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[Karos Online shutting down, Rosh Online welcoming refugees]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/karos-online-shutting-down-rosh-online-welcoming-refugees/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/karos-online-shutting-down-rosh-online-welcoming-refugees/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/06/karos-online-shutting-down-rosh-online-welcoming-refugees/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Karos Online
We haven't heard much about Karos Online since its 2010 launch. It seems as though the title struggled to find an audience over the past two years and is now facing the end of its days. The team announced that Karos Online will be shutting down soon and urged its community to migrate to Rosh Online.

As of today, new accounts for Karos are disabled, and current players will be unable to purchase in-game currency for the cash shop. Karos Online will spend its next week spinning down its wheels before turning off the lights on April 13th.

Happily, Ignited Games has created a generous welcome package for Karos players willing to make the jump to Rosh Online. The benefits for doing so include in-game goodies and the conversion of cash shop currency to a compatible equivalent. On top of that, Karos players can jump into higher-level Rosh characters depending on how high they leveled their Karos contemporaries.

[Thanks for the tip, Jeff!]

MassivelyKaros Online shutting down, Rosh Online welcoming refugees originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closuref2pfree-to-playin-game-currencykaroskaros-onlinemigrationpromotionroshrosh-onlineshutdownsunsetsunsettingwelcome-packageFri, 06 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is maintenance mode better than nothing at all?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/the-daily-grind-is-maintenance-mode-better-than-nothing-at-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/the-daily-grind-is-maintenance-mode-better-than-nothing-at-all/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/the-daily-grind-is-maintenance-mode-better-than-nothing-at-all/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Vanguard
In the last few years, long before rumors that Vanguard would be heading down the F2P path were confirmed, players groused about the state of the game, complaining that SOE was allowing the game to languish with no devs and no updates. Those were exaggerations, of course, but the players were vocal about their perceived neglect, throwing around dirty words like "abandonware," and worse, "maintenance mode" -- the idea that an MMO is just kept as is with no updates and only enough attention to keep the servers running.

Of course, players whose games were sunsetted entirely (Tabula Rasa, Asheron's Call 2, and The Matrix Online, to name a few) might have wished for maintenance mode rather than death. Getting no updates might suck, but at least you still have a game to play.

What say you -- is maintenance mode better than nothing at all?

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: Is maintenance mode better than nothing at all? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abandonwareac2asherons-call-2brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindmaintenance-modeopinionsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentsunsettabula-rasatdgthe-daily-grindthe-matrix-onlineTRvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesMon, 02 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest Online Adventures slays its final dragon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/everquest-online-adventures-slays-its-final-dragon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/everquest-online-adventures-slays-its-final-dragon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/everquest-online-adventures-slays-its-final-dragon/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

EQOA
EverQuest Online Adventures, the console spinoff of SOE's EverQuest franchise, is counting down the hours until the server is switched off at midnight tonight. In addition to EQOA, SOE is shuttering three other underperforming titles today: Cosmic Rift, Infantry, and Star Chamber: The Harbinger Saga.

Instead of spending its final days in sorrow, the EQOA community joined the dev team for a series of epic battles against marauding dragons this past week. Players have filled the forums with posts about their favorite in-game memories over the past nine years of gameplay. To compensate players for the loss of their game world, SOE gave EQOA subscribers three months of gold-level status in EverQuest and EverQuest II.

EQOA came out in 2003 on the PlayStation 2 and was one of the first generation of console MMOs. For those Massively readers feeling nostalgic or curious about it, definitely check out our series on the game: part 1, part 2, and part 3.

MassivelyEverQuest Online Adventures slays its final dragon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancelclosureconsoleconsole-mmoCosmic-Rifteqeq-iieqoaeverquesteverquest-iieverquest-onlineeverquest-online-adventuresInfantryplaystation-2ps2soesony-online-entertainmentStar-Chamber-The-Harbinger-SagasunsetsunsettingThu, 29 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: Chocolate makes you fat edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/the-mmo-report-chocolate-makes-you-fat-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/the-mmo-report-chocolate-makes-you-fat-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/16/the-mmo-report-chocolate-makes-you-fat-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The MMO Report
This week on The MMO Report, Casey delivers a Valentine's Day rant before moving on to the latest news -- namely, The Secret World's release date rumors, Wakfu's PvP, and the sunset of sci-fi sandbox Earthrise. He also rounds up the latest Blizzard headlines, noting the lawsuit against Valve, World of Warcraft's recent sub losses, and the "valiant and pointless exercise" of rebuilding Azeroth in Minecraft.

Finally, Uncle Casey's Mailbag provides a forum for the debate over just how we're supposed to pronounce "SWTOR." All this and more in the video behind the break!

Continue reading The MMO Report: Chocolate makes you fat edition

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Chocolate makes you fat edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>azerothblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcasey-schreinerchocolatedotadota-2earthrisefuncomlawsuitminecraftmmo-reportnewsopinionpvpstar-wars-the-old-republicsub-lossessunsetswtorthe-mmo-reportthe-secret-worldtswvalentines-dayvalvevideovideoswakfuThu, 16 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you game on a Mac?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/the-daily-grind-do-you-game-on-a-mac/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/the-daily-grind-do-you-game-on-a-mac/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/11/the-daily-grind-do-you-game-on-a-mac/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

War. War never changes... the platform war, that is. But even those of us who game from the comfort of decked-out PCs can feel sorry for our Mac brethren when one of the Apple MMO offerings, already in short supply, goes dark. That's exactly what's happening to the Mac version of classic EverQuest: SOE is sunsetting the single Mac server due to low population and ancient code. Apple gamers must get a PC or sample one of the other Mac-friendly MMOs like Warhammer Online, Fallen Earth, Ryzom, or Free Realms.

So today we ask: Do you play MMOs on a Mac, and if so, which games? And is it really as bad as PC-loyalists like to think?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you game on a Mac? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindeqeq-maceverquesteverquest-macfallen-earthfree-realmsmacmac-mmoopinionpcplatform-warryzomsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentsunsettdgthe-daily-grindwarhammer-onlineSat, 11 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthrise shutting down today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/earthrise-shutting-down-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/earthrise-shutting-down-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/09/earthrise-shutting-down-today/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Bye bye Earthrise
Bulgarian developer Masthead Studios has announced that it's shutting down the servers for its post-apocalyptic sandbox MMO, Earthrise. Said Atanas Atanasov, Director of Masthead Studios:
"One year after the launch of the game, we have decided to stop the Earthrise servers. Earthrise was released too early and did not meet the expectations of its fans. We did our best to revive the game in 2011, but the time was not enough to keep up with the user requirements. There is a huge interest in high quality open world sandbox MMORPGs, unfortunately the big publishers do not show any interest in the genre. It is unfortunate that low budget companies like ours are trying to bring innovativeness in the already saturated MMO market. I hope that one day an independent studio will be able to release the long anticipated open world sandbox MMO, which everyone is talking about, but no one is making. We tried, but did not succeed. We would like to apologize to those who were disappointed from Earthrise and to thank everyone who supported us during the years."
The studio does mention that the planned free-to-play version for this year may still launch if any investor interest is shown, but there has been no word on this yet.

[Source: Masthead Studios press release]

MassivelyEarthrise shutting down today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Atanas-Atanasovbreakingnewsbye-byeclosingclosureearthrisemastehead-studiospost-apocalypticsandboxserver-closesunsetThu, 09 Feb 2012 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EverQuest Mac fans fight for survival; SOE responds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/everquest-mac-fans-fight-for-survival-soe-responds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/everquest-mac-fans-fight-for-survival-soe-responds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/everquest-mac-fans-fight-for-survival-soe-responds/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

EverQuest Mac
While many players are celebrating the announcement of EverQuest's upcoming free-to-play transition, there is one EQ community that was crushed by the news. The small but dedicated fanbase of EverQuest: Macintosh Edition found out that with F2P, EQMac and its one server would be sunsetted on the same date.

EQMac fans have begun to stage a campaign to save their favorite game, but it looks like there will be no budging SOE's mind on the matter. SOE President John Smedley took to the forums today to answer specific questions about the shutdown. "It breaks my heart to have to do this," he laments, before admitting that it's a done deal. Smedley cites the fact that the codebase is so ancient that only one SOE programmer knows how to work it, the player population is too small, and SOE was never that "proud" of the version.

However, Smedley promised that he will run a poll to see if there's enough interest in a Mac port of the current version of EverQuest. If the response is big enough, he says, the company will consider doing it. Meanwhile, the game will be available for current players free of charge until the March 29th shutdown. SOE has a celebration planned for its final hurrah.

EQMac came out in 2003 and was unique for remaining "frozen in time" in the years since, receiving no further active development or expansions. We will be covering this game and its shutdown more in-depth in a future Game Archaeologist column, so stay tuned.

MassivelyEverQuest Mac fans fight for survival; SOE responds originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleeqeq-forumseqmaceverquesteverquest-macintosheverquest-macintosh-editionf2pforumsfree-to-playjohn-smedleymacmac-editionmac-portmac-versionpollshutdownsmedleysoeSony-Online-EntertainmentsunsetsunsettingTue, 31 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Family: LEGO Universe, autism, and heartbreak]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/mmo-family-lego-universe-autism-and-heartbreak/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/mmo-family-lego-universe-autism-and-heartbreak/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/mmo-family-lego-universe-autism-and-heartbreak/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Lego Universe
Often when the topic of video games comes up, it's followed by comments about the negatives, such as violence, antisocial behavior, or inappropriate content. But if they do have harmful effects (and it's arguable how many players really are affected in a negative way), they can also be helpful as well, yet you rarely hear a news story about the good. I've written before about how companies like IBM have studied MMO guilds in order to improve team-building and organization within their company. More recently, MMOWGLI focused on global issues, such as the future of piracy, to study what solutions players could cooperatively generate.

There are also positive benefits to children as well, and while we've touched on a few in recent columns, this week we'll focus on the impact LEGO Universe has had on autistic children. Sadly, the game will be shutting down in a few weeks, and while many parents are thankful for how much it's helped, they're also concerned about what will happen once the game is gone. Read on for a bittersweet look at how this LEGO-based game is leaving behind a legacy.

Continue reading MMO Family: LEGO Universe, autism, and heartbreak

MassivelyMMO Family: LEGO Universe, autism, and heartbreak originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aspergersautismcasualchildrenchildrens-mmosf2pfamilyfamily-friendlyfeaturedfree-to-playkaren-bryankid-friendlykidskids-gameslegolego+gameslego+universelego+universe+game+autismlego-universelegogameslegouniverselegouniversegameautismmmo-closingmmo-familymmo-kidsmmo-shut-downopinionstar-wars-galaxiessunsettabula-rasaWed, 28 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies bequeaths a memory book to fans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/star-wars-galaxies-bequeaths-a-memory-book-to-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/star-wars-galaxies-bequeaths-a-memory-book-to-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/star-wars-galaxies-bequeaths-a-memory-book-to-fans/#commentsFiled under: , ,

SWG
Still in mourning and/or shock over Star Wars Galaxies' sunset? Kicking yourself in your rear for never checking out the game while it was still alive? Then Sony Online Entertainment has one last gift for you: a Star Wars Galaxies memory book packed with the game's legacy.

And this isn't a brief "So long and thanks for all the fish" pamphlet, either. The memory book is a whopping 253 pages of information and screenshots documenting the title's eight-year run. Former players and MMO historians can expect to read up on the game's timeline, planet, species, professions, space, ships, housing, cities, the Galactic Senate, the trading card game, the Galactic Civil War, and "The End."

The book immortalizes the near-total Rebel victory in the game with these parting words:
The explosions marking the Empire's end could be seen across the galaxy in the skies above the planets, and the celebrations that followed were unmatched. Peace reigned as Star Destroyers and dark lords became memories of another era, of a time long past, of galaxies long gone.

Gone, but not forgotten.
You can view or download the entire PDF on the official site.

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies bequeaths a memory book to fans originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closuregalactic-civil-warlegacymemoriesmemory-bookobligatory-hgttg-referencesoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-galaxies-memory-booksunsetswgswg-memory-bookThu, 22 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE's John Smedley expresses regrets over SWG mishaps]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/soes-john-smedley-expresses-regrets-over-swg-mishaps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/soes-john-smedley-expresses-regrets-over-swg-mishaps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/soes-john-smedley-expresses-regrets-over-swg-mishaps/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies
Star Wars Galaxies may be no more, but its legacy lives on in memories, discussion, and hindsight analysis. Sony Online Entertainment's John Smedley had a frank talk with Industry Gamers in which he owns up to the mistakes of how the studio handled the title, particularly surrounding the much-maligned Combat Upgrade and New Game Enhancements.

What would Smedley do if he could go back and give it another try? His first regret is launching the game before the space combat system was done, and his second is that SOE didn't talk and listen to its players more. "We would have encouraged more in-depth discussion with the community surrounding the idea of any game modifications," he said.

Smedley is highly optimistic for the studio's future, particularly in its fervent belief in the free-to-play business model: "We think that 'Free to Play, Your Way' is our future. Giving players choices is the theme of how we're moving forward as a company, which means greater flexibility for our player base."

MassivelySOE's John Smedley expresses regrets over SWG mishaps originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combat-upgradecommunitycuf2pfree-to-playjohn-smedleynew-game-enhancementsngeplayersregretssmedsmedleysoesony-online-entertainmentspace-combatstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgWed, 21 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Week in Review: Into the sunset]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/18/mmo-week-in-review-into-the-sunset/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/18/mmo-week-in-review-into-the-sunset/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/18/mmo-week-in-review-into-the-sunset/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Farewell SWG
At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

MMO closures don't happen all that often, and those that die tend to do so in a fireball of bankruptcy and layoffs not long after launch rather than through peaceful contact negotiations after almost a decade of successful operation, but Star Wars Galaxies joined the latter group this week, sunsetting its servers on Thursday night. If you missed the finale, you can catch up with our recorded livestream of the last hour of the game and our sandbox column's touching eulogy. And there's always that other Star Wars game...

Join us past the break for a glimpse of this week's other top MMO stories.

Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Into the sunset

MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Into the sunset originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqmassively-metametaroundupstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgtop-storiesweek-in-reviewweekly-recapweekly-roundupwow-insiderSun, 18 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global Chat: December 11-17, 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/18/global-chat-december-11-17-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/18/global-chat-december-11-17-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/18/global-chat-december-11-17-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

SWG
Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

It was a crazy busy week with so much to talk about, and while we could go all over the map with reader comments, we're going to focus on one last goodbye today. Follow along after the break for our readers' fondest farewells to Star Wars Galaxies.

Continue reading Global Chat: December 11-17, 2011

MassivelyGlobal Chat: December 11-17, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerynnebasmatijohcommenterscommentsfeaturedglentendoglobal-chatjealouspirateopinionrick1975soeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgSun, 18 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: One last jump to lightspeed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/some-assembly-required-one-last-jump-to-lightspeed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/some-assembly-required-one-last-jump-to-lightspeed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/some-assembly-required-one-last-jump-to-lightspeed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies - Tatooine twin sunset
Eulogizing Star Wars Galaxies is difficult. In fact, I've written some 2,200 articles since signing on with Massively a couple of years ago, and none of them has come close to being as painful as this particular wall o' text.

The fact that I even used the word eulogy in reference to a video game says it all, really. Join me after the cut for as brief a remembrance as I can manage.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: One last jump to lightspeed

MassivelySome Assembly Required: One last jump to lightspeed originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closingcraftingeconomyeuologyfeaturedgame-closinghousingopinionplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsci-fiserver-closingserver-shutdownshutdownsoesome-assembly-requiredSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmosunsetswgtradeskillingwe-will-miss-you-swgFri, 16 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How will you say farewell to SWG?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-daily-grind-how-will-you-say-farewell-to-swg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-daily-grind-how-will-you-say-farewell-to-swg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-daily-grind-how-will-you-say-farewell-to-swg/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies screenshot
Star Wars Galaxies' final day is here. Since last June's announcement that SOE's Star Wars game would be shut down on December 15th, the sandbox fans on the Massively staff have grown ever more sad, and the early arrival of Star Wars: The Old Republic has seemed like salt in the wound. For my part, I can hardly stand to log in without lamenting all the MMO design achievements that will be lost when the servers go dark.

And yet log in I will because a game only has one ending. Some of our writers will be chronicling the last hour on a livestream; others will be hanging out in social centers like Mos Eisley to watch the twin suns set. I'm planning to join a few guildmates near the location of our first guild city, formed just over eight years ago. What about you, readers? Where will you be at the end -- how will you say farewell to SWG?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How will you say farewell to SWG? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgclassic-mmogalaxiesopinionsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgswgotdgthe-daily-grindThu, 15 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: SWG housing extravaganza]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/some-assembly-required-swg-housing-extravaganza/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/some-assembly-required-swg-housing-extravaganza/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/some-assembly-required-swg-housing-extravaganza/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required header
The sunsetting of Star Wars Galaxies. Beyond the obvious, that statement holds more meaning for me, something deeper and more personal. See, throughout my years in SWG, I would often stop whatever I was doing just to sit and watch the Tatooine suns set. Honestly. Just a simple act of sitting upon the plateau -- sometimes alone, sometimes with friends -- quietly watching one of the universe's greatest pleasures inside an MMO. It was amazing to me how vibrant this galaxy was, filled with so many little details that breathed life into it in a way that I think is still unmatched. Details such as sunsets made the world real, but what really made it "home" was the housing.

Few, if any, games can claim the mastery of housing that Galaxies attained. Quite frankly, it is still the standard by which I measure housing. And there is almost no way to sum it up and do it justice in one short article. Despite this challenge, Some Assembly Required dedicates this 12th issue to immortalizing (and hopefully prodding future developers to emulate) one of the greatest housing systems ever and highlighting the very thing that made this great feature phenomenal: incredible player ingenuity and creativity.

But don't just take my word for it. A number of readers joined in and sent in screenshots of and waypoints to these expressions of creativity. So step on over the threshold for our tribute in word and image to SWG housing and the player creativity it engendered.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: SWG housing extravaganza

MassivelySome Assembly Required: SWG housing extravaganza originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-buildingcreativitydecoratingfeaturedgalleriesgalleryhouseshousinghousing-tourpgcplayer-creativityplayer-generated-contentsandboxscreenshotscreenshotssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmosunsetswgswg-sunsettourFri, 09 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pix or it didn't happen: Calling for your SWG house screenies!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/pix-or-it-didnt-happen-calling-for-your-swg-house-screenies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/pix-or-it-didnt-happen-calling-for-your-swg-house-screenies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/15/pix-or-it-didnt-happen-calling-for-your-swg-house-screenies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies -- Bree's old Bio-Engineer
In exactly one month, the Star Wars Galaxies servers will be shut down forever, but that doesn't mean your creations have to be sunsetted along with them. MJ Guthrie, the co-author of our biweekly sandbox column, Some Assembly Required, is hoping to immortalize the niftiest player-decorated SWG houses, but she needs your help to do it.

If you'd like to pitch in and make sure that SWG's amazing housing mechanics aren't lost to time, just email screenshots of your favorite homes and player-run cities to MJ (mj@massively.com). If you haven't got screenies, a waypoint or coordinates (and the planet and server name) will work just as well, assuming you've unlocked the building(s) for visitors. She's also open to taking a personal tour! The December 9th edition of the column will feature the highlights along with a gallery of all the submissions.

As MJ herself posted: "Don't miss out on being a part of this housing extravaganza! Something so great deserves to be savored for a long, long time to come."

MassivelyPix or it didn't happen: Calling for your SWG house screenies! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>citiescitygalleriesgalleryhousehouseshousingmj-guthriepix-or-it-didnt-happenplayer-run-citiesplayer-run-cityscreenshotscreenshotssoesome-assembly-requiredSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgTue, 15 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LEGO Universe shutting down January 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/lego-universe-shutting-down-january-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/lego-universe-shutting-down-january-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/04/lego-universe-shutting-down-january-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

LEGO Universe
Playtime's over, people -- time to pack up your LEGO bricks and move on. The word's come down from the LEGO Group that LEGO Universe is closing its doors on January 31st, 2012 due to a lack of paying customers. While the game has been free-to-play for a while, apparently not enough players were interested in dishing out cash to keep the MMO operational.

The news was posted just moments ago on the official forums along with a more in-depth FAQ:
Hello Adventurer, today we are very sad to announce that LEGO Universe will be closing on January 31, 2012. This was a very difficult decision to make, but unfortunately LEGO Universe has not been able to attract the number of members needed to keep the game open.

We are thankful to have had the opportunity to share this adventure wiith an amazing community of players. We hope you will continue to enjoy LEGO Universe for the last few months. As a thank you, if you are a paying subscriber on December 31, 2011, we will provide you the full game for the final month for free.

Again, we want to thank the fantastic community of players who made LEGO Universe such a vibrant, fun and creative experience.

Sincerely,
The LEGO Universe Team
Unfortunately, this closure means that the associated studios, including one in Colorado and one in Denmark, will be shuttered and 115 employees will be affected. LEGO Universe launched in October 2010 and converted to a free-to-play model this past August. We've included the official press release behind the break.

Continue reading LEGO Universe shutting down January 2012

MassivelyLEGO Universe shutting down January 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closingclosing-downclosuref2pfree-to-playlegolego-grouplego-universeplay-well-studiosshutting-downsunsetsunsettingFri, 04 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in October]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-classic-mmos-in-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-classic-mmos-in-october/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-classic-mmos-in-october/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

SWG
Today we're going to start a new feature of this column in which we devote a week to catching up with previous Game Archaeologist spotlights and see what's going on in these classic MMOs. I figured that it was a shame to give these titles a big burst of publicity and then dump them like yesterday's news. After all, if these games' communities are still alive and kicking, and if the developers are churning out new content, then it's worth a monthly mention, don't you think?

I won't just be regurgitating news here; I'll also peek at the various official forums to see what the community is talking about and highlight discussions and debates that are of interest. Not every classic MMO will be featured every month in this space, as I'll try to rotate around to make sure they all get their fair share of mentions.

October was an interesting month for classic MMOs in that several of them produced extremely newsworthy stories that got front-page mention on Massively. On a special note, I won't be covering Asheron's Call today as we're prepping a special anniversary tribute for later this month!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in October

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in October originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daocdark-age-of-cameloteqeq2eqiieverquesteverquest-iifeaturedhalloweenmoviepumpkin-moon-risingscott-jenningssoestar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgtgathe-game-archaeologistveil-of-alarisTue, 01 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Winning the Star Wars Galaxies GCW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/winning-the-star-wars-galaxies-gcw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/winning-the-star-wars-galaxies-gcw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/winning-the-star-wars-galaxies-gcw/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

SWG screenshot
We sometimes joke about the impossibility of "winning" an MMO, but in the case of the doomed Star Wars Galaxies sandbox, it's an impending reality.

A brand-new dev post today divulges the details of how the Galactic Civil War that's been raging across the game's servers for the last eight-plus years will be won. In short: "Whoever controls the galaxy at the end will win the war." The Rebels-vs.-Imperials PvP conflict will be settled through the existing planetary control system, in which each side vies for control over key cities on most of the game's planets. The team plans to tweak that system, weighting contributions and important regions to ensure that cheating and early landslide victories are simply not possible. As Mepps himself notes, "a smaller faction fighting smarter still has as much of a chance as a larger faction that assumes it will win." He also promises additional events and methods of GCW point gain as the finale approaches.

Star Wars Galaxies is due to close down mid-December, so players have only a few months left to save or dominate the galaxy once and for all.

MassivelyWinning the Star Wars Galaxies GCW originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>galactic-civil-wargcwgcw-pointsimperialsmeppsplanetary-control-systempvprebelssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgThu, 06 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten things to do in Star Wars Galaxies before it's gone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ten-things-to-do-in-star-wars-galaxies-before-its-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ten-things-to-do-in-star-wars-galaxies-before-its-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ten-things-to-do-in-star-wars-galaxies-before-its-gone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies - Butterflies included especially for Jef
When SOE announced that Star Wars Galaxies would be sunsetted by the end of the year, many players despaired. They gave up. They saw their long years (eight years!) of play turn to dust. But others looked on the impending closure as incentive to do all those things they'd been putting off, all the activities they just hadn't gotten around to. There hadn't been time. The game is too big for anyone to do it all.

And that's precisely why Star Wars Galaxies is a legend among sandbox fans despite the NGE disaster. It's a living museum of great MMO ideas from the past, of player-driven economies, of open-world housing, of high-end, game-supported roleplay, of roaming in a game that lets you dictate the terms of your play. It's a rare relic you should see in the flesh, today, right now, before it's gone. You can pick up a weapon and fight in any MMO (excepting A Tale in the Desert, that is), but there are so many things you can do in Star Wars Galaxies that you can't do anywhere else with the same level of immersion. And I'm going to tell you which 10 you should do first... before it's too late.

Continue reading Ten things to do in Star Wars Galaxies before it's gone

MassivelyTen things to do in Star Wars Galaxies before it's gone originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-tabappearance-tabarmoratabatmospheric-flightcantinachat-bubbleschronicleschronicles-systemcityclothingcosmetic-outfitcraftingdanceremoteentertainerfeaturedhistoryhousehousingimage-designerinstrumentithorianjtljump-to-lightspeedmayormoodsmusicianngeopen-world-housingpilotplayer-cityplayer-run-cityroleplayroleplayingsandboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-warsy-and-iconicstarshipsunsetswgswtorthe-old-republictortradervendorWed, 05 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Off the rails: Star Wars Galaxies introduces atmospheric flight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/off-the-rails-star-wars-galaxies-introduces-atmospheric-flight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/off-the-rails-star-wars-galaxies-introduces-atmospheric-flight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/off-the-rails-star-wars-galaxies-introduces-atmospheric-flight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies screenshot
If you're still on the fence about reactivating Star Wars Galaxies in order to participate in the sunset events from now until December 15th, today's news just might push you over to the dark side... er light side. One of those!

This morning, Sony Online Entertainment published Game Update 21, the highlight of which is atmospheric flight. For real.
With atmospheric flight, you will be able to travel the skies above and see the worlds of Star Wars Galaxies in a new way. To launch into atmospheric flight, or to return to the ground, you can use your ship's icon in your datapad. Whether you are looking to host a peaceful event in your yacht with the Theed Waterfall as a backdrop or prove your piloting skills against another player over the desert of Tatooine, atmospheric flight will offer a unique way to experience Star Wars Galaxies.
The patch notes indicate that players can launch directly into space while piloting through planetary atmosphere, and you'll need some skill to navigate as ships will take damage if crashed into the ground. GU21 also heralds the "Final Battle," which presumably is another stage in the ongoing Galactic Civil War sunset events.

Remember, today is literally your last chance to reactivate and give the game a proper send-off.

MassivelyOff the rails: Star Wars Galaxies introduces atmospheric flight originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atmospheric-flightflightgalactic-civil-wargame-updategcwgu21patchshipssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstarshipsunsetsunset-eventsswgupdateThu, 15 Sep 2011 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Last chance to join Star Wars Galaxies sunset]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/last-chance-to-join-star-wars-galaxies-sunset/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/last-chance-to-join-star-wars-galaxies-sunset/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/14/last-chance-to-join-star-wars-galaxies-sunset/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies screenshot
In June, we broke the sad news that Star Wars Galaxies would be shutting down this December. But if you were hoping to check out one of the best sandbox MMOs in existence before the final curtain falls, you're running out of time.

