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The Daily Grind: What are you hoping to hear from GDC?
This week, Massively's own Shawn & Rubi are headed out to San Francisco to check out all the sights and sounds of this year's Game Developers Conference. In fact, this year marks the 25th anniversary of the event, one that has grown from a small gathering held in someone's house into an enormous industry-wide event. There are tons of topics to look forward to, from intricate development issues to the wider ramifications of online and social gaming. Given how many varied and interesting panels, discussions and more bedeck the conference's schedule, we thought we'd ask whether there's anything in particular you're hoping to hear from this year's event. Are there any games or topics you're really craving more news about? Grab your morning cuppa wake-up beverage goodness, check out the schedule, and tell us what you're hoping to learn more about in our upcoming GDC 2011 coverage! 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!
GDCO 2010: Panel and interview roundup
As you may have noticed if you're following our GDC Online 2010 coverage, we were there in full force. Karen Bryan, blogger and podcaster extraordinaire, covered the event along with our own Beau Hindman. As a wrapup to her interview articles, Karen gives this final impressions piece on the panels of GDC Online 2010. I had a busy week at GDC Online, seeing some great panels and speaking with some enthusiastic developers. Since not all of you could attend this Austin, Texas event, we've done our best to bring you the highlights. Follow along after the jump for a quick rundown of what I saw, as well as the big takeaway from each.
A look at Gamescom 2010: Part one
Tweet var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/A_look_at_the_MMOs_of_Gamescom_2010_Part_one'; This year's Gamescom has come and gone, but its legacy lives on in video -- namely, in some excellent footage shot by Maverick Media. Given our notable absence from the largest international game expo of the year, we decided to partner with our friends at Maverick for their impressions of the event and make use of their professional video resources. Those cameras aren't cheap! So what is Maverick Media? It's a creative agency that conceives and produces trailers, television commercials and in-game cinematics for video game publishers and developers. The team consists of the guys behind the Crysis 2 "The Wall" trailer, the Bayonetta "In for the Kill" commercials, and all of the Little Big Planet in-game tutorials and intro sequence. In the MMO world, they recently worked with Jagex on the "Brace for Impact" teaser trailer for Stellar Dawn. Our combined aim at this year's Gamescom was to gather opinions and insights from informed game execs working in the emerging games space, focusing on their ideas and plans for attracting new gamers into their communities. You'll find part one just after the jump below -- look for part two to drop later this week!
The Daily Grind: What do you hope to hear from E3?
ArenaNet has announced that they won't be appearing at E3 -- their big convention season announcement was that Guild Wars 2 will be playable at other venues. Turbine dropped the free-to-play bomb just over a week ago. It seems like we just might have reached our quota of huge MMO announcements this week, but since E3 has not been cancelled, we can only assume that there's more to come. Massively will be bringing you all the latest E3 news this week, but in the meantime, we want to know what you are hoping and expecting to hear from the event. Will Jumpgate Evolution announce a launch date? What further details will we get on LotRO's item shop? Will the Warhammer 40k MMO blow our minds? Hit the comment button and tell us what you think!
GDC10: A first glimpse at The Secret World
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/An_in_depth_look_into_the_gameplay_of_The_Secret_World'; I bet you thought we were done with news from GDC 2010, right? Well, not exactly. The embargo on our demo of The Secret World lifts today and we're oh-so eager to tell you all about what we saw. While Creative Director Ragnar Tørnquist's team at Funcom has been doing an excellent job of teasing us with just enough information to keep us excited (although they'll deny the websites are from them), there are still many aspects of the game we have yet to discover. This GDC demo doesn't even scratch the surface on what we can expect from the released game, but it gives us quite a bit more to chew on until that time comes. Follow along after the jump for our impressions of what we saw in the game's combat, in-game cinematics, storyline and a brief Q&A with Ragnar himself. Plus, be sure to check out the screenshot and concept art galleries below for some gorgeous eye candy.%Gallery-72395%%Gallery-72399%
GDC10: Massively's day 4 roundup
Day four of the Game Developer's Conference is in the books, and was one for the books as well. Massively managed to score a number of interviews, hands-on features, and we even got our mug in front of the cameras at one point during all the craziness. As you're aware by now, there is still much more to come from our trip to San Francisco, so take this opportunity to catch up on any stories you may have missed. The future of Champions Online Massively set to appear on live Internet TV Massively's interview with Dungeons and Dragons Online An in-depth look at Black Prophecy Nexon's Vindictus revealed Vivox's Monty Sharma interviewed NCSoft speaks on Aion 1.9 Massively's interview with DC Universe Online Be sure to check back tomorrow for our final day coverage as well as a wrap up of all our favorites from the show.
GDC10: Massively's day 3 roundup
We're back with the latest edition of our GDC10 roundup. Yesterday was another big day in the world of MMORPG news, and Massively staffers were working overtime to bring you fresh scoops on the latest projects from your favorite developers. As always, there's a lot more to come as the Game Developer's Conference rolls on, but take a moment to check out these stories you may have missed. Land of Chaos Online interview New playable faction coming to Star Trek Online A chat with Cryptic's Bill Roper and Craig Zinkievich Massively's interview with Virtual Fairground Runes of Magic releases Chapter 3 information Stick around as we're gearing up to bring you interviews with Bioware, En Masse, Gamigo, and The Secret World's Ragnar Tornquist later in the week.
GDC10: Massively's day 2 roundup
Welcome to another edition of Massively's GDC 2010 daily roundup. Yesterday brought a fresh onslaught of news about many a forthcoming MMORPG, and our tireless reporters were once again on the front lines. The day was definitely quality over quantity, as we settled into the rhythm of the conference and sat down for several interviews that we'll bring you later this week, including chats with Virtual Fairground and Turbine's Fernando Paiz. For now, check out our GDC stories from yesterday that you might have missed. GDC10: An in-depth look at Battlestar Galactica Online Welcome to Poisonville R.A. Salvatore talks Copernicus Also, you can browse our Poisonville gallery below, and be sure to check back throughout the remainder of the week as we bring you more GDC 2010 coverage. %Gallery-87929%
The cake of WAGGGGHHHH!!!
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/Ace_of_Cakes_s_Chef_Duff_makes_an_awesome_Warhammer_cake'; This last Saturday was Games Workshop's Games Day celebration, and Massively.com was on site to get you the latest Warhammer Online coverage straight from Mythic Entertainment. Want to know more about Ultima Online's Stygian Abyss expansion? Curious about Land of the Dead? Interested as to the future direction of Warhammer Online? Do your favorite devs play on order or destruction? Find all of these answers and more in our full coverage of the event starting tomorrow, including our hands-on impressions of the new mega-dungeon, Land of the Dead!In the meantime, if you're hungry for coverage, let your eyes feast on this awesome squig herder cake, made by Charm City Cakes. You know, Chef Duff from Food Network's Ace of Cakes? Yeah, he would be the guy who cooked this bad boy up. The cake lasted for the entire show, but we think there might have been some squig pieces shared amongst staff once the event's doors closed.Excited? Come back tomorrow and check out all of the tasty coverage. The squig is only the icing on the cake! Ok, we're done with the bad puns now, we promise.
AGDC 08: The Importance of Learning Style and Gender in MMOs
We spent a little time at the Austin Game Developers Conference this year and walked away with our heads full of game-related knowledge. Not least of this came from a panel held by Sheri Graner Ray, the computer game industry's leading expert on the subject of gender and computer games.She began by dividing learning styles into types, and explaining how closely gender relates to the different styles. She then went on to discuss how important it is for game tutorials to include the different styles of learning at the risk of losing potential players. We've compiled a breakdown of Sheri's panel here, condensing her hour-long talk into what we think are her most salient points. Remember, most of these statements are not actual quotes unless specifically pulled out as such. Read on to learn more about "The Importance of Learning Style and Gender in MMOs".
AGDC08: Exploring the Endgame
The words on the first slide of the first talk at AGDC are evocative enough. "Damion Schubert, Lead Combat Designer, BioWare." Damion is a well known commentator on the MMO industry, a prolific writer and an entertaining blogger at the Zen of Design site. Last year his 'Casual vs. Hardcore' talk was one of the highlights of the event. This year he's returned to discuss the challenges and design decisions that go into making the final challenges in a Massively Multiplayer game. Endgame gameplay, elder gameplay, is a mandatory and compelling part of the genre's equation. In fact, in Damion's opinion complex elder gameplay exemplifies what makes the massive genre what it is. Read on for notes from his engaging talk, with ... possibly ... some hints about what might be coming from the minds at BioWare.
WoW Insider at Dragon*Con 2008!
Perhaps you were one of the myriad people who made it out to the WoW panels at Dragon*Con last year. Maybe you just heard of this raucous, geeky event and decided that since you can't make it to the West coast for BlizzCon, you'd check out Dragon*Con. Whatever your reason, we're heading back again this year along with our sister site Massively with a variety of World of Warcraft related panels for you to enjoy! If you're heading to Hotlanta this weekend to take in all the awesome that is sure to be Dragon*Con 2008, we've prepared a handy guide to some of the MMOG track happenings that may be of interest. Join us after the break for a panel breakdown, or check out the full schedule on Massively for all things MMO going on at D*C 2008!
Massively goes to Dragon*Con: Friday events
All times Eastern. Post will be updated as schedule changes, so be sure to bookmark this and check back! Also of note: frosty adult beverages will be on sale at all night-time ballroom events. Athens Room: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM DC MMO quest registration Be an NPC or PC, it's up to you. If you would like to be an NPC for the weekend-long Dragon*Con MMO quest, sign up to receive your instructions. Participation is free! 1:00 PM Best of MMO videos It's like America's Funniest Home Videos, only for gaming videos. Well, slightly more snarky than AFHV and with significantly less Bob Saget. Hosted by Krystalle Voecks. 2:30 PM EVE Online: Q&A with CCP Meet Scott Holden, Lead Mission Designer for EVE Online. Come discuss all the goings on in New Eden! 4:00 PM Vanguard: Q&A with SOE Alan "Brenlo" Crosby and the good folks at Sony Online Entertainment will be here to answer your questions about Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. Come and meet the folks who make it all possible. 5:30 PM Achievements in Machinima What is the current state of the art in Machinima? Christina "Romily" Rollins presents some of the best award-winning machinima from around the globe. Including winners from the Machinima Festival Europe '07, these cutting edge, avant-garde pieces are turning heads and blazing new trails for future machinimists. 12:00 AM Machinima Feature: BloodSpell BloodSpell is Strange Company's first feature length project and is written and directed by Machinima pioneer, Hugh Hancock. Join Christina Rollins (aka Romily) to see BloodSpell, the first feature-length Machinima animated film made using the game Neverwinter Nights. Don't miss this pioneering machinima epic! Augusta Room: 1:00 PM Stargate Worlds: Sneak previewSure, D*C has a Stargate track, but what about the upcoming game? Join some of the D*C crew for discussion and a look at this hot new title. [This panel repeats on Saturday at 11:30 AM in the Athens room.] 2:30 PM Herding cats 101 (aka Guild Management)Sometimes the largest challenge in an MMO isn't the raiding; it's getting a group together in the first place. Find out how leaders of successful large guilds get things done - and manage to stay sane.Trevor Legg from <Lost Order of Akalabeth> and Michael McGreevy from <Children of Midian> share their tips and tricks. 4:00 PM Guild Wars player gatheringCome meet your fellow Guild Wars players. Make some new friends, and share some dreams for GW2! 5:30 PM MMO Etiquette SchoolJoin Mark Crump, Kevin Stallard and Krystalle Voecks (and any other industry folk who decide to pop by) for an old fashioned raucous roundtable of MMOG war stories. Laugh along as the panel and audience swap tales of horror, hilarity and honor in MMOs. For those of you new to MMOGs, this is a great (and funny) object lesson on just what not to do. Sheraton Capital Ballroom: 7:00PM World of Warcraft Q&A and Wrath of the Lich King previewJoin Massively and WoW Insider as we answer questions on everything from "old school" raiding to the latest Wrath of the Lich King information in a "no marketing-speak allowed" throw-down. We will also be showing video footage of your first steps as a Death Knight from the current WotLK beta. Note: big fat Wrath spoilers! 10:00 PM Funcom's Age of Conan partyAccording to Conan, the best things in life involve crushing enemies and "der lamentations of der vomen". We can't promise any of that, but we can promise good music, good fun, and good times with the Funcom crew. Come to this hot Hyborean party for prize giveaways, music, contests, and more. << Main Saturday >>
Massively goes to Dragon*Con: Sunday events
All times Eastern. Post will be updated as schedule changes, so be sure to bookmark this and check back! Also of note: frosty adult beverages will be on sale at all night-time ballroom events. Athens Room: 10:00 AM Star Wars Galaxies: Q&A with SOEIn MMO parlance, "A long time ago..." is 5 years, and "...a galaxy far, far away" means "on the Internet." Join Alan "Brenlo" Crosby for a look at Sony Online Entertainment's version of George Lucas' universe. 11:30 AM AQ WorldsHow do you fit a massively multiplayer game in a web browser? Meet the friendly team from Artix Entertainment and find out! They are the creators of popular (and slightly campy) web games AdventureQuest, DragonFable and MechQuest. Join them and see how they are making their way through building their first MMO. Battle on! 1:00 PM Maintaining Wife (or Husband) factionTired of fighting your worst battles after the raid is over? Come and join Kevin Stallard and Krystalle Voecks from Massively as they discuss how to keep your significant other happy while still having time to play your favorite games. 2:30 PM Age of Conan: Q&A with FuncomCome chat with Jorgen Tharaldsen and Terri Perkins from Funcom, as they discuss upcoming changes and take your questions. 4:00 PM Champions Online: Q&A with Cryptic Meet Sam Clifford, Senior Designer at Cryptic Studios and developer of the Superhero MMORPG "Champions Online," as he shows off some of the features of this upcoming game and answers your questions. 5:30 PM Second Life: Games within the metaverse Just what is Second Life and how do I use it to have fun? You have questions, this panel has answers. A brief overview of SL will no doubt devolve into discussions of the building, the scripting, fashion, the currency, and the games within Linden Lab's virtual world. 12:00 AM Late Night MachinimaIn the finest traditions of "Late Night Kung Fu Theater" and "The Late Late Late Movie", we present the lighter side of Machinima. Join Christina "Romily" Rollins for some of the finest fan-made films using characters from your favorite MMO games. Augusta Room: 10:00 AM Legal and ethical Issues in MMO gaming (The gold-farming panel)Back by popular demand, come and let your "Inner Johnny Cochran" out for an hour. If the gold is farmed, who gets harmed? Who really owns all that stuff that you work (play) so hard to get or make? If you came to Dragon*Con seeking legal advice, you should probably seek professional (psychiatric) help. If, however, you want to come and get into a good discussion, then this is the place to be. 11:30 AM EverQuest: Q&A with SOEJoin us for a chat with Alan "Brenlo" Crosby as we discuss one of the oldest and most popular MMORPGs of all time. From the Kunark expansion to Living Legacy, EQ has come a long way. 1:00 PM EverQuest II: Q&A with SOEAlan Crosby (Brenlo) will talk about what Sony has planned for EQ2 and will answer your questions. 2:30 PM So you'd like to work in the MMO industry?Scott Holden from CCP Games (EVE Online). Mark Capps (Unreal), and Mark Crump will answer your questions about how to get into the Massively Multiplayer Online Gaming industry. If you're an artist, designer, programmer, writer, or just a fan of the genre, join us for an inside look at how it all happens. 4:00 PM WoW Add-onsMMORPGs in general, and World of Warcraft in particular, never seem to have a user interface that does everything we want it to. There are millions of add-ons out there that promise to do everything from dress you appropriately to cast your spells for you with a simple click of the mouse. How do you find them? What is dangerous? What's coming in Wrath?? Krystalle Voecks and Mark Crump have some answers that may help. 5:30 PM Tabula Rasa: Player GatheringCome and meet your fellow Tabula Rasa players. Share some war stories of fighting the Bane, hoist a cold beverage or two, and have a good time. Capital Ballroom: 7:00 PM MMO Trivia contestWe have prizes up for grabs -- but this game isn't about loot; It's about bragging rights. Everyone plays, anyone can win. You can pre-register as a team on the DC MMO website or catch up with the D*C MMO staff in person at any of our panels during the weekend. The only "charge" to play is that you have fun! 10:00 PM World of Warcraft: An evening with WoW Insider & MassivelyHere it is. The one you've all been asking for since last year, when we packed not one, but two rooms and had to turn away 300 more people because we couldn't cram anyone else in the door. The WoW party is back with a vengeance. Come and represent the Alliance or the Horde in a battle of epic partying. We're going to punt gnomes, nerf warlocks, and make last year's get together look like a tea party. Oh, and we'll have some schwag too. You know, if you're into that kind of thing. << Saturday Monday >>
Massively goes to Dragon*Con: Saturday events
All times Eastern. Post will be updated as schedule changes, so be sure to bookmark this and check back! Also of note: frosty adult beverages will be on sale at all night-time ballroom events. Athens Room: 10:00 AM [Updated] Free Realms: Demo / Q&A with SOEJoin us as Sony Online Entertainment's Alan "Brenlo" Crosby shows us this upcoming free-to-play MMO offering. Free Realms marks an exciting new direction for SOE, sure to interest gamer kids and parents! Get a look before the beta! 11:30 AM Force of Arms: Q&A with Wardog StudiosThis talk will cover the history, strategies, methods of developing Force of Arms along with features and an insider look at this Sci-fi mech MMOG. Also included will be a look at creating a MMO as an independent entity, both in the technical and business aspects. 1:00 PM Pirates of the Burning Sea: Q&A with Flying LabYarr, matey! Come and meet the motley crew from Flying Lab as they answer your questions about Pirates of the Burning Sea. 2:30 PM Champions Online: Q&A with Cryptic Meet Sam Clifford, Senior Designer at Cryptic Studios and developer of the Super-hero MMORPG Champions Online. Sam will be showing off some of the features of this upcoming game and answering your questions. 4:00 PM WAAAGH! Tales from the Warhammer Online beta The Dragon*Con staff has managed to get an inside look at Mythic's upcoming title, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, and they're going to tell you all about it. Join us. 12:00 AM Late Night Machinima Come join Christina "Romily" Rollins for more gaming machinima than you even knew was out there. Feature both award-winning artists and up-and-coming names in the machinima scene! Augusta Room: 11:30 AM Stargate Worlds: Sneak previewSure, D*C has a Stargate track, but what about the upcoming game? Join some of the D*C crew for discussion and a look at this hot new title. 1:00 PM City of Heroes/City of Villains: Player meet-up Pulchritudinous people of Paragon City, and rambunctious rabble of the Rogue Isles -- come and meet your fellow fearless friends at the City of Heroes and Villains gathering. Share your war stories and meet some old friends, or make some new ones. 2:30 PM WoW Drama (aka Schadenfreude 101)World of Warcraft? Drama? Nooooooo. Join WoW Insider and Massively as we look at some of the things we've seen and heard from the forums, commenters, and more. Bring your own tales of epic lulz to share in this free-form style panel! 4:00 PM The Future of MachinimaWe've all seen the exploits of Leeroy Jenkins and Red vs. Blue. Machinima is now turning into an art form, Hollywood production tool, and a new type of media in its own right. Join Christina "Romily" Rollins and her special guests, including Matt Kelland, for a look at Machinima today and where it's headed next. 5:30 PM Lord of the Rings Online: Player gatheringAre you a tricksy Hobbit? Are you a Dwarf who has been tossed one time too many? Are you an Elf having a really bad (or good) hair day? This is the place for you. Come and meet your fellow LotRO players and swap some tales from the online version of Middle-earth. Sheraton Capitol Ballroom: 4:30 PM MMO Costume Contest check-inCome one, come all! From basic costumes, to highly detailed, entries are welcome from any and all MMOs! Just have a notecard/piece of paper/scrap of bar napkin with your name, the game your costume is from, and a quick description. Note: Contestants for the MMO costume contest must check in no later than 5:00 PM. 5:30 PM MMO Costume ContestLast year, we had an idea, 2 weeks notice, and landed a packed house and a full overflow room. This year, we're ready to do it even bigger, and with even more awesome prizes! Come watch - or dress as your favorite MMO character and join in as Krystalle Voecks from Massively hosts the 2nd Annual MMORPG Costume Contest. Special guest star judges include Jorgen Tharaldsen from Funcom and Alan "Brenlo" Crosby from Sony Online Entertainment. 7:00 PM Age of Conan: Demo and Q&A with FuncomJoin us for a chat with Jorgen Tharaldsen and Terri Perkins from Funcom as we discuss what is right, what is wrong, and what is changing with Age of Conan. Marriott Atrium Ballroom (A601 & A602): 10:00 PM General MMO Meet & Greet / MingleLooking for something to do? Want to make new friends and meet other MMO players? This is the place to be! All MMO players from all games are welcome! << Friday Sunday >>
Massively goes to Dragon*Con: Monday events
All times Eastern. Post will be updated as schedule changes, so be sure to bookmark this and check back! Also of note: frosty adult beverages will be on sale at all night-time ballroom events. Athens Room: 10:00 AM Anarchy Online: Q&A with FuncomJorgen Tharaldsen and Terri Perkins from Funcom will answer your questions about Anarchy Online and show you that Rubi-ka is very much alive and well. 11:30 AM Gaia Online: Q&A with Gaia Interactive Gaia is hosting a special Gaia Online gathering where Gaia Online members can meet each other and hang out while making new friends. Come get to know your fellow Gaian's on a personal level. In addition to hanging out, all attendees will receive a special prize! 1:00 PM Free MMOGs you should check out Want to play MMOs, but are on a tight budget? This is the place for you! Krystalle Voecks from Massively discusses some interesting MMOs on the 'net that cost absolutely nothing to play. 2:30 PM Post MMOrtem / Survivor's gatheringDon't miss your chance to take a parting shot at our staff and let them know what went wrong (or right) this year. If we missed a game that you wanted to see, this is your best chance to let us know about it. Bring coffee... and donuts... and anything else that might cure a hangover. << Main << Sunday
Massively Event Coverage: The NCsoft Europe Heroic Weekend
This column comes to us from our new blogger, Adrian Bott, reporting in from the field. Adrian is joining our team as a City of Heroes and City of Villains fanboy aficionado extraordinaire, so keep an eye out for even more in-depth CoX coverage here at Massively! "I cannot believe how polished this event is," confided visiting City of Heroes developer Melissa 'War Witch' Bianco, during a lull in the frenzy. Nor could we. NCsoft Europe knows how to throw a party.As we crossed from the gloomy streets of central Birmingham into the blazing techno-sanctuary of Omega Sektor, the professionalism and sheer hard graft of the NCsoft team gleamed from every splash-panel surface. Amid the sounds of hordes of happy Super Group members meeting up in the flesh for the first time, video screens showing looped footage of NCsoft games, and the wibbles and whoops of more than four hundred individual PCs, we struggled through to the admin desk. The organizers and their blue-shirted 'sidekicks', buoyed up by who knows what inhuman energy source (they had already been doing this for two days and showed no signs of flagging) gave us the rundown. There were PvP events, task force challenges, 'death races' and sundry other in-game activities. And huge, padded, Gladiator style superhero suits for real-life PvP. Seriously.
