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[Ask Massively: Why we cover what we do, part two]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/ask-massively-why-we-cover-what-we-do-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/ask-massively-why-we-cover-what-we-do-part-two/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/25/ask-massively-why-we-cover-what-we-do-part-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

State of Decay
Last week, I promised you a second round of questions and answers regarding the types of calls Massively makes on which games and stories it will cover and why. Let's get to it.

Mike9 wrote, "I will play [State of Decay] because it looks awesome, but I never understand why Massively covers it; it is a single-player game, not an MMO by even the loosest of definitions, not unless Super Mario World is also considered an MMO now (well, I guess that did allow two players)."

I assume you're looking for a better answer than braaaaaiiiiinnnnsssssss!

Continue reading Ask Massively: Why we cover what we do, part two

MassivelyAsk Massively: Why we cover what we do, part two originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adviceadvice-columnask-massivelyBrainsssbrianna-royce-ask-massivelyesofeaturedhumorleakleaksmassively-metametaopinionstate-of-decaytesothe-elder-scrolls-onlineundead-labszombiesThu, 25 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hall takes a break from DayZ, pursues dream of climbing Everest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/hall-takes-a-break-from-dayz-pursues-dream-of-climbing-everest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/hall-takes-a-break-from-dayz-pursues-dream-of-climbing-everest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/04/15/hall-takes-a-break-from-dayz-pursues-dream-of-climbing-everest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Dean Hall at Mount Everest
If you're anxiously waiting for Dean "Rocket" Hall's standalone version of his ultra-popular Arma 2 mod DayZ, you'll have to wait a little bit longer.

Hall is currently climbing Mount Everest as part of a two-month vacation from his development duties on Bohemia Interactive's zombie-themed post-apocalyptic sandbox. "Although the timing is poor for my sabbatical, it is not something planned on a whim and involves non-refundable costs of up to $100k," Hall writes on the DayZ website.

"This is going to take as long as it needs to," he continues. "We want to release our initial alpha under the architecture it needs to avoid hacking and security issues -- this is the only remaining task stopping us from releasing the alpha."

MassivelyHall takes a break from DayZ, pursues dream of climbing Everest originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bohemiabohemia-interactiveday-zdayzdean-hallhall-climbs-everesthorrormount-everestpost-apocalypticrocketsandboxzombiesMon, 15 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: War Z forums compromised, user game accounts might be affected]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/rumor-war-z-forums-compromised-user-game-accounts-might-be-aff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/rumor-war-z-forums-compromised-user-game-accounts-might-be-aff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/rumor-war-z-forums-compromised-user-game-accounts-might-be-aff/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

War Z forums compromised, user game accounts might be affected
Hooboy, it's been a while since we've had a proper War Z clusterfunk, hasn't it? Unfortunately for the zombie shooter's playerbase, the latest brouhaha involves some potential account security issues.

What we know for sure is that a Hammerpoint forum admin account was compromised, and the company says that "many posts were unable to be restored as a result." There are also rumors that producer Sergey Titov's admin account was affected and that those responsible are now in possession of War Z user info including account and email data.

We've contacted Hammerpoint for clarification and will update this post if we receive a response.

[Thanks Nephi and everyone who tipped us!]

MassivelyRumor: War Z forums compromised, user game accounts might be affected originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackhorrorrumorrumorssergey-titovthe-war-zwar-zwar-z-compromisedwar-z-forum-hackwar-z-hackedzombiesFri, 29 Mar 2013 13:00:00 EST<![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[State of Decay Q&A talks skills, traits, and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/23/state-of-decay-qanda-talks-skills-traits-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/23/state-of-decay-qanda-talks-skills-traits-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/23/state-of-decay-qanda-talks-skills-traits-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Undead Labs mural
Undead Labs has posted the results of its latest State of Decay-focused Q&A session. The company parsed a bunch of the best community-generated queries and posted the answers in a mammoth forum thread that represents a great starting point if you're looking to learn more about the upcoming console zombie title.

Several of the questions involve the previously mentioned skill system, and there is also some info on traits and survivor characters. Most crucially, we learned that sexting is an actual skill in the game (as are Sudoku and Reality Show Trivia)," according to community guru Sanya Weathers. "It does nothing in a world where cell towers no longer function," she quipped.

MassivelyState of Decay Q&A talks skills, traits, and more originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsoleshorrorpost-apocalypticsanya-weathersskillsstate-of-decaystate-of-decay-skillsundead-labszombiesSat, 23 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ now on Steam, Hall goes behind the scenes for new mocap]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/23/dayz-now-on-steam-hall-goes-behind-the-scenes-for-new-mocap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/23/dayz-now-on-steam-hall-goes-behind-the-scenes-for-new-mocap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/23/dayz-now-on-steam-hall-goes-behind-the-scenes-for-new-mocap/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DayZ now on Steam, Hall goes behind-the-scenes for new mocap
It's time for another DayZ dev blog, and this time the camera follows mod guru Dean "Rocket" Hall as he goes behind the scenes at Bohemia Interactive's motion capture facility. The occasion is an excuse to talk up the new zombie animations in store for the mod, and Hall himself even gets into act, donning a mocap suit and stutter-stepping across a greenscreen stage environment.

DayZ is now available directly through Steam, provided you have Arma 2: Combined Operations installed already. Click past the cut for the full video blog.

Continue reading DayZ now on Steam, Hall goes behind the scenes for new mocap

MassivelyDayZ now on Steam, Hall goes behind the scenes for new mocap originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 23 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armaarma-2dayzdayz-dev-diarydayz-motion-capturedayz-videodean-hallhorrormoddingmodsrocketsandboxzombiesSat, 23 Feb 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Host your own Stanford Prison Experiment thanks to Die2Nite]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/free-for-all-host-your-own-stanford-prison-experiment-thanks-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/free-for-all-host-your-own-stanford-prison-experiment-thanks-to/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/20/free-for-all-host-your-own-stanford-prison-experiment-thanks-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Die2Nite screenshot
Whenever I wander into a new town in Die2Nite, I try to be as quiet about it as I can. I walk in, nod my head at a few people, and settle down. I also try to figure out the pecking order of the town as quickly as I can. There is almost always a pecking order. If not, it's a town of chaos and likely won't last longer than a few days of zombie invasions. I've played long enough to recognize players who are trying to lead, those who are willing to follow any instruction (even if wrong), and the fact that most players are content with popping in, making a few moves, and logging out.

The town I am in at the time of this writing is called Plagued Sanitorium. The names seem randomly generated for each town, but they always fit. I am a paid member, so I can choose the town I want to start in. Once a town has 40 members, the invasions begin. At 5:00 p.m. EST every day, the site literally goes down while the zombies come. After 10 minutes of attack, players log in to see what happened and who survived. check out any one of my livestreams on the game to see it all in action.

Sanitorium is a pretty unique experience so far, but in most ways it's as common as basic human psychology.

Continue reading Free for All: Host your own Stanford Prison Experiment thanks to Die2Nite

MassivelyFree for All: Host your own Stanford Prison Experiment thanks to Die2Nite originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-baseddie2nitef2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-to-playfreemiumopinionpost-apocalypticroleplaysurvivalSurvival-Horrorvelvet-ropezombiesWed, 20 Feb 2013 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[State of Decay's character development detailed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/state-of-decays-character-development-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/state-of-decays-character-development-detailed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/02/14/state-of-decays-character-development-detailed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

State of Decay skill screen
Undead Labs has released a new dev diary covering skills and characters for its State of Decay zombie survival title.

All available survivors have four basis skills (cardio, wits, fighting, and shooting), and each character has a star rating ranging from one to seven in each skill. Additional stars are gained by successfully using the skill, and additional stars also provide the player with both active and passive abilities.

State of Decay characters also have unique trait combinations. Traits range from personality (chatterbox, selfish asshole, born leader, and more) to job history to hobbies, some of which provide additional skill stars. In terms of character customization, the game allows you to choose a weapon specialization and a number of signature abilities, with the ultimate goal being a unique survivor who is both challenging and rewarding to play. You can learn more, and see some example builds, at the game's official website.

MassivelyState of Decay's character development detailed originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consoleconsolesstate-of-decaystate-of-decay-character-developmentstate-of-decay-skillssurvivalundead-labszombiezombie-holocaustzombiesThu, 14 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Learn to live in a State of Decay with Undead Labs' new survival guide]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/learn-to-live-in-a-state-of-decay-with-undead-labs-new-survival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/learn-to-live-in-a-state-of-decay-with-undead-labs-new-survival/http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/01/11/learn-to-live-in-a-state-of-decay-with-undead-labs-new-survival/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Oh god oh god oh god oh god
There's a lot to consider when you're stuck in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Do you have enough food? Will your shelter hold up against the endless legions of undead? Do you have enough of that ammo that makes zombie heads explode? Thankfully, Undead Labs is here to help make State of Decay players' transitions to the post-apocalypse as simple as possible.

The studio has released a day-by-day survival guide written from the viewpoint of characters within the game's universe. The guide provides a flavorful look at some of the features players will be utilizing to survive in State of Decay. Players will learn how to construct a defensible stronghold, how to scavenge for supplies, and of course, how to defend themselves against zed onslaughts. It's quite a read, but a very worthwhile one for anyone who would prefer to remain on the side of the living in the war against the undead.

MassivelyLearn to live in a State of Decay with Undead Labs' new survival guide originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoclass-3class3class4consoledev-blogdev-diarydeveloper-diarysandboxstate-of-decaysurvival-guideundead-labsxboxxbox-360zombiezombiesFri, 11 Jan 2013 14:00:00 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[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 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[DayZ standalone features new engine, moving to MMO client-server model]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/dayz-standalone-features-new-engine-moving-to-mmo-client-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/dayz-standalone-features-new-engine-moving-to-mmo-client-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/29/dayz-standalone-features-new-engine-moving-to-mmo-client-server/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

DayZ standalone features new engine, moving to MMO client-server model
DayZ creator Dean Hall has updated the mod's dev blog regarding potential release dates for the standalone client. Hall and his team initially targeted a late 2012 street date, and that's still on the table. However, "we will slip the date if needed," Hall says. "We will not compromise the project for the short-term gain of meeting this date."

His blog entry details the expanding scale of the DayZ project, which is more or less running on a new engine. "We are moving to the server-client MMO architecture model. We are making weapons and items 'entities,' meaning we can support customization and variables assigned against items," Hall explains. "This is a massive departure from the previous engine. In many ways, once this phase is completed -- one could effectively say that DayZ is running on a new version of the engine. While the graphics may look the same (for now), under the hood so much is being completely rewritten."

MassivelyDayZ standalone features new engine, moving to MMO client-server model originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dayzdayz-enginedayz-stand-alonedayz-standalonedean-hallf2pfree-to-playhorrorindiesandboxsurvivalzombiesThu, 29 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ mod is going for the hobo appeal]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/dayz-mod-is-going-for-the-hobo-appeal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/dayz-mod-is-going-for-the-hobo-appeal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/16/dayz-mod-is-going-for-the-hobo-appeal/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

DayZ mod is going for the hobo appeal
For all DayZ fans who feel that the inclusion of powerful weapons and relatively plentiful supply caches don't accurately portray their personal vision for a horrible post-apocalyptic zombie world, then a new mod in the making might do the trick. Called DayZ 2017, the mod seeks to progress the game world forward five years to a time when everything's a lot harder to come by.

Modder Luke Hinds explained his reasoning on the DayZ 2017 website: "I now want to go back to basics and really focus on what made Rocket's mod really tick with players, and that was scarcity and threat. The main changes will be taking out most loot and making what's left very rare."

Hinds cites films such as The Book of Eli and The Road as inspiration. He created "hobo-like" characters who look far more worn-down and a combat that slants more toward melee than ranged. DayZ 2017 hopefully will arrive by the end of the year.

Recently, the makers of DayZ cracked down on a different mod that sought to monetize the game through a bounty system.

MassivelyDayZ mod is going for the hobo appeal originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-iibohemia-interactivedayzdayz-2017developmentluke-hindsmodificationsmodsnewsstandalonesurvivaltexturesthe-book-of-elithe-roadupcoming-titleswipwork-in-progresszombiezombiesFri, 16 Nov 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ cracks down on 'Bounty' mod]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/dayz-cracks-down-on-bounty-mod/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/dayz-cracks-down-on-bounty-mod/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/dayz-cracks-down-on-bounty-mod/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

DayZ fans start realmoney bounty mod
You'd be hard-pressed to find a dedicated DayZ player who doesn't think the game's already exciting enough. Even so, there is a trio of gamers who have decided that the hardcore zombie survival mod needs some spicing up. Hence, the creation of a real-money version of the game called DayZ Bounty.

DayZ Bounty requires players to pay per life but offers income in return if the gamer is good enough to take out NPCs and other humans. Co-creator James Ortiz said that it made the game far more interesting: "We figured that if people had a value on their life... there'd be something to fear besides the zombies."

Unfortunately for the Bounty team, DayZ's creators are calling for an end to the mod. A spokeperson for the development team said that Bounty "undermined" the title, and asked for a cessation of the project. "It changes the focus of DayZ from being a creative, enjoyable, gritty gaming experience to a game that is based almost solely on financial gain," the spokesperson explained, "and that is not something we want to be associated with."

MassivelyDayZ cracks down on 'Bounty' mod originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-iibohemia-interactivebountybounty-systemdayzdayz-bountydevelopmentgalleriesgalleryinteriormodificationsmodsnewsscreeniesscreenshotscreenshotsstandalonesurvivaltexturesupcoming-titleswipwork-in-progresszombiezombiesWed, 07 Nov 2012 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hammerpoint delaying The War Z clan features, focusing on hackers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/hammerpoint-delaying-the-war-z-clan-features-focusing-on-hacker/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/hammerpoint-delaying-the-war-z-clan-features-focusing-on-hacker/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/hammerpoint-delaying-the-war-z-clan-features-focusing-on-hacker/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Hammerpoint pushing back The War Z clan features, focusing on hackers
The War Z is a hot topic in gaming circles these days, and Hammerpoint's zombie-centric sandbox is starting to see an increase in shady player activity as its user base grows. The dev team has acknowledged the need to devote time and resources to dealing with hackers, and as a result some of the title's feature development is temporarily going on the back burner.

"As I'm sure all of you are aware, there [have] been a lot of discussion lately surrounding the hackers," Hammerpoint wrote on its forums. "Over here we've been working round the clock on a solution -- however, that's meant we've had to push back clans a bit, so it's looking more like next week. We're also investigating a number of bugs, such as the ability to glitch onto roofs, and item duplication."

MassivelyHammerpoint delaying The War Z clan features, focusing on hackers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfree-to-playhackershackinghackshammerpointhammerpoint-interactivehorrorsandboxshooterthe-war-zwar-zwar-z-clanswar-z-hackingwarzzombiesWed, 07 Nov 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[State of Decay demonstrates the virtues of stealth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/state-of-decay-demonstrates-the-virtues-of-stealth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/state-of-decay-demonstrates-the-virtues-of-stealth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/11/01/state-of-decay-demonstrates-the-virtues-of-stealth/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

State of Decay demonstrates the virtues of stealth
Pop quiz, apocalypse survivors: You desperately need to get into a nearby gun store to complete a mission, but it's surrounded by a small horde of zombies. Running through them and shooting your way in are both undesirable options, so what do you do? What do you do?

In a short alpha video from Undead Labs, a State of Decay player instead uses tricks and stealth to achieve his goal. He tosses some fireworks from a nearby water tower, prompting the zombies to investigate and leave the scene. Following that, it's a quick dash in and out to trigger a job well done.

You can watch this nail-biting footage after the jump, and don't forget to check out Massively's report on the game from PAX.

Continue reading State of Decay demonstrates the virtues of stealth

MassivelyState of Decay demonstrates the virtues of stealth originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoalphabetaclass-3class3class4consolepaxpax-2012sandboxstate-of-decaystealthundead-labsvideoxboxxbox-360zombiezombiesThu, 01 Nov 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z's Halloween beta launch includes new content, special offers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/the-war-zs-halloween-beta-launch-includes-new-characters-citie/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/the-war-zs-halloween-beta-launch-includes-new-characters-citie/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/30/the-war-zs-halloween-beta-launch-includes-new-characters-citie/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The War Z's Halloween beta launch includes new characters and new areas
Halloween might be the only time of the year when no one is surprised by streets full of zombies. And for players waiting to get into the spirit by destroying the ravenous flesh-eating hordes, The War Z's closed beta client is ready and willing. Today's launch features new content in the form of all-new zombies to slaughter, new skins, special holiday-themed items, and a map that has doubled in size.

And for folks who previously missed out on the Legend package, Hammerpoint Interactive is offering it again for a limited time. Purchasing this package will grant a player full access to the game, $30 of in-game funds, six months of server hosting, three weekend pass keys for friends, and special player recognition both in-game and on the forums. For more information, check out the official site.

[Source: Hammerpoint Interactive press release]

MassivelyThe War Z's Halloween beta launch includes new content, special offers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocalypsebetabeta-accessf2pfree-to-playfreemiumhalloweenHammerpoint-Interactivemicrotransactionmicrotransactionspost-apocalypticpremiumthe-war-zWar-ZzombiesTue, 30 Oct 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ development screenshots released]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/dayz-development-screenshots-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/dayz-development-screenshots-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/15/dayz-development-screenshots-released/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

DayZ development screenshots released
The development as DayZ as a standalone title is rolling ever forward. To give fans a hint of the sort of progress being made, the development team shared a few work in progress screenshots of some interiors in the game.

The art team's recent focus (as you might've guessed from the content of the screenshots) has been on going through and giving each building an interior. Moving forward, the developers will be working on balancing complexity within cities and an interest in scavenging opportunities with a need for greatly increased performance.

Gallery: DayZ work in progress interiors

MassivelyDayZ development screenshots released originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-iibohemia-interactivedayzdevelopmentgalleriesgalleryinteriormodificationsmodsnewsscreeniesscreenshotscreenshotsstandalonesurvivaltexturesupcoming-titleswipwork-in-progresszombiezombiesMon, 15 Oct 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC Online 2012: A (severed) hands-on with The War Z]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/gdc-online-2012-a-severed-hands-on-with-the-war-z/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/gdc-online-2012-a-severed-hands-on-with-the-war-z/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/12/gdc-online-2012-a-severed-hands-on-with-the-war-z/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The War Z screenshot
Everyone loves zombies. We all enjoy shooting them to bits, pummeling them with a hammer, and watching them die... again. But I'd been feeling a bit tired of the zombie genre, even though some of my favorite titles are heavy on the zombs. Then I sat down and played through a bit of The War Z, a new post-apocalyptic horror shooter MMO that tosses players on servers up to 60 miles square and holding up to 250 players. Those zones are chock-full of zombies, so players who care to risk it all can hope to survive as they run, gun, and generally get their wits scared out of them.

I wasn't alone during my short time in the game, thanks to Alex Josef, Director of Communications for Hammerpoint Interactive We sat down for an interview and wound up smashing zombie heads with a flashlight. Ah, the perils of writing about games! Join me past the cut to read what I thought.

Gallery: The War Z GDC 2012 screenshot

Continue reading GDC Online 2012: A (severed) hands-on with The War Z

MassivelyGDC Online 2012: A (severed) hands-on with The War Z originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex-josefaustinbeau-hindmanconconferenceconventionfeaturedgalleriesgallerygame-developers-conferencegame-developers-conference-2012gdcgdc-2012gdc-onlinegdc-online-2012gdcogdco-2012hammerpointhammerpoint-interactivemmofpspost-apocalypticSandboxscreenshotscreenshotsthe-war-ztrailertrailersvideovideoswarzzombiesFri, 12 Oct 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[War Z closed beta launches on Halloween, pre-orders available]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/war-z-closed-beta-launches-on-halloween/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/war-z-closed-beta-launches-on-halloween/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/04/war-z-closed-beta-launches-on-halloween/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

WarZ closed beta launches on Halloween
Players interested in checking out the new zombie apocalypse game The War Z will have the chance to participate in closed beta starting on October 31st by purchasing a special Survivor package for $19.49. If that's too long a wait, Hammerpoint Interactive has also announced that you can get into alpha on October 15th by purchasing the Pioneer package for $29.99. This bundle also includes in-game currency, a forum badge, and one month of Stronghold map server hosting.

Finally, there's the Legend package for $49.99, featuring October 15th access, $30 of currency, a forum badge, six months of server hosting, and three guest keys. Legend purchasers will also have their survivor names highlighted on leaderboards and in the game's chat

Package discounts will be in effect until October 20th.

MassivelyWar Z closed beta launches on Halloween, pre-orders available originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpha-accessapocalypsebetaclosed-betahammerpointhammerpoint-interactivepost-apocalympticpurchasing-beta-accesssandboxThe-War-ZWar-ZzombiesThu, 04 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Undead Labs talks about guns in State of Decay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/undead-labs-talks-about-guns-in-state-of-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/undead-labs-talks-about-guns-in-state-of-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/03/undead-labs-talks-about-guns-in-state-of-decay/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Warm one and you will find happiness.
Today's official blog post about State of Decay is not about careful examination of different cultures. It's not about understanding what creates a zombie and how the sickness can be stopped. It's not even about the careful process of finding and maintaining your food supplies in the wake of societal breakdown. No, this is a blog post about guns. It is all about the weapons you will use to blow the undead into little bite-sized chunks of zombie.

The centerpiece is a huge list of guns that players can expect to find and shoot in the game, each with varying properties and ammunition types. It's also meant to expand in the future. So there's no subtlety here, just deadly firearms and the promise of using them to mow down shambling zombies to ensure your own survival. What more could you really want? Aside from functional vehicles and a planet not crawling with monsters that want to eat your brains, of course.

MassivelyUndead Labs talks about guns in State of Decay originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoarsenalclass-3class3class4combatconsolegunsnewspreviewssandboxstate-of-decayundead-labsweaponsxboxxbox-360zombiezombiesWed, 03 Oct 2012 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[DayZ receiving a standalone version before the year is out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/dayz-receiving-a-standalone-version-before-the-year-is-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/dayz-receiving-a-standalone-version-before-the-year-is-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/27/dayz-receiving-a-standalone-version-before-the-year-is-out/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Next year everyone will finally be tired of zombies. It'll all be about fighting werewolves.
Are you interested in zombie survivalist fantasies but not interested in buying an unrelated first-person shooter? DayZ has already garnered a fan following despite being a mod for an existing game, but a standalone version of the game is in the works for release before the end of the year. Creator Dean Hall has stated that in terms of what the team wants to accomplish (some of which was outlined in our interview on the game), the alpha version absolutely has to be out by the end of the year.

Hill has not named an exact price, but he has made it clear that the standalone version will be cheap. He's also made a point of stating several of his longer-term plans for the standalone version, including the spread of diseases, makeshift first-aid remedies, and the eventual inclusion of vehicles. All of it is very ambitious, but that's part of the reason that the team is dead-set on having the standalone game out before the end of December.

MassivelyDayZ receiving a standalone version before the year is out originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-iibohemia-interactivedayzdevelopmentmodificationsmodsnew-titlesnewspatch-plansrelease-plansstandalonesurvivalupcoming-titleszombiezombiesThu, 27 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose My Adventure: Go break a (zombie) leg in TSW]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/choose-my-adventure-go-break-a-zombie-leg-in-tsw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/choose-my-adventure-go-break-a-zombie-leg-in-tsw/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/choose-my-adventure-go-break-a-zombie-leg-in-tsw/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Choose My Adventure Go break a zombie leg!
Or to take arms against a sea of undead, and by opposing, end them...

You're darn tootin' I'm going to end them! That's me, taking up arms against the hordes of zombies. Or more accurately, chopping them off, along with legs, heads, and anything else that gets in the way of my blade! If you have zero interest in fighting reanimated townsfolk with flesh dripping off of them, then The Secret World is probably not the MMO for you. However, if you don't mind dicing, slicing, slashing, shooting, chopping, blasting, or otherwise obliterating said undead, then Kingsmouth really is the place to be! If zombies were a cash crop, that little town would be swimming in the moolah Scrooge McDuck-style.

For the second act of our co-production, Choose My Adventure undertook a massive scenery change. Instead of the concrete jungle of NYC where we began, the story played out in the sleepy streets of a quiet new England town. Well, quiet if you don't count the lip-smacking of the zombies gnawing on everyone. Armed with my rifle, my sword, and of course, your directions, I set off to explore, ameliorate suffering, and eviscerate the hordes of evil in The Secret World.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Go break a (zombie) leg in TSW

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Go break a (zombie) leg in TSW originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abilitiesability-pointschoose-my-adventurechoose-my-adventure-mj-guthriechoose-my-adventure-The-Secret-Worldcmafactionfantasyfeaturedfuncomhands-onhealinghorrormore-customizationmythologynew-hairstylesopinionpollpollsreaders-choicesci-fantasysecret-worldskill-basedskill-pointsskill-wheelSkillsthe-secret-worldtswvotevotingzombiesWed, 26 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Interview: Bohemia's Matt Lightfoot on DayZ, modding, and zombie survival]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/massively-interview-bohemias-matt-lightfoot-on-dayz-modding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/massively-interview-bohemias-matt-lightfoot-on-dayz-modding/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/25/massively-interview-bohemias-matt-lightfoot-on-dayz-modding/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Massively Interview Bohemia's Matt Lightfoot on DayZ, modding, and zombie survival
Thanks to viral content, word-of-mouth praise, and a passionate, growing fan base, Arma II mod DayZ has become one of the most talked about games in the industry. We sat down with Bohemia Interactive's Matt Lightfoot to get an idea of how exactly this game came to be, why it has exploded in the way it has, and how he'd attempt to survive a real-life zombie apocalypse:

Massively: Could you give us some idea as to how DayZ came to be? What was the inspiration for the game?

Matt Lightfoot: DayZ was created by Dean Hall, a former soldier in the New Zealand Armed Forces. He originally came up with the inclination to make a survival game when he was doing survival training in Brunei. The zombies come from Dean's discussions with his brother Richard, who is a world expert on influenza. Dean created it in his spare time after moving to the Czech Republic to work for Bohemia.

Continue reading Massively Interview: Bohemia's Matt Lightfoot on DayZ, modding, and zombie survival

MassivelyMassively Interview: Bohemia's Matt Lightfoot on DayZ, modding, and zombie survival originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armaarma-2bohemia-interactivedayzdayz-gamedayz-moddean-hallfeaturedhorrorinterviewKickstartermatt-lightfootmodmoddingpgcplayer-generated-contentsandboxsci-techsurvivalzombiesTue, 25 Sep 2012 10:30:00 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[The War Z allows cash shop items to be lost forever]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/10/the-war-z-allows-cash-shop-items-to-be-lost-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/10/the-war-z-allows-cash-shop-items-to-be-lost-forever/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/10/the-war-z-allows-cash-shop-items-to-be-lost-forever/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The War Z allows RMT purchases to be lost
Imagine that you're playing the hot new zombie MMO, and you decide to splurge a few bucks on that shiny weapon you've been eying. You get your grubby mitts on it and go to town on a few living undead, only to find yourself over your head and quickly killed. When you wake up, your gun -- and the rest of your stuff -- is gone. Forever.

And the devs are totally OK with that.

This is about to become reality for players of the upcoming The War Z, as even cash shop-purchased items are not safe from being lost due to death. In a recent interview with Gaming Blend, Hammerpoint Marketing Director Alex Josef was unapologetic about that point: "You'll lose what you have in your backpack when you die in both in normal and hardcore modes. And yes, if you bought something using real money, you'll lose that item as well. This is a price you'll have to pay."

According to Josef, this level of item loss was a deliberate decision by the team to cause player to treat the game more seriously. "We've discussed that a lot," he said, "and at the end decided that this will provide a pretty good incentive for players to either be extra cautious while playing or just not spend too much money in the game and instead try to procure all items by finding them in the game world."

MassivelyThe War Z allows cash shop items to be lost forever originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex-josefarktos-entertainmentcash-shopf2pfree-to-playhammerpoint-interactivehorrormicrotransactionspermalossrmtsandboxsurvivalthe-war-zwar-zzombiesMon, 10 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX Prime 2012: Undead Labs' State of Decay]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/pax-prime-2012-undead-labs-state-of-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/pax-prime-2012-undead-labs-state-of-decay/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/07/pax-prime-2012-undead-labs-state-of-decay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Screenshot -- State of Decay
Everyone loves zombies, right? Apparently so because they're absolutely everywhere (like Miami, for instance), but we keep on lapping it up. Secretly, though, I think a lot of us are tired of the same old zombie games. After all, if you're one of the truly hardcore that has a zombie apocalypse plan that includes where you'll hole up, how you'll find weapons, what you'll eat, and so forth, it's a little disappointing that most games tend to focus solely on the zombie-shooting part of the zombie apocalypse (not that there's anything wrong with zombie-shooting).

Undead Labs' upcoming MMO State of Decay might change all that.

The game will take place in a persistent world where players are responsible for rounding up survivors, finding the necessary resources to build defenses and stay alive, and of course, fighting off the zombie hordes. Finally, those of you who have long debated the merits of going to the gun store vs. not going to the gun store in the event of an apocalypse can see whose plan works better. And what's more, at PAX Prime 2012, I got to sit down and play around with it myself, though not for nearly as long as I would have liked. Regardless, if State of Decay is on your radar -- and it should be -- then I'd be glad to tell you all about my 20-odd minutes with the title.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Undead Labs' State of Decay

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Undead Labs' State of Decay originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-mmoclass-3class3class4conconsoleconventionexpofeaturedhands-onjeff-strainopinionpaxpax-2012pax-primepax-prime-2012penny-arcade-expopreviewpreviewssandboxstate-of-decayundead-labsxboxxbox-360zombiezombiesFri, 07 Sep 2012 18:30:00 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[Undead Labs reveals State of Decay gameplay trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/unlead-labs-reveals-state-of-decay-gameplay-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/unlead-labs-reveals-state-of-decay-gameplay-trailer/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/21/unlead-labs-reveals-state-of-decay-gameplay-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Unlead Labs reveals State of Decay gameplay trailer
Undead Labs has been working in relative secrecy for going on two years now. All we knew about the firm's cryptically (and temporarily) titled Class3 was that it had something to do with zombies and that it was coming to the Xbox 360.

Now, thanks to a new trailer, we know that the game is officially called State of Decay and it's also coming to the PC. Whether it's an MMO or simply a precursor to the rumored Class4 MMO is still undetermined. All that said, the trailer shows off plenty of open-world third-person shooting action, zombie-centric gore, and even a muscle car and the requisite rusty old pickup truck.

Undead says that State of Decay is set in an "open sandbox world [that] develops in real-time" and that gameplay involves "designing and fortifying your home base." Click past the cut for the full video.

Continue reading Undead Labs reveals State of Decay gameplay trailer

MassivelyUndead Labs reveals State of Decay gameplay trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class-3class3horrorsandboxstate-of-decaytrailerundead-labsvideozombiezombie-sandboxzombiesTue, 21 Aug 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Stock fantasy enemies from lamest to coolest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/the-perfect-ten-stock-fantasy-enemies-from-lamest-to-coolest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/the-perfect-ten-stock-fantasy-enemies-from-lamest-to-coolest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/16/the-perfect-ten-stock-fantasy-enemies-from-lamest-to-coolest/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Perfect Ten Stock fantasy enemies from lamest to coolest
One theory of MMOs is that they represent several parallel universes, each with similarities and differences. This may explain why so many of them claim to be boldly original and yet carry the same monster DNA that exists everywhere else.

Today we're going to carefully unpack our ancient collector's edition of stock fantasy enemies. Blow off the dust and smell that nostaglia, mhmm. Sure, they've seen better days, but they're still good, right? Still solid. Still capable of entertaining us, even if we've slaughtered their kin a thousand times over.

Let me show you my collection of 10 stock fantasy enemies that we encounter all the time in MMOs. Just for fun, I'm going to order them from lamest to coolest. I would be number 11, by the way.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Stock fantasy enemies from lamest to coolest

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Stock fantasy enemies from lamest to coolest originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionanetarenanetbatbatsbirdbirdsblizzardblizzard-entertainmentconquestddodnddragondragonsdungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfantasyfeaturedfree-to-playgatorsguild-wars-2gw2humorkoboldkoboldsncsoftopinionp10perfect-10perfect-tenpvpriftrift-literift-planes-of-telararounduprvrskeletonskeletonsslimeslimesspiderspidersthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tenthree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptop-10top-10-listtop-tentop-ten-listtriontrion-worldsturbineturbine-entertainmentwarcraftwolvesworld-of-warcraftwowzombiezombiesThu, 16 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamescom 2012: DayZ stand-alone to have instanced building [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/gamescom-2012-dayz-stand-alone-to-have-instanced-building/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/gamescom-2012-dayz-stand-alone-to-have-instanced-building/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/15/gamescom-2012-dayz-stand-alone-to-have-instanced-building/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Gamescom 2012 DayZ standalone to have instanced building
Rock, Paper Shotgun caught up with Arma II modder Dean Hall at this week's Gamescom. The braaaaains behind the zombie-centric DayZ mod revealed that player-driven construction is in the works for the mod's eventual stand-alone client.

Hall says that the feature will probably take the form of underground bases accessed via portals (think a grate in the ground). He's leaning toward having players dig out the space, pour concrete, set up hydroponics, and possibly even have the structure collapse around them if it's a particularly gruesome day.

DayZ's stand-alone client will also feature a revamped Chernarus that features more buildings you can actually enter as well as more detail and "entirely new areas."

[Update: There are also talks of the game coming to consoles.]

Every summer, the gaming industry descends on Cologne, Germany, for Gamescom, the world's largest trade fair for interactive games and entertainment. Massively's on the scene in 2012, bringing you all the best scoops, impressions, and interviews from the MMOs at the show!

MassivelyGamescom 2012: DayZ stand-alone to have instanced building [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arma-2arma-iicologneconconventionday-zdayzdayz-housingdayz-stand-alonedean-hallf2pfree-to-playgamescomgamescom-2012germanyhorrorhousingmoddingmodsplayer-generated-contentplayer-housingsandboxuser-generated-contentzombiesWed, 15 Aug 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The War Z gets a new website, 100,000 beta registrations in 24 hours]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/01/the-war-z-gets-a-new-website-100-000-beta-registrations-in-24-h/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/01/the-war-z-gets-a-new-website-100-000-beta-registrations-in-24-h/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/08/01/the-war-z-gets-a-new-website-100-000-beta-registrations-in-24-h/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The War Z logo
The War Z has a spiffy new website, but more importantly it also has more than 100,000 people banging on its closed beta doors. The newly announced zombie apocalypse MMO has generated a ton of interest in the gaming community over the last couple of weeks, primarily due to its survival simulation sandbox pedigree and its seeming similarity to white-hot mod darling DayZ.

The War Z is currently in alpha, and the devs say that closed beta is "planned for the very near future." There's also a pre-order link on the new website, but as of press time it leads to a beta registration box.

[Source: Hammerpoint Interactive press release]

MassivelyThe War Z gets a new website, 100,000 beta registrations in 24 hours originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arktos-entertainmentf2pfree-to-playhammerpoint-interactivehorrorsandboxsurvivalthe-war-zwar-zzombiesWed, 01 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview on The War Z outlines more on gameplay and design goals]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/27/interview-on-the-war-z-outlines-more-on-gameplay-and-design-goal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/27/interview-on-the-war-z-outlines-more-on-gameplay-and-design-goal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/27/interview-on-the-war-z-outlines-more-on-gameplay-and-design-goal/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Wait... were zombies afraid of fire, or was I thinking of bears? I should really have thought this through more.
If you've been waiting patiently for your zombie survival kit in the basement to stop gathering dust, you're probably very interested in how the upcoming title The War Z will play out. The game's billed as a persistent open-world zombie survival sandbox, but how will that work in practice? According to executive producer Sergey Titov in a recent interview, the key is making a game that has a wide enough set of tools for a single objective and then allowing players to make most of the actual gameplay.

Titov elaborates that the game won't have any traditional quests or missions; instead, players are simply given the goal of surviving against hordes of zombies. Experiences emerge through interactions with environmental situations, such as dealing with "safe settlements" that have created hard rules to ensure the town's safety against zombies. Take a look at the full interview for more peeks at the game's development cycle, shooter style, and economic design.

[Thanks to Joseph for the tip!]

MassivelyInterview on The War Z outlines more on gameplay and design goals originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>designgame-mechanicshammerpoint-interactiveinterviewsopen-worldpost-apocalypsesandboxsergey-titovshootershooterssurvivalsurvival-sandboxthe-war-zzombiesFri, 27 Jul 2012 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMObility: Parallel Zombies is PerBlue's best game yet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/27/mmobility-parallel-zombies-is-perblues-best-game-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/27/mmobility-parallel-zombies-is-perblues-best-game-yet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/07/27/mmobility-parallel-zombies-is-perblues-best-game-yet/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

Parallel Zombie screenshot
I have to be honest: I'm sick of zombies. I know, I know, it's the cool genre that's sweeping even the evening news, but I'm as excited about new zombie games as I am about a pop in the nose. It's probably just a light case of burnout, though, because there are still some frightening (and fun!) zombie games, movies and stories cropping up occasionally. I will always reference my Western example: In a movie set in the old West, you can expect to see some guns, a few horses, and possibly a large hat or three. These common props do not always distract us from a good story. Zombies are props too. What the writer or developer does with the story or game is really what matters.

PerBlue, maker of Parallel Kingdom, Parallel Mafia, and now Parallel Zombies, has steadily increased the production value of each one of its titles. This new one takes the design in an entirely unique direction, combining standard location-based gameplay with non-stop action.

Continue reading MMObility: Parallel Zombies is PerBlue's best game yet

MassivelyMMObility: Parallel Zombies is PerBlue's best game yet originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arrrgghhhbeau-hindmanbrowserbrowser-basedfeaturedmmobilitymobilemobile-gamingmobile-mmoopinionparallel-zombiesperbluephonesmartphonezombiezombiesFri, 27 Jul 2012 16:00:00 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