Sideshow & Syrana

I wasn’t really keeping up on the Star Wars: The Old Republic news, so I pretty much forgot about it. I happened to be listening to Polygamerous on Dec 19th when Syrana was on for the 100th episode and I heard them mention it went live that night. I visited the official site and one thing led to another and I had it purchased and downloading when I went to bed that night. It was installed and ready to go by the time I had a chance to play it the next night. From all of the MMO launches I’ve been through, this one was the smoothest. I had no problems getting in, connecting to a server, creating a character, or even playing until I logged out. Everything was smooth. Even when I started playing WoW in 2006 (about a year after it went live) I had more issues. Not a lot more, but more nonetheless.

I first went with the Smuggler class. I decided on Republic at first since I planned on joining a guild I saw a few Twitter friends talk about, No Sleep Till Kessel. I’ll assume you know (or let you go to the main site and read) about the advanced classes and light and dark options your player gets. For my smuggler, I chose the advanced class of Gunslinger since I totally want to be the guy they show in the opening cinematic.

I started three other characters to sort of try everything, 2 Republic and 2 Empire. 1 female and 1 male each side and one of each class type overall. Each side has their own 4 classes, though they’re named different, they have the same basic play style.  (continue reading…)

I need to apologize to a few people.

Sorry, Battlefield 3.
Sorry, World of Warcraft.
Sorry, Lord of the Rings Online.
Sorry, Batman: Arkham City.
Sorry, Minecraft.
Sorry, Rock Band 3.

Skyrim is here. Please, hold my calls (for at least a month.)

I’m completely agree with Mister Adequate’s review over at The Android’s Closet. When I first wandered up high in the mountains and the snow started blowing hard, I felt the room get colder.

This is what I’m currently doing. I was going to wait until 11/11 and buy Skyrim, but I had a weak moment and picked up Battlefield 3 for the PC last week. Everything you see in this video is actual gameplay. The multiplayer is that insane. It’s not to say I’ve had some issues getting to that point with server disconnects and game crashes, but overall it’s not that bad. They’ve fixed a lot of the issues recently. I had a good run last night.

If you’re also playing on the PC, look me up on Origin/Battlelog. It’s more fun the kill work with people I know.

Hi, remember me? Probably not. I sometimes live here.

Anyways… I did enjoy the Cataclysm expansion. They added a lot of cool features. The new zones and the reconfigured zones were both very well done. I now have more characters at max level than I ever have before (3, up from 2.) But, as with a lot of the “end game” stuff, I get bored quickly. I don’t raid, too much trouble. I play, what most would consider, casually. I pop on for a few hours a week and do mostly solo stuff. I do enjoy PvP on occasion, but one can only do Tol Barad and Firelands dailies enough times. Losing Tol Barad over and over is no fun, either. Earlier this week I cancelled my WoW account (again) like I do when I get a little bored of it. I can almost guarantee I’ll be back, just not using it enough to cover the cost right now.

Though, I jumped into the game last year after it became “Free-to-Play,” I’ve been playing Lord of the Rings Online more now. I stopped since Cataclysm came out, but now I’m back in it. Syrana’s dad is also playing, which gives me someone to play along with. It helps a lot. I don’t feel obligate to play since it’s free at the moment, though I can buy add-ons or other things whenever I wish using their in-game store. I think they did a good job with their transition. The game is deep enough to play completely free, but they give you options to have more, but only if you want. You also can gain points playing the game which can be used to buy items. The option to pay monthly is done well enough that it’s tempting, but you can try a lot of it before you buy.

It’s nice to have that feeling that everything is new and exciting, again. I haven’t had that feeling in WoW in a long time. I do like the comfortable feeling of WoW, knowing where everything is and how it works, but sometimes I like to not know what’s going on. I like to learn. I am currently doing that and really enjoying it.

For anyone else out there playing LotRO, I’m currently playing a Warden on server Firefoot. That character’s name is Luminthia, though I also have a Hobbit named Gertbee.

When you look at the Sims, you’ll notice that bar the expansions packs, very little has changed. But that’s putting to one side one big Sims 3 expansion – The Sims Medieval. Introducing a quest system, the game starts to take on a simulation/RPG feel, and it’s innovation like this that could really drive the Sims forward into a new generation of gaming experiences.

The Sims as it is needs to spice things up, as bar rewards and the odd graphical overhaul, not enough has changed. Some people like that, but the problem with nothing changing is that those who aren’t graphical purists won’t see many reasons to purchase a $60 version over one with a few less features and polygons for $20. Whether you’re a fan of sim games or partypoker, it’s easy to slip into the Sims for days, and with less originality in the sequels over time, you’re going to see a drop in the number of people wanting to fall down that rabbit hole again.

So how do you fix it? Well, modernising it helps, and this has happened with the Sims 3 to some degree. They can now chat online, and social media will be the next extension of that. Better AI would also be good, as seeing more realistic behaviour certainly helps (most people would simply run to the toilet even if asked to do somethig else if their “bladder meter” was empty, rather than urinate all over the floor).

We love the Sims, and really want to see the series continue, but with new features to spice things up, and perhaps a few more points in a Sim’s intelligence field! The Sims on consoles had a great story-mode, too, allowing you to complete goals and move through life and houses achieving things at work, at home, and so on. This “real life” aspect to working hard and achieving something beyond more money is a great future direction, but only time will tell. We wait, and we hope.

Hi! We’re still here, though mostly I’m still here. Syrana hasn’t really had much time to game, especially with the other blog and everything.

I still game pretty often. I’m still enjoying WoW casually, like usual. I hit 85 with one character, my Dwarf Hunter. I know! Sideshow didn’t hit it first. Blasphemy! I’m working on it. I just play Alliance more because I have more close friends/family that play on that side. I don’t mind playing Horde, but it’s not the same without Syrana so I get bored quicker. Plus, I know no one in that guild anymore.

I haven’t played a ton of Xbox 360 stuff recently and even if I wanted to play anything on my PS3, I couldn’t. (*facepalm*)

I did try the Rift beta, but only for a few days. I was not sucked into the hype like a lot of other people. I mean, it was fun and all, but nothing that would make me go out and buy another game and sign up for another subscription. I’ve done that way too many times already and have been burned on it. (*cough*Warhammer*cough*Age of Conan*cough*Aion) So, I’ve stopped doing that. WoW is fine for me, especially since I play casually and I like familiarity. Plus, playing with a few friends and family is enough for me.

Other than that, I really haven’t bought many games lately, which is good for my wallet. The last games I bought were the GTA Pack on Steam for $7.50. So, I got GTA, GTA 2, GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas. Not a bad deal. The last full/new game I bought was The Sims Medieval, which isn’t bad. It’s basically the Sims, but with less “living” to worry about and a lot more RPG elements. It’s done very well. I also dabble at bit in Minecraft here and there creating weird things and exploring. It’s a good relaxing game, except at night when the Creepers are after me.

Your new boss

There are a ton of great quests in Cataclysm. Blizzard definitely went all out. I really enjoyed the Worgen starting area. The quest line there felt epic and the story was well written. The Goblin starting area was great. They made it really fun with a lot of nice little hidden gems, like the Goblin Supermodels in Kezan having a gasoline fight (ala Zoolander.) The quests in both areas were unique and kept you busy without the repetition we have been used to.

The only other starting areas I’ve ran through were the Trolls and Gnomes since I wanted to see how those panned out. I enjoyed both of those, too, for different reasons.

I just recently ran through the Undead starting area. It’s always been one of my favorites. I like the atmosphere of those areas. Very creepy, with just a touch of life. The other reason is that is was the first area I ever ran in WoW, back in 2005 with Sideshow. It’ll always have that nostalgic feel to it.

I like the changes they’ve made, aesthetically, to Tirisfal Glades. Brill is much nicer now, not only with “new” Undead architecture, but with many more facilities and even a flight path. The quests in Deathknell have more to do with life after Arthas’ reign and Sylvanas building an Undead army. Once you’re out of Deathknell, a lot of the quests are similar to what they were, but they are much easier to run through now. Everything is laid out better and the flow was really appreciated.

Silverpine is also completely overhauled. The Sepulcher has received a complete makeover and is now a full-fledged Undead center of command. I really liked the Silverpine quests because they bring you more into the Undead’s history and their march into the future. You’re working directly with Sylvanas for most of the area while fighting back the Worgen from Gilneas. It makes you feel like you’re directly affecting the outcome of that area. Great job on the phasing and quest design there.

Meet your new friend.

Once you’re done with Silverpine, you go into Hillsbrad. In my opinion, Hillsbrad has, hands down, the best quests in Cataclysm. There is no doubt in my mind. I can honestly say, I’ve never laughed so hard at a quest in WoW. Starting with the first quest you get, Welcome to the Machine, you get to be a quest giver and you meet three very interesting (very real, some might say) NPCs. I can’t give away anything, otherwise it’s not as fun. Just go do it. (Otherwise, you can be a party-pooper and read the dialogue on the Wowhead link.)

Once that’s  done you will get to meet your questers (questees?) again on your travels through Hillsbrad. The area is also very well-done. No more dealing with (a high number of) Alliance gankers (if you’ve ever tried to quest here on a PvP server.) The Alliance has officially been removed from the area, at least town-wise.

It’ll take a lot to overthrow that line of quests from the throne, but I’ll keep trying the new areas. What was your favorite quest/quest line so far?

I find it sort of funny that I ended up purchasing Activision’s latest Guitar Hero release, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, the day before they killed the series. Now, personally, I’ve always been more of a Rock Band fan. The Rock Band series always seemed to be more about the music and interacting with the music, rather than trying to destroy an evil boss or seeing how fast you could shred.

The main reason we tend to steer towards Rock Band is the massive song library. Just including the four exportable Rock Band games we have; Rock Band (58), Rock Band 2 (84), Rock Band 3 (83) and Lego Rock Band (45), that’s 270 songs (plus or minus a few that were not licensed to export). Not included is Beatles: Rock Band since those songs can’t be exported and we didn’t buy Green Day: Rock Band. Then you add all of the normal Rock Band DLC (1,220) and the new Rock Band Network DLC (977), that’s 2,197 more songs to pick from. We have somewhere around 700 songs in our library.

Up until this point, I only thought Guitar Hero had two decent releases: Guitar Hero II and Guitar Hero: Metallica. GH II because it was the one that we first bought. It was the game that “redefined” the music game genre. GH:Metallica because of the amazing job they did on it and the amount of detail that was put into it. It does help that I’ve been a lifelong Metallica fan, which helped me notice some of the great detail, but even to an outsider, it’s still a very well-done game.

Rush's 2112 Stage

Warriors of Rock is probably up there with those two. Granted, the theme of the game and weak plotline are pretty silly at times, but you know this going into a Guitar Hero game. While it had some pretty good song selections, I did find some of the songs boring and not very fun to play. What really sold me on the game is the inclusion of Rush’s “2112.” The way that they implemented it into the game made it feel really epic and the narrations by the members of Rush was a nice touch. That’s the type of song that Guitar Hero was made for, full of fantasy and very epic.

The final battle was neat, too, due to the fact that you needed to put together your two bands from the eight characters (each with different power-ups) to try to take down the main boss. My only gripe, while I am a Megadeth fan, is that all of the songs were Megadeth songs. I do agree with some of the critics when they said “with so many of the more iconic rock songs having already been used in previous Guitar Hero and Rock Band games developers are forced to use ever more obscure songs and/or acts” [The Metro]

All in all, it’s a decent game. Along with the ability to export songs from previous GH games (surprisingly including Guitar Hero: Metallica), it does give you a decent song library. If you can find it on the cheap (I think it was $20 used at Amazon) go pick it up.

Well, hello.  Remember me?

>.>

<.<

No? Ah well.  It was bound to happen.  I mean, I did go rogue ‘n all (as in not around.. I’m still a warlock through ‘n through.)

I’m getting more and more hands free moments now that our daughter is about 9 weeks old.  She sure is a snuggle bug.  I forsee Cataclysm in my future… maybe February-ish?

Just don’t hold your breath.

Unless you’re Undead.  Then it shouldn’t matter either way.

My focus for most of this year has certainly been on the impending arrival of my daughter and now the afterparty.  But that doesn’t mean NO gaming for me… just a shift in what I’m able to squeeze in.

I kinda hate to admit it, but for the past month or so, I’ve been really hitting the Facebook games.  I’m really liking CityVille right now.  I can’t help it… they are easy to play one handed on the laptop while holding babygirl.

Gotta do whatcha gotta do, amirite?

As Sideshow mentioned in his last post, we got a Kinect.  I really wanted Dance Central and Kinectimals …. so we have both of those.  I was surprised that Sideshow tried Dance Central first. (continue reading…)

I think it may have finally happened. I actually was able to procure something in-game before mostly everyone else already has it. I have been playing Gertbee, my (now) level 83 Dwarf Hunter more than Sideshow recently. No real reason, I just have been enjoying that character more. I also haven’t really been leveling in the new areas too much. I’ve quested most of Vashj’ir, but I’m taking my time. I’m in no rush to hit 85 and then bore myself. So, I decided to try out Archaeology.

I’m really enjoying it. It’s not extremely exciting by any means, but they did a good job with it. It gets you to see the world and to learn the history and lore in a fun way. Think of it as exciting as fishing to level up, but it’s relaxing. A lot of flying is involved, so you can do something else while you’re playing. Another benefit to archaeology is the chance of a rare item and there are a bunch of them. I got pretty lucky a last week when I saw that the current project I was unlocking was the Fossilized Hatchling, which is adorable. It was my first rare archaeology item, so I got an achievement for it and a new title, Assistant Professor.

But, then I found the item that I haven’t really seen on our server. (continue reading…)