This month marks MOP’s ninth consecutive year covering science-related news specific to MMORPGs and MMOs, but like last year, there wasn’t nearly as much as the flurry of papers and politics over lockboxes, gambling, and demographics has given way to fighting back against AI’s excesses and crypto’s abuses. Indeed, our own Lawful Neutral columnist Andy dived deep into the AI morass to try to determine whether and how AI might affect our genre.
But my favorite science story of the year was once again from EVE Online, whose Project Discovery endeavor in 2023 enjoined players to help cure cancer, training AI to analyze data samples at scale in exchange for in-game perks.
Here’s our collection of the best science-related MMO articles on MOP from the year behind us. Don’t worry – there’s no quiz – but if we made one person even a hair smarter, it was worth it.
For Science: New research tries to link game choices, soft skills, and career paths
GDC’s State of the Games Industry survey once again demonstrates dev skepticism for metaverse and blockchain hokum
Leaderboard: Do you prefer first-person or third-person perspective while gaming?
The Daily Grind: Do you experience MMO ‘expansion endorphins’?
Could an AI bot do a better job as a games company CEO than an actual human?
For Science: Crit-Rate is another survey-driven attempt to match gamer personalities to games
Raph Koster predicts the future of the metaverse is a ‘virtual Machu Picchu’ – that you can leave
Vague Patch Notes: Why do people remember an MMO past that didn’t exist?
Preserving Worlds is an indie TV docuseries about preserving classic MMORPGs
World of Warships kicks off ocean conservation charity collab with Popeye for Force Blue
Lawful Neutral: How might the so-called AI revolution affect the MMO genre?
Unity adds AI tools to its asset store while Electronic Arts reasons AI generation is a ‘co-pilot’ for artists
EVE Fanfest 2023: EVE players will help cure cancer with new Project Discovery minigame
Hunters lead the pack for deaths on World of Warcraft Classic’s hardcore realms
MMO Business Roundup: MY.GAMES’ CEO, Valve’s antitrust fine, and research on China’s gaming regulations
Lawful Neutral: Reverse engineering World of Warcraft’s subscriber numbers
Diablo IV serves up ‘Nightmare Fuel’ audio experience in order to induce thematic lucid dreaming
Quantic Foundry’s survey examines the motivations of gamers drawn to sci-fi settings
What’s the most cost-effective inventory option in Lord of the Rings Online? One blogger’s done the math
Video game trade association says most people want video games for Christmas, huh
