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WoW, Casually: PvP leveling
Robin Torres writes WoW, Casually for the player with limited playtime. Of course, you people with lots of playtime can read this too, but you may get annoyed by the fact that we are unashamed, even proud, of the fact that beating WoW isn't our highest priority. Take solace in the fact that your gear is better than ours, but if that doesn't work, remember that we outnumber you. Not that that's a threat, after all, we don't have time to do anything about it. But if WoW were a democracy, we'd win.Patch 3.2 introduced PvP leveling and even though Patch 3.2.2 made Alterac Valley a bit less lucrative experience-wise, the Battlegrounds are still a really great way for those of us with limited playtime to squeeze some leveling time in. Before we go any farther, however, let me just say that PvP leveling is only for those who actually enjoy Battlegrounds. If you think BGs are a chore, then leveling in them will be a chore. Really, you should only be playing WoW if it's fun, so just skip this column if Battlegrounds aren't for you and we'll see you next time. Ok, so if you are still reading, you enjoy BGs. On the flip side of the coin, if this is your main character on this realm, then I can't recommend PvP-only leveling unless you only want to PvP on this character. You will miss out on a lot of cash and gear if you skip questing entirely. Of course, if you have a sugar daddy main to feed you gold and heirlooms and are done questing before Cataclysm, you are already hanging out in BGs all day. Or you are playing Aion or Champions Online.
WoW, Casually: What really happened in Patch 3.2
Robin Torres writes WoW, Casually for the player with limited playtime. Of course, you people with lots of playtime can read this too, but you may get annoyed by the fact that we are unashamed, even proud, of the fact that beating WoW isn't our highest priority. Take solace in the fact that your gear is better than ours, but if that doesn't work, remember that we outnumber you. Not that that's a threat, after all, we don't have time to do anything about it. But if WoW were a democracy, we'd win.Timely, huh? Patch 3.2 was how long ago? Yeah, well I plead BlizzCon. Regardless of time passing, there are some tidbits here and there that I would like to chat about that happened in our most recent content patch. But before we get to the things that really affect those of us with limited playtime, I'd like to express a strong opinion about badges and easier leveling.
WoW, Casually: A casual BlizzCon and what the future holds for us
Robin Torres writes WoW, Casually for the player with limited playtime. Of course, you people with lots of playtime can read this too, but you may get annoyed by the fact that we are unashamed, even proud, of the fact that beating WoW isn't our highest priority. Take solace in the fact that your gear is better than ours, but if that doesn't work, remember that we outnumber you. Not that that's a threat, after all, we don't have time to do anything about it. But if WoW were a democracy, we'd win.Usually, geeky conventions (sci fi, comic book, gaming, whatever) are considered for hardcore fans only and I guess that's pretty accurate. But while the fans at BlizzCon were certainly hardcore, their playstyles ranged everywhere from casual to leet. You don't have to raid every night to be silly about WoW and excited about the future of Azeroth.
Gatheryn invites all to open beta
If you've had your sights set on seeing what the world of Gatheryn has to offer you, then wait no longer as open beta is here.If you're looking to download the world of Elymia, then look no further than the download and registration page. The game is a pretty modest download while the registration is brief and easy (exactly how a good registration should be.) With little muss and fuss, you'll soon find yourself logging in and seeing what the steampunk world has to offer you!Bugs can be reported on the main site, while there are discussions going on in the forums. Forum registration is separate, so don't forget to go register there too while you're downloading the client!
PopCap reveals Zuma's Revenge
When we heard from MTV that PopCap was releasing a PC game called Zuma's Revenge on September 15th, we, of course, assumed it was the casual, interactive retelling of South African president Jacob Zuma's election in 2009 after he served as deputy president until 2005. You can imagine our disappointment to learn that it's actually a game about a frog that shoots colorful clay balls out of its mouth. There's a long list of PopCap games we'd love to see in sequel form -- yes, Plants vs. Zombies is at the top, but it's not the only one. 2003's Zuma may not necessarily be high on that list, but we suspect fans have already waited long enough.
PopCap Games pegs Robert Chamberlain as new CFO
PopCap Games, which modestly labels itself as producer of "broadly appealing" games, has announced the hiring of Robert Chamberlain as Chief Financial Officer. Chamberlain, who replaces interim CFO Karla Horwitz on August 31, 2009, will oversee the giant mountain of cash kept in the company's backlot and comically scamper after bills should a strong gust of wind allow them to escape. Though we jest, Mr. Chamberlain's 30 years of experience as a finance executive are sure to serve him well in his new role. And just imagine the incredible resolve and concentration required to get any work done inside the Peggle factory!
WoW, Casually: Playing with your reading-age child
Robin Torres writes WoW, Casually for the player with limited playtime. Of course, you people with lots of playtime can read this too, but you may get annoyed by the fact that we are unashamed, even proud, of the fact that beating WoW isn't our highest priority. Take solace in the fact that your gear is better than ours, but if that doesn't work, remember that we outnumber you. Not that that's a threat, after all, we don't have time to do anything about it. But if WoW were a democracy, we'd win. Since I last wrote about playing with preschoolers, I have been having an extremely rewarding time playing Itchee with The Spawn. The benefits to both of us are even greater than I originally wrote about. I find that my Itchee time is making me appreciate all of my WoW time even more. Nurturing my child while enjoying my limited playtime is a win-win situation.It's particularly nice to have this indoor activity to do together with the nasty heatwave we are having in the real world. And that leads me to something I want to address before we get into the guide for playing with reading-age children:These guides are for parents who have made the educated decision to include WoW as one of the indoor activities to participate in with their children.
WoW, Casually: Playing with your preschooler
Robin Torres writes WoW, Casually for the player with limited playtime. Of course, you people with lots of playtime can read this too, but you may get annoyed by the fact that we are unashamed, even proud, of the fact that beating WoW isn't our highest priority. Take solace in the fact that your gear is better than ours, but if that doesn't work, remember that we outnumber you. Not that that's a threat, after all, we don't have time to do anything about it. But if WoW were a democracy, we'd win.In the comments for Drama Mamas, Orkchop asked about tips for playing WoW with his 3 year old daughter. Since, as he put it, this is more of a Mama question than a drama question and I also have a 3 year old daughter, I thought I'd create a guide for playing WoW with preschoolers. Parents have limited playtime due to their family priorities -- not necessarily because they don't want to play as much as the more hardcore players. So mixing parental duties and leisure time is efficient as well as rewarding.The question some of you may ask is, "Should children that young play video games?" And the answer is not just "yes", but "Yes!" At the beginning of this year, I spent some time working with getting my daughter comfortable with the computer, concentrating on mouse manipulation and keyboard movement while playing many of the free preschool-age video games out there. Within a week, she was reading words like "Play" and "Skip" and navigating through Nick Jr.'s site to her favorite radio station, which she listens to while playing with her toys. The freely available games on sites like PBS Kids have really improved many of her developmental skill sets and her computer skills are now better than most of her grandparents'. Of course, now I'm having to closely monitor her computing time, lest I be subjected to fart videos from YouTube... again.
Gatheryn casual games update brings minigame pavilion and location-based puzzles
The MMO industry seems to be stepping away from pure fantasy titles, and some new projects are taking a rather different approach to what we expect from massively multiplayer online games. Gatheryn from MindFuse is one such title, that blends steampunk and mini-games into an MMO that's a departure from the norm. Gatheryn is already a decidedly casual MMO, but that hasn't stopped the creators from identifying what works and running with it. In this case, they've opted to add more mini-games to Gatheryn's existing beta content.Gatheryn's Casual Games Update, which went live today, brings two new features to the steampunk-themed MMO. The Minigame Pavilion is a carnival where players can try out Gatheryn's numerous minigames, right off the bat, and without needing to pay silver to try them out. MindFuse has also introduced Word Safari, which they describe as "a series of location-based puzzles where players find special objects and match words according to their specific role and location in Elymia." This sounds like fun, and in some respects is like an exploration game as players learn more about the various areas to be found in Gatheryn. If this seems like your type of game, you can register for the Gatheryn beta over on their signup page.
WoW, Casually: Making the most of holidays
Robin Torres writes WoW, Casually for the player with limited playtime. Of course, you people with lots of playtime can read this too, but you may get annoyed by the fact that we are unashamed, even proud, of the fact that beating WoW isn't our highest priority. Take solace in the fact that your gear is better than ours, but if that doesn't work, remember that we outnumber you. Not that that's a threat, after all, we don't have time to do anything about it. But if WoW were a democracy, we'd win.Holidays are for all players, of course, but I think they are particularly appropriate for players with limited playtime. Sure, there are often raiding quests or achievements that we can't complete, but overall, the activities seem to be designed for casual gameplay. For the most part, I think I'm preaching to the choir, here. But every once in a while, I read comments from people who just don't get holidays and avoid them completely. So here is my sales pitch about why every casual player should give each holiday a try.
WoW, Casually: What Patch 3.2 means for casuals
Robin Torres writes WoW, Casually for the player with limited playtime. Of course, you people with lots of playtime can read this too, but you may get annoyed by the fact that we are unashamed, even proud, of the fact that beating WoW isn't our highest priority. Take solace in the fact that your gear is better than ours, but if that doesn't work, remember that we outnumber you. Not that that's a threat, after all, we don't have time to do anything about it. But if WoW were a democracy, we'd win.Oh my. All of this Patch 3.2 stuff is a bit overwhelming. We'll go over the changes that affect most casual players here, but there is still a lot of info that I won't cover. Many class changes are on the way, as well as a series of Q&As that Blizzard is releasing periodically. Also, the professions are getting some attention. So keep an eye on our Guide to Patch 3.2 for the latest changes that are specific to your character choices. Here is an analysis of the changes that affect most players with limited playtime:
Solo Hunters can also get phat lootz
I have to confess something. I'm a sucker for hearing stories about someone playing their Hunter in offbeat ways. What do I mean? Well, take for example that fabled Hunter Tank Gweryc. Last week I got a great tip from Darth Solo over at WoW Alone about another offbeat Hunter idea. Seems Darth is a fan of solo play. At first I thought as you that this probably isn't completely original. We Hunters tend to just run with our pets anyways. But something kept nagging me to go check out WoW Alone and see just what Darth was doing. Turns out he's put a lot of thought into how to get the most out of your World of Warcraft experience without having to worry about the drama associated with PUGs or even some guilds. Of course I would be the first to admit that this kind of play style isn't for me. But if you want to find ways of enjoying your Hunter, getting loot all the while avoiding the drama associated with PUGs. Go check out his Hunter Solo Guides for gear, glyphs, and suggested specs for the Solo Hunter.
WoW, Casually: Tips for leveling on a PvP realm
Robin Torres writes WoW, Casually for the player with limited playtime. Of course, you people with lots of playtime can read this too, but you may get annoyed by the fact that we are unashamed, even proud, of the fact that beating WoW isn't our highest priority. Take solace in the fact that your gear is better than ours, but if that doesn't work, remember that we outnumber you. Not that that's a threat, after all, we don't have time to do anything about it. But if WoW were a democracy, we'd win.I have played on a PvP server for years, so I can tell you with authority that I cannot recommend choosing a PvP realm if you have limited playtime. PvE servers have it so much easier as far as questing solo in contested territories. I can only imagine how much easier it would be to quest in zones like Hillsbrad Foothills and Stranglethorn Vale without the fear of being ganked every few minutes. And as you can see above, my time in Borean Tundra hasn't been exactly gank-free.
WoW, Casually: What is casual?
Robin Torres writes WoW, Casually for the player with limited playtime. Of course, you people with lots of playtime can read this too, but you may get annoyed by the fact that we are unashamed, even proud, of the fact that beating WoW isn't our highest priority. Take solace in the fact that your gear is better than ours, but if that doesn't work, remember that we outnumber you. Not that that's a threat, after all, we don't have time to do anything about it. But if WoW were a democracy, we'd win.Turtlehead wrote in wanting to know "what the heck casual is." This is a good question, but the answer seems to change according to the context. I learned long ago to explain how I'm defining casual for a particular article, or else face the wrath of my readers. When I write Wow, Casually, I define casual as a player with limited playtime and address my content accordingly. But there are many other kinds of players that could be called casual and we use the word to describe any or all of them. So, is it possible to define the word to please everybody? Probably not, but I'm going to try.
Nintendo's Rob Lowe discusses casual versus core product cycles
In an interview with Casualgaming.biz, Nintendo UK product manager Rob Lowe was asked if the casual, family-friendly gamer has become more valuable to the video games industry than the core gamer. "There is clear room for both and any publisher can demonstrate clear value in both casual and hard core," he responded, suggesting Nintendo sees the benefit of having titles aimed at both markets. A fair assessment from the company who reigns supreme in the hardware sales charts. According to Lowe, casual and core software have the same ability to sell, but each at a different pace. While core titles usually sell well within a short time, casual games have a better ability to sell consistently throughout their lifespan on the store shelf. "For every Carnival Games there is a BioShock and for every Wii Fit there is a Resident Evil 5," Lowe said. "It's really just different product cycle." A strong argument, even if Lowe couldn't name two recently released core titles on his own platform.
What defines a 'casual' game?
James Portnow, game designer at Divide by Zero Games, has an editorial up on Gamasutra examining the definition of "casual games." The term has taken on a strange life of its own over the last few years, especially when a game like Braid wins the Interactive Achievement Award for "best casual game." How many within the industry would consider defining Braid as "casual"?So, what is casual? Portnow believes it's hard to define, but the quick and dirty answer is: a game that can be played in short sessions, lacks finality and is "replayable ad nauseam." Now, that could mean Bejeweled, but it may also include "hardcore" darlings like Geometry Wars.His analysis concludes, with full recognition of how obvious the answer is: a game with simple mechanics that takes skill and time to master is the key to making casual games for the hardcore. Portnow's piece is worth reading all the way through and certainly requires some introspection as the term "casual game" becomes ever more muddled.
PopCap: Digital distribution not quite there, retail still important
Speaking to GI.biz, PopCap Games CEO Dave Roberts shared some thoughts about casual games, digital distribution and the importance of retail. In spite of the recent fervor over digital distribution, Roberts said that PopCap has actually been expanding its retail efforts, even going so far as to become one of the top twenty publishers in North America according to NPD. When asked about digital distribution -- something getting a lot of buzz at this year's GDC -- Roberts said that there is "comfort" in purchasing a retail disc, noting that a "a large percentage of Wal-Mart customers don't even have credit cards." Roberts also believes that brick-and-mortar retailers are looking for ways to expand into the online market. As a successful example of this, Roberts cited pre-paid subscription cards for World of Warcraft, a retail product that's only usable in an online space.Regarding Apple's App Store, Roberts said that it may be getting too large for its own good, stating that Apple will have to "curate" the store in order to make things easier to find. He says that the App Store "will tip itself over if they don't figure that out."Finally, Roberts discusses PopCap's Wii efforts -- the company does have something in the works -- and explains why PopCap games won't be appearing on Amazon's casual download service. Hit the source link for the full interview.
The social game roundup
As web technology improves, games are spreading into places you'd expect, as well as places you wouldn't. Facebook is practically a console, the definition of MMOG is changing and Raph Koster's Metaplace may very well turn everything on the web into a play space. Tadgh Kelly at Simple Lifeforms was good enough to take inventory of the social games enjoying popularity today. He breaks the scene into eight categories: Social RPGs Sports RPGs Casual games Word games Virtual villages, or mini virtual worlds Casino games Just for laughs, or silly games like the versus games on Facebook Ownership games Kelly provides a bunch of examples for each category, and definitely makes for good reading, especially as the media through which games can be played evolve.
Gambit facilitates sales of virtual goods
Did you know that Gambit can help you increase your CPM rates and offers a completely customizable payment interface that can be integrated into your casual game in just minutes? No, not that Gambit. We're talking about Gambit, a new company created by former Amazon and Ning employees. VentureBeat reports that the company helps casual game developers make more money by optimizing their payment systems. Essentially, the company makes it easier for casual gamers to fork over real money for a digital sofa (or the in-game currency needed to buy it).The company trumpets the fact that it helped the Facebook app myFarm increase its CPM rates from $350 to $544. After trying for several minutes to grasp exactly what CPM means, we're guessing that's a good thing. VentureBeat notes that several other companies are springing up to provide similar services. Given the amount of money being poured into casual gaming, we imagine they won't be the last.
Amazon casual game pricing causes waves with publishers
Amazon's pricing structure for its casual games digital distribution service is apparently not sitting well with publishers. VentureBeat reports that the PopCap cartel won't offer its games on the service, and neither will iWin, which finds the $9.99 or less pricing "completely unacceptable."VentureBeat's piece rightly points out that casual titles can be found all over the intertubes for far less than the $19.99 MSRP. The main point seems to be that casual game publishers aren't happy that the Amazon price point starts at under $10. Casual publisher profits depend on keeping that $20 price for as long as possible.[Via Big Download]
