Author Archives: SynCaine

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About SynCaine

Former hardcore raider turned casual gamer.

So is $60 the price point for skipping 9 years of content now? What tremendous value they place on their product.

Posted on February 26, 2014 by SynCaine

Title stole from TAGN commenter Asmiroth, because it sums up my feelings on this whole thing. Congrats, you are paying more to have less content. Or, in the situation where you want to play with all your lvl 90 friends … Continue reading →

Posted in World of Warcraft | 30 Comments

Themeparks: PvP is the filler between the cracks

Posted on February 25, 2014 by SynCaine

Wilhelm is asking if an MMO must contain PvP. It’s actually a more interesting question when you really thing about it, especially if you limit the discussion to themeparks (the answer for sandboxes has its own tab on this blog). … Continue reading →

Posted in MMO design, PvP, The Elder Scrolls Online, World of Warcraft | 27 Comments

Pathfinder Online: How low is acceptable?

Posted on February 23, 2014 by SynCaine

The newest Pathfinder Online video is out, and um… yikes. I’ve said here before that I like a lot of the ideas Pathfinder has behind it. On paper, a lot of things that I believe make a sandbox work they … Continue reading →

Posted in Pathfinder Online, Random | 6 Comments

DF:UW – A return to siege action

Posted on February 20, 2014 by SynCaine

I took part in my first siege since returning to DF:UW last night, and good times were had. The siege was over an ally’s hamlet, and the enemy included my old clan the Old Timers Guild, so it was fun … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, PvP, The Elder Scrolls Online | 10 Comments

Banished Review

Posted on February 19, 2014 by SynCaine

Banished is a title I’ve mentioned here a few times, and it was finally released yesterday. Spoiler alert: I love the game. To quickly cover some basics; Banished is a city building game set in a non-historic medieval setting. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Random, Review | 5 Comments

DF:UW – If everyone had diamonds

Posted on February 17, 2014 by SynCaine

As previously noted, Darkfall: Unholy Wars took a huge step towards becoming a sustainable sandbox with the recent increase in gear loss from PvP. As some have asked, I don’t know if it’s enough, but it’s certainly a start, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Darkfall Online, MMO design, PvP | 27 Comments

DF:UW – So you’re saying theres a chance…

Posted on February 14, 2014 by SynCaine

Added 10% durability hit (on item Max Durability), on all equipped items when the player gets ganked. /Smug PS: Resubbed.  

Posted in Darkfall Online | 27 Comments

ESO: Prediction forming is at 85%

Posted on February 14, 2014 by SynCaine

This article over at Massively by Larry Everett mirrors a lot of my most recent experience with the ESO beta, in that the first area is 100% linear, the second feels like a typical themepark zone, and the third feels … Continue reading →

Posted in Mass Media, MMO design, SW:TOR, The Elder Scrolls Online | 40 Comments

Turbine finally updates us on the continued success of their F2P conversions

Posted on February 13, 2014 by SynCaine

Instead of linking to that old PR release about how great LotRO and DDO are doing thanks to F2P, please use this updated link. F2P ALL THE WAY!

Posted in DDO, Lord of the Rings Online, Mass Media, RMT | 50 Comments

Current SOE is a time capsule from 1999

Posted on February 12, 2014 by SynCaine

Just wanted to get this down so others can keep an eye out on this trend; current day people from SOE talking is like listening to someone talk about MMOs in 1999. First we had Smed pondering if maybe player-driven … Continue reading →

Posted in FreeRealms | Comments Off on Current SOE is a time capsule from 1999