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[The Daily Grind: What's your ideal group size?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/the-daily-grind-whats-your-ideal-group-size/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/the-daily-grind-whats-your-ideal-group-size/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/27/the-daily-grind-whats-your-ideal-group-size/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Three's a crowd. Unless you're doing a quest requiring a group of three.
Every MMO lets you team up with other players. This is unsurprising, seeing as how it's one of the main selling points of the genre. But there's always an upward limit, and always target team sizes that the game bases content around. Content is largely designed in World of Warcraft to target groups of five, Guild Wars tailors most of its content for groups of eight, and Final Fantasy XI expects a team of six. But each of these games also provide content for more variable sizes.

Today's question isn't whether or not you like teaming up, it's about what your ideal majority size would be. Do you generally prefer to have a group of three? Groups of two? Groups of five? How many people do you like to party up with on a regular basis? Or would you prefer that most content simply scaled to the number of participants involved?

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 ideal group size? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charactersdaily-grindgroup-membersgroup-sizegroupsmultiple-charactersopinionpartiesparty-capparty-sizetdgteamworkthe-daily-grindSun, 27 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: What's in it for me?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/04/wings-over-atreia-whats-in-it-for-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/04/wings-over-atreia-whats-in-it-for-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/04/wings-over-atreia-whats-in-it-for-me/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

That does it. No more Ms. Nice Wings. This time I am just going to unleash! Let my rant all hang out. Admittedly, I am not normally one to complain; I can see the good in most every situation, and I can roll with the punches like it's an Olympic event. But even my feathers get ruffled sometimes. It's true! And sometimes you just can't bite your tongue anymore or all you will have is a very sore tongue.

Now I know I am not a rant-master like Jef, but even fledgling ranters must begin somewhere. And this week, I found just such a place: immature, self-serving, can't-pull-their-thumbs-outta-their-ears-unless-there-is-something-in-it-for-them-gamers in Aion. You know the type -- those who think the world revolves around them. Those whose spoiled-rotten antics ruin groups and legions alike and who are the reason why many a block list is so full. They without whom drama would die a quick death and be a forgotten plague. They're the bane of chat channels everywhere -- they are the trolls.

Throw yourself past the cut for a look at some recent Aion tantrums and sure-fire ways to minimize the effects of blatant immaturity. Careful, though -- I cannot be held responsible for any resemblance to gamers near you.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: What's in it for me?

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: What's in it for me? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamebuffbuff-leaves-in-a-huffhuffdaevas-of-our-livesdramafeaturedgroup-dynamicsgroupinggroupsimmatureimmaturitync-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionrantrantsselfishselfishnesssiegesiegessingle-playersingle-player-gamestantrumtantrumsteamworktrolltrollsWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 04 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Five tips on being a better agent in Global Agenda]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/five-tips-on-being-a-better-agent-in-global-agenda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/five-tips-on-being-a-better-agent-in-global-agenda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/five-tips-on-being-a-better-agent-in-global-agenda/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

When it comes to action-based shooters like Global Agenda, gear is good but skill is better. Way better. Even the most technologically endowed enemies can come crashing down with a little teamwork and creative ingenuity.

But if you're new to the game, new to action-based shooters, or just not doing so hot in your PvP matches, then you might need some help. That's where we come in.

After playing a huge amount of PvP, PvE, and a decent amount of AvA in Global Agenda, I've found that many players make a few common mistakes. So, while I know this article will result in more deaths for me, I want to help all of you avoid these common mistakes and play a better game.

