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[EA to be the sole source for SWTOR downloads [updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/ea-to-be-the-sole-source-for-swtor-downloads/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/ea-to-be-the-sole-source-for-swtor-downloads/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/02/ea-to-be-the-sole-source-for-swtor-downloads/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Thanks to our friends at Darth Hater, Massively has learned that the highly anticipated MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic will be sold as a direct download only through Electronic Arts itself. In an interview with CEO John Riccitiello, the Wall Street Journal uncovered news of EA's new service, one it's calling Origin. This service will provide customers with a download service for all EA games, including the Battlefield games, the Need For Speed games, and the aforementioned Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Origin is to act as a social network hub as well as a place to track all your EA game purchases, explained Riccitiello to the Wall Street Journal. This functionality will be available to all users even if they did not purchase the game directly from Origin. However, Riccitiello clarified that Star Wars: The Old Republic will still be purchasable in box form via retailers; only the digital download itself will be exclusive to Origin. Presumably, other all-digital services such as Direct2Drive and Steam will not carry the game.

The full article from the Wall Street Journal is available with a subscription to the newspaper's website.

[Update: Stephen Reid posted to the official SWTOR forums: "However, even though you'll only be able to buy and download The Old Republic digitally via Origin, you will still be able to buy a retail, boxed copy of the game from your favorite retailer (and that includes online retailers who'll ship the box to you). BioWare and EA know the value many gamers place on a cool boxed product... and we're producing a cool boxed product. (Or maybe I should say 'boxed products'.)"]

MassivelyEA to be the sole source for SWTOR downloads [updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWaredarth-haterdigital-downloadEAElectronic-Artseric-brownJohn-riccitielloLucasArtsOriginStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorwall-street-journalwsjThu, 02 Jun 2011 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook games transmitting your info to third parties]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/18/facebook-games-transmitting-your-info-to-third-parties/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/18/facebook-games-transmitting-your-info-to-third-parties/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/18/facebook-games-transmitting-your-info-to-third-parties/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Our friends at Joystiq have turned us on to a Wall Street Journal article that concludes your privacy is at risk if you play Facebook games. The Journal discovered that each of the top 10 Facebook applications transmits user IDs, which may be shared with unauthorized third parties.

We know, it's not exactly new or shocking information, but continued user ignorance -- or apathy -- regarding online habits is a troubling trend that bears examining. WSJ authors Emily Steel and Geoffrey A. Fowler did just that and turned up all manner up interesting findings including a data-mining firm called RapLeaf Inc. that linked Facebook user IDs to its database of internet users. RapLeaf didn't stop there, as it then transmitted the user IDs to a dozen other firms, an express violation of Facebook policy.

Though RapLeaf vice president of business development Joel Jewitt said "we didn't do it on purpose," Facebook is nonetheless trotting out the damage control PR. "We have taken immediate action to disable all applications that violate our terms," said a company spokeman.

MassivelyFacebook games transmitting your info to third parties originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>data-miningfacebookfarmvillelack-of-privacyprivacyrapleafsocial-networkingwall street journalWallStreetJournalwsjzyngaMon, 18 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wall Street Journal examines SOE's and Turbine's switch to free-to-play]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/wall-street-journal-examines-soe-and-turbines-switch-to-free-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/wall-street-journal-examines-soe-and-turbines-switch-to-free-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/wall-street-journal-examines-soe-and-turbines-switch-to-free-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The growing trend toward the free-to-play business model in the MMO industry has caught the attention of the Wall Street Journal.

The feature story in the paper's weekly Digital Media section is entitled "First, Give Away the Game," and focuses heavily on some of the recent free-to-play announcements from high-profile MMO developers. Warner Brothers President Martin Tremblay spoke to the WSJ regarding DDO's dramatic turnaround last year as well. "The game was almost dead," said Tremblay, saying that DDO is now "very healthy" financially, thanks to the switch to free-to-play. He stated that the change was "a big reason" for the decision to acquire Turbine, and the reason Warner Brothers plans to follow the business model for other games. "This is the way we believe customers want to consume games in the future."

It's an interesting look at the growth of microtransactions and the F2P model in the Western market. The full story can be read on the Wall Street Journal's Digital Network.

MassivelyWall Street Journal examines SOE's and Turbine's switch to free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelsddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineeq-2EQ-IIEQ2EQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iif2pfree-to-playftplord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroMicrotransactionssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentturbinewall-street-journalwall-street-journal-onlinewarner-brotherswsjwsj-onlineFri, 30 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST