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[World of Darkness creative director talks design and the MMO mainstream]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/world-of-darkness-creative-director-talks-design-and-the-mmo-mai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/world-of-darkness-creative-director-talks-design-and-the-mmo-mai/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/world-of-darkness-creative-director-talks-design-and-the-mmo-mai/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

World of Darkness - Masquerade rose
A new interview at Gamasutra posits that CCP is gunning for mainstream success with its upcoming World of Darkness MMO. The EVE Online developer has cornered what's left of the hardcore sandbox market, so now it's looking to marry EVE's emergent gameplay with more familiar MMO staples. "The way to drag people in will be traditional themepark-style PvE play. Once players get into the setting, they'll see the appeal of the sandbox play," says WoD creative director Reynir Hardarson.

Despite the concessions to mainstream accessibility, EVE's influence on World of Darkness will be more than superficial. "The live-action roleplayers of the Vampire the Masquerade tabletop game play this way," Hardarson explains. "It's really about politics and power plays."

Why don't more MMO developers try their hand at sandbox mechanics? Hardarson says designing for emergent play is difficult because you can't test it. It's worth it, though, because MMOs that hand-hold and limit players to a linear path miss the point. "I'm not a five-year-old. If I want to go in the cave and I want to die, that's my problem," Hardarson says.

MassivelyWorld of Darkness creative director talks design and the MMO mainstream originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilityccpccp-gamesemergent-designemergent-gameplayfantasygothichorrorinterviewmainstreammmo-mainstreamplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentreynir-hardarsonsandboxsupernaturaluser-generated-contentvampirevampireswhite-wolfwodworld-of-darknessTue, 24 Apr 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: Shut up about Mass Effect edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-mmo-report-shut-up-about-mass-effect-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-mmo-report-shut-up-about-mass-effect-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/the-mmo-report-shut-up-about-mass-effect-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

MMO Report
This week on The MMO Report, Casey tells everyone to stop whining about Mass Effect 3's ending, laments the loss of the "online" part of Warhammer 40K: Dark Millennium Online, touches on the World of Darkness keynote, and outlines The Secret World's preorder plans. He also reveals the identity of one of TERA's key voice actors: Michael Hogan (of Battlestar Galactica fame), who will play Samael in the final game. Finally, he pulls one measly letter from the mailbag and debates which class he represents in TERA.

Enjoy the full MMO Report after the cut!

Continue reading The MMO Report: Shut up about Mass Effect edition

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Shut up about Mass Effect edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vanguard
Massively Speaking Episode 194 welcomes aboard resident Star Trek Online expert Terilynn Shull to talk about Tribbles and bits and why Star Trek doesn't have more "The Fly" incidents involving the transporter and local flora or fauna. Captain Archer would have been vastly improved by beaming him into a badger.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

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Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 194: Bookah bookah!

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 194: Bookah bookah! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbrantbrianna-royceccpccp-gamesend-of-nationseonf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegothicguild-wars-2gw2horrorhumorjustin-olivettimassively-speakingmmortsncsoftopinionpetroglyphpetroglyph-gamespodcastpodcastingpodcastsromrtsrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxsci-fisoesonysony-online-entertainmentsupernaturaltaboreatelontriontrion-worldsvampirevampiresvanguardvanguard-saga-of-heroesvgwarwhite-wolfwodworld-of-darknessTue, 27 Mar 2012 13:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 194Massively.com Staff01:05:44podcasts<![CDATA[World of Darkness presented at EVE Fanfest 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/24/world-of-darkness-presented-at-eve-fanfest-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/24/world-of-darkness-presented-at-eve-fanfest-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/24/world-of-darkness-presented-at-eve-fanfest-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

World of Darkness title image
Ever since CCP Games merged with White Wolf, it has been developing the World of Darkness MMO. The game is nowhere near complete, and fans worried that last year's heavy layoffs at the Atlanta office had slowed the game's production. We haven't heard much about World of Darkness since then, but today at the EVE Online Fanfest, a few new details were revealed. Attendees were shown some early in-game footage of a city and given a mix of information we already knew and snippets of new information.

CCP wants to draw in the largely female World of Darkness fanbase. The game will have a focus on fashion, and CCP will control the theme of that fashion rather than letting players design their own clothes. The game will be based in the Vampire: The Masquerade universe, with an initial focus on vampires before the introduction of the other factions. Vampires will use human blood as a currency; it will be the resource they'll compete over, making human cities the central locations they will inhabit. When mages and other character types are released, they will compete for different resources.

The game will have a single-shard world, with sandbox territorial warfare for control of cities mirroring EVE Online's nullsec warfare. Developers investigated using real cities for the game but found that "real cities were generally boring." Presenters told fans that the team will "be using stylised versions, but they will be named after real cities." Each city will be lorded over by a player prince, who will under rare circumstances be potentially subjected to permadeath. The world's original vampire clans will be available on release, and CCP confirmed that it won't be using vampire generations as a form of leveling system but instead will be doing something different with it.

MassivelyWorld of Darkness presented at EVE Fanfest 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online title image
When CCP Games laid off 20% of its worldwide staff back in October of last year, the World of Darkness dev team bore the brunt of the cuts while DUST 514 continued on course for its launch later this year. In an interview over at TenTonHammer today, CCP's new Chief Marketing Officer, David Reid, joined CEO Hilmar Petursson to discuss the development of both games. Hilmar reveals that a team of 60 developers are currently working on WoD, and that DUST 514 will be playable at this year's EVE Online fanfest event in March.

Despite acknowledging that the entire PlayStation Network comprises a total of 60 million users, Reid asserts that DUST will bring "tens of millions of people that play shooters on PSN into the New Eden universe," going on to make the bold statement that "EVE could be the biggest game in the world at the end of 2012" as a result. Reid also claims that "EVE Online is the only game in the West that has shown consecutive growth year after year," a statement that's sure to upset RuneScape developer Jagex and others. The statement also comes with a slightly bitter note as this year EVE may have lost its record of continual subscription growth during the summer drama.

MassivelyInterview confirms World of Darkness dev team, predicts DUST 514 sales originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gamescmoconsoledavid-reiddustdust-514eveeve-onlinef2pfantasyfpsfree-to-playgothichilmar-peturssonhorrorinterviewjagexjagex-games-studiomillionsmmofpsplaystationplaystation-3PlayStation-Networkps3psnrsrunescapesalessandboxsci-fishootersupernaturalvampirevampireswhite-wolfwodworld-of-darknessFri, 03 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest Ask Cryptic on Champions Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/newest-ask-cryptic-on-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/newest-ask-cryptic-on-champions-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/04/newest-ask-cryptic-on-champions-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

For whatever people may fault them on, Cryptic Studios has an excellent track record for trying to keep communications open between the company and the fans. Champions Online regularly allows players to ask any number and breadth of questions in the Ask Cryptic feature, and hot on the heels of the melee powerset developer diary comes the latest batch of questions. While the focus tends toward the Supernatural power set, a wide variety of topics are included, as well as a bit more talk about the issues of melee characters versus ranged ones.

Players excited by the new changes can take heart in the news that the entire Super Powers Patch (of which both the upcoming Supernatural changes and the melee changes are a part) should be hitting the test server soon. There's a fairly detailed breakdown of many affected Supernatural powers, as well as more abstract issues like why there aren't more cosmetic variants to power effects. The answers also discuss briefly how melee damage had already been tuned higher than ranged damage in hopes of balancing the two. Any Champions Online player should take a look at the answers, as they cover a variety of topics -- and may well give you ideas for when the next edition of Ask Cryptic rolls around.

MassivelyNewest Ask Cryptic on Champions Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 04 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticbalancechampions-onlinecocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosmeleepower-balancingpower-setsrangedsupernaturalSun, 04 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online devs reveal Mystic power sets: Sorcery and Supernatural]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/03/champions-online-devs-reveal-mystic-power-sets-sorcery-and-supe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/03/champions-online-devs-reveal-mystic-power-sets-sorcery-and-supe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/03/champions-online-devs-reveal-mystic-power-sets-sorcery-and-supe/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Over the past few weeks, the developers at Cryptic Studios have been walking readers through the various powers that will be available to Champions Online players, from Energy Projectors to Martial Arts, as well as Power Replacers. Now they're giving us a look at the game's Mystic power sets -- Sorcery and Supernatural -- for those players who want to dabble in the dark arts.

Do you know your Circles of Power from your Circles of Summoning? When should you use a Sigil instead of an Invocation? The Champions Online devs explain all matters arcane in this latest, and final, "All About Powers", and discuss their intent to create subsets of Mystic powers that better fit a given character's concept. Whether you're looking to create a Primal Shaman, a Necromancer, or a pure Arcane-type, you might enjoy this latest dev blog on the official Champions Online site.

MassivelyChampions Online devs reveal Mystic power sets: Sorcery and Supernatural originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champions-onlinecircles-of-powercircles-of-summoningcryptic-studiosdev-blogdev-blogsenergy-projectorsgame-mechanicsinvocationsmartial-artsmysticnew-titlespower-replacepower-replacerspower-setpower-setssigilssorcerysuper-herosupernaturalFri, 03 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tales from the Pirates of the Burning Sea endgame press tour]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/07/tales-from-the-pirates-of-the-burning-sea-endgame-press-tour/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/07/tales-from-the-pirates-of-the-burning-sea-endgame-press-tour/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/07/tales-from-the-pirates-of-the-burning-sea-endgame-press-tour/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


We at Massively have been watching the Pirates of the Burning Sea beta for quite a while, but this week, Sony emailed us with an offer to go where we'd never gone before: the endgame. So yesterday morning, I strapped on my cutlass, adjusted my tricorner, and logged in and joined the "FLS Leisure Tours" group to check out a press tour of the Pirates open beta.

While lots of people have gone through the early game a few times already (and you can right now in the open beta), I was very interested to see what FLS had in store for us at later levels. Read on to see where the folks from Flying Labs teleported us to, and just a taste of what players can expect to see in the PotBS endgame.

Gallery: Pirates of the Burning Sea Press Tour

Continue reading Tales from the Pirates of the Burning Sea endgame press tour

MassivelyTales from the Pirates of the Burning Sea endgame press tour originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gamespot has added a preview of Pirates of the Burning Sea that is solely to do with the supernatural content found in the game, and makes us anticipate the game's release even more. Apparently, a significant portion of content (10-15%) will take place in an area known as the Bermuda Triangle -- you may have heard of it. Happenings in the Triangle tend to lean towards the decidedly-spooky, and the quests that Gamespot managed to see involved zombie armies, voodoo priestesses and possessed crew mates.

Some of the finer details in the preview show the effort that developer Flying Lab Software is putting in to make their game unique. An interesting part of the article tells of how the remains of a vanquished zombie can be donned and used as a disguise, to hide within enemy ranks. However, since the NPC monsters themselves move at walking pace, if you happen to break step and move a little too fast, the other zombies will realize something is up and turn on you.

Continue reading Pirates of the Burning Sea's supernatural side

MassivelyPirates of the Burning Sea's supernatural side originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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