Continue reading Five tips on being a better agent in Global Agenda

MassivelyFive tips on being a better agent in Global Agenda originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assaultglobal-agendaguidehealth-bubblesmedicreconroboticsshoot-the-medicteamworktips-and-tricksturretsMon, 08 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: When social and market values collide, part 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/eve-evolved-when-social-and-market-values-collide-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/eve-evolved-when-social-and-market-values-collide-part-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/eve-evolved-when-social-and-market-values-collide-part-2/#commentsContinue reading EVE Evolved: When social and market values collide, part 2

MassivelyEVE Evolved: When social and market values collide, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameseveeve-evolvedeve-onlinemarketrelationshipssocialsocial-networkingSocialNetworkingteamworkSun, 17 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: When social and market values collide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/eve-evolved-when-social-and-market-values-collide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/eve-evolved-when-social-and-market-values-collide/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/17/eve-evolved-when-social-and-market-values-collide/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Research into the social sciences suggests that people interact with each other in two separate modes. One mode is governed by primarily social influences and the other by basic market forces. Which one we choose in any given interaction has a profound impact on the way we interact with each other. Perhaps nowhere in the gaming world are these forces played out as strongly as in EVE Online, with its lack of economic regulation and tight-knit social structures. EVE players routinely form social relationships with other pilots, their corporation leaders and corpmates. On the flip-side, we interact with hundreds of players we don't know using more selfish market-driven rules as we trade, haggle over prices or even just buy something from the market. But how do these two types of player-to-player interaction coexist in the same universe and what problems can arise when they collide?

In this complex and in-depth article, I examine the relationships we form with other players, why they're important and what can happen when we inadvertently cross the line from an implied social contract to a market-based business one.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: When social and market values collide

MassivelyEVE Evolved: When social and market values collide originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpccp-gameseveeve-evolvedeve-onlinefeaturedmarketrelationshipssocialsocial-networkingSocialNetworkingteamworkSun, 17 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOs as team building exercise?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/04/mmos-as-team-building-exercise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/04/mmos-as-team-building-exercise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/04/mmos-as-team-building-exercise/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It's not the first time we've heard that MMO gamers might be a force in the workplace, but the American Society of Training and Development's webzine, Training + Development, has added to the viability of the MMO gamer in the workforce.

Their article, "Slash, Burn, and Learn", focuses on how MMOs closely mimic team building exercises through their game design. Players are encouraged to progress through the game by solving challenges, only to be presented with harder challenges to solve as the game continues onwards. Certainly rewards provide incentive to keep plugging away at hard challenges, but players also learn how to manage personnel and look for diversity in the team to make sure all aspects of combat are accounted for. Players even submit to optional performance reviews just to see how much they've improved over time.

The article provides an interesting read and shows many of the parallels between raid management and workplace skills. While not every MMO player will gain all of these benefits, it is amusing to see how much our games sometimes parallel our lives in more ways than one.

MassivelyMMOs as team building exercise? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>astdendgameraidraidingraiding-experienceresumeskillst-and-dteamworktraining-and-developmenttraining-skillsworkplaceworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 04 May 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Serious business guys, serious business]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/27/anti-aliased-serious-business-guys-serious-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/27/anti-aliased-serious-business-guys-serious-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/27/anti-aliased-serious-business-guys-serious-business/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


This is one of those quintessential arguments that pops up time and time again amongst gamers, guilds, groups, and communities. It's an argument that divides people, pisses off people, and causes countless more gamers to alienate other gamers. How serious should you be about playing your game?

Of course we laugh about a topic like this one. Games aren't suppose to be serious, that's why they're games! They're suppose to be fun and enjoyable. If you're not having fun, then you're doing something seriously wrong. For the most part, all of this is true. Yet, there are small segments of the games that we play that actually can require everyone to sit down and "get serious."

We see it in raiding tactics, player vs. player tactics, loot distribution, and many other areas (including the entire universe of EVE Online, which seems to be played very seriously.) We've even dedicated a segment of our culture to this type of behavior -- the "hardcore" crowd.

So, let's go forward and look at the question, "Are games getting too serious?"

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Serious business guys, serious business

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Serious business guys, serious business originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedchallengescooperationdecision-makingdecisionsdifficulteve-onlinefeaturedgoalsgroupingguildsjoystiqfeaturesleaderleadershipobstaclespvepvpraid-leaderraidingserious-businessseriousnessstressteamworkworld-of-warcraftFri, 27 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST