Biggs' Zone

A Geek's Cogitations, Conjectures and other Cortical Experiences

The MMO Times – And We’re Back

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On August 16, 2012

In Gaming, MMO Times, MMORPG

Issue 43

Sorry for the AFK, Gamers. I became pretty swamped at work and I just didn’t have the time to read up on the latest MMO rumblings. I hope all of you found the time to perhaps read up on a few of stories on your own. Of course the biggest news to come out over the past two weeks is that in November SWTOR will adopt a Free-2-Play model. More on that in this issue.

Guild Wars 2 and the next WoW expansion are on the horizon and there is more details about MoP in this issue. If you are a DCUO fan, there is more DLC coming in September and more for the RIFT expansion and new Secret World content as well. Gamescom was this week so that probably explains the flood of new announcements coming out this week. Read on and game on, friends!

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Biggs On: SWTOR Going F2P

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On August 11, 2012

In Biggs On, SWTOR

I have to admit, while I knew that Bioware would eventually go F2P with SWTOR, I wasn’t expecting it to happen so soon. I know this game has been under very heavy scrutiny by players and gaming pundits since its release, and now they are all screaming “First” upon the Free-2-Play announcement. It does sadden me that this game has become such a flop because I honestly really enjoy this game, though I am beginning to understand the end-game criticisms.

What does Free-2-Play mean for me? Well I think I am going to try to maintain my subscription until it becomes Free-2-Play and then make the switch, especially since I will be playing Mists of Pandaria. I hope to have earned enough Cartel Coins to unlock some of the F2P restrictions so I don’t notice the changes so much. There are many that are saying that this will save the game, and in a way I hope it does. I know that the servers will likely become flooded with players and trolls.

Honestly its the trolls that have me most concerned.I know there will be trolls that will make it their purpose in life to grief players by trying to belittle Bioware and the game as much as possible. I hope that people will take advantage of the ignore list and other methods to diffuse the trolls instead of abandoning the game. Unfortunately all the trolls will also contribute to any login queues.

I hope the decision to go Free-2-Play is a success. I hope to see Bioware receive the same returns as SOE did with DCUO. I am excited that it seems several of my friends will be returning to the game when it does go Free-2-Play and the ability to use my Cartel Coins to unlock some of the restrictions is pretty cool.

Passion and Humility

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On August 1, 2012

In General Cogitation

I firmly believe people should be passionate about the things they believe in and enjoy but I’ve learned recently that its important to know limits. You can be passionate to a fault. If you don’t learn to know your limits you become obtuse and irrational. If you do know when you have reached your limit, you also learn humility. I have learned this lesson recently and its a tough thing to swallow because unfortunately I became obtuse and irrational before I discovered humility.

While I’m not going to mention specifically what brought me to this uncomfortable place, it might become obvious to some. I really wanted something to succeed and I did all I could to present a positive image despite all the negative feedback and news that seemed to happen on a daily basis. The more people cried and spat the more I became angry at how ugly they were making it out to be. The recent statistics are indisputable which has only proven the ugly truth that the trolls have been spouting all along.

I have been taught a painful and valuable lesson in humility. It isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last time because despite the fact that I fought a losing battle I still remained true to my beliefs. This is what is good and bad about American politics and the feuding political parties. It’s good to see people fighting for what they believe in but some fight it so blindly that they do not allow room for compromise and defeat. This is an equal flaw among both parties.

So I have decided that while I will continue to support my passion, despite what the future holds for it, and ignore all the negative comments and news. I don’t care anymore. I will not let it affect my enjoyment even if I am in the minority. Life is too short to allow “me too” trolls to burden my passions.

The MMO Times: Mechs, Pandas and More!

By

On July 26, 2012

In Gaming, MMO Times, MMORPG

Issue 42

Greetings Gamers. I want to start this issue off by offering my thoughts and prayers to the families of the Aurora movie massacre. It’s awful that such a thing could happen but don’t let that discourage you from seeing the movie. Its a great film and a great finale to The Dark Knight Trilogy (you can read my review here). I’ve only managed to see it once but I would see it multiple times (if it weren’t so expensive to see a movie in the theater).

So if you have the Guild Wars 2 beta test out of your system (unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to participate in the beta) and you are on a break between your viewings of TDKR, check out the following headlines. It has been a pretty interesting week this week. Of course some big announcements from Blizzard (which I’m sure most of you have already heard) as well as some more MechWarrior Online videos. Read on and enjoy!

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Soapbox: Movie Theater Etiquette

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On July 24, 2012

In Soapbox

I recently saw a movie and I rarely see a movie in the theater, mainly because I think its too expensive to see movies anymore. I really dislike movies that are only available in 3D because I really don’t want to pay an extra $4 per ticket just for a gimmick whose fad is starting to wane. But I digress.

So my past movie theater experience was The Dark Knight Rises (you can read my review of it here) and I had a rather rude stranger sitting next to me. He started by arriving late so his girlfriend kept texting and calling him but it was only during the previews so it wasn’t that upsetting, but it set the precedent for the remainder of the evening. He sat right next to me and seemed to want to check his texts or respond to texts every 10 minutes. In fact at one point he was talking on the phone to his girlfriend who he sent out to get him pizza (from the local pizza place located in the same building as the theater).

I couldn’t believe how rude and obnoxious this asshat was. There were a few times I became really tempted to start screwing with the guy. I even thought about trying to reach over and grab a slice of his pizza. In fact I think from now on if you are sitting next to me and you feel the need to read and respond to your text messages, expect to share your messages with me. If I see you reading and sending texts I am going to purposefully look at your phone. I’m not going to try to hide it either. I am going to lean over so you can feel my breath on your neck because obviously your text messages are more interesting then the movie.

There is a reason that theaters have the promotions that play just before the movie asking all patrons to turn their phones off. All of us paid to watch the movie but your texts and phone conversations are not part of the experience, unless you are sitting next to me … then I will make them part of my experience.

/end soapbox

Movie Review: The Dark Knight Rises

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On July 21, 2012

In General Cogitation, Movies, Reviews

[rating: 5]

Starring: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman

Synopsis: It has been 8 years since Batman took the blame for Harvey Dent’s evil indiscretions and in that time nobody has seen or heard from Batman or Bruce Wayne. Now a new evil emerges connected to Bruce Wayne’s past, Bane. Now Batman must learn to accept the past tragedies and save Gotham once again but he isn’t alone as some new allies come to his aid.

Biggs’ Review:The previous Batman franchise began degrading after the second film, when Tim Burton was no longer involved with the movie and Michael Keaton was no longer Batman. This was the stigma Christopher Nolan had to overcome. The fact that this film kept the same director and the same actors for all three films already puts it ahead of its predecessors.

I would say that The Dark Knight (the second film) is the best movie of the franchise but this movie definitely comes in second place. I thought Tom Hardy was incredible as Bane. Just as Heath Ledger, you hardly knew it was Tom Hardy but Heath Ledger’s Joker is still far more legendary. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was also incredible. I really liked him in this movie and his character’s story takes on an unexpected twist at the end. In fact the end of the movie leaves a few options open for a spin off or two. Christopher Nolan does a great job of wrapping up his Dark Knight trilogy. I think one of the best things about this movie, its not in 3D!

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