Diplomacy!

This map is for my uncharted seas campaign.

It LIVES!!!!! - The Next Nightmare For Productivity

So I had completely forgot about a new cccccrrrrrrraaaaaaazzzzzzyyyyyyyy idea from Id Software. Well it’s not that new and crazy but it’s the first time it’s been attempted outside of Korea. Id Software is rolling out with a free, browser based FPS using their Quake brand. I know it’s not the first time it’s been done and there are plenty of browser based MMOs out there making money hand over fist with their free services, and the browser based arcades like GameDuell are thriving corporations. This is really the first time this sort of model has been attempted with the support of a major FPS brand and geared toward competition style ladders and leagues.

It’s very possible to code, support, and serve a program on a budget. I wrote about an earlier game that did that too and was a blast to play, it also used Quake as a background.What’s really exciting about this is that Id Software is planning on fostering a community behind it. Revenue is going to come from ad sales and the sale of “premium membership” which will remove all ads and probably add some other bells and whistles.

The Beta opens up tonight, and I am pretty excited to see how launch will roll out. This launch comes hot off the heels of Gabe Newell’s DICE Keynote speech where he commented that games offered as a service was a likely route to thwarting piracy and a way to keep profits up in tough times. Gabe was one of the folks who worked with Steam, which is a digital distribution platform. Microsoft and other independent companies like Direct2Drive have started such platforms after seeing Steam's success. Since the client will be free, advertising will be very important for Id, and after working with CPA groups like LinkShare.com I am excited to see how the ads served up alongside or in Quake Live will perform.

This could very well be the culmination of the last five years of web2.0 marketing. Everything from in game ad placement, to sponsorships, to PPC, to viral tactics can be used and tweaked till the most effective method is found. This is great for me as user, because I don’t see ads that I don’t care about, and ads I may care about are displayed in the least intrusive way possible (no more ‘after these messages’). This is great for business because they can find the right pricing model that works for both sides and stay profitable.

Either way, Quake III was a lot of fun, and this is what Quake Live is based off of, so its going to be a blast. "Boom - Headshot"

Left For Dead - Or - Why The Republicans Let McCain Loose

As an avid horror fan and skeptic of Anonymous’ ability to behave itself, I had my doubts going into Left 4 Dead (or L4D as the young people say these days). Needless to say I was there when VOIP became a part of the online gaming experience, and I was welcomed with rampant teabagging and 12 year olds singing into their mic. Needless to say when it comes time to thrust myself into a horde of undead with three other strangers I had my doubts.

I am shocked that it works so well. Left Four Dead relies on that age old law of any group of people, social Darwinism. My associate Ben enlightened me, he reminded me that if someone is a stupid dick and wanders off to get killed, then they had what was coming to them. This is true, after several games it has remained true, which is fantastic. Isn't that the way it is in those cheesy horror flicks? I think it works well.

Griefers though, those sneaky bastards and champions of the teamkill on any server that has friendly fire turned on, what about those? Well you can only take so many hits, if team killing starts it will be finished when your fellow survivors reciprocate, or simply just let a Hunter do the job for you. After an exceptionally stupid person kept crossing into people’s firing arc we just stopped healing them, and made them our lowest priority. The Director only gives us so much HP, why waste it on them?

All in all, this has been a fantastic experience right out of the zombie movies I have always loved. In one scenario I found myself swarmed, the helicopter only feet away telling my compatriots to go on without me, to live their lives! Naturally they accepted such terms, and flew away leaving me to watch my grizzly death as hordes of infected beat me into a fine mist of pixels.

All in all, the mere fact that it’s a coop game that relies on people cooperating and punishes the mavericks in the world balances everything naturally. Just like those classic horror movies if you go off alone you will die. Moments designed by the “AI Director” are not only suspenseful but make you think in new ways to get through situations. Many times though it becomes more of a Hollywood simulation and less of a Zombie flick as you realize you clearly didn’t suck enough of the Director’s cock to get where you are. This usually results in the Director thinking you are doing too well and you will simply be repeatedly raped by hordes of dead for your lack of oral generosity to the omnipresent AI.

Spore

The Spore Creature Creator is as hilarious as everyone says it is. Barb and I are going to buy the full version because its ssssoooo goofy. I am sure everyone has heard about the dickmonsters, roaming the universe. Basically Maxis (EA) is using this to seed the universe with Spore creatures. During game play in the full version of Spore your creature will be able to go out and conquer planets, the inhabitants of which will be pulled from other peoples creations upload to the interwebz. One of the concerns is you will get stuck with bunches of dickmonsters in your game. I think the Ctrl Alt Del guy had the right attitude about it.

Needless to say though this game is hilariously fun, and when I get paid I am buying the full version which is only $10.

Barb and I are having fun just with the basic game which only lets you have the basic of each slot. So we have a set of “wings” but only one style. This doesn’t matter because you can change just about every facet of the creature. So far, we haven’t been able to make wheels out of the body parts but that has been our only limitation.

If you want to kill two hours I highly suggest downloading it, its free, its fun, and you can share your creatures. I heard a rumor that you will be able to pull stats from how your creature is doing in the universe from the Spore site. Different body parts add stats… I made a crocodily thingy with grass on its back so its all sneaky. See for yourself I guess…

Visit Spore.com

EVE and Dungeons and Dragons Fourth Ed.

So I have pretty much flaked out on the “read here”s for The Lost Dungeon of Hookers and Ale. I want to get it as drawn out as possible to make drinking and DMing easier. JP suggested that if I get it drawn out enough I can give one of the players the notes and play if I get really drunk. I am actually really excited to run it, I will post everything on IRollTwenties.org so folks can see the D&D Module. It may turn into a Campaign oddly enough.

Barb and I are in a gaming group with some gamers who left D&D, one because she couldn’t stand the overly complex rules, the other because he started dating the one that couldn’t stand the overly complex rules. They both bought copies of a PHB yesterday and are looking forward to the game this weekend. I think Betsy just wants to get drunk but either way.

Speaking of overly complex rules, Barb and I played EVE last night. That game makes me want two monitors really badly. It’s so beautiful, and there are so many panels with so much great info it covers up the game. My laptop monitor is not that small, and it’s pretty hard to get everything on there and still play the game. The reason why I like EVE is its one of those games where I can “mine” and have fun. The reason is I press a button, and my ship starts to orbit and mine.

Job done, hands free. What’s more it mines the asteroid out, unlike in WoW where I may have to click the ore over and over and over again, EVE does it automatically leaving me free to watch TV, talk to folks online, peruse the market place (which is better than the WoW auction IMHO), and look at specs for ships.

So far the biggest problem I have with EVE is there is too much information. It’s impossible to know what exactly is going on. I have been gone from the game for about six months now (and before that two years) and I only remembered the very basics. “How the hell do I put this pirated shield booster into my ship!?” was a question that vexed me for 15 minutes. Granted once I found the answer it was incredibly smooth and intuitive but getting there was difficult.

It was a lot of fun talking with Barb about strategy. We are going to try to start our own Corp with some other gamer friends and we tried to think of a strategy. We decided I am going to be the brains behind the operation (and dashing good looks) and she is going to be the fist. We both rolled members of the Gallente Federation, as Barb described them “The Space French”. Despite our heritage apparently the Gallente are very brave and charismatic.

I took a bunch of stats for business acumen while I think Barb took a bunch for combat. I also figured I would take drones to support her while I GTFO. I can’t wait till we see how our ships build up. I already added a shield booster. I named my ship “The Celerity”, she is a Navitas class Frigate… good times.

After hearing all the sound effects etc I still want a ringtone with the chick saying “You are receiving an incoming transmission”, with the locking on sound in the background. Anyone who can do this will be rewarded with internets, cool points, and dinner.

I Lol'd (Taken from Jack Thompson's Wiki)

Disbarment proceedings

In February 2007, the Florida Bar filed disbarment proceedings against Thompson over allegations of professional misconduct. The action was the result of separate grievances filed by people claiming that Thompson made defamatory, false statements and attempted to humiliate, embarrass, harass or intimidate them.^[127] According to the complaint, Thompson accused Cardenas of "distribution of pornography to children," claimed that the Alabama judge presiding over the Devin Moore case "breaks the rules, even the Alabama State Bar Rules, because he thinks that the rules don't apply to him," and sent a letter to Blank Rome's managing partner, saying, "Your law firm has actively and knowingly facilitated by various means the criminal distribution of sexual material to minors." Thompson claims that the complaints violate state religious protections because his advocacy is motivated by his Christian faith.^[128]

In May 2008, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dava Tunis, after reviewing 2,400 pages of transcripts and 1,700 pages of exhibits, recommended that Thompson be found guilty of 27 of the 31 violations of which he had been accused, including making false statements to tribunals, disparaging and humiliating litigants and other lawyers, and improperly practicing law outside of Florida. Thompson filed a motion with the Florida Supreme Court the day after the report was issued to strike Tunis' recommendations as vague for lack of detail. Previously, Thompson had attempted to have Tunis thrown off his case, and filed a complaint against her with the state Judicial Qualifications Commission, which is responsible for investigating judges.