steadily growing their company, but they are still fairly small in relation to some larger Western developers and have to work that much harder to get the quality job done.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: It's all about the lore

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: It's all about the lore originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredfrogsterfrogster-interactivelorelost-pages-of-taborearomrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentstorystorytellingMon, 21 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Everybody starts somewhere]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/04/storyboard-everybody-starts-somewhere/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/04/storyboard-everybody-starts-somewhere/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/04/storyboard-everybody-starts-somewhere/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Welcome back to another edition of Storyboard! This week, and for the next couple of weeks, we're going to be talking about generating characters. It's a far cry from building characters in a pen-and-paper game, naturally -- MMOs don't tend to require you to make choices about things like specialization until you've been playing for some time, and the generation system isn't tremendously open. And we're not focused on working out the best possible stat combination in this column, anyway. We're concerned about the actual person behind the (eventual) Sword of Godslaying.

So where to start? Let's just assume you're staring at a basic character creation screen and trying to figure out who you're going to be adopting as your newest persona. There are three basic starting points for developing a character that work in nearly every game, and they let you start off with a character who might not be fully realized, but certainly can feel that way. We'll look at each of them in turn today and focus on the specifics in the coming weeks.

Continue reading Storyboard: Everybody starts somewhere

MassivelyStoryboard: Everybody starts somewhere originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesarchetypesbackstorycharactercharacter-creationclassescohfeaturedguild-warsgwlorepersonalityroleplayingrpstar-trek-onlinestostorystoryboardstorytellingFri, 04 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Erickson dishes dialog choices for Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/03/erickson-dishes-dialog-choices-for-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/03/erickson-dishes-dialog-choices-for-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/03/erickson-dishes-dialog-choices-for-star-wars-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Bioware has touted the fourth missing pillar from MMOs since the the first video introduction of Star Wars: The Old Republic: Story. This concept of great character development and plot on top of an intense combat experience has been Bioware's staple since, well, forever. Player choice propels every Bioware story in a very dynamic way, so we have no doubt Bioware will deliver. In fact, earlier this week we reported that SWTOR will boast the equivalent of 50 novels worth of dialog -- an insane amount of possible storytelling, to say the least. Yesterday, Daniel Erickson gave us a bit more to chew on in the SWTOR official forum.

In the developer walk-through, we witnessed the dialog system in action. Not only will one player lead the conversation, but others in his group will be able to chime in as well, thus intensifying the story. How this system works has not been defined, yet players have high hopes for it.

What Erickson did touch on in his post is the idea of choice. He tells us that dialog choice will differ in each class. A Sith will naturally want to choose the darker choice in the dialog tree, whereas the smuggler will naturally want the funny or flirty choice. Those choices will usually be the top option, but, Erickson says, "Want to be a hardcase Smuggler? A wry action hero Bounty Hunter? A charming Inquisitor? Choices are much broader than just good and evil." Multiple options will be available for those players who want to explore different paths for their character.

MassivelyErickson dishes dialog choices for Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>50-novels-worthBioWarecharacter-developmentclassesdaniel-ericksondialogueEAElectronic-ArtsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstorytellingswtorThu, 03 Jun 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Best practices]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/storyboard-best-practices/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/storyboard-best-practices/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/28/storyboard-best-practices/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Roleplaying is a finicky business. If organizing endgame raid groups is like herding cats, organizing coherent roleplaying is like herding cats with even more ego. And no promise of rewards. And with only other players to provide a threat. And you're herding them with a Nerf bat that many of them are more inclined to just play with. And you have to balance it around activities such as endgame raiding.

It takes a lot to get roleplaying going and keep it going, is what we're getting at. It's a testament to how passionately people feel about roleplaying that, despite all of this, it happens on a consistent basis and usually without too much (unintentional) drama. But it's hard work for everyone involved, and that just inspires people to be more passionate about it as an aggregate. Hence the creation of a column entirely devoted to roleplayers and the careful art of crafting, playing, and working through characters.

Continue reading Storyboard: Best practices

MassivelyStoryboard: Best practices originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adaptingavoiding-dramacommunicatecommunicationdramafeaturedroleplayingstoriesstorytellingFri, 28 May 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively's EVE Online Tyrannis contest, part 3: Fiction-writing contest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/15/massivelys-eve-online-tyrannis-contest-part-3-fiction-writing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/15/massivelys-eve-online-tyrannis-contest-part-3-fiction-writing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/15/massivelys-eve-online-tyrannis-contest-part-3-fiction-writing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Over the past two weeks we've been running some awesome weekly contests for readers to win EVE Online game time courtesy of CCP Games. In celebration of the upcoming launch of EVE's Tyrannis expansion, we gave away 10 PLEX in our planet screenshot contest two weeks ago. Last week, we ran a caption competition with a 15 PLEX prize total and received a flood of entries. So many in fact that we're still debating which captions should win a prize. The winners of that contest will be posted as an update to the second contest post within the next few days and the winners will all be notified via email.

This week marks the last week of our Tyrannis contest trilogy and to end on a high-note we're giving away a whopping 25 PLEX. Ten top prizes of two PLEX are available and a further five runner-up entrants will get one PLEX each. To enter, all you have to do is write a short piece of fiction based on the planets and moons of New Eden and submit it to the comments on this post. Entries are limited to 200 words or less as we're sure to get a huge number of entries and we want to give each one the full attention it deserves. Your entry can take the form of a short story, a poem or any other type of written fiction. Prizes will be awarded based on creativity, writing style and presentation. As with the previous two competitions, this contest is open to readers from any country.

UPDATE: Entry is now closed. We are now reading through the submissions and picking winners!
UPDATE 2: Winners have been selected! The list of winners has been added to the end of this post. Each winner will be contacted via email to arrange delivery of their prizes.

Skip past the cut for the contest rules and full submission guidelines.

Continue reading Massively's EVE Online Tyrannis contest, part 3: Fiction-writing contest

MassivelyMassively's EVE Online Tyrannis contest, part 3: Fiction-writing contest originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 May 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-eveccp-gamescompetitioncontesteveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-tyranniseve-tyrannis-contestfeaturedfictiongiveawaysgraphicsloreplanetplexprizeprizesstorystorytellingtyranniswritingSat, 15 May 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA compiles Elleon's Journal, starts Day 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/14/tera-compiles-elleons-journal-starts-day-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/14/tera-compiles-elleons-journal-starts-day-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/14/tera-compiles-elleons-journal-starts-day-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Lore and storytelling often seem like lost arts in the majority of today's MMORPGs, as the games (and the players) tend to focus heavily on advancement and item collecting. TERA, the upcoming action fantasy title from Bluehole Studio and En Masse Entertainment, looks to change that equation with compelling world and character lore designed to flesh out the game's unique setting.

Lead writer David Noonan has been delivering story updates via Twitter for some time, effectively using the microblogging service to disseminate the journal entries of a TERA NPC known as Elleon. "I want to make something absolutely clear at the outset: Elleon isn't tweeting. That would be wrong, wrong, wrong. But we are using Twitter to distribute Elleon's journal entries, which will tell a story (and give you a peek at game content) over the coming weeks and months. Twitter is just the distribution technique; Elleon isn't going to retweet, reply, or anything like that," Noonan said in a forum post last month.

Fast forward four weeks and the official TERA website has released a compilation of the Day 1 journal entries. Check it out, and don't forget to get your lore fix with Elleon's Journal: Day 2 on the official Twitter feed.

MassivelyTERA compiles Elleon's Journal, starts Day 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 May 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluehole-studiodavid-noonanelleonen-masse-entertainmentfantasylorestorytellingteratwitterFri, 14 May 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE video corner: "Future Proof"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/eve-video-corner-future-proof/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/eve-video-corner-future-proof/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/eve-video-corner-future-proof/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There's no doubt about it that EVE Online can produce some stunning visuals and incredible stories. New Eden has been the setting for countless creative works, some featuring real gameplay and events and others pushing the limits of the prime fiction. Every so often, I come across a video so mind-blowing that it has to be shared. Last night CrazyKinux's Musing pointed me toward an awesome new EVE video that's been seven months in the making.

Produced by Kale Ryoko, "Future Proof" tells the tale of a Caldari militia fleet on a combat mission for the state. Headed up by support commander Firefox of the Chimera "Overlord", the fleet must do all it takes to push through to their objective. Assisting with this twelve minute masterpiece is Veto corporation's Kyoko Sadako, the mastermind behind such incredible videos as "War Has Come" and "The Angel Cartel (Push Eject)". Made using some of EVE's art assets and the Unreal 3 Engine, Future Proof is a video that simply must be seen.

Skip past the cut to watch both parts of the video in HD. The original version is available for download at the video's official page on the EVE forums.

Continue reading EVE video corner: "Future Proof"

MassivelyEVE video corner: "Future Proof" originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>caldariccpccp-eveccp-gameseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineeve-video-cornerfaction-warfarefactional-warfarefictionfilmkale-ryokokyoko-sakodaminmatarpvpstorystorytellingunreal-3-engineunreal-engineunreal-engine-3vetoveto-corpvideovideosWed, 31 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The roles we play, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/the-roles-we-play-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/the-roles-we-play-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/08/the-roles-we-play-part-2/#commentsContinue reading The roles we play, part 2

MassivelyThe roles we play, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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To some people, the term "role-playing" conjures up images of guys with tinfoil swords and shields shouting "Lighting bolt!". Role-playing in MMOs gets a similarly polarised reception, suggesting scenes of people playing pretend and speaking to each other in Shakespearean tone. To those of us that grew up with pen-and-paper role-playing games and single-player RPGs, it might mean the opportunity to play fantastic characters like wizards and rogues. At its core, however, role-playing is something far more subtle and fundamental than we sometimes give it credit for and it underpins the entire MMO genre. In playing an MMO, we are inherently playing roles that the game's developers have created for us. But do most MMO developers really know how to create engaging gameplay for us or are they failing to immerse us in their own chosen roles?

In this probative opinion piece, I delve into the roles we play in MMOs and the things developers often do wrong when designing an immersive game experience.

Continue reading The roles we play

MassivelyThe roles we play originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In a developer journal over at MMORPG.com, NCsoft Content Writer David Noonan waxes on five things he and the "Aion Westernization Army" learned while stripping Aion down to its narrative essence and building it back up again. It was no easy task taking what was basically a fully-fledged successful Korean MMO and repackaging it for a totally different audience.

It seems as though the writing team took the task seriously. In a game populated by over 2,500 quests, there's bound to be some repetitiion and uncreative storytelling going on but Aion's writers aren't simply giving in to the status quo. Your character's primary campaign quests may deliver the bulk of the narrative, but tons of other pieces are strewn about for players to discover that will be picked up by chatting with various NPCs. Based on this article, they seem to have taken a strategic approach to storytelling in the game. Story isn't shoved down your throat, but it is there if you are perceptive and take the time to actually read it. While many will surely plough ahead to reach the level cap as fast as possible, many others will stop to smell the roses. NCsoft wants to reward those flower-sniffers with a rich story experience.

MassivelyFive things content writers learned while westernizing Aion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionatreiadavid-noonankorealorencsoftstorytellingwesternizationwritingWed, 26 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA["Why do we play MMOs" series concludes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/22/why-do-we-play-mmos-series-concludes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/22/why-do-we-play-mmos-series-concludes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/22/why-do-we-play-mmos-series-concludes/#commentsFiled under: ,

When we last checked in with Tobold, he was just starting up a new blog series looking into why we play MMO games to a greater degree than single-player games. That isn't to say that the MMO genre is bigger than the single-player genre, just that MMO gamers tend to focus on massively multi-player games more than single-player games. His first two articles examined Storytelling and Gameplay elements in MMOs and since then he has done pieces on Challenge, Character Development, Rewards, Social Interactions, and Learning.

The series just wrapped up and Tobold wrote a nice summary of why he thinks we mostly choose MMOs over single-player games. He feels that while we may play single-player games that have strong elements of story, gameplay, or challenge, the social aspects of MMOs seem to be the trump card. MMOs can have many weaker core elements but social interaction (direct) or simply participating in a persistent game world (indirect) appears to make up for those deficiencies. It's a long series to get through but well worth the read if you're into these kinds of high-thinking philosophical discussions.

Massively"Why do we play MMOs" series concludes originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengecharacter-developmentgameplaylearningrewardssocial-interactionstorytellingtoboldSat, 22 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Inquisitive blogging series delves into why we play MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/inquisitive-blogging-series-delves-into-why-we-play-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/inquisitive-blogging-series-delves-into-why-we-play-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/06/inquisitive-blogging-series-delves-into-why-we-play-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Why do we play MMOs? What is it about them that inspires us to pay a monthly subscription fee or whip out the credit card for a few microtransactions? This is an extremely valid and important question because the answers are key drivers of success for the genre. Without these answers, developers are simply throwing darts in a dark and empty pub.

Popular MMO blogger Tobold is back from a short hiatus and asking this very question in order to disover the basic elements and motivations that make us choose to play these types of games. His introduction piece talks about some of the components he may cover, including: storytelling, character development, social interaction, polish, challenge, and achevements.

Since the introduction piece, he has written two articles in the series: Storytelling and Gameplay. Based on the quality of stories found in MMOs, tools and design iterations that all but allow players to skip over quest text, and the fact that pure MMO environments don't facilitate epic storytelling very well, he doesn't feel as though storytelling is a major reason for why we play MMOs. With a little effort (read: a lot), it could be. As for gameplay, he believes that unless new quality titles start releasing with gameplay that diverges from basic hotbar button-mashing combat and simple crafting, MMOs will be forever stuck in a rut and compared to World of Warcraft.

MassivelyInquisitive blogging series delves into why we play MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combatcraftingdesigngame-designmmo-industrystorytellingtoboldworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 06 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DC Universe Online creators talk about S.T.A.R. Labs and game storylines]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/23/dc-universe-online-creators-talk-about-s-t-a-r-labs-and-game-st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/23/dc-universe-online-creators-talk-about-s-t-a-r-labs-and-game-st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/23/dc-universe-online-creators-talk-about-s-t-a-r-labs-and-game-st/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Comic-Con International is underway in San Diego, and we're already hearing some news about the superhero MMO genre. The latest info about DC Universe Online comes from a Wired article by Frank Rose which focuses on S.T.A.R. Labs, the futuristic glass and steel location familiar to anyone who grew up reading DC comic books or watched the Superman animated TV series.

S.T.A.R. Labs, short for Scientific and Technical Advanced Research Laboratories, will be a hub of storyline activity in the MMO. It's fitting, as this is a place where great scientific advances are made, but also a place where things can go horribly wrong. This means it's perfect neutral ground to be incorporated into DC Universe Online, and the location will tie in with the respective storylines of the game's heroes and villains.

Continue reading DC Universe Online creators talk about S.T.A.R. Labs and game storylines

MassivelyDC Universe Online creators talk about S.T.A.R. Labs and game storylines originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO storylines finding their way into books is becoming increasingly common, but typically it's the fantasy titles we see in print. Guild Wars, Warhammer Online, and of course World of Warcraft all have their lore fleshed out in paperback form. But sci-fi lends itself well to novelization as well, and in the MMO scene as it exists today, EVE Online is a prime example. The game's far-future setting of New Eden is known for its sweeping warfare between vast empires, republics, and federations, but the game's lore has also shown there's a lot happening on a much smaller level.

That sweeping warfare was the focus of the first EVE Online novel, The Empyrean Age written by Tony Gonzales, and this was tied in with the storyline events leading up to all-out war between the game's races. However, EVE's creators CCP Games will be showing a different side to the game with the second novel, The Burning Life, written by Hjalti Danielsson.

Continue reading The challenges of storytelling in EVE Online's player-driven setting

MassivelyThe challenges of storytelling in EVE Online's player-driven setting originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-crecenteccp-gamesfictionhjalti-danielssonkotakulorenew-edennovelnovelizationsandboxsci-fistorytellingthe-burning-lifethe-empyrean-agetony-gonzalesMon, 13 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lead writer of Earthrise sits down for an interview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/10/lead-writer-of-earthrise-sits-down-for-an-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/10/lead-writer-of-earthrise-sits-down-for-an-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/10/lead-writer-of-earthrise-sits-down-for-an-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Momchil Dilov is the very busy lead writer of the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO Earthrise, but he found time in his schedule to sit down and chat about the new game's story, his influences, and how to write for gaming audiences.

In his conversation with Gamesource.it, Dilov emphasized that players will be able to experience the story in a complete sandbox environment. He says that writing for books and movies is similar to writing for games, while writing for games you always have to keep the player in mind. You need to let your writing allow the player to experience the story, rather than simply giving the story to the player with your writing. As Dilov has said, "The greatest challenge in game writing is to tell the story, but not to confine the player inside it."

The full interview with Dilov can be found in English over at Gamesource.it.

MassivelyLead writer of Earthrise sits down for an interview originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthrisegamesource-itinterviewmomchil-dilovpost-apocalypticstorytellingwriterFri, 10 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Emergent behavior to be produced in Trion's Heroes of Telara]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/emergent-behavior-to-be-produced-in-trions-heroes-of-telara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/emergent-behavior-to-be-produced-in-trions-heroes-of-telara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/07/emergent-behavior-to-be-produced-in-trions-heroes-of-telara/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Trion World Network is trying a very different approach with their fantasy based MMO, Heroes of Telara, by pushing into an area currently untouched by most MMOs -- emergence.

