Destiny: Is this the future of gaming?

Destiny is a game recently released across various consoles and places the first person shooter genre into the role playing and MMO genres.

As much as I believe that as time goes by, we will see almost all genres adopt into an MMO-like standpoint, Destiny seems to do this in a rather shabby fashion. I detail some of the reasons below:

Question 1: Do you get rewarded?

Yes you do, with new gear and guns, however the amount of time you need to invest to get the greater gear can be considerable.

Question 2: How is the grind?

There is no question that the grind is certianly apparent in this game. Especially when trying to accrue vanguard marks (as opposed to crucibal marks). Vanguard marks mainly require you to play strikes, which are like dungeons in regular MMOs. However, because there are only a very short supply of strikes, this results in excruciatingly repetitive gameplay. On the  other hand, if you like competitive multiplayer, I would find the crucibal marks a lot easier to accrue.

Question 3: Is this truly next-gen?

Yes, it looks pretty, however with its repetitive gameplay, lack of different things to do, and rather long loading screens (even on the PS4 and Xbox One), this is not what is expected these days.

Overall, I have spent over thirty hours playing and have reached level 26 currently. So as much as I feel the gameplay is repetitive, ofcourse it is still rather addictive.

Downloading LOTRO. Which MMO is truly the best?

So I find myself downloading LOTRO. I think I’m bored. This must be the only reason as I have dabbled in LOTRO many years ago and since have delved into a wealth of MMOs of different types over the years, but have never stuck it out on any one specifically for an exceptionally long length of time.

Maybe I’m not the kind of guy for MMOs. Perhaps my attention span warrants a car racing game or a quick-fire shoot-em up. My craving however, that niggling feeling at the back of my mind always maintains. The craving for an MMO, any MMO. Just get me levelling up!

What are your thoughts and do you have any preference over MMOs? I note that all MMOs tend to follow the same basic structure, however they all have their unique selling points (most, at least).

Hello Again.

Hi. It's me..

I appear to of lost my inspiration for writing in this blog. Which makes me raise a questionable point, consistency.

When it comes to anything in life, consistency is always the best plan of action. Whether this be in your job role, your hobby or perhaps in a skill, such as writing. If you are not consistent, then where is your end game? Will you even reach the end game or will it always be an endless struggle.

Consistency will also make you better. Maybe only to become the best of the worst, but still better.

I'm a hypocrite yes, but I'm fully aware of my failings. Food for thought, or my mere ramblings. Either way, its something!

Writing A Novel

Writing a novel is one of those tasks where it is very easy to say the words, but it is an altogether different matter entirely to write the words in a structured and understandable format.

To many, writing a novel at face value would appear to be as easy as riding a bike or learning to swim (I can’t swim..), but it isn’t until you try it for yourself that you find out what a technical and time-consuming task it actually is.

For instance, writing a novel includes the below:

- Plotting
- Character arcs
- A fully developed story with believable characters and environments
- Correct knowledge of punctuation, grammar and spelling
- Understanding points of view
- Coffee. Lots of coffee.

This is a tiny part of what is a much larger range of aspects to consider when writing a novel and it is something that I have come to understand on my own journey. For all writers that is what writing is, a journey we go on, and for the true writers, a journey that never stops.

I encourage everybody to start this craft or at least give it a go. Just don’t go into this craft with the idea of getting published and/or making money, the greatest reward in writing is managing your own time, your patience and your imagination to the ultimate completion of your project. You may also learn a few things about yourself in the process..

Do you write in first person or third person?

There are varying ways to write fiction. You can either delve deep into the mind of the main character and perceive the entirety of the book from their perspective, or take a more indirect approach and look at the scenes from a more third person perspective; but which is better?

First person - When writing in first person, you as the writer have one major advantage. Your writing is not your own narrated language but rather that of the character themselves. This can make it much easier to understand and develop your characters conflicts and motivations more precisely but also provide them with their own individual voice.

This can quickly become a problem however because as the creator of the story, we usually have a wider perspective on how the story is going to pan out and to a lesser extent, the characters and environments our character is going to be flung upon. With this knowledge, it can be very tempting during the writing process to deviate from the first person rule. We may want to give other characters more depth for instance or tell the story in part from others perspective. This ofcourse being impossible under a first person persona.

Writing in first person has its advantages but it also has its restrictions.

Third person - The more commonly used writing style, third person writing gives the writer the freedom to write the story from multiple viewpoints and therefore this gives scope for branching story lines and more developed character profiles.

Whatever your choice, its important to choose a writing style and stick to it, no matter how tempting it may seem to deviate. Breaking this rule only opens the story up to confused, disjointed writing which can be hard to follow. Personally, i feel a writer chooses very early on what kind of writing they are better suited for and sticks to that for the majority. For me, it is third person, but ofcourse, it purely depends on the type of book you are writing.

What Is Happiness?

A rather simplistic question when you first hear it isn't it. What is happiness? This clearly isn't as clear a question as first thought, as surely the true key to happiness holds different reasoning to each and every one of us, no?

Modern society certainly gives the insinuation that happiness is defined by two things; power and money.

If you have power and money, you have success, and surely then you have everything you need in life. We all know this isn't true however, one mans riches can be another mans burden.

I believe true happiness can only be obtained from deep within your own mind. You have to experience life's ups and downs, both its perks and its pitfalls, in order to be truly happy. How do you know what true happiness is, if you have never experienced true despair?

Of all the materialistic obsessions the modern life brings. Happiness does not need all of this fancy gadgetry, it merely is within us all, ready to be accepted once we are truly comfortable in our own minds.

Hidden Gaming Gems

You know the ones. The games that we stumble across by accident that actually turn out to be some of the best experiences we have in gaming. A hidden gaming gem that we will play completely to the end several times (maybe on different platforms) just for the fun of it. Or maybe perhaps we find the multiplayer aspect of a game too good to put down? Whether it be from years ago or maybe more recently, there are games out there that grab us and don't let us go. Some that come to mind are:

- Burnout Revenge: The multiplayer in this game as truly immense and it was the first ever game I went online to play multiplayer. It's a real shame this game is nearly impossible to play now due to how log ago it was released. Bring it back! Burnout Paradise was nothing in comparison to this arcade racer.

- Broken Sword: A childhood memory for me and one that will likely stay with me for the rest of my life. I've re-played this game on the DS, the IPhone, Ipad and PC (originally on the PS). A truly all time classic point and click adventure.

- Call of Duty: I agree with some that this franchise is becoming nothing more than a money grabbing  tyrant where they justify a full retail price for the next reincarnation which may not be so different to the latter. This said, they certainly do get the last laugh as the multiplayer is compellingly addictive and buying the next in the series feels a lot like getting the next Apple product.

- Discworld: I'm not sure how popular this game was, but along similar lines as Broken Sword, this point and click adventure is just as addictive. The difference? This game lends more humour but also in a much more fictitious environment and plot. Worth a download!

This is just a small selection of the games that come to mind first but there are many more. I remember the days of playing 'Zelda: The Ocarina Of Time', 'Super Mario All Stars' and to perhaps a lesser extend 'GTA: San Andreas'. What are yours?

Late Night Writing

Whichever day of the week it may be, once the sun has dunked its head into the horizon and the night takes hold, my will to write becomes stronger.

My imagination becomes more vivid and my thoughts become clearer. I'm not saying I can't and won't write during the day, ofcourse this is the case. However it all seems to fit together better under the metaphorical sheet of darkness that night brings, or perhaps the more real duvet.

Why is this? Is it because the internal bodyclock is trying to relax and therefore the thoughts of the day have dwindled away, leaving room for new ideas. Although the silence and calm can also lend well, especially when in a busy home.

Whatever the reason, if writing at night does anything, it eventually sends you off to sleep and if your lucky, some rather interesting dreams!

Modern Society: Have we lost the plot?

I recently learnt of primary schools in the area that actively look to not give their students (children) first place medals. Whether this be for their work, a sports day or whatever else may come by. The reasons behind this? To ensure that the other children who didn't place first do not feel inferior.

Is this the politically correct, 'we can't insult or degrade anyone in society' gone mad? I would think that a child learning the feeling and value of defeat is one of the most fundamental learning curves a child could take. The children who do not learn these essential drawbacks surely do not have a true grasp on what life is really like and the true, sometimes hefty, pitfalls it brings.

With the way the world is developing and has done in the past years, it appears it is only going to get more competitive. So, in order to be able to compete in this modern world, surely we need to expose our children to this, and not 'wrap them up in cotton wool'.

I'm not saying to go hardcore on these children. I just think modern society has it ways of doing what it thinks is right and convinces itself to that fact, when in actual fact, it is only narrowing our children's focus, vision and understanding.

Blogging vs Writing

I realise as I write this of the sheer irony it creates. The difference between the blog and of writing itself can be extreme, but can also be relatively indifferent, I guess it depends on the blogger themselves.

Writing a short story or book requires thought, and lots of it. Teamed with hoards of imagination, willpower and of-course a willing and able skill with the language itself. Writing is a passion, a state of mind. It can take us to worlds that we never thought we could ever imagine. It's liberating, yet screams escapism. It's creative, yet largely private.

Blogging on the other hand is rather different. Blogs do not need a word count or (technically) any kind of structure or thought process. Due to this, they can act more as a distraction and degrade the skill of your writing as a whole (perhaps only in extreme circumstances..). 

Writing is a life-long skill which is never fully mastered, but you can happily blog after a few mere minutes. Can the two work productively together?

Watching A Film Before Reading The Book (or vice versa)

With the continual onslaught of new films coming out on a weekly basis, there seems to be a lack of creativity amongst the ideas and stories that are created these days. Resulting in the creation of films that have predictable plot lines and characters, and a story that I don't feel attached to.

With the exception of many, the majority of films seem like passable filler between more glamourous, thought provoking work. Why is this? Does the sheer volume of films outlaid these days mean that little work still results in a considerable paycheque? If this is so, then who buys into these films?

So brings me to my point. Films that tend to do the best are the films that are based on books. The ideas, the creativity and full plot are all already there, ready to be pixated onto the big screen. From our imagination, we can see for ourselves how near our imagination was to that of the author, or perhaps the film director.

However, does reading the book prior to watching the film create unrealistic expectations and possible imminent disappointment? I have found this recently with 'The Hobbit'. Having read the book I was excited to see how this was conveyed onto the big screen. Although it is a rather good film, I was left feeling slightly deflated about the whole thing. This is purely because i had read before I watched.

The End Of The Bookstore?

Could it be true? Are we on an inevitable course towards the demise of our trusty bookstore?

If it wasn't bad enough for the sole trading bookstore with the development of major chains such as WH Smith and Waterstones, the continuing onslaught of e-books is no doubt harming this sector considerably.

The one and only reason I buy the e-book as opposed to the real thing is for easy reading in bed. Countless times I've felt inclined to read my book in bed but have been unable to. This being because I'm unable to keep the bedside light on, or even use a specialised book light, as this is also too bright for my other half. It also takes up less room ofcourse. The e-book simply works.

Whilst the e-book is the practical choice, the traditional paper version cannot be beaten and its a real shame its being faded out as time goes on.

Is it the imminent end for the bookstore. If not now but in many years time..

July is almost here..

That's right. July is almost here and were officially into the latter part of 2013. Where did the year go? It only seems like yesterday that we were celebrating the new year.

Have you kept to your new year resolution? It's likely the good majority haven't, much like every year (including myself) but there's always next year.

I'm reliably told too that time only his quicker with age, a prospect I find rather scary indeed.

2013 still has some life in it yet however. For me, nothing beats Christmas time. Not to mention the release of the next generation consoles and likely major developments in my own little life. Oh how time flies!

The Last Generation?

With the added functionality within the consoles to be devices that are more accustomed to fulfil multiple media needs, rather than just gaming. Plus with the graphics becoming ever more beautiful. Is there a limit to how many generations of console there can be before they merely start are just re-configure the same formula but only with a few minor differences? (A few examples come to mind).

I think this will surely be the way of the future, as everything has its limit. 

Although perhaps the hardware will not be the focus going forward. Perhaps this will be the last generation of consoles that will actually have a physical unit. With services like steam, I believe it may be much more likely that both Microsoft and Sony will release streaming services (perhaps powered by a relatively low priced device, or maybe none at all). Streaming will also mean the bulk of the power is held remotely, negating the need a high-powered console of your own.

It's a sad thought but I think its an inevitable one. The excitement about buying a new console may be a feeling that will soon be no more.

The Imminent Debate: Xbox One or Playstation 4?

We all know that we are on the brink (if not already fully in the midst) of a battle between the Xbox One and the Playstation 4. Details are still hazy at the moment but which one are you leaning towards at the moment? Lets see what the current state of play is for both consoles at this time.

Xbox One

- Each disc will hold its own licence. This means that it will be harder to use the same disc on another console or effectively buy a used game. The only option to take in this instance would be to make use of their Microsoft's 'transfer system'
- The system resembles a VCR in my opinion (good or bad?)
- The console must connect at least once a day in order for it to play games..
- Ballpark price of $500.00

Playstation 4

- At the current moment, details are much more limited.
- We don't know what the console looks like yet!
- Ballpark price of $450.00
- The Controller comes with a handy touch screen interface (i'm uncertian at this point how useful that will become)

 

Both are stating that the next generation is not all about the games (although they will be much more improved ofcourse) but it is about being an all-in-one entertainment centre; connecting the console with such things as television capability. Both consoles will also come with an Eye/Kinect device as standard, a nice little touch.

Personally, the Playstation 4 is winning this particular battle for me, although the details are still rather limited so you never know what may happen.

The Demise Of The Cinema?

The cinema, a once popular pastime. Every Friday or Saturday night used to be the time you went to the cinema to catch the latest film. Heck, you may not even of wanted to watch the film, but you went anyway. A kind of social gathering.

These days however, the cinema is so incredibly expensive, it becomes more of a special treat than a random outing. This is before you take into consideration the need to buy food and drink (or perhaps buy it from a supermarket beforehand). I understand that the cinema's need to make money too, like any business, but it's saddening to think of how its become.

Is the cinema due to last for that much longer? With the onslaught of on-demand services such as Sky, Netflix and Lovefilm. Each one of these companies striving to get titles released onto their services in as short a timespan as possble after the cinema release. Plus the ever increasing capability of our own televisions at home. Bigger, louder, 3D, super HD. The additions keep coming.

Is it inevitable? Maybe not anytime soon but perhaps in fifty years from now. Will the cinema become a forgotten pastime reserved for the nostalgic?

Fate and Co-Incidence: The Bigger Picture.

Is there such a thing as fate, or co-incidence for that matter? Are our lifes just a pre-set mix of different decisions that are already made for us or do we truly have free will?

Sometimes in life, we all have that ery feeling that if something happens or if for some reason, it co-insides with something else, we will treat this as a co-incidence. This can go to the ultimate improbable extremes and this is how we find ourselves beginning to ponder whether fate is playing its role.

Personally, I dont see fate as being real in any sense. Time will continue to press on and we will all continue to make the right and wrong decisions upon our own free will. The only co-incidences that do occur are when our minds get carried away with ourselves and begin to relate things together. Some interesting theories to bear in mind however, include:

- The Science Experiment. Perhaps were all test subjects in a laboratory somewhere. A splatter of life under the microscope. Maybe even being controlled.
- The Matrix. However improbable this may first appear (and ofcourse im not quoting the film scenario as gospel), when you consider how technology has evolved over the last one hundred years, you could never rule it out.
- Multiple universes. Strangely and perhaps what is more shocking is that this thoery is the most likely of all thoeries to explain the grand expanse of space and everything within it. The prospect of there being millions of universes much like our own, where each decision is played out differently. Maybe even some instances where the Earth fails to exist at all.

Im a fan of the multiple universe theory myself, however, there are probably a thousand more ideas out there and still none of them may proof correct. The world is a strange place, much stranger than we give it credit for.

Chocolate!

The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett

I came across this book whilst out this evening and it has immediately grabbed my interest.

The genre and plot of this book appeal to me. Terry Pratchett has been best known for his tales focused on the Discworld over the last few decades, and this particular book appears to be a slight step away from that world. I feel this may bring new life into his work and will be a welcome change.

Excited to begin reading this one!

New Character in Guild Wars 2.

My new character in Guild Wars 2..