In the Trenches

When you’re playing online games, do you always strive to be at the top of the leaderboard? Are you constantly looking to pick a fight with the best individuals in online gaming? If so, Cody “Micajah” Bye’s In the Trenches may be the column for you. Featuring in-depth commentary and articles on the state of competitive gaming, this weekly feature provides plenty of entertainment for the bloodthirsty online player.

Champions Online PvP: Keep on Fighting Till the End
Do you want to be the Champion of the world?
Show Preview
Posted on Thu, April 16, 2009 by Cody Bye
Do you want to be the Champion of the world?
Developing quality PvP for any MMO game isn't a bed of roses, but there's a huge possibility that - if done right - a quality PvP experience could bring in a large batch of users for the title....
- Champions Online
A Beginner's Look at Darkfall - How to Get Ganked
Don't get distracted by the beautiful world, or you'll die and die often.
Show Preview
Posted on Thu, March 26, 2009 by Cody Bye
Don't get distracted by the beautiful world, or you'll die and die often.
Every week, Ten Ton Hammer's Cody Bye takes some time to write out his latest thoughts on competitive MMO gaming. When he decided to take a spin with Darkfall, however, Cody got more...
- Darkfall
Remembering EverQuest - Ten Years of Memories
Happy Early 10th Birthday EverQuest!
Show Preview
Posted on Thu, March 12, 2009 by Cody Bye
Happy Early 10th Birthday EverQuest!
Ten years is a decent amount of time by anyone’s standards. Even centenarians consider a decade to be a nice little chunk of their life. So the fact that EverQuest has spanned a decade in its...
- EverQuest
Five Reasons Why Open PvP Communities are Growing
What brings so many bloodthirsty people together?
Show Preview
Posted on Thu, March 5, 2009 by Cody Bye
What brings so many bloodthirsty people together?
Massively multiplayer online games featuring open world PvP are on the rise. There's simply no denying this fact as EVE Online, Darkfall, and Mortal Online are gathering up hundreds of...
Do MMOs Need Leaderboards?
Are leaderboards the best solution for the competitive players?
Show Preview
Posted on Fri, February 27, 2009 by Cody Bye
Are leaderboards the best solution for the competitive players?
Ever since the days of arcade gaming, high scores have dominated gamers' minds. Without fail, these game players always want to have that top spot on the leaderboard to insure their status among...
- Jumpgate Evolution
In the Trenches: How Socialization in EVE Online Killed BoB
David punches Goliath in the nads then lops off his head.
Show Preview
Posted on Thu, February 12, 2009 by Cody Bye
David punches Goliath in the nads then lops off his head.
In most MMOs, you defeat or kill your opponents in direct conflicts. Whether you're in Tier 4 in WAR, Wintergrasp in WoW, or the Border Kingdoms in AoC, you always stand toe to toe with your...
- EVE Online
In the Trenches: Building the Sports MMO
If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score? - Vince Lombardi
Show Preview
Posted on Fri, February 6, 2009 by Cody Bye
If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score? - Vince Lombardi
Video games and sports have been inseparable since the first Pong arcade machine found its way to the local tavern. So why haven't the major sports game publishers tackled a sports-based MMO?...
In the Trenches: The Draw of the World of Warcraft Arena
War is an art and as such is not susceptible of explanation by fixed formula.
Show Preview
Posted on Fri, January 23, 2009 by Cody Bye
War is an art and as such is not susceptible of explanation by fixed formula.
Few MMOs have a PvP system that is as popular as World of Warcraft’s
- World of Warcraft
Kingdom Under Fire II New Screenshots
Talk about some pretty graphics. Yow.
Show Preview
Posted on Fri, January 23, 2009 by Cody Bye
Talk about some pretty graphics. Yow.
The Kingdom Under Fire series was one of the more thrilling original IPs to make its way onto
- Kingdom Under Fire II
In the Trenches: The Competitive Edge
May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. - General George Patton
Show Preview
Posted on Thu, January 15, 2009 by Cody Bye
May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. - General George Patton
Since the dawning of the modern MMO era, players have constantly been vying to see who was the best. Either through direct competitions like EverQuest's