Guild internet

If you're a MMO player then I sure hope you've been watching The Guild's 3rd season (having already seen seasons 1 and 2) on MSN. It is a hilarious series of internet shorts about a bunch of gaming addicts and the ways they interact with the real world. Season 3 features Wil Wheaton playing a new villian and is absolutely hilarious.

Well, what few people know is that they've also created some mock ups of internet sites for in-game goings on. The Axis of Anarachy website and which I find absolutely hilariously... awful! Hopefully the humor isn't just from episode tie-in.

I've not been blogging as actively because of real-life. I've been frantically working hard to try and get my unemployment extended early so our cash crunch wasn't too masive. I succeeded and there is now no interruption in my unemployment checks. Even if this last week's check was a lot smaller because it was the end of my funds for that period. I also had a great job interview this week which I felt I rocked, but no call back yet... so we'll see. At least it looks like I should have unemployment to keep going on with till this next spring. Which means I can keep writing and not looking for family sized cardboard boxes under an overpass! (It isn't that bad but it feels like it)

In my play time I've been busy beta testing Elemental, working on Anima Tactics models and playing DDO unlimited. I'll be certain to write more about them soon.

Video Games keep me from killing people

Today's article is courtesy of two entries from Gamepolitics.com on games and violence. First a buddhist monk who uses video games to sate any violent impulses so he can live a life of pacifism. Second, an article about how in Germany a school principle is banning all "killergames" due to an incident where an 18-year old (not a minor and not affected by the rules) went on a killing spree with an axe, knives, and molotov cocktails (obviously they need more GUN control to stop violence). Furthermore the murderer in this case... was not found to have played violent video games. So maybe they should try the opposite and if like the monk he had some violent games he wouldn't have taken his rage out in real life?

I wonder what the school is like because it sounds like the principal is desperately looking for a scapegoat. At least in these times it is so much more difficult to just randomly blame Jews, Gypsies, Turks for things so... video games? It seems like anything to not hold people responsible these days. Just remember the old phrase is true: "Guns don't kill people, People with Guns (and knives but not video games) kill people."

Betas

Well I can reveal now that one of the betas I had been in previously was Fallen Earth. It is a good post-apocalyptic MMO PC game. I really liked the post-apocalyptic setting and skill based MMO play. I'm not playing it now for two reasons: First and foremost I don't have the money if I really wanted to. Second the bigger reason is that some really fun things I enjoyed got cut during the beta. I'm hoping they'll get re-introduced later on in the game, but at this point I'm really starting to doubt it. What got cut was the Stealth skill and the meaningfulness and specializations of each faction got diminished. It is still a great game and if you're looking to play a non-fantasy MMO right now you should definitely try it out.

In other beta news, I just finished downloading the first beta for Elemental: War of Magic. Time for me to go join all the crashing and my favorite work profession ... bug reports!

Finally as a little bonus for the miniatures gamers! I did another video for Anima Tactics. This one covers the line-up of models available for the Church organization in the game. Enjoy!

This should be the last about PAX 09

Still on the post PAX high. Doubly so as not me, Svayvti or any of our families kids have gotten the swine flu that took down Penny Arcade, Wil Wheaton, host of game developers and who knows who else. No, just like Wil Wheaton I have a hard time coming down from that Post-PAX high, though nobody serenaded me on video as they did WilW (or off video either for those curious).

By the way I think Bioware continues to show off why parent companies should sometimes just allow themselves to be run by subsidiaries. I guess EA should be glad I'm not a majority shareholder because I would clean house of the execs and replace them with Bioware people. So I bet the Bioware execs are "invited to resign" within the next 3 years or so. Kind of like how Mythic is being trampled under foot right now. Anyways Bioware had a very, very busy booth in contrast to EA. They also had the best handout of the convention as pictured to the right for their new Dragon Age game. They gave Dragon condoms... err, shrink wrapped inflatable swords (hmm, maybe I was right the first time) and had enough for everyone who came by. My family claimed 4 as part of our successful game swag haul.

Funcom is another company in my dog house but they did pretty well with their showing new game "The Secret World". I'm hoping that with Gaute Godager gone and Ragnar Tornquist now in charge of The Secret World that Funcom can make a good game again. Ragnar was most of the creative genius I originally liked behind the story of Anarchy Online. Then Gaute got a hold of it and tried to turn it into Everquest with future magic in several expansions and. With Gaute in charge Funcom could never keep track of what direction Anarchy Online's development was trying to go in.

I'm curious to see what PAX does to come up with more space next year, because they're definitely going to need it. Maybe they can add a 4th day? If the explosive growth of the convention keeps up then within a few years they'll just have to rent the entirety of downtown Seattle for the weekend.

Oh yeah, and Starcraft 2? It absolutely rocked.

Techie stuff at PAX

PAX had a lot of kewl gadgets as always. Super cooled computers, gloves that work as your keyboard and mouse, new touch based interfaces, a neat black glove that works as an interface, and of course the return of the incredible tables from Geek Chic.

Actually I mostly just noticed the peregrine glove and not just because it was next to the Elemental/Stardock booth. I always pay attention to new interfaces as they promise to be the really big thing like the Nintendo Wii Remote or the next big flop like the Nintendo Power Glove. The Peregrine glove is a much more intuitive interface, if they can produce it cheaply enough for the mass market then I expect you'll be hearing a lot more about it in the future barring any unforseen disasters.

Jupiter broadcasting covered the Peregrine and a lot more tech stuff from PAX a lot better than I can:

So I guess I have to retract half a point about EA being smart enough not to continue their stupid "Sin to Win" promotion at PAX. They didn't do it at PAX... but they are still promoting stupid, stupid contests directly with gaming media. See this adult humor webcomic making fun of EA today at Ctrl-Alt-Del. In Mixed news the pro-Draconian EA is now selling their games on the Anti-DRM Stardock's Impulse digital distribution network. Something has gotta give here, this is NOT a match made in heaven or hell. Watch this become some bad EA promotion for Dante's Inferno about "Limbo" (the portion of hell that always looks at heaven but can never get there).

Real life has been too hectic or stressful to do anything with painting or terrain. Baby doesn't want to sleep at nights now. Unemployment extension is running out (so having to get another extension) as I'm now going on way the heck too long without a regular paying job. I am Looking into training or returning to school to make myself more competitive on the job market but I'm not sure the government wants to pay for that. I'm hoping within the next week I'll have the time to do some more videos about terrain or models I've painted. Plus hopefully the first Anima Tactics organization video.

PAX is now a great holiday

Here is what I took away from PAX. My oldest now considers PAX one of the greatest of holidays. She was begging me to take her back today and yesterday. I asked her what was so great about PAX and she proclaimed presents, toys, getting stuff, etc. So I asked her what about Halloween or Christmas because those are coming up? She said yeah, they're as good as going to convention and that Convention, Halloween and Christmas are her favorite holidays.

So Sallust might not know it yet, but I'm going to have to talk Dear Guild Leader into going to some more conventions with kids before PAX 2010.

More PAX coverage in which I also pick on EA

I'm glad for labor day after PAX. It is so intense, especially when you take an excited kid on the second day. One thing I certainly noticed about PAX this year though was that families and women made up a much higher percentage of the demographic. 5 years ago there was about one girl out of every ten or twenty attendees. Now it is more like one out of four.

I noticed EA didn't have their "Sin to Win" contest. As I'd said I wondered if they'd try it at PAX after the previous disasters at E3 and Comic-con. The PAX crowd would mob them if they did and so they finally appeared to have dropped this idiotic promotion. EA itself was kind of low-key and swallowed up by the great displays from subsidiaries Mythic and Bioware. Maybe they could take a few lessons from them on how to promote a game? Honestly I had trouble finding EA until I realized that what was next to the Diablo III booth was Dante's Inferno and not a continuation of Diablo III.

By the way I have to contrast this with Turbine who had a Succubus themed contest for D&D online. They got a booth babe (Pictured on the right) who was both devilish looking without sinking to below-the-groin sleaze. On that note I should also announce for all of those interested in a free-to-play MMO that D&D online is now free to play. Extra content can be bought with micro transactions (consider yourself advised) but you can enjoy all of the basic game for free. Get on board soon because I'm sure their subscription levels are going to shoot through the roof.

The second part of the PAX "Legend of Neil" panel is now up on Youtube if you enjoy that kind of crass humor, you sicko. I noticed that episode 4 is late. Stop slacking Sandeep! Also, Comedy Central you need to get these guys like an actual budget. Speaking of budgets... I'm sorry to say that I filled up my cameras only memory chip after this part so it doesn't continue on. Feel free to email me about a financial contribution if you'd like to make sure this doesn't happen again (I wish).

P.S. - Felicia Day is still a traitor for going to that other Con instead of PAX this year

Post PAX 09 Review

Soooo much fun. I feel sorry for those who dwell among lesser cons not knowing anything about what PAX is like. Given I didn't milk the pure fun out of it, as usual I came with an agenda and there is only so much time in the Con and different activities to choose from. First stop saturday morning was waiting in line for the exhibit hall and picking up all kinds of swag along the way.



The video above only barely begins to describe the haul of free stuff I pulled out of the con. My daughters are beating each other silly with inflatable swords from DragonAge. Lost track of how many free T-shirts I got, last count was about 8 or 9. In previous years I've gotten keyboards, my nice Razer gaming mouse and others from raffles. Unfortunately I had no raffle winnings this year.

I headed straight for the Stardock booth and got to play with the Elemental Alpha build which is already a ton of fun. I've been posting more pictures of the Alpha over on their game forums if you're following it. I couldn't wait to get back the second day and pay for my pre-order of the game.



Then I just had to get a few pictures of people in costumes. There are so many I didn't get pictures of that I wish I had. Luckily I'm not the only one there taking pictures so I can enjoy the exhibits while other people do the business of covering the convention. But I did get the picture of Pirates up on stage. Yeah, dancing Pirates on a Tom Clancy Splinter Cell stage... what did you do with your weekend?


All this before the day was even half over. I got to talk with several HR people about advancing in the gaming industry and how to sell my myself. So hey, maybe somebody is looking to hire a good QA person who can double as a great editor? They actually had better tips than a lot of other "get a job" discussions I've been to.

I got in a good game of Anima Tactics at the convention, sat in on the Legend of Neil interview panel (and saw today's new episode ahead of time), and a few minutes of concert before heading home on the first day.

Yeah, I'll be blogging a lot more about PAX all week!

Legend of Neil Panel at PAX 09

Wow, Tony Janning are Sandeep Parrikh are two very funny and... very Crass guys. I kind of feel guilty about laughing at their show. But amazingly enough I don't feel more guilty adding a link to it at the bottom of my blog.

So warning, if you watch the video I took of them these guys have a wicked dirty sense of humor.



In general PAX 09 has just been simply amazing. Huge exhibits, more prizes than last year (though not as many as the early years). I only heard of one bad panel (Sex in video games). Plus so many fun games of all types were there to be played or watched (RPGs, board games galore, card games, Console Tournaments, PC tournaments and more).

Much, much more on PAX 09 yet to come. I'm probably going back today for a little bit more, especially as the Elemental Pre-order is $10 off at PAX.

New Anima Tactics video

In the midst of getting ready for PAX. It is a much bigger endeavor when you're leaving your kids behind for a day. Gone are the days of just doing things, now I've got to make sure there isn't going to be a revolt by the children to overthrow my wife's dictatorship while I'm gone. With young children in the house I'm afraid even one day of gaming convention bliss can be too much, and here I was hoping to have a weekend pass. Given with a weekend pass I probably would have spent about the same amount of time actually at the convention but spaced it out more and returned home for more time.

Anyways, the real reason for this post is that I put another Anima Tactics video up explainging force formation for the game. I hope it entertains and informs.

PAX is completely FULL

Wow. They sold out the entire Seattle convention center a week before PAX even starts. I'm lucky that I got my saturday tickets as the 3-day pass sold out the day before I was able to get mine. Still I should hopefully have a lot of good pictures and videos from PAX to show by next week.

Other than that I don't expect any news in gaming until PAX. So I'll try and get some videos made of my terrain projects (trees done for swamp project) and maybe some videos for Anima Tactics or VOR.