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[XLGames making Civilization MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/xl-games-making-civilization-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/xl-games-making-civilization-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/xl-games-making-civilization-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Get ready, Civilization fans, as your favorite franchise is heading to MMO-land (and no, we're not talking about the Civ World Facebook game). A couple of months ago we told you about XLGames' partnership with Take-Two Interactive, as well as the fact that XL would be making an existing Take-Two property into an MMORPG.

This morning, various Asian gaming websites confirmed that said property is the venerable Civilization series that began way back in 1991. Details on the new game are sparse, but Google Translate versions of the news articles indicate that XL has begun "large-scale recruitment of MMORPG developers [...] including server [programmers], client programmers, artists, planners, project managers, story designers, [and] mission designers."

Prior to its involvement with the Civilization franchise, XLGames was known exclusively for ArcheAge, a fantasy sandbox MMO that is currently undergoing closed beta testing in Korea.

[Thanks to Mark for the tip!]

MassivelyXLGames making Civilization MMO originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-building-mmocivilizationcivilization-mmocivilization-mmorpggame-announcementjake-songstrategystrategy-mmotake-twotake-two-interactivexlxl-gamesXlGamesThu, 21 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take-Two signs with XLGames to make existing property into an MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/take-two-signs-with-xlgames-to-make-existing-property-into-an-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/take-two-signs-with-xlgames-to-make-existing-property-into-an-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/take-two-signs-with-xlgames-to-make-existing-property-into-an-mm/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

How would a Grand Theft Auto MMO grab you? Would you play a Red Dead Redemption or LA Noire massively multiplayer title? While the possibility of said games still falls into the rumor category at this point, we can confirm that Take-Two Interactive has entered into a partnership with XL Games to make one of the former's existing properties into an MMO.

XL has been in the news recently due to its upcoming ArcheAge sandpark, and the company founded by noted Lineage developer Jake Song will work on the new title with Take-Two subsidiary 2K Games. Kotaku first reported the rumor to the English-speaking world earlier this morning, while the source is Korean website 4gamer.

A press release has also been issued by 2K; CEO Christoph Hartmann hints at the company's desire to broaden its horizons. "Our partnership with XL Games underscores our ongoing commitment to expanding 2K's presence in online gaming and the Asian market," Hartmann explains. XL's Song says that work on the new title is ongoing. "We have already been working together for a year on the game, and I can tell you this is one of the most exciting projects that I've ever undertaken," he said.

MassivelyTake-Two signs with XLGames to make existing property into an MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 May 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gameschristoph-hartmanngrand-theft-autojake-songla-noiremmo-industrynew-titlespress-releasepublishing-dealred-dead-redemptionrumorrumorstake-twoTake-Two-Interactivexlxl-gamesMon, 23 May 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GTA MMO would be a profitable venture, analyst suggests]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/gta-mmo-would-be-a-profitable-venture-analyst-suggests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/gta-mmo-would-be-a-profitable-venture-analyst-suggests/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/29/gta-mmo-would-be-a-profitable-venture-analyst-suggests/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


In a recent set of statements to Gamasutra, Mike Hickey, an analyst with Janco Partners, brought up the profitability of an MMO set within the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

While Hickey notes that success would only be possible if Take-Two partnered up with another company who had a well designed infrastructure and MMO experience, the whole paragraph is certainly a nod in the direction of online crime games at large -- a genre relatively untapped in the MMO landscape.

Certainly a Grand Theft Auto MMO would be the new gorilla of the online space, one can't easily forget about the stylized and anticipated offering from Crackdown developer Realtime Worlds, All Points Bulletin. A GTA MMO would certainly be nice, but APB will certainly be setting the bar for all upcoming crime MMOs, regardless of a GTA entry into the scene.

MassivelyGTA MMO would be a profitable venture, analyst suggests originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 May 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbcrackdowngamasutragrand-theft-autogrand-theft-auto-ivgta-mmorealtime-worldsrockstarrockstar-gamestake-twotake-two-interactiveFri, 29 May 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[APB's Realtime Worlds gets new CEO: Gary Dale]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/27/apbs-realtime-worlds-gets-new-ceo-gary-dale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/27/apbs-realtime-worlds-gets-new-ceo-gary-dale/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/27/apbs-realtime-worlds-gets-new-ceo-gary-dale/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Realtime Worlds, creator of the XBox 360 game Crackdown and the upcoming Cops and Robbers themed MMO All Points Bulletin has announced that Gary Dale has been appointed as their new CEO to help oversee their transition from being a traditional game developer to an online publisher. Realtime Worlds repurchased the rights for All Points Bulletin from publisher Webzen last year for an undisclosed amount.

Dale has previously been the chief executive officer and executive vice president of Take-Two Interactive Software. Before that he was the chief operating officer for their Rockstar Games publishing label. Realtime Worlds was founded in 2002 by David Jones, whose previous credits include Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings, and had served as CEO up until now. He remains with the company as creative director.

MassivelyAPB's Realtime Worlds gets new CEO: Gary Dale originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletingary-dalegrand-theft-autolemmingsrealtime-worldsrockstar-gamestake-two-interactiveMon, 27 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Take-Two Interactive considering subs and microtransactions for top titles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/16/take-two-interactive-considering-subs-and-microtransactions-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/16/take-two-interactive-considering-subs-and-microtransactions-for/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/16/take-two-interactive-considering-subs-and-microtransactions-for/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Subscriptions have been the bread and butter of MMOs since the days of Ultima Online, but subs may be coming to some popular standalone PC titles from Take-Two Interactive, presumably the Grand Theft Auto franchise and BioShock. Brian Crecente of Kotaku reports that "at the BMO Capital Markets conference, Take-Two head honcho Strauss Zelnick seemed very up on the idea of downloadable content, micro-transactions and even... subscriptions."

This falls in line with their business model of periodically offering downloadable content to either extend the storyline of a game, or to simply offer varied gameplay experiences. Downloadable content and microtransactions could solve some of the issues game publishers have with their titles being re-sold, allowing them to have a continuous revenue stream, and perhaps dissuading many consumers from reselling that game in the first place. Regular content refreshes could ensure that these games don't go stale and end up relegated to a dusty bookshelf. Zelnick implied that this business model, should it come to be, would likely only affect Take-Two's biggest titles. This implies changes to the business models for Grand Theft Auto and BioShock, although the words "Midnight Club Online" also seem apt.

But do you feel that adding the trappings of the MMO business model, namely subs and microtransactions, would enhance your experience with a standalone title, both as a gamer and as a consumer? Are more MMO-like PC games a good thing, or are you more of an MMO purist?

MassivelyTake-Two Interactive considering subs and microtransactions for top titles originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bioshockbmo-capital-marketbrian-crecentebusiness-modelsdownloadable-contentgrand-theft-autogtakotakumicrotransactionsmidnight-clubmmo-industrystrauss-zelnicksubssubscriptionstake-two-interactiveultima-onlineSun, 16 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST