Ragnar’s Realms

Admin wrote: 

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends

Skyrender over at the WoW LJ asked a simple but interesting question I thought I would pass along to you guys: What is your favorite in-game music?

Recently Blizzard added a lot of great new music tracks to the game, but some of my personal favorites happen to be the older, traditional compositions if you will. I have actually found myself missing the old Inn music, despite getting the new tracks stuck playing in my head (as is happening at this very moment, as a matter of fact.) As much as I am in love with the Lament of the Highborne, I find the music in Auberdine to be equally stirring.

Perhaps it’s the simple fact that I know the original music so well. My characters grew up with that music, and it seems strange to walk into a place and hear something unfamiliar. I suppose music makes me more nostalgic than I realized.

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Today,  

Filed under: Fan Stuff

Alisha from DS Fanboy sent us a link to this lovely homemade PSP craft. With official pouches and cases so hard to come by for PSP-2000 systems, mewyam decided to sew an original guitar-shaped bag for her boyfriend’s PSP system. This meticulously crafted design not only looks stylish, but works well too: “the PSP rests perfectly in the bottom curved part so it’s far from evil snatching hands”

We’d like to get our hands on one as well. But first, we have to buy a girlfriend. Where do we do that?

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Today,  

Filed under: WoW Moviewatch, Fan art

Video game fan art is common, but not many people film it. G. Papafigos spent a whopping three hours painting an orc from WoW and then sped it up for YouTube. If you’re into the art scene, there’s a whole slew of recorded fan art online.

While this is certainly not machinima, I like it because it’s different. It’s incredible to see what someone can do with a few hours and a tablet. What I find more amazing is that this guy didn’t even use layers!

Previously on Moviewatch…

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Admin wrote: 

Remember, folks: cosplaying should only be handled by professionals. We’re not going to say if agius’ picture qualifies as good cosplay or not (bonus points for spikey hair, however), but we will direct you, again, to this horrific video. Check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
How a 681-day achievement streak comes to an end
Joystiq review: The Eye of Judgment (PS3)
Readers pick best webcomic: a forbidden love

News
Guitar Hero II gets three new international tunes
Demo for WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008 on Live
First Bionic Commando images, new info
NiGHTS coming December 18 for US, January 2008 for Europe
Game Informer gives Mass Effect a 9.75
Target scan shows 40 GB PS3 coming Oct. 28 for $399
Famitsu publisher says 67% of Wii owners aren’t playing
Valve makes patch for Team Fortress 2 lag on 360
PS3 sees sales spike in Europe
PS2 still a contender in the console wars
Peter Moore talks about EA, waxes poetic
Thrill to the first video of Dirty Dancing: The Game
Simpsons Game parodies those crazy Japanese and their wacky games
First Brutal Legend video is … well, it’s brutal
Guitar Hero III competition at E for All
Play WoW with your Xbox 360 controller (for some reason)
Retailers list 360’s Tomb Raider Anniversary for Oct. 23 release

Rumors & Speculation
Are poor box office sales Halo 3’s fault?
Rumor: GTA IV packing multiplayer for up to 16

Culture & Community
Red Ring of Death condolence cards
ESRB explains how game ratings work
Curses! Madden cover jinx strikes again

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Admin wrote: 

Filed under: Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Tips, Fan stuff, Odds and ends

We have mentioned Mac Ace Updater in passing before (or rather, I think you commenters have– thanks!), but if you’ve had problems with that one or are on the hunter for another Mac-based addon updater, here’s a handy link from the LJ– WoW Ace Updater for the Mac is designed to update all of your Ace addons on any OS X system you happen to have sitting around.

Here’s all the Ace files– as you can see, tons of popular addons are in there, from FuBar to Atlas to Omen. Odds are that if you use any of these, you probably already use WoW Ace Updater (or a program like it) to update the ones you need, but if you’re on a Mac and for some reason have been having problems, this is another solution you could try.

