Biggs' Zone

A Geek's Cogitations, Conjectures and other Cortical Experiences

The MMO Times: Oktoberfest *burp* Edition

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On October 2, 2013

In Gaming, MMO Times, MMORPG

mmotimesheaderIIIssue 90: Guten Tag! I hope all of you have had a safe and fun Oktoberfest this year! I know here we had a visit from Star Trek’s Captain Sulu to lead off our local brewfest. Anyone else have any interesting Oktoberfest stories? Hopefully you didn’t stay indoors and play GTAV the whole time. While you will always be able to come back and wreck havoc in Los Santos, you won’t always be able to go out and enjoy some awesome beer until next year. Be that as it may, here are some headlines that you may have missed as a result of your drunken stupor.

Despite my lengthy absence from posting the next issue, there doesn’t seem to be a lot happening anyway. BlizzCon is the next most notable conference coming up so theories and whispers have begun to float around regarding Blizzards current and upcoming titles. Some sad news about Warhammer Online, another Blizzard trademark foreshadowing, and other patch and expansion news for our favorite games.

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WoW: Timeless Isle Unimpressive

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On October 1, 2013

In Gaming, MMORPG, World of Warcraft

timeless-isleWe are about two weeks into WoW’s last big content patch for the current expansion. This patch included a new island called the Timeless Isle which is littered with elites and rare mobs. I have been actively completing the daily/weekly quests and killing rare mobs often on two toons since the patch dropped and I’ve got to say, I’m unimpressed.

The final reputation to farm is Emperor Shaohao and its a brutal grind! There is a daily question to kill 20 elites, a weekly quest to kill 5 rares and gather 50 epoch stones. It’s brutal! I think the worst part is that there’s nothing that makes it worth the grind. You can gather a ton of Timeless Coins and Valor Points, but there’s nothing to spend them on. There isn’t any new rep gear that’s higher than 500. It’s just a bunch of commodity crap (as if we don’t have enough commodity items taking up space in our bags already)! The BoA pieces are kinda nice, and with Burden’s of Eternity you might be able to upgrade your gear to 535 but after you are finished finally killing 20 mobs, you are pretty burnt out.

So why do I keep going out there?? I don’t get it. I know how much of an awful grind-fest this island is but I still find myself going out there daily and killing mobs. Granted its a great way to gear up alts since you can mail all the BoA pieces to any toon on the same server and upgrade straight to a 496 ilevel. As far as my main raiding toon is concerned, I don’t think there is really anything that island has to offer that is of any use to my character’s advancement.

I don’t know. I feel like the Isle of the Thunder King had more to offer.

/shrug

Book Review: Mockingjay

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On September 23, 2013

In Book Review

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3)Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

My Rating: [rating=4]
Click here to see the review on Goodreads.

Personally, I think this book has more twists than M. Night Shyamalan and more character surprises than George R. R. Martin! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that like its a bad thing. I knew when I reached a specific point (which I won’t mention for purposes of sparing folks from spoilers) that I knew I wouldn’t be putting the book down until I finished it.

This book is completely different then the previous two. I assure you that you won’t be able to stop reading and the only reason it took me so long is work life. This book had me shaking with anxiety, even choked up at times, and by the end it left my mind reeling for hours.

View all my reviews

Why I’m Getting The New iPhone

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On September 18, 2013

In Apple, General Cogitation, Google/Android, Mobile, Technology

applesamsungIt’s not a secret that I predominately prefer Apple mobile devices. I’ve been using an iPhone since the 4 and prior to that I’ve been using an iPod since the first version. I’m not an Apple fanboy, though many have teased me that I am. I do not think the iPhone is a superior product over any comparable Android device. If I had to absolutely stop using the iPhone I would have no qualms about picking up an Android.

Windows Phone … well, that’s a different story. I would probably prefer two cans on a string next to a Windows Phone.

My contract is up; actually its been up since May. I knew a new Apple phone would be released this year so I’ve been holding off on renewing my contract until Apple decided to launch it. Obviously that wait is over. This Friday I will make a brazen attempt to get the iPhone 5S as part of my contract renewal. I’m getting the new iPhone because the iPhone is what I’m most comfortable with; that and I don’t want to spend the time reformatting all my music. I don’t bash any Android device because I’ve played around with one and they are really slick devices (unlike a Windows Phone where I was done using it within 30 seconds).

Generally I’ve been trying to only update my phone every-other-version of the iPhone. It saves on money and it feels like a more noticeable upgrade. My advice, if you are deciding which phone to get, don’t ask anyone that strongly prefers one or the other, just go to your carrier’s store and try out each phone. Choose the one that feels most comfortable and less likely to cause you any confusion when trying to complete all of your normal tasks.There are plenty of guru’s out there for Android and Apple phones to help you with any support issues you might encounter. Granted Apple has a bigger advantage with brick-and-mortar locations for quick, hands-on service and support but my understanding is most service techs at carrier stores are fairly knowledgeable of Android devices.

/cheers

The MMO Times: Not A Stack of Peacebloom

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On September 17, 2013

In Gaming, MMO Times, MMORPG

mmotimesheaderIIIssue 89: The Siege of Orgrimmar is live on all WoW servers, but that isn’t my excuse for my lapse in posting the Times. Life, as is always my excuse, just got busy again. Hopefully I will be more astute with my MMO news for a little while, especially since BlizzCon is in the not too distant future (in a month and a half I believe). Honestly, based on the time I have spent trying to catch up on my MMO news, I don’t think I have missed too many “WTF” or “ZOMG” headlines. If I do miss a particularly exciting, or troubling, headline please provide the link in the comments; unless it contains spoilers, like the Horde’s new Warchief (and its not a stack of peacebloom). Then please don’t reveal that so people can choose when they find out.

I tried not to go too far back as anything that is too old probably isn’t worth pointing out anymore. I have found some news for The Secret World, Guild Wars 2, MechWarrior Online and more. Anything that has gone live last Tuesday (or prior) (which seems to be a popular day for launching new content) I’m sure everyone knows about so I won’t get into things like WoW’s 5.4 patch, Marvel Heroes, FFXIV, etc.

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Turnabout’s Fair Play, Apple

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On September 1, 2013

In Apple, General Cogitation, Google/Android, Microsoft, Technology

apple_logo-263x300I read an article on CNET recently where the author claims that Apple is in bigger trouble than Microsoft. Granted he was speaking from a mobile perspective and perhaps from that point of view there might be some credence, but overall, I think Microsoft is in a deeper hole. Be that as it may, I do think he has a point (among many other people who have said similar things) that the iPhone is declining in popularity.

The iPhone used to be the hip gadget that everyone wanted, but now that everyone does have one, its not the cool thing to have anymore. This is the reason the author of the article thinks that Apple is in bigger trouble. I’m still really excited to pick up the new iPhone 5S this month and its primarily because I have the 4S and I’m due for a new phone on my contract. Honestly, though, I’m really only getting an iPhone because of the cost savings and comfort level. I’m just more comfortable with the iOS interface and I really don’t want to convert all my music.

Beyond that I don’t really have any brand loyalty. I think the Android phones are great phones as well (I’m not even going to comment on Windows Phone – not worth the text). In fact when people ask me “iPhone or Android”, I tell them that either one are great and they should go to a store that sells both and try it out. You need to pick the phone that you’re more comfortable using (and if that, unfortunately, happens to be a Windows Phone, then so be it).

If the giants are toppling (i.e. Apple and Microsoft) I’m more concerned about how that affects the industry then I am about how it will affect what cell phone I own. It will be a harsh reality for IT folks if Apple and Microsoft fall. Whether you love them or hate them, Apple and Microsoft are industry staples and are necessary to keep our world moving forward, Google can’t do it alone.

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