LOTRO: Thoughts on the Current Downtime

March 08, 2019 / Roger Edwards

As I am writing this post, the popular MMORPG The Lord of the Rings Online has been offline since 2:00 AM EST on 6th March (7:00 AM GMT). The game servers, website and account portal are offline for maintenance and it would appear that the actually physical hardware is being relocated within the datacentre that Standing Stone Games uses. Like any complex IT project of this nature there are always potential problems and it would appear that some have occurred as the initial 22 hours projected down time has now become nearly 3 days. Naturally this has had an impact upon the LOTRO community as Friday evening is often prime gaming time. From SSG’s perspective the extended outage is not good for business or community relations and so they have been using social media to keep players informed.

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categories / Gaming, LOTRO, MMORPG, Standing Stone Games, Downtime

Cryptic to Close the Foundry

March 05, 2019 / Roger Edwards

Cryptic have announced that they will be removing the Foundry from both Star Trek Online and Neverwinter on April 11th. The Foundry was first introduced to STO back in 2011 and has proven a popular means for players to create and share their own missions, using in-game assets. Cryptic state in their press release that “the legacy knowledge required to maintain the Foundry at our quality standards is no longer available”. This is a roundabout way of saying that the member of staff responsible for curating and quality testing the service has no left the company. Naturally, Cryptic has stated that they will acknowledge those players who have contributed to the Foundry over the years by handing out various virtual trinkets and baubles. There has been quite a strong reaction of the STO subreddit as no one like to see content removed from a game. However, the isn’t a black and white as it first appears, because the Foundry has been broken for a while.

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categories / Cryptic, Gaming, MMORPG, Star Trek Online, Foundry

A Month in Gaming

March 02, 2019 / Roger Edwards

Every other video game blogger I know writes a monthly summary of what they’ve been playing and then details what they hope to achieve in-game over the next four weeks. It’s a very effective example of blogging as it’s easily to relate to and it’s nice to see what everyone else is focusing their “gaming attention” on. So I’ve decided to do the same. It’s a relatively straight forward post to write and it also makes collating an end of year analysis of my gaming habits a lot easier. So here is a broad breakdown of what I got up to last month, gaming wise.

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categories / Gaming, MMORPG, A Month in Gaming, February 2019

Death in MMOs

March 01, 2019 / Roger Edwards

LOTRO-November-Content-Update-Loremaster-Runekeeper-Revamp.jpg

There was a post today over at Keen and Graev’s Gaming Blog, which raised the subject of “corpse runs” in old school MMOS such as Ultima Online. In-game death came with penalties back then and there was the prospect of XP loss or that your corpse could be looted, and you could potentially lose rare gear. It got me thinking because I’ve never played an MMO that has had, to my mind, such harsh sanctions. In fact game mechanics such as permadeath, corpse runs, and the loss of equipment will put me off playing any such game that has them. I suspect that unless you’re a player who is particularly motivated by achievement, competitiveness and challenge, then such systems are seen mainly as an inconvenience and impediment.

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categories / Gaming, MMORPG, Death in MMOs, LOTRO, Star Trek Online, Elder Scrolls Online

Star Trek Online: Non-Combat Missions

February 23, 2019 / Roger Edwards

One of the commonest laments you’ll hear from Star Trek Online devotees is that the game is too orientated around confrontation and combat; there aren’t enough diplomatic, exploration and general non-combat missions in the game. It’s a matter I have mixed feelings about, because if you watch Star Trek TOS, then Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise didn’t always live up to the ideals that The Federation extols. However, this did change in later shows. I certainly wouldn’t be averse to having more non-combat missions in the game, although they would have to be of some substance to merit my interest. The removal of the Exploration Cluster missions from STO, in July summer 2014 was justified in my opinion, as they were somewhat arbitrary. However, if you take content out of a game, then it would be preferable to see something else put back in its place.

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categories / Gaming, MMORPG, Star Trek Online, Non-Combat Missions

LOTRO: A Lesson in Semantics

February 22, 2019 / Roger Edwards

It’s always nice to know what a video game developer has in mind, especially given the currently volatility of the MMO market. Most of the MMO related news of late has been regarding studio closures and job layoffs. So the arrival of a new Producer’s Letter from Rob Ciccolini (AKA Severlin) is at first glance most welcome. Communication is not exactly Standing Stone Games greatest strength and there hasn’t been a great deal of news filtering down to the player base in the last six months. So this missive is welcome, as it does broadly feature this year’s road map for LOTRO. Furthermore, the details are interesting with further content and systems changes in development. As a long time LOTRO player who purchased the Legacy Bundle in December 2018, I want the MMO to continue grow and evolve.

