We Fly Spitfires – MMORPG Blog

Warrior talents. Now with 50% less fluff and 75% less choice.

My first experience with a talent system was back in 2001 when SOE introduced the Alternative Advancement concept with the Shadows of Luclin expansion for Everquest. I never got a chance to experience AAs until later in my EQ career as it was only accessible to high level characters (I was too busy starting feline alts and mooing over the new graphics engine to reach the level cap at the time) but I always got the impression that it was designed more as a way to extend player progression rather than anything else. Over time the AA system evolved, became more intricate, and soon found it’s way into other MMOs in one form or another.

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Introducing the iDish. Another way to ruin your perfectly good iPad.

As you can see from the image, this weeks BotR is dedicated to Japanese innovation, ingenuity and versatility in the face of new products. Via Kirainet I found this wonderful article about an Otaku who thought to answer the question all iPad owners ponder: “what would happen if I used my iPad as a dish?”. The result saw the birth of the iDish, portable food consumption platform with exchangeable backgrounds. New product for Apple, mayhaps?

Anyway, onward to glory with links from the MMO blogosphere!

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Sins of a Solar Empire. Meaningless title. Brilliant game.

I’ve been playing a bit of Sins of a Solar Empire again and boy oh boy, is it a damn fine game. It’s your usual real-time strategy sci-fi affair in the same vein as Star Wars: Empire at War and Homefront and if you’ve never played it before then I’d highly recommend that you give it a shot (and find yourself saying “damn, what a fine game” in the process). Although MMORPGs are my favourite gaming genre, RTS’ are up near the top of my list too and recently I’ve been pondering what would happen if they both were to combine and produce some sort of crazy mutated MMORTS offspring.

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Sometimes you get those rare PuGs in which bears dance. Treasure them.

I’ve noticed a bit of an odd trend in WoW PuGs recently – everyone I meet is afraid to be friendly. Notice I said ‘afraid’ and not unwilling or unable. I’m no psychologist it’s true (please don’t tell the veterans hospital where I moonlight on the weekends), but the lack kinship that’s occurring seems to be more than just plain rude manners or late of netiquette. In fact, I think it boils down to players being a) reluctant to form lasting relationships because they know that they’ll probably never see any of the other party member’s again and b) they’re scared they’ll be insulted or derided if they come out of their shell too much. It’s all a rather sad state of affairs.

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How long before Activision Blizzard Facebook Google?

Here’s A Story

I start a company with the intent of making the most perfect-amazing-high-quality games/toys/movies/tampons/electric hedgehogs. I work my ass off day and night, with no weekends and few holidays, slowly establishing a presence as the premium creator of games/toys/movies/tampons/electric hedgehogs. I sell the best items you can get and pride myself on the integrity that drives my company and all of my employees. Life is good for everyone. For a while.

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I have no idea who this guy is (but at least he has a card to tell me)

So much can happen in a week on the Internet. Blizzard went from announcing the mandatory use of Real ID on all of their products forums to rescinding the decision by the weeks end. This change had a little something to do with the huge shit storm they created and the (almost) unanimously negative reaction it received. The screams started on the forums, moved to the blogs and soon hit some rather major news networks around the globe. It’s a nice feeling to know that sometimes public pressure is enough to carry out the will of the people and influence even the biggest of companies.

In attempt to stir up more trouble, here’s a bunch of Real ID related articles from across the blogosphere:

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"Blizzard, I have you now"

Ah BioWare, thee who can do no wrong, how I love you so. Come hither and perch upon the pedastol before me so you might bask in my admiration.

Sound familiar? Turn the clock back 7 years and that might have been SOE I was talking about. Everquest was at it’s peak with it’s highest number of subscribers ever (just shy of 500k) and some hugely hyped Star Wars based MMO was right on the verge of release. But then something happened. Over the next few years SOE made a handful of bad decisions (most notably the NGE for SWG) and suddenly all faith in them was lost. Justly or not, SOE had turned from the Kings of the MMO genre to the butt of every harsh remark about screwing over the fan base and selling out their morals. $OE was their new name and woe was them.

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