According to Sony Online Entertainment, only accounts that are active and in good standing on September 15th will be eligible for the sunset period and events, so if you want to play, you'll have to plan ahead and reactivate your account one last time to make sure your account is active on Thursday. After that, your account will remain active for free until December 15th, when the galaxies are closed down for the last time. Confused? Mepps on the official forums has an even more detailed explanation for all the caveats and what-ifs you can dream up.

Players meeting the criterion will also find that their accounts are flagged for free access to other SOE games (including EverQuest II and DC Universe Online) from October 15th to the end of the year, further sweetening the deal.

Finally, although the SWG TCG will remain in operation as long as the game does, loot cards cease being redeemable after September 15th, so grab your free loot cards while you still can!

MassivelyLast chance to join Star Wars Galaxies sunset originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountaccountsdc-universe-onlinedcuoeqeqiiEverQuest-2everquest-iigame-closuremeppssandboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgtcgtrading-card-gameWed, 14 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies puts the end of the saga in the hands of the players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/star-wars-galaxies-puts-the-end-of-the-saga-in-the-hands-of-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/star-wars-galaxies-puts-the-end-of-the-saga-in-the-hands-of-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/29/star-wars-galaxies-puts-the-end-of-the-saga-in-the-hands-of-the/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Star Wars Galaxies
This is how the galaxy ends: not with a wimper, but with a mighty bang.

At least, that's what SOE hopes as Star Wars Galaxies' devs map out the final few months for this sunsetting MMO. Instead of weeping into a glass of strange blue milk, the team is issuing a challenge to the Imperials or Rebels. The stakes? The fate of the galaxy, once and for all.

SOE is ramping up the Galactic Civil War in the game, by adding new events and opportunities to win points for your respective side. The Civil War got a little bigger with the recent GU20 update that put the war footing on an interplanetary scale.

At some point before the December 15th shutdown, the game will tally up the score and determine who won -- for all time. Depending on which side comes out victorious, the ending of the game itself will change. If you're a neutral party, don't worry; SOE is making sure that you can participate in shutdown events as well.

Take note, as only players that subscribe or have an account in good standing prior to September 15th can participate in this final battle, since registration -- and game charges -- will cease after that date.

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies puts the end of the saga in the hands of the players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancellationcivil-wardamn-neutralseventgalactic-civil-wargu20imperialsin-game-eventrebelsshutdownsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiessunsetsunsettingswgMon, 29 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Sunsetting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/one-shots-sunsetting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/one-shots-sunsetting/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/18/one-shots-sunsetting/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Yavin IV was always one of my favorite planets to visit in Star Wars Galaxies. Especially when you would hit just the right time of day to see the gigantic planet of Yavin hovering in the sky. I caught this screenshot as I was on my way to the Jedi Temple on the jungle world. With the news of the Galaxies shutting down, this screenshot has become a bit mournful for me now. It reminds me of a sunset. It you'd like to celebrate the sunset of SWG with me, I'll be on the Starsider server on Aerron in the evenings EDT.

All this week, Massively writers are spotlighting some of our personal One Shots. What exciting stories revolve around our screenshots? Stay tuned to find out. Next week, after staff picks week, 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 One Shots!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: Sunsetting originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>one-shotsSOESonySony-Online-EntertainmentStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetsunsettingYavinYavin-4Yavin-IVMon, 18 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive: Smedley on the sunsetting of Star Wars Galaxies [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/exclusive-smedley-on-the-sunsetting-of-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/exclusive-smedley-on-the-sunsetting-of-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/exclusive-smedley-on-the-sunsetting-of-star-wars-galaxies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

When I penned this week's Soapbox about Star Wars Galaxies and the NGE, I had no idea what was in store for MMO gamers today. In fact, I was so confident that the pre-eminent MMO sandbox was going to be around forever (or at least another eight years) that I reassured commenters that there was no need to fear Star Wars: The Old Republic. The two games might both feature the Star Wars IP, but their goals are so dramatically different -- one being a dialogue-driven themepark, the other being a player-driven sandbox -- that they shouldn't conflict unduly. Surely Star Wars fans could play both indefinitely and enjoy both types of gameplay.

Unfortunately, on Thursday we learned that just won't be so. Sony Online Entertainment has announced that Star Wars Galaxies will be shutting down on December 15th of this year, marking what is in my mind the most significant sunset of a major MMO to date (and a personally painful one for many on the staff at Massively, including me). I know what you're thinking, and no, the impending closure is due neither to the hackings nor to a dwindling playerbase. Past the break, an audibly regretful John Smedley, President of SOE, sits down with us to chat about SWG's sunset, explaining the reasons that led to the decision and offering a new hope for the future.

Continue reading Exclusive: Smedley on the sunsetting of Star Wars Galaxies [Updated]

MassivelyExclusive: Smedley on the sunsetting of Star Wars Galaxies [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebreakingchroniclesClone-Wars-AdventurescwaeaElectronic-Artseq2EQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedgalaxiesinterviewinterviewsjohn-smedleylucasartssandboxsmedleysoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstorytellersunsetswgswtortcgthe-old-republictortrading-card-gameFri, 24 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist plays with MUDs: A talk with Richard Bartle]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/the-game-archaeologist-plays-with-muds-a-talk-with-richard-bart/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/the-game-archaeologist-plays-with-muds-a-talk-with-richard-bart/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/the-game-archaeologist-plays-with-muds-a-talk-with-richard-bart/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

From talking with Richard Bartle, reading his blog, and looking over several interviews that he's done, I've concluded that the co-creator of the first multi-user dungeon is, in many ways, a card. A smart one, a perceptive one, and an outspoken one, but a card nonetheless. I say this in a good way, of course, because for all of the verbal pussyfooting that often goes on in this industry, it's refreshing to hear the voice of someone who knows what he thinks and isn't afraid to say it, even if it goes against the grain.

Dr. Bartle's name often comes up in discussions of both MUDs and MMORPGs. His designs, work and scholarship have influenced MMOs in substantial ways, and it's possible that if our children end up learning about massively multiplayer RPGs in school some day, Bartle's name will be mentioned once or twice.

While he's sometimes polarizing, it's hard to deny the incredible work he's done, which is why I was excited to get to talk to him about this month's subject on the Game Archaeologist. So hit that pesky jump and let's pick the mind of a guy who really earned the right to post "FIRST!!1!"

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist plays with MUDs: A talk with Richard Bartle

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist plays with MUDs: A talk with Richard Bartle originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-tale-in-the-desertadventureancient-anguishassemblerassembly-languagebaldurs-gatebaldurs-gate-2bartle-testbatmudBCPLciv1civ2civ3civ4civ5civilizationcoding-headachedarklandsdesigning-virtual-worldsdlcenglish-channelfeaturedfootball-managergemstoneipclegendmudmacro-10master-of-orionmedieviamoomoo2moo3morrowindmudmud1mud2multi-user-dungeonoblivionplay-testerplaytestingrichard-bartlerogueroy-trubshawSETUWPstar-firesunsetThe-Patriciantops-10Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: The vet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/the-game-archaeologist-goes-to-earth-and-beyond-the-vet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/the-game-archaeologist-goes-to-earth-and-beyond-the-vet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/the-game-archaeologist-goes-to-earth-and-beyond-the-vet/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Space: the final frontier... except for 4chan, which is a lot scarier to explore. These are the voyages of the Starship Massively. Its five-year mission: to explore strange, new worlds; to seek out new life and blow it out of the sky; to boldly exploit trade routes like no one has done before!

Erp, better stop there before I begin infringing on the Captain's Log's territory! In any event, we at The Game Archaeologist Institute for Fuzzy Nostalgia continue to forge ahead with the Earth & Beyond dig, carefully dusting off memories and screenshots to preserve in a blog-shaped museum.

It's one thing to talk of a game, but another to speak with one who was there at the time, so I went on a hunt through the dark recesses of the internet to find seasoned Earth & Beyonders. This search took me about two minutes before one of my associates practically opened the floodgates of fanboy gushing to drown me in his enthusiasm for this title. One interview, hundreds of screenshots and an Electronic Arts dev bible later, and we at the institute knew that we hit the motherlode.

Join us for a civilized discussion with an Earth & Beyond vet as he shares with us crumpets and recollections.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: The vet

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: The vet originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arduacanadacaptains-logcelestial-horizonclaudia-christiancolumbia-disastercommand-and-conquerdev-bibleeaearth-and-beyondechoes-of-nonsenseelectronic-artseveeve-onlineexplorerfantasyfeaturedfederationinterviewirelandJenquaijump-to-lightspeedlord-of-the-ringsnet7sci-fiscience-fictionspace-shuttle-columbiastar-trekstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgtea-and-crumpetsthe-game-archaeologisttitanwargameswestwoodTue, 08 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: The highlights]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/the-game-archaeologist-goes-to-earth-and-beyond-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/the-game-archaeologist-goes-to-earth-and-beyond-the-highlights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/the-game-archaeologist-goes-to-earth-and-beyond-the-highlights/#commentsFiled under: , ,

For this month's Game Archaeologist expedition, I deliberately wanted to look at an older MMO that was -- for whatever reason -- no longer with us. After voting on a handful of these titles, Massively readers selected Earth & Beyond for March's focus, and I have to say that I'm intrigued.

Personally, I prefer science fiction over fantasy nine times out of ten, even though most of the MMOs that grace my desktop (with the exception of Star Trek Online) are fantasy games. Sci-fi has had an awfully difficult time making headway into the field of MMOs, with plenty of underperforming or canceled titles littering the way. I've heard it explained that the fantasy genre is easier for the common person to grasp because it uses elements of our past -- primarily the medieval period -- to provide a familiar baseline, whereas sci-fi's futuristic setting requires world-building from scratch.

Whatever the case may be, Earth & Beyond never really caught on the way that EVE Online did, and its miniscule population (GameSpot reported 20-25K subscribers six months before its shutdown) was not enough for Electronic Arts to keep it running. But between 2002 and 2004, Earth & Beyond reached for the stars and gave its own spin on how a sci-fi MMO could work. Let's take a look today at what made Earth & Beyond unique, what it gave the industry, and how it may help upcoming space MMOs avoid a similar fate.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: The highlights

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist goes to Earth & Beyond: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcombatcommand-and-conquerdune-iieaearth-and-beyondebElectronic-Artsemulatoreqeveeve-onlineeverquestexplorationfansitesfeaturedsci-fiscience-fictionscifistar-trek-onlinestosunsettgathe-game-archaeologisttradingultima-onlineuowestwoodTue, 01 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chronicles of Spellborn shutting down?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/chronicles-of-spellborn-shutting-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/chronicles-of-spellborn-shutting-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/chronicles-of-spellborn-shutting-down/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While Frogster Interactive is perhaps best known for its main MMO, Runes of Magic, it also carries other games for players to enjoy. One of the titles handled by Frogster Asia is The Chronicles of Spellborn -- a belabored game that has seen its model shift from subscription to free within a few months of launch, had its development team go bankrupt and scatter to the winds, and watched its player-base drop off. Well, according to the most recent press release by Frogster Interactive, it would appear that the Frogster Asia division plans to slough off The Chronicles of Spellborn once and for all.

Meanwhile, in North America, Acclaim still has servers (somewhat) open for The Chronicles of Spellborn, but the game feels as if it has been left chained in a dusty corner with a crust of stale bread and a tin of rusty water by its neglectful parents. There are enormous issues on the official site, such as a broken downloader setup, corrupted patches, and most recently, a bug requiring players to change their passwords each and every time they try to log in to the game. No fixes or responses are forthcoming, and we were unable to get any official comment from Acclaim regarding its intentions for the North American version as of the time we published this.

The full text of the section of Frogster's press release dealing with TCoS can be found behind the break. As to Acclaim's intent, we'll update this post if we get a response.

[Thanks, Cow Moo Flage]

Continue reading Chronicles of Spellborn shutting down?

MassivelyChronicles of Spellborn shutting down? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingchronicles-of-spellbornf2pfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-asiafrogster-interactivepress-releaseromrunes-of-magicSpellborn-nvsunsettcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornTue, 29 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Phantasy Star Universe to shut down PS2 & PC servers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/phantasy-star-universe-to-shut-down-ps2-and-pc-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/phantasy-star-universe-to-shut-down-ps2-and-pc-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/phantasy-star-universe-to-shut-down-ps2-and-pc-servers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's always a sad day when we have to report an MMO is shutting down. Then you have cases like today's announcement about Phantasy Star Universe where it's a mixed bag. In this case the PS2 and PC versions will be closing down as of March 31st. Meanwhile, the Xbox 360 version (yes, another console MMO does exist) is doing well and will remain online.

On January 29th, the Maximum Attack G+ event will start up across all three Phantasy Star Universe platforms, at which point anyone who has a paid subscriber on the PC or PS2 will be converted to a free account until the servers go dark. According to a heartfelt post by GM Edward@Sega, these closures are necessary because "[t]he population is simply too low for us to be able to continue to support this platform." The good news is that since there will only be one primary western market platform moving forward, this should allow Sega to close the expansion release gap between the US and Japanese versions.

So while this next Maximum Attack G+ event will be a bittersweet one for some, at least Phantasy Star Universe will live on in the 360 version -- and there's always the single-player offline version of PSU for PC and PS2 players as well. Hopefully some veteran players will get the chance to make the jump as losing your favorite world is definitely no fun.

MassivelyPhantasy Star Universe to shut down PS2 & PC servers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pcphantasy-star-universeps2psusegaserver-closingsunsetxbox360Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What happened to Gatheryn?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/07/rumor-the-steampunk-mmo-gatheryn-is-dead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/07/rumor-the-steampunk-mmo-gatheryn-is-dead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/07/rumor-the-steampunk-mmo-gatheryn-is-dead/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

We've recently received a tip-off to a lack of communication from the developers of the social steampunk MMO, Gatheryn, in recent months, signaling what could be the collapse of the game.

The website is still up and running, but the closed beta signup page has vanished, the download game link is broken, and the game's servers are down for the count. Players are asking for assistance or information on what's going on with the game on the beta forums, but things are very, very silent.

The current forum rumor (must have forum access to read link) is that Mindfuse Games has run out of funding and is shutting down the game, but that rumor has been posted by a forum account that only has one post and does not possess a developer tag, making the rumor extremely unverified.

We have contacted Mindfuse Games for comment, but have yet to receive a response.

[Thanks for the tip, Torsten!]

MassivelyWhat happened to Gatheryn? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beta-forumsbreakingclosed-betaforumsgatherynisa-anne-stamosmindfuse-gamesmini-gamesno-communicationrumorserver-downtimesteampunksunsetThu, 07 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wake Up: The final day of The Matrix Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/01/wake-up-the-final-day-of-the-matrix-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/01/wake-up-the-final-day-of-the-matrix-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/01/wake-up-the-final-day-of-the-matrix-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Like we said in our article before, "...until everyone's RSI is smashed into a tiny, tiny ball." Now you see that we really weren't joking about that.

But we were in The Matrix Online for the final hours as well, and we managed to get some great screenshots from the end of the game. There were explosions, lightning bolts, oddly colored skies until finally.... in the last few hours... it became beautiful again. The green skies were rolled back in favor of a blue sky tinged with hints of red. Then, of course, we all got our plugs pulled and ended up smashed into... well... you know.

If you're interested in how it all looked before everything crashed, check out what we got to see during our final moments!



Gallery: The Matrix Online: Wake Up

LoginCorruptionRaining BloodDark Sky with EyesClub Hel

MassivelyWake Up: The final day of The Matrix Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gallerygame-closuremxoscreenshotsserver-crashsoesony-online-entertainmentsunsetthe-matrix-onlineSat, 01 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: So long, and thanks for all the woah pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/anti-aliased-so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-woah-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/anti-aliased-so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-woah-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/anti-aliased-so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-woah-pt-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


My personal favorite moment? Past attending a few of the Merovingian's parties (being a faction leader in the organization certainly qualifies you for the guest list), it had to have been investigating into the street magician, Cryptos. Cryptos appeared in the Mega City with a bang, placing "Cryptos coffins" all over the city as he popped out of them at certain intervals to speak riddles to players. As I attended one of the coffins for its speech, the clacking of heels turned my attention over my shoulder, my camera falling onto Niobe walking down the street towards me.

She commented that she was surprised that I actually found my way down a street without falling over in a drunken stupor, while I smirked and laughed. Soon afterwards, a whole vanguard of Zionist players showed up, backing up Niobe with guns -- lots of guns.

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't kill you right here, *Lady* Return." She mocked. That would be when I pulled out the three best words in the Merovingian organization arsenal.

"You owe me. I helped you in the church at the funeral. You cannot neglect your debt, Niobe," I replied with a strong smile. She acted taken aback and motioned to the others behind her. The players all lowered their guns and shot me angry looks, to which I shrugged happily and laughed.

In no other game could social combat be as effective as physical combat. You didn't always have to shoot your way out of a situation if you knew the right people... or just paid enough of them.

An MMO not all about combat? Lies!

Certainly the combat of MxO was awesome. You had great martial arts combat, you had insane wire-fu moves, and you even had bullet time. (It would basically slow down on your screen just long enough to show you some great action, then it would speed up again to match up with the action that had gone on while you were slowed down.)

But some of the real charm of the game came in the fact that puzzles were hidden inside of it. Billboards, the newspaper, and even specially constructed events started by a simple forum post or a simple tell from a character lead into stories told in live action.

The game had elements of collaborative puzzle solving, social tension started by organizational warfare, and a driving sense of community that no other game that I've played since has come close to having. People were there to really interact with the world, not just hit level 50 and grind their faces on endgame.

Hopes for the future

It's sad to see this game go, but I have the strong personal opinion that this game did not die because it embraced different styles of gameplay. It died because it stopped embracing them.

What MxO was offering players no other game offered. If there had been more polish to the static content and the developers would have stayed on their path of dynamic storytelling, I think this game would certainly would have continued on with a loyal fanbase because it would have offered gameplay that no other mainstream MMO to date has embraced.

And, with any luck, perhaps we'll see another attempt at this universe in the future. Look at what we have with two Star Wars MMOs coming out. The potential is still there for a great Matrix Online game.

With all of this though, thank you developers for all of your work, and thank you Sony Online Entertainment for keeping it up as long as you did. While I may not agree with all of the decisions surrounding the game, the effort was still there to keep the game alive for as long as it was.

Everything that has a beginning has an end.
Colin Brennan is the weekly writer of Anti-Aliased who hates aimless hate. When he's not writing here for Massively, he's rambling on his personal blog, The Experience Curve. If you want to message him, send him an e-mail at colin.brennan AT weblogsinc DOT com. You can also follow him on Twitter through Massively, or through his personal feed.

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: So long, and thanks for all the woah pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedcryptoslive-event-characterslive-eventsmatrix-onlinemerovingianmorpheusmxonioberoleplayroleplayingsoesony-online-entertainmentstorylinesunsetthe-matrix-onlinezionFri, 29 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: So long, and thanks for all the woah]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/anti-aliased-so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-woah/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/anti-aliased-so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-woah/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/anti-aliased-so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-woah/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


It's a depressing news day for me today. As we've reported earlier, Sony Online Entertainment has finally made the decision to pull the plug on The Matrix Online, a decision that makes absolutely perfect sense given the dire straights the game has been in for the past few years.

MxO was always "the little game that could" in regards to the community outlook. Even with horribly broken systems, a grind worthy of an Asian MMO, and periods where I literally sat around doing nothing, there was some odd charm about the game. Perhaps it was the setting, or maybe it was the really cool combat system (yes, it too was broken, but those animations were sweet), but I think it was the storyline.

Let's have a look back the history of Matrix Online and some of the stories no one ever heard about.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: So long, and thanks for all the woah

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: So long, and thanks for all the woah originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedben-chamberlainclosedclosurefeaturedjoystiqfeatureslive-event-characterslive-eventsmorpheusmovie-charactersmxoneurophyteniobenovalis-iiplotlinerarebitsunsetthe-matrix-onlineFri, 29 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: A farewell to Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/the-daily-grind-a-farewell-to-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/the-daily-grind-a-farewell-to-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/the-daily-grind-a-farewell-to-tabula-rasa/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


As this morning dawns across the world, the ranks of MMO communities are down by one. Tabula Rasa, started on the same day that Massively opened its doors, has closed down after one final, epic battle. As MMO players, just about all of us can relate as to how much it would suck to lose the game our community is in, thereby sending that community to the four corners of the gaming world. It's always a hard thing to see any MMO sunsetted.

This morning, we wanted to give those players a chance to reflect on what they loved about Tabula Rasa - the community, the graphics, the story line, the dev interaction. Also, we'd love to hear what your plans are now; other AFS alumni may decide to join you in new gaming pastures! Will there be another MMO, or are you off to play games like Team Fortress 2 and Left 4 Dead?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: A farewell to Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mmommofpsncsoftrgtrrichard-garriottsunsetsunsettedtabula-rasaSun, 01 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabula Rasa server merge to affect US servers only]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/tabula-rasa-server-merge-to-affect-us-servers-only/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/tabula-rasa-server-merge-to-affect-us-servers-only/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/21/tabula-rasa-server-merge-to-affect-us-servers-only/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


We've mentioned in the past that NCsoft plans to merge all four Tabula Rasa servers into one, before the final shutdown on February 28th. Their plan has changed somewhat, as only the three U.S. servers (Pegasus; Orion; Cassiopeia) will be merged into a consolidated server called Hydra.

NCsoft will perform a data capture on Monday, and it may take up to 48 hours beyond that before Hydra is active. NCsoft says, "This means that characters will appear to 'time warp' back to Monday at 12:01 AM on the new server. We do not recommend doing anything irreversible to your character after Monday's data capture, as we are not absolutely confirming the server merge at this time. We will release more details, as well as a final conformation of the server merge, early next week."

Tabula Rasa's European server, Centarus, is not being included in the server merge, and as such will have a separate 'sunset' event for European time zones.

MassivelyTabula Rasa server merge to affect US servers only originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cassiopeiacentarusncsoftorionpegasussci-fiserver-downtimeserver-mergeserver-mergessunsettabula-rasaSat, 21 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: A full MMO or an MM-No?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/the-daily-grind-a-full-mmo-or-an-mm-no/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/the-daily-grind-a-full-mmo-or-an-mm-no/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/23/the-daily-grind-a-full-mmo-or-an-mm-no/#commentsFiled under: ,


Last night while talking about some of the recent news, we hit upon an interesting question in regards to smaller MMOs and sunsetted (or currently being sunsetted titles) Smaller MMOs sadly don't often get a lot of investment in terms of money or developer time, so many times they wind up locked into near-stasis, with perhaps one large content patch per year, if that.

This morning we thought we'd ask - if presented the choice of seeing your MMO which was in heavy development change, which would you prefer? Would you rather it just be shut down altogether; going out at its peak, as it were? Or would you prefer your game to essentially land on life support with only the occasional update and very long development times between them?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: A full MMO or an MM-No? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deadlife-supportmmosunsettabula-rasatrFri, 23 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft clarifies its rationale for closing Tabula Rasa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/ncsoft-clarifies-its-rationale-for-closing-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/ncsoft-clarifies-its-rationale-for-closing-tabula-rasa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/ncsoft-clarifies-its-rationale-for-closing-tabula-rasa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Last week we spoke very briefly with NCsoft's Director of Public Relations David Swofford about the company's decision to close Tabula Rasa. He reiterated the basic statement we heard from several sources surrounding the call: this was all about the bottom line.

David Swofford: We had to weigh Tabula Rasa against everything else that was out there. From our standpoint it was strictly a call ... it wasn't as successful as we needed it to be. We had to take this position.

From our perspective, from the readers of Massively we just feel like there is a little bit of confusion. We spoke with Mr. Reid just two months ago, and the headline we used was 'Tabula Rasa is Triple-A and here to stay'. It just seems like it has been a quick turnaround in two months from 'we have every confidence in this game going forward' to 'we have to shut the game down.' Has something happened in the last two months that prompted this?

Mr. Swofford: My reaction is that definitely at the time we thought we had something good going on ... we had the Operation Immortality promotion going, things were looking good, the team was working on the product. As David said, we considered it a Triple-A level product for the company. Things do change. I think he also said, and I'll reiterate, that we're constantly looking at projects. It's not like you have them out there and you let them go for a while, we're constantly monitoring them and weighing them against the success that they're having against the current market.

I think things changed quite a bit since when you did that interview.

Thank you for clarifying that - it's good to be able to get that explained, there was definitely a sense of confusion on the site.

Mr. Swofford: No, no, we understand. This was not a popular thing and certainly not a pleasant thing to do on our end. When you look at it from a business sense it was really what we needed to do.

MassivelyNCsoft clarifies its rationale for closing Tabula Rasa originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david-swoffordfeaturedinterviewncsoftshutdownsunsettabula-rasatrMon, 01 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should MMO companies offer severance packages?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/the-daily-grind-should-mmo-companies-offer-severance-packages/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/the-daily-grind-should-mmo-companies-offer-severance-packages/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/the-daily-grind-should-mmo-companies-offer-severance-packages/#commentsFiled under: , ,


As we're now aware, NCsoft has recently made the decision to shut down Tabula Rasa after the first of the year. As an attempt at goodwill - or more likely retaining at least some of the departing Tabula Rasa player-base - they've offered a 'severance package' of sorts to the players. This package includes two months of City of Heroes/City of Villains and two free months of Aion among other things. It's certainly causing some discussion here at the Massively virtual offices, to be sure.

This morning we thought we'd come to you with the question we've been batting around behind the scenes recently. When a company decides to sunset an MMO, do you think it's a nice gesture for them to offer a package of free time in their other MMOs? Or do you think it seems more like an obvious grab, offering players of one sub-type of MMO (in this case an FPS sci-fi game) a completely different sub-type (super hero and fantasy)? If you're a Tabula Rasa player, will the offer they made entice you to at least try out City of Heroes or Aion, or have you decided to cut ties with NCsoft and head for other gaming pastures?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should MMO companies offer severance packages? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aioncity-of-heroesmmommo-industryncsoftseverance-packagesunsetsunsettedtabula-rasaMon, 24 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Why must MMOs die?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/the-digital-continuum-why-must-mmos-die/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/the-digital-continuum-why-must-mmos-die/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/22/the-digital-continuum-why-must-mmos-die/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Sitting on my desk are copies of Earth and Beyond and Auto Assault. In fact, I've even got a CE box for Auto Assault (that thing cost me 80 bucks). Unfortunately, these games are just dust collectors now. I keep them to remind me of the possibility of sunset and how much it can suck. Even if you didn't play Tabula Rasa, there were thousands of people who did, and that's all that really matters

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Why must MMOs die?

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Why must MMOs die? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto-assaultcity-of-heroescohcrypticdestination-gameseaearth-and-beyondfeaturedjoystiqfeaturesncsoftncsoft-norcalnetdevilsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiessunsetsunsettingswgtabula-rasawestwoodSat, 22 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST