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GDC08: Raph Koster's 'Reinventing MMOs, a Metaplace 'antemortem''
Raph Koster, president of Areae, and Sean Riley, Lead Programmer, held a panel the final day of GDC '08 called 'Reinventing MMOs: a Metaplace 'antemortem'', which was all about dissecting why the concept of MMOs needs updating. Going in, I was hoping for insight, which I got, but wasn't expecting a lot of technical talk, which I also got.And the takeaway I got from this session is this: Koster's doing some good, forward-thinking work, but Metaplace doesn't really shine for me just yet. Details on both after the break.
GDC08: Requiem: Bloodymare
After our previous posts on Gravity Interactive's upcoming title Requiem: Bloodymare, we were interested enough to want to see more of the game, and lucky enough to be invited to do so at the Game Developer's Conference this year. Already playing in Korea, R:B will enter closed beta in about a month's time.Expecting a simplified hack 'n' slash with overdone Gothic elements, R:B surprised us with some really cool features and a deep character growth system. Our full report and trailer after the break!%Gallery-16743%
GDC08: SOE goes voice chat crazy
Sony Online Entertainment has announced the most comprehensive voice chat plan ever, according to a press release dropped at GDC today. They've teamed up with a company called Vivox to not only bring integrated voice chat into all of their games, but also some features that MMO players have never even dreamed of. Vivox says they'll be able to bring voicemail into games, join raid chats via landline or cell phone, and even use voice manipulation over the connection.Apparently the voice chat service will be also available just through Sony's Launcher, so you won't need to be in-game to use the applications. Gamers will have buddy lists, and games will all have volume controls and channel controls, but the other features they brag about apparently won't be available at launch-- while voice and guild chat channels will be available right away, the other features, like voicemail and "voice fonts," are only "anticipated" for later. Still, John Smedley, SOE President, is quoted in the release as being excited about bringing the two services together, so only time will tell how it will all work.Time, and our interviews, that is. Massively has a few correspondents on the floor at GDC right now, and we are planning to speak with both Vivox and SOE before the end of the week. Stay tuned for more on these services and just what they'll entail for players in-game.
Rob Pardo to speak at the 2008 Game Developers Conference
The 2008 Game Developers Conference is underway in San Francisco right now, and this means there should be quite a bit of gaming news and juicy bites to report on in the next few days. Blizzard's own Rob Pardo is there as a featured speaker, participating in a panel on the future of MMORPGs and giving a talk on Blizzard's approach to multiplayer gaming design. Hopefully that means we might even get a few pieces of new information about Warcraft and the expansion, or even beyond. Our colleagues at Massively will be watching the whole conference closely, as will we, and we'll be sure to keep you up to date if Blizzard drops any bombshells of the Lich King variety or otherwise.And speaking of conference news, Gamespot's posted more video coverage of the DICE 08 Summit, including Blizzard's presentation, which you can watch here.
GDC08: Leigh Alexander introduces us to Worlds in Motion
The Worlds in Motion summit kicked off this morning with an introduction from Leigh Alexander, the organizer of the event. Leigh is the blogger-in-residence over at CMP's Worlds in Motion, a site we've linked to many times here from Massively. In her work there, she does what she can to highlight the work of pioneers in the Virtual World industry. This morning, she asked the basic question: What does gaming have to do with Virtual Worlds? We normally think of VWs as brand experiences, collaborative business environments, or opportunities for social interaction like Second Life. So what do these virtual spaces, the leadup to the 'Metaverse', have to do with gaming?%Gallery-16369%
Cryptic announces Champions Online, their new superhero MMO
Stop the presses! Eurogamer tackles the scoop by Game Informer magazine that Cryptic Studio's new MMO, to be developed for both PCs and consoles, will be another superhero game called Champions Online. Scoop indeed; the news isn't even up on Cryptic's site!While it may seem strange to set up yet another superhero-themed MMO while City of Heroes/City of Villains is still getting lots of play, this could be Cryptic's way of reusing assets created for Marvel Universe Online. No word yet on whether the title has anything to do with the classic roleplaying game Champions, which is itself all about superheroes, but the addition of 'Online' to the name might be an indicator. We'll be going to GDC where Cryptic will probably announce this, so keep your ears on!
Cryptic Studios announces its Game Developers Conference schedule
It looks like Cryptic Studios is set to take GDC by storm this year as they just announced their plans to send five of their people to speak at the San Francisco based event being held from Feb. 18th through to the 22nd. The team members from Cryptic are Chief Creative Officer Jack Emmert (formally Jack "Statesman" Emmert), Character Artist Matt Highison, Director of Game Programming Shannon Posniewski, Audio Director Michael Henry and President of Cryptic Studios Michael Lewis.We are very interested in hearing what these Cryptic members have to say on the subject of massively games. Hopefully we'll finally get some answers on what to expect in their future if not some hints at the very least.
Square's next MMO summoned at GDC?
There are so many MMOs coming to the market and announced to be in development these days that sometimes it's hard to keep track of who is doing what. If you you look at Square for instance, there's been a smattering of news over the past couple months, none of it terribly conclusive. Back in December we heard about their Virtual World, a simplistic derivative of Second Life that would operate on ad-revenue. We've also heard briefly about Concerto Gate, a free-to-play game that looks to combine the social aspects of an MMO with the super-deformed characters and battle systems of a console RPG. And lastly, we heard a bit of news last month that indicated that Square's next big MMO is already well along in development, and is currently being tested internally.Now the latest news on the wire is that Square's Taku Murata may talk about their big new MMO at GDC next week. If you look at his personal page on the GDC website, it says that he'll be talking about how they plan to use their new engine not only in the development of the new Final Fantasy for the Playstation 3, but also for a "new MMORPG in development." With the game development climate being what it is in the absence of E3, it's entirely plausible that they'd take the veil off of the game at GDC. We'll just have to sit around and wait another week to see if every Square fanboy's dream comes true.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
New info on latest Square Enix MMO at GDC?
It's been a long time since we've heard anything about this seemingly secretive new MMO from Square Enix; however, some promising info on this illusive title has recently popped up. It's been revealed on the Game Developers Conference website that Square Enix has four representatives speaking at the event -- one of which is Taku Murata, general manager of R&D, who will be discussing the technology that goes behind making Square Enix's current-gen games (specifically the White Engine). The news nugget about the MMO can be found rather subtly on Murata's personal page where it states he'll be talking about the White Engine used in Final Fantasy XIII, the new MMO in development, and other future titles. Of course, this only confirms that the MMO has not disappeared into vaporware, and still leaves a lot of room for speculation. Will we be seeing some new game footage or will new info on the game itself be divulged? We guess we'll just have to wait until GDC rolls in to find out. [Via Forever Fantasy]
X3F is going to GDC
You'll be able to hear more about it once the latest Fancast goes up, but we thought it best to let our readers know that we're headed to the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. We'll have lots of coverage throughout the week, including first hand looks at games like Shadowrun, Mass Effect, Blue Dragon, and Fable 2. We'll also have a chance to talk with developers of upcoming Live Arcade games, and maybe even a few Microsoft executives. So, keep your eyes on 360 Fanboy this week, as we should have some really great content in store for everyone. Also, don't forget to check in on Joystiq, as they're sure to have coverage of all those other consoles, too.
512MB memory card and exciting XBLA news
It looks like that silly rumor was true as Microsoft just announced a bigger memory card for the Xbox 360. The new 512MB Xbox 360 memory card will be available April 3rd, will retail for $49.99, and for a limited time will come pre-loaded with Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved. Simultaneously, the ancient 64MB memory card will drop in price to $29.99 (be on the lookout for clearance prices). Also, with the announcement of the new 512MB card, the XBLA size limit will be raised from 50MB to 150MB allowing developers to run wild with their creativity. Microsoft also announced that they'll be showcasing XBLA titles Boom Boom Rocket, 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures, Eets: Chowdown, Jetpac Refuelled, and Pinball FX at GDC. Check out the full press release after the break. So, after reading that informative spiel what is your gut reaction? We definitely agree with raising the XBLA size limit to 150MB and find the 512MB memory card to be a much better deal than the old 64MB version. And for curiosity's sake, is there anyone out there who just purchased a 64MB memory card and is kicking themselves?
Joystiq interviews Brenda Brathwaite about sex and games
One could say Brenda Brathwaite wrote the book on sex in games -- and they'd be right. She is the author of Sex in Video Games, lead designer on Playboy: The Mansion, founder and chair of IGDA's Sex Special Interest Group and professor of game design at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Brathwaite spoke with Joystiq about next week's Game Developer's Conference, how to keep sexual content under control and the story of the year that really got her blood pressure elevated.At the Game Developers Conference this year you'll be talking about the business end of designing erotic games. What does that mean?We're doing two roundtables this year at the request of previous attendees: designing erotic games and, second, the business end of erotic games. This will give attendees a chance to really get into each issue deeply. When it comes to designing erotic games, I expect we will probably cover such things as appealing to a diverse sexual audience, incorporating fetish play, MMO design, and pitching games to existing adult stars and publishing powerhouses. There's also interest from many people in solving that M-rated issue: how can we maturely incorporate mature themes into the narrative of the play – the same stuff you'd see in an R-rated movie – without being locked out of retail? Games have certainly done it, and as our ability to tell stories in games increases, figuring out how to do it well is becoming more an more an issue. The average gamer is a guy in his 30's, you know. Shows from Lost to Grey's Anatomy feature mature storylines that we, in games, feel at risk to take.
Detailed Fable 2 info coming at GDC
This year's Game Developers Conference kicks off in March and it looks like we'll get the insider dish on Lionhead's Fable 2. GWN.com dugg up information on the GDC's conference sessions and found one on Fable 2 hosted by Peter Molyneux. We double checked this information and located a GDC session called "Innovations in Fable 2" hosted by Peter and starting on March 8th. The description says that the "talk will centre around revolutions in Fable 2." and "will examine how key game play elements have been refined and expanded". Will we finally get every last detail on Lionhead's highly anticipated sequel? Will we get to see actual gameplay videos? Will Molyneux start the hype machine and over promise on all levels? We don't have any answers now, but we know that there will be some Fable 2 information coming out of GDC ... how much is still unknown.[Thanks, Jonah]
Killzone 2: to be or not to be... at the Game Developer's Conference
One place says Killzone 2 will be at GDC while another source gets told that no, in fact, Killzone 2 won't be at GDC at all. Who to trust? It's a tough call, since we reported on a pretty lofty rumor stating that a demo for the new game may just make an appearance at the Game Developer's Conference. After going over the two linked stories above, you may think that, indeed, IGN has the correct story. They spoke with Sony, after all, right? But, CVG has "well-placed sources!" This is turning into more and more of a big deal, but it really shouldn't. If it's there, neat. If not, well, damn.Now is the time for all of the beautiful readers out there to think about the two conflicting ideas presented here and discuss them in a rational, logical, adult manner. Personally, I'd like to believe the game will still make an appearance. It's not like Sony would try to hide its trump card, right?
Look out, Nintendo -- the N-Gage is coming (again)
Since failing in a spectacular fashion is so much fun that they wanted to do it again, Nokia is gunning hard for their second generation N-Gage, according to UK site Pocket Gamer. If you haven't been following the story, this time Nokia's not attempting to make a dedicated handheld-phone hybrid, but rather a platform for gaming that can be used with their N-series smart phones. Is that a better recipe for success? It will depend on the execution, of course, but apparently Nokia's been meeting with some big developers lately and they have plans to reveal the platform at next month's Game Developers Conference.They are, obviously, fixing some of last round's mistakes; if there's no dedicated handheld and the service is supported by downloadable games, then gamers will have no reason to complain about having to completely dismantle the device just to change games. On the other hand, we figure it's probably safe to assume that most gamers with smart phones already have a handheld they love and cherish, so at best this may free up a pocket. What do you think, DS gamers? While a download service would certainly be a nice thing to have on our handheld (we're looking at you, Virtual Console), is the new N-Gage platform a threat to our dual-screened beauty?
GDC to host Miyamoto keynote
We don't want to alarm anyone, but Nintendo's own Shigeru Miyamoto will be coming to San Francisco this march to conduct a keynote at the Game Developers Conference. Before anyone gets the wrong impression about this and rushes to Wal-Mart for some poster board in an attempt to be internet famous, please, don't. It makes for fantastic blogging fodder to be sure, but lets spare the development community what should be reserved for the internets.As his first GDC keynote since 1999, Miyamoto's appearance could possibly be the most popular event at the conference. It's not indicated exactly as to what Mario's papa will be talking about beyond "the creative process behind his work on highly-regarded software as well as his thoughts on new Nintendo hardware", his keynote is titled "A Creative Vision." Maybe if we're all good boys and girls, he'll drop less "bombs" and clue us in on the secret of the DS printing money.
Sign up and get involved with the Experimental Gameplay Workshop
Are you sick of the same ol' World War II shooter? Have enough of the clichéd role-playing hero? Want more innovation and gaming as art like Katamari Damacy and Shadow of the Colossus? Now is your time. Join the Experimental Gameplay Workshop, which is hosted at the Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco. You can check out what they accept and reject on their website. Interestingly, they don't deal with "edgy" material (probably something completely stupid to think of, like playing as a rapist or something else unspeakably "edgy") which is probably for the best. What they do look for are more open-ended gameplay mechanics -- linearity is a thing of the past, ostensibly. It all seems so interesting! I'd love to try my hand at offering some ideas, but I live way too far from San Francisco to think about it. So go ahead, submit yo'self, or leave a couple of your fleeting ideas here and we'll talk about them.
Independent Games Summit line-up
Independent game developers, it's that time again. CMP media has posted a preliminary version of the Independent Games Summit (IGS) schedule on the Game Developers Conference (GDC) site. The IGS takes place March 5 - 6, 2007, the two days prior to the three day GDC at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.The summit is also tied in with the 2007 Independent Games Festival, which will feature the year's best independent games. Those nominations will be announced this Saturday on IGF.com. The winners will be announced March 7, the first night of GDC at the IGF Awards.The one simple request we have is that independent developers who end up being nominated for awards please, please, PLEASE have a speech ready when you win. Also, practice what you are going to say in a mirror a few times before you get up in front of thousands of people and just blow it. Trust us, it will help you in the long-term with your career.[Via GameSetWatch]
Developers still waiting for keys to PS3
In a recent interview, GDC head Jamil Moledina reiterated developers' hesitancies to begin working on PlayStation 3 projects. "A lot of the developers I know are waiting out on the first round and focusing on handhelds," Moledina told GamesIndustry.biz.From Moledina's perspective, Sony is at fault, unable to provide needed support to third-party developers. But as first-party studios gain experience with the Cell, knowledge will inevitably spread throughout the industry. "I'm generally optimistic about the platform's prospects," Moledina opined. In other words, the GDC boss is giving it a year.
Attend the Game Developers Conference for free!
Not enough bling in your pocket and want to attend the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco for free? Now you can. If you sign up to be a conference associate, you'll get a full Giga pass with privileges when you're not working (an $1850 value).You'll be taking part in helping the conference run, and working extremely non-demanding jobs like: Guarding doors Monitoring conference sessions Checking badges at meals and special events Stuffing conference bags Data entry ...And much more! Leaving your brain free to figure out what you want to see and deciding which lectures you want to sit in on. The GDC is a great opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the game industry, and to witness first-hand all of the work that goes into building a game from scratch. Tim Brengle and Ian MacKenzie who run the CA program are top-notch guys, so you'll be in good hands. You'll make friends, attend parties, and get all the benefits of the Giga pass (including free breakfast and lunch on workdays, toastyyyyy!). Several Joystiq readers went the volunteer route last year and were able to enjoy the program gratis, so what are you waiting for?The GDC is in San Francisco from March 5th through the 9th in 2007. We hope to see you there.
