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[Ubisoft may be working on a Wii U MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/ubisoft-may-be-working-on-a-wii-u-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/ubisoft-may-be-working-on-a-wii-u-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/06/ubisoft-may-be-working-on-a-wii-u-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Wii U
Could Ubisoft be developing an MMO for Nintendo's upcoming Wii U, of all platforms? There are a few indications that, yes, the studio is indeed doing just that.

The first step in the puzzle comes from Ubisoft's Emile Gauthier, who posted the following tweet yesterday: "Ubisoft Quebec is working on a NEW AAA MMORPG Game and we need people to fill these very strategic positions."

The link attached sends readers to Ubisoft's Facebook page, where a number of recently posted job descriptions are listed. These jobs include Senior Engine Programmer (Wii U -- AAA title), Network Programmer (Wii U -- AAA title), Tools Programmer (AAA MMO), Online Game Design Project Manager, Programmer Gameplay (MMO AAA), and Animation Art Director (MMO AAA). Since all of these have been lumped together and added within a few days of each other, one might come to the conclusion that it is for the same game -- a Wii U MMO.

Of course, the MMO and Wii U title may turn out to be two separate projects, but in any case we're interested to see what Ubisoft has planned for our favorite game genre.

MassivelyUbisoft may be working on a Wii U MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaa-mmoemile-gauthierfacebookjob-descriptionsjob-listingnintendoubisoftwiiwii-uwii-u-mmoTue, 06 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bigpoint buys out sports game development firm]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/bigpoint-buys-out-sports-game-development-firm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/bigpoint-buys-out-sports-game-development-firm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/12/bigpoint-buys-out-sports-game-development-firm/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bigpoint logo
The Bigpoint browser monster has gobbled up another game development firm, and it's still hungry, according to a news blurb at Reuters.

49Games is Bigpoint's latest acquisition, and the former is best-known for its winter sports games on the Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 consoles. 49Games is based in Germany (as is its new parent) and boasts around 40 developers. Bigpoint now features over 700 devs and says that it is the "world's largest browser-based online game provider" thanks to more than 200 million registered users.

Bigpoint is best known for its Battlestar Galactica MMO as well as its controversial stance on selling in-game advantages.

MassivelyBigpoint buys out sports game development firm originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>49-gamesacquisitionsbigpointbrowserbrowser-basedbrowser-gamescasualconsolesf2pfree-to-playmmo-industryps3sportswiixbox-360Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[World of Warcraft is for "hardcore" young male gamers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/22/world-of-warcraft-is-for-hardcore-young-male-gamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/22/world-of-warcraft-is-for-hardcore-young-male-gamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/22/world-of-warcraft-is-for-hardcore-young-male-gamers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Yes. That's right. The most accessible MMO is too hardcore for the standard audience, according to Forbes.com and Rob Hutter of the recently unveiled Gazillion Entertainment. In a recent interview with Hutter, he was quoted as saying that the MMO market could expand outside of "targeting the hardcore gamer demographic," using World of Warcraft as his main example.

Forbes.com paraphrased him as saying, "...Most people unaccustomed to MMOs might be intimidated by complex games like 'Warcraft,' Hutter says trends in technology suggest the audience for simple, well-designed games will grow quickly. The runaway success of Nintendo's Wii proved virgin gamers will try new titles if they are easy to play, while the boom in social networks like Facebook suggests people of all ages are looking for new ways to interact online, he says."

While we understand what he's getting at and can appreciate trying to target gamers outside of the main demographic, we think he might need to pick a better example next time. WoW can be intimidating for first time users, but something must have clicked with the non-hardcore gaming crowd as many of them have stuck around in Azeroth. Unless, of course, all 11 million of the World of Warcraft subscribers have suddenly become hardcore male gaming nerds, and those newbies in our guilds are simply the stuff of illusion.

[Via Hardcore Casual]

MassivelyWorld of Warcraft is for "hardcore" young male gamers originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcomplexforbes.comgazillion-entertainmenthardhardcorenintendoraidingrob-huttersocial-networkwiiworld-of-warcraftSun, 22 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[FusionFall developers hint at Wii, iPhone possibilities]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/09/fusionfall-developers-hint-at-wii-iphone-possibilities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/09/fusionfall-developers-hint-at-wii-iphone-possibilities/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/09/fusionfall-developers-hint-at-wii-iphone-possibilities/#commentsDo you wake up in the morning and think that you need more Dexter in your life? Maybe more Ben 10? Megas XLR? We wish we had more Megas, but that's an article for another day.

What we do know is that Matt Schwartz, content designer and writer, and Chris Waldron, executive producer of FusionFall, have hinted at their game possibly moving onwards to both the iPhone and Wii. The Unity engine that FusionFall was created on can also support both the iPhone and Wii as well. While they don't want to announce anything officially, Schwartz mentioned that their tech director did have a mockup with avatars running around on the iPhone, so it is a possibility.

For the full interview, drop by MTV Multiplayer and check out their conversation.

MassivelyFusionFall developers hint at Wii, iPhone possibilities originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cartoon-network-mmochris-waldronfusionfalliphonematt-schwartzunity-enginewiiMon, 09 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What does "MMO" mean, anyway?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/the-daily-grind-what-does-mmo-mean-anyway/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/the-daily-grind-what-does-mmo-mean-anyway/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/the-daily-grind-what-does-mmo-mean-anyway/#commentsFiled under: ,

What is an MMO, and what isn't? There was the central question in a hearty debate in the Massively offices yesterday after some of us watched (or attended) the Nintendo and Sony E3 press conferences. It's an old question, but it's all the more relevant in the context of E3 this year.

At the Nintendo conference, a game called Animal Crossing: City Folk was announced for the Wii. In that game, each player has his or her own persistent town hosted on Nintendo's servers. There are likely thousands of players, but only four players can be in each town at a time. Is Animal Crossing: City Folk an MMO? On one hand, you have thousands of players in persistent worlds. On the other: only four players per world? That doesn't sound very massive! We decided it's not, but what do you think?

A couple of hours later, Sony announced a PlayStation 3 game called MAG, which stands for "Massive Action Game." In MAG, up to 256 players battle over control points in a persistent battlefield. There's even character advancement. Is MAG an MMO? That depends on just how many players have to be in the world for it to be called "massive," doesn't it? You might say that there should be thousands. Then again, some first generation MMOs like Meridian 59 didn't usually have much more than a couple hundred people on each server. Tough call?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What does "MMO" mean, anyway? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossing-city-folkconsolesmagmassive-action-gamenintendoplaystation-3semanticssonytdgthe-daily-grindwiiWed, 16 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E308: Animal Crossing Wii adds MMOG elements, but not an MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/15/e308-animal-crossing-wii-adds-mmog-elements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/15/e308-animal-crossing-wii-adds-mmog-elements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/15/e308-animal-crossing-wii-adds-mmog-elements/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


While nobody is entirely surprised that Nintendo decided to bring Animal Crossing to the Wii, the concepts behind this new title are curious from our viewpoint. Animal Crossing: City Folk appears to be an interesting combination of Wii gaming and MMOG/virtual world elements. Sadly this does not appear to be the MMO many were hoping for, but it is certainly a good first step towards that eventual end. In Animal Crossing: City Folk, there will be many elements familiar to MMO players: auction houses for player to player sales, in-game housing that others may visit, and the ability to send player mail not just in-game, but also to mobile phones -- even what appears to be some grindy trade-skills -- all in a perpetual-styled world. It does not have the massive elements, however, so it falls into multiplayer as opposed to massively muliplayer.

Sorry, Animal Crossing fans. Looks like we'll be waiting for a while to see if an Animal Crossing MMO (ever) hits. of course, as far as developing the potential to create such a game, this looks to be a really great first step. Well, after they ditch the friend codes.

MassivelyE308: Animal Crossing Wii adds MMOG elements, but not an MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinge3-2008e308featuredjoystiqfeaturesmmonintendonintendo-wiiwiiTue, 15 Jul 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Nintendo to reveal Animal Crossing MMO at E3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/03/rumor-nintendo-to-reveal-animal-crossing-mmo-at-e3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/03/rumor-nintendo-to-reveal-animal-crossing-mmo-at-e3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/03/rumor-nintendo-to-reveal-animal-crossing-mmo-at-e3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The picture above comes from the latest edition of the UK Nintendo Power, and the tag line up in the corner says "It's been a while. It's time to revisit an old friend. How's your village doing these days?" Looks like news about the Animal Crossing MMO for the Wii is just around the corner.

And you know what else is just around the corner? E3. The Nintendo Power issue is using the image, which is actually art for the old DS version (here's hoping we'll see actual Miis in the new Animal Crossing), as a teaser for next month, and it's a pretty good guess that by the time next month rolls around, Nintendo will have told us something about the new version at E3. Massively will be there of course, so we'll keep our eyes open.

Tom Nook is about to own your soul again -- but this time, he'll do it online.

MassivelyRumor: Nintendo to reveal Animal Crossing MMO at E3 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinganimal-crossing-mmoe3massivelymiisnewsnintendonintendo-powerrumorswiiThu, 03 Jul 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't expect World of Warcraft on the PS3 or Xbox 360 ever]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/don-t-expect-world-of-warcraft-on-the-ps3-or-xbox-360-ever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/don-t-expect-world-of-warcraft-on-the-ps3-or-xbox-360-ever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/25/don-t-expect-world-of-warcraft-on-the-ps3-or-xbox-360-ever/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Blizzard Entertainment's Rob Pardo is a bona fide Rockstar in the gaming industry. In his recent keynote speech at the Game Developer's Conference at the Paris GDC he continued to indirectly extinguish rumors that suggested World of Warcraft is coming to a Console, rumors that stretch back years. While not specifically talking about World of Warcraft, when Pardo was asked what kept MMOs from Consoles he responded:

"Lack of hard drive space, and difficulty in certifying patches. Basically just that.... another problem is that they want a piece of the subscriptions (laughs)."

That's a simplistic answer coming from the Executive VP of Design at Blizzard Entertainment, but there it is laid out in plain sight, a truth even if shared in a humorous fashion. Giving Microsoft or Sony residuals, most likely a big chunk is one thing keeping World of Warcraft off Consoles. Is that a bad thing? No, but Blizzard could be missing something here, and just maybe Rob Pardo is plain wrong about what's keeping MMOs away from Consoles. It's simple really...

Continue reading Don't expect World of Warcraft on the PS3 or Xbox 360 ever

MassivelyDon't expect World of Warcraft on the PS3 or Xbox 360 ever originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanarenanetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentconsoleconsolesddomicrosoftncsoftnintendoparis-gdcplaystationps3rob-pardoshadowbanesoethe-agencyturbinewiiworld-of-warcraftxboxxbox-360Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii need innovative MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/wii-need-innovative-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/wii-need-innovative-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/08/wii-need-innovative-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Let's get honest for a second here -- every MMO that seems to come out nowadays is the same game with a new paint job and one game design feature expressed above the rest. Currently, that game is Age of Conan, where larger breasts and the real-time combat system got the spotlight in this round of game making.

If game designers keep this up, we're going to watch the market dwindle as new gamers become jaded with new games just repeating the same content they've already been through over and over again. What we're looking for is an MMO that can break open the market like World of Warcraft did when it launched.

According to Earnest Cavalli at Wired, the Wii is the holy grail that MMO developers should chase after; a veritable icon of how to bring the market to a wider audience than just testosterone pumped adolescents.

Continue reading Wii need innovative MMOs

MassivelyWii need innovative MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocblizzardfuncomgame-mechanicsinnovationopinionwiiwiredwired.comworld-of-warcraftwowSun, 08 Jun 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Age of Conan and the question of next-gen MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/age-of-conan-and-the-question-of-next-gen-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/age-of-conan-and-the-question-of-next-gen-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/age-of-conan-and-the-question-of-next-gen-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Darren over at The Common Sense Gamer is wondering out loud whether or not it's fair to point at Age of Conan's combat system as its true next generational feature. He wants to know if -- like the Nintendo Wii -- what make's something truly next generational is the way you interact with it. His point being that the way Age of Conan's combat system works causes the player to become much more invested in what's happening on their screen.

We do wonder if it's just the combat system that makes AoC so much fun. As Darren mentions in his post, there's something to be said for the game's graphical prowess and visual feel that makes it so unabashedly Conan.

Continue reading Age of Conan and the question of next-gen MMOs

MassivelyAge of Conan and the question of next-gen MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 May 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoceidosfuncomgrand-theft-auto-ivgta-ivthe-common-sense-gamerwiiSat, 24 May 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA's Paul Barnett pegs the Wii as the first MMO-friendly console]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/eas-paul-barnett-pegs-the-wii-as-the-first-successful-mmo-conso/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/eas-paul-barnett-pegs-the-wii-as-the-first-successful-mmo-conso/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/eas-paul-barnett-pegs-the-wii-as-the-first-successful-mmo-conso/#commentsFiled under: ,

Both Microsoft and Sony have big plans for the MMO genre on their respective consoles. Games like Huxley and Age of Conan are slated for the 360, and NCsoft's pairing with the Japanese hardware giant could mean any number of new games for the PlayStation 3. The console company that has remained silent on the MMO front so far is, of course, Nintendo. The Wii hardly seems like the ideal platform for a massively multiplayer experience, the possibilities of Pokemon aside.

Just the same, EA Mythic's Paul Barnett recently singled out Nintendo as the most likely to capitalize on the console possibilities of MMOs. Barnett notes that the dominance of one game has resulted in very specific thinking about the genre. As a result, game makers are having trouble concepting an online experience to be console-based from the ground up. Nintendo, Barnett feels, could overcome this hurdle. "The best example I can find for a perpetual online console game is Rock Band, with it Xbox Live community store. It's somewhere in there. I don't know what it is, but that's perhaps the closest I've seen to convincing console people to do things together, to do things online, to do things that cost money, to earn income."

MassivelyEA's Paul Barnett pegs the Wii as the first MMO-friendly console originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 May 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftncsoftnintendopaul-barnettsonywiixbox-360xbox360Tue, 20 May 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Nnooo.com pitches Pokemon MMO; own name gives the answer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/nnooo-com-pitches-pokemon-mmo-own-name-gives-the-answer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/nnooo-com-pitches-pokemon-mmo-own-name-gives-the-answer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/nnooo-com-pitches-pokemon-mmo-own-name-gives-the-answer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Question: What's the difference between John Q. Public saying they "have a neat idea" for a Pokémon MMO and the maker of casual Wii title Pop saying the same thing? Answer: a foot in the door, and little else. That hasn't stopped nnooo.com from pitching the idea to Nintendo via their website, along with ideas for games based on the Battlestar Galactica, James Bond, and X-Men franchises. We're not saying they don't have the talent to back this claim, but a casual title is a far cry from a polished MMO -- and possibly Nintendo's first one, at that.

Even assuming this pitch had a chance to be taken seriously by Nintendo, it's highly unlikely the company would let a third-party develop it, judging by their existing Pokémon line's history. You know, if we're calling dibs, we've already pitched two of these ideas ourselves. Hmm ... Massively Games ... has a nice ring, doesn't it?

[Via NintendoLife]

MassivelyNnooo.com pitches Pokemon MMO; own name gives the answer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 May 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battlestar-galacticajames-bondjohn-q-publicnintendonnooopokemonpopwiix-menTue, 20 May 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: More of a meal than a snack edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/wrup-more-of-a-meal-than-a-snack-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/wrup-more-of-a-meal-than-a-snack-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/16/wrup-more-of-a-meal-than-a-snack-edition/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Happy Friday! Time once again to ask the most important question there is to ask here at Massively: What are you having for lunch? I just had a Potbelly open up down the street from me and... no, I'm only kidding. We want to know: What aRe yoU Playing?

Tateru Nino, as usual, is eating hardy -- she's got Second Life and City of Heroes queued up, as well as a slew of non-MMOs to play. Chris Chester is planning on diving into Age of Conan as soon as he gets a chance, and I know that most of the Massively staff are heading to the Hyborian Age as well. As for me, World of Warcraft continues to be a staple, but truth be told, I probably won't be able to step foot in an MMO this weekend -- I'm going out of town for most of it, and when I do get back, I have a recently purchased Wii system now hooked up to my television. As a first game, I'm planning to check out LostWinds (and if you have any other recommendations besides Super Mario Galaxy, which I'm already sold on as a huge platformer fan, let me know). Of course I'm anxiously looking forward to news of an Animal Crossing MMO now, too -- as if the offline version wasn't addictive enough. Curse you, Tom Nook!

So what are you up to in the world of MMOs for the next seven days?

MassivelyWRUP: More of a meal than a snack edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 May 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conananimal-crossing-mmocity-of-heroesmmonintendosuper-mario-galaxywhat-are-you-playingwiiworld-of-warcraftwrupFri, 16 May 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve hopes to make an MMO someday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/valve-hopes-to-make-an-mmo-someday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/valve-hopes-to-make-an-mmo-someday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/05/valve-hopes-to-make-an-mmo-someday/#commentsFiled under:

In a discussion with the CVG site, Valve's Doug Lombardi revealed that the trend-setting company is always looking to new genres. Talking primarily about their hopes to someday make a game for the Wii, Lombardi offers up tantalizing hope for MMO-playing fans of their landmark first-person shooter titles. The site quotes Lombardi as saying, "Gabe (Valve co-founder, Gabe Newell) is a huge fan of MMORPGs and he's always wanted to make one ... But that's a big risk to venture out on." Developers in the company are also looking to make kids titles for Nintendo's console, a direct result of the aging and family development of the games industry.

Lombardi goes on to say that these areas of interest would really stretch the company creatively, and they'd love to tackle them ... but that we probably shouldn't hold our breath. Their leap outside of the FPS comfort zone to the Wii or MMOs won't come this year or next. But it does, at least, give us some hope.

MassivelyValve hopes to make an MMO someday originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 May 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>half-life-2hopevalvewiiMon, 05 May 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Games that could be MMOs: Pokémon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/games-that-could-be-mmos-pokemon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/games-that-could-be-mmos-pokemon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/29/games-that-could-be-mmos-pokemon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Pokémon brand is one of the largest and most successful franchises the gaming world has ever spawned. There are no less than 10 videogames, 1 trading card game, 12 movies, an animated series, 10 soundtrack CDs, a bunch of manga -- but no official MMO.

Why this hasn't already happened is beyond the imagination of this blogger. C'mon, a world in which thousands, if not millions of wanna-be Pokémon trainers are working hard to be number one, constantly pitting their captive critters against each other, and every iteration of the game franchise is only one-on-one? This isn't rocket science; it's not even science fair volcano science. But if we were to imagine a Pokémon MMO, it would look something like this:

Continue reading Games that could be MMOs: Pokémon

MassivelyGames that could be MMOs: Pokémon originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badgesbulbasaurcharmanderelementalfeaturedgaia-onlinegengarnintendopikachupokemonpokemon-onlinerivalsquirtletrainerwiiworld-of-warcraftTue, 29 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shadowbane dev studio to create MMO for the Wii]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/shadowbane-dev-studio-to-create-mmo-for-the-wii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/shadowbane-dev-studio-to-create-mmo-for-the-wii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/shadowbane-dev-studio-to-create-mmo-for-the-wii/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Here's a weird Venn diagram for you: those of you who remember Shadowbane with fondness and also love the Nintendo Wii will be totally excited about this piece of news. Stray Bullet, the Austin, Texas MMO developer, have announced that they're working on a new MMO. At the same time, they've posted a few openings on Gamasutra's JobSeeker board, one for a Senior Programmer for an un-named Wii project, and the other for a Gameplay Programmer for an MMO project. Neither posting mentions the other, but chances are, they're for the same project.

