• 5Oct 09

  360 Back Collecting Dust & Fallen Earth is Why!

  So my last blog mentioned how I had given up on games on the PC and went back to playing my 360. Well, that changed once again as I unknowingly found a hidden gem that sucked me in. This game is Fallen Earth and wow I'm really hooked right now.

  It began as I saw an Open Beta for the game on FilePlanet and decided, sure, why not give it a try; post-apocalyptic setting, mmo, never heard of it or the developer----let's go! Wow! Was I pleasantly surprised. I was almsot overwhelmed at first. The game has a steep learning curve (good, keep the kiddies away) and really takes a bit to fully appreciate it. The game is massive and in 'sandbox' style, you can basically do anything you want, go anywhere you want. Instances are almost non-existent, though they do exist in a few places (I still have yet to experience one). Crafting is one of the deepest I've seen in an MMO and 95% of the things in-game can be crafted (and crafted real-time, while questing or even offline). Everything from your armor, weapons, horse (its 'trained' not crafted), atv, motorcycle, dunebuggies, cars. Its really incredible. I was never a real big crafter but this game has me a craftaholic.

  One server rules all. That's right there is only one server. There is both PvE and PvP with PvP in certain zones only and in 'conflict towns'. The community is awesome, helpful, and for the most part great. GMs are always online and willing to help and police the chat channels (which I actually like, keeps the idiots in check). The game is a classless game where you earn AP (advancement points) and put them where you want, either into stats, skills, or mutations. This allows you to customize your playstyle to the game. Basically you will end up playing certain combat types: melee (in many forms), pistols, or rifles, with mutations that can compliment each. There are 6 factions but they are not all against each other. Each faction has an arch-enemy and two enemies, as well as two allies. This makes for some interesting combinations and each faction's areas are very different, offer different abilities, and are overall a nice feeling.

  The game is a P2P (what good game isn't?), and is done by an independant developer, Icarus Studios. I always loved the indy-devs but quality always seemed lacking. That or they just did copy-cat games. This is one BIG exception. I cannot express how good and complete this game is for an indy group. Plus they have already stated more content already in the works with new zones and level caps coming often.

  There are problems with the game. Bugs, lag in certain areas, and things go wrong. The game requires somewhat high system specs (again, bye bye kiddies). I have had no serious issues with any of the bugs or any lag. Most with these problems seem to have sub-par systems or a crappy isp, or just weird firewall/router settings that they just don't know how to deal with. The game runs perfectly smooth for me and that makes for one enjoyable experience.

  I'm truly loving the game and have already subscribed and plan on playing for quite some time. So sorry, 360, Modern Warfare already preordered will have to wait till I get bored once more, hopefully not in the near future and I think this might be the case with this great game I found.

  • Posted Oct 5, 2009 11:50 pm PT
  • Category: Games
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• 13Apr 09

  Goodbye PC, Welcome Back 360

  So besides the usual PC chores, I've retired gaming on the PC in favor of the 360, and am not disappointed yet. The graphics on the big LCD screen are not much different, even better on some games; gaming in my La-z-boy with controller instead of a keyboard and mouse is definitely more fun; and overall I am enjoying it much more.

  Now some of this could be because all I played on the PC were MMOs and these don't exist on the 360. My multi-year MMO-burnout has contributed greatly. Mostly I needed change and coming back to the 360 after not playing it for so long has been an awesome relief. Lotsa new games I've been exploring and playing, lots of new fun over Xbox Live, and tons of new stuff I didn't realize I missed so much about the 360. Live is simply awesome and games are great. Plus, I'm limiting myself to hit games from awhile ago which are now a steal and loving every minute of it.

  So gaming myself to death on the 360 here are a few games I've been playing: Gears of War 2, Resident Evil 5, Left 4 Dead, Conan, Bioshock, Army of Two, Call of Duty 5, The Darkness, The Orange Box, lots of Arcade games, and a few more I can't remember. And I haven't even begun to attack the games in my son's room; who never gave up playing the 360 and inherited mine permanently after I stopped playing. Now there are 2 360s in our house.

  Oh, btw, playing on Live with the son is a big plus.

  • Posted Apr 13, 2009 4:02 am PT
  • Category: Games
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• 21Dec 08

  Drawn back into Warcraft

  So like the commercial, WoW has sucked me back into the Lich. After getting a new computer (Alienware 750i) and hooking it up to my 47", I jumped back into gaming online. My first stop back in WAR showed the guild I was in had broke up and scattered. I went around a little on my 35 Engy and quickly logged off and rolled the new class Knights of the Blazing Sun. Even this couldn't keep my interest, unguilded in a game heavily dependant on groups.

  My son kept bugging me about also getting back into WoW for the Lich King and I decided to try. Four 70s and many years of playing was a bit too much and we both upgraded our accounts to Lich. Even though I wanted to see the new content on one of my 70s, I rolled a Death Knight, loaded up Questhelper, and went to work. After whipping through the awesome DK starting area, I headed for the Outlands, where I had already grinded four toons through. Surprisingly, it wasn't that bad. The DK is incredibly powerful if played right and I believe I'm playing right. I ignored questlines and went straight to leveling with unrested exp. I hit zones briefly, grabbing quests and heading out quickly. I've never reached 68 so fast and headed straight for Northrend and new content.

  Northrend so far is awesome. Not too much variety in terms of what the quests are about but I also haven't ventured too far and just touched most of the initial quests. But my son has been hitting the new zone and they sound huge and leveling slow. Than again, could just be his fury warrior and probably a lot more downtime than the DK which literally has zero down time when questing. So almost 69 and no regrets coming back to the game I said I would not return to. Thanks Blizzard for both putting out a good game and also cursing me once again.

  • Posted Dec 21, 2008 5:33 pm PT
  • Category: Games
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