Category Archives: EQ2

EverQuest: The first themepark

Posted on May 16, 2011 by SynCaine

I will say this upfront so we are all on the same page, the definition of a sandbox/themepark is more opinion than science. It’s more general approach than X+Y=Z. Its shades of gray, and themeparks can have sandbox features, just … Continue reading →

Posted in Darkfall Online, EQ2, EVE Online, MMO design, Ultima Online | 15 Comments

Celebrating 12 years of themepark hate

Posted on May 12, 2011 by SynCaine

My enjoyment of virtual worlds goes back to Ultima Online, in large part because I loved the sRPG Ultima games, growing up on Ultima V and always being jealous of a friend who had a PC and had Ultima VI … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Conan, Asheron's Call, Dark Age of Camelot, Darkfall Online, EQ2, EVE Online, Inquisition Clan, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, Random, Rant, Rift, Ultima Online, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 36 Comments

SOE: Because someone has to make Blizzard look good

Posted on April 27, 2011 by SynCaine

I’m not one to kick someone when they are down… but this is pretty hilarious. Let me rephrase what SOE was trying to say: Dear not-really-valued money-source, Due to our technical incompetence, we kinda gave the internet your personal info, … Continue reading →

Posted in EQ2, FreeRealms, Mass Media, Rant, Rift, RMT | 17 Comments

Burnouts Anonymous

Posted on April 11, 2011 by SynCaine

Quick break from the PvE Sandbox series to make an observation about Rift, but no worries (you were worried, I could tell), another post in that series is coming soon. Over a month in and I’m still having a ton … Continue reading →

Posted in Dark Age of Camelot, Darkfall Online, EQ2, EVE Online, Fallen Earth, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, Rant, Rift, Ultima Online, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 27 Comments

Patching like its 1999

Posted on April 1, 2011 by SynCaine

I appreciate the rapid pace of patching. It’s impressive, even by “first month of a new MMO” standards. And as we saw with 1.1, the updates are not all just bug fixes but actual content additions. Major bonus points for … Continue reading →

Posted in Asheron's Call, EQ2, EVE Online, MMO design, Patch Notes, Rift, World of Warcraft | 7 Comments

I sense a Rift in your guild

Posted on March 17, 2011 by SynCaine

It seems the self-sacrifice that EuroGamer made for the good of our community is being forgotten, and it’s getting embarrassing. It’s been just over two years since the infamous “5 minute MMO review”, and yet here we are today, with … Continue reading →

Posted in beta, Blogroll, EQ2, EVE Online, Guild Wars, Mass Media, MMO design, Rant, Rift, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 26 Comments

Rift: MMO 3.0

Posted on February 28, 2011 by SynCaine

Let’s call UO/EQ/AC the first generation of MMOs (sorry MUDs), where both the devs and the players were total noobs, and the ‘hey this is new’ factor was off the charts. If you dialed in during the late 90s, you … Continue reading →

Posted in Darkfall Online, EQ2, MMO design, Rift, Ultima Online, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 26 Comments

Rift Beta 6: That old WoW feeling

Posted on February 4, 2011 by SynCaine

Rift beta 6 starts this weekend, and I’m actually looking forward to it even more than beta 5 (in part because I’ve learned they don’t wipe character, so Aria and I will actually get to see the 15+ish game, including … Continue reading →

Posted in beta, EQ2, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, PvP, Rift, SW:TOR, World of Warcraft | 26 Comments

Zero relation, I’m sure

Posted on January 10, 2011 by SynCaine

Blog post with the most comments? This one, about the EQ2 installer being super fast and accurate. Lum today, about SOE having some trouble with DCO related to uninstalling. Just sayin’.

Posted in beta, EQ2, Random | 7 Comments

“It seems much easier to make interesting, sandbox PvP content then it is to maintain and create PvE treadmill content”

Posted on November 30, 2010 by SynCaine

Every now and then you come across something shocking it’s just too hard to ignore. Today is one of those days. This is a comment from a post Keen made, waiting for WoW to embrace its PvP nature (pro-tip: HKO … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Conan, Aion, Combat Systems, Dark Age of Camelot, Darkfall Online, DDO, EQ2, EVE Online, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, PvP, Rant, Ultima Online, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 39 Comments