Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - Got Nothing to Write About?
How often do you find yourself preparing a blog post when it dawns on you that you have absolutely nothing to write about? All of a sudden the view out of the window becomes incredibly alluring, especially that bird on Mrs. Coltart's roof. So you try to force yourself to concentrate on the matter in hand and dig deep for inspiration. Perhaps you should do some “research”on the internet? Next thing you know you've lost several hours of your life, watching videos of feral cats eating roadkill or Pro-Celebrity indoor Kabbaddi, on You Tube. Finally you give up because your muse has taken the day off. Coincidentally you’ll often find that all this happens just as the pub open. It would appear that the universe has conspired to prevent you from sharing your witty and intelligent prose with your fellow man.
How often do you find yourself preparing a blog post when it dawns on you that you have absolutely nothing to write about? All of a sudden the view out of the window becomes incredibly alluring, especially that bird on Mrs. Coltart's roof. So you try to force yourself to concentrate on the matter in hand and dig deep for inspiration. Perhaps you should do some “research”on the internet? Next thing you know you've lost several hours of your life, watching videos of feral cats eating roadkill or Pro-Celebrity indoor Kabbaddi, on You Tube. Finally you give up because your muse has taken the day off. Coincidentally you’ll often find that all this happens just as the pub open. It would appear that the universe has conspired to prevent you from sharing your witty and intelligent prose with your fellow man.
Of course this is all utter bollocks because there is no such thing as writer’s block per se. The reason you’ve got nothing written is because you didn't want to. It's that simple. Now that's not to say that writing is a walk in the park and as easy as turning on and off a tap, because it’s not. However please name me any other job (because that is what writing really is) where you cannot perform your allotted task for some vague and nebulous reason and everyone is okay with that? Writing is like any other form of work in so far that it can still be carried out even when you’re feeling ill disposed towards it. It just requires focus, discipline and possibly some sort of psychological carrot on a stick (like a bacon sandwich or a pint of stout) that you reward yourself with upon completion.
I don't want to rob writing of its perceived mystique and glamour but it can be a hell of a lot less painful if it’s properly planned. Having maintained a daily writing schedule in the past it really makes thing a lot easier to have posts planned in advance and an ongoing list of ideas to be developed. On the days when writing comes easy why not create some extra material and hold it in reserve for the future. If it’s a slow news day, why not riff off other people blogs and directly respond to one of their posts. Lists, polls, and asking your readers a question are also options to consider. It's also worth remembering that although there is no harm in having standards, not everything that you write has to be a potential magnum opus.
Now if you blog about a single subject then all the above suggestions can be a little harder. However you can always reflect on older material you have written and craft a post about how things may or may not have changed regarding the thing you blog about. A "where are they now" story or an overall retrospective is always a good get out of jail card. If you’re really in a tight spot then posts based around in-game screenshots can be an easy solution to your writing woes. Folk always like a screenshot. Guides, hints and tips will always find an audience as well. You’ll be amazed how some nugget of information that you take for granted may be a real revelation to one of your readers.
Regardless of what we may think when wrestling with so called writer’s block, the reality is that there’s is always something to blog about. Too often as bloggers we confuse not wanting to write with not being able to do so. The realities of writing are completely at odds with the traditional image of the tortured artist, living a Bohemian lifestyle in a Paris garret, swathed in melancholic pathos as they attempt to find their inner muse. Writing is a task, a chore and even a job. It requires focus and discipline. At time it can even be arbitrary like doing the dishes or your laundry. That’s not to say that writing isn’t fun because it often is. It just isn’t as esoterical as some would have you think.
So next time you find yourself drifting while sitting at your computer, stop gazing at that bird on Mrs. Coltart's roof (unless you’re going to write about it), pull the blinds and push on. You Tube is not going anywhere, so you can watch Maru the cat and check out the “pus cannon” later. Pick a subject, set yourself a writing goal and then go achieve it. You’ll feel incredibly self-satisfied when you finish and hit the publish button. Who knows, you sometimes find that it’s the inconsequential posts written on a whim that are the most popular. Remember “It's the job that's never started that takes the longest to finish”.
A Gamer By Name and Nothing More
I have played video games since I was a child. I use to play arcade games, then home consoles in my youth during the late eighties. I moved to PC gaming in the mid-nineties and have remained there ever since. I play a variety of game genres but the common factor has always been that I play for fun, amusement and entertainment. There is an element of personal challenge involved and I do like some of the social interaction that comes with certain genres. However I'm don't game to be the best of the best, nor am I looking to be excessively stretched with a steep and complex learning curve. Although I like being part of the gaming community it is not the centre of my social activities. For me games are just a pleasant pastime and an amusing diversion.
I have played video games since I was a child. I use to play arcade games, then home consoles in my youth during the late eighties. I moved to PC gaming in the mid-nineties and have remained there ever since. I play a variety of game genres but the common factor has always been that I play for fun, amusement and entertainment. There is an element of personal challenge involved and I do like some of the social interaction that comes with certain genres. However I'm don't game to be the best of the best, nor am I looking to be excessively stretched with a steep and complex learning curve. Although I like being part of the gaming community it is not the centre of my social activities. For me games are just a pleasant pastime and an amusing diversion.
Because I play games, I believe that makes me a "gamer" but beyond that being a functional description, I don't ascribe any further significance to the term with regard to myself. However I am fully aware that some people identify with the term a lot more than I do, seeing it as a wider social moniker with broader connotations. Sadly because some of those connotations are now associated with ideologies and attitudes that I don't support, this simply reinforces my choice to distance myself from any wider definition of "gamer".
I have no major prejudice against gaming as a leisure activity. It has its merits and pitfalls, the same as any other hobby or pastime. One can spend too much time fishing, or stamp collecting just the same as gaming excessively. However something I do find odd about gaming is the huge amount of time and energy some people devote to negative or trivial aspects of the gaming scene. You'll find no end of blog posts, podcast and You Tube videos berating gaming minutiae or the perceived transgressions of a developer and publisher. If only there was a similar amount of dedication shown towards pressing real world issues.
Simon Pegg courted controversy last year with his comments (which were grossly taken out of context) about "the infantilisation of society", postulated by French cultural theorist, Jean Baudrillard. This along with the growing phenomenon of the "man child" causes me concern, because I feel that gaming culture includes large numbers of people in both these camps. These are not things I want to be associated with as I don't see them as being especially edifying for gaming per se or benefical for society. If it is essential to pigeonhole people, then I wish to be defined by something with a far more robust criteria and less divisive nature than "gaming".
So I'm a gamer, the same way that I'm a reader, a listener and a viewer. Like those mediums, gaming can also provide a degree of insight and an opportunity to learn new skills. However I don't buy into the notion that gamers are an untapped resource of elite problems solvers. Sure video games require a degree of lateral thinking and an aptitude for puzzles solving, but so do crosswords, sudoko and chess. Don't get me wrong, I like a lot of my fellow gamers, but I see no evidence that they’re a group of Nietzschean Übermensch.
There's a chance that some see this post as being "anti-gamer". I don't believe that to be the case, although I am certainly against the cult of the self-aggrandizing, malcontent, savant gamers. Sadly this seems to be the group that gets all the media attention these days. However regardless of these quibbles and distinctions, I'll probably continue to game well into my autumn years and beyond, simply because gaming is an everyday aspect of life now, the same way that social media and the internet are. If an EMP ever puts pay to gaming as we currently know it, I will simply put a colander on my head and play Nine Mens Morris using stones. It would just be a case of same meat, different gravy.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - Should You Allow Comments on Your Blog?
Comments have been an integral part of blogging since it became a popular activity in the late nineties. If you have a self-hosted blog or use one of the many free services, then by default the ability to leave comments is often enabled. Whether you want this option is another matter altogether and one that poses a potential headache for all bloggers. Allowing comments on your site has both pros and cons and as ever it comes down to you as a blogger to make a decision that you are comfortable with. If you are currently pondering this issue, then here are a few things to consider.
Comments have been an integral part of blogging since it became a popular activity in the late nineties. If you have a self-hosted blog or use one of the many free services, then by default the ability to leave comments is often enabled. Whether you want this option is another matter altogether and one that poses a potential headache for all bloggers. Allowing comments on your site has both pros and cons and as ever it comes down to you as a blogger to make a decision that you are comfortable with. If you are currently pondering this issue, then here are a few things to consider.
Reader feedback:
Bloggers do not thrive in a vacuum and crave feedback. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Monitoring your website traffic and statistical data can be of use but comments offer the promise of tangible feedback. Comments can potentially shed light upon whether your writing is being well received or not. Plus everyone likes to have their ego stroked to a varying degree. However the reality can be potentially quite different. Several years ago I posted an article that over a period of a month got read 35,000 times. Yet despite the relatively high level of traffic, it only garnered four comments. Feel free to work that out as a percentage. Plus you often find that a lot of the comments you receive on your site, may not be the kind that you want. I'm not talking about trolling but well-intentioned but ultimately meaningless platitudes. For example a simple "awesome", although complimentary offers no real value or insight.
Starting a dialogue with your readers:
A lot of gaming blogs are centred on discussing ideas and sharing common experiences. Posting an article based around a single question is a great way to start a debate going and attract comments. It presents an opportunity to see alternative points of view, to learn and even make new friends. If you write about MMOs for example, the comments system can act as an extension of the in-game chat. I can think of several well-known fan sites that over a period of time have become the de facto source of information for the games the support. They often play a pivotal role in their particular community. So if you have aspirations to achieve something similar or simply want to have some semblance of a dialogue with your readers then comments are essential.
"Your hide would make a fine Poncho..."
Stating, not debating:
You can write a perfectly effective blog without openly engaging in discussion. Your blog may be a source of data or provide "how to" guides. Or you may want to write a blog where you write an editorial as you see in the newspapers, where you simply state your point of view. Both these approaches don’t necessarily need reader comments and as a writer you may not consider everything you type as being open to or worthy of debate (although there are plenty of people out there who will happily do so). If that is the case, then comments are not essential and your readers will return because they enjoy the benefits of your guides or identify with your persona and particular outlook.
Sticking your head above the parapet:
The moment you write your own thoughts and put them in the public domain, then you are inviting criticism. Some folk just delight in leaving the most poisonous comments for no good reason. Let us not bother cataloguing every sort of comment than may occur. Let it suffice to say that there is plenty of scope for unpleasantness. Plus there is the separate issue of automated spam comments that can plague a website. If you decide to allow comments on your blog then you need to have thick skin. That's actually a lot harder than what you think. Every now and then there'll be one negative comment that really gets under your skin. Remember that you are dealing with gamers and they are not known as being the embodiment of reason or decorum. Also ensure you have some sort of anti-spam plugin that automatically detects bogus comments and deletes them.
Work, work, work:
If you find yourself in the fortunate position of running a blog with a healthy readership, then you may on occasions write a post that provokes a substantial amount of comments. If they are good, then it is wise to respond to them and engage with your readership. If they are bad then you may wish to crush such stupidity with a witty reposte or simply delete them. If you have elected to moderate all comments then you'll have to trawl through them one by one and see if they are suitable. All of these processes require a degree of work and time. As any blogger will tell you, the latter is a finite commodity. Choose wisely.
The esoteric art of generating more comments:
If you do elect to enable comments then you may wish to specifically write material to solicit them. This is fine if done in a sensible and measured fashion. However, like the pursuit of web traffic, this can easily descend into an unhealthy compulsion. The post that tackles a difficult issue and poses a question can be a good thing. The post that just aims to shock, offend or troll for no reason are of no real value. Plus writing like that just paints you into a corner. I find that the best way to encourage comments is to regularly do so yourself on other people’s blogs. Another tip is not to cover every angle of a debate in your post. Always allow scope for further discussion. Give your readers a reason to comment.
With regard to comments, I’m personally happy to allow them. Sure I'd like more but most of those that are left are a positive contribution. Those that aren't I’m still happy to leave. The rude, crass and malicious posts often say far more about the person that left them than anything else. It is also good to remember that your blog is not the same as a forum. Forums are created as specific platforms for public debate. I have always felt that a blog is more like running an open house. Although you have invited people in, there is still an expectation that they will conduct themselves in a civilized fashion. IE wipe their feet and flush the toilet if they use it. Therefore police your blog comments with that in mind, if you see fit to allow them.
Finally, whatever choice you make there is always scope to change it at a later date. It usually just involves checking a tick box in the blog's control panel. So if you have just started out blogging and have just made this decision, I'm very curious to know what choice you made. Feel free to leave a comment.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 – Statistics and Metrics
One of the first subjects to come up when discussing blogging is that of statistics and web traffic. All bloggers have a varying degree of curiosity about their readership and exactly how many people are visiting their site. There is nothing wrong with this and it is perfectly reasonable to want to know about your audience. Blogging is after all a two way process. However, in my experience this thirst for statistical knowledge can be a double edge sword. It is therefore important to ensure that it doesn’t become the focal point of your writing endeavours or your primary inspiration.
One of the first subjects to come up when discussing blogging is that of statistics and web traffic. All bloggers have a varying degree of curiosity about their readership and exactly how many people are visiting their site. There is nothing wrong with this and it is perfectly reasonable to want to know about your audience. Blogging is after all a two way process. However, in my experience this thirst for statistical knowledge can be a double edge sword. It is therefore important to ensure that it doesn’t become the focal point of your writing endeavours or your primary inspiration.
Unless you already have an established online presence, all newbie bloggers have to work at building up an audience. Despite what a lot of questionable websites may tell you, there are no real shortcuts with regard to this. The best approach is to write as often as you can, so that you create up a body of work and ensure that you promote it via social media. Engage with your readers and respond to any comments that are left. It is also prudent to comment on other blogs. If possible write guest posts for other established sites. Although all these tasks are a bit of a grind at times, they will pay off in the long run. Furthermore Google likes this approach. The site that is healthy and regularly posts content is more likely to show up in search enquiries.
Resign yourself to the fact that as a new blogger you are not likely to be commanding an audience of millions two weeks after you launch your site. However, keeping an eye on your metrics can help you determine which posts are generating the most traffic. You may also wish to determine if certain times and days of the weeks are more beneficial for publishing articles. Stats packages can be useful in this respect and provide you with some answers. Just remember that statistics are just data and not a judgement of your work. Low numbers do not say anything about you or the quality of your writing. They simply show how many people found your site and read your posts.
As writers we crave an audience and if the statistics show that our expectations have not been met, then it can be disheartening. There’s a fine line between stats being a useful tool and a burden. If you obsess about them too much you’ll find that they will impinge upon your work. This can lead to writing out of character in an attempt to get more traffic. It’s very tempting to post some click bait, although it does more harm than good in the long term. Ultimately the pursuit of traffic and a fixation upon stats will undermine your writing. Too many bloggers have fallen into the trap of constantly monitoring their metrics and the have lost the desire to write due to their misplaced sense of disappointment.
So my advice to anyone starting a new blog is to consider the following. If you feel you can keep your need to know in check, then use a stats package to monitor your progress. Check them in a measured way and try and remain dispassionate about them. They can be used positively, such as setting yourself growth targets or for determining which posts are popular (very useful if you have a featured posts section on your site). If you feel that the reality of your stats will upset you or be a distraction, then uninstall the package from your blog or simply make it a policy not to consult them.
I recently had an epiphany with regards to my own web traffic. As a result I changed the way I used my statistical data and stopped using several external tracking services. Firstly because they were inaccurate (internal stats packages are far more comprehensive) and secondly because I no longer feel the need to chase an audience. I now write for the pleasure of writing and to engage with others. It also keeps me from over indulging my other vices. If you are writing for commercial reasons then naturally stats have a different connotation altogether. Traffic is often directly linked to financial remuneration, so data of this kind is of far more importance
These are just some of the issues that can arise with regard to your blog’s statistics. As usual, there is no universal rule of thumb and ultimately you have to do what is right for you. However you will find that obsessing over stats is quite common place and that many bloggers have flirted with it to some degree. The universal consensus is not to do it and to put your heart and soul into your writing instead. There’s a good chance that by the time the numbers reach a significant level, you won’t really be concerned by such things anymore.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - Mind Your Language
In the UK, the prevailing attitudes towards profanity have radically changed over the last two decades, especially with regard to the media. That's not to say that its casual inclusion in common parlance is now de rigeur, but it has permeated the culture to such an extent, that it no longer has the potential to shock as much as it used to. Several years ago a member of the public had a conviction for swearing at a Police Officer overturned by a Judge on the grounds that "swearing at police is not a crime because they hear four letter words too frequently to be offended". Although a separate issue and a potential blog post in itself, I referenced this case to demonstrate the ongoing changes in public sensibilities.
In the UK, the prevailing attitudes towards profanity have radically changed over the last two decades, especially with regard to the media. That's not to say that its casual inclusion in common parlance is now de rigeur, but it has permeated the culture to such an extent, that it no longer has the potential to shock as much as it used to. Several years ago a member of the public had a conviction for swearing at a Police Officer overturned by a Judge on the grounds that "swearing at police is not a crime because they hear four letter words too frequently to be offended". Although a separate issue and a potential blog post in itself, I referenced this case to demonstrate the ongoing changes in public sensibilities.
Blogging it is by its very nature a very personal and at times emotive activity. There may well be occasions when you wish to express yourself quite forcefully or feel such intense emotion, that you wish to use profanity. As the master of your own destiny, you have to make that decision yourself, but it does inevitably come with consequences. Because some people really do take offence at it and still consider the use of profanity as inexcusable. In extreme cases it may lead to you losing readers. Even if you have written the most illuminating of posts, the inclusion of some colloquial Anglo-Saxon terms will upset some people and they will not be able to see beyond it. In fact you may be judged and found wanting. I am not saying if this is right or wrong. It's a people issue and it needs to be considered and then offset against the old adage that you cannot please everyone.
I personally am not especially bothered by strong language; having worked in environments where it was extremely prevalent and to protest about it would have been utterly redundant. However, I do not think that it is something that needs to be employed continuously, either in conversation or writing. I take the view that swearing, like any other literary of semantic device, can be very effective if used sparingly; a view that is held by such diverse writers as Stephen Fry to the late Harold Pinter. I also believe that we should not fear words or demonise them. There is a popular consensus at present that one particular word is the most offensive you can use (I’ll leave you to work out which one it is). Yet this response is driven by a form of social conditioning which borders on the Pavlovian. Why should this one slang term be deemed more upsetting than any of the other dozen equivalents?
Therefore I choose to use profanity in my writing if it suits me and when I deem it relevant to the post. I hope that readers will accept this decision. As a concession to common sense, acquired through being a parent, I on occasion provide advance warning in some cases. I believe that informing people about content is a sensible and polite policy to pursue. For the new blogger it is a matter of time. Eventually your audience will get a feel for the style and pitch of your blog and whether it is family or office friendly.
If you do not feel that the use of strong language is appropriate on your blog or you do not feel comfortable with it in general, then simply avoid it. This is one of the few occasions where I feel a black or white response is appropriate. Personally I would never advocate a compromise approach. There is a tendency in contemporary US blogging to try and use alternative terms. A whole new lexicon of neutered phrases has sprung up. Ass-hat, Freakin' and other PG-13 rated words reek of the worst sort of hypocrisy. Even the term titbit (referring to a nugget of information) has been altered to tidbit, to remove the breast reference contained therein.
As well as profanity, it is important to consider other terms that can be problematic. Faith is extremely important to many and is stronger in certain geographical regions that others. I try to avoid phrases that some would traditionally label blasphemous. I won't even use OMG. It can still upset some and because of its ubiquity in popular culture is somewhat trite. Although it is not likely to happen to the average blogger it is prudent to reflect on what happened to Salman Rushdie in the late eighties after the publication of his book, The Satanic Verses.
Also, never lose sight of the fact that the perceived anonymity of the internet is not as bullet proof as some would have you think. You still have to be sensible about what you write and can still be subject to libel, sex discrimination and race/religious hate laws. The internet has a very long memory and once a blog post is out there in the public domain, it remains so. Deleting a rogue post or one written in the heat of the moment is not a definitive way to cover your tracks. As ever with blogging, think before you type and consider before you publish. Editing oneself is a strength and not a weakness.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - What's in a Name?
When I started my first gaming blog Misadventure in LOTRO back in 2008, I wrote under my in-game character name. Several blogs later I now use my real name Roger Edwards. Because the current site is not purely about gaming (why limit the scope of conversation?) I felt that dropping the gaming related name was prudent. My real name also has the advantage of being somewhat bland and common place on the internet, which is advantageous in this age of crazy, gaming savant, stalkers. Sometimes standing out in a crowd can be problematic. Yet it is my genuine identity which is ideal should I see fit to develop the business side of the blog, such as advertising, sponsorship or e-begging at a later date.
When I started my first gaming blog Misadventure in LOTRO back in 2008, I wrote under my in-game character name. Several blogs later I now use my real name Roger Edwards. Because the current site is not purely about gaming (why limit the scope of conversation?) I felt that dropping the gaming related name was prudent. My real name also has the advantage of being somewhat bland and common place on the internet, which is advantageous in this age of crazy, gaming savant, stalkers. Sometimes standing out in a crowd can be problematic. Yet it is my genuine identity, which is ideal should I see fit to develop the business side of the blog, such as advertising, sponsorship or e-begging at a later date.
Having worked in IT for nearly two decades, I am aware of the importance of keeping personal data online to a minimum. So although I use Facebook, Twitter and such like, they’re purely for the promotion of Contains Moderate Peril and therefore not my own accounts as such. I monitor the amount of personal data that is in the public domain and I tend to watch what I say on social media. I never talk about my own views on politics, religion or anything that is an obvious invitation for an internet trolls. That's not to say you can't touch upon those subject in regard to your blogging. But referencing them is different kettle of fish to lecturing your readership about your own beliefs.
Blogging is a great social experience but you will occasionally run into some problems. Often these are due to people. So if you do use your real name make sure that address details or any other means of contact such as your home phone number etc. are not splattered across the net for any Tom, Dick or Harry to find. You may also wish to keep your writing activities about your hobbies and pastimes away from work colleagues, family or even friends. It’s not a case of "being ashamed" of your blogging or anything like that. It’s simply just another form of compartmentalizing your life. It is not always necessary to inform everyone about what you do in your spare time.
However it's not all doom and gloom. Using your real name can have positive benefits such as creating a rapport with your readers. Your audience will have a natural curiosity about you as blogging is about connecting with others. Therefore the odd nugget of personal information can help with this process. For example, talking about balancing your work and leisure time is something most of your readers can relate to. Briefly alluding to your job, studies or relationship can also help your audience empathize with you. Your name contributes to this process as it is an integral part of your identity. So share some information but as ever take a measured approach. Don’t write pages and pages about how your heart was broken by [insert name of ex-partner here] and how you still hold a grudge to this day.
Using your real name is an option but it is not the only one. It is certainly not essential to your blogging endeavours. Many bloggers to this day do so under curious and interesting pseudonyms. Tobold's Blog (formerly Tobold's MMO Blog) enjoys an extremely high readership and certainly has not been impeded by his esoteric online identity. Braxwolf, Syl and Wihelm Arcturus have also made a similar choice. So as far as using your real name when blogging, let common sense steer your decision. If it feels right for you and serves your purpose, then go ahead and blog as Xavier St John Balustrade or whatever your name is. If not then publish under Polyphemus, Squeezer of Sheep or whatever nom de plume takes your fancy.
Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016 - Some General Guidance
Blogging is a broad church that offers many talking points. In this, my first post for the 2016 Newbie Blogger Initiative, I want to explore motivation, aspirations and style. I also want to touch upon some of the inevitable problems that may come up when writing online. Forewarned is forearmed. But before we proceed, don't forget that the advice you’ll both here and via the other sites contributing to this year’s event is purely subjective. We're all individuals and what works for one may not for another. There is no definitive way to blog and each blogger has to find their style.
Blogging is a broad church that offers many talking points. In this, my first post for the 2016 Newbie Blogger Initiative, I want to explore motivation, aspirations and style. I also want to touch upon some of the inevitable problems that may come up when writing online. Forewarned is forearmed. But before we proceed, don't forget that the advice you’ll both here and via the other sites contributing to this year’s event is purely subjective. We're all individuals and what works for one may not for another. There is no definitive way to blog and each blogger has to find their style.
Why blog?
It may sound like an obvious question but it’s worth pondering. People are motivated for different reasons. Some want to build communities, and share common experiences while others may have more commercial goals. Some folk just want to be "internet famous" which should not be scoffed at. It's a lot more common than you would think although many people won't necessarily admit it. However writing publicly is quite an extroverted thing to do and ego certainly does play a part in it or else surely you'd keep your writing private and not share your work. The reason I’ve raised this is because it impacts greatly upon my next point.
Who are you writing for?
If you are looking for commercial success, want to chase an audience or harbour dreams of fame and glory, then you will more than likely find yourself writing for others. This means you'll usually have to write about what you think others want to read, rather than simply pleasing yourself. It can be done, but it's demonstrably harder and will come with a lot more heartache and frustration. If you choose to please yourself then there's a good chance you'll have a more comfortable experience. I’ve always found that if you write something because you feel passionate about it, it often comes across much better than an article that was done out of obligation. So make your choice accordingly.
Get a plan.
Time is a luxury, so you should manage it wisely. Don't jump into blogging feet first without making some sort of plan. Figure out what you are going to write about and then stick with it. However this can be a double edged sword because you may find yourself hemmed in by your choice at a later date. As ever flexibility is the key. A blog with a broad remit has more room to manoeuvre and gives a writer more creative freedom.
Once you’ve decided what you’re going to do you can set about establishing your online identity, so readers know broadly what to expect. Contains Moderate Peril covers games, movies and other facets of popular culture. If I started do pieces on Etruscan pottery and crop rotation in the seventeenth century then it may wrong foot the audience, or even alienate them. Readers often like consistency and known quantities.
For many years I’ve maintained a daily blogging schedule. It was a personal decision and my circumstances have allowed me to do so. Yet not every blogger will be able or wish to do this. Therefore figure out when you can blog and try and create a viable schedule that you stick to. It doesn't matter if it's once a week or month or a quarter, just be consistent. Remember that your readers will often jump to conclusions. If you post specific content on a certain day of the week more than twice, it’s highly likely that your audience will assume that this is now a “thing”. So box clever and don't set yourself up for a fall. Stick to your plan, be consistent and give the readers a reason to come back to your blog.
Let your readers get to know you.
Whatever you write, whatever your style, don't be afraid to make your writing somewhat personal. Readers often like to get to know the authors of the blogs they frequent. It’s part of their appeal. I'm not advocating that you use the medium of your blog to lay bare your soul and share every intimate detail of your life. However letting people get to know you, will help build a rapport. Also do not be afraid to have opinions. There's nothing more tedious than consensus. Just bear in mind that it helps if you can back up opinions with data, facts and substance. There's a huge gulf between valid opinion and unsubstantiated crazy talk.
The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune.
When you elect to write publicly and post your work on the internet for the edification of your peers, you are implicitly soliciting public comment. So think long and hard about whether to allow reader feedback on your blog. If you are a sensitive person and don't take criticism well, then you may wish to disable comments on your site. The internet doesn't work like real life and people will often be blunt, outspoken and even hostile online. Also remember that internet conversations lack the visual cues of real world discussions. Be careful not to misconstrue comments; if in doubt ask for clarification. On the other side of the coin, don't be heartbroken if no body leaves you any feedback. This is a universal problem that all bloggers can encounter.
Don't be an idiot.
The internet is still by and large a great place. It is filled with wonderful human beings, a wealth of knowledge and free entertainment. But it also has a lot of idiots. What the internet doesn't need is for you to join their ranks. So don't be a troll, go out of your way to be unpleasant or break the law. If you are mad at something or someone, don't write a post in the heat of the moment. Take time out and sleep on it. Remember the internet never forgets. Once something you regret writing is out there, it can potentially come back to haunt you at any time.
I hope the points raised in this post will prove useful and offer new bloggers some food for thought. However no matter how well you plan and organise your blog, there eventually comes a point where you just have to seize the day and start writing. And because writing can be a very reactive and fluid process you may be surprised by where it takes you. I’m certainly looking forward to reading many of the new blogs that emerge from this year’s NBI. So get writing and happy blogging.
The Newbie Blogger Initiative 2016
Contrary to a lot of people expectations (my own included), there is to be a Newbie Blogger Initiative this year, mainly due to the determination of Doone over at XP Chronicles. Some folk are just born “doers” and Doone is very much a community orientated guy. So he has managed to cajole many of those previously involved in the last four events to pull their fingers out and rally round the cause once again. Hell, it’s even brought me temporarily out of blogging retirement.
So for those who are unfamiliar with the Newbie Blogger Initiative, here’s a brief history lesson. The Newbie Blogger Initiative (hence forth to be known as the NBI) is an annual event created by Syp of Bio-Break and Massively OP fame, back in 2012. His goal was to “get prospective writers to come out of the woodwork and try their hand at an MMO blog of their own. We all know how hard it is to get started, which is why bloggers have banded together to give you a HUGE measure of encouragement, advice, and initial traffic”. The first NBI proved so successful that Syp passed his brainchild over to several members of the community who have continued to run the event each year.
Contrary to a lot of peoples expectations (my own included), there is to be a Newbie Blogger Initiative this year, mainly due to the determination of Doone over at XP Chronicles. Some folk are just born “doers” and Doone is very much a community orientated guy. So he has managed to cajole many of those previously involved in the last four events to pull their fingers out and rally round the cause once again. Hell, it’s even brought me temporarily out of blogging retirement.
So for those who are unfamiliar with the Newbie Blogger Initiative, here’s a brief history lesson. The Newbie Blogger Initiative (hence forth to be known as the NBI) is an annual event created by Syp of Bio-Break and Massively OP fame, back in 2012. His goal was to “get prospective writers to come out of the woodwork and try their hand at an MMO blog of their own. We all know how hard it is to get started, which is why bloggers have banded together to give you a HUGE measure of encouragement, advice, and initial traffic”. The first NBI proved so successful that Syp passed his brainchild over to several members of the community who have continued to run the event each year.
So now that we’ve set out our proverbial stall, here’s a summary of what the NBI does and how it goes about doing it. Please note that these are just guidelines and that the event itself is somewhat fluid and very much open to input from those participating.
- What does the NBI do exactly?
The main goal of the NBI and the month long event is to encourage new gaming bloggers and content creators. Many of those involved in its organisation have a wealth of experience to share with those considering starting a blog. If you are such a person, hopefully we can help you take your first steps. We also offer encouragement to those who’ve drifted away from existing blogs and are looking for the motivation to resume writing. We can help existing writers fine tune their craft and provide advise on how to develop your online presence. Plus it's not just about blogging. We have can offer advice on podcasting and other forms of content creation.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, blogging is far from dead. It's a great way to share information and meet liked minded individuals. It can be extremely beneficial to the community and also has its own therapeutic and cathartic values. Although I do not see it as a replacement to professional journalism, I feel that the two complement each other very well. I also believe that it is prudent in such a technological age to maintain the ability to clearly and concisely express yourself via the written word.
- Who can participate in the NBI?
All are welcome. With regard to who actually constitutes as a Newbie Blogger, you need to have just started or have been blogging for less than a year. However veteran writers are far from excluded as their input as invaluable. We're looking to help and encourage writers of all varieties. The NBI has usually focused on blogging about gaming and the wider industry but much of the advice and information is transferable to other areas of writing and fandom. So expect a degree of diversity and crossover in the proceedings.
- Where do I go and what do I do?
In previous years we’ve used forums as our focal point but I think our Discord channel is a more suitable platform this time round. You can sign in as a Newbie, Veteran blogger or just a concern citizen if you like and introduce yourself. If you have a site already then include the details. If you are a more seasoned blogger you may wish to be a supporter and provide written advice via your own site.
- What happens next and throughout June?
Start writing! There is plenty of advice available from the last four years and there have been numerous posts created regarding which blogging platform to choose, naming your site, creating a writing schedule and much more. If you are still not sure then feel free to ask questions. I would say that it helps a lot if you have a Twitter account. It's a great way to keep abreast of activities and posts, as well as promote your own material. However, if Twitter is not for you the same information will be collated on Discord or via a designated site.
- What events and activities are there?
There have been several events that have proven popular during previous NBIs, so they will definitely be included this time round. The Talkback Challenge is a simple but effective means to start the ball rolling. A short list of topics suitable for debate is posted and bloggers get to choose one, then produce a post based upon that subject. The idea is for other bloggers to respond to your post with one of their own; a sort of virtual written relay race. It's designed to encourage debate and share traffic between writers.
The Poetry Slam was also well received last year and provided some light hearted fun. This is simply a poetry competition in the broadest sense of the word. It has the benefit of being very reactive, with bloggers often drawing inspiration from their friends and colleagues. Last May Murf's Screenshot Safari proved to be popular. As you can guess from the name, it draws upon gamers universal love of screen captures as a starting point for a blog post. Far from being just "filler", screenshots are an essential part of blogging and can sometimes provide very effective material. More details about this and other activities will be available shortly.
Veteran bloggers supporting the NBI will also be posting advice on specific subjects over the course of the event. This will often reflect the questions that have been raised by newbies. It would also be beneficial to find some volunteers to be designated NBI Neophytes. These ideally would be new bloggers who will catalogue their experiences over the month of June. The idea is to see what expectations they had to begin with and whether they were met. Depending on people’s preferences, this could be done via one of the various podcasts associated with the NBI.
- Resources:
Discord Invite Code: https://t.co/bZLA0YGZSk
If you have always wanted to write and have an online presence but just haven't got around to it, then hopefully the 2016 Newbie Blogger Initiative will be the perfect catalyst. I won't mislead you and say that writing is easy, because that is not the case. Like any hobby or pastime, blogging takes a degree of organisation and personal discipline. However if approached in the right fashion and with the support of others pursuing a similar goal, it is entirely possible to start a blog that suits your personal style and aspirations. Don't believe me? Ask one of the many bloggers that started because of previous NBI events.
Park Closure Used For Cheap Political Capital
For the last twelve months residents of Sidcup, in South East London have been fighting against the sale of Old Farm Park but sadly the local council have approved the “disposal” of this asset. Many who live in the area are of the opinion that this was a done deal right from the get-go. However despite the inevitability of this situation, residents as well as some councillors and even the local Member of Parliament have been robust in their efforts to prevent this sale.
For the last twelve months residents of Sidcup, in South East London have been fighting against the sale of Old Farm Park but sadly the local council have approved the “disposal” of this asset. Many who live in the area are of the opinion that this was a done deal right from the get-go. However despite the inevitability of this situation, residents as well as some councillors and even the local Member of Parliament have been robust in their efforts to prevent this sale.
Over recent months many of those involved in campaigning have stated how difficult it has been to get wider media attention. The local newspaper has printed a few factually inaccurate stories but overall local TV, radio and the press have been somewhat indifferent. To them this simply is another case of Nimbyism from the suburban middle classes.
So I was somewhat surprised when I received a group email requesting residents to attend a meeting in the park today. London Mayor Candidate Peter Whittle (UKIP) was to make an appearance and there was to be news coverage from ITV. I believe there was a journalist from The Guardian present as well. Now although I am not a UKIP supporter, I am aware that they have spoken out about building of green field sites, so I decided to go along.
I try not to be too cynical but I had suspicions that this event was going to be more about campaigning for UKIP than addressing the specific issue of Old Farm Park. Sadly my suspicions were correct. Residents were kept waiting for the camera crew to arrive. During which time Mr Whittle and his entourage made no attempt to apologise for the delay or to thank those present for attending. During his talk he briefly referenced UKIPs policy on urban development and made an incidental nod to the matter in hand; namely the sale of this park. Overall he was far more concerned about the press coverage than the key local issue.
As for the actual news article that was shown tonight on ITV London News, it was not about the sale of the park or even the issue of property development in London. It was simply a political opinion piece in which a news reporter spent a day with Mr Whittle while he canvassed in Bexley Borough. As for the residents of Sidcup who attended the meeting this morning to talk about the sale of their park, they found themselves unwittingly featuring as UKIP supporters, due to the way the video was edited.
On mature reflection it was naïve to think that the presence of a politician and the involvement of ITV news would in any way prove beneficial. As for the sale of Old Farm Park that now seems to be a closed issue. However I don’t think the councillors that voted for the sale of Old Farm Park can afford to rest on their laurels. I wouldn't be surprised if many of the local residents who diligently campaigned to save the park will now spend a comparable amount of time and effort ensuring that those responsible are not returned to office in the next local elections.
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord Of The Rings Volume 1
In a fit of nostalgia I recently found myself perusing several retro gaming websites, pondering on some of the titles that I use to play on the Super Nintendo Entertainment. During the early nineties when this platform was my primary source of gaming I use to meticulously research new titles before purchasing. This was the pre-internet age and console cartridges came at a premium price, so you did not want to waste valuable money on a poor game. Magazines featuring previews and in-depth reviews were the main source of information. The other would be your local gaming boutique where you could hang out and discuss such matters with fellow gamers. Broadly this system worked and I enjoyed most of the games I played on the SNES.
In a fit of nostalgia I recently found myself perusing several retro gaming websites, pondering on some of the titles that I use to play on the Super Nintendo Entertainment. During the early nineties when this platform was my primary source of gaming I use to meticulously research new titles before purchasing. This was the pre-internet age and console cartridges came at a premium price, so you did not want to waste valuable money on a poor game. Magazines featuring previews and in-depth reviews were the main source of information. The other would be your local gaming boutique where you could hang out and discuss such matters with fellow gamers. Broadly this system worked and I enjoyed most of the games I played on the SNES.
However one title bypassed this screening process. It did so because I allowed my love of a particular intellectual property to cloud my vision. I refer to Interplay's J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings Volume 1. This was an adventure game from 1994, loosely tied in with both the Tolkien’s books and the 1978 animated feature film. Certainly part of the games aesthetic was influenced by Ralph Bakshi’s movie and the game used the font and logo from that film. At the time my default sense of scepticism was not as finally honed as it is now, so I foolishly allowed my optimism and imagination to side step the facts. Thus I purchased the said game and in a short period of time discovered it was one of the worse titles based on a license created for the SNES.
As memory serves, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings Volume 1 played more like a Zelda game and had very little to do with The Lord of the Rings in narrative terms. In fact the game showed a complete disregard to the lore. Within the confines of this game Bilbo gives the ring to Frodo at his leaving party and tells him to take it to Rivendell. Prior to the player actually embarking upon the said quest the game requires you to help Sam find his Gaffer's spectacles that have been lost in some local caves. These topographical features have fallen under the malevolent influence of Sauron (for some particular reason). Tedium ensues as the player pursues arbitrary task designed to extend a poorly designed games lifespan and plays through bland cookie cutter environments. I can distinctly remember naively hoping that matters would improve as the game progressed. Sadly they did not.
The game mechanics were very clunky, even by console standards of the console time. Characters would often get caught in the environment and the bulk of the quests were mainly of the "fetch multiple items" variety. The game graphics were far from original with many of the sprites and backgrounds sporting a generic look. Apart from some superficial attempts to make the main characters look vaguely like their counterparts from the movie, it was hard to see exactly how this was anything to do with Tolkien’s work. The game soundtrack was that tiresome Celtic style "Diddly Dee" nonsense that still seems to be de rigueur when developers try to interpret The Shire and other parts of Middle-earth. You could mash your controller endlessly in the vain hope of killing an enemy but more often than not, you’d simply die randomly for no discernible reason. The game also offered the facility to save access to completed levels via a serious of codes, but unfortunately unless you were a former employee of Bletchley Park, then the system was quite impenetrable.
Twenty two years on I still flinch while reflecting upon J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings Volume 1. It was and remains an excruciating game and insulting franchise cash in. Needless to say there was never a Part 2 as I believe there was a universal consensus that this was a shoddy product. It’s a curious thing that the platform that spawned Super Mario Kart, which is considered the embodiment quality design, also produced such nonsense as J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings Volume 1. Now in the age of console emulators there may well be a few Tolkien enthusiasts that want to check this game out of some sort of idle curiosity. I would strongly advise them not to. A quick visit to You Tube will demonstrate the folly of such a notion.
The EU Referendum
On Thursday 23rd June the UK will vote on whether to remain a member of the EU or leave the community. It is possibly the biggest political, economic and social issue that I have voted on in my lifetime and both outcomes have the potential for both positive and negative effects upon the country and its future. As you would imagine with an issue of this magnitude, the pros and cons on both sides of the debate are complex. Immigration, security, trade, financial stability are some of the factors involved that shape people’s opinions. Then there are more nebulous concepts like sovereignty and nationalism that influence voter’s perspective. Whereas the logistical and administrative arguments are far more couched in facts and data, the more emotive issues are driven by tribal politics and feelings. I’m not a fan of either.
On Thursday 23rd June the UK will vote on whether to remain a member of the EU or leave the community. It is possibly the biggest political, economic and social issue that I have voted on in my lifetime and both outcomes have the potential for both positive and negative effects upon the country and its future. As you would imagine with an issue of this magnitude, the pros and cons on both sides of the debate are complex. Immigration, security, trade, financial stability are some of the factors involved that shape people’s opinions. Then there are more nebulous concepts like sovereignty and nationalism that influence voter’s perspective. Whereas the logistical and administrative arguments are far more couched in facts and data, the more emotive issues are driven more by tribal politics and feelings. I’m not a fan of either.
Over the next one hundred and twenty or so days both campaigns will vie for the public’s attention. Those who have already made up their minds which way they intend to vote are not really relevant in terms of the campaigning that will be conducted. It is those who have yet to make up their minds that will hold the balance. For such people (myself included) to make an informed choice, there is a requirement for clear and succinct data. I would like to be presented with comprehensive fact based arguments from both sides. I would also like to see measured and impartial discussions by the UK media. Sadly none of this is going to happen. The UK press, especially the newspapers are biased and both respective campaigns seem to be focusing on soundbites based upon fear. It seems that the referendum will be determined by lowest common denominator politics.
I’ve read the opinions of many ardent supporters from both sides of the debate and am very much bemused by the idealism and naivety exhibited. A common refrain is that of “unelected officials” and having to endure the governance by parties one didn’t vote for. But this is something that the majority of the electorate currently endure already from our own existing Parliamentary system. I also do not understand why some quarters are more trusting of our own politicians than those of the EU. A UK government free from such EU rules as the Human Rights Act and Working Time Directive could potentially act with impunity and to the detriment of many an employee. UK governments of all political persuasions have hardly acted with integrity or for the benefit of all over the last three decades. I would also add that he stay campaigns fixation on security and defence is also spurious. The UK whether in or out of the EU is still a major player in both NATO and the UN.
However what we have learned over recent months is not to put too much stock in opinion polls and market research. The Scottish Independence referendum appeared to be going in one direction at one point, as did predictions for a hung parliament in last May’s UK general election. The public is less free with information about their voting preferences these days and may well continue to play its cards close to its chest. This is hardly surprising as some of the more vocal members of the public seem to be far from tolerant of differing views. Look at any comment section of a news website covering the EU referendum and you’ll find hyperbole, invective and a general lack of respect. I see that Patriotism is now being trotted out as an argument from some quarters of the leave campaign. Need I quote Samuel Johnson?
At present not only do I find myself considering my own position on the referendum itself but also whether I will be able to personally endure any potentially negative consequences that may ensue, regardless which decision prevails. If there are economic problems at a later date, will my own personal circumstances be sufficient to insulate me from any financial fallout? It is worrying to have to think in such terms and only adds further to the entire negative ambience of this entire campaign. Perhaps for the sake of balance it would help to consider on some more light hearted questions that stem from this debate. If the UK leaves the EU does that mean we will no longer be able/have to participate in the Eurovision Song contest? Also does a successful Brexit mean that the UK Independence Party’s work is done and it will cease to operate? There’s precious little levity in contemporary UK politics, so let us enjoy a little now. I’m sure in three months’ time all vestige of humour will be gone from the EU referendum debate and fear and loathing will be the default response from most quarters.
Star Trek Online Skills System Revamp
The current skill system in Star Trek Online is both esoteric and somewhat clumsy. For many players rather than risk experimenting with a build that may prove ineffective and costly to undo, generic templates are frequently adhered to. I recently asked in fleet chat about a simple DPS build for a tactical Captain and was directed to one of the most common place skills point allocations there is. Furthermore it worked perfectly for me. However I am fully aware that there are players at the other end of the games spectrum that use the existing system in a way that grants them far more subtle and bespoke builds. Not only does this provide practical benefits but it’s also a source of pleasure for them and part of STO’s overall appeal. Therefore Cryptic’s announcement today that the skills system was due for a revamp has been met with mixed reactions.
The current skill system in Star Trek Online is both esoteric and somewhat clumsy. For many players rather than risk experimenting with a build that may prove ineffective and costly to undo, generic templates are frequently adhered to. I recently asked in fleet chat about a simple DPS build for a tactical Captain and was directed to one of the most common place skills point allocations there is. Furthermore it worked perfectly for me. However I am fully aware that there are players at the other end of the games spectrum that use the existing system in a way that grants them far more subtle and bespoke builds. Not only does this provide practical benefits but it’s also a source of pleasure for them and part of STO’s overall appeal. Therefore Cryptic’s announcement today that the skills system was due for a revamp has been met with mixed reactions.
I found Cryptic’s lengthy post and explanation regarding the new skills system very confusing and because I do not play STO to such a level, a lot of the data went over my head. I then went to the official forums and STO subreddit to see if I could gauge the communities overall reaction. The prevailing opinion seemed to be one of “wait and see” and as soon as the new system was available for beta testing on the Tribble server, meaningful feedback would be provided. However there was concern that a move to a more traditional skills tree, as seen in most other MMOs would mean that there would ultimately be less choice. The one size fits all approach is beneficial for players like myself but the loss of some of the flexibility of the current system would be a tangible blow to more invested players.
The only comparison I can draw is with LOTRO and when Turbine carried out a similar skills revamp with the Helm’s Deep expansion. I was well acquainted with the old skills system and although it was unwieldy it did lend itself to a wide degree of choice. I could equip skills from various lines, which is something I lost when the system was revised. Skills became tied to specific trees and I lost access to some the moment I committed to a specific build. It would be disappointing to see a similar situation arise in STO. I appreciate that there is a need for a degree of simplicity in some of the games core mechanics but to do so at the expense of variety and choice isn’t necessarily a good trade. So like many others I shall be monitoring this situation over the months to come to see if skills system revamp can be implemented with minimal fallout.
Goodbye Bingo Boffin
When Turbine introduced the episodic content, The ballad of Bingo Boffin to LOTRO last June, I was fully aware of its underlying purpose. The weekly story is a tour guide around the ageing games various zones and serves as a marketing campaign for free players to either subscribe or buy quests packs. The story has at times had its charms and despite its fundamental lore breaking premise, has proven intermittently entertaining. However the current instalment episode 21 First Breakfast is perhaps the most lacklustre undertaking to date. Firstly we now find ourselves in Mirkwood, perhaps the most lamentable zone in LOTRO and secondly the narrative and quest parameters are by far the most arbitrary. I feel that the game that I’ve played consistently since 2008 has now crossed a line and I no longer see any reason to continue logging in for the immediate future.
When Turbine introduced the episodic content, The ballad of Bingo Boffin to LOTRO last June, I was fully aware of its underlying purpose. The weekly story is a tour guide around the ageing games various zones and serves as a marketing campaign for free players to either subscribe or buy quests packs. The story has at times had its charms and despite its fundamental lore breaking premise, has proven intermittently entertaining. However the current instalment episode 21 First Breakfast is perhaps the most lacklustre undertaking to date. Firstly we now find ourselves in Mirkwood, perhaps the most lamentable zone in LOTRO and secondly the narrative and quest parameters are by far the most arbitrary. I feel that the game that I’ve played consistently since 2008 has now crossed a line and I no longer see any reason to continue logging in for the immediate future.
On mature reflection, I would have thought it would have been one of the larger issues that have arisen since LOTRO went F2P that would’ve proven to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. I was unhappy about the move to a consolidated skills tree that came with Helm’s Deep, yet I managed to look beyond this. I also thought the cessation of paid expansions was a poor decision yet found a degree of compensation with the bi-annual update system. Loyalty and a sense of idle curiosity about LOTRO’s fate has kept me playing for the last eighteen months but today has starkly highlighted just how far the game has declined. To call LOTRO an interactive travelogue is frankly too generous. The game in its current state is treading water. A new player may well enjoy the original content from The Shadow of Angmar and the Mines of Moria but those languishing at level cap are faced with a uninspiring regional quests a numerous, monotonous reputation grinds.
So for the time being I shall no longer log into LOTRO. The game no longer offers anything that I want to do. Yes there is content but none of it seems to provide any anything of any worth and even the so called “journey” can no longer suffice as an incentive. The journey is simply now a chore and as gaming is supposed to be “fun”, I will have to seek that fun elsewhere. It would appear that the recent server upgrades have failed to address any of the technical issues that have plagued the game’s performance since mounted combat was introduced. As a result many players have decided to vote with their feet. When you consider the size of the current development team and the resources they have available to them, it is highly unlikely there will be some sort of LOTRO renaissance. Perhaps leaving Middle-earth now is a smarter choice than enduring a long and protracted decline.
SWTOR - Knights of the Fallen Empire
I decided to return to SWTOR today, not because I wanted another MMO but instead required a narrative driven RPG. I’ve been convinced by several websites and podcast that BioWare has effectively given us KOTOR 3 via Knights of the Fallen Empire and so I decided it was time to revisit the proverbial galaxy far, far away etc. I initially played SWTOR upon its launch in late 2011 and returned to the game after the F2P conversion, when Rise of the Hutt Cartel expansion was released. Although I enjoyed the game more second time around I still felt that it sat somewhat uncomfortably between an old school MMO and a more contemporary variation. The less said about Galactic Starfighter the better, as that expansion just wasn’t to my liking. Essentially my return to the game is based on the promise of a single player RPG experience and the underlying appeal of the franchise.
I decided to return to SWTOR today, not because I wanted another MMO but instead required a narrative driven RPG. I’ve been convinced by several websites and podcast that BioWare has effectively given us KOTOR 3 via Knights of the Fallen Empire and so I decided it was time to revisit the proverbial galaxy far, far away etc. I initially played SWTOR upon its launch in late 2011 and returned to the game after the F2P conversion, when Rise of the Hutt Cartel expansion was released. Although I enjoyed the game more second time around I still felt that it sat somewhat uncomfortably between an old school MMO and a more contemporary variation. The less said about Galactic Starfighter the better, as that expansion just wasn’t to my liking. Essentially my return to the game is based on the promise of a single player RPG experience and the underlying appeal of the franchise.
Overall re-installing the game wasn’t too difficult. I managed to download the entire game client within an hour and forty minutes. To get the benefits of the latest expansion, a subscription is required which meant logging into the official SWTOR website. The one time password verification system quickly became trying but I sorted out a month’s fees while the game was installing. Once the game client was updated I logged in to find all three of my old characters. I had a brief look at them all but soon concluded that I had absolutely no idea how to play them or navigate around the game. So rather than waste time with these and play through the slightly older, more traditional MMO content, I decided to create a level 60 character for the new storyline. However before I proceeded I checked my cartel coins and found that I had nearly 5,000. So I bought some account wide inventory space and unlocked the Sith Pureblood skin.
Despite having played SWTOR before I’ve never explored either the Jedi or Sith classes, so this time round I decided to go all in and create a Red Sith Juggernaut. As ever the only stumbling block during character creation was trying to find a suitable name that hadn’t been already taken. This game mechanic has often been one of the MMO genre’s Achilles Heel. However once a name was secured I jumped straight into the action and played though the first chapter of Knights of the Fallen Empire. Despite many familiar aspects such as the GIU and the basic game mechanics, the story takes a far more dominant place in the proceedings and the narrative moves events forward very much like a single player RPG. Checkpoints are regularly reached and as a player I can log out of the new story and return to the more traditional MMO content should I see fit. However for those wishing to avoid the usual trappings of an MMO such as other players, chat and people just generally getting under your feet, then there is a large onscreen button to return you to the instanced episodic content.
So far although I have not gone far into the story, I am enjoying my return to SWTOR. It has the usual Star Wars ambience with its strong idiomatic soundtrack and quality voice acting. As I didn’t play through the last expansion Shadow of Revan, I’m not up to speed with the plot. However I have spent some time perusing the Star Wars wiki and this has helped no end. After all Knights of the Fallen Empire is virtually an RPG and for me the appeal of that genre lies mainly with their narrative content. I don’t have many negative comments at present, although I do feel that SWTOR still has an excess of skills. The time I spent in Guild Wars 2 in recent years has certainly taught me that less is more. My hot bars in SWTOR are already awash with icons and I really don’t think that all of them are essential. I guess time will tell. At present I have a month to decide if Knights of the Fallen Empire is to my liking and it has only cost me £8.99, which means that if it goes ill, I won’t feel especially out of pocket.
Upgrading Gear in Star Trek Online
The recent upgrade weekend in Star Trek Online has proven to be an interesting experience. The 100% increase in technology points that the event offered meant upgrading gear has been a far more viable proposition than usual. So I decided to explore this aspect of the game and see if I could improve my overall build on my primary Federation character. However I am far from a knowledgeable player and was therefore initially unsure as to where to start. Should I upgrade my ship’s equipment such as deflector, warp core and shields first or focus on the various consoles. Concern over spending precious resources incorrectly is often an issue in the MMO genre. So I decided to do some research before I proceeded.
The recent upgrade weekend in Star Trek Online has proven to be an interesting experience. The 100% increase in technology points that the event offered meant upgrading gear has been a far more viable proposition than usual. So I decided to explore this aspect of the game and see if I could improve my overall build on my primary Federation character. However I am far from a knowledgeable player and was therefore initially unsure as to where to start. Should I upgrade my ship’s equipment such as deflector, warp core and shields first or focus on the various consoles. Concern over spending precious resources incorrectly is often an issue in the MMO genre. So I decided to do some research before I proceeded.
As ever with MMOs, there is seldom a universal answer. A lot of the advice available on the various STO subreddits is determined by such factors as class, ship preference and the level to which a player pursues the game. I also learned via the upgrade panel in the game that not all stats on an item can be upgraded. The preview facility is invaluable in this respect. So I pursued a common sense approach to my upgrade policy and augmented equipment that gave stats boost that I could clearly see and understand, such as EPS. Fortunately I had more resources than I anticipated and managed to upgrade all my ground gear set to Mark XIV, as well as my ships equipment. I then upgraded all my fleet engineering and science consoles as well as all of my tactical consoles. Fortunately all my weapons were already at the maximum tier.
I am quite a goal orientated player in Star Trek Online and although I do not aspire towards playing the game to its highest level, am pleased at the results that I have achieved in recent months. The upgrade weekend has meant that I’ve now attained a respectable 15K DPS and have a build that can adequately handle PVE content. Pursuing any further equipment and gear upgrades is not a priority at present because outside of the event bonus, the cost is a prohibitive. I simply do not have the resources required and am not prepared to grind to the level required to obtain them. So for now I am content with my current statistics and if I am to change anything, I may experiment with using different ships from my existing roster.
Deadpool (2016)
Deadpool firmly nails its colours to the mast within the first minute of the opening credits with such statements as “Directed by an overpaid tool”. With the tone clearly established the movie then proceeds to satirise the very genre its set in and walks a very fine line between knowing in-jokes and actually biting the hand that feeds it. The screenplay is littered with profanity and dick jokes, with violent death frequently served as a punchline. The only thing missing from the proceedings are well placed rimshots. Deadpool is a film that will polarise audiences. Many will find the breaking of the fourth wall, the smutty quips along with the overall mocking of the super hero genre very droll. However there will be some critics who are obliged to see this movie that won’t be in on the joke and they will more than likely leave theatres very offended.
Deadpool firmly nails its colours to the mast within the first minute of the opening credits with such statements as “Directed by an overpaid tool”. With the tone clearly established the movie then proceeds to satirise the very genre its set in and walks a very fine line between knowing in-jokes and actually biting the hand that feeds it. The screenplay is littered with profanity and dick jokes, with violent death frequently served as a punchline. The only thing missing from the proceedings are well placed rimshots. Deadpool is a film that will polarise audiences. Many will find the breaking of the fourth wall, the smutty quips along with the overall mocking of the super hero genre very droll. However there will be some critics who are obliged to see this movie that won’t be in on the joke and they will more than likely leave theatres very offended.
As for me, I thoroughly enjoyed Deadpool. Despite being very traditional with its storyline, offering a standard “super hero origin” tale, it has an enjoyable narrative structure based upon a series of flashbacks. This is a story of boy meets girl, boy gets cancer and boy then takes a gamble on a covert military project that will allegedly cure him. Naturally our hero is betrayed and left with regenerative powers but horribly scarred. Obligatory vengeance is required and mayhem, slaughter and extreme violence ensues. Directors Tim Miller does a great deal with the films moderate budget and when the resources simply aren’t there, he ensures there’s a self-effacing quip in the script to mitigate the problem. It’s a clever approach that certainly entertained audiences in the screening I saw.
Performances are universally good and suit the idiom of the film. Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin and Ed Skrein are well cast and tackle their respective roles in an appropriate manner. However it is writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese who really should take the credit for the movies success. They hit exactly the right tone and broadly maintain it throughout the films one hundred and eight minute running time. There are a few jokes that go astray but most of the time the dialogue hits the mark. There’s a superb gag involving a potential death by Zamboni that pleased the crowd and I enjoyed the way that Wham’s Careless Whisper was crowbarred into the proceedings. Extra marks are awarded for Deadpool’s musings upon Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson from Taken).
Deadpool is a wry and clever movie but it inevitably remains a niche market product. It certainly deserves to do as well as it can at the box office within the parameters of its genre, as I wouldn’t mind seeing another cinematic excursion. However I don’t think it’s a franchise that is indefinitely sustainable. Yet compared to the usual Marvel cinematic universe output, Deadpool is a breath of fresh air. The serious tone and lofty aspirations of the genre are beautifully subverted here. Therefore savour Deadpool for what it is and don’t forget to stay for the obligatory post credits sequence. As you’d expect from such a movie it flies in the face of the usual teaser format. Think Ferris Bueller's Day Off and you won’t be disappointed.
MMOs - Look to the Future, Not the Past
My local High Street has numerous restaurants of all varieties. A few years ago one such establishment changed ownership and re-opened serving traditional Italian cuisine. It was family run and subsequently had a great atmosphere with a very personal touch. The food was excellent and the chef endeavoured to do things differently, rather than slavishly churn out the usual UK interpretation of Italian cuisine. Naturally this had an impact on prices but I was happy to accommodate this because I felt I was getting a superior product and experience. Sadly L’Angelo’s closed because it couldn’t compete with the chain restaurants that subsequently opened up. Quality and ambience fell victim to corporate market domination.
My local High Street has numerous restaurants of all varieties. A few years ago one such establishment changed ownership and re-opened serving traditional Italian cuisine. It was family run and subsequently had a great atmosphere with a very personal touch. The food was excellent and the chef endeavoured to do things differently, rather than slavishly churn out the usual UK interpretation of Italian cuisine. Naturally this had an impact on prices but I was happy to accommodate this because I felt I was getting a superior product and experience. Sadly L’Angelo’s closed because it couldn’t compete with the chain restaurants that subsequently opened up. Quality and ambience fell victim to corporate market domination.
I read a post today over at Wolfshead Online regarding the decline of the traditional MMO. It covers a lot of familiar ground and does so well. It is an article driven by emotion and a personal ideology. Furthermore I’m sure a lot of gamers will share a similar world view and I am not going to argue that such an outlook is totally wrong. However the author’s arguments are based upon the notion of games being more than just products and that they should aspire to be more than just mediums of entertainment. He argues that virtual worlds should live up to their name and offer some sort of meaningful social contract with the player. It’s a nice concept. Sadly it is highly unlikely to happen within the current free market system.
There are many noble ideas and concepts that are impractical in reality; unilateral disarmament, non-selective education and universal state pensions. Gaming is no longer the preserve of a select few but a mainstream industry. It is no longer solely driven by concepts of art or creating the best game that you can. Those days are gone, the same way the movie industry has moved on from the seventies and the concept of the auteur director. It’s all about brands, franchises and maximum monetisation. A good game is a secondary consideration. It’s a sad reality and I am not necessarily endorsing it. However it is a reality that I accept and as a result I have changed my relationship with the MMO genre.
I think most entertainment industries go through a period where creativity and artistic aspiration briefly reigns. Our perceptions of such industries are also contextual so many gamers opinions are shaped by when they started gaming and the era they experienced. Although I am aware of this bias, I try not to be governed by it. I prefer not to let my heart over rule my head and philosophically always try to look forward rather than back. Yes there are deficiencies in the MMO genre but there is also scope for positive change. Those changes will simply happen within a smaller market. It’s true that many of us feel we haven’t gotten what we wanted but such is life. Do we not have to eventually reconcile ourselves to this concept? So although it’s prudent to consider what “may have been” with regard to this genre, it’s not ultimately beneficial to dwell on it excessively.
I started this post with an anecdote to illustrate a point so I’ll close with one. I use to drink in a pub in Bromley in the middle eighties that showcased a lot of live music. There were several ex- musicians and individuals that at one time had worked within the music industry. A common refrain from many of them was that the music of the time was “not as good” as it used to be. Yet the eighties are now considered to be a decade with a rich and diverse music history. Regardless of one’s stance all things change. It’s something else we have to come to terms with I life. I don’t see any benefits in being the gaming equivalent of the old Muso, habitually looking back or pondering “what if” scenarios. If we all adopted such a stance nothing would ever change, for good or ill. Sometimes it's good to draw a line under something and move on.
*Stats via SuperData
To Blog or Not to Blog?
I’ve been ill recently. What started off as just an innocuous winter cold subsequently became a chest and eye infection. Despite being in relatively good health for a man of my age, this bout of illness really knocked me for six. The Doctor ordered bed rest and that’s exactly what I did. Frankly I didn’t feel at all disposed towards doing anything else, so as a result all blogging ceased and the podcast, which was already on hiatus, has been kicked further into the long grass. For a few fleeting minutes I felt some misplaced angst, regarding this lull in content creation but it was short lived. Frankly it felt good to not have to worry about daily posts or interesting topics to discuss.
I’ve been ill recently. What started off as just an innocuous winter cold subsequently became a chest and eye infection. Despite being in relatively good health for a man of my age, this bout of illness really knocked me for six. The Doctor ordered bed rest and that’s exactly what I did. Frankly I didn’t feel at all disposed towards doing anything else, so as a result all blogging ceased and the podcast, which was already on hiatus, has been kicked further into the long grass. For a few fleeting minutes I felt some misplaced angst, regarding this lull in content creation but it was short lived. Frankly it felt good to not have to worry about daily posts or interesting topics to discuss.
I have been feeling somewhat jaded with regard to blogging of late; especially when it comes to gaming. People are still writing about the games they play and reacting to the latest news but no one seems to be doing any in-depth think pieces anymore. They’ve either all be done or perhaps some bloggers just feel that there isn’t any point anymore. I look back through material I wrote five years ago and I no longer recognise the love and affection I use to lavish on the games I played back then. I also often find myself at odds with the community I’m allegedly part of. I see gamers behaving in an unedifying fashion or simply demonstrating a distinct lack of perspective and proportion.
Plus it shouldn’t be forgotten that writing a blog to some sort of standard or creating a weekly podcast is time consuming and “work” for want of another phrase. It can be very rewarding when the heavens align and you produce something that connects with your audience. On other occasions it is a proverbial millstone round your neck that you’d happily be rid of. Then there is the perennial issue of time and the fact that it’s a finite commodity. I think there’s something about hitting middle age that really provides you with an epiphany with regard to this precious resource.
However despite all the apathy and negativity, I still find blogging very useful for marshalling my thoughts and refining my views and opinions. Irrespective of whether people read my writing, I find the process of committing my ideas to text an incredibly beneficial tool. I also enjoy recording the Burton and Scrooge podcast. When it goes well Brian and I have a lot of fun. I am very fortunate to have such an amiable co-host. So it would seem that the good points about content creation currently trump the bad ones and therefore motivate me to push through this malaise of indifference.
So over the next few weeks I shall not only continue to inflict my views upon an unsuspecting internet but I’ll actually back fill posts from the previous two weeks. I don’t know why exactly but it seems to satisfy my notions of order and balance. Don’t be surprised if I stray in to non-game related subjects more often. I’ve become increasingly disposed towards just writing what comes in to my head these days and some of the stuff in their even surprises me. So it’s back to the grindstone I guess.
Not Liking Sport
Sport can be a universal icebreaker at social and work related gatherings. Having spent several years in the field of short term IT contracts, I’ve frequently found myself working with small groups of men (mainly), often from different parts of the UK or from around the world. One of the first subjects broached so people could get to know each other would usually be sport. “Did you see the (insert sporting event here)?” is a common place opening gambit. The next thing you know people are holding forth and a social dynamic is formed. This is a classic example of the sort of etiquette that helps society tick over. However there’s only one problem with this social tool. I don't care for sport. As a result I can be at a social disadvantage in certain scenarios.
Sport can be a universal icebreaker at social and work related gatherings. Having spent several years in the field of short term IT contracts, I’ve frequently found myself working with small groups of men (mainly), often from different parts of the UK or from around the world. One of the first subjects broached so people could get to know each other would usually be sport. “Did you see the (insert sporting event here)?” is a common place opening gambit. The next thing you know people are holding forth and a social dynamic is formed. This is a classic example of the sort of etiquette that helps society tick over. However there’s only one problem with this social tool. I don't care for sport. As a result I can be at a social disadvantage in certain scenarios.
Let me qualify my position. I have no specific hatred of sport or sporting endeavours. I totally "get" why other people do like them in all there various manifestations. I simply have no major interest in any of them and don't imbue them, their respective exponents or the wider culture with a lot of the virtues and merits that some people do. I recognise that sport can do a lot of good for both individuals and groups and that it can play a valid role within society. However I temper this outlook with the fact that sports are big business and that this will potentially bring a whole host of other not so beneficial issues to bear.
One of the questions I’ve pondered over the years is how have I arrived at being a non-sports person, when so many people do the opposite? Well I guess it has a lot to do with one’s personal upbringing. A love of sports usually starts in the home, which is something I’ve never had. As a child the TV was not on during Saturday afternoon, mainly because my Dad is an academic with no interest in sport. We never went to sporting events of supported any local teams or activities. Thus sports per se have always just been something that other people do and therefore never had a particular hold over me. With my own son I was scrupulously aware that a lack of exposure to sport may be a negative thing, so his Godfather filled the gap in this area, taking him to football matches and the like.
Other aspects of sporting culture have proven problematic for me over the years and have ensured that I have not altered my position. Many sports are vehicles for elitism, sexism, racism, and pretty much any other "ism" that's going. I am aware that not everyone involved with sport falls in to this category but it’s not just a fringe element either. I also struggle with the entire concept of vicariously living through others achievements and that terms such as “we” are frequently used when discussing a team’s achievements or failures. Fandom is also rife with armchair experts and folk wearing sports related clothing. Yet many are patently incapable of participating in the activities that they venerate. It should be noted that fandom is seldom based upon critical thinking and thus has its blind spots.
Despite my upbringing I was far from averse from participating in sporting activities at school. Quite the opposite was true and I use to try pretty much everything with an open mind. However my motivation was often very different to others. I participated in sporting activities for their own inherent fun and was not really interested in the prevailing culture of competitiveness. This changed when I was picked to be on the school football team (in the UK sense of the word) roundabout the age of eleven. Here is a condensed version of the incident.
PE Teacher: Why didn't you come to football practise on Saturday morning?
Me: I didn't want to miss Swap Shop (for non UK folk, insert some other popular Saturday morning TV show )
PE Teacher: It's not about what you want but what the school wants...
This resulted in the PE teacher taking the matter up with my Father, thinking he could prevail on his generational notions of obligation, team play and respecting authority. He didn’t count on my Dad being an intellectual snob who thought Physical Education was a shit Degree to have. As a result he got short thrift from my Father who pointed out what I did with my own time was my concern and none of his. I spent the next few years on this particular teacher’s shit list as a result. But then again PE teachers in the 1970s were notorious bastards.
Let me be very candid about one other thing that I believe is relevant to this discussion. It’s something that a lot of people won't admit to. I don't enjoy losing. Although I’m old enough now to hide it well in social situations it still really gets on my tits. Naturally this is a stumbling block in the competitive world of sports. I also don't care for some of the aspects of team dynamics that are associated with sport, such as the concept of team failure over individual failure. I remember as a child being castigated by another teacher because the team that I was on had lost a game. It annoyed me no end that we were blamed as a group when the fault lay with two very specific individuals. Sod team responsibilities and the bogus notion of “character building”, whatever the fuck that is. I deal in logic and intellectual processes to determine where the weak link in a chain is.
So here I am now at the age of Fortysomething and there is an entire aspect of UK culture that passes me by. Don't get me wrong I can happily watch any major sporting event on TV, understand it and even discuss it for the sake of courtesy. I just don't give a shit about it. However as I mentioned earlier, I recognise that sport is a major ice breaker and therefore an invaluable social tool. But if you aren't in to it, then there’s a lot of TV programming, social events and general culture that simply passes you by. It doesn't happen so much now, especially in the circles I currently move in, but if you don't like sports you are often met with suspicion from certain quarters. Some will even consider it to be an indicator of your sexuality or politics for some reason.
Venerating an individual or a team’s dedication to excellence is laudable in principle. Human beings are competitive and naturally sports feed in to that. Sports also foster collaboration which is another important life skill. Yet like so many other cultural institutions there comes a tipping point where the positive and beneficial aspects that accompany them can quickly become something far less edifying. Fandom can become partisan and lead to violence. Then there is the entire issue of being part of a group that is not perceived as being part of the accepted social norm. Not liking sports can put you in such a demographic. I have fortunately not suffered to any degree by not embracing this part of UK culture. However I could see it being a problem for others in certain situations. Difference can be a convenient tool of oppression.
So there you have a succinct breakdown of my relationship with sport, or non-relationship as it is in this case. It just remains for me to put one question to you, the reader. Where do you stand on this matter? Do you like me, not care for this part of day to day life? Does it cause you any issues? How do you deal with it? I’d be fascinated to know.
Gravedigger Volume 1: Hot Women, Cold Cash (2015)
A fortuitous tweet in my timeline on Friday night afforded me the opportunity to buy Gravedigger Volume 1: Hot Women, Cold Cash for the bargain price of £2.50, over at Comixology. I’ve been aware of this film noir inspired comic series for a while but simply hadn’t gotten around to doing the right thing and supporting its creators Christopher Mills and Rick Burchett. Having now corrected this error I can now confidently state that Gravedigger thoroughly deserves all the plaudits it’s garnered of late. It’s been a while since a comic has grabbed my attention in this way and offered a thoroughly immersive experience.
A fortuitous tweet in my timeline on Friday night afforded me the opportunity to buy Gravedigger Volume 1: Hot Women, Cold Cash for the bargain price of £2.50, over at Comixology. I’ve been aware of this film noir inspired comic series for a while but simply hadn’t gotten around to doing the right thing and supporting its creators Christopher Mills and Rick Burchett. Having now corrected this error I can now confidently state that Gravedigger thoroughly deserves all the plaudits it’s garnered of late. It’s been a while since a comic has grabbed my attention in this way and offered a thoroughly immersive experience.
Volume 1 contains both parts of the 2015 story The Predators as well as the 2004 tale, The Scavengers. Both adventures centre on career thief and professional criminal “Gravedigger” McCrae; a hard, ruthless and calculating man with a weakness for the ladies and cold cash. The Predators finds McCrae in Florida for some rest and relaxation. When he wakes up next to the dead body of local mobster’s daughter he has to look to his wits to avoid both hired killers and the local wildlife. The Scavengers finds McCrae hired to plan a weapons heist and cutting a side deal with a femme fatale. Multiple double crosses lead to a desert showdown with no good outcomes.
What makes Gravedigger so compelling are its broad horizontal canvases and lean black and white art style. Rick Burchett’s artwork is tonally right, providing sufficient detail and pacing without getting bogged down in superfluous embellishment. Christopher Mills’ dialogue is very direct and he does a great deal with only a little. Both stories speak for themselves, yet there is depth and substance despite the lean and mean approach. It is clear that Burchett and Mills understand both the medium and the genre the story is set in. Gravedigger is aimed at a mature and savvy audience.
If you like the wise cracking, hardboiled literary thriller genre as well as the anti-hero driven crime movies of seventies, then Gravedigger has all that you need. It exudes atmosphere, menace and wry humour. The stories are concise and perfectly paced. If only Hollywood could make movies as classy as this. As for the Lee Marvin vibe that clearly runs through Gravedigger, what more can I say than it just works. McCrae even speaks his lines in Marvin’s sardonic tones when I’m reading. It’s a sublime embellishment. Therefore Gravedigger definitely gets the Contains Moderate Peril seal of approval (for what it’s worth) and I look forward to Gravedigger Volume 2, as soon as it becomes available.