Month: June 2015

Second Life

Second Life is an unusual kind of MMO, less of a quest-driven game and more of an online hangout where the “content” is largely built by the people living in it. Residents create the avatars, outfits, animations, homes, vehicles, and even the small interactive experiences you stumble into while exploring, which makes the world feel more like a constantly evolving community project than a theme park.

Publisher: Linden Lab
Playerbase: Medium
Type: MMO Virtual Universe
Release Date: June 23, 2003
Pros: +Resident-made gear and creations. +Extremely deep avatar personalization. +A huge variety of unique sims to visit. +Linden Dollars can be exchanged for real money. +Active, diverse social community.
Cons: -Tough for beginners to learn. -Interface feels busy and dated. -Texture/asset streaming can be sluggish.

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Dragon of Legends

Dragon of Legends was a 2D fantasy MMORPG that aimed for a classic 1990s RPG vibe, paired with broad platform ambitions. Players were meant to pledge themselves to either the Norse or the Celt faction and carve out a personal legend across the myth-inspired realm of Havamal.

Publisher: Thrive Games
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: December 15, 2017
Abandoned: December 22, 2017
Pros: +Distinctive visual direction. +Community-made content tools. +Memorable original music. +Planned multi-platform availability.
Cons: -Old-school presentation will not work for everyone. -No active community. -Fundraising controversy (Kickstarter scam).

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Knight Online

Knight Online (often called USKO) is a classic, click-to-move fantasy MMORPG set in Carnac, a world locked in a permanent conflict between El Morad and Karus. It is very much a PvP-first game, backed by a long-running community that still keeps servers busy even years after its original debut.

Publisher: NTTGame
Playerbase: High
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: August 17, 2004 (NA)
PvP: Duels, Siege War, Faction War, Battlefield
Pros: +Plenty of PvP modes to rotate through. +Large, active community. +Frequent in-game events.
Cons: -Outdated graphics and UI. -Weak English localization in places. -Very limited character appearance options.

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DarkEden 2

DarkEden 2 aimed to bring the DarkEden formula into a more contemporary era, mixing a modern-day vampire theme with an isometric viewpoint and the brisk, click-heavy rhythm associated with classic action RPGs. Much like its predecessor, the sequel was built around conflict between players, with open PvP and guild-scale fights positioned as a central draw.

Publisher: Softon Entertainment
Type: MMORPG
Release Date: June 04, 2015 (Korea CBT)
Shut Down: January 31, 2016
PvP: Yes – PKing / Guild Battles
Pros: +Modern-era urban fantasy vibe. +Isometric, old-school ARPG combat feel. +Designed with competitive PvP players in mind.
Cons: -Never launched in the West. -Only two playable factions. -Classes tied to gender. -Closed before reaching a full release.

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