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 Road to Mordor: Five ways LotRO should be streamlined]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/19/the-road-to-mordor-five-ways-lotro-should-be-streamlined/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

LotRO
You would think that growth and expansion is nothing but a good thing for MMOs -- after all, those are the hallmarks of the genre. But as these games get bigger, issues emerge as the developers add new zones, features, and systems. In short, maturing MMOs gravitate toward complexity, and this can have an adverse effect on the game as a whole.

The problem is that there is eventually too much a brand-new player has to absorb and master, not to mention the hassle of rolling alts and having to navigate all of that content once more. If developers don't stay on top of the situation, then the game starts to lose overall cohesion and becomes a befuddling mess.

With three expansions and numerous updates under its belt, Lord of the Rings Online is venturing deep into this territory. I have friends who are leveling up for the first time and finding themselves overwhelmed with everything that needs doing as well as all the systems that are not clearly explained. So today I want to play backseat developer and talk about five ways that LotRO should be streamlined for the good of all players, old and new.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Five ways LotRO should be streamlined

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Five ways LotRO should be streamlined originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgactivisionbattlenetblizzardblizzard-entertainmentcash-shopd3deed-logsdeedsdiablodiablo-2diablo-3diablo-iidiablo-iiievendimf2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgothic-fantasylegendary-itemslegendary-traitlegendary-traitslilord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelorebooklotromoriamultiplayeronline-multiplayeropinionrevampreworkroad-to-mordorroguelikerpgstatsstreamlinethe-road-to-mordorturbineturbine-entertainmentvirtue-systemvirtueswarcraftwikiworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 19 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you use an official wiki in your game of choice?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/the-daily-grind-would-you-use-an-official-wiki-in-your-game-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/the-daily-grind-would-you-use-an-official-wiki-in-your-game-of/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/the-daily-grind-would-you-use-an-official-wiki-in-your-game-of/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Guild Wars wiki
Some of us were chatting around the Massively (virtual) water cooler yesterday and came to the conclusion that one thing a lot of MMOs are missing is a reliable, up-to-date official wiki.

With a few exceptions like the Guild Wars Wiki or EVElopedia, the majority of the MMO game list lacks a comprehensive official wiki -- a central hub for update news, gear and loot details, gameplay guides, and so on. Many games have but don't maintain them, and many more don't have them at all. Is this something that should be remedied, or is the lack of supply due to the lack of demand?

What do you think -- should more developers put resources toward the creation, expansion, and maintenance of this sort of thing?

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: Would you use an official wiki in your game of choice? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>evelopediagame-guidesgame-wikiguild-wars-wikiofficial-wikiopinionopinionstdgthe-daily-grindwikiTue, 03 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jagex unveils new RuneScape website]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/jagex-unveils-new-runescape-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/jagex-unveils-new-runescape-website/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/22/jagex-unveils-new-runescape-website/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Shiny new website!
Jagex announced today that it is giving the official RuneScape website a makeover. The update will add a couple of features to the popular F2P title's website, such as a new wiki and an events section, which should help the community pull together. The studio is also updating the site's news feed in order to ensure that players can get the latest in RuneScape news all the time. To check it out for yourself, just head on over to the official RuneScape site.

[Source: Jagex press release]

MassivelyJagex unveils new RuneScape website originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>event-pageevents-pagef2pfree-to-playjagexjagex-ltdofficial-sitersrunescaperunescape-wikisitesite-updateupdatewikiTue, 22 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain's Log: Class spotlight - Engineer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/captains-log-class-spotlight-engineer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/captains-log-class-spotlight-engineer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/captains-log-class-spotlight-engineer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Trek Online engineer patch
Captain's Log, Stardate 65205.7...

Hello, computer (and players)! As you may or may not know, the Star Trek franchise celebrated a momentous birthday last week as it turned 45 years old. While humankind first set out to "boldly going where no one has gone before" in the late 1960s, its legacy lives on today, four decades later, through Star Trek Online. Although the game has had its fair shares of ups and downs, I am not afraid to stand behind it and be proud of it for being able to continue Gene Roddenberry's dream. I am also extremely honored to play a small part in its history by bringing you Captain's Log each week, and I look forward to what the next 45 years hold.

I'd like to welcome each of you to the third and final installment of my three-part series focusing on the classes within STO. After checking out the awesome DPS that Tactical captains can dish out a couple of weeks back, we now shift our focus to the Scottys, LaForges, Obriens, and Torreses of the game -- the Engineering captains. Players taking on this role often find themselves having a blast, literally, as they materialize their defense and medical turrets, call on their support and seeker drones, and deploy their force fields and cover shields. While there are a variety of powers that this career can utilize, I would like to showcase a few of them past the jump.

Ensign, warp... actually, no; it's actually time to realign the dilithium matrix...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Class spotlight - Engineer

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Class spotlight - Engineer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armekborgclassescrypticcryptic-star-trekcryptic-studiosdirected-energy-modulationeject-warp-plasmaemergency-poweremergency-power-to-auxiliaryemergency-power-to-shieldsengineering-teamextend-shieldsfeaturedfuse-armorlivestreammedical-generator-fabricationperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentRebecca-Simmonsred-alertscience-teamshield-generator-fabricationst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlineSTFstosto-class-spotlightsto-wikitrek-onlineturret-fabricationweapons-malfunctionwikiThu, 15 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DAoC rolling out new website, allowing server transfers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/daoc-rolling-out-new-website-allowing-server-transfers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/daoc-rolling-out-new-website-allowing-server-transfers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/daoc-rolling-out-new-website-allowing-server-transfers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As Dark Age of Camelot counts down to its 10th year anniversary in October, Stuart Zissu breaks out a few early presents by revealing four "big ticket items" in his latest producer's letter.

An upgraded new player experience is on its way for the game to help new and returning players get up to speed for epic RvR battles. Dubbed the "New User Journey," this extended tutorial will give pointers on everything from pets to crowd control.

The team's also hard at work on a new website for the game, which should be coming soon. Or "soon." The new website will operate in conjunction with the third big ticket item, which is a DAoC wiki. Zissu put out a call for players to help fill the wiki once it's up and running.

Finally, players on the Glamorgan cluster will be able to transfer to Ywain in the near future. You can read all of the nitty-gritty details of these items on the Camelot Herald.

MassivelyDAoC rolling out new website, allowing server transfers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10th-anniversaryanniversarydaocdaoc-wikidark-age-of-camelotGlamorganmythicmythic-entertainmentnew-user-experiencenew-user-journeyproducers-letterserver-transfersstuart-zissututorialwebsitewikiywainMon, 06 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Mask: Chatting with Champions Online's wiki mistress]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/behind-the-mask-chatting-with-champions-onlines-wiki-mistress/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/behind-the-mask-chatting-with-champions-onlines-wiki-mistress/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/behind-the-mask-chatting-with-champions-onlines-wiki-mistress/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I was planning on interviewing some key members of the Champions Online community. There were a few questions raised to me on just what constituted a "key member." This week, I got to chat with CO's resident wiki mistress, Lohr. She's the owner and administrator of the biggest Champions fansite on the internet, Champions Online Wiki.

CO-Wiki is the largest repository of information on the game available anywhere on the internet, and it includes everything from information on missions to powers and levels. Early in its youth, CO-Wiki was not the biggest, being dwarfed by a Wikia site dedicated to Champions Online (which is still being updated). However, CO-Wiki drew contributors and quickly became a striking success. Today, players can access CO-Wiki directly from the Champions Online website.

Lohr and I chatted about how she got to where she is now and what she thinks about the path the game is taking. Hit the jump to read the full scoop!

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Chatting with Champions Online's wiki mistress

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Chatting with Champions Online's wiki mistress originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-maskchampions-onlinechampions-online-wikicocommunity-spotlightcrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosf2pfansitesfeaturedfree-to-playinterviewlohrwikiwiki-mistressThu, 17 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How do you find your strategy?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-find-your-strategy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-find-your-strategy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-find-your-strategy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

More and more often, players are turning to detailed guides to enhance and help their online gaming experiences. Whether you're looking for what mob drops a unique piece of loot, where to find a special kill for an accolade, or how to spec your talent tree, these types of information-centers are now a part of the normal MMO routine. While wikis and fan sites are popping up all over the internet, strategy guides are collecting dust at the local video game stores.

"Homegrown" wikis seem to be a thing of the present and the way of the future -- they are special in the fact that they are created and evolved by the very same people who play the game. Strategy guides, on the other hand, are written by third-party companies that seem to have access to developer notes and other non-player-facing sources.

So how do you find your strategy? Do you check out wikis or do you prefer buying the printed guides to keep in your library of "stuff-you-will-never-read-again"? Have you ever actually contributed to a wiki by filling in the gaps with missing information? When was the last time you bought a physical copy of a strategy guide?

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: How do you find your strategy? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guidesinformationopinionstrategytdgthe-daily-grindWikiTue, 15 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Road to Mordor: Community check-up]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/the-road-to-mordor-community-check-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/the-road-to-mordor-community-check-up/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/the-road-to-mordor-community-check-up/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It's a quiet week around these here parts, what with the Thanksgiving holiday in NA and the lull before the November Update hits on the 29th. As such, I thought it'd be a great time to catch up on the current state of the community, especially as we've seen so many new bloggers and sites and podcasts arrive on the scene in the past year.

I've always said that Lord of the Rings Online is truly blessed with not just a stellar community but an active one as well. Some MMOs see very little in the way of fan-created sites, keeping most of the community action centered on official forums and the like. However, when it comes to LotRO, we have not only the MyLotro.com blogs set up by Turbine, but a cornucopia of web delights fashioned by hard-working players.

So to say "Thanks!" to this wonderful community, today I want to highlight some of the best LotRO resource websites, blogs and podcasts that consistently go above and beyond in making our slice of the MMO landscape a delight to visit.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Community check-up

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Community check-up originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ales-and-talesarmorblogsclasscommunityezinefeaturedfishinggearhobbitimmersionlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-wikimapmusicmusic-systemmylotromylotro.compodcastPodcastsresourcesturbineTurbine-EntertainmentwardenweaponswikiFri, 26 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Don't be surprised if your website is mentioned here]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/hyperspace-beacon-dont-be-surprised-if-your-website-is-mention/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/hyperspace-beacon-dont-be-surprised-if-your-website-is-mention/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/hyperspace-beacon-dont-be-surprised-if-your-website-is-mention/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Don't be surprised if your website is mentioned here
The Hyperspace Beacon is your guide through the various twists, turns, and barrel-roles of the yet-to-be-released game Star Wars: The Old Republic, which is being produced by the super-duper developers at BioWare-EA.

As we all wait anxiously for the open scroll of Star Wars: The Old Republic, more fansites are donning their Jedi robes and igniting their lightsabers. Some have have been around for a while now, and others are just getting off the ground, but all these holocrons of SWTOR lore are finding their true destiny in webspace. Some of these websites stand out as potential Jedi Masters, and I would like to take a moment to take note of them.

A few months back, the first Hyperspace Beacon was launched. It recognized sites like Darth Hater and the Jedi Archive. Since then, more have proven to be beacons of light in the blackness of cyberspace. So, in an effort to keep the SWTOR community page up to date, I have explored the reaches hyperspace to find beacons of new hope.

Set your navicomputer to follow me after the break. As Matt from TOROCast may say: Don't be surprised if your website is mentioned here.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Don't be surprised if your website is mentioned here

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Don't be surprised if your website is mentioned here originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adeptstrainBioWareBrooksbwooocorellian-run-radioDarth-Derriphandarth-haterDarthMaulUKeaElectronic-Artsfansitesfeaturedfo-diggityfun-and-gamesgamescomjake-neriKathy-and-CarlaLucasArtsmin-maxersMos-Eisley-RadioMuscopodcastPodcastsroleplaySammSammMoneyspeculationStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicStarsider-galaxyswtorswtor-rpswtor-wikiswtor-wikiathe-bwooo-tag-is-for-nickelpatthe-galactic-strugglethe-old-republicthe-old-republic-roleplaytorTOROcasttwitterwebsitewikiwikiawikipediawookieepediaZachTue, 17 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wasteland Diaries: Fansites]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/wasteland-diaries-fansites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/wasteland-diaries-fansites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/09/wasteland-diaries-fansites/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Finding your way through Fallen Earth can be daunting at times, but there is help out there. Sometimes the people in the game might not be the most knowledgeable or helpful lot. I said sometimes. Luckily for us, even though Fallen Earth has a relatively small community, it is populated with knowledgeable and helpful people. If something has you stumped, and you just can't seem to find anyone in-game that can help you, there are alternatives. Most of your simple problems can be solved in the help channel by a HazMat Team member or by other players in region chat.

Some of your more complex problems may require a bit of research. Researching can be quite fruitless if you don't know where to look. After the cut, I'll give you several resources that you should bookmark immediately if you haven't already. Some of these resources are more up-to-date than others, but even out-dated information is still better than nothing.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Fansites

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Fansites originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communityfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcfan-sitesfansitesfeaturedforumsicarusicarus-studiospost-apocalypticwikiFri, 09 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Mog Log: Community guide to Final Fantasy XI and XIV]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/24/the-mog-log-community-guide-to-final-fantasy-xi-and-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/24/the-mog-log-community-guide-to-final-fantasy-xi-and-xiv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/24/the-mog-log-community-guide-to-final-fantasy-xi-and-xiv/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The great thing about being a fan of Final Fantasy XI is that you're not lacking in any sort of resources online. After such a long lifespan, pages have been created to suit almost any need the community might have. And for a game whose mechanics can be obtuse at times, that's a good thing.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves, aren't we? The Mog Log is Massively's new weekly column focusing on all things both Final Fantasy and online, meaning both Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV. For our first installment, we're taking a look at the multitude of fan pages, guides, and other resources for players. Needless to say there are a few more options for the former game than the latter (due to only one of them actually being released yet), but there's already a community building in anticipation of Eorzea's adventures.

Continue reading The Mog Log: Community guide to Final Fantasy XI and XIV

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Community guide to Final Fantasy XI and XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blogscalendarcampingcampscampsitesdatabasefansitesfeaturedffffxiffxivfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-xifinal-fantasy-xivpodcastsroleplayingschedulesskillchainssquaresquare-enixtoolswikiSun, 24 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Official Age of Conan database offers easy info]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/official-age-of-conan-database-offers-easy-info/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/official-age-of-conan-database-offers-easy-info/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/official-age-of-conan-database-offers-easy-info/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MMOs see updates quite frequently, and with games that have developers actively posting on forums an attentive community member can absorb plenty of useful information. However, not everyone is up to the task of tracking all news, dev posts and dev blogs on every little topic. This is where Age of Conan's "New Community Database" enters the picture.

Handled by the community team at Funcom, the database will serve as an easily accessible source of pertinent game-related information about updates old, new, small and big. Everything from minor content stuff to full-on expansions, like Rise of the Godslayer. The website is still partially in beta as content is being added and knobs are being tweaked and dialed for maximum performance. So if in your venture for precious information you run aground due to a lack of content or technical issues, don't be all too surprised.

Having an official wiki isn't a bad idea. With time and attention there's no doubt many a person will find the source of info highly useful. In fact, we've already discovered a great use for it right here, although that particular opinion is arguably of a subjective nature.

MassivelyOfficial Age of Conan database offers easy info originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccommunity-databasedatabasefaminefantasyfuncomwikiwikiaFri, 30 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Official Aion website gets a make-over (redux)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/22/official-aion-website-gets-a-make-over-redux/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/22/official-aion-website-gets-a-make-over-redux/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/22/official-aion-website-gets-a-make-over-redux/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We bring you this breaking news from the cluttered desks at Massively headquarters: Aion has launched! Oh wait, you already knew that? Darn. Well, maybe you haven't noticed Aion's official website make-over featuring all kinds of never-before-seen goodies like official forums, character and legion (guild) search, server status/statistics, Abyss control, and player rankings.

The new look is clean, bright, and lightweight. NCsoft have updated their Powerwiki to include a number of player guides and lore articles (still no crafting info though). The official forums showcase the latest discussion on news, community, servers, classes, and technical support. Players can even show off a 3D model of their character including their latest gear/stats. The server statistics page is quite cool too, breaking down individual servers by race, class, level range, and the number of legions. Asmodians hold a slight advantage across most servers, but not by much. It seems NCsoft's strict balance policy is working decently so far.

MassivelyOfficial Aion website gets a make-over (redux) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abyss-ranksaioncharacter-searchmake-overncsoftredesignwebsitewebsite-makeoverwikiTue, 22 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[CCP Games launches EVElopedia beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/ccp-games-launches-evelopedia-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/ccp-games-launches-evelopedia-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/ccp-games-launches-evelopedia-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


As anyone who's ever tried to use EVE Online's item database knows, it's woefully out of date. Given the complexity of EVE, and the fact that the collective knowledge of the players is a resource unto itself, the developers announced they would create a sort of Wikipedia for EVE.This player resource, dubbed the "EVElopedia", would also be available via EVE Online's in-game web browser, as confirmed in July. Indeed, CCP Games is putting more emphasis on making EVE into a game that's better integrated with the web and social networking in general.

What we didn't know, however, was when this would actually start to happen. At least, not until today. EVE developer "CCP VonSometime" announced this afternoon that a beta version of the EVElopedia is live, and already has over 6000 pages of content. The official EVE wiki is still in its infancy, but already it's looking to be a useful resource that EVE players didn't have before (beyond combing the forums.) Have a look at the EVElopedia and see for yourself. Or, in the words of CCP VonSometime, "Go forth, explore, and grow the EVE universe. Your community awaits it."

MassivelyCCP Games launches EVElopedia beta originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingccpccp-gamesccp-vonsometimecommunitycommunity-resourcesdev-blogeveeve-onlineevelopediagame-mechanicsguideshow-toitem-databasesci-fitips-and-trickswikiwikipediayarrWed, 10 Dec 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Check out the Star Wars: The Old Republic wiki]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/23/check-out-the-star-wars-the-old-republic-wiki/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/23/check-out-the-star-wars-the-old-republic-wiki/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/23/check-out-the-star-wars-the-old-republic-wiki/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Just like with any highly-anticipated MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic now has an unofficial wiki for fans to go and obsess over during the multiple years' wait for the BioWare KotOR-based MMO to be released. There's already a bevy of information to sift through on the wiki, although most of it is from the official website or the waves of information that's likely already washed over everyone in the past couple of days -- you can even check out the first developer interview via the site. However, if you missed the features the hit the web during the deluge that was Star Wars: The Old Republic announcement day, then this wiki is the perfect way to catch up.

MassivelyCheck out the Star Wars: The Old Republic wiki originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaelectronic-artskotorstar-warsswtortorwikiThu, 23 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lorebook opens to European subscribers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/lorebook-opens-to-european-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/lorebook-opens-to-european-subscribers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/lorebook-opens-to-european-subscribers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Lorebook is one of The Lord of the Rings Online's best features, even though it isn't in the game. It's a community-moderated wiki containing vast amounts of information about LotRO's world and, of course, lore. Unfortunately, European players have never been able to fully participate. They could view the contents, but not edit them.

That's changed. European players may now use their login names and passwords to edit Lorebook entries. If you've been itching to take part in the conversation, head on over. But be aware; for the moment only English-language entries are accepted. Also, the Lorebook does not yet contain European server listings. No word has been given on when those will come.

MassivelyLorebook opens to European subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 May 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementenglisheuropeloginlord-of-the-rings-onlinelorebooklotroturbinewikiFri, 30 May 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Where's Webzen?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/wheres-webzen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/wheres-webzen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/30/wheres-webzen/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Two Hammers at MMO-centric blog gamebunny writes that Webzen is slowly making a retreat from the North American market. The Korean publisher, currently developing the much-anticipated Huxley, has cut Parfait Station and Wiki (aka Project Wiki) from its game roster on the North American site. Although Webzen has not announced cancellations of the titles, only three games remain displayed on the site: MU, Soul of the Ultimate Nation, and Huxley. Release dates are not set for SUN and Huxley.

The disappearance of Parfait Station and Wiki comes on the heels of Webzen relinquishing their publishing rights to All Points Bulletin, three years after having obtained them. Real Time Worlds bought back the rights to APB in April. These changes could diminish Webzen's presence in the North American market for the foreseeable future, and their radio silence on where Huxley is in terms of release doesn't help matters. Quite a number of people seem to be excited about Huxley, particularly among the Massively team; we can only hope that Webzen is just re-prioritizing their projects and releases for North America, and that they're not going to disappear on us anytime soon.

MassivelyWhere's Webzen? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 May 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinapbgamebunnyhuxleymumu-onlineparfait-stationproject-wikirealtime-worldssunwebzenwikiFri, 30 May 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Wikipedia of EVE Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/the-wikipedia-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/the-wikipedia-of-eve-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/20/the-wikipedia-of-eve-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,

CCP Games has officially announced a player-driven wiki project called the EVElopedia which is to be integrated into EVE Online, as well as a new division of the ISD volunteer program, The Yulai Archives & Record Repository Team (YARR).

YARR will oversee the upcoming EVElopedia- a project which aims to create the definitive EVE wiki. Although there are already a number of sources of EVE-related information available to players, the EVElopedia is CCP-sanctioned. The woefully outdated item database will be revamped through this project, and numerous player resources will be added, essentially creating a Wikipedia for the EVE universe.

Continue reading The Wikipedia of EVE Online

MassivelyThe Wikipedia of EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccpdev-blogeveeve-onlineEVElopediaISDitem-databaseitem-dbmedia-wikivolunteerwikiYARRSun, 20 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Where in the wiki is Mitra?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/where-in-the-wiki-is-mitra/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/where-in-the-wiki-is-mitra/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/where-in-the-wiki-is-mitra/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The fine folks over at AoCWiki have noticed that the Hyborean god Mitra has gone missing, and need our help to find him. The strange bit is: he's lost somewhere in the Wiki! So, to help recover him, readers are being solicited to go through the Wiki and follow a series of clues that will reveal the location of the missing god. Do it for the Hyboreans, whose prayers to Mitra have gone unanswered! Or, simply do it for these flash prizes:
And, of course, the respect and admiration of your peers. Unless, of course, you beat them to the win, in which case, watch for arrows in your back. The rules and full details of this contest are available on the referring page. This contest has begun, and continues until April 21st. Put on your sleuthing helmets, warriors, and help find Mitra! Personally, we think it's Crom's fault.

MassivelyWhere in the wiki is Mitra? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocwikibeta-keyscontestgame-cardshyboreansmissing-godmitrawikiwikiaMon, 14 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: Learn 2 Play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/27/behind-the-curtain-learn-2-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/27/behind-the-curtain-learn-2-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/12/27/behind-the-curtain-learn-2-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I should probably start this week's column by apologizing for missing last week. I won't, but I probably should. I'm sure your world kept turning despite a lack of my wittering on for 500-odd words, so let's crack on, shall we?

Assuming some of you managed to stay safe from the murderous robotic Santa this year, you may well have received gifts of new MMO games, and are sitting at home (unlike me) with your feet safely ensconced in new slippers, wracked with indecision over what new vista of unexplored gaming potential you should be delving into. Fortunately, my friends and family understand that my tastes in gaming are (relatively) more esoteric than theirs, meaning that they usually plump for the always welcome gifts of booze or vouchers. What this means is that I will finally be able to pick up Bioshock and the Orange Box - seriously, if I have to dodge one more spoiler for Bioshock or Portal, I may have to stab someone in the mouth.

But that's beside the point; let us get back on topic. With most of the big MMOs having been around for a good while now, the sheer amount of content available across these games is a daunting prospect - where do you start, how do you decide? Do you jump straight in and hope that you'll make it?

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: Learn 2 Play

MassivelyBehind the Curtain: Learn 2 Play originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beginners-guidebehind-the-curtaineq2eveeve-onlineeverquest-2featuredffxifinal-fantasy-xiguideshow-tojoystiqfeatureslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrostar-wars-galaxiesswgwikiThu, 27 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Second Life wiki failure]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/second-life-wiki-failure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/second-life-wiki-failure/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/second-life-wiki-failure/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Second Life wiki is being unresponsive this-morning, with browser requests that are directed at it failing during SSL negotiation.

Non-SSL requests for the wiki URL are being directed back to the Second Life homepage, which may have something to do with the services failure. It seems that the wee hours of the Second Life morning are becoming troublesome times for the virtual world and it's assorted services lately.

Linden Lab has not yet acknowledged the service failure.

[Update: Still no word from Linden Lab, but the wiki came back up shortly after 5:45AM. There are additional signs that a widespread subsystem failure is in progress with many asset and inventory problems being reported to us]

MassivelySecond Life wiki failure originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>linden-labsecond-lifewikiWed, 28 Nov 2007 07:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Allakhazam EQ2 moves to wikibase format]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/allakhazam-eq2-moves-to-wikibase-format/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/allakhazam-eq2-moves-to-wikibase-format/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/allakhazam-eq2-moves-to-wikibase-format/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In a surprising, though not wholly unwelcome move, Allakhazam has moved their EverQuest II site to what they call a "Wikibase" format, a hybrid of a database and wiki that takes the searchability and depth of their prior database format, and streamlines the submission process to allow for a more fluid inclusion of player feedback and information. In the past, players had to submit items and descriptions for the database via email. The new wikibase format approaches it in a more interactive, web 2.0 way. From the horse's mouth:

As a new feature at Allakhazam's, there is much work to be done here. Our goal is nothing short of total integration of the traditional database you have grown to love and depend on, with the wiki providing total access to quest descriptions, mob notes, and other helpful information.

In our humble opinion, this puts Allakhazam miles above competition like MMO DB, which continues to rely on the database model. They've now got a wikibase for FFXI and EQ2, how much longer before we see it spread to some of the heavyweights like WoW or LotRO?

MassivelyAllakhazam EQ2 moves to wikibase format originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allakhazamdatabaseeq2everquest-IImmodbwikiwikibaseTue, 06 Nov 2007 10:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Twelve handy links for EVE Online newbies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/twelve-handy-links-for-eve-online-newbies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/twelve-handy-links-for-eve-online-newbies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/twelve-handy-links-for-eve-online-newbies/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

CrazyKinux has decided to help all those struggling to get a foothold in the complex EVE Online, by providing a list of links which will get you on your way. Originally there were 10 websites linked to, but the list has grown to 12.

The featured sites range from the official player guide at EVE's homepage, to help with character creation, to various information-packed wikis, and even an EVE Online humor site. It can be extremely daunting to start up in EVE Online, as it is quite far removed from the standard MMO fare and also unforgiving of mistakes, so if you are thinking of trying the game then follow the link below and get bookmarking.

MassivelyTwelve handy links for EVE Online newbies originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-creationcreationeveeve-onlineeve-wikiguideguideshow-tohumorlinksnewbieplayer-guidestarter-guidewikiFri, 26 Oct 2007 13:00:00 EST