Gaming in the Living Room

I recently had a really good time at a friend's house. He has a "Man Room" with a huge TV, surround sound, big, comfortable leather couches (with built-in cup holders!) and, of course, an XBox.

So, there I was, sitting on the couch, wireless controller in my hand, playing Civilization Revolution. If you are a Civ fan and own a console, buy this game! It's awesome. I had a great time.

In the near future, I will be buying myself a large flat panel and I have been considering my options. You might remember a while back that I looked at my options for buying a Wii - but I decided I couldn't cost justify it. Well, after my recent experience, I was again thinking about a console and looking really hard at an XBox.

I went out to Amazon and to xbox.com and looked at all the available games. The only games I really wanted on the XBox 360 are Civ Revolution and Star Wars Force Unleashed.

I keep forgetting I'm not a shoot-em-up gamer. Essentially, the XBox as well as the PS2 & 3 focus on shooters and thin RPGs that are really just shooters. I like resource management and simulation. I like Civ and WarCraft and WoW and The Sims and I'm looking forward to Star Wars: The Old Republic. With the exception of Civ, none of that is available on the XBox, PS3 or Wii.

At retail, an XBox is only $200 less than a Mac Mini.

I was excited about being able to download movies on the XBox, until I looked at the limited selection of movies. I'll be able to download movies from my Netflix account to either a Mac Mini or an XBox. I can also rent movies from the iTunes Store on a Mac Mini.

I found a great wireless keyboard with a track pad from Logitech - meaning I'll be able to chat and surf from my couch.

I already own most of the games I like to play, upgrading to a more modern Mac will allow me to play even more. I might even be able to play WoW from my couch - I'm excited about that!

I won't get Civ Revolution, but I already own Civ IV for the Mac. I won't get Force Unleashed, but I have KoTOR and I should grab and play KoTOR II and eventually I'll have SW:TOR.

The Mac will have a web browser. My PSP has a web browser. I think the Wii has a web browser. The XBox? No browser. How can this $400, internet connected device not have a web browser? This thing is built by Microsoft - how does it not have Internet Explorer built in? MS slaps Exploiter on everything! They make watches with web browsers - how is it that XBox doesn't have a browser???

A Mac Mini will also be a media player - I could buy a terabyte of external storage (for cheap! Their $100!) and rip a good portion (if not all) of my DVDs to that.

I'm back to having a problem cost justifying a $400 device (even more with accessories) for two games.

Why is it that I can't buy a device that just works? Why? You go to look at a game, it's made for only one console. Or, worse, it's made for every console but the one you own. Why would a game manufacturer make a game for only one console, or make it for three consoles but not the fourth? For years I've fought the "The Game isn't made for the Mac" battle. And now that this battle is nearly over (Mac uses Intel processors and emulates Windows faster than some PCs can run Windows) - I find a whole new world of bull!

I want one device that will run Mac & PC software and play any game I shove into it! That would be an amazing device! Everyone would want one - but likely no one could afford one!

What Zines???

The OGL is one of the coolest concepts ever in the field of role-playing games in my humble opinion. The fact that WotC is now messing with it blows my mind. I guess the corporate mindset finally made it to Renton, WA. Most likely, they got a shipment from Redmond, WA.

When d20 first came out, there was a ton of buzz and rightly so - it was one of the neatest things to happen to RPGs. Everyone and their brother put up a Zine with free content. Even Steve Jackson Games, one of my favs, got in on the act. They started a subscription based zine called d20 Weekly.

Don't go looking for it, it's just a holder page out there in the ether. (I could buy the domain if I wanted it. Tempting!) d20 Weekly was ended at SJG after a rather short run. They cited at the time that the zine was losing money. At the time I remember reading (can't find the reference) that it was losing money due to the fact that there were so many d20 zines offering free content, d20 Weekly just couldn't compete.

Today I decided to write an article on various free gaming zines. I figured a stroll through Google would deliver me hundreds and I could pick out a few to showcase.

I was shocked. Repeated Google searches brought me very few results. Frankly, there were no zines I wanted to point to directly.

It's amazing to me how this hobby has struggled. There are more games available now than there has ever been. There are dozens of FREE games. The hobby has died and come back more times than a Marvel super-villain. First, the religious right tried to kill it. It came back. Then, it just wasn't cool. It came back. Now, at a time when every person under the age of 25 owns a game system and millions of people play WoW - we're seeing the hobby again retreat.

I'm tempted to start my own gaming zine, with paid writers and artists, struggle for the next few years and then ride the next wave or two of popularity. It would probably make me rich, then poor, then rich then utterly broke - but it might be a fun ride!

Adultitis

Looks like the cast at Weregeek just had a random encounter with adultitis. It catches up to every gamer eventually. Roll a Fortitude Save, DC 40!

Helloooo - oooo - ooo! Echo - ooo - oo!

So, this little blog has been around for a bit over a year and I have gotten around to writing less than *cough*30*cough* entries.

At this time of year, one is often led to look back over the last year and measure one's achievements.

I enjoy writing out here, I plan to keep writing out here. I want to write more often. I have several ideas for things I can put out here.

However - I'd love to know one thing:

Is anyone reading this blog?

Just curious. Is anyone using the materials I've presented? Have you been inspired by anything you read out here? Do you like what you see? Would you like to see anything else?

Talk to me! Comment!

I need the feedback ... obviously. ;)

An Embarassment of Games.

For years I have been begging friends and strangers to game more.

Now, I am faced with too many games! Quite the dilemma!

As you are aware, I have been in a long running Star Wars campaign. You are also aware from previous posts that I started up a D&D game. And, from my most recent post on dice shopping, you are aware that a friend invited me to play in a World of Darkness campaign.

I wouldn't say my D&D game is dead. I still want to run it, or maybe start again with a different idea, since I'm not too impressed with my use of Undead in that game. However, one of the players in that game is also in the new World of Darkness game and both games have been primarily concentrated on her residence as the place to play - so I foresee conflicts. I want to revive this game and march on somehow, I just haven't figured that out yet.

The WoD game has been interesting. The GM had set a large task before himself. He has a large group, and those can be unwieldy. He is also combining Vampire, Werewolf and Mage into one large World of Darkness scenario. At the very least this is ... well, unwieldy! It's ambitious, but he is pulling it off so far. The group has had three sessions and I have only been able to attend one. However, the group does a lot of in-character-email and blogging and what not. So, I've been able to miss two thirds of the games and still feel like I'm part of the deal.

I missed playing in the WoD game this week because I got to play with my Star Wars group. Our Star Wars game had not gotten together for three months! Both the WoD and SW groups wanted to play at the same time on Sunday. I don't like playing on Sundays. But, both groups are filled with busy adults and Sunday is becoming popular. I would certainly rather play than not play, Sunday or not. Hopefully they won't overlap too much as we go along.

I can't think of a time since I moved to Seattle, maybe ever, when I had too many gaming opportunities. Especially not where I'm playing more than GMing. It's a new world!

Gaming Daters?

Been two months since my last post? I'm getting WORSE at this! :)

Anyway, I have recently discovered a new way to find other gamers in your area. Do you have a profile on a social networking site or dating site? Use your favorite game as a search keyword and see if there is anyone in your area playing your game. Ask them if you can join whatever game they are playing or offer to GM for them and their friends.

It's a great way to meet new people. Most dating sites or social networking sites are free. And, better, you get more gaming in your life! Go try it out and tell us what you discover.

Loving My Gaming Life.

You have a family life. You have a private life. Some of you might even have a sex life. I have a gaming life.

I've got two good gaming groups. I played D&D this past Sunday and the group is working with the 3.5E rules like a well oiled machine. We need a few more PHBs, I might have to break down and buy a few new ones, but that seems to be the only problem.

The week before my other group played Star Wars. We had a great time. That group is a race car!

I'm totally in love. I don't think I've had this much gaming in my life since I first moved out to Seattle. At that time I got about one game every week or two. So I'm about tied. It's not as good as the last nine months I spent in St. Louis - but this time I have a job. So I got that going for me.

In between games I'm playing a ton of WoW and having a great time there, too.

How will this benefit you? Are you surprised that I want to benefit my readers? Don't be! This site is about making our gaming lives better for all! When I get a chance, I plan to publish the materials I'm producing. Either on this site or professionally. So, keep your eyes on this site for more features to come!