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[Second Life rolls out Linden Realms publicly on December 1st]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/second-life-rolling-out-linden-realms-publicly-on-december-1st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/second-life-rolling-out-linden-realms-publicly-on-december-1st/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/30/second-life-rolling-out-linden-realms-publicly-on-december-1st/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Next month, raid content.
Something very unusual is coming to Second Life on December 1st: a game. All right, that in and of itself isn't all that unusual, since the virtual world has long empowered users to create their own systems and their own games. But this is still something different because it's not a user-created game. Linden Realms has been developed specifically by Linden Lab, and as of December 1st all users will be able to experience what a first-party game for the virtual environment feels like.

Second Life content creators will, rather unfortunately, be facing off against an in-house project. Luckily, the tools used in the development of Linden Realms will also be made available to the community, giving everyone a chance to play with the new tools and improve upon gameplay experiences. Whether or not this is a good thing or not for the game's overall health remains to be seen, but it may well provide an interesting boost to the community's user-created content.

MassivelySecond Life rolls out Linden Realms publicly on December 1st originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-contentdevelopmentgameplaygameslinden-lablinden-labslinden-realmssandboxessecond-lifesluser-created-contentvirtual-worldsWed, 30 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Quality concerns' keep user-created content out of World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/quality-concerns-keep-user-created-content-out-of-world-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/quality-concerns-keep-user-created-content-out-of-world-of-war/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/quality-concerns-keep-user-created-content-out-of-world-of-war/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Pictured: quality.
User-created content can be a real hornet's nest in any game. When the user-created content systems are done correctly, you get a lot of new and imaginative content in the game straight from the players. But it's the question of what happens when it goes wrong that keeps user-created content out of World of Warcraft, according to Chris Metzen. As Metzen put it in a recent GDC online panel, while he loves the idea and the team does bring it up from time to time, there's a concern about whether or not the regular level of content would meet the standards of quality the team expects for game content.

Metzen also discussed some of the pressures the Blizzard staff faces with Titan's design, since the game is explicitly not set in one of the company's existing and long-running franchises. While he doesn't reveal any major details regarding the upcoming game, if you're eager for every scrap of information about the secretive project, it's well worth taking a look.

Massively'Quality concerns' keep user-created content out of World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardblizzardblizzard-entertainmentchris-metzengdc-onlinegdc-online-2011titanuser-contentuser-created-contentworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 11 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What do you consider "good" player-created content?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/29/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-consider-good-player-created-cont/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/29/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-consider-good-player-created-cont/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/29/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-consider-good-player-created-cont/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Trek Online might be the most recent game to prepare for the player-created content bandwagon, but it's far from the only one. Yet every time tools are released to allow players to make their mark, the same complaint arises -- there's no easy way to sort the good content easily from the bad. Which is a fair complaint, until you stop to realize that there's not really a good definition available of what would qualify as good content. After all, when you let players make anything, one man's trash will be another man's treasure.

Some people like content that optimizes rewards, making the most efficient use possible of time for leveling a character toward the cap. Others prefer a well-crafted story, with no real consideration for whether or not the content is rewarding. And still others prefer a challenge, something harder than the official content, a chance to really see what players can accomplish when pushed to the limit. Whether it's in City of Heroes or Ryzom, what do you look for out of player-generated content? What do you think of as good content and what do you think of as bad?

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 do you consider "good" player-created content? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcultureopinionplayer-generated-contentqualityquality-contentryzomstar-trek-onlinestotdgthe-daily-grinduser-created-contentWed, 29 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LEGO Universe content keeps building toward the future]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/lego-universe-content-keeps-building-toward-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/lego-universe-content-keeps-building-toward-the-future/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/lego-universe-content-keeps-building-toward-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With nothing stopping players save for what their imagination can come up with, the worlds of LEGO Universe have been exploding with content since launch. As a matter of fact, in the last month the moderation team has approved over 86,000 different player-created spaces that offer tons of unique and interesting LEGO Universe content so it can be shared with other players in the game. Add to that Netdevil's push for new content including the Frostfell holiday area, as well as special LEGO World Builder League zones, and there's quite a bit of new content in the game since launch.

According to information from the LEGO Group and Netdevil, the plans for 2011 are even more ambitious. Future content updates will offer LEGO Unvierse players the chance to interact with the LEGO factional leaders and further help push the maelstrom forces back -- unlocking new worlds and storylines in the process. The other interesting thing of note is the plan to add an all-new LEGO IP into LEGO Universe in 2011. In the meantime, check out the new screenshots and video offering a look at some of the myriad creations players are already enjoying in-game.

Gallery: LEGO Universe Main Gallery

Continue reading LEGO Universe content keeps building toward the future

MassivelyLEGO Universe content keeps building toward the future originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gazilliongazillion-entertainmentlegolego-companylego-groupLEGO-Universenetdevilnew-areanew-contentnew-creationsscreenshotscreenshotsuser-created-contentuser-generated-contentvideoMon, 20 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Funcom and Stray Bullet license Allegorithmic's Substance Air platform for their MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/funcom-and-stray-bullet-license-allegorithmics-substance-air-pl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/funcom-and-stray-bullet-license-allegorithmics-substance-air-pl/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/16/funcom-and-stray-bullet-license-allegorithmics-substance-air-pl/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Two developers have simultaneously turned to a brand new texturing solution for their future MMOs, according to Gamasutra. Both Funcom and Stray Bullet have licensed Allegorithmic's "Substance Air" middleware package, a new set of programs that lets developers keep high resolution textures as extremely small files and even let users modify textures for in-game customization options.

Funcom is almost a given for which game this would apply to, as The Secret World is the only game currently on their radar. Stray Bullet, best known as the creators of Shadowbane, is a bit trickier when it comes to saying how it will impact on their new MMO offering.

Simply known as the "future fantasy MMO," Stray Bullet has also licensed Simutronics's HeroEngine, the same engine that's currently powering Star Wars: The Old Republic. What they're up to is anyone's guess, but the presence of the extremely versatile HeroEngine and the addition of Substance Air could be pointing to a nice level of user-customization and/or "on-the-fly" developing coming with their latest unannounced fantasy offering.

MassivelyFuncom and Stray Bullet license Allegorithmic's Substance Air platform for their MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>customizationfuncomheroenginemiddlewareshadowbanesimutronicsstar-wars-the-old-republicstray-bulletstray-bullet-gamessubstance-airtexturingthe-secret-worlduser-created-contentThu, 16 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MetaPlace closes in on first beta stage]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/metaplace-closes-in-on-first-beta-stage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/metaplace-closes-in-on-first-beta-stage/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/metaplace-closes-in-on-first-beta-stage/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Ever want to tighten up the graphics in your own game or interactive environments without going to a video game design college? Okay bad joke, but that only a small part of the plan with Areae's MetaPlace. The project envisioned by Raph Koster will give users a dynamic platform and the accessibility to create embeddable shared virtual spaces, interactive games, and or a mish-mashing combination. News has been light but there are some new updates on the latest MetaPlace blog. Tami "Cuppycake" Baribeau shares some development accomplishments that took place over the past year and states MetaPlace is nearing the first closed beta stage!

What's genius is the planned badge and achievement system intended to encourage user participation. The more users share creations, explore, customize, invite, and participate in numerous other activities they'll unlock badges. No, they won't be stored away in a virtual closed account space all sad and lonely. Instead your friends can check them out and probably earn a badge in the process. Who knows what will end up unlocking a badge, but we love collecting things. All thanks to optional and fun achievement systems.

MassivelyMetaPlace closes in on first beta stage originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>areaebetascuppycakeembed-spacemeta-placemetaplacempraph-kostertami-baribeauuser-created-contentvirtual-spacevirtual-worldsThu, 17 Jul 2008 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lego Universe revamps website and opens the creation lab]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/06/lego-universe-revamps-website-and-opens-the-creation-lab/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/06/lego-universe-revamps-website-and-opens-the-creation-lab/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/06/lego-universe-revamps-website-and-opens-the-creation-lab/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


One Lego brick after another, you build for months on end in the Lego Universe. You want your creation there with you, physically for your fingers to grapple with. You purchase your creation and an exact replica of every virtual Lego brick you used to mold your online creation is sitting on your desk the following week. That's one of the interesting and genius ideas being planned for Lego Universe, and the website for the game was recently revamped and offers new interactive features for Lego fans of all ages.

The one part of the site that stands out is the creation lab. Users can submit their own Lego designs, stories, and even art to help inspire the development team. The Lego Universe is all about user created content, players sharing their own stories through the Lego medium, and the site is already harnessing a strong community. There's also a new Lego Universe logo, and this post that talks about the process the team undertook including tapping into the user submissions and using them as a synergy to get to the final version.

The Lego Universe beta is rumored to start in August and those who sign up for the Lego Universe newsletter will be notified when signups go live before the news is announced on the site. Devs, please don't nerf the red bricks in the first patch!

MassivelyLego Universe revamps website and opens the creation lab originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brickscreation-lablegolego-universelego-universe-logonetdeviluser-created-contentSun, 06 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why user-generated content matters in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/21/why-user-generated-content-matters-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/21/why-user-generated-content-matters-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/21/why-user-generated-content-matters-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Social Gaming Summit, held in San Francisco last Friday, has been explored here on the site by our own Akela Talamasca. Today the Worlds in Motion blog has a great writeup of a panel on user-generated content, with an emphasis on how that concept applies to online gaming. Industry luminaries including Three Rings' Daniel James touched base with attendees on what makes user content so compelling, why users create, and what game makers can do to incorporate player creations.

Most interesting was their observation that virtual spaces were more important than virtual worlds per se. Jeremy Monroe, Director of Business Development for the makers of Habbo Hotel, offered this: "You have to make sure that you're bringing content that is suitable to all players in the world. So when we bring a piece of content that skews to one demographic we have to make sure that we bring more content that skews to the other demographics. Some games try to create different servers, such as a PvP vs. PvP situation. You have to give everybody equal opportunity and an equal number of tools to express themselves."

MassivelyWhy user-generated content matters in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daniel-jamesmmossocial-gamingsocial-gaming-summituser-created-contentvirtual-spacesvirtual-worldsSat, 21 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Twenty-five moo-cows down a level 70 mage in user-created raid]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/twenty-five-moo-cows-down-a-level-70-mage-in-user-created-raid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/twenty-five-moo-cows-down-a-level-70-mage-in-user-created-raid/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/08/twenty-five-moo-cows-down-a-level-70-mage-in-user-created-raid/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


In an amusing spin on user created content, the Horde guild Eagles Pride on Malygos decided to make their own raid boss encounter. Sound impossible? Not if you take the time to figure out how to balance things out, as this lot of moo-cows did. Twenty-five level 1 Tauren went head to head against a level 70 frost mage. Using macros and set out scripts, the fight had four phases to it, and took about 10 minutes to complete. They describe the encounter as reminiscent of Shades of Aran. The concept is fairly amusing in and of itself, and shows a good deal of creativity. The only problems with the operation of the fight was that they couldn't find a good way to manage aggro, and spell resistance makes casting in this kind of fight next to impossible.

Another video of the encounter (with slightly more annoying music) can be found after the jump, and shows it from the perspective of a raider, as well as some of their first few wipes. Color us amused.

Continue reading Twenty-five moo-cows down a level 70 mage in user-created raid

MassivelyTwenty-five moo-cows down a level 70 mage in user-created raid originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blizzardeagles-pridemalygosraidtaurenuser-created-contentworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 08 Jan 2008 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Flying Lab unfurls second round of flag-making contest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/flying-lab-unfurls-second-round-of-flag-making-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/flying-lab-unfurls-second-round-of-flag-making-contest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/flying-lab-unfurls-second-round-of-flag-making-contest/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


In the seventeenth century, it was a fairly well known fact that pirates just weren't very creative folk. Swashbucklers? Sure. Dastardly dogs? Absolutely. Drunken, whoring scallywags? Even on their worst days. But they couldn't put a brush to a canvas if their very lives depended on it. Consequently, Flying Lab Studios has put out a bounty on creative pirate-lovers, offering fame and fortune in exchange for flag-designs to adorn the NPC pirate ships in Pirates of the Burning Sea.

In a related forum thread, they've given the backgrounds on a number of gangs to offer inspiration to erstwhile flag-makers, as well as offering tips and submission guidelines for those new to the art. We weren't able to track down what specific kind of loot they're giving winners, but the prospect of having user content included in a retail game is almost exciting enough on its own.

MassivelyFlying Lab unfurls second round of flag-making contest originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contestcontestsflagsFlying-Labs-Studiospiratespirates-of-the-burning-seapotbsuser-created-contentFri, 26 Oct 2007 10:08:00 EST