Generally used to describe MMOs from before World of Warcraft’s launch in 2004, though sometimes shortened to describe just the first few MMOs launched prior to 2000.
classic mmo
The Game Archaeologist: When World of Warcraft opened Ahn’Qiraj’s gates
This past month, Blizzard has been testing what might well be the milestone moment for World of Warcraft Classic: The Ahn'Qiraj gates event. In...
RuneScape details changes to the chat profanity filter as Jagex marks a fifth year of revenue growth
Platitudes about supporting Black lives are fine, but action is far more vital, and RuneScape is hoping to make its game friendlier for marginalized...
Vague Patch Notes: MOBAs, battle royales, and shallow genre pools in the online gaming space
This past week, Nintendo announced Pokemon Unite, and then I had to go to see a doctor because I rolled my eyes so far...
RuneScape adds a shadowy Yak Track, celebrates Pride, and offers a word on suspicious account recovery emails
Jagex just can't seem to stop fussing over Archaeology in RuneScape. This week's patch notes once again have a number of adjustments to the...
Massively OP Podcast Episode 277: All the wonder in the ‘verse
Justin and Bree discuss LOTRO, WoW Classic, Black Desert, Star Wars Squadrons, DC Universe Online, Torchlight III, and Anarchy Online, with adventures in RIFT, SWG Legends, and The Outer Worlds, and mailbag topics on LOTRO leveling, MUDs, and the next generation of MMO fans.
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...
The Game Archaeologist: The virtual worlds of the 1990s
With the increased speeds of modems and the move into 3-D space in the 1990s, some game designers thought it was a logical conclusion...
MMO Business Roundup: Richard Garriott, Square-Enix’s charity, Stadia, and Team Fortress’ racist bots
Welcome back to another quick roundup of video games business and industry news relevant for the MMO genre.
Richard Garriott: Apparently, the former icon of...
Who really owns RuneScape? A new Chinese lawsuit in the UK is poised to find out
Ah, remember 2019? Such a terrible year, made good only in hindsight. Throughout that year, we wrote about how RuneScape developer Jagex was put...
Anarchy Online celebrates 19 years with a revamped raid zone and sub promos
Wanna feel super old? Anarchy Online is celebrating its 19th year online. If you were around back then, you remember AO holding the crown...
RuneScape makes some improvements to the Grand Exchange and the mobile version
Oh hey, it's a fresh week in RuneScape! And you know what that means! Another week of patch notes! This week, the Ninja Team...
MMOs You’ve Never Heard Of: Past Fate, Damascus, Rise in Time, and Infinite Fleet
Welcome back to another quick roundup of MMOs (and MMO-adjacent titles) you've never heard of!
Remember Past Fate? It made it into this roundup last...
RuneScape fixes evil trees and ‘horribly deformed’ livestock as Jagex celebrates a $250K charity donation
Another week, another RuneScape patch. It's a tale as old as time, but as the headline alludes, this week's set of patch notes has...
Raph Koster will give more insight on Playable Worlds’ in-development MMO next year
We've been wondering just what Playable Worlds, the dev studio headed by Raph Koster, has cooking for the MMORPG world. During a an "MMO...
The Game Archaeologist: Were sequels ever a good idea for MMOs?
From movies to books to video games, sequels (and all related spin-offs) are a common sight when a property is sufficiently successful enough. Even...
Old School RuneScape’s vampire patch triggers a rollback, Jagex supports Black Lives Matter
Here's the good news for Old School RuneScape fans: The 2007-era MMO just unleashed its Darkmeyer update on the world, which "introduces the Sins...
Massively Overthinking: Deleting pieces of MMOs to save them
Two ideas floated across my virtual desk in recent weeks, neither directly relating to MMORPGs, but they put the nugget of an idea in...
Ultima Online revamps event gamemaster tools ahead of its big secret announcement later this year
It sounds as if even 23-year-old Ultima Online is benefiting from the continuing stay-at-home state of many players, as the game's latest newsletter declares...
RuneScape makes changes to the player-owned farm tutorial and Kalphite King in this week’s patch
The weekly update post from RuneScape this week is a little bit thin on things to talk about. That's not to say there aren't...
Perfect Ten: An entirely accurate and unassailable history of pet classes in MMORPGs
Pet classes! They're a very important part of MMORPGs, the opportunity to not just go into combat alone but to march in alongside a...
