Vconomics

Interplay's Fallout MMO Close to Being Autoaxed

2010-03-27T23:40:00.001-05:00

Interplay's Fallout MMO Close to Being Autoaxed by BethesdaA giant world of post-apocalyptic intrigue – bombed and obliterated to perfection by Fallout lead designer Chris Taylor, no less – seems like an excellent setting for an MMO, no? So it's with a heavy heart that we bring you word of said MMO's potential cancellation, courtesy of the dream-destroyers over at Bethesda –

GTAIO has sent you a message from Maximum PC

2010-03-27T23:28:00.002-05:00

Reposted from Maximum PCSouth Korea Rules Virtual Currency is as Good as Cash by opulent_rigsThe global market for virtual goods is already worth billions of dollars annually. In fact, several small countries around the world have smaller GDPs than the total worth of the virtual economy. But there are very few laws to regulate virtual commerce in its infancy. At this

GDC Austin, Now Named Game Developers Conference Online

2010-02-15T17:34:00.001-05:00

GDC Online to continue serving as premiere event for exploring the future of online, connected game development.http://feeds.ign.com/click.phdo?i=afa95cbb8514463f1df89bfa80a47e98--This article was sent using my Viigo.For a free download, go to http://getviigo.com

Dr. Phil Scolds Farmville Addict

2010-01-26T06:12:00.002-05:00

[Reposted from Kotaku]Confronting a Farmville-obsessed mom in danger of neglecting her kids, Dr. Phil said, "You have a ridiculous addiction to a ridiculous computer game."The mom, named Teresa, evidently unplugged her home's wireless router to boot everyone from the family computer, then sneaked back online to tend her virtual crops. Bad mom! Bad mom! Dr. Phil held that factoid under her nose

Gamers-for-Haiti Efforts Gather Momentum

2010-01-18T03:01:00.003-05:00

[reposted from Kotaku]Today only, 100 percent of the proceeds from purchases in PopCap's store - they make Bejeweled and Peggle - will go toward Haiti quake relief. This post is our official open thread on ways to contribute to the recovery.To recap:• On Wednesday and Thursday, Bungie is encouraging Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST players to don a Haitian-relief emblem in game, and will contribute up to

MMO Roundup: Massively's week in review

2010-01-18T02:56:00.003-05:00

[reposted from Massively]When it comes to MMO news and special features, Joystiq sister site Massively.com has you covered. Whether you're looking for info on the hottest new MMO, or you're just curious about an old favorite, you'll find it at Massively. Check out our biggest features of the week:Star Trek Online lifetime subs now availableCryptic has revealed the lifetime subscription offer for

Free! Star Trek Online beta keys

2010-01-18T02:53:00.003-05:00

1500 keys, right here, right now!.Star Trek Online, the new space-borne MMO from Cryptic Studios, has finally entered its open beta phase and we've teamed up with publishers Namco Bandai to offer you one of 1500 beta keys, so you can explore the very outer limits of the Star Trek universe.Click here to read the full articlehttp://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=231716?cid=OTC-RSS&

iPhone apps lose $450 million to piracy

2010-01-17T09:56:00.002-05:00

Three pirated downloads reportedly occur for every paid download from the App Store.Apple has made an absolute fortune from its iPhone range and downloads from the App Store, but it's also lost a small fortune to piracy.Click here to read the full articlehttp://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=231694?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=CVG-General-RSS--This article was sent using my Viigo.For a free

MMO Roundup: Massively's week in review

2009-10-30T11:32:00.003-05:00

When it comes to MMO news and special features, Joystiq's sister site, Massively.com, has you covered. Whether you're looking for info on the hottest new MMO, or you're just curious about an old favorite, you'll find it at Massively. Check out their biggest features of the week:Massively interview with Aion's new community managerAion is easily one of the biggest MMOs of the year, so when a new

Scotland fighting to keep Realtime Worlds, other native game developers

2009-10-10T20:19:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Joystiq]It seems Scottish government officials aren't going to let the nation's game developers get stolen away without a fight. Last week, we reported on Ireland's attempts to court Scotland's biggest game developers, starting with APB creators Realtime Worlds. Scottish Secretary of State Jim Murphy recently met with Realtime Worlds owner Dave Jones to talk about how Scotland can

Second Life citizens spend $1 billion in first life cash

2009-09-24T05:18:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Joystiq]Industry Gamers reports that Linden Lab, developer of Second Life, has announced that citizens of the virtual world have exchanged over $1 billion in digital goods and services with one another. Furthermore, said citizens have also logged over one billion hours of their first lives in Second Life. The creators elaborated that the game currently has "the largest virtual

Turbine sues Atari over Dungeons and Dragons Online licensing

2009-09-14T16:27:00.003-05:00

[reposted from Joystiq]Stick with us, because this could get confusing: Courthouse News reports that Turbine - the Massachusetts-based developer behind the Dungeon and Dragons Online MMO - is suing Atari, publisher of the title. At issue is Turbine's claim that Atari has "breached a licensing agreement" related to the development of the free-to-play Dungeons and Dragons Online Unlimited. Turbine

Free Dungeons & Dragons Online Encounters Delay [Delay Of Game]

2009-07-31T20:38:00.003-05:00

[reposted from Kotaku]Dungeons & Dragons Online's transition into free-to-play game enters a 10x10 room. Up ahead is its original August release date. It rushes forward...pit trap! Saving throw failed, one month delay.Dungeons & Dragons Online was set to become DDO Unlimited next week in North America, morphing from subscription-based game to a new free-to-play model, but it seems that Turbine

China declares victory over online game addiction

2009-03-21T18:50:00.002-05:00

China's General Administration of Press and Publication claims that the government's anti-game-addiction program is proving successful, as evidenced by new statistics released by the China Youth Social Service Center this week.According to the CYSSC, the proportion of people under the age of 18 playing online games has dropped 7 percent, to 15 percent of the total online gaming population in

So I Guess EverQuest Turns 10 Today [Everquest]

2009-03-17T06:53:00.001-05:00

One of the first MMORPGs to pioneer sucking the souls out of gamers and Player versus Player interactions has just turned 10. Here's an elf popping out of a cake to prove it.Other festivities, both virtual and real-life are planned for EverQuest -- most notably, a party at Fan Faire 2009 in Las Vegas this June and the declaration of Sony Online Entertainment Day in San Diego, California. That's

Free Realms introduces not-so-free subscription option

2009-03-13T21:55:00.002-05:00

Reposted from KotakuLooks like man cannot live on microtransactions alone. Sony Online Entertainment is expanding the earning potential of Free Realms by reintroducing a very familiar MMO tactic: monthly subscription fees. Yes, the game is still technically free, but there's a new premium-tier level to the service.For $5 a month, premium members of Free Realms will be able to access 5 extra jobs,

Video of Tabula Rasa's Final Moments

2009-03-01T20:32:00.002-05:00

Reposted from KotakuLast night NCSoft shut off Tabula Rasa's servers. Early word had it that the Bane horde would either wipe out humanity, or humanity would do the job itself with a doomsday weapon.I have never played this game (so have, like, not a lot of people, that's the reason the servers were being turned off.) So I have no idea what exactly is going on here. But several final night videos

How Much Do Blizzard Contribute To Activision's Bottom Line? [Activision]

2009-03-01T05:12:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Kotaku]Activision and Blizzard, they're now tight, combining Guitar Hero and Call of Duty's dollars with those World of Warcraft rakes in on a monthly basis. But what's the split between the two?Activision's freshly-released annual report lets us know (using net revenue as a yardstick).And the winner is...Activision, who for 2008 (and we're talking calendar 2008 here) raked in $2.1

Apocalypse Soon: Tabula Rasa going out with a bang

2009-03-01T05:01:00.001-05:00

Filed under: MMOIt seems that NCsoft will be ushering the fairly unsuccessful Tabula Rasa off this mortal coil in a somewhat unorthodox, yet completely awesome fashion. Soon-to-be-retired players won't be popping champagne and mingling during tomorrow's server shut-off festivities -- no, they'll be pushing back one last onrush of bloodthirsty Bane combatants in a cataclysmic event that will

Wall Street Fighter [Clips]

2009-02-22T20:10:00.001-05:00

Street Fighter is fun, economics, not fun. But turning Street Fighter into Wall Street Fighter? With M. Lynch vs Fannie Mae? Bravo, CBFresh, you've somehow pulled this off.http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/RUN8aaogY_w/wall-street-fighter--This article was sent using my Viigo.For a free download, go to http://getviigo.com---------------------------------------------------------------------

Scientists Analyzing Entire Server Logs from Everquest 2 [Everquest]

2009-02-22T20:03:00.001-05:00

Nearly 60 terabytes of info gathered from more than 400,000 Everquest 2 players has been made available to scientists studying a variety of topics, from social interactions to machine learning.A meeting last week of the American Association for the Advancement of Science said that Sony, when approached about access to the game's data, simply said, "Sure, why not," when asked if it was available

Aion Aims For Fall Launch [Ncsoft]

2009-02-20T15:08:00.001-05:00

A letter to fans posted on the official website for the eagerly anticipated massively-multiplayer game Aion: The Tower of Eternity reveals plans for a fall 2009 release in North America and Europe.New Aion U.S. community manager Lani "Liv" Blazier answered some of the biggest questions North American and European fans had regarding the release of the fantasy role-playing game, indicating a fall

EA Calls Gaming Recessing A "Blessing"

2009-02-20T07:38:00.002-05:00

Reposted from KotakuLike many companies, Electronic Arts is having a rough time. Earlier this month, EA exec John Riccitiello called the lower than expected earnings "a clear disappointment," announcing additional, extended layoffs.The impact of the cratering global economy on the game industry is not a bad thing necessarily says Riccitiello. It is a "blessing." Hard times means we'll see less "

Capcom launches own pre-paid Visa

2009-02-17T06:17:00.002-05:00

Capcom has announced its own branded, pre-paid Visa cards, the first run of which will feature artwork from Street Fighter IV, Resident Evil 5 and Bionic Commando. The Capcom Unity Card will be available online beginning February 17 -- SFIV's launch date, we're guessing not concidentally -- and offer some interesting rewards for their use.The most immediate benefit will be a 15% discount off

These Guys Have Sold Two Million Atari Cartridges From A Cave [Atari]

2009-02-17T06:12:00.002-05:00

Reposted from KotakuIn 1990, Atari (the original Atari) were in bad shape. So they sold off their inventory of old cartridges. O'Shea Ltd bought them. All 3 million of them.They bought them so they could sell them on to you, the public. And where do they keep these millions of Atari cartridges? Why, in a 20,000-square warehouse carved from a limestone cave, of course.In the years since 1990,

SF PlayStation Store is Closing

2009-02-15T06:10:00.002-05:00

Kotaku is reporting that after 10 years, Sony's PlayStation Store in San Francisco's Metreon shopping center - the only store of its kind - will close sometime this summer.http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/J1ageN6v2ew/the-playstation-store-is-closing"The lease on the PlayStation store, home to many a launch-night lineup (the PlayStation 2, PS3, PSP, and pretty much any major title all had

MMOs illegal in Australia

2009-02-13T21:02:00.001-05:00

State of NSW to clampdown on unlawful sales of unclassified games like WoW and WAR.Australian game publishers and retailers are risking fines and imprisonment for selling online MMOs which haven't been rated by the country's board of classification.Click here to read the full articlehttp://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=207444?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=CVG-General-RSS--This article was sent

World Of Warcraft Lead Moves To Blizzard's Next Online Game

2009-02-13T05:31:00.002-05:00

Reposted from KotakuWorld of Warcraft lead designer Jeffery Kaplan has announced that he is leaving the team behind the popular massively-multiplayer online game in order to work on Blizzard's next massively-multiplayer project.In a post on the official World of Warcraft forums, Kaplan, who goes by the forum handle Tigole, thanked the fans and the development team behind the game for their

Writer Marv Wolfman signs up for DC Universe Online

2009-01-31T04:48:00.002-05:00

Reposted from JoystiqEarlier this week we heard about a secret comic book "legend" joining the DC Universe Online development team. The silhouetted individual was supposed to be revealed at New York Comic Con next weekend. Of course, you didn't expect it to remain a secret until then, did you? The latest issue of Wizard magazine (via BigDownload) has let the Black Cat out of the bag: writer Marv

EA Mythic next for job losses

2009-01-20T13:20:00.002-05:00

QA and customer service staff set to go, says report.Following the dropping of Pandemic Brisbane, it looks like the next EA studio in line for job cuts is Warhammer Online dev EA Mythic.Click here to read the full article:http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=206209?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=CVG-General-RSS--This article was sent using my Viigo.For a free download, go to http://getviigo.com

Sony MMOs join Steam

2009-01-17T18:48:00.002-05:00

EverQuest, Vanguard and Pirates of the Burning Sea available now.Valve and Sony Online Entertainment have shook hands to bring most of SOE's massively multiplayer online games to Steam.Click here to read the full articlehttp://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=206143?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=CVG-General-RSS--This article was sent using my Viigo.For a free download, go to http://getviigo.com

SOE Sells EQ Loot For Child's Play

2009-01-17T12:19:00.003-05:00

Reposted from KotakuSony Online Entertainment has announced a month-long Child's Play fund raising campaign, which will allow players of EverQuest and EverQuest II to buy in-game goodies that generate donations.Basically it works like this: Players order a special in-game item from the Marketplace using Station Cash, and Sony donates $10 to the Child's Play Charity. EverQuest II players will be

FusionFall: Cartoon Network's browser-based MMO launches

2009-01-15T04:04:00.002-05:00

Reposted from JoystiqTurner and Cartoon Network today launched FusionFall, the network's first foray into the MMO world. The game, which features re-imagined characters from CN shows including Ben 10, Dexter's Laboratory, Powepuff Girls, Samurai Jack and others, is browser-based and developed by Korean studio Grigon Entertainment.FusionFall offers a free-to-play area for users to get a taste of

Force Unleashed producer lands at casual MMO dev

2009-01-15T03:57:00.002-05:00

Reposted from JoystiqNo matter your opinion of the game, there was no doubting that some very talented and passionate people worked on Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Unfortunately, a large number of them were let go by LucasArts before it even shipped, including producer Isa Anne Stamos.While we don't know where everyone landed (and we hope they did safely), Stamos has been found at MMO dev

Beyond Facebook Gifts: Virtual Currencies 101

2008-12-19T20:55:00.002-05:00

Reposted from MashableAnu Shukla is the Founder and CEO of Offerpal Media, the leading monetization solution for social applications and online communities.The word on the street is that social networks, as popular as they are, can't make any real money. After all, who's going to click on an ad while they're in the midst of socializing with their friends?While there's a grain of truth to this

NetDragon Announces "Disney Fantasy Online" [Netease]

2008-12-06T16:33:00.002-05:00

Reposted from KotakuIt's been one hell of a week for Chinese company NetDragon, who announced (along with EA) the development of a Dungeon Keeper MMO. In addition, they've announced the development of Disney Fantasy Online.The game is to be launched in China in Spring '09; full release after the jump.NetDragon and Disney to launch first MMORPG "Disney Fantasy Online"[2 December 2008, Hong Kong]

Petroglyph Takes Strategy Online With Mytheon [Mytheon]

2008-12-02T14:17:00.002-05:00

Reposted from KotakuReal-time strategy developer Petroglyph and True Games have just announced Mytheon, which promises to combine the best elements of action, strategy, and RPG gameplay into one massive online game.Mytheon is an online game that lets players explore a fantasy universe based on real-world mythology, beginning with ancient Greece and expanding into other mythologies via planned

Joystiq interview: NCsoft talks about updating City of Heroes, keeping it relevant

2008-12-02T14:13:00.002-05:00

Reposted from JoystiqIt's been more than four years since MMO faithful were asked to put on skin-tight suits and defend the bustling metropolis of Paragon City in City of Heroes. Since that time, however, numerous other titles have emerged with their bid for players' massively multiplayer affections, from recent efforts like Warhammer Online to the juggernaut that is Blizzard's World of

Giant Online Revenue Falls, Still Rockin' the Chinese Market [Only In China]

2008-11-23T15:01:00.001-05:00

Despite declining stock value, Giant Interactive -- the company behind the intriguing MMO Zhengtu Online, which is a mix of MMO, gambling, real money transactions, and gold farming -- is still tearing up the Chinese market. Steve of PlayNoEvil has some interesting analysis up of some recent numbers, which have indicated the the average revenue per player has dropped to around $41 USD (RMB 282).

LotRO Enters The Mines Of Moria [Lord Of The Rings Online]

2008-11-18T16:58:00.001-05:00

Turbine proudly announces the launch of the first expansion for Lord of the Rings Online, Mines of Moria is now available across the U.S. and Europe, including my living room, where the collector's edition sits next to the coal-dusted mining hat they sent

Inmate Sues Warcraft For Eleventeen Zillion Gold

2008-11-07T20:21:00.003-05:00

[reposted from Kotaku]So by now we should all be up to speed on Johnathan Lee Riches, the South Carolina inmate who kills time by filing lawsuits against the likes of Barry Bonds, Michael Vick, and anyone else who happens to be in the news. For a time, mainstream media treated the claims seriously, but now we all have to realize he's just having fun, and showing zero respect for a judicial system

EVE Online's Walking Expansion Adds Player-Made Shops [Expansionism]

2008-11-07T20:18:00.002-05:00

Reposted from KotakuAt CCP's Fanfest convention in Reykjavik, Iceland, EVE Online's company has revealed further plans for the upcoming Walking In Stations expansion, which for the first time will allow players to get off of their ships and socialize a bit. Where will they socialize? In player created bars and shops, apparently. Players will be able to purchase blueprints, install them in empty

PotC Online Celebrates Year One With Zombie Invasion [Pirates Of The Carribean Online]

2008-10-30T20:15:00.001-05:00

Disney's Pirates of the Carribean Online is celebrating its one year anniversarry in much the same way all the other MMO's are celebrating this time of year, with a Halloween Spooktacular zombie invasion! Starting tomorrow the game world will fall into permanent darkenss, and when the moon reaches its fullest, players that don't take cover will be transformed into the shambling undead, forced to

Launder That Money: RMTs in Asian MMOs [Crime]

2008-10-25T16:14:00.001-05:00

A gold farming/money laundering ring in South Korea has been accused of moving somewhere in the neighborhood of $38 million USD from Korea to China (with the help of real money transactions). According to PlayNoEvil, they made false purchases to a Hong Kong paper company to move the money, which is what eventually led to their arrest. In addition to the ring leaders, an additional 11 people were

Namco closing Hellgate on Jan. 31

2008-10-25T14:26:00.001-05:00

Filed under: PC, Online, RPGs

Stargate Worlds Beta Launches October 15th [Beta Watch]

2008-10-03T15:23:00.002-05:00

[Reposted from Kotaku]In less than two weeks the Stargate will open, allowing the first group of closed beta testers into the world of the hit Sci-Fi Channel television program. The Stargate Worlds closed beta kicks off on October 15th, and the developers are confident that the game is entering the home stretch."From now until launch, everything we do is about polish and fun," said Stargate

Blizzard awarded $6 million in Glider suit

2008-10-02T13:54:00.001-05:00

Filed under: Business

Blizzard has been awarded $6 million in

Age of Conan servers merging, stock hits 2 year low

2008-09-30T14:48:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Joystiq]An MMOG's health is indicated by its server numbers, which means Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures is currently ailing. Funcom's new Game Director for AoC, Craig Morrison, writes on the game's forums that server merging, in both Europe and North America, will soon occur.At one point Funcom announced that AoC did have 700,000 players, but that was when the game first shipped

Google Looking To Challenge Gaming's "Corporate Mentality"

2008-09-29T14:13:00.002-05:00

Right now, Google Lively is a Second Life clone. And an unremarkable one at that. But that's now. In the future, they want it to be much, much more. Google's Kevin Hanna has told GI.biz that it's hoped that, somewhere down the line, Google Lively can become an "online games platform", in which people can just switch on a PC and enter a "creative space". And, once there, get away from what Hanna

EA: WAR "fastest-selling new MMO of all time"

2008-09-28T06:32:00.001-05:00

500k register for MMO in one week.Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning has become the fastest-selling new MMO of all time, according to publisher EA and developer Mythic Entertainment.Click here to read the full articlehttp://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=198025?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=CVG-General-RSS--This article was sent using my Viigo.For a free download, go to http://getviigo.com------

Jeffrey Steefel on LOTRO Expansion, MMO Culture [Lotro]

2008-09-28T06:31:00.001-05:00

Rock, Paper, Shotgun has a nice interview up with Turbine producer Jeffrey Steefel, mostly centered on the Lord of the Rings Online forthcoming Mines of Moria expansion — also discussed are things like how Steefel perceives LOTRO's performance,

PerBlue Build A Parallel Kingdom For Mobile Gamers [Parallel Kingdom]

2008-09-26T06:59:00.003-05:00

[reposted from Kotaku]Parallel Kingdom is a Mobile Multiplayer Trans-Reality Game (That's MMTRG, acronym fans) for the iPhone (obviously) and phones running Android (ooh!).The game overlays a simple 2D medieval RPG on a map of the real world - tracking your position via your phone's built-in GPS.You can do all the usual RPG-type-stuff: PvP, trading, item crafting and building strongholds,

Global Agenda - The Georgia-Grown Action MMO [Hands On]

2008-09-25T19:58:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Kotaku]Living in Georgia, getting some hands-on time with a game still at a relatively early point in development generally means packing my bags, finding someone to watch the cats, assigning a backup person to check on that person, and plenty of time eating bad airport food. Not so for Global Agenda, a fast-paced action MMO being developed by the Atlanta-based Hi-Rez Studios (http

Video Games Equal Comfort In Troubled Economic TImes [Gaming Saves Society]

2008-09-24T20:06:00.002-05:00

[Reposted from Kotaku]In an article wittily titled, "In Tough Economic Times, Video Games Console", NPR writer Laura Sydell explores the similarities between the growing popularity of video games in mainstream culture with the movie boom that occurred during The Great Depression in the 1930's, at time when a weary nation turned to nickel theaters to escape the grim realities of the economic

Lego MMO Being Worked On By Lego ZEALOTS ['Lego]

2008-09-24T11:55:00.002-05:00

[Reposted from Kotaku]NetDevil - the guys behind the upcoming Lego MMO Lego Universe - are taking the game seriously. Very seriously. So seriously that they've made some changes to the normal development process by making use of a team of die-hard, adult, "purist" Lego fans. Lead producer Ryan Seabury explains:"We've been working with about 50 of them -- and now up to 68, and it's only going to

Mythic banning WAR gold sellers "like crazy"

2008-09-24T07:10:00.001-05:00

Zero tolerance policy put into practice.
Mythic president Mark Jacobs has said that the developer's "zero tolerance policy" saw around 400 gold sellers banned during Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning's first few days.

Click here to read the full articlehttp

Atlantica Online Open Beta Launches Tomorrow [Atlantica]

2008-09-23T20:20:00.001-05:00

The English translation of Korean MMO Atlantica Online has been in a closed Beta for a couple of months now, but is due to throw open the doors for

Canceled Ensemble project was Halo MMO

2008-09-23T20:18:00.001-05:00

Filed under: PC, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters, Online, MMO

Ensemble Were Working On A Halo MMO [Halo]

2008-09-23T11:25:00.001-05:00

Big news coming out of the Ensemble closure today, as Gamasutra are reporting that the Age of Empires developers were, at one stage, working on the long-rumoured Halo MMO.

The Business of 'Avatar Rights' [Virtual Worlds]

2008-09-21T21:18:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Kotaku]The rights of 'avatars' - more to the point, the people who control them and their virtual assets - is an interesting and murky part of legal issues, EULAs, and player-company relations. Court cases have been tried over 'illegal' seizing of assets, and with the amount of time (and money) that people pour into their online characters and assets, we can expect to see more and

Geoff Johns to write story for DC Universe Online, new screenshots added

2008-09-21T21:16:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Joystiq]Writing the back story for a new MMO is a pretty thankless job, we'd imagine. Most of the players living in the virtual world whose mythos you've so meticulously constructed probably skip through the dialogue from important NPCs and quest-givers in order to return to their regularly scheduled redundancies. However, you can bet we'll be reading every word in Sony Online

Solitary Versus Social: Play Styles of Gamers

2008-09-20T20:01:00.003-05:00

[modified original post from Kotaku]Multiplayer gamers (statistically speaking) tend to be challenge-oriented, and willing to be aroused to anger as this enhances their eventual reward in fiero when they attain victory. They are not only enjoying fiero, though, they are also enjoying the social element of multiplayer games such as the sense of belonging to a team, feelings of envy and gratitude,

THQ Bringing 'Dragonica' to North America [Dragonica]

2008-09-20T15:09:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Kotaku]The flow of free to plays coming from Asia to Western markets doesn't seem like it's going to stop any time soon; THQ has announced plans to bring Dragonica, a Korean-developed casual MMO, to North America next year in partnership with Chinese game operator ICE. Dragonica will be free to play, supported by pay-for-content and microtransactions, and is a 3D side scrolling

Bejeweled Coming to Warcraft. Yes, Really

2008-09-20T15:08:00.002-05:00

[Reposted from Wired via Kotaku]"Bejeweled, Warcraft Combine to Form World's Most Addictive Game." No, it's not April Fool's. The puzzle game will be added into WoW next Thursday, allowing players to kill time when they're on long, tedious tasks, like waiting for a raid or gold/item-farming.What's interesting on top of packing one world-class timesuck inside of another (in real world terms, this

Law of the Game on Joystiq: Rare footage of the DRM in its natural habitat

2008-09-20T06:57:00.000-05:00

Filed under: FeaturesEach week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq, a column on legal issues as they relate to video games:Digital Rights Management (or "DRM" for short) is back in the news in a big way with the recent Spore fiasco. DRM, much like a Spore creature, is a quirky animal, with legs of technology, a torso of law, and arms of business, but it doesn't always have a

Phantasy Star Online Zero & Shining Force Feather Confirmed For DS [News]

2008-09-19T15:32:00.002-05:00

SEGA Japan confirms a range of titles heading to the Nintendo DS...http://www.totalvideogames.com/news/Phantasy_Star_Online_Zero__Shining_Force_Feather_Confirmed_For_DS_13768_7787_0.htm--This article was sent using my Viigo.For a free download, go to http://getviigo.com

Warhammer: Age of Reckoning goes gold

2008-09-12T22:25:00.002-05:00

EA firing up servers on September 18.Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is all finished and on course for the big September kick-off. Click here to read the full articlehttp://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=196008?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=CVG-General-RSS--This article was sent using my Viigo.For a free download, go to http://getviigo.com

WoW is a Dirty Word

2008-09-08T16:30:00.004-05:00

Most of the Rock, Paper, Shotgun guys recently posted their thoughts on the Warhammer Online closed beta; they were descended upon by WAR supporters (some rabid, some a little more even-tempered) for drawing more comparisons between WoW and WAR. After this little display of MMO chest thumping, Alec Meer put up a thoughtful piece on why it is that WoW has become a dirty word, both in and out of

Can’t Survive The World Of Warcraft? Get A Private Game Tutor

2008-09-07T16:47:00.003-05:00

[reposted from TechCrunch]There are few things more hilariously hopeless than watching someone play a modern video game for the first time: their targeting cursors wobble aimlessly across the screen, unleashing a stream of bullets that manage to hit everything but their target. And amid their cries of frustration and accusations of cheating, they seem to inevitably come to one conclusion: "this

MMORPG Gamers and Social Media Junkies More Alike Than You’d Think

2008-09-06T19:54:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Mashable]There are two major pursuits that lead people to plant their butts in front of computer screens and pound on keyboards for hours without pay. One group of people loves social media in all forms, shapes, and sizes: Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, FriendFeed, blogging, etc. The other group loves to play around in massively multiplayer fantasy worlds based in magic and

Debunking the Stereotypical Gamer Profile

2008-09-06T19:43:00.002-05:00

Via Terra Nova comes word that a new series of academic articles centered around Everquest II has just kicked off, starting with an article on 'who plays, how much, and why' (with a couple of 'oddball' gems scattered throughout the data). The results weren't always what researchers -- or the general public -- would expect. While there have been other studies done in MMOs, this group was the first

Study: Gold Farming Employs 400,000

2008-08-24T19:23:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Kotaku]Manchester University have published another study looking at developing nations where the poor earn money by gold farming or powerlevelling in MMOs. The estimate is half a million people do the work for pay, a supermajority of them in China. Of the online toilers, 400,000 are involved in gold farming, the rest powerlevelling and other services.The study's author admits that

150+ Youth-Oriented Virtual Worlds Now Live or in Development

2008-08-24T19:15:00.002-05:00

A new study highlights the growth and competitiveness of virtual worlds targeted at kids and teens.http://feeds.ign.com/~r/ignfeeds/games/~3/372101943/902075p1.html

Square To Revise "'Lets Make FFXI Bosses Unkillable In Under 24 Hours With A Minimum Of Two Vomiting Players" Policy [Final Fantasy XI]

2008-08-23T01:12:00.002-05:00

After one of the world's best Final Fantasy XI guilds had to throw in the towel after a marathon 18 hour plus battle left them exhausted, physically ill and -- most importantly -- non-victorious, Questions Were Asked.Clearly concerned that their customers might be in danger of A) doing themselves a mischief and B) not having fun anymore, Square Enix has responded with a series of changes to the

Stargate Worlds Beta Signup Lottery For mmolecule Members [Stargate Worlds]

2008-08-23T01:10:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Kotaku]Anyone itching to try out Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment's Stargate Worlds MMORPG could do worse than get themselves over to mmolecule.com.The MMO knowledgebase is holding an exclusive Stargate Worlds Beta Key Giveaway, open to its members.Just sign up with the site (new members aren't excluded, don't fret) and then sit back -- nervously fingering your James Spader action

Warhammer Online cinematic trailer

2008-08-22T15:53:00.002-05:00

[reposted from joystiq]There's a war going on. No, we're not talking about the one between the Armies of Order and the Armies of Destruction depicted in the recently released cinematic trailer for EA's upcoming MMO Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Nope, we're talking about the war being waged on blogs and in forums over which fantasy MMO-themed video is better: this one or the Wrath of the

Anatomy of a disaster: Flagship Studios founder speaks

2008-08-21T09:43:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Joystiq]Flagship Studios' founder Bill Roper recently spoke with 1Up about how the Hellgate London developer ended up becoming another cautionary tale for young developers out there. Roper explains that the revenue model on Hellgate was broken and much of the money coming in went into keeping the game online, instead of expanding content like it should have.Roper also admits the

Free Realms MMO Coming to Playstation 3 [Playstation 3]

2008-08-20T16:07:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Kotaku]Sony Online Entertainment's experimental blending of social network service with massively multiplayer online role-playing game, FreeRealms, is coming to the Playstation 3 as well as the PC, Sony Computer Entertainment of Europe announced today.FreeRealms joins DC Universe Online and The Agency as the first massively multiplayer online role playing games coming out of a new

Sony Fan Faire drops debut trailers for Everquest and EQII expansions

2008-08-18T18:53:00.002-05:00

At Sony Online Entertainment's Fan Faire event in Las Vegas, expansions to two of the MMO developer's major titles, Everquest and Everquest II, were revealed and datedEQ will be planting Seeds of Destruction on October 21, while EQII players will find themselves embarking on The Shadow Odyssey November 18. Shortly thereafter, SOE revealed a teaser trailer for each expansion. We debated about

Warhammer Online open beta starts Sept. 7

2008-08-18T18:51:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Joystiq]If you can't wait to get your hands on Warhammer Online, EA announced today that an open beta for the game will kick off Sept. 7, giving you a whole 11 days to play before the general populace sullies it on Sept. 18.So, how do you get in? Just pre-order the game with one of EA's "select retail partners." (We don't know who they are yet, but even money says GameStop is one

SOE announces EverQuest: Seeds of Destruction and EQII: The Shadow Odyssey

2008-08-16T07:22:00.001-05:00

Filed under: PC, Online, RPGs, MMOAt their annual Fan Faire, Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) CEO John Smedley has revealed new expansions for EverQuest and EverQuest II. For EQ players, The Seeds of Destructions offers a new level cap (85), 20 new zones, a new mercenary systems, and all fourteen previous expansions in one box. EQII: The Shadow Odyssey will feature brand new zones, some revisits

WoW Gold Site Advertises With Gnome Corpses [Gold Farmers]

2008-08-14T12:18:00.001-05:00

In the cutthroat world of World of Warcraft gold sales, a company has to try pretty hard to stand out, especially in the face of companies like IGE. I suppose we at least have to give MMOInn.com credit for originality following the herd. A reader name Joe logged into Ironforge this morning to be greeted by the company's website spelled out in dead gnomes. While his pictures didn't capture the

Rumor: NCsoft to shutter Austin studio, reassign Tabula Rasa to Guild Wars dev

2008-08-14T07:26:00.001-05:00

Filed under: PC, RPGs, MMO, BusinessHot on the heels of news that Midway would be laying off approximately 90 employees from its Austin location comes a tip from a reliable source that NCsoft Austin (a.k.a. NCsoft North America) is on the verge of eliminating all of its development staff. The studio is currently home to the teams behind Tabula Rasa and Dungeon Runners, the latter of which will "

Preserving MMOs

2008-08-11T20:37:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Kotaku]Preservation of 'new media' has gotten some attention in recent months — a lot of venerable collections are moving to figure out the best ways to preserve games and gaming media in an archival setting, while building useful collections for the future. The University of Texas at Austin was recently awarded over $250,000 to study the collection and preservation of MMOs.

Associated Press reveals new Star Trek Online details

2008-08-10T22:14:00.002-05:00

[reposter form Joystiq]We're just hours away from Cryptic's world reveal of Star Trek Online during the Star Trek Experience event in Las Vegas, but those wishing to jump the phaser on all the hubbub would be wise to read http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ikj6V-CYYWISldz8cmkiJ9avC11QD92E92UG0.In said interview, a number of intriguing details about the MMO are revealed -- chief among these

Cryptic Exec: What's In/Not In Star Trek Online [Star Trek Online]

2008-08-09T18:18:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Kotaku]Cryptic flacked its upcoming gameplay debut (and webcast) to the Associated Press, and the wire was a taker. Yesterday, the AP moved an interview with Jack Emmert, Cryptic's chief creative officer, and he gives gamers an idea of what to expect, what not to expect, and a little of how the deal went down when they acquired the title from Perpetual Entertainment.Or, well, the

WoW Celebrates Olympics with New Tabard, Pet

2008-08-09T12:23:00.002-05:00

I love the"Sooty theDragon" comment! -Haiken[reposted from Kotaku]So I am playing World of Warcraft last night and my more PVP-oriented guildies start linking these Competitor's Tabards that are showing up in their mailboxes after they finish playing in the battlegrounds. No one has any idea what is going on, and then this morning I see a story over at MMO Champion explaining that the tabard is

Star Trek Online Debut Webcast This Sunday [Star Trek Online]

2008-08-09T09:00:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Kotaku]The big gameplay reveal of Cryptic's Star Trek Online is taking place this Sunday in Las Vegas, with a special guest appearance from Spock, who portrays Leonard Nimoy in real life. If you, like me, have spent several hours sitting in the corner curled up in a ball crying because you couldn't be there, dry those tears! The Star Trek Online website has updated today with info

More Details On New Company Of Heroes Online [Company Of Heroes Online]

2008-08-08T10:14:00.000-05:00

Well. This one well and truly slipped by us during E3. Seems that while everyone was busy devouring the gaming news coming out of LA, in China the wraps were being taken off Company of Heroes Online, THQ's attempt at pushing the RTS game onto the Asian online markets. While THQ

Wizard101 Enters Open Beta

2008-08-07T10:45:00.002-05:00

[reposted from Kotaku]KingIsle entertainment has announced the launch of the open beta for their family-friendly MMO Wizard101, which combines magical adventures with card-based spellcasting battles to create something that seems to have attracted a larger following than they originally expected. Never underestimate the power of rabid card-game fans."We more than doubled our anticipated beta

WAR to be waged on Sept. 18

2008-08-07T10:34:00.002-05:00

[reposted from joystiq]We were a bit concerned when Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (or WAR, on the streets) had its release date changed from the comfortingly specific "Sept. 23" to the vague and unsettling "Sept. 08." Little did we know, that change was just a chrysalis from which a new, just as specific but even earlier date could emerge: Sept. 18.EA would also like you to start referring

Blizzard Resorts to Bounties for Recruiting

2008-08-07T06:15:00.003-05:00

[reposted from Joystiq]When we try to convince people to play World of Warcraft, it's usually because we despise them and want their real world lives to crumble around them as they try to convince themselves that their new sword is so much better than their last one. But be careful: Thanks to Blizzard's new recruiting push, others' motives for trying to rope you in may not be so pure. Those who

Warhammer Online released September 18

2008-08-06T18:55:00.002-05:00

Subscription details inside.Mythic Entertainment has confirmed that Warhammer Online is definitely on its way in September.Click here to read the full articlehttp://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=194735?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=CVG-General-RSS--This article was sent using my Viigo.For a free download, go to http://getviigo.com

Spock to unveil Star Trek Online

2008-08-06T11:25:00.002-05:00

Nimoy to show off first gameplay footage at convention.Leonard I am Spock / I am not Spock Nimoy will present the first footage of the new Star Trek Online game at the Official Star Trek Convention this year. Click here to read the full article http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=194717?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=CVG-General-RSS --This article was sent using my Viigo.For a free download, go