Ask Gauss

Sunday! Damn that weekend went by rather quickly didn't it? Seems almost like it didn't even start yet. If you remember it or not though doesn't change the fact that it actually is coming to an end. Also means rain or shine I will be here answering some questions. So why not get right to it.

Do you think Heroes of the Storm will be a game for casual MOBA players and not professionals?

I really don't know people's obsession with this. I really don't get the arguments about how because you don't have a carry that the game isn't as skillful. Heroes requires so much more team play and organization. One player on either side although can be a better player and can be seen as such. Will never decide a game. Heroes wants the team to be the focus not on if such and such a player farmed enough to get ahead and crush the other team.

Besides that I think people are reading too much into how the game is right now. There is no ranked play in the alpha so every regardless of skill level is playing against others. So it is obvious the game seems easy to the "better" players. There really is no coordination in the current build and that is intended. When things get into a beta it will become much more clear the game will be for everyone. You know like every Blizzard game? 

Are you planning on picking up and reading War Crimes?

I have it and will be reading it. I have always enjoyed the Garrosh character and I am really interested in how his story is being developed. I don't think I will be disappointed but I will be sure to let you all know if I am.

The story itself should also have great insights into the new expansion and how it will evolve much like The Shattering did and to a lesser extent Tides of War. You may say high hopes but really I think with everything that the expansion is going to offer us there better be a pretty good plot which brings us to it, and not just something that was thrown together and it is hoped no questions are asked about it.

Best thing you have seen all week?


You are welcome.

There you have it some questions answered for the week. Hopefully the answers were worth it. Enjoy what you have left!

Shall We Moderate?

Wow it is Friday already that really seemed to get here rather quick didn't it? Not that I think anyone would complain about Friday's coming out of nowhere. Seems like a win-win situation to me. Something which really isn't a winning situation at all is Public Games in Diablo. For every capable person you may find there is going to be countless ones who are just wanting to be carried. Part of the reason I stay away from them in general unless it is normal bounty farming. Others though play in the mall the time like Bolkain who has submitted this week's Reader Post and has a suggestion for how things could work to improve the experience for everyone involved.

I frequently join T6 games with the hopes of a rift being open because I usually always open them and I run out (and am too lazy to farm). I have this problem occur to me many times recently. I join, and I now start the game by checking out the gear people wear. I check out the character sheet DPS. I know it's not a good way to judge, but I also look at their items to see if they can handle T6. When a monk who uses crippling wave with concussion rune tells me he is in game and helps by lowering their defense with 200k DPS and 2 mil toughness, I take it with a grain of salt. I don't say anything, and see inside the rift what they can do. Once I see them get one shot by an arrow or something, I proceed to tell them in kind words that their gear isn't good enough and they should consider going to a lower torment. In no way do I say this in a bad way, because I know no one likes attitude from some stranger when they may just be a casual gamer. When elites come and they die like a billion times and I eventually clear it, I tell them again, kindly, that they should reconsider. Many times I do this to get to 70-80% of the rift by me solo clearing with 1-2 people on my back. And I guess when they have enough, they kick me. I get told I am getting kicked. For carrying their game to the rift guardian (or almost), for stating kindly that the highest difficulty in the game isn't for them. 

So, I find that recently more people do this. I join T6, I tell people that they aren't ready, and they kick me. Usually 1-2 people every game. Their reasons for being in T6 with less than 50 paragon and lv 60 gear sometimes are as follows: "I want to have fun", "Want to try it out", "Carry me", etc etc. I know what I am about to say will probably be never implemented, but paragon levels should be used to exclude people who have hit 70 recently from being able to do higher torments. Some kind of restriction needs to be in place. I play this game a lot, but am I no means hardcore. But going through T6 and getting kicked. Keep getting in these situations where I am the bad guy for playing at the hardest level. I hate being the stickler, but I hate even more that when I tell them kindly, the truth, that I get kicked. Everyone knows unless you are godlike, higher torment is no joke (especially with 4 people). Spending sometimes up to 25 mins for 1 rift to be kicked... It is not fun. I already have to put up with the loot system being broken (finding Tal's armor on a WD, or strength gloves on DH, but we know the 15% error or whatever so I'll put up with it) among other things in search of gear everyone else seems to find so easily. Please Blizzard, I ask that you read this and think of something. If I have to put up with more people blatantly wanting to be carried in T6 just to be kicked at the end, I don't know how many hours I can log into this game before I move on. I do commend Blizzard for all the new things they are doing and the patches I just want this game to be the best it possibly can be.

As always thanks to all the submissions couldn't be possible without all of you contributing. Hope your weekend is a good one!

Recycled Warfare

So I never make it a secret how I have a distaste for Call Of Duty games. This really has nothing to do with the toxic community it has. Although it is only so much you can take hearing kids voice crack when they tell you they banged your mother all night. It also has nothing to really do with how the games style isn't of interest to me. I can appreciate FPS games for what they are. They are never going to be my favourite games or ones I will be playing non stop, but I know a good game when I see one. So what is it really then?

Well it is simple they release the games so close together with at most minor changes and repackage it as new. Ea even changes more for their yearly sport games then the changes in the CoD games. Most games release new maps and changes this minor in patches. You know patches, which are free. Or sometimes in expansions or DLCs for a fraction of a cost of a brand new game. Not only do these games have DLCs with even less content then most games they still release these "new" games at a yearly rate. They also charge new price as in $60+ for these games, which is disgusting.

Now there will be people saying well people are buying it so they will keep doing that, and that is true. Doesn't mean the practice is correct though. Do you think people will complain if they paid less or if it was just some sort of addon pack? This doesn't even mention how horrible the gameplay of these "new" games seem because it is just a patched up older game.

This is the kind of practice the gaming world needs to rid itself of. It is disgusting and won't stop while people are still participating. We as gamers need to let these companies know it is not ok.

No Old Friend, You Have Freed Us All

So here we are in the middle of the week where I was just sitting around and thinking. I know can be a dangerous thing to do at times. I wasn't really thinking about this  week's list, but then it did come to me making a decision about it. I was thinking about how cinematics have become just an important part of the gaming scene. It used to be it was all about the credits and what you would see before the final "The End" showed up. Now we don't just have cinematics at the end of games they are all throughout. So with that I thought about what are my favourite cinematics of all time? Are they ones which served for great story telling? Ones which just had the epic feel? Or Ones that just made you want to play the game? Well let's find out shall we?

5. Letter To Claudia


One of the best intros to a game you will ever find showcasing the skills of one of the best characters ever in gaming history. This cinematic shows what it truly means to be an Assassin and really makes you appreciate what you did in previous games to get to this point, this revelation.

4. You Cannot Judge Me


Tyrael is one of the most beloved characters from the Diablo franchise and seeing him as a mortal is extremely weird and feels off once you find out it is him. This cinematic really is the definition of epic and has the line no one will ever forget even if they forget everything else about the game itself.

3. En Taro Tassadar


There are few cinematics which give you "dem feels", but this is certainly one of them. I have not known anyone who knows even the most minuscule knowledge of Starcraft who doesn't love Tassadar. There are characters in games who would do anything for their people, but would they give the ultimate sacrifice for everyone because they knew it could only be them.

2. Final Fantasy VIII Intro


Without a doubt the greatest into to any game, and I challenge any game to top this. This game cinematic is one that introduced a countless gamers to the world of RPGs. Every time I watch it I want to start of a game of Final Fantasy VIII. Even though I know everything about it. It still has that power, which really is remarkable 

1. Grom Kills Mannoroth



You see Tassadar was basically a God amongst mortals. He could do anything and chose to sacrifice himself because he knew it was the only way. Grom was nothing like that. He was the Orc who started the demon curse, which lead to enumerable horrifying acts. Some would save he doomed the Orcs to the life they found themselves in. This is not only the moment of his redemption it is the moment which allowed the Horde to exist. Lok'tar Ogar Grommash Hellscream.

There you have it my favourite Cinematics. There were so many to choose from and realyl I feel bad about leaving some off the list, but 5 means 5. Let me know what you all think, which would you have included?

You Fail At Mourning Hardcore Deaths If...

Fail Day, but not your ordinary Fail Day. One which leaves you with a heavy heart. Sunday night I entered a Rift looking to get some more Set Pieces for my Hardcore Demon Hunter. Sadly though she didn't make it out, as you can see from the screenshot above. So today's Fail day is all about Hardcore Deaths and the proper practice.

You Fail At Mourning Hardcore Deaths If...

• You make jokes or poke fun at any deaths before 10 minutes have passed
• You don't sit and stare at the screen hoping it didn't actually happen
• You don't archive your hero
• The first thought which comes to your mind is stupid lag
• You don't go through and think about how the death could have been prevented
• You vow to never play hardcore again
• You call Customer Service demanding they revive your character
• You cannot laugh about the death later
• You never thought the death was going to come
• You might actually be sadder about that Calamity you had equipped
• You don't remember all the times you cheated death before this point
• You forgot about your promise to protect Marco
• You are not proud of your hall of Fallen Heroes

and finally

• You died in the same way you had in the past

There you have it this week's edition of Fail. Another Demon Hunter has been started the IV will keep the tradition alive. So to all the fallen Hardcore Heroes I salute you.

Best Ceilings

Monday...Yes that is the day we find ourselves being stuck on at the moment. I assume you have had your moment of silence for your weekend. If you haven't this post isn't going anywhere so take it. With all of that out of the way it is time for me to showcase something after all because it is Monday. This is different then the normal things I would showcase more so a pointless top 10 I actually found interesting. Wowcendor really doesn't countless of pointless things and they normally all are quite entertaining. So take a few and enjoy the top 10 ceilings in WoW

 

Now back to whatever it is you are supposed to be doing.

Ask Gauss

Sunday! Here we go the first Sunday of May and maybe just maybe see the sun shine for the first time since Thursday. So what does one do on a day like today? Well doesn't matter really, but I do have to answer some questions first. So let's get that over and done with.

Do you think anyone will ever be happy with Diablo 3?

I think there are plenty of people happy with Diablo III. I have enjoy RoS. You can see this easily by the amount of characters I have leveled on Hardcore and Softcore and the amount of time I have put in. There is always this vocal group of people in any community which will always have something to say. They will never be happy even if they are given exactly what they want. This people may have 200+ hours into a game and complain it is awful and they want more. Diablo III and its expansion are great games you would be hard pressed to find anything close to the same quality for a loot driven ARPG. This is why I hate this Diablo is the popular thing to hate. You don't like the genre then so be it but don't say a game is bad just because you think it is the cool thing to do.

Do you think we will get any information on Legacy of the Void?

I am hoping Blizzcon will have the big reveal for that. I expect Heroes of the Storm to be in Beta maybe even close to release and same goes for WoD. This would really only leave Legacy of the Void as really the only new thing to be coming into its own. I not only have big expectations for the expansion itself but for Starcraft as a whole. This expansion will really be the determining factor of where the series is going, and truthfully where the RTS genre is going as well.

My monk died in Hardcore today.

Lies monks don't die.

Questions answered. Thank you to every who sent something in. If they didn't get answered on here you will still get a response so don't worry, and maybe next time it will get on here. Enjoy waht is left of your weekend!

What is Bravery, Without a Dash of Recklessness

Now Dark Souls is mostly a reminder video games cans till be brutally difficult but yet still fun. What many people don't realize is the story behind Dark Souls itself is very complex and interesting. There is also a great deal of mystery with practically everything. So as always when there is mystery it leads to discussion about what is the truth behind everything. This comes in perfectly to this week's Reader Post where Digken has his own theory. Now truthfully I am not normally a fan of it was in their head or they were sleeping or dying in a hospital or such and such sort of theories. Why? Because truthfully anything can come down to that and it also seems like a silly way of ruining a story. On the other hand Digken makes quite the point on how this could go well with the Dark Souls Story. Now obviously there are slight spoilers here so keep that in mind if you keep reading.

In Dark Souls, you are locked in an asylum. But why an asylum? Because you were an undead? cursed? Or perhaps this is all just in your head and that in fact you are crazy and EVERYTHING in Lordran including escaping the asylum was all just in your head. To think about the Dark Souls world, to be cursed. To be able to die over and over is impossible but inside your head what is not possible? 

If you think about how the game was designed storywise, it is imaginative yet simple. What do I mean by simple? Simple as the story doesn't present it to you but rather with the lore in items descriptions. If you were the one in asylum, say you went hollow and the entire journey in Lordran is your imagination. This explains how the npcs do not tell you the detailed story. Only bits of lines of dialogue. As for the item descriptions, memories perhaps from his old life? This theory could explain the vicious cycle of NG+, and NG++, so on. You never actually left the asylum and everything was in your head.

In Dark Souls 2, you begin with an eerie introduction where this old woman is telling you about a murky place , a dream perhaps? A woman holding a baby starts to melt and you appear on the ground of a raining forest. Suddenly, you appear on the door of the firekeeper. Perhaps you never got up from that forest, perhaps you already went hollow in thinking there was a place called Majula and some goal you had to go on to break this curse of the undead in order to keep going. If you didn't realize, every npc you meet has some form of memory loss. Perhaps this is a reflection of youself. The process of losing your own mind and that you already went hollow. And wasn't it weird that you could choose a female character or male character AFTER you meet the fire keepers. How the hell can this be possible? A possible explanation is that the moment you started the journey in things betwixt, you are already in your own imagination. 

Quite interesting indeed. Not saying I agree but really is something to think about. Things go together pretty well. I would like to thank Digken for the submission and everyone else who sent something in. Enjoy the rest of your Friday and obviously for the coming weekend.

The Passion Which Unites Us All

Today I want to be slightly serious. The world isn't ending so don't worry, and you also aren't dreaming so don't bother pinching yourself. I really just got the itch to talk straight up about something. So that's what I am going to do.

I am often asked why I have such a passion for gaming. Why really is the question. Ever since I was little I enjoyed the thrill of being able to do something I thought was difficult. When I beat such and such a level  keeping at it until it drove me crazy. As I grew older I learned to appreciate other things within games. The setting, the music, the characters, and how they all came together. It was still about having a good time and enjoying it, but became so much more than that. It also became more about those who you played with and those who you could talk to about your experiences.

One of my favourite gaming experiences was the first time I logged on World of Warcraft and really was there within Azeroth. Such a simple thing, but seeing the places not only I read about and played in other games brought to life around me. It really was something which truly is hard to describe. So yes I have a passion for gaming. I would argue though everyone who truly games though does.

Gamers are some of the most vocal people in the world. EA was voted the worst company in America why? Because gamers were angry and they let it be known. Every moment I game just like you is your time and you want to feel like your time was worth it. If you enjoyed something you want others to know you did and will tell them. I bet there has been countless times when you have approached someone saying "You have to try this", or "Simply amazing". Just like there has been times when you did waste your time and you want no one else to do the same. You are vocal about it, you are passionate and respectful of yours and other gamers time.  

We all have this passion. Once you get a gamer stating his opinion it doesn't stop. It doesn't matter if you play on such and such a system, like those types of games or won't go near anything with this or that. We all are gamers and that's why we keep at it that is why we spend our time doing something we love doing. To take something from my Maple Leafs it really is "The Passions Which Unites Us All"

Ah, Boys, How About That Evac?

So if you are reading this you are most likely a gamer. If you aren't and just happened to pass by then great or maybe you are not a gamer and still find me a good read, although I question how that is possible, but I am cool with it. Anyways, as gamers you learn to expect certain things from the games you are playing. You try to guess where the plot is going or what is just going to happen around the corner. It really is a normal way to game. There are those moments though which might shock you in a way where you say "did that just happen?". This brings me to this week's list where it is my favourite moments in games where this happens. Now obviously there could be some spoilers involved here but none of the games are super recent so truly it is fair game so no complaining.

5. Drake On A Plane - Uncharted 3

So not only does Drake board a moving plane on a jeep he is then found on the plane and then shot at. All of which are crazy to begin with. Those though are really the most mild things which happen in the chapter. He then is thrown out of the plane only holding on to a segment of crates covered in nets or something which are hanging out of the plane. He(as is you) then climbs back on to the plane while being shot at. When he is back on the plane crates are flying everywhere along with bullets. The plane ends up on fire, then explodes. After he is flying in mid air where a crate equipped with it's own parachute almost hits him. Instead he grabs onto said crate. He then opens the parachute and watches the plane crash while he calming lands in the desert. Honestly did anyone play this and not say "wtf" followed by "that was awesome".

4. Cloud Is Not Cloud

Many gamers will go on and on about how Aerith death was a massive shocker, and it was. It really was a great moment in gaming as a whole, but to me that wasn't the biggest shock of the entire game. Cloud really wasn't who he was saying he was the entire game and he didn't even know he was just some messed up experiment.

3. Joel Is Impaled

I have said it over and over again, how The Last of Us is just a complete masterpiece of a game. It is an experience like none other out there. No one who played it or watched expected this to happen and didn't say "oh shit" when it did.

2. Haytham Is A Templar - Assassin's Creed III

So you are playing Assassin's Creed 3 and everything is going well and you are wondering why you are playing as this guy Haythem who is not on the cover of the game. When he ends up becoming friends with the Native American you understand and expect something horrible to happen to him and his son is going to take up the mantle to avenge him in some way. That was until you are sitting at a table then the bombshell drops that Haythem is a Templar and you have been playing as the enemy for the first part of the game.

1. Mengsk Leaves Kerrigan Behind - Starcraft

 

Everyone knows Kerrigan is the Queen of Blades, but the crazy thing was how this came to be in the first place. You are on a mission where you are supposed to defend the Zerg from the Protoss while you eliminate the Protoss threat which is going to blow up the entire planet. Kerrigan is down on the planet when this happens and when you finish everything and complete the mission Mengsk gives the command "Belay that order we're moving out". You left her behind. The entire campaign shifts and this Mengsk guy you think is one of the good guys turns out to be one of the most evil ones out there. This is even before you realize this whole turn of events turns Kerrigan into a mass murderer and it is still beyond messed up.

There you have it this week's list. What do you think? Any moments you think deserve a mention? As always let me know.

You Fail At Fail Day If...

So here we are on yet another Fail Day. You know the day where we poke fun at the things you do, someone you know does, someone who you have no idea who they are does, or something I may do. Why do we do this? Well it makes us smile and feel slightly better about ourselves. How do some people take it? The wrong way. Thus the inspiration for today' Fail Day.

You Fail At Fail Day If...

• You are easily offended
• Your ability to take a joke is often impaired
• You believe your Xbox is the be all and end all
• Your shit don't stink
• The most often reason for you losing is because of lag
• Your mother made you breakfast
• You believe in being politically correct
• You don't understand my hatred for ret pallies
• You think this is all about personal attacks
• You are currently writing an email response to this post
• The most common word used to describe you is entitled
• You mistook me for someone who cared about your "feelings"
• You think the thing the earth revolves around is you and not the sun

and finally

• You write an angry email to me thinking it will make a difference in how I do things

There you have it this Fail Day all complete. If you take anything from this be it not to take everything so serious.

The Same Destiny

Monday morning. Yes I know it is here and we cannot get away from it. Just like I cannot get away from showcasing something for you every Monday. yes I know that was a bad lead in but honestly it's Monday and I don't really care. What I do care about is actually looking for something to showcase, which is worth your time. So when I post something on here I really want something most people will enjoy. With this in mind I have been saving this particular one for a couple weeks. Ezio and Altair are not only my favourite Assassin's Creed characters but some of my favourites across all games. This machinima explains how their destiny has always been intertwined. For those who have played the games you will be watching this and nodding your head countless items for those who haven't this may actually want you to take the leap and play them. So enjoy

Ask Gauss

Sunday is upon us cone again. Besides a new episode of Game of Thrones it also means I get to go through a bunch of questions pick 3 and answer them right on here for this week's Ask Gauss. How does one send in questions? Well there is quite a few options on the top right of the page where you can find me or you can just send an email to gaussafication@gmail.com if you are too busy to tilt your head slightly. So with out going on and on with an intro which doesn't make too much sense let's answer these questions

Have you had a chance to play Dark Souls II yet?

I have not yet I actually have the game sitting around jsut haven't brought myself to play it yet. Mostly because I am in a pretty good spot and I don't feel like ripping those who I see and talk to heads off on a daily basis. Now that doesn't mean I am not excited to play it just haven't put aside the time a game of Dark Souls II deserves. I will get to it though and all of you will get to hear me rage about it, and I know you cannot wait for that.

Blizzard has been talking about how to makes Rifts in Diablo more exciting, what do you think would make them so?

Honestly I love killing monsters and besides an obvious fix to increase monster density which I believe is a needed fix. I would also increase the number of monsters if the density is increased to spawn the guardian. I would also like to see events be them chest or shrine events within the rift. Something besides just killing monsters. People are finding rifts boring because they are just that. Also I would be interesting if a random boss who wasn't the guardian just showed up. Would scare the crap out of me on HC, but hey at least it would be entertaining.

Do you plan on going to Blizzcon this year?

Still to be determined but I will of course let everyone know if that is the case.

There you have it questions answered for the week and you can feel like your weekend has accomplished what it has to. So enjoy the rest of it.

For Khaz'Modan!

Warcraft has a vast history of leaders who have came and gone. Some of them had their time in the sun while others had their moments but truly didn't reach their full potential. Magni Brozenbeard Warcraft's version of "The King Under the Mountain" is exactly one of the characters. One who I have always enjoyed but then story stopped short just when I was starting to like him more. You can visit him currently down in Old Ironforge and see his body encased in diamond. Is he dead? Well for this week's Reader Post Raelion has an interesting take on it.

Some people I've spoken to, while it be in trade or in guild, say Magni is dead.

In my thoughts, it seems too easy to just kill off a major capital leader so quickly. Although I am Horde for life, I've been having this feeling that something big is on the way and I'm feeling that Magni will return in an expansion soon. 

From what I remember from the videos of him turning to diamond or reading about it, was that he had read a tablet or something that began to turn his body and to protect himself he used his Stone Form but he would ultimately become encased in a Diamond shell. Now he's been sitting like this since the Cataclysm, and I feel there is potential for his story to rise.

From what I am thinking is that they are saving him for a future expansion that has to deal with the End Time. Those of you who remember the End Time instance, you had the faction leaders of sorts be corrupted and Nozdormu himself was the infinite leader known as Murozond. Though we may have stopped it in that potential reality, I get the feeling it is bound to happen no matter what. This also puzzles me as how are we to time travel in the upcoming expansion.

I feel that Nozdormu does regain his powers however he possibly can. Whether it be from the call from the old gods corrupting him over time or whatever, but the issue is that a lot of things start to become unstable. Though we stopped the potential reality from happening, who is to say that it won't happen still? What I feel may happen is the old gods are released in some fashion and Sargeras may be the one to who played a hand at their release. I don't know, I'm just thinking here. You have the faction leaders and key characters starting to spiral out of control; one example: Jaine Proudmoore. 

Even though she went berserk when Theramore was blown to bits, she still even went against her allegiance or fought Thrall and the one to calm her was Kalecgos. Her rage and twisted mind would even be seen in a way at the end of the Siege of Orgrimmar where she wanted to dismantle the Horde. Maybe its just her new way of thinking, or maybe she is starting to fall. 

So what I feel is that the first steps of Azeroth's impending doom is finally coming and what we know, the End Time shall show what we have to face. The world will more than likely become desolate and there will be some refuge here and there, some main characters die, but I feel that Magni, while he is encased in Diamond will soon break out of that, perhaps stepping out as a Titan to help save Azeroth from Sargeras and the Burning Legion and further aiding with the Pantheon.

I feel that Magni has found a way to leave his body physically and his spirit itself is able to travel to their world, is counselling and honing skills that when he returns before, during or AFTER the End Time apocalypse happens, he'll be a major character to save the world... of Warcraft.

Once again thank you to Raelion and everyone else who has sent something in. I always enjoy Lore thoughts and speculation as it gets my mind going on possible scenarios. So maybe I did that for all of you today as well, and with that enjoy your weekend!

Dragon Age: Inquisition

For those who know me they know one of my favourite things in gaming or not is dragons. I just enjoy any and all lore I can ever read about them. The creature itself is just a fascination of mine. This also is the reason I got into fantasy in the first place since dragons are pretty much almost everywhere. This was also the reason without even thinking got me to pick up a game known as Dragon Age:Origins back in 2009. The series itself has been one I have been a fan of since the very start. This hasn't changed and I am just as excited to get my hands on the new game in the series which we will be be getting in October known as Dragon Age: Inquisition.

If you have never played a Dragon Age game you really are in for a treat. With everything EA has done wrong over the years Dragon Age is the series which makes me believe they are capable of getting back on track. No screwing up one of my favourite series is also a possibility and doing that might be the final unforgivable fact. So Now I will sit and wait and see which way they will go.

Oh and in case you have yet to see it here is the gameplay trailer for Dragon Age: Inquisition 

Do you think they will let me down? Or let you down? Let me know

Destiny Is A Game, Is It Not?

There is so much talk lately complaining about games being remade. Recently Naughty Dog came out and said they will be giving The Last of Us a PS4 upgrade. People were up in arms as this being a money grab for those who already own it. They fail to realize maybe they are not the target audience. You see the Last of Us is widely considered to be one of the greatest games ever made and in my books it actually is, but what about those who didn't get a chance to play it because it was a PS3 exclusive. What about those people who didn't have a PS3 but do have a PS4 now they have that opportunity to play this masterpiece of a game. You see remakes are not always about making the same people buy the games who have already play it. They are also about those who never had the opportunity. Now older games that received an update basically give both parties the opportunity. Those who have played get the better graphics, sound, voice acting etc, and those who never had the pleasure get to play these great games for the first time.

So where is this going? Well this week's list is about those games which fit that perfectly. My top 5 games which should be remade.

5. Base Wars

Sports games in this day in age are getting so close to the actual experience. We have be a pro mode, going through the minor leagues to get to the bigs, games mimicking actual motions of the sports, and so on and so forth. Now this is great don't get me wrong there was a day when I never thought they would get this good. You can also see with the success of the NBA Street and NFL Blitz series that games which go to the other end of the spectrum can also be fun. Base Wars was a baseball game where you didn't have to accept being out you could fight your way to get yourself a home run. You could destroy all your opponents robots so they couldn't even send anyone to the plate and win because of it. I really think it is about time this was brought back.

4. Maniac Mansion

Games which make you think are always a plus to me. When they also have humor and a slight creepy edge as well that just adds to the fun. I remember playing this game back on my Commodore 64. Yes I know that dates me slightly, but it doesn't take away from the fun this game could generate in the current generation of gaming.

3. Soul Reaver

There are very little games out now which have a complex story are challenging and make you want to play them again. Soul Reaver although not the first game in the Legacy of Kain series is by far and away the best of the bunch. I have run into so many younger gamers which have never had the pleasure of this type of experience and well to me that really is a travesty

2. Battletoads

This to me even if my memory of the past is slightly skew is the original rage inducing game. The hardest game I have every played and that is even with me thinking I am overreacting  to how hard it was when I played it. The game besides being hard was although different and fun then everything else. Now the game doesn't have to be released today in its stupidly hard difficulty of the past but like before this is a game which should be experienced by the current generation of gamers.

1. Final Fantasy 7

There are not many games which changed the way games are made. There are also not many games which not only have 1 but 2 of the most iconic gaming characters ever made. This game had both of those things and even more. Now I see the harm in doing this. The game is on one of the biggest pedestals ever constructed. Would a remake expect too much of the game? That I do not know. This really is a game everyone such play jsut for the appreciation factor about what it brought to the industry and really making it current generation would make it much easier for the younger crowd to accept. 

There is the list. What do you all think? Have any you would include? As always let me know.

You Fail At Your Gaming Setup If...

Fail Day! The day you feel awful about being excited for, but you can't help but smiling knowing about it. This week I was actually thinking a lot about what I was actually going to focus on. Then I realize I have had this topic in the back of my mind for quite some time so  I put it into action. So here goes.

You Fail At Your Gaming Setup If...

• The word Mac is ever in your description
• You think peripherals are a waste of money
• You have trouble playing on minimum settings
• You don't display your games
• You think your laptops mouse pad is sufficient
• You have yet to experience more than one monitor
• You don't use an SSD
• You think having a Microphone means you are the coolest little shit
• You avoid telling people about your computers hardware
• You don't know what your computer hardware is
• You are set because you own an Xbox One
• You don't have enough power to support your graphics cards
• You have top the line graphics and play Minecraft
• You believe where you sit isn't important

and finally

• The only time your gaming habits change is when a new Call of Duty comes out

There it is this week's edition of fail. Feel better?

