Raph Koster
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MMO Week in Review: Destiny 2’s revival, Aion 2’s stress test
This week's MMO news covers Destiny 2's revival with unvaulted content, Aion 2's stress test, and Ultima Online's 29th anniversary. Dune Awakening launched on consoles, Elder Scrolls Online discussed experimental features, and Microsoft continued layoffs. World of Warcraft Forever is impressing players, while other news includes The Division 2, Marathon, Warframe, and various other MMO updates and discussions.
Drop everything and grab the popcorn: Majuular's 4.5-hour documentary on Ultima Online is here to devour your…
YouTube creator Majuular has released a comprehensive 4.5-hour documentary detailing the history and influence of the MMORPG Ultima Online. The video, six months in the making, covers the game's development from its inception by Richard Garriott and Starr Long to its evolution under Raph Koster and its impact on the genre. The article highly recommends the documentary and Majuular's entire video series on the Ultima franchise.
Stars Reach talks up building updates as it promises to ‘pay attention to growth’ and ‘features, not just fires’
Playable Worlds CEO Raph Koster announced that Stars Reach is shifting focus from reactive 'firefighting' to proactive feature development and growth. Upcoming updates will prioritize housing customization, new building pieces, and improved missions, with future plans including multi-story buildings and enhanced town management mechanics.
Industry vets behind Dishonored, Ultima Online, Her Story and more agree the games industry crisis goes beyond games: 'Ultimately, to fix what’s broken in the videogame industry, we might have to fix reality'
Industry veterans agree the current videogame industry crisis extends beyond games themselves, attributing it to larger systemic issues and 'greedy, rapacious forces.' Developers like Harvey Smith and Sam Barlow suggest that fixing the industry requires addressing fundamental societal and economic problems, as current financial models are not designed to nurture art.
Industry vet who worked on Ultima Online says the next big thing needs to have 'sh*tty graphics' to escape the…
Industry veteran Raph Koster argues that the relentless pursuit of high-resolution graphics is unsustainable due to ballooning development costs and stagnant game prices. He suggests that the next major platform innovation needs to intentionally have 'shitty graphics' to reset the cost curve and allow for new gameplay affordances, preventing established companies from dominating.
Make My MMO: Stars Reach’s prospects, Squadron 42’s postponements
This article provides an update on various crowdfunded MMORPGs. Stars Reach has launched into early access with server issues but is actively patching. Squadron 42 has been delayed again, citing Grand Theft Auto 6 as a reason, adding to its decade-long postponement. Pantheon Rise of the Fallen continues its slow development on a combat revamp, with player numbers declining significantly.
Future imperfect: Five predictions for the next decade | Opinion
This opinion piece predicts five key trends for the next decade in the game industry, including slowing budget growth, the impact of AI on user-generated content, a shift in the industry's center of gravity towards Asia and emerging markets, increasing market concentration, and larger indie breakouts. The author acknowledges current industry apprehension but distinguishes it from past crashes, emphasizing the medium's established status.
Stars Reach brushes off sunset fears as it releases its Ground Control update
Stars Reach has released its 'Ground Control' update, addressing performance issues, restoring lost player items, and improving the in-game map and marketplace. The update also makes housing more accessible early on. Lead developer Raph Koster confirmed the game is not being sunsetted and that the studio is actively working on further improvements based on player feedback.
Planet Coaster studio Frontier Developments announces new title based on Disney IP
Industry leaders like Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney and Playable Worlds CEO Raph Koster describe the current state of the video game industry as a "Crash 2.0," the worst since the 1980s. They cite escalating AAA development costs, component shortages exacerbated by AI infrastructure demand, and internal dysfunctions as key factors contributing to this downturn.
"This is the worst crash we've seen since the 1980s," says Tim Sweeney
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney and other industry experts describe the current state of the gaming industry as "Crash 2.0," the worst since the 1980s. They cite escalating AAA development costs, component shortages driven by AI investment, and a lack of platform resets as major contributing factors to this severe disruption.
Stars Reach’s latest early access patch buffs character speed and adds craftable player vendors
Playable Worlds has released a new patch for the early access MMORPG Stars Reach, addressing performance and stability issues, including server crashes and rubberbanding. The update also overhauls character movement speed, improves inventory management with a 'merge all' option, enhances structure placement, adds craftable player vendors, and refines the player market.
SWG lead's new MMO, Stars Reach, almost lost me—until I met an animal conservationist mayor
Stars Reach, an MMO from Raph Koster, known for Star Wars: Galaxies, has launched in early access with a high price point and a messy, unfinished state. While the game's vision of a socially-driven experience with diverse skill trees is apparent, its current implementation suffers from janky mechanics, a poor first impression, and a lack of direction, though glimpses of compelling player-driven community building offer hope for its future.
2XKO's shutdown has me feeling glum about Riot's future MMO—because I don't think the genre can survive corporate cut-and-run tactics
The shutdown of Riot Games' fighting game 2XKO has raised concerns about the future of the company's upcoming MMO, due to perceived corporate impatience with long-term development cycles. The article argues that the high cost and long development time required for MMOs necessitate a sustained commitment that Riot's recent actions, including layoffs after 2XKO's release, do not inspire confidence in.
‘We aren’t where we want to be yet in terms of server stability,’ says Stars Reach boss
Stars Reach, an early access MMORPG sandbox, is experiencing significant server stability and performance issues shortly after its launch. Playable Worlds' Raph Koster acknowledged these problems, stating the team is working on patches to address bugs, optimization, and gameplay blockers. The game has struggled to maintain a large player base and has received mixed reviews due to its pre-alpha state.
Raph Koster’s Kickstarted sandbox MMORPG Stars Reach officially enters early access today
Stars Reach, the sandbox MMORPG spearheaded by veteran developer Raph Koster, has officially entered early access today. Developed by Playable Worlds, the game offers deep social, political, and crafting content with a focus on player-driven world transformation. The early access period will last at least six months, with a progression wipe planned before the 1.0 launch, which will be free-to-play.
Make My MMO: Stars Reach’s imminent early access, Book of Travels’ farewell
Stars Reach, an MMORPG developed by Raph Koster and Playable Worlds, is launching into early access soon, with Kickstarter backers able to collect their keys. Meanwhile, the tiny MMO Book of Travels has sunsetted its multiplayer version and is now available as a single-player game. The article also provides updates on various other crowdfunded MMO projects, highlighting both successes and failures in the genre.
Stars Reach gets ready to ‘go dark’ for a week prior to its early access launch
Playable Worlds is preparing for the early access launch of its space sandbox MMO, Stars Reach, on August 18th. The team thanked players for their participation in a recent stress test and emphasized that the launch build will be an alpha, with the goal of player input shaping the final game. Despite facing numerous challenges including turnover, COVID-19, budget constraints, and the loss of two developers, the company persevered with $40 million in funding to bring the ambitious indie title to fruition.
MMO Week in Review: I want to believe
This week's MMO news roundup covers updates and announcements for numerous titles including Stars Reach, EverQuest Legends, Elder Scrolls Online, and Final Fantasy XIV. Key stories include Stars Reach's official early access date, Elder Scrolls Online's post-layoff roadmap, and Guild Wars 3 revealing its composers. The article also touches on game development, business practices, and player sentiment across various MMORPGs.
Raph Koster’s MMORPG Stars Reach officially announces paid early access is coming August 18
Playable Worlds announced that Raph Koster's sandbox MMORPG, Stars Reach, will launch its paid early access on Steam on August 18th. The game will feature three tiers of entry, offering increasing rewards and cosmetics. The early access build will include combat, trade, and crafting across multiple planets, with future updates planned for features like PvP and factions.
Raph Koster on the birth of MMORPGs and sandboxes as the ultimate expression of social gaming
Raph Koster discusses the origins of MMORPGs and sandbox games, tracing their roots from MUDs to modern titles like Ultima Online and World of Warcraft. He highlights how sandbox games represent the ultimate expression of social gaming by fostering interdependency and allowing players to engage in ways that matter to each other.
