Taking Down the Red Army

Sorry for the lack of updates recently. I have been busy plus apparently, I have a upper respiratory infection, which makes life annoying. Over the weekend I bought the Collector’s edition of Word in conflict. This is Real time Tactical game which takes you back to 1989 during the cold war. Instead of the soviet union falling they invade Europe and eventually invade America. The concept behind this is very intriguing. Not even a teenager back when the Cold War ended, only much later in life could I comprehend/respect all that happened. So it was definitely cool to experience this “What if.”

The game play in this game is a lot of FUN it you play as the silent antagonist named

I am excited about Metaplace.

So for the past 2 days I have been looking forward to Areae, Inc. releasing their new secret product called Meta Place.

As of Today they have. I would really recommend going over to Cuppy Cake’s blog or the Meta Place Website to read all about it. I am still trying to grasp the concept, but from what I have read and understood this could be big. Thinking of the possibilities available to you, with the tools that they claim are easy to pick up and go with only your imagination could hold you back.  Thinking of the limitless things I could possibily do is very exciting. Hell I am already trying to sell my fiancée on it by creating her own virtual photo gallery for her Photography work.

I for one can’t wait to “dig in” and check this out.

Staying the course

So I got “Tagged”  by GDub Read on.

Four jobs I have had in my life (not including current job):

1. DJ at a skating Rink. I used to play music skate around, tell people to slow down, and have a bunch of little teeny girls follow me around all the time when I was in High school.

2. Mesh.net. Got my First customer service Job at a Start up ISP. The boss was my neighbor at the time, so it was always real hard to call in “sick” and skip off to the lake.

3. Internet America. 1-800 Be a Geek. Large ISP I worked for. It was fun and that’s the place I got introduced to my first MMORPG EverQuest. I was not a dorky guy until i started to work there .

4.Bass Security. I used to ride a mountain bike around Down Town Fort Worth, as a security guard. Which was nice because back then I did a lot of recreation mountain biking.

Four Movies I have watched over and over:

1. The Fifth Element: Highly under-rated but one of my Favorites.

2.  Star Wars: Nuff’Said
3. Grandma’s Boy: Such a good flick, I dunno why I keep watching it though

4. Goonies: Why could I not have a pirate adventure with a bellowing Retard?

Four places I have lived:

I have not moved around much. I have pretty much lived within 20 minutes from where I was born all my life.

1. Fort Worth Texas, Born and will probably die here.
2. Benbrook Texas, Small town on the edge of Fort Worth

3. Saginaw Texas, Currently live here.

4. Watauga Texas, Last place I lived before moving to Saginaw.

Four Shows I love to watch:

Over the past oh 6 years or so, I have become a big TV fan.

1. The Shield. One of the best shows on TV. on FX, and coming into it’s final Season.

2. Heroes. A concept that could have gone horribly wrong but it is such an awesome show.

3. Big Brother. Holy crap, BB8 is the first season I have ever watched but it is AWESOME. Thanks to my Fiancee she is getting me in to reality Television.

4. Jericho. I love the post apocalyptic life in America. Shame on CBS for “Trying” to cancel it.

Four Places I have been on vacation:

I have lived a Sheltered Life I think.

1. Mt Rushmore. Gotta love the big rock heads of our four fathers. (Get it? Four? LOL)

2. San Antonio Texas. One of the most romantic spots in America.

3. Lake of the Ozarks Missouri. Used to go there a few summers when i was younger with my older siter and her husband. A lot of fun to be had on that lake.

4. Austin. Awesome city, if you do not know about Austin I suggest you go read about it.
Four of my favorite foods:

I can’t narrow it down to distinct foods, so I’m going with food types.

1. Tex-Mex, A cross between Texas Cuisine and Mexican cuisine. Things like Fajitas, Taco Salads ect. Are Tex-Mex.

2. Japanese. I am not talking America-japanese like Orange chicken.I love me some Stir Fry, or Sushi.

3. Mexican, things like Enchiladas, Burritos, and so forth.

4. My Own Burgers. I grill a mean Burger.

Four favorite drinks:

damn it, is this thing over yet?

1. Ice Tea. staple of the south.

2. Lipton Green tea with Citrus. Mmmmm Good.

3. Coke. Yes Coke not some other soda referred as Coke.

4. Margaritas. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Four places I would rather be right now:

Home Stretch baby.

1. Bed

2. Norrath

3. lake

4. Any where but work.

I am not going to send this to anybody, because all the people I read have already done this.  It dies with ME!

Random Stuff.

Let’s see. In my Random Stuff bag I am pulling out a picture of my gaming set up. Nothing spectacular obviously, I have a budget to maintain.

Old Wood desk, ugly BUT comfy green chair, Lego Star wars toys, Front and side spears for the 7.1 surround set up, a corona straw hat, light up lounge sign, and obviously I am a LogiTech fan. That about sums that pic up.

The Free Ride Ends tomorrow which is when my Everquest2 subscription finally renews. I have to give it to SOEs marketing department. Back in July I got a flyer in my postal mail box saying they have re-established my subscription to EQ2 until sept. 15th as well as enabled all the adventure packs and expansions on my account. I already had all three expansions due to the EOF box but the adventure packs was a nice touch. I believe it was for having a canceled subscription to EQ2 and Vanguard.

Any rate it was a nice gesture and they got me back in to EQ2 . I am having a blast!!!! Gotta keep that pesky Vanguard at bay for right now though.

Not allowed to play my Fury. Since yesterday when I try to log in my Fury who is camped in North FreePort it tries to log in, and goes back to the character select screen. All other characters on same server or diffrent server have no issues. I have deleted all my Frprt files in the PAK folder and done a full file scan, same results.

Other than that I hope I can get the Fury situation fix because I have not had a chance to mess with the new things int he patch.

R.I.P FASA Studios

I am really sadden to hear this. I held on to a shred of hope that (through Microsoft) FASA Studios would revive the Mech Warrior Franchise. I was a huge, huge HUGE Mech Warrior fan, and I can remember some down right vicious online battles in Mech warrior 4. But those days will forever be tucked away in my heart. Mitch Gitelman Manager for FASA Studios had this to say on the Shadow Run boards

 

Dear Friends,

It is my sad duty to announce that FASA Studio has officially closed its doors. Today was the official last day of employment for those of us who had not moved on to other positions within Microsoft Game Studios. While the rumors have been circulating forever, we chose to wait on an official announcement because we didn’t want people’s attention distracted from our last product, Shadowrun, a game we love.

As a testament to the team’s commitment to Shadowrun, we released three title updates to improve the product even after the team learned we were losing our studio. We have kept our Community Manager and Technical Support Manager on the job to aid and support you and will continue to do so while people continue to play our game. I am pleased that about half of us have found great positions elsewhere in MGS and Microsoft where they can share their experience and passion with the great people there.

But now, as the last of us say our goodbyes to each other, I’m saying goodbye to you on behalf of a group of talented and dedicated professionals who busted their humps for the love of the game. I am proud to have worked with and represented them to you and know that wherever they go, they will continue to kick ass.

Mitch

Sigh ….. That really sucks.

EQ2: Game update #38 going live today.

Yay!!! GU#38 going live today, I am looking forward to the changes coming out with this update, details below.

Here are a few Highlights

• Dual Wield Weapon Changes
• Trivial Loot Code no longer applies to quest items
• Bloodlines Chronicles spell Changes
• Some Fighter group buffs have become raid buffs
• Sort Quest Journal by Quest Level
• Bristlebane has Returned

For more detail check out EQ2 Players

Crossing the Threshhold………. Again?

A lot of Massive multiplayer online games don’t condone trading real world cash for in game items. There are a few who do, one of these are SOE’s Everquest 2 with their Exchange service.  

However has SOE taken it to a new level with their new Trading card game?  

 If you have not been reading about Legends of Norrath, it is SOE’s online only trading card game.  It is based on the world of Norrath playable with in EQ, EQ2 or in its own client.  You get a free random card starter deck and you also have the possibility to loot cards/decks off of MOBs you kill in either EQ or EQ2.  You can also buy 55 card themed starter decks for 9.99 or 15 card booster packs for 2.99.

 Make no mistake, these are digital only. Meaning these cards you buy, you will not be physically holding them.  

A real life friend I talk to about this brought this to my attention. Will you spend the money on booster packs or themed starter decks if you can’t hold them?

Let’s look at another aspect of this. Part of card games is collecting valuable cards. Who doesn’t get excited when they open their booster pack of Magic: The Gathering or some other card game and get their hands on a rare card that could it’s self potentially sell for a lot more than buying 10 booster packs at once?

If you happen to get your hands on a highly sought after card in Legends of Norrath, and want to sell it, what deems how much it is worth? Since it is digital, and can be traded like items in game, will it be worth more in plat or real cash? I am not going to wrap my brain around the possible figures that also factor in the cash to plat/gold ratio. But one thing is for certain, valuable cards will come and there will be a market in game and out of the game for them. Will these digital cards be on the same level as a valuable card from a non-digital card game, or will they be less for the simple fact you can not hold this card in your hand?

I look forward to see how this plays out. Share your thoughts.

Legends of Norrath Go Live!

Legends of Norrath is now live! A nice write up about it can be read here

Legends of Norrath™: Oathbound is now live in EverQuest® and EverQuest II®!

Legends of Norrath is an online-only trading card game, based on the richly-detailed sword-and-sorcery world of Norrath from the massively multiplayer online role-playing games EverQuest and EverQuest II. Playable from within the two MMOs, Oath bound, the first set for Legends of Norrath features over 375 digital cards and is available in both a 55-card digital starter deck and 15-card digital booster packs. Play as one of many Oath bound avatars and decide your own fate as you choose between the paths of good or evil.

If you are like me, then you have not played it yet. In the above link there is a brief write up about how to play as well. I am really excited to learn, and this is yet another thing that cuts directly into my EQ2 leveling time. See you in game!!!!

Did World of Warcraft make you a Dumb Gamer, or lazy?

When I first stepped into Azeroth I was blown away by the content, the environment and the easy way to pick the game up and just go. This was the best gaming experience in my entire life or at least I thought it was. I will elaborate but first some back ground.

Shut up We’re Talking # 8

Thanks to The Ancient Gaming Noob, he turned me on to the SUWT Pod Cast series hosted by Darren and Adele,  though I understand that Adele was a little under the weather so it was Co-Hosted by TAGN.

Guest Hosts were Dennis over at PotShots, Jason over at WifeAggro and a blogger new to me Karen at Journey’s With Jaye(Though I might stay away from her blog, her great screen shots and write ups might get me back in to Vanguard!)

You can check it out here.

Topics
The Midgame
Agency and MT
Know what you know
Killing PvE
The NDA and Me 

One of the topics talked about was the Agency and the Micro Transactions.  They briefly mentioned my article with my point of view.  I am glad I listened to it, because a lot of good points were brought up concerning this. They accurately portrayed both sides of the fence and have definitely made a fan out of me. I look forward to further Pod Casts!