mobile-mmo
Latest
Massively's ho-ho-holiday MMO roundup for 2010
It's that time of year again -- when snow falls in lands that normally don't even see weather effects! When you're supposed to love your fellow elf, human, dwarf -- or at least maim them in the nicest, most brotherly way possible. As one would expect with a plethora of MMOs out on the market, there are gobsmackingly huge numbers of events to take advantage of. Being the festive holiday folks we are (well, OK, some of us anyway), we've gathered up a listing of some of the many things going on. So if you're curious about just what holiday merriment can be found out there, grab some egg nog (alcohol optional), click past the break, and dive into our festive roundup of holiday events. Also, be sure to keep an eye on Massively as Rubi continues giving great gifts to gamers galore in our 12 Days of Giveaways event!
Android client for Pocket Legends enters beta
Pocket Legends turned a few heads when it was first launched as an MMO playable on the iPhone, but it's time for the game to expand beyond its roots. Past time, Droid users might say, as they've been suffering through no MMOs for their preferred phone for some time. But the wait is over -- the game has just entered a beta for the Android platform, making it not only the first mobile 3-D MMO but the first multiplatform mobile MMO. You can download the game through the link on the front page of the site and through the Android market. It requires Android 2.1 to run successfully. A support forum has already been put together for players taking part in the beta, which is assured to have its fair share of issues as the porting is perfected. Still, this means that for the first time in the history of these dueling platforms, iPhone and Droid owners can walk hand in hand... well, while playing Pocket Legends, anyhow.
GDCO 2010: Spacetime Studios' Cinco Barnes talks mobile design
Spacetime Studios, the developer of the popular mobile MMO Pocket Legends, was started back in 2005 to create large-scale MMOs. Its founders decided to make a mobile platform MMO upon seeing the obvious marketing opportunity that the iPhone provided. After all, the players would already be connected and would be accustomed to microtransactions through exposure to iTunes and the app store. Of course, development could prove disastrous if the wrong game plan were followed, so Spacetime decided to keep it simple. How simple? Cinco Barnes of Spacetime was on hand at GDC Online to explain how his team members did it. What they found was a chance to do more than they'd initially planned on -- and an audience ready to gobble up everything the studio could create.
Spacetime announces cross-platform mobile play, prepares to license game engine
Spacetime Studios, the makers of the wildly successful Pocket Legends MMO, has just announced a new influx of funding that will enable continued development on the Spacetime Engine and licensing of said development platform to other game makers beginning in 2011. Gamasutra reports that Spacetime is also claiming an industry first for Pocket Legends in terms of the ability for players on Windows PC, Android, and iOS systems to play on the same shared servers. "Providing players, no matter where they are, with a single deep, seamless 3D MMO gaming experience on multiple devices has been a dream of ours since the company was founded. We feel we're at the forefront of a whole new market for MMO game developers," said Spacetime CEO Gary Gattis.
Massively Mobile: Pocket Legends evolves
Every two weeks, Massively Mobile brings you the latest news, guides and analysis about MMOs on mobile devices. Covering iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad platforms, we're on the lookout for the next generation of MMOs. Much has changed with Spacetime Studio's free-to-play, mobile, 3D MMO Pocket Legends since we posted our first impressions of the game last month. Since then, it has seen a number of updates, content patches, refinements and improvements. It has evolved from a multiplayer Diablo-esque dungeon runner to sporting the kinds of bells and whistles one expects to find in an MMO. In this inaugural Massively Mobile column, I catch up with the game that's blazing the trail for mobile MMOs. Before I jump into the big patch that came out this week, I want to touch on a particular small improvement that was patched in recently. They restricted loot distribution and experience gains to only those within range of the monster kills. This prevents people from having their friends go /afk at the dungeon instance. But, for me, the main benefit is that it will hopefully stop parties from splitting up at intersections in dungeons. Seriously, people, it's a simple rule: follow the tank. Divided parties are dead parties. Ok, grumpy healer frustration vented. On with the show.
IMO: The World of Magic debuts on iPhone
Com2uS has released IMO: The World of Magic, a new MMORPG exclusively for Apple's iPhone platform and available now in the App Store. IMO players can select from one of three traditional high fantasy classes (Fighter, Ranger, or Wizard) and explore the far reaches of the Lanos Kingdom or the Sirus Empire. IMO mixes traditional RPG strategy with modern social networking niceties, and is one of the few iPhone titles that offers fully functional live network play with thousands of simultaneous participants. The game features four-member groups, guilds, multiple chat modes, and PvP arenas. IMO is free to play, but does offer In-App purchases. That said, Com2uS has taken pains to avoid introducing game-breaking items into the cash shop. As an example players can purchase a summon scroll to teleport a friend to their immediate location, but the item doesn't provide any competitive advantages. If you've never played a mobile MMORPG before, you can check out the gameplay trailer after the jump to get a taste of what's in store. Also be sure and have a gander at the screenshot gallery below. %Gallery-90935%
Three words that sound like crack: Watchmen iPhone MMO
As with just about every group of comic book geeks out there, the Massively offices have been positively abuzz with discussion of the Watchmen movie coming out this Friday (or Thursday at Midnight, if you're like us and already have your tickets). Of course, with any hot movie property comes a video game, and it appears that Watchmen is to be no different. Well, no different, save that the Watchmen: Justice is Coming game is getting the MMO treatment - on the iPhone and iPod touch. In a special edition of the MMO Report on G4, details have been released on this new portable-platform MMO that's been developed by Last Legion Games in conjunction with Warner, Paramount and Legendary Pictures. The idea is that in Watchmen: Justice is Coming, players start out as regular everyday people out to combat crime in a 1970's pre-movie New York, who gain better items to gear themselves up. (Sound familiar?) While the combat appears to be old-school basic Street Fighter style, the general concept could be pretty cool. But really, who are we kidding? We'll probably buy it just to play an MMO with Rorschach in it and to check out this new iPhone tech. Since it goes live in the App store on the 6th, it will give us something to do while we're waiting in line to see the movie again. Be sure to check out the video behind the jump, or head on over to the official Watchmen: Justice is Coming site for some more screenshots.
Terminator 'MMO' comes to iPhone
Sci-fi fans of the revamped Terminator IP may have something else to be happy about: a Terminator iPhone MMO called "Ambush." Based off Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Ambush is a game played either online or through an iPhone. Gameplay is centered on predicting the movement of enemies through a virtual city, setting traps to eliminate the opposing side while evading their attempts to find you. iPhone 3G users can use their device's GPS to avoid such traps while racking up points. The game was developed by 65 Media, a marketing firm known for its past work on interactive and alternate reality games (ARGs). Ambush may not be a true MMO in the client/leveling/loot sense, but has a system of points gained through employing traps and counter-traps. It's perhaps more akin to Aurora Feint's debatable label as an MMO title, which has already proven to be very popular. Such titles are the earliest forays into that grey area of 'MMOs' for the iPhone, and more are certainly on the way. Ambush is free-to-play and available for iPhones with the 2.0 Software Update, downloadable at the Apple App Store. More information about the game, and how to play it on both the iPhone and online, can be found in the Ambush FAQ. [Via Spoiler TV]
MMOGology: Will mobile MMOGs evolve genre expectations?
What makes an MMOG an MMOG? When we talk about massively multiplayer games, certain expectations immediately form in our minds. Looking at the components of the acronym itself it seems pretty straightforward. We know that MMOG stands for massively multiplayer online game. The qualifications of what constitute an MMOG seemingly describe themselves right in that acronym. MMOGs are games that, on some level, support a large number of players in an online multiplayer environment. Despite that simple definition we often have preconceptions about MMOGs that are much more specific. Preconceptions like level grinding, subscription fees and a dearth of willing healers.Early in their existence MMOGs were easy to define by example simply because there were far fewer games available. Games like Ultima Online and Everquest clearly helped set the standards of the genre. On their terms, massively multiplayer means hundreds of other player avatars running around and whacking mobs in the same environment. They also established gameplay standards based on computer roleplaying game staples such as gaining experience to level up, upgrading gear and growing the character's skills and abilities. But as the genre has expanded and evolved so has our definition of what constituents an MMOG. As I discussed in my last column, mobile MMOGs have very unique challenges to overcome in order to prove successful; but their success will undoubtedly come in time. As those successes arrive, our expectations of MMOGs will likely change. Today I'll be looking at a specific game that claims to be an MMOG for the iPhone and iTouch. It defies the typical conventions of what we'd consider an MMOG. I'll describe some of the interesting features it offers after the break and you can decide whether or not it qualifies as a true MMOG. One thing I'll tell you right off the bat though; even though it's unconventional, it's fun and addictive.
The week in Massively features
Massively interview: KingsIsle on Wizard101We recently had the chance to check up on KingsIsle and talk to them about their three-year conjuration, Wizard101. We sat down with the studio's director, Todd Coleman, to discuss what's in store for the tween-centric wizard school MMO. First Impressions: Requiem: BloodymareWe've been talking about this game for months now, and Requiem: Bloodymare is finally available to play. Hailed as the first horror MMO, there are definitely aspects of R:B that are pretty gruesome. EVE Online Community Spotlight: a Q&A with ChribbaTrust is a rare commodity in EVE Online. Many players are drawn to the game by the fact that almost any form of deceit, betrayal, and outright treachery is allowed in EVE. Not all players head down this path, of course, but plenty do. This element of risk is what makes the game exciting ... MMOGology: Mobile MMOGsSeveral weeks ago at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) Steve Jobs announced the 3G iPhone. The announcement wasn't much of a shock to industry experts since other cell phones have been using 3G networks ... MMO MMOnkey: Why I stopped playing Age of ConanI like Age of Conan. I like the combat system that demands active engagement rather than the auto-attack, go-make-a-cup-of-coffee style of combat used in so many other MMOs. I enjoy exploring Funcom's recreation of Hyboria ...
More rumors of a mobile WoW
A few places are reporting, including our sister site Massively, that a company named Vollee has brought their mobile phone version of Second Life live and online. As you can see in the video on the website, it works, though it's not exactly an ideal way to play the game. They don't go into details on how it works, obviously, but my guess would be some kind of java browser emulation of a real client.Why are we talking about Second Life on WoW Insider? Because odds are that some kind of mobile WoW app is not far behind. Vollee would certainly love to be the ones to do it (they even say that you can enter "World of Second Life" on their website), but unlike Blizzplanet, I really don't think they will be -- odds are that any mobile app won't be a full client, but rather will be a chat or AH app of some kind ("BattleChat" has already been mentioned by Blizzard), and it'll likely be designed by Blizzard themselves.But there's no question that there's a huge frontier for this sort of thing. Within the next month, Apple is set to release the iPhone's "App Store" (a distribution platform for mobile applications and games), and we have to imagine that a mobile announcement or even a release from Blizzard will come soon after that.
Vollee Second Life mobile beta live
You may remember Vollee, a company using an combination of streaming trickery to stream the displays of various games and software down to your mobile phone. The most touted item was Second Life, and we're told that that beta is live right now. Check out their FAQ, and give them a try -- assuming you're willing to trust them with your account credentials, which not everyone will. We're not yet sure if the list of supported hardware is final. If you give the beta a try, by all means, let us know what you think.
Tokyo content developer offers a mobile future for MMOs
Gamasutra just recently put up notes from a unique lecture given at this year's Game Developer's Conference. David Collier, president of the Japanese group Pikkle KK, offered up a Tokyo-focused vision of the future of MMOs. For millions of players in Asia, a series of casual flash games played mutliplayer via cellphones are all the MMO they need or want. Collier explained the sheer appeal of these titles, which cross age- and gender-boundaries; some 40% of male teens are playing one of these titles, called Mobile Game Town.The Flash Lite format is part of the reason behind these services' success. Quick, simple downloads allow for instant action, and the portability of the Flash experience ensures there is minimal need to tweak titles for specific platforms. These games are also very lucrative, offering easy access to customers for advertisers. Collier's comments on the future of the medium are fascinating, as bigger players and high-profile developers step into the ring.
Square/Enix announces a new mobile MMO
Square/Enix, makers of the well-known Final Fantasy series, has announced their lineup for much of the year. Along with news of more ports of some of the older games to new systems and advances in the DragonQuest series, they've released word of a brand new mobile phone MMO. Right now it looks like it's going to be Japan-only, which makes a lot of sense; Japanese culture essentially requires the use of a cell phone to keep in touch with friends.The game, called Ellark, will be a free-to-play title with a microtransaction payment model. The company is planning an entire currency around this concept, calling it a MobiCoin service. There aren't many good English language descriptions of their plans, but MobiCoin is a concept that's been tossed around for some time. There isn't much to discuss as far as gameplay goes, but the service will apparently make use of text messaging for communication between players. The release calls Ellark a "Mail Play Game", which has some interesting possible permutations.[Via Worlds in Motion]
The Daily Grind: Mobile MMOs and you
Apple's big introduction of the iPhone SDK was big news yesterday for developers, and it (along with the up and coming Google Android) will likely have lots of far reaching implications on the world of gaming, and (considering how connected mobile devices are becoming) the world of mobile MMOs.But are you interested in such a thing? Do you really want to be playing MMOs wherever you go? Lots of people think they spend too much time playing MMOs already, and bringing massively multiplayer games into cell phones and mobile devices might just spread them a little too far into your life than you feel comfortable with.Most WoW players wouldn't mind checking their ingame mail even when they're not near a computer, but from what we've heard from some developers, mobile MMOs might end up being a lot more than that. Are you interested in an MMO you can play anywhere, or would you rather relegate your MMO time to the computer, and be able to step away from it when you can?
Parallel Kingdom is a mobile MMO played in the real world
I just recently got my beta invitation to PMOG, the in-browser MMO game that lets you play around real-life websites. I haven't restarted my browser yet to get it installed, but I'm intrigued by the idea of a "meta-" or "exo-game," that places game values over "real" locations. In PMOG's case, of course, they're real virtual locations, but here's a game that is really real: Parallel Kingdom is a mobile MMO that claims to be able to use GPS in Google's Android phone to let players place game information on real world points.The game is still in beta, and since it requires an Android phone to play (and those haven't actually come out yet), it's really more of just an idea at this point. But yes, the plan is to use GPS to let players "mine resources, build buildings, craft items, trade goods, meet people, start kingdoms, lead wars, and explore the world." As you can see in the demo video above, various virtual resources will be hidden at real world GPS points, and odds are that you'll have to visit those points in real-life to perform activities and play the game.An interesting idea, anyway. It's hard to picture an ongoing game based around actual travel to real-world locations (although geocaching seems to pull it off pretty well), so it'll be interesting to see what these folks come up with.
