Crimson Desert Review UPDATED

If you like solo adventuring in a wide world, Crimson Desert sounds good.  (If you get the Subscribe message when you click on the link, just click on No Thanks and you'll go straight to Crecente's Substack article.)

https://game.substack.com/p/crimson-desert-hands-on-on-a-handheld

Check the reviews and the specs you'll need to play.  Like all new games, this thing only runs on the latest gear.  It's also buggy so I'd wait a while until updates fix the worst ones (no inventory space) before buying.

UPDATE:  IGN has info about changes the patches have brought but still is wary about this game.  Note the links to helpful hints at the bottom of the article.

https://www.ign.com/articles/can-crimson-desert-patch-its-way-to-a-cyberpunk-2077-style-victory

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Skyrim DLC Content and Release Dates UPDATED

Skyrim has three sets of downloadable content available now but not everything is released on every platform. The first set of DLC is called Dawnguard (it is all about vampires--you can either play as one or be one of the Dawnguard whose job is to kill vamps).  It didn't get great reviews.  Most folks thought $20 was a high price for not much content.  This is available for the PC and xBox 360.  (Sorry, PS3 owners.)

http://www.pcgamer.com/review/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-dawnguard-review/

Here's the Dawnguard trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZqXKZOS2jQ

The second piece of downloadable content is called Hearthfire and is also available only on the xBox 360 and PC.  (Sorry again, PS3 owners!)  It allows you to "build" a house in a limited way and adopt an orphan plus acquire a House Steward.  Here's the review and trailer.  I haven't found the official pricing for this yet but it might be around $5.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/9907-The-Elder-Scrolls-V-Skyrim-Hearthfire-Review

Here's the trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOhbP8Tltq4

Dragonborn is getting good word-of-mouth reviews so far, but it is available for xBox 360 players only as of December 4, 2012.  It won't be available on PCs or PS3 until "early 2013." Here's the trailer.  I don't have pricing for this yet.
http://www.bethblog.com/2012/12/04/dragonborn-available-today-on-xbox-live/

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Skyrim Mod Articles (PCs)

The Skyrim Mod Forge is doing a weekly series on various Skyrim mods.  It's worth checking out if you are looking for mods to improve your PC version of the game.  The link below is to article 1.  Further articles appear in the Related Articles bar above this one so you can read on.
http://www.dualshockers.com/2011/11/23/the-skyrim-mod-forge-–-episode-1-–-large-address-and-steady-growth/

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Skyrim Reviews, Character Creation

While we wait for Skyrim to go on sale (currently 17 hours, 23 minutes and 17 seconds) you may be interested in this video review that shows a great deal of the environment.
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-hd-elder-scrolls/723801

This is the only PC version of the game reviewed I've seen.
http://pc.ign.com/articles/121/1212033p1.html

This xBox 360 review mentions how to best use perks, lockpicking, a tip on two-handed combat, etc. and also covers a great deal of ground.
http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1958/Elder-Scrolls-V-Skyrim/p1/

This video shows a little of the game's beginning and character creation.
http://kotaku.com/5858221/creating-my-dragonborn-identity-in-skyrim-now-pronounced-skrim

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Review: Vampire The Masquerade - Bloodlines

This PC role-playing game has always gotten rave reviews (except the combat is a little weak).  Runn ing on the Half-Life 2 engine, it looks pretty good considering the game came out in 2004.  If you are looking for something different, this might be the game for you.
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/vtmb/video/6113480/vampire-the-masquerade--bloodlines-video-review

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Review: Witcher 2

Read all about it here.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/8905-The-Witcher-2-Assassins-of-Kings-Review

The lack of explanation of how things work and the fact that the introduction and first chapter have significantly harder combat are mentioned here.  The map isn't great either.
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/05/18/pc-review-the-witcher-2-assassins-of-kings/

http://www.1up.com/reviews/witcher-2-review

However, all the reviewers loved the game, despite its flaws.

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Podcast Reviews

If you really like listening to WOW podcasts, you will want to head over to r9sid9nt9vil's blog and read the podcast reviews s/he's posting.  Once you arrive, click on Reviews in the categories on the right side and all the reviews will be there, latest on top.  The Nov. 24 posting talks about the methodology for reviews, so it is a good place to start.  Whether you agree with the review or not, you likely will find new podcasts to add to your listening rotation.
http://eviscerated.net/

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A Review of Lord of the Rings Online in Screenshots

http://picasaweb.google.com/Longascimages/LOTROEnedwaithFreeToPlay#

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New Dial-In Authenticator UPDATED WITH REVIEW

Blizzard has come up with a third authenticator, the dial up authenticator.  Basically you give Blizzard a phone number.  You choose a pin and when you want to do something unusual, you call from that number, enter the pin number and get an authenticator security code like the ones that works on the smart phones or on the actual authenticator token.  It sounds very clunky to me but here are the details so you can decide for yourself.
http://www.wowhead.com/blog=173490

A review.
http://www.isheepthings.com/blog/battle-net-dial-in-authenticator-review/

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New Gaming Peripherals from SteelSeries and Razer

SteelSeries showed off their latest gaming mice and keyboard at Blizzcon.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/blizzcon-2010-steelseries-shows-off-cataclysm-mmo-mouse-pro-ga/

http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/razer-announces-specialized-mmo-gaming-keyboard/

SteelSeries has just announced that they will have a MMO key set for their new SHIFT keyboard.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/steelseries-introduces-new-shift-key-set-for-mmos/

UPDATE:  Kotaku has a review, complete with video, on their website of the SteelSeries Shift.
http://kotaku.com/5709650/review-steelseries-shift-is-a-mighty-morphin-power-keyboard

Razer has a headset, keyboard and mouse set geared for Starcraft 2 fans.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/blizzcon-2010-razer-demos-the-naga-epic-starcraft-2-gear/

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Operation Gnomergaden Reviewed (With Videos)

A review of the new Gnomergaden which has gone live as part of the lead-up to Cataclysm.  (Adam doesn't think much of it, by the way.)
http://thenoisyrogue.wordpress.com/2010/09/17/operation-gomeawhateverthefuckitscalled/

Here's what happens.  Apparently it is buggy.
http://www.warcrafthuntersunion.com/2010/09/operation-gnomergan-explained/

However, Zal likes it.  Here are two videos he took so you can judge for yourself if this is something enjoyable.  This might help getting yourself to the right area, too.
http://blessingoffish.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/operation-gnomeregan/

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Game Laptop Review; Alienware M17x R2

A bit about the high end Alienware laptop.
http://www.theoldergamers.com/hardware/review/review-of-the-alienware-m17x-r2/

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Pwnwear Reviews the Logitech G13

A full review of the G13 gamepad with examples of macros and how the keybinding was set up for one character.  Follow the link to other setups if you need fuller information.  There are links to informational resources such as the manufacturer's website at the end of the article.
http://pwnwear.com/forum/geek-review-logitech-g13-for-wow-t559.html

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Mass Effect 2 Review

A review of Mass Effect 2 by the author of the much missed Of Teeth and Claw blog.  Note that he played the PC version of the game.  Don't forget to read the comments which have other gamers' impressions.
http://systemicbabble.com/videogames/post-mortem-mass-effect-2/

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Starcraft 2 Review

If you are curious about Starcraft 2, here's a fairly comprehensive review.
http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?pager.offset=1&cId=3180705&p=

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Reviewing Video Cards for Starcraft 2

Like other Blizzard games, Starcraft 2 doesn't need top-of-the-line equipment but it is still nice to see how various video cards play the game.
http://www.techspot.com/review/305-starcraft2-performance/

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OnLive Live Review

The good and the bad about the OnLive system with information about the drawbacks, the game interface, latency, the amount of broadband needed etc.
http://www.wowhead.com/blog=164115

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Game Reviews and Previews

If you are getting tired of WOW and need a break, you might be interested in reading two brief reviews of Final Fantasy XIII.
http://www.brigwyn.com/2010/05/28/guest-post-final-fantasy-xiii-review/

Or you might want to read Matticus' analysis of the new games on the horizon (Star Wars:  The Old Republic, Guild Wars 2, Tera:  The Exiled Realms of Arborea, Cacataclysm).
http://www.worldofmatticus.com/2010/05/29/what-will-the-mmo-of-tomorrow-bring/

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Remote Auction House Beta Reviews

Gordon takes the remote Auction House app, currently in beta, out for a test drive.
http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/05/25/wow-remote-auction-house-app-beta-impressions/

Here is his follow-up posting, which is more in depth.
http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/06/01/remote-auction-house-review/

WOW Insider is testing the remote Auction House also.
http://www.wow.com/2010/05/26/gold-capped-using-the-new-armory-auction-house/

Note that the cost to use the Remote Auction House is higher in Europe.
http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/06/09/remote-auction-house-goes-live-and-rips-off-europe-in-the-process/

By the way, here is Blizzard's Remote Auction House site.
http://www.wowarmory.com/wow-remote.xml

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Gaming Mice and Keyboard Reviews

A review of various gaming mice and keyboards on Pwnwear's forum.  The second link has photos of all the items discussed.
http://pwnwear.com/forum/gaming-mice-and-keyboards-t185.html

http://pwnwear.com/2010/05/25/gaming-mice-and-keyboards/

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