400th Article at The Other Shoe - Part Three

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[caption id="attachment_2203" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Daniel Hanning of The Other Shoe[/caption]

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             Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. You want to know something that will really get the blood pumping?  Looking back over a body of work as large as my writings at this blog that will get the blood pumping. On Thursday I published Part One and that took me back to the very first article I published, here at The Other Shoe. Immediately I was reminded of the passion I felt when I started this blog. I remembered that I started this blog in the pursuit of truth, and the hope that in sharing that truth… I would set myself and the people that I love…free.

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That passion still lives within me, and the words and work of this blog. My Dear Readers, I consider myself… lucky. Lucky in that I am still here, and so is this blog. Reading about blogs, I found out that something like 70%-90% of blogs die… end, within the first year. I am only months from celebrating my forth anniversary here at The Other Shoe (March 22, 2014).

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The last edition of this series focused to two different types of series that I have published here at The Other Shoe. Today, I am going to focus on the other type of series I published. PC Gaming is one of the few joys remaining in my life. Aside, of course, for the joy I experience writing and publishing my work. Gaming has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. PC Gaming combined two of my great loves; computers and gaming.

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Now, the world of MMORPGs I was a little late to the party. I had played Guild Wars, right before I entered the world of Azeroth in World of Warcraft. I know it’s crazy but just writing the name of that game… takes me to that place. Since I started playing I have spend nearly an entire year ingame in WoW. I know that sounds like a lot, but spread over seven years, it is only like one day out of each week spent playing. That is a lot easier than one might think. The game is highly addictive, especially if you are good.

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Well, I guess that is as good a segway as any, My dear readers, I bring you the Third Edition of my 400th celebratory series. Today, the world of MMORPGs.

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World of Warcraft

[caption id="attachment_1988" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Danny at Stormwind Gates after Dragon Attack[/caption]

• · MMORPGs And YOU! – World Of Warcraft : “For anyone that is thinking of expanding their PC gaming experience to a new genre. Or for anyone thinking of making their first venture in PC gaming the genre of massively multiplayer online role-playing games. World of Warcraftis quite definitely the game for you. My Dear Readers I played in many role-playing games, both on personal computers and in board games, previous to my introduction to this now world-famous game. First, a bit of irony. World of Warcraftmade its world debut November 23, 2004. November 23 is just three days after my birthday. However, in 2004… At the time of my birthday, I was not able to afford to purchase World of Warcraft.” Honestly, just writing about this game makes me flash on the fields of Azeroth, the rivers, the cities and the sky. For anyone thinking of playing a PC game (beyond those pitiful Facebook games and the like) WoW would be the game to check out. This game holds a very special place in my heart, in my memories and in my love for gaming and personal computers. You will never be able to play WoW on a; tablet or cell phone or other miniature computing device. WoW takes a real computer to play, and fully appreciate. You can go fishing (and actually catch fish), climb mountains, ride horses, go hunting and even fight your way (for days) through dungeons. My Dear Readers, if anyone would like to give me a gift? A gift of game time in WoW would surely bring a smile to my face. However, at $15 a month… well, I haven’t eaten but two meals in the past three days… I cannot afford to play my favorite game of all time. That is what World of Warcraft is, for me. I was a Mage and Potion master, in the world of Azeroth. I can make potions that are no longer p[art of the game. In my bank I have potions and flasks that have been removed from the game, but I still posses. Potions, Flaks and the like were my speciality, and I was very good at what I did. Funny that, I Real Life I worked in pharmacology for a decade. In WoW I love alchemy and potions. Virtual life imitating life, or vice versa? Either way… right now… this moment… I would give most anything, to once I have this published… re-enter the world of Azeroth and spend a few weeks. Play WoW and you, too, will know why.




• [youtube=http://youtu.be/IT7q6XidJ74]


• (Enzomatrix Riding Rocket Mount in World of Warcraft)


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  Age of Conan

  
  

[caption id="attachment_868" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Enzomatrix-Age of Conan Riding Blue Snow Mammoth[/caption]

• · MMORPGs And You! – Part Two – Age of Conan : “The game that you’ve been seeing pictures and videos, above, as from the MMORPG ‘Age of Conan’. This MMORPG is based in the world of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. As well, a lot of the characters the plot lines the story are lifted from the movie series starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. If, My Dear Readers, you enjoyed in the works of Doyle or the movies of Arnold Schwarzenegger this MMORPG is the one for you!” Why am I doing this to myself? Writing about these games… reminds me of these games… reminding me of these games… makes me SO want to play these games. Age of Conan is another of the special games of this genre… for me. As a boy, I enjoyed the novels. As a young man, I enjoyed the movies. As an adult I just LOVED the MMORPG! There is just something special about playing in a world that you read about as a child, watched on the ‘Big Screen’ as a young man. This game is not nearly as ‘special to me as WoW… I doubt there will ever be another experience like WoW. However, the world of Conan the Barbarian is quite entertaining and enjoyable. I just now thought about it… the why… My Dear Readers, I had forgotten… the friendships. You meet people in game, and you develop friendships… that are just as real and tangible as the ones one makes in Real Life. No, I would never marry someone in game. And, YES, many of these games DO offer in game marriages. In Age of Conan I did develop several meaningful friendships. I think it is those friendships that I miss, too. AoC is a GREAT game, MMORPG. It has engaging plot, the plot works well through the game and quests. The game plays out in the world of the first movie, and the quest lines come right out of the movie and books. You would do well to check out this game, and not the slightest disappointed if you decided to play.


• [youtube=http://youtu.be/RDfEFuzbVNo]


• (Enzomatrix Riding Snow Mammoth in Age of Conan)


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  Rift

  
  

[caption id="attachment_855" align="aligncenter" width="630"] This is a screenshot of Enzo riding his Spider Mount in Sanctum, the major city.[/caption]

• · MMORPG(s) and YOU – 1st Edition – Rift : “Today Rift is our game, and what a game it is. I started playing Rift right when it came out. I had heard/read about it for months and it looked to be what WoW started out. It had depth in the game (Good vs. Evil) and it was based on my favorite MMORPG of them all, WoW. Basically you are a; Mage or a Warrior, a Hunter or a Healer. You either heal you friends and party members or you fight the many monsters and Bosses that stand in your way. Mages and Hunters are ‘ranged’ fighters. They shot things at the targets while standing well back. The one up front, taking all the damage, are you Warriors and Tanks.” Rift is one of the MMORPGs that I continue to play. It is ‘Free-to-Play’ with an ‘Open World’ policy. You can go anywhere you want in the entire world, no boundaries. Many of the ‘FtP’ MMORPGs have whole parts of the world blocked off. Some of the world map is only accessible if you pay the monthly subscription fee. Not Rift though. Rift is the best of all the free MMORPGs that I have played, to date. It is easy to get started, involving from the beginning and very easy to level a character. You can ride mounts as early as level 10, unlike others where you have to be level 20 or 40 before you get up off your feet. One downside is that there is no self-flight. In WoW you can purchase flying mounts and fly all by yourself in any of the areas of the world. Seeing the gaming world, from above, adds a depth and quality to the game that is unmatched. I would suggest Rift to any beginning players… almost as much as WoW. Almost.


• [youtube=http://youtu.be/YespFRJwuZI]


• (Enzomatrix in His Second Home - Rift)




• · MMORPGs And YOU! – Conclusion : “When I started this series, on June 24^th 2013, I had no idea that it would span seven months and nine articles. Touting (compiled from all nine of the series) a grand total of 145 ‘Like’(s) this series was/is my greatest work to date. Hands down, the single most popular of the series was… … (drum roll, please)… … ‘Star Wars the Old Republic’ with thirty-six Likes total. As is that was not enough, this series was the single most ‘reblogged’ of all my works to date. Carried by three other bloggers (at one point) these articles certainty are the epiphany of my abilities in 2013.” Now, MY Dear Readers, IF you want to check out the NINE different MMORPGs that I shared, this would be THE article to read and peruse. I have included images from each of the nine games, and links to the nine separate articles. Each and every one of these games brought joy and happiness to my tortured life, at one point or another, over the past seven years. This conclusion article was a tribute to the genre, and to the nine MMORPGs that brought so many hours… days… weeks... months of enjoyment to me during the most painful and tortured time of my adult life. Now do you understand… just what these games mean to me?

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With that I bring you to the conclusion of Part Three of my 400^th Celebration here at The Other Shoe. I know… I have spent more time… written more and shared more on this, the 400^th Celebration than any other celebration or review in the four year history of my blog. This milestone means the world to me. Especially at this point in my life, right now.

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Things are tough for yours truly, right now. I refuse to complain, but I also refuse to ignore. I am not alone in my plight. Millions upon millions of Americans are caught between an eternal rock and a perpetual hard place. I do the best I can, with what I have and what is shared with me buy others. One thing that is different? I work hard as I am physically able to write and entertain. I do my very best to entertain and enlighten and I spend many hours each day in that pursuit.

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Tomorrow I will be bringing you the 4th edition of this celebratory review of my 400th article and four-year journey. Having not yet been written, I have no idea what, exactly, this article will entail. I have covered many of my recent political works. I have covered the several different types of series articles I have written and published over the years. What shall I share, tomorrow?

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As always I am deeply honored that you come here and read my work.

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Thank YOU!

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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="234"] The Other Shoe eBay Store[/caption]

http://www.ebay.com/usr/enzomatrixlt

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[caption id="attachment_2296" align="aligncenter" width="630"] The Other Shoe's Daniel Hanning 2/2014[/caption]

MMORPGs and YOU! - Part Two - Age of Conan

Welcome back, My Dear Readers, to ‘MMORPGs and You’- Part Two’ here @ The Other Shoe. Tonight I will be sharing with you the MMORPG ‘Age of Conan’. Like all of the other MMORPGs I will share this game is free to play. You can download the client at the link name above. However, this edition will not just be about Age of Conan. Tonight I will explain to you more about him in the world of MMORPGs.

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The videos I have shared generally show gameplay or me writing a mount (MMORPG slang for horse or War Mammoth’) somewhere. Now, MMORPGs do not just stop at quests and exploration. However, if world exploration is something you’d like, every single game I’m sharing with you here at The Other Shoe has a huge world to explore. For those of us that will never ‘globe trot’? Exploring one of these worlds can be nearly as satisfying as getting outside your own four walls. Like travel in real life only without; bag fees, long lines, TSA screening, and screaming children in the seat behind you.

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In each and every game ,that I will share with you here, there are many large cities as well. In these cities you will find; trainers, merchants, merchandise, and what I’d like to talk about today ‘Auction Houses’. Now auction houses are player to player merchandise exchanges. Any every game you learn how to craft items (I will be talking about that in a future edition), and you find water called drops from NPC’s and bosses.

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The auction house is the place where players can sell, often for huge profits, the items that you make and find in the game. First, a couple of things, in each of these games there are items that you will pick up from killing bosses or other NPCs that cannot be sold or traded. These items will either be character bound or account bound. What that means is that the item can only be used by the character that found it or can be transferred from one to the other of your tunes.

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[caption id="attachment_869" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Enzomatrix- Age of Conan at Resurrection Point[/caption]

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Now that means a couple of different things to the average MMORPG player. First, the auction house is a great way for an average to poor player to end up wearing and using items of ‘Epic’ or ‘Legendary’ quality. That means an average player, like me and probably you can end up wearing some really nice duds and having very awesome weapons.

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Second, and all of my games I have chosen to be an alchemist. An alchemist can make; potions, and mixers, healing potions, and got potions. These items, in the auction house, can command a high price. Now, do not let me discount to anyone that reading the value of tailoring clothes, making armor, or making swords. All of the crafting talents can be refined to the point where you can make epic or legendary quality items and sell them for huge profits at the auction houses.

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Right now, today, I just introduced you, My Dear Readers to the world of ‘Virtual Commerce’. It is estimated that over $1 billion exchanged hands, last year, in and around virtual worlds. It is difficult for donations an expert to determine just how much is being spent in these virtual economies, often because much of the dealing is against game rules and in some countries illegal.

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Here’s a thought; in World of Warcraft alone there are 8 million players. In any given single year is estimated that one in 10 will buy gold or currencies on Internet markets. These currencies are used to buy goods in these virtual economies. It is estimated that a given year a world of war client craft player will buy up to $100 worth of World of Warcraft gold. Quick math, that’s $100 million right there.

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[caption id="attachment_870" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Enzomatrix_-Age of Conan City Center with Undead Minions[/caption]

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Now, My Dear Readers, I do not engage in the sale or purchase of any virtual currencies or goods. On nor do I condone those who use these services. The biggest reason is? Many of these companies that engage in virtual currency exchange or the exchange of virtual items are located in China and take great advantage of their employees. From what I understand it is basically 21^st-century slavery in a virtual workplace. However, I don’t judge. If you get into these games and start playing and you find that you need currency or an item to enjoy your game? Then I say if you have the resources to pay for bully for you.

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The game that you’ve been seeing pictures and videos, above, as from the MMORPG ‘Age of Conan’. This MMORPG is based in the world of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. As well, a lot of the characters the plot lines the story are lifted from the movie series starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. If, My Dear Readers, you enjoyed in the works of Doyle or the movies of Arnold Schwarzenegger this MMORPG is the one for you!

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[caption id="attachment_871" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Enzomatrix-Age of Conan Riding War Mammoth With Minoins Snow-Capped Mountains in the Background.[/caption]

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Be Yee fair warned this MMORPG is laden in with; violence, bloodshed, boobies, horrific deaths, blood, gore, did I say boobies? Yes my dear readers this game was designed for young adults. However, that does not mean that an adult can get a great deal of enjoyment from this MMORPG franchise. There are; beautiful vistas, icy lands, great deserts, huge forest and regions, caves full of spiders, and some bees galore. It is a well-balanced game with terrific graphics.

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As well, this game is easily playable on most home PCs, desktops, and laptops. Be sure to check the website prior to writing to make sure that your system is compatible with ‘Age of Conan’. If you would like any more information about age of Conan just click on any one of the links embedded in this article.

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[caption id="attachment_868" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Enzomatrix-Age of Conan Riding Blue Snow Mammoth[/caption]

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Well, My Dear Readers, we’ve come to the end of yet another of the series ‘MMORPGs And YOU! As always, I’d like to take a moment to thank you for coming to the other shoe. I know that there are literally thousands of sources of news and entertainment and content and I am honored that you choose the other shoe. Thank you!

Busy Week, Two!

Welcome back, My Dear Readers, to another week here @ The Other Shoe. Last week was fantastic, we had several ‘firsts’, this week proves to be even better as I have things in the works. And let us a recap those first, from last week, and then will move on. On to what I have in store for this week and maybe beyond.

 

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The 1^st first(s) will be my favorite to come, ‘A Week In Review’ is already one of my most popular articles here @ The Other Shoe. Looking at the traffic report it is easy to see, that this article series will be a big hit. I have received some feedback, and it I will apply. Seems the traffic report is best published separate, seems it took something away, from the overall success of the ‘A Week in Review’.

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So in future editions, that appear on the weekend, the article ‘A Week In Review’ will appear separately from any traffic reports. Next is another success, from this weekend,  ‘Sunday Funnies’ was also a huge success. The ‘hits’, on the featured video this weekend, went up quite a lot. For this summer Alex will be the ‘Star’ of my funnies. Everyone commented that they loved him, and wanted to see more. So, every Sunday from now on, you will see Alex play and have fun! I already have several, videos of him and his antics, and each and every Sunday I will share one with you. My Dear Readers I am really quite excited. Not since my Indiegogo campaigns have I been so engaged.

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Not since that three months, and the month the blog began, Have I had this much fun writing and sharing my work. Now my weekends will be full, of Sunday Funnies and A Week In Review will be busy and productive and focused on You!

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Now for the end of teasing and pimping last week’s work. Now comes This Week and what I have planned. I will be covering the SCOTUS decision(s), be they one or be they two. I will write about that, and share my feeling and point of view. However, better than that I have something new! I am going to share something personal, something I simply LOVE to do! I love gaming, no not the gambling kind. I love leaving my little room, full of pain and humiliation, and venture far away. I go to other worlds, and then I play!

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This week I hope to bring you some info and pictures! (Honestly I am trying to make some videos from within the games. Show you what it is like to fight another player, or make something to wear.) IF all goes as planned I will review and share FOUR games. They will be; Rift, Aion, Star Trek Online, and Age of Conan (IF I have the time, and my pain is subdued, I will include another game Guild Wars 2!).

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Everyone of these games ahs given me hours of fun. I have hours of fun and enjoyment and even escapism, too. Through all of my illness and all my physical loss. These games have given me something that no doctor ever could. They gave me a place where I WALK without cruch or cane or power chair. Heck, I can even RUN! In these games there are no limits, on what I can do. No disability to prevent me from riding a horse or climbing a mountain. No pain from working too hard or walking too far. Just enjoyment and challenges and even friends, too.

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So, later today I hope to begin. With posting some art, and photos (from within the game) and maybe a video or two. I am looking forward to this series, I think we will have fun. And, don’t worry, I will be publishing The Mars Report, A Week In Review and Sunday Funnies. All you, My Dear Readers, need do? Drop by and ENJOY!