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Vague Patch Notes: Solipsism and what it means for playing MMORPGs
We've been talking for the past couple of Vague Patch Notes columns about the fact that MMOs are, as a genre, defined by having...
Perfect Ten: The 10 types of tanks in MMORPGs
I've been thinking a fair bit about player archetypes lately, and that also means that I've been thinking about the variants within roles. While...
MMO Hype Train: Wayfinder is a genuinely good little RPG – but a missed opportunity to be an MMO
Look at that: I don't always talk a big talk -- sometimes I actually end up playing the game I said I will. Like...
Choose My Adventure: Throne & Liberty’s endgame blends genuine fun with intense social requirements
One could be forgiven for thinking that headline was written by somebody who just discovered MMORPGs can be grindy, but I promise that's not...
Hands-on with Lynked Banner of the Spark, an adorable roguelite with base building, crafting, and co-op
I typically gravitate towards intense, heart-pounding, combat games that go in hard and never let up. But every once-in-a-while, a game comes across my...
Wisdom of Nym: Contrasting the storytelling of Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XI
We've just started what may be the second major arc in Final Fantasy XIV... maybe. Like, the developers are understandably reluctant to commit to...
Massively on the Go: Hands-on with Super Mario Party Jamboree’s online modes
If you were somebody who thought Super Mario Party Jamboree's new modes might be Fall Guys-esque, I'm sorry to report that it isn't the...
Halloween festivities across the MMO world, 2024 edition
It's weird we keep meeting like this every single year a week before October 31st, right? A strange and unusual coincidence, perhaps even a...
Design Mockument: Alternate trinities in MMORPGs and the challenge of other roles
The trinity has been a truism of MMO design now for about as long as it wasn't. I came up during the small times...
Vague Patch Notes: The MMO world you don’t control
Last week in Vague Patch Notes, I attempted to lay out my thesis for what it means when we say MMOs require other people....
MMO Hype Train: Is Corepunk really ready for prime time?
Whenever I'm looking at a new MMORPG, there are two important hurdles it must cross to be of interest to me. The first is...
Perfect Ten: 2024’s MMO soundtrack themes ranked from worst to best
Try not to whip your head around all suspicious-like to check out the past 10 months, but 2024 has been a bonanza for MMO...
Choose My Adventure: The final push to level cap in Throne & Liberty
This is probably one of the few times in my personal history with Choose My Adventure when I hit the level cap in the...
Wisdom of Nym: The dark side of role quests in Final Fantasy XIV
I haven't been shy talking about liking the role quests that are currently available in Dawntrail. Indeed, I think that Final Fantasy XIV has...
Stick and Rudder: On CitizenCon day two, Star Citizen talked MMO design and full 1.0 release
Sure, we've had one day of CitizenCon, but what about second day? The weekend event for the 12 year-old sci-fi sandbox Star Citizen has...
Stick and Rudder: Star Citizen talks tools, gear, social features, and Squadron 42 at CitizenCon day one
It's that time of year again for fans and followers of Star Citizen to come together in-person and digitally to see what's next in...
LOTRO Legendarium: The rise and fall and rise of Mines of Moria
With Lord of the Rings Online's Angmar and Mordor progression servers looking forward to entering the first expansion sometime in December, thoughts have once...
Fight or Kite: Dungeonborne gives Elder Scrolls vibes with a hint of battle royale
Over the past couple of weeks, my gaming time hasn't been amenable to long sessions thanks to work travel, but I was prepared: I've...
Design Mockument: How might we build a Stormlight Archive MMORPG?
So when I was talking with MOP editor Bree a while back, I mentioned how one of my early ideas for the most recent...
Vague Patch Notes: MMOs rely on other people – but what does that really mean?
Now that we're done with Leveling Month in Vague Patch Notes, is there another topic I can turn into a month-and-change of column topics?...
