Jim Moreno tackles the difficult task of roleplaying a merchant in this edition of RoleCraft: "Even roleplayers are known to struggle with this cookie cutter gameplay, and with keeping their characters from looking and acting just like every other character in game. What to do? One sure way to avoid the pitfalls of routine is to realize that there are many other classes in game besides adventurer. It's time to become a professional roleplayer!"

Sean Bulger's periodic community column today looks at the concept of Open PvP (player vs. player) and what it does to games and their communities.

A while back we talked about conflict between players and what sort of a role that it can play in a game and for communities. During this, it was noted that player competition can be implemented in numerous different ways. This week, I would like to revisit this discussion and talk about one of those particular methods: the open PvP world.

Open PvP is one of the more controversial topics in MMO circles and plenty of people have fairly strong opinions one way or the other on the subject. That said, I would like to explore both the positive impacts and negative ones on the player community. Open PvP has the potential to help bond a community fairly tightly, but it also has the potential to truly tear it apart as well.

Read more after the leap.

Last week, Jonathan Steinhauer's column looked at the design of outdoor areas in The Dangerous Wilderness, Part 1. In Part 2, he continues his thoughts on the basic challenge most every MMO faces.

The easiest solution, though it avoids the root of the problem, is to disperse the ground spawns to a more realistic population level. There are areas where one would expect to encounter monsters, and that is where the heavy concentrations should be. Hard core hunting should occur in the fortresses and camps of the various villains, monsters, and animals that are the bane of the adventurer, not every time you step off the path. This opens up the wilderness for travel and casual hunting while giving players the kind of combat that exist in epic stories: battle in the lairs.

Read more after the leap.

Jim Moreno looks at the biggest question for the modern MMO roleplayer: how do you keep in character in an instance? They're here to stay, so it's time to learn how to deal with them.

Hear me now and believe me later, there is no reason why roleplayers cannot and should not engage in the same high quality RP within an instance as without. Personally, I'm not at all knowledgeable as to where the notion started from, but I absolutely aim to crush it here and henceforth. More than that, I want to share with fellow roleplayers why I think instances are the best places for RP, and provide some tips on how to take on these adventures with RP in mind. I hope they help!

Read more after the leap.

In a new editorial, columnist Jonathan Steinhauer embarks into "The Dangerous Wilderness". He looks at the concept of pf the wild and how it's presented in MMOs.

As I've wandered through the wilds of various games, I've been stunned by the panoramic vistas that have opened out before me. Trees sway in the light breeze, their leaves rustling softly through my speakers. A stream trickles by, the sunlight gleaming of the whorls and eddies of the current while in the distance, purple mountains capped with white glaciers scrape the billowing clouds. The imagery is so detailed, I could almost believe it is real.

Read more after the leap.

A post over at StarTrekGames.com shows more evidence that Cryptic Studios is the unannounced new developer on Star Trek Online. A forum member has posted that Timothy J. Harris, Esq. c/o Morrison & Foerster LLP is listed among the contact information on the official website for Cryptic's Champions Online, and this is the same law firm that contacted them representing the new Star Trek Online developers.

You can see the post over at StarTrekGaming.com
You can see where Mr. Harris contacted them earlier claiming to represent the Star Trek Online developers here.

If you have missed the Star Trek Online soap drama, the Hailing Frequency released a comprehensive timeline of events since P2/Perpetual Entertainment announced they were seizing Star Trek Online development:

In January 2008, San Francisco based P2 Entertainment announced that they were cancelling their Star Trek Online project after almost four years in development.

This news brought about speculation throughout the entire community with regards to the circumstances surrounding P2 Entertainment's cancellation of Star Trek Online and the subsequent closure of the company.

Accusations of money swindling and fraud have been common place, with some people claiming that P2 never even produced more than basic renders and screenshots.

Hailing Frequency has been working very hard to investigate these claims, and we are happy to say that we have been unable to uncover the true chain of events that led to the closure of Star Trek Online...

Check the rest at the Hailing Frequency.

Thanks NeoWolf!

This week, we were treated to the tantalizing prospects of a Grand Theft Auto IV MMO, a BioWare-produced KOTOR MMO, and the resurrection of Star Trek Online. But there are plenty of other possible titles and franchises out there that could use the MMO treatment. For this week's discussion, we want to know:

What game, series or fictional world would you like to see become an MMO?

I'll cast my vote for an MMO based on EA's skate. How about you?

Star Trek gaming site, Hailing Frequency, reported today an interesting turn around for the recently closed official Star Trek Online site, which returned with a brand new background and a "Coming Soon" underneath the logo. The WhoIs information have not been updated as of yet, but as noted in the HF report, this might change very soon:

This could signify a change in hands of the domain, potentially from perpetual, to whoever may be developing it now, but, attempts to trace the domain back to its new owner do not give any results.

As the recent rumors have indicated, Cryptic Studios might be the secretive new developer, but their lips are tightly shut at the moment. Stay tuned as we continue covering this very possible resurrection of Star Trek Online!

Just days after Perpetual Entertainment/P2's fate was sealed, speculations and rumors continue to build up around Cryptic Studios' unannounced "secret SciFi MMO" project, and Star Trek Online's dedicated podcast site, The Hailing Frequency says that all the evidence is pointing towards just a resurrected STO:

On Febuary 21st at the Game Developers Conference, Jack Emmert, Chief Creative Officer at Cryptic Studios, gave an interesting talk about using episodic content in the morning's first round of GDC sessions. During this talk, Emmert mentioned the recently announced Champions Online as well as what he called "a secret sci-fi project."

According to sources at the conference, Emmert was wearing a sweatshirt that read "STARFLEET ACADEMY" across the front. Emmert also emphasized "secret sci-fi project" with some fairly large Air Quotes.

Taking all of this information into account, it is becoming gradually clearer to see a picture - a picture where Cryptic Studios is working on Star Trek Online - and, not wanting to announce anything officially yet, they are dropping tidbits of information here and there...

Until a solid confirmation is announced, these will remain mere speculations, but a Trekker can always hope!

Read the rest at the Hailing Frequency.

Thanks NeoWolf73!