Diary of an (Ex?) WoW Addict

Apparently the spammers insist I still play WoW

2010-07-31T04:33:00.005-04:00

I've gotten loads of spam into my other account (and the one I actually used for WoW), but it seems those shysters do not believe that I've given up the ghost. Clearly some of my old WoW friends (who most ironically are taking breaks or are quitting as well) have told them lies.

Note that they have infiltrated my gmail account, which I made for blog related things. Lawl maybe their game plan is to weasel their way to my old account info for an account that is no longer mine? Or worse - get me to resign up under a new account to steal the characters I'd level out of necessity? Or steal that $5 second account I purchased ages ago...mind you that account did nothing but rot as I didn't feel like buying a bunch of separate boxes for it.

Nah their not that smart. Besides I'm too cheap to repurchase all three of the games as I tossed them out the minute my account was sold. These guys are worse that telemarketers that send mail to your house years after...when you're already dead. (Happened to my Granddad for over 5 years after I'm sure we told a bunch of them years before he was certifiably dead). Well, WoW spammers. My account is dead. No hackings for yew!

The Perfect Soldier

2010-07-31T04:23:00.001-04:00

Thanks for the article from Robin Woodard

He's the perfect sniper, a soldier you can't see, a death machine. He lives in the jungle, and if you happen to be in that area, you're in for a rude surprise. If you don't know whom I speak of, you're obviously not a big fan of action movies.

The Predator is one of the best action movies of all time. It's also an example of Arnold at his best. His muscles are fueled to the max and he's got that angry grin on his face when he's ready to fight. At the same time, he's a very cool character. What makes this action movie different from others is that the brain is used more than weapons. Arnold and friends must figure out a way to defeat a superior opponent. They try booby traps and other creative ideas. The predator doesn't fall for these tricks and picks all the soldiers off one by one.

I caught The Predator on satellite tv from www.Direct.tv the other night and I had no idea how great it was. I remembered seeing it back in the day, but I didn't think it would have withstood the test of time in regards to picture quality and special effects. I was dead wrong. It was awesome. Since that night, I have gone around reminding everyone how awesome The Predator is. They just nod. They have no idea what they're missing.

The Casino Costume Party

2010-07-28T17:37:00.013-04:00

Hmm, what to wear....the Troll was rifling through her stash of sexy Halloween costumes. It wasn't Hallows End quite yet, but as she and the others settled onto this Island place, certain traditions were practiced. Like free token Tuesdays, or get hammered for half price Thursday's. Now don't get her wrong, most of the weekly and monthly side events out side of gambling are fun in their own ways. But most were a bit meh.

Unless you were talking of the costume party held every last Saturday of the month. Gambling fiends, schemers, sceners, wallflowers, and just about everyone would drop what they were doing to go. Even she, a Troll that shows up to only 'worthwhile' events could not pass up such an even. It gave her reason to mingle, ogle, and look better than the 99% that would be there. (Hota didn't care if the others were jealous, she knew she was better - or at least her raging narcissism did).

Now should I gun for my sexy cop costume or my sexy pirate costume?

She could go with the cop costumes but anyone can be a law abiding citizen...the whole point of dressing up is to be something you aren't for a day. And pirates are like the epitome of lawless abandon and adventure. And since she and the gang are retired - it'd be more of a homage to her old raiding days.

That and she is a retired Bloodsail Admiral...

The Trolless picked her tried and true pirate outfit. Full of ruffles, silks and showing more than a modest amount of skin, the bright blue hues flattered her skin, and the outfit was cut to compliment her leggy height. She clipped on an extra dagger to complete the look along with some shoes with buckles on the sides.

What have I've been doing nao?

2010-07-28T17:37:00.005-04:00

I've been away dealing with family things.

Sis having her baby shower

Me re listening to old CDs (viva DJ Irene!) and games

Writing

Saving money quietly (hence no mmos or purchasing of a Wii even thou I totally can aford it now)

And digging an anime called Hanibare.

So if you see alot of guest posts while I've been gone, that's why.

Shepard Fairey - Sticker art of the 00's Gamer Generation

2010-07-09T00:12:00.004-04:00

Heard of shepard fairey? Does this pic ring a bell:

Yeah the guy responsible for all those skater sticker art in the early 00s apparently has a website. At least that's what I first recall him for. He also did those controversial Obama prints that have been spoofed to hell and back (Dark Knight spoofs anyone?). But the shepard fairey art reminds me more when skating games were the big rage.

If I recall Tony Hawk and crew abused the use of shepard fairey prints all over their games. Skater friends of mind back in the day would have them all over their skateboards. I would see a sticker or so on a building or wall. The art was very popular yet I never knew who it was by.

This art style just brings out the rebel youth in me - I'd see people at LAN parties with these on the side of there various rigs; the art was just that commonly used. Well if one didn't know - shepard fairey is the name. And he still sells and displays some of his works online years after the fact. Wild.

At leasts it tries to be green. Trying is caring.

2010-07-06T23:41:00.004-04:00

Now the casino isn't all about overspending and excess...just 95% or so. The other 5% it actually tries to contribute to a cleaner Azeroth. For a more obvious example of their conservation (or cheap if your inclined) methods is saving up on water usage. The hotel doesn't import in rain water from the main land - that's what the rain barrels are for.

In fact scattered non obtrusively around the isle are large rain water barrels. As the isle they all are staying are of one of the Zandalari chains the area is prone to fits of heavy rainfall. Not a big thing for guests in that most are too busy being shut ins inside spending their gold away.

But guests do have basic needs such as shelter, food, and water. The gambling/suites handle the shelter, the food from all the wild game on the isle (and the ones nearby) solve food. But water is a great expense as persons need to drink, bathe, the intimate basics that one does everyday. And depending on the patron some use more than others so water usage tends to fluctuate then the other two needs. The rain harvesting methods used here cover than and some. Then again your bathing in fallen dirty rainwater that hasn't been purified or treated. The casino didn't feel like extending another 5% for clean water. Cleaning it cuts into profit margin. Damn goblins.

July 4th!

2010-07-04T23:34:00.004-04:00

Happi Belated July 4th and such! Yay explosions and grilled meats :)

Here's a Jill sammie to celebrate!

The casino has more than cards and smoke.

2010-07-04T17:41:00.007-04:00

Now along this casino excursion, many will note the gaudy exterior, the smoky halls, and the over sense of spendthriftiness of the resort's patrons. But to the crafty eye of Tomoechan, the true beauty of the casino was it's furniture. Living rooms that entreated visitors to sit and chat awhile full of immaculately restored old world tables, to the rich netherweave fabrics used to accent each chair, the hotel/casino knew how to keep even the most non inclined spender in comfort.

The bedrooms were a devious exercise in keeping the otherwise overspending lout in a sense of grandeur. A player may be spending away his savings but at least they can say they slept in a room made for kings!

From the posh closets that looked to able to hold ones summer, winter, spring, summer, and whatever occasion clothing, to the elegant bathroom arrangements, to the staff 'perks' - it seemed the hotel at least spent their (ill) gotten money in the right places. Tomoechan merely took mental notes, the designs of each furniture piece stored in her head to create back home.

Saturation-Albert Wesker (Satisfaction Remix)

2010-06-29T15:00:00.000-04:00

I couldn't resist. The lure of complete, global saturation was too much. Nope, no sexual undertones in that speech either. Not at all. Wesker and his harebrained plans (and by harebrained I mean comic failure)!

Magicus Interuptus.

2010-06-29T14:30:00.019-04:00

Eldai gasped from the giggling priest back to the tall hunter that stood mere feet from him. The soft purr of her stalwart pet made the supposed magician back up into the canvas tarp that covered a part of his show. 'Woah woah...what are you doin' here? Don't you have animals to kill, people to hunt down...that don't involve me?'

The huntress barely shows any emotion, well other than the barely concealed cold look of rage. 'What am I doing here? What am...you have some damn nerve after the shit you tried to pull - you're luck I didn't just sic him' she points to the disinterested cat to her side, 'on you, you backstabbing-'

'Hey guys is this part of the show? The dramatic timing is nice but I wanna see what's under the tarp!' Mysiae, the Queen of obliviousness the huntress laments. Why am I helping her again?

The blue tarp covered a large tall shape; as Eldai went to pull it down, the elf female hisses out, 'What are up to, you bastard? I know your planning something, you always are!' To this Eldai merely mutters out sarcastically, 'Nothing too illegal? Hope that's cool with you, my love'.

Self storage for your gaming collection.

2010-06-29T14:30:00.010-04:00

Remember that blog post I wrote ages ago about organizing your gaming collections and some of my storage unit tips? Well I forgot to mention the use of self storage units.

Self storage is the use of set aside places to store stuff you can't fit in you home, or a place to store stuff if your prone to moving a lot. As a kid my family tended to move a lot. Not real for any other reason other than my mother just disliked staying in one place longer than 2 years. Hence I've seen my fair share of Virginia storage units.

But a lot of the time we'd use them for big bulky items like old family furniture. Or when I was floating around between college and roommates I'd keep a tiny storage unit for my collections. Now your saying isn't storing electronics in a self storage center a bad thing?

Well yes and no. Getting things damp pretty much spells the end of items. But when you live with more than yourself and have limited space, you do what you have to. That being said, you don't just dump things in a self storage place and leave them there!

Most Self storage facilities allow you a pass code to move in things during set hours. Check on your items at least once a week in case leakage or damaging conditions have occurred. Most units sit a bit off the ground so that moisture and rain rarely flood in to them. Also even though many storage centers offer boxes - do not pack games into paper boxes! They are frail and are susceptible to moisture and nasty critters (your stuff is basically in a fortified shed). Unless you are hand moving stuff from one residence to another, use plastic bins for long term storage.

Some storage facilities offer climate control options to control the humidity and temperature extremes. If you plan on storing things like gaming systems into a storage unit long term (or ignored reason and stored em in wood/paper boxes) then this option will be a worthwhile godsend.

Bad sci-fi can be good entertainment

2010-06-23T12:18:00.002-04:00

Guest post written by Ben Byers - give him a bit of thanks as I've been out dealing with impending Auntiehood! And besides who doesn't like cheap Sci Fi flicks?

Most people will laugh when I tell them that I love cheaply made science fiction movies. But I’m as serious as a chestburster.

Maybe it’s because I just can’t take the movie genre seriously. Or maybe it’s just that I’m easily amused. Either way there are a lot of bad low-budget horror movies, whether they’re Syfy channel original movies on Direct TV or the ones featuring unknown tween actors that the Disney Channel always airs non-stop for the whole month of October. And if Satellite TV Dealers can guarantee that I get to see the cheap effects in HD, I’m sold!

But I can’t be the only one of this opinion. There’s a reason these keep getting made. But I do have one limitation to this obsession. I can’t watch a bad sci-fi movie in a movie theater. All of a sudden the cheap special effects trips that are obvious or bad CGI monsters are just frustrating instead of hilarious. It’s actually probably because I don’t want to go out of my way to drive to the movie theater and then pay eight bucks to see that kind of stuff. It’s just better suited for the TV screen.

Mail Check!

2010-06-16T14:58:00.003-04:00

Mailboxes for all the eye could see...The designated area for all incoming mail of the island the Island Post was always full of customers looking for that lost packet of money, or family postcards. The Mage was looking around mostly for any word on that cruise.

Now she wasn't tired of gambling, just tired of this isle. As she hung by the mail boxes she pondered about her awol 'crew'. Her two bank managers were somewhere - probably partying with goblins. The two Alliance stowaways - pfft like she cared. Allies - can't live with em, can't ditch them on the side of a dirt road. The Death Knight...carving creepy things probably. The two locks...honestly she'd rather not know. The Druid is probably cultivating herbs somewhere away from the authorities.

But her? Other than a cutie here or there, she was just bored. Hanging by this mailbox was more exciting than flying by the craps tables as of late. Ugh, the Troll never though that she'd need a break from having a break.

Changes to my 'raiding' tab.

2010-06-16T14:13:00.003-04:00

I've sat on the fence about this for a while, after accepting that this blog was to become a gaming/random geekery style blog instead of purely WoW related things. And concidering I don't play anymore anyway, it's kinda silly to have it up there. But that section with all my raid info just keeps sitting there. What to fill it with?

Well as that page was basically a bragging rights page, why not keep it that way? I'm thinking less raid achievements and more private collection. All geeks have a private collection - be it Anime DVDs, manga, figurines, games - you get the idea.

Well I personally have a decent haul. And what fun is to collect and not show it off?! So I'm thinking I'll start including blog posts showcasing the rare, (and some downright hard to find) stuff I collect in my free time. So keep a look out!

Ni Hao Kai-Lan

2010-06-16T14:03:00.003-04:00

This youtube link segways into the most unintentionally funny children's show ever (well next to Dora the Explorer). Guest blogger Lucy so happened to want to talk about it so here's that and the vid for double the fun :3 Click after the bump to enjoy the random.

Post from spotlight blogger Lucy Thompson

The show Ni Hao Kai-Lan is an animated cartoon that is about the childhood of Karen Chau, the creator. Children love it because it stars a spunky little girl who is just like they are; full of happiness and ready for adventure. My kids love it because it is a fun show and is filled with great Chinese culture. We sit down every day and watch it on direct TV.

I personally love Ni Hao Kai-Lan because it shows that not everyone has a set of parents. Most shows have the perfect family; a mom, a dad, one son, and one daughter. YeYe is Kai-Lan's grandpa and her fatherly figure. Even though my children wouldn't know it, they are slowly learning Chinese. YeYe means paternal grandfather. When Kai-Lan and Tolee go to China to meet a family of pandas, baby Xiao Xi 's name means Little Watermelon.Ni Hao Kai-Lan is a magnificent show for educational purposes and just a wonderful show that all kids love. My children certainly enjoy spending their day with Kai-Lan.

Mother of the Year?

2010-06-15T02:24:00.004-04:00

Well it seems that someone has went overboard buying Baby gifts... the slender lock remarked. Then again she couldn't recall anything about Nemmy having a kid on the way...if anything the bald lock hated most things that were cute...or living...or well she wasn't up for any 'mother of the year' awards.

But strewn about in the suit they semi shared with 'unfortunate company' was a slew of baby products - outfits, bedding, food, and various toys. Did she pull a movie star move and adopt a child?

This poor, poor child...Locks aren't known for being nurturing; well unless by 'nurturing' you mean growing seeds of corruption and misery? As the Blood Elf sat in deep thought toying with the various lengths of Baby bedding, the senior Lock walked in with a small bundle in her arms.

The bundle snarled and snapped, trying to launch out of the Orc's arms.

"Look what the nether let me adopt today! My own baby demon! Ain't he darling?" The Lock beamed. Hotachan merely nodded, thinking This girl's off her rocker for sure now. Everyone knows an Imp is more of a dog than a baby! Guess her biological clock snapped.

Gearscore =/= Win.

2010-06-12T16:00:00.000-04:00

I've been meaning to post this but it seems youtube and my blog host seem to not like each other ;/ I wondered how that gear score thing would work out. I love this guy's videos as they amuse me and are sadly a true look at the state of WoW. Gearscore = worse than licking satan's tit on a hot day. Enjoy the silly vid after the jump. GoGoGoGoGo! XD

Anime and Cartoons

2010-06-08T11:53:00.001-04:00

Thanks to my friend Jacob Lang for the guest post.

My DVR is one of the most important things I have connected to my satalite tv. Since I was a little kid I have been getting up to watch cartoons every Saturday morning. One of my favorite TV shows growing up was C-Bear and Jamal. It was just like watching me and my friends having fun every day.

When I got older I started getting into anime. This type of cartoon was so interesting to me. It was so stunning that I would stay up every night just to catch the ones I liked. Sometimes it was real hard to stay up so late and catch episodes of my favorite shows; this is why I am so glad that I have my DVR.

Having the ability to watch shows that I like at any time is a great bonus. With the use of my DVR connection to my satellite TV I get to watch and record the best shows out. Also, being able to watch all the anime that I can handle at any time is the best feeling in the world.

I also like to watch all types of sports. Being able to rewind and watch great plays over and over is awesome. Showing my friends how my favorite players embarrass their favorites is worth all the money that I paid for my DVR.

What if I walked around as my old Avatar?

2010-06-06T21:09:00.001-04:00

Very neat take on people and their online avatars.

Avatar Days from cormaction on Vimeo.

Let's crash this party.

2010-06-05T17:02:00.003-04:00

The huntress edged her way closer to the large crowd to make it to the stage where her wayward priest was spazzing at the attentions of the 'magician'. Her ex husband turned magician (more than likely street hustler) had a silver framed tank full of water. He was motioning for the girl to settle into the thin straps that held her comfortably in place.

I so need to invest in a toddler harness for this girl...or a 'dranei' harness...she's like a child that cannot stay in one place! She walked up to the stage and shot the magician a dark glare.

As he started to secure Mysiae into the tank he finally noted the night elf female's gaze and started to turn from his normal midnight blue to various lighter shades more akin to sky blue.

'Planing on an on the job accident, eh Eldai?'

Total Geek Night.

2010-06-05T16:44:00.004-04:00

So...dose it make me more of a geek if I watch all Tales of the Past (including the Eden Aurorae trailer) movies in one sitting? Or deciding to place them all onto a master DVD? Or...deciding I'd rather watch them on my TV...on my import Q?

Yes I was geeking out. Deal.

Note: that Panasonic Q plays burned DVDs and has built in bass without modding. Best investment ever.

A plot or merely eye candy?

2010-06-04T00:06:00.006-04:00

As she sat amongst the tables, eyeing the blackjack table with one eye and the hot eye candy dealer to her side, Hotaru's concentration was well 'occupied'. The cute guy dropped a chip to the ground as he was starting to pack up his gear for the female dealer taking over his shift. As she started to churn up ideas into 'bumping' into the leaving dealer, the Troll noted a pamphlet discussing summer holiday packages.

The pamphlet had many pictures of ship and holiday packages for various cruises all over Azeroth (avoiding the big death trap that was the middle of the map where Azshara originally was located). There were a few Northrend cruises that coasted slightly in the area's waters - for those adventurous enough to cruise by but not to fight against the Scourge there. But they had more tropical packages that coasted by Stranglethorn...

Wonder if they have any gambling and 'eye candy' amenities, the Trolless smirked. She quickly pocketed the booklet and started to follow the guy already across the room. She deemed giving him a head start was only fair. She easily caught up to him, blinking across the room.

Rogue Solos Patchwerk

2010-06-03T12:15:00.002-04:00

O.O Damn you rogues with you and your haxin' the game. I mean you guys did in other bosses like Mother Shraz (well ok she was a bitch so I feel no pity for her), and even our poor lazy half elf-demon with his cute blades.

But Patch? He was as big as a house and smart as a bunch of bricks but he was everyone's favored red-headed step child. He made raiders feel good as their dps meters broke with crazy dps numbers. That's unless you were like melee avoiding stuff, or well watching TV (don't look at me TV and spamming like 3 spells was really all I did!).

But now rogues get to play with him all by their lonesome. Then again 5+ hours is 4 hours and 57 (ish) minutes too long...he is the red headed step-child of raiding for a reason.*

*Note I like red-heads, but dislike simple bosses.

Continuing Hotaruchan's edumuhcashun.

2010-05-27T01:39:00.000-04:00

The tall Troll Mage checked her mail and grinned at the batch of letters in her in box. One stood out the most - the letter, addressed from the University of Redlands. This was an off world California business school that she had earlier applied to before this extended trip. She was a Mage yes, a retired raider, but wasn't a fool. She plays the ditz well but knew at some point that skill' wasn't going to be but so helpful in the future. She was going to have to try for a new line of work eventually. (Never said Hota was truly dumb, just a bit on the sly :3)

She had applied to a few schools - both on Azeroth and in other realms. Being a Mage she could open portals to many alternate realms. Besides the only Horde run continued education schools she found involved 'pwning Alliance in 5 moves or less'. The others were headed up by Common speaking non Horde affiliated persons - lets just say getting a business degree from them was not happening.

In an alternate realm she found better prospects. The Inland Empire college area, located in what the natives deemed 'California' housed many a Southern California university, in the area. After donning an orb of deception, she teleported to the University of Redlands campus and filled out an app. Funny that they didn't question her funding - this realm loved its gold she supposed.

Opting for their business program would earn her more skills than 'flambe' and 'flirt'. Not that she wanted to take over her bank alt's jobs....but she's finding that the two girls in charge of the group's funds are withholding key information under her nose. Leaning more about her own business would make her more savvy to why her bank notes aren't matching what the vaults show....

5 Ways to Prevent World of Warcraft Addiction

2010-05-26T12:10:00.001-04:00

Video Game Addiction is real. It hasn't been included in the DSM, but is increasingly being recognized as a clinical mental disorder, especially after the game-related deaths of several addicts. So while it's easy to say, "It's just a game," for addicts, it is in fact the game that has become their entire reality. World of Warcraft ("WoW") is particularly problematic, perhaps because it is an MMORPG - a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game - which gives you the illusion of socializing simply because there are so many other people playing at the same time. Here are some ideas to help you fight the addiction, or prevent World of Warcraft addiction from occurring in the first place. While it is formatted to address the addict herself, these same ideas can be used to help battle a WoW addiction in a child, friend, or spouse.

1. Admit that you have a problem, or that you're going to have one very shortly. While it may be easy for other people to tell, a video game addict is often so immersed in their "game-reality" that they are utterly blind to the situation. Take a quiz like the World of Warcraft Addiction test so that you can honestly assess the situation. Even if you don't qualify as an addict according to the test, however, you should be on the lookout for signs of an encroaching addiction. Are you playing more than 4 continuous hours every day? Have you noticed any changes in your body? If you can't look at yourself honestly, you're never going to be able to quit a game that is literally life-threatening.

2. Realize who you've hurt and what you've neglected. Most Wow addicts have had at least one relationship that has crumbled due to their game playing. This is often a girlfriend or boyfriend, but can just as easily be a parent or co-worker. In addition, you've probably noticed your performance slipping at school or work. Write down all of the people that have been negatively affected by your playing WoW.

3. Recognize your triggers. Most addicts, be it of drugs or computer games, have a particular activity, person, or situation that "triggers" their using; thus, the addiction becomes a part of life's daily routine. To get out of it, think hard about when you especially feel the desire to play WoW; when you have a fight with your parents? After a disappointing stint on the scale? When a certain friend shows up on Instant Messenger? Write these triggers down, and be aware that if you can eliminate the situation, or at least eliminate your reaction to it, you are far less likely to feel that desire.

4. Get rid of temptation. This one is easy but crucial. Delete or give away your account, have a friend change the password, cancel your subscription, and delete the application. You may want to break the discs themselves if you think you might use them to reinstall the game during a moment of weakness.

5. Transition to another activity. One of the most common comments that are made by WoW addicts (on www.wowaholicsanonymous.org) is, "What else would I be doing with my time? Nothing." This is where the problem is. Find some other activity that either gets you out of house completely or at the least gets you off the computer. Think about what sports you used to enjoy, or what activities you used to do with friends. You can start slowly, incorporating these activities into your daily life, and you'll soon discover that you've lost the desire to play altogether.

Melissa Tamura writes about online degrees for Zen College Life. She most recently ranked the best online colleges.