Columns

Enjoy a run-down of our recent long-form pieces, both game-specific and more general. You might also be interested in our list of all of our columns and recurring articles. [Follow this category’s RSS feed]

WE HAVE THE TIME

The Daily Grind: How often do you change your character’s outfit in an MMO?

22
It's funny to think that back when I started doing this job, the idea of having cosmetic outfits in an MMO was actually not...

Perfect Ten: The 10 unsung heroes of the MMO user interface

18
If we ever think of an MMO's user interface, it's either when we're getting settled into a new game or when a title decides...

Casually Classic: Six reasons hardcore servers make WoW Classic worthwhile

12
The first time that I heard about the unofficial "Hardcore Classic" scene for WoW Classic, I didn't get it. The idea of voluntary permadeath...

The Daily Grind: Should MMORPG expansions always include new zones?

19
During New World's Q&A video last week, Amazon devs explained their rationale for revamping First Light instead of adding another new zone in the...

Choose My Adventure: Wrestling with disappointment, boredom, and comfort in Lost Ark’s jump start server

1
It was probably asking a lot of myself to cut through Lost Ark as quickly as possible so that I could get to the...

Not So Massively: The growing field of StarCraft II spiritual successors

5
StarCraft II ranks very highly on my list of my favourite games of all time, but while it remains popular, it is in maintenance...

The Daily Grind: What’s the most you’ve ever spent on a single MMO?

39
So Star Citizen hit $600M in crowdfunding last month, and I have questions - specifically, questions for the gamers who keep pouring money into...
No mom.

Wisdom of Nym: Open questions spawned by the Tokyo Game Show’s Final Fantasy XIV live letter

30
Thanks to the Tokyo Game Show, we've had our last Final Fantasy XIV live letter live letter before the patch, and aside from the...

The Daily Grind: Are MMORPG expansions pay-to-win or pay-to-progress?

21
Earlier this week, the New World devs put out a video that addressed, among many other things, the perception in the PvP community that...

One Shots: The best flex of all time

6
A maxim that has served me well so far in life is, "You are never too busy to stop and gawk at a sight...
Always bunnies.

The Daily Grind: What do you imagine your MMO characters get up to in their downtime?

24
We dedicated roleplayers have an edge when it comes to knowing what our characters are doing when we're not out slaying insane stuff because...

LOTRO Legendarium: Nine LOTRO secrets worth discovering

7
It's such a special blessing to discover that the MMORPG you've been playing for years -- if not decades -- can still surprise you....
One convenient location.

Betawatch: The Wagadu Chronicles is gearing up for early access this year

0
We still do not have a firm date for The Wagadu Chronicles hitting early access; all we know is that it's still on track...

EVE Fanfest 2023: The EVE Online FPS is back as EVE Vanguard this December

16
It's safe to say that EVE Online has a complicated history with first person shooters. The idea of stepping foot on the planets of...

Massively on the Go: Pokemon Go’s October events are early with tricks if not treats

0
Pokemon Go news this month feels like Christmas. We usually don't get news until days before the new month starts, if that. But this...
Cutty time

Global Chat: Coming around on WoW Classic’s hardcore mode

1
With World of Warcraft Hardcore Classic out for a month now, it's continuing to show no quarter while it captures the interest of prior...
NOW KISS

Vague Patch Notes: So what actually kills MMO communities?

65
Since we're busy getting a front-row seat to World of Warcraft adding the dungeon finder again, only this time it's WoW Classic, we are...

The Daily Grind: Do you complain about MMO buyables – and then buy them anyway?

16
During EG7's investor pitch video this week, Daybreak boss Ji Ham said something that leaped out at me. He was essentially trying to convince...

Massively Overthinking: Massively Overwhelming content in MMORPGs

13
This past weekend, I picked up my first premium house in Lord of the Rings Online after much hemming and hawing. I didn't expect...
Just absolute galaxy brain

WoW Factor: So Blizzard backtracked on WoW Classic’s dungeon finder

106
So in April last year, I wrote a whole article about how World of Warcraft's development team was taking a gigantic misstep when it...