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Latest Gaia Online News Updates and Reviews Updated daily
Gaia Online : Chris Davis of Gaia Online talks MMORPG marketingJun 16, 2010 12:00:00 PM News Item: 14594
Filed under: Interviews, MMORPG industry, Free-to-play, Browser, Virtual worlds, Gaia Online
The MMORPG industry is an ever-changing, totally unpredictable universe of online games, from hot, massive fully-realized worlds like World of Warcraft or EVE to fun casual games like Farmville or the Agency: Covert Ops. Gaia Online takes a bit of a different approach by mixing a casual gaming and social worlds. We caught up with Chris Davis, a marketer for Gaia who handles sponsorship accounts, at E3 to discuss his game. He has his own unique take on MMORPGs and brand marketing, and how companies should interact with their potential consumers. Chris describes why he believes mixing marketing and gaming is good for both the user and the brand.Continue reading Chris Davis of Gaia Online talks MMORPG marketing  Chris Davis of Gaia Online talks MMORPG marketing Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST.
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Gaia Online : The Tattered Notebook: A moment with Dave GeorgesonApr 20, 2010 05:00:00 PM News Item: 14021
Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Interviews, MMORPG industry, Interviews, The Tattered Notebook
Foolish and pathetic mortals! It's another week of adventuring and mystery here in Norrath, as I, Seccia Ravenloft, have once again braved the depths of Sony Online Entertainment's inner sanctum. And by "I," I mean I sent Seraphina Brennan to do my work for me. Now who is the master and who is the slave?! Ahahahahahahaha!
For this week's column, Seraphina was able to speak with Dave "Avatar" Georgeson, the brand new EverQuest II producer. Dave is stepping in for Alan "Brenlo" Crosby, as he has moved onwards, away from my might. (Little does he know that I pursue him still with powerful Tier'dal magic, but that's a story for another time.) Some of you may know of Dave Georgenson's works, as he has been producer of SOE's PlanetSide as well as Gaia Online's ZOMG!
So come along, listen to Sera as I force her to ask questions of Dave, and listen to Dave as he answers to the avatar of my will! No producer is safe from the Tier'dal might!Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: A moment with Dave Georgeson The Tattered Notebook: A moment with Dave Georgeson Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:00:00 EST.
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Gaia Online : New Screenshots and Artwork for Heroes of GaiaDec 15, 2009 05:14:11 AM News Item: 12988
Check out the latest screenshots from Heroes of Gaia.
Gala-Net in recent times commenceed Snail Games' new free-to-play browser-based MMORPGG Heroes of Gaia on the gPotato gaming portal. Comments
Gaia Online : MMORPG Family: Virtual worlds for kidsNov 13, 2009 06:00:00 PM News Item: 12826
Filed under: Club Penguin, There, Habbo Hotel, Gaia Online, Barbie Girls, Kids, Moshi Monsters, MMORPG Family
MMORPG Family is your resource for leveling a gaming-specced family ... From tips on balancing gaming with family life to finding age-appropriate niches for every family member, MMORPG Family offers you advice on MMORPG gaming of the family, by the family and for the family.
Nestling somewhere in between MMORPGs and social networking, virtual worlds are a virtual sandlot for millions of kids worldwide. Think avatar-based chat and mini-games alongside other kids of the same age range and interests, and you'll catch the appeal of these kid-friendly destinations. While a gaming parent might consider virtual worlds mere training wheels for games still to come, kid-friendly virtual worlds seem to fit the attention spans, chatty nature and niche-y interests of kids to a T.
The sheer variety of worlds pleasingto children makes it easy for kids to find a spot where they'll want to hang out. As of early 2009, kids could choose from 112 virtual worlds designed for children and teens, according to Engage Digital Media, with more than 80 new worlds under development. The numbers of kids who've found a virtual home in these worlds rivals even the fat figures of MMORPG big dog World of Warcraft. Research firm eMarketer estimates that in the United States alone, 8 million kids hung out in virtual worlds regularly during 2008; that number is projected to swell to more than 15 million by 2013.Continue reading MMORPG Family: Virtual worlds for kids MMORPG Family: Virtual worlds for kids Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST.
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Gaia Online : Voice chat - zOMG!Oct 21, 2009 05:00:00 PM News Item: 12484
Filed under: Game mechanics, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Gaia Online
Well, yes, we are happy about this, but zOMG! is the name of the MMORPG, not an expression of our excitement. Vivox, the company that provides voice chat in quite a few of our favorite games, has added one more to their list. They've hooked up with Gaia Online to provide in game voice chat for zOMG!, their free-to-play browser based MMORPG.
"Gaia Online has defined the social web experience for millions of teens and young adults," said Rob Seaver, CEO of Vivox. "And voice is the ultimate social glue. By adding voice chat to zOMG!, Gaia Online proves, again, its commitment to providing a truly social experience for its gamers."
Vivox voice chat is live in zOMG! now for gamers to "gab to your heart's substence using the power of your own face-hole, saving valuable keystrokes for more efficient monster bashing," according to the zOMG! monthly newsletter. True to form, zOMG! has added their own twist on it as well: gamers can purchase voice fonts in the storefront to give their voice a unique twist. Congratulations to Gaia Online and Vivox for their partnership!Voice chat - zOMG! Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST.
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Gaia Online : Composer Jeremy Soule on creating the music for zOMG!Jan 22, 2009 07:00:00 PM News Item: 7950
Filed under: MMORPG industry, New titles, Browser, Casual
If you're the type of individualwho turns your game music off, to listen to your favorite mp3s while gaming, then this post is not for you. Anyone who has bought a game soundtrack in the last 15 years is most likely aware of the name Jeremy Soule. He has worked on such mega hits as Guild Wars, Oblivion, Morrowind, Company of Heroes, KOTOR, Neverwinter Nights and many more. I guess you could say he's kinda legendary.
His latest endeavor includes music for Gaia Online's zOMG! MMORPG. Worlds in Motion was fortunate enough to sit down with Soule and discuss his work on this game, and his origins in the business. Since 1994, Soule has created some amazing in-game music, so working with a Flash-based MMORPG is something new for him. He sees it as a way for more citizens to hear his work, and enjoy what he creates. Check out the entire article and his official website for more on Jeremy Soule.Composer Jeremy Soule on creating the music for zOMG! Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST. Comments
Gaia Online : Anti-Aliased: Top 5 things MMORPGs should learn in the new year pt. 2Jan 02, 2009 10:00:00 AM News Item: 7555
Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, MMORPG industry, belief, Virtual worlds, Anti-Aliased
#2 -- Balance microtransactions with game substence.
Real money trade (RMT) was big news this year. The rise of the microtransaction model was on everyone's lips. I'm not calling for a death-knell of subscription fees or anything (I like the predictability of the subscription system; I know how much I'm going to pay) but I am saying that microtransactions need to be carefully monitored.
"Just remember the first rule of actually having an avatar in an online space -- citizens want to look cool above everything else."
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This writer's suggestion: cosmetic pieces. The item doesn't have to do something to make citizens love it. Take some hints from Gaia Online, Mabinogi, and City of Heroes. Their models have proven that citizens will pay for things -- awesome abilities or not. Just remember the first rule of actually having an avatar in an online space -- citizens want to look cool above everything else.
Many citizens may not agree with John Smedley on everything he says, but he's dead on the money with ideas like toonaction figures, guild calendars and pictures, and posters with your toonon it and the official branding. Those items are amazing models, easy to produce, and a great way for an alternate revenue stream to flow into your company.
#1 -- "Kill/Quest, Level" model is a dead horse, get on with it already!
Yes! Get on with it! This is, without a doubt, in my mind, the biggest failure of the industry today. We're following along a solved formula, and it's shooting this industry in the foot. Player needs to level, gamer completes quests and kills monsters, gamer reaches next level, gamer gets new abilities, gamer uses abilities to go complete quests and kill monsters, et cetera.
We keep asking the question, "Why don't these new games seem like they're as good?" And then we begin this in-depth examination and begin checking every aspect of the game to find out why this feels like we've done it all before. The answer is taking a step back, looking at the model and exallegeing aloud, "Holy heck in a handwoven handkerchief, we have done this before!"
The factorwe keep playing single gamer games is because each one has it's own twist on the core formula. Couple that with the story and personal experience, and you get a great game. Our MMORPG industry needs to learn this fact this year -- not next year. The quest/kill, level, quest/kill model has been done and overdone. Gameplay needs to expand past this. Even reputation grinding is nothing more than the quest/kill to level system.
"The quest/kill, level, quest/kill model has been done and overdone."
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One game that has been taking off faster than a warp drive engine has been EVE Online, because it has broken from this methodology. Before you begin your complaints, yes, the grinding system is there. Doing missions to get money is the quest/kill system. What makes EVE different and attractive is that this system is not the core of the gameplay -- it is a tangent of that play. The gameplay centers around the tools offered to let users shape and mold the universe according to their wishes. Money is a requirement, but it does not only come from mining and missions; it can come from basically anything you can twist to make money. If you can dream it you can most likely do it in EVE -- that's the magic. This is why EVE is simply one of the best MMORPGs you can wrap your hands around.
2009 has a chance to be something special. With titles like Jumpgate Evolution, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Darkfall Online coming at us, this should be a very good year.
 Colin Brennan is the weekly writer of Anti-Aliased who remembered Darkfall before the rabid comment fans ripped him apart for not point outing it. When he's not writing here for , he's over running Epic Loot For All! with his insane roommates. If you want to message him, send him an e-mail at colin.brennan AT weblogsinc DOT com.Anti-Aliased: Top 5 things MMORPGs should learn in the new year pt. 2 Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Comments
Gaia Online : Gaia Online makes modest team cutsDec 17, 2008 06:00:00 PM News Item: 7291
Filed under: MMORPG industry, News items, Casual  Here's yet another news post on companies cutting back on their team, oh boy. At least with Gaia Online it's a paltry 36 team members, 16 full-time team and 20 contractors. That happens to be about 13% of the team and is attributed to the less-than expected performance of zOMG!, which had around 500k gamers in November and just hit one million. As large as that number sounds, it's being drawn from the 11 million base of Gaia Online, so, it's all relative.
There doesn't seem to be much worrying though, as the company has said they're merely preparing for a downturn in the coming year. We get the feeling that news like this is going to keep coming over the next 12-18 months, if not a little longer. Hopefully though, it's onlyshortcuts like this and not the sort of job loss that's starting to become expected at other well-known creators.
For those of you scratching your heads over this whole "zOMG!" game, look into first impressions for a glimpse into the beast, as they say.Gaia Online makes modest team cuts Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:00:00 EST. Comments
Gaia Online : zOMG! beta reaches half a million gamersDec 16, 2008 08:00:00 PM News Item: 7318
Filed under: Betas, Free-to-play, Browser, Gaia Online  Gaia Online's latest title, zOMG!, has attracted over half a million beta users, according to Worlds in Motion. This cutesy, anime-looking game was named by the gamers back in July of this year and has enjoyed tremendous success even this early in its life cycle.
zOMG! is a Flash-based browser game marketed primarily to children and teens. Players earn Gaia Gold by interacting with the Gaia website and can then spend said gold to customize their avatar. If you're interested in trying the beta or just looking for more information on what it's all about, look into our First Impression of zOMG!.%Gallery-38996%zOMG! beta reaches half a million gamers Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:00:00 EST. Comments
More Gaia Online News
(Click to read)
Nov 25, 2008 08:00:00 AMGaia Online : The Daily Grind: Web or Client based?
Sep 16, 2008 07:00:00 PMGaia Online : News From the Wider MMORPG World: September 16, 2008
Jul 29, 2008 08:00:00 PMGaia Online : Gaia Online's MMORPG is actually called zOMG! (and it's in beta now)
Jul 16, 2008 11:00:00 AMGaia Online : Gaia Online brings home the gold with the Rejected Olympics
Jul 09, 2008 10:00:00 AMGaia Online : First screenshots from Gaia Online's MMORPG
Jul 03, 2008 05:00:00 PMGaia Online : Gaia Online tees up its massively multigamer online game
Jun 18, 2008 03:00:00 PMGaia Online : The Social Gaming Summit: Casual MMORPGs and Immersive Worlds
Jun 16, 2008 11:00:00 PMGaia Online : Virtual Greats to sell celebrity likenesses
Jun 14, 2008 08:00:00 AMGaia Online : The Daily Grind: Should MMORPGGs and virtual worlds be separate?
May 15, 2008 06:30:00 PMGaia Online : Relive prom night with Gaia Online
May 14, 2008 09:30:00 AMGaia Online : ION 08: Virtual worlds for the masses
Apr 30, 2008 01:30:00 PMGaia Online : From Virtual World to MMORPG: Gaia Online
Apr 18, 2008 03:00:00 PMGaia Online : The 2008 Social Gaming Summit
Apr 17, 2008 11:30:00 AMGaia Online : Gaia Online borrows a trick from Willy Wonka
Mar 16, 2008 01:00:00 PMGaia Online : Gaia Online costs $25 million a year to run
Mar 02, 2008 12:56:00 PMGaia Online : GDC08 Highlights: The future of Virtual Worlds and the end of GDC08
Feb 19, 2008 08:42:00 PMGaia Online : GDC08: Gaia Online commenceing casual MMORPG
Feb 19, 2008 08:30:00 AMGaia Online : GDC 08: Entertainment substence convergence in online worlds
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