Massively http://www.massively.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://www.massively.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you play an adult MMO?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/22/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-an-adult-mmo/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/22/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-an-adult-mmo/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/22/the-daily-grind-would-you-play-an-adult-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - CasildaYesterday we told you about an adult MMO called Orgia Romanus that's causing a stir due to its focus on sexual content. While the game is certainly taking an over-the-top approach, it's by no means the first MMO to walk this path.

Indie titles like Sociolotron and portions of virtual worlds like Second Life are renowned for their focus on various taboo topics, while more traditional titles like Age of Conan and Mortal Online have dabbled in avatar nudity and adult-oriented quests.

But what if an MMO came along that managed to incorporate adult topics in a manner devoid of sensationalism? Sure, it's a tall order, but let's assume it's possible. Would you play it, or do you steer clear of anything with the "adult" label?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Would you play an adult MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adult-contentadult-mmodaily-grindopinionsexsex-in-mmostabootdgthe-daily-grindTue, 22 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/21/the-daily-grind-do-you-wait-for-mmo-cash-shop-sales/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Paragon Market, CoH
When Lord of the Rings Online first went free-to-play, Turbine put quest zones on sale for a song, and I missed it. There's never been as good a sale since, and I regret being slow on the draw. So I vowed to start watching sales across the F2P games I frequent very carefully. Sparklepony for 10 bucks? Woot. City of Heroes character slots 50% off? Heck yes. It's become a game in and of itself, and sometimes I admit that I plunk down a little money for a sale on something in a game I've drifted away from, knowing I'll use it later (like Guild Wars' storage panels, which I delayed buying for several years until they were half off).

This method had definitely ensured that I save money on stuff I would have bought at full price had I lacked the patience and planning to play the cash-shop sale game. What about you guys? Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales for the stuff you want to buy, even if that means you must wait to have the latest and greatest power set or inventory slot? Or do you just let your whims dictate your purchases?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you wait for MMO cash-shop sales? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcash-shopcash-shop-salecity-of-heroescohdaily-grindguild-warslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionpatiencepatience-is-a-virtuetdgthe-daily-grindMon, 21 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How important is surprise to you?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/20/the-daily-grind-how-important-is-surprise-to-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Of course, the fifth time you see the sea serpent it doesn't really shock you.
For some players, MMOs are all about discovery. The game is at its most fun when you're just exploring the world, figuring out what you need to do as best you can. But to other players, wandering around without a clue isn't as fun as knowing what to do and enjoying that actual accomplishment.

Of course, surprises come in both big and small varieties. No matter how well you might know Star Wars: The Old Republic's quests, for example, you might avoid looking up all of the datacrons and thus get a pleasant surprise when you find one. Or maybe you don't like knowing about the bosses you'll fight in a dungeon until you get into the fight.

We all like discovering things, but what we like to discover varies. So what about you? How important is having surprises in a game for you? Do you like to walk in with as little foreknowledge as possible, or do you like to have a pretty good map in your head before you start playing?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How important is surprise to you? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedaily-grinddiscoveryexplorationexplorersopinionsurprisesurprisestdgthe-daily-grindSun, 20 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How much character customization is too much?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/19/the-daily-grind-how-much-character-customization-is-too-much/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Spirit Tales
Forty million. That's how many fashion combinations Spirit Tales is boasting. Forget, for a moment, whether you are a fan of Anime-inspired MMOs and cutesy fare and consider that staggering number on its merits.

I don't think players are really confused by a mind-numbing array of options. Heck, some of us live for cosmetic gear and could never get enough. But each one of these character tidbits was designed and modeled and textured and coded in by someone, and while we know that game development resources aren't wholly fungible, it's still true that money spent on pigtails and lollipop weapons and hats that look like snakes is money not spent on other features like housing and combat -- features more likely to be used by far more players than bunny ears.

How much character customization is too much?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How much character customization is too much? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcharacter-customizationcosmetic-gearcustomizationdaily-grindfungibilityopinionresource-allocationsnakes-on-a-hatspirit-talestdgthe-daily-grindSat, 19 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What is the unofficial soundtrack to your favorite MMO?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/18/the-daily-grind-what-is-the-unofficial-soundtrack-to-your-favor/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/18/the-daily-grind-what-is-the-unofficial-soundtrack-to-your-favor/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/18/the-daily-grind-what-is-the-unofficial-soundtrack-to-your-favor/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Testament
Official soundtracks are great; don't get me wrong. But sometimes I like to just throw on some of my own music to better mimic my mood at the time of playing. There are still albums from the late '80s that remind me of Wasteland or Pool of Radiance every time I listen to them -- almost 25 years later!

As talented as our favorite game theme composers are, we don't always want to listen to the default soundtrack every time. So what gets you through your game of choice? Do you enjoy some metal? Classical? Country? Oldies? Dubstep... or whatever the kids listen to these days? Let us know!

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What is the unofficial soundtrack to your favorite MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindmusicopinionsoundtrackstdgtestamentthe-daily-grindthemeFri, 18 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you judge all MMOs by the same standard?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-judge-all-mmos-by-the-same-standard/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-judge-all-mmos-by-the-same-standard/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/17/the-daily-grind-do-you-judge-all-mmos-by-the-same-standard/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Xsyon - player-created temple
One of the challenges facing sandbox developers is the fact that recent themepark MMORPGs have raised the bar in terms of smooth launches and relatively bug-free experiences. Aside from EVE Online, most of the current sandboxes on offer are small indie affairs known as much for their rough-around-the-edges implementation as for their feature innovations.

And yet, many so-called sandbox fans seem to expect games like Xsyon, Darkfall, and others to be as polished as World of Warcraft, RIFT, and other themeparks with fewer features and several times the budget.

For today's Daily Grind, we'd like to know how much (if any) slack you cut developers of sandbox and/or indie MMOs. Do you hold these games to the same standard that you hold a triple-A themepark?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you judge all MMOs by the same standard? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bugsdaily-grindfeaturedopinionpolishsandboxsandbox-fanstdgthe-daily-grindthemeparkxsyonThu, 17 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's on your character's to do list?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/16/the-daily-grind-whats-on-your-characters-to-do-list/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/16/the-daily-grind-whats-on-your-characters-to-do-list/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/16/the-daily-grind-whats-on-your-characters-to-do-list/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

To Do List
There's always something to be doing to advance your character in MMOs, whether it's as grand as epic raiding or as mundane as getting that Litter Bug achievement for cleaning up the in-game park. While some folks simply log in and do whatever their whims dictate, I have a feeling that many of us have elaborate to-do lists that guide our actions.

I love doing this with MMOs because it makes me feel like a multitasking genius. Working toward six or seven goals at once generates a tsunami of accomplishment in my soul, and there is nothing quite as satisfying as crossing off tasks from my own list.

So what's on your character's to do list today? What goals are you working toward, and how long do you expect them to take? Unleash your inner accountant and show us the details!

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's on your character's to do list? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindlistlistsopiniontaskstdgthe-daily-grindto-do-listWed, 16 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Would you miss PvP if it disappeared from your favorite MMO?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/15/the-daily-grind-would-you-miss-pvp-if-it-disappeared-from-your/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/15/the-daily-grind-would-you-miss-pvp-if-it-disappeared-from-your/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/15/the-daily-grind-would-you-miss-pvp-if-it-disappeared-from-your/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Star Trek Online - Klingons fighting
Last weekend's dev post about the sorry state of PvP in Star Trek Online was a fascinating microcosm of everything that's controversial about one of the MMO industry most divisive topics. Cryptic's mea culpa regarding horribly flawed mechanics was news in and of itself, never mind the fact that Dan "Gozer" Griffis also went a step further and said that PvP could be excised from the game entirely because its usage and overall impact are insignificant.

PvPers bristled at that notion, and many responded with variations on "well of course we don't play it because the implementation sucks." This led us to wonder about the importance of PvP in MMORPGs as well as the percentage of players who care about its inclusion. For today's completely unscientific and anecdotal morning poll, we'd like to know your thoughts on the matter. Are you apathetic or opposed to PvP, or would you miss it if it disappeared from your favorite MMO?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Would you miss PvP if it disappeared from your favorite MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crypticcryptic-studiosdaily-grindf2pfree-to-playno-one-cares-about-pvpopinionperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpvppwesci-fistar-trekstar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestotdgthe-daily-grindwould-you-miss-pvp-if-it-was-goneTue, 15 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Must MMO housing be open-world to be good?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/14/the-daily-grind-must-mmo-housing-be-open-world-to-be-good/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/14/the-daily-grind-must-mmo-housing-be-open-world-to-be-good/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/14/the-daily-grind-must-mmo-housing-be-open-world-to-be-good/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

ArcheAge
Whenever the Great MMO Housing debate rears its head, the "of course MMOs ought to have housing" players usually drown out the curmudgeons who lack decorating skills and prefer to live out of their banks and sleep on a bedroll on the public streets (you know who you are!). And then, inevitably, the housing fans turn on each other over which type of housing is best.

Some of us are resigned to the belief that, at best, themepark MMOs willing to take a stab at housing are forever going to implement the instanced variety a la EverQuest II and Lord of the Rings Online, so we may as well get used to it. But sandbox zealots (a term I'm intending affectionately) insist that housing must be open-world, that players should be able to walk up to their own unique spaces within a game and build their abodes from foundation to rooftop. Instanced housing, they say, is just pointless when other people can't easily see what you've created.

What do you think -- is MMO housing just a waste of dev resources if it isn't open-world?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Must MMO housing be open-world to be good? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindEQ2EQIIEverQuest-2everquest-iihousehousinginstanced-housinglord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopen-worldopen-world-housingopinionsandboxtdgthe-daily-grindthemeparkMon, 14 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What areas feel the most overcrowded?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/13/the-daily-grind-what-areas-feel-the-most-overcrowded/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/13/the-daily-grind-what-areas-feel-the-most-overcrowded/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/13/the-daily-grind-what-areas-feel-the-most-overcrowded/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Aetheryte camps certainly felt pretty stuffed when FFXIV launched.
One of the realities of a multiplayer game is, you know, the fact that there are multiple players. That means that public areas can get very crowded in short order, leaving players to feel just a little claustrophobic. Newbie areas on launch day are generally filled to the brim, as are new zones on an expansion launch, central locations for farming valuable resources, and so on. But there's crowded and then there's overcrowded -- areas with so many players that it becomes difficult or impossible to get anything done.

No developer wants to have parts of the game that are stuffed to the brim with players alongside completely empty regions, but it still happens. What areas in various games do you feel are the most overcrowded with other players? Are they high-level regions, starter points, or just areas that have such a spectacular set of rewards that everyone flocks to them?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What areas feel the most overcrowded? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crowdedcrowdsdaily-grindgroupsI-just-need-to-kill-one-more-for-my-quest-can-you-people-just-leopinionovercrowded-areasovercrowdingplayer-crowdstdgthe-daily-grindSun, 13 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are cash-shop lotteries a black mark on MMOs?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/12/the-daily-grind-are-cash-shop-lotteries-a-black-mark-on-mmos/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/12/the-daily-grind-are-cash-shop-lotteries-a-black-mark-on-mmos/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/12/the-daily-grind-are-cash-shop-lotteries-a-black-mark-on-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Public lottery kiosk in Japan
Western players gripe about random number generators, especially when it comes to cash shops. Many of us rebel against paying for lockboxes in Star Trek Online, TCG cards in the now-defunct Star Wars Galaxies, and super-packs in City of Heroes because we want to buy a thing, not a chance at a thing.

Apparently, the idea annoys at least one government too. Earlier this week, rumors began swirling that the Japanese government might crack down on social games that employ "konpu gacha" -- essentially a crafting mechanic that requires a succession of lottery-esque random rolls. To gather the random and rare items you need to craft the gizmo you really want, you wind up spending tons of real cash on a bunch of stuff you don't. Sound familiar?

I'm not a fan of legislative meddling in how fools and their money are parted, but I'm still wondering what you all think. Are these kinds of cash-shop tricks fair play, or do you think the genre would be better off without them?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are cash-shop lotteries a black mark on MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brianna-royce-tdgcash-shopcity-of-heroescohcrafting-lotterydaily-grindgachajapankampu-gachakampugachalockboxeslotterymicrotransactionopinionstar-trek-onlinestar-wars-galaxiesstosuper-packswgtcgtdgthe-daily-grindtrading-card-gameSat, 12 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should we be disconnected for idling too long?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/11/the-daily-grind-should-we-be-disconnected-for-idling-too-long/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/11/the-daily-grind-should-we-be-disconnected-for-idling-too-long/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/11/the-daily-grind-should-we-be-disconnected-for-idling-too-long/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Guild Wars Nine Rings: AFK titles ftw!
Are you one of those MMO players who always seems to idle out while tending to real-life issues? I know I am, and it usually results in my finding something else to do once I discover that I've been logged out.

I certainly understand why the developers add that feature, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that idling all day in TERA not only is allowed but also grants me the Full Time Job achievement, which tickled me to no end.

So what's your opinion on idling out? Should you be allowed to be AFK as long as you'd like, or should idlers always be disconnected after a certain amount of time? How much time should be allowed? Let us know in the comments!

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should we be disconnected for idling too long? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afkdaily-grinddisconnectidleidling-outopiniontdgthe-daily-grindFri, 11 May 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your preferred camera distance?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/10/the-daily-grind-whats-your-preferred-camera-distance/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/10/the-daily-grind-whats-your-preferred-camera-distance/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/10/the-daily-grind-whats-your-preferred-camera-distance/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

EverQuest II - tiny ratonga in the Commonlands
While optional first-person perspectives are pretty common in MMORPGs, I'd be willing to bet that most of us spend our game time looking at the arse-end of our avatars.

Some games limit you to intimate over-the-shoulder shots, while others give you such a huge range on your camera that you can pull it waaaay back and effectively grant yourself the equivalent of a top-down strategy-game view.

For today's Daily Grind, we want to know where you fall on the camera placement spectrum. Do you zoom way out, way in, or are you one of those odd first-person ducks? In a nutshell, what's your preferred camera distance?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your preferred camera distance? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camera-distancecamera-perspectivedaily-grindmmo-discussionmmo-hot-topicsopinionperspectivetdgthe-daily-grindwhats-your-preferred-camera-distanceThu, 10 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are virtual worlds still important?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/09/the-daily-grind-are-virtual-worlds-still-important/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/09/the-daily-grind-are-virtual-worlds-still-important/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/09/the-daily-grind-are-virtual-worlds-still-important/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Sims Online
As part of the recent Massively Speaking bicentennial, we were reminiscing about the fact that Massively used to have a much heavier focus on virtual worlds. While we still touch on those from time to time, these types of "games" don't seem to be as hot as they once were. Or maybe they are and we're just not seeing it!

From Habitat to The Sims Online to Second Life, there have been many attempts at constructing vibrant, community-driven virtual worlds that would draw in players looking to create dual lives that were flashier and more fantastic than their real lives. These games once were heralded as the wave of the future, but it seems as if that wave has since moved on to bashing things with their +4 Clubs of Exquisite Suffering.

So what say you: Are virtual worlds still important? Are we trying to return to the concept by embracing sandbox principles? Are they best left to wither and die in the annals of history?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are virtual worlds still important? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grindhabitatopinionsandboxsecond-lifetdgthe-daily-grindthe-sims-onlinevirtual-worldsWed, 09 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do progression barriers annoy you?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/08/the-daily-grind-do-progression-barriers-annoy-you/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/08/the-daily-grind-do-progression-barriers-annoy-you/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/08/the-daily-grind-do-progression-barriers-annoy-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - Hobbit fishing (but only 10 dings per day!)
It's been several years since I played Lord of the Rings Online on a daily basis. For the most part, I'm loving my latest Middle-earth rediscovery tour. After the initial honeymoon phase wore off, though, I did re-encounter some of the things that irritate me about the game (in particular, Turbine's fondness for artificially limiting progression).

Now, I'm not a grinder at all, but on the rare occasions when I do want to put my nose to the proverbial stone and check some things off the list, there's nothing more frustrating than running up against the you-can't-advance-that-skill-any-further-today brick wall. This type of arbitrary limitation is somewhat common in LotRO, and whether we're talking about fishing or even the lengthy cool-downs on festival horse races, it rubs me the wrong way to have my gameplay directed in such a fashion.

What about you, Massively readers? Do progression barriers annoy you, or do you shrug it off and do something else?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do progression barriers annoy you? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artificial-barriersdaily-grindf2pfantasyfree-to-playgrindgrindinglord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrolotro-deedslotro-fishingopinionprogression-barrierstdgthe-daily-grindturbineturbine-entertainmentTue, 08 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How far would you go for cosmetic gear?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-far-would-you-go-for-cosmetic-gear/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-far-would-you-go-for-cosmetic-gear/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/07/the-daily-grind-how-far-would-you-go-for-cosmetic-gear/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

WoW
Massively's got so many cosmetic-gear gurus and sandbox aficionados on staff that sometimes I suspect no amount of character customization and housing and achievements and titles would ever be enough for us. We'd do just about anything for more ways to distinguish our characters in an MMO.

But what about raiding for cosmetic gear? Enter OpenRaid, a World of Warcraft website that helps players organize cross-server PvE dungeon raids and premade PvP teams for the express purpose of acquiring achievements and gear to transmogrify (i.e., map the skin of something cool onto something with good stats). While I'd hope that needing to run large-scale endgame content for gorgeous weapon skins isn't going to become commonplace in future MMOs, it's still fascinating to see roleplay-oriented players playing content they wouldn't normally touch, just to collect a dress.

So how far would you go -- or have you gone -- to get your hands on a sweet piece of cosmetic gear, title, or achievement?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How far would you go for cosmetic gear? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrianna-royce-tdgcosmetic-gearcosmetic-itemsdaily-grindfantasyopenraidopinionraidraidingroleplayroleplayingtdgthe-daily-grindwarcraftworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 07 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you mourn games that never were?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/06/the-daily-grind-do-you-mourn-games-that-never-were/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/06/the-daily-grind-do-you-mourn-games-that-never-were/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/06/the-daily-grind-do-you-mourn-games-that-never-were/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Missing things you never had sometimes beats missing things you used to have.
With the sudden and unexpected shutdown of Dominus prior to its launch, the game joins a long line of titles canceled before ever seeing the light of day. Some of them were expansions or campaigns, like Guild Wars: Utopia; some were full games, like the various Ultima Online sequels planned over the years. But none of them ever saw general release. They existed only as test clients and unrealized screenshots.

Obviously, it's difficult to feel the same sense of loss for these games. Star Wars Galaxies is gone now, but it was released and playable at one time. But for some people, the games that never really existed can be a little bit sadder. They weren't cut down in their prime; they were cut down before they even had a chance. So do you mourn games that never were? Do you reminisce about what could have been? Or do you save your sorrow for games that did get released and then faded away?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you mourn games that never were? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daily-grinddead-gamesdominusgames-that-never-wereopinionpre-releasepre-release-shutdownproject-shutdownshutdownstillborn-gamestdgthe-daily-grindSun, 06 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Do you use mobile authenticators?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-mobile-authenticators/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-mobile-authenticators/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/05/the-daily-grind-do-you-use-mobile-authenticators/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Pretty sure this dude is trying to steal your loot, and that's why you should get an authenticator.
A recent listener of the Massively Speaking podcast sparked a lively debate about the mobile authenticators that MMO companies are so fond of asking us to use as an extra layer of security for our accounts. He suggested that companies that encourage authenticators are doing so less for our security than for their own financial interests or responsibility -- after all, if I'm using an authenticator, they can save money on support and security staff. Our listener also pointed out that authenticators are annoying to the point that MMO studios sometimes have to bribe us with minipets and other goodies to get us to enroll, which suggests that maybe more people than we'd think avoid that extra tier of security.

What about you -- do you use mobile authenticators when they are available, and if not, how do you and the games you play safeguard your accounts?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you use mobile authenticators? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>authenticatorbrianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindmobile-authenticatoropinionsafeguardsecuritytdgthe-daily-grindSat, 05 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: How do you handle random party invites?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/04/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-handle-random-party-invites/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/04/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-handle-random-party-invites/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/04/the-daily-grind-how-do-you-handle-random-party-invites/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Independent woman -- TERA
I don't know why, but sometimes I get discouraged when a random person sends me a party invite while I'm in the middle of questing. I know it sounds odd, but when I'm not playing with my regular group of friends or guildies, I like to just play alone. When someone whispers me to ask if he can join me, I usually turn him down (politely!), but if I get a random party invite without so much as a hello, I simply ignore it.

My own antisocial issues aside, I want to know how you feel about this topic. Do you think a random invite is a healthy way to find companions and possibly friends, or do you see it as an invasion of privacy while you're trying to quest?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How do you handle random party invites? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antisocialdaily-grindgroupingopinionparty-inviterandomsolotdgthe-daily-grindFri, 04 May 2012 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should veterans and newbs be on equal footing?]]>http://www.massively.com/2012/05/03/the-daily-grind-should-veterans-and-newbs-be-on-equal-footing/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/03/the-daily-grind-should-veterans-and-newbs-be-on-equal-footing/http://www.massively.com/2012/05/03/the-daily-grind-should-veterans-and-newbs-be-on-equal-footing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Age of Conan - newb in Tortage
Age of Conan game director Craig Morrison recently tweeted a frank reply to one of his followers. The reader asked why Funcom doesn't revamp PvP items to make everyone's minigame stats equal, thereby relegating grindtastic PvP gear to the game's vanity armor slots and providing theoretical balance.

Morrison's response: "Not everyone wants a new player and a two-year veteran to be on equal footing. Many want that to count, aside from knowledge."

By "that," Morrison meant time spent playing the game and paying your character dues, as it were. This brings up an interesting debate, since MMOs have a reputation for rewarding geared players over skilled players in both PvP and PvE. What say you, Massively readers? Should veterans and newbs be on equal footing?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should veterans and newbs be on equal footing? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedconancraig-morrisondaily-grindequal-footingf2pfantasyfree-to-playfuncomgear-vs-skillhyboriaopinionsilirrionskill-vs-geartdgthe-daily-grindtime-spent-playingunchainedveterans-vs-newbsThu, 03 May 2012 08:00:00 EST