Gamasutra Expert Blogs: From Restructuring MMOs To Defending Classic RPGs

[In highlights from Gamasutra's Expert Blogs, industry notables write about diverse topics, including the influence of single-player titles on MMOs, and how simple mechanics can add incredible depth to traditional RPGs.] In our weekly Best of Expert Blogs column, we showcase notable pieces of writing from members of the game development community who maintain Expert Blogs on Gamasutra. Member Blogs -- also highlighted weekly -- can be maintained by any registered Gamasutra user, while the invitation-only Expert Blogs are written by development professionals with a wealth of experience to share. We hope that both sections can provide useful and interesting viewpoints on our industry. For more information about the blogs, check out the latest official posting guidelines. Here are the top blogs for the week: This Week's Standout Expert Blogs - Should MMOs Be More Like Single-Player Games? (Joao Beraldo) Joao Beraldo looks at the current state of MMOs and considers how these games would change if they took some cues from popular single-player titles. - The Iwata Defence (Dustin Clingman) In response to Satoru Iwata's GDC keynote, Dustin Clingman reflects upon the current state of the industry and supports the Nintendo President's assertion that the industry needs to refocus its attention on games rather than making a quick buck. - How to localize your game with no budget (Ivica Aracic) In order to help teams localize their games more efficiently, Ivica Aracic discusses the benefits of online systems that help organize and expedite complex translation projects. - Adding Depth To Defend (Robert Boyd) Robert Boyd picks apart the "Defend" command in turn-based RPGs, examining how a seemingly minute mechanic introduced some complex tactical options into a number of classic games.