Emergence is one of the aspects that many MMOs aspired to, only to drop in favor of static storytelling. The problem with emergence is that simple decisions would have a compounding impact on the world. Heroes would solve problems, only to perhaps create further problems with their implemented solutions. Most game architecture can't handle decision making of that nature, as it would need developers to constantly code in the new events that would occur.

However, Heroes of Telara seems to be aspiring to that using server-side gaming. Their proposed method, as it appears in an interview between Trion's CEO, Lars Buttler, and GamesIndustry.biz, is to run the game entirely server side, letting developers change and alter the game on the fly. As Buttler puts it, "There are small events, there are big events, there is even emergent behaviour in the game that changes the game world. A lot of it is not even known to us, it's like the ghost in the machine. The game is almost alive, and that allows you to create heroes."

MassivelyEmergent behavior to be produced in Trion's Heroes of Telara originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceodecisionsemergenceheroheroes-of-telaralars-buttlerlive-eventsstorytellingtelaratrion-world-networkTue, 07 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth's Lee Hammock on integrating story with the post-apocalyptic MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/fallen-earths-lee-hammock-on-integrating-story-with-the-post-ap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/fallen-earths-lee-hammock-on-integrating-story-with-the-post-ap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/29/fallen-earths-lee-hammock-on-integrating-story-with-the-post-ap/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


A post-apocalyptic setting can open up fantastic opportunities for storytelling. After all, it's the end of society as we know it. All our institutions are gone, our belief systems either torn away or seriously challenged. That resulting vacuum would no doubt be filled by new outlooks on the world and on life triggered by the apocalypse -- in rare cases optimistic, but more often utterly deranged. Then again, some survivors might seek to rectify the mistakes made by too many generations before the burn or plague wiped out humanity, and aim to rebuild a better world. There are so many possibilities, and these are some of the avenues that will be explored in the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO Fallen Earth. Of course, this presents some real challenges for the game designers as well -- what is the best way to integrate these themes into the gameplay experience?

Storytelling in Fallen Earth is the focus of a recent interview with lead designer Lee Hammock, who spoke with The MMO Gamer's Steven Crews about where story and gameplay will meet in the upcoming title.

Continue reading Fallen Earth's Lee Hammock on integrating story with the post-apocalyptic MMO

MassivelyFallen Earth's Lee Hammock on integrating story with the post-apocalyptic MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstoryfallen-earthgame-mechanicsinterviewslee-hammocklorequestssci-fisteven-crewsstorylinestorytellingthe-mmo-gamerMon, 29 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare's founders emphasize the importance of storytelling in their games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/biowares-founders-talk-about-the-importance-of-storytelling-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/biowares-founders-talk-about-the-importance-of-storytelling-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/biowares-founders-talk-about-the-importance-of-storytelling-in/#commentsFiled under: , ,

BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk were the keynote speakers at Game Developers Conference Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia yesterday. Their speech was titled Emotionally Engaging Narrative: Gaming's New Frontier. Given BioWare's huge portfolio of successful story-driven games, it's no surprise they had a lot to talk about.

Not all game-types need a good narrative to be successful or fun (e.g., Bejewelled, Tetris, etc.), but MMORPGs could probably benefit from a greater emphasis on compelling and engaging storytelling. Both Ray and Greg talked about various types of narrative, including linear and non-linear, active and passive, and internal and external.

We know that story will be the fourth pillar of design in Star Wars: The Old Republic and here's an example of external narrative they say we'll see when it releases: "Manipulation of world server data based on a broad range of user activities can actually change the game world." We're not quite sure what that means, but here are a couple guesses: Online voting to determine the next expansion race or fan fiction making it into the game's narrative.

MassivelyBioWare's founders emphasize the importance of storytelling in their games originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy birthday to the EVE Evolved column! The column is one year old today. Last week, I launched a competition for one lucky reader to win a fully fitted battleship of their choice. All they had to do was leave a comment and say which previous article in the column was their favourite. 44 people entered the competition before the April 25th deadline and a winner was selected via random number generator. Congratulations to regular Massively reader Vundal! As he's a relatively new player, Vundal opted to receive a fully fitted, rigged Drake battlecruiser and a set of implants rather than a battleship of the same value.

In today's column, I celebrate this anniversary occasion with a little self-indulgence as I take a look at a few of my personal favourite column posts.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: A year of EVE Evolved - personal favourites

MassivelyEVE Evolved: A year of EVE Evolved - personal favourites originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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