editorial
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.
Vague Patch Notes: New World delays to add the game into the game
All right. Someone has to ask it, and it doesn't need to be me but it's still going to be me because I feel...
Vague Patch Notes: Don’t alter MMO systems for people who never liked them to begin with
Here's a concept that just would not leave my mind thanks to World of Warcraft, but it's not a bad thing. But in order...
Working As Intended: Decorating MMORPG houses in SWG Legends and beyond
I've been mulling over how to do a piece about MMO housing for a while now, spurred on by colleagues and readers who've said...
Vague Patch Notes: Trying to salvage MMOs from bad launches
So I'm glad that Crucible got a "pull back to beta" instead of a complete shutdown. I'm surprised but still happy because that's more...
Massively on the Go: Fun ideas for online play in Animal Crossing New Horizons
I love sandbox gameplay. I'm pretty sure a lot of you readers do too, which is probably why a good deal of us have...
The Soapbox: PvP MMOs desperately need PvE-style feedback loops
As I settled into my captain's chair for my evening visit to World of Warships the other night, I had an interesting experience. In...
The Soapbox: The world of Gloomhaven is primed to be an MMO
Anyone familiar with modern board games will immediately recognize and likely have a positive opinion on Gloomhaven. It is an absolute juggernaut in the...
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...
Massively on the Go: Exploring Pokemon Sword and Shield’s Isle of Armor expansion
I knew from the website shown at the initial announcement that Pokemon Sword and Shield's first expansion, The Isle of Armor, would be more of...
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...
Vague Patch Notes: Have we ever really had an MMO sequel?
In the wake of Justin's recent column on whether or not MMO sequels are a good idea, MOP reader Bobfish had an interesting question...
The Soapbox: Yes, here
This guest Soapbox was commissioned through MassivelyOP's original Kickstarter back in 2015; the writer has chosen to remain anonymous. The opinions in guest Soapboxes...
Vague Patch Notes: BlizzCon’s cancellation might just be for the best
After a lot of time spent expecting this particular announcement, yesterday it was finally confirmed that there will be no BlizzCon 2020. This is...
Vague Patch Notes: The endless allure of the games we never got
It's kind of weird for me to see the intensely positive reaction people have had to the concept art for the original version of Diablo...
Vague Patch Notes: Player vs. class in Final Fantasy XI
I had finally hit level 41 on Red Mage in Final Fantasy XI. That was when the world changed, and if you played the game,...
Working as Intended: The big list of City of Heroes rogue servers, 2020 edition
It's been a weird and wonderful year for City of Heroes fans. In April of 2019, the expose of a secret City of Heroes...
Working as Intended: Sparking joy in MMOs
On this week's podcast, I mentioned that I'd just finished off Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, something that superficially seems unrelated...
Vague Patch Notes: What causes the preponderance of disconnected MMO endgames?
Yesterday, I wrote a whole column about how WildStar had some really great stuff in it. I did not mention its endgame at all....
The Soapbox: The sunsetted MMORPGs I miss the most
I'm pining for the fjords.
Not in the way that would assume I'm becoming some jaded and angry MMO fan; I'm never going to stop...
