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: Can there be too much community interaction in public?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/the-daily-grind-can-there-be-too-much-community-interaction-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/the-daily-grind-can-there-be-too-much-community-interaction-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/25/the-daily-grind-can-there-be-too-much-community-interaction-in/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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

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

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

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-me-anythingcommunitydaily-grindfacebookinteractionopinionpublicreddittdgthe-daily-grindtwitterFri, 25 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MechWarrior Online dev Q&A covers beta, grouping, and combat damage]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/mechwarrior-online-dev-qanda-covers-beta-grouping-and-combat-dam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/mechwarrior-online-dev-qanda-covers-beta-grouping-and-combat-dam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/mechwarrior-online-dev-qanda-covers-beta-grouping-and-combat-dam/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

MWO
MechWarrior Online's devs aren't quite ready to disclose specifics on the game's minimum specs or beta process, but news for both is coming "soon." These vague assurances were the anomaly in a recent community Q&A, during which Piranha Games President Russ Bullock and Creative Director Bryan Ekman spilled on all of the minutia that fans were dying to know.

The duo said that they're "working very hard" to get MWO servers into every major region and that information about beta will be coming next week. They did confirm that there will be an open beta at some juncture, however.

Other details disclosed included the fact that players can form groups of up to 12 'Mechs, that legs cannot be blown off (but can be immobilized), and that the launch matchmaking system will be very basic and won't take into account player skill or records.

MassivelyMechWarrior Online dev Q&A covers beta, grouping, and combat damage originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaBryan-Ekmanclosed-betacommunity-q-and-af2pfree-to-playmechmechsmechwarriormechwarrior-mmomechwarrior-onlinemin-specsminimum-specsmwoopen-betapiranhapiranha-gamespvpq-and-aRuss-Bullocksci-fisoonsoon-tmspecstweetchattwitterThu, 17 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Why social gaming could destroy MMOs and how we can fight it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/free-for-all-why-social-gaming-could-destroy-mmos-and-how-we-fi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/free-for-all-why-social-gaming-could-destroy-mmos-and-how-we-fi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/02/free-for-all-why-social-gaming-could-destroy-mmos-and-how-we-fi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

CastleVille screenshot
I am a huge fan of social media. Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus -- it all makes sense to me and has shown to be a very useful tool in not only communicating with friends but finding new games, developers, and websites. My Twitter feed provides enough news and information that I can skip any standard media. I haven't watched a local newscast for a long, long time. On top of that, I can communicate with readers in real time, sharing photos and tidbits of cool.

Has social media affected MMO gaming? It definitely has. Watch any smart developer's Twitter feed and you will see the community team interacting directly with players, answering questions, hosting contests, and helping players feel as though the developers are actual people. Social media has also changed how we connect to our games, MMO or not.

All of this means that everything is social now. Going to the dentist? Share it with your friends. Defeated a boss monster on your Xbox? Tweet it. Just picked up that epic sword in Dark Age of Camelot? Post it to your Facebook. Heck, many MMOs now have a Twitter or Facebook option built right into the client. All of this instant connectivity is nice, but it's possible that the "massively" part of MMO will soon apply to any game. What will this do to the genre?

Continue reading Free for All: Why social gaming could destroy MMOs and how we can fight it

MassivelyFree for All: Why social gaming could destroy MMOs and how we can fight it originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmancityvilledark-age-of-camelotf2pfacebookfarmvillefeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumgoogle-plushero-academylord-of-the-rings-onlineopinionsocialsocial-gamingsocial-networkingtwittervelvet-ropeZyngaWed, 02 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 gets all social before the beta weekend [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/guild-wars-2-gets-all-social-before-the-beta-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/guild-wars-2-gets-all-social-before-the-beta-weekend/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/23/guild-wars-2-gets-all-social-before-the-beta-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Or you could just hang out by the punch bowl and not talk to anyone. That's also an option.
There's no shortage of players waiting eagerly to jump into Guild Wars 2 beta testing this weekend, but that's still several days away. It's very possible that you really need a steady shot of Tyria a little earlier than that. Fortunately for you, there are options open as the community team pushes interaction in a big way. The game's Facebook page is the center of a rather art-centric promotion: As the page nears half a million Likes, the team is releasing a new piece of art for every 10,000 new fans.

Not your cup of tea? That's all right, as the team has also set up a Pinterest page to show off the best game-related fan projects. There are also boards set up on the same page where you can show off screenshots of each race, whether you're opting for the diminutive Asura or the towering Norn. It's a good chance for everyone to get involved in the Guild Wars 2 community before the weekend gets underway, even if it won't make the test start any faster.

[Updated with clarification regarding the picture forums.]

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 gets all social before the beta weekend [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbetabeta-testingbeta-weekendfacebookfantasyforumforumsguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftnewsofficial-forumspinterestsocialsocial-mediatwitterMon, 23 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Diablo III launch site collapses under the weight of fans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/new-diablo-iii-launch-site-collapses-under-the-weight-of-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/new-diablo-iii-launch-site-collapses-under-the-weight-of-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/08/new-diablo-iii-launch-site-collapses-under-the-weight-of-fans/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Diablo III title image
With just over a month left until Diablo III is released, Blizzard launched its new Darkness Falls, Heroes Rise minisite to get people excited. Fans can enter an art contest with some big prizes or create a banner to unlock an exclusive in-game banner sigil that will never be given away outside this event. The site is one big social media campaign, with exclusive content that unlocks when players share enough contest entries on Facebook and Twitter. Fansite DiabloFans revealed that the unlocks will include developer diaries, wallpapers and more. Once the share meter reaches 100%, a final epic unveiling will occur that Blizzard's Bashiok says "is going to melt people's brain meats."

When the site first launched, fans reported everything from PHP errors to lost connections and 404 pages. The site has since been stabilised but doesn't appear to be working as intended. The galleries are no longer updating, confirmation emails are not being sent for entries, and the unlock level hasn't budged from 0%. As we'll need just under 3% per day to meet the 100% goal, players are concerned that if the meter isn't broken, then expectations may have been set too high.

MassivelyNew Diablo III launch site collapses under the weight of fans originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentd3diablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiidiablofansdiablofans.comfacebookfantasygothic-fantasymultiplayeronline-multiplayerrpgsharesocial-mediasocial-networkingtwitterSun, 08 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guild Wars 2 crosses the pond to answer questions for EU Fan Day]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/arenanet-crosses-the-pond-to-answer-questions-for-european-fan-d/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/arenanet-crosses-the-pond-to-answer-questions-for-european-fan-d/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/02/arenanet-crosses-the-pond-to-answer-questions-for-european-fan-d/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Say
Guild Wars 2's release is (hopefully) creeping closer and closer with each passing day, and now that the title has a few weekend beta events under its belt, enthusiasm for the game is growing. To help assuage the growing impatience for the game's release, ArenaNet brought some prominent members of the European community together for an EU Fan Day full of fun times and Q&As.

The sheer volume of questions answered by the studio prohibits us from even attempting a complete summary in the span of this post, but if you're at all interested in the game, it's worth a read. PvP rank-specific emotes, guild features, and an unrevealed PvP map that "will be very nostalgic for GW players" are all on the table for discussion, so to get the full, juicy details, just head on over to the official Guild Wars 2 Twitter and check out today's posts marked with the hashtag #EUFanDay.

MassivelyGuild Wars 2 crosses the pond to answer questions for EU Fan Day originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenaneteu-fan-dayeuropean-fan-dayfantasyguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftq-and-aqatwitterMon, 02 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do social media tie-ins annoy you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/the-daily-grind-do-social-media-tie-ins-annoy-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/the-daily-grind-do-social-media-tie-ins-annoy-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/the-daily-grind-do-social-media-tie-ins-annoy-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

GW2 Facebook
When ArenaNet thanked Guild Wars 2 beta applicants with a special video earlier this week, the move was met with a surprising amount of angst-ridden complaining because the video was gated behind a "Like" button on Facebook. Some gamers just didn't want to sign up for Facebook just to see a video or resented the idea that the thank-you was really just a clever marketing trick to advertise the game to their friends.

While complaining does seem a bit like looking a gift horse in the mouth (and it was easy enough to find a copy of the video on YouTube within five minutes anyway), I can still understand why some folks are irritated by the permeation of social media into every corner of the MMOsphere, from news sites like ours to clicking "Like" for free stuff to auto-Tweeting in-game accomplishments.

What about you? Do social media tie-ins annoy you?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do social media tie-ins annoy you? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetangstarenanetbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindfacebookfantasyguild-wars-2gw2likencsoftopinionsocial-mediatdgthe-daily-grindtwitterSat, 17 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Revisiting anonymity in our games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-revisiting-anonymity-in-our-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-revisiting-anonymity-in-our-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/enter-at-your-own-rift-revisiting-anonymity-in-our-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Rift Ascended
It seems like ages ago, but back in July of 2010, Blizzard shook the MMO world with the announcement of RealID. You probably recall the firestorm, but the long and short of it is that Blizzard was planning to make all posts in the forums display each poster's real-life first and last name. The protests against it were so loud that Blizzard backed down from the move and life resumed as usual.

The intend was to integrate social media into Blizzard games, particularly Facebook, but it became a huge can of worms because it forced everyone who wanted to post on the forums to reveal their true names. But social media is continuing to grow, and there are lots of ways that game companies have made use of it. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, let's look at Trion's approach and revisit the idea of anonymity in MMOs.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Revisiting anonymity in our games

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Revisiting anonymity in our games originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anonymityblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmententer-at-your-own-rifteqeverquestfacebookfeaturedkaren-bryanprexusreal-idrealidriftriftconnectsocial-mediasonySony-Online-Entertainmenttriontrion-worldstwitterwowWed, 14 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WildStar Wednesday examines redundancies in quest text]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/wildstar-wednesday-examines-redundancies-in-quest-text/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/wildstar-wednesday-examines-redundancies-in-quest-text/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/29/wildstar-wednesday-examines-redundancies-in-quest-text/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I've been in a firefight before... well, in a fire. Actually, I got fired.
Can you really produce a meaningful set of quests while keeping each snippet of text down to 140 characters? The team developing WildStar certainly thinks so. In a previous installment of the regular WildStar Wednesday feature, fans were introduced to the concept, but this week's developer diary is all about explaining how you keep all of the flavor of a quest while trimming it down to the bare minimum necessary. It's not about stripping out flavor -- it's about exactly the opposite.

Senior narrative designer Cory Herndon explains by example that a lot of quest text winds up repeating unnecessary facts or stating something that should be immediately clear. Herndon starts with a longer example of quest text and steadily pares it down to the most important bits of information, keeping all of the flavor while posting each bit of communication in quick and comprehensible bursts. Combined with the discussion of adding further bits of quest dialogue after important objectives are completed, the diary shows just how you can get a lot of flavor into the quests without quite as many fancy words.

MassivelyWildStar Wednesday examines redundancies in quest text originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosdeveloper-diaryncsoftpresentationpreviewsquestquest-textquestsstorytwitterwildstarwildstar-wednesdaywsWed, 29 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 188: Podcasting on two hours of sleep]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/massively-speaking-episode-188-podcasting-on-two-hours-of-sleep/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/massively-speaking-episode-188-podcasting-on-two-hours-of-sleep/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/massively-speaking-episode-188-podcasting-on-two-hours-of-sleep/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Secret World
Massively Speaking Episode 188 wants you to know that colds are the pits -- and sleep ninja babies are just wicked to the core. But your intrepid hosts soldier through massive sleep deprivation to bring you garfle monkey shuffles! Also, popcorn purple Qwerty.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 188: Podcasting on two hours of sleep

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 188: Podcasting on two hours of sleep originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineeveeve-onlinefeaturedguild-wars-2gw2massively-metamassively-speakingoriginalpodcastsoeterathe-secret-worldtswtwitterTue, 28 Feb 2012 14:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 188Massively.com Staff54:16podcasts<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 187: Hodor! Hodor!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/massively-speaking-episode-187-hodor-hodor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/massively-speaking-episode-187-hodor-hodor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/massively-speaking-episode-187-hodor-hodor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Hodor!
Massively Speaking Episode 187 knows that not only is winter coming, but it is here! And because of that, we've invited Game of Thrones' own Hodor, Kristian Nairn, to join us for a lively round of MMO discussion. Kristian is an avid MMO gamer, and when he isn't serving the Starks on HBO, he's likely to be found hip-deep in Star Wars: The Old Republic and RIFT.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 187: Hodor! Hodor!

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 187: Hodor! Hodor! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredgame-of-throneshodorinterviewkristian-nairnmassively-metamassively-speakingoriginalpodcastriftstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortwitterTue, 21 Feb 2012 13:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 187Massively.com Staff01:08:18podcasts<![CDATA[WildStar unveils questing with a Twitter budget]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/wildstar-unveils-questing-with-a-twitter-budget/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/wildstar-unveils-questing-with-a-twitter-budget/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/wildstar-unveils-questing-with-a-twitter-budget/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

No force in the 'verse can stop me.
Nobody likes reading quest text. Having to sift through five paragraphs of text just to figure out what you're doing isn't anyone's idea of a good time. The latest entry in the WildStar Wednesday series of developer blogs is all about how the team has tried to do away with mind-numbing and ponderous quest text. And the narrative design team does so by paring down quest text to a quick snippet no longer than a Twitter post.

