Jon Wood

MMOs based around some of culture's most enduring properties are less-rare than they used to be. Whether it's Lord of the Rings Online or LEGO Universe, MMOs based on our favorite iconic TV shows, comics, cartoons and movies are flourishing. But is this trend a good thing? Have those MMOs flourished? In today's Grinds My Gears, MMORPG.com Managing Editor Jon Wood takes a look at just that. Read on!

In an open letter to readers, former LEGO Universe Online developer Ryan Seabury laid out his reasons for swearing off MMO development. One of his biggest complaints, that the MMO label simply isn't meaningful, got stuck in the craw of MMORPG.com Managing Editor Jon Wood's throat. Find out what Jon has to say in response to Mr. Seabury's contention. Leave us your thoughts when you're done.

MMORPG.com's Jon Wood spends some time this week talking about the future for Sony Online Entertainment in a post-PSN hack world.

We here at MMORPG.com are always looking for ways to improve our service to you, our readers. One of the things that constantly crosses our minds is the way in which reviews are "done" here at the site. With that in mind, MMORPG.com Managing Editor Jon Wood lays out some of his concerns with the review process and asks you for your thoughts. Be sure to weigh in!

In last week's Grinds My Gears column, MMORPG.com Managing Editor Jon Wood placed developers' feet in the fire and indicted them for often releasing unfinished games. In the ensuing discussion, some felt that this indictment should be 'eased' for indy developers. In this week's Grinds My Gears, Jon talks about that feeling and why it is simply wrong. Check it out and then voice your opinion in the comments.

In his latest Grinds My Gears column, MMORPG.com Managing Editor Jon Wood takes a look at, among other things, the unfinished state that some games are released in and the promise of future patches to address issues that, frankly, should have been addressed before launch. And that's just one ground gear. Jon has other thoughts too about today's games. Check them out and then make your voice heard in the comments.

It seems that there are nearly as many MMO types as there are gamers in the world today. But somehow the impression lives that there must be a 'holy grail' of all MMOs. In today's Grinding My Gears, MMORPG.com Managing Editor Jon Wood takes that impression on and knocks it for a loop. Check out Grinding My Gears: Monotheistic Gaming and then leave us a comment or two.

MMORPG.com Managing Editor Jon Wood has a few things to say about a newly released cinematic trailer from an upcoming game. Can a cinematic look at the story behind one zombie's creation move us? Can a simple yet powerful cinematic be translated into the game? Check out Jon's latest blog post. Then, once you've watched the video for yourself, offer up a few comments below.

This week, MMORPG.com Managing Editor Jon Wood chooses for his Story of the Week MMORPG.com's very own Reader's Choice Awards, why we do them the way that we do, and why other methods in the past have proven a little less successful.

MMORPG.com Managing Editor Jon Wood has looked over all the stories that came out this week with a focus on MMOs. While Jon alludes to two others as noteworthy candidates, ultimately he landed upon the sale of stagnant MMO, All Points Bulletin. Check out what Jon has to say and let us know what you think in the forums.

MMORPG.com Managing Editor Jon Wood has looked over all the stories that came out this week with a focus on MMOs. While none jumped out immediately as a more all-encompassing story that captured the imagination of a host of readers, one certainly caught Jon's attention: Undead Labs' Richard Foge's thought that most of today's MMOs aren't much. Check out Jon's thoughts about that statement and then add a few of your own on the forums.

In his latest column for MMORPG.com, Managing Editor Jon Wood picks what he believes is The Story of the Week. It was a tough choice to pick only one out of all of the interesting news this week. Both Vindictus and LEGO Universe opened for business and Tribes Universe was announced. But what trumps them all is the revelation that Cryptic Studios and Atari will be taking Champions Online into the free to play realm. Check out Jon's thoughts and then add some of your own on the forum.

In his latest MMORPG.com column, Managing Editor Jon Wood takes a look at the Internet's perception of Star Wars: The Old Republic. There is a lot of hype, speculation and misinformation floating around the 'Net these days and Jon takes those things and the people who post them to task. Find out which issues Jon has a bone to pick with and then let us know your thoughts on the forums.

In his latest column for MMORPG.com, Managing Editor Jon Wood begins a discussion of reading comprehension with the Net-wide coverage of World of Darkness and the suggestion that permadeath would be included in the game. While the issue was discussed, it was discussed as a fan suggestion, not a developer inclusion in World of Darkness. Is this the first time something like this has happened? Read Jon's thoughts about the Net and the sound bite mentality. Then let us know what you think.

In his column this week, MMORPG managing editor Jon Wood takes apart the acronym "RPG". As he states, the way one interprets the meaning of those three letters determines what is expected from an MMO-RPG. See if you agree with Jon's thoughts about what RPG means.