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[It's Friday I'm in lab: Undead Labs opens its doors to you]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/16/its-friday-im-in-lab-undead-labs-open-their-doors-to-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/16/its-friday-im-in-lab-undead-labs-open-their-doors-to-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/16/its-friday-im-in-lab-undead-labs-open-their-doors-to-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

"Monday the world can fall apart / Tuesday, Wednesday they eat my heart / Oh, Thursday my chainsaw doesn't start / It's Friday I'm in lab."

We're reminded of the immortal words of The Cure as we watch this neat behind-the-scenes glimpse into the inner workings of Undead Labs. Ever wonder what it might be like to actually go to work and spend your whole day creating a post-apocalyptic zombie world? And get paid for it? Watch these devs and feel the bitter sting of envy at the back of your neck.

While the video doesn't go into depth about Undead Labs' as-yet unnamed MMO or the XBLA game the studio is developing, it does offer tantalizing sights such as sheets of concept art, in-game building models, and even a brief bit of man-vs-zombie mayhem. And there are few things more surreal than witnessing a room full of businessmen and women seriously discussing zombie behaviors.

You can watch the full video after the jump!

Continue reading It's Friday I'm in lab: Undead Labs opens its doors to you

MassivelyIt's Friday I'm in lab: Undead Labs opens its doors to you originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-scenesfriday-im-in-lovejeff-strainthe-cureundeadundead-labsvideoxblaxbox-live-arcadezombiezombie-apocalypsezombie-behaviorzombie-mmoSat, 16 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nexon's Dungeon Fighter Online coming to Xbox Live Arcade]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/nexons-dungeon-fighter-online-coming-to-xbox-live-arcade/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/nexons-dungeon-fighter-online-coming-to-xbox-live-arcade/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/nexons-dungeon-fighter-online-coming-to-xbox-live-arcade/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The MMO console line-up just got a bit bigger thanks to the folks at Nexon and Softmax. The latter is porting the former's Dungeon Fighter Online beat-'em-up to the Xbox Live Arcade delivery platform, where the title will boast a freemium business model (meaning you download the client for free and pay for items and upgrades).

Nexon and Microsoft are splitting localization duties as the game will be released in eight languages worldwide. The console title -- Nexon's first -- will be exclusive to the 360. DFO features six character classes (with subclasses available at level 18) and further advancement possible at level 48 via an awakening quest.

[Thanks to Prime Synergy for the tip!]

MassivelyNexon's Dungeon Fighter Online coming to Xbox Live Arcade originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsole-mmoconsolesdfodungeon-fighterdungeon-fighter-onlinef2pfantasyfree-to-playmicrosoftnexonxblxblaxbox-360xbox-livexbox-live-arcadeThu, 24 Mar 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: The sad, strange death of Company of Heroes Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/the-mmo-report-the-sad-strange-death-of-company-of-heroes-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/the-mmo-report-the-sad-strange-death-of-company-of-heroes-onli/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/the-mmo-report-the-sad-strange-death-of-company-of-heroes-onli/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Bad puns, sexual innuendo and all the MMO news you can handle are crammed into yet another MMO Report, brought to us by our friends at G4TV. Casey Schreiner and his fabulous tie recall a few of the biggest stories from the previous week.

First up on the docket is the cancellation of two THQ titles previously in development: Company of Heroes Online and WWE Smackdown vs. Raw Online. Both of these games were an attempt by the studio to bring its western-style MMOs to a Korean market, although THQ ultimately decided that this move wasn't at the top of its priority list.

On a more upbeat note, Casey talks up LEGO Universe's Crux Prime update, which came complete with ninjas and multiplayer madness. And yes, Casey, we agree that LEGOs are "awesome."

Other topics for the Report include Undead Labs' "Class 3" single-player XBLA title that's hopefully leading up to the studio's zombie MMO, robo-Batman in a new DCUO video, the announcement of BlizzCon's 2011 dates, and a Blizzard theme park called "Joy Land" in China. Face it: We have a weird hobby.

Hit the jump to watch the full MMO Report!

Continue reading The MMO Report: The sad, strange death of Company of Heroes Online

MassivelyThe MMO Report: The sad, strange death of Company of Heroes Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmanblizzardblizzconcasey-schreinercinematicclass-3Company-of-Heroescompany-of-heroes-onlineconventioncrux-primedc-universe-onlinedcuog4g4tvjoy-landlegolego-universelegosmmo-reportrobo-batmanthe-mmo-reportthqundead-labswwe-onlineWWE-SmackDown-vs-RAWxblaMon, 14 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs reveals first release title, and it's not the zombie MMO [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/undead-labs-reveals-first-release-title-and-its-not-the-zombie/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/undead-labs-reveals-first-release-title-and-its-not-the-zombie/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/undead-labs-reveals-first-release-title-and-its-not-the-zombie/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Back in November 2009, ArenaNet co-founder Jeff Strain left the company to create a new development studio named Undead Labs. His plans included the development of a zombie-survival console MMO, an idea that has had fans of zombie apocalypse games excited ever since. In August 2010, Undead Labs graced the news once again when four more of ArenaNet's developers left to join the new studio and work on the upcoming zombie MMO. It wasn't long until we began to see the first details released of the impending zombie apocalypse, with a huge section in EGM Magazine. Most notable was the revelation that the game would be a console-only open-world sandbox.

Undead Labs unveiled its first officially planned release title today, and fans of the upcoming zombie MMO won't be disappointed. While the company's first release won't be the zombie MMO we all want so badly, the studio plans to first release a smaller-scale online zombie survival game on XBox Live Arcade. This game, code-named "Class 3" for now, will showcase the gameplay, setting and technology that will be used to develop the as-yet untitled zombie MMO. The team at Undead Labs plans to then use the game as a kind of training ground to help develop better gameplay experiences for the MMO that will follow. Although that means we'll have to wait a while to get our hands on that zombie-survival sandbox world we've all been dreaming of, the result should be a game that appeals more to players.

Jeff Strain, founder of Undead Labs, released the following statement: "Our mission is to create original online games that truly feel at home on the console platform, and Xbox 360 is a fantastic platform for online console gaming. We plan to create an ambitious open world XBLA game and use its gameplay, setting, and technology as the foundation for a full online world game."

[Update: Jeff Strain's also released a tongue-in-cheek "Rude Q&A" on Undead Labs' blog. It discusses the team's plans and goals for the new game as well as aims to stave off any misconceptions about both upcoming titles.]

MassivelyUndead Labs reveals first release title, and it's not the zombie MMO [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsole-mmohorrorjeff-strainopen-worldsandboxundeadundead-labsxblaxboxXbox-360Xbox-Live-Arcadezombiezombie-mmoThu, 03 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Twisted Pixel working on Turbine's console MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/26/rumor-twisted-pixel-working-on-turbines-console-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/26/rumor-twisted-pixel-working-on-turbines-console-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/26/rumor-twisted-pixel-working-on-turbines-console-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ever since we learned that Turbine's been dabbling in console game development, our speculation has run amok as to what that game might be. A Harry Potter MMO? Another Lord of the Rings title? A DDO port?

While we could be waiting a while longer to discover what the name of the title, Twisted Pixel Games seems to be a partner in this process. On their games page, the company state that they've finished working on an "unannounced console MMO" for Turbine. Twisted Pixel is a hire-for-contract console developer with a handful of XBLA titles under its belt as well as Blitz: The League II. Twisted Pixel claim to have helped, and that their part is finished, but they are otherwise mum on the project.

Still, it's great to hear that another Turbine game is on its way, and hopefully we'll hear more soon. The full statement is in the graphic above.

[Thanks Sam!]

MassivelyRumor: Twisted Pixel working on Turbine's console MMO originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blitz-the-league-2breakingconsoleconsole-mmoddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineharry-potterlord-of-the-rings-onlinerumorturbinetwisted-pixelTwisted-Pixel-GamesxblaSat, 26 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Marketing in virtual worlds: which company gets around the most?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/marketing-in-virtual-worlds-which-company-gets-around-the-most/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/marketing-in-virtual-worlds-which-company-gets-around-the-most/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/01/24/marketing-in-virtual-worlds-which-company-gets-around-the-most/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

These days we're becoming used to seeing advertising pop up in all aspects of daily life. A lot of the free games out there are only free because of the deals that have been made with various marketing companies. To get a good overview of the advertising in virtual worlds, Kzero created a table that shows companies and the games they are represented in, with an accompanying write-up.

The study shows that Toyota is the most "adventurous" marketer, shopping themselves out in five different MMOs. I recall that they also had a game available on Xbox Live Arcade until the end of 2007 called Yaris, which was free to download, and thankfully free to delete, as it was nothing more than a giant ad for the launch of the car by the same name. It looks like Toyota is definitely switched on to marketing to the gaming audience. On the games side of things, Second Life and Gaia have the dubious honor of being the home to the most advertising. Clicking on the table above will take you through to the bigger version at Kzero.

[Via Virtual Worlds News]

MassivelyMarketing in virtual worlds: which company gets around the most? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisinggaiain-game-adskzerolinden-labmarketingsltoyotaxblaxbox-live-arcadeyarisThu, 24 Jan 2008 21:00:00 EST