Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Art's Closet on Blade Radio aired live Nov 19th 2010



Art's Closet on Blade Radio aired live Nov 19th 2010

-Emily Diehl-

ArenaNet's Community and Content Manager  Emily Diehl is leaving ArenaNet to go to Undead Labs. (Undead Labs, the studio founded by a few ex-ArenaNet employees,)
She started at the studio in 2006 as a member of the systems design team.
Since I’ve worked closely with many of you on this site, I wanted to let you know that my last day at ArenaNet will be this Friday, November 19. Starting next week, I’ll be heading over to join my friends at Undead Labs, working on their unnamed zombie game.
For folks that know me, it’s no secret how much I love horror stuff. The first movie I ever remember seeing was Night of the Living Dead (when I was four), and I’ve been obsessed with horror ever since. I love Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 with a passion, but in this case, having the privilege to work on a zombie title is fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine.


-Isaiah Cartwright “Izzy”-

Izzy is Game Designer on GW2 but was already part of the team on the first episode. Yeah, remember. He was the one who got most of the players raging about class balancing in GW.
This idea applied to GW2 translates as follow:
    Visually intense fights
    Skills able to fulfill several functions


-Hearts of the North-

Hearts of the North is the next installment of Guild Wars Beyond, an ongoing campaign that expands upon the Guild Wars storyline and lays the foundation for the upcoming Guild Wars 2.
It began yesterday! Hearts of the North, the next phase in Guild Wars Beyond, tells the story of the union of Gwen and Keiran Thackeray. You'll reunite these legendary heroes and help prepare for their wedding through a series of all-new quests and missions. You can even dress for the occasion in one of our elegant new wedding costumes!
http://www.guildwars.com/heartsofthenorth/

-ZAM-

ZAM is proud to announce the launch of our new Guild Wars 2 community site! Check it out for forums, news, information and more!


My name is Jeahr, though some older members of the Guild Wars community may also know me as JR. I've been involved with the fansite business for many years, and I'm pleased to have the opportunity to work with ZAM on opening this site. Guild Wars 2 is a game I'm incredibly excited for, and we're hoping to provide the best experience for every community member here.


-Star Trek Online News-
Enterprise Bundle in the C-Store
Buy all four Enterprise-themed extras and save 20 percent! This pack includes theFederation NX Class Starship Replica, Federation Costume Pack: Enterprise, Federation Costume Pack: Enterprise Mirror Uniforms - Circa 2160, and the Federation Costume Pack: T'Pol.

Season Three: The Genesis Info


-Turbine Point Cards-

Turbine Point Cards are prepaid cards that you can purchase at your local Target, Best Buy or GameStop retailers.  WHAT?? WAIT PAID GAME CARDS FOR FTP??

Get your cards at GameStop, Best Buy or Target today and receive FREE Turbine Points with every purchase. The $10 card gives you 120 FREE points, for a total of 750 Turbine Points. The $25 card gives you 450 FREE points, for a total of 2,000 Turbine Points. These offers are valid only while supplies last at participating GameStop, Best Buy and Target retailers, so don't wait!


-All Points Bulletin, The Second Coming.-

Earlier this year Realtime Worlds fell apart and the game “All Points Bulletin” became another Game casualty.
...and then there was light...
APB picked up by GamersFirst
APB: Reloadedand reloaded as Free-to-play


76 days and in the toilet...and back out.


-Virtual Real Estate-

Last year, an investor named Erik Novak broke the record for the largest single expenditure in a virtual world, paying $330,000 for a space station in Project Entropia, an online science fiction world where the economy for laser rifles and body armor ultimately comes down to U.S. dollars. But now a group of investors has set a new record, operating in the same game, paying $635,000 for Entropia mogul Jon Jacobs' "Club Neverdie." More than half of that, $335,000, came from a single investor.
The club's previous owner was earning $200,000 a year by taxing every virtual transaction that occurs within the confines of the game space. Panasjuk and the other investors hope to be able to start turning a profit with similar numbers.

-Die2Nite- Game review English-language beta of free to play zombie apocalypse survival game

« A little after midnight, a deathly silence fell all around you, as if all life had suddenly come to a halt. The night was icy cold... Then you saw them, dozens of them... hundreds even, meandering towards you... Their hands grasp you, grab you, pull and claw at you... Then they drag you with them throughout the night, to be devoured in the small hours. »

Yes...Dead, dead and eaten ...
BETA

A Real-time multiplayer browser game – It's the kind where you log in throughout the day to check your status and perform actions – Reminds me of Zynga games, Facebook games.
Originally a French game that was praised by said press.


I spent hours searching for salvage out in the desert, and when I finally came back I came back empty handed and the gate was closed.
..yep and in order to get in ..you have to frantically post on your communities forum to get in.


You get dropped into a village with a randomized name with several other players from your time zone, and the goal is to survive. Every night the village gets assaulted by zombies, and every day you head out into the desert to scavenge for items. Items them to build anything from walls to guard towers to workshops.
Your village has a wall around it and can only be entered through a main gate, which in turn can only be opened or closed from the inside. If somebody closes the gate too early, the stragglers have no choice but to leave a frenzied posts on your town’s forum to try and save themselves from becoming a late-night snack. If nobody remembers to close the gate, Your town ends up a drive thru.


You can die. The whole town can die.


This is why the size of the player base is so perfect. When there’s only 40 of you, you’re all important. For one thing, new players aren’t added after your village is created, and for another thing any dead players become more zombies. Also, in a group that small it’s easy for anybody to rise up and become leaders by giving advice and issuing orders on your town’s messageboard, and anyone trying to be a lone wolf and look after themselves (taking items from the town’s supply dump, say, or stealing) will not only make a noticeable impact, but it’s a relatively easy process to turn enough of the town against them to get them banished, or even hung.


COLONY OF NIGHTS WITHOUT END (2)

No news from our 7 courageous citizens who ventured into the World Beyond yesterday. If in doubt, pillage their house...
It should be noted that last night, some citizens report having seen EvilG opening the gates just before the attack. There are also some who say that it wasn't entirely accidental... Result: 7 deaths.
- The Crow

What am I playing”
Priston Tale II the 2nd Enigma
Unreal Engine

April 12 2010 Game Bridger unveiled today the name of its new free-to-play games portal, GamerKraft

Guild/Clan/Squad/Fleet
a group of people joined for a common interest.
WHY?
It's Work”

Solo was difficult then – Joining meant survival

Social benefits- “Honey I'm Home” - “Guys at the Pub” “the Hang out”

Beat the curve, Learning curve – In game help?
Leadership Appreciation Weekend

SOLO player in an MMO

We are different, you and I”

What makes you different in your MMO?
Or, what makes you consistent...Class, Race, weapons.
Theif, hunter, sniper, rogue or that guy with the big gun


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Art's Closet on Blade Radio aired live Nov 12th 2010


Art's Closet aired live Nov 12th 2010 on Blade Radio.

Besides the weekly segments, the rambling touched on the following...

Guild Wars Artist using a dead animal for texture.

Champions Online going Free to Play

“I call him fluffy” - In game pets

“Character Creation” - Creating the role-play you

“Multiple Massive Multiplayer Online Games” - How many is to many?

.....sorry about the lack of show notes, apparently they were digested. 



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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Happy Holiday and News

Hello Closet'teers...

Due to the Holiday, We will not have a live show or a Podcast for this week but will return in pure Wardrobe fashion the following week.

We have been busy in our 4X4 world, and I want to take this opportunity to share the news. Along with a live show and recorded Podcast with our friends at GNET Radio, we have added more Closet time with another project.

Over the last few weeks Art's Closet has also been found at Blade Radio. Blade Radio has been the Internet Radio Station for Guild Wars over the last several years and are beginning to branch out into other games. Currently, Blade Radio has entered into Star Trek Online and of course will be catering to Guild Wars 2 upon release.

At Blade Radio, our format is just little different. We host a three hour show with weekly segments: Every Friday at 12pCST

Gaming News” - Commentary on random news topics from the gaming world.

It's a Gamers Life” - A lighthearted look at the life of Gamers, in and out of the game.

Twin Journey's” - 2 Halfling brothers who just don't know what game they’re in (Halfling Skits)

Closet Mail Bag” - Listener e-mail

Closet Rock Block” - This segment varies from playing music to talking about it.

The management at Blade Radio are working on an area to host “Art's Closet” with a Blog and per-recorded shows. When everything is finalized all links will be found here.

This Blog will continue as well our relationship with GNET Radio, we are just branching out.

I want to wish everyone a happy holiday filled with good times, good food and family fellowship.

Happy Holiday from Art's Closet.

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Friday, November 19, 2010

It's all about the ride....

 
 I am a gamer. I game, that is my mission in life. To boldly go where no armor clad male has gone before....riding a Rabbit.

Game Bridger announced earlier this year it's new "free to play" game portal  Gamekraft, a global gaming platform where gamers can download and play free online games.

Priston Tale 2: The Second Enigma by YD Online, a Korean based game publisher and developer, was their flagship "Free To Play" title. This was highly anticipated by their fan base and has done very well among the critics and Blog-a-sphere.  Of course I like free so off I went.

This really isn't a review, more like an observation. The anime, soft child like features that seem to be the  recognized graphic trademark, are always expected. The acceptance of non-gender specific roles, where a certain class is only male or female. This of course is something that gamers have grown past over the years. Nobody really cares if you play a male or a female toon anymore. All of these are expected traits....but the bunny was a new one for me.

Right after character creation you have available, in your inventory, armor, weapons, health potions and a mount. Don't see many games giving you a mount within the first few seconds of entering the new world, even if it does have a fluffy tale. It was a Sick Rabbit.

I saw what was described as the "mount" icon in my inventory and it said "Sick Rabbit". Of course I never read on how to play a game, controls, the guides, until after I have died, got lost, or ride a bunny. Actually I still haven't read any of the instructions to this game yet. I know..I deserve all the hurdles I go through.

When I materialized my Mount to ride off into adventure, I had this voice in the back of my head yell "HEY ROCKY, WATCH ME PULL A RABBIT OUT OF MY HAT!" Rocky and Bullwinkle fans will appreciate that, others will wonder who the hell Rocky and Bullwinkle are.

As I squeaked and hopped around the courtyard staring between floppy ears to navigate, I just couldn't feel tough enough. I can play a female toon, but I just can't ride a rabbit. I guess after a few more years of MMO gaming it won't be what you ride, but how you ride it.
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Thursday, November 18, 2010

Art's Closet Episode 9

Art's Closet aired live on GNET Radio 11/17/2010

Hello Closet'teers,
Tonight we talked about dieing on air, Deadly Kool-aid and it's shelf life. Fast Food and the McDonald’s Happy Meal that wouldn’t die, and of course cold weather, yep it's beginning.
..of course the following topics...


Gaming topics of the week.


All Points Bulletin, The Second Coming.
Earlier this year Realtime Worlds fell apart and the game “All Points Bulletin” became another Game casualty.
...and then there was light...
APB picked up by GamersFirst
APB: Reloadedand reloaded as Free-to-play

Gaming Documentary by Ben Gonyo
Get the DVD of Gamers, a documentary film that explores filmmaker Ben Gonyo's two-year journey into the subculture of MMO games like World of Warcraft. Great for players and anyone wanting to understand the lure of the virtual universe.
Celebrity interviews include Red Sox great Curt Schilling, Best-Selling author RA Salvatore and comedian Jay Mohr. Game developer interviews with Jeff Kaplan of Blizzard, as well as Gamersfirst, 38 Studios, Cryptic and more.


Role-playing and Gaming
Playing the Role that you Role play so well”
the acting out or performance of a particular role, either consciously (as a technique in psychotherapy or training) or unconsciously, in accordance with the perceived expectations of society as regards a person's behavior in a particular context
participation in a role-playing game


When you are at the Character Creation Screen, are you role-playing?
In your fav First Person Shooter, are you role-playing?
Some role-players build a back story on their character and write it into the game story line.


Music/Song/Artist Spotlight of the week.


Randall William Rhoads (December 6, 1956 – March 19, 1982)
Classical Music, Artistic freedom and a legend is born
Getting a spot with the Ozzman, 2 albums and 3 years later it all comes to an end.


At the age of 14 Rhoads formed a cover band called Violet Fox (after his mother's middle name, Violet), with his older brother Kelle on drums. 
Violet Fox staged several performances in the "Grand Salon" at Musonia, Delores Rhoads's music school.
After the dissolution of Violet Fox, Rhoads taught his best friend Kelly Garni how to play bass, and together they formed a band called The Whore (rehearsing during the day at Rodney Bingenheimer's English Disco, a famous '70s Hollywood nightspot), spending several months playing at backyard parties around Los Angeles. Together the pair went on to form Quiet Riot when Rhoads was 16.

In 1979, ex-Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne was forming a new band...
Randy Rhoads departed for the UK to write and record with Osbourne in November 1979.
The band, then known as The Blizzard of Ozz headed into the studio to record the band's debut album, which would also be called Blizzard of Ozz. Rhoads's guitar playing had changed due to the level of freedom allowed by Ozzy and Bob Daisley and he was encouraged to play what he wanted. His work with Quiet Riot has been criticized as being "dull" and did not rely on classical scales or arrangements.
Mr. Crowley Live EP (1980)
Blizzard of Ozz (1980)
Diary of a Madman (1981)
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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Busted Podcast

Apologies for the lack of a Podcast this week.

