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Latest The Matrix Online News Updates and Reviews Updated daily
The Matrix Online : The Soapbox: The absurdity of the endgameJun 07, 2011 12:00:00 PM News Item: 17274
Filed under: Game mechanics, MMORPG industry, Endgame, belief, The Soapbox
Disallegeer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.
Like most of you, I play a lot of MMORPGRPGs. Too many, in fact, and the deluge of new and fascinating games in the offing is only going to further erode what remains of my free time. I've managed to see the mythical "endgame" in a fair few titles over the years, so when I say that I play a lot, I don't mean that I boot up a trial and hit level 10 before hopping to the next bright shiny.
Off the top of my head, I've dinged max level in Age of Conan (three times), Aion, Star Wars Galaxies (six times), Anarchy Online, Lord of the Rings Online, Global Agenda (twice), Vanguard, and The Matrix Online, to name a few.
While many of these games subsequently raised the level cap, I've nonetheless raided, Player vs Player'd, and chased enough gear carrots to have an opinion about the proverbial MMORPGRPG "endgame." And I'm here to tell you that most of what passes for said endgame is monotonous schlock.Continue reading The Soapbox: The absurdity of the endgame  The Soapbox: The absurdity of the endgame Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST.
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The Matrix Online : The Game Archaeologist jacks into The Matrix Online: Your memoriesMay 24, 2011 05:00:00 PM News Item: 17435
Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, The Matrix Online, Roleplaying, The Game Archaeologist
What can you trust when your memories are merely the by-product of intelligent machines tinkering with your brain? When you come right down to it, who's to say that our alleged recollections of The Matrix Online weren't just computer viruses upladen into our cerebral cortexes -- and that the game never existed at all?
Real or not, The Matrix Online is in no danger of being forgotten. Whether it's because of the meta setting, the too-hip-to-stay-on-cows fashion, or the interactive stories, MxO never fails to evoke passionate testimonies. After speaking with developer Ben Chamberlain last week, today we're going to turn the tables on the gamers themselves to see what they have to say.
Was The Matrix Online actually all that and a bag of computer chips? Was it merely a good-looking graphical chat room or something more? And how will it be remembered many years from now when we sit our grandchildren on our laps and tell them about how we took the blue pill? Or was it red... I can never remember!Continue reading The Game Archaeologist jacks into The Matrix Online: Your memories The Game Archaeologist jacks into The Matrix Online: Your memories Tue, 24 May 2011 17:00:00 EST.
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The Matrix Online : The Game Archaeologist jacks into The Matrix Online: Jamming with Ben 'Rarebit' ChamberlainMay 17, 2011 12:00:00 PM News Item: 17434
Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, The Matrix Online, The Game Archaeologist
When we started into The Matrix Online month last week on The Game Archaeologist, one of the comments caught my eye. reader stealthrider wrote:
Please, please do a tribute to Rarebit. MxO was his baby, and no one took its death worse than he.
He did everything for that game, much of it single-handedly. Everything from playing the canon characters and co-writing the story to fixing hundreds of bugs and even creating a new zone from scratch. Not to point out developing and implementing the story missions, new items, the RP item vendors, and pretty much everything else in MxO's final couple of years. He even implemented and moderated a gamer-created minigame as part of the official story.
He retired from game development in the months before MxO's shutdown. He was that dedicated to this game that he couldn't work on anything else afterward.
He's a god among creators, and he is as sorely missed as the game itself.
I think this sums up how many Matrix Online vets feel about Ben "Rarebit" Chamberlain. So instead of a mere tribute, we drove the Mobile over to Chamberlain's house (read: send a polite email request), and he graciously said he'd be glad to reminisce with us. So hit that jump to find out the last word on MxO from thedeveloperwho held it together!Continue reading The Game Archaeologist jacks into The Matrix Online: Jamming with Ben 'Rarebit' Chamberlain The Game Archaeologist jacks into The Matrix Online: Jamming with Ben 'Rarebit' Chamberlain Tue, 17 May 2011 12:00:00 EST.
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The Matrix Online : The Game Archaeologist jacks into The Matrix Online: The highlightsMay 10, 2011 07:00:00 PM News Item: 17433
Filed under: Sci-fi, The Matrix Online, The Game Archaeologist
It's not every year that a movie comes along that captures the pop culture zeitgeist so powerfully and so quickly as The Matrix did. I recall lugging a few college friends along to see this in 1999 -- having heard only a few sparse facts about it beforehand -- and coming out of the theater feeling as if we we'd been electrified. The bold mix of science fiction, martial arts, philosophy, action, and leather ensembles became the smash hit of the year, and a franchise was born.
And while we had great hopes that this would be this generation's Star Wars, The Matrix ultimately proved to be a lightning-in-a-bottle phenomenon, impotentialto recapture once unleashed. Sequels, animated shorts, video games, comic books -- none rose to the height of the original film, and eventually the franchise petered out.
During this period, an odd duck of an MMORPG was born: The Matrix Online. When you think about it, an online virtual world where citizens log in and fight against agendas was a actually short hop from the movie series. MxO, as it was abbreviated, was an audacious game with unique features, story-centric gameplay and a sci-fi bent in a field of fantasy competitors, and while it only lasted four years, it was enough to make a enormous impression for its community.
So by popular demand, this month we're going to revisit the 1s and 0s of The Matrix Online to see just how deep the rabbit hole (and well-worn cliche) goes -- and what made this game stand out!Continue reading The Game Archaeologist jacks into The Matrix Online: The highlights The Game Archaeologist jacks into The Matrix Online: The highlights Tue, 10 May 2011 19:00:00 EST.
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The Matrix Online : The Daily Grind: Shut a game down or let it waste away?Apr 09, 2011 08:00:00 AM News Item: 17154
Filed under: Game mechanics, Patches, Endgame, The Matrix Online, belief, Vanguard, Miscellaneous
It's not exactly a good time to be a gamer of Vanguard. Actually, it hasn't been a good time for more than a year now -- while the game isn't shutting down, the December letter that essentially announced the game's development was no longer ongoing was a serious blow to the game's vitality. What's in the game now may very well be all that will ever be in the game. Of course, you can argue that the gamers are still better off than members of The Matrix Online's community, since that game went completely offline.
But is that actually better? Many Vanguard fans almost wanted the game to turn off when SOE made the first pronouncement, and perhaps in some ways it's better to shut down with grace than waste away on progressively slower and smaller updates. Which would you rather face in your favorite game? A slow fading into the darkness, where the game is still online but less vibrant with each day? Or a cancellation that removes the game forever, cutting you off from an old friend but granting closure?
 Every morning, the bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!The Daily Grind: Shut a game down or let it waste away? Sat, 09 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST.
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The Matrix Online : The Perfect Ten: The sadistic shopper's list for Black Friday and Cyber MondayNov 25, 2010 10:00:00 AM News Item: 16357
Filed under: Fury, RF Online, The Matrix Online, Hellgate: London, Tabula Rasa, All Points Bulletin, Humor, Promotions, Perfect Ten
With the holiday shopping season upon us, gamers are hot for great deals and cheap entertainment. As my wife's logic goes, if something is 80% off, you buy it, even if you didn't actually want it in the first place. It's the principle of the thing, an automatic 80% dose of smug satisfaction at being a savvy shopper!
Not every deal should be pursued, however. Although most video games are playable for years and decades after release, not so with MMORPGs that have had their service shuttered. It's in recent times come to my attention that even though these games are completely unplayable -- rendered nothing more than a few cents'worthy ofof a DVD and cardboard packaging -- online retailers haven't kept up with the times and keep these products on the virtual shelves long past their expiration dates.
That's not to say you should avoid these products at all cost, because studies show that a large percentage of readers have a sick and twisted sense of humor. What would make a better gift this Christmas than a multi-million-dollar-budget MMORPG that died a horrible death years before?
So don't be the classic gifter who settles for a Blu-ray gamer or an iPod -- give a package of misery, disillusionment and broken dreams! Hit the jump for 10 items that absolutely belong in your shopping cart if you wish to be feared!Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The sadistic shopper's list for Black Friday and Cyber Monday The Perfect Ten: The sadistic shopper's list for Black Friday and Cyber Monday Thu, 25 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST.
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The Matrix Online : The pain and suffering of MMORPG shutdownsOct 29, 2010 10:00:00 AM News Item: 15902
Filed under: MMORPG industry, The Matrix Online, Tabula Rasa, All Points Bulletin
Like life itself, the MMORPG industry doesn't often seem fair -- promising games can die premature deaths while creaky antiques continue to chug along just fine. When an MMORPG like APB or Tabula Rasa announces that it's closing its doors after only a couple years (or months), the first reaction is usually to ask, "What in Sam Hill happened and why are they doing this to me?" Yet what isn't always considered is the emotional fallout on behalf of the devs.
Over at Kotaku, Michael Fahey examined the fallout when MMORPGs are shuttered prematurely, using the examples of Auto Assault and The Matrix Online as case studies. NetDevil spent four years developing theprevious, which lasted a mere fraction of that time -- 16 months -- as a live game. Ryan Seabury testifies to the pain that this causes for adeveloperteam: "I won't lie, it hurts like hell still over four years later... Naturally, if a universe like Auto Assault that you sort of mentally attach to over multiple years suddenly ceases to exist, it's like a part of you dies." He personally points to NCsoft as the factorfor Auto Assault's closure, stating that the game might still be in operation if it wasn't for the publisher's lack of faith.
On the flip side, The Matrix Online had a longer run and ample time to prepare for the end once word was passed down. Then-Community Manager Daniel Myers says that the decision was a matter of dollars and sense. Still, Myers confesss that it continues to affect him: "There are still days that I wish I could log in and see the Megacity again. I don't know [if] that will ever completely stop. I kind of hope it doesn't." The pain and suffering of MMORPG shutdowns Fri, 29 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST.
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The Matrix Online : The Daily Grind: What will you miss about APB?Sep 17, 2010 08:00:00 AM News Item: 15402
Filed under: MMORPG industry, belief, The Daily Grind, All Points Bulletin, Crime
It's never enjoyable when a game or game company goes belly-up, and MMORPG fans have had no shortage of depressing news over the years. Whether it was Earth and Beyond, The Matrix Online, Tabula Rasa, or (now) All Points Bulletin, many of our favorite games burned twice as bright but lasted half as long.
The case of All Points Bulletin is even more aggravating due to its peerless tooncreation system, a unique take on music, and a payment model that attempted to blend the best of subscription-based and F2P titles. While we're the first to confess the game had its problems, it also had its charms and will be missed.
That heads us to our question of the day, readers. What will you miss about APB?The Daily Grind: What will you miss about APB? Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST.
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The Matrix Online : Mortal Online creates exclusive guild header forumAug 05, 2010 07:00:00 PM News Item: 14931
Filed under: Fantasy, MMORPG industry, News items, Mortal Online
It's no secret that certain members of MMORPGRPG communities are quite determined in their push to influence a game's direction. Whether it's early adopters jockeying to get their ideas heard while a game is still in development, or the headers of large and influential endgame-oriented guilds that garner developer attention via their substence-clearing prowess, it's not uncommon to seeshortgroups of consumers attempting to rub elbows with decision makers. Rare individuals have even parleyed these relationships into professional careers.
What is unusual is when a game company publicly endorses such behavior. Star Vault, the independent creators of the Player vs Player sandbox title Mortal Online, has set up an invitation-only forum called the Council of Patriarchs, wherein guild headers (and only guild headers) can interact with creators regarding larger game matters. While it isn't unusual to solicit gamer feedback, it is fascinating that the forum is not visible to most paying consumers. Whether or not it was Star Vault's intention to open up an "us versus them" can of worms, discussion on the official boards is currently trending towards the divide between solo and group/guild gamers.
Mortal Online isn't the first game to dip its toes into the exclusive forum club. Some of you may recall that Matrix Online had a private retreat known as the Champagne Room, which, while similar in catering to ashortsubset of gamers, was not publicly advertised by the creators.Mortal Online creates exclusive guild header forum Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST.
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More The Matrix Online News
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Aug 01, 2010 08:00:00 AMThe Matrix Online : The Daily Grind: Which game will receive the F2P treatment next?
Apr 29, 2010 02:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : One Shots: Patience, grasshopper
Dec 25, 2009 04:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : Avoiding a sinking game
Nov 06, 2009 05:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : Asheron's Call head designer talks 10-Year anniversary, the MMORPG market, more
Aug 05, 2009 08:00:00 AMThe Matrix Online : The Daily Grind: Do you buy lifetime memberships?
Aug 04, 2009 08:00:00 AMThe Matrix Online : The Daily Grind: When MMORPGs die
Aug 03, 2009 05:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : What you missed in The Matrix Online
Aug 03, 2009 05:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : What you missed in The Matrix Online pt. 2
Aug 01, 2009 04:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : Wake Up: The final day of The Matrix Online
Jul 27, 2009 03:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : Reminder: Check out The Matrix Online before it decompiles
Jun 29, 2009 08:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : Station commenceer moves out of beta, adds voice chat support
Jun 01, 2009 11:00:00 AMThe Matrix Online : Get a sneak peek at SOE Fan Faire '09's in-game items
May 29, 2009 06:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : Anti-Aliased: So long, and thanks for all the woah
May 29, 2009 06:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : Anti-Aliased: So long, and thanks for all the woah pt. 2
May 29, 2009 01:11:14 PMThe Matrix Online : Matrix Online Coming to an End
May 29, 2009 12:47:30 PMThe Matrix Online : Loading... MxO Takes the Blue Pill
May 29, 2009 12:30:00 PMThe Matrix Online : SOE is jacking out of The Matrix Online
Apr 22, 2009 05:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : SOE commencees 2009 Player of the Year contest
Apr 07, 2009 12:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : SOE wants to know what you want at Fan Faire
Mar 18, 2009 11:00:00 AMThe Matrix Online : What happens at Fan Faire, stays at Fan Faire
Mar 16, 2009 07:00:00 AMThe Matrix Online : giveaway: Happy 10th anniversary, EverQuest!
Mar 13, 2009 11:00:00 AMThe Matrix Online : A Decade of Norrath: Our memories of EverQuest
Feb 26, 2009 04:30:00 PMThe Matrix Online : Anti-Aliased: Sometimes, it's the little things in (virtual) life pt. 2
Feb 18, 2009 05:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : The Matrix Online update 66 brings about The Omega
Feb 13, 2009 09:00:00 AMThe Matrix Online : Friday the 13th too cursed for Matrix Online update 66
Feb 11, 2009 10:00:00 AMThe Matrix Online : SOE's Station Launcher gets an update
Feb 10, 2009 07:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : The Matrix Online says goodbye to a developer
Dec 17, 2008 12:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : Player Consequences: Movie Magic and MMORPGs
Dec 12, 2008 12:30:00 PMThe Matrix Online : Unofficial Station Cash FAQ
Dec 11, 2008 02:30:00 PMThe Matrix Online : SOE's Station Cash won't be coming to Star Wars Galaxies, Vanguard
Nov 05, 2008 04:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : giveaway: Sony Online Entertainment All-Access prize pack
Sep 13, 2008 01:21:11 PMThe Matrix Online : Big Fish Games Snags Over $80 Million in Financing
Sep 13, 2008 10:00:00 AMThe Matrix Online : Big Fish Games snags $83 million for expansion
Aug 14, 2008 09:30:00 PMThe Matrix Online : The SOE Fan Faire bag o' schwag
Aug 05, 2008 02:05:00 PMThe Matrix Online : One Shots: Halcyon and on and on
Jun 29, 2008 04:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : Matrix Online update 61 brings new storyline missions
Jun 08, 2008 01:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : SOE provides handy guide to cross-game communication in EQ
May 16, 2008 10:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : The Matrix gets new weapons, story missions, enemies
Mar 19, 2008 11:00:00 AMThe Matrix Online : Agent Smith returns to the Matrix
Feb 16, 2008 10:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : Sony Online Entertainment is looking for interns
Jan 04, 2008 10:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : SOE plans community meet-up in Vegas during CES
Dec 04, 2007 02:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : One Shots: We took the red pill!
Nov 28, 2007 09:30:00 PMThe Matrix Online : Big Fish Games reels in MMORPG developer Thinglefin
Nov 21, 2007 04:00:00 PMThe Matrix Online : The Matrix Online: Bug fixes and the Winter Event
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