It was good to be back on air. Tonight we covered our normal chatter, weather, how fast this year is ending and we had a special surprise guest from my brother Steve.
...and the following.
Merchandising in and out of our games.
Giving in game gifts during the holiday season and the gift giving from our favorite MMO's
15. Did I mishear the lyrics of "Bad Moon Rising"? "Bathroom on theright?" I wasn't drunk.People usually misheard the chorus "there's a bad moon on the rise"as "there's a bathroom on the right". Today, Fogerty makes fun of itand purposely slips the "wrong" lyrics into the end of the song.
Remember the game Gods and Heroes: Rome Rising? A game originally developed by Perpetual Entertainment? Yes, yes the same company that started to develop Star Trek Online, put Gods and Heroes on hold and then went bust. It's like an artist painting an emotionally beautiful landscape never to be seen or an author spinning tales that could capture your heart and soul but is never read.
Well in case you have not heard, Heatwave Interactive, a game development studio and online publisher located in Austin, Texas has obtained the rights to develop and release the property earlier this year.
I spent some time in the early beta under Perpetual and was excited where they were heading. My first impressions of the combat dynamics were 3 letters “OMG”. At the time of development, combat in our MMO verse was anti-climatic. We had decent enough combat animations which ranged from a particle flash to limited physics, the head bob, you know....Newtons Law or laws (To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction) there are actually three laws but I digress, this isn’t a physics lesson. Gods and Heroes had taken this to the next level for MMO's.
I had always thought that combat animations should be similar to the days of Tekken or Street Fighter, more excitement for the encounter. For me Gods and Heroes somewhat delivered that adrenaline rush.
See below for an early development example, courtesy of IGN
I realize there is more to any MMO than just combat animation or physics but I hope that Heatwave is adding and not subtracting as they continue to work on this property. I had the opportunity to participate in the “Gods and Heroes Dev Chats”
...below is the result
I will most definitely be keeping an eye on this as well as trying to participate in the Beta. Plus I will be covering this on Wednesday nights Show on GNET as well as my Friday show with Blade Radio
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.
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.
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:
Image 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.
Image via WikipediaLord of the Rings Online Executive Producer announced that they have doubled their revenue since changing over to "Free to Play", the technical term is "hybrid micro transactions-based business model".
Turbine has done very well with both products, Dungeons and Dragons Online and now LotRO. This is the perfect answer to all of those that wish to play several games at their own pace and not having to commit to a monthly payment. It seems to be more palatable to spend $3.00 for game content in a 60 day period or even some cool cosmetic piece of gear that all the cool Dwarfs are wearing these days.
Yes, we will spend money because that is our nature.
Now don't misunderstand, LotRO can be played without spending a dime. As you complete certain quests or Deeds your rewards are Turbine points(in game currency) and this can be used too purchase content as you level your character. In all of the MMO's I have experienced over the years there is one thing I have noticed, I have never completed all of the in game content that was available.
Keeping up with the crew, friends, family, my game junkie wife (now that was a match made over a board and dice game) we would out level the area, get bored with the scenery and want to see something new. The result was always the same, unfinished content. LotRO for free means devouring every morsel of content that the developers have provided. Your bouncy little Hobbit or brutish dwarf will have to drain each game play area dry.
A new revelation for me but known to everyone else. The content is supposed to be experienced. Every little story, event and breathless moment is to be enjoyed. Thats why they spent the time in writing it. This has created a new focus for me and my little Hobbit lady who follows me everywhere. Free or not, lets stop and smell the roses and feast on everything the games have to offer.
With the success that Turbine has had with D&D Online and LotRO I hope that other companies will follow suit. I can think of several games I would still be in if there was a "hybrid micro transactions-based business model". For now we will just enjoy our time in LotRO besides, my wifes Hobbit is so hot.
If you missed The Escape Show on Wednesday night the Harmilkyway/Harmilk bits will not mean anything to you. We follow the Escape Show on Wednesday nights and they always leave us with a great lead for our show....sometimes.
