The current atmosphere in the MMO industry is one of fierce competitiveness. Developers have slowly opened up to experiments with pricing models, new settings and gameplay mechanics just to make their game stand out from the slew of new entries on the market as well as established franchises in the genre. In the midst of all the marketing blitz and new announcements, it is easy to forget titles that never made it to release. But, for the people who followed them with enthusiasm, the cancellation of these games felt like a real fiasco.

Continue reading Cancelled MMOs I want back.

Fantasy has made it's was into MMOs through tabletop games and MUDs where it served as a popular backdrop for players' actions. It still remains the main setting woven throughout the worlds of a large chunk of online games we play today. As successful it may seem, a good portion of gamers have grown tired of the common themes recurring throughout the genre and desperately long for alternatives. Today we take a look at the upcoming MMOs that have chosen a different path and decided to shed the overused themes in order to welcome players into new and original worlds.

Continue reading Alternative Settings in MMOs.

This time, I would like to approach things from a different perspective and list several interesting MMOs that, I believe, have the potential to really engage Western audiences if done right. As a note, I tried to avoid including the better known titles such as Vindictus, Blade and Soul, Tera and others that we (pretty much) know will be released in the West.

Continue reading 3 MMOs I Want to See in the West ASAP.

Do you know that tingly kind of excitement that you get when an MMO you've been waiting for is just around the corner? There is this feeling of pleasantness in the air, like a new adventure is about to begin. We all have an upcoming game we are hyped about. Some are almost at our doorstep while others seem fairly distant but regardless, the time will come and launch day will be upon us.

Continue reading Surviving an MMO Launch.

Asian MMOs have greatly increased their presence in western markets and this trend continues with a fresh crop of next-gen games already in development and slated for international release. Most of these games are launched in their country of origin first and then exported elsewhere. One would expect for a game that already proved to be popular in one country to repeat the same accomplishment in another country with relative ease. However, that is not usually the case.

Continue reading [Topic]Asian MMOs Going Global.

With so much choice available and so many exciting announcements, it is easy to miss some of the more low-key or less famous additions to the genre. Today, we take a look at some of the upcoming original and unique MMOs that have potential but seem to be 'off-the-radar' for the majority of players.

Continue reading Off-the-Radar MMOs with Potential.

MMOs have been around for over a decade and have progressed from text-based MUDs to full blown game worlds we have. Despite this, some game play mechanics and concepts are still common in a vast majority of the games we play today. While adventuring in one online game or another, you have probably encountered a variety of characters and play styles. Today, we continue to poke fun at formed class stereotypes and things we've come to associate with them. Welcome to the second instalment of class attitudes!

Continue reading [Part 2]A Non Serious Look at Classes.

As MMOs have progressed from text-based MUDs to full blown game worlds we have today (or wish to believe that we have them), certain game play mechanics and concepts are still common in a vast majority of the games we play. While playing one online game or another, you have encountered a variety of characters and play styles. Today we take a more relaxed approach to gaming and look at what we have come to expect from and associate with certain class personalities. Ladies and gentleman, we bring you - class attitudes!

Continue reading A Non Serious Look at Classes.

The E3 Conference has recently ended taking away with it the flashy trailers, noisy parties and unfortunately, booth babes. At least we have received a constant stream of information regarding the most anticipated MMOs, SWOTOR among them.

Continue reading The Degree of Innovation in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Today we take a look at what motivates us to join guilds and structure our gaming experience around them. It is completely up to you how to make use of this information. Some of it may sound too raw, insensitive even but please keep in mind that we are talking about the core reasons for forming alliances rather than personal motivations. Read this for the sake of interest and gaining a deeper understanding of why groups work in a certain way or simply to tap into the potential of your own guild.

Continue reading Guilds: Decoding the Allure.

Which brings me to tonight's word...gamers. Who's a gamer? Who isn't? With the Wii and games like Rock Band, it's opened what was once a reclusive hobby to the light of the teeming masses. Now its trendy to like games, we're f'ing marketable!
But with more people playing games doesn't that mean we get more games to play? No. Instead we're getting bastardized versions of what were once classic games. A perpetual easy mode filled with quicktime events and mini-games.

Continue reading The World is Gamers.

In the midst of stale progression, uninspiring game mechanics and sloppy execution of game design elements, we continue to look at the glimpses of originality and refreshing gameplay that new mmo games bring with their release. Thus, the games will not be analyzed as a whole but only in terms of the standalone aspects mentioned above. Since there are quite a few games to present, there will be a follow up article soon. I did not include IP (Intellectual Property) and lore which, despite being at times quite appealing, are present in all games to a certain degree.

Continue reading Cutting Edge Part II - What do the Most Anticipated MMOs Bring to the Table?.

A look at the various innovative and unique aspects of the upcoming and highly anticipated mmo games. This article aims to look at the upcoming online games and what they have to offer in terms of inventive features and refreshing gameplay. Thus, the games will not be analyzed as a whole but only in terms of the standalone aspects mentioned above.

Continue reading Cutting Edge - What do the Most Anticipated MMOs Bring to the Table? Part I.

Despite the changing image of modern games and gaming becoming more mainstream as its accepted in everyday life, the stereotypical image of a dedicated gamer (someone who plays more than the average amount of time) is of a reclusive guy who spends a lot of his time indoors playing games whether on his pc or console. Even to this day, a large part of society still tends to think of gaming as a waste of time, treating the person indulged in this activity as somehow fickle and unable to do anything better with his/her time...

Continue reading MMO Players - Hidden Champions?.

Player vs Player (PvP) interaction has long been a large part of gameplay in the majority of MMOs. Ever since it was introduced in various MUDs (multi user text games), it has grown in popularity and became an essential part of a game for a lot of players.

Continue reading An Open World PvP Talk.