The Massively OP Podcast in review, 2022 edition

By
Bree Royce
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4

I’m about to throw some bonkers numbers at ya: The original Massively Speaking podcast ran 331 episodes before AOL closed Joystiq for very bad no good reasons, and as of the end of 2022, we’ve added an additional 402 episodes as the Massively OP Podcast, for a grand total of 733 shows.

On a personal note: I started co-hosting Massively Speaking as Justin’s sidekick with episode 184 in January of 2012, which means I’ve been cringing at my voice on audio files just about 11 years. This year, I hit my own milestone of over 500 shows, and all jokes aside, I’m pretty darn thrilled we made it this far. Who’s up for 500 more?

To cap off 2022, we’re rounding up all of the podcasts we published over the course of the year. If you missed an episode, now you can get caught up!

Massively OP Podcast Episode 354: Catch-up roundtable and state of the site (January 4, 2022) - Justin, Bree, Tyler, and MJ discuss the 2021 MOP awards, Cryptic and PWE, Magic the Gathering Online, Fractured, Legends of Aria, Crowfall, and Book of Travels, with adventures in New World, Astroneer, Guild Wars 2, Star Trek Online, Albion Online, Star Wars Galaxies, SWTOR, LOTRO, and Elder Scrolls Online, finishing it off with a state of the site recap.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 357: Microsoft swallows Blizzard whole (January 25, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss the Microsoft Activision-Blizzard buyout, the EverQuest franchise roadmaps, Nightingale's ex-MMO status, Guild Wars 2 End of Dragons, and the Riot MMO, with adventures in LOTRO and Elder Scrolls Online, plus mailbag topics on Blizzard and games made for streaming.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 358: High Isle thing, you make my heart sing (February 1, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss Elder Scrolls Online's High Isle, Blizzard's new survival game, Global Agenda's return from the dead, PlanetSide 2's Oshur, Broken Ranks, Mortal Online 2, Zenith, and Swords of Legends Online's F2P switch, with adventures in LOTRO and ESO, plus mailbag topics on MMO lingo and The Black Death.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 359: Tearing down the faction wall (February 8, 2022) - Chris, Justin, and Bree discuss Guild Wars 2 End of Dragons, World of Warcraft, Blizzard's financials, Star Citizen's roadmap mess, Mortal Online 2's rollback, New World's merges, and Lost Ark's headstart, with adventures in WoW Classic, Zenith, LOTRO, SWG Legends, and Monster Hunter Rise, plus a mailbag topic on the future of SSG and Daybreak.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 361: A disturbance in the Force (February 22, 2022) - Justin and Larry discuss SWTOR's Legacy of the Sith, Palia's business model, LOTRO's Rangers and Ruins, DDO's new producer, and FFXIV's 2022 roadmap, with adventures in SWTOR, LOTRO, Conan Exiles, and Elder Scrolls Online, plus mailbag topics on getting back into MMOs and favorite NPCs.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 362: Eternal Winter, Eternity’s End, End of Dragons (March 1, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss Guild Wars 2 End of Dragons, Black Desert Mountain of Eternal Winter, DDO's 16th anniversary, WoW's Eternity's End, EverQuest II's level-agnostic server, and Elder Scrolls Online's account-wide achievements, with adventures in LOTRO, DDO, ESO, and Guild Wars 2, plus a voicemail on faction identity in MMOs.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 363: Cruising through Cantha (March 8, 2022) - Colin, Justin, and Bree discuss Guild Wars 2's End of Dragons launch, how the MMO industry has responded to Ukraine, SWTOR's botched LOTS rollout, Conan Chop Chop, and Swords of Legends Online's free to play rollout, with a mailbag topic on when MMO studios should pull the plug on a failed game.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 364: Turtle power! (March 15, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss Elite Dangerous console, EVE Online's P2W controversy, Guild Wars 2's turtles, and WoW's expansion reveal, with adventures in DDO, WoW Classic, SWG Legends, and GW2, plus mailbag topics on WoW free-to-play and New World's MMO pedigree.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 365: Free Middle-earth (March 22, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss LOTRO's monetization shift, NCsoft's Throne and Liberty, Albion Online, New World, Elder Scrolls Online, Elyon, and ArcheAge, with adventures in LOTRO, DDO, WoW Classic, Guild Wars 2, and SWG Legends, plus mailbag topics on SSG support and our favorite MMO zones.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 366: A blunder and a blunderbuss (March 29, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss Guild Wars 2's next expansion, New World's latest patch, Gamigo's layoffs, Black Desert, and Elyon, with adventures in LOTRO, DDO, GW2, and City of Heroes, plus mailbag topics on MMO longevity and volunteerism in MMOs.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 367: Day of the Long Charr (April 5, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss April Fools' Day around the MMO world, Black Desert's Eternal Winter, FFXIV's Newfound Adventure, E3's cancelation, World of Warcraft's expansion rumor, and dwindling hope for RIFT, with adventures in LOTRO, DDO, Guild Wars 2, and City of Heroes, plus mailbag topics on epic MMO combos and the future of New World.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 368: Morrowind and the Mirror Universe (April 12, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss Star Trek Online, movement in EverQuest and EverQuest II, RuneScape's subscription hike, Elder Scrolls Online's freebie Morrowind, and Ukraine's impact in Overwatch and Wargaming MMOs, with adventures in LOTRO, DDO, and TTRPG Hero Kids, plus a mailbag topic of virtual reality MMOs.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 369: FFXIV’s new adventure (April 19, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss FFXIV 6.1 and housing issues, Elder Scrolls Online High Isle, RIFT's update, DDO's cat people, and Richard Garriott's NFT project, with adventures in LOTRO, ESO, DDO, No Man's Sky, and SWG Legends, plus a mailbag topic on FFXIV's adventure plates.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 371: Upending the mailbag (April 26, 2022) - Justin and Bree dip into the mailbag for discussions on MMO streamlining, vehicles vs. avatars, casual-friendly economies, guild projects and progression, changes to MMOs we don't play, compelling crafting, and other cool MMO sites.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 372: Blizzard’s great mobile hope (May 10, 2022) - Justin and bree discuss Blizzard's quarterly financials, Diablo Immortal, Warcraft Arclight Rumble, Forsaken World's sunset, ZeniMax's rumored Star Wars MMO, and EVE Fanfest and its COVID outbreak, with adventures in LOTRO and SWG Legends, plus a voicemail topic on MMOs moving from fantasy to sci-fi.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 373: Bots are bad, ‘mkay? (May 17, 2022) - Just and Bree discuss Lost Ark's bots, FFXIV's mods, Star Trek Online's Stormfall, Elder Scrolls Online's High Isle, and Wrath Classic beta, with adventures in LOTRO and City of Heroes, plus a mailbag topic on Black Desert's perceived decline.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 374: Star Citizen, one decade later (May 24, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss the state of Star Citizen, Final Fantasy XI's 20th birthday, Guild Wars 2's Sky Pirates, DDO's Isle of Dread, and EVE Online's EVE Anywhere, plus a mailbag topic on struggling with single-player games in the wake of MMOs.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 375: Mail call! (May 31, 2022) - Justin and Bree dip into the mailbag to discuss the Marvel MMO, unique MMO character names, the future of MMO tech, representation in MMOs, MMO account hassles, mobile EverQuest, better roleplay tools, and expansion forgetfulness.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 376: Diablo mortal (June 7, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss Diablo Immortal, the Daybreak Marvel MMO, Kritika Online's shady resurrection, WoW's 9.2.5, and War Thunder, with adventures in SWG Legends, LOTRO, and Fallout 76, plus a voicemail on sequels to beloved MMOs.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 377: Isle thing, you make my heart sing (June 14, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss Elder Scrolls Online High Isle, FFXIV patch 6.15, Elite Dangerous Odyssey update 12, Albion Online's Into the Fray, Overwatch 2, Diablo IV, Starkeepers, and Lord of the Rings Return to Moria, with adventures in LOTRO, SWG Legends, and Life is Strange, plus mailbag topics on Diablo Immortal, opt-in flag PvP, and MMO character backstory bios.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 378: That MMO fresh start feeling (June 21, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss WoW Classic, Diablo Immortal, Neverwinter, Echo of Soul, Gloria Victis, Palia, and Marvel Heroes, with adventures in Elder Scrolls, Arcane Waters, LOTRO, and SWG Legends, plus a mailbag topic on MMOs and accessibility.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 379: Dinosaurs and Dragonflight (June 28, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss DDO's Isle of Dread, WoW Dragonflight, WoW Classic WOTLK, LOTRO, ArcheAge, No Man's Sky, and Trove, with adventures in LOTRO, SWG Leegends, and New World, plus mailbag topics on Horizons/Istaria and cool musical moments in MMOs.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 380: A TERAble way to go (July 12, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss TERA's sunset, Secret World's maintenance mode, Red Dead Online's maintenance mode, Heroes of the Storm's maintenance mode, Skull and Bones' November launch, Elder Scrolls Online's Lost Depths DLC, EverQuest II's prison server, Blizzard's Proletariat buyout, WoW's crafting overhaul, and the return of BlizzCon in 2023, with adventures in LOTRO, Fallout 76, and SWG Legends, plus a mailbag lightning round.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 381: The Soulframe of the game (July 19, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss Warframe's new sibling Soulframe, Guild Wars 2's summer roadmap, LOTRO's producer's departure, SWTOR's creative director's departure, and WoW's Dragonflight alpha, with adventures in City of Heroes, RIFT, and WoW Classic, plus a mailbag topic on truly non-instanced open world design.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 382: Wrath Classic forecasts a frosty September (July 26, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss New World's server merges, Wrath Classic's September launch, LOTROs 33.1, Pantheon's investment, and Chronicles of Elyria's mess, with adventures in RIFT, City of Heroes, and Fallout 76, plus mailbag entries on single-player games, rhythm-based MMO classes, and Firefly.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 385: Dungeons & Delays (August 16, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss NCsoft, Aion 2, Guild Wars 2, Throne & Liberty, Nightingale, Path of Exile 2, and DDO, with adventures in SWG Legends, LOTRO, and RIFT, plus mailbag topics on playable pandas and MMO housekeeping.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 386: Lord of Lord of the Rings Online (August 23, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss LOTRO's mini-expansion and IP rights, Dual Universe, Mad World, Wrath Classic's prepatch, Alganon's return, and Guild Wars 2's Steam launch, with adventures in LOTRO, CoH, SWGL, and RIFT, plus a mailbag question on Ultima Online New Legacy.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 387: Do the Dune (August 30, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss Dune Awakening, Gamescom, Destiny 2, Final Fantasy XIV Buried Memories, Elder Scrolls Online's Lost Depths, Guild Wars 2's wacky Steam launch, New World's dungeon finder, and World of Warcraft, with adventures in LOTRO plus insanity in Chimeraland.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 388: Elyon descends through finite care (September 13, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss WoW Classic's Wrath pre-patch, New World's new servers, Elyon's sunset, Bless Unleashed's sunset, EVE Online Uprising, Star Trek Online's Wil Wheaton, and Temtem's launch, with adventures in LOTRO, Guild Wars 2, and SWG Legends, with a lightning round of MMO questions from the mailbag.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 389: Grinding out them dailies (September 20, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss ArcheAge 2, WoW Classic Cataclysm, Fractured Online, LOTRO's 2023 ocean expansion, and the Wizard101 hack, with adventures in Guild Wars 2 and WoW Classic, plus meta discussion on how The Daily Grind works and how game studios handle pesky journos like us.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 390: All systems go for MMO launches (September 27, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss Star Citizen's crowdfunding, Wrath Classic's launch, Dual Universe, Mythic, Ultima Online's 25th birthday, Tibia, and LOTRO Before the Shadow, with adventures in SWG Legends and Truck Simulator, plus a voicemail topic on MMO systems proliferated across the genre.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 392: Don’t rollback my heart (October 11, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss New World's fresh start and Brimstone Sands, expansions for EverQuest and EverQuest II, the sale of My.Games, Final Fantasy XIV, Mythos, Echo of Soul, Shroud of the Avatar's huge rollback, and the Secret World TTRPG Kickstarter, with adventures in WoW and SWG Legends.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 394: To pre-patch or not to pre-patch (October 25, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss New World's Brimstone Sands, World of Warcraft's Dragonflight prepatch, LOTRO's inbound QOL improvements, City of Heroes Homecoming's big balance patch, and FFXIV's 6.25, with adventures in LOTRO, WoW, and CoH, plus a mailbag topic on useless inventory clutter in MMOs.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 396: Crowfalling (November 15, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss Crowfall, Blue Protocol, SWTOR, New World, Q3 2022 financials (for Blizzard, Pearl Abyss, Square Enix, NCsoft), and new patches (for DDO, Neverwinter, Blade and Soul, EVE Online, Guild Wars 2, Elder Scrolls Online), with a mailbag topic covering Shadowbane, Second Live, Secret World, and Ultima Online.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 398: Much ado about pie (November 29, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss WoW Dragonflight, the FTC challenge, Albion's Beyond the Veil and sub price increase, Camelot Unchained's new funding, ZeniMax's secret MMO, and Guild Wars 2's inventory, with adventures in LOTRO and New World, plus a mailbag topic on gaming mice.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 399: Dragonflight takes to the skies (December 6, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss WoW Dragonflight's launch; New World's 2023 roadmap; the sunset of Elyon and Forsaken World; new content for EverQuest II, Wizard101, Embers Adrift, Guild Wars 2, and Elite Dangerous; plus adventures in LOTRO, MOP's end-of-the-year awards, and a mailbag topic on auto-scaling in MMOs.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 400: A fireside chat with Justin and Bree (December 13, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss The Game Awards, Blue Protocol, Diablo IV, Nightingale, Wayfinder, Dune Awakening, the FTC fighting Microsoft's Activision-Blizzard merger, ZeniMax's unionization effort, and Black Desert's Calpheon Ball, plus an epic Daily Grind showdown with topics ranging from the MMO regrets to the best elves.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 401: The holly jollies (December 20, 2022) - Justin and Bree discuss MMO winter holidays, Chris Metzen's return to WoW, WoW's trading post, Blizzard still hunting for a China publisher, My.Games leaving Russia, and Elder Scrolls Online altering its annual roadmap, with a voice mail topic on the Twitch drops phenomenon.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 402: Mailbag unlimited (December 27, 2022) - Justin and Bree tackle mailbag topics including Amazon's Blue Protocol publishing deal, bad habits picked up from MMOs, MMO NPCs, wasted zones, character conceptualization, Hero Wars, gaming peripherals, books about MMOs, and MMOs as crowdsourcing tools.
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