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Free for All: Looking for experiences, not challenges

Beau Hindman — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Humor, Free for All

When I was around 20, I used to watch my girlfriend's younger brother play Nintendo games. It was a pretty intense scenario. He would become so angry when a boss fight took away one of his lives or when a leap at a moving platform would fail that he often chucked that poor controller at the wall. It happened again years later after we'd graduated to the internet and PC gaming. The strangest thing is that he would return to the challenge over and over until it either broke his will or his device or he finally conquered the challenge. I never quite got it. Surely such frustration sucked any enjoyment out of the entire process?

I tend to be more lazy when it comes to my digital adventure. I hate to repeat content, and I would rather leave the raiding and boss fights to those with more patience or to those who simply have a desire to win that matches their tolerance for frustrating situations. I would rather become a trader, crafter, roleplayer, explorer, or even adventurer in certain titles.

Just spare me the overwhelming challenges while I game.

Continue reading Free for All: Looking for experiences, not challenges

Free for All: Looking for experiences, not challenges originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup

MJ Guthrie — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Super-hero, Aion, Anarchy Online, City of Heroes, Darkfall, Dofus, EVE Online, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Fallen Earth, Final Fantasy XI, Flyff, Lord of the Rings Online, PlanetSide, Ryzom, Wurm Online, Opinion, Second Life, Star Trek Online, Ultima Online, Vanguard, RuneScape, Free-to-play, Virtual worlds, Mabinogi, Mortal Online, Wizard101, Runes of Magic, DC Universe Online, RIFT, Xsyon, Family, Post-Apocalyptic, Some Assembly Required, Sandbox

If you are perusing this column, chances are you are a fan of virtual worlds and the sandbox genre. Join the club! (Dues will be due on the third Tuesday.) The aspect that compels many aficionados to delve into a game is the ability to make an impact on the world in some small respect instead of making them into Hive Member 1593072 running a static, predetermined gauntlet. How that impact is accomplished, however, varies; there are multiple features that can facilitate it, and which ones are considered most important depends on the player.

With the loss of one of the best sandbox games just last month, some players may be feeling a void. Others still are looking/hoping for the "ultimate" sandbox that contains nearly every virtual world feature. Certainly, there are some upcoming games that make some drool-worthy promises, but what about playing something now? There are actually games out on the market that have at least one aspect of the genre, if not more.

To start off the new year, Some Assembly Required looks at some of the top features of virtual worlds and lists games that incorporate these features. While this list isn't exhaustive (considering the sheer number of games when you include all of the smaller free-to-play titles, I'd run out of column space!), it is a comprehensive enough overview to point you toward some games worth playing that perhaps you hadn't considered before.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup

Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[Updated] On the twelfth day of giveaways, KingsIsle gave to me...

Rubi Bayer — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Contests, Free-to-play, Kids, Wizard101, Giveaways

[UPDATE: All winners have been selected and contacted. Thanks to everyone who entered!]

On the twelfth day of giveaways, KingsIsle gave to me... twelve super bundles!
On the eleventh day of giveaways, Funcom gave to me... eleven prize packages!
On the tenth day of giveaways, PerfectWorld gave to me... ten grab bag items!
On the ninth day of giveaways, GamersFirst gave to me... nine SWG mementos!
On the eighth day of giveaways, Enjin gave to me... eight guild-wide gifts!
On the seventh day of giveaways, NCsoft gave to me... seven years of memories!
On the sixth day of giveaways, GamersFirst gave to me... six retail packs!
On the fifth day of giveaways, Trion gave to me... five subscription codes!
On the fourth day of giveaways, Nexon gave to me... four pet items!
On the third day of giveaways, Wargaming.net gave to me... three premium years!
On the second day of giveaways, BioWare gave to me... two warring factions!
On the first day of giveaways, Turbine gave to me... a lifetime VIP!

KingsIsle Entertainment is finishing off Massively's 12 Days of Giveaways with a bang by giving away 12 Super Bundles for Wizard101. What is a Super Bundle, you ask? It's a huge package of Wizard101 goodies, including everything listed in the image above plus 5,000 crowns to spend on whatever your heart desires.

Ready to enter to win one of these? Just leave a comment here telling us why you love Wizard101 and what you'd do with your Super Bundle. Enter by the deadline of tomorrow, December 25th, at 8:00 p.m. EST, and don't forget to check the contest rules below for eligibility. Best of luck!

Finally, please join us here at Massively in giving a warm thank-you to every developer and publisher who pitched in to make the 12 Days of Giveaways a huge success. Happy holidays!

[Updated] On the twelfth day of giveaways, KingsIsle gave to me... originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMObility: Simplifying design for the mobile market

Beau Hindman — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screenshots, Business models, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, Mobile, Casual, MMObility

Whenever I write up something about a smartphone MMO, one of the most common complaints I hear is this: "If I wanted to play a game for several hours, I would sit at my gaming desktop." While this is true for many players, it is also true that games like Star Legends and Pocket Legends by Spacetime Studios have met with a lot of success. The developers were surprised to find that players were more than willing to sit for several hours while playing the games on their tiny screens.

Still, there is a lot of truth to the complaints about smartphone MMOs. An MMO is typically something a player wants to get lost in. We commonly refer to it as "immersion," but really we're just talking about being sucked into the ideas and design of a title. If you have found yourself daydreaming about a game while at work, you were "immersed."

I would argue that this type of deep immersion is very possible on the smaller screens of smartphones and tablets. However, in order to achieve it more commonly, developers might have to adjust many of their designs and theories. Click past the cut and we'll discuss it!

Continue reading MMObility: Simplifying design for the mobile market

MMObility: Simplifying design for the mobile market originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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KingsIsle teasing new Wizard101 content

Jef Reahard — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Wizard101, Promotions

Our friends at KingsIsle Entertainment have tipped us off to an exciting bit of news regarding Wizard101. Unfortunately we don't know quite what that news is just yet. Why the posting then? Well, that's where you lot come in.

Take a look at the image above and put on your thinking caps. KingsIsle let slip the fact that this picture is the first in a series of three to be released over the next week or so, and there's some sort of message hidden in each image. As we understand it, all three will be needed to decipher the full message, which ultimately has something to do with some "mysterious upcoming new content."

[Source: KingsIsle press release]

KingsIsle teasing new Wizard101 content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: Talking with Josef Hall and Todd Coleman, part 2

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Interviews, MMO industry, Shadowbane, Free-to-play, The Game Archaeologist

Don't miss the first part of this interview with the makers of Shadowbane, which we posted last week! And now for the thrilling conclusion...

The Game Archaeologist: What was the reason behind the free-to-play switch in 2006? Did this help the game's population any?

Josef Hall: Todd and I left Wolfpack shortly after it was acquired by Ubisoft, so we don't really have insight into the decision-making process behind the switch.

Todd Coleman: From what I have heard, it had a very positive impact on the size of the player population -- but yeah, I have no idea what it meant to the game monetarily.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: Talking with Josef Hall and Todd Coleman, part 2

The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: Talking with Josef Hall and Todd Coleman, part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: So what else can you get for 150 dollars?

Beau Hindman — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest II, Lord of the Rings Online, Business models, Culture, Economy, Wurm Online, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Hands-on, Casual, Humor, Free Realms, Mabinogi, Kids, Free for All, Battlestar Galactica Online

Recently, fans of the upcoming MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic had the pleasure of plopping down 150 clams to pre-order a special collectors edition of their favorite game they have never played. I've seen this before, and have even pre-ordered a few in my day (I'm looking at you, giant Warhammer Online box.) Pre-orders are the oldest form of virtual goods...they were cash-shops before cash-shops appeared in every game. The funnest part is seeing hardcore cash-shop haters gladly paying huge sums of money for a robot pet or a cool looking cape. Somehow, they see it as a different thing altogether than buying a shiny mount or pink dress from in-game.

Still, I understand the impulse. I get it every time I am in the check-out lane and the new flavors of gum have been released. Even worse is when one of my favorite games releases new items in their cash shop. New mounts, housing goods, heck even new weapons or stat-increasing potions...they make me drool.

So, I decided to take a 150 dollar budget and see what I could get for it. Click past the cut and let's look at the list!

Continue reading Free for All: So what else can you get for 150 dollars?

Free for All: So what else can you get for 150 dollars? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMObility: Fifty games for the mobile lifestyle

Beau Hindman — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Anarchy Online, Asheron's Call, Wurm Online, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Free Realms, MMObility

I like lists. Lists help keep my candy-coated brain functioning. I see so many games, devices, and developers that I need to write things down periodically or become lost. Not so long ago I made a list of 25 games for your shiny new laptop, but I wanted to update it with other devices as well. I'd like to clarify the devices I have, though, especially since it was brought to my attention that a lot of players use laptops as their primary gaming machines. When I refer to a laptop, it is far from a gaming machine and could not run games like EverQuest II or Age of Conan.

So here are some stats: I have an HTC Inspire, an iPhone 3GS, an iPad, a Phenom Triple-core PC desktop with an Nvidia 9800 card, six gigs of ram and onboard sound. My laptop is an HP G62 with an AMD Athlon II P340 dual core processor, three gigs of ram and an AMD graphics chip built in. I also have a more powerful gaming PC, but that is often referred to as "the wife's machine" around here, and it is so packed with her items that I rarely touch it. So most of these games can be run on their native devices, and if they are meant for PC, probably on netbooks as well. When I'm playing on netbooks, resolution is often the major issue. Some games just will not fit on the tiny screens without some slight modding.

Anyway, click past the cut to see the list. The first 11 are my favorites, the ones that I play often, if not every day. The rest are in no particular order, so keep that in mind as well. Remember that this year is going to be an incredible one for mobile, thanks to the new games I found at E3. So this list will change!

Continue reading MMObility: Fifty games for the mobile lifestyle

MMObility: Fifty games for the mobile lifestyle originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: A few tips for the indie developer

Beau Hindman — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, Free for All

I am no developer, nor do I have dreams of one day becoming one. I absolutely love having the ability to write about what I like and to interact with those who enjoy (or hate) what I write. Developers have their hands and tongues tied much of the time, and often the indie developer gets no credit whatsoever. Granted, if artistic release or programming is your thing, I say go for it. But I will absolutely admit to wanting attention most of all -- it's what I like to do.

Over the years, I have visited more independent MMO sites and played more independent MMOs than I care to recount. Still, not a week goes by when I do not find a new one to look at, and so I file it away for future use. I am often amazed at some of the mistakes indie developers make -- such obvious ones, too. I try to remind myself that the garage-coder is not always the best choice for graphic designer, so sometimes the websites and logos of these tiny companies look like they were hosted on Geocities.

I decided to have some fun and throw down some general rules that I apply to indie developers. Take them or leave them, but I think that they are based on quite a bit of observation. Feel free to add any of your own. Click past the cut and let's get to them!

Continue reading Free for All: A few tips for the indie developer

Free for All: A few tips for the indie developer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 May 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers reveal initial Wizard101 findings

Jef Reahard — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Wizard101

"The stereotype of the dysfunctional, male teen gamer no longer holds," say the researchers behind an extensive new study based on Wizard101. "At any time during the game, your teammate could be a kid, a neighbor, or a grandparent."

Trinity University academics recently partnered with KingsIsle Entertainment to survey more than 30,000 Wizard101 players regarding online habits, inter-generational play, and family gaming. The findings are the result of one of the largest studies of online game players to date and were collected via an anonymous survey in March 2011. The results speak to a diverse playerbase that spans multiple generations and that also invests a portion of its out-of-game time in creative projects directly related to the game. Twenty percent of adult respondents indicated extra-game activity focused on Wizard101 (usually blogging), while 54% of children engaged in game-related activities including blogging, artwork, video production, and creative writing.

Check out the full press release after the cut.

Continue reading Researchers reveal initial Wizard101 findings

Researchers reveal initial Wizard101 findings originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wizard101 soundtrack adding a 'mystery composer'

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Contests, Expansions, Free-to-play, Wizard101, Family

As Wizard101 gears up for its latest expansion world of Wintertusk, the folks at KingsIsle Entertainment have a secret or two up their sleeves. According to the studio, the soundtrack for Wintertusk was composed by "one of the hottest young musical talents in the entertainment industry." Who is this composer? Well, that's the big secret -- the studio isn't saying.

Instead, KingsIsle has set up a Wizard101 Mystery Composer page that will reveal hints, one at a time, until the artist is revealed. The only hint that's up so far mentions that this person performed on Saturday Night Live.

KingsIsle's J. Todd Coleman feels that when the artist is revealed, it'll be a big deal: "This is a cool idea, because our mystery composer has a huge name in the music business but has never created music for a video game. I'm really impressed by this artist's adaptability and talent. I think our players are going to be very surprised and totally blown-away."

The Wintertusk soundtrack is made up of seven original pieces of music. Currently, the expansion world is on the test server.

Wizard101 soundtrack adding a 'mystery composer' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's April Fools' Day [adjective] roundup

Larry Everett — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Humor

The favorite day of the year for anyone named April has [verb ending in ed] the internet, making some web surfers [emotion] and others [emotion]. In [adjective] Massively fashion, we felt it best to gather all this news [adverb]. After all, what would an event be without a [adjective] Massively roundup?

World of Warcraft [past tense verb] not just one internet prank but four for the [plural noun] of BattleNet. Turbine invited its [plural noun] to be the broccoli for [adjective] race in Dungeons and Dragons Online. The [plural title] of Star Wars: The Old Republic did not want to leave the Wookiee [plural noun] from playing their [adjective] game, so they created a Shyriiwook interface for all those [adjective] people. However, the prank that takes the [food] has to be ArenaNet's new Guild Wars 2 class, the Commando; Anet created [adjective] videos complete with jiggle physics and placed helicopters into the current Guild Wars game.

After the cut, we have [past tense verb] all the [adjective] pranks in this year's batch of favorite MMOs. Now you won't have to [verb] around the internet to find them yourself! But if you do [verb] something not on our list, let us know in the comments.

Continue reading Massively's April Fools' Day [adjective] roundup

Massively's April Fools' Day [adjective] roundup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Choose My Adventure: Wings rule, horses drool edition

Beau Hindman — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Polls, Screenshots, Culture, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Trading card games, Casual, Wizard101, Choose My Adventure, Family

For those who might not know, it was decided last week that my Wizard101 character was to be a boy from the school of Death. On top of that, he was ordered to get around town by using a pair of beautiful white wings. I heard a few comments in different places about how the wings would not look cool with a Death student or about how a horse mount or broom was better. I held fast and nabbed a pair of the white, fluttering back pieces. I had to obey orders!

Once I made my character and put the wings on, though, I looked completely metal. For those younger players who might not understand what that means, Google "Dio" and watch a few videos. Avoid Slayer -- your parents would not like that. (Note: If you come across a band called Queensryche, that's not metal.) Anyway, my white wings only accentuated my dark intentions. It was a fantastic choice.

But what else did I do over this last week besides wait for the vote to end? Well, click past the cut and I'll let you know.

Gallery: CMA: Wizard 101 first edition

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Wings rule, horses drool edition

Choose My Adventure: Wings rule, horses drool edition originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: Twenty-five free MMOs for that shiny new laptop

Beau Hindman — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Puzzle, Sci-fi, Culture, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Mobile, Trading card games, Casual, Virtual worlds, Kids, Free for All, Family, Miscellaneous

So there you are, reading a column from your favorite Massively writer on your shiny new laptop. You might be stuck with your parents and family because of the snow, or you might simply want to find a new MMORPG to play on the device. Perhaps you broke down and bought that cute pink netbook at Target, and now you need something to do with it besides reading your favorite writer of all time?

Don't worry, because I've taken the time to compile and test 25 MMOs that will work wonderfully on your new toy! Yes, there are real MMOs out there that are not dependent on the latest graphics card or six gigs of ram. These are fully realized worlds, complete with chat windows and socializing. I will make a note if the game might have some difficulty on the oldest of hardware -- or the least powerful -- so keep an eye out for that. Otherwise, download away!

For the record, this is my new toy. I got it for work, but you know the first thing I had to do was try out gaming on it. Click past the cut to see the list!

Continue reading Free for All: Twenty-five free MMOs for that shiny new laptop

Free for All: Twenty-five free MMOs for that shiny new laptop originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The top indie and free-to-play stories of 2010

Beau Hindman — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Screenshots, Culture, Economy, MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Kids, Family

I have to admit to feeling slightly amazed when I read that someone thought of 2010 as a bad year for MMORPG fans. Then, when I think about it, I realize that he was talking about the year in "AAA" subscription gaming -- something almost alien to me. I just don't get turned on by huge-budget subscription games like I did seven or eight years ago. Well, it might be better to say that I am always suspicious of big-budget gaming. Gaming is a lot like movies, and look at how bad most blockbusters are. They are often silly, over-the-top, special-effects-laden bores. If those movies were the only ones I watched, I might be a little depressed about Hollywood as well.

If you pay attention only to what the major publishers are pushing out, you are simply going to have a narrow view of MMO gaming. You will miss too much. The year 2010 offered more than any year before it, and 2011 will top that. Thanks to mobile technologies and the always-dropping price of computers, you will find that smaller or unknown games have much more of a chance of grabbing a gamer's eye than ever before.

So, what were some of the high and low points in free-to-play and indie gaming this year? Click past the cut and let's take a look!

Continue reading The top indie and free-to-play stories of 2010

The top indie and free-to-play stories of 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's holiday guide to cash shop prices

Beau Hindman — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Lord of the Rings Online, Business models, Culture, Economy, MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Kids, Family, EverQuest Next

I've been asked by readers, many times, to put together a comparison of cash-shop prices. I have always avoided the topic for one glaring reason: There is no constant. Sure, I can tell you how much you get for a dollar, but a wonderful mount in one game might not even be recognized as a mount in another! Quality is subjective, so how would I attempt to measure that? Also, if we wanted to compare the hundreds of cash-shop games out there, we would simply not have enough room. Yes, there are hundreds -- with more coming all the time.

Let's be really conservative, though. I broke it down into 10 games that Massively readers will probably recognize or care about. Not all Massively readers, granted, but many, I am sure. It would do me no good to compare some tiny, indie game to Lord of the Rings Online, simply because I would be met with the equivalent of a blank stare. Such is the unfortunate state of gaming right now.

After I marked up the list of 10, I lost two straightaway because -- while they have a cash shop in the technical sense -- those cash shops aren't something that can be put up against the others, or they have many items that just wouldn't make much sense. For example, I can tell you how much you can get for 10 dollars in Mabinogi and that you can sell some of those items to possibly purchase a house, but then we have to discuss the variable cost of the house, the upkeep -- on and on. I will definitely have to do a much larger list at some point.

Anyway, read on, and I will put notes where needed. Let this serve one main purpose: to prove that there is no constant in cash shops and no generalities -- it's all up to the individual to decide on the quality and value of the items.

Continue reading Massively's holiday guide to cash shop prices

Massively's holiday guide to cash shop prices originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Updated: On the seventh day of giveaways, Kingsisle gave to me...

Rubi Bayer — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Contests, Free-to-play, Wizard101, Giveaways, Family

[UPDATE: All winners have been selected and contacted. Congratulations!]

On the seventh day of giveaways, Kingsisle gave to me... seven Epic Cards!
On the sixth day of giveaways, Nexon gave to me... six Vindictus packs!
On the fifth day of giveaways, Mythic gave to me... five upgrade codes!
On the fourth day of giveaways, ChangYou gave to me... four welcome gifts!
On the third day of giveaways, Icarus gave to me... three months of gameplay!
On the second day of giveaways, Hi-Rez gave to me... two gift packages!
On the first day of giveaways, Turbine gave to me... a lifetime VIP!

Back in November, GameStop teamed up with Kingsisle, the publisher of Wizard101, to offer fans of the game the Epic Bundle cards. The cards have been a big hit, so the Wizard101 team gave us seven of them to share with you for our seventh day of giveaways!

Each Epic Bundle contains everything to twink your character out in style: a huge castle complete with a dueling circle and minigame kiosk, a gryphon mount, an Epic Spear of Power, a surprise dueling pet, new clothing, and 5,000 crowns for a shopping spree.

This bundle is perfect for both new and experienced Wizard101 players, so all you have to do to enter is let us know which you are! Check out our contest rules, then leave a comment here telling us whether you're a veteran player of Wizard101 or a newcomer hoping to start out in the game in style! We'll draw seven winners at random Monday at 2:00 p.m. EST, so get your entry in before that, and good luck!

Updated: On the seventh day of giveaways, Kingsisle gave to me... originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kingsisle shines some light on Wizard101 gardening

Beau Hindman — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, Patches, Previews, Free-to-play, Trading card games, Casual, Kids, Wizard101, Family

If you're a player of Wizard101, the surprisingly deep card-based MMO from Kingsisle Entertainment, then you were probably surprised when gardening made an appearance on the test server last week. I know I heard a gasp of surprise as my wife logged in to take a look! It seems as though players will now be able to grow their own plants, complete with their own personalities and faces.

Well, things were still a bit foggy so we decided to fire off a few questions (with the help of our friend Fallon at Diary of a Wizard) in the hopes that our thumbs would become a little greener. Thankfully, Fred Howard, V.P. of marketing at Kingsisle, was able to answer them all. Join us past the cut for the full interview!

Continue reading Kingsisle shines some light on Wizard101 gardening

Kingsisle shines some light on Wizard101 gardening originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: Thirteen spooky free-to-play Halloween events

Beau Hindman — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Flyff, MapleStory, Contests, Culture, Events, in-game, Free-to-play, Casual, Global Agenda, Humor, Free Realms, Mabinogi, Kids, Alganon, Allods Online, Free for All, Vindictus, Family

Ah, Halloween. The dark Xmas. Around our house, Halloween is king. Despite the fact that we have no kids to dress up and parade around the neighborhood, we will still hand out tons of candy to all the trick-or-treaters. Until that spooky night, however, we love to spend the time exploring different Halloween events in our favorite MMORPGs.

MMOs are perfect for such events -- they have the players to fill them out, the ability to host whatever kind of event they want, and a lot of optional blood and gore. Some of the events fit perfectly in their game-world, and some stick out like a stock broker on D&D night. Either way, there is always a lot of fun to be had, and sometimes very cool loot to snag! (Like that sweet ride pictured above -- got it on my first try.)

Read on for some of my favorite events -- none of them costing a dime.

Continue reading Free for All: Thirteen spooky free-to-play Halloween events

Free for All: Thirteen spooky free-to-play Halloween events originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: How much for a ten-spot?

Beau Hindman — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Economy, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Free for All

In this week's Free for All, I decided to check out some cash-shop games to see what I might get for 10 U.S. dollars. For the record, some games can be subscription-based and still have cash shops, and some games can have cash shops that have been redesigned and tweaked so that they do not fit into the same old "cash-shop" model. For clarity, I stuck to cash shops that normally pop up while you're in-game -- usually inside their own window. Sometimes, though, the cash shops might be accessed or found on the games' main websites, as well.

It was hard to choose, being that I generally don't buy from cash shops any more. It takes a very special product (like Wurm Online's currency) to get me to pay, namely because I do not spend as much time in a single game as I used to. Actually, let me rephrase that before someone starts to write a comment based on that statement: I still spend a lot of time in certain games, like anyone else, but my pace has slowed. Most of the cash-shop items out there are convenience items -- simply time-travel devices that allow the player to speed up his experience. Since I have all the time in the world because of the free nature of these games, speeding up is not something I am interested in.

So, let's look at a few cash shops to see what piqued my interest!

Continue reading Free for All: How much for a ten-spot?

Free for All: How much for a ten-spot? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Everybody smile for the camera!

Krystalle Voecks — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screenshots, One Shots, Kids, Wizard101, Family

When it comes to stylish rides, there's something to be said for having one of the new swift shark mounts in Wizard101! Not only can the sharks cross from land to water, but they also have an excellent smile, perfect for fun screenshots like today's One Shots. This image comes to us from Leesha Darkheart and was taken at a recent in-game party. We'll let her explain this smiling group: "[This] is a pic of some friends and me hanging out at the Ravenwood Radio podcast in-game after-party this week. We decided to have a swimming party in the new underwater zone, Crab Alley, on our new swift shark mounts. The shark mounts are really awesome-looking and have great animations. They chomp at the bit every once in a while and bounce up really far when you jump. Makes the sparkle pony look like chopped liver."

Have you snapped a fun picture from an in-game event that you'd like to share? We'd love to see it. Just email it in to us here at oneshots@massively.com. Include your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing in the picture. Please make sure your image is at least 1024 pixels wide and has as few visible UI elements as possible. We'll post it out here for everyone to enjoy and give you the credit!

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

One Shots: Everybody smile for the camera! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wizard101 celebrates its second anniversary

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, Expansions, News items, Kids, Wizard101, Family

It's easy to dismiss Wizard101 as nothing more than a cute MMO for kids, but the game has proven that it has quite a bit of depth and staying power. And September is the milestone to mark it by, since the game launched in September of 2008. With the arrival of the two-year anniversary for the game, the production staff for KingsIsle Entertainment has posted a short letter to commemorate the achievement and discuss the game's future in brief.

Obviously, one of the big points of the future is the release of Celestia, which is currently slated for early fall. The new area and concurrent free expansion will raise the level cap and offer players a variety of new abilities, in addition to the eponymous underwater zone. To help kick off the pending launch, the development team is promising a quest later this month featuring "one of the hottest teen icons on the planet." It's been a busy two years for Wizard101, and it looks like the team is looking forward to many more.

Wizard101 celebrates its second anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: Knowing my limits

Beau Hindman — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Free for All

I'm a 36-year-old gamer. My eyes, ears and lungs are not what they used to be. The decline started with art, something I have been doing since I was a small child. Then I added on heavy drumming for the last 23 years. Next, throw in gaming for the last 10 or 12 years. For good measure, add in a small case of asthma. For all intents and purposes, I have enough nerd cred to keep me in the club for life.

Still, I would love to get rid of the migraines from eye strain and the aching tennis elbow. The asthma takes care of itself -- through exercise and avoiding smoking. Since I started writing for Massively, though, my eyes take on a lot more strain than they should, especially considering how defective they already are. So I've had to take steps to ensure that I'll be able to continue to write, and that I will be able to continue to write for a long, long time.

Read on, and I'll tell you what I do and what games work for me.

Continue reading Free for All: Knowing my limits

Free for All: Knowing my limits originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: Not everyone drinks at the bar

Beau Hindman — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Culture, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Mabinogi, Kids, Wizard101, Free for All, Family

I understand the opinion that all free-to-play games are "not fun," or that they are "nothing but a grind." Even though this is a generalization that is nowhere near the truth, and despite the fact that the giver of these opinions couldn't have played every free-to-play game in existence to base this information on, the idea behind the sentiment is pretty solid: "I do not like free-to-play games." I cannot argue with that, being that it is an opinion. If someone wants to lump games into a category based on "how a developer might make money" then so be it.

It is not only my opinion that there is good and bad in every payment model (just check some of the comments section on some of our columns) but that, more-than-likely, the generalizer has probably played only a handful of these games, and filled in the gaps of his opinion with ideals that are closer to racism than actual experience.

There are two things that I can present as evidence to a free-to-play game's quality, however. Two things that are so important and yet so basic that no game could live without them. Two things that make up the very foundation that MMORPGs should be built on, so that gameplay and style can be stacked on top.

Continue reading Free for All: Not everyone drinks at the bar

Free for All: Not everyone drinks at the bar originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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KingsIsle welcomes Massively, Ravenwood Radio

Beau Hindman — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Galleries, Business models, MMO industry, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Trading card games, Casual, Kids, Family

KingsIsle Entertainment, makers of the popular kid-friendly MMO Wizard 101, recently invited Massively to their studio for a tour. It just so happens that we brought Leesha Darkheart, head of the Ravenwood Radio fancast, with us. After all, who else would take the second shift during the drive? Needless to say, they didn't show us just a basic glance. We were able to take nice, long looks into the inner-workings of a large and growing studio, from sound design to character concept.

While this wasn't the first time we had visited the studios, both Leesha and I were slightly taken aback at how the studio had grown, basically doubling in size and "still at it", according to J. Todd Coleman, VP and creative director of KingsIsle. One look at their packed art room would be enough to convince anyone that they are at a "period of pretty rapid growth." We were able to watch as an artist stripped down a character to its bare bones, then as an animator worked hard to give life to another model. We even got to hear how sound can make or break a gaming experience. Next, we were invited to sit down with J. Todd Coleman and VP of development, Josef Hall, for fan questions, talk of the need for careful cash-shop practices, and even off-the-record discussions about Han Solo's quick-draw ability.

So join us after the jump for some exclusive concept art for the newest expansion, and some details from the interview.

Continue reading KingsIsle welcomes Massively, Ravenwood Radio

KingsIsle welcomes Massively, Ravenwood Radio originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively, Blue Oyster Cult's Eric Bloom and Wizard101 walk into a bar...

Beau Hindman — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, Free-to-play, Trading card games, Casual, Wizard101

Blue Oyster Cult lead singer Eric Bloom has been gaming a long, long time, and been part of a very iconic rock band for even longer. If you are familiar with the More Cowbell sketch on Saturday Night Live, you know B.O.C. I remember their music from my younger days, as my brother and I tried to learn their songs for our band to cover (pro tip: the lead in Don't Fear the Reaper is a killer). In fact, it has to be some kind of fate that I would interview him many years later, since his music also blends in perfectly with the gaming lifestyle.

So, what do rock stars like to play? A bit of everything, it seems. Eric also writes for Beckett Massive Online Gamer and has songs featured in games ranging from Guitar Hero to Warhammer Online. Recently, he was asked to help design a quest for the bright and shiny card-battle MMORPG Wizard101. It turns out he had an idea for a quest, and his recent visit to Kingsisle Entertainment was the perfect opportunity to make that idea a reality. Follow past the break to check out the recording of my phone interview with Eric, as well as a sit-down with him and the developers from Kingsisle.

Continue reading Massively, Blue Oyster Cult's Eric Bloom and Wizard101 walk into a bar...

Massively, Blue Oyster Cult's Eric Bloom and Wizard101 walk into a bar... originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Mobile: iPhone apps for your favorite MMOs part 2

Dan O'Halloran — Sun, 30 May 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Lineage 2, Lord of the Rings Online, Second Life, RuneScape, Free-to-play, Browser, Wizard101, Mytheon, Massively Mobile

Every two weeks, Massively Mobile brings you the latest news, guides and analysis about MMOs on mobile devices. Covering iPhone, iPad and Android platforms, we're on the lookout for the next generation of MMOs.

In the last column, I covered a number of iPhone apps for MMOs. Some kept you connected to the game world, others offered you information at your fingertips, while still others were entire games unto themselves. Today I continue with the second half of the list starting with Final Fantasy XI all the way through Wizard101. In the next Massively Mobile column, I will focus specifically on World of Warcraft mobile apps for both the iPhone and the Android.

I have to admit that in the process of researching this column, I became obsessed with one particular app, Warrior Epic: Sagas. I don't even play the MMO, but I found the app to be one I returned to again and again throughout the week. It's very addictive, has an engaging storyline and is a dream come true for equipment micromanagers like myself. Check it out along with the rest of the apps after the jump.

Continue reading Massively Mobile: iPhone apps for your favorite MMOs part 2

Massively Mobile: iPhone apps for your favorite MMOs part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 May 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pets ding in Wizard101

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Wizard101, Family

A wizened sage once asked, "How much is that doggie in the window?" Perhaps he was contemplating the tangible cost of loyalty and companionship. Perhaps he was attempting to ascribe value to an animal's existence. What he missed was just how awesome pig ninjas can be when unleashed in a wizardly world.

Wizard101 just released their May 2010 patch, which revolves around an incredibly beefy and interactive advanced pet system. While pets have been in the game since launch, it's with this patch that they've been given a life outside of pure vanity. Pets can now roam around player housing, engage in mini-games, be bred to perfection, and even cast a handful of spells in a fight. It is possibly one of the deeper pet systems in MMORPGs to date, and worthy of any young (at heart) wizard's or witch's attention.

This Wizard101 patch also includes a host of other updates, ranging from badges to characters, housing, spells and more. If you're into this colorful title, make sure to take a few minutes to digest the whole list of notes, which can be found here.

Pets *ding* in Wizard101 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 May 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buy a mount in Wizard101 for charity

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, News items, Free-to-play, Kids, Wizard101

Remember when you would try and convince your mother to get you something with the rallying cry that it would be educational? It didn't always work, but it was usually worth a try. Kids playing Wizard101 -- or adults looking to justify their latest impulse purchase to their spouse -- will be able to unleash a variant on that: "But it's for charity!" The Meowmodon mount, pictured above, has just been unveiled as the newest addition to the mount options in the game, but there's a twist: buying it sends no money to KingsIsle. It moves straight on to charity.

Each time the mount is purchased, KingsIsle will donate the full cost of the mount, roughly $15 US, to two charities, the Austin Children's Shelter and the ever-popular Child's Play. Moreover, the mount will only be available between December 14th and January 5th of next year. The fact that it's a limited-time item makes it even more attractive to many parts of the gaming community, and it marks a Wizard101 player as having donated to worthy causes at one of the most important times of the year. So if you have any interest in owning it, by all means, head to the page with all the details, and remember that you don't have to feel even remotely bad about this impulse purchase.

Buy a mount in Wizard101 for charity originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wizard101 releases December patch

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Player Housing, Free-to-play, Kids, Wizard101

Fast turnarounds are always nice. It's been a little over a week since we posted the first news about Wizard101's upcoming school-specific housing, and it's already moved from "upcoming" to "live." The December patch has just been released, and in addition to giving players the opportunity at having the literally hottest house around (among others), it brings a number of other improvements to the game's client. Most notable is the option to block chat from your opponents in PvP, a welcome feature to avoid the frequently non-stop boasting that seems to go hand-in-hand with the playstyle. It is an option that can be changed even in the middle of a duel, and while it's not game-defining it should be a welcome addition.

Much of the meat of this update comes in the form of the team relentlessly hunting down bugs and squashing them, with a long list of prior bugs that are no more. The team even notes that some of the killed bugs are ones the majority of players didn't even know about. While the update is a little lighter on actual content compared to the last one, fewer bugs and a better all-around experience are nothing to sneeze at, not to mention some exceptionally nice new houses. Wizard101 players still have a few days until the main event, but they still got a nice early Christmas present.

Wizard101 releases December patch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ether Saga Online and Wizard 101 take home parenting awards

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Wizard101, Ether Saga Online

Many congratulations go out today to both Wizard 101 and Ether Saga Online, as the two online games have both claimed themselves a National Parenting Publication Award (NAPPA) from Parenthood.com.

What does this mean exactly? Well it means that parents can rest easy knowing that these two games are fun, informative, and free of questionable content. If your kid plays either of these two games, you don't have to look over their shoulder to police what they're doing. The game takes steps to keep your kids safe and to make sure they'll have a good time too!

Other recipients that weren't from the online MMO category included EA's Spore, and Guitar Hero On Tour, so it certainly speaks to the quality of these two titles for kids when they're put in that sort of company.

Ether Saga Online and Wizard 101 take home parenting awards originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Expanded extracurriculars in Wizard 101 update

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Server downtime, Free-to-play, Kids, Wizard101

It's possible you didn't notice -- probable, even, unless you were on a late-night grinding session -- but the servers for Wizard 101 went down from 3 to 6 AM CST this morning. Even if you were on a late-night session in the game, though, you'd probably be willing to overlook the downtime due to the huge list of changes that came with the downtime. The October update for the game has dropped, and the patch list is truly enormous, adding mounts, new shops, crafting options, and too many additional things to list in a single sentence.

Mounts, of course, are one of the most significant and notable features being added. They can be rented with in-game currency or purchased permanently via the game's microtransaction currency, Crowns, keeping with the game's split between regular subscription and free-to-play. This update has also added in the option to move the stats of a new piece of equipment to one you find more attractive via the Seamstress NPC, an optional new dungeon that promises especially difficult encounters, and the option to pay a small fee of Crowns to get a second chance at a boss drops after defeating the boss. And even that's barely scratching the surface of everything Wizard 101 has added in this patch -- take a look at the full notes, and take a closer look at the game as a whole. It's not for everyone, but you might find more to like under close study.

Expanded extracurriculars in Wizard 101 update originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AGDC 2009: Wizard101 hits 5 million accounts, mounts coming, and more

Krystalle Voecks — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Interviews, MMO industry, News items, Casual, Kids, Wizard101

If you're a fan of Wizard101, then you're in for a serious treat. Brent from VirginWorlds posted a video of Darren from Common Sense Gamer sitting down with a "gaggle" of people from KingsIsle Entertainment during AGDC. It seems that Darren had a nice long talk about the past, present, and future of Wizard101, and they were all too happy to give him lots of choice tidbits of information.

While this video clocks in at almost a whopping 30 minutes, it covers a large amount of territory fans and curious onlookers alike will be interested in. The various topics touched on during the course of this interview include the news that Wizard101 has also crossed the 5 million account mark; the account structure and parental controls available in-game; some interesting tidbits about just who is playing; and even a look at the upcoming mounts that will be available for players in October. Also, be sure to check Common Sense Gamer for screenshots of those upcoming Wizard101 mounts. Looks like an exciting time to be a Wizard between all this information and the first birthday celebration going on now!

AGDC 2009: Wizard101 hits 5 million accounts, mounts coming, and more originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wizard 101 celebrates their first birthday with a month of events

Seraphina Brennan — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Contests, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, Casual, Kids, Wizard101

Most online games just do a single event for their birthday and then let it pass by. You might get an in-game item or two, but that's about it. But this isn't how Wizard 101 and Kingsisle Entertainment run things. No sir, they're doing a month full of events, and they want everyone to participate!

This September is Wizard 101's first birthday and new events will be made available throughout the month. Right now, it seems that only two events (join their Facebook group for a in-game pet and a screenshot contest where you can win a poster signed by the development team and 10,000 in-game crowns) have been made available. Yet, there's still 2/3rds of a month left and 4 more events to unveil, so stay tuned to the Wizard 101 site for all of the information!

And happy birthday Wizard 101!

Wizard 101 celebrates their first birthday with a month of events originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Online gamers are logging more hours, but spending less money

Seraphina Brennan — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Culture, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Casual

Interactive marketing firm Future Ads revealed a very telling survey from Gamevance today, showing that casual gamers were playing games for longer, yet were spending less money on them overall. Other notable sections of the survey showed a declining gender gap in the gaming population, a melding of the "casual" and "hardcore" gamer markets, and a decline in purchases made for video game consoles.

Gamevance's survey revealed that 61% of the 8,000 "casual" gamers who responded said they were playing games for longer periods of time than they were a year ago. However, 80% of those same gamers reported that they were cutting back on console game purchases while 77% of the 8,000 stated that the biggest drawback to console gaming was that it was too expensive.

Pair this with the rising Free Realms, Wizard 101, and FusionFall populations, as well as the proliferation of free online gaming sites, and you have a very noticable switch to cheaper gaming alternatives. Will this recession be the rise of the free to play gaming model in America, or will this die off once the economy stabilizes?

[Via GigaOm]

Online gamers are logging more hours, but spending less money originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wizard 101 announces new update

Jon Shute — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, PvP, PvE, Free-to-play, Wizard101

KingIsle Entertainment has announced its latest update to Wizard 101, its free to play MMO aimed at younger players that also has an option to subscribe or purchase access passes in order to unlock additional content. Wizard 101, which recently passed a million players, has been receiving frequent updates including a new PvP area and the addition of voice to many characters.

Highlights of this update include new high end spells available for players when they reach level 48. There is one spell for each of the seven schools of magic in the game, which are available through a quest.

Another welcome feature is the ability to buy back a character's training points using Crowns, the game's micro-transaction currency, to allow them to be reused on new spells, which allows players to correct any choices that they are not happy with and try out new ideas.

There are also new rewards for PvP, including a new pet to collect, and the friends list has been expanded to allow you to mark friends as "best friends."

Wizard 101 announces new update originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wizard 101 to include voice overs, shared bank feature

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, PvE, Free-to-play, Kids, Wizard101

The team over at Kingsisle Entertainment isn't sitting on their hands while Wizard 101 racks up over 1 million accounts. The most recent update to the game will be bringing a voice to the many characters of the Ravenwood School, as well as a new utility for those who play multiple characters.

Voice overs for all of the characters in Wizard City and Krokotopia have been added as of March 16th, and the other areas of Marleybone, Moo Shu, and Dragonspyre will be soon to follow. These voice overs will be added to all of the quests, NPCs, cinematics, and boss encounters in the game, making everything a little bit more colorful.

Players who play multiple characters will also love the new shared bank feature, which allows you to share one dorm room space amongst all of your characters. So, if you find something that would benefit one of your other five characters, worry no longer!

Wizard 101 to include voice overs, shared bank feature originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Real money trade as a convenience to players

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play

Whenever real money trade is mentioned, or the dreaded term "item shop" is brought up, we all seem to get a little twitchy and afraid. Games that were supported by item shops use to denote which games had little content and poor quality, but times are swiftly changing. Games like Runes of Magic, Wizard 101, Mabinogi, Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine and others are changing the face of the free to play market and item shop transactions as they begin to combine quality with affordability. Yet, the stigma of the item shop remains in our culture.

Saylah at Mystic Worlds has put together a well-written argument in favor of the item shop and RMT system. Instead of looking at it like getting ahead of the players who are "playing the game properly," look at it as customizable service for the user. Item shops should provide convenience for players who are looking to make some of the boring parts of the game move a little faster so the game can fit in their personal timeframe.

If any of this sounds interesting, check out her full article as she lays down her opinion and then applies it to her current MMO, Runes of Magic.

Real money trade as a convenience to players originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wizard 101 teaches wizards how to count up to 1 million players

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Wizard101

What's the new MMO contender in the room with 1 million accounts? Is it Warhammer Online? Nope. Is it Lord of the Rings Online? Not at all. Would you believe that it's Wizard 101?

Well you should, because it is! Wizard 101 is celebrating over 1 million accounts, and giving all players, old and new, 101 free crowns to use in their cash shop. While 101 isn't very much, the development team has also added some new pets and items to the store that cost less than 101 crowns specifically for this purpose -- including the limited edition Storm Beetle pet.

The 1 millionth player who signed up on February 13th has gotten a very special prize package. The development team has added a brand new statue in Wizard City Commons with an interactive plaque featuring the character's name. That player has also gotten a free one year subscription to the game; not a bad deal at all!

[via Mystic Worlds]

Wizard 101 teaches wizards how to count up to 1 million players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get mystical with this Wizard101 combat primer

Kyle Horner — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Free-to-play, Wizard101

Maybe the casual friendly, Harry Potter inspired Wizard101 has caught your eye sometime in the past, but you weren't really sure what the game entailed. Well, in that case MMORPG.com has a good combat primer that'll help you get your wands in order, as it were. While the game doesn't demand deep, tactical thinking it isn't exactly a hack 'n slash title either -- so a little bit of help isn't out of the question. Plus, it's got a free-or-pay pricing structure as well.

If you're wondering whether or not Wizard101 is a game worth a little investigation, we'll be the first to answer that yes, very much so! We've got both some early hands-on time with the game, as well as an interview we did shortly before it launched last September. And if you're looking for something short and sweet to convince you to take a look: turn-based card battle MMORPG.

Get mystical with this Wizard101 combat primer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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