Each week, Stratics brings to you an article that covers some facet of the MMOG industry.

March 2004

• Suspension Bridges by Greg "DarkCryst" Wild Smith added 03-10-04
  Movie-to-Game progressions are becoming more popular as film franchises grow and companies look for more and more ways of making money on the latest cinematic hits. These games sometimes raise the question of quality vs. quantity, and as Greg "DarkCryst" Wild Smith suggests, may in fact have a deeper and more lasting effect on what a game looks like, how it is played and just what content is deemed important.

February 2004

• 180° - From Galaxies to Grind by Matt "Mattt" Kirschnick added 02-25-04
  Star Wars Galaxies once promised to overcome the grind hated by casual gamers, while still managing to entertain the powergamers. Unfortunately, the infinite struggle to please the latter sent the game in the total opposite direction, upsetting the former for too much grind, and the latter for too little to grind through.


• Whose Character Is It? by Luke "Biscosity" Burkett added 02-18-04
  In an era of character customization, why are so many of us turning to class guides and our fellow players to tell us how to play the game?

November 2003

• Why Settle for an Online Game? by Siam "Kheldon" Choudhury added 11-18-03
  Is the popular perception of a persistent world game merely an acceptance of mediocrity?

September 2003

• Brechtian Gaming by Rich "Cynewulf" Adams added 9-01-03
  When make-believe imitates make-believe

August 2003

• The World's Greatest MMORPG by Luke "Biscosity" Burkett added 8-11-03
  What goes into making a successful MMORPG?

July 2003

• MMOGs Need to Delve Into Uncharted Territory by Scott "Cha0s" Patten added 7-29-03
  Game developers are not taking advantage of the "offline communities" which surround their titles.

• Customer "Support" by Luke "Biscosity" Burkett added 7 - 7-03
  In today's MMOGs customer "service" is causing more harm then good.
  

June 2003

• Bugz II -- The Suits by Rich "Cynewulf" Adams added 6 - 30 - 03
  A rantitorial.

• Respect for Communities. by Scott "Cha0s" Patten added 6-23-03
  Are a game's most vehement fans really treated fairly?

May 2003

• Disillusions... by Scott "Cha0s" Patten added 5-13-03
  Why can't any MMOG live up to it's hype?

April 2003

• ...I Gotta Wear Shades by Misty "Beans" Matonis added 4-24-03
  Misty "Beans" Matonis takes a look back at her list of independent titles to keep your eye on and tells us where these games are today.

March 2003

• The Second Genesis You Haven't Heard About by Luke "Biscosity" Burkett added 3-24-03
  Will EVE be exciting and new, or will it become more like a sitcom in its final season?

• Just Dying to Play by BlueBottle added 3-17-03
  People are Just Dying to Play These Games....

February 2003

• Wake Up Devs! We’re Better Than You at Making MMORPGs Fun. by Scott "ChaosGrenade" Patten added 2-24-03
  What's getting in the way of the ultimate MMOG...? The very people who would make it.

• MMOGs—The Illness or the Symptom? by Rich "Cynewulf" Adams added 2-17-03
  From news casts, to courtrooms, to hospitals . . . where exactly do computer games belong?

• Daydreams and Game Magazines by Luke "Biscosity" Burkett added 2-03-03
  Through dedication and perseverance the dreams of one's youth can quickly become a part of today's reality.
  

January 2003

• Role-Playing. An Expose. Film at Eleven. by Rich "Cynewulf" Adams added 1-13-03
  Darn those pesky role-players. Who invited them to the party?

October 2002

• Diary of a Forum Mod by Erin "RinnyWee" Johanson added 10-29-02
  The trials and tribulations of a game forum moderator, any game, anywhere. It starts off so easy...

September 2002

• Of Mountains and Molehills by Rich "Cynewulf" Adams added 9-29-02
  Ever get ready to go skiing, only to find a two-inch run?

May 2002

• Jaded Communities by Thundolfe added 5-12-02
  The bovine is at it again, this time setting her sights on the community.
• Gargamel's Revenge by Misty "Former SRC Hamlet" Matonis added 5-4-02
  A look back on the day that Origin Systems closed their volunteer programs.

April 2002

• Community by Rich "Cynewulf" Adams added 4-27-02
  Stratics. Come for meal. Stay for the dessert.
• A Majestic Flop by Misty "Beans" Matonis added 4-13-02
  Majestic was going to be the online game of the year, yet it's closing for good at the end of April. Misty Matonis takes a look back what has become one of the bigger flops in the last year.
• Innovation versus Renovation by Jim "Orion" Bruno added 4-6-02
  Tired of the same old same old rehash of games you've already played? You're not alone.

March 2002

• BUGZ! by Rich "Cynewulf" Adams added 3-29-02
  They're insidious. They're evil. And they're out to get YOU!
• Hurray for Hollywood by Misty "Beans" Matonis added 3-23-02
  What would happen if the MMOG industry took over Hollywood? Misty "Beans" Matonis answers that question and freaks out film historians and critics.
• The Future's So Bright... by Misty "Beans" Matonis added 3-16-02
  Everyone is curious about what will be the next big Ultima Online or Everquest. Which one will make it to that platform? Misty "Beans" Matonis previews ten upcoming MMOGs that hope to win that coveted prize.
• The Power of Words by Misty "Beans" Matonis added 3-9-02
  When was the last time you considered the consequences of your words? Misty Matonis ponders whether or not Origin Systems has gone too far left of the politically correct field.
• Making Fantasy a Reality by Jim "Orion" Bruno added 3-1-02
  You're at the top of your game and obsessed. Your entire world is the game and nothing else exists. Jim Bruno advises you to take a step back and return to reality, and tells you how to do so.

February 2002

• NOOB by Rich "Cynewulf" Adams added 2-23-02
  Remember when you first started playing your MMOG? Rich Adams, a self-proclaimed noob of three years, takes you back to the early moments of exhilaration and the newbie learning curve.
• A Laugh A Day Keeps the GM Away... by Pierre added 2-16-02
  A look at the world of gaming comics.
• You Will Not Evade Me a_whiner01! by Thundolfe added 2-10-02
  In a reubttal to GameSpy's Resident Cynic article, Thundolfe tries to explain why all EverQuest players are not crybabies...
• Simplicity is Bliss by Jim "Orion" Bruno added 2-3-02
  MMOG games are getting too complex. Jim Bruno tells us how to solve the problem.

January 2002

• The Best Game by Rich "Cynewulf" Adams added 1-15-02
  Rich Adams goes in search of the perfect game.
• When Kings Fall, Part II by Misty "Beans" Matonis added 1-5-02
  A continued look at the rise and fall of Multiplayer Battletech: 3025, and the mistakes and misteps Electronic Arts made along the way.

• When Kings Fall, Part I by Misty "Beans" Matonis added 12-22-01
  A look at the rise and fall of Multiplayer Battletech: 3025
  
• MMOG Misconceptions by James "Orion" Bruno added 12-06-01
  Where does all the money go?

• Never Reject a Chick from Brooklyn by Misty "Beans" Matonis added 11-24-01
  An Open Letter to Gaming Developers
• The Simpler Side of Gaming by James "Orion" Bruno added 11-15-01
  If gaming is supposed to be about fun, why aren't we having any?
• I Want to Forge Swords by Sie Ming added 11-10-01
  A wish list for MMOG game makers from the mind of Sie Ming, self-appointed speaker for sword forgers of all varieties.

• My Name Is Gladiator by Misty "Beans" Matonis added 10-29-01
  This week's Stratics article looks at the alternative means by which MMOG developers and publishers are generating revenue.
• Action in RPGs by James "Orion" Bruno added 10-20-01
  Continuing on with last week's "bread baking" theme, Stratic's Jim "Orion" Bruno asks, "Where's all the action in my RPG?"
• I Want to Bake Bread! by Sie Ming added 10-13-01
  A letter to MMOG developers of things to consider when crafting a game by Sie Ming, self-appointed speaker for bread bakers of all varieties.
• Pika, The First Post by Misty "Beans" Matonis added 10-08-01
  Why it's important for game developers to pay attention to their message boards!
• Welcome Blizzard, Welcome to a Whole New Level! by James "Orion" Bruno added 10-01-01
  Now this is what it's like when worlds collide!

• A Brave New(bie) World by Thundolfe added 09-24-01
  Thundolfe asks the question, "Why does being a newbie in these games have to always SUCK?"
• Play Like a Girl by Noel LeFevre added 09-10-01
  How women are making their mark on the MMOG gaming scene.
• Beta Testing for the Modern Gamer by James "Orion" Bruno added 09-02-01
  How Beta testing can help or hinder the release of a game.

August 2001

• Auto Complaint Generator by Thundolfe added 08-26-01
  This instant complaint generator designed by our friends at the Stratics Network makes it easy to voice your opinion.
• Why Can't We All Just Play Together by Misty "Beans" Matonis added 08-19-01
  Community cliques are an ever-growing problem in the MMOG world. This week's article discusses why and how this should change.
• Money for Nothing and Your Clicks for Free by Noel LeFevre added 08-12-01
  How MindArk's MMOG, Project Entropia, is planning to make you rich!
• Heroes Passing into Tales by Onnie added 08-05-01
  A mixed-mode piece of fiction from the mind of Oxesiess, a female EverQuest barbarian warrior.

July 2001

• Security 101 or "How to Protect Your Computer on the Internet" by Misty "Beans" Matonis added 07-29-01
  A lesson in virus protection for the casual MMOG player.
• Give a Little Bit by Noel LeFevre added 07-22-01
  MMOG players give constantly to their MMOG communities, this weeks article suggest ways for those same activists to get involved with their real life communities.
• Imaginary Reality by Thundolfe added 07-15-01
  Sometimes it's necessary to take a step back, take a deep breath, and know when to walk away.
• Internet People by Noel LeFevre added 07-08-01
  Sometimes online gaming can be much more than a pleasant pastime -- it can be the gateway that forms long lasting bonds and treasured friendships.
• I Thought I Played to Bake Bread?! by Misty "Beans" Matonis added 07-01-01
  Misty Matonis digs into the issues of MMOG socialization structures and details the steps to building a successful community.

• Evolution Gets aHelping Hand by Spacial added 06-24-01
  In this week's MMOG strip, we look at Funcom's Anarchy Online? Will it be all that it promises?
• Please Insert $12.95 for the Next Two Months *beep* by Thundolfe added 06-18-01
  In our inaugural Stratics MMOG article, Thundolfe has words for gaming companies following the current trend of releasing games that aren't yet ready for prime time.