Hello folks, I am the Bitter Clinger and every time a big MMORPG title or franchise shuts down, we tend to do some soul-searching.
Of course, we were all caught off guard when Aeria Games announced they would be shutting down the servers for Scarlet Blade at the end of the month. Many fans of the genre are still reeling from the news. After all, if Scarlet Boobs can't... I mean, if Scarlet Blade can't make it in this environment, then what chance does anyone else have https://pheasantridgegc.com/? Okay, on a more serious note, this video was inspired by Bill Murphy who has an article on MMORPG dot COM, where he explores the question of whether or not the MMORPG is dead. This latest examination has likely been triggered by a spate of bad news, including layoffs at Carbine Studios, the imminent demise of Wildstar Online, and the cancellation of EverQuest Next I guess the premise being that if triple-A titles like EverQuest Next and Wildstar Online can't make it, then the genre must be dead or at least dying. Mr. Murphy also quotes Ryan Dancey, the former CEO of Goblinworks, as saying something to the effect of Wildstar being the last big budget MMORPG that we'll see for some time. Presumably indicating a reluctance to invest big money in the genre. Now, I have to reluctantly agree with Mr. Dancey. There is significant resistance to investing big money in the market, but that's not because the MMORPG is dying; quite the opposite. The reason investors are holding back is because the market is saturated, and the existence of titles like Scarlet Blade is evidence of that. On the other hand, the failure of a particular MMORPG could be for any number of reasons, and all of them good reasons. Wildstar Online seems to check all the boxes for an MMORPG, but it's not very fun to play. My guess is that's because it is so similar to the gameplay in World of Warcraft. So, a large number of online gamers were already burned out on those game mechanics by the time Wildstar came around. Now, EverQuest Next is the most disappointing failure in recent memory because it is exactly the kind of big-budget game that could be successful in this market. The EverQuest franchise is popular and it's owned by a big development studio, but they just didn't have the right people to pull it off. The cancellation of EverQuest Next says more about Daybreak Games than it does the MMORPG genre. Frankly, Brian Dancey made his own missteps in the market while he was at Goblinworks. But all of this isn't meant to disparage anyone. These games are made by people, and people sometimes make mistakes. I'm simply pointing out that these particular failures don't indicate a problem with the MMORPG market. It's tempting to deflect blame when things don't go the way we planned. For example, if I can't make a successful MMORPG, then it MUST mean the MMORPG genre is dead, or at least dying. The truth is it actually indicates a mature and healthy market. A healthy market will not tolerate mediocrity. Now, it will support niche versions of a bigger genre, and those niche players may be willing to overlook certain things, like less than stunning graphics or a few persistent bugs, if it means a focus on their preferred gameplay or feature. Having said that, mainstream players expect the latest and greatest graphics and animation, they expect a large variety gameplay options, and they expect decent customer service. And that's why big budget MMORPGs are such a big risