Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist looks at Guild Wars Utopia]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-game-archaeologist-looks-at-guild-wars-utopia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-game-archaeologist-looks-at-guild-wars-utopia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/the-game-archaeologist-looks-at-guild-wars-utopia/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Guild Wars Utopia
Aztecs. Chronomancers. Mounts. Halberds. Golems. Dual wielding.

These are all but a hint of what a fourth Guild Wars campaign could have been, a campaign that was under development in the mid-2000s but was scrapped by 2007. Replacing it was the expansion Guild Wars Eye of the North and the workings of a super-secret sequel to the game (which you've probably never heard of). It was the forgotten campaign, swept under a rug while it was still under the rug.

But what if, in some alternative timeline, ArenaNet had gone ahead with this campaign? What if it became an established part of the Guild Wars legacy, as familiar to us today as Nightfall and Factions?

What if Guild Wars Utopia had lived?

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist looks at Guild Wars Utopia

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist looks at Guild Wars Utopia originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetasuraazteccampaignchronomancerclassicclassic-mmosclassicsdestroyersEric-Flannumeye-of-the-northfactionsfantasyfeaturedgame-archaelogistguild-warsguild-wars-2guild-wars-eye-of-the-northguild-wars-factionsguild-wars-nightfallguild-wars-propheciesguild-wars-utopiagwgw2ncsoftnightfallnostalgiaopinionpropheciesSidhesummonersylvariTannecksthe-game-archaeologistutopiaTue, 08 May 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A Mild-Mannered Reporter: For the greater good]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/30/a-mild-mannered-reporter-for-the-greater-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/30/a-mild-mannered-reporter-for-the-greater-good/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/30/a-mild-mannered-reporter-for-the-greater-good/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It didn't take much convincing for people to start assuming that the Praetorians in Going Rogue were fundamentally the bad guys. For all the talk that's been given about how players can choose either path, about how there isn't always good and evil... the players are smarter than that. Being on the side of the jackbooted oppressors is just plain wrong, there are no two ways about it. No matter how heavy-handed the City of Heroes team might be about it, players knew better than to take the bait.

The problem with this line of thinking is that it's wrong on one fundamental level. It's not that there's a lack of evil running through Praetoria, it's that people are seeing it on the wrong side. Loyalists aren't the shoo-ins for villains that the community seems to think they are -- they're heroes, making the world a better place. There might be the occasional misstep, but when you get right down to it, no faction on Praetoria is as well-suited to the ethos of heroism than those loyal to Emperor Cole.

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: For the greater good

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: For the greater good originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroescity-of-heroes-going-roguecity-of-villainscohcovcoxfeaturedgoing-roguegood-versus-evilgrgreater-goodloremoral-compassmoralitymoralsopinionparagonparagon-studiospraetoriatyrantutopiaWed, 30 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthrise wallpapers show Eastern Gardens denizens and tamed mutants]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/28/earthrise-wallpapers-show-eastern-gardens-denizens-and-tamed-mut/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/28/earthrise-wallpapers-show-eastern-gardens-denizens-and-tamed-mut/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/28/earthrise-wallpapers-show-eastern-gardens-denizens-and-tamed-mut/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Masthead Studios just got in touch with us and sent over two new wallpapers for their upcoming post-apocalyptic game Earthrise. One image shows off a group of kabuki-masked freaks denizens of the Eastern Gardens, one of the more outwardly utopian zones to be found in Earthrise's island setting of Enterra.

Continue reading Earthrise wallpapers show Eastern Gardens denizens and tamed mutants

MassivelyEarthrise wallpapers show Eastern Gardens denizens and tamed mutants originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>continomadystopiaearthriseeastern-gardensimagesmasthead-studiosmutantmutantspost-apocalypticsci-fiutopiawallpaperwallpapersSun, 28 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthrise question of the week is a call to crafters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/earthrise-question-of-the-week-is-a-call-to-crafters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/earthrise-question-of-the-week-is-a-call-to-crafters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/18/earthrise-question-of-the-week-is-a-call-to-crafters/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Earthrise is the post-apocalyptic MMO being developed by Masthead Studios that will have a game setting quite different from the crumbled, burned out world we'd typically associate with global armageddon. Earthrise is set in a utopian future that's quickly turning dystopian, one that's still rather crumbly on the outskirts to keep that aftermath feel to the game. Beyond the guild warfare and sandbox elements of gameplay Massively has looked at in the past, Masthead Studios is putting a great deal of emphasis on the game's crafting system.

In fact, this is the focus of the Earthrise Question of the Week on the game's forums, posted by the game's community manager Moll. However, instead of simply doing a brief Q&A as in other weeks, Moll explains the concepts behind the crafting system before eliciting feedback from Earthrise fans.

Gallery: Earthrise

Continue reading Earthrise question of the week is a call to crafters

MassivelyEarthrise question of the week is a call to crafters originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 May 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>community-managercompetitioncraftingdystopiaearthriseeconomyguild-vs-guildguildsmasthead-studiosmollpost-apocalypticqotwquestion-of-the-weeksandboxsci-fispecializationutopiaMon, 18 May 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest Earthrise newsletter updates on game's progress]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/04/latest-earthrise-newsletter-updates-on-games-progress/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/04/latest-earthrise-newsletter-updates-on-games-progress/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/04/latest-earthrise-newsletter-updates-on-games-progress/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Sofia-based Masthead Studios has released the March `09 newsletter for their upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO Earthrise. As with their previous newsletters, Issue IX points out where Earthrise has been discussed in the gaming press over the past few weeks, and shows off some of the game's concept art. This month, Masthead Studios is showing off concepts for the mutated Nathura zone.

In addition, the developers write about what they love about Earthrise and working on the title -- ranging from the game's epic scale to the extensive combat system. Issue IX also expands upon the game's lore, with the struggle between the factions of Noir and Continoma, a clash between utopian idealism and anarchy. Have a look through the latest Earthrise newsletter and see how their vision of a post-apocalyptic future is turning out.

MassivelyLatest Earthrise newsletter updates on game's progress originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchybulgariacontinomadystopiaearthrisefactionsloremasthead-studiosnathura-zonenewsletternewslettersnoirpost-apocalypticquestssci-fisofiautopiaWed, 04 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthrise lore features clash between utopian idealism and anarchy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/earthrise-lore-features-clash-between-utopian-idealism-and-anarc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/earthrise-lore-features-clash-between-utopian-idealism-and-anarc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/earthrise-lore-features-clash-between-utopian-idealism-and-anarc/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Earthrise is a new title that we haven't seen much of thus far beyond screenshots and concept art. Still, it's one that's holding the interest of a small but growing community, waiting to see if the game will offer an experience that's a far cry from a fantasy MMO. In making the game a departure from the fantasy genre, the Earthrise creators at Masthead Studios have been fleshing out the game's lore and relaying it to potential fans through its own newsletters and some media exclusives, at IGN's RPG Vault in particular.

IGN continues its series of Earthrise previews, focusing on the lore of the post-apocalyptic setting. That is to say the old world is dead, wiped out in World War III. Those who weren't part of the Continoma-selected elite are either ash or reduced to slavering mutants prowling Enterra in search of their next meal. The previous piece titled Continoma: The Beginning focused on the corporate entity that rose to power and came to rule what was left of the earth following the near-annihilation of human society. IGN now looks at what happened after the burn in "Continoma: The Rebirth." Check out their piece for the full story on the pioneers of Earthrise who work to rebuild society to utopian standards, and the anarchists who resist the order of this new establishment.

MassivelyEarthrise lore features clash between utopian idealism and anarchy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bulgariacloneclonescloningcontinomaearthriseenterraenterra-islandignloremasthead-studiosnewsletternewsletterspost-apocalypticpreviewsracesrpg-vaultsal-vitassci-fiutopiautopianMon, 01 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sci Fi Channel creating hybrid TV series and MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/sci-fi-channel-creating-hybrid-tv-series-and-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/sci-fi-channel-creating-hybrid-tv-series-and-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/sci-fi-channel-creating-hybrid-tv-series-and-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The Sci Fi Channel plans to air a TV series that simultaneously plays out as a massively multiplayer online game, the Los Angeles Times reports. This pairing of television writers with game designers will allow fans of the series to influence its story arc through their own actions in the virtual space. David Howe, president of the Sci Fi Channel, said, "This is the Holy Grail for us, without a doubt... this is groundbreaking, and I don't say that lightly."

The large and dedicated player communities attached to various titles in the MMO space are appealing to the Sci Fi Channel. "Bundling a World of Warcraft player community with a series and an on-line social community is something the Sci Fi Channel has tried to puzzle out for several years," according to the Los Angeles Times. The Sci Fi Channel's desire to tap into the MMO market led them to work with Trion World Network, a California-based game company with some major investors standing behind it. The hope is that together, they will achieve a first in interactive entertainment: create a hybrid television series and online game, where players affect or even determine the direction of the show. If successful, this will stand as a milestone in the history of both television and games.

Continue reading Sci Fi Channel creating hybrid TV series and MMO

MassivelySci Fi Channel creating hybrid TV series and MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galacticabreakingdevdevelopersgame-designgame-designershybridinteractiveinteractive-televisioninteractivitypost-apocalypticsci-fisci-fi-channeltelevisiontriontrion-world-networktvutopiautopianMon, 02 Jun 2008 09:30:00 EST