For gamers, it’s Christmas in August. PAX, the yearly gathering celebrating gaming in all its vaunted glory is nearly upon us. As for me, I am positively transcendent – which usually leads to interpretive dance. On my desk. In the newsroom. Which is awesome.
Yes, it often ends in sing-along’s.
Why? Let’s see… Bioshock 3, Warhammer: Age of Reckoning, Rock Band 2, Dead Space, Dragon Age Origins, Spore, Battleforge, and Crysis: Warhead. Who wouldn’t be in the throes of nerd bliss?
And let us not forget the reason for the season: the pure joy of gaming. Tabletop gaming will be open, and I am deliberating on bringing my 2,000 point Cult of Slaanesh army and see how it fares against Seattle’s elite – who will undoubtedly “pwn” me into the ground like a tent peg.
But I digress. As you can see, the mind wanders when presented with so many choices when trying to select ones brain-candy for the duration. PAX is quite simply a celebration of the medium to be enjoyed by anyone and everyone.
If you are a gamer and live within driving distance of Seattle, you have to go. If you don’t you will regret it, potentially weeping uncontrollably every time you turn on your console as it evokes the memory of the loss, the opportunity you squandered to participate in something this legendary.
You can trust me. I am after all, an expert in such things.
In other news, Blizzard has announced that in preparation for the forthcoming Wrath of the Lich King expansion, they will be releasing a plethora of new content in an upcoming patch.
Here is the blue post by “Eyonix” in its entirety:
With the release of Wrath of the Lich King approaching, we wanted to provide you with some important information. In preparation for the expansion, we will be issuing a new content patch in the coming weeks. Much like the patch made available shortly before The Burning Crusade’s release, this content patch is designed to bridge current game content with that of the expansion and will contain some exciting changes and additions.
We have outlined some of the larger features scheduled to release with the patch below:
New class spells and talents
Stormwind Harbor
Barbershops in capital cities
Zeppelin towers outside of Orgrimmar and Tirisfal Glades
Two brand-new Arenas featuring challenging new layouts, terrain hazards, and moving obstacles
Guild calendar
Hunter pet skill revamp
New profession: Inscription
As mentioned above, this is not a comprehensive list, just some of the major highlights. We’ll post the full patch notes as soon as they’re available. Regarding Inscription, please note that all Burning Crusade players will be able to select Inscription as one of their two professions and level up to a skill level of 375 with it. Upon the release of Wrath of the Lich King, players who purchase and install the expansion will be able to continue leveling in Inscription and the other professions beyond 375.
Admittedly, this is a big deal – expansion content before the street date for said expansion is even announced. Not that my human rogue wouldn’t do for a nice shave and a haircut since he looks like a dirty hippy, but… I can’t say I that this particularly moves me. I’ll admit that my World of Warcraft habit has dwindled to the same interest level that I have for knitting sweaters for cats.
However, I am interested in the new arena’s as well as the new profession seeing as that jewel crafting is almost as useful as my ex – which is to say not at all. Yet as the post says, those who choose inscription will not be able to take the skill past 375 until Wrath of the Lich King drops sometime in November or December.
I have to admit, even though these additions are in themselves enough to keep even the most tepid of WoW gamers interested until the expansion, it is not enough to deter me from Warhammer: Age of Reckoning. Since I have the pre-order I’ll be able to play it on Sept. 7.
So there are my choices: play a game with a little new content, even though said game feels more like a part-time job with all the enjoyment of chewing glass or play a new game that already has me so enthralled that I sleep with the game under my pillow?
If you think about it, it really isn’t a choice at all.
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