I recently came across something I'd seen months earlier:
When I first saw this ad I had yet to play WoW. But through being an avid viewer of the marvelous TV show The Gruen Transfer, I'd developed a critical eye towards advertising. So I put it to use with this ad.
And I have to say, this ad may be designed to be funny but I don't find it funny. If anything, it presents a rather uncomfortable scenario: What we have here is a relationship where the guy is doing something decent but the girl is continually being the bad guy: She rejects what could've been a thoughtful gift but when she neglects her boyfriend and subsequently confronted about it, she gives him the flick. Riiiiiiiiiiiight. If an ad exists to entice newcomers to a product then this doesn't do it - it comes across more awkward than engaging.
In the time since I first saw this ad I have started playing WoW which opens a up a new perspective as a player. Firstly, one common criticism about WoW is that it ruins social lives - one would think Blizzard would try and make an effort to challenge this notion but what this ad seems to do is reinforce it.
And whilst WoW may not be a substitute for one's social life, it does however present an excellent social activity. As I've found it's great to run around and both interact do quests with other people. A strength yes but this ad doesn't touch that, instead suggesting that if you play WoW you're a lonely misanthropic.
But what is particularly interesting is that this ad suggests that WoW destroys relationships. Again I call BS: I've heard of couples who play WoW together as a couple activity. In the ad, for all we know, the boyfriend could've been trying to get his crabby girlfriend into something he'd thought she'll like. It also raises the question that if the relationship was in a problematic state, why didn't they both start playing WoW together?
Some might say I'm taking this too seriously and over-analyzing this ad but consider this: If this ad doesn't make me want to play WoW then something has gone drastically wrong.
Oh and the Ozzy Osbourne ad was heaps more fun.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Angels brought me here
I've been away from my blog for a week because I've been in that horrible place known as the outside world hiking in the Tasmanian wilderness. Thus I haven't had much time to play games but now normal business can be resumed
It’s been stated before in this blog that I’ve not played any of the Tomb Raider games. It’s true: They never really grabbed my interest and the mass exposure didn’t help: Indeed, there was a time where Lara Croft’s mug was everywhere to the point when I just got sick and tired of her. Of course such a stance isn’t the brightest of moves but I’ve personally maintained that there is often great clarity to be had being on the outside looking in.
But you can only stick your head in the sand for so long. I may have said some nasty things about Lara but it was kinda stupid to do so seeing I’ve never played any Tomb Raider. Needless to day I’d painted myself into a corner and needed to get out – solution? Shut up and play a Tomb Raider game.
So it may come to a surprise to some of you that I’ve actually had a Tomb Raider game lying around in my collection for a number of years. How long it’s been there I don’t know but I know how it came into my hands: I made an order with Australian game store The Gamesmen and, for some reason, Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness came with it. I’m not sure why this so - Maybe they thought me a loyal customer? But whatever: I’m certainly not one to pass up a freebie.
So whilst Angel of Darkness may not have been my choice of game, I had heard a little of it beforehand – namely that it’s now recognised as being one of Lara’s lesser moments. In addition, Angel of Darkness was notable for introducing the playable character of Kurtis Trent who was obviously made out to be a male counterpart to Lara – although the fact that the character hasn’t been seen since speaks volumes at the effectiveness of such a move (maybe he changed his name to Nathan Drake and relocated to a different game? I don’t know).
So far, playing Angel of Darkness hasn’t gotten off to a good start. As this is the PC version I’m using, I’ve found using a keyboard awkward and the controls rather stiff and anything but engaging. And Lara herself moves with an odd lack of urgency: At one point she needs to escape a building that’s being filled with gas but she does so strolling casually around – as opposed to say, oh I don’t know, running?! I mean I did use the sprint button but it didn’t seem to last long and it did trigger a bleeping noise – as if the game resented me for doing so.
And I’m being reminded why I’m not too keen on 3d plat formers: Most often than not, they usually involve a sequence of acrobatic flips that the player must perform correctly – should the player fail to do so, they will need to perform the sequence all over again. I hate it when games make me do that – it takes one slip up and bam! You’re back where you started facing the dictating demands of a game that doesn’t seem to like you. Hey at least Prince of Persia Sands of Time had the saving grace of the rewind time feature but, alas and alack, such sequences seem to be the lifeblood of the Tomb Raider games.
But what is particularly interesting is that, more than any other game I’ve played, I’ve found playing Angel of Darkness a battle of wits. This is a game I’ve picked up with reluctance and, as such, the expectations are high. This is not a game I’m prepared to love and therefore it had better pull something off something tremendous to win me over. So far I'm not getting that vibe: Aside form the terrible controls and troublesome platforming sections, I’ve found Lara uninteresting and have pointed and laughed whenever she’s died.
Yet somehow, I’m not prepared to quit playing Angel of Darkness. Whilst there have been times when I’ve come close to chucking in the towel, something happens that pulls me back into the action. Despite the awkward nature of the controls, I’m somehow growing accustomed to them. And even when I ground my teeth at the platforming sections, I somehow win over them and keep going into the game. Thus it would seem that whereas I’m coming into the game with reluctance, it however won’t go without a fight.
So in the end, the stage is set for an ultimate battle of wits.
Who’s going to win, the game or the player? Stay tuned…
It’s been stated before in this blog that I’ve not played any of the Tomb Raider games. It’s true: They never really grabbed my interest and the mass exposure didn’t help: Indeed, there was a time where Lara Croft’s mug was everywhere to the point when I just got sick and tired of her. Of course such a stance isn’t the brightest of moves but I’ve personally maintained that there is often great clarity to be had being on the outside looking in.
But you can only stick your head in the sand for so long. I may have said some nasty things about Lara but it was kinda stupid to do so seeing I’ve never played any Tomb Raider. Needless to day I’d painted myself into a corner and needed to get out – solution? Shut up and play a Tomb Raider game.
So it may come to a surprise to some of you that I’ve actually had a Tomb Raider game lying around in my collection for a number of years. How long it’s been there I don’t know but I know how it came into my hands: I made an order with Australian game store The Gamesmen and, for some reason, Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness came with it. I’m not sure why this so - Maybe they thought me a loyal customer? But whatever: I’m certainly not one to pass up a freebie.
So whilst Angel of Darkness may not have been my choice of game, I had heard a little of it beforehand – namely that it’s now recognised as being one of Lara’s lesser moments. In addition, Angel of Darkness was notable for introducing the playable character of Kurtis Trent who was obviously made out to be a male counterpart to Lara – although the fact that the character hasn’t been seen since speaks volumes at the effectiveness of such a move (maybe he changed his name to Nathan Drake and relocated to a different game? I don’t know).
So far, playing Angel of Darkness hasn’t gotten off to a good start. As this is the PC version I’m using, I’ve found using a keyboard awkward and the controls rather stiff and anything but engaging. And Lara herself moves with an odd lack of urgency: At one point she needs to escape a building that’s being filled with gas but she does so strolling casually around – as opposed to say, oh I don’t know, running?! I mean I did use the sprint button but it didn’t seem to last long and it did trigger a bleeping noise – as if the game resented me for doing so.
And I’m being reminded why I’m not too keen on 3d plat formers: Most often than not, they usually involve a sequence of acrobatic flips that the player must perform correctly – should the player fail to do so, they will need to perform the sequence all over again. I hate it when games make me do that – it takes one slip up and bam! You’re back where you started facing the dictating demands of a game that doesn’t seem to like you. Hey at least Prince of Persia Sands of Time had the saving grace of the rewind time feature but, alas and alack, such sequences seem to be the lifeblood of the Tomb Raider games.
But what is particularly interesting is that, more than any other game I’ve played, I’ve found playing Angel of Darkness a battle of wits. This is a game I’ve picked up with reluctance and, as such, the expectations are high. This is not a game I’m prepared to love and therefore it had better pull something off something tremendous to win me over. So far I'm not getting that vibe: Aside form the terrible controls and troublesome platforming sections, I’ve found Lara uninteresting and have pointed and laughed whenever she’s died.
Yet somehow, I’m not prepared to quit playing Angel of Darkness. Whilst there have been times when I’ve come close to chucking in the towel, something happens that pulls me back into the action. Despite the awkward nature of the controls, I’m somehow growing accustomed to them. And even when I ground my teeth at the platforming sections, I somehow win over them and keep going into the game. Thus it would seem that whereas I’m coming into the game with reluctance, it however won’t go without a fight.
So in the end, the stage is set for an ultimate battle of wits.
Who’s going to win, the game or the player? Stay tuned…
Monday, January 23, 2012
Come to SAVE! The Princess Zel-Dah!
It’s been well documented on this blog that I really like the character of Princess Zelda. Okay sure it may be fool’s errand to say so seeing that it’s a different character with each Zelda game, her role and usefulness within the games varies, and a romance with Link that is more based on speculation. But the appeal of Princess Zelda is the mystique in that little is seen of her but much is made of her - not least, of course, in the title of the series.
When the Legend of Zelda series began, Princess Zelda herself was the goal: She was a princess and it was Link’s role to rescue her from the clutches of the antagonist Ganon. It may have worked then but years of gaming advancements have happened since. Thus it is now customary to have well-realised scripts and characters the player can relate to. So whilst the formula may have persisted in the lead games since, it’s interesting to note how said formula has been tampered with and how Princess Zelda has done significantly more than just sit around, waiting to be rescued. In Ocarina of Time, she provides help and assistance to Link and even gets into the thick of it through her alter ego Sheik. In Wind Waker, Princess Zelda adopts the persona of the sassy pirate captain Tetra. In Twilight Princess, Zelda is shown to be a ruler who is deeply concerned for the well-being of her people and even plays an active role in helping Link defeat Ganondorf in the final conflict. In Skyward Sword, Zelda finally gets some romantic interplay with Link which makes her assertive whilst leaving him something of a dope (or so I’ve heard). And, as established many times over, Princess Zelda forms a trifecta with Link and Ganondorf as they each represent the three aspects of the Triforce in Wisdom, Courage and Power respectively.
All of this begs the question of why isn’t there a Zelda game where we get to control Princess Zelda herself. She has her fans and many of them would like to see her as the player character. But no – the games tell the story of Link’s adventure, not hers. What is particularly frustrating is that whilst the character of Princess Zelda has had some care and work gone into making her something a bit more than damsel in distress, at the end of the day she still fulfils that function within the game itself! Such a move does bother me in that Nintendo could make really a really great heroine but seem unwilling to make the final step. Why, I heard that the makers of Spirit Tracks paid attention to the demands of wanting to use Princess Zelda as a playable character but the end result struck me more of a squandered opportunity: Yes it was nice to finally see Princess Zelda and Link working together but to have that Zelda being dead and assisting Link only in spirit does leave a rather nasty taste in the mouth.
But ultimately, the balking out may be there for good reason: For there does lie the notion that if a damsel in distress is a strong, practical and capable of looking after herself then she would’ve already rescued herself. Thus having Princess Zelda the player character may upset the afore-mentioned trifecta: If it’s Princess Zelda going out and taking Ganondorf down then what’s left for Link to do? He is the embodiment of the Triforce of Courage so thus it looks kinda silly for him to be placed in such a redundant position (which may explain how Princess Peach got her own game on the DS).
There is indeed weight to make Princess Zelda a playable character and, with enough thought, it could be made to work. If Zelda is setting up things beforehand for Link to walk into, then why don’t we see it happen? How about a Legend of Zelda game which features bonus content showing Princess Zelda going around and setting things up for particular points in the game (by way of example, consider the Ada missions in Resident Evil 4)? Or how about a Legend of Zelda game where the player can switch between both Link and Princess Zelda and show the latter using her magic and mind to overcome problems to assist Link in his quest?
Still, I personally like to think that Princess Zelda could do everything but she’s smart enough to get someone else, Link, to do it. After all, she isn’t the embodiment of the Triforce of Wisdom for nothing…
When the Legend of Zelda series began, Princess Zelda herself was the goal: She was a princess and it was Link’s role to rescue her from the clutches of the antagonist Ganon. It may have worked then but years of gaming advancements have happened since. Thus it is now customary to have well-realised scripts and characters the player can relate to. So whilst the formula may have persisted in the lead games since, it’s interesting to note how said formula has been tampered with and how Princess Zelda has done significantly more than just sit around, waiting to be rescued. In Ocarina of Time, she provides help and assistance to Link and even gets into the thick of it through her alter ego Sheik. In Wind Waker, Princess Zelda adopts the persona of the sassy pirate captain Tetra. In Twilight Princess, Zelda is shown to be a ruler who is deeply concerned for the well-being of her people and even plays an active role in helping Link defeat Ganondorf in the final conflict. In Skyward Sword, Zelda finally gets some romantic interplay with Link which makes her assertive whilst leaving him something of a dope (or so I’ve heard). And, as established many times over, Princess Zelda forms a trifecta with Link and Ganondorf as they each represent the three aspects of the Triforce in Wisdom, Courage and Power respectively.
All of this begs the question of why isn’t there a Zelda game where we get to control Princess Zelda herself. She has her fans and many of them would like to see her as the player character. But no – the games tell the story of Link’s adventure, not hers. What is particularly frustrating is that whilst the character of Princess Zelda has had some care and work gone into making her something a bit more than damsel in distress, at the end of the day she still fulfils that function within the game itself! Such a move does bother me in that Nintendo could make really a really great heroine but seem unwilling to make the final step. Why, I heard that the makers of Spirit Tracks paid attention to the demands of wanting to use Princess Zelda as a playable character but the end result struck me more of a squandered opportunity: Yes it was nice to finally see Princess Zelda and Link working together but to have that Zelda being dead and assisting Link only in spirit does leave a rather nasty taste in the mouth.
But ultimately, the balking out may be there for good reason: For there does lie the notion that if a damsel in distress is a strong, practical and capable of looking after herself then she would’ve already rescued herself. Thus having Princess Zelda the player character may upset the afore-mentioned trifecta: If it’s Princess Zelda going out and taking Ganondorf down then what’s left for Link to do? He is the embodiment of the Triforce of Courage so thus it looks kinda silly for him to be placed in such a redundant position (which may explain how Princess Peach got her own game on the DS).
There is indeed weight to make Princess Zelda a playable character and, with enough thought, it could be made to work. If Zelda is setting up things beforehand for Link to walk into, then why don’t we see it happen? How about a Legend of Zelda game which features bonus content showing Princess Zelda going around and setting things up for particular points in the game (by way of example, consider the Ada missions in Resident Evil 4)? Or how about a Legend of Zelda game where the player can switch between both Link and Princess Zelda and show the latter using her magic and mind to overcome problems to assist Link in his quest?
Still, I personally like to think that Princess Zelda could do everything but she’s smart enough to get someone else, Link, to do it. After all, she isn’t the embodiment of the Triforce of Wisdom for nothing…
Friday, January 20, 2012
The Three Amigos!
So far this year I’ve taken the plunge into the wonderful world that is WoW and documenting it as I’ve gone. I’ve no intention of breaking this trend so today I thought I might talk you all through some of my characters and share some the experiences I’ve had along the way (you poor bastards).
So here we go: May I present my Wow Characters:
Rithendal
This fellow has the honour of being my very first character in WoW. Some might say that the very first character they made for WoW was more a series of spontaneous decision but this is not the case here – a number of factors did influence the genesis of this character:
- The choice of faction, in this case the Horde, was easy – merely a case of going where you know people.
- The race of Blood elf was too a choice without much thought: I like Elves. And if the Horde has some then so much so the better.
- The name came from an elf name generator that had been passed onto me. One fellow player jokingly suggested it sounded like Rivendell……
- The class I went with however has more of a story behind it: In approaching Wow, it was with a group of people who were making similar moves. Some complete newcomers, others returning from hiatus. A plan was formed to build our own guild and have our own crazy fun in it. At first I wanted to be a paladin but that role had already been claimed by someone else in the group. And then somehow I ended up a hunter. Can’t recall why I decided this but it’s a decision that’s certainly borne fruit.
- And I went with a male character – it may seem like an arbitrary decision but one that matters to me. This is my first time on a MMORPG so there does contain the thought that there will be many people out there who will interact with me and see what I do. On that principle, going as a female character seems deceptive. Sure I can be a female character in Mass Effect or Dragon Age but that’s in the comfort of my own home. This is different: This has more to do with interaction then the afore-mentioned titles and, as they say, first impressions last. So to be a guy playing a female character seems terribly dishonest on my part. Yeah we have all heard of that scenario of ‘foxy hot elven chick being played by fat ugly guy’ so the least I could do was be true to myself and the players around me so not to fall into that trap.
Other than that there’s not really much I can say about Rithendal. He was the first, he was my gateway to WoW and he’s whom I’ve gotten the most mileage out of. In his time, he’s befriended a bear (Steeljaw), a cat (Tigress) and a wolf (Morkai) – all of whom have been useful both in solo and shared quests. Sure I may have given him a bad profession – leatherworking which has revealed to be so tedious it isn’t funny – but I like this character and I’ll certainly be sticking with him for a while yet.
Grimcrag
So I’d been playing for WoW for a while and enjoyed it a lot. I was enjoying part of a guild and enjoying doing quests and making friends. However such was my enjoyment I was levelling up Rithendal too quickly – thus leaving my guild mates behind and subsequently being unable to share particular quests. Thinking a change of pace might do me a world of good, I decided to build a new character and head over to see how things transpired on the other side of the fence – namely the Alliance. Finally I had the opportunity to be a paladin and, having loved the Dwarves from Warcraft (how can you say no to the Scottish accents?!), I eventually created Grimcrag.
Let me say this up front: Going to the Alliance, having got into WoW via the Horde, is indeed a jarring experience. Whereas in the Horde I was going through quests with ease, having friends I can communicate with, and generally having a great time, in the Alliance however it was a completely different story. I was out on my own and I had no help, whether from a pet or another player. And, try as I might I could not really get into grips with a Dwarven paladin. He seemed hopeless in a fight, the abilities he had didn’t seem to do much and I lost count how many times he died. It is indeed annoying see fights last seconds and I’ll back in spirit mode AGAIN!!!
Simply put, I was not having fun at all. I tried hard to make this character work but doing so came across more like a chore. Matters weren’t helped with a cold indifference from the player. When I was with the Horde, I did get a few offers to join Guilds but here I got nothing. Zip. Zilch! I’d heard that the Horde players tend to be a nicer and friendlier than the Alliance and now I see some degree of truth in such a notion.
In the end I gave up. Thus in time since the above screen cap was taken I have since deleted this character and started again. Again with a dwarf named Grimcrag but this time as an Enhancement Shaman. And you know what? I’m having helps more fun. The combat’s great, the abilities are working a treat and I seem to be dying a lot less. I even managed to find a guild who seem to be friendly enough. So I’m not sure what happened to prompt such a turn-around but I’m glad it did!
Beldrath
As mentioned above, I came into WoW as part of a loosely formed group of players but was beaten at the post for dibs on the Paladin class. Ironically the person who beat me to it hasn’t made many appearances online – annoying to me perhaps but it doesn’t mean the paladin class is forever off limits.
So I have tried with working with a paladin. Prior to Grimcrag I did have a brief shot at being a human paladin but that was an awful experience and no fun at all. This eventually led to Grimcrag and, as established above, wasn’t much better. Finally I took the plunge and tried a Blood Elf – which then led to the creation of Beldrath (again the name came from that elf name generator).
Any success this time around? You bet!
As strange as it may seem, playing a human paladin and then a dwarven paladin was both slow, boring, difficult and no fun at all – whereas playing a blood elf paladin was heaps more enjoyable and led to a lot more progression into WoW (well at least past level 10). I’m not sure why this is so – I heard that Blizzard has favouritism towards the Horde so maybe that’s why? I don’t know.
But still the contrast is startling to say the least: The spells and abilities work better as a blood elf and the combat seems a lot less interminable as a blood elf. Whatever works I guess….
Not much more I can add except after a lot of trial and error, something finally worked.
Anyway that’s enough from me so I’ll shut up. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some trolls to kill….
So here we go: May I present my Wow Characters:
Rithendal
This fellow has the honour of being my very first character in WoW. Some might say that the very first character they made for WoW was more a series of spontaneous decision but this is not the case here – a number of factors did influence the genesis of this character:
- The choice of faction, in this case the Horde, was easy – merely a case of going where you know people.
- The race of Blood elf was too a choice without much thought: I like Elves. And if the Horde has some then so much so the better.
- The name came from an elf name generator that had been passed onto me. One fellow player jokingly suggested it sounded like Rivendell……
- The class I went with however has more of a story behind it: In approaching Wow, it was with a group of people who were making similar moves. Some complete newcomers, others returning from hiatus. A plan was formed to build our own guild and have our own crazy fun in it. At first I wanted to be a paladin but that role had already been claimed by someone else in the group. And then somehow I ended up a hunter. Can’t recall why I decided this but it’s a decision that’s certainly borne fruit.
- And I went with a male character – it may seem like an arbitrary decision but one that matters to me. This is my first time on a MMORPG so there does contain the thought that there will be many people out there who will interact with me and see what I do. On that principle, going as a female character seems deceptive. Sure I can be a female character in Mass Effect or Dragon Age but that’s in the comfort of my own home. This is different: This has more to do with interaction then the afore-mentioned titles and, as they say, first impressions last. So to be a guy playing a female character seems terribly dishonest on my part. Yeah we have all heard of that scenario of ‘foxy hot elven chick being played by fat ugly guy’ so the least I could do was be true to myself and the players around me so not to fall into that trap.
Other than that there’s not really much I can say about Rithendal. He was the first, he was my gateway to WoW and he’s whom I’ve gotten the most mileage out of. In his time, he’s befriended a bear (Steeljaw), a cat (Tigress) and a wolf (Morkai) – all of whom have been useful both in solo and shared quests. Sure I may have given him a bad profession – leatherworking which has revealed to be so tedious it isn’t funny – but I like this character and I’ll certainly be sticking with him for a while yet.
Grimcrag
So I’d been playing for WoW for a while and enjoyed it a lot. I was enjoying part of a guild and enjoying doing quests and making friends. However such was my enjoyment I was levelling up Rithendal too quickly – thus leaving my guild mates behind and subsequently being unable to share particular quests. Thinking a change of pace might do me a world of good, I decided to build a new character and head over to see how things transpired on the other side of the fence – namely the Alliance. Finally I had the opportunity to be a paladin and, having loved the Dwarves from Warcraft (how can you say no to the Scottish accents?!), I eventually created Grimcrag.
Let me say this up front: Going to the Alliance, having got into WoW via the Horde, is indeed a jarring experience. Whereas in the Horde I was going through quests with ease, having friends I can communicate with, and generally having a great time, in the Alliance however it was a completely different story. I was out on my own and I had no help, whether from a pet or another player. And, try as I might I could not really get into grips with a Dwarven paladin. He seemed hopeless in a fight, the abilities he had didn’t seem to do much and I lost count how many times he died. It is indeed annoying see fights last seconds and I’ll back in spirit mode AGAIN!!!
Simply put, I was not having fun at all. I tried hard to make this character work but doing so came across more like a chore. Matters weren’t helped with a cold indifference from the player. When I was with the Horde, I did get a few offers to join Guilds but here I got nothing. Zip. Zilch! I’d heard that the Horde players tend to be a nicer and friendlier than the Alliance and now I see some degree of truth in such a notion.
In the end I gave up. Thus in time since the above screen cap was taken I have since deleted this character and started again. Again with a dwarf named Grimcrag but this time as an Enhancement Shaman. And you know what? I’m having helps more fun. The combat’s great, the abilities are working a treat and I seem to be dying a lot less. I even managed to find a guild who seem to be friendly enough. So I’m not sure what happened to prompt such a turn-around but I’m glad it did!
Beldrath
As mentioned above, I came into WoW as part of a loosely formed group of players but was beaten at the post for dibs on the Paladin class. Ironically the person who beat me to it hasn’t made many appearances online – annoying to me perhaps but it doesn’t mean the paladin class is forever off limits.
So I have tried with working with a paladin. Prior to Grimcrag I did have a brief shot at being a human paladin but that was an awful experience and no fun at all. This eventually led to Grimcrag and, as established above, wasn’t much better. Finally I took the plunge and tried a Blood Elf – which then led to the creation of Beldrath (again the name came from that elf name generator).
Any success this time around? You bet!
As strange as it may seem, playing a human paladin and then a dwarven paladin was both slow, boring, difficult and no fun at all – whereas playing a blood elf paladin was heaps more enjoyable and led to a lot more progression into WoW (well at least past level 10). I’m not sure why this is so – I heard that Blizzard has favouritism towards the Horde so maybe that’s why? I don’t know.
But still the contrast is startling to say the least: The spells and abilities work better as a blood elf and the combat seems a lot less interminable as a blood elf. Whatever works I guess….
Not much more I can add except after a lot of trial and error, something finally worked.
Anyway that’s enough from me so I’ll shut up. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some trolls to kill….
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Princess Peach vs Yorda
It's been established many times over in this blog that I'm a big fan of the game Ico and I'll be first in line to defend it to the death. And so, for lack of a better segue, this is what I intend to do for today's post.
One common complaint I've heard about Ico is the ineffectual nature of Yorda - so I would like to address this aspect through inviting comparison to another gaming damsel in distress. That's right, I'm talking about Princess Peach.
Now much has already been written questioning Peach's mental state and how greatly she contributes to the Mario games so rather than go over well-trodden ground, I'm going to compare Peach and Yorda together in several areas. Hopefully I may be able to provoke a rethink to all the Yorda haters - and maybe Anne Hathaway will turn up on my doorstep demanding sex from me.
The Damsel in Distress
Yorda: Like Ico, Yorda is a prisoner in the fortress - this is immediately apparent through the first time we see her being in the predicament of being confined to a cage suspended up a tower.
Peach: Right from the very first game, Peach has provided something of a goal to the player in rescuing her from the clutches of Bowser. But since then, the same scenario has been repeated a gazillion times and yet she oddly doesn't seemed that fazed at all. This seems to present the rather unsettling suggestion that Peach may not be all right in the head....
The Setting
Yorda: Throughout the game, it is established that the fortress is the only world Yorda has known and the outside world would be a horrible place to be. But when the fortress is a monstrous creation towering above Ico and Yorda and seems to be one step ahead of their escape plan, getting away from it sounds like a damn good idea.
Peach: Is Princess Peach really a head of state? We never see her parents, the king and queen of the the Mushroom Kingdom, she doesn't seem to take on board any responsibilities as a ruler and the only interest she shows towards her subjects is getting them to do work for her! It seems she is far more content to have loads of money and little no responsibilities (insert obligatory Paris Hilton joke). So it begs the question: is this really a princess worth saving?
Appearance.
Yorda: Right from the word go, it is made clear that Yorda looks completely different form Ico - The deathly-pale skin was a dead giveaway and she's a world apart. Yet the ethereal quality is compelling enough.
Peach: Maybe it's me but this character design does little for me. I've seen faces that have kick-started many a damsel-in-distress saving quests but this isn't one of them. And those wide, vacant-looking eyes speak volumes. One would think Mario, a man of Italian nationality, would know a better-looking woman when he saw one.
Relationship to the player character
Yorda: Whilst Yorda does rely heavily on Ico, she is however bonded to the fortress and can open the sealed doors to other places that Ico would be otherwise been unable to access. Thus the relationship between Ico and Yorda is less an escort mission and more co-reliant.
Peach: Exactly what is the relationship between Peach and Mario? He goes through so many levels of danger and is constantly putting himself at risk but for what? The promise of cake?! Their relationship isn't really properly defined in the game and for all we know, Mario could be doing all this for having nothing better to do. In addition, considering Peach's afore-mentioned unfazed reaction to her abductions, brings forth the possibility that maybe Mario's efforts are going unnoticed and to waste. Seriously, is the promise of cake really that big a deal? (insert obligatory Portal joke)
Helpfulness to the player character
Yorda: This scene:
Peach: Apparently she does play a more helpful role in the Mario RPG with her being part of Mario's party and taking on a healer role. But I haven't got that far in that game yet so I can't comment. But if she truly is capable of self-defense then why doesn't she do it more often?!
But alas, nothing since has come of this change of pace and apparently the Mario RPGs are considered non-canon. So close and yet so far....
Facing a legitimate threat
Yorda: Yorda's role is ultimately to serve as a vessel to the Queen/Witch. The evil bitch intends to do this as her won body is nearing it's end and possessing her own daughter is as good excuse as any.
Peach: Whilst Bowser does present a threat, and indeed an imposing presence, it is however suggested that all he wants is some lovin'. One would wonder why don't Peach and Bowser hang out together (Stockholm Syndrome anyone?) but no, she still summons Mario to come to the rescue to save her from..... something that isn't really that big a deal.
Role in gaming
Yorda: Yorda is the product of a reinvention of the whole damsel-in-distress scenario that has been with gaming for nearly forever (a reinvention that, may I add, predates Braid).
Peach: Peach pretty much started this whole damsel-in-distress scenario - nowadays it's all played for laughs but honestly? The joke has pretty much been run to the ground....
Well I've said my case. But at the end of the day this my opinion and here on the internet differing opinions run rampant. I know there are some people who will put in the boot into Ico but you know what? I'm really not that bothered by it. I know I like Ico and that's all I need. And besides: Just because someone has a different to me doesn't mean it's the end of the world (very good advice that is).
Still, I shall expect the flames arriving in three....two....
One common complaint I've heard about Ico is the ineffectual nature of Yorda - so I would like to address this aspect through inviting comparison to another gaming damsel in distress. That's right, I'm talking about Princess Peach.
Now much has already been written questioning Peach's mental state and how greatly she contributes to the Mario games so rather than go over well-trodden ground, I'm going to compare Peach and Yorda together in several areas. Hopefully I may be able to provoke a rethink to all the Yorda haters - and maybe Anne Hathaway will turn up on my doorstep demanding sex from me.
The Damsel in Distress
Yorda: Like Ico, Yorda is a prisoner in the fortress - this is immediately apparent through the first time we see her being in the predicament of being confined to a cage suspended up a tower.
Peach: Right from the very first game, Peach has provided something of a goal to the player in rescuing her from the clutches of Bowser. But since then, the same scenario has been repeated a gazillion times and yet she oddly doesn't seemed that fazed at all. This seems to present the rather unsettling suggestion that Peach may not be all right in the head....
The Setting
Yorda: Throughout the game, it is established that the fortress is the only world Yorda has known and the outside world would be a horrible place to be. But when the fortress is a monstrous creation towering above Ico and Yorda and seems to be one step ahead of their escape plan, getting away from it sounds like a damn good idea.
Peach: Is Princess Peach really a head of state? We never see her parents, the king and queen of the the Mushroom Kingdom, she doesn't seem to take on board any responsibilities as a ruler and the only interest she shows towards her subjects is getting them to do work for her! It seems she is far more content to have loads of money and little no responsibilities (insert obligatory Paris Hilton joke). So it begs the question: is this really a princess worth saving?
Appearance.
Yorda: Right from the word go, it is made clear that Yorda looks completely different form Ico - The deathly-pale skin was a dead giveaway and she's a world apart. Yet the ethereal quality is compelling enough.
Peach: Maybe it's me but this character design does little for me. I've seen faces that have kick-started many a damsel-in-distress saving quests but this isn't one of them. And those wide, vacant-looking eyes speak volumes. One would think Mario, a man of Italian nationality, would know a better-looking woman when he saw one.
Relationship to the player character
Yorda: Whilst Yorda does rely heavily on Ico, she is however bonded to the fortress and can open the sealed doors to other places that Ico would be otherwise been unable to access. Thus the relationship between Ico and Yorda is less an escort mission and more co-reliant.
Peach: Exactly what is the relationship between Peach and Mario? He goes through so many levels of danger and is constantly putting himself at risk but for what? The promise of cake?! Their relationship isn't really properly defined in the game and for all we know, Mario could be doing all this for having nothing better to do. In addition, considering Peach's afore-mentioned unfazed reaction to her abductions, brings forth the possibility that maybe Mario's efforts are going unnoticed and to waste. Seriously, is the promise of cake really that big a deal? (insert obligatory Portal joke)
Helpfulness to the player character
Yorda: This scene:
Peach: Apparently she does play a more helpful role in the Mario RPG with her being part of Mario's party and taking on a healer role. But I haven't got that far in that game yet so I can't comment. But if she truly is capable of self-defense then why doesn't she do it more often?!
But alas, nothing since has come of this change of pace and apparently the Mario RPGs are considered non-canon. So close and yet so far....
Facing a legitimate threat
Yorda: Yorda's role is ultimately to serve as a vessel to the Queen/Witch. The evil bitch intends to do this as her won body is nearing it's end and possessing her own daughter is as good excuse as any.
Peach: Whilst Bowser does present a threat, and indeed an imposing presence, it is however suggested that all he wants is some lovin'. One would wonder why don't Peach and Bowser hang out together (Stockholm Syndrome anyone?) but no, she still summons Mario to come to the rescue to save her from..... something that isn't really that big a deal.
Role in gaming
Yorda: Yorda is the product of a reinvention of the whole damsel-in-distress scenario that has been with gaming for nearly forever (a reinvention that, may I add, predates Braid).
Peach: Peach pretty much started this whole damsel-in-distress scenario - nowadays it's all played for laughs but honestly? The joke has pretty much been run to the ground....
Well I've said my case. But at the end of the day this my opinion and here on the internet differing opinions run rampant. I know there are some people who will put in the boot into Ico but you know what? I'm really not that bothered by it. I know I like Ico and that's all I need. And besides: Just because someone has a different to me doesn't mean it's the end of the world (very good advice that is).
Still, I shall expect the flames arriving in three....two....
Monday, January 16, 2012
World at War
Now that I've been playing World of Warcraft for a while now, it does invite the opportunity to look back over previous posts and look at them through a different perspective.
Well actually there's only two of them but what the hell: this is my blog and I'll say what I damn well feel like.
I recall once lamenting the lack of multi-player RPGs. You know, how multiple players can go through the same series of quests and kill stuff with equal abandon - as opposed to a bunch of people helping out one character). I thought such an undertaking would be impossible but it seems WoW has proven me wrong. Now all I gotta do is be online the same time as some of my fellow guild members - and be on the same quest path >_>
And there's this post. Despite it being incorrect and largely based on assumption than fact, it's become one of the more popular posts on this blog - much to my chagrin.
Much of my assumptions was based on the misinformation that Alliance = good and Horde = bad. But this is not the case: They are merely factions and are no less angelic/demonic than the other one - Although Blizzard didn't make the difference any easier with their titling, and coloring, of the factions.
But since then, I've played both with the Alliance and with the Horde. And the contrast couldn't be more jarring: In the Horde, I've been having a good time, met & quested with some people who couldn't be friendlier and been going through quests with ease. But in the Alliance, I've met some rude people, the quests have been difficult to accomplish and I've lost count how many times I got my Dwarf character plastered and subsequently resurrected.
As is my understanding, Blizzard have put a lot of time, effort and careful attention to detail in making sure everything is balanced and accommodating to the millions of players in WoW but somehow I'm taking that notion into question: As there is seems to be a lot of contempt for the Alliance and, as a result, many are flocking to the banner of the Horde. Indeed, from the player's perspective the general vibe seems no different from when I was an outsider. Thus I still see stuff like: "You're in the Alliance! YOU SUCK! FUCK THE ALLIANCE!!!!" and "The Horde favors honor and courage but THE ALLIANCE AREN'T THE GOOD GUYS! THEY'RE ALL HYPOCRITES!!!!!"
Granted this may not seem that much of surprise since Blizzard have used the 'good guys who aren't really good guys' motif before but seeing as they have used it numerous times, it makes me wonder if Blizzard's writing department gets a near sexual satisfaction every time they do so....
But ultimately I find the whole Horde vs Alliance debate futile because, at the end of the day, it is really no different than the arguments over Star Wars or Star Trek. Or religion or atheism. Or one's favorite footy teams. Or Metallica or Megadeth. Or.....
Well actually there's only two of them but what the hell: this is my blog and I'll say what I damn well feel like.
I recall once lamenting the lack of multi-player RPGs. You know, how multiple players can go through the same series of quests and kill stuff with equal abandon - as opposed to a bunch of people helping out one character). I thought such an undertaking would be impossible but it seems WoW has proven me wrong. Now all I gotta do is be online the same time as some of my fellow guild members - and be on the same quest path >_>
And there's this post. Despite it being incorrect and largely based on assumption than fact, it's become one of the more popular posts on this blog - much to my chagrin.
Much of my assumptions was based on the misinformation that Alliance = good and Horde = bad. But this is not the case: They are merely factions and are no less angelic/demonic than the other one - Although Blizzard didn't make the difference any easier with their titling, and coloring, of the factions.
But since then, I've played both with the Alliance and with the Horde. And the contrast couldn't be more jarring: In the Horde, I've been having a good time, met & quested with some people who couldn't be friendlier and been going through quests with ease. But in the Alliance, I've met some rude people, the quests have been difficult to accomplish and I've lost count how many times I got my Dwarf character plastered and subsequently resurrected.
As is my understanding, Blizzard have put a lot of time, effort and careful attention to detail in making sure everything is balanced and accommodating to the millions of players in WoW but somehow I'm taking that notion into question: As there is seems to be a lot of contempt for the Alliance and, as a result, many are flocking to the banner of the Horde. Indeed, from the player's perspective the general vibe seems no different from when I was an outsider. Thus I still see stuff like: "You're in the Alliance! YOU SUCK! FUCK THE ALLIANCE!!!!" and "The Horde favors honor and courage but THE ALLIANCE AREN'T THE GOOD GUYS! THEY'RE ALL HYPOCRITES!!!!!"
Granted this may not seem that much of surprise since Blizzard have used the 'good guys who aren't really good guys' motif before but seeing as they have used it numerous times, it makes me wonder if Blizzard's writing department gets a near sexual satisfaction every time they do so....
But ultimately I find the whole Horde vs Alliance debate futile because, at the end of the day, it is really no different than the arguments over Star Wars or Star Trek. Or religion or atheism. Or one's favorite footy teams. Or Metallica or Megadeth. Or.....
Friday, January 13, 2012
To the Extreme
I have this friend (hey Aef!). He’s a major fan of Lara Croft and he also thinks highly of Talis (of Dragon Age fame) and Jack (Mass Effect 2). Personally I see them all belonging in the same camp of extreme-strong-independent-borderline-psychotic-woman characters so I’m a bit worried about him….
Seriously though, I don’t find anything wrong with female game character being strong and independent – hell, I wrote a massively long, post about it – but what bugs me is that many female game characters are written in two extremes. The first being a character that serves as no other function than being a damsel in distress, ie Princess Peach. But the second is the afore-mentioned strong to the point of being psychotic type. The type defined by characteristics such as a constant need to prove one’s self, violent to the point of being neurotic, no conscience whatsoever, a near rejection of human emotions, an almost tunnel-vision determination to beat their male counterparts at their own game (so to speak) and the necessity to surround herself with male characters who can only be described as hopeless.
I mean I can understand the second type being a reaction to the ineffectualness of the second type but so easily can the second type come across as being a caricature as opposed to a legitimate character. I can understand that the female gamers may want a champion to cheer for and aspire to but I’m not convinced that having a character with near-psychotic traits is the way to go about it. True the ‘damsel in distress’ may be a stereotype but the ‘sassy action girl’ could also be considered a stereotype. And no less obnoxious.