Really, there's no bad time for wild speculation, so let's get the ball rolling! We're envisioning, obviously enough, actual hack and slash combat with the nunchuk and wiimote. Maybe crafting might take on a whole new dimension with the use of the motion-sensing abilities of the Wii. Maybe it'll be a massively Mii experience! Whatever's coming down the pike, we'll keep our ears to the ground for more info. With this on the way, can the Animal Crossing MMO be far behind? Hey ... what're the odds that this is the Animal Crossing MMO?

MassivelyShadowbane dev studio to create MMO for the Wii originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinggamasutragameplay-programmerhack-and-slashjob-seekermiinintendonunchuksenior-programmershadowbanestray-bulletvenn-diagramwiiwiimoteTue, 22 Apr 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SocioTown enters open beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/sociotown-enters-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/sociotown-enters-open-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/sociotown-enters-open-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


SocioTown? Seriously, didn't anyone in the marketing department realize the potential implications of an ironic name like that? Despite the fact that SocioTown is not a new title by Rockstar Games, as the name would suggest, it is still creating a buzz. Who knows, maybe the out-of-context name will be a bonus for the game's sales. Heck, it worked for the Wii.

So besides the name, how is this new browser-based social-networking MMO any different from the others currently working their way through open beta? According to the website, SocioTown is "the biggest and most sophisticated browser-based 3D virtual world to date". Your friend network is automatically based on who you talk to the most, which is an interesting feature. You can even perform your own music within the game, to be rated by the other players in real time. If they love it, you're on the fast track to rehab, but if they hate it, you could end up with a temporary music ban! Now we just need one of those in real life.

MassivelySocioTown enters open beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browser-basedcasualoutside-the-boxrockstarsociotownwiiMon, 14 Apr 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A hands-free interface for Second Life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/12/a-hands-free-interface-for-second-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/12/a-hands-free-interface-for-second-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/12/a-hands-free-interface-for-second-life/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Standing in front of a large-screen television, leaning, turning, and twisting as the on-screen character mimics his actions, Philippe Bossut could be playing the latest Wii game. But he is not wielding a Wiimote or any other controller, and Bossut's avatar is flying not through Super Mario Galaxy, but Second Life. Through the use of a special 3D webcam and some custom software written by Bossut, Segway-inspired movement in the real world can control things in the virtual world. Running, turning, flying, even creating objects are done with nary a keyboard or a mouse in sight.

Back in the 80s, virtual reality was cumbersome and uncomfortable, requiring a head-mounted display and a special glove to move around the world. Twenty years later, the display is gone and the gloves are off. We've had Second Life to be the world of imagination; now we're developing the means to put ourselves into it. HandsFree3D currently can do little more than move your avatar around -- but imagine if this was combined with puppeteering -- the ability for your avatar to mimic your real-life facial expressions and body language? And perhaps add in the Emotiv headset that reads moods and emotions straight from your brain? This truly revolutionizes interactions with the virtual world and those who dwell within it. In a few years, the idea of sitting at a keyboard to play a game may well seem quaint and old-fashioned.

Check out the video of HandsFree3D in action after the break.

Continue reading A hands-free interface for Second Life

MassivelyA hands-free interface for Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d-cameraemotivlinden-labmitch-kaporphilippe-bossutpuppeteeringsecond-lifeslsuper-mario-galaxywiiwiimoteSat, 12 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mytopia reinvents Yahoo! Games for the MySpace generation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/mytopia-reinvents-yahoo-games-for-the-myspace-generation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/mytopia-reinvents-yahoo-games-for-the-myspace-generation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/mytopia-reinvents-yahoo-games-for-the-myspace-generation/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Are casual, social games the wave of the future? In years to come, will we lovers of the swinging sword, the flashing fireball and the gigantic gun be left reminiscing about the "good old days" as we sign on for another evening of massively multiplayer bingo? The makers of Mytopia took a look into their crystal ball, saw the success of MySpace and Facebook and casual-game havens like Popcap, Yahoo! and Neopets and said, "These great tastes... would taste great together!"

Thus was born Mytopia, a Flash-based virtual world where you can create your own super-deformed avatar (like Wii's Miis) and play popular board and card games with people from around the world, build friends lists, send email, and gamble away virtual money challenging other players to backgammon, chess, Sudoku and several other similar games. It works not only as a standalone web site, but also as an application you can install in Facebook, MySpace or Bebo. No matter how you arrive in Mytopia, though, you'll be able to play with everyone else -- there's only one game world shared by all.

Mytopia has a cheerful art style, bouncy music, and well-rendered board games. What it does not have, though, is bloody avatar fights in the Battledome. Come on. Even Neopets has that.

[Via Techcrunch]

MassivelyMytopia reinvents Yahoo! Games for the MySpace generation originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backgammonbebochessfacebookflashflash-gamesmiimyspacemytopianeopetspopcappopcap-gamessudokuwiiyahooyahoo-gamesTue, 25 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo uninterested in MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/nintendo-uninterested-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/nintendo-uninterested-in-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/06/nintendo-uninterested-in-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Despite the hopes and well-wishes of Nintendo console owners everwhere, the big N has reaffirmed that they basically have zero interest in a Massively Multiplayer game right now. A Gamespot interview with company president Satoru Iwata clarifies that, in order for Nintendo to get involved such a game would have to be appealing for everyone aged '5 to 95'. That certainly explains why Square/Enix expressed no interest in porting Final Fantasy XI to the Wii console shortly after its launch.

Iwata goes on to say that the Mii customization system is about as complicated as they want to make an interface right now. Further, they're not interested in competing with the virtual world services on the market right now. If they were to enter the markplace, they'd "focus on doing things that nobody else would do ... We'd be sure to make it something that nobody would call it a product similar to another company's offering." There have been persistent stories about companies developing an MMO for the DS, though. Perhaps the handheld's unique nature would allow them to go outside their comfort zone a bit more?

How sweet would a Massive game on the Wii be though, eh?

[Via Eurogamer]

MassivelyNintendo uninterested in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingconsoledsnintendonintendo-dsnintendo-wiiwiiWed, 06 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Square-Enix's creatively-named Virtual World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/07/square-enixs-creatively-named-virtual-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/07/square-enixs-creatively-named-virtual-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/07/square-enixs-creatively-named-virtual-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The acerbic lads at Kotaku bring the snark once again with their announcement of an announcement over Square-Enix's upcoming virtual world called Virtual World ... virtual world. There, I couldn't resist.

The post's comparison to Second Life, however, is slightly off-the-mark, as SL doesn't run on ad revenues, while Sony's Home certainly will. Similarly, Virtual World will feature ads for Square-Enix games, and given that Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon will be a Wii title, there could be other Wii titles on display as well.

Besides the ability to have tea with a Chocobo, will there be any reason for people to want to enter Virtual World? And besides, everybody knows Chocobos like Gysahl Greens anyway -- I mean, duh.

MassivelySquare-Enix's creatively-named Virtual World originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chocobos-mysterious-dungeongysahl greenskotakumassivelyplaystation-homesonysquare-enixvirtual-worldwiiFri, 07 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blizzard's next-gen MMO(s) might appear on consoles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/blizzards-next-gen-mmos-might-appear-on-consoles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/blizzards-next-gen-mmos-might-appear-on-consoles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/21/blizzards-next-gen-mmos-might-appear-on-consoles/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Blizzard has said time and again that World of Warcraft will probably not be released on consoles. But as we learned this year, World of Warcraft is not the only MMO on Blizzard's plate. They've been occasionally tossing up job adverts for people with various skills to work on "Next-Gen MMO" stuff. The folks at Blizzard have never fully embraced consoles and successful console MMOs are rare, so even though we knew Blizzard had some kind of console title in the works, there was no evidence that the next-gen MMO project(s) would be for anything other than the PC (and maybe Mac).

Well, the latest of the MMO job adverts (this time for a physics programmer) requires would-be applicants to have "programming experience on both console and PC titles." This leads us to believe that Blizzard is either making an MMO that will be released for both the PC and one or more consoles, or that it's producing multiple MMO titles with the same physics engine and that the PC and consoles will get different games ... or both.

Either way, it's a tantalizing hint at what's to come.

MassivelyBlizzard's next-gen MMO(s) might appear on consoles originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360blizzardbreakingconsoleshiringjobmmonext-genphysicsplaystation-3ps3wiiworld-of-warcraftwowxbox-360Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Animal Crossing MMO for the Wii confirmed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/animal-crossing-mmo-for-wii-confirmed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/animal-crossing-mmo-for-wii-confirmed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/09/animal-crossing-mmo-for-wii-confirmed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Our good friends at Joystiq are reporting that Edge, a European gaming magazine, has confirmed that the next version of the realtime animal friends/life simulator Animal Crossing will be a "social networking MMO" for the Wii. This had been rumored before, and it really shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who's ever played Animal Crossing-- raises hand for both the DS and the Gamecube-- as it already works more or less as an MMO, and taking the whole thing to the next level will just make it that much more addictive as a game. And it will be fun to see what Nintendo does with social networking and the MMO format.

Of course, this probably also means that we'll have to start working the graveyard shift coming up with bells for that slum lord Nook again. That shifty raccoon is a slave driver, you hear me? A slave driver! At least now we'll be able to commiserate virtually together.

MassivelyAnimal Crossing MMO for the Wii confirmed originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossingbreakingjoystiqmmonintendosocial-networkingtom-nookwiiFri, 09 Nov 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Animal Crossing MMO in development for the Wii?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/animal-crossing-mmo-in-development-for-the-wii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/animal-crossing-mmo-in-development-for-the-wii/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/25/animal-crossing-mmo-in-development-for-the-wii/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Being both a console owner and an MMO nut can be hard sometimes. The two exist such separate hemispheres that it's easy to forget that they're both part and parcel of that bigger thing we all do called gaming. But if the rumors being tossed around by Next-Gen hold water, the seemingly disparate worlds of the Wii and MMOs could be coming together at last.

Yes, evidently, Next-Gen has it on good authority that the new Animal Crossing game in development by Nintendo will be taking a ride on the massively multiplayer money train. The evidence they cite actually seems pretty weak; head developer Katsuya Eguchi has talked generally about plans to feature mobile phone and PC connectivity to the Animal Crossing sequel currently in development, but he's never gone into specifics. And given that this discussion was going on last year, we'd be willing to bet that Next-Gen posted this story based on some insider information. Still, even though they use such tantalizingly declarative sentences, we're still going to have to file this one under "rumor."

But what a rumor! Of all the consoles for a new MMO to appear on, the Wii would certainly seem the least likely. The online support is weak, the console lacks voice or keyboard input, and their market skews decidedly casual. If Nintendo were to bring a franchise into the MMO fold though, Animal Crossing would be the one. It's already got a lot of the essentials: crafting systems, farming, fishing, and questing on behalf of colorful townsfolk. Throw in an elf or two, and they're practically set!

[Via Joystiq]

MassivelyAnimal Crossing MMO in development for the Wii? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossingcasualnintendoWiiThu, 25 Oct 2007 08:02:00 EST