Aion

Why so Much Emphasis?

After reading a number of early morning blog posts left over in my RSS reader from yesterday, I found myself wondering: Why do gamers put so much emphasis in what we and others are playing. Especially others. Why do we even care? Every day I read a post from one or more authors that includes some sort of semi derogatory remark condoning a group of players simply because of how they choose to spend their time. Or, to be more precise, where they choose to spend their time.

There are those who have made up their minds that everyone who plays a free to play game must be a certain ‘class’ of gamer. How dare they actually enjoy ‘the grind’ that comes with a lot of these games. Don’t they know that in the long run they’ll pay more for their “free” game then some people will pay for their monthly subscription?! Then there are the WoW gamers. Don’t even get me started on these people. I have heard everything from how close minded they are to how stupid they must be, simply because of where they choose to spend their time. It’s as though we as gamers have moved into certain categories and stereotypes not based on who we are, but because of where we play.You ask a fellow blogger their game of choice and suddenly your opinion of them shifts slightly.

So I ask again – why does this aspect of a person even matter. Why are we so keen to judge someone based on a persons decision to spend their free time where they wish. I have even heard people go so far as to say they do not like a particular person because they play certain games that they are not fond of. Really? Are we so shallow that we are now making character judgements based on video games?

I simply don’t understand it.

In my opinion it doesn’t matter where you play, so long as you have fun. In fact voicing my opinion about any other ‘type’ of gamer is a moot point because when it comes to how others are spending their time – my opinion doesn’t matter! It’s their time, their money, and what I think of the matter is completely irrelevant. I refuse to classify a person based on whether they’re playing EQ2, EQ, VG, LotRo, WoW, WAR, DDO, Darkfall, Wizard101, Runes of Magic, EVE, Alganon, Fallen Earth, Lineage II, Allods, Champions, STO, Free Realms, Aion, FFXIV, SWG, Guild Wars, AoC, or any other game.

Go play, and enjoy. Don’t like it? Move on and find something you DO enjoy. It’s a game. They’re supposed to be fun. There are SO many games out there and despite what others would say about them all cloning one another there are always unique factors to each and every game – you may be surprised at what you end up playing and enjoying. I implore gamers to make their own decisions about what they like and don’t like, and refuse to be classified into a category of gamer simply because of where they spend their time.

Nice Try

Above is a scam. If you get a tell like this in game, do the smart thing and do NOT go to the web site linked (which I have blocked out here). Block the person, and report them. It’s NOT NCsoft telling you that you’re about to be banned. I’d like to say that no one falls for these sort of things, but they do. Be smart about it, please.

All about the Grind

Yesterday while I was playing Aion I came to a realization about myself. Games involve a whole slew of different activities that you can do in them depending on your personal choices, and one of those personal choices happens to fall under the category of ‘grinding’. I’m sure at some point in time, in some random game, we’ve all come across this. It’s where you do the same thing, over and over again for whatever reason (quest reward, experience, etc). This isn’t simply leveling up, it’s leveling up in the same little area for a good length of time.

Now, my realization was that number one – I don’t mind grinding, at all. But it depends on where I am and what I am doing. For example, craft grinding? I enjoy a great deal. I could sit for hours and watch movies on my laptop while crafting on my PC and it doesn’t phase me in the least. I actually find it pleasantly relaxing. Quest grinding on the other hand I can not handle for any length of time – game dependent. I don’t mind quest grinding in LotRO – but absolutely refuse to do it in EQ2 (especially RoK quests). I don’t mind grinding solo, in my own little area undisturbed, but I do not enjoy grinding (mobs) in a group. I find it boring, I start to fall asleep. So why do I enjoy doing that particular activity solo rather then in a group? I tried to figure it out and the only reason I really have is that when I’m by myself I can stop and start under my own decisions, and there’s absolutely no pressure because it’s just me.

In Aion if you wish to level up (not everyone does) you’re pretty much forced at one point or another to go grind mobs. There’s simply not enough quests that you could complete to level up just by doing them, and this has been a sore spot for a lot of people. This weekend (and for the next three weekends) Aion has bonus experience going on – and just as an example, when I kill an elite mob (in a duo) I was getting 50,000 experience (I need over 1.5 million to level) which is more experience for one single mob, then all of my quests. They reward you for deciding to grind rather then doing your quests. The bonus experience is also in place for crafting, and harvesting (two more ‘grinds’). Now, I’m not about to say no to this sort of bonus, it’s a HUGE increase and last night I managed to climb up two more levels, but I really wish I was being rewarded for something else OTHER then grinding.

What about everyone else, are you against grinding in all its forms? Is there one particular type that you enjoy more then the others? Let me know!

A Little Aion Combat

I’ve been playing Aion for work writing leveling guides (I pay for my own account and don’t get anything press related associated with it, let me just state that here and now), and while it’s not exactly my game of choice, I’ve played worse. The stories are true, it is a grind. It’s a lot of grind. Thankfully, I’ve got a friend playing with me and let me tell you, that makes ALL the difference in the world. I’m actually enjoying myself and having a good time. I can appreciate the graphics because they are absolutely astounding, and I notice the little quirks a lot more because I’m not paying attention to the grind. That’s really key for me, NOT paying attention to the grind.

I love the combat, love the classes, the outfits are exceptionally detailed and you can customize them with dye. Crafting is another grind, harvesting is a grind, but I don’t mind those things. I don’t actually mind the basic grind, either. Maybe I’m used to it from my EQ camping days.

In any case, here’s a small video I took while working my way through level 20. The next guide for Asmodians will be out in Beckett MOG #23, and should be in stores mid-January. In the mean time I’m working on 20-30. If you happen to be playing feel free to drop Ellithia a tell!

A Mix of Games

Yesterday morning I was heading into Aion to get some work done, but alas the game was down for patches. So I decided to turn to Fallen Earth – which was also down for patches until 5pm EST. Dang it! With all of my regular choices down, I had a few options still. I could log into EQ2 which I haven’t really felt the pull of lately (sorry!) or play someone off line. Dragon Age has been taunting me and begging me to play – but something with an even stronger pull, was Sims 3.

I love the sims. I played Sims before I was into any other video games at all. Before I got into MUDS, MMOs, consoles, etc. Sims was the game for me. I even played the Sims Online and started doing online radio shows as my persona “April Love” in the wee hours of the morning. It was fun, though I burned out fast.

Since I recently reinstalled windows on my PC everything from my previous games was wiped. I decided to start over fresh, and I simply had a blast with it.

It’s fun to take control of a world that resembles real life. Why? I’m not exactly sure. It just is. Where in previous versions of the Sims my biggest pull was creating and designing houses and very little actual game play, this time around it’s different. The story pulls me in, the choices I can make and the direction I can set my little Sim off to.

It was a great way to spend the day, and one that I wasn’t expecting. I hadn’t played Sims 3 in quite some time, but EA also released a new expansion (the first) for Sims 3, so I was excited about that. I haven’t decided if I want to pick it up yet, but chances are I will. I don’t want to mess with tradition after all!

Hope everyone has a fantastic Thursday, no matter where you find yourself.

Nomadic Gamer