Category Archives: MMO design

Get to know Aventurine

Posted on October 15, 2009 by SynCaine

Aventurine has launched their company website, and it’s actually worth taking a look at. From the initial page, with it’s “slow for the short bus kids” statements, to the different pictures of DarkFall-branded sports cars, to gems like: Note: It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Darkfall Online, Mass Media, MMO design, Random, Site update | 1 Comment

MMO fluff: What is it?

Posted on October 13, 2009 by SynCaine

One of the more common complaints about DarkFall from the players actually playing the game is the lack of ‘fluff’ content, and the upcoming expansion may seek to address this. One question I have is what exactly is fluff in … Continue reading →

Posted in crafting, Darkfall Online, EVE Online, Housing, MMO design, Patch Notes, PvP, Ultima Online, World of Warcraft | 22 Comments

Science proves why DarkFall > WoW.

Posted on October 12, 2009 by SynCaine

Science talks about videogames and how they might affect your brain. The TLDR version as provided by my fiancé: WoW = easy = dumb brain DarkFall = hard = smart brain She’s a keeper.

Posted in Console Gaming, Darkfall Online, Mass Media, MMO design, Random, World of Warcraft | 6 Comments

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

Niche and Mass Market: One big happy MMO genre

Posted on October 6, 2009 by SynCaine

We are at an interesting point in history with MMOs, highlighted beautifully with the recent re-release of the Asian answer to WoW in Aion and the uber-niche Fallen Earth. One is benefiting from a year of full release under its … Continue reading →

Posted in Aion, Darkfall Online, EVE Online, MMO design, Pirates of the Burning Sea, Rant, SW:TOR, Ultima Online, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 10 Comments

Localized banking: Feature or hassle?

Posted on October 2, 2009 by SynCaine

Localized banking is something DarkFall originally had on its list of features, but at some point this was changed and now banking is global. On a recent preview of the October patch, the idea of localized banking was mentioned, and … Continue reading →

Posted in crafting, Darkfall Online, EVE Online, Housing, MMO design, Patch Notes, PvP, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 33 Comments

Your MMO won’t have a million subs, sorry Blizzard.

Posted on September 30, 2009 by SynCaine

Tobold and I have a friendly little challenge going (around comment 45 on that post), one that sadly won’t have a result for a few years. The challenge is simple: The next Blizzard MMO won’t reach the popularity of WoW. … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Conan, Aion, Dark Age of Camelot, EQ2, EVE Online, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, Site update, SW:TOR, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 57 Comments

DarkFall: Specialization rather than a skill cap.

Posted on September 29, 2009 by SynCaine

Another day, another quality post in the “Spotlight” section of the Darkfall forum, with today’s entry talking about Aventurine’s thoughts on a skill cap (not happening), and their plans for character diversity through specialization. Follow the link for all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, MMO design, Patch Notes, PvP | 16 Comments

MMO sounds (of your doom!)

Posted on September 28, 2009 by SynCaine

It’s difficult to really explain how big an impact sound has in DarkFall to anyone who has not played it, yet has played other MMOs that promote sound as being important. Usually in those games the sound is ‘important’ because … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, MMO design, PvP | 19 Comments

Launch Day: How to deal with day one in the post-WoW MMO space

Posted on September 22, 2009 by SynCaine

From an outsider’s perspective looking in, Aion’s launch seems to be having the same issue Warhammer Online had a year ago; dealing with the huge initial rush of players and tourists flooding the servers on day one. In the post-WoW … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Conan, beta, Darkfall Online, EVE Online, MMO design, SW:TOR, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 6 Comments