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More about MUDs for the MMO curious
When it comes to the evolution of the MMO, you can't really deny the earliest roots of MMOs -- the MUD or Multi-User Dungeon. But as there are many who just started in with MMOs with more recent titles like World of Warcraft, the initial roots from whence the games we love rose remain shrouded in mystery for many people. Thankfully, recently Edge Online decided to not only take a very close look at the earliest creation of MUDs, but they also got a chance to sit down with Richard Bartle. Their illuminating article, simply titled "The making of: MUD" talks not only of what started the system we know, but also how the thinking behind it progressed into the MMOs we know now. Additionally, sprinkled throughout the second half of the article are some really interesting quotes from Bartle. One such example is Bartle's explanation of his current levels of involvement and why he'd rather "...focus on the health of the forest than on individual trees" in terms of the massively multi-player game market. If you're a veteran or a newcomer, the article is well worth a read if only to give a perspective on our favorite genre that you may not have had before.[Via Rock, Paper, Shotgun]
CCP Asia on innovation and risk with DUST 514
This past August's announcement from CCP Games of a new title -- DUST 514, a console MMOFPS set in EVE Online's New Eden galaxy -- drew both great interest and intense criticism from gamers. If successful, CCP Games will be the first game company to tie a console FPS in with a separate MMO. (Not entirely separate, however. DUST 514 mercenaries will fight it out on the surface of the same planets seen from space in EVE Online. Their successes and failures will ultimately play a role in the balance of power in EVE.) Since that first flurry of info about DUST 514, it's been rather quiet on the news front. However, a two-part article published at Edge Online this week focuses on CCP's new game. Edge Online's "Enter Planet Dust" is something of a primer on the core concepts behind the title but is also one of the most comprehensive pieces written about DUST 514 to date. Edge also interviewed some of the key CCP Games staff working on the game in Shanghai -- Kjartan Pierre Emilsson, Managing Director of CCP Asia and Atli Már Sveinsson, Creative Director on DUST 514.
PlayStation Home no longer a priority for Sony?
Opinions on PlayStation Home seem to differ -- it doesn't have the kind of flexibility and user created content that's made Second Life successful, but it does provide social spaces and content linked to the games and other media we enjoy. For others, like writers at our parent site Joystiq, it's a brave new virtual world where the fine art of Quincying can thrive. Now that PlayStation Home has gained some traction with its install base and users are making microtransaction purchases, does Sony intend to develop the marketplace further? Not immediately, according to PlayStation Home's Pete Edwards. Edge Online quotes Edwards, speaking at the London Games Conference this week: "It's been a long road. We've proved there is a market out there and we've got a lot of people that spend a lot of time in [Home]. It's not a priority right now but there is a business model there." [Via G4tv's The Feed]
Hello Games introduces itself and 'Joe Danger'
Opening up an ongoing dev diary and announcing its new game Joe Danger, nascent developer Hello Games has officially entered the gaming industry. Edge recently spoke with the four gents behind the fledgling company and previewed its new game, drawing comparisons to Trials HD and Road Rash in the process (what, no love for Motocross Maniacs?).Aimed at digital distribution channels (specifically: XBLA, PSN and PC), Joe Danger has got a tentative release window of Spring 2010. Hello Games isn't rushing things though, as the game's already been in-development for over a year. It'll be done "as soon as it feels right," says Hello Games' Sean Murray on the first dev diary. With any luck, it'll "feel right" next Spring -- but at very least, we'll have more screens and info for you on Joe Danger tomorrow.
UK game tax policies has Realtime Worlds considering move to Ireland
Realtime Worlds is becoming synonymous with Scotland's game development with their upcoming title All Points Bulletin, but there are reports the company may consider relocating to Ireland. As one of Scotland's most prominent development studios, Realtime Worlds is keenly aware that as the computer games industry grows the UK lags behind other countries in terms of tax incentives. (Edge Online has an excellent overview of the situation which details how UK firms pay tax on R&D while countries like Canada and France provide rebates for game developers.) The situation as it affects Realtime Worlds and other Dundee-based companies is that if corporate tax breaks aren't possible in Scotland, they may need to head to greener pastures. Even moreso if such pastures include a 5-year tax holiday, which was mentioned at last weekend's Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin.Herald Scotland quotes Colin Macdonald, Realtime Worlds Studio Manager, as saying,"If the package on offer in Ireland was attractive we'd have to give it serious consideration. [...] Dundee is a great place to be based, one of the main hubs for computer games in Britain, but at the end of the day we've got to look after our bottom line."
Microsoft confirms acquisition of 3DV
Speaking during an annual conference at Microsoft's Israeli research and development center, the head of Israel R&D and corporate VP Moshe Lichtman openly confirmed the acquisition of 3DV's motion technology -- the same motion technology speculated as being used in the company's ambitious Project Natal. "The R&D center helped Microsoft in buying the intellectual property of 3DV Systems, and in the wake of that, dozens of the company's employees were recruited to work at the development center," Globes reports Lichtman said. Though we still don't know the amount Microsoft spent acquiring 3DV, considering the amount of marketing muscle "the big M" is putting behind Project Natal, we're guessing it wasn't exactly a pittance. Now, to arrange for a few sneaky Joystiq operatives in Israel to find out exactly what's happening inside the company's clandestine research and development offices.%Gallery-65582%[Via Edge Online]
Edge-Online team quits, too 'online' for Future, apparently
The editorial team for Edge-Online in the US has quit, in response to what former Editor-in-Chief Colin Campbell calls "a gumbo of old media thinking, rampant cost-cutting and ego-driven control mechanisms." Campbell explains on his new site, GameBizBlog, that a middle manager from Future UK told him last December that editorial control of Edge-Online would be transferred to England and Edge Magazine's print team. Campbell, Kris Graft and Rob Crossley all quit last Friday and Future announced their replacements this morning.Campbell goes on to say that "the story of the game industry is now being told via lightning fast websites and blogs of phenomenal competence and editorial quality" and "trying to view online as some extension of print is just plain wrong." His piece becomes very "inside baseball" by the end and the comments are worth reading for those interested in the continuing discussion of online vs. print game media. If you're really interested in the "inside baseball" talk, the Edge-Online situation will likely be discussed on the Joystiq podcast this Friday. [Image]
Microtransactions 'way of the future' for Mytheon
One of the newer titles coming to the massively multiplayer online game market is Mytheon, a game that is based on real-world myth rather than pure fantasy, currently in development at Petroglyph. This fresh angle on lore and setting isn't the only difference between Mytheon and its fantasy MMO competitors -- Petroglyph is banking on the hope that microtransactions will prove more successful for Mytheon than the standard subscription model. Edge Online recently interviewed Petroglyph's general manager Chuck Kroegel, who's also the producer for Mytheon. Kroegel spoke with Edge Online's Kris Graft, and explained Petroglyph's outlook on this alternative business model: "This is a serious commitment on our part... we find it intriguing because we do feel there is a notion of how this could be the way of the future. And if not, it's certainly going to be part of the future. It may not be the only way things are done in regards to the model, but right now it looks to be viable."
Edge: Breaking into games from every angle
EDGE Online knows what you want. Cracking the games industry is no easy task but the folks at EDGE Online have discussed how the process is possible with some of the most respected professionals in the field. From the low levels of QA to designing that Furry RPG you've always dreamed of; EDGE hopes to educate your dreams.The 2008 edition of cracking the gaming cookie doesn't hold back and outlines the truth and some of the hardships along the way. Looking into a career in the industry? You should check it out.
Edge talks Morhaime on Age of Conan
We made mention of Mike Morhaime's surprising words regarding Wrath's launch date during a recent conference call, but there's one thing we didn't really look at that Edge did. Mister Morhaime says Age of Conan's release a couple of months ago did manage to pull some subscribers away from WoW, but unsurprisingly, almost half of them came back pretty fast. Around 40% of them have come back so far.This does not surprise me, really. That's usually how most MMO releases go, even if Age of Conan was the most heralded release since WoW. I'll admit, I haven't played it myself but I had ten or so guildmates of mine go and try it out. All of them ended up not playing the game after a month, saying that something was 'missing.' How delightfully vague, eh? They all came back.A thriving, pre-existing community really helps a game's launch, and WoW had (and has) that in spades. You've gotta hand it to Age of Conan, though. For being a game that seems so niche in a market that has only moved out of nichedom in the last few years, they're putting up one hell of a fight. 40% of players have come back so far, sure, but 60% haven't. Yet.
