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Vietnamese fishermen mistakenly swipe miles of fiber-optic wire
While this mishap may not look as if it would cost Vietnam nearly as much as the Alaskan vaporization, losing 27-miles of critical fiber-optic cabling connecting the underdeveloped nation to Thailand and Hong Kong is fairly serious (and pricey). As it turns out, hordes of Vietnamese fishermen were given permission to salvage war-era undersea copper lines to fetch whatever price they could on local markets, but things got out of hand when vital telecommunication pipelines began getting swiped instead of antiquated cabling. The country has since disallowed the removal of any underwater wire until things pan out, but it looks like Vietnam will be relying on a single cable to the outside world until it can pony up the $5.8 million in replacement costs.
Fishing: What lurks beneath? [Updated]
I had read the news that, in patch 2.1, many more fish would be added to the waters of Azeroth and Outland, so that every time you cast a line in, one of them would bite. So, as I leveled up my draenei hunter, dreaming of one day becoming great like my hero (with a Big Red Lizard or something), I thought, "I'll just wait until after patch 2.1 to start fishing! Then I'll be able to get a bite every time, and level up my fishing a lot faster!" So, soon after the patch came out, I found myself questing along the shoreline of Feralas and wishing I could fish up all those schools of valuable fish and boxes of floating treasure. "Well, self," I said to myself, "Now's the time to give fishing a try!" I was so wrong. Fishing is still astoundingly boring. After about two hours of fishing in Darnassus with lures, from a skill level of 1, I reached a mind-numbingly dull skill level 19. The abominable sense of wasting time shocked me all over again. Usually your fish will bite, only to get away! Often, your fish will bite within the last 0.2 seconds of your fishing cast time, and latency makes your click on the bait come after the cast time is finished. You actually have to click the bobbing bait thingy before you hear the splashy sound in order to have a chance at catching it. So there I was, staring like a hawk at my computer screen, ready to click in the last split seconds of the cast time, dreading another "your fish got away!" message, and thinking, "This should be better! How would I improve it?" Then, suddenly, I remembered a certain piece of Blizzard fan art I had seen (which still makes me chuckle whenever I see it) and I suddenly sensed the tremor of monstrous ideas rising up from the depths of my subconscious.Brilliant fishing improvement ideas after the jump. Don't forget to see the larger version of this art, too!
Around Azeroth: Goin' fishin' in the dark
Reader Roastbeef (and sidekick Sandwich) send in this tranquil shot of an evening of fishing out in the Barrens. Yes, I know it's the only place to find Deviant fish (and thus make the yummy Savory Deviant Delight), but I have to think this screenshot only appears tranquil because the chat window isn't visible.Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! Or perhaps you'd just like to see more of your pics from Around Azeroth. %Gallery-1816%
Wi-Aquarium: the WiFi-enabled fish tank
We've seen everything from WiFi-enabled PMPs, robots, and even gardens, but a recent creation showcased at the Embedded Systems Conference in California took remote access abilities underwater. While not as profound as a bay-patrolling nuke detector, Lantronix's Wi-Aquarium was able to grab the bronze for its snazzy internet-enabled fish tank, which reportedly "allows users to remotely control and monitor their aquarium anytime from anywhere in the world." Moreover, users can login and keep an eye on the situation via webcam, and they can even dictate the water temperature, lights, and filter from afar. The standout feature, however, is the ingrained ability of the tank to send the owner emails containing status reports of several key metrics, which should certainly keep you connected to your sea-dwelling pets no matter your location. Now this is what Tamagotchi should have been from the start, eh?[Via The Raw Feed]
Phat Loot Phriday: Mr. Pinchy
We've covered a few noncombat pets here before, but this is the weirdest noncombat pet you've ever seen. If you're a fisherman, this is the reason to get to 375, and if you're not, this is the reason to train it anyway. We mentioned him way back in beta, but he's worth another look.Name: Mr. Pinchy (also known variously as Furious Mr. Pinchy or Benevolent Mr. Pinchy-- you'll see)Type: Noncombat pet... unless he choses to combat youDamage: 180-230 or N/AAbilities: Mr. Pinchy is not just a lobster (although he's named after one on the Simpsons)-- he's a magical crawdad, and he grants wishes! That's right, on use, this crawdad will grant you one of five wishes: 1) The most common result is an item in your inventory called "Mr. Pinchy's Gift"-- once unwrapped, it gives you 5 Super Health and 5 Super Mana potions. 2) Sometimes he will give Mr. Pinchy's Blessing, a buff that lasts for two hours (even through death) and grants a whopping 1200 HP. 3) Sometimes he'll help you himself, and transform into a huge Benevolent Mr. Pinchy that acts as a guardian for about 15 mins. 4) And sometimes he'll get pissed off at you, become Furious Mr. Pinchy, and try to beat you up. 5) But the best wish he can grant is an actual, permanent, BoP noncombat pet named Magical Crawdad. This one's rare, but it's been known to happen. You get three wishes with every Mr. Pinchy, but there's a two-day cooldown between each. Mr. Pinchys aren't unique, but they do share a cooldown. How to Get It: Mr. Pinchy can only be fished up, and only out of those special fishing holes (only reachable by a flying mount) in Terrokar Forest-- the lake in the Mountains west of Stonebreaker Hold, the lake south of Allerian Stronghold, and the lake around the Arrakoa capital of Skettis, to the east of Auchindouin. In those lakes, you want to fish in "Highland Mixed Schools"-- fishing in the regular water will get you fish, but there's no chance of Mr. Pinchy.To fish in the water at all, you'll need a fishing skill of 430 to even throw your line out, so you'll have to pick up some +skill equipment to head up there. Fish will also drop off of your line if your skill is less than 525, so really you want to be up around there if you want to catch fish with any speed. Here's the bad news: each pool gives about 3 or 4 catches, and Mr. Pinchy shows up about every 500 catches-- a .2% rate. That's a whole lotta fishin'.The WoW Fishing Guide has this and lots more strategy on how to get a Mr. Pinchy in your bags. Good luck out there, fellow anglers.Getting Rid of It: Mr. Pinchy will of course disappear when you've used up your three wishes. If you're lucky enough to get a Magical Crawdad Box, that will sell for a measly 25s.
Fishing with the Wii remote (and how to do it yourself)
var digg_url = 'http://wow.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/fishing-with-the-wii-remote-and-how-to-do-it-yourself/'; Blogger Chris Heald of antiarc.net has a Wii remote and likes to go fishing in WoW. So when he found out (I didn't know this) that the Wii remote is really just a bluetooth device, he figured he could work out some way to combine the two. First, he got Chrono Trigger (omg great game) working, and then, with the use of a GlovePIE script, he set up a way to actually fish in Azeroth, Wii-style. Pretty freakin' cool. But the best part is that he's actually posted the script online, so if you've got a Wii controller sitting around, you could very easily do this yourself. Just make sure your computer can receive bluetooth (adapters are cheap if you don't already have one), download and get GlovePIE running (it's free), input Chris' script, and you should be set.We've seen WoW on the Wii controller before, and our only concern was that the controller was pretty limited in actually playing the game. But fishing is the perfect venue for a motion controller like the Wii-- the controls are simple and don't require text input or complicated sequences. From the video, it looks like Chris' hack works perfectly. Great job, Chris, and very cool.
Around Azeroth: Please don't try this at home
Here at WoW Insider, we cannot endorse this method of fishing. If you fish while under water, you could be seriously injured due to lack of oxygen intake, and death may result! (Not to mention the potential to meet angry and aggressive fish down there.) Please take this screenshot, sent in by reader Geoff, as a warning and do not try this at home!Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! You can attach a picture file or send us a link to one -- and don't worry about formatting, we'll take care of that part. See more of your pics from Around Azeroth. %Gallery-1816%
FishCam gives anglers an edge, purists irate
No, underwater cameras used to see precisely what that about-to-be-caught bass are doing underwater aren't new, but we'd guess the argument suggesting that it ruins all fun in the sport has been going on ever since someone originally conjured the idea. Nevertheless, the FishCam does what several other devices on the market already do, and aside from giving you a proverbial cheat code to nab unlimited sea creatures, it also allows anglers to "store the images on a DVD," which should prove useful in adding a dash of truthfulness (or eliminate the fibs) to those "ones that got away" tales. As expected, traditionalists don't seem to appreciate the device all that much, and while novices could very well get a bit more line action using this device, it'll cost you a stiff £185 ($365) in order to do so.[Via Spluch, photo courtesy of Sun]
Phat Loot Phriday: Darkmoon Special Reserve
Yes, there's lots of things to do in Azeroth, and fortunately, getting drunk is one of them. Our expansion finally shows up next week, so before then, let's have another round on the best tasting stuff you can find.Name: Darkmoon Special ReserveType: BeverageDamage / Speed: Messes you up but quickAbilities: "An extremely potent alcoholic beverage." Yup, this is the hard stuff. When you want to get virtually drunk, settle for nothing less. It's the official beverage of fishing superstar Nat Pagle! You know how when you get a few in you, it feels like you can take on the world? This beverage is no different-- after consuming it, not only do you get the normal blurry vision (seen above), but mobs will actually look lower in level to you. Get smashed on this stuff, and a level 50 mob will actually look level 45 or 46. Careful though-- this stuff packs a heck of a hangover. Too bad you can't find a chocolate milkshake anywhere in the game (trust me, that's the best hangover cure ever). How to Get It: As the name implies, you can get it at the Darkmoon Faire-- the beverage vendor there sells it cheap. The Faire shows up either outside Thunder Bluff or Stormwind, depending on where it happens to be at a certain time. But the vendor will sell it to you anytime, no matter what faction you are, as long as you make your way over there.But the other, better way to get it is to stop by the most legendary fishing spot in all of Azeroth. Nat Pagle, fisherman extraordinaire (named after Blue's Pat Nagle), has a nice little fishing spot hidden in none other than Zul'Gurub. At the camp (where you also summon Gahz'ranka). There's a few boxes there, and you can stock up on the Special Reserve to your heart's content. Pagle fished in style, baby!Getting Rid of It: Drink the stuff-- it does a body good. If, for some reason, you've decided to cut down on the consumption, a vendor will buy it back for 12 copper. Cheers! Here's to the Burning Crusade! See you in Outland!
Adventures in Beta: Mr. Pinchy saves fishing
Fishing is widely considered the most boring secondary profession. You sit there, you wait for the bob, you click. You sit there, you wait for the bob, you click. The most you usually get are lucrative stonescale eels and the occasional bolt of runecloth. But sometimes, fishing can throw up something so awesome you have to bow down to its glory. Enter Mr. Pinchy. Roopert of the "OMG Zone Out" guild fished up a Mr. Pinchy in a deserted area of Outlands in November. Mr. Pinchy, named after Homer's pet lobster from the Simpsons, grants the bearer three wishes on a two-day cooldown. The wishes can turn out good ... or very, very bad. On the good side, you can receive a crawdad non-combat pet, a "Benevolent Mr. Pinchy" temporary combat pet, a box of potions, or a free two-hour death-proof 1200 health buff! If Mr. Pinchy is not in a good mood, however, you might have to fight a level 60 or 70 version of him. I'm glad that Blizzard is throwing some neat, funny stuff into professions like fishing -- and I may have to get a Mr. Pinchy of my own someday when I really need that 1200 health. (Note: I know the picture is of Dr. Zoidberg. I couldn't find a Mr. Pinchy screencap, and more Dr. Zoidberg is always a good thing.)
First Rapala Tournament Fishing screens and info
Some of the first images and concrete information on Rapala Tournament Fishing have recently hit the internet, undoubtedly lost in the random assembly of tubes for days before being found by a lone internetter and subsequently brought to our attention. Now, given the popularity of the Dreamcast's fishing rod controller, the combination of Wiimote and nunchuk is naturally fit to work much in the same way.The Wiimote is confirmed to control most of the game's needed actions, such as steering your boat, adjusting line tension in regards to your rod and setting your hook. The Wiimote's rumble capabilities should come in handy as well, undoubtedly allowing your to feel the fish take your bait and the Wiimote's included speaker conveying the sound of a fish thrashing about in the water as it tries its best to get free of the hook's embrace.With 16 different levels to fish based on real-life locales, such as the Okeechobee river in Florida, Kanai River in Alaska and Lake Victoria in Africa, plus the 27 different types of fish, ranging from the Rainbow Trout to the King Salmon, Rapala Tournament Fishing is looking to be a great experience for those wanting some simulation fishing action on the Wii.
Phat Loot Phriday: Nat Pagle's Extreme Angler FC-5000
Want yet another reason to be Horde (you know, besides that the people are nicer, the characters look cooler, and you can be a Shaman-- at least until January)? Try this pole on for size.Name: Nat Pagle's Extreme Angler FC-5000Type: Rare Fishing PoleDamage / Speed: 93 - 140, 3.00 (38.8 DPS)Abilites: Requires Fishing 100 skill Equip: Increased Fishing +25 That's right, not only is this the rod to fish with, but it's not too shabby for a two-hander, either. Of course, by level 50 there's lots better weapons out there, but there's a certain charm to beating someone in the BGs to death with a fishing pole Oh yes, and it's a "Limited Edition"-- check below to see why How to Get It: Bad news, Alliance, this thing comes from a quest, and currently it is Horde only. Starting at level 44, you can get "Snapjaws, Mon!" from Katoom the Angler at Revantusk Villiage in the Hinterlands. Just kill 15 49-50 level turtles in the area and the Extreme Angler is yours, along with +25 fishing skill whenever you want it.If you're Alliance, you can always go for the Big Iron Fishing Pole (found in shellfish traps off the coast of Desolace), but the bonus on that is 5 less than the EA FC-5000, so no matter what you do, you can't match the Horde for fishing skill. Of course, with the expansion, that might change-- all skills are getting a boost, and there's no telling what extras Blizz will have in store for profession skill. But until January, this is the rod to have when you're angling.Auction Price: BOP from the quest, of course. Doesn't disenchant at all, so the best thing to do is keep it (I've still got all of mine sitting in the bank). You never know when you might catch the fishin' bug.Update: I thought I was missing something. Trusty commenter zerostars (Thanks, Z!) informs me that both Alliance and Horde can get an even better pole from the Fishing Tournament, starting every week at 2pm on Sunday in Booty Bay. That pole (the Arcanite Fishing Pole) adds +35 fishing, but then again, it requires 300 fishing to use. So until you max out fishing skill, advantage: Horde.
A bit of fun on Monday morning: A Wii Adventure
We hate Mondays almost as much as you do. Our job is pretty cool, after all, but the unfortunate end to the weekend's drunken debauchery is always a bit of a buzzkill. To cheer you up a bit, here's a lighthearted video which remarkably manipulates the world and characters in Zelda: Wind Waker to tell a heartwarming little story about the Wii. We have no freaking clue how the creator was able to so skillfully use the technology found on that piracy-locked Gamecube disc, but kudos are much deserved.[Thanks, MC Yoo!]
Welcome back, Winter Squid! (We missed you.)
In Azeroth, summer is over and winter has begun! How do I know, you ask? Because there are reports of players fishing up Winter Squid. So get out your fishing poles, folks -- because Winter Squid has returned, ousting the much less interesting Summer Bass. So what makes Winter Squid so great? Cooked, it turns into Grilled Squid, which gives one a +10 agility buff -- a much-loved buff for any melee class. And, hey, even if you aren't interested in the buff yourself, stockpile fish now and sell them in 6 months when they become rare again. So for more on how to get some of this delicacy for yourself, read on.
Reasons for fishing
Nightshift from Lightbringer has a great question over on the forums (forums back up ftw). He asks, "HOW I MINE FOR FISH?" No, just kidding, he asks: Why fish?I've always been puzzled by this too. First Aid is really the only secondary skill I've ever bothered to level up (because it's necessary for almost any class). Cooking and Fishing have never held interest for me. I tried both of them out-- on my hunter and warrior especially I thought they would come in handy. But the time (fishing) and cost (cooking ingredients) involved in both never seemed to compare to what I got out of them.Players in the thread claim you can get a lot out of fishing: special food, alchemy ingredients and recipes, and a chance at treasure that you can't get otherwise. But for the time commitment or cost, I've always found it's easier and cheaper to just pull what I need out of the AH. Fishing reminds me of crafting in Dark Age of Camelot-- if you ever played that game, you'll remember that higher level item crafting took longer and longer casting times (until, at high levels, it took like five minutes of meter watching to make one item). Both cooking and fishing seem like neat gimmicks, but in terms of gameplay, I've never really found them necessary or even interesting.I do have a Nat Pagle's Extreme Angler FC-5000 sitting in my Shaman's bank, however. Is there a good reason I should get it out and start angling? And if so, is there any way to make fishing more interesting?
Twilight Princess -- new controls in action
With all the commotion regarding the Wii itself, we almost forgot about the games! This video does an excellent job of showing the new way the Wiimote will work with Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Say goodbye to boring button combinations and say hello to slashing the baddies yourself. Gameplay is smokin' and we can't wait to get our Zelda-hungry paws on it. As always, click the continue link to check out this Link-tastic video. [Via Go Nintendo]
Do you want some Fish Eyes?
Japan is infamous for getting all sorts of games that we'll never see here in the States. Like those girl games. And those train simulators. And those death god training games. Well, it looks like we can add another strange genre to the list: fishing games. Fish Eyes Portable lets you live the adventurous life of a fisherman, trying to fight nature's deadliest beasts.For some reason, I don't think this game will help PSP secure first place in Japan when it comes out in two weeks.
Fishing FAQ
I've always been an avid fisherman ever since I started playing WoW; I find it to be one of the easiest ways to make money & although I understand why some players find it boring, I happen to enjoy watching for that little bobber to splash.So, for all you fellow anglers out there, the Azerothian Trade Union has posted a great Fishing FAQ, detailing all the good spots to cast a line, and all the goodies you can reel in. It's a very well-done guide that I plan to be referencing often; check it out here.
Fishing & Cooking guide
Are you looking to get your cooking and fishing skills up? Gaming Steve sent us a heads up to his latest post tilted "Clapperoth's Guide to Reaching Level 300 Cooking and Fishing in a Single Day"! It is horde based but overall it is a very good guide. The other nice benefit of this guide is that you could use the fish for the war effort. Keep an eye out for the Rainbow Fin, Yellow Spotted tail, and the Salmon (depending on which side you play). I would also highly suggest looking for a mod or two if you are going to pursue this endeavor.
Fishing on the Fritz
The fish in WoW seem to be becoming more studious, as they now appear together in schools after patch 1.9. Ok, that was a bad pun, but the new update has revamped the fishing system a bit, making it easier to find pockets of sought-after fish such as Firefin Snapper & Oily Blackmouth.Only thing is...the fish might be in schools, but you're not learning a thing from it. That's not a pun, I'm trying to say that fishing seems to be broken for the time being; you can still catch stuff, but you won't gain any skill for it...at least not as of this writing.Even so, the school system does make the whole skill a bit more rewarding; even though I love to sit back, cast a line & relax, those Blackmouth can be hard to come by sometimes. Glad to see 'em all in one place for once...
