Reverence Online

The Balancing Act: The Challenges of Class Balance in MMOGs

At the heart of every online game is the concept of balance. Balance appeals to all of our notions of fairness and fun; it makes the boss mob finally beatable or the ignoble defeat a teaching moment. Combined with good information, it helps us decide what player or mob to attack successfully, and which would be pure suicide.

Eat it, Jack Thompson (or: Penny Arcade honored by Washington State)

The Washington State Senate has passed a resolution honoring Penny Arcade for their work in the videogame industry and their contributions to worldwide charity for children.

Reverence Is Now in Warhammer

Reverence has officially formed on Ostermark, Order side.
Let the War begin!!!

ICON SciFi/Gaming/Anime Convention

So this passed weekend I spent my time in Stony Brook University for the annual I-CON convention. I attended a few gaming panels but the one that hyped me up the most was the Spore presentation. Steve Glicker presented his insider info on Spore and it sounds fantastic. here's a brief summary of the major features that haven't gotten much press. Also pictures from the convention as well.

November Warhammer Newletter is out

Excerpt from the newsletter:

"We’re almost ready to re-open the WAR Beta, and I know that our Beta Community has been gnashing their teeth in anticipation. Guess what? They should be giddy with excitement because we’ll have an amazing amount of new features and enhancements in the game for them to test, as well as brand new Elf content for them to experience."

New Warhammer interview

New Interview about the achievement system in warhammer. personally i'm not really thrilled about it. seems like just another time sink. Her example of getting and achievement for being afk for a hour just sickened me.

see it here.

Will Wright Spore Demo

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/146

A new Spore demo. It's taking forever to release but it looks amazing. Other players creatures getting automatically downloaded to live on your worlds is an exciting concept that has endless possibilities.

Mario Strikers Charged Gameplay

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This mario soccer game is coming out in July for the Wii. It will have online multiplayer for up to 4 players (2vs2) and also a ranking system online. with the ranking system they will have player matching so that you get matched up against others that are around your rank. I'm going to get this one. Anyone else interested?

Vanguard bites the dust??

http://www.f13.net/

The axe finally fell. It was only a matter of time, I suppose. And while many of you may try to spin this to make SOE look bad, apparently this wasn't really their doing. You see, SOE doesn't own Sigil. It doesn't own Sigil now and they won't own them tomorrow. But they do own Vanguard. What fate awaits that game? I don't know. Don't particularly care either.

But I do know that at approximately 4:30PM today, Sigil employees were told to meet outside. At which point they were terminated. On the spot. By whom? Doesn't seem to have been Brad McQuaid, if it was, nobody is talking. But that doesn't seem like something he'd do. But I suppose the executioner is irrelevant since most folks secretly want it to be SOE and it wasn't. As it stands, people were told to come back tomorrow to do their paperwork and some may get hired by SOE.

Dancing in Bars in NYC Technically Illegal

Court: No Dancing in NYC Bars

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK You can listen to the music in a New York City bar, but you better not begin tapping your feet because it could lead to dancing.

A state appeals court ruled that an 80-year-old law banning dancing in New York City bars, restaurants and certain clubs is legal.

The state Supreme Court's Appellate Division ruled that the city's Cabaret Law permits dancing only in places that have a license.

The Gotham West Coast Swing Club and several people filed a lawsuit complaining that because the Cabaret Law barred them from dancing with other people, it illegally infringed on their right of free expression.

The appeals court disagreed, saying recreational dancing is not a form of expression protected by the federal or state constitutions.

Lawyer Norman Siegel represented the dancers and says he's considering an appeal.