I know what you’re thinking: “This game came out over a year ago. Why is it just getting reviewed now?” I can answer that for you in two parts. First, with the release of patch 4.3, all of the intended Cataclysm content and most of the gameplay balance adjustments have been made and the final version is now in the hands of the players. Second, like any MMO, the game that initially ships generally turns out to be completely different from the game that everyone ends up playing in the end. So without further ado, let’s jump in. Read the full story

I’ve been gaming since around the age of five, and up until last November I thought I had achieved some of the most rewarding and inspiring moments of my gaming life: catching ‘em all the first time, vanquishing Ganon for the first time, the list goes on. But something happened over the course of 48 hours from November 19 to November 21 that easily put all of those achievements to shame and replaced the pride of succeeding and accomplishment with the pride of our medium and community making a difference. Read the full story

It’s been a week since PC gamers all over stopped, stood in line for a midnight release, and picked up their copy of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm! So, while you bought your individual copy, how many were sold that day?

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Amidst the Schwarzenegger v. EMA/ESA court battle, there is another battle that has been going on. That would be the battle between gaming industry giants, EA and ActiVision. Slightly less direct, but just as well known, EA and ActiVision have been battling it out through the use of press releases and interviews for some time now. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, let me weigh you in…

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On August 12, Soul Master went live with its open beta and it is amazing! It’s an MMORTS that stays true to its genre and actually delivers what gamers have expected from the genre for so long.

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In some ways, the Internet is like a medieval fantasy story.  The incompetent fools provide entertainment for the savvy much like a jester would for a king.  Websites build nations of loyal followers who take a fierce pride in their group, much like a king’s subjects would have pride in their kingdom.  Helpful communities provide assistance and guidance with technical issues in the way a shining knight would protect and assist the weak.  Less helpful communities provide insults and mockery when asked for help in the way a black knight would try to keep you from crossing a bridge.

And there are trolls.

No, not that kind of troll.

Trolls are evil creatures full of spite and mischief with physical features that not even a troll’s mother could consider attractive.  The same definition applies to the trolls of medieval fantasy.  Blizzard’s forums have been a major nexus of troll activity for quite some time, and it seems that Blizzard wants to take steps to catch them all in the sunlight.  Blizzard has announced that, prior to the July 27 release of StarCraft II, all user forum posts will be made using the user’s RealID, which consists of their first and last name.  The move is an attempt to battle the little-known, but much-experienced Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory, wherein anonymity breeds trolling.

Negative responses have primarily focused on the public stigma associated with World of Warcraft players.  Many normal people play World of Warcraft.  Having their real name attached to a World of Warcraft account could cause damage to a person’s reputation if a potential employer or client researched them online.  Many female players, especially those who do not specify their sex online, have expressed concern that this could lead to a change in attitude towards them from other forum-goers (read as: lonely, horny nerds – it’s ok, I can say that because I used to be one) as well as e-stalking across other social networking sites.

While the change may indeed shame many trolls into returning to their human forms, I believe that those who are true trolls in heart and mind will continue their rampage, even without the sword and shield of anonymity equipped.

-[insert LEEEEEEEEROOOY JENKINS! here]

I was never bit by the MMORPG bug in the way most people are.  I tried World of Warcraft for a month or two, but eventually got tired of paying a monthly subscription fee just to grind a character.  I only started World of Warcraft in the first place because there was a promotion for a free week of play, and I wanted to see what all the hubbub was about.  Since that time, I haven’t touched another MMORPG.  There are titles I would love to play, but I just can’t get past paying a monthly subscription for the current state of MMOs.

News reached me today, however, that may signal the end of my life as I know it.  Lord of the Rings: Online has announced that, this fall, they will become a Free to Play MMORPG.  The game will be free to download, and there will be no subscription fee.  Lord of the Rings: Online has received phenomenal reviews since its release in 2007, and placed sixth in GameSpy’s Top 10 Games of 2007 list.  As an individual who has many times over the course of his life wished that he could have lived in Middle Earth, I have no choice but to immerse myself in this game fully once the free price point activates.  Now I can keep my principles and banish evil from Middle Earth!  I have already signed up for the beta, starting June 16th.  Why not sign up and join me in the Shire as a Hobbit?  How about in Minas Tirith as a Man, Khazad-Dum as a Dwarf, or Rivendell as an Elf?  HOW ARE YOU NOT AS FUCKING EXCITED ABOUT THIS AS I AM!?

More details are available here.

Now all I need to ruin my life is free access to Star Wars: The Old Republic and Star Trek Online, as well as completion of (and free access to) a fantastic Firefly MMO.

-[insert THE DARK FIRE WILL NOT AVAIL YOU, FLAME OF UDUN! here]

Some of you might remember my post from 6 days ago about the kid freaking out that his Mom cancelled his World of Warcraft account. Apparently it wasn’t, but that just means we are given the opportunity to laugh some more at this sad kid and his addiction to WoW.

This morning I get up, get on AIM, and Chris  sends me a link to this wonderful gem on Youtube….

I will say that my favorite line was where he yells at some guy on how he was going to find him, kill him, and then eat his first born child. Dude needs some serious help, but I hope this isn’t the last we see of his freak outs. They are just too golden!

btw, here is a link to wafflepwn’s (the brother who records all of the antics) Youtube channel. If you have an account, I highly suggest you subscribe like I just did because I have a feeling there will be more legendary moments to come.

- She Who Has The Last Word

Normally I don’t look at links that are posted on Twitter, but when I saw a recent post from Ashton Kutcher about a kid having a love for World of Warcraft… my curiosity was intrigued. At first I thought that it was going to be just another video of some poor kid sitting in front of his computer, getting his jollies off to a female WoW character. What I got was far better than I could’ve ever imagined.

The video starts off where a younger brother is speaking into a camera, telling the viewer that his mother just cancelled his older brothers WoW subscription. Before the other brother can go into his bedroom, the kid leaves the camera on a piece of furniture so that his fit can be recorded… and what a fit it was.

- She Who Has The Last Word