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[The Daily Grind: Do you stay loyal to your MMO guild?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/the-daily-grind-do-you-stay-loyal-to-your-mmo-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/the-daily-grind-do-you-stay-loyal-to-your-mmo-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/26/the-daily-grind-do-you-stay-loyal-to-your-mmo-guild/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ultima Online wedding, my guild as honor guard, circa 1998
When I joined a guild in Ultima Online in 1997, I had no idea I was going to still be in a version of that guild almost 15 years later. Heck, I doubt I even realized that MMOs would still be a thing 15 years later! But from chatting with my fellow Massively staffers and you lovely readers, I've realized that my experience isn't shared by most people. Guilds implode. New games emerge. People move on. Drama develops. Real life happens. That sense of loyalty just isn't always worth the trouble. Guilds often exist to help members meet their goals in a single game, and when those goals are met, that's it -- it's over.

But I'll move to (and stay in) games past their expiration dates just to hang out with guildies. What about you guys? Are you loyal to a single guild or group of gaming friends, or do you drop from a guild when you drop out of a game, knowing you'll find new mates in the next big thing?

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 stay loyal to your MMO guild? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgclassic-mmodaily-grindeaelectronic-artsfantasyguildguildslord-britishloyaltymythicmythic-entertainmentopiniontdgthe-daily-grindultimaultima onlineuoSat, 26 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Can there be too much community interaction in public?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/the-daily-grind-can-there-be-too-much-community-interaction-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/the-daily-grind-can-there-be-too-much-community-interaction-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/the-daily-grind-can-there-be-too-much-community-interaction-in/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When it's ready!
There are varying schools of thought on interacting with your community in public, but the two main ones consist of either answering every question or giving the silent treatment. Blizzard was notorious at one time for not responding to any community feedback in public, presumably to keep the trolls at bay, but that studio's opened up considerably in the last few years.

On the other end of that spectrum is ArenaNet, whose reps answer just about every single question they get on Twitter. This makes for an open line of communication with fans but seems to be ineffective when the same questions are being asked and answered multiple times a day.

So where do you stand on the issue? Do you think a simple FAQ on the website should be referenced and a support team should answer questions privately, or do you think something like Twitter, Facebook, or even a Reddit Ask Me Anything is the best place to answer questions and address concerns from the community?

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: Can there be too much community interaction in public? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-me-anythingcommunitydaily-grindfacebookinteractionopinionpublicreddittdgthe-daily-grindtwitterFri, 25 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you leave your current MMO for its sequel?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-leave-your-current-mmo-for-its-sequel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-leave-your-current-mmo-for-its-sequel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-daily-grind-would-you-leave-your-current-mmo-for-its-sequel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Guild Wars 2 Engineer
With Guild Wars 2 in the offing, long-time Guild Wars fans have an interesting dilemma on their hands. Trading up is probably a foregone conclusion in most cases, but abandoning Guild Wars altogether may sting a bit if you've invested a lot of time and energy into the original incarnation of Tyria.

The same could be said for faithful EverQuest fans when EverQuest II rolled around in 2004, and perhaps again whenever Sony Online Entertainment formalizes its EverQuest Next project. For today's Daily Grind, then, we'd like to know how easily you could leave your current MMO if a sequel were to materialize. We know you'd check out the new shiny, but would you leave the older title for good?

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: Would you leave your current MMO for its sequel? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetdaily-grindeqeq-2eq-iieq-nexteq1eq2eqiieverquesteverquest-2everquest-3everquest-iieverquest-nextf2pfantasyfree-to-playguild-warsguild-wars-2gwgw2mmo-sequelsncsoftopinionsequelssoesonysony-online-entertainmenttdgthe-daily-grindThu, 24 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: If you could design a class, what would it be?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/the-daily-grind-if-you-could-design-a-class-what-would-it-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/the-daily-grind-if-you-could-design-a-class-what-would-it-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/23/the-daily-grind-if-you-could-design-a-class-what-would-it-be/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Daily Grind
"Hey you!" hisses a voice from a nearby dark alley. "How would you like to be a game designer for a day? It'll just cost you one kidney!"

"Well golly, mister," you reply, stepping into the shadows. "I have two of those, and I've always wanted to try my hand at fixing everything that's wrong with the industry, starting with the snow zone in Mutant Hamsters Online. The pixel shading for the Blue Spruce trees has never been right..."

"I'll let you make a class. Just one class," the voice interrupts. "And you get unlimited snack bar access."

"Deal!" you exclaim. "Now where do you want this kidney?"

Believe it or not, that could happen to you! But let's hope it doesn't and instead let's engage in hypothetical daydreaming: If you could design a class for your MMO, what would it be?

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: If you could design a class, what would it be? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armchair-developerbackseat-developerclassclass-designclassesdaily-grindkidneymutant-hamsters-onlineopiniontdgthe-daily-grindWed, 23 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you play an adult MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-an-adult-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-an-adult-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-an-adult-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - CasildaYesterday we told you about an adult MMO called Orgia Romanus that's causing a stir due to its focus on sexual content. While the game is certainly taking an over-the-top approach, it's by no means the first MMO to walk this path.

Indie titles like Sociolotron and portions of virtual worlds like Second Life are renowned for their focus on various taboo topics, while more traditional titles like Age of Conan and Mortal Online have dabbled in avatar nudity and adult-oriented quests.

But what if an MMO came along that managed to incorporate adult topics in a manner devoid of sensationalism? Sure, it's a tall order, but let's assume it's possible. Would you play it, or do you steer clear of anything with the "adult" label?

