Tough Questions I’d Like to See Asked at BlizzCon 2010
As an observer of Blizzard for many years, I've noticed that they rarely engage or debate the public in open and independent forums. The Blizzard public relations machine runs a …
Category: MMORPGs
BlizzCon 2010 New MMO Announcement Speculation
Earlier this week, Blizzard released the Cataclysm cinematic to the public. I find this anti-climatic given the fact that BlizzCon is only a few days away. Perhaps this might …
An Examination of Risk in MMO Design
A couple of years ago something happened while I was designing the levels on a LEGO video game that I'll never forget. After the programming team added the "lives" to …
Are Chatless MMOs a Precursor to Console MMOs?
At least for me, the big appeal of participating in a MMORPG was the fact that you could interact with other people online. Not only could you band together to …
Inspired New LOTRO Video Campaign
This week Turbine launched a very new ad campaign to herald their new free to play monetization model for their MMO <a href="http://www.lotro.com/">Lord of the Rings Online</a>. Here's the ingenious …
The Great MMO Paradox: Why Success Keeps Trumping Quality
Think for just a moment, what would happen if we took the most classic sports and games of all time and asked two of today's most successful gaming companies Blizzard …
WoW Cataclysm Beta: Blizzard’s Lack of Respect for Customer Loyalty
Every two years as a WoW expansion draws nearer, it seems I have to write the same article questioning the validity of Blizzard's beta selection process. Despite pointing out …
PAX 2010 Seattle News Reports from the Blogosphere
Since I was not able to attend PAX 2010 in Seattle — actually I was a there but not allowed to purchase a one day pass — I would like …
Turned Away at PAX 2010 in Seattle
Today I showed up at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle expecting to purchase a one day ticket to see the PAX 2010 geekfest but was greeted with monster …
Reflections on the Upcoming EverQuest Next
Over the years, I've spent spent too much time obsessing about my obsession for one particular MMO: EverQuest . What is it about this enigmatic game/experience/world that keeps haunting me? …
The Emasculation of MMOs: Part 2 – Fun is for Children, Adventure is for Adults
Something has changed about the MMO experience in the past six years. Chances are you probably haven't even noticed it but you can probably feel it just the same. MMO …
The Emasculation of MMOs: Part 1 – How Convenience Replaced Risk
Twelve starving men sat down at a table. Before them was placed a sumptuous banquet. Then one of the men protested: "I don't like salt...". So in order not to …
Why the MMO Industry Needs a Real Cataclysm
Admittedly, I've fallen out of love with MMOs. After 11 years of being passionately involved in this pursuit and having the patience of a saint, the same old predictable …
The Most Important Video You’ll Watch This Year
Once upon a time as a teenager, I recall being exposed to a book called Future Shock by futurist Alvin Toffler. Along with many wild and outlandish predictions about the …
How will Turbine Capitalize on the Upcoming Hobbit Movies?
It goes without saying that Peter Jackson's Academy Award winning Lord of the Rings movies were a boon to the fantasy genre of fiction and film. Not only did …
Build It and They Will Come
Last week Raph Koster posted a controversial article entitled Are Virtual Worlds Over? It was a reply to a more readable article by Cnet's Dan Terdiman. In order to even …
Did Blizzard Borrow “Cataclysm” Concept from Conan Author?
This weekend I finally decided to start reading Robert E. Howard's sword & sorcery classic Conan the Barbarian. At one point the author felt the need to write a history …