tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44509122872337168762024-03-19T11:09:16.488+08:00The Perfect World ExpeditionWalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-14835899194490631942009-12-02T01:39:00.004+08:002010-01-31T07:33:47.815+08:00WE'VE MOVED HOUSEObviously by this time you realize that I haven't been playing that much PW. That is not because I don't love the game anymore, but rather with my job I have not found the time to do so.<br /><br />Which brings me to this topic.<br /><br />I think its time we moved on. So, any future posts about PW, I will no longer post here, rather I will have it in <a href="http://kalaromo.blogspot.com/">Kalaro Mo</a>. My new gaming blog.<br /><br />Thanks for reading!WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-41597952624859216592009-02-02T01:00:00.003+08:002009-02-02T01:10:50.603+08:00LOOK WHAT I FOUND!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimABHGo37r-sDQDPJd_xDwyL5Wa7_AjFOJxr3cZ4s-k5KWBIom_LSi-JW2rLBlai3CyHqfBBJ2QlUZJnFQOhypXc6y4DalzlGYp5Y-FwnYYVk1ftSK_eWcJahnuMajIG-mtt2Ppklf8w/s1600-h/DSC01915.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimABHGo37r-sDQDPJd_xDwyL5Wa7_AjFOJxr3cZ4s-k5KWBIom_LSi-JW2rLBlai3CyHqfBBJ2QlUZJnFQOhypXc6y4DalzlGYp5Y-FwnYYVk1ftSK_eWcJahnuMajIG-mtt2Ppklf8w/s320/DSC01915.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297875413432389202" /></a><br />Coffee Anyone?<br /><br />These little gems are part of the collaboration between Nescafe Philippines and Level Up Philippines to have in-game items that allow you to make Nescafe 3-in-1 coffee within Pangu. I've been wondering what happened to the IRL component of the promo that I heard about so long ago, and well, lo and behold there I was walking along at Shopwise Pasong Tamo when I saw these beauties in the shelves.<br /><br />Here is a great example of including in-game advertising or advergaming as it is called in your marketing campaign. I was pretty excited about it and took some pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjF7Y2RdQkJePlWK8O4iAkHGSnWDXsMb_t6AWqUEbYSYm34OV3k4gsR-iFVbXMtcC6VyyNOcBO6R304WaITFwtvlbUROssX6VhaPKar_GomNaio8remnu2zO3Fg-nn_EKpnf0fDa2wQ/s1600-h/DSC01916.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjF7Y2RdQkJePlWK8O4iAkHGSnWDXsMb_t6AWqUEbYSYm34OV3k4gsR-iFVbXMtcC6VyyNOcBO6R304WaITFwtvlbUROssX6VhaPKar_GomNaio8remnu2zO3Fg-nn_EKpnf0fDa2wQ/s320/DSC01916.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297876361379825554" /></a>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-34981854916217048422008-10-30T16:43:00.002+08:002008-10-30T20:46:21.993+08:00WHY THE WIPE?<p><span class="insertedphoto"><a href="http://walastech.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SQmsGAoKCGMAAH--bDc1"><img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.walastech.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SQmsGAoKCGMAAH--bDc1/PW-tae.JPG?et=Ysg5hjA5iBkKzYF%2C3m1Ueg&nmid=0" border="0" /></a></span></br>Why does there have to be a territory wipe? Is it to give a chance to the other clans or is it to simply just re-spice the game because there is already a stagnation of sorts? Maybe it's just me, but it took a long time for the clans to get to where they are, and short of disbanding the large clans, the inevitability of the same conclusion eventually becoming the norm again after a few months, well, that depends on the ruling clan if they want to do what they did all over again. So, does the wipe do anything good? The Soulless after all this time come back and simply re-take everything from the warriors of Pangu? I hope it's nothing as simple as that, can't be something as simple as that. It would really be a case of being unfair to be fair. Or better yet, being cruel to some to be kind to others.</p><p>So the question is: What would be the solution? Though moot and academic because the solution is already to be done is to make owning just one territory very difficult. Like, for example, when a territory is defended via a bid block, it simply falls into the bidder's hand by default when a bid wins and no one defends it. Kind of like a time bomb effect. Winning a bid buys the territory and the defender, the past owners have to defend it, even without really defending it by still destroying the enemy fort. Not doing so forfeits the terrain. It may seem unfair, but isn't "ownership of territory" wipe just the same?</p><p>I helped take a few territories in my time, and I think it's unfair that all we did long ago has come to this. Lost! Why? Because the Soulless simply were able to take it back with us not being able to defend it. Lame dude! Really lame!</p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class="multiply:no_crosspost"></p>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-7004836977987853062008-09-25T14:39:00.001+08:002008-09-25T18:40:41.082+08:00YOU KNOW YOU PLAY TOO MUCH PERFECT WORLD WHEN<p><span class="insertedphoto"><a href="http://walastech.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/SNtqGAoKCGMAACiDpxI1"><img class="alignmiddleb" src="http://images.walastech.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SNtqGAoKCGMAACiDpxI1/flight.jpg?et=3gA4E2TesSPEp9DFDlW3UQ&nmid=0" border="0" /></a></span></p><p>You have bought anything from the Item Mall.<br />You have bought everything in the Item Mall.<br />You have memorized the costs of teleporting from any town to a city to Archosaur.<br />You keep looking for a scantily clad Pops Fernandez look-alike so you can just teleport to where you're going IRL.<br />You know that Dragon City is Archosaur.<br />You know that Evil City is Beast City.<br />You can sense where Wei Xiaobao is.<br />You are in love with Hou Ren Xi.<br />You don't need Waypoints to find anything in the map.<br />You see going to work as Work Mode.<br />You don't work.<br />You see going to school as "Visiting the Education Master"<br />You don't go to school.<br />You can Transmit instead of Town Portal.<br />You like things that glow yellow.<br />You can interpret lines of squares as though it was a language.<br />You have learned to speak and read Chinese.<br />You see stray cats and think "Four Blunt Claws."<br />You know the street price of every DSQ in the market.<br />You know the street price of everything else that is not for DSQ.<br />You know what a DSQ is.<br />You know what HR, HOF, DV, SG, EPD, 7SK, and TW mean.<br />You can calculate the exchange rate of Gold to Yuan in your head but need a calculator to get 7 x 8 (It's 56).<br />You ask girls to snuggle in public so you can "Increase your vitality."<br />You don't mind doing Intimacy even though you know its a guy who is behind that hot YuLing with the tight...<br />You think buying pots is normal.<br />You put stones in your pockets and shoes in the hope that it would make them glow.<br />You believe Manta Rays can fly.<br />You have destroyed your garden looking for Nectar and Emenagogue Herbs.<br />You have named your Yao Jing after your girlfriend.<br />You spend more money on your Yao Jing than your girlfriend.<br />Your Yao Jing now has your newest ex-girlfriend's name because you played with your Yao Jing more than her.<br />You keep the Yao Jing instead of your "uglier" ex-girlfriend.<br />You are jealous of your Yao Jing's rock hard Golem.<br />You cry whenever you see your Yao Jing dead.<br />You always blame the Golem.<br />You ask your officemates to form a Random Party to kill the Boss for his Mold.</p><!-- multiply:no_crosspost --><p class="multiply:no_crosspost"></p>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-20227135354587395472008-05-07T23:47:00.000+08:002008-05-07T23:48:09.772+08:00RETURN OF THE GENTLEMAN WOLFSorry if I left Perfect World Expedition hanging for a while. Real life got in the way! You know how it works. Anyway, here I am again, back for more.<br /><br />As many of you know by now, the newest patch for our beloved Pangu has come out. Dusk Temple is now open and with it a literal plethora of mobs, bosses and treasure. My first foray into the new area was a real blast, because I got blasted to bits a few times by the traps within Dusk Temple. Luckily I was with my friends, one of which was a Yu Ling.<br /><br />To put things in perspective, most of my game friends are now above level 90 while I am still at 69 at the time of this writing. My stop has taken its toll, but as they say, more often than not, its a lot like just coming back home again when you handle that mouse and that keyboard again. It just fits and eventually you find your way again.<br /><br />Thing was I found my way all right! All the way to asking for resurrection three times in a row. Thing was, me and my buds were actually laughing about it rather than being pissed about it, as the trap got me in the dumbest way possible.<br /><br />I actually said, "What does this do?" and as one of my buds desperately tried to type in the message, the trap got me just as the words "Kuya huwag! Trap yan!" appeared in the chat box. XD Ambubu!<br /><br />We were laughing so much afterwards I guess. After I was alive again, here's the clincher, I didn't move as I was still chatting right after I clicked revive, and just as the words "Ang lakas naman nun! One hit lang dedz na aku! Lolz!" appeared, BOOM! I was dead again! =D<br /><br />It was a good two minutes before I could move again, because I couldn't stop laughing. I'm actually smiling right now remembering what happened. And this now, in hindsight, I realize is where the fun of party adventuring always lies. In recollection, in relating the story to others, in the brotherhood and company and time shared. This is what MMORPGs are sooo addictive for. It's not the gaming itself, but the extent of human contact that the game can simulate through the internet. And as far as the chat options of Perfect World go, now that I have really compared them to other chat systems, I prefer this one, be it because of familiarity, or because of the amount of conversations I've had on it.<br /><br />Anyway, its nice to be back and bitter sweet too. Nice because the community of gamers is still vibrant and active. Sad because friends of mine have gone missing. In the short amount of time that I have been online trying out the new dungeons, I have seen so few of the old gang and there is no way to contact them anymore it seems.<br /><br />These are my regrets, why didn't I spend more time trying to improve the friendships I had when I was online more often. Then maybe I would have been able to call together the gang and once again have a go at it. So learn from my mistake next time you party up with your usual suspects, get their numbers, you don't even need to get their real names, just so in case real life also gets in your way, you can keep in touch.WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-1807628917939175562008-01-31T23:15:00.000+08:002008-01-31T23:28:38.611+08:00SOMETHING GONE WRONGObviously, by this time it is apparent that I haven't had the luxury to post on this blog. Soon though I will be able to post regularly again. It's not because I don't want to, but, my internet connection got lost and I focused on playing instead of posting. But after a while, when my money ran out for playing at the internet shops, I was left with nothing.<br /><br />Hasn't been fun, but that is the truth. I can't wait till I get to play again very soon, as I recently got a new job. Now, let me put this straight. The blog came before the job, and the job didn't come because of the blog. Now that's out of the way, hope to be able to update soon.<br /><br />As with all expeditions, this one will soon be funded again. And the journey will resume. See you soon in Pangu.WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-86944131577291151312007-10-30T01:42:00.000+08:002007-10-30T01:49:06.553+08:00WHY I DON'T PLAYER KILL<span style="font-family:verdana;">Though I knew about Player Kill or PK activities in Online Games, having seen it in its first inceptions in Diablo Battlenet, I have never seen it in MMORPGs as this is my first one.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">As with all forms of violence, I was introduced to it in a most unexpected way, when I least expected it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It was due to an incident where Malystryx was backstabbed during one of our forays. We were battling a flight of dragons in the skies around Fishing Village when from out of the blue, this coward struck from a distance. The damage Malystryx had sustained from the dragons made her easy to kill at that time. By the time I turned around, the coward had teleported out. We were left seething. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">I complained in the clan boards of the event. True enough, someone calmly replied "If you don't like player killers, you're playing the wrong game."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">A major part of the game is the versus combat; from the one-on-one to the massive clan vs clan territorial wars. It is so integral that there are items that clearly are designed for PK, or to prevent being a victim of PK. There is even a switch to set your character either as willing for PK or not.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Since that event, I made it a point to always be in Safe Mode. No point in getting bothered by watching my back while trying to finish the quests which is why I was playing this game in the first place. Sad to say, we never got our revenge on the cowardly backstabber, but we don't see him around that much anymore. I guess he made the mistake of pissing off too many people. Having a few individuals hunting you down is OK in a world as big as Pangu, but when Clans put a vendetta on you, it is time to move on.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">But instead of letting that incident change the way I saw the game, it further strengthened my resolve to not PK and not Duel. All players have the choice to PK or not to PK, thus the Safe Mode switch. I'm glad to see most of the higher levels have foregone PK. But when needed they dive in to defend their lesser Clan Mates when they are attacked. Which is the way it should be. With all MMORPGs, the people have to learn to police themselves.</span>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-5562628363826822032007-10-27T06:18:00.000+08:002007-10-27T06:19:57.496+08:00BOSS HUNTING<span style="font-family: verdana;">Never underestimate a Boss. Never try it alone unless you are sure you can handle the damage type.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just because a Boss' level is the same as yours or is even ten levels below you doesn't mean it is easy pickings. Even at my level I still tend to stay clear of Hades Wolf King at the Orchid Temple. My Yao Shou even with anti-magic armor got smacked good when I took him for granted and casually sauntered past.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Obviously, the physical type Bosses are a push-over for me. Yang Sheng (the big guy at the Mine) merely tickles me now, for instance. But the magical ones, like Pao Chi (thin guy at the shores opposite of Trade Wind Town) who is an earlier Boss than Yang Sheng actually still manages to damage me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Even the high-level tankers of our Clan who assist during Boss hunts won't do it without a decent YuLing. I've seen our Clan Master get killed by the Elite Purple Dragon even with three YuLings watching him. For those who don't know Elite Purple Dragon, or EPD as he is called, his area attack damage reaches 3000 to 6000. Still snickering?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bosses are obviously meant to be dealt with "in good time," not as a priority. But there are a lot of players out there, due to having had tankers, boast that these Bosses are push-overs. Really? Try taking them on yourself when you reach your tanker's level before you say that.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is when you have to face a Boss that the value of friends, not Clans comes in, as it is these friends that will come in handy, if not in the form of tankers, but maybe a bit of advice. Woe betide those who do not heed the wisdom of experience in dealing with Bosses. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I guess one cannot really know the meaning of a Boss until one meets a Grand Titan. Though since all the territories in Tiger Server are now occupied, no one will ever see one anymore. Imagine a giant the height of the gates of Dragon City, weilding a tree. His area attack damage can easily kill 50th Levels in one strike. During our Clan's first meeting with him, he took down almost everyone in one strike. It took all 65 of us to take him down. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Treat all Bosses with respect. It will save you those precious 3% to 5% XP that you will miss in the high levels. There really are worse things in Pangu than can be thought of in your philsophy.</span>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-58235270456251280392007-10-20T00:22:00.001+08:002007-10-20T00:22:57.588+08:00TERRITORIAL WAR: OFFENSE VS MOBS<span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">During the few times that I have had the opportunity to join a clan in their territorial bid on a land that is uncontrolled, the monsters or mobs as some are fond to call them are of the level that would have been hard to handle if the clan I was with was not as organized as they were. Truth be told, the clan I was with was not the strongest in the lot, but they made sure that they had field commanders who knew what they were doing, and was creating a sense of purpose to the advancing army. the situation was simple enough, three lanes filled with monsters lead to a fortress guarding a major boss creature. All the monsters act individually and do not provide any support to one another. Though mindless, the individual monsters are already a chore each at their respective levels and capabilities. As a group, they would be invincible as the attacking force is only allowed 80 soldiers to their 300. The solution is simple enough to anyone who has studied a little warfare and have read up on Sun Tzu.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The 80 are divided into groups of six each as this is what the game allows. They are further divided into three flying columns that take one lane each until they reach the gate, where they merge as a singular force to clean the inner court and eventually strike at the final Boss.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Simple enough, but organization is paramount in the early stages, each column must have a fair amoung of Tankers, Nukers, and Healers. They have to attack as a focused force, individually, the groups of six focus fire on one creature at every encounter, and provide support for the other teams. They have to stick together and move forward as one. If one strays, they're dead. If one is left behind, those in the front will be compromised. The final assault is manageable enough as long as the teams are under strict orders to not touch the boss until all his troops are done for. Easy enough if they are eventually able to kill the final boss, and no one is afraid. </span>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-33122172357667460282007-10-20T00:19:00.000+08:002007-10-20T00:20:43.896+08:00INSTANCE DUNGEONS<span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Having been a Dungeon Master for many years before I finally had to retire my Dungeon Master's Screen makes me view the world of Pangu a little differently than most players. I see a lot of the common storylines and the running quests as parts of the whole. I actually read the lines in the quest and see if I can find any clues to what the quest entails and what it is for rather than just reading the final requirement of the quest which may be the reason why I view the game a little bit more seriously than the other players. This is not an advantage when you think about it, because instead of being out there, finishing the quest to get my XP, like the other guy, I'm busy trying to make sense of mhy I am doing this specific quest, and why I am running around for this NPC. It is nice to see the whole community using the terms and words of the RPG genre though. Here we thought that with the advent of CCGs in the early 90's, our cause would be lost to the sands of time. Now, 8 year olds over the world know whan an RPG is and what an NPC is, all without ever holding a d20.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">What I find very interesting are the instance dungeons as some of the Token Boss quests are called. Everytime a group enters these dungeons, the game provides them with a fresh copy of their own, rather than sharing with the other people in the neighborhood. This is as old school D&D as this MMORPG gets. Sans the dice and the Mountain Dew.</span>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-82083434803112470362007-10-18T01:38:00.000+08:002007-10-18T01:44:39.028+08:00WHY I TRY NOT TO DUEL<span style="font-family: verdana;">First of all, my apologies to those who have been reading this blog, I will try and put entries more often than I have been.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have given up dueling when I reached a certain level, I think it was 32 (I'm Level 63 as of this writing). Dueling is the safer alernative to Player Killing, and everyone from Level 1 can duel with other characters in Perfect World.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I decided to give it up because I always ended up either apologizing to those I beat or being insulted by those who beat me. Surprisingly when I made my announcement in the Clan Chatroom, I think I said "AMP ayoko na! Hindi na ako magdu-duel!"(Dammit! I quit! I'm never going to duel again!) the Clan Master also piped up: Ako din, ayoko na. (Me too.) We were surprised, and he proceeded to explain that he found it bad for his morale. He hit the nail on the head so to speak.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Since then I duel for only two reasons: friendly practice with friends, or beating up bullies. With friends, its a laugh-out affair, not unlike horse play. With bullies, its a pleasure.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">There was this incident when I was in Near-Water Town and I was minding my own business, checking my bank. I noticed a loudmouth Yao Shou who kept dueling with everyone in the area. He was beating everybody as he was obviously higher level than those who were in the town on their regular quest rounds. I was there for a DSQ. I wanted to kick this guy's butt for blatantly rubbing everyone's face in it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Knowing bullies as well as I do, I knew it was only a matter of time before he tried me. I was in tiger form so he couldn't really see my armaments unless he checked it before starting the duel. He didn't. I accepted with glee and as the count began I transformed in front of him. He got to say "Uh-oh" before I ripped into him. I drew it out when I saw he wasn't really making a dent. When I eventually humiliated him enough, I ended the duel with a flourish. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">He immediately went into a tirade about me cheating, pretending; obviously trying to save face. There was a smattering of insults and approval from the crowds. All I said was, "Nice Game." He stormed off and teleported out of town.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I may not duel anymore, but that doesn't mean I won't battle.</span>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-1183774674044550342007-08-21T01:24:00.000+08:002007-08-21T01:27:31.067+08:00THE SONG<span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Do you know what LSS is? It's short for Last Song Syndrome. I first heard the term last year (excuse me with your Duh?s after all, I am officially on my last year of demographic youthness). It's when you hear a song, and until you hear another song of better LSS caliber, you keep hearing the song in your head. You hum it, whistle it, sing a few lines, doodle about it, the little voices in your head dance to it. It's about as bad as falling in love at first sight. The sad part is that it is a psychologically proven human phenomenon, which is considered harmless. I wonder if dogs get LSS?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first time I heard the song of Perfect World was when my friend Malystryx was singing it around the house. I was thoroughly annoyed by it because Malystryx does not know how to sing. In fact, I'm guessing no matter how many Immortal stones you imbue into her she will only glow, but the singing will still be as bad.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eniwey, the Perfect World song, is a perfect example of an LSS song. You hear it, and it sticks like Ghoul Poison. Very few songs are of the same caliber. Those that come to mind are Macarena and Boom Tarat Tarat.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">But "wildchild" another of the players here in house says it sounds awfully like Sting! The male voice side anyway. I still have no idea how, but, yeah, he's right.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">But that doesn't change the fact that whenever I hear the song of Perfect World, I end up humming it and singing it and well, you get the picture. When I went to the Perfect World event at Megamall recently, I got a copy of Toni Gonzaga's CD which has a version of the song. I listened to the song, actually I listened to the whole CD. I am sorta a fan of her, because I am a fan of anyone who can do impersonations and satire. Which might explain why I despise Willy Revillame. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eniwey, I digress. The point is, when I heard Ms. Gonzaga's song about PW, wonders of wonders! I did not get LSS. Ahh! It must be the way its song then? It is a wonder. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Which brings me back to my dilemma in the first place. So, until I find away to deactivate the log-in audio, I guess I will just keep doing what I do: Log in and enter the world as fast as I can, before..."Flyyyy with meeeeee! In a Perfect World!..."</span>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-47468426578359631282007-08-14T01:41:00.000+08:002007-08-14T01:47:14.903+08:00GIVING FREE RIDES<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1151/1105615081_b7be61fb9f_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1151/1105615081_b7be61fb9f_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Okay, so your male Role is finally Level 30. You've done the quest to fly and you finally have your Sword/Manta/Higher Level Wings. You can now fly everywhere in the world. Anytime.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">A low level player, maybe a friend, maybe a lover, or a complete stranger comes up to you and says, "Kua pasakay?" Do you?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Me, I do. Since I got my flyer, anybody asking for a ride was given one as long as I was headed in the general direction. I'd even veer off a little if need be to drop her in a safer place. It's not because I'm a perv who uses the opportunity to get to know chicks. Nope. It's just another good gaming practice. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Why not. You lose nothing. In fact the intimacy increases Vitality while its activated, so that by the time I get into battle later on, I have my Chi Burst ready to go. Plus the flight doesn't go boring because, well you can have a little chat with your passenger.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's the same concept when I see some players running away from a monster. I drop down, run towards the monster and slam it with an attack macro. I sometimes get a thank you for my trouble. But if I don't, at least I know I just maybe helped save a life. It makes me feel a little better.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It may be a virtual world, but your actions define what you are. I'd like to be seen as an honorable warrior who defends the weak and helps the ladies. And it's a great way to get buffs in case you picked up a Yu Ling who happened to be bored of flying alone.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Achieving higher levels has sort of a reponsibility that goes along with it. With great power comes great responsibility. Part of that is to help those who haven't reached your level survive the world. Pass the kindness you got, when you were low level, forward. It may be giving free rides. But in the long run it's really better to give than to receive.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1256/1106474502_a7f1704889_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1256/1106474502_a7f1704889_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-57012292978631208622007-08-14T01:32:00.000+08:002007-08-14T01:40:41.470+08:00KUA PA BAP<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1040/1105634865_bca98e8952_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1040/1105634865_bca98e8952_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">As fate would have it, all the Roles in PW seem to have what players love to refer as buffs. Although being the Filipinos we are, who have to Filipinize all words on the planet, refer to it as "Baps" and adding the prefix "pa" to denote action. It is common to see lower level Roles chasing the higher levels denoted by their eldritch weapons and/or special steeds. Though not frequent in the safe zones of the cities. It is very prevalent in the wild and it is not uncommon to see players ignore monsters just to get close to another player to ask for a buff.<br /><br />A buff you see, however mundane can spell the difference between success and a loss of XP due to death. Take for example the Yao Shou buff skill of Inspire. It adds a certain percentage of life over and above that of the character's. So what used to be 100 HP is now 110, all because of a single buff. And buffs do not easily go. Some buffs if not most, last 30 minutes when laid on. Again, more reason for the throng to flock towards the high levels. Others get buffed accidentally: you're standing around Ironsmith So So when the Yu Ling beside you decides to buff her teammates. She misses, Boom! You get buffed too. Nice! Of course it is only polite to say thank you for the buff.<br /><br />But seriously, buffing anyone who asks for it really should be obliged by those who can buff. In the end, it makes Pangu a better place, and who knows, you might make a friend. Helping other players helps you too, it might be their attack that would divert that second Pirate Archer from making a pincushion of your Role's back. Remember that the next time you see "kua pa bap."<br /><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1067/1106490456_74558a3b86_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1067/1106490456_74558a3b86_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-32451005122531437432007-08-10T04:19:00.000+08:002007-08-10T07:55:03.116+08:00QUESTION OF QUESTS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1413/1065979338_739ac35aa2_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1413/1065979338_739ac35aa2_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">If anything, the most checked screen in PW when you are playing should be the quest log. A Role can have a maximum of 20 ongoing quests at any one time. I tend to maximize the amount of available quests. Meaning, I constantly check if there are any quests available by clicking the Find Quest button in the window. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I found out later in the game that this is a great way of not having to go back and forth between the towns and cities and getting two birds with one stone. As usually the quests require you to a)become a delivery guy/gofer/stevedore b)kill a certain number of creatures and/or b)find items within or on the corpses of those same monsters. Many a time have I had just killed 20 foul Soulless only to be told by another townie "Oh, you wouldn't have on the off-chance killed a few gigantic, poisonous, Enhanced HP scorpions out there have you? No? Oh, you have? You wouldn't have saved some of their stingers have you? Because I'd be willing to part with this Yuan and this ton of XP points if you could get me 20 of those, right? You okay? You look pale."<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">At this point, I wish I could attack NPCs--but noooo! You can't. Poor me, poor you. So it is a great idea, no, you should write this on a piece of paper and stick it near your monitor: Check for crossed quests.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The best source of crossed quests as I like to call them can be had by the Lone Wolf Quests that are given by the town guards. These are the quests that ask you to kill 20 monsters of so-so type and level in exchange for an immortal stone fragment. Not much on the XP but at least you get something extra for your effort. Also finding quests that involve other Soulless in the same area makes wholesale slaughter more profitable.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This is a good thing because even the high level players will tell you that the quests given to you always involve Soulless that are very near your current level. So the amount of effort is always equal, if not harder as you go higher. It doesn't get any easier after those plants and bugs you start out with.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">But then again if you are the type of player who likes to spend hours bashing the same monsters again and again for an infinitesimal amount of XP, then be my guest. It's your time.</span>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-11065363686660261452007-08-07T01:09:00.000+08:002007-08-07T01:32:51.708+08:00ImPerfect World<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1154/1030650380_dd219ba44a_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1154/1030650380_dd219ba44a_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>My luck with this game is that when I began playing it, I had a veteran MMORPG player by my side and literally and virtually holding my hand.<br /><br />This is a boon because I now see the dilemma of those who do not have the background and the on-hand consultant when playing Perfect World. It can get confusing. Its because of the very, very bad translations. The game obviously came from China, because the English translation sucks. Bigtime. I'm sure the Mandarin is impeccable.<br /><br />If it wasn't for the fantastic graphics, friendly gameplay, intriguing quests, the company, and the free play, I would really be pissed off with the language in the NPC (non-player character) dialogue. But I kept an open mind as I promised my friend when I began this game, and well I sorta expected the bad grammar and faulty spelling, thus I wasn't that shocked.<br /><br />So more often than not, after reading the Quest story and the instructions, I had to stop, look out the window and exclaim..."What?"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1304/1029805899_fb7f450142_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1304/1029805899_fb7f450142_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>But after a while I got used to the bad english and got on with my gaming life. It got so that I actually understood the Quests pretty well by the time I got to the third village.<br /><br />But one had to go through reversed directions (East became West in the intructions of one of the quests) and almost ending up in the middle of nowhere (wrong coordinates for an NPC).<br /><br />There are a lot of imperfections in the game. This is what disturbs me while I'm having all this fun. What if the reason I'm getting mugged by this little monster is because of a stray zero in its hit points counter? What if I am not getting any XP (experience) points for this? What if my name means "pwned" in the international server? What if?<br /><br />But that's the beauty of an online game. It's online. So? So it can update and patch and fix itself everytime before you play. Eventually all the bugs will get ironed out in time and the game will only get better, and harder and tougher. That is the way of the online world. Everything will be patched. Just shut up and play.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1367/1030667084_ba6f6365ac_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1367/1030667084_ba6f6365ac_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-83346788515130065402007-08-04T11:12:00.000+08:002007-08-04T21:32:47.978+08:00THE GUIDE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1230/1006603656_643dc92128_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1230/1006603656_643dc92128_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The first step in any epic RPG is what traditional Dungeon Masters like to call "the gathering of the companions." </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This is the part of the future grand story </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">which explains why an elf, a </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">half-elf, a dwarf, a human, a pegleg pirate, two werewolves, and a </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">gender-confu</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">sed-looking-for-salvation vampire donkey, got together. This usually leads to the "Seer/</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Proph</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">et/</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">God" character </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">who convinces/bribes/scares the group into actually accepting the suicidal quest to take on the alien-technology augmented demonic forces of the ruling planetary empire to save the princess/restore freedom/bring peace/ or buy a soda at the corner store.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Perfect World gives us: The Guide, and the in-game help system: Alt+L, or simply L. And then the specific Race Elder of which of the three races (Human, Wingkin, or Beast) th</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">at you chose becomes the "Seer/Prophet/God" figure. It is the The Guide's quests that introduce us to</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> the hours of wholesale slaughter we are about to embark on. It is the Race Elder who imparts the raison d'etre for our pixel and bits heroes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The simplicity of this would have been great, but as stories goes, there really isn't much of a reason why the character does what he does. Its left to the basic instinct of the player that he wants to play the game thats why he's going to do these quests in the first place. What? You mean? Yes, if a player wanted to, he could ignore all the quests and just go about on his merry way. Talk about too much freedom!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">But as it is, people do not install a game,</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> spend money to go online so they can sit in a virtual world to watch the grass grow, or in PW, for the herbs to respawn. And thus, reluctantly, there I was, with my Role (sorry I keep calling it character, old habits die hard, though I honestly believe they should have just called it character in the first place, because Role just made it sound too much like a script, but that's me) er, where was I? Oh yes: There I was eventually with my Role jumping hoops for the Guide, the Elder, the Tailor, a Runt, a Dog, a Ghost, a General, etcetera, ad nauseam. When in truth, I could have just said no...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">But then the Soulless had to be stopped.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1182/1006603642_fd1b5188d6_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1182/1006603642_fd1b5188d6_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-37375802666264555502007-07-31T23:27:00.000+08:002007-08-04T21:28:29.819+08:00Genesis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1107/1007493046_6a78504a0f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1107/1007493046_6a78504a0f.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So there I was with my itchy finger on the itchy trigger waiting to begin playing. So after I created my account with Level Up and registering in for Perfect World, I finally hop to it. Unfortunately, I forgot one little thing, I still had to make a character.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Now don't think tha</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">t this was easy thing. It's a choice between three races with two character classes or Role as they are called each, Plus gender preference for two of the three races. That amounts to roughly a choice between ten character types. That's not easy for someone who is as obsessive compulsive as me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Now don't say that that due to gender preference the choice is cut down to one in five. Ask any Tomb Raider player and they will tell you it is not so. In gaming, its not what your gender is that decides whic</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">h gender you play. Its what you like to see.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">That done, I was surprised to find out that my troubles have only begun. It seems I still had to figure out how the character looked. There were set looks and faces, but I was not about to let pass the opportunity to use the 3D rendering engine to create a unique look for my character.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The immensity of the choices was pretty overwhelming, but was impressive, even for someone like me who plays a lot of SIMS2. The fields that could be manipulated on the 3D frame was a big plus. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Now I know that mathematically, the amount of character variations you can make are pretty nigh astronomical. But in-game, these little things are not that easy to see, as they are little. As with real life, differences in characters that are readily noticable are skin color, build and hair. As past animals that ability is hard wired into our optical senses.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">But personally, I think that it is this feature which makes the game or could make it a little bit more appealing, the thought that, yes, I am unique, but still part of a larger social commune. Which some of you m</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">ight know is the anachronism of being human. The need to be unique within a want to be common.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I chose to be a Wolfman, a Yao Shou. I made him look big and mean, but fluffy too. I like fluffy.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1429/1007493032_39e66d9cd5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1429/1007493032_39e66d9cd5.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4450912287233716876.post-17570489996203096192007-07-31T23:22:00.000+08:002007-08-04T21:22:10.250+08:00Perfect World Zero<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1137/1007493060_e6ef717d68.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1137/1007493060_e6ef717d68.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I have never played an MMORPG before (that’s short for Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game, dearie, and its pronounced as spelled; try not to read it as a word). But I have played. Oh have I played. I have been playing Role-Playing Games since I was 12. On this, my 20th year as a gamer, I have finally decided to cross the final threshold, to finally drop the proverbial final fig leaf. <o:p></o:p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">I installed into my computer the latest MMORPG to hit the sunny shores of my country. Perfect World. A game created by a Chinese company, and marketed here in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> by Level Up! Games. Of course when I installed this, and played for the first ten days, I didn’t know that it was new. I thought it was around for a while now. That was the Closed Beta, when only a few select players were allowed to test the game. When I joined, the Open Beta (anybody who wants to get on) had just been activated.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">This was at the goading of my long time friend, Joel, who has been a serious MMORPG player for a while now because he doesn’t have a life. So when he saw that I had also lost my life, he suggested I try what was doing. So I decided, why not? What have I got to lose? A few hundred pesos? I don’t have a life so why not get one online? That’s okay I guess. <o:p></o:p></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">So there I was, ignorant of how these things went. Naturally I was tentative when I took the first few steps. Luckily, being a veteran hardcore gamer and alpha chatter, I was quick to realize that this is what the game was. Fantasy RPG with a chat function and a thriving community. I just had to get used to it all. Being a Tomb Head, I am used to the spanning vistas, heights and killer 3D effects of the game. What blew my mind was the expanse of it all. How you could really go anywhere you want, game physics permitting. <o:p></o:p></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">While I was still marveling at it all, someone struck up a conversation with me, she said hello. I said hello back.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">Then she said: “Kuya, tabi. (Brother, you’re in the way.)”<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">That’s when it hit me. It’s a brave new world. <span style=""> </span>I am not alone.<o:p></o:p></p>WalasTechhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03104035130610311024noreply@blogger.com0