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: 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 Soapbox: Translating Elder Scrolls Online dev speak]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/the-soapbox-translating-elder-scrolls-online-dev-speak/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/the-soapbox-translating-elder-scrolls-online-dev-speak/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/15/the-soapbox-translating-elder-scrolls-online-dev-speak/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Elder Scrolls Online - Giant orchid monster thing
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Language is a pretty fascinating thing, and studying a second one is something I've long intended to do. Aside from entertaining thoughts of learning Korean to play ArcheAge, though (seriously, I looked into it), I haven't gotten around to much beyond college-level Deutsch.

But as I watched last week's interview with The Elder Scrolls Online creative director Paul Sage, I realized that I already have some pretty good second-language skills. I'm fluent in both English and MMO dev-speak, so as a public service, I'm going to translate some of what Sage said into the former.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Translating Elder Scrolls Online dev speak

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Translating Elder Scrolls Online dev speak originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftdaggerfalldev-speakdeveloper-speakeditorialelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlinefeaturedmehmorrowindoblivionop-edopinionpaul-sageplease-dont-suckpvprantrantssandboxskyrimsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardtamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethe-soapboxthemeparkthree-faction-pvptodd-howardtranslating-dev-speaktranslating-elder-scrolls-online-dev-speakzenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosTue, 15 May 2012 12:00:00 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 MMO would you bring to the proverbial desert island?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/the-daily-grind-what-mmo-would-you-bring-to-the-proverbial-dese/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/the-daily-grind-what-mmo-would-you-bring-to-the-proverbial-dese/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/30/the-daily-grind-what-mmo-would-you-bring-to-the-proverbial-dese/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Beau's desert island pic
So let's pretend you're stuck on a desert island. You're stocked up on snacks and sunblock. You've got a gaming rig and internet but no conceivable way of contacting anyone to come save you (work with me here). And let's pretend you managed to bring just one single MMO with you to this magical island that lets you play MMOs but not communicate the fact that you're stuck on, you know, a desert island.

Would you hedge your bets and go for a sandbox with a boundless amount of content? Would you pick something you've never played to minimize the been-there-done-that factor? Would you pick a classic themepark and set yourself to grinding up a thousand alts? You only get one, so choose carefully: What single MMO would you want handy if you were stranded on a desert island?

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 MMO would you bring to the proverbial desert island? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grinddesert-islandopinionsandboxtdgthe-daily-grindthemeparkFri, 30 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Nobody's hero]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/the-soapbox-nobodys-hero/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/the-soapbox-nobodys-hero/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/23/the-soapbox-nobodys-hero/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Heroes (which would make an awful MMO, btw)
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

We're not heroes, at least in the ubiquitous Hollywood sense. We're teachers and janitors and businessmen, and we may occasionally be heroic in the eyes of our kids or our colleagues, but rarely are we celebrated beyond a tiny circle of family and friends.

Games can meet this emotional need, at least temporarily, and that's a major reason they've become such a booming business over the last couple of decades. We get to be Kratos for a couple of hours, or fem-Shepard or a thousand other pixelized pariahs -- until we set foot in an MMORPG, that is.

Software companies sell pre-packaged heroism in ways that book publishers and filmmakers can only dream of, and it doesn't really matter that it's fake heroism or impersonal heroism crafted on an assembly line and shipped out to millions of consumers. Shouldn't it matter, though, when it comes to MMORPGs?

Continue reading The Soapbox: Nobody's hero

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Nobody's hero originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-heroclassic-mmodesigneditorialeq-2eq-iieq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iif2pfake-heroismfakeryfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgalaxiesgame-designheroismlucasartsmmo-designmmo-fakerymmo-heroesmmo-industrymmo-narrativemmo-storynancy-mcintyrenobodys-heroop-edopinionpessimistic-soapbox-is-pessimisticrantrantssandboxsci-fisoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardsoesonysony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgothe-soapboxthemeparkFri, 23 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Is The Secret World a sandbox?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/some-assembly-required-is-the-secret-world-a-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/some-assembly-required-is-the-secret-world-a-sandbox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/16/some-assembly-required-is-the-secret-world-a-sandbox/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - Is The Secret World a sandbox?
I'm more excited than I thought I would be for The Secret World. After playing it at last week's Game Developer's Conference and getting a preview of the game's crafting system, I think it's safe to say my anticipation went up a few notches.

The real-world setting and horror-fantasy elements have always been appealing, but a general lack of info throughout 2011 -- coupled with Funcom's decision to add a cash shop to a subscription game -- conspired to knock The Secret World down a few pegs. Now I'm almost willing to forgive the business model faux pas because it seems like the game will feature significant sandbox elements.

Is it a sandbox, though?

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Is The Secret World a sandbox?

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Is The Secret World a sandbox? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conspiracycraftingfactionfantasyfeaturedfuncomgame-mechanicshorroris-the-secret-world-a-sandboxjoel-bylosmartin-bruusgaardmmo-storymythologyopinionpgcplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsandparksarsci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedsome-assembly-requiredstorythe-secret-worldthemeparktradeskillingtradeskillstswuser-generated-contentFri, 16 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The inevitable Mass Effect MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-soapbox-the-inevitability-of-a-mass-effect-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-soapbox-the-inevitability-of-a-mass-effect-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-soapbox-the-inevitability-of-a-mass-effect-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Mass Effect - The Normandy (SR1)
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

I don't know about you, but I've yet to play Mass Effect 3. This is not by choice, mind you, and now that I've returned from the wilds of last week's GDC, it's time to settle in for another 30-hour tour with Shepard and company.

What does this have to do with MMOs? Well, nothing really, except that BioWare hasn't exactly closed the door on a Mass Effect title. On the contrary, the company's dynamic doctor duo have hinted at the fact that this, ahem, theoretical game would need to be somewhat different from the firm's maiden MMO voyage.

