Season of Giving Part Deux

Wow it is winter around here again huh? Brrrr *grabs a scarf*  Mnmmhhmmmerermmm *pulls scarf down* This might work better. Winter brings us many things, the promise of Batman Arkham City to PC, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, a new Call of Duty, Star Wars: The Old Republic to name a few. It is a good winter to be a PC gamer from your MMO, RPG, FPS, and games which blend their genres.

But winter brings back something extra special to the our gaming world…Child’s Play. The wonderful guys at Penny Arcade began the charity back in 2003 to benefit their local Children’s Hospital in Seattle. Child’s Play has now grown to include Children’s Hospitals outside even the U.S.! Check out their niffy map here. I really love the different ways there are to get involved, purchase something on Amazon, plan or support an event, donate cash,or buy something there is even a text to instantly donate $5.

I will be going with the Greeting Cards this year. I am really horrible about buying cards each year and never sending them out. <.< My poor family would think I was dead if it weren’t for the magic of Facebook. Speaking of…you can hook up with Child’s Play via Facebook or Twitter(@CPCharity).

DLC and the Long Wait for Release Dates

The long slog to Star Wars: The Old Republic now has an end in sight. In case you missed it, the release date has been announced as December 20th. No news yet on how early the “early start” will be for those of us who pre-ordered. Also, guilds have entered the Aligning Phase where you make up to 3 alliances or adversary pacts with other guilds.

The alignment phase is odd to me because allies and adversaries normally appear organically over time in an MMO. Members of other guilds you meet in your travels and develop close ties. I expect to see more fluid movement of allies and adversaries once the game launches and people get a feel if they really do enjoy playing with each other. I did post my guild’s request for allies today. Skeptic or not, the chance to make more friends off the bat is enough for me to give it a shot and everyone agreed.

The PAX has Come and Gone Again

Sadly, I was unable to attend PAX Prime this year and instead sent a minion in my stead. Being a wonderful minion, he returned with surprise swag and details to report back to you all. I’ll be sharing the comments but not the shirt…its mine hands off! But I will taunt you with a picture of it muahaha (cough) sorry got a little dark side caught in my throat (Damn their cookies!)

Minions gift of appeasement from PAX

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Well Worth the Wait

In case you were hiding out avoiding the great gaming world, Deus Ex: Human Revolution came out Tuesday. Having loved the original Deus Ex (let’s agree not to talk about Invisible War the sequel, we’ll both be happier that way) I, of course, pounced  Human Revolution with relish. The game has not disappointed.

In the first actual mission of the game Jensen, sitting inside a helicopter, is asked if he wants to go stealth or aggressive and is given weapons according to your response. The moment reminded me a lot of the opening mission for the original. The sequence does a very good job of setting the game’s tone. I went adaptive (I said I was going Stealth but…what was I supposed to do when they saw me and I was out of darts?!?) and really liked it. The first mission felt good keeping me on the ropes in terms of ammo for my bungled stealth attempts (which are my fault and not DE’s as it takes me a bit to get back in the stealthy groove which I now have). 

Fallout Over the New Female Shepard?

Bioware has added voting for FemShep’s hair color now through the end of PAX. It does require a Facebook account to vote by ‘liking’ the color you like best. View vote here. Currently (as of 1pm Aug 17) red is winning by a landslide.

There is a brouhaha over the new look for Female Shepard in Mass Effect 3.  Bioware listened to their loud fan base who wished to see more acknowledgement for the female version of Shepard. The player base who play FemShep (as we like to refer to her) is the minority, making up approximately 1/5 of the player base. Bioware gave us 6 versions to pick from and allowed the players to vote on which would be the default FemShep. Ultimately, the fan base went with blond FemShep.

Old Republic on Preorder

If for some reason you have missed the news, Knights of the Old Republic’s pre-order has gone live. Unfortunately, unless you were super snappy and already have it, the Collectors Edition is sold out via Origin (EA’s online store). I haven’t bothered to look hard for it but Best Buy still has it listed on their site as available. So if you need all that swag be snappy!

Personally, I went with the digital deluxe. Just enough to make my inner geek happy without making my practical side ask WTF I was thinking. Sometimes it is a hard balance between those two, so demanding.

By the by, pre-ordering gets you an early play code (register the moment you get your confirmation as early play is determined by when you register said code…). Your character from early play will not disappear (as other games have done) when the game goes live to all. It is a nice chance to get a jump start or get your feet wet and see how you feel about the class play. This is what I am looking forward to most. I am partial to playing a healer but concerned on how they play and if it will fit my playstyle. I’ll be using my time to hammer out which healer I’ll be.

Of course, the downside is we still don’t have a release date yet. I think it is a pet peeve of mine to see publishers doing pre-orders for games without release dates. On the flip side I understand especially with MMOs waiting to announce the release date given the competition for video game dollars.

Will I be seeing you in Old Republic?

A Movie Every Gamer Should See

When I first moved out to the West Coast to be with the Hub he insisted I watch “The Gamers”. I loved the movie, perhaps because I saw my gaming group within the characters. Perhaps because it was just darn funny! The arrow scene…still one of my fave.

Well the team at Dead Gentleman Productions followed up with the “The Gamers: Dorkness Rising”. Mostly seen at the local Dragon Flight Con.  As the guys in my “new” gaming group informed me with sorrow. When it finally got a dvd release I knew from said sorrow it was an easy win brownie points gift to give. So the next birthday I got one of them the movie. I loved it again and it is getting a new improved dvd release this summer! See here! It has deleted scenes…it must be mine

If you haven’t seen either movie or its been awhile they are both great fun!

Fabling My Way to a Revolution

I knew I was in trouble when the Hub came in and nonchalantly asked how many times I had beaten DA2. Anytime I have to clarify if he means actually beat the game or (the more likely) how many saves do I have going. Later in the night I sat down to my computer to find Fable 3 had been gifted to me on Steam. Obviously, someone decided I need another game to tide me over until Deus Ex comes out in Aug. (which will hold me over until Mass Effect 3 comes out next March).

Thus far the world is beautiful and engaging. The sheer number of people to talk to,  befriend, and do quests to sway to my side is incredible. Sometimes dauntingly so. I’m a sucker for a good story and the game does a wonderful job drawing me in from the start and making me care. Almost makes me want to play the other Fable games to see if they are equally well done.

Quick Witcher 2 Thoughts

Let me say I was eagerly anticipating the release of Witcher 2. In many ways my anticipation was well rewarded. The game is beautifully rendered, pacing is well done throughout, and the story is well crafted. The controls are…clunky at best. I was able to get past the first fight much easier than Gabe but I feel his pain. It happens occasionally, when a game gets in it’s own way of being great.

Personally, I had consistent problems with the targeting switching during combat as enemies piled in and when quest lootables were next to a targeted enemy I was swinging away at some guardsman trying to take my hide. One moment I would be swacking one of 3 guys trying to kill me and then *POOF* I am staring at the inventory of someone’s pockets. I can assure you I am not rolling the guys I am killing as I am killing their friends. It would just be rude.

“Hi sorry,” *to sounds of a swords clashing, “but I really must get this bolt of cloth and bit of iron from your dead companion before I continue to trounce you!”

“Oh yes by all means! He does have a bit of coin in the other pocket. Kept it there for a pinch.” *falls over dead from repeated stabbings and a large slash through his chest*

Still, the story is good and the world is beautiful. I’m frustrated enough with the combat and controls that I am taking a break for a bit before going back to it. I know me however, no matter how infuriating the controls, if the story is solid I will persevere through and see it to the end.

Fan Review for Dragon Age 2

I’ve had the game since March 8th, when it came out. Three+ playthroughs later I think it is time to disect what Bioware did right, what was wrong, and what can be improved. There are going to be spoilers abounding throughout this review. In sections that have spoilers I will designate it at the topic start for those of you wishing to avoid them.

Ultimately, Dragon Age 2 is the story of the central character’s rise from refuge to political powerhouse. Your actions small and large will affect the world you live in. What Dragon Age is not is the same sweeping epic tale of underdog versus a seemingly unstoppable force ala Dragon Age: Origins. Can you the player accept this change? If you have been holding out going, “Hmm not DA:O and that is all I want to play,” then stop now and accept  DA2 isn’t going to fill that void. If you played the game and felt, “Hmmm what else is going on in the world?” read on good ser!