Alien invasion movies is a fairly popular genre over the past 50 years or so. Today there are not only movies about alien invasions, there have been TV shows (past and current) on the subject as well. From V (the old and new) to Invasion to the newer Falling Skies, there is one constant through all of them. Seeminly regular folk, some with added skills, form a revolution to fight back and take back planet earth for the benevolent humans (sarcasm inferred).
If an alien invasion happened in real life, and the military and special forces and all the highly trained government agents were either dead or didn't want anything to do with "civilians", who would I go to to raise the flag of revolution and fight along side me? Nerds!
More specifically, gaming nerds. In fact, I'll take some gaming nerds over CIA operative anyday, and here's why:
1) Coordination
2) Battle Strategy
3) Improved Stealth Capabilities
4) Resources & Technology
Coordination
In real life, sort of like the show Survivor (which is totally real :D), when a new group forms there is often a struggle for power. It's human nature to fight for leadership. It occurs in MMO's sometimes; take a pug raid, for example, where there tends to be a person who challenges the authority of the raid leader who set everything up. Either the group will accept this new leader or shout him down and throw their support behind the one who set up the raid in the first place. Either way, sooner or later there is an agreed leader, which leads to improved coordination.
The great thing about group play in games is that everyone comes in knowing their role. So whether you like the holy trinity (tank, damage, healer) or not, everyone knows who is supposed to do what, and who is good at what. When people know their jobs before a plan is enacted, it makes coordinating them much easier. Imagine what it would be like trying to coordinate people in your neighboorhood for a strike on an alien outpost. Gamers with predispositions to one of the trinity roles would come to the planning meeting knowing what they are good at, what they can do for the group, and the knowledge of how to best fulfill their role. When fighting aliens, people who know their jobs well who can be easily coordinated have a far greater chance at victory. Round one goes to the nerds.
2) Battle Strategy
There is both good and bad about gaming nerds ability to develop a battle strategy. The bad is that it may take a few groups a few times to figure out how not to win, but ultimately a valid and powerful strategy will be formed and shared throughout the network of revolutionaries, and we would begin to see quick and decisive victories at battlegrounds all around the world because of the analytical minds of those involved in the initial attacks.
We'd throw up monuments to the early fighters, those who lost their lives so that we may have a strategy that works. But guaranteed, if followed exactly, failure would be nearly impossbile. Round 2 goes to the nerds for their ability to formulate a battle strategy. It would certainly be better than a real estate agent trying to put one together, or a politician, wouldn't you agree?
3) Stealth Capabilities
Gaming nerds have a long and storied history of being able to hide from nearly anyone. For years they have been hiding in their mother's basements, or a dingy apartment not exactly legally leased to them. They also take the shape of a CFO, who would never be expected to be a gamer, or a doctor or a business owner. People of all walks of life enjoying various forms of gaming, unknown to the world to avoid negative public reaction to their secret habits. Nevertheless, gaming nerds can stealth with the best of navy seals or international spies.
A nerd's ability in today's world, invaded by aliens bent on our destruction, to blend in or hide in locations that nobody can hack, would be a powerful strategic advantage in our revolution against the aliens. Round 3, nerds.
4) Resources & Technology
Nobody is more capable of obtaining the resources and technology than hackers. Instead of bringing down "the man", they could then bring down "the alien...man", or woman, or whatever gender they are. Of these hackers, many would certainly be gamers, nerds from their infancy, unknown to the world except by their powerful viruses, or ability to hack the pentagon or NSA databases.
Imagine the combined efforts of hackers who were also gamers who were also revolutionaries in a war against an invading alien army. In my opinion, they would be a force for much destruction, but for the good of the human race. In the end, however, they wouldn't be rewarded, they would simply take of the spoils of war, be given the alien ships as payment, and fly to a different planet to hack and reek havoc. Round 4 goes to nerdy gaming hacker.
How close are we to a real alien invasion? I don't know, but I'd venture to guess not too close. But if it did happen, I know who I would want on my side. Nerds. Gaming nerds. For all the "nothing" we do for society, supposedly, imaging the good that will come of our habits and our skills when the aliens come crashing down on earth in a blaze of lazers and heated metal.
Well I say BRING IT ON, E.T., cause I got gamers on my side!!!!!
Showing posts with label Fun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fun. Show all posts
Monday, July 11, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Positively Chipper Casual
That's me, folksy folk. Chipper man in the flesh. At least, that's how I feel now that I am a true-blue casual player of not only WoW but all other games I roll every now and then. There is a tangible relief and sense of freedom every time I log in (which isn't as much the last few weeks due to how awful my back as been feeling). The fact that I can play which whichever of my 25 toons I wish, do anything with them when I do log on, and stop any time I like, even in the middle of an instance if the mood takes me (which is hasn't, I'm just saying it might), means the world to me.
On my main's realm, I intentionally keep multiple alts out of my main's guild so that I can experience gameplay on that server from different perspectives, either other guilds or guildless. I'll take freedom over all things, whether it's gold, gear, or honor, the freedom to be my own, on my own, helps to keep my batteries charged and going forward in an age of a new type of burnout.
I'm free to go back to raiding, or participate in rated BG's, but I choose not to. True, there are real life reasons why I don't raid, but I could ignore those and raid anyway. It wouldn't be smart, but nobody can stop me if I did.
Freedom of mind and soul is an unparalled joy in my little gaming world. To stop mid-way through a quest and literally stop and smell (or pick) the flowers, to fly high and take in the views of a new world that I have yet to see all of, even months after the Cataclysm. Casual play is my new best friend, (which means I'm sorry to my previous best friend, my invisible friend Frank who used to tickle me while trying to heal ICC - that led to more wipes than I care to admit).
Freedom is serene, it is strength, it is music and it flows through my fingertips endlessly as I press 2, 3, then 2, then 5, 6, oops, I got to interrupt, -, then 9, 2, 3, 5, 4, 4, 5! Sometimes, when I'm feeling really rebellious, I'll open with a 7, then a 3 then a 2. Sorry 2, you aren't always my first choice of spell, sometimes I need to 7 and you'll just have to get over it.
Ugh, all this burnout talk on the "internets", I need to stay away from it, I need to jump on my mount and fly above it into the far reaches of the cloudless skies towards the sun that frankly isn't all that hot. What? Forget it, I'm just walking while I'm talking.
What's my point? Well for me I've found great solace in my casual gametime, grace has given me the freedom that I've sought (whether I knew it or not) for a very long time. Gaming is supposed to be fun, and fun is what this chipper bloke is having right now.
On, on to victory! Freedom shall be ours!!!!!
On my main's realm, I intentionally keep multiple alts out of my main's guild so that I can experience gameplay on that server from different perspectives, either other guilds or guildless. I'll take freedom over all things, whether it's gold, gear, or honor, the freedom to be my own, on my own, helps to keep my batteries charged and going forward in an age of a new type of burnout.
I'm free to go back to raiding, or participate in rated BG's, but I choose not to. True, there are real life reasons why I don't raid, but I could ignore those and raid anyway. It wouldn't be smart, but nobody can stop me if I did.
Freedom of mind and soul is an unparalled joy in my little gaming world. To stop mid-way through a quest and literally stop and smell (or pick) the flowers, to fly high and take in the views of a new world that I have yet to see all of, even months after the Cataclysm. Casual play is my new best friend, (which means I'm sorry to my previous best friend, my invisible friend Frank who used to tickle me while trying to heal ICC - that led to more wipes than I care to admit).
Freedom is serene, it is strength, it is music and it flows through my fingertips endlessly as I press 2, 3, then 2, then 5, 6, oops, I got to interrupt, -, then 9, 2, 3, 5, 4, 4, 5! Sometimes, when I'm feeling really rebellious, I'll open with a 7, then a 3 then a 2. Sorry 2, you aren't always my first choice of spell, sometimes I need to 7 and you'll just have to get over it.
Ugh, all this burnout talk on the "internets", I need to stay away from it, I need to jump on my mount and fly above it into the far reaches of the cloudless skies towards the sun that frankly isn't all that hot. What? Forget it, I'm just walking while I'm talking.
What's my point? Well for me I've found great solace in my casual gametime, grace has given me the freedom that I've sought (whether I knew it or not) for a very long time. Gaming is supposed to be fun, and fun is what this chipper bloke is having right now.
On, on to victory! Freedom shall be ours!!!!!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
A Job Even Deathwing Would Hate
The thing about bad guys is they are always so melodramatic. When was the last time you faced a raid boss that just /sighed and said nothing at all? That's right, never! They have their speeches prepared by the losing presidential candidates, always going on and on with their pointless arguments. Don't they get it? They lost the race? The bosses, well, they lost the fight thanks to online videos and detailed breakdowns of the fights on the blogosphere. They need to keep their mouths shut.
One thing that melodramatic bad guys do well with are deadlines. Call them enrage timers or whatever, they know when they need to perform ability X, Y and Z and in what order. They are, in fact, so predictable, that it leads to their ruin many, many times a night. Many jobs in RL have deadlines, so this doesn't exactly pin down a job that these bad guys would be both good at and hate at the same time. So, let's see what else they can do.
Bad guys love bureaucracy, a chain of command to follow when things go sideways. Arthas had his minions following his command, and often they reminded us of their loyalty to Arthas. So clearly they don't have to be independent business owners, they can work for someone who issues commands and sets strict deadlines, so with these two qualities are quite fit for many jobs; at least we've taken Amway distributor out of the running though.
I've wondered, however, if bad guys are good with numbers. Let's take Deathwing. He knows how many sentient lives he wants to destroy, infinity, which makes him both a mathmatician and a philosopher. At the same time, he doesn't want to die himself, which means that he knows how to kill everyone without killing everyone. How does he know, you ask? Why the answer is clear, he's an Accountant. But he hates his job.
Deathwing is great with deadlines (timers and such), loves a good organization chart, is great with fudging numbers (of people he wants to kill), but the one things that keeps him up at night is the governemnt oversight. You see, even the great Aspect of Death can't fudge with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). The entire month of January he was busy finishing out 2010's books and getting the annual report ready for the investors (old gods and such folk).
The most frustrating thing about the SEC deadlines is that it doesn't allow for the same melodrama that exists as any of his bad guys prepare for battle. Consequently, for the last month and nine days every single raid boss has not spoken a single word in any combat. The reason being that they needed to hurry up and die to get back to closing the books on their invasion on Azeroth. To further delve into the mystery, they have actually replaced themselves with digital reproductions of themselves, which if prompted, will say some things during a battle, but the actual boss guys themselves have had a gag order placed on their real selves as they slave away at their desks, crunching numbers in their Excel spreadsheets.
But finally, yesterday, Feb 9, Activision Blizzard, er, Deathwing, finally realeased its 2010 annual financial reportings. It was a big event for Deathwing, who was quoted by saying "Now I can finally get back to destroying the world". The SEC really had him by the claws on this one, dictating the timetable TO Deathwing, a job that Deathwing definately hated. "I don't know how Arthas did it! I don't really want to do this again next year; maybe I'll be dead by then and can turn it over to the next bad guy."
I never would have thought that Deathwing would have hated accounting more than Humans, but I'm not complaining.
One thing that melodramatic bad guys do well with are deadlines. Call them enrage timers or whatever, they know when they need to perform ability X, Y and Z and in what order. They are, in fact, so predictable, that it leads to their ruin many, many times a night. Many jobs in RL have deadlines, so this doesn't exactly pin down a job that these bad guys would be both good at and hate at the same time. So, let's see what else they can do.
Bad guys love bureaucracy, a chain of command to follow when things go sideways. Arthas had his minions following his command, and often they reminded us of their loyalty to Arthas. So clearly they don't have to be independent business owners, they can work for someone who issues commands and sets strict deadlines, so with these two qualities are quite fit for many jobs; at least we've taken Amway distributor out of the running though.
I've wondered, however, if bad guys are good with numbers. Let's take Deathwing. He knows how many sentient lives he wants to destroy, infinity, which makes him both a mathmatician and a philosopher. At the same time, he doesn't want to die himself, which means that he knows how to kill everyone without killing everyone. How does he know, you ask? Why the answer is clear, he's an Accountant. But he hates his job.
Deathwing is great with deadlines (timers and such), loves a good organization chart, is great with fudging numbers (of people he wants to kill), but the one things that keeps him up at night is the governemnt oversight. You see, even the great Aspect of Death can't fudge with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission). The entire month of January he was busy finishing out 2010's books and getting the annual report ready for the investors (old gods and such folk).
The most frustrating thing about the SEC deadlines is that it doesn't allow for the same melodrama that exists as any of his bad guys prepare for battle. Consequently, for the last month and nine days every single raid boss has not spoken a single word in any combat. The reason being that they needed to hurry up and die to get back to closing the books on their invasion on Azeroth. To further delve into the mystery, they have actually replaced themselves with digital reproductions of themselves, which if prompted, will say some things during a battle, but the actual boss guys themselves have had a gag order placed on their real selves as they slave away at their desks, crunching numbers in their Excel spreadsheets.
But finally, yesterday, Feb 9, Activision Blizzard, er, Deathwing, finally realeased its 2010 annual financial reportings. It was a big event for Deathwing, who was quoted by saying "Now I can finally get back to destroying the world". The SEC really had him by the claws on this one, dictating the timetable TO Deathwing, a job that Deathwing definately hated. "I don't know how Arthas did it! I don't really want to do this again next year; maybe I'll be dead by then and can turn it over to the next bad guy."
I never would have thought that Deathwing would have hated accounting more than Humans, but I'm not complaining.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
New Expansion Resolutions - An Introspection
We're approaching a time of year where it's fashionable to make an annual list of personal goals known as "New Years Resolutions". I have never, and I am honest about this, NEVER made a "New Years Resolution" in my lifetime, at least not in the popular sort of way. I am a man of goals, for sure, but not trendy ones that are fated to die out and fade into the blackness that is my horrible memory. No, I make goals in life on a fairly regular basis and try to achieve them. Then I move on to another and treat it the same.
I made some goals for the new xpac, Cataclysm, as well. And lucky for me it was released in early December, not the New Year; this way nobody will be able to confuse them for those useless resolutions. I had a few basic goals in mind, here are some I'd like to talk about:
1) I would play the classes and specs that I wanted, and for no reason, guild or othewise, would I play a class/spec that was not of my primary choosing. Yes, I know, for some serious raiding guilds out there this goal is somewhat selfish, but I've never tried to hide the fact that I'm a selfish being. I enjoy having fun in the manner that pleases me, not others. Those that don't like that can find other like-minded people to associate with and can, fortunately, avoid me like the plague that Silvanas wants to spread among the Gilneas citizens.
2) I would not rush a toon to 85 out of any pressure from any guild, or from social pressures of being "undergeared" - basically I wanted to level at whatever pace made me happy. Again, selfish but my choice, that was my goal.
3) I wanted to heal, but with my Priest and not my Shaman. It goes back to playing the class/spec I want, and the good thing about this goal is that I can still be of use to my guild as a melee DPS, range DPS or healer, and I'll play the specs I want...a win-win situation if you ask me.
4) I had a goal to read more of the quests, get more involved in the stories and try to understand and remember more of the lore. An easy goal for one patient enough to read. Yes, a goal to test my patience, just what a selfish bloke needs.
So, how have I done so far? Let me see.
I started this expansion with four level 80's, a Shaman, Priest, Warlock (Gronthe), and a DK. I wanted to level my Shaman as Enhance, my first love, and to date I have done so. Even better, I have yet to succumb to pressure to "gear up for my resto spec". One way I have done that is to change my offspec from Resto to Elemental. I realize that Elemental and Resto can now share much of their gear, so a shift in talents would be the only necessary change if I choose to capitulate. But I won't, and Elemental is my official offspec. All my other 80's I'm leveling however I want. I'll go some in Unholy, then switch to Frost. I'll start in Demo then change between quests to Affliction. Whatever I feel like doing...I do. I'm staying strong and it's wonderful.
As far as pace, or speed of leveling goes, I admit that I leveled my Shaman to 85 already. Why? Because I was having so much fun questing that I couldn't stop, the results of such enjoyment is a level 85 toon. Hooray! But I did it at my own pace, which I call "fun pace". It was a pace of questing that allowed continuous fun according to my special definition of fun. Not as Spongebob or Plankton defines it, but as I do.
F - Is for friends who do things together!
U - Is for You and Me!
N - Is for anywhere and anytime at all down here in the deep blue sea!
Yes, thanks again, Mr Spongebob, for interjecting your definition. Now I don't remember what I was talking about. Ah yes, pace of leveling. With all my other toons, now 81 each, I've quested when I could at a pace that was comfortable. Now seeing some of the same quests for a second time I am taking further advantage of my time and enjoying the quests for what they are instead of a means to an end, namely a means to 85. Some of the quests in the new zones are funny, others sad, some boring, some exciting. But I think I've stayed strong with my second goal and paced myself how I like.
As for #3, I haven't gone into a dungeon with my Priest and tried to heal yet, so I can't say whether I'm living up to that goal or not, but there's plenty of time to level and play with these toons, and moving too fast never was a strength of mine.
As far as reading the quests and learning more lore, I admit that I haven't done as well as I wanted to. All the cut-away movies/scenes automatically help me stay in stories sometimes, but all too often I find myself accepting the quest and only reading the quest text when I can't figure out what I'm supposed to do on the fly. I've embarassed myself in front of my kids a couple times because of it, and sorrowfully appear as a hypocrite as I encourage my boys to read the quest text. But I cannot give up on myself, not yet at least. I'm still focused on my goal, and plan to keep trying.
Look, for me the stories aren't the best things ever written, I far perfer actual novelists and classic writers such as Hugo and Tolstoy, but the quests unveil stories that can entertain a casual and open mind. Never enough to win a literature award, and never intended to most likely, but the WoW quests can help teach you why you, the hero, are doing what you're doing sometimes. I will try to do better, is my goal to myself, and you all stand now as my witnessses.
Are you living up to goals that you made for the XPac? Are you falling short? Have you fell into traps that you didn't want to live through again due to social pressures? I don't mean to pry, I'm just a selfish, curious bloke.
I made some goals for the new xpac, Cataclysm, as well. And lucky for me it was released in early December, not the New Year; this way nobody will be able to confuse them for those useless resolutions. I had a few basic goals in mind, here are some I'd like to talk about:
1) I would play the classes and specs that I wanted, and for no reason, guild or othewise, would I play a class/spec that was not of my primary choosing. Yes, I know, for some serious raiding guilds out there this goal is somewhat selfish, but I've never tried to hide the fact that I'm a selfish being. I enjoy having fun in the manner that pleases me, not others. Those that don't like that can find other like-minded people to associate with and can, fortunately, avoid me like the plague that Silvanas wants to spread among the Gilneas citizens.
2) I would not rush a toon to 85 out of any pressure from any guild, or from social pressures of being "undergeared" - basically I wanted to level at whatever pace made me happy. Again, selfish but my choice, that was my goal.
3) I wanted to heal, but with my Priest and not my Shaman. It goes back to playing the class/spec I want, and the good thing about this goal is that I can still be of use to my guild as a melee DPS, range DPS or healer, and I'll play the specs I want...a win-win situation if you ask me.
4) I had a goal to read more of the quests, get more involved in the stories and try to understand and remember more of the lore. An easy goal for one patient enough to read. Yes, a goal to test my patience, just what a selfish bloke needs.
So, how have I done so far? Let me see.
I started this expansion with four level 80's, a Shaman, Priest, Warlock (Gronthe), and a DK. I wanted to level my Shaman as Enhance, my first love, and to date I have done so. Even better, I have yet to succumb to pressure to "gear up for my resto spec". One way I have done that is to change my offspec from Resto to Elemental. I realize that Elemental and Resto can now share much of their gear, so a shift in talents would be the only necessary change if I choose to capitulate. But I won't, and Elemental is my official offspec. All my other 80's I'm leveling however I want. I'll go some in Unholy, then switch to Frost. I'll start in Demo then change between quests to Affliction. Whatever I feel like doing...I do. I'm staying strong and it's wonderful.
As far as pace, or speed of leveling goes, I admit that I leveled my Shaman to 85 already. Why? Because I was having so much fun questing that I couldn't stop, the results of such enjoyment is a level 85 toon. Hooray! But I did it at my own pace, which I call "fun pace". It was a pace of questing that allowed continuous fun according to my special definition of fun. Not as Spongebob or Plankton defines it, but as I do.
F - Is for friends who do things together!
U - Is for You and Me!
N - Is for anywhere and anytime at all down here in the deep blue sea!
Yes, thanks again, Mr Spongebob, for interjecting your definition. Now I don't remember what I was talking about. Ah yes, pace of leveling. With all my other toons, now 81 each, I've quested when I could at a pace that was comfortable. Now seeing some of the same quests for a second time I am taking further advantage of my time and enjoying the quests for what they are instead of a means to an end, namely a means to 85. Some of the quests in the new zones are funny, others sad, some boring, some exciting. But I think I've stayed strong with my second goal and paced myself how I like.
As for #3, I haven't gone into a dungeon with my Priest and tried to heal yet, so I can't say whether I'm living up to that goal or not, but there's plenty of time to level and play with these toons, and moving too fast never was a strength of mine.
As far as reading the quests and learning more lore, I admit that I haven't done as well as I wanted to. All the cut-away movies/scenes automatically help me stay in stories sometimes, but all too often I find myself accepting the quest and only reading the quest text when I can't figure out what I'm supposed to do on the fly. I've embarassed myself in front of my kids a couple times because of it, and sorrowfully appear as a hypocrite as I encourage my boys to read the quest text. But I cannot give up on myself, not yet at least. I'm still focused on my goal, and plan to keep trying.
Look, for me the stories aren't the best things ever written, I far perfer actual novelists and classic writers such as Hugo and Tolstoy, but the quests unveil stories that can entertain a casual and open mind. Never enough to win a literature award, and never intended to most likely, but the WoW quests can help teach you why you, the hero, are doing what you're doing sometimes. I will try to do better, is my goal to myself, and you all stand now as my witnessses.
Are you living up to goals that you made for the XPac? Are you falling short? Have you fell into traps that you didn't want to live through again due to social pressures? I don't mean to pry, I'm just a selfish, curious bloke.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Sight Seeing
I did some sightseeing yesterday, the final day in the life of Old Azeroth. No, I didn't earn my world Explorer title, but I had a plan which didn't involve only myself. You see, I let my kids play as well, but not nearly as much as I play. So given that I've been around the world so many times with so many toons, I let my kids decide where we went.
Can you say Night Elf? Good, because that's all they wanted to look at. Any zone with any NElf structures, ruins, outposts, or lore they made me wade through. It actually went faster than I thought it would, and there were a few things that I had never seen before.
For example, in Feralas, somewhat east of Dire Maul there is one of the most beautiful waterfalls that I have ever seen. The green aura that permeates the region adds a unique glow a spectacular fall that shimmers as it lands in a small pond, only to lead to a stream that flows onward to the south. It was quite a site, one that I had never really paid attention to or possibly seen before last night.
I reset all of the hearthstones on all of our toons, since all portals will disappear from Dalaran and Shatt (which I love, btw). But other than that it was a fairly uneventful day. I think that's because I have seen so much now, the changes are not sad but a welcome joy.
Did any of you do anything special or was your last day in Azeroth just business as usual? Share if you like. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great time in the New World.
Can you say Night Elf? Good, because that's all they wanted to look at. Any zone with any NElf structures, ruins, outposts, or lore they made me wade through. It actually went faster than I thought it would, and there were a few things that I had never seen before.
For example, in Feralas, somewhat east of Dire Maul there is one of the most beautiful waterfalls that I have ever seen. The green aura that permeates the region adds a unique glow a spectacular fall that shimmers as it lands in a small pond, only to lead to a stream that flows onward to the south. It was quite a site, one that I had never really paid attention to or possibly seen before last night.
I reset all of the hearthstones on all of our toons, since all portals will disappear from Dalaran and Shatt (which I love, btw). But other than that it was a fairly uneventful day. I think that's because I have seen so much now, the changes are not sad but a welcome joy.
Did any of you do anything special or was your last day in Azeroth just business as usual? Share if you like. Thanks for stopping by, and have a great time in the New World.
Friday, November 12, 2010
New Capital City Challenge
I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy that Dalaran will no longer be the hub and capital city of all level cap toons. No longer will we be able to hearth and port our way around the globe. Yes, it's convenient, but I'm glad it will be gone.
So am I to expect Stormwind or Ironforge to become my new capital city? Hardly. I have a better idea. I vote to create a new capital city, Las Vegas!
Let me explain what I'd like to do today, then I'll be the first to participate. I'd like to call anyone willing to comment to propose why they think that their RL home city should be the next new capital city in WoW. Set aside all the immersion crap for a moment and indulge in this little fantasy game. It can be one, two, ten or one hundred reasons, but for the sake of fun and fun alone, I would like to hear from anyone willing to make a case for the city they live in. As I live in Las Vegas, I'll make a case for Sin City. You may follow with arguments for your own home town.
So, without further ado:
Las Vegas in Azeroth
First of all, I would like to clear up a rumor that seems to easily spread around the world about Las Vegas - which, in case you cared is part of Clark County, Nevada. Prostitution is NOT allowed in Clark County, it is not legal in Vegas consequently, and anyone who says otherwise is a liar and a traitor to Mother Russia...er, just kidding on the traitor thing. I'm not saying it doesn't happen in Vegas, but it is illegal, period!
That out of the way, I believe that Las Vegas would be a great Azeroth city because the strength of this great city is in the ability to plan, host, and effectuate events. Vegas is an EVENT city. Nobody is better anywhere at putting on a one night show. If you're looking for a guild event to help bring people together, Las Vegas is the place to go. Back in the 70's, 80's and 90's, when boxing was still strong, nobody put on a more exicting, well run, boxing event than Vegas. Entertainers from around the world have found homes here in Sin City and put on some of the greatest shows that can be found anywhere.
You want a convention? Great! Come to Vegas. Quite honestly I think Blizzcon should be in Vegas. It could be bigger, better, more poeople could come here and it would turn into the biggest party anyone has ever seen. Sorry for the tangent, I'll get back to my Azeroth arguments.
Another strength of Vegas are its people and the service they provide. If ever there was a city founded on a Service Economy, Las Vegas is it. It's our job to welcome people and make sure they have a great time. Sure, it's also our job to take your money and use it fund our state budget and allow us to never pay state income tax, but you like it so it's a win-win for everyone involved. But it's more than just money, the service workers of Vegas work their tails off (ex-draenei and all) to make your visit as welcoming as possible. We know we can entertain, and any efforts made to get you into our shows is done out of a confidence, a knowledget that our service will cause you to have fun!
If you're not into big events or pampered services, there are still others strengths of the Las Vegas Community. It is, unknown to many outsiders, a friendly and family-oriented community outside of the brigt lights and fancy cars. The parks, movies, restaurants, music, theater, and community centers allow people to settle down and isolate themselves, if they wish, from the powers of The Strip that bind some people, er, that serve our wonderful visitors. Granted, the schools aren't great, but more reason for guilds/families to help teach each other or use outside resources to gain the knowledge needed to achieve goals.
If you want to be a part of a guild that doesn't act like a corporation, but a family, Las Vegas is the capital city you want to go to. Yes, you'll find entertainers, the best events, tremendous service, but you'll also find the most down-home, level-headed guilds/families anywhere in the world. Part of this, I believe, is that Vegas has attracted the best people from all around the globe. If you are looking to server or faction change, Vegas is the melting pot you will want to jump into. It's the place so many others have gone and have found a HOME there. Las Vegas could serve as the place to connect. Combine the power of networking with the service of the residents, Las Vegas could become the most populated capital city in Azeroth within weeks, if not days.
Organization, entertainment, service, community - these are the strengths of Las Vegas and are attributes that would make it the biggest and best new capital city in Azeroth for all to enjoy!
So am I to expect Stormwind or Ironforge to become my new capital city? Hardly. I have a better idea. I vote to create a new capital city, Las Vegas!
Let me explain what I'd like to do today, then I'll be the first to participate. I'd like to call anyone willing to comment to propose why they think that their RL home city should be the next new capital city in WoW. Set aside all the immersion crap for a moment and indulge in this little fantasy game. It can be one, two, ten or one hundred reasons, but for the sake of fun and fun alone, I would like to hear from anyone willing to make a case for the city they live in. As I live in Las Vegas, I'll make a case for Sin City. You may follow with arguments for your own home town.
So, without further ado:
Las Vegas in Azeroth
First of all, I would like to clear up a rumor that seems to easily spread around the world about Las Vegas - which, in case you cared is part of Clark County, Nevada. Prostitution is NOT allowed in Clark County, it is not legal in Vegas consequently, and anyone who says otherwise is a liar and a traitor to Mother Russia...er, just kidding on the traitor thing. I'm not saying it doesn't happen in Vegas, but it is illegal, period!
That out of the way, I believe that Las Vegas would be a great Azeroth city because the strength of this great city is in the ability to plan, host, and effectuate events. Vegas is an EVENT city. Nobody is better anywhere at putting on a one night show. If you're looking for a guild event to help bring people together, Las Vegas is the place to go. Back in the 70's, 80's and 90's, when boxing was still strong, nobody put on a more exicting, well run, boxing event than Vegas. Entertainers from around the world have found homes here in Sin City and put on some of the greatest shows that can be found anywhere.
You want a convention? Great! Come to Vegas. Quite honestly I think Blizzcon should be in Vegas. It could be bigger, better, more poeople could come here and it would turn into the biggest party anyone has ever seen. Sorry for the tangent, I'll get back to my Azeroth arguments.
Another strength of Vegas are its people and the service they provide. If ever there was a city founded on a Service Economy, Las Vegas is it. It's our job to welcome people and make sure they have a great time. Sure, it's also our job to take your money and use it fund our state budget and allow us to never pay state income tax, but you like it so it's a win-win for everyone involved. But it's more than just money, the service workers of Vegas work their tails off (ex-draenei and all) to make your visit as welcoming as possible. We know we can entertain, and any efforts made to get you into our shows is done out of a confidence, a knowledget that our service will cause you to have fun!
If you're not into big events or pampered services, there are still others strengths of the Las Vegas Community. It is, unknown to many outsiders, a friendly and family-oriented community outside of the brigt lights and fancy cars. The parks, movies, restaurants, music, theater, and community centers allow people to settle down and isolate themselves, if they wish, from the powers of The Strip that bind some people, er, that serve our wonderful visitors. Granted, the schools aren't great, but more reason for guilds/families to help teach each other or use outside resources to gain the knowledge needed to achieve goals.
If you want to be a part of a guild that doesn't act like a corporation, but a family, Las Vegas is the capital city you want to go to. Yes, you'll find entertainers, the best events, tremendous service, but you'll also find the most down-home, level-headed guilds/families anywhere in the world. Part of this, I believe, is that Vegas has attracted the best people from all around the globe. If you are looking to server or faction change, Vegas is the melting pot you will want to jump into. It's the place so many others have gone and have found a HOME there. Las Vegas could serve as the place to connect. Combine the power of networking with the service of the residents, Las Vegas could become the most populated capital city in Azeroth within weeks, if not days.
Organization, entertainment, service, community - these are the strengths of Las Vegas and are attributes that would make it the biggest and best new capital city in Azeroth for all to enjoy!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
What is the benefit of Casual? Is there any?
Have you ever written a blog post containing nothing but questions? I wonder, would it even work? How many readers would be driven crazy by the incessant ramblings of a person who couldn’t formulate an articulate opinion and relied on the imagination or input from readers to draw conclusions?
How many of you laughed at those in trade chat last night as they asked “when do Assasination Rogues get Mutilate”, and be told “level 82”? How many of you felt sympathy for those players who had no idea not only that patch 4.0.1 would drop but about all the changes contained therein? Could there be an easier way to assist these needy souls and help them through what happens to be the biggest changes to class play since who knows when? Wouldn’t it be great to have a HELP channel? That’s a silly question, for don’t we already have forums for that purpose?
Who will champion the cause of helping the casual? You? Me? Nobody? Are there not already a plethora or resources for these players to access that give them valuable insight and proven, tested methods that will help the player achieve high dps, high threat, or high throughput? But are these people not called casuals for a reason? What could possibly motivate a casual to log on to the internet and perform a search for the best, new Unholy DK DPS rotation?
So when these casuals logged in, or tried to, did not they and you sit face to face with a blizzard downloader and then a new WoW Launcher? Did they not say to themselves, “oh, look at that, a new patch, I wonder what it has for me”? Are you in a position to deny that they said this to themselves?
So to you, Mr./Ms. Casual, what was the biggest shock to your system when you finally saw your character standing there before you with your talents reset? Did you quietly search your talent tree for those comfortable, safe talents that boost Shadow damage by 2/4/6%? Or did you open your heart in trade chat, admit your ignorance and ask for help from the general populace? Did you regret your decision to ask for help from strangers when you were told that the Mage class was being discontinued? Did you fire off a frost bolt just to prove those trolls wrong?
Alas, Mr./Ms. Casual, what shocked you the most? What did you say to yourself when you found that it would take you a month’s worth of heroics just to purchase one PvE heirloom item? Were you mad or were you pleased (for some strange reason)? Did you cry to see all your hard earned stone keeper shards disappear only to discover that they had been converted into Honor Points?
Are you a Druid? Did you mourn the loss of Tree of Life Form as you have come to know and love it? Are you a Paladin and are totally confused at how your DPS can go from 8K to 4K overnight, realizing that now you may have to actually do something to do competitive DPS? Are you a Shaman, realizing that all your abilities to clean yourself, save it be curses, was stripped and torn from you violently? Did you lash out to your family, your guild, other trolls?
In the end we learn a valuable lesson, do we not? Did we not learn that Mr./Ms. Casual has one advantage over all of us who learned about all this stuff beforehand? Did we not learn that to be casual and ignorant is one way to remain innocent and allow us to be truly surprised and have true emotional responses when changes (major or minor) come our way?
I don’t really have any answers, so I’m asking, what do you think?
How many of you laughed at those in trade chat last night as they asked “when do Assasination Rogues get Mutilate”, and be told “level 82”? How many of you felt sympathy for those players who had no idea not only that patch 4.0.1 would drop but about all the changes contained therein? Could there be an easier way to assist these needy souls and help them through what happens to be the biggest changes to class play since who knows when? Wouldn’t it be great to have a HELP channel? That’s a silly question, for don’t we already have forums for that purpose?
Who will champion the cause of helping the casual? You? Me? Nobody? Are there not already a plethora or resources for these players to access that give them valuable insight and proven, tested methods that will help the player achieve high dps, high threat, or high throughput? But are these people not called casuals for a reason? What could possibly motivate a casual to log on to the internet and perform a search for the best, new Unholy DK DPS rotation?
So when these casuals logged in, or tried to, did not they and you sit face to face with a blizzard downloader and then a new WoW Launcher? Did they not say to themselves, “oh, look at that, a new patch, I wonder what it has for me”? Are you in a position to deny that they said this to themselves?
So to you, Mr./Ms. Casual, what was the biggest shock to your system when you finally saw your character standing there before you with your talents reset? Did you quietly search your talent tree for those comfortable, safe talents that boost Shadow damage by 2/4/6%? Or did you open your heart in trade chat, admit your ignorance and ask for help from the general populace? Did you regret your decision to ask for help from strangers when you were told that the Mage class was being discontinued? Did you fire off a frost bolt just to prove those trolls wrong?
Alas, Mr./Ms. Casual, what shocked you the most? What did you say to yourself when you found that it would take you a month’s worth of heroics just to purchase one PvE heirloom item? Were you mad or were you pleased (for some strange reason)? Did you cry to see all your hard earned stone keeper shards disappear only to discover that they had been converted into Honor Points?
Are you a Druid? Did you mourn the loss of Tree of Life Form as you have come to know and love it? Are you a Paladin and are totally confused at how your DPS can go from 8K to 4K overnight, realizing that now you may have to actually do something to do competitive DPS? Are you a Shaman, realizing that all your abilities to clean yourself, save it be curses, was stripped and torn from you violently? Did you lash out to your family, your guild, other trolls?
In the end we learn a valuable lesson, do we not? Did we not learn that Mr./Ms. Casual has one advantage over all of us who learned about all this stuff beforehand? Did we not learn that to be casual and ignorant is one way to remain innocent and allow us to be truly surprised and have true emotional responses when changes (major or minor) come our way?
I don’t really have any answers, so I’m asking, what do you think?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Two's Company
Every post for the next two or three weeks will have a dual purpose.
1) Continue doing what I do, writing about the connection between WoW and life and thier resulting issues (that and complete nonsense for the fun of it).
2) To give updates and ask for advice on my newly announced song project: WoW, The Musical.
__________________________________________
Should you look for a new job?
I'm curious, have any of you ever attempted to play in a role (tank, heals, or DPS) where you discovered that you were just not that good? I don't mean that 'it didn't feel right' or 'doing X didn't really click with me', what I refer to is a very real ineptitude despite hard work at researching and practicing.
For a long time I thougt that was going to be me as a healer, but I stuck with it longer than I originally wanted to because not only was there a need but I was grateful for a challenge. I wanted to quit, I believed myself really bad, but all it took was one small change and suddenly I became pretty good.
I tried tanking while leveling, but I found that I wasn't very good. I understood the priciples involved and knew my toolbox very well, but I don't think I had a good balance of awareness and quick reflexes to react to things when they went bad. I got too nervous and couldn't keep my cool. Bad traits for a tank.
DPS is natural and easy for me. Rotations make sense to my analytical mind, I find an ease in following a routine. Healing is in between tanking and DPS, and for a while I couldn't find that balance, but eventually it became a natural extension of what my eyes and brain processed, and I could react swiftly to problems.
Maybe I should go back to tanking now I have a handle on healing. Perhaps I wouldn't suck as much now that awareness has been learned. I still wonder, are some people destined to be 'bad' at a certain role because of some trait or characteristic of their person that is a barrier to success? I really don't know, I'm just thinking out loud.
___________________________________________
Now for the update on the musical.
I want to create a trio of singers, which may end up straining my voice a bit, but some lemon juice should help with that. I want it to be kind of a funny but dark song. In one corner there will be a Doomsayer who is mocking a poor, innocent Gnome about the impending Shattering. A struggle of wills, so to speak, will be the main theme of the first part of the song.
Just when it appears that the Gnome has found the courage to stand up to an elemental invasion, Deathwing himself appears to taunt the Gnome and bring him to his knees, all the while the Doomsayer laughing in the background, continuing to mock without remorse.
The conclusion is a surprise (or maybe I haven't got that far, you'll never know).
Of course this is what I have right now. I'm working out the lyrics and the melody currently, I'll figure out a way to mix some music in there as well. All of this, remember, is comletely subject to change at will. All I'm doing right now is to let you in on my creative process. Often when I start writing a story I think I've got a great idea but then it all comes crumbling down when I realize that I forgot a small detail. But this detail ends up being the cornerstone for the inspiration of a new idea or new story, and everything changes for the better. So please allow me to change my mind at will, as it may inevitably lead to something far better.
Remember also that I am open to suggestions, and will give full credit to any and all that help make this come together. I realized this morning when I woke up that I put myself in a pretty big hole, needing to deliver on a promise of something I haven't attempted in, well, never anything LIKE this. I have written songs before, but not with the aid of a computer. I shall do my best and hope it doesn't completely suck.
1) Continue doing what I do, writing about the connection between WoW and life and thier resulting issues (that and complete nonsense for the fun of it).
2) To give updates and ask for advice on my newly announced song project: WoW, The Musical.
__________________________________________
Should you look for a new job?
I'm curious, have any of you ever attempted to play in a role (tank, heals, or DPS) where you discovered that you were just not that good? I don't mean that 'it didn't feel right' or 'doing X didn't really click with me', what I refer to is a very real ineptitude despite hard work at researching and practicing.
For a long time I thougt that was going to be me as a healer, but I stuck with it longer than I originally wanted to because not only was there a need but I was grateful for a challenge. I wanted to quit, I believed myself really bad, but all it took was one small change and suddenly I became pretty good.
I tried tanking while leveling, but I found that I wasn't very good. I understood the priciples involved and knew my toolbox very well, but I don't think I had a good balance of awareness and quick reflexes to react to things when they went bad. I got too nervous and couldn't keep my cool. Bad traits for a tank.
DPS is natural and easy for me. Rotations make sense to my analytical mind, I find an ease in following a routine. Healing is in between tanking and DPS, and for a while I couldn't find that balance, but eventually it became a natural extension of what my eyes and brain processed, and I could react swiftly to problems.
Maybe I should go back to tanking now I have a handle on healing. Perhaps I wouldn't suck as much now that awareness has been learned. I still wonder, are some people destined to be 'bad' at a certain role because of some trait or characteristic of their person that is a barrier to success? I really don't know, I'm just thinking out loud.
___________________________________________
Now for the update on the musical.
I want to create a trio of singers, which may end up straining my voice a bit, but some lemon juice should help with that. I want it to be kind of a funny but dark song. In one corner there will be a Doomsayer who is mocking a poor, innocent Gnome about the impending Shattering. A struggle of wills, so to speak, will be the main theme of the first part of the song.
Just when it appears that the Gnome has found the courage to stand up to an elemental invasion, Deathwing himself appears to taunt the Gnome and bring him to his knees, all the while the Doomsayer laughing in the background, continuing to mock without remorse.
The conclusion is a surprise (or maybe I haven't got that far, you'll never know).
Of course this is what I have right now. I'm working out the lyrics and the melody currently, I'll figure out a way to mix some music in there as well. All of this, remember, is comletely subject to change at will. All I'm doing right now is to let you in on my creative process. Often when I start writing a story I think I've got a great idea but then it all comes crumbling down when I realize that I forgot a small detail. But this detail ends up being the cornerstone for the inspiration of a new idea or new story, and everything changes for the better. So please allow me to change my mind at will, as it may inevitably lead to something far better.
Remember also that I am open to suggestions, and will give full credit to any and all that help make this come together. I realized this morning when I woke up that I put myself in a pretty big hole, needing to deliver on a promise of something I haven't attempted in, well, never anything LIKE this. I have written songs before, but not with the aid of a computer. I shall do my best and hope it doesn't completely suck.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
WoW, The Musical
WoW, The Musical
Staring: Yours Truly
Lyrics by: Collaboration
Music by: Me
Rumor has it that some of you are in a transition. Within the wind of those same rumors I hear that there are some among you that want to discuss Cataclysm, while others don’t want to hear a thing and are simply waiting for Dec. 7, 2010. Wrath winding down, patch 4.0.1 in on our doorsteps, the world will be changing soon, and nothing says ‘hey, the world is about to blow up’ better than a great Broadway musical.
That’s right, folks, I am on the verge of doing something so totally embarrassing that I can hardly believe I’m putting it into words. But if I’m going to open my soul here, I’m going to need some help. First let me tell you what I’m planning, then I’m going to ask for some advice and a little bit of input.
This is the Plan
I love to sing, although it’s been a long while since I’ve been part of an organized singing group or had to perform for more than my own family. I also love to play Wow, so my thought was to write a song about WoW and sing it for you fine folk, right here on my blog.
I’ll begin to write the lyrics for the song and plan to present them to everyone for your input, revisions, edits, criticisms, and praise. After making final edits I’ll move on to create a tune, or a melody. I don’t have any musical instruments in my home at the moment, and am not very good with mixing voice and music on a computer, but I’ll figure something out.
Problem
The problem I have is that I don’t know how to record something and post it to the internet. Yeah, I’m not very pop-culture-techno-savy; don’t hate me because I’m beautiful! I don’t need much instruction, I’m an incredibly fast learner, but if I could get some tips on how to create a podcast or something from you fine folk that would be wonderful.
Performance
I used to sing and dance in musicals growing up. I played Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (the giant man-eating plant). I also played Rolf in The Sound of Music (the boyfriend of the eldest daughter Liesl who turns Nazi in the end). I’ve performed as Gaston in a college musical version of Beauty and the Beast…funniest character I’ve ever played. I’ve sang in front of thousands of people dozens of times so I should have no problem doing it for people I’ve never met who can’t even see my face. Plus, I’ll get to record it so you won’t hear all the really bad takes, you’ll get the best one I turn out (meaning there could be some mistakes but I’ll be so tired I just won’t care).
I can do impersonations too, so if you want a little Garth Brooks or Frank Sinatra, I’ll turn my voice in that direction. But more than likely I’ll sing it how the song dictates it should be sung, which is a very instinctual way to do it.
Warning
It has been years since I’ve really sang, and I admit that some of my skills have diminished somewhat, so don’t expect professional quality. I was never a professional anyway, just a passionate amateur, something that will seem all too obvious.
Need your Help
So if anyone out there can contribute either technical advice or lyrical inspiration, I most welcome it. It will take a few weeks at most to put this together, so the faster I get your help the faster I’ll finish. All I can say is THIS WILL BE…INTERESTING!
Staring: Yours Truly
Lyrics by: Collaboration
Music by: Me
Rumor has it that some of you are in a transition. Within the wind of those same rumors I hear that there are some among you that want to discuss Cataclysm, while others don’t want to hear a thing and are simply waiting for Dec. 7, 2010. Wrath winding down, patch 4.0.1 in on our doorsteps, the world will be changing soon, and nothing says ‘hey, the world is about to blow up’ better than a great Broadway musical.
That’s right, folks, I am on the verge of doing something so totally embarrassing that I can hardly believe I’m putting it into words. But if I’m going to open my soul here, I’m going to need some help. First let me tell you what I’m planning, then I’m going to ask for some advice and a little bit of input.
This is the Plan
I love to sing, although it’s been a long while since I’ve been part of an organized singing group or had to perform for more than my own family. I also love to play Wow, so my thought was to write a song about WoW and sing it for you fine folk, right here on my blog.
I’ll begin to write the lyrics for the song and plan to present them to everyone for your input, revisions, edits, criticisms, and praise. After making final edits I’ll move on to create a tune, or a melody. I don’t have any musical instruments in my home at the moment, and am not very good with mixing voice and music on a computer, but I’ll figure something out.
Problem
The problem I have is that I don’t know how to record something and post it to the internet. Yeah, I’m not very pop-culture-techno-savy; don’t hate me because I’m beautiful! I don’t need much instruction, I’m an incredibly fast learner, but if I could get some tips on how to create a podcast or something from you fine folk that would be wonderful.
Performance
I used to sing and dance in musicals growing up. I played Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (the giant man-eating plant). I also played Rolf in The Sound of Music (the boyfriend of the eldest daughter Liesl who turns Nazi in the end). I’ve performed as Gaston in a college musical version of Beauty and the Beast…funniest character I’ve ever played. I’ve sang in front of thousands of people dozens of times so I should have no problem doing it for people I’ve never met who can’t even see my face. Plus, I’ll get to record it so you won’t hear all the really bad takes, you’ll get the best one I turn out (meaning there could be some mistakes but I’ll be so tired I just won’t care).
I can do impersonations too, so if you want a little Garth Brooks or Frank Sinatra, I’ll turn my voice in that direction. But more than likely I’ll sing it how the song dictates it should be sung, which is a very instinctual way to do it.
Warning
It has been years since I’ve really sang, and I admit that some of my skills have diminished somewhat, so don’t expect professional quality. I was never a professional anyway, just a passionate amateur, something that will seem all too obvious.
Need your Help
So if anyone out there can contribute either technical advice or lyrical inspiration, I most welcome it. It will take a few weeks at most to put this together, so the faster I get your help the faster I’ll finish. All I can say is THIS WILL BE…INTERESTING!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Random Monday Musings
Beer Pong
How was your weekend? On Friday I, and everyone at work, received an email inviting everyone to a beer pong party at a local Vegas club. My first thought was, 'People at this office really do like their beer' (as this was one in a long line of invites for a Friday night drinking get-together). But beer pong? Really? You're sending out an invitation at work to EVERYONE at work for a BEER PONG party? Try growing up a bit, will ya? I don't care if I offend anyone who enjoys a good beer pong party, but to send out an invite to a bunch of business people? Really? Such is the corporate culture of some offices, I suppose, but I find it a bit immature.
PTR
Of the many amazing phenomenons of the PTR, I found a couple more. There seems to be a healthy disdain for Premade characters. I suppose I understand, for it leads to the second issue, really horrible pugs. If you thought pugs were bad on the live servers, try playing with others who are trying out tanking or healing for the first time ever.
Scenario: I zone into a dungeon to test out an 80 lock (yes, I did a premade, but Gronthe is 74, so I wanted to get an idea of what he'll be like a few levels from now, so I knew how to play the class). The healer says, 'Shadow is a good healing spec, right?'. After everyone wipes on the first two sets of trash the pug is disbanded.
Every, single, pug dungeon run (I don't have time or pain tolerance for raiding) has faced at least one person dropping group for some stupid reason. There's always one person who doesn't know what to do. Premades are bad when that person has no clue what they're doing. Although, I must puff up my own ego by saying that I got my 80 fire and frost mage (I don't have a mage of any level, I've deleted them all) to pound out 6K+ DPS in heroics, but I have such good teachers out there in the blogosphere that I can't help but be an awesome premade mage.
People still think that hitting gold cap is cool - those people are still morons.
Cataclysm
It's official, but I know you have heard. December 7th. I had guessed Nov. 23, so I was 2 weeks off. Oh well, I tried. At least I know exactly how long I have to finish builing my BoA gear armory. Yes, I use BoA gear because I like it. I raised 3 toons to 80 without it, and Gronthe is almost to 80 with it, and having it has not taken away any fun in the least. I don't always use it, however, as my lock has used a chest piece he got at level 60 and hasn't taken it off. Why? Well I do cheat a bit, putting in 3 epic gems to seriously up the spell power. What!? You would if you could too...maybe. Don't look at me like that, I'm having fun my way, that's all.
I would have you know that all my toons that play on different realms than my mains have to do everything the old fashioned way, I get to enjoy something while I can on ONE toon, I've earned it.
Priesting
Wow, playing a Discipline Priest with the new talents is FUN. In case you missed it:
F - Is for friends who do things together!
U - Is for you and me!
N - Is for anywhere and anytime at all down here in the deep blue sea!
OR
F - Is for fire that burns down the whole world!
U - Is for Uranium...BOMB!
N - Is for No survivors...!
It's a song, from Spongebob, funny as heck too. Plankton is hilarious, and wouldn't make a good Disc Priest, he'd definately go Shadow! Spongebob would make a good Paladin, no brain power needed to do any sort of competitive damage (in Wrath at least).
Warlock
Soul Swap is the COOLEST SPELL EVER CREATED. Basically, it takes all the Shadow DoT's the Warlock as cast on a target, pulls them off before the target dies, then within 20 seconds can instantly reapply all of them to a new target. Talk about powerful. I was using it in some randoms, and is a great way to go from trash to a boss and absolutly unload shadow damage fast as an Affliction Warlock. But from what I hear, it's going to get nerfed so not as many spells can be swapped. Figures, just when Affliction became the best spec in the Universe it's getting nerfed, ah well, such is the case for everyone's class from their viewpoint at some time or another in the life and history of WoW.
Philosophy
My brain is tired. I can't write any heavy posts this week, so it'll be a week full of frivolity and fun things; or if not fun then simply less deep. I fried my brain last week, and that proved too much. Still, I shall continue to delve into the realms of our souls, as they connect with the games we play and how we play them. Just expect less...thinking this week than others.
Medicine
My pain meds spilled in my bag that I carry to and from work on Friday. But it wasn't until late Friday night that I noticed that there was a hole in the bottom of my bag and I lost a week and a half's worth of narcotics. Now I have to report it to the police if I have any hope of getting refills, which totally sucks. This, of course, has everything to do with my gaming because if I don't have pain meds I don't play WoW or any game for that matter. Wish me luck in hoping my doctor doesn't think I'm an addict trying to get a larger stash of Percocet, I really am telling the truth, so much so my wife had a panic attack (she's sweet like that).
Best of Luck
An open best of luck to Larisa, who's contemplating her future as a blogger. Whatever you do you know I won't say a contrary word. Would love to keep you around, but if you go at least I'll have months of great archived reading to finish up. May you find what you're looking for.
How was your weekend? On Friday I, and everyone at work, received an email inviting everyone to a beer pong party at a local Vegas club. My first thought was, 'People at this office really do like their beer' (as this was one in a long line of invites for a Friday night drinking get-together). But beer pong? Really? You're sending out an invitation at work to EVERYONE at work for a BEER PONG party? Try growing up a bit, will ya? I don't care if I offend anyone who enjoys a good beer pong party, but to send out an invite to a bunch of business people? Really? Such is the corporate culture of some offices, I suppose, but I find it a bit immature.
PTR
Of the many amazing phenomenons of the PTR, I found a couple more. There seems to be a healthy disdain for Premade characters. I suppose I understand, for it leads to the second issue, really horrible pugs. If you thought pugs were bad on the live servers, try playing with others who are trying out tanking or healing for the first time ever.
Scenario: I zone into a dungeon to test out an 80 lock (yes, I did a premade, but Gronthe is 74, so I wanted to get an idea of what he'll be like a few levels from now, so I knew how to play the class). The healer says, 'Shadow is a good healing spec, right?'. After everyone wipes on the first two sets of trash the pug is disbanded.
Every, single, pug dungeon run (I don't have time or pain tolerance for raiding) has faced at least one person dropping group for some stupid reason. There's always one person who doesn't know what to do. Premades are bad when that person has no clue what they're doing. Although, I must puff up my own ego by saying that I got my 80 fire and frost mage (I don't have a mage of any level, I've deleted them all) to pound out 6K+ DPS in heroics, but I have such good teachers out there in the blogosphere that I can't help but be an awesome premade mage.
People still think that hitting gold cap is cool - those people are still morons.
Cataclysm
It's official, but I know you have heard. December 7th. I had guessed Nov. 23, so I was 2 weeks off. Oh well, I tried. At least I know exactly how long I have to finish builing my BoA gear armory. Yes, I use BoA gear because I like it. I raised 3 toons to 80 without it, and Gronthe is almost to 80 with it, and having it has not taken away any fun in the least. I don't always use it, however, as my lock has used a chest piece he got at level 60 and hasn't taken it off. Why? Well I do cheat a bit, putting in 3 epic gems to seriously up the spell power. What!? You would if you could too...maybe. Don't look at me like that, I'm having fun my way, that's all.
I would have you know that all my toons that play on different realms than my mains have to do everything the old fashioned way, I get to enjoy something while I can on ONE toon, I've earned it.
Priesting
Wow, playing a Discipline Priest with the new talents is FUN. In case you missed it:
F - Is for friends who do things together!
U - Is for you and me!
N - Is for anywhere and anytime at all down here in the deep blue sea!
OR
F - Is for fire that burns down the whole world!
U - Is for Uranium...BOMB!
N - Is for No survivors...!
It's a song, from Spongebob, funny as heck too. Plankton is hilarious, and wouldn't make a good Disc Priest, he'd definately go Shadow! Spongebob would make a good Paladin, no brain power needed to do any sort of competitive damage (in Wrath at least).
Warlock
Soul Swap is the COOLEST SPELL EVER CREATED. Basically, it takes all the Shadow DoT's the Warlock as cast on a target, pulls them off before the target dies, then within 20 seconds can instantly reapply all of them to a new target. Talk about powerful. I was using it in some randoms, and is a great way to go from trash to a boss and absolutly unload shadow damage fast as an Affliction Warlock. But from what I hear, it's going to get nerfed so not as many spells can be swapped. Figures, just when Affliction became the best spec in the Universe it's getting nerfed, ah well, such is the case for everyone's class from their viewpoint at some time or another in the life and history of WoW.
Philosophy
My brain is tired. I can't write any heavy posts this week, so it'll be a week full of frivolity and fun things; or if not fun then simply less deep. I fried my brain last week, and that proved too much. Still, I shall continue to delve into the realms of our souls, as they connect with the games we play and how we play them. Just expect less...thinking this week than others.
Medicine
My pain meds spilled in my bag that I carry to and from work on Friday. But it wasn't until late Friday night that I noticed that there was a hole in the bottom of my bag and I lost a week and a half's worth of narcotics. Now I have to report it to the police if I have any hope of getting refills, which totally sucks. This, of course, has everything to do with my gaming because if I don't have pain meds I don't play WoW or any game for that matter. Wish me luck in hoping my doctor doesn't think I'm an addict trying to get a larger stash of Percocet, I really am telling the truth, so much so my wife had a panic attack (she's sweet like that).
Best of Luck
An open best of luck to Larisa, who's contemplating her future as a blogger. Whatever you do you know I won't say a contrary word. Would love to keep you around, but if you go at least I'll have months of great archived reading to finish up. May you find what you're looking for.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Simple Joy
"Dear Diary,
My 8 year old son is going to raise his first toon to 80 this upcoming weeking. He's happy about it, and I'm happy for him. Ah, the simple joys in life!"
Don't worry, all you ignoramuses out there, I won't let him join your group and bring everyone down with this abismal gear score. The thing is, you try to take him 1v1 in PvP and I guarantee he'll smash you into the floor and wipe you up with his broom and dust pan...then repeat the process.
Ah, the simple joys in life!
My 8 year old son is going to raise his first toon to 80 this upcoming weeking. He's happy about it, and I'm happy for him. Ah, the simple joys in life!"
Don't worry, all you ignoramuses out there, I won't let him join your group and bring everyone down with this abismal gear score. The thing is, you try to take him 1v1 in PvP and I guarantee he'll smash you into the floor and wipe you up with his broom and dust pan...then repeat the process.
Ah, the simple joys in life!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Ch-ch-ch-Additions!
I bet you thought I would say ch-ch-ch-Changes, didn't you? Well here's some other things you did not expect.
Perhaps it’s out of fear of retribution (not Paladins, because let’s be honest, who’s afraid of those pansies?), perhaps out of an inability to express themselves, there are some Cataclysm changes that have not hit any of the boards or notes to the public. But thanks to my inside insider, who shall be named Mistermiss Insider, there are some changes fast approaching that we all need to be keenly aware of. The following is a list of some, not all of the remarkable changes to Cataclysm.
Changes
I. Mounts: All mounts will have their base color turned to brown. Via a silent partnership with UPS, it was requested of Blizzard that all land and air transportation be the same color as their trucks and planes. So when you climb on your Netherwing or Twilight drake, you’ll be greeted by your new mount with this phrase: “What can Brown, er, I do for you?”
II. Guild Banking: All guild members who either deposit or withdraw money from the guild bank will be assessed a Bank Access Fee, equal to 1% of the transaction or 10g, whichever is less. Additionally, to make the lives of all guild members more full and productive, guild bank ATM’s have been placed in strategic locations throughout Azeroth and Outlands. For an additional guild ATM fee, plus the deposit/withdraw Bank Access Fee, guildies will be able to access the boundless resources of your guild bank at no inconvenience to them. Now you can keep on questing without having to return to a capital city. Non-gold items will be charged a flat Access fee of 3% of median auction house prices or 15 gold, whichever is less.
III. Gear Repair. Coming are the days where it will cost as much for the stupid Warlock to repair his armor as the plate wearing tank or Rogue leather-wearing Fury Warrior. Added to the upcoming guild rewards is another feature sponsored by AIG Insurance. For a nominal fee of 500 gold per month, you can purchase access to Gear Repair Insurance, receiving an additional 25% off the costs of repairs. (Conditions: You must be in a full guild RAID. No healer may be in the same party as a tank. Any damage done outside the actual raid BOSS fight is not included in the discounts. The raid must have been scheduled and appeared on the guild calendar at least 3 days in advance. You may not have more than two Paladins in a 10-man and 4 in a 25-man raid group. Policy is void upon the inclusion of any class spec that only needs to push 3 buttons or less in their FULL rotation. These and other conditions as set by AIG will be enforced without remorse).
IV. Buff Food. All food that provides buffs will no longer be made available via the secondary profession of cooking. Now, thanks to McDonalds and their buff food training centers, you will be able to purchase reasonably priced value meals at Fast Buff Food kiosks outside all dungeons and raids in Cataclysm. You may choose less powerful buffs off the value menu (WotLK food), or the new and improved Cataclysm buff foods in the form of combos. With every 100 purchases you will receive a new toy in the mail. (Note: After buff food wears off you enter the receive a Bloated debuff that can only be removed by sitting in one spot for 30 minutes).
V. Mana Regen. Don’t believe everything you’ve read about mana regen in Cataclysm. Spirit isn’t the only way. No, thanks to the partnership of the NCAA and the NFL, now you will be able to purchase the Mana Hat. It’s a piece of head gear that provides two stylish canisters of mana attached to the sides of the head piece, with drinking tubes that run from the canisters to the caster’s mouth. Requires you to reach Exalted with the faction of your choice twice. Upon reaching exalted you can reset your reputation back to Neutral and begin the rep grind from the beginning. So choose your favorite grind and prepare for double the healing/casting fun with the Mana Hat.
VI. Flight Paths v Alternate Travel. Who would want to pollute the skies with the gaseous waste that has been proven to come from all breeds of dragon, bat, and gryphon. In Cataclysm, enjoy the freshness of electronic monorail trains and hovercrafts. Ecologically safe and environmentally friendly, it’s an acceptable tradeoff to immersion knowing your saving the planet from forces other than Deathwing.
VII. Government. Available to all who wish to participate, Cataclysm will introduce Realm-based elections. Run for your favorite office: President, Supreme Raid Leader, Gear Score Czar, Achievement Whore Director, Vice Troll, etc. It’ll be a new and fun way to express yourself and build more close and friendly communities…just like the good ‘ol Vanilla days where community mattered!!!
VIII. Stat Changes. Worried about stat conversion with the upcoming patch? We’ve got your stat changes right here:
a. Spellpower will become > Flower Power (For all those who love to love more than fight)
b. Critical Strike Chance > Raised hand but won’t actually hit you (for tanks who like to threaten but not actually do anything else)
c. Haste > Patience (for those who don’t want to take their time and catch the scenery)
d. Armor Penetration > Polite Knock (because barging in on someone is just rude)
e. Attack Power > Word Power (pen vs sword thing here)
I sincerely hope that I have been able to enlighten everyone as to the wonderful new additions to look forward to in Cataclysm. May you play and have fun any way you want as long as you choose (as long as it does not exceed 17% of your average work time or 13.5% of your average study time – otherwise no fun is guaranteed).
Perhaps it’s out of fear of retribution (not Paladins, because let’s be honest, who’s afraid of those pansies?), perhaps out of an inability to express themselves, there are some Cataclysm changes that have not hit any of the boards or notes to the public. But thanks to my inside insider, who shall be named Mistermiss Insider, there are some changes fast approaching that we all need to be keenly aware of. The following is a list of some, not all of the remarkable changes to Cataclysm.
Changes
I. Mounts: All mounts will have their base color turned to brown. Via a silent partnership with UPS, it was requested of Blizzard that all land and air transportation be the same color as their trucks and planes. So when you climb on your Netherwing or Twilight drake, you’ll be greeted by your new mount with this phrase: “What can Brown, er, I do for you?”
II. Guild Banking: All guild members who either deposit or withdraw money from the guild bank will be assessed a Bank Access Fee, equal to 1% of the transaction or 10g, whichever is less. Additionally, to make the lives of all guild members more full and productive, guild bank ATM’s have been placed in strategic locations throughout Azeroth and Outlands. For an additional guild ATM fee, plus the deposit/withdraw Bank Access Fee, guildies will be able to access the boundless resources of your guild bank at no inconvenience to them. Now you can keep on questing without having to return to a capital city. Non-gold items will be charged a flat Access fee of 3% of median auction house prices or 15 gold, whichever is less.
III. Gear Repair. Coming are the days where it will cost as much for the stupid Warlock to repair his armor as the plate wearing tank or Rogue leather-wearing Fury Warrior. Added to the upcoming guild rewards is another feature sponsored by AIG Insurance. For a nominal fee of 500 gold per month, you can purchase access to Gear Repair Insurance, receiving an additional 25% off the costs of repairs. (Conditions: You must be in a full guild RAID. No healer may be in the same party as a tank. Any damage done outside the actual raid BOSS fight is not included in the discounts. The raid must have been scheduled and appeared on the guild calendar at least 3 days in advance. You may not have more than two Paladins in a 10-man and 4 in a 25-man raid group. Policy is void upon the inclusion of any class spec that only needs to push 3 buttons or less in their FULL rotation. These and other conditions as set by AIG will be enforced without remorse).
IV. Buff Food. All food that provides buffs will no longer be made available via the secondary profession of cooking. Now, thanks to McDonalds and their buff food training centers, you will be able to purchase reasonably priced value meals at Fast Buff Food kiosks outside all dungeons and raids in Cataclysm. You may choose less powerful buffs off the value menu (WotLK food), or the new and improved Cataclysm buff foods in the form of combos. With every 100 purchases you will receive a new toy in the mail. (Note: After buff food wears off you enter the receive a Bloated debuff that can only be removed by sitting in one spot for 30 minutes).
V. Mana Regen. Don’t believe everything you’ve read about mana regen in Cataclysm. Spirit isn’t the only way. No, thanks to the partnership of the NCAA and the NFL, now you will be able to purchase the Mana Hat. It’s a piece of head gear that provides two stylish canisters of mana attached to the sides of the head piece, with drinking tubes that run from the canisters to the caster’s mouth. Requires you to reach Exalted with the faction of your choice twice. Upon reaching exalted you can reset your reputation back to Neutral and begin the rep grind from the beginning. So choose your favorite grind and prepare for double the healing/casting fun with the Mana Hat.
VI. Flight Paths v Alternate Travel. Who would want to pollute the skies with the gaseous waste that has been proven to come from all breeds of dragon, bat, and gryphon. In Cataclysm, enjoy the freshness of electronic monorail trains and hovercrafts. Ecologically safe and environmentally friendly, it’s an acceptable tradeoff to immersion knowing your saving the planet from forces other than Deathwing.
VII. Government. Available to all who wish to participate, Cataclysm will introduce Realm-based elections. Run for your favorite office: President, Supreme Raid Leader, Gear Score Czar, Achievement Whore Director, Vice Troll, etc. It’ll be a new and fun way to express yourself and build more close and friendly communities…just like the good ‘ol Vanilla days where community mattered!!!
VIII. Stat Changes. Worried about stat conversion with the upcoming patch? We’ve got your stat changes right here:
a. Spellpower will become > Flower Power (For all those who love to love more than fight)
b. Critical Strike Chance > Raised hand but won’t actually hit you (for tanks who like to threaten but not actually do anything else)
c. Haste > Patience (for those who don’t want to take their time and catch the scenery)
d. Armor Penetration > Polite Knock (because barging in on someone is just rude)
e. Attack Power > Word Power (pen vs sword thing here)
I sincerely hope that I have been able to enlighten everyone as to the wonderful new additions to look forward to in Cataclysm. May you play and have fun any way you want as long as you choose (as long as it does not exceed 17% of your average work time or 13.5% of your average study time – otherwise no fun is guaranteed).
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The Best Add-ons Never to Make it to Live
I was surfing the other day, not the internet, but in Hawaii on a real surfboard. Just think about it, I'm in Hawaii and you're not, how exactly does that make you feel?
Okay, I'm not nor was I in Hawaii and I wasn't surfing the giant waves on that famous beach with the sand and stuff, I was surfing the internet for some really cool add-ons. I found this site that had add-ons that Blizzard had banned and found a few that would have been really useful.
Here's a list:
Finger Pointer
This is an add-on useful for group activities such as 5-mans and raids. It works something like DBM, but with a twist. Whenever any party/raid member remains standing in "bad stuff" for at least 1.5 seconds, a taunting, disembodied voice shouts out to all party/raid members:
"Hey ______, get out of the damn fire, you idiot!"
It would be great. This way when asked if you stood in the fire too long you no longer can deny it. What better way to improve the skills of your raid group than through public shame?
Good Idea?
This nifty little add-on functions much like the "Ready Check" tool we're all familiar with. After reviewing a strat for a fight the RL pushes a button and asks the shy, no-confidence, raid members if they think that that particular strat is a Good Idea? The raid members answer anonymously, so nobody but the raid leader can view the responses. Upon seeing that 6 out of 10 see that it's a bad idea the RL will say:
"Well, considering most of you are too shy to say anything anyway, we'll just proceed with my strat. But thanks for telling me it's not a good idea, at least I'll have that to hang over your heads when it comes time to promote the next officers in the guild."
Cry Baby
This is a sleek, light weight add-on for all you PvPers out there. Here's how it works. Any time you engage in any PvP battle, whether it be a duel, Arena or in a BG, whenever your toon loses a fight he/she begins to stomp their feet, shout obscenities into the air, then proceed to fall into a fetal position whimpering before actually dying. The cool thing about this add-on is that it tends to spread like a virus to all other computers of your fellow PvPers you ever engage with. Which means eventually everyone who PvPs will have this addon whether they like it or not. It got rave reviews when the beta version was launched, but Blizzard didn't like the behavior demonstrated as it was too close to the behavior of their largest investors over the past two years.
Crash
Probably the most controversial add-on that never made it live was this little bugger, Crash. Used primarily by dedicated raiders, Crash could mimic a total systems crash even during the most stressful of raid encounters. With the simple click of a button, Crash would show that you had been kicked offline but your toon would remain under your control in-game. This would allow a person to committ all sorts of errors during a raid with the no-lose excuse of "I was offline, I couldn't avoid getting cleaved", when the truth was that the raider had a thing for boss crotches and didn't want to tell his fellow raiders of this unseemly little fettish.
Before it was banned I was actually able to see Crash in action as a fellow raid member, a Priest if I recall, thought he would experiment and stand in front of Rotface during the whole fight. His reasoning? "I thought I saw his foreign object and wanted to get a closer look."
Disturbing, just disturbing. Luckily it was banned the following day.
What about you?
So what add-ons would you like to see in the game? Is there anything that you know of that had a moment in the spotlight but later faded into oblivion like these? Taking requests here all week.
Okay, I'm not nor was I in Hawaii and I wasn't surfing the giant waves on that famous beach with the sand and stuff, I was surfing the internet for some really cool add-ons. I found this site that had add-ons that Blizzard had banned and found a few that would have been really useful.
Here's a list:
Finger Pointer
This is an add-on useful for group activities such as 5-mans and raids. It works something like DBM, but with a twist. Whenever any party/raid member remains standing in "bad stuff" for at least 1.5 seconds, a taunting, disembodied voice shouts out to all party/raid members:
"Hey ______, get out of the damn fire, you idiot!"
It would be great. This way when asked if you stood in the fire too long you no longer can deny it. What better way to improve the skills of your raid group than through public shame?
Good Idea?
This nifty little add-on functions much like the "Ready Check" tool we're all familiar with. After reviewing a strat for a fight the RL pushes a button and asks the shy, no-confidence, raid members if they think that that particular strat is a Good Idea? The raid members answer anonymously, so nobody but the raid leader can view the responses. Upon seeing that 6 out of 10 see that it's a bad idea the RL will say:
"Well, considering most of you are too shy to say anything anyway, we'll just proceed with my strat. But thanks for telling me it's not a good idea, at least I'll have that to hang over your heads when it comes time to promote the next officers in the guild."
Cry Baby
This is a sleek, light weight add-on for all you PvPers out there. Here's how it works. Any time you engage in any PvP battle, whether it be a duel, Arena or in a BG, whenever your toon loses a fight he/she begins to stomp their feet, shout obscenities into the air, then proceed to fall into a fetal position whimpering before actually dying. The cool thing about this add-on is that it tends to spread like a virus to all other computers of your fellow PvPers you ever engage with. Which means eventually everyone who PvPs will have this addon whether they like it or not. It got rave reviews when the beta version was launched, but Blizzard didn't like the behavior demonstrated as it was too close to the behavior of their largest investors over the past two years.
Crash
Probably the most controversial add-on that never made it live was this little bugger, Crash. Used primarily by dedicated raiders, Crash could mimic a total systems crash even during the most stressful of raid encounters. With the simple click of a button, Crash would show that you had been kicked offline but your toon would remain under your control in-game. This would allow a person to committ all sorts of errors during a raid with the no-lose excuse of "I was offline, I couldn't avoid getting cleaved", when the truth was that the raider had a thing for boss crotches and didn't want to tell his fellow raiders of this unseemly little fettish.
Before it was banned I was actually able to see Crash in action as a fellow raid member, a Priest if I recall, thought he would experiment and stand in front of Rotface during the whole fight. His reasoning? "I thought I saw his foreign object and wanted to get a closer look."
Disturbing, just disturbing. Luckily it was banned the following day.
What about you?
So what add-ons would you like to see in the game? Is there anything that you know of that had a moment in the spotlight but later faded into oblivion like these? Taking requests here all week.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Origin of Murlocs
It's not what you think, it's certainly not what has been written. Nay, the origin of murlocs is more sinister than you could ever imagine. In fact, the true knowlege may even frighten the most hearty and couragous of you. But if you think you're ready for the truth, then read on.
It's widely believed that Murlocs are an ancient race of Azeroth, but of their origins little to nothing has ever been uncovered. Since their history has been primarily oral, and let's face it, nobody can really understand what they are saying, there has been nobody of knowledge to record their history in a more...permanent manner.
Very recently, however, in the rumblings of the earth prior to the Cataclysm, an ancient tablet has been uncovered (the first, but definately not the last) with writings relating to the ancient origin of Murlocs. It makes reference to a leader, presumably a king of their kind, named Norkostrider. Ancient names normally did were not fashioned by joining components of two separate names, but with the discovery of this name, and it being so old, the evidence is clear that Murlocs had origins with...Gnomes.
That's right, Gnomes are the progenitors of Murlocs. Many of us are familiar with the Gnome history, explained clearly over at wowwiki here, that talks about how Gnomes were first created as "mechagnomes" by the Titans, and later fell "victim" to the Curse of Flesh, thus making them a mortal, fleshy race. But with the Murlocs, the Curse of Flesh mutated. Unknown to all, even the Titans, one Gnome named Norko, being overcome with the Curse of Flesh, fled into the hills of Northern Kalimdor. His long journey there left him tired and weak, and in this weakened state the Curse began to mutate. Little by little the flesh that corruped Norko's body turned scaley and slimey. Horrified by the transformation, and feeling, in his words, "parched", Norko wandered east until he reached the shores of Azshara. There he took to the water, and there he stayed.
