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comment And I can totally agree with that. They created EVE as an experiment at first. I think it's important to differentiate EVE and WoD. Just because they did EVE does not mean they will intend to make WoD More
comment I was thinking about this as I was dozing off to sleep last night (how's THAT for some dedicated thinking?), and I think I came to the conclusion that CCP and White Wolf should make a game first and More
comment http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/208-Eve-Online This video pretty accurately reflects my views of EVE More
comment My EVE comment was more because Fetch said he was bored by EVE and so would hope WoD wouldn't be boring. So, since I didn't find EVE boring myself - I'm not so concerned about CCP making a boring More
comment The only sandbox game I have any experience with is EVE so I must admit my knowledge is limited to that, with Eve however, I can say that the PvE does very little to "bring you into the sandbox" The More
comment #1.- Sandbox games are amusing but could be limited to those ones who get immersed in the game in some way. In WoD, PvE would be used to bring new players to the sandbox, if the MMO world set for WoD More
comment Don't get me wrong - EVE is great for EVE. It makes a hell of a lot of sense to have a bunch of mercenary businessmen controlling massive amounts of intergalactic finance.It's just that when you take More
comment I have concerns over any MMO, and of course over things in WoD. Personally, I never found EVE to be boring so I am not overly concerned about that. I enjoyed EVE. I'll admit, the traveling could be More
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Author: Harlequin


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PAX East 2012 Report 6 - Final PAX 2012 Blog

And this entire blog is going to be about The Secret World. Since this MMO which will be released before our beloved WoD has some cross over appeal I felt it was appropriate to devote the entire last PAX blog to it.  Here is Community Manager Amber giving you the skinny on the basic premise of

Comments 1 Comments Harlequin submitted 33 days ago


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PAX East 2012 Report 6

I want to say while I stated I didn't think the panel of "Transgender in Gaming" was going to be very interesting I couldn't have been more wrong. It was eye opening, enlightening and moving. Some of the stories of how those on the panel were treated, even black listed from the gaming industry was

Comments 1 Comments Harlequin submitted 35 days ago


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PAX East 2012 Report 5

Lost Heretic and Harl talk about Day 2 of PAX East and their adventures around the gaming table;   Skyrim Cosplay!    Harl with Tomb Raider pro Laura!   Aliens Colonial Marines display  Lollipop Chainsaw - The games basis seems to be a skimpy dressed high school cheerleader kills a zombie attack on

Comments 5 Comments Harlequin submitted 36 days ago


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PAX East 2012 Report 4

Here is a quick clip of scanning the main showroom floor;  Donovan and I talking about PAX East, our thoughts about what we have seen and first impressions;  Part 1 of Indie Game Development panel Part 2 of Indie Development Panel   Cosplay contest  Not sure who she is...   ANIME!   And more images,

Comments 1 Comments Harlequin submitted 36 days ago


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PAX East 2012 Report 3

 Wizards of the Coast D&D Online display    Jeff the Lead Art Director of D&D Online talks about the massive changes being done and making the game open up the Forgotten Realms setting.    Tabletop war gaming at PAX East 2012   More war gaming at PAX East   Table top RPG Area    RPG table for the

Comments 5 Comments Harlequin submitted 37 days ago


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PAX East 2012 Report 2

Chivalry FPS combat game Non-fantasy setting (no magic, dwarves, monsters for example)Combat based on 'movie realism'MP, teamwork focus32 players in a instanceDeep melee focused combat, personalMP has team objectives (get into castle, kill guards, then secure tower)  Civ 5 - Gods & Kings  More

Comments 2 Comments Harlequin submitted 39 days ago


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PAX East 2012 Report 1

I will let Donovan file his own thoughts on this topic however while we saw a LOT of cool and interesting stuff (and in fairness we certainly didn't get to everything yet) so far we have not had a WOW factor at this years Pax East.   The line to get into PAX East  Main Showroom Floor   More Showroom

Comments 1 Comments Harlequin submitted 41 days ago


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First impressions of WoD media

As many of you know, we had some images that were brought to our attention via a hot tip from our contacts page. However it was kindly brought to our attention that they were leaked accidentally from an ex-employee of CCP and we heeded the request (not demand) to remove them. However out of fairness to those that felt the rug pulled out from under you I am going to give my analysis of these images to give you an idea of the direction they are heading. I must preface all of this by saying the images we got a hold of are 2 to 3 years old and in software development that is an eon. It is VERY possible what I am discussing has changed or/and improved. But I still think the theme and feel will stay and there is something to be said of that and worthy of discussion.
 
First two images are character creation and what seems to be character selection. As far as character creation not a lot of info can be gained. We see a default female avatar in the foreground leaning against a bar in a club. We also see some NPCs in the background mingling with each other. The GUI simply asks us to choose the gender of our mortal and skin tone (3 shades light, med, dark).  There is a cell to enter a name with a button to generate a random one. Also there are a row of bottoms on the bottom asking to select some kind of, what I will call, “profession” for lack of the proper term. As best as I can read them they are; Investigator, Socialite, Artist, Junkie, Mafioso, Executive, Veteran, Scholar.
 
In the screen shot Investigator is selected and the description reads; “Insatiably curious, unrelentingly persistent and obnoxiously nosy, the investigator has earned a reputation for rooting out the truth in a situation, no matter how convoluted. Some secrets are not meant to be uncovered, however, and the truth has a way of becoming a very dangerous prize.  Starting Traits: Intelligent, Agile”
 
Interesting side note, there is a frames per second meter in the corner which reads 17.81. This in the character creation screen with the default avatar and 7 NPCs. While this may worry some keep in mind this is from a pre-Alpha state before any kind of optimizations most likely. Many of us heard about the rough shape performance wise of Incarna when rolled out in EVE. This is perhaps what they were dealing with a few years ago when this screen was taken, the low FPS. I am confident things are better on the front. But none the less it is worth nothing.
 
On the character selection screen it is pretty strait forward. There is a small menu on the bottom with character names and their clan (or professions if not apparently sired yet) to select and the character in question on display taking up most of the screen. Also we notice a nice cityscape in the background looking very bloodlines-esque in theme. An old cathedral surrounded by gothic themed stonework buildings. Directly behind the PC is an old, twisted leafless tree.  
 
The next 2 images are different angles of the same personal haven. Browns and tans are the color scheme for the most part. It seems to be a one room studio/flat with tan patterned wallpaper and hardwood floor. Some half opened moving boxes scattered about as if the PC just moved in along with a non-descript couch and coffee table, wrought iron framed bed, and desk/office chair work area. Opened file cabinet near the bed, some posters, wall art and a few book cases scattered about. Also a small closet by the doorway with hanging clothes in it. Above the desk is a bulletin board with various wanted posters and newspaper clippings attached to it.
 
The next two images are color maps of what seems to be 2 areas of a city. Each one details an area of about 4 to 5 square blocks. One is labeled as “Phoenix wharf” and has placed names that implied to me it might be Chinatown. Names such as “Golden Orchid Fireworks Factory” and a location of “Dragon Gates”.
 
The other map is labeled “3 Walls” unsure what part of or what city it might be but there is a bridge that is labeled to connect to Phoenix Wharf and has locations such as “Barber Shop”, “Bada Bing” (Soprano’s reference?),“Entry to Crypts” and “Meat packing plant”.
 
All the other images are non-textured interior and exterior goth themed mansions and clubs.
 
In conclusion, overall while these are VERY early images those that are from in-game I am impressed all things considered. I think they are without a doubt on the right track when it comes to theme, mood and ambiance of the game.  And when some official in-game images are released if these are a sampling, we should all be extremely pleased. While I know not seeing these pics is difficult, I hope this written preview and first impressions conveys some sort of consolation.
 
I think we should have a good deal of faith in Chris and his team from what we saw and have confidence they are on the right track.
 
Feel free to post your thoughts.

Comments 15 Comments Harlequin submitted 80 days ago


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Harlequin's Top 10 CRPG's Of All Time

The end of the year is approaching and time to look back. Not just this year but the past few decades and take stock of where we are at and where we came from. So this is my list, and my reasons, of the top 10 CRPG's. Agree, indifferent or yell at me let me know your thoughts on this list in the

Comments 10 Comments Harlequin submitted 141 days ago


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What the WoD MMO Can Learn From Second Life

Second Life? Are you mad? I don't want some naked goth avatar on a sex bed in the middle of the street!Yes I can hear your shock at this proposal but ask you hear me out. While yes SL has issues. Many. Of. Them. It also, from a role play perspective, has several good aspects and the SL designers and

Comments 16 Comments Harlequin submitted 230 days ago


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