DOCSLIB.ORG

Mmozine Issue 3

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

FREE! NAVIGATE MMOZineIssue 3 | March 2008 Free Magazine For MMO Gamers. Read it, Print it, Send it to your mates HOT YOUR FREE GAME TRIAL! PIRATES Claim your FREE in-game COMBAT BOOSTER for... The Kamael GIFT! FREE Playtest! We’ve got exclusive trial codes to give away right now... PIRATES OF THE + MORE TO WIN INSIDE... AGE OF CONAN Massive preview of Lineage II the barbarous MMO Game Bundles INTERVIEW! Full game, plus BURNING SEA limited edition SWASHBUCKLING REVIEW & STARTER GUIDE INSIDE! AION’S SENIOR GAME goodies including DESIGNER this statue! Is this the best-looking HUGE REVIEW! MMO ever made? EARTHRISE + PREVIEW & TIPS! The stunning new dawn for space MMOs Lineage II: The EVE ONLINE: TRINITY Chaotic Throne - The universe expands with a big bang! The Kamael • WOW UPDATE • EMPIRE OF SPORTS Beginners’ guide and PLUS! DARK AGE OF CAMELOT REVISITED• KINGDOM UNDER FIRE II GOES MASSIVE our massive playtest CONTROL NAVIGATE | 02 Contents QUICK FINDER DON’T MISS! Every game’s just a click away This month’s highlights... PLUS! CLAIM YOUR Earthrise Empire of Sports Welcome FREE ITEM! Kingdom Under Fire II Age of Conan PAGE 22 EVE: Trinity Warhammer Online: Aion Threesome reviewed! Age of Reckoning Pirates of the to PAGE 24 NASA LT Burning Sea Kwari EVE Online: Trinity It’s an exciting time for established MMOs and Ice Age World of Warcraft all-new franchises alike this Spring, with fantastic A FREE TRIAL PLAY OF LINEAGE II: THE KAMAEL Jumpgate Evolution Dark Age of Camelot expansions to EVE Online, Lineage II, Hellgate PLUS! Lineage II: The Kamael London and more, plus the launch of the flagship Pirates of the Burning Sea, god bless all MORE FREE MAGAZINES! LATEST ISSUES! who sail with her, and the upcoming Age of PIRATES OF THE Conan: Hyborian Adventures. As always it’s going to be tough deciding where to spend BURNING SEA your valuable time, but luckily you’ve got us to Massive review of the buccaneering help you. Use our playtests and reviews to make blockbuster sailing your way PAGE 19 your choices and our handy tutorials to get the most out of your new forays. And on top of our great advice, be sure to Lineage II: claim the useful freebies on offer this month, with a 14-day trial of Lineage II: The Kamael The Kamael DON’T MISS ISSUE 4 SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE! and a combat-boosting locket for Pirates! Huge playtest PAGE 9 Steve Brown, Editor WARNING! MULTIMEDIA DISABLED! [email protected] If you are reading this, then you didn’t choose “Play” when Adobe Reader asked you about multimedia when MEET THE TEAM Age of Conan you opened the magazine. Go forth and multiplay... You and whose Arnie? Without the multimedia playing, the magazine will look correct, but you will Bulging playtest PAGE 14 be missing out on all of the extra content built into each issue, like videos, PLUS! animated screenshots, annotations, quizzes, competitions and more. STARTER’S GUIDE We recommend you close and re-open the magazine and select “Play” when JIM IAN MORRIS ADAM OXFORD PAGE 30 asked about the multimedia to enjoy the magazine as intended. ROSSIGNOL Got spaced out and Sold himself to us for Spent the month in no-one was able to the price of just one the Caribbean. hear him scream. Kamael. CONTROL PLAYBACK OPTIONS: NAVIGATE | 04 Alpha Looks like FIRST Gears of War 2! Earthrise LOOK Publisher: TBA Fallout 3 meets Deus Ex in this new MMO Developer: Masthead Heritage: First game What’s the story? from this studio After an apocalyptic third World War, Earth survivors build a new city Link: www.play- known as Sal Vitas, where all appears rather too rosy with the discovery earthrise.com of new energy sources, cloning, nanotechnology and quantum ETA: 2009 engineering, all driven by a unified but strict government. What do we know? This advanced society means that every citizen is in effect immortal, consciousnesses uploaded to a data vault and downloaded into new cloned bodies as necessary. A bit like a computer game in fact. How fortunate! But it’s not quite so fortunate for the apparently happy If that’s a clone, I don’t want to come back. populace, as their government are a bit more discerning in who they decide to bring back from the dead than is at first apparent. But Sal Vitas has once the supernanny state’s selective reanimation program leaks out, “The supernanny the air of a insurgents rise against the government and the rebels form a shadow state’s selective Gibson novel. government known as Noir. reanimation” When do we get more? We’re a long way from Beta yet, but we’ll bring you updates through the year until we can get hands-on. Anything else to declare? PREVIEW Earthrise will feature over 100 FEEDBACK! skills and promises meaningful Click here to Player versus Player combat, tell us what you whether you’re a noble soldier, think of an underworld criminal, or a Earthrise renowned engineer in one of the new technologies. This will be an MMO that Huxley should keep an eye out for, although its release Lion Football League was date should be a way after that popular in the future. dystopian MMO. CONTROL NAVIGATE | 05 Alpha He’s like a Lord of the Rings Nazgul FIRST on steroids. Kingdom LOOK Publisher: Phantagram Developer: Blueside Heritage: Kingdom Under Fire II Under Fire console The RTS that thinks it’s an MMO... versions (Circle of Doom, Heroes and The Crusaders) What’s the story? Link: www.phantagram. A new storyline for the franchise will introduce a third mystery faction com to the ongoing war between the Human Alliance and the Dark Legion. ETA: 2009 What do we know? Essentially an action RTS series, the next instalment of Kingdom Under Fire will feature an MMO mode on top of the massive single player campaign. The sequel promises to deliver an unprecedented “Kingdom Under Fire II will battle scale, with vast tactical war fields that will make the previous PREVIEW feature an MMO mode on games look like Luxemburg if it was relocated between Russia and FEEDBACK! China. Blueside’s CEO Sejung Kim boasts that, “We are preparing for an Click here to top of the massive single immense game that will feature not only field battles, but also titanic tell us what you player campaign” siege engines and thousands of units that will swarm over monstrous think of KUF II fortresses in siege battles of epic proportions.” The Kingdom Under Fire franchise has always managed to deliver impressive numbers of warring units, so we’re confident in his statement. When do we get more? We’re hoping to bring you more Cornrows were a information on the mysterious third popular warrior faction in our next issue, along with hairstyle. even more details of the MMO features. Anything else to declare? RTS and MMO is perhaps a strange mix, but it’s a brave experiment and Should be Kingdom if it works well we’re all for expanding Under Grumpy Cloud. the genre. It could usher in PvP action on an unprecedented scale. CONTROL 22/01/08 www.piratesoftheburningsea.com © 2007 Flying Lab Software, LLC. Flying Lab Software and Pirates of the Burning Sea are trademarks or registered trademarks of Flying Lab Software, LLC. Platform Publishing and the Platform Publishing logo are trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment LLC in the US and/or other countries. All other trademarks or trade names are properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved. CONTROL NAVIGATE | 07 Alpha Hellgate London: Kwari New MMOs and content Stonehenge Publisher : Kwari | ETA: OUT NOW! updates to mark on Chronicles This new online gaming service provides a networking site for online FPS gamers and Publisher: EA | ETA: OUT NOW! your calendar with a allows players to compete for real money The first update for Hellgate features stakes in deathmatch games using the free BIG RED PEN! the mysterious stone circle and new client software. Once a kitty has been UP outdoor quests into the demon- established and your own real cash put in, 7 infested realms beyond it. the game starts and your slice of the Jumpgate Evolution money pie Publisher: Codemasters | ETA: Late 2008 increases or shrinks This space combat MMO is a substantial Lord of the Rings Online: according to update to Jumpgate, featuring a total the hits you graphics overhaul, plus a new raft of The Ashen Wastes Publisher: Codemasters | ETA: Feb give or take. advanced AI that promises to ensure Now that’s upredictable events and gripping scenarios Book 12 will be the latest update for LOTRO and scary! as you fight and trade your way through the feature significant changes to several classes void. There will be more weapons available, including Guardian, Burglar and Champion. The new missions with a greater focus on PVE Ashen Wastes will also expand greatly on targets, plus greater social aspects with current customisation features including the Ice Age Online players able to own their own space stations! Outfit System and Barbershops. Publisher: FOX | ETA: Late 2009 WINTER Incorporating elements from both hit Jumpgate animated films, Ice Age and Ice Age: The Evolution Meltdown, this recently announced licensing deal is a long way off, but does AUTUMN Warhammer Online: lend itself well to the MMO genre if you Aion - Tower Age of Reckoning think about it, with plenty of exciting of Eternity environments during a time of chaos, loads Publisher: EA | ETA: Spring of animal and human character classes and SUMMER Based of course upon Games NASA LT MMO an appeal that has already proven itself Workshop’s epic tabletop game, Publisher: NASA LT ETA: TBA with kids and adults.
Recommended publications
  • Incommensurate Wor(L)Ds: Epistemic Rhetoric and Faceted Classification Of

    Incommensurate Wor(L)Ds: Epistemic Rhetoric and Faceted Classification Of

    Incommensurate Wor(l)ds: Epistemic Rhetoric and Faceted Classification of Communication Mechanics in Virtual Worlds by Sarah Smith-Robbins A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Rai Peterson Ball State University Muncie, IN March 28, 2011 Table of Contents Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................................... ii List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... vii Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. ix Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. xi Chapter 1: Incommensurate Terms, Incommensurate Practices ............................................................... 1 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................................................... 3 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................................................
  • Guild Wars 2 Wintersday Festival Kicks Off Today

    Guild Wars 2 Wintersday Festival Kicks Off Today

    Dec 12, 2018 10:00 GMT Guild Wars 2 Wintersday Festival Kicks Off Today Snowballs, candy canes and presents can only mean one thing…the holiday season has officially arrived in Tyria as the Guild Wars 2 universe kicks off its annual in-game event, Wintersday, today! ArenaNet invites you to join the celebration of this long-standing and beloved holiday tradition now through Jan. 2nd. This year, players will be able to enjoy some new surprises, including ice castle-themed guild hall decoration pieces and the “Secret Lair of the Snowmen,” a 10-player instance with unique rewards, including Wintergreen- themed weapons. There will also be new additions to the set of candy cane themed weaponry, several new minipets, rare items from the Wintersday gift boxes and new meta-achievements. In addition, players can look forward to the return of their favorite holiday festivities and activities: • The Winter Wonderland jumping puzzle • Mount races through Divinity’s Reach • Toypocalypse: Band together with other players to defend gift- bearing dolyaks against an onslaught of malfunctioning toys • Tixx’s Infinirarium: Enter and help the jolly Toymaker Tixx prepare to share the wonder of Wintersday with all of Tyria • Bell Choir: Take center stage and make beautiful music to celebrate the season • Snowball Mayhem: Gather as many gifts as possible in this PvP snowball fight Best of all, Wintersday content is free to all players. For more information about Wintersday, please visit: https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/wintersday-2018-is-here Don’t forget that Roller Beetle Racing is now live! Enter now for your chance to win awesome weekly prizes, and the grand prize – a Roller Beetle themed car! Contacts Becky Mullen Account Director [email protected] +44 (0)20 3927 6430.
  • Marketing Virtual Worlds

    Marketing Virtual Worlds

    MARKETING VIRTUAL WORLDS the industry of Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY Gerard Imbert ● Pauline Leboeuf ● Adriana Murillo Contact: [email protected] Marketing Virtual Worlds: the industry of massively multiplayer online role playing games EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................... 3 LINEAGE ....................................................................................................................................................................3 EVERQUEST ...............................................................................................................................................................4 APPLICATION OF FINDINGS ........................................................................................................................................5 TUTORIAL: THE WORLD OF ONLINE GAMES ................................................................. 6 DISTRIBUTION STRUCTURE OF THE INDUSTRY......................................................... 12 KEY PLAYERS OF THE INDUSTRY’S SUPPLY CHAIN .................................................................................................14 WORLDWIDE MACRO-ENVIRONMENTAL TRENDS ....................................................... 16 CONSUMER BEHAVIOR: PROFILING THE “GAMERS” .................................................. 19 CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS.......................................................................................................................................20
  • Online Media Business Models: Lessons from the Video Game Sector

    Online Media Business Models: Lessons from the Video Game Sector

    Komorowski, M and Delaere, S. (2016). Online Media Business Models: Lessons from the Video Game Sector. Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture, 11(1), 103–123, DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.16997/wpcc.220 RESEARCH ARTICLE Online Media Business Models: Lessons from the Video Game Sector Marlen Komorowski and Simon Delaere imec-SMIT, Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, BE Corresponding author: Marlen Komorowski ([email protected]) Today’s media industry is characterized by disruptive changes and business models have been acknowledged as a driving force for success. Current business model research manages only to grasp static descriptions while in reality media managers are struggling with the dynamics of the industry. This article aims to close this gap by investigating a new paradigm of online media business models. Based on three video game case studies of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game genre, this article explores a novel theoretical approach to explain the changes that can be made within business models. The article highlights the importance of changing processes within online media business models and emphasises that the video game sector is at the forefront of business innovation. Finally, it demonstrates that online media business model change is in a trade-off paradigm between capturing or offering potentially higher value per player vs. accessing a potentially larger player-base. Key words: Media industry; business model; process; disruption; video game sector Introduction Today’s media industry is characterized by disruptive transformations shaped by digitization. Digitization is not only generating new business opportunities but threatens traditional commercialization strategies and is proving highly unpredictable with regards to future market development.
  • Famitsu PC Game Sales Ranking: April 2007

    Famitsu PC Game Sales Ranking: April 2007

    Famitsu PC Game Sales Ranking: April 2007 Data Collected: from April 1 to April 30, 2007 Game Titles Month Copies Cumulative This Last Price Average Before Title Platform Publisher Sales Date Genre Sold/Month Copies Sold Month Month (incl. tax) Price Last (Estimated) (Estimated) Final Fantasy XI: Treasures of Aht Urhgan 12 4 Win2000/XP SQUARE ENIX 04-20-06 Open ¥7,900 RPG 3,409 44,215 All-in-One Pack 2006 Medieval 2: Total War Japanese Version - 2 NEW Windows XP SEGA 04-05-07 ¥8,190 ¥7,250 Sim 3,151 3,151 Limited First Release 3 3 Lineage II: Interlude - Beginner's Kit Win2000/XP/Vista NC Japan 03-09-07 ¥3,150 ¥2,865 RPG 2,979 6,011 4 15 7 Nobunaga no Yabo Online: Haten no Sho Win2000/XP KOEI 12-13-06 ¥7,140 ¥6,205 RPG 2,502 8,831 5 7 3 Nobunaga no Yabo: Tenka Sosei Win2000/XP SOURCENEXT 10-06-06 ¥3,970 ¥3,562 Sim 1,936 13,602 6 8 The Sims 2: Seasons! Expansion Pack Win98/Me/2000/XP/Vista Electronic Arts 03-22-07 Open ¥2,864 DAT 1,618 3,636 7 4 5 SimCity 4: Deluxe Win98/Me/2000/XP Electronic Arts 09-25-03 ¥5,980 ¥4,738 Sim 1,518 62,996 8 1 Lineage II: Interlude - Master's Kit Win2000/XP/Vista NC Japan 03-09-07 ¥6,300 ¥5,675 RPG 1,317 11,737 9 10 1 Flight Simulator X WinXP/Vista Microsoft 01-26-07 ¥9,870 ¥9,187 Sim 1,296 10,802 Hoshi no Oujo: Uchu Ishiki ni Mezameta 10 5 Win98/Me/2000/XP Mirai 03-23-07 ¥4,801 ¥4,330 Adv 1,255 3,440 Yoshitsune - For All Ages 11 11 2 Sukatto Golf Pangya: Marugoto Kit Win2000/XP Gamepot 01-19-07 ¥2,940 ¥2,826 Act 1,107 14,910 QuinRos 12 6 16 Heart no Kuni no Alice: Wonderful Wonder World Win98/Me/2000/XP e
  • Ncsoft Earnings Release Q3, 2007 November 7, 2007

    Ncsoft Earnings Release Q3, 2007 November 7, 2007

    NCsoft Earnings Release Q3, 2007 November 7, 2007 NCsoft CORPORATION OK-san Bldg 157-33, Samsung-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul 135-090, KOREA | Tel: +82-2-2186-3300 Fax : +82-2-2186-3550 Copyright ⓒ NCsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved WWW.NCSOFT.COM Global Online Game Publisher NCsoft Table of Contents 01.01 Disclaimer 02.02 Consolidated Company 03.03 Earnings Highlights | 01 04.04 User Statistics | 10 05.05 Appendix – Parent Earnings | 13 Global Online Game Publisher NCsoft Disclaimer Disclaimer The financial results for 3Q 2007 have been prepared on an un-audited basis, and may be subject to change during independent auditing process. Some of the information and data in the material have been prepared based on assumptions. There can be no assurance that the assumptions used by NCsoft are correct and even if they are, that the effect of such assumptions on NCsoft’s business and results of operations will be as projected. Therefore, NCsoft will not be responsible for individual investment decisions based solely on this material. Global Online Game Publisher NCsoft Consolidated Company The consolidated company NCsoftNCsoft (Controlling(Controlling Company)Company) ConsolidatedConsolidated SubsidiariesSubsidiaries EquityEquity MethodMethod AffiliatesAffiliates NCNC InteractiveInteractive (100%)(100%) OrionOrion SoftSoft (100%)(100%) ArenaNetArenaNet (100%) (100%) JJ InteractiveInteractive (100%)(100%) NCNC EuropeEurope (100%)(100%) NCRCNCRC (100%)(100%) NCNC JapanJapan (60%)(60%) NCsoftNCsoft JapanJapan (100%)(100%) NCNC TaiwanTaiwan (85%)(85%)
  • Game Design and Development

    Game Design and Development

    Networking Multiplayer Games Topic 19 CITS4242 Game Design and Multimedia [Slides thanks to Sugih Jamin] Multiplayer Games Why multiplayer games? • humans are better at most strategy than current AIs • humans are less predictable • can play with people, communicate in natural language • add social aspect to computer games • provides larger environments to play in, with more characters • make money as a professional game player People Online http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/ Two Types of Multiplayer Games • Head-to-head death-match: • fast-pace, intense interaction/combat • no persistent state • players form ad-hoc, short-lived sessions • any client can be a server • requires matchmaking service:built-in lobby or use GameSpy • examples: X/NetTrek (1980s, simulation), Doom (1990s, FPS), Counter-Strike, StarCraft, AoE, etc. (RTS-combat) • Persistent-world, massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) MMOG Most MMOGs are MMORPGs: • server(s) keep persistent states, players can drop in anytime • traditionally emphasize social interaction (less combat, but changing • in the beginning: MUD/MOO (1978, text-based) • first commercial titles: Meridian 59 (c. 1996) and others, together had <= 30,000 players MMORPGs Ultima Online (Origin Systems/EA, gold Sept. 27, 97): • isometric view • took 3 years to developed • >100,000 players in 1998, 240,000 players in 2001, 225,000 in Apr. 2003 Everquest (Verant/Sony, gold Mar. 16, 1999): • first non-wireframe 3D entry, • 300,000 players in 2000, 430,000 in 2002 • total revenue: $4 mil/month (BW, 11/9/01) Second Most Popular MMORPG NCSoft's Lineage and Lineage II: • S. Korea (Sept. 1998) • 4 million players in 2003, 110,000 concurrent players! • Population of S.
  • Mmozine Issue 9

    Mmozine Issue 9

    FREE! NAVIGATE Issue 9 | January 2009 FREE FOOTBALL MANAGER LIVE FOR A YEAR + LOADS OF SEGA STUFF! + PREVIEWED Darkfall MMOZine The old school revival Free Magazine For MMO Gamers. Read it, Print it, Send it to your mates is close at hand EXCLUSIVE #1 + REVIEWED Football Manager Live It’s time to really get the EXCLUSIVE #2 season started LEADING THE CHARGE OF THE FREE! + LONG TERM TEST THE MINES OF MORIA ATLANTICA ONLINE BACK TO BASICS Delving deep inside Earth and beyond in this World Of LOTRO’s latest expansion magical combat MMOG Warcraft The Journey Begins CONTROL NAVIGATE |02 Contents WIN! QUICK FINDER DON’T MISS! A GRAPHICS Every game’s just a click away This month’s highlights… CARD! Global Agenda Darkfall Welcome Infinity: The The Chronicles Quest for Earth of Spellborn RUNES Shin Megami Lord of the to Darkfall Tensei Rings Online: When in comes to choosing an online world, OF MAGIC Enter the light Champions Online Mines of Moria most of us are happy to pay monthly charges, Horsing around for free Free Realms Football believing that a more consistent experience is Stargate Worlds Manager Live guaranteed when equal fees apply to all. The Tabula Rasa Atlantica Online misnomer over ‘free-2-play’ games is that they are Tears Saga shoddy in comparison, when the truth is that f2p EVE Online: games still require sustainable levels of investment. Apocrypha The difference is that those who can’t or won’t Runes of Magic pay are still allowed in, while those with money can pay extra and buy in-game luxuries.
  • Esg Playbook

    Esg Playbook

    ESG PLAYBOOK . . NCSOFT ESG PLAYBOOK 2020 . * NCSOFT ESG PLAYBOOK 2020 . Contents NC Overview PLAY for Sustainability CEO 04 44 Who We Are 06 46 What We Create 07 48 Highlight ‘PUSH, PLAY’ 08 54 10 55 56 ESG Appendix ESG 14 60 , 16 ESG 61 28 GRI Standards Index 63 34SASB Index 75 383 76 NC Overview 2 01 Blade & Soul 2 NC Overview CEO 04 Who We Are 06 07 08 10 NC Overview PLAY for Sustainability CEO 4 CEO NC Overview CEO 5 “ .” . . . . 1997 . . . NC Overview Who We Are 6 Who We Are NC . ) 1997 3 11 NC West Holdings 2012.12 418 Publishing/DeVeLopment , NC Japan KK 2001.09 151 Publishing/DeVeLopment NC Taiwan Co., Ltd. 2003.08 83 Publishing/DeVeLopment 4,231 ) NC Vietnam Visual Studio Co., Ltd. 2020.01 103 Art Outsourcing NC Europe, Ltd. 2004.07 10 Core Value 1996.10 90 , NEVER ENDING INTEGRITY PASSION CHALLENGE 2009.04 151 2011.04 69 6 12 12 _ ) 2 NC Overview What We create 7 1998 & What We Create IP . PC · · 2 2 M 2M Lineage Lineage 2 GuiLd Wars 2 Lineage M Lineage2M UNIVERSE & H3 AION Blade & Soul FUSER Pro BasebalL H3 PURPLE BUFFTOON NC Overview Highlight ‘PUSH, PLAY’ 8 PUSH, Highlight NC . . NC NC . PC , PURPLE & Yeti AI AI , ‘VocGAN’
  • Networking Multiplayer Games EECS 494 Fall 2005

    Networking Multiplayer Games EECS 494 Fall 2005

    Networking Multiplayer Games EECS 494 Fall 2005 Sugih Jamin [email protected] Multiplayer Games Why multiplayer games? • humans are better at most strategy than current AIs • humans are less predictable • can play with people, communicate in natural language • add social aspect to computer games • provides larger environments to play in, with more characters • make money as a professional game player Sugih Jamin ([email protected]) Two Types of Multiplayer Games Head-to-head death-match: • fast-pace, intense interaction/combat • no persistent state • players form ad-hoc, short-lived sessions • any client can be a server • requires matchmaking service: built-in lobby or use GameSpy • examples: X/NetTrek (1980s, simulation), Doom (1990s, FPS), Counter-Strike, StarCraft, AoE, etc. (RTS-combat) Persistent-world, massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) Sugih Jamin ([email protected]) MMOG Most MMOGs are MMORPGs: • server(s) keep persistent states, players can drop in anytime • traditionally emphasize social interaction (less combat, but changing) • in the beginning: MUD/MOO (1978, text-based) • first commercial titles: Meridian 59 (c. 1996) and others, together had ≤ 30; 000 players Sugih Jamin ([email protected]) MMORPGs • Ultima Online (Origin Sys- tems/EA, gold Sept. 27, 97): o isometric view o took 3 years to developed o > 100; 000 players in 1998 240,000 players in 2001, 225,000 in Apr. 2003 • Everquest (Verant/Sony, gold Mar. 16, 1999): o first non-wireframe 3D entry, o 300,000 players in 2000, 430,000 in 2002 o total revenue: $4 mil/month (BW, 11/9/01) Sugih Jamin ([email protected]) Most Popular MMORPG: NCSoft’s Lineage and Lineage II S.
  • NCSOFT (036570 KS) Strong Momentum to Come from New Releases and 1Q Earnings

    NCSOFT (036570 KS) Strong Momentum to Come from New Releases and 1Q Earnings

    NCSOFT (036570 KS) Strong momentum to come from new releases and 1Q earnings Game Raising 1Q16F OP on higher-than-expected Blade & Soul US revenue We now forecast NCSOFT’s 1Q revenue at W229bn (+21.8% YoY) and operating profit Company Update at W85bn (+90.5% YoY), which is well above the current consensus (W67.3bn). We March 11, 2016 adjusted up our 1Q earnings estimate, as we expect revenue from Blade & Soul US (launched on January 19 th ) to be higher than previously anticipated, given the title’s stabilizing traffic trends. (Maintain) Buy We upped our Blade & Soul US revenue estimates from W10bn to W20bn for 1Q and from W10bn to W15bn for 2Q-4Q each. But even with the revision s, our assumptions Target Price (12M, W) 420,000 appear conservative compared with the revenues recorded from Blade & Soul Taiwan and Guild Wars 2 . Share Price (03/10/16, W) 263,500 We see a chance of Blade & Soul US revenue exceeding W30bn in 1Q, if we model the Expected Return 59% revenue per server from Blade & Soul Taiwan (released on November 26, 2014 based on a microtransaction model) into our estimates (13 servers in Taiwan vs. 34 in the US). OP (15F, Wbn) 237 Traditional titles, including Lineage and Blade & Soul , are also showing stable traffic. Consensus OP (15F, Wbn) 238 Meanwhile, we did not incorporate potential earnings from the upcoming Lineage I microtransaction event (scheduled for March 16 th ) and from Blade & Soul Mobile in EPS Growth (15F, %) -26.9 China (non-wipe launch on March 7 th ; no.
  • Documenting Videogame Communities

    Documenting Videogame Communities

    Documenting Videogame Communities Skrifter utgivna av Inst. för ABM vid Uppsala universitet. Volume 7. Distribution: Department of ALM Uppsala University Box 625 751 26 Uppsala [email protected] Documenting Videogame Communities A Study of Community Production of Information in Social-Media Environments and its Implications for Videogame Preservation Olle Sköld Skrifter utgivna av Inst. för ABM vid Uppsala universitet. Volume 7. Dissertation presented at Uppsala University to be publicly examined in Humanistiska Teatern, Thunbergsvägen 3H, Uppsala, Friday, 2 March 2018 at 13:15 for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The examination will be conducted in English. Faculty examiner: Associate Professor Kiersten Latham (School of Information, Kent State University). Abstract Sköld, O. 2018. Documenting Videogame Communities. A Study of Community Production of Information in Social-Media Environments and its Implications for Videogame Preservation. Skrifter utgivna vid institutionen för ABM vid Uppsala universitet 7. 164 pp. Uppsala: Department of ALM. ISBN 978-91-506-2676-6. Drawing on the disciplines of library and information studies and archival studies, this study seeks to explore the production of information in online videogame communities and to elucidate how such insights can offer practical and conceptual support to the knotty issue of how to preserve those sociocultural aspects of videogames that exist 'beyond' the code and audiovisual data resources of the videogame itself. This is accomplished in two principal moves: (i) by delving into the current state of socioculturally-focused videogame preservation and; (ii) by inquiring into the production of information carried out by videogame communities in what arguably is one of their most important interfaces of interaction—discussion forums, wikis, and other social-media services.