Massively

We've received word via an anonymous tipster that Bioware is gearing up efforts on their new MMO, and will soon be conducting extensive market research. Reportedly, they're looking for participants within certain internal channels that meet the following criteria:

• Aren't affiliated in any way with the fields of advertising, journalism (d'oh!), public relations, video game hardware or software developers, video or computer game retail.
• Can't have participated in more than 3 paid focus groups in the last 6 months
• Must own at least one video game console or handheld system, but no more than four.
• Must play games on the PC, but have no experience with MMOs
• Must own 2 or more video games
• Must have purchased 1-5 games in the last year
• Must play between 1-9 hours a week

So basically, they're looking to test their ideas on the casual gamer. My initial reaction is to take this as a sort of slap in the face that they would even consider focusing their game on the casual market instead of engineering it specifically to please me personally. Then reason takes over and I remember that this is simply focus group testing for a game that hasn't ever really been formally announced yet. Heralding in the end of days would probably be a bit premature. What's more, they're probably wise to the fact that there isn't an NDA in the world strong enough to keep a true geek from running home and bragging to the internet that he played the new Bioware MMO.

Anyway, we'll continue to keep our eyes peeled for new info on the Bioware MMO, and keep sending in those lovely tips.