a group of adventurers on an epic quest
A few people at IMGDC asked me about my background, and a few others I have met recently at some other events wanted to know what I have worked on. My answer is usually “nothing you have ever heard of”, but I *have* been around for a long time, just under the radar. But really…what have I worked on? What the hell was I doing in the early 90s? What is so amusing?
Continue reading ‘Turning on the wayback machine…for your amusement!’
Since I already have one topic going about the changes to the most popular healers in WoW today, I thought I’d take a different angle to it – i.e. fix instead of nerf. The main reason Paladins (and Shammies and Druids to a lesser, more specific extent) are the main healers is they simply have a better healing tree. So I’m going to try my very amateur hand at redesigning the Holy and Disc trees. This will be a bumpy ride. More after the cut.
Another example of the ugly side of MMOs just occurred.
In World of Warcraft, a member of a guild is claiming his brother was one of the victims at Virginia Tech. He announced that he is taking over his brother’s character and that the one thing his brother wished for was to have a mount. Therefore, this “person” is asking for donations to buy one. Now, if true I certainly feel for him and his family. But why would you turn your grief into asking people for gold? Even if I believed him, I think that action is way out of line. I assume this guy is using a tragic event for a personal gain and it makes me sick. Worse yet, the guild is pooling funds for this guy. If I was in that guild, I’d be so out of there. But maybe that’s just me.
- Ethic
I have seen several posts and received several messages about that lawyer from Florida. Fox even gave him air time. I encourage you to deal with him as you would any other troll. Ignoring the bad eggs and blocking them from your life is the only way to make them go away.
This is the opposite of Voldemort. Saying his name grants him more power (publicity). Resist the urge. Don’t feel the need to mention every time the monkeys at the zoo fling poo — that is just what monkeys do.
: Zubon
Over at Tobold’s place. Check it out.
If I can recommend a mini-game variant from A Tale in the Desert: actually craft the item. If you are a blacksmith, you get a blob of metal and a hammer. Go nuts. Some players worked out how to make pretty good shovel heads in 10 seconds or less; other people specialized in getting that last bit of quality out of tapping the metal into just the right shape. You could determine the output by the final shape created or have a set “perfect shape” for a pre-picked output and determine item quality by its similarity to that Platonic ideal.
: Zubon
Hail adventurers! I have a task I need done, but alas I am unable to do it myself. You see, my feet have become permanently connected to the ground here where I stand. I would be so very thankful if you could help me out. Are you too busy to help? No? Good. Oh yes, I do have a reward for you should you complete my task well, but first let me tell you what I need.
I am gathering information about the great heroes that travel through my little town. What I need is for you to gather up the story or make a sketch of one of these brave guardians of our lands. Perhaps even you qualify? I will choose one of the many tales or sketches that will hopefully be shared with me by you and the other adventurers willing to help. The best will be rewarded.
Closed up the 2007 Indie MMO Game Development Conference today. It was a very enlightening experience for me, realizing how much I have been looking at games from a developer’s viewpoint instead of a gamer’s viewpoint. The people attending this conference are extremely passionate about making MMOs. Not only that, they are willing and able to take the risks the big companies cannot and try something radically different. The next revolution in MMOs will almost certainly come from the Indie MMO arena.
The keynote speech this morning was given by Dr. Richard Bartle. It was a fantastic talk about the history of independent game development and how the time is ripe for Indie MMOs to really make a difference in the next few years. I could probably sit and listen to him talk for a whole weekend. It was a pity that we only had a few hours.
I’m back from day one of the 2007 Indie MMO Game Development Conference. With regrets to Nicodemus for telling him I wasn’t going to write up anything, here are some of my thoughts.
I arrived to find the Minneapolis Convention Center packed with girls valleyball, girls dance and a karate tournament. Eventually I found my way to the IMGDC conference rooms. Several people I recognized right away – Dr. Richard Bartle and Brian “Psychochild” Green. I quickly found Robert/”Nicodemus” but was surprised he wasn’t smoking a pipe as his pictures always show.
[Eternal Lands] One interesting thing I found when messing about with Eternal Lands is this series of articles from one of the developers. He discusses various problems that came up, largely falling into two categories: technical issues and players. I have yet to do more than skim the blog that gives continuing thoughts from the presumably now ex-ex-developer. Re-developer? Look, he wrote about why he quit a few years ago, but he is writing about changes he is making to the game, so I presume he is back at it.
The blog does include a link to what seems to be Eternal Land’s greatest epic fight on YouTube.
: Zubon
The Lord of the Rings Online Special Edition will be available in limited quantities and contains a number of benefits & bonuses priced at just $59.99 MSRP. The Special Edition includes:
* Full Game on 2 DVD’s
* 30-days of free online play
* Free 10-day Buddy Key
* The “Beyond the Shadows. . .The Making of The Lord of the Rings Online” DVD – A collection of videos that show how Turbine brought the Books of J.R.R. Tolkien to life. Hear from the game’s designers and see their work from concept to completion.
* The Lord of the Rings Online Soundtrack – In-game soundtrack of the Shire, Rivendell, Bree, Thorin’s Hall and Angmar.
* Exclusive In-Game Item – “The Glass of Aglarel” – Carrying this in-game jewel will increase your Hope to aid you against the effects of Dread brought on by the Witch-king and his minions.
* A Full Color Special Edition Manual
* Exclusive map of Middle-earth
Note: This is NOT a Collector’s Edition and there does not appear to be plans to have one (in North America anyway – Europe is getting one). This is just the same box with some extra stuff.
- Ethic
