MMO EVOLUTION is about the online games industry and analyzes current trends and problems behind the decline of Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) Role-Playing Games (RPG). A vision for the future and an overview of emerging trends, as well as design challenges faced by developers, issues in Cybersociology, Community Management, Social Gaming, and the management of newly launched MMORPGs are discussed in detail. MMO EVOLUTION is the perfect guidebook for travelers, adventurers, innovators, and designers to the true next generation of immersive worlds and MMORPGs online.
REVIEW
Great book Used this book as a reference for a school-task about MMO in general. And it was extremely useful. Comprehensive information on all topics within MMO; how a game works, what makes it good etc.
Recommend this book to everyone that has an interest in MMO.
Aimed at dedicated fans of the role playing game World of Warcraft, this dynamic collection of essays explores the undying fascination with a game that is a welcome escape from reality for millions of people around the world. Gaming experts, developers, and bestselling sci-fi authors examine the overwhelming success of the game and the underlying motivations for gamers to spend, on average, as much time as they would at a part-time job battling in the world of Azeroth, and address issues ranging from economics and psychology to addiction and game ethics are addressed, as are the outstanding design of the game and the histories of several main characters.
REVIEW
Bit of a let down Think of this book as more of a collection of random blog posts related around World of Warcraft. There was no real cohesion among the authors. I did really enjoy some of the early chapters, but the end of the book felt like a publisher looking for filler. This information could have been a single series on a website blog somewhere.
We all share the same globe, we are born, we grow, travel, gain experiences, and acquire wisdom as we move through life, all of which takes place within the \world\". What if there was another world in fact many other worlds where you could let your mind wander experience adventures meet other likeminded travelers and share some time as a hero or a villain or just a virtual being. In fact such places exist; they are called virtual game worlds. In one such world Everquest people from all over the planet have been entering this virtual game world and creating avatars digital representations of themselves that they use to interact with the graphically created digital world they see on their computer screens. The amazing aspect of these worlds is not the beautiful graphical landscapes or the stories that make up the game that the players play; it is the ability to meet others in a virtual space avatar to avatar mind to mind.This book is the result of research conducted entirely within the Everquest game world and details the results of the study providing a glimpse into the importance of player social networks in creating a virtual community."
This book shows readers how to create an online multiplayer RPG in C# using XNA Game Studio Express. Written for intermediate to advanced game programmers who are proficient in C# programming, the book teaches not only the technical skills required to develop an independent or commercial title, but also the design practices and principles required to get the project off the ground and keep it moving to completion. Unlike other books, the entire software engineering process is covered from beginning to end. Diagrams and hands-on exercises throughout the book help readers understand and practice new skills, and the accompanying CD-ROM includes all the source code used in the book.
With an innovative, business-model approach, Game Development Essentials: Online Game Development provides the essentials needed to achieve long-term success with Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs). This book takes a significant and valuable departure from traditional game development books by addressing MMOG development as a complex, multi-faceted, service-oriented business, instead of focusing solely on technical, artistic, or design techniques. The resulting multi-dimensional focus allows readers to design their game and organize their development process with the entire business in mind. Coverage includes the key differences between single player games and MMOGs, as well as how the various components of the development process, such as the business model, marketing plan, gaming community and technical constraints, influence one another and determine the success of the MMOG.
Get crafty! Veteran WoW player and creator of the most popular World of Warcraft add-on (Atlas) Dan Gilbert guides you through making your stay in the world of Azeroth more exciting. Whether you’re human, dwarf, elf, or orc, you’ll feast on numerous unique hacks such as combat, artwork and model, map, interface, loot, chat, raid, PvP, and more. You’ll also learn to create and use skins and themes, write your own macros, create add-ons, and work with frames and XML so that you can improve your experience with the hottest online game on the planet—planet Earth, that is.
REVIEW
Hacking the World of Warcraft Very helpful book. Lots of information on existing addons and how to create your own.
It doesn't take long for an avid--or just wickedly clever--gamer to be chafed by the limitations of videogame software or hardware. If you want to go far beyond the obvious--whether you want to modify your console controller to work on other consoles, create your own text adventure, or modify your Game Boy--there's an awful lot of fun you can have for cheap or free, using the creative exploits of the gaming gurus. Gaming Hacks is the indispensable guide to cool things gamers can do to create, modify, and hack videogame hardware and software. Everything from social exploits and tips to be used in MMORPGs (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) to soldering-iron heavy hardware hacks is covered in this extreme-cool hack guide written by gamers for gamers. Gaming Hacks offers a stunning variety of hacks, exploits, and other creative acts on both modern and archaic console hardware and today's PC hardware--one hundred detailed, ingenious hacks are included. Gaming Hacks also includes detailed software-based looks at MMO (massively multiplayer) titles, FPS (first-person shooter) games, machinima (real-time movies created using game engines), emulation, save-game hacking, and many other miscellaneous subgenres and topics. Gaming Hacks shows hardcore gamers how to configure the best FPS peripherals, hack the Nuon DVD Player/Gaming System, modify their Game Boy, watch movies and listen to music and their Sega Dreamcast, and much, much more. Gaming Hacks shows you how to do things you didn't know could be done. If you want more than your average gamer--you want to explore and experiment, unearth shortcuts, make your games do what you want them to do Gaming Hacks will show you how. You don't need to be gaming guru to pick up Gaming Hacks; you'll be one when you put it down.
REVIEW
Covers every conceivable computer game type This book covers everything. You can go old school and get information on Mame games and building your own arcade machine. It covers portable with information on PDA games, hacking your Gameboy, and installing a PS2 in your car. It talks about the online world with combat strategies, how to game the systems to make money, and how to find and avoid cheaters. It's got great advice on how to build high end gaming PCs. Consoles are covered as well. He talks about overclocking them and chipping them to play import games. And that's just a sample.
Were this any other type of book I would say that the coverage is unfocused because it's too broad. But it's a Hacks book and these are intended for people with a clue to give them material on a wider range of topics. It starts you off and expects that you will run with it. For example, you get a lot of information about how to create a home arcade machine with Mame, but you won't get the detailed construction plans.
The text is well written, though he does tend to use the gamer lingo, so you may need a translator if you aren't up to the minute. Certainly the best book I have seen for people who want to push their gaming experience beyond what you can get out of the box from Electronics Boutique.
