In their baby mmo.
I think it's hilarious that the Wizard dance is actually in time to the music chosen by this fan. So cute.
What the little ones are doing...
Monday, August 9, 2010
has the same visceral reactions shown in Scorsese's film "The Gangs of New York". Brendon Gleeson screaming like a loon with murderous excitement is what PvP gives everyday players. But without the danger of real bloodshed.
I know it isn't for everyone. So far games focusing on the carnage haven't done as well as World of Warcraft. So what separates the PvP hooligans from the PvE fanatics?
On another note, I could only find the full scene dubbed in French. *shrug*
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Every so often I'll read posts around different blogs about being a "gamer".
The subject always gives me pause because I never really thought of myself as in the same group of people who go to expos to celebrate their favorite game. Sure I paid Directv to watch Blizzcon but that was to get the shiny promotional items. I was never really interested in the games presented by the company with the exception of Warcraft. But even then I would just fast forward through most of the new information which didn't interest me. Most of the Blizzcon activities, such as dressing up as a favorite game character, just makes me go "huh"?
I suppose you could say I was a gamer when the old, ancient Atari was a hit in the living room. Everyone played them and there wasn't enough of stereotype gamer characteristics to scare girls away from Atari. But as the years passed, something changed and games became something that appealed more to the male half of society. So it became something women did not do. And if they did, it was something they were lured into by boyfriends or brothers.
But of course women do play computer games. Before I started mmo play, I loved purchasing and downloading little strategy games. Sponge Bob's Collapse was an obsession for me as well as various mah jongg tile games. I've since read that many women share a liking for these little computer play things. But the activity isn't considered gaming and they aren't a part of the gamer subculture.
Consoles and portable consoles. Okay, now these things are getting into the more serious gaming arena. Even though they are the descendants of Atari, I understand not a vast number of women play them. Not even women who actually grew up with Atari in the house. The console that does attract women, Wii, is thought of as something fluffy. It isn't a gaming rig. I have little interest in consoles. My Playstation 2 is hopelessly outdated with old, old games. I don't play it anymore and I don't plan to buy a Playstation 3. Nor do I have an interest in buying an XBox. Many gamers have portables which they use to pass the travel time to work. But as an old school New Yorker, travel time is serious book reading time. I have no patience to be pressing little buttons when I could be relaxing with a good book.
The reason why I started with online games was because of friends. I was already doodling with Second Life when a friend suggested that I might like World of Warcraft. Second Life is and is not a game. It depends on how the player is using it. To me, SL is a place to admire beautiful scenery created by other players. It definitely isn't a place that typical "gamers" hang out although due to the strong reactions it causes in this segment, I think they do lurk there from time to time.
I was surprised that Warcraft engaged my interest so quickly. However, during my time in WoW I was the very definition of "casual". I discovered that the game ran on two tracks, casual in which most of the content was out of reach and hardcore which meant serious time investment. Almost at the beginning I knew I would never be a hardcore player. So my game time concentrated on exploration, questing, and reputation building with factions. In my roster of alts, I had only one level 80 character. That character was fitted out with gear that was just a stone's throw away from raiding. I realized that running dungeons continuously annoyed me and I was a drag to people who did take their play time seriously. So I left.
Strangely enough, Warhammer (which most gamers consider a WoW also ran but a very hardcore pvp game) managed to hold my interest. It is an extremely inviting game to the casual player. Most of it's high level content is within reach of all players. The race to gear up is a bit easier than it was in Warcraft. It also has a no nonsense atmosphere that negates the cuteness trap which WoW fell into at times. Yet it is still considered a hardcore game. Considering that most players love questing and other areas that don't include player vs player content, perhaps WAR is hardcore. Many players like the predictable ways in which computer AI characters react. There is a tried and true method for each PvE encounter which is comforting to most. Player versus player requires constant assessment, attention to detail, situational awareness, a secure knowledge of a character's talents and more than a bit of aggression. Of course, the grind isn't dungeons in WAR but scenarios. Which leads me to wonder how long it will be before I become disenchanted with the game. A few months ago I felt like throwing in the towel for any and all games. Whereas WAR won me back from the disillusionment, I haven't gone back to WoW.
Gamers study their hobby. They discuss character stats, skills and tactics. Mainstream culture skews this enthusiasm into a stereotype of mental dysfunction. Gamers are people who never leave their computer, are overweight, never shower and don't socialize. Mainstream entertainment also confuses role play with regular play. Role playing is akin to acting but for personal enjoyment. However no role player I've ever spoken to has lost control of reality. But that is what happens in every TV show and film about gamers. In TV/Movie land, gamers are running around thinking they have turned into Orcs and are intent on killing rampages. Not only that, TV/Movie women never game. They are always cast into the role of the "normal" one trying to pull their delusional male friends out of their dysfunction. This notion that we women aren't in mmo worlds is ridiculous. I've heard many a female voice over ventrilo. And I'm sure there are more who remain silent.
So am I a gamer? I would say yes. But I think other gamers would say no since I'm casual. And the mainstream doesn't even believe I, a female gamer, exists.
The subject always gives me pause because I never really thought of myself as in the same group of people who go to expos to celebrate their favorite game. Sure I paid Directv to watch Blizzcon but that was to get the shiny promotional items. I was never really interested in the games presented by the company with the exception of Warcraft. But even then I would just fast forward through most of the new information which didn't interest me. Most of the Blizzcon activities, such as dressing up as a favorite game character, just makes me go "huh"?
I suppose you could say I was a gamer when the old, ancient Atari was a hit in the living room. Everyone played them and there wasn't enough of stereotype gamer characteristics to scare girls away from Atari. But as the years passed, something changed and games became something that appealed more to the male half of society. So it became something women did not do. And if they did, it was something they were lured into by boyfriends or brothers.
But of course women do play computer games. Before I started mmo play, I loved purchasing and downloading little strategy games. Sponge Bob's Collapse was an obsession for me as well as various mah jongg tile games. I've since read that many women share a liking for these little computer play things. But the activity isn't considered gaming and they aren't a part of the gamer subculture.
Consoles and portable consoles. Okay, now these things are getting into the more serious gaming arena. Even though they are the descendants of Atari, I understand not a vast number of women play them. Not even women who actually grew up with Atari in the house. The console that does attract women, Wii, is thought of as something fluffy. It isn't a gaming rig. I have little interest in consoles. My Playstation 2 is hopelessly outdated with old, old games. I don't play it anymore and I don't plan to buy a Playstation 3. Nor do I have an interest in buying an XBox. Many gamers have portables which they use to pass the travel time to work. But as an old school New Yorker, travel time is serious book reading time. I have no patience to be pressing little buttons when I could be relaxing with a good book.
The reason why I started with online games was because of friends. I was already doodling with Second Life when a friend suggested that I might like World of Warcraft. Second Life is and is not a game. It depends on how the player is using it. To me, SL is a place to admire beautiful scenery created by other players. It definitely isn't a place that typical "gamers" hang out although due to the strong reactions it causes in this segment, I think they do lurk there from time to time.
I was surprised that Warcraft engaged my interest so quickly. However, during my time in WoW I was the very definition of "casual". I discovered that the game ran on two tracks, casual in which most of the content was out of reach and hardcore which meant serious time investment. Almost at the beginning I knew I would never be a hardcore player. So my game time concentrated on exploration, questing, and reputation building with factions. In my roster of alts, I had only one level 80 character. That character was fitted out with gear that was just a stone's throw away from raiding. I realized that running dungeons continuously annoyed me and I was a drag to people who did take their play time seriously. So I left.
Strangely enough, Warhammer (which most gamers consider a WoW also ran but a very hardcore pvp game) managed to hold my interest. It is an extremely inviting game to the casual player. Most of it's high level content is within reach of all players. The race to gear up is a bit easier than it was in Warcraft. It also has a no nonsense atmosphere that negates the cuteness trap which WoW fell into at times. Yet it is still considered a hardcore game. Considering that most players love questing and other areas that don't include player vs player content, perhaps WAR is hardcore. Many players like the predictable ways in which computer AI characters react. There is a tried and true method for each PvE encounter which is comforting to most. Player versus player requires constant assessment, attention to detail, situational awareness, a secure knowledge of a character's talents and more than a bit of aggression. Of course, the grind isn't dungeons in WAR but scenarios. Which leads me to wonder how long it will be before I become disenchanted with the game. A few months ago I felt like throwing in the towel for any and all games. Whereas WAR won me back from the disillusionment, I haven't gone back to WoW.
Gamers study their hobby. They discuss character stats, skills and tactics. Mainstream culture skews this enthusiasm into a stereotype of mental dysfunction. Gamers are people who never leave their computer, are overweight, never shower and don't socialize. Mainstream entertainment also confuses role play with regular play. Role playing is akin to acting but for personal enjoyment. However no role player I've ever spoken to has lost control of reality. But that is what happens in every TV show and film about gamers. In TV/Movie land, gamers are running around thinking they have turned into Orcs and are intent on killing rampages. Not only that, TV/Movie women never game. They are always cast into the role of the "normal" one trying to pull their delusional male friends out of their dysfunction. This notion that we women aren't in mmo worlds is ridiculous. I've heard many a female voice over ventrilo. And I'm sure there are more who remain silent.
So am I a gamer? I would say yes. But I think other gamers would say no since I'm casual. And the mainstream doesn't even believe I, a female gamer, exists.
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