Panasonic is throwing their hat into the gaming device arena again. The last time was the 3DO which was decent but carried a hefty price tag that left it sitting on the shelves in most cases.
Still we cant see the Jungle for the Trees, no detail on specs and the only info we are getting is what we can see from the device. Micro USB, HDMI, headphone jack and maybe an aux jack.
True mobile MMO? What is it going to need?
Great screen resolution: If not, then whats the buzz. Other handheld's already have a start. In order to hit the mainstream Kick Ass MMO crowd, I would imagine that it would need to run existing MMO's. If we are going to have to wait for specific MMOS to be developed then this Jungle is DOA.
Great Processing power: Along with kick ass video, one would need kick ass processing power. Okay, maybe kick but processing power. Mid Range processor, Intel Core i5 perhaps. As an MMO gamer for me to give this a second glance, means that I can run my present gaming addictions.
This needs to be a Laptop that has been splashed with the latest shrinking potion, otherwise..I will just use my Laptop for any mobile gaming needed.
Apple and Oranges: The big player right now is the Nintendo 3DS. This little powerhouse has been given great reviews from E3. Imagine 3D without the need for glasses. Given the competition is still Handheld Gaming, the 3DS offers more, of course the Jungle is MMO games only, MMO games only.
No life in the Jungle.
Without having the full details it's difficult to say where this will end up. There are several that have already sent flowers and expect a DOA device.
I try to picture my day to day MMO life in the Jungle and I cant see the Jungle for the trees.
Developed by Indie game developer Calvin Goble. Calvin GobleInterview
The game’s been in open beta since September 17, 2009
Neverdaunt: 8Bit is a sandbox MMO with an open world and vibrant 8-bit inspired 3D visuals.
Utilizes Actor Player Characters – Real players playing in Character. Sort of character in character This is needed more often in MMO's
Tronics - You can use Tronics to do amazing things. Wire up trap doors, invent a game, lock things with passwords... Its an in game visual programming language, and it takes some skill to learn, but is very rewarding when you figure it out.
Overall this looks to be a very entertaining game
Music/Song/Artist topics of the week.
Artist/Song of the week:
“Turn off the AC, Joe's in town”Joe Satriani
13 Solo albums
4 Compilation albums
4 Live albums
A career that has a 26 year resume. 1984-2010
We always seem to talk about “Signature sound” This week is no different.
You may not be able to name a song credited to Satriani, but if you hear one, you can't mistake the sound.
Interesting Facts:
1984, Joe released a self-titled five-song EP on his own Rubina label, and the following year completed his first full-length album Not Of This Earth, which was financed on a credit card and released in 1986 on Relativity Records.
Joseph "Joe" Satriani (born July 15, 1956 in Westbury, New York) is an Italian American multi-instrumentalist, known primarily for his work as an instrumental rock guitarist, with multiple Grammy Awardnominations. Early in his career, Satriani worked as a guitar instructor, and some of his former students have achieved fame with their guitar skills (Steve Vai, Larry LaLonde, Kirk Hammett, Andy Timmons,Charlie Hunter, Kevin Cadogan, Alex Skolnick). Satriani has been a driving force in the music credited to other musicians throughout his career, as a founder of the ever-changing touring trio, G3, as well as performing in various positions with other musicians.
Satriani was inspired to play guitar at age fourteen soon after learning of the death of Jimi Hendrix. He has been said to have heard the news during a football training session, where he confronted his coach and announced that he was quitting to become a guitarist.
In 1974, Satriani studied music with jazz guitarist Billy Bauer and with reclusive jazz pianist Lennie Tristano. The technically demanding Tristano greatly influenced Satriani's playing. Satriani began teaching guitar, with his most notable student at the time being fellow Long Island native Steve Vai. While he was teaching Vai, he was attending Five Towns College for studies in music.
