perception
Latest
New racial abilities for Wrath
It looks like Blizzard isn't done tinkering with everything for Wrath of the Lich King. This time, they've turned their attention to racial abilities, which many have pointed out to be imbalanced. Kalgan dropped by the forums to answer a good question regarding the Orc racial Hardiness, which grants a passive 15% resistance to stuns. It's been nerfed a long way from its original 25% resistance, but the poster made a good point about the game's direction towards reduced durations instead of resistances.Kalgan responds by saying that Hardiness was being changed into exactly that -- an effect duration reduction of 15%. He also goes over all the other racials, some of which were changed, others of which were buffed, and yet a few others of which were inevitably nerfed. The changes should make it into the next Beta push. Check after the break to see the complete list. [CLARIFICATION: This isn't the complete list of racial abilities. Abilities not listed here are unchanged or, if they will be changed, will be mentioned in the future.]
We have met the enemy, and he is us
I've said before that I enjoy Alterac Valley. Even with my somewhat limited PvP abilities I've managed to rack up thousands upon thousands of HK's in there, ground up enough honor for the HW sword before the expansion came out, and have continue to play through the AFK'ers and into the dawn of this new, glorious age where AFK'ers get much less out of it. In all that time, I've listened to my fellow Alliance complain that they can't win in PvP and I've listened to my fellow Horde complain that they can't win in AV. The two characters I primarily run AV on are my Tauren Warrior and my Night Elf Warrior. And both have probably won and lost AV about the same. People complain about choke points, about AFK'ers, about terrain and NPC's and Windsor only knows what else sometimes to the exclusion of playing. I can remember one AV where someone was so incensed about people spending their time in the cave that he actually went into the cave and counted them all while the Alliance was making their big push on Drek'Thar.
E307: Mainstream press loves WiiFit, constructs Wii robot as tribute
Though the gaming press's reactions to Nintendo's E3 media briefing have been, for the most part, lukewarm, mainstream publications are very positive about WiiFit's debut. Here are a few headlines that enunciate the differences in perception between the gaming hardcore and the general public: Forbes: "Can The Wii Save Your Life?" Washington Post: "Game On - Nintendo Is Star of E3 Show as Rivals Scramble to Catch Up" San Jose Mercury News: "Wii outplays Sony, Microsoft for now" (requires registration) The Mercury News went so far as to fashion together an automaton (see image above) out of coils and Wii scraps in order to illustrate Nintendo's domination. We'd be too scared to even compete with the company, knowing that this ED-209-esque villain could break into our houses and stamp us out at any moment. Jump past the post break for a better view of its hulking figure.
BBFC publishes research on gamer demographics, perception
The British Board of Film Classification published today research that they have conducted concerning video games. The report covers a wide aspect of gaming culture. Highlights include: Age: "Although children are beginning to start playing games at a younger age, the overall age of players is getting older. Younger games players are influenced to play particular games by peer pressure and word of mouth, but negative press coverage for a game will significantly increase its take up." Gender: "There is a sharp divide between male and female games players in their taste in games and how long they spend playing. Female games players tend to prefer 'strategic life simulation' games like The Sims and puzzle games and spend less time playing than their male counterparts; male players favour first 'person shooters' [sic] and sports games and are much more likely to become deeply absorbed in the play." Benefits of gaming: "People play games to escape from every day life and to escape to a world of adventure without risk which is under the control of the gamer, unlike the real world. Games provide a sense of achievement and are active, unlike television and films which are passive. However, games are better at developing action than building character and as such gamers tend to care less about the storyline than making progress in the game. Gamers claim that playing games is mentally stimulating and that playing develops hand eye coordination."
Computerworld on why Macs are worthy for the enterprise
Even the most rabid fan of Apple has to concede that the company doesn't pitch very aggressively to the enterprise customer. The Xserve typically doesn't get any time in the spotlight - not even at WWDC - and Apple doesn't exactly build a super low-end Mac that's ripe for squeezing Dell out of the millions of cubicles it currently inhabits. Seth Weintraub at Computerworld, however, thinks these facts are fading away in the mind of the enterprise customer, and things could be on the verge of a change. Opening with a bulleted list of the major advantages the Mac now offers to the enterprise in terms of both hardware and software, Seth penned a 5-page article (sadly, Computerworld still practices pageview inflation) that essentially reads as a shopping guide for enterprise customers who might finally be getting curious about Apple's offerings. Seth even delves into some of the politics surrounding these kinds of purchases and how the Mac's eroding perceptions as a "consumer toy" or not being a high-end machine can be defeated when it's time to lay down the plastic. One of the more interesting observations Seth makes, which is becoming more and more prevalent during what is perhaps Apple's most popular time in history, is that more and more decision-making business users are buying Macs for personal use. Seth comments that these users are beginning to realize that "what works well at home could do well at work." We couldn't have put it better ourselves.
Super Columbine supporters shun Slamdance
When the Slamdance Guerrilla Game Maker Competition announced it was withdrawing Super Columbine Massacre RPG from finalist consideration, the decision drew some harsh words. But now those words have led to concrete action as the makers of Slamdance finalists fl0w, Braid, Toblo, Once Upon a Time and Everyday Shooter have pulled their games from the competition in a show of solidarity for the controversial RPG. The game's makers acknowledge that it wasn't an easy decision. Braid creator Jonathan Blow probably put it best, saying he appreciates what the festival has done for independent games but that "the expulsion of the Columbine game sets a precedent in the wrong direction" and pulling his game is "the strongest protest I have the power to make." Whether or not any of the remaining finalists will follow suit is unclear, but an open letter to the Slamdance organizers on Grand Text Auto is signed by the creators of four of the eight remaining finalists, as well as the creators of three of the games withdrawn so far. Losing over a third of the 14 original finalists to a protest is surely a stinging rebuke to the prestigious competition, but losing more than two-thirds would be a blow nearly impossible to ignore. Stay strong. [Via Too Much Media Too Little Time, thanks photendoist and Tom]
