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 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The War Z returns to Steam]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/the-war-z-returns-to-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/the-war-z-returns-to-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/27/the-war-z-returns-to-steam/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The War Z returns to Steam
The War Z is back. On Steam. Apparently Valve no longer considers publishing the title on its ubiquitous digital download service a "mistake," and as such Hammerpoint's much-maligned exercise in surviving the zombie apocalypse is now available for 15 bucks.

Valve says that it has "collaborated to address community feedback" with Hammerpoint. The company has issued a patch that updates existing customers, and the special refund offering for initial War Z Steam buyers has now concluded.

MassivelyThe War Z returns to Steam originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy-to-playhammerpointhammerpoint-interactivehorrorpost-apocalypticsteamthe-war-zvalvewar-zwar-z-steamwarzzombie-mmozombiesWed, 27 Feb 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z attacked, then attacked again]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/the-war-z-hacked-then-hacked-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/the-war-z-hacked-then-hacked-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/04/the-war-z-hacked-then-hacked-again/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The War Z zombie hackers
The beat continues for embattled zombie title The War Z. Last night, a Hammerpoint community rep posted on the game's forums regarding a series of ongoing hack attempts.

"First we were hit with an attack that would [reset] our DNS IP so that you could not connect," the company said. "This morning we are being hit, again, with a DDoS attack on our login server. We are implementing additional DDoS protection and hope to have this resolved asap. Unfortunately with these types of attacks it is very difficult to give a good time frame of when it will be resolved."

If you're still playing The War Z, there are further status updates to be found on the game's official forums.

MassivelyThe War Z attacked, then attacked again originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackinghackshammerpointhammerpoint-interactivesandboxthe-war-zwar-zwar-z-ddoswar-z-hackedwar-z-hackszombie-mmozombiesFri, 04 Jan 2013 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z executive producer blames problems on the game's success]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/27/the-war-z-executive-producer-blames-problems-on-the-games-succe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/27/the-war-z-executive-producer-blames-problems-on-the-games-succe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/27/the-war-z-executive-producer-blames-problems-on-the-games-succe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The War Z executive producer clears the air
Sergey Titov, executive producer for The War Z, sent out an email to the controversial MMO's playerbase today addressing the recent problems with the game and the public's opinion of the game.

Titov states that there are "hundreds of thousands of players" on the game's servers each day and blames the overwhelming early success of the game for its eventual negative impressions. "I was too focused on how great we are and how a small independent team got their first game to over 700,000 users in a two-month period," Titov says in the email.

Admitting that the team made many mistakes in communication and rushing the game out before the holidays, Sergey says that they'll soon be hiring additional community managers and moderators to properly respond to any problems that might arise in the future.

You can read the email in its entirety after the cut.

Continue reading The War Z executive producer blames problems on the game's success

MassivelyThe War Z executive producer blames problems on the game's success originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfree-to-playhammerpointsergey-titovthe-war-zwar-zzombie-mmozombiesThu, 27 Dec 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z's creator disputes trademark suspension]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/the-war-zs-creator-disputes-trademark-suspension/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/the-war-zs-creator-disputes-trademark-suspension/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/26/the-war-zs-creator-disputes-trademark-suspension/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The War Z's creator disputes trademark suspension
A couple of days ago, Massively reported that The War Z looked as though the trademark for its name would be suspended by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, forcing the game to choose another title. The game's creator, Sergey Titov, is disputing the suspension, however.

Corresponding with Kotaku, Titov said that he had received no such notice and is investigating the situation. "I assume what you see is one of the preliminary applications since it said that it suspended because [the] other application exists," he said. "I've sent an email to our lawyer who filed [the] application and [is] working with us to to provide more details on all this."

The War Z has been in hot water as of late due to prematurely launching on Steam and then being forcibly removed by Valve due to accusations of fraud and missing content.

MassivelyThe War Z's creator disputes trademark suspension originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy-to-playhammerpointhammerpoint-interactivehorrorsergey-titovthe-war-zwar-zwar-z-trademark-suspendedwarzworld-war-zzombie-mmozombiesWed, 26 Dec 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z's trademark suspended, name change likely]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/24/the-war-zs-trademark-suspended-name-change-likely/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/24/the-war-zs-trademark-suspended-name-change-likely/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/24/the-war-zs-trademark-suspended-name-change-likely/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The War Z - Hazmat suits and zombies
The team at Hammerpoint Interactive isn't having the merriest Christmas, at least if their holiday happiness hinges on the development of embattled zombie MMO The War Z. The troubled game will likely be forced to change its name due to a trademark suspension handed down by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The organization says that the game's name is too similar to Paramount Pictures' World War Z, a Brad Pitt film slated for a 2013 release.

The decision comes on the heels of The War Z being pulled from Steam, as well as a bevy of fraud accusations from the game's disgruntled userbase.

[Thanks to Armond for the tip!]

MassivelyThe War Z's trademark suspended, name change likely originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Dec 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy-to-playhammerpointhammerpoint-interactivehorrorthe-war-zwar-zwar-z-trademark-suspendedwarzworld-war-zzombie-mmozombiesMon, 24 Dec 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Check out two minutes of State of Decay zombie-killing action]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/check-out-two-minutes-of-state-of-decay-zombie-killing-action/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/check-out-two-minutes-of-state-of-decay-zombie-killing-action/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/21/check-out-two-minutes-of-state-of-decay-zombie-killing-action/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

State of Decay - half a zombie
It's been a few weeks since we've heard from the Undead Labs dev team. Happily, the newest State of Decay update comes with a gruesome slice of gameplay video. The two-minute clip focuses on the weapons and tactics necessary to clear a path through a horde of undead. There's a brief bit of driving action, too, and we also get a glimpse of the game's map functionality and UI.

Community manager Sanya Weathers also offers up a teaser on the, er, state of State of Decay's development. "It's the most wonderful time of the year... that time when we're seeing the light at the end of the development tunnel," she writes. "We're polishing up communications, tactics, and all of the elements that make a game more than a simple 'see zombie, shoot zombie' kind of thing."

Continue reading Check out two minutes of State of Decay zombie-killing action

MassivelyCheck out two minutes of State of Decay zombie-killing action originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsole-mmoconsolesf2pfree-to-playstate-of-decaystate-of-decay-gameplaystate-of-decay-videoundead-labszombiezombie-mmoFri, 21 Dec 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z launches on Steam]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/the-war-z-launches-on-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/the-war-z-launches-on-steam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/18/the-war-z-launches-on-steam/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

WarZ launches on Steam
While it might not be fully cooked, The War Z is now available on Steam for any and all to enjoy the delights of surviving in a zombie age. The title is currently on sale at 10% off for $13.49, with additional packages if you're looking to pick up some in-game currency.

If you previously purchased the title through The War Z's website, the developers said that there will be a method to link that game to your Steam account. The War Z's devs also promised that other key features will be added to the game shortly, including leaderboards and private server rentals.

You can watch the Steam launch trailer after the break for some rip-roaring zombie slaughter!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Continue reading The War Z launches on Steam

MassivelyThe War Z launches on Steam originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy-to-playf2pfree-to-playhammerpointhammerpoint-interactivehorrorlaunchreleasesteamthe-war-zwar-zwar-z-betawarzzombiezombie-mmozombiesTue, 18 Dec 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist: Asheron's Call 2 returns from the dead]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/15/the-game-archaeologist-asherons-call-2-returns-from-the-dead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/15/the-game-archaeologist-asherons-call-2-returns-from-the-dead/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/15/the-game-archaeologist-asherons-call-2-returns-from-the-dead/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Game Archaeologist Asheron's Call 2 returns from the dead
No, the above picture is not some sort of long-forgotten, dusty archive picture of Asheron's Call 2 from back in the day; it's from the live game this past Thursday evening. How incredibly, insanely weird is that?

Turbine absolutely stunned the MMO community the other day when it casually announced that it was bringing back its second title, cancelled since 2005, on a new server. Our editor-in-chief burst into the office chat room screaming, "AC2! AC2! AC2!" It took us a minute to realize that she wasn't just discovering the Assassin's Creed series but had in fact learned that the impossible had happened: An old, deceased MMO had been brought back to life.

As the resident MMO historian here at Massively, I felt this was kind of like going to Jurassic Park and seeing all of those dinosaurs after spending most of my time merely reading about them. In the blink of an eye, Asheron's Call 2 went from the ancient past to the playable present. We've got a lot to talk about today, including my hands-on experiences with the title and thoughts about what this means for classic MMOs. Let's not waste any time!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Asheron's Call 2 returns from the dead

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: Asheron's Call 2 returns from the dead originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acac2asherons-callasherons-call-2city-of-heroesclassicclassic-mmoclassic-mmosclassicscohderethfantasyfeaturedgame-archaelogistnostalgiaopinionresurrectedresurrectionsandboxstar-wars-galaxiesswgthe-game-archaeologistturbineturbine-entertainmentzombie-mmoSat, 15 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z is officially in beta, world map increased by 50 percent]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/the-war-z-is-officially-in-beta-world-map-increased-by-50-perce/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/the-war-z-is-officially-in-beta-world-map-increased-by-50-perce/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/the-war-z-is-officially-in-beta-world-map-increased-by-50-perce/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The War Z is officially in beta, world map increased by 50 percent
Zombie MMO The War Z has officially shed its alpha tag. The buy-to-play horror shooter has purportedly cultivated a community of more than 500,000 players, according to its latest press release, and those players can now enjoy the full game map, new playable characters, and a host of additional features as the title transitions into beta.

Hammerpoint Interactive has opened up the final sections of its "Colorado" map, which has in turn increased the size of the game world by 50 percent. The firm has also added new clan support features (tags, chat, and visual markers) as well as new marketplace items.

[Source: Hammerpoint press release]

MassivelyThe War Z is officially in beta, world map increased by 50 percent originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy-to-playf2pfree-to-playhammerpointhammerpoint-interactivehorrorthe-war-zwar-zwar-z-betawarzzombiezombie-mmozombiesTue, 04 Dec 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you hold developers accountable for what they say?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/the-daily-grind-do-you-hold-developers-accountable-for-what-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/the-daily-grind-do-you-hold-developers-accountable-for-what-the/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/24/the-daily-grind-do-you-hold-developers-accountable-for-what-the/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

War Z
Yesterday, Gamespot broke a story about an executive producer for zombie MMO The War Z who took to his game's forums to rant about gankers in the beta test. The developer, Sergey Titov, used a homophobic slur to describe those beta testers, which caused some commenters to erupt in a fury. He later altered his comments and issued an "apology" for the rant, expressing astonishment that anyone would take his homophobic slur as a homophobic slur. "I don't know where they [are] coming from," he wrote, "but I used it as a curse."

The sad thing is Titov's probably right: Far too many gamers think nothing of careless insults based on gender, race, and sexual orientation. But to see it from a developer and then see it dismissed by the game's supporters as something trivial and all good in fun between bros is embarrassing for the community. I'm glad he (or more likely, the game's PR) rescinded the slur, but I also know that subconscious and conscious bias seeps into gaming at the design, culture, and corporate levels, and I'm far less likely to pony up for a game whose developers just don't seem to get that the MMO demographic stretches beyond the privileged straight white male 20-something stereotype.

So today I'm wondering how you hold devs accountable when they say something that exposes their prejudices or blind-spots or just poor business sense. Do you expect heads to roll? Do you vote with your wallet and pick games where customers aren't subjected to unprofessional tirades by devs, or are you resigned to the suspicion that most studios are saddled with this mentality?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you hold developers accountable for what they say? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcommentersdaily-grindforumforumshomophobiaopinionsergey-titovslurtdgthe-daily-grindthe-war-zwar-zzombiezombie-mmoWed, 24 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Here's more War Z gameplay footage that will remind you of DayZ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/21/heres-more-war-z-gameplay-footage-that-will-remind-you-of-dayz/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/21/heres-more-war-z-gameplay-footage-that-will-remind-you-of-dayz/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/21/heres-more-war-z-gameplay-footage-that-will-remind-you-of-dayz/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Here's more The War Z gameplay footage that will remind you of DayZ
FPSGeneral has posted six minutes of uncut alpha footage from Hammerpoint's upcoming zombie-centric sandbox MMO called The War Z.

We know, it looks like DayZ!

It also looks pretty cool, particularly the silenced M4, the barricading mechanics, and the glimpses of various items and UI functionality. Hammerpoint recently went on record with the fact that the game's cash shop items may be lost when other players loot your corpse. This, along with the The War Z's unforgiving survival-style gameplay, would seem to be the recipe for a niche title. We'll keep our eyes on it, though, and you can too via the video after the break.

Continue reading Here's more War Z gameplay footage that will remind you of DayZ

MassivelyHere's more War Z gameplay footage that will remind you of DayZ originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gameplay-videohammerpointhammerpoint-interactivethe-war-z-gameplay-videovideozombie-mmozombiesFri, 21 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX Prime 2012: Hammerpoint shows off The War Z gameplay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/pax-prime-2012-hammerpoint-shows-off-the-war-z-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/pax-prime-2012-hammerpoint-shows-off-the-war-z-gameplay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/04/pax-prime-2012-hammerpoint-shows-off-the-war-z-gameplay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

PAX Prime 2012 - Hammerpoint shows off The War Z gameplay
The War Z has generated a significant amount of fan interest since its initial hello-world announcement in July. The zombie-centric sandbox MMO boasts a large feature set and plenty of ambitious design goals. It's also generated some skepticism as to whether or not the development team can actually pull it all off.

Last weekend's PAX Prime event brought the first opportunity to see for ourselves, as the team from Hammerpoint showed off alpha-state gameplay and allowed GameTrailers to film it. The resulting clip is yours for the viewing after the cut.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Hammerpoint shows off The War Z gameplay

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Hammerpoint shows off The War Z gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>conconventionexpofpshammerpointhammerpoint-interactivemmofpspaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012penny-arcade-exposandboxthe-war-zwar-zzombie-mmozombiesTue, 04 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Firing Line: What DayZ means to core gamers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/24/the-firing-line-what-dayz-means-to-core-gamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/24/the-firing-line-what-dayz-means-to-core-gamers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/24/the-firing-line-what-dayz-means-to-core-gamers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Firing Line What DayZ means to sandbox fans and core gamers
The death of the core gamer has been greatly exaggerated. Yes, MMORPGs (and gaming in general) have kowtowed to the influx of new-school players flush with cash but lacking time, and the genre has reinvented itself and turned its back on virtual world enthusiasts in the process.

There's still hope, though, and so far it's not coming from any of the usual sandbox suspects in the MMO space.

Continue reading The Firing Line: What DayZ means to core gamers

MassivelyThe Firing Line: What DayZ means to core gamers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>day-zdayzdean-halldean-rocket-hallfeaturedfpsmmo-shootermmofpsmoddingsmodsopinionpersistent-worldpublisherspublishingpvprocket-hallsandboxshootertflthe-firing-linethird-person-shootertpszombiezombie-mmozombiesFri, 24 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z zombie MMO coming soon]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/the-war-z-zombie-mmo-coming-soon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/the-war-z-zombie-mmo-coming-soon/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/the-war-z-zombie-mmo-coming-soon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

no, this isn't about dayz
So how does a hardcore post-apocalyptic zombie sandbox experience grab you? No, we don't mean DayZ, although that one's pretty cool too. There's a new kid on this particular genre block, and it's an MMO called The War Z. It's brought to you by Hammerpoint Interactive and Arktos, and IGN has an interview scoop with a couple of the principals.

"We started thinking about doing a zombie game last year and began developing a quest-based MMO set in a large, zombie-infested world. Players would be able to explore and unlock new areas on the map as they progress through quests assigned to them in-game," explains executive producer Sergey Titov.

What about the DayZ connection? There really isn't one aside from coincidental timing. DayZ is a mod for an existing military sim title, whereas The War Z is a stand-alone MMO with a dedicated team behind it (and an upfront cost of $29.99). Is it really an MMO, though? That's in the eye of the beholder, we suppose, but it does have a huge open world, PvP, and the ability to support 250 players per server. The War Z also features dozens of skills and social niceties like bounties and in-game notes (no profanity, though; blowing off zombie heads should never result in inappropriate language).

If the War Z name sounds familiar, it might be because you're thinking of Paramount's World War Z property that we've talked about before. As with DayZ, though, the two projects are unrelated save for the similar names and the horror sub-genre.

The War Z is currently undergoing internal alpha testing, with a closed beta expected later this summer. IGN says the final game will be out "before the end of the year."

MassivelyThe War Z zombie MMO coming soon originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arktosdayzf2pfree-to-playhammerpointhammerpoint-interactivehorroropen-worldsandboxsergey-titovthe-war-zthe-warzwarzzombie-mmozombiesThu, 19 Jul 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs hires community director, Class3 info forthcoming]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/undead-labs-hires-community-director-class3-info-forthcoming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/undead-labs-hires-community-director-class3-info-forthcoming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/06/20/undead-labs-hires-community-director-class3-info-forthcoming/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Class3 - zombie mmo concept art
With the rash of MMO-related job losses in recent weeks, it's nice to see the occasional blurb about a dev finding a new home. Former Dominus and Dark Age of Camelot community guru Sanya Weathers has landed at Undead Labs, where she'll be heading up -- you guessed it -- the community relations department.

This is good news for fans of the firm's tentatively titled Class3 zombie MMO as well. As Undead Labs' Jeff Strain writes, "you don't hire a kick-ass community director if you have nothing to say."

MassivelyUndead Labs hires community director, Class3 info forthcoming originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class3communityconsole-mmoconsolesf2pfantasyfree-to-playhorrorjeff-strainsanya-weathersundeadundead-labsundead-labs-mmozombie-mmozombiesWed, 20 Jun 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist: When dead MMOs come back to life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/the-game-archaeologist-when-dead-mmos-come-back-to-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/the-game-archaeologist-when-dead-mmos-come-back-to-life/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/the-game-archaeologist-when-dead-mmos-come-back-to-life/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hellgate Tokyo
Maybe I'm alone in this, but my jaw just dropped when I came home this past week to see that Massively posted the news that Shadowbane is coming back to life. Granted, it's only going to happen in China, but still, that's pretty incredible. Shadowbane's been in the ground for three years now, and if I had to pick an MMO that deserved resurrection, this particular one would be farthest from my mind (no offense if you liked the game; it's just that there are so many others that are even more worthy).

But how can this not give you hope? Many of us have lost an MMO we loved or at least had a decked-out character populating the character select screen, and the thought of that game coming back against all odds is a goosebump-rising one. It may also smack of justice served, as some MMOs fail not because of faulty gameplay but because of mismanagement by the studio, complex legal wrangling, or bad marketing.

Today let's look at a few examples of dead MMOs that were brought back to life and what this may mean for the future of the industry. Zombie MMOs! Not, you know, MMOs with zombies.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: When dead MMOs come back to life

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: When dead MMOs come back to life originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-reloadedapbapb-reloadedapbrchangyouclassicclassic-mmoclassic-mmosclassicsclone-wars-adventurescrimediablodiablo-clonef2pfallen-earthfantasyfaxion-onlinefeaturedflagshipfree-realmsfree-to-playfrogsterg1galaxiesgame-archaelogistgamersfirsthanbitsofthellgatehellgate-globalhellgate-londonhellgate-tokyojohn-smedleylego-universemythosmythos-europemythos-globalnostalgiaopinionPirates-of-the-Burning-Seapvprebootredbanaresurrectionrevivalsandboxsci-fishadowbanesoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgswgot3t3funtabula-rasathe-game-archaeologistthe-matrix-onlinevanguardzombie-mmozombiesTue, 01 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![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[JumpCore releases Undead Online teaser]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/jumpcore-releases-undead-online-teaser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/jumpcore-releases-undead-online-teaser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/25/jumpcore-releases-undead-online-teaser/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

There's a new zombie MMO in the works, and the developers at JumpCore seem to have their tongues planted firmly in cheek, if the newest game trailer is any indication. The game is Undead Online, and the clip is currently front and center on the title's website. Though the trailer clocks in at under a minute, that's time enough to give potential players a brief look at the game's whimsical aesthetic, cartoonish gore, and sardonic sense of humor.

Undead Online details are fairly sparse at this point, but we do know that JumpCore is spearheaded by Cryptic alum Cameron Petty and that the game will feature episodic content wrapped in an MMOFPS skin. You can sign up on the game's official forums, join the discussion, and check out the trailer after the cut.

Continue reading JumpCore releases Undead Online teaser

MassivelyJumpCore releases Undead Online teaser originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>braaaiiinnnsscameron-pettyhorrorjumpcorejumpcore-productionsstylized-graphicsteasertrailertrailersundead-onlinevideozombie-mmozombiesFri, 25 Feb 2011 11:00:00 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[Undead Labs answers fan questions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/undead-labs-answers-fan-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/undead-labs-answers-fan-questions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/undead-labs-answers-fan-questions/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Undead Labs has published a list of reader questions (and a few select answers) regarding its zombie-themed console MMORPG currently in development. New community manager Emily Diehl checks in on the official Undead Labs website to bring us a wrap-up from the queries submitted on the game's forums.

The topics range from the title's shooting and aiming mechanics, to vehicle implementations, to its persistent qualities. Regarding this last bit, Undead Labs seems intent on putting to rest any notion that the game's console nature will result in anything less than a traditional open world experience. "This may seem like a no-brainer, but we're building an actual world. We want it to live, breathe, change and evolve over time, responding to the choices you make while immersed in it," the studio writes.

Check all the questions and answers on the game's official site.

MassivelyUndead Labs answers fan questions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>console-mmoconsolesemily-diehlhorrorin-developmentopen-worldpersistent-worldpost-apocalypticqaquestions-and-answersreader-questionsundead-labszombie-mmozombiesTue, 07 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ArenaNet Community and Content Manager departing for Undead Labs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/arenanet-community-and-content-manager-departing-for-undead-labs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/arenanet-community-and-content-manager-departing-for-undead-labs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/arenanet-community-and-content-manager-departing-for-undead-labs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

ArenaNet's Community and Content Manager -- and resident zombie fanatic -- Emily Diehl surprised Guild Wars fans yesterday with a farewell message.

This Friday will be Emily's last day with ArenaNet, then she's off to join some of her former colleagues at Undead Labs. "For folks that know me, it's no secret how much I love horror stuff. The first movie I ever remember seeing was Night of the Living Dead (when I was four), and I've been obsessed with horror ever since. I love Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 with a passion, but in this case, having the privilege to work on a zombie title is fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine."

We at Massively join all of Emily's fans in wishing her the best of luck!

MassivelyArenaNet Community and Content Manager departing for Undead Labs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetcommunity-and-content-manageremily-diehlguild-warsguild-wars-2mmo-industryncsoftundead-labszombie-mmoWed, 17 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Halloween MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/the-perfect-ten-halloween-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/the-perfect-ten-halloween-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/the-perfect-ten-halloween-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

We're only a few days away from Halloween, and already the Massively office staff is dressing up in anticipation. Shawn's post-apocalyptic gear is at odds with Rubi's tastefully modest Guild Wars Elementalist outfit. Greg's Squig is in the corner battling it out with Larry's Chewbacca. Bree is dudded up as a giant red corrective marker; Jef's free-to-play outfit requires microtransactions to view in full; and Kyrstalle is photographing it all with her Poloroid One-Shot camera. I think Eliot showed up in full plate armor and riding a mechanical bull, but that just may be his normal work attire.

So as everyone else is goofing off in the spirit of the holidays, it remains to me, your lovable intern, to hack out a top 10 list in honor of All Hallow's Eve. It's the least I can do since they're paying me in candy.

While every MMO incorporates horror at some point (even, yes, Hello Kitty Online's Cat-Tastrophie zone), and it's nearly impossible to escape a clutch of giant spiders in any game you visit, I've picked out 10 MMOs that best deliver a slice of October 31st. Some are old, some new, some canceled and some yet to come, but these are 10 of the spookiest MMOs in the world.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Halloween MMOs

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Halloween MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanccpchewbaccaddodungeons-and-dragons-onlineeaster-eggselementalistfallen-earthfeaturedflagship-studiosflagshippedfluffy-chickensfree-for-allguild-warshalloweenhalloween-2010halloween2010hellgate-londonhello-kitty-onlinehumorhyborialovecraftmansquitomicrotransactionsone-shotsonyx-chamberspersonal-record-best-for-number-of-tagspost-apocalypticrequiem-bloodymarerequiem-memento-morisquigstephen-kingsyfythe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenthe-secret-worldtop-10top-10-listundead-labsvampire-the-masqueradewarWarhammer-Onlineworld-of-darknesswurm-onlinezombiezombie-mmoThu, 28 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Four ArenaNet team members joining Undead Labs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/four-arenanet-team-members-joining-undead-labs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/four-arenanet-team-members-joining-undead-labs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/four-arenanet-team-members-joining-undead-labs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

In all the excitement over the Guild Wars 2 MMO manifesto, a quiet announcement on the Guild Wars wiki was very nearly lost in the shuffle, but it gained the attention of some sharp-eyed fans.

ArenaNet founder Mike O'Brien put a post on his wiki talk page entitled "Departures," and bid farewell to four members of the ArenaNet team. Design Director James Phinney is leaving ArenaNet to join his former colleague Jeff Strain over at Undead Labs, and he's not going alone.

Joining him are designer Richard Foge, as well as artists Scott Albaugh and Doug Williams. It's been very quiet on the Undead Labs front for a while now, so this may signal the beginning of some progress on the zombie front.

As for ArenaNet? "Of course we're disappointed to see them go, but I also know these guys are each individually huge zombie fans and are going to work on a zombie game, so I'm excited for their opportunity and wish them all the best," says Mike.

We at Massively join him in wishing the group the best of luck in their new venture.

MassivelyFour ArenaNet team members joining Undead Labs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetbreakingdoug-williamsjames-phinneyjeff-strainncsoftrichard-fogescott-albaughundead-labszombie-mmoWed, 11 Aug 2010 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Jeff Strain weighs in on console-specific MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/06/jeff-strain-weighs-in-on-console-specific-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/06/jeff-strain-weighs-in-on-console-specific-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/06/jeff-strain-weighs-in-on-console-specific-mmos/#commentsFiled under: ,

We might not hear much from him, but Jeff Strain is still hard at work at Undead Labs. We know his project is going to be a console zombie MMO, and the latest blog entry explores the overall advantages of console MMOs.

Jeff points out the cold reception given to the concept of console FPS games way back when, likening it to the skepticism that console MMOs are receiving these days. His feeling is that there are some exciting opportunities for consoles in the MMO market, and points out several in detail. Freedom of movement, an invisible interface, vehicle combat, and a destructible environment are just a few of the things he thinks consoles could add to the MMO world.

It's an interesting look at what console MMOs could achieve -- take a look at the full post and see what you think.

MassivelyJeff Strain weighs in on console-specific MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>console-mmojeff-strainundead-labszombie-mmoSun, 06 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST