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[Wasteland Diaries: Lone wolf]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/03/wasteland-diaries-lone-wolf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/03/wasteland-diaries-lone-wolf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/03/wasteland-diaries-lone-wolf/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

An MMO is a massively multiplayer online game. So what would attract a lone-wolf type to something that is massively multiplayer? You would think this would drive someone who enjoys his solitude away. This is simply not the case, as every MMORPG has lone-wolf players. If that MMO happens to be Fallen Earth, with its post-apocalyptic setting, it might seem to attract individualistic survivalist types who strive to be self-sufficient. I have never played an MMO in which so many people were withdrawn, introverted, and downright antisocial.

Well, it is the apocalypse, and there are times when I just want to be left alone to kill in silence. I am a bit of a lone wolf, myself. But many times, trying to get a group together can be like pulling teeth... from a drunken throwback's maw. Sure, people aren't bound to be as friendly in a ravaged, unlawful world like the one we call home in Fallen Earth, but sometimes the wasteland can be a very lonely place. I enjoy doing my own thing as much as anyone else, and in many cases I don't want to stop what I'm doing to help other players, but I tend to. And I'm almost always glad I did. After the cut, I'll take a look at the pros and cons of being a lone wolf.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Lone wolf

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Lone wolf originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antisocialclanmatesclanscraftingcrafting-systemdeadfallfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfeaturedgroup-missionsgroupsguildsicarusicarus-studioslone-wolfmissionssolo-playsolo-playersteamsFri, 03 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The replacements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-replacements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-replacements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/a-mild-mannered-reporter-the-replacements/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Hey, guys, did you know that Going Rogue is launching in less than a week? That's crazy. It feels especially strange to me, since this was an expansion that had barely been announced when I started here, and has since become pretty personally important. But we're not here to talk about my vague feelings about the impending launch, we're here to talk about its larger implications for City of Heroes -- namely, the obvious systemic changes that might well be coming when the expansion goes live.

Now, some of you are doubtlessly going to point out that we're not even getting our first Incarnate slot, the expansion isn't changing any part of the system, and so forth and so on. But you forget that there is an interesting change to the system coming that we all know about: the fact that archetypes will no longer be allegiance-locked. That's right -- whether you're in City of Heroes or City of Villains, you'll no longer be limited to five different archetypes. And considering the fact that the archetypes are roughly analogous on both sides now, this might have just a bit of an impact.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The replacements

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: The replacements originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypebalancecity-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainsclassclassescohcontrolcovcoxdpsexpansionexpansionsfeaturedgoing-roguegrgroupinggroupshybrid-classeshybridsncsoftopinionparagonparagon-studiospartiespartyingplaystyleportmanteauspowersetssupporttankingteamsWed, 11 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aika allows players into the gates of the arena]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/14/aika-allows-players-into-the-gates-of-the-arena/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/14/aika-allows-players-into-the-gates-of-the-arena/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/14/aika-allows-players-into-the-gates-of-the-arena/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

In a game focused on PvP, arenas can be a tricky things. If everything is set up nicely then they show off the strengths of the game at their finest; if there are flaws, it's a bit like highlighting them with a magnifying glass. Aika has decided to take the plunge, but not on a small scale -- the Aitan Arena doesn't go halfway. The battles are geared to 100 players on each side, with each team duking it out until only one remains standing.

Divided into four level brackets, the Aitan Arena pits two teams against one another with a maximum capacity of 200 players on a first-come first-served basis. While that might sound a bit limiting -- especially with only two windows open per day -- the wide brackets and rotating schedule should allow everyone a shot at the match. The real limitations will come once the match starts; with the competition heightened by the fact that there are no respawns within the arena. Once you drop, you're out of the match. Take a look at the full announcement on the official site, and get your blades sharpened for the newest PvP venue in Aika.

MassivelyAika allows players into the gates of the arena originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aikaaika-onlineaitan-arenaarenaarena-gameplayf2pfree-to-playgpotatopvppvp-matchesrespawnsteamsFri, 14 May 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare's Bill Dalton reveals the secrets to making big teams work]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/biowares-bill-dalton-reveals-the-secrets-to-making-big-teams-wo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/biowares-bill-dalton-reveals-the-secrets-to-making-big-teams-wo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/21/biowares-bill-dalton-reveals-the-secrets-to-making-big-teams-wo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


These days it's extremely rare for a video game to be made by one person. Groups of people from different disciplines work on a game, hired for their proficiency in their area of specialty. When we're talking about an MMO, the game development team often ends up being pretty big. When we're talking about an MMO as ambitious as Star Wars: The Old Republic, the team is freaking enormous, by necessity. In a recent article on Gamasutra one of the members of the SWTOR team, Bioware Austin technical director Bill Dalton, discussed the challenges that come up when working with such a large group of people.

Unsurprisingly, Dalton said that communication is at the core of keeping a big team afloat: "There is nothing you can do to communicate too much. In a situation where things are in crisis and something is broken, and you've told individual people as they come up, it's not a bad idea to overcommunicate and tell the whole team what's going on." Dalton mentioned that another difficult aspect of team development is balancing the differing view-points that each sub-team looks at the game from. Again, communication is the key to solving these puzzles. Check out the full article at Gamasutra to read about an interesting case study involving Star Wars: The Old Republic and its Hero Engine, which allows developers from all disciplines to make live edits to the game simultaneously -- impressive.

MassivelyBioWare's Bill Dalton reveals the secrets to making big teams work originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big-teamsbill-daltonbiowarebioware-austindevelopmentgame-developmentlarge-teamsstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorteamstechnical-directorthe-old-republictorMon, 21 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Roper explains teams and SuperGroups in new Champions trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/bill-roper-explains-teams-and-supergroups-in-new-champions-trail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/bill-roper-explains-teams-and-supergroups-in-new-champions-trail/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/31/bill-roper-explains-teams-and-supergroups-in-new-champions-trail/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


While Champions Online is designed to allow players to live out their fantasy of being a lone superhero badass taking on all-comers solo, if that's what they're after, there's also content and features aimed at groups of players. A new video hosted at GameTrailers and featuring Bill Roper is focused on the things that await people who are interested in getting together with others to tackle crime and evil. The title of the video leads you to believe that it is all about SuperGroups (Champions Online's guilds), but most of Roper's comments are related to grouping in general.

The reinforcement system, lairs/headquarters, group events, multiple-group content and different roles in groups all come up during the featurette. Head past the break to see how you can help save the world with a little help from your friends.

Continue reading Bill Roper explains teams and SuperGroups in new Champions trailer

MassivelyBill Roper explains teams and SuperGroups in new Champions trailer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperchampionschampions-onlinecrypticcryptic-studiosgroupingguildsheadquarterslairsreinforcement-systemsupergroupteamsMon, 31 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaming promotes life skills according to IBM exec]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/gaming-promotes-life-skills-according-to-ibm-exec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/gaming-promotes-life-skills-according-to-ibm-exec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/31/gaming-promotes-life-skills-according-to-ibm-exec/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Gamers have become something of a stereotype in recent times. In everything from the job market to South Park, players are perceived as nerdy, pimply-faced, basement-dwellers with no social skills who do nothing outside of work other than play the game of their choosing. But now we have some pretty high-level defense of our beloved past-time.

David Laux, head of games and interactive entertainment at IBM, has listed a myriad of positive skills gained by gamers from the problems they must face and overcome. Specifically mentioned is teaming in World of Warcraft as it emphasizes building diverse teams to accomplish tasks. It's certainly a breath of fresh air to hear such reassurances from someone in the capacity to hire.

MassivelyGaming promotes life skills according to IBM exec originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bbcbusinessibmskillsteamsworld-of-warcraftWed, 31 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anarchy Online update adds raid interface, turns zones into instances]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/29/anarchy-online-update-adds-raid-interface-turns-zones-into/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/29/anarchy-online-update-adds-raid-interface-turns-zones-into/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/29/anarchy-online-update-adds-raid-interface-turns-zones-into/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Anarchy Online's version 17.1 update went live last week. It added a complete raid interface to the game, allowing players to combine up to six teams into a raid group with its own chat channel and loot rules. The interface will allow raid leaders to move players between teams, and every player in the raid group will be able to monitor the vitals of other raid group members.

Additionally, a handful of AO's existing playfields -- Sectors 13, 28 and 35 to start with -- have become raid instances. That means that raid groups can take these encounters on at their own pace and without competition. Funcom plans to do this to more playfields in the future.

The update also features your standard assortment of bug fixes and gameplay and balance tweaks. Read the patch notes at the AO website for details.

MassivelyAnarchy Online update adds raid interface, turns zones into instances originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineaoao-17.1funcominstancesinterfacepatchpatch-notesraidraid-groupsraid-instancesraid-leaderraidssector-13sector-28sector-35teamsuiupdateuser-interfaceMon, 29 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST