https://massivelyop.com MMORPG news and opinions Thu, 16 Feb 2023 14:56:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/22/desert-oasis-black-deserts-jaehee-kim-and-jesse-hoo-on-accessibility-community-and-playing-their-own-game/ Thu, 22 Dec 2022 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=419809 Attending the first Calpheon Ball in the US was an awesome experience. Getting to see fellow Black Desert fans, watching the joy in peoples’ faces when meeting their guildies in person for the first time, and capping off the night with an RNG-fueled raffle with prizes ranging from Black Spirit-themed bathroom mats to a custom-made BDO […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/12/11/desert-oasis-the-woosa-the-maegu-and-new-lands-the-highlights-from-black-deserts-2022-calpheon-ball/ Sun, 11 Dec 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=418537 Black Desert had a pretty quiet 2022. It might be a good thing considering how much bad press some of its peers have been getting lately. But even though things have been relatively quiet, Pearl Abyss has been steadily more to the game, and over this weekend, the company threw the Calpheon Ball, the annual […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/28/desert-oasis-how-black-desert-mobile-has-a-little-something-for-everyone/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/28/desert-oasis-how-black-desert-mobile-has-a-little-something-for-everyone/#comments Thu, 28 Apr 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=383280 It’s amazing how fast two years flies by. It didn’t seem that long ago that I was doing my first impressions piece of Black Desert Mobile back in October 2019. And I’d nearly forgotten about the piece I wrote about it a year after its release. But along with its PC counterpart, it’s been chugging […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/28/desert-oasis-how-black-desert-mobile-has-a-little-something-for-everyone/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/14/desert-oasis-jumping-into-black-deserts-new-drakania-class/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/14/desert-oasis-jumping-into-black-deserts-new-drakania-class/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=381117 Everything gets better when a dragon knight is involved as far as I’m concerned. Kain Highwind made Final Fantasy IV the single best Final Fantasy in the entire series. On the other hand, the distinct lack of a dragon knight in the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise has held it back from becoming a true […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/04/14/desert-oasis-jumping-into-black-deserts-new-drakania-class/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/30/desert-oasis-hands-on-with-black-deserts-eternal-winter-expansion-launching-april-6/ https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/30/desert-oasis-hands-on-with-black-deserts-eternal-winter-expansion-launching-april-6/#comments Thu, 31 Mar 2022 02:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=380920 I needed to take a sabbatical. Not just from Black Desert, but the whole genre. The pandemic gave me a lot of computer time, and just as too much energon is bad for a transformer, I had way too much computer time. Besides, I just became a father and I wanted to spend more time with […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2022/03/30/desert-oasis-hands-on-with-black-deserts-eternal-winter-expansion-launching-april-6/feed/ 18 https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/05/desert-oasis-unearthing-the-origin-story-of-black-desert-studio-pearl-abyss/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/05/desert-oasis-unearthing-the-origin-story-of-black-desert-studio-pearl-abyss/#comments Fri, 05 Nov 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=360995 On our side of the pond, the exploits of various popular video game companies and their founding are well documented. But when it comes to companies out of the USA, their origins are a little more obscure in the English-language press. Even Black Desert and EVE Online company Pearl Abyss, which is arranging itself to […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/11/05/desert-oasis-unearthing-the-origin-story-of-black-desert-studio-pearl-abyss/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2021/07/02/desert-oasis-the-key-takeaways-from-black-deserts-heidel-ball-2021/ Fri, 02 Jul 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=342911 It’s been a busy two weeks for Black Desert Online. The past week saw another Arena of Arsha event, this time with trial characters. And while that was a blast to watch and saw around 30,000 viewers when I tuned in, the bigger story was the roadmap revealed during the Heidel Ball. And there’s a lot […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/16/desert-oasis-black-desert-onlines-atoraxxian-dungeon-is-a-good-idea-but-will-it-last/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/16/desert-oasis-black-desert-onlines-atoraxxian-dungeon-is-a-good-idea-but-will-it-last/#comments Wed, 16 Jun 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=340581 Burger and Fries, Mario and Luigi, Garfunkel and Oates. Are there any other iconic pairs? Oh yeah! RPGs and dungeons. Be it the sprawling 100 floor Via Infinito from Final Fantasy X-2, the Abyss in the Wild Arms series, or the forgotten tower in the original Phantasy Star, there’s a lot to choose from. It’s such a major part of […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/16/desert-oasis-black-desert-onlines-atoraxxian-dungeon-is-a-good-idea-but-will-it-last/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/03/desert-oasis-why-black-desert-online-is-my-favorite-mmo/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/03/desert-oasis-why-black-desert-online-is-my-favorite-mmo/#comments Thu, 03 Jun 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=338758 It’s crazy how fast two years go by, but it’s how long I’ve been running this column. I’ve interviewed the lead producer Jaehee Kim, provided a sneak preview to popular (and profitable) content, and showed some love to the game’s beautiful server chat. Heck, I even pushed to give it the 2020 MMO of the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/06/03/desert-oasis-why-black-desert-online-is-my-favorite-mmo/feed/ 28 https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/20/desert-oasis-so-black-desert-wants-to-be-an-esport-now/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/20/desert-oasis-so-black-desert-wants-to-be-an-esport-now/#comments Thu, 20 May 2021 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=336619 Even though the San Francisco Giants threw away a 6-2 lead against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, the real highlight of my weekend was watching Black Desert’s Arena of Arsha Best-in-Class Championship. It’s Pearl Abyss’ answer to the age-old question: “How can we make our game into an esport?” And you know what? It wasn’t bad. So […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/20/desert-oasis-so-black-desert-wants-to-be-an-esport-now/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/05/desert-oasis-the-best-black-desert-quality-of-life-changes/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/05/desert-oasis-the-best-black-desert-quality-of-life-changes/#comments Wed, 05 May 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=332796 I wasn’t there at launch, but I’ve played Black Desert long enough to see some major changes in the game. And since the game just celebrated its fifth birthday in the NA/EU regions, what better time to go over them? For this edition of Desert Oasis, I’ll talk about the quality-of-life changes that I’ve enjoyed the most […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/05/05/desert-oasis-the-best-black-desert-quality-of-life-changes/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/07/desert-oasis-black-deserts-sage-release-demonstrates-pearl-abyss-focus-on-the-west/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/07/desert-oasis-black-deserts-sage-release-demonstrates-pearl-abyss-focus-on-the-west/#comments Wed, 07 Apr 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=330486 I’m not really a comics guy, but I still have my favorite superheroes. For me, it’s Dr. Strange. Marvel’s artifact wielding, spell-slinging, multiverse traversing sorcerer supreme checks all the marks of a great spellcaster for me: cool powers, omega-level intellect, and the fact that he ditched the robe and wizard hat. I guess the folks […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/04/07/desert-oasis-black-deserts-sage-release-demonstrates-pearl-abyss-focus-on-the-west/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/25/desert-oasis-the-problem-with-black-deserts-season-servers-and-how-to-fix-it/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/25/desert-oasis-the-problem-with-black-deserts-season-servers-and-how-to-fix-it/#comments Thu, 25 Mar 2021 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=328474 Black Desert’s had some exceptional growth over the past year. What I’ve always liked about this game is that it’s never tried to be what it’s not. It’s always been a grindy MMORPG where killing mobs is the primary way of getting stronger. So most of its major content updates include more grindspots and better […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/25/desert-oasis-the-problem-with-black-deserts-season-servers-and-how-to-fix-it/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/11/desert-oasis-a-brief-history-kakao-games-black-deserts-former-pc-publisher/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/11/desert-oasis-a-brief-history-kakao-games-black-deserts-former-pc-publisher/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2021 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=325609 It’s been a busy couple of months for Pearl Abyss and Kakao games. While Black Desert players knew about Pearl Abyss taking up self publishing duties for the game’s western PC release a whole year before the announcement, news of the split became official in December. Fast forward to today, and Black Desert is now fully […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/03/11/desert-oasis-a-brief-history-kakao-games-black-deserts-former-pc-publisher/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2021/02/03/desert-oasis-having-a-blast-with-black-deserts-new-nova-class/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/02/03/desert-oasis-having-a-blast-with-black-deserts-new-nova-class/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2021 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=320059 Thanks to the quarantine, it’s been a pretty long while since I’ve gone out and enjoyed some coffee at a cafe and a beer at a bar. But of all things that I’ve missed, goin’ out with the goilz tops the chart. I miss those unpredictable nights, the heavy drinking, and having to hold their hair […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/02/03/desert-oasis-having-a-blast-with-black-deserts-new-nova-class/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2021/01/06/desert-oasis-avoiding-burnout-in-black-desert-online/ https://massivelyop.com/2021/01/06/desert-oasis-avoiding-burnout-in-black-desert-online/#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2021 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=317267 Players leaving Black Desert in a tizzy is something of a tradition in the community. It can be for a number of reasons. Sometimes players just get bored. Some players decide it to be a good idea to do a PEN attempt without a plan other than “I’m feeling lucky today” and the resulting disillusion […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2021/01/06/desert-oasis-avoiding-burnout-in-black-desert-online/feed/ 10 https://massivelyop.com/2020/12/02/desert-oasis-black-desert-online-should-be-2020s-mmo-of-the-year/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/12/02/desert-oasis-black-desert-online-should-be-2020s-mmo-of-the-year/#comments Wed, 02 Dec 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=312108 Well here we are again, heading to the end of another year. And while many are eager for this year to end, us gamers have a tradition that can’t be ignored: declaring the games that defined our year. And today, I take my little mole hill and build it into a mountain: Black Desert Online should […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/12/02/desert-oasis-black-desert-online-should-be-2020s-mmo-of-the-year/feed/ 54 https://massivelyop.com/2020/11/27/desert-oasis-so-is-the-playstation-5-an-upgrade-for-black-desert-on-console/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/11/27/desert-oasis-so-is-the-playstation-5-an-upgrade-for-black-desert-on-console/#comments Fri, 27 Nov 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=312089 Way back in August, I did a first impression of Black Desert for the PlayStation 4. It was a solid game, but I couldn’t stick to it. The game just isn’t as good on consoles. It ran sluggishly and it felt slower on a controller. And I’m not really a console player at heart. I […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/11/27/desert-oasis-so-is-the-playstation-5-an-upgrade-for-black-desert-on-console/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2020/10/29/desert-oasis-is-black-deserts-lore-actually-a-time-travel-narrative/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/10/29/desert-oasis-is-black-deserts-lore-actually-a-time-travel-narrative/#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=307386 In the last edition of Desert Oasis, I wrote about an absolutely dismal week in Black Desert that ultimately ended with my taking a sabbatical from the game’s endless grind. But despite my break, I’m still playing the game at much more leisurely pace — stopping and smelling the roses, as they say. But as […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/10/29/desert-oasis-is-black-deserts-lore-actually-a-time-travel-narrative/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2020/10/01/desert-oasis-the-worst-week-ive-ever-had-in-black-desert-online/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/10/01/desert-oasis-the-worst-week-ive-ever-had-in-black-desert-online/#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=303348 This week, I was planning a third entry on my adventures in Black Desert Mobile, but a few very exasperating incidents happened to me in Black Desert PC last week, and it just seemed as if everything that could go wrong, did. The universe was telling me something and was making me listen. I just […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/10/01/desert-oasis-the-worst-week-ive-ever-had-in-black-desert-online/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2020/09/16/desert-oasis-black-desert-mobile-is-not-just-a-mobile-copy-of-black-desert/ Wed, 16 Sep 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=301063 Last week, I taught my freshman classes basic email etiquette. In a time of distance learning, it’s an important skill to teach. We looked into why etiquette matters, writing professionally, and that CC stands for “carbon copy.” I also taught them how to properly use it. I’m too young to have ever used it during […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/09/09/desert-oasis-checking-back-in-on-black-desert-mobile-almost-one-year-later/ Wed, 09 Sep 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=298717 It’s been a while since I checked in on Black Desert Mobile for Desert Oasis. In fact, I haven’t really played it since my initial first impressions. I did play it when it came out, but I couldn’t really get attached to it compared to the PC version. Don’t get me wrong; it’s not a bad […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/08/05/desert-oasis-our-guide-to-playing-black-deserts-season-servers/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/08/05/desert-oasis-our-guide-to-playing-black-deserts-season-servers/#comments Wed, 05 Aug 2020 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=294635 The introduction of Black Desert’s season servers this summer was my chocolate-in-peanut-butter moment of the year. I didn’t know the combination would be so good! Other players seem to think so as well. The special season servers were pretty packed throughout the entire season, and there was never a dull moment in server chat! It […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/08/05/desert-oasis-our-guide-to-playing-black-deserts-season-servers/feed/ 6 https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/23/desert-oasis-black-deserts-outlook-in-the-lead-up-to-crimson-desert/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/23/desert-oasis-black-deserts-outlook-in-the-lead-up-to-crimson-desert/#comments Thu, 23 Jul 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=292623 I’ve played nothing but the Black Desert season servers in the last month. It’s such a fresh breath of air, and it’s something I didn’t even know I wanted. There’s so much good stuff going with for it that I really think that this is the shot in the arm the game needed to stay […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/23/desert-oasis-black-deserts-outlook-in-the-lead-up-to-crimson-desert/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/08/desert-oasis-how-should-black-desert-handle-class-balance/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/08/desert-oasis-how-should-black-desert-handle-class-balance/#comments Wed, 08 Jul 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=290512 Last week, I wrote about how the recent tamer changes in Black Desert resulted in a write-in campaign. Ever since then, I’ve had game balance on my mind. Class balance has always been an interest of mine, and Black Desert’s been a fascinating case study on the challenges of graceful game balance. See, this MMO […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/07/08/desert-oasis-how-should-black-desert-handle-class-balance/feed/ 15 https://massivelyop.com/2020/06/25/desert-oasis-putting-black-deserts-music-system-in-context-with-other-mmos/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/06/25/desert-oasis-putting-black-deserts-music-system-in-context-with-other-mmos/#comments Thu, 25 Jun 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=288265 Back in the day, I used to really be into the ukulele. I used to play in open mics and sold them as my day job! But that was a long time ago; I don’t play as much anymore. The music never really dies, though. While I rarely go to ukulele club meetings and perform […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/06/25/desert-oasis-putting-black-deserts-music-system-in-context-with-other-mmos/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2020/06/10/desert-oasis-exploring-black-deserts-mysterious-odylitta-region/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/06/10/desert-oasis-exploring-black-deserts-mysterious-odylitta-region/#comments Wed, 10 Jun 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=286237 With the Heidel ball now a memory, there’s much to look forward to in Black Desert Online. Along with a new class and a variety of other features, players can look forward to the upcoming O’dyllita region. It’s not clear when this is coming out, but it’s been on the test server for a couple months […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/06/10/desert-oasis-exploring-black-deserts-mysterious-odylitta-region/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2020/06/02/desert-oasis-black-deserts-hashashin-new-server-types-pvp-changes-and-new-regions/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/06/02/desert-oasis-black-deserts-hashashin-new-server-types-pvp-changes-and-new-regions/#comments Tue, 02 Jun 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=285041 I would be lying if I told you that I stayed up late this weekend just so I could hear the executive producer Jae-Hee Kim talk about Black Desert’s balance changes at Heidel Ball. As interesting as it was to listen to, none of that was about the new class, now identified as the the […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/06/02/desert-oasis-black-deserts-hashashin-new-server-types-pvp-changes-and-new-regions/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2020/06/01/desert-oasis-recapping-black-deserts-heidel-ball-from-backstage-to-balancing/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/06/01/desert-oasis-recapping-black-deserts-heidel-ball-from-backstage-to-balancing/#comments Mon, 01 Jun 2020 14:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=284771 One of the complications of playing playing Black Desert is that it operates on UTC. Since I live in California, aka the center of the universe (I’m kidding), I always assumed the world adjusted for Pacific time, not the other way around. But as this weekend’s event has revealed, the Pearl Abyss I know and […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/06/01/desert-oasis-recapping-black-deserts-heidel-ball-from-backstage-to-balancing/feed/ 2 https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/28/desert-oasis-rethinking-the-black-desert-grindspot-debate/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/28/desert-oasis-rethinking-the-black-desert-grindspot-debate/#comments Thu, 28 May 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=284210 Almost a year ago, I penned a column on grindspot etiquette in MMORPGs. Specifically, I wrote about the commonly accepted etiquette when it comes to grinding in Black Desert. It was mainly based on a common consensus between players rather than the law of the land. I’ve been thinking a lot about that consensus lately as […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/28/desert-oasis-rethinking-the-black-desert-grindspot-debate/feed/ 13 https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/14/desert-oasis-exploring-black-deserts-guild-system-from-contracts-to-drama/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/14/desert-oasis-exploring-black-deserts-guild-system-from-contracts-to-drama/#comments Thu, 14 May 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=282169 Guilds: one of the quintessential social features of an MMO. Along with grinding, crafting, and partying up, guilds are just one of those things that are permanent features in the bloodstream of the genre. And while many games give it other names, “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” (or rancid, depending […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/14/desert-oasis-exploring-black-deserts-guild-system-from-contracts-to-drama/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/04/interview-black-desert-crossplay-engine-mobile/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/04/interview-black-desert-crossplay-engine-mobile/#comments Mon, 04 May 2020 15:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=280553 A few weeks ago, we chatted up Pearl Abyss’ lead producer Jaehee Kim about some pressing Black Desert questions. Now, I’m not one to waste a golden opportunity when I’m interviewing one the team’s head honchos, especially since I’ve been pushing the studio to put a face on its dev team like other MMO studios […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/05/04/interview-black-desert-crossplay-engine-mobile/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2020/04/29/desert-oasis-deep-diving-black-deserts-musa-and-maewha-classes/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/04/29/desert-oasis-deep-diving-black-deserts-musa-and-maewha-classes/#comments Wed, 29 Apr 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=280029 I think I may be in the minority of people who enjoy being home all day. It gives that much needed time to just recenter myself with some yoga, the time to learn how to cook, and grind my eyes out on any MMO that lets me! That makes it’s a great time to start […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/04/29/desert-oasis-deep-diving-black-deserts-musa-and-maewha-classes/feed/ 1 https://massivelyop.com/2020/04/15/desert-oasis-how-im-progressing-through-black-desert-without-spending-a-dime/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/04/15/desert-oasis-how-im-progressing-through-black-desert-without-spending-a-dime/#comments Wed, 15 Apr 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=277859 I’ve been playing Black Desert for quite a while, and in that time I’ve made a bit of cash and built up a stable of characters I’m pretty happy with. I also spent a couple dollars here and there over the years. And why not, right? It’s one of my favorite MMOs, I write a […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/04/15/desert-oasis-how-im-progressing-through-black-desert-without-spending-a-dime/feed/ 25 https://massivelyop.com/2020/04/03/desert-oasis-a-guide-to-getting-started-with-black-deserts-lifeskill-system/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/04/03/desert-oasis-a-guide-to-getting-started-with-black-deserts-lifeskill-system/#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2020 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=262031 For pretty much all of my MMO-gaming career, I avoided anything involving crafting, gathering, and cooking. If the problem can’t be solved with a weapon in hand, I stay out of it. But ever since I started taking Black Desert Online seriously, I soon found myself diving into the lifeskilling system. Beyond the grinding and […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/04/03/desert-oasis-a-guide-to-getting-started-with-black-deserts-lifeskill-system/feed/ 11 https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/18/desert-oasis-how-pearl-abyss-can-guarantee-shadow-arena-succeeds/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/18/desert-oasis-how-pearl-abyss-can-guarantee-shadow-arena-succeeds/#comments Wed, 18 Mar 2020 17:30:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=272977 Hands down, Shadow Arena is my favorite battle royale. But just because I’ve written so many glowing words of accolades for the game does not mean I’m not worried about the game. Shadow Arena is entering a very crowded genre, and I worry that I’ll have to pen a future Desert Oasis column on the game’s […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/18/desert-oasis-how-pearl-abyss-can-guarantee-shadow-arena-succeeds/feed/ 2 https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/11/desert-arena-first-impressions-of-shadow-arena-the-diet-black-desert-of-battle-royales/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/11/desert-arena-first-impressions-of-shadow-arena-the-diet-black-desert-of-battle-royales/#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=272611 Did someone just cast Arcane Echo? Because this’ll be our second piece on Shadow Arena this week, following its deep-dive by our PvP columnist Sam earlier this week in Fight or Kite. But I just have to share my take on this game, especially since our PvP columnist found the game a little wanting! Last […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/03/11/desert-arena-first-impressions-of-shadow-arena-the-diet-black-desert-of-battle-royales/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2020/02/26/desert-oasis-understanding-black-deserts-black-spirit/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/02/26/desert-oasis-understanding-black-deserts-black-spirit/#comments Wed, 26 Feb 2020 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=270350 When Black Desert first released stateside back in 2016, I wasn’t interested. At the time, I was deeply invested in running Guild Wars 2’s fractals, and I wasn’t in the market for any sort of new MMO. And then one day, during a visit to my brother’s house, I saw him playing it. My first reaction […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/02/26/desert-oasis-understanding-black-deserts-black-spirit/feed/ 3 https://massivelyop.com/2020/02/12/desert-oasis-finding-the-plot-in-black-deserts-story/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/02/12/desert-oasis-finding-the-plot-in-black-deserts-story/#comments Wed, 12 Feb 2020 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=267244 In our preview of Black Desert’s new Guardian class, one of the more surprising conversations to come out of the comments was the opinion on the game’s story. Some saw it as a “word salad”; others found the story fun to experience despite the tropes. But it’s something we haven’t discussed much here in Desert […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/02/12/desert-oasis-finding-the-plot-in-black-deserts-story/feed/ 4 https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/29/desert-oasis-hands-on-with-black-deserts-new-guardian-awakening/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/29/desert-oasis-hands-on-with-black-deserts-new-guardian-awakening/#comments Wed, 29 Jan 2020 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=266060 Wow, that was fast. Kakao and Pearl Abyss just released the Guardian last week, and we’re already gearing up for awakening her. Just take a peek at the Black Desert PC roadmap. It looks like the devs are busy getting the Guardian up to parity with the rest of the other classes in a big […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/29/desert-oasis-hands-on-with-black-deserts-new-guardian-awakening/feed/ 18 https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/15/desert-oasis-first-impressions-of-black-deserts-new-guardian-class/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/15/desert-oasis-first-impressions-of-black-deserts-new-guardian-class/#comments Wed, 15 Jan 2020 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=263085 Remember that Futurama episode where Fry, Kip, and Zaf Branbigan got stranded on a planet full of amazons and were sentenced to death by crushed pelvises? I wouldn’t be surprised if someone from Pearl Abyss saw that episode one night and sat up and said, “We need that in Black Desert.” The new Guardian class […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/15/desert-oasis-first-impressions-of-black-deserts-new-guardian-class/feed/ 13 https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/02/desert-oasis-fun-things-to-do-in-black-desert-in-2020/ https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/02/desert-oasis-fun-things-to-do-in-black-desert-in-2020/#comments Thu, 02 Jan 2020 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=262034 With the new decade upon us, I think it’s a good time to do some goal-setting for the upcoming decade. I might be biased here in the Desert Oasis column, but I really want to emphasize that it’s a great time to start playing Black Desert. It didn’t win Massively’s most improved MMO of 2019 […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2020/01/02/desert-oasis-fun-things-to-do-in-black-desert-in-2020/feed/ 9 https://massivelyop.com/2019/12/19/desert-oasis-a-few-improvements-id-like-to-see-in-black-desert-for-2020/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/12/19/desert-oasis-a-few-improvements-id-like-to-see-in-black-desert-for-2020/#comments Thu, 19 Dec 2019 19:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=257790 Part of the reason it’s been so easy to write for the Black Desert Desert Oasis column is that I really love this game. But just because I love a game doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Even though it won our award for most improved MMO, it’s still got a long road ahead of it. There’s […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/12/19/desert-oasis-a-few-improvements-id-like-to-see-in-black-desert-for-2020/feed/ 7 https://massivelyop.com/2019/12/04/desert-oasis-a-critique-of-black-deserts-upcoming-tamer-succession/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/12/04/desert-oasis-a-critique-of-black-deserts-upcoming-tamer-succession/#comments Wed, 04 Dec 2019 18:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=258031 Well, it looks like successions are finally here. This month’s going to be a pretty big month for Black Desert’s western audience with the mobile version coming out on the 11th and the succession classes finally making their way to our shores. As of this article’s posting, Pearl Abyss has just released the succession skills […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/12/04/desert-oasis-a-critique-of-black-deserts-upcoming-tamer-succession/feed/ 2 https://massivelyop.com/2019/11/27/desert-oasis-a-first-look-at-black-deserts-dark-knights-succession-skills/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/11/27/desert-oasis-a-first-look-at-black-deserts-dark-knights-succession-skills/#comments Wed, 27 Nov 2019 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=256258 The Dark Knight holds a special place in my heart when it comes to Black Desert. She was the main reason I decided to give this game a shot way back in March 2018. It just felt so good to run around and kill endless waves of mobs with my kriegsmesser. It just felt right: Every […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/11/27/desert-oasis-a-first-look-at-black-deserts-dark-knights-succession-skills/feed/ 12 https://massivelyop.com/2019/11/15/desert-oasis-getting-hyped-for-pearl-abyss-crimson-desert/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/11/15/desert-oasis-getting-hyped-for-pearl-abyss-crimson-desert/#comments Fri, 15 Nov 2019 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=254923 Curbing my enthusiasm is something I constantly work on, so when the announcement for Crimson Desert made its rounds, I was both excited and cautious. I knew this was just going to be an early announcement of the project, so I wasn’t expecting many details to come from it, but from what I saw, I’m […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/11/15/desert-oasis-getting-hyped-for-pearl-abyss-crimson-desert/feed/ 16 https://massivelyop.com/2019/11/11/crimson-oasis-speculation-on-crimson-desert-pearl-abyss-new-mmorpg/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/11/11/crimson-oasis-speculation-on-crimson-desert-pearl-abyss-new-mmorpg/#comments Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=254138 Lasst week, we reported on what looks like Pearl Abyss’ power move to overtake the MMO market. With three MMOs and a Shadow Arena re-release, the Korean megacorp is playing wide with these new titles. Whereas Plan 8 will attempt to allure shooter fans by including the co-creator of Counter-Strike, Minh “Gooseman” Le in its […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/11/11/crimson-oasis-speculation-on-crimson-desert-pearl-abyss-new-mmorpg/feed/ 32 https://massivelyop.com/2019/11/06/desert-oasis-discerning-the-best-purchases-in-black-deserts-cash-shop/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/11/06/desert-oasis-discerning-the-best-purchases-in-black-deserts-cash-shop/#comments Wed, 06 Nov 2019 17:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=247849 I’ve always been someone who goes against the grain, and MMOs are no exception. Part of the reason I enjoy Black Desert so much is that it goes against the definition of what makes a good MMO. A super grindy, arguably pay-to-win title with RNG MMO is the antithesis of today’s most popular titles. And that’s […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/11/06/desert-oasis-discerning-the-best-purchases-in-black-deserts-cash-shop/feed/ 5 https://massivelyop.com/2019/10/23/desert-oasis-first-impressions-of-black-deserts-great-expedition/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/10/23/desert-oasis-first-impressions-of-black-deserts-great-expedition/#comments Wed, 23 Oct 2019 16:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=249799 One of the most difficult things I’ve had to deal with in my time with Black Desert is sailing and boating. I’ve never been an economically focused player, I don’t play markets, and I rarely do any sort of crafting and gathering in any game. That gameplay style was never really up my galley. For me, […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/10/23/desert-oasis-first-impressions-of-black-deserts-great-expedition/feed/ 10 https://massivelyop.com/2019/10/23/miniature-desert-oasis-hands-on-with-the-upcoming-black-desert-mobile/ https://massivelyop.com/2019/10/23/miniature-desert-oasis-hands-on-with-the-upcoming-black-desert-mobile/#comments Wed, 23 Oct 2019 13:00:00 +0000 https://massivelyop.com/?p=250019 Five years ago, if you’d asked me about any mobile game, I wouldn’t have even considered it a real game. I’d have considered it less of a game – I’d have seen it as an app. Oh how times have changed. Heck, last year, I invested in an iPhone XR just so I’d be ready […]]]> https://massivelyop.com/2019/10/23/miniature-desert-oasis-hands-on-with-the-upcoming-black-desert-mobile/feed/ 8