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January 27, 2007

Let's get this party started!

Okay, ladies, it is time to get our guild together. Have you become a gaming widow because of your Significant Other? Did you get into WoW because they got your hooked? Do you want to get even? It's time to guild up, sisters. We need to decide on a server, a name and whether we want to be horde or alliance.

One name suggested was WoW Widow's Revenge. (Ha!)

Give it up. Let me hear your opinions on this and we can get it going.

Now, I know a lot of you have level 60's and are way way more adept at this game than I am. I have no problem being an noob of the group. Or we can start from scratch (seeing as I am an alt-o-holic) with everyone.

Bring it!

Posted by Jenn @ 11:46 PM • Comments (11) • TrackBack (0)

December 26, 2006

Tie me up, why don't you!

Thanks for taking the time to choose a new character for me. However, there is a dead tie for everything except a druid. (Thank you. SO not doing another one of those right now.) Break that tie! Next one that has more votes in the poll will be the one I create. Let me know if you are the tie breaker and YOU can choose the name.

I am ready to rock this new one out. Let me know also if you want male or female.

Yes, as a matter of fact I do have a brain of my own, but I like using yours much better.

Posted by Jenn @ 10:48 PM • Comments (1) • TrackBack (0)

December 22, 2006

I want more! You choose for me!

I want to play another one. I have druid and hunter. (On Burning Crusade I have a blood elf hunter and a dranei mage.) So, what do you want me to try now. Now that I am not hating on Marama, I am happy about the came and not cursing the entire Blizzard team for getting me into this. See? Leveling is good for the soul.

Now I need to choose another. For fun.

Alliance? Do I go with Human, Night Elf, Gnome or Dwarf?

Horde, you say? Orc? Tauren? Undead? Troll?

(Open entry for your chance to choose my next character.)

Now, tell me why. (And if you are willing to help me learn this new character so I don't throw another computer out another window.)

(Did I miss any??)

Posted by Jenn @ 12:15 PM • Comments (4) • TrackBack (0)

September 18, 2006

Levels, and epics mounts and blogging! Oh my!

I have finally reached level 17and 3/4... because those 3/4 mean something...with Marama. Like a child saying they are 5 and 1/2 because that half is IMPORTANT and they need you to know they are not just 5, but 5 and 1/2. I am 17 and 3/4! But so that I don't look like I am too lame, I have to admit that I have also been playing another character to see what else is out there.

See, that sounds so mature and gamer-open-minded. Truth of the matter is that I have about lost my cool at continually having quests pile up and not being able to finish them. When in doubt, start a new character and play that one. You'll feel so tough when you level so quickly. (This one is a hunter. And I just started another new one. It is fun to play the different characters and learn the skills. Really. And it is an ego booster to see them level.)

However, Marama is the one I have to get to level 60! Level 60? Puhleez! I think that I would be level 739 if yelling at the enemy helped you to level. I could totally rock the world of warcraft if yelling counted for anything. But alas, it doesn't. In fact, in an act of cosmic injustice, my microphone broke. Broke. I cannot even yell at Clint through teamspeak now. How unfair is that?!

Although, I am an all about me kind of gal, a friend of mine is under the weather, so her husband (a man who admits to created the situation of his wife becoming a gaming widow) posted a great post on her blog about how to talk to a level 60 WoW player. (I still just hear World of Warcraft blah blah blah epic mount blah blah blah, but more of the blah blah is becoming clearer. I am learning the new language. At times I SPEAK the new language. Shocking. I know.)

I am thinking of making an entire guide to the widows/widowers of the game on the proper responses to this foreign language the World of Warcraft players speak. Because even when I play and one of the Males tells me to "ranjusticate the flugermeister by right clicking, move your mouse, jump in a circle and then take your huntsteimer and put it in your thingiebagpackamajiggy", well, I get confused. Of course, if that is actually what they are saying, I should be confused, but I have replaced the words they use to baffle me with the words I am hearing.

