https://worldclassvillains.com/2022/03/08/the-many-mistakes-of-overwatch/2022-03-08T02:58:04+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2021/08/08/what-does-it-take-to-get-600000-gamerscore-from-achievements-in-one-month/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/600k_title_yt.png600k_Title_YT2021-08-08T09:16:33+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2021/06/16/spellbreak-and-the-problem-of-mad-cuz-bad/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/spellbreaktitlecard.pngSpellbreakTitleCard2021-06-16T15:14:07+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2021/05/25/state-of-decay-and-the-monotony-of-the-apocalypse/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/title-card-monotony.pngTitle Card - MonotonyEvery day it's the same grind - Eat, sleep, scavenge, repeat2021-05-25T13:28:11+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2020/09/13/streets-of-rage-4-getting-s-rank-on-hard-level-12-y-island/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sor4-hard-s-stage-12-tn.pngSoR4 Hard S Stage 12 TN2020-09-13T10:30:14+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2020/09/13/streets-of-rage-4-getting-s-rank-on-hard-level-11-airplane/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sor4-hard-s-stage-11-tn.pngSoR4 Hard S Stage 11 TN2020-09-13T10:23:01+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2020/09/13/streets-of-rage-4-getting-s-rank-on-hard-level-10-to-the-concert/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sor4-hard-s-stage-10-tn.pngSoR4 Hard S Stage 10 TN2020-09-13T10:20:15+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2020/09/13/streets-of-rage-4-getting-s-rank-on-hard-level-9-y-tower/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sor4-hard-s-stage-9-tn.pngSoR4 Hard S Stage 9 TN2020-09-13T09:48:52+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2020/09/13/streets-of-rage-4-getting-s-rank-on-hard-level-8-art-gallery/2020-09-13T09:44:59+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2020/09/12/streets-of-rage-4-getting-s-rank-on-hard-level-7-skytrain/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sor4-hard-s-stage-7-tn.pngSoR4 Hard S Stage 7 TN2020-09-12T08:52:01+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2020/09/08/streets-of-rage-4-getting-s-rank-on-hard-level-4-old-pier/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sor4-hard-s-stage-4-tn.pngSoR4 Hard S Stage 4 TN2020-09-12T08:42:15+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2020/09/08/streets-of-rage-4-getting-s-rank-on-hard-level-5-underground/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sor4-hard-s-stage-5-tn.pngSoR4 Hard S Stage 5 TNhttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/barbon_0000.pngBarbon_0000He's a leather-clad motorcycle rider with a big mustache. That's pretty coded in my book. 2020-09-12T08:41:21+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2020/09/12/streets-of-rage-4-getting-s-rank-on-hard-level-6-chinatown/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sor4-hard-s-stage-6-tn.pngSoR4 Hard S Stage 6 TN2020-09-12T08:39:29+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/about/2020-09-08T14:07:46+00:00weekly0.6https://worldclassvillains.com/2020/09/06/streets-of-rage-4-getting-s-rank-on-hard-level-3-cargo-ship/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sor4-hard-s-stage-3-tn.pngSoR4 Hard S Stage 3 TN2020-09-06T04:12:16+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2020/09/06/streets-of-rage-4-getting-s-rank-on-hard-level-2-police-precinct/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sor4-hard-s-stage-2-tn.pngSoR4 Hard S Stage 2 TN2020-09-06T03:37:25+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2020/09/05/streets-of-rage-4-getting-s-rank-on-hard-level-1-the-streets/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sor4-hard-s-stage-1-tn.pngSoR4 Hard S Stage 1 TN2020-09-05T07:53:47+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2020/09/05/as-a-man-of-my-word/2020-09-05T07:43:54+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2020/09/05/streets-of-rage-4-getting-s-rank-on-hard-tips-and-tricks/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/sor4-hard-s-tnt-tn.pngSoR4 Hard S TNT TN2020-09-05T07:43:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2015/03/23/video-games-as-commodities-or-victory-through-patience/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/sale-prices-bioshock-infinite-batman-arkham-origin.pngsale prices bioshock infinite batman arkham originIt's not a perfect chart and lacks a lot data points, but my intent here is to show that AAA game prices drop very, very quickly... at least at EB Games. (Image sourced from: I created it)2015-07-12T15:51:23+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2015/04/25/how-much-for-ze-little-girl-part-2-the-endless-runner-cost-of-being-female/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/running_woman.jpgRunning_womanRunning as a man? That's free! Running as a woman? You'll need to pay a toll... (Image sourced from: Wikimedia Commons)2015-04-25T16:15:56+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2015/02/28/ethics-in-games-journalism-access-journalism-versus-accountability-journalism/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/gavel.jpggavelAll those readers who congratulated you for bringing the hammer down on accusations will quickly turn on you if you get them wrong. Or... you could just say nothing and get paid regardless. Your call. (Image coursed from: Wikipedia)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/open_access.jpgopen_accessAccess is a nice, friendly word. Not like that horrible 'accountability' word. (Image sourced from: Flickr)2015-02-28T17:07:50+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2015/02/10/ethics-in-games-journalism-sunless-sea-and-the-employment-of-games-journalists/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/cobbett_blog_sunless_sea.pngcobbett_blog_sunless_seaAnd all this is before we look at the issue of games journalist promoting the games they are working on using their blog / social media channels. Which seems reasonable, except they can be talking up the game to their other game journalist friends. Ethics: no fun at parties. (Image sourced from: RichardCobbett.com)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/eurogamer_disclaimer_sunless_sea.pngeurogamer_disclaimer_sunless_seaArguably it should be at the top of the article than off to the side, but at least it's there. (Image sourced from: Eurogamer)2015-02-10T15:39:38+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/10/21/five-reasons-why-swor-is-a-high-risk-mmo-2-it-is-going-to-cost-too-much/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/twister-duvet-cover.jpgtwister-duvet-coverMMO financials near to cover a lot of areas and can also be quite twisted to get your head around. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/treasure-chest-1.jpgtreasure-chest-1Box sales can be very lucrative for publishers and developers. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/sub_fee.jpgsub_feeThis is actually the first time I've used Open Office to generate a chart, which is why it looks so basic.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/box_sales.jpgbox_salesYou can't go wrong with pie charts. 2015-02-10T13:10:48+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2015/02/04/how-much-for-ze-little-girl-women-as-dlc/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/rome-2-daughters-of-mars04.jpgrome-2-daughters-of-mars04The Total War may have had female units in other games, but Rome 2 took it's time to get there. (Image sourced from: Incgamers)2015-03-13T00:06:09+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2015/01/10/three-decades-of-monty-mole/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/monty_on_the_run_good_luck.pngmonty_on_the_run_good_luckGood luck Monty! (Image taken from: )2015-01-10T16:33:45+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2015/01/07/ethics-in-gaming-journalism-and-sir-you-are-being-hunted/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/sir_you_are_drinking_tea-e1420642175275.jpgsir_you_are_drinking_teaSYABH does have a quirky appearance and some interesting ideas, but that doesn't mean ethical concerns about its promotion can be hand-waved away. (Image sourced from: Rock Paper Shotgun)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/fallen_city_big_robot.jpgFallen City, another game from Big RobotFallen City was Big Robot's first released game. Given that it was free to play and development was sponsored by UK broadcasting company Channel 4, I think there are fewer ethical issues with Rossignol talking about this game on RPS. (Image sourced from: Big Robot)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/jim_rossignol_september_2014.pngJim_Rossignol_September_2014Rossignol's biography from Rock Paper Shotgun, which doesn't mention Big Robot in the Occupation section. (Image source: Rock Paper Shotgun via the Wayback Machine)2015-01-07T15:37:04+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/12/31/a-short-history-of-players-versus-gaming-journalists/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/220px-the_new_york_times_newsroom_1942.jpg220px-The_New_York_Times_newsroom_1942Let's face it - even the traditional news organisations are finding it hard to justify spending money on hard journalism these days. (Image sourced from: Wikipedia)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/cecinestpasunepipe.jpgcecinestpasunepipeDoes an artistic work hold greater significance outside of its original creation and intended design? (SPOILER: Yes, yes it does). (Image sourced from: Flickr)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/psycho_pigs_sexist_ad.jpgpsycho_pigs_sexist_adIn 1988 a number of readers complained to Zzap!64 about this particular ad appearing in an edition due to the implied nudity in the background. The actual game, Psycho Pigs UXB, contained no women at all. (Image sourced from: zzap64.co.uk)2015-04-04T12:33:48+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/12/26/pax-aus-the-games-the-games/2014-12-26T16:52:46+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/12/08/pax-aus-pax-among-women-goodwill-to-most/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/paxaus_crowds.pngpaxaus_crowdsAlthough some panels had very long lines, Enforcers made sure that everyone in the line got into the session, which was a problem at PAXAus 2013. (Image sourced from: me)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/social_media_panel.pngsocial_media_panelI'm not asking for much when it comes to A/V backing for panels. Not a lot of text, a few images and suddenly the audience has something else to engage them. (Image taken by: me)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/krogan_cosplay.pngkrogan_cosplayThe Mass Effect cosplay team that was there was genuinely impressive. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/welcome_home.pngwelcome_homeSure, it said, "Welcome Home", but the Enforcers made me put my pants back on. (Imaged sourced from: me)2014-12-12T14:00:42+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/11/07/pax-aus-recap-prologue-gamestart-your-engines/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/gamestart_2014_logo.pngGameStart_2014_LogoGameStart 2014 logohttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/gamestart_guile.jpgGuile cosplay at GameStartI was impressed by a Guile cosplay that actually looked like he'd be able to street fight you. (Image sourced from: PlayStationLifestyle.net)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/gamestart_2014_map.gifGameStart_2014_MapThe map for GameStart 2014. Wherefore art thou Xbox? (Image taken from: GameStart)2014-11-07T15:21:45+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/11/04/a-video-game-world-without-politics/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/tetris_gameboy.pngtetris_gameboyApolitical gaming also includes Tetris, providing you can get over it being created by someone paid by the Soviet government (Image sourced from: Wikipedia)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/minecraft-title.jpgminecraft-titleThere's always Minecraft (Image sourced from: IGN)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/politics_out_of_video_games2.pngpolitics_out_of_video_games2Comments like this. (Image sourced from: Twitter)2014-12-04T09:22:38+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/09/13/ruminations-the-assassins-creed-code/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/assassins_creed_3.jpgAssassin's Creed 3 cover art, complete with Ol' Glory flapping patriotically in the background.There's no more patriotic act for a US citizen than axing an Englishman in the head while it's snowing.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ac_minerva.pngAssassin's Creed's Minerva. All powerful alien who does diddly squat.Yet another high tech alien matriarch who can't just tell you what you need to know, but instead likes to draw it out by being all vague and mysterious. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/matrix-neo.jpgNeo from The Matrix - you know, those films everyone used to like but no-one talks about anymore."Please, explain the absolute basics of this world to me like I'm a child. And then do it again, because I won't understand the first time."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ac_sophia_sartor.jpgSophia Sartor (and her breasts) from Assassin's Creed: RevelationsOur word for today is décolletage. 2014-10-12T15:31:56+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/10/05/assassins-creed-3-worlds-tamest-detective/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/sherlock_holmes_pipe_hat.jpgSherlock_holmes_pipe_hatIt's not like this at all. 2014-10-09T13:41:20+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/10/02/the-unbiased-games-journalist-a-fiction/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/ham.jpghamYes, this story is pretty much pure this. (Image sourced from: Wikipedia)2014-12-24T14:56:31+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/09/20/perils-of-pre-funding-double-fine-pushes-unready-spacebase-df-9-to-release/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/unfinished_jigsaw.jpgunfinished_jigsawDouble Fine may have provided some of the pieces, but it will be up to players to make their own if they want to see Spacebase DF-9 in full glory. (Image sourced from: rgbstock)2014-09-27T05:32:00+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/09/14/gamergate-its-all-about-zoe-quinn/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/trends_destiny_hearthstone.pngtrends_destiny_hearthstoneIn the ongoing fight for the soul of gaming, most gamers care more about Destiny or Hearthstone. (Image sourced from: Google Trends)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/trend_gamergate_quinn.pngtrend_gamergate_quinnIn Google, searches for "Zoe Quinn" have exceeded searches for "GamerGate", which sort of points where the interest really lies (one way or the other). Maybe GamerGate needs more naked pics. (Image sourced from: Google Trends)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/trends_nathan_zoe_eron.pngtrends_nathan_zoe_eronNope. Zoe Quinn was by far a bigger trend than anyone else mentioned in this debacle.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/topsy_gamergatehashtag.pngtopsy_gamergatehashtagGamerGate has seen its biggest impact on Twitter. (Image sourced from: Topsy)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/topsy_journalism_ethics.pngtopsy_journalism_ethicsTweets that contain these terms see Zoe Quinn leading again. (Image sourced from: Topsy)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/topsy_zoe_quinn.pngtopsy_zoe_quinnNext I added GamerGate, which generally mirrored the Google Trends results. (Image sourced from: Topsy)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/depression_quest_metacritic.pngdepression_quest_metacritic2014-09-19T05:10:35+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/08/10/seven-questions-for-every-video-game-kickstarter/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/red_query_icon.pngRed_Query_IconThe people behind Kickstarter projects shouldn't treat potential backers simply like sources of cash and moral support. They should tell you what they want to use the money for and who's actually on the project team for a start. (image sourced from: Clipart)2014-09-12T16:14:45+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/07/27/the-yogventures-collapse-a-case-study-in-kickstarter-video-games-failure/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/scrooge_shut_up.jpgscrooge_shut_upThere's no backer protection for what project creators do with the Kickstarter money after they receive it. That's ridiculous. (Image sourced prior to modification from: Digital Hippos)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/14_06_12_going_out_of_business_sign_nyc.jpg14_06_12_Going_Out_of_Business_Sign_NYCThe most valuable asset Winterkewl had was the assets it had created for the Yogventure title. Yogscast gave them to TUG for free. Think about that for a bit. (Image sourced from: Wikimedia Commons)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/asleep_at_desk.jpgasleep_at_deskYou'd think that someone took a good hard look at Winterkewl's capabilities before signing a deal with them, but I guess not. (image sourced from: Flickr)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/yogventure_dwarf.jpgyogventure_dwarfA screenshot from Yogventures. Pre-alphas are meant to look terrible. (Image taken from: Kickstarter)2014-08-10T12:56:14+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/07/22/guardians-of-the-galaxy-is-a-xanatos-gambit/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/guardians-galaxy-movie-preview.jpgguardians-galaxy-movie-previewAt the very least, Disney gets to see how "Han Solo: The Movie" could possibly work. (Image sourced from: Screenrant)2014-11-03T13:48:41+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/07/18/a-man-walks-into-a-mana-bar/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/friends_tv_show.jpgFriends_TV_showYeah, Melbourne Mana Bar might have been more enjoyable with friends, but that would be true of any bar in the area. (Image sourced from: Wikipedia Commons)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/beer_pong_drinking_game.jpgBeer_Pong_Drinking_GameDirectly mixing 'drinking' and 'games' generally doesn't involve high-tech electronics for good reason. (Image sourced from: Wikipedia)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/mana_bar_melbourne_screens_small.pngmana_bar_melbourne_screens_smallAmateur drunk photography at its most average showing the three screens that took up one wall of Melbourne's Mana Bar. (Image sourced from: me. No-one's hiring me for my photography skills.)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/mana_bar_melbourne_toilet_small.pngmana_bar_melbourne_toilet_smallIt won't win any writing awards, but I've certainly seen worse written on toilet walls. (Image sourced from: me)2014-09-14T14:52:26+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/07/05/the-trade-off-for-female-pro-gaming-visibility-versus-meritocracy/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/segregation.jpgsegregationOf course, when you start talking about segregated leagues, people starting thinking about it in the above terms and it's all downhill from there. (Image sourced from: Flickr)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/roulette_wheel.jpgRoulette_WheelThere's an issue when a game tries to pretend that it's fair, when actually the odds are stacked against you. (Image sourced from: Wikipedia)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/we_can_do_it.jpgWe_Can_Do_It!Raising up the visibility of options that women have means that more women are likely to consider them. (Image sourced from: Wikipedia)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/1280px-world_cyber_games_singapore_2005.jpg1280px-World_Cyber_Games,_Singapore,_2005It's like the Where's Wally books, you're trying to find a female competitor. (Image source from: Wikipedia Poland)2014-07-14T07:15:43+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/07/01/the-played-gaming-list-june-2014/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/prototype_2_heller_vs_mercer.jpgprototype_2_heller_vs_mercerPrototype 2: It's Angry Black Man versus Self-Entitled White Man in the finale. Truly it is a battle for our times. (Image sourced from: Game Pressure)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/sleeping-dogs-year-of-the-snake.jpgSleeping-Dogs-Year-Of-The-SnakeIn the Year of the Snake DLC, you may be dressed like a beat cop, but excessive force is still your best option. (Image sourced from: PopBucket)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/saints-row-the-third-tiger.pngsaints-row-the-third-tigerYes, Saints Row The Third had a lot of outlandish bits, but I didn't really see much satire / parody in it. My expectations may have been wrong. (Image taken from: WayfaringWalfus)2014-09-13T15:40:43+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/05/25/kickstander-pre-funding-and-a-question-of-trust/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/contract.pngcontractJust because something is in a contract doesn't make it the law. (Image sourced from: OpenClipArt.org)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/broken_plate.jpgbroken_plateIf you pre-order a broken game, you can send it back. If you pre-fund a broken game that's never fixed, tough - you should have known better. (Image sourced from: Pixabay)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/steam_early_access.pngsteam_early_accessI went looking for Steam's Terms and Conditions around purchasing Early Access games. As best I can tell, there aren't any T&Cs that specifically apply to Early Access, leaving pre-funders covered under only the standard Steam Subscriber Agreement - so no different than if they were buying a fully completed game from Steam. (Image sourced from: Steam Early Access)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/creator-responsibility.pngcreator-responsibilityIn other words: if you don't deliver, it's up to backers to get back their funds. (Image sourced from: Kickstarter)2014-05-31T08:22:39+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/09/09/why-marvel-studios-needs-to-pay-up/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/scarlett.jpgscarlettHow could they pick Johannson as the Black Widow when her hair colour is clearly wrong? Epic phail.2014-05-25T09:06:38+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/05/05/brothers-a-tale-of-two-sons-the-heartstrings-are-a-tricky-instrument/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/brothers_spider_woman.pngbrothers_spider_womanWhen I said "spider woman" I didn't mean "SpiderWoman". (Image sourced from: New World Notes.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/brothers_woman_sacrifice.jpgbrothers_woman_sacrificeShe could have transformed into a massive spider woman to scare off her primative captors, but I guess this is where she wanted to be. (Image sourced from: New World Notes)2014-05-05T15:37:52+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/04/24/from-vicarious-to-evil/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/galagawave2.jpggalagawave2In Galaga, shooting wave upon waves of enemies was a pretty abstract act. A number of currently popular video game franchises - Assassin's Creed, GTA, Hitman - have completely removed this kind of abstraction. (Image sourced from: The Atari Thief)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/american-nightmare-mr-scratch.jpgamerican-nightmare-mr-scratchMy current avatar is Mr Scratch from Alan Wake: American Nightmare. He's definitely evil, killing unsuspecting people for the fun of it. 2014-04-27T06:47:38+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/04/04/things-fall-apart-the-centre-no-longer-mmos/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/star_citizen.jpgStar_CitizenStar Citizen offers something for everyone. Star Citizen is the Schrodinger's Cat of gaming. Star Citizen is the Alpha and the Omega. (Image sourced from: Gamebreaker.tv)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/war_witch_hunter.jpgWAR_Witch_HunterA screenshot from Warhammer Online. MMOs seem to be the only game genre where developers are almost certain to see their first title preferred over their second. Usually experience makes things better. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/earth_and_beyond.jpgEarth_and_BeyondOr perhaps the more specific saying was, "MMOs can't fail, unless EA cancels them."2014-09-13T15:32:51+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/03/06/perth-writers-festival-games-writers-square-off-in-the-octagon/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/session4_panel.jpgSession4_PanelSession 4's panel (from left to right): Hex, Dan Golding, Dan Pinchbeck, Guy Gadneyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/session3_panel.jpgSession3_PanelSession 3's panel (from left to right): Hex, Clint Hocking, Jill Murray, Steve Gaynorhttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/crowd_shot.jpgcrowd_shotThe numbers of people in the session weren't bad, but you can see the number of empty seats. And this was in one of the afternoon sessions too. (Image supplied by: me)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/session2_panel.jpgSession2_PanelSession 2's panel (from right to left): Bajo, Dan Golding, Dan Pinchbeck, Steve Gaynorhttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/session1_panel.jpgSession1_PanelThe panel at the first session (from right to left): Bajo, Clint Hocking, Jill Murray, Guy Gadneyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/bajo_hex.jpgbajo_hexHex and Bajo, complete with a line of young fans (and their mothers). (Image sourced from: myself)2014-03-06T15:36:15+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/03/02/rayman-legends-some-levels-just-make-you-smile/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/rayman_legends_wrestler.jpgrayman_legends_wrestlerRayman Legends also has a very wide variety in its level designs - something quirky is always showing up.2014-03-07T14:51:55+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/02/22/reviewing-my-2013-mmo-predictions-the-music-is-about-to-stop/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/black_desert_elf_maybe.jpgblack_desert_elf_maybeDelayed or not, you are still damn gorgeous Black Desert Online. (Image sourced from: MMORPG.com)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/neverwinter_combat.jpgNeverwinter_combatNeverwinter wasn't a title that hardcore MMO players would enjoy, but that's never been Cryptic's target audience. (Image sourced from: Forbes)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/dungeon_keeper_mobile.pngdungeon_keeper_mobileThis is what EA has Mythic, formerly a well-recognised MMO development studio, working on these days.2014-03-16T08:06:57+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/02/12/kickstander-another-look-at-delivery-rates/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/kickstarter_video_games_dollar_categories_revised.pngkickstarter_video_games_dollar_categories_revisedThis is a revised version of this previous chart, rebased against the whole sample rather than the delivered versus undelivered project numbers. (Image sourced from: I created it)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/kickstarter_video_games_delays.pngkickstarter_video_games_delaysI understand that launch dates can be malleable, but that's a lot of projects who have left their backers waiting. (Image sourced from: I created it)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/kickstarter_video_games_pie_chart.pngkickstarter_video_games_pie_chartThis analysis is slightly different to the one I did previously, but the overall results are almost the same. (Image sourced from: I created it)2014-12-04T09:10:28+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/01/27/soe-shuts-down-four-mmos-plus-a-wizardry-online-conspiracy-theory/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/wizardry-online_i_hope_thats_a_horse.jpgWizardry-Online_I_hope_thats_a_horseI dearly hope that he's riding a horse. (Image sourced from: airbornegamer.com)2014-01-27T17:29:36+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/02/06/ruminations-bullet-run-wizardry-online-and-camelot-unchained/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/camelot_3000_vol_1_6.jpgCamelot_3000_Vol_1_6Hint for City State's next title after Camelot Unchanged: CAMELOT.... INNNN.... SPAAACCE...https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/acony_closed.pngacony_closedAnd so ends another minor game development studio.2014-01-27T16:12:14+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/01/24/kickstander-the-data-and-analysis-sheets/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/data.jpgdataAll the excitement of this, but in spreadsheet form! (Image sourced from: Wikimedia Commons)2014-02-21T16:58:09+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/01/23/batman-arkham-city-harley-quinns-revenge-dlc-this-title-needs-more-colons/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/harley_quinn_goth.jpgharley_quinn_gothQuinn's outfit is not quite as stripper-ish as when she was wearing her nurse's outfit, but it's close. 2014-01-23T13:55:14+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/07/04/great-mmo-company-collapses-of-our-time-sigil-games-online/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/800px-pirate_career_info_center_1.jpgGood on that one guy for working alone!How I picture Vanguard's development team, circa 2010.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/vanguard_group.jpgAn array of Vanguard characters all with different armour."Everyone is to meet in the parking lot? Oh, this can only be a GOOD thing, I know it!"https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/450px-hot-air-balloon.jpgLook, up in the sky!Hot air is easy to make and it never comes down! ... never comes down ... never comes down ...2014-01-22T17:04:10+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/01/20/wordpress-automated-2013-in-review/2014-01-20T16:29:48+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/01/18/kickstander-only-around-a-third-of-kickstarted-video-game-projects-fully-deliver-to-their-backers/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/unfinished_bridge.jpgunfinished_bridgeIt's great that these projects are in alpha or beta or whatever, but what really matters is what they are like when they finish. ... if they finish. (Image sourced from: Flickr)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/kickstarter_video_games_delivered_value.pngkickstarter_video_games_delivered_valueAlthough I've shown all the years from 2009 onwards, 2012 is really where all the action is. Image sourced from: I created it)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/kickstarter_video_games_dollar_categories.pngkickstarter_video_games_dollar_categoriesThe majority of successful Kickstarter video games raise less than $20k. (Image sourced from: I created it)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/kickstarter_video_games_delivery_rates_oct_2012.pngkickstarter_video_games_delivery_rates_oct_2012Previously I didn't separate out partial and fully delivery, which makes it a touch harder to compare these results. Sorry about that. (Image sourced from: I created it)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/kickstarter_video_games_number_of_successes.pngkickstarter_video_games_number_of_successesOverall were 366 successfully Kickstarted video game projects from 2009 to 2012 inclusive, with 357 of them promising to deliver something by December 2013 in their Kickstarter pitch. (Image sourced from: me)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/kickstarter_video_games_delivery_rates.pngkickstarter_video_games_delivery_ratesI did try to infographic it up, but I wasn't very good at it. (Image sourced from: I created it)2015-06-01T13:27:04+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2014/01/09/kickstander-the-list-is-done-and-probably-already-outdated-again/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/list.jpglistI'll make the list public on Google Docs soon. (Image sourced from: Flickr)2014-01-17T09:16:57+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/09/23/why-city-of-heroes-villains-needs-to-worry-more-about-itself-than-champions-online/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/coh_vs_champions_490.jpgcoh_vs_champions_490City of Heroes / Villains versus Champions Online2013-12-28T03:14:24+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/12/28/the-unplayed-gaming-list-december-2013/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/mark_of_the_ninja_screen.jpgmark_of_the_ninja_screenBy breaking the light, all those guards in the highlighted circle will be distracted. And then the fun begins. (Image sourced from: Internetfreaks.org)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/mass_effect_3_cover.pngmass_effect_3_coverThe entire "no-one in authority believes the lone hero about an upcoming threat" doesn't work so well in a high-tech setting, where everything Shepherd experienced could have been recorded through a visor camera. (Image sourced from: Mass Effect Wiki)2013-12-28T03:07:13+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/12/16/the-secret-world-buy-to-play-isnt-the-answer/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/steam.pngI was trying to come up with some kind of "Steam is really pistoning me off!" but it's just not funny.Everyone loves a sale. Especially these guys. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/secret_world_want_to_believe.pngPerhaps you shouldn't want to believe, given how it turned out for that Mulder guy...I might want to believe that TSW is going to rise, but I've got no faith in the MMO industry at this point in time. There are too many competitors and players offered too much choice for their to be much chance of a bounce back. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/secret_ware.jpgMarvel's Secret WarOops, wrong secret war.2013-12-28T02:16:33+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/12/23/xbox-paper-or-plastic/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/xbox_two_cards_scratched_mod.pngxbox_two_cards_scratched_modI've grey-boxed the first few digits on the plastic card, but I've also already used them. Good luck to those coming here to find XBox card numbers! (Image sourced from: me)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/xbox_two_cards_mod.pngxbox_two_cards_mod2013-12-23T05:38:05+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/11/29/xbox-one-why-i-wont-be-getting-one-soon/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/xbox_one.jpgxbox_oneI see you! (Image sourced from: Xbox.com)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/deepak_chopra_leela.jpgdeepak_chopra_leelaThis is one of my unplayed titles. I saw the reviews that said that it was a "frustratiing meditation game" and was compelled to learn what that meant for myself. (Image sourced from: THQ)2014-01-09T16:54:20+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/11/16/post-400/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/750px-ny-400-svg.png750px-NY-400.svgThat's a lot of time spent complaining about things I can't change. 2013-11-27T23:48:58+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/11/05/marvel-agents-of-shield-mediocrity-isnt-a-superpower/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/agents_of_shield_car.jpgagents_of_shield_carReal covert operation you've got going on there, SHIELD. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/x-men.jpgx-menThese guys might have something to say about government agencies that try to control people with superpowers. (Image sourced from: Collider.com)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/marvel_heroes_reborn.jpgMarvel_Heroes_RebornMany comics try to do things in new universes that are completely ignored in later years.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/nick_fury_hasselhoff.jpgNick_Fury_HasselhoffThis wasn't that long ago, Disney. These days we expect better. (Image sourced from: Marvel Movies Wikia)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/nick_fury_jackson.jpgNick_Fury_JacksonMaybe SHIELD has a policy that every agent who dies gets brought back to life and given their own team of attractive people as compensation. This would explain a few things. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/agents_of_shield_team.jpgagents_of_shield_teamThe Agents of SHIELD team. Skye, Simmons, Fitz, Coulson, May and Ward. Too many people for covert operations, too few for an effective taskforce.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/agent-coulson.pngagent-coulsonCoulson is your friendly neighbourhood government agent. His superpower is being interchangable with other faceless government agents.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/fantastic_four_unreleased.jpgfantastic_four_unreleasedIt's not like Marvel hasn't had some ordinary films made with its characters, but I'm sure they didn't want Agents of SHIELD to be a step back towards that era.2020-09-08T13:52:40+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/06/19/this-is-your-console-her-name-is-charlene/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/ps_vita_four_breasts.jpgps_vita_four_breastsThis was the last time that using a Playstation product was compared to playing with breasts.2013-10-18T09:09:42+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/10/18/city-of-heroes-old-clients/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/broken_cd.jpgOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThe original CDs are long gone by now. (Image sourced from: Wikipedia)2020-09-06T07:13:12+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/10/12/run-that-town-for-the-masses/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/run_that_town_bug.pngrun_that_town_bugAn example of a bug I found with Run That Town was completing the game with 100% popularity and getting that ending, but getting the achievement as though I'd failed and been run out of town!https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/run_that_town_pos_vs_neg.jpegrun_that_town_pos_vs_negThere are two sides to every decision. Your best option is to go with whichever side has more people. (Image sourced from: Apple iTunes)2013-10-29T21:06:14+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/10/08/city-of-titans-i-disbelieve-the-illusion/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/second-hand.jpgsecond-handSome money could be saved if some of these tools are bought second hand or from resellers, but recent versions aren't generally that much cheaper. (Image sourced from: Wikipedia)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/cryptic_logo_old.pngCryptic_logo_oldI still prefer Cryptic's old logo. (Image sourced from: Wikipedia)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/documentation.jpgdocumentationDocumentation is dull and boring and time consuming, but when code passes through a dozen different hands over a 24 month period, it's the only way to know what code is meant to do.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/telescope.jpgtelescopeSetting your scope for the stars is great, but taking the money means that people will expect you to deliver. (Image sourced from: HowStuffWorks)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/class_photo.jpgclass_photoHaving a large team is great, but someone has to keep them managed and on target. As volunteers, at best they can work part-time in an industry where 60+ hour work weeks are considered standard. (Image sourced from: Flickr)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/crusty_dean.jpgcrusty_deanIn this post, I will be playing the role of the Crusty Old Dean who loves nothing more than to kill the dreams of those around him. (Image sourced from: FOX Broadcasting)2013-11-23T17:42:58+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/09/30/steam-controller-just-as-i-guessed/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/steam_controller.jpgsteam_controllerIt may just be me, but the Steam Controller looks like it is only half complete. (Image Source: IGN)2013-09-30T14:40:29+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/09/26/steamos-steam-machines-fighting-the-last-land-war-in-asia/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/couch_furniture.jpgCouch_FurnitureThe future of gaming. Upholstered in salmon, easy-to-clean fabric (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/steampunk-falksen.jpgSteampunk-falksenIf Valve's Steam Machines were powered by real steam, it would make this guy very happy.2013-09-30T14:40:00+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/09/27/wildstar-and-elder-scrolls-online-subs-dont-dom-anymore/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/empty_pockets.jpgempty_pocketsTime to start paying back what you cost, WildStar and TESO. (Image Source: Flickr)2013-11-23T17:46:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/09/27/metacritic-the-data/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/data.jpgBig DataEnjoy your data, ladies and gentlemen.2014-07-01T13:18:11+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/06/05/are-day-1-game-reviews-positively-biased-short-answer-yes/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/metacritic_day1_differences_10_reviews2.pngmetacritic_day1_differences_10_reviewshttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/metacritic_day1_differences_count1.pngmetacritic_day1_differences_countThe number of titles that see their Day 1 review score averages achieve higher, lower or equal levels with all other later reviews. Day 1 reviews skew more positively than later reviews. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/gaming_swag.jpgIf a game critic plans it right, they never need to buy t-shirts for the rest of the year after visiting one of these big events. Swag clearly doesn't influence game critics in the slightest, which is why developers / publishers spend so much in creating specialised, limited print run items for them. (Image from: Kotaku) https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/800px-corrupt-legislation-vedder-highsmith-detail-1.jpeg800px-Corrupt-Legislation-Vedder-Highsmith-detail-1A lot of people assume explicit corruption where other forms of bias can easy exist. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wolfman_groomed.jpgwolfman_groomedLook, I need to show a process before releasing the good (well, better) stuff. Just skip below if you aren't interested in that kind of thing.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/brink_xbox.jpgbrink_xboxBrink for the Xbox 360 showed the most significant difference between how highly Day 1 reviewers rated the game versus those who came after.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/simcity_reviews2.pngSimCity_reviews2Early reviews, played on very low population servers, returned the highest scores for SimCity. Reviewers who experienced this title under 'real' server conditions weren't nearly as kind.2013-09-27T14:37:07+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/09/23/gta-courting-controversy-but-only-the-right-kind/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/hot_coffee.jpghot_coffeeIn an alternate universe, Hot Coffee was part of GTA:SA, video games survived the shock and we'd be in a different place today. (Image Source: Wikipedia)2013-09-30T14:20:46+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/09/22/spelunky-to-hell-in-under-7-minutes-or-its-free/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/spelunky-decision.pngSpelunky-DecisionEveryone loves white slavery. (Image Source: Pentadact)2013-09-22T15:09:10+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/09/20/kickstander-clang-loses-its-edge/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/die_by_the_sword.jpgdie_by_the_swordI remember playing Die By The Sword, a title with a 'realistic' sword fighting system, years ago. I won most fights by running in a circle, swinging wildly. (Image Source: softWreper)2013-09-20T18:03:12+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/09/19/warhammer-online-time-for-a-reckoning/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/warhammer_online_marc_jacobs.jpgwarhammer_online_marc_jacobsMythic's "we're all super cool rockstar developers" attitude didn't win them a lot of support ahead of WAR's launch either. (Image Source: Massively.com)2013-09-22T13:56:27+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/09/18/ouya-how-not-to-communicate/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/waiting_for_ouya.jpgwaiting_for_ouyaSome people reacted better than others about having to wait for their OUYA to arrive in the mail.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/car_crash.jpgcar_crashThe single visual metaphor related to crashing that I'll use in this article. Enjoy! (Image Source: Flickr)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ouya_ftgf_projects.pngouya_ftgf_projectsAs of right now, these are the projects listed on the OUYA Free the Games Fund page. None of them are anywhere near that $50 000 level. (Image from: OUYA Free The Games Fund page)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ouya_tweet_bettercallsaul.pngouya_tweet_bettercallsaulDevelopers have been directed to this address as well by OUYA representatives. (Image Source: @KelleeSantiago)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ouya_better_call_saul.pngouya_better_call_saulI wish I was joking.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ouya_julie_chargeback.pngouya_julie_chargebackJulie is the CEO of a new console company. She should know better.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ouya_tweet_that_dragon.pngouya_tweet_that_dragonThe original tweet has been deleted, so I'm using a retweet of it. (Image Source: @alex_navarro)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ouya_tweet_nintendo.jpgouya_tweet_nintendoOUYA doesn't support piracy, but it does support people playing games for free. What free games you play on your OUYA... well, that's up to you.2013-09-19T05:37:34+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/03/17/city-of-heroes-villains-putting-claims-to-the-test/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/800px-nablus_never_forgive_never_forget_victor_2011_-1-101-e1363534583563.jpg800px-Nablus_NEVER_FORGIVE_NEVER_FORGET_Victor_2011_-1-101Some people won't forgive NCsoft for the closure of CoH/V, and that's fine. But my point is that there are some possibly very sensible business reasons for the closure. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/438px-villainc-svg.png438px-Villainc.svgThe fact that this is how most gamers view publishers doesn't help NCsoft's case to be viewed in their favour. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/dog_collar.jpgdog_collarLoyalty is a difficult leash to get out of gracefully. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/442px-no_room_for_rumors_-_nara_-_515079.jpg442px-'No_room_for_rumors'_-_NARA_-_515079In the absence of other information, there is PLENTY of room for rumours. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/breaking_up.jpgbreaking_up"We're going to break up, but I'm going to spend the next month telling everyone and seeing how much money they'll give to help me move out. If it's not enough cash, I'll stay with you. Sound fair?"https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/250px-google_logo_2010.png250px-Google_logo_2010Do you know who else is in Mountain View? If you are living in this area, you are generally pulling in quite a bit more than the national average. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/800px-super_glue.jpg800px-Super_glueSubscribers stuck to CoH/V something like the above. The problem appears to be the lack of new players who came along to also get stuck. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/cohv_annual_revenue_jul_jun.pngCoH/V earned roughly US$183m over the course of its operation.The same figures as above, but on a different reporting schedule (click to enlarge).https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/cohv_annual_revenue_jan_dec.pngYes, more charts on CoH/V financials. I know it's what you love.This is based on NCsoft's Earnings report information that everyone seemed happy enough to rely on until CoH/V was shut down. (Click to enlarge)2013-09-17T16:16:09+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/09/17/city-of-heroes-villains-an-addendum-of-sorts/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/flexible_nemesis.jpgflexible_nemesisCoH/V's use of ragdoll made it very satisfying to send enemies flying. (Image Source: Taken in-game)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/big_group5.jpgbig_group5So many costume options... (Image Source: taken during CoH beta)2013-09-17T16:13:08+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/09/16/blog-quiet-on-account-of-something-something/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/800px-bristol_half_marathon.jpg800px-Bristol_Half_MarathonI'm going to be doing this, just with less sweating and more words. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)2013-09-17T15:11:23+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/08/20/kinect-one-track-mind/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/kinect.jpgkinect"I like to watch... and my hearing isn't too good." (Image from: theverge.com)2013-09-01T14:56:00+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/08/09/the-anita-sarkeesian-troll-bingo-card/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/sarkeesian_troll_bingo.pngsarkeesian_troll_bingoAll based on real comments in response to the "Women vs. Tropes in Video Games" videos. 2013-08-17T16:10:01+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/07/28/kickstander-the-doom-that-came-to-kickstarter-and-the-transference-of-risk/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/monopoly_green_house.jpgmonopoly_green_houseYou can mortgage this just like in that other board game, but you won't be guaranteed of collecting $200 every few rolls of the dice. (Image sourced from: Flickr)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/playing-risk-venezuela.jpgPlaying-risk-venezuela"Okay, you win, you keep all the money. You lose, and you have to pay all of us back and we'll be angry at you forever and you may never work again. Deal?"https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/doctor_doom_cosplay.jpgdoctor_doom_cosplayNo, not this Doom, and I'm not sure if he's ever been to Atlantic City either. (Image sources from: Flickr)2013-08-09T13:58:26+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/07/22/in-defence-of-metacritic-for-video-games/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/perfect_shot_by_deargruadher-d4syoie.pngperfect_shot_by_deargruadher-d4syoieMetacritic may not be absolutely perfect every time, but there's little use making perfect the target when something is good enough most of the time.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/complaint_carrots.jpgcomplaint_carrotsI understand the complaints raised with Metacritic, but I don't think there is anything strong enough that should stop people from using this resource. (Image sourced: Flickr)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/boy_of_silence_figure.jpgboy_of_silence_figureAlthough well done, I'm not sure that huge dollars are made on the sale of these kind of things, at least at the individual studio level. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/apple_thieves.jpgIT'S A METAPHOR. Every game takes from their source, adds a little bit of something to make their article 'original', then hands it down to the next layer who do the same thing again. Review scores aren't anything different.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/anchor.jpgThe Pudong Anchor, apparently. No, I've got no idea what that means either. Negative review scores are an anchor on game sales, which means that games reviewers collectively have a lot of power in the gaming industry.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wii_wiimote.jpgA Wii and its Wiimote. Apparently the Wii was the first console who's game sales didn't rise in tandem with its review scores. Yet another reason for the gaming industry to dislike this particular platform. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/square_enix_metacritic_sales.pngsquare_enix_metacritic_salesFrom Square Enix's briefing notes - their Metacritic-based forecast indicated that Sleeping Dogs would sell roughly 2m - 2.5m units, Hitman: Absolution would sell 4.5m - 5m units and Tomb Raider would sell 5m - 6m units worldwide. One of their key points is that the US market didn't behave as expected in purchasing these titles. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ign-gamespot-reviews_metafuture.jpgign-gamespot-reviews_metafutureYou can clearly see the skew in review scores for both Gamespot and IGN... and this was in 2006.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/metacritic_score_bands.pngmetacritic_score_bandsVideo games have to achieve much higher scores than other entertainment media to reach the same level of subjective quality. 2013-07-28T19:39:30+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/04/17/my-building-sense-of-disappointment-about-bioshock-infinite/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bioshock_infinite_devils.pngbioshock_infinite_devilsWhat exactly did Ken Levine learn from his Occupy experience anyway, if this is how the Vox Populi ended up?https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bioshock_infinite_reviews.pngbioshock_infinite_reviewsConsider the above to be a minority report.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/songbird-bioshock-infinite.jpgsongbird-bioshock-infinitePoor abused and abusive Songbird. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bioshock-infinite-elizabeth.jpgBioShock-Infinite-ElizabethA woman holding a quantum physics book? NEVAH! You can't fool me, you obvious fake geek girl.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/dr_hh_holmes.gifDr_HH_HolmesDr H.H. Holmes. Had a hotel especially built that made it easy to murder people at his leisure and dispose of their bodies. May have killed up to 200 people (which is still a lower figure than DeWitt achieves). Was finally arrested by Pinkertons' detectives.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bioshock_infinite_daisy.jpgbioshock_infinite_daisyDaisy Fitzroy, the only significant character of colour in Bioshock: Infinite. The first time DeWitt meets her she steals his airship; the second she's got her eye on killing a defenceless white child. Because RACISM. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bioshock_2_traps.jpgbioshock_2_trapsIn Bioshock 2, there was a point to trapping a room. Although Bioshock: Infinite gives you a lot of trap options, they are rarely as useful to use as just throwing vigor effects directly at targets. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bioshock_infinite_undertow.jpgbioshock_infinite_undertowViolence game or not, that's just gross.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bioshock_infinite_the_luteces.pngbioshock_infinite_the_lutecesI'm secretly hoping that the DLC reveals that the narrative of Bioshock: Infinite was just the Lutece's having some transdimensional revenge on Comstock for having them murdered. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bioshock_chains.jpgBioshock_chainsThe various elements of Bioshock link together to form a strong narrative chain.2016-06-10T03:57:49+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/06/29/saints-row-iv-and-an-incomplete-history-of-rectum-oriented-weapons-in-video-games/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/saints_row_3_penetrator_bat.jpegsaints_row_3_penetrator_batI've seen some people say, "But what about the Penetrator Bat? That's just a giant dildo!". Which is true in a cosmetic sense, but it functioned like a floppy baseball bat. There was no sex in its violence. 2013-07-31T13:18:01+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/06/26/kickstander-a-bad-week-for-kickstarter/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/kickstarter_beef_fraud.jpgkickstarter_beef_fraudThat does look pretty good, actually. 2013-06-26T13:52:25+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/06/14/the-existential-horror-of-being-a-mmo-character/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/horror_of_the_abyss.jpghorror_of_the_abyssExistential horror is just too hard to fight off with swords - adventurers prefer their horrors to be more tangible. (Picture from Wizards.com2013-06-14T16:24:14+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/08/26/extra-credits-a-credit-for-your-thoughts/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/cash.jpgcash"I'll totally pay you back, right after my game sells 100 000 copies."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/1in25.gif1in25Only 1 in every 25 gaming projects started goes on to make any money. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/extra_credits_oh_no_youre_not.jpgextra_credits_oh_no_youre_notThree things that don't describe Extra Credits.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/escapist_no_ads.jpgescapist_no_adsI don't think it is 'advertising doesn't work' as it is 'I can barely see any ads here, which means those ad dollars aren't rolling in'.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/role_of_women_in_video_games.jpgrole_of_women_in_video_gamesSo, I Google imaged 'Role of Women in Video Games' and this turned up as the first image. Thanks Kotaku! I'd suggest video games still have a distance to go...2013-05-31T15:07:14+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/05/25/how-different-is-metacritics-metascore-from-a-titles-unweighted-review-score-average/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/metacritic_differences_sorted1.pngmetacritic_differences_sortedhttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/measuring_tape.jpgmeasuring_tapeOverall Metacritic's metascore doesn't differ much from an unweighted average. And if it does differ, it skews slightly negative.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/deus-ex-human-revolution-adam-jensen.jpgDeus-Ex-Human-Revolution-adam-jensenAdam Jensen of Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Man has the pointiest chin since I've seen in a long while.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/metacritic_differences1.pngmetacritic_differenceshttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/cropped-screenshot_2013-05-10-22-02-04.jpgcropped-screenshot_2013-05-10-22-02-04.jpg2013-05-30T16:09:07+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/05/16/neverwinter-lessons-learned/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/neverwinter_fire_blacklake.pngneverwinter_fire_blacklakeSure, you're an adventurer, but are you fireproof?2013-08-09T13:55:03+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/05/14/ive-been-wasting-my-life/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/submarine_design1.pngsubmarine_designWHEN DID THIS BECOME AVAILABLE AND WHY WASN'T I TOLD???2013-05-14T13:49:09+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/06/16/prototype-now-with-the-a-team/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/prototype_ateam.pngprototype_ateamIn the midst of a bioterrorism event, it’d be nice to go see a film. What’s on?2013-05-14T13:28:01+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/04/30/kickstander-kickstarter-isnt-a-store-unless-you-are-an-american-mcgee/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/arthur_rackham_little_red_riding_hood.jpgArthur_Rackham_Little_Red_Riding_HoodSometimes one thing dresses up like another thing to hide its true intent. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/akaneiro_alice.pngakaneiro_aliceBuy a video game from Spicy Horse at full price and get bonus items in their newest game for free!2013-05-01T13:38:46+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/04/13/bioshock-infinite-my-reaction-to-the-ending-in-a-single-image-spoiler/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bioshock_infinite_dammit.pngbioshock_infinite_dammitKen Levine has some parent-child issues to work through, methinks. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bioshock-infinite-b-side.jpgbioshock-infinite-b-sideYou can flip the cover of Bioshock: Infinite over and see this one instead. 2013-04-13T18:38:12+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/03/24/point-counterpoint-survival-horror-market-too-small-says-dev-oh-no-it-isnt-say-gamespot-comments/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/fatal_frame_2.jpgfatal_frame_2In Fatal Frame you're armed with a magic camera and have difficulty seeing what you are trying to take photos of. It's not exactly an empowering experience.2013-04-13T04:16:14+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/04/10/blog-writing-postponed-on-account-of-bioshock-infinite/2013-04-10T13:01:38+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/04/04/hitman-absolution-oh-when-the-saints/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/hitman_absolution_saints_question.pnghitman_absolution_saints_questionhttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/hitman_absolution_saints_nuns.pnghitman_absolution_saints_nunsNuns have their own language? Who knew? Also, looking at how these women carry themselves I think they failed their nun deportment lessons. 2013-04-04T15:07:10+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/03/27/warhammer-40000-dark-millenium-if-a-mmo-falls-in-pre-production-and-no-one-cares/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/warhammer_40k_dark_millenium.jpgwarhammer_40k_dark_millenium"Cancelled? Damn it. Okay boys, time to polish up your resumes for the next WoW expansion."2013-03-27T14:04:44+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/03/08/kickstander-what-is-kickstarter-really/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/450px-superman_pizza_delivery.jpg450px-Superman_pizza_deliveryFunding is all well and good, but delivery is more important.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/800px-talamahu_market.jpg800px-Talamahu_MarketKickstarter is a market, but instead of selling potatoes, it's selling reward levels and the chance to be part of the game development industry in some small way.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/breads_1.jpgBreads_(1)The difference between "free" and "free to play" is the same as somewhere offering free food from a buffet versus one offering free bread only. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/499px-sir_lawrence_alma-tadema_ra_om_-_the_blind_beggar_-_walters_372761.jpg499px-Sir_Lawrence_Alma-Tadema,_RA,_OM_-_The_Blind_Beggar_-_Walters_372761Kickstarter isn't this. Unless he's planning to return to her with Sleeping Old Women: The Game.2013-03-22T15:22:21+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/03/18/simcity-im-not-saying-that-the-gaming-press-is-easily-led-but/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/simcity_reviews2.pngSimCity_reviews2SimCity (2013) review scores from March 4 to March 17, as indicated on Metacritic. (Click to enlarge)2013-03-19T14:40:00+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/03/11/lara-croft-and-the-creepy-destructoid-or-a-gaming-culture-time-capsule/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/destructoid_sidebar_1.pngdestructoid_sidebar_1The stories that lead Destructoid's Girls of Gaming. Welcome to the gaming club, ladies, don't all rush in at once.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/destructoid_lara_croft_tags.pngdestructoid_lara_croft_tags#ThingsGamersDo - convert statues to Live Dolls, apparenlty. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/destructoid_hamz_ctz_aziz.pngdestructoid_Hamz_CTZ_AzizYou can read his blog here (which should start pretty much at the first entry) for an examination of how exceptional - or not - this kind of post was for Aziz.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/destructoid_lara_croft_creepy.pngdestructoid_lara_croft_creepyPersonally, I'm hoping for the fever dream. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/destructoid_lara_croft_statue.pngdestructoid_lara_croft_statueAt a glance, this looks perfectly fine. Then you look closer... (Click to enlarge)2013-03-11T16:34:33+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/03/02/the-unplayed-gaming-list-february-2013/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/la_noire_jack_kelso.jpgla_noire_jack_kelsoLA Noire: Can we get a game about Jack Kelso instead? He's a lot more likeable than Cole.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/sotd_big_boner.gifsotd_big_bonerI'm not even kidding.2013-03-02T14:04:41+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/09/01/city-of-heroes-villains-an-end-of-the-world-event/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/death_statesman_1650_t.jpgStatesman's faceplate took a lot of flak... this time literally.The death of Statesman was meant to kick off a new age for CoH/V. Hmmm.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/supreme-64-cavalry.jpgI also think I had this issue. To slightly restore my credibility, Alan Moore had been writing Supreme at the time.Last minute saves are a comic book staple. I'm pretty certain this isn't going to be the case for CoH/V. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/scissorman.gifThe scissorman panel I remember seeing in a Doom Patrol TPB. The door flew open, in he ran, The great, long, red-legged scissorman... looking for cost-cutting opportunities.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/coh_subs_q2_2012.pngCity of Heroes / Villains Revenue, including Q2 2012 results.This is CoH/V's revenue results (converted from M Won to US$) across it's entire life time. Outside of major content launches, every quarter is worse than the one before.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ncsoft_operating_profit_q2_2012.pngNCsoft Operating Profit Q2 2012Oh, it's in the red alright. 2013-05-08T23:25:46+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/02/24/kickstander-why-kickstarter-is-a-terrible-platform-for-video-game-innovation/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/barriers.jpgbarriersHaving both too much money and not enough money create barriers can work against the success of a project.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/star_wars_shirts.jpgStar_Wars_shirtsMaking concepts "like" other concepts throws up mental blocks and limits how things can change.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hiding.jpghidingYou can try to hide yourself after a failed Kickstarter, but there will always be a chance that someone will link it back to you.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/explanation.jpgexplanation"To understand my new game idea, you have to write everything you know about video games on this paper here. Then tear it up, because it won't help you."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/girls_aloud_wallpaper.pnggirls_aloud_wallpaperShake it for your Kickstarter money. Let it all hang out.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/space_suit_on_floor.jpgspace_suit_on_floorThey knew how to make things right back in the old days. These days it's all about making moneyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/glasses_guy.jpgglasses_guy"I don't like video games unless they are innovative. But not too innovative or innovative in the wrong ways."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/minecraft_infiniminer_clone.pngminecraft_infiniminer_cloneYes, it was. 2013-03-08T03:26:39+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/02/14/wizardry-online-permadeath-in-all-things-especially-launch/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/wizardry_online_races.jpgwizardry_online_races"No, no - we're fine here. We can wait. We'd hate for too many players to get interested in this title."2013-02-21T09:25:18+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/02/14/point-counterpoint-microtransactions-in-dead-space-3-and-paying-for-your-survival/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/dead_space_2_foam_figner.pngdead_space_2_foam_fignerAnd if we are talking about consistent in-game logic, we can't forget that the most powerful weapon in Dead Space 2 is the Big Foam Finger.2013-02-14T17:05:15+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/02/08/scenes-through-a-youtube-window-the-absolute-best-thing-about-dc-universe-online-was/2013-02-09T06:13:03+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/02/04/dear-valve-i-didnt-know-you-were-in-the-movie-biz/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/bulb-disruption.jpgbulb-disruptionDisruption is the name of the game here. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/the_fp.jpgIt's a distopian future Dance Dance Revolution movie. You were expecting... ?Okay, this may not be the best example of what's possible, but it's an example of video content that disappears through normal channels that could attract eyeballs on Steam.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/darksiders_2_pc.jpgDarksiders had War, Darksiders 2 had Death. The only horsemen left were the sucky ones.Waiting for titles until they go on sale can end up squeezing the middle out of the market.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/gabe_newell.jpgI remember the vitriol aimed at Newell when Steam launched. That's certainly changed. "And lo, it was commanded that the people should use an operating system that is open like a door, not closed like a window."2013-02-07T09:03:23+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/01/26/scenes-from-an-alternative-reality-are-video-games-are-too-sexual/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/far_cry_3_cheers.png"Cheers! On an island as beautiful as this and with us so young and perfect, nothing can go wrong!"Far Cry 3 was pretty much seeing how many people you could have sex with on an 'open' island paradise. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/halo4_master_chief_cortana.jpgCortana's stopped off to get some new tatts I see.The Laylo franchise sees a large rough-and-ready man carrying around an attractive woman to deal with his "needs". No matter what happens, Master Chief doesn't take off his helmet.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/mass_effect_miranda.jpgBioWare might be able to create good female characters, but they also love showing them off too.Ass Effect - where the player flies around the universe and looks at various female posteriors - has been a very successful franchise.2013-01-31T15:02:10+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/01/24/scenes-through-a-youtube-window-the-witcher-introduction/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/witcher_geralt.jpgBecause it's a nerd fantasy for sexy women to love the skinny pale guy with facial scars.Everyone's favourite fast-healing mutant blade wielder, Geralt of Rivia.2013-01-24T14:34:03+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/01/21/kickstander-wildman-is-an-example-why-accountability-on-kickstarter-is-a-joke/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/kickstarter_wildman.pngHumblebragging, pitch-style.The entire Risks and Challenges section for this Kickstarter project.2013-01-23T11:26:54+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/01/20/mmo-predictions-2013-morituri-te-salutant/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/star_wars_kinect.jpgWho signs these things off, I ask you?To be fair, SWOR wasn't the biggest embarrassment in Star Wars-related gaming in 2012.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/retiarius_stabs_secutor_color.jpgI blame video games for all this violence.Don't depend on the mercy of the crowd for your survival, gentlemen. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/archie.pngYou know that Archie is a fantasy because he's a popular redhead with several hot women interested in him.If ever created, Archie Age would dominate the sandbox MMO realm FOREVER.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/pile_of_sand.jpgThis pile of sand image is: © Copyright Bill Nicholls and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence. Sorry - no jokes here.Sandbox titles give you the sand to create what you want. If no-one shows up, then the sand remains pretty unimpressive.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/black_desert_woman.jpgThat's a picture of the in-game engine, allegedly.Hope your passport is in order, Black Desert.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/star_wars_the_old_republic_hutt_team.jpgSWOR always was just a mash-up of fan favourite Star Wars images & characters. "We're here for the people who signed off on SWOR's development budget."2013-01-24T12:35:08+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/01/19/come-for-the-pimp-slap-stay-for-the-articles-on-ncsoft-business-decisions-my-wordpress-2012-blog-stats/2013-01-19T05:58:54+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/01/17/dead-island-riptide-de-rigeur-mortis-marketing/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/dead_island_riptide_statue_back.jpgOf course the corpse is wearing a g-string. As if you had to ask.So the flesh is ripped, but that flimsy bikini string is left untouched. We can't have any nudity in our violence, after all - that would cross a line.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/outrage1.gifThanks to The Hamster Wheel's Outrage in the Media skit for this clip.There is a point where internet outrage gets ridiculous. I don't think that we've yet reached that point with the Zombie Bait collector's edition.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/dead_island_women.jpgArguably a satire of some sort. Not a good one, but hey, this is Deep Silver we're talking about.Zombie women in Dead Island have bits that appear to have rotted and the skin is more mottled. The statue above looks more freshly cut, no mottling on the skin and there's no rotting.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/dead_island_riptide_zombie_bait_edition.jpgNo-one's actually seen that the pack includes anything else but the statue.My favourite bit is the WARNING: INCLUDES CONTENTS THAT MAY CAUSE OFFENCE. Really?https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/haven_dead_island_short.gifMy first ever gif mash-up. Thanks to Haven for such a great sceneI SEE.2013-01-17T14:56:42+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/01/12/reviewing-my-2012-mmo-predictions/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/team_fortress_2_hats.pngWhat most MMOs treat as a minor cosmetic addition, Valve turned into a major revenue source.There's money in them thar hats. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/mechwarrior_online.jpgGiant robots with lasers make a lot of people very happy. Titles like Mechwarrior Online here call strongly to the otherwise MMOFPS gamer.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ffxiv_reborn_trailer_ending.pngI'm betting the old elf-like fellow killed in the FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn - End of an Era trailer isn't enjoing his new beginning as small pieces of ash.Square-Enix calls a do-over.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/tsw_group_shot.jpgWhat a friendly-looking group.Hey, don't look at me - I thought The Secret World should have gone F2P from the very start. And B2P isn't a particularly attractive payment model right now.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/swor_tattoos.jpgI wonder how many of these kept their job during the rounds of layoffs.Has there yet been a game released where the development team getting tattooed with its logo turned out to be a good idea? https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/swor_hutt.jpgHe actually wanted to go into stage production and direct musical theatre, but his Dad made him stick with the family business. Hutts are natural born F2P Monetarisation Consultants.2013-01-14T13:39:58+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2013/01/09/great-moments-in-game-advertising-im-romancing-what-exactly/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/conquer_online_bad_romance.pngI think the game is called Conquer 2: Invasion of Pirates, but who knows?Is it just me, or are the horses more interested in romancing each other than the people? Or are the horses interested in each others' riders? Is this some kind of kinky swinging horse play game?2013-01-13T15:50:11+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/12/31/2012-your-year-in-gaming-misogyny/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/felicia_day.jpgFelicia DayThese Fake Geek Girls show up all the time to conventions, aiming to grab any geek they can for the purposes of marriage.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/straight_white_male_gamer.jpgHe's playing DOOM ironically. The Straight White Male Gamer only wants to play the role of a straight white male in video games, okay?https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/lara_croft_sexual_assault.jpgLara Croft: weak is the new strong when it comes to women."Make sure you tell everyone that this isn't sexual assault. Because it totally isn't."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/no_girls_allowed.gifNo girls allowed all up in our safe male pillow fortsThe price of male freedom is eternal vigilance against women looking to ruin our totally mature and reasonable fun.2013-08-20T14:53:53+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/12/20/the-single-biggest-problem-facing-mmos-today/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/sign_doom_gloom.jpegYou could always try to rush headlong into the sign at full speed and give yourself a quick death.Hmm, which way to go...2013-01-26T08:03:32+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/12/13/kickstander-from-code-hero-to-zero/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/incompetent-workers-edit.jpgI wonder what his sense of job satisfaction is like at the end of the day.You can give people the money and tools to achieve a goal, but that doesn't mean that they will.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/code_hero.jpgCode Hero - Green is the new brownI loved the Matrix too. 2012-12-14T17:10:04+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/12/12/data-points-in-a-long-decline-for-mmos/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/toy_plane_crash.jpgA toy plane crashed and brokenMaybe things haven't completely crashed yet, but 2012 has been another terrible year for the MMO industry. 2012-12-13T07:45:34+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/11/10/kickstander-quantifying-hope-and-measuring-dreams/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/slide4.pngSuccessful Kickstarters Funded Per Year versus Ever DeliveredThe delivery is 'ever delivered', by the way, not just delivered in the same calendar year. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/distn-of-pledge-amounts.pngI chose purple because why the hell not?How actual pledges are distributed is just something to keep in mind the next time you see someone say, "They should just set up a Kickstarter!". The majority of successful projects aren't actually bringing in huge dollars.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/kickstand.jpgIt's a kickstandA kickstart is used to help get things going, a kickstand is used to help things rest. I just liked the juxtaposition. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/successful-kickstarter-chart-pledgevsact.pngKickstarter hit the big time in 2012 in video game funding termsThe total amount of money raised through Kickstarter for video games in 2012 is about 50 times bigger than the sum of 2009 through to 2011.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/slide3-e1352524147311.pngSuccessfully Funded Kickstarter Video Games – Monthly $ Value BackedThat's a pretty strong growth trend right there.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/slide2.pngNumber of Successfully Kickstarted Projects in Video GamesFor those looking for reference points, the Double Fine Kickstarter was in March 2012.2012-12-10T07:54:55+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/12/09/the-witcher-2-no-sex-please-were-elvish/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/witcher2_phillipa_and_sile.pngTwo sorceresses, one Lodge.Philippa Eilhart and Síle de Tansarville - being a sorceress is more then just magic; it's also the plunging necklines and frilly collars. And betrayal. Lots of betrayal. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/witcher2_flotsam_madam.jpgDON'TLOOKATTHEMEYESUPDON'TLOOKATTHEMEYESUPIt's a fantasy game, so the prostitutes are generally all pretty with huge breasts. MATURITY.2013-01-20T17:28:43+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/06/22/australia-passes-r18-gaming-classification-but/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/lara_croft_bloody.jpgLara Croft on the worst island holiday ever.It's also not like 2013 is going to be short on games that can be questioned about exactly how adult their 'adult' content is, either. 2012-12-09T03:55:18+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/12/01/1reasonwhy-was-badly-named-turned-out-to-be-100sreasonswhy/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/tipalet-advert-blow-smoke.jpgSmooth, sexy AND sophisticated, misogynist style.Things change when people want them to change. Don't mistake culture for biology or predetermination. 2012-12-01T13:06:27+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/11/30/kickstander-path-finding-and-kick-starting-round-2/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/paulbarnett.jpgPaul Barnett during his time promoting Warhammer Online. He really did need to dial it down a bit. A lot of game developers get themselves in trouble talking up a game before release that then fails to meet expectation. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/patho_techdemo.pngGonna MMO party like it's 1999.A screenshot from the Pathfinder Technology demo. In most cases, what is developed for a tech demo is thrown out when actual development kicks off. Just a thought. 2012-12-08T02:31:10+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/11/26/city-of-heroes-villains-top-5-under-realised-systems/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/hellion_arson_fire.jpgInsurance premiums must be incredible in Paragon City.And now all it needs is marshmellows. Or some heroes to come along and put out the fire. 2013-01-20T14:08:05+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/11/22/games-writing-ethics-whats-the-code-of-conduct/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/alpacino_devils_advocate.jpgAl Pacino in a role where he shouts the most important lines. Does that narrow it down for you?Look, but don't touch. Touch, but don't taste. Taste, don't swallow.2013-01-20T14:09:10+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/10/27/great-moments-in-game-journalism-a-stone-throwing-contest-in-a-greenhouse/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/brides_hand_grooms_back_std.jpgWho's leading this particular dance?aaahttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/broken_windows.jpgA picture of a broken window is a comparatively easy thing to find.I prefer to only rent glass houses. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/bribery_in_the_pocket.jpgThis fits so nicely in my pocket!Allegedly. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/eurogamer_edit_note1.pngIt's Eurogamer's Editor's Note again!If only there was someone to scapegoat for this whole issue... if only there was someone we could blame...https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/eurogamer_edit_note.pngEurogamer says, "We're sorry for what happened, but this is Lauren Wainwright's fault. That's Wainwright with two double-us."Eurogamer, you also scrubbed Dave Cook out of the article too. He was the gaming "journalist" who won the PS3 in the hashtag contest and now it looks funny about why he's apologising in the comments section below.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/advertising_meta.pngAnd people tell me that irony is a dead scene. I just can't get over how meta this is: Geoff Keighley surrounded by Doritos and Mountain Dew that is in turn wrapped by Rob Florence's column that is in turn surrounded by ads for current video game titles. 2012-11-20T13:40:16+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/11/19/virgin-gaming-place-your-bets/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/virgin_gaming_responsible_gaming.pngYou might have trouble finding the Responsible Gaming page on the Virgin Gaming site - it's all the way at the bottomI'm sorry, but the rest of the site seems to have forgotten the highlighted pont. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/e-sports-arena.jpgA live eSporting event, although I think that might be a tautology. eSports in action. Not pictured: any actual sport. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/mp900440290.jpgIf I was cooler, I would have used a picture of a cake pop.The problem with sucker-based systems is only the people at the top get the sweets. People at the bottom just get the stick. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/virgin_gaming_win_money.pngVirgin Gaming: Keeping It ClassyThe man in the picture there is of the person who came up with the whole Virgin Gaming concept. That's where he's going to end up if this is a success, not you.2013-01-12T10:03:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/11/15/star-wars-the-old-republic-our-meeting-was-not-a-coincidence/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/jedi_facepalm.pngI can feel your anger...EA BioWare obviously lacks both access to Google and a sense of history.2012-11-15T11:34:22+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/11/12/recreating-the-curiosity-experience-so-that-future-generations-may-truly-understand/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/curiosity.pngWhat you see when you try to do anything in CuriosityClick it! Be curious, as Molyneux commands!2012-11-12T18:02:23+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/11/08/city-of-heroes-villains-the-old-times/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/unsub_coh.jpgUnSub within City of Heroes / VillainsUnSub, as he was in City of Heroes / Villains.2012-11-08T13:57:23+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/11/04/kickstander-the-list-is-done-and-already-outdated-but-done/2012-11-04T16:47:35+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/11/03/crisis-in-games-journalism-over-everything-back-to-normal/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/blogging.jpgIf this person ever lost their little finger off their left hand in a tragic accident, it would say BLOG GIN. Which would really limit what you could blog about.And if you're a blogger, people expect you to have no standards at all.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/games-journalism.pngThis took me about 30 seconds to make, which is why it looks so cheap.Expectations versus reality when it comes to Games Journalism. The only reason I left Brian Crecente's name there is to show that it was a recognised gaming journalist behind that article (during his time at Kotaku).2012-11-04T20:00:01+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/10/23/kickstander-when-things-go-macabre/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/snidely_whiplash.jpgSemi-standard internet proxy picture for someone evil. Also acceptable: Lex Luthor, John Smedley, Donald TrumpPublisher: "That's right, we'll be here for a long time to come! Remember to tip your waitresses and try the veal! It's actually cat!"https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/space_cowboys.jpgIt works better when the chair you talk to isn't empty.Whenever I see the name, "Space Citizen", this is what I think of.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/hand_full_of_change.jpgIf that hand is Gambit's, those coins are deadly weapons.Here you are, developers! Now go make me an 80-hour RPG with cutting edge graphics and full voice overs, stat!https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/three-monkeys.jpgIt was something about not doing something something evil. Like Google."There are no problems here, and if there were I'm sure that someone would say something."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/liquidisity2.jpgLiquisity 2 concept artYou can see more about Liquisity 2 on its creator's website.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/zzap64_wizball.jpgZzap!64 from Jul 1987I remember Wizball - the greatest flying ball that shoots things to collect paint in order to turn into a wizard game ever created. 2012-11-24T03:35:16+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/10/15/quote-of-the-day-yes-but-what-have-you-done-lately/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/indiecade_romero_braithwaite.jpgIn the next photo, Romero has knocked the girl out with the tube and is stealing her game."When we said old-school, we meant old-school! ... we still need that $1m to build it though."2012-10-16T04:08:59+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/10/13/rift-sign-language-with-scott-hartsman/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/scott_hartsman_blank1.pngAnd now, over to you...Use it wisely.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/scott_hartsman_marketing.pngLook at his face. He knew this was coming.Scott Hartsman is precient. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/scott_hartsman_man_in_black.pngWell, he IS wearing black.Scott Hartsman's dedication to realism is unprecedented. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/scott_hartsman_scrap.pngNo offence intended to the rest of the people at Trion Worlds, or their offices.Scott Hartsman points out that other MMO companies should Bio-beWare.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/scott_hartsman_comic.pngHe's appealing to a particular type of woman.Scott Hartsman sets his dating profile picture.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/scott_hartsman_taken.pngScott Hartsman gets excited for the launch of "Taken 2".Scott Hartsman's new "firm but fair" approach to trolling on the Rift forums was well received. 2012-10-14T02:32:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/10/11/kickstander-follow-up-questions-answers/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/mp900427845.jpgIt's the best I could do when thinking of 'transparency' right nowWhen it comes to crowdfunding, transparency is an important thing. 2012-10-11T13:56:53+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/10/02/kickstander-do-kickstarted-video-games-actually-deliver-a-prologue/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/perdy_watercolours.pngLook at the perdy watercolours!Artwork like this helped one project reach its $10k Kickstarter target. For a game that doesn't look like this. 2012-10-11T02:57:57+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/10/10/great-moments-in-game-advertising-heres-a-serious-documentary-on-revenge-murder-now-buy-our-stabbing-simulator/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/dishonored_exclusive.jpgThe Eye for an Eye exclusive screen that appears in front of the "Chicago Interrupted" videoWhen this appears in front of a video, you own the outcome Bethseda.2012-10-10T14:08:48+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/10/05/city-of-heroes-villains/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/wildstar2.jpgA character from Carbine Studio's Wildstar.And after Guild Wars 2 launched, Paragon Studios / CoH/V would then potentially have to deal with rabbit girls. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/cryptic_stone_giant.jpgcryptic_stone_gianthttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/a_wallflower.jpgAll dressed up and with no-one to dance with.Problems can arise if you are pushed into or accept the position of wallflower. It makes you very easy to ignore.2013-11-02T03:25:44+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/10/06/kickstander-when-the-numbers-dont-add-up/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/kickstarter_legit_pledgers.jpgThree of the six pledgers have miraculously reappeared!Only one of these pledgers appears legit, with an account created outside of the title's Kickstarter window (as well as a hell of a lot of pledges made).https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/kickstarter_legit_pledge_levels.jpgThe pledge rewards weren't that great either.That's only 3 pledgers. And there is no way they put in anywhere near $1651 between them. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/kickstarter_legit_pledge_target.jpgThose six pledgers must have really, really had faith in the project.On average, each pledger kicked in over $275 to make this title happen. 2013-05-11T17:43:33+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/10/03/city-of-heroes-villains-ncsoft-says-sale-not-going-to-happen-closure-happening-on-schedule/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/bruce_wayne_tony_stark_billionaires.jpegBruce Wayne and Tony Stark - Billionaire PhilanthropistsAny billionaire philanthropists out there?https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/dollar_bill.pngDollar Bill. Which you totally knew because you read Watchmen and memorised all the minor characters' names.It's all about the Dollar Bills and expected earnings versus expected costs.2012-10-19T06:01:07+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/09/22/hypocrisy-is-where-you-say-one-thing-and-do-the-other/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/hypocrisy-poster1.pngThis wasn't exactly the image I had in mind when I googled 'hypocrisy', but it was very suitable for what we're discussing hereIt's interesting how often money and hypocrisy coincide.2012-09-22T05:55:32+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/09/19/point-counterpoint-bioware-before-and-after-ea/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ray-muzkya-greg-zeschuk-bioware-after.jpgRay Muzkya, Greg Zeschuk, Bioware - After EA"If you mention the ending of Mass Effect 3 one more time, we're taking your kidneys".https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ray-muzkya-greg-zeschuk-bioware-before.jpgRay Muzkya, Greg Zeschuk of Bioware - The Before Shot"All we want to do is make fun games for you to enjoy!"2012-09-19T14:01:29+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/09/14/city-of-heroes-villains-there-was-no-cohv-2-0-because/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/coh2.jpgCity of Heroes 2. It didn't happen.You were so very, very wrong, Kyle.2012-09-16T15:06:26+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/09/11/ive-got-no-interest-in-steam-big-picture-but/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/steam_bp_keyboard.jpgSteam Big Picture's Virtual KeyboardThis makes so much sense. 2012-09-11T13:39:56+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/09/09/i-dare-you-truth-or-lies/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/truth-or-lies-in-action2.jpgAnother example, but this is of the "Would You Rather... ?" round.Can't I be both?https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/truth-or-lies-in-action.jpgAn example of the kinds of questions you'll see in Truth or Lies. And the belittling nickname as well.I'm not sure why you'd lie in response to this question. And there's the problem if you are trying to create a conflict within the player.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/truth-or-lies1.jpgThe Truth or Lies box art, so you know what to run away from. Yes, I used the same joke from the caption. They can't all be unique, y'know.Here is the box art, so you know what to avoid. 2012-09-10T13:55:11+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/09/08/city-of-heroes-villains-cryptic-isnt-stopping-cohv-from-continuing-a-lore-bible/2012-09-09T03:45:29+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/09/07/city-of-heroes-villains-signature-heroes/2012-09-08T20:56:57+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/09/02/that-cryptics-licensing-of-its-engine-is-shutting-down-cohv-rumour/2012-09-03T02:35:55+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/08/29/the-secret-world-only-200k-copies-sold/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/star-wars-the-old-republic-trailer-15-6-10-kc.jpgStar Wars: The Old Republic trailer imageSWOR actually had a bigger impact on Funcom that Tom Chick ever could. 2012-09-02T01:46:08+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/08/26/i-write-for-people-of-all-hair-colours/2012-08-26T15:48:35+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/08/21/eight-is-enough-video-game-payment-models/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/game_payment_models.pngThe eight game payment modelsThe green spots are where players put their money in.2012-08-22T16:17:29+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/08/17/how-many-games/2012-08-17T14:01:12+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/08/15/borderlands-2-girlfriend-vs-girlfriend-mode/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/xbox-360-controller.jpgAn Xbox 360 Controller... although I'm sure mine looks different.PRO-TIP TO GEARBOX: If you are trying to convince non-gamers to play an FPS, here is your first obstacle. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/borderlands2boxart3.jpgBorderlands 2 box artGamer: It's not what you think. Video games have matured a lot, y'know.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/borderlands2_mechromancer.jpgConcept art of the MechromancerGF: I'm not sure I want to play as goth Pippy Longstocking after she was in an industrial accident either. 2012-08-15T16:31:20+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/08/12/the-new-currency-short-arms-and-long-pockets/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/mp900427741.jpgYoung Man and Woman Giving Food and Water to Homeless Man"We would have bought your game, but we read some of your tweets and your grammar is atrocious. That was a turn off. We really liked your game though!"2012-08-12T17:04:25+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/08/11/the-secret-world-half-as-successful-as-conan/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/tomchickphoto.jpgTom Chick (I think)Tom Chick - not responsible for The Secret World's launch problems. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/mp900387752.jpgWhat Funcom wishes they had in relation to this informationI bet Funcom wishes they could declare this information as 'secret' and not have to tell shareholders. 2012-08-12T02:10:22+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/08/09/point-counterpoint-why-developers-dont-talk-to-gaming-journalists/2012-08-09T14:20:03+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/08/09/ouya-outcast/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ouya.jpgThe OuyaGaming hero or outcast? I'm betting the latter. 2012-08-09T14:13:25+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/08/05/removing-the-ask-com-toolbar-and-its-search-engine-hijacking-effects/2014-08-11T11:59:56+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/08/01/star-wars-the-old-republic-the-splinter-of-the-minds-eye-for-ea/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/risk_board_game.jpgRisk - the board game to end friendships withEA really needed to take North America to have a strong hold on the game. They weren't able to keep it, however. 2012-08-02T09:58:29+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/07/29/what-can-we-learn-from-picking-winners/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/mp900443464.jpgBusiness people in a meeting. It's never this exciting in reality."So it's agreed - no more money for MMOs and instead we're investing in the much more sensible monetised LOLcat app project."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/food_blend.jpgFood about to be blended.MMO development tend to throw everything into the mix and then hits 'blend'. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/moment_before_disaster.jpgA moment before disaster..."I probably should have asked this first, but after launch I'm going to keep going up, right?"https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jokerburnsmoney.jpgThe Joker burns a pile of money from "The Dark Knight". If you are reading this blog, you've probably already seen it.Depicted: AAA MMO development failure.2012-07-30T14:52:55+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/07/08/great-mmo-studio-collapses-of-our-time-38-studios/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/800px-vulture_griffon.jpgA Vulture38 Studios: from venture to vultures in 6 years.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/450px-card_castle6.jpgSomeone has a lot of spare time, but lacks the sense to build it inside. If you are constantly looking for investors to fund your product so that you can pay back your other investors, you're building something with about as much structural integrity as this. Better hope the wind never blows.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/kingdoms_of_amalur_reckoning.pngKingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning cover artFor 38 Studios' first title, KoA:R sold pretty well and reviews were broadly positive. I've seen some articles compare its sales to Skyrim and say it underperformed, but that's an unfair comparison.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/greenmonstergames.gifThe Green Monster Games logo"Feed me, Seymour! Feed me!" - Munch, the Green Monster Games logo / mascot2012-07-25T13:40:50+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/07/23/duke-nukem-forever-taking-tits-to-task/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/dnf_bound_woman.jpgA bound, impregnated woman in Duke Nukem Forever.The 'babes' the aliens have captured are tied up, some against this large phallic organ, all moan and cry and wail. You have the option of either shooting them or watching them explode when the aliens they've been forcibly implanted with hatch. Remember: DNF is fun, cheeky and light-hearted. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/dnf-review-scores.pngDuke Nukem Forever review scores chartedIf you think any of these curves look like a pair of breasts, seek medical help.2012-07-23T17:39:20+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/07/21/ruminations-the-dark-knight-rises/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/memento_cover.jpgMemento, one of Christopher Nolan's excellent non-Batman filmsSometimes not being able to shoot a consistent narrative chronology can help a film. But that's a rare case.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/anne_hathaway_catwoman.jpgTo be technically correct, Anne Hathaway plays Selina Kyle, not Catwoman.When people ask, "How do you create costumes for female characters that aren't blatantly chauvinistic and would be practical?", the above is the perfect example. Except for the high heels. That was stupid. 2012-08-15T16:30:32+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/07/19/arent-you-a-clever-spambot/2012-07-19T16:36:50+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/07/12/great-moments-in-game-advertising-adbot-social-commentator-e3/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/booth_babe_harrassment.pngArticle defends booth babes at E3, Adbot makes social commentaryIs the ad for the models... or for us, suppliers of the male gaze??? It's all so meta!2012-07-14T15:07:15+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/06/02/pick-a-winner/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mp900442363.jpgAhh, if only things were this clearly sign posted in real life. I've seen a lot of people say, "Isn't it obvious from the start that the MMO that just failed was always going to fail?". In reality, the answer is, "No".2012-07-08T12:46:49+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/07/06/brad-mcquaid-comes-back-to-vanguard/2012-07-06T15:33:42+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/07/03/great-moments-in-game-advertising-lara-croft-and-the-sphere-of-pr-disaster/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/tombraider2.jpgThe box for Tomb Raider II: Golden MaskLara Croft was already rebooted once before, so this bit of lore now hasn't happened twice over. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/371px-gordon_freeman_cosplayreframed.jpgGordon Freeman. I'm not sure any gamer feels they want to "protect" him.He's a lab assistant who travelled through dimensions and kills elite soldiers with barely any training and by himself. Of course he's believable as a character!https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/oxford_dictionary.jpgConcise Oxford English DictionaryThere are many different dictionaries out there that Crystal Dynamics could use to improve their vocabulary, so they know what words mean when they use them.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/cute_grey_kitten.jpgGamers love cats, right?Lara Croft, allegedly as seen by male gamers.2012-07-03T13:15:45+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/06/25/great-mmo-collapses-of-our-time-cheyenne-mountain-entertainment/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/stargate_worlds_buildings.jpgSome Egyptian-themed buildings from Stargate Worlds.Look upon my works, ye mighty, and prepare to pay $250 for a platinum membership that you can also invite all your friends to for extra cash bonuses!https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/stargate_worlds_buildings.pngSome egypt-themed buildings from Stargate WorldsLook upon my works, ye mighty, and prepare to pay $250 for a platinum membership that you can also invite all your friends to for extra cash bonuses!2012-06-30T17:10:33+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/06/27/point-counterpoint-the-role-of-women-at-modern-gaming-events/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/women_in_video_game_culture.pngA box showing some of Kotaku's E3 coverage.As a woman, you can either work in PR or be a booth babe! It's the entire spectrum of possibilities!2012-06-27T12:57:24+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/06/19/great-mmo-collapses-of-our-time-destination-games/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/tabula_rasa_released.jpgTabula Rasa - What Was Actually ReleasedWhat actually was released. In my experience, it was a slightly slow but fairly standard third person shooter.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/tabula_rasa_original.jpgTabula Rasa - the first envisioningRichard Garriott didn't need to get into space to go on a trip, if you catch my drift.2012-07-16T08:34:41+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/06/18/all-just-a-little-bit-of-history-repeating-38-studios-versus-realtime-worlds/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/rtw_vs_38studios.pngRealTime Worlds Versus 38 Studios - A Comparion in FailureThis kind of tables always suffer from selection bias, but in this case... hey, look over there! Unicorns!2012-06-19T13:11:25+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/06/16/great-mmo-company-collapses-of-our-time-realtime-worlds/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/abp_characters.jpgA few well-placed grenades and that team is toast. APB's character and car customisation options were incredible. Unfortunately, nothing else in the game was at that standard. 2012-06-16T16:00:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/06/12/trolls-vs-tropes-vs-women-in-video-games/2012-06-12T15:55:52+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/06/12/great-mmo-company-collapses-of-our-time-mythic-entertainment/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/warhammer_online_fancy.jpgWarhammer Online - well hello Mr FancypantsWhen war is all around you, you should still take the time to look your best.2012-06-12T15:18:59+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/06/11/great-mmo-company-collapses-of-our-time-flaghip-studios/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/hellgate_london_female_templar.jpgThe female Templar from Hellgate: London, I thinkGuns pretty much made hard, heavy armour suits like that redundant. But MAGIC I guess.2012-06-11T14:54:59+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/06/04/the-hitman-absolution-trailer-experiment/2012-06-11T14:43:01+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/06/03/marvel-heroes-facing-legends-alliances-and-devils/2012-06-03T14:32:50+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/06/02/2347/2012-06-02T01:16:12+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/05/28/whats-wrong-with-the-aaa-mmo-industry-using-an-imperfect-baseball-analogy/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/synchronized-swimming-olympics.jpgSynchronised swimming at the Olympics. It's just so exciting."If you only added in more swimming caps and team circles to baseball, the sport would be a lot more popular!"https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/hexagon-sandbox-can-provide-funful-playfield-for-your-kids1.jpgSandboxes look safe, but that one is actually full of quicksand.I recognise that "theme park versus sandbox" oversimplifies things a lot, but how long do you want this post to be? https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/john-quidor-xx-a-battle-scene-from-knickerbockers-history-of-new-york-1838.jpgA Battle Scene from Knickerbockers History of New York 1838 - John QuidorFor just $15 a month, you can be one of the guys at the back there!https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/curt_schilling_pitch.jpgCurt Schilling pitches a baseballTopical.2012-05-29T09:03:40+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/05/27/new-blogger-initiative-mmonbi-fear-the-power-of-syp/2012-05-28T18:45:53+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/05/25/38-studios-striking-out/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/38_studios_management_team.png38 Studios Mangement Team38 Studios' management team.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/38_studios_a_world_worth_saving.pngProject Copernicus: A World Worth Saving (Please Please Please We Need Money Now)Apparently it wasn't.2012-05-25T16:13:24+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/05/25/embers-of-caerus-if-im-snarky-about-kickstarter-at-least-im-consistent/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/vangogh_bedroom_arles1.jpgBedroom in Arles (1888) by Vincent Van GoghI certainly don't go for the idea that you should starve for your art, but asking for the crowd to fund your chance to convince other people to give you money strikes me as off.2012-06-06T05:29:12+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/05/22/38-studios-incentivisng-your-own-destruction-plus-hot-chart-action/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ducksters.jpgDaffy Duck and Porky Pig in "The Ducksters" - all rights to Warner BrothersPaying the penalty hurts, but sometimes it is better than the alternative. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/chart2_38_studios_cumulative_costs1.pngChart 2: 38 Studios estimated cumulative loan "income" versus cumulative full-time employee costsChart 2: 38 Studios loan "income" adds up quickly, but that cumulative employee costs keeps chip, chip, chipping away... (Click to enlarge)https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/chart3_38_studios_cumulative_costs2.pngChart 3: Cumulative "Income" versus Cumulative Employee Costs, less US$13m that doesn't look like it was paidChart 3: What happens when you get US$13m less than you expected.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/chart1_38_studios_agreement.pngChart 1: The amount of money 38 Studios "earned" for employing a target number of full-time employeesChart 1: The money is in blue and the employee count is in red.2012-05-23T04:54:24+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/05/21/how-38-studios-spends-4m-a-month-on-operation-costs-probably/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/safe_image-php.jpgProject Copernicus - not the shining light at the centre of the MMO universe, not by a long shotA fly-through demo is to video games as photos of a film set are to movies.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/maths_fairy.jpgYes, this is exactly what a maths fairy would look like, plus nerdy glassesThe Maths Fairy is an endangered species, but I have no regrets for what I've done. 2012-05-22T11:51:08+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/05/20/unpopularity-contest-kickstart-it/2012-05-20T16:36:21+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/05/19/city-of-heroes-villains-a-limited-bounce/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/coh_subs_q1_2012.pngCity of Heroes / Villains Revenue and Subscriptions from Q2 2004 to Q1 2012The trend continues (click to enlarge).2012-05-19T14:05:00+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/05/14/path-finding-and-kick-starting/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/256px-neverwinter_nights_cover.jpgNeverwinter Nights is almost 10 years old. How time flies and potential dwindles.Pathfinder Online's tech demo features done a decade ago. I'm sure it would cost less than $50k to pick up a copy of this and modify it. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/stretch-armstrong-image-3.jpgStretch Armstrong, stretched outStretch Armstrong frowns on the misuse of the word "stretch". https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/mb900411811.jpgA cheerleader being held up. It's amazing how hard it is to find a wholesome picture of a cheerleader on the internet.Above: the current role of the gaming press in evaluating Kickstarter. After all, it's easy content to write and an underdog story all in one. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/marketing.jpgSalesman ShoutingI'm actually pro-marketing, provided it is done without being deceptive or dishonest. If Goblinworks had done a Kickstarter with pledges ranging from $1 to $15 and on the grounds they they just wanted a large number of backers and untied the Tech Demo from that fundraising, I'd be a lot less critical of it. But then it wouldn't have been a Kickstarter. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/risk.jpgRisk - the preferred board game of meglomaniacs and people who don't like having friendsSpending someone else's money on developing the basics lowers this. And possibly shows that no-one else was interested and / or you don't have faith in your own product. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/comics_oots_pic001.gifOrder of the Stick - a great webcomicI'm less negative about Kickstarters that don't relate to video games and where the person actually has something ready (or almost ready) to sell.2012-05-14T07:52:50+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/05/09/newbie-blogger-initiative-mmonbi-from-there-to-here/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/mugshot.jpgmugshothttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/800px-car_crash_1.jpgShoulda turned left at Alberquerque.I do enjoy a good car crash too, and the MMO industry is fantastic at delivering them.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/400px-writing_poems.jpegRiting iz gud.I feel antsy if I haven't written something in a while. There's a need there. Maybe it's just a need to be yelled at by people on the internet. But while writing remains cheaper than professional therapy, I'll write. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/389px-alone_matheson.jpgIt's just you against the world. And a lighthouse. No-one suspects a lighthouse.Bloggers are a solitary breed. Long walks on the shore, staring off beyond the horizon are mandatory. 2012-05-10T02:42:59+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/04/25/point-counterpoint-sexual-stereotyping-and-android-demonstration-videos/2012-05-06T16:27:56+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/05/03/the-unplayed-gaming-list-may-2012/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/duke_nukem_forever.jpgDuke Nukem ForeverIf you hadn't released the game, Duke, we would never have known how bad it sucked. 2012-11-19T03:11:29+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/05/01/newbie-blogger-initiative-mmonbi-because-there-arent-enough-video-game-blogs-yet/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/nbi2.jpgNew Blogger Initiative logoYou can tell we're legit because we have our own logo and everything. So send money. Now.2012-05-02T04:36:17+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/04/29/taking-back-some-of-the-nice-things-i-said-about-the-zune-marketplace/2012-04-29T12:58:41+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/01/13/the-unplayed-gaming-list-january-2011/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/alan_wake_typewriter.jpgalan_wake_typewriterYou know what would have made Alan Wake better? If someone had written an ending. 2012-04-27T04:11:01+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/04/21/the-secret-world-fighting-the-previous-war/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/4funblog_how_to_make_a_mistake1.jpgMaking a very public mistake...Funcom is making a mistake with their sub-based pricing model, and they'll have to then spend time and money to fix it.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/the_secret_world_ghost.jpegThe Secret World - The BogeymanThe Secret World also offers some great looking horror monsters to fight, which is another point in its favour. 2012-04-21T22:00:45+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/04/09/some-rare-kind-words-about-zune/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/mp900402775.jpgAyers Rock Under a Blue Sky (but we call it Uluru these days, not Ayers Rock)Australia in a nutshell: lots of space, not a lot of people, filled with giant rocks that will steal your soul.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/crackle.jpgcrackleThese are Crackle's most popular films. That is all. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/telstra_bigpond_movies.jpgtelstra_bigpond_moviesLeading with a Wesley Snipes film was only a good idea sometime back in the early 1990s. And maybe not even then.2012-05-03T10:59:01+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/04/06/theres-gold-in-them-thar-hills-somewhere-minecraft/2012-04-24T22:45:55+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/03/30/marriwage-bwings-us-togethwer-skyrim-style/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/skyrim_marriage2.jpgSkyrim_marriage2"... and by 'eternal companionship' he means 'you follow me around wherever I go and do whatever I say, plus give me all your gol'. It's clearly stated in the vows. You should have paid more attention instead of killing wolf spirits."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/skyrim_aela_the_huntress.jpgSkyrim_Aela_the_Huntress"Although I've barely said a nice word to you the entire day I've known you, it's because you stir up such strong feelings in me. So, by the light of the burning Dragr zombies in the corner, I feel that I can say that I'm... I'm... interested in you."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/skyrim_aelia_the_huntress.jpgSkyrim_Aelia_the_Huntress2012-04-03T05:42:53+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/03/20/gjaif-not-wanted-but-desperately-needed/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/stuart_littlemore_media_watch.jpgstuart_littlemore_media_watchhttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mp900439538.jpgStudentsDespite the 'average' gamer getting older and more women playing game, the above is still the main target of most mainstream gaming sites. 2012-03-20T15:39:50+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/03/13/bones-jumping-the-shark-into-a-flaming-pile-of-razor-blades/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/csi_miami_bones_final.jpgcsi_miami_bones_finalThe appropriate response.2013-07-06T08:59:39+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/03/04/a-brief-discussion-on-explaining-transgender-issues-to-children-cite-birdo/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/birdo.jpgBirdoYou don't make convincing children of your male-ness easy, Birdo.2012-05-12T03:33:23+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/02/26/say-it-like-you-meme-it-hitler-reacts-to-kevin-rudds-challenge-against-julia-gillard/2013-06-26T12:32:43+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/02/19/how-many-players-did-city-of-heroes-villains-have-after-launching-freedom/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/empty_queue.jpgempty_queueSometimes you can wait too long, or fence off the wrong things, and find that you've missed the boat. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mp900384684.jpgMP900384684It's difficult to know if this result is great or disappointing, so I bestow on Paragon Studios the Could-Have-Been-Worse Muffin.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mp900422295.jpgTwo Teenage Boys Playing Video Games"Since going F2P, our player base is up 100%!"https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/coh_subs_q4_20111.pngCoH_subs_Q4_2011It's a move in a positive direction for CoH/V, but more of a slight stumble than gigantic leap forward (click to enlarge the chart for more detail).2012-05-19T02:24:05+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/02/15/an-update-that-promises-further-updates/2012-02-15T03:15:52+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/02/13/double-fine-kickstarter-everyone-is-still-going-to-their-day-jobs-tomorrow/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/full_throttle.jpgfull_throttleI'm still waiting for all those lights to turn green at the same time. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/double-fine-kickstarter2.pngDouble Fine KickstarterFor $10000, I hope the person gets more than a sandwich 2012-02-13T10:30:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/02/06/star-wars-the-old-republic-swtor-vs-war/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/video_game_journalism.jpgvideo_game_journalismI don't wish to insinuate that a lot of gaming sites uncritically publish press releases that they in all likelihood first heard about from another gaming journalist site... scratch that - that's exactly what I want to say.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/aoc_ad.jpgAoC_ad... and this is the level that AoC pitches at today.2012-03-13T08:21:36+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/01/29/an-online-platform-user-statistic-for-comparison/2012-01-29T05:46:14+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/01/26/how-many-players-did-city-of-heroes-villains-have-before-launching-freedom/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/mp900385977.jpgMP900385977It's extremely unlikely that I'll be able to use the phase "worst quarterly revenue in the game's history" in conjunction with CoH/V for a while to come.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/mp900444792.jpgMP900444792I don't kick puppies. It lowers the resale value.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/cohv_revenue_q3_2011.pngCOHV_Revenue_Q3_2011Click to enlarge it, because your eyesight isn't THAT good. 2012-02-03T18:08:11+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/01/21/star-wars-the-old-republic-and-the-final-price-is/2012-01-21T06:41:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/01/12/city-of-heroes-villains-the-killing-of-statesman-and-where-we-go-from-here/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/coh_statesman_2.jpgcoh_Statesman_2"You call that a costume? Kids these days, no respect and think they know everything. In my day, we respected our elders. And a dollar would buy a jar of boiled candies as big as my head! And another thing..."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/coh_ouroborous.jpgcoh_ouroborous... and CoH/V's timeline is this way without even mentioning the time travel aspects.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/coh_daddy_heaven.jpgcoh_daddy_heavenNo, but the saccharine nausea induced by that statement will see me vomit on your shoes. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/coh_statesman.jpgcoh_statesmanI count Statesman appearing on the website 5 times on the front page.2012-01-12T01:32:34+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/01/06/my-blog-stats-2011-in-review/2012-01-07T07:06:38+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/01/06/looking-again-at-mmo-rpg-quest-types/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/computer_characters_made_from_blocks.jpgcomputer_characters_made_from_blocksIt is how you arrange the individual building blocks that gives shape to the greater whole.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/convince_quest_excel_saga.pngconvince_quest_excel_sagaIt's all about choosing the correct dialogue option.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/puzzle-quest_the_incredible_machine.pngpuzzle-quest_the_incredible_machine"Before the Great Arch Mage Mandigold left this world, he hid the Key of Destiny behind a series of increasingly intricate puzzles. He was kind of a dick like that."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/delivery_quest_box.jpgdelivery_quest_boxDid you know that when you Google "delivery", you get up-close vaginal shots of babies being born? I do now!https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/save_quest_princess_peach.jpgsave_quest_princess_peachThe Princess will be available for saving between the hours of 8am and 5pm PST during the normal work week, and 10am to 3pm every second Saturday. Individual saving availability can be negotiated by prior arrangement.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/kill_quest.jpgkill_quest"Sorry chaps, but a man down the road says I need to kill 15 of you and then he'll give me a slightly better axe."2014-01-24T02:38:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/02/18/the-near-future-for-paragon-studios/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/coh_ultramode_consignment_house.jpgcoh_ultramode_consignment_houseDoes this really get you wanting to play CoH/V?2012-01-05T03:51:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/12/29/reading-the-mmo-tea-leaves-for-2012/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/bladeandsoul_short_skirt.jpgbladeandsoul_short_skirtAs a man, I appreciate this image. As someone who thinks women sword masters going into a fight should at least wear some leg protection, I /facepalm at the same time.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ozymandias.jpgozymandiasThe MMO industry that SOE helped build seems poised to leave SOE far behind. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/toomanychoices.jpgTooManyChoicesThere's only a limited amount of time that people have to play games, whether they are free or paid for. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/netdevil-rip-feb2011.jpgNetDevil-RIP-Feb2011This was just a touch premature in terms of dates, but it is still very accurate. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/episode_4_luke_skywalker_1.jpgEpisode_4_Luke_Skywalker_1The most popular Star Wars game at the moment doesn't involve this guy or his family at all.2012-09-05T12:51:33+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2012/01/05/social-commentary-in-a-retail-setting/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/real_mad_men.jpgreal_mad_menI'm guessing this was done by a customer rather than the store, but then you never can tell.2012-01-05T03:37:40+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/12/31/what-proportion-of-games-actually-get-completed-by-players/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/limbo_spider_chase.jpglimbo_spider_chase... or maybe those Limbo players got up to the spider chase bit and were too creeped out to continue.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/mass_effect_2_cover.jpgmass_effect_2_coverWell, Mass Effect 2 is a cover shooter of sorts...https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dragon_age_origins_box_art.jpgdragon_age_origins_box_artThe Dalish Elf story had the highest completion rate at 31%. Only 13% played through to get all possible endings.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tape-measure.jpgtape-measureSome of these measures will be inexact, but they are the best free information sources that I'm aware of.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/van_helsing_cover.jpgVan_Helsing_Cover80% of people SHOULD have walked out on this film, and I should have been one of them.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/game_completion_rates.pngGame_Completion_RatesClick to enlarge, of course.2014-04-18T02:53:57+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/12/21/ea-thanks-australian-classification-board-for-free-publicity/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/syndicate_aware.jpgsyndicate_awareMission accomplished.2011-12-21T09:11:08+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/12/17/reviewing-my-2011-mmo-predictions/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/rift-life-rift-02.pngRift-Life-Rift-02In 2012 RIFT may start to feel the pull of moving to a hybrid F2P system as well. 2011-12-19T01:04:15+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/12/14/star-wars-the-old-republic-not-failing-isnt-always-a-guarantee-of-success/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/the-house-always-world-casino-takings-17-06.jpgthe-house-always-world-casino-takings.17-06The house always wins. Except in SWOR's case, the house may be Facebook gaming.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/sedan_plowshare_crater.jpgSedan_Plowshare_CraterMMO Launches Since 2005: A Pictorial Representationhttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/mp900424386.jpgSand Dune RidgeAll these figures are built on shifting sands, since things like fixed costs versus variable costs come into play, or maybe EA amortises certain costs over its entire gaming enterprise.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/times_square_clutter.jpgtimes_square_clutterBest of luck finding some space to book in some SWOR ads here if you haven't planned ahead. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/mp900341915.jpgMP900341915This is the aim, but invovling a lot more than just pocket change. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ea_phone_call.jpgEA_phone_call2011-12-19T01:24:19+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/12/09/the-single-player-rpg-versus-the-massively-multiplayer-rpg-round-47/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/history_everquest2_02.jpghistory_everquest2_02"The lost and ancient map of Thurz'kiel has finally led us to his tomb! Why, I bet we're the first people here in a millen... oh."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/skyrim_bucket_on_head.jpgskyrim_bucket_on_headYou do this in your game: hilarious! You come across someone else doing it: immersion ruining and greifing (but probably because they've already stolen what you were here to loot). 2011-12-09T14:42:27+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/12/04/bitching-about-odd-narrative-things-in-batman-arkham-city/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/batman_1960s.jpgBatman_1960sI'm certainly not asking Rocksteady to turn their Batman games into this either, but surely there is a happy middle point. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/batman_arkham_city_henchmen.jpgBatman_Arkham_City_HenchmenPosition (constantly) vacant: henchman. Must be willing to wear specific costumes and comic specificly-themed crimes at the behest of his employer. Will be expected to fight highly trained combat expert at any time of day or night. May be fired and / or set on fire by employer at any time. Work from home for good money! https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/batman_arkham_city_penguin.jpgBatman_Arkham_City_PenguinTo be honest, I've thought that the Pengin needed toughening up for him to run in the top group of Batman's villains. But this was a bit over-the-top.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/batman_arkham_city_talia.jpgBatman_Arkham_City_TaliaI'm not sure that the League of Assassins has much of a future given Talia's demonstrated future planning ability. Maybe that's why Ra's wants Batman to sign on so badly. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/batman_arkham_city_poisonivy.jpgBatman_Arkham_City_PoisonIvyIf not for the heroic work of The Clasp, none in Gotham would be free from the terrible villainy of Poison Ivy's breasts.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/batman_arkham_city_ninjas.jpgBatman_Arkham_City_NinjasThe best way for an assassin to be undetactable is to have a giant, easily identifiable tattoo that covers their completely exposed back. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/batman_arkham_city_catwoman.jpgBatman_Arkham_City_CatwomanBatman gets to be fully armoured and run around in combat boots. Catwoman's suit doesn't protect her chest and she does everything in high heels. And the names she gets called are worse.2013-01-08T18:30:51+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/11/25/the-party-was-a-bust-the-short-life-of-playboy-party/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/playboy_party_users.jpgPlayboy_Party_usersDespite the recognition of the Playboy brand, only 400 players were around at the end of the game. Probably just to read the articles. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/playboy_party_celebrities.jpgPlayboy_party_CelebritiesIf I had to take a guess, I'd say the women are actually zombies. They'd be more appealing that way. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/playboy_party_party.jpgPlayboy_Party_partyDoes this party look fun to anyone? No, I didn't think so. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/playboy_party_wanker.jpgPlayboy_Party_WankerPlayboy Party Wants YOU! ... to look like a wanker.2011-11-25T17:03:22+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/11/19/mcnamara-on-la-noire-development-no-one-died-making-it/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/mp900443170.jpgMP900443170"Don't think of it as a pink slip; think of it as a passport to bigger and better things. Now get out before security throws you out."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/mp900399835.jpgMP900399835Blow the whistle and there's a good chance you'll be out of the game for a long time to come. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/brendan_mcnamara.jpgBrendan_McNamaraNotice how it says, "Writer / Director" and not "Manager"? There's a good reason for that. 2011-11-19T15:36:13+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/11/18/cheap-internet-filler-enter-telephone-lady-gaga-ft-beyonce-vs-metallica/2011-11-19T15:22:22+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/11/10/baby-got-cat-batman-arkham-citys-dlc-follow-up/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/arkham-city-catwoman.jpgarkham-city-catwomanBatman: Arkham City makes sure that you know Catwoman has a lot of front AND back. 2011-11-10T03:50:20+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/11/10/spammers-say-the-nicest-things/2011-11-10T03:25:57+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/11/03/the-trouble-with-cats-batman-arkham-citys-dlc-issue/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/batman-arkham-city.jpgBatman-Arkham-CityBatman approves of legalised gambling. If I'd won the money from illegal gambling, he'd break both my arms.2011-11-03T01:50:31+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/10/31/the-creepiest-video-game-character-in-history/2011-10-31T08:49:38+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/10/29/goodbye-joker-an-issue-with-big-name-voice-over-talent/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/dcuo_big_three_villains.jpgdcuo_big_three_villainsDCUO's Big Three villains are Joker, Lex Luthor and ... Circe. Catwoman was nice enough to fill in for the box art and website materials because ... well, I guess she's more well known..2011-10-29T16:58:28+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/10/26/how-many-players-did-city-of-heroes-villains-have-before-going-free-to-play/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/george-michael-freedom-40938.jpgGeorge-Michael-Freedom-40938Every time I see "CoH/V: Freedom", I get a soundtrack courtesy of George Michael in my head.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/coh_freedom_fight.jpgCOH_Freedom_FightI'm curious about Generic Robot Man here, and why he's fighting Statesman. In melee. With his gun.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cohv_revenue_q2_2011.pngCOHV_Revenue_Q2_20112013-06-27T14:21:41+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/04/02/cohv-going-rogue-and-trial-accounts/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/cohv_desdemona.jpgcohv_desdemonaDesdemona - going rouge in Going Rogue.2011-10-26T15:50:51+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/10/22/the-unplayed-gaming-list-october-2011/2011-10-22T14:46:19+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/10/20/great-moments-in-game-advertising-celebrity-journalism-and-gaming-journalism-collide-results-not-pretty/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/christina_hendricks_needforspeed_comparison.jpgchristina_hendricks_needforspeed_comparisonHelp! I've fallen into the uncanny valley and I can't get out!2011-10-20T14:07:51+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/10/19/lemony-snicket-on-occupy-wall-street/2011-10-20T14:09:29+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/10/12/why-i-like-suits/2011-10-17T08:24:17+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/09/21/ruminations-dantes-inferno-visceral-games-xbox-360/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/dantes_inferno_story_scene.jpgdantes_inferno_story_sceneI appreciated the use of animated cutscenes to show Dante's sins / back story, but they were a bit amaterish in style. If the style had been more realistic it would have improved things markedly.2011-10-04T09:14:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/10/04/ruminations-bastion-supergiant-games-xbox-360/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/bastion_characters.jpgbastion_charactershttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/1693814-logan_large.jpg1693814-logan_largeLogan Cunningham. If he used his vocal powers for evil, we'd all die virgins. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/logan1.jpglogan1Logan Cunningham. If he used his vocal powers for evil, we'd all die virgins. 2011-10-04T09:13:30+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/09/27/ea-bioware-cancels-christmas-new-year/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/scrooge.jpgscrooge"Thanks to all SWTOR developers for making it to this meeting. We're now going to turn over to social coordinator Ebeneezer who will tell you about our exciting holiday plans for you all."2011-09-27T01:26:38+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/09/20/dcuo-up-up-and-free-to-play/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/dcuo_green_lantern_powers.jpgDCUO_Green_Lantern_PowersSoon you'll be able to play the Power Ring version of rock-paper-scissors for free.2011-09-20T02:26:00+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/09/18/crunch-time-is-wrong-but-gee-this-game-is-fun/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/mp900442411.jpgPressure"Great news, everyone. From now on, no more crunch time! However, we will be now working under the 'completely voluntary feel free to go home early while everyone around you fixes your mistakes and tries to keep us alive as a company' timing scheme."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/mp900422601.jpgPortrait of Birthday GirlGamers don't care that you missed your daughter's princess party, but they do care that the PC UI is a poorly reworked version of the console UI.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/fired.jpgfired"Thanks for all those extra hours knocking out those really odd bugs, James. Here's your junior-level bonus. Try not to cry on your way out."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/mp900407304.jpgMan Doing Sit UpsThe typical game developer during a period of crunching. 2011-09-19T01:23:42+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/09/15/1699/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/darkness_combat.jpgdarkness_combatThe Darkness stands out to me as an FPS for several reasons, including the scene where you get tortured with a power drill to the face. Can't say I can think of any other FPSs that torture you in first person. 2011-09-15T06:01:26+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/09/01/team-bondi-disappearing-into-the-surf/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/team_bondi_logo.jpgteam_bondi_logoAnd that's the end of that.2011-09-01T09:59:16+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/08/31/the-secret-world-great-facepalm-moments-in-marketing-betas-part-2/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/fm4d-cover.jpgfm4d-coverhttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/tsw_click_to_like.jpgtsw_click_to_likeI don't care how much you stare at me, the answer is still "no". 2011-09-08T08:06:39+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/08/29/the-secret-world-great-facepalm-moments-in-marketing-betas/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/tsw_broken_beta.pngTSW_broken_betaThis is what a bad idea looks like, folks.2011-08-29T16:33:25+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/08/19/cheap-internet-filler-gotyes-somebody-that-you-used-to-know/2011-08-19T06:17:50+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/08/07/duke-nukem-forever-smacking-as-a-discipline-technique/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/batman_arkham_city.jpgbatman_arkham_cityGender roles in video games personified. Also: that latex thing.2011-08-08T03:56:52+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/08/05/star-wars-the-old-republic-the-risk-in-being-too-big/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/control.jpgcontrolEventually the puppet gets resentful and stops buying the games from the puppet master.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/hetch_hetchy_reservoir.jpghetch_hetchy_reservoirThings can hold only as much as they can hold. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/too_big.jpgtoo_bigThere is such a thing as "too big". https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/jedi_cloaks.jpgJedi_CloaksJedis do love their cloaks. And the colour brown. 2011-08-05T15:45:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/07/31/gentlemen-exclude-women-from-gaming-for-their-own-protection/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/posh.jpgposh"Fire up my personal computer, Jeeves. As soon as I finish this issue of the New Yorker, I'll want a glass of cognac and some personal time to headshot noobs."2011-07-31T15:39:05+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/07/28/cheap-internet-filler-we-no-speak-cantina-star-wars-cantina-vs-yolanda-be-cool/2011-07-28T14:10:19+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/07/17/great-moments-in-game-advertising-part-3-celebrity-endorsement/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/god-of-war-box-art.jpggod-of-war-box-artYou may have heard of this guy called Kratos before...https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/bathro-kratos-ad-2.pngbathro-kratos-ad-2Are 'mythological gods' really that big a selling point?https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/batheo-kratos-ad.pngbatheo-kratos-adThis is Kratos from the God of War series, in case you missed the resemblence.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/imvu_bella.jpgimvu_bellaThe part of Bella will be played by Bob Stevenson, a 47-year old twice divorced mechanic from Grants, New Mexico.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/white-queen-emma-frost.jpgwhite-queen-emma-frostThe fact that I typed in "Emma Front" rather than "Emma Frost" likely reveals those obvious reasons. Or just what I was thinking of at the time. You decide.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/white_queen_batheo.jpgwhite_queen_batheo"The White Queen demands your submission... and some time to play her favourite greek mythology simulator!"2011-07-17T16:52:51+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/07/15/why-team-bondi-are-extremely-unlikely-to-release-another-aaa-title/2011-07-15T17:56:09+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/07/14/dcuo-the-power-of-the-green/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/emotional-spectrum-dc-comics.jpgemotional-spectrum-dc-comicsDCUO could eventually have all the Lantern's colours in-game. Am I wrong to think that black isn't a colour and willpower isn't an emotional state?https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/dcuo_green-239x300.jpgdcuo_green-239x300"He has the light, so we have to fight him. Simple and to the point."2011-07-14T16:38:03+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/07/07/ruminations-on-duke-nukem/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/superhero-movie.jpgSuperhero-MovieImitiation is not the sincerest form of parody.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/duke-nukem-1-oprah.pngduke-nukem-1-oprahHe also watched Oprah. Not exactly manly man territory here.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/duke-nukem-forever-biceps.jpgduke-nukem-forever-bicepsWith muscles that big, I'm not sure that Duke can scratch his nose. 2011-07-08T02:13:59+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/07/02/my-wtf-for-the-day-krafts-miracle-whip-divorce-competition/2011-07-04T02:12:59+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/07/01/dcuo-price-drop-maybe-for-australia-an-empty-cash-shop-and-still-not-f2p/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/superman_batman.jpgsuperman_batmanOne's an alien who doesn't need money, the other is a billionaire who has lots of cash; think they could do something for free?https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/soe_angry_gold.jpgsoe_angry_gold"RRRAAARRRHHHH! Gold makes me so ANGRY!"https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/dcuo_prices_010711.jpgdcuo_prices_010711On today's exchange rate, that AU$19.99 per month is US$21.42.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/dcuo_prices__gamepass_010711.jpgdcuo_prices__gamepass_010711Not included in the updated Game Pass page - Star Wars: Galaxies. Awwww.2011-07-01T15:57:01+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/06/26/star-wars-galaxies-end-of-the-universe-driven-by-the-republic/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/swg_no_mercy.jpgSWG_no_mercyA stay of execution is unlikely for SWG, no matter how much begging goes on.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/sw_bat-vs-frog.jpgsw_bat-vs-frogYeah, pretty much.2011-06-28T02:34:11+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/06/22/city-of-heroes-villains-and-lego-universe-go-free-to-play/2011-06-22T02:02:25+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/06/15/point-counterpoint-the-dc-comics-reboot-circa-2011/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/dc_reboot_suicide_squad.jpgDC_reboot_Suicide_SquadThigh-high boots count as pants, right?2011-06-15T15:36:43+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/06/11/the-reaction-to-doa-dimensions-being-pulled-off-shelves-in-australia/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/doa_helena.jpgDoA_HelenaIt's also not like the DoA series isn't full of legal age women to ogle, either. Here's Helena, who is 21. Yes, she is judging you.2012-06-15T11:04:00+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/06/10/the-difference-between-george-broussard-and-randy-pitchford/2011-06-10T17:13:09+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/06/10/the-7-9-review-score-problem-personified/2011-06-11T01:17:28+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/06/05/the-cost-of-games-in-australia/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/la_noire_prices_us.jpgla_noire_prices_usFor posterity.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/la_noire_prices.jpgla_noire_pricesPrices may change on site, but screenshots are forever. 2011-06-23T06:57:30+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/06/04/a-brief-study-in-gender-based-appearances-of-survival-horror-monsters-cite-shadows-of-the-damned/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/sotd_woman.jpgSOTD_womanI honestly hate to point it out, but it kinda looks like she needs a fresh tampon.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/sotd_electrodemon.jpgSOTD_electrodemonIn a sign of the times, he's actually solar powered.2011-07-17T01:14:27+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/06/02/insert-coin-to-continue-perfect-world-buys-cryptic-studios/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/crypticstudios_sold.jpgCrypticStudios_soldI know this is their old logo, but I like this one better. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/crypticstudios.jpgCrypticStudioshttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/gauntlet.jpggauntletMy attitude towards F2P may be shaped by my formative gamer years being spent in an arcade, playing titles like Gauntlet that stripped you 1 health point per second. Best way of healing up? Insert more money!2012-06-21T14:49:01+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/05/28/a-study-in-intolerance/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/alpine_racer_2.pngalpine_racer_2It's a simple concept - down the hill as fast as you can! Not crash into the barriers! You completely suck! ... please stop crying...2011-05-30T09:22:56+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/05/21/the-trials-of-unsub-super-hero-squad-online/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/shso_puppet.jpgshso_puppetThere are some very cute touches to SHSO. Loki strongly disputes the accuracy of the play's narrative though.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/shso_flight.jpgshso_flightFlying around and seeing the sights is a good way to view SHSO's main areas.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/shso_beta.pngshso_betaTaken from the SHSO site moments ago. But allegedly this game launched 3 weeks ago. And I believe you can certainly pay money to buy things in-game. Lots of mixed signals, which isn't a good sign.2011-05-23T06:13:04+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/05/20/its-been-an-interesting-week/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/millstone.jpgmillstoneFlavor Flav would avoid having this on a chain. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/champions_online_anniversary.jpgchampions_online_anniversaryI wonder how many more of these will be seen in Champions Online. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/flight_sunset.jpgflight_sunsetCoH/V may indeed be flying off into the sunset at this point.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/chris_cao.jpgchris_caoSometimes people leave without saying good bye.2011-05-21T03:29:27+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/05/14/duke-nukem-forever-duke-nukem-makes-you-feel/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/rdj_tony_stark.jpgrdj_tony_starkI obviously missed the scene where Stark slapped Pepper Potts on the butt a few times, before telling her, "Quiet now, the men are talking."2011-05-18T15:52:54+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/05/16/soe-back-up-but-dont-tell-anyone/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/soe_mod_facebook.jpgSOE_mod_facebookNo-one gets any special treatment at SOE. Not even the people who work there. 2011-05-17T03:19:13+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/05/13/cloudbursting-and-the-sad-case-of-sony-online-entertainment/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/nwn2-map.jpgnwn2-mapSometimes the maps are paper or cloth. Doesn't matter - they are still useless. That that's true, even if the game is still active!https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/ps_cloud.jpgps_cloudDon't be fooled! You can't trust them! Keep watching the skies!https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/dcuo-mask.jpgdcuo-maskDCUO is giving its players a free in-game mask when the servers come back up - a perfect gift for people who have had their identity stolen. 2011-05-13T17:21:37+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/05/10/cheap-internet-filler-friends-vs-super-friends/2011-05-10T12:17:25+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/04/30/gazillion-marvel-universe-gets-bendis-suprise-super-hero-squad-online-launches/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/brian_michael_bendis.jpgBrian_Michael_BendisBendis will also being doing all mocap and animation for MUO.2011-04-30T15:41:30+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/04/28/r18-classification-in-australia-when-we-give-we-also-take-away/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/lsl_magna_cum_laude.jpgLSL_Magna_Cum_LaudeOne of the games that was Refused Classification in Australia. I think the Classification Board did us a favour here.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/australian_classification_system.gifaustralian_classification_systemRau wants to knock out the MA15+ in order to make the gap between M and R18+ more distinct. Hmmm.2011-04-28T17:08:51+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/04/27/gazillions-marvel-mmo-as-written-by-bendis/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hulk.jpghulk"Hulk ready for scene, Mr Bendis! What Hulk motivation?"2011-04-28T21:21:36+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/04/25/the-very-very-late-2010-mmo-recap-here-comes-the-new-stuff-same-as-the-old-stuff/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/star-wars-the-old-republic-trailer-15-6-10-kc.jpgStar-Wars-The-Old-Republic-Trailer-15-6-10-kcThere will be plenty of time for more awesome-but-completely-unrelated-to-gameplay SWOR trailers to come out.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/blurry.jpgblurryBefore they fire a whole heap of people, MMO studios apparently see the world like this.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/cme_racing_car.jpgcme_racing_carAlso, perhaps CME spent some of its money on non-core business activities.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/pride.jpgprideFor some reason, it is exceptionally hard to find a pictorial representatino of the word "pride" using Google.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/free_sign.giffree_signIt was either this of a picture of Mr Humphries.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ladybug1.jpgladybug"I eat adventurers like sweet, juicy aphids. Mmmm, aphids..."https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/apb_ronald_mcdonald.pngapb_ronald_mcdonaldGive players great freedom in character generation and they'll give you a clown sans Happy Meals.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/shooting_fish.jpegshooting_fishPredicting layoffs in the video game industry is pretty much this, only the blood is metaphorical.2011-04-25T13:45:36+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/04/22/the-very-very-late-2010-mmo-recap-part-1/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/all_points_bulletin_apb_ad.jpgall_points_bulletin_apb_adWhoever does own the city didn't own it for very long post-launch...https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/x-box-360.jpgX-box-360Still MMO-less, after numerous false starts. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/dungeonrunners.jpgdungeonrunners2010 started with the death of NCsoft's Dungeon Runners, among others.2011-04-25T07:00:18+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/04/24/the-very-very-late-2010-mmo-recap-part-2/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/apb-ninja-turtles.jpgAPB-ninja-turtlesI wondered if APB had lasted longer how hard it would have been hit by IP violation-related cease-and-desist actions.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/star_wars_clone_wars_adventures.jpgstar_wars_clone_wars_adventuresSOE may have launched this title in September, but it really was a very quiet launch.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/real_id.jpgReal_IDSocial networking: making games more fun through the removal of personal privacy since 2006.2011-04-25T06:50:46+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/04/10/cheap-internet-filler-he-man-versus-girltalk/2011-04-10T04:14:39+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/02/12/the-blue-water-for-marvel-universe-online/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/zookeeper-badge.pngzookeeper badgeKilling 10 000 Rikti monkeys earned you this. Now it is done to 1000.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/dcuo_pvp.jpgdcuo_pvpPvP in DCUO is fast works very well.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/coh_demon.jpg2008-11-09 00:28:56Fighting giant a demon who was imprisoned to be a cheap source of energy was also fun.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/uglyhero.jpguglyheroSometimes you want pretty, and sometimes you don't. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/superherocraft.jpgsuperherocraftSuperheroes do craft. Superman can crochet like a fiend. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/tony-stark.jpgtony starkSecret Identity probably don't look like this when working on MUO.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/dcuovschampovscohv.jpgDCUOvsChampOvsCoHVOh, but I do Radar X. 2011-04-10T04:07:38+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/04/02/dcuo-then-and-now/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/st-patrick-day.jpgst-patrick-dayThis just looks ridiculous in April.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/superman_drinks.jpgsuperman_drinksLayoffs hit people pretty hard.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/qyality.jpgqyalityThere might just be a reason why DCUO should have public testing after QA signs off on those updates.2011-04-02T12:50:20+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/04/01/happy-international-unfunny-day/2011-04-01T00:52:18+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/03/29/ip-less-than-freely-mmos-based-on-licensed-properties/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/wod.jpgwodIt will provide another front for the Twilight Fan Wars, at least. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/popularity.jpgpopularityPopularity means never having to introduce yourself. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/swoop.jpgSwoop RobotSwoop was probably my favourite Transformer. He even beat up Grimlock once. 2011-03-29T09:21:37+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/03/22/duke-nukem-forever-respect-yo-momma-slap-the-rest/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/gl_pimp_slap.jpggl_pimp_slap"... I only hit you because you make me."2011-03-28T03:44:00+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/03/21/pvp-and-the-mutually-exclusive-dilemma/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/mutually_exclusive_pvp.jpgmutually_exclusive_pvpPvP. PvP never changes.2011-03-22T03:36:26+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/03/19/mortal-kombat-flawless-pr-work-but/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/subzero-e1300552771515.jpgsubzeroTwenty years later and things haven't changed much.2011-03-20T08:30:46+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/03/16/dcuo-economics-trumps-cosmetics/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/blankman.pngblankmanThis is what happens if you don't plan your costume carefully.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/dcuo_black_adam_suit.jpgDCUO_Black_Adam_SuitYou probably can't buy this in the Auction House, but I'm just highlighting that no-one needs shoulder pads bigger than their head.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/invisible-hand.jpginvisible-handAdam Smith. (Invisible hands not shown.)2011-03-16T04:12:09+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/03/12/full-contact-coin-collecting-untold-entertainment-exploits-gdc-2011-panel/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/dave-and-goliath.jpgDave-and-GoliathFor the record, David totally exploited Goliath. Using a ranged weapon against a melee opponent was clearly outside the rules. 2011-03-12T16:54:53+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/03/12/john-needham-crosses-universes-from-cryptic-to-gazillion/2011-03-12T23:02:55+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/03/11/five-reasons-why-swor-is-a-high-risk-mmo-5-bioware-doesnt-do-great-game-mechanics/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/star_wars_the_old_republic_fight.jpgstar_wars_the_old_republic_fightEven though they say SWOR isn't competing against WoW, it really is. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/charles_bronson_mechanic.jpgcharles_bronson_mechanicMechanics are surprisingly sophisticated. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/me2-conversationwheel.jpgme2-conversationwheelThere's no point selecting any other option if you can access the Blue or Red ones.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/space_accountant.jpgspace_accountantThe Space Accountant wields a +5 briefcase and his DOT effects are massive. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/jade_empire_dragonfly.jpgjade_empire_dragonflyBecause when I think "Fantasy Kung Fu", I also think "Steampunk Aircraft Action".2011-05-13T13:40:04+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/03/04/an-open-letter-to-wbie-re-mortal-kombat/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/public_relations.jpgpublic_relationsTo be fair, this has been a pretty good PR move for WBIE's Mortal Kombat release. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/we_dare.jpgWe_DareSide note: this has about chance of happening in real life as thunder gods and undead ninjas fighting to save the Earth.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/mortal_kombat_buzzsaw_fatality.jpgmortal_kombat_buzzsaw_fatalityMature!2011-03-07T10:44:53+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/02/26/rift-vs-dcuo-the-little-things/2011-03-11T07:26:17+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/02/25/marvel-universe-online-a-gazillion-to-one-shot/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/rocky_road.jpgrocky_roadMUO (and Gazillion) appear to have a rocky road ahead.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/shso_pic.jpgshso_picI'm looking forward to giving this a shot. Really. I am. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/iron_man_2_box.jpgiron_man_2_boxWhenever I hear anyone talk about Marvel wanting quality titles, I think of the products they actually release. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/acclaim-studios-london.pngacclaim-studios-londonThanks to Disney, that lizard is now homeless. 2011-10-25T07:11:28+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/12/06/dcuo-ps3-beta-a-masterclass-of-marketing-mismanagement/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/1-mbailey-bluered-500x375.jpg1.mbailey-bluered-500x375Everyone makes mistakes and, given time, they are possibly forgotten.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/dcuo_gl.jpgdcuo_glWho do you trust indeed. Not SOE's assuarances, apparently.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/dcuo_preorder.jpgdcuo_preorder... if you have a time machine and can travel back a month to before November 15, you can still take advantage of this offer!2011-02-23T14:49:48+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/02/22/dcuo-untested-love/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/dcuo_feb_15_patch.jpgDCUO_feb_15_patchIt's hard to say "it was a mistake" when it is so clearly labelled. 2011-02-25T16:25:37+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/02/18/great-moments-in-game-advertising-part-2/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/bulletstorm_ad.jpgbulletstorm_adWhat I actually wanted to read is behind this ad. 2011-02-18T13:35:09+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/02/18/dead-island-where-creative-and-design-clash/2011-02-18T13:08:54+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/02/11/how-many-players-does-cohv-have-in-q4-2010/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/champo_box.pngchampo_boxIt will be hard for CoH/V to grow in Q1 2011 with both Champions Online going F2P and DC Universe Online launching... plus other titles.2011-04-10T03:53:13+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/02/08/how-many-players-does-cohv-have-in-q3-2010/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/good_bye.jpgGood_byeCastle at least got to say good bye though, as did theOcho. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/coh_subs_q3_2010.jpgCoH_subs_Q3_2010I'm only showing confirmed subscription numbers here, as per NCsoft's quarterly reports.2011-02-08T16:34:37+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/02/06/trying-out-a-new-look/2011-02-06T15:36:06+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/02/05/dcuo-money-theirs-and-ours/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/imagine_journalist_xl.jpgimagine_journalist_xlThe barriers to entry of being a games journalist / blogger are pretty low.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/dcuo_sub_fee_comp.jpgdcuo_sub_fee_compApologies to any country's currency I got wrong.2011-02-06T03:52:54+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/11/20/how-many-players-bought-champions-online-at-launch/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/champo_box.pngchampo_boxThe 80's called and they want their pen-and-paper RPG art back.2011-02-05T15:10:50+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/02/01/the-world-turns-for-kevin-smith/2011-02-01T15:00:29+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/01/28/great-moments-in-online-game-advertising-part-1/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/unchartedwatersonline.jpgUnchartedWatersOnlineWell gee, if skyline41 is looking forward to Uncharted Waters Online, so should I!https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/imvu_ad.jpgimvu_ad"Dress Up for Your Pimp" seems more accurate.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/allods_ad.jpgallods_ad"Rubbing them together creates fairy dust. Where did you THINK it came from?"https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/war_of_2012_ad.jpgwar_of_2012_ad"In the Great War of 2012, all the clothing stores were destroyed, leaving us nothing but lingerie to prance around the wasteland in."2011-06-23T06:08:58+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/01/25/the-trials-of-unsub-realm-of-the-mad-god/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/rotmg.jpgrotmgYou kill something, everyone on the screen gets XP. Groups form up - and break up - quickly and easily.2011-01-25T15:00:14+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/01/21/dcuo-a-week-is-a-while-right/2011-02-11T16:46:23+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/01/16/the-parable-of-the-new-game-experience-nge/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/guy-fawkes.jpgguy-fawkesSometimes events take on a wider significance than just what happened to a few people at some point in the past.2011-01-17T05:43:33+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/01/15/my-last-dcuo-post-for-a-while-really/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/australian-money.jpgaustralian-moneyIt might look funny to you, but right now this is worth the same amount in the US.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/aussie-money.jpgaussie moneyIt might look funny to you, but right now this is worth the same amount in the US.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/dcuo_amazon.jpgdcuo_amazonYes, that says, "weapons" to me, not "unseen buff"https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/dcuo_radarx_preorder.jpgDCUO_radarx_preorderhttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/dcuo_batman_preo1.gifDCUO_batman_preoPlay as Batman you say? Let me get my wallet...https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/dcuo_batman_preo.gifDCUO_batman_preoPlay as Batman, you say? Let me get my wallet...2011-01-16T20:06:56+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/01/14/still-no-r18-consensus-plus-stats-stats-stats/2011-01-14T15:18:55+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/01/09/dcuo-countdown-to-crisis/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/on_a_horse.jpgon_a_horseI'm on a horse.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/raven.jpgravenHero or villain, you will be sent after Raven... and she's far from the only character that both sides face. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/bane.jpgbanehttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/hangover1.jpgHangover1Plus launching in early January is a problem when people are off doing other things around this time.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/dcuo_launch.jpgdcuo_launchThese have improved since DCUO's originally planned November 2 2010 launch, but if you look closely Gamestop has the launch date wrong. 2011-07-01T14:57:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/01/10/dcuo-gets-a-tv-ad/2011-01-10T03:34:25+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2011/01/03/wordpress-2010-blog-summary-even-that-mention-is-wow/2011-01-03T12:42:35+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/12/20/gods-heroes-desperation-thy-name-is/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/medusacombatspear.jpgmedusacombatspearIt looks like even these guys were trying to get into the RIFT beta weekend.2010-12-20T03:35:16+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/12/09/dcuo-adding-insult-to-injury-for-ps3-beta-preorders/2010-12-09T14:06:14+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/12/08/dc-universe-online-now-that-the-nda-has-gone/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/metropolis-dcuo.jpgMetropolis DCUOMetropolis and Gotham are bit places, but a bit empty. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/resized-dcuo-unsub.jpgResized DCUO UnSubUnSub in DCUO. Yes, that's the Bat Signal. 2010-12-09T15:39:53+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/12/05/rift-great-expectations-the-creation-of/2010-12-05T06:47:38+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/11/29/dcuo-so-is-a-guarantee-actually-a-guarantee/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/dcuo_preorder.jpgdcuo_preorder2010-12-02T15:40:09+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/11/26/we-need-more-adult-games/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/darkness_girlfriend_sm01.jpgdarkness_girlfriend_sm01You can sit together and watch "To Kill a Mockingbird". She falls asleep. It's a pretty honest depiction of a normal relationship for a game where you summon shadow demons.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/bioshock_little_sister-thumb-420x236.jpgbioshock_little_sister-thumb-420x236It's sad when one of gaming's more acclaimed moral choice systems boils down to, "Do I break open the little girl and get the sweet, sweet nectar inside, or save her?"2010-11-29T01:48:30+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/11/22/call-of-duty-black-ops-shooting-stuff-is-awesome-and-no-one-gets-hurt/2010-11-22T13:54:14+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/10/08/layoffs-at-paragon-studios-and-the-unluckiest-man-in-the-city/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/coh_033004_000.jpgcoh_033004_000Back Alley Brawler, as he appears in-game. 2010-11-22T07:07:30+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/11/20/deadlands-mmo-the-video-the-sequels/2010-11-20T08:22:56+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/11/20/deadlands-mmo-the-video/2010-11-20T07:38:45+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/11/12/deadlands-mmo-dead-but-we-might-get-a-video-out-of-it/2010-11-12T16:43:12+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/11/11/death-and-rebirth-of-sorts-stargate-worlds-and-apb/2010-11-11T17:12:33+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/11/08/why-australia-probably-wont-get-an-r18-rating-anytime-soon/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/index.jpgindexThis won't be appearing on any Australian-released video games in the near future.2010-11-08T16:34:31+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/11/08/five-reasons-why-swor-is-a-high-risk-mmo-4-the-story-pillars-strength-may-not-pass-the-building-code/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/railroad01.jpgrailroad01You might get some choice on which track you take, but the destination is the same.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/our-princess-is-in-another-castle-279x158.jpgOur-Princess-is-in-Another-Castle-279x158If this were a MMO, the princess would ALWAYS be in another castle. That you could raid. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/miranda-mass-effect-2-300x297.pngMiranda-Mass-Effect-2-300x297BioWare females also meet some pretty standard tropes as well.2010-11-08T16:06:27+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/11/05/buy-medal-of-honor-or-ea-will-shoot-a-baby/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/zz752ccc77.jpgZZ752CCC77DO YOU WANT TO SEE A BABY GET SHOT? DO YOU?2010-12-03T04:12:20+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/10/30/five-reasons-why-swor-is-a-high-risk-mmo-3-the-subscription-fee-model-is-falling-from-grace/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/inmanfree.jpgInmanFreeBeing free has its advantages.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/money_collector.jpgmoney_collectorCollecting money makes game developers happy, because it means they can afford to eat.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/neverwinteraol.jpgneverwinterAOLNeverwinter Nights (AOL). Remember when people say old games were better? They're wrong.2010-10-30T15:51:03+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/10/27/champions-online-goes-f2p-surprises-few/2010-10-27T16:31:35+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/10/24/battle-royale-cohv-vs-champo-vs-dcuo-vs-shso-vs-marvel-mmo/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/muo_pic.jpgmuo_picMy exclusive Marvel Universe Online screenshot. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/shso_pic.jpgshso_picCareful where you put those hands, Spidey. Thor's right there, y'know.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dcuo_pic.jpgdcuo_pic"Hai guyz, u lft? Raid 4 phat l00t????"https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/champo_pic.jpgchampO_picEven giant, city-destroying robots need to manage their booze intake.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/coh_pic.jpg2010-09-27 00:43:47Ahh, so that's where all the citizens went.2010-10-24T14:59:50+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/10/09/dcuo-beta-no-guarantees-for-europe/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dcuobetakey.jpgdcuobetakeyCan you see "Only applies to North American preorders" anywhere? I can't.2010-10-16T17:07:18+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/10/16/five-reasons-why-swor-is-a-high-risk-mmo-1-ea-is-in-it-for-the-wrong-reasons/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/340x_ego-the-living-planet.jpg340x_ego-the-living-planetEgo the Living Planet is ironically quite a modest fellow.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/doom.jpgdoomDoom originally meant 'judgement with a great penalty associated with it'. This has been your history lesson for the day.2010-10-17T07:46:13+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/10/10/marketing-console-mmos-is-hard-dcuo-again/2010-10-10T08:10:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/10/05/no-more-heroes-or-villains/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/screenshot_100927-00-43-47.jpg2010-09-27 00:43:47Ahh, office maps. Better than cave and warehouse maps.2010-10-08T08:22:11+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/10/05/dcuo-delayed-until-q1-2011-please-pre-order-it-anyway/2010-10-06T23:53:15+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/10/02/someone-came-to-this-blog-by-looking-for-the-term-tactical-corset/2010-10-03T13:06:11+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/10/02/the-brave-brave-marketing-decisions-of-dcuo/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/foolkiller.jpgFOolkillerWe'll know soon enough who the fool is. Also: I really did think Foolkiller was a DC title, but I can't think of an appropriate replacement. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dcuo.jpgdcuoThere is a bit of a disconnect in saying you can "create your own legend" in the DC mythos, but I suppose "create your own PG-rated fanfic" was too much of a mouthful.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/kick-ass-comic-book-fans-in-the-film.jpgKick-Ass Comic Book Fans in the filmDCUO is being advertised in DC comics. Let's hope they notice. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/dcuoknow.pngDCUOknowWith a month to go, DCUO needs to make some big jumps closer to the top of the charts. 2010-10-04T17:35:33+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/09/24/bye-bye-wildstorm/2010-09-24T17:03:43+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/09/22/final-fantasy-xiv-as-clear-as-crysta/2010-09-22T14:04:19+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/09/17/calling-all-cars-the-end-of-apb/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/burning-wasting-money.jpgburning-wasting-moneyMaybe that money-fuelled furnace in RTW's lobby wasn't the best idea either. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/mo_money.pngmo_money... anyone else find that movie extremely dull?2010-09-21T03:09:33+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/09/15/my-nomination-for-best-dev-quote-of-2010/2010-09-15T06:20:10+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/09/14/the-trials-of-unsub-love/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/day31.jpgday31Had to use someone else's screenshot of Love since none of mine worked.2010-09-14T15:50:56+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/09/11/mass-effect-2-stats-male-soldiers-dominate/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/crazy-mass-effect-2-stats-and-what-theyre-used-for-20100903105831289-000.jpgcrazy-mass-effect-2-stats-and-what-theyre-used-for-20100903105831289-000Honest to god I hope those 66 straight-playthrough people at least paused the game to take a nap.2010-09-11T14:06:52+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/09/10/its-important-for-tech-companies-to-update-their-websites-too/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/cryptic_exec.jpgcryptic_execIt shouldn't take over a month to alter a web page.2010-09-10T16:26:11+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/09/03/we-wont-pay-the-cover-charge-to-dance-cohv/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/coh_dance.jpgcoh_danceDancing in the street. Odd, rhythmless dancing, but dancing never-the-less.2010-09-03T15:04:04+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/06/04/apb-collecting-money-is-important/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/ammo01.jpgammo01Bullets aren't free, you know.2010-09-03T14:04:42+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/09/02/dcuo-all-quiet-on-the-beta-front/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/video-game-sales-1.pngvideo-game-sales-1Yes, there are some very good reasons to focus on console titles over PC titles.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/is-marketing-evil.jpgis-marketing-evilA lot of people view marketing as inherently evil, but such things come down to implementation. Much like evil.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/893.jpg893He's got nothing to do but wait. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/4865249b2ef7c_featured_without_text_dcuo.jpg4865249b2ef7c_featured_without_text_dcuoSeriously, a lot of people want to know how DCUO is going to work.2010-09-08T22:45:58+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/08/26/realtime-world-employees-not-getting-last-set-of-wages-benefits/2010-08-26T10:05:45+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/08/23/cryptic-launches-neverwinter-the-non-mmo/2010-08-23T15:13:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/08/22/apb-well-since-everyone-else-is-doing-it/2010-08-26T09:41:03+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/08/18/confirmation-cohv-trial-accounts-get-access-to-praetoria/2010-08-18T14:47:43+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/08/17/did-bill-roper-get-a-golden-handshake/2010-08-17T07:28:56+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/08/16/censorship-and-whos-at-fault-here/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/deadly-premonition.jpgDeadly-PremonitionSupernatural, serial-killing entities tend to have a flair for the dramatic.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/deadly-premonition-20091110000457552_640w.jpgdeadly-premonition-20091110000457552_640wCabal was always a favourite Mortal Kombat character of mine.2010-08-16T14:59:39+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/08/14/cohv-picking-the-wrong-side/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/neutrolopolis.jpgneutrolopolisAlso, Praetoria just feels sterile. I'm sure it is meant to, but it's hardly engaging as a result.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/hindsight-rear-view-future-past-road-mirror.jpghindsight-rear-view-future-past-road-mirrorIt's a lot easier to work out what you should have done after the fact.2010-08-27T14:02:45+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/08/11/another-two-for-the-chopping-block-earth-eternal-and-chronicles-of-spellborn/2010-08-11T07:08:01+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/08/08/dcuo-madly-scrambling-to-launch/2010-08-11T06:51:53+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/08/08/exteel-shutting-down-worldwide/2010-08-08T12:37:38+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/07/26/you-give-yourself-enough-rope-bioware/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/planethype.gifPlanetHypehttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/lance-henriksen.jpglance-henriksenHowever, I do love the sound of Lance Henriksen's voice...https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/truecrimes_reduced.jpgtruecrimes_reduced50 novels' worth of dialogue... but what kind of novels?2010-07-26T14:22:41+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/07/25/dcuo-launch-cinematic-yet-another-alien-invasion/2010-07-25T05:56:28+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/07/23/voice-overs-are-the-new-black/2010-07-23T09:49:53+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/07/20/dcuo-announces-pre-order-packs-then-the-open-beta/2010-07-20T08:17:31+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/07/15/apb-now-that-the-nda-is-gone-or-maybe-it-isnt/2010-07-15T16:15:44+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/07/07/blizzard-has-sent-you-a-friend-request/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/facebook.jpgfacebookGood lord, I hope this wasn't a genuine ad for Facebook. Creepy.2010-07-07T12:52:14+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/07/05/apb-advertising-over-voip/2010-07-05T08:43:47+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/06/24/bobby-kotick-wow-basically-props-up-activision/2010-06-24T02:45:42+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/06/21/the-downward-life-spiral-of-the-mainly-pvp-mmo/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/slide3.pngSlide3https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/slide2.pngSlide2https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/slide1.pngSlide12010-06-22T06:10:32+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/06/18/apb-learns-something-else-from-the-movie-industry/2010-06-18T09:43:08+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/06/16/video-game-violence-corrupts-children-or-how-night-trap-begat-petz/2010-06-16T03:39:26+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/06/13/two-quick-points/2010-06-13T16:01:41+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/06/04/lord-of-the-rings-online-goes-free-to-play-heres-why/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/survey-rb-513.jpgsurvey-rb-513Look at the games players move onto after World of Warcraft. Notice anything?2010-06-07T15:53:48+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/06/02/dcuo-announces-november-2010-launch/2010-06-02T08:08:12+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/05/23/thq-truth-or-lies-an-even-chance/2010-06-02T05:54:40+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/06/01/did-ubisofts-drm-system-work/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/drm.jpgdrmIs DRM a padlock holding back gamers or a level of protection for publishers / developers from people stealing their work?https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/assassin-s-creed-2.jpgassassin-s-creed-2Even the Italians thought Ezio's clothes were too flamoyant. You'd think an assassin would want to blend in more.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/assassinvspirate.jpgassassinvspirateAssassin versus Pirates: Pirates won round one.2010-06-01T17:02:12+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/05/31/dc-universe-online-talking-loud-aint-saying-nothing/2010-05-31T16:38:55+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/05/21/how-many-players-does-cohv-have-in-q1-2010/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/goro.pnggoroGoro may just end up suing me for name infringement. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/cohvrevq12010.jpgCoHVRevQ12010CoH/V's revenue continues its decline. 2011-04-10T03:57:57+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/05/20/how-many-players-does-aion-have-in-q1-2010/2010-05-20T06:40:33+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/05/17/homo-sapiens-and-neanderthals-sitting-in-a-tree/2010-05-17T07:25:20+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/05/15/super-hero-squad-the-mmoccg/2010-05-15T11:25:12+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/05/14/comic-book-mmos-do-work-so-nyyahhh-to-you/2010-05-16T07:45:58+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/05/14/super-hero-squad-mmo-first-teasers/2010-05-14T03:17:39+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/05/12/bitter-pills-regardless-of-colour-the-fall-of-the-matrix-online/2010-05-12T07:51:29+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/05/10/black-eyes-before-debut-for-warhammer-40k/2010-05-31T03:25:35+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/05/06/ryzom-still-commercially-active-but-goes-open-source-anyway/2010-05-06T13:11:42+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/05/06/the-trials-of-unsub-club-penguin/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/club_pen_wave.jpgclub_pen_wave"Happy Feet" really was a terrible movie.2010-05-06T12:51:34+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/05/06/following-up-on-fallen-earths-restructuring/2010-05-06T07:54:32+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/05/05/as-always-the-controversy-around-the-logies-more-interesting-than-the-logies-itself/2010-05-05T05:00:58+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/05/01/is-naming-a-studio-after-mythical-example-of-failure-ever-a-good-idea-icarus-studios-restructures/2010-05-01T12:44:42+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/04/30/the-mythic-store-is-closed-please-shop-elsewhere/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/mythic_store.jpgmythic_storeI'm not lying!2010-04-30T01:55:18+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/04/27/why-we-cant-have-nice-things-even-if-it-is-second-life/2010-04-27T07:55:30+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/04/23/this-is-how-you-do-punishment/2010-04-23T04:19:56+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/04/21/warner-brothers-buys-turbine-probably-not-releasing-the-matrix-online-2/2010-04-21T08:20:20+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/04/19/someone-tries-to-explain-the-champion-online-gear-and-stats-system/2010-04-30T01:11:35+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/04/16/the-future-of-twitter/2010-04-16T02:23:45+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/04/13/champions-online-and-the-second-system-effect/2010-04-13T17:31:31+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/04/11/warhammer-online-does-the-worst-possible-thing/2010-04-11T15:30:23+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/04/08/catching-up-employment-moves-and-console-non-moves/2010-04-12T19:55:16+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/03/31/no-swor-ing-on-the-xbox-360/2010-03-31T06:11:40+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/03/27/the-only-way-to-succeed-is-to-be-2/2010-03-27T09:08:59+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/03/17/tis-the-season-for-replacement-apparently/2010-03-17T07:04:00+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/03/15/no-flowers-here/2010-03-15T09:19:52+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/03/06/reasons-to-love-faith-no-more-358-359/2010-03-06T17:50:34+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/02/27/the-video-games-of-history-beyond-the-ice-palace-c64/2010-02-27T18:00:27+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/02/23/rise-from-your-grave-gods-and-heroes/2010-02-23T07:57:34+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/02/20/three-isnt-the-magic-number-warhammer-online/2010-02-20T13:05:47+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/02/18/how-many-players-does-aion-have/2010-02-18T06:16:29+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/02/14/how-many-players-does-cohv-have-anyway/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/cohveps.pngCoHVEPSCoH/V's earnings per subscribed account, Q2 2004 to Q4 2008.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/cohvussubnum.pngCoHVUSSubNumCoH/V's Active Subscription Numbers and estimated million $US revenue Q2 2004 to Q4 2009.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/cohvrevmwonus.pngCoHVRevMWonUSCoH/V's revenue in both million Won and estimated $US.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/cohvrevmwon.jpgCoHVRevMWonCoH/V's Revenue from Q2 2004 to Q4 2009 in million Wonhttps://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/cohveps1.pngCoHVEPSCoH/V Earning Per Subscribed Account from Q2 2004 to Q4 2008https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/cohvrevmwon.jpgCoHVRevMWonCoH/V's revenue from Q2 2004 to Q3 2009 in million Won2010-03-04T22:55:36+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/02/10/old-news-is-still-interesting-news/2010-02-15T08:08:51+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/02/09/the-laziest-star-trek-online-review-evah/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/perpetual_sto.jpgperpetual_stoPerptual's STO, which was cancelled. Not shown: Cryptic's STO, which just launched.2010-02-09T15:42:32+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/02/08/one-simple-step-to-becoming-the-hero-of-the-revolution/2010-02-08T06:49:04+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/02/06/the-trials-of-unsub-vanguard-saga-of-heroes/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/vanguard_flight.jpgvanguard_flightScenic. https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/vanguard_update.jpgvanguard_updateHow likely am I to buy a title that was last updated on April 3 2009? Not very. That's a sales-destroying oversight right there.2012-11-29T04:59:46+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/12/20/the-trials-of-unsub-ultima-online-stygian-abyss/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/uo_fishing1.jpguo_fishingAll the realism of fishing with none of the return.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/uo_fishing.jpguo_fishingAll the realism of fishing with none of the return.https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/uo_me_close.jpguo_me_closeThe black samurai has a long and proud tradition...2010-02-06T05:26:36+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/02/02/going-for-prime-loot-makes-one-selfish/2010-02-02T15:41:11+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/01/21/business-tycoon-online-i-can-honestly-say-i-never-thought-id-mention-this-game-again/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/btoad.pngbtoadI'm happy to charge out for my bestest English services. 2010-01-21T07:21:51+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/01/21/business-tycoon-online-hot-secretary-attends-all-the-way-in-game/2010-06-24T02:20:15+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/01/19/james-cameron-will-shed-no-tears-over-me/2010-01-21T02:48:40+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/01/18/scientific-american-on-why-rmt-is-good-for-developing-nations/2010-01-18T06:12:58+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/01/16/google-tells-us-whats-important/2010-01-16T12:19:38+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/01/13/star-trek-online-overview-now-that-the-nda-is-gone/2010-01-13T02:44:21+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/01/12/a-random-thought-if-i-were-head-of-blizzard/2010-01-12T08:06:56+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/01/12/the-power-of-free-and-hence-f2p/2010-01-12T03:23:58+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/01/08/nostalgia-good-criticism-of-nostalgia-bad/2010-01-14T09:09:25+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/11/04/why-ncsoft-doesnt-sell-off-its-failures/2010-02-26T18:06:08+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/01/05/trivial-things-i-hope-dont-happen-in-2010/2010-01-05T02:51:56+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/01/04/the-failure-of-beta-testing-and-marketing/2010-01-04T06:41:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2010/01/01/the-best-the-phantom-menace-review-evah/2010-01-04T03:42:21+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/12/04/we-do-it-to-ourselves-we-do-why-mmos-are-as-they-are/2009-12-04T08:46:42+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/11/27/truisms-in-game-development-someone-always-loves-the-status-quo/2009-11-27T04:36:48+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/11/23/cryptics-100k-plan/2009-11-23T09:00:34+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/11/21/looking-back-at-advice-on-a-star-trek-mmo/2009-11-21T17:42:31+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/11/18/game-devs-dont-understand-players-aion-and-medals/2009-12-14T17:58:04+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/11/12/2012-roland-emmerich-destroys-america/2009-12-04T06:40:07+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/11/11/the-first-one-million-customers/2009-11-11T08:53:33+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/11/11/the-economy-is-so-bad-even-the-dead-are-hard-to-find/2009-11-11T04:56:53+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/11/10/ea-to-slash-staff-starts-by-cutting-war-down/2009-11-10T09:18:23+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/11/06/ncsoft-responds-to-my-article-alarmist-and-sensationalist/2009-11-10T04:23:48+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/11/02/city-of-heroes-villains-2009-running-twice-as-fast-to-stay-at-the-same-place/2009-11-05T05:09:55+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/10/28/reasons-why-you-shouldnt-listen-to-fans-exhibition-1/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/fear2.jpgfearA spanking! A spanking! And then... a Monty Python quote!https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/fear.jpgfearA spanking! A spanking! And then... a Monty Python quote!2009-10-28T08:50:36+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/10/23/i-suck-at-this/2009-10-23T08:54:25+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/10/14/nielsen-gameplay-metrics-is-it-doing-it-right/https://worldclassvillains.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/nielsenmetrics.jpgnielsenmetricsNielsen GamePlay Metrics - PC Games, August 2009. For reference purposes.2009-10-14T07:42:53+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/10/10/dear-canada/2009-10-10T17:45:04+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/10/07/rumour-slighted-nerd-claims-cryptic-doing-godzilla-mmo/2010-05-23T07:16:15+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/10/05/champions-online-alpha-beta-a-retrospective-and-some-fallen-earth-too/2009-10-05T04:49:28+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/09/21/on-warhammer-onlines-failings/2009-09-21T09:05:29+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/09/02/buying-a-lifetime-sub-the-rationale/2009-09-02T05:24:01+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/08/18/fallen-earth-now-that-the-nda-is-gone/2011-02-11T22:47:02+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/08/17/champions-online-overview-now-the-nda-is-gone/2009-08-18T00:09:17+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/08/15/commitment-in-10-lots/2009-08-15T17:32:32+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/08/12/key-ncsoft-west-people-head-out-the-door/2009-08-12T05:28:38+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/08/07/no-defending-or-condoning-unconsenting-virtual-sex-for-me/2009-08-09T12:46:49+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/08/05/i-c-u-mmo/2009-08-07T14:38:23+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.com/2009/08/03/the-first-post/2009-08-05T05:46:34+00:00monthlyhttps://worldclassvillains.comdaily1.02022-03-08T02:58:04+00:00