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[Ask Massively: Why we cover what we do, part two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/ask-massively-why-we-cover-what-we-do-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/ask-massively-why-we-cover-what-we-do-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/ask-massively-why-we-cover-what-we-do-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

State of Decay
Last week, I promised you a second round of questions and answers regarding the types of calls Massively makes on which games and stories it will cover and why. Let's get to it.

Mike9 wrote, "I will play [State of Decay] because it looks awesome, but I never understand why Massively covers it; it is a single-player game, not an MMO by even the loosest of definitions, not unless Super Mario World is also considered an MMO now (well, I guess that did allow two players)."

I assume you're looking for a better answer than braaaaaiiiiinnnnsssssss!

Continue reading Ask Massively: Why we cover what we do, part two

MassivelyAsk Massively: Why we cover what we do, part two originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnask-massivelyBrainsssbrianna-royce-ask-massivelyesofeaturedhumorleakleaksmassively-metametaopinionstate-of-decaytesothe-elder-scrolls-onlineundead-labszombiesThu, 25 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[State of Decay coming to Xbox Live in June]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/13/state-of-decay-coming-to-xbox-live-in-june/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/13/state-of-decay-coming-to-xbox-live-in-june/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/13/state-of-decay-coming-to-xbox-live-in-june/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

State of Decay - Zombie with Wayfarers
Undead Labs' zombie actioner State of Decay is coming to Xbox Live this June according to a brief update posted by Undead community guru Sanya Weathers. And when we say brief, we do mean brief, as the sum total of the update is "June. Officially."

Fortunately the firm also released a new teaser that shows off a heaping helping of bloody, brain-bashing gameplay. You'll find it after the cut.

Continue reading State of Decay coming to Xbox Live in June

MassivelyState of Decay coming to Xbox Live in June originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>horrorsanya-weathersstate-of-decaystate-of-decay-releaseundeadundead-labsxboxxbox-livezombieSat, 13 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[State of Decay Q&A talks skills, traits, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/23/state-of-decay-qanda-talks-skills-traits-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/23/state-of-decay-qanda-talks-skills-traits-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/23/state-of-decay-qanda-talks-skills-traits-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Undead Labs mural
Undead Labs has posted the results of its latest State of Decay-focused Q&A session. The company parsed a bunch of the best community-generated queries and posted the answers in a mammoth forum thread that represents a great starting point if you're looking to learn more about the upcoming console zombie title.

Several of the questions involve the previously mentioned skill system, and there is also some info on traits and survivor characters. Most crucially, we learned that sexting is an actual skill in the game (as are Sudoku and Reality Show Trivia)," according to community guru Sanya Weathers. "It does nothing in a world where cell towers no longer function," she quipped.

MassivelyState of Decay Q&A talks skills, traits, and more originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsoleshorrorpost-apocalypticsanya-weathersskillsstate-of-decaystate-of-decay-skillsundead-labszombiesSat, 23 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[State of Decay's character development detailed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/state-of-decays-character-development-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/state-of-decays-character-development-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/state-of-decays-character-development-detailed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

State of Decay skill screen
Undead Labs has released a new dev diary covering skills and characters for its State of Decay zombie survival title.

All available survivors have four basis skills (cardio, wits, fighting, and shooting), and each character has a star rating ranging from one to seven in each skill. Additional stars are gained by successfully using the skill, and additional stars also provide the player with both active and passive abilities.

State of Decay characters also have unique trait combinations. Traits range from personality (chatterbox, selfish asshole, born leader, and more) to job history to hobbies, some of which provide additional skill stars. In terms of character customization, the game allows you to choose a weapon specialization and a number of signature abilities, with the ultimate goal being a unique survivor who is both challenging and rewarding to play. You can learn more, and see some example builds, at the game's official website.

MassivelyState of Decay's character development detailed originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsolesstate-of-decaystate-of-decay-character-developmentstate-of-decay-skillssurvivalundead-labszombiezombie-holocaustzombiesThu, 14 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Learn to live in a State of Decay with Undead Labs' new survival guide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/learn-to-live-in-a-state-of-decay-with-undead-labs-new-survival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/learn-to-live-in-a-state-of-decay-with-undead-labs-new-survival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/learn-to-live-in-a-state-of-decay-with-undead-labs-new-survival/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Oh god oh god oh god oh god
There's a lot to consider when you're stuck in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Do you have enough food? Will your shelter hold up against the endless legions of undead? Do you have enough of that ammo that makes zombie heads explode? Thankfully, Undead Labs is here to help make State of Decay players' transitions to the post-apocalypse as simple as possible.

The studio has released a day-by-day survival guide written from the viewpoint of characters within the game's universe. The guide provides a flavorful look at some of the features players will be utilizing to survive in State of Decay. Players will learn how to construct a defensible stronghold, how to scavenge for supplies, and of course, how to defend themselves against zed onslaughts. It's quite a read, but a very worthwhile one for anyone who would prefer to remain on the side of the living in the war against the undead.

MassivelyLearn to live in a State of Decay with Undead Labs' new survival guide originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoclass-3class3class4consoledev-blogdev-diarydeveloper-diarysandboxstate-of-decaysurvival-guideundead-labsxboxxbox-360zombiezombiesFri, 11 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Check out two minutes of State of Decay zombie-killing action]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/check-out-two-minutes-of-state-of-decay-zombie-killing-action/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/check-out-two-minutes-of-state-of-decay-zombie-killing-action/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/check-out-two-minutes-of-state-of-decay-zombie-killing-action/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

State of Decay - half a zombie
It's been a few weeks since we've heard from the Undead Labs dev team. Happily, the newest State of Decay update comes with a gruesome slice of gameplay video. The two-minute clip focuses on the weapons and tactics necessary to clear a path through a horde of undead. There's a brief bit of driving action, too, and we also get a glimpse of the game's map functionality and UI.

Community manager Sanya Weathers also offers up a teaser on the, er, state of State of Decay's development. "It's the most wonderful time of the year... that time when we're seeing the light at the end of the development tunnel," she writes. "We're polishing up communications, tactics, and all of the elements that make a game more than a simple 'see zombie, shoot zombie' kind of thing."

Continue reading Check out two minutes of State of Decay zombie-killing action

MassivelyCheck out two minutes of State of Decay zombie-killing action originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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State of Decay demonstrates the virtues of stealth
Pop quiz, apocalypse survivors: You desperately need to get into a nearby gun store to complete a mission, but it's surrounded by a small horde of zombies. Running through them and shooting your way in are both undesirable options, so what do you do? What do you do?

In a short alpha video from Undead Labs, a State of Decay player instead uses tricks and stealth to achieve his goal. He tosses some fireworks from a nearby water tower, prompting the zombies to investigate and leave the scene. Following that, it's a quick dash in and out to trigger a job well done.

You can watch this nail-biting footage after the jump, and don't forget to check out Massively's report on the game from PAX.

Continue reading State of Decay demonstrates the virtues of stealth

MassivelyState of Decay demonstrates the virtues of stealth originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoalphabetaclass-3class3class4consolepaxpax-2012sandboxstate-of-decaystealthundead-labsvideoxboxxbox-360zombiezombiesThu, 01 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs talks about guns in State of Decay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/undead-labs-talks-about-guns-in-state-of-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/undead-labs-talks-about-guns-in-state-of-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/undead-labs-talks-about-guns-in-state-of-decay/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Warm one and you will find happiness.
Today's official blog post about State of Decay is not about careful examination of different cultures. It's not about understanding what creates a zombie and how the sickness can be stopped. It's not even about the careful process of finding and maintaining your food supplies in the wake of societal breakdown. No, this is a blog post about guns. It is all about the weapons you will use to blow the undead into little bite-sized chunks of zombie.

The centerpiece is a huge list of guns that players can expect to find and shoot in the game, each with varying properties and ammunition types. It's also meant to expand in the future. So there's no subtlety here, just deadly firearms and the promise of using them to mow down shambling zombies to ensure your own survival. What more could you really want? Aside from functional vehicles and a planet not crawling with monsters that want to eat your brains, of course.

MassivelyUndead Labs talks about guns in State of Decay originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screenshot -- State of Decay
Everyone loves zombies, right? Apparently so because they're absolutely everywhere (like Miami, for instance), but we keep on lapping it up. Secretly, though, I think a lot of us are tired of the same old zombie games. After all, if you're one of the truly hardcore that has a zombie apocalypse plan that includes where you'll hole up, how you'll find weapons, what you'll eat, and so forth, it's a little disappointing that most games tend to focus solely on the zombie-shooting part of the zombie apocalypse (not that there's anything wrong with zombie-shooting).

Undead Labs' upcoming MMO State of Decay might change all that.

The game will take place in a persistent world where players are responsible for rounding up survivors, finding the necessary resources to build defenses and stay alive, and of course, fighting off the zombie hordes. Finally, those of you who have long debated the merits of going to the gun store vs. not going to the gun store in the event of an apocalypse can see whose plan works better. And what's more, at PAX Prime 2012, I got to sit down and play around with it myself, though not for nearly as long as I would have liked. Regardless, if State of Decay is on your radar -- and it should be -- then I'd be glad to tell you all about my 20-odd minutes with the title.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Undead Labs' State of Decay

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Undead Labs' State of Decay originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoclass-3class3class4conconsoleconventionexpofeaturedhands-onjeff-strainopinionpaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012penny-arcade-expopreviewpreviewssandboxstate-of-decayundead-labsxboxxbox-360zombiezombiesFri, 07 Sep 2012 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs reveals State of Decay gameplay trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/unlead-labs-reveals-state-of-decay-gameplay-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/unlead-labs-reveals-state-of-decay-gameplay-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/unlead-labs-reveals-state-of-decay-gameplay-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Unlead Labs reveals State of Decay gameplay trailer
Undead Labs has been working in relative secrecy for going on two years now. All we knew about the firm's cryptically (and temporarily) titled Class3 was that it had something to do with zombies and that it was coming to the Xbox 360.

Now, thanks to a new trailer, we know that the game is officially called State of Decay and it's also coming to the PC. Whether it's an MMO or simply a precursor to the rumored Class4 MMO is still undetermined. All that said, the trailer shows off plenty of open-world third-person shooting action, zombie-centric gore, and even a muscle car and the requisite rusty old pickup truck.

Undead says that State of Decay is set in an "open sandbox world [that] develops in real-time" and that gameplay involves "designing and fortifying your home base." Click past the cut for the full video.

Continue reading Undead Labs reveals State of Decay gameplay trailer

MassivelyUndead Labs reveals State of Decay gameplay trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class3horrorsandboxstate-of-decaytrailerundead-labsvideozombiezombie-sandboxzombiesTue, 21 Aug 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs on making a believable zombie apocalypse]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/undead-labs-on-making-a-believable-zombie-apocalypse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/undead-labs-on-making-a-believable-zombie-apocalypse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/22/undead-labs-on-making-a-believable-zombie-apocalypse/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Undead Labs
In their gory, gruesome office, Undead Labs' devs are hard at work figuring out the best way to disembowel you and turn you into a walking nightmare. So far it's going well, according to a new Q&A by CM Sanya Weathers. Weathers sheds some light on the difficulties of creating a zombie-infested world, particularly in relation to spawn points, mob density, and artificial intelligence.

"It takes surprisingly smart AI to make zombie behaviors that are believably dumb," she writes. According to her, Undead Labs' Class3 will boast "thousands" of zombies, all of which will be able to react to sounds, light, and explosions.

Weathers says that the game is in the final stages of pre-alpha production and we should be seeing gameplay footage from it soon. Other topics covered in the Q&A include player weapons, how to attract zombies, types of zombies, and a fast food joint called the Swine & Bovine.

MassivelyUndead Labs on making a believable zombie apocalypse originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Jun 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aialphabetaclass3class4community-q-and-apre-alphaq-and-asanya-weathersswine-and-bovineundead-labszombiezombie-apocalypsezombiesFri, 22 Jun 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs hires community director, Class3 info forthcoming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/undead-labs-hires-community-director-class3-info-forthcoming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/undead-labs-hires-community-director-class3-info-forthcoming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/undead-labs-hires-community-director-class3-info-forthcoming/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Class3 - zombie mmo concept art
With the rash of MMO-related job losses in recent weeks, it's nice to see the occasional blurb about a dev finding a new home. Former Dominus and Dark Age of Camelot community guru Sanya Weathers has landed at Undead Labs, where she'll be heading up -- you guessed it -- the community relations department.

This is good news for fans of the firm's tentatively titled Class3 zombie MMO as well. As Undead Labs' Jeff Strain writes, "you don't hire a kick-ass community director if you have nothing to say."

MassivelyUndead Labs hires community director, Class3 info forthcoming originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class3communityconsole-mmoconsolesf2pfantasyfree-to-playhorrorjeff-strainsanya-weathersundeadundead-labsundead-labs-mmozombie-mmozombiesWed, 20 Jun 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs answers questions about Class3's open world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/undead-labs-answers-questions-about-class3s-open-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/undead-labs-answers-questions-about-class3s-open-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/12/undead-labs-answers-questions-about-class3s-open-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Zombie piloting has a negative effect on airline safety.
Undead Labs has been putting out a steady stream of information for potential players of Class3, the company's upcoming single-player prelude to the massively multiplayer Class4. The last major update in January showed some previews of the game under development, something that prompted a great deal of discussion about how the game will play. As a result, this month's session of questions and answers focuses on player speculation and the game's open-world environment.

According to this set of answers, players will be able to explore the game through a variety of means, including taking shelter inside the houses across the landscape, jumping over fences, and making careful use of vehicles found through the world. There's also discussion about making use of the environment as a weapon via ragdoll physics plus a tantalizing hint that more information will be forthcoming about the game in the spring. Fans of the upcoming zombie apocalypse will want to take a look at the full set of answers, which will hopefully serve as a precursor to an epic MMO in the same vein.

MassivelyUndead Labs answers questions about Class3's open world originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class3class4game-mechanicsmechanicsopen-worldpreviewsq-and-aquestions-and-answersundead-labsupcoming-titleszombiezombie-survivalzombiesSun, 12 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs' Jeff Strain takes players behind-the-scenes of Class3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/undead-labs-jeff-strain-takes-players-behind-the-scenes-of-clas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/undead-labs-jeff-strain-takes-players-behind-the-scenes-of-clas/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/08/undead-labs-jeff-strain-takes-players-behind-the-scenes-of-clas/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Zombie Apocalypse Survival 101: Don't set off car alarms
If you're as big of a zombie fan as we are, we're sure you're anxiously awaiting Undead Labs' Class3 project as well as its massively multiplayer counterpart, Class4. The studio's founder, Jeff Strain, stopped by the official Undead Labs site today to post the first dev blog entry of 2012, and in celebration of the new year, he's offering fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse at Class3 in action.

Strain notes that the team is "not quite ready to post official trailers" of Class3 at this juncture, but that didn't stop him from prowling the offices with his iPhone in order to catch some footage of the in-development title. The spy-cam footage gives players a look at various facets of the game's development, including. but not necessarily limited to, zombies (duh), a guy running alongside a giant rolling buzzsaw blade, concept art, the studio's wall-o'-fan-love, and two players defending their encampment from a zombie siege. Strain closes on a high note, stating that "Class3 is on-schedule and looking great. We're excited to show it to you and the rest of the world officially." For the full, zed-tastic video, just click on past the cut.

Continue reading Undead Labs' Jeff Strain takes players behind-the-scenes of Class3

MassivelyUndead Labs' Jeff Strain takes players behind-the-scenes of Class3 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class-4class3class4consoleconsolesholy-crap-i-hope-you-can-kill-things-with-that-sawbladehorrorjeff-strainpreviewspy-camundead-labsvideovideoszombiesSun, 08 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: The upcoming long-shots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-long-shots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-long-shots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/15/the-perfect-ten-the-upcoming-long-shots/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
In coming up with a follow-up list to my previous Upcoming MMO Contenders list, I found myself almost paralyzed by more choices than I could shake a wireless mouse at. Pointing at the sure bets is one thing, but narrowing down a field of dozens and dozens of interesting -- yet more far-flung -- prospects is far more difficult. It's one thing to have a good idea; it's another to say whether or not this game will actually make it to launch, and if it does, that it'll pull the idea off well.

That said, I've lost some hair and two pounds sweating out this list, and I feel sleeker for it. Today's Perfect Ten is all about the long-shots, the titles that may not have the huge budget, big name studios, or anything solid to show for it, but could still become contenders in their own right if everything is played just right.

Deep breath -- let's give it a go!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The upcoming long-shots

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: The upcoming long-shots originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetbethesdaBethesda-Softworksccpccp-gamesclass3class4crypticcryptic-studiosd-n-dddodefiancednddominusdungeons-and-dragonseve-onlinefallout-onlinefeaturedgoblinworksguild-warsinterplayjeff-strainmechwarrior-onlineneverwinterotherlandpathfinder-onlinepenny-arcadepermadeathprimeprime-battle-for-dominusriftsyfytad-williamstransformers-universetrion-worldsundead-labswizardrywizardry-onlineworld-of-darknessThu, 15 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs' writer talks story in zombie MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/undead-labs-writer-talks-story-in-zombie-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/undead-labs-writer-talks-story-in-zombie-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/05/undead-labs-writer-talks-story-in-zombie-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Class3 - girl hiding from zombies
Don't look now, but there's another MMO jumping on the story bandwagon. This time it's Undead Labs' Class3 console game, and there's a new dev blog up on the title's official site that outlines writer Travis Stout's modus operandi.

Stout is a huge fan of the zombie genre, and that's a good thing given Class3's focus on the walking dead and the creeptastic atmosphere surrounding them. So what does Stout see as a writer's main mission when it comes to the upcoming MMO?

"Take the zombies out of the equation and be damn sure you've got a rock-solid story full of interesting, well-developed characters and exciting action," he explains. "Then put the zombies back in so those characters can smash their heads in with tire irons."

MassivelyUndead Labs' writer talks story in zombie MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class3console-mmoconsolesdev-blogdev-diaryfantasyhorrormmo-storymmo-story-zombiestravis-stoutundead-labszombiesMon, 05 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs Q&A touches on health bars, death mechanics]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/undead-labs-qanda-touches-on-health-bars-death-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/undead-labs-qanda-touches-on-health-bars-death-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/22/undead-labs-qanda-touches-on-health-bars-death-mechanics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Class 3 - ugly zombie dudes
Undead Labs has posted another question-and-answer session with fans of its upcoming Class 3 zombie MMO. The firm fielded a bunch of queries relating to healing, death, health bars, and assorted other topics.

"You'll have a health bar so you won't have to guess how much health you have, but zombies won't. While we could have opted to have no health bar for you too, we wanted to emphasize the survival aspect of the game by having the damage you take stick with you until you can heal up," the dev team says.

The Q&A also features some interesting tidbits about weight, fatigue and stamina, and the fact that zombies will respond to the noise generated by building survival structures (translation: Bring your duct tape). Read all about it at the official Undead Labs blog.

MassivelyUndead Labs Q&A touches on health bars, death mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class3console-mmoconsolesdeathgame-mechanicshealth-barshorrorundead-labszombiesSat, 22 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs moving right along with Class3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/undead-labs-moving-right-along-with-class3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/undead-labs-moving-right-along-with-class3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/undead-labs-moving-right-along-with-class3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Class3 - street corner with zombies or something, who knows
The end of September marked a graduation of sorts for members of the Undead Labs development team. The company's untitled maiden voyage has officially crossed the threshold from pre-production to in production, and a blog post on the firm's web site celebrates the milestone with something of a rah-rah speech from founder Jeff Strain.

"I'm blown away by how far we've come in such a short amount of time. Our task now as we move headlong into the production phase is to take this fun little gem and turn it into something we're proud to show the world," Strain wrote.

The gem he's referring to is currently known only by its Class3 codename. We do know that it's about zombies and that it's only for consoles. Aside from that, the title is shrouded in a fair bit of mystery. Strain's post also features a time-lapse video that shows off the game's CryEngine 3-powered time-of-day effects, and you can check that out after the cut.

Continue reading Undead Labs moving right along with Class3

MassivelyUndead Labs moving right along with Class3 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class3consoleconsole-mmoconsolescryengine-3cryengine3horrorjeff-strainpre-productionproductionrah-rahundead-labsvideozombieMon, 03 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs learns the psychology of the apocalypse at Burning Man]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/undead-labs-learns-the-psychology-of-the-apocalypse-at-burning-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/undead-labs-learns-the-psychology-of-the-apocalypse-at-burning-m/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/undead-labs-learns-the-psychology-of-the-apocalypse-at-burning-m/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Burning Man horse art
In a recent dev diary, Undead Labs' Gronk gives us a first-hand perspective on a trip he made to the Nevada desert for Burning Man. Why is a vacation travel log news for MMO fans? Well, mostly because the experience was written up with post-apocalyptic survival in mind -- a topic that Undead Labs will be tackling in its upcoming zombie MMO.

"At Burning Man, real-world currency is largely useless... much like it would be after a societal collapse," Gronk writes. "Would you want to trade the food you need to survive for some green paper? I sure wouldn't."

Reading a personal experience like this leads us to believe that the Undead Labs zombie MMO will have a heart -- a rotting, putrid, maggot-infested heart -- but still, a heart.

[Photo Credit: Wacky Archives]

MassivelyUndead Labs learns the psychology of the apocalypse at Burning Man originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aftermathburning-mangronkpost-apocalypticsurveyundead-labszombiezombiesMon, 12 Sep 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs brings Class3 to (un)life with CryENGINE 3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/undead-labs-brings-class3-to-un-life-with-cryengine-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/undead-labs-brings-class3-to-un-life-with-cryengine-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/19/undead-labs-brings-class3-to-un-life-with-cryengine-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Following last week's dev diary featuring Undead Labs' art director Doug Williams and his talk on the "heart of horror," the most recent dev diary from the studio shifts in a more technical direction. In particular, executive producer Jeff Strain focuses on the game's engine. Even more particularly, he announces that the tentatively named Class3 will be running on the powerful CryENGINE 3.

Of course, the devs over at Undead Labs are quite familiar with the traditions of the internet and anticipate shouts of "pics or it didn't happen" with a lovely screenshot from an early version of the game. But wait, there's more! Call now and you'll receive not just a single screenshot, but an entire video! Just click past the break and check out an early version of Undead Labs' Class3 in action, then skip on over to the dev blog to read the full entry.

Continue reading Undead Labs brings Class3 to (un)life with CryENGINE 3

MassivelyUndead Labs brings Class3 to (un)life with CryENGINE 3 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class3consolecryenginecryengine-3cryengine3engineenginesjeff-strainundead-labsvideovideosxbox-360xbox-live-arcadezombiezombiesFri, 19 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs art director talks about the heart of horror]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/undead-labs-art-director-talks-about-the-heart-of-horror/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/undead-labs-art-director-talks-about-the-heart-of-horror/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/undead-labs-art-director-talks-about-the-heart-of-horror/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Undead Labs - Class3 zombie concept art
So what is art direction and why is it important to video games in general and MMORPGs in particular? That's a good question, and sadly one that can't be answered in a brief news post. What we can do, though, is point you to some worthwhile reading on the subject. Today's lesson comes courtesy of Undead Labs and Doug Williams.

Williams serves as the art director on the firm's upcoming zombie apocalype Xbox Live Arcade MMO (currently codenamed Class3), and while you might expect him to spend time talking about gory effects or the best way to render blood and brains in a dark environment, Williams actually spends a good portion of the latest Undead Labs blog post talking about something called "Faded Americana."

"Faded Americana really resonates with me because there are many analogies between the style and a zombie apocalypse. In both cases, you see society hanging onto the ghosts of its past," Williams explains. The concept goes a long way towards explaining Undead Labs' decision to set the game primarily in a small town environment, and Williams has quite a few interesting anecdotes relating to influential games as well as the challenges inherent in separating the new game from the stack of zombie-themed entertainment products that have swarmed over the popular consciousness in recent years.

MassivelyUndead Labs art director talks about the heart of horror originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>art-directionclass3consoleconsolesdev-blogdev-diaryfaded-americanahorrorhorror-mmosmall-town-americaundead-labsxboxxbox-livexbox-live-arcadezombie-apocalypsezombiesMon, 15 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New interview with Undead Labs' Jeff Strain covers technology and fun]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/new-interview-with-undead-labs-jeff-strain-covers-technology-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/new-interview-with-undead-labs-jeff-strain-covers-technology-an/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/new-interview-with-undead-labs-jeff-strain-covers-technology-an/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Console MMO fans, rejoice. We have a new interview with Undead Labs' Jeff Strain on the studio's upcoming Xbox 360 titles. The two titles, code-named Class3 and Class4, are an Xbox Live Arcade title (which will allow the studio to test their technology and give players a taste of what's to come) and an open-world MMORPG, respectively.

Throughout the interview, Strain touches on a few important subjects, such as Class3 and how it is helping the team develop and prepare for Class4. He also mentions that the team's concern with Class4 is not with the fact that it's a server-hosted online world, but ensuring that said server-hosted online world is fun to play. Although it's a somewhat short interview, it's certainly worth the read for any zombie fan anticipating Undead Labs' upcoming titles.

MassivelyNew interview with Undead Labs' Jeff Strain covers technology and fun originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class-4class3class4consolefast-zombies-are-better-than-slow-zombiesinterviewjeff-straintechnologyundead-labsxboxxbox-360zombiezombiesThu, 21 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: True Fantasy Live Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-true-fantasy-live-onlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-true-fantasy-live-onlin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-what-ifs-true-fantasy-live-onlin/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As an extremely amateur historian -- and an extremely attractive archaeologist -- I've always been fascinated with the "what ifs" of gaming's timeline. What if Blizzard had pulled the plug on World of Warcraft during development as it did for Warcraft Adventures? What if Hellgate: London had a lot more time and resources before it launched? What if North America had embraced the free-to-play model much earlier instead of the subscription model? What if Shawn came to his senses before he hired me?

Life would've been a lot better. Or worse. That's the problem with counterfactual history: We can make educated guesses, but we'll never really know. While it's sad to see MMOs shut down due to underperformance, it's especially maddening to contemplate MMOs canceled before they even made it to the starting gate. In a new periodic series here at The Game Archaeologist, I'm going to look at a few of the "what ifs" of prematurely terminated MMORPGs.

And to kick us off, I'm tackling probably one of the most frustrating, painful subjects that still linger amongst potential fans. I'm talking, of course, of True Fantasy Live Online, the game that could've shown the true potential of console MMOs. Or, y'know, not.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: True Fantasy Live Online

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: True Fantasy Live Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akihiro-Hinoblizzardcel-shadedcounterfactual-historydreamcastdust-514eqeverquestevolutionfablefeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-viifinal-fantasy-xigamespothellgate-londonkiller-appkiller-applicationlevel-5microsoftmountsnesplayer-evolutionplayer-housingplaystationprofessor-laytonsegasuper-mario-brostflothe-game-archaeologisttokyo-game-showtrue-fantasy-live-onlineundead-labsvoice-chatvoice-communicationwarcraft-adventureswhat-ifwhat-ifsworld-of-warcraftwowxboxxbox-360xbox-liveTue, 14 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs talks about environments and the undead]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/undead-labs-talks-about-environments-and-the-undead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/undead-labs-talks-about-environments-and-the-undead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/13/undead-labs-talks-about-environments-and-the-undead/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The upcoming zombie games from Undead Labs are aiming to give players a feeling of genuinely surviving in a world ruled by shambling corpses. To make that work correctly, players are going to need lots of little touches here and there to reinforce just what has gone wrong and what sort of threat living humans are facing. In the most recent set of questions and answers from the development team, more elements of the environment and interaction with same are spelled out, giving prospective survivors an idea of what to expect.

While the game isn't planned to be an ornate physics simulator, there will be a practical limit to how much an individual can carry -- and while vehicles can carry more, the problems of noise and fuel will place some limits on stacking an SUV to the brim with heavy weapons. Hunting wildlife and handling aquatic environments will both be issues in the game, with the obvious caveat that humans drown far more easily than zombies. There are a lot of other interesting tidbits in the full rundown as well as some valuable takeaways that aspiring survivors would do well to internalize.

MassivelyUndead Labs talks about environments and the undead originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>answersclass-3post-apocalypticq-and-aquestionssurvivalsurvival-horrorundead-labsunder-developmentzombie-survivalzombiesMon, 13 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[It's Friday I'm in lab: Undead Labs opens its doors to you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/16/its-friday-im-in-lab-undead-labs-open-their-doors-to-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/16/its-friday-im-in-lab-undead-labs-open-their-doors-to-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/16/its-friday-im-in-lab-undead-labs-open-their-doors-to-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"Monday the world can fall apart / Tuesday, Wednesday they eat my heart / Oh, Thursday my chainsaw doesn't start / It's Friday I'm in lab."

We're reminded of the immortal words of The Cure as we watch this neat behind-the-scenes glimpse into the inner workings of Undead Labs. Ever wonder what it might be like to actually go to work and spend your whole day creating a post-apocalyptic zombie world? And get paid for it? Watch these devs and feel the bitter sting of envy at the back of your neck.

While the video doesn't go into depth about Undead Labs' as-yet unnamed MMO or the XBLA game the studio is developing, it does offer tantalizing sights such as sheets of concept art, in-game building models, and even a brief bit of man-vs-zombie mayhem. And there are few things more surreal than witnessing a room full of businessmen and women seriously discussing zombie behaviors.

You can watch the full video after the jump!

Continue reading It's Friday I'm in lab: Undead Labs opens its doors to you

MassivelyIt's Friday I'm in lab: Undead Labs opens its doors to you originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-scenesfriday-im-in-lovejeff-strainthe-cureundeadundead-labsvideoxblaxbox-live-arcadezombiezombie-apocalypsezombie-behaviorzombie-mmoSat, 16 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lock and load: Undead Labs talks guns]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/04/lock-and-load-undead-labs-talks-guns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/04/lock-and-load-undead-labs-talks-guns/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/04/lock-and-load-undead-labs-talks-guns/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you're going to include zombies in your game, they're there to be shot. That's a simple fact of life, a fact that Undead Labs seems to be fully cognizant about. The company's most recent developer blog talked about firearms for its upcoming zombie outbreak games, and the topic proved so irresistible to potential players that a second question-and-answer session has been posted talking more about guns. Whether it's in the console version or the full-scale MMO, who doesn't want to be sure of the highest-caliber destruction one can wreak upon the undead?

The original developer blog talks in depth about trying to balance a realistic feeling with what players will expect from guns, but the follow-up goes into more detail. Gunfire and sounds will indeed attract zombies to players, but the team doesn't seem interested in burying players under mountains of different ammunition types. The guns in question will most likely not be licensed brands, although some licenses are being sought for some more iconic weapons. There also won't be a full spread of exotic firearms in the console game, Class 3, although the MMO version will likely have a wider variety. Take a look at the full set of answers for more details on the best part of zombie invasions -- sweet, sweet hails of bullets.

MassivelyLock and load: Undead Labs talks guns originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class-4designdevelopmentdevelopment-informationfirearmsgame-designgun-designgunsjeff-strainnewsq-and-aquestion-and-answershootingundead-labsweapon-designMon, 04 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC 2011: Jeff Strain lets us eat... err... pick his brains on Undead Labs' upcoming zombie MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/gdc-2011-jeff-strain-lets-us-eat-err-pick-his-brains-on-u/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/gdc-2011-jeff-strain-lets-us-eat-err-pick-his-brains-on-u/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/gdc-2011-jeff-strain-lets-us-eat-err-pick-his-brains-on-u/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The team at Undead Labs has big plans for the studio's first two projects currently under development: Class 3 and Class 4. So far, we know that Class 3 will be a non-MMO console zombie shoot-em-up game developed for Xbox Live, and Class 4 is intended to be the game that crosses into a massively online world. That's why we were glad to sit down with Jeff Strain, founder of Undead Labs, to hear more details on the studio's gory game goodness, which is surely lurking and primed to pounce on us and eat our brains -- or at least some of our gaming time.

Are you hungry for all the meaty details of this ambitious console horror game? Join us behind the break for more!

Continue reading GDC 2011: Jeff Strain lets us eat... err... pick his brains on Undead Labs' upcoming zombie MMO

MassivelyGDC 2011: Jeff Strain lets us eat... err... pick his brains on Undead Labs' upcoming zombie MMO originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brainsclass-3class-4consolefeaturedgame-developers-conferencegdcgdc-2011interviewinterviewsjeff-strainundead-labszombiezomgThu, 03 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: The sad, strange death of Company of Heroes Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/the-mmo-report-the-sad-strange-death-of-company-of-heroes-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/the-mmo-report-the-sad-strange-death-of-company-of-heroes-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/the-mmo-report-the-sad-strange-death-of-company-of-heroes-onli/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Bad puns, sexual innuendo and all the MMO news you can handle are crammed into yet another MMO Report, brought to us by our friends at G4TV. Casey Schreiner and his fabulous tie recall a few of the biggest stories from the previous week.

First up on the docket is the cancellation of two THQ titles previously in development: Company of Heroes Online and WWE Smackdown vs. Raw Online. Both of these games were an attempt by the studio to bring its western-style MMOs to a Korean market, although THQ ultimately decided that this move wasn't at the top of its priority list.

On a more upbeat note, Casey talks up LEGO Universe's Crux Prime update, which came complete with ninjas and multiplayer madness. And yes, Casey, we agree that LEGOs are "awesome."

Other topics for the Report include Undead Labs' "Class 3" single-player XBLA title that's hopefully leading up to the studio's zombie MMO, robo-Batman in a new DCUO video, the announcement of BlizzCon's 2011 dates, and a Blizzard theme park called "Joy Land" in China. Face it: We have a weird hobby.

Hit the jump to watch the full MMO Report!

Continue reading The MMO Report: The sad, strange death of Company of Heroes Online

MassivelyThe MMO Report: The sad, strange death of Company of Heroes Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmanblizzardblizzconcasey-schreinercinematicclass-3Company-of-Heroescompany-of-heroes-onlineconventioncrux-primedc-universe-onlinedcuog4g4tvjoy-landlegolego-universelegosmmo-reportrobo-batmanthe-mmo-reportthqundead-labswwe-onlineWWE-SmackDown-vs-RAWxblaMon, 14 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs reveals first release title, and it's not the zombie MMO [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/undead-labs-reveals-first-release-title-and-its-not-the-zombie/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/undead-labs-reveals-first-release-title-and-its-not-the-zombie/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/undead-labs-reveals-first-release-title-and-its-not-the-zombie/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Back in November 2009, ArenaNet co-founder Jeff Strain left the company to create a new development studio named Undead Labs. His plans included the development of a zombie-survival console MMO, an idea that has had fans of zombie apocalypse games excited ever since. In August 2010, Undead Labs graced the news once again when four more of ArenaNet's developers left to join the new studio and work on the upcoming zombie MMO. It wasn't long until we began to see the first details released of the impending zombie apocalypse, with a huge section in EGM Magazine. Most notable was the revelation that the game would be a console-only open-world sandbox.

Undead Labs unveiled its first officially planned release title today, and fans of the upcoming zombie MMO won't be disappointed. While the company's first release won't be the zombie MMO we all want so badly, the studio plans to first release a smaller-scale online zombie survival game on XBox Live Arcade. This game, code-named "Class 3" for now, will showcase the gameplay, setting and technology that will be used to develop the as-yet untitled zombie MMO. The team at Undead Labs plans to then use the game as a kind of training ground to help develop better gameplay experiences for the MMO that will follow. Although that means we'll have to wait a while to get our hands on that zombie-survival sandbox world we've all been dreaming of, the result should be a game that appeals more to players.

Jeff Strain, founder of Undead Labs, released the following statement: "Our mission is to create original online games that truly feel at home on the console platform, and Xbox 360 is a fantastic platform for online console gaming. We plan to create an ambitious open world XBLA game and use its gameplay, setting, and technology as the foundation for a full online world game."

[Update: Jeff Strain's also released a tongue-in-cheek "Rude Q&A" on Undead Labs' blog. It discusses the team's plans and goals for the new game as well as aims to stave off any misconceptions about both upcoming titles.]

MassivelyUndead Labs reveals first release title, and it's not the zombie MMO [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsole-mmohorrorjeff-strainopen-worldsandboxundeadundead-labsxblaxboxXbox-360Xbox-Live-Arcadezombiezombie-mmoThu, 03 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs publicly announces profit-sharing plan]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/undead-labs-publicly-announces-profit-sharing-plan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/undead-labs-publicly-announces-profit-sharing-plan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/undead-labs-publicly-announces-profit-sharing-plan/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's been a few months since we heard the first details about the upcoming zombie game from the appropriately named Undead Labs, but the most recent news from the official site doesn't cover the game directly. Instead, it covers something that should be far more interesting to people who follow the industry as a whole or those who work with the company. It's the official profit-sharing plan for the company, and not just the net benefits -- the whole thing, in full legal terms, available for anyone to read.

As Jeff Strain puts it, he doesn't want the company to work along the lines of many larger studios, where executives reap the benefits of a successful game and employees are lucky to see any of the profits. The complete transparency of both the plain language and detailed legal version of the sharing plan is apparently against the advice of the corporate lawyer, but Strain considers it a move that he'd prefer to see other studios copy. Considering the references to the Activision/Infinity Ward fiasco earlier this year, it certainly couldn't hurt to have a bit more developer and corporate accountability.

MassivelyUndead Labs publicly announces profit-sharing plan originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corporate-ethicsindustryjeff-strainlegallegal-issuesmmo-industryprofit-sharingprofitsundead-labsTue, 21 Dec 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft will reign for another 20 years according to industry analysts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/world-of-warcraft-will-reign-for-another-20-years-according-to-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/world-of-warcraft-will-reign-for-another-20-years-according-to-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/09/world-of-warcraft-will-reign-for-another-20-years-according-to-i/#commentsFiled under: , ,

With all of the recent focus on World of Warcraft following its latest expansion, it's no surprise that the industry leader is at the center of another round of "What will topple WoW?" discussions.

In an article on Eurogamer, industry analysts and developers lend their thoughts as to what made World of Warcraft so dang popular to begin with, and what it will take -- if anything -- for another game to beat its popularity, subscription numbers and cultural footprint. Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter declared that nothing will top the title for at least 20 years due to an insurmountable lead, although this became debated by the other participants.

Cryptic's Jack Emmert thinks WoW will be "chipped away at" instead of toppled. Age of Conan's Craig Morrison thinks that nobody can consciously plan to overcome WoW's lead saying, "You don't topple a cultural phenomenon. But you can join one." GamersFirst's Bjorn Book-Larsson doesn't think there's a need for WoW to be toppled due to the size of the market.

Codemasters' Dave Solari imagines that the winning formula "would have mass market appeal, with instant accessibility, would work on all platforms, particularly mobile, be incredibly viral and social -- like a feature-rich FarmVille." Undead Labs' Jeff Strain thinks that MMO studios should be looking at it a different way: "They should instead be striving to achieve the same level of success with their own game ideas."

Some even speculate that Blizzard is the only studio capable of besting its own game, perhaps with its second MMO that's due to be announced in 2012. Head on over to Eurogamer for the full discussion.

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft will reign for another 20 years according to industry analysts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocBjorn-Book-LarssonblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcataclysmcodemasterscraig-morrisoncrypticcryptic-studiosdave-solarieurogamerfarmvillegamers-firstjack-emmertjeff-strainMichael-Pachterundead-labsWedbush-MorganWorld-of-Warcraftworld-of-warcraft-cataclysmwowThu, 09 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs answers fan questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/undead-labs-answers-fan-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/undead-labs-answers-fan-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/undead-labs-answers-fan-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Undead Labs has published a list of reader questions (and a few select answers) regarding its zombie-themed console MMORPG currently in development. New community manager Emily Diehl checks in on the official Undead Labs website to bring us a wrap-up from the queries submitted on the game's forums.

The topics range from the title's shooting and aiming mechanics, to vehicle implementations, to its persistent qualities. Regarding this last bit, Undead Labs seems intent on putting to rest any notion that the game's console nature will result in anything less than a traditional open world experience. "This may seem like a no-brainer, but we're building an actual world. We want it to live, breathe, change and evolve over time, responding to the choices you make while immersed in it," the studio writes.

Check all the questions and answers on the game's official site.

MassivelyUndead Labs answers fan questions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>console-mmoconsolesemily-diehlhorrorin-developmentopen-worldpersistent-worldpost-apocalypticqaquestions-and-answersreader-questionsundead-labszombie-mmozombiesTue, 07 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet Community and Content Manager departing for Undead Labs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/arenanet-community-and-content-manager-departing-for-undead-labs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/arenanet-community-and-content-manager-departing-for-undead-labs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/arenanet-community-and-content-manager-departing-for-undead-labs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

ArenaNet's Community and Content Manager -- and resident zombie fanatic -- Emily Diehl surprised Guild Wars fans yesterday with a farewell message.

This Friday will be Emily's last day with ArenaNet, then she's off to join some of her former colleagues at Undead Labs. "For folks that know me, it's no secret how much I love horror stuff. The first movie I ever remember seeing was Night of the Living Dead (when I was four), and I've been obsessed with horror ever since. I love Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 with a passion, but in this case, having the privilege to work on a zombie title is fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine."

We at Massively join all of Emily's fans in wishing her the best of luck!

MassivelyArenaNet Community and Content Manager departing for Undead Labs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcommunity-and-content-manageremily-diehlguild-warsguild-wars-2mmo-industryncsoftundead-labszombie-mmoWed, 17 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs talks about surviving the zombie social scene]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/undead-labs-talks-about-surviving-the-zombie-social-scene/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/undead-labs-talks-about-surviving-the-zombie-social-scene/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/undead-labs-talks-about-surviving-the-zombie-social-scene/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

James Phinney believes in the power of a persistent virtual world, and he's not shy in sharing his excitement when it comes to the landscape that Undead Labs is building for its new zombie-themed MMO:

"We believe a persistent world should be living, dynamic, and evolving. We believe your decisions should affect the state of the world and the state of the world should matter to you. We believe you should get to be the hero; not because you were able grind your way to some artificial achievement that everyone else will eventually grind for too, but instead because you achieved something unique and heroic -- something that people actually care about because it has an impact on the world."

In this post on Undead Labs' site, Phinney talks about how the company isn't trying to build a shell of an MMO around a mere action game, but is actually working hard to build a connected, persistent place where players have meaningful choices that could lead them to being heroes. His vision for this post-apocalyptic world is one that is "living, dynamic, and evolving" instead of remaining static.

And while the MMO will contain zombies, Phinney stresses that the core is about survival, not just a headcount. He sketches out some of the choices that will need to be made, including finding power, scrounging for food and developing safe zones. You can read more about this vision over at Undead Labs.

MassivelyUndead Labs talks about surviving the zombie social scene originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dynamicJames-Phinneypersistencepersistent-worldpost-apocalypticsurvivaltheres-a-zombie-on-my-lawnundead-labszombiezombie-apocalypseFri, 12 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[This week on The MMO Report]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/this-week-on-the-mmo-report/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/this-week-on-the-mmo-report/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/this-week-on-the-mmo-report/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This week on The MMO Report, Casey Schreiner starts things off with a bang by highlighting Undead Labs' zombie MMO-in-the-making and a spectacularly polarizing quote by developer Richard Foge that first broke right here on Massively.

Moving right along, Casey takes a look at Star Wars: The Old Republic's recently announced PvP Warzones, scenario-based battles that will see players fighting for control over various objectives. He also spends a segment on the drama surrounding All Points Bulletin -- or more accurately -- its firesale. The new sci-fi MMOFPS Genesis A.D. also gets a mention, and its shiny trailer grabs the spotlight for a few precious seconds.

Finally, the episode pays a bit of lip service to Blizzard's charitable endeavors via the Moonkin hatchling promotion and finishes things off with a death-defying dive into the nether regions of Uncle Casey's mailbag. Check out the full episode after the cut, and if you're looking for past episodes of The MMO Report, head over to G4TV.

Continue reading This week on The MMO Report

MassivelyThis week on The MMO Report originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentcasey-schreinerg4tvg4tv.comgenesis-admailbagmoonkin-hatchlingmoonkin-hatchling-petpoliticsrichard-fogethe-mmo-reportthe-old-republicundead-labundead-labsThu, 11 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs: Current MMOs are "barely even games"]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/03/undead-labs-current-mmos-are-barely-even-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/03/undead-labs-current-mmos-are-barely-even-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/03/undead-labs-current-mmos-are-barely-even-games/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Undead Labs has a new game designer, and he's come out swinging against the established MMO format. Richard Foge, who previously worked on God of War, SOCOM and Guild Wars, says he "loves the idea of MMOs" but isn't satisfied with the current market.

In a recent manifesto on Undead Labs' site, Foge professes his love for console games and his puzzlement as to why MMOs haven't advanced as far: "MMOs get breaks because of their social nature, but if you really look at them closely they're barely even games. Mario 64 (nearly 15-years-old at this point) feels better than any MMO I've ever played. MMOs aren't even close to keeping up with cutting edge videogames from a gameplay or presentation perspective." The solution, he thinks, is to skew more toward console action titles. "What if we replaced all the math with action?" he muses.

Undead Labs' first MMO, a zombie-themed romp through the post-apocalyptic world, is being made for consoles instead of PCs. The perfect platform for an action MMO, in his opinion, isn't the PC: "I believe that MMOs can and should compete with the best triple-A games. And I believe consoles are the perfect place for MMOs to make this stand."

MassivelyUndead Labs: Current MMOs are "barely even games" originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>console-basedgod-of-warguild-warsmario-64post-apocalypticrichard-fogesocomundead-labszombiezombie-apocalypseWed, 03 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Halloween MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/the-perfect-ten-halloween-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/the-perfect-ten-halloween-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/the-perfect-ten-halloween-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

We're only a few days away from Halloween, and already the Massively office staff is dressing up in anticipation. Shawn's post-apocalyptic gear is at odds with Rubi's tastefully modest Guild Wars Elementalist outfit. Greg's Squig is in the corner battling it out with Larry's Chewbacca. Bree is dudded up as a giant red corrective marker; Jef's free-to-play outfit requires microtransactions to view in full; and Kyrstalle is photographing it all with her Poloroid One-Shot camera. I think Eliot showed up in full plate armor and riding a mechanical bull, but that just may be his normal work attire.

So as everyone else is goofing off in the spirit of the holidays, it remains to me, your lovable intern, to hack out a top 10 list in honor of All Hallow's Eve. It's the least I can do since they're paying me in candy.

While every MMO incorporates horror at some point (even, yes, Hello Kitty Online's Cat-Tastrophie zone), and it's nearly impossible to escape a clutch of giant spiders in any game you visit, I've picked out 10 MMOs that best deliver a slice of October 31st. Some are old, some new, some canceled and some yet to come, but these are 10 of the spookiest MMOs in the world.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Halloween MMOs

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Halloween MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanccpchewbaccaddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineeaster-eggselementalistfallen-earthfeaturedflagship-studiosflagshippedfluffy-chickensfree-for-allguild-warshalloweenhalloween-2010halloween2010hellgate-londonhello-kitty-onlinehumorhyborialovecraftmansquitomicrotransactionsone-shotsonyx-chamberspersonal-record-best-for-number-of-tagspost-apocalypticrequiem-bloodymarerequiem-memento-morisquigstephen-kingsyfythe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenthe-secret-worldtop-10top-10-listundead-labsvampire-the-masqueradewarWarhammer-Onlineworld-of-darknesswurm-onlinezombiezombie-mmoThu, 28 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Braaaaainssss: First details about Undead Labs' zombie MMO revealed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/braaaaainssss-first-details-about-undead-labs-zombie-mmo-revea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/braaaaainssss-first-details-about-undead-labs-zombie-mmo-revea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/06/braaaaainssss-first-details-about-undead-labs-zombie-mmo-revea/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There's something about zombies and video games that bind geeks together in harmony, which is why we've been anxious to see what Jeff Strain's Undead Labs has in store for our favorite end-of-the-world scenario. Well drop your linen and start your grinnin', because Game By Night reports that EGM's latest physical issue (241.0) is chock-full of zombie goodness on the project.

The unnamed MMO is going to be console-only and will take place in today's world following a zombie apocalypse. Strain promises that the world will be dynamic and malleable -- think "sandbox" -- as players will build up defenses to protect settlements, lay down traps for the zombie horde and eventually take the fight to the undead. There may also be gardening (yup, you read that right).

A more dynamic world isn't the only cue from modern MMO development that Undead Labs is taking -- the game will skew more toward quick action-based fights than traditional MMO combat: "Banish the memories you have of the PC MMO paradigm for combat, and start thinking AAA console action game... weapons (like the M14 assault rifle or long-bladed machete) need to feel snap-fast and satisfying, to pierce bones and dismember limbs just so."

While the title is still in very early stages, EGM says that the team is looking to allow a more free-form character development, with players taking on specialty roles instead of being forced into rigid class constructs. You can read the full analysis over at Game By Night.

MassivelyBraaaaainssss: First details about Undead Labs' zombie MMO revealed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-based-combatassault-rifebecause-its-thriller-thriller-nightbreakingconsole-mmoegmgame-by-nightjeff-strainmachetesandboxundeadundead-labszombieWed, 06 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Four ArenaNet team members joining Undead Labs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/four-arenanet-team-members-joining-undead-labs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/four-arenanet-team-members-joining-undead-labs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/four-arenanet-team-members-joining-undead-labs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In all the excitement over the Guild Wars 2 MMO manifesto, a quiet announcement on the Guild Wars wiki was very nearly lost in the shuffle, but it gained the attention of some sharp-eyed fans.

ArenaNet founder Mike O'Brien put a post on his wiki talk page entitled "Departures," and bid farewell to four members of the ArenaNet team. Design Director James Phinney is leaving ArenaNet to join his former colleague Jeff Strain over at Undead Labs, and he's not going alone.

Joining him are designer Richard Foge, as well as artists Scott Albaugh and Doug Williams. It's been very quiet on the Undead Labs front for a while now, so this may signal the beginning of some progress on the zombie front.

As for ArenaNet? "Of course we're disappointed to see them go, but I also know these guys are each individually huge zombie fans and are going to work on a zombie game, so I'm excited for their opportunity and wish them all the best," says Mike.

We at Massively join him in wishing the group the best of luck in their new venture.

MassivelyFour ArenaNet team members joining Undead Labs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbreakingdoug-williamsjames-phinneyjeff-strainncsoftrichard-fogescott-albaughundead-labszombie-mmoWed, 11 Aug 2010 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Jeff Strain weighs in on console-specific MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/06/jeff-strain-weighs-in-on-console-specific-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/06/jeff-strain-weighs-in-on-console-specific-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/06/jeff-strain-weighs-in-on-console-specific-mmos/#commentsFiled under: ,

We might not hear much from him, but Jeff Strain is still hard at work at Undead Labs. We know his project is going to be a console zombie MMO, and the latest blog entry explores the overall advantages of console MMOs.

Jeff points out the cold reception given to the concept of console FPS games way back when, likening it to the skepticism that console MMOs are receiving these days. His feeling is that there are some exciting opportunities for consoles in the MMO market, and points out several in detail. Freedom of movement, an invisible interface, vehicle combat, and a destructible environment are just a few of the things he thinks consoles could add to the MMO world.

It's an interesting look at what console MMOs could achieve -- take a look at the full post and see what you think.

MassivelyJeff Strain weighs in on console-specific MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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