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[Is The Old Republic heading to Xbox 360?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/is-the-old-republic-heading-to-xbox-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/is-the-old-republic-heading-to-xbox-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/is-the-old-republic-heading-to-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Is the Force so strong with BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic that it may accomplish what many MMORPGs promise yet could not do: to come out on a console as well as the PC? According to an internal Xbox 360 release list procured by VG247, TOR is listed as one of the upcoming titles (with a release date of "TBC-2011") for the 360.

While several MMORPG developers state that a console version of their title is in the works for a future release (and in many cases, fail to realize it), BioWare certainly has an exceptional track record of bringing their past RPGs to both PC and consoles, including the first Knights of the Old Republic and their recent Mass Effect 2. Speculation about a possible console version of TOR has run rampant since the game's announcement. Back in 2008, EA's Frank Gibeau hinted at it saying, "We're definitely looking at the opportunity to bring the MMO experience to console, without question."

True or not, a console presence for TOR would definitely be a great boon for EA, and an opportunity to grasp a larger share of the subscriber market.

[Thanks Sharuk!]

UPDATE: Sean Dahlberg on the TOR forums said today that TOR is currently being made for PC only: "Star Wars: The Old Republic is currently being developed for the personal computer (PC) using the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) operating system. While we recognize that there are other operating systems and platforms available for games today, our development is specific to the personal computer using the Windows operating system at this time."

MassivelyIs The Old Republic heading to Xbox 360? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebreakingconsoleknights-of-the-old-republicmass-effect-2star-wars-the-old-republicthe-old-republictorXbox360Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic's Jack Emmert: No Plans For Consoles, STO over 100K subscribers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/cryptics-jack-emmert-no-plans-for-consoles-sto-over-100k-subs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/cryptics-jack-emmert-no-plans-for-consoles-sto-over-100k-subs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/cryptics-jack-emmert-no-plans-for-consoles-sto-over-100k-subs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


"100% of our focus is on making the current PC product the best it can be. There are no current plans for a console version of Champions." Thus sayeth Cryptic Studio's Jack Emmert on the official Champions Online forums, ending speculation when or if this event would happen.

Over the past couple years, it looked as though Cryptic had console ports in its plans, from bringing on board console engine programmers to public plans of expanding their subscriber base into the console market. However, when the date for the supposed console release kept getting pushed back, players grew worried, and now it seems that the concern was justified. This might have been compounded by the fact that recently Champions Online experienced a major transition as executive producer Bill Roper stepped down and Shannon "Poz" Posniewski took over.

The folks over at The Big Freaking Podcast grabbed a bit of face time with Jack Emmert, Cryptic's Chief Operating Officer, to expand on this news as well as the future for Champions and Star Trek Online. Read on for the highlights of this interview!

Continue reading Cryptic's Jack Emmert: No Plans For Consoles, STO over 100K subscribers

MassivelyCryptic's Jack Emmert: No Plans For Consoles, STO over 100K subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanauto-assaultbill-roperchampionschampions-onlinecity-of-heroesconsole-portcrypticcryptic-studiosdungeons-and-dragonsfeaturedgodzillajack-emmertmarvel-universe-onlinepodcastps3shannon-posniewskistar-trek-onlinestoTabula-RasaWarhammer-Onlineworld-of-warcraftXbox360Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Upcoming MMO from Blueside also in development for Xbox360]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/upcoming-mmo-from-blueside-also-in-development-for-xbox360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/upcoming-mmo-from-blueside-also-in-development-for-xbox360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/28/upcoming-mmo-from-blueside-also-in-development-for-xbox360/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We know Korean developer Blueside for Kingdom Under Fire, as well as the hush-hush project they've been working on for a while, an MMO known by the name of "Project T."

Given that Kingdom Under Fire is a sequel to the 2001 Xbox title Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders, it should come as no surprise that Blueside is taking a similar approach with the mysterious Project T. Not only will Project T be released for the PC, but we've also gotten word that an Xbox360 version is coming as well.

A recent Korean job listing specified that the company needs people with experience on commercial MMOs, and specifies that the MMO is in development for both platforms.

Details on Project T are still very scarce, and confirmation that Blueside is planning to join the emerging trend of console MMOs is the most we've heard for a while. We'll keep an eye out for more details!

MassivelyUpcoming MMO from Blueside also in development for Xbox360 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluesideconsole-mmoconsole-mmo-gameskingdom-under-fireproject-txbox 360xbox-360-mmoxbox-mmoXbox360Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Phantasy Star Universe to shut down PS2 & PC servers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/phantasy-star-universe-to-shut-down-ps2-and-pc-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/phantasy-star-universe-to-shut-down-ps2-and-pc-servers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/25/phantasy-star-universe-to-shut-down-ps2-and-pc-servers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's always a sad day when we have to report an MMO is shutting down. Then you have cases like today's announcement about Phantasy Star Universe where it's a mixed bag. In this case the PS2 and PC versions will be closing down as of March 31st. Meanwhile, the Xbox 360 version (yes, another console MMO does exist) is doing well and will remain online.

On January 29th, the Maximum Attack G+ event will start up across all three Phantasy Star Universe platforms, at which point anyone who has a paid subscriber on the PC or PS2 will be converted to a free account until the servers go dark. According to a heartfelt post by GM Edward@Sega, these closures are necessary because "[t]he population is simply too low for us to be able to continue to support this platform." The good news is that since there will only be one primary western market platform moving forward, this should allow Sega to close the expansion release gap between the US and Japanese versions.

So while this next Maximum Attack G+ event will be a bittersweet one for some, at least Phantasy Star Universe will live on in the 360 version -- and there's always the single-player offline version of PSU for PC and PS2 players as well. Hopefully some veteran players will get the chance to make the jump as losing your favorite world is definitely no fun.

MassivelyPhantasy Star Universe to shut down PS2 & PC servers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pcphantasy-star-universeps2psusegaserver-closingsunsetxbox360Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What is this mystery project at CCP Games?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/19/the-daily-grind-what-is-this-mystery-project-at-ccp-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/19/the-daily-grind-what-is-this-mystery-project-at-ccp-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/19/the-daily-grind-what-is-this-mystery-project-at-ccp-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


We know that CCP Games, creators of EVE Online, is going to announce a new project at GDC Europe in August. As CCP acquired White Wolf, creators of pen-and-paper RPG titles like Vampire, Mage, and Werewolf (the World of Darkness setting), we've known for some time that a World of Darkness MMO is in the works. Unfortunately, beyond the fact that the project exists at some stage of development, we know very little. But this mystery project announcement might not be about WoD at all. We're also aware that CCP Games has plans to release a first person shooter based on the EVE Online IP, which they hinted at during EVE Fanfest 2008.

The latest info we've found about a new project at CCP Games (via @crazykinux) is a job listing at CCP for a Senior Game Engineer. The successful applicant "will join a seasoned team based in Shanghai, China where they will work on original IP for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3." The listing also mentions development on the Unreal Engine.

Regardless of whether they're planning to unveil World of Darkness Online or an EVE Online first person shooter, you don't need to be an EVE player to appreciate how cool either of these releases could be. What game do you think CCP is going to announce at GDC Europe?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What is this mystery project at CCP Games? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ccp-gamesconsoleconsoleseve-onlinefirst-person-shootergdc-europegdc-europe-2009hilmar-peturssonhilmar-v-peturssonhorrorpen-and-paperplaystation-3ps3rampant-speculationrpgsci-fishanghaitdgthe-daily-grindunreal-enginewhite-wolfworld-of-darknessworld-of-darkness-onlinexbox-360xbox360Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: In-game achievements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/25/the-daily-grind-in-game-achievements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/25/the-daily-grind-in-game-achievements/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/25/the-daily-grind-in-game-achievements/#commentsFiled under: ,


When I'm not playing MMOs, I'm usually found on a console. Of all the numerous machines and debugs I own, my Xbox 360 is my favourite. It's the one console I saved hard to buy and waited the longest for. While I think it has some of the best games, it also has Achievements. It's really sad, I know, but I love that little ding and onscreen notification which lets me know I've achieved something in-game. From finding a secret area or finishing a game, there's something about that noise which is rewarding.

But now achievements have started popping up in MMOs (in the form of actual achievements or special titles for completion of certain quests) and it's so much fun. What is it about being rewarded? Are we just rats being given cheese for completing a maze or do achievements help keep interest in a particularly long quest chain or boring instance we'd never otherwise complete?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: In-game achievements originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 May 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementachievementsin-game-rewardsrewardsthe-daily-grindxbox360Mon, 25 May 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cryptic's Bill Roper: Microsoft MMO reveal for Xbox 360 unlikely at E3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/cryptics-bill-roper-microsoft-mmo-reveal-for-xbox-360-unlikely/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/cryptics-bill-roper-microsoft-mmo-reveal-for-xbox-360-unlikely/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/01/cryptics-bill-roper-microsoft-mmo-reveal-for-xbox-360-unlikely/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Much has been said and written of the coming marriage of gaming consoles and MMOs, but like all lengthy engagements, if it drags on too long people begin to doubt it'll ever happen. When we do hear industry rumblings of a massively multiplayer online game coming to a console, it's generally about Playstation 3 rather than Xbox 360. But would it be fair to assume that Microsoft has less interest in bringing MMOs to the 360, much less delivering on a first-party MMO title? Bill Roper from Cryptic Studios seems to think so, and they're developing Champions Online for the 360 as well as PC.

When speaking of the possibility that Microsoft would announce an MMO for the 360 at this year's E3, Roper told Patrick Garratt at VG247, "I don't think that's something they've been really pushing towards. From any discussions I've ever had, or heard with Don Mattrick [Microsoft's Senior VP of Interactive Entertainment Business], Don's not necessarily a huge MMO fan." Although he says he'd be pleasantly surprised if Microsoft did shift more focus to console MMOs, he cites the difficulties inherent in both dealing with technical issues and the complexities on the business side of working with third parties. You can have a look at what else Roper has to say on the prospects of Xbox 360 MMOs in the article at VG247.

Do you feel that bringing your MMO of choice to the Xbox 360 would be viable, or are you starting to think that the 360/MMO marriage is doomed?

MassivelyCryptic's Bill Roper: Microsoft MMO reveal for Xbox 360 unlikely at E3 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 May 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-roperbusiness-modelschampions-onlineconsoleconsole-mmoconsolescryptic-studiosdon-mattricke3interviewsmicrosoftopinionpatrick-garrattvg247xbox-360xbox360Fri, 01 May 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC09: The veil lifts on The Secret World]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/07/gdc09-the-veil-lifts-on-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/07/gdc09-the-veil-lifts-on-the-secret-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/07/gdc09-the-veil-lifts-on-the-secret-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


If you've been waiting for a chance to see what lies beyond the curtain and fall into the elegantly dark setting of The Secret World, then get ready for your first glimpse of what lurks beyond. At the GDC we got the chance to sit down and discuss The Secret World with Funcom and lay our eyes on a few cinematics of the game.

While we were unable to get our hands around a playable version of the title, we were treated to many of the game's basics and concepts. This may not be the tidal wave of information, but it is a start to the flow of The Secret World's river of fresh ideas.

What lies after the break is an explanation of what the game is all about, followed by the first cinematic of The Secret World that we've been allowed to release. Later in the hour, we'll be posting our interview with Ragnar Tørnquist, the game's creator. So stick with us as we lead you through our peek of TSW.

Continue reading GDC09: The veil lifts on The Secret World

MassivelyGDC09: The veil lifts on The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionadventurecombatconsolefeaturedfuncomgdc-2009historyjoystiqfeaturesloremythologyragnarragnar-tornquiststorythe-secret-worldtswxbox-360xbox360Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Lord of the Rings Online heading to Xbox 360]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/04/rumor-lord-of-the-rings-online-heading-to-xbox-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/04/rumor-lord-of-the-rings-online-heading-to-xbox-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/04/rumor-lord-of-the-rings-online-heading-to-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We've come across a rumor about Lord of the Rings Online over at Destructoid, from Brad Nicholson. If his information is correct, Lord of the Rings Online may have an Xbox 360 release in its future. Nicholson writes, "According to a reliable source, Turbine is currently eyeing their MMO, Lord of the Rings: Online, for an Xbox 360 release. The source added that Turbine has hit a snag, unrelated to the development process. Microsoft, allegedly, won't commit to allow Turbine to utilize a free-to-play model, which is what the developer desires for the console version of LotRO."

Nicholson writes that he contacted Turbine about the matter, but they neither confirmed nor denied that LotRO on 360 is in the works. Joystiq also got in touch with Turbine's PR director Adam Mersky, who stated, "We saw that rumor, too... We're not talking about what we're working on specifically, only that we're making a console MMO and actively working with Microsoft and Sony." Mersky added that their unnamed console project is progressing and that they'll have something to show by this summer.

MassivelyRumor: Lord of the Rings Online heading to Xbox 360 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-merskybrad-nicholsonconsoleconsole-mmodestructoiddirector-of-public-relationsfantasyjoystiqlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotromicrosoftpr-directorrumorrumorssonyturbinexbox360Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Future Xbox 360 games may award clothing for avatars as achievements]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/future-xbox-360-games-may-award-clothing-for-avatars-as-achievem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/future-xbox-360-games-may-award-clothing-for-avatars-as-achievem/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/future-xbox-360-games-may-award-clothing-for-avatars-as-achievem/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Rare let it slip earlier today to news site VG247 that they were interested in making avatar clothing and accessories into part of the rewards scheme with achievements in their Xbox 360 games.

Up until this point, the 360 avatars have been dressed in their launch clothing, plus a few additions such as the winter fun pack of avatar coats and gloves. So the idea of being able to play a game on your console, unlock an achievement, and then get a wearable piece of avatar clothing to show off to your friends (especially if it's related to the game at hand) is a really nice touch.

Rare hasn't released any more details on who they're working with or what games this function would be available on, but it's a nice look into the future for what achievements may hold in online settings.

MassivelyFuture Xbox 360 games may award clothing for avatars as achievements originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360-avatarsaccessoriesachievementsavatarsclothingdownloadable-contentrarexbox-livexbox360Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: See the griefing, taste the griefing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/anti-aliased-see-the-griefing-taste-the-griefing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/anti-aliased-see-the-griefing-taste-the-griefing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/anti-aliased-see-the-griefing-taste-the-griefing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


If home is where the heart is, then PlayStation 3 users have some pretty cold, racist, and sexually demeaning hearts. Hearts that make Halo 3 players look like cute puppies in comparison. Now I'm not saying that PlayStation Home is not a great idea -- in theory it's a brilliant idea. Play in a world like Second Life, meet other users, play mini games, launch into full PS3 games, what's not to love about any of that?

Well, it seems Sony forgot about the precedents of other virtual worlds. Second Life, while nice, can have the uncanny ability to resemble slums in certain areas thanks to the scary nature of some of the creators. Xbox Live sports some of the most offensive users (NSFW) around. So how exactly was Home suppose to avoid the travesties that affect other worlds?

Sony has already stated that "user behavior and feedback" will shape where they go with the Home beta. If that's the case, where are they going to go? Totalitarian state, anyone?

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: See the griefing, taste the griefing

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: See the griefing, taste the griefing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedbanningscensorshipchat-filteringcommunitycontentfeaturedhomejoystiqfeaturesplaystation-homeplaystation3quincyracistsecond-lifesexistvirtual-worldxbox-livexbox360Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft partners with Ankama Games to bring Wakfu to Xbox Live Arcade]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/microsoft-partners-with-ankama-games-to-bring-wakfu-to-xbox-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/microsoft-partners-with-ankama-games-to-bring-wakfu-to-xbox-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/18/microsoft-partners-with-ankama-games-to-bring-wakfu-to-xbox-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


If you have heard of Dofus or Wakfu, then you've heard of Ankama Games, the people Microsoft has just turned to for a new Xbox MMO-esque game. In their partnership announced today, Ankama will be bringing a new title, Islands of Wakfu, to Xbox Live Arcade late next year. Islands of Wakfu will keep the current cartoon style of Dofus and Wakfu, but utilize a more adventure/beat-'em-up style instead of the top down tactical style. Also, it's going to be more of a team play game, where two players work cooperatively together, rather than a full on MMO. The game promises to be set in the same universe as Ankama's other games and reveal new information about the world itself.

So it's not a full on MMO, but the offer certainly does open the doors of hope. Having a known MMO developer working on Xbox Live Arcade titles with their unique IP may herald other game developers to do the same. Who knows, we might end up with a Wakfu MMO on the arcade anyway!

[via TenTonHammer]

MassivelyMicrosoft partners with Ankama Games to bring Wakfu to Xbox Live Arcade originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ankamaankama-gamesarcadebreakingdofusf2pfree-to-playislands-of-wakfumicrosoftnew-titleswakfuxbox-360xbox-livexbox-live-arcadexbox-mmoxbox360Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you want more console MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/13/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-more-console-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/13/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-more-console-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/13/the-daily-grind-do-you-want-more-console-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


MMOs are primarly a PC business. They started here, and they're certainly dominating the PC gaming industry, one hard drive at a time. But why must we limit the MMO to simply the PC machine? What about the untouched masses of the console market? Why must we keep our games to ourselves when we should share freely with the others?

Ok, ok, controller vs. keyboard issues aside, what do all of you think about console MMOs? We already have Final Fantasy XI and Phantasy Star Universe on the Xbox 360 and PS2. We also have The Agency eventually making a debut on the PS3 and the rumored Age of Conan release on the Xbox 360, but 4 MMO games is nowhere near the many many games we have on our PCs.

Do you want to log into Xbox Live or PlayStation Network and boot up your favorite MMO? Would you rather sit on your couch and raid instead of your computer chair? Can cats and dogs live together in harmony? Readers, we need your opinions!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you want more console MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsole-gamingconsole-mmoffxifinal-fantasy-xipc-gamingphantasy-star-universeplaystation-networkpsnpsusquare-enixthe-daily-grindxblxbox-livexbox360Sat, 13 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EA's Paul Barnett pegs the Wii as the first MMO-friendly console]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/eas-paul-barnett-pegs-the-wii-as-the-first-successful-mmo-conso/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/eas-paul-barnett-pegs-the-wii-as-the-first-successful-mmo-conso/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/eas-paul-barnett-pegs-the-wii-as-the-first-successful-mmo-conso/#commentsFiled under: ,

Both Microsoft and Sony have big plans for the MMO genre on their respective consoles. Games like Huxley and Age of Conan are slated for the 360, and NCsoft's pairing with the Japanese hardware giant could mean any number of new games for the PlayStation 3. The console company that has remained silent on the MMO front so far is, of course, Nintendo. The Wii hardly seems like the ideal platform for a massively multiplayer experience, the possibilities of Pokemon aside.

Just the same, EA Mythic's Paul Barnett recently singled out Nintendo as the most likely to capitalize on the console possibilities of MMOs. Barnett notes that the dominance of one game has resulted in very specific thinking about the genre. As a result, game makers are having trouble concepting an online experience to be console-based from the ground up. Nintendo, Barnett feels, could overcome this hurdle. "The best example I can find for a perpetual online console game is Rock Band, with it Xbox Live community store. It's somewhere in there. I don't know what it is, but that's perhaps the closest I've seen to convincing console people to do things together, to do things online, to do things that cost money, to earn income."

MassivelyEA's Paul Barnett pegs the Wii as the first MMO-friendly console originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 May 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftncsoftnintendopaul-barnettsonywiixbox-360xbox360Tue, 20 May 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOGology: Age of Conan, PC vs 360]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/mmogology-age-of-conan-pc-vs-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/mmogology-age-of-conan-pc-vs-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/mmogology-age-of-conan-pc-vs-360/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Age of Conan's official release date is tomorrow (May 20, 2008) and MMOG players around the world are salivating at the chance to get down and dirty in the world of Hyboria. In fact, the level of interest is so intense that as I'm writing this article I can't even access the official Age of Conan website due to the high volume of traffic. With Funcom reporting one million beta test subscriptions, it looks like Conan may lay down some serious competition in the MMOG market.

Any time an MMOG looks to bring in big numbers, people inevitably ask whether or not it can challenge the current king of the hill, Blizzard's World of Warcraft. Personally, I don't think that's Funcom's goal. Sure they want to be successful, but unlike Blizzard, they aren't targeting a broad demographic of players. Instead, it appears that Funcom's goal is to capture a mature audience of hardcore gamers. The violence and sexual content that give Conan a Mature rating are obviously two indications of this target audience. Another indicator is the game's steep system requirements.

Typically steep system requirements are a barrier to many gamers. However, unlike most other MMOGs, Age of Conan won't be solely available on the PC. Gamers have the unique option of playing AoC on Xbox 360 and possibly on PS3. I'll discuss AoC's system requirements and the pros and cons of both platforms after the break.

Continue reading MMOGology: Age of Conan, PC vs 360

MassivelyMMOGology: Age of Conan, PC vs 360 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360age-of-conanfeaturedfuncomjoystiqfeaturespcperformancexbox-360xbox-360-vs-pcxbox360Mon, 19 May 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GuildCafe expands its horizons with GamerDNA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/guildcafe-expands-its-horizons-with-gamerdna/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/guildcafe-expands-its-horizons-with-gamerdna/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/18/guildcafe-expands-its-horizons-with-gamerdna/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

GuildCafe has been often called the Myspace or Facebook for MMO players, but not only is it much more than that, it's expanding even further. This summer, the mega-guild social site will be changing its focus onto a new venture (and company name) called GamerDNA. This new site will have much more than GuildCafe offers currently, and will cater to a larger audience of Xbox gamers, and eventually all platforms. This all stems from the fact that the site has recently received a $3 million Series A investment from Boston's Flybridge Capital Partners.

According to GamerDNA's founder and CEO Jon Radoff, "the idea behind GamerDNA is to provide a means of identity-a place where players can record all the stories around all of the cool stuff they've done, be it achievements, accomplishments, or experiences they've had." So in essence, it will help broaden the players experiences in-game, as well as help other players experience games they may not play yet on a much more personalized level. All of this done in a larger scope, reaching a wider audience than GuildCafe alone could do targeted at the MMORPG market alone.

[Thanks Sam!]

MassivelyGuildCafe expands its horizons with GamerDNA originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookflybridgegamerdnaguild-warsguildcafeguildsmyspaceuberguildsworld-of-warcraftwowxbox360Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Maximum Attack hits Phantasy Star Universe on April 25th!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/maximum-attack-hits-phantasy-star-universe-on-april-25th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/maximum-attack-hits-phantasy-star-universe-on-april-25th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/15/maximum-attack-hits-phantasy-star-universe-on-april-25th/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If you were left wondering what happened to Maximum Attack in the Phantasy Star Online series, wonder no more.

Maximum Attack G has been announced for Phantasy Star Universe, and it's going to be a doozy! This year, starting April 25th, the GUARDIANS will be traveling to a mysterious virtual world called Rykros in order to defeat over 100 million enemies and unlock the secrets held within this ancient artifact.

For those of you unfamiliar with Maximum Attack, the basic premise is to go to the GUARDIAN guild and simply request your party be placed into the Maximum Attack mission bracket. Upon entering, you'll be facing weak monsters that will give you double the experience... it's just you'll be facing a basic recreation of Dead Rising in PSU.

Each monster you kill will be counted, and the event is over when the player community kills 100 million monsters. Prizes go to the players who kill the most, and server wide unlocks are available as different milestones are reached.

This year's catch, however, is quite shocking. The virtual world of Rykros is a recreation of Ragol from Phantasy Star Online, so you'll be braving a updated version of the Forest, Caves, and Mine stages all over again. According to rumor, you might be bumping into some of the heroes of Ragol...

The only downside is that you need to have the Ambition of the Illuminus expansion pack, otherwise you're going to be watching from the sidelines. This is a great way to get some quick experience, so be sure to jump in and participate!

Keep watching Massively for more coverage on this event! We'll be in the trenches with you 360 owners, climbing over the mountain of Boomas!

MassivelyMaximum Attack hits Phantasy Star Universe on April 25th! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fantasyphantasy-star-universeplaystation2psusegasonic-teamxbox360Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: Gentlemen! Behold! Chocobos & Static Parties!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/anti-aliased-gentlemen-behold-chocobos-and-static-parties/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/anti-aliased-gentlemen-behold-chocobos-and-static-parties/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/14/anti-aliased-gentlemen-behold-chocobos-and-static-parties/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Final Fantasy XI
Anti-Aliased is a weekly column written by Colin Brennan that's all about MMO culture and getting the most out of your gaming subscription. Otherwise it would be joining the nearest non sequitur club and be promoted to president... or treasurer.

Look at the pretty chocobo in the picture above! Wark! Wark! Come on, wark with me! I don't care if you're at work or in a computer lab, just let out a nice good wark and I'm sure you'll feel better. Now, I'm sure you're wondering why you're warking. Well, this week we're covering how to bring life back into Final Fantasy XI using a few gullible friends and their PCs. Believe it or not, FFXI can be a MMORPG that rivals World of Warcraft for you and your friends.

With FFXI you can pull in more friends than with any other MMO currently on the market. Not only are the PC version's system requirements quite low, but you can also sucker your friends on the Xbox 360 and PS2 to jump on board as well. Friends are important to FFXI for reasons I will get to further along in this column, but let's begin at the source. Why does FFXI turn so many people off?

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Gentlemen! Behold! Chocobos & Static Parties!

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: Gentlemen! Behold! Chocobos & Static Parties! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredffxiifinal-fantasy-xiplayonlineplaystation2square-enixstatic-partiesxbox360Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:30:00 EST