The sky is falling. The AAA MMORPG scene is in decay. We should all just take our sports balls and go home. Or maybe not. Rob thinks out loud on how some multiplayer features in single player console RPGs are offering features that could go a long way in a new crop of MMOs.
Posted on 01/12/2016 by Robert LashleyIt’s been a few months since Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor launched and shocked everyone with how good its action-RPG open world gameplay could be. In the space since, Warner Brothers and Monolith have put out a slew of minor DLC runes, free upgrades, and other doodads. But this week marked the launch of the first $10 story-driven DLC campaign: Lord of the Hunt. We’ve had a chance to play with Torvin’s new beasties, and this is what we think.
Posted on 12/17/2014 by William MurphyThe holiday season has arrived, and with it comes the annual torrent of questions: what games are worth buying? Which games lived up to the hype? And most important of all, which in this diverse sea of games earns the coveted title of “Game of the Year”? We have a new question: even with leveling, and stats, and gear, how many of them – Destiny, Shadow of Mordor, Overwatch? – actually deserve to be called RPGs?
Posted on 11/14/2014 by Christopher CokeWell the end of summer is here. For most of us that means back to school in some form or work in another. This year at PAX Prime we saw a host of AAA titles and Indie Games that will shape the landscape entering into the final half of the year and the first few months of 2015. With a major presence by top publishers we are still in awe of the powerful independent game movement that is sweeping the industry.
Posted on 09/03/2014 by Garrett FullerMiddle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is a new single-player RPG developed by Monolith Productions. Widely anticipated with features that many gamers have long requested of game studios, Franklin Rinaldi and I were lucky enough to get some hands-on play at the Monolith studios in Kirkland, WA the day before PAX was to start.
Posted on 08/29/2014 by Carolyn KohIf you’re an old school RPG fan, this year is likely to go down in your record book. Divinity: Original Sin came out last month and impressed us all with its retro-roots and intense difficulty. Not to be outdone, Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity came out of the gate swinging this week and blew away press with a series of interviews and sneak peeks to leave any CRPG fan salivating. The old is new again.
Posted on 08/01/2014 by Christopher CokeWhat a way to cap my E3 2014. We had a resounding 30 appointments or so over three days this week in LA, and among those many games there’s hardly a one that didn’t have something at least a little redeeming about what was on show. However, few games really grabbed our attention. Those which did, we’ll be announcing in our E3 Awards in the coming days. One of those games that did knock our socks off, though it’s still being debated on whether or not it will win an award, was Shadow of Mordor.
Posted on 06/13/2014 by William MurphyMiddle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is a new single-player RPG developed by Monolith Productions. Widely anticipated with features that many gamers have long requested of game studios, Franklin Rinaldi and I were lucky enough to get some hands-on play at the Monolith studios in Kirkland, WA the day before PAX was to start.
Posted on 08/29/2014 by Carolyn KohWhat a way to cap my E3 2014. We had a resounding 30 appointments or so over three days this week in LA, and among those many games there’s hardly a one that didn’t have something at least a little redeeming about what was on show. However, few games really grabbed our attention. Those which did, we’ll be announcing in our E3 Awards in the coming days. One of those games that did knock our socks off, though it’s still being debated on whether or not it will win an award, was Shadow of Mordor.
Posted on 06/13/2014 by William MurphyIt’s been a few months since Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor launched and shocked everyone with how good its action-RPG open world gameplay could be. In the space since, Warner Brothers and Monolith have put out a slew of minor DLC runes, free upgrades, and other doodads. But this week marked the launch of the first $10 story-driven DLC campaign: Lord of the Hunt. We’ve had a chance to play with Torvin’s new beasties, and this is what we think.
Posted on 12/17/2014 by William MurphyWell the end of summer is here. For most of us that means back to school in some form or work in another. This year at PAX Prime we saw a host of AAA titles and Indie Games that will shape the landscape entering into the final half of the year and the first few months of 2015. With a major presence by top publishers we are still in awe of the powerful independent game movement that is sweeping the industry.
Posted on 09/03/2014 by Garrett FullerThe holiday season has arrived, and with it comes the annual torrent of questions: what games are worth buying? Which games lived up to the hype? And most important of all, which in this diverse sea of games earns the coveted title of “Game of the Year”? We have a new question: even with leveling, and stats, and gear, how many of them – Destiny, Shadow of Mordor, Overwatch? – actually deserve to be called RPGs?
Posted on 11/14/2014 by Christopher CokeIf you’re an old school RPG fan, this year is likely to go down in your record book. Divinity: Original Sin came out last month and impressed us all with its retro-roots and intense difficulty. Not to be outdone, Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity came out of the gate swinging this week and blew away press with a series of interviews and sneak peeks to leave any CRPG fan salivating. The old is new again.
Posted on 08/01/2014 by Christopher Coke