Be The Gamer » Tabula Rasa http://www.bethegamer.com Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 MMO Family: LEGO Universe, autism, and heartbreak http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/12/28/mmo-family-lego-universe-autism-and-heartbreak/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/12/28/mmo-family-lego-universe-autism-and-heartbreak/#comments Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:00:00 +0000 Karen Bryan http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/mmo-family-lego-universe-autism-and-heartbreak/ Filed under: , , , , , , , , ,

Lego Universe
Often when the topic of video games comes up, it's followed by comments about the negatives, such as violence, antisocial behavior, or inappropriate content. But if they do have harmful effects (and it's arguable how many players really are affected in a negative way), they can also be helpful as well, yet you rarely hear a news story about the good. I've written before about how companies like IBM have studied MMO guilds in order to improve team-building and organization within their company. More recently, MMOWGLI focused on global issues, such as the future of piracy, to study what solutions players could cooperatively generate.

There are also positive benefits to children as well, and while we've touched on a few in recent columns, this week we'll focus on the impact LEGO Universe has had on autistic children. Sadly, the game will be shutting down in a few weeks, and while many parents are thankful for how much it's helped, they're also concerned about what will happen once the game is gone. Read on for a bittersweet look at how this LEGO-based game is leaving behind a legacy.

Continue reading MMO Family: LEGO Universe, autism, and heartbreak

MassivelyMMO Family: LEGO Universe, autism, and heartbreak originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

    ]]>     http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/12/28/mmo-family-lego-universe-autism-and-heartbreak/feed/ 0     The Perfect Ten: First impression turn-offs http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/11/17/the-perfect-ten-first-impression-turn-offs/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/11/17/the-perfect-ten-first-impression-turn-offs/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:30:00 +0000 Justin Olivetti http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/the-perfect-ten-first-impression-turn-offs/ Filed under: , , ,

    Perfect Ten
    A year ago our very own Shawn "The Mittani" Schuster wrote a memorable Soapbox column around the idea that MMOs had an hour to grab his attention or else he was out the door. No, don't go read it now. You're reading this! Stay! Good reader.

    I concur with his point that while MMOs may ask us to experience them for the long haul, first impressions still count. And if those impressions aren't favorable right out the gate, it's not likely that we will be around for hour two, no matter how good it is.

    I know what you're thinking right now: "What is this itching, burning sensation between my toes?" It's Athlete's Foot, and you need to get on that ASAP. You're also thinking, "But Justin, whose opinions I respect, admire, and use to teach my children, what drives you away from MMOs when you give them a try?" Again, it's an itching, burning sensation between my toes.

    No, not really. It's more complicated than that -- so complicated, in fact, that it requires a 10-point presentation on what turns me off when an MMO is making a first impression. Imagine that!

    Continue reading The Perfect Ten: First impression turn-offs

    MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: First impression turn-offs originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

      ]]>       http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/11/17/the-perfect-ten-first-impression-turn-offs/feed/ 0       Reporting from the front: Marv Wolfman on the chronicling of PlanetSide 2′s war http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/10/12/reporting-from-the-front-marv-wolfman-on-the-chronicling-of-planetside-2s-war/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/10/12/reporting-from-the-front-marv-wolfman-on-the-chronicling-of-planetside-2s-war/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:30:00 +0000 Justin Olivetti http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/12/reporting-from-the-front-marv-wolfman-on-the-chronicling-of-pla/ Filed under: , , , , , ,

      Marv Wolfman
      Let's face it: First-person shooters aren't typically renowned for their intricate lore and detailed backstories. When you're mowing through a herd of alien bugs or a room full of terrorists with a plasma rifle and grenade launcher, "story" takes a backseat to "Boom! Headshot!" So why, then, is Sony Online Entertainment making a concerted effort to slather its upcoming PlanetSide 2 with a healthy layer of story?

      To answer this, we sat down with famed comic writer Marv Wolfman, who has once again teamed up with the MMO studio to provide the backstory for PlanetSide 2 in the form of several short stories (the first of which can be read on the official site right now). Wolfman, who has been working on this project for several months already, sees story as essential to the game experience. "Sooner or later, you want to know why you're here and doing what you're doing," he explained.

      The first PlanetSide had a paper-thin backstory that tended to escape the attention of most of the players, which is why SOE is trying to give this "reimaging" a solid grounding in lore. Sure, not every player cares about it, but for the ones that do, being able to read about the history of the world and the reason behind the conflict is important. PlanetSide 2 isn't just a mindless shooter to the company but a war with depth, meaning, struggles, and purpose. This is where Wolfman comes in to work his wordsmithing magic.

