Console / MMORPG / PC

Picking a Class

Graev and I are playing in the Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn beta.  We’re not even close to a point where we can share our thoughts on the game.  MMOs are a tricky beast, especially when you go as long as I have without playing one; they have a way of being really fun early on, then quickly turning 180 degrees on me.  Playing has reminded me of a topic unrelated to FFXIV: Picking what class to play.

I like the conjuror class.  Conjurors are a caster that can combine with another class and become a White Mage.  Something about the healing in FFXIV feels really good to me.  FFXIV has this old school grouping vibe to it that makes me feel really needed and appreciated as a healer.  I can tell I’m going to really like being a support role.

Okay, so much for waiting to talk about FFXIV.  Now the real point I was trying to make. (more…)

15 Comments
June 21, 2013
MMORPG / PC / Themepark

Neverwinter Impressions

Neverwinter officially entered public "open beta" yesterday.  It might as well be called launch because everyone can get in, and characters won't be deleted.  I jumped in and began my…

35 Comments
May 2, 2013
Game Design / MMORPG / PC

Rift: Storm Legion Tour Part 1

Rift: Storm Legion launches November 13, 2012I had the opportunity to take a private tour of the upcoming Rift: Storm Legion expansion with Community Manager James “Elrar” Nichols.  As many of you know, I played Rift when it first launched back in March of 2011.  I played for a few months, got a couple characters almost to the max level, but didn’t continue playing because I felt like something was missing — I wasn’t hooked by anything in particular.  After this awesome tour, I’m able to see many of those ‘hooks’ making their way into Rift when Storm Legion launches November 13, 2012.

During the tour I was introduced to the story and shown the dungeon that would lead up to the new content.  I was shown the Dimension system (player housing), and also the major end-game raid zones.  Elrar also took me to several of the new zones, explained to me how the content would progress during the expansion, and provided me insights into Trion’s thoughts of Rift’s end-game and its future. I was also granted a max level character for the duration of the beta test currently underway.  So as you can tell, there’s a lot for me to share. I’m going to give you guys my honest opinion of what I saw and fill you in with as many details as I can. Be sure to check back for the full look at my tour through Rift: Storm Legion.

Read more after the break for Part 1: Dimensions! (more…)

15 Comments
October 21, 2012
Free to Play / MOBA / PC / Reviews

Smite: A New MOBA Worth Playing

Look familiar? This is the loading screen while waiting for a match to start.

With so many new entrants to what is now being called the “MOBA” genre, I was happy to find one that finally stands out as something a little bit different, yet so familiar.  League of Legends and DOTA2 are both great games, and I appreciate what both do to be different; However, they’re very much the same when you compare them to a game like Smite.  Smite, a free-to-play MOBA currently in closed beta, is being made by the same devs who made Global Agenda and brought back the Tribes franchise.

Imagine League of Legends gameplay, but from a MMO perspetive.  Third person, behind your character, hotbars with abilities that instant cast (most are skill-shot), and controls with WASD and mouse look.  That’s the best way I can describe Smite to someone for the first time.  At times it feels to me like I’m playing in a WoW BG or something like Warhammer: Wrath of Heroes because the focus is very much on how I’m controlling my character.

More Smite thoughts after the jump. (more…)

32 Comments
June 18, 2012
MMORPG / PC

No Queue, No Overflow, No Play

Guild Wars 2's BWE2 is underway, but one issue in particular has hindered enjoyment for many.  Servers that are deemed too "full" are locked -- blocking people from choosing that…

45 Comments
June 8, 2012