science
NASA teams up with Epic’s Fortnite and Microsoft’s Minecraft to stream the April 8 solar eclipse
If you somehow don't know about the solar eclipse this coming Monday, then you're probably not in the US since that's all anyone here...
For Science: EVE Online’s Project Discovery initiative opens signups for mobile testing
At EVE Fanfest last fall, CCP Games announced that its latest Project Discovery push would essentially set EVE Online players to training AI in...
Vague Patch Notes: The limits of data in MMORPGs
Yesterday, I went on a rant about data. As you probably guessed from the various columns wherein I attempt to use data to analyze...
WoW Factor: Blizzard didn’t reveal World of Warcraft sub numbers – it drew a Mystery Line
It will not surprise anyone reading this to learn that there are things which upset me. This is just part of being a human...
PSA: Valheim’s Discord and two Iron Gate Discord accounts have apparently been hacked
Bad news bears for survival sandbox Valheim tonight, as apparently hackers have taken over the game's Discord - as well as some of the...
GDC’s 2024 industry survey: Game devs weigh in on AI, layoffs, unionization, RTO, and more
Every year, GDC conducts an industry-wide survey of game developers and compiles the results in its State of the Game Industry, the 2024 edition...
Study finds social media game ads don’t properly disclose the existence of lockboxes and in-game purchases
A recent study conducted by legal expert and lockbox researcher Leon Y. Xiao has been completed and it finds that lockbox disclosures in social...
Wisdom of Nym: The highs and lows of Final Fantasy XIV’s 2024 Tokyo fan festival
There's a certain dramatic irony in the idea that as the Tokyo fan festival started winding up the Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail hype, the...
A look back at the MMO and gaming science topics of 2023
This month marks MOP's ninth consecutive year covering science-related news specific to MMORPGs and MMOs, but like last year, there wasn't nearly as much...
Warframe of Mind: The wonders of Whispers in the Walls, launching December 13
It's almost here! Warframe's anticipated Whispers in the Walls is launching tomorrow, and I'll finally get to delve in. After learning more about it...
Video game trade association says most people want video games for Christmas, huh
When I asked my kids to write me out their Christmas wish lists this year, they both turned in lists with games and game...
The Daily Grind: What was the best event in the MMO genre in 2023?
We used to run this Daily Grind as an award but canned it when we had a hard time summoning enough really stellar events...
What’s the most cost-effective inventory option in Lord of the Rings Online? One blogger’s done the math
Lord of the Rings Online blogger and guide-maker extraordinaire FibroJedi has pubbed a super useful post this week we just have to highlight because...
The Stream Team: Big spaceship time with a friend in Star Trek Online
MOP's Chris has once more heard the siren song of Star Trek Online, particularly since his Porg Squadron family has been getting into the...
Quantic Foundry’s survey examines the motivations of gamers drawn to sci-fi settings
Quantic Foundry - aka the Nick Yee-backed analytics company that's most well-known for its Gamer Motivation Model - has shared some responses from an...
Flameseeker Chronicles: Five Guild Wars 2 event farms to combat your labyrinth letdown
My favorite thing about Guild Wars 2's Shadow of the Mad King Halloween event is the Mad King's Labyrinth. There's nothing quite like it,...
Vague Patch Notes: So what are MMORPGs meant to be?
I don't know exactly why I've spent so much time this year fixating on the question about what MMORPGs are meant to be and...
Diablo IV serves up ‘Nightmare Fuel’ audio experience in order to induce thematic lucid dreaming
The marketing team behind Diablo IV continues to prove it's either extremely creative or taking some extremely powerful substances. The latest marketing stunt from...
The MOP Up: Dark Age of Camelot sees ‘incredible RvR’ thanks to Halloween event
Don't count an old horse out of the race just yet. Dark Age of Camelot said that its currently running Crossroads Covenant event is...
Perfect Ten: Myths about balance in MMOs
For some MMO players, "balance" is a dirty word. And I'm not going to lie, I can hardly blame them. If you're not a...
