Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Business models, Economy, Events, real-world, Forums, MMO industry, News items, Legal

The sci-fi game EVE Online is set apart from many other massively multiplayer online games by its economy. While there are currently problems with the game’s market due to a serious exploit, the economy isn’t getting reset anytime soon. The currency of EVE’s virtual economy is the Inter Stellar Kredit (ISK). As in the real world, money can be power in EVE’s ‘New Eden’ galaxy. Most online games built around a virtual economy will ultimately need to deal with the real money trading (RMT) issue — either make it a bannable offense or support and regulate it in some way. CCP Games figured if RMT…

Continue reading EVE Online player loses USD 19,000 in shady virtual currency deal

EVE Online player loses USD 19,000 in shady virtual currency deal originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Betas, New titles, News items

Do you wish there was an MMO that allowed you to summon demonic minions under your control in order to restore a post-apocalyptic Tokyo? Well thankfully for you, Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine has entered open beta! Now all your world-saving via demonic pet needs can be addressed thanks to Aeria Games’ and their hard work. For anyone whose played Persona 3 or the more recently released Persona 4, an MMO set in the world of SMT is a very interesting proposition. The game has all the demon fusing and combat from the other games (beyond even the Persona series) but it’s all done in real-time…

Demons ready for summoning, Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine goes open beta originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, News items

Nathan ‘Oveur’ Richardsson, Executive Producer for CCP Games, gave a ’state of the game’ address last month about EVE Online, and hinted at some of the ways he’d like to see EVE evolve. Namely, how the game might expand by leveraging the EVE API. It looks like CCP is taking the next step in making this happen, from the announcement an EVE player came across — one that suggests mobile and iPhone applications for EVE Online may be coming. Reykjavik University and MIT maintain cooperation through the MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP), which is essentially a way to tap the expertise of the…

Continue reading CCP Games aims to extend EVE Online to iPhone and mobile phones

CCP Games aims to extend EVE Online to iPhone and mobile phones originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Economy, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Once upon a time, I sat down with a calculator and counted the months I’d spent playing World of Warcraft, multiplied by $15, added in costs for game boxes and character transfers… and came to a sum, in the end, that shocked me. (Though, considering the hours of enjoyment I’ve gotten from the game thus far, perhaps it shouldn’t.) And that number was without spending a dime on buying characters, gear, gold, or paying for leveling. Putting the ethics of RMT aside for the moment, I must say I’m glad of it, as it means I’ve never had the opportunity to loose even more cash to an MMO, as in…

The Daily Grind: How much have you spent on your MMO habit? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Economy, News items, Opinion, Home

While Sony’s virtual-environment multiplayer matchmaker and social space Home (presently in open beta) is getting something of a padding by the media, it’s mostly a case of the dog being paddled for not being a cat. Most of the criticisms seem to revolve around Home not being something it wasn’t designed or intended to be.
Despite all of this, the reported exploits, assorted bad user behavior, concomitant censorship and complaints about the advertising, virtual item sales — clothing and accessories for avatars — are reportedly going quite strongly, particularly when compared to the sales of…

Continue reading Home’s virtual items rake in more than movies

Home’s virtual items rake in more than movies originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Fantasy, News items, Consoles, MMOFPS

Gamers have become something of a stereotype in recent times. In everything from the job market to South Park, players are perceived as nerdy, pimply-faced, basement-dwellers with no social skills who do nothing outside of work other than play the game of their choosing. But now we have some pretty high-level defense of our beloved past-time. David Laux, head of games and interactive entertainment at IBM, has listed a myriad of positive skills gained by gamers from the problems they must face and overcome. Specifically mentioned is teaming in World of Warcraft as it emphasizes building…

Gaming promotes life skills according to IBM exec originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Culture, Massively meta, Massively Speaking

Massively Speaking Episode 37 is a quiet little show with just Shawn and Michael. For the last Massively Speaking of the year, we thought we’d talk about the year just past and gab a little bit about what we hope is coming down the pipe. Join us for a retrospective/prognostication episode of Massively.com’s companion podcast. Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot us an email to podcast AT massively DOT com. Maybe we’ll read your letter on the air! Get the podcast: [iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to Massively Speaking via the Zune service. [RSS]…

Continue reading Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 37

Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 37 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Super-hero, Screenshots, City of Heroes, One Shots

Ah, the winter months, when folks love to gather together and hang out by the fireplace while the snow rages outside. Of course, if you’re in a place where there is no such thing as snow during December like I am, you can enjoy it vicariously in games like City of Heroes and City of Villains! This One Shot was snapped by me while hanging out in the holiday-event Ski Chalet that all Heroes and Villains can get to from inside Pocket D. One thing I love about the winter events is that friends who like to play on opposite sides can get together and run the mission to Save Baby New Year together,…

One Shots: Friends for the Holidays originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Maps, Academic, Education

2008 has been a great year for Lord of the Rings Online. Not only for the exploding playerbase, but also for the amazing amount of content that has been added to the game since it launched. This includes everything from new classes, housing, hobbies, trophies, weapons, armor, and of course, new areas to explore. As a testament to this, the wonderful fan site Visions of the Ring has compiled a “before” and “after” set of maps showing the areas we had available a year ago versus the areas we have to explore now. You’ll notice the addition of Forochel, Eregion, the Mines, Lothlorien and more….

Detailed LotRO maps document a year of new content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Warhammer Online, PvE

Warhammer Online’s dev team is at it again with part two of their three-part guide on the PvE dungeons. This article gives us just a slight overview of four PvE dungeons and what they’re all about, without giving spoilers. These four dungeons are Gunbad Tunnels, Bastion Stair, Warpblade Tunnels, and Bloodwrought Enclave. Each dungeon is broken down into a description of the entrance, a general theme and then some amusingly lore-tastic quotes from what would be the inhabitants of each area. Check out this dungeon guide, the previous part one and look forward to the final installment coming…

WAR’s PvE Dungeon Guide part two originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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