Everyone has a fighting chance
The latest "Road Ahead" has been published on the Elder Scrolls Online site. The article begins with a retrospective look back at all the team has accomplished in the last several months and then starts a long look at what is yet to come. Of most notable interest is the news that Update 6 will be heading to the public test server in January and that, while no release date is yet set for console versions, they are closing in.
Coliseum is a competitive mode that places two teams of three players each in opposition to one another in a timed battle to kill as many BAMs (Big Ass Monsters) as possible within a given time frame. Set up to cater to players from levels 60-65, gear is equalized on entering the match which consists of three five-minute rounds.
Harebrained Schemes has announced that Shadowrun: Dragonfall is now available for both iPad and Android tablets. The game can be purchased via the App Store for iPad and via Google Play for Android tablets for a modest $6.99.
2k Games has announced the formation of a new ‘in house’ studio called Hangar 13. The studio is run by industry veteran Haden Blackman who has worked for Lucas Arts and written for a variety of Star Wars titles. In addition, Blackman is an award-winning author, most notably on the DC Comics Batwoman series.
Gamergate has invaded the public consciousness. What was once a simple conversation about ethics in gaming journalism has spiraled into an all-out shouting match with anything progressive firmly falling in the movement’s sights and any critics being quickly labeled as bigots. As I’ve played through Dragon Age: Inquisition, encountering characters of every stripe and sexuality, my mind kept returning to these themes. Did Bioware include this character or that for a reason?
Right from the get-go, it needs to be said that Warlords of Draenor is a fantastic expansion. It has hit many of the right notes in all the right ways beginning with the stat and skill pruning that has been much discussed over the last year or so. Players have fewer skills, but better ones overall. Traveling through the world on the way to 100, fighting in both normal and heroic dungeons, anywhere in Draenor requires thought.
WoW Mom is an emotional documentary being made by Andie Bolt that chronicles her mother’s journey through cancer treatment…and through Warlords of Draenor. The project is currently seeking KickStarter funding to complete. Our own Rob Lashley had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Andie and her mother Terry. A great time was had by all. It’s definitely a video interview you won’t want to miss.
With the launch of early access for Shadow of Revan on Tuesday, Star Wars: the Old Republic retired a subscriber perk that had allowed hordes of filthy casuals like myself to finally get through each class story and have a character at the now-previous level cap. Today’s article is about that perk and whether it ultimately had value to the game.
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.
At MMORPG.com we have 5 categories that we use to rate MMOs and RPGs: Gameplay, Visuals and Sound, Polish, Longevity, Value. For the MMO variants we add a sixth category Social into the mix. While all categories are inherently subjective, across all mediums each reviewer brings their own personal bias to a review whether they are attempting to remain impartial or not, I’ve recently been spending a great deal of time contemplating the subjective nature of our value scores.