mana-obscura
Latest
Working As Intended: Niche MMOs vs. the everything box
The MMO industry has lately focused on niche titles, niche communities, niche gameplay. It's not one particular niche, mind you. It's lots of different niches, all being catered to in different titles: PvPers, sadistic gankers, raiders, dungeoners, roleplayers, crafters, explorers, achievers, soloers, storygoers, casuals, hardcores, builders, destroyers, the I'm-skipping-class-for-a-week-to-play-games kids, the I've-got-five-minutes-what-can-I-play parents. There's an MMO or two out there for pretty much every one of us -- and for almost no one else. So we dutifully buy the one that beckons directly to us, one of these small-minded "MMOs" that offer rewards for a certain playstyle or two but wilfully disregard every other imaginable playstyle. We applaud these games for having the guts to embrace being "niche" because we are convinced that having lots of little niche games is diversity. And then we wonder where all the players are.
The Daily Quest: Mageness
Here at WoW.com we're on a Daily Quest (which we try to do every day, honest) to bring you interesting, informative and entertaining WoW-related links from around the blogosphere. Is there a story out there we ought to link or a blog we should be following? Just leave us a comment and you may see it here tomorrow! Take a look at the links below, and be sure to check out our WoW Resources Guide for more WoW-related sites. Yesterday, Anne tackled tanking posts for her Choose My Adventure character, so today I thought I'd peek at some mage blogs for advice for Robinemia. I found some interesting tidbits and newsy things. Gazimoff at Mana Obscura discusses the different roles a mage can take in Mixing Mage Mechanics. Frost mages are defended by krizzlybear against some data we posted on WoW.com in Be the Exception, Not the Rule on Frost is the New Black. Isheepthings talks about being a bag salesman in Tailor, LFW. (If that link doesn't work, use this and scroll down.) I know this isn't mage related exactly, but Robinemia is a tailor/enchanter. /raspberry Euripedes is saying goodbye to Critical QQ. He will be blogging his fan fiction elsewhere however. Stay tuned to Critical QQ for more info.
The Daily Quest: Dungeon Finder fun
Here at WoW.com we're on a Daily Quest (which we try to do every day, honest) to bring you interesting, informative and entertaining WoW-related links from around the blogosphere. Is there a story out there we ought to link or a blog we should be following? Just leave us a comment and you may see it here tomorrow! Take a look at the links below, and be sure to check out our WoW Resources Guide for more WoW related sites. Last night, the Choose My Adventure gang ventured into their first random dungeon groups. Our experience was mixed bag, with really great tanks and healers. There was also a greedy, fear-using, DPS priest guy who ended the night by telling us he loved us, but not in that way. This is why today's TDQ is all about the Dungeon Finder. The Mana Obscura talks about Escaping the Vortex of Suck. Forever a Noob chronicles Using the LFD to level. Troll Racials are Overpowered is sick of people whining about bad PUGs. The Hunter's Mark complains about How LFD Killed Navigational Awareness and includes a comprehensive, map-filled guide for getting to instances.
