Skip to main content

Posts

New Endgame Flashpoint for Star Wars The Old Republic: Welcome to Copero!

Welcome to Copero!  A lovely resort planet of the Chiss Ascendancy, with a dark secret.  This storyline for this flashpoint was written by Timothy Zahn, author of the Thrawn novels.  This is probably the closest SWTOR has come to being considered canon for years. Aristocra Saganu disapproves of your Jedi ways. Featuring the return of the influential and impeccably voiced Aristocra Saganu, from the Agent storyline, Copero is an exciting run through a beautiful world. omg god rays! Copero also brings back another Agent companion, Ensign Raina Temple - for better or for worse, depending on how your Agent felt about her.  I did my first playthrough of Copero as a Chiss Jedi, and for the first time in a long time, that made a huge difference in the story.  There are lines specifically for Chiss, and for Jedi, and for Chiss Jedi.  It is amazing. This place is prettier than Makeb, and that's saying something. Copero continues the dark storyline...

Upcoming Game: Ambition: A Minuet in Power

Who hasn't woke up one day dreaming of living through the French Revolution?  What, you haven't?  Well, whatever.  At least some people have!  Like the fine people at Joy Manfacturing Co., who are working on creating a game about this very scenario: Ambition: A Minuet in Power .  Play the part of Yvette, a young woman who takes an active part in the French Revolution - she's not just window dressing.  She's playing the court circles, making friends, spying on people, setting people up... just like high school, only with more guillotines.  Yvette is supposed to be searching for her lost love, but let's face it: we're all going to get this game to see how many people we can send to the scaffolds.  Tip: rename your victims after your high school bullies!  Instant catharsis. Joy Manufacturing Co. is a small team of creators and designers based in San Francisco, CA, and they make unique, creative, and interesting games.  Their Kickstarter ...

Unpolished Fun: A Hand in the Darkness

A Hand in the Darkness by Ertal Games is a BL Otome.  For those of you who were going to open a new window to look that up, let me save you a click: it's a visual romance novel but with boys kissing boys.  The game is available on Steam and from the developer's itch.io site.  The developer (a solo project, props and respect) writes in both English and Spanish, and while you might expect my major complaint to be about the translation quality, it's not. The game features three different love interests to pursue (and of course, get Steam achievements).  There's Damian, the rich rake who is unexpectedly mature; Rick, the smart one whose path I haven't finished yet; and Monty.  My problem with the game - which I enjoyed in all other respects - is Monty.  The stalker.  The controlling boyfriend who has no redeeming properties and causes a bizarre switch in the main character's behavior that I found both baffling and unpleasant.  Never have I rushed t...

Not dead....

I have a stack of articles to write up, mostly from Gen Con, and a full mailbox to go through of new things to write about. I also have some kind of horrible lung infection!  I refuse to say pneumonia.  I miss having health insurance. Oh well, hopefully I can get something done soon.

Epic Games' Early Access Game Fortnite: A Fun and Clever Mix That Will Take Up More Time Than You Think

So, someone who has no idea that I am some sort of Internet blog-journalist-gamer-reviewer (I like to mix genres, okay) gave me a free key for the Early Access of a new game from Epic Games, Fortnite .  It's a... game where you gather materials, build forts, and then defend them from zombies.  You also attach weather balloons to vans, build possibly alien technology to combat zombies, and power things with blue goo.  And I thought I liked to mix genres....  Anyway, the game is fun, and does not take itself particularly seriously.  Except in the excellence of the mechanics. Building is fluid and simple, the harvesting mechanic is fun, the heroes and survivors all look different and interesting, and shooting/stabbing/burning/launching zombies is just as much fun as you think it will be.  The only thing I do not like is the minimap, which can be very confusing especially when searching for mission items in a party.  It's possible I am just directionally...

Gen Con Housing Block Closes Monday July 31

Need to make last minute changes to your hotel reservation? Gen Con housing will close at 11:59 pm (Eastern), Monday, July 31 .  Beginning at 12 am Tuesday, August 1, reservations holders must communicate all change requests and cancellations directly to their assigned hotels. Please allow 24 hours for reservations to transfer from the Gen Con Housing system to the Hotel system. Hotels will charge reservation holders a non-refundable deposit equal to one-night room charge + tax per room starting as early as Tuesday, August 1. The balance of room fees will be charged at check-out. Deposits will be charged to the credit card used to secure the room reservation.  If the credit card on file does not have sufficient funds or is no longer valid, the hotel may cancel the reservation. You can review and change your credit card number online by using the "Modify Reservation" link in your Gen Con account ("My Housing" or "Housing" once you have signed in to...

PAX Unplugged Exhibitor List Announced

PAX Unplugged 2017 will be the first tabletop-focused PAX event.  Pax Unplugged will host a stable of prominent exhibitors, including Wizards of the Coast, Paizo, Fantasy Flight, Asmodee, and CMON, among many others. Tickets for the show are on sale now , and the event takes place November 17-19, 2017 at Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Convention Center. Part of Penny Arcade's international roster of events, PAX Unplugged will reflect the experience millions of PAX attendees have enjoyed for more than a decade, but with a spotlight on card, board and other tabletop games, celebrating the medium's rich and thriving culture. Attendees will have the opportunity to see the reveal of new and exciting titles, go hands-on with upcoming games, partake in tournaments and sit in on panels headlined by the industry's leading minds. While PAX Unplugged will cater to the tabletop industry and affiliated communities, a selection of video games featuring board and card game elements ...