Still Not Dead
Contrary to some media reports, I am not actually dead. Just resting.
Or anyway, I wish I was.
Since my last check in with the online world, some personal drama happened that I won't bore you with and one other minor thing - I had a daughter. Turns out that babies don't have a pause button, especially when they have colic. This means that I'm watching a lot of TV and not playing much game-wise, which is all rather sad since I'd much rather play games than watch TV.
In a few stolen moments of gametime, I've squeezed in a bit of GW PvE in the new Eye of the North expansion, which is nice although rather grindy. I guess enough PvE people liked all the previous title stuff that they figured they may as well answer the call for more grind, but this time reward it with in-game significance instead of just visual differences. I haven't got to play any PvP at all since the baby was born, which is a great shame.
In other news, I've also been playing the ubiquitous Bioshock, about which plenty has been written. My verdict is that there's a reason "shock" is in the name, but nonetheless a wonderfully atmospheric game you have to buy simply to know what everyone is talking about if nothing else. I should caution you that it's a bit demanding on the machine, though.
One last thing for now - there's a new king of online game reviews. Highly recommended, if NSFW.
Or anyway, I wish I was.
Since my last check in with the online world, some personal drama happened that I won't bore you with and one other minor thing - I had a daughter. Turns out that babies don't have a pause button, especially when they have colic. This means that I'm watching a lot of TV and not playing much game-wise, which is all rather sad since I'd much rather play games than watch TV.
In a few stolen moments of gametime, I've squeezed in a bit of GW PvE in the new Eye of the North expansion, which is nice although rather grindy. I guess enough PvE people liked all the previous title stuff that they figured they may as well answer the call for more grind, but this time reward it with in-game significance instead of just visual differences. I haven't got to play any PvP at all since the baby was born, which is a great shame.
In other news, I've also been playing the ubiquitous Bioshock, about which plenty has been written. My verdict is that there's a reason "shock" is in the name, but nonetheless a wonderfully atmospheric game you have to buy simply to know what everyone is talking about if nothing else. I should caution you that it's a bit demanding on the machine, though.
One last thing for now - there's a new king of online game reviews. Highly recommended, if NSFW.
Labels: bioshock, eye of the north, gaming, guild wars
posted by Clamatius | Wednesday, October 10, 2007
4 Comments:
Clammy!
Not dead = Happy sauce, but does this mean I can have my cookie back now?
Anyhow, still haven't picked up GW:EN myself, pretty much for the reasons we discussed during the Preview Weekend. Just don't think there's enough content to warrant it given how I was burning through it during the weekend. All the guides and such I've seen since bear that out. PvP options are non-existent and that's really what I buy the box for. Nice game for what it is, some neat bells and whistles, but I can PvE awayt the day happily with all the stuff from the earlier chapters that I haven't gotten to yet. But I want the new skills and guildhalls and metagame that's absent with GW:EN. Oh, and I hate title grinding like it was Nazi cancer. I'll wind up getting it, eventually, but since I'm gearing up for NaNo now, I'm trying to cut back. Again.
As for the new king to whom which all must bow, is there, like, a class or something English people take to be witty or something? Is it a genetic predisposition to blithe sarcasm? Or, as I suspect, is it all about the accent?
I suppose, yeah, you get the cookie back. I'm sure it'll be nice and fresh at this point.
Title grinding is pretty clearly dumb. But whatever. The new PvE is worth it for me simply because I PvE with the kids and it means I don't have to do the same damn missions again.
In a kid-free environment, I'd definitely buy Bioshock before GW:EN. Once Bioshock is done with, the Orange Box is next on the list.
One tip for the new title-based skills: a very funny build using them that I saw today was a mesmer with Signet of Illusions. Instead of the typical 1-5 rank level (ok, maybe 8-10 if you're a farmer) you can effectively have 16 in the rank attribute. Which, needless to say, they weren't really designed for. Cackle. The only down side is that you can't run those skills on heroes so you'd actually have to have a primary mesmer to get up to 16, otherwise the best you can do is 12.
As for the Englishness, it's genetic in much the same way that Irish people tend to alcoholism and a silver tongue. Not everyone has it, but it seems to be a tendency nevertheless.
yeah, you get the cookie back. I'm sure it'll be nice and fresh at this point.
Mmm, stale cookies symbolizing unexplained, months long absences from blogging or whatever the metaphor originally was...
the Orange Box is next on the list
Orange Box, yes. Team Fortress 2 is my shooter of choice at the moment. Or it would be if it wasn't for all the lag. Sure, it's all multiplayer but, uh, people play FPS for the campaign?
a very funny build using them that I saw today was a mesmer with Signet of Illusions.
Ugh, they haven't fixed that yet? And going over the latest patch notes I see no, they haven't and....good god, what the hell are they doing? Signet of Illusions actually got a buff. And blah blah, testing for a week, not permanent, etc. But, hey, at least there's a reason to use Mesmers in PvE now, right?
Title grinding is pretty clearly dumb.
I actually think GW:EN does pretty well by title tracks. Certainly much better than Nightfall. Just like fancy suits of armor for people who put the effort into getting them, I don't have a problem with content for the dedicated as long as it's cosmetic. And my ideal for these various factional reputation tracks would be that they'd give you access to more and more optional side content as you advance, unlike being tied into the storyline or absolutely required for advancement. Just something on the side that people can work for to get snazzy crafters or a hidden outpost or two, whatever. It's not a selling point for me, since I'm the type of player who, at this point, wants to log in for an hour or two and walk away with my fun rather than spending hour after hour chasing after ephemeral crap, but I can see the appeal. What I can't see is where that should be the only appeal and the game needs to be designed around the type of player who salivates at the thought of a good grinder. Gw:EN seems tailor made for that type of person, though, to the exclusion of players like me. Where it goes completely off the rails is by doubling down on the whole PvE-only skills thing. Because those are the things that force you to grind your eyeballs out since they're not just a bonus, they're penalizing everyone who doesn't have them or doesn't have them at a decent level. Which I think is absolutely, mindbottlingly stupid for a game that's more about player skill than time spent playing. Or are we supposed to have entirely forgotten that PR talking point by now? So, yeah, clearly dumb.
it's genetic in much the same way that Irish people tend to alcoholism and a silver tongue.
Sirrah, I will have you know that I am part Irish and I will kick your limey arse once I finish this drink.
Well, holy hells, your daughter has colic!? My condolences Clam! Just remember, it builds character!
I have no comments on this Guild War you folks speak of.
And yes, Zero Punctuation is consistently brilliant.
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