VirginWorlds MMORPG News Host: Brent VirginWorlds is a weekly news podcast covering Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) such as World of Warcraft, EverQuest, Guild Wars, City of Heroes, Eve Online, Vanguard, Lord of the Rings Online and many many more. The VirginWorlds MMORPG Podcast is the flagship podcast of the VirginWorlds MMO Podcast Collective found at http://www.virginworlds.com
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VirginWorlds Podcast #131Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:48:00 GMT [download/play]
This week's subjects include:
Bioware and Lucas are about to come clean
IMGDC goes to Vegas
LotRO, now with Mines!
Mindfuse building a steampowered, unpronounceable game
'Good Show' by Jmo Submitted on 2008-10-13 02:03:23 CST Good show as always Brent.
I must say totally agree with you about Richard Garriott. I can never understand how people can throw down that much money and it doesn't even phase them. Kind of makes my stomach turn. I guess I'm just in the wrong line of work. =p
So, I'm curious. How are you finding WAR to be? I know what your initial reactions were (as does everyone else on the internet..hehe), but how do you see it now. I've been trying to decide on whether I should pick it up or not. If I'm going to spend $50, I want it to be $50 well spent and on something I'm going to enjoy (Sorry, I'm not Richard Garriott). I asked in the No Prisoners, No Mercy posts too, I guess we'll see if I can be convinced it's a good buy.
As a final note, I've also been enjoying Twitter. I think we had a similar reaction to the MMO circle that is forming. I've never been one to really get into Social Networking sites. I have a Facebook and Myspace, but I never used them, and only made them because friends asked me to. I only ever log in to retrieve messages that are sent to me. Twitter had definitely been fun though. It's rather interesting being able to get updates on my phone as well. I'm hoping I can find, or someone will create, a decent Twitter App for the MotoQ/Windows Mobile 5.
Anyway, enough rambling. I like the new site layout.
~Jmo
'Richard Garriot = Tony Stark/Iron Man' by shuttler Submitted on 2008-10-13 09:00:28 CST Best comparison ever!
I think I have to talk about that on the next Limited Edition.
'Richard Garriot = Tony Stark/Iron Man' by shuttler Submitted on 2008-10-13 09:02:29 CST Best comparison ever!
I think I have to talk about that on the next Limited Edition.
'eq2' by Token Submitted on 2008-10-13 11:53:10 CST The guy that wrote about EQ2's horrible distribution outside NA was spot on. I tried EQ about a year ago and it wasn't easy getting a copy, I even wrote to Brenlo explaining that I couldn't get the game. I think I eventually found an unopened copy on ebay.
'LotRObook' by animagnum Submitted on 2008-10-13 12:23:36 CST I think a social network tailored to LotRO is a good idea. While I'm sure there will be a few lore-focused players who are not interested in it, I think a lot of players would enjoy it. SOE has the Players sites, which are basically social networks that exist outside of the games, and I'm willing to bet that Turbine has looked to those sites as examples.
Regarding Richard Garriot, you said he has not done anything of note in the past decade. What about being the executive producer of NCSoft Austin? That seems like a pretty important role, and he's certainly worked on some very solid titles. I'm not going to defend how he spends his money -- that's his business -- but it's not like he's been completely disconnected from the gaming industry for the past ten years.
'WoW character customization' by Burro Submitted on 2008-10-13 18:35:12 CST Hell yeah a school girl uniform for my troll.
I wouldn't mind paying a bunch of money to go to space like Garriott. Now when you get in an argument with the guy he can say "Oh yeah have ever been to space?"
'Also...' by animagnum Submitted on 2008-10-13 21:55:13 CST Anyone remember the giant box for Ultima 9? Well, each box came with its own personal spacecraft -- built by Mr. Garriot himself. Unfortunately, the game tanked so not many people found out about it. I got one and I'm writing to you all from inside it at this very moment!
'Website look' by FarSpace Submitted on 2008-10-15 13:44:01 CST Here's just a guess at what might make it better like you were asking for input so here you go,
1st off the lay out is pretty good as far as finding stuff and where things are and what pages their on etc...
About the website look, sure it looks good but since you asked for any ideas, I was thinking it might be more solid looking if there were more defined borders or frames around cells and stuff, and maybe instead of a flat color in the cell's backgrounds, add a tiny bit of texture to it?
So that "borders or frames for cells" and "slightly textured back ground colors in cell". Not enough to distract of course if that's possible.
But anyways you and your website are awesome btw. Keep up the greatness :)
I hope you have fun in Britain, The people are really cool.
'Are we?' by randomtime Submitted on 2008-10-16 15:42:27 CST Awesome, I love being really cool. Like the new site design, keep it up!
'Nice, thanks' by welshtroll Submitted on 2008-10-17 18:37:17 CST Great podcast sure to be the first of many I listen to.
The Information regarding SOE was new to me but no surprise, they must have the most bizarre business model ever.
I was a very long term Planetside player that was annoyed at SOEs lack of commitment to European customers and then the uk player base undertook a massive Planetside guerilla marketing project. it was very successful and in fact put SOE to shame so much so that they got the game released with a few page spread in a gaming magazine.
I also agree that LORTO isn't the type of game that really suites a social network with game/web integration and the development effort will be a good example of what can be done but not much else.
'Garriott' by scytale2 Submitted on 2008-10-19 13:55:39 CST I was interested to hear how self-indulgent Richard Garriott was. He obviously has a high opinion of himself, which may or may not be justified. It's quite gatifying to hear that more and more people are starting to question this type of behaviour, which previousloy would have been applauded. Maybe it's a sign of the times that it is more impressive to give money to those who have none than to devise more ways of spending it on oneself.
EQ2 - it's not a good game. I too have 3 characters at Lvl 35 or so. The combat is incredibly dull. Basically the spells/powers are not "defined" enough. They overlap too much. It is too hard to remember what they all do. Also the armour defences don't seem to actually do anything, so why improve them? Pretty game, dull unrealistic gameplay.
WAR - I never thought I would like this, but it's fun. I'm even getting into the PvP a little bit. Maybe it's because at the moment nobody can PvP well:)
Lastly - it really is about time we had a post holocaust MMO - something like Fallout or Arcana of Steamworks.
'Thanks for the mention of MicroWarpCast' by crazykinux Submitted on 2008-10-20 11:34:50 CST Hey Brent,
I'm just catching up on a few podcasts and just listened to your last 2. Wanted to thank you for mentioning MicroWarpCast, my latest endeavor with YoMma.
Got an email earlier today, which mentioned that he had heard about it on your show.
Cheers
And get well soon. Though Robotic Brent seems a great fellow, I still prefer to hear it from Da Masta himself!!
'Good Show' by Jmo
Submitted on 2008-10-13 02:03:23 CST
Good show as always Brent.
I must say totally agree with you about Richard Garriott. I can never understand how people can throw down that much money and it doesn't even phase them. Kind of makes my stomach turn. I guess I'm just in the wrong line of work. =p
So, I'm curious. How are you finding WAR to be? I know what your initial reactions were (as does everyone else on the internet..hehe), but how do you see it now. I've been trying to decide on whether I should pick it up or not. If I'm going to spend $50, I want it to be $50 well spent and on something I'm going to enjoy (Sorry, I'm not Richard Garriott). I asked in the No Prisoners, No Mercy posts too, I guess we'll see if I can be convinced it's a good buy.
As a final note, I've also been enjoying Twitter. I think we had a similar reaction to the MMO circle that is forming. I've never been one to really get into Social Networking sites. I have a Facebook and Myspace, but I never used them, and only made them because friends asked me to. I only ever log in to retrieve messages that are sent to me. Twitter had definitely been fun though. It's rather interesting being able to get updates on my phone as well. I'm hoping I can find, or someone will create, a decent Twitter App for the MotoQ/Windows Mobile 5.
Anyway, enough rambling. I like the new site layout.
~Jmo
'Richard Garriot = Tony Stark/Iron Man' by shuttler
Submitted on 2008-10-13 09:00:28 CST
Best comparison ever!
I think I have to talk about that on the next Limited Edition.
'Richard Garriot = Tony Stark/Iron Man' by shuttler
Submitted on 2008-10-13 09:02:29 CST
Best comparison ever!
I think I have to talk about that on the next Limited Edition.
'eq2' by Token
Submitted on 2008-10-13 11:53:10 CST
The guy that wrote about EQ2's horrible distribution outside NA was spot on. I tried EQ about a year ago and it wasn't easy getting a copy, I even wrote to Brenlo explaining that I couldn't get the game. I think I eventually found an unopened copy on ebay.
'LotRObook' by animagnum
Submitted on 2008-10-13 12:23:36 CST
I think a social network tailored to LotRO is a good idea. While I'm sure there will be a few lore-focused players who are not interested in it, I think a lot of players would enjoy it. SOE has the Players sites, which are basically social networks that exist outside of the games, and I'm willing to bet that Turbine has looked to those sites as examples.
Regarding Richard Garriot, you said he has not done anything of note in the past decade. What about being the executive producer of NCSoft Austin? That seems like a pretty important role, and he's certainly worked on some very solid titles. I'm not going to defend how he spends his money -- that's his business -- but it's not like he's been completely disconnected from the gaming industry for the past ten years.
'WoW character customization' by Burro
Submitted on 2008-10-13 18:35:12 CST
Hell yeah a school girl uniform for my troll.
I wouldn't mind paying a bunch of money to go to space like Garriott. Now when you get in an argument with the guy he can say "Oh yeah have ever been to space?"
'Also...' by animagnum
Submitted on 2008-10-13 21:55:13 CST
Anyone remember the giant box for Ultima 9? Well, each box came with its own personal spacecraft -- built by Mr. Garriot himself. Unfortunately, the game tanked so not many people found out about it. I got one and I'm writing to you all from inside it at this very moment!
'Website look' by FarSpace
Submitted on 2008-10-15 13:44:01 CST
Here's just a guess at what might make it better like you were asking for input so here you go,
1st off the lay out is pretty good as far as finding stuff and where things are and what pages their on etc...
About the website look, sure it looks good but since you asked for any ideas, I was thinking it might be more solid looking if there were more defined borders or frames around cells and stuff, and maybe instead of a flat color in the cell's backgrounds, add a tiny bit of texture to it?
So that "borders or frames for cells" and "slightly textured back ground colors in cell". Not enough to distract of course if that's possible.
But anyways you and your website are awesome btw. Keep up the greatness :)
I hope you have fun in Britain, The people are really cool.
'Are we?' by randomtime
Submitted on 2008-10-16 15:42:27 CST
Awesome, I love being really cool. Like the new site design, keep it up!
'Nice, thanks' by welshtroll
Submitted on 2008-10-17 18:37:17 CST
Great podcast sure to be the first of many I listen to.
The Information regarding SOE was new to me but no surprise, they must have the most bizarre business model ever.
I was a very long term Planetside player that was annoyed at SOEs lack of commitment to European customers and then the uk player base undertook a massive Planetside guerilla marketing project. it was very successful and in fact put SOE to shame so much so that they got the game released with a few page spread in a gaming magazine.
I also agree that LORTO isn't the type of game that really suites a social network with game/web integration and the development effort will be a good example of what can be done but not much else.
'Garriott' by scytale2
Submitted on 2008-10-19 13:55:39 CST
I was interested to hear how self-indulgent Richard Garriott was. He obviously has a high opinion of himself, which may or may not be justified. It's quite gatifying to hear that more and more people are starting to question this type of behaviour, which previousloy would have been applauded. Maybe it's a sign of the times that it is more impressive to give money to those who have none than to devise more ways of spending it on oneself.
EQ2 - it's not a good game. I too have 3 characters at Lvl 35 or so. The combat is incredibly dull. Basically the spells/powers are not "defined" enough. They overlap too much. It is too hard to remember what they all do. Also the armour defences don't seem to actually do anything, so why improve them? Pretty game, dull unrealistic gameplay.
WAR - I never thought I would like this, but it's fun. I'm even getting into the PvP a little bit. Maybe it's because at the moment nobody can PvP well:)
Lastly - it really is about time we had a post holocaust MMO - something like Fallout or Arcana of Steamworks.
'Thanks for the mention of MicroWarpCast' by crazykinux
Submitted on 2008-10-20 11:34:50 CST
Hey Brent,
I'm just catching up on a few podcasts and just listened to your last 2. Wanted to thank you for mentioning MicroWarpCast, my latest endeavor with YoMma.
Got an email earlier today, which mentioned that he had heard about it on your show.
Cheers
And get well soon. Though Robotic Brent seems a great fellow, I still prefer to hear it from Da Masta himself!!
Cheers,
CK