editorial
Casually Classic: WoW Classic’s leveling journey shows how much retail has lost its way
In the past six months, I've been tracking a very interesting conversation that's arisen over what the MMORPG genre as a whole has lost...
Vague Patch Notes: Why procedural generation doesn’t solve the content problems of MMOs
Just yesterday, MOP's Justin ran down the various features that the long-canceled EverQuest Next promised before its demise - including the promise of all...
Vague Patch Notes: Why people can’t just ignore things they don’t want in MMORPGs
As I often do, I'm going to start this column with a bit of history. But in this particular case, it's a bit of...
The Soapbox: The real cost of breaking trust with gamers
There's a quote going around these days in gaming spheres about trust being like a broken vase that can be fixed but will never...
MMO Burnout: Non-MMOs that scratch my MMO progression grind itch
There are plenty of reasons people play MMORPGs, whether it's to experience a story (yes, those exist), run in some PvP wars, or grind...
Vague Patch Notes: The games industry arrogance cycle, in MMOs and elsewhere
Unity has fallen. Oh, sure, the company has rolled back the worst parts of its incredibly boneheaded "give us money for your successful game"...
Casually Classic: Six reasons hardcore servers make WoW Classic worthwhile
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...
Massively on the Go: Pokemon Go’s October events are early with tricks if not treats
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...
Vague Patch Notes: So what actually kills MMO communities?
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...
Vague Patch Notes: I don’t know what the deal is with Throne & Liberty
Let me just state this outright: What in the absolute heck is supposed to be going on with Throne & Liberty at this point?...
Stick and Rudder: Chronicling CIG’s naked hostility toward Star Citizen’s long-time backers
Earlier this week, Cloud Imperium creative content lead Jared Huckaby stopped the focus of a Star Citizen Live showcase to very grumpily look through...
Vague Patch Notes: The specter of racially locked classes in MMOs and before
One of the things I've taken on multiple times in this column is the concept of gender-locked classes, which are bad, and if you...
Hands-on: Cozy game Fae Farm might strike familiar gameplay beats, but its setting is the sauce
I appreciate how a lot of my opinion of Fae Farm is going to come off reductive or as I'm damning it with faint...
Why I Play: Palia is cozy and fun, but why is it multiplayer – and where is it going?
On paper, Palia seems like it wouldn’t interest me. It is a lighthearted jaunt through a bright, cartoonish environment that involves building relationships with...
Massively on the Go: Pokemon Go’s Adventure Abounds repeats old problems while skipping Galar
Way back in 2016, we noted that Pokemon Go and Niantic could skip generations to focus on whatever was most relevant on Nintendo consoles....
Vague Patch Notes: What you leave behind in MMOs
You meant a lot to me when we knew one another. I wonder if you ever really understood that, or if I even communicated...
Massively on the Go: Pokemon Go delivered a merely average Go Fest, bugs and all
This year's Pokemon Go Global Go Fest 2023 has officially ended, and it was... OK. It could've been a lot worse. Last year's Go...
Massively on the Go: Splatoon 3’s revolving Challenges add needed spice
One thing we haven't talked about yet here in Massively on the Go is Splatoon 3's new summer-released mode, Challenges, which is somewhat more akin...
Vague Patch Notes: Internet killed the MMORPG star
If you ever need to understand why MMORPGs today look so different from how they looked back in 1997, there are a lot of...
First Impressions: Hands-on with Fae Farm’s delightfully strong opening chapters
I suspect that many readers are familiar with the moment when a game has you so completely engrossed that you forget to look up...
