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1383 Tage 10 Stunden |
 MNB: Episode 14 (�Grave Digging�)
This week for MMOG Nation Broadcast episode 14, Michael gets to ’sit’ down with one of his blogging idols, Mr. Tim Dale of the Van Hemlock blog and podcast! Michael and Tim find themselves in most unusual circumstances: the depths of a fetid and swampy graveyard in the middle of the night! They’re there to [...] |
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1387 Tage 7 Stunden |
The Shock of Honesty
I always find it really interesting when MMO devs stop being polite and start getting real. Like, say, in this thread over at the SWG forums.
The loss of beast loyalty is NOT new, it just became apparent in GU5 due to a bug. A bug that we have now fixed. To get an understanding on [...] |
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1387 Tage 22 Stunden |
MNB: Episode 13 (�Shortiez Rule�)
This week the MMOG Nation Broadcast is pretty darned navel-gazing. Join Michael and the rest of the Shortiez guild for an in-depth examination of the game EverQuest 2. We discuss, at great length, everything from our classes to leveling areas, to design … it’s the longest MNB by far, clocking in at almost an hour. [...] |
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1389 Tage 13 Stunden |
Gold and the Perfect Game
From Tobold’s latest screed:
“Gold farming is a result of bad game design. Gold farming means that some regular player finds some particular activity in a MMORPG so boring, but necessary, that he is ready to pay somebody else to play the game for him … At some point in the future somebody will discover how [...] |
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1389 Tage 20 Stunden |
Heading Back to the Bar
Like I need another podcast to listen to. Just the same, I was cheered to see that the folks behind TavernCast have thrown down a gauntlet for themselves, and appear to be cleaving to a regular schedule again. I dropped my subscription soon after the change away from WoW-material, but it was primarily becuase of [...] |
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1395 Tage 14 Stunden |
A Restorative GWJCC
I sat in on another Gamers With Jobs podcast, and it was really nice to be able to do so. Wasn’t feeling my best last week around that point, and the goodjers welcomed me with open arms. Thanks guys!
Episode 95 - July 30th, 2008
PixelJunk Eden, 1942: Joint Strike, Everquest 2 … Wait, What?, The [...] |
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1399 Tage 10 Stunden |
The Personal NPC
Seeing Free Realms at E3 reminded me of something I’ve been mulling for a little bit. In the same way that I think guilds are simply not visible enough - too ephemeral - the primary content of MMOs can often be obscured for various reasons. Time is the one that I hear a lot of [...] |
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1400 Tage 2 Stunden |
You Have Been Slain By Mangina
So, I’m in the WAR Beta. And there is one! That’s about all I can say specifically.
However, I don’t think I’d be breaking any NDAs to say that Warhammer Online has PvP in it. I was playing earlier today, enjoying the chance to not think about RL, and I was slain. (OMG spoilerz you can [...] |
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1400 Tage 22 Stunden |
If You’re Wondering How I’m Doing
AOL is making across the board budget cuts on its blogging properties, we’re hearing from multiple sources. The cuts range up to 25% of each properties total budget, which falls mostly on personnel costs - bloggers are simply being told to take a couple of weeks off for now, and there may or may not [...] |
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1401 Tage 11 Stunden |
Conan Buddy Keys
I have a bunch of buddy keys for Age of Conan, and everyone I know who might have wanted to play already is.
Let me know if you want one in the comments, or shoot me an email. I think I have about five, so there are plenty to go around.
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1401 Tage 23 Stunden |
Would you like to hire me?
If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “My, that Michael fellow seems like a straight shooter”, I’d love to talk to you.
I’m looking for just about any position, anywhere in the US. I feel I’m most qualified for:
- Games Journalism (reviews, news, interviews)
- Press Relations (talking to game journalists)
- Games Writing (let me help you string [...] |
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1408 Tage 6 Stunden |
Getting busy out here
Wanted to drop in quick to offer a few links.
Everything we’re writing at Massively about E3 can be found at the e3-2008 tag on the site.
I particularly like our series on the DC Universe Online title.
World of Warcraft’s new achievements look freaking awesome. Much better than I’d expected a WotLK’s launch.
EA’s chief exec has confirmed [...] |
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1411 Tage 22 Stunden |
AFK Gamer
Tomorrow I’m heading to LA to help Massively and Joystiq cover the shredded remains of E3. Wish me luck.
As you might imagine, I’m unlikely to get a ton of blogging done here over the course of the week.
I also think I’m going to take a short break from MN - maybe just a week or [...] |
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1412 Tage 23 Stunden |
Complicated WAR
Briefly, I have some more complex thoughts on the Warhammer thing:
I think this is a “good thing”. It’s tough, it’s hard, it’s … I’d even actually use the word violent. It certainly felt like the community as a whole took a sock to the gut with this news. Everyone was bopping along, going “yay WAR”, [...] |
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1414 Tage 10 Stunden |
Big WAR Features Cut
This is … this is really bad guys. I don’t see any way to look at this as a good thing. Sorry, I’m just dissapointed. You say for months and months that you won’t release it until its ready, and then you drop this on us:
“A number of months ago,� Jacobs began, “we sat down [...] |
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1415 Tage 22 Stunden |
Pen and Paper and ?
Gamers with Jobs Conference Call Episode 92 - July 9th, 2008
A New Audio Sponsor From Mick Mize, Playing D&D 4.0 Online, The Cross-Pollination of RPG Gaming, Diablo III, Your Emails and more!
This week Michael Zenke joins us as we educate our listeners in the finer points of pen and paper roleplaying games, the crossover with [...] |
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1417 Tage 4 Stunden |
Wherein I Learn Why They’re Called “Carebears”
As I mentioned yesterday, I transferred from a PvP server (Dark Iron) to a PvE server (Malfurion) over the weekend. Given my familiarity with the PvP ruleset, I decided to stay flagged on Malfurion. In my mind it was purely a convenience element. Running Thrallmar tokens is a lot easier when you can just ride [...] |
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1418 Tage 2 Stunden |
Live Event Voidery
Over the past few weeks or so, I’ve been really enjoying a sideline business in EverQuest 2 Void Storm chasing. Fire Festival blossoms were a ton of fun too, don’t get me wrong, but I have a lot of appreciation for what SOE’s put out there as just the first part in a multi-month live [...] |
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1418 Tage 4 Stunden |
My Week as a WoW Player
MMOG Nation was pretty darned quiet last week, and there was a good reason for that. With the close of the month I decided to take a week to ‘put my money where my mouth is’ as far as the whole single-game thing. I keep whinging on in podcasts and posts about how much I [...] |
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1418 Tage 10 Stunden |
MNB: Episode 12 (�Life in the Shadows�)
This week the MMOG Nation Broadcast tackles a subject near and dear to my heart: Shadowrun. While there are no public plans at the moment to develop an MMO based on the Shadowrun IP, I think it’s something that would enrich the spirit of gamers everywhere. The IP, the setting, even the rules all seem [...] |
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1425 Tage 0 Stunden |
Female Barbarians Are Wussy
Up to this point, I’ve been pretty kind to AoC despite my personal disinterest in the game. There have been a lot of bugs and crap, obviously, but because it just released and I’m not actively playing it at the moment I haven’t thrown many stones.
Then I read this little gem. By the way, I’d [...] |
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1425 Tage 10 Stunden |
Looking For Guild
So, I realize this may seem a bit odd, but I’m going to give it a shot anyway.
I’m looking for a World of Warcraft guild, a place to hang my hat. I’m hoping you can help me.
Since my long-ago traumatic experience with my at-launch WoW Guild, I’ve pretty much been a loner. Static groups are [...] |
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1427 Tage 15 Stunden |
And the Heavens Shall Tremble
No, it’s not an MMO. But I can honestly say I cracked a huge freaking grin. C’mon, it’s Blizzard! It’s Diablo! Hell, my dad gave me the original Diablo for Christmas! Fantastic stuff.
Thanks Blizz! Not only am I happy about the announcement, but it means I don’t have any extra work today. Woot.
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1427 Tage 23 Stunden |
I Don’t Think I Missed Much
That said, they are trying to move to this:
Anyone get the feeling Funcom took five years to develop the first 20 levels of a game?
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1428 Tage 12 Stunden |
MNB: Episode 11 (�Rabbit and the AoC�)
Join us for the eleventh episode of the MMOG Nation Broadcast, where the ongoing duo format continues! This week Julian “Rabbit” Murdoch from the Gamers With Jobs site joins me to offer up a sort of point/counter-point on Age of Conan. Julian’s just loving the game, but I can’t get into it. Tune in to [...] |
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1430 Tage 12 Stunden |
Neurons Pressed Against The Grid
I’ve been keeping this one under my hat for a while, because I didn’t want to tick off the people at Catalyst Games or my game designer buddy Aaron Pavao. Aaron (a friend for many years) has of late been getting his name into Shadowrun sourcebooks, mostly for playtesting and editing. The upcoming title Unwired, [...] |
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1431 Tage 6 Stunden |
Stoking the Fires of Summer
As you’re probably aware from previous posts on the site, I’m a great big fan of in-game holiday events. World of Warcraft’s Fire Festival has been completely revamped this year and I’m enjoying it immensely. From top to bottom the goodies they’re offering are well worth exploring.
Below the cut is a treasure trove of videos [...] |
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1431 Tage 12 Stunden |
Many Thanks To Syp
Syp was one of the many, many people to write a post aimed at my interview with Richard Bartle at Massively. Unlike most of those other people, though, Syp followed that up with a post clarifying Dr. Bartle’s responses. In the face of clarification, Sype’s own reaction is very well-thought out.
“I agree that we’re on [...] |
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1432 Tage 4 Stunden |
The Long Bonfire Haul
Even as I write this, I’m cutting across the roads and fields of Azeroth on my warstrider, enjoying one of my favorite things in all of World of Warcraft: The town-and-city-based treasure hunt. The one you might be most familiar with is the Lunar Festival, which sees players scouring the world for departed and beloved [...] |
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1433 Tage 0 Stunden |
Unforgotten Realms - Funny?
I’m trying to decide if this is funny, or dumb. It’s right on the line and I can’t precisely tell. Can you help me?
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1433 Tage 14 Stunden |
MNB: Episode 10 (�Paul Barnett Holds Forth�)
The first real landmark in the MMOG Nation Broadcast’s history accompanies a unique recording from my visit at EA Mythic. During my visit to Virginia I had a chance to chat with Paul Barnett about this and that, an experience I found most engaging and amusing. Carrie Gouskos, the designer on Warhammer’s Tome of Knowledge, [...] |
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1433 Tage 14 Stunden |
Face the Nation: Paul Barnett Recap
In honor of the tenth MMOG Nation Broadcast featuring Paul Barnett, I thought it would be worthwhile to link back to my first discussion with Mr. Barnett. In one of my first ‘Face the Nation’ interviews last year, Paul and I chat very obliquely about Warhammer but - moreover - talk about almost everything else.
Part [...] |
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1434 Tage 8 Stunden |
Thanks, Carrie!
I was noodling around the internets for something today and I remembered to look up Carrie Gouskos’ blog. She’s the (fantastic) Tome of Knowledge designer with the EA Mythic folks, hard at work on Warhammer Online. She used to be a Gamespotter before she jumped into the design field, and so she knows the interview [...] |
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1434 Tage 8 Stunden |
A Mouse and an MMO
Yesterday I had a sort of throw-away thought bubble article over at Gamers With Jobs, and pulled together two things I generally enjoy thinking about: Massively Multiplayer Games and the design/production elements of the Disney corporation. To be fair: I know it’s weird that I spend time thinking about things like resort design, ride queues, [...] |
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1434 Tage 20 Stunden |
Friday Film: Right in my PlanetSide
After a couple of rough months getting my life realigned with freelancing and writing fulltime for Massively, this has been an amazing week for MMO gaming. I have more amazing stuff to do and see in virtual worlds this summer than I’ve ever had before. Fall is going to see some big console releases, and [...] |
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1437 Tage 3 Stunden |
You Are Walking Down a Dark Corridor
I know I barely went into it here, but one of my weekly pleasures is now at an end. The Monday night World of Warcraft group I shared with Brent, Brendan, Darren, and Adam is no more. Instead, we’re doing something just a bit new and different. Very different, at least, but not in actuality [...] |
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1437 Tage 4 Stunden |
Big XP and High Concept Conversation
I haven’t mentioned my ongoing EverQuest 2 group for a while now because there hasn’t been much to report. Real life gets in the way, people travel, you know how it is. With the Living Legacy promo on, we wanted to really jump back in and get into the swing of things with this past [...] |
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1438 Tage 6 Stunden |
Hush, We’z ‘Castin
Hard to keep the harshness of a ’shut up’ in there, Darren and Karen are such gracious hosts.
I went back! Again! Yes, for real - I’m on SUWT again. I guess I’m a pleasant guest? Join us as we chat about Living Legacy, and the pros and cons of a fundamentally unbalanced design scheme.
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1442 Tage 3 Stunden |
If you’ve ever wanted to shoot me in the face …
Now’s your chance.
Also … comparing me to Xerxes? Really? I am so not the god-king you are looking for.
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1442 Tage 6 Stunden |
Extended Moments and Rolling Dice
Been a bit of an unproductive week, for some reasons I’m not going to go into here but did go into on my personal site. Still, I did get two pieces out that you might appreciate.
The Z-Axis: ‘Extending Pure Moments With G&T’ -
So the World of Warcraft thing was interesting but ultimately didn’t offer the [...] |
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1442 Tage 19 Stunden |
Friday Film: Epic Chocobo
So, it’s well worth noting that this post marks an amazing milestone for me. This week I not only obtained my first epic mount, I then went ahead to top myself by snagging my first epic PvP mount. Words fail here, so I’ll leave you to the two quickie videos and the screenshots.
One is me [...] |
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1444 Tage 12 Stunden |
WAR’s Realm Imbalances
There have been a few discussions around the interwebs of late about possible Realm imbalances between Order and Destruction; some polls on the selfsame ‘webs seem to indicate an overwhelming predisposition towards Destruction. People are already wringing their hands, going “omg PvP imbalance!”
On the face of it this is a pretty serious issue. PvP actually, [...] |
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1446 Tage 10 Stunden |
Two Michaels, No Waiting
If you’re tired of my using this site for self-aggrandizing linkage, I apologize. It’s my blog and I’ll link if I want to. You would link too …
Anyway, I got pinged for an article about Activision/Blizzard about a month or so ago. It’s just now shown up on the Gamasutra site, and I’m in some [...] |
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1446 Tage 19 Stunden |
Nice Idea. It’s Mine Now
Via the Waaagh blog, an NDA-breaking blogger who has noted the recent addition of Achievements to World of Warcraft’s Lich King Alpha test. Now obviously, this could very easily be a Photoshop Hero sort of thing. Faked ‘leaks’ are very common, and they’re darned easy to do. So take this with a big grain of [...] |
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1447 Tage 7 Stunden |
MNB: Episode 9 (�Guild Wars 2 - Too Soon?�)
This week on MMOG Nation Broadcast, Michael is joined by veteran podcaster Shawn Schuster to talk about the possibilities and pitfalls of Guild Wars 2. Though it’s a game still far off on the horizon, it’s still something in the back of MMO players’ minds - lurking. Join us as we discuss the elements of [...] |
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1449 Tage 3 Stunden |
Tabletop Holiday
So guess what popped into stores today?
That’s right, D&D Fourth Edition is here for realz. I’m incredibly happy for WotC, and tabletop gaming in general. My little nerd-ghetto sport has had a rough time of it the last few years, and this is going to be a great big shot in the arm.
I was lucky [...] |
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1452 Tage 11 Stunden |
EverQuest 2: The Next Expansion
I love doing game design thought experiments. They’re just a lot of fun, and adequately fulfill my allotment of “wanking” for a given week. My hopes for the next WoW expansion were a cheery time to lay out, and so today I’m going to do it again with that *other* game I play on [...] |
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1453 Tage 3 Stunden |
Responding to Julian
Rabbit had a great comment in my “Worst. MMO. Player. Ever” post, and it’s one well worth addressing.
Asks the Murdoch:
“I do understand where you are coming from, but here’s the thing: if it’s not all that different from WoW, but looks a little better and feels a little better, why is this not a stunning [...] |
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1453 Tage 5 Stunden |
EVE Online: news from gameview
news from gameview |
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1453 Tage 11 Stunden |
Shut Up, Conan
I sat in on Shut Up We’re Talking this past weekend, and the result is available for your listening pleasure over at the VirginWorlds site. Primarily we chat about MMO malaise, and how I’m a snooty bastard that hates fun.
Seriously, though: Last week I was thinking that this whole “I’m not really digging Conan” vibe [...] |
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1455 Tage 2 Stunden |
Why Beckett’s Top 20 List is a Complete Load
Via Sanya, I laid eyes upon Beckett’s list of the “Top 20 Influential People in Massively Multiplayer Video Games” for last year. If you’ve read the site before you’re probably already aware of what I think about Massive Online Gamer. Though it has definitely improved since it launched, it’s still not all that great. The [...] |
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1455 Tage 2 Stunden |
Massively Goes to WAR
Thursday and Friday I was in Virginia visiting with the fine folks at EA Mythic. Got the full rundown on pretty much everything they’re willing to show right now about Warhammer Online. I’ll admit it: I was really impressed. The Public Quest system, RvR, Keeps … I was already enthused about all that stuff before [...] |
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1456 Tage 11 Stunden |
Friday Film: There and Back Again
Despite being really quite busy, I have actually managed to get in quite a bit of Massive gaming this week. My statement earlier this week about AoC, despite the kudos, mentally prompted me to return to the game with a vengeance. I’ve got a video of my escape from Skullcrusher Mountain the early-game volcano, where [...] |
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1460 Tage 5 Stunden |
Worst. MMO. Player. Ever.
I know I’ve said this before, but I think it’s startling how terrible a gamer I actually am. Despite my passion for this subject matter and my enthusiasm for the MMO genre in general, I’m really bad at one of the most important parts of actually being an MMO gamer: slotting a bunch of hours [...] |
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1460 Tage 23 Stunden |
MNB: Episode 8 (”Slouching Towards Innsmouth”)
The eighth episode of the MMOG Nation Broadcast delves deep into dreary pits of despair and angst. “Slouching Towards Innsmouth” is all about the horror genre and how it intersects with MMO gaming. Michael discusses past successes in the industry, the challenges facing possible future games, and reads a little Lovecraft. Tune in.
Music:
Going down to [...] |
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1462 Tage 10 Stunden |
Friday Film: Ironaya Event
Early this week the Fists of Ham took on the Uldaman instance, over the lovely Badlands area. This may have been one of the best sessions we’ve had to date. We’re really gelling as a group, getting some big successes under our belt, and it’s an absolute ton of fun. The video this week is [...] |
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1464 Tage 14 Stunden |
Wizard 101
Given that I’m pretty enthused about Free Realms already, you’d be right in thinking that Wizard 101, the recently-announced card battle kids game from KingsIsle, also has my interest piqued. Massively has a writeup on it today with some hands on impressions, while WarCry’s got the thousand-foot view.
Sez the latter, “We want to be an [...] |
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1465 Tage 3 Stunden |
Time to Get Personal
Did you know I’ve had a personal blog for the better part of a decade? It’s true. My first post in the database for Randomdialogue.net is from … well, here:
O Brother Momento
April 16, 2001
Saw Memento and O Brother Where Art Thou over the weekend. Reviews forthcoming.
Why am I writing reviews of movies?
I promise I had [...] |
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1465 Tage 3 Stunden |
Wotlk Leaks
Via the fine folks at RPS, a wiki with more Lich King info than you can shake a stick at. I do love the British sense of conflicted humor:
There’s a hell of a lot of minute detail on supposed new skills and talents in there, which will doubtless prove the most thrilling element of this [...] |
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1465 Tage 3 Stunden |
On-Topic with GWJ
For once I was over in the Goodjer neck of the woods, and I was actually talking about MMOGs! So I can post it here and not feel all guilty! Hooray! Ahem.
AoC and the hypemachine, this week on the GWJ conference call.
This week a very tired Shawn Andrich (stupid Age of Conan) slacks off on [...] |
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1470 Tage 7 Stunden |
Friday Film: Wiping up the Downs
No cheesy reblogs this time, a real honest-and-for-true Friday Film. The past two weeks of gaming have been very fruitful, though mostly in WoW. Last week’s EQ2 session was a bust (oi so much death), and we had to give it a miss this week. On the other hand Hackworth, my UD Rogue main, is [...] |
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1471 Tage 10 Stunden |
My AoC Server of Choice
The official early entry server list has been dropped on the official AoC site.
I’m going to be on Wiccana, and I invite you to join me.
US Servers (Early Access 17th of May)
PvE Servers
Set
Dagoth
Zug
Omm
Derketo
Thog
Wiccana
Gwahlur (recommended Oceanic)
Anu
PvP Servers
Tyranny
Bane
Deathwisper
Bloodspire (recommended Oceanic)
Doomsayer
RP-PvP Server
Cimmeria
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1472 Tage 20 Stunden |
So … WoW, huh?
Last week the Wrath of the Lich King information drop really brought Blizzard’s view into focus. I’ve been saying for some time now that they were holding something back - a fairly obvious comment. What I didn’t really appreciate is how informative a news reveal would be when it finally hit. I’d expected some sort [...] |
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1474 Tage 20 Stunden |
Friday Film: WotLK Drop
Wrath of the Lich King 10 Minutes Trailer from Boubouille on Vimeo.
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1474 Tage 20 Stunden |
GWJ’s Dark Mirror
Friday I put up my third GWJ article, this one exploring the dark mirror that is Grand Theft Auto IV.
I like Niko Bellic, and I’m not sure what that says about me. Grand Theft Auto IV’s protagonist is kind of a dick, no two ways about it. While he stumbles into a situation far removed [...] |
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1478 Tage 21 Stunden |
Why Guilds Need New Blood to Live
If you haven’t yet, make sure to check out the Warhammer Online video about Living Guilds; this is the kind of thing I’m talking about when I mention how pumped I am about WAR’s potential.
That said, I think every game has hurdles to overcome in the area of player groupings. Witness, if you will, a [...] |
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1479 Tage 11 Stunden |
On the Use of Powertools In WoW
Funny title, probably a useless article to you. But still … I try.
Even with the help of other players, making it to the top is long road. That journey is one to be enjoyed, as leveling a character in WoW is (for many people) the real game. That said, once you have your first character [...] |
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1479 Tage 11 Stunden |
The ‘Comfort Game’
Games can define your state of mind. I think that’s pretty obvious, a self-evident statement from a guy who loves games speaking to an audience who loves games. What I find interesting is how games can wear mental grooves into your consciousness. For folks coming home from tough jobs, MMOs fill the vicarious adventure void [...] |
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1479 Tage 11 Stunden |
From AoC to GWJ
This past weekend I sat down with the Gamers w/Jobs crew to talk Age of Conan, and that Grand Theft something-er-other game that seems to be very popular these days.
