iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 26/08/2026

Congrats! Nice to know the site is still in safe hands. Best of luck to both yourself and Bree.

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Fusionx @rofldrg.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

What I wouldn't give for SE to use their current books arm to localize -all- the FF MMO books they've made.

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Felipe Pepe @felipepepe.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Reminder that if you like my dives into game history from a more global perspective and want more, you can check my collection of links & resources here: felipepepe.medium.com/my-little-ga... Has over 100 links to blogs, articles and videos from all over the world. Still WIP and messy, sorry lol

felipepepe.medium.com

My Little Game History Anthology

A personal collection of writings, references, bookmarks and sources for further reading

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

A living world, an ever-evolving Britannia - and my first MMORPG experience. Splash screen artwork to evoke your excitement at the medieval fantasy adventures that'll unfold - and a race to be the first to off Lord British. 📺: Ultima Online Public Beta (1.2.3), Origin Systems, June 1997

The installation splash screen with fantasy artwork of dragons, castles, and lizardmen, with warriors clashing on cliffs overlooking a city beneath a smoky sky.

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 27/07/2026

Haven't posted here in a while. BUT, it's for a good reason. My wife and I welcomed a healthy baby girl into the world last month. Naturally, I don't really have a lot of time for gaming/writing atm, but still inching along with my next book. Hoping to share some details before the end of the year.

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 20/05/2026

Just pledged - cannot wait to add this to my steadily growing library of MMO history books!

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

📖 Bytes of Game Ads 📺 Vana'diel awaited you on PlayStation 2, first in 2002 in Japan and then in 2004 for the North American rollout. It's kinda wild to think that FFXI, still in renewed active development, started off life as a PS2 MMORPG.

Fantasy... Adventure... Community. A magazine ad for FFXI, with three panels of graphic shots of fantasy landscapes, legioons of adventurers, and fearsome monmsters. Details of the 40GB HDD are shared that enable it to run on PS2.

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 14/03/2026

Congratulations to Richard Bartle, MUD pioneer and author of Designing Virtual Worlds, on his induction into the @ukieofficial.bsky.social UK Games Industry Hall of Fame earlier this month. ukie.org.uk/news/2026-in...

ukie.org.uk

2026 inductees to the UK Games Industry Hall of Fame announced - Ukie

Four Trailblazing Games Leaders Honoured in 2026 UK Games Industry Hall of Fame

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 10/02/2026

Was just listening to this album last night. So good.

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MinnMax @minnmax.com · 10/02/2026

We're saddened to learn Kevin Lydy passed away. He was the designer of the EverQuest logo and still working on the MMO 25 years after its launch. forums.everquest.com/index.php?th... Kevin was the focus of our MinnMax Spotlight from November 2024, a very sweet man. RIP. youtu.be/_18ZFndAzWU

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EverQuest @everquest.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

We are immensely grief stricken by the news of Kevin Lydy's recent passing. He was an integral part of EverQuest over the years. Our deepest condolences and sympathies go out to his family, friends, and the multitude of fans he made along his journey through life. Rest well dearest Adventurer.

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Forgotten Worlds @forgottenworlds.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

25 years ago Phantasy Star Online made the cover of Edge magazine’s Christmas issue… 👀 #Sega #PhantasyStar #Dreamcast ☀️🌴

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Nova Crystallis @novacrystallis.com · 25/12/2025

Dragon Quest X expansion "Lost Children in Space-Time" (Version 8.0) will release digital-only on June 25, 2026 for Windows, PlayStation 4|5, and Nintendo Switch 1|2.

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 23/12/2025

Skies started appearing in magazines prior to Ultima Online's launch and was listed alongside EverQuest and Asheron's Call in PC Gamer's 1998 Hot 100 list of upcoming games.

Skies preview PC Gamer US Magazine July 1998

Skies preview Next Generation Magazine November 1997

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 23/12/2025

Skies (SegaSoft) seems to have been more of a lobby-style MMO, with 4-player group quests. This sounds similar to the system used in Phantasy Star Online (Sonic Team), which entered into production around the time Skies' development wound down.

A screenshot from the cancelled online RPG Skies. A character with large wings stands in a temple environment.

A screenshot from the cancelled online RPG Skies. A character with fairy wings floats in a temple environment.

A screenshot from the cancelled online RPG Skies. A character with fairy wings flies towards a floating island.

A screenshot from the cancelled online RPG Skies. A character with fairy wings floats in a dark temple. In the centre is a small pool of water.

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 23/12/2025

Before Medal of Honour and Call of Duty, Vince Zampella was a producer on Skies. Announced in 1997, Skies was Sega's attempt to break into the early MMORPG space. The game was slated for a 1999 release on PC and Dreamcast but was cancelled in late '98. youtu.be/5mFVoq-h90s?...

youtu.be

EP CLASSIC S2E10 - METAL GEAR SOLID / ZAMPELLA & WEST / CRASH 3 / UNREAL - Electric Playground

YouTube video by Electric Playground Network - EPN

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 20/12/2025

The Star Wars Galaxies Legends rogue server recently added an in-game mausoleum where you can view the avatars of players who've passed away. Similar ideas date back to the MUDs of yore, but this is one of the neatest implementations I've seen in a virtual world.

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 19/12/2025

Fabulous news! So happy to see this game thriving under Broadsword.

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Pie (7.56) @mooncatenjoyer.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

You were not meant for this world, yet you brought it joy. You had no name, yet you were loved by many. You were only Lv 1, yet your whimsy could not be measured. Your footsteps no longer dot the snow, yet they left their mark on us. Thank you, . And farewell.

Miah standing in a snowy tundra with her hand to her chest, looking over the mountains. A vision of the famous nameless antelope doe is in the sky beyond the mountain range.

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 17/12/2025

I'm trying to find a (reasonably priced) copy of this book - physical or digital. It was featured in Wired and Edge mags back in 1999, but I can't find any copies knocking about on Amazon or eBay. Seems to be a few library copies in Australia but that's all I've been able to turn up. Please share!

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 16/12/2025

Congratulations - a very well-deserved nomination.

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Guild Wars @guildwars2.com · 08/12/2025

🎬 Premiering Wed at 7 PM PT: The Making of Guild Wars: Celebrating 25 Years of ArenaNet! Go behind the scenes of the franchise, the people who built it, & the community that calls Tyria home. Register to get notified when it goes live: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpm2...

youtube.com

The Making of Guild Wars: Celebrating 25 Years of ArenaNet

YouTube video by Guild Wars 2

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 26/11/2025

Properly heartbreaking stuff. Especially considering quite a few of these were close to prime time.

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Retro Video Game Ads @retrovgads.codevanessa.com · 05/11/2025

Magazine advertising for Everquest by 989 Studios & Sony Computer Entertainment in the issue #7 of PC Accelerator, in March 1999

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 02/11/2025

Always find it super interesting how MMO servers can organically develop communities with their own personalities.

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Felipe Pepe @felipepepe.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

So, today I'm announcing a new book project... and doing a call for papers: crpgbook.wordpress.com/2025/10/31/t... It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article. Please share :)

crpgbook.wordpress.com

The Video Game History Expansion Pack – Pitch your story

Today I’m putting my money where my mouth is and launching a new project — a book focused on game history outside of the usual North American perspectives.

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MassivelyOP @massivelyop.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

From crime sims to horse girl games, here are 10 MMOs that took a gaming theme and turned it into a full-fledged MMO:

massivelyop.com

Perfect Ten: MMOs that adapted specific video game genres

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 28/10/2025

Shocked and saddened by the New World news. Cruel. Shameful. Completely unnecessary. Wishing the best for the passionate, talented people who just lost their jobs.

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 26/10/2025

Huge thanks to @thevideogamelibrary.org and the good folks at CRC Press for sorting me out with a copy of this very big and very essential book. Even if you've read Bartle's original edition of Designing Virtual Worlds, you need to check out this expanded Second Edition. Eagerly awaiting Vol. 2...

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MassivelyOP @massivelyop.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Halloween festivities across the MMO world, 2025 edition - we're rounding up all the MMO Halloween events we can find (and adding as we go!)

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MassivelyOP @massivelyop.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Perfect Ten: The best MMOs for the year-round Halloween season

massivelyop.com

Perfect Ten: The best MMOs for the year-round Halloween season

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MassivelyOP @massivelyop.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

From WoW killers that never materialized to waiting on MMOs that still haven't launched, here are 10 things that haven't changed about the MMORPG genre since 2015

massivelyop.com

Perfect Ten: 10 things that haven’t changed about the MMORPG genre since 2015

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Burrito Babe @ootwb.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

There is a new LEGENDARY Museum in @swglegends.bsky.social #SWG #SWGLegends

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MassivelyOP @massivelyop.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Xfire – that is, Xf1re – is back to serve up some nostalgia to the old-school gaming social community

massivelyop.com

Xfire – that is, Xf1re – is back to serve up some nostalgia to the old-school gaming social community

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Shenmue Dojo @shenmuedojo.com · 18/09/2025

Here's a very old screenshot from Shenmue Online. Though there's a lot that remains unknown about the unreleased MMO, the locations and setting scream Shenmue to us. Maybe one day we'll learn more about this strange chapter of Shenmue's history! #ThrowbackThursday #SEGA #LetsGetShenmue4

A screenshot from Shenmue Online. A woman stands in the centre of the image and wears an orange vest and blue trousers. In the background are Chinese archways, hedges, buildings and phone wires, as well as a blue sky.

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MassivelyOP @massivelyop.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Face of Mankind rogue server Empire Rising begins its open beta tomorrow

massivelyop.com

Face of Mankind rogue server Empire Rising begins its open beta tomorrow

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 06/08/2025

Yes, I'm aware that the previous global releases of Digimon RPG/Battle Online and DMO have been pretty dreadful. This will likely be the case here, but I'm sure there are still fans who would be interested in trying it out.

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 06/08/2025

The third Digimon MMO just got an update adding an official English translation. This YouTuber speculates that a global version of the game might be imminent. Doesn't sound unreasonable given the current hype surrounding the IP (Time Stranger, Beatbreak, Alysion). www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA48...

youtube.com

Digimon Super Rumble in 2025 - Now English Translated

YouTube video by Gaming Hardcore

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 02/08/2025

What a great final paragraph. Everything about this endeavour is anathema to the human spirit.

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 01/08/2025

My blog has been quiet for quite a few months now, but I've been secretly busy. I'll be announcing my new book at the end of August. mmofolklorist.com/2025/08/01/a...

mmofolklorist.com

A short update — August 2025

Next MMO Folklorist book to be announced later this month.

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Ben Griggs @bgriggs.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

#LOTRO Weatherstock, baby! It's been a long time. Hey, who invited the Nazgul?

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 25/07/2025

I'm not talking about LOTRO specifically here, just MMOs in general. And of course there are some terrific Discord servers and communities out there. I'm largely referring to big, official servers rather than smaller, player-run servers.

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 25/07/2025

Another disadvantage of the swing towards Discord IMO. Forums would just as easily develop a toxic culture, but it could be nurtured. I'm not sure the same can be said for Discord. I can appreciate the platform's advantages, but I try to keep my activity in-game as much as possible.

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Nick Calandra @nickjcal.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Getting close to wrapping up our filming week for the 20th Anniversary Guild Wars Documentary we’ve been commissioned for via @lostandfound.media. I’m always fascinated by just the breadth of history that successful MMO’s bring to the table.

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 22/07/2025

In light of the Hellraiser reception, can someone please give Gun Interactive permission to repurpose their tone-perfect Texas Chain Saw Massacre assets into a singleplayer title now?

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 22/07/2025

The reaction to this should be giving the rights holders to all these iconic horror franchises some serious pause. Treat the thing with respect and given the fans what they want and, wouldn't you know, people sit up. Goes for movies/games/tv shows.

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James Crosby @mmofolklorist.com · 22/07/2025

Can't believe my favourite horror franchise is getting a game adaptation that looks *that* good. I am so ready for @hellraisergame.bsky.social to give me terrible, terrible nightmares.

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