Subscription MMOs are generally those that restrict play to gamers who pay an ongoing fee, usually monthly, though shorter and longer subscriptions, as well as lifetime subs, do exist. Some free-to-play and buy-to-play games also include optional subscriptions.
subscription
LOTRO Legendarium: The first year of LOTRO’s operation
It was April 24th, 2007. World of Warcraft players were deep into The Burning Crusade, SOE had just launched Vanguard, and the indie MMO...
The Daily Grind: Which MMO has the best sound design?
I've long held the opinion that one of the most underrated elements of effective MMORPGs is a really good sound design. I'm not just...
WoW Factor: Is Age of Darkness really the next expansion, and is it what we want and need?
First of all, let's just get this out of the way right off the bat: It is possible that this column will contain spoilers...
Massively Overthinking: Our favorite MMORPG zones of all time
I once heard it said that a popular studio - I think it was Blizzard - made it a point of asking prospective developers...
Vague Patch Notes: Keeping it simple, oversimplification, and MMO design
People who have read my work for a while know that I really like tabletop roleplaying, and I have copies of two of my...
Final Fantasy XIV is rolling out another live letter in two weeks
Sunday will be the one-month anniversary of Final Fantasy XIV's third expansion launching into early access, which means that players have been deep into...
SuperData June 2019: WoW’s back in the top 10 as Overwatch players have spent $1B on in-game content
There's good news for MMOs in the June SuperData video games global revenue charts, most notably the fact that a "real" MMORPG has finally...
Perfect Ten: Great MMOs that will run just fine on your old computer
The other day a friend was telling me that he used to play EverQuest Online Adventures very regularly back in the day, but fell...
World of Warcraft patches in more threat for tanks and Azshara fixes
Do you find it just a little bit harder as a tank to keep threat consistently in World of Warcraft? It might not just...
Massively OP Podcast Episode 230: A tale of geeks and gamers (and the Legends of Aria interview)
Justin and Bree are joined by Legends of Aria's Derek Brinkmann for a deep-dive into the launch patch, plus we discuss Villagers & Heroes, SWTOR, Neverwinter, DCUO, and WoW, with a mailbag topic about City of Heroes' spiritual successors.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Why Guild Wars 2 is the ideal starter MMO
When I met my wife, she was a console gamer, but she had never played an MMO. She was interested in giving some of...
Rumor: Supposed expansion leak claims World of Warcraft is heading toward an Age of Darkness
Many World of Warcraft players are dying to know what's the future for this fantasy MMO and don't want to wait until this November's...
Camelot Unchained updates backers on progress, including on body models
Work on Camelot Unchained continues as the game has officially crossed the first anniversary of its beta one. In the MMO's latest weekly update,...
Blight’s alpha is a portal to a ‘cruel, harsh’ PvP world
Do you feel as though too many MMOs have a soft underbelly these days? Then you may wish to cut your teeth on an...
Final Fantasy XIV releases the long-awaited Viera and Hrothgar name conventions
Here's something fun for the Final Fantasy XIV players wondering about a lore-appropriate name for a Viera: If you changed the character but haven't...
The MOP Up: Ragnarok Online EU is relaunching
Ragnarok Online is changing hands in Europe, and as part of that, the long-running fantasy MMO is relaunching with a different spin under 4game....
Jukebox Heroes: The best of FFXIV Shadowbringers’ soundtrack
I don't see a lot of chatter about it, but from talking with some of my Final Fantasy XIV-playing friends, Stormblood was at best...
One Shots: Playing favorites
Oh sure, we all say that we're impartial and we love all our alts the same... but admit it, there is one race that...
Storyboard: Never forget that all MMO lore is made up
Let's take a trip back to the dewy slopes of June 2006, when Chris Metzen addressed the question of how the lore of the...
Blizzard co-founder Frank Pearce departs the studio
When Blizzard Entertainment was created in 1991, three men were at the center of this new venture: Michael Morhaime, Allen Adham, and Frank Pearce....
