James Crosby
@mmofolklorist.com
Blogging about MMO history and preservation: https://mmofolklorist.com/
Author of The MMO Folklorist's Guide To Galaxies: https://mmofolklorist.itch.io/galaxiesthebook
Second MMO Folklorist Guide coming soon™
Author of The MMO Folklorist's Guide To Galaxies: https://mmofolklorist.itch.io/galaxiesthebook
Second MMO Folklorist Guide coming soon™
Pinned
James Crosby
@mmofolklorist.com
· Feb 7
Did you know there's a whole (totally unofficial) book about the beloved MMORPG Star Wars Galaxies?
Well, there is. I wrote it. It's called The MMO Folklorist's Guide to Galaxies.
And you can read it for free by heading to:
mmofolklorist.itch.io/galaxiestheb...
Well, there is. I wrote it. It's called The MMO Folklorist's Guide to Galaxies.
And you can read it for free by heading to:
mmofolklorist.itch.io/galaxiestheb...
Reposted by James Crosby
25 years ago Phantasy Star Online made the cover of Edge magazine’s Christmas issue… 👀
#Sega #PhantasyStar #Dreamcast ☀️🌴
#Sega #PhantasyStar #Dreamcast ☀️🌴
December 26, 2025 at 12:38 PM
25 years ago Phantasy Star Online made the cover of Edge magazine’s Christmas issue… 👀
#Sega #PhantasyStar #Dreamcast ☀️🌴
#Sega #PhantasyStar #Dreamcast ☀️🌴
Reposted by James Crosby
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.
December 25, 2025 at 9:54 PM
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.
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?...
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?...
EP CLASSIC S2E10 - METAL GEAR SOLID / ZAMPELLA & WEST / CRASH 3 / UNREAL - Electric Playground
YouTube video by Electric Playground Network - EPN
youtu.be
December 23, 2025 at 11:07 AM
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?...
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?...
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.
Similar ideas date back to the MUDs of yore, but this is one of the neatest implementations I've seen in a virtual world.
The December 2025 update brought a touching addition to our galaxy. We are very proud to introduce the new Legends Mausoleum. View here for more details on this meaningful addition to Dee’ja Peak.
swglegends.com/forums/showt...
#SWGLegends #StarWarsGalaxies
swglegends.com/forums/showt...
#SWGLegends #StarWarsGalaxies
December 20, 2025 at 12:57 PM
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.
Similar ideas date back to the MUDs of yore, but this is one of the neatest implementations I've seen in a virtual world.
Fabulous news! So happy to see this game thriving under Broadsword.
The Q4 2025 Executive Producer from Keith Kanneg is here! Read for details on what’s been happening in SWTOR for the fourth quarter of 2025 and a look into what will be coming in 2026! www.swtor.com/info/news/ar...
December 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Fabulous news! So happy to see this game thriving under Broadsword.
Reposted by James Crosby
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.
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.
December 19, 2025 at 6:15 AM
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.
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.
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!
Please share!
DOES ANYONE HAVE THIS BOOK❓ 🎮
"WarBirds: The Story So Far..."
(A brief history of WarBirds; a 90's WWII MMO combat flight simulator.)
Burbank's Books, 1999, 562 pages
9780958519496
SHARE AROUND 🙏
"WarBirds: The Story So Far..."
(A brief history of WarBirds; a 90's WWII MMO combat flight simulator.)
Burbank's Books, 1999, 562 pages
9780958519496
SHARE AROUND 🙏
December 17, 2025 at 11:24 AM
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!
Please share!
Reposted by James Crosby
🎬 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...
The Making of Guild Wars: Celebrating 25 Years of ArenaNet
YouTube video by Guild Wars 2
www.youtube.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:12 PM
🎬 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...
Properly heartbreaking stuff. Especially considering quite a few of these were close to prime time.
If you're all about torturing your psyche with "what if" scenarios, this MMORPG list from MOP's Justin is for you!
Perfect Ten: 10 cancelled MMO projects that could’ve done very well
massivelyop.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Properly heartbreaking stuff. Especially considering quite a few of these were close to prime time.
Reposted by James Crosby
Magazine advertising for Everquest by 989 Studios & Sony Computer Entertainment in the issue #7 of PC Accelerator, in March 1999
November 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Magazine advertising for Everquest by 989 Studios & Sony Computer Entertainment in the issue #7 of PC Accelerator, in March 1999
Always find it super interesting how MMO servers can organically develop communities with their own personalities.
Running flashpoints on multiple servers for this Galactic Season has given me a lot of food for thought in recent weeks. I go over my current impressions in this blog post: #SWTOR
Flashpointing on Different Servers
One of the major reasons I've really been enjoying the current Galactic Season is that it's gotten me back into pugging. I've enjoyed doing ...
swtorcommando.blogspot.com
November 2, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Always find it super interesting how MMO servers can organically develop communities with their own personalities.
Reposted by James Crosby
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 :)
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 :)
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.
crpgbook.wordpress.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:11 PM
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 :)
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 :)
Reposted by James Crosby
From crime sims to horse girl games, here are 10 MMOs that took a gaming theme and turned it into a full-fledged MMO:
Perfect Ten: MMOs that adapted specific video game genres
massivelyop.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:09 PM
From crime sims to horse girl games, here are 10 MMOs that took a gaming theme and turned it into a full-fledged MMO:
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.
Wishing the best for the passionate, talented people who just lost their jobs.
October 28, 2025 at 10:05 PM
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.
Wishing the best for the passionate, talented people who just lost their jobs.
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...
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...
New BOOK SPOTLIGHT 📚
"Designing Virtual Worlds: Volume 1"
👉 thevideogamelibrary.substack.com/p/book-spotl...
Submitted by: @mmofolklorist.com
#GameDev #GameDevelopment #CRCPress @seanconnelly.bsky.social #Booksky #Gaming #VideoGames
"Designing Virtual Worlds: Volume 1"
👉 thevideogamelibrary.substack.com/p/book-spotl...
Submitted by: @mmofolklorist.com
#GameDev #GameDevelopment #CRCPress @seanconnelly.bsky.social #Booksky #Gaming #VideoGames
BOOK SPOTLIGHT - Designing Virtual Worlds: Volume 1
Richard A. Bartle (2025); CRC Press; Game Development
thevideogamelibrary.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 4:03 PM
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...
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...
Reposted by James Crosby
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!)
October 24, 2025 at 4:09 PM
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!)
Reposted by James Crosby
Perfect Ten: The best MMOs for the year-round Halloween season
Perfect Ten: The best MMOs for the year-round Halloween season
massivelyop.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Perfect Ten: The best MMOs for the year-round Halloween season
Reposted by James Crosby
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
Perfect Ten: 10 things that haven’t changed about the MMORPG genre since 2015
massivelyop.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:05 PM
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
Reposted by James Crosby
New Release - Runescape - The Official Handbook (2006) [PC]
Runescape - The Official Handbook (2006) [PC]
Runescape - The Official Handbook (2006)
Platform: PC
www.retromags.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:49 PM
New Release - Runescape - The Official Handbook (2006) [PC]
Reposted by James Crosby
September 29, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Reposted by James Crosby
Xfire – that is, Xf1re – is back to serve up some nostalgia to the old-school gaming social community
Xfire – that is, Xf1re – is back to serve up some nostalgia to the old-school gaming social community
massivelyop.com
September 26, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Xfire – that is, Xf1re – is back to serve up some nostalgia to the old-school gaming social community
Reposted by James Crosby
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
#ThrowbackThursday #SEGA
#LetsGetShenmue4
September 18, 2025 at 5:26 PM
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
#ThrowbackThursday #SEGA
#LetsGetShenmue4
Reposted by James Crosby
Face of Mankind rogue server Empire Rising begins its open beta tomorrow
Face of Mankind rogue server Empire Rising begins its open beta tomorrow
massivelyop.com
August 8, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Face of Mankind rogue server Empire Rising begins its open beta tomorrow
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...
Doesn't sound unreasonable given the current hype surrounding the IP (Time Stranger, Beatbreak, Alysion).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA48...
Digimon Super Rumble in 2025 - Now English Translated
YouTube video by Gaming Hardcore
www.youtube.com
August 6, 2025 at 9:48 AM
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...
Doesn't sound unreasonable given the current hype surrounding the IP (Time Stranger, Beatbreak, Alysion).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA48...
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/2025/08/01/a...
A short update — August 2025
Next MMO Folklorist book to be announced later this month.
mmofolklorist.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:49 PM
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/2025/08/01/a...