World of Warcraft Articles

Columns

• World of Warcraft: Tales of the Little People Part 1

  World of Warcraft is an epic tale of the struggle between two superpowers, each one wanting to dominate the other. On its surface, the story of war is “heroic” and one filled with the “courageous” actions of armies and mighty generals. What is often overlooked, however, are the effects of war on the “little people”, the countless, faceless millions who try to survive the ongoing divide.

  Posted on 01/23/2019 by Suzie Ford

• World of Warcraft - Five Things You Won't See in v8.1 in December

  Blizzard is getting prepared to launch v8.1 “Tides of Vengeance” into World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth. While players will find a lot of content in the first part of 8.1, many may also be expecting the usual raids, dungeons, higher iLevel loot and more, they may be disappointed to find that many of the “big ticket” items from 8.1 won’t actually be launching on December 11th.

  Posted on 11/27/2018 by Suzie Ford

• BlizzCon: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

  Blizzcon has come and gone now for 2018 and while we are usually celebrating the awesomeness that is Blizzard, this year turned out a bit different. While some of the announcements still came as a huge surprise and welcome cheers of support by fans, Blizzard fell prey to some of the sad new rhetoric that surround our culture, as well as their own clandestine development messaging. We’ll call it the Immortal Blizzcon that no one will forget. If you have ever been to a show, you will know why.

  Posted on 11/05/2018 by Garrett Fuller

• BlizzCon 2018 - Tempering Fan Expectations

  BlizzCon 2018 will be kicking off in about 24-hours. The annual convention is usually chock-full of exciting news about Blizzard’s stable of games. This year, however, fans are confused. For weeks starting in September, Blizzard has assertively sold BlizzCon to its fans and primed the hype train. Over the past couple of weeks, however, developers have started tempering players’ expectations leaving many to wonder, “Just what is there to be excited about during BlizzCon 2018?”

  Posted on 11/01/2018 by Suzie Ford

• What World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth Needs to Succeed

  World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth is struggling after stellar sales and glowing early reports about the story and the beauty of the expansion design. However, success for an expansion means more than the number of "day one" sales and more than the first two weeks of excitement over new content. Success is measured in the longevity of the expansion and in how players remain involved and interested over the long haul. So, what does BfA need to become a success? We have a few ideas.

  Posted on 10/29/2018 by Suzie Ford

• The MMORPG.com Writers’ Favorite MMOs - Part 3

  We've got the third installment in fun new series today. We've asked each of the MMORPG.com writers to submit their favorite three MMOs. Check out which ones have inspired Matt Keith and Mitch Gassner in today's edition.

  Posted on 10/17/2018 by MMORPG.com Staff

• The MMORPG.com Writers’ Favorite MMOs - Part 2

  We've got the second installment in fun new series today. We've asked each of the MMORPG.com writers to submit their favorite three MMOs. Today we have Randy Lidens's and Scott Jeslis's choices. See if you agree!

  Posted on 09/26/2018 by MMORPG.com Staff

• Blizzard's Stepping Up Their Game in World of Warcraft 8.1

  World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth has been plagued with bugs and issues since launching in mid-August. With the first raid open and groups working their way through mythic, Blizzard has unveiled what is coming in the first significant update since BfA launched. The patch is bringing the faction war back into focus and some big improvements to core systems are coming along too. Is it enough to bring back players who came back for BfA, spent their obligatory month and moved on to the next game? Let's find out.

  Posted on 09/25/2018 by Suzie Ford

• The MMORPG.com Writers’ Favorite MMOs

  We've got a fun new series kicking off today. We've asked each of the MMORPG.com writers to submit their favorite three MMOs. We start off with Tim Eisen's and Kelley Kiwi's choices. See if you agree!

  Posted on 09/20/2018 by MMORPG.com Staff

• A Newb’s Adventures In World of Warcraft - Week 5

  I have to be honest. I didn’t play as much World of Warcraft this week due to swinging wildly through New York City in glorious 30fps. (Spider-Man. I was playing Spider-Man). However, I did manage to traipse through Azeroth this week. I finally -- FINALLY -- completed the Siege of Boralus mythic dungeon with the help of my buddy and MacWorld Editor, Leif Johnson, who kept us all healed.

  Posted on 09/14/2018 by Poorna Shankar

• Let’s Try Gaming with Kids…

  Red Thomas attempted to introduce some of his nieces and nephews to gaming over the last week. Several have gotten old enough to understand how to play an MMO, so he decided to give it a rip starting with Final Fantasy XIV Online and then World of Warcraft. Which game did this favorite Uncle find most appealing to the kids?

  Posted on 09/13/2018 by Red Thomas

• World of Warcraft: Beta for Azeroth - Not Ready for Primetime

  The latest World of Warcraft expansion has been out since August 14th and while it has garnered decent praise for its story and excellent level design, Battle for Azeroth has simultaneously been plagued by more than a few major technical issues, not to mention a -legion- of smaller woes. After the stellar launch of Legion and other past expansions, players are left wondering if Battle for Azeroth was taken out of the oven just a bit too early.

  Posted on 09/10/2018 by Suzie Ford

• A Newb’s Adventures In World of Warcraft - Week 4

  So yeah...I’ve been playing a lot of World of Warcraft in the last week. If you recall, I had just hit level 120 in my previous journal. I also felt like the mightiest dwarf in all of Azeroth. I was told by my WoW veteran friends that the “real” game doesn’t start until after I’ve hit 120. And, well, they were right.

  Posted on 09/07/2018 by Poorna Shankar

• A Newb’s Adventures In World of Warcraft - Week 3

  Another week, more World of Warcraft. For continuing up-to-the-minute updates on my WoW progress, feel free to follow me on Twitter (@ShankTheTank). So then, what did I do this week? Let’s dive right in.

  Posted on 08/31/2018 by Poorna Shankar

• World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth Review

  Battle for Azeroth is World of Warcraft’s 7th expansion. It’s been nearly a decade and a half since we all first walked through the gates of Ironforge or Orgrimmar, and the big question is: does WoW still have that magic? It’s an argument as old as the game itself at this point, but if the 3.4 million first day sales are any indication, the answer may be yes. This is our World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth review.

  Posted on 08/30/2018 by William Murphy

• A Newb’s Adventures In World of Warcraft - Week 2

  reminder. I occasionally stream my adventures. So follow me on Twitter (@ShankTheTank) for updates when I go live on my Twitch, Mixer, YouTube, and Periscope. For a playlist of my adventures so far, check out this playlist.

  Posted on 08/24/2018 by Poorna Shankar

• Battle for Azeroth’s Progression Problem

  Let me preface this: Battle for Azeroth may very well be the pinnacle of story and zone design in World of Warcraft’s 14-year history. I’ve loved almost every bit of questing and dungeon content, and I’m actually reading the quests for the first time in years. But there’s a big glaring issue that’s increasingly clear the more I play – it never feels like your character is growing or making progress in this expansion.

  Posted on 08/22/2018 by William Murphy

• Battle for Azeroth - The Return of a Filthy Casual

  Rob’s back to revisit Azeroth while she faces her greatest thread. Let’s check in on his journey so far.

  Posted on 08/21/2018 by Robert Lashley

• A Newb’s Adventures In World of Warcraft -- Week 1

  Not one week ago, I too like Butters proclaimed, “I don’t play World of Warcraft.” Little did I know how much that would change. You see, I’m a complete newb. Yes, this dude right here -- the man writing this article on a website literally called “MMORPG” -- had never played World of Warcraft.

  Posted on 08/17/2018 by Poorna Shankar

• Battle for Azeroth: More of the Same, But in a Good Way?

  Fourteen years young and WoW is back with another expansion. Can Battle for Azeroth repeat the overall success of Legion? By all accounts so far, there’s a lot of what made Legion work present in Blizzard’s latest, and if the early hours of play are any indication, more of the same might not be so bad.

  Posted on 08/14/2018 by William Murphy

• Battle for Azeroth Launch Day - Simple Things to Prepare

  It’s time to return to World of WARcraft today beginning at 3:00 pm Pacific / 6:00 pm Eastern (you can check your start time here) with the simultaneous worldwide launch of the Battle for Azeroth. Players and their respective factions will be beating the drums of war, but the wily player will take care of a few things before heading out to battle. Here’s what we recommend.

  Posted on 08/13/2018 by Suzie Ford

• Battle for Azeroth Lore 101 - Putting the Pieces in Order

  With World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth almost upon us, it's time to take the far-flung pieces of lore that have been presented in videos, comics, books and novellas and try to put them into rough chronological order. Welcome to Battle for Azeroth Lore 101.

  Posted on 08/07/2018 by Suzie Ford

• Will Battle for Azeroth Help Warcraft’s PvP Problem?

  With Fortnite ruling the world right now, will Warcraft be able to answer with some new mechanics that enhance the competitive experience in WoW? This is after all the Battle for Azeroth.

  Posted on 08/06/2018 by Garrett Fuller

• The Best MMOs of 2018 So Far

  It’s not been a good year for brand spanking new games in the MMORPG realm. Heck, when was the last time it was? But that doesn’t mean the games we already have haven’t been making a strong showing. In fact, some of the most popular games in the world right now are those that have been out for years already. Here is our list of the Best MMOs of 2018 So Far (in no particular order).

  Posted on 07/17/2018 by William Murphy

• It's a Whole New World Once the War of Thorns Begins on Tuesday

  World of Warcraft’s next expansion is less than a month out and, as has become tradition, the “pre-patch” / pre-event is getting ready to kick off starting on July 17th. When you log in on Tuesday, the “War of Thorns” will begin and it won’t be the same Azeroth you left on logging out on Monday. So, what will be the big things that will change literally overnight? Here are a few of the most significant.

  Posted on 07/16/2018 by Suzie Ford

• Things to Do for Yourself Before Battle for Azeroth

  With the pre-event for the next World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth hitting live servers by mid-July, now is a good time to get some things squared away for your account to make sure you’re ready to hit the ground running. We’ve come up with a list of some things you can do right now to make sure you’re ship shape ahead of the August 14th release of Battle for Azeroth.

  Posted on 06/26/2018 by Suzie Ford

• Before the Storm Book Review - TL;DR Alliance Good, Horde Evil

  Penned by prolific New York Times best-selling author Christie Golden, Before the Storm by design is provided to lay the groundwork for the World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth expansion. How well does it succeed in providing context for both sides of the story? Is each faction shown making “morally gray” choices that may be construed as evil by opponents? This is our spoiler-free review.

  Posted on 06/07/2018 by Suzie Ford

• Killing the Legion Blues by Prepping for Battle for Azeroth

  The next World of Warcraft expansion, Battle for Azeroth, is scheduled to launch in August. With just over a month until the launch of the pre-event to set the stage for BfA, and with most players feeling the Legion doldrums, it’s the perfect time to bone up on the lore behind the faction conflict, the centerpiece of BfA, and to study up on the growing tensions between Horde and Alliance.

  Posted on 05/29/2018 by Suzie Ford

• Excessive Datamining in Alpha & Beta Destroys Motivation

  World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth has been in alpha / beta testing for the last several months with regular updates adding more and more content for players. Of course, with every testing opportunity, players are exposed to more of the gameplay details and the story behind the expansion, this time namely the ongoing battle between Horde and Alliance. However, without an NDA in place and data miners going at it hard with every alpha update, when is knowing everything simply TMI?

  Posted on 04/30/2018 by Suzie Ford

• Big Changes Coming in BfA to GCD, Realm Firsts & Much More

  Blizzard promised at PAX East last week that the World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth beta would be coming "soon". A week later, we haven't seen any definitive proof that soon means anything more than typical Blizzard-speak. However, the BfA alpha has been getting some updates over the intervening days with some pretty interesting new things. We've looked things over and found five of the most interesting new components of the BfA alpha.

  Posted on 04/17/2018 by Suzie Ford

• Leveling the New Old-Fashioned Way - Pros & Woes

  In v7.3.5, World of Warcraft's leveling path was altered dramatically to open up how and where players might like to go in their journey to 110. It's all good and fine but...is it as great as it seems on first blush? Let's take a look.

  Posted on 03/28/2018 by Suzie Ford

• Seething Shore is a Welcome Battleground Addition

  As part of the lead up to the next World of Warcraft expansion, a brand new battleground will be added, the first since Mists of Pandaria. The Seething Shore helps set the stage for Battle for Azeroth that plays on the themes of the expansion itself, mainly the fight for control of Azerite, a substance that could change the face of war on the planet forever. Let's take a look.

  Posted on 03/02/2018 by Suzie Ford

• 5 Things We've Learned from the Battle for Azeroth Alpha (NO SPOILERS!)

  The Battle for Azeroth alpha test for the next expansion to World of Warcraft has been in full swing for about a week now. As expected, dataminers and testers have been busy learning all about the content and features that we can expect going forward. We’re going to take a look at five of what we feel are the most interesting new things coming with BfA, none of which have anything to do with lore so, rest assured: This is a spoiler-free zone for the expansion.

  Posted on 02/13/2018 by Suzie Ford

• REZZED: The Most Important MMOs Of The First Modern Decade

  We're bringing back another blast from the past from our friend Richard Aihoshi. In his column from November 2014, he talked about the "first modern era" of MMOs, namely the seminal games released between 1996-2005. Some of these games are the ones many of us cut our MMO teeth on. It's a fun look back, not only at 2014, but at the ancient days of yore stretching back into the last century. See if his thoughts still hold true today!

  Posted on 02/09/2018 by Richard Aihoshi

• Thoughts About Allied 'Races' & Intro Scenarios

  Pre-ordering Battle for Azeroth came with an “unexpected” surprise of being able to complete the 4 introductory scenarios that admitted the Allied races to their new respective faction. For the players who match the requirements, this allowed them to create characters of those new races which start at level 20. We have a few thoughts on those scenarios and what they might be missing, so sit back and enjoy.

  Posted on 02/07/2018 by Suzie Ford

• It's Been a Big Week Since the Launch of 7.3.5 - Let's Catch Up

  Last week, Blizzard launched the World of Warcraft 7.3.5 update for the game. That in and of itself is huge news. However, in the days between then and now, a lot of smaller, but very noteworthy, things have happened that you may have missed. We aim to remedy that today.

  Posted on 01/23/2018 by Suzie Ford

• The Revival of Leveling in Patch 7.3.5

  Middle of the road patches in World of Warcraft are rarely so impressive. But 7.3.5 has almost entirely reinvigorated the leveling process of the game. By activating leveling scaling across the entire game, with some caveats, the act of raising a new character is not only inviting, but it’s far more enjoyable because you can finally do it however you want. 13 years into Azeroth’s MMO existence, and leveling is now the best it’s ever been.

