n3rfed

GATHERING WORK FOR MY THESIS

In further studies it has been discovered that Cosmik's Law of Internet Fanboyism can be taken to extremes, causing subjects to go ga-ga over a different MMO as opposed to the one being pumped into their veins.

Where do I sign up?

The video was very cool. I loved the vertical movement with the character climbing the cliff with the mobs waiting below ready to devour him if he falls(is that a possibility?), the character on the flying carpet was in the desert fit right in with Arabian Nights theme. The armor detail on the horse I thought was very good and actually having to mount your horse rather than it just appearing underneath you is nice.

The dark elf was able to attack with a bow while mounted....I really like the idea of incorporating mounted combat. 

Each clip was just a peek into Telon but it definitely has me hooked.

To which Brad "No, no, my Fiery Avenger is more unique" McQuaid replied:

Guys, please make sure you're not confusing the last two EQ 2 movies with the rest which are of Vangaurd.

Ooh, Brad. Sounds like you've got more of that "Proving Vanguard has something new to offer and is not just another DikuMud clone" work cut out for you. Maybe this guy could help you with your lackluster class list - by telling those who find it boring to shut the fuck up.

K Brad - let's can all the developers and the designers, and just focus on building CG movies to appease folks on the boards. <<not>>

Pardon the rant folks - but GET OVER IT ... if you like Lineage2's movie - then go play that (hmmm ... I notice most of you are still here, and the two that left will be back soon). How bout y'all quit second guessing every little thing and focus on the game?

As the guy who wrote the check for the video, I can probably pick more holes in it than any of you - but - it served it's purpose. It was supposed to be a 30 second video to fit within the reel of all the other game videos that we produced for E3. It wasn't meant to attract a broad audience, etc - it was meant as an attract loop for people who were on the E3 show floor and already in or near our booth.

Do y'all realize how demotivating it is for the team, most of whom read these boards on a daily basis, to constantly hear second guessing about completely random crap like nit-picking the video? ... or how we're failing to build broad consumer buzz - when we're not even at Beta1 yet?

The Sigil and MS teams are working their collective @sses off on what we think will be a truly breakthrough game - and while no one wants these boards to devolve to fan-boi central ... it'd be nice to have them at least stay a bit more focussed on the game itself - rather than a diatribe on whether we should have spend 6 months worth of full production budget on a video. Let's see ... cut Qalia and all of diplomacy from the game and have a Square quality movie ... or do what we did? You decide.

<<Rant off - and heading back to the game design boards.>>

Abashi, is that you?

((Links courtesy of Pitfalls because I'm still working on my omnipresence))

TWO SCIENTIFIC THEORIES IN ONE DAY. LET ME AT THOSE LUCRATIVE RESEARCH GRANTS!

Lifted from a reply to Vanguard's class list.

Cosmik's Law of Internet Fanboyism.

As the development of an MMO moves towards its release stage, the number of its fans that exclaim "OMG. This will be the best game ever!" rises exponentially.

This unfortunately relates to Cosmik's Rule of Image Readjustment.

Starting from the exact moment a MMO hits store shelves, the probability of players becoming disillusioned with it due to flaws recreated from previous MMOs approaches one.

Einstein would be proud.

SIRBRUCE DOES E3

Everybody's favorite guy with the 3 names and the lines and numbers chart thingies has posted his E3 impressions for all to gawk over.

And from what I've seen on the internets, it's probably one of the most comprehensive overview out there - 25 MMOs with added opinions on their likely success and big features, rather than the tired rehash from Gamespot/spy and McIGN.

Oooh, shiny pictures of SUN are also on offer of crazy Korean titles are your cup of Mountain Dew. Seems to be Webzen is aiming to be the new multi-title publisher on the block.

WHAT, NO QALIAN CAMEL MERCHANT?

(Slowly getting back into news and updates after some out of town business. Expect most to appear this weekend. And yes, the jailhouse was very nice, thank you very much)

Brad "Is That A Fiery Avenger In Your Pocket, Or Are You Just Glad To See Me Post?" McQuaid has announced the bulk of EQ2's Vanguard's classes.

------------------

Adventuring Sphere Class List – tentative and subject to change/additions/deletions during beta – 5/25/05

Heavy Fighters / Tanks:

• Warrior
• Paladin
• Dread Knight
• Inquisitor

Light / Offensive Fighters:

• Ranger
• Rogue
• Monk
• Bard

Healers:

• Cleric
• Druid
• Shaman
• Blood Mage

Arcane / Casters:

• Sorcerer
• Necromancer
• Psionicist
• Summoner

------------------

Information forthcoming aside, it seems to be your usual standard EQ/Fantasy fare including a Shadow Knight, Wizard, Mage and Enchanter in sheep's clothing and two possible "unique" classes. It is claimed that a few more "untraditonal" classes are yet to be revealed. My dream of a Pirate Sous-Chef remains intact.

In other news, feeling elated after plying his fans with sought after information, Brad is now asking you to send him your seksi pr0n, ladies.

THE CARNIVAL IS IN TOWN

The first iteration of the Carnival of Gamers is now doing the rounds, offering free rides and free fairy floss for all. Greasy little clowns come at an extra charge.

So, head on over and have a look at a bunch of posts that run the gamut of recent videogame discussion. Plus, for every link you click, Smed earns a dollar. What could be better?!

A PEACEFUL MORNING IN IRONFORGE

Bless those heavenly GMs and their technicolor doomsday device.

E3 NOVIEWS

1. The recipient of a number of my remarks last week, seemingly deservedly so.

2. Ohmigosh. Surprise, surprise, the sky hasn't fallen yet. Basis of a rumor here, and mysteriously hyped up here because when companies avoid you like you smell of shit you've got to make fucking do, IGE fails to rear it's ugly² head. Employees go back to churning out PR-filtered dribble in an effort to sound, at the very least, like respectable scavangers.

Meanwhile, at IGE headquarters...

IT'S REALLY MORE LIKE A CIRCUS WITH THE CLOWNS, AND MONKEYS, AND CRYING KIDS

So, I've signed up to be a part of the Carnival of Gamers.

Essentially, it's a time for us videogame bloggers (who don't exist, mind you) to have a slumber party and tell each other who we have a crush on. Or so I lead myself to believe.

The crux is this:

So what do you submit? Just select one of your recent (or not so recent, doesn’t matter) blog posts you really liked and really want others to read. Submit that to me, with a little background if you want, and I’ll group all the links on one page. Then, we’ll spread the word about the Carnival. This will point everyone to our blogs and we’ll be popular and people will like us.

And because I don't know what the hell recent post I liked (I can't even remember writing half of them), I'm going to turn the keys to the car over to the readers of this site. Yes, all 5 of you and Alfonzo, the guy that keeps googling here for elf pr0n.

Remember a post that left you all warm inside with a feeling of enlightenment and a renewed sense of purpose you liked? Link it in the comments or email me, please. Remember a post that sucked and you didn't like and you wish I would die of embarrassment when it gets displayed on another site? Link it in the comments or email me, please.

Let's see how many people we can get to laugh at me, not with me.

E3 IS OVER. PACK UP YOUR LIGHTSABERS AND HOBBIT FEET AND GO HOME, YA FREAKS.

Yes, the games exhibition to end all games exhibitions is over - until next year when another games exhibtion ends them all again.

The usual advertising hubs for McDonalds and Bobby Joe's Used Car Exchange such as Gamespot, Gamespy, IGN, and to a lesser degree 1UP, have the typical run-of-the-mill PR reviews. So, instead of me posting them here and not getting advertising revenue each time I do, you can go there and search around.

The less-corporate entities such as Kotaku and Joystiq have some random MMO hands-on if you're willing to seek them out as well. Apart from brief mentions of D&D:ABC and Imperator, people that went to E3 and that supposedly have a MMO focus came up empty. Same old shown at E3 from all accounts then, unless someone wishes to prove me otherwise.

However, Corpnews did pick up on this.

The only potential snafu is the price model. Nothing is set in stone, but if you own City of Heroes you won't get to play City of Villains for free. There will most likely be an additional monthly fee. (Just how much that is going to be is not yet known.) You won't need the original game to play City of Villains; it's a standalone game that just happens to blend itself in with the original. Still, it would be nice if NCSoft could come up with a fair way to reward owners of the original game when deciding to purchase the new one.

Um, yeah. Now we know how Guild Wars is going to pull off its free pricing model - get players of another game to pay for it.

In other news, the internets are now filled, and (optimistically) rightfully so, with Spore previews. Sacrifice to your Wright God now.

IF I COULD MAKE ONE WISH IT WOULD BE FOR, LIKE, WORLD PEACE. AND A NON-CHAFE CHAINMAIL BIKINI

Smed's casting couch has been opened and the 30 finalists in the Miss Norrath competition have been announced shown.

Currently the professional model in the bikini using the full body shot is winning. Slap my Uncle Frank and call me surprised.

Edit: Not safe for non-adult bookstore work. It seems our leader would find even Antonia's bikini too cumbersome. Yes folks, it's Playmate of the Year 2004. Well, if she's going to be an EQ2 model, at least she's used to being airbrushed.