Monday 30 January 2012

[Announcement] I'm a News Writer!

Yay! I have my first position outside of Blast Process...

I'm now a News Writer for upcoming gaming community site, GamingUnity.com.

I've already done a couple of news posts on there, so keep checking back.

Friday 27 January 2012

[Blog-a-day] FAILED

Well..after that terrible last post, you may have noticed I haven't posted anything since.

Sadly due to events, I was unable to post 2 nights ago, and again last night.

I managed 3-ish...I'll attempt another time to go a few better!

However, tonight I've been updating and playing on a certain new console for work, which I've done a small spot of filming for. I'll be writing up about it this weekend too...will keep you all posted!


Tuesday 24 January 2012

[Blog-a-day] Day Three

I've got 3 minutes to type something quickly!

Erm...erm...

I've spent most of the evening editing the podcast..and eating...and cleaning...

Normal daily blogging will continue tomorrow

x

Monday 23 January 2012

[Blog-a-day] Day Two

Well...I've kept this up for a second day running! Would it be too early to break open the wine?

...probably...I'll wait a few more days.

Just before typing this blog entry up, using the power of Ventrillo and Dave from CrashToDesktop.co.uk, I recorded this weeks podcast. With Tom, Ben and Mike being unavailable it was good for Dave to step in and help out this week. Was very odd doing it without my usual co-hosts (also the fact it was recorded over the internet instead of crowding round one mic in a room) but still, it went well and should be online tomorrow evening.

Had a good chat to Blast Proccessor Tom earlier (again using the internet, it really is a wonderful thing isn't it?). Great to hear that he is settling in fine at LEGO in Denmark. He's also set up his own blog charting his new career, which I'm going to be keeping a close eye on.

Oh! You know how I only shared last weeks news video yesterday? Mike has already edited and posted the one for this week! Huzzah!

(Again, we're still playing around for ideas on where to take this concept...however I still hope you enjoy it!)

Sunday 22 January 2012

[Blog-a-day] Day One

Right, this week I've decided that I'm going to create a new blog entry EVERYDAY this week. Starting with this one right here.

While I can't guarantee they'll all be packed full of goodness, hopefully one or two will provide a good minute or so worth of reading for you.

I've picked an odd time to post this, as I'm actually in the middle of trying to sort out the Blast Process podcast for this week. With Tom being in Denmark, Mike otherwise engaged and Ben unable to make it back to Crewe today, I'm having to call in reinforcements so that the podcast can go ahead this week. Seems as though cover has been sourced, so all systems should be good later this evening. Fingers crossed.

Speaking of the podcast, regular listeners will be well aware I've been busy playing iPhone games of late, barely touching the expensive gaming machines I've gathered over the years. This week however I've finally got round to playing other games, such as a couple of freebies from the 3DS Ambassador program (Fire Emblem and Super Mario Advance 3 mainly). I've also jumped back into Final Fantasy XIII, as I'm nearing its end (I think), and want to have it put to bed before Feb 3rd when XIII-2 lands. That's the plan anyway, who knows if I'll be successful...

Time to write out the news for tonight's 'cast anyway. Actually...have you seen our new Blast Process News Show on YouTube? Myself and Mike were trying out a make-shift green screen. Let us know what you think!

Wednesday 4 January 2012

[Gaming] Happy New MMO!

It's been a while since I've posted on here...opppss...
Truth of the matter is I've been busy working on BlastProcess.com (whilst battling the hordes of customers in my actual full time position, of which I got a promotion..ahem..).

However, in the spirit of new years and all that, I thought I'd try to start posting on here as regularly as I can (although I'm pretty sure I said that last year, I mean it this year however...I promise).

So gaming-wise, what have I been up too?

Once upon a time I was a massive, and I do mean massive, fan of World of Warcraft. Their was just something about that game, perhaps it was just the mix of EVERYTHING..social interaction, fantasy environment, simple-yet-complicated gameplay mechanics. Eventually, even though I did dip my toes back in a couple of times (mainly for the expansions) I have now retired from Azeroth.

Alongside a number of friends I decided to take the plunge and enter the newest MMO, that is of course Star Wars: The Old Republic. It's very nice isn't it?

What struck me straight away was its focused class storyline. Having chosen to play as a Jedi Consular I very quickly found myself getting knee deep in galactic trouble with cutscenes and dialogue that made me feel like I was playing a single player game. It's very impressive how Bioware early on decided a fully voiced cast of NPCs was the way forward, and mixed with the dialogue wheel found in other Bioware games it does truly feel like your playing Mass Effect. Certain classes can sometimes only enter certain places which commonly start a conversation.

Obviously however, this isn't a single player game, it's an MMO. Even though Bioware have tried to make it seem like your playing a single player game with lots of other people running around your world too the way in which they have included other players feels just right.

If your hanging out with a Jedi Knight for example, and he heads into a zone that only he can enter to carry on a quest you'd think you'd have to stay outside right? Wrong! You can go in too! Well...as long as he allows you too, and you do have to be in a group with him. You all then get to take part in his conversation, and even get to have a say at what you think should be said in that situation. Very classy.

I can't really say more as I'm still relatively new to the game, which leads me to a problem with The Old Republic, and one I doubt I'm alone with.

The trouble with MMOs is they don't end. They go on and on, throwing new stuff at you to keep you playing. Even if you get bored with one character it'll give you a multitude of other characters to try your hand at. Bored of being a good guy? Why not try being a bad guy.

Back when I was younger playing Warcraft was great. Even though I had a full time job, my younger years allowed me to sleep as little as possible so that I could cram in more time in Azeroth. Socialising wasn't an issue ether, as most of my friends at the time we're in the same world I was running around in.

Nowadays though, I just don't have the time to sink into an MMO like I used to. Again, I still have a full time job, but then I also have a girlfriend, visits to the pub/general socialising, family, writing, podcasting and of course playing other games. Although I've got friends playing The Old Republic with me, due to other commitments every ones off at their own level doing their own thing, so no-one can really play the same bit due to differences in levels.

I'm not saying it isn't possible to enjoy this new Star Wars experience. It's fantastic without being a million miles away from what made World of Warcraft great. What Bioware have added works, and they've successfully integrated the single player experience we love about their previous work into a world populated by millions of other players.

However, for me, I can't seem to enjoy it as much as I feel I should...and because of this I'm not sure how much more of it I'll get to play. I've got games from last year that I really want to finish, and lets not forget new releases due from February onwards such as the newest Final Fantasy and the final part to the Mass Effect trilogy.

Kudos to Bioware/EA for a fantastic MMO, and I only wish I could spend more time playing it. Don't fret however, I won't be cancelling my subscription just yet.