There's probobly no Elune....

This week I've been trying my hand at some photoshopping (not sure if it's a real word of not). I've always found photoshop a tricky programme to use, but I guess practice makes perfect. I'm not brilliant, but I figure that any skills I can pick up now may help me in later life, if the robot revolution comes*...


Game-wise I've been playing WoW a little less than usual. I'd like to say that i've been workng but I havent....at all....ever. It's just that these last few weeks there's been a tidal wave of new releases I just had to get my hands on, Plus there's some classics that I've dug out from the back of the shelf for another go. The new games I bought were Mass Effect 2 and Dante's inferno. Mas Effect was pretty good. Following on from the original, it's alot like Dragon Age:Origins (probobly because it was made by the same company) but with a space age theme, and with much higher quality when it comes to graphics. It follows the typical theme of build a team of amazing gun-toting, psychic-blasting maniac super-friends and save the galaxy from a bunch of bad guys you know virtually nothing about, except that their name of 'the collectors' makes them sound alot like an army of middle aged comic book readers. Apart from the slightly clichéd plot it's got alot of merits. Great graphics, nice voice acting, memorable characters, and the fact that like Newton said, every action has an equal and opposite reaction, meaning that everything you do in the game will most likely affect the rest of your game experience. Not only this, your choices in Mass Effect 1 also have an impact on what people say and think about you in Mass Effect 2. Throughout you have a choice wether to make the universe your bitch and follow the renegade path, or sniff the dasies (in outer space?) and become a paragon. For fans of the original, I'd reccomend it, but as a standalone game for new players, it may be a little confusing and unusual. I played Dante's inferno too. It's a good game by all accounts, but it's set itself an impossible task. Basing a game on an epic poem is like making a game out of the Bible, it's gonna be difficult. It's enjoyable, I mean, who doesnt like the idea of hacking through hordes of unbaptised babies with knifes for arms (-I'll admit, that made me uncomfortable-). It's very bloody, and very gory, but Dante himself as the main protagonist is wholly forgettable, and doesnt exactly distinguish himself as a real videogame hero. A good attempt by visceral games, and I agree that it's not a bad game, but they simply set themselves too high a bar to reach when they designed it. (Coming January 2011: GTA Balamory)


In WoW, despite the relaxed atitude, Gb's doing as many fishing and cooking dalies as possible. Unusual for someone with such an aversion to work, my guess is that he's spotted something shiny in the auction house and his dwarvish lust for gold overpowered his lazy side.*Queezy* 'Fight back lazy Gb, fight back!'

As a side note, play Sins of a Solar empire. It's a little old now, but its a great little game to play in your free time. I'll keep the details to a minimum, hopefully you'll look into it, always good to kill a few brain cells.

*DISCLAIMER: We here at WoD understand that the robot revolution is not a question of 'if' but of 'when'. We would like to apologise for any confusion this may cause to our future robot masters. All hail the robot overlords...

Something different

Well, this week I've been taking a break for WoW. It's not that I've fallen out with it, I guess I'm just a little impatient for Cataclysm. I told myself after the second expansion that I'd never go achievement hunting -as a matter of pride- and these past few weeks, that's all I've found myself doing. I've taken a break for a couple of days to experience the world in all it's glory - until Deathwing blows that up as well of course.

I thought I'd fill the gap with some reviews of other things that've taken my interest these past few weeks (Yes, I like other things!). Feel free to think what you like, but these are just a few of the things that have helped keep me sane, and stopped me from going on a crazy murderous rampage ...for now.

Books

As you all know, at heart I'm a terribly bitter and hateful individual -not at first glance at all, but deep deep inside, buried under mounds of pink fluffy bunnies, sunflowers and rainbows- and so I've been reading Frankie Boyle's autobiography. As you might expect from a comedian that pushes himself to the limits of human decency, it's a bit outrageous. Those of you who are likely to be offended, this isnt a book for you. If you've ever written a letter to the BBC, this isnt for you. If you have any sense of humanity, at all, this probobly isnt something you'd label as 'good reading'. In any case, I love it. Frankie's blend of clever yet insulting comedy makes for an emotional ride that gives you two options. Laugh, or crawl into a deep dark place I like to call 'Gb's happy place', a magical world where nothing bad can happen, and seas of beer are surrounded by other seas of beer. It really gives you an insight into Frankie's childhood, and allows you to relate to him better as a person. Of course, the majority of the book is about sex and drug-related experiences, so you'll probobly end up relating to him as you would to a strange uncle who likes the smell of your hands... A strange novel perhaps, but one that will leave your sides splitting with laughter, and your morals in tatters.

5 Pints *****

Games

Well, you didnt expect me to leave the gaming world entirely did you? No, If I quit one game, the apparently obsessive compulsive person I am, I have to start something new. *light switch on* *light switch off*. The two games that I've been trying out this week are Bayonetta, and Darksiders, two of the most recent games to hit the shelves, and instant chart toppers. Lets start with Darksiders. It sounds promising, all you bible nuts out there, or guys with too much free time on your hands, may be familiar with the apparent prophecy of the rapture, and the heralds known as the four horseman of the apocalypse. War, conquest, famine and death. Anyway, you play as War, a bid bad boy with an adorable red shawl, and a serious attitude problem. Anyway, we join lil' red riding hood in the middle of a war between Heaven and Hell. Long story short, our hero gets blamed, is stripped of his powers, and you spend the game getting bigger, badder, and finding the son'o'a'bitch responsible. It's enjoyable enough, with a rich full storyline, and some good boss battles, but it does have its faults. It's basically a standard platformer, hack and slash, with alot -maybe too much- puzzle solving, in a similar style to many of the original Prince of Persia games. It's also a little bit reserved in its purpose. The entirety of the game follows the same formula

1. Talk to demon. Get job
2. Fight other demons. Solve puzzles. Earn souls (currency).
3. Find new piece of equipment.
4. Use new piece of equipment.
5. Boss.
6. Buy new skills.
7. Rinse and repeat

Each level revolves around the new piece of gear that that level offers to you, meaning that you never get any time to really experience War at his full potential, you're simply grinding more and more weapons and abilities, meaning that your action bars get pretty overcrowded towards the end. Anyway, despite the vaguely repetative nature of the game, its twisting and gripping story line, and the beautifully detailed character models ensure that it's still a game to watch out for. Maybe not for the graphic-hungry next generation gamer, but for fans of games such as Jack and Daxter, Prince of Persia, and even the childhood classic Ratchet and Clank, it's a good game to play, providing you enjoy blood'n'guts.

3 pints ***

Bayonetta. I'm going to keep this short and simple.
BUY THIS GAME.
One of the greatest works of art I've ever played. yes, I said it, art. The term 'game' doesnt give this title justice. Every level has been lavished with gorgeous detail. The character models are delicious, and the combat system is eye-meltingly addictive. It has demons, It has angels. You play the bad girl with a good heart. You're hot. You know you want to...

5 pints *****

TV

A bit of nostalgia here. This week I've been watching The Big O. For the quick-fingered TV addicts reading, not so fast. Unfortunately it's not on TV anymore. Axed right at its source in Japan, it's no longer being made. You can still watch it online, if you know how to find it. But I'll leave that up to you.
The Big O is an anime style show that combines both typical futuristic elements with the style of a 1960's detective drama. The story goes that a number of years ago, everyone in the world lost their memory. Now, this isnt just any world, but an alternate world in which there exist giant robots, sophisticated technology, realistic androids, but most importantly, more giant robots. The world is a desert wasteland, with Paradigm City being the last crumbling remnant of civilization on the planet, and nobody can remember what's happened to the rest of the world.
The main character of Roger Smith, Paradigm City's top negotiator lives a double life. Suave crime solver during the day, bad-ass robot killer by night (or whenever the situation arises). His robot, and the show's namesake 'Big O' is one of the few intact giant robots left in the world, and Roger one of the few pilots. Unfortunately, there's still other robots out there, and in a city full of criminals, with potentially dangerous dormant memories, it's dangerous to let them remain. The series has a crisp, modern yet oxymoronically nostalgic feel to it that appeals to me. The script flows smoothly, with some pretty good voice acting throughout. Roger isnt necessarily a loveable character, but he has the charm and know-how that makes so many spy movies popular. He's not afraid to help a friend in need, and has the connections necessary for him to fulfill the crime-solving aspect of the story. A blast from the past nontheless, The Big O is not for lovers of mainstream anime. The colours are relatively bland, seeing as it was primarily aired in the late 90's, and the detective aspect of the story may extend a little too far for those who just want to see giant robots going at-it.
An interesting twist to an anime show, and lovers of crimebusters and cartoons alike should dust this relic off, you never know what you might find just below the surface.

