Biggs' Zone

A Geek's Cogitations, Conjectures and other Cortical Experiences

Springing Forward

The MMO Times: Springing Forward!!!

By

On March 10, 2016

In Gaming, MMO Times, MMORPG

spring-time-wowIssue 141: Greetings again, gamers!!! As we prepare to spring forward (March 13th DST starts) we start to see launch dates and beta announcements. Btw, is the US the only country that does the whole “spring forward/fall back” nonsense for Daylight Savings Time?? In any event, as the Daystar remains in the sky longer for us, we may only retire to our hovels later in the day (it is good to get outside sometimes) and when we do, we have a plethora of games we can play.

Obviously the big news is the launch day announcement for Overwatch so there are more details on that in this issue. While we are on the topic of Blizzard games, there is also interesting foreshadowing for Hearthstone. Valve is taking steps into the future and they are using Portal as the catalyst. Microsoft kills off another of its titles but a new multiplayer trailer for the New Doom is tearing some heads. KCGO

Read More

Is Virtual Reality the Next Evolution in Gaming

Is Virtual Reality the Next Evolution in Gaming?

By

On March 9, 2016

In Gaming, Technology

At the Consumer Electronics Show this year there was a rather predominate theme among some of the tech companies: Virtual Reality (VR). Microsoft’s Hololens, HTC’s Vive, the Oculus Rift are currently the big three in Virtual Reality. Gaming companies like Valve, are starting to experiment using VR in some of their titles (i.e. The Lab).

HTC Vive

HTC Vive

Activision, Id, etc have their R&D departments burning the midnight oil to find the next big breakthrough in gaming. So that begs the question: is Virtual Reality the next evolution in gaming?

I’ve had the unique opportunity to try out VR goggles, specifically the Oculus Rift and it’s not for these that are easily motion sick. It was really, really cool but it can make you sick rather quickly. Using that experience and my imagination, albeit limited, and injecting that into a game like Portal and an amazing world appears in my mind’s eye. I can only imagine what VR would be like in other titles (Doom, Halo, COD, etc). It makes me giddy like a school girl.

If you’ve read Ready Player One, it seems we are getting closer to living in a world where OASIS is reality but we are probably still decades away from strapping ourselves into full body gaming gear like Wade Watts and entering a virtual world to go to school, work and play games. (P.S. If you haven’t read Ready Player One, you need to read that now, especially if you were an 80’s kid).

So all the drooling and daydreaming aside, is VR where we really want gaming to go? We are all already pouring hundreds of dollars a year into subscriptions and expansions and new titles, do we really want to dole out a years worth of subscription payments to buy gear that might make you motion sick? Most of the time when I’m playing my games, I don’t want to be fully immersed. I prefer to be aware of what else is going on around me. I often have something playing on Netflix in the same room when I’m on my PC (assuming I’m not raiding or doing something else that requires my undivided attention). Also, being aware of my surroundings helps me remain aware of how much time has elapsed. My biggest fear of something like VR is losing complete track of time and space. I have a really bad habit of losing track of time just playing console games so the more immersive the game the easier it becomes to be negligent.

It’s the nerd-vs-the-pragmatist in me that leaves me wondering if VR will ever be worth the time and money investment. In fact, will VR even be viable for the average gamer instead of just the affluent gamer. I’m not going to be too quick to judge because if companies want it to be the next great thing then they will figure out how to make it more readily available for even the most frugal of gamers. Well, that and they have to figure out how to keep us all from throwing up after every boss fight.

What are your thoughts?

/cheers

minion_keboard_smI could get so much more accomplished if I only had minions!

The MMO Times: Another Bloody Fortnight!!

By

On March 4, 2016

In Gaming, MMO Times, MMORPG

dh-headerIssue 140: Yes, it has been a while since we have had one of these. Quite honestly the MMO news and gaming news hasn’t been that interesting. We are in that stagnant waiting period during which, I assume, publishers are working on their budgets for the year and things are churning away in beta (i.e. Overwatch). I wish there had been more things to read about to take us all away from the frustrating weather and the hostile circus that is the 2016 Presidential Race. 

I apologize that this is actually a week later than I originally intended to post it but things became really busy at work. I have to admit, I didn’t keep the news limited just to MMO titles. There are a couple console and non-MMO titles mentioned in this issue but the reason is primarily because of their geek canon (such as classic 90’s games and iconic nerdy celebrities). Final Fantasy XIV has some new content live and so does Star Wars: Battlefront. KCGO.

Read More

Gaming: Where Have The Times Gone??

By

On February 23, 2016

In Gaming, MMORPG

Gaming: Where Have The Times Gone?

[dropcap]I[/dropcap] haven’t posted anything related to gaming in a couple of weeks. It hasn’t been a lack of interest, I still log in to my World of Warcraft account daily, its been a lack of interesting news articles. Perhaps the first quarter all the game makers are busy working on their respective products and don’t really have a lot they can share with the community right now. At least I certainly hope that is the reason for such a long silence. The only real tidbit of news that seemed remotely interesting was the return of the Overwatch beta, which started back on February 9th. I have said a few times, I won’t create an “MMO Times” just for the sake of creating an MMO Times post if there isn’t anything that is worth reading. I won’t waste your time like that.

I’ve also been quite busy with my recent “Biggs Lab” projects, which I will provide an update on that soon. In the meantime I will keep watching the gaming news and hopefully we will have something interesting to talk about soon. In the spirit of the WRUP (What R U Playing) articles often found on Blizzard Watch, what have you been doing to pass the time lately (in the gaming world)? Depending on what part of the world you live in, I know the weather hasn’t been conducive to much exterior entertainment. Obviously Star Wars The Force Awakens was the best form of entertainment in the recent months but that can get expensive (even for a die hard fan like myself). Are you hitting other MMOs? Are you playing some new console titles; perhaps ones you may have received for Christmas? Sadly all of my consoles are out of commission until I complete my work networking the house so I haven’t been able to play the XBox or Wii lately.

/cheers

minion_keboard_smI could get so much more accomplished if I only had minions!

Still Enjoy The Smell Of A Book

By

On February 19, 2016

In General Cogitation, Technology

Still Enjoy The Smell Of A BookAs technology evolves, new gadgets come out that change the way we evolve and as a geek I love to embrace that new technology. Also, as a geek, I love to read and I’ve been reading physical books long before there were e-readers. I do own an e-reader and I do use it but I still enjoy the smell of a book. There is also something elegant and nostalgic about the tactile properties of holding a book and turning the pages. Often times I am in the middle of two books at the same time. One on an e-reader and one in print and I have literally sat by the fireplace, in my recliner, reading a book.

Do I prefer one over the other? Not really. I probably use both pretty equally. I have plenty of books in print that I haven’t read yet and I intend to still read them, in their physical form. I don’t see the point in purchasing the digital versions of the books because, in my mind, that would be like buying a second copy. Granted, digital books definitely save on shelf space but with printed books you don’t have to worry about dead batteries or a crashed device. On the other hand, when I travel for vacation, I usually read a lot and I never know how quickly I might finish a book so the e-reader comes in quite handy. It’s a lot easier to have a library at your fingertips than to try to pack a library in your suitcase.

I’m not going to advocate for one format or the other. People should choose which they prefer for themselves and refrain from putting the other down. I do often worry that we will lose brick and mortar bookstores and libraries because there is nothing better than the look and smell of a bookstore or library. I could spend hours in a bookstore wishing I had the cash to buy every book that looked interesting; but I digress.

Whether you prefer physical books, ebooks or both I think its great that you read enough to have a preference. I hope, with all the technology today, kids still take the time to read a book (before seeing the movie). Reading will not only improve your vocabulary (which can make the difference between having a job and unemployment) but will also improve your creativity and critical thinking skills. Indulging in a good book is also a great way to relieve stress, for kids and adults alike.

/cheers

minion_keboard_smI could get so much more accomplished if I only had minions!
Empire (In Her Name: Redemption)

Book Review: Armada by Ernest Cline

By

On February 9, 2016

In Book Review, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Armada by Ernest ClineArmada by Ernest Cline
My rating: [rating=5]
(Click here to see this review on Goodreads.)

Another great, nerd-filled classic by the Ohio native. As most fans of Ready Player One, I was very excited when I heard about Armada. He does succeed, again, in stirring those nostalgic nerdy memories from my childhood with various references to games and movies I played/watched growing up. I will admit, however, perhaps the references were a little too prolific, especially at the beginning of the book, but I could tell Ernest Cline was writing a book that was fulfilling a childhood fantasy. The same childhood fantasy all of us had playing video games in the 90s and watching Star Wars and The Last Starfighter.

Despite the abundant movie references, and the teasing at the end which lead me to believe there would be a sequel, I still gave this book 5 Stars. Ender’s Game is one of my all time favorite books and Armada felt like a combination of Ender’s Game and The Last Starfighter and turned out to be an excellent juxtaposition.

When Zack learns what he is destined to do, the book becomes impossible to put down. I found myself sneaking in a page or two when the toddler and the wife were distracted; or I went an extra minute on the stationary bike just to keep reading. In fact there were a couple of nights where I was reading until 1 in the morning, allotting me only 4 hours of sleep for the night. There are, literally, only a handful of books where that has happened to me in the past.

Thank you, Ernest Cline, for another epic nerd-themed book. Thank you for taking me back, once again, to my childhood days and the games and movies of the 80’s and 90’s, and I’m looking forward to the next great novel!

View all my reviews

The Force. It calls to you. Just let it in.

Page 96 of 181

Previous

Next

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén