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 Daily Grind: Do alts help or hurt game retention?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/20/the-daily-grind-do-alts-help-or-hurt-game-retention/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/20/the-daily-grind-do-alts-help-or-hurt-game-retention/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/20/the-daily-grind-do-alts-help-or-hurt-game-retention/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I'm going to share with you something I've struggled with and then ask for your professional opinion, Internet Friends. As a natural altoholic, I'm forever filling up my character select screen with a wide variety of heroes. And by heroes, I mean "experiments." Having a main is all fine and dandy, but sooner or later the winds of whimsy wash over me, and I feel the uncontrollable urge to roll up an alt.

My struggle is this: Is my altoholic nature helping me stay in the game longer or hurting my interest overall? On one hand, having a single character to focus on helps me to bond strongly with that toon, explore high-level content, and dedicate myself to a focused journey through the game. On the other hand, having alts adds the spicy variety that I crave and lets me explore the game in new ways.

But I've noticed that several alts can erode that tight attachment I have to an MMO, especially if I keep bouncing around between them. Does this happen to you? What do you think: Do alts help or hurt game retention for you in the long run?

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: Do alts help or hurt game retention? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altaltaholicaltsinternet-friendsopinionretentiontdgthe-daily-grindvarietyvariety-is-the-spice-of-lifeSun, 20 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First Impressions: Tales of Fantasy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/first-impressions-tales-of-fantasy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/first-impressions-tales-of-fantasy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/19/first-impressions-tales-of-fantasy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Tales of Fantasy is a game created by IGG that is set in a world of great mounts, strange creatures and small children that carry swords. Well, maybe not small children, but child-like characters that you can take control of. Most players seemed like they enjoyed the larger, more "adult" characters to play, but when I saw the option to play a 6 year old boy that carried a sword I had to have it.

Graphically the game is reminiscent of Everquest 2, with all its glowy-edged oddness and its harsh environments. It's one of those games that can be amazing looking in one area only to be followed up by an area that looks semi-unfinished. That could very well be the case, being that the game is actually in closed beta and this is a "First Impression." Still, overall it takes free-to-play game graphics up one more notch.

Continue reading First Impressions: Tales of Fantasy

MassivelyFirst Impressions: Tales of Fantasy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betafantasyfeaturedfree-to-playftpGrindIGGnew-titletales-of-fantasyvarietyMon, 19 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[An early peek at the DC Universe Online storyline]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/22/an-early-peek-at-the-dc-universe-online-storyline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/22/an-early-peek-at-the-dc-universe-online-storyline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/22/an-early-peek-at-the-dc-universe-online-storyline/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


DC Universe Online is a superhero MMO in development at Sony Online Entertainment, but one that we didn't get to see much of at E3 2009. That's not going to be the situation with Comic-Con International which is happening this week in San Diego. The DC Universe Online team will be on hand and will hopefully reveal more about the game.

While you won't get to play as Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman, you will begin the game as a hero who fights alongside such comic book icons. In fact, once you roll a character you'll choose a specialty from among super powers, tech powers, or magic powers. That choice will determine the storyline you begin with, according to info revealed in a Variety article. Sony Online Entertainment gave Chris Morris from Variety's 'The Cut Scene' an exclusive on how players will begin the game.

Continue reading An early peek at the DC Universe Online storyline

MassivelyAn early peek at the DC Universe Online storyline originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingchris-morriscomic-condc-universe-onlineheroesmarv-wolfmanmissionsnew-titlesquestssoesony-online-entertainmentsuper-herosuperherothe-cut-scenevarietyvariety.comvillainsWed, 22 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What makes a well-rounded MMO gamer?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/the-daily-grind-what-makes-a-well-rounded-mmo-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/the-daily-grind-what-makes-a-well-rounded-mmo-gamer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/23/the-daily-grind-what-makes-a-well-rounded-mmo-gamer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If you're playing the same MMO day in and day out, you may be thirsting for something different. Or, maybe you're not. Everyone has their own play styles, their own methods and their own interests in an MMO. Some people are perfectly fine dedicating themselves to one particular game and excelling at it completely. Some people need to have any five games on hand to play at any given time, while others mix the rest of their gaming time with action-packed console titles.

So to this point, we can't help but wonder if the variety makes for a more well-rounded player. Perhaps someone who enjoys console games and MMOs are more likely to support the newer titles that explore fresh gameplay mechanics and business models. That's just an assumption, but we'd like to hear your thoughts on the subject. What makes a well-rounded MMO gamer?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What makes a well-rounded MMO gamer? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consolethe-daily-grindvarietywell-roundedMon, 23 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Economic shifts, new business models bring more options for MMO gamers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/25/economic-shifts-new-business-models-bring-more-options-for-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/25/economic-shifts-new-business-models-bring-more-options-for-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/25/economic-shifts-new-business-models-bring-more-options-for-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Tough economic times generally lead to shifts in perspective, and that's exactly the case with the MMO industry given much of the commentary we're seeing lately. In response to these changes in the economy, more companies -- and gamers -- are starting to rethink the alternative business models that have thrived in Asia, and which are increasingly making their way into the western MMO industry. And is that so surprising? Many gamers would like to be able to play more than one or two titles in a given month, but simply aren't able to due to the monthly subscription price (time concerns aside, of course).

Ravious from Kill Ten Rats observes that while MMOs typically demand more of players than standard PC games (at least in terms of time), the wide variety of gaming options that Steam users have come to appreciate could certainly be applicable to MMOs, if other business models beyond monthly subscriptions become viable in the West. Ravious writes, "Whether it is from a Steam-driven library of games, an aging MMO population, an economic recession, or plenty of different business models coming in to the MMO world, I believe that the subscription model of today is nearly done being 'the way'."

Continue reading Economic shifts, new business models bring more options for MMO gamers

MassivelyEconomic shifts, new business models bring more options for MMO gamers originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asiabusiness-modelschoicededicationf2pfree-to-playkill-ten-ratskilltenratsmicrotransactionsmmo-industryopinionravioussteamvarietySun, 25 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST