https://massivelyop.com MMORPG news and opinions Wed, 20 Nov 2019 19:31:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://massivelyop.com/2018/03/25/mmo-mechanics-the-fair-play-alliance-and-mechanising-fairness/ https://massivelyop.com/2018/03/25/mmo-mechanics-the-fair-play-alliance-and-mechanising-fairness/#comments Sun, 25 Mar 2018 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=160060 News of over 30 gaming companies taking a united stand against unfairness and toxicity in online game communities sprung out of GDC 2018 a few days ago, with some rather surprising company names making the list of those involved. The issue of toxic behaviour is a tough nut to crack, and these companies believe that […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2018/03/25/mmo-mechanics-the-fair-play-alliance-and-mechanising-fairness/feed/ 104 https://massivelyop.com/2017/12/17/mmo-mechanics-2017s-mmo-mechanics-in-review/ https://massivelyop.com/2017/12/17/mmo-mechanics-2017s-mmo-mechanics-in-review/#comments Sun, 17 Dec 2017 19:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=146168 I cannot quite believe that we’re saying goodbye to 2017 and ringing in 2018 so quickly: It certainly doesn’t feel as though an entire year has passed since I last looked back on the progress of the column and delved into the comments section to see how the topics at hand were debated there. MMO […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2017/12/17/mmo-mechanics-2017s-mmo-mechanics-in-review/feed/ 22 https://massivelyop.com/2017/11/20/mmo-mechanics-what-can-be-learned-from-guild-wars-2-mountgate/ https://massivelyop.com/2017/11/20/mmo-mechanics-what-can-be-learned-from-guild-wars-2-mountgate/#comments Mon, 20 Nov 2017 17:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=141759 Most often, MMO Mechanics articles focus on the gameplay mechanics that both make the MMO genre unique and those that diversify MMOs from one another, but this time I’m focusing on the mechanics that drive profit for the modern development studio and will discuss the lootbox phenomenon. Although the lootbox is by no means a […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2017/11/20/mmo-mechanics-what-can-be-learned-from-guild-wars-2-mountgate/feed/ 57 https://massivelyop.com/2017/09/24/mmo-mechanics-material-storage-and-the-gw2-economy/ https://massivelyop.com/2017/09/24/mmo-mechanics-material-storage-and-the-gw2-economy/#comments Sun, 24 Sep 2017 16:00:29 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=132568 Guild Wars 2 launched its second expansion, Path of Fire, a few days ago, and as you might expect, a new expansion means some immediate priority shifts will deeply affect the game’s economy. New materials are added, which are required by the newest recipes and are thus highly sought after, and other materials will fluctuate in […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2017/09/24/mmo-mechanics-material-storage-and-the-gw2-economy/feed/ 28 https://massivelyop.com/2017/06/04/mmo-mechanics-making-healing-interesting-in-mmorpgs/ https://massivelyop.com/2017/06/04/mmo-mechanics-making-healing-interesting-in-mmorpgs/#comments Sun, 04 Jun 2017 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=115124 I was reading a recent Daily Grind article on the topic of unique healing classes and it prompted me to think about the variety of mechanics on offer for healing in MMOs that go beyond the World of Warcraft model. There are few MMO mechanics that run the risk of being diluted down by mods and […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2017/06/04/mmo-mechanics-making-healing-interesting-in-mmorpgs/feed/ 34 https://massivelyop.com/2017/02/26/mmo-mechanics-2017s-take-on-the-sandbox-mmo/ https://massivelyop.com/2017/02/26/mmo-mechanics-2017s-take-on-the-sandbox-mmo/#comments Sun, 26 Feb 2017 17:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=100455 I am finding it hard to believe that we are two months into 2017 already, especially since I’ve had so many pressing Guild Chat submissions recently that I haven’t had a chance to turn my hand back to MMO Mechanics in all that time! As an introduction to a new year, I usually like to […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2017/02/26/mmo-mechanics-2017s-take-on-the-sandbox-mmo/feed/ 8 https://massivelyop.com/2016/12/04/mmo-mechanics-2016s-mmorpg-mechanics-in-review/ Sun, 04 Dec 2016 17:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=88578 The holiday season is finally upon us: My decorations are resurrected from their dark corner of my storage closets once more, Jack Frost is beginning to nip at my toes on these frosty evenings, and even the MMOs that fill my free time are getting into the festive spirit with amazing seasonal activities. It’s the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2016/10/09/mmo-mechanics-enhancing-mmorpgs-with-experiential-learning-mechanics/ Sun, 09 Oct 2016 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=80213 Ever since I considered the responses to a Massively Overthinking article in which a developer asked if a prestige system to encourage replaying an MMO from level 1 would be a viable design approach, I’ve been mulling over the sorts of mechanics that developers can use to reward players for experiential learning in a game’s world. […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2016/08/14/mmo-mechanics-no-mans-sky-is-mechanically-genius-an-ode-to-procedural-generation/ Sun, 14 Aug 2016 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=72499 No Man’s Sky has been on my hotly anticipated list for so long, and you might remember that it has had particular mention in a