Sideshow & Syrana

A few years ago, Sideshow and I bought a treadmill.  At the time, we were trying to go to the gym on a regular basis to work out.  Like lots of great plans, it worked for awhile, but then trailed off.  Mostly due to the extra time it took to get there and back.  Solution: buy a treadmill for home.  I don’t have anything against treadmills and used it almost every trip to the gym… so why not have one at home to use to fill in the gaps between our trips there?

We bought it and used it for a bit.

Now it sits in the basement, unused.  Why? Well, the environment is not conducive.

I get the treadmill effect with some games.  At this point, I’d say Aion was my treadmill MMO.  Once my workout buddy stopped playing, it was hard to keep my interest.  Then there’s the grind.  Sure, I’ve said time and time again that putting seemingly mundane and repetitious tasks into game form and I love ‘em.

But the environment wasn’t quite right.

So Aion, much like my treadmill, sat unused for a lengthy period of time.  All the while I kept telling myself I should get back in there.

But I didn’t.  My account expired a few weeks ago.

I didn’t quit because I disliked it or because of World of Warcraft (which I haven’t logged into for a few weeks either).

Much like my treadmill – I enjoyed it when the environment was conducive.

I could start using either one again at anytime.

The world isn’t big enough to contain me.  I must seek domination far and wide.  Space is a good place to seek ultimate domination.  Not just world domination – but universal domination! Wait, even bigger than that!

Although, a noob like me in the vast and complex outerworld that is EVE Online probably won’t see any domination… yet.  (Never underestimate a warlock.)

Ok, so, there aren’t warlocks in EVE.  But! I am IMMORTAL! Mwuahahaha!  (See, it pays to live off the souls of lesser opponents.)

Let me start at the beginning-ish. (continue reading…)

I think most of us have been in this position.  Few gamers that I know play only one game and only one character.  I suffer from two main forms of Itis:

1. Altitis
2. Gameitis

Altitis

This is also referred to as: altism, altoholic, altoholism.  It’s having the urge, nay, the need to roll another character in a game.  It doesn’t matter how much you love your main or countless other alts, you just want to explore another.

Gameitis

Those who are familiar with this particular affliction may affectionately refer to themselves as being polygamerous.  It’s the desire and/or urge to explore multiple game worlds. This can manifest across gaming platforms and genres.  For one reason or another, you want to play with ‘em all!

What Causes Them?

From my experiences, I have narrowed it down to three causes: (continue reading…)

This is going to be a bit different than last year’s goal list.  Last year I focused heavily on World of Warcraft goals with a smattering of Rock Band goals mixed in.  This year, I’ve broken down my goals into a few different categories: WoW, Aion, Dragons Age, Sims 3, Blogging, and Assorted.  And my, I look gamerbitious, don’tcha think? (continue reading…)

…from Barrens Chat and omgwtf names.

Clicky for bigger version

This is a screenshot from Allods Online closed beta shortly after I exited the beginner phased area and became surrounded by other players.  Although, all the Chuck Norris comments were scrolled off the chatlog before I took a screenie.

So recently it was revealed that the upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR) MMO by Bioware will have the option of utilizing NPC companions.  (Check out this video interview for the full scoop.)

Apparently this is the apocalypse and the demise of the genre as well as false advertising as an MMO.  Keen is not the only one that seems to take issue with this.

The main point I pulled from Keen’s post was that the inclusion of NPC companions meant that Bioware is developing a single player game with multiplayer options rather than a massively multiplayer online game.

In the other posts I read regarding this (and the dislike for it) I couldn’t help but notice a point of view that was being missed…

Why can’t it be viewed as a multiplayer game with single player options?

That thought was then followed up with these:

Why does an MMO have to mean forced grouping at all times?

What MMO has forced grouping at all times nowadays?

Storytellers

But mainly what I saw as missed that MY ears latched onto during that interview was the part the NPC companions play in the story.

Dragon Age, anyone?

Story equals immersion.  Your companions will react to your choices…

There are going to be certain characters that will be integral to the Star Wars story, but won’t suffice as a simple quest giver.  And some… you just can’t expect to create.  So genre destroyer be damned, it sounds to me to be more of a vehicle of driving the story.  Plus, you’re more likely to listen to what they have to say than read quest test, amirite?

Anywho, in this post I am going to move forward with addressing the “single player games are trying to overthrow and destroy MMOs” argument. (continue reading…)

I thought I’d give an update on my gaming and an overview of my play-style.

Sideshow is currently at 80 and has been there for many months now. In all honesty, he’s probably as far as he needs to be. He has a few Naxx pieces, some PvP pieces, etc. I have no interest in getting him fully top-tier geared. That’s not how I play. I drop in to enjoy my free time with whatever I feel like doing at the time. I usually do a few dailies, hit up a few battlegrounds, and maybe run some stuff with guildies. I may start PuGing more when the dungeon changes come out in 3.3. It’s not the act of raiding that I don’t enjoy. (continue reading…)

Today is the first day that Aion players can redeem veteran rewards.  Last week NCsoft revealed their plans for veteran rewards.  Starting today, accounts that have been active for at least a month will be able to redeem them.  Although things could still change, at this time, they are planning to have rewards for each active month – up to 6 months.

What kinds of goodies shall we see? Titles, cube expansion, exclusive emotes, rez stones, experience amulets, and better wings.

Best part? You can redeem them for any/all of your characters as long as your account has been active long enough for each veteran reward package.  Very cool for altoholics. (continue reading…)

smashcon @ Flickr

It is no secret that WoW was my first MMORPG.  When I first started playing WoW in October of 2006, I was totally enamored with it.  I started out playing here and there, getting to know WoW.

The more I got to know WoW, the more time I wanted to spend playing it.  My play time increased and I tried new things with WoW – new characters, new classes, new zones.  I tried dungeons, battlegrounds, world PvP, and roleplaying.

After a few months, WoW and I were nearly inseparable.  I barely looked at other games.  I felt as though all my gaming needs were being met within this one package.  So, I played even more often… until that honeymoon phase was over.  The euphoria wasn’t there anymore, but I still really liked playing WoW.  But, it felt different.  I needed space.

That was when I took my first break.  And it wasn’t my last.  Many of my breaks were filled with console gaming.

It didn’t feel like cheating, because I played primarily one player console games.  They were on a completely different level than MMOs and most certainly were not like WoW.

It never took long before I’d return to WoW.  I’d feel guilty for being away for so long, hoping I hadn’t missed out on too much and that WoW would have me back.

Of course, WoW always accepted me back with open arms.

Eventually, WoW and I had to have The Talk.  I still love WoW, but sometimes it doesn’t provide everything I’m looking for.  I didn’t like knowing what I was missing.  But WoW… WoW was always forgiving and accepting of my need to explore.

My need to be free to game as I pleased. (continue reading…)

(To the tune of “On The Road Again” by Willie Nelson – which, by the way, is totally outside my normal musical selection)

I’m a noob again

Just can’t wait to figure it all out again

The game I love is adventurin’ with my friends

And I can’t wait to figure it all out again.

I’m a noob again

Questin’ in places that I’ve never been

Rollin’ things that I might never roll again

And I can’t wait to figure it all out again.

That’s right.  I, Syrana, controller of demons and dark magic artistry, am a noob again. (continue reading…)