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[Valve's Gabe Newell recognizes the innovation of MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/valves-gabe-newell-recognizes-the-innovation-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/valves-gabe-newell-recognizes-the-innovation-of-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/valves-gabe-newell-recognizes-the-innovation-of-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Think the PC is losing its grip as the dominant platform when it comes to gaming innovation? Not so fast, says Valve's Gabe Newell. In fact, he even cites MMOs as a leading cause of the PC platform's continued innovation. And when Newell speaks, gamers and game makers listen, as his company is an industry heavyweight responsible for the likes of Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, and Counterstrike (not to mention the Steam digital distribution platform).

Yesterday, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Newell sung the praises of Intel's new GPU/CPU and also offered a counterpoint to those who feel that consoles like the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 have overtaken the PC as industry catalysts.

"We see [the PC] as the center of innovation of everything that's going on, whether it's microtransactions, MMOs, free-to-play, or something like CityVille which -- after its first month -- has 84 million people playing," Newell said. "To us, this is just an indication of why open platforms are where innovations are going to occur."

MassivelyValve's Gabe Newell recognizes the innovation of MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelscesces-las-vegasconsumer-electronics-showf2pfree-to-playgabe-newellinnovationMicrotransactionsopinionpcplaystation-3Playstation3steamvalvevalve-softwarexbox-360Thu, 06 Jan 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Homage to we hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but knowing our luck, it probably will]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/30/hyperspace-beacon-homage-to-we-hope-this-never-makes-it-into-sw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/30/hyperspace-beacon-homage-to-we-hope-this-never-makes-it-into-sw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/30/hyperspace-beacon-homage-to-we-hope-this-never-makes-it-into-sw/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

One of the best compliments you can give a creator is to make an homage to his work. The title of one of the Hyperspace Beacons was an homage to TOROCast articles. It's a way to tell the creator, "You're doing a good job. Keep up the good work." Not to mention, homages are a lot of fun. In fact, my first published work was an homage to the work of Charles Dickens. I wrote a story about what happened to the Cratchit children. But what happens when an homage goes too far?

Every once in a while, the Hyperspace Beacon takes a side track and asks about ideas that should end up on the cutting room floor. We all know games have concepts that just don't work. Star Wars: The Old Republic will be no exception. This little humorous segment is called We hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but knowing our luck, it probably will -- or WHTNMIISWTORBKOLIPW, for short.

Follow me after the break to see what "homageneous" ideas should never make it into the release of SWTOR, but knowing our luck, they will anyway.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Homage to we hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but knowing our luck, it probably will

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Homage to we hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but knowing our luck, it probably will originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-christmas-carolaperture-scienceBioWareCastlevaniacastlevania-lords-of-shadowCharles-DickensDavid-BowieeaElectronic-Artsfallout-new-vegasfeaturedGLaDOShoward-the-duckhyperspace-beaconILMIndiana-JonesIndustrial-light-and-magicJennifer-Connellyjim-hensonLabyrinthLucasFilmportalraiders-of-the-lost-arkron-howardStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicthe-orange-boxtorTOROcastvalvevalve-softwareWHTNMIISWTORBKOLIPWWorld-of-WarcraftWoWYoung-Indiana-Jones-ChroniclesTue, 30 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve jokingly tips hat to MMOs in latest Team Fortress 2 update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/04/valve-jokingly-tips-hat-to-mmos-in-latest-team-fortress-2-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/04/valve-jokingly-tips-hat-to-mmos-in-latest-team-fortress-2-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/04/valve-jokingly-tips-hat-to-mmos-in-latest-team-fortress-2-update/#commentsFiled under: ,


Team Fortress 2 from Valve is one of the more MMO-like first person shooters running. It's only played online, is class-based, has achievement unlocks which open up new gear possibilities, and after the last update there's a backpack with room for 50 items and mention (read: unconfirmed) of tradeable items. In some ways, TF2 is an FPS for MMO lovers -- or just those who use way too many acronyms.

The comparisons between Team Fortress 2 and MMOs aren't lost on some of the more inventive TF2 players out there like goldenhearted who's made Garry's Mod mockups of a fictional "Team Fortress 2 RPG". Valve also got in on the fun in a slightly sneaky way in the latest game update. Steam users found this programmer's tip of the hat to MMOs in the game code:

Continue reading Valve jokingly tips hat to MMOs in latest Team Fortress 2 update

MassivelyValve jokingly tips hat to MMOs in latest Team Fortress 2 update originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>garrys-modgoldenheartedhumorjokejokesspyteam-fortress-2tf2valvevalve-softwareMon, 04 May 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan direct download available on Steam]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/age-of-conan-direct-download-available-on-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/age-of-conan-direct-download-available-on-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/06/age-of-conan-direct-download-available-on-steam/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Age of Conan is now available for purchase and download on Steam, the direct download service run by Half-Life 2 publisher/developer Valve Software. It joins EVE Online in representing the genre in the massive digital store.

To celebrate the game's launch, Funcom and Valve are selling the game for 10% off -- at $45 instead of $50. We doubt that $5 are the difference between you buying this game and not, but if you've been planning to do it anyway this is a good way to go. Not only is it cheaper, but Steam will let you download it at any time, so you won't have to worry about losing the discs.

Then again, a complete installation of AoC is more than 20 gigabytes. Maybe that's more than you want to download. Up to you!

[Thanks, Ted!]
Warhammer Online Coverage Having fun in Conan's homeland? Make sure to check out all of our previous Age of Conan coverage, and stick with Massively for more news from the Hyborian Age!

MassivelyAge of Conan direct download available on Steam originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conandirect-downloadeve-onlinefuncomonline-storesalesteamvalvevalve-softwareSat, 06 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST