By the power of Greyskull!

It has been a long time since my last diary post and in that time, I have raised from rank 23 to 30. That’s about a month for seven ranks. Most of the people I know can average one level every two or three play sessions, but not this guy… I found the last seven levels to really challenge my interest in the game, which you’ll have noticed if you’ve read any of my posts since the last journal entry.

The main reason I wasn’t writing WAR Diary posts for each or every few ranks was because nothing of much import actually happened. I didn’t find much of it interesting enough to report on, so I couldn’t imagine any of the readers finding it interesting either.

Here my highlights from ranks 23-30:

• Witching Night - This really got people interested in oRvR in T3 and every time I logged on I could find some pretty decent fights in Black Fire Pass. Yeah, some, if not most of it was zergy, it sure beat grinding out scenarios and quests over and over again.
• My gear finally got some new skins by rank 30 (T4 quests and RvR drops), which is a welcome change from the same boring textures I’ve been used to since the beginning of T3. Dyes are a great way to customize your character, but would it hurt to have more than two skins and weapon models per tier?
• My guild finally achieved rank 15, so we picked a background style for our heraldry. Once we hit rank 21 we can finally add an emblem to make us truly stand out. Unfortunately, there appears to be a graphical glitch that prevents me from actually seeing the heraldry on my cloak half the time. It’s about a 50/50 toss-up as to whether or not my cloak texture will show up every time I load into a new zone/scenario.
• I can finally join T4 scenarios and participate in T4 oRvR. Serpent’s Passage seems to load a lot and apparently Order heavily outranks Destruction on my server, so it’s usually five or six rank 36-40 Order guys with a couple of rank 39 and a ton of rank 28-33 Destruction guys.
• Rank 30 finally unlocked a new backpack and two more tactic slots. Woot.

I got vertigo... and I threw up a little.

Here are some of the lowlights from ranks 23-30:

• You’d think with all the morale abilities, career skills, and tactics I would actually learn something new and cool at each rank. This doesn’t seem to be the case. Often times I would gain a new rank and not be able to learn anything at all. Most of the time I would gain a new rank and be able to train some trash abilities (I still have about 8 untrained career skills/tactics/morales because I know I’ll never use them). I have only found a skill/morale/tactic worth training three times since rank 23.
• I am so damned sick of grinding away at Public Quests, solo or in a group. I have levelled a few alts lately and I really miss how quickly the influence bar seemed to move in chapter 1 and 2. Why must they make the latter PQs (chapter 15+) so brutal? It’s not like the rewards are itemized very well anyway… Half the time I don’t even want the junk they consider rewards.
• Kill ten rats. Collect five foozles. Go talk to this guy. And then go talk to that guy. Go scout this area. Mythic has shown some glimpses of brilliance with quests in earlier chapters, but it really starts to wear on you after doing it for so many ranks.  I like to balance my oRvR with scenarios and with PvE. The PvE just isn’t engaging at all anymore.
• Scenarios. There are six of them. Yet I only ever get into two or three with any frequency - Tor Anroc, Temple of Isha, and Doomfist Crater. All three are fairly fast-paced, but it is easy to get dominated early in them and become unable to recover. Mostly this is a PuG issue. Half the time people are running around like challenged folk with protective headgear and when you try bring a little organization via scenario chat you are either ignored or called an idiot. The remaining three unplayed scenarios are even worse in PuGs because people play them so defensively.
• Aside from Witching Night, T3 oRvR has been quite dead. Most of the time I log on we already own all the keeps and BOs, so there’s nothing to do but wait for something to go under siege. Unfortunately, I think the majority of Order is in T4, so T3 isn’t very important to them on my server these days.

What am I looking forward to?

• Heavy Metal - Depending on the daily tasks, this event might actually be quite fun. They did a great job with Witching Night even though there was no way I could possibly fill the Live Event influence bar on a casual schedule, even after maxing out on Lords, Crones, and Spirits and doing a ton of oRvR. I hope to fill the Heavy Metal Live Event influence bar and participate in the new scenario.
• A potential respec to Quick Shootin’ mastery. I’ve been training in Big Shootin’ since rank 10, so I welcome a change in playstyle, especially one that keeps me a moving target instead of a stationary pin cushion.
• The 1.06 Combat and Career patch that will finally address a number of my Squig Herder’s balance issues.

Cheating the system - going back to the chapter 1 PQ for a Daily unlock and a bit o' revenge.

Maybe the outlook isn’t so bleak afterall? The fact that I’m looking forward to a few things has to be good, right?

Related posts:

1. Day 1 (again): Secret Diaries of a Goblin Squig Herder And so starts a new blog category: WAR Diary....
2. Day 2/3: Squig Herder Confessions Last night I went from ranks 7-9 by doing...
3. 1.05 Squig Herder Buffs Delayed I want to say I’m shocked here, but that wouldn’t...

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This is one of the fun parts of my job, when we get to unveil our TV commercials and give you, our loyal fans, a preview of our spots before they hit the airwaves. This year’s campaign is dubbed “Entertainment Unleashed” and for good reason.

The campaign actually began quietly a few weeks back with three fifteen second “tease” executions. Hopefully, you’ve seen these by now. These initial ads depicted various people catching glimpses and reflections of beautiful PS3 game footage magically appearing on building facades across a city.

This weekend, we’re excited to reveal what triggered the excitement. The spot begins with a guy creating a LittleBigPlanet level on a building wall and from there, the PS3 takes on a momentum all its own, spreading amazing entertainment content uncontrollably from building to building throughout the city. The ad prominently features not just LittleBigPlanet but also two other PLAYSTATION 3 exclusive titles — Resistance 2 and MotorStorm: Pacific Rift. And we’ve also highlighted PS3’s Blu-ray capability by featuring Blu-ray movies like The Dark Knight, showcasing PS3’s unrivaled leadership as both a gaming and multimedia entertainment experience.

PLAYSTATION 3 offers unrivaled game content, with not just one platform-defining game, but an array of groundbreaking games across virtually every genre throughout the year that are pushing the envelope of creativity and sheer gameplay.

And at the end of the spot, you’ll see that all this great exclusive content has literally been unleashed on the city and its residents. I know our fans will appreciate spotting some of your favorite games across the cityscape.

This week marks an important milestone for the PS3. And one of the things we’re most excited about as we head into year three is the tremendous adoption and excitement found on PlayStation Network. This year alone, we’ve added great new features you guys have been asking for like a service to deliver High Def movies and TV shows that you can rent or buy and store directly on the PS3’s hard drive; a robust trophy system that lets you compare your gaming prowess with others as well as help you discover everything about the great PS3 games you’re playing; and of course, the groundbreaking Home service, which is just around the corner for all. All of this and a lot more has resulted in more than 14 million active PlayStation Network accounts – a very rapid expansion of a service that we have equally aggressive plans for in the future.

So with its tremendous growth and adoption, we thought it was time to give the PlayStation Network its own moment in the sun with a TV spot that sings its praises. This PlayStation Network ad will also make its debut this weekend. The ad is a metaphor and itself depicts the relentless spread of the PlayStation message from user to user. We’ve featured various ways you can “Download/Play/Connect.” Great downloadable games like Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty, PAIN, Wipeout HD and Echochrome. Free online gaming and downloadable levels with games like LittleBigPlanet. Human connection and community via Home. And downloading great movies like Hancock directly to your PS3 and then sharing it with your PSP.

When we launched the PS3 two years ago, we said we would deliver on the most advanced next generation console that would offer ten years of entertainment value. We are committed to that promise and remain confident that we’re now just scratching the surface on PS3’s potential.

We hope you like these new ads and look forward to your feedback and continued support for PlayStation.

Enjoy!

Peter

PS: Killzone 2 is real and it’s spectacular…

95.52 MB

• Beautify failing neighborhoods
• Tons of eye-catching upgrades
• Corner the housing market!
• Get back to basics with Build-a-lot

It’s been an argument that has been put through the paces ever since the GameCube: third party titles cannot compete with Nintendo offerings. Sure there have been some companies such as EA, Capcom, and Activision that have seen some success, but most other companies have been left out in the cold.

Reggie Fils-Aime has an answer for why that might be. While speaking with Forbes, he stated that he believes third party developers “still don’t quite understand the Wii audience,” also adding, “I will be able to say our licensees ‘get it’ when their very best content is on our platform.”

Part of the problem he sees is that companies are just trying to tack motion controls onto a property, without taking the time to fully develop the game. If you look at many of the multi-platform titles for Wii, and how they usually end up being PS2 ports with motion controls, it’s hard to argue against his claims. The future isn’t all that bleak, as developers like High Voltage look to show the world that the Wii isn’t just a shovel ware, waggle fest. But the message from Fils-Aime is clear, if third parties want to see some measure of success, put more time and care in developing your titles.

From Xbox.com :

To enter, just register your gamertag by downloading the NXE Download & Win Gamer Picture, and then download any of the premium Marketplace content listed below. The NXE Download & Win entry period begins at 6:01 A.M. Pacific Time (PT) on November 19, 2008, and ends at 11:59 pm PT on November 23, 2008. The more you download the more entries you receive, up to a maximum of ten entries per person.

1. Sign in to Xbox LIVE Marketplace
2. Select Themes & Gamer Pictures
3. Select All Themes & Gamer Pictures
4. Select All
5. Select New Xbox Experience
6. Select NXE Download and Win Gamer Picture from the list of available content and select Confirm Download
7. Upon the successful completion of the Gamer Picture download, you will see a Thank You for Registering message.

You may also access the free NXE Download and Win Registration Gamer Picture via the banner ads running on the Xbox LIVE dashboard.

You will automatically receive one entry into the sweepstakes when you download the New Xbox Experience (automatic) and redeem Microsoft Points for downloadable Xbox LIVE Marketplace content in any one of the following categories: Movie, TV Show, Full Arcade Game, Xbox Originals, Game Add-On, Music Video

A total of 46 prizes in the form of varying amounts of Microsoft Points will be given away with this sweepstakes, 5,000 being the smallest amount and 500,000 being the grand prize. This sweepstakes requires you to purchase downloadable content so if you were already planning on buying something, just download the required gamer picture beforehand. If not, you can join me in waiting for the next sweepstakes!

*A special thank you to Mayesyboy (who is really Austin Powers in disguise) for the tip. ONE MILLION MICROSOFT POINTS!

If you have not joined the Ultimate Gaming group on Wednesday evenings, you might want to make some time in December.

We started the group in 2006 and had a great year playing DDR (Dance Dance Revolution). Last year Guitar Hero was added. This fall we added the Wii, and most of the teens want to play Super Smash Bros.

But I just had to get GH4. Since 4 teens play at once, there is less time to wait for a turn. If we can add a larger TV to the Program Room equipment, it will be less painful for the gamers using the TV. I have been switching games between the overhead projector and the TV each week until we got GH4. The teens convinced me that 4 players would have to have a TV that is larger than the one currently in the Program Room.

We meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30. You will need to have a parent permission slip signed the first time you attend. If you have any questions, please call the teen librarian, Mrs. Harrigan at 797-4528.

One of the greatest things about X-brand components is that they often do something that the brand components do not. For instance, rechargeable Wii Remotes are something that Nintendo should really pack in with the Wii. Not only would it save their customers money, but the environment would also thank them. Luckily companies like Nyko pick up Nintendo’s slack. Now, with the introduction of the Charge Station Quad, Nyko is picking up their own slack.

See, before the Quad you could only charge two Wii Remotes on the same Nyko base. The aptly named Quad now let’s people charge four. Nyko was clearly slacking off when they came out with the first iteration. That’s two more! I’m going too fast, I can tell. Here is a simple mathematical equation: 2+2 = 4, 4 = better. See, simple as pie. Other than having two more slots, the new charger is basically the old charger. You’ll get four rechargeable battery packs with it and four of their patented grippy back covers. It’s double the fun and all at a price of $49.99. The Quad hits in December, just in time for all those holiday Wii buyers.

Just hinting at it happening leads me to believe that the wheels are already in motion. The gaming print industry has been hurting for a long time now, and it seems like things are only getting worse. I still think a game magazine could survive and actually do well, but they would have to radically alter what they provide and how they provide it.

Link

Although Need for Speed III and IV, subtitled Hot Pursuit and High Stakes, came with various new things, the big step - and the apex reached by the Need for Speed franchise was Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed, released almost a decade ago, in 2000. Since this is not today’s topic, I will only say this: I loved it from first second, I love it, and I will always love that game!

Next, came along the beginning of the end - Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, saved by the presence of a BMW in the car list(I loved that car). After that, the tuning madness started with Need for Speed: Underground, and old fans started to wait. The wait for a real Need for Speed game, and we’re still waiting now, in 2008, after 12 games in the series, including Need for Speed: Undercover…

..but let’s leave the past where it belongs now, and move on to what you’ve been waiting for, the one and only PlayerzBlog…

Need for Speed: Undercover PC Review

Just look at this - Need for Speed: Undercover is available for an amazing range of platforms, probably more than the cars available in the first Need for Speed game: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Wii, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Portable, iPod Touch, iPhone, N-Gage 2.0! Anyway, that doesn’t necessarily make it better, it only gives it better chances to be purchased and played by more people, and that’s all. These being said, let’s check the plot, graphics, gameplay, and the amazing things I discovered in the time I spent with this game…

Need for Speed: Undercover - The Plot

Some people enjoyed ProStreet simply because that game didn’t have any silly plot, but this time things have changed - you’re UNDERCOVER! Yeah, right, just think about this - you’re a cop, and you have to infiltrate the street racing gangs in Tri-City, but once you’re inside the first gang…you have to “take out” your team mates, because “you don’t have to raise suspicions.” I don’t know exactly where did they see this, but I missed that movie where the cop infiltrates a gang and starts killing all members, just to avoid being uncovered!

OK, “The Transporter” is one thing, but what about “Gone in Sixty Seconds?” Yeah, I know, the blonde Angelina Jolie is totally smokin’ in there, but think about the plot of that movie, and the part of the game here where you have to steal “six cars within 48 hours.” Expensive exotics, of course. Nothing in common, right? Suuuuure…

Need for Speed: Undercover - The Graphics

“Look, mom, I discovered a new Pixel Shader function, it’s called Blurrrrr!,” said the little programmer, and its poor drawings, once animated, started to look better… that’s exactly what happens in Need for Speed: Undercover.

Need for Speed: Undercover - The Gameplay

In Undercover, you start off with a highway chase, and once you evade the cops, a boring introductory cutscene tries to tell you more about what’s going to happen. In fact, it tells nothing, because you’ll basically play around a lot of races in the different game modes available, and sometimes receive “special missions,” most of them without any introductory cutscene.

Need for Speed: Undercover - The Incredible Stories

I could have named this section “bugs,” “lamest parts of a silly game,” or something similar, but let’s leave it this way. If I could rename this game, I would call it Need for Speed: Unreal, and here’s why…

Needless to say, damage is as “realistic” as usual - after losing my wing, the car still remains in control at over 300 km/h, and once you see your Porsche taking 90 degrees turns at 250 km/h, there’s only one thing remaining for you to do, but I’ll keep that on hold for now.

Need for Speed: Undercover - The Conclusion

I guess someone will be glad to receive my copy of the game as a gift. Unfortunately, my hamster can’t use a computer. Hmmm…and I think he would also find his wheel more interesting than EA’s disaster… ehem, “game.”

If I had to award some scores, here’s what I would gladly award to Need for Speed: Undercover these -

Story: 0/10
Graphics: 2/10
Sound: 4/10
Gameplay: 2/10
Originality: 0/10
Tilt Factor: 5/10
Overall: 2/10

The soundtrack, pretty good, as usual, the wide range of cars and parts, as well as those BMWs I really enjoyed seeing included can’t save Need for Speed: Undercover from being nothing more than an abysmal title. I am sure that its name will help it sell too many copies once again, when compared to the fun provided for your money, but let’s hope this will happen for the last time.

Not even Jesus can save Need for Speed: Undercover, and the only thing remaining to be done I mentioned a bit earlier is this - go to Control Panel, enter Add/Remove Programs, and uninstall it. Take the DVD carefully, order some gift packaging, and send it to your worst enemy… but don’t forget to drop a comment below and share with the rest of us your opinion about this so-called “game.”