GDC Online Awards! Wizard101 takes the Audience Award!

If you didn't catch the show Wizard101 took home the Audience Award. I admit I was sadden that we lost in the two other categories but it's all good. This year Minecraft took home Best Community Relations and Best Live Game outdoing our beloved Wizard101.

I went to a fellow Twizard who plays Minecraft as well as some Minecraft enthusiasts from other gaming forums I frequent. Here is what they had to say:

"Their entire team utilizes Twitter on a regular basis with as many people as they can. Not to mention Notch's blog, Minecraft Chick's blog, Notch and Jeb_'s respective Google+ pages, leaked pictures of upcoming events, lots of info on Reddit." - John Lifeglen

I admit it would be nice to see some customer support on Twitter or other social mediums. Here is some more that had to be said.

"the community projects that take place within the confines of the game realm as opposed to relying on fansites for a sense of community.

If you take the time to recreate the Empire State Building, the Starship Enterprise, or a Stargate with a large number of people, there's a HUGE sense of interaction." - John Lifeglen

What I gather and what John and others have told me is Minecraft deals in currency of items gotten within the game and the player or a group of players can build their own worlds, structures, and even cave systems. While I and John were at odds on Best Live Game I gotta admit Company to Player interaction and Community in Minecraft seems great! 

Do not fret my fellow Wizards I haven't given up on Wizard101 but I think it's good to shed light on why sometimes the games we love are outdone. The MMO gaming scene is rapidly changing and people are starting to see hey! this is great to interact with others as oppose to handhelds and consoles. Although console gaming especially with the newer systems like Xbox360, Playstation 3, and even the 3DS are breaking those barriers although at a steadfast pace.

Good job to all the winners and hey we still get our mystery pet and the honor of knowing we have a great community here in Wizard101 to the point of being nominated.

Until next time your friend,
Alric Ravensinger

What's in a name?

Howdy all you wizards!
This will be a short post and will be a data collection of sorts. Today I wanna ask you all to come up with your own names. Whether it be for Wizard101 or any other game you play or game you plan to play. I wanna see what's in a name and if you randomly choose it or research it. Who knows the best name in terms of meaning and/or creativity may win a prize!

Here is an example;

Jorda (Nord Female)
Arthas (Breton Male)
Bjorn Ironfist (Nord Male) Bjorn means "Bear"
Folkvar (Nord Male) Means "Guardian of the People"
Gunnar The Great (Nord Male) Means "Warrior"
Haakon Wyrm-Warder (Nord Male) Means "Exalted son,Chosen son"
Kaiser Vrage (Any race Male)
J'skar Silver-Mane (Male Khajiit)
Greelius (Male Argonian)

These names are for potential characters I plan to make for Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. What can you come up with? comment below please with your answer(s).

A new dawn for the Dragons! (Non W101 post)

  
   Many of you are quite aware that I am a Elder Scrolls and Pokemon Supernerd. Yes I stress that I am a supernerd of these award winning platform changing franchises! Well recently the newest game for the Elder Scrolls franchise was announced at the Spike Video Game Awards! It's Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim! So in honor of this every so often I'll make a post about it. I am not making this blog into a TES blog but I've been waiting nearly 5 years for this game.(Last game was released in 06 Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion) I think I deserve to divulge in my excitement for this game and I wish to not only share this with you but keep you informed so to speak.

   So let me begin now and give you the 411 on the new entry for the series. Not much is known actually however it will take place in Skyrim which in the TES world is a land of eternal snow and mountainous regions where the cries of ancient battles still today echo on the mountainside.You can learn more about Skyrim here --> Skyrim page. 

   The trailer which can be watched at top of page hints at the return of the dragons which are an ancient sentient race from the land of Akavir which literally means "Dragon Land". Their population had two known types a red and black species. Their race was supposedly decimated by the Tsaesci another race in Akavir who can be vaguely described at Vampiric Half snake-Half human creatures. Other populations of Dragons in Vvardenfell were driven off by the Cliff Racers. (Which IMO are more annoying than DS Weakness casting ratio). So where did they go? Some say they moved closer to Cyrodiil and others are hiding as they can shape shift. Anyway it seems dragons aren't so benevolent this time around or this is part to throw off the viewers? Who truly knows? Dragons are often a symbol of greatness and the creatures have helped the Providences in the past why would they turn bad? Questions that need answering for sure.

     Also what about this Dovahkiin character? Dragon Born? The only one they fear? Question is why? Why do they fear him? Is he a god? Immortal? Avatar? who is the Dovahkiin? As Gauren (Click his name to read post) from the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages Wiki suggests the Dovahkiin is the reincarnated Tiber Septim who conquered all of Tamriel and is here to set something right more or less. It's important to note Tiber Septim was known as Ysmir, Dragon of the North and was ruler of Cyrodiil all emperors are known as "Dragon Born" which shows their right to rule and connection to St. Alessia and Akatosh the dragon-god of Time and Creation!

All of this is speculation however we won't know until the game's release which is November 11th, 2011.

See ya folks the time is near for the dragons to rise,
Alric Ravensinger