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WRUP: The strange purgatory of Final Fantasy XIV edition
Lately I've been thinking about Final Fantasy XIV. All right, that's not really unusual, but it hasn't been in my usual capacity of thinking about the game's future. No, I've been thinking that it's been too long since I played the game, that I should log in and level Lancer or Culinarian a bit -- that sort of thing. It's missing a game that's gone, except it's not gone, it's just on pause for the moment. Needless to say, I'm happy that it's February and I'll be getting a chance to jump into the beta soon. You know I'll be rocking a Highlander lady. I realize that some of you may have no idea what in the world half of those terms referred to, so to assuage you, here's a new installment of WRUP, complete with the usual Massively weekend plans. And you can even leave your weekend plans in the comments, too! It's a miracle of science.
WRUP: Cast the Warcraft movie, again
This week the Warcraft movie secured itself a new director after losing Sam Raimi last year. The new director will be Duncan Jones, the director of Moon and Source Code, who had expressed an interest at directing the film while Sam Raimi was still attached to the project. Personally, I'm happy to see Jones taking on the project ... Not because I love Jones (he's fine) but because I was worried an adaption by Sam Raimi would be too lighthearted for my tastes. If I had it my way every film would be directed by Christopher Nolan. So now that we have a director, let's write up our dream cast list again. For those of you who have been reading WoW Insider a long time, you'll know I already wrote mine a couple of years ago, so now it's your turn to take a stab at it. Oh yeah, and what are you playing this weekend? Pfft, just tell us your dream cast list! It's way more fun. Anne Stickney (@Shadesogrey) I'm currently trying to resist purchasing The Cave on Steam. We'll see if that holds out over the weekend or not. Other than that, a little raiding and a whole lot of writing. Bonus question: Man I have no idea, but if they don't at least consider Michele Morrow (@michelemorrow) as Sylvanas I am going to be a little sad.
Steam: Walking Dead half off today, Painkiller free weekend, Grimrock $5
There is a small stack of Steam games on sale right now and on through the weekend, starting with Telltale's The Walking Dead, which is half off through tomorrow at 11 a.m. PT, just $12.50 for all five episodes in the first season. If you haven't jumped on that game yet, it comes highly recommended.This weekend, starting now, dungeon-crawling RPG Legend of Grimrock is 66 percent off, costing just $5 through 10 a.m. on Monday. As if that doesn't give you enough to do this weekend, Painkiller Hell and Damnation is also 66 percent off until Monday morning, and it features a free multiplayer weekend through 1 p.m. PT on Sunday. Enjoy the only time off you have this week running from zombies, shooting demons and crawling through dungeons. You freaky thing.
WRUP: Not another post about Sagrada Familia edition
Contrary to what you might think, this post really isn't about Sagrada Familia. It's more about the fact that I decided to foolishly purchase a Nanoblocks set attempting to replicate the sight of this massive structure. This was revealed to be an intensely poor decision after about five seconds, for reasons including but not limited to a lack of stability, a poor choice of colors, and decisions about assembly that require a level of manual dexterity that even I don't naturally possess. After several hours of work, the completed project sits on my desk, a reminder that the next time I'm curious about this sort of thing I should just try assembling some LEGO blocks with a set of tweezers. But the mistakes of the week can be overridden by the glories of the weekend, and this week's WRUP is just past the cut. Check out our weekend plans and let us know what you'll be up to over the next two days in the comments.
WRUP: A week off edition
My birthday this year is on Sunday. To celebrate the fact that I am one step closer to feeling the icy hand of death crawling along my spine, I took a week off to stare in mute horror at the trainwreck that I have made of my life over the past 30 years. This will be accomplished largely by completely avoiding introspection and combining sleep, video games, and hard liquor in the proper portions. Also some presents. But enough about my whatever, it's time for WRUP! As always, the Massively staff is out and about playing all manner of video games, and you can find out what games we're playing just past the cut. So take a look and let us know what you'll be up to down in the comments! Especially if you will also be staring in mute horror at something -- possibly your attempts to construct a birdhouse.
WRUP: Zelda Syndrome edition
One of the games that motivated me to buy the Humble THQ Bundle was Darksiders, which I had heard described as basically Legend of Zelda with ultraviolence and Joe Mad. It delivers what it promises, but as a result, I'm in the late game and fighting hard against my Zelda Syndrome. Zelda Syndrome is a condition wherein a player stops playing an action-adventure title after the majority of the game is done, usually with all of the really annoying bosses already dead. All that's left is a dungeon or two and the final boss, but for some reason sufferers simply lose interest and go back to playing something else. I've fought against it with every single Legend of Zelda game and several points related. There is no known treatment. While I raise awareness of this horrible syndrome, you can entertain yourself with this week's installment of WRUP, which outlines the games that the Massively staff will be playing this weekend. You can also let us know what you're playing down in the comments. After doing so, please consider giving money to researchers addressing Zelda Syndrome by purchasing a related title -- possibly Okami.
WRUP: Open PvP edition
Open PvP was first introduced to the world by senior rock engineer Thag, who realized that he could communicate his displeasure with cavemate Thog's activities through more direct means. Over the past several thousand years, the ruleset has been updated and expanded many times, with new rules banning the use of certain abilities outside of designated warzones. These days, for much of the civilized world, PvP is instanced; to enter an instance, queue up at your local military recruitment office. With that out of the way, let's get to this week's WRUP, yes? This features no PvP, instead focusing exclusively on what the Massively staff will be up to over the weekend. Check out our plans in the list past the break, and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments. Or just punch your monitor in displeasure. That's like PvP, although having to replace your monitor afterwards will be an unfortunate consequence.
WRUP: Will you marry me, vicious leopard living outside of my house edition
Leopard, we've had a really strange relationship. I can remember how it started like it was yesterday, mostly because it was. You escaped from the zoo, I tried to get to my car, you nearly gnawed my leg off... at the time, I didn't think anything of it aside from "I need someone to help me; there is a leopard in my yard." But now, as I see you pacing the front lawn licking your chops at the thought of devouring me, I realize that we're meant to be together as a man and a savage jungle cat looking to consume that man for sustenance. So, vicious leopard living outside of my house: Will you marry me? Roar once for yes and twice for yes two times. This week's installment of WRUP is past the cut, complete with our plans for the weekend and the opportunity for you to sound off on your plans in the comments. Be sure to tune in for next week's installment, in which I recover from multiple leopard-induced lacerations and ask to spend some time away from the murderous cat-beast.
WRUP: An open letter to Mr. Claus edition
Dear Mr. Claus (I think it'd be disrespectful to use just your first name, you barely know me), I have been truly awful this year. I could have been worse, probably, but I don't get any awards this time around for good behavior. However, as I hurtle toward my next birthday, I am also at an age where I do not realistically require your services to acquire goods. Pretty much anything I really want I can buy for myself. So here's the deal. First option, you don't bring me presents for being bad and I continue being awful next year, because you no longer provide me with any incentive. Second option, you bring me gifts anyway and I consider being better next year. It's not blackmail, it's just a superior bargaining position. Oh, and if you want, there's the final pre-holiday WRUP just past the break. You can find out what all of the Massively staffers are up to, which might tip the scales into the "naughty" or "nice" category for the year. And you can let us know what you'll be up to in the comments, whether or not it involves making lists and checking them repeatedly.
WRUP: Humble Bundle edition
The Humble Bundle is really cool, but I've never bought it before this year. Somehow, getting a pile of indie games for a smaller payment felt like I was directly ripping someone off. When I saw that THQ did the bundle routine this year, though, I jumped on it. I figured that if I paid the price for the one game I wanted but didn't have when there's one extra game in there I'm curious about, that's fair, right? Except then they added another game that I had wanted. And it turns out that the two games I did want are both excellent. So now I feel like I legally robbed someone. My ethics are strange. Fortunately for you, if you missed out on the bundle, you won't have any ethical quandries to sort out. You can just revel in the fact that it's time for another installment of WRUP, with all of our Massively weekend plans just past the break. And you can let us know what you'll be up to for the weekend in the comments!
Red Orchestra 2 celebrates Fall 2012 content pack with free Steam weekend
The World War 2-themed shooter Red Orchestra 2 is having a free weekend on Steam and double XP special until Sunday at 4pm EST. The free Steam Weekend includes all of the game's content from the 'Game of the Year' edition along with the new Red Orchestra 2 'Fall 2012 content pack,' which features a fresh map and a number of updates.Double XP bonuses are available to all players – whether they already own Red Orchestra 2, or participating in the free weekend. If you decide to add the game to your library, Red Orchestra 2 will be available for 75% off until Monday. Just think, 70 years ago this month, Russian soldiers were fighting for their lives in the freezing winter cold, and now you, with that hot chocolate and those footie pajamas, can have a fun afternoon pretending to do the same for free.
Max Payne 3 multiplayer event this weekend, triple XP and skulls for all
Rockstar has a whole calendar of multiplayer events planned for its titles this winter, and this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday goes to the bald guy with the guns. All players online for multiplayer in Max Payne 3 this weekend get triple XP earnings, and Rockstar devs will play online with everyone on Saturday from 11am - 2pm EST.There's rewards available, too! All players are getting themselves a "Human Skull Mask" for free, as seen above on the left. The "Wedding Skull Mask," on the right, is going to the top ten player-made crews on the new Crew Leaderboards, so get your gangster bros out there and top some score lists. And finally there's a sweepstakes going on: Just enter on the multiplayer event page for a chance at some Max Payne-related loot. And if you're not around this weekend at all, worry not, because Rockstar has another event like this one on January 11 next year.
WRUP: The Ghost of Azeroth Past
What are you playing this weekend? Are you raiding or PvPing in WoW? Playing something on the new Wii U? Maybe helping out Benjamin Franklin in Assassin's Creed III? The WoW Insider staff certainly have some plans of their own, but it looks like some of them are also going to find themselves on a Dickensian journey as they are visited by the mysterious Ghost of Azeroth Past. OooOOOOoooo! The Ghost of Christmas Past from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol showed Ebenezer Scrooge the significant moments from the past which shaped him into who he was in the present. So I guess the Ghost of Azeroth Past will probably show many of us scenes of our first characters being eaten alive by murlocs. I wonder if that gets redundant for him? So let's say you are visited by the Ghost of Azeroth Past this weekend. What does he show you? Adam Holisky (@AdamHolisky) LFR for me this weekend, and then leveling my monk. The Ghost of Azeroth Past shows me the awesome time I had in Defenders of The Pass in classic WoW, especially with the other warrior tanks. Then he takes me to Christmas future, where I look like Matt Rossi. But PLOT TWIST. My beard isn't that long and/or manly.
WRUP: Fine points of bear worship edition
Anyone who has met me in person knows that I have a vested interest in bears. As a result, I have to say that anyone in a game or out of it worshipping a bear as a fierce and deadly warrior clearly has not grasped what bears represent. Yes, they certainly can be killing machines, but more often they're enormous snurfling piles of fur and fat looking for something sweet. Understand that if the bear is your god, your god's primary interest is finding a beehive and then falling asleep for a week. Not to say this isn't cool. But it's not quite the proud anchor you want for a warrior culture. Much like a beehive, the weekend contains the sweet honey of free time for many of us, and that's why it's time for another installment of WRUP. Check on past the break to see what the Massively staff has planned for the weekend, and let us know in the comments what you'll be up to for the next two days!
WRUP: Valor edition
Some fights cannot be won. Some battles are doomed to failure from the first salvo. But even when no hope for victory remains, you must stand fast. You must raise your head and refuse to bow. You must be a testament to the meaning and the values that you embody, no matter how desperately you wish to give in. If you fail, you fail with your head held high, with dignity and your ideals in place. This is valor. Don't let anyone tell you differently. On a happier note, it's the weekend, and that means it's time for another installment of WRUP. That means a full rundown of our staff plans over the weekend, what games we'll be playing along with our usual meandering about the rationale behind those games. You know, as we do. Check out our plans past the break, and let us know what you're going to be up to down in the comments.
Free Xbox Live Gold this weekend for pretty much everyone except Europe
Xbox owners somehow eeking out a meager existence without an Xbox Live Gold account will be given a peek at how the other side lives this weekend, when Gold features are opened up to everyone for a limited time.The promotion runs from now through Sunday and includes access to services such as online multiplayer, Internet Explorer and the like. Apps that require outside subscriptions, like Netflix and Hulu Plus, will still require their associated ancillary subscriptions to function, but will otherwise be accessible.The promotion is available for Xbox owners in "Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan and the United States," according to Major Nelson. Sorry, Europe.
WRUP: Maybe the zombies are on to something edition
Look, I'm not a zombie. I've never really considered myself zombie-curious, either. But now I look at diagrams of brains, and I have to wonder what it is that zombies see that I don't. Maybe there's something to the whole brain-eating thing? They seem happy enough. Sure, they're mindlessly shambling toward living flesh and trying to devour it, but really, am I all that much better for most of the day? I just shamble toward my computer. They've got a much more active lifestyle, is what I'm getting at. Maybe it's a brain thing. Leaving everyone to chew on that for a while, it's time for this week's installment of WRUP, in which the Massively staff relates their weekend plans. Also, today we find out what everyone on staff is thankful for outside of the continued non-existence of a zombie apocalypse. So find our answers past the cut, and let us know what you're up to in the comments.
WRUP: In honor of Javier Placeholder edition
Javier Placeholder was born when the randomize button in City of Heroes failed to generate my new hero but succeeded in generating a stand-in. After filling in for someone who was scheduled to be the victim of a freak nuclear accident, Javier Placeholder was supposed to develop fantastic powers, but instead he got some storm-related powers or something until the kinks of his real powers could be worked out. He's not the hero we need, nor is he the hero we deserve, but he is a hero who will definitely show up until the main guy can get over here. In unrelated news, welcome to this week's WRUP, wherein the Massively staff discusses our weekend plans as well as whether or not we think players expect too much out of free-to-play games. Check our plans past the break, and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments.
WRUP: Comically speaking
It's the weekend, and the WoW Insider staff takes the time to reflect on the coming weekend. Some of us will do glorious battle on behalf of the Alliance or Horde... others of us will be wiping up baby spit. It's a mixed bag like that. We have shockingly few Black Ops 2 players in the house, though. But our mutual love turned to the subject of comic books this week. We enjoyed several conversations in the press room about our favorite characters, our favorite stories, and even our favorite writers. So we posed to the staff... what's your favorite comic book character?
WRUP: Partial disaster edition
I'm always amused when something is called a complete disaster. It seems unnecessary to me. If something is a disaster, by definition, that's pretty much all that needs to be said. You don't have partial disasters running around. Localized disasters, sure, but they're still disasters. It's not a proper disaster otherwise. As a result, I think we really need some more incomplete disasters. You know, a disaster that gets up to good, solid disaster levels and then just sort of loses interest partway through. Maybe a hurricane that just gives up and sits five miles off of the coast until it dissipates. I harbor no illusions about removing the concept of a complete disaster, but I'd like some contrast. This installment of WRUP is not a disaster, complete or incomplete. It's actually a column in which the Massively staff members explains their weekend plans, and this week it's also a spot for us to sound off about one-time events. You can also let us know what you're up to in the comments, although you can't let us know whether your plans were a disaster until after the fact.
