Myths, Mystery, and the Modern World

This week the press embargo was lifted regarding the hands-on event for The Secret World. As a result, a lot of articles are coming out on gaming review sites. Each new tidbit about this game gets me more excited (if that’s even possible). The Secret World is an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game). It’s set in the modern world, but a world where everything is true. All the myths, the conspiracies.

It’s not your traditional kill-10 quest system. There will be those, but there will also be investigation missions, sabotage missions, 3 faction PVP. And all saturated in deep, intriguing story telling. The man behind it is Ragnar Tornquist, who did The Longest Journey and Dreamfall games.

The release date has finally been announced: June 19, 2012. I know what I’ll be doing this summer! Will anyone be playing with me?

PS: I’m approaching 500 blog posts! I have an idea for something to giveaway in celebration, so stay tuned.

Some Musical Entertainment

I’d like to showcase two of my favorite theme songs with some fan renditions.

The best game music is Morrowind, particularly the memorable theme song. These extremely talented young ladies did a piano violin medley of the Morrowind and Skyrim themes.

 

Another epic theme is the opening to HBO’s Game of Thrones. Here is a violin rendition, all done by one man.

 

And we’ll end with some lighter entertainment. The Sith Who Stole Christmas.

Boards of Inspiration

We all have things that inspire us. Excite us. Images that take our breath away. Some people do collages or create vision boards. I use a nifty site called Pinterest to organize mine.

I have a board for my wish list, one for favorite places, books I love, anything Gamer Girl, and a newly added one for my Inspiration Room I hope to have someday.

Fly with me as I find inspiration.

A Valentine’s Day Quest

My husband took half a day off yesterday. He brought home lunch from Taco Time, then shut me in the bedroom while he prepared his surprise. When I was allowed out, he stood against a wall with a yellow exclamation mark taped to the wall above his head.

 

I accepted the quest. The first part of the chain had me searching the corner room for 15 lost Kisses. I came back to find the exclamation mark replaced with a question mark. I turned in my quest items and got my reward: a heart box of chocolates and little teddy bear to keep in my bag so I’d have him wherever I go.

Alas, now pink cranes had stolen 10 treasures! My objective was to seek out these cranes in their nearby nesting grounds and retrieve the Treasures. My quest reward this time was a wrapped gift: Ray Bradbury’s ZEN IN THE ART OF WRITING. I <3 that book. Checked it out from the library a few months ago and was incredibly inspired. Now I can take it off my wish list.

The third and final part of the quest chain was to seek out an object of much good n plenty. Once found, my final reward was another book: CHARACTERS & VIEWPOINT by Orson Scott Card. This book was highly praised at the literary conference a few weeks ago. My husband proved that he listens, and that he supports my writing.

It was a great Valentine’s event, from one gamer geek to another. I love you, dear husband. Thank you for your unconditional love and support.

Tuesday Tally: Slow and Steady

Last week’s goals:

• work out 3x this week
• start Page-a-Day Challenge (May 15th to June 15th) – and on track!
• finish Heavy Rain – loved it

Goals for this week:

• continue Page-a-Day Challenge (see my progress here)
• deep clean house
• catch up on critiques
• submit some poetry

 

It’s been refreshing having a goal of one page a day. It’s something I’m comfortable writing even over the weekend (which I used to avoid), and rather than stressing about how much I should be writing, and panicking at being behind, and writing nothing, I am making progress every day. Something is better than nothing. Not as awesome as high-productivity days, but I can’t always count on those.

We’ve already decided to abandon our 80% complete gaming rule. Turned it into grinding, and doesn’t take into account all the games we’ve finished and traded in.

Speaking of grinding, I think that’s what happened with Trinity Coven. I had boiled it down to how many words I needed a day. It became all about the numbers, and lost the fun.

Three cheers for Progress, Fun, and Rain. (I love rain. beautiful rainy day today. got the windows open. smells fresh and wonderful.)

Tuesday Tally and video games

Last week’s goals:

• create custom workout for EA Active
• create summer schedule to include writing time
• relax, read my bliss book
• take some time to read and enjoy Trinity Coven

Goals for this week:

• work out 3x this week
• start Page-a-Day Challenge (May 15th to June 15th)
• finish Heavy Rain

 

Like story? Play video games? Have a PS3? Play Heavy Rain. Intense, completely immersive. Makes me think. Not many games I keep thinking about for days after putting down the controller. Each time I have to balance whether to take a break because the emotion and adrenaline is so intense, or keep going because I have to know what happens next!

My husband and I have decided not to buy any new video games until we finish more. Trying to keep an 80 percent completion rate. Got a few games coming out next month, and some already out which we’re waiting on, so I need to take a break from Sims and play some consoles.

Games I’m most looking forward to this year: Alan Wake, Sims 3: Ambitions, Lego Harry Potter, and Civilization V. Are you a gamer? Which systems do you have? Any favorite games on the brain?

Spring “Break”

This last week was an interesting one. B was sick for a week, staying home from school Monday and Tuesday. I didn’t have to worry about missing school the rest of the week, as it was Spring Break. Tomorrow he goes back to school (yay!).

My wrists were also hurting, so I took a break from writing and video games to give them a rest. (Thus the lack of blog updates.)

What did get done was house stuff. And I got a lot of reading done. B did as well. Just prior to Spring Break was parent teacher conference. Since B is doing so well in school (going to start some first grade level work), we bought him an early reader at the book fair. This is the first book that is really meant for his reading level, and he was excited to read it to me. Made it easy to get some reading in even though he was home sick.

B is very demanding when he’s home. Not just because he was sick. Wants Mommy to be involved in everything. I don’t want to know how many board games we played. Or video games on Monday (which probably contributed to the sore wrists).

Before school gets out for the summer, I will want to create some sort of routine, for everyone’s sanity.

Thankfully, B seemed fully well by Easter. Had plenty of energy to play with his new foam dart gun and rocket launcher. Of course, as soon as B gets better, I start to feel sick… One more day of Spring Break to survive.

How was your Easter?

Tuesday Tally and the sick saga

Goals for last week:

• write one scene per weekday. TC scenes have been averaging 700 words, so that would be around 3500 words
• send out more queries
• submit at least 3 poems – 6 sent

What really happened:

Tuesday evening I felt tired and achy. The next morning I was definitely sick. Sore throat, fever, runny nose, cough. Was sick all week. Ugh. Still got a lingering cough, but feeling much better. I didn’t get any writing done though.

 

What kept me sane while I sniffled and sneezed:

Playing Gyromancer.

Finished reading The Pit Dragon Trilogy by Jane Yolen.

Finished my follow ups. Sent emails about poetry, made phone call about health insurance issue, etc.

Sent out queries and poems.

Following all the clues and revelations for The Secret World on the forums. There were tweets and scripture clues and website hunts. Fun following all the theories. And keeping up with the 70 pages of forum. No way I’d go back and read that after. Starting while it was only a few pages long, and refreshing every five minutes while sick and not doing much else? No problem.

 

Goals for this week:

• send out more queries
• joined a challenge on Writing.com to add 10,000 words to my novel (TC) this week. Need to make up for not writing last week.
• hunt down and post all blog awards to sidebar

 

I’m glad you all enjoyed my excerpt last week. That was my first time writing in Bridget’s POV. Was quite fun. My current challenge is figuring out how to start the next chapter. I know what happens, and who’s point of view, just not sure when to pick back up. What I really want to write is the second half of the chapter. I need to suck it up and write the first scene. Ooh, maybe I should utilize Write or Die to get it out of the way without over-analyzing it.

Later this week: blog award. Time to get a little boy ready for school, and then I have much to do.

Avatar Awesomeness

If you are at all familiar with MMO’s, you are likely to enjoy this highly entertaining music video. Much satire and humor. And an extremely catchy tune. I can’t stop watching and singing! The song is called “Do You Wanna Date My Avatar.”

 

 

And if you haven’t yet, check out The Guild: a web series about a group of online gamers (seen in music video).

 

Speaking of MMO’s, got two big ones coming out next month! Looking forward to Champions Online and Aion. Two very different games. Both a lot of fun.

360voice

My Xbox360 has joined the blogging community.

 

http://www.360voice.com/tag/feywriter

B - the new gamer

Lately we've been expanding B's options for educational gaming. He's had access to Starfall.com for a while, but he was doing so well with the mouse that we've gotten him some games of his own. We had Teddy Factory on the old system, but haven't installed on this one. That one was more of a "Mommy play, B watch" game anyway. He enjoys (and is very good at) playing the Purble Place games that came with Vista. We bought him Sky Heroes to the Rescue - a computer game with letters, nature, and other educational activities. And most recently we bought him his first console video game - Cosmic Family. He was hyper excited to hold the Wii remote for the first time (he's always enjoyed watching Mommy and Daddy play games and mimics our motions). Learning to control the remote and hold it while pressing the button has been a challenge for him, but he's getting the hang of it; good for his motor skills.

 

Initially introducing him to games was frustrating - that's all he wanted to do! He'd try and sit in my computer chair if I moved, would point to the browser (he knows exactly what I do to go to Starfall) or his new star-icon folder with his name just for his games. But after a couple times of introducing a one hour timer for his gaming, he's been great at closing everything when it goes off. No more pestering me if he's already had his session for the day. The other rule we have is no video games on school days (Monday and Wednesday), as he does so many educational activities there, and I know they even have a computer for the class (don't know if they use it; must remember to ask).