While there are ways to construct smaller entries, of course, the entry discusses how the 140-character limit makes for a good building block to keep players engaged -- it's short enough that you can read it quickly but not so short that it omits important information. In addition to showing a quest get brought down to a quick bite-sized snippet, the entry also talks about keeping control in the hands of the player and letting the story unfold organically, both things that should be of interest to WildStar fans eager for more information.

MassivelyWildStar unveils questing with a Twitter budget originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbinecarbine-studiosimmersionncsoftpost-lengthquest-designquest-textqueststext-lengthtweetstwitterwildstarwsWed, 15 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Episode 186: Polysyllabic daydreams]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/massively-speaking-episode-186-polysyllabic-daydreams/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/massively-speaking-episode-186-polysyllabic-daydreams/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/massively-speaking-episode-186-polysyllabic-daydreams/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Massively Speaking Episode 186 is the episode that fans will forever decry as the one that jumped the shark. In our defense, the shark was just sitting there in the Massively office parking lot and we were looking for an excuse to try out our new dirt bike anyway.

This week we're joined by Jeremy Stratton, who provides expert analysis on the perks and pitfalls of free-to-play. He was also the first to clear the shark without major blood loss, so bully for him!

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 186: Polysyllabic daydreams

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 186: Polysyllabic daydreams originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diablo-iiiearthrisefeaturedfinal-fantasy-xivfirefallfree-to-listenfree-to-playmassively-metamassively-speakingpodcastriftstar-trek-onlinetwitterTue, 14 Feb 2012 09:00:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 186Massively.com Staff01:03:18podcasts<![CDATA[RuneScape rings in the new year with 39 manhunts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/runescape-rings-in-the-new-year-with-39-manhunts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/runescape-rings-in-the-new-year-with-39-manhunts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/runescape-rings-in-the-new-year-with-39-manhunts/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

RuneScape
It's almost over. RuneScape's year-long celebration of its 10th anniversary is coming to a close, and Jagex has great, wonderful plans to end it with a bang. Naturally, this translates into "developer manhunt" because why not?

During New Year's Eve, players are encouraged to be on alert as the clock strikes midnight 39 times in each of the time zones across the world. Every time this happens, a special moderator's in-game location will be made known through Facebook, on Twitter and in RuneScape itself. Those who can hunt down and find this mod in time will be treated to a special celebration.

The first clock to strike midnight on New Year's Eve is in Tokelau on Saturday, December 31st, at 5:00 a.m. EST. RuneScape players may wish to note that not all 39 "midnights" occur on the hour (this helpful website lays out the precise order).

[Source: Jagex press release]

MassivelyRuneScape rings in the new year with 39 manhunts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celebrate-good-times-come-oncelebrationdev-manhuntdeveloper-manhuntf2pfacebookfree-to-playin-game-celebrationin-game-eventjagexmanhuntmidnightnew-yearsnew-years-daynew-years-everunescapetwitterThu, 22 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare co-founder and live producer get SWTOR launch day tattoos]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/bioware-co-founder-and-live-producer-get-swtor-launch-day-tattoo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/bioware-co-founder-and-live-producer-get-swtor-launch-day-tattoo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/bioware-co-founder-and-live-producer-get-swtor-launch-day-tattoo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SWTOR launch day tattoos
How do you know if a game studio is committed to a title? What if the studio co-founder gets a big ol' tattoo inked on his bicep? Words are cheap, after all; tattoos show you mean business.

This is exactly what BioWare's Greg Zeschuk did recently, and he hopped onto Twitter to show off his new Star Wars: The Old Republic "launch beard and tattoo" to the populace. The tattoo is the hybrid Republic-Empire logo, and was done in full color.

Not to be outdone, Live Producer Cory Butler also took the plunge and got the tattoo as well.

Star Wars: The Old Republic's early access begins today, with the game's official launch slated for December 20th. Don't forget to read up on the game with Massively's SWTOR Launch Guide!

Star Wars: The Old Republic is finally here, and the Force is with Massively! We've prepared a Hutt-sized feast of class introductions, gameplay guides, lore roundups, and hands-on previews to help you navigate the launch period and beyond. And don't forget our weekly SWTOR column, the Hyperspace Beacon!

MassivelyBioWare co-founder and live producer get SWTOR launch day tattoos originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareCory-Butlerea-biowareearly-accessGreg-Zeschuklaunchstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-tattootattootattoostwitterTue, 13 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[TERA monthly chat talks public previews, PvP, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/tera-monthly-chat-talks-public-previews-pvp-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/tera-monthly-chat-talks-public-previews-pvp-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/tera-monthly-chat-talks-public-previews-pvp-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- TERA
TERA's November edition of the monthly Twitter dev chat has been posted on the game's official site, and it brings a few choice morsels involving the current alpha test and the upcoming closed beta. The team notes that the current testing is going quite well, and the first public preview event will be starting in early 2012.

Many players also ask about the game's open world PvP, and the team mentions that a free-for-all-from-level-1 PvP server is not out of the question, though it won't happen at launch. Master glyphs, guild wars, and fashion customization are all on the table as well, so for the full transcript, head on over to the official TERA site.

MassivelyTERA monthly chat talks public previews, PvP, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blueholecombaten-masseen-masse-entertainmentguild-warsproduction-chatpublic-previewspvpteratera-onlinetestingthe-exiled-realm-of-arboreatwitterTue, 22 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[John Smedley gives interesting tweets on DC Universe Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/john-smedley-gives-interesting-tweets-on-dc-universe-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/john-smedley-gives-interesting-tweets-on-dc-universe-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/21/john-smedley-gives-interesting-tweets-on-dc-universe-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Not pictured: John Smedley dancing in his office.
DC Universe Online is one of the most recent games to make the business model change over to free-to-play, but that alone isn't an assurance of a game's success. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. And according to the latest Twitter posts by John Smedley on his feed, that pudding is exceptionally rich; Since the business model switch, the game's revenues have been up an astonishing 700% per day, with 53% of the revenue coming from the PlayStation 3 players.

The playerbase is growing, as well, with about a 6% increase per day. Apparently, 85% of players are returning players, and it would seem that many of them are happy with what they see judging by the growth in both revenue and total population. Enough to purchase more characters, even -- extra character slots are one of the most popular items in the cash shop, with the Vanguard of the Heavens skin being the other most popular item. It's an interesting set of numbers, showing that the proof is most certainly in the pudding -- and it's quite a lot of pudding.

MassivelyJohn Smedley gives interesting tweets on DC Universe Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modeldcdc-comicsdc-universedc-universe-onlinedcuof2pfree-to-playfree-to-play-successjohn-smedleysoesony-online-entertainmenttweetstwitterMon, 21 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: To spec or not to spec?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/captains-log-to-spec-or-not-to-spec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/captains-log-to-spec-or-not-to-spec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/captains-log-to-spec-or-not-to-spec/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Screenshot - Star Trek Online
Captain's Log, Stardate 65340.3...

Hello, computer (and players)! Unlike an answer to Shakespeare's original question, the answer to the question in this week's title is probably a no-brainer for most of you: Yes! Choosing a specialization, or "speccing," in MMOs is something that stretches across most titles out there, and Star Trek Online is no different. Whether you wish to resist attacks longer, do more damage, or add strength to your powers, choosing a customized spec can be rewarding and a challenge at the same time. With so many variables and places to spend your points, the possibilities are endless.

While this week's Captain's Log is not here to tell you what you should spec into for your particular class or ship set-up, I would like to go over the space skill point overhaul that STO is about to go through. In the past, one of the biggest complaints from players was that they did not have a clear understanding of which skill tree affected which ability. The devs heard this feedback and have been working on a complete revamp to make these decisions simpler. Hopefully, this will allow you to have a better understanding of where and why to spend your points in a particular skill when you do have to re-spec at the launch of F2P on January 17th, 2012.

Ensign, warp 10! Let's get our readers' bookmark buttons ready...

Continue reading Captain's Log: To spec or not to spec?

MassivelyCaptain's Log: To spec or not to spec? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriescaptain-gekocaptains-logcrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosefficiencyenergy-weaponsengineering-systemsf2pfeaturedfree-to-playguidelivestreamoperation-systemsperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentprojectile-weaponsre-specscience-systemsshakespeareskillpointsspecspeccingspecializationspecsst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotactical-systemstargeting-systemstrek-onlinetribbletwittertwitterverseweaponsThu, 10 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard says mass layoffs are 'just a rumor']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/blizzard-john-staats-let-go-mass-layoffs-just-a-rumor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/blizzard-john-staats-let-go-mass-layoffs-just-a-rumor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/blizzard-john-staats-let-go-mass-layoffs-just-a-rumor/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Blizzard logo
Yesterday we ran a rumor that a senior level designer on Blizzard's Titan project, John Staats, had been laid off. We've received confirmation presumably from the man himself that he is no longer working at Blizzard, though the reasons for his firing are unknown. Rumors also ran wild that Blizzard had seen some kind of "mass layoffs," but Bashiok stopped by the forums today to put an end to that, saying, "Hey guys, out of respect for their privacy, we don't discuss individual employees, but the speculation circulating about 'massive layoffs at Blizzard' is just a rumor." Zahrym confirmed this on his personal Twitter account, as well. What Staats' absence will mean for the future of Titan remains to be seen, but we'll be sure to let you know as soon as we get word.

MassivelyBlizzard says mass layoffs are 'just a rumor' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bashiokblizzardblizzard-entertainmentjohn-staatslayoffsmass-layoffsproject-titantitantwitterzahrymTue, 08 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Prime: Battle for Dominus undergoes a quick name change]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/prime-battle-for-dominus-undergoes-a-quick-name-change/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/prime-battle-for-dominus-undergoes-a-quick-name-change/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/prime-battle-for-dominus-undergoes-a-quick-name-change/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This guy would be way less intimidating if his name was Cuddlestomp.
There's a lot in a name, for MMOs as much as anything. You want your name to be recognizable, distinct, and perhaps most importantly something that isn't going to be mistaken for the name of a different game or product. Prime: Battle for Dominus has already been establishing buzz about itself, but its name was a bit cumbersome with the subtitle and a bit generic without it, so the game is shortening itself down to simply Dominus from here on out.

Confirmed via an official tweet, the name change is hardly the first time that a game in production has undergone a shift in title (the most recent MMO example being RIFT and its multiple sobriquets). Nothing else appears to have changed for the title, although it's quite likely that the official site address will be changed and the current site will be used as a redirect. And it will be a lot easier to remember the name, since Dominus doesn't come up frequently in other conversations.

MassivelyPrime: Battle for Dominus undergoes a quick name change originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dominusnamename-changesname-updatespitchblackpitchblack-gamesprimeprime-battle-for-dominustwitterupcoming-titlesupdatesMon, 07 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: A two-minute read could save you 15% or more on nerdrage insurance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/captains-log-a-two-minute-read-could-save-you-15-or-more-on-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/captains-log-a-two-minute-read-could-save-you-15-or-more-on-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/captains-log-a-two-minute-read-could-save-you-15-or-more-on-n/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot - Star Trek Online
Captain's Log, Stardate 65340.3...

Hello, computer (and players)! Welcome to this week's edition of Captain's Log, brought to you by "Geko" Insurance. (And let's just say, you may want to purchase a policy). If you are a Star Trek Online player who watches Cryptic's official forums, you know that the game experienced an Occupy movement of its own this past weekend. Even if you don't frequent the forums, you may have seen some of the concerns raised through the #STO Twitter feed.

Over the weekend, players lashed out against some of the recent changes that have made their way to the Tribble test server. It may be surprising to some of you reading this, but the commotion was not related to the economy changes. The main concern is that some of the items for purchase in the C-Store are going to be changing from account-wide unlocks to per-character transactions. While I was a little perturbed at the thought too, I was happy to see that some of the misconceptions were cleared up once we got an official statement from one of the devs. But since there is a lot more to the story, let's take a look.

Ensign, warp 10! And don't forget to buckle your seatbelt...

Continue reading Captain's Log: A two-minute read could save you 15% or more on nerdrage insurance

MassivelyCaptain's Log: A two-minute read could save you 15% or more on nerdrage insurance originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>al-riverabalanceboycottc-storec-store-pointscaptain-gekocaptains-logconsumablescraftingcrypticcryptic-pointscryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdoffduty-officerduty-officer-systemExchangef2pfeaturedfeedbackforumsfree-to-playhereticlivestreammarketingpatch-notesperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestarshipsstotrek-onlinetribbletribble-test-servertwitterunlock-statusThu, 03 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost Pages of Taborea: Test driving Magic Hub]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/lost-pages-of-taborea-test-driving-magic-hub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/lost-pages-of-taborea-test-driving-magic-hub/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/lost-pages-of-taborea-test-driving-magic-hub/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Runes of Magic/Magic Hub image
I'm going to jump on this one before anyone else does. The company Overwolf developed a little application that provides MMO players with social networking, web, video and screenshot functionality without the need to alt+tab out of a game.

It's a lot like what Trion has built into RIFT, only in a third-party package, and Frogster partnered with Overwolf to provide a Runes of Magic-branded version called Magic Hub -- complete with RoM-specific buttons.

After some technical problems, I got Magic Hub to work and put it through its paces. There are other applications out there that provide a wide range of functionality for gamers, but since this one is customized for RoM, I thought I'd give my impressions.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Test driving Magic Hub

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Test driving Magic Hub originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookfeaturedfrogsterfrogster-americafrogster-interactivegmailimpressionintegrated-webintegrationjeremy-strattonlost-pages-of-taboreamagic-hubmsn-messengeropinionoverlayoverwolfromrunes-of-magicrunewakerrunewaker-entertainmentscreenshotsskypesocial-networkingsteamthird-partythird-party-applicationstwittervideoyoutubeMon, 12 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What are you looking forward to at Dragon*Con?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/the-daily-grind-what-are-you-looking-forward-to-at-dragon-con/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/the-daily-grind-what-are-you-looking-forward-to-at-dragon-con/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/the-daily-grind-what-are-you-looking-forward-to-at-dragon-con/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A gaggle of Leias
Dragon*Con is one of those conventions that stands in a league all its own. It's mostly made up of panels and fan gatherings, there are hardly ever any big reveals and you'll break your neck looking at all of the amazing costumes.

But for those who attend, it's an experience that can't quite be put into words. You can try to explain it to those used to "normal" conventions, but it's something you'll need to see to believe.

So for those of you attending the convention, which starts today, what are you most excited to see? For those of you not attending, what would you like to see us cover the most? Check out our own guide to Dragon*Con to help you navigate your way through the MMO bits.

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 are you looking forward to at Dragon*Con? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conventionsdragoncon-011eventsopinionthe-daily-grindtwitterFri, 02 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Origins sandbox MMO wants your creature concepts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/new-origins-sandbox-mmo-wants-your-creature-concepts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/new-origins-sandbox-mmo-wants-your-creature-concepts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/new-origins-sandbox-mmo-wants-your-creature-concepts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Origins - concept art
There's a new indie sandbox in town -- or at least in development -- and the team at Origins is looking for a few good fan submissions to help them populate the game. Actually the devs are looking for one good submission, but that didn't have quite the same ring to it. Anyway, the Origins website was recently updated with a new Create a Monster contest, and the lucky winner will get to see his design incorporated into the gameworld (and the lore) of Burning Dog's upcoming MMORPG.

Submissions should be in the form of artwork, images, or text, and are limited to a single entry per person. You'll also need to like Origins on Facebook or follow the game's Twitter feed prior to submitting your work. The contest is currently accepting entries and it runs through September 14th, so don't delay if you think you've got what it takes to make your MMO mob concepts a reality.

MassivelyNew Origins sandbox MMO wants your creature concepts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>burning-dogburning-dog-mediacontestcontestscreate-a-monsterfacebookfantasyin-developmentoriginsorigins-mmoorigins-of-malusandboxsci-fitwitterMon, 15 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE Is Real website presents visual record of EVE, hosts launch contests]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/eve-is-real-website-presents-visual-record-of-eve-hosts-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/eve-is-real-website-presents-visual-record-of-eve-hosts-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/eve-is-real-website-presents-visual-record-of-eve-hosts-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Two weeks ago, EVE Online developer CCP Games announced a new advertising campaign with a twist. An external marketing company was hired to create a unique virtual museum of EVE artwork, screenshots and videos that would function as a growing visual record of what EVE means to its players. People interested in seeing what EVE is all about could then skim through the site and hopefully get a better impression of what it's like to be part of the EVE community. Players got a head-start in uploading content to the EVE Is Real website last week and we've been eagerly awaiting the website officially going live. Although no official announcement has been made, it appears that the EVE Is Real website has launched.

To encourage players to upload their work, the site's creators are running launch contests with some huge prizes. The top 20 images uploaded to the site will win their owners a brand new EVGA GeForce GTX 460 SE graphics card, and the video that gets the most votes will secure its creator an expensive Alienware gaming desktop machine. Submissions end on August the 18th, and the voting phase then takes place between August the 18th and September the 1st. If you've created some nice screenshots, an epic EVE video or even an awesome My Little Pony version of the latest EVE trailer, submit it before August the 18th for your chance to win.

In an interesting move, CCP will be rewarding every single EVE player with several thousand of its new microtransaction currency Aurum if the website takes off. A running total is maintained of the number of times images and videos on the site have been shared via Facebook and Twitter, and at certain share levels every single EVE player will be gifted a lump sum of Aurum.

MassivelyEVE Is Real website presents visual record of EVE, hosts launch contests originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alienwareaurumccpccp-eveccp-gamescompetitioncontesteveeve-ccpeve-is-realeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefacebookgeforcelaunchscreenshotsocial-mediasocial-networkingtrailertwittervideoWed, 20 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Congratulations to the winner of Massively's Twitter contest!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/16/congratulations-to-the-winner-of-massivelys-twitter-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/16/congratulations-to-the-winner-of-massivelys-twitter-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/16/congratulations-to-the-winner-of-massivelys-twitter-contest/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Massively's contest celebrating our 10,000th Twitter follower turned out to be a big hit! We watched the number of followers reach -- and surpass -- our goal, and finally got the pleasure of choosing a winner!

Several game development studios pitched in prizes, and Massively reader Arbitrary Genius is the recipient of an exciting MMO prize package: Congratulations to our winner, thank you to all of our readers who entered, and a special thank you to those developers who contributed prizes. Keep your eye on Massively's Twitter feed for more contests and all the latest news!

MassivelyCongratulations to the winner of Massively's Twitter contest! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestcontest-winnercontestsgiveawaygiveawaystwittertwitter-contestSat, 16 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: A chat with Linda "The Brasse" Carlson]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/the-guild-counsel-a-chat-with-linda-the-brasse-carlson/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/the-guild-counsel-a-chat-with-linda-the-brasse-carlson/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/14/the-guild-counsel-a-chat-with-linda-the-brasse-carlson/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

By night, she's the impeccably-dressed, bearded dwarf that MCs Fan Faires and never turns down a good pint of ale. But by day, she's the Community Relations Director for SOE, and she dons several different caps as part of her job with the company.

