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[Ask Massively: Always on the wrong weekends edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/ask-massively-always-on-the-wrong-weekends-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/ask-massively-always-on-the-wrong-weekends-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/ask-massively-always-on-the-wrong-weekends-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hopefully I'll get some time to play, but I'm not expecting any miracles.
So for those of you wondering, the move went quite well. The expected problems occurred at times of minimal inconvenience, and we almost completely finished unpacking at the new place in one weekend. But we still have to finish up at the old apartment, so of course the first beta for The Secret World is scheduled to be this weekend when we're slotted to head down there. Just like how Guild Wars 2 scheduled a beta weekend for our last pre-move weekend. So that's awesome.

This week's Ask Massively does not discuss this particular state of awesome. Instead, it discusses the deferred awesomeness of switching combat styles on the fly and what games feature something similar. If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment of the column, leave it in the comments below or send it to ask@massively.com. Questions may be edited slightly for brevity and/or clarity.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Always on the wrong weekends edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Always on the wrong weekends edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnask-massivelyfeaturedfighting-stylegame-mechanicshumormassively-metamechanical-ideasmetaopinionstyleswapping-stylesThu, 10 May 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite use of heavily stylized graphics?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-use-of-heavily-stylized-gr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-use-of-heavily-stylized-gr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-use-of-heavily-stylized-gr/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In the earliest days of gaming, games were by their very nature pretty much abstract in graphics. The Atari 2600 couldn't really handle photorealistic human faces, after all. But even though we're now in the era when realism is not that far off, many games still employ intentionally stylized looks. LEGO Universe people look nothing like actual human beings, after all -- but they're not supposed to, representing instead the ubiquitous minifigures given motion and character.

Some players really don't like stylized appearances, feeling that they look cartoony or artificial. Others prefer them to realistic graphics out of a sense that the style makes the game stand out more. MMOs have run the gamut from the detailed and realistic humans of All Points Bulletin to the intentionally unreal graphics of Super Hero Squad Online. So what game has stylized graphics that you think really work? Whether or not you like the style overall, where do you feel they add to the game's atmosphere?

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: What's your favorite use of heavily stylized graphics? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artart-stylecartoony-graphicsdetailsgraphicsopinionstylestylized-graphicstdgthe-daily-grindvisual-effectsvisualsTue, 24 May 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Daniel Dociu talks Guild Wars 2 art direction]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/04/daniel-dociu-talks-guild-wars-2-art-direction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/04/daniel-dociu-talks-guild-wars-2-art-direction/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/04/daniel-dociu-talks-guild-wars-2-art-direction/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If you're looking for the latest art-centric news for ArenaNet's long-awaited Guild Wars sequel, look no further than Tap Repeatedly. Guild Wars 2 art director Daniel Dociu recently sat down for the second part of an interview that shines the spotlight on the forthcoming fantasy MMORPG's visual palette as well as the man responsible for overseeing it.

The piece covers a lot of ground, including everything from GW2's painterly user interface to the company culture at ArenaNet (which was founded by a group of engineers but also boasts one of the MMO industry's premier artistic rosters). This is no accident, Dociu explains, and one of his goals as ArenaNet's art director is to ensure that game art is given the respect it deserves. "Too often in this industry art is an afterthought. More often than not the expectations are set too low. It isn't always regarded as an equally important component next to game design or technology," he explains.

So what's up with the hand-crafted aesthetic that permeates everything from Guild Wars 2's client interface to its marketing materials? It's very deliberate, Dociu says, and it resulted in a marriage between talented artists and the realities of a finite budget. "We've unified stylistically the cinematics, user interface, and all visual branding... It all started because it was something we wanted to do, but we had to wait for the right moment and approach it from the resources angle."

MassivelyDaniel Dociu talks Guild Wars 2 art direction originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arena-netarenanetartart-directionart-teamdavid-dociufantasyguild-warsguild-wars-2interviewsstylestylizedtap-repeatedlyuiuser-interfaceMon, 04 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Armor customizing and coloring]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/lost-pages-of-taborea-armor-customizing-and-coloring/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/lost-pages-of-taborea-armor-customizing-and-coloring/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/11/lost-pages-of-taborea-armor-customizing-and-coloring/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Quite frankly, I don't know why I waited so long to do an article about customizing and coloring armor in Runes of Magic. Indeed, it's one of my absolute favorite aspects of RoM. But thanks to Rubi's coverage of Guild Wars 2 and the recent ArenaNet posts, I've been spurred on to do this article.