  Posted on 01/19/2018 by William Murphy

• Our Guide to Keeping Busy Until Battle for Azeroth Arrives

  There are some immutable facts that we know about World of Warcraft as we sit here today. Antorus is the final raid in the Legion expansion. Battle for Azeroth has been revealed as the next chapter in the ongoing story. We have NO idea when it’s coming our way. What this means, dear readers, is that we are now officially in the doldrums when it comes to WoW. However, it can never be said that there’s “nothing to do in WoW” -- it wasn’t true a decade ago and it’s even less so today.

  Posted on 01/10/2018 by Suzie Ford

• We Think Blizz Wanted to Announce World of Diablo. Here's Why

  During last month’s Blizzcon, we have been pondering the World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth expansion announcement. Several new features were revealed, however, none of the new systems came with much attendant detail. From our view, the rushed feel of the Battle for Azeroth announcement suggests that this was not exactly what Blizzard wanted to reveal during Blizzcon.

  Posted on 12/18/2017 by Suzie Ford

• On Battle for Azeroth's Island Expeditions

  In the upcoming Battle for Azeroth Expansion, Island expeditions are going to be one of the highlighted features. This was announced at BlizzCon and really drew me back into playing Warcraft again. Even though it is likely a year away, it still has a ton of potential. Azerite is the prime resource in Battle, and that is what you are hunting for.

  Posted on 11/30/2017 by Garrett Fuller

• The Big Reasons to Be Excited About Allied Races in Battle for Azeroth

  When World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth launches at some indistinct point in the future, it will come packed with six brand new races. While there is still a lot of speculation about why these race groups would join one faction or the other lore-wise, there are some pretty compelling reasons to be excited to see them from a purely gameplay perspective.

  Posted on 11/28/2017 by Suzie Ford

• The Top Five PvP MMOs

  Way back in 2010, we wrote a List of the Top 5 PVP MMOs. Well, seven years on (almost eight), how does it hold up? Read on to find out.

  Posted on 11/28/2017 by William Murphy

• World of Warcraft Classic – Quality of Life

  Blizzard has announced Word of Warcraft Classic for all of us old timers. The questions came up at Blizzcon of keeping Classic true to its nature but adding in some quality of life changes for the better. Here are a list of ideas which might help all of us down the line.

  Posted on 11/22/2017 by Garrett Fuller

• Ion Hazzikostas Live Battle for Azeroth Q&A Recap

  On Thursday afternoon, World of Warcraft Game Director Ion Hazzikostas and Community Manager Josh Allen took part in the latest “live Q&A”. This time, questions were focused on the upcoming Battle of Azeroth expansion, clarification on several Blizzcon reveals and more. There wasn’t a lot of new information, but there are some keen takeaways worth noting as well as some things that were given further clarification by Hazzikostas.

  Posted on 11/17/2017 by Suzie Ford

• The 10 Most Wanted MMOs of 2018

  I think it’s probably safe to say that the big releases for MMOs in 2017 have come and gone. Unless Blizzard shocks the world and magically puts out an expansion to WoW as a surprise Christmas gift, we’re already looking forward to 2018. So strap on your hype-belts, and board the hype-train, as it’s time to look forward to 2018 and hope it’s far, far better than 2017. This is our list of the 10 Most Wanted MMOs of 2018.

  Posted on 10/31/2017 by Suzie Ford

• Blizzcon 2017 - What We Might See & Learn About WoW's Expansion

  This week is a big one for World of Warcraft fans with Blizzcon kicking into high gear. The Arena Championship road begins today, ultimately culminating in Friday's opening of Blizzcon itself. This year will be a big one for WoW as most fans and players are expecting an expansion announcement as the final Legion raid is ready for release. We're going to take a look at all things WoW + Blizzcon, so sit back and enjoy.

  Posted on 10/31/2017 by Suzie Ford

• The 10 Greatest MMORPG Heroes of All Time

  For our next two lists, we’ll be diving into the NPCs of our favorite MMORPGs to find the best heroes and villains across the genre. This week, we’re starting with the good guys, picking our 10 favorite MMORPG heroes of all time.

  Posted on 10/13/2017 by William Murphy

• Five Essential Legion AddOns

  One of the most prolific World of Warcraft cottage industries is the addon community that creates mods to assist players with various aspects of the game. We've come up with a list of five essential addons for PvE players in Legion, as well as tossed in a few others that are good for general Azerothian exploration.

  Posted on 10/12/2017 by Suzie Ford

• WoW Q&A Wrap Report Including RNG, PvP & Flying on Argus

  Today marks a new World of Warcraft Q&A with Ion Hazzikostas and Josh Allen. We've been listening and have the complete wrap report.

  Posted on 10/05/2017 by Suzie Ford

• The 10 Best Story-Driven MMOs of All Time

  This week we’re ranking the 10 best story-driven MMOs of all time. That means we’re going to try and put numbers on feelings we all have for the narratives we play through when we’re living in these virtual worlds. It’s a tall order, and one we’re sure you’ll have some mixed emotions over. Without further ado, here are our 10 Best Story Driven MMOs of All Time.

  Posted on 10/03/2017 by William Murphy

• Five Things Blizzard Needs to Leave Behind in Legion

  I’ve started thinking about the things that have plagued Legion over the course of the past year and have come up with five things that Blizzard needs to leave behind in order to hopefully bring back some of what has made World of Warcraft so special over its decade + of existence.

  Posted on 09/28/2017 by Suzie Ford

• Would WoW eSports Be Better Served with PvE?

  World of Warcraft's competitive and casual PvP is in the doldrums right now for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the Legion stat templates. Recently, however, Blizzard introduced a new angle on WoW's eSports scene with the Mythic+ Invitational, a PvE based event. Is it possible that this is the future for WoW eSports?

  Posted on 09/20/2017 by Suzie Ford

• The 10 Greatest MMORPGs of All Time - 2017 Edition

  It feels like this is a list we should revisit every so often, especially as games change, games launch, and games die in the world of MMORPGs. The following is a list we compiled using something we like to call “our hearts and minds and asses”. Our Top 10 Great MMOs of All Time list is merely our own thoughts, put to paper. We absolutely welcome your own insight, and soon we’ll begin a poll of our users to catalog the Players’ Choice for 2017 too. Now, let’s get on with it!

  Posted on 09/13/2017 by William Murphy

• Five Interesting Things About v7.3 'Shadows of Argus'

  With the launch of World of Warcraft: Legion 7.3 update, Shadows of Argus, players are now off on an interplanetary jaunt to take the fight to the Burning Legion. Once and for all, we are told, the threat from the Legion to Azeroth will be ended. We've found five pretty interesting things about 7.3. See if you agree.

  Posted on 09/01/2017 by Suzie Ford

• What's Next for Azeroth & WoW?

  World of Warcraft: Legion is winding down. Once the v7.3 update hits and players are whisked off to Argus, home of the Burning Legion, it is likely that this heralds the conclusion of Legion and the possible announcement of the next expansion at Blizzcon. Let's muse a bit on WoW's current present and its future.

  Posted on 08/01/2017 by Suzie Ford

• From Legendary to 'Legion'dary - A Brief History of Amazing Items in WoW

  Legendary items have been part of World of Warcraft since its earliest days. Sulfuras, Thunderfury (did someone say....), Fangs of the Father and Shadowmourne -- The names reflect the legendary status of each item alongside the small smile and knowing nod of those lucky enough to have received them when they were "current content". Even those getting them a bit later have the satisfaction of having done something exceptional.

  Posted on 05/30/2017 by Suzie Ford

• Five Neat Things Coming in World of Warcraft 7.2.5

  World of Warcraft: Legion has a big new patch coming in the middle of June with 7.2.5. There are a lot of things to look forward to for what Blizzard considers a “smaller” patch. Most notably, players will finally get to take the fight to Kil’jaeden when the Tomb of Sargeras opens in 7.2.5 as well as take part in Black Temple time walking.

  Posted on 05/09/2017 by Suzie Ford

• Legion Stories that Hit a Dead End

  Before World of Warcraft: Legion launched, it seemed like the lore of the expansion would touch on nearly every aspect and all the major players of the game. But in the intervening months between Legion’s launch and the release of v7.2 (Tomb of Sargeras), a lot of the promising stories or “hinted-at” lore have all but disappeared.

  Posted on 04/03/2017 by Suzie Ford

• Like It or Not, Destiny 2 is Good for the MMO Genre

  Destiny 2 is coming to PC. Praise be to RNGeezus, it’s true. While the “Persistent Online Shooter” does everything it can to avoid the term MMO, truth is they’ve invited us (a site mainly focused on MMOs) out to their studio on several occasions. Acronym or not, even Bungie realizes the game’s draw for fans of the genre. With the sequel now officially launching on the PC September 8th, Destiny 2 has become the bright spot on the MMO gamer’s horizon.

  Posted on 03/31/2017 by William Murphy

• Tomb of Sargeras - What It Brings to High-End Game Play

  World of Warcraft will be getting the massive v7.2 "Tomb of Sargeras" update today (tomorrow in EU) that brings a ton of new content into the game as well as some significant changes to classes, artifacts and more. In addition, players will be able to complete the requirements to fly in the Broken Isle, gain a new class specific mount and much more.

  Posted on 03/28/2017 by Suzie Ford

• This Week in MMOs - Fanfest, Blizzard Wrap Up & Videos Galore

  As Bill is always telling me, it's never a slow week in gaming news and this week is no exception. From the EU Final Fantasy Fanfest that our own Rob Lashley attended and killed news wise to Blizzard's big week for updates to a ton of videos showing off some of our favorite and upcoming titles, it was a great week to be a gamer.

  Posted on 02/19/2017 by Suzie Ford

• The Best Things to Use Your BattleNet Balance For

  Blizzard announced yesterday that World of Warcraft tokens can be purchased in game and then used to fill up a virtual currency wallet called BattleNet Balance. This balance can then used to trade for WoW services or to purchase items across all of Blizzard's games. As a result, virtual currency items in the Shop have gotten a bit more interesting. In today's column, we'll take a look at some of the more fun things you can buy with your BattleNet Balance in each of Blizzard's other titles!

  Posted on 02/07/2017 by Suzie Ford

• The Top 20 MMO News Stories of 2016

  2016 is in the bag folks, and after 52 weeks of MMO news, you’ll be surprised (or maybe) not to see what the most viewed stories on MMORPG.com were over the course of the year. Some of you will probably see why Black Desert gets a lot of reporting too, both here and across the web. Read on for our top 20 stories of 2016!

  Posted on 01/03/2017 by William Murphy

• The Events That Shaped 2016

  Let’s take a look back at the year that was. A rough year for many, especially MMOs. Still, the game industry continues to move forward and games remain a multi-billion dollar industry. MMOs still make tremendous amounts of money, now through cash shops and in game purchases, it seems like the full formula of a successful community has finally come into being.

  Posted on 12/27/2016 by Garrett Fuller

• MMORPG’s Best of 2016 Awards

  It’s the end of the year as we know it, and that means it’s time for us here at MMORPG.com to gather around and salute our picks for the best MMOs and RPGs of 2016, plus the ones we’re most anxious for in 2017. Read on for our Best of 2016 Awards!

  Posted on 12/22/2016 by William Murphy

• How to WOW Your Favorite WoWster This Season

  Outside a big well-cooked meal and a mug of holiday grog, nothing says "I wubs you" like a perfectly themed gift for a World of Warcraft player. As the holidays, all of them in fact, approach, it's a great time to take a look at some unique corners of the Interwebs to find just the right thing for the WoWster in your life.

  Posted on 12/16/2016 by Suzie Ford

• The Top 5 Blizzard Stories of 2016

  As one of the biggest game companies in the world it is always interesting to see what goes on at Blizzard Entertainment. This year had some major news surrounding the company and people paid attention to what was happening over at the fortress in Irvine. Some of the stories were really big, others, were huge and you may have missed them. Here is our break down of the top five events this year for Blizzard.

  Posted on 12/13/2016 by Garrett Fuller

• WoW Has a LEGIONdary Problem

  World of Warcraft's latest expansion, Legion, has changed the game a lot and one of the most visible systems to have been altered is the acquisition of legendary items. We take a look at how Legion's legendary system has altered the landscape for players and the issues that have risen around it.

  Posted on 12/02/2016 by Suzie Ford

• What We May Hear About Diablo During Blizzcon

  With Blizzcon 2016 ready to kick off with the opening ceremony just about 24-hours from now, and with recent Internet breathlessness over the “leaked” image showing both a male and female Necromancer as well as a year’s worth of job postings for an “unannounced Diablo project”, the hype for a possible major Diablo franchise announcement has reached heights it hasn’t in many years.

  Posted on 11/03/2016 by Suzie Ford

• How Legion Changed WoW

  In recent years MMOs have made some big changes. Over time games had been built on this giant leveling curve. Warcraft itself had zones which you played through in times to level up and then basically never went to again. This created a huge vacuum which left most of the surface of Azeroth empty as players moved on. However, Legion has really made the push to utilize the whole continent, something that Warcraft should be looking at in the future.

  Posted on 11/02/2016 by Garrett Fuller

• Predictions for Blizzcon 2016

  Next week, we’ll be attending BlizzCon 2016, the 10th such affair in the company’s long and storied existence. Last year’s convention was pretty intense, with Legion info, Overwatch, Warcraft movie goodness… it’s hard to imagine that 2016 could somehow top last year. But it’s the TENTH BlizzCon. We’d be fools to think that the Irvine, California based studio didn’t have some sort of surprise up its sleeve.

  Posted on 10/27/2016 by William Murphy

• The Diablofication of WoW

  Now that World of Warcraft: Legion has been out for just over a month, some of the classic ‘fatigue’ with any expansion is beginning to set in. As an up-to-recently avid Diablo III players, Shelassa and I began to notice several things in Legion that seem awwww-fully familiar and what we now affectionately call the “Diablofication of WoW”.

  Posted on 10/04/2016 by Suzie Ford

• Five Essential Add-Ons for Legion (and a Few Extra!)

  Now that World of Warcraft: Legion has been out a few weeks and players are once again in the ‘groove’ of the game, it’s time to talk about how to best manage your time in game to maximize your fun and to feel as if you’ve accomplished something for the day. To that end, there are several game add-ons that are easily installed and that will greatly help players of any type no matter what type of activity they’re engaged in.

  Posted on 09/23/2016 by Suzie Ford

• Quick Take - Do We Recommend Legion?

  Blizzard has been candid about its missteps in Warlords and that it hopes to improve the way that Legion plays out by releasing content incrementally (adding new artifact traits, new chapters to the order hall campaigns, etc.) that will keep players coming back for more. We have a few thoughts about the first few days of Legion and whether or not you should consider playing.

  Posted on 09/01/2016 by Suzie Ford

• Legion is Here, Are You Playing?

  The big day is here, and so far, the servers of Azeroth are holding up. World of Warcraft: Legion is officially launched, and a great many of us are playing. The question we want to ask is… are you?

  Posted on 08/30/2016 by William Murphy

• When Games Inspire - World of Warcraft

  In celebration of the fact the Legion expansion will be out in a couple of weeks I decided to focus on some really interesting World of Warcraft creations. There’s a ton fan creations out there having to do with World of Warcraft, and choosing who to include was certainly difficult. I did make a conscious choice not to include any of the really big names.

  Posted on 08/18/2016 by Robin Baird

• How WoW and Magic The Gathering Get It Right

  See MMOs are always fun to play together, but many of them have such huge worlds and such deep learning curves, it is impossible to get started in them once you fall behind. Magic and WoW seem to have found a solid formula to combat the death of MMOs and here is how it works.

  Posted on 08/16/2016 by Garrett Fuller

• Not Again….

  Blizzard released Demon Hunters to the World of Warcraft live servers and Rob just couldn’t help himself. See what his lack of impulse control got him into this week.

  Posted on 08/11/2016 by Robert Lashley

• Are You Prepared? Your Legion To Do List

  With this week’s major update to World of Warcraft in preparation for the Legion expansion coming on August 30th, a lot of new systems went into place. Every player class and specialization received an update in both skills and talents. The bottom line is that if people think they’re going to breeze in on Legion launch day without attending to several things, it’s more than slightly likely that somewhere, somehow they will hear “YOU ARE NOT PREPARED!”

  Posted on 07/21/2016 by Suzie Ford

• Professional Fantasy

  Gareth Harmer takes a look at Professions in Legion, and explains why crafting in Warcraft is about to become a whole lot more fun.

  Posted on 07/11/2016 by Gareth Harmer

• A Trip to Azsuna

  With two months until the launch of Legion, development on Warcraft’s latest expansion has been surging ahead. In his report, Gareth Harmer takes a closer look at the zone of Azsuna.

  Posted on 06/20/2016 by Gareth Harmer

• Five Things Players Will Love About Warcraft: The Beginning

  I will begin this article by saying that I am not here to give a full blown review of Warcraft: The Beginning. What I am here to do is try to synthesize why Warcraft and World of Warcraft players might adore...and dislike...the movie based on a series of games that millions have loved over the past two plus decades.

  Posted on 06/10/2016 by Suzie Ford

• The Relentless Legion

  The Legion is coming, and it is relentless. No matter how many times they are driven back, the Fel Armies will not cease marching until all of Azeroth is consumed. No matter the defeats they suffer, the demonic swarm continues unyielding. They will probe and pursue any weakness or treachery in single-minded pursuit of a corrupting end.

  Posted on 05/23/2016 by Gareth Harmer

• The MMO Leap to Console

  This week if the news taught us anything it is that the MMO leap to console systems has now been validated. Yesterday, Matt Firor made a few announcements in a feature on GameIndustry.biz about the success that Elder Scrolls Online has had in the console market. It opened a lot of eyes in the game world and perhaps this is the jump start we need to really begin seeing major companies invest in MMOs again.

  Posted on 05/20/2016 by Garrett Fuller

• The Legacy Debate

  There has been a lot of chatter on the internet lately about Legacy servers and Emulated servers for AAA MMOs. Rob weighs in with his opinions on Nostalrius Begins and the emulated server debate.

  Posted on 04/21/2016 by Robert Lashley

• Nostalgia for Vanilla - Will Blizzard Give In?

  A lot of talk has been swirling around the MMO-niverse over the past week with Blizzard’s legal action against a private World of Warcraft server that has seen many are clamoring for “official” vanilla WoW servers by way of online petitions, debates on forums and editorials by games media. Fans of vanilla WoW wish to return to what they believe is the ‘best of’ the game while Blizzard prefers to progress the game in its current state.

  Posted on 04/11/2016 by Suzie Ford

• Legion Alpha - Revitalizing Group Play & Class Fantasies?

  While the World of Warcraft: Legion alpha -- well, technically it’s still called that, though the servers say beta but that’s just nitpicking -- has introduced testers to a lot of new features, zones, the Demon Hunter and some of the lore behind the expansion, those things pale in comparison to the new way of playing that most will encounter both in PvE and in PvP.

  Posted on 03/28/2016 by Suzie Ford

• MMOs for Couples

  While the idea of “massive multiplayer” online RPG means that we’re in there with others by design, sometimes it’s nice to just adventure through with a partner-in-crime, just the two blazing a path to glory. With that in mind, we’ll take a look today at five games that that are great fun for two.

  Posted on 03/15/2016 by Suzie Ford

• My Top 3 Memorable MMORPGs

  After last week’s feedback on the Console RPG reboot list Rob is back with a list of the top 3 MMO’s that have left a lasting impression on him.

  Posted on 02/18/2016 by Robert Lashley

• MMOs for Explorers

  In this new column we’re calling The Playlist, we seek to be your MMO Spotify. We want to curate lists of games for all kinds of player types or interests. To start off, we’re going to focus on the best games out there for all kinds of explorers. If you love getting lost in a world, seeing whatever is over the next mountain, we hope to give you quite a few games to check out.

  Posted on 02/17/2016 by William Murphy

• What's New in Alpha + Blizzard Financials

  Over the past couple of weeks, a pair of interesting things have happened to pique the interest of World of Warcraft fans. Between the latest Legion alpha build and the release of the Activision-Blizzard 2015 investor report, fans and players were given a lot to think about.

  Posted on 02/15/2016 by Suzie Ford

• SWTOR - Less MMO, More RPG Than Ever Before

  Hot on the heels of The Force Awakens, Chris jumped back into Star Wars: The Old Republic to see how it holds up. It’s half the MMO it used to be and a much better RPG because of it! Read on to find out why. Plus, in the Quick Hits, we have impressions of The Division, Darkest Dungeon’s roadmap from launch, a new character and the possibility of a new demo for Final Fantasy XV, free content for Shadowrun: Hong Kong, and more!

  Posted on 02/05/2016 by Christopher Coke

• With Legion's Launch Seven Months Out, Will Blizzard Make It?

  With the World of Warcraft: Legion alpha back in service, we had the chance to hit the ground running in the newest build. Three areas are open and we took a trip through two of them: Highmountain and Stormheim with Suramar yet to go. Taking into account Blizzard's projected release of "summer 2016" which can mean any day up to September 21st, and with the alpha in its current state, one has to wonder, "Will Blizzard make it?"

  Posted on 02/01/2016 by Suzie Ford

• You Can Never Go Back to WoW Again

  It’s the time of the year traditionally that people don’t care about anything. Everything interesting has happened, and there hasn’t been long enough for people to get their act together and stop going to the gym.

  Posted on 01/11/2016 by Paul Nadin

• The Content Drought - What To Do Until Legion

  Blizzard has given itself until the end of September to release World of Warcraft: Legion, the next expansion to the game and the one that is coming packed with new features, alterations in core game systems and much, much more. The problem is that that's still nine months away. Even the "bridging" content between Warlords of Draenor and Legion isn't likely until June or July.

  Posted on 01/04/2016 by Suzie Ford

• What We've Learned About Legion So Far

  With the World of Warcraft: Legion alpha on hiatus until sometime in early 2016, it gives us a breather in order to assess the things we learned during the first part of testing. While much is known thanks to data-miners, it’s often the experiential knowledge that is the most compelling and worthy of contemplation.

  Posted on 12/21/2015 by Suzie Ford

• 5 MMO Incidents that Showed Solidarity Against the Real World

  With the recent terrorist attacks in mind, I send out my condolences to all of those who lost or even have an injured loved one. In real life, we tend to stick together in such tragedies, give each other a pat on the back and help each other out of these tough times. On the other side, in the world of video games, it’s not that different, since it’s the same people in real life who play them.

  Posted on 12/07/2015 by Mostafa Hossam

• Legion Information Overload - Too Much of a Good Thing?

  With the commencement of the limited "limited alpha" that includes VIPs, streaming notables, members of the games press, and some rank-and-file players, the information about the World of Warcraft: Legion expansion has flooded out the gate. Blizzard places no limits on its alpha players and, in fact, encourages them to stream game play, write about it, post impressions and screenshots and much more.

  Posted on 11/24/2015 by Suzie Ford

• 5 Great Things & One 'Oh Really' Moment Straight From Blizzcon 2015

  During Blizzcon 2015 earlier this month, World of Warcraft: Legion took front and center during the festivities. For the first time since the expansion was announced in August, fans and players alike finally got to hear more details about Legion and what it means to the game millions around the world still adore.

  Posted on 11/16/2015 by Suzie Ford

• All We Hear Are Crickets, Blizzard! What's Up with Legion?

  It’s been awhile since we wrote about World of Warcraft, not because we wouldn’t like to, but because there is honestly next to nothing new to write about. Don’t misunderstand: There’s nearly always something that can be said about WoW. Right now, however, what people want to know is the one thing that we have heard next to nothing about since Gamescom at the beginning of August: Legion.

  Posted on 09/29/2015 by Suzie Ford

• The Five Best MMOs for New Players

  Jumping into a new MMO can be an intimidating experience for even the most seasoned players, especially those who have little familiarity with MMORPGs in general. Most of us on the site play MMOs like doing so is our job, and yet there are still some times when I start up a new game, or an existing one that I haven’t touched in a while, and feel the familiar sense of panic when I see how many skills or activities are available.

  Posted on 09/28/2015 by Som Pourfarzaneh

• Five Pointed Questions About World of Warcraft

  It would be difficult if not impossible to build any kind of reasonable case that World of Warcraft isn't the most influential MMORPG ever. As it approaches it eleventh anniversary this November, it can lay claim to some truly enormous numbers. For example, in 2012, it reportedly surpassed $10 billion in total gross revenue. Last year, it reached 100 million accounts created.

  Posted on 09/01/2015 by Richard Aihoshi

• Kudos & Questions About Legion

  Now that a week or two have passed since Blizzard’s Gamescom announcement of the World of Warcraft expansion, Legion, it’s time to turn the eye to the things that, at this early stage of information, cause the heart to flutter in both good and worrisome ways.

  Posted on 08/20/2015 by Suzie Ford

• 5 Things We Want from WoW’s Legion Expansion

  Warlords of Draenor has not been a successful expansion for World of Warcraft. It started out with a huge amount of hype and lots of potential, but all of that quickly faded once the honeymoon period wore off. After the fresh coat of paint on the surface rubbed away, players were left with repetitive garrison missions and a neverending grind. The story was interesting, but that only lasts for a short while.

  Posted on 08/10/2015 by David Jagneaux

• What We'd Like to See (and Not See) in the Next Expansion

  Many WoW players are pinning their hopes on the Eye of Azshara, a name that Blizzard trademarked late last year (and the subject of our WoW column earlier this week). Rather than focus on what we’d like to see lore-wise, let’s take a few minutes to look at the things we’d like to see (and NOT see) from a feature standpoint in this next as-yet-unnamed expansion.

  Posted on 07/30/2015 by Suzie Ford

• The Top 5 Most Disappointing MMOs of 2015…So Far

  A couple weeks ago I wrote about some of the best MMOs we've had in 2015 so far. That list included stuff like new releases, games that saw big improvements, and some of the most promising ones to keep your eye on for the next half of 2015. This list, on the other hand, is going to focus on the exact opposite.

  Posted on 07/27/2015 by David Jagneaux

• Speculating on the Next Expansion

  World of Warcraft has reached the end of the Warlords of Draenor expansion with the deployment of the v6.2 update, and now that players have voiced their concerns (to put it kindly) with what has been felt to be a rather lackluster expansion to date, it seems a good time to begin thinking about what could possibly come next for World of Warcraft.

  Posted on 07/27/2015 by Suzie Ford

• Warcraft Movie First Look

  Thought it seems that all things in Azeroth are quiet as we wait for news on the next expansion, that doesn't mean the IP is resting on its laurels in other media. In this week's column, we finally get a good look at the upcoming Warcraft film and take a look at other Comic Con announcements.

  Posted on 07/20/2015 by Reza Lackey

• Expansion Post Mortem - Warlords Turns to Borelords

  With World of Warcraft’s latest expansion, Warlords of Draenor, sitting at eight months out the gate, it is time to take a look back at WoD, now considered to be ‘feature complete’. Has Warlords added meaningful and interesting content to WoW? Is there enough to keep players going until a new expansion?

  Posted on 07/13/2015 by Suzie Ford

• Waiting for WoW’s Next Expansion

  How long is too long to wait for an expansion? That’s the question many WoW players are asking themselves after learning that content patch 6.2 will likely be the final one for Warlords of Draenor. This week we look at the hopeful but skeptical response from the blogosphere.

  Posted on 07/08/2015 by Jessica Cook

• Tavern Brawls and What’s Next for Hearthstone

  This week we take a look at Hearthstone’s new Tavern Brawl mode and speculate about what’s next for Blizzard's card game.

  Posted on 07/06/2015 by Reza Lackey

• Fury of Hellfire - Frustration, Grind & Disappointment

  Last week marked the big Fury of Hellfire v6.2 patch to World of Warcraft. After what seemed like months of high hopes for much more and much better content, players have spent the last several days adventuring through Tanaan Jungle and checking out the usefulness of the new Shipyard. What has been the reaction? Read on to find out.

  Posted on 06/29/2015 by Suzie Ford

• Fury of Hellfire Dated and Bar Fights!

  Patch 6.2 launches this week and we have the full raid schedule for Hellfire Citadel. We also take a look at the first week of Tavern Brawls.

  Posted on 06/22/2015 by Reza Lackey

• To Fly or Not to Fly? That is the Question

  Flying in the Warlords of Draenor expansion to World of Warcraft has generated a lot of discussion and controversy over the past several weeks. In this week’s column, we take a look at the controversy and how Blizzard has addressed the concerns of the WoW community.

  Posted on 06/15/2015 by Suzie Ford

• It’s Hammer Time!

  New Heroes are on the way to Hearthstone and the announcement has upset a lot of players. We take a look at what’s on the way and why I think we all need to relax.

  Posted on 06/08/2015 by Reza Lackey

• Nostalgia and its Impact on Blizzard

  Greetings from sunny Orlando, Florida. I’m on vacation this week with my family visiting the house that mouse built. I had planned on doing a first impressions piece on Satellite Reign but unfortunately that won’t be the case. I’ll circle back to Satellite Reign next week and talk about a few Blizzard related topics instead. Isn't it time we got a WoW Progression server?

  Posted on 05/28/2015 by Robert Lashley

• A Look at Itemization in WoW 6.2

  In an official post on the World of Warcraft site the team outlined new improvements coming in Patch 6.2 to how itemization will work. Essentially the two biggest changes are coming to the Personal Loot system and itemization improvements from bosses in the new Hellfire Citadel raid.

  Posted on 05/25/2015 by Reza Lackey

• The Ban Hammer Swings to What Effect?

  It has been quite a while since Blizzard issued a large number of World of Warcraft bans but last week saw that lull end with over 100,000 player accounts being blocked for bot usage. The most common program for which players were censured was the Honorbuddy bot program that essentially automates play during PvP matches and with plug ins that can also make certain PvE tasks automatic as well.

  Posted on 05/18/2015 by Suzie Ford

• The Meaning of Community

  One word that comes up over and over again in relation to MMOs is community. But does “community” mean much anymore to modern MMO players and developers?

  Posted on 05/13/2015 by Jessica Cook

• The Subscriptions Dip

  This week we talk about the ever exciting subscription numbers, new Patch 6.2 features and the next Warcraft hero to appear in Heroes of the Storm.

  Posted on 05/11/2015 by Reza Lackey

• My 2015 Year To Date MMOG Power Rankings

  Does anyone actually know how many MMOGs are out there now? I certainly don't. Indeed, the category has grown so much that I can no longer even estimate the total number with any real confidence. Many are, of course, not very prominent. Others are a lot more visible and fare far better in terms of attracting and holding our attention. This is my completely personal, subjective ranking of the titles that have had the most interest value for me so far this year.

  Posted on 05/05/2015 by Richard Aihoshi

• Mad About Mods

  What’s the hot story this week? We’re highlighting posts from the blogosphere about SWTOR operations tuning, Blizzard’s eSports triumphs and WoW token adjustments, and, yes, Steam’s Mod Marketplace.

  Posted on 04/29/2015 by Jessica Cook

• WoW Patch 6.2 Preview

  When the features were announced for Patch 6.1 many players were quick to call out the lack of new content. While 6.1 included many updates including the new Heirloom collection system, it offered little in the way of new playable content to explore. Patch 6.2 has recently hit the public test realm and man does it make up for what 6.1 was thin on. Let’s look at some of the major new features that are on the way.

  Posted on 04/27/2015 by Reza Lackey

• A Disappointing Week

  As any fan knows, part of loving video games is also being disappointed in them every now and then. This week on Tales from the Neighborhood we’re looking at four disappointed blog posts about Neverwinter, World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy Record Keeper, and MMO communities in general, along with a couple of very positive posts about RIFT’s new wardrobe system.

  Posted on 04/22/2015 by Jessica Cook

• The WoW Token Rollercoaster - Price Hikes or Effective Option?

  When we last looked at the topic of WoW token for World of Warcraft, Blizzard hadn’t yet unleashed the new subscription option onto the market. Now, after more than a week of availability in North America, the option has seen a rollercoaster in the market as those looking to make some cash came up on the demand for the first time. With the tokens costing $20, does this really provide a good service, giving players more options?

  Posted on 04/20/2015 by Christina Gonzalez

• When to Embrace Themepark MMOs

  There are hundreds of MMOs out there, and many of us have played dozens or more of them. Along the way, we've picked up a few favorites, maybe even made a mostly permanent home. But there's always that nagging thought... maybe it's time to go back and try that other game again?

  Posted on 04/20/2015 by William Murphy

• Subreddits, Twitch Channels, and Multi-Game Guilds

  Is FFXIV more fun than Warlords of Draenor? Are subreddits a good replacement for official forums? Is there anything for MMO players to watch on Twitch right now? We’ll learn what the blogosphere has to say on the topic of these questions and more!

  Posted on 04/15/2015 by Jessica Cook

• The WoW Token and Blackrock So Far

  This week we have a look-see at how the WoW Token is doing so far and I offer my opinion on the first two wings of the Blackrock Mountain Adventure.

  Posted on 04/13/2015 by Reza Lackey

• WoW Token Cost, Sylvanas & Blackrock Mountain

  This week we learn a little bit more about the WoW Token, take a look at the latest Warcraft character to enter the Nexus and Blackrock Mountain gets a release date!

  Posted on 03/30/2015 by Reza Lackey

• Return to Blackrock

  At PAX East Blizzard announced details for the next Hearthstone Adventure, Blackrock Mountain. This week we go over all that we currently know about this mini-expansion. But first, BlizzCon!

  Posted on 03/16/2015 by Reza Lackey

• With WoW Tokens The Community Wins

  Blizzard is heading back into real money trading with the introduction of the WoW Token for World of Warcraft. The recent announcement that players would be able to trade gold or real money for a token worth 30 days of game time in the shop or auction house. Predictably, the sky began falling to some players, while others saw the new option as logical.

  Posted on 03/09/2015 by Christina Gonzalez

• Play to Play for Free

  Big news today for World of Warcraft players. Blizzard has announced plans to allow players to purchase game time with gold! Similar to the PLEX system in EVE or C.R.E.D.D. in Wildstar, you’ll soon be able to purchase a WoW Token from the auction house using gold that can be consumed for 30 days of game time. This is huge.

  Posted on 03/02/2015 by Reza Lackey

• Hearthstone's Next Adventure and WoW Patch 6.1

  This week we get a peek at what may be Hearthstone's next PVE adventure and take a look at World of Warcraft Patch 6.1 now that it's been in the wild for a bit.

  Posted on 03/02/2015 by Reza Lackey

• A More Social WoW

  This week we check in on some numbers for World of Warcraft and Hearthstone. We also see what it takes to bring social aspects back to WoW.

  Posted on 02/16/2015 by Reza Lackey

• 9 of The Cutest NPCs in MMORPGs

  Ah, NPCs. They are such a staple in our MMOs that we not only take them for granted, but we can also ignore them. I always make an attempt to appreciate an MMO’s details, and NPCs are often some of most well-designed aspects of many of our favorite titles.

  Posted on 02/10/2015 by Beau Hindman

• Best MMOs to Play as a Couple on Valentine’s Day

  Love is in the air this time of year. Stores are lines with pink and red decorations, flowers poke out in every direction, and romantic gifts are littered across the aisles. In fact, the upcoming holiday Valentine’s Day just so happens to be on a Saturday this year.

  Posted on 02/09/2015 by David Jagneaux

• Patch 6.1 Preview

  With Patch 6.1 on the public test realm there’s tons to talk about this week. Let’s check out some of the big additions and changes heading to Warlords of Draenor.

  Posted on 02/02/2015 by Reza Lackey

• Five MMORPG Sequels I'd Like To See

  The concept of sequels is very familiar to anyone who plays video games, so much so that we basically expect any hit to spawn one, if not more. In the MMO space, the situation is somewhat different because the titles continue to grow and evolve over time. Accordingly, follow-ups aren't nearly as common. That said, it wasn't hard to come up with a handful that would potentially be of significant interest for me.

  Posted on 01/26/2015 by Richard Aihoshi

• Is WoW F2P Creeping Closer?

  These days, it doesn't seem to take much at all to start another round of speculation that World of Warcraft is about to implement some form of free to play. I've felt for some time that this will eventually happen, at least on a regional basis, with China most likely. The inevitable counter-argument is that the venerable game brings in too much money via subscriptions to change. However, is this assumption as solid as those who make it would like to be?

  Posted on 01/20/2015 by Richard Aihoshi

• Chronicle

  This week we learn about a new Warcraft project, World of Warcraft: Chronicle and take a look at what’s next for the raiding scene with the Blackrock Foundry.

  Posted on 01/19/2015 by Reza Lackey

• The Journey Doesn't End at 100

  As with all things World of Warcraft, simply hitting the level cap is not the end of the journey, though many might expect it to be. So what should one do upon reaching level 100? We've got a few ideas in mind that can still bring months of quality time to WoW players.

  Posted on 01/07/2015 by Suzie Ford

• A New Year

  Happy new year, everyone! It’s hard to believe that it’s already 2015 and that World of Warcraft is entering its eleventh year! There’s many things to look forward to this year, the planned content patches for Warlords and the possibility of the next expansion being announced.

  Posted on 01/05/2015 by Reza Lackey

• My 2015 MMOG Wish List

  It has been many years since I last sat on Santa's knee or wrote a letter to make sure he'd know what gifts I wanted him to bring. Although I'm not inclined to do either ever again, I haven't forgotten the seasonal tradition of listing my wishes. This year, as usual, I can enumerate quite a few things I'd like to see within the MMOG category. There are far too many to consider discussing them all, so I decided to limit myself to a manageable selection.

  Posted on 12/29/2014 by Richard Aihoshi

• How Did the WoD Top Ten Hold Up?

  In late October I wrote a column that was an attempt at humor. In it I listed the top 10 reasons to look forward to the Warlords of Draenor expansion for World of Warcraft. Now that Warlords has been out for over a month I want to go back and take a look at how much of my humorous list actually holds up under the stress of use.

  Posted on 12/26/2014 by Robert Lashley

• Grouping Up

  Much has occurred since my inaugural column on World of Warcraft. I’ve managed to climb to the giddy heights of level 100, tearing through the Spires of Arak and rolling hills of Nagrand on my way. I’ve improved my garrison, expanding it to the maximum size possible and recruiting new followers. And I’ve been diving into group content, from dungeons through to heroics and even the Molten Core Raid.

  Posted on 12/04/2014 by Gareth Harmer

• Welcome to Draenor

  This week I share my thoughts on the Warlords expansion so far and then we check out some of the Tier 17 gear we’ll find in the upcoming Highmaul raid.

  Posted on 12/01/2014 by Reza Lackey

• The 5 Worst MMO Launches

  MMO launches are one of the trickiest things in the world for a developer and publisher to orchestrate. In the case of single player games, the experience can be perfectly balanced and simulated in a controlled environment. For standard multiplayer games, you can easily cap the number of players involved and know how it’s going to turn out in a live scenario. A Massively Multiplayer Game on the other hand, is something else entirely.

  Posted on 11/17/2014 by David Jagneaux

• Goblins vs. Gnomes

  Well, just like that BlizzCon has come and gone, and it vvvvwas awesome. Having been to the four most recent BlizzCons this was hands down the best. Not only did they announce a new IP (Overwatch), there was tons of news for their existing titles including the announcement of a new Hearthstone expansion that is right around the corner.

  Posted on 11/17/2014 by Reza Lackey

• The Top 5 Free-to-Play WoW Clones

  The term “WoW Clone” gets thrown around a lot these days. While it may not really be fair to claim that any game should be labeled a clone of another game, it is the reality that we live in. World of Warcraft is, by far, the biggest and most popular MMORPG in the world and as the old saying goes, “If you can’t beat ‘em, copy ‘em,” or something like that.

  Posted on 11/10/2014 by David Jagneaux

• A New Player’s Impressions of World of Warcraft

  I’ve been playing MMORPGs for most of my gaming life. As someone in their mid-twenties, I can’t claim to have been around for years and years losing myself in these virtual worlds, but I feel like I have a pretty good pulse on the industry as a whole. My MMO experiences first started with the original EverQuest, a game I would watch one of my brothers play when I would go to visit him.

  Posted on 11/07/2014 by David Jagneaux

• Now's the Time

  If you’re a World of Warcraft player, there is no time more exciting than right now. The fifth expansion is days away from going live and Blizzcon is happening even sooner. If you haven’t played in a while or have been on the fence about giving it a go, there is no better time than now.

  Posted on 11/03/2014 by Reza Lackey

• Blizzcon 2014: Rumors and Speculation

  What has me wondering, however, is what those massive gaps in the Blizzcon schedule mean. These are the times and places that are usually reserved for THE BIG THING™ that Blizzard is most keenly focused on in any given year. A cursory look shows that the Keynote will take place on Friday morning, ending at 11:45 a.m. Then nothing, not a single thing sits on the schedule until after 2:00 p.m. This is not the Blizzcon of the past and it is prime gaming real estate.

  Posted on 10/29/2014 by Suzie Ford

• The Spotlight Falls on Draenor

  With Warlords of Draenor almost upon us, World of Warcraft is riding a bit higher these days. Player numbers are up, and the hype is kicking in for the release in just a couple of weeks. Yet, Warlords of Draenor is being released in a different MMORPG mood and market this time around, even for Blizzard. Warlords promises a mix of advancement and nostalgia, and it really couldn’t come at a better time.

  Posted on 10/28/2014 by Christina Gonzalez

• Ten Reasons to Look Forward to WoD

  I’m not really sure what sparked me to create a list for this week’s column. It probably had to do with all the David Letterman I watched last week, which is something I also never really do, but they had the Foo Fighters on all week as their house musical guests and had some tremendous performances. I’ve also been on a bit of a World of Warcraft kick since I logged back in last week to check out patch 6.0.2.

  Posted on 10/23/2014 by Robert Lashley

• Numbers Up, Blizzcon & the Iron Horde

  This week in All Things Warcraft we talk numbers, the pre-expansion patch and anticipate a look at the Warcraft film at BlizzCon.

  Posted on 10/20/2014 by Reza Lackey

• The Iron Horde is Coming

  The last time Blizzard introduced a content update to World of Warcraft was September 10th, 2013. That was the Siege of Orgrimmar patch. It has been a long time since Blizzard has updated their game, especially when you consider they charge a subscription. Finally relief is in sight, however. With the release of the fifth expansion, Warlords of Draenor (WoD), imminent Blizzard has released patch 6.0.2 The Iron Tide, or what I like to refer to as the Squish patch.

  Posted on 10/17/2014 by Robert Lashley

• Two Recent Questions

  What role should governments have in the online game industry? This question was brought back to mind recently by news about a bill in Singapore that may have substantial potential to impact how the free to play revenue model can operate there. I also had renewed reason to wonder about the future of World of Warcraft in our planet's largest market, China.

  Posted on 10/14/2014 by Richard Aihoshi

• PvP Season Ends, Brawler's Guild Changes & Hearthstone Cards

  This week we look at a few new Hearthstone rewards, check out evidence alluding to what new game we might see in the Blizzard launcher and find out what’s in store at the end of Brawlers Guild season one.

  Posted on 10/06/2014 by Reza Lackey

• 5 Improvements Coming in Patch 6.0.2

  Patch 6.0.2, the pre-expansion patch, is just weeks away and is already available for testing on the private test realm. This week we look at five new features that will drastically improve the game.

  Posted on 09/22/2014 by Reza Lackey

• Why Do You Craft?

  Crafting has never been one of my favorite things to do in MMOs. I spent an inordinate amount of time mining and engineering in vanilla World of Warcraft, and put about the same effort into Prospecting and Tinkering in The Lord of the Rings Online. Heck, I even (completely ridiculously) fully committed to Fable 2’s crafting minigame, and did my best to keep up with Alchemy and Smithing in Skyrim.

  Posted on 09/19/2014 by Som Pourfarzaneh

• Wow Players Never Die. They Resurrect.

  It is no secret that any article about Blizzard's World of Warcraft will garner a lot of attention and, often, a long list of forum pages of debate. It is obvious then, that World of Warcraft has become a polarizing game over its decade of existence. Millions of players have streamed through its virtual doors during those ten years. Some have stayed for the duration. Others have left and returned with each expansion. Still others have waved goodbye to WoW and never returned.

  Posted on 09/16/2014 by Suzie Ford

• The Best 8 Naxxramas Cards in Hearthstone

  This week it’s all about Hearthstone as we look at my favorite new Curse of Naxxramas cards as well as the upcoming reward for this month’s season of ranked play.

  Posted on 09/08/2014 by Reza Lackey

• The Ramp Up to Warlords

  This week I geek out over the new Warlords cinematic, we check out the new Lords of War animated series and inspect the goodies in the Warlords Collector’s edition.

  Posted on 08/25/2014 by Reza Lackey

• It Continues to Surprise Us Year After Year

  “I don’t know how Blizzard does it every time, but they do it every time,” said GameSpot’s Chris Watters after the cinematic for Warlords of Draenor premiered at the Ace Theatre. The emphasis Watters had in that statement resonated with more than a thousand attendees who watched with bated breath as the event took place. Blizzard’s cinematics have always been state-of-the-art examples to the premium quality this company strives to achieve for each of their games.

  Posted on 08/19/2014 by Genese Davis

• Fond Memories of World of Warcraft’s Early Days

  For me, my 2004 game was World of Warcraft. I eagerly awaited both EQ2 and WoW, but after getting into the Closed Beta for the latter, my fate was sealed. Everything about those early Azerothian days seems great in hindsight… until I remember why I quit the first time (lack of level 60 content). But today, I thought I’d pull out one of my fondest Azerothian memories from the fall and winter of 2004, when we were all noobs slinging Chuck Norris jokes in General Chat.

  Posted on 08/12/2014 by William Murphy

• Draenor Cinematic and Date

  This week we talk about the latest earnings call and see what’s in store for WoW’s 10th anniversary.

  Posted on 08/11/2014 by Reza Lackey

• Summer Snapshots

  Let's try playing a little game. I'll pose a bunch of topics and provide my thoughts on each. You're invited to do the same. The only stipulation is that the word snapshot in the sub-head means there's a limit of 100 words per subject. Are you up for it? I guess we'll see soon enough. Here's your chance to join me in offering quick takes on Firefall, Destiny, WoW: Warlords of Draenor, WildStar, ArcheAge and which MMOGs may be approaching their sunsets.

  Posted on 08/05/2014 by Richard Aihoshi

• The Game Beyond the Game – Fans Take Charge

  Last week, Rob Lashley wrote a terrific column called “Connecting Players to Virtual Worlds” that got me thinking about all the other ways that players stay connected to their favorite games. Often, these very connections go beyond the developers and, in a way, become entities unto themselves. Players create opportunities to show off their devotion in many different and divergent ways.

  Posted on 08/04/2014 by Suzie Ford

• Connecting Players to Virtual Worlds

  In the MMO genre I believe developers should focus on building worlds, not just games. The more developers do to create engaging settings that players grow to care about and become invested in the more enriching the experience it will be for the players. This in turn will make it more financially rewarding for the developers. Loyal customers, especially in an increasingly microtransaction dominated gaming economy, help keep games a float.

  Posted on 07/31/2014 by Robert Lashley

• Questing to Monotony

  I’m not a partisan MMO gamer. I’ll play a sandbox, a themepark, an Action MMORPG, or anything that offers me fun when I boot up the title. But if there’s something made clear by recent MMO offerings, it’s this: traditional questing as a means of progression is really getting tired.

  Posted on 07/30/2014 by William Murphy

• Naxxramas Arrives, New Tauren & Rehgar in HotS

  This week we enter the first wing of the Curse of Naxxramas Hearthstone adventure and peak at the updated female Tauren model. We also take a quick look at Rehgar, the newest hero to be added to Blizzard's upcoming MOBA.

  Posted on 07/28/2014 by Reza Lackey

• 5 MMOs to Play with Non-MMO Players

  By design, MMOs are more fun to play with your friends. Most of them encourage or even require grouping for a lot of the best and most rewarding content, which necessitates either being social in the game world, or coming into the experience with a pre-determined group of friends to play with. Sometimes though, it can be hard to find people. Whatever the case may be, every MMO player wishes X friend would play in their favorite virtual worlds with them.

  Posted on 07/21/2014 by David Jagneaux

• Hearthstone Tournament, Firesides & WoW's Male Draenei

  This week in All Things Warcraft we take a look at the pricing model for the upcoming Hearthstone Adventure mode, a new Hearthstone tournament and why you should attend a Fireside Gathering.

  Posted on 07/14/2014 by Reza Lackey

• Two Interesting Developments

  Although the month or two after E3 can sometimes be slower than usual in terms of news, there was still quite a bit going on in the MMOG space over the past couple of weeks. A number of items caught my attention over this span. The top two, both involving potentially intriguing changes, were Perfect World's latest western acquisition and the departure of Blizzard's Chief Creative Officer.

  Posted on 07/08/2014 by Richard Aihoshi

• Ten Most Voted Female Characters in MMOs and RPGs

  A few months ago, we had an exciting MMO Super Women discussion about what essential elements create memorable female protagonists. We asked you to name the women characters from MMOs that made an impression on you. As a result, we compiled your votes into the following ten MMOs and RPGs. Enjoy, and be sure to add any additional female favorite heroes in the comments below!

  Posted on 07/08/2014 by Genese Davis

• The MMO Isn't Over - It's Evolving

  Recently, I read a piece proclaiming the MMO "era" to be over. While the genre has undergone some shifts through the years as both technology and gamers change, the genre isn’t on life support. While certain trends have held and others faded, MMOS are still being made, played, and planned. The genre is evolving, just as it evolved after 2004, and continues today. We seem to be on the verge of a new chapter right now, in fact.

  Posted on 07/07/2014 by Christina Gonzalez

• Social Hooks & MMOs

  How many people do you interact with reasonably often in your current MMO? How many of those people are outside of your guild? Assuming you have played MMO’s for awhile, is your pattern of socialization today similar to that back when you started?

  Posted on 07/02/2014 by Ryahl Smith

• The Top 5 MMOs That Could Be Singleplayer Games

  So many MMOs nowadays have evolved into an amalgamation of game modes and content – some stuff you can play alone, some of it requires strangers, some of it is best with friends, some is friendly, some is just for fun. Even though these experiences seem to be getting farther and farther away from what made the genre so exciting to begin with – adventuring in epic online worlds – it has led to creation of a term with both good and bad connotations: solo friendly.

  Posted on 06/30/2014 by David Jagneaux

• Human Models, Warlords Settings, Naxxramas Dated

  This week in ATW we look at several new player models, new Warlords settings and a more specific release window for Curse of Naxxramas.

  Posted on 06/30/2014 by Reza Lackey

• First Steps in a Larger World

  This week on All Things Warcraft we’re going to do something a little different: with recent access to the Warlords of Draenor alpha I am going to write about what I see and find as it happens. Be warned: minor spoilers ahead! Let’s log in!

  Posted on 06/16/2014 by Reza Lackey

• War Crimes & Crash Courses

  This week we look at the latest Warcraft novel, War Crimes. We also check out the new crash course videos and welcome a brief Valor Point buff!

  Posted on 06/02/2014 by Reza Lackey

• The Top 5 Casual MMORPGs

  With so many options out there for an MMO to play, there is something for everybody. Whether you’re looking for an epic fantasy adventure, alternate history, sci-fi conquests, or maybe even a real-life simulator, you can surely find and MMO to satiate your unique hunger. Not everyone is a seasoned MMO veteran however. This is our list of the top 5 best casual MMOs on the market right now and each of these would be great choices for anyone looking for a more casual MMO gaming experience.

  Posted on 06/02/2014 by David Jagneaux

• Recapturing that Old MUD Feeling

  Before there was Ultima Online and Everquest, or even Meridian 59, there were MUDs. Standing for “Multi User Dungeon,” MUDs were the original MMOs. Played on mainframes with text descriptions and a simple command line, with no sound, no graphics, not even a map, you typed out your movements and actions in the game and waited to see the server’s response. You connected via your dial-up modem at 300 baud, and there were perhaps 20-30 players online at any given time.

  Posted on 05/27/2014 by Mark Kern

• My Most Memorable MMOGs

  It's approaching two decades since I started writing about the massively multiplayer category. I don't recall the exact date or even which title was the first I covered, but since then, I've played hundreds for at least a few hours each, and seen lots more. Recently, I was asked which ones I most remember. While this question may seem simple enough, it took me a fair bit of time and thought to answer.

  Posted on 05/20/2014 by Richard Aihoshi

• Blizzcon, Nelfs & Naxxramas

  Welcome to All Things Warcraft - the new name for the previous WoW Factor column. The name change is to more accurately reflect what this column will be about going forward, Warcraft. This week we discover a source to find wild BlizzCon tickets, we check out the new female Night Elf model and see what’s going on in the world of Hearthstone.

  Posted on 05/19/2014 by Reza Lackey

• Twelve Famous Player-Driven MMORPG Moments

  MMOs offer a unique community where friends create a bond and a history. As players invest in communal gameplay they foster social relationships that drive these shared experiences. Moments of this nature continue beyond the game, because of the impact we have on each other. Which of the following events did you take part in, or do you remember? Check out the following list of famous player-driven moments.

  Posted on 04/30/2014 by Genese Davis

• New Models and Adventures

  This week in the WoW Factor we look at two new player character models and get our first look at Curse of Naxxramas: A Hearthstone Adventure!

  Posted on 04/21/2014 by Reza Lackey

• Waiting for Draenor

  This week in the WoW Factor we take a look at six things you can do while waiting for this fall's release of Warlords of Draenor.

  Posted on 04/07/2014 by Reza Lackey

• Blizzcon 2014, Warlords Release & More

  This week in the WoW Factor we look at hints of BlizzCon 2014, Warlords release date information and pre-order goodies, and we see what’s new in the official launch of Hearthstone!

  Posted on 03/24/2014 by Reza Lackey

• The Best Tank Classes in WoW

  This week in the WoW Factor we look at upcoming honor changes to Battlegrounds and I attempt to rank the tanking classes by how fun they are to play. I bet you’ll disagree with my first pick!

  Posted on 03/10/2014 by Reza Lackey

• The Impact of WoW’s Instant Boost to Level Cap

  Last week, word got out that Blizzard had set its price for boosting a character to level 90 after the World of Warcraft Warlords of Draenor expansion is released. There was already speculation going on, given previous leaks that included surveys with Blizzard asking players how much boosting a character up to cap was worth to them. It was thus pretty inevitable that we were going to see this sort of thing come to the shop. The settled upon price, as we know now, is $60.

  Posted on 03/03/2014 by Christina Gonzalez

• Arenas, New Models and Garrison Buildings

  This week on the WoW Factor we take a look at upcoming changes to Arenas, two updated player models and what Alliance players can look forward to in their Garrisons.

  Posted on 02/24/2014 by Reza Lackey

• WoW's Subscribers Are Up... Maybe?

  'Tis the season for 2013 fourth quarter and full year financial reporting, which means we can update ourselves as to how various publishers and their key titles fared during these periods. It's an unfortunate fact of life that game companies dislike making their numbers more transparent than necessary. That said, a little data mining can often be edifying and interesting. Last week learned about World of Warcraft, and from elsewhere, about the Russian market.

  Posted on 02/11/2014 by Richard Aihoshi

• PvP Season Transition

  This week on the WoW Factor we touch on the PvP Season 14 transition and the current state of Patch 5.4.7 on the Public Test Realm. Then we check out what some Hearthstone devs have to say about where the game is and what’s to come.

  Posted on 02/10/2014 by Reza Lackey

• 2013's Free to Play Top 10

  Research company SuperData recently released a list of the top 10 F2P games based on their estimated worldwide revenue last year. Not surprisingly, the top position was occupied by CrossFire, which is said to have brought in a cool $957 million. Depending on how this figure was sourced, is it possible that the MMO shooter from SmileGate and Tencent may actually have surpassed the $1 billion mark?

  Posted on 01/28/2014 by Richard Aihoshi

• More Warcraft Please

  In the past the WoW Factor column has focused primarily on World of Warcraft and occasionally dipped into other Warcraft related happenings such as the upcoming film. Going forward I am going to try to make this column about all things Warcraft, including Hearthstone. I am also considering renaming the column to reflect this change but I haven’t quite settled on a new name so stay tuned for that. Now moving on to the good stuff!

  Posted on 01/27/2014 by Reza Lackey

• MMO Super Women

  Batman, Superman, and Spiderman are the most popular answers for the famous, who’s your favorite super hero? question. But what if you were asked to name your favorite female super hero? Icons such as Wonder Woman or Lara Croft may come to mind. What attributes make these super women feel truly real, but also truly memorable? For video games specifically it can be difficult to mention just one or two favorites. And it can be even more difficult to narrow down wonder-women characters from an MMO.

  Posted on 01/25/2014 by Genese Davis

• The Buddy System

  Senior PvP designer Brian Holinka recently announced on Twitter that Blizzard is planning a new PVP season before the release of the next expansion, Warlords of Draenor. Brian's Tweet indicated that new gear and rewards will be coming along with this new season and that additional details, including a timeline, will be coming soon.

  Posted on 01/13/2014 by Reza Lackey

• Looks Like a Good Year for Player Housing

  Some of my colleagues have already taken us through the year in MMOs that was in 2013 and shared a taste of what's to come and what we're anticipating. Like you, we're players who enjoy the genre and don't always agree on what's fun or what will hold our interests. What does stand out is what several of 2014's games (and games we expect to release this year) are doing on one particular front: housing.

  Posted on 01/06/2014 by Christina Gonzalez

• The Most Wanted MMOs of 2014

  In this week’s List, we’re doing the obvious… ranking our staff’s top ten Most Wanted MMOs of 2014. The new year is just a day away, so it’s time we took stock of the ten games, expansions, and so forth we’re most looking forward to in the next twelve months. So tarry no more, read on, and dig our list of the Most Wanted MMOs for 2014.

  Posted on 12/31/2013 by William Murphy

• Delving More Into Garrisons

  One of the features that many World of Warcraft players are looking forward to is the newly announced garrisons feature. In this week's WoW Factor, we take a look at garrisons and what they mean to players and to the game. Read on!

  Posted on 12/30/2013 by Reza Lackey

• Tears of Veeshan & Assorted MMORPG Expansions

  Game expansions are the lifeblood for longevity of the MMOs we love to play. In his latest column, Adam Tingle talks about expansions in general and about EverQuest: Tears of Veeshan in particular. Read on before heading to the forums to chat.

  Posted on 12/20/2013 by Adam Tingle

• Adventure Time

  In this week's WoW Factor, we take a look at all the WoW news of the past week including a film update and a first look at the new quest helper. Read on before heading to the comments.

  Posted on 12/16/2013 by Reza Lackey

• Looking Back at Mists of Pandaria

  The Tourist is our way of revisiting favorites of the past, recent and otherwise. In our latest column, we take a look at World of Warcraft's Mist of Pandaria expansion and what it brought to the game. Read on and the leave your memories of Pandaria in the comments.

  Posted on 12/06/2013 by Christopher Coke

• Raiding and Questing in Draenor

  With the arrival of the World of Warcraft expansion, Warlords of Draenor, players will be facing new (and improved!) raiding and questing features. In our latest column, we take a look at some of them and offer a few thoughts. Read on before heading to the comments to leave you own opinion.

  Posted on 12/02/2013 by Reza Lackey

• The Best Laptop MMOs

  As the world grows increasingly small and we travel more, we take along our more portable machines. In The List today, we take a look at five great MMOs perfect to play on any laptop. Read on before leaving your choices in the comments.

  Posted on 11/23/2013 by William Murphy

• Terrible, Horrible Vertical Expansions

  Vertical expansions, those pesky expansions that create barriers to entry for new players starting at ground zero. In our latest Tourist, we take a look at the phenomenon and offer a unique perspective. Read on and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 11/22/2013 by Christopher Coke

• The Instant Leveling Debate

  The title of the article says it most clearly: The old debate about instant leveling was reignited by Blizzard when it was announced that players would get an instant boost for a character when the World of Warcraft expansion goes live. We take a look at both sides of the argument. See what we think before leaving your own ideas in the comments.

  Posted on 11/21/2013 by Robert Lashley

• My First BlizzCon

  What was our Community Manager MikeB's first BlizzCon experience like? Did he wind up with the Con-Plague? Read on to find out!

  Posted on 11/20/2013 by Michael Bitton

• Beginning to look at Draenor

  Last week, the MMO space was captivated by Blizzard's announcement of the World of Warcraft expansion, Warlords of Draenor. In our latest WoW Factor, we take a look at some of the exciting features that will come with Warlords and much more. Read on and then leave your impressions in the comments.

  Posted on 11/18/2013 by Reza Lackey

• WoW Isn’t the Killer

  World of Warcraft is a divisive game in the genre with one side saying it's killed innovation, the other its champion. In his latest op-ed, Rob Lashley offers a few thoughts about how both sides have a point. Read on and then head to the battleground in the comments.

  Posted on 11/14/2013 by Robert Lashley

• Go for BlizzCon

  This week marks the return of Blizzcon after a year's hiatus. The convention should bring some big new for World of Warcraft players and the air is electrified at the prospect. We take a look at things we'd like to see in our latest Wow Factor. Check it out before leaving us your Blizzcon wish list in the comments.

  Posted on 11/04/2013 by Reza Lackey

• Five of the Best MMOs for Soloers

  MMORPGs, just by virtue of the name, seem to require other players to enjoy the game. Yet that's not always the case. In The List today, we take a look at five MMOs that are eminently solo-able. See what you think before heading to the comments to include your favorite game.

  Posted on 11/01/2013 by Suzie Ford

• Latest News and BlizzCon Updates

  Naysayers aside, there is always something going on with World of Warcraft. In our latest WoW Factor, we take a look at the most recent updates as well as take a peek ahead to next month's Blizzcon. Check it out and then head to the comments.

  Posted on 10/21/2013 by Reza Lackey

• Things to Do with Friends in WoW

  This week's WoW Factor is a grab bag of topics, most notably about some of the things you can do when hangin' with the crew. In addition, we update the latest in movie news and Blizzcon happenings. Read on and then head to the comments.

  Posted on 10/07/2013 by Reza Lackey

• What's Next For World of Warcraft?

  With WoW's first decade nearly complete, we begin to speculate what will come next for the fading champion of the MMO space. In today's Free Zone, we opine about a few things we think could happen. See what we think before letting us know your own thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 09/24/2013 by Richard Aihoshi

• Thoughts on Patch 5.4

  Now that it's been a week since the release of the v5.4 patch for World of Warcraft, it's time to share some of our thoughts and impressions before asking you to head to the comments to leave your own ideas. Check out this weeks' WoW Factor!

  Posted on 09/23/2013 by Reza Lackey

• Lore Novels

  Last week, Genese Davis profiled books that are about gamers and MMOs. In this week's column, she sheds the light on companion novels to some of our favorite MMOs. See what made her list and see how many you've read. Did she miss your favorite? Let us know in the comments.

  Posted on 09/19/2013 by Genese Davis

• Are Seasonal Events Really Fun?

  With the recent debut of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, the first update was, naturally, a seasonal event. In our latest FFXIV column, we wonder at how much fun these types of events truly are. See what we think before lending your voice to the conversation in the comments.

  Posted on 09/11/2013 by Robert Lashley

• What to Know for 5.4

  The next, and one of the largest patches in a couple of years, for World of Warcraft is set to debut across all servers on Tuesday, September 10th. It is bringing some massive changes to the world, things players need to know. Check out our latest WoW Factor to find out what -you- need to know for 5.4. Head to the forums afterward to discuss your expectations for the patch.

  Posted on 09/09/2013 by Reza Lackey

• The Path So Far

  Blizzard has announced that the next World of Warcraft patch will be released in September. Called Siege of Orgimmar, it is a major step forward in the lore of the game. In our latest WoW Factor, we take a look at the patch to v5.4. See how it's all developed over time and then discuss the upcoming patch in the comments.

  Posted on 08/26/2013 by Reza Lackey

• 5 Reasons People Love to Hate WoW

  One of the most common complaints about any MMO for the last nine or so years has been that it's a "WoW clone", said in a snarky tone of voice to boot. In The List today, we look at five reasons why people like to pile the hate on World of Warcraft. See what we think before adding your thoughts to the comments.

  Posted on 08/23/2013 by Suzie Ford

• Stylized Graphics

  Welcome back to another edition of Player Versus Player. This is the column where MMORPG.com writers come to square off on the issues you care about, even playing the devil's advocate to make sure each side is represented. It's an arena battle of wits and words where only you can decide the victor.

  Posted on 08/15/2013 by Christopher Coke

• Titan Not A Subscription MMORPG... Whodathunkit?

  With last month's earnings report, the world learned a thing or two about Blizzard's Titan, most notably that it will not be a subscription-based title like its elder sibling, World of Warcraft. In today's Free Zone, we take a look at that tidbit of news and offer a few thoughts. Check it out!

  Posted on 08/13/2013 by Richard Aihoshi

• The Importance of Story

  With a new animated series based on the Pandaria region of World of Warcraft, Blizzard once again asserts its contention that story is paramount. We take a look at that today in our latest WoW Factor. Check it out before heading to the comments to chat.

  Posted on 08/12/2013 by Reza Lackey

• How Might Tencent's Investment Affect Activision?

  Last week, Activision-Blizzard bought itself out from under Vivendi Universal. One of its heavier investors is Asian games publisher TenCent. In our latest Free Zone, we take a look at the potential changes that might come along as a result. Read on and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 07/30/2013 by Richard Aihoshi

• A Look at the Timeless Isle

  The forthcoming v5.4 patch for World of Warcraft is currently on the public test realm and we've got a great preview of the new zone, Timeless Isle, in today's WoW Factor. See why we think this may be a great time to hop back into WoW. Read on!

  Posted on 07/29/2013 by Reza Lackey

• In-game Store and Movie Update

  World of Warcraft's big revelation this past week is that, indeed, an in-game item store will be making its way to the game in the future. In our latest WoW Factor, we offer a few thoughts about that as well as update you on the World of Warcraft movie in the making. Read on!

  Posted on 07/15/2013 by Reza Lackey

• Competitive WoW

  In today's WoW Factor, we take a look at competitive play in the world's favorite MMO, World of Warcraft. Nothing says endgame like great PvP. See what we think about the competitive nature of WoW and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 07/01/2013 by Reza Lackey

• A Peek at Patch 5.4

  Blizzard has dropped a few really juicy hints about features and improvements coming with the v5.4 patch for World of Warcraft. In today's WoW Factor, we take a look at some of them. See what we have to say before joining the conversation in the comments.

  Posted on 06/17/2013 by Reza Lackey

• Escalation

  World of Warcraft recently saw with deployment of the Escalation update to the game that brought some significant narrative elements and quests into the game. In our latest WoW Factor, we examine what it is that players have to look forward to. See what's new and then leave us your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 06/03/2013 by Reza Lackey

• A Deep Look at Patch 5.3

  The next World of Warcraft patch is looming large on the horizon with tons of new information released about it recently. In our latest WoW Factor, we take a deeper look at what v5.3: Escalation will mean for players. Check it out and then leave us your thoughts about the next update in the comments.

  Posted on 05/20/2013 by Reza Lackey

• Transcending MMOs with Transmedia

  Transmedia is one of the biggest buzzwords in the entertainment industry. How can it fit in with the MMO-space? In her latest column, Genese Davis explores the possibilities. See what she has to say and then lend your thoughts to the comments.

  Posted on 05/09/2013 by Genese Davis

• Anticipating BlizzCon 2013

  After a year off, Blizzcon 2013 will be storming back to Anaheim later this year. Ardent World of Warcraft fans are beginning to speculate about what big announcements the team might have in store for the world's most popular MMO. Check out our musings before adding yours in the comments.

  Posted on 05/06/2013 by Reza Lackey

• LFR and Drop Rates

  The World of Warcraft forums have been abuzz since the release of the last patch that brought some significant changess to the drop rates with regard to daily quests. In The WoW Factor today, we take a look at some of the issues and offer an opinion or two. See what we've got to say and then join the discussion in the comments.

  Posted on 04/22/2013 by Reza Lackey

• Patch 5.3 Reactions

  Recently, the World of Warcraft v5.3 patch went into effect bringing with it a lot of important changes and additions to the game. In our latest WoW Factor, we take a look at those additions and changes and offer our opinion. Check it out and then let us know what you think of the patch in the comments.

  Posted on 04/08/2013 by Reza Lackey

• Securing the Isle

  Last week, World of Warcraft was updated with The Thunder King content expansion with an impressive array of new features, quests, dailies and more. We've got a few thoughts to share about what we think of The Thunder King so keep reading and then let us know what you think in the comments.

  Posted on 03/11/2013 by Reza Lackey

• The Second Screen

  Many MMOs these days utilize a "second screen" in the form of a mobile application. In today's WoW Factor, we take a look at how a second screen benefits World of Warcraft. See what we've got to say before talking about it in the comments.

  Posted on 02/25/2013 by Reza Lackey

• Preview Panic

  One of the things that MMO players are used to more than nearly anything else is the very popular preview option that we are often treated to long before a game is released. In today's Devil's Advocate, we take a look at this singularly unique feature of the MMO game space. Read on and then lend your voice to the discussion in the comments.

  Posted on 02/22/2013 by Victor Barreiro Jr.

• A New Hope

  Blizzard Entertainment made big news recently with the announcement that a director had finally be chosen for the World of Warcraft movie set to begin filming in the near future. We take a look at that and what it means to Warcraft fans everywhere in today's column. Let us know what you think in the comments.

  Posted on 02/11/2013 by Reza Lackey

• I Failed... Now What?

  The issue of whether or not failure is something that should be included in an MMO is today's hot topic of discussion The Devil's Advocate. No matter what side of the issue you fall on, you'll want to read this piece and then hash it out in the comments.

  Posted on 02/08/2013 by Victor Barreiro Jr.

• Practical Thoughts on Add-ons

  It is the sign of great intellect to admit that sometimes we don't actually know it all. In this week's Devil's Advocate, we take a further look into game add-ons with some new ideas and thoughts gleaned from you, our readers. Check it out and then add your voice to the comments.

  Posted on 02/01/2013 by Victor Barreiro Jr.

• The Power of Flight

  In this Week's WoW Factor, Reza Lackey explores the good and bad things that come along with Flying in Azeroth. Read on for a good history lesson, and a trip down memory lane.

  Posted on 01/28/2013 by Reza Lackey

• Adventuring With Others

  One of the classic features in any MMO is the need and/or desire to group with others to adventure throughout the world In today's WoW Factor, we take a look at the adventuring life. Check it out and then discuss the article in the comments.

  Posted on 01/14/2013 by Reza Lackey

• The Thunder Road

  Over this past holiday season, Blizzard gifted its World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria fans with the news that patch v5.2 would be bringing a hefty list of much-desired changes to the game. We take a look at some of the most significant ones in our latest WoW Factor. Read on!

  Posted on 12/31/2012 by Reza Lackey

• From BlizzCon to Landfall

  The latest patch to World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, "Landfall", has been widely hailed as a good step forward for Blizzard Entertainment. In our latest WoW Factor, we take a look at why it's an important update. Check it out before leaving your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 12/19/2012 by Reza Lackey

• Who Will Make The Epic Fantasy Game?

  A lot of interested eyes are pointed squarely at Star Citizen to see if the crowd funding method will produce a 'worthy' MMO. In Garrett's latest column, he explores whether how this method could possibly work and set a new precedent for the industry. Read on!

  Posted on 12/14/2012 by Garrett Fuller

• The 5.1 Effect

  Last week, Blizzard Entertainment released the v5.1 patch for World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria that brought some significant changes to the game. We take a look at some of those changes. Read on!

  Posted on 12/04/2012 by Garrett Fuller

• The Problem No One’s Talking About

  The MMO market is arguable the most crowded it has ever been with each game clamoring for players' attention. But with the notion that the field is a crowded one, comes the revelation that there are two serious issues with MMOs today. In Bill's latest column, he examines those problems. See what he has to say and then leave your ideas in the comments.

  Posted on 11/02/2012 by William Murphy

• Surpassing Azeroth

  There is no question that World of Warcraft has been the top dog in the pack for many years. But we contend that Rift is beginning to beat the leader at its own game. Find out why we say that and then let us know what you think in the comments.

  Posted on 10/15/2012 by William Murphy

• Donning My Alliance Uniform

  It's been a long while since Scary Booster has forgotten the basic necessities of life like showers and, oh, food. But with last week's release of Mists of Pandaria, well, it's happened again. Read on to see what Scary thinks before adding your own ideas in the comments.

  Posted on 10/05/2012 by Aaron Couture

• Cutscenes, Story, and Questing, Oh My!

  Story and how it is told is an integral part of any MMO. In her latest column, Pokket gives her unique take on, as the title says, cutscenes, story and questing. Read on before lending your voice to the conversation in the comments.

  Posted on 09/24/2012 by Hillary Nicole

• The Best WoW Versions

  In The List today, we take a look at the various iterations of World of Warcraft in light of next week's release of the latest expansion, Mists of Pandaria. We rank order them according to our preferences. See if you agree before leaving your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 09/18/2012 by Garrett Fuller

• Taking Down the Giant

  One of the things that inevitably happens when any new MMO is released is an endless round of comparisons to "that game", you know, The Giant (which shall remain nameless). Our own Pokket has a few thoughts to share about that particular subject so keep reading! Add your thoughts to the mix in the comments.

  Posted on 09/17/2012 by Hillary Nicole

• Factions & Faction Rewards

  With the upcoming World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria expansion, Blizzard will once again introduce new factions and faction rewards into the game. In The WoW Factor today, we talk about the whole idea of making factions and rewards worthwhile to the player. See what you think and then weigh in on the conversation in the comments.

  Posted on 09/12/2012 by Garrett Fuller

• Quest Hubs Are Dead, Finally!

  MMORPG.com is proud to introduce our newest regular columnist, Red 5's Mark Kern. Yep, -that- Mark Kern! In his inaugural column, Mark opines on the idea that a game has finally arrived that deals the death knell to 'quest hubs'. Find out what he's got to say and then weigh in with your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 09/11/2012 by Mark Kern

• The Missing Component

  Many MMOs in the past several years have tanked, tanked hard and tanked early. While most players could name several reasons why, Pokket thinks there is just one. The one she's thinking of just might surprise you. Keep reading to see if you agree!

  Posted on 09/10/2012 by Hillary Nicole

• Patches, Mists, and Mechanics

  In this week's WoW Factor, we look at Patch 5.0.4. Also, we stack the game up against some of the new MMO mechanics being seen in games recently.

  Posted on 08/31/2012 by Garrett Fuller

• August 28th = Everything

  If you've been checking on big releases for some of your favorite MMOs, you've already noticed that August 28th is a banner day. Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft and The Secret World, to name a few, all have big plans for the 28th. In the latest Very Scary column, we take a look at that day and what it all means. Read on!

  Posted on 08/24/2012 by Aaron Couture

• Is Monk Just the New Druid?

  With Mists of Pandaria on the edge of release, a lot of World of Warcraft players are looking to create a Monk, one of the most iconic of all character classes in the MMO-niverse. See what we think of the Monk and how it will fare against the other classes. Read on!

  Posted on 08/23/2012 by Garrett Fuller

• Should Azeroth be F2P to 60?

  With Mists of Pandaria looming on its horizon, World of Warcraft will likely continue as the #1 MMO on the planet for a good while yet. Still, it seems prudent for Blizzard to contemplate ways to keep it on top, one of which is opening up new F2P elements and expanding the real money marketplace. See why we think so in our latest edition of the WoW Factor.

  Posted on 08/16/2012 by William Murphy

• Too Many Games

  Too many games. Yes, it's the bane of many of today's gamers. In her latest column, Pokket takes a look at the games she plays and laments that, just maybe, there are too many good ones to attend to. See what you think and then leave a comment or two.

  Posted on 08/13/2012 by Hillary Nicole

• Bill's Least Favorite Classes to Level

  Every MMO has classes that are more difficult to play, that maybe require more micromanagement than others. In The WoW Factor today, we take a look at five classes that are annoying as hell level up, even if the game itself isn't all that hard. See if you agree and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 08/10/2012 by William Murphy

• The MMOlympics

  2012 is an Olympic year with athletes from around the world gathering in London to compete for the 'best in the world' title. But what about us? What about those of us who let our characters strut their prowess? Don't we deserve an MMOlympics? We think so and have The List of events we'd like to see included. Read on!

  Posted on 08/07/2012 by Suzie Ford

• Speculation on Blizzard's Next Move

  Blizzard Entertainment is arguably the "king of the MMO hill" right now. In a new column, we take a look at potential next steps for the gaming giant. See what you think and then add your comments to the mix.

  Posted on 08/06/2012 by Adam Tingle

• Pandaria vs. Tyria

  As the summer comes to a close we will see the release of Guild Wars 2 followed by World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria. In our latest column, we take a look at the match up of the season. See what we think and then weigh in with your own comments.

  Posted on 08/02/2012 by Garrett Fuller

• Pokémon? Yes, But It’s Fun

  In this week's WoW Factor, we offer up our thoughts on the Pet Battles feature coming with the the launch of Mists of Pandaria, the latest expansion to World of Warcraft.

  Posted on 07/26/2012 by William Murphy

• Level of Difficulty - PUGs

  PUGS (Pick up Groups) are sometimes both the bane and boon of players' existences in MMOs. In her latest Pokket Says, Hillary Nicole takes a look at PUGs and her history with them over the years. Read on!

  Posted on 07/09/2012 by Hillary Nicole

• Can Old Be New Again?

  With the World of Warcraft expansion, Mists of Pandaria, on its way, many "old" players are wondering if it will be able to bring the magic back of WoW's glory day.s In today's WoW Factor, we take a look at that notion. See what you think and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 07/06/2012 by William Murphy

• What's for Sale and What's at Stake

  Cash shops in our MMOs are fast becoming the norm whether in free to play titles or in full blow subscription titles. In today's Devil's Advocate, we take a look at the phenomenon and its repercussions. See what you think and then discuss it in the comments.

  Posted on 07/04/2012 by Victor Barreiro Jr.

• Pandaria Rising

  World of Warcraft has been the undisputed king of MMOs for many years but for the first time in its history, WoW is facing competition the likes of which it has never seen. In today's WoW Factor we take a look at that and how Mists of Pandaria might make a big difference in helping WoW keep its top spot. Read on!

  Posted on 06/04/2012 by Garrett Fuller

• The Diablo Effect

  Diablo 3 launched this past week and there's no question that there will be some sort of impact on World of Warcraft. In today's WoW Factor, we take a look at potential changes WoW players might see as a result of D3's arrival. Check it out!

  Posted on 05/21/2012 by Garrett Fuller

• WoW’s Challenge

  One of the more interesting facets in World of Warcraft's upcoming expansion Mists of Pandaria is Challenge Mode. In our latest WoW Factor, we take a look at Challenge Mode and what it means for players. Check it out and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 05/07/2012 by Garrett Fuller

• Putting the War Back in Warcraft - Part 2

  There are a lot of highly anticipated games coming down the pike this year and Blizzard Entertainment has had to start looking at World of Warcraft to find new, innovative ways to keep the aging game relevant in a changing MMO landscape. In today's WoW Factor, we take a look at how Blizzard plans to do just that. Read on!

  Posted on 04/30/2012 by Garrett Fuller

• Let There Be ORCS

  Orcs seem to infest every RPG, or at least every fantasy RPG, that we play. In today's List, we take a look at the worst of the worst in Orc-land. Read on and see what you think!

  Posted on 04/16/2012 by Garrett Fuller

• Uncanny Valley or Paradise?

  In our latest WoW Factor, we take a look at the upcoming Mists of Pandaria expansion to World of Warcraft and its art direction. Does it stand up to the rest of the game graphically? Well, you be the judge after you read The WoW Factor.

  Posted on 04/02/2012 by Joseph Sanicky

• The WoW Effect

  There is no question that Blizzard's World of Warcraft has had a profound effect on all MMOs since its launch. We call it the WoW Effect and have some thoughts to share about it. Read more of The Devil's Advocate and then leave us your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 03/21/2012 by Victor Barreiro Jr.

• Five Great Things About Pandaria

  Blizzard Entertainment and the World of Warcraft development team are ready to unleash the hounds of information for the recently announced Mists of Pandaria expansion. In our final article in today's suite, we present what we believe are five truly great things about Pandaria. Keep reading and then add your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 03/19/2012 by William Murphy

• One World of MMOs?

  In The Free Zone today, we take a look at the worldwide popularity of MMOs and show off some surprising results with specific regard to the Korean market. We offer our commentary as a benefit so keep reading before adding your voice to the mix in our comments.

  Posted on 03/13/2012 by Richard Aihoshi

• The Referral Scroll of Ding!

  Blizzard recently announced an overhauled "Scroll of Resurrection" campaign with tons of awesome bonuses for both giver and receiver. In today's WoW Factor, we take a look at the program and offer up a few thoughts. Check it out!

  Posted on 03/12/2012 by Joseph Sanicky

• Fancy Cosmetic Mounts!

  You know the one we're talking about: That sparkly winged horse, right? In today's WoW Factor, we take a look at cosmetic mounts and their effect on World of Warcraft. See what you think!

  Posted on 03/01/2012 by Joseph Sanicky

• The Role of Utility

  In The WoW Factor today, we take a look at the concept of "utility" in an MMO with specific regard to a recent post by Blizzard's Ghostcrawler. "For MMO purposes we'll just say anything that isn't directly prioritized on fulfilling a roll of the holy trinity of tank, healer, or DPS is utility." Check out what we think about utility and how it can be managed in WoW. Let us know what you think in the comments.

  Posted on 02/13/2012 by Joseph Sanicky

• Mentoring is Motivation

  One of the biggest complaints about MMOs today is that we are always seemingly on the fast track to the endgame. But once there, then what? In today's Player Perspectives we offer you the powerful motivating factor that mentoring other lower-level players can bring to players after all of their guildies are off to other games or just aren't around as much. See if you agree and then weigh in with your comments.

  Posted on 02/10/2012 by Isabelle Parsley

• MMO Growing Pains

  One of the thing that many of us realize is that the MMO-genre is a bit stale. Why is that when, at least according to our latest No Elves Allowed column, "the sky should have been the limit"? Find out and then let us know what you think!

  Posted on 02/01/2012 by Cassandra Khaw

• The WoW Killer Redux

  In the last edition of The WoW Factor, the discussion swirled around what exactly it is that constitutes a "WoW Killer". This week, we continue to examine the issue from the perspective of you, our loyal forumites. Check it out!

  Posted on 01/30/2012 by Joseph Sanicky

• Content Locusts Killed My MMO

  It used to be that hitting the level cap in an MMO was something that took months, if not years, to actually accomplish. These days, however, it's more a function of hours. After hitting the top, what is there to do? In today's Player Perspectives, we take a look at what we call "content locusts", those who greedily devour content rather than enjoy it. See what you think!

  Posted on 01/27/2012 by Isabelle Parsley

• What is a “WoW Killer?”

  Everyone is always looking for that game that will be a "WoW Killer" but what exactly does that mean? We take a look at the elusive "WoW Killer". See what we think and then weigh in with your own thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 01/16/2012 by Joseph Sanicky

• Slain by the Sith?

  A lot of talk has been swirling around the idea that Star Wars: The Old Republic is somehow the much ballyhooed "WoW Killer". Is it or is it not? That is the question. In today's WoW Factor, we take a look at that notion and offer a few thoughts on the subject. Check it out and then add your own thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 01/02/2012 by Joseph Sanicky

• Raid Finder - A Smash Hit?

  As with any new feature added to World of Warcraft, there are the doomsayers prophesying that the end of the game is nigh and woe to those who do not recognize it. In today's WoW Factor, we take a look at the Raid Finder recently added to the game. See what we think of it and then let us know what you're thinking in the comments.

  Posted on 12/19/2011 by Joseph Sanicky

• 4.3 Changes Everything

  Love it or hate it, the World of Warcraft v4.3 patch has arrived and brought with it more changes than you can proverbially shake a stick at. In today's WoW Factor, we take a look at the profound changes that v4.3 has brought to the world's most well-known MMO. Check it out and then leave your thoughts in the latest update in the comments.

  Posted on 12/05/2011 by Joseph Sanicky

• Family Time

  In today's Player Perspectives, we take a look at the thought that the family that plays together, stays together. Check out Player Perspectives and offer your thoughts on family-friendly gaming in the comments.

  Posted on 12/02/2011 by Isabelle Parsley

• Mage Talents 2.0

  In his latest WoW Factor, MMORPG.com's Joseph Sanicky takes a look at the recently announced Talents 2.0 and at the challenge Blizzard has taken on with its "elimination of the cookie cutter build" mantra. See if you agree with Joseph's thoughts and leave a few comments when finished!

  Posted on 11/21/2011 by Joseph Sanicky

• Challenge Mode Dungeons

  In his latest WoW Factor column, MMORPG.com's Joe Sanicky takes a look at the recent expansion and the heady news about the Challenge Dungeons that will come with World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria. See what Joe thinks about challenge dungeons and then add your own thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 11/09/2011 by Joseph Sanicky

• Five MMO Halloween Moments

  Being October 31st, how could MMORPG.com Managing Editor Bill Murphy pass up the opportunity to write about Halloween? In The List today, Bill takes a look at some of his favorite Halloween moments. Check it out and then add some of your favorites in the comments.

  Posted on 10/31/2011 by William Murphy

• Mists of Pandaria Reactions

  In his latest column, MMORPG.com Managing Editor Bill Murphy wonders what's up with all the hate towards Mists of Pandaria, the recently announced fourth expansion to World of Warcraft.

  Posted on 10/27/2011 by William Murphy

• Mists of Pokemon (and DOTA)!

  Several brand new features will be coming to World of Warcraft when the Mists of Pandaria expansion goes live "when it's ready". MMORPG.com's Joe Sanicky is pretty hyped up on this stuff and has a lot to say about them. Check out Joe's thoughts and then let us know what you think in the comments.

  Posted on 10/24/2011 by Joseph Sanicky

• The Modern WoW Player

  Ah the good old days when gamers were hardcore and the rest of the world was casual. But in today's gaming world, the definitive line between the two has become blurred with things like raid finders and two-player dungeons. In today's column, MMORPG.com's Joe Sanicky takes a look at hardcore vs casual when it comes to World of Warcraft. Check it out and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 10/10/2011 by Joseph Sanicky

• The Hermeneutics of Questing

  In this week's WoW Factor, Joe Sanicky gets a little philosophical on the practice of questing in Blizzard's World of Warcraft. What's the driving force behind questing in WoW? Has it gotten better with age? Is WoW still doing things to progress the genre?

  Posted on 09/12/2011 by Joseph Sanicky

• Three Reasons WoW Didn’t Ruin MMOs

  Every week, the MMORPG.com staff takes a look at a controversial issue facing MMO communities and players today. We try to present what is ofttimes seen as "the flip side of the coin" and take an edgier stance. This week, Industry Relations Manager Garrett Fuller takes a look at the notion that World of Warcraft somehow ruined all MMOs from its inception forward. Read on and then present your comments!

  Posted on 09/07/2011 by Garrett Fuller

• Insert Hyperbole = Receive Attention

  Hyperbole is the lifeblood of many games and definitely the staple of a lot of forums. In today's WoW Factor, MMORPG.com's Joe Sanicky talks about hyperbole as it applies to World of Warcraft. Check out Joe's excellent column and then weigh in with a few thoughts of your own in the comments.

  Posted on 08/29/2011 by Joseph Sanicky

• Blizzard’s Cash Auctions are a Bad Idea

  In today's Devil's Advocate, MMORPG.com Associate Editor Suzie Ford takes a look at cash auctions and opines that they are not only good for buyers and sellers, but that they are also good for gaming and developers. Check it out and then leave a comment or two when you're finished!

