The End of the MMOs (at least for now)

That’s right folks, with the recent news at work I feel its almost required I cut back what I can at least for now.  So perhaps not the end, but both my Tabula Rasa and Warhammer online accounts have been been put on hold for now.  In all reality I keep busy enough with various projects and console gaming that I don’t get to play them nearly enough to be paying monthly anyway - but I really enjoyed both of them and liked to play them when I could.  I kept my subscriptions so that was possible.

As some of you know, my company decided to take a unique approach to the economic problems most businesses face these days.  Instead of selecting whatever number of individuals they needed to trim to cut expenses, they decided to ’share the pain’ (their words not mine) with the entire staff - that is to say we all recieved a 20% pay reduction.  To be completely fair, it was a 20% reduction in the time at work as well - I now have an extra day off of the day job.  All in all a bit of a shock to the system, one which made me think I really should think about what I can do to cut back and save or pay off debts, especially when who knows when things will get better, or worse.

Now of course let me say I know I am not the first that has been impacted by the current state of the economy and sadly I doubt I will be the last but it is my blog so I can rant from time to time if I want.  Do I think that this was the right choice for them to make?  Well honestly I am not in the postion to make that call.  I am sure it wasn’t an easy decision to make either.  I can say that I don’t love it, some might have even said I overreacted at first, but looking back I guess I am happy I still have the 80% left.  Some people I know have not been as lucky in recent times.

So even though I have an extra day off as I continue to fill that day with things to do - I will miss my Tabula Rasa (so close to finally making 30 and selecting my final class selection!) and Warhammer (I barely got to know you), but I have hope I will be back soon enough. 

Truth be told, you probably will see me on Xbox Live from time to time on that day off (Monday)- and you can guarantee I will have a few more hours to dedicate to 360voice and GamerDNA development.  Which my friends, is what I like the call the silver lining of this cloud.

As my wife said this might have been a sign, we will get through it, and who knows maybe I will end up coming out on top from this challenge in the end.

Humanity never stops amazing me

I was just browsing the GamerDNA forums, and one thread caught my eye, not the title really, but the contents.  This guy must be the current day MacGuyver

There you have it his very own hand build lancer - i wonder if he could make that shotgun foot my buddy Ymiris wanted to have attached when he broke his leg.

Double Dose of Awesomeness

I have been Avatar…ized!

That’s right I made it in on the second wave of NXE previews.  I actually didn’t even notice the email but got a prompt for a system update when I was booting GoW2.  After it completed I noticed the email in my box saying it would be coming.

I have to admit, I originally signed up to just give it a shot, and see what it was all about - but I wasn’t super excited to get my hands on it or anything.  I think I have said in the past that console updates don’t get me hot under the collar for the most part - but I have to bite my tongue.  The new features and sexy look make me happy I got my hands on it early.

I am actually considering going back to netflix, just for the online streaming (changed to blockbuster online a while back), and the interface just seems to function a ton smoother, but who am I kidding if you really care about the update, you all ready read all about it on 10 news sites - you dont need me to drone on on my blog about it.

Gears of Goodness War 2

Secondly I went out and got Gears of War 2 at the midnight release in my area.  It was pretty quiet - the biggest news from the night was the kid behind me won a free Halo 3 Legendary edition for wearing a Gears of War shirt to the event.  So apparently it does in fact pay to be “that guy”, you know the one that wears the band t-shirt to the concert of said band.  My hat goes off to everyone involved with Gears 2 though - seriously.  I haven’t completed the campaign as of yet, but I have been completely blown away by it every moment so far - and the multiplayer experience has been amazing as well.  The horde mode gets intense, again I haven’t gotten high enough to really gauge this - but it turns into complete mayhem quick - and I love every minute of it.

Well that’s it for now, those two things made such an impact I felt like taking a moment to pimp them out - I expected both to be good, but they surpassed my expectations on so many levels.  I have been tooling around with XNA here and there when I have some free time - so depending on what comes of that I might post up some samples or something.  It will probably be quite some time before I even consider having something thats worthy of the Community Games on Xbox Live - but game development was always a childhood dream of mine - and even if nothing comes of it, I enjoy tinkering. Speaking of tinkering - I have been playing around a bit with some new signatures heavily based on 360voice data & avatars - heres a quick sample - what do you think?

I am going to get cranking away on some code my current GamerDNA and 360voice projects again - and with luck some more Gears 2 soon…very soon

Dress Like Your Co-Workers and Win!

I don’t normally dress up for Halloween but this year I decided to give it a shot.  I didnt dress up as some ghoul, ghost, or random famous person - this year I decided to dress up as one of the other programmers here at work.  Granted he is not just any co-worker, he is a bit unique.  I should have photos later, but here is a video clip of me in the costume, and then him as himself.

Did I pull it off?  Was it close?  Everyone in the office instantly knew what/who I was and it instigated tons of gut busting laughter - so mission complete.  That alone would have been enough, but I ended winning the costume contest - so $50 worth of Olive Garden doesn’t hurt.

Twitter Updates for 2008-10-30

  • why is it i always have to run a full file check to play warhammer anymore - dirty rotten….. #
  • damn it shuffle, stop picking kids bop songs #
  • catching up with my status report so i dont have to waste a bunch of time tomorrow on it. #
  • time to head home #

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NXE Preview - Did you get in?

So the emails went out last night, Did you sign up?  Did you get in?  Ironically I don’t think I know a single person that got in - at least not one that has let me know as of yet.  Based on the post by Major Nelson, whoever got an email should be getting the update ‘later this week’, which leaves only a few more days of waiting to those lucky few.

I did in fact fill out the application to get the early preview / upgraded, but no tears shed over not getting the email saying I was selected.  Its only a little over 2 weeks before we all get the upgrade, and I think i have been on record in the past that console updates don’t get me all hot and bothered like some.

What say you, and lets see those avatars for those of you that did in fact get in (when you actually get the update of course)

Twitter Updates for 2008-10-29

  • writing php in classic asp pages - guess its been a while since i wrote an asp page from scratch…. #
  • @samhouston i had that meal for lunch yesterday actually - comes with a contest piece, and a $5 of coupon for Guitar Hero World Tour #
  • really not a big fan of needles, especially the blood stealing kind, but at least i didnt pass out #
  • @deaconblade happy bday mr velvet. #
  • anyone know how to restart a zune, mine just totally locked up #
  • @GeminiAce normally if you are transferring the domain you should be able to renew and request the transfer previous to it expiring #
  • @jasonpercival thanks i actually found it just before your tweet - thing never locked up before, hopefully it doesnt become commonplace #
  • played Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning on PC for 0:49 and Rock Band 2 on Xbox (2 achievements, 25G) http://gamerdna.com/r/qF #
  • @godfree autographed photos of godfree himself! #
  • really hate paying for my motorcycle insurance after its all ready been put in the garage for the season *grumble* #
  • @tyf it costs about the same, and im pretty sure at least here in PA it has to be insured year round, or you have to return your plates. #

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Twitter Updates for 2008-10-28

  • i really wish i would remember to connect the VPN *BEFORE* i do something that requires said VPN connection #
  • more snow! more snow! bring it! #
  • @Cormyre me either, im cheering it on, and hoping :) #
  • @DjDATZ link loaded for me #
  • @DjDATZ i blame canada. #
  • starving….considering food options #
  • @Syndelin the voodoo dolls again? that explains the neck pain #
  • @trixie360 well to be fair, live is MANYgames not a single subscription but we all ready know live rules ;) #
  • need to get some gaming in tonight - so far i end up doing family time, coding time, and pass out on the couch before i turn the xbox on. #
  • @Syndelin if it was snowing your life could be complete. #
  • @tyf just making sure @ymiris isnt dead.. havent heard from him for a bit…did he have another foot accident? #

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Twitter Updates for 2008-10-27

  • carved pumpkins last night for the kids - i should have taken pictures. #
  • added twitter updates to my blog but looking at how little i blog perhaps its going to be overkill - and overload my blog with just tweets. #
  • considering a new laptop, or destkop….or both - if only money grew on trees #
  • anyone dressing up for halloween? #
  • im dressing up for the company contest as my co-worker #
  • @imran_malek leavign for work at 10am? now thats a tough life! #
  • damn it i dont want to have to do math, thats what computers are for. #
  • played Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning on PC for 2:14, and The Force Unleashed and 4 other games on Xbox http://gamerdna.com/r/ne #
  • @drtiki that all depends, its unlikely they can get the “howto” but the information displayed to the user is still open for the taking #
  • @SixOkay i can haz please? #

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Twitter Updates for 2008-10-26

  • played Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning on PC for 0:52 and Rock Band 2 on Xbox (2 achievements, 35G) http://gamerdna.com/r/m0 #

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