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: Would you play an adult MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adult-contentadult-mmodaily-grindopinionsexsex-in-mmostabootdgthe-daily-grindTue, 22 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Paragon Market, CoH
When Lord of the Rings Online first went free-to-play, Turbine put quest zones on sale for a song, and I missed it. There's never been as good a sale since, and I regret being slow on the draw. So I vowed to start watching sales across the F2P games I frequent very carefully. Sparklepony for 10 bucks? Woot. City of Heroes character slots 50% off? Heck yes. It's become a game in and of itself, and sometimes I admit that I plunk down a little money for a sale on something in a game I've drifted away from, knowing I'll use it later (like Guild Wars' storage panels, which I delayed buying for several years until they were half off).

This method had definitely ensured that I save money on stuff I would have bought at full price had I lacked the patience and planning to play the cash-shop sale game. What about you guys? Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales for the stuff you want to buy, even if that means you must wait to have the latest and greatest power set or inventory slot? Or do you just let your whims dictate your purchases?

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 wait for MMO cash-shop sales? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcash-shopcash-shop-salecity-of-heroescohdaily-grindguild-warslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionpatiencepatience-is-a-virtuetdgthe-daily-grindMon, 21 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How important is surprise to you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Of course, the fifth time you see the sea serpent it doesn't really shock you.
For some players, MMOs are all about discovery. The game is at its most fun when you're just exploring the world, figuring out what you need to do as best you can. But to other players, wandering around without a clue isn't as fun as knowing what to do and enjoying that actual accomplishment.

Of course, surprises come in both big and small varieties. No matter how well you might know Star Wars: The Old Republic's quests, for example, you might avoid looking up all of the datacrons and thus get a pleasant surprise when you find one. Or maybe you don't like knowing about the bosses you'll fight in a dungeon until you get into the fight.

We all like discovering things, but what we like to discover varies. So what about you? How important is having surprises in a game for you? Do you like to walk in with as little foreknowledge as possible, or do you like to have a pretty good map in your head before you start playing?

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 important is surprise to you? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedaily-grinddiscoveryexplorationexplorersopinionsurprisesurprisestdgthe-daily-grindSun, 20 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How much character customization is too much?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Spirit Tales
Forty million. That's how many fashion combinations Spirit Tales is boasting. Forget, for a moment, whether you are a fan of Anime-inspired MMOs and cutesy fare and consider that staggering number on its merits.

I don't think players are really confused by a mind-numbing array of options. Heck, some of us live for cosmetic gear and could never get enough. But each one of these character tidbits was designed and modeled and textured and coded in by someone, and while we know that game development resources aren't wholly fungible, it's still true that money spent on pigtails and lollipop weapons and hats that look like snakes is money not spent on other features like housing and combat -- features more likely to be used by far more players than bunny ears.

How much character customization is too much?

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 much character customization is too much? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcharacter-customizationcosmetic-gearcustomizationdaily-grindfungibilityopinionresource-allocationsnakes-on-a-hatspirit-talestdgthe-daily-grindSat, 19 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What is the unofficial soundtrack to your favorite MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-daily-grind-what-is-the-unofficial-soundtrack-to-your-favor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-daily-grind-what-is-the-unofficial-soundtrack-to-your-favor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/18/the-daily-grind-what-is-the-unofficial-soundtrack-to-your-favor/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Testament
Official soundtracks are great; don't get me wrong. But sometimes I like to just throw on some of my own music to better mimic my mood at the time of playing. There are still albums from the late '80s that remind me of Wasteland or Pool of Radiance every time I listen to them -- almost 25 years later!

As talented as our favorite game theme composers are, we don't always want to listen to the default soundtrack every time. So what gets you through your game of choice? Do you enjoy some metal? Classical? Country? Oldies? Dubstep... or whatever the kids listen to these days? Let us know!

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 is the unofficial soundtrack to your favorite MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindmusicopinionsoundtrackstdgtestamentthe-daily-grindthemeFri, 18 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you judge all MMOs by the same standard?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-judge-all-mmos-by-the-same-standard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-judge-all-mmos-by-the-same-standard/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-judge-all-mmos-by-the-same-standard/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Xsyon - player-created temple
One of the challenges facing sandbox developers is the fact that recent themepark MMORPGs have raised the bar in terms of smooth launches and relatively bug-free experiences. Aside from EVE Online, most of the current sandboxes on offer are small indie affairs known as much for their rough-around-the-edges implementation as for their feature innovations.

And yet, many so-called sandbox fans seem to expect games like Xsyon, Darkfall, and others to be as polished as World of Warcraft, RIFT, and other themeparks with fewer features and several times the budget.

For today's Daily Grind, we'd like to know how much (if any) slack you cut developers of sandbox and/or indie MMOs. Do you hold these games to the same standard that you hold a triple-A themepark?

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 judge all MMOs by the same standard? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugsdaily-grindfeaturedopinionpolishsandboxsandbox-fanstdgthe-daily-grindthemeparkxsyonThu, 17 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's on your character's to do list?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/the-daily-grind-whats-on-your-characters-to-do-list/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/the-daily-grind-whats-on-your-characters-to-do-list/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/the-daily-grind-whats-on-your-characters-to-do-list/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

To Do List
There's always something to be doing to advance your character in MMOs, whether it's as grand as epic raiding or as mundane as getting that Litter Bug achievement for cleaning up the in-game park. While some folks simply log in and do whatever their whims dictate, I have a feeling that many of us have elaborate to-do lists that guide our actions.

I love doing this with MMOs because it makes me feel like a multitasking genius. Working toward six or seven goals at once generates a tsunami of accomplishment in my soul, and there is nothing quite as satisfying as crossing off tasks from my own list.

So what's on your character's to do list today? What goals are you working toward, and how long do you expect them to take? Unleash your inner accountant and show us the details!

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 on your character's to do list? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindlistlistsopiniontaskstdgthe-daily-grindto-do-listWed, 16 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you miss PvP if it disappeared from your favorite MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/the-daily-grind-would-you-miss-pvp-if-it-disappeared-from-your/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/the-daily-grind-would-you-miss-pvp-if-it-disappeared-from-your/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/the-daily-grind-would-you-miss-pvp-if-it-disappeared-from-your/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Star Trek Online - Klingons fighting
Last weekend's dev post about the sorry state of PvP in Star Trek Online was a fascinating microcosm of everything that's controversial about one of the MMO industry most divisive topics. Cryptic's mea culpa regarding horribly flawed mechanics was news in and of itself, never mind the fact that Dan "Gozer" Griffis also went a step further and said that PvP could be excised from the game entirely because its usage and overall impact are insignificant.

PvPers bristled at that notion, and many responded with variations on "well of course we don't play it because the implementation sucks." This led us to wonder about the importance of PvP in MMORPGs as well as the percentage of players who care about its inclusion. For today's completely unscientific and anecdotal morning poll, we'd like to know your thoughts on the matter. Are you apathetic or opposed to PvP, or would you miss it if it disappeared from your favorite MMO?

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: Would you miss PvP if it disappeared from your favorite MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-studiosdaily-grindf2pfree-to-playno-one-cares-about-pvpopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpvppwesci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotdgthe-daily-grindwould-you-miss-pvp-if-it-was-goneTue, 15 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Must MMO housing be open-world to be good?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/the-daily-grind-must-mmo-housing-be-open-world-to-be-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/the-daily-grind-must-mmo-housing-be-open-world-to-be-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/the-daily-grind-must-mmo-housing-be-open-world-to-be-good/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

ArcheAge
Whenever the Great MMO Housing debate rears its head, the "of course MMOs ought to have housing" players usually drown out the curmudgeons who lack decorating skills and prefer to live out of their banks and sleep on a bedroll on the public streets (you know who you are!). And then, inevitably, the housing fans turn on each other over which type of housing is best.

Some of us are resigned to the belief that, at best, themepark MMOs willing to take a stab at housing are forever going to implement the instanced variety a la EverQuest II and Lord of the Rings Online, so we may as well get used to it. But sandbox zealots (a term I'm intending affectionately) insist that housing must be open-world, that players should be able to walk up to their own unique spaces within a game and build their abodes from foundation to rooftop. Instanced housing, they say, is just pointless when other people can't easily see what you've created.

What do you think -- is MMO housing just a waste of dev resources if it isn't open-world?

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: Must MMO housing be open-world to be good? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindEQ2EQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iihousehousinginstanced-housinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopen-worldopen-world-housingopinionsandboxtdgthe-daily-grindthemeparkMon, 14 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What areas feel the most overcrowded?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/the-daily-grind-what-areas-feel-the-most-overcrowded/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/the-daily-grind-what-areas-feel-the-most-overcrowded/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/13/the-daily-grind-what-areas-feel-the-most-overcrowded/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Aetheryte camps certainly felt pretty stuffed when FFXIV launched.
One of the realities of a multiplayer game is, you know, the fact that there are multiple players. That means that public areas can get very crowded in short order, leaving players to feel just a little claustrophobic. Newbie areas on launch day are generally filled to the brim, as are new zones on an expansion launch, central locations for farming valuable resources, and so on. But there's crowded and then there's overcrowded -- areas with so many players that it becomes difficult or impossible to get anything done.

No developer wants to have parts of the game that are stuffed to the brim with players alongside completely empty regions, but it still happens. What areas in various games do you feel are the most overcrowded with other players? Are they high-level regions, starter points, or just areas that have such a spectacular set of rewards that everyone flocks to them?

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 areas feel the most overcrowded? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdedcrowdsdaily-grindgroupsI-just-need-to-kill-one-more-for-my-quest-can-you-people-just-leopinionovercrowded-areasovercrowdingplayer-crowdstdgthe-daily-grindSun, 13 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are cash-shop lotteries a black mark on MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-daily-grind-are-cash-shop-lotteries-a-black-mark-on-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-daily-grind-are-cash-shop-lotteries-a-black-mark-on-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/12/the-daily-grind-are-cash-shop-lotteries-a-black-mark-on-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Public lottery kiosk in Japan
Western players gripe about random number generators, especially when it comes to cash shops. Many of us rebel against paying for lockboxes in Star Trek Online, TCG cards in the now-defunct Star Wars Galaxies, and super-packs in City of Heroes because we want to buy a thing, not a chance at a thing.

Apparently, the idea annoys at least one government too. Earlier this week, rumors began swirling that the Japanese government might crack down on social games that employ "konpu gacha" -- essentially a crafting mechanic that requires a succession of lottery-esque random rolls. To gather the random and rare items you need to craft the gizmo you really want, you wind up spending tons of real cash on a bunch of stuff you don't. Sound familiar?

I'm not a fan of legislative meddling in how fools and their money are parted, but I'm still wondering what you all think. Are these kinds of cash-shop tricks fair play, or do you think the genre would be better off without them?

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: Are cash-shop lotteries a black mark on MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcash-shopcity-of-heroescohcrafting-lotterydaily-grindgachajapankampu-gachakampugachalockboxeslotterymicrotransactionopinionstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-galaxiesstosuper-packswgtcgtdgthe-daily-grindtrading-card-gameSat, 12 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should we be disconnected for idling too long?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/the-daily-grind-should-we-be-disconnected-for-idling-too-long/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/the-daily-grind-should-we-be-disconnected-for-idling-too-long/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/the-daily-grind-should-we-be-disconnected-for-idling-too-long/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Guild Wars Nine Rings: AFK titles ftw!
Are you one of those MMO players who always seems to idle out while tending to real-life issues? I know I am, and it usually results in my finding something else to do once I discover that I've been logged out.

I certainly understand why the developers add that feature, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that idling all day in TERA not only is allowed but also grants me the Full Time Job achievement, which tickled me to no end.

So what's your opinion on idling out? Should you be allowed to be AFK as long as you'd like, or should idlers always be disconnected after a certain amount of time? How much time should be allowed? Let us know in the comments!

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 we be disconnected for idling too long? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afkdaily-grinddisconnectidleidling-outopiniontdgthe-daily-grindFri, 11 May 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your preferred camera distance?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/the-daily-grind-whats-your-preferred-camera-distance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/the-daily-grind-whats-your-preferred-camera-distance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/10/the-daily-grind-whats-your-preferred-camera-distance/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

EverQuest II - tiny ratonga in the Commonlands
While optional first-person perspectives are pretty common in MMORPGs, I'd be willing to bet that most of us spend our game time looking at the arse-end of our avatars.

Some games limit you to intimate over-the-shoulder shots, while others give you such a huge range on your camera that you can pull it waaaay back and effectively grant yourself the equivalent of a top-down strategy-game view.

For today's Daily Grind, we want to know where you fall on the camera placement spectrum. Do you zoom way out, way in, or are you one of those odd first-person ducks? In a nutshell, what's your preferred camera distance?

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 preferred camera distance? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camera-distancecamera-perspectivedaily-grindmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsopinionperspectivetdgthe-daily-grindwhats-your-preferred-camera-distanceThu, 10 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are virtual worlds still important?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/the-daily-grind-are-virtual-worlds-still-important/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/the-daily-grind-are-virtual-worlds-still-important/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/the-daily-grind-are-virtual-worlds-still-important/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Sims Online
As part of the recent Massively Speaking bicentennial, we were reminiscing about the fact that Massively used to have a much heavier focus on virtual worlds. While we still touch on those from time to time, these types of "games" don't seem to be as hot as they once were. Or maybe they are and we're just not seeing it!

From Habitat to The Sims Online to Second Life, there have been many attempts at constructing vibrant, community-driven virtual worlds that would draw in players looking to create dual lives that were flashier and more fantastic than their real lives. These games once were heralded as the wave of the future, but it seems as if that wave has since moved on to bashing things with their +4 Clubs of Exquisite Suffering.

So what say you: Are virtual worlds still important? Are we trying to return to the concept by embracing sandbox principles? Are they best left to wither and die in the annals of history?

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: Are virtual worlds still important? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindhabitatopinionsandboxsecond-lifetdgthe-daily-grindthe-sims-onlinevirtual-worldsWed, 09 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do progression barriers annoy you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-daily-grind-do-progression-barriers-annoy-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-daily-grind-do-progression-barriers-annoy-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-daily-grind-do-progression-barriers-annoy-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - Hobbit fishing (but only 10 dings per day!)
It's been several years since I played Lord of the Rings Online on a daily basis. For the most part, I'm loving my latest Middle-earth rediscovery tour. After the initial honeymoon phase wore off, though, I did re-encounter some of the things that irritate me about the game (in particular, Turbine's fondness for artificially limiting progression).

Now, I'm not a grinder at all, but on the rare occasions when I do want to put my nose to the proverbial stone and check some things off the list, there's nothing more frustrating than running up against the you-can't-advance-that-skill-any-further-today brick wall. This type of arbitrary limitation is somewhat common in LotRO, and whether we're talking about fishing or even the lengthy cool-downs on festival horse races, it rubs me the wrong way to have my gameplay directed in such a fashion.

What about you, Massively readers? Do progression barriers annoy you, or do you shrug it off and do something else?

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 progression barriers annoy you? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artificial-barriersdaily-grindf2pfantasyfree-to-playgrindgrindinglord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-deedslotro-fishingopinionprogression-barrierstdgthe-daily-grindturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 08 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How far would you go for cosmetic gear?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-far-would-you-go-for-cosmetic-gear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-far-would-you-go-for-cosmetic-gear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-far-would-you-go-for-cosmetic-gear/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

WoW
Massively's got so many cosmetic-gear gurus and sandbox aficionados on staff that sometimes I suspect no amount of character customization and housing and achievements and titles would ever be enough for us. We'd do just about anything for more ways to distinguish our characters in an MMO.

But what about raiding for cosmetic gear? Enter OpenRaid, a World of Warcraft website that helps players organize cross-server PvE dungeon raids and premade PvP teams for the express purpose of acquiring achievements and gear to transmogrify (i.e., map the skin of something cool onto something with good stats). While I'd hope that needing to run large-scale endgame content for gorgeous weapon skins isn't going to become commonplace in future MMOs, it's still fascinating to see roleplay-oriented players playing content they wouldn't normally touch, just to collect a dress.

So how far would you go -- or have you gone -- to get your hands on a sweet piece of cosmetic gear, title, or achievement?

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 far would you go for cosmetic gear? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcosmetic-gearcosmetic-itemsdaily-grindfantasyopenraidopinionraidraidingroleplayroleplayingtdgthe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 07 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you mourn games that never were?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/the-daily-grind-do-you-mourn-games-that-never-were/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/the-daily-grind-do-you-mourn-games-that-never-were/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/06/the-daily-grind-do-you-mourn-games-that-never-were/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Missing things you never had sometimes beats missing things you used to have.
With the sudden and unexpected shutdown of Dominus prior to its launch, the game joins a long line of titles canceled before ever seeing the light of day. Some of them were expansions or campaigns, like Guild Wars: Utopia; some were full games, like the various Ultima Online sequels planned over the years. But none of them ever saw general release. They existed only as test clients and unrealized screenshots.

Obviously, it's difficult to feel the same sense of loss for these games. Star Wars Galaxies is gone now, but it was released and playable at one time. But for some people, the games that never really existed can be a little bit sadder. They weren't cut down in their prime; they were cut down before they even had a chance. So do you mourn games that never were? Do you reminisce about what could have been? Or do you save your sorrow for games that did get released and then faded away?

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 mourn games that never were? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grinddead-gamesdominusgames-that-never-wereopinionpre-releasepre-release-shutdownproject-shutdownshutdownstillborn-gamestdgthe-daily-grindSun, 06 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you use mobile authenticators?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-mobile-authenticators/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-mobile-authenticators/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-mobile-authenticators/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Pretty sure this dude is trying to steal your loot, and that's why you should get an authenticator.
A recent listener of the Massively Speaking podcast sparked a lively debate about the mobile authenticators that MMO companies are so fond of asking us to use as an extra layer of security for our accounts. He suggested that companies that encourage authenticators are doing so less for our security than for their own financial interests or responsibility -- after all, if I'm using an authenticator, they can save money on support and security staff. Our listener also pointed out that authenticators are annoying to the point that MMO studios sometimes have to bribe us with minipets and other goodies to get us to enroll, which suggests that maybe more people than we'd think avoid that extra tier of security.

What about you -- do you use mobile authenticators when they are available, and if not, how do you and the games you play safeguard your accounts?

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 use mobile authenticators? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>authenticatorbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindmobile-authenticatoropinionsafeguardsecuritytdgthe-daily-grindSat, 05 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How do you handle random party invites?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-handle-random-party-invites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-handle-random-party-invites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/04/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-handle-random-party-invites/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Independent woman -- TERA
I don't know why, but sometimes I get discouraged when a random person sends me a party invite while I'm in the middle of questing. I know it sounds odd, but when I'm not playing with my regular group of friends or guildies, I like to just play alone. When someone whispers me to ask if he can join me, I usually turn him down (politely!), but if I get a random party invite without so much as a hello, I simply ignore it.

My own antisocial issues aside, I want to know how you feel about this topic. Do you think a random invite is a healthy way to find companions and possibly friends, or do you see it as an invasion of privacy while you're trying to quest?

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 do you handle random party invites? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antisocialdaily-grindgroupingopinionparty-inviterandomsolotdgthe-daily-grindFri, 04 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should veterans and newbs be on equal footing?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/the-daily-grind-should-veterans-and-newbs-be-on-equal-footing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/the-daily-grind-should-veterans-and-newbs-be-on-equal-footing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/the-daily-grind-should-veterans-and-newbs-be-on-equal-footing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - newb in Tortage
Age of Conan game director Craig Morrison recently tweeted a frank reply to one of his followers. The reader asked why Funcom doesn't revamp PvP items to make everyone's minigame stats equal, thereby relegating grindtastic PvP gear to the game's vanity armor slots and providing theoretical balance.

Morrison's response: "Not everyone wants a new player and a two-year veteran to be on equal footing. Many want that to count, aside from knowledge."

By "that," Morrison meant time spent playing the game and paying your character dues, as it were. This brings up an interesting debate, since MMOs have a reputation for rewarding geared players over skilled players in both PvP and PvE. What say you, Massively readers? Should veterans and newbs be on equal footing?

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 veterans and newbs be on equal footing? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedconancraig-morrisondaily-grindequal-footingf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomgear-vs-skillhyboriaopinionsilirrionskill-vs-geartdgthe-daily-grindtime-spent-playingunchainedveterans-vs-newbsThu, 03 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Does fighting multiple mobs at once make you feel heroic?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/the-daily-grind-does-fighting-multiple-mobs-at-once-make-you-fe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/the-daily-grind-does-fighting-multiple-mobs-at-once-make-you-fe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/the-daily-grind-does-fighting-multiple-mobs-at-once-make-you-fe/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

City of Heroes
One of BioWare's stated goals with Star Wars: The Old Republic was to make players feel more "heroic" by having them wade into packs of mobs more frequently than one-on-one encounters. The thinking here is that movie heroes often fend off whole groups at a time to showcase their prowess and tenacity, so why not game heroes?

SWTOR isn't alone in tossing players into enemy packs and seeing how it turns out. Most of the superhero MMOs are notorious for doing this, but if a Batman can't lay waste to entire street gangs at once, why does he wake up in the morning?

So we want to hear from you on this: Does fighting multiple mobs at once make you feel heroic? If you accidentally pull more than expected and live to tell the tale, does it fill your inner ego banks and make you flex and go, "Oh, I am bad, you know it, you know it!"?

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: Does fighting multiple mobs at once make you feel heroic? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmanbiowaredaily-grindeaelectronic-artsfighting-multiple-mobsheroiclucasartsmultiple-mobsopinionsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feesuperheroswtortdgthe-daily-grindthe-old-republictorWed, 02 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How dark do you like your MMO nights?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/the-daily-grind-how-dark-do-you-like-your-mmo-nights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/the-daily-grind-how-dark-do-you-like-your-mmo-nights/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/the-daily-grind-how-dark-do-you-like-your-mmo-nights/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Firefall - Kinda hard to see at night
I spent some quality time with the Firefall beta build last weekend. One of the things I noticed is that the game's version of night bears more than a passing resemblance to actual night. As in, it's kinda dark and stuff. Helpfully, the devs at Red 5 Studios have provided flashlight functionality in the form of your X key (because the night is dark and full of terrors, according to the cheekily written patch notes on the launcher).

Anyway, it was a refreshing change from most of the MMOs nights I've experienced, which are basically MMO days with a blue lens filter. What about you? How dark do you like your MMO nights?

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 dark do you like your MMO nights? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grinddarkf2pfirefallfirefall-nightfirst-person-shooterfpsfree-to-playmmo-nightmmo-nightsmmo-shootermmofpsnightopinionpvpred-5red-5-studiossci-fishootertdgthe-daily-grindthe-night-is-dark-and-full-of-terrorswarTue, 01 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Did you participate in the Guild Wars 2 beta weekend?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/the-daily-grind-did-you-participate-in-the-guild-wars-2-beta-we/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/the-daily-grind-did-you-participate-in-the-guild-wars-2-beta-we/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/30/the-daily-grind-did-you-participate-in-the-guild-wars-2-beta-we/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Charr ftw
For those who pre-purchased Guild Wars 2, participated in previous beta weekends or were lucky enough to be the handful selected from previous sign-ups, this last weekend meant you got your hands on the highly anticipated MMO in (most of) its shiny glory. That is, if you were able to log in.

While it's pretty apparent that most (but not all!) of us on the Massively team are in love with Guild Wars 2, that's inevitably not always the case when opinions come into play.

So we want to know what you liked or didn't like about the game. If it was your first time playing, was it everything you expected? For those playing again, did your opinion change at all? Were you even able to get past the log-in screen? Let us know!

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: Did you participate in the Guild Wars 2 beta weekend? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetbeta-eventbeta-weekenddaily-grindguild-wars-2gw2opinionpre-purchase-isnt-preordertdgthe-daily-grindMon, 30 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What do you forgive in a beta?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-forgive-in-a-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-forgive-in-a-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/29/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-forgive-in-a-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Well, fighting the guy in the armor is a bit unfair, but I'm sure they'll fix it in time for release tomorrow.
If you've logged into the Guild Wars 2 beta this weekend, you've gotten an experience that's very different from what the final game will look like. For starters, the final game will probably not have several hundred people clustering around every single event like rabid concert attendees at all hours. It's easy to forgive that as a fluke and a byproduct of the fact that this is the first time many players have gotten to play the game at all.

Of course, for some players, that experience in beta is going to define their impression of the game all around. Similarly, some players are going to assume that a buggy beta will have a buggy launch, even if by the time launch rolls around, most of the bugs have been ruthlessly squashed. So what do you forgive in a beta? Do you turn a blind eye to the community or population issues? Do you grin and bear missing objectives or unclear quests? Or do you offer no respite to a game no matter how early in the testing you might be?

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 do you forgive in a beta? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-defensebeta-testingbeta-testsdaily-grindhandling-betain-betaits-just-a-betaopiniontdgthe-daily-grindSun, 29 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do MMO studios owe us item restoration?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-studios-owe-us-item-restoration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-studios-owe-us-item-restoration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/28/the-daily-grind-do-mmo-studios-owe-us-item-restoration/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SHINIES!
MMOs vary widely in their account and item restoration policies. In some games, like some of NCsoft's offerings, if you're hacked or you lose access to your account because your memory is toast, it's game over unless you happen to have your original account key. In games like Lord of the Rings Online, you're not guaranteed full reimbursement of your money or gear if a hacker strips you naked and leaves you dancing on a mailbox. BioWare won't refund guild bank items stolen by rogue guildies, either.

In World of Warcraft, you'll almost always get your account back if you're hacked or you accidentally delete your favorite hat, but it might take an agonizingly long time. This week, Blizzard launched a new item restoration service that attempts to solve the second problem by simplifying the process of reclaiming lost trinkets (though not items stolen by hackers). I was surprised that Blizzard considers this a problem worthy of automation, but maybe it's more common than I thought.

So now I'm wondering whether companies are actually obligated to restore items we've lost through our own goof-ups. Do you consider this a vital service of a support team, and would you quit a game if your items were truly gone for good?

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 studios owe us item restoration? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>account-restorationBlizzardbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinditemitem-restorationitemslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroncsoftopinionreimbursementrestorationtdgthe-daily-grindturbineWorld-of-WarcraftwowSat, 28 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Have you ever facerolled MMO content?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-facerolled-mmo-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-facerolled-mmo-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/27/the-daily-grind-have-you-ever-facerolled-mmo-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Keyboard
I've recently returned to World of Warcraft and was surprised to find a much more complex game than when I left (contrary to popular lore in our comments). Several of the classes have been revamped mechanically to be far more interesting and layered, and new dungeon encounters are frequently among the best in the industry.

At endgame, anyway. I realize that outside of heroics and raids and PvP, WoW (like many MMOs) aims for accessible simplicity, which is nice when you're just happily grinding away or teaming up with weekend warriors not looking for a stressful challenge. One of my mates even bragged about facerolling his way through the dungeon finder, and I had to wonder, do people really do that? Even if content is easy, I still try to play it "right." I'll still make sure I know how to play my character, probably because I'm terrified of being that person in a PUG -- you know, the one who makes people hate PUGs. But I have to admit that the idea of honestly just punching whatever buttons just to see if we'll still win has its own amusing charm (and a strange level of challenge too).

Have you ever facerolled MMO content, literally or figuratively?

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 you ever facerolled MMO content? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcomplexitydaily-grinddumbing-downeasymodefacerollfacerollingfantasyheroicsopinionpugpugstdgthat-guythe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowFri, 27 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you petition the makers of your favorite game?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/the-daily-grind-would-you-petition-the-makers-of-your-favorite/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/the-daily-grind-would-you-petition-the-makers-of-your-favorite/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/the-daily-grind-would-you-petition-the-makers-of-your-favorite/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

These protestors probably don't care about TERA blood
Earlier this week we told you about some nerd rage over the censoring of TERA EU's blood effects. The cuts have angered a sizable portion of the fantasy title's fans (if our tip line and the Frogster forums are an accurate barometer).

Some TERA players even went so far as to draft an online petition in an attempt to get Frogster to reverse its decision. My first reaction to this news was the old "first-world problems" meme, but if you've been waiting for a game as long as some fans have been waiting for TERA, last-minute changes can be aggravating.

What say you, readers? Have you ever signed (or drafted) a petition to protest a change in your favorite game, and if not, would 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: Would you petition the makers of your favorite game? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholebluehole-studiosdaily-grinden-masseen-masse-entertainmentfantasyfirst-world-problemsopiniontdgteratera-bloodtera-controversytera-eu-bloodtera-petitionthe-daily-grindThu, 26 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How do you keep track of your passwords?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-keep-track-of-your-passwords/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-keep-track-of-your-passwords/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/25/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-keep-track-of-your-passwords/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Passwords
It's a hazard of the job that we accumulate scores of passwords while writing at Massively. It makes sense: Every new MMO tried means a new account, and because I'm not stupid, a new password. Unfortunately, the numbers began to pile up on me and I began to realize that there was no way I was going to remember all of these for when I'd go back to a game months after the fact.

My old system used a common theme (say, names of Pokemon) that allowed for different passwords while giving me a chance at guessing them if I forgot. My new system is a $0.99 notebook that I desperately hope my kids don't discover and chew up. It's a slight improvement but not perfect.

So I'm curious: How do you keep track of your passwords? Do you memorize them, write them down in a notebook, have a text file on your computer, or use a password manager program?

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 do you keep track of your passwords? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountaccount-securitydaily-grindgi-joeopinionpasswordpassword-managerpasswordsrandom-passwordstdgthe-daily-grindWed, 25 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you grind for fluff items?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/the-daily-grind-do-you-grind-for-fluff-items/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/the-daily-grind-do-you-grind-for-fluff-items/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/the-daily-grind-do-you-grind-for-fluff-items/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - map of the Shire
Lord of the Rings Online's anniversary festival has another six days to go, which just might be enough time for me to grind out the tokens necessary to complete my map collection (and the spiffy Eriador Cartographile title that comes with it).

I say "grind" here pretty loosely, as the horse-races, fireworks displays, and dwarven beer-brawling are highly enjoyable even though I've done them dozens of times each at this point.

What about you, dear readers? What's your tolerance when it comes to grinding for fluff items? Do you do it, and what's the best (or worst) such grind you've ever experienced?

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 grind for fluff items? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindf2pfantasyflufffluff-itemsfree-to-playgrindlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-anniversaryopiniontdgthe-daily-grindturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 24 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you think gear level should gate content?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-gear-level-should-gate-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-gear-level-should-gate-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/the-daily-grind-do-you-think-gear-level-should-gate-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

I am a mod-junkie, but I wouldn't shed a tear to see DPS meters and Gearscore disappear.
When I returned to World of Warcraft a few weeks ago, my more hardcore guildies were in a rush to show me the newest sights and latest dungeons. I don't blame them; they didn't want to run regular dungeons when they could be doing the shiniest heroic content and most cutting-edge encounters. But in modern WoW, one thing stood between us and that instant gratification: item level.

Because I'd taken breaks from the game, my max-level Shaman had fallen behind in power as the seasons wore on. And that official item level stamped on her gear was more than just a marker that I wasn't elite; it literally gated the dungeons unless I sacrificed rewards (counterproductive) or got a bunch of new gear fast. It didn't take but a weekend or two to catch up, but it was still an annoyance that slowed everyone down, especially since my guildies were overpowered enough that a few more points on my gear weren't going to make or break our success. And while I understand that item level is a useful shorthand for judging your readiness for content, it's a bit disheartening to realize that gamers are being encouraged by the game to see each other only as a numerical gearscore.

What do you think -- should items and item levels gate dungeons and other content?

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 think gear level should gate content? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinddungeondungeondendgamefantasygategatedgated-contentgatinggearscoreitem-levelopiniontdgthe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 23 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What in-game project made you the happiest to complete?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/the-daily-grind-what-in-game-project-made-you-the-happiest-to-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/the-daily-grind-what-in-game-project-made-you-the-happiest-to-c/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/22/the-daily-grind-what-in-game-project-made-you-the-happiest-to-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Reading Marmaduke doesn't qualify as a project, FYI.
MMOs give players a lot of freedom and a lot of different potential projects. That means players get to pick a goal and get to it, whether or not it's the "intended" play pattern for the game. Sure, you might have a clear progression from low levels to endgame, but you can just as easily decide that you want to see all of the task forces in City of Heroes or clear all of the World of Warcraft dungeons on-level or level in Final Fantasy XIV with only store-bought equipment.

That's not to imply that game-provided projects like clearing all endgame content are somehow easier or less relevant. So out of all the game projects you've experienced in MMOs, which project was the one that gave you the best feeling after clearing it. Was it something you were "supposed" to do or just a challenge that seemed interesting at the time? Has it shaped your play subsequently, or was it fun then and never again?

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 in-game project made you the happiest to complete? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedaily-grinddesigngoalsin-game-projectsopinionplayer-goalsplayer-projectsprojectstdgthe-daily-grindSun, 22 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is customizable housing worth the inevitable eyesores?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-daily-grind-is-customizable-housing-worth-the-inevitable-ey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-daily-grind-is-customizable-housing-worth-the-inevitable-ey/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/21/the-daily-grind-is-customizable-housing-worth-the-inevitable-ey/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ultima Online - Believe it or not, this house I'm poking fun at right here is worth hundreds of dollars IRL. Location, location, location.
Few MMOs nowadays launch with housing, and a vanishingly small number of those have fully customizable housing, the kind that lets you construct your house from foundation to tower, filling in floors, walls, and decor as you go. Ultima Online is one such MMO; it changed over its pre-fab buildings to customizable housing in the early aughts.

Customizable housing in an open-world sandbox setting brings its own set of problems, however, starting with the reality that most players aren't taking time out of their professional architect day jobs to play the game. Consequently, most player homes are decked out in bold colors and tacky tchotchkes and cleverly placed roof tiles that spell "LOL." I don't know about you guys, but my real-life house doesn't have an Escher fountain and mounted fish hanging on the second-story facade (although perhaps it should).

What do you think -- is customizable housing a tribute to creativity and freedom or an eyesore immersion-breaker inflicted ruthlessly on every passerby and neighbor? Is that freedom worth the pain?

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 customizable housing worth the inevitable eyesores? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcustomizable-housingdaily-grindeyesorehousingopiniontdgthe-daily-grindultima-onlineuoSat, 21 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Is there such thing as too much new content?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/the-daily-grind-is-there-such-thing-as-too-much-new-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/the-daily-grind-is-there-such-thing-as-too-much-new-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/20/the-daily-grind-is-there-such-thing-as-too-much-new-content/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Buffet!
Getting the best value for your money has always been a concern with MMOs. As players, we want to see our dollar stretch as much as possible, and developers want to make sure they're creating enough content to keep their hardcore players happy as well as maintaining that early experience to keep new players coming in. But can it ever be just too much?

I've found myself drifting away from a few MMOs after a new expansion or content update makes me feel completely lost. I played the game to max level, thinking I was doing good to finally join my friends in endgame content, only to have a new expansion nullify that feeling.

So tell us your opinions, dear readers. Have you ever experienced content overload in a game, or do you welcome the content avalanche with open arms?

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 there such thing as too much new content? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contentcontent-overloaddaily-grindexpansionopiniontdgthe-daily-grindupdateFri, 20 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How do you define pay-to-win?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-define-pay-to-win/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-define-pay-to-win/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-define-pay-to-win/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - Virtue upgrades via the cash shop
Game design in the free-to-play era is somewhat different from that of years past. No longer can devs concentrate solely on making a fun title; now they must also worry about getting a percentage of their userbase to actually pay for it.

Free-to-play makes it quite challenging to separate monetization decisions from game design decisions, and as a result, developers are understandably concerned about avoiding the dreaded pay-to-win stigma. Pay close attention to any interview or press release that talks about a title's business model and you're guaranteed to hear a dev (or executive) say something vaguely reassuring in terms of how his title's monetization scheme absolutely isn't pay-to-win.

The problem is that there is no agreed-upon definition of pay-to-win. "Convenience" items are a good case in point. Some folks don't mind them, while others point out that they can make your character more powerful in less time, depending on the system. For today's early-morning discussion, we'd like to know your thoughts on pay-to-win. More specifically, how do you define it?

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 do you define pay-to-win? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grinddesign-vs-monetizationf2pfree-to-playmonetization-vs-designopinionpay-2-winpay-to-wintdgthe-daily-grindThu, 19 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you ever pay to beta test?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/the-daily-grind-would-you-ever-pay-to-beta-test/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/the-daily-grind-would-you-ever-pay-to-beta-test/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/the-daily-grind-would-you-ever-pay-to-beta-test/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Ultima Online
You might have read the title of today's Daily Grind and found yourself laughing uproariously, startling any small children or cats in the area. "Me? Pay for beta?" you chortle. "Why, that's the most ludicrous thing I've heard all day, and I've already been to The Onion!"

But I'd like you to stop and actually consider it for a moment. Historically, people have paid for beta access; back in the late '90s, players shelled out a few bucks to get a copy of the Ultima Online beta CD. Even today, many pre-purchases and pre-orders involve exchanges of funds so that a beta key might be reserved.

But what if MMO studios today came right out and blatantly started charging you to be a part of the beta process? Would you do it? What game would need to be involved, and for what price would you capitulate? Let us know in the comments, and please leave all "I'm already paying for a beta; it's called [Name of Launched Game]" snark at the door!

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: Would you ever pay to beta test? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-accessbeta-keyclassic-mmodaily-grindeaelectronic-artsfantasylord-britishmythicmythic-entertainmentopinionpaid-betatdgthe-daily-grindultimaultima onlineuoWed, 18 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST