Project 1999 Classic EverQuest: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
For the past 6 months I have had the unique privilege to go back in time and experience the magic of the original EverQuest. This is thanks to Project 1999 …
Five Films that Every MMO Designer Should Watch
For the past 15 years, virtual worlds and MMOs have been experiencing a steady inspirational decline. This once great pastime has fallen into a formulaic rut that has all but …
EverQuest 3: The Time is Now
I have always been enthralled by the original EverQuest. Being immersed in the world of Norrath was an experience that changed my life. In the past 16 years that have …
Deconstructing the Groupthink of the Reddit Echo Chamber
The myth of the Internet is that it is a revolutionary place where the public can have discussions about anything free from the heavy hand of various gatekeepers and censors. …
Open Letter to Propagandists who Masquerade as Video Game Developers
As a former video game developer, I empathize with you. I remember the long hours and time spent away from my family at the game studio where I worked. I …
Avengers: Age of Ultron Film Review
Western popular culture seems to have an enduring fascination with superheroes that permeates all forms of media. Films, comic books and video games are all about the deeds and glory …
Why I Support the Honey Badgers and #GamerGate
Liberty has always been one of the defining attributes of Western civilization. The freedom to believe or disbelieve is essential to who we are. In the marketplace of ideas, good …
The Destructive Legacy of Blizzard’s World of Warcraft
At the end of 2014, Blizzard Entertainment celebrated the 10th anniversary of World of Warcraft. There can be no doubt that WoW is a juggernaut that changed how we play …
The Decline of Social Interaction in MMORPGS – Full Interview
What follows is the full transcript of the interview I gave a University of Texas at Dallas student regarding the decline of social interaction in MMORPGs which was the basis for …
The Decline of Social Interaction in MMORPGs
A few weeks ago at BlizzCon during an interview with WoWInsider’s Anne Stickney, Blizzard’s Alex Afrasiabi — the World of Warcraft Creative Director — made a rare and frank admission. He …
New Lower Price for Elder Scrolls Online Standard Edition Available at Amazon
If you have been on the fence about trying Zenimax’s Elder Scrolls Online MMORPG because of the high price, now may be a great time to take advantage of a great …
Frogdice Reinvents the MMORPG with Stash on Kickstarter
Rarely do I ever endorse a Kickstarter project, but there is an interesting and unique MMO/RPG hybrid called Stash that I would like to recommend to my readers. Forged by …
Landmark Closed Beta Review: Bold Ideas Constrained by Designer Timidity
Watch most Twitch.tv streams that showcase SOE’s Landmark “sandbox” virtual world and you’ll see a familiar sight to those that follow the comic book and the superhero genre. You’ll see …
What it’s Like Not to Be in the EverQuest Next Landmark Alpha
Since the release of the EverQuest Next Landmark alpha in February and all the surrounding hoopla it seems that everyone is in the alpha. To be honest, I can’t think …
Elder Scrolls Online Beta Report: Another Predictable Theme Park MMO
I had the opportunity to have participated in two Elder Scrolls Online beta weekends. During the previous beta weekend I was able to devote some significant time to playing two characters …
The Curse of Groundhog Day Continues: No Dynamic Content for Pantheon MMO
In the classic film Groundhog Day, Bill Murray is forced to relive February 2nd over and over. Eventually he learns from his mistakes, perfects his strategy and wins the heart …
Brad McQuaid’s Pantheon MMO: Return of the Prodigal Son
Brad McQuaid is back. Almost 15 years after the release of EverQuest and 7 years after the release of his Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, the prodigal son of the MMO …
Belated BlizzCon 2013 WoW Impressions: Trapped in the Mind of Chris Metzen
For World of Warcraft devotees the almost annual BlizzCon love fest is like an American State of the Union address combined with the euphoria of an Amway convention. There is …
BlizzCon 2013: Can the Return of Alex Afrasiabi Save World of Warcraft?
While viewing the schedule for the upcoming BlizzCon 2013, I noticed a familiar name in the lineup of panelists: Alex Afrasiabi. It seems that Alex, missing from the public eye …
How Class Interdependence Can Build Community in EverQuest Next
One of the highest objectives a fantasy MMORPG should strive for is the creation of a vibrant and passionate community. For the player, the benefits of a robust community are …
EverQuest Next Reveal at SOE Live: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
By now most EverQuest devotees have watched the video presentations and read all of the coverage on various gaming websites about SOE's reveal of EverQuest Next in Las Vegas over …
Compendium of My EverQuest Articles
After becoming interested in the upcoming EverQuest Next being revealed at SOE Live on August 1, 2013 in Las Vegas at Planet Hollywood, I've done a lot of soul searching …
Guest Essay: Why Was EverQuest So Immersive?
In advance of Friday's big reveal of Everquest Next (rumored to be released in a playable form - presumably Beta - by the end of the year), many fans have …