Little bit of history

I woke up one early Summer day, in June, the 6th as I recall. I rolled out of bed, jumped in the shower, and found my Dad sitting out in my Mother's van waiting on me to go to Walmart with him. It was the year 2001, I still remember my Dad's excitement for the release of a game called World War II online. It was strange because my Dad had never been excited about any other game release, nor would he ever be excited for another. You see, my Dad was a business man turned history teacher. He owned his own restaurant for much of my young life, he struggled to keep food on the table while he worked and went to school for his teaching degree. History is really the only hobby he had at the time. Everything revolved around his degree, and for that level of intensity for him to be excited about a game, was thrilling to me.

We headed out that morning to purchase a game. That's a strange concept these days for kids. Now you can just visit a website, enter some credit card information, buy any game you want, and download it. It's even getting now where console kids don't have to leave their houses for a game. When you think back to the long-long ago, to the before time, you need to realize how far we have come. The other day I was reading about how a part of cannabis called (CBD) can heal people with Tonic-Clonic seizures. This treatment was unheard of 20 years ago because of fear. We live in a technology world. Every day, that old saying "Technology ain't what it use to be," is growing ever more clear.

World War II Online's release, was the last time I had played a game for 15 hours straight with no breaks. Until this weekend that is. Although I have had my moments of game marathons, I have always taken a break in between raids, or in between PVP matches. Sunday morning at 5:51am, I sat down to play Elder Scrolls Online, when I stood back up, it was 4:32pm. I had to get some laundry done for work the next day, so I took advantage of that fact, filled my water, and grabbed a few pizza rolls for the road. I sat back down at 5:00pm and played again until about 10:00pm or a little after.

By the time I was done playing for the evening, my back, elbows, butt, hands, feet, neck, all ached, as if I were the one actually swinging the sword, and not my character. I had truly been to battle, rode a horse, hopped off the horse, jumped back on the horse, sometimes involuntarily. I had to decipher German phrases. I had to recall beta experiences to make it through a few quests that were in German too. I grouped, I died, I crafted, I explored. It was a full day. I did find some money loopholes, and I plan to experiment more with those when I reach max level.

I guess you could say I had the full experience. Though, I did not have the full 44 hour experience like some of my apparently unemployed friends did. How those guys made it 44 hours to level 50, without an IV of Red-Bull I will never understand. They must be a lot younger, and must have a lot better computer chair than I.

My experience was good. Like with many other games bugs are many at launch. The game doesn't officially launch until the 4th, so there is still time to hammer out those broken quests, and fix the secondary weapon bugs, where you switch to the other weapon involuntarily in the middle of a fight. There is still time! Right Right!

I leave you now with only one phrase.

As the late, Vipper von Vipperson would say, "Never go full carrot."

-CB

Interviews and playthroughs Oh My!

One of the major problems as a writer is coming up with new material each time to write about. Writers and content creators spend hours upon hours researching, interviewing, and experimenting. Often times we as these content creators get to spend a few hours a day playing games. Although, what you may consider playing, is not what we consider playing. It is always preparation. From the moment we log in until the time we log out, we are constantly stopping and starting.

It usually begins with us following the "Ooo - Shiny" as we jot down a few extra notes concerning the location of an ore vein, or a wood source. Nearly often enough, we spend more time writing these notes than we actually get to enjoy what we are doing. This does not necessarily mean it is all that bad. We get to meet people, the average player does not. We get to enjoy upper tier communities, that many normal players do not. We get invited to betas that other people strive to get invited to. The reason for all this is simple. We are not here to play, we are here to study. I overheard a conversation the other day with a few players who have not been invited to a certain game with a certain "open all the time" beta. They were complaining that only people with certain clout were allowed into "these types" of betas. That only the people who knew someone or had popularity were allowed in.

I wanted to enter and hijack the conversation to tell them they were wrong. I realize now that even if I had, it wouldn't have changed their opinion one way or another. Sometimes you just cannot convince people of your thinking, because of their stubborn ways. I guess the same can be said about myself as I am as stubborn as they come. "Fear not! For the people whom you show jealousy for, are not having fun, but are working, and working for free for that matter!" I wanted to scream in their channel locked all to themselves.

Betas are always viewed as some sort of demo for the real game. That is not the case. Betas are to test, and only testing shall it be. You should never take knowledge from a beta, to insert your own opinions of disgust.

To put it into a bigger perspective:

IT IS THE BETA, THERE ARE GOING TO BE BUGS.

I feel that some people do not quite grasp this fact. Yet here we are again, explaining the over explained. 

-CB

Guild Hunting

     For the past several days, I have been multi-faction guild hopping. I have in turn met several wonderful people, and it certainly seems that the Elder Scrolls Community, is more of an adult being. Now when I say that I am not necessarily meaning all players will be over the age of 18. For the most part, the guilds I have visited have all been professionals. They emphasize less on the skill of a player, and more on the individualism of the player themselves.

     This has come as a bit of a shock to me actually. While I am sure there are many guilds out there, whom are unprofessional, and non-courteous to new players, and with all games you are going to have those secular guilds whom are elitists. From my experience of over 30 nameless guilds. Each in their own way have been kind and sincere in meeting and engaging with new prospective members. 

     What this means for the average newbie to any MMO is there are many different opportunities for you to meet like-minded individuals. I encourage all of my readers to experience all the guilds that you have read about in any Elder Scrolls Public Forum. Meet the other people whom you will be interacting with in the future. 

     Do you know any cool guilds who might be recruiting new members for Elder Scrolls Online? Post their names and a link to their page in the comment section below. I would love to check them out.

-CB