Today's post is about gaming. Specifically about Guild Wars 2.
Now, I don't really like - nay, I strongly dislike MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game for the noobs) and that reaction comes from my experience with WoW (World of Warcraft), EVE Online and others I've played in the past but can't remember their names. WoW in particular is praised by thousands of people; so many are obsessed with it, sacrificing hours on it. This is the reason I tried to play it not once, not twice, but four times (The Starter Edition of course, because I wouldn't be as dumb as to buy a game I haven't tested before). My reaction was the same all four times: disappointment. The game itself had very limited character customisation (which eventually leads to all characters looking somewhat alike), outdated graphics, unrealistic and extremely simplified combat, no cutscenes, silly, errand-like quests...Literally I could talk about its flaws all day long. I'm sure though you don't want that.
Back to the topic then.
When I first heard about Guild Wars 2, a brand new MMORPG that came out just this August, I was both excited and cautious. I knew that I wasn't a fan of the genre, but after googling the game for a while, I saw pictures with amazing graphics on both landscape and characters as well as a multitude of option in the CC (Character Creation), even height adjustment! As I couldn't hold my excitement, I visited their website to check for a demo of the game. Unfortunately, there was no such thing - if you wanted to play the game, you had to buy the game. For 60$ !!! At first, the price tag was a kick in the balls (not that I have any). But, if you do your proper research, you'll find out there's no monthly, or in fact any (!) subscription fee.
For the unfamiliar with the gaming world, a subscription fee is money you pay, usually each month, to play an online game. To put it simply, you buy a game and then you pay (usually) every month to have access to its content.
Since the first game of the series, Guild Wars has shuttered this model to pieces, popularised by Blizzard Entertainment (creator of WoW). By offering excellent quality graphics, a variety of classes and races, cutscenes, a personal story, voiced character, improved combat system and more they managed to gain a large, loyal fanbase and even make other companies drop their monthly subscription fee (like Funcom with the game Secret World).
Moreover, it's a huge value of money; think about it. Where you're playing subscription based games, you pay a tremendous amount of money just to keep playing it. GW2 on the other side, simply asks you to pay 60$ once and for all!
Before making my decision though, I needed a second opinion. And who else to ask than Angry Joe!
Here's the link to his YouTube channel if you're interested - his videos are legend - wait for it - dary!
http://www.youtube.com/user/AngryJoeShow
He gave the game a 10/10! He never does that!
And right at that moment, I knew I had to buy it.
It was my birthday present you guys.
Is the game worth is?
The answer is: absolutely.
Even if you're not a fan of MMORPGs, go buy it! Luckily, I got it on Christmas sale (my birthday is on December) for around 40$ got the Digital Deluxe Edition for free (yay!).
You need this game in your life. You know it.
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
You will be baked and then, there will be cake...
( may or may not contain spoilers of the game Portal )
(NOTE: It definitely contains spoilers of the game Portal )
How can I even be afraid of a video game character?
Is this possible?
Normal?
Sane?
Well, when a super hi-tech talking computer that was your guide through 18 test chambers and promises you cake is leading you to a burning oven, trying to convince you to jump in, after incinerating your only friend, a cube with pink hearts, it's only natural to be scared.
I think.
Her name is GLaDOS (I refer to her to the femine gender because she speaks with a female voice) and I think she hates me. Like, really really hates me.
At first, I didn't take that line seriously; I thought that 'baked' meant I might accidentally fall inside the acid that surrounds the solid areas in most test chambers. But my gut told me otherwise. Because there were warning signs everywhere. Saying, over and over:
I wondered why the previous Aperture test subjects would care to mention that, again and again.
Okay, I thought, maybe I won't eat cake at the end of the tests. That's not so bad.
I couldn't be more naive. I knew, right from the beginning that GLaDOS couldn't be trusted. But what happened was beyond every possible outcome that I could ever imagine. And to think I'm a writer.
It's my job to imagine things.
