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Etsy launches curated local shopping guides for four cities
Online marketplace Etsy has put a lot of effort into helping its users find local places to buy its goods, whether online or offline -- the company added local listings to its mobile app and launched a same-day delivery service in NYC. Now the company is launching some new curated local buying guides for four cities: Chicago, Austin, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. (New York City is coming soon.) The content in these guides was pulled together by the Etsy Wholesale team, a part of the site that connects retailers with craftspeople who can produce goods at a higher scale. However, these local shops appear to stock items by a number of craftsmakers who also sell their wares on the standard Etsy site.
Etsy's mobile apps now let you find local sellers and events
Etsy may be an online marketplace first and foremost, but the company has long had a "shop local" feature to let you find craftspeople and products made near you. Strangely, though, this feature only existed on the desktop -- Etsy's mobile app didn't have its local feature, despite the fact that your smartphone pretty much always knows where you are. The situation has now been corrected: Etsy Local is now included in the company's iOS and Android app. Users can now find items and sellers near them, whether they're selling at a pop-up shop or through a local retailer, and Etsy sellers can add real-life locations to find their work.
Amazon's 'Handmade' section takes aim at Etsy
There's a lot to love about Etsy -- it's one of the best places on the internet to find all sorts of stuff like minimalist Captain America prints or laser-cut Deathly Hallows earrings, but shipping windows are kind of a crapshoot. That could change because Amazon is apparently emailing some of the hand-crafted goods emporium's sellers and offering them to peddle their wares, according to The Wall Street Journal. The forthcoming section on Bezo's ecommerce behemoth is called Handmade, and invites lead to a survey asking about what categories the wares would fall under (11 total, including baby, apparel, pet supplies) but there isn't any word about when the section will go live.
The Soapbox: Better models for MMO endgame progression, part three
Today marks the last entry in my better models for MMO endgame progression series, the follow-up to my series on why MMO studios should abandon raiding. And that means providing two more possible models along with something of a thesis statement. But it also means that at this point I'm far more willing to wander off into the woods with these ideas. The first part had slight twists on standard formulas, the second had ideas that was a bit further afield, and this one features two ideas that are still almost entirely unrefined. More specifically, today's concepts are more about tackling the very principle that progress has to be tied past a certain point to things that you get. You earn a thing and then you're better. But there's no reason that progress can't be oriented the other way, with the gear (etc.) just being a gating mechanism for your actual forward motion. The funny part is that a lot of these systems aren't really at odds with one another; they can coexist without too much trouble. But then, that's the nature of the beast.
The Soapbox: Better models for MMO endgame progression, part two
If you read yesterday's Soapbox, the first in my Better models for MMO endgame progression series, with a fair bit of awareness, you probably noticed that the models I presented were, well... safe. Normal. Not too far outside of the realm of what we already have in some games, in other words. Oh, sure, they were functional and expanded compared to what you normally see in games, and they weren't reliant on high-end raiding, but they were still derived from the same space, which is part of the point. But that's not nearly as far as the rabbit hole goes. So let's start moving further beyond what's already common. Let's start heading into stranger territory. As before, the models presented here are not super-refined balanced labyrinths of systems; they're the outline, the skeletons, the fundamentals of how these concepts could work. And even at this stage, they're able to go in directions you don't find in numerous MMO endgames. So let's jump right into it, shall we?
Blizzard highlights Hearthstone crafts
Hearthstone's Community team has come out with a new feature that highlights arts and crafts among the Hearthstone community. There are those among the players that are enthusiastic about the online card game who are not only having fun playing the game, but are ridiculously talented, turning their creative energies to crafting all sorts of fun items after the game they love to play. This is the first of what I hope is many posts featuring the Hearthstone community's creative efforts -- and man, are these some incredible projects. Two different recipes are highlighted in the video, a Hearthstone-themed roll cake, and some incredibly cute caramel-filled Hearthstone chocolates. What I love is that both recipes are actually tutorial videos, so those of you that want to try your hand at making these at home can do so. I've never actually made a roll cake before because they always seemed to be pretty complicated, but the video certainly has me wanting to try. Chocolates, on the other hand, are pretty easy to work with in comparison. If you're looking for creative holiday gift ideas for your gamer friends, you might want to check that video out. Also highlighted in the post are three absolutely gorgeous crafted items. There's a Heartstone in a box, as well as the lovely candle-holder shown in the header image above. The third is a jaw-dropping reconstruction of the Hearthstone box featured when you begin the game. To check out all of the arts and crafts, head to the official site. If you've got any creative Hearthstone crafts of your own that you'd like to share, be sure to post on the official forums and show them off.
Pumpkin Online Kickstarter promises farming and dating
If you've ever spend hours plugging away at Harvest Moon and thought that the game would be better if it were online, Pumpkin Online is aimed directly at you. The game is on Kickstarter now, and it's intended to be a combination of the best elements of games like Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing while also creating a robust environment for players to work, craft, and interact together. Players will have access to a variety of professions and goals as well as the ability to customize the inside and outside of their farms. They can also pursue friendly or romantic relationships with the townsfolk, with an emphasis on inclusive relationships and character options for all players. As of this writing, it's about halfway to its goal, so if you like the idea of an inclusive game or just want to farm with your friends, you might want to toss a few dollars into the bucket.
Guild Wars 2's feature pack will improve dungeons and the crafting UI
September is just around the corner, which means that the next major update for Guild Wars 2 -- the September feature pack -- isn't far behind. The pack aims to improve several parts of the game, starting by demolishing the concept of dungeon owners. Currently, the first player to zone into a dungeon is counted as the "owner" of the dungeon, which can lead to problems if that player disconnects; by contrast, after September there will be no dungeon owner, avoiding issues with progression if that owner leaves or gets kicked. The game's crafting UI is also receiving an overhaul, making it faster and easier to access crafting sub-components without navigating away from the main item that you want to craft. The update will also bring a number of performance improvements to make the game run faster and better on various bits of hardware. Take a look at the full update for a few more details as the feature pack release approaches.
Well Fed Buff: Dalaran "Apple" Pie
Ever since the first days of WoW, mages have been conjuring up food items out of thin air for the general public. One of the offhand questions I'm asked every now and again is what, exactly, all that conjured food tastes like? I never really had an answer, because I assumed that the answer was "whatever that food happened to be called." Mana strudel? It tastes like strudel. Mana biscuits? They taste like biscuits. The only difference between mana strudel and regular strudel was the ingredients -- the rest was pretty much the same. Which is why, when I ran across this incredibly odd recipe, I was immediately reminded of Azeroth's mages. It was also why I immediately had to create it for myself, and test it out on my family. This apple pie passed with flying colors, and it's so easy to make, you'd swear it was magic. The ingredients list is relatively short for this particular concoction ... oh, and the apples? You can leave those out entirely, we won't be needing them. You heard me. Let's head to the kitchen and conjure up some Dalaran "apple" pie, shall we?
The Elder Scrolls Online answers community crafting questions
The Elder Scrolls Online wants crafting to be a major part of your experience in the game. The latest set of answers to community questions makes this very clear, outright stating that the vast majority of crafted gear is meant to be superior to found equipment. Yes, certain items from the world might have unique boosts that you can't craft, but even those items can be upgraded and improved by dedicated crafters. Dedication is a key consideration: Since your pool of skill points is the same for both battle skills and crafting skills, choosing to advance your crafting abilities will potentially mean passing on more combat-oriented techniques. Other topics under discussion are the finding and use of style books as well as how set bonuses and crafted sets are designed in the game. Check out the full list of answers if you can't wait to make your mark in Tamriel by making things.
The Nexus Telegraph: Making it how you'd like in WildStar
I freely admit that I have not dived heavily into crafting in the WildStar beta, for the same reason that there is a lot of stuff in the WildStar beta that I have not heavily invested in. That reason is simple: I plan to be playing this game for a long while, and I'd really like to avoid burning out before it even releases. I didn't adhere to that rule in the Final Fantasy XIV beta and kind of felt the pinch, so this is a rule I learned the hard way. That having been said, I've fooled around with it enough to be really excited after the last interview I had regarding the crafting experience. What I heard confirmed my limited experiences and offered some interesting food for thought. There are a couple of elements that might seem counterproductive and a lot more that are worth looking forward to in the future.
Delicately divine WoW-themed clay creations by Euphyley
World of WarCrafts spotlights art and creativity by WoW players, including fan art, cooking, comics, cosplay, music, fan fiction and more. When I laid eyes on the sculpture shown above, I was immediately impressed with the attention to detail in the lovely reproduction of the Ashes of Al'ar. Sure, I've tried my hand at crafting various things with clay over the years, but I've never done anything quite that technical. It turns out Euphyley, the sculptor who submitted the image above, has a whole host of gorgeous clay crafts she's created over the years. From reproductions of mounts and pets to WoW-themed keychains and more, Euphyley's got a talent for small-scale sculpture that has to be seen to be believed. And when presented with an opportunity to interview her, how could I resist? Check out the gallery for more of Euphyley's work, and read on for some words from Euphyley herself.
Create your own papercraft Treasure Goblin from Diablo III
The folks on the Diablo III team have decided to wish everyone a happy holiday with a fun gift -- a papercraft Treasure Goblin complete with treasure bag. This delightful and kind of creepy little guy, appropriately dubbed Lewt, is free to download on the Diablo III site. Included along with the printable sheets are step by step directions to putting both Lewt and his treasure bag together, just in time for the holidays. Once construction is complete, you can fill Lewt's treasure bag with whatever bits of treasure you think the little guy would appreciate. And once you've done that, be sure to take some pictures of Lewt in action. Tweet your photos @Diablo with the hashtag #WHERESMYLEWT to show off your photos, and you could find yourself on the official Twitter or Facebook -- Blizzard will be sharing submitted photos, as well as photos of their own, throughout the rest of the holidays. For more information, the downloadable printout, and instructions, visit the official website.
Icy Veins opens final voting for annual Christmas Card Contest
Icy Veins, home of some of the most popular and up to date class and raid guides, has opened up the final round of voting for their annual Christmas Card Contest. The contest asked for the best original WoW-themed Christmas Cards that readers could come up with, and did readers ever deliver -- out of a staggering 159 entries, 20 were chosen to move on to the final round for voting. Winners of the contest will receive some amazing prize packages from J!NX, TypeFrag, Curse, Ask Mr. Robot and Blizzard. But that's enough about the prizes. What's really cool are the cards themselves, a stunning array of artwork, screenshots, and even some real-life photography thrown in for good measure. From wryly funny to incredibly sweet, the wide variety makes the ultimate winner pretty much anyone's guess. To check out the entries and vote, take a look at the official thread on Icy Veins. Voting ends on December 25, so don't dawdle if you'd like your vote to count. Congratulations in advance to the winners!
Get crafty with these faction crest cross-stitch patterns
If you're a WoW-player who cross-stitches -- or you're looking to pick up a new hobby -- crafter SweetestSpot has created cross-stitch patterns for the alliance and horde logos. Cross-stitch WoW creations aren't something we've come across before -- but while cross-stitching may sound like something your grandmother does, we can confirm that these stitched crests would make a fantastic addition to any gaming lair. If you're interested, the patterns are available for sale on Etsy for alliance and horde -- though you'll have to pick up the supplies to make them on your own. Each pattern results in a finished product that's about 6" square, with the alliance pattern using 4 colors of floss and the horde pattern using 7 colors. Not that crafty? SweetestSpot's originals -- alliance and horde -- are up on Ebay, both mounted for hanging on a 7.5" embroidery hoop. Have any cool WoW crafts of your own? Drop us a line and you may be our next featured WarCraft!
These WoW-themed soaps will keep your non-virtual body clean
Too often gamers get a bad rap for being unwashed masses, more concerned with getting to the next level than with hygiene. But we don't see why that has to be the case, especially not with these gaming-themed soaps from British soapmaker Soapasaurus. So far there are four game-centric soaps on offer: the lemon verbena For the Alliance! soap, the spicy For the Horde! soap, the tropical Health Bar soap, and the minty Mana Bar soap. Though some of these sound good enough to eat (especially this cupcake-scented My Little Pony themed soap), remember that soap is for getting clean, not eating. If you need a bit of extra gaming flair in your life, these soaps cost £5 a bar (that's about $7.50) and will deliver to UK addresses for £2 or internationally for £5 (again, about $7.50). And if you're a crafty sort who's interested in geeky soaps with a slightly lower price tag, we do have some DIY instructions for making your own healthstone or Halaa token in soap form.
The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV beta phase 1 and 2 - crafting
The thing about Final Fantasy XIV's crafting is that it's always been an odd mixture of wonderful and terrible, much like the game as a whole. You had crazily interconnected crafts that could be frustrating to level, the simple difficulty of trying to find the items you need, and a minigame that made mass production maddeningly slow. But you also had a real sense of personal craftsmanship, and the complex interplay between quality, durability, and progress meant that your successes or failures were truly your own. None of these elements has been removed from the beta phases, but each has been streamlined and largely improved. The test phases allowed us to explore the two crafting classes based in Gridania, Carpenter and Leatherworker, and so I got to really dive into the heart of working with wood and dead animal hides. It was a lot more fun than that summary might imply.
Breakfast Topic: Do you WoW-craft?
Some people are just driven by the need to make things, whether it's art, writing, or any other kind of craft. World of Warcraft certainly seems to have a wealth of crafty types, who use their skills and expertise to do everything from making shoes to sewing adorable plushies to truly amazing cosplay. But while there are plenty of crafty players, not everyone has the talent or inclination. So tell us, do you World of Warcraft craft? If so, what's your craft of choice and why? And, for those of us with neither crafting inclination or talent, well, we can always enjoy the work of others -- or just enjoy playing the game!
This crochet worgen will growl its way into your heart
World of Warcraft's worgen aren't always friendly, but in the case of this crochet worgen we can confirm cuddliness. WoW player Venuz created this little guy for a WoW craft swap and we've got to say he looks true to in-game worgen, if on a more diminutive scale. Venuz has been crocheting for about 20 years now -- it's her favorite hobby outside of WoW -- and created the pattern for this worgen from scratch. So what's next on the crafting agenda? Venuz says she'd like to make an attempt at a crochet orc. We have a full-sized image of this crafty creation after the break or you can check out Venuz's gallery on Imgur.
The quest of a lifetime
Here at WoW Insider we're suckers for a sweet story. And this is definitely a sweet story, with a very Warcraft theme. The MK over at Khalanil wanted to make a warcraft-themed proposal, and so got to work, heading over to an unofficial WoW blog by the name of World of Warcraft Papercrafts. Amongst other things, Khalanil found an origami treasure chest, as pictured in the header image above. He also managed to lay his hands on some quest background images, the Morpheus font, and some other WoW assets, that enabled him to put together what must be the sweetest questline we've ever seen. He created three quests, one to find an afternoon tea spot for Lor'themar Theron, the completion of which opened up a quest to eliminate dwarves at a local tea-room, and finally, Clara was sent out to scout a high-price eatery for Trade Prince Gallywix. Completing the final quest granted Clara a Legendary item, which was concealed in the box we saw at the start. WoW Insider particularly enjoyed the stats on this item: +100 Love, +100 Happiness, and, just for good measure, +10 Melee Damage! You never know when you might need it. Do head over to Khalanil to read the full post! [Thanks for the tip, Alex!]
