The Funeral of WoW Gold

The library is a great place for readers to discover comics, and it’s a great place for comics readers to check out things that they want to try without spending their hard-earned cash. I’m looking at comics that I find in the New York Public Library system.

I should admit one thing up front: literally every shred of previous information I’ve acquired about the computer game World of Warcraft has been gleaned from an episode of
South Park. I say this because readers familiar with the game will likely take something completely different from this book than I did. For me, when you consider that Walter Simonson’s work on Thor and Orion is just about the pinnacle of superhero comics in my eyes, the potential attraction of the World of Warcraft comics should be obvious, but it’s not due to any attraction to the game.

Alas, despite a few teases of a greater mythology, World of Warcraft seems to be a marginal fantasy comic going through the motions. Penciller Ludo Lullabi does Simonson no favors, with action sequences that often difficult to follow and characters too often likely to scream or gnash their teeth in every circumstance.

Nevertheless, Simonson is not on top of his game here. Rather than building a mythology and universe, every time the chance comes to explore the structure of the WoW universe, Simonson opts to throw the characters into another battle. In fact, they get into so many fights that it becomes a point of reference even to the characters themselves in the final chapter! Disparate factions of the WoW universe are met in brief bursts, but before we can get a coherent sense of the connections between these cultures or how they lives their lives, it’s fight! fight! fight! and we’re off on another quest. Even the dialogue doesn’t have Simonson’s usual snap.

Now, again, fans of the game (where, I assume, the back story is filled out?) or fans of quest-based fantasy in general may take something completely different from this comic than I did, but I’m comparing this to previous Walt Simonson titles where the nuances of new universes were built up over a succession of encounters with Frost Giants or Darkseid’s lieutenants, and World of Warcraft is lacking in comparison.

Also, I imagine it’s not just me, but isn’t it strange that Lo’gosh is three times as thick on the covers as he is in Lullabi’s pages. Weird. So, anyway, big picture here, it has a huge brand, but I wouldn’t expect that many readers or gamers are likely to find the first collected comic book edition of World of Warcraft a satisfying title whether they find it in the library or elsewhere.

Retailers no longer allowed to sell unrated online games.

In a shocking move this morning, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Australian retailers will no longer be allowed to sell any online game that has not been classified by the Australian Classification Board.

This move directly affects games such as World of Warcraft, Warhammer Online, Age of Conan and Pirates of the
Burning Seas – titles that don’t contain a single-player experience, and therefore did not apply for classification. The previous understanding was that online games, by their nature, fell outside of traditional national classifications – a loophole that the Classifications Board want stitched up.

According to the report, a spokesperson for NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos said the NSW Classification Enforcement Act prohibited publishers and retailers from selling unclassified computer games. The spokesperson also encouraged individuals to report any retailer or individual found operating outside of the Classification Act of 1995.

“The NSW legislation covers computer games bought online as well as those bought in stores, and treats single, multi-player and online games the same way,” he said.

Australian police will be responsible for enforcing the penalties, which range from $1100 to $11,000 for individuals and/or 12 months’ imprisonment, and approximately double those figures for corporations.

The next iteration of the world’s best-selling game is due within the next few months, which actually means it’s been delayed from its previous February 20th release date. EA now plans to have The Sims 3 on store shelves by June 2nd. The staged released will start on the PC, while other platforms like the Mac will follow soon thereafter. The Sims 3 will be completely an EA product, marking a turning point in The Sims history. All previous games have been developed by Maxis at least in part.

The original Sims still stands as the best-selling PC game of all time, and The Sims 2 holds the number two spot, beating out the incredibly popular World of Warcraft ( Currency: wow gold ) by a large margin. The franchise has sold over 100 million copies, combining all expansion packs and full versions.

EA certainly struck gold when they hooked up with Maxis in this endeavor. Will they be able to carry that same amount of success again and have The Sims 3 become a best-seller? One complaint some gamers have towards chain titles that get a new version year after year is how diluted the series can become. Will The Sims suffer that fate?

Jason Berndt, (left) is the
Chemainus Secondary School’s 2008 winner of the prestigious Governor General’s Award for Academic Excellence.

Cowichan Valley Schools Superintendent Dan Boudreau recently presented the medal to the recent graduate. Berndt attended Chemainus Secondary School from Grades 8 - 12 and achieved outstanding academic success. Outside of school, he was involved in the Community Cadet Program and received his Private Pilot’s License. Jason received several scholarships upon graduation with the most prestigious one being a full scholarship for studies at the Royal Military College in Kingston which he is currently attending. “I have always wanted to be a pilot for as long as I can remember,” said Jason. “To be able to attend the program that I am in is unbelievable.”

From Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. until Feb. 8 at 7 p.m., the Pearkes Recreation Centre at 3100 Tillicum Road will be alive with non-stop games of all kinds, as Victoria’s first ever gaming convention gets underway.

Game developers, demonstrators, vendors, writers, and workshop speakers will all contribute to an entertainment-jammed weekend at GottaCon Gamers Convention.

Over 200 events include a pre-release of the next Pokémon trading card game (TCG) edition; Pokémon Platinum. There is also a Special Forces Premiere Tournament of Bleach TCG, three launch parties for the release of the next set of Magic: the Gathering (M:TG), as well as a Vancouver Island Magic Community M:TG Open tournament and the GottaCon championship in World of Warcraft ( Buy wow gold )TCG.

Two fantasy authors, Steven Erikson and Dave Duncan, both from Victoria, will discuss and sign books. A video game tournament will be on the big screen at Silver City Victoria as well as others.

Among dozens of board games on-site will be Axis and Allies, Settlers of Catan, Swashbuckler, along with demonstrations of Memoir 44 and Ticket to. Local businesses will be on hand demonstrating a variety of board games as well.

Want to play electronic games? X-box 360, PS3, Nintendo Wii stations as well as a LAN anyone can connect to will be available to use casually and with over a dozen tournaments in games that include NFL 2009, NHL 09, Left for Dead, Halo 3, Guitar Hero, Counter-Strike: Source and many more. Games in miniatures include Star Wars Minis, Warhammer, World of Warcraft, Heroclix as well as others.

Roleplaying games (RPG) are another feature all weekend with over 35 individual sessions, including the premier of a new Living Arcanis module, as well as Living Forgotten Realms, Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition, 3.5 edition, Pathfinder Society, Star Wars Saga edition, two made in Victoria premieres of new RPGs; Runic and Elemental Axes, as well as others.

Trading Card games include a demonstration of Ethos, a new TCG by Underfire Media, Yu-Gi-Oh!, InuYahsa, Magic: the Gathers, Kindom Hearts and many more in various formats.

The Victoria Lego Users Group is also going to have a children’s area for young enthusiasts.

For a full schedule of events visit the GottaCon website at www.gottacon.com. Almost every day new games are being added. Some of the games will be a challenge for experts to test their skills, while others will suit the beginner.

Some local vendors include Skyhaven Games, Stain Internet Café, Knocturnal Games, Interactivity Games and Stuff, Russell Books, Dragon Impact, Cherry Bomb Toys, DTI Computers, and Island Collateral.

Another special feature will be a silent auction, where bargain-hunters can bid on game-related items and fans can bring items to sell.

Tickets are available at the door. Prices are $40 for a weekend pass, $15 for Friday or Sunday only, and $20 for Saturday only. Accompanied children under 8 are free.