X3:TC, Initial Campaign Completed, Endgame Forecast

Reading my save game information, subtracting the 3-12:55 “flying time” statistic from the 1-4:55 “time saved using SETA” statistic, I can say with a fair amount of reliability that I’ve played X3: Terran Conflict over the last week for a solid 2 days, 8 hours.  (With up to an additional 4-8 hours lost to resuming [...]

In The X-Universe, Massive Grinds Are Almost Frictionless

I hate grinds… or so I tell myself. However, perhaps a large part of it involves having an adequate payoff, and something about the dynamic approach to X3’s end game feels as though it has one.

So… Dragon Age

Dragon Age is currently rocking my world.
The main reason why? Final Fantasy XII’s Gambit system is here.   As I mentioned last year, I loved the gambit system.  It always annoys me that in RPGs that you can’t set up a bunch of standing orders for obvious situations – no brainers are not the kind of [...]

So, Borderlands…

… is pretty awesome.  Gearbox basically takes all their know-how about making a satisfying FPS and marries it to a surprisingly good understanding of what makes satisfying in-game loot and quest grinding.

My only critique against Borderlands would be one that applies to nearly any game: if you play it long enough, [...]

Champions Online Burnout Achieved

I’ve often mentioned on my BYOND blog that I was “busily burning myself out from Champions Online” on the grounds that I know it’s not that all that productive to spend a lot of time merely playing a game when I could be making one.  However, in a perfect world, I would never really achieve [...]

Clueless In Millennium City

My Champions Online alt-a-holicism has rapidly accelerated to an incomprehensible state of flux.   Am I bored of this game?  Not quite… but I can’t really commit to a single character, either.
To read the forums, it seems the players a whole lot whinier than usual, but I don’t think it’s the game.  I think it’s just [...]

New Hero MMORPG, Old Habits

I’ve been working hard on burning out from Champions Online so that I can get back to work on my game and, while I have not quite reached this goal, I have at least reached the level of familiar alt-a-holicism.  Today, I go over my various experiments with character concepts, so you don’t have to.

Champions Online Launch: Not That Bad

Cryptic has moved well to counteract most of the damage. [...] However, the nerfs remain. [...] In the meanwhile, if you were wise/lucky enough to stumble across my guide and follow it prior to launch, you’re probably doing just fine. [...] All things considered, Champions Online’s launch could have been much, much worse.

Champions Online Turns Up Awesome, After All

Three days ago, I had three concerns on my mind.

I would not be able to get the 6-month discounted subscription because “limited time” suddenly became “limited numbers.”
I would not be able to play until September 1st because, in a very unique precedent, you’re only allowed in the pre-order head start if you pre-order for certain [...]

Champions Online Chargen Tips

Lets talk Champions Online Strategy, particularly when it comes to developing your very own hero from scratch.
Statistics

The primary statistics you want to invest in are endurance, recovery, constitution, and intelligence – in that order.

Endurance assures you’ve a relatively large battery to use your powers from.  Being able to use your powers at a critical juncture [...]