At this point I think an ME MMO is inevitable, so join me after the cut to discuss whether BioWare can really break the mold with its second effort as well as what that effort could look like.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The inevitable Mass Effect MMO

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The inevitable Mass Effect MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-comfort-zonecomfort-zonecutscenesdesignea-biowareeditorialelectronic-artsfeaturedfourth-pillargreg-zeschukmass-effectmass-effect-mmommo-comfort-zonemmo-industrymmo-storyop-edopinionplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpossibility-spacerantrantsray-muzykasandboxsandparksci-fisoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardstorythe-fourth-pillarthe-soapboxthemeparkuser-generated-contentTue, 13 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: That's the way it should be!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/the-soapbox-thats-the-way-it-should-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/the-soapbox-thats-the-way-it-should-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/the-soapbox-thats-the-way-it-should-be/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There have been more than ten other incarnations of this character. None of them have ever committed suicide over losing a video game.
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Every fandom has it. In Transformers fandom, it's the segment of the population that insists the franchise peaked with the original G1 cartoon (and its numerous animation errors, bad scripting, and downright ridiculous plots). Star Trek fans will insist that the franchise should be more like the original series, where every plot revolved around Kirk's trying to bone someone or Spock's acting stoic. And then there are the tabletop gamers who miss the days of early Dungeons & Dragons, as if the books stopped working once the line stopped being active.

Some fandoms have terms just for this crowd; some don't. But they're all in the same general group -- they're the One True Way crowd. They're fans who insist that one particular incarnation was the right way to go and everything afterward has been a poor imitation. The camp exists with MMOs, as well, and just as with any other franchise, it's arguably the most harmful portion of the fanbase.

Continue reading The Soapbox: That's the way it should be!

MassivelyThe Soapbox: That's the way it should be! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncolumnsdesigneditorialfeaturedgame-designgame-industryinnovationolder-gamesone-true-wayop-edopinionrantrantssandboxsoapboxthe-soapboxthemeparkthrowbacksTue, 06 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard seems to think that Cataclysm was too linear]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/blizzard-seems-to-think-that-cataclysm-was-too-linear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/blizzard-seems-to-think-that-cataclysm-was-too-linear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/blizzard-seems-to-think-that-cataclysm-was-too-linear/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Yeah, that guy seems to have the right idea, let's go that way.
Designing MMOs is often the art of shepherding players in a given direction while at the same time giving them a sense of freedom. Even in a themepark environment, players want to be invested in areas, to have reasons to come back and explore and go off of the rails should they want to. World of Warcraft's most recent expansion, Cataclysm, has frequently been accused of giving players nowhere to go but a series of rails, and according to a recent response from a community manager, Blizzard agrees.

A very long thread on the official forums has spawned some interesting discussions about the game's overall endgame philosophy, with community manager Draxxari stating that Cataclysm's tightly linear design was an "error" on the design level. He goes on to state that Mists of Pandaria is meant to give players more reason to venture out and explore the world, although players will have to wait to see whether that promise holds true or not.

[Thanks to SgtBaker for the tip!]

MassivelyBlizzard seems to think that Cataclysm was too linear originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcataclysmcommunityculturedesigndraxxarifreeformlinearmists-of-pandariamopopinionthemeparkworld-of-warcraftwowwow-cataclysmzone-designSat, 14 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: In defense of player-driven story]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/some-assembly-required-in-defense-of-player-driven-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/some-assembly-required-in-defense-of-player-driven-story/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/30/some-assembly-required-in-defense-of-player-driven-story/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required - architectural banner
To say that I feel strongly about player-created stories and the MMOs that support them is an understatement of epic proportions, and as such I was disheartened after reading one of Eliot's recent Storyboard columns that pooh-poohed player creativity in favor of dev-driven narrative.

I feel that a dissenting viewpoint needs equal time in the Massively spotlight, so join me after the cut for a few reasons why there's no substitute for player-driven stories.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: In defense of player-driven story

MassivelySome Assembly Required: In defense of player-driven story originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-driven-narrativedev-driven-storyfeaturedmmo-storyopinionplayer-contentplayer-driven-storyplayer-generated-contentplayer-storyroleplayroleplayingsandboxsandparksome-assembly-requiredstorythemeparkFri, 30 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the fastest you've ever burned out on an MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/the-daily-grind-whats-the-fastest-youve-ever-burned-out-on-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/the-daily-grind-whats-the-fastest-youve-ever-burned-out-on-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/29/the-daily-grind-whats-the-fastest-youve-ever-burned-out-on-an/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Jedi Council chambers
Well, I'm taking what is probably the first of many breaks from The Old Republic. I played heavily over the last week and I managed to get two classes to 20 (and do a good bit of warzone PvP and roleplaying).

While I love the class stories, the rest of the game is pretty bare-bones, and I'm returning to greener and more feature-rich pastures. I'm a notorious game-hopper, though, and this isn't so much an indictment of TOR as it is an inevitability. That said, I did tire of BioWare's Star Wars opus sooner than expected, and that leads into today's Daily Grind question. What's the fastest you've ever burned out on an 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: What's the fastest you've ever burned out on an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareburnoutea-biowareelectronic-artfeaturedgame-discussiongamer-discussionmissing-featuresmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsopinionsci-fistar-wars-the-old-republicswtortdgthe-daily-grindthe-old-republicthemeparktorThu, 29 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Adding story to SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/the-soapbox-adding-story-to-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/the-soapbox-adding-story-to-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/the-soapbox-adding-story-to-swtor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic - show me the story
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

I'd like to take a few moments this week to prognosticate about story in The Old Republic. I'm not talking about the story that's already there, mind you, as I've barely scratched the surface (a 20 Sage, a 15 Gunslinger, and a beta-flavored Trooper are the extent of my experience thus far).

No, what I'm more interested in talking about is what's going to happen story-wise when I get to level 50 on one of these guys. The easy answer is, of course, roll an alt! There are seven other classes after all, each reportedly featuring 200 hours worth of single-player story content.

What happens if I were to get to level 50 on all eight classes, though? Is The Old Republic's gameplay still going to revolve around the heavily hyped story angle at that point?

Continue reading The Soapbox: Adding story to SWTOR

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Adding story to SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecutsceneseaea-biowareelectronic-artsfeaturedfourth-pillarmmo-industrymmo-storyopinionsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardstar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicstoryswtorthe-old-republicthe-soapboxthemeparktorTue, 27 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The absurdity of the NDA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/the-soapbox-the-absurdity-of-the-nda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/the-soapbox-the-absurdity-of-the-nda/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/29/the-soapbox-the-absurdity-of-the-nda/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Admiral Ackbar
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

So Star Wars: The Old Republic's NDA dropped. Now the entire world (officially) knows the skinny on BioWare's new themepark, and I'm hard-pressed to think of a more anti-climactic NDA death. Even if you weren't following the game over the past few months, you knew exactly what to expect -- provided you weren't a Star Wars or a BioWare virgin.

This complete lack of surprise is one reason why the whole MMORPG NDA thing is a joke, and TOR is just the latest in a long series of punchlines.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The absurdity of the NDA

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The absurdity of the NDA originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>absurdityabsurdity-of-the-ndabambig-ass-monsterbig-ass-monstersbiowarebioware-ndaea-biowareen-masseen-masse-entertainmentfeaturedgame-journalismhypemarketingmmo-absurditymmo-industrymmo-ndammo-shootermmofpsndandas-are-stupidnon-disclosure-agreementopinionplanetside-2planetside2prpublic-relationssci-fisoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorterathe-absurdity-of-the-ndathe-soapboxthemeparktortor-ndaTue, 29 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Applying Neal Stephenson's Innovation Starvation to MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/the-soapbox-applying-neal-stephensons-innovation-starvation-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/the-soapbox-applying-neal-stephensons-innovation-starvation-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/25/the-soapbox-applying-neal-stephensons-innovation-starvation-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Rocket launch failure
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

You've probably heard of Neal Stephenson. The celebrated sci-fi author recently released his 13th novel, Reamde, and while it treads a little closer to traditional thriller territory than some of his more cerebral efforts, it still packs a futurist punch (and even led the author to comment on MMOs, virtual worlds, and World of Warcraft in a recent interview).

In addition to speculative fiction, Stephenson is also prone to the occasional essay, the latest of which found its way onto the intarwebs a few weeks ago. While not directly related to the gaming or massively multiplayer industries, the piece does feature some interesting observations about the stagnant creative culture to be found in contemporary corporate America, and Stephenson also offers plenty of food for thought that can be applied to the current state of the MMO space.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Applying Neal Stephenson's Innovation Starvation to MMOs

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Applying Neal Stephenson's Innovation Starvation to MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecraig-morrisonculturedavid-brevikdesigndesign-rutfeaturedfuncominnovationinnovation-starvationMiscellaneousmmo-designmmo-design-rutmmo-industrymmo-innovation-starvationneal-stephensonopinionpolishpolishing-a-turdriskrisk-aversionsandboxsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-soapboxthemeparkTue, 25 Oct 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A certain point of view: Jef's hands-on with SWTOR's beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/a-certain-point-of-view-jefs-hands-on-with-swtors-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/a-certain-point-of-view-jefs-hands-on-with-swtors-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/a-certain-point-of-view-jefs-hands-on-with-swtors-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Star Wars The Old Republic - Trooper with BFG 9000
Hey Star Wars fans, what say we recap my recent beta experiences in The Old Republic? I know what you're thinking (because it's the same thing I thought after BioWare's marketing folks sent along an unsolicited invitation): Here comes a giant anti-themepark rant and zomgwtf call someone who cares!

Surprisingly though, I had a decent time. I managed to get a Republic Trooper off the Ord Mantell starter planet and firmly entrenched in a few Coruscant quest lines, and I logged over 10 hours of gameplay in the process (in the comfort of my own home, mind you, and not under the watchful eye of a PR droid at a convention).

To be frank, TOR's not half bad. It's had a lot of money thrown at it, there's a ton of what passes for modern-day MMO content, and if you're into that sort of thing, you'll no doubt enjoy yourself for a time.

Continue reading A certain point of view: Jef's hands-on with SWTOR's beta

MassivelyA certain point of view: Jef's hands-on with SWTOR's beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aurebeshbetabiowarecodexeaea-biowareelectronic-artsexclusivefeaturedfierfekfourth-pillargrindkill-10-separatistskill-ten-separatistsmassively-exclusivemmo-storynot-the-mmo-youre-looking-forord-mantellrepublic-troopersci-fiscifistar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicstoryswtor-codexswtor-hands-onswtor-impressionsthe-old-republicthemeparktor-impressionstrooperThu, 20 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Polished vs. feature-rich]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/the-soapbox-polished-vs-feature-rich/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/the-soapbox-polished-vs-feature-rich/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/the-soapbox-polished-vs-feature-rich/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

A few weeks ago I wrote a Soapbox article that exposed the flaws in the MMO first kiss theory. It generated more discussion than I anticipated, much of it spiraling off into tangents like MMO design, sandbox and themepark elements, and the seeming incompatibility between a polished game and a feature-rich game.

It's this last bit that I'd like to discuss today, and you'll have to forgive me if we tread some familiar ground in the process. While there are many fascinating perspectives and debates in our bizarre hobby, none is as perplexing to me as the disconnect between gamers who want more game and those who want less game, highly polished.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Polished vs. feature-rich

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Polished vs. feature-rich originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocdumbed-downdumbing-downeveeve-onlinefantasyfeature-richfeature-setsfeaturedfeaturesopinionpolishpolishedpolished-vs-feature-richriftsandboxsandparksci-fisoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardstar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-soapboxthemeparkwhat-is-polishWorld-of-WarcraftwowTue, 05 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Improving versatility in RoM's content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-improving-versatility-in-roms-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-improving-versatility-in-roms-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/04/lost-pages-of-taborea-improving-versatility-in-roms-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I'm bouncing off last week's Lost Pages of Taborea to elaborate on why Runes of Magic's content is lackluster, especially in light of the ability to over-gear but also to come up with some ideas to keep it from becoming meaningless and boring. It's not absolutely necessary, but it will help if you've read last week's article.

RoM's gear-system ensures that you get a lot of variety in choosing what kind of character to make and how you want to play it, but there's a threshold at which the only way to allow for even more diversity among class builds is to offset the linear difficulty of new content by replacing your stats with more powerful versions of themselves, adding refinements and tiering, upgrades that just up your sheer power. Players get funneled into more restrictive builds as they gain levels.

The downfall is in the content itself because it becomes super-easy-mode killing after over-gearing. It's turning on a cheat code. Any need -- or desire -- to manage blood bars or skill rotations gets thrown out with the trash. It's a foreseeable issue in just about any game across any platform or genre in which you would allow the players to gain extra amounts of power. But is there a way to allow for it and keep in some challenge and variety? Some solutions might be to slow down the pace of combat, stretch the utility of player bars, make content more dynamic, or throw in some sandbox behavior.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Improving versatility in RoM's content

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Improving versatility in RoM's content originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housecontentcraftingcrafting-systemdungeonsdynamic-contenteconomyfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivehorizontaljeremy-strattonlinearlost-pages-of-taboreaplayer-drivenplayer-driven-economyprogressionromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxthemeparkMon, 04 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Sandparks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/the-soapbox-sandparks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/the-soapbox-sandparks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/28/the-soapbox-sandparks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

The war between sandbox and themepark MMOs is being fought now, not just in the hearts and minds of players but in the simple matter of which project is getting funding for development. It's a war in which adherents to one design philosophy loudly decry the other, where both sides sling insults at one another and mourn how the other side has damaged the promise of MMOs or has no idea how to make a compelling gameplay experience. It's a battle of words and of subscription fees.

It's also really, really stupid.

Setting up the MMO sphere as a battle between two opposing design philosophies probably feels like a great chance to explore a two-faction system in real life, but it's also shortchanging not just MMOs but games on both sides of the nonexistent fence. It sells a number of games short, and it adds nothing useful to the genre as a whole. It's time to stop seeing the onling gaming sphere as a match of opposing forces and start seeing it as a varied and frequently awe-inspiring spectrum.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Sandparks

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Sandparks originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>complexitydesignelegancefeaturedgame-designgame-mechanicshousingopen-worldopinionquest-auto-complete-9000questssandboxsandparksimplicitysoapboxthe-soapboxthemeparkvirtual-worldTue, 28 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The Uncle Owen paradox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-soapbox-the-uncle-owen-paradox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-soapbox-the-uncle-owen-paradox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-soapbox-the-uncle-owen-paradox/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

This week, the venerable Star Wars Galaxies celebrates its eighth year of existence. I was there in the beginning -- before the beginning, in fact. I did what a lot of you early SWG players probably did: I had a guild and a guild city, multiple accounts, a booming business as a chef, and a character who could entertain and fight. Even then, we realized how different SWG was from its immediate predecessors like EverQuest and Dark Age of Camelot. We'd returned to the earlier age of Ultima Online, of persistent worlds (as the term was used back then). It was more a world than a game, and in it we could roleplay whatever we liked, to a point. Nowadays, we'd call it a sandbox.

Old-school MMO gamers know well that the sandbox is under attack. Some will blame it on EverQuest, some on World of Warcraft, some on the free-to-play phenomenon. Among the Massively commenters, there's a large contingent of gamers who consider SWG's own NGE to be the beginning of the end of the classic sandbox. I can't say they're wrong when it comes to the philosophy governing new MMOs, but the sandbox isn't dead yet.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The Uncle Owen paradox

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The Uncle Owen paradox originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingeighth-anniversaryfeaturedgalaxiesgame-developmenthaters-gonna-hatejohn-smedleylucasartsluke-skywalkernew-game-enhancementsngenostalgiaopinionpersistent-worldpre-ngepwsandboxsmedleysoapboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgtcgthe-soapboxthemeparktrading-card-gameuncle-owenuncle-owen-experienceveteranswhinersTue, 21 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How welcoming should a game be?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/18/the-daily-grind-how-welcoming-should-a-game-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/18/the-daily-grind-how-welcoming-should-a-game-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/18/the-daily-grind-how-welcoming-should-a-game-be/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In the old days, games started you out in a few tattered rags, and if you were very lucky, you had a weapon after character creation. The tutorial was "try not to die." You learned where things were by asking other players or blindly stumbling from place to place. In many ways, themepark games like RIFT can be seen as a direct counter to that playstyle, giving players a clear sense of purpose and a direction so reliable it can feel like handholding.

But there's another side to the discussion: the fact that how easy it is to figure things out at the start of a game contributes to how welcome you feel. There's a rush when you realize you're in a hostile world that won't hand you what you need to survive, but there's also a question of whether or not you want to carve out a niche in a world that doesn't seem to want you anyway. So how welcoming should a game be to new players? Should it be gently guiding at the risk of over-protectiveness, or should it throw you in the deep end and let you sink or swim?

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 welcoming should a game be? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 18 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guideshandholdingnew-playernew-player-experienceopinionsandboxtdgthe-daily-grindthemeparktutorialwelcomewelcomingSat, 18 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The absurdity of the endgame]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/the-soapbox-the-absurdity-of-the-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/the-soapbox-the-absurdity-of-the-endgame/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/the-soapbox-the-absurdity-of-the-endgame/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Like most of you, I play a lot of MMORPGs. Too many, in fact, and the deluge of new and interesting games in the offing is only going to further erode what remains of my free time. I've managed to see the mythical "endgame" in a fair few titles over the years, so when I say that I play a lot, I don't mean that I boot up a trial and hit level 10 before hopping to the next bright shiny.

Off the top of my head, I've dinged max level in Age of Conan (three times), Aion, Star Wars Galaxies (six times), Anarchy Online, Lord of the Rings Online, Global Agenda (twice), Vanguard, and The Matrix Online, to name a few.

While many of these games subsequently raised the level cap, I've nonetheless raided, PvP'd, and chased enough gear carrots to have an opinion about the proverbial MMORPG "endgame." And I'm here to tell you that most of what passes for said endgame is repetitive schlock.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The absurdity of the endgame

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The absurdity of the endgame originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-generated-contentcontentendendgamefeaturedmmo-industrymmo-skinner-boxopinionplayer-generated-contentsandboxsandparkskinner-boxsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardthe-endthe-soapboxthemeparkTue, 07 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Storyboard: Motivational seekers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/storyboard-motivational-seekers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/storyboard-motivational-seekers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/storyboard-motivational-seekers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Every character has a reason for adventuring. Call it what you will, depending on setting, but there's always a reason you're out in the midst of danger rather than sitting back at home with a nice cup of tea, even if that reason is "home isn't an option any longer." Motivation is one of the big elements informing the entire archetype discussion series of columns -- it's all about why a given character would do one thing and not another.

Of course, the game itself doesn't have any way of integrating that motivation.

Much like the issues with lore, the problems of reconciling a game's stated motivation with your character's actual motivation can be pretty thorny. Especially in this day and age of quest hubs and heavy storylines, it can sometimes feel like all the efforts to draw you into the game world are pretty severely curtailing your ability to enjoy it. After all, you've envisioned a set of reasons for your character's actions already, and by all accounts she shouldn't even be talking to a questgiver -- except that said questgiver is the only way she's going to keep advancing in the game.

Continue reading Storyboard: Motivational seekers

MassivelyStoryboard: Motivational seekers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charactercharacter-motivationcolumnsfeaturedmotivationmotiveopinionquestsroleplayingrpstoryboardthemeparkFri, 03 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Exclusive: The sweet and sour of ArcheAge's third closed beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/massively-exclusive-the-sweet-and-sour-of-archeages-third-clos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/massively-exclusive-the-sweet-and-sour-of-archeages-third-clos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/31/massively-exclusive-the-sweet-and-sour-of-archeages-third-clos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Forgive me for getting this out of the way up front: I frickin' hate betas. Loathe them. Avoid them like the plague, usually. Why then, did I find myself foregoing sleep for the better part of last week to log into XL Games' third closed beta test for ArcheAge?

Curiosity, for sure, and maybe just a hint of desperation. As the MMORPG genre moves farther and farther away from the types of games worlds that drew me in a decade ago, the chance to get a preview of what some fans are hoping is the next great AAA sandbox was enough to overwhelm my betaphobia.

It's been quite some time since I've glanced out my window to see the sun rise while playing an MMORPG through the night, and ArcheAge definitely has its claws in me at this point. Is it the next great sandbox, though? Is it even a sandbox at all? Can XL successfully meld two design philosophies (sandbox and themepark) that are, in many ways, polar opposites? Those questions are difficult to answer, but join me after the cut and I'll give it a shot.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: The sweet and sour of ArcheAge's third closed beta

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: The sweet and sour of ArcheAge's third closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arche-agearcheagebeta-impressionscbt3closed-betacraftingexclusivefantasyfeaturedharvestingimpressionsjake-songkorean-betakorean-closed-betanon-combatnon-combat-gameplayopinionplayer-economysandboxsandparkthemeparkvirtual-worldvirtual-worldsxlxl-gameszomg-archeageTue, 31 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Debunking the first kiss theory]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/the-soapbox-debunking-the-first-kiss-theory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/the-soapbox-debunking-the-first-kiss-theory/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/24/the-soapbox-debunking-the-first-kiss-theory/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

So I owe this week's Soapbox to one of my gaming buddies who recently opined that a lot of older genre fans wear rose-colored glasses. We're a sentimental, eternally ornery, and change-resistant bunch, he said, and we're all searching in vain for that one game that recaptures the magic of our first MMO rodeo.

Ordinarily I'd take offense to those labels, but upon further reflection, my pal had a point (though it may not be the one he intended). This "first kiss theory" -- as I'm calling the bundle of nostalgia-related charges often leveled against old-school MMO fans -- is fairly common on massively multiplayer forums. This was the first time I'd heard the theory espoused by someone I knew personally, though, and as a result I spent a fair bit of time mulling it over.

Join me after the cut to see why it ultimately doesn't hold water and why, if older MMOers are indeed nostalgic, there are quantifiable reasons for it that has little to do with half-remembered glory days.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Debunking the first kiss theory

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Debunking the first kiss theory originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanchangeeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifeaturedfirst-kissfirst-kiss-theoryits-not-nostalgia-stupidkissmmo-industrynon-combatnon-combat-gameplaynon-combat-optionsnostalgiaopinionrelativismrelativist-blatherrose-colored-glassessandboxsimplificationsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardthe-soapboxthemeparkTue, 24 May 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA talks tough on The Old Republic vs. WoW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/ea-talks-tough-on-the-old-republic-vs-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/ea-talks-tough-on-the-old-republic-vs-wow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/16/ea-talks-tough-on-the-old-republic-vs-wow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's not hard to imagine the executives at Electronic Arts in the shoes of Luke Skywalker at the end of Return of the Jedi: deep in uncharted territory, surrounded by foes at the eleventh hour, their eyes fixated on the prize that is a giant lightsaber-driven payoff currently resting comfortably on the arm of Emperor Blizzard's throne.

These days it seems like you can't have a conversation about Star Wars: The Old Republic without also having one about World of Warcraft, and whether that's due to the incessant fan comparisons or the tough talk by BioWare and EA bigwigs regarding Blizzard's behemoth, it is, to quote a certain wrinkly old Sith lord, unavoidable.

The latest entry in the intergalactic e-peen contest comes courtesy of EA Games' Frank Gibeau. In an interview with Industry Gamers, Gibeau wastes little time in proclaiming Star Wars as the world's largest IP "in terms of audience size" and also equates WoW's quest-driven gameplay with a trip to the local supermarket. "You go and do your quests, but it feels more like doing a shopping list at times. [Our game] is more about talking to characters, learning what's going on, investing in it, getting emotionally attached to it," Gibeau says. Whether or not BioWare's story-warriors ultimately manage to launch a couple of proton torpedoes up Blizzard's thermal exhaust port, we're pretty sure the war of words is just getting started.

MassivelyEA talks tough on The Old Republic vs. WoW originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaelectronic-artsFrank-Gibeausci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicthemeparktorworld-of-warcraftwowyour-overconfidence-is-your-weaknessWed, 16 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Classism and the oxymoron of the casual MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/the-soapbox-classism-and-the-oxymoron-of-the-casual-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/the-soapbox-classism-and-the-oxymoron-of-the-casual-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/the-soapbox-classism-and-the-oxymoron-of-the-casual-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Seeing as how it's becoming something of a Massively tradition to offer rebuttals to my Soapbox articles, I figured it was time to turn the tables. A few weeks ago, our own Bree Royce penned a piece about class warfare in MMORPGs. Though it contained a number of valuable insights, I feel it struck the wrong chord when it comes to discussing the reasons "hardcore" MMO players dislike the pervasive trend towards accessibility.

While the thrust of Bree's article dealt with classism and my response started out with a similar focus, this week's column has since morphed into more of a pseudo-rant on the casual vs. hardcore debate. Yes, the terms are malleable, and yes, this debate is eternal, but it's eternal because it matters (inasmuch as anything related to entertainment can matter).

Join me after the cut for a traditionalist's take on MMOs and discover why they aren't "casual" games -- and why this has very little to do with social class.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Classism and the oxymoron of the casual MMO

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Classism and the oxymoron of the casual MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilityaccessibleaccessible-mmoscasualcasually-hardcoreculturedc-universe-onlinefeaturedglobal-agendahardcoremass-marketmmo-industryopinionsandboxsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardthe-soapboxthemeparkvindictusWorld-of-WarcraftTue, 01 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What game can you never truly leave behind?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/04/the-daily-grind-what-game-can-you-never-truly-leave-behind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/04/the-daily-grind-what-game-can-you-never-truly-leave-behind/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/04/the-daily-grind-what-game-can-you-never-truly-leave-behind/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Play MMOs long enough and you'll eventually come to realize that there's one game out there with your name on it. It may be your first, it may be the one you played the longest, or it may be a combination of those two variables (or countless others). One thing's for certain, though: You'll never truly get it out of your system.

Whether he's comparing each new game to "the one," rolling his eyes when "next gen" titles fail to incorporate innovative aspects of said older game, or returning home as he inevitably gets bored with new and shiny, eventually almost every gamer comes to realize how much a particular title meant to him (and ultimately shaped his MMO worldview).

For this morning's edition of The Daily Grind, tell us which title sticks in your craw, refuses to let you move on, or otherwise informs your MMO-related opinions and discourse. In short, what game can you never really leave (and is that a good 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: What game can you never truly leave behind? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classicgame-discussiongamer-discussionmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicsolder-gamesopinionsandboxstar-wars-galaxiestdgthe-daily-grindthemeparkUltima-OnlinevanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesFri, 04 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Sandboxes and the cop-out of FFA PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/the-soapbox-sandboxes-and-the-cop-out-of-ffa-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/the-soapbox-sandboxes-and-the-cop-out-of-ffa-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/04/the-soapbox-sandboxes-and-the-cop-out-of-ffa-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Last week, our own Jef Reahard mounted the Massively Soapbox with an article titled Sandboxes and the fear of FFA PvP. In it, he argued that open PvP was a natural and necessary part of any solid sandbox MMO. He also made waves by suggesting that FFA PvP is crucial to the roleplaying experience and that roleplayers should really face their "fears" and give it a try.

I'm a sandbox gamer and a PvPer at heart. I played the early years of Ultima Online and lived the adrenaline rush of full and brutal PvP and thievery. Dark Age of Camelot's RvR sucked up another year of my life. Star Wars Galaxies remains my sandbox of choice, and I've braved a World of Warcraft PvP server since launch. I know this territory very well. I'll knock it, because I have more than tried it -- in several tasty flavors.

And even though I'm an unabashed Jef-fangirl, I think there are a few debatable issues with his article. Hit the jump for some good old-fashioned counterpoints!

