Video Game News and Views

City of Heroes Freedom

2011-07-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

City of Heroes, one of my favorite MMORPGs, is going free to play later this year. If you're looking for full details on City of Heroes: Freedom, check out the guide I wrote for Bright Hub. You'll find details on the various levels of accounts, restrictions, and benefits of each. Definitely check out the game now that you can play for free.

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS Bottle Guides

2011-07-05T22:04:00.001-07:00

Hey guys, been doing a bit of writing about the re-made Zelda for 3DS lately. I've written a series of guides covering how to find the bottles in the game. Bottles in Zelda sound like they would be lame, but they're actually some of the most useful items you can find.

The first bottle in Zelda 3DS is found in Kakariko Village, and you'll have to help the Cucco Lady recapture her wayward chickens to get it.

The second bottle in Ocarina of Time 3DS is found at Lon Lon Ranch, and you'll have to beat your buddy Talon at his own game, identifying three super cuccos.

The third bottle is found at Lake Hylia, but you'll have to go through Zora's domain and check out a diving contest to win the Silver Scale that you'll need to dive down and grab it.

Rift Guides

2011-06-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

I've also been exploring the world of Rift recently. I'm not sure I like it more than WoW, but there are definitely features I find innovative and interesting, including the rift events and the "Ascended Soul" class system.

I've written a few guides for Rift players.

First, the Rift Character Creation Guide will help you make your first character.

The Guide to Rift Collector's Edition will help you decide which version of the game to purchase.

And finally, my guide to the Rift Refer a Friend Program Guide has full information for those who want to earn exclusive rewards in the game by exploiting their friends.

Nintendo 3DS Guides

2011-06-28T12:09:00.000-07:00

So I picked myself up a Nintendo 3DS and I've been exploring its features and writing a few guides about them.

If you're curious about the basic features of the system, check out my Guide to the Nintendo 3DS and All It's Built-in Features.

If you have a 3DS and want to know how to get online with it, I've written a Guide to Connecting your 3DS to the Internet.

And finally, after you've connected the thing to the Internet, you may want to buy yourself a game or two from the Nintendo eShop. My guide to connecting and downloading will help you there, as well.

Trading Pokemon Online

2011-03-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

A couple more Pokemon Black/White related articles for you. I've written a pair of guides to trading pokemon online using the Global Trade System. You can trade with trainers around the world and get pokemon from other regions.

There are two ways to do it. The first, Global Trade Station (or GTS) is like the Cragislist of pokemon trades. You put up a pokemon you want to trade, identify what you'd like to get in return, and wait. You can also browse the pokemon other trainers have put up for trade. Read my full Guide to Online Pokemon Trading With the Global Trade Station for more.

If you're a bit more impatient or slightly more flexible, or if you just want to see what's available out there, you can opt for the GTS Negotations style of trading. Similar to above, except you put up three pokemon for trade and your partner does the same. You can communiate a bit and work out which you'd like to trade with one another in real time. My Guide to Online Pokemon Trading in Black and White With GTS Negotations has all the details.

Thanks for reading, and happy trading!

How to Catch Victini in Pokemon Black and White

2011-03-24T15:17:00.001-07:00

Hey guys,

I've written a few new articles this month (squeezing them in during Spring Break). Pokemon is all the rage these days, and those who pick up Black or White in the first month can gain access to an exclusive legendary pokemon: Victini. I've written a couple guides about the little rodent that you should check out. First, a complete Guide to Catching Victini in Pokemon Black and White will walk you through the process of downloading the Liberty Pass and gives advice for actually catching the wily little guy.

Second, I've written a complete Profile/Moves List for Victini. He's a pretty amazing little guy with some awesome base stats. Definitely worth adding to your squad. If you're wondering which moves he gets or if he can be evolved/bred, check out my article.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Multiplayer Guides

2011-03-22T22:14:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone. Check out my latest two articles over at Bright Hub. The first is a Guide to the Best Multiplayer Perks in Call of Duty: Black Ops. Check out my favorite perks for the game, and how using them can keep you from dying so damn much.

Second is a general Guide to Multiplayer in Black Ops. It's full of useful tips and tricks for noobs and veteran gamers alike. These strategies will also keep you alive longer and hopefully get you more kills. Which adds up to more experience points and more levels in the long run.

World of Warcraft Faction Mounts

2011-01-21T16:10:00.000-08:00

I've just written a pair of guides for those who want to ride the mount of a player faction that is not their own. That is, if you're an Orc who desperately wants to roll around on a Goblin Trike, my guide is for you.

You Alliance types aren't left out either, there's a guide just for you covering how and where to purchase and equip the tabard of the city you'd like to gain reputation points with (Darnassus, Orgrimmar, Gnomeregan, Darkspear Tribe, etc...) and another complete listing of mount vendor locations so you know where to go to buy that new mount once you've reached Exalted status with your desired faction. Check the Guide to Horde Capital City Mounts and Faction and the Guide to Alliance Capital City Mounts and Reputation Points over at Bright Hub!

All Quartermaster and Mount Vendor locations are covered. Don't wander aimlessly asking "Where is the Darnassus Quartermaster," just follow my guide.

Red Dead Redemption Cheats

2010-05-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

Looking for the best Red Dead Redemption Cheat Codes? Our comprehensive guide has all the cheats you're looking for, including unlimited ammo, invincibility, weapon unlocks, new outfits, opening up the whole map, and even a sweet sepia filter for the game.

Unlike some other Red Dead Redemption cheat guides you're likely to see, we also include information on the exclusive cheats unlockable only through the Rockstar Social Club, including "Bad Guy," "Good Guy," "So So Guy," and "Donkey Rider."

Read the full Guide to Cheats in Red Dead Redemption over at Bright Hub.

City of Heroes: Going Rogue Expansion Preview

2010-05-17T22:58:00.000-07:00

I used to be hugely into the superhero MMO City of Heroes. I started playing it at launch and have invested a fair bit of time into the sequel, City of Villains, as well.

The game's latest expansion, Going Rogue, allows players to cross from villain to hero territory, and explore a huge new game area. There are also several brand new (and awesome) power sets that will be available to those who pre order.

If you've read this blog at all, you know what's coming next: I've written a City of Heroes Going Rogue Expansion Preview over at Bright Hub. If you're a fan of comic book action, you should definitely check it out.

WoW Gear Score, or is it WoW Gearscore?

2010-05-14T00:21:00.000-07:00

Gear Score is an interesting statistic in World of Warcraft. It can make or break you in terms of getting into raids, yet it takes nothing into account but the level of your gear.

You can wear any class's gear to increase it, and it does not take the skill of the individual into account.

Still, it's a good way to quickly assess someone's raid worthiness.

I've tried to outline the concept and the pros and cons of Gear Score in my article WoW Gear Score, What is it?

I know, clever name.

Star Trek Online Uniforms

2010-05-14T00:08:00.001-07:00

Star Trek Online is not bad, for sure, but what's really awesome is all the cool unlockable stuff.

Like being able to wear the uniforms from The Original Series, or the Next Generation, or the awesome Wrath of Khan Dress Uniforms.

I wrote an article about all the unlockable uniforms in STO. Check it out.

Star Trek Online Uniforms

Top WoW Addons in the Universe!

2010-05-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

I've written up a small collection of our Bright Hub articles re: WoW addons. There's an addon for practically everything (even playing Peggle) so check it out if you're at all interested in the game.

You may ask yourself, where might one find this amazing piece of writing? I provide this answer: Guide to the Best WoW Addons.

10 Tricks Every Star Trek Online Player Should Know

2010-05-11T15:03:00.001-07:00

I've been playing STO for a few months now, and along the way I've picked up a few tricks that weren't exactly explained in the tutorial mission.

If you're looking to get the most out of your Star Trek Online experience, check out my full guide to 10 Things Every STO Player Should Know over at Bright Hub.

I bet you were expecting me to make a Star Trek joke here, weren't you? You know me too well.

So give er all you've got, captain, and check out my guide!

Red Dead Redemption Achievements and Trophies

2010-05-06T00:48:00.000-07:00

Red Dead Redemption is set to be the next big game of the year.

I'm sure, like me, you're excited to dig in and get started collecting all the trophies and achievements for this game. Luckily for you, I've already written you a Guide to Trophies and Achievements in Red Dead Redemption, so you can get started memorizing them now.

No need to thank me.

Modern Warfare 2 Perks List

2010-05-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

Sure, the game's been out for awhile, but I'm sure some of you out there haven't fully explored all the great perks available in Modern Warfare 2.

My Guide to Perks in Modern Warfare 2 over at Bright Hub has all the info you're searching for, including a full list of perks, what it takes to unlock the pro versions of those perks, and what exactly each perk does.

It's worth a look.

Nintendo Wii Netflix Streaming Setup

2010-04-27T23:59:00.000-07:00

Netflix streaming on consoles has got to be the coolest innovation of the last several years. Finally we can watch thousands of movies without leaving the comfort of our couches.

Setting the service up on your Wii is a simple process, but it can be slightly confusing for the less than tech-savvy. Fortunately, my Guide to Netflix Setup on the Nintendo Wii has all the information you could possibly need. You'll be watching old Knight Rider episodes in no time.

Star Trek Online Ship Combat Basics

2010-04-26T13:56:00.000-07:00

Probably the best part of Star Trek Online is the ship-to-ship combat. The ability to take the helm and take down Klingons, Orions, and Romulans just like the heroes of the shows throughout the years is pretty damn cool.

It's a different take on MMO Combat, though. One that even veteran players may have a bit of trouble adjusting to. So, I've written an introduction to space combat in Star Trek Online, a sort of Photon Torpedo 101, as it were.

Check it out over at Bright Hub.

Nintendo DS Game Rentals

2010-04-23T16:07:00.000-07:00

Can you believe you can't walk into a store and rent a Nintendo DS game? It's the second-biggest selling console of all time and nobody rents games for it.

Fortunately, a few online rental services are picking up the slack. If you're looking for the best selection, lowest prices, and fastest shipping for your Nintendo DS game rentals, check out our review of three different online services over at Bright Hub.

Find the full scoop at Game Rentals for Nintendo DS

Star Trek Online Free Trial

2010-04-23T16:00:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of interest in free trial codes and buddy keys for Star Trek Online lately, largely because there is no easy way to get free access to the game.

Never fear, however, because I've written you a guide on the only ways to get an STO free trial, and I give you the information for free because I want everyone to check out this excellent game.

Check out the full scoop at Bright Hub: How to Get a Free Trial for Star Trek Online

Bad Company 2 Assault and Medic Strategy Guides

2010-03-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

I bet you thought I was done with the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 articles, didn't you?

The final two articles in my series of class-specific guides are up now.

If you have ever been told to "have fun storming the castle," then you may want to check out the Guide to the Assault Kit in Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

If hanging back and keeping your teammates alive while showering your foes in a deluge of lead fired from your machine gun sounds more like your style, then you will definitely want to take a look at the Guide to the Medic Kit in Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

Hopefully the information in these guides can help you maximize the amount of experience points you earn.

I do not hope, however, that you use them to kick my ass if we ever find ourselves in the same game online.

Bad Company 2 Engineer and Recon Strategy Guides

2010-03-27T12:38:00.001-07:00

The deluge of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 articles continues!

The two most recent guides are for the Recon and Engineer classes. Each one covers advanced tips and tactics that help you get the most when using either kit.

For all you tankbusters out there, I present the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Engineer Kit Strategy Guide

If you'd rather decapitate your enemies from a half mile away, you may want to check out all the great tips on sniping positions and weapon selection in the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Recon Kit Strategy Guide

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Unlockables Guides

2010-03-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

Currently losing huge amounts of sleep to Battlefield: Bad Company 2. It's just so hard to escape the urge to play...just...one...more...round.

Staying up until three was fun before I had a kid, now I have to pay the price for my arrogance.

But, I digress. I've compiled a few guides to the game, covering all the unlockables for the engineer, medic, assault, and recon kits. Check them out over at Bright Hub:

For those who like to do their killing from a distance or spend their time healing and reviving teammates, there's the Guide to Recon and Medic Kit Unlockables in Bad Company 2

If a more straightforward approach is your style, or if you enjoy spending time repairing and destroying vehicles, check out the Guide to Assault and Engineer Kit Unlockables in Bad Company 2

Or, if you're more of a driver and are curious about the weapons that can be used by all the game's classes, check out my Guide to Vehicle and Universal Kit Unlockables in Bad Company 2

Star Trek Online Guide to Ships

2010-02-26T18:01:00.000-08:00

Welcome again to my personal Captain's (b)log.

Okay, that's probably enough Star Trek puns. For now, anyway.

Anyway, I've written a comprehensive guide to all the fantastic Federation ships available in the new game Star Trek Online over at Bright Hub. Whether you're a lowly Lieutenant or a lofty Admiral, your ship selection is covered in my article series.

You can check out part 1 of the Guide to Ships in Star Trek Online over at Bright Hub.

May the force be with you...(what?)

Black Nintendo Wii Console Coming to America?

2010-01-29T00:53:00.000-08:00

Well, speculation has run rampant about a new Nintendo Wii, shiny black, coming to the states sometime this year. After Europe and Japan got one, it only seems fair that we get our shot as well, doesn't it.

Check out the full scoop at the link above.

Star Trek Online Character Creation Guide and Guide to Species

2010-01-15T21:51:00.000-08:00

Star Trek Online has entered the open beta, and will be launching the first week of February. I've been spending a good deal of time with the game, and have written a few guides for those who are just starting out.

Check out the Guide to Character Creation in Star Trek Online, Guide to Star Trek Online Federation Species, and Guide to Star Trek Online Klingon Empire Species over at Bright Hub.

Star Trek Online Digital Deluxe Edition

2009-12-22T13:18:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest news about the upcoming Star Trek Online! There is going to be a Digital Deluxe Edition of the game available that offers a buttload of bonuses including uniforms from The Original Series and the ability to play as a joined Trill. Check out the full write up at Bright Hub!

Star Trek Online Pre Order Bonuses

2009-12-12T09:53:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, just finished another article for Bright Hub and it's an awesome one. I don't think it's a secret that I'm a bit of a nerd, so I'm looking forward to Star Trek Online pretty hardcore. I've been thinking about pre ordering, but I can't decide which bonus to go for. They're offering seven separate bonuses, so it's a tough decision. Check out the full rundown at Star Trek Online Pre Order Bonuses at Your Favorite Retailer

Best Super Mario Bros Power Ups

2009-11-20T15:27:00.000-08:00

I've been playing through New Super Mario Bros Wii pretty quickly, and all the retro-Mario goodness got me thinking about the series as a whole. There have been some pretty sweet power ups throughout the years, and I wrote a couple articles about them.

The first, The Top 5 Mario Bros Power Ups of all Time, explores the in-game advantages of the top power ups.

The second, Top 6 Mario Power Ups I Want in Real Life, asks the question, what would you do if you could set anyone who pissed you off on fire?

Animal Crossing Guides to Bug Catching, Fishing, Decorating, and Holidays

2009-09-30T19:32:00.001-07:00

I've been working on a series of Animal Crossing: City Folk articles over at Bright Hub, and I've published four so far. Whether you're looking to get some Bug Catching Hints and Tips, check out some Animal Crossing Fishing Strategies, learn the ins and outs of Decorating and the Happy Room Academy, or just get the lowdown on all the great Animal Crossing Holiday Events, you'll find all the information you need in my extensive guides.

Nintendo Wii Price Drops: How Else Could You Could Spend Your $200?

2009-09-30T18:57:00.000-07:00

With all the recent video game console price drops, many people are rushing out and picking up new systems left and right. But what are these people giving up? Are they all considering all the other fine items they could be purchasing for their hard-earned money?

I was curious exactly how far the $200 price of a Nintendo Wii could take you, so I did some research. Check out the results over at Bright Hub: Nintendo Wii Drops to $200 Bucks: What Else Could That Money Buy You?

Nintendo Wii Christmas Gift Ideas

2009-09-23T13:06:00.000-07:00

So, yeah, it may be a little early, but I just finished a series of articles about great Nintendo Wii gift ideas over at Bright Hub.

Check out some great Nintendo Wii Accessory Gift Ideas, Nintendo Wii Game Gift Ideas, and Awesome Nintendo Merchandise Gift Ideas.

Nintendo Character Costume Ideas

2009-09-23T13:04:00.000-07:00

Like a lot of people, I've started my search for the perfect costume this Halloween. Being a large fellow (Santa is my all time favorite costume), the idea of dressing up like Mario has always appealed to me.
With this in mind, I did a little research into cool Nintendo Character Costumes and wrote a guide over at Bright Hub. Check it out.

Wii Fit Board Games and Accessories

2009-09-15T17:20:00.001-07:00

Looking for the best items to accompany that Wii Fit Board that is currently sitting unused under your bed? Well I've rounded up the best accessories for you Wii Fit workout and the best games that use the Wii Fit board, as well as compiled a full list of Wii balance board games for you to peruse. Check them both out at Bright Hub.

Free Rock Band Song Downloads

2009-08-12T10:29:00.001-07:00

So I've been rocking (pun intended) the new Pepsi Rock Band promotion. Basically, you enter codes from caps and you can win free song downloads. I've won 7 free songs so far, so the odds of winning are pretty damn good.

I figured other people might want to know how to get these bitchin' free song downloads, so I wrote a guide to the promotion over at Bright Hub: How to Get Free Rock Band Downloads from Pepsi. Check it out .

Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, or Playstation 3?

2009-08-11T09:37:00.001-07:00

In my days working video game retail, I was often asked to recommend one system over another, or compare them for a customer who only had enough cash to purchase one. The decision should be largely based on a person's individual taste, but there are certain things about each system that potential buyers should be aware of.

I've written a couple guides about these things, and have published them over at Bright Hub. Please check out my guides to Xbox 360 Vs. Nintendo Wii and Playstation 3 Vs. Nintendo Wii, if you're in the market for a system. Or if you just want to hear a huge nerd rant on about how much he knows about various consoles.

Free Wii Internet Channel Games Guide

2009-08-04T22:37:00.000-07:00

The Nintendo Wii is pretty damn cool. Not only does it have sweet games like Mario Galaxy, Wii Fit, and Smash Bros, but you can also find sweet sites online through the Internet Channel where you can play games for free. I've written a guide to several of the best sites out there. Check out the Guide to Free Wii Internet Channel Games at Bright Hub.

Are All MMORPG and Online Game Players Jerks?

2009-07-21T19:15:00.001-07:00

This is a question that's always fascinated me. Why do some people feel the need to ruin a perfectly good game experience for others? Why is it that every time you ask a question in a global channel in an online game you get 16 sarcastic replies and maybe one actual answer if you're lucky? It's because of the jerks!

I've looked into the psychology of the jerk, peering deep into his psyche in an attempt to find out what makes him such a jackass. Check out my findings, with a little help from Penny Arcade and a heartfelt message from the Pope.

So, Why Are MMO Players Such Big Jerks?

Two Great Wii Articles

2009-07-17T16:11:00.000-07:00

For those who may be having trouble connecting their Nintendo Wii to their wireless network, I have recently published a Guide to Getting Online With the Nintendo Wii that may prove helpful. I even took some crooked pictures with my digital camera for visual aid purposes. I am that thoughtful.

For those in search of more general Wii information, my Guide to Nintendo Wii Features might give you some insight into what exactly makes the console so popular. I run down all the important things, and even provide a helpful link to my many "Top 5" game guides.

Ultimate World of Warcraft Guides

2009-07-14T14:09:00.001-07:00

I've recently published several collections of in-depth information concerning World of Warcraft.

First, our Ultimate Guide to World of Warcraft Achievements covers all aspects of the WoW achievement system, including holiday event, quest, PvP, exploration, and Argent Tournament achievements, and that's just the beginning.

Our Ultimate Guide to World of Warcraft Factions has all the information you'll need to reach exalted status with many of the game's most lucrative factions including the Oracles, Frenzyheart, Kirin Tor, Knights of the Ebon Blade, and more.

Finally, our Ultimate Guide to World of Warcraft Addons is your one-stop addon resource. We cover the best addons for PvP, PvE, and those great addons that are just for fun. We also have a great review of Curse.com and an overview of some of the best places online to find great WoW Addons. Check it out.

5 Great Wii Games for Hardcore Gamers

2009-07-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

There is a popular perception that the Nintendo Wii is all casual games and workout devices, and that the truly hardcore gamer should avoid the system at all costs. This attitude is what prevents many gamers from experiencing the great games that are available for the system.

Check out my rundown on the Top 5 Nintendo Wii Games for Hardcore Gamers to see what I'm talking about. There are some truly amazing games for even the hardest of hardcore for the system.

5 Great Cheap Nintendo Wii Games

2009-07-03T13:15:00.000-07:00

Looking for a great Wii game but don't want to break the bank buying it? Check out my list of the Top 5 Wii Games for Under 20 Bucks over at Bright Hub. Some of my favorite Wii games are on the list, and they're all available for less than the cost of a new DVD!

Wii Fit Unlockables

2009-07-02T00:30:00.000-07:00

Wii Fit has turned into a ridiculously popular phenomenon. My girlfriend works out with it diligently almost every day. She is constantly asking me to look up what it takes to unlock new activities, yoga poses, and strength exercises and I finally decided it might be a good idea to simply write a Guide to Wii Fit Unlockable Balance Activities, Yoga Poses, Strength Exercises, and more. It's up now over a Bright Hub, check it out!

The Midsummer Fire Festival is Here!

2009-06-21T15:39:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's once again time to spend a week honoring the fires of your capital cities and dousing the fires of your enemies in World of Warcraft, the Midsummer Fire Festival kicks off today.