Yes. GLaDOS's plan all along was to study me and then burn me alive.
So I did what every logical person that despises fire would do.
Escape.
I still had my portal gun in my hands and I could see a small room on top of the fire pit. And I thought:
What if I shoot a blue portal up there, then an orange one next to me, jump and try to land inside.
It's risky but since I'm going to die anyway, there's no harm in trying.
So I did it and I landed safely inside the room, away from the burning fire. GLaDOS didn't seem so happy though. And now they're after me. They're telling the the fire was the final test and I should wait until someone comes to take me to my cake. To celebrate my victory. No. I know a lie when I hear it. They're lying. She's lying. I'm a test subject, I'm a victim, I'm a toy at the hands of Aperture. And they're trying to capture me again. I don't know who they are, but I know they want to kill me. I won't let them, I'll run, I'll hide, I'll escape. I've got my portal gun and I'll escape. But how to escape when there's no escape?
Portal is the scariest game I've ever played. Honestly.
No darkspawn, no Reapers, no broodmothers, no husks, no marauders, collectors, bandits, templars, dragons, White Walkers, wargs or demons scare me.
Okay, husks maybe just a little. But GLaDOS, she gives me goosebumps. Of fear.
Because she's a computer trying to kill me inside a science lab.
She's monitoring my every move, she knows how I think, how I act, how I behave.
I'll keep playing Portal and Portal 2 and hope to stay alive to see the end.
(NOTE: It definitely contains spoilers of the game Portal )
How can I even be afraid of a video game character?
Is this possible?
Normal?
Sane?
Well, when a super hi-tech talking computer that was your guide through 18 test chambers and promises you cake is leading you to a burning oven, trying to convince you to jump in, after incinerating your only friend, a cube with pink hearts, it's only natural to be scared.
I think.
Her name is GLaDOS (I refer to her to the femine gender because she speaks with a female voice) and I think she hates me. Like, really really hates me.
"The Enrichment Centre is required to remind you that you will be baked and then, there will be cake".
At first, I didn't take that line seriously; I thought that 'baked' meant I might accidentally fall inside the acid that surrounds the solid areas in most test chambers. But my gut told me otherwise. Because there were warning signs everywhere. Saying, over and over:
"The cake is a lie".
I wondered why the previous Aperture test subjects would care to mention that, again and again.
Okay, I thought, maybe I won't eat cake at the end of the tests. That's not so bad.
I couldn't be more naive. I knew, right from the beginning that GLaDOS couldn't be trusted. But what happened was beyond every possible outcome that I could ever imagine. And to think I'm a writer.
It's my job to imagine things.
"Congratulations. The testing is now over. All Aperture technologies remain safely operational up to 4000 degrees Kelvin. Rest assured that there's absolutely no chance of a dangerous equipement malfunction prior to your victory candescence. Thank you for participating in this Aperture computer-aided enrichment activity. Goodbye".
Yes. GLaDOS's plan all along was to study me and then burn me alive.
So I did what every logical person that despises fire would do.
Escape.
I still had my portal gun in my hands and I could see a small room on top of the fire pit. And I thought:
What if I shoot a blue portal up there, then an orange one next to me, jump and try to land inside.
It's risky but since I'm going to die anyway, there's no harm in trying.
So I did it and I landed safely inside the room, away from the burning fire. GLaDOS didn't seem so happy though. And now they're after me. They're telling the the fire was the final test and I should wait until someone comes to take me to my cake. To celebrate my victory. No. I know a lie when I hear it. They're lying. She's lying. I'm a test subject, I'm a victim, I'm a toy at the hands of Aperture. And they're trying to capture me again. I don't know who they are, but I know they want to kill me. I won't let them, I'll run, I'll hide, I'll escape. I've got my portal gun and I'll escape. But how to escape when there's no escape?
Portal is the scariest game I've ever played. Honestly.
No darkspawn, no Reapers, no broodmothers, no husks, no marauders, collectors, bandits, templars, dragons, White Walkers, wargs or demons scare me.
Okay, husks maybe just a little. But GLaDOS, she gives me goosebumps. Of fear.
Because she's a computer trying to kill me inside a science lab.
She's monitoring my every move, she knows how I think, how I act, how I behave.
I'll keep playing Portal and Portal 2 and hope to stay alive to see the end.
The Gentleman
If you're a fan of How I Met Your Mother, then you've definitely seen the episode "Blitzgiving", where the above line is being said several times.
I also feel like I should mention that today it snowed. Not much and if you live in northern Europe, US or Canada you'll probably laugh with this, as the so-called snow was nothing more than a few tiny snowflakes. Unfortunately, it happened at 8 o'clock in the morning and I missed it as I was sleeping at the time.
But, my mum says it will snow again tonight, so I'll sit outside with a torch and my binoculars (yes, the snowflakes are that small) and wait for the magical moment to occur. And I'll cross my fingers.
Wish me luck!
Monday, 7 January 2013
Long time, no see + blog redesign!
'ello folks!
I know I've been absent for ages - make it eons. I know. I had tons of stuff in my mind and plus, if you know me, you know I'll be hanging out on twitter, not on blogger.
But anyhow, I have decided to make a trimphant return to the blogging realm!
And I've got lots of things to talk about.
First things first, I've decided to change the blog's background, colours - basically its whole appearance. As I remarked, I haven't been here for a while and now I see it again, it looks a tad too girly for me, hence the redesign.
Secondly, there's a new 'project' of mine that I hope I can follow through. Remember when I said - wrote I really wanted to make a vlog but couldn't, due to me lacking a sense of humour? Well, almost a year later I realised if I am to make a youtube channel, it better be about a thing I'm passionate about. And that is...
GAMING.
Yes. I said gaming. So my plan is to create a YouTube gaming channel. You know, with Let's Plays and such. It seems like a really good idea to me, but there's one thing missing.
The name.
I need a proper, cool, interesting, eye-catching name for my channel. Though I've come up with a few, I can't pick one that feels right. This is the part I need YOUR help. Pretty please! If there's anyone, anyone there, just sacrifice a second or two of your time, answer honestly to the poll and help me be a YouTube phenomenon. Well, no. That definitely won't happen, but dreaming doesn't hurt anyone.
Last but not least, I'm leaving!!!
*drumroll*
Well, not now, not next month, not even next season. I'm leaving on October, but I'm already excited about it.
Okay, let me explain. This Fall I was able to convince my parents to let me study in Great Britain, which was pretty much what I've been dreaming about my whole life. Long story short, I've applied to five universities in Scotland, after writing a very fancy personal statement and I'm eagerly waiting for their replies, which unfortunately will arrive in my inbox in March. In the meanwhile I'll be taking a foundation course, starting this February.
Now I'll shut up because I don't want to jinx anything.
And...that's all for today. I wrote way too many words when I should be concentrating on my novel.
Damn.
I know I've been absent for ages - make it eons. I know. I had tons of stuff in my mind and plus, if you know me, you know I'll be hanging out on twitter, not on blogger.
But anyhow, I have decided to make a trimphant return to the blogging realm!
And I've got lots of things to talk about.
First things first, I've decided to change the blog's background, colours - basically its whole appearance. As I remarked, I haven't been here for a while and now I see it again, it looks a tad too girly for me, hence the redesign.
Secondly, there's a new 'project' of mine that I hope I can follow through. Remember when I said - wrote I really wanted to make a vlog but couldn't, due to me lacking a sense of humour? Well, almost a year later I realised if I am to make a youtube channel, it better be about a thing I'm passionate about. And that is...
GAMING.
Yes. I said gaming. So my plan is to create a YouTube gaming channel. You know, with Let's Plays and such. It seems like a really good idea to me, but there's one thing missing.
The name.
I need a proper, cool, interesting, eye-catching name for my channel. Though I've come up with a few, I can't pick one that feels right. This is the part I need YOUR help. Pretty please! If there's anyone, anyone there, just sacrifice a second or two of your time, answer honestly to the poll and help me be a YouTube phenomenon. Well, no. That definitely won't happen, but dreaming doesn't hurt anyone.
Last but not least, I'm leaving!!!
*drumroll*
Well, not now, not next month, not even next season. I'm leaving on October, but I'm already excited about it.
Okay, let me explain. This Fall I was able to convince my parents to let me study in Great Britain, which was pretty much what I've been dreaming about my whole life. Long story short, I've applied to five universities in Scotland, after writing a very fancy personal statement and I'm eagerly waiting for their replies, which unfortunately will arrive in my inbox in March. In the meanwhile I'll be taking a foundation course, starting this February.
Now I'll shut up because I don't want to jinx anything.
And...that's all for today. I wrote way too many words when I should be concentrating on my novel.
Damn.
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
A not over-sofisticated post
Hey readers, if there are actually any...
I'm back, yeeeaaap, I'm back. I can't hold it. No I can't. I'll say it. But first I need to write a proper paragraph as an introduction, or it will...Well, screw it. I'll say it.
Me thinks I should make a Vlog. A VLOG. And actual one. On YouTube.
[I.must.stop.writing.so.small.sentences]
I couldn't help on notice that there are some problems to this 'project. Let's call it project. Yes. Seems fit.
Those are:
- I'm NOT funny. In any way. Or so people say. My jokes suck, the only person laughing with them is me. So...yeah a not so funny vloger = failure. WHY CAN'T I BE THE FEMALE CHARLIE? WHYYYY???
- Instead of funny, I'm ridiculous. No, I mean it. I'm usually pretty shy and introvert, but once I start talking, you can't make me shut up. I'll talk about anything, from weather to the colour of a leaf I saw on the pavement this morning. When I make an attempt to say a joke - which, obviously I made up! Da da! - people just plainly stare at me. No blinking included.
- I can get pretty boring. When I'll start talking about Shakespeare, corsets, Game of Thrones and my cat. I'm rambling and rambling ain't funny. Right.
- NO VIEWERS. That means no one reads my tumblr/blog, so very few people will watch my videos (I suspect only 2). So this is pretty much pathetic.
My questions:
- How to be funny, without copying someone else --> which will end up a FAIL.
- What to talk about? My life (NO NO PLEASE SAY NO), random topics, WHAAAT?
Should I put my cat, Sir Logan Blackpaw on the vlog?[resolved]- What the blog theme's gonna be 'bout?
Thank you in advance (that means even if no one answers),
xox
the one and only, Cursed Milady aka Opal
Sunday, 8 January 2012
Strange Coincidences or You Give Me the Creeps
There's this guy I've met a few months ago. Which liked me a lot and was a really really weird person.
And you'll ask, why I'm making a whole post about him?
Well, to begin with, I wasn't drawn to him or anything. Quite the opposite. I tried to be polite and nice and not offend him. But, he seemed rather obsessed with me, to a point that turned out to be rather creepy. He kept taking pictures of me, like, all the time and following me around like a pup. I said, alright, it's okay.
I even got a text from him -God knows how he got my number!- saying he'd miss me terribly and never forget me. I shrugged my shoulders and replied as politely as possible.
Then, he sent me a friend request on facebook. I accepted it, as a regular person would do. But, a few days later, I saw he had deleted me. I shrugged my shoulders once again, very confused.
At late December, since it was Christmas, I decided to be friendly and all and go along with the holidays spirit and add him again myself, believing he must have made some mistake by deleting me and it wasn't intentional. He accepted it and everything was back to normal. But, now as I was viewing my friends, searching for another friend of mine, I saw I had 186 instead of 187. Someone was missing. And, guess who it was!
And not that it bothers me much, but why someone would do that? I've never done anything wrong, have I?
