Category Archives: Ultima Online

So did we ever get that anti-Lum blog?

Posted on June 26, 2012 by SynCaine

While doing my own bit of Google-fu for this post over at KTR, I stumbled on this post over at Lum’s from 1999. The first part made me smile. For those who know the origin of this blog here, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogroll, Ultima Online | Comments Off on So did we ever get that anti-Lum blog?

Bucket of rage

Posted on June 20, 2012 by SynCaine

Random ranting incoming: One ‘awesome’ feature does not an MMO make. “TESO is a copy/paste puddle of fail, but feature X looks interesting”. A cute gimmick feature can make an iPhone game worth the buck and download. It won’t get people … Continue reading →

Posted in Asheron's Call, beta, Combat Systems, Dark Age of Camelot, Darkfall Online, EVE Online, Guild Wars, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, Random, Rant, SW:TOR, The Elder Scrolls Online, Ultima Online, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 25 Comments

My favorite genre is coming back!

Posted on May 30, 2012 by SynCaine

MMOs are a niche genre in gaming. They are games that require additional ‘work’ beyond just loading something up, and to really get the most out of them you have to put in that ‘work’ consistently. They can also be … Continue reading →

Posted in Darkfall Online, EQ2, EVE Online, Guild Wars, Mass Media, MMO design, Rant, Rift, SW:TOR, Ultima Online, World of Warcraft | 39 Comments

EVE: Jita Burns Trammel

Posted on April 27, 2012 by SynCaine

I was there. Jita Burns also reminds me why Trammel was such a horrible mistake. Most days, for most people, Empire space in EVE is ‘safe’ unless you do something stupid. Not all of New Eden is a FFA PvP … Continue reading →

Posted in EVE Online, MMO design, PvP, Rant, Ultima Online | 28 Comments

The more things change…

Posted on March 1, 2012 by SynCaine

In a sign of the apocalypse, Keen is playing Darkfall again (100% joking, everyone should be playing Darkfall (unless they are playing EVE)), which brings about the old “I’m playing Darkfall until the minute something better comes along” comment we … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Conan, Allods Online, Darkfall Online, EQ2, EVE Online, Fallen Earth, Guild Wars, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, Rant, Rift, SW:TOR, Ultima Online, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 20 Comments

Rebuilding the genre on SW:TOR’s ashes

Posted on January 18, 2012 by SynCaine

I get the feeling that people misunderstand me when I say that I hope SW:TOR is the death of the AAA themepark MMO. I’m not saying the genre would be better if people did not spend 300m to make an … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Conan, Darkfall Online, EQ2, EVE Online, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO design, Rant, Rift, SW:TOR, Ultima Online, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 48 Comments

You should return those glasses to their rightful owner

Posted on January 17, 2012 by SynCaine

Syp over at Biobreak has a post talking about the pre-2003 MMO market and todays, and how you can’t pay him enough to go back to that time. First I find this odd, as looking at his About page, I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Asheron's Call, Atlantica Online, EQ2, Housing, MMO design, Random, Rant, Rift, RMT, SW:TOR, Ultima Online, World of Warcraft | 82 Comments

Getting back to the source

Posted on January 11, 2012 by SynCaine

Jester has a post up about how Sovereignty works in EVE, and how the game might benefit from borrowing some ideas from Perpetuum in that area. A good read as always, and it brings up a larger point: competition amongst … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Conan, Asheron's Call, beta, EQ2, EVE Online, Guild Wars, MMO design, Rant, Rift, SW:TOR, Ultima Online, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft | 45 Comments

I find it really sad how the dominance of World of Warcraft has led so many people to believe that the way WoW does it is the only possible way to make a MMORPG.

Posted on January 4, 2012 by SynCaine

I still don’t have an answer for how SWTOR will do. But increasingly I think the playerbase for MMOs won’t ever let another game do a WoW, they just have lost the patience we used to have for long term … Continue reading →

Posted in DoTA, EVE Online, League of Legends, Mass Media, MMO design, Random, Rant, SW:TOR, Ultima Online, World of Warcraft | 48 Comments

The more things change…

Posted on December 1, 2011 by SynCaine

Timing is everything. Today Raph has a post showing a 3-part “History of MMOs” video. (well worth watching btw, especially for those who started playing post-2004) Also today Tobold has a post about how bots could easily play certain MMOs … Continue reading →

Posted in Asheron's Call, Console Gaming, Dark Age of Camelot, EQ2, EVE Online, Guild Wars, MMO design, Random, Rant, SW:TOR, Ultima Online, World of Warcraft | 13 Comments