Unfortunately there were audio problems in recording and the quality was in the toilet.
We are working to correct this before next weeks Podcast.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Music Teaser for this weeks show..

Hey Closet'teers,
Jeff Healey is our Artist Spotlight for this week.

Norman Jeffrey Healey or commonly known from the Jeff Healey Band,  so I thought I would share just how amazing Jeff was....


Give a listen and look how amazing he was...



Thursday, November 4, 2010

Episode 8


Art's Closet Aired Wednesday Nov 3rd

Hello Closet'teers,

Along with our set topics we opened with apologies for missing last weeks podcast. Mhykol talks about the His DJ gigs, smoking ban at home and touches on Medical Marijuana.
Game topics from the week.
"....we need more Cowbell."
Rocking in Lord of the Rings Online
Compose your own music or play a cover from Coldplay....
LotRO allows you to grab an instrument and jam..in game.
...and yes they have a cowbell.
Available Instruments
Stair way to Heaven - 3 part ABC arrangement by: Durinsbane of Meneldor.
Meneldor Trio playing in LOTRO – Weedhollow

Ghostbusters - Self written ABC file performed by Cervantes and Doreketh of Meneldor.

Dust in the Wind – Not noted




Music/Song/Artist topics of the week.
Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterized by the lyrics, vocals and flute work of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.
Initially playing blues rock with an experimental flavor, they have also incorporated elements of classical music, folk music, jazz and art rock into their music.
One of the world's best-selling music artists, the band has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide in a career that has spanned five decades.
While the previous album Aqualung stretched the band's wings further from the blues of the first three albums, it was still basically mainstream rock. Band leader Ian Anderson was surprised by the critical reaction to Aqualung as a "concept album", a label he's firmly rejected to this day. 
Cover of Cover of Aqualung


In an interview on In the Studio with Redbeard (which spotlighted Thick as a Brick), Ian Anderson's response to the critics was: "If the critics want a concept album we'll give the mother of all concept albums and we'll make it so bombastic and so over the top." 
Ian Anderson has been quoted in concerts (most recently 8/14/2009, Schwetzingen Castle, Germany) as stating that Thick as a Brick was written "because everyone was saying we were a progressive rock band, so we decided to live up to the reputation and write a progressive album, but done as a parody of the genre." 
With Thick as a Brick, the band created an album deliberately integrated around one concept: a poem by an intelligent English boy (named Gerald) about the trials of growing up. Beyond this, the album was a send-up of all pretentious "concept albums". Anderson also stated in that interview that "the album was a spoof to the albums of Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmermuch like what the movie Airplane! had been to Airport". The formula was successful, and the album reached number one on the charts in the United States.

Interesting facts

  • Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi played guitar for Jethro Tull briefly in 1968 following the departure of Mick Abrahams.
  • David O'List briefly played with Jethro Tull in 1968 after the expulsion of Mick Abrahams.
  • Genesis' Phil Collins was Jethro Tull's drummer for only one gig:
 
Ian Anderson tocando la flauta en su pose típicaImage via WikipediaHis famous tendency to stand on one leg while playing the flute came about by accident. As related in the "Isle of Wight" video, he had been inclined to stand on one leg while playing the harmonica, holding the microphone stand for balance. During the long stint at the Marquee Club, a journalist described him, wrongly, as standing on one leg to play the flute. He decided to live up to the reputation, albeit with some difficulty. His early attempts are visible in The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus film appearance of Jethro Tull. In later life he was surprised to learn of iconic portrayals of various flute playing divinities, particularly Krishna and Kokopelli, which show them standing on one leg.  
Ian AndersonCover of Ian Anderson
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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

oOps! ...time flies..fly's...phlieghs..<---?

Hello Closet'teers...

Sorry thats its been quiet here, quiet is not a plan but a state of mind over matter because I don't have a mind and it don't matter<---"vicious run on with rambling".  I admit that I have been somewhat sidetracked this last week, but all is well.

In any case, Art's Closet is back on track this week. As usual we will be live "on air", Nov 3rd at 10pm CST on GNET Radio.   Grab the "Whats Next" link for this weeks topics.


..hope to see ya there..