Continue reading The Soapbox: Sandboxes and the cop-out of FFA PvP

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Sandboxes and the cop-out of FFA PvP originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchyBlizzardccpCCP-Gamesconsequencesdeath-mechanicea-mythiceveeve-onlinefeaturedffaffa-pvpgankergriefergriefersImmersionopen-pvpopen-world-pvpopinionpve-sandboxpvppvp-sandboxroleplayroleplayerRolePlayersRolePlayingRPSandboxsandbox-mmosandparksoapboxSOESony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-soapboxThemeParktrammelUltima-OnlineUOWorld-of-WarcraftwowTue, 04 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Sandboxes and the fear of FFA PvP]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/28/the-soapbox-sandboxes-and-the-fear-of-ffa-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/28/the-soapbox-sandboxes-and-the-fear-of-ffa-pvp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/28/the-soapbox-sandboxes-and-the-fear-of-ffa-pvp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Guess what! Sandbox games are for roleplayers. I don't mean that in an off-putting or elitist way, but rather I mean to say that people who enjoy and seek out sandbox MMORPGs are roleplayers whether their testosterone levels allow them to self-identify that way or not. The corporate thieves, spies, and meta-gamers in EVE Online? They're roleplaying. The gankers and hyper-competitive PvPers in Darkfall? Yep, they're roleplaying too, even when their names are variations on Loves2spooge.

The other day I was talking to one of my closest friends about MMORPGs, roleplaying, and PvP. The discussion rolled around to Darkfall, as most of my discussions these days do, and his ears perked up when I waxed on about the freedom, the skill system, and the huge world that invites you to go your own way and is remarkably unlike traditional themepark games in terms of immersive potential. Eventually I had to break the news that yes, Darkfall does feature FFA PvP, and if that wasn't bad enough, corpse looting. The horror!

Continue reading The Soapbox: Sandboxes and the fear of FFA PvP

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Sandboxes and the fear of FFA PvP originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanarche-agearcheageaventurinedarkfalldarkfall-onlineeve-onlinefeaturedmortal-onlineopinionpvepvproleplayroleplayingsandboxsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardthe-soapboxthemeparkTue, 28 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Cataclysm and other dead horses edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/ask-massively-cataclysm-and-other-dead-horses-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/ask-massively-cataclysm-and-other-dead-horses-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/ask-massively-cataclysm-and-other-dead-horses-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

So, yes, I'm playing World of Warcraft again for the time being. It's a chance to roleplay with Ms. Lady and enjoy a revamped overall experience, even if I still think the endgame is vile enough to be used as a biotoxin. I'm also not too keen on the fact that half of the major plot developments between expansions happen off-camera in a novel, but hey. The game is fun for what it is, and that's what ultimately matters. Also, I get to stack a bunch of corpses on someone, which is a feature more games should implement.

That having been said, I'm willing to bet you didn't come here to hear about my gaming habits. You came here for the newest edition of Ask Massively, and here it is once again, complete with questions on the eternal war between sandboxes and themeparks, the eternal war between the game you are playing and the games you aren't, and the eternal war of purpose vs. nonexistence. And if you have a question, even one not related to eternal wars, you can swing it over to ask@massively.com or just leave it in the comments field.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Cataclysm and other dead horses edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Cataclysm and other dead horses edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelyff14ffxivfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionq-and-aquestions-and-answerssandboxsandparkthemeparkworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 09 Dec 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Will STO become a sandbox or remain a themepark?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/02/captains-log-will-sto-become-a-sandbox-or-remain-a-themepark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/02/captains-log-will-sto-become-a-sandbox-or-remain-a-themepark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/02/captains-log-will-sto-become-a-sandbox-or-remain-a-themepark/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Welcome back from the holiday, readers! I trust everyone has recovered from the excitement of a long weekend, a tasty Thanksgiving and a rabid Black Friday. By now you should have settled back into the slow, miserable slog toward more holidays. I know I have.

For this week's Captain's Log, I'm going to discuss themepark and sandbox MMOs. What do those terms mean? And how does Star Trek Online fit into that dichotomy, both in its present form and in its Foundry-expanded future?

Continue reading Captain's Log: Will STO become a sandbox or remain a themepark?

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Will STO become a sandbox or remain a themepark? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>captains-logcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studioseve-onlinefeaturedSandboxsandbox-experiencesandbox-gamingsandbox-mmost-onlineStar-TrekStar-Trek-MMOstar-trek-onlinestar-trek-online-season-threestosto-season-3sto-season-4sto-season-threetheme-parktheme-park-mmothemeparkthemepark-mmotrek-onlineWorld-of-WarcraftThu, 02 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Sandbox or themepark]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/lost-pages-of-taborea-sandbox-or-themepark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/lost-pages-of-taborea-sandbox-or-themepark/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/lost-pages-of-taborea-sandbox-or-themepark/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Lately I've had some great conversations over on the Runes of Magic forum that have me thinking about what type of MMO Runewaker has created. Every MMO eventually gets stamped as either sandbox or themepark, depending on whether it has an open-ended environment or is filled with directed activities. RoM is packed with minigames, quests, dungeons, housing, pets and guild content. RoM's minigame, Malatina's Course of Terror, can be taken at any level and yields the same possible rewards to all players. Yet the devs are constantly adding quests, dungeons, and other high-level content, all of which requires a player to level in order to take part. What kind of MMO is RoM? Do these terms shape your opinions of what you want to see added in the game? And does any of this matter?

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Sandbox or themepark

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Sandbox or themepark originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>directedfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegeargear-heavygear-modsgive-you-a-shovelguidedhold-your-handmodsno-goalsopen-endedopen-worldplayer-made-contentplayer-toolsquest-drivenromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentsandboxstatsthemeparkupgradeMon, 15 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Look guys I found a picture of a man with a hat edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/ask-massively-look-guys-i-found-a-picture-of-a-man-with-a-hat-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/ask-massively-look-guys-i-found-a-picture-of-a-man-with-a-hat-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/ask-massively-look-guys-i-found-a-picture-of-a-man-with-a-hat-e/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When I took over this past weekend's Week in Review column, I informed the usual steward that I would probably give the post some Dadaist nonsense title like, well, the exact title I used for this week's Ask Massively. I realized that the title was really too good to use for just a generic roundup. I have no idea who that man is, why someone painted him with a hat, or any of that. But he definitely has a pretty awesome hat.

This week we have a lot of administrative questions, talking about the comment system, the different types of MMOs, and the many different games which feature spaceships. And, as usual, we have the requisite silly question which I try to include every week, because you shouldn't click on a post with a ridiculous title without something to laugh at. Click on past the break for our answers for the week, and as always, leave further questions in the comment field, or send them along to ask@massively.com!

Continue reading Ask Massively: Look guys I found a picture of a man with a hat edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Look guys I found a picture of a man with a hat edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>administrativeask-massivelycomment-systemcommentsfeatureshatshumorq-and-aquestions-and-answerssandboxsandparkspace-gamesspaceship-gamesspaceshipsthemeparkThu, 28 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you miss virtual worlds?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/04/the-daily-grind-do-you-miss-virtual-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/04/the-daily-grind-do-you-miss-virtual-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/04/the-daily-grind-do-you-miss-virtual-worlds/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There's no doubt that MMORPGs have become more game-like and less world-like as the genre has gone mainstream. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing depends largely on what attracted you to MMORPGs in the first place. For some, combat, killing, and an endless avalanche of gear, achievements, and character stats are the main draw. For others, crafting and world-building are the raison d'etre, with small helpings of escapism and immersion on the side.

With the exception of Second Life, you'd be hard pressed to find a well-known MMO that isn't an exercise in tightly controlled carrot-chasing in one form or another, and the days of highly evolved non-combat gameplay systems seem to have gone the way of the dodo bird.

Today's Daily Grind question is three-fold: Do you miss the days of MMO virtual worlds, and what current-generation title do you do think best does the term justice? Finally, how do you personally define "virtual world?"
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our 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 The Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you miss virtual worlds? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game-discussiongamer-discussionmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsmmo-issuesmmo-topicsmmorpg-discussionmmorpg-hot-topicsmmorpg-topicssandboxsecond-lifestar-wars-galaxiestdgthe-daily-grindthemeparkultima-onlinevirtual-worldsworld-of-warcraftMon, 04 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First Impressions: Final Fantasy XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/first-impressions-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/first-impressions-final-fantasy-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/first-impressions-final-fantasy-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

There are times when my job is kind of a mixed blessing. Case in point: It falls to me to talk about my first impressions of Final Fantasy XIV, which is about as not for everyone as a game can possibly be. It features some things that seem custom-built to annoy certain players into apoplectic fits, starting with the controls and the hardware mouse that has been absent for the whole of beta. (I don't know whether it'll be in the launch today. But probably!) I would be remiss not to mention any of these elements.

On the other hand, I adore this game. The game isn't what I would have made; it's better, and it hits so many notes in just the right way that I don't particularly care about the discordant elements. So that means that my job is to give a good idea of how Final Fantasy XIV plays without letting my deep, unrestrained affection run rampant. Still, enough about the balancing act I have to go through -- how does the game actually play?

Continue reading First Impressions: Final Fantasy XIV

MassivelyFirst Impressions: Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>combatcontrol-mappingcontrol-schemecontrolsdesigndesign-stylesfeaturedffff14ffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-14final-fantasy-xivfirst-impressionsgame-mechanicsgameplayguildleveslaunch-daylauncheslevequestsopinionpacerhythmsandboxsandparksquaresquare-enixstarting-newthemeparkultraviolenceWed, 22 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your MMO fear?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/the-daily-grind-whats-your-mmo-fear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/the-daily-grind-whats-your-mmo-fear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/the-daily-grind-whats-your-mmo-fear/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We all have fears in the game. They range from things that squick us despite our best efforts (such as giant spiders) to more personal worries (such as crippling anxiety that you're not the best tank). But some fears are even more primal than that. Some fears get straight to the heart about where the industry is headed, what the fate of your favorite game might be, or whether or not you'll have time for MMOs in the future. And while you can kill squick-worthy enemies, you can't kill anxiety.

So what scares you about MMOs, either in general or in specific cases? Are you worried that your favorite game has passed the peak in terms of popularity or quality of content? Afraid that free-to-play games are going to become the dominant force in the market when you don't like them? Or do you have a deep-seated terror that World of Warcraft will always dominate the MMO sphere and block games you find more interesting?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your MMO fear? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelsdesign-stylesfearfree-to-playgame-designmetagamingopinionquest-auto-complete-9000sandboxtdgthe-daily-grindthemeparkworriesMon, 16 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: A week with Aion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/19/the-digital-continuum-a-week-with-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/19/the-digital-continuum-a-week-with-aion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/19/the-digital-continuum-a-week-with-aion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


After spending a week playing Aion over every other game in my library -- a feat considering I've got Brutal Legend and Uncharted 2 -- I'm feeling ready to discuss the game in a meaningful fashion.

It's hard to gauge what kind of game you're dealing with when an MMO launches, largely because the reality is that, often times, much of what an MMO is designed to be will change over the course of its first half year or so of development. With Aion, we're dealing with a deliberately designed concept that's been mostly well executed on -- more on that later.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: A week with Aion

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: A week with Aion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aioncrytekcrytek-koreafeaturedgladiatorncsoftopinionpizzapvepvppvpetheme-parkthemeparkMon, 19 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST