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[Wings Over Atreia: Are we there yet?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/wings-over-atreia-are-we-there-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/wings-over-atreia-are-we-there-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/01/wings-over-atreia-are-we-there-yet/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Are we there yet? Are we? Are we, huh, huh?

Certain phrases are so embedded into our culture that few can escape the vivid imagery that comes with hearing them. For some, it rings back to memories of yore -- station wagons and long dusty road trips for the family vacation. For others, it can be simply the walk to the ice cream shop with a toddler. For me? I actually envision gaming in Aion.

Gaming? Yup, that's right-- this iconic phrase emphasizes a specific mindset in our culture that permeates everything, including gaming: All that matters is the destination. There are plenty of examples of those who rush to endgame, plowing through and bypassing as much of the "unimportant" stuff as possible. For these folks, the game doesn't even start until max-level. However, there is a yin to that yang; there are also those who actually find the journey to be the experience worth having, folks who don't feel any need to race to endgame at break-neck speed and instead partake of the content along the way. Most gamers adopt one of these two philosophies, their real-life views and personalities often steering towards one side or the other.

How do these two philosophies manifest themselves and duke it out in Aion? Rush (or mosey, whatever your preference) past the break to see.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Are we there yet?

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Are we there yet? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-gamedestinationendgamefeaturedgoalgoalsgoalsettingjourneyjourney-vs-destinationnc-softnc-soft-aionncsoftncsoft-aionpvptorturetreadmilltreadmillsWings-Over-AtreiaMon, 01 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Raph Koster on whether torture in videogames is evil]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/13/raph-koster-on-whether-torture-in-videogames-is-evil/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/13/raph-koster-on-whether-torture-in-videogames-is-evil/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/13/raph-koster-on-whether-torture-in-videogames-is-evil/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Debate over what is considered 'right' and 'wrong' in terms of behavior in a videogame has become commonplace in recent years. Virtually any mass media commentary on the myriad evils of Grand Theft Auto or the 'Debbie Does Dallas in Space' view of Mass Effect drives this point home -- everyone has a different mindset in terms of what's acceptable to them. While gamers easily dismiss many of these notions as being uninformed and taken out of context, now and again something comes to light within the gaming community itself that sparks debate. A good example has been the recent (and heated) discussion of torture in games, stemming from the views expressed by Dr. Richard Bartle. He argued his points on the questionable existence of torture in "The Art of Persuasion" quest in World of Warcraft, which set off a flurry of responses from gamers and peers.

MMO industry luminary Raph Koster weighs in with his own views on the matter in a post titled "Are games about torture evil?". Specifically, Koster addresses this comment at his website: "... please explain to me again why killing NPCs in games is fine but sticking them with a cattle prod is evil." However, Koster seems less concerned with arbitrary notions of right and wrong as he is with the game design that leads us down this path in the first place.
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Continue reading Raph Koster on whether torture in videogames is evil

MassivelyRaph Koster on whether torture in videogames is evil originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controversydebateevilfantasymmo-industryopinionquestsraph-kosterrichard-bartletortureworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 13 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: Too much emotion]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/29/behind-the-curtain-too-much-emotion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/29/behind-the-curtain-too-much-emotion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/29/behind-the-curtain-too-much-emotion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Oh Richard Bartle, you so crazy!

So, the rantings of an out-of-touch academic, desperate to grab attention, or astute observations from a true pioneer of MMOs and virtual worlds? I'll go with the latter - partly because it's true, and partly because I'm scared Dr Bartle might hunt me down and shout at me.

Going by some of the comments I've seen here on Massively and elsewhere in the past couple of days, not everyone agrees with me. That's cool though, it's the Internet, and you have a right to be face-slappingly stupid hold an alternate viewpoint.

Don't worry though, I don't plan on dissecting the good Doctor's words today, not only has that been done to death elsewhere; I simply don't want to. Instead, I'd like to talk briefly about emotion and our emotional investment in MMOs. To be specific, I'd like to talk about emotions which arise moment to moment, as we play.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: Too much emotion

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: Too much emotion originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-curtainbig-royblizzardemotionemotionsfeaturedking-of-the-ogreskirin-torogresqueen-of-the-ogresquestingquestsrichard-bartlesea-lionstoo-much-emotiontortureworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 29 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Bartle responds to "torture quest" issue]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/27/richard-bartle-responds-to-torture-quest-issue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/27/richard-bartle-responds-to-torture-quest-issue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/27/richard-bartle-responds-to-torture-quest-issue/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A few days ago we ran a report on Richard Bartle's take on a torture quest in World of Warcraft, the Art of Persuasion. Since then, the discussion has exploded and some have taken Bartle's quotes out of context. Because of this, Bartle has created a follow-up post to clarify some of the points that may have been misinterpreted.

First of all, he's not talking about the Death Knight quest entitled, "How to Win Friends and Influence Enemies." Bartle does realize that Death Knights, while under Arthas's control, were horribly evil and he understand that this quest is necessary to make them look as evil as they are. That quest makes a very strong point that resonates with the storyline of the game.

He is quite aware that Warcraft involves killing, fireballs, destruction, and more killing. He knows there's a "dismiss quest" button at the bottom of the quest window. He is also aware that the game is not real life, it's only a computer game, and does not contain the Geneva Convention. So then, what's all the fuss?

Continue reading Richard Bartle responds to "torture quest" issue

MassivelyRichard Bartle responds to "torture quest" issue originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Richard Bartle, co-creator of the first multi-user dungeon MUD, has expressed his displeasure with Blizzard over a Wrath of the Lich King quest -- titled, "The Art of Persuasion" -- that involves the torture of a character for information. "I'm not at all happy with this. I was expecting for there to be some way to tell the guy who gave you the quest that no, actually I don't want to torture a prisoner, but there didn't seem to be any way to do that." said Bartle on his feelings about the quest. He also said that a player must complete this quest in order to proceed into an instance called Nexus, but those we've spoken to have told us the quest is merely part of a chain that can be completed in the instance.

We mostly feel disappointed in Blizzard, because they've missed an opportunity to make something thought provoking. Players are simply given one option with no real consequence instead of pointing out the cruelty of torture or letting a player decide whether or not to do it and find another way to complete the quest. Beyond even that, this quest does kind of break the lore aspect of being a good guy (Alliance) or a misunderstood good guy (Horde) when you're doing exceptionally evil things.

[via IncGamers]
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MassivelyBartle calls Blizzard out on torture quest in Wrath of the Lich King originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardcontroversyincgamersrichard-bartlethe-art-of-persuasiontortureworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrathwrath-of-the-lich-kingTue, 25 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST