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All the World's a Stage: Roleplaying the wolf
Friday night was a special evening for me, as I finally got around to watching New Moon. I admit that the movie really wasn't my cup of tea, and I mostly watched it out of a sort of morbid curiousity. I felt a clear, unnatural compulsion to see what Dakota Fanning's performance was like, and I will report that she was definitely a shining point for the movie. The Volturi portions of the movie were fairly cool, but the rest of the movie really didn't work out for me. I don't know, just not my thing. Ironically, one of the biggest issues I had with New Moon was the performance of the werewolves. I'm sure there's a few dozen people who will tell me that they're not technically werewolves or whatever. But as a relatively uninitiated viewer, Jacob and his pack were indistinguishable from your general furry, toothy werewolf. But they just didn't act that way. Nothing about the pack really struck me as wolfish, and the lack of that canine behavior totally kept me from buying these guys as lupines. So, of course, I couldn't help but think about our own upcoming Worgen in Azeroth. There's already a few different avenues built into the lore for roleplaying "beasts." The longest standing option, of course, is roleplaying a druid who spends a lot of time as a cat or bear. But, even aside from that, you can assume some hunters probably spend more time with their pet wolf than other humanoids. And you always have the odd baby lost in the woods who ends up raised by the local pack. (It's amazing how many character one comes across who's raised by wolves.) So, ultimately, if we're going to roleplay canine-like characters, here's some tips on how to make it a little convincing. I think we can do better than Twilight. I'm not claiming to be a wolf expert here, I'm just talking about the literary and connotative ideas of playing a wolf-inspired character.
Spiritual Guidance: Holy? Disc? We're all priests
Every Sunday (and the occasional weekday) Dawn Moore reinvents what "smitelol" means to her shadowy cohort, Fox Van Allen, by busting down a door with penance lasers and raising holy hell to a Tarantino soundtrack. In the column Spiritual Guidance she offers advice to holy and discipline priests on how to wield the holy light, with style. When I first started raiding, it was in late Burning Crusade. At the time I fancied myself a PvPer, shying away from raids due to attunements, and the long gear climb I'd have to perform in order to catch up with friends doing tier 5 content. Despite this, sometime during tier 6, a friend of mine convinced me to come along to a raid. How he convinced the raid leader though, I can't imagine. I remember standing there in my resilience gear, surrounded by players in their various shiny gear sets, and asking myself over and over, "what am I doing here?" I sheepishly put my talents into the holy tree, and tried to arrange my bars to accommodate the spells I hadn't cast in months. I was out of my element. And then I saw Baba. She was beautiful.
More Ruby Sanctum information: loot, lore, and more
Today's announcement of the upcoming Ruby Sanctum raid, coming with Patch 3.3.5, was well-met, though it raised a number of questions as to the nature of the instance -- how will it work, what kind of loot can we expect, etc. Zarhym popped back into the original thread a few times to give clarification on a few points: While the instance has a similar layout to the Obsidian Sanctum philosophically, the three sub-bosses (Saviana Ragefire, Baltharus the Warborn, and General Zarithrian) will each be own encounter all their own. The "drakes-up" functionality of Sartharion will not carry over into the Halion encounter. Heroic difficulty is likely to be toggled in the same way that heroic difficulties are handled in ICC (a UI toggle). Saviana, Baltharus, and Zarithrian will each drop an Emblem of Frost, but probably not special loot. Expect loot in the instance to be "about the same item level" as the Lich King items on their respective difficulties. The loot from Halion will be offset pieces as well as trinkets and other items "of that nature." So, basically, Sartharion loot. The instance is intended to be a prelude to Cataclysm and should provide some advancement for the new expansion's storyline before the 4.0 patch, drawing on Deathwing's desire to weaken the Wyrmrest Accord prior to his emergence from Deepholm. Arthas is still considered the final boss of the expansion -- this is merely a complementary raid, like Onyxia with ToC, with ties to Cataclysm. Sounds like about what we were expecting. Keep an eye on WoW.com for more information on the Ruby Sanctum as it comes in, likely starting with the upcoming PTR.
Verizon 'vampire' ad rips off Twilight, sticks it to AT&T
Hey, remember how all the lawsuits got dropped over the holiday period and we thought AT&T and Verizon would finally start to coexist like mature entities engaged in a civilized industry? Yeah, that didn't last very long. Verizon is back with a biting ad campaign that continues poking fun at AT&T's 3G coverage. The consumer is appropriately a vampire, whereas the young maiden keen on being consumed turns out to be... well, it's more fun if we just let you watch it without any more spoilers. Needless to say, it's some of Verizon's funniest work yet. Head on past the break to see it. [Thanks, Jay]
Battlefield Heroes going all Twilighty for month-long monster mash
Things are going to look pretty different in the world of Battlefield Heroes during the month of February. Soldiers from both factions will soon find themselves embroiled in the "Vampires vs. Werewolves" event, which allows players to purchase costumes based on the two monstrous archetypes. Unfortunately, there's no room for crossovers -- Nationalists are strictly Team Edward, and Loyalists are strictly Team Jacob, and oh man we can't believe we just said that. In addition to the costumes, both factions will unlock "claw swipe" attacks, and three of the game's maps will be given a new nighttime aesthetic. Check out this battle for Bella's affection cryptozoological dominance in the trailer above.
This Week on the Nintendo Channel: Scene It? Twilight video, more
Ever since we reported that Scene It? Twilight would grace the Wii and DS, we've gotten countless emails looking for the hot scoops on this new product. Well, would-be Bellas and Edwards, you may want to sink your teeth into the Nintendo Channel today, as there's a smoking hot new video about the game. In short: it's pretty much just like the regular Scene It? game. Head past the break for the full list of this week's content.
'Scene It? Twilight' dazzles Wii this autumn, DS in 2010
Oh my gawd, oh my gawd, the twinkly blood-suckers of Twilight are coming to Wii in a Scene It? game this fall! Yes, the vampire franchise -- with only one released movie under its coffin -- will be the subject of an entire multimedia-based trivia game for Wii, featuring some 500 multiple-choice questions based on clips, music and audio from the film. There are no details about the DS version of the game, which will release sometime next year. (There's also no mention of an Xbox 360 or PS3 version.) We'd call this the "shovelware cash-in of trivia games," but we'd be afraid that in doing so, pale, starving actors covered in glitter would come and suck our blood -- accompanied by throngs of enraged tweens and housewives that would rip our lifeless bodies to shreds. So ... we'll just call it not the game for us.
Wikia turns a profit, thanks in part to WoWWiki
Wikia has been doing a little bit of press lately -- they're the for-profit company that has spun off of the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation that runs the huge Wikipedia website. Wikia has announced, as reported in the Wall Street Journal and elsewhere, that they've hit profit early. While they didn't expect to actually make any money running ads next to user-generated content until next year, they've actually made some money this year already. They credit the growth of all of their miniwiki sites, which has expanded greatly over the last year.So why are we reporting all of this here? You may have already guessed: one of their largest sites, if not the largest, is the World of Warcraft-related wiki, WoWWiki (which we definitely read and use here at WoW.com all the time). WoWWiki is mentioned in a few reports as having 70,000 pages (almost 1/3 more than the next-biggest site in the network, a cooking wiki). In fact, at least one reports credits WoWWiki, along with the Twilight-related wiki, for the growth entirely. We're not sure how much of a part they actually played in the new reported profits, but they are definitely growing, and are a terrific resource for those of us in the WoW community.
The world is safe: Twilight MMO not a confirmed project
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/The_world_is_safe_Twilight_MMO_not_a_confirmed_project'; Thanks to some astute Joystiq commenters and a MySpace photo of a newspaper article, it seems we might all breathe a collective sigh of relief. The Twilight MMO isn't an official, confirmed project as of yet. The current Twilight: The Video Game is being created by Brandon Gardner, a student of game design from Blountstown, Florida. BrainJunk Studios currently consists of a volunteer staff, all working together on the concept of a Twilight game. Currently, Gardner is still studying with Westwood College Online, seeking out a bachelor's degree in game design as he works on his pet project. So, in conclusion, we're all temporarily spared... at least for the time being.
Twilight MMO to stop female interest in reality, threaten human race [Update]
Update: As some of our commenters point out, the so-called Twilight Video Game appears to be a few undying fans with a thirst for more Twilight content. A MySpace image discovered by a commenter reveals the game is nothing more than a digital love letter to the series from a few college fans. Twilight MMO not confirmed, the world lives for another day.Hold on to your coffin! A game based on the book (and now film) series Twilight is currently in development. Threatening to keep women across the world glued to their computer for eternity, details on the game are slim. According to the official Twilight: The Video Game website, the title is an MMO-style "interactive experience" with the ability to relive key moments from the books Twilight, New Moon and Midnight Sun. What we do know is that the Twilight video game will allow players to jump into the free-roaming world as human, vampire or werewolf (why would anyone pick human?), encounter characters from the franchise, and decorate a home with collectible knickknacks and tchotchkes (à la The Sims, but with less direct sunlight). Should be interesting if you're a fan of the novels, but prepare to be hated by Harry Potter fans everywhere who are still waiting for an MMO to call their own. [Via Massively]
The Daily Grind: What license would you like to see as an MMO?
The announcement of the Twilight MMO made many book fans rejoice while many others simply grumbled while they slapped their hands against their faces. While we all may not agree with it, it's coming our way whether we like it or not.Out of all of this commotion, however, an interesting breakfast question arises -- what license would you like to see turned into an MMO? What book, film, or TV series do you think could handle the transition from static property to virtual gaming landscape?Harry Potter was one of our guesses, as an MMO set in the first wizarding war would probably work out nicely without getting in the way of the story. But this isn't about us readers, it's about you. Comment away and let us know what you'd like to see hit the gaming store shelves as an MMO.
There's a... er... Twilight MMO coming...
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Twilight_MMO_on_the_way_ummm_sure'; Because absolutely no license goes unturned these days, we've gotten word that there will, indeed, be a Twilight MMO.Details are pretty sketchy right now on what exactly this whole experience will entail. It will be a virtual world where you get to play as either a human, vampire, or werewolf -- that much is pretty known. The game will also be an open, non-linear world set around the town of Forks, Washington, that will let the player roam freely.Of note is the functionality of the game's journal, which is said to work not only like a novel, but also as a way to teleport back and forth through time to experience the events written inside of it.The game is still early in-development, so we'll keep an eye on it for you as more information is released. Now where's our Harry Potter MMO, hmmm? We want a wizarding war!Update: Apparently, this MMO isn't as official as it seems.[Via Twilight Source]
Twilight tops the DVD charts while Blu-ray sales lag behind
In a shocking development, Twilight's mostly tween girl audience may not have quite bought into this Blu-ray thing yet, since despite selling 5.2 million copies of the weekend, the movie only managed to move less than 5% of that total on Blu-ray. Making the HD edition available only at Target and Best Buy likely didn't help, but earlier reports pegged the director as extremely pleased about how the vampire's sparkling effect turned out in HD, so Summit Home Entertainment and the BDA may have missed a great opportunity to expand their audience. Well, there's always Twilight 2.
HD movies on the way in iTunes
Got $20US and a hankering for lots and lots of pixels? iTunes has a deal for you: Apple announced earlier today that it is launching HD movie sales and rentals in the iTunes Store, beginning with a small selection of titles (Transporter 3, W. and more) and with a couple of big-ticket films up for pre-order: vamp-rom-teen thriller Twilight drops on 3/21 and James Bond in Quantum of Solace on 3/24. Sales will be $19.99US and rentals will cost $4.99.Up until now, HD movies had to be purchased rented directly on the Apple TV, although HD television content has been in iTunes since late last year. This is a big step forward for iTunes users and a big 'pptthhbbttt' to the Blu-Ray business model. Keep in mind a few caveats: you'll need iTunes 8.1, and you may want to test your video output path if you've got a DisplayPort-equipped machine and a large external screen (these files are going to be HDCP-enabled, bet on it). Playback quality may not be what you've come to expect from HD media, as the files will still be 720p with H.264 compression -- but be sure to keep plenty of open hard drive space and a clean ISP connection, since they'll weigh in at four GB or more per movie. No word yet on whether the movies will include Dolby Surround audio instead of simple stereo. Looks like Twilight and Quantum will carry the Dolby audio option, though other HD movies may not -- check the rental page for individual titles to be certain.I'm continually impressed with the quality of streamed and purchased HD video that I play back from my previous-generation MacBook Pro over VGA to a flat-panel 720p TV -- it's not dramatically different from satellite or broadcast HD, at least to my verging-on-middle-aged eyes. The opportunity to buy or rent HD movies might make the Mac mini media center even more appealing.Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
Ask a Lore Nerd: Like finding a needle in a boneyard
Welcome to Ask a Lore Nerd, where each week blogger and columnist Alex Ziebart answers your questions about the lore and history of the World of Warcraft. Ask your questions in the comments section below, and we'll try to answer it in a future edition.Welcome to another fine Sunday evening! Things are going to be shorter and sweeter than usual this week, as I've only recently gotten the internet back. Moving into a new apartment has its drawbacks, and needing to wait a week for Time Warner to get things installed is one of the worst. It's done now though, so next week will be grand, I just need to get my bearings back.Remember, the entire history of Warcraft is fair game in this column, not just Wrath of the Lich King. If you have a question that's a blast from the past, that's fine! We'll take it. Now, on with the show.Jardal asked...What's going on in the Ebon Hold where the DK trainer is killing a druid to explain how plague strike is the lifebloom eater? Wouldn't the alliance kind of frown on killing their allies or is this kind of a "what they don't know won't hurt them" thing?
The Abridged Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
We've gawked at speedruns before, but this one is unique in that it's a speedrun of a Wii game. Daniel Hart recorded himself completing The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess in an incredible 5 hours and 39 minutes. That beats our best time by roughly infinity. We didn't watch the whole thing, because five and a half hours, while short for a Zelda playthrough, is long for a video. Honestly, the speed-goatherding in the first segment is entertainment enough for us. But if you're stuck in Zelda, or need some strategies, this would be a great resource since the dude knows how to play.[Via Aeropause]
Nintendo's Zelda replacement policy
Have you been plagued by the Zelda: Twilight Princess sky cannon bug? We've got good news and bad news for you. The bad news is obvious: you were plagued by the sky cannon bug. The good news is that Nintendo will replace your disc, allowing you to pick right back up where the bug torpedoed your game. If you're suffering from this bug, just send your game disc to Nintendo, along with a note containing your name, address, phone number, and the circumstances of the error, and Nintendo will ship you a replacement.The shipping address:NINTENDO OF AMERICA ATTN: CS ADMIN 4900 150TH AVE NE REDMOND WA 98052-5171
Nintendo team playing with Miis in Twilight Princess
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Nintendo_team_playing_with_Miis_in_Twilight_Princess'; During an interview with Shigeru Miyamoto, MTV's Stephen Totilo threw out a speculative question: Had Nintendo experimented with using Miis in Zelda: Twilight Princess? Miyamoto answered that, in fact, the developers at EAD had in fact been playing with that feature! After completing the game, the team started experimenting with putting Miis into the Twilight Princess engine, just for fun.So, working at Nintendo is so awesome that programmers continue working on their games after they've shipped for recreational purposes. That is a shining endorsement if ever there was one.The MTV Multiplayer site is set up so that it's impossible to link directly to the story; you'll have to scroll down or search for "Nintendo's Miyamoto On One-Handed 'Mario,' Miis In 'Zelda".
President's Day surprise: Jefferson (?) in Twilight Princess
Even after the day, the spirit of President's Day (sure, why not) continues in Videoland. Zelda Dimension posted this picture of a painting found on a wall in Zelda: Twilight Princess, and it looks an awful lot like Thomas Jefferson ... or maybe George Washington? Or maybe dust? Apparently, one of the NPCs is a student of American history. We love finding secrets in Zelda, but we don't like being confronted with a blurry texture in a Wii game. Maybe the Zelda Dimension blogger was using composite cables, and that's why the picture is blurry? Yeah, that's the ticket!We look forward to seeing the Zelda timeline theorists chew on this one.[Via digg]
Zelda tops a million
Well, that was quick. Turns out, Link's latest adventure is quite the popular one as NOA's VP of Marketing, Perrin Kaplan, confirmed to IGN that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess has sold more than one million copies in the Americas alone. Now, she doesn't say if this figure is exclusive to the Wii-based Twilight Princess alone, so we'll just assume this figure reflects sales of both the Wii and GameCube version.Shocking news, we know ...
