Tuesday 18 October 2011

Contenticus!

Updates will commence in some form of regularity within mere days. Since gaming has its tendrils wrapped neatly around my attention at the moment (note: this has been the case since 1993), most of the posts will concern those nooks and crannies. Beside this some form of audio content is in the works, which will likely cover a variety of topics, though it doesn’t have a core concern at the moment. Lots of good games, though, both among us and on the horizon. It will probably be hijacked by that. Snap.

It did occur to me a little while ago that I never put in plain writing what the hell I’m attempting to accomplish with this blog. My lack of fixed topicality certainly hasn’t done me any favours in terms content consistency. I’ve been all over the place with theatre reviews and poetry. I’m sharpening… Something. It could be that I’m left with a pointed stick rather than a blade, but no matter. I think the main thing to take away is that something is becoming less blunt.

Gaming has always been my first interest, and will likely always retain primacy. That said there are topics which branch across, and I would feel remiss if I didn’t mention such things. For instance DC chose to reboot their entire comic franchise not long ago, and in doing so simultaneously pulled every main character back to their mid-twenties and destroyed unknowable amounts of continuity. I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad move on DC’s part but, well, being provocative is fun, and this one’s going to be around for a while. My point is I’m liable to make lengthy divergences at any time. I’ll never wander too far, though. Hopefully.

The Diablo 3 beta is a touch passé by this point and, having represented only the tiniest slither of its actual might, may only serve as skeleton for what's to come. Still, that bone-structure, eh? There are whispers of a Wizard that is too strong and of broken Demon Hunters, but these things are probably the least of people’s concerns at the moment. It’s just nice to root notions of a new game in mundane fields like class balance. There’s a kind of instant basis for comparison that opens up. It may just be me, but the first thing that springs to my mind with the idea of a comically all-powerful caster is Diablo 2. Blizzard knows how to leave the right impression. In fact, everything about the gameplay resembles its predecessor. For one who enjoyed the previous instalment, it’s refreshing (worrying?) to see that everything which made the series alluring is entirely intact. Beyond that there is nothing but greener pastures: more stream-lining, production quality and customisation opportunities. It’s all sunshine and rainbows (dank tombs and temples?), until you see a guy pimped out in a £100 suit of armour.