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 Summoner's Guidebook: I hate Jack-in-the-boxes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/the-summoners-guidebook-i-hate-jack-in-the-boxes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/the-summoners-guidebook-i-hate-jack-in-the-boxes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/the-summoners-guidebook-i-hate-jack-in-the-boxes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

League of Legends screenshot
Out of all of the characters in League of Legends, Shaco is probably the least fun character to fight against. His traps are highly annoying, fearing you and poking you with damage. He is extremely slippery and hard to kill, striking out of nowhere and disappearing just as quickly. Just when you think you have him, it turns out that was actually his clone and it explodes, netting Shaco yet another kill.

"Annoying" is the first word I'd use to describe him, and this is what Shaco wants you to think. He doesn't want you to know his weaknesses, so he keeps you on your toes, constantly afraid of jack-in-the-box traps and invisible backstabs. However, he has weaknesses, and this week, we're going to talk about how to put the killer clown back in his toybox.

Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: I hate Jack-in-the-boxes

MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: I hate Jack-in-the-boxes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cant-sleep-clowns-will-eat-meclownf2pfeaturedfree-to-playi-hate-clownsi-hate-jack-in-the-boxesleagueleague-of-legendslolmobaopinionpaper-tigerriotriot-gamesshacosummoners-guidebookthe-summoners-guidebooktraptrapsThu, 29 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you like more exploration options?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/the-daily-grind-would-you-like-more-exploration-options/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/the-daily-grind-would-you-like-more-exploration-options/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/the-daily-grind-would-you-like-more-exploration-options/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Let's not mince words -- when you hear about a new location in any MMOs, you know it's being added so you can go in and kill its inhabitants. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, especially seeing as every new level brings MMO characters new ways to dice, filet, and otherwise demolish said inhabitants. But as many players have noted, it would be nice if there were occasionally other options, such as the puzzles and traps that Dungeons and Dragons Online places in some of its adventures.

So would you like to see more exploration options in MMOs? Would you enjoy the chance to have a new location where you had to puzzle your way past traps and not draw your sword (or gun or electrical magic or whatever)? How about exploring a landscape without certain knowledge about what was on the other side? Or do you feel that's a thing of the past and so long as answers and guides are freely available online that exploration can't quite be replicated?

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 like more exploration options? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>areasexplorationexploringgame-mechanicsopinionpuzzlestdgthe-daily-grindtrapsviolencezonesMon, 13 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Games Day '09: A moment with Paul Barnett and Josh Drescher (also, Josh loves Aubrey)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/games-day-09-a-moment-with-paul-barnett-and-josh-drescher-als/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/games-day-09-a-moment-with-paul-barnett-and-josh-drescher-als/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/13/games-day-09-a-moment-with-paul-barnett-and-josh-drescher-als/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Even with all of the excitement occurring at Games Day, Mythic's Paul Barnett and Josh Drescher still had a moment to sit down with us at Massively and talk a little shop about Warhammer's overall status, Mythic's future direction of the game, and why players should come back and experience the Land of the Dead.

But they're tricky folks, Paul and Josh! They even tried to turn the interview back around at us at some points! But we stayed strong for you readers, and were able to get some interesting answers out of them regarding Warhammer Online. Also, we have exclusive coverage that Josh indeed loves his fiancee, Aubrey. Yay marriage!

Interested in the full interview? Hit that link and read on!

Continue reading Games Day '09: A moment with Paul Barnett and Josh Drescher (also, Josh loves Aubrey)

MassivelyGames Day '09: A moment with Paul Barnett and Josh Drescher (also, Josh loves Aubrey) originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 May 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call-to-armscurse.comdark-age-of-camelotdarkness-fallsfeaturedgames-day-2009interviewjosh-drescherjoystiqfeaturesland-of-the-deadmythicmythic-entertainmentpaul-barnettpvepvpraiders-of-the-lost-arkrvrthe-mummythe-rocktrapswarwarhammer-onlineWed, 13 May 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Terminator 'MMO' comes to iPhone]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/terminator-mmo-comes-to-iphone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/terminator-mmo-comes-to-iphone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/terminator-mmo-comes-to-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Sci-fi fans of the revamped Terminator IP may have something else to be happy about: a Terminator iPhone MMO called "Ambush." Based off Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Ambush is a game played either online or through an iPhone. Gameplay is centered on predicting the movement of enemies through a virtual city, setting traps to eliminate the opposing side while evading their attempts to find you. iPhone 3G users can use their device's GPS to avoid such traps while racking up points.

The game was developed by 65 Media, a marketing firm known for its past work on interactive and alternate reality games (ARGs). Ambush may not be a true MMO in the client/leveling/loot sense, but has a system of points gained through employing traps and counter-traps. It's perhaps more akin to Aurora Feint's debatable label as an MMO title, which has already proven to be very popular. Such titles are the earliest forays into that grey area of 'MMOs' for the iPhone, and more are certainly on the way. Ambush is free-to-play and available for iPhones with the 2.0 Software Update, downloadable at the Apple App Store. More information about the game, and how to play it on both the iPhone and online, can be found in the Ambush FAQ.

[Via Spoiler TV]

MassivelyTerminator 'MMO' comes to iPhone originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>65-mediaalternate-reality-gameambushappleapple-app-storeargaurora-feintcounter-trapsinteractiveinteractive-gameiphoneiphone-3giphone-mmomobile-mmosarah-connor-chroniclesterminatortrapsviralviral-marketingTue, 07 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: do traps and puzzles make content more fun?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/24/the-daily-grind-do-traps-and-puzzles-make-content-more-fun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/24/the-daily-grind-do-traps-and-puzzles-make-content-more-fun/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/24/the-daily-grind-do-traps-and-puzzles-make-content-more-fun/#commentsFiled under:

In a showcase of coming Age of Conan content, Erling Ellingson pointed out new traps as a main feature of the revamped dungeons. The dungeons would feature cunning Indiana Jones style hazards, with non-obvious solutions, such as firing an arrow into a huge stone eye in order to slay an otherwise unkillable snake.

However, everyone who's seen the video will now know what to do in that event. That's the thing with puzzle-type content: once you know the trick, you've solved it. A tough boss is just as tough each time you encounter it, but you only ever have to solve a puzzle once.

Having said that, puzzles can offer a level of satisfaction that boss-fighting and minion-crushing just can't. Some players welcome an intellectual challenge in an MMO. The original tabletop roleplaying games that preceded MMOs still feature puzzles and pitfalls, so why not MMOs?

Should content designers include puzzle-type content as well as the tactical challenges of combat? Do you enjoy finding a puzzle in the course of a quest, or does that sort of thing detract from the pace of play? Is trick-and-trap content that has a clever solution a waste of developer resources, or an important facet of MMO gaming?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: do traps and puzzles make content more fun? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>puzzlesthe-daily-grindtrapstricksSun, 24 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST