Category Archives: Console Gaming

What’s that monthly fee really buying you?

Posted on October 9, 2009 by SynCaine

Two different yet related items have sparked this post about why we pay a monthly fee; the upcoming release of Cities XL and Tobold’s re-review of WoW. Cities XL because some are questioning why they would need to pay monthly … Continue reading →

Posted in Asheron's Call, Civilization Series, Console Gaming, Darkfall Online, EQ2, EVE Online, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, Patch Notes, Rant, Ultima Online, World of Warcraft | 36 Comments

Level one, and god-mode already?

Posted on September 11, 2009 by SynCaine

Why do we assume the first mob we fight in an MMO should be an easy kill? I’m serious, how many MMOs can you name where the first mob you face has a legitimate chance to kill you? I mentioned … Continue reading →

Posted in Console Gaming, Darkfall Online, EQ2, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, Rant, Ultima Online, World of Warcraft | 35 Comments

Long list of SOE hate.

Posted on February 17, 2009 by SynCaine

Can someone explain to me why some people think SOE is going to push the MMO genre forward? I keep hearing about how SOE is the company that is going to finally get us out of the WoW-too rut the … Continue reading →

Posted in Console Gaming, EQ2, MMO design, Pirates of the Burning Sea, Ultima Online, Vanguard | 29 Comments

Storms, tourist, and failure: The MMO market

Posted on February 6, 2009 by SynCaine

2009 is not 2004, yet after reading this post over at TAGN, it sure seems that way. Let’s define the environment WoW launched in first, because John’s recount seems to have forgotten a few minor details. 1) EQ2 launched just … Continue reading →

Posted in Asheron's Call, Console Gaming, Dark Age of Camelot, EQ2, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, Rant, Ultima Online, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 49 Comments

Fallout 3, youtube, forums, and RvR.

Posted on December 8, 2008 by SynCaine

So many topics, so little time. Well not really, I have all day, but wall of text crits are not always cool, so I’ll try to be brief with everything. First up, the internet gets butthurt over a youtube video. … Continue reading →

Posted in Console Gaming, Fallout 3, Rant, RvR, Warhammer Online | 4 Comments

Late to the party, my initial thoughts on Fallout 3.

Posted on December 1, 2008 by SynCaine

I’ve finally gotten around to playing Fallout 3, and my god is the game amazing. It just does so many things right, and while it has some flaws, it overall feels just so complete. It’s smart, keeps you guessing, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Console Gaming, Random | 12 Comments

MMO natural selection, and what it means to your game.

Posted on November 19, 2008 by SynCaine

In the most recent SUWT podcast (always good stuff btw), the crew got off on a tangent when talking about the cultural differences between players of EVE Online and WoW. EVE players embrace scams, trickery, underhandedness, and generally resent any … Continue reading →

Posted in Console Gaming, EVE Online, MMO design, Podcast, Rant, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 27 Comments

Wheel of Time MMO, WHOOO!!!

Posted on November 12, 2008 by SynCaine

While I would love for this to be the next baby jesus of MMO gaming, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say this might not deliver exactly what I want in an MMO… Super optimism aside, … Continue reading →

Posted in Console Gaming, Random | 20 Comments

Not WoW burnout, MMO burnout.

Posted on August 26, 2008 by SynCaine

Darren has released Shut Up. We’re Talking #32, and the podcast focuses on Warhammer Online and the recent back and forth debate about the game and its place in MMO land. It’s a great show and well worth a listen. … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Console Gaming, Dark Age of Camelot, MMO design, Podcast, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 21 Comments

Civ Revolution = Civ for dummies.

Posted on July 8, 2008 by SynCaine

Reason why Civilization: Revolution does absolutely nothing for me. “…its injection of pace makes for a more exciting – if marginally less cerebral – strategy game.” – X360 Magazine UK As I wrote a while ago, it’s basically a kid’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Civilization Series, Console Gaming | 13 Comments