The GW2 news of late is, of course, all about how ArenaNet plans on implementing armor customization through the use of Transmutation stones you will be able to buy from a cash shop. After reading over Rubi's coverage, I felt that GW2 was heading in a very similar direction to the one taken by RoM. I find this to be very cool! So for anyone who didn't know this flexible system was in the game or that it was so flexible, I present a guide on customizing your RoM character any way you see fit. I've also included a short video tutorial to help illustrate how customizing works.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Armor customizing and coloring

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Armor customizing and coloring originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aggregatorarenanetarmorcolorcustomizationfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactiveguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftromrubi-bayerrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentstylestylingtransmutation-stonesMon, 11 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: She has a great personality]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/17/the-daily-grind-she-has-a-great-personality/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/17/the-daily-grind-she-has-a-great-personality/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/17/the-daily-grind-she-has-a-great-personality/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Graphics are an intensely subjective thing, but sometimes things just look plain bad. We can admit it. No one was raving about the graphics in EverQuest when the game was first released, and that was eleven years ago now. The art style of some games will always rub people the wrong way, and it's easy to look at some free-to-play games and be painfully underwhelmed by the graphics. And as much as people like to say that the visuals don't matter, high-end rewards look snazzy for a reason. We like looking at pretty things.

Of course, fans of EverQuest will be quick to point out that whatever the game lacks in graphics it retains in gameplay. Between age, budget, and style, games might not look like much at a glance, but what's behind the art means a lot more in the long run. What game do you find yourself defending as a good game underneath bad graphics? Is it an excellent engine, or just a fun game full of fond memories where you can look past the visuals?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: She has a great personality originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artdesigneqeverquestgraphicsopinionstyletdgthe-daily-grindvisualsSat, 17 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When have graphics surprised you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/the-daily-grind-when-have-graphics-surprised-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/the-daily-grind-when-have-graphics-surprised-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/26/the-daily-grind-when-have-graphics-surprised-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Graphics aren't the only part of games that matter -- witness World of Warcraft's continued market presence with a five-year-old highly stylized engine -- but they're certainly a major draw for some. And as has been said before, these days it's hard to find a game for current consoles or the PC that isn't graphically stunning. We're a long way from the large polygons that made up EverQuest models back in the genre's infancy.

But polygons aren't everything. Sometimes there are visual treats, little flairs of animation, just the right amount of detail and lighting. Sometimes a game that you weren't expecting to impress you with graphics manages to do so -- even if you're generally not someone who focuses on graphics. Whether you're running around in Age of Conan or Final Fantasy XI, there are vistas and pictures that impress above and beyond technological constraints.

So, when have graphics struck you and made you take notice of something? Was it a game that looked astonishingly well-rendered for its time, or one that was fairly basic even when it got released? Were they stylized in a way you found appealing or just surprisingly realistic?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: When have graphics surprised you? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoceqeverquestfinal-fantasy-xigraphicsscreenshotscreenshotsstyletdgterathe-daily-grindvisualsworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 26 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Corporate Infiltration for fun and profit, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/27/eve-evolved-corporate-infiltration-for-fun-and-profit-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/27/eve-evolved-corporate-infiltration-for-fun-and-profit-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/27/eve-evolved-corporate-infiltration-for-fun-and-profit-part-2/#commentsContinue reading EVE Evolved: Corporate Infiltration for fun and profit, part 2

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Corporate Infiltration for fun and profit, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassinationccpccp-gameseveeve-onlinegankghscguiding-hand-social-clubinfiltrationISKistvaan shogaatsuIstvaanShogaatsupiracyprofessionalsprofitspystylevectorSun, 27 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Corporate Infiltration for fun and profit]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/27/eve-evolved-corporate-infiltration-for-fun-and-profit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/27/eve-evolved-corporate-infiltration-for-fun-and-profit/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/27/eve-evolved-corporate-infiltration-for-fun-and-profit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Of all the EVE Online stories I've heard over the years, none have impressed and inspired me as much as those detailing a well-planned corporate heist. These aren't your run-of-the-mill contract scammers or corp hanger thieves. A professional corporate spy can earn the deepest levels of trust, destroy a corporation from the inside out, rob its members of their most prized possessions and then disappear without a trace. They're the people that pull the strings of war in the background, pitting alliances against each other to meet their own ends. The Guiding Hand Social Club's famous 2005 heist remains to this day possibly the single most impressive story in EVE history and serves as a benchmark of value and style for a heist that has seldom since been matched.

When I'm not busy writing about EVE or running sleeper anomalies with my buddies, I find myself delving more and more into the dark side of EVE. From wormhole piracy and courier contract theft to full-blown corporate infiltration, this year has bestowed on me a great deal of experience in the dirty underworld of EVE. In this article, I explain how to infiltrate a corp successfully and capitalise on the opportunities it throws at you.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Corporate Infiltration for fun and profit

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Corporate Infiltration for fun and profit originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassinationccpccp-gameseveeve-onlinefeaturedgankghscguiding-hand-social-clubinfiltrationISKistvaan shogaatsuIstvaanShogaatsupiracyprofessionalsprofitspystylevectorSun, 27 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: I can kill dragons, but I can't dress myself]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/24/anti-aliased-i-can-kill-dragons-but-i-cant-dress-myself/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/24/anti-aliased-i-can-kill-dragons-but-i-cant-dress-myself/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/24/anti-aliased-i-can-kill-dragons-but-i-cant-dress-myself/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


So, I recently got the chance to run a panel at Tekkoshocon, the local semi-large anime convention in the area of Pittsburgh. This wasn't the first panel I've run at a convention, but it was the first panel where I got to speak on the topic of MMOs. The topic was free anime MMOs -- games people could pick up for little to no payment and actually play a quality game, rather than being tricked into another endless, rewardless grindfest.

After the panel, one of the viewers came up to me and shook my hand, thanked me for my panel, and asked if I had ever heard of a game called S4 League. I told him I hadn't, but he urged me to look it up as it might be something I would be interested in. Well here I am, playing Stylish eSper Shooting Sports (S4, get it?), and I'm actually enjoying the experience. But, S4 triggered a bit of a realization in me. It's something I've touched on before, but I've never really engaged.

Why do we all look completely stupid at level one? Is it because of the "journey?" Or is it more of an incentive mechanic these days? And why the heck do developers force us to look like we woke up on the wrong side of the bed when adventuring?

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: I can kill dragons, but I can't dress myself

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: I can kill dragons, but I can't dress myself originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedclothingculturefashionfeaturedjoystiqfeaturespentavisions4s4-leaguestylestylish-esper-shooting-sportsFri, 24 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare employees satirize SWTOR's ginormous lightsabers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/04/bioware-employees-satirize-swtors-ginormous-lightsabers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/04/bioware-employees-satirize-swtors-ginormous-lightsabers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/04/bioware-employees-satirize-swtors-ginormous-lightsabers/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


You may have noticed that the lightsabers in Star Wars: The Old Republic are disproportionately large. A vocal minority of fans are crying bloody murder about this, and BioWare is not unaware of that fact. At a company Halloween party, it would appear that they made a self-deprecating joke of it, with at least one employee showing up with an outrageously huge lightsaber, then staging a recreation of the screenshot that raised all those eyebrows.

The image was leaked to gaming blog Kotaku, and here it is. BioWare seems to believe it's good to have a sense of humor about yourself, and we agree!

MassivelyBioWare employees satirize SWTOR's ginormous lightsabers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artart stylebiowarebioware-austincostumecostumeseahalloweenjokelightsaberlightsaberslightsabrelightsabresstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstyleswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 04 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Outlaws of EVE Online: Verone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/outlaws-of-eve-online-verone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/outlaws-of-eve-online-verone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/outlaws-of-eve-online-verone/#commentsFiled under: , ,



EVE Online's futuristic setting of New Eden is one of sprawling galactic Empires and megacorporations, imposing order on uncharted frontiers through massive industrial infrastructures, elaborate networks of trade routes, and military fleets that ensure the galaxy remains firmly in the grasp of the technocratic elite.

But beneath this orderly paradigm in New Eden, criminal organizations thrive. They prey upon those who cling to the illusion of safety in an unsafe galaxy. They reject your system of values and play by their own rules. They are relentless in pursuit of their goals and completely without mercy. One notable criminal organization devoted to piracy is Veto Corp, headed by their CEO Ethan Verone, who is without a doubt one of New Eden's more notorious pirates. Under his guidance, Veto Corp has been linked to numerous incidents of ransoming, hijacking, and illegal arms sales, among their many other crimes. Their modus operandi of shunning territorial control in favor of remaining fast and free ensures that Veto can conduct 'business' and hit targets anytime, and practically anywhere. Massively recently managed to lock down Verone for a line of questioning, and discussed the allure of life as an outlaw.

Gallery: Outlaws of EVE Online: Verone

Continue reading Outlaws of EVE Online: Verone

MassivelyOutlaws of EVE Online: Verone originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Millions of Us and Crayon recently held a contest for Coca Cola Virtual Thirst in Second Life. Entrants were asked to submit their ideas for an innovative vending machine. The grand prize, won by Emerie May, consisted of a trip to San Francisco to collaborate with Millions of Us on their idea, plus 500,000L to spend inside SL.

The Machinima for the winning idea was created by Aren Mandala, otherwise known as Michael Verdi, vlogger extraordinaire. It explains what the contest was about and showcases the winning entry. Among the features you'll discover are puzzle bottles, a snowglobe photobooth, a giant bubble ride, and a snowball vending machine. You can start your Coke puzzle by heading to Style today!

[Via Millions of Us]

MassivelyCinemassively: Coca Cola Virtual Thirst originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aren-mandalacoca-cola-virtual-thirstcokecrayonemerie-maymichael-verdimillions-of-ussecond-lifestylevloggingFri, 09 Nov 2007 12:30:00 EST