Category Archives: MMO design

Collision Detection, a key to smart PvP?

Posted on February 5, 2008 by SynCaine

Ha, and just as I hit the ‘post’ button, something that I have been meaning to talk about pops into my head. Funny how that works… A long time ago, Mythic announced that Warhammer Online will feature collision detection. Now … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, MMO design, PvP, The Witcher, Warhammer Online | 12 Comments

Reasonable expectations.

Posted on February 1, 2008 by SynCaine

While recording episode 2 of “Witty Banter” last night, due out ‘soon’, I derailed a topic heavily (twice actually) into a WoW vs other games debate. Hopefully what was said is not complete nonsense, although that is entirely possible. You … Continue reading →

Posted in MMO design, PvP, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 15 Comments

Flying solo.

Posted on January 31, 2008 by SynCaine

Tobold has a rather popular (based on replies) post with a simple premise; would you buy WoW if it was a single player game? The immediate reaction I think most people have is ‘no’, because logging on and seeing other … Continue reading →

Posted in MMO design, World of Warcraft | 9 Comments

Goons, EVE, and Freedom!

Posted on January 29, 2008 by SynCaine

This Wired article is making the rounds on various blogs, and as it focuses on griefing, which is somewhat related to PvP, I figured I would throw in my two cents. Go read the article first, if nothing else it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in EQ2, EVE Online, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, PvP, Ultima Online, World of Warcraft | 14 Comments

Misunderstanding PvP.

Posted on January 25, 2008 by SynCaine

I think ‘PvP’ is the new ‘nerf’. Remember back in the day anytime anything bad happened, it was called a nerf? And nerf was this dirty word you used to blame the developers for everything going wrong in your MMO? … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, EVE Online, MMO design, PvP, Ultima Online, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 21 Comments

Another Warhammer rant, add it to the pile.

Posted on January 23, 2008 by SynCaine

Rant on carebears incoming, you have been warned. Why don’t people understand that Warhammer Online plans to be a PvP focused game? Again, PvP focused. Player vs Player. The focus of Warhammer will be to fight other players. The gameplay … Continue reading →

Posted in EQ2, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, PvP, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 41 Comments

Bringing joy, even when you don’t log on.

Posted on January 10, 2008 by SynCaine

EVE is by far the greatest MMO to play when not actively playing it. I am on somewhat of a break from EVE currently, trying to focus on Fire Emblem for the Wii to finish it and its sequel. Besides … Continue reading →

Posted in Console Gaming, EVE Online, MMO design | 2 Comments

Don’t put your PvE in my PvP, and vice versa.

Posted on January 8, 2008 by SynCaine

SUWT 17 is out, and as always, it’s high quality podcast goodness, go check it out. Near the end of the podcast a post of mine is linked and discussed, with the hosts talking a bit about PvP. I could … Continue reading →

Posted in Dark Age of Camelot, EVE Online, MMO design, Podcast, PvP, Ultima Online, Vanguard, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 8 Comments

The death penality, it’s a good thing!

Posted on January 3, 2008 by SynCaine

There has been a lot of talk here lately about PvP, griefing, and the differences between negative and positive sum PvP systems. As with most ‘hot button’ topics, the discussion tends to stray and generally degrades into a hardcore vs … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, EVE Online, MMO design, PvP, Ultima Online, World of Warcraft | 7 Comments

You are not special.

Posted on December 31, 2007 by SynCaine

A few days ago I made the comment that current MMO players are ‘soft’ compared to those that played UO/EQ and such. Instead of using the word ‘soft’, I think I prefer spoiled. Spoiled by todays crop of games into … Continue reading →

Posted in MMO design | 28 Comments