Azeroth Choppers

Monday, Easter Monday in my neck of the woods, which basically means a free day off. So on this Monday. which turns out to make the Tuesday of the week into the Monday we won't change from our Monday traditions. Did you get all of that? It means it is time for the showcase of the week for Machinima Monday,which isn't a machinima this week it is premier of a new web series which has just launched, Azeroth Choppers. Now it is a good start and I am interested whenever a mount is added to the game especially one on a scale such as this. So if you haven't watched the first episode here it is and if you have will you keep watching?


Well?

Ask Gauss

Happy Easter! At least in my neck of the woods it is. Hope it will be a good holiday for all of you celebrating or not. Holiday or not though it is Sunday which means I have some questions to answer so let's get to it.

Not sure if you heard but someone is already over Paragon 700, what are your thoughts on it?

I know there has been much talk about this and how he must be cheating or found some sort of exploit. I get it if someone is going against the rules something should be done and I would be all for it. What boggles my mind though is why so many people are concerned with others paragon levels. Diablo is essentially a single player game you have the option to play with a maximum of 3 others. It is not an MMO there is no direct competition You are playing this game to gear out your characters that is it. Play the game and enjoy it and don't worry about what everyone else is doing.

Hearthstone on iPad is this going to make the game into a joke?

I don't think so at all. The game is a great fit for tablets. It is the kind of game you can just enjoy while doing something else. The competitive scene isn't going to change, but this is going to bridge the gap for the casual player and let's face it this is what Hearthstone was really created for. A game that is simple and fun to play and really the access to it on tablets only makes this much more possible for a larger audience.

So Frozen Orb.

It was a bug. Live with it.

There you have questions answered for the week. Once again Happy Easter to those celebrating and not and enjoy what is left of your weekend if it is a long one or not.

Entitlement

For quite awhile I have always complained about people who seem to be entitled when it comes to the games they played. They are angry because the game isn't exactly what they expected it to be. It is not what they believe the series is about. Games are games and because it isn't what you wanted doesn't make the game bad it means it really isn't what you wanted. Sometimes people fail to see the difference. This brings me directly to the Reader Post for the week written by StriderShinryu, which is basically everything I have ever wanted to say abut the subject put into a few words.

I have been saying the same thing for a while now: a complaint about entitlement usually comes from an entitled person. Be it a publisher that thinks they should have free reign to do whatever consumer unfriendly practice they want, the creator that thinks pleasing fans is the least important part of their job in lieu of pleasing themselves, or any social justice critic that wants everything put under the microscope but their own opinions, they're not any less people out to get everything they want than they think gamers are. 

From there, the attitude can entrench the entitlement because you stop treating people you want to change the opinions of as..well. people, and the angry backlash comes off as dodging the question. Why exactly did you like ME3's ending that I'm missing? Why should we be thrilled by always on DRM? Why is calling Call of Duty a Cancer, and lowering insults at those that play it Okay, but not Flappy Bird? Why are concerns about feminist methodology unfounded?

 Answering questions might reach people. Acting indignant that people don't agree with you, or have different opinions and values, there's no other term but entitled, and you can't hold on to yours while expecting others to let go.

There's nothing wrong with voicing your criticisms and opinions. In fact, fairly often, the "entitled" and the vocal critic have similar complaints, but it's in the delivery and expectation that the critic becomes the "entitled." If you take efforts to actually think about what you're saying, how to say it and what your expectations are, it's pretty easy to make complaints without coming across as an entitled petulant brat. That sort of approach is actually the basis of all professional criticism.

The other issue is expectations, and this ties into a lack of respect for a developers intentions. You are certainly in the right to voice whatever criticisms and complaints you want, but that doesn't mean you are owed a product that exactly matches your unique desires. You are owed a working game that falls in line with what the game was initially promoted to be. That's pretty much it. You can like or not like the final product but it not lining up with exactly what you want doesn't make it broken or bad, and it definitely doesn't make the company that made/published it evil. It just means that you don't like it. A developer can make whatever game they want to make with whatever IP they happen to be working on based on their own decisions and the guidance of their publisher should there be one. Just because there's a name attached to it that you're a fan of doesn't mean they have to make it based exactly on what you want or what that IP was in the past.

In short, be vocal with your complaints if that's what you want to be, but don't be a whiny brat when you do so and don't expect every game out there to be made exactly how you personally want it to be made.

Once again thank you to everyone who submitted a post, and make sure you enjoy your weekend.

What Do We Say To Death Today?

Usually I don't toast myself on achievements. I may joke around about it or state my goals and such and such but this is different. The other day I finished my last Diablo Hardcore character hit level 70. That is every class at level 70 hardcore. Now frankly this would have happened earlier but my Hardcore Demon Hunter said yes to death on a day she shouldn't have, which hurt because she was half way through level 69.

So what does this mean? Well this means that I am kind of awesome. Now I understand getting to Level 70 in Hardcore is only half the challenge, but I am not going to let it take away form me. Also because I didn't level safely which is part of the reason my Demon Hunter died. I play to enjoy the game not to level myself scared to die. If it happens what you going to do besides start all over.

It really is just one of those things. You set a goal and try to be done with it. When it is done you feel good about it, but kind of at a loss at what to do next. This post though is about accepting what I was able to do.

For those trying the same. It will be tough and you will have to accept when bad things happen. Elites with terrible affixes. Those times your heart is racing and those boss fights which really have an impact on what comes next. This is the world of Hardcore and if you are going to partake just make you are ready for all those disappointments and of course the satisfaction of your success.

Now time to gear up!

Endure and Survive

So last week for the list I went over what I thought were the best movie or television to game conversions. When I was making that last it really got me thinking. You know now there are quite a few games to movie conversions some of them good and some of them not. So if I could pick any game and make it into a movie what would I choose? This sounds a lot easier than I thought when I started to make a list. I had about 30 games which I would love to see made into a movie. I did though lower the amount to my trademark five. So here is the list I came up with. Also there may or may not be spoilers but the games are old enough it shouldn't matter

5. Heavy Rain

The story of Heavy Rain plays out so well and leaves you guessing. It makes you feel for Ethan every step of the way. You want him to find his son no matter the cost. Now if that doesn't scream Hollywood blockbuster don't know what does.

4. Uncharted 2

This game isn't on my short list of greatest games only because of the ganeplay. The story is beautifully done and action packed from start to finish. It has everything a movie could ever want to keep you on the edge of your seat. Unless of course you actually played the game. I have heard they are thinking of making an Uncharted movie so we may actually get to see it one day.   

3. Warcraft: Arthas' Story

There are many stories in the Warcraft universe but I don't think any would convert to film as well as Arthas' story would. From beginning to end it is a story of joy and sadness. A story you cannot help but watch and be drawn to till the very end, and isn't that what a movie is supposed to be?

2. Final Fantasy VIII

There have been 14 different stories created with the name Final Fantasy. So how do I come to choosing this one. Well it isn't the best game and I also don't think it the best overall story, but what I do believe it is the best which would translate into a movie. There are love stories in games as there are movies and I believe you would be hard pressed to find many which have a better one then this game.

1. The Last of Us

The greatest game in my books has the story to back it up. The time everyone fears when you are not only afraid of infection but what others will do to survive. A story of a journey and a struggle to save the world. Truly a masterpiece and which could also make one of the greatest movies ever made.

There it is list all put together. Like I said this was a lot tougher than it seemed and I left off a few games I thought were sure things when I first started writing them down. So what do you all think do you have some you would like to see?

You Fail At Bitching On Forums If...

Fail Day! Yes it is that time of the week again isn't it. This week I have just had a few things on my mind and a lot has to do with my weekly reading of game forums as to lose my faith in humanity. Now normally it is entertaining and enjoyable experience, but then the facepalms were quite more active then normal and I had to make this post. So here goes

You Fail At Bitching On Forums If...

• You post about how another game is better in a games forum
• You bump your own post after a couple minutes of no one responding
• You want an entire company to change the game is so it would be "better" for you
• You have tested your essay skills on the fact of something being OP or not
• Your post is too long for you to actually re-read it
• You have ever responded with a text picture
• You make up your own conclusions to point to a game being racist
• You have written a goodbye post
• Trolling is part of your daily routine
• You refer to the good old days in every post
• You call anyone who is supporting a game a fanboy
• You always find a way to complain about anything
• You always ask for games to have offline modes

and finally

• You actually believe someone cares

There you go this week's edition of fail. Maybe I will regain some faith in humanity this week, and yet most likely not.

Reaper Of Souls: Frozen Time

Monday morning everyone's least favourite time of the week, I wonder who was the first to decide Monday would suck. Wonder if they are laughing somewhere doing their best impression of Zoltan Kulle. Anyways, enough rambling. Monday means time to showcase something for all of you to see. Now I have always been a fan of time lapse video, but this week we have a slightly different style for it. It is a journey through Reaper of Souls frozen in time. It was put together by Mads Lund and I for those who have played or those who haven't I really think it is worth a look at.



Wasn't I right?

Ask Gauss

Sunday! That weekend and week went so fast, not to mention this Easter week just came out of no where. Where does the time go? Sunday does mean something though besides a new episode of Game of Thrones. It means it is time to answer some questions for Ask Gauss. Some of you may still be asking how to send in such questions. Well that is simple. Top right of the page or you can just email them directly to gaussafication@gmail.com.

So I often hear you talking about Hardcore characters in Diablo is it really worth the risk?

Well first off it is more of a challenge. Your character can die at any time and then the process starts all over again. To me though it is an added element into the game. It makes you a better player overall because you learn to accept danger and respond to them when you go back to playing softcore. Sometimes bad things happen. On Friday my last character to get to 70 Hardcore my Demon Hunter died at 69 because I got cornered by 2 elite packs of frogs. There wasn't too much to do about it. Sure it sucked but after a few deaths you learn to accept these things, and so I started a new one. All i can really say if you have attachment issues it probably isn't for you.

So Hearthstone Naxx?

What the game needs some new cards to make the builds you play and play against to have slightly more variety. Unless you are just messing around with friends currently you are basically playing decks which are min/max and meant to shoot you up the ladder. Not that this is a problem its bot the problem is with the amount of cards in the game is that when you get to specific ranks if you are playing such and such a class you know exactly the deck they are going to be playing, and that really isn't the most fun thing which could be going on.

Did you see that Heroes of the Storm Brightwing trailer? I feel like I am going to have nightmares forever now.

First off for those who haven't



But yes slightly disturbing.

There are the questions for the week. Thanks for everyone who sent something in and we will do it all over again next week.

MOBA SMOBA

Friday! Now didn't that jsut come out of no where. It is always better though when a Friday sneaks up on you rather than a Monday. Being Friday does mean Reader Post time and one submission in particular by NOSA2 contained something I have been saying forever about Heroes of the Storm. The game even in alpha wants to not jsut be part of the rest of the MOBA crowd. It wants to be its own game within the genre it doesn't want to have concepts, which to me are outdated and silly. It wants to have a game that is attractive to the new and casual player but yet also to be played at the top level will need quite a lot of skill. Almost exactly the way Starcraft II works except maybe even easier to get into playing. With that in mind here is the submission

From what I've seen from Heroes of the Storm (not in alpha). The point of this game isn't to replicate the current MOBA genre but to give an option that is different while still maintaining the play style. 

Current MOBA options are all very alike but are also plagued by the same issues.

• Kill ninja's
• Running back and forth for a new piece of gear/item
• A very intense learning curve including what classes/characters should be in which lane, what gear you need to buy and in what order to buy it. As well as loads of other really trivial side things that can drive a person to just hate them.

Blizzard is doing the right thing by not directly competing with these other titles by changing the game to suit a more casual player. The challenge of HOTS looks to be directly in how well you play your character and not whether you are tagging killing blows, buying the right pieces or in the lane you have to be in. Blizzard seems to be heading this way with a lot of their games now and from a business perspective it's the correct way. Broader audience means a larger player base which in turn equals more money spent. 

If you watch any of the current streamers vids, then you will know this game is not likely nor does it aim to steal people away from LOL or DOTA. It will develop it's own separate player base and the only players that would consider switching to this over those are the ones that like the differences (not many). That just doesn't matter though. Do MOBA players really need 5 different MOBA games all with the same rules and same play styles... change is good!

Why would they try for a piece of the current MOBA pie when they can bake their own pie? They have the power behind their name and the money to do what they want.

So there you have it this week's Reader Post. Thank you as always to all of your submissions it would not be possible to do this without any of you participating.

Shadow's Of Mordor

So you may have heard about it, you may not have. I am here to tell you that I will be playing it as Middle Earth lore is and always has been interesting to me. Afterall the father of fantasy did create it did he not. If you haven't seen the trailer here it is.

Also from there site here is a brief description to get you up to date

In Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, you take on the role of Talion, a valiant ranger whose family is slain the night Sauron and his army return to Mordor, moments before his own life is taken. Resurrected by a Spirit of vengeance and empowered with Wraith abilities, Talion ventures into Mordor and vows to destroy those who have wronged him. Through the course of Talion’s personal vendetta, you will uncover the truth of the Spirit that compels you, learn the origins of the Rings of Power and ultimately confront your true nemesis. Shadow of Mordor will be released on 7 October 2014.

Now that you are all caught or maybe a little refresher if you were. My thoughts? Now even though there is the save dead wife and child thing going on and it has been done before it doesn't turn me away. Everything that I have seen makes this look like quite the interesting ARPG. The only thing which does concern me is that it will be coming out in October and will still be released on the last generation. Meaning the graphics and sound quality may be slightly behind. If the story and gameplay as while are great this won't really matter.

Every time there is a game in Middle Earth it is always talked about if the story can live up to that of Lord of the Rings. Now that is really unfair question to pose but it will be talked about more and more as the release date gets closer. Honestly though I just want to know more abut the game as it is a title which just snuck up on me and I am excited about it which really happens very rarely. I truly hope it does not disappoint.

Toss Me

So I answered an interesting question on this past week's ask Gauss about if I think we would ever see a Game of Thrones game. Now that actually gave me a great idea about what to do with this week's list. Best adaptations into games there has been over the years. Something I did realize though is this doesn't happen in a positive manner anymore. It really seems to work the other way around making games into movies, shows, or books. Back when I was younger it used to always happen and I actually do have some great gaming memories from this happening. So let's take a look.

5. Willow

Way back in 1989 we were graced with this game. Now I have always enjoyed this genre of movie and this may really have been my first taste of it. If you have never seen the movie I do recommend checking it out. Regardless the game followed the movie pretty well and was played out in a Legend of Zelda style. Something I also have fond memories playing back on my NES

4. Robin Hood Prince of Thieves

Another movie I enjoyed when I was younger I was thrilled to get my hands on this game. The style of the game was the older model of action adventure and not a full on ARPG we see developed today. Regardless the game played well and was a lot of fun even with the minor differences from the film.

3. Bart Simpson's Nightmare

Bart's Nightmare is the only TV show listing on the list, but regardless is well worth making this list. The game is based off an episode of the the show in which Bart falls asleep writing a paper. It takes you on many adventures all of which will increase Bart's grade on his paper. If only things actually worked that way.

2. Golden Eye

How can you have a list like this without including the game which has defined us by how much we played it. The only reason this game is not getting number 1 is because even though it is based off the movie which came out in 1995 of the same name most of us didn't play it for the single player except to get the unlocks. We played the multiplayer and drove each other nuts for countless hours.

1. Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers

Considered by many to be the greats movie to game adaptation ever made there really wasn't a doubt when i was making this list that it was going to be number 1. Ever since this game came out it seems making games based on movies and television has been in serious decline. The games are not taking seriously and most of the time it is because the games don't have the production value put into them. This game though had seamless transitions and you really thought you were a part of the story. Something even modern ARPGs failed at accomplishing.

There you have it this week's list all there for you to argue about. Tell me what you think agree or disagree.

You Fail At Adventure Mode If...

Here we are on another Tuesday ready for another Fail Day. Isn't it a wonderful thing pokingfun at the way we or others mess up all the time. Sometimes I think about all the good I have done on Fail Day and just smile. This week we have another Reaper Of Souls focus mostly because that's what I have been playing lately. So sit back relax and get ready to point and laugh.

You Fail At Adventure Mode If...

• You haven't unlocked it
• You have yet to find out Normal mode gives you the best chance of legendaries
• You complain you have no gold when you are always doing bounties on Normal
• You opened a rift by wondering what this shinny thing was
• You don't wonder how much Tyrael actually ate
• You picked up a blood shard and then spent 10 minutes wondering why it wasn't in your bag
• You switch to a different act before completely the set
• You cleared the wrong zone for your 100 kills before noticing
• When someone says split farming you have a confused look on your face
• You have sold your cache to a vendor
• You use adventure mode to unlock your followers
• You try to skip cut scenes

and finally

• You think Kadala can hear you yelling at her

There you have all the Fail for this week! Good luck not failing today.

Game of Thrones in Skyrim

So here we are the Monday after the Game of Thrones release and I am here thinking what I am going to show you all today. That was then I realized the perfect choice. Skyrim has a world that is epic in all ways. The universe is expansion the cities and towns are recognizable it really is an extremely well constructed world. The the other day I saw this video which I am still unsure if it is a Game of Thrones tribute to Skyrim or a Skyrim tribute to Game of Thrones. I will let all of you be the judge.



Well?