The Gamasutra network is hosting a thing I wrote up looking back at the year in MMOGs. I just had to be all ‘me too’ with the top-5 thing. Raph gave it a once-over and found my list not terrible, which I appreciate.

A few notes:

• The pejorative ‘little’: I am (correctly or otherwise) generally of the opinion that most Americans still don’t know what MapleStory is – even despite the weird commercials. Hence ‘little’ when referring to non-AAAs. Of course, on that note, I’d bet most Americans have never heard of Tabula Rasa.
• I didn’t combine the failures and the ‘Titans’ in the w/u because I felt it important to note that big businesses are still investing, despite the setbacks. That said, I think it’s a valid point. I think if I’d combined them I think the fifth trend would have been something about the inclusion of big media into new Massive spaces (MTV, Games, Movies) or the public consciousness about non-game virtual worlds.
• There’s actually a Satellite network called ‘GamePlay’ that focuses on real games events (as opposed to G4), like the Guild Wars World Championships or the WSVG. I think an ongoing design/debate series there would be awesome. First one would definitely have to be Koster vs. Jacobs, rematch-style.