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Choose My Adventure: Earning my Firefall rocket boots
The votes are in. The people have spoken. Now, it's time to play. Last week's Choose My Adventure column, the first one centered on Firefall, presented a couple of choices related to the very basics of creating our character and giving him or her reason to fight. Voters enthusiastically chose a beaten-down man with one hope for redemption -- and unwittingly fulfilled my personal fantasy to create a game hero based on Nicolas Cage's character in Con Air. Voters also chose from among Firefall's five battleframes, with the jack-of-all-trades Assault frame beating out the smash-it-in-the-face Dreadnaught frame by just 26 votes. So, to recap: We have created a character who's an ex-con with no reason to live, handed him an assault rifle, and dropped him into a violent world where pretty much anything goes. This is getting good.
Choose My Adventure: Firefalling
Well folks, it was an epic battle. The communities of Firefall and Fallen Earth rolled out in force to support their favorite game in last week's Choose My Adventure poll, and the contest came right down to the wire with thousands of votes pouring in from both sides. Most impressively, despite the efforts of a few bad-apple commenters and forum trolls, it was a war fought with courtesy and genuine respect for the passions of the competing community. Well done. It's true that only one game can win a slot in Choose My Adventure, and this time around Firefall topped the charts. But let's take a moment to recognize the awesome turnout from both groups of fans. Your communities called you to action, and you responded with dedication and enthusiasm. Frankly, that's the type of stuff we love to see.
Choose My Adventure: Put me in, coach
Every games writer must wonder, at some point in his career, whether he is in fact horrible at video games. Be the game Dota 2, EVE Online, or any of the other titles that make up my weekly play schedule, I worry I'm much better at having a good time than I am at actually manipulating game mechanics and making them perform the way I would want. But it doesn't have to be that way. Yes, dear friends -- I can change. I just can't do it alone. I need your help to become the most powerful, handsome, talented, handsome, elite-geared, handsome video gamester in all the world. It's up to you to Choose My Adventure and in doing so to decide which title offers me the best chance of becoming a golden gaming god and offers you the best chance to be my tough-but-fair coach who is totally a lovable teddy bear underneath all the swearing and yelling.
Choose My Adventure: Putting the finishing touches on our Darkfall project
Well, that just about does it. After weeks of your directing me through Darkfall Unholy Wars, our Choose My Adventure project is almost completed. We just have a few finishing touches to add before wrapping up -- namely, sieges! What romp through the wilds of Agon would be complete without experiencing the thrill of clan territorial warfare? You all couldn't let me leave without participating in a few sieges (which won over warfare on water by a narrow margin), and the server seemed more than willing to oblige. From small skirmishes infiltrating the cities of enemies to an all-out war to protect our own, I had the chance to fight -- and occasionally die -- in a few different sieges this past week. Considering I was still fairly new and fighting against a number of vets from the original Darkfall with years of practice under their belts, I didn't do too shabbily. Perhaps more importantly, I had fun through it all.%Gallery-187735%
Choose My Adventure: Building on the clan experience in Darkfall
Boy, MJ's Misadventureland is really coming along! Hiring a few more hands sure has sped things up; you wouldn't even recognize the project now compared to even just one week ago. But isn't that the whole point of Choose My Adventure -- to watch the adventure that you're building develop and unfold? Well, that and to snicker at your Massively guinea pigs... we know. Having gone into this particular adventure knowing that Darkfall Unholy Wars was not a game meant for the solo soul, I knew that it was only a matter of time before I found myself in a clan to experience more of the heart of the game, which just so happens to be clan warfare. And trust me, the clan wasted no time throwing me into the thick of things once you put me in one. Although I do think starting off solo was important to get the real experience Darkfall any new player would (after all, most find a clan after first logging in), this week really has shown me a whole new game. I'd just scratched the surface before, the skin if you will, and now I've peered into the heart and seen the seedy underbelly as well.%Gallery-187735%
Choose My Adventure: Beyond the walls of safety in Darkfall
Man up MJ, you said. Forsake the fetters of safety and wander the wilds of the world. Yes, folks, for the next phase of our Choose My Adventure project, you directed me to leave the confines of the starting cities and surrounding lands to explore and harvest in the unprotected areas in Darkfall Unholy Wars. That, and get familiar with the workbench for crafting. So said you all, and so I did. I ran little Emey Brokenclaw beyond the bounds of the safe zones and introduced her to the vast lands stretching across Agon. I enjoyed some exciting experiences as well as learned quite a few things during that journey, though not necessarily what you'd expect.%Gallery-187735%
Choose My Adventure: Framing my first foray in Darkfall
Break time's over! Now it's time to roll up our sleeves and get back to work building our latest Choose My Adventure. The first order of business is to establish the framework for the rest of our Darkfall Unholy Wars (mis)adventures. Of course, we can't just build willy-nilly; we need to follow a plan. And as with any major construction project, we couldn't really move forward until said plan was OKed by the planning commission. So while we waited for the foundation to set, we sought approval for which type of structure to base our continuing adventures on. And as is wont to happen with committees, there was trouble coming to a consensus; even though the proposed models were all pretty similar, disagreement arose as to which to pick. However, after some debate (one proposal won by only one vote!), we finally got the go ahead: The final word was to build a Mahirim Deadeye. I'm on it, boss!%Gallery-187735%
Choose My Adventure: Pouring the foundation in Darkfall
It's relocation time! Although there were plenty of tempting properties spread around various locales to choose from, once the bidding wars began, Darkfall Unholy Wars grabbed the lead and refused to let go. So we're packing up our tools and moving to Agon to get this Choose My Adventure project started. And considering the whole neighborhood just went through a recent renovation, I'm sure we'll fit right in building our new retreat. Now, we just need... hm, where did we put those blueprints? Do we even have blueprints? No? Well, no matter; you can just give me the instructions as we go. Rome wasn't built in a day, and we've got five more weeks to work together to create this new retreat. I've got to tell you, I'm quite excited for this venture. One of the greatest things about the CMA series is that it forces us to finally dive in and check out games we've been wanting to but never quite "found the time." Once it becomes a part of your daily job, you have no choice but to make the time! Darkfall was always one of those games for me, and my curiosity and interest was piqued even more with Unholy Wars. So let's get this started. First, we need a foundation.