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categories / Gaming, LOTRO, MMORPG, Producer's Letter 2019, Roadmap

Auto Manage

February 21, 2019 / Roger Edwards

As someone who plays video games for fun, rather than competitively, there are many common mechanics that I don’t care for or that I’m broadly indifferent to. These usually tend to be fiddly, time consuming tasks such as inventory management or having to excessively (a very subjective term) fine tune gear. The Legendary Item system in LOTRO being a great example of this. I fully appreciate that there are players who really dig this sort of thing and I am not in any way advocating that they have their “fun” taken away. However, what I would like to see in more games, especially MMOs, is the ability to auto manage some of these systems. To be able to just click a button and have the peace of mind that the most relevant item in my inventory will be equipped by default.

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categories / Gaming, MMORPG, Auto Manage

MMOs I No Longer Play

February 20, 2019 / Roger Edwards

I started playing MMORPGs over a decade ago, at a point when the genre was growing. It seemed at one point that every developer wanted to produce the game that usurped World of Warcrafts crown. I therefore ended up trying many of these massively multiplayer online games yet ended up sticking with few. All too often many of these titles were too generic or had an inherent flaw or flaws that killed my enjoyment. Sometimes it was just a case that the game just didn’t chime with me. Naturally over time, I have revisited some of these MMOs and a few have become a mainstay of my gaming activities. The Lord of the Rings Online, Star Trek Online and The Elder Scrolls online are three such examples. Yet there are numerous other games from this genre that I have not returned to or if I have, I still found them to be problematic, so they have not become part of my leisure activities.

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categories / Gaming, MMORPG, Age of Conan, Rift, SWTOR, The Secret World, Guild Wars 2, MMOs I No Longer Play

The Elder Scrolls Online and Addons

February 18, 2019 / Roger Edwards

After recently watching several friends stream The Elder Scrolls Online, I have re-installed the game (funny how that often happens). I played quite consistently last spring and the game finally “clicked” for me. The narrative driven structure is something I enjoy, and I also like way you can pick and choose the content you undertake. So after letting the 70.9 GB game client download overnight, I fired up the game yesterday and found my level 50 High Elf Sorcerer in Auridon, where I left them last Easter. The first thing that immediately stood out was the plain vanilla default UI, which is minimalist to say the least. After a heavy sigh, I realised that if I wanted to continue efficiently playing ESO I would have to install a bunch of addons via Minion. The only minor problem was that after replacing my Hard Drive last November, despite backing up most data, I had not made a note of which addons I was using. Luckily, a friend who still had the game installed went through their current installation, so I was able to collate a suitable list.

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categories / Elder Scrolls Online, MMORPG, ZeniMax, AddOns, Gaming

Emotes, the "Carlton Dance" and Copyright

February 16, 2019 / Roger Edwards

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Actor Alfonso Ribeiro has been told he cannot copyright the "Carlton Dance" his character performed in the hit US sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Ribeiro, who played Will Smith's pretentious cousin Carlton Banks in the popular TV show, had tried to sue both Take-Two Interactive and Epic Games over use of the routine as an emote in the video games NBA2K16 and Fortnite. The US Copyright Office's denial of the claim was revealed in a motion to dismiss Ribeiro's lawsuit against Take-Two Interactive. Although a court is not bound by the determination, it is very likely that it will take it into consideration. A hearing on the motion to dismiss the lawsuit is scheduled for 18th March. If successful it will effectively end any current legal action taken by Mr Ribeiro and potentially set a precedence for any future lawsuits of this nature. Or will it?

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categories / Gaming, MMORPG, Emotes, The "Carlton Dance", Copyright

New Ships, Keybinds and Voice Acting

February 14, 2019 / Roger Edwards

There has been a degree of controversy over the Discovery Operation Pack that has recently been made available for purchase in Star Trek Online. The bundle featuring ships, bridge officers, cosmetic items and more is displeasing some core players who feel that it is over priced and lacks anything relevant for Romulan and Klingon races. Personally, I’m only interested in two specific items from the pack, such as the Tier 6 Gagarin Miracle Worker Battlecruiser and the combat pet Tardigrade but at present they cannot be purchased separately. So, I shall not be parting with any money at present. The Gagarin Miracle Worker Battlecruiser is relatively similar to the Tucker Tactical Miracle Worker Cruiser, which I already own. However, it is an improvement aesthetically speaking (a subjective point, admittedly), so for me the obvious compromise is to purchase the fleet version and forgo the unique space trait and settle for an additional console slot. As I’m not a high-end player, the look and feel of a ship has as much appeal to me as its stats.

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categories / Gaming, MMORPG, Star Trek, Star Trek Online, Vic Mignogna

Mirkwood, Enedwaith or The Great River?

February 13, 2019 / Roger Edwards

Due to the nerfed levelling curve of Shadows of Angmar and Mines of Moria, I recently completed the Epic Story up to Volume II, Book 8: Scourge of Khazad-dûm and reached level 64 without any major problems. Hence, I wrote about preparing to play through the Siege of Mirkwood expansion. Content that I haven’t touched since its release in 2009. Well to cut along story short I completed the prologue and travelled over the Anduin to the Malledhrim bridgehead and quickly remembered why I disliked the dark and dingy forest with its densely packed mobs. So I revised my plans and decided to go to Enedwaith as I was the right level to revisit that zone. I was not a big fan of the story, finding the feuds between Dunlending clans and the machinations of Saruman somewhat of a distraction. However, I did like the sub-plot about the Dwarf Nâr at the library at Zudrugund to be more engaging, so I headed South, rather than striking East.

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categories / Gaming, LOTRO, MMORPG, Mirkwood, Enedwaith, or The Great River, Levelling

LOTRO: Ill Omens Skirmish Event

February 09, 2019 / Roger Edwards

The following was included in last Monday’s LOTRO patch notes (Update 23.3 Release Notes). February 7th brings a new event: “Ill Omens” to Skirmishes throughout the game! Evil stirs in Minas Morgul, and harbingers of the Dead City spread across Middle-earth! Each day, your characters will have the chance to participate in a Skirmish Assault, which will send them to specific sets of existing Skirmishes in search of dangerous new foes. Characters who complete a Skirmish Assault will earn a special currency that can be exchanged for new equipment and cosmetic rewards. As for the most dedicated Skirmishers of Middle-earth, there are several new Deeds and titles to be earned during “Ill Omens”. In addition, characters who complete twelve Skirmish Assaults while the event is active will earn a powerful cap-level statted reward.

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categories / Gaming, LOTRO, MMORPG, Ill Omens Skirmish Event

Are You a Team Player?

February 07, 2019 / Roger Edwards

Unless your team is full of incompetent fools…

There’s an interesting post over on Tobold’s Blog, regarding how he personally had a successful game in World of Tanks, yet because his team mates didn’t perform as well, they failed to meet the overall group reward criteria. This all too familiar anecdote got me thinking about teams and group play mechanics that are still prevalent in many game genres. Over the years I have tempered my attitude towards teaming up with other gamers and being dependent on them to achieve a collective goal. I have moved from a social gaming mindset born out of my initial altruistic experiences playing MMOs, to a far more transactional outlook. I suspect that I’m not the only player who currently thinks this way.

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categories / Gaming, MMORPG, Are You a Team Player?

Anthem Open Demo

February 01, 2019 / Roger Edwards

Before I start with my thoughts on the actual nuts and bolts of Anthem, let me just say that it’s nice that the concept of “the demo” still exists. There was a time when I use to buy various computer magazines in the late nineties, and they would all have a cover disk filled with game demos. I discovered many great games that way (MDK, Hidden and Dangerous), simply by having access to a few levels of a new title. Game developers seem ambivalent towards the concept of “try before you buy” these days. More often than not we get early access instead, which is not the same thing at all. But a functional demo that gives you a decent representation of the full product is a far better proposition. For the gamer at least. Because if you play it and like it, then you are sold. Unlike early access where you may see a product with prospects but whether it comes to fruition is another thing entirely. However, demos are a double edge sword, because may also come to a clear and unequivocal conclusion that you don’t like the game in question, or that is simply not for you.

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categories / Gaming, MMORPG, BioWare, Anthem Open Demo

Star Trek Online: Ninth Anniversary and Stuff

January 30, 2019 / Roger Edwards

I have suffixed the title of this post “and stuff” so I can address several Star Trek Online related thoughts in a single blog post. Despite the fact that I frequently play STO it is does oddly get neglected in my writing. So, let us start with the issue of the ninth anniversary. As ever Q is back with the anniversary event and once again, we are stabilising Omega Molecules. This year’s reward is a Tier 6 Vulcan T’Pau Scout Ship. There are also emotes and sundry other items to earn during the duration of the festivities, but I more interested in the anniversary itself. Not many MMOs make it to nine years and if they do, they aren’t necessarily in as good shape as STO. The game has a stable and loyal playerbase and is currently tied-in to Star Trek: Discovery. Further established Trek actors are supplying voice acting and the game seems to be doing well across both PC and consoles. Like LOTRO, STO uses the IP well and seems to “fill in the gaps” in the existing lore as well as expand and extrapolate established canon. One of the best things about STO is that there’s always something to do in-game as well as new content in the pipeline. Perhaps this along with the handling of the IP is why the game endures.

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categories / Gaming, MMORPG, Star Trek Online, Star Trek, Ninth Anniversary

Screenshots

January 25, 2019 / Roger Edwards

There is a strong social element to video games, regardless of the genre. Gamers like to share their thoughts and opinions with others via forums, blogs and videos because of their common interest. So, it is hardly surprising that video game enthusiasts like to take screenshots and preserve a record of their activities. Subsequently, the ability to capture an image from a game has now become an integral aspect of gaming culture and many titles now have a dedicated screenshot facility. This may range from a simple screenshot key to a comprehensive photo mode in which you can pause the game and pan the camera around the game environment. It’s a far cry from two decades ago when players would often have to rely on bespoke third-party programs such as FRAPS to take screenshots, or simply use the PrtScn button and then paste the image into a photo editor.

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categories / Gaming, MMORPG, LOTRO, Star Trek Online, Screenshots

LOTRO: Taking Stock of Progress

January 23, 2019 / Roger Edwards

On Tuesday 27th November 2018, I created a new High Elf Guardian on Laurelin server. To date I have spent 122 hours 46 minutes 32 seconds on this character and have currently reached level 60, exactly halfway through current level cap of 120 in LOTRO. It has been a busy but very enjoyable two months. Overall the experience has revitalised my interest in LOTRO and the MMO genre. I have written several blog posts recently, highlighting the changes that have been made to the base game and first expansion over the years. Let it suffice to say that both Shadows of Angmar and Mines of Moria now offer a fast path through the games main content. My current levelling experience has been radically different to that I had when I started playing LOTRO back in 2008 and 2009. I believe it took me then nine months to reach the level cap of 60 on my primary alt. I achieved this just prior to the release of Siege of Mirkwood in September 2009.

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categories / Gaming, LOTRO, MMORPG, Taking Stock of Progress

When MMOs Die

January 22, 2019 / Roger Edwards

Have you ever wondered exactly what happens when an MMO shuts down? Let's not use the phrase "shuttered" as it’s a public relations term intended to mitigate and defuse the reality of the situation. It is intended to take the sting out of the notion of a game closing; evoking imagery of a well-respected family business, closing up shop for the last time and retiring to Cheshire to keep bees. No that will not do at all, so we won't use it here. "Shut down" is far more accurate. It cuts to the chase, accommodating the economic and legal reasons, which are often the primary reason that a game is closing. It also has a far more definitive ring to it, where “shuttered” leaves room for hope. After all the shutters can come back down from the closed family business, if beekeeping doesn’t work out.

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categories / Gaming, MMORPG, WildStar, MMO Closure

LOTRO: The Downside to Fast Levelling

January 19, 2019 / Roger Edwards

NB. This post is a direct continuation of previous one, posted on 2nd January. As I’ve stated many times before in prior posts, there is a tangible sense of reward to be found in levelling in an MMORPG. Gaining experience and progressing from one level to another, inching further to the in-game cap, is a clear and uncomplicated goal. It’s far from a complex process. You play through content, gain loot and XP and then after a while, “ding”, you hit the next level and revel in a sense of achievement. There are naturally other goals to pursue that are more difficult to achieve, such as gaining a specific set of raid armour or obtaining maximum rep with all factions. But for many players, simply progressing by level per day (or some permutation thereof) is sufficient to keep them happy and make them feel that they are making headway within a specific game. And at present, this is exactly the approach that I take with LOTRO when playing on my new Guardian. Last night I reached level 57, while questing in Nanduhirion.

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categories / Gaming, MMORPG, LOTRO, Levelling

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