Okay so there’s nothing wrong with women being inspired by the likes of Buffy or Xena but at the end of the day, one thing I do object about the 'sassy action girl' is when they are shown doing 'action' things and little else! As an aspiring writer myself, I know for a fact that the best characters need a mixture of strengths and oddities to keep them interesting - after all, once you identify the unusual about a character you're pretty much on your way.
One thing that bothers me about the second type characters is that they seem to convey the idea that it’s wrong to be…well…..feminine. You know, a female character can’t be passive or dress up – no they have to be in everyone’s face and take control of situations! Thus the only time the sight of Lara Croft in a cocktail dress would be acceptable would be if she was holding an assault rifle or something.
Seriously, what’s wrong with being feminine? By way of experience, Kathleen spent her teen years as a tomboy military chick and years later I managed to convince her into a dress on numerous occasions without too much difficulty.
Ultimately I’m not interested in either the powerful/independent women (and thus evil) stereotype or the powerless/male-reliant women (and thus virtuous) stereotype. No, what I think game writers should be striving for is a middle ground: A strong independent woman who has at least has emotions, a softer side and not afraid to do feminine things. Why not? Surely such ingredients would make for a champion worth cheering for, no? Some would think such traits would create an inconsistent conflict but I call BS on that: What it does is create a character who is, oh I don't know, interesting.
I’ve made mention of instances when this balance has been achieved but at the end of the day they are few. Ultimately it’s hard for the middle ground to get heard when two extremes dominate.
Still it is puzzling why the middle ground can’t be embraced seeing as it does the best of both worlds. Indeed, I've seen several game characters - both male and female - loaded with both strengths and enough charm to win over a player - but no visible character flaws or actual depth to balance it out. And still the character is lauded for it!
Honestly one would think that to add flaws or depth to a player character is a crime punishable by death....
Seriously though, I don’t find anything wrong with female game character being strong and independent – hell, I wrote a massively long, post about it – but what bugs me is that many female game characters are written in two extremes. The first being a character that serves as no other function than being a damsel in distress, ie Princess Peach. But the second is the afore-mentioned strong to the point of being psychotic type. The type defined by characteristics such as a constant need to prove one’s self, violent to the point of being neurotic, no conscience whatsoever, a near rejection of human emotions, an almost tunnel-vision determination to beat their male counterparts at their own game (so to speak) and the necessity to surround herself with male characters who can only be described as hopeless.
I mean I can understand the second type being a reaction to the ineffectualness of the second type but so easily can the second type come across as being a caricature as opposed to a legitimate character. I can understand that the female gamers may want a champion to cheer for and aspire to but I’m not convinced that having a character with near-psychotic traits is the way to go about it. True the ‘damsel in distress’ may be a stereotype but the ‘sassy action girl’ could also be considered a stereotype. And no less obnoxious.
Okay so there’s nothing wrong with women being inspired by the likes of Buffy or Xena but at the end of the day, one thing I do object about the 'sassy action girl' is when they are shown doing 'action' things and little else! As an aspiring writer myself, I know for a fact that the best characters need a mixture of strengths and oddities to keep them interesting - after all, once you identify the unusual about a character you're pretty much on your way.
One thing that bothers me about the second type characters is that they seem to convey the idea that it’s wrong to be…well…..feminine. You know, a female character can’t be passive or dress up – no they have to be in everyone’s face and take control of situations! Thus the only time the sight of Lara Croft in a cocktail dress would be acceptable would be if she was holding an assault rifle or something.
Seriously, what’s wrong with being feminine? By way of experience, Kathleen spent her teen years as a tomboy military chick and years later I managed to convince her into a dress on numerous occasions without too much difficulty.
Ultimately I’m not interested in either the powerful/independent women (and thus evil) stereotype or the powerless/male-reliant women (and thus virtuous) stereotype. No, what I think game writers should be striving for is a middle ground: A strong independent woman who has at least has emotions, a softer side and not afraid to do feminine things. Why not? Surely such ingredients would make for a champion worth cheering for, no? Some would think such traits would create an inconsistent conflict but I call BS on that: What it does is create a character who is, oh I don't know, interesting.
I’ve made mention of instances when this balance has been achieved but at the end of the day they are few. Ultimately it’s hard for the middle ground to get heard when two extremes dominate.
Still it is puzzling why the middle ground can’t be embraced seeing as it does the best of both worlds. Indeed, I've seen several game characters - both male and female - loaded with both strengths and enough charm to win over a player - but no visible character flaws or actual depth to balance it out. And still the character is lauded for it!
Honestly one would think that to add flaws or depth to a player character is a crime punishable by death....
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
360 problems
Recently I upgraded the 360 I've been using: Now it's one of those flashy slim-line 360 consoles that's sitting proudly next to my TV. So far things have been working great: it's looks flash and and takes up significantly less space than it's predecessor.
But I've noticed an odd little phenomenon: One selling point of the slimline is that runs much more quietly than the other 360s. Whilst I don't doubt this, I did find it interesting that some games I've popped into the system run accompanied by a noise that is loud, obnoxious, and really off-putting - and thus my 360 sounds less like a games console and more like a chainsaw.
Solution? Install the game on the system hard drive and the intrusive sound will disappear.
Whilst I give credit for the silent running as a major selling point, the execution leaves a lot to be desired. Sure the previous 360 made it's fair share of noises but none quite like the loud chainsaw noise. And so far, through installing games on the hard drive, I've taken up more space than the previous 360 - it's as if installing a game on the hard drive is less a benefit and more compulsory. As such this does not sit well with me at all - 'Cheated' doesn't begin to describe it.
But I suppose this is another addition in the list of technical faults that Microsoft have had with the 360. However I have been hearing rumors that a new Xbox may be looming on the horizon - So here's hoping they fix what didn't work previously...
But I've noticed an odd little phenomenon: One selling point of the slimline is that runs much more quietly than the other 360s. Whilst I don't doubt this, I did find it interesting that some games I've popped into the system run accompanied by a noise that is loud, obnoxious, and really off-putting - and thus my 360 sounds less like a games console and more like a chainsaw.
Solution? Install the game on the system hard drive and the intrusive sound will disappear.
Whilst I give credit for the silent running as a major selling point, the execution leaves a lot to be desired. Sure the previous 360 made it's fair share of noises but none quite like the loud chainsaw noise. And so far, through installing games on the hard drive, I've taken up more space than the previous 360 - it's as if installing a game on the hard drive is less a benefit and more compulsory. As such this does not sit well with me at all - 'Cheated' doesn't begin to describe it.
But I suppose this is another addition in the list of technical faults that Microsoft have had with the 360. However I have been hearing rumors that a new Xbox may be looming on the horizon - So here's hoping they fix what didn't work previously...
Monday, January 9, 2012
Chronicles of a Gamer (Michael Revisited)
Here's a little something I bashed out - inspired by the legendary Michael ad:
I’m the one who walked with Link on his journey
The one Princess Zelda calls when danger nears
To Ganondorf I’m his constant enemy
I told Snake how to destroy the Metal Gears
Through me he found a sense of meaning in life
And we still meet regularly to drink some beers
I showed John Marston how to kill with a knife
With me he became a Legend of the West
And I got him back with his son and wife
I went with Commander Shepard – he’ll attest
I was with him through the Omega Relay
As everyone ‘round us gave their very best
I walked with Yuna every step of the way!
Got Ico and Yorda out of the fortress!
I’m that which makes Cyberdemons run away!
I got Samus Arun through planet Zebes!
Kefka, Loughain, M Bison, I did fracture!
Even Morrigan Aensland I did impress!
I got the Little Sisters out of Rapture!
I’ve faced down lines of relentless invaders!
Made friends with a wolf god and a space hamster!
I’ve been with Avalanche and Raynor’s Raiders!
When all’s gone to hell I’m the one they rely!
And I’m a friend of many a gun trader!
I’ve fought sand demons, zombies and colossi!
For I am the gamer and I’ve done it all
And in the eyes of my comrades, I’m their guy
I’m the one who walked with Link on his journey
The one Princess Zelda calls when danger nears
To Ganondorf I’m his constant enemy
I told Snake how to destroy the Metal Gears
Through me he found a sense of meaning in life
And we still meet regularly to drink some beers
I showed John Marston how to kill with a knife
With me he became a Legend of the West
And I got him back with his son and wife
I went with Commander Shepard – he’ll attest
I was with him through the Omega Relay
As everyone ‘round us gave their very best
I walked with Yuna every step of the way!
Got Ico and Yorda out of the fortress!
I’m that which makes Cyberdemons run away!
I got Samus Arun through planet Zebes!
Kefka, Loughain, M Bison, I did fracture!
Even Morrigan Aensland I did impress!
I got the Little Sisters out of Rapture!
I’ve faced down lines of relentless invaders!
Made friends with a wolf god and a space hamster!
I’ve been with Avalanche and Raynor’s Raiders!
When all’s gone to hell I’m the one they rely!
And I’m a friend of many a gun trader!
I’ve fought sand demons, zombies and colossi!
For I am the gamer and I’ve done it all
And in the eyes of my comrades, I’m their guy
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Planet of Sound (no.1)
And here we begin with a new series of posts. As mentioned previously
I've invented a series of avatars to use in Rock Band and I've used
them for so long that they have, to me, become real characters. So, for
the course of this year, I'm going to tell you all about them - you
lucky bastards.
So here we go:
Name: Matt Brown
Birthdate: 21st September 1987
Instruments: Bass
Affiliations: Dire Tribe
Bio: Matt is a gun-for-hire bass player. The second youngest of five children, Matt is a laid-back character who is a school dropout. Wanting to make something of himself, Matt picked up the bass guitar and started playing his way through numerous bands before finding a place in the Dire Tribe.
Whilst talented in the bass, Matt isn’t really the social type: He plays well but he doesn’t write anything and spends most of his off-time sleeping. Still he does partake in social activities (however rarely) and often provides advice to Sam, James, Alison and Jasmine. And, most likely due to his laid back nature, he is often relied upon as a sounding board for other members of the collective.
So here we go:
Name: Matt Brown
Birthdate: 21st September 1987
Instruments: Bass
Affiliations: Dire Tribe
Bio: Matt is a gun-for-hire bass player. The second youngest of five children, Matt is a laid-back character who is a school dropout. Wanting to make something of himself, Matt picked up the bass guitar and started playing his way through numerous bands before finding a place in the Dire Tribe.
Whilst talented in the bass, Matt isn’t really the social type: He plays well but he doesn’t write anything and spends most of his off-time sleeping. Still he does partake in social activities (however rarely) and often provides advice to Sam, James, Alison and Jasmine. And, most likely due to his laid back nature, he is often relied upon as a sounding board for other members of the collective.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Welcome to the World
Happy New Year blah blah blah and welcome back to normality. I'm back to the blog for another year of nonsense so lets get cracking.
Well it happened: I started playing World of Warcraft - I guess from here on in I can expect a stuffed social life and many of my other interests shriveling up and dying?
Seriously though, I got a spending voucher for Christmas so I thought 'what the hell, I'll get the WoW Battlechest!' Maybe it was a good excuse as any to see what all the fuss was about but I still came to WoW with a degree of caution. Much has been said about it's addictive nature and how people get sucked in into doing quests that are, in reality, tedious in nature and somewhat pointless. But I still head onward...
So I went with the Horde because apparently people treat the Alliance factions like the plague. I chose a Blood Elf, as I like elves, and took up the career as a Hunter - animal companions? Sounds good to me!
And so far I've made to level 14 and I'm impressed to say the least. There's plenty to do due to the sheer number of quests, the world looks fantastic to look at and there's certainly a lot of fun to be had smacking dudes over the head. Sure the profession tasks are very tedious but it isn't hard to see how this game has managed to win over millions of people. In short I'm enjoying, playing WoW - much to my pleasant surprise.
Also I haven't gotten seduced by the addictive nature. Maybe because I've been doing other things in between playing sessions (like going outside and talking to other people) and I always keep in mind that I can quit any time I like. But some might think that a sign of weakness.
Guess you can't please everybody....
Well it happened: I started playing World of Warcraft - I guess from here on in I can expect a stuffed social life and many of my other interests shriveling up and dying?
Seriously though, I got a spending voucher for Christmas so I thought 'what the hell, I'll get the WoW Battlechest!' Maybe it was a good excuse as any to see what all the fuss was about but I still came to WoW with a degree of caution. Much has been said about it's addictive nature and how people get sucked in into doing quests that are, in reality, tedious in nature and somewhat pointless. But I still head onward...
So I went with the Horde because apparently people treat the Alliance factions like the plague. I chose a Blood Elf, as I like elves, and took up the career as a Hunter - animal companions? Sounds good to me!
And so far I've made to level 14 and I'm impressed to say the least. There's plenty to do due to the sheer number of quests, the world looks fantastic to look at and there's certainly a lot of fun to be had smacking dudes over the head. Sure the profession tasks are very tedious but it isn't hard to see how this game has managed to win over millions of people. In short I'm enjoying, playing WoW - much to my pleasant surprise.
Also I haven't gotten seduced by the addictive nature. Maybe because I've been doing other things in between playing sessions (like going outside and talking to other people) and I always keep in mind that I can quit any time I like. But some might think that a sign of weakness.
Guess you can't please everybody....
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