Do you love MMOs? Do you love them enough to wax poetic (or rant) about them, at length, to your ever-patient family and friends? Have you ever wished for a platform of your own from whence you might proudly pontificate your passion with plentiful perspicacity? (OK, that last one was a little too much, even for me.) But if you’ve been longing for a chance to make your voice heard in the gaming community, this is that chance.

We here at MMOCrunch.com are looking for a few good writers. While there are quite a few specific categories that one might choose to write within, the basic breakdown of what we want is this: Columnists and Game Reporters.

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Remnant Knights, an anime-inspired MMORPG is busting out the talent* and the free closed beta keys! Kawaii! Lose yourself in the world of Kasmari and become the last line of defense against an ancient threat.  Begin with three basic areas of study (Gun Circle, Magic Circle or Fight Circle) in either the Owl or Dragon School, then, at level 10, decide if you’d like to specialize even further.

In addition, there’s customizable player housing, mounts (like hoverboards and jet scooters) and naturally, a chance to smack the speedlines off of your friends in PvP. Watch for in-game events and competitions during the beta as well. So flip that blue hair out of those big eyes and go grab yourself a beta key while they’re still available.

*Story written by DC Comics’ Eisner award winner, Jim Krueger – dialog by Hunter Brown book series creators, Chris and Allen Miller.

Good or evil, good or evil… I just can’t decide! But you get too! Faxion Online has begun its closed beta and is giving away the keys to Heaven… and Hell. It seems that flights of angels and a divergence of demons are waging constant war in the world of Limbo; winner take all.  Now’s your chance to pick an allegiance, jump in and start whomping on the other side.

Faxion offers unique features like visceral (that is to say, truer to life than your usual MMO) combat, multiclass customization and the ability to continue your character’s growth offline, while you go out and reacquaint yourself with that mythical destination, “outside.”

All that and the 7 Deadlies too, you say? Sign me up! And sing you up too. Grab yourself a beta key while you may; they won’t last for long.

Today I want to talk about that staple of RPGs: Side Quests. One of the difficult things about RPGs is that there has to be a way for characters to level up, and that leveling up has to fit into the narrative of the story as a whole. Otherwise, it’s just a series of repetitive tasks until you’re finally tough enough to face down the Big Bad at game’s end.

As much as I complain about them, they really are a necessary part of any RPG, (MMO or otherwise.) Aside from giving characters a chance to level up, like sub-plots in a good book, it’s the side quests that flesh out the bare bones of the main plot, giving the whole thing a depth and solidity that it wouldn’t otherwise have without them.

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Golfstar is (as one might guess) a golfing Sim/MMO. With multiplayer matches of up to 30 players, (allowing them to all play at once, no waiting to tee off) it boasts speedy gameplay and interactivity with other players. As players progress, they’ll be able to learn passive skills that improve their stamina and strength. Players can also compete in teams of two-against-two while looking oh-so-stylish with customizable avatars. Other features include a variety of courses and explore shopping areas.

Now officially in closed beta, you can get your free key here and give Golfstar a try!

Aloha! Cocolani Island servers have begun accepting their first island adventurers and they’re celebrating by giving away beta keys! All accounts created using a valid beta code will be granted instant access. CI is a browser-based persistent world set in a tropical paradise. No downloads. No installation. Just choose your tribe, customize your mask, start exploring and unlocking the mysteries of Cocolani Island. And it will work on both Mac and PC. Solid!

Cocolani Island also features plenty of mini games, from racing games to shooters to puzzles. Players can also participate in tribal battles and PvP (in a designated arena.)

Click right here to get your free closed beta key. You’d be lolo not to!

Greetings, gentle readers, this week I plague entice your imaginations with just a few of the vexing and perplexing questions that both vex and perplex me as I wander the realms of fantasy fiction and games.  Ready?  Of course you are!

First, please understand that, as a long time fantasy fan, I have complete respect for anyone willing to take on the daunting task of creating entertainment for the masses.  It’s a thankless job (except for the occasional paycheck) and writers, artists and game developers don’t get nearly enough credit for the complex realities they bring us on a daily basis.  That said, I have to wonder…

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This week, I wanted to talk about assumed knowledge and how it can affect (for good or for ill) gameplay.  In this regard, there are basically three kinds of assumed knowledge: the kind relating to the characters in a story, the kind relating to the players of a game/story and the kind relating to the creators of that story/game. All three influence how a game is played and how that game’s play unfolds.

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It gets me down, grinding.

No, I’m not talking about grinding my teeth, (though I certainly do plenty of that.) I’m talking about in-game grinding; those endless lather-rinse-repeat – do this, do it some more, now do it again, busy-work quests that are part and parcel of MMOs as we know them.

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Woo!  The Holidays are here!  And with them come presents, family gatherings, presents, overeating, presents (what?) and about a b’jillion holiday events across the MMOasphere.  So sit tight, pour another eggnog and read on, because below is just a sampling of what you will find, should you peek beneath the wrapping of some of your favorite online games.

Sony Online Entertainment - Free Realms: Snow, fruitcake, (bleh!) decorations and a Gifting Tree! But beware the Abominable Snowman and his snowmen minions.  It seems they’re all about stealing presents. The nerve!  Fear not, players can pelt them with snowballs and earn rewards in the process.

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