Massively^™

Every week, hardworking Massive gaming fans put their voices on the line to bring us news, opinions, and 'critiques' of their favorite games. Podcasts are a staple of many hobbies nowadays, and fans of online worlds are especially fortunate in this regard ... there are a ton out there.

As such, every so often we'll try to update you on the podcasting world. Keep your eyes on this space for links to your favorite MMO-commentary celebs. Good and bad, straight-man or blue-mouthed, they all have something to offer about this amazing style of gameplay.

This week we're all about the Epic Dolls podcast. A unique title by an all-female cast, it's really interesting to hear the occasional gender-specific spin on the World of Warcraft. Most of the time, though, this group talks the talk that every WoW 'caster does - and they have the epics to prove it. This week they're pumped about the WWI information, and are getting ready to take on Kara in advance of the Lich King expansion. Tune in!

The Podcast of Reckoning recently had the chance to sit down with Josh Drescher, the Associate Producer for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Their lengthy discussion covered a lot of aspects of the upcoming Guild Beta, information we imagine you'd be keenly interested to see in print. Thankfully the GreenSkin is all over it, offering up another '50 bits of information list' culled from the podcast. Some of them are just wacky fun, but others are really interesting and give us a good sense of EA Mythic's dedication to the art of WAR. Some examples:

• The developers have joined some of the major pre-release guilds in secret, to get a better 'feel' for player interests.
• Exploring the world and engaging in multiple parts of the game will offer players a more 'well rounded' character than one who simply power-levels through the game.
• There are extensive guild tools in the game built from the ground up by and for guild leaders and members.
• The developers see the testers as a part of the team, and treats their feedback with a great deal of gravitas.
• Drescher's wedding was actually scheduled to avoid Warhammer's development period. That's dedication.

Make sure to check out the 'cast as well.

Every week, hardworking Massive gaming fans put their voices on the line to bring us news, opinions, and 'critiques' of their favorite games. Podcasts are a staple of many hobbies nowadays, and fans of online worlds are especially fortunate in this regard ... there are a ton out there.

As such, every so often we'll try to update you on the podcasting world. Keep your eyes on this space for links to your favorite MMO-commentary celebs. Good and bad, straight-man or blue-mouthed, they all have something to offer about this amazing style of gameplay.

This week we're going to revisit a highlight from a previous roundup. DDOCast is still well worth listening to, providing unique insights on a terribly under-rated game. This week, though, you've got to check it out even if you're not a Dungeons and Dragons Online fan. The reason? Buzzsaw's fantastic look at GUILD DRAMA and how to handle it. The bottom line: it's about the people, stupid!

Every week, hardworking Massive gaming fans put their voices on the line to bring us news, opinions, and 'critiques' of their favorite games. Podcasts are a staple of many hobbies nowadays, and fans of online worlds are especially fortunate in this regard ... there are a ton out there.

As such, every so often we'll try to update you on the podcasting world. Keep your eyes on this space for links to your favorite MMO-commentary celebs. Good and bad, straight-man or blue-mouthed, they all have something to offer about this amazing style of gameplay.

The featured podcast this week is a brand new addition to the VirginWorlds Collective! Called EQ IQ, it's all about the venerable EverQuest and its newfangled comrade-in-arms EQ2. Make sure to check out Brad's highly informative first episode and episode two for info on quest running and collecting. It's well worth checking out.

Massively Speaking Episode 10 runs down news and features from Massively.com for the week of June 11th - June 17th. With the Empyrean Age freshly warped through the gates, Shawn and Michael sit down with a pair of EVE Online veterans to talk all about the newest addition to CCP's game. David 'CrazyKinux' Perry, one of Massively's own writing demons is joined by his podcasting co-host Steven 'Alsedrech' Robinson (on loan from the VirginWorlds collective) for this particular conversation. Join us for some basics on this great expansion, and why even brand-new players have something to celebrate!

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 (MP3)
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[Digg] Like the show? Digg it.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
[VW] Listen at VirginWorlds.com
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Every week, hardworking Massive gaming fans put their voices on the line to bring us news, opinions, and 'critiques' of their favorite games. Podcasts are a staple of many hobbies nowadays, and fans of online worlds are especially fortunate in this regard ... there are a ton out there.

As such, every so often we'll try to update you on the podcasting world. Keep your eyes on this space for links to your favorite MMO-commentary celebs. Good and bad, straight-man or blue-mouthed, they all have something to offer about this amazing style of gameplay.

This week we'd like to single out the Official SOE podcast as well worth a listen. They're zany, they're kooky, but the Community Team at Sony Online Entertainment has the in with all of your EverQuest, EverQuest 2, Vanguard, etc. etc. needs. Check out their backlog of episodes for some really great content and more hampsters than you'd ... you know, initially think.

Massively Speaking Episode 9 runs down news and features from Massively.com for the week of June 2nd - June 10th. WoW Insider superstars Elizabeth Harper and the irrepressible Turpster join Shawn and Michael for wide-ranging show. Getting away from the very focused discussions we've had the last few weeks, the hosts cover the numerous interesting subjects that have come up in the last seven days. Turbine's future plans, the possibility of a Harry Potter MMO, the new Living Legacy promotion from SOE, and even the weird state Tabula Rasa finds itself in all go under the magnifying glass. Listen in, won't you?

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 (MP3)
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[Digg] Like the show? Digg it.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
[VW] Listen at VirginWorlds.com
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Every week, hardworking Massive gaming fans put their voices on the line to bring us news, opinions, and 'critiques' of their favorite games. Podcasts are a staple of many hobbies nowadays, and fans of online worlds are especially fortunate in this regard ... there are a ton out there.

As such, every so often we'll try to update you on the podcasting world. Keep your eyes on this space for links to your favorite MMO-commentary celebs. Good and bad, straight-man or blue-mouthed, they all have something to offer about this amazing style of gameplay.

With all the Warhammer news on the site this week, I thought it might be good to highlight a topical newcomer to the podcasting scene. Though we mourn the hiatus of Warhamma, The Greenskin's ChaosCast is a welcome addition to MMO podcasting community. Blogging wunderkins Keen, Syp, and Snafzg got together for a thoroughly enjoyable hour of Waagh!-related discussion. Make sure to check them out, and read on for the full week's update.

Massively Speaking Episode 8 runs down news and features from Massively.com for the week of May 26th - June 1st. It's a two-topic podcast, as Michael Zenke and Shawn Schuster are joined by guest hosts Cameron Sorden and WoW Insider notable Mike Schramm. We chat quite a bit about DDO Module 7, and then tackle the massive amount of stuff we've had on the site this week about Warhammer Online. Mike, Cameron, and Shawn toss around questions about the EA Mythic visit, and we speculate on the future of the genre. Join us!

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 (MP3)
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[Digg] Like the show? Digg it.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
[VW] Listen at VirginWorlds.com
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Every week, hardworking Massive gaming fans put their voices on the line to bring us news, opinions, and 'critiques' of their favorite games. Podcasts are a staple of many hobbies nowadays, and fans of online worlds are especially fortunate in this regard ... there are a ton out there.

As such, every so often we'll try to update you on the podcasting world. Keep your eyes on this space for links to your favorite MMO-commentary celebs. Good and bad, straight-man or blue-mouthed, they all have something to offer about this amazing style of gameplay.

Today we'd like to highlight a podcast that really needs no introduction. The late, lamented Games for Windows magazine had (in our opinion) probably the best podcast over at the 1up network. Though they're now running the PC games site for 1up instead of a print mag, the show goes on. Regular hosts Jeff Green, Sean Molloy, Ryan Scott, and Shawn Elliot wax philosophic each week about PC gaming, nerd TV, comics, books, and occasionally MMOs. Well worth a listen even when our favorite genre isn't on the table, it's a part of 1up's stable of generally great podcasts.

Massively Speaking Episode 7 runs down news and features from Massively.com for the week of May 19th - May 25th. Site co-lead Krystalle Voecks joins the usual hosting duo of Michael and Shawn for a very special Massively Speaking. MMO podcasting wunderkind Brent Lassi of VirginWorlds.com joins the show for a few words on what exactly VirginWorlds is! Plus we talk (last time, promise) about Age of Conan's launch, the new Wizard 101 title, and the brand-new Issue 12 content slipped into City of Heroes. Podcasting powers, activate!

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 (MP3)
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[Digg] Like the show? Digg it.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
[VW] Listen at VirginWorlds.com
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Every week, hardworking Massive gaming fans put their voices on the line to bring us news, opinions, and 'critiques' of their favorite games. Podcasts are a staple of many hobbies nowadays, and fans of online worlds are especially fortunate in this regard ... there are a ton out there.

As such, every so often we'll try to update you on the podcasting world. Keep your eyes on this space for links to your favorite MMO-commentary celebs. Good and bad, straight-man or blue-mouthed, they all have something to offer about this amazing style of gameplay.

Well worth listening to this week: Massively Speaking's fellow VirginWorlds collective member Voyages of Vanguard. VoV is one of the oldest VirginWorld podcasts, and has gone through a number of hosts over the years. Current hosts Luper and Beau have a great rapport, and are willing to really go at it in conversation if need be. This week they've got a huge argument going on the concept of raiding; thought-provoking and well worth giving a listen to.

Every week, hardworking Massive gaming fans put their voices on the line to bring us news, opinions, and 'critiques' of their favorite games. Podcasts are a staple of many hobbies nowadays, and fans of online worlds are especially fortunate in this regard ... there are a ton out there.

As such, every so often we'll try to update you on the podcasting world. Keep your eyes on this space for links to your favorite MMO-commentary celebs. Good and bad, straight-man or blue-mouthed, they all have something to offer about this amazing style of gameplay.

This week it's well worth mentioning the entire VirginWorlds network of podcasts. Started by Brent Lassi and the VirginWorlds podcast itself, the network now plays host to some 16 podcasts ranging across the entire spectrum of MMOs. If you're an MMO player, you're going to find something in the network to like. Lore, PvP, raiding ... all your bases are covered. They've even got a guy talking about about how you can interact with folks better IRL. It's worth noting that in my off hours I contribute to the collective via my personal site. So ... I'm biased.

It's still a great site, and you should definitely check it out.

Every week, hardworking Massive gaming fans put their voices on the line to bring us news, opinions, and 'critiques' of their favorite games. Podcasts are a staple of many hobbies nowadays, and fans of online worlds are especially fortunate in this regard ... there are a ton out there.

As such, every so often we'll try to update you on the podcasting world. Keep your eyes on this space for links to your favorite MMO-commentary celebs. Good and bad, straight-man or blue-mouthed, they all have something to offer about this amazing style of gameplay.

This week I want to make it a point to mention the Van Hemlock podcast, the audio companion to the really excellent Van Hemlock MMO blog. Hemlock and his cohost Jon take on the world of MMO titles with a quirky attitude, an educated perspective and (most impressively) a British accent! If you've at all enjoyed Hemlock's writing in the past, you'll equally appreciate his verbal impressions of the genre. Very much worth a listen.

Last week the Gamers with Jobs Conference Call, the website's weekly podcast, offered up an interesting piece of reader commentary. One of the GWJ forum-goers asked a question about the role of Players and NPCs in online games. Thanks to Ziff Davis' Jeff Green, the discussion turned to a semi-puerile discussion of bong-selling goblins. It was excellent. The real question they were answering was "What NPC would you be if you were in an MMO?"

That seemed like wonderfully ridiculous question, so I wanted to share it with you as well. If you were an NPC in your favorite game, who would you be? Would you be a vendor, a skills trainer, a mob, a pet, a PvP leader ... maybe even a raid boss? Share your secret NPC aspirations in the comments. For myself, I can't think of a better gig than racial Emissary to Silvermoon. Think about the benefits: self-sweeping brooms, beautiful spires, attractive women, the L70ETCs live there, occasional trips to the Outlands. Sounds like a pleasantly cushy job. Sign me the heck up.