 

Do you know of any other good video games for a four year old? We're just a gaming family. :-)

Update and QA

Saturday morning it was clear that B was mostly better and very energetic, but equally clear that he had passed the cold to me. I've been miserable since Sunday.

 

I did spend some time trying out the early levels of Age of Conan and looking at the class feats. Combat is easier than I expected, and I had a lot of fun in the little time I played the beta. My husband is even more excited for the game's release next month.

 

5,000 Questions... My answers so far...

 

208. Who is yourfavorite poet of those who are alive right now? Liz. Yes, she is my sister. And a very good poet. Am I biased? Perhaps.

209. What is your favorite song from the 90's? This is tough. So many good songs! I've mentioned it as a favorite before, but I'm going to say "I Want to Spend my Lifetime Loving You", the love theme from Mask of Zorro.

210. If you were in alphabet soup what letter would you be? M for Mary, Mom, messy; turn it over and it's a W – first letter of my maiden name, also stands for weird and writer.

211. Do you believe in fairies, ghosts, aliens, angels, dwarves, elves, etc.? Yes to ghosts, aliens (as in life on other planets), angels, and dwarves (dwarfism anyone?). Elves and fairies, no. Though I really, really want to believe in fairies.

212. What makes you want to be someone's friend? similar interests

213. Do you troll around the Internet harassing people anonymously for fun? No. I don't like trollers, and don't see the fun of harassing someone anonymously or otherwise. It's sad that some people are that childish.

214. Have you ever seen the movie A Man Who Fell to Earth? Nope. Never heard of it.

215. What is your favorite line from a movie? Alright, more than a line… but there a lot of good quotes from "Serenity", such as this one:

 

Capt. Mal Reynolds: But it ain't all buttons and charts, little albatross. You know what the first rule of flyin' is? Well I suppose you do, since you already know what I'm about to say.
River Tam: I do. But I like to hear you say it.
Capt. Mal Reynolds: Love. You can know all the math in the 'Verse, but take a boat in the air you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of worlds. Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells ya she's hurtin' 'fore she keens. Makes her home.
River Tam: Storm's getting worse.
Capt. Mal Reynolds: We'll pass through it soon enough.

 

And, for a more comedic quote, from the Teen Titans series:

Cyborg: "Man, how could you deny me the all meat experience [pizza]?"
Beast Boy: "Dude, I've been most of those animals!"

Later… as the argument continues…

Cyborg: "There's no meat in pepperoni!"

216. What's your favorite video game? Culdcept Saga

217. Have you ever taken something that wasn't yours? Yes

218. What is one phrase people say that irritates you? Can't think of one at the moment.

219. You allow strangers to read your diary, but would you let your parents read it? My personal, handwritten diary I would be more likely to let strangers read than my parents – strangers who have no point of reference and won't be hurt or disappointed by things I've written in my low moments. As for my online diary (my blog), both strangers and my parents read it.

220. Hot steamy bubble bath or quick in and out shower? Both have their benefits. The former for relaxing, and the latter for assisting the wake up process.

221. Are you allergic to anything? Yes. I have seasonal allergies, am allergic to cats and dogs, and some plants.

222. What is your favorite Terminator movie? Been too long for me to say. I love the new series though, and am glad that Sarah Connor Chronicles has been renewed for a second season.

223. What is your favorite fast food? Sausage Egg McMuffin

224. What would someone have to do to get you to never speak to him or her again? Be hostile physically, viciously attack me regarding one of my values, or abuse me in some form.

225. Would (or have) you ever whip someone or be whipped by someone in bed? No. I'm not into S&M.

 
226. Have you ever said 'I hate everyone' and really meant it literally? No. I'm sure I've said it, but what I really meant was "I hate this moment in life" or "I hate myself"/"I am unworthy of everyone".

Conan

I don't think I'll be on much the next few days. As my husband's computer isn't completely set up yet (just got parts this morning), he's using my computer for the Beta PvP event for Age of Conan this weekend. He's very excited. I, for one, have been enjoying running Oblivion on maximum graphics and settings. Looks so beautiful.

Awesome + Awesome = Most Awesome!

In other words, yesterday the new song available for download on Rockband was "Still Alive", the end credit song to Portal. :-) Had a lot of fun singing it last night.

Geeky Fun

Update on gaming problem: I found the option to slow down the cursor/rotation speed, which has helped greatly. I can now play for greater periods of time. No nausea, and only a minor headache after playing for multiple hours. I made some good progress in game today. :-)

 

46% Geek

Struggling to play my game

Today I started to play the adventure game "Return to Mysterious Island." So far, great game - looks great, sounds great, good premise, like the interface. But one big problem - it's first person, and the screen moves with my cursor. It gives me motion sickness (or more specifically, simulator sickness). I really want to play this game, but can only handle it in short spurts or the headaches and nausea will persist long after I stop. This is the reason I don't play first person shooters. Sadly, more adventure games are getting going the "realistic" route as well.

 

I found a great article on simulator sickness, found here.

more Qs

5,000 Questions... My answers so far...

45. Word association
What is the first word that comes to mind when you see the word:
Air: flight
Meat: steak
Different: Sesame Street song, "one of these things is not like the other…". wait, that's not one word. umm… ok, first single word to come to mind: weird
Pink: tutu
Deserve: earned
White: angel
Elvis: rock
Magic: madness (I'm sure Justine Larbalestier would be glad to know my automatic association was because of her book. before even my own magic-y writing!)
Heart: love
Clash: cymbals
Pulp: fiction (though if asked the definition of pulp fiction I would have to look it up)

46. If you could meet any person in the world who is dead who would you want it to be? Nefertiti

47. What if you could meet anyone who is alive? Melanie Rawn. though I have no idea what I'd say! I'd be so nervous…

48. Is there a movie that you love so much you could watch it everyday? Hmm. There are movies that I love, but every day…. I know what it's like to watch/hear a movie every day (thank you B), and no matter how much you love something, that wears you down. I think emotional movies in particular would lose their impact. Is there one that could survive that? Possibly The Mask of Zorro. Great music and actors, lots of action.

49. You are going to be stuck alone in an elevator for a week. What do you bring to do? A week??? There better be zombies or an apocalypse outside, or I'm breaking out. If for unknown reasons I planned this and thus could bring whatever I wanted, I would bring a laptop, Civilization 4, a stack of books, lots of food, and Cocoa (to be used for comfort, cuddling, and pillow). I would foresee lots of napping between reading and Civ playing.

50. Have you ever saved someone's life or had your life saved? no. thankfully haven't had any near death experiences.

 

51. Make up a definition for the following silly words...
Fruitgoogle: Vending machine that produces the fruit you want at the type of the word
Ambytime: time measured by how much you didn't get done

Asscactus: inexplicable butt pain

Red Ring of Death pt. 2

When the UPS guy delivered our box to mail the XBox360 in, he knew exactly what it was for: "Got the three red lights?" Apparently he gets about two a day. That is sad.

 

Hopefully only a couple weeks to wait now. Their estimated time to work on it is three days. The time consuming part is all the shipping back and forth.

 

Culdcept Saga came out yesterday. A few weeks ago, that sentence would have ended in an exclamation mark and accompanied by a smiley face. Now, I wait.

An unanticipated break from Rock Band...

Yesterday our Xbox360 came up with the Red Ring of Death indicating hardware failure. Thankfully, as it's a (sadly) common problem (more a 'when' instead of 'if' you'll get it) due to a manufacturing issue, we can get it fixed for free within three years of purchase date even though it's past the regular warranty. Between getting the box, mailing the console, getting it fixed, and getting it back, we'll have no Xbox360 for a month. :-( The irony is I was so excited about getting Culdcept Saga which comes out next week; it had been pushed back for a year. Now it's finally coming out and there's no point in getting it until I can play it.

2008 - Looking Ahead

This year's goals...

Ongoing endeavors:

• Read from an inspirational book every day - start by finishing 101 Powerful Promises from Latter-day Prophets by Wayne E. Brickey, then read God wants a Powerful People by Sheri Dew.
• Blog everyday. I've joined Blog365.
• work on Trinity Coven weekly
• continue sending out The Blazing Princess until it sells or the year ends
• exercise 15-30 minutes, 3x week
• do at least two cities in Rock Band solo tour each week (exercise and stress relief all in one!)
• have meal plans and shopping list done before Friday
• try two new recipes each month
• resume 2 hour writing sessions on Wednesday
• read two books a month, one Fantasy and one outside my genre

Goals with Deadlines:

• enter Odyssey Poetry contest (deadline January 15)
• get new contacts by January 31
• write new Dear Me letter and enter into WDC contest (deadline Jan. 31)
• participate in Storycrafter's February Workshop on Plot & Structure
  • get book required by Jan. 31
• Attend Life, the Universe, and Everything SF&F Symposium for at least one day, February 14-16
• throw a theme party for B's fourth birthday (March 8)
  • decide on theme (January 31)
  • ask Mom to make cake and if we can stage event at her house (Feb. 9)
  • send out invites (Feb. 26)
  • buy supplies (March 1)
• polish EotF by March 31
• compile list of 20 agents, write query and synopsis for EotF, and have manuscript in standard format by April 30
• query five agents by June 1
• finish Trinity Coven by Dec. 1 (so nice having December off)