Back when World of Warcraft was first released progression was a straightforward path. You completed a dungeon, moved on to the next, and the difficulty increased until you reached the end. The amount of players scaled up in a similar fashion: from 5-man dungeons to 10-man, then to 20-man raids, and finally 40-man. Fast forward roughly 12 years and almost [...]
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As much as I hate to admit it, I always find a reason to come back to World of Warcraft. It’s been almost a year since I’ve logged into the game but the familiar sight of my characters sitting in their garrisons doing nothing was almost enough to make me Alt+F4. Thankfully, the prospect of an upcoming expansion stopped my [...]
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I love trying out different MMORPGs. Diving into a new game for the first time makes it feel like a huge and mysterious world that’s waiting to be explored. Everything from enemy designs to towns and dungeons is a fresh sight, and it’s easy to get lost in the overwhelming amount of content that’s on display. Unfortunately, it’s a fleeting [...]
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Speedrunning has seen an explosion of popularity over the past couple of years. The bi-annual Games Done Quick marathons easily reach over 100,000 viewers and the amount of money they raise for charity continues to grow each year. Speedrunning events typically focus on offline games and to my knowledge there hasn’t been an MMO appearance yet—and probably with good reason, [...]
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Master X Master is NCSoft’s attempt to break into the MOBA market. It’s a fresh take on a tried and tested formula, featuring a WASD control scheme and a unique tag mechanic that allows you to swap between two characters instead of just controlling one. I usually don’t bother with new MOBA releases but Master X Master caught my attention [...]
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MMORPGs have been my preferred video game genre ever since I got a decent internet connection. The idea of exploring worlds and working together with other people attracted many gamers and I was no exception. The first few MMORPGs I played left some very fond memories—I still remember the first time I was ganked by alliance players in World of [...]
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As a teenager growing up surrounded by video games I always looked forward to the days where the three other controller ports on my N64 and Dreamcast would see some use. The occasional weekend would roll around where my friends and I gathered to play some Goldeneye and Chu Chu Rocket together, but no matter much I loved gaming with [...]
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In 2009, NCSOFT premiered their first Blade and Soul trailer at G-Star, a gaming convention in South Korea. The trailer showcased impressive visuals, flashy combat, and a wuxia inspired setting. In June 2012, Blade and Soul officially launched in Korea and at Gamescom. That same year NCSOFT announced plans to bring Blade and Soul to the West. Western fans got [...]
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What’s the first thing you do when you log into your regular day-to-day MMO? You might pick up your daily quests, greet your guild mates, or manage your crafting professions. I start the day by blocking spammers. When you stock up on healing items to prepare for a day of dungeons and raiding, where do you obtain them? Perhaps you [...]
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