Judge Guilds Big Ole Blog

First and foremost, I would like to wish everyone a happy New Year. Please, please, please, be safe if you are going to be out and about celebrating.

Secondly, what is ahead for Judge Guild?

Well, alot actually. I have been away for quite awhile, and things kind of stagnated a bit. Our WoW presence is not nearly has mighty as it once was, but will be coming back up to par quickly.

Website is going to be getting some updated information on it, and the forums are going to be cleaned to the bone. Yes thats right, pretty much starting from scratch. All posts are getting pruned and fresh info populated in each of the areas. So watch for that coming down the pipes within the next few days.

Also, we are going to look at expanding into some FPS games, which is long overdue. So as that famous quote goes “Hold onto your lug nuts, its time for an overhaul….”

Frank

I just got thru installing a new theme for the blog, so it will flow more with the overall site. And not have that really hard on the eyes white background.

Also am working on our soldier of fortune 2 server, just put up a new map cycle as well as doing some tweaks to it. And working on installing OSP on it too.

So back to work I go.  

Morals and Gaming. Can they live symbiotically?

Its an age old question. And one that seems to have a simple answer, yet its basic implementation is more complex than most realize.

First, lets look at what a “gamer” is, and some common misconceptions. Many times, especially some of the older generation, thinks of these folks that like to play online games as some sort of antisocial, pasty faced nerds, that sit in their moms basement drinking energy drinks and having no life what so ever.

Well, online gaming has become much more than what it was in the past couple of decades. It is far more main stream than allot of folks realize, and the folks that play online games make up all age ranges and demographics.

There are whole communities devoted to online gaming, online and in real life (IRL). There is in fact a very large corporate backing for “professional gamers”, and some of these larger online gaming communities. This is something that would have never been imagined 30 or 40 years ago, much less realized. But today the proof is out there, online gaming is BIG business, and business is good.

You now have folks that are blue collar, white collar, no collar, gaming side by side. Folks that are on opposite sides of the planet, playing with each other and interacting on highly social levels. You have preteens, teens, adults and yes even seniors, fragging each other till the wee hours of the mornings.

Online gaming can be anything from one of those poker sites, to a first person shooter (FPS), a card or board game, a role playing game (RPG), or a massively multiplayer online game (MMO). And there has been a shift in online gaming over the years, more towards a MMO style.

For those of us that have played online games, we have all at one point or another run across someone that felt the need to be a turd, to be blunt about it. For whatever reason they feel the need to be crude, rude, obscene and sometimes just down right mean to others. Many times, it is due in part to the age of those you are interacting with, as a large base of them are “kids”, but that is not always the case. Ignorance and selfishness really doesn’t know any age boundaries.

And if you have played more than one online game, especially FPS and RPG games, have most likely had to deal with hackers and exploiters also. There was a game I just loved, it was called Quake. When it first came out, I could not get enough of it and got pretty good at it. Well, one day all of a sudden there was someone in there playing that could move 4 times as fast as anyone else, they were impossible to hit and were wiping out everyone else in sight.

Online gaming of all sorts has been riddled with those that would take advantage of hacks, glitches and exploits. To them, it made the game fun, because they didn’t need to have the same level of skill as others, to hold their own or dominate others.

So now you ask, well if it is so glum and there are so many jerks out there, why play online? The answer is simple. Because even though there are those out there that find it fun to try and ruin your online gaming experience, there are many very nice folks out there that it is truly an honor to game with. And you can actually create some great bonds with those few select folks. And you can actually look forward to getting online and gaming and interacting with them on a daily basis. Because after all, this is just another way for folks to socialize.

Many would say that we have lost certain social skills due to such a higher amount of “online time”, and lack of actual physical interaction. Well, that sentiment is a bit short sighted. Online gaming and interaction is a type of socialization, and interaction now. That is just a fact of today’s world. The important part is “how” we socialize with each other, not necessarily the method or device used for said socialization. I’m not saying we should all hibernate in our homes, staying in front of the computer hours on end, because getting out in the world and socializing with others is a very important part of living and personal growth and development. So you have to meter the amount of online time, versus get off your butt and talk to folks in the outside world time.

So this leads me to the premise of this article. Can you have a higher level of moral interaction while you play games online and interact online? The answer is yes, you can.

Each of us decide how we are going to interact with others, whether it is nice or foul. We make that conscious decision each time we type or say or do something online. So in the end run, we have only ourselves to blame for bad interactions, or good interactions.

Each of us can choose to take the higher ground. Make it a point to help someone in game, that has just started gaming, and doesn’t know the ins and out of that particular game. Give some praise to a random person for something. Encourage those around you to proffer a higher level of sportsmanship and comradery.

If each of us consciously try’s to be the best person we can be online, and positively effect those around us, we have taking our selves to a higher playing field. And not only does that make us personally stronger, it actually benefits others in ways sometimes unseen.

If you are a parent, and your child is gaming and you are not. Become involved in what they are doing. Watch them, listen to them, participate with them in some way. This will do a few things for you. One, it will let you know if there are some issues. After all, if you are a caring parent and want your child to become someone that cares for others, why would you allow them to trash talk someone or cuss them out in a game. This teaches them that they are able to disrespect others, with no consequences. So it gives you either the chance to help redirect them on a path that is better, or gives you the opportunity to praise them for being “mature” and a good person.

If you happen to also like gaming too, then game with them. Make it part of your family time, to help grow and strengthen that bond that you have with your child. And also help teach them some life lessons in regards to respecting those around them, being helpful and caring.

There is NO reason at all that an individual can not take the higher ground in online gaming. None what so ever. You can choose to promote things like: sportsmanship, loyalty, and comradery. Or you can choose to be a negative force.

So to those of you that choose to be negative in your interactions with others and your gaming “values”, I say shame on you. Take stock in yourself, and raise yourself to a higher level. Grow up.

And for those of you who fight daily to do the right thing, and be good to those around you, i salute you. Keep up the good work.

~ Thor

FEAR 2 Section added

We have added a FEAR 2 section to our website, so feel free to check it out. We will be adding more and more content to this area as the game progresses.

Right now there are no hosting companies we can find that are hosting game servers, we will look at standing one up once we get some options available to us. This really saddens me, because the expectations of FEAR2 were very high, the SP Demo (Install File for SP Demo) was awesome.

From what I have gathered from various forums and discussions, the game did not ship with the appropriate files needed by hosting companies to host servers. Sorry to be blunt, but what the hell is up with that?

The MP market is HUGE. Personally I only buy games that I know I will be playing MP in, generally I personally dont even play the SP version of the game, and go directly to the MP. And now with MMO’s hitting the market so heavy, you would think these game developers would get a clue, and have the MP portion of the game ready to go, out the shoot.

I have seen far too many instances of recent where they have really dropped the ball. And there are ALOT of folks that just get real tired of shelling out $50 a shot, for something with limited functionality and support.

Keep checking back for more updates, and visit our FEAR 2 Section.

With Team Judge phasing out it relationship with AOC, we are very happy to offer them a home here at Judge Guild. The transition should be seamless, as we have resources already in place for the AOC members. We have forums: http://www.judgeguild.com/forums/ as well as a ventrilo server for their members: http://www.judgeguild.com/ventrilo/ and a website area devoted to AOC: http://www.judgeguild.com/aoc/

So please, dont feel like you are wayward children, lost at see, we are here for you. Just a little different look is all.

Feel free to post your thoughts in the forums. And again, welcome to Judge Guild. We are very happy to have you with us.

~Thor

Well, another year has passed by, and it seems like in a blink of an eye. I remember many, many years ago my mother told me that this would happen. I also remember thinking to myself it was just ramblings. But sure enough, that statement holds so very true. Especially if you have children.

I find myself trying to slow down time now, but that just doesnt seem possible, no matter how hard I try. Days fly into months, months into years. Children grow inches and then feet.

I guess what I am trying to say, is that with this New Year, please take stock in what is important to you each day. For those days slip away quickly. Enjoy life to its fullest but not at the cost of those around you.

I hope that this New Year brings much enjoyment and many blessings for you and yours.

~Thor

Well it looks like Blizzard took note of all the complaints about the Zombie infestation, and it is about time. Those pesky little critters were bugging the heck out of people.

It got to a point where the AH in Iron Forge was non existant, as well as the flight master was dead all the time. More than just bothersome to say the least.

Fortunately that is all behind us, but now I wonder what they have in store for us as the Lich King release grows closer and closer.

Well, I hope everyone is liking where we are heading with the website. And I am sorry for this taking so long. Real life happens, and at times has to take precedent. lol..

There are still some areas under construction, and I will be filling with content. Those of you that want to write any how to guides, feel free to drop them out to me at thor@judgeguild.com and I will post them to the website.

I really want this to become a site that is a great resource tool for all types of games, not just World of WarCraft.

Sorry about nuking the forums, but it was just tons easier. There werent all that many posts lost, but for those of you that had some posts there, again, sorry. Just easier to start from scratch.

Anyway, getting tired, gonna call it a night soon.

Cya on the flip side,

Thor