Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Searching the Net for signs of life...

I am just clicking on links that have probably all been destroyed or lost in the shuffle. I have so many links that are dead, but there are a few still working out there...

Mushashi is still hanging on and in the site's original splendor, has a post only 4 months old reviewing the his last two years in gaming. Pretty interesting stuff.

Damned Vulpine is still out there spewing his magic madness in less frequency these days. Still, it's good to be out there pounding on the bad guys when needed.

Arcadian hasn't done shit since 2005, so I guess I am at least in the loop a tiny bit more then him.

I lost my copy of Avatars Offline, but I see the web site is still there.

Jessica has been on "break" since 2003. I guess all that ranting gave her good reason to go to sleep for 4 years...

DNN Network, Darktide, is gone.
DrTwister.com is gone.
GameCore.net is gone.
GameMirror.net is gone.
The Chosen is gone.

Hey, GU Comics is still around. Ol' Woody still making a play for the little guy.

I am not sure exactly what Lietgardis is up to these days, but it appears as though she is still fighting the good fight for women in online games. No more bikinis bitches!

Markovia is gone.
MassiveMultiplayer is gone.
MMOG News is gone.

Old Man Murray still has a site, but was defitely shook up by the attacks on 9-11.

Penny Arcade is still about doing their thing. Making teh funny...

Planet Crap seems to be in a slight holding pattern, but still manages to get 600 responses on any post.

Player2Player is gone.

Sinfest still seems to be in tact. Cartoons make me laugh.

All of Lum's buddies over at This Is Not A Community seem to be holding true to their less then popular views...

Black Hand Network is gone.

The Morlocks have faded to "Forums Only" and not very busy, but still out there.

The Punching Bag is gone.

The Jaded Gamer seems to be more like me these days with sporatic posts that probably mean absolutely nothing.

Unknown Player is gone.

Another one of the post Lum nuclear disaster sites, Water Thread is still alive, although, I am not sure how alive or if they still make sense.

WTF Man still out there, but without Greybeard or Nighthawk, it really holds little interest for me.

Unhelpful is still out there, but have been very unhelpful since 2006.

Hard News, has hardly any news anymore. They are gone
Your Daily Dose is gone.

And that's most of my links... I probably need to find some new ones, maybe the 3 of you that still visit here on a yearly basis can point me to some new places.

Then again, maybe I don't want to know.

Ciao!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Lum has it all wrong... PvP Done Right?

Well, after writing my long post about what was, I found that Lum had been poking around with the perfect country and western PvP game.

What you really have to do is some of what Lum (Scott Jennings) said, and somehow convince the other ninety percent of your playerbase to agree to be the victim at any time during the course of gameplay. Then you would have the perfect PvP system.

See, it wasn't the fact that they could fight each other or how as much as they weren't allowed to terrorize the unwashed masses anymore. That made them angry. Hence fourth Trammel was born, and the Trammies, Bluebies, and basically any other derogitory statement just short of the word pussies was born. They also like it if there is a way to take some advantage over the opponents. Don't forget to put that in too.

PvP systems in a game based over the Net may never be perfect... I don't think you can get more then 2 of the hardcore PvPers to agree to anything short of "I ROX, YOU SUX".

Anyway, that's my 2 cents... Nite!

I couldn't teach them... The numbers speak no lies...

I remember seeing a post somewhere asking why I didn't stay around and make EA see the light about the PvP system in UO. I have a couple of answers to that, but I really wanted to say that there was never hope for a life of Red vs Blue once EverQuest hit the scene. It revealed to the world that people would much rather keep their stuff and stay to themselves as much as they wanted.

It is a lot like real life in MMO's or whatever they are calling them today. If you have something that you worked hard for, it is very difficult to let it go. The majority do not understand how to have all the spoils in life and lose stuff too. The cost mentally is much too great for most. Even if it is a game, it still hurts you inside your head.

People would much rather unearth some crazy statue at server re-boot time, then go out and fight with that sword they spent 17 hours getting from some wild ass dragon. Some folks just want to make pretty stuff in the house or the yard. Some just want to sell things, some just want to be a social icon or be a part of something bigger then their real lives.

I learned a lot playing UO. I learned more from being a part of that community then I have in most of my real life experiences. There is much to be learned from a community like MMO's especially once they became more world-wide and then had all of the other cultures and expectations to deal with from all over the planet.

At this point, in my life it really wouldn't matter if they created something similar to what UO was back in its infancy. Fact is, I opened Pandora's Box and now that I know the truth behind it all, there is no way I could trick my mind into being all amazed and confused like I once was in UO. For me, my time to move on had come and that's what I did. UO and other MMO's in many ways helped me to take those steps towards doing what I like to do now.

BV was a beacon for a community that was lost in the shuffle of saving a game from extinction (lost revenue/market share etc). The Battle Vortex site still stands today as a reminder of what was. Those communities still exists, and even though most of them are not on this server any longer, those people from all the different aspects of what we had at BV are out there somewhere. They are either serving another cause or still remembering the causes of what was. Either way, they are out there because I had this crazy idea of making the world we live and play in a better place for what we believed was right. We won some battles, and we lost a lot, but it was better then just sitting around bitching about it. Well, I think the Siege Perilous folks might disagree with that, but they do like to bitch. hehe

Some day a new game will emerge that will once again bring fourth sites like BV, Lum the Mad, The Chosen, and my old favorite UO Evil. All of them will fight to bring justice to their own point of view. Until then, enjoy life and do something fun. Don't get stuck waiting for something. Make it happen yourself or join a new cause. Do something for yourself.

Have a great holiday

Monday, December 10, 2007

Ahh,The Good Ole Days... Really Old Days...

Stolen from CNN.com

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/ptech/12/07/c64/index.html

Hey, I loved my C-64, and I think I am going to see if they still have Uridium... I think that's what it was called anyway. I used to love that game.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Have a great holiday season ya'll!

Another Xmas season approaches...

I have been gone from the Internet for way too long. I am content being out here in the sticks. I never thought I would like it, but even with all of the ups and downs through it all, the country is not so terrible that I can't deal with it.

I am still working at a couple of places, but I have brought the list down significantly. I started bartending and even cocktail on a few of the nights I am not DJing or doing trivia. The trivia has picked up a little, and I hope it will continue to grow over time. My shows have been making mad bank for both bars. I hope the owners will enjoy a nice holiday season. I know I will...

Got my own crib these days. I moved out of the parents house finally. It took some time, but when you live in a town where the best available job is a cashier at a gas station, you can imagine how it could take awhile to pull things together.

I got a car too... Not exactly as cool as the Jeep Liberty or the Chevy Extreme, but it runs and it is legal. I guess that is better then walking.

I am running an AT&T air card at the moment, so my Internet speed isn't exactly top notch out here. I can only get a G2 connection, but it is way better then dial up.

Not too much else to report. I have been doing well, and my family is still holding together. Mom says hey!

Talk to you soon... Ciao!

Friday, August 10, 2007

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Eww, that is a bit freaky!

I remember it looking a little different, but it does bring back some memories...

Monday, July 23, 2007

Remember When?

Remember the good old days when we didn't know anything about our world and we just played the game? Spending 14 to 20 hours a day just playing until our hearts content. Giving ourselves enough time to sleep to get up just in time for the next Anti-PK siege on our houses?

Ahh, back when we thought the DM's were simply invisible friends that came to mess with our heads every so often with a flash of light and a puff of smoke. When we thought the designers were Gods that gave us this wonderful place that we could go fishing if we wanted. Killing folks was a business, and business was good. hehe

Then that day came where we were woke up from our slumber by the severe changes to the world. Causing us to wake up and realize we were in the Matrix, and really didn't want to wake up... Our dastardly deeds were forgiven and we walked into town for the first time ever... as blues.

Wierd, but I just remembered that's when we became aware that we were not really living in Sosaria, but in this cruel place... We were in the Real World... We wanted to go back and take the blue pill again, but it was too late. We would never be re-inserted back into the Matrix...

Battle Vortex came alive then, and now that reality has taken hold, she sits quietly waiting for Sosaria to return... I wonder if I will ever get into another game like that again... Maybe, but then again, maybe it is better that I don't.

Friday, June 29, 2007

Funniest Evar!

I was reading Lum's and they were talking about how built in chat in MMO's can present a problem. So, there is this guy that hacks into Vent servers, and records his chats with the people he intrudes upon. Most of them are sort of lame, but this one makes me laugh, so I thought I would share...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9Sr3aCd6mE

Wierd, yet not...

So, I have this friend I have been seeing for awhile, and come to find out she loves EverQuest. Never heard of UO, or most of the MMOG's and really doesn't care. She loves her EQ and wouldn't have it any other way.

I found it to be sort of interesting that people can get into a game and never hear or even be curious about all the other choices out there. I of course played EQ, but I wasn't as in to it as she is. I think I was only level 27 or so when I left that realm for Asheron's Call, but apparently she is like level 60 or more. She has this crazy limited edition set of CD's in a tin and everything. I have like 3 of the expansion packs myself, but to see someone with the whole thing was kind of different.

She wants me to install the whole thing on my puter. I guess I might have to go see old Fearian in the land of EQ once more... It's got to be pretty cool by now right? hehe

Laters...

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Blather Down, BV's Of The World Unite!

So, I guess Blather is down today... Awwww... That must suck for them. I wanted to lose some IQ points, and that is where I usually go to get stupid.

I am having a great time these days with work and my new friends out in the country. I guess life just takes those turns to show you something is always better around the corner.

Anyway, my forum is up... I don't expect much of a rush to use it though. It's there if you need it. hehe

Oh, the radio-show thingy... Well, I haven't heard too much about it lately. They have been on other projects as of late, and I suppose we will resume when the time is right. In any event, I am ready to go. My schedule is a bit tighter now with the two jobs, but I can hopefully squeeze some time in for that as well.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

And the beat goes on...

Oh, and happy Easter, and any other holiday I missed since my last update. Things are going much better over here. Enough to keep me busy full time now, but I am off today and tomorrow, so I thought I would sneak in a quick blog.

Life is truly like a box of chocolates... You just never know what you are going to get. 2 Karaoke Gigs on the weekends, and working 3 days at the other job, will keep me going for awhile. We are working on the car sitch now. I got an offer to come back to another Gig on Wednesday nights, but the car thing is holding that up.

The good news is that I am having some fun and hanging out with the family, so all-in-all it is really nice.

As far as the audio thingy, we have hooked it up, but haven't gotten off the ground yet. I am not sure what is in store there with me only having 2 days to work with. That's what happens when you are looking for things to do. You eventually find too many things to do. hehe

Laters!
-Fear

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Hiya! Happy St. Patricks Day!

Today I got my first practice run on the new audio software with Viceroy. We played some music and talked on the air for a couple of hours. Pretty neat stuff. I have some hardware coming to make the system run perfect, and then hopefully we can start doing some interviews...

We already have a tenative interview scheduled with SunSword, and we have discussed getting some others down the road that should keep things interesting.

Kelly Kindred says that she is putting BV back up. We finally got a new server, and hopefully we can get the old system cranked up and running again.

Anyway... Just wanted to say hello and remind Mocker and Haze that they can paint the fence any color they want. They still suck and always will. ;)

Ciao!
-Fear

Thursday, February 22, 2007

It's amazing what you find in Cracker Jacks these days!

So, I went looking about and found some old BV art that hasn't been stolen yet by Blather Vortex and put it up on my site.

Hey, I am setting up my audio software and should be able to do some test runs as my new life of evil emerges from the darkness. My Saturday show doing Karaoke/DJ is going well, and I have never been this happy and poor all at the same time. Maybe money really can't buy happiness, but I remember going and buying whatever I wanted once upon a time and sometimes long for those days to return.

Keep your seatbelt securely fastened, we are going for a ride!

Monday, February 12, 2007

Return to the Dark Side???

Conversations are in the works for Fear of Battle Vortex to return to the world of Radio!

I have been speaking with Viceroy over at MMOGRadio.com and we are looking into the possibility of me getting back into the swing of things and doing a little MMOG talk show again like we did back in the day. Check out their site! they have a few shows going under their belt and seem to actually know what they are doing. Unlike me, who just flies by the seat of his pants until the belt breaks.

I had a long chat with Viceroy about what happened to BV and whatnot, so hopefully, we can do an interview about it in the future.

I'll update you more as the sitch changes.

I got a Saturday gig in Byers Colorado now, and in about 2 weeks I should be full-time at the day job, so things are looking up for me. Thanks again to all of you that helped me get through all this stuff. It has been a bumpy ride, but the friends make it all worth it.

-Fear

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Welcome to the sticks...

Snow sucks. News at 11. It was like -3 degrees last night and my Dad's truck decided it didn't need the serpentine belt anymore. Of course when I call for a ride, old helpful Dad wants me to check the belts. I am like.... Umm... Not! Did I mention it was -3 degrees?? Hello??? Anyone home?

Ok, so I am up early today trying to resolve that issue. The Ex is still stalking me, news at 11. Did I mention that I am going crazy? Oh, you already knew that, then what the heck? Anyway, been busy messing with my Karaoke stuff, and I am probably a few weeks behind on what's new in game land. Well, more like a couple of years behind, but who is counting?

I did download some Star Wars games on my Razor. Coruscant and Star Wars Episode III. However, I haven't had time to play either one. Probably something I shouldn't have done, but I was bored at the time.

Anyway, just a quick update for today. Hi to Azeroth! The rest of you.... Hey!

Thursday, January 4, 2007

WTFMan Is Taking Applications.... LOL!

I thought they were long gone, but apparently Nighhawk is now taking Apps for web site personalities on WTFMan... That is almost as funny as me taking applications for BV writers again...

Nighthawk, please stop making me laugh! Our sites are all but dust in the wind dude... ;) WTFMan hasn't crossed the 3 post a year mark since 1999, but whatever floats your boat man.

Ahh, what it is to dream the impossible dream... However, I wouldn't mind hearing from Greybeard! I miss that old pirate. No one could kill in undergarments the way he did it.

Long live the fighters!

The Damned Vulpine Tagged Me!

As mentioned on J's site most of you already KNOW WAY TOO MUCH! Anyway, in true meme fashion, I will comply with the wishes of the Gaming Gods... I will try to think of stuff that I haven't blogged before.

5. I didn't finish college. I went to a vocational college in Denver, and didn't finish. My major was Computer Science along with minor in Accounting. I was still hired on by a publishing company in Broomfield and held their Network Administrator position for 14 years.

4. I am shy and tend to keep to myself in real life. Believe it or not, and Raph mentioned this type of situation on one of his audio interviews. Playing MMOG's, then writing and doing audio shows about them, helped me to be able to deal with the general public and other people in ways I never thought would be possible. I am still quiet until I get to know you for about 3 minutes, but after that I will have you reading my blog.

3. I used to get picked on in school. I am talking about everything from being short, to my last name, my red hair, to just mean acts or violence pointed in my general direction. I was a bully magnet! Usually, it had something to do with me sticking up for someone that was unable to do it themselves, but I have even taken a few rocks upside the head for my friends. Stitches and all!

2. I was a very competitive track runner in Jr. High-School. Despite the fact that I was shorter then the average runner, I had a lot of heart and I could get those legs moving at lightning speed. I was a sprinter, and a darn good one at that.

1. I don't watch or know ANYTHING about sports. Especially football. I can't stand watching games like that on TV or even going to them in person. Okay, I know a few general things, but if you ask me to watch football, baseball, hockey, or whatever on TV, the answer is no. I would rather go to sleep or get on the computer then waste my time on sports. It kind of sucks in an akward way because my Mom always gets me sports jerseys and jackets. People ask me about those teams like Broncos or Avs, and I have to admit that I really have no clue what they are talking about.

I guess that does it... However, I have no idea where these other folks may be writing these days to tag properly... So, let me say whom I would like to hear from and maybe J. can point their locations out to me so we can get some more meme going on.

Sunsword, Runesabre, Adrick, Tyrant, Riprend

And if they don't have a place of their own, I will gladly post it here. =)

Life Story Part 45: A new beginning...

So, for all two of you that are paying attention to my saga of woe... It is actually not looking so much like woe anymore. The snow has finally started to melt away, and there are good things in the air for me. Again, I would like to thank the Blathering idiots for reminding me of my accomplishments.

I had been getting ten to twenty texts a day from the "Ex" about many different things, mostly that we should get back together, which normally makes me laugh. And then on Christmas, she starts sending crazy texts about how I am online talking to women, cheating, etc. I had no idea what the hell she was talking about. Apparently, there are people that actually get on the Internet "watching" to see when I log into MySpace. Afterwards, a call was made to the Ex that I was "Online", and my computer savvy (NOT REALLY) Ex got the idea that this MUST mean I am talking to girls and getting many dates etc. Had the Ex read this BV page, she would know that I am not in fact talking to any women except for Amber Night, and even Amber doesn't know about it.

Okay, so I have heard the whole "You are a cheater, heathen" thing about 5,000 times already, and this time it just made me weary and somewhat annoyed. I decided that if people are going to talk anyway, I might as well give them something to talk about. Plus, I was bored stuck at home in the snowstorm. So, I went on MySpace and placed friend requests to as many people as I could find that I knew would accept me automatically. So far I have had about 40 positive responses to this. Of course I selected only the finest quality people with excellent marketing and networking skills.

Anyway, the gossip gamble paid off. I hadn't heard anything from the Ex in a few days, and then the drama hit the fan! Previously, I installed an IP tracker program on my site to see who was visiting my page. I got this really incoherent message from the Ex. Although the message is poorly typed, I tried to muddle through the context and understand what was just said. So, I checked the tracker to find out that it was in fact her daughter that had blown the whistle on me. Not to mention I had to laugh because of the mistakes made and the assumptions thrown out for no apparent reason. For one thing, her daughter's page is set to "Private" so I have no way of seeing who her friends are. The girls the Ex is talking about have hundreds of thousands of friends, not hundreds. Not to mention, they all know me personally cause I am like really cool and stuff. The kicker after the brief stint of name calling is the fact that even though I am all of those bad things the Ex mentioned, I will continue to be loved and trusted!

"i still love u but u are a backstabben twofaced lying demented cheating abusive dirty minded cradle robbing perverted pig. And lazy too". Hey! I resent that statement, I am not cheating!

Wow, what a woman! I dunno guys, but if you are that discusted by someone, in my book that means it is time to move on. I am apparently wrong in this matter, and will slap myself silly later. Of course, the end result is that the Ex's daughter updated the Ex's page to include some of the same "friends" to prove the point that they will accept anyone. Duh! Not to mention adding a few nude pics, which I could probably get the Ex's site banned for adding. Not to mention the fact that NONE of this should matter anyway since I have made it quite clear that I am NEVER coming home...

So, good stuff is in the works! I got a gig on New Years Eve and all went well! I hope to go back there soon. The club owner and I are negotiating some other events down the road. Yep, all is good. It's gravy!