Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Game Review: Need for Speed: Rivals
As a racer, you have plenty of tricks up your sleeve as well, including shockwave that damage and repel other vehicles and jammers that prevent the cops or your fellow racers from using their own weapons against you. This wild technology can get you out of a tight spot as a racer, or help you incapacitate one as a cop. But it is your skill as a driver that matters most. Weaving through traffic and around roadblocks, drifting smoothly around turns and making smart use of your limited nitrous oxide can make all the difference. Skillfully dividing your attention between driving skillfully and making the most of your limited technology is wonderfully stimulating.
The combined action and strategy gives Need for Speed a realistic feel that is invigorating. The cars feel as though they have weight and the impacts are substantial, as they glide with the terrain and other vehicles. This gives the impression of being able to actually feel metal on metal as you collide with cops and other racers. There are two things that separate Need for Speed: Rivals from his predecessors. One of those is that, by default, you always share the road with other players. Those players may be cops or they may be racers. As you cruise around trying to complete objectives to advance your own career, your experiences as well as the experience of the other players may collide.
If you are playing as a racer, another who is playing a cop may begin to pursue you whether you’re in the middle of an event or just cruising around. And if you are playing as a cop is more exhilarating to pursue human prey than computer simulated racers. Other racing games have tried to create a multiplayer experience, but in Need for Speed: Rivals, the multiplayer are seamlessly integrated into the world at large. And you can encounter other players at any time. If you choose a single player game mode, AI-cops and racers roam the road. So there’s still a chance you will run into a high-speed chase even if you are playing alone.
The other element that makes Rivals particularly exciting is the irresistible risk versus reward mechanics you are constantly faced with as a racer. You build up a score multiplier as you drive around completing events and avoiding the police. And eventually you build up the points you need to purchase new cars and operating systems. As you advance, the skill level required advances as well. Both player cops as well AI cops recognize your skill level and become determined to hunt you down. Overall, Need for Speed: Rivals is an exhilarating fun and wild ride.
Interview: Blizzard's Chris Metzen Talks World of Warcraft Movie
Chris had the opportunity to also speculate on how the upcoming World of Warcraft movie measured up to recent blockbusters such as Thor: The dark World. "I want the Warcraft movie to be the biggest movie in the worldand gi ve all the big franchises a run for their money.” said Metzen. He certainly has high hopes for its success, as do we all. The long awaited project has been on the wish list for WoW enthusiasts for nearly a decade. In the effort, perhaps we as players just don’t want the movie to be a cheesy post production copy of the comic book-ish cookie cutter productions we have seen so far. To some degree, we feel all of our reputations are riding on the quality of this film... or what remains of it.
Chris touched on how wildly popular the Warcraft franchise has become with millions of players all over the world. The success of the Warcraft movie will largely ride upon how well the director, Duncan Jones can deliver the essence of what the franchise has become for so many players. "I think people all over the world will love this film of because they feel the story.” Chris is very optimistic regarding the movie. He acknowledges that players don’t simply play World of Warcraft, but they exist within it as well. They have developed communities within the game and it serves as a form of social media. Perhaps to see our world put on screen will be an emotional experience for those of us who have been associated with this game for the better part of a decade.
What Does the Future Hold for the Hunter Class?
The hunter is one of the oldest classes in the game of Warcraft. They represent the old school mentality of power and skill that defined the vanilla players. The hunters of Warcraft are not merely a cookie cutter class. They are perhaps the only class that brings the allure of the game. You literally have to think like a hunter to play this class. Some players have expressed the necessity of using the environment to get an upper hand, and the Hunter class has proven to do just that.
Using your environment is key for the hunter in every theater of the game. Because hunters are a unique ranged DPS class in World of Warcraft, they were often regarded as OP (an over powered class) by other players. This QQ rose in symphony prompting Blizz to nerf the class significantly in Wrath expansion. Many hunter class players argued that hunters are the sole non-magical ranged damage-dealers, fighting with only bows and guns. The argument won hunters some of their old glory as Blizz introduced some tweaks to the hunter class in Cataclysm.
If you are still deciding on what class to play, you should seriously consider the noble hunter. The Hunter, a damage class, is a combination of the marksman/archer classes that are familiar in most other RPGs. In WoW, the hunters and their pets make a formidable pair that can do well in any aspect of the game, from raiding to PvP. Class "balance” has always been something that the WoW developers strive for, and the hunters are a unique class that has proven to have a slight advantage as a result of their performance. In every scenario, the ability to shoot a rival at long distance is going to be an advantage.
As we approach the upcoming new expansion, what can we learn from the hunter class and what can we look forward to in regarding this highly specialized class? Perhaps the hints at Blizcon give us some clues. The hunter class performs pulling, threat redirection, crowd control, and primarily ranged DPS. Developers touched on a long rumored specialized hunter class that has largely been speculation until now. The Demon Hunter was mentioned during the Blizzcon discussion panel but didn’t really go into juicy detail. Could this be an option for those hunter class lovers? And some fear it will simply be another stumbling block for the traditional hunter class. Time will tell.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mg-VvLUkStI/TfJyHjvWmsI/AAAAAAAAAjg/mMWCw4OEQbw/s1600/Demon+Hunter.jpg
http://www.wowwiki.com/Hunter
http://vanilla-wow.wikia.com/wiki/Hunter
http://michaela.walsh-au.com/why-choose-a-hunter/
My Top 15 Games of 2013
Another great gamer year is behind and I’m counting down my picks for the best 15 games of 2013. It was a tumultuous year for the gamer as well as developers. There was a tough economy and we all were watching every penny. There wasn't much time for anyone to sit an enjoy some game time. But still, we did have some very successful additions to the all time greats.
2014 already has some fantastic games on the horizon and we are sure to rush to get the latest releases. But, for now, we stop to take a memorable look back at the amazing year of gaming we have had so far.
#15 Tearaway (Playstation Vita)
We begin with number 15, Tearaway. The creators of Little Big Planet did it again with the surprise portable that combined a great art style is ultra creative incorporation of the Vita’s unique features.
#14 Devil May Cry
In at number 14 is DNC or Devil May Cry. This game arrive in January and delivered one of the best action games we’ve seen in years with amazing and satisfying combo possibilities and respectful re-imagining of the classic series.
2013 was a great year for Indy games as well, and number 13 is The Stanley Parable. Easily one of the most unique games of the year, The Stanley Parable takes gamers on a self reflective journey that pokes fun at video games in general. Odds are you’ve never played anything like it.
#12 Guacamelee
Coming in at number 12 is Guacamelee. Another surprising that first launched on Vida and PS3 simultaneously. The lighthearted platformer meshed great beat-em-up action for the cast of lovable characters.
#11 Gone Home
The Indy love with number 11, Gone Home, this game tell the story of a young girl who returns home from traveling abroad, only to find out that her family is gone. So what happened to them? Well, you have to play Gone Home to find out.
Number 10 on the list is Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. This downloadable title put players in control of two separate characters using both the left and right analog joysticks to controllable both characters at the same time. The unique setup takes puzzle solving to brand-new level.
At number nine is Rayman: Legend, the sequel to the gorgeous 2D scroller we first played back in 2011. Legends not only looks amazing, but provide some of the best platforming offered the years.
Landing in at number eight is Saints Row IV. We didn’t expect much from this one, But the games of over-the-top settings, in addition to superpowers made it the ultimate sandbox experience.
Coming in at number seven is The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for the Nintendo 3DS. Now not only is this a worthy sequel to the 1992 classic The Link to the Past, it is likely the best 3DS game yet.
Chosen as number six is Assassin’s Creed IV. I’m not going to lie, I haven’t liked an Assassin’s Creed game in years, but AC4 totally delivers on every level, making it the most fun Assassin’s game to play in the entire series. There’s pirates, sea combat, plundering and looting so you should check it out.
#5 Tomb Raider
As we jump into number five, which is Tomb Raider. The re-imagined franchise delivered an explosive
first entry. Origin Story, starring a much more bad ass Lara Croft. Fantastic game-play and, believe it or not, it had TOMBS! And you could actually RAID them! It had raid-able tombs for the first time which is amazing.
first entry. Origin Story, starring a much more bad ass Lara Croft. Fantastic game-play and, believe it or not, it had TOMBS! And you could actually RAID them! It had raid-able tombs for the first time which is amazing.
An old favorite takes the number four spot. It’s Super Mario 3-D World, and I have to say, expectations for this one were a little low. But I can’t argue with 3-D World’s incredible level design and sheer entertainment it provides. What the Super Mario Galaxy series did for the Wii, 3-D World looks like it might be able to do for the Wii U.
For number three, we look to the clouds at Bio Shock Infinite, The Floating City of Columbia. The original Bio Shock I might be the better game overall, but the ambitious game-play, otherworldly setting and mind-bending storyline make it one of 2013’s most compelling experiences. A note of caution and I cannot stress this enough: Make sure, whatever you do, don’t get the ending spoiled for you if you haven’t completed yet.
The runner up to the best game of the year is The Last of Us. Developer, Naughty Dog scared the absolute Shit out of gamers this year with a tale of two unlikely partners having to team up during an apocalyptic fungal outbreak. It’s gritty hyper-realistic atmosphere, smooth game-play and unbelievable production value and acting cement The Last of Us as the number two game of 2013.
And finally, the best game of the year was Grand Theft Auto V. Of course, this shouldn’t be much of a surprise to anyone. GTA5 killed it on every single level, creating a fully realized interactive city of Los Santos that was absolutely brimming with personality and charisma. The game’s roller coaster narrative feature fantastic and believable performances from an incredible cast that rendered some of the most memorable characters in recent years. GTA5 successfully created an immersive experience unlike anything I’ve ever played. It should be enjoyed by gamers of all kinds.... If you are old enough to play it, of course.
Play Warcraft For Free!
Contact me at eve.orion@yahoo.com and provide your Gmail contact address to Signup and start posting.
Your game time is purchased by us at the Blizzard Store and the code sent to your Gmail contact address. The guidelines are very relaxed and are designed to actually help your posts to be search engine friendly to earn you the most views. You will need a valid Gmail contact address to receive invite. Contact me at eve.orion@yahoo.com and provide your Gmail contact address to start posting.
This is a ground level opportunity and we can only offer this to World of Warcraft players at the moment. But as we grow, more platforms, prizes and rewards will become available. Visit us at WoW Inquirer to start posting toward free WoW!
Contact me at eve.orion@yahoo.com and provide your Gmail contact address to Signup and start posting.
Addicted To Gaming?
You might like the new game to emerge as the Blizzard-Killer known as Inferno Legend. It has brazenly compared itself to both Diablo and World of Warcraft. If you are among those that feel Inferno Legends is a viable contender to the Blizzard Entertainment Empire; this may be because you think the saving grace for this game would be some sort of familiarity of the Diablo style. In fairness, it feels much like a rip-off of Diablo in its feel and play style. In gaming, rip-off games still feel like watching 100 sequels of the same movie. Inferno Legend has been referred to as an "anti-Diablo" MMO, but it fails to break free of the genre pioneered by the Diablo franchise.
A good alternative to the cookie cutter Blizzard Diablo playground is FFXIII, I was impressed by the clickable library. I'd really like to see this type of setup in Diablo to make the UI a bit more user friendly. Perhaps the reason for the generic UI in Blizzard games results from the public testing phase which usually typically only involves friends and relatives of Blizzard employees. With Diablo III: Reaper of Souls, we were allowed to step in and experience the building process. I think this is a forward thinking model for Blizzard and one that not every game can do successfully.
Recently, I have taken a break from World of Warcraft and have been playing some of the foreign MMOs. I won't mention them specifically, because many of them are really not that good. But as the WoW chemical in my brain began to slowly evaporate and my dependence on Warcraft eased, I found I enjoyed other MMOs more. I soon realized I was always comparing these games to Warcraft or Dialblo. If a game was similar to Warcraft I didn't like it because it felt like a cheap imitation of the pure high I received from my WoW Fix. If a game was totally different than Warcraft I didn't like it because it was too weird to my senses.
I remember Rift when it came on the scene as the new WoW-Killer and everyone was abuzz. Sadly, Rift was not able to draw the Blizzard junkies away from their potent drug. As I prepare to re-enter the realm of Warcraft, I wonder if I should give Rift another try? Now that I have recovered from my physical withdrawals, I may be able to see the Blizzard alternative with fresh eyes. But many of my friends are in WoW. This is my primary motivator for going back. I think I even miss my Warcraft rivals a bit.
Has The NSA Infiltrated WoW?
Another week and the plot thickens surrounding the National Security Agency’s infiltration of World of Warcraft. The search for terrorists threats to national security has led the NSA to the realms of World of Warcraft. Although it is considered top secret which realms were being monitored, this Warcraft veteran has long suspected these trolls on Aegwynn of terrorism. In fact, it is no secret the guild Ørion led a massive year-long campaign to rid the realm of the terrorist trolls.
Warcraft Targeted by NSA
According to a CNN report, the government spying into Warcraft as well as other online games could be considered as a virtual waste of time by the NSA. However, those of us who played Warcraft since vanilla have seen firsthand the downward spiral resulting from the influence of these treacherous trolls. Could someone in our own guild be an undercover NSA agent? It is highly doubtful in my opinion. It would be my assumption that NSA agents are highly trained in situations that would make them ideal for raiding. And as any Ørion is well aware, no one raids in my guild.
Trolls Involved in Terrorist Plot?
Ironically, the information regarding NSA’s snooping into Warcraft was as a result of the Donald Snowden security leaks according to CNN reports. Government spies in the United States and United Kingdom may have spent time infiltrating video games like "World of Warcraft" in a hunt for terrorists. What exactly they were looking for is unclear. But considering the NSA were storing a massive database of our private cell phone conversations and text messages it would seem that guild chat would have been the last vestige of private communication.
Edenjaid to Return?
Having taken a bit of a break from Warcraft myself, I now see the pitiful state in which the game has fallen in my absence. Apparently the trolls have become so warped their antics are threatening national security. Perhaps it’s time for this night elf to return home and set things straight. Never one to shirk responsibility, I consider it my duty to my guild as well as my beloved Warcraft to read the game of this imminent terrorist threat. I have long suspected a certain rival guild master, whom I will leave unnamed, as being an Al Qaeda mastermind (and I use the term mastermind very loosely).
Expect to see the return of your beloved Ørion death knight within the coming weeks. Upon my return I will be implementing new benefits, rewards and incentives to help Ørion Orion members. More information regarding new guild perks to follow.
NSA Targets Gold Selling on WoW?
A rogue seemed a fitting image for this post. WoW has always had its worries with Chinese gold farmers. It seemed every trade channel on every realm was inundated with the very real scourge of gold selling. But shortly after a surveillance investigation of Warcraft by the Nation Security Agency (NSA) the Warcraft World has taken a turn from the surreal to the very real imprisonment of ten Chinese gold sellers. The gold sellers have received a real prison term for selling gold and guns in World of Warcraft? The perpetrators were busted by Chinese authorities and are being charged as a cyber crime ring. It was learned that the ten men have been sentenced to serve time in prison for purchasing and profiting off of 11500 compromised World of Warcraft accounts. Now how does this tie Warcraft with National Security?
Chinese hackers targeting computer systems within the United States falls under the heading of international cyber crime. And international cyber crime is the direct responsibility of the NSA. It doesn't matter if the goal is theft of corporate secrets, government spying or even hacking Warcraft accounts. It is still a breech of security and a potential avenue to threaten National Security.
No country in the world wants to re-open old wounds with the United States regarding 9/11. And it is not a coincidence that the NSA uncovered the rampant gold selling operation that has always been predominantly a Chinese operation. When they learned of the extent of this hacking of Warcraft accounts the NSA undoubtedly contacted the Chinese Government. So it's not about gold selling and hacking your wow account. It's all about the act of compromising systems within the United States and that comes down to National Security.
In the past, the Chinese Government has turned a blind eye to the cyber crimes committed by those in their country against online games like World of Warcraft. There is no coincidence between the NSA investigation into Warcraft and the Chinese crackdown on Warcraft account hacking.
Warcraft has been an escape from the real world for millions of gamers. We exist in a surreal environment where we can forget about real life for a while. Some of us perhaps spend more time than we should inside. But the recent real world events outside our WoW universe should put things into perspective.
Those of us unfortunate enough to have had an account compromised in the past, through no fault of our own, have had to suffer the added indignity of Blizzard taking the position of blaming the victim rather than taking the necessary steps to stop the hacking. It seems a sad note that it took an NSA investigation to do what Blizzard has failed to do in the past.
Image Source: Best Game Wallpapers
Sign Up!
To sign up to contribute to Ørion please contact us at eve.orion@yahoo.com.
Provide your valid Gmail contact address which will be used to provide you access to the site. If you do not have a Gmail account you can create one Here.
Once we activate your contributor account you will receive an invite from us at the Gmail address you provided. Follow the directions and login to begin posting. Approval within 24 hours.
Please review our Guidelines at How It Works.
Provide your valid Gmail contact address which will be used to provide you access to the site. If you do not have a Gmail account you can create one Here.
Once we activate your contributor account you will receive an invite from us at the Gmail address you provided. Follow the directions and login to begin posting. Approval within 24 hours.
Please review our Guidelines at How It Works.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)