Why Does This Happen Every Time?

I don't understand it. I order a new computer, and suddenly I lose interest in gaming. I was playing Diablo 3 almost 24/7, and now I have lost all interest in it except for the auction house. I have tried other games, and nothing is sticking.

I tried The Secret World, Firefall, Minecraft, MLB2k11, and more. I just don't understand when I get this beast of a PC that all of sudden I am interested in Bejeweled again.  It is frustrating. I think maybe it is my depression meds making me want to do something other than sitting at home drinking beer, and playing games. It could be the nice weather, and being on vacation. It is hard to figure out why sometimes it seems no games can make me happy.  

Still Undecided

I have visited many gaming sites in the last few days. I am looking for that one game that jumps out at me. It is weird. It seems nothing is interesting me enough to lay down some cash for.

I am extremely bored, and I need to find something to kill some time.

Can you add PvP to a PvE game years later?

What is making EQ2 suddenly add PvP to a game that is known for PvE?  Do they even have the player base to support it?  Will it get new players to play EQ2 with this change?

I have to say they are starting it out right.  By making it cross server battlegrounds it is probably guaranteed to make any pvp player happy with non stop queueing.

It seems pretty exciting to me.  I bought EQ2 at Xmas time, and now this is definitely giving me motivation to play it.

Will the pvp make you try EQ2?




One of the first battlegrounds sounds very similar to Warsong Gulch in World of Warcraft.

Battlefield of Ganak

Deep in the overgrown keeps of the Kunark jungle, a bloodthirsty group of Iksar is holding tournaments in the ruins of their great ancestors. Following their cultural practices of swarming fortresses, annihilating enemies and stealing their treasures, the tournament games are meant to mimic the violent event, not as tradition, but as sport! Rewards await those who are victorious including combat secrets, battle techniques and other valuable information that has been passed down through the ages.

View Map

• Game Type: Capture the Flag
• Players: 6 Person Group
• Environment: Outdoor arena with two large oppositional bases with intersecting interiors
• Objective: Capture the enemy's flag located within their base and return it to your base with your flag still in place

Win Condition: First team to successfully capture and return three flags wins

The next battleground sounds similar to Eye of the Storm, or Arathi Basin in World of Warcraft

Smuggler's Den

Join the battle of two groups eternally at odds! Seafarer factions are vying for supremacy and willing to handsomely reward any mercenary brave enough to fight for their side. With limitless resources, neither side is willing to allow the opposition to capture and control the islets. Key control over pivotal trading positions is imperative to delivering goods in a profitable manner. The battle continues with the struggle to control strategic lookouts and smuggler havens.

View Map

• Game Type: Hold Territory
• Players: 24 Person Group
• Environment: Five spires on top of two pinnacles jutting out of a raging ocean
• Objective: Gain control and hold towers longer than the opposition to earn Tower Tickets

Win Condition: First team to reach the displayed Tower Ticket goal wins

The third battleground sounds more like a Warhammer Scenario

Gears of Klak'Anon

Gnomes studying a magical and likely cursed technological artifact are particularly intrigued about the unusual properties of this mythical relic. Especially the effects that it grants to its possessor, which rapidly decay health, but with the dubious tradeoff of increased offensive potential. In an effort to further study the effects, and for their own twisted amusement, players are rewarded for engaging in a science experiment turned entertainment, Hold the Relic.

View Map

• Game Type: Hold the Relic
• Players: 6 Person Group
• Environment: Industrious clockwork foundry containing scientific equipment in motion
• Objective: Acquire and hold the relic to accrue points faster than the opposition

Win Condition: First team to reach the set score wins

Pugs in MMORPG's

Pugs in MMORPG's can sometimes be a frustrating experience.  Why? 

I see people all the time complaining about players in their pugs.  They have low dps, bad gear, using a two hander as a tank, and etc.  What do most players do?  They usually ridicule the person by calling them a noob, vote kicking them, and etc.  Is that really how to treat someone?  Is that really going to help them the next time they join a group?

Why not take the time to show them how to play, or what they might be doing wrong?  What good is it to throw someone to the wolves, and not help them?  If you are such a great player shouldn't you be able to teach other players how to be a great player?  Why is it that everyone is expected to be an elite player from day one? 

The funniest thing about pugs is everyone in the group thinks everyone else in the group is not as good as them.  Ask anyone who joins a pug, and they will always tell you about how bad everyone else was.  You never hear anyone talk about how they joined a pug, and all the players were better than them.

Why do players always think they are better than everyone else when they join a pug?

Do you like Playing MMORPG's with Friends?

Friends are pretty special to most people.  You will do anything for your friends.  The question is will you bend over backwards for your friends in a MMORPG?

I always have thought playing a MMORPG with friends, coworkers, or a girlfriend would be the greatest ever.  After several experiences I can't say I actually enjoy it.  I have to say I would rather make new friends in the game, and play with them instead.

In World of Warcraft closed beta our guild became really close.  We worked out every detail on how the guild was going to work on the live server during launch.  We were all going to group together, donate all our money, and drops to each other.  All the crafters received everything they needed for free, and in turn they would make backpacks, armor, weapons, enchants, and etc.  It sounded like it was going to be a well oiled machine.

The drama started early.  The hardcore guys felt like they were donating more, and reaping less of the benefits.  The guild drama was just beginning.  The hardcore guys were already farming instances, and getting geared.  The others started feeling left out of guild runs.

One night the hardcore members left the guild, and rerolled new characters on Dragonmaw without a word.  It worked great until about three weeks later everyone went back to the old server because they couldn't hack leveling to 60 again.

I stuck it out, and made lots of new friends on Dragonmaw, and still consider it my server even though Arthas was my server at launch.   I feel my friends on Dragonmaw were truly my friends.

I quit the game after a few years, and when I transferred to a new location on my job it seemed everyone played World of Warcraft.  They all told me they were hardcore players.  I couldn't wait.

I thought how great it would be to talk World of Warcraft all day at work, and play when we got home.  I soon learned that everyone has a different definition of hardcore.  I think of it as a second job at least playing thirty hours a week.  The problem was my other coworkers defined hardcore as an hour or two every other night which I soon figured out when no one was ever on.

It seems your tolerance level for people you know in real life is much lower than people from the game.  Every little noob move, or horrible player is much harder to deal with.   Normally you could just call someone a Noob, /gkick them, and move on.  With playing with real life friends you have to worry about the repercussions at work.  Do you really tell your boss he sucks at Warcraft?  How do you tell someone you work with you don't want them in your raid group.  How do you deal with wipes when it's real life friends causing it?  Do you take it out on them?  How do you tell your girlfriend she sucks as a healer?

It just gets plain ugly, and I would rather just deal with in-game friends.  How about you?  Do you get irritated alot quicker with real life friends when playing MMORPG's?

Are Addons getting Elitist in MMORPG's?

I think addons in MMORPG's are getting just a little bit elitist these days.  I just can't believe the functions of some of them these days.

The latest one I find just filling up with elitism is Rankwatch.  I just can't believe what it does.

How would you like to get a whisper that says "Why are you using rank 5 of your flash heal?  You should be using rank 8.", or "Why are you using rank 8 of mind blast on this boss.  You should be using rank 6 to prevent grabbing aggro."

These aren't exactly what it says, but very close.  If you were in a group, and another party member uses this addon would you be offended, or say thanks?

I personally don't want every spell, heal, or whatever being micro managed from an addon.  Do you think addons are taking the fun out of gaming?

Aion Introduces RMT for Plastic Surgery

Aion released their Community address, and basically introduced RMT coming to the game. How will the players take it? Will they pay real money to recreate their characters looks, or pay another real money transaction fee to switch genders?

This is only the beginning of their new Account Services feature from what I read. I am sure by years end you will be able to spend hundreds of dollars buying stuff. Is it really worth it to pay real money for plastic surgery in Aion?

I don't really understand why anyone would pay to change their character.  Didn't everyone already spend an hour creating their toon originally?  I really only see this as a way for someone to recreate themselves, or change their looks if they bought the account.  I don't really see why else you would pay to change something so minor.

So you figure with a big community address you would read some patch notes, or hear about some exciting upcoming content but not a word. It was the most uneventful announcement I have seen. What about their vision?  I am thinking that vision was their ten year vision.

Oh wait. They did announce some changes. They are revamping the website, and the forums. Aren't you excited?

Add More Nails to the Coffin Patch 1.3.4 for Warhammer Online

Is this patch 1.3.4 really something to get excited about?  Is this what brings players back?  Is this what brings all the SWTOR players to WAR with the one year delay?

The answer is easy.  NO, NO, and NO.

My shredder that is on steroids has been reactivated to rip this patch note preview to shreds.

We will be introducing an entire new line of weapons earned via RvR (this is the "feature players have been asking for"). These weapons will be purchasable via a vendor and will not be bought using medallions or crests, instead utilizing an entirely new currency system earned via Scenario gameplay from tiers 1-4. More information about these new items and how they're earned will be forthcoming in a Dev Diary with Developer Sean Bosshardt.Speaking of Scenarios...

Is this really what players have been asking for?  What players?  I know the active Warhammer blogs I read have never mentioned anything about earning weapons via RvR.  I remember reading they want cross server scenarios, cross server rvr, and Land of the Dead being ORvR 24/7.

Supposedly WAR is everywhere, but soon it will be in an instance near you.  I can already see that Orvr will be completely dead when this patch goes live.  It is like World of Warcraft Arenas gone bad.   

We are completely reworking the current structure of Scenarios by removing some of the less popular and streamlining the tiering of Scenarios. There will be more details upcoming in a Dev Diary from Content/RvR Lead Mike Wyatt next month.  

I read this as they are going to remove most of the scenarios from the game.  Most likely it is the whole reason they have had the all tier scenario live events.  It was a test.  Don't be surprised if soon you will only be doing Nordenwatch, Mourkain Temple, Tor Anroc, and a few others for all tiers.  

  
The last tidbit is a change to the way that the campaign functions. Starting with 1.3.4, once a Contested City flips into the Captured state (otherwise called "Stage 2") the Open RvR Campaign will now restart, leaving the realm sieging their enemies city with a tough decision: Stay in the city, possibly defeating your opponent's King, or retreat back to the open field to defend your realm? 

Does this change make any sense?  They keep saying they want to add RvR to all aspects of city sieging, and basically they are giving the other faction a chance to go RvDoor while the other faction tries to flip the city to the next stage.  Isn't this being counterproductive in promoting RvR?


In Summary I see this as possibly the final nail in Warhammer Onlines coffin.  Open RvR will be dead, and after so many premades destroying people it will get to the point it will just be easier to ragequit, and move on with your life.  Is this the patch you thought it was going to be?

Increasing the Level Cap Kills The MMORPG

What do you think about level cap increases when a mmorpg does an expansion?   Do you think it's necessary? Why can't they just increase gear, but leave the levels the same?

I can only think of negative things with a level cap increase for expansions.  It makes all old content obsolete. It resets and makes all players equal no matter the time invested in the game.

Is the added grind just there to give the devs more time to finish other content, or is there other reasons?

Are adding levels punishing any new players to the game who now have to grind out 85 levels to reach max level?  Are the new players going to quit before getting to 85 because the first 75 levels are ghost towns?

Are adding levels actually making players burn out quicker, and not make alts because of the huge grind to 85?  Is it making players just quit the game instead of leveling up alts for a change of scenery?

Porn Industry Blames Decline on World of Warcraft

I just ran into this article on Tom's Hardware that the porn industry is now blaming World of Warcraft for their declining profits along with other online games.  I guess guys really do like Blood Elves, and Night Elves.

Is it really online gaming causing it?

Lifetime Subscriptions to MMORPG's are a Joke

Yes, I am laughing right now because lifetime subscriptions to MMORPG's are really funny.  It seems to be the latest trend for MMORPG's to offer lifetime subscriptions to their games.  Are there really any benefits that make it worth the $250?

I think I would rather enjoy fifty cups of coffee at Starbucks than pay that kind of money for a lifetime subscription to any MMORPG.  I have read on many blogs about players doing it.  The reasons they give make no sense to me.

I read that one player says they don't log in enough to pay a monthly subscription.  Okay than why even play the game?  If you play a game less than 10 hours a month I don't see how a lifetime subscription to a MMORPG is better than paying a monthly subscription when you can cancel whenever, and save money.  If you only have ten hours available to play a game I suggest you log off your computer right now, and buy yourself a PS3, Xbox, or a Wii instead.

Another player stated that when they subscribe for just a month they feel obligated to devote all their gaming time to that game for the month.  If that is their logic than how does paying a lifetime subscription to a MMORPG not make you obligated for life to play that game?  Would you rather feel like you are married to a game, or single and play multiple games?

This other player talked about it pays for itself in less than two years.  What if you buy the lifetime subscription, and three months later you hate the game?  You would have to play the game for three or four years to come out financially ahead.  In that amount of time you will probably be lured to another MMORPG with better graphics, better gameplay, and etc.  Would you make a lifetime commitment after dating someone for a few days?  Probably not so why would you do it for a MMORPG?

Even this other player did it for the extra race they could play.  Isn't that almost like a RMT?  You are paying some gaming company $250 to play one certain race in a MMORPG.  What are you smoking?  It is probably the same player who complains about paying $10 for a name, faction, or server change even though they are paying ten times that amount to play some special class.

What if the MMORPG closes down after a year or two?  Would you be happy?

I can see doing a lifetime subscription to a MMORPG if there were real benefits.  Give me double xp, alts that start at level 25, expansions half price, other game titles discounted, any MMORPG made by them included, or something that feels like I am receiving my $250 worth.

What do you think about lifetime subscriptions to MMORPG's?

MMORPG's Should Charge $50 for Beta Testing

What if a new upcoming MMORPG sent you a beta invite, but it would cost $50 before you could participate.  Would you do it? 

I think personally that MMORPG, and other gaming companies should charge to beta test.  I know you probably are thinking I lost my mind, but why would I want to pay to beta test?

It is pretty simple.  It seems these days beta testers are really not doing their jobs.  They are just doing it for the free gaming time like a free trial to a MMORPG.  How many beta testers aren't really even interested in the MMORPG, and just signed up for it along with ten other games hoping to at least get one invite?

How many beta testers are really submitting bugs, offering feedback, putting in countless hours of play time?  I know a few friends who were in Warhammer Online's closed beta, and logged in once or twice.  The same thing for some coworkers for the World of Warcraft expansion beta testing.  What good were those invites?  It basically just took up a spot for someone who might have actually worked to improve the game before the release.

I really think that is why so many MMORPG's these days that come out feel rushed, and unfinished.  I think most players take beta testing casually, and don't take their beta invites seriously.

This is the whole reason I think they should make beta testers pay.  It would be an almost guarantee that players would be logging in hundreds and hundreds of hours playing to make sure they feel they received their $50 worth.

A player paying that kind of money to beta test would also be hardcore.  I would take five hundred paying beta testers over ten thousand free invites.  The quality of feedback, suggestions would be astronomical compared to the current state of beta testers for MMORPG's.

Is $50 for beta testing an MMORPG worth it to you?

Star Trek Online Looks Stupid

I have been visiting some other blogs today, and reading all the hype for Star Trek Online from some other bloggers.

I have never been a Star Trek fan. I maybe have watched two or three episodes in my whole life, and have never seen any of the movies.

I can give one Star Trek quote "Beam me up Scotty" even though I have the slightest idea what it even references.

I know one of the guys does Priceline commercials now, but that is about all I know about Star Trek.

I can't imagine going into a game not knowing anything about the races, factions, and the whole lore. I am sure 99% of the players who are buying this game are Star Trek fanatics, and will have a competitive advantage by everything they already know about Star Trek.

On top of that I have seen some screenshots today. The game graphics remind me of Champions Online which I thought were very corny looking.

I could never even imagine playing, or buying this game. I wouldn't even buy it off of Steam the day after Xmas for $5. That is how stupid Star Trek Online looks to me.

My prediction is Star Trek Online fails before 2010 ends.

30 Trillion Kinah Quest Rewards in Aion

Could you imagine getting 30 trillion kinah for a quest reward in Aion?  On Azphel it was happening.  NCSoft had no choice, but to roll back the servers to save the servers economy.

Greetings Daevas of Azphel,

Earlier today we began to receive reports that a small number of players on the Azphel server had received over 30 trillion Kinah as part of a reward glitch. Since that time, we’ve brought down the Azphel server and have been working diligently to identify how to restore economic stability. We’ve made the decision to rollback the Azphel server data to 6:00am CST this morning and will continue to monitor all servers for related anomalies.

It’s important to understand that we saw the rollback as a last option and made every effort to avoid doing so. We’re currently performing the rollback and anticipate the server will be back online sometime on Tuesday, January 5th. At that point, all character progression on Azphel will be restored to its state as of this morning.

As an apology for the downtime, we’ll be rewarding everyone on the Azphel server with five Lodas Amulets later this week. It’s our goal at NCsoft to provide the best possible service to our customers. Our apologies for the downtime and as always, thank you for your continued patience.

So how many Aion players are going to ragequit over this?  What if you received a great drop from Dark Poeta, completed 12 hours of grinding, completed your xenophon weapon quest,or  dinged 50?  I would think all of the above would leave a sour taste in your mouth with the rollbacks.

Did NCSoft have a choice?  Probably not.  I imagine with trillions of kinah instantly added to the economy there would be no way to track down everything.  It was the best choice for Aion, but if you lost something you earned legimately during the rollback hours you will be very angry.

Once again they offer lodas amulets as a reward.  Is that really the best thing they can offer after something like that?  How do you think they should of handled it?  What would of been a better than giving five lodas amulets?

Is DAoC being Energized with a shot of Adrenaline?

With GOA pulling the plug on DAoC EU will it energize the US Servers with a shot of adrenaline?  Is Mythic planning on creating new servers for them, or merging them with the current US servers?

If Mythic decides to merge all players to US servers it could really boost the servers activity levels for DAoC.  Will Warhammer follow in its footsteps soon?

I think it could really make RvR exciting again.

Dark Poeta Detailed Walkthrough

My friend Hoschi keeps cranking out some excellent Aion guides, and walkthroughs.  His latest is a Dark Poeta walkthrough.  I am amazed at all the great details of Hoschi's step by step guide for Dark Poeta.

Could You Remove all Money from MMORPG's?

What would a MMORPG be like without any money in-game?  Would it better, or worse?  Would it put gold farmers out of business?

I think it could work.  Mobs would drop nothing.  No gear, weapons, money, or loot of any kind.

Everything would be earned through quests.  You do quests to get backpacks by completing quests that give supply rewards, and than giving them to a npc tailor to make.  You could do the same thing for mounts, weapons, gear, and etc.  Everything would be quest based.

You would still do raiding to complete quest requirements, and gather pieces needed to make things.

It would be great in controlling the economy because nothing would ever change for the quest requirements.

Do you think it would work removing money from MMORPG's?

Should have Aion won Grind of the Year, not Game of the Year for 2009?

If you played Aion than you know why I am asking the question.  How did Aion get 2009 Game of the Year?

Did they pay them to say it?  If so give me $25,000, and I will praise your game.  I think a better award would of been 2009 Grind of the Year.

Do you think Aion was the Game of the Year for 2009?  If not, which one?

What would World of Warcraft be like without addons?

Have you ever thought of playing World of Warcraft without addons?  Would you even be allowed in a guild without having them installed?  Why has World of Warcraft players, and MMORPG gamers become so dependent on addons?

What if dps meters were removed from Warcraft?  I think it would be bigger than the Cataclysm.  So many players would be crying, and ragequitting.  They would have nothing to brag about at the end of the raid about how great they are.  I think a bunch of addons in Warcraft made playing some classes like bot mode where I could teach a five year old to play it.

I never realized how addicted to addons I was until I started playing Warhammer Online at release after playing Warcraft for two years.  It was a living nightmare.  How dare they make me think for myself.  Of course as the game progressed some very valuable addons came into the game.

Did addons eventually ruin Warhammer Online?  I think partially they did.  Everyone relied on State of the Realm to decide where to fight.  It made it easy to see where your opponents were, and which zones were going to be the easiest to flip, or which zone you needed to defend.  Without that one addon it would of made Tier 4 ORvR a little more interesting I think.  I even think it may have possibly kept zerg vs zerg warfare to a minimum.  I think smaller groups would have ventured out more.

I have to say one of the reasons I hated Aion was that no addons were allowed.  You were stuck with the way the devs decided the game should be.  I hated the UI in Aion with a passion.  I wanted my ezmode healing squared or healbot.

Do you like addons, or do you think it ruins the game?

Wasdstomp's New Years Resolution for 2010

It's simple.  I want to provide my readers with my own E-book, or possibly several in 2010.