Sideshow & Syrana

I know I can’t be the only one that has dreams that incorporate gaming elements or dreams about games.  The game I find sneaking into my subconscious the most is World of Warcraft.  I suppose it doesn’t help that I often listen to the soundtracks while falling asleep.  (The Eversong Woods music with the cellos and haunting voices is super relaxing.)

I previously shared a very whacked out dream that involved Samodean, Chris Metzen, and a live action zombie demo.  I had a LOT of details to share since I wrote it all down as soon as I could after waking up.

More commonly I remember snippets, if that.  What I’ve noticed more lately is that waking up is part of a quest chain.

I’ve had dreams where hitting the snooze button is a repeatable quest.

I’ve also had dreams that the “A” button was the snooze button.

Dreams are weird.  And yes, that’s a scientific term.

Ya know, I think this is why I love to slow time down when my Sims are sleeping.  Usually the game will auto-speed up time when the entire household is asleep.  I mean, they are sleeping, you don’t have anything to manage after all.  But, I like to slow it down just to watch the dream bubbles.

Hmm.

I never realized just how creepy that was before.

Last week I posted some screenshots from Allods Online.  In the comments, Tami asked the following, which I will answer today:

I’m curious to know how you like the game, past the opening scenes. I don’t know if it was just me being flighty or not, but it seemed really hard for me to connect to the game (adorable hamster people with vicious attack squirrels notwithstanding – mine were Khuu, Bhuu, Rhuu, and Twidget).

Characters

Allods offers some interesting characters to choose from.  There are two factions to choose from: League and Empire.  Each side has 14 different classes you can choose from (which play off of 8 basic classes).  The character creation was kinda fun, but not a whole lot in the way of customization. Plus, I noticed it was easy to change factions and/or classes during the process.

I didn’t see much for descriptions of the races or classes during the character creation. I sort of missed that, especially after World of Warcraft improved their character creation information.  And, honestly, I didn’t want to poke around outside of the game to find out this information. (continue reading…)

me⋅nag⋅er⋅ie [muh-naj-uh-ree]
–noun

I have added to definitions 1 and 3 today.  And my new alt allowed me to pay a bit more attention to some of the changes with patch 3.3. (continue reading…)

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…)

We all know that Sideshow and I are avid gamers.  But did you know my parents are gamers too? About a year ago, Sideshow and I piqued their interest enough in WoW to get them playing.  They each have their own account and are still enjoying the game.  Sure, Sideshow and I had told them about WoW throughout our times playing and they’d be interested in knowing our progress.  Now, it’s a bit different having them play as well.  We get to talk with them in game, my mom is a loyal reader of the blog, and phone conversations and visits are full of WoW chatter.  I thought it might be fun for you, my readers, to hear a little more about them.

… except when I asked them to participate, my dad said, “You’ll have to find your parents first…” (continue reading…)

Oh hi there!

What? Oh yes, I know there’s been nothing new ’round here for a few days.

You see, sometimes I get a bit distracted…especially by new games.  But not just by any ol’ new game – good new games.  Unlike Sideshow, I don’t really suffer from game ADD.  Instead, I tend to get hyperfocused on one thing at a time.  That’s why my playtime may seem to be monopolized by one particular game for a stretch of time then shift to another.  After the newness wears off, I tend to fall back into a more “normal” multi-game rotation of sorts.

Unfortunately, this hyperfocus can derail other projects I have going.  For example, this past week I’ve fallen (farther) behind (than usual) on reading other blogs as well as posting.  But hey, we all need mini-breaks here and there, am I right?

At any rate, I thought I’d give a bit of an update as to what’s going on in my virtual world(s).  I don’t usually write update type of posts, but what the hell… when have I ever followed the rules before? (continue reading…)

Quit starin' at my booty!

I like money.

Especially easy money.

As I discussed last week, there’s gold to be found in those candy buckets!

And we’re talking more than a simple penny pouch.  Sheesh, can you believe some of these innkeepers?  The gall to hand out penny pouches.  I think that’s worse than the old lady nickels some kids acquire during IRL trick or treating.

Now, I realize there is only about a week left to the Hallow’s End event and several people have found their way here in search of a list of the Northrend candy buckets.  Hopefully this will still help some of you out.

Last week, Shadowspawnd was kind enough to post the Alliance listing in the comments, so I will repost that here for all of you.  I went flying around scouring Northrend in search of the Horde buckets.  I hope this list is complete.  If by chance either of us missed any, please feel free to say so in the comments! (And no, I didn’t separate out the neutral locations – just left them in the running lists.)

(continue reading…)

Yarr, the gold be cursed fer yer own safety.

Today marks the beginning of Hallow’s End.  There’s fun to be had with wands, masks, candy, flying brooms, and Headless Horsemen.

But the best part? Gold Coins.  Mmmm.

Besides being part of the meta-achievement for What A Long Strange Trip It’s Been, Hallow’s End has lots of fun achievements.  Prior to Blizzard’s introduction of achievements, Hallow’s End was my favorite in-game holiday.  (Then again, I kinda like the RL version as well.)

You might also remember how much I enjoy the Midsummer Fire Festival.  Now, besides the fun and casual activities that Hallow’s End and the Midsummer Fire Festival provide… they also provide good opportunities for your toons to profit.

That’s right!  Level 80’s not only get candy when they stick their hands into candy buckets, they also get gold!

Not level 80 yet? (or have an army of alts?) Great! They can get experience from chasing their sugar high.

Not sold on making money from trick or treating yet?  Let’s do some math… *rubs forehead* Ow, this is gonna hurt!

(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…)