It’s a collection of previews, updates, server news, strategies, tips, feature articles, maps, reproducible player aids, interviews and everything else that gamers want to see about their massive online games (MOGs). Each issue will be over 144 full-color 8.5" x 11" pages, published every two to three months. Although Massive Online Gaming is a periodical, it has the page count and production values of a high-end strategy guide.

In addition to regular sections on the biggest MOGs, each issue will feature a leading game designer on the HotSpot (in an unrestricted chat room with several gamers) and a Developers’ Roundtable, where several designers discuss the topic of the day.

Single issues are available through most retail channels that carry Versus Books products. Copies can also be ordered through the Massive Online Gaming website.

The First and Only Periodical for the Serious Online Gamer

There are over a million active MOG players just in the U.S., and there is no other focused MOG periodical available. This is the newest and hottest segment of the gaming industry, and it’s on the verge of an incredible expansion as more and more MOGs are scheduled for release in the next year — not just for the PC, but also for PlayStation2, Xbox, GameCube and Macintosh. It’s clear that traditional methods have trouble keeping up with the rapid changes in massively multiplayer games; most MOGs are updated at least once a month. Only Massive Online Gaming will be devoted to complete coverage of this huge new hobby.

Published by the Best in the Business

VERSUS BOOKS has been rated the top quality strategy guide publisher in the industry by media such as GamePro® magazine and Gamespot.com. The company works with only the best authors and designers, handpicked for each project.

VERSUS BOOKS was founded in 1996 with a clear mission: to produce the highest quality video and computer game strategy guides available. Its initial releases immediately captured the imagination of players everywhere, prompting magazines such as GamePro, Electronic Gaming Monthly and Next Generation to proclaim that “the best strategy guides on the market are from VERSUS BOOKS.” The company’s guides are renowned for featuring the clearest screenshots, most detailed maps, and most thorough editorial content available. (For a catalogue, visit www.versusbooks.com.)

Massive Online Gaming is created by Incan Monkey God Studios (IMGS, Inc.) — a team that knows MOGs and has created a dozen strategy guides for Ultima Online, EverQuest, Asheron’s Call, Dark Age of Camelot, Anarchy Online and Earth & Beyond. IMGS is devoted to quality and understands the needs of its readership; it even maintains a panel of over 100 avid MOG gamers who assure accuracy and relevance to all online games.

VERSUS BOOKS’ international sales and marketing program places its books, and Massive Online Gaming, in every major North American retailer. VERSUS BOOKS offices are in Alameda, CA, and Bellevue, WA.

In Our Premiere Issue

Online Buzz and Industry News

Features

The Future of EverQuest We take a close look at the next three big steps forward for EQ —Planes of Power, EverQuest 2, and EverQuest Online Adventures (for the PS2)

HotSpot: Raph Koster Raph has been in the middle of a lot of big things; lately, he’s all over Star Wars Galaxies. For us, he’s on the chat room hotspot with a handful of avid gamers

Resistance is Futile … AI in MOGs It’s only a matter of time until they’re playing you

Taking the Console War Online MOGs are on the verge of making the jump to consoles; who’s got the biggest guns?

Previews

The Sims Online • World of Warcraft • Eve: The Second Genesis • Planetside (interview) • Earth & Beyond (interview) • Asheron’s Call 2 (interview)

Spotlight

Fellow Travellers

They aren’t exactly MOGs, but you’re probably still interested:

Motor City Online • Neverwinter Nights

Anarchy Online

The Agent: Improvise, Adapt, Overcome • Whompa Map and Fixer Grid • Rubi-Ka Dispatch: Settling In (column) • Featured Guild: The Dojo • My Favorite Website: Agent Sector • News & Updates

Asheron’s Call

A Question of Economy (new spell system) • Tinkering (new skills) • We are Gathered Here … (weddings á là AC) • Dumbing Down Asheron’s Call? (column) • Featured Allegiance: DaMonarchy • My Favorite Website: Maggie the Jackcat’s Fabulous AC Guide • News & Patch Updates

Dark Age of Camelot

Spellcrafting and Alchemy (new skills) • Dark Age Chronicles: Roleplaying 201 (column) • Featured Guild: Armyn ab Treanid • My Favorite Website: DAoC Caster’s Realm • News & Patch Updates

EverQuest

In Business with Trade Skills • Zone Profile: Crystal Caverns • EverQuest Legends: Worth Your Money? • Solving Guild Problems Before They Start • My Favorite Website: EQ Traders Corner • News & Patch Updates

Ultima Online

Got a Green Thumb(wheel)? • Featured Guild: The Syndicate • My Favorite Website: IanStorm • The Return (column) • News & Patch Updates

Furcadia

Lineage

World War II Online

A Metamorphosis: WWII Reinvents Itself • My Favorite Websites: Stewart’s Stuka/He111 Guides • Campaign Map • News & Patch Updates

Opinions

Developers’ Roundtable: Third-Party Software (Should it be stopped? Can it be?) • The Distaff Side: Changing the Face of MOGs • Moral Grounds: Addiction • Humor: Gaming Together • Recommended Websites

October 2, 2002 — Versus Books and IMGS announce the release of the premiere issue of Massive Online Gaming, the only print source for complete coverage of massively multiplayer online games.

What is Massive Online Gaming?

The First and Only Periodical for the Serious Online Gamer

Published by the Best in the Business

In Our Premiere Issue