Loading... Daily MMO News by Jeff “Ethec” Woleslagle

Loading... A Pwn in Their Game - Ten Ton Hammer

Ethec — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:01:07 -0500

#1,213 - Why is MMO and FPS such a tough match?The idea of a Call of Duty MMO was met with a lot of hostility from the Ten Ton Hammer boards, which doesn't bode well for what will prove to be a major theme in 2010 - the persistent world shooter. Three top-tier genre benders are slated for release next year, so what can they do to capture an already listless MMOG crowd? Does the lack of story and persistence, the blistering pace, the notoriously rough-edged playerbase, or the lack of slick shooter skills play a bigger role in making the MMOFPS an uncomfortable proposition? Thoughts on this topic plus a brand new Sins of a Solar Empire feature and three new or newly rebuilt guides in today's Loading... A Pwn in Their Game.

Loading... Market Mudflation Overload - Ten Ton Hammer

Sardu — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:38:04 -0500

# 1,212 - Should level capped players directly control the new player market?One of the frequently overlooked though integral aspects of character advancement in MMOGs ties directly into whatever shape the in-game economy ultimately takes. Players obsess over seeing the hordes of currency they’ve amassed throughout the course of gameplay constantly increasing nearly as much as the almighty XP bar. While most developers carefully plot out multiple means of keeping in-game currency gains in check, more often than not MMOGs fall prey to the ugly beast otherwise known as mudflation. We take a look at this aspect of MMOG gameplay and its effects on new players today in Loading… Market Mudflation Online.

Loading... You Don't Know What You Want - Ten Ton Hammer

Shayalyn — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:40:13 -0500

Are gamers really clueless when it comes to knowing what's best for them?Most of us have been playing MMOGs for several years now, and when it comes to our games we know exactly what we want. Or do we? Developers have been delivering plenty of what gamers seem to be demanding, and yet there's a growing restlessness in the MMOG community as games launch to great fanfare only to have their popularity quickly fade. If developers are delivering what we say we want, then why aren't we satisfied? The answer lies in today's Loading... You Don't Know What You Want.

Loading... The Search for the Holy Grail - Ten Ton Hammer

B. de la Durantaye — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:58:06 -0500

Will the hunt for the perfect MMO ever end?The search for the ultimate MMOG has become almost crusade-like for thousands of gamers. A lot of these gamers come from earlier times, with fond memories of experiences that have happened a decade ago. The real question becomes, is the search all for naught, or will there be a happy ending? We explore the possibilities in Loading... The Search for the Holy Grail.

Loading... Taking a Toll - Ten Ton Hammer

Ethec — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:32:16 -0500

#1,209 - Free-to-play is a good decision for subscription MMOs past their peak.A few subscription MMOs have made a succeessful switch to the microtransaction / "freemium" pricing model. Is this the right way to turn fan-favorite games into legacy builders and even long-term earners, or are devs and publishers correct to backburner and eventually cancel games after they crest their subscription peak? Thoughts on the next step for mature MMOs and a ton of great new and exclusive content (including a Star Trek Online interview you won't want to miss) in today's Loading... Taking a Toll.

Loading... The Uncooperative RPG - Ten Ton Hammer

Ethec — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:32:09 -0500

#1,208 - A look at MW2 and the state of co-op gameplay in RPGs and FPSs.Today's Loading... looks at Modern Warfare 2 and asks these questions: have first-person shooters become the nexus of cooperative gameplay, and why does every recently released RPG (MMO or otherwise) lack co-op gameplay until the highest level, if at all? That and two new key giveaways in today's Loading... The Uncooperative RPG.

Loading... Bundled Betas - Ten Ton Hammer

Sardu — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:28:55 -0500

# 1,207 - A look at adding beta offers to multi-month subscription plans

With Funcom’s recently announced incentive to revitalize interest in Age of Conan, the developer joins the swelling ranks of studios attempting to sweeten the deal on multiple month subscriptions. But are bundled beta access offers for upcoming titles all they’re cracked up to be, or simply a new take on the concept of paid betas? The latest industry trend plus a look at the changes being made in the StarCraft universe, our latest hands on impressions of Runes of Magic and much more await in today’s Loading… Bundled Betas.

Loading... Blind Rage - Ten Ton Hammer

Shayalyn — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:52:42 -0500

How far must developers go to accommodate disabled gamers?The disabled gaming community has made many strides in pushing for accessibility in MMOGs and other video games, but a recent lawsuit by a visually impaired gamer against Sony Online Entertainment looks more like a setback for disabled gamers than a leap forward. How far do developers need to go make their games accessible to all? What constitutes a reasonable request? Read on to learn more in today's Loading... Blind Rage.

Loading... For the Love of PvP - Ten Ton Hammer

B. de la Durantaye — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:40:03 -0500

#1,205 - How to make a proper PvP MMOGPvP has become such a large part of our games, and yet, disappointment with the results is abundant. Almost every game launch in the past few years has had at least some focus on PvP, and it is little wonder why. PvPers are a large, vocal audience. But why is it that no recent game has been able to hold its own for very long on the PvP field? Today we take a look at some problems and potential solutions in Loading... For the Love of PvP.

Loading... Let's Make a DLC - Ten Ton Hammer

Ethec — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:14:07 -0500

#1,204 - Premium download content is here to stay, but what's the hidden cost? Thanks to RockBand and Fallout 3, DLCs are more popular than ever, and premium download-only content may soon be coming to an MMO near you. Turbine went DLC in a big way with Dungeons and Dragons Online and next month's Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood is arguably a DLC expansion. Only paying for the areas you want to play and having instant access may be a welcome approach, but will MMO developers succomb to the temptation of intermediary currency (i.e. BioWare or MS "points")? Will we have to constantly pay for more points than we'll use? Thoughts on DLCs and pricing in today's Loading... Let's Make a DLC.

Loading... Fabled or Forgotten? - Ten Ton Hammer

Sardu — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:18:28 -0500

# 1,203 - Have holiday events taken the thunder out of anniversary celebrations?

Once upon a time in the magical land of MMOGs, in-game anniversary celebrations set the bar for what would become one of the staples of the industry in the years to follow. Much of the more recent flood of holiday themed events came into being thanks in large part to how developers formerly opted to commemorate milestones in the overall lifecycle of their creations. With two such major milestones just around the corner, we take a look at how one of these events stacks up to the celebrations of yesteryear today in Loading… Fabled or Forgotten?

Loading... DragonAge: Origins First Impressions - Ten Ton Hammer

Ethec — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:01:44 -0500

#1,202 - A spattering of thoughts on how great story can carry choppy gameplay.DragonAge: Origins is perhaps the most anticipated Fantasy RPG of the year, and with good reason. It's a BioWare game (need we say more?) and its production values are top notch, but how does its novel group-based gameplay stack up? While our full-blown review is coming next week, join us for some initial impressions of DragonAge, thoughts on whether DDO Unlimited is going a step too far by putting levels and items on sale, patch previews, and much more in today's Loading... DragonAge: Origins First Impressions.

Loading... No Bad Words - Ten Ton Hammer

Shayalyn — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:45:49 -0500

#1,201 - There are no bad words, but plenty of bad intentions.We all have different tolerance thresholds when it comes to language--what some find offensive, others shrug off. Words aren't innately bad; it's the intention behind them that matters. But are some words always derogatory, and thus people who use them always offensive? Despite a gaming culture littered with a certain offensive word, to the point that we're all but immune to it, I say yes. Read up on the latest video gaming bad word scandal in today's Loading... No Bad Words.

Loading... Dragon Age Origins - Now Available on the Everything - Ten Ton Hammer

B. de la Durantaye — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:44:37 -0500

#1,200 - How to decide on which platform to buy your gamesToday is Dragon Age: Origins Day! Even though not an official holiday, it should be. BioWare's biggest RPG hits the shelves today, and Ten Ton Hammer Executive Editor, Benjamin J. de la Durantaye, has a hard time deciding which version of the game to buy. With ports for the PC, Xbox, and PS3, the decision isn't an easy one; but in the end, will it matter?

Loading... Expansion Month? - Ten Ton Hammer

Ethec — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:31:56 -0500

#1,199 - November used to be the month of expacs... what changed?November used to be the month of MMO expansions, now it seems like every developer is angling for their own spot on a crowded release date calendar. What's behind a mostly expac-less month this year? Is December the new November? Thoughts on this topic, plus links to Brad McQuaid and Star Trek Online interviews you don't want to miss in today's Loading... Expansion Month?

Loading... When XP Is Not Enough - Ten Ton Hammer

B. de la Durantaye — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:46:43 -0400

How much xp is too much? Is there such a thing? With less and less patience from gamers now, why bother having it at all? Join us today as we mourn the loss of experience point value in Loading... When XP is Not Enough

Loading... Less Tricks, More Treats - Ten Ton Hammer

Sardu — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:34:13 -0400

#1,197 - MMOG mechanics that should go the way of the dinosaurWe all have them – the MMOG mechanics that drive us bonkers each time we see them crop up again in a newly released title. The things that leave us scratching our head and wondering if the industry has progressed at all over the years in spite of all the fancy new graphics and vaunted voice acting. Since Halloween is universally known as a time of sharing, Reuben “Sardu” Waters takes a look at a few of the MMOG mechanics that haunt him in the wee hours of the night today in Loading… Less Tricks, More Treats!

Loading... A Grind by Any Other Game - Ten Ton Hammer

Shayalyn — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:09:01 -0400

#1,196 - Can grinding be fun? It all depends on the game.Peruse any MMOG forum and you'll hear the same criticism over and over: "[Insert Game Title] is nothing but a grind." But are those words critical or merely factual? Perhaps MMOGs are a grind by their very nature. And perhaps the grind isn't such a bad thing.Join us as we explore the grind factor in today's Loading... A Grind by any other Game.

Loading... Laryngitis - Ten Ton Hammer

Ethec — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:12:31 -0400

#1,195 - Voice chat vs. text chat - fight!Voice chat has improved at a lightning pace over the past few years, yet the non-raiding, non-coop PvP MMO crowd still emphatically prefers the plain comforts of decades-old text chat. Raids and tactics aside, why can't we overcome our general chat laryngitis? Is the problem (as usual) everyone else, or are there a few things developers could do to support communication whether you prefer the chat box or the voice box? Our thoughts in Loading... Laryngitis.

Loading... The Sinking Sub - Ten Ton Hammer

Ethec — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:30:39 -0400

#1,194 - What can save the subscription model, and should it be saved?Ten to twelve years ago, players got nothing more than the ability to play an MMO and an occasional minor patch for the price of the monthly subscription. The rise of subscription-free gaming led to "content updates," free expansions, and other attempt to periodically add value to subscription games, but is there a simpler, simpler approach? Our thoughts in today's Loading... The Sinking Sub.