Ask Massively: Giveaways, Zombies and Capturing the Spirit of Ultima Online

This week in Ask Massively, we're answering questions about the eerie silence of games as well as giveaways. We'll also be capturing the spirit of classic sandboxes as well as The Walking Dead.

Holden asked: "Why has Perpetuum disappeared from the map?" It is not something I hear about any more. It is only when I search for robot/mech desktop wallpapers that I remember it. Monoclegate was gone, but it felt like Perpetuum had disappeared from the earth. However, you can still see it on the website.

This was such a good question that we scoured the internet to find the answer before we added it to Ask Massively. Perpetuum hasn't been covered in a while because it wasn't widely covered in the media. Some speculated that the game's playerbase had declined over the past two years. However, Avatar Creations posted a blog that detailed plans for a tutorial island that will be available to novices during the winter holiday. This "island for beginners" will hopefully be enjoyed by Holden and other game fans. ).

In our Inferno Legend giveaway thread from December, BalsBigBrother1 wrote, "I thought Massively giveaways had been killed ages ago?"

They had! It was more than two years ago, actually. There were a variety of reasons for the decision to stop contests and giveaways including budget, legalities infrastructure oversaturation, as well as sheer irritation. Our network has overcome these obstacles and we're now able to offer giveaways again in limited quantities and subject to certain limitations. You can find them occasionally on Joystiq or Massively. Runescape Interested studios should contact advertise@joystiq.com to set up any large-scale key or swag giveaways, as the writing staff doesn't handle them directly anymore -- we just bring them to readers!

Joseph wrote: Can you recommend a MMORPG available or in development that has the same spirit as Ultima Online?

It depends on what you mean by the spirit of the old Ultima Online! If you're thinking of the spirit that eludes law of red-named killers who roam the countryside, and of that heart-pumping sensation you feel when you see someone at the edge, Darkfall, Mortal Online or EVE Online could be the right game the right game for you. You could even try modern Ultima Online on the Siege Perilous shard for an even-more-hardcore-than-old-school experience.

If you're looking for the spirit of an open world with a heavy focus on crafting, housing, economy, and exploration then your options are further expanded with isometric games like RuneScape, Eldevin, and Ashen Empires. Ryzom Online and Wurm Online are crafter/explorer paradises with a classic sandbox appearance.

If it's the nostalgic feel of Britannia you're looking for, then take an interest in Richard Garriott's upcoming sandbox, Shroud of the Avatar. Although it isn't exactly Ultima Online, it has Lord British's signature. Keep an eye out for new indie games like The Repopulation, Life is Feudal, and Albion Online as well as they're all said to heavily influenced by the sandbox that was the grandfather of our genre.

Joseph also wrote, Can you suggest an MMORPG that's out or coming that will capture the experience of being in The Walking Dead? A survival/crafting game that is similar to sandbox games would be ideal.

Brainssssss! Though it's not an MMO, State of Decay is definitely in the top spot among survival sandboxes suggested by my informal Massively team poll. DayZ, Infestation Survivor Stories, as well as the forthcoming Nether were added to our short list. There's many zombie games. You can always try Die2Nite which has less photorealism and more mental gameplay and survival strategy. Massively's Beau also mentioned some other games that aren't widely known in an article about our favorite undead.

Massively players can add their names to this list. What UO MMOs clones or zombies would Joseph recommend?

What should you do? Where is the MMO industry headed? How does Massively work? Is Lord British mad? Why is the edit button on a timer? Should "monoclegate" be hyphenated? Editor-in-Chief Bree Royce submits to your questions right here in Ask Massively every other Thursday. Send us your questions in the comments below or email us at ask@massively.com. Ask!