Game Cauldron

The horror of MMO questing

2011-05-04T23:05:00Z

A kill quest in World of Warcraft.

After several years of killing animals, running errands, and picking up junk, I’ve decided that I hate MMO quests. I want to burn them with fire and bury them in my backyard so that neighborhood dogs can pee and have sex on top of them.

I hate completing quests. It’s mind-numbingly tedious and it’s akin to waiting in a long line for a roller coaster. You wait 2-2 ½ hours for your awesome while you slowly saunter back and forth while looking at the same people. All the while you’re confined to a small space that requires you to double back on yourself repeatedly. You’ll make idle conversation and attempt to find the silver lining of getting on the roller coaster sometime in the near feature, but it doesn’t make the time go by any faster.

Originally posted at Examiner.com.

MMOs are notorious for bad quest design and after years of their existence they’re really no different. They follow a horrid formula and most people, sane people, can’t stand the thought of questing. To me, questing is the biggest grind there is and it is usually the first thing to drive me to switch MMOs. I really don’t care about what Joe Farmer wants me to do. I just want his money and the experience he gives for his task. I don’t actually want the experience of doing is menial chore; I just want that little bar to fill up. Call me shallow, but I didn’t start playing a game so I could babysit a letter, kill defenseless virtual bunnies, or pick up idols in the midst of aggro mobs that no one wants me to kill.

Fighting in Lord of the Rings Online.

What’s that you say? “If I don’t like them, what do I do instead?” I’m glad you asked. I love public quests. I love them hard and would marry them if I could. Warhammer Online public quests are awesome, but no one does them. They’re not PvP and WAR’s a fine PvP game. The RvR lakes are kind of like public quests and murdering orcs is pro in a lake. It’s so nice to just run up, join a group without all the talking, and start killing people. I get experience, I have fun, and I don’t need some random NPC telling me that I’m doing the right thing. I get to play my character in a fun way and that’s really all I want.

Since RIFT’s arrival to the MMO scene, the public quest system is more prominent than ever. RIFT uses dynamic rifts opening to force people together in order to shut them. It’s a neat idea and Trion improved the system by removing the contribution system and returning rift experience to its beta level. Before these changes, no one ever did rifts. Now, players will even be able to queue for rifting via a Looking For Group system. Quests are probably better for experience but they are oh-so-boring. Even in a current and new game, quests are the low point of any adventure. If I had my way, rifts would constantly be opening for me to shut if even I have to do it by myself. Rift chasing is a million times better than questing even if it follows a similarly repetitive activity.

Even a game with rich lore can get quests wrong. Lord of the Rings Online, of course, has an awesome story. However, when that story is shoved inside the same, old MMO quests it loses some of its luster. So how should quests be designed to make them more interesting? Voice acting is a step in the right direction. Cutting out a lot of the filler would also help. There’s no need to make a player do too many quests unrelated to the overall story of the game. There’s no need to make a player read paragraph after paragraph of, dare I say, subpar writing just to learn about a cow killer nearby. This isn’t an aversion to reading on a massive scale and it’s definitely not for me personally. I’ve yet to find an MMO with a gripping story and exceptional writing. Without that, reading every single quest becomes monotonous and quite vexing. Listening to the story unfold would help. Being personally engaged in the story would help more. Only time will tell if MMOs catch up with other forms of storytelling. Until then, it’s right click, accept with a blind devotion.

Pamela plays several MMOs and writes about them for a living. She's currently the national MMO Examiner and has been featured at MMORPG.com, MMOSite.com, and MMOHub.org. Unlike some writers, Pamela invests more time in playing games rather than writing about them. Whether or not that's a good thing is still up for debate. You can follow her on Twitter , like her on Facebook , or subscribe to her on StumbleUpon. Watch out, though, she likes cats and PvPing.

Dead Island acquires North American distributor

2011-05-03T21:19:00Z

If you can't see the zombies, then you're probably not safe

Dead Island's release seems to be on schedule for later this year. Deep Silver is collaborating with Square Enix to distribute the game in North and South America.

The zombie infested island of Banoi is the setting for this heavily first person melee action RPG. Survival is an important element to the game developed by Techland as players fight to get off the island. To learn more about the game, check out the official site.