Players can earn various achievements for honoring and dousing fires, as well as take on the frost lord Ahune in the slave pens. There is a title to be earned, a pet to win, and various other rewards including limited time buffs available from the fire poles in the major cities.

If you're interested in chasing down all the Fire Festival achievements, I've written a Guide to the Midsummer Holiday Achievements over at Bright Hub. You can find maps to all the bonfires and details for earning each achievement. Check it out.

World of Warcraft Free Trial: Account Restrictions and Download/Registration Instructions

2009-06-19T14:39:00.001-07:00

I personally find it hard to believe, but apparently there are people out there who still haven't played World of Warcraft. It's only the most popular MMO of all time, but somehow people still manage to get through life without the overwhelming urge to level a character to 80.

I recently wrote an article detailing the WoW Free Trial Account Restrictions and Download Instructions, and registering and downloading is really so easy these days, there's no excuse for having not played it. They've even introduced a streaming client download. Yes, you're no longer required to spend a day downloading before you can play the game, you start the download in the background and start playing the game almost instantly.

Pretty cool.

Dual Boxing and the World of Warcraft Recruit a Friend Program

2009-06-05T12:56:00.000-07:00

So, awhile ago I leveled two characters, a Warlock and a Druid, to 60 using the WoW RAF program. I learned some interesting tips and tricks for playing both characters simultaneously, and I turned my experiences into a guide for anyone who might be thinking about trying something similar.

I also earned a sweet Zhevra mount for my troubles. It did cost a little money, but considering it probably shaved a month or two off of my leveling time, I'd say it was worth it. Triple experience is the only way to go, I doubt I'll level any future alts without it.

Anyway, here's the guide:
Dual Box Your Way to 60 With the WoW Recruit a Friend Program

And no, I don't play as a female gnome.

Red Faction: Guerrilla

2009-06-02T00:05:00.000-07:00

So I spent a little time today with Red Faction: Guerrilla. I absolutely loved the original RF, back in the PS2 days. It was the first game to allow players to be truly creative with their destructive impulses. Locked doors were no problem, one could simply rocket launcher through the wall next to the door and go about their business.

The destruction is definitely back in RF: Guerrilla. Unlike other open-world games where plowing your vehicle into a building results in a spectacular fireball and no visible damage to the wall, in RF you can simply plow straight through, provided you have enough momentum. My favorite part is definitely the destruction objectives, and I spent most of today discovering new ways to tear apart buildings.

You can attempt to strategically place charges on load-bearing portions of the structure, if you like. You can also sledgehammer an entire wall into rubble, if you so choose. My new favorite tactic, however, is jumping into the largest vehicle I can find, getting up as much speed as possible, and trying to drive straight through the building before turning around for another pass. This has proven quite enjoyable.

The missions are kind of pissing me off, though. Volition tends to fall into the "make missions difficult by throwing impossible amounts of enemies at you" school of design. It was something that bothered me in Saints Row 2 until I unlocked unlimited SMG ammo, so I'm hoping a similar revelation will make Guerrilla slightly easier as well.

Until then, there are always buildings to destroy.

Final Fantasy IV: The Sequel

2009-06-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe it, but a fantasy (pardon the pun) of mine that I've harbored since the sixth grade has actually come true. Final Fantasy IV (II here in the U.S.) is perhaps my favorite game of all time. I played through it countless times as a teenager and always wished for a sequel of some kind, and now there is one. Available on the Wii Ware channel, I can now purchase Final Fantasy IV: The After Years.

It was originally released as a cell phone game in Japan, I guess. I'm very stoked about this. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to buy some Wii Points.

Parents Guide to Finding Time to Play World of Warcraft

2009-05-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

Here's one of my recent articles that I really enjoyed writing. Finding time to play video games, MMORPGs especially, since my daughter was born has been a challenge, but I've found some ways to balance family with gaming and I thought I'd pass them on for other frustrated parents who might think that they have to give up gaming entirely.

It is possible to finish daily quests and even raid and still take care of your parental responsibilities, you just have to be smart about it.

Parent's guide to finding time for MMO gaming

This is My Life

2009-04-14T00:49:00.000-07:00

It's the little things that make you realize just how much your life changes once you become a parent. Take this picture, for example.

I mean, here I am, just wanting to sit down and wipe out some imperial scum in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (a game I would have given up on several times were it not Star Wars) and I notice that someone has added their own personal touch to my entertainment center. I mean, we've got the big TV, Xbox 360 and PS3, as well as the surround sound system and Blu Ray collection, so why not add a single My Little Pony?

I love my daughter. I love that even when she's not here she is influencing my life and constantly reminding me how much better my life is with her around to leave me these little surprises.

It does look kinda cute there, doesn't it?

Finally Fast.com commercial producers have obviously never used a computer

2009-04-06T18:19:00.000-07:00

Has anyone else seen this commercial?

This horrible trainwreck of an excuse for advertising plays like every five minutes on G4. Usually it's the far superior (and only slightly less annoying) one minute version, but everything I have to say about it pretty much holds true for the extended remix version above as well.

First off, the commercial blatantly states that their "services" are only for PC computers, no Mac support over at finally fast. Why, then, are most of the computers shown in the commercial Macs? Both the stupidly-enthusiastic "kinda fast" (read: slow) kid and the amazingly-talented woman who is somehow able to talk on the phone and crash her computer at the same time are both using Apple computers.

Speaking of Madame Multitasker, not only can she do two things at once without even chewing gum, but she also possesses the power to cause the Windows bluescreen of death of a Macintosh! Keep that lady away from my PS3, I wouldn't want it to catch the red ring of death!

On a side note, I love that the chick is trying to connect to the fabulously generic "email.com." Definitely one of the web's most popular destination for generic ads that attempt to point you to actual email sites.

Don't even get me started on the "kid" who is attempting to play what looks like a shitty 1942 knockoff online, with a gamepad, no less.

I guess anyone who would be stupid enough to think a magic website will speed up their spyware-choked computer wouldn't notice these glaring errors, but it's a blatant affront to the intelligence of the average G4 viewer (at least those who tune in for AOTS or X-Play, those who watch solely for COPS or Cheaters may be slightly less geeky). You have to wonder about the marketing genius that decided that an ad for a service to be utilized by those with little to no computer aptitude would be a great fit for a channel devoted to tecnhophiles and gamers.

Excellent decision making.

Equally bad are the game-design school commercials targeted at people who obviously have no idea of the game design process or its inherent difficulty. Scott Sharkey did a write up on the best over at 1up.com.

Guide to Killzone 2 Trophies

2009-02-28T09:36:00.000-08:00

Here's a link to my newest article, an overview of the many, many trophies up for grabs in the new PS3 game Killzone 2. Check it out.

Killzone 2 Trophies

I Am Published

2009-01-30T18:07:00.000-08:00

This is totally personal and mostly unrelated to anything on the blog but I got my first short story published in the Oregon State University literary magazine, Prism. Check it out in the fall issue.

I've also officially graduated. Picked up my degree yesterday and I have to say it's pretty friggin' exciting.

Fallout 3 Weapons Guide, Locations For Unique and Special In-Game Weapons

2009-01-30T18:05:00.001-08:00

Yet another article of mine for Bright Hub. There are some awesome weapons to be found in the wasteland of Fallout 3, and my guide will lead you right to 'em.

Don't leave Vault 101 without the information in this guide. Easily locate and acquire special and unique Fallout 3 weapons including A3-21's Plasma Rifle, The Kneecapper, Colonel Autumn's Pistol, and the Wazer Wifle.

Fallout 3 Weapons Guide, Locations For Unique and Special In-Game Weapons

Gamecube Accessories, Another Article for Bright Hub

2009-01-14T09:53:00.001-08:00

Nowadays, curious gamers can pick up a used Gamecube for around 30 dollars. Those interested in checking out what Nintendo’s tiny box can do should consider the following accessories. Each can help gamers get the most out of their Nintendo Gamecube
Top Gamecube Accessories, Get the Most Out of Your Console with These Must-Have Nintendo Gamecube Accessories

Looking for the Best Playstation 2 Accessories? Look no Further!

2009-01-14T09:49:00.001-08:00

This is my latest Bright Hub article, for anyone looking to accessorize their Playstation 2.

The Playstation 2 is one of the most popular consoles ever produced. Any gamer looking to properly accessorize their system should seriously consider these five accessories.
Top PS2 Accessories, 5 Essential Playstation 2 Add Ons for Every Gamer

It's almost Christmas!

2008-12-22T23:28:00.000-08:00

Anyone else glad it's almost over? I am pretty Christmas'd out already. I am looking forward to seeing my daughter unwrap all of her presents, though.

One More WoW Achievements Article

2008-12-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, I'm really cranking them out today, aren't I? My World of Warcraft Quest Achievements guide just went up as well. Check it out!

World of Warcraft's new achievement system is a fantastic and compelling addition to Wow's already addicting gameplay. Use this quick and easy to read guide to easily obtain all of the WoW achievements you're searching for.
World of Warcraft Quests Achievements Guide

Download the City of Heroes Free Trial

2008-12-22T12:13:00.000-08:00

One more article I recently published. This one's instructions for downloading and playing the City of Heroes free trial. It's an awesome game and I whole-heartedly encourage anyone who's interested to check out the trial.

Anyone with an interest in superhero MMORPG City of Heroes would do well to check out the game's free 14-day trial. Follow these easy instructions to register and download the City of Heroes game client. Download City of Heroes Free Trial

World of Warcraft Achievements Guide

2008-12-22T12:04:00.001-08:00

Hey there, two new articles from me about WoW's Achievement system. It's pretty fun (yet useless) and I enjoy chasing down achievements as much as the next guy, here's a couple guides to the "General" achievements.

World of Warcraft's new "achievement" system is an addictive and interesting new component to WoW's already fantastic gameplay. Here's an overview of the first part of the WoW general achievements.
World of Warcraft "General" Achievements, Part 1

World of Warcraft "General Achievements, Part 2

Best MMORPG List: The Top Fantasy, Comic Book, Science Fiction, and FPS Games in the MMO World

2008-12-16T12:11:00.001-08:00

Another new article! This one's a list of the top four MMO games in their respective genres. Check it out if you are a fan of online games.

Looking for the best Fantasy MMORPG, Comic Book MMORPG, Science Fiction MMORPG, or MMOFPS available? These four games are the pinnacles of their respective genres. Each is a high-quality example of the best the MMO market has to offer. The Best MMO Games Online

World of Warcraft Rogue Guide: Class Overview

2008-12-16T12:08:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone. More WoW goodness is coming your way. My latest article on Bright Hub is a World of Warcraft Rogue overview. I'm thinking of writing a few more articles about the class, but haven't decided yet. Check it out!

The rogue is one of the most potent damage dealers in World of Warcraft. This introduction to the class should answer the questions of anyone considering creating a WoW rogue. World of Warcraft Rogue Overview

It's Snowing!

2008-12-14T10:59:00.000-08:00

Totally useless post, I know but I had to tell someone that it's snowing here, even if it is the faceless mass of the internet.

Unfortunately, I have to drive to Salem today. Should be interesting with all this frozen precipitation. Oh well, good times.

Wish me luck.

In a Increasingly-Crowded Genre, Which is the Best MMORPG?

2008-12-14T10:51:00.000-08:00

I don't know if it's obvious yet, but I really like World of Warcraft. I honestly think it's the best MMORPG of all time. Here's an article I wrote about it, using sales numbers and critical scores to back up my point.

No other game in the history of MMORPGs has shattered sales records, garnered critical acclaim, and won the hearts of individual gamers the way World of Warcraft has. WoW is truly the best the MMORPG genre has to offer. World of Warcraft is the Best MMORPG

Should Players Buy World of Warcraft Gold? Is WoW gold worth the price?

2008-12-13T16:58:00.000-08:00

There are multitudes of sites on the internet offering to sell wow gold to anyone willing to buy it, but is the advantage really worth the risk? Should gamers buy WoW gold? Is buying World of Warcraft gold worth the risk?

World of Warcraft Versus City of Heroes

2008-12-12T23:04:00.000-08:00

So I'm writing for a new website called Bright Hub. It seems like a much better place than the others I've published for. My first article is a comparison between CoH and WoW. Check it out, let me know what you think...

With so many excellent MMORPG games on the market, finding just one that's worth the monthly fee can be difficult. World of Warcraft and City of Heroes are two excellent choices, but one is clearly superior. City of Heroes Versus World of Warcraft

Saints Row 2 Weapon and Ability Unlock Guide

2008-12-09T23:44:00.000-08:00

This quick guide to weapon and ability unlocks in the Xbox 360 and PS3 action game Saints Row 2 will help gamers succeed in the city of Stillwater. Saints Row 2 Weapons and Abilities

Best Nintendo Wii Games: These Three Video Games are the Best the Wii Console has to Offer

2008-12-08T00:07:00.000-08:00

Nintendo's Wii console is among the most popular of all time. There are a lot of crap games produced for it, however, by people attempting to capitalize on the system's popularity. Fortunately, these three games are the absolute best and none of them will disappoint. I promise

The Nintendo Wii is the most popular console in America. These three games are the best available for the system. All are excellent choices for any gamer. Read More...

Fable 2 Augment Tips and Money Making Strategies: A Guide to Increased Damage and Easy Gold in the Xbox 360 RPG

2008-11-28T22:32:00.000-08:00

Fable 2 is one of my favorite new games for the Xbox 360. I've played quite a few hours now, and I thought I should pass along some of the tactics I've found to be very effective.

This easy to follow guide will increase a character's combat effectiveness and show players how to make large amounts of gold quickly and easily. Read More...

Best Xbox 360 Accessories: Essential Add-ons for Xbox Live, Solo, and Multiplayer Gaming

2008-11-28T15:26:00.000-08:00

These five essential accessories are perfect additions to any gift or new console purchase for anyone wishing to mazimize all of the Xbox 360 console's amazing features. Read More...

Holiday Gift Ideas for Gamers Xbox 360 Games - Video Game Gifts for Fans of Action RPG Music or Online Games

2008-11-25T23:38:00.001-08:00

These five well-reviewed games would make excellent gifts for any Xbox 360 gamer. Gears of War 2, Fallout 3, Rock Band 2, Fable 2, and Left 4 Dead are all great choices. Read More...

Best Xbox 360 Games Under Twenty Dollars - These Budget Titles Offer Great Value and Cheap Prices

2008-11-23T20:21:00.001-08:00

Looking for the perfect holiday gift for that Xbox 360 gamer on your list? Looking for something inexpensive yet exhilarating? Check out this list of the 5 best xbox 360 games available for under twenty dollars.

Xbox 360 owners on a budget should consider these five great low priced games. All five offer fantastic value for little money. Read More...

Fable 2 Legendary Weapon Locations

2008-11-23T20:18:00.000-08:00

There are quite a few Legendary Weapons in Fable 2, and not all of them are easy to find. Here's an easy-to-use guide to finding and acquiring them all.

Locations for all of Fable 2's Legendary Weapons: Calavera, Chopper, Daichi, Hammerthyst, Maelstrom, Rising Sun, Wreckager, Enforcer, Perforator, Rammer, and Red Dragon. Read More...

How to Open the Fable 2 Demon Doors - Hints and Tips to Locate and Enter Each Door in the Xbox 360 RPG

2008-11-23T20:16:00.000-08:00

Stuck on one particular demon door? Looking for information on how to open them all? Look no further!

Discover how to open the Bloodstone, Bower Lake, Bowerstone Cemetery, Brightwood, Fairfax Gardens, Oakfield, Rookridge, Westcliff, and Wraithmarsh demon doors in Fable 2. Read More...

How to Find all the Fallout 3 Bobbleheads

2008-11-23T20:14:00.000-08:00

Looking for all the stat and skill bonuses to be gained by collecting all the Vault Tech Bobbleheads in Fallout 3? Here's a quick and easy guide to finding them all.

Easily locate Fallout 3 Bobbleheads that grant bonuses to skills including Sneak, Science, Repair and Medicine as well as stats including Agility, Charisma, and Luck. Read more...

Final Blog: Evaluation...

2008-08-12T18:24:00.001-07:00

Overall, my favorite part of the class was definitely the blog. It was actually kind of fun do to assignments in this format and I've enjoyed it so much I am considering starting a personal blog just to see what happens. I learned a lot about the set up and maintenance of blogs, information I never knew before, and now I definitely feel comfortable running one and putting the fact that I have experience with them on a resume. A lot of the jobs I've looked into have an online writing component and I think this experience will be invaluable. Without the class to force me to do so, I doubt I would have ever just jumped into a blog, so I think the assignment as a whole was a very positive part of the class.
I liked the format of the discussion board interactions as well. I enjoyed the fact that we were encouraged to bring our personal experiences and opinions to the board, rather than being encouraged to simply repeat what the book says just to prove we've read it.

The assignments were interesting and enjoyable for the most part. The internet abstinence assignment was particularly eye-opening for me. I honestly had no idea how much I depend on it and forcing me to reject it and then write about the experience has made me realize it in a way that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. I think I have a whole new perspective now thanks to the assignment.

The survey and letter assignments were probably my least favorites. They weren’t particularly difficult, I just found it difficult to arrange times for my interviews and to force myself to sit down and write an actual letter. I’ve avoided handwriting just about everything I can since I got my first computer around age 11.

I really enjoyed the way that this class is so integrated with the subject material. So many classes seem to completely ignore the subject being studied, but this one embraces the internet and cyber communication with open arms. I honestly never thought I’d get to do an assignment about Myspace or Facebook, or get credit for joining a discussion group and then writing about my experience.

This class has really opened my eyes to the different methods of communication and the advantages and disadvantages of both. I never really thought about the downside of our ease of access to information and lightning-fast communication. It all seems so convenient and advantageous that we never really stop to consider what we’re giving up. The letter assignment and the internet abstinence really made this clear to me.

I’d say definitely keep the abstinence, myspace, and internet community assignments. I thought all three of them did a good job of forcing us as students to consider the issues and concepts in the texts and how they apply to our own lives.

If I were to cut something out, I’d probably remove the letter assignment simply because I think it’s the one from which I learned the least. Everyone seemed to find exactly what they expected. The younger generations depend far more on the internet than the elder, mainly because the younger people grew up with the technology and are consequently more familiar with it than those who had already-established routines when the technologies became widespread. I definitely learned from the assignment, it just wasn’t as eye-opening to me as the others during the term.

The wild card assignment was a great one, as well. Definitely keep it in. It was interesting to read what people chose to do.

Wild Card: An Internet Superhero

2008-08-07T19:27:00.001-07:00

My former roommate is a remarkable man, especially in the context of his uses of the internet as it reflects his personality. (Let me just establish right away that I am not attempting to disguise some personal confession by pretending that this blog is about someone else. He does exist, and he is not me.)

Let’s call my ex-roommate Randy. Randy has never been what you’d call an assertive man. He talks very little to people in person and he’s had very few girlfriends in his life. Randy likes video games, comic books, and Japanese anime. He’s a definite introvert who spends most of his time in the house, rarely going out even with friends unless there’s a new movie in the theatre that he wants to see or a video game that he wishes to buy.

Basically, Randy is shy, and pretty much what most people would call a geek. He fits neatly into many of the stereotypes associated with geekdom. I don’t include this to insult him, there’s nothing wrong with being a geek, but just so that I can make it clear exactly what kind of person we’re talking about.

The reason that Randy is blog-worthy is the transformation he undergoes when he goes online. I’ve spent my fair share of time playing various online games like World of Warcraft with him, and if I hadn’t been in the same room with him while we played, I would probably find myself unable to believe that my geeky roommate was capable of the things he manages while he’s online.

Randy was a co-leader in our World of Warcraft guild, which is remarkable enough for someone like him, but he also was the guild’s main raid leader. For those that don’t know, a raid is a group of up to 40 players who work together to take down some impossibly huge monster. Leading raids takes knowledge, confidence, and a level of sternness I never thought Randy could possibly possess.

He would lead these raids over voice chat, his voice clear and strong and authoritative in a way I’d never heard in real life. This is a guy who has never been able to cancel trial offers he’s signed up for because he’s too shy to talk to an operator, but online he’s capable of directing 40 people, shooting down opposition, and generally establishing his authority night after night.

The raids were just a small part of what Randy manages to accomplish online that he is unable to do in real life. He recently flew out to New York to meet a girl he’s been “dating” online for over a year. He barely even acknowledges women in real life, but online he’s somehow managed to open himself up enough to maintain a relationship with a very attractive young woman.

This is the power of the internet. It allows those whose shyness might otherwise prevent them from succeeding to achieve unbelievable things. It’s not that Randy doesn’t have the ability to confront people or make decisions; it’s just that the stress of face-to-face interaction renders him unable to do so without electronic mediation. Safe behind a computer screen, he’s a virtual general Patton.

There are definitely bad things about the anonymity that computer-mediated communication provides, like loudmouth morons who are free to slander anyone they wish mercilessly without fear of consequences, but there is a positive side to it as well. I have known Randy for nearly 10 years now, and I’d often worried about his prospects for the future. Marriage is difficult to attain when you’re incapable of speaking to the opposite sex, for example. Now, thanks to the internet, Randy has as good a chance of getting married as every other lonely guy out there. Maybe an even better one because of the limitless access to people all over the world that the internet provides. CMC is definitely a double-edged sword, but it’s important to realize that both sides can be beneficial.

Survey Says...

2008-07-31T19:14:00.001-07:00

For this week’s blog, I interviewed my girlfriend, age 25, my mother, age 54, and my aunt, age 61. I emailed the questions to my mother and girlfriend, as they are both frequent internet users. For my aunt’s responses, I had to interview her in person, as she has neither email nor internet access.

My girlfriend primarily uses the internet for checking email a few times a day, shopping, finding movie times, and checking Myspace. She isn’t comfortable with the internet in general and tends to avoid blogs, chat rooms, and the like. She is wary of talking to “creepy” people online. She thinks that technology has absolutely changed her life and loves the convenience of having such quick access to information (actor’s pages on IMDB.com, for example) but hates that she often finds herself wasting hours online accomplishing nothing. She has similar feelings about television. She uses the internet, but not as much as her friends do. She is frequently frustrated with technology and often feels that she dislikes the internet because of it.

My mother uses the internet at home for email and shopping online, as well as to make travel reservations. She uses it more extensively at work, where she is the Payroll Supervisor. At her job, she uses the internet to contact banks, lawyers, insurance companies, and anyone else her job requires her to get in touch with. She said it is much easier to email to get a question answered than to “play phone tag all day.” She also uses it for IRS payroll forms, state and federal tax information, worker’s compensation claims, and online banking. She is very comfortable with the internet, but is wary of emails that come from sources she doesn’t recognize. The IT department at her employer makes sure that the company’s spambusting software is up to date. Mom “loves” the internet because it has made her job much easier by eliminating a lot of paperwork and expediting processes.

My aunt has practically no experience with the internet, or computers for that matter. She’s been a waitress for nearly 40 years so her job has not required her to use much technology. She works at a local family-owned restaurant where they take orders on paper pads and hand them to the cooks; there is no computerized ordering system. About as close as she gets to a computer is the credit card machine at work, which she still admits she sometimes finds frustrating. She’s never really had any interest in owning a computer or getting on the internet. She’s heard a lot of bad things about porn sites and child predators. The technology has not changed her personal life very much, though she sometimes finds it hard to get in touch with a company or take care of business when her only option is to do so online. She recently renewed her food handler’s certification and I basically had to ask her the questions and put the answers in for her, she had no idea how to do so.

In chapter 8, Wood and Smith discuss fragmentation, or the loss of cohesion within a community when members aren’t all communicating in the same ways. I definitely see how this kind of divide can develop. My mother and my aunt are only six years apart, but I tend to think of my mother as more modern and intelligent because she can utilize the forms of communication I am most familiar with. I tend to see my aunt’s inability to do so as a sign of age or disconnectedness. She seems almost an entire generation older than my mother because she clings to forms of communication that seem archaic to me. I almost feel as though she is incapable of learning to use the internet, it seems like an indecipherable concept to her.

I think the degree to which one is required to use technology is a huge differentiating factor in how people feel about it. Judging by their interview responses, my mother seems far more savvy than my girlfriend who is 30 years younger simply because she is forced to use the internet at her job on a daily basis. By comparison, my aunt’s job requires almost no interaction with technology, so she has been able to remain ignorant without negative consequences.

I wonder if my mother and my aunt’s circumstances were reversed, would I still see my mother as the smarter of the two? It’s interesting how people’s use of technology influences the way we see them.

Online Communities and Social Interaction

2008-07-22T12:13:00.001-07:00

For this assignment, I chose to join a forum without a specific topic, more of a general discussion board. I have a friend or two who are members there and they’re always encouraging me to join, so I signed up to see what all the fuss was about.

This particular forum has a very tight-knit group of regulars that it’s difficult to break into. I had it easy, simply by being introduced to the group by one of the established regulars, but for other “newbs,” the place isn’t terribly friendly. There’s definitely a period of hazing or initiation that one has to pass through in order to be accepted. Each user’s post count is displayed on each of their messages, and those with very small numbers are often ignored, and sometimes even flamed (that is, insulted) unmercifully. It’s definitely not an environment that is welcoming to a newcomer. There are some reasons for hostility toward those with low post counts, however. Many new accounts are created for the sole purpose of posting advertising or referral links, so until a new person establishes that they’re there to contribute to the discussion, not advertise for some porn site, they’re generally kept at arm’s length.

The forum also has a “reputation” system. Each user has a “rep” meter that is displayed below their name on each post. The meter is a series of green or red bars that show how much positive or negative rep a person has received. Rep is given by other members of the site. Those with high post counts and a lot of positive rep are able to add or subtract the most rep from other users. Users give positive rep for content they enjoy or when a user posts a particularly funny quip, and they give negative rep for spammers, rude people, or anything they simply disagree with.

The rep system figures prominently in the social component of the site. I knew that I had been accepted when several of my posts garnered positive rep from established members of the site. Conversely, users who post insulting comments or disagree with established forum tenets end up drowning in negative rep quite quickly.

As far as dispute resolution, matters involving explicit rule violations (posting referral links, spamming, threats against a member, posting adult material in a non-adult forum) are usually taken care of fairly quickly by one of the site’s moderators. Users can report posts that violate rules to bring them to the attention of a moderator. Non-rule violations, like rude comments or any behavior that runs contrary to the smooth functioning of the forum, are taken care of in the court of public opinion. Once someone runs afoul of the majority of the site’s users, they are quickly ostracized and insulted. Reputation also disappears at an astonishing rate. Those stupid enough to fight back end up with private messages filled with objectionable material.

There are threads of the forum devoted exclusively to lengthy flame wars between two people or groups of people who disagree. There are also threads devoted to flaming specific people who irritate certain members.

This type of social setting is one that is only possible on the internet. It’s always amazed me that social outcasts, the people who are so often clamoring for equal treatment and speaking against social discrimination, are the first ones to become exclusive and form cliques when they are in the majority. The anonymity of the internet is a kind of equalizing force. Online, the stereotypical nerd’s superior intellect makes him the bully and gives him the power to punish others socially.

It is amazing, though, the friendships that some of the people who post on this forum have formed. Many have made trips to visit one another, even those in other countries. Many count the site’s users among their best friends. It’s almost impossible to imagine how any of these friendships could have ever been formed without the internet.

I wonder, though, if the internet were not available, would these people actually go out and meet people locally or would they be stuck at home forever? Is the internet their social outlet because it’s easy, or because it’s the only way they can connect with the outside world?

Postman worries about technology replacing other forms of interaction and argues that we lose something when computers become our sole source for information or interaction. It’s true, something is lost when people communicate solely online, at least when it becomes a substitute for actual human interaction. But what about people with overwhelming social phobias? People for whom online interaction may be the only way they are capable of forming human connections? Isn’t it possible that for them, replacing face to face communication with CMC is a good thing? It may be a stepping stone into a larger world for them, by helping them gain the confidence to actually go outside and meet an actual person.

Dissecting My Myspace.

2008-07-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

I’ve had a myspace profile for a couple years now, so for this assignment I am going to attempt to take an objective look at it.

First, a quick rundown of my profile’s elements. My picture changes frequently, but it’s currently a shot from the fourth of July barbeque I attended with my family. My one-year-old daughter is sitting on my shoulders smiling and my eyes are focused upward. On my face is a bemused expression. My current headline is “Few things are more frightening to the establishment than a punk with an education,” a line I came up with while I was driving the other day. My current profile song is “Infected” by my favorite band Bad Religion. I have a slideshow with pictures of my daughter from birth to just recently. There is a video of me performing improv and a virtual cat you can feed and play with. I’ve also got the standard education and interests sections along with my top twelve friends and a long list of comments.

I’m interested in the ways I may be subconsciously (or consciously) manipulating my personal identity, as Wood and Smith describe in chapter 3.

I think there is a definite impression I’m trying to create for my profile’s viewers. My song choice, for example, is from my favorite band, so it’s not surprising, but I’d never think about putting some of the more popular music I enjoy in its place. My music snobbery is also present in my interests section. My list is almost all punk bands, with Bon Jovi and Johnny Cash thrown in for good measure. This list is far from comprehensive, however. When I’m riding in my girlfriend’s car and she puts in a Kelly Clarkson CD, I don’t exactly complain. I’d never put that I like her on my profile. (even admitting it here is a little difficult). I may enjoy her music, but I don’t want my friends to know about it. Ironic that it’s the people that know me best that I wish to hide this from. My profile is set to private, mostly to cut down on the spam I receive, so they are the only ones who will see it.

The elements of my profile combine to create a persona that, while it does represent a part of me, is far from comprehensive. It’s an interesting dichotomy, baby pictures versus punk music and photos of me partying with my friends. It’s a little embarrassing to realize, but my profile makes me look like a new father desperately trying to cling to his younger, less responsible days.

If I can inadvertently create a profile that conveys this type of impression, imagine the degree to which someone could purposefully distort their identity. I could remove all the baby pictures from my profile and change my children status back to none. We all have friends we rarely see in real life for whom the only updates on our lives come through myspace or facebook. If I had never updated my status or added the baby pictures in the first place, it would be as though my daughter never existed. It’s scary to think about, but I could probably maintain this façade indefinitely.

The Brad Paisley video I watched for last week’s assignment was intended to be funny, but it really wasn’t that far from the truth. It actually wouldn’t take much effort to create a myspace page that painted me as a very different person. It’s important to remember to take CMC with a grain of salt, there is no telling what kind of alterations the person you’re communicating with may have been able to make. Nobody is completely who they appear to be online.

Brad Paisley and The "Online" Persona

2008-07-02T22:17:00.000-07:00

The main character of the video for Brad Paisley’s “Online” is a pizza delivery boy who lives in his parents’ basement and concocts an elaborate online persona that is almost completely antithetical to himself. His online identity is tall, handsome, rich, drives a fancy car, models for GQ, and is completely comfortable with women in a way that pizza boy is obviously not (judging by his inability to interact with his female neighbor until the end of the video).

It’s a bit of a cliché in the internet age but, like many clichés, it is based on truth. Personally, I know a guy who has a completely different personality online than he does in reality. He definitely represents himself differently in cyberspace. I think everyone does it to some degree. What overweight person hasn’t described themselves as “average” on a website? How many people exaggerate their education level or job position on myspace, or purposefully select photos that make them look their best while discarding those that do not portray them favorably? How many people on personals sites have years-old pictures of themselves instead of current ones? Practically everyone fibs a little when it comes to representing themselves online.

It’s no wonder this occurs. Given a chance to describe ourselves in any way we wish, in an anonymous, consequence-free environment, the temptation to lie is just too great. Much like movies or television can give a biased view of an issue by accentuating one side while downplaying the other, we can promote our positive features (or invent new ones entirely) while completely omitting our faults.

There are those who take this to extremes, like middle-aged men pretending to be teenage boys so they can chat with middle-aged men pretending to be teenage girls. The Dateline NBC “To Catch a Predator” reports are another enlightening example. Many of the men they catch soliciting sex from underage girls are semi-respectable members of society. It’s doubtful that many of these men would risk acting on their inappropriate thoughts were it not for the anonymity provided by the internet. The risk would be far too great.

Not all examples are this extreme, of course. Our pizza boy protagonist is simply trying to reach out to a world that he feels cut off from. Our celebrity-obsessed, beauty-conscious culture has created an expectation of attractiveness that he feels he cannot live up to and he consequently has almost no self-esteem. So, he creates what he feels is the ideal man and acts within that persona on the internet. It’s no more than a fantasy, he cannot possibly hope to meet any of his online friends in real life and have them accept him, especially when he’s based their relationship entirely on deception.

At least for him the ending is a happy one. He seems to realize the folly and pointless nature of his online façade and instead decides to take his life into his own hands and take a chance on the girl next door. Though, honestly, it amazes me that he even had trouble with women in the first place. His father is William Shatner, after all.

The ending in the video is a happy one, though the lyrics make no allusion to his realization. It’s ironic that a song about misrepresenting oneself online has to be subtly altered in order to achieve larger acceptance when translated to a visual medium. I seriously doubt that kind of meta-fictional meaning was intended by the video’s director, but it does give us something to think about…

The Longest 24 Hours of my Life.

2008-06-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, I knew from the beginning that avoiding the internet for a full 24 hours was not going to be an easy task for me. No Myspace? No Email? No checking multiple times a day for electronics deals on Slickdeals.net? I started to realize just how much I am online and how much it has become an indispensable part of my daily life. Then I got really worried.

So, at 9 am, I had to stop myself from turning on my computer to jump on and check out news sites and logging onto myspace. I couldn't check the message boards for my online classes, which was a little disconcerting. I was sure that some major change would come down or that one of the assignments I'd already turned in would turn out to be horribly wrong and my lack of response would lead the instructor to conclude that I didn't care and fail me instantly. This, of course, got me thinking about other things I would be unable to do without the internet. I realized that I had yet to look up the proper technique for clearing a choking infant's airway, and had no way to do so without going online. I had been meaning to do it for awhile, but never got around to it. When the internet is always there, I just assume I'll be able to get information while I'm doing something else. It's not like I thought I'd have enough time to look it up in the event she actually started choking, it's just something I never thought about until I couldn't get to it. Ultimately, I found it in a book.

I'm old enough to remember the time before I had access to practically any kind of information I could possibly imagine on the internet. Before wikipedia, I had to look things up in Encyclopedia Britannica and find books using a card catalog. Taking a day off from the internet really helped me appreciate how far we've come and just how lucky we are to have this technology we take for granted.

After my daughter went down for her nap, I found myself bored. Normally, I’d jump online and browse or check email or post on a class messageboard, but I couldn’t. I just got a new Xbox game, so I decided to spend some time playing it. Even this simple task changed without the internet. First, I had to unplug my router to keep my console from automatically connecting to Xbox live. Second, I realized that I’d have to be content with the offline component of a game I had purchased mainly to play online. Then, after playing for awhile, I was unsure about one of the game’s features. I put my controller down and headed for my computer to look up more info on it, then stopped myself. It’s amazing that my first reaction when I need information is to head for the internet.

As far as my ability to communicate, just let me say thank God for text messaging. If I’d had to give both texting and the internet up on the same day, I know I would have felt like some kind of mountain man, completely isolated from the outside world. I was totally cut off from my classes and the friends I communicate with through Myspace, but at least I could still talk to my immediate social group.

Ultimately, I realized just how much time I spend every day doing something internet-related. I also checked out the single-player component of my new game, something I probably would have overlooked otherwise. I learned what to do with a choking infant and got halfway through a novel I started during the term break and thought I’d never have time to finish now that classes have started again. I also gained a new-found appreciation of just how much of my life is wrapped up in the internet, and how much it has changed in the last ten years because of it.