And so the Pocket Legends begin…

Over at Massively.com, they have a great write up on Pocket Legends, an MMMG (Mobile Massively Multiplayer Game) for the iDevice.

Pocket Legends is a Mobile Massively Multiplayer Game available for the iPod, iPhone and iPad devices. It is a 3d online role-playing game where you can join thousands of players from around the world. Play with your friends and make new friends online. Cooperate to undertake wild adventures in endless dungeon campaigns!

The initial game client is free (link opens iTunes). Additional dungeon campaigns, gear, and gold are available for a price.

Impressions so far:

I installed Pocket Legends over lunch on my 1st generation iPod Touch. (Yes, despite what the iTunes store has listed, Pocket Legends seems to work fine on a 1st generation iTouch.) The game client updated itself quickly, and I was soon able to create my first character (an archer). Due to time constraints, I was only able to play for a few minutes. My overall impression is that the game plays like Diablo…or a more recent Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles game on the DS. Further thoughts to come!

Whore

Recently, I started reading through the book of Jeremiah. Today I was reading through chapter 3 and was struck by a theme that has been carried over from chapter 2, that of the nation of Israel acting like a whore.

20-22“A long time ago you broke out of the harness.
You shook off all restraints.
You said, ‘I will not serve!’
and off you went,
Visiting every sex-and-religion shrine on the way,
like a common whore.
You were a select vine when I planted you
from completely reliable stock.
And look how you’ve turned out—
a tangle of rancid growth, a poor excuse for a vine.

(Jeremiah 2:20-22a, The Message)

Notice that Israel was whoring themselves out to both physical and spiritual things (“Visiting every sex-and-religion shrine on the way”). This has got me thinking, what things am I prostituting myself to daily? Is it something physical like a hobby? Is it a thought or an idea that is not Biblical (thus not of God)?

Perhaps this is a shock to you, especially if you came to this site looking for video game related material. Trust me, the content is here. One of the other purposes of this site is to stir conversation. So let’s stir the pot!

  • Are you, someone who has been made clean by acceptance in Christ’s death on the cross, whoring yourself out to physical things and thoughts that are not of God? If so, there is no time like the present to make things right.
  • Are you someone who does not know Christ but still feels like you are whoring yourself out to something? Perhaps its time to evaluate what your intaking on a daily basis.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be known as a whore to that which is evil and not of God.

Bryan

*Please note that the word “whore” is used due to the overarching marriage analogy found in the passages.

Top Games You Miss Playing With Your Friends

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

SEGA Genesis

Nintendo 64

  • Banjo Kazooie
  • Bio F.R.E.A.K.S.
  • Diddy Kong Racing
  • Duke Nukem 64
  • Mark Kart 64
  • San Francisco: Rush
  • Super Smash Brothers
  • Turok
  • Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
  • 007

PC

  • Battlezone
  • Command and Conquer / Red Alert
  • Diablo 1 & 2
  • Drakan
  • Homeworld/ Cataclysm
  • Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
  • Mechwarrior 2
  • Monkey Island Series
  • Myst
  • Sam and Max
  • Starcraft/ Warcraft/ Warcraft II
  • World of Warcraft

Arcade

Any games you miss playing with your friends? Add to the list in the comments below!

The Metroid Mindset

The trees have finally become green once again, Spring has finally arrived.

The weather in East Texas continues to baffle this Southern California native. In January of this year, we experienced tornadoes. February and March brought along colder weather with snow (at least twice). For some, this may not seem too out of the ordinary. For someone used to 70 degree winters though, tornadoes and snow just don’t make a whole lot of sense. The longer I live here – going on 5 years – the more and more I miss the weather of my youth and the proximity to the coast.

The one game to rule them all...

The other night, I dove into Super Metroid on the Wii (Virtual Console) for the first time in awhile. I had bought the game over a year ago — on a whim — and had quickly decided that it was not what I wanted to play at the time. I don’t know about you, but I have to be in a specific mood and mindset to play through a Metroid game. The tension, loneliness, and endless expanse of corridors have to come at a time when I am seeking a little adventure and exploration. Otherwise, I’d much rather play something that is a little less tense.

My first Metroid game was Metroid Fusion on the Game Boy Advance (GBA). Well that is not true, as a kid I played the original Metroid on the NES. I remember at the time thinking the game was slow and boring — still true! –. For some reason I couldn’t wrap my little head around the game. Perhaps the game design not being as straight forward as a Mario game had something to do with it, who knows. Metroid Fusion though marked my entry into the series. Metroid: Zero Mission and Metroid Prime followed soon after.

  • Metroid Fusion (GBA) – First Metroid game I ever played and completed.
  • Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA) – My second experience with the world of Samus Aran.
  • Metroid Prime (GameCube) – First 3D Metroid game. The game did a great job capturing the feel of the older 2D games. For me though, Metroid is meant to be played in 2D and on a handheld.

For years I have read of how Super Metroid is the pinnacle of the Metroid series. Slowly, I am beginning to see why.

Love, dislike, or hate the Metroid series? Tell me about it below.

MMO Boot Camp: Redux

In the summer of 2009, I compiled a list of basic MMO social terms and abbreviations after being unable to find such a thing on the Internet.  The original list was posted over a 4 day period, which served to divide the list in retrospect. In an effort to streamline things, I present to you what I call the MMO Boot Camp, now in one continuous form. Study this list. Familiarize yourself with it. Your virtual life could depend on it. DISMISSED!

Basics:

  • AFK – “away from keyboard” – your friend has left you and may not be coming back due to circumstances beyond his or her control.
  • ATM – “at the moment” – this has nothing to do with money.
  • BBL – “be back later” – lies.
  • BRB – “be right back” – a quest in real life has been triggered (usually by a parent or spouse) and must be completed.
  • “BIO” – bathroom break.
  • DING – “level up” – used by those desperately seeking attention and a pat on the back.
  • “GANK” – higher level player(s) killing a lower level player.
  • “GRIEFING” or “GRIEFER” – those that intentionally seek to harass or cause grief to fellow gamers in game.
  • MMORPG – “massively multiplayer online role playing game” – Warning, may contain addictive elements.
  • NPC – “non-player character” – computer controlled character.
  • OMW – “on my way”
  • PVE – “player versus environment” – killing is consensual and the environment deadly.
  • PVP – “Player versus player” – open season has arrived!
  • RL – “real life” – once upon a time you knew what this meant.
  • “Solo” or “Soloing” – paying $15 a month to play alone.
  • “SPAWN” – enemies reappear after being killed.
  • XP – “experience points” – time and lives are lost in the pursuit of these elusive points.

Group:

 

  • Group/Party/Fellowship – players banded together for a common goal.
  • Guild – a large group of players who enjoy being used as pawns. Guilds, and their benefits, vary from game to game.
  • Kinship – an over glorified name for a guild.
  • LFF – “looking for fellowship” – sometimes two are better than one.
  • LFG – “looking for group” – see above.
  • LFM – “looking for more” – we are weak, help us!
  • LOOT – items that are coveted and fought over in game.
  • “TANK” – serves as the lead protector/ defender of a group.

Additional Terms/ Abbreviations:

  • “Add” – an enemy joins the fight unexpectedly. Kind of like your kid brother wanting to hang out with you and your friends.
  • AGGRO – “aggression” – sometimes you’ve just got to let it out.
  • “BUFF” – any ability or skill that increases the stats/attributes of the player or group.
  • DOT – “damage over time” – one day researchers will be able to measure the dot videogames cause.
  • DPS – “damage per second” – math geeks…
  • HOT – “heal over time” – the amount of time it takes to heal.
  • “KITE” – a diversion to attract enemies away from your party.
  • “MOB” – an in game monster(s).
  • “NUKE” – inflicting maximum damage per second.
  • PAT – “patrol” – roaming squads of death.
  • RES or REZ – “resurrect” – death is overrated.

Did I miss something? Feel free to add to the list in the comments below.

*Terms and abbreviations may very from game to game.

**This is by no means a definitive list of MMO terms and abbreviations.

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