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Trion Worlds explains how Defiance will 'co-evolve' in two mediums

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Video, Interviews, Free-to-play, Post-Apocalyptic, Defiance

Wondering whether -- or if -- the joint venture of Syfy and Trion Worlds will work in tandem with Defiance? Then you may want to put aside a few minutes to watch the following video that attempts to explain how a TV show and an MMO will work together to create a blended experience for fans.

"In the past it's always been very difficult to connect television shows, which are always evolving, with video games, which are static," Trion Worlds CEO Lars Buttler states, going on to say that Trion has cracked that code. "In our unique setup, we can do things other people have never dared to try before."

Defiance the TV show and Defiance the MMO will, according to Buttler, "literally depend on each other and co-evolve."

It may not be heavy on specifics, but it's a fascinating watch nonetheless. Check it out after the jump!

Continue reading Trion Worlds explains how Defiance will 'co-evolve' in two mediums

Trion Worlds explains how Defiance will 'co-evolve' in two mediums originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Woman on dating gameshow plays WoW, host is amazed

Matt Daniel — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Video, Culture, Miscellaneous

We gamer nerds are often stereotyped as socially awkward and romantically challenged, perhaps due to the fact that we all very obviously spend our entire lives in our mothers' basements drinking Mountain Dew and consuming obscene quantities of Cheetos (amirite gaiz?), but a recent contestant on the UK dating gameshow World Series of Dating (yes, that's actually a thing) leveraged his World of Warcraft fandom to his advantage, proving that we're not all unlovable mouthbreathers. But then, we're also not all cute English boys with fabulously styled hair, so take that with a grain of salt.

For those of you unfamiliar with the show's premise (like us), it's basically like this: A bunch of poor chumps go on a series of speed dates with four women who judge their performances at the end of the show, naming one of them the best dater. And we thought The Bachelor was insane. At any rate, the relevant clip can be seen after the cut. Go get 'em, tiger.

[Thanks to Roger for the tip!]

Continue reading Woman on dating gameshow plays WoW, host is amazed

Woman on dating gameshow plays WoW, host is amazed originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Syfy announces star of the Defiance TV series

Matt Daniel — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, News items, Consoles, MMOFPS

By now, we're sure you're all familiar with Trion Worlds and Syfy's collaborative effort, Defiance, which aims to be the first MMO to directly interact with a running television series. Well, every TV show needs a star, and Defiance is no exception. In a press release today, Syfy announced that New Zealander Grant Bowler has agreed to play Defiance's starring role. North American audiences would best know Bowler from his role as Connor Owens on Ugly Betty or as -- we wish we could make this stuff up -- Cooter, "the leader of the werewolf biker gang in the HBO series True Blood."

In Defiance, Bowler will play the role of Jeb Nolan, "the law keeper in a bustling frontier boomtown that is one of the new world's few oases of civility and inclusion." Having lost both his wife and his child in the conflict with the aliens, Nolan became a lone wanderer, which eventually brought him to the town where he works to keep the peace. Hopefully this new addition to the cast indicates that the TV series -- and by extension, the MMO -- is beginning to gear up for production.

[Source: Syfy press release]

Syfy announces star of the Defiance TV series originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Custom video content available in EVE's captain's quarters

Jef Reahard — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Sandbox

Chances are you haven't really fantasized about kicking back in your captain's quarters and watching a movie or three. After all, EVE Online is about blowing people up -- or preferably, scamming them and then blowing them up, amirite? Similarly, hanging out in the game's Incarna interiors is for imaginative carebears and inept internet spaceship pilots, according to some.

Nevertheless, CCP has released a new dev blog detailing how you can go about customizing the infinite video loop that currently runs on your CQ's widescreen television. It involves converting your videos to the .BIK format and sticking them into the appropriate folder, and CCP Optimal outlines the technical details at the official EVE Online website.

Custom video content available in EVE's captain's quarters originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Massively: Sort of like literary criticism edition

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Launches, MMO industry, Opinion, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous

For those of you not familiar with Irish literature and the nonsensical ditherings of some more famous examples of same, you might not realize that today is Bloomsday, a day celebrating the novel Ulysses. If you've never read Ulysses, you're in for a treat... if your idea of a treat is a phone-book sized tome whose plot leaps and bounds like an inert lump of granite. It's a heartwarming tale of a man's growth into boyhood, a boy's growth into surrogate sonhood, and an author's growth into the sort of man who would submit Finnegan's Wake as a serious literary work with a straight face.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, it's time for this week's edition of Ask Massively. And today's questions aren't going to lie down and take it, since we're fielding questions about Defiance as well as the sometime-this-year-probably release of Star Wars: The Old Republic. As always, if you've got a question you want answered next week, you can send it along to ask@massively.com or aim it toward the comment field.

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Ask Massively: Sort of like literary criticism edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2011: Trion updates official Defiance site with teaser trailer

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Post-Apocalyptic

We've known that Defiance would be getting its first serious showing this year at E3, but it looks like the team at Trion Worlds couldn't wait quite that long to show the fans the interesting stuff just around the corner. The official site has already been updated with a brand-new teaser trailer showing off the barest glimpse of what players will be able to expect... and judging by the ruined landscape within the trailer, we can report that this looks to be a very different post-apocalyptic take than other offerings in the genre.

E3 will also see more information about the corresponding television series, which will be written be Rockne S. O'Bannnon of seaQuest DSV and Farscape fame. Billed not only as the first fully persistent online shooter but the first time that a game and a television show will be co-existing at the same time, Defiance could prove an interesting look at what can be done with MMOs.

Massively's on the ground in Los Angeles during the week of June 6-9, bringing you all the best news from E3 2011. Whether you're dying to know more about Star Wars: The Old Republic, RIFT, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

E3 2011: Trion updates official Defiance site with teaser trailer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What do you do during downtime in the game?

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 06 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Endgame, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

MMOs, especially older ones, often suffered or benefited (depending on whom you asked) from having a somewhat more sedate pace of activities. Even in the most action-oriented games, there are periods of downtime, whether they come from travel times or waiting for the other two players in your party to come back from the bathroom. It's not enough time for you to think that you should just log off and do something else, but it is enough time that you start to find your attention wandering at least a little bit.

So what do you do during the brief downtime in an MMO? Do you read books while you wait for your World of Warcraft raid to get underway? Do you have the television on in the background while you play World of Tanks (preferably tuned to the History Channel)? Is it a simple matter of tabbing over to read another site while you warp around in Star Trek Online? Or do you just entertain yourself with emote spam, jumping, and various inventory toys?

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!

The Daily Grind: What do you do during downtime in the game? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hero:108 Online bringing new commercial to Nickelodeon

Rubi Bayer — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, News items, Free-to-play, Kids, Family

Hero:108 is a popular kids show on Cartoon Network, and the MMO that has spun off of the series will be making its presence known on Nickelodeon pretty soon.

The new Hero:108 Online commercial will take viewers on a quick, raucous trip through the free-to-play game, through the eyes of a fairly enthusiastic young player.

The commercial will air on Nickelodeon beginning Friday, but Massively has an exclusive sneak peek for you now. Follow along after the jump for the newest peek at Hero:108 Online. If it piques your interest (or that of your kids), check out the game's site to learn more and sign up.

Continue reading Hero:108 Online bringing new commercial to Nickelodeon

Hero:108 Online bringing new commercial to Nickelodeon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO Family: Screening "screen time"

Lisa Poisso — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Kids, MMO Family, Family

MMO Family is your resource for leveling a gaming-specced family ... From tips on balancing gaming with family life to finding age-appropriate niches for every family member, MMO Family offers you advice on MMO gaming of the family, by the family and for the family.

One of the first topics we tackled here at MMO Family is how to tell when kids have had enough gaming time. As parents who game, we should be in a unique position to appreciate, respect and guide our children's attraction to games. But in the crush of day-to-day living, it's all too easy to let a few extra gaming minutes slip into half an hour ... past an hour ... into the evening ... into a habit that's begun eating away at family balance.

Some families keep a rein on gaming overdoses by instituting strict limits on screen time. What's considered part of the screen time quota varies from family to family; TV time is the bottom line, with movies, internet use and gaming time lumped in or added on top according to each family's habits and needs. We talked to Dr. Kourosh Dini, author of Video Game Play and Addiction: A Guide for Parents (now available completely online) and himself a gamer, for some professional perspectives on how to keep things in balance.

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MMO Family: Screening "screen time" originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New information about hybrid SyFy MMO and television show

Rubi Bayer — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, New titles, News items

Back in June of 2008, we first heard about a neat little idea from SyFy -- then the Sci-Fi channel -- involving a combination MMO and television show. The project is still going strong as a collaboration between SyFy and Trion World Network, and now has the intriguing working title of One Earth.

One Earth has since received financial backing from Peacock Equity, a global fund from NBC Universal and GE dedicated to investing in digital media companies (among other ventures).

New video -- featuring Lars Buttler, CEO of Trion and President of SyFy David Howe -- delves deeper into the project. "...we are making this game now with a lot of support from every side," Buttler says. "we can, in this unique setup, do things that other people would never even dare before: create a video game world, a television show, they're based on the same universe, they take place at the same location in the future. They not only promote each other, they literally depend on each other and co-evolve."

For the full story and video, take a look here.

New information about hybrid SyFy MMO and television show originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free Realms hops on the TV commercial bandwagon

Rubi Bayer — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Free Realms, Kids

It looks like MapleStory isn't the only one seeking to draw in some new players over the holidays. Free Realms has released two eye-catching television commercials, set to air over the holidays.

Both spots aim for a thirty second intro to all things Free Realms, with the first one focusing on holiday events and the second a more general view. All the bases are covered in these whirlwind tours of the game: cool costumes, houses to decorate, pets, monster fights, jobs, and more.

There is a heavy emphasis on "free" and "with your friends", which should hold a hefty appeal to the tween and teen set as the holiday vacation from school starts to drag out a little bit next week. There is a brief text disclaimer about halfway through: "premium content and membership available for purchase," which offers a tempting suggestion for kids who haven't decided what to do with that Visa gift card they got from Aunt Judy in Oklahoma.

Both commercials can be viewed at the official site.

Free Realms hops on the TV commercial bandwagon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Favorite activity to do at the same time as MMOing?

William Dobson — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Let's face it: there are times when playing MMOs that your full, undivided attention isn't really required. Maybe you're in a slow group or raid, or camping some rare spawn, or just online to keep an eye on the market. We're often left with enough mental capacity to start up a second activity. Here are some popular ones:

Reading a book
Watching television
Getting paperwork done
Browsing the internet
Playing another game

These are just some examples. Maybe you have something a little less common you like to do that you could share with the rest of us. Knitting? Making and flying paper planes around the room? Sorting M&M's by color? Let us know how you keep yourself occupied during the duller passages of gameplay.

The Daily Grind: Favorite activity to do at the same time as MMOing? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TNT's Leverage is 'For the Horde'

Michael Zenke — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Video, Culture, MMO industry, Humor

I love Leverage. The newish modern-day thinking man's action show from TNT offers a weekly look at a gang of crooks doing a little bit of bad for a lot of good. It's actually a lot like the tabletop RPG Shadowrun, if you've ever heard of that game. The show is appealing on a number of levels, but the producers obviously know the demographic one of its characters attracts. The man in the snazzy suit above is Aldis Hodge, playing the part of Alec Hardison - resident geek and computer/technology expert. And, apparently, a member of World of Warcraft's Horde.

In this week's episode of the show Hardison bonds with an officer worker in a corporate megaplex he's infiltrating. We actually got a preview of this clever schtick in an interview done by the folks at WoW Insider. They spoke with episode writer John Rogers about the episode last month. You can catch full episodes of the show over on TNT's website, but if you just want to check out the full clip of their exchange you can do so below the cut. Now I want to know what class he rolls.

Continue reading TNT's Leverage is 'For the Horde'

TNT's Leverage is 'For the Horde' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stargate Worlds interview with Cheyenne Mountain studio head

James Egan — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, Game mechanics, Interviews, PvP, Stargate Worlds

GameZone recently spoke with Dan Elggren, studio head at Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment, about the upcoming title Stargate Worlds. The interview topics range from the challenges in moving the IP forward while remaining true to its origins, to the fact that sci-fi MMOs generally aren't as well-received as fantasy titles.

Elggren goes on to explain how Cheyenne Mountain has tried to merge the feature set and gameplay expected from an MMO with the more visceral feel of tactical shooter. A key aspect of their business model is that it's predicated on regular content updates. "We'll be adding new story, new levels, new archetypes and, obviously, new worlds about every three months post launch. This will be free content that we're giving away on an aggressive schedule," Elggren says. The interview also touches on Stargate Worlds having opt-in PvP at launch, which he states should later evolve into 'platoon-on-platoon large scale PvP events'. Check out the GameZone interview with Dan Elggren for more info from Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment on what we can expect from Stargate Worlds.

[Via Blue's News]

Stargate Worlds interview with Cheyenne Mountain studio head originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: From MMO to TV Show?

Michael Zenke — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, The Daily Grind

So we've talked before about TV shows that you'd like to see as MMOs, and numerous times in our ongoing dialogue the connection between television and MMOs have been made. Just yesterday a new IP MMO was announced, bringing Buffy Summers to the world of XP and zoning. What we'd like to ask you about today is just the opposite. Though it sounds like Sci-Fi Channel is attempting to hybridize the two mediums, we know we'd love to see some TV shows based on our favorite MMOs. We'll throw out the gimme: wouldn't a World of Warcraft animated series be fantastic?

What would you like to see? An EQ-based comedy/drama? Maybe a Tabula Rasa war epic? Throw out your ideas for a TV show based on an MMO in the comments!

The Daily Grind: From MMO to TV Show? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can an MMO/TV hybrid succeed?

Michael Zenke — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Culture

This past weekend Massively's big-sister site Joystiq took an editorial look at the SCI FI channel MMO/TV hybrid recently announced by Trion. Here at the site we discussed the initial announcement, and even did an interview with Trion's Jon Van Caneghem all about the ambitious project. Though they've now announced the game will be an alternate reality science fiction setting, a number of questions remain. Joystiq's Counting Rupees column isn't so much interested in what the game/show might be as it is the very question: can such a thing work?

Columnists Jeff Engel and Geoff Brooks take a look at the history of game/television crossovers, going all the way back to the days of the Super Mario Bros. Super Show and Captain N. They posit what the nitty-gritty of this venture might entail, and eventually come the conclusion many gamers likely have: this is probably not going to work. Says Engel, "More likely, the in-game situations will only alter slight things within the TV universe, but this would probably drastically undercut a major reason why people would want to play and watch the show in the first place ... the remaining attraction of the game and show would be to simply see if you can get your avatar on to TV, and it's questionable whether that could actually sustain interest."

Can an MMO/TV hybrid succeed? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sci Fi Channel creating hybrid TV series and MMO

James Egan — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, News items, Virtual worlds

The Sci Fi Channel plans to air a TV series that simultaneously plays out as a massively multiplayer online game, the Los Angeles Times reports. This pairing of television writers with game designers will allow fans of the series to influence its story arc through their own actions in the virtual space. David Howe, president of the Sci Fi Channel, said, "This is the Holy Grail for us, without a doubt... this is groundbreaking, and I don't say that lightly."

The large and dedicated player communities attached to various titles in the MMO space are appealing to the Sci Fi Channel. "Bundling a World of Warcraft player community with a series and an on-line social community is something the Sci Fi Channel has tried to puzzle out for several years," according to the Los Angeles Times. The Sci Fi Channel's desire to tap into the MMO market led them to work with Trion World Network, a California-based game company with some major investors standing behind it. The hope is that together, they will achieve a first in interactive entertainment: create a hybrid television series and online game, where players affect or even determine the direction of the show. If successful, this will stand as a milestone in the history of both television and games.

Continue reading Sci Fi Channel creating hybrid TV series and MMO

Sci Fi Channel creating hybrid TV series and MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Online targets Battlestar Galactica fans

James Egan — Sat, 31 May 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Events, real-world, News items

EVE Online has made first contact with a whole new group of sci-fi fans, through some carefully chosen TV advertising. EVE's first TV ads were shown during the most recent Battlestar Galactica episode on the SciFi network. If CCP Games wanted to target the viewers who would be the most receptive to checking out EVE, they didn't go wrong by choosing Galactica fans. The TV ads were an unexpected move, and came as a big surprise to many EVE players. Ethic at Kill Ten Rats said: "My jaw hit the floor while watching the latest episode of Battlestar Galactica on SciFi tonight. There, before my eyes, was a commercial for EVE Online. Amazing. Nice work CCP!"

High visibility TV adverts for an MMO had previously been something only associated with Night Elf mohawks, Shatner, and a company with some rather deep pockets. EVE Online dev CCP Wrangler made a full announcement about the company's leap into prime time advertising.

Continue reading EVE Online targets Battlestar Galactica fans

EVE Online targets Battlestar Galactica fans originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 May 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buy this box for $60 or go to hell

James Egan — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Economy, Events, real-world, News items

"Buy this box for $60 or go to hell, I don't want your money." That's the message on the tunnel vision of boxed game sales that Alex St. John, CEO of WildTangent, is trying to get across to the gaming industry. The dominant business model in PC gaming largely ignores the possibilities of in-game transactions and ad-sponsored gameplay. St. John spoke on the need to pursue new gaming revenue models at the recent ION Game Conference in Seattle and more recently, at the 6th annual Wedbush Morgan Securities Management Access Conference in New York City. Gamasutra followed St. John at both events, where the WildTangent CEO raised some eyebrows when he asserted,"In a few years any business not making money from ads is leaving half their money on the table."

According to St. John, the industry fixation on boxed sales will be the downfall of a number of companies that fail to change their business models and embrace in-game or in-world revenue streams. "There's a wide open opportunity here. Anybody can get into this, and everything the traditional publishers and game companies know about doing business will ensure their failure," he stated at ION.

Continue reading Buy this box for $60 or go to hell

Buy this box for $60 or go to hell originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 May 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively goes to Seattle: A wrap-up of ION 2008

Michael Zenke — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, Massively Event Coverage

It's been a great week on the west coast, for the second annual MMO-centric Seattle conference. Now called ION, everything we've heard has indicated that this week's event was a tremendous success. Massively was there in force, and below you'll find the ins and outs of the sessions and meetups we attended.

	Focusing on the community manager One of the strengths of MMOs are their communities. The stronger a community around an MMO is the more likely that game is to last into the foreseeable future.
	State of online games keynote Globalization is one of the session tracks here at ION 08, as befitting an industry seeking the holy grail of a truly global marketplace for online games. Tuesday's keynote was delivered by Won II Suh of Neowiz, a Korean online games company with 20 titles currently supported or in development by 1000 employees across 8 regions around the world.
	John Smedley keynote shows off Free Realms and The Agency When you think of Sony Online Entertainment, what comes to mind? I'm sure that Everquest, Everquest 2, Star Wars Galaxies and Planetside are some of the titles which most people think about. From what I've recently seen in John Smedley's keynote at ION 08 that's all going to be changing in the near future.
	SOE Seattle studio tour Our mission: infiltrate SOE's Seattle studio, obtain intel on The Agency, regale the awesomely hyperactive lead designer Hal Milton with questions from left field.
	MMOs and the television content model (SGW) Joseph Ybarra, SVP of strategic operations at Firesky, the publishing subsidiary of Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment, presented a session today at ION 08 about the Stargate Worlds production model that borrows heavily from Hollywood and TV models.

Continue reading Massively goes to Seattle: A wrap-up of ION 2008

Massively goes to Seattle: A wrap-up of ION 2008 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 May 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ION 08: MMOs and the television content model (SGW)

Barb Dybwad — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Business models, Events, real-world, MMO industry, Stargate Worlds, Massively Event Coverage

Joseph Ybarra, SVP of strategic operations at Firesky, the publishing subsidiary of Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment, presented a session today at ION 08 about the Stargate Worlds production model that borrows heavily from Hollywood and TV models. The goal for SGW is to approach content updates for the game more like a production cycle for television, in which an episode takes a predictable amount of time to complete (14-16 weeks in the case of Stargate Atlantis).

After some background on Firesky and CME, Ybarra showed the Stargate Worlds trailer and launched into a discussion of the strategy with SGW. The idea is to adopt a movie model for the development phase and a TV model for the post-launch "live" phase. They chose to use the BigWorld middleware platform and Unreal Engine technologies in an effort to use proven tools: "don't reinvent the wheel." This allows them to both minimize risk and focus on the content.

Continue reading ION 08: MMOs and the television content model (SGW)

ION 08: MMOs and the television content model (SGW) originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bartle to old guard: "We've already won"

Akela Talamasca — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, Culture, MMO industry, News items, Opinion, Kids

In a wonderful, feel-good-story-of-the-year type of article, Richard Bartle, the father of online gaming, has written a laudable rant in the Guardian, essentially informing the old school haters that they're officially obsolete. You know the ones -- every reporter making a quick buck off of the party line that videogames are dangerous to our psyches; every politician riding the easy ticket of attacking our hobby in the name of protecting the children; every concerned parental activist group calling for the heads of the developers who worked on our chosen pastime -- Bartle has given them notice.

In his delightfully-worded article, Bartle reminds us all that these witch hunts are generational: previously, it was television; before that, the enemy was rock 'n' roll, comic books, even the novel. People fear what they don't understand, and aggression is what they employ to mask that fear. Every previous generation seeks to destroy the entertainment of the new generation, and for our age, it's the videogame that's under fire. Bartle understands this and quite calmly uses this knowledge to signal an end to the previous generation's influence. Yet he doesn't just condemn, he also offers a way out.

Continue reading Bartle to old guard: "We've already won"

Bartle to old guard: "We've already won" originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: MMO TV?

William Dobson — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, PvP, PvE, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Have a read of this article, which features comments from the host of the short-lived videogame TV series Thumb Bandits, Iain Lee. He said that the format of his program did not work, and that the people running it didn't understand games enough to show them in a way that interests the target audience. On the other hand, he mentions the alternate way of covering games -- which is to view them as a sport and show off the elite end of competitive play in tournaments and the like -- as being skewed too much to the fanatics to garner much mainstream attention.

Looking at it from an MMO perspective, what sort of TV program would you be more inclined to watch, one that goes over industry-wide news, or one that shows the hardcore doing what they do best? This could be player-versus-player competition, or even the odd high-end raid encounter. Importantly, would it need to be game-specific for you to want to watch it, or if the show switched it up between a number of games which might be unfamiliar to you, would that still be good viewing? Or, is TV just not the format for this at all, with all the quality internet programming out there?

The Daily Grind: MMO TV? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Digimon MMO Coming to North America

Michael Zenke — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles

It may have been a few years since you heard the catchy theme to the Digimon television show. You may not even accurately recall this Pokemon-esque animation/manga/toy/game empire. But the digi-pets are still out there, and soon they'll be returning to the shores of North America in the form of a pair of Massively Multiplayer Online Games. It's worth noting a few things about the publisher for these games. CDC games is one of an increasing number of companies bridging the online worlds of the East and West. They've brought several popular games from China and Korea here to the states, and are the Eastern publisher for games like Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online.

The games, Digimon RPG and Digimon RPG2, are pretty much exactly what you'd expect. You take on the role of a Digimon trainer, starting out with a low-level unevolved critter. Your task throughout the game is to tame, train, and evolve your digital pets through combat and conflict. It's a turn-based title, and from the sounds of things still has a fairly active community some five years after the title's release. The wikipedia article (take with a grain of salt) also notes that there is already an active English-playing community on the Korean servers. One would assume, then, that perhaps there's an audience ready for this here in the states? The games are slated for launch in North America later this year.

[Via Kotaku]

Digimon MMO Coming to North America originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second Life: BBC documentary about virtual adultery

Eloise Pasteur — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Opinion, Second Life

Well, it's been said often enough before, but Second Life is all about sex. That, at least, would be the impression you would gain from the documentary that has just finished (2:30 SL Time) on BBC2. The programme dealt with 2 Second Life couples. One couple were both in a RL relationship with others, in the other couple she was married, he was single.

The first couple were both unhappy, have separated from their former partners, married in Second Life, Real Life and are expecting a baby. The other couple, she was depressed (not necessarily about her marriage), he agitated for her to come and visit in RL. She wouldn't, he left her and so she went to visit. Whether or not it would have been different if she'd gone earlier, who will know. They're now separated in SL, not interested in RL, and she is working with her husband in therapy to make her marriage work.

In that sense, a fairly balanced programme I guess. And there are definitely people I know where this describes their SL relationships well. Then there are couples where they meet in SL as single people, get together in SL, get together in RL and get married. The whole gamut of human relationships (and some others too) are expressed, because the thing that is so often forgotten is that it's people doing this, bringing their human strengths and weaknesses to the world. An interesting programme though, even if it feels a bit like they needed the spice of adultery to sell it... shame really. Oh, I had a chuckle, if you've seen the programme and remember the lighthouse, it's one of my lighthouse lights that's all over the BBC.

I've tried, I can't find any links on BBC pages but it has shown up on iPlayer. Thanks Andy.

[EDIT: added link to iPlayer to allow you to watch it]

Second Life: BBC documentary about virtual adultery originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Watching while playing

Mike Schramm — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Leveling, The Daily Grind

Let's be honest. As captivating as some of these games are, you can only kill hundreds of boars before the urge to multitask raises its ugly head. And so while many new players probably take in the game on its own merits, listening to the soundtrack and drinking in every clash and yell, I'd guess that the majority of us need something more than the game we've already played for many, many hours.

So today's question: what is it you do while playing? Me, I like catching up on television shows while I play-- while a show like Heroes or Lost demands my full attention, there are plenty of sitcoms and reruns that I like to just let roll in the background while I mine for ore or slaughter orcs. I know lots of other people listen to music while they play, and while I personally have never done it, some bloggers even tell me they blog while playing. I will admit, however, to practicing my ukulele while playing-- sitting in the battleground queue (way back when there were battleground queues) doesn't require me to do much with my hands.

So what do you find yourself doing most to divert your attention while playing?

The Daily Grind: Watching while playing originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Nov 2007 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massive games by the Numb3rs: MMOGs on prime-time TV

Michael Zenke — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, MMO industry, Reviews, Massively Meta

Discussion of a prime-time television show is probably not something you'll see in this space often. But today, it's highly appropriate. Last night's episode of the CBS series Numb3rs featured a plot that any reader of this site can relate to. The show stars Rob Morrow as an FBI agent and David Krumholtz as his math professor sibling. Krumholtz's character is regularly involved with federal cases, where he makes use of mathematics to solve real-life problems. It sounds like a gimmick and, to be honest, in some episodes it is. Generally the skilled acting and competent writing keeps the show interesting.

This week's episode centered around a Massively Multiplayer Online Game and the Alternate Reality spinoff that accompanied it. The killer-of-the-week was competing with other groups for a $1 million cash prize, and used lethal methods to dissuade others from playing. The show heavily featured MMOG jargon, the realities of online play, and the kinds of people who play these games. It actually did a fairly respectful job of it too, and I thought it might be worthwhile to offer a mini-review of the episode.

If you're curious about the episode, "Primacy", ARGNet has a few words on the show from the perspective of an Alternate Reality gamer. For more on the math used in the episode, including combinatorics and evolutionary algorithms, a site dedicated to running the numbers on Numb3rs has you covered. And, of course, if you'd like to actually watch the episode you can do so for free on CBS's Innertube service.

Read on for my thoughts on this intriguing episode of Numb3rs.

Continue reading Massive games by the Numb3rs: MMOGs on prime-time TV

Massive games by the Numb3rs: MMOGs on prime-time TV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Local TV visits SOE San Diego

Mike Schramm — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:13:00 EST

Filed under: Video, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Culture, MMO industry

Scott Hartsman posted a link to local San Diego TV station KUSI, who invaded the SOE studios there for a "special report" about the people who make these things called Massively Multiplayer Online games. As mainstream news reports about our favorite pasttime go, it's actually not too bad, though there are a few chuckle-worthy moments-- apparently saying Dad "wasn't too happy" turns into his "outright horror" on local news, and is it just me or did anyone else have the thought that Sasha Foo is probably the most attractive person to ever enter the SOE game testing room? I kid, I kid!

But otherwise, it's a pretty solid report on what it's like making MMOs at SOE. If you're an artist, you can probably drool over that paintbox they're using, and there are also shots of Everquest 2 in wireframe, the making of casting animations, a look at some concept art for Rise of Kunark and a few other games and even some news about a new MMO aimed at a younger audience due out next year called Free Realms. Even if you watch it with the sound turned off, it's a cool look inside SOE studios and what it's like to work there.

Local TV visits SOE San Diego originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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