      Hit the jump as we investigate the scope of these stories and how you wish you had a history class that covered war in such a cool way.

      Continue reading Reporting from the front: Marv Wolfman on the chronicling of PlanetSide 2's war

      MassivelyReporting from the front: Marv Wolfman on the chronicling of PlanetSide 2's war originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

      Permalink | Email this | Comments

        ]]>         http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/10/12/reporting-from-the-front-marv-wolfman-on-the-chronicling-of-planetside-2s-war/feed/ 0         The Game Archaeologist: Why I write http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/09/27/the-game-archaeologist-why-i-write/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/09/27/the-game-archaeologist-why-i-write/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 23:00:00 +0000 Justin Olivetti http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/the-game-archaeologist-why-i-write/ Filed under: , , , ,

        The Game Archaeologist
        We're going to take a brief detour this week from our normal excavations and six-hour-long lectures to address a fundamental question to The Game Archaeologist series. Namely, why write it? Why give attention to games that are "past their prime," have been canceled, or never got off the launch pad in the first place?

        It's no secret that bigger games and newer titles get the lion's share of the attention and love. It's how it is, and not just here at Massively. I love looking forward to the next hot thing like anyone else, and I will gorge on all the juicy infos if given the opportunity. Yet it's a little-known secret that many staffers here at Massively are passionate about the old guard of MMOs, up to and including playing them on a regular basis. Bree won't let pass any opportunity to tout Ultima Online's "did it first!" superiority on every occasion, Eliot and City of Heroes make out on a regular basis, and several writers are in group therapy as I write this because of the impending shutdown of Star Wars Galaxies.

        To be an MMO fan is to love the genre as a whole, not just one game. Today I'm going to crack my chest wide open and bare my soul to you as to why I write about older MMOs and why they're still incredibly important to our hobby.

        Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Why I write

        MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist: Why I write originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

        Permalink | Email this | Comments

          ]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/09/27/the-game-archaeologist-why-i-write/feed/ 0           Massively sneaks a peek into Bounty Hounds Online http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/09/20/massively-sneaks-a-peek-into-bounty-hounds-online/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/09/20/massively-sneaks-a-peek-into-bounty-hounds-online/#comments Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:00:00 +0000 Beau Hindman http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/massively-sneaks-a-peek-into-bounty-hounds-online/ Filed under: , , , , , , , ,

          Bounty Hounds Online screenshot
          The developers of Bounty Hounds Online recently invited Massively to join them in exploring their closed beta world. I am not the type to turn down an invitation like that, so I downloaded the client and logged in. While it did take a while to figure out which client to use and exactly how to log in to the test server so the developers could show me things that were not yet in the beta, the wait was worth it.

          If you've been curious about how the game looks, plays, and feels, click past the cut and join me for a preview! Bear in mind that I was given a very decked-out character, so combat was a breeze. Other than that, everything else was a normal tour through a very cool-looking world!

          Gallery: Massively's tour of Bounty Hounds Online

          Continue reading Massively sneaks a peek into Bounty Hounds Online

          MassivelyMassively sneaks a peek into Bounty Hounds Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments

          ]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/09/20/massively-sneaks-a-peek-into-bounty-hounds-online/feed/ 0           Warhammer Online: Three years later http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/09/18/warhammer-online-three-years-later/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/09/18/warhammer-online-three-years-later/#comments Sun, 18 Sep 2011 18:00:00 +0000 Justin Olivetti http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/18/warhammer-online-three-years-later/ Filed under: , , ,

          WAR
          To this day, I don't know what quite came over me when I decided to throw my chips into the blogging scene to cover Warhammer Online, eight months before the game launched. Like many of you, I had been a long-time reader of MMO blogs, but I was intimidated at trying my hand at joining in, perhaps elevating these writers to the status of legendary wordsmiths who penned unequaled prose in our lifetimes.

          Or I just didn't want to be one of a thousand World of Warcraft bloggers who dominated the scene. Just a thought.

          In any case, it was a terrific decision to do so on my part. I found that I had a passion not only for MMOs but for talking about them, and I loved connecting with other writers and readers and players, which happens with blogging. I've been asked from time to time if I regret picking Warhammer Online as the game that I latched onto for a couple of years, and I always say no -- no regrets. The game was fun, but the coverage was an unparalleled rollercoaster of anticipation, hype, fun, speculation, promise, disappointment, and above all, ideas. Wonderful, flawed, captivating ideas.

          I haven't touched WAR since 2010, so perhaps I'm not the best source for the latest and greatest in the game. But what I do have to offer is a humble blogger's perspective on what went right, what went wrong, and why I'm ultimately happy that WAR came into being and is chugging along on today, its third anniversary.

          Continue reading Warhammer Online: Three years later

          MassivelyWarhammer Online: Three years later originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/09/18/warhammer-online-three-years-later/feed/ 0           One Shots: Look out below! http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/08/21/one-shots-look-out-below-3/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/08/21/one-shots-look-out-below-3/#comments Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:00:00 +0000 Rubi Bayer http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/21/one-shots-look-out-below/ Filed under: , , , ,

          Tabula Rasa screenshot
          Our One Shots image today comes to us from Joe, who managed to turn a very unfortunate misstep into a photo op from Tabula Rasa:
          I remember when I first discovered Pinhole Falls. I came to it from above when I followed a river to a small lake near the edge of a cliff. I wondered why it was called Pinhole Falls when I couldn't see any water falls around me... until I jumped into the lake and fell through the waterfall to my death below. Other of than the unique structure of the waterfall, I loved that they went to the detail to include a rainbow in the waterfall's mist.
          Environment week has been so popular that we're continuing it all next week. The game world is an area that most developers put a huge amount of effort into, and it shows. Do you have a favorite landscape, particularly eye-catching weather effect, or hidden jewel in an out-of-the-way location? Snap a screenshot of your favorite MMO area, tell us a bit about what and where it is, and send it to oneshots@massively.com.

          Gallery: One Shots: 2011

          MassivelyOne Shots: Look out below! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/08/21/one-shots-look-out-below-3/feed/ 0           The Daily Grind: What was the juiciest reveal at Gamescom? http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/08/21/the-daily-grind-what-was-the-juiciest-reveal-at-gamescom/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/08/21/the-daily-grind-what-was-the-juiciest-reveal-at-gamescom/#comments Sun, 21 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000 Brianna Royce http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/21/the-daily-grind-what-was-the-juiciest-reveal-at-gamescom/ Filed under: , , , , ,

          NCsoft booth photo
          Every summer, the Massively staff spends time lurching from con to con in a drunken haze of MMO reveals. And every summer, we mull over those reveals, mentally ranking each one for quality, practicality, guts, and comic-relief. Gamescom has provided another such opportunity. WildStar? 2007 called; it wants Tabula Rasa back. The Secret World in April? Ambitious. Otherland? About time. Huttball? Wait. Really? Huttball?

          Then again, we'll play just about anything. So you tell us: What would you deem the best reveal of Gamescom?

          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 was the juiciest reveal at Gamescom? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/08/21/the-daily-grind-what-was-the-juiciest-reveal-at-gamescom/feed/ 0           The Daily Grind: Which MMO are you sorry you missed? http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/08/10/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-are-you-sorry-you-missed-2/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/08/10/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-are-you-sorry-you-missed-2/#comments Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000 Jef Reahard http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-are-you-sorry-you-missed/ Filed under: , , , ,

          The Matrix Online screenshot
          Time is always against us, a wise man once said, and truer words were never spoken regarding the MMORPG genre. The glut of titles released over the last few years means that fans have some hard choices to make, and when those choices are coupled with the inevitable game closures, it's rare that even folks with huge amounts of free time have time enough to play everything.

          And since we're speaking of time: If you spend enough of it reading and talking about our favorite genre, you'll inevitably come across a game that sounds right up your alley. If you're lucky, said game will still be available to you. If not, well, you might have the answer to this morning's Daily Grind question. Which MMO(s) are you sorry you missed?

          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: Which MMO are you sorry you missed? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/08/10/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-are-you-sorry-you-missed-2/feed/ 0           The Daily Grind: Which MMO are you sorry you missed? http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/08/10/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-are-you-sorry-you-missed/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/08/10/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-are-you-sorry-you-missed/#comments Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000 Jef Reahard http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/10/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-are-you-sorry-you-missed/ Filed under: , , , ,

          The Matrix Online screenshot
          Time is always against us, a wise man once said, and truer words were never spoken regarding the MMORPG genre. The glut of titles released over the last few years means that fans have some hard choices to make, and when those choices are coupled with the inevitable game closures, it's rare that even folks with huge amounts of free time have time enough to play everything.

          And since we're speaking of time: If you spend enough of it reading and talking about our favorite genre, you'll inevitably come across a game that sounds right up your alley. If you're lucky, said game will still be available to you. If not, well, you might have the answer to this morning's Daily Grind question. Which MMO(s) are you sorry you missed?

          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: Which MMO are you sorry you missed? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/08/10/the-daily-grind-which-mmo-are-you-sorry-you-missed/feed/ 0           The Soapbox: Be here now http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/08/09/the-soapbox-be-here-now/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/08/09/the-soapbox-be-here-now/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +0000 Eliot Lefebvre http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/the-soapbox-be-here-now/ Filed under: , , , ,

          Fond, sepia-toned memories of SWG.
          Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

          Games die. It's an unpleasant reality but a reality just the same, with the highest-profile death on the horizon being Star Wars Galaxies. Business decisions get made, and unfortunately, sometimes those decisions boil down to "this game is no longer worth the money to keep it running." If you're lucky, the announcement comes with a great deal of time for you to wrap up what you've always wanted to do in the game; if you're unlucky, you might have a couple of weeks before the servers go dark.

          So what do you do as a player? How do you cope with the fact that the game is shutting down? There are a lot of approaches, but I think it's unfortunate that most of the reactions seem to center around some last-ditch effort to save the game from oblivion. It's entirely missing the point to try and pull the game back from the brink of death, and it does a disservice to both the game and the players when you spend your last days desperately fighting a foregone conclusion.

          Continue reading The Soapbox: Be here now

          MassivelyThe Soapbox: Be here now originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/08/09/the-soapbox-be-here-now/feed/ 0           The Perfect Ten: MMO mascots http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/07/28/the-perfect-ten-mmo-mascots/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/07/28/the-perfect-ten-mmo-mascots/#comments Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0000 Justin Olivetti http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/the-perfect-ten-mmo-mascots/ Filed under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

          Everyone knows that a good mascot can make a difference between a video game's death and rabid popularity. Mario, Master Chief, Duke Nuke 'Em, Pac-Man, Samus Aran, Pyramid Head -- each one of these mascots isn't merely an aspect of the game, they are the virtual spokesperson (or spokesthing) which represents the game itself.

          Yet when you think about it, MMOs have had a tougher time producing mascots than other video game genres, partially because unlike other games, you don't play as the mascots, and partially because when you have a cast of thousands of NPCs, picking out one to elevate above the rest is a difficult job.

          Difficult, that is, but not impossible. Today we're going to look at ten MMO mascots (MMOscots?) that studios have tried to promote as the face of these games, to varying degrees of success.

          Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMO mascots

          MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: MMO mascots originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/07/28/the-perfect-ten-mmo-mascots/feed/ 0           One Shots: Worth the wait http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/07/28/one-shots-worth-the-wait/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/07/28/one-shots-worth-the-wait/#comments Thu, 28 Jul 2011 21:00:00 +0000 Rubi Bayer http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/one-shots-worth-the-wait/ Filed under: , , , ,

          MMO gamers generally aren't fond of standing around waiting for something, particularly when the wait time begins being measured in hours rather than minutes. Massively reader Sajud Soljar shows us that it's not always the case in today's One Shots:
          I still marvel at the events in Tabula Rasa, especially after the objectives were met. In this case Irendas Colony had successfully been defended and people simply formed a line and waited their turn to be handed their rewards by developers, or sometimes even General British himself.

          I remember standing in line for almost two hours before my turn and the line still stretching out behind me. People were joking and having a blast during these moments and every single one remembered to thank the team for their rewards and saluted. We were a special breed of gamers.
          Next week's One Shots theme is Some Assembly Required, and yes, it's a little nod to Massively's newest column. If you'd like to participate, send your best screenshot of content that you've created to us at oneshots@massively.com. It can be a house you built, an item you crafted, or anything you like as long as it came from your two (virtual) hands. Include your name, the game, and a little description of the image, and we'll feature it here on Massively!

          Gallery: One Shots: 2011

          MassivelyOne Shots: Worth the wait originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/07/28/one-shots-worth-the-wait/feed/ 0           One Shots: They literally follow you everywhere http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/07/07/one-shots-they-literally-follow-you-everywhere/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/07/07/one-shots-they-literally-follow-you-everywhere/#comments Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:00:00 +0000 Rubi Bayer http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/07/one-shots-they-literally-follow-you-everywhere/ Filed under: , , , ,

          One Shots is quite literally in the toilet today thanks to Massively reader Joe. That's not a bad thing, though, since we get a look at a cool pet and a trip down memory lane:
          Here's my red lumin keeping me company on the can in Tabula Rasa. While the purple lumins were nine-month vet reward gifts, I got this red one from someone who got a promotional code for it from Comic-Con. Since he (unfortunately) didn't play the game, he gave it away on a TR fan forum to the first person to make him laugh. I won by sending him a video of me screaming my head off on a roller coaster.
          Now it's your turn! Large or small, deadly or purely decorative, we want to see your favorite pet companion. Just let us know your name, the name of the game, and a little about your pet and how you acquired it. Send it all to oneshots@massively.com and we'll feature you and your pet on One Shots this week.

          It's time to start preparing for next week's One Shots theme as well. We've seen your gear, your mounts, and your pets; now it's time to see you! Snap a screenshot of your favorite character in your favorite MMO. Let us know about him or her, and we'll feature the character here on One Shots!

          Gallery: One Shots: 2011

          MassivelyOne Shots: They literally follow you everywhere originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/07/07/one-shots-they-literally-follow-you-everywhere/feed/ 0           The Game Archaeologist traces his Lineage: The highlights http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/06/07/the-game-archaeologist-traces-his-lineage-the-highlights/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/06/07/the-game-archaeologist-traces-his-lineage-the-highlights/#comments Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:00:00 +0000 Justin Olivetti http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/the-game-archaeologist-traces-his-lineage-the-highlights/ Filed under: , ,

          If we judged MMOs by their numbers alone -- and I'm not suggesting we do so -- then Lineage would be the crowing rooster strutting about the hen house. It's also been one of those games that I've always intellectually acknowledged was a huge hit for some reason, but I never gave it much attention. I think it's because, contrary to many of the "big name" games we cover here, Lineage was and always will be an Asian phenomenon. That doesn't mean it should be shunned, of course, but just that it may be difficult to understand when you're on the outside of it.

          So let's back up the memory truck to September 1998, when a then-fledgling NCsoft rolled out a Diablo-esque isometric MMO and struck virtual gold in South Korea. At the time, gaming rooms were becoming a huge thing in the country; a recession had hit (giving people a lot of time with nothing to do), and the government was rapidly expanding the broadband network. In the face of this perfect storm, titles like StarCraft and Lineage became overnight household fixtures -- and the country hasn't looked back.

          Even if you haven't played Lineage and you don't know anyone who does, trust me: There are a lot of people playing this 13-year-old title, to the tune of millions and millions. As former Senior Producer Chris Mahnken said, "Lineage keeps going because it's just plain fun."

          This month we'll be looking back at the incredible legacy that Lineage has given the industry, starting with an overview of the highlights of these past 13 years. Hit the jump and mind the gap!

          Continue reading The Game Archaeologist traces his Lineage: The highlights

          MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist traces his Lineage: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/06/07/the-game-archaeologist-traces-his-lineage-the-highlights/feed/ 0           The Daily Grind: Has an MMO made you sentimental? http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/06/01/the-daily-grind-has-an-mmo-made-you-sentimental/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/06/01/the-daily-grind-has-an-mmo-made-you-sentimental/#comments Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:00:00 +0000 Justin Olivetti http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/01/the-daily-grind-has-an-mmo-made-you-sentimental/ Filed under: , , ,

          It's a fact of life around the Massively offices that one can often find members of the staff engaging in sentimental gestures from time to time. Whether it be Shawn singing softly to his Tabula Rasa box or Larry lighting a candle to hold vigil for Darth Vader, we are no strangers to the pull of nostalgia and fond attachments.

          So we totally understand that MMOs can make one quite sentimental from time to time. I was reminded of this while reading a recent post at Contains Moderate Peril, where the author took part of a final parade across Lord of the Rings Online in Europe before the service was transferred from Codemasters to Turbine.

          While end-of-the-world events are often steeped in sentimentality, they don't have to be the only times where such expressions emerge. Has an MMO ever made you sentimental, and if so, will you share with the rest of the class? It's OK, we won't share it with your significant other, promise.

          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: Has an MMO made you sentimental? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2011/06/01/the-daily-grind-has-an-mmo-made-you-sentimental/feed/ 0