Andy McAdams
Andy is lifelong gamer and Virtual World believer to the chagrin of almost everyone around him. When he's not slinging features as a product development professional, he's embracing his inner MMO Nomad visiting whatever virtual world strikes his fancy. He's the writer of Lawful Neutral column, covering business and legal issues in the MMO industry.
The Soapbox: Where does WoW need to go beyond Shadowlands?
This expansion hype cycle, I've heard more about how to customize your character and less about raids than any other WoW expansion in recent memory, and I can't see that as anything other than good.
Lawful Neutral: No really, who owns Jagex and RuneScape?
RuneScape is one of those games that always seems to fly under my radar. It's not intentional, and I don't have anything especially against...
The Soapbox: No, forced grouping in MMOs isn’t ‘social’
Thinking back to high school, I'm awash in memories of the many deep, meaningful relationships that spawned as a result of being forced to...
First impressions of Fallout 76 Wastelanders from a true newbie to the game
So I did something completely unexpected: I bought Fallout 76. It wasn't my idea. A few people in my guild had been talking about...
Lawful Neutral: Leakers, trade secrets, and lawsuits in the online gaming world
In recent years, you might have noticed a new type of lawsuit coming out of game companies, as some of the more litigation-happy studios...
Lawful Neutral: Cheating, copyright law, and the WoW Glider lawsuit
I have fond memories of using the Game Genie on my NES. To my seven-year-old self, it was a godsend. So many Nintendo games...
Lawful Neutral: Examining the infamous MMO lockbox, 2020 edition
I have a soft spot for paranormal horror. I love movies about demons, ghosts, hauntings, possessions. There's one particular movie from the early aughts...
Lawful Neutral: Examining DDoS attacks and their impact on MMOs
When I was younger, used to play with LEGOs with my cousins all the time. We'd spend time creating huge houses and vehicles that...
Lawful Neutral: Examining the ArcheAge class action lawsuit – and what it means for gamers
Gamers threaten lawsuits a lot. Most of the time they threaten lawsuits over things that aren't really something they can sue over, usually due...
Lawful Neutral: A look back at the MMO industry’s law dramas of 2019
It's hard to believe that 2019 is almost over. Not necessarily unwelcome, but hard to believe. 2019 has been a year in more ways...
MMO Burnout: Pokemon Sword and Shield is fun but not innovative
I have a vivid memory from when I was younger - about 12 or so - of walking through the local Walmart with my...
Lawful Neutral: When Marvel sued NCsoft over City of Heroes
One of the biggest MMORPG genre stories over the last year has been the ongoing saga/drama around the bizarre but very much welcomed rebirth...
Lawful Neutral: What’s China really worth to the Western gaming industry?
You know what we never talk about these days? China and video games! We should do that more. For example, did you know that...
Lawful Neutral: Endorsements, disclosures, and the games industry
Infomercials are the worst. There's nothing quite as infuriating as turning on the TV only to find a 30-minute commercial about how people can't...
Lawful Neutral: Examining Ashes of Creation’s controversial referral program
I have a really hard time taking anything seriously that refers to money as "bucks." You'll recall that I opened the Lawful Neutral column...
The Soapbox: There is no MMO that can fix a broken MMO community
We've heard again and again how the recently launched World of Warcraft: Classic was going to "fix" the MMO community by stripping away modern...
First impressions: WoW Classic is fun but anachronistic
I'm not really one to follow trends or scamper along the zergeist (a combination of zerg and zeitgiest that I've decided perfectly encapsulates the...
Lawful Neutral: The long fall of Project Copernicus’ 38 Studios
There are some MMO stories that are just unbelievable. They are so warped convoluted and confusing that we think there's no possible way it...
Lawful Neutral: Money laundering and micro-laundering in the MMO industry
Previously on Lawful Neutral, we talked about currency and how video game companies try very hard to not be classified as a currency because...
Lawful Neutral: Mr. Krabs’ Wacky Bucks and currency in online games
I used to watch Spongebob religiously. I loved the days when I could put on Nickelodeon and have Spongebob on for hours. One of...
