Vertical Progression In MMO’s: Incentive? Or Annoyance?

Ever since the old-school days of pen & paper role playing games, when players had no other choice other than to hunker around a table with dice in one hand and a soft drink in the other, vertical progression has been a staple of the RPG formula. This concept transferred over well to the digital/online space when massively multiplayer games such as Ultima Online and Everquest started showing up in the mid to late 90’s. But now that we’ve officially entered the 21^st century, is giving players a giant mountain of vertical progression to climb really the best way to hold their interest?

Buying An Unfinished Game: What Are You Really Paying For?

In the PC gaming market of today, developers and publishers are under more and more pressure to not only deliver great games, but deliver them as quickly as they can. But when speed of development comes at the price of quality and polish, is it fair to charge players for the game initially with the promise that the game will be completed (through post-release updates) down the road?

Where’s My MMO Horde Mode?

Ever since its original debut in Epic Games’ Gears of War 2, the concept behind the popular “Horde Mode” gametype has gone on to become one of the core pillars of co-op multiplayer gameplay. 

While predominantly featured in shooters such as Halo (Firefight), Mass Effect (Galaxy at War), and even Saints Row (“Whored” Mode), lately it has started showing up in other, non-shooter multiplayer environments such as the recent console MOBA Guardians of Middle Earth (Survival Mode) and even action hack-and-slash games like God of War: Ascension (Trial of the Gods). However, there’s one genre in which Horde Mode seems strangely absent given its emphasis on social and often cooperative gameplay: massively multiplayer online games.

Is It Bad To Treat Video Games As Digital Mirrors?

When I was a kid I used to spend much of my time lost in my own personal world of fantasy. My over-active imagination combined with my love of books, movies, and games kept me busy for countless hours, slaying imaginary dragons with imaginary swords, exploring imaginary castles with imaginary companions, maybe even saving an imaginary princess or two along the way….

What I Want To See In A Mirror’s Edge Sequel

Despite being released a little over four years ago, EA’s and DICE’s stunning and original first-person title Mirror’s Edge still stands as a unique hallmark of the first-person genre. Not only does it feature realistic and pulse-pounding parkour-inspired gameplay, it also stars one of the strongest female video game leads of the past decade; Faith Connors.

These days many gamers no doubt equate developer DICE with the long-running Battlefield series and, funnily enough, Mirror’s Edge was actually the studio’s attempt to create “something fresh and interesting” since they knew they couldn’t just keep making new Battlefield games forever.

What I Want To See In A New Mass Effect Game

It shames me to admit that, when it was first released back in 2007, I had zero interest in Bioware’s new sci-fi shooter/RPG called Mass Effect. It was mostly because I was still on a bit of a Star Wars high, having recently finished both Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and its sequel The Sith Lords, so anything from Bioware that wasn’t Star Wars just didn’t pique my interest. 

It wasn’t until roughly a year after Mass Effect’s release when, one late night, I was browsing the Xbox Live marketplace for something new to play when my cursor paused on Mass Effect’s icon. By then it was relatively cheap and I was bored and desperate for something new to play so I shrugged, whipped out my wallet, and soon I was immersed in what would later become one of my favorite game series of all time. 

Hypocrisy And Hyperbole: Why Our Country’s Efforts To Vilify Video Games Angers Me

hypocrisy

the condition of a person pretending to be something he is not, especially in the area of morals or religion; a false presentation of belief or feeling. — hypocrite, n. — hypocritic, hypocritical, adj.

hyperbole

1. an obvious and intentional exaggeration.
2. an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as “She’s as big as a house.” Cf. litotes. — hyperbolic, adj.

Before you read the rest of this blog post, I want you to look at and study the two definitions above very carefully.

Gazing Into The Abyss: The Ugly Truth About Violent Video Games

Which makes more sense to you? That violent video games are responsible for the violence in our culture? Or that violent video games are a reflection of our violent culture? It’s a tough question to ask, probably even tougher to answer, but it’s still an important question to ask if we truly want to open up meaningful discussions about video game violence and its connection with real-world violence.

It’s Official: Video Games Are Witchcraft

At least as far as an organization in Southington, Connecticut is concerned. According to a recent article by Polygon contributor Brian Crecente, a small group known as the SouthingtonSOS, based in the small Southington community roughly 30 miles from where the Newton Sandy Hook Massacre took place, is holding an event that they have dubbed the “Violent Video Games Return Program”  on January 12th.

Stemming The Tide: How Can Gamers Help Fight Ignorance?

As an optimist, I like to think there are no “bad people” in this world, just bad role models. I believe that a lot of the problems we as a society face can be attributed not to a willingness to be malicious but a desire to be understood (because we don’t know any better ways). So how can gamers help curtail the rampant ignorance that seems to hold not just our country but countries around the world in its sway? Sometimes the answer can be a simple willingness to listen and learn; other times, it can be finding the strength *not* to listen and instead question the motives of those we admire or look up to.

Want To Give Your Brain A Boost? Lumosity Can Help

In one of my recent blog posts I talked about how brain scientists were using gaming as a way to help farmers in drier parts of the world absorb new information quickly and effectively and thus be better prepared to deal with their region’s dry spells. It got me thinking about what sorts of resources gamers like myself could utilize if we too wanted to improve our brains through gaming but sadly I had no idea where to begin my search. Fortunately, an ad I happened to see on t.v. for a website called “Lumosity” offered the very answer I was looking for.