Category Archives: Rant

You say polish, I say rehash

Posted on May 11, 2010 by SynCaine

The Blizzard model has generally been to take a successful product, apply a Games Workshop IP to it, and release basically the same game with a new coat of paint and a high level of polish, one that will run … Continue reading →

Posted in Combat Systems, Console Gaming, Diablo 3, MMO design, Random, Rant, Uncategorized, World of Warcraft | 36 Comments

Why raiders hate to see the word ‘accessible’

Posted on May 5, 2010 by SynCaine

First I’d like to thank Ravious over at KTR for being an ass and posting a great review of The Guild Leaders Handbook. I’m also reading that book at the moment and more or less agree with what he has … Continue reading →

Posted in MMO design, Patch Notes, Random, Rant, Uncategorized, World of Warcraft | 20 Comments

WoW: Not only is it full of griefers, but everyone is a racist

Posted on May 4, 2010 by SynCaine

A lot of people are always telling me to try World of Warcraft for it’s amazing 1-80 leveling journey and great economic activity. Finally I’ve caved in and decided to give it a shot, and here is what I’ve found … Continue reading →

Posted in EVE Online, Rant, Uncategorized, World of Warcraft | 21 Comments

Ignorance in the sandbox

Posted on May 3, 2010 by SynCaine

WoW player and iconic carebear Tobold’s recent attempt to ‘get’ EVE (or as is clear to anyone reading between the lines, and pointed out countless times in comments, simple experience it on a surface level in order to bash it … Continue reading →

Posted in Darkfall Online, EVE Online, MMO design, PvP, Rant, Ultima Online, Uncategorized, World of Warcraft | 41 Comments

Today’s reason to hate the French

Posted on April 29, 2010 by SynCaine

Well this is rather sad news. While I don’t personally care much for the Halo franchise, Marathon and especially Myth were two franchises that were head and shoulders above the rest of gaming in their respective genres (FPS and RTS), … Continue reading →

Posted in Bungie Studios, Mass Media, Rant, Uncategorized, World of Warcraft | 9 Comments

The dreams of an IP, and the inevitable reality

Posted on April 28, 2010 by SynCaine

Over vacation I read a good chunk of Vampire Wars, a collection of books set in the Warhammer universe all about the von Carstein vampire counts. Considering I’ve been reading Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series almost exclusively for the … Continue reading →

Posted in MMO design, Rant, Site update, Warhammer Online | 28 Comments

PLEX vs Cash Shops, plus the e-peen pony

Posted on April 16, 2010 by SynCaine

To finish off a week of EVE-related posting, let’s talk about PLEX vs Cash Shops and how I believe they are two extremely different pieces of an MMO. As a side bonus this should also cover the e-peen pony that … Continue reading →

Posted in Allods Online, Atlantica Online, Darkfall Online, EVE Online, MMO design, Patch Notes, PvP, Rant, RMT, World of Warcraft | 7 Comments

Give me a reason to return

Posted on April 15, 2010 by SynCaine

Continuing the recent string of WAR-related musings, I’d like to talk about developer focus today. As I see it, there are basically three groups of players for any MMO at all times: those who never played your game, those who … Continue reading →

Posted in MMO design, Patch Notes, Rant, Warhammer Online | 9 Comments

Creeping death: A return to WoW or WAR?

Posted on April 14, 2010 by SynCaine

At some point later this year I’m either going to return to Warhammer Online or World of Warcraft, mainly because I’d like to casually play an MMO with my fiancé again, and also to prevent any kind of burnout I … Continue reading →

Posted in Allods Online, Combat Systems, Darkfall Online, MMO design, Patch Notes, Rant, RvR, Site update, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 37 Comments

Playing to not have fun

Posted on April 13, 2010 by SynCaine

Hey look, someone finally tried an MMO near-everyone has been telling him to try. Of course, going into an MMO with the “I won’t be here long” mentality is like going into a restaurant right after you just ate a … Continue reading →

Posted in EVE Online, MMO design, Rant, World of Warcraft | 40 Comments