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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Richard Garriott throws end-of-the-world party, world survives in style]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/richard-garriott-throws-end-of-the-world-party-world-survives-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/richard-garriott-throws-end-of-the-world-party-world-survives-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/03/richard-garriott-throws-end-of-the-world-party-world-survives-i/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Richard Garriott throws endoftheworld party, world survives in style
If you've got the means and know-how to throw the world's best apocalyptic party, would there be anything from stopping you doing it? Nothing got in the way of Portalarium's Richard Garriott when he wanted to create one of the most cool- and insane-sounding end-of-the-world bashes on December 21st in Austin, Texas.

"We thought this date shouldn't pass without an interactive soiree," Garriott explained. The creator of Ultima Online is famous for throwing strange elaborate parties, including a Titanic get-together where he sunk the boat with the party-goers on it.

Garriott created a 30-foot Mayan pyramid as the centerpiece of the event. Around the pyramid were four apocalypse-themed tents, including an alien tent with a Sputnik replica and a hedonism display with naked zebra ladies prancing about.

The $1,000-plus door charge for the party went toward the X Prize Foundation.

MassivelyRichard Garriott throws end-of-the-world party, world survives in style originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocalypseend-of-the-worldend-of-the-world-partyevilfunnyhumorpartyportalariumrichard-garriottultimaultima-onlineultimate-collectorThu, 03 Jan 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Portalarium hit with layoffs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/portalarium-hit-with-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/portalarium-hit-with-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/portalarium-hit-with-layoffs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Portalarium hit with layoffsIf there's one thing that sucks, badly, about December, it's layoffs. Portalarium, Richard Garriott's social games studio, has been reducing in-house redundancies.

Senior programmer Paul Evans broke the news Friday on Twitter, saying that Portalarium "had to lay off people" and that he was one of those people. He also said that "the whole thing was a surprise."

Portalarium representatives confirmed to GamesIndustry International that the studio is "reducing staff to the appropriate levels to support and grow [its] recently launched products."

As ever, we wish the best to those affected.

MassivelyPortalarium hit with layoffs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>games-industryindustrylayoffspaul-evansport-casino-blackjackport-casino-pokerportalariumultimate-collectorultimate-rpgMon, 17 Dec 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Garriott's Portalarium partnering with Zynga for Ultimate Collector]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/garriotts-portalarium-partnering-with-zynga-for-ultimate-collec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/garriotts-portalarium-partnering-with-zynga-for-ultimate-collec/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/garriotts-portalarium-partnering-with-zynga-for-ultimate-collec/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Garriott's Portalarium partnering with Zynga for Ultimate Collector
Former Ultima Online guru Richard Garriott is joining forces with Zynga, the social gaming behemoth that has been hemorraging users and executives in recent months.

Garriott's Portalarium company will use the Zynga Platform to launch its Ultimate Collector game, which is currently undergoing a limited Facebook beta.

"Ultimate Collector is really three games in one," Garriott says via press release. "It's a collecting game where players go on a major hunt for collectibles ranging from toys, gadgets, historical weapons, novelties and famous art and display those collections in their homes. It's a shopping game where players can visit shops and stores in our game, some of them from national retailers, to purchase items and add to their collections. And it's a world building game that allows players to outfit a home, show off their collections to their friends, sell virtual items to other collectors and make in-game money to upgrade their house and grow it even larger."

MassivelyGarriott's Portalarium partnering with Zynga for Ultimate Collector originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedcasualevilfacebookgarriottoh-how-the-mighty-have-fallenportalariumrichard-garriottsocialultimaultimate-collectorzyngaFri, 07 Sep 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott's Portalarium raises $7 million in funding]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/richard-garriotts-portalarium-raises-7-million-in-funding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/richard-garriotts-portalarium-raises-7-million-in-funding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/10/richard-garriotts-portalarium-raises-7-million-in-funding/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In space, this game totally looks awesome.
Richard Garriott designed Ultima Online and Tabula Rasa, and he has also been to outer space. This has apparently convinced several investors that funding his new company Portalarium is a sound decision, as it was recently announced that Portalarium has secured roughly $7 million in investment capital.

The money is being pushed into the final stages of development on the company's first title, Ultimate Collector, which is slated for release later this summer on Facebook, mobile, and browser-based platforms. Some of the funds are also earmarked for development on the company's second game, alternately known as both Ultimate RPG and New Britannia, which does not yet have a release window.

The chief investment firm was London-based m8 Capital, but several other sources also contribued to the groundswell of support, including Richard Garriott himself. Last month, the company announced that it will be working through the Zynga Platform Partners program to publish Ultimate Collector.

MassivelyRichard Garriott's Portalarium raises $7 million in funding originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-gamesbusinessfacebookfundinggaming-industryindustry-figuresindustry-newsinvestmentmmo-industrymobileportalariumrichard-garriottsocial-gamingultimate-collectorzyngaTue, 10 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Garriott says his new social game is the 'spiritual successor' of his previous work]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/garriott-social-game-is-the-spiritual-successor-of-my-previou/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/garriott-social-game-is-the-spiritual-successor-of-my-previou/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/garriott-social-game-is-the-spiritual-successor-of-my-previou/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Richard Garriott Ultimate Collector social game is the 'spiritual successor' of my previous workEvery so often, Ultima Online creator Richard Garriott takes a break from his social gaming endeavors to grant an interview to a fan site. The latest such is on display at Gather Your Party, and Garriott has plenty to say about his current company, Portalarium, and how its new Ultimate Collector title might appeal to UO fans.

"For us it's a stepping stone. It's an MMO-lite in my mind. Very lite, with more what I will call classical leveraging of casual game mechanics than you will probably see in the RPG, but compared to most casual games, to most social games, it is far deeper," Garriott explains.

He's also aware of the amount of skepticism that his turn toward social gaming generates among Ultima fans and MMORPG enthusiasts, but he thinks that's par for the course. "Newness is fraught with a certain kind of risk, distrust and lack of understanding," Garriott says. "I think what I'm building now is the spiritual successor of my previous work."

MassivelyRichard Garriott says his new social game is the 'spiritual successor' of his previous work originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultimate Collector: Garage Sale
Richard Garriott's recent startup, Portalarium, had many people wondering what would be the first thing to come out of this mad scientist's new studio. Well, wonder no more. Now we know that Portalarium's first title will be a Facebook game known as Ultimate Collector: Garage Sale, which focuses on -- you guessed it -- collecting things that you buy at garage sales. We couldn't make this up if we tried.

Players can create an avatar and customize their houses, and then go shopping at estate sales, garage sales, pawn shops, and so forth in order to complete collections of items. These item collections can then be displayed in your house as a trophy of sorts, or you can sell them to make a quick buck. We'll just have to wait and see how this bizarre project shapes up in the coming months.

MassivelyPortalarium announces Ultimate Collector: Garage Sale as first title originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementgarage-salenew-titlenew-titlesportalariumrichard-garriottultimate-collectorultimate-collector-garage-saleWed, 07 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST