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 Perfect Ten: MMOs in movies and television]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-perfect-ten-mmos-in-movies-and-television/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-perfect-ten-mmos-in-movies-and-television/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-perfect-ten-mmos-in-movies-and-television/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Perfect Ten
While 1982's Tron explored what virtual life might be like inside a massive video game, it wasn't until fairly recently that real MMOs have crossed the divide between niche and mainstream to be referenced in television and films. Depending on how you see it, this mainstream acceptance of geek culture can be a thing to be either celebrated or shunned. What's for certain, however, is that we've only started to see the beginning of such mentions.

In today's Perfect Ten, I cobbled together a list of the first 10 MMO references that I know of from movies and TV shows. Some might be nothing more than a background detail or a throwaway line, while others are completely centered around the advertisement, er, massively multiplayer online roleplaying game. I tried hard not to use "cheats" such as fake MMOs featured in shows like The Guild, so this list is all about real-world titles with no sugar substitutes.

Ready? Insert quarter and hit player one!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMOs in movies and television

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMOs in movies and television originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's somewhat astonishing how many people think Massively consists of a small cubicle farm in a large office building. I mean, we talk about how we work from home all the time, but somehow this image persists. So for the record, that picture does not represent where the Massively staff works. I'd show you a picture of where I actually work, but it's kind of a mess at the moment, not helped by the fact that I still need to figure out where I'm putting some of my new Transformers. (I think Drift and Terradive should be fighting.)

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, it's time for this week's decidedly less holiday-flavored installment of Ask Massively. But we've still got our questions, this time concerning Final Fantasy XIV, Lord of the Rings Online, and our own pseudo-alcoholic tendencies. (We might not have a single place for everyone to be drinking, no, but we do share certain customs.) As always, send a question along to ask@massively.com or leave one in the comment field!

Continue reading Ask Massively: These are not the Massively offices edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: These are not the Massively offices edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Age of Conan on The Big Bang Theory. Second Life on The Office. World of Warcraft on South Park. The Guild transforming into an internet phenomenon. The Simpsons and FoxTrot creating parodies of virtual worlds.

It seems as though everywhere we turn, MMORPGs are toeing the line between niche and mainstream, especially thanks to the whirlwind of WoW. As MMOs become less of a fringe activity and more accepted in popular culture, I have to ask -- is that a good thing? After all, geeks are highly protective of their territory, often seeing themselves as the faithful guardians of That Which Society Rejected. To suddenly see that pastime become accepted and embraced by the crowd may prove disorienting -- and even disturbing.

So do MMOs belong in the mainstream? As they become more widespread, is there something essential that's being lost in the translation? Are the faithful guardians resentful of MMO devs who may cater to the casual crowd over them? Is there a risk of overexposure and backlash? Won't somebody please think of the children?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do MMOs belong in the mainstream? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocfoxtrotmainstreamnicheopinionsecond-lifesouth-parktdgthe-big-bang-theorythe-daily-grindThe-guildthe-officethe-simpsonswont-somebody-think-of-the-childrenworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 29 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Second Life ranked 8th Most Effective Placement on TV in 2007]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/30/second-life-ranked-8th-most-effective-placements-on-tv-in-2007/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/30/second-life-ranked-8th-most-effective-placements-on-tv-in-2007/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/30/second-life-ranked-8th-most-effective-placements-on-tv-in-2007/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

According to hollywoodreporter.com, Second Life enjoys the 8th Most Effective Placement on TV this year, behind Nexxus on the show 'Shear Genius', and in front of Visa on the show 'What Not to Wear'. Interestingly, according to the graphic, this is the public's response to SL's appearance on The Office, even though said appearance was virtually 1% of the entire content of the show, as opposed to the CSI: NY episode, in which SL is the subject of the plot.

Now, what this means to you and me is probably not a whole lot. As I understand it, this measures how the product is perceived by John Q. Public, and in this case, being on The Office means that SL has gained some respect by merely rubbing shoulders with that popular sitcom. Perhaps if Fury had been able to swing a mention ... nah, some things you just can't save.

[Thanks, Neptune!]

MassivelySecond Life ranked 8th Most Effective Placement on TV in 2007 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Dec 2007 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Goodman, television critic of the San Francisco Chronicle, is one of the few critics of any stripe that I enjoy reading. It's not so much that I agree or disagree with whatever he's saying; it's more that I love his style. On a recent post for sfgate.com, he makes a slight poke at Second Life when talking about CNN's announcement that they'd be opening an island there. Calling residents 'sexless losers who can't cope with reality' first, then retracting it impishly immediately thereafter is enough to win points from me.

And then he makes a joke about Fox news being more influential than CNN which is so true it holds up in SL as well. I'd like Mr. Goodman to do a whole piece on SL, except there's no connection with television there ... oh wait, he must've said something about that CSI: NY episode. Or Law and Order? The Office? No? Anyone? Bueller?

[Via sfgate.com]

MassivelyThe Bastard Machine gets a dig in at both Second Life and Fox News originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 06:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As fans of NBC's hit 'The Office' are probably well aware, last Thursday's episode "The Ad" gave a fair bit of screen time to Second Life. Games don't usually get a terribly fair treatment in popular media, as writers tend to perpetuate popular stereotypes about players as unsociable, unhealthy, or both for the sake of making an easy joke.

And while we have to concede that The Office's take on Second Life did focus on the escapism for which many people play the game, the punchlines were in all the right places. (See: Dwight's Second Life character playing an MMO within the MMO, to help escape further.) Check out the full episode on NBC's website, it's a good one.

MassivelyThe Office's Dwight takes to Second Life, hilarity ensues originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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