All all those thoughts led me to believe that he's either completely nuts or well, completely nuts! I've never deleted anyone, even guys I dislike, ummm, apart from a guy I knew in his thirties that was flirting with me (another creepy story).
So, I'll end this post here, there's nothing to talk about anymore. But, I thought it was the weirdest thing ever...
And now I can't help but wonder how many pictures of me he has in his camera.
I'm starting to notice that I'm a magnet for creepy stalkers. Oh, well!
And you'll ask, why I'm making a whole post about him?
Well, to begin with, I wasn't drawn to him or anything. Quite the opposite. I tried to be polite and nice and not offend him. But, he seemed rather obsessed with me, to a point that turned out to be rather creepy. He kept taking pictures of me, like, all the time and following me around like a pup. I said, alright, it's okay.
I even got a text from him -God knows how he got my number!- saying he'd miss me terribly and never forget me. I shrugged my shoulders and replied as politely as possible.
Then, he sent me a friend request on facebook. I accepted it, as a regular person would do. But, a few days later, I saw he had deleted me. I shrugged my shoulders once again, very confused.
At late December, since it was Christmas, I decided to be friendly and all and go along with the holidays spirit and add him again myself, believing he must have made some mistake by deleting me and it wasn't intentional. He accepted it and everything was back to normal. But, now as I was viewing my friends, searching for another friend of mine, I saw I had 186 instead of 187. Someone was missing. And, guess who it was!
And not that it bothers me much, but why someone would do that? I've never done anything wrong, have I?
All all those thoughts led me to believe that he's either completely nuts or well, completely nuts! I've never deleted anyone, even guys I dislike, ummm, apart from a guy I knew in his thirties that was flirting with me (another creepy story).
So, I'll end this post here, there's nothing to talk about anymore. But, I thought it was the weirdest thing ever...
And now I can't help but wonder how many pictures of me he has in his camera.
I'm starting to notice that I'm a magnet for creepy stalkers. Oh, well!
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
Reasons I Quit
If I don't get people to read what I'm writing, I'll never get noticed and thus, I'll never get the chance to study Literature in an important university in either Europe or US. (I need a scholaship because these universities are extremely expensive and there's no such university where I live).
So, it's not that I want to be in the spotlight or anything. It's that if I don't get noticed, I'm forced to study for who knows how many hours to get into a university I hate. Eitherwise, my parents won't rent me my own apartment.
Thus, I decided to quit, since I've got my poems published for a long time in Figment and very few people bother to read them. Today I realised that I'm almost an adult and it's time to stop dreaming and decide what I'm going to do with my life and future.
My dream was and is to be a writer and earn money from that, but if I'm totally unknown, I'll end up as a homeless person. My parents can't feed me for the rest of my life, like I'm a baby.
No, I've got get responsible and find a way to earn my own living. As a writer or as a shop assistant.
Anyway, I'm used to that, because my dreams never come true. And this one is one of those dreams. That never get fulfilled.
I'm not a writer anymore. I don't know who and what I am, but not a writer. At least, until I get my faith back.
So, it's not that I want to be in the spotlight or anything. It's that if I don't get noticed, I'm forced to study for who knows how many hours to get into a university I hate. Eitherwise, my parents won't rent me my own apartment.
Thus, I decided to quit, since I've got my poems published for a long time in Figment and very few people bother to read them. Today I realised that I'm almost an adult and it's time to stop dreaming and decide what I'm going to do with my life and future.
My dream was and is to be a writer and earn money from that, but if I'm totally unknown, I'll end up as a homeless person. My parents can't feed me for the rest of my life, like I'm a baby.
No, I've got get responsible and find a way to earn my own living. As a writer or as a shop assistant.
Anyway, I'm used to that, because my dreams never come true. And this one is one of those dreams. That never get fulfilled.
I'm not a writer anymore. I don't know who and what I am, but not a writer. At least, until I get my faith back.
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