4 pints ****

Other

Some of you might know that I enjoy a few tabletop games. Warhammer, and Warhammer 40k, while not for some, are both hugely entertaining to play, and provide hours of enjoyment that interactive multimedia games cant live up to. It's a pretty expensive hobby, and shouldnt be taken up unless you dont mind paying for the experience. The cost in money isnt the main requirement though, it's the time. Games Workshop's models come unassembled and unpainted, meaning that you'll have devote a good chunk of time getting them ready to use in some games. Fair enough, you can play with them unpainted, but I think it adds a satisfying amount of realism when you have a full game with painted models. The physical nature of tabletop games, and the presence of an actual person to play against gives them various selling points that may appeal to those who cant see the point in console games, or even find them a little antisocial.
Personally, I find painting to be one of the best parts of the hobby. Sure, I enjoy playing the games themselves, it's great, but just the satisfaction of having a brilliantly painted model that you yourself have dedicated hours upon hours to making perfect for the tabletop is just great. Sure it's time consuming, but I stand firm in my belief that each minute is worth it when you can sit back and appreciate the end result. Many companies these days offer painting services, where you send them your pre-assembled models, and they'll paint for an over-indulgent fee. I've painted quite a few of my friends models myself, and they've all been happy with the results. I'm happy to say it's probobly one of the few things I'm good at. I've entered (and won) a few painting competitions in the past few years, and I strongly encourage any current players to do the same. Maybe you wont win, but the criticism and feedback can only help you get better, and stand a chance at getting the gold in the next one. For painting advice or requests, drop me a comment.


Music

I'll try and keep this short so I dont embarass myself. My taste in music has it's ups and downs. I'm like marmite, you either love me or hate me. Wait...that's a bad analogy, I'm like an in-game ganker, or Margaret Thatcher. You start off impartial, then gradually learn to hate me, then burn effigys of me in your back yard while dancing to chants cursing my name. In any case, a small minority of people like my sense of music, varied as it is, so If you're reading this, I hope you're one of those people.
This week I've been listening to Fireflies, by Owl city. Owl city became a gradual hit in america. Originally starting on Myspace, they achieved critical acclaim, eventually becoming the billboard #1. They've been recieved pretty well in the Uk too, though for some reason not alot of people I talk to have heard of them. They're a pretty 'new-age' group. They're songs are heavily synthasised, with pretty outlandish lyrics. Dont think of me as a hippy tree-loving pop-rocker, I mean, I like Metallica too. Simple plan, Blink 182, some of my favourite bands I admit, but I've got a wide taste. I dont like everything from a single genre, I just like a little from every genre, and Owl city fits nicely into the small amount of space left in my brain, right between my sisters birthday, and a reminder to never eat yellow snow. Fireflies has an extremely relaxing tone, and though it's lyrics may leave you puzzled, they impact differently on everyone, so tell me what it means to you. For those of you with a dark disposition, or who simply hate the world, this probobly isnt something you'd be interested in, I'm sure there's a dark corner available somewhere on Google. But if you're in a good mood, and are willing to accept something new and vibrant into your senses, Fireflies might be a good place to start.

4 pints ****

And on that bombshell...

Blizzard has never been very conscientious of health and safety, as Gb discovered while grinding Argent Dawn rep in Eastern plaguelands, and discovered this late little christmas present lying in a barn, right next to his quest giver.

In any case, thanks to his bravery, Gb is now exalted with the Argent Dawn and the Argent Crusade, earning him the Argent Champion achievement, and a new title =) Gb doesnt enjoy warfare, for paladins would enjoy nothing more than a world at peace. To prove this, he's now working towards his Skills to pay the Bills achievement. Already a grand master fisherman, and - strangely for a paladin - in first aid, he's now steaming (literally) through his cooking skills.

This week I've been writing an essay in how interactive multimedia games impact on modern society. 4000 words later and what's my answer? I have no idea...

Happy new beer!

Well, it seems Christmas is finished for this year, or has it? In real life, many of us have experienced alot of snow (I myself couldnt pull out of my driveway this morning ^^) and in WoW, some of us are still spreading the Christmas message (-Eggnog!-*Gb*)


Gb himself has been busy getting ready for the upcoming expansion, with alot of new armour, and an axe he's very proud of ^^ (Murloc pies beware!). Queezy, always the slacker has been exploring the hinterlands, although he is experiencing some trouble from the local Trolls. Uk, the newest edition to the family appears to be storming ahead, going from level 12 to 17 in only a few hours!

Finally, there's a house in Stormwind harbour that always confuses me. I mean, I understand it was for Wrath of the Lich king, but do they really need a house for Vrykul?

An early christmas present.

Well, this week I've been getting to grips with the new patch features. The new LFG system is great, as it now pairs groups cross-server, the longest wait time i've experienced so far has been about 5 seconds ^^. Features such as the opportunity to immediatley search for another group member (in similarly quick time) should one leave, is an instant hit for me. Another important, though frequently overlooked addition is the option of 'disenchant' for the need + greed system. The need + greed system has proved popular throughout most MMO's of today, and this slight tweak will no doubt be snapped up by others. The ability to get the core crafting materials from the loot without organising who gets it, and then ensuring the loot is distributed fairly removes the causes of many common arguments in pre-patch WoW.

The new instances look similarly polished, and though I've only experienced one so far, the Forge of Souls, but I was not disappointed. Crisp graphics, with similarly exciting boss battles, and a surprising cameo appearence from the Cadburys fairtrade head.


On a footnote, is it just me, or are the dresses for this year's Goblin girls a little too revealing? Bad choice of colours Blizzard.

How long 'till brewfest?

Well it's that time of the year again. Presents, carols and ....*looks around cautiously* Cake. Many people will be spending like never before, which makes me wonder how the WoW economy will react. Will it mirror real life? I know people who get in-game presents for their friends, so I wonder how far that trend will stretch. If it's true, then I cant wait for the january sales in the auction house ^^.

New comic up today, adding a touch of evil to all this christmas cheer. Bah, humbug!

What a long, hard road it's been...

Well it's been a while since I last updated, a very long while. The holidays are a busy time of year, expensive too, everyone's buying presents and organising parties, there's just not enough hours in the day to update anymore, but anyway, I'll try.

Recently I've been playing a bit less of WoW than usual, and I've had a go at Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. I wanted to see how it was, being an avid fan of the original tabletop game. First impressions were mixed, the backstory is good, with alot of emphasis given to roleplaying, and many options available to really make your character unique. There's a handy feature called the Tome of Knowledge, an encyclopedia of sorts that keeps track of where youve been, what quests youve done, what you've killed and more, and so it's nice to be able to look back on your achievements. The combat system is.....clunky to say the least, it's not lag as such, but it operates in a similar way, spells taking longer to cast, emotes taking a long time to appear. The main selling point of WAR is it's RvR and PQ system. RvR (Realm vs Realm) works in a similar way to WoW's pvp system, except that it's completely cross server, with no waiting time as such to join, there's just set places around the world that you can walk into whenever you like, and fight RvR, the combat is fun, though very similar to PvP, though with more people, and more focus on objectives, rather than simply kill kill kill. PQ's are also fun, PQ (meaning public quests) are an innovative feature that allows people to jump into a quest, without joining a group, you can simply walk into an area where a quest is taking place, and join in with those already doing it, while still being given an equal chance for the loot at the end. Warhammer Online has several great features, and it's RvR system could really teach WoW alot, but its slow gameplay, limited game space, and awkward levelling system will probobly ensure I stick with WoW, the juggernaut of it's kind.


Anyway, back to WoW. Greatbritain hasnt been appearing much on the Runetotem servers recently. My gametime ran out and I was pretty broke thanks to christmas, but he's back now, and really trying to get into the new icecrown citadel areas, which look like fun. Queezy's also trying to get back into the swing of things. He's been recently seen headed into santa's workshop with an axe and a reindeer sized sack...

Merry Christmas everybody =)