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[Randall Bills talks about shaping the future of MechWarrior Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/randall-bills-talks-about-shaping-the-future-of-mechwarrior-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/randall-bills-talks-about-shaping-the-future-of-mechwarrior-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/randall-bills-talks-about-shaping-the-future-of-mechwarrior-onli/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Randall Bills
For die-hard MechWarrior fans, it must be a relief to know that the upcoming MechWarrior Online is in good hands of people connected with the board game. One pair of hands in particular belongs to Catalyst Game Labs' Randall Bills, who is deeply involved with the MechWarrior and BattleTech franchises, and he emerged to participate in a very lengthy interview about the game and his love of multi-ton mechs.

Currently, Bills says that he fills two roles on the team: continuity editor and fiction content manager. In the former, he helps to inspect what the developers are working on and give them feedback and notes from his well of expert knowledge on the subject. In the latter, he's spearheading the team responsible for writing the lore behind the online game universe.

So what would Bills like to see happen in MechWarrior Online? Orbital insertions ("That's a level of action and immersion that would take MechWarrior Online to a whole new level.") and physical attacks ("It shouldn't work very well and be hard to pull off... but when you do pull it off it should be a move everyone in the game talks about for some time to come.").

As for what he's most excited about in the upcoming MMO, he's just glad that he'll be able to emulate the board game in a virtual environment: "To know that I can jump in a light 'Mech and do exactly what you can pull off in the board game (and just as important, what the fiction depicts for the universe) with a true melding of multiple tactics to achieve victory... that'll be a truly spectacular geek-out moment to experience."

Look for our own upcoming interview with the MechWarrior Online team coming soon.

MassivelyRandall Bills talks about shaping the future of MechWarrior Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battletechcatalystcatalyst-game-labsfictioninterviewloremechmechwarriormechwarrior-onlinemworandall-billsscifiwriterFri, 16 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The joys of scripting the apocalypse: A behind-the-scenes look at Fallen Earth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/the-joys-of-scripting-the-apocalypse-a-behind-the-scenes-look-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/the-joys-of-scripting-the-apocalypse-a-behind-the-scenes-look-a/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/06/the-joys-of-scripting-the-apocalypse-a-behind-the-scenes-look-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Fallen Earth
What's it like to have a post-apocalyptic landscape as your writing canvas? According to Marie Croall, it's pure heaven. Fallen Earth's lead designer opened up to Rock, Paper, Shotgun about the joys of writing and designing the myriad of quests for the game, as well as the free-to-play transition, plans for PvP, and the dynamic world events.

Croall is part of a slimmed-down team of 12 developers who currently develop Fallen Earth's content. Saying that the team is always trying to "push the envelope" when it comes to the stories told, she notes that each area contains the imbued spirit of each writer: "I worked on a lot of the conflict towns early on and we knew that this was a place for people to kill each other, so a lot of the missions ended up being really thinly veiled insults."

One of the aspects of Fallen Earth that Croall loves is how crazy the team can get. In one instance, the team decided to redo the starter town of Boneclaw by dropping a missile right into it. "We killed off all the players that were there, all the NPCs, and left it as a radiation zone for a good two months, while we made the new town. We flat out nuked it because it wasn't doing what we wanted it to do. Boom!"

While Fallen Earth skirts the line between sandbox and theme park, Croall says the team is devoting a great deal of resources to beefing up the former. "The more features we add, the more ways for players to drive themselves, it makes the world better, it makes it feel like what we saw it as," she said.

MassivelyThe joys of scripting the apocalypse: A behind-the-scenes look at Fallen Earth originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boneclawf2pfallen-earthfree-to-playgamers-firstinterviewloremarie-croallnukepvprock-paper-shotgunsandboxstoriesstorystorytellingworld-eventswriterwriterswritingSun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Old Republic's Daniel Erickson says writers are game designers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/the-old-republics-daniel-erickson-says-writers-are-game-designe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/the-old-republics-daniel-erickson-says-writers-are-game-designe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/24/the-old-republics-daniel-erickson-says-writers-are-game-designe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Can game writers be classified as game designers? BioWare writing director Daniel Erickson thinks so. In a brief interview at PC Gamer, Erickson lays out his views on the legitimacy of game writing in no uncertain terms.

"You can teach a writer to be a junior game designer. You cannot teach a junior game designer to be a writer. You need somebody who is a senior master level writer and then you teach them the basics of game design," he says.

Erickson goes on to describe BioWare's writer boot camp, which involves a three-month training period and a lot of work that will never see the light of day. While the article doesn't directly mention Star Wars: The Old Republic, it's clear that Erickson and BioWare are looking to further spread the word regarding the upcoming MMO's heavy narrative focus.

MassivelyThe Old Republic's Daniel Erickson says writers are game designers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars: The Old Republic separates itself from other MMORPGs by introducing the element of -- say it with me -- story. But how deep exactly is this wormhole? BioWare Writer Ian Ryan explains to us in the latest developer diary that a TOR writer's work is not done once the last word is penned. "Armed with [our] knowledge, we set out to provide feedback on each planet's art as it relates to story," Ryan reveals. The writers log into the game and play the levels they created story for. It is a collaborative effort. The writers attempt to give the environmental artist a clear picture of what best sets the scene for the stories they have created.

In the gallery below, we have some before-and-after renders of the Promenade on Nar Shaddaa and the Blastfield Shipyards on Corellia. Both of these areas received major overhauls after the writers witnessed the first incarnation of the environments.

Following the before-and-after pictures is a new piece of concept art of Corellia released for the fans. Lastly, we have featured some new pieces of art created by the SWTOR fans Micah_Vale, CuriousOne, and SkinRuder77. Enjoy.

Gallery: SWTOR Fan Friday

MassivelySWTOR dev diary steps beyond story originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWareEAElectronic-Artsenvironmental-artfan-artfan-fridayIan-RyanLucasArtsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorwriterFri, 17 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What would your MMO dream job be?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/the-daily-grind-what-would-your-mmo-dream-job-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/the-daily-grind-what-would-your-mmo-dream-job-be/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/the-daily-grind-what-would-your-mmo-dream-job-be/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I'll be Frank and you'll be Ernest, and we'll both admit that we as players have the tendency to be armchair game designers. No, no, don't deny it; it just makes you look defensive. If there's a single theme that pervades every official MMO forum out there, it's that the players think they know what's best for the game, even more than the devs themselves, and if they were making the calls, Game X would be mopping the floor with World of Warcraft.

So hey, why not indulge in the daydream -- what if tomorrow you could have any job in the MMO industry? If you could make a very real, very direct impact on the games that are being made or are operating in live mode, what would it be? Would you be a writer, finally free to pen the perfect quest? Would you be a project manager, in charge of the direction and goals of the teams at your disposal? Would you be a big-shot CEO, making the major calls and shaping the future of the company? Or would you settle into a creative role as an artist or composer, helping to contribute to the game's frills?

No, wait, I got it. You'd totally want to be a quality assurance tester. Those guys and gals get all the glory, am I right?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What would your MMO dream job be? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We all know that know that story is the fourth pillar for The Old Republic. We also know BioWare has the reputation for having some of the most compelling stories in the gaming industry. In fact, story is written into its mission statement: "BioWare's vision is to deliver the best story-driven games in the world." So it is no surprise at all that when the team came to Comic-Con this past weekend, it consisted of mostly writers.

Massively's Dan O'Halloran nabbed the Managing Editor on SWTOR, Alexander Freed, for a conversation. Freed has scribed much of the story and dialogue for this epic MMO, as well as been the writer for the exciting adventures of Teneb Kel in The Blood of the Empire webcomic.

Continue on after the break to catch Alexander Freed's insight into what the different types of quests will be available in SWTOR, what compelling choices players have to make, and what it takes to write for a project of this magnitude.

Continue reading SDCC 2010: A SWTOR Managing Editor who doesn't solve problems by killing all the kittens

MassivelySDCC 2010: A SWTOR Managing Editor who doesn't solve problems by killing all the kittens originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alexander-freedBioWareblood-of-the-empireEAea-biowareeden-studiosElectronic-Artsfeaturedguardians-of-orderimperial-agentinterviewjohn-ostranderkilling-kittenslucas-artssdcc-2010sithStar-Warsstar-wars-legacystar-wars-the-old-republicstorystory-tellingstorytellingswtorthe-old-republicTORwebcomicwhite-wolfwriterwritingMon, 26 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Meet the Sparkplay Media team: Part Two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/meet-the-sparkplay-media-team-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/meet-the-sparkplay-media-team-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/24/meet-the-sparkplay-media-team-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Yesterday we introduced you to the lead designer and concept artist from Sparkplay Media, the makers of the upcoming free-to-play MMO Earth Eternal. Today we have more behind the scenes action for you as we continue our "Meet the Sparkplay Media Team" feature and introduce you to the lead writer and one of the programmers that work so diligently on this new MMO.

In today's feature we get the inside scoop on the microtransaction store and story from Sparkplay's CEO and lead writer of Earth Eternal, Matt Mihaly. Plus we're also getting a peek inside what goes on during the coding of Earth Eternal with Ryne Anderson, one of the programmers.

Continue reading Meet the Sparkplay Media team: Part Two

MassivelyMeet the Sparkplay Media team: Part Two originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closed-betaearth-eternaleefree-to-playitem-shopmassively-interviewmatt-mihalysparkplay-mediastorysubscriptionwriterFri, 24 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lead writer of Earthrise sits down for an interview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/10/lead-writer-of-earthrise-sits-down-for-an-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/10/lead-writer-of-earthrise-sits-down-for-an-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/10/lead-writer-of-earthrise-sits-down-for-an-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Momchil Dilov is the very busy lead writer of the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO Earthrise, but he found time in his schedule to sit down and chat about the new game's story, his influences, and how to write for gaming audiences.

In his conversation with Gamesource.it, Dilov emphasized that players will be able to experience the story in a complete sandbox environment. He says that writing for books and movies is similar to writing for games, while writing for games you always have to keep the player in mind. You need to let your writing allow the player to experience the story, rather than simply giving the story to the player with your writing. As Dilov has said, "The greatest challenge in game writing is to tell the story, but not to confine the player inside it."

The full interview with Dilov can be found in English over at Gamesource.it.

MassivelyLead writer of Earthrise sits down for an interview originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthrisegamesource-itinterviewmomchil-dilovpost-apocalypticstorytellingwriterFri, 10 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fallen Earth dev blog explains game's post-apocalyptic religious zealotry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/fallen-earth-dev-blog-explains-games-post-apocalyptic-religious/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/fallen-earth-dev-blog-explains-games-post-apocalyptic-religious/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/12/fallen-earth-dev-blog-explains-games-post-apocalyptic-religious/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Fallen Earth is a massively multiplayer online game currently in development where, in the wake of nuclear and viral armageddon, humanity's survivors are left to fend for themselves in the wasteland. The scenario painted by Fallen Earth's lore is that the world's established religions have largely burned away or decayed along with most of the human race. What's left are sects whose experiences and hardships in watching the world die are reflected in their belief systems, extreme views that come in various flavors of post-apocalyptic zealotry. As Fallen Earth subscribers, the players will align themselves with certain belief systems when creating their characters, affecting their outlook on the aftermath.

In a WarCry exclusive, Fallen Earth writer Grace Hagood explains the game's religious and pseudo-religious elements, and some of the fanaticism embodied by these groups. She writes, "Let's face it: religion is a touchy subject. A lot of game designers would rather steer clear of including religion in their work. However, a game like Fallen Earth, set in a future based on extrapolations of current society, can't ignore the reality of religious extremism. What we can do, though, is use our particular (and sometimes peculiar) filters to present religious fanaticism in a post-apocalyptic framework."

Continue reading Fallen Earth dev blog explains game's post-apocalyptic religious zealotry

MassivelyFallen Earth dev blog explains game's post-apocalyptic religious zealotry originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aftermatharmageddondev-blogdeveloper-journalfactionsfallen-earthfallen-earth-llcgame-developergrace-hagoodjudgeslorepost-apocalypticsci-fisectsshivathe-judgeswriterzealotryzealotsTue, 12 May 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Champions Online dev diary by comic book writer John Layman]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/champions-online-dev-diary-by-comic-book-writer-john-layman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/champions-online-dev-diary-by-comic-book-writer-john-layman/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/champions-online-dev-diary-by-comic-book-writer-john-layman/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The next major superhero MMO to be released will be Champions Online, based off of the pen-and-paper RPG system and in development at Cryptic Studios, slated to be released in mid-July 2009. To add even more superhero cred to the game, Cryptic has hired writers well-versed in the comics industry like John Layman, of both Marvel and Wildstorm fame.

IGN is hosting a Champions Online developer diary written by Layman that focuses on his work at Cryptic Studios. Layman introduces what he does,"I'm the writer-guy for Champions Online, a comic book writer imported specifically to write a comic book themed game. And, just like writing comics, coming up with the right words, concepts, and plots is the very first part of a very long chain of work." He writes about the process of hashing out the best ideas with other Cryptic notables like Jack Emmert, Randy Mosiondz, and Brian Gilmore, and then working to tailor those concepts to 'comic book-ese' that works for Champions Online.

Continue reading Champions Online dev diary by comic book writer John Layman

MassivelyChampions Online dev diary by comic book writer John Layman originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-gilmorechampions-onlinecryptic-studiosdev-diarydeveloper-diaryignjack-emmertjohn-laymanmarvelnew-titlesrandy-mosiondzstar-trek-onlinesuper-herosuperherowildstormwriterwritingFri, 01 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR's lead writer describes BioWare's ambitious storytelling initiative]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/31/swtors-lead-writer-describes-biowares--ambitious/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/31/swtors-lead-writer-describes-biowares--ambitious/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/31/swtors-lead-writer-describes-biowares--ambitious/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The biggest selling point of Star Wars: The Old Republic seems to be its focus on storytelling. Interactive stories have always been BioWare's particular claim to fame, so we're not surprised at the focus, but we will admit to being a little surprised at just how hardcore they are about it. In an interview with Gamasutra, BioWare Austin lead writer Daniel Erickson described the company's process for hiring and managing the writing staff, which includes more than a dozen people who went through a three-month training program, and who have now been working on the game for several years.

What's interesting to us about the interview (most of it focuses on professional questions, not on gameplay -- check out the info from our own encounter with Erickson for more on that) is that unlike with other MMOs, the development process began with writing. The stories created by the writers are the foundation of the game design and experience to come -- at least according to Erickson.

There's also a bit in there about the challenges of innovation in the MMO industry, and the need to make individual game features -- such as combat or story -- as solid as they are in single-player titles.

MassivelySWTOR's lead writer describes BioWare's ambitious storytelling initiative originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-austindaniel-ericksondevelopmenteainterviewstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstorytellingswtorthe-old-republictorwriterwritingFri, 31 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Official Asheron's Call blog is nostalgic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/official-asherons-call-blog-is-nostalgic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/official-asherons-call-blog-is-nostalgic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/official-asherons-call-blog-is-nostalgic/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Asheron's Call's 100th update is imminent, and to celebrate, Turbine has started a "Nostalgia Blog" in which old designers of the game reminisce about their experiences of elation and tribulation. The first entry is now live. It was written by Allan "Orion" Maki, who worked as a designer on nearly half of AC's content updates. He also wrote a huge chunk of the game's ongoing storyline. That storyline has been an important reason for people to keep on playing the game after all these years.

In the blog, he describes his first, disaster-laden attempt at design, names his favorite characters and quests, and gushes compliments at AC, saying "you never forget your first love." Now he's working on The Lord of the Rings Online, but one senses that he won't forget his roots.

MassivelyOfficial Asheron's Call blog is nostalgic originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anarchy Online content designer Nina "Aythem" Sund has been writing developer journal entries over at Ten Ton Hammer for several months, sharing game design wisdom and insider anecdotes with players. Her latest entry had a different tone, though. She used the medium to bid farewell to AO players as she moves on to work on Funcom's next MMO, The Secret World.

As a parting gift, she spent the rest of her entry telling fans how they too can become game designers. Hers is good advice if that's an aspiration for you. Unfortunately, she didn't slip out any news or information on The Secret World, which as so far been very, well ... secret. Ten Ton Hammer attached two bits of concept art, though, so savor that!

We hope Funcom will continue to support AO even though it now has Age of Conan and The Secret World to worry about, too. Sund was a popular quest designer at AO; we're glad she'll be adding her touch to TSW, but poor AO!

MassivelyAO designer says adieu, moves on to The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anarchy-onlineaoaythemblogcontent-designercontent-writerdesignerdevblogfarewellfuncomgoodbyejournalnina-sundquestten-ton-hammerthe-secret-worldtransferwriterWed, 25 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST