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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Clone Wars Adventures not (immediately) affected by EA/Disney deal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/clone-wars-adventures-not-immediately-affected-by-ea-disney-de/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/clone-wars-adventures-not-immediately-affected-by-ea-disney-de/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/08/clone-wars-adventures-not-immediately-affected-by-ea-disney-de/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Clone Wars Adventures not immediately affected by EADisney deal
If you're a Star Wars fan, you've no doubt heard of EA's acquisition of an exclusive multi-year license for creating games based on the iconic space story, a license that spans multiple platforms. But what does that mean for current -- or even past -- Star Wars MMOs that aren't connected to that studio? Massively jumped on the case and contacted SOE to find out what, if any, effect this agreement between EA and Disney would have on its past and present titles.

Specifically, we asked if Clone Wars Adventures would be forced to shut down when the current license expires. Of course, we also slipped in a question as to whether or not that deal prevented any possibility of a return of Star Wars Galaxies. As for CWA, the studio replied "Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures is fully armed and operational, and this week's announcement does not affect our current agreement with Lucasfilm." So the browser-based games appears safe -- at least for now. The studio, however, declined to comment on SWG.

MassivelyClone Wars Adventures not (immediately) affected by EA/Disney deal originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 May 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedclassic-mmoclone-warsclone-wars-adventurescwaEAEA-Disney-licensing-dealfamilygalaxieskid-friendlykidslobbyminigamesandboxsci-fantasysci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgoWed, 08 May 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Could Lord of the Rings Online end in 2014?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/the-road-to-mordor-could-lord-of-the-rings-online-end-in-2014/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/the-road-to-mordor-could-lord-of-the-rings-online-end-in-2014/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/05/04/the-road-to-mordor-could-lord-of-the-rings-online-end-in-2014/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Road to Mordor Could Lord of the Rings Online end in 2014
Almost two years ago, Star Wars Galaxies players were rocked to their core by the news that their virtual world was to be sunsetted at the end of the year. Despite obvious SOE love for the title and player petitions, the call was already made: LucasArts didn't want to renew the contract with SOE, and that was that. Because of an IP, an entire galaxy was lost.

It's one of the "cons" of IP-based MMOs. Because there is licensing and contracts and other legal mumbo-jumbo involved, an online game that is completely wedded to an intellectual property has the added danger of being shut down completely if the IP is denied to the studio. SWG is a sobering lesson as to how this can happen to an otherwise healthy game.

If you haven't noticed already, Lord of the Rings Online is somewhat inspired by a certain IP. This IP can survive without the game, but the opposite is not true. So the scary question that we'd rather not ask is this: What if Turbine loses the rights have its game set in the Lord of the Rings universe?

It's not an unreasonable question. And what makes it even scarier is that it could conceivably happen as early as next year.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Could Lord of the Rings Online end in 2014?

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Could Lord of the Rings Online end in 2014? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playlegallicenselicensinglord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolucasartsmiddle-earth-enterprisesopinionroad-to-mordorstar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-road-to-mordortolkien-enterprisesturbineturbine-entertainmentwarner-broswbSat, 04 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Final moments of MMOs, part 1]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-perfect-ten-final-moments-of-mmos-part-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-perfect-ten-final-moments-of-mmos-part-1/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/11/the-perfect-ten-final-moments-of-mmos-part-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten Final moments of MMOs
Maybe many of us would just rather remember MMOs as they were in life rather than at the moment of their demise. But I believe that how a game went out is incredibly fascinating for many reasons and worthy of examination.

It's in these final moments when an entire community has to say goodbye. It's in these moments that the developers mourn as well before pulling the plug. It's in these moments that history is being made one last time. And it goes without saying that it's in these moments that everyone curses the unfairness of it all.

Today we're going to watch the first half of 10 videos featuring MMOs in their final moments. It's here we'll see how weird, crazy, sad, and interesting things can get. Maybe you were part of one (or more) of these moments or are simply curious what it was like. Either way, it's the end of the world as we know it. And we feel fine.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Final moments of MMOs, part 1

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Final moments of MMOs, part 1 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic-mmocomposercomposersdungeon-runnerseqoaeverquest-online-adventuresfeaturedfinal-momentsgalaxiesgame-musicjukeboxjukebox-heroesjustin-olivettimmo-jukeboxmmo-musicmusicmxoopinionsandboxsci-fishutdownsoesony-online-entertainmentsoundtracksoundtracksstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgswgotabula-rasathe-matrix-onlineThu, 11 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Raph Koster is open to making another 'worldy MMO']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/raph-koster-is-open-to-making-another-worldy-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/raph-koster-is-open-to-making-another-worldy-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/02/raph-koster-is-open-to-making-another-worldy-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Raph Koster may make another 'worldy MMO'
On his personal blog, Raph Koster announced that he has left Disney to become an unemployed game developer. The big question is, of course, what's next for the driving force behind Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies. The answer is... he doesn't know.

However, Koster does indicate that he is open to working on another traditional MMO, but not one born of Kickstarter. "I suspect that those of you who want this all want me to make a worldy MMO," he writes. "I may yet make one of those in the future, but I don't think that you can raise enough money on Kickstarter to do it justice."

Koster says that he might be doing some consulting, writing, and speaking, but what he wants to do most is to "simply start making games." He claims that GDC inspired him to get back into the game-making business, big-time. He also says contrary to some rumors, he is not working with Richard Garriott on Shroud of the Avatar.

MassivelyRaph Koster is open to making another 'worldy MMO' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disneygdcgdc-2013kickstartermetaplacemmoraph-kosterrichard-garriottshroud-of-the-avatarstar-wars-galaxiesswgultima-onlineTue, 02 Apr 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: ???]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/one-shots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/one-shots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/24/one-shots/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

One Shots
There's a lot going on in our lead picture here. There are question marks, a fungus person, a pointedly staring frog, and enough colors to give Crayola a run for its money. But what is it about? What does it mean?

Reader Stacy helps clear things up: "That's mah frog. This was around April Fool's last year (those question marks are fireworks from that in-game event and are amazing in motion). This was my first house; I got it for free from the EverQuest in-game card game, so I did not have much decoration. I bought a bunch of pets from a man down the street and set them loose, then set off all my fireworks and partied the night away with frog and friends."

See, if we did most of these activities in real life, we'd be in jail. Aren't MMOs grand?

Continue reading One Shots: ???

MassivelyOne Shots: ??? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bring-back-one-shotsclassic-mmoeqeq1everquestf2pfantasyfree-to-playgalaxiesgalleriesgalleryneocronneocron-2one-shotspics-or-it-didnt-happenreader-screenshotsreader-submissionssandboxsci-fiscreenshotscreenshotssoesonysony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgouser-submissionsSun, 24 Mar 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaderboard: What's the best Star Wars MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/leaderboard-whats-the-best-star-wars-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/leaderboard-whats-the-best-star-wars-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/04/leaderboard-whats-the-best-star-wars-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

SWG is the best Star Wars MMO regardless of this poll result!
Star Wars has gotten the MMO treatment not once, not twice, but three times. This is assuming that you count SOE's Clone Wars Adventures browser title, which I do since it features extensive progression, non-combat activities, and a slew of other MMO-like features in spite of its heavy use of instancing.

Then there's Star Wars Galaxies, of course, followed by Star Wars: The Old Republic. For today's Leaderboard, help us pick the best Star Wars MMO (or at least, the most popular according to Massively commenters). Vote after the cut!

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: What's the best Star Wars MMO?

MassivelyLeaderboard: What's the best Star Wars MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-royalbiowarebrowserbrowser-basedclassic-mmoclone-warsclone-wars-adventurescwaeaelectronic-artsf2pfamilyfree-to-playgalaxieskid-friendlykidsleaderboardlobbylucasartsminigameone-on-oneone-vs-oneopinionpollpollssandboxsci-fantasysci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorversusvotevotesvotingvsMon, 04 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should player homes decay?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/the-daily-grind-should-player-homes-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/the-daily-grind-should-player-homes-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/01/the-daily-grind-should-player-homes-decay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

UO housing tiles
One of the issues plaguing player housing in MMOs is what to do with those houses after the player-owners have left the game or stopped paying for their subscriptions. In Ultima Online, the granddaddy of all MMO housing, your home drops to the ground if you haven't paid your sub in 90 days (and your shardmates can loot all your stuff in a grand free-for-all!). In Star Wars Galaxies, your house stayed standing until it ran out of pre-paid maintenance money, which worked pretty well to help the active players reclaim city space until maintenance was turned off for a few years in consideration for hurricane victims.

Even games with instanced housing feel the space crunch. In Lord of the Rings Online, failure to pay your maintenance fees in-game leads to the eventual return of your lot to the public pool and your having to buy back all your loot from an escrow NPC.

MMO developers are torn between the desire to lure back former players with the promise that their houses are still intact and the desire to keep the world, instanced or not, clear and open for paying or active players. So what do you guys think -- what should be the more dominant goal? If you step away from a game, should your character's home decay? And if it did, would you ever return to the game?

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: Should player homes decay? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinddecayhomehomeshousehousinghousing-decaylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionplayer-housingstar-wars-galaxiesswgtdgthe-daily-grindUltima-OnlineuoFri, 01 Mar 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Kick(start)ing the sandbox genre]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/some-assembly-required-kick-start-ing-the-sandbox-genre-into-hi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/some-assembly-required-kick-start-ing-the-sandbox-genre-into-hi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/some-assembly-required-kick-start-ing-the-sandbox-genre-into-hi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Some Assembly Required Kickstarting the sandbox genre into higher gear
Sandbox aficionados are known to reminisce about the "good old days." You know, that time long lost in the past when the greats of open-world play like Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies (pre-NGE of course) enjoyed their heyday. Many a lamentation has also been heard about how things have never been the same, or how nothing has filled that void.

Of course, the sandbox never died. In 2012 we started the year off with a guide to games sporting sandbox features to scratch a variety of virtual world itches and we ended with a look at some promising upcoming titles for 2013. With plenty of choices abounding, why are sandbox fans still decrying the lack of a home? It could be because they want one home for everyone to settle in together, basically one game to rule them all. But how realistic is that?

Even with the plethora of offerings now, many folks want to play their ideal sandbox, and everyone has their own idea of what the perfect one would be (and conversely, what would kill it). Perhaps the answer, then, is to forget about a single universal home that accommodates the masses and actually create a number of niche games where people find exactly what they are looking for. Wait, that's already happening? Enter Kickstarter.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Kick(start)ing the sandbox genre

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Kick(start)ing the sandbox genre originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>above-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologieschris-robertscitadel-of-sorceryclassic-mmocrowd-fundingcrowdfundingeaelectronic-artsembers-of-caerusfantasyfeaturedgalaxiesgame-mechanicsgoblinworksGreed-MongerKickstarterkickstarter-campaignKickstarter.comlord-britishmichael-dunhammythicmythic-entertainmentnotoriousnotorious-gamesopinionorigins-of-malupathfinderpathfinder-onlinepgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpnppost-apocpost-apocalypticPrison-Worldpvprepopulationsandboxsandparksarsci-fantasysci-fishowing-supportsoesome-assembly-requiredsony-online-entertainmentspaceshipstar-citizenstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgothe-repopulationultimaultima onlineuoVendetta-OnlinexsyonFri, 01 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: The ultimate MMORPG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/some-assembly-required-the-ultimate-mmorpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/some-assembly-required-the-ultimate-mmorpg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/18/some-assembly-required-the-ultimate-mmorpg/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required 17
It's been raining for four days straight, and I've been cooped up in my house with nothing but a head cold and a bunch of time to think about my ideal sandbox MMORPG.

For this week's Some Assembly Required, then, I'm shamelessly borrowing the format from Massively's MMO Blender column to construct a perfect(ly) theoretical hybrid. I've done so once before, but this time I'm going to put the focus on fantasy instead of on the sci-fi stylings of Star Citizen and Star Wars Galaxies.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: The ultimate MMORPG

MassivelySome Assembly Required: The ultimate MMORPG originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic-mmocraftingeconomyeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfeaturedfrankengamefree-to-playgalaxiesgame-mechanicsmakers-marknamed-crafting-itemsnon-combat-gameplayopinionperfect-mmopgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsarsci-fisoesome-assembly-requiredsonysony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgotradeskillingFri, 18 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite non-combat feature?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/07/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-non-combat-feature/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/07/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-non-combat-feature/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/07/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-non-combat-feature/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Daily Grind
Non-combat features don't get a lot of love in popular MMOs these days, but there have nonetheless been some interesting experiments in this department over the years. From RIFT's housing to Star Wars Galaxies' Entertainers to Lord of the Rings Online's music system, several genre titles have strayed from the straight and narrow of violence and character progression.

Upcoming titles like Age of Wushu and ArcheAge are adding new wrinkles as well, so for today's Daily Grind we'd like to hear your thoughts on non-combat MMO features. Specifically, which one is your favorite?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your favorite non-combat feature? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaage-of-wulinage-of-wushuarche-agearcheageasiachinachinesechinese-mmoclassic-mmoconquestdaily-grindf2pfantasyfree-to-playgalaxiesgpotatogvgjet-likidnappinglord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromartial-artsming-dynastynon-combatnon-combat-gameplayopinionpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrsandboxsandparksci-fisnail-gamessnail-games-usasoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgotdgthe-daily-grindthree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsturbineturbine-entertainmentwushuwuxiaxl-gamesxlgamesMon, 07 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist: Asheron's Call 2 returns from the dead]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/15/the-game-archaeologist-asherons-call-2-returns-from-the-dead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/15/the-game-archaeologist-asherons-call-2-returns-from-the-dead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/15/the-game-archaeologist-asherons-call-2-returns-from-the-dead/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Game Archaeologist Asheron's Call 2 returns from the dead
No, the above picture is not some sort of long-forgotten, dusty archive picture of Asheron's Call 2 from back in the day; it's from the live game this past Thursday evening. How incredibly, insanely weird is that?

Turbine absolutely stunned the MMO community the other day when it casually announced that it was bringing back its second title, cancelled since 2005, on a new server. Our editor-in-chief burst into the office chat room screaming, "AC2! AC2! AC2!" It took us a minute to realize that she wasn't just discovering the Assassin's Creed series but had in fact learned that the impossible had happened: An old, deceased MMO had been brought back to life.

As the resident MMO historian here at Massively, I felt this was kind of like going to Jurassic Park and seeing all of those dinosaurs after spending most of my time merely reading about them. In the blink of an eye, Asheron's Call 2 went from the ancient past to the playable present. We've got a lot to talk about today, including my hands-on experiences with the title and thoughts about what this means for classic MMOs. Let's not waste any time!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Asheron's Call 2 returns from the dead

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: Asheron's Call 2 returns from the dead originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acac2asherons-callasherons-call-2city-of-heroesclassicclassic-mmoclassic-mmosclassicscohderethfantasyfeaturedgame-archaelogistnostalgiaopinionresurrectedresurrectionsandboxstar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-game-archaeologistturbineturbine-entertainmentzombie-mmoSat, 15 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When was the last time a character creator didn't tick you off?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/the-daily-grind-when-was-the-last-time-a-character-creator-didn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/the-daily-grind-when-was-the-last-time-a-character-creator-didn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/the-daily-grind-when-was-the-last-time-a-character-creator-didn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

You can be anyone you want when you grow up as long as it's one of these eight people
For me, it was PlanetSide 2. Admittedly, I usually prefer insanely robust character creation systems; give me five million options or go away, right? And yet even with all the options, those games with the very best character creation systems -- a moment of silence, please, for Star Wars Galaxies and City of Heroes -- were saddled with their own strange quirks, like crazy boob sliders, insufficient tools for making non-European characters, and an obvious disdain for aging or overweight or otherwise socially unacceptable toons. You can have 50 different mohawk styles, but if you want wrinkles, realistic breast physics, or a waist thicker than your wrist, then god help you.

By limiting options to four heads per gender (only one apiece European) and by making sure my female character is believably muscled and armored, PlanetSide 2's character creator manages to secure an advantage over more robust systems. By going minimalist and choosing to leave out almost everything instead of only one or two things that make me question the designers' motives, SOE has effectively curtailed complaints.

But is that worth it? When was the last time a character creator didn't offend you?

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: When was the last time a character creator didn't tick you off? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boob-slidersbrianna-royce-tdgcharacter-creationcharacter-creatorcity-of-heroescohdaily-grindminimalismopinionplanetside-2ps2soeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgtdgthe-daily-grindFri, 14 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What obscure mechanic should become a standard MMO feature?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/the-daily-grind-what-obscure-mechanic-should-become-a-standard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/the-daily-grind-what-obscure-mechanic-should-become-a-standard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/the-daily-grind-what-obscure-mechanic-should-become-a-standard/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Daily Grind - What obscure mechanic should become a standard MMO feature?
Over the weekend we learned that The Repopulation will be implementing some sort of Entertainer skill set that is at least partly inspired by similar mechanics in Star Wars Galaxies. SWG's signature non-combat profession is still unique in MMO annals, though, and we got to wondering if there are other nifty mechanics that should be revisited in newer games.

What do you think? Is there a particular class, system, or MMO mechanic that you'd like to see become an MMORPG standard?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What obscure mechanic should become a standard MMO feature? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>above-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologiesclassic-mmodaily-grindentertainerentertainersgalaxiesopinionrepopulationrepopulation-entertainersandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswg-entertainerswgotdgthe-daily-grindthe-repopulationMon, 03 Dec 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[University study explores game loyalty in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/university-study-explores-game-loyalty-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/university-study-explores-game-loyalty-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/university-study-explores-game-loyalty-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

University study explains gamer loyalty
Developers who want to build a loyal fan base (and subsequently increase profits) might want to check out the findings of a new study conducted by the University at Buffalo School of Management. One of the study's conclusions is something that many MMO gamers probably suspect: Giving players more control of their characters and building a community fosters loyalty.

Dr. Lawrence Sanders, co-author of the study, discussed how most research focuses on the addictive nature of games instead of the reasons behind players committing to one game over another. He wrote, "Our study looked at how to make [games] more competitive in the marketplace." Sanders pointed out that research shows an increase in customer retention by as little as 5% can increase profits by 25 to 95%.

So how can developers create the fierce loyalty found in MMO communities surrounding games like World of Warcraft and Star Wars Galaxies? According to the results of the study, which will be published in the International Journal of Electronic Commerce, Sanders suggested that "to build a player's feeling of ownership toward his character, gamemakers should provide equal opportunities for any character to win a battle. They should also build more selective or elaborate chat rooms and guild features to help players socialize."

MassivelyUniversity study explores game loyalty in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentclassic-mmofantasygalaxiesgaming-studiesLawrence-Sandersloyaltysandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgouniversity-at-buffalowarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 16 Nov 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Gearing up for SWTOR Update 1.5]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/hyperspace-beacon-gearing-up-for-swtor-update-1-5/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/hyperspace-beacon-gearing-up-for-swtor-update-1-5/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/hyperspace-beacon-gearing-up-for-swtor-update-1-5/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon Gearing up for SWTOR Update 15
Star Wars: The Old Republic fans have been anticipating this week since the middle of the summer, and many players who dropped the game shortly after launch are looking forward to trying it out again. Veteran players are most likely familiar with how gear progression works in this game, but those returning will probably need a refresher course. After all, BioWare has made some significant changes, especially to PvP, since the game launched. It's quite understandable if you return to the game and are completely lost when considering how viable your current gear is.

Today, I'm going to speak to the returning players and help them put their gear to rights once Update 1.5 launches. If you are a solo PvEer who hasn't looked too hard at endgame gear progression, a PvPer who hasn't looked at the PvE side much, or a raider who wants to dabble in PvP, this mini-guide will help you get started and will give you the gear-progression goals you should shoot for.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Gearing up for SWTOR Update 1.5

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Gearing up for SWTOR Update 1.5 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclassic-mmoeaelectronic-artsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playgalaxiesgame-updategeargear-progressionhyperspace-beaconlucasartsNGEnovember-15opinionpatchPvEPvPsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorupdate-1.5Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 223: Island vacation getaway]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/massively-speaking-episode-223-island-vacation-getaway/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/massively-speaking-episode-223-island-vacation-getaway/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/06/massively-speaking-episode-223-island-vacation-getaway/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Massively Speaking Episode 223
Justin and Lis are packing their bags and setting out on Tyria Cruise Lines for destinations unknown! Even dedicated MMO players need a vacation once in a while, so why not abandon the life of slaughter for a respite on a beautiful beach somewhere? That always sounds good, of course, until one starts to wonder if that crab over there will drop any good loot...

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

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 223: Island vacation getaway

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 223: Island vacation getaway originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asherons-callbrantbrianna-roycedisneydust-514featuredguild-wars-2humorjustin-olivettimassively-speakingopinionpodcastpodcastingpodcastsproject-copernicusstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtorvanguardTue, 06 Nov 2012 16:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 223Massively.com Staff00:35:12podcast<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A tale of two shutdowns starring City of Heroes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-tale-of-two-shutdowns-starring-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-tale-of-two-shutdowns-starring-city/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/31/a-mild-mannered-reporter-a-tale-of-two-shutdowns-starring-city/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A few weeks left.
It's been about a year since Star Wars Galaxies was shut down, and for a lot of people that wound is still fresh. For a sadly vocal minority, that wound is so fresh as to provoke a lot of groundless vitriol toward any available target -- but that's not the point. The point is that what happened to that game is happening again, to City of Heroes, and the players are just as powerless to stop it.

Except that it's not the same thing, not really. There are different reasons behind the closure of City of Heroes, different protests, and different player organizing taking place. The result is a scenario that's both a clear parallel to an earlier tragedy and its own unique blend of awful circumstances at the same time.

When we first heard the announcement, fellow City of Heroes player and former Star Wars Galaxies player Brianna Royce asked me if I felt the same way about CoH as I had about SWG. As we talked about it, though, it became clear that there were certain parallels being drawn that just didn't work. So I'm going to talk about what happened to both games, starting with the very significant difference between the two games shutting down.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: A tale of two shutdowns starring City of Heroes

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: A tale of two shutdowns starring City of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-mild-mannered-reporterbusinessbusiness-decisionscity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassic-mmocohcorporate-managementcovcoxf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgalaxieslegallucasartsmild-mannered-reporterncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiossandboxsave-cohsci-fishutdownsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessuperherosuperheroesswgswgoWed, 31 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Disney buys out Lucasfilm, LucasArts for $4.05 billion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/disney-buys-out-lucasfilm-lucasarts-for-4-05-billion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/disney-buys-out-lucasfilm-lucasarts-for-4-05-billion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/disney-buys-out-lucasfilm-lucasarts-for-4-05-billion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

LucasArts logo
Disney is continuing its quest for global domination of the entertainment industry by announcing that it has bought out Lucasfilm -- including the studio's game developing branch, LucasArts -- for $4.05 billion US. While we're sure the nerdosphere has plenty to say about Disney's development of the upcoming Star Wars Episode VII (slated for release in 2015), we MMO fans are probably focused on a different facet of the buyout.

Now that LucasArts is under Disney's wide-reaching umbrella, there's a distinct possibility that we'll be seeing a new breed of Star Wars games hitting shelves in the near future. The question is, of course, whether a new Star Wars MMO could rise from the new ownership. So let's discuss, dear readers. Do you think a new Star Wars MMO is on the horizon? If so, what would you like to see? Many gamers mourned the loss of Star Wars Galaxies last year. Would you like to see a revival with Disney at the helm, or would you rather see something completely different? Smack on your tin-foil hats and let the speculation run rampant, folks.

MassivelyDisney buys out Lucasfilm, LucasArts for $4.05 billion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disneylucasartslucasfilmspeculationstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtorTue, 30 Oct 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Blender: Jef's SWG/Star Citizen mashup]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/26/mmo-blender-jefs-swg-star-citizen-mashup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/26/mmo-blender-jefs-swg-star-citizen-mashup/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/26/mmo-blender-jefs-swg-star-citizen-mashup/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

MMO Blender: Jef's SWG/Star Citizen mashup
Thus far I've managed to keep my nose out of Massively's MMO Blender column. This is primarily because I don't need 1000 words to describe the ideal MMORPG when a short phrase like "Star Wars Galaxies minus the IP" basically sums everything up.

That said, something happened a couple of weeks ago that caused me to expand on this idea. Chris Roberts returned to the ranks of gamemakers, and when he announced his Star Citizen multiplayer title (which I desperately hope he renames, incidentally), it set in motion an MMO flight of fancy that I would love to experience.

Continue reading MMO Blender: Jef's SWG/Star Citizen mashup

MassivelyMMO Blender: Jef's SWG/Star Citizen mashup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Oct 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armchair-game-designchris-robertsclassic-mmoeconomyfavorite-mmofeaturedgalaxiesgame-designgame-mechanicsjedi-suckmechanicsmission-generatormmo-blendermmo-mechanicsmmo-mix-tapemmo-mixologymmo-storyopinionplayer-generated-contentsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentspace-simstar-citizenstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-galaxies-minus-the-ipstar-wars-galaxies-without-the-ipstorytellerswgswg-minus-the-ipswg-without-the-ipswgouser-generated-contentFri, 26 Oct 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your most-hated MMO zone?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/the-daily-grind-whats-your-most-hated-mmo-zone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/the-daily-grind-whats-your-most-hated-mmo-zone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/19/the-daily-grind-whats-your-most-hated-mmo-zone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Daily Grind What's your most hated MMO zone
Star Wars Galaxies may have been my favorite MMO, but its pre-NGE Rage of Wookiees expansion introduced what I consider the worst MMO zone of all time: Kashyyyk. Unlike the wide-open planets that populated the SWG galaxy at launch, the tiny playable areas of Kashyyyk were a maze of tall zone walls and tight corridors, with a multi-level, below-ground, explorable themepark-style area and an inadequate map to ensure that you were totally getting lost on this ride.

It was also a no-build planet, meaning no homes or storyteller decorations (not that there would have been anywhere to put them anyway), so the whole location felt completely isolated from the rest of the game. And while the NGE version of the zone made it one of the few spots for quest-based, mid-tier leveling in the game, it was too difficult and scattershot for actual middlebies. Oh, and did I mention that vehicles and instant-transport ships mysteriously didn't work beneath the top jungle layer? Hope you enjoy running all the way back out again!

All right, picking on sunsetted games is just mean, especially when I'd take SWG back in a heartbeat, flaws and all. So what about you -- what's your most-hated MMO zone?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your most-hated MMO zone? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad-designbad-zonebrianna-royce-tdgclassic-mmodaily-grindgalaxieskachirhokashyyykopinionplanetrage-of-the-wookieessandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgotdgthe-daily-grindwookieezoneFri, 19 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: No game lives forever]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/the-soapbox-no-game-lives-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/the-soapbox-no-game-lives-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/16/the-soapbox-no-game-lives-forever/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Soapbox No game lasts forever 23
The lifespan of a video game is a funny thing. There are some games that have a definite end, yet you'd wish they'd last forever. These games measure life in replayability, run-through length, or multiplayer matches, but they lack permanence and persistence. Still, you can usually dust them off years from now and still have fun with them.

MMOs are a different breed, aren't they? They promise the inverse of the solo game, with a world that goes on, content that keeps flooding in, and the illusion that it will last forever. Yet when the switch is turned off, there's no going back. You can't pick it up 10 years from now and give it another go.

It's why the news that an MMO is closing up shop comes as such a devastating blow to many of us. As MMOs attempt to emulate the persistence of life, so too do they illustrate the finality of death.

Continue reading The Soapbox: No game lives forever

MassivelyThe Soapbox: No game lives forever originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto-assaultcity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassic-mmocohcovcoxdeatheditorialf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomgalaxieslego-universencsoftop-edopinionparagonparagon-studiosrantrantssandboxsci-fisoapboxsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetsunsetssuperherosuperheroesswgswgotabula-rasathe-matrix-onlinethe-soapboxTue, 16 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: My preciousss]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/14/one-shots-my-preciousss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/14/one-shots-my-preciousss/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/14/one-shots-my-preciousss/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

One Shots My preciousss
A must-stop on the Lord of the Rings Online tour is the former home of one of Middle-earth's most infamous inhabitants. In a recent journey, One Shots submitter Carolina stopped to take a picture of the finger-painting Gollum left behind:
Here is a warning picture I encountered while exploring Goblin Town in Lord of the Rings Online. Proceeding deep into the cave shows you this sign that something terrible lies ahead.
Personally, I think Gollum could have had a great career doing his own portraits. Check out this and several other terrific entries after the break.

Continue reading One Shots: My preciousss

MassivelyOne Shots: My preciousss originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 14 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbring-back-one-shotsclassic-mmoconsoleconsolesdcuoeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfantasyfree-to-playgalaxiesgalleriesgalleryguild-warsgwlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroncsoftone-shotspics-or-it-didnt-happenplaystation-3playstation3ps3reader-screenshotsreader-submissionssandboxsci-fiscreenshotscreenshotssoesonysony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessuperherosuperheroesswgswgoturbineturbine-entertainmentuser-submissionsSun, 14 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Worst expansion names of all time]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/the-perfect-ten-worst-expansion-names-of-all-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/the-perfect-ten-worst-expansion-names-of-all-time/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/11/the-perfect-ten-worst-expansion-names-of-all-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten Worst expansion names of all time
When SOE announced that EverQuest's 19th expansion would be titled Rain of Fear, I instantly found myself tripping over the name. I shouldn't have -- it's a few simple words that are first round picks for spelling contests -- but it defied the traditional naming conventions for MMO expansions. Many people I talked to kept wanting to write "reign" instead because "rain" seemed like a deliberate misspelling by some intern in Smedley's empire.

Homophones aside, Rain of Fear is hardly the worst expansion title I've ever seen. The industry has had its share of bad names, from the confusing to the downright unpronounceable. Sure, we get used to these titles, and perhaps it's nit-picky to lug them out at such a late point in many of their lifespans, but petty is my middle name. My first name is Tom. And these are 10 poorly named expansions. Deal with it.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Worst expansion names of all time

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Worst expansion names of all time originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineaoccpccp-gamescity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassic-mmocohconquestcovcoxddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeaelectronic-artseqeq-2eq-iieq1eq2eqiieveeve-onlineeverquesteverquest-2everquest-iiexpansionf2pfantasyfeaturedffff11ffxifinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xiforgotten-realmsfree-to-playfreedomFreyafuncomgalaxiesgeorge-lucasgoing-roguehumorinternet-spaceshipsjohn-smedleylineagelineage-2lineage-iilord-britishmenace-of-the-underdarkmythicmythic-entertainmentncsoftopinionp10paragonparagon-studiosperfect-10perfect-tenpvprage-of-the-wookieesrain-of-fearred-moon-risingriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararounduprvrSamurai-Empiresandboxsarah-palinsci-fisoesonysony-online-entertainmentspreadsheets-onlinesquaresquare-enixstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstom-legionsuperherosuperheroesswgswgoThe-Legacy-of-Ykeshathe-notum-warsthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenThe-Splitpaw-Sagathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listTreasures-of-Aht-Urhgantriontrion-worldsturbineturbine-entertainmentultimaultima onlineunderdarkuoThu, 11 Oct 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten things to do in City of Heroes before it's gone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/ten-things-to-do-in-city-of-heroes-before-its-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/ten-things-to-do-in-city-of-heroes-before-its-gone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/05/ten-things-to-do-in-city-of-heroes-before-its-gone/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ten things to do in City of Heroes before it's gone
A year ago to the day, I grudgingly, sorrowfully published Ten things to do in Star Wars Galaxies before it's gone. SWG was my favorite MMO of all time, and I was devastated to see it canned for licensing reasons, but I wanted to do it justice, and hey, at least I had my second-favorite MMO to fall back on, right? City of Heroes -- now that was a game that had staying power!

Welp, so much for that. As we've been covering for the last month and change, NCsoft is pulling the plug on City of Heroes come the end of November, and the genre is faced with the loss of yet another pioneering and ostensibly profitable MMO long before its time. While there are still soldiers fighting for that slim chance NCsoft might sell the game to a willing investor, the likelihood is that it's game over for Paragon City, at least in its current incarnation. Fight on, I say; don't give up. But make sure you enjoy the game that exists right now, too. Log in. Play. You may never get the chance again.

Today, I'll tell you 10 things you should do in City of Heroes... before it's too late.

Continue reading Ten things to do in City of Heroes before it's gone

MassivelyTen things to do in City of Heroes before it's gone originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxf2pfeaturedfree-to-playfreedomncsoftparagonparagon-cityparagon-studiosstar-wars-galaxiessunsetsunsettingsuperherosuperheroesswgFri, 05 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is farming ruined forever?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/29/the-daily-grind-is-farming-ruined-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/29/the-daily-grind-is-farming-ruined-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/29/the-daily-grind-is-farming-ruined-forever/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Mists of Pandaria farming pic, in honor of Shawn :)
One of my favorite things to do in games is farm. No, not the kind of farming that involves killing zillions of mobs for mats and money -- real (virtual) farming. Like when you buy seeds and plant them in the ground and wait for them to grow and then collect the literal fruits of your labor.

Think I'm talking about FarmVille? Nope. Lord of the Rings Online, actually. And Ultima Online and Glitch and hopefully, someday, ArcheAge. MMOs actually implement farming so much better than the social game that seems to have redefined it. In UO, I can grow decorative plants and buff petals; in LotRO, I can mass-produce crops that are used by cooks to make food; and in Glitch, I grow flowers and herbs used by tincturers. I suppose even in Star Wars Galaxies, I was farming up corn and tubers in my oversized industrial extractors.

But I have to wonder whether the FarmVille-induced stigma attached to farming as a gameplay concept has ruined it for MMO fans forever. Even when we discuss ArcheAge's amazing farming system, we can't help but crack jokes about tractors, jokes we wouldn't make about big, burly, angry Orcs practicing their fine tailoring skills in World of Warcraft. What do you think -- is farming in MMOs ruined forever?

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 farming ruined forever? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archeagebecause-tractorsbrianna-royce-tdgcookingdaily-grindextractorsfarmfarmingfarmvilleflowersgardeningglitchherbslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionplantsstar-wars-galaxiesswgtdgthe-daily-grindtincturestractorsUltima-OnlineuoSat, 29 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have MMO standards changed for the better?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/15/the-daily-grind-have-mmo-standards-changed-for-the-better/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/15/the-daily-grind-have-mmo-standards-changed-for-the-better/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/15/the-daily-grind-have-mmo-standards-changed-for-the-better/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Instead of Star Wars Galaxies, they probably should have called it Planet Wars Servers. Bonus: No lightsabers.
When Ultima Online launched in 1997, most of us were happy just to walk from one end of the city to the other without crashing. EverQuest didn't actually offer any quests in those early days. Star Wars Galaxies launched without vehicles, let alone starships, and World of Warcraft issued forth without any sort of formal PvP at all.

But in 2012, our standards have changed. Now we complain when Star Wars: The Old Republic launches without a dungeon finder and when Guild Wars 2 dungeons feel a bit loose two weeks into the game. Our complaints are no longer about basic gameplay bugs and functionality, and so our discussions sound esoteric to all but the most die-hard MMO gamer.

Does this mean our MMO standards have changed as our games have grown up -- and have they changed for the better? Or do we expect more from games than they can reasonably provide?

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: Have MMO standards changed for the better? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinddungeon-finderdungeonseqeverquestGuild-Wars-2gw2lagold-schoolopinionquestsstandardsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtortdgthe-daily-grindtorUltima-OnlineuoWorld-of-WarcraftwowSat, 15 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First impressions of PlanetSide 2 through the eyes of an FPS noob]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/first-impressions-of-planetside-2-through-the-eyes-of-an-fps-noo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/first-impressions-of-planetside-2-through-the-eyes-of-an-fps-noo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/30/first-impressions-of-planetside-2-through-the-eyes-of-an-fps-noo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

First Impressions PlanetSide 2 from the eyes of an FPS noob
Rather than give anyone the wrong impression, let me begin by saying that first-person shooters are far from being my thing. I don't pant in anticipation for the latest Battlefield or Modern Warfare game. I do, however, like my share of third-person shooters. Global Agenda and the Mass Effect series come to mind immediately. So what in the world would make someone like me interested in Sony Online Entertainment's latest craze, PlanetSide 2?

RPGs are my thing, and I have always had respect for SOE as a developer. Despite some obvious mistakes the company's made when under the umbrella of large intellectual properties like DC Comics and Star Wars, SOE has handled its own IPs very well. It was also one of the first Western AAA studios to step into the world of free-to-play (with Free Realms, which continues to perform well). And now PlanetSide 2 proclaims that online FPS titles can not only provide exciting vehicle combat but do so in a persistent world.

So when SOE invited Massively to join Game Designer Margaret Krohn on a guided tour of PlanetSide 2, I thought, "Why not? At least I'll get to shoot some people in the face."

Continue reading First impressions of PlanetSide 2 through the eyes of an FPS noob

MassivelyFirst impressions of PlanetSide 2 through the eyes of an FPS noob originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testbeta-testingdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoeqeverquestf2pfeaturedFirst-Impressionsfirst-person-shooterfpsfrfree-realmsfree-to-playgagalaxiesGame-Mechanicsglobalagendahands-onmargaret-krohnmmofpsplanetsideplanetside-2previewpreviewspsps2sci-fisettingshootersoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgtestingthird-person-shootertpsultimaultimaonlineuovisualsThu, 30 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: RIFT's upcoming housing boom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/22/enter-at-your-own-rift-rifts-upcoming-housing-boom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/22/enter-at-your-own-rift-rifts-upcoming-housing-boom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/22/enter-at-your-own-rift-rifts-upcoming-housing-boom/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Enter at Your Own Rift RIFT's upcoming housing boom
Have no doubt, it's been an absolutely barnburner of a week or so for RIFT. As Trion Worlds chugs toward the unknown release date for Storm Legion, we've seen the reveal of the first new soul (the Harbinger), a special annual subscription offer, a tour of several areas of the expansion from Gamescom, and oh yeah, news that Trion's all but eliminating factional barriers.

And with all that, do you know what everyone's jabbering on about in the forums? Housing. Housing, housing, housing!

It doesn't surprise me; as a long-time proponent of player housing, I know full well the powerful attraction and appeal housing has when done right (emphasis on the last three words there). Housing gives players a sense of attachment to the game world, an outlet for creativity, and a personalized place to socialize. And finally we've heard the first concrete details (with video footage!) of RIFT's dimensions.

There's no avoiding it; there's going to be a huge housing boom in RIFT come this fall. So what will it look like?

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: RIFT's upcoming housing boom

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: RIFT's upcoming housing boom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cologneconconquestconventiondimensiondimensionsenter-at-your-own-rifteq-iieverquest-2everquest-iiexpansionfantasyfeaturedgamescomgamescom-2012germanyhousinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionplayer-housingpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararvrscripted-eventsstar-wars-galaxiesstorm-legionswgtelarathree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptriontrion-worldsWed, 22 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How should MMOs handle character names?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/18/the-daily-grind-how-should-mmos-handle-character-names/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/18/the-daily-grind-how-should-mmos-handle-character-names/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/18/the-daily-grind-how-should-mmos-handle-character-names/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

How should MMOs handle character names
Names are a big deal in MMOs. I've struggled through many a horrible launch to score a good name and camp names for friends until they can log in because only rarely does a game allow unlimited copies of a name. Ultima Online is one such game, as is Champions Online, though your global handle there is yours alone. The Secret World requires a unique nickname; your "real" name can be a duplicate. But most games just code for one use of a name per realm. (After all, one Malcolm Reynolds per server is plenty.)

City of Heroes took a stand on the issue. Years before CoH's F2P conversion, Paragon Studios boldly adopted name-recycling. If your account was inactive for three months, your characters' names were put back into the pool for other players to use. You didn't lose your character, but you were forced to rename her the next time you logged in. It was wonderful for active players who could make more immediate use of names no one was actively using but not so great for encouraging former players to return.

So how do you think MMOs should handle character names?

[Thanks to Joel for inspiring this topic!]

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 should MMOs handle character names? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgchampions-onlinecharacter-namescity-of-heroescity-of-villainscocohcovcoxdaily-grindf2pfree-to-playfreedomglobal-handlemalcolm-reynoldsnamename-policyname-recyclingnamesnaming-policyncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiosrecyclingstar-wars-galaxiessuperherosuperheroesswgtdgthe-daily-grindthe-secret-worldtswultima-onlineuoSat, 18 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Blender: Larry's roleplay sandbox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/17/mmo-blender-larrys-roleplay-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/17/mmo-blender-larrys-roleplay-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/17/mmo-blender-larrys-roleplay-sandbox/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

MMO Blender Larry's roleplay sandbox
I can't say that I represent every roleplayer in the MMO space, but I have been a part of MMO roleplay communities going on eight years now. I think it's safe to say that I have a pretty good handle on what roleplayers want out of MMOs. Fortunately, there are existing game designs that can give us what we are looking for.

When developers stop giving roleplayers new content, we -- unlike other gamers -- start to create our own. In fact, the vast majority of us don't rely on the game developers to give us any story content beyond the backdrop of the world our characters are living in, but that's not to say there aren't tools developers can give us that help with our level of immersion. Let's explore what makes a great sandbox for an MMO roleplayer.

Continue reading MMO Blender: Larry's roleplay sandbox

MassivelyMMO Blender: Larry's roleplay sandbox originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>above-and-beyond-technologiesanetarenanetarmchair-game-designbiowarecity-of-heroescity-of-villainsclassic-mmocohcovcoxcrypticcryptic-studiosf2pfantasyfavorite-mmofeaturedfree-to-playgalaxiesgame-designgame-mechanicsguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2hero-enginelarry-everettmechanicsmmo-blendermmo-mechanicsmmo-mix-tapemmo-mixologyncsoftNeverwinter-Nightsopinionparagonparagon-studiosperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpwerepopulationroleplayroleplayerRolePlayingRPsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstosuperherosuperheroesswgswgothe-repopulationFri, 17 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do MMO sunsets kill your investment in other MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/13/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-sunsets-kill-your-investment-in-other-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/13/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-sunsets-kill-your-investment-in-other-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/13/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-sunsets-kill-your-investment-in-other-mm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Zentia
When Star Wars Galaxies' sunset was announced not much more than a year ago, it made me more than sad -- it made me distrustful. I knew that games had shut down before, but they were usually unlucky or unprofitable. In spite of the NGE, SWG maintained a healthy population for a second-gen MMO, and SOE was supporting it better than some studios support their current-gen games, so I fooled myself into thinking it'd be around forever like the rest of SOE's titles. And when I realized it wouldn't, my investment in other games fell off sharply. Why pour years into a world that can be ended arbitrarily before its time?

Zentia's impending closure brought that distrust to the surface again. Western audiences have a hard enough time adopting "foreign" games with funky localization and pay-to-win cash shops, so losing one of the best imports inspires no faith that other games will survive long enough to make an investment of time (and money) worth it.

What about you? Do MMO sunsets kill your desire to invest in other MMOs?

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 MMO sunsets kill your investment in other MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgchang-youchangyouclassic-mmoclosuredaily-grinddistrustf2pfantasyfree-to-playgalaxiesopinionpixel-softpvpsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiessunsetswgswgotdgthe-daily-grindzentiaMon, 13 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE's John Smedley tackles an epic AMA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/soes-john-smedley-tackles-an-epic-ama/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/soes-john-smedley-tackles-an-epic-ama/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/soes-john-smedley-tackles-an-epic-ama/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

SOE's John Smedley tackles an epic AMA
What do you get when the president of SOE steps up to the mic at Reddit and tells the crowd to ask him anything? You get everything ranging from the NGE to former employee critiques to humble origin stories.

The crowd didn't waste time getting John Smedley to apologize for Star Wars Galaxies' NGE once again. "Stupid decisions. Complete and utter fail and I am very sorry," he said. After that, the topic quickly turned to SOE's rising star, PlanetSide 2.

Smedley said that he's been closely involved with the design of PS2. With the beta beginning on Monday, he also assured the crowd that it should take around two to three weeks to include everyone who has keys. He said that the game's coming along swimmingly: "I play the game three to four hours a day now. It's rough but fun as hell."

Smedley also admitted that SOE is working on additional undisclosed IPs. When asked about SWTOR's transition to F2P, he stated, "It is the only way to go for new games. It was the right decision for SWTOR (which is a fantastic game). Wait until you see our next round of games after PS2."

MassivelySOE's John Smedley tackles an epic AMA originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amaask-me-anythingbiowareclassic-mmocommunity-q-and-aeaelectronic-artsfpsgalaxiesjohn-smedleylucasartsmmo-shootermmofpsplanetsideplanetside-2ps2q-and-aredditsandboxsci-fishootersoesonysony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorFri, 03 Aug 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Blender: Bree's big-budget sandbox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/27/mmo-blender-brees-big-budget-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/27/mmo-blender-brees-big-budget-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/27/mmo-blender-brees-big-budget-sandbox/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

That genie was kinda sneaky. (Credit: Disney's Aladdin)
Writing MMO Blender feels like getting three wishes from a magical lamp and having to think very, very carefully about what you ask for. You have to word it just right and ponder the consequences of each wish on the others because you just know that Genie's going to screw with you.

If I were stronger, I'd reject the wishes (here, the 1000 words) outright, knowing they're a trap, but I just can't resist a turn at this column. I want a new sandbox. A good one, not one made by gank-obsessed fanboys on a shoestring budget. I don't think sandboxes are dead; I just know it takes money to make money, and modern indie sandboxes are forgetting that rule. Fortunately, I don't need money for this column. I'll take my MMO Blender wishes and build a sandbox that's more than just a pile of sand and an empty box.

Continue reading MMO Blender: Bree's big-budget sandbox

MassivelyMMO Blender: Bree's big-budget sandbox originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acaladdinaladdins-lamparenanetarmchair-game-designasherons-callbazaarblizzardblizzard-entertainmentccpccp-gamescharacter-creationcharacter-customizationcity-of-heroesclassic-mmocohcovcraftingdisneyeconomyeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieveeve-onlineeverquest-2everquest-iifactional-pvpfavorite-mmofeaturedffa-pvpfireflygame-designgame-mechanicsgenieguild-warshousingl-e-modesittlinden-labmechanicsMicrotransactionsmmo-blendermmo-mechanicsmmo-mix-tapemmo-mixologymobile-appmonarchymusic-systemncsoftoffline-levelingopen-world-housingopinionparagon-studiospgcplayer-driven-economyplayer-economyplayer-housingreclucesandboxsci-fantasysecond-lifeskill-basedsmartphonesoesony-online-entertainmentspace-operastar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-saga-of-reclucetradeskillsturbinevirtual-worldwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 27 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you have a fallback MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-a-fallback-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-a-fallback-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-a-fallback-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies. This is a shot of my droid engineer and moisture farmer's heavily decorated diner on Bria. Thanks a lot, Lucasarts.
My first fallback MMO, though I'd not have called it that at the time, was Ultima Online. Whenever I got sick of EverQuest or Dark Age of Camelot, I found myself wandering back to my houses in Britannia. World of Warcraft took over for a while, and then Star Wars Galaxies (yes, post-post-NGE) became my safe MMO -- the world to which I could retreat after a particularly nasty break-up with the latest and greatest themepark shiny, something that seemed to happen with increasing frequency as post-WoW games rushed to launch and left me wanting more.

More recently, I've set up camp in City of Heroes. I don't play it every day, but since it went free-to-play, it's always there when I need to tool around in something happily familiar that hits all the right nostalgia notes.

What about you folks? Do you have a fallback MMO, a game you return to when you're in between games?

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 have a fallback MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jul 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgclassic-mmodaily-grindeaelectronic-artsfallbackfallback-gamefallback-mmofantasygalaxieslord-britishmythicmythic-entertainmentopinionsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgotdgthe-daily-grindultimaultima onlineuowarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 21 Jul 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Tips for roleplaying in The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/17/hyperspace-beacon-tips-for-roleplaying-in-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/17/hyperspace-beacon-tips-for-roleplaying-in-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/17/hyperspace-beacon-tips-for-roleplaying-in-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon Tips for roleplaying in The Old Republic
I had a game developer tell me recently that he wished more players were like roleplayers because roleplayers are easier to cater to. Having been in MMO roleplay communities for the last nine years, I have to both disagree and agree with him. Roleplayers need special tools and good quality-of-life mechanics (like sitting in chairs!) in order to find a game extremely enjoyable. However, he was correct when talking about content. When the content runs out -- when every raid is on farm, when PvP is no longer a challenge, or when all that's left is dailies to grind -- the majority of players start to slip out of the game. But when developer content runs out for a roleplayer, she begins to make her own content, if she hasn't already been doing just that. And the game is still fun!

When I started roleplaying in an MMO for the first time, a friend of mine who started with me summarized my feelings about roleplaying that game: "This is the reason I started playing in the first place." What he meant was that when he started playing Star Wars Galaxies, he wanted to live in the Star Wars universe, and roleplaying actually allowed him to do that.

Star Wars: The Old Republic offers its own opportunities for immersion. It's not the same as SWG, but it does share the same universe. So how do you get involved in the fun that roleplayers have in SWTOR? I'm glad you asked. I have some quick and dirty tips for you on how to get started in your epic Star Wars MMO adventure!

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Tips for roleplaying in The Old Republic

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Tips for roleplaying in The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclassic-mmoeaelectronic-artseliot-lefebvrefeaturedgalaxiesgod-moddinggod-modingguidehyperspace-beaconin-characterlucasartsmeta-gamingopinionout-of-characterpower-emotingpower-gamingroleplayroleplayersroleplayingrpsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstorystoryboardswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 17 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Raph Koster wants to know why we can't all just get along]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/06/raph-koster-wants-to-know-why-we-cant-all-just-get-along/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/06/raph-koster-wants-to-know-why-we-cant-all-just-get-along/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/06/raph-koster-wants-to-know-why-we-cant-all-just-get-along/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Raph Koster
Raph Koster, MMO guru and erstwhile creative director of Star Wars Galaxies, has had it up to here with you people and your intolerance of one another. Yes, you, game designers. In a recent blog post, Koster makes shame carrots at those on both sides of the science-versus-humanities schism in the game design community. He states that people on either side of the spectrum can be right and that there's room for both emotional value and scientific fact in games. Too many people, he says, are entrenched in their viewpoints, and that makes progress more difficult for everyone. The result is an abundance of "hipstery, self-indulgent, artsy, self-referential, slight, pretentious work all over the place that people are claiming as the One True Way or the best way to push the boundaries of the field."

Koster says that rather than fiercely defend a specific type of game design, designers need to embrace a both/and mentality, in which multiple viewpoints and approaches are accepted as valid and worthwhile.
Narrative designers should try making a game with nothing but counters and dice and no story. System designers should try making a game that is about telling a story.
While we're at it, the world should really learn how to sing in perfect harmony.

MassivelyRaph Koster wants to know why we can't all just get along originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designdesign-philosophygame-designgame-design-philosophygurukosterphilosophyraph-kosterswgthe-other-other-great-schismtheory-of-funFri, 06 Jul 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Blender: Larry's Firefly Effect]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/06/mmo-blender-larrys-firefly-effect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/06/mmo-blender-larrys-firefly-effect/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/06/mmo-blender-larrys-firefly-effect/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

MMO Blender: Larry's Firefly Effect
Many MMOs suffer from not actually having immersive worlds. As a player, I always find a separation between what I am doing and what the rest of the playerbase sees. My personal gameplay has little to no effect on anyone else. MMO communities need to have more interdependency -- positive and negative.

I also believe that player choice also plays a major part in making a believable world, and I don't just mean just in some arbitrary dialogue choice, although that can be part of it. Actions in the world should play a part, too.

Many MMOs have the pieces already in place to make wonderful, immersing worlds, but for some reason, no one has ever put all the pieces together. What does it take to make a believable, fun world for a player to not only live in but feel that he is a part of the greater universe?

Continue reading MMO Blender: Larry's Firefly Effect

MassivelyMMO Blender: Larry's Firefly Effect originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-reloadedanetapbapb-reloadedapbrarenanetbiowareclassic-mmoconsoleconsolescrimecrypticcryptic-studiosdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuoeaelectronic-artsf2pfactionsfantasyfeaturedfireflyfree-to-playgalaxiesgamersfirstguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2joss-whedonlarry-everettlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolucasartsncsoftperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentplaystation-3playstation3ps3pvppwesandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstosuperherosuperheroesswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorturbineturbine-entertainmentFri, 06 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Nine years of Star Wars Galaxies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/26/hyperspace-beacon-nine-years-of-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/26/hyperspace-beacon-nine-years-of-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/26/hyperspace-beacon-nine-years-of-star-wars-galaxies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Nine years of Star Wars Galaxies
As you might have guessed from the title, I'm taking a tiny break from writing about Star Wars: The Old Republic this week. Although it might seem like odd timing to change the pace of my articles with Update 1.3 releasing today, I figured that the update will be here next week, but Star Wars Galaxies' birthday comes around only once a year. Last weekend, the first Star Wars MMORPG would have celebrated its ninth year in service.

Being the first Star Wars MMO will always be an honor Galaxies will hold. But that's not the only thing that drew so many people to the game. I often find myself thinking back wondering what could have been. Besides my love for Star Wars, that game held a lot of significance in my life. It was my first serious MMO and my first step into MMO roleplay. If Star Wars Galaxies were still around, would I still be playing? More importantly, what would I be doing in that game that I really can't do in the current Star Wars MMO?

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Nine years of Star Wars Galaxies

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Nine years of Star Wars Galaxies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclassic-mmodecoratingeaeconomyelectronic-artsentertainer-professioneventsfeaturedgalaxieshyperspace-beaconlucasartsopinionplayer-eventsplayer-housingsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswgoswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 26 Jun 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Repopulation devs: Crafting system is similar to UO and SWG]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/23/repopulation-devs-crafting-system-is-similar-to-uo-and-swg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/23/repopulation-devs-crafting-system-is-similar-to-uo-and-swg/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/23/repopulation-devs-crafting-system-is-similar-to-uo-and-swg/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Repopulation - crafting interface
Most modern-day MMORPG crafting mechanics are, shall we say, uninspired. With the marginalization of the sandbox and the rise of the combat lobby, crafting and meaningful economic gameplay has taken a back seat in all but a handful of titles.

The Repopulation is one such title, and the dev team has released a new video that shows off the sci-fi sandbox's crafting mechanics. Fortunately for starving tradeskill fans everywhere, the game hearkens back to the days of Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies. In those titles, "players were able to exist completely as a crafter, harvesting their own materials and then using them to create things," according to the game's website. "We have designed our system in a mold similar to those games. If players do not wish to partake in combat, they can still be a successful crafter," the devs explain.

The new Repopulation tradeskills video gives us a good look at recipes and recipe customization via ingredient filters. There's also a brief bit about creature resource extraction, so check out the full nine-minute clip after the break.

[Thanks to J.C. for the tip!]

Continue reading Repopulation devs: Crafting system is similar to UO and SWG

MassivelyRepopulation devs: Crafting system is similar to UO and SWG originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>above-and-beyondabove-and-beyond-technologiescraftingrepopulationsandboxsci-fistar-wars-galaxiesswgthank-godthe-repopulationtradeskillsultima-onlineuovideoSat, 23 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What incidental feature do you wish every MMO would adopt?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/19/the-daily-grind-what-incidental-feature-do-you-wish-every-mmo-w/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/19/the-daily-grind-what-incidental-feature-do-you-wish-every-mmo-w/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/19/the-daily-grind-what-incidental-feature-do-you-wish-every-mmo-w/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies - player shop
With all the MMOs currently available, there's bound to be a game out there that resonates with just about everyone. That doesn't mean it's the perfect game, though, nor does it mean that said game has all the features you desire.

If you play in this genre long enough, you'll likely run across a mechanic or a fluff feature so endearing that you wish developers would implement it in every succeeding MMO. For me, that feature is the ability to name crafted items. Star Wars Galaxies' crafting system allowed for this (and it even allowed you to name the sub-components), which added an immeasurable amount of immersion and enjoyment on a personal level.

What about you, Massively readers? What incidental feature do you wish every MMO would adopt?

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

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What incidental feature do you wish every MMO would adopt? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classic-mmodaily-grindfeaturedgalaxiesopinionsandboxsci-fisoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgotdgthe-daily-grindTue, 19 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST