game mechanics
Crowfall shows off its new and improved lobby screen
Ah, the noble lobby! The place where you wait for something interesting to happen! Who doesn't love the lobby? The answer is probably just...
MapleStory 2 shows off a developer run of the Shadow Altar dungeon
The next major patch for MapleStory 2 lands on November 8th and brings with it a nice helping of new content, but what will...
Blizzard talks up ‘meaningful choices’ in World of Warcraft’s story
Did you still have any hopes about the story of World of Warcraft in this expansion? Did you think the writers would somehow pull...
Netease talks up Diablo Immortal to Chinese fans and onlookers
While American fans at this weekend's BlizzCon went into full-on meltdown mode, NetEase was also telling Chinese fans about the upcoming Diablo Immortal. It...
Vague Patch Notes: The meaning of ‘meaningful’ in MMORPGs
Ironically, the term "meaningful" has a long history of not meaning much of anything with MMOs.
Back in 2015 I did a Perfect Ten about...
Here’s how The Elder Scrolls Online’s new home-building tools work
Decorating houses in MMOs is serious business. It's extremely serious business. The Elder Scrolls Online knows this, which is why the recently released update...
Ascent: Infinite Realm teases players about the PvP arena
We've all been waiting for more information about Ascent: Infinite Realm, and the most recent teases about the game confirm something very important. You...
Fallout 76’s Atom shop is in the game’s beta (but not usable just yet)
As you walk through the wasteland in the Fallout 76, be on the lookout for Atoms. Yes, with a capital letter, that's the game's...
Final Fantasy XIV previews the role-swapping abilities of Eureka Pyros
It seems fair to say that the last installment of Eureka in Final Fantasy XIV was not considered delightful by fans, but Eureka Pyros...
Surprise! Shroud of the Avatar is now officially free-to-play
Have you taken advantage of the fact that Shroud of the Avatar has gone free-to-play yet? Or are you staring at that with some...
Final Fantasy XI wants you to catch up in November
You may not be caught up to all of the leveling you can do in Final Fantasy XI, but let's be fair, there are...
SoulWorker Online improves Lilly’s character advancement with its newest patch
It's time for Lilly to get some new tricks in SoulWorker Online. Sure, she's still hopping around with a scythe, but why not get...
The Abyss sends No Man’s Sky players to the bottom of the ocean
The next major update for No Man's Sky has arrived, and it's deep. It's really deep. It's deep because its whole thing is about...
The World of Warcraft Classic demo has been cracked open and explored (somewhat)
It is probably not a surprise that players with access to the World of Warcraft Classic demo download have already cracked open the client...
The Daily Grind: What MMO has frustrated you the most with trading restrictions?
There's a good reason why the rewards for the Doman Reconstruction in Final Fantasy XIV cannot be directly traded; specifically, it's so that players...
Conan Exiles kicks off a pumpkin carving contest while planning more QOL improvements
Would you like a lovely piece of Conan Exiles art to adorn the walls of your home? Can you carve a pumpkin? If yes,...
WoW Factor: We’re all farming Nature Resistance gear now
First and foremost, I'd like to note that I am writing these columns consecutively and immediately, so all I can do is hope that...
Lord of the Rings Online patches in a higher instance difficulty with Tier 3
Don't content yourself with lower difficulties when you can really go for the gusto in Lord of the Rings Online. The latest patch introduces...
MapleStory 2 thanks players for more success while adjusting scaling mechanics
Things are working out all right for MapleStory 2 on a whole right now. The latest producer's letter notes that even as the game...
Black Desert Online improves Mirumok Ruins and asks Russian players to apply for transfers
It's patch day for Black Desert Online and today, that means the Mirumok Ruins have been substantially adjusted. The recommended attack power is lower,...