Category Archives: MMO design

Peeking into the future of Darkfall PvE

Posted on July 27, 2010 by SynCaine

Did you know that the undead in Darkfall have bad hearing, and due to that it’s easier to sneak up on them so long as they don’t see you? Did you know they have above-average vision at night? Did you … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, MMO design | 15 Comments

I’m back and full of Darkfall goodness

Posted on July 26, 2010 by SynCaine

Did you miss me? I’d say it’s good to be back, but really being back at work rather than sitting on a patio overlooking the caldera (google it) while eating breakfast that was just delivered is, well, not as cool? … Continue reading →

Posted in Darkfall Online, Mass Media, MMO design, Patch Notes, PvP, Site update | 21 Comments

The newbie hero

Posted on July 1, 2010 by SynCaine

Yesterday’s post started the discussion about the perception vs the reality of a new player’s role in Darkfall, and what chance that player has of really contributing to Darkfall’s ‘end-game’ of massive PvP. It also brought up the issue of … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, EVE Online, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, PvP, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 22 Comments

They get what so many others do not

Posted on June 28, 2010 by SynCaine

This clip from a recent interview over at Rock, Paper, Shotgun is why I love Darkfall and Aventurine (emphasis is mine). Tasos: We don’t really have an ideal player, but the players who would get the most out of Darkfall … Continue reading →

Posted in Darkfall Online, Mass Media, MMO design, Rant, World of Warcraft | 37 Comments

Darkfall Online FAQ

Posted on June 24, 2010 by SynCaine

The overall goal of this post is to give prospective Darkfall players a go-to FAQ about the game based on emails and comment questions I’ve received here, along with some of the more common items brought up on the official … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, crafting, Darkfall Online, MMO design, PvP, Site update | 22 Comments

Darkfall: Day after the patch

Posted on June 18, 2010 by SynCaine

So that patch went… about as well as most Aventurine patches really. Some extra downtime, a short-lived exploit, and dramalama on the forums, in other words, business as usual. My character went from 326hp to 387hp, Ghana now has rats … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, MMO design, Patch Notes, PvP | 9 Comments

The ‘small’ patch to Darkfall is finally here, tomorrow.

Posted on June 16, 2010 by SynCaine

I love when Aventurine does ‘small’ patches and we get this. As has been the trend for some time now, this patch is a good mix of new/casual player help (no mob decap) with ‘end-game’ changes like the Sea Fortress … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, MMO design, Patch Notes, PvP | 7 Comments

Chasing sheep money

Posted on June 16, 2010 by SynCaine

My comment yesterday about Warhammer 40k looking like WoW in the future was only partly based off the fact that, well, it looks like WoW in the future. The other factor in making that statement was the fact that in … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Conan, Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, EVE Online, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, PvP, Rant, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 24 Comments

Wizard101 and AoC reviews

Posted on June 10, 2010 by SynCaine

The EG review of Wizard101: Cute and polished, but did we not learn from FF7 that no one wants to watch the same overextended summoning animation after the 10th time? Bonus points for making the first battle seem like I … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Conan, Mass Media, MMO design, Wizard101 | 8 Comments

Guild Wars fail

Posted on June 9, 2010 by SynCaine

The quest to find an MMO to play with Aria has hit another snag. In short, here is how Aria views Guild Wars “go kill plants, kill more plants, then more plants. We do the same thing every time”. Granted … Continue reading →

Posted in Aion, Allods Online, Combat Systems, DDO, EQ2, Guild Wars, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, Site update, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 35 Comments