At Fan Faire, she took the time to speak with Massively about a variety of topics, including forum wars, social media, the future of SOE's Facebook games, and even a revamp of the popular Guide program in EQ and EQII.

Read below the cut for highlights from the interview.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: A chat with Linda "The Brasse" Carlson

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: A chat with Linda "The Brasse" Carlson originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-managerdungeon-overlordEverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iifacebookfan-fairefan-faire-2011fortune-leagueguide-programguidesguild-counsellinda-carlsonsocial-mediasoesoe-fan-faire-11soe-fan-faire-2011the-agency-covert-opsthe-brassetwitterThu, 14 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrate Massively's 10,000th Twitter follower with a gaming prize package from Massively!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/celebrate-massivelys-10-000th-twitter-follower-with-a-gaming-pr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/celebrate-massivelys-10-000th-twitter-follower-with-a-gaming-pr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/13/celebrate-massivelys-10-000th-twitter-follower-with-a-gaming-pr/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Back in May, we celebrated our 9,000th Twitter follower with a contest. One lucky reader/Twitter-follower picked up a brand-new Steam game, and the event was such fun that we decided to follow up with something even bigger for the next milestone.

We're closing in on 10,000 Twitter followers this weekend, and we want to celebrate the occasion by giving one of those followers a surprise gaming package from Massively.

Want to be in the running? Simply follow us on Twitter right now, retweet our tweet of this contest any time from now until Friday at 12 p.m. Eastern, and we'll randomly select a winner from among those retweeters. We'll then announce the winner and present the prize pack on Friday afternoon. Good luck -- we'll see you on Twitter!

MassivelyCelebrate Massively's 10,000th Twitter follower with a gaming prize package from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestcontestsfree-steam-gamegiveawaygiveawayssocial-mediasteamtwitterWed, 13 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Let's get physical, physical: Brian Knox fields dozens of TERA questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/lets-get-physical-physical-brian-knox-fields-dozens-of-tera-q/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/lets-get-physical-physical-brian-knox-fields-dozens-of-tera-q/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/lets-get-physical-physical-brian-knox-fields-dozens-of-tera-q/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With that newfangled Twitter that's all the rage these days, TERA proves that developer chats can be even more accessible -- and within a 140-character limit! Recently, Senior Producer Brian Knox fielded a grab bag of questions about this upcoming action MMO, although he put a kibosh on queries related to the release date and events.

PvP, obviously, was a huge topic of discussion, with questions ranging from death penalties (same as PvE) to open world conflict (starts at level 12 and requires the purchase of special items) to guild vs. guild battles (still in the works).

TERA's famed political system was another subject for inquiry -- would it be in the game at the start or will we have to wait for it? "Day 1. It is up and working now and will be available at launch," Knox assured fans.

Raids are something else that future players has been asking for, and apparently the TERA team is at least exploring the possibility of implementing them: "We know how badly the community wants raids! We are looking very hard at this and is one of the reasons we have focused on five-man content."

You can read the full dev diary over at TERA's official site.

MassivelyLet's get physical, physical: Brian Knox fields dozens of TERA questions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-knoxdev-chatdeveloper-chaten-masseen-masse-entertainmentpolitical-systempvpq-and-aquestions-and-answersraidraidsteratwitterTue, 21 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Missed dev transmissions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/captains-log-missed-dev-transmissions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/captains-log-missed-dev-transmissions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/captains-log-missed-dev-transmissions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Captain's Log, Stardate 64940.2...

Hello, computer (and players)! As we have explored in past logs, the developers working on Star Trek Online are extremely transparent with the community, and this, surprising to some, is actually by design. Since Dan Stahl took over as Executive Producer a year ago come July, he made it his personal mission to make sure that fans of the game knew where the game was heading at all times and what was currently being developed. Due to the success of this open communication, Cryptic as a whole has made a shift to this philosophy for its other announced projects. New details often emerge through several different official sources: the monthly Ask Cryptic and Engineering Report as well as a plethora of interviews.

While the previously listed outlets are often marketed and widely known about, there are several channels that I would like to bring to light, ones that seem to fall under the radar. As Twitter is one of the biggest social media crazes, developers are using it to get information and work-in-progress screenshots out to the public. Also, some devs seem to be sacrificing sleep, as we will often wake up to posts in the STO forums that were posted near the midnight hour of Cryptic's time zone. Many feel that the most interesting and drool-worthy information is found in these "leaks," so I would like to share some of them with you.

Ensign, warp 10! You might want to grab a towel to wipe up your mouth...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Missed dev transmissions

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Missed dev transmissions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-crypticcaptains-logcraig zincCraigZinccrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdan griffisdan stahlDanGriffisdaniel stahlDanielStahlDanStahldstahlduty officerduty officer systemDutyOfficerDutyOfficerSystemfawfeaturedfire at willFireAtWillforum-postsforumsgozerground combatGroundCombathereticinterviewjheiniglivestreammatt highisonMattHighisonmhighisonmidnightocdpriority onePriorityOnestostormshadethomasthecattwilighttwitteruniformswipwishstonework-in-progresszincThu, 09 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Live chat on Ustream with the Gods & Heroes developers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/live-chat-on-ustream-with-the-gods-and-heroes-developers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/live-chat-on-ustream-with-the-gods-and-heroes-developers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/live-chat-on-ustream-with-the-gods-and-heroes-developers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of the big upsides to the communication venues available online is that players of MMOs can connect with developers like never before. Gods & Heroes fans will have a chance to connect with the development team tomorrow via Ustream chat, giving hopeful players a chance to ask almost anything they could want about the decidedly Roman game. Starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT, the chat is open to any players via the development team's regular live streaming channel.

If you can't make the event itself or you just want to try to get a question in early, the team is ready for that as well. Questions may be submitted early via Twitter, Facebook, or the game's official forums; the team is planning to round up the best questions and answer them on the air. If Gods & Heroes is on your radar for future play, you might want to take the time tomorrow night to get involved in the live broadcast.

MassivelyLive chat on Ustream with the Gods & Heroes developers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 May 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chatdeveloper-chatdevelopmentfacebookghgods-and-heroesheatwaveheatwave-interactivelive-chatsocial-mediatwitterustreamMon, 23 May 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: A few tips for the indie developer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/free-for-all-a-few-tips-for-the-indie-developer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/free-for-all-a-few-tips-for-the-indie-developer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/free-for-all-a-few-tips-for-the-indie-developer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I am no developer, nor do I have dreams of one day becoming one. I absolutely love having the ability to write about what I like and to interact with those who enjoy (or hate) what I write. Developers have their hands and tongues tied much of the time, and often the indie developer gets no credit whatsoever. Granted, if artistic release or programming is your thing, I say go for it. But I will absolutely admit to wanting attention most of all -- it's what I like to do.

Over the years, I have visited more independent MMO sites and played more independent MMOs than I care to recount. Still, not a week goes by when I do not find a new one to look at, and so I file it away for future use. I am often amazed at some of the mistakes indie developers make -- such obvious ones, too. I try to remind myself that the garage-coder is not always the best choice for graphic designer, so sometimes the websites and logos of these tiny companies look like they were hosted on Geocities.

I decided to have some fun and throw down some general rules that I apply to indie developers. Take them or leave them, but I think that they are based on quite a bit of observation. Feel free to add any of your own. Click past the cut and let's get to them!

Continue reading Free for All: A few tips for the indie developer

MassivelyFree for All: A few tips for the indie developer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 May 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicealganonbeau-hindmancommunitycommunity-managerderek-smartf2pfacebookfaxion-onlinefeaturedfree-for-allfree-to-playftpillyriadindependentIndieindie-developersistariakingislekingsisle-entertainmenttrollstwitterwizard-101wordpressWed, 18 May 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are social media connections in MMOs useless?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/the-daily-grind-are-social-media-connections-in-mmos-useless/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/the-daily-grind-are-social-media-connections-in-mmos-useless/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/18/the-daily-grind-are-social-media-connections-in-mmos-useless/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I first started to notice it in Champions Online. Cryptic gave us the ability to broadcast our achievements in the game over Twitter: "CapnCrunch has reached level 10!" At the time, it felt like a silly idea that wouldn't catch on, but for some reason, it has. More and more we're seeing studios working hard to integrate popular social networks into their MMOs, and more and more I'm wondering... why?

RIFT has been big on doing this, implementing the ability not only to set your account to automatically tweet achievements ("Hey guys, I jumped off a bridge and didn't die!") but also to post them in Facebook. The game also allows you to record video and take screenshots to post online, which seems to me to be more useful but still probably not as captivating to a potential personal audience as one might hope.

So my question today concerns these social media connections in MMOs -- are they useless? Are they just a fad that few people use? Do the ones who do use them end up annoying their followers with a stream of spam messages? Or do people actually enjoy the ability to have their games tie in with their social networks and see how their friends are progressing?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are social media connections in MMOs useless? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementschampionschampions-onlinefacebookmyspaceopinionriftscreenshotssocial-mediasocial-networksocial-networkingsocial-networkstdgthe-daily-grindtumblrtweettweetstwittervideoyoutubeWed, 18 May 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrate our 9,000th Twitter follower with a new Steam game from Massively!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/celebrate-our-9-000th-twitter-follower-with-a-new-steam-game-fro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/celebrate-our-9-000th-twitter-follower-with-a-new-steam-game-fro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/celebrate-our-9-000th-twitter-follower-with-a-new-steam-game-fro/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Have you been keeping up with the social media side of Massively? Our Facebook page and Twitter feed keep our readers up on the latest news stories and Livestream information, and we've got a fondness for doing surprise giveaways there as well. Our new forums are home to chatter on gaming, guilds, news, and anything else our readers feel like discussing. We've got some great resources for you, but today the spotlight is on our Twitter feed.

If you haven't remedied the lack of Massively Twitter in your life, there's no better time than now. We're rapidly approaching our 9,000th follower and celebrating with a very nice gift for one of our Twitter followers. As soon as someone rings that 9,000th bell, one of our followers will get to choose any single game in the Steam store (up to a $50 value), courtesy of Massively.

So are you ready for the easiest contest entry ever? Simply follow us on Twitter right now, retweet the contest, and if we we reach 9,000 (go ahead and say it) by Sunday the 15th at 11:59 p.m. EDT, we'll select a winner from among our followers so she or he can choose a new game. Good luck -- we'll see you on Twitter!

MassivelyCelebrate our 9,000th Twitter follower with a new Steam game from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestcontestsfree-steam-gamegiveawaygiveawayssocial-mediasteamtwitterFri, 13 May 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[RIFT's Spoils of War update deploys]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/rifts-spoils-of-war-update-deploys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/rifts-spoils-of-war-update-deploys/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/rifts-spoils-of-war-update-deploys/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's a heady day for RIFTers as Trion Worlds has released the game's second major update. Titled Spoils of War, patch 1.2 includes several exciting additions to the game, most notably a Looking for Group tool, a cosmetic appearance system, and 10-man raid Slivers. The LFG interface will also offer daily dungeon quests with increased rewards as incentives to boost instance runs.

The full patch notes are up over on the RIFT forums, and they're a doozy to read (but one has to have some way to pass the time while the game updates, right?). In addition to the headlining features, there is a metric ton of changes, tweaks and sparkling gems to absorb. Spoils of War will make the game's expert dungeons more attractive to run, and players who love tinkering with RIFT's soul system should rejoice at the addition of a fifth role. Trion's also added a lot more love for social media with increased integration between the game and Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Tumblr.

There's really too much to cover in a few brief paragraphs, so after you read the patch notes, make sure to check out our larger coverage of this impressive update from a couple of weeks ago! If you haven't had a chance to get your hands on RIFT, Trion's also launched its seven-day free trial and Ascend-a-Friend programs for one and all.

MassivelyRIFT's Spoils of War update deploys originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-man-raid10-person-raidappearance-systemcosmetic-outfitcosmetic-systemexpert-dungeonsfacebooklfglfg-interfacelfg-toollooking-for-grouppatch-1.2riftrift-planes-of-telararolerolessliverssoul-systemspoils-of-wartriontrion-worldstumblrtwitterupdate-1.2wardrobewardrobe-systemyoutubeTue, 10 May 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: Looking for groups]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/enter-at-your-own-rift-looking-for-groups/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/enter-at-your-own-rift-looking-for-groups/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/27/enter-at-your-own-rift-looking-for-groups/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Like some of you, I feel that RIFT's Update 1.2 can't get here soon enough. A good content update, in my opinion, has a little something for everyone, and in talking with Trion Worlds last week, I definitely got that feeling from this patch. The team is catering to endgame players with Slivers, build-enthusiasts with a fifth role, rift-runners with new types of dynamic events, and people who aren't content to merely spam my Twitter feed with accomplishments but must now do so from inside Facebook as well.

I'd be lying if I said I'm not planning on spending huge amounts of time assembling dashing and fashionable outfits for my characters once the wardrobe is in the game, too. I'm all about outfits in Lord of the Rings Online, so it's great to see RIFT bring this type of system into the game (unlike some other stubborn studios, which shall remain nameless). Players like to feel powerful while looking incredible, and this outfit system will hopefully allay some of the complaints of similar-looking toons.

Above all this in Update 1.2 towers one of the biggest changes to the game yet: the Looking for Group (LFG) tool. Designed to assemble teams of players to tackle dungeons and group quests, the LFG tool will certainly change how we play RIFT. Will it be a good change or bad? That's the $1,000,000 question, which I will tackle after these brief messages, by which I mean, "after the jump."

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Looking for groups

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Looking for groups originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archonbarddpsdungeon-finderdungeonsdynamic-contententer-at-your-own-riftfacebookfeaturedhealerinstanceslfdlfglooking-for-dungeonlooking-for-grouplord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropros-and-conspvpriftrift-planes-of-telarariftssliverssupporttanktriontrion-worldstwitterwardrobewarfrontsworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 27 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An exclusive look at RIFT's Update 1.2 and beyond with Scott Hartsman [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/an-exclusive-look-at-rifts-update-1-2-and-beyond-with-scott-har/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/an-exclusive-look-at-rifts-update-1-2-and-beyond-with-scott-har/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/an-exclusive-look-at-rifts-update-1-2-and-beyond-with-scott-har/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With almost two months on the post-launch clock at Trion Worlds, RIFT appears to be holding its own in the wild and woolly field of MMORPGs. With a major update and the first world event under its belt, RIFT is sailing into the future with the wind at its back and a hull full of subscribers below.

We got Trion's Scott Hartsman on the phone to discuss RIFT's second big patch, Update 1.2, as well as to see how the game's progressed thus far and where the team is trying to take it into the future. And of course we couldn't let this opportunity pass by without a candid dissection of the uneven world event and how Trion plans to learn from its mistakes.

So hit the jump and witness Scott Hartsman giving us a Care Bear Stare full of info and exclusive tidbits about the inner workings of RIFT!

Continue reading An exclusive look at RIFT's Update 1.2 and beyond with Scott Hartsman [Updated]

MassivelyAn exclusive look at RIFT's Update 1.2 and beyond with Scott Hartsman [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-man-raidappearancebuildscharacter-transferscosmeticcosmetic-outfitsdynamic-eventfacebookfeaturedgilded-prophecyguild-bankslooking-for-groupoutfitsraidrecruit-a-friendriftrift-planes-of-telarariver-of-soulsrolesscott-hartsmansliversthis-is-an-easter-egg-tagtriontrion-worldstwitterwardrobeworld-eventworld-pvpFri, 22 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: MMO forum terms beaten to death]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/the-perfect-ten-mmo-forum-terms-beaten-to-death/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/the-perfect-ten-mmo-forum-terms-beaten-to-death/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/the-perfect-ten-mmo-forum-terms-beaten-to-death/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If there's one aspect of MMO culture that I have difficulty saying anything positive about, it would have to be the official forum. No matter how well-moderated and well-intentioned studio forums may be, they're essentially giant signs broadcasting "COME WHINE HERE!" When you witness a 500-page thread that's responding to a badly spelled rant about a nerf we'll all forget about in a month's time, it's hard not to break down and weep at the time and energy lost to such trivial stupidity.

And with the forums -- and to a lesser extent, comments on blogs, Twitter, and telegraphs -- comes a shocking array of linguistic conformity. You see, when people are upset or eager to prove a point, they have no time to sit down and calmly think of a way to fully communicate their perspectives. No time! Instead, they reach deep into the well of the same overused words and phrases, give them a hearty kick in the direction of their post, and feel as though they've conjured up a masterful work of literature.

So today I'm going to exorcise 10 of the most overused, abused, and tired forum terms seen daily in your local MMO forum. Then I will move on with my life and suggest you do the same.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMO forum terms beaten to death

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMO forum terms beaten to death originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancedcan-i-have-your-stuffcarebearscharlie-sheendirectx11dyingfailfanboisfeaturedfirstforum-termsforumshatersmmo-forumsmmo-termsofficial-forumsperfect-10perfect-tenridiculous-clamsirslap-in-the-facethe-perfect-tentldrtoo-long-didnt-readtwitterunbalanacedwinningworld-of-warcraftwow-killerThu, 21 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Catch the latest Gods & Heroes development team live chat today]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/catch-the-latest-gods-and-heroes-development-team-live-chat-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/catch-the-latest-gods-and-heroes-development-team-live-chat-today/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/12/catch-the-latest-gods-and-heroes-development-team-live-chat-today/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Friends, Romans, gamers, lend me your USTREAM! In response to your questions, the Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising dev team has plenty of answers to satiate your curiosity.

If you've been following the resurrected Gods & Heroes project, then you'll definitely want to get in on the latest dev chat that's taking place today from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. EDT. Simply sign in to USTREAM and head to the Gods & Heroes channel to see what the devs have to say about the latest and greatest developments as the game plows through beta.

Questions for the chat may be submitted via Gods & Heroes' Facebook page, Twitter account or the official forums.

MassivelyCatch the latest Gods & Heroes development team live chat today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-chatfacebookgods-and-heroesheatwaveheatwave-interactiveq-and-aquestions-and-answersromanstwitterustreamTue, 12 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Earth Eternal still alive, reborn as Ikimonogatari]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/earth-eternal-still-alive-reborn-as-ikimonogatari/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/earth-eternal-still-alive-reborn-as-ikimonogatari/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/earth-eternal-still-alive-reborn-as-ikimonogatari/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Earth Eternal has been in a strange sort of limbo since last summer when Sparkplay Media all but folded. The company closed down both the game and the website and also laid off all but two employees as of August 2010. The first of the year brought a glimmer of hope in the form of the title's acquisition by Sankando as well as a fresh round of fan discussion.

Since then, it's been all quiet on the Earth Eternal front, but the silence was broken a few hours ago via the game's Twitter feed. While the amount of information is far from overwhelming (the tweet acknowledges that Earth Eternal has been reborn as Ikimonogatari and links to the new website), it's good to see that the game may yet return in some form or fashion.

MassivelyEarth Eternal still alive, reborn as Ikimonogatari originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedearth-eternalearth-eternal-rebornf2pfantasyfree-to-playikimonogatarilimbotweettwitterMon, 11 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST