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 controls make or break an MMO for you?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/26/the-daily-grind-do-controls-make-or-break-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/26/the-daily-grind-do-controls-make-or-break-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/26/the-daily-grind-do-controls-make-or-break-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,


With all the different options for controls in MMOs, some are devotedly tied to keyboards for movement - either the WASD crowd, the arrow keys, or occasionally the folks who use the numeric keypad. Other players we know who love PvP tend to be heavily mouse-driven, often with macros tied to different buttons on their mouse, able to unleash a devastating string of attacks with just a couple of clicks. In the Western market, we tend to see a combination of controls, offering users their choice. As we play through the Eastern free-to-play titles, we notice a great many that are click-to-move, offering limited keyboard/remapping support.

This of course started discussion on our end. Some of the team are dedicated keyboard fans, and really dislike playing click-to-move only type games. Others are very used to using their mice and the idea of being required to use keyboard for movement seems clunky and slow. What we thought we'd ask today is this - if you found a game you were interested in playing, but it locked you into a control for movement that you didn't like (such as click-to-move, or WASD only if you're an arrow-key fan) would it cause you to put down the game? Or would you try to get used to a completely foreign set of control/movement keys? Do control options (or the lack thereof if you can't change your keymap) make or break an MMO for you?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do controls make or break an MMO for you? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>click-to-movekeyboardkeyboard-shortcutsmmommorpgtdgthe-daily-grindwasdWed, 26 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: WASD or click-to-move?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/03/the-daily-grind-wasd-or-click-to-move/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/03/the-daily-grind-wasd-or-click-to-move/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/03/the-daily-grind-wasd-or-click-to-move/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In an ideal world, we wouldn't have to choose between the two modes -- they'd be options configurable in the preferences tab. Until then, we'll have to make do with one or the other as they're presented to us. Click-to-move games free up a hand to access keyboard commands, but at the cost of increased difficulty in simultaneous travel and camera movement. Mabinogi features this control.

WASD, on the other hand, seems a perfect fit for 3D movement, and by now it's a well-accepted standard, but having to cluster frequently-used keys near to your movement hand can sometimes be awkward. Which is your preference? Does it depend on the type of game?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: WASD or click-to-move? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 May 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>click-to-movemovement-controlstdgthe-daily-grindwasdSat, 03 May 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Preferred control scheme?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/27/the-daily-grind-preferred-control-schemes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/27/the-daily-grind-preferred-control-schemes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/27/the-daily-grind-preferred-control-schemes/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A very large amount of MMO players use the tried-and-true WASD keyboard configuration to play their game of choice. However, we know that there are people out there who shun tradition, and have taken another option. Perhaps you use the typically-neglected arrow keys for movement, or the point-and-click style movement that some MMOs offer? Maybe you've shuffled to the right, along to the ESDF setup, to take advantage of some extra hotkeys? Or are you using something so crazy we may not have even heard of it?

Then there's the possibility that you've left the keyboard behind altogether. In games where you have a choice between versions (like FFXI and Phantasy Star Universe), do you prefer the console or PC controls? Have you found yourself looking up applications like Switchblade for use with your favorite MMO, to get that familiar controller back in your grasp? Tell us about any other ways that you like to take control of your MMO.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Preferred control scheme? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>control-schemescontrolleresdfffxikeyboardpsuswitchbladetdgthe-daily-grindwasdSun, 27 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion gameplay video shows some personality]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/06/aion-gameplay-video-shows-some-personality/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/06/aion-gameplay-video-shows-some-personality/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/06/aion-gameplay-video-shows-some-personality/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Over at Curse there's an interesting video preview of NCsoft's upcoming Aion as well as a couple of screenshots showing off the game's flexible user interface. The entire interface can be adjusted to however a player would prefer and in the screenshot above you can see that Aion is well aware of the popularized WoW-style layout. We're always in favor of letting players easily organize their interface in the way they see fit.

Continue reading Aion gameplay video shows some personality

MassivelyAion gameplay video shows some personality originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionblizzardcursegameplay-videoncsoftuser-interfacewasdworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 06 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First Impressions: Mabinogi]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/first-impressions-mabinogi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/first-impressions-mabinogi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/first-impressions-mabinogi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Mabinogi is an engaging MMO by Nexon, the makers of Maple Story, Audition, and Kart Rider. The name is derived from the Mabinogion, a collection of old Welsh stories. In that sense, it's well-named; Mabinogi is billed as 'your fantasy life', and much of what happens in the game follows a gentle, pastoral atmosphere -- even the combat, to a certain degree. We had the chance to check this out, now that it's in open beta, and here's what we found. Keep in mind that this is not a guide -- we have no insider knowledge to report. This is merely a record of our opinions and experience playing this game for the first few hours. Excelsior!

Gallery: First Impressions: Mabinogi

Opening AngelDefault Character10 year oldHuman male: faceHuman male: hair

Continue reading First Impressions: Mabinogi

MassivelyFirst Impressions: Mabinogi originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10-year-old-avatarALFbangbatmanbig-lucky-finishbikiniblacksmithbrown-foxesbubocherrieschickensclash-of-the-titanscobwebscritical-hitcurse-wordsdevil-may-carediydon-johnsondumbfounded-mouthduncandungeoneiryexclamation-markseye-typefeaturedferghusgiant-spiderground-effectshairstylehands-onhobbitshonor-systemhotkeyshow-toilludium-pu-36-space-modulatoririsjoystiqfeatureskawaiikung-fukung-fu-chickenloomlord-of-the-rings-onlinemabinogimalcolmmarvin-the-martianmetal-gear-solidmint-chocolate-chipnaonew-titlesnoselessparcheesiphysiognomypokemonpolitenesspost-agrarianquest-arrowquest-owlsquest-scrollraccoonsranaldrectal-prolapserevival-penaltysawyerscary-faceseraphskill-rankssmell-o-surfingstatue-of-goddessstonehengesunken-living-roomsuperdeformedswearingsword-fairytailoringthrobbing-icontillagetir-chonailtrefortweetmanderlaxachuwait-for-rescuewasdwaypointswhite-spiderworld-of-warcraftTue, 25 Mar 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Eye Gaze project to enable the disabled]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/22/eye-gaze-project-to-enable-the-disabled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/22/eye-gaze-project-to-enable-the-disabled/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/22/eye-gaze-project-to-enable-the-disabled/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Someone is always working on a way to let differently-abled people interact with virtual worlds and games. This video shows someone playing World of Warcraft using a system called the Eye Gaze, which tracks eye movement and somehow (I'll say magically) converts the signals into mouse clicks and WASD movement.

This could be big for people with conditions that affect motor control, such as muscular dystrophy or polio. There's also a Second Life demonstration video. Though the team's website is currently down, there's a lot of food for thought in these videos. I can see a system like this dramatically improving quality of life for people with crippling disabilities, and also for, as one commenter put it, 'insanely lazy people'.

Videos after the break!

[Thanks, Aki!]

Continue reading Eye Gaze project to enable the disabled

MassivelyEye Gaze project to enable the disabled originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disabledeye-gazeeye-movementinteractionmotor-controlmuscular-dystrophypoliosecond-lifewasdworld-of-warcraftSat, 22 Mar 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New MMOSG: Sociotown]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/new-mmosg-sociotown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/new-mmosg-sociotown/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/20/new-mmosg-sociotown/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

A new MMOSG (that's Massively Multiplayer Online Social Game, which I don't recall seeing before, but sure, why not?) has sprung up, and it's called Sociotown. Now, not to knock something before it's even been released, but when I hear 'socio-' anything, I immediately think sociopath. And that's not the image you want to send across for a virtual world.

Regardless, from looking at the latest footage, there are a few things I need to comment on. Won't you follow along with me?

First of all, point-and-click movement is awkward. I've never liked it, despite the fun to be had in Diablo and Mythos, and prefer WASD movement. Second of all, the look of this world is similar to a lot of other similar social spaces, so no innovation there. Third, there is some interest in not being able to immediately see another person's name, forcing you to introduce yourself to him/her. Fourth, 'Socio dollars' is just more awkwardness -- why not SoBucks?

Continue reading New MMOSG: Sociotown

MassivelyNew MMOSG: Sociotown originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cyworlddiablohabbo-hotelinstrumentsmmosgmythosOz-the-gamesecond-lifesobuckssociopathsociotownwasdThu, 20 Dec 2007 19:00:00 EST