Dead Island will release on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC later this year. Check out the trailer and several screenshots of the game through the links below.

Trailer | Screenshot 1 | Screenshot 2 | Screenshot 3

Dragon Age 2 DLC now available

2011-04-28T02:23:00Z

From the Rogue item pack, Photo Credit: EA, BioWare

If you were wanting some Dragon Age 2 DLC that continues the story of Hawke and his/her adventures in Kirkwall, then don't get too excited. The new DLC is just an assortment of items to make your journey easier.

BioWare saw it fit to continue with their item pack theme established during Mass Effect 2. Dragon Age 2's first post launch DLC is comprised of three separate item packs. The three packs are themed by class; warrior, rogue, and mage. Each pack contains several armors, weapons, and items for that class. Not only can Hawke use these items, but so can companions of the corresponding class. Some items are even tailored for certain companions.

Each pack is $3 on PSN, 240 BioWare Points on PC/MAC, or 240 Microsoft Points on Xbox 360. You can buy them bundled for a lower cost, though. Grab all three for just $5 on PSN, 240 BioWare Points on PC/MAC, or 240 Microsoft Points on Xbox 360. For more information on the packs, check out each item's stats thanks to BioWare forum poster Stippling.

There's no word on when more substantial content will be out. Until then, enjoy your new gear!

From the Warrior item pack, Photo Credit: EA, BioWare

From the Mage item pack, Photo Credit: EA, BioWare

Dead Rising 2 DLC half off

2011-04-26T22:32:00Z

Frank and Chuck from Case West

Spring is here and it's time to kill zombies. The two have no relation to each other, but if you like killing zombies then any time of year is the time to kill zombies.

Xbox Live's Deal of the Week knows your need to murder the undead. Dead Rising 2 selected DLC is on sale until May 2, 2011. Players can pick up the stand-alone DLC Dead Rising 2: Case Zero for 200 Microsoft Points. The Dead Rising 2 DLC add on called Case West is just 400 Microsoft Points. Finally, two of the four costume/buffing packs are on sale for just 80 Microsoft Points (Psycho and Soldier are on sale).

Check out the Deal of the Week page and Major Nelson's blog for additional information.

Dead Rising's Frank and Chuck stop for the perfect zombie photo-op

2011-04-22T12:16:00Z

After last week's announcement of Dead Rising 2: Off The Record, I replayed those 72 hours inside the Fortune City outbreak in the original Dead Rising 2 which inspired me to create this artwork. With this game series' zaney a action, comedic weaponry, and co-op goodness you know that bringing photography and Frank back into the mix will cause players to stop for all sorts of planned poses like this.

Check out an enlarged version of the piece here along with blown-up detail work of different parts of the image.

Honest Hearts DLC for Fallout: New Vegas should be here any day now

2011-04-22T02:27:00Z

The Honest Hearts banner on Xbox Live

Wastelanders have waited patiently for new Fallout: New Vegas DLC. With rumors of the next DLC emerging, fans are excited. Unfortunately, no official word on a release date has been released.

However, a new banner has popped up on Xbox Live. It's an Honest Hearts banner featuring what looks like The Burned Man. The banner was found thanks to a Wiki user name AVeryNaughtyMan that posted the info in his blog.

I found the banner by going to Xbox.com, searching Fallout: New Vegas, and clicking on the E3 trailer. Go figure. Does this mean that the Honest Hearts DLC is right around the corner? Probably.

The temptation of power for mages in Dragon Age

2011-04-17T22:54:00Z

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Dragon's Dogma is one to watch in 2012

2011-04-15T23:17:00Z

Dragon's Dogma is an action packed fantasy adventure

Fantasy settings usually aren't big on the action. The fantasy genre usually includes a lot of dice rolls and RPG elements that sometimes turn gamers off or overwhelm them. Capcom's upcoming epic Dragon's Dogma looks like it might be a bridge between fantasy and action with a little less of the same old RPG elements.

Dragon's Dogma focuses on a living world and the player character. The player will pick up companions along the way that improve their tactics through use. These party members are smart, unique, and fight independently alongside the player.

