You’ve probably heard that former Mythic studio head Mark Jacobs is back in the saddle again. He is laying the groundwork for an MMORPG called “Camelot Unchained” (CU) that will be funded via Kickstarter. Jacobs has been a significant player…
Blog Archives
Elder Scrolls Online Trailer and High Level Design
Tonight I watched the Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) trailer that was shared on Tuesday by game publisher Bethesda Softworks: Pretty entertaining trailer, but it immediately opened up some questions. Is this a 3-faction game? (Yes.) Are there going to be…
Posted in Elder Scrolls Online, Game Design, Guild Wars 2, PVE, PVP, Video, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft
Mana Bars: Good or Bad Game Design?
Mana bars are the long-standing resource implementation for casters in MMORPGs. In this article, we’ll look at the implications of mana bars on game balance and mechanics. But first, let’s consider why mana bars were (probably) created. I’ll use the…
Posted in Cleric, Game Design, Guild Wars 2, Mage, PVE, PVP, RIFT, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft
Top 5 PVP Design Flaws – TaugVlog Ep. 3
I discuss my top 5 design flaws for PVP combat of MMORPGs. In reverse order, they are…drum roll please… #5: 50% healing debuffs E.g. Mortal Strike for pre-Cataclysm Arms Warrior in WoW. When 50% healing debuffs are part of a…
The Business Models for MMORPGs Must Evolve
Let’s review what we’ve seen in recent years. In 2008, we witnessed the failure of 2 hugely-hyped titles: Warhammer Online and Age of Conan. Mythic cut 4 of the 6 capital cities and 4 of the 24 classes just before…
Posted in Aion, Allods Online, Business Analysis, Game Design, Guild Wars 2, League of Legends, PVE, RIFT, SWTOR, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft
Taugrim's MMO Blog 