game mechanics
The Daily Grind: What are the moments in MMOs that make you feel powerful?
You know, for all the fun of going back and curbstomping low-level enemies, that doesn't make me feel powerful in an MMO. What makes...
PlanetSide 2 updates carbines and spawns on the test server while celebrating love in the live game
The latest patch to PlanetSide 2's test servers has some pretty far-reaching changes to the game's spawn system. Previously, the system didn't really direct you...
Lineage II Classic releases its Saviors update on February 27
The first major update to Lineage II Classic is arriving on February 27th, and it's got some steep new challenges for players. Four new hunting...
Vague Patch Notes: On play conditioning and the lecture of experience in MMOs
Yes, it's another week in which we talk about abstract concepts that underpin the way we play video games, this time inspired by a...
The Daily Grind: What’s the MMORPG without housing that would benefit the most from adding it?
Housing is a big and elaborate system to add into any game, and it's always an expensive system to include in terms of resources....
Closers brings its Rogue Agents update with a new season and level cap
In the Closers update dropping tonight it appears that the nights are for hunters. Hunter's Night is the name of the first part of...
Ship of Heroes updates players on leveling up, powersets to show off, and staffing
Leveling up feels easy enough in games; you get enough experience, there's a flash of light, your level goes up by one. But Ship...
Final Fantasy XIV releases Hydratos in patch 4.55 and updates its conduct rules
It's time to finish up Eureka in Final Fantasy XIV, as today marks the release of the fourth and final area, Hydratos. This final...
Fortnite unveils its Share the Love event, account linking, and Season 8 teases
Love is in the air for Fortnite, and not just from the Share the Love event running right now. Sure, that's fun in and of...
The Daily Grind: Do you have any love for jumping puzzles in MMOs?
It's hard for me to be sure exactly when MMOs decided that jumping puzzles were the thing to include as an option. Guild Wars 2 certainly...
Vague Patch Notes: Why the social penalty for open PvP in MMOs never works
One of the most important things to have when you're thinking about games and their design is reference material. It's one of the things...
The Daily Grind: Which MMO has the biggest homogeneity problem with outfits?
Every MMO has a certain upper limit on how many different outfits you can come up with. That's just the reality. And some games...
Fortnite’s newest patch adds in bottle rockets, campfires, and the wild west
Do you have a deep and unsatisfied need to tell your opponents in Fortnite that this municipal collection of residents lacks sufficient size for both...
Crowfall examines the issues of changing scoring rules mid-campaign
The nature of time-limited Campaigns in Crowfall has given rise to an interesting question of whether or not it's a good idea to patch the...
Final Fantasy XIV’s Naoki Yoshida shares more details about the reasoning behind Shadowbringers revelations
The second part of the Final Fantasy XIV fan festival trilogy has wrapped up, and Japanese gaming site Game Watch has sat down for an...
Anthem explains its Alliance and Guild systems following its second demo, with hints about something more in the sky
While Anthem is not a game that will force you to play with others, it certainly wants you to, and part of that is down to the...
Gloria Victis updates open-world PvP to target differences in nation strength
The idea of having three-faction PvP in an MMO is that when one faction is dominating, the two remaining weaker factions can team up...
Camelot Unchained’s newsletter looks at the small parts building larger things
If there's one theme to the latest Camelot Unchained newsletter (and as always, it's a lengthy newsletter), it's the reality that there are lots of...
Albion Online teases its upcoming randomized PvE dungeons throughout the game world
The next update for Albion Online is offering new paths to treasure just spawning in the world, although you're going to have to fight through...
Atlas plans to make the climb to the top less arduous for players
The development team behind Atlas is happy with the influence that hardcore players and large companies have upon the game. That's a core part of...