Age of Conan, Mario Kart, Grand Theft Auto IV, Rob Off The Rails, Your Emails and more! Michael Zenke joins us for our in-depth impressions of [...] |
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1484 Tage 23 Stunden |
Big May Day For Massively
Big stuff today on Massively from me. My fingers hurt.
Not technically from today, but instead earlier this week, a fun retrospective on the two most recent Guild Wars boxes.
Catching up with Warhammer. I sat in on another one of those EA Mythic conference calls, which you may recall from here on the site. Made me [...] |
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1485 Tage 11 Stunden |
MNB: Episode 7 (”IMGDC and Traveling”)
The seventh episode of the MMOG Nation Broadcast is a blast from the past. Late in March I attended the Independent MMO Game Developer’s Conference, and recorded a podcast on the way home. That Sunday I resolved to leave Slashdot, and the ensuing month has been a bit hectic. BUT! I have not podfaded. Not [...] |
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1485 Tage 20 Stunden |
Trackback
I finished up a huge project over the weekend, and have been working on another one of moderate size since last Friday for tomorrow … so I’ve been a bit off.
I wanted to take a sec to throw back some links, though, because I’ve gotten a lot of love recently. Actually (and don’t ask me [...] |
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1488 Tage 22 Stunden |
Shutting Up With Hemlock
I had the inordinate pleasure of sitting in on Shut Up We’re Talking #25. Darren and newly-dubbed co-host Karen were incredibly kind to have me on again, despite the rude and disreputable way I acted on show #17.'
I got to talk about my deep non-homosexual manlove for Hemlock, because he was on the show with [...] |
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1488 Tage 23 Stunden |
My Ultimate MMO in Ten Bullet Points
Ryan put up a thread on the Nerfbat forums a long time ago that’s still getting traction. I keep meaning to respond but at this point my post is just going to get drowned out in the noise. Here’s the kickoff:
What 10 features would exist in your ultimate MMO? Features that currently exist and features [...] |
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1491 Tage 0 Stunden |
Friday Film: Gigantism
As happens every week, prepare yourself for video and six scenic screenshots from my past week of MMO play. This week I’ve got a pair of videos, each with a tale associated with it.
The first (a regrettably silent film), shows myself and the Shortiez taking on the last threat in the long quest chain in [...] |
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1492 Tage 7 Stunden |
Paying Some Attention to Floating Head Behind the Curtain
This week’s WoWE is all about the people behind the behemoth:
Day after day, hundreds of thousands of people across the globe play Blizzard’s ridiculously popular game. It’s kind of awe-inspiring to think about, the sheer number of humans all inhabiting the same virtual space.
Most are content to enjoy the experience of leveling up a [...] |
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1492 Tage 7 Stunden |
MS Episode Two
Massively Speaking Episode 2 runs down news and features from Massively.com for the week of April 14th-20th. Shawn and Michael are joined by blogging regulars Akela Talamasca and Jonathan Northwood to talk about the next LOTRO Book, the Epic Villain Archetype video, and (of course) Age of Conan!
Get the podcast:
[RSS] Add the Massively Speaking [...] |
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1492 Tage 7 Stunden |
It’s Hell Being Popular
While I was working on that What You Should Know Before You Roll article the other week, I became interested in incorporating race/class popularity into the piece. I figured interested onlookers would want to know how common a race is, to add that data point into the mix of attractiveness/style/class choice, etc. To do that [...] |
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1493 Tage 7 Stunden |
Why Developers Should Treat Players Like Zoo Animals
Or: Why I can’t wait to play Valve’s first MMO.
I was sitting in my hotel in San Diego earlier this year, pondering a blog post and the day’s events. The sun was on the horizon and to keep the back of my mind occupied I popped on the television. Watching cable TV is a rare [...] |
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1494 Tage 6 Stunden |
What I Learned From EQ2’s Box Art
Far be it for me to poke fun at SOE (heh), but I wanted to offer up my two cents about something that’s been bugging me for a while. The next expansion for EQ2 is, I’m sure, already well along in development. The last one was great, and I’m really looking forward to participating in [...] |
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