The M-Team accidentally loses its Qwest sponsorship, but gains a couple listeners from abroad. Also discussed is the Star Wars Galaxies anniversary, some Blizzard news, and Richard Bartle is thrust into Blog-O-Steria.
00:01:07 Introduction
00:04:50 What We’re Playing
00:19:03 Mail Bag
00:33:53 The Week in Gaming
00:44:37 Blog-O-Steria
01:14:18 Conclusion
For the amateur physicists out there — game design consultant, James Wallis has spent his sabbatical analyzing WoW. Using various methods, he has calculated the size, density and gravity of the planetoid you know as Azeroth. Azeroth is a very small planet, yet it has a gravity comparable to earth’s. Through clever means, James is able to calculate its density at 5850 g/cm3 (500 times greater than lead). This, of course, impacts spacetime through special relativity.
The full paper can be found at Cope, the weblog for spaaace.com.
…if the shoe fits, I suppose. You are, afterall, reading a blog post on a website dedicated to writing and talking about Massively Multiplayer Online Video Games, so I can’t imagine this is the first time someone has called you a nerd. Anyway, I listened to the Public Radio syndicated show, The Sound of Young America, today and heard an interview with Benjamin Nugent, who has just written a book entitled, “American Nerd, The Story of My People.” The book is part historical, from the coining of the word nerd by Dr. Seuss, to the rise of the nerd image from Saturday Night Live skits, to the impact the Internet and arenas like Comic-Con have had; and part memoir, where he speaks of his own memories of playing D&D with his nerd friends and later tries to distance himself from them in an attempt to change his image from a nerd. Anywho, it’s an interesting listen and probably an interesting book. The podcast is below.
This week’s M-Team discussions include why AoC is fun because you get to burn stuff, the KOTOR rumour mill, reaction to in-game ads and the Blog-O-Steria around proposed ISP subscription models and NGE rants.
00:00:00 Introduction
00:04:02 What We’re Playing
00:11:23 Mail Bag
00:34:27 The Week in Gaming
01:01:48 Blog-O-Steria
01:26:21 Conclusion
The M-Team introduces a new segment and discusses the possibility of a new Fantasy Island MMO, an unplanned Eve online extinction event, MMORPG Tycoon, MMO gods (has-been, ego-maniacal, poser, douche bags), and more.
00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:32 What We’re Playing
00:16:50 Mail Bag
00:42:59 The Week in Gaming
01:07:53 Blog-O-Steria
01:23:20 Conclusion
Long time listeners know that Raining Blood on GH3 has been my nemesis for many months now. Regardless of difficulty level, it’s always been the one song that has made me want to bash my guitar controller against the wall on many occasions.
I imagine my reaction would be almost as childish as this kids if I ever did this…
From America’s Finest News Source, The Onion, comes this breaking story of Blizzard’s newest property that puts gamers in the role of a WoW player. Game characters can be customized with glasses, scraggly goatees, and pale skin and can be directed to drink soda and eat Hot Pockets. Pre-order Your Copy NOW!!!
An angry M-Team discusses the vintage DAOC server idea, EVE commercials, a Sci-Fi Channel MMO, and other topics.
00:00:00 Introduction
00:04:05 What We’re Playing
00:18:24 Mail Bag
00:32:42 The Week in Gaming
01:25:43 Conclusion
Those of you who listen to the show regularly know about my recent injury. All play-by-play joking aside, I fractured my tibia and fibula sliding into third base playing league kickball on the 19th of May. I had internal malleoral fixation surgery a week ago and basically ever since my injury, I’ve been sequestered to my own home to be sedated by Percocet while I keep my foot elevated above my chest except for when I use the restroom, shower, or get something to eat or drink. Every now and again, a friend or family member will drop by and see how I’m doing, bring me a meal, run an errand for me, or take me out for lunch if I’m up for it. It’s been hard thinking about all the things I have and will miss because of this. I’ve missed two concerts at Red Rocks, three podcast recordings, a weekend of white water rafting and camping with a large group of friends, three weeks of work, and several hundred miles of bicycle riding — and that’s just to date, let alone the remaining 5 weeks in a cast and whatever limited activities I am reduced to for the length of the healing process.
For those who don’t know me, I’m a pretty sensitive guy who has historically been prone to depression. This weekend was that big camping trip and I hadn’t seen any visitors since lunch on Thursday. Being captive, stir crazy, and a little overly-full of self pity, I have to admit that I was feeling pretty down. I think my dear friend Mark may have sensed this in a phone call on Saturday. He took it upon himself to tell me that he was going to pack up his desktop and come over for an unplanned mini-LAN party on Sunday to play Age of Conan. 1:00pm came on Sunday and Noah comes through my door with his computer on his back, a Slurpee in one hand, and a Snickers in the other and asks if this is where the party is. Mark was a few minutes behind. Jason had some obligations at home, but would join us online.
We set up in no time and logged on with some level 7 alts that we had created specifically to play only when the four of us are together online. Grabbed and shared a bunch of quests and decided to head on over to the White Sands Isle where several of these adventures lay. Jason logged on and Noah, Mark and I stood on the shore awaiting his arrival. Then, the dancing began. Noah’s burly Bear Shaman doing outlandish scissor kicks and summersaults, Mark’s dark little Tempest of Set erotically undulating like a belly dancer, and my Dark Templar kicking up a river dance by our little oar boat on the white sandy beach. Then the clothes began to shed and naked we danced, gathering up the stares of onlookers. I haven’t laughed that much in weeks. We all laughed hard at this pagan ritual until Jason washed up from the waves several minutes later. Standing in his robes and cape with his minions by his side, all he could do was emote a knee-slapping laugh. It’s hard to believe, but none of us had the presence of mind to actually capture a screenshot of the event.
We gained our composure and did our quests — opening up the bellies of the native beasts to collect gems, gathering mushrooms, coconuts, panther meat, and wine bottles, warding off the Picts, pruning down the flesheating plants, tromping through the jungles, climbing over hilltops, trampling through the ruins, marching down the beaches, and swimming in the pools. It was a great time. I think everyone really likes the characters we’ve rolled and overall the game itself. The day went by quickly, but for that day, I had forgotten about my rafting/camping trip, the things I have and will miss this summer, and my sadness, and I basked in the friendship that is simply named Channel Massive.
Thank you my friends.
The M-Team comments on the worst MMO player ever, MMO innovation, Meridian 59 pirate servers, and crafting in WAR.
00:00:00 Introductions
00:04:34 What We’re Playing
00:15:55 Mail Bag
00:27:44 The Week in Gaming
01:03:44 Conclusion
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