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Admin wrote: 

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Online, Casual

A recently purchased Microsoft Points Card package (manufactured in Ireland) confirms the impending launch of Xbox Live Video Marketplace in Europe, apparently limited to the UK, Ireland, France, and Germany. The packaging also suggests that users will be able to rent “great movies” (in high-def), but does not mention the possible availability of television content.

Microsoft has loosely targeted a year-end release for Video Marketplace in parts of Europe (and Canada), and with this new evidence, we should expect Tuesday’s Dashboard Update to include the service in all relevant territories.

[Thanks, RazorD]

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Admin wrote: 

Filed under: Patches, Items, Analysis / Opinion, Events, Blizzard

Okinos does a little trolling on the forums about holidays supposedly being boring (when actually, with the exception of no new content for Winter’s Veil, they have been anything but), but at least something good did come out of the thread: not only does Drysc lay down a huge burn, but we’re rewarded with a visit from Kisirani, part of Blizzard’s world events team.

And she’s got great news for those who love holidays– all of the holiday events are scheduled to get a makeover, Hallow’s End style. Darkmoon Faire is getting beefed up, as is “an older holiday” that is getting “a significant amount of punch” added to it. Chinese New Year, aka the Lunar Festival? Valentine’s Day? Your guess is as good as ours.

Blizzard’s team has to take time off, too, so it’s not too surprising that there wasn’t too much new content to go through this year (although the Clockwork Bots definitely make up for it, if only they’d work right). But it’s definitely awesome to hear that there’s more in store for holiday events around the realms.

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Today,  

Filed under: Mac, PC, Fighting

Street Fighter III: Third Strike — the greatest fighting game hardly anyone played — makes its way to GameTap on Dec. 20. To the many who know the fine, detailed, beyond-minutia intricacies of fighting games, SFIII: Third Strike represents the last great 2D fighter. GameTap has gotten hold of the Dreamcast version of the game, which means that both PC and Mac users will have access.

For those with specialty fighting sticks, GameTap supports a wide range of controllers and there’s an official list available, but many more work that aren’t listed. The game will not support online play because neither did the Dreamcast version. So check out SFIII: Third Strike and join fighter aficionados everywhere in enjoying a vintage treat.

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Admin wrote: 

Filed under: Shaman, Items, Analysis / Opinion, Classes, Totem Talk

Totem Talk is the column for Shamans. Matthew Rossi just got his internet connection fixed and after a week of forced hiatus, managed to beat Mass Effect last night. It’s a fun game, but it would be better if it had shamans in it.

Last week, we discussed gear for the Elemental spec attainable from quests in Hellfire, Zangarmarsh and Terokkar. This week, we’ll be completing our look by seeing the quests available in Nagrand, Blade’s Edge and Netherstorm. As before, we’ll be looking at mail armor rewards: while a shaman can wear cloth and leather, that’s beyond the scope of this guide. I’m probably going to leave the instance rewards for a final column on elemental gear covering level 70, focusing on Shadowmoon Valley and the instances.
Nagrand

Nagrand is a zone where the elements are disordered by rebellious elementals, water streams off into the Twisting Nether and yet doesn’t seem to diminish the available water at all, the only predators are birds and crazed, bloodthirsty dwarves (seriously, Hemet Nesingwary creeps me the heck out, he’s killed more animals than Ted Nugent and a superhighway put together - there really should be some optional quest to release the spirits of all the animals he’s had killed into his camp for some payback of something) and of course, such a land needs a hero. Or at least a shaman to come take some quests for the XP, gold and items.

A crazy goblin will offer you a questline that will net you a nice cape for your caster needs. You’ll need some friends to help with that one, but it is a nice cape. If you do the quests for Lantresor of the Blade, you can pick up this handsome ring for your trouble. And if you complete the lucrative Ring of Blood quests up in the Laughing Skull Ruins, you’ll be able to collect the Battle-Mage’s Baton if you’re a staff user. If you didn’t like the cape the goblin gave you (or if you took some other cape, the curse of being a hybrid) you can get a nice cape by killing Cho’war the Pillager. Luckily, both the Horde and Alliance want him dead. Well, I suppose it’s not lucky for him. If you’re up there killing Cho’war anyway (or Gurok, who we’ll talk about next) you might want to stop by the nearby Murkbloods and do a quest (if you’re Alliance) for the Dark Shaman’s Cover. Don’t worry, Horde, you can get a quest for an item with identical stats. And both Horde and Alliance will send you after the Murkbloods anyway so you can pick up the Warcaster’s Scaled Leggings while you’re up there.

There are various quests available to both factions at the Throne of the Elements in northern Nagrand. If you take a series of quests from Gordawg the Earth Elemental there, you will eventually be sent to kill Gurok the Usurper. Your reward will be a nice necklace. You can also pick up a decent belt and chestplate from the Throne quests. Finally, if you’re okay with killing for a maniacal dwarf, you can pick up the Clefthoof Wristguards. Since there’s no instance in this zone, we’ll move on to Blade’s Edge.


Blade’s Edge Mountains

Both the horde and alliance have sometimes competing settlements in Blade’s Edge, meaning that you’ll be pitted against ogres, gronn, and even stranger things. The important thing, however, is that you’ll be getting some decent loot for your continued mastery of the elements. The first quest I want to mention is the finale of a long chain that starts in Evergrove. I mention it because it has not one but two nice necklaces for the elemental shamans among us: this stamina heavy one, and this spell crit beauty. It’s pretty much down to your playstyle there, but they’re both very nice. Both horde and alliance will give you the opportunity to crush some ogres for this belt, and if for some reason you didn’t get the staff from the Ring of Blood you can pick up a nice stick as well. Alliance get a nice hat from the gnomes, while Horde get the same stats from their friends in the Mok’Nathal. A friendly tree will help you get this ring if you ask nicely and do him a small favor.

There’s a nice set of bracers available Alliance side (if the Horde have a similar set I haven’t found it yet) and a set of gloves available to either faction. These spaulders served me for a few levels and since you’ll be doing this quest anyway to get to the Hound-Master, you might as well pick up a ring. At this point, you should be ready to head north, since it’s closer.


Netherstorm

Some of this zone’s quests are much easier to do with a flying mount, but for the most part you can get around Netherstorm just fine at level 68/69. There are a lot of quests here, and so you should be able to find a few upgrades for the caster outlook. The complication here is often less Horde vs. Alliance, and more Aldor vs. Scryer. I’ll try to mention if a quest is Aldor or Scyer.

I should first point out this quest - make sure to look at the series to the side of the page. The pants you get from the last quest are very nice, indeed. While working on that one, you can do other quests, getting these spaulders from killing an elite. A quest that starts right in Area 52 can net you a nice caster helm, for example. Further along in that quest chain you can pick up this necklace. And if you’re doing the various Aldor/Scryer quests in the Manaforges you’ll eventually be in a position to pick up these boots. A nice cape can be achieved by doing a few quests at the Stormspire, as well. Aldor players can pick up a decent caster chest, as well. There’s an easy to obtain set of bracers and pauldrons. Scryers can pick a nice ring if they can get a couple of friends to help. The goblins will also help you get a set of gloves.

If you’re looking for trinkets, there’s Starkiller’s Bauble if you’re doing Protectorate quests anyway. While you’re there, pick up a belt.

By this point you’re probably level 70. Since you’ll be going to Shadowmoon Valley to pick up a flying mount, we’ll talk about the quests you can do for gear (and money) there next time, then we’ll cover the higher-level instance loot you’ll be looking at.

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Admin wrote: 

Filed under: News

Hey all, Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom just got a date today and no, she’s not making him pay for dinner (zing!). This RPG of doom and fire is set to release December 13th in Japan and Australia, January 8th in the US and Canada and February 1st in Europe. So, early next year you’ll get your KUF fix and that’s a promise. Oh, and if you aren’t knowledgeable about KUF then you should know this game has randomly generated maps. And they are fully destructible too. We just thought we’d tell you that and let you know.

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