breetoplay
@nbrianna.bsky.social
Bree Royce, Editor-in-Chief of MassivelyOP.com, co-host of the MassivelyOP podcast, MMORPG nerd, "verbose troublemaker." MOP is here too: @MassivelyOP.bsky.social
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@nbrianna.bsky.social
· Nov 12
Kotaku and IGN just awash in ad spam now. Good luck finding the gaming posts in that morass.
PC Gamer, Eurogamer, RPS don't look like this fwiw. (And neither do we.)
PC Gamer, Eurogamer, RPS don't look like this fwiw. (And neither do we.)
November 24, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Kotaku and IGN just awash in ad spam now. Good luck finding the gaming posts in that morass.
PC Gamer, Eurogamer, RPS don't look like this fwiw. (And neither do we.)
PC Gamer, Eurogamer, RPS don't look like this fwiw. (And neither do we.)
Extremely cool, like playing Ultima Online in 1997 (earnest)! Also nice to see Blizzard catching up to pre-millennium MMORPG ideas (exhausted)!
Just discovered earning 100 points in a Midnight profession lets you put up a sign advertising that profession, so you can theoretically fly around your neighbourhood looking for the skills you need. How cool is that?
November 19, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Extremely cool, like playing Ultima Online in 1997 (earnest)! Also nice to see Blizzard catching up to pre-millennium MMORPG ideas (exhausted)!
If you don't step in to control it, the chaoslords will do it for you, and you will live to watch them burn it all down. Thirty years of online communities proves it over and over and over and over and over and over and over.
Having shipped numerous MMOs over the course of the years, let me tell you that having and using the ‘fascistic’ power of moderation is crucial unless you want to have a 4chan style den of nazis and child porn instead of a viable business.
It's not linguistic loopholes. It's that power is inherently fascistic. It's impossible to be an admin of anything from a major social media platform to a tiny MUD and not turn into a enormous butt-hurt wimp. It's impossible to have the power to delete without using it.
November 14, 2025 at 4:15 PM
If you don't step in to control it, the chaoslords will do it for you, and you will live to watch them burn it all down. Thirty years of online communities proves it over and over and over and over and over and over and over.
Basically, what's been happening to MMORPGs over the last 10 years is happening to the rest of the industry now.
massivelyop.com/2015/02/20/w...
Some mainstreamers (not Tomas) are hoping it's just an MMORPG problem, but we were just the canary in the coal mine b/c of the timescales involved.
massivelyop.com/2015/02/20/w...
Some mainstreamers (not Tomas) are hoping it's just an MMORPG problem, but we were just the canary in the coal mine b/c of the timescales involved.
The winner takes all-instant hit-meme-flywheel mentality that has completely overtaken the games industry and even #indiedev is poison.
It deteriorates the space for risk and sustainable growth, until all that's left is to to either make slot-machines or slop-machines.
It deteriorates the space for risk and sustainable growth, until all that's left is to to either make slot-machines or slop-machines.
November 14, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Basically, what's been happening to MMORPGs over the last 10 years is happening to the rest of the industry now.
massivelyop.com/2015/02/20/w...
Some mainstreamers (not Tomas) are hoping it's just an MMORPG problem, but we were just the canary in the coal mine b/c of the timescales involved.
massivelyop.com/2015/02/20/w...
Some mainstreamers (not Tomas) are hoping it's just an MMORPG problem, but we were just the canary in the coal mine b/c of the timescales involved.
Reposted by breetoplay
It's dawning on me that not only has my generation (1970-2000) been singularly lucky in terms of peace & prosperity before the Skynet age, we've also experienced a singular window of opportunity for MMORPGs.
We were the perfect audience with a working attention span. It is basically over now. 😬
We were the perfect audience with a working attention span. It is basically over now. 😬
October 10, 2025 at 12:46 PM
It's dawning on me that not only has my generation (1970-2000) been singularly lucky in terms of peace & prosperity before the Skynet age, we've also experienced a singular window of opportunity for MMORPGs.
We were the perfect audience with a working attention span. It is basically over now. 😬
We were the perfect audience with a working attention span. It is basically over now. 😬
Preach it TAGN
August 10, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Preach it TAGN
"Let’s be honest: The real issue isn’t me—it’s you. You simply don’t read enough. If you did, you’d know I’ve been here for centuries." holy shit this but unironically
"Writers have been using me long before the advent of AI. I am the punctuation equivalent of a cardigan—beloved by MFA grads, used by editors when it’s actually cold, and worn year-round by screenwriters. I am not new here."
The Em Dash Responds to the AI Allegations
“In recent months, a curious fixation has emerged in corners of academia: the em dash. More specifically, the apparent moral panic around how it is...
buff.ly
July 18, 2025 at 6:47 PM
"Let’s be honest: The real issue isn’t me—it’s you. You simply don’t read enough. If you did, you’d know I’ve been here for centuries." holy shit this but unironically
Reposted by breetoplay
This is a straight truth bomb.
Bartle's 'Designing Virtual Worlds' and 'Postmortems' by @raphkoster.bsky.social are the perfect place to start but there are heaps of great books out there.
... and there's one more set to be announced next month 🤫
Bartle's 'Designing Virtual Worlds' and 'Postmortems' by @raphkoster.bsky.social are the perfect place to start but there are heaps of great books out there.
... and there's one more set to be announced next month 🤫
"I am not worried about the MMORPG future that is still being written. I'm worried that players/devs are trying to rewrite the past too - or at least pretend it didn't happen." MOP's Bree on history, braindrain, and disassembling the MMO genre:
Working As Intended: Read a book, any book, but preferably an MMO history book
massivelyop.com
July 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
This is a straight truth bomb.
Bartle's 'Designing Virtual Worlds' and 'Postmortems' by @raphkoster.bsky.social are the perfect place to start but there are heaps of great books out there.
... and there's one more set to be announced next month 🤫
Bartle's 'Designing Virtual Worlds' and 'Postmortems' by @raphkoster.bsky.social are the perfect place to start but there are heaps of great books out there.
... and there's one more set to be announced next month 🤫
I may have gone on a bit of an MMORPG history rant. You may put in the papers that I am mad.
"I am not worried about the MMORPG future that is still being written. I'm worried that players/devs are trying to rewrite the past too - or at least pretend it didn't happen." MOP's Bree on history, braindrain, and disassembling the MMO genre:
Working As Intended: Read a book, any book, but preferably an MMO history book
massivelyop.com
July 9, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I may have gone on a bit of an MMORPG history rant. You may put in the papers that I am mad.
Reposted by breetoplay
*sigh* not even a week gone by this time.
*taps sign*
Just spit-ballin' but if every mass layoff required execs to take responsibility and lose their positions too (and lose their retention bonuses), I wonder if we would see less layoffs? I suspect other solutions would appear somehow
*taps sign*
Just spit-ballin' but if every mass layoff required execs to take responsibility and lose their positions too (and lose their retention bonuses), I wonder if we would see less layoffs? I suspect other solutions would appear somehow
The sad part of all this is that those actually responsible, those who think they understand, or even set, the industry trends at the executive level, are rarely, if ever, the ones losing their jobs.
They just get that next bonus because the spreadsheet was positive, and then start the cycle again.
They just get that next bonus because the spreadsheet was positive, and then start the cycle again.
July 2, 2025 at 2:31 PM
*sigh* not even a week gone by this time.
*taps sign*
Just spit-ballin' but if every mass layoff required execs to take responsibility and lose their positions too (and lose their retention bonuses), I wonder if we would see less layoffs? I suspect other solutions would appear somehow
*taps sign*
Just spit-ballin' but if every mass layoff required execs to take responsibility and lose their positions too (and lose their retention bonuses), I wonder if we would see less layoffs? I suspect other solutions would appear somehow
Microsoft claimed its defeating regulators is a "victory for players"
EA said forcing devs in-office creates "incredible experiences for [its] players"
How about you both fuck off. You don't speak for players or care about us. Don't you dare invoke us to justify your greed and labor abuse.
EA said forcing devs in-office creates "incredible experiences for [its] players"
How about you both fuck off. You don't speak for players or care about us. Don't you dare invoke us to justify your greed and labor abuse.
May 23, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Microsoft claimed its defeating regulators is a "victory for players"
EA said forcing devs in-office creates "incredible experiences for [its] players"
How about you both fuck off. You don't speak for players or care about us. Don't you dare invoke us to justify your greed and labor abuse.
EA said forcing devs in-office creates "incredible experiences for [its] players"
How about you both fuck off. You don't speak for players or care about us. Don't you dare invoke us to justify your greed and labor abuse.
The frustrating thing here IMO is that I don't think we even need Sting. Pippin has enough room. But the situation is holding up the dark world access for unclear reasons (they have no escrow). We've already waited years for this, and now the hype moment has passed. My guildies are over it. :(
LOTRO delays Sting another week, but SSG says it's making progress on the housing escrow bugs. Dark worlds still have no new ETA.
Lord of the Rings Online delays the Sting server again, now to May 21, as it addresses missing items
massivelyop.com
May 14, 2025 at 1:09 PM
The frustrating thing here IMO is that I don't think we even need Sting. Pippin has enough room. But the situation is holding up the dark world access for unclear reasons (they have no escrow). We've already waited years for this, and now the hype moment has passed. My guildies are over it. :(
As Schlag put it, we had a bit of a celebrity sighting. :P
April 26, 2025 at 12:30 PM
As Schlag put it, we had a bit of a celebrity sighting. :P
egg
We're doing extremely serious MMORPG economics in today's special edition of MOP's long-running Perfect Ten listicle column! 🥚🥚🥚🥚 Let's talk about eggs:
Perfect Ten: 10 MMOs where you can actually afford to buy eggs
massivelyop.com
April 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM
egg
the new LOTRO server is going GREAT
March 24, 2025 at 1:53 PM
the new LOTRO server is going GREAT
Reposted by breetoplay
This is good and correct.
March 20, 2025 at 6:58 AM
This is good and correct.
I am *fairly* sure people are just mass-trolling urban dictionary... but I also wouldn't bet my life on it, and also I Believe.
@nbrianna.bsky.social has just shared to us in work chat the existence of "snail church" (or snurch) and I feel like I needed to share this as a timeline cleanse/flashbang.
March 17, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I am *fairly* sure people are just mass-trolling urban dictionary... but I also wouldn't bet my life on it, and also I Believe.
We had some dudes yell at us that we should know better, that layoffs after a launch are 'normal' - which even if true wouldn't make it acceptable so we'd still be mad - but in this GAAS case, it's extra suspect. I sure hope Once Human development isn't the template here. What a gift to Blizzard rn.
Some game studio layoffs make sense.
That being said, $136M in the first month of a live service game with a hot IP should be 'double down' territory, not 'shrink the team' territory. So to me, this one doesn't.
That being said, $136M in the first month of a live service game with a hot IP should be 'double down' territory, not 'shrink the team' territory. So to me, this one doesn't.
February 19, 2025 at 4:25 PM
We had some dudes yell at us that we should know better, that layoffs after a launch are 'normal' - which even if true wouldn't make it acceptable so we'd still be mad - but in this GAAS case, it's extra suspect. I sure hope Once Human development isn't the template here. What a gift to Blizzard rn.
I'm convinced @sypster.bsky.social writes these to make me cry while editing them. I was holding it together until the last part, I really was.
It's not the prettiest MMO, but Project Gorgon's gameplay more than makes up for it. In the wake of studio tragedy, MOP's Justin explores this quirky MMO that's developed as if WoW never happened:
MMO Hype Train: Rooting for Project Gorgon in light of tremendous loss
massivelyop.com
February 14, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I'm convinced @sypster.bsky.social writes these to make me cry while editing them. I was holding it together until the last part, I really was.
Finally put out this excessively granular piece on SWG Legends' open-world apartment system, which is amazing and unique in MMOs but kinda underused, and I hope they can fix it.
Thinking about doing GW2 next because it's such a great example of spectacular housing that is weirdly just not for me.
Thinking about doing GW2 next because it's such a great example of spectacular housing that is weirdly just not for me.
Rogue server @swglegends.bsky.social asked for feedback on the game's Cloud City apartments - which are really cool but only 20% full. Well, we have opinions! MOP's @nbrianna.bsky.social dives in:
Working As Intended: Playing house – er, apartment – in SWG Legends
massivelyop.com
February 13, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Finally put out this excessively granular piece on SWG Legends' open-world apartment system, which is amazing and unique in MMOs but kinda underused, and I hope they can fix it.
Thinking about doing GW2 next because it's such a great example of spectacular housing that is weirdly just not for me.
Thinking about doing GW2 next because it's such a great example of spectacular housing that is weirdly just not for me.
MOP's @sypster.bsky.social and I will be joining MJ's streamathon at 1p EST to record a live episode of the MOP Podcast! It's honestly surreal that we made it to 10 years as a fully indie outlet, far outliving the original. To think how close we came to giving up. But y'all said otherwise. :D
We're celebrating MOP's Independence Day - 10 years since we became an independent MMORPG site post-AOL! We've got a whole afternoon of prizes and even a live podcast planned - join us on Twitch at noon EST!
Meta: Celebrate our Independence Day as MassivelyOP officially turns 10 years old
massivelyop.com
February 10, 2025 at 4:10 PM
MOP's @sypster.bsky.social and I will be joining MJ's streamathon at 1p EST to record a live episode of the MOP Podcast! It's honestly surreal that we made it to 10 years as a fully indie outlet, far outliving the original. To think how close we came to giving up. But y'all said otherwise. :D
new City of Heroes time manip toon concept just dropped. Dark/time corruptor, maybe.
What Carmen Sandiego’s friends call her when she’s being a real asshole.
January 26, 2025 at 1:56 AM
new City of Heroes time manip toon concept just dropped. Dark/time corruptor, maybe.
Reposted by breetoplay
The best part of the Guild Wars 2 community will always be those folks who go out of their way to make sure everyone is resurrected after an event
January 24, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The best part of the Guild Wars 2 community will always be those folks who go out of their way to make sure everyone is resurrected after an event