In the belly of the Whale called work.

Okay, short and sweet. 72+ hours a week at work. Eat, sleep, work.

...waiting for the storm to pass, until then will somebody keep the dust of my PC?

Tickets for the Big Show.

It goes something like this.

Your favorite Band is coming to town and you know its going to be a sell out. You have known this for several months and have moved your entire life to prepare. You have spent hours listening to their music and imagining yourself in the front row. At some point during this time you became a walking tribute to this band because that's all you talk about.

You follow the bands tour and know every night where they are. You read everything you can about each stop of the way. They are getting closer. The week has arrived and you find yourself driving by the place they will be playing. A few times a day as you drive by you see the signs, they are coming. You have worked yourself up to where food is an afterthought and sleep escapes you. The day has finally arrived and in one breath real life steps in and says “no”.

Okay, it's not the end of the world but it sometimes can feel like it.

I was so ready to enjoy the launch of Warhammer On-line and begin my new game life with a new guild, when it melted away. The Boss Mob called “Real Life” who we all know well, decided to give me something else to do. “Work sucks” is a branded phrase you see everywhere, T-shirts, Bumper stickers, even refrigerator magnets. “That's Life”, “Work Sucks”, hell I could probably right a wall of text about these alone.

The point? I am glad you asked.

My job is camping my corpse (72 hour's a week ).This won't last long but enough to get in the way for War's launch. There will be time to play and catch up but I was hoping to start with everyone else.

Yeah I know, “work sucks and that's life”. I'm just all dressed up with no place to go.

Spore: Single cell organism to Digital Rights Management? (DRM)

Okay it's a rainy Sunday morning and Warhammer Online is soon to open the “Head Start” for CE pre-orders. Which of course leaves me out since I fall into the “SE pre-order Wait until Monday” category, of course launch date is the 18th and for some War is further still.

In any event this gives me a few moments to “Peruse”.

Did 'Spore' copy protections backfire on EA? ( article by Jennifer Guevin )

What's the fuss about? Electronic Arts imposed copyright protections that limited the number of times a user can install the game to three.

Such digital rights management technology is intended to keep piracy to a minimum. But in this case, it seems to have had the opposite effect, angering would-be buyers and DRM opponents to such a degree that they are illegally downloading it en masse, apparently to make a statement as much as to get their hands on the game.

DRM is something of a conundrum- a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play on words, as What is black and white and read all over? In this case it seems everywhere you deal with a product and their DRM, the more it seems to get pirated.

On Saturday, TorrentFreak wrote that the game had already been downloaded more than 500,000 times on BitTorrent sites. Though it didn't appear to have broken any overall download records at the time this story was published, peer-to-peer research company Big Champagne told Forbes on Friday that the rate at which it was being downloaded was "extraordinary."

I believe in the rights of ownership especially when it comes to paying for a product, but until they come up with something that doesn't choke the consumer it's hard to swallow.

...besides, for the last couple of years every time I turn around it's "Pirate" something, Sparrow, Disney, Burning Seas, it's the cool thing now "Yar!"

Running down hill with baby Jesus.

Okay, the title may be extreme and I am sure I'll pay for it later but I stumbled across something today that made me just shake my head. There is an Anti Spore Blog. I have read many articles and blogs in the past that have been very brash and opinionated but none as amusing as this. Anti Spore

Apparently this blogger Mom has taken up a crusade against the new game Spore, EA and the designer Will Wright. Spore is a "massively single-player online game" that allows a player to control the evolution of a species from its beginnings as a single cell organism to interstellar exploration. If you have not heard or read anything about Spore, then please leave your cave now and look here Spore.

I agree that everyone has the right to an opinion and especially the freedom to voice it in whatever medium they see fit. Of course I also reserve the right to grab a bag of pretzels, a cold beer and watch the fun.

Religion and personal conviction is a powerful state of heart and mind that can lead one to do great things, but without wisdom it may do more harm than good. This blogger believes that Spore teaches evolution and evolution is “Bad Mmmkay”!

The object of the game is to evolve from a “spore” into demon-like intelligent space creatures that violently take over the galaxy.  I decided that Electronic Arts needs to hear from concerned people such as myself that this sort of game is not acceptable, and created this blog to find support and share information and progress with anyone who feels the same as I do.

Yes, the game allows the player to choose how the character looks. But the game guides you through the evolutionary theory.
If you create a character that functions badly, and you can not eat, or fight, or move fast. You have difficulty surviving. Thus you must through trial and error select a design that works. Which is the fundamental “survival of the fittest” theory behind evolution.

God did not create us through trial and error. He did not make millions of mistakes until deciding on the final concept. Each of his concepts were perfect on the first try.

I do believe every parent needs to take responsibility for what their child may or may not take part in. We can't remove what may “appear” to be evil, only instruct, teach and prepare. A crusade against publishers, developers and designers is not going to make these demons go away.

/puts soapbox away.

The read is an interesting point of view, (One post and 'nuff said) but the responses were the most entertaining. It did remind me of some forums that I tend to lurk around. I really liked the post about getting Jack Thompson to represent her and then the "strikethrough" after she realized 'ole Jack was the Real Slim Shady.
It makes me wonder of this is a gimmick or stunt, well played out for hits and attention.

With the advertisement “COMBAT ARMS; online FPS action, FRAG FOR FREE” attached to her blog, the Crusade falters. I feel like there are more important things a person can make a stand against, but a poor single cell organism trying to make a way, isn't one of them.

Let the games begin.

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning entered Open Beta today and those that have only been able to read others views, can now taste War for themselves. The “roller coaster” ride that everyone gets when reading game info on the NDA lifted, up and coming, is similar to every one I have experienced. The good the bad and the ugly are described on every thread, repeatedly. Of course I am referring to the state of game play rather than what's broke, after all it is beta. I can only comment on the beta & release of games I have experienced and so far they've all followed the same criteria, a work in progress. A continuation of polish, fixes and content.

So what's next? Open Beta To See If I Like It, testing.

Open beta is synonymous to “Whats the game like?” for the majority of those that have been reading and waiting on the sidelines. After all, how much testing can we do 10 days before release. What's fun is relative and no matter what we have heard, in game is where our decisions are made. OB testers can now see if they like it as much as they thought they would. I haven't been in the testing stages long enough to appreciate the progress so my assessment is the “Open Beta To See If I Like It” review.

Verse of Verses: PvE and PvP/RvR.

Personally in an MMO I desire to be immersed. I want to be enthralled by the plights of those poor NPC's I encounter. I want to get lost in the story line as if reading a good fantasy novel. In many of the games past my desire has been fairly well satisfied, at least palatable. At first I let myself slip into the “Ho Hum, kill ten crap,” but soon realized for anyone that has never played this type of game before it's their tutorial. My eyes were opened to this when I fired my first cannon or crossbow. I am sure glad they showed me how to do that, it may come in handy. Putting my haughtiness aside, because I am an expert in MMO's, (choked on that one) I moved on.

The immersion that I look for was not overwhelming but enough to keep my attention. However; Public Quests are just the flavoring needed to make PvE, the soup de jour. I personally don't like spoilers so stumbling is what I do best. When I stumbled upon a bunch of people on a PQ, I jumped in to help and had a blast. I had no idea what was going on at first, failed to notice the “pop up” description of what I stepped into. I didn't help enough to get a roll on the loot but the “drive by” break in my present quest was a nice touch.

I also enjoy, not so much as a desire but a “put the novel down” break in the action change of pace. The camaraderie of group PVP and all the action surrounding it is excellent fun but it's a seasoning, not the main ingredient for me. In Warhammer, it's all about War and RvR so what in the hell am I doing here? Well I'll tell ya'.

Caught up in the moment.

My first experience of what War had to offer in RvR was the “Khaines Embrace” scenario. 5 minutes of this scenario is not enough for any useful verbiage but first impression was “capture the flag”. Exit and look for more PvE. ( these are actually somewhat better. “Never judge a book by it's cover” comes into play here).Working my little PvE heart out in Nordland I came across an area that, if I stayed, would flag me for PvP. A town called New Emskrank was crawling with those who follow the way of Chaos. I stayed and for the next 5 hours I was lost in RvR. Battlefield objectives which seem like “capture the flag” didn't have that stale mundane feel to me.

I spent time solo as well as grouped and both were exciting. Solo, I felt more mobile. Hit and run tactics that didn't necessarily turn the tide of battle but enough to be a pest. Of course the cannons on the hill came in handy once in awhile (I knew that cheesy kill so many whatever, canon/crossbow quest would come in handy). Now the flip side to this was after you make yourself enough of a pest, the more organized of the opposing masses put you on top of their hit list.

Grouped PvP offered the same as others I have experienced as long as the pick up group was in tune. “Do this, do that” team tactics that was satisfying if you helped save someones butt or yours was just pulled from the fire. What seemed to be different for me here was “the moment”. Overall the objective is to win your area back but it was the “moment”, that skirmish, group or solo that was the juice for me.

The early levels of PvE doesn't feel like climbing a ladder to max level but more of a feeling that its preparing me, preparing me for War.

...and this has my attention.

When your character comes to life

We grow very fond of some of our creations in MMO's. It is an odd thing that we grow so attached to an in-game avatar that it borders on the “unstable”, especially when it comes to losing them.

In times past I have added certain elements to the game itself by writing story lines on a guild forum and playing out parts of those stories in-game. I would tell a tale of woe complete with detailed descriptions of areas in the game. I would then give clues to an on going puzzle that would be played out in character.

This would be on a set day and if you could discern from the story where I would be found you would see another clue play out before you, in character. This would continue from written story too in character play and everyone seemed to enjoy the added element.

I had an opportunity some time ago with a Radio Station I was volunteering for to bring my characters back in play, but this time it was audio more than in game role playing.

Mapus and Hegwin have been with me for several years, being created over and over depending on what fantasy MMO I was enjoying at the time. Halfling twins that I have grown very fond of just because I am unstable that way, came to life once again and it sure was fun listening to the trouble they got into.

Hegwin and the Bow.mp3

The Next Chapter?

With Warhammer Online getting ready for launch and open beta just hours away I find myself going through the same 'ole routine. I am clearing out the weekend for game time, doing some preventive maintenance on the old PC and lurking around my favorite game forums.

Since my introduction to this addiction, the anticipation for the new expansion, game or even the monumental game update has never changed.

It's always presents, wrapped and ready to open.

The several MMO's that I have had the pleasure to spend time in were beautifully wrapped and like any adolescent, I madly tore my way inside. As with most presents they all get some use even if it's for a short time but eventually some get shelved.

Everquest had its moments.

The fond memories of traveling form Qeynos to Freeport and in the early days that meant running. Seeing Highpass for the first time with the faces carved in the canyon walls was nothing short of breathtaking.

Everquest didn't get stale it just gave way to better graphics and the “New and Improved” Everquest II.

Like many other gamers I like to see whats new. I may be having a great time where I am but it seems dabbling with something new is always tempting.

It's that unopened present that haunts me.

I envy those gamers that have stayed with that one “main” game for it's duration. They have created for themselves a reputation a legacy and home. Maybe Warhammer will be that home for me, only time will tell.

...patching for open beta now.

What are we looking for?

As one who loves the MMO universe I often ask myself what do the game gods ask themselves before creating an MMO. Getting the obvious out of the way, genre, what do they look at next? We know there are a million things that go into making a decent MMO.

I wonder at the little things that we sometimes pass over like in-game dialog, quests or story line. The hours upon hours of written text, “Hi I am Boomba and I sell pickles” or the idle chatter of NPC's as you pass by. It's hard to fathom that at 70+ levels we have read a few novels worth of written hints direction and lore.

How about the textures, lighting, shading and colors that bring an MMO to life. How many games have we played that we have stopped at some overlook and it actually took our breath away. The sunsets, the clouds, the rain, is it just fluff? Is it really needed? One would have to think that the “powers that be” would ask themselves, what are gamers wanting, what are they looking for.

I have seen concerns across the boards covering, Combat, death, questing, instancing, class balance, PVP, PVE, RVR all the way to “Does this armor make me look fat?” All of these are important but of course it depends on ones point of view.

Perplexing isn't it.

How do you serve the masses? I am glad that's not a hurdle I have to clear, its a high standard we place on the industry.

My expectations are almost impossible to meet I suppose, after a dozen MMO's I can glean from each to make the perfect game. I love the open world concept, the “wherever I can see, I can get to”. No boxed in zones except the game world itself. The ability to travel, at my discretion, and traverse mountains, plains, the oceans and stumble across that “easter egg” some developer left for me to find. This open world actually gives me the feeling I could really get lost. Time sink for some but immersive for others.

What a conundrum.

How about aesthetics or cosmetics, the eye candy that some crave from a game. You know the ones. Those robust games that need a Quadracore Gigamoose with a multimondo threaded taxibus type of PC that draws enough juice to dim the lights in your neighborhood. New game, new computer scenario because the new graphic engine is two bytes short of a hologram.

Okay, I'm guilty.

I love detailed graphics. Spin my character around to see even his nose hairs kind of detail. But at what cost, stability, gameplay? Would I play a perfect balanced game with great mechanics if my avatar was a stick figure? That would be a no, but there are others though that would run their stick figure to the level cap.

They bring us all together like some social club with the hopes of finding that niche for the masses. Success in some areas and failing in others but they try, over and over again they try. No game may be perfect but I still love the experience and am glad they keep trying.

Have I found what I am looking for?

Sing it Bono, just sing it...

“I have climbed the highest mountains

I have run through the fields Only to be with you, only to be with you

I have run I have crawled I have scaled these city walls, these city walls Only to be with you

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for”

Going back to the old?

Traveling down the path of the “What’s New” in today and tomorrow’s MMO’s reminds me of the consumer market that is constantly giving us our “New and Improved”. I fall victim with the flash of improved products like most people. Hell, after all it’s “Improved”. Whatever it was doing for me before, must be doing more for me now.

I would never think of going back to the old . Why would anyone go back to the old, when the “New and Improved” is available? The shampoo commercial comes to mind. You know the one, where they act like they are having an orgasm in the shower. Who wouldn’t want that shampoo? It’s a poor analogy using the new Orgasmic Shampoo versus the old and dull but in our gaming history we always look for the new things that will shake our tree.

10 years of losing our selves in the latest and greatest, is there any time to reflect? Look back at what made those early games hold our attention? Can we go back even for nostalgic reasons to taste that early magic that made us a core MMO player?

I fired up EQ1 and actually re-subscribed, in an attempt to see if the old would still be palatable for my gaming tastes. Upon arriving at the character creation screen I was met by the “Family”, the old characters and names that have traveled with me for several years. I wasn’t sure if it was the nostalgic moment that helped me overlook the old style graphics or that graphics just don’t mean that much to me anymore. Cycling through my guys, still fully equipped in all their grandeur, it didn’t take long to be flooded with great memories of days gone by.

In those days it wasn’t too hard to be in game 5 hours through the week and 30 hours on the weekends. Damn, how things change. I entered the game with my main character mostly to see if everything was as I left it. After a 4 year absence I didn’t expect too much but was pleasingly surprised that everything was in place. A quick tour in the Planes of Knowledge revealed that this was still a live and busy community.

When my tour of PoK was over I wanted to find something to kill. I logged onto my level 37 Barbarian Warrior, who was conveniently parked in the Overthere and preceded to find something to beat up. With the Zone to Sky Fire Mountains at my back I was ready to rumble. A clean bow shot to the closest un-expecting Sarnak and the fight was on. The bad thing about coming back after 4 years is that you are used to how some of the “New and Improved” games are more forgiving. I had no fear that a Blue-conned MOB was a semi-safe first kill.

As I watched my enemies life line, as well as my own, race dot for dot. I realized that this damn thing just might kick my ass. Where in the hell was my list of abilities, my superb fighting skills that I have trained for all of these 37 levels? Auto combat, bash and kick, is this all I got? Of course this is what I pictured the Sarnak telling me, “That all you got”? In what seemed like hours I finally finished off my quarry with about 5% life to spare.

I was basking in my victory along with reminding myself this wasn’t the “New and Improved”, it was the “Old” game. I remembered what death meant in this game along with all of the challenges a player would face. It was at this time, my moment of reflection, when this damn Cockatrice decided he wanted some. Well I didn’t so I ran. (Noob after thought, I ran the wrong way. The Damn zone was at my back, figures don't it.) One dose of Blood of the Wolf and off I went. After covering sufficient ground, keeping yardage between me and this pissed off chicken was best I thought. I stopped, turned to take a look just to find this damn chicken still hot on my ass. Damn, if this bird catches me I’ll have to make a freaking corpse run.

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Shortest is not always the wisest. Heading for that good ‘ole Book on a pedestal, the one that would port me to safety, I never looked back one time. I knew that I had not only that damn chicken on my ass but I was sure he had company. I pictured a train of ugly behind me anywhere from the Chicken brotherhood all the way to those damn Dragoon’s and a few stray cats. Book tag, I know you have seen them off in a distance running for their very lives with the whole zone in pursuit. Tag the Book and “poof”, you make it. Well I made the tag and was safe.

Yeah this wasn’t the “New and Improved” but once again it got my attention. The graphics aren’t next generation and the level is a grind but I did remember just how fun this game was. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to my old shampoo but I do think I will hang around Old EQ for awhile, it just feels right for now.

Out of the corner of your eye

Peripheral Vision, which is vision that occurs outside the very center of gaze is a prime example of “Game” Forums or Sites. This is not a derogatory statement but simply an observation on my part.

There are an abundance of “Communities” that are dedicated to a game or MMO's in general, that can house the most obnoxious persona's that surf the 3 dub's (WWW).

Pick a game, pick a community and watch the “Battle of the Boards”. Not all communities harbor the insane, pro-zac smoking, retina fried, flotsam and jetsam that happens to wash up on the shore, but even those quiet “Mr Rogers Neighborhood” communities along with the “Back Alley” type serve the greater good.

The pure gold that I find in any community and I mean ANY, is the unlimited resources that the gaming industry has at their fingertips. If I was in control of a major gaming company the first thing I would do is hire, full time, to do nothing else, than to read and monitor every gaming forum as possible. Every week a full report would be submitted concerning the “State of the Gamer”.

Everywhere you look there a “State of the Game” posts and announcements. These are important and are needed. They come in several flavors, Devs explaining whats going on, where we want to be, etc, etc. Community sites reiterating to those gamers that play, but are clueless whats going on in their favorite playground. True story coming --> A player in Vanguard, never has the Chat Windows active and has played since launch did not have a clue about SOE/Sigil current events. These people need a “State of the Game” address.

11 years with MMO entertainment I have always believed the game companies were locked on to that “center gaze”, and all of a sudden, at times, something came flying at them from the corner of their eye and smacked them in the head. I would imagine hindsight was revelation to things they might have seen from the Gaming community but was lost in their straight forward gaze.

The mass of gamers that camp various Gaming sites, regardless of the Barroom or granny's house atmosphere have a role. An important calling for the present and future of all games.

Listen up gaming companies, keep your eyes on the prize and fixed on your goal, but listen to your public, we will let you know if something is going to smack you upside your head.