Unknown how Norko multiplied, within a hundred years there were already many clans of Murlocs set up all throughout Kalimdor. Norko changed his name to Norkostrider, for he strode along the beaches in search for his lost mind, or so they say, and became king of the first Murloc clan. Their own language there developed, but many believed Murlocs to be dumb, amphibious creatures only. The truth is that Murlocs retained the high intelligence of the mechagnome race, granted to them by the Titans when they were made to help shape the world. Today murlocs remain highly intelligent, albeit highly unintelligible.
Gnomes know nothing of their relationship with Murlocs in current Azeroth, for this knowledge had passed through the ages hidden from even the most wise and powerful. What can be wondered at now is how Murlocs will be treated as a species by their cousins. Will Gnomes, especially Mages and Rogues, continue to thrash and flame to death those that they once called brothers and sisters? Have Gnomes finally found the race of being capable of defeating without the assistance of 24 other, much larger, heroes of other, more noble races?
I feel for the Murlocs now, a pity that urges me to activism for the all-forgotten Gnome sub-species. They need a voice in the wilderness, preferably a voice that speaks English...er, Common tongue. Murloc matters must be of the utmost importance to the Gnome and Dwarf races, given this new information. Will they grant the Murlocs a place by their side in Ironforge or Gnomeregan?
Alas, the plight of the Murlocs is in the smallest hands in the world, and that's something to think about.
It's widely believed that Murlocs are an ancient race of Azeroth, but of their origins little to nothing has ever been uncovered. Since their history has been primarily oral, and let's face it, nobody can really understand what they are saying, there has been nobody of knowledge to record their history in a more...permanent manner.
Very recently, however, in the rumblings of the earth prior to the Cataclysm, an ancient tablet has been uncovered (the first, but definately not the last) with writings relating to the ancient origin of Murlocs. It makes reference to a leader, presumably a king of their kind, named Norkostrider. Ancient names normally did were not fashioned by joining components of two separate names, but with the discovery of this name, and it being so old, the evidence is clear that Murlocs had origins with...Gnomes.
That's right, Gnomes are the progenitors of Murlocs. Many of us are familiar with the Gnome history, explained clearly over at wowwiki here, that talks about how Gnomes were first created as "mechagnomes" by the Titans, and later fell "victim" to the Curse of Flesh, thus making them a mortal, fleshy race. But with the Murlocs, the Curse of Flesh mutated. Unknown to all, even the Titans, one Gnome named Norko, being overcome with the Curse of Flesh, fled into the hills of Northern Kalimdor. His long journey there left him tired and weak, and in this weakened state the Curse began to mutate. Little by little the flesh that corruped Norko's body turned scaley and slimey. Horrified by the transformation, and feeling, in his words, "parched", Norko wandered east until he reached the shores of Azshara. There he took to the water, and there he stayed.
Unknown how Norko multiplied, within a hundred years there were already many clans of Murlocs set up all throughout Kalimdor. Norko changed his name to Norkostrider, for he strode along the beaches in search for his lost mind, or so they say, and became king of the first Murloc clan. Their own language there developed, but many believed Murlocs to be dumb, amphibious creatures only. The truth is that Murlocs retained the high intelligence of the mechagnome race, granted to them by the Titans when they were made to help shape the world. Today murlocs remain highly intelligent, albeit highly unintelligible.
Gnomes know nothing of their relationship with Murlocs in current Azeroth, for this knowledge had passed through the ages hidden from even the most wise and powerful. What can be wondered at now is how Murlocs will be treated as a species by their cousins. Will Gnomes, especially Mages and Rogues, continue to thrash and flame to death those that they once called brothers and sisters? Have Gnomes finally found the race of being capable of defeating without the assistance of 24 other, much larger, heroes of other, more noble races?
I feel for the Murlocs now, a pity that urges me to activism for the all-forgotten Gnome sub-species. They need a voice in the wilderness, preferably a voice that speaks English...er, Common tongue. Murloc matters must be of the utmost importance to the Gnome and Dwarf races, given this new information. Will they grant the Murlocs a place by their side in Ironforge or Gnomeregan?
Alas, the plight of the Murlocs is in the smallest hands in the world, and that's something to think about.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Friday Idiocy!
You'll see it here first! An exclusive interview with one of the greatest players the game of WoW has ever seen. I was contacted in the middle of the night by this guy/gal requesting an audience, since they seem to have been banned on every website forum on the internet. Being so great, I wondered why the bans, but then I remembered my belief in freedom of speech and expression, so I asked a few questions and got a few answers. So, without further ado, we now learn a thing or two from...what shall we call this player?...how about "Greatness"? Yes, that will do.
Greatness: I'd say thank you, Gronthe, for the audience and the chance to share my story, but I'm not going to. It'll be your pleasure to listen to what I've got to say.
Me: Sounds, er great. So, why the call in the middle of the night? What could be so important?
Greatness: I've had enough of idiots in this game. ENOUGH I TELL YOU!!! Every stupid day I log in and queue for a dungeon only to meet people who say the most ridiculous things to me.
Me: Like what? Give me an example.
Greatness: Like "Hello" for one.
Me: You hate people who say "hello" to you?
Greatness: Hate? I wouldn't say I hate them, rather I've had enough of their niceness, it's sickening and it's ruining the game for everyone else.
Me: ...
Greatness: I'm at the point where I'm convinced that these idiots don't really deserve a response, so to get back at them I don't buff them and just start running at mobs the second I zone in. Being the great tank that I am, normally I can pull literally half the instance without losing so much as 1K of my health. Over and over I'm proving to all these incompetent fools how truly great I am and what do they do in return? They ask me to slow down by trying to convince me that they "need mana, just respecced" or use words like "please" and "wait for the healer". Sorry, I didn't become great by waiting for you to suck. Get up on your fingertips and follow me, wherever I go. Some of my greatness might just rub off on you...wait no, it won't...my greatness is my own.
Me: Sounds like you're upset.
Greatness: When was the last time you got anything done by working together with someone else? I'm not sure why I'm put into an instance with 4 other people anyway. I thought I selected the solo instance, it was right there on my UI, I saw it so that's what I picked.
Me: Solo dungeon option, I'll have to, er, look for that someday. But do tell me, do you feel that everyone else is stupid or just any person who wanders into your field of vision?
Greatness: Is that like a soccer field or something? Or a movie like Field of Dreams?
Me: I'm not sure what to ask you anymore, do you have a rational thought that you would like to share with my readers today?
Greatness: Rational? I've been nothing but rational. Here's my problem with others. Politeness never conquered Rome, never helped Alexander the great subdue Persia, never got anyone elected President of the USA, and certainly never got anyone into a top raiding guild.
Me: Tell me, Alexander, are you in a top raiding guild?
Greatness: No.
Me: Why?
Greatness: Because everyone else sucks. There are too many "helpful" people, willing to show others an optimal rotation or viable enchant. Too many guilds out there who share resources and support each other through an efficient use of professions. There are too many people who depend on worthless addons in an attempt to heal better or produce higher DPS, as if they will ever be able to utilize technology in such a way that it will surpass the undeniable uberness of my own synapses. Consider this an invitation to all those out there as great as I am to come join the ultimate raiding guild. We shall never fail, never wipe, never talk...because talking is for idiots. We shall be perfect in every way, just like me.
Me: Do you have any prospects for this new, perfect guild?
Greatness: No way! Everyone sucks, nobody will ever be as good as me. Nobody will ever be able to destroy an entire instance solo like I do every day. There's always there 4 other stupidly polite people watching me run throught content they could only dream about sniffing one day. They're not worthy to see me do my thing, but as yet I can't seem to stop them from viewing the party.
Me: I'm feeling all of a sudden inferior, you are most kind to remind me of my rightful place, and of your obvious epicness.
Greatness: Like I said, this is an honor for you and everyone to bask in my glory. Soak it in while you can, it'll only be memory when I leave.
Me: And when will that be? Soon, I hope.
Greatness: I'm beginning to think you're being sarcastic with me.
Me: I would never consider even attempting such atrocity in your presence, your Greatness. I am only considering your own well being, it can't be healthy for you to be speaking to somebody so lowly as I.
Greatness: You know something, pal, you're right. You're not worthy. I'll have to go find some other blog to grace.
Greatness then left without saying goodbye, which I can't say I'm surprised. Clearly he is a great tank, an unmatched DPSer and omnipotent healer. a.k.a. a Paladin. I think we can all learn a lesson today, that is that you all suck at everything you do, and anything nice you do or say is all for nothing because if you aren't in the graces of Greatness himself, you're not worth anything. A valuable lesson for the weekend, I believe. Take it to heart. I know I'll sleep better knowing that I'm an idiot and an unworthy gamer.
Greatness: I'd say thank you, Gronthe, for the audience and the chance to share my story, but I'm not going to. It'll be your pleasure to listen to what I've got to say.
Me: Sounds, er great. So, why the call in the middle of the night? What could be so important?
Greatness: I've had enough of idiots in this game. ENOUGH I TELL YOU!!! Every stupid day I log in and queue for a dungeon only to meet people who say the most ridiculous things to me.
Me: Like what? Give me an example.
Greatness: Like "Hello" for one.
Me: You hate people who say "hello" to you?
Greatness: Hate? I wouldn't say I hate them, rather I've had enough of their niceness, it's sickening and it's ruining the game for everyone else.
Me: ...
Greatness: I'm at the point where I'm convinced that these idiots don't really deserve a response, so to get back at them I don't buff them and just start running at mobs the second I zone in. Being the great tank that I am, normally I can pull literally half the instance without losing so much as 1K of my health. Over and over I'm proving to all these incompetent fools how truly great I am and what do they do in return? They ask me to slow down by trying to convince me that they "need mana, just respecced" or use words like "please" and "wait for the healer". Sorry, I didn't become great by waiting for you to suck. Get up on your fingertips and follow me, wherever I go. Some of my greatness might just rub off on you...wait no, it won't...my greatness is my own.
Me: Sounds like you're upset.
Greatness: When was the last time you got anything done by working together with someone else? I'm not sure why I'm put into an instance with 4 other people anyway. I thought I selected the solo instance, it was right there on my UI, I saw it so that's what I picked.
Me: Solo dungeon option, I'll have to, er, look for that someday. But do tell me, do you feel that everyone else is stupid or just any person who wanders into your field of vision?
Greatness: Is that like a soccer field or something? Or a movie like Field of Dreams?
Me: I'm not sure what to ask you anymore, do you have a rational thought that you would like to share with my readers today?
Greatness: Rational? I've been nothing but rational. Here's my problem with others. Politeness never conquered Rome, never helped Alexander the great subdue Persia, never got anyone elected President of the USA, and certainly never got anyone into a top raiding guild.
Me: Tell me, Alexander, are you in a top raiding guild?
Greatness: No.
Me: Why?
Greatness: Because everyone else sucks. There are too many "helpful" people, willing to show others an optimal rotation or viable enchant. Too many guilds out there who share resources and support each other through an efficient use of professions. There are too many people who depend on worthless addons in an attempt to heal better or produce higher DPS, as if they will ever be able to utilize technology in such a way that it will surpass the undeniable uberness of my own synapses. Consider this an invitation to all those out there as great as I am to come join the ultimate raiding guild. We shall never fail, never wipe, never talk...because talking is for idiots. We shall be perfect in every way, just like me.
Me: Do you have any prospects for this new, perfect guild?
Greatness: No way! Everyone sucks, nobody will ever be as good as me. Nobody will ever be able to destroy an entire instance solo like I do every day. There's always there 4 other stupidly polite people watching me run throught content they could only dream about sniffing one day. They're not worthy to see me do my thing, but as yet I can't seem to stop them from viewing the party.
Me: I'm feeling all of a sudden inferior, you are most kind to remind me of my rightful place, and of your obvious epicness.
Greatness: Like I said, this is an honor for you and everyone to bask in my glory. Soak it in while you can, it'll only be memory when I leave.
Me: And when will that be? Soon, I hope.
Greatness: I'm beginning to think you're being sarcastic with me.
Me: I would never consider even attempting such atrocity in your presence, your Greatness. I am only considering your own well being, it can't be healthy for you to be speaking to somebody so lowly as I.
Greatness: You know something, pal, you're right. You're not worthy. I'll have to go find some other blog to grace.
Greatness then left without saying goodbye, which I can't say I'm surprised. Clearly he is a great tank, an unmatched DPSer and omnipotent healer. a.k.a. a Paladin. I think we can all learn a lesson today, that is that you all suck at everything you do, and anything nice you do or say is all for nothing because if you aren't in the graces of Greatness himself, you're not worth anything. A valuable lesson for the weekend, I believe. Take it to heart. I know I'll sleep better knowing that I'm an idiot and an unworthy gamer.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Taking the Plunge
Gulping in the arid desert air, I looked around to see the moon rising to its zenith, the stars glimmering in its wake, and Orgrimmar staring down at me. Me, a lonely Night Elf, alone in the night on the verge of the solo raid of a lifetime.
Well alright, perhaps it wasn't the most EPIC raid ever, but it sure got my heart racing like Lance Armstrong in the French Alps. Orgrimmar's side gate, easy access, minimal player interference. Yes, it was here that I would make my assult on the city.
Taking a deep breath I moved my trusty steed Applecider forward and took the plunge! My heart rate doubled the second I crossed the bridge, knowing that any player (non NPC) interference would spell my certain doom. Classic Dungeonmaster harkening me and Ragefire Chasm taunting me I rode through the streets with the speed of light itself.
Rounding the corner near the Horde battlemaster I encountered a small problem that I didn't foresee...a net was thrown over me, holding me down while a powerful 80 Elite orc pounded me with his sword. Chains of Ice, escape, I needed to get out of there and NOW! Success, he was too far behind me now, but others joined in the fray and were dazing me senseless, my health was fading. Down into the cavern I started to make my run, I had to turn around, even for a second, I had to find a way to slow as many pursuers as possible. 2,000 health left, I can see the instance portal in front of me.
1,500 HP
1,200 HP
1,000 HP
500 HP
AND
..................
..................
I made it, just in time, I was taunting now. HA! Now this chasim will feel my raging fire!
The whole experience was sort of a last second sort of thing. But it was fun. I've been on "For the Alliance" runs before, and it can be thrilling to enter the enemy capital city and take out its leaders. This was different, it was even more thrilling because I was alone. Not the first (looking at you, you stinking Rogues) and won't be the last to brave the challenge of Orgrimmar alone in search of the lowest of intance portals. Even if it was possible to use the Dungeon Finder, which I didn't check on purpose, I wouldn't have done it. It would not have given me a memorable experience. This...this was memorable, and totally worth killing level 13-14 elites with my all powerful 80 DK. I loved every heart pounding minute of it.
Well alright, perhaps it wasn't the most EPIC raid ever, but it sure got my heart racing like Lance Armstrong in the French Alps. Orgrimmar's side gate, easy access, minimal player interference. Yes, it was here that I would make my assult on the city.
Taking a deep breath I moved my trusty steed Applecider forward and took the plunge! My heart rate doubled the second I crossed the bridge, knowing that any player (non NPC) interference would spell my certain doom. Classic Dungeonmaster harkening me and Ragefire Chasm taunting me I rode through the streets with the speed of light itself.
Rounding the corner near the Horde battlemaster I encountered a small problem that I didn't foresee...a net was thrown over me, holding me down while a powerful 80 Elite orc pounded me with his sword. Chains of Ice, escape, I needed to get out of there and NOW! Success, he was too far behind me now, but others joined in the fray and were dazing me senseless, my health was fading. Down into the cavern I started to make my run, I had to turn around, even for a second, I had to find a way to slow as many pursuers as possible. 2,000 health left, I can see the instance portal in front of me.
1,500 HP
1,200 HP
1,000 HP
500 HP
AND
..................
..................
I made it, just in time, I was taunting now. HA! Now this chasim will feel my raging fire!
The whole experience was sort of a last second sort of thing. But it was fun. I've been on "For the Alliance" runs before, and it can be thrilling to enter the enemy capital city and take out its leaders. This was different, it was even more thrilling because I was alone. Not the first (looking at you, you stinking Rogues) and won't be the last to brave the challenge of Orgrimmar alone in search of the lowest of intance portals. Even if it was possible to use the Dungeon Finder, which I didn't check on purpose, I wouldn't have done it. It would not have given me a memorable experience. This...this was memorable, and totally worth killing level 13-14 elites with my all powerful 80 DK. I loved every heart pounding minute of it.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Friday Frivolity!
BITE ME!
I have no sentiment of frivolity today, today just SUCKS! I was born and raised in New England (you know, the 6 northeast states of the USA that collectively are known as New England, but separately known as New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massacheusetts). Dispite being a New York Yankee fan for baseball (long story) I have also been a lifelong Celtics fan. And last night they got robbed by officials on the take and the $#$%#@$%!@#$%!#$%!#$%#!$%@#$%@#$% Lakers!
Don't even argue with me, but when one team gets 37 free throw attempts and the other not even half as much, it means that the officials weren't exactly calling the game fair. Laker fans are stupid anyway, and if you are one you can go suck it, I don't care if you ever read my blog again, YOU ALL SUCK!
Not only that, but the US Soccer/Futbol team got ROBBED by a phantom call in the 86th minute against Slovenia. ROBBED! There was NO FOUL AND NO OFFSIDES. Check the freakin' replay, NOTHING HAPPENED!!!!!!
I am just so pissed today, it's not even funny. Huff, puff, huff, puff, huff, puff, I'm gonna blow all your stupid houses down! I just hate everyone today!!!!!!
BUT WAIT, ONE GOOD THING HAPPENED LAST NIGHT!
I tanked a dungeon, the Deadmines to be exact, with my level 17 Paladin. Yep, I raised a whole level too, 18.5 when I was done, SWEET! I don't have consecration yet, so there were many times mobs just kind of went wild. But we only had 1 wipe, and one extra...no two deaths after that. We downed the end boss and all his stupid rogues no sweat. All this even when a hunter in the group would pull every mob group...he was responsible for the wipe in that room with all the goblins and their stupid mechanical ELITE toys. STUPID HUNTARDS, WHAT'S YOUR FREAKIN' PROBLEM? CONTROL YOUR STUPID PET. WHAT ARE YOU, LAKERS FANS OR WORLD CUP OFFICIALS?
I'm leveling full Prot too, yep, that's right baby, no stupid Ret for me. I've gone that route and deleted 3 level 20 Pali's just cause I get irritated with lvl 80 Pali's in WG always bubbling and running around like nothing can touch them, AREN'T YOU JUST SO SPECIAL, YOU STUPID....
I'm still pissed.
So go and post some comment about a fun or witty or exciting story for Friday Frivolity, I DARE YOU! I sure as heck am not happy about anything today, LIFE SUCKS! And to top it off...no, I won't get into anything more today. Maybe the weekend we'll finish up all bosses save the Lich King himself, and I can get closer to Kingslayer.
BTW, I was so pissed last night and wanted something good, I opted in for Cataclysm Beta. Don't know if I'll get invite, but I sure would like something interesting to happen, something worth talking about.
WORLD CUP OFFICIALS SUCK!!!! CHECK THE REPLAY, THE US WON THAT GAME!!!
LAKERS FANS ARE THE DUMMEST FANS IN THE WORLD, LAKERS SUCK AND THE REFS THEY PAID OFF SUCK IT TOO!!!! GO OFF YOURSELVES!!!!
I have no sentiment of frivolity today, today just SUCKS! I was born and raised in New England (you know, the 6 northeast states of the USA that collectively are known as New England, but separately known as New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massacheusetts). Dispite being a New York Yankee fan for baseball (long story) I have also been a lifelong Celtics fan. And last night they got robbed by officials on the take and the $#$%#@$%!@#$%!#$%!#$%#!$%@#$%@#$% Lakers!
Don't even argue with me, but when one team gets 37 free throw attempts and the other not even half as much, it means that the officials weren't exactly calling the game fair. Laker fans are stupid anyway, and if you are one you can go suck it, I don't care if you ever read my blog again, YOU ALL SUCK!
Not only that, but the US Soccer/Futbol team got ROBBED by a phantom call in the 86th minute against Slovenia. ROBBED! There was NO FOUL AND NO OFFSIDES. Check the freakin' replay, NOTHING HAPPENED!!!!!!
I am just so pissed today, it's not even funny. Huff, puff, huff, puff, huff, puff, I'm gonna blow all your stupid houses down! I just hate everyone today!!!!!!
BUT WAIT, ONE GOOD THING HAPPENED LAST NIGHT!
I tanked a dungeon, the Deadmines to be exact, with my level 17 Paladin. Yep, I raised a whole level too, 18.5 when I was done, SWEET! I don't have consecration yet, so there were many times mobs just kind of went wild. But we only had 1 wipe, and one extra...no two deaths after that. We downed the end boss and all his stupid rogues no sweat. All this even when a hunter in the group would pull every mob group...he was responsible for the wipe in that room with all the goblins and their stupid mechanical ELITE toys. STUPID HUNTARDS, WHAT'S YOUR FREAKIN' PROBLEM? CONTROL YOUR STUPID PET. WHAT ARE YOU, LAKERS FANS OR WORLD CUP OFFICIALS?
I'm leveling full Prot too, yep, that's right baby, no stupid Ret for me. I've gone that route and deleted 3 level 20 Pali's just cause I get irritated with lvl 80 Pali's in WG always bubbling and running around like nothing can touch them, AREN'T YOU JUST SO SPECIAL, YOU STUPID....
I'm still pissed.
So go and post some comment about a fun or witty or exciting story for Friday Frivolity, I DARE YOU! I sure as heck am not happy about anything today, LIFE SUCKS! And to top it off...no, I won't get into anything more today. Maybe the weekend we'll finish up all bosses save the Lich King himself, and I can get closer to Kingslayer.
BTW, I was so pissed last night and wanted something good, I opted in for Cataclysm Beta. Don't know if I'll get invite, but I sure would like something interesting to happen, something worth talking about.
WORLD CUP OFFICIALS SUCK!!!! CHECK THE REPLAY, THE US WON THAT GAME!!!
LAKERS FANS ARE THE DUMMEST FANS IN THE WORLD, LAKERS SUCK AND THE REFS THEY PAID OFF SUCK IT TOO!!!! GO OFF YOURSELVES!!!!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Some Financial Facts...and some Speculation
Financials: Known as the various kinds of financial reporting instruments both required by law and required by usefulness. Not a textbook definition, but a practical one. Accountants and Management look at and analyze financials and use them as a tool for both understanding what has worked for the company but also how to proceed as to operations and strategy for the future.
We recently learned that Blizzard has drastically changed the upcoming Cataclysm feature Path of the Titans. It’ll still be there, but not really. This and a couple other omissions have left some people wondering whether Blizzard is pushing too fast to release Cataclysm, while others stand by Blizzard’s PR people in saying that the expansion “will be released when it’s ready.”
So what’s the truth? If you’re smart you must realize that the truth is always somewhere on the spectrum between two extremes. Maybe a better question is: How much influence does ActivisionBlizzard’s (I’ll use ATVI, it’s stock symbol for the rest of the post) upper management have on the development and release of Cataclysm? To get close to the answer, I believe, will require us to understand their Financials. So let’s get to it. (All my data comes directly from ATVI’s financial statements on their website and from NASDAQ.com).
A rather common but erroneous measure of a company’s financial position is its stock price. I’ve put in a graph of their stock price over the past 12 months. What do you notice?
For one it appears that the stock price as been A) Trending lower and B) Volitile. That is until you realize that over a five year period it’s gone from 6.87 to 14.85 to 8.64 to around 11.20 today. Their stock price has always been volatile, but during that same period there has definitely been a significant RISE in player subscriptions. So just looking at a stock price won’t tell us if Management is putting the pressure to release.
LEVERAGE
I like that show, but it’s moving to Sunday night on TNT so I don’t know if I’ll remember to watch. Oh, not that Leverage, financial leverage or debt. ATVI is actually in a good position. They actually do not incur any long-term debt, and their current ratio is a solid 2.91. Current Ratio measures the ability of a company to pay off short-term debt. Calculated by dividing Current Assets / Current Liabilities (Current = less than one year).
What this means that in the short term if ATVI ran into some small financial trouble, they would have sufficient assets to pay off what they owed and keep themselves afloat. ATVI also maintains a significant cash reserve, but even according to admitted risk factors, a significant drop in subscribers could easily completely use up their loss reserves, which is an undesirable event. But overall their leveraged positions are strong, there’s not much there to worry management.
EARNINGS
Now we’re getting to the meat of the issue. Earnings and all the factors and measurements off earnings are a tool managers use to strategize and make decisions. Not to say earnings are the sole factor, any analyst knows that you actually use ALL financial data and relevant reports to reach any conclusions. But expected future earnings are a factor in stock prices, which is good for shareholders.
AVTI breaks down their revenue into two categories: 1) Product Sales, and 2) Subscription, Licensing and Other Revenue. #2 is a broad range of income and consists of income generated through their relationships with retailers and other outlets and developers. Product sales are pretty self-explanatory, I hope; they sell a box of WotLK and they call that “Revenue”.
The Net Revenue over the past five years looks like this (in Millions):
2009 - $4,279
2008 - 3,026
2007 - 1,349
2006 - 1,018
2005 - 780
Consequently their Net Income (Loss) for the same time period looks like this:
2009 - $113
2008 - 107
2007 - 227
2006 - 139
2005 - 45
Per AVTI’s financial reports:
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
The primary drivers of cash flows from operating activities have typically included the collection of customer receivables generated by the sale of our products and our subscription revenues, offset by payments for taxes and to vendors for the manufacture, distribution and marketing of our products, third-party developers and intellectual property holders, and to our workforce. A significant operating use of our cash relates to our continued investment in software development and intellectual property.
We recently learned that Blizzard has drastically changed the upcoming Cataclysm feature Path of the Titans. It’ll still be there, but not really. This and a couple other omissions have left some people wondering whether Blizzard is pushing too fast to release Cataclysm, while others stand by Blizzard’s PR people in saying that the expansion “will be released when it’s ready.”
So what’s the truth? If you’re smart you must realize that the truth is always somewhere on the spectrum between two extremes. Maybe a better question is: How much influence does ActivisionBlizzard’s (I’ll use ATVI, it’s stock symbol for the rest of the post) upper management have on the development and release of Cataclysm? To get close to the answer, I believe, will require us to understand their Financials. So let’s get to it. (All my data comes directly from ATVI’s financial statements on their website and from NASDAQ.com).
A rather common but erroneous measure of a company’s financial position is its stock price. I’ve put in a graph of their stock price over the past 12 months. What do you notice?
For one it appears that the stock price as been A) Trending lower and B) Volitile. That is until you realize that over a five year period it’s gone from 6.87 to 14.85 to 8.64 to around 11.20 today. Their stock price has always been volatile, but during that same period there has definitely been a significant RISE in player subscriptions. So just looking at a stock price won’t tell us if Management is putting the pressure to release.
LEVERAGE
I like that show, but it’s moving to Sunday night on TNT so I don’t know if I’ll remember to watch. Oh, not that Leverage, financial leverage or debt. ATVI is actually in a good position. They actually do not incur any long-term debt, and their current ratio is a solid 2.91. Current Ratio measures the ability of a company to pay off short-term debt. Calculated by dividing Current Assets / Current Liabilities (Current = less than one year).
What this means that in the short term if ATVI ran into some small financial trouble, they would have sufficient assets to pay off what they owed and keep themselves afloat. ATVI also maintains a significant cash reserve, but even according to admitted risk factors, a significant drop in subscribers could easily completely use up their loss reserves, which is an undesirable event. But overall their leveraged positions are strong, there’s not much there to worry management.
EARNINGS
Now we’re getting to the meat of the issue. Earnings and all the factors and measurements off earnings are a tool managers use to strategize and make decisions. Not to say earnings are the sole factor, any analyst knows that you actually use ALL financial data and relevant reports to reach any conclusions. But expected future earnings are a factor in stock prices, which is good for shareholders.
AVTI breaks down their revenue into two categories: 1) Product Sales, and 2) Subscription, Licensing and Other Revenue. #2 is a broad range of income and consists of income generated through their relationships with retailers and other outlets and developers. Product sales are pretty self-explanatory, I hope; they sell a box of WotLK and they call that “Revenue”.
The Net Revenue over the past five years looks like this (in Millions):
2009 - $4,279
2008 - 3,026
2007 - 1,349
2006 - 1,018
2005 - 780
Consequently their Net Income (Loss) for the same time period looks like this:
2009 - $113
2008 - 107
2007 - 227
2006 - 139
2005 - 45
Per AVTI’s financial reports:
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
The primary drivers of cash flows from operating activities have typically included the collection of customer receivables generated by the sale of our products and our subscription revenues, offset by payments for taxes and to vendors for the manufacture, distribution and marketing of our products, third-party developers and intellectual property holders, and to our workforce. A significant operating use of our cash relates to our continued investment in software development and intellectual property.
AVTI even exceeded Q1 2010 expectations by posting $1.3B in Revenue (1.1B expected), with total cash and investments totaling $3.4B (3.3 expected). They anticipate $700M for Q2 and $4.2B for the entire year 2010. Additionally, their EPS (or earnings per share) have also exceeded expectations. So financially speaking, they are reaching their goals for revenue and even recently exceeding their expectations. That’s got to have management in a good mood. As part of their expectations they still anticipate to release Cataclysm in 2010, so whatever revenues generated from those product sales are included into their $4.2B estimate.
Unfortunately, AVTI’s P/E Ratio is not one of the best in their industry. Yes, there are future expectations of revenue, but there are significant risks to AVTI’s products and operations. In their own words, let me share what they see are some, just some of those risks. These may seem obvious, but to see them written and admitted to makes them legitimate and worth consideration.
RISKS
* A continuing deterioration of general economic conditions could result in a reduction in discretionary spending by consumers that could reduce demand for our product.
* We depend on a relatively small number of franchises for a significant portion of our revenues and profits. (i.e. Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, and World of Warcraft account for approximately 68% of all net revenues for the year ended Dec 31, 2009. Additionally, revenues associated with the World of Warcraft franchises accounted for 98%, 97%, and 97% of Blizzard’s consolidated net revenues for the years ended Dec 31 2009, 2008, and 2007 respectively)
* A substantial portion of our revenue and profitability will depend on the subscription –based MMORPG category. If we do not maintain our leadership position in this category, our financial results could suffer. To remain a leader in the MMORPG category, it is important that we continue to refresh World of Warcraft or develop new MMORPG products that are favorably received by both our existing customer base and new customers.
* The future success of our business depends on our ability to release popular products in a timely manner.
* If our products contain defects, our business could be harmed significantly.
Bored yet?
I hope not, because simply by looking into their financial reports we see a few interesting things. First is that without WoW, Blizzard would fail…at least as we know them now. Unless they introduced something else to take it’s place, they still rely on product sales and continued subscriptions of WoW to keep their business a viable business. They are very interested in making a good product. VERY. They realize that if they send Cataclysm to the retail floors of Wal-Mart, Target, GameStop, whatever that it needs to be a product with as few defects as possible and a gaming experience worthy of the subscribership they need to remain financially viable.
I’ve thought a lot about this, and I think I realize that the truth definitely is in the middle on this one. Yes, top brass is whispering in the ears of the developers to get the product launched in the time they set forth who knows how long ago. In the meantime, the devs are working their brains off to get it done…THE RIGHT WAY. I don’t envy them in the slightest. It can’t be an easy job to satisfy enough people to earn over 4 billion a year in revenue. Yet each year they seem to meet or exceed their revenue goals. Now there are other financial factors that are incredibly boring to discuss at the moment, so I won’t ever go there.
But I think it’s clear that they are trying. I don’t think they scrapped PotT because they couldn’t meet a deadline, financially speaking it’s better for them to put out a good product than to put out a product by X date. So in a way I believe it when they say that it “will be released when it’s ready”…as long as it’s this year so that the shareholders get their money’s worth!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The True Hero
Given the audience it won't come as a big surprise that one of my favorite movies is The Lord of the Rings trio of movies. I also love any movie Denzel Washington is in because he's just so darn magnetic. Aside from my obvious man-crush, I enjoy movies and stories with great characters.
A debate has raged on in my own mind, a debate that I vocalize with my wife more often than she would like, is 'who is the true hero of Lord of the Rings, Frodo or Sam?'. More importantly, what does this have to do with you or me who play World of Warcraft. Stick around, I'll attempt to make the connection.
To determine who the true hero it has been required of me to not only define the term hero but to further define the words that define hero (I hope that's not too confusing). According to Webster's Dictionary a hero is:
a : a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability b : an illustrious warrior c : a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d : one that shows great courage
Wow, neither Frodo nor Samwise fit either A or B from above definition. C is only partial, since they are not men they are clearly Hobbits. So I guess we'll have to go with part of C and all of D to help further the case for one or the other.
Frodo: Did he display courage and noble qualities in his quest to fulfill and achieve his goal?
Samwise: Ditto
They both fit that description, crap! That means that they are equally heroes, and that just can't be. I'll have to throw in my own reasoning at this point. A hero must display this courage and other noble qualities while under the hand of suffering. Who suffered more, Frodo or Sam? Frodo carried the ring for far longer than Sam. It's weight, it's power a constant and unwelcome companion through many trials. For all that Sam did to help lift and support his master to the slopes of Mount Doom, clearly Sam did not suffer as a much as Frodo, which clearly makes Frodo the superior hero.
But wait, define suffering? Does suffering include in it a component of sacrifice? If so then is it not fair to say that Sam, knowing the danger he went into and knowing all that he left behind in the Shire offered up the greater sacrifice? He left a place he loved and a hobbit lady he loved to serve his master whom he also loved to the bitter end. He entered a tower filled with orcs against all judgement, he defended himself and Frodo against the wiles of Gollum to the best of h is ability. And even when Gollum thought he had Sam and Frodo trapped, it was Sam who found a way to defeat Shelob, displaying courage not even the greatest of Elf warriors ever displayed. And when all of his strength had abandoned him and his master, it was Sam who, despite the loss of strength, conjured the will to lift his master onto his back and carry him up the side of Mount Doom. Clearly, does this not indicate a greater sacrifice and overt courage than Frodo? Clearly Sam was the true hero.
At the end, however, what was sacrificed by Frodo if not his whole life and soul. Some say that he was weak and lost to the power of the ring, but I think his display of heroism proved that the most noble and courageous are imperfect. So when he claimed the ring for his own it was the epitomy of his sacrificing his life in his quest to destroy the ring. He lost everything, he always believed he would, and yet he persisted toward his goal. Without a doubt, Frodo was the true hero.
___________________
My friends, let us talk shop here. Let us understand each other. We play a game, a fun game, and exciting game, a game with lore, beauty, purpose. We, each of us, can be a hero as great as Frodo or Sam. I'm not talking about giving your life, that would be stupid. What I mean is that the defining characteristic of both of those heroes was they made a choice, a conscience decision to strive to achieve something so many believed to be a hopeless journey. Larisa has suggested, as she did on a comment here, to cut down on blog reading and the such to avoid the negativity that exists from those who have been around for a while and are not as excited as those few who are still fairly new to the game and still enjoy the smallest pleasures.
I understand her now, I get it and it makes sense. Every now and then I may say something ragefilled, but do not construe it as me being fed up with the game and on the verge of a break. I have learned my lesson already, and learned it the hard way. You see, when I first reached 80 I went into a frenzy. For some reason I was always anxious that I was behind the progression curve of every other 80. I was always fighting to gear up and progress up, but my own personality and overly shy attitude often froze me into inaction.
But then I made a choice. I made the choice to remember what I loved about the game, what I enjoyed doing and why I loved it so. That choice saved this game for me, it kept the spark alive. I am a big believer in choice and that only your choices affect your attitude. There may be circumstances outside your control that affect your external life, but you can always choose how you feel about it and how you react to it.
We don't control (directly and absolutely) what changes are made to the game we love. Some changes we like others we don't, but how we react to those changes is up to us. I can't wait until Cataclysm, I think that there are a lot of changes to the world that I will truly enjoy. But until then I've decided to keep on having fun in whatever way I feel like the moment I log in every night. If I feel like leveling a new toon, raiding ICC, trying to get a group to run Naxx or Ulduar, or doing Argent Tournament dailies, or making gold, or taking my 80's into lower level dungeons that I've never seen just to see it I will do it.
I can understand it if people get tired or bored or lethargic, I really do get it. I think it's mostly a natural response when you've been at the same things for years. Luckily I ain't there, I'm here, still considering myself new. And Larisa, I'm still gonna read blogs (but more guarded now). If I see negativity I'm gonna check back another day and see if there's something positive. I don't mind negativity as long as the arguments aren't based on offending rather than working to solve a problem. Still, I rather follow the examples of two of the greatest heroes of fantasy literature, speaking of course of Frodo and Sam, who made a choice that changed their lives and the lives of all those they influenced by their actions. Maybe I can do the same, or Larisa, or you or somebody else in the blogosphere.
Have fun, stay positive, remember those good things that made you love this game in the first place and do them! Be the true hero by your choice!
By the way, the winner was Frodo, but I still love Sam. Not as much as Denzel, but I still love 'em all.
A debate has raged on in my own mind, a debate that I vocalize with my wife more often than she would like, is 'who is the true hero of Lord of the Rings, Frodo or Sam?'. More importantly, what does this have to do with you or me who play World of Warcraft. Stick around, I'll attempt to make the connection.
To determine who the true hero it has been required of me to not only define the term hero but to further define the words that define hero (I hope that's not too confusing). According to Webster's Dictionary a hero is:
a : a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability b : an illustrious warrior c : a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d : one that shows great courage
Wow, neither Frodo nor Samwise fit either A or B from above definition. C is only partial, since they are not men they are clearly Hobbits. So I guess we'll have to go with part of C and all of D to help further the case for one or the other.
Frodo: Did he display courage and noble qualities in his quest to fulfill and achieve his goal?
Samwise: Ditto
They both fit that description, crap! That means that they are equally heroes, and that just can't be. I'll have to throw in my own reasoning at this point. A hero must display this courage and other noble qualities while under the hand of suffering. Who suffered more, Frodo or Sam? Frodo carried the ring for far longer than Sam. It's weight, it's power a constant and unwelcome companion through many trials. For all that Sam did to help lift and support his master to the slopes of Mount Doom, clearly Sam did not suffer as a much as Frodo, which clearly makes Frodo the superior hero.
But wait, define suffering? Does suffering include in it a component of sacrifice? If so then is it not fair to say that Sam, knowing the danger he went into and knowing all that he left behind in the Shire offered up the greater sacrifice? He left a place he loved and a hobbit lady he loved to serve his master whom he also loved to the bitter end. He entered a tower filled with orcs against all judgement, he defended himself and Frodo against the wiles of Gollum to the best of h is ability. And even when Gollum thought he had Sam and Frodo trapped, it was Sam who found a way to defeat Shelob, displaying courage not even the greatest of Elf warriors ever displayed. And when all of his strength had abandoned him and his master, it was Sam who, despite the loss of strength, conjured the will to lift his master onto his back and carry him up the side of Mount Doom. Clearly, does this not indicate a greater sacrifice and overt courage than Frodo? Clearly Sam was the true hero.
At the end, however, what was sacrificed by Frodo if not his whole life and soul. Some say that he was weak and lost to the power of the ring, but I think his display of heroism proved that the most noble and courageous are imperfect. So when he claimed the ring for his own it was the epitomy of his sacrificing his life in his quest to destroy the ring. He lost everything, he always believed he would, and yet he persisted toward his goal. Without a doubt, Frodo was the true hero.
___________________
My friends, let us talk shop here. Let us understand each other. We play a game, a fun game, and exciting game, a game with lore, beauty, purpose. We, each of us, can be a hero as great as Frodo or Sam. I'm not talking about giving your life, that would be stupid. What I mean is that the defining characteristic of both of those heroes was they made a choice, a conscience decision to strive to achieve something so many believed to be a hopeless journey. Larisa has suggested, as she did on a comment here, to cut down on blog reading and the such to avoid the negativity that exists from those who have been around for a while and are not as excited as those few who are still fairly new to the game and still enjoy the smallest pleasures.
I understand her now, I get it and it makes sense. Every now and then I may say something ragefilled, but do not construe it as me being fed up with the game and on the verge of a break. I have learned my lesson already, and learned it the hard way. You see, when I first reached 80 I went into a frenzy. For some reason I was always anxious that I was behind the progression curve of every other 80. I was always fighting to gear up and progress up, but my own personality and overly shy attitude often froze me into inaction.
But then I made a choice. I made the choice to remember what I loved about the game, what I enjoyed doing and why I loved it so. That choice saved this game for me, it kept the spark alive. I am a big believer in choice and that only your choices affect your attitude. There may be circumstances outside your control that affect your external life, but you can always choose how you feel about it and how you react to it.
We don't control (directly and absolutely) what changes are made to the game we love. Some changes we like others we don't, but how we react to those changes is up to us. I can't wait until Cataclysm, I think that there are a lot of changes to the world that I will truly enjoy. But until then I've decided to keep on having fun in whatever way I feel like the moment I log in every night. If I feel like leveling a new toon, raiding ICC, trying to get a group to run Naxx or Ulduar, or doing Argent Tournament dailies, or making gold, or taking my 80's into lower level dungeons that I've never seen just to see it I will do it.
I can understand it if people get tired or bored or lethargic, I really do get it. I think it's mostly a natural response when you've been at the same things for years. Luckily I ain't there, I'm here, still considering myself new. And Larisa, I'm still gonna read blogs (but more guarded now). If I see negativity I'm gonna check back another day and see if there's something positive. I don't mind negativity as long as the arguments aren't based on offending rather than working to solve a problem. Still, I rather follow the examples of two of the greatest heroes of fantasy literature, speaking of course of Frodo and Sam, who made a choice that changed their lives and the lives of all those they influenced by their actions. Maybe I can do the same, or Larisa, or you or somebody else in the blogosphere.
Have fun, stay positive, remember those good things that made you love this game in the first place and do them! Be the true hero by your choice!
By the way, the winner was Frodo, but I still love Sam. Not as much as Denzel, but I still love 'em all.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Call to Frolic!
The world needs more frolicers. Especially the World of Warcraft. Oh sure, you may debate that the world we play in is that of Warcraft, but the FACT is that every army this world has ever seen has set aside time to relax, have fun, let their hair down and maybe, just maybe frolic.
Let's take the Civil War (in the US) for an example. Has anyone ever seen the movie Glory? I'm probably older than most of you, but if you had any taste or sensibility you would find a way to watch this movie.
Let's take the Civil War (in the US) for an example. Has anyone ever seen the movie Glory? I'm probably older than most of you, but if you had any taste or sensibility you would find a way to watch this movie.
In short, it's the story of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry made up entirely of African-American men, except for the officers (the story is actually told from the perspective of the commanding officer, Colnel Robert Gould Shaw - a white dude). One of the iconic moments for me in the film is when the 54th is assembled after many long days of training around the troop's campfire. All of their stress, all of their worries, all of their trials and tribulations are absorbed in a musical and religious song - with periodic spoken statements of hope and faith by the soldiers.
Shaw relates in a letter to his father how amazing it is to him how the men can relax and laugh with each other so easily despite the difficult training and living conditions and the knowledge that many of them may very well meet their end one day. It's so easy for them to play games when the day's duties are over. Admittedly I don't recall any frolicing going on, but then again I wasn't actually alive to witness it. I like to think that somebody was having a frolic.
So after a raid, do you frolic? Before a raid, to get your mind free and clear for what will soon become havoc and confusion, do you frolic? Please dont' say "I need to focus before a fight" or "after a raid I just need to sleep". Please! To frolic is to release, to relax one's mind and free it from worry and stress. You will sleep much better if you run around the woods spawning lifebloom and singing to the deer. Not only that but it will make you smile.
You've got to try it, at least once. Frolic! Do something impulsive, merry, fun! Run around singing Phantom of the Opera or reciting Emerson or bellowing out Nirvana, I don't care. Just Frolic!
If, after you've tried it you don't feel better I will guarantee a refund of all your morose, melancholy, moody, stressed out feeling free of charge. I dare say that if frolicing doesn't improve your mood, you probably deserve to feel stressed out and tired. So good luck with that!
As for Glory, don't watch it thinking it will make you frolic, but it's still one of the greatest movies ever made. I fell in love with Denzel Washington because of that movie. But what the 54th teaches us I challenge you to do. When your job of raiding or dailies or randoms is over, take time to relax and enjoy the world around you. Take time each day to frolic...it'll be the best 2 minutes of your day.
Hooray for frolicing!
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