MMO community Archives

AppWizard

June 14, 2026

Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies vet tells me the theme park ‘assembly line’ MMO just isn’t viable anymore, especially as dev costs spike: ‘We hit the wall’

Raph Koster, known for his work on Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies, is developing a new MMO called Stars Reach, which aims to recapture the sandbox experience of earlier games. Koster believes the current MMO industry is stagnating, with many players feeling bored and frustrated due to a lack of innovation and over-monetization. He acknowledges the challenge of revitalizing the genre but hopes that Stars Reach will offer a fresh and novel experience for players. The game is set to enter early access this summer.

AppWizard

March 31, 2026

Clever WoW players exploited bugs and some poor little rats to try and kill a Midnight raid boss early, but Blizzard was one step ahead

Players in the MMO community attempted to defeat the upcoming raid boss L'ura a week before its official release, but Blizzard implemented safeguards to prevent this. Rextroy devised a strategy using a sacrificial rat and a monk attack that could deal around 100 million damage. On the day of the attempt, Rextroy's team gathered rats and used a toy to reduce their damage output, successfully reducing L'ura's health by half with the first rat. However, when they sacrificed the second rat, L'ura remained unscathed due to Blizzard programming her to be unkillable before the official release. Despite the setback, Rextroy and his team later achieved success against a mythic+ boss and engaged in PvP encounters. They became the first players to attempt to defeat L'ura as a coalition of monks and rats.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

Ranking the 13 Best PC Games Of All Time

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a popular CRPG known for deep character development and engaging narrative, best experienced on PC due to its intricate menus and modding potential. Planescape: Torment is a CRPG set in a unique Dungeons & Dragons universe, recognized for its gripping narrative and unconventional themes. Theme Hospital is a simulation game that humorously parodies the American healthcare system, combining humor with business management challenges. Unreal Tournament 2004 is regarded as the pinnacle of the series, featuring fluid gameplay and intricate maps, although it has become abandonware. Thief: The Dark Project is praised for its dark atmosphere and innovative level design, particularly the iconic Sword level. World of Warcraft captivated the MMO community in the mid-2000s with polished gameplay and continuous content updates, maintaining a robust player base. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is known for its expansive open world and RPG mechanics, with a wealth of mods available on PC to enhance gameplay. Deus Ex is a pioneer of the immersive sim genre, emphasizing player choice and strategic gameplay with intricate level design. The Sims 2 is considered the crowning achievement of The Sims franchise, introducing fully 3D environments and refined gameplay mechanics. Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is a highly regarded real-time strategy game that has maintained its appeal for nearly three decades, revitalized by the 2019 Definitive Edition. Minecraft is a leading sandbox game known for its limitless creativity and exploration, with applications extending into education and various professional fields. Doom, released in 1993, revolutionized the first-person shooter genre and remains relevant due to its expertly designed levels and engaging gameplay. Half-Life 2 is celebrated for its innovative game design, including physics-based puzzles and a compelling narrative, offering a satisfying experience with additional episodes.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

After 3 years of trying, Lord of the Rings Online’s ‘Great Hobbit Run’ ends in confused success as a mob of low-level players gets lost inside Mount Doom and decides it’s close enough: ‘Sauron can kiss my butt!’

The Great Hobbit Run is an event in Lord of the Rings Online initiated by Twitch streamer BurkeBlack, where level one hobbits attempt to sprint from Bilbo Baggins' home to Mount Doom. On July 8, 2025, between 150 and 200 players participated, with 40 to 50 completing the journey despite challenges like time constraints and the threat of death. Upon reaching Mount Doom, participants encountered confusion about the correct path, leading to a celebratory moment but revealing that the mission was not fully accomplished. BurkeBlack plans to host the event again in 2026, aiming for a larger crowd.