  Posted on 08/24/2011 by Suzie Ford

• The Real Top 10 MMOs of 2012

  It's hard to accurately predict what will be popular in the MMO-space these days. Last week, we took a look at a 2009 piece predicting the success of certain MMOs in 2012 that...ain't gonna make it. In The List today, MMORPG.com Managing Editor dons the swami's hat and prognosticates about 2012 and what he believes will be the real success stories of the year. Read on!

  Posted on 08/23/2011 by William Murphy

• The Top 10 MMOs of 2012 - Revisited

  Back in 2009, our own Jon Wood took a look at the ten games he thought would be dominating the market in 2012. This week, we take a look at Jon's list and find out whether his predictions are on track or a bust.

  Posted on 08/15/2011 by William Murphy

• Take My Money!

  After last week's blockbuster announcement that Diablo 3 would feature an in-game real world cash auction house, many players began to wonder whether or not something like this could end up in World of Warcraft. In today's WoW Factor, MMORPG.com's Joe Sanicky offers a few thoughts about the viability (or not) of a cash auction house in WoW. See what you think!

  Posted on 08/15/2011 by Joseph Sanicky

• Redundancy, Repetition, Grinding

  In this Week's WoW Factor, Joseph Sanicky takes us inside his own personal bout of Warcraft-fatigue... and how he found a way to rectify it.

  Posted on 08/01/2011 by Joseph Sanicky

• The Future of MMORPG Revenue Streams

  In this week's Free Zone, industry stalwart Richard Aihoshi takes a look at the impending shift of revenue streams in the MMORPG marketplace. Find out what Richard thinks may happen in the coming years and be sure to add in your two cents as well.

  Posted on 07/19/2011 by Richard Aihoshi

• Rifting into Azeroth

  In a debut column at MMORPG.com, Joseph Sanicky wends his way back into World of Warcraft's Azeroth after a long time away and after finding a spectacular community in, of all places, Rift. Check out Joseph's thoughts about MMOs, community and World of Warcraft in his debut column. Leave your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 07/08/2011 by Guest Writer

• Blizzard - Inching Towards F2P?

  In today's Free Zone column, Richard Aihoshi takes a look at the recent announcement that World of Warcraft was free to play through the first twenty character levels. Richard looks at the decision from a 'gimmick' perspective and from a business perspective and offers his thoughts on what the future may hold. Read on and see if you agree!

  Posted on 07/05/2011 by Richard Aihoshi

• 4.2 is WoW Déjà vu

  With today's deployment of the World of Warcraft v4.2 patch, "Rage in the Firelands", MMORPG.com Industry Relations Manager Garrett Fuller is feeling like he's 'been there, done that'. He remembers the heady days of raiding the Molten Core. Check out Garrett's thoughts about Rage in the Firelands and then let us know your thoughts.

  Posted on 06/28/2011 by Garrett Fuller

• Me and My MMOs

  In today's Player Perspectives column, readers get a rare inside look at the MMOs that have shaped those perspectives for MMORPG.com columnist Isabelle Parsley. They've winked and snuggled and finally drawn her into their ever-lovin' arms. Read on to see which MMOs have captured Iz's attention and heart over the years and then let us know what you think!

  Posted on 06/03/2011 by Isabelle Parsley

• Five Goofy MMO Promotions

  Everyone needs a gimmick and MMO promoters are no exception. In The List today, MMORPG.com Lead Writer Bill Murphy takes a look at five of the goofiest promotions that the PR departments have come up with for the MMOs they represent(ed). Check out Bill's random list of Five Goofy MMO Promotions. Did he miss your favorite? Let us know!

  Posted on 05/24/2011 by William Murphy

• Is Blizzard Losing Its Community?

  In Guild's Eye View this week, MMORPG.com columnist Sean Stalzer checks up on and takes the virtual pulse of the World of Warcraft community. Is the WoW community in need of heroic life support measures or is it as vibrant and healthy as it appears? Check out Sean's thoughts and then offer up a few of your own.

  Posted on 05/24/2011 by Sean Stalzer

• Remote Guild Chat - The Good & the Bad

  In today's Guild's Eye View, MMORPG.com columnist Sean Stalzer takes a look at remote guild chat in World of Warcraft. Sean's contention is that community is the lifeblood of any MMO and chat is an integral part of ensuring that a community feels connected. Check out Sean's thoughts about remote guild chat in WoW and then weigh in with your own thoughts.

  Posted on 04/12/2011 by Guest Writer

• What’s Wrong With Entertainment?

  In today's MMO world, there are two sub-genres whose fans are in constant battle with one another: Theme Park vs Sandbox. We've all seen the arguments raging back and forth. In today's column, MMORPG.com Lead Writer Bill Murphy tackles the issue of theme parks as entertainment and wonders why those who are waiting for THE sandbox title to emerge don't take advantage. See what you think and then lend your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 04/07/2011 by William Murphy

• LFM

  Depending on your opinion, closed grouping in MMOs is either the best or worst feature in many games. In today's Player Perspectives, MMORPG.com columnist Isabelle Parsley has a few thoughts to share about open grouping and the (in)famous closed grouping in today's MMOs. Check it out and then offer a few comments of your own.

  Posted on 03/04/2011 by Isabelle Parsley

• Bring Your Own Sand

  One of the perennial arguments amongst MMO gamers is the one that centers around Theme Park vs Sandbox games. Proponents of one or the other draw battle lines and argue vehemently that "theirs is the best type" of MMO. In today's Player Perspectives, MMORPG.com columnist Isabelle Parsley takes a look at these two MMO types. She's got a lot to say about them so be sure to check out her article. Leave us your thoughts in the comments.

  Posted on 02/25/2011 by Isabelle Parsley

• I’ve been WoWed – sue me

  In the MMO world there is one large elephant in the room: World of Warcraft. If forum postings were to be believed, there are those who love it and those who hate it with nary a soul in between. But, believe it or not, MMORPG.com's Isabelle Parsley IS one of the in-betweens and she's got a few things to say about World of Warcraft since she's rejoined the game post-Cataclysm. Check out her thoughts and then give us your reaction in the comments below.

  Posted on 01/21/2011 by Isabelle Parsley

• Kinect-ing with WoW

  In The Rant this week, MMORPG.com's Adam Janovyak discusses using Microsoft Kinect to play World of Warcraft utilizing FAAST (Flexible Action and Articulated Skeleton Toolkit). Adam walks readers through his WoW Kinect adventures and renders an opinion or two while he's at it. Check out The Rant and then let loose in the comments below.

  Posted on 01/11/2011 by Guest Writer

• The Quiz: Bill Murphy Edition

  No, it's not a quiz about Bill Murphy but it is based on his latest list of the worst MMO launches in recent memory. MMORPG.com's Drew Wood took inspiration from The List and created questions for each of the games mentioned plus a few extras. See how you do in The Quiz: Bill Murphy Edition and let us know in the comments below.

  Posted on 01/05/2011 by Drew Wood

• The Worst MMORPG Launches

  The launch of an MMO is arguably one of the most important facets in a game's long term success or failure as most players will not hang around a buggy game. In The List this week, MMORPG.com's Bill Murphy takes a look at the five worst MMO launches thus far in the history of MMOs. Check it out and add any you think are missing in the comments below.

  Posted on 01/04/2011 by William Murphy

• The Best & Worst of 2010

  The List this week takes a bit of a different tack than normal in that MMORPG.com columnist Bill Murphy takes a retrospective look at 2010 and highlights the best and the worst MMO events that captured our attention. Check it out and add any thoughts you might have to add to The List.

  Posted on 12/28/2010 by William Murphy

• Integrity Compromised

  In The Rant this week, MMORPG.com's resident ranter, Adam Janovyak, reveals a daring and horrendous secret: His World of Warcraft account has been hacked. If that's not enough to send flurries of obscenities flying into the pre-holiday air, nothing is. Check out Adam's thoughts about being hacked by a dirty rotten no-good scoundrel and then let us know about your experiences in the comments below.

  Posted on 12/21/2010 by Guest Writer

• Unavoidable

  MMORPG.com's resident ranter, Adam Janovyak, is ready to take on the unavoidable: World of Warcraft's Cataclysm expansion. Adam raves about Cataclysm becoming the overwhelming force in his life right now, though maybe not for the reasons you think. Cataclysm has given Adam fodder for The Rant. Check it out and then rant yourself in the comments below.

  Posted on 12/14/2010 by Guest Writer

• Cataclysm-Me

  In her latest Player Perspectives column, Isabelle Parsley reveals her love/hate relationship with World of Warcraft. After a two year hiatus, Isabelle is bac albeit in the form of a trial account. See what she thinks of Blizzard's World of Warcraft as it is today and then let her know what you think in the comments section below.

  Posted on 12/10/2010 by Isabelle Parsley

• The Quiz: Expansions Edition

  With this week's launch of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, MMORPG.com's Drew Wood figured that expansion packs would be a terrific subject for today's Quiz. So sit back, see how you do and let us know what you think in our forums!

  Posted on 12/08/2010 by Drew Wood

• Top 5 Ugly MMO Races

  The List this week features a look at some of the ugliest races ever to grace the hallowed pixels of our favorite MMOs. Bill Murphy has pulled some mirror-breaking folk from expected, and maybe a few unexpected, places. Check out his list and then add some uglies in our comments section below.

  Posted on 12/08/2010 by William Murphy

• Seven Reasons Cataclysm Could Suck

  In today's The List column, MMORPG.com's Bill Murphy shares with us seven (tongue planted firmly in cheek) reasons that Cataclysm, the third expansion to Blizzard's massive World of Warcraft, could actually suck.

  Posted on 10/20/2010 by William Murphy

• Blizzcon Preview

  This week marks the beginning of the annual Blizzcon in Anaheim, California. This year's convention promises to be very exciting with Blizzard celebrating Starcraft II's release, the imminent release of the World of Warcraft Cataclysm expansion, the as yet unnamed MMO and more information coming about Diablo III. MMORPG.com Industry Relations Manager, Garrett Fuller, has some thoughts to share with readers as he prepares to check out the 2010 Blizzcon.

  Posted on 10/19/2010 by Garrett Fuller

• Five Memorable MMO Baddies

  In today's The List column, MMORPG.com's Bill Murphy takes a fond look back at some of his favorite MMO bad guys. From EVE's Goonswarm to Everquest 2's Curt Schilling, these are the baddies we love to hate. Check out The List and then add a few of your own on our forums.

  Posted on 10/12/2010 by William Murphy

• Top 5 Easter Eggs

  The List today features a look back at some of the Easter eggs that Blizzard has slipped into World of Warcraft, daring intrepid gamers to find them if they can. MMORPG.com's Bill Murphy brings some of his favorites back into the light and challenges readers to add to The List.

  Posted on 10/05/2010 by William Murphy

• Fighting Talk: Old vs New MMOs Part 3

  In Part I and Part II of Adam Tingle's Fighting Talk: Old vs New MMOs, "experienced" games were pitted against "the new kids on the block" in categories including community, solo play, instances and more. In today's installment of the three-part look at Old vs New MMOs, Adam discusses Guilds, Crafting and the Time Sink factor. See which group comes out victorious (for today)! Let us know your thoughts, as always, on the forums!

  Posted on 09/24/2010 by Adam Tingle

• Fighting Talk: LoTRO vs. WoW

  In his latest article, MMORPG.com writer Adam Tingle pits Blizzard's World of Warcraft against Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online. It's a battle royale comparing all aspects of the games, from graphics to PvP to community. Find out which one Adam thinks comes out on top and then add your thoughts. Them's fightin' words, baby!

  Posted on 08/26/2010 by Adam Tingle

• Only One Thing To Do

  In his latest column, Jon Wood shares his thoughts about Blizzard's Real ID system and the implications for players. The bottom line is that players have one question to ask themselves and, depending on the answer, have only one thing to do in response. Check it out!

  Posted on 07/08/2010 by Jon Wood

• A Pain in the RealID

  MMORPG.com Player Perspectives columnist Jaime Skelton shares her concern over Blizzard's adoption of RealID.

  Posted on 06/25/2010 by Jaime Skelton

• Avoiding the Elephant

  MMORPG.com's Jaime Skelton writes this week's column about the elephant in the room known as World of Warcraft.

  Posted on 04/30/2010 by Jaime Skelton

• Looking for What?

  MMORPG.com's Player perspectives columnist Jaime Skelton spends this week's column re-considering her position on the World of Warcraft Dungeon Finder feature.

  Posted on 03/26/2010 by Jaime Skelton

• Ten MMOs and Their Place In History

  MMORPG.com's Jon Wood returns this week with another list, this time taking a look at ten games that have, for better or worse, solidified a place in MMORPG history.

  Posted on 11/18/2009 by Jon Wood

• Top 5 Things Coming In WoW Patch 3.3

  We look at the top five things players should be drooling about in Patch 3.3 to Blizzard's World of Warcraft.

  Posted on 11/10/2009 by Garrett Fuller

• New WoW Pets and the Boy Who Cried Wolf

  MMORPG.com's Jon Wood uses his column this week to look at the recent announcement that Blizzard will be offering in-game pets for real life money and the fan reaction, or over-reaction to the news.

  Posted on 11/05/2009 by Jon Wood

• It's Lonely At The Bottom

  MMORPG.com player columnist Jamie Skelton writes this new article on the population vacuum that often exists in the lower levels of an MMO as more and more of a game's population settle at the end-game content. She also touches on what can be done to make going through those early levels a better experience or all involved.

  Posted on 10/23/2009 by Jaime Skelton

• Mixed Revenue Models

  Richard Aihoshi returns this week with a column that looks at exploring mixed revenue models for our favorite MMOs.

  Posted on 10/12/2009 by Richard Aihoshi

• Instancing Problems In WoW

  This week, Garrett looks at the idea of scaling raid instances in World of Warcraft and how it would help his experience.

  Posted on 10/07/2009 by Garrett Fuller

• The Stale Comparison

  If I can do it in WoW, why can't I do it here? It's a stale comparison and this week Jaime explores why.

  Posted on 10/02/2009 by Jaime Skelton

• Everyone's A Critic

  In her debut column, Jaime looks at what players can do to help get their opinions heard by the developers of the games they love.

  Posted on 09/25/2009 by Jaime Skelton

• Five Possible MMO Movies

  In this week's list, Jon Wood looks at the idea that a successful Warcraft movie could set off a rash of MMO-based films and gives his ideas on five that could be likely candidates.

  Posted on 09/15/2009 by Jon Wood

• Top 10 Games of 2012

  Jon breaks out his crystal ball and peers three years down the road. Which 10 games will dominate the market then?

  Posted on 08/11/2009 by Jon Wood

• LFM Ulduar 25, PST Stats and Achievement

  In his most recent column, MMORPG.com's Garrett Fuller looks at the achievement system in Blizzard's World of Warcraft and talks about how its current use might be affecting the social aspects of the game.

  Posted on 07/29/2009 by Garrett Fuller