EVE Online: Spreadsheet Power

There’s an item in EVE Online, dropped commonly by rats in missions, that can be reprocessed with minimal skills and its component minerals sold for twice the cost of that item on the market. In fact, you can buy unlimited quantities of that item ON the market, reprocess it, and immediately sell the minerals for competitive prices and make a 50% profit. For that matter, you can put a buy order out for as many of this item as you can afford for a competitive price, and people will SEEK YOU OUT to sell you this item. ...

October 11, 2009 · 3 min · 505 words · Tipa

Lemons Looks at Love

A guest article by Lemons :) A moderately multiplayer FPS by a single man? What an amazing feat, and when promised some of the best things, such as human-like AI and an almost dream-like virtual world … one can get very excited over a game and follow it for a year or two. The visuals look almost like watercolors painted on a life canvas. But then said game becomes playable and I spend the next two or three hours wandering around aimlessly in what seems like a mushroom trip without the fun or laughing but instead frustration and confusion. ...

October 10, 2009 · 2 min · 223 words · Tipa

Daily Blogroll 10/10: Short Week edition

I’ve been playing a bit of Earth Eternal since it went into open-closed beta yesterday. Since I think we’re still unable to actually show the game, here’s a picture of the upcoming stop motion/cgi film, Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox. Now, I don’t KNOW that Sparkplay’s gonna close down to go to the premiere, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Should kids gamble on the Internet? Evil Theurgists wonders why KingsIsle is encouraging kids to blow their parent’s moolah spinning the virtual wheels of Wizard101’s new slot machine – where you spend 15 (and up) Crowns to win the usual prize of 20 gold. You get 15 twirls a day and the rewards are minuscule so… let’s hope this is one feature that doesn’t make it out of testing. ...

October 9, 2009 · 3 min · 443 words · Tipa

Daily Blogroll 10/8: Inappropriate Birth Metaphor edition

Awwww, over-protective mommy ship takes cute baby alt-ship out for the first time! Yes, I’ve joined the ranks of EVE pilots with two accounts; the lure of EVE’s Power of 2 promotion and the savings in time by having a second account for salvaging, hauling, and extra drones was just too much to ignore. If you think THAT picture is just too twee, check THIS one out. ...

October 8, 2009 · 4 min · 827 words · Tipa

Earth Eternal open beta opening early for closed beta testers

Um, title kinda says it all. But to repeat – the new, free, browser-based, anthropomorphic MMO from Sparkplay has just finished up its closed beta and is trundling steadily toward open. But if you were one of the lucky few to get into the closed beta, you can get into the open beta starting…. tomorrow, Thursday. If you like MMOs where furry critters gain thumbs and intelligence and learn to make their way in a world humans have mysteriously left behind, then you’re probably already an Earth Eternal player. ...

October 7, 2009 · 2 min · 254 words · Tipa

Wizard101: The Clockwork Spider DOES exist! And it's MINE!

Fourth time through the Master/Hard tower, the big baddy drops the Spider Golem, which would be the yellow character there. WOOT! I now have one of the rarest pets in the game! NOW what do I do with my life? Well, I went back to taking Marissa and Allison through Marleybone… Working on Knight’s Court now. I can feel the wonderfulness of Katzenstein’s Lab coming closer and closer… and then I’ll go back to Grizzleheim, I promise. But I have to go see Doc Katz first!

October 7, 2009 · 1 min · 86 words · Tipa

Wizard101: Wizard City Confidential

In the next major update, KingsIsle’s Wizard101 will, for the first time, allow players to purchase gifts, for real money, for people on their friend lists. Where once crowds of new characters would beg for treasure cards, now the beggars have entirely new things for which to beg. All of these are based on actual things heard within the space of a few minutes in Wizard City Commons on the Test server. ...

October 7, 2009 · 1 min · 86 words · Tipa

Wizard101: Worst thing about Hallowe'en?

Want to know the worst thing about Halloween in Wizard City? Everyone wants to come as a witch. I’ve been trundling through the Master Tower, looking for that elusive Clockwork Spider, but no sign of it. I’ve gotten a wraith statue and a bunch of dead trees, though, so I guess that counts for something. Makes for a really nice Halloween tableaux, anyway…. :)

October 4, 2009 · 1 min · 64 words · Tipa

EVE Online: I'm in Damallan Trick!

I’m in Damallan Trick (apologies to ) When I warp onto the scene Y’all know me by my miner Like an oldschool forty-niner I’m farming mats I’m killing rats I got some missiles and some drones in my hand Hey you’re looking cute in that Hulk-inator girrrrrl ...

October 3, 2009 · 5 min · 928 words · Tipa

Wizard101: Briskbreeze Tower and the Gauntlet of Woe

Ever wondered what kind of tricks KingsIsle has in store for those brave enough to step into their new instance? Yeah, me too. The quest that starts in Olde Town leads eventually to a new tower in Colossus Boulevard – Briskbreeze Tower. Now THAT doesn’t sound too bad, right? And it isn’t. The first three floors are groups of four rank 7 and 8 elite mobs, so no worse than many ordinary trash mob encounters in Dragonspyre. ...

October 3, 2009 · 4 min · 742 words · Tipa