previous MMO Mechanics entry in which I discussed several in-development titles that promised some amazing mechanics. Awe, wonder, and the thrill of discovery pull the player onwards while specifically engineered feelings of […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2016/07/17/mmo-mechanics-creating-engaging-crafting-mechanics/ Sun, 17 Jul 2016 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=68653 I’m currently bogged down in an over-the-shoulder crafting blur, vicariously depleting gold and recommending several YouTube-approved crazy material gathering runs as I get my husband acquainted with Guild Wars 2‘s crafting system. I’ve been ill for last week or two and have spent each night this week helping him through the experience as a wind-down activity to […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2016/06/19/mmo-mechanics-zonation-and-scaling-mechanics-in-mmorpgs/ Sun, 19 Jun 2016 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=65028 The recent E3 hubub about The Elder Scrolls Online new level syncing mechanics being extended has got me thinking all about the mechanics behind zones in MMOs, especially after I pored over an edition of Tamriel Infinium about how the feature’s extension could impact the game by Massively Overpowered’s own Larry Everett. Sooner or later, every MMO with a […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2016/04/24/mmo-mechanics-innovating-mechanics-to-refresh-guild-wars-2/ https://massivelyop.com/2016/04/24/mmo-mechanics-innovating-mechanics-to-refresh-guild-wars-2/#comments Sun, 24 Apr 2016 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=57392 I usually keep MMO Mechanics quite general by looking at several games as examples to highlight my point regarding the mechanics of choice in each article, but I have a different format in mind for this edition that I hope you’ll enjoy. I’m going to flip things around, instead using one game — and several mechanical examples […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2016/04/24/mmo-mechanics-innovating-mechanics-to-refresh-guild-wars-2/feed/ 76 https://massivelyop.com/2016/03/27/mmo-mechanics-mmorpg-expansions-versus-sequels/ https://massivelyop.com/2016/03/27/mmo-mechanics-mmorpg-expansions-versus-sequels/#comments Sun, 27 Mar 2016 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=53162 The recent news about EverQuest Next‘s cancellation has renewed the debate about whether or not MMOs should get sequels, which have given me plenty to think about in terms of mechanics and future MMO development. There are a variety of strategies that online games use to stay updated and introduce new mechanics, of course, and […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2016/03/27/mmo-mechanics-mmorpg-expansions-versus-sequels/feed/ 21 https://massivelyop.com/2016/02/14/mmo-mechanics-eight-annoying-mmorpg-mechanics-that-grind-my-gears/ https://massivelyop.com/2016/02/14/mmo-mechanics-eight-annoying-mmorpg-mechanics-that-grind-my-gears/#comments Sun, 14 Feb 2016 17:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=47371 The inspiration behind this edition of MMO Mechanics is a recent conversation I had with my housemates about the column and the inner workings of our favourite games in general: It took a turn toward hilarious when we ranted on about the most annoying mechanics we’ve encountered, and I knew I had to start taking […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2016/02/14/mmo-mechanics-eight-annoying-mmorpg-mechanics-that-grind-my-gears/feed/ 161 https://massivelyop.com/2016/01/17/mmo-mechanics-mmorpg-mechanics-predictions-for-2016/ https://massivelyop.com/2016/01/17/mmo-mechanics-mmorpg-mechanics-predictions-for-2016/#comments Sun, 17 Jan 2016 17:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=43284 In the last edition of MMO Mechanics, I looked back on 2015 and the mechanics I managed to squeeze into the column: We looked at fast travel, barriers to exit, and some mechanics tied to previously untapped IPs, but I haven’t yet talked about my hopes and expectations for 2016. I was quiet during the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2016/01/17/mmo-mechanics-mmorpg-mechanics-predictions-for-2016/feed/ 89 https://massivelyop.com/2015/12/20/mmo-mechanics-2015s-mmorpg-mechanics-in-review/ https://massivelyop.com/2015/12/20/mmo-mechanics-2015s-mmorpg-mechanics-in-review/#comments Sun, 20 Dec 2015 17:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=39910 It’s my favourite time of the year once again: The mulled wine is flowing, the festive lights are all aglow, the weather outside is most definitely frightful while my fire is indeed delightful, and I have a major increase in my gaming time since uni’s out until 2016! I resurrected this old column earlier this […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2015/12/20/mmo-mechanics-2015s-mmorpg-mechanics-in-review/feed/ 16 https://massivelyop.com/2015/11/22/mmo-mechanics-three-game-changing-movement-mechanics/ https://massivelyop.com/2015/11/22/mmo-mechanics-three-game-changing-movement-mechanics/#comments Sun, 22 Nov 2015 17:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=35818 In order to create the most truly challenging MMOs that connect players with the specific virtual environments they’re traversing, developers have always worked on unique ways to make navigation and adventuring as important to the MMOverse as every other way to play trope. At the core of any good exploration-heavy MMO should lie a solid […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2015/11/22/mmo-mechanics-three-game-changing-movement-mechanics/feed/ 50 https://massivelyop.com/2015/10/11/mmo-mechanics-three-ways-non-mmo-ips-could-create-great-mechanics/ https://massivelyop.com/2015/10/11/mmo-mechanics-three-ways-non-mmo-ips-could-create-great-mechanics/#comments Sun, 11 Oct 2015 18:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=29404 I really enjoy being a guest on Larry Everett‘s video series Massively Opinionated, a series in which MMO enthusiasts answer some tough questions and argue the case for their answer to trump the other guests’ submissions. On each episode, Larry asks his guests to design their own MMO based on certain prerequisites or criteria. It’s […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2015/10/11/mmo-mechanics-three-ways-non-mmo-ips-could-create-great-mechanics/feed/ 47 https://massivelyop.com/2015/09/13/mmo-mechanics-economic-stagnation-in-mmo-economies/ https://massivelyop.com/2015/09/13/mmo-mechanics-economic-stagnation-in-mmo-economies/#comments Sun, 13 Sep 2015 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=25486 MMO economies are notoriously hard to balance, so most MMO players have seen the effects of stagnation and hyperinflation in an MMO economy for themselves. MMO developers must put in a significant amount of effort to prevent this, otherwise they run the risk of trivialising the economy, its virtual currency, and the items players buy, craft, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2015/09/13/mmo-mechanics-economic-stagnation-in-mmo-economies/feed/ 66 https://massivelyop.com/2015/08/02/mmo-mechanics-brilliant-mmo-boss-mechanics/ https://massivelyop.com/2015/08/02/mmo-mechanics-brilliant-mmo-boss-mechanics/#comments Sun, 02 Aug 2015 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=19536 I love a good boss fight as much as the next MMO player, and I’m sure I’m not alone in favouring fights that really pack a punch with a unique mechanical twist. I spent years raiding in World of Warcraft, for example, without being able to cast while moving my feet, which made me appreciate the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2015/08/02/mmo-mechanics-brilliant-mmo-boss-mechanics/feed/ 42 https://massivelyop.com/2015/07/05/mmo-mechanics-four-inspiring-indie-developments-worth-watching/ https://massivelyop.com/2015/07/05/mmo-mechanics-four-inspiring-indie-developments-worth-watching/#comments Sun, 05 Jul 2015 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=15653 The MMO genre has immense sticking power in terms of tenure, staying relevant to players for decades despite such fluid and rapid development in the larger gaming industry and particularly in relation to online gaming. With such an extensive back catalogue of games in the genre, it’s not surprising to see so many recycled mechanics […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2015/07/05/mmo-mechanics-four-inspiring-indie-developments-worth-watching/feed/ 62 https://massivelyop.com/2015/06/07/mmo-mechanics-three-non-combat-mechanics-to-love/ https://massivelyop.com/2015/06/07/mmo-mechanics-three-non-combat-mechanics-to-love/#comments Sun, 07 Jun 2015 16:00:47 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=11037 The wheels in my head have been turning over non-combat mechanics in MMOs for a while now, perhaps because of the buzz surrounding Wander, the latest MMO to ditch combat entirely in favour of less violent interactive mechanics. I have to confess that I’m not a massive fan of thoughtless violence in my MMOs, so […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2015/06/07/mmo-mechanics-three-non-combat-mechanics-to-love/feed/ 34 https://massivelyop.com/2015/05/10/mmo-mechanics-three-favourite-action-combat-systems/ https://massivelyop.com/2015/05/10/mmo-mechanics-three-favourite-action-combat-systems/#comments Sun, 10 May 2015 16:00:59 +0000 http://massivelyop.com/?p=6866 Virtually every MMO contains dangerous places that are filled with other players or NPCs that will attack characters on site, and many also feature destructible terrain or objects that must be destroyed. With all that smashing, crashing, and bashing, it’s clear that the mechanics employed by our favourite genre must be as diverse as the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2015/05/10/mmo-mechanics-three-favourite-action-combat-systems/feed/ 203 https://massivelyop.com/2015/04/12/mmo-mechanics-is-a-strong-community-a-barrier-to-exit-mechanic/ https://massivelyop.com/2015/04/12/mmo-mechanics-is-a-strong-community-a-barrier-to-exit-mechanic/#comments Sun, 12 Apr 2015 16:00:00 +0000 http://massivelyop.net/?p=4520 MMOs occupy a unique position in our game libraries because they include a wide range of clever mechanics that keep us logging in day after day, week after week, and month after month. I have discussed how these act as barriers to exit before on Massively-of old: Daily chores and tasks with associated rewards are […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2015/04/12/mmo-mechanics-is-a-strong-community-a-barrier-to-exit-mechanic/feed/ 75 https://massivelyop.com/2015/03/15/mmo-mechanics-navigating-fast-travel-systems/ https://massivelyop.com/2015/03/15/mmo-mechanics-navigating-fast-travel-systems/#comments Sun, 15 Mar 2015 16:00:37 +0000 http://massivelyop.net/?p=2665 I’m delighted to resurrect the column that brought me to Massively-that-was, MMO Mechanics, for the ravenous readers of MOP. The column focused on the various mechanics that underlie the MMOs we spend so much time in, exploring the under-the-bonnet workings that keep players playing and tackling the issues some of these mechanics present. You might […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2015/03/15/mmo-mechanics-navigating-fast-travel-systems/feed/ 60