Author: Ethic

I run this little MMO gaming blog but I hardly ever write on it anymore. I'm more of a bloglord or something. Thankfully I have several minions to keep things rolling along.
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Промоакции для игроков не только в шутерах — воспользуйся промокодом Vavada от наших партнеров и получи бонусы, которые подарят азарт и атмосферу, сравнимую с игровыми победами.

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Hunter Journal: Page 14

Speedy DeliverySome days it just doesn’t pay to go outside.

I shook out the cobwebs of my beer-induced haze. Gunderic Grubb had been pushing pints of Old Withywindle in front of me all afternoon. “Best beer in the Eastfarthing,” he’d claimed, “or at least it used to be.” He’d offer no further explanation but that was good because I really didn’t care, the beer was cold and properly scrambled my worries. But anyway, where was I? Oh, right – going outside.

I stumbled out of The Golden Perch and into the bright sunlight. Deciding to head towards Bree (no other idea had occurred to me), I leaned in the direction of the Brandywine Bridge and moved my feet just enough to keep from falling on my face. Unfortunately before I got to the bridge, Postman Smallburrow hailed me over.

Continue reading Hunter Journal: Page 14

Lord of the Rings Online: Book 12

The gigantic Book 12 patch notes have been released and I thought I’d highlight the interesting stuff.

The Burglar and Guardian classes get major updates, with the Champion getting a “part 2” lighter update. All the other classes get minor updates.

Outfit system and a barbershop to make cosmetic changes. Includes new social clothing and cosmetic weapons. Examples: backpacks, quivers, hauberks, dresses, tunics, shirts and pants. Look how you want to look!

Additional level 10-20 content with solo focus, some quests being redesigned for solo as well.

Lots of Angmar changes.

Housing changes including allowing all of your characters to share ownership of your house including fast recall. Also: usable items (light your candles), object rotation, and housing owner name displayed as you approach.

New anti-spam tools.

Over an hour of additional music added.

I have to say, they are really cranking out the updates. There are lots more, visit the LotRO site for the full patch notes.

– Ethic

Where Did The Social Go?

MMOs have become more and more focused on solo players and there are many reasons for this. Many people are out there, like me, that just don’t have the time to find a group or else they are worried about having to leave in the middle of something and making the group angry. I claim this is a game design flaw and instead of designing in heavy solo content, games should be focusing on ways to take advantage of the fact that a large number of people are playing the same game at the same time.

Lets take a look at groups in general. Currently many people shy away from “pick up groups” because either they end up with someone that doesn’t know how to play very well and thus harming the group’s advancement or else they are worried something in real life will force them to have to leave too soon. Therefore, they end up playing solo. If a game was to focus instead on making grouping up fun no matter the group make up, and make it easy for people to come and go easily, it would change the interest levels of the players towards grouping in general.

Continue reading Where Did The Social Go?

CNN: 38 Studios Making “Copernicus”

Sure it’s a working title code name, but it what does it imply?

His new focus, post-pitching, will be to oversee the development of a still-unnamed and shrouded-in-mystery massively multiplayer role-playing game (MMORPG) that goes by the working title Copernicus.

More fun:

…the game is based on a new IP that he says will include deliberate and strategically planned brand extensions into film, TV, books, comics, and action figure iterations.

Oh nevermind, Inhibitor already figured it all out.

– Ethic

Happy Holidays

As I take a moment to step away from my yet-again broken snow blower only to find that the water heater is no longer working (I *really* needed a shower after shoveling the driveway), I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. If you celebrate a different holiday, enjoy that as well.

In the meantime, check out the Zubon interview at WorldIV.

Safe travels everyone!

– Ethic

Happy 70th

70th cakeMy lovely wife did something that I have yet to do. Well, make that two things. She reached level 70 in World of Warcraft *and* she had a cake made to honor the achievement. Not bad for someone that isn’t your typical gamer. Me? I only finally reached level 40, bought my mount and then moved on to the Lord of the Rings Online. So send her some cheer, the cake was delicious (yes that is a picture of the actual cake). Congratulations!

Meanwhile in Lord of the Rings Online, I got a pony. Not so exciting after the cake and all that.

– Ethic