Jonathan Northwood

Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Jonathan’s addiction to the social aspects of gaming began over thirty years ago, and shows no sign of lessening. He currently self-medicates through judicious use of missions and street sweeping in both the Rogue Isles and Paragon City. When not tied to the keyboard, he can be found writing short stories and novels, enjoying anime, brushing up on his cooking skills, or looking for the Next Big Game™.

Articles by Jonathan Northwood

HeroStats: enhanced with Issue 11 flavor
Since 2005, the HeroStats Team has produced HeroStats, the premier power-tracking application used across Paragon City and the Rogue Isles. Even though the developers have thought of nearly everything, as it's an Open Source application, feel free to make additions to the software. If you are good at coding and testing, however, one thing the team is looking for is a developer who can assist with solidifying the application under Windows Vista. Of course, like all works in progress, there are a few minor issues that are constantly being tweaked, whether due to internal concerns or game client changes. For example, as of 29 October, HeroStats now tracks the power sets introduced in Issue 11. And don't forget, HeroStats works with both the City Information Terminal -- one of the top-rated badge tracking sites on the net -- and the City Game Tracker.
Guild Wars: got $100,000?
NCsoft would like to remind you that the ArenaNet-sponsored Guild Wars $100,000 Tournament Series is still going strong. The October rankings are in, the November cycle is swiftly wrapping to a close, and the December season rules are now available for review. You'll be able to check out the schedule, the map rotation, and the upcoming prize list which includes in-game prizes such as cape trim for your guild and reward points, and physical prizes like a Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer sound card and a 160Gb iPod. So what are you waiting for? Let's get those slay bells ringing this holiday season.
NCsoft: has the focus shifted?
NCsoft -- known for such stunningly beautiful games as Guild Wars and Lineage/Lineage II -- is slowly expanding its focus in Korea into the non-game sector. Working with in-house studio Openmaru, the company is building a series of online services to aid in comforting investors. Admittedly, the South Korean Won (KRW) is trading in a slightly stronger position against the United States Dollar (USD) now than it was in October, but that doesn't stop their concern over seeing NCsoft's stock slowly spiral downward from 86,4000 KRW in October (approximately $94.43/share) to 45,000 KRW ($48.27/share) as of Friday's market close. As a result of this move, CEO Kim Taek-jin has promised that the company will increase its investment in online applications, including data and schedule management programs and social-networking services.
City Game Tracker software updated
Until such time as NCsoft enables the web-based display options for your City of Heroes and City of Villains characters, you can capture and showcase the wonder of your creations using the City Game Tracker, brought to you by Titan Network. Drawing from the information you've input for your character, as well as from the auto-generated details supplied by the system, the tracker allows you to generate and display information about your character and share it with the world. One additional (and much-needed) feature: for those of you who use Hero Stats -- the premiere open-source software package for monitoring statistical data related to damage dealt and received, power cooldowns and more -- the tracker will capture that information, as well.
This just in: games are TiVo-licious
Starting tonight, and running every Wednesday through December 19th, you need to make sure your TiVo is pointed to the Discovery Channel at 8 p.m. Eastern/Pacific. For gamers of any stripe, they're covering a gaming retrospective that will be as sweet as popping a Power-up right before stomping King Koopa, and as comforting as the first level of Pong. For those of us with an interest in MMOs, however, we have one episode -- Level Five, premiering on December 19th -- dedicated to our obsession.The final episode of Rise of the Video Game covers the first MUDs from the late 1960s through the latest MMOs today. They'll be discussing everything from Ultima Online through World of Warcraft, and they'll include interviews with both Richard Bartle of MUD fame and Cory Ondrejka from Linden Lab. So make sure you have your popcorn ready and your recorders running: we've got us some game history to uncover.[Via GamePolitics]
CoX community choice costume contest
When the CoX team announced their annual Halloween costume contest, they knew they'd get a boatload of entrants, and they were right. They've sorted through them to cull their pics; however, they always save one of the best moments for the very end. While the judges have already chosen the three top selections -- Grand Prize, Best Hero and Best Villain -- you need to help them decide who gets to claim the honor of creating the costume that's chosen as a winner by the players. It's time, my friends, to cast your votes. Show your support for our spandex-clad colleagues, and choose who you think best deserves the "Community Pick" prize. There are seven contestants, and each of you gets one vote to try to push your candidate to the top of the pile. But hurry: NCsoft is ending the voting at 10 a.m. Pacific on Monday, 26 November.
CoX: New web-based display options
Supporting the theory that the world should know more about the CoX universe, you'll soon be able to configure the game client to display or hide certain information on the web. It is a bit convoluted, however, so please be sure to note the information contained in the official forums.In the Miscellaneous section under the General tab (Menu > General), you will have the option of hiding your Statistics, Powers, Badges, and Friends list from inclusion on the public web page. If you choose to show them, leave each option disabled; however, if you wish to hide them, enable the option. If you're a private person, simply enable the Statistics option, and all other options will automatically be hidden. One other thing: unlike graphic settings, these options are configured on a per-character basis, so if you want everything hidden, you'll need to properly configure each character you have on each server. The only caveat to this is if your character has not been logged in for at least 90 days: at that cut-off point, all options are hidden.Although a final go-live date for this feature has not been announced, it's planned for a relatively short lead time. There will be more information available in the official forum as the release date approaches; and, as always, if you have any issues, concerns, or comments, NCsoft wants to hear from you in the discussion thread.
PvP FTW
Do you prefer the blood-lust of PvP to the bloody boring banality of PvE missions? Do you live for the bloodletting, the torment, the outrage of the poor fool who tried to walk in front of you while you were sharpening your dagger or honing your casting skills? Do you like the thought of playing forever, with no subscription fee required? Do you want to avoid all the banality of role-playing and focusing on what your teammates want at the expense of your own needs? If so, you're in luck.Guild Wars, one of the best-known games NCsoft has produced, has catered to your wishes with the Guild Wars PVP Access Kit. If you don't have Guild Wars, and you're interested in the PvP aspect of the game instead of the role-playing elements, then this is the kit for you. It allows you to install Guild Wars with only the PvP elements active, allowing you to move foward with shanking friends and enemies alike. At under twenty dollars (plus tax, of course), it's a pay-once model, with lifetime gameplay and service updates at no charge. So buck up, little camper: you don't need to worry anymore about whether or not your guild is going to be impressed by your ability to mine for fish: all you have to worry about is whether or not you've ganked enough n00bs to ensure your place on the boards.
CoX Issue 11: First Impressions
The newest expansion for City of Heroes and City of Villains, Issue 11 has been in open beta for a couple of weeks, and -- so far, at least -- it's proven to be a hit. As with all other releases, there have been the inevitable tweaks and adjustments to make sure that levels are being balanced and that powers are neither too strong nor too weak. Still, all things considered, it's been a phenomenal step forward in the elegance of the game.It's hard not to squeal with delight when I think of the changes that have been made since I first created my account in June of 2004. Whether we were peering Through the Looking Glass or fending off an Invasion, NCsoft was always pushing to give us new features, and to make sure that the play was as balanced as possible. As far as I can tell, they've done a phenomenal job of continuing that trend. %Gallery-9980%
Second Life: sweeter than ever
Do you want to help make Second Life a sweeter place? Well now you can.Once you've logged on to your avatar, simply go to Splenda Island. Once there, click on the caramel apple, and you'll be provided with the information you need to submit your suggestions to the Millions of us team on how to make life sweeter. And yes, you can submit a picture, as well: just make sure that you've attached your name to it, so that it can be associated with your entry.So get your entries in as quickly as possible. The deadline is 30 November, and Second Life residents will have the opportunity to vote on the five finalists' entries once they've been chosen. The best part? Not only will the winner see their idea built out in Second Life, they'll also win a trip for two to Canyon Ranch in Arizona.[Via Millions of us]
New City of Heroes Fanzine released
Did you enjoy the stories and artwork that ran in the Top Cow line of the City of Heroes comics? Ever regret not sending in your work? Well, here's your chance, because Issue #0 of the new City of Heroes Fanzine was released today.For those of you who may be concerned that this publication is replacing the City Scoop, fear not: the fanzine was never intended to replace the scoop, but to add to the lore and backstory of the CoX universe. Then, too, the fanzine will only be coming out quarterly, so you'll have to rely on the Scoop ... and Massively, of course ... for timely news about the Rogue Isles and Paragon City.So pull out your pens and digital tablets, and share your stories and visions of the digital world all of our alts inhabit. We're looking forward to seeing what you have to offer. And don't forget, if you have any thoughts about the fanzine, issues you'd like to raise, or concerns you feel need to be addressed, bring them up in the City of Heroes official forum.
Vince D'Amelio has your answers
Have a question you'd like to pose to Vince D'Amelio, City of Heroes Senior Programmer? If so, the WarCry Network wants to hear from you. The concept behind the "Ask a Dev" series is elegant in its simplicity: find a CoX developer who has the time to answer questions, ask the community what questions they most wish answered, then put the two together and have the issues addressed by the minds behind the game.So go ahead, ask your questions, you know you want to. And remember, there's no such thing as a stupid question, only a stupid Rikti.
Faydwer: EQ's 14th expansion is live
Yesterday, Sony Online Entertainment took the EverQuest Live servers down for a Game Update in order to launch Secrets of Faydwer. Now that it's live, though, are you ready for it?Obviously, being a Massively successful EverQuester, you took the opportunity to review the beta tour, and I'm sure you've visited the Faydwer gallery, but have you spent some time looking at the luscious screen shots and glorious movies SOE made available from its main page?If you have, and you're looking for more information on the Secrets of Faydwer expansion, don't forget to check out the EQ Player's page dedicated to all things Faydwer. Whether you're looking for an overview of what the expansion contains, or you're looking to discuss the expansion in the official forums, SOE has gone out of its way to make the search for information as painless as possible.The same, of course, cannot be said of the raids. Then again, who wants their alts to live forever?
D&D Online Game Guide winners announced
The anticipation is over, and for those of you eagerly awaiting the results, Dungeons & Dragons Online has finally released the list of winners for its Game Guide contest.Want to know the best way to acquire information in the game? Just use the lessons learned when MysticTheurge teaches you how to Ask a Loremaster. Need more assistance? SableShadow lands a sneak attack with Notes from a Dancing Rogue, and LostLeader helps you get to where you need to be with The Lost Quest Guide. As well, there are an additional seven runners up who will also have their game guides published in the DDO.com compendium. And don't forget that you're not limited to just these ten entries: the full list of top-rated and most useful guides is available in its own forum category, and they range from general information to quest-specific rewards.When Dungeons & Dragons Online first opened its contest on September 20, they stated that they were looking for the best guides from the most knowledgeable participants. The guides were posted to their online User-Written Guides forum, and participants were allowed to nominate their favorites.If you've ever needed a reason to learn more about Dungeons & Dragons Online, or to enjoy the wit and wisdom of other players, here's your excuse.
70 new badges in Issue 11
A full listing of the new 70 new badges available in City of Heroes and City of Villains is available on Badge-Hunter.com's site. While Issue 11's new badges are split into Exploration and Achievement areas, the vast majority seem to be focused on the new Ouroboros-based missions. I'll even give you a hint on where to find the Chrononaut badge: it's placed in a similar location to two of the badges found in Atlas Park. And don't forget that you can change or clear your badge title at any time. After all, why be known as a Keeper of Secrets when you can be perceived as Justice Incarnate?[Via Kill Ten Rats]
Join the Test PVP League: sign up today!
Signups for the Test PVP League started on 10/29/2007, and are still ongoing. The team captains, however, have been picked.A full description of the rules and regulations are available on the City of Heroes official forums, and the official league nights will begin on Tuesday, 01/10/2008, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and will run for six weeks.So gird your loins and grab your Level 1 Inspirations, folks: you've got teammates to slaughter, and you only have a few more weeks to sign up.This begs two questions: What archetypes and powers do you think works the best? Moreover, why do you visit the PVP zones? Is it for the fun, the influence, the thrill of destroying your enemies, or ... ?Come on, share: give us the scoop on your favorite PVP build.
CoH's City Scoop drops player written news
One of Paragon City's best-kept open secrets is that its heroes - everyday people who put on their spandex and weapon harnesses just the same as you and me -- are pretty incredible folks, and nowhere is this more obvious than in the pages of the City of Heroes player-written City Scoop.What do we like most about the Scoop? It's not just the consistently high quality of the writing, the in-depth retrospectives of the individuals Behind the Mask, or the artwork, but it's all of those elements combined with the passion put into it by the people behind the project. The pages show that real thought is put into layout and leading, that each person cares about the final product, and that everyone wants to make -- and succeeds in making -- the Scoop fun to read.
Character Creation: "I Have a Great Idea for a ..."
C8H10N402: it's the most widely-used psychoactive drug in the world, blocks adenosine - the chemical which regulates your energy metabolism - exhausts the adrenal glands, and can push your cortisol levels high enough that it runs the risk of shrinking the part of the brain necessary for memory. It's also the call sign for Caffeina, one of my newest characters on City of Heroes. The basics of character creation are pretty similar for everyone: first, I create a character concept, and then I play around with various outfits.Now comes the difficult part: picking a name, and testing out different power sets that seem to fit the concept. Occasionally I'll stumble upon a combination that works swimmingly from the get-go, but it usually takes a few builds to come up with a character that I feel fits the model I've built in my head. Occasionally, however, the concept is not able to be built out in a realistic manner, and I hold the character in abeyance, hoping that a future issue will supply power sets or costume options to make the character work.