Showing posts with label Massively multiplayer online game. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Massively multiplayer online game. Show all posts

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Are MMOs becoming Anti-Social?

REDRUTH, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 25:  A youngste...Image by Getty Images via Daylife

"The truth is, MMO players have come to accept a different definition of friendship – a definition with different expectations and norms than exist in the real world. Simply put, there was an understanding of a common good in MMOs, and players worked toward achieving that goal with amazing cooperation. As time has gone on, however, the social bonding that took place in MMOs has gone with it, leaving us with a more competitive, individualistic game – one that seems to be forgetting what MM stands for in MMORPG."

Read the full article here. I think you'll enjoy it, even if you disagree.
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Thursday, July 9, 2009

Latest from Examiner

If you've kept up on things, you've seen the news about Book 8. I've even made some private confessions about LOTRO recently. Turbine is offering a...
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For those who like MMOFPS's, Global Agenda's first closed beta phase is currently slated to begin on July 24th. If you're not in Alpha, and haven't...
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Outspark has opened up beta registration for a new MMO: Dance Groove. Little is known yet about the title, other than it'll be a dancing/rhythm based...
On July 11th, Fallen Earth will be holding a special 3 hour stress test contest. During this time, if you are logged in at least a half hour, you have...
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They guard over the knowledge of the Elves and care for nature’s well-being. But the call to arms echoes through the forests of Taborea and they...
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Eagerly awaiting Champions Online? Want the perfect system for it? Well now you can get ready, because the system specifications for Champions Online...
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Although Age of Conan is the butt of jokes in the MMO world, there's something going on at Funcom, to not only entice players to come back, but to...
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Turbine announced today that its digital expansion for Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited will be launching on August 4th for paid VIPs,...
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It was discovered on the PTR before Blizzard confirmed it, but it's there anyway: players will be able to learn Cold Weather Flying at level 68 in...
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Turbine has launched yet another Lord of the Rings Online contest: this time, to design a horse. Using the horse template (previewed here),...
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Friday, July 3, 2009

Why I'm not concerned about Cataclysm

Ever since someone caught wind of it, it's been hot news: Blizzard trademarked Cataclysm.

It seems everywhere I turn, people are jumping up and down, citing wowwiki about how this must be the next Blizzard expansion, focused on the Great Sundering. The first speculation was actually about Blizzard's new MMO IP, but as soon as some WoW fanboi caught hold of it, that was forgotten. Especially since "wowcataclysm.com" has shifted to GoDaddy's hands.

... seriously? There wasn't a "wowtheburningcrusade.com" or a "wowwrathofthelichking.com." Blizzard always hosts these sites on official Blizzard domains, not some poorly trademarked website.

I'm not deigning to report on this rumormill any more than I tweet about the deaths of Jackson, Fawcett, McMahon, or Mays.

Why?

First of all, the Cataclysm - which happened long before the World of Warcraft as we know it - would make an absurd basis for an expansion. While we do generally expect an expansion geared toward the Maelstrom - there have already been hints about it - why name the game after the event of WoW ancient history? As the already leaked info stated, it's probably going to go under some name involving Tides or Depths.

If anything WoW related, Cataclysm is a code name, I'm sure.

And if it is the next expansion? woop. We knew the next expansion would be maelstrom, and it's not like Blizzard is going to give us any details anytime soon anyway.
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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Free Realms Chapter 1 Walkthrough


The first epic storyline quest of Free Realms, the Chapter 1 series reveals the darker story beneath Free Realms' lore. Chapter 1 is a story about royalty, sisterhood, and betrayal. Here's a guide to walk you through the quest series.

Even if you're not a Free Realms player, I encourage you to glance through the walkthrough, and see that SOE did manage to put a storyline in the game that isn't "kiddish." Free Realms is not just a happy-dunky-dory place.

Read on at Bright Hub!
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Monday, June 29, 2009

No End Game for MMO Devs

Whenever human beings gather, you will find them indulging in a favorite hobby: Humbling the mighty. The only thing we love more than being fans of someone is tearing that someone to shreds. Especially on the internet.

In video games, particularly MMOs, the phenomenon is such a regular occurrence that we should expect to see it once a year like some kind of unholy groundhog day. In the past few years, we’ve seen it happen to Jeff Anderson, Brad McQuaid, Bill Roper, Richard Garriott, and Mark Jacobs, among others. All five of those guys were strongly associated with their studios. All five were hit professionally, for varying reasons with varying degrees of culpability, and then shredded by the chattering classes with a savagery normally exhibited by feral cats and Walmart shoppers going after flatscreen TVs.

But these are MMO people, and there’s no such thing as a final chapter in an MMO. Jeff and Bill are already back in action. Brad has launched a blog, en route to his comeback. Richard Garriott has several new hobbies. Mark is not the type to sit quietly and fade away.

So, what creates these dramas with their multiple acts?

Read this great piece by Sanya Weathers over on MMORPG.com. Gives a really good insight as to what the MMO industry is like.

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Sunday, June 28, 2009

Free Realms Brawler Guide


Posted on Bright Hub:

If being tough and looking cool are your thing, being a brawler in Free Realms might be for you. One of only two combat jobs that are free to play, the brawler is sometimes difficult to level. If you'd like help, read this guide!

Keep Reading. . .

Friday, June 26, 2009

MMO Playing equivalent to parenting

That’s when it hit me: I just changed my character’s pants.
What Level is Your Daughter? The WoW Method for Raising Kids and MMO Characters

This was a really interesting read by one of my fellow writers on Bright Hub. He compares levelling in an MMO to parenting a child. No, that's not saying you'll make a great parent if you play WoW - it's just an interesting concept to compare your budding character to a budding young life.

Go read it!
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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

WonderKing beta begins July 9, official website open


Posted on Examiner:

WonderKing, a side scrolling free-to-play MMORPG by ndoors, has launched its official website, and announced that it will be launching its beta on July 9th. If you have any interest in playing or testing WonderKing, head on over and register an account for a chance to get a beta key (those who registered on the teaser site will be getting a beta key in their email.)

Read on...

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Lord of the Rings Online: Book 8 released today


Posted on Examiner:

This morning, Turbine brought down the Lord of the Rings Online servers to apply the update for Book 8: Scourge of Khazad-Dûm.

Read on. . .

Monday, June 22, 2009

World of Warcraft: Crusader's Coliseum, Wintergrasp, and other 3.2 changes


Posted on Examiner:

Blizzard has released a preview page for the new raid, Crusader's Coliseum, that will appear in patch 3.2 for World of Warcraft.

In addition, Blizzard's confirmed a couple other upcoming changes for patch 3.2:

Read on . . .

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Fallen Earth Stress Test begins June 23

Fallen Earth faction allegiancesImage via Wikipedia

Posted on Examiner:

If you're one of the many people who has been looking forward to Fallen Earth, a first person shooter MMO, now is your time to get into beta - maybe.

Read on. . .
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Free Realms: 6/22 update, guilds added


Posted on Examiner:

Sony Online Entertainment has brought a huge update to Free Realms today. Not only did they offer a patch with bug fixes and new content, they also added guilds!

Read on. . .

An early glimpse at Aion


Posted on Examiner:

This weekend launched the second beta preview event of Aion, the newest fantasy MMORPG by NCSoft. This time, the NDA was lifted, and I got to experience the beautiful world waiting past the login screen.

Read more!

World of Warcraft: Midsummer Fire Festival

CPG Midsummer Fire Festival socialImage by ulalume via Flickr

Posted on Examiner:

World of Warcraft has begun its annual summer event, the Midsummer Fire Festival. Celebrating the summer solstice, the Fire Festival will run from June 21 until July 4.

Read more!
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Free Realms Chef Guide


Posted on Bright Hub:

Chefs in Free Realms enjoy the hard work of gathering ingredients, preparing and cooking them, and then finally enjoy the fruits of their labor. Get the "scoop" on how to prepare and make useful foods as a chef here.

Read on!

Also, if you haven't checked them out yet, check out my Free Realms Pet Trainer Guide and my Guide to what you get for being a member in Free Realms.
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Saturday, June 20, 2009

Who the heck are you?

Early Synthetic World: Ultima OnlineImage via Wikipedia

I've been on the blogosphere, and the web, as a writer for a while. Nonetheless, when you start up a new place to yak, your credibility is in doubt, and people more than anything want to know "who the heck are you?"

So here's the blunt facts:

I'm Jaime Skelton. Mostly, I write, and it's about video games. I started realizing I had a nack for it in 2007, but I didn't really crack into the industry until this past year.

My old gaming blog (which I refuse to update any longer, I have too many issues with the company) is Venus Gaming.

I currently write for Examiner as the Salt Lake MMORPG Examiner.

I also write for BrightHub in their MMO Channel.

Some of my gaming work can also be found on Associated Content, although I rarely publish there now due to my other writing contracts and interests.

Although I've been writing about MMOs only briefly, I've been playing them since the days of Ultima Online. I've been betaing MMOs since EverQuest (yes, the original.) And I've been gaming for over 20 years.

So cheers, and welcome to my thought dump for gaming.
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