You success in battle isn't just based on your smart companions. As the player your hits and misses aren't centered around a roll. If you're within range of a melee attack and connect with the enemy, then you hit that mob. Dragon's Dogma is an action game to its very core.

Highly Stylized Action Combat – The creators of this game were responsible for the
action hits – Resident Evil™ 4 and Devil May Cry™ 4.
Fight With Ability – The soul of combat comes down to how the game is played, where
you strike the enemy, and how you react to their attacks.
Accessible Depth – Bringing an unprecedented level of depth to the action genre,
every decision has an effect on gameplay in an intuitive way that does not require
micromanagement. The weight of your weapon, the material of your armor – even the
length of your legs – plays a role in how you fight your battles, but does not interrupt
the flow of the action.
Epic Adventure – Dragon’s Dogma is built from the ground up as an action experience for
consoles with a continuous, epic storyline that stands alone in style, scope and substance.
Open World – Utilizing Capcom’s proprietary MT Framework engine and the
groundbreaking graphical styles and lighting effects used in Resident Evil™ 5 and
Lost Planet™ 2, Dragon’s Dogma expands the environment to create a vast, richly
detailed world, ripe for exploration.
A Rich Population – In addition to interacting with hundreds of fully voiced NPCs,
you’ll be able to fight a large variety of creatures, from goblins to griffins and dragons.
Each enemy requires a different strategy and provides a unique experience.

Dragon's Dogma is scheduled, currently, for an early 2012 release. It will be on the Xbox 360 and the PS3. No multiplayer details have been released, but there is a promised "spin" on multiplayer to be announced.

Photo: Capcom

All new Dead Rising 2 incoming, features Frank West

2011-04-13T00:07:00Z

Frank and Chuck from Dead Rising 2: Case West

Do you enjoy "what-if" stories? Do you enjoy zombies? Do you enjoy taking pictures of zombies? If you answered "yes" to any of these then read on! A love of Dead Rising and all its quirks will help, too!

Apparently, Dead Rising 2 and its DLC just wasn't enough. A new, re-imagined Dead Rising 2 is coming this Fall. It's promised as a disc-based "smarter" version that goes beyond the Director's Cut version of other Capcom games.

Dead Rising 2: Off the Record is stand alone game set in Fortune City. It will feature Dead Rising's protagonist instead of Chuck Greene and it will be a completely new game. Off the Record will have new psychos, new areas, and new combo weapons. It is its own game, but at what cost?

Aside from it being a new game set against the same backdrop of Dead Rising 2, co-op will be different. Two Chuck's won't be running around on the screen. Instead, Dead Rising 2: Off the Record will feature a Frank and a Chuck similar to the previously released Case West DLC. Chuck's full involvement with the Off the Record story has yet to be disclosed. Even Chuck's daughter is a mystery considering her backpack is found near a bloodstain in Off the Record.

Do fans of Dead Rising 2 want more Dead Rising 2? I'm sure the minor but paramount improvement of the co-op will be welcome, but is it enough to purchase? A zombie lover or a Dead Rising lover will probably say yes. For everyone else, it's probably too early to tell.

Via Kotaku.

Try RIFT for free this weekend

2011-04-07T19:44:00Z

Photo Credit: Trion

Have you wanted to give RIFT a shot but didn't want to pay for it? You have!? Well check this out! Subscribers to RIFT received another key to give out to their friends. This code can be redeemed five times for a free download of the game and access to it during the dates listed below.

You must be a new subscriber to take advantage of this offer. You can get started by visiting www.RIFTgame.com/en/ally. This code grants access to the game from April 8, 2011 at 10:00 AM PDT through April 11, 2011 at 10:00 AM PDT. If you like RIFT and want to continue playing, you'll need to buy the client and subscribe to the game.

I have no way of seeing when the code is expired, but I will note that is if someone leaves a comment to that tune. Either way, I'll post that it's expired at the end of the day.

Buy Dragon Age 2, get Mass Effect 2 free

2011-04-05T21:19:00Z

Buy DA2, get ME2 free

BioWare wants to celebrate its popular sequels by giving one of them away for free. If you own or buy Dragon Age 2 by April 30, 2011, then you get a free PC download for Mass Effect 2.

It doesn't matter which platform your Dragon Age 2 game is on, only that you bought it new. You'll need your Black Emporium code (online pass included in new copies of the game) redeemed on your EA account to access your free download of Mass Effect 2. Just follow these steps to get your free Mass Effect 2 download started.

If you bought Dragon Age 2 used and do not have a Black Emporium code associated with your EA account, you can still get the free download for Mass Effect 2. You just need to buy the Black Emporium separately and unlock it on your EA account to be eligible.

Your fresh, new Mass Effect 2 is for PC only and it does not come with the Cerberus Network.

Lessons from Donkey Kong

2011-03-30T19:56:00Z

Art: David Stonecipher, his Tumblr

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Another threesome of Dead Island screenshots

2011-03-24T18:32:00Z

Peaceful. For now.

Forgive me if I seem over zealous, but I'm excited about Dead Island. Every time Deep Silver releases more screenshots I can't help myself. I must put them up and you must enjoy them, bitches!

Today's Dead Island screenshots show off a little of that first person melee we're all so excited about. We also get a chance to see that "special" zombie from the last screenshots. He doesn't seem so big this time which is good. He does seem like he could knock down a small home, though. That might cause some problems.

For more Dead Island zombie awesomeness, check out the official site.

Good ol' leady. Never lets me down.

I feel a pivotal moment about to happen.

Three awesome MMO features found in an unvalued game

2011-03-23T17:29:00Z

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes

With so many MMO games in the market, it’s easy to let some slip by without even a glance. That’s unfortunate because there are MMOs out there with great features yet to be picked up by the major titles. Some MMOs release and fall into the shadow of the juggernauts because they weren’t polished enough. Some release and are barely heard from again because they don’t speak to the masses. Whatever the case, developers could improve the MMO genre by looking at these titles. They must not look at these games because they “failed,” but because they persist with innovative and interesting features.

Take, for example, Vanguard. I know what you’re thinking. If you’ve played Vanguard, especially at launch, you’re probably wondering why I ever wasted my time with it. In its current state, Vanguard is a wonderful game; a deep game. The classes and races are quite common but developed. The lore and setting is no surprise but intriguing and beautiful. There are areas in Vanguard that shine a little brighter than other games; areas that other games don’t even embrace.

There are three things that Vanguard does well that I wish were in other games. Vanguard does harvesting, diplomacy, and ship building right. Although harvesting is found in most major MMOs, Vanguard puts a fun and social twist on the otherwise tedious process. In a nutshell, players can group harvest. My friend and I are out questing and see a tree to cut down. Even if I’m not a lumberjack, I can help my friend. As long as he’s a lumberjack and has the right tools and skill, I can help him cut the tree down. He’ll get more wood for my help, too. It’s nice to help my friend and it gives me something to do instead of standing there.

Another outstanding aspect from this game is diplomacy. Like standard leveling and crafting, diplomacy used its own leveling system. Diplomacy utilizes a sort of card game in practice. Players build up decks and use them on NPCs to sway certain decisions. For instance, a player can enter a city and parley with an NPC. If the player wins the card game, he or she can convince the NPC to buff the whole city. Diplomacy is just another layer in the world of Vanguard that makes it a richer place. Although that type of minigame isn’t for everyone, it is a nice addition.

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes

Finally, Vanguard includes sea travel. Of course, there are games that focus primarily on ship travel and include boats, but Vanguard integrates ship travel into a game with standard mounts and flying mounts. You can literally travel by land, by air, or by sea in Vanguard. Not only does that promote a serious type of customization and a new level to roleplaying, it also alters the economy. Ships were made to be sold whether that be in pieces or as an entire vessel. Boats can act like a mobile home with onboard storage and be used to traverse the world of Telon in style. No, it isn’t always convenient to use a boat, but if you want to the option was there. That is refreshing.

Perhaps this doesn’t peak your interest in Vanguard, but consider how these features would make your game of choice better. It’s a shame that Vanguard isn’t more popular, but maybe excellent features like those listed above can succeed in other titles. It’s probably wishful thinking but a girl can dream.

Looketh here, new Sims Medieval screenshots

2011-03-22T21:34:00Z

No one's going to notice that

The Sims Medieval is officially out today. Enjoy its release with a few new screenshots and ponder on whether or not you should purchase it.

In The Sims Medieval, players can explore a realm where bards are "lady candy" and swordplay is an everyday activity. With several different heroes, numerous quests, and the silly simulation we've all come to expect from The Sims, no one could be bored with the possibilities.

The Sims Medieval is a stand-alone adventure that does not require any previous installations of The Sims franchise. Build your heroes, master combat, and expand your kingdom in a Sims world never seen before. There's also fishing!

Everyone loves a wedding

Whoo-hoo!

We should still utilize stocks as a form of punishment

Mass Effect 2 Arrival DLC drops March 29

2011-03-18T19:49:00Z

It's all dramatic music and waiting after this

Mass Effect 2's final DLC will be out on March 29th. The DLC, Arrival, has been tempting fans for weeks now with new screenshots and hints at its story. Today, though, an official description is available on what the DLC includes.

A deep cover agent is missing in Batarian space, after reporting evidence of an imminent Reaper invasion. Shepard must travel to the edge of the galaxy, rescue the agent, and discover the truth behind the Arrival. Uncover new research and 3 new achievements in this spectacular new adventure for Mass Effect 2.

Arrival will offer up three achievements or trophies. It will be 560 Microsoft Points on Xbox 360, 560 BioWare Points for PC, and $6.99 on PS3.

Something spoilerish is that Admiral Hackett will back. If you played the Shadow Broker DLC that's probably not much of a surprise considering what his dossier contained.

New trio of Dead Island screenshots surface

2011-03-17T19:44:00Z

Paradise lost.

Zombies, a tropical island, tourists, and sweet melee combat are all integral parts of Dead Island. The game made quite a splash with its tear-jerking trailer and keeps making waves with screenshot after screenshot.

Today, a threesome of new screenshots have been let into the wild. Although there's nothing too "holy crap that's exciting" about them, one of the three poses an interesting question. Will there be special unit types in Dead Island?

A special unit type would be akin to those found in Left 4 Dead. Those special unit types (e.g. Tank, Smoker) ruined Left 4 Dead for me. I'd rather fight horde of, dare I say, realistic zombies. Check out the screenshots and decide if you think Dead Island will include such a feature.

Special, giant unit type?

That will totally mop up.

A painterly portrait of a portly plumber

2011-03-16T06:02:00Z

Everyone's favorite gaming plumber (unless you have an uncle Roy who happens to be a plumber and you enjoy playing video games with. In which case, your second favorite gaming plumber) grew out a manly beard in order to pose for this painterly portrait.

On a side note, the Mushroom Kingdom's full-time savior instantly grew that chin warmer after eating a mushroom. Apparently different fungi produce different effects.

Read more to see a larger image and a link to a gallery featuring more portraits of gaming heroes.

Read more to see a larger image and for a link to a gallery featuring more portaits of gaming heroes.

Impression: Dragon Age 2 worth every sovereign

2011-03-14T04:51:00Z

Photo: EA, BioWare

Game reviews aren’t necessarily a must-read. Usually, I find them pretty useless and prefer to play a game myself. With that kind of mindset, I usually don’t write reviews. I write impressions or super-opinionated articles with no rating. If you enjoy that type of thing then read on! If you’re looking for a quick number, then move along, this isn’t the text you’re looking for.

Let’s talk about Dragon Age 2, the Xbox 360 variety. Apparently, it’s a pretty hot topic right now for one paramount reason. Either you love this game or you hate it. I’m sure there are plenty of lukewarm feelings for it out there, but the vocal folks are either/or. I fall on the side of loving it, although I’m not an idiot, and I know it’s not perfect.

Art: David Stonecipher

Before we get started, you should know that I didn’t play the first Dragon Age. If it matters, I played the hell out of Mass Effect and played Mass Effect 2 even more than that. I’m a fan of Mass Effect and thought, “Hey, they’ve got to share some similarities; I should try this one.” The jump from Mass Effect to Mass Effect 2 was a welcome change for me. Going into playing Dragon Age 2, I assumed that Dragon Age wouldn’t be needed to enjoy the sequel. I also thought that the jump between the two would be so great that I wouldn’t want to play the first title (I don’t really enjoy playing Mass Effect anymore, it is very… tedious). If you aren’t turned off by now, then reading this may be somewhat entertaining!

Dragon Age is like the homely, smart girl with glasses. It turns out that when you take her glasses off and tart her up, she’s hot. The glasses are the nerdy conventions of fantasy games while the tart part consists of pure action. I like learning about a world; I like connecting with characters, but I don’t like to be bored. There’s enough action in Dragon Age 2 to keep me entertained. At the same time, there’s a cinematic vibe that makes me feel like I’m in a movie. That’s an epic feeling and it’s probably the best way to describe why I like the game.

As a babe in the Dragon Age world, I didn’t immediately know what was going on around me. You’re thrust into combat early on and I liked it. It was natural, but I credit that to my history with Mass Effect. The combat basics were there and the frame story with Varric helped guide me along. As long as I listened the characters, it was easy to catch on to the story. There’s nothing changing the literary landscape here, but the story is built upon a fine foundation. Add on extensive character development through attributes, abilities, and a bit of companion customization and you’ve got quite the game.

Where Dragon Age 2 really hooks me though, is with the romances. I’m a true girly-girl when it comes relationship building within a game. For all its action and enormously fun combat, I was taken back the most by working on my friendships and rivalries. In Dragon Age 2, you can either befriend a character or build an adversary out of them. Neither is necessarily good nor bad; the relationships are just different. Regardless of which type of relationship you choose, you’re given a chance to start a romance with four of the companion characters (Fenris, Merrill, Isabela, and Anders).

Photo: EA, BioWare

I’m familiar with BioWare romances. I know how they usually work, but courting Fenris was a challenge. There was another level to it beyond just knowing what to do in front of him. He was kind of a whiner, and I wasn’t always sure things would work out. That kind of drama and dissention, even if it can end well, makes for a soap-opera-like B-plot that really engages me. It also helps that all romance-inclined companions are bisexual making my future characters quite happy. That’s a luxury some titles lack.

Like I said before, the game isn’t perfect. There are annoyances in your journey in and around Kirkwall. Load times aren’t great, character hands are extremely “Gentlemanly,” party selection is awkwardly placed, you see the same maps over and over, Fenris never cleans his house after years of dead bodies rotting in it, etc. My biggest complaint is probably how quests are tracked. Companions quest and side quests in particular aren’t tracked at times even when they’re the active quest. It can be frustrating to pause every few minutes to see what you need to do, especially when you’re already pausing the game to equip items or spend attribute/ability points. Targeting is wonky at best making melee a complete mess at times. Thank goodness I’m a bow-wielding rogue. Not to mention, friendships and rivalries can be exasperating for impatient players or those they have issues figuring out what an NPC wants.

Even still, the game is strong with a good balance between storytelling and action. The voice acting is superb and, for me, the combat was great. Controlling others was easy when I needed to do it, and the tactics system really gave me a sense of control missing from conventional RPGs. As I progressed through the story, I meant characters that I could tell were from the first game. Instead of being lost when they talked to me, I felt like I needed to know more about them. I felt like I missed out on something by not having played the original game. Although it was disappointing, it made me want to play the first title. I’m not sure if having played the first title would alter my opinions about the second. From what others tell me, it would have made a difference and possibly for the worse.

There’s a reason I didn’t play the first Dragon Age. It’s a high fantasy setting with exceedingly standard conventions. I play MMOs for a living and, frankly, I don’t need more of the same. It turns out that the lore isn’t too cut and dry. The characters are, unsurprisingly, well developed and interesting. The combat and control was rewarding. Honestly, I was surprised. Dragon Age 2 makes me want to play Dragon Age. That means something. It means I enjoyed enough to care about its origins (HA!) while pushing me toward DLC and the next game. There aren’t too many games that can do that.

Hulk smash puny gaming gorilla

2011-03-02T11:00:00Z