Have faith. One day I will reach a level where I am no longer the "fluff blogger" trying to be a gamer and be a gamer trying to sound a bit more like a fluff blogger. Hmmm, imagine that. *shudder* Slap me now. I will be both. Fluffy gamer with eye-bleeding color on my site. Just to confuse the die-hard gamers. It is fun to watch them ponder this experiment. If only they knew what goes on behind the scenes that is not blogged. I know I could shut them up in a heartbeat. But for now, I will just keep on keeping on in the gaming world and thank those who have been SO supportive. (You know who you are. And you know how much it means.)

Now, the kids are in school which can only mean one thing. Time to level. Or die (too many times) trying.

Posted by Jenn @ 08:13 AM • Comments (97) • TrackBack (0)

September 14, 2006

The new wardrobe of the aggro-family

I have been sent a link to the new clothes that I am going to have to insist my family start wearing. Oh, it isn't like I am going to just randomly throw something on them. I had to choose the best for each of them. And of course, for myself. Because gamer or not, it is good to dress the part. And gamer or not, shopping is still a competitve sport...even online. This shirt is the one I will be sporting now that I am "officially a part of" rather than on the outside looking in:

(Caption to describe the shirt says: The image of these virtuous statues is symbolic of the moment we take a break from the real world and become immersed in the World of Warcraft. The potential loot, pvp and questing makes this transition glorious indeed. Did we mention loot?)

Fitting, huh? I think I will wear it everywhere. My world.

In fact, in my world of warcraft as aggroqueen, I have learned an important lesson. That is, if you are going to aggro, you better have a back-up to cover your butt! Because at level 16 you cannot take on a bazillion enemies that want to kill you. You will die. And when you resurrect, you will die again. And again. And again. Lesson learned. Any plans on not maintaining my image as Aggroqueen? Not a chance. I plan on learning enough to aggro these enemies and then kick their butts from here back to the days of Pong.

But I am not selfish. I think the whole family should be outfitted.

For instance the teen, he needs this one for sure!

The tween, this one.

The kindergarten girl (just so I remember) should wear this.

And the hubby who is quickly realizing that I don't do anything half-assed, this one. Because...well, he and his guild will know why. I can't out him like that. But he needs it. Trust me.

What do you think?

(Editor's note: All of these shirts can be found here. Go get yourself some geek wear, too. You'll thank me. Or not. But do it anyway.)

Now, after I finish shopping, I have about 15 quests left unfinished. I need to get on it. Before the kids get home and want attention or something silly like that!

Posted by Jenn @ 10:46 AM • Comments (6) • TrackBack (0)

August 24, 2006

But I like it here!

I am officially a level 12 (of 60). Hey, quit the laughing. I am proud of that! However, I am on my last quest on this particular part of the game. Now, my only quest left is to get on some creature and fly to another land. Another. Land. A land that I don't know. I mean, as much as I wandered around the current "country" (without a MAP), I know it. As well as I could know a land I got lost in a bazillion trillion times. (Because M is for MAP people!)

Let's be honest. I know that there are bigger, scarier things on the other side that will want to kill me for no reason. Things that will attack me for just walking in their area. Things that think that slaughtering my innocent Marama will benefit them somehow. I don't want to leave. Can't I just keep starting over with new characters and stay where I am? (I was emphatically told NO by the gamer males in the family.)

I have to go to the unknown land of Big Scary Things. When I freaked over the spiders, I was laughed at. When I got mad about the quest I should NOT have taken, I was laughed at. When I clung to the leg to the final person giving me a quest, I was told to "grow a set" and get on with it.

You are officially caught up to my game status. Tomorrow....the land of UNKNOWN. [Sidenote: Jason, if I get slaughtered more than a bazillion, trillion times, I am SO coming after you next. I am not known as the Aggroqueen ONLY because of the game. Just ask Clint.]

Wish me luck. Find me and heal me...many times. And could you tell all of my freelance bosses that this IS work. It IS work for me to play all day. It's a job to prove these gamer males in my house and the developers that I SO amuse (I know I amuse you guys...though a comment or email wouldn't kill you. Sure you have that lots of "work" on your my expansion pack, but everyone needs time to relax with a good blog. This is the one you should choose. I'm just saying!)

Off to lands far off into unknown worlds and freakishly odd looking creatures that want me dead. Oh, wait, that is the PTA. Nevermind!

tags: gaming, gamer mom, world of warcraft

Posted by Jenn @ 10:07 PM • Comments (128) • TrackBack (0)

July 22, 2006

After hours of labor, the gamer is born

The day my computer was finally made "game ready" to be able to load and play WoW without a lot of lag and headache, the actual game installation began. Did you ever see a 50's sitcome (think I Love Lucy) when the woman is giving birth and the fathers are pacing in the waiting room? Nervous and anxious and oh so ready to meet their little baby? Totally what my house looked like as Clint got the game installed. The boys were pacing and chattering about it.

"What are you going to name your character?
Are you going to be Alliance or Horde?
Do you know what you are going to learn how to do?
Really, names mean everything. Have you thought about it?"

It was really quite amusing to watch. But finally....the labor was over, the delivery complete. We now had a new bouncing baby Gamer in the house. Lord help us all!

As I walked to the office I was trailed by all of the children. They all want to know what I was going to do. Each had advice for me. Even the 5 year old who has watched her brothers and father play. Everyone had hints and tips and suggestions.

I finally had to tell everyone to go away. To let me try to figure this all out with minimal help. In other words, don't speak until I ask for help. The first order of business. A name. But that is an entry all unto itself. And is just for my buddies at Blizzard. Because I owe them.

Posted by Jenn @ 07:18 PM • Comments (5) • TrackBack (0)

July 21, 2006

The mailman brings the challenge

Soon after the email conversations with Jason and other developers, I expected at best a World of Warcraft t-shirt and a note saying, "Give us a try!" But no, these boys play hard!

In my care package was something that no one could resist. Even if I tried, I would have been slapped down by my gamer family. They stood in awe as I opened my box. Even a non-gamer such as myself was amazed by what I found.

Inside the box was the following:

Now that in and off itself impressed me. But the gamers in the family were freaking out to see what was inside. The following is an image of just SOME of the included fun stuff from Blizzard and Jason.

What I did not get a picture of (but will) are the two t-shirts that were included. One for the Alliance and one for the Horde. Oh yeah, I still don't know which is which, but I am convinced this will not be a foreign language for long.

IT IS SO ON!

Posted by Jenn @ 07:06 PM • Comments (115) • TrackBack (0)

July 18, 2006

How it all began

How in the world did a writer known for her Mommyblogging suddenly find herself starting a gamer blog? It all began with a rant on my blog Mommy Needs Coffee. You see, after night after night of being abadonned by not only my husband but my two tweens as well, I had reached a point where nothing but a blog rant would do. That is how this open letter came into existance.

Never imagining that anyone would read it beyond my normal readers, I was shocked to actually hear back from one of the developers. Okay, truth be told, I nearly soiled my pants when I saw the title of the email. "Yes, we read your blog." Oh no! What had my mouth/blog gotten me into this time?

But it turns out, the email was actually saying how much they all enjoyed the entry and that they were passing around the office. Passsing. It. Around. Before I knew it, that letter was linked to World of Warcraft forums, websites and blogs. I was not yet sure if I was in trouble and seen as a whiner or was just amusing these people.

It turns out it was amusing them. I began a fun email exchange with Jason (including requests for the much anticipated moon that I promised to send the developers so they could kiss my ass) and Jim. I had thrown down the gauntlet. Somehow Jason had managed to charm me enough into agreeing on my own free will to give World of Warcrap...err...Warcraft a chance.

That was all it took. The next thing I knew, I was told to watch the mail.

With that, the challenge had begun.

Could a team of developers and a family of gamers turn this mommyblogger into a gamer?

[Read the entire original entry below]

[originally posted on Mommy Needs Coffee on April 11, 2006]

Dear Creators of World of Warhell (or Warcrap--whatever floats your boat),

I recently visited your website. I read your section about "What is World of Warcraft" and this is what you had to say:

World of Warcraft is an online role-playing experience set in the award-winning Warcraft universe. Players assume the roles of Warcraft heroes as they explore, adventure, and quest across a vast world. World of Warcraft is a "Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game" which allows thousands of players to interact within the same world. Whether adventuring together or fighting against each other in epic battles, players will form friendships, forge alliances, and compete with enemies for power and glory.

I have a suggestion that would help in better describing your game. Check this:

World of Warcraft is an online HELL set in the addictive-winning Warhell universe. Addicts assume the roles or Warhell junkies as they explore, adventure and quest for a bigger and better fix. World of Warhell is a "Massively Addictive Multiplayer Online Rave That Will Cause Your Loved Ones to Pull out Their Own Hair in Frustration" which will allow thousands of players to interactively become addicted within the same version of hell. Whether fighting together or against each other until their eyes are bloodshot and half blind, players will form gangs, forge support groups of addiction, and compete with enemies that are more batshit crazy from the game than they are all in the name of non-existant power and glory.

See? I really think that my explanation is so much better. Kind of like a warning of sorts.

Why would I waste my time writing this? Well, that is quite simple. Last night some strange man with hair standing on end with eyes red and glazed over walked out of my office searching for food in my kitchen. As I screamed and nearly beat him upside the head with a rolling pin, it wasn't until a vague sense of recognition set in that I dropped my never-used-except-when-threatened rolling pin that I had brandished as a weapon to beat this stranger. It turned out to only be my son. It has just been that long since I have seen anything but the back of his head for so long. Seeing him come at me scared the beejeezus out of me.

Together, my husband--at least I think it is my husband, the back of his head is familiar-- and my oldest son have initiated my youngest son into their cult of War of Worldhell. I have even heard the phrase muttered more than once, "Come on! Everyone is doing it!" (Little game-pushing bullies!)

I resent that I have to hear day in and day out about new "friends" of ours who have joined their gang guild. And then, to have those same gangmembers guildmembers calling me asking me to join. They are worse than Amway! I am forced to ask you: Are you sending subliminal messages that cause my family to be forced to have their intelligence, self-control and ability to just say NO sucked out of them?

I have resorted to wearing protective eye-wear and earplugs when I enter the office game room hell. Just in case. I don't want to unsuspectedly be sucked in against my will.

Seriously, I have a favor to ask. I think it is the least you can do considering you have in essence made me a loner in my own home. An outcast, if you will. Can you like cut all of the servers offline for one weekend? Just one weekend. I heard my son has grown 2 inches. I wouldn't know. I haven't seen him standing up in months. And my husband? He began telling me all about his amazing cool pet and some trick he taught it before I realized he wasn't talking about our Doberbutt but rather some mythical illusion that must be a side effect of the Warhell experience.

I know your game is increasingly popular and all, but I must say...I harbor much bitterness and hatred towards you. I realize you will probably never see this as you are working on and building up your cult, but if by chance you do, would it be okay if mooned you. Because really, the entire cult of War of Worldhell kissing my ass would probably help me feel a little bit better.

With the utmost fear of your evil and dread of your upcoming new release,

Jenn

ps- If you see my husband or sons online, can you please send them my new address? I don't think they will notice I left until the power goes out or (more likely) their food runs out.

tags: gaming, parenting, world of warcraft

Posted by Jenn @ 12:36 AM • Comments (6) • TrackBack (0)