To 2014

It has been an interesting year in gaming, and yet one I think will be lost to memory. "Things" happened, but none of them stick out in my memory as I wave farewell to the year past and welcome the year ahead. For me little of note occurred in the gaming world. Certainly there have been ups and downs, but the industry itself sails on, continuing on its meandering course. I would say that in terms of social justice, the year has been better than some, but there is a long road ahead, so while a victory is worth celebrating I'll save the champagne for another day. Even the series games seem to have done a little better this year, with GTA5 and AC 4 Black Flag exceeding expectations. I find myself optimistic regarding the coming year, with several interesting looking MMOs (Wildstar, Elder Scrolls Online, Everquest Next, Warlords of Draenor) on the horizon.

So as I wrap up this brief post I wish you all a Happy New Years, bring on 2014.

[Hearthstone] Mini-post; Card changes, sky falling

Blizzard is soon to be updating Hearthstone with a few minor changes to a few cards that see far too much use, and a change to how gold is acquired. Most of these changes people saw coming a mile away, as they were the cards showing up in 2/3rds if tourney decks, or every deck of a particular class.

[WoW] Dreams of Diablofication?

Though it still may change going onward, at this point Blizzard appears to plan some sweeping itemization changes for Warlords of Draenor. Among them is the random chance for an item to have one of three qualities: warforged (high item level and presumably slightly better stats), gem slots, and "tertiary stats" (movement speed, extra durability). The response to this is mixed, but some of the more hyperbolic have begun claiming that Warlords is adopting the often loathed itemization of Diablo 3...and to a degree, rightfully so.

[Hearthstone] I'm better than you

Have we not met? Oh, you must be in the wrong place then. This place is for winners, like ME. WHO am I? How droll! You must be new. My name is Argent Commander, and I am better than you. How could you not know who I am? Kripparrian, Hafu, Artosis, Noxious, Trump, Reckful, and Day9 do; we had a blast at Blizzcon.

[Blizzard] No, you're not running for President, but...

Rock Paper Shotgun held an interview with Dustin BRO-wder regarding Blizzard's upcoming MOBA, Heroes of the Storm. The interview went mostly well and covered mainly their strategy going forward and how they intend to distinguish themselves from competitors...then it took a sudden turn when RPS asked about some of the depictions of female characters. I've reproduced the "uh oh" section below.

[WoW] Blizz CAN write female characters, or, "Something about blind squirrels and nuts."

Over the past week Blizzard has caught more flak than a B-17 over some of their marketing of Warlords of Draenor at Blizzcon, and to be frank, it's not necessarily undeserved. One has to face that most of the promotional material is a sausage-fest. This doesn't mean that Blizzard is somehow a bad company or bad people, but when you give your community only limited information it should come as no surprise when the community assumes the worst. If I see someone throwing gasoline on my car I'm within the realm of reason to voice my concern even if they have some grand idea that isn't apparent yet.

[WoW] Blizz Drops Dailies, or, "What to do at 100?"

So few to no Daily Quests at level 90, that's quite the change and upsets a paradigm that's been around since ye olde days of Burning Crusade. Originally they were an answer to limiting the acquisition of reputation-based rewards without having to hide them behind massive grinds. I was skeptical at the time but I learned to love it to a degree that now I find large rep grinds distasteful. (I'm looking at you Emperor Shaohao...) They also conveniently gave max level players something to do aside from sit in Shattrath and try to kill Aldor/Scryers before getting teleported.