Choose My Adventure: Extreme DIY makeover edition
Life may be like a box of chocolates, but gaming is like a Do-It-Yourself project. It may not be as mouth-watering an analogy, but it is certainly fitting: MMOs are a giant construction zone where players build their own experiences in a virtual world using tools from the game and their own imagination. Each project is a unique undertaking, bearing the personal touches of the builder, whether the builder is an individual or a group like a guild. Some players prefer to build a single residence and settle in, while others enjoy moving from project to project, exploring new territory and testing new tools. Me? I tend toward the former; I'm the kind who tinkers around in one place over a long period of time. But all that's about to change. Again. That's right, folks; it's my turn to break ground on yet another Choose My Adventure! For the next six weeks I am leaving the comfy confines of my familiar surroundings and allowing you to direct my next MMO project. Yes, my dear Massively friends, you will be the foreman of this endeavor, determining every step of the construction, from where I'll build my newest experience to what tools I'll get to use.
Choose My Adventure: Star Trek Online VI - The Rediscovered Country
Captain's Log, Stardate 86291.3. My hearing with Starfleet Command resulted in a promotion to Commander, command of a new ship, and full command of the USS Xiang Yu pending the new ship's completion. It also resulted in a trip to the infirmary after I passed out in shock. After the Xiang Yu's several military deployments, my new mission aboard the ship is much simpler. Despite Starfleet's growing data about the Gamma and Delta quadrants, there remain large stretches of the Alpha Quadrant yet unexplored. My crew will be seeking out intelligent life within these areas of space, seeking to establish peaceful relationships and expand the Federation. It's been only a short time since I was first placed in temporary command, but it seems to have stuck. Our ship's cannons are ready, our scanners have been upgraded, and our expanded crew roster is acclimating. There's an entire galaxy to explore out there. I look forward to going where no one has gone before.
Choose My Adventure: Star Trek Online V - The Almost-Final Installment
Captain's Log, Stardate 86273.2. I make this entry knowing that this may be my final entry as captain of the USS Xiang Yu. In the event that the worst comes to pass, this will serve as my final record. Three days ago, I received a priority message from Starfleet Command ordering me to investigate an uncharted region of space off of the Hromi Cluster. Once the ship had reached the assigned coordinates, our warp core suffered an unexpected failure, stranding us with only auxiliary power. With no means to contact Starfleet, I ordered the evacuation of all non-senior staff on shuttlepods. After two days, we realized that the cause of the failure was sabotage caused by an Undine operative who had replaced our Operations officer. While we were able to repair the damage and neutralize the operative, we learned that many of the shuttlepods had already been rigged to plot random courses and then shut down. I am returning to Starfleet now to report on these events and face a potential court martial for my failures.
Choose My Adventure: Star Trek Online IV - The Voyage Nowhere
Captain's log, Stardate 86253.9. After collecting stolen goods from several Ferengi traders in the area, the USS Xiang Yu has been sent on a dangerous mission to retrieve a defector from the Klingon Empire. The only expected resistance is a handful of ground forces and a lone potential cruiser. Following this mission we are set for shore leave for at least a week, which should give the crew a chance to relax and unwind. Unfortunately, our shore leave will be confined to a dingy and unpleasant trading station, thus rather curtailing my hopes. Morale has been low following an escalating series of minor incidents, including a shipwide system failure caused by my first officer attempting to rewire the internal chronometer. As it turns out, she was submitting her latest duty officer report one day late and was worried I would have her demoted. I've asked my chief engineer to put together a fashion show in the hopes that it might distract the crew.
Choose My Adventure: Star Trek Online III - The search for the Foundry
Captain's log, Stardate 86234.1. The USS Xiang Yu is reporting back to Starfleet Headquarters for a debriefing following a mission containing a cascading temporal anomaly linked to the ship's warp signature. My first officer has been asked to give a report on the observable effects of the phenomenon and what might be done in the future to prevent a similar incident from reoccurring. During what should have been a fairly simple search and rescue assignment, the Xiang Yu was trapped in a repeated cycle of destruction and temporal displacement. Upon closer examination, my chief engineer identified a concentration of chroniton signatures that corresponded with the impact points of torpedoes during an earlier engagement with the Orion Syndicate. Her theory is that these weapons were somehow responsible for this phenomenon. My first officer, meanwhile, is convinced that interpersonal relationships are in some way connected to this incident. I am occasionally unclear why Admiral Celeste encourages her in this fashion.
Choose My Adventure: Star Trek Online 2 - The Wrath of Escorts
Captain's log, Stardate 86215.3. During a mission of exploration in the Regulus Sector, the USS Zhuong Zhou once again encountered the Borg. While the ship was successful in preventing a large-scale Borg assault, we were forced to evacuate to avoid an imminent warp core breach. No hands were lost, which was sufficient for Starfleet to grant me a full command aboard the USS Xiang Yu. For our first mission, the ship has been dispatched to the Regulus Sector in the hopes of facilitating long-term peace negotiations with factions of the Klingon Empire. The ship's array of powerful phaser cannon and high-yield plasma torpedoes serve as a testament to the fact that the Federation is aware of many different definitions of "negotiate." We are currently en route to the Arucanis Arm nebula to help defend colonists from raids by Orion pirates, and I have instructed my first officer to be prepared to use both tact and diplomacy in this situation. My chief tactical officer has nicknamed the two cannon arrays "tact" and "diplomacy."
Choose My Adventure: My first tour of duty in Star Trek Online
Acting captain's log, Stardate 86196.3. This marks my first entry as captain of the USS Zhuang Zhou and also the first entry into my log since Starfleet formally insisted that I stop beginning log entries with "dear diary." My protests regarding this policy have been documented elsewhere. During a mission of mercy, the Zhuang Zhou was forced to enter a combat situation against the Borg, which killed the majority of the command staff. As the highest-ranking officer on board, I assumed command and aided other Starfleet vessels in the vicinity in an effort to repel the threat. Now, I will be granted command of the Zhuang Zhou on a provisional basis after she is retrofitted and repaired. Successfully undertaking a few more missions at the behest of Starfleet Command will most likely be enough to earn me a full command of a light ship. As the Zhuang Zhou is an aging Miranda-class vessel with a dearth of useful functions, the likelihood of her surviving any further combat engagements is slim to none. My protests regarding this state of affairs have also been documented elsewhere.
Choose My Adventure: Interfering in Star Trek Online
The voters have spoken! While Allods Online and EverQuest II both had communities with plenty of passion, in the end the poll went to Star Trek Online. This means that this round of Choose My Adventure will feature a first for me after all. Usually when I run these polls, the winning game is one that I haven't played. In this case, the winner is not only a game that I've played extensively but one I'm very fond of despite my long absence. But I'm getting ahead of myself. It's time for a brief and not perfectly accurate recap of the game's history, followed by a set of polls and a couple of things I'm doing differently this time around. One of those things is not the bonus polls, if you were wondering. So if you've somehow missed the story so far, what's the deal with Star Trek Online?
Choose My Adventure: Quartet edition
It's that time again, ladies and gentlemen. After three rounds of letting my fate be chosen by the whims of my readers, I have chosen to do the exact same thing all over again. I'm getting back in the big seat and running through Choose My Adventure with a new list of games, a new set of bonus polls, and a new set of whatever else people expect when I do these columns. Plus, while the third installment usually has a lot of pressure, the fourth installment is rarely assumed to be anything special. So I feel as if I'm off the hook. This time around, I'm putting in some old favorites, some candidates that are often voted for but never make the prime time, and some games that might just raise some eyebrows. So let's meet our contestants past the break, and get your votes in here by Friday, March 1st!
Choose My Adventure: Saying goodbye to A Tale in the Desert
Last week, you advised me to branch out and explore, and that turned out to be the perfect choice, particularly because this is my final article on A Tale in the Desert for Choose My Adventure. I admit that it caught me off guard, and my six-week stint went a lot more quickly than I expected. But before I say goodbye, I have some final highlights from my travels, and I have some overall impressions to share before I turn things over to Eliot next week.
Choose My Adventure: My tale in the desert takes an unexpected turn
Last week, you voted for me to try my hand at making a sculpture in A Tale in the Desert, and I rolled up my sleeves to start the process of rotting flax, spinning twine into rope, and weaving linen. And then my sunny days in the desert were trumped by about two feet of snow. Thanks to the blizzard this past weekend, my opportunity to play was truncated, and while I'm frantically trying to wrap up my sculpture, I wasn't able to finish it in time for this week's column. Fortunately, I still have plenty to report.
Choose My Adventure: Learning the ropes in A Tale in the Desert
So there I was, running through the desert on a personal crusade to find a far away pyramid. I heard that it granted an automatic free level, and who wouldn't want that? The only question was whether I'd run out of interest before I reached it because travel in A Tale in the Desert is challenging, to say the least. I really like the world of ATITD so far, and yet there are things about it that really make me grumpy. And it's usually the things I like the most about the game that also cause me grief. While I failed to find that pyramid, I did learn quite a bit this past week in game.
