MMOs on the Bubble

I don’t play every MMO that comes out – not by a longshot. But, I follow a lot of gamers, streamers, and game developers, and between me and them, I see a lot of discussion about the new MMOs that come down the pike. Crowfall was released a couple of weeks ago. Suddenly, everyone was talking about it. And then, suddenly everyone was not. What did it all mean? I asked Google Trends to help me analyze searches for a dozen or so MMOs to help understand what all was going on with MMOs today. ...

August 7, 2021 · 7 min · 1474 words · Tipa

New World: FOMO or FOTM?

Amazon’s new MMO, “New World”, comes out soon. Everyone is excited – but I don’t know if I’m ready for a new MMO commitment.

July 22, 2021 · 6 min · 1126 words · Tipa

Blaugust #7: Be The Best that Ever Was

I’m still catching up on the Blaugust “Promptapalooza” prompts that I missed during the clean up after Tropical Storm Isaias. Today’s prompt comes from Stingite over at The Friendly Necromancer, who asks: What skill do you want to improve the most? This is kind of an aspirational question, I guess. Truth is, if you want to build a skill, there’s no better time to start. Just recently on this blog, I was whining about how terrible I was at painting miniatures and dragging my feet on painting the Gloomhaven ones. Commenter Jeromai gave me some good starting tips, and I just went out and painted some minis. They didn’t turn out great, but every time, I learn a little more. ...

August 13, 2020 · 4 min · 806 words · Tipa

Blaugust #11: What We've Lost Along the Way

This prompt comes at a really good (or bad) time, because I am deep right now into thinking back on the past couple of decades when my life has been lived around and within online gaming, bar the occasional break from it all. SDWeasel at Unidentified Signal Source asks: What’s something you’ve lost along the way that you would love to have back? Spur of the moment? What’s on my mind right now? I’d like to have Brian “Psychochild” Green back. ...

August 12, 2020 · 3 min · 429 words · Tipa

Favorite Game Series #2: EverQuest

Before you start objecting to having an MMO up this far, I’m just going to present my bona fides: There’s a TON of games in the EverQuest series, and I’ve played most of them. EverQuest itself, obviously. EverQuest Online Adventures for the PS2? I have it. Champions of Norrath and its sequel, Champions: Return to Arms (which admittedly, did away with the EverQuest branding on its packaging)? I have them. Lords of Norrath, the RTS? Have it, played it. EverQuest pencil-and-paper RPG? Have it, ran a campaign in it as DM. EverQuest 2? Please. Landmark? Paid the hundred bucks, played it. ...

April 30, 2020 · 2 min · 303 words · Tipa