Xbox Game Preview musings

Hey there Internets,

As part of a new article I'm working on for Omnibus Journal, I recently sat down with the Game Preview for Elite: Dangerous on Xbox One. It was an interesting experience.

To bullet point it:

• The game is GORGEOUS.
• I never thought I'd have that much fun docking and undocking in a game. Surprisingly fun.
• Took me a while to remember how to fly in 3 axes, but I finally got it and it felt good.
• There were some issues, but I'm trying to figure out how much of it was related to being a preview and how much will be part of the end experience.

Keep an eye out for my full write up. It will also include my thoughts on the preview for The Long Dark and the preview experience as a whole.

In the meantime, here's my stream of the Elite: Dangerous preview. Looks like the docking and traveling I did wasn't streamed/recorded, but that's fine. You can check out the Game Preview yourself for free from the Store on Xbox One.

Gnome, out!

I've failed again!

Hello again, Internet.

As typically happens, I have failed to update my blog recently. I don't really have any good reason for it and Shia would be very upset with me.

In any case, I have begun writing for a friend's website called Omnibus Journal. It's a nerd culture consortium and covers all sorts of things from general opinions to video games to anime to arts and crafts. I may end up doing some streaming for them as well. So keep an eye on it!

Here's my first article for Omnibus Journal: http://www.omnibusjournal.com/2015/07/07/i-dont-think-moba-means-what-you-think-it-means/

Laters!

BOLO: New Content Tomorrow (...hopefully)

Hey all!

There's some fun stuff happening this weekend, and I'm hoping to get in on some of it. If all goes according to plan, some of it should get up on Twitch and YouTube.

1) Neverwinter is having a Double XP weekend. Darude has made some progress, so I'm hoping to get an update from him.

2) AirMech Arena has come to XB1, and you know what that means...a new Going In Dry! I'm hoping to rope some of my other MOBA playing friends in for some craziness.

3) Destiny got a big update ahead of Tuesday's release of House of Wolves. I haven't played in a while, but I might jump on for a bit. This will probably just be a straight up stream, but I may weasel it into Going In Dry, too.

Keep an eye on my Twitch (http://www.twitch.tv/macdoogal) and my YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcKwTcy_bT-FOCj9xfxtASg) and you may see some fun stuff tomorrow.

Gnome, out.

I'm Still Here!

Sorry, all. I've been slacking off.

But, I do have a new post in the works. Hope to have it up on the next week. Stay tuned! I may even post some more videos to YouTube, soon. Maybe.

Gnome, out.

Take a break. You deserve it.

Sorry, folks. Nothing really to report this week aside from (finally) hitting 70 on Diablo 3 UEE for XB1. I will expect angry mobs at my door with torches and pitchforks...

For now, I entice you with the recent reveal of Jared Leto as Joker for the upcoming Suicide Squad film.

I don't hate it. Come at me (in the comments), bro.

We're Home.

SWEET SWEET SULLUSTAN FACE FLAPS

Short post this week because STAR WARS

*wipes drool from chin*

Technical Difficulties We'll Be Right Back

So, there was no post last week. It made me sad, but there was a reason no update happened.

Meet Darude, my halfling cleric on Neverwinter.
Gonna have a sandstorm up in this bitch.

After my last post, I got invited to the Orcs Must Die! Uncharted phase two beta. I was excited to do a Going in Dry video for it, but my streaming software and/or PC crapped the bed. I got most of the one match I was able to play recorded, but there was a lot of lag and I completely lagged out at the end. There might be something salvageable, though. I also wanted to record more last weekend, but plans changed and I wasn't able to carve out time for playing. I'm going to try really hard to put some time in this weekend. There are triple skulls this weekend, so...INCENTIVE!

I also was able to gather a number of friends, many of whom were new to MOBAs, and played Infinite Crisis in its first weekend. This was also intended to be a Going in Dry segment...but my stream consisted entirely of a single loading screen. Super fun times! Not exactly sure what's going to happen there.

Then........Neverwinter released on Xbox One and I played a good amount of that. I streamed a lot of it, and there will probably be more. So, stay tuned!

Stay classy, San Diego.

Pseudo-Preview: Smite Xbox One Alpha

As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, a lot of MOBAs are trying to work their ways to consoles. On the forefront of this movement is the relative PC veteran Smite. The Alpha is in full swing, and I've had an opportunity to play several matches. My initial reactions after the break!!

Thanks For The Memories Part 1: God of War

The ultimate in revenge stories -- and a brutal saga to boot -- is God of War. PlayStation’s most iconic hack and slash series has helped define the genre and most importantly, as of me typing this, has just reached its 10^th anniversary. Yes, back in 2005, Santa Monica Studios gave us the first glimpse at Kratos, his unbelievable fall from grace, and quest to avenge his family. I pretty much ignored this franchise for the better part of 6 years before I bought a PS3 and played the entire collection within a week’s time. Though originally planned as a trilogy, the series got PSP titles and a prequel to stuff all the gaps closed throughout the years. But, the third numbered entry is, and will ever be, the end. At the time of release the game had review scores anywhere from 8.5/10 to 10/10, so did this effectively close the series and have a fitting ending?

A Challenger Approaches!

The Atomic Gnome family is growing!!

MOBAs: Not just for PCs anymore

DotA prime in action

During the days of Warcraft III, some very creative folks made a multiplayer mod called Defense of the Ancients. This mod allowed 5 player teams to face off against each other in a way that no other games had provided before. This was the birth of the multiplayer online battle arena, or MOBA.

Since then, the creators of MOBA have gone off to create new studios and games, and the genre has exploded. Today, there are dozens of MOBA games such as Heroes of Newerth, League of Legends, Dota 2, Heroes of the Storm, Smite...the list goes on. Millions of people tune it to watch world championships, such as Dota 2's "The International" which provided a ten million dollar prize pool to the first place team. To say MOBAs have been a success is an understatement.

However, MOBAs have traditionally (still feels weird to say that about a genre that's only be around less than 10 years) been a PC only affair. But, there have been a number of pushes to get some MOBAs onto other platforms. However, the genre is slowing creeping onto mobile and console, and the future is looking bright, indeed.

Wax Nostalgic On, Wax Nostalgic Off

I've been feeling a little nostalgic lately. I recently realized that I'm living in sin; I have never beaten a Mario game before Super Mario Galaxy. I'm working on fixing that, though!

This focus on older games made me realize something else, though. A lot of older franchises have enjoyed HD remakes in the past few years: Flashback,  Double Dragon Neon, and Retro City Rampage (that one's cheating). But I think some of my favorites deserve some new love. Here are some of my picks:

Back in the Saddle....?

Hello there, Blogosphere. It's been a while. You taking care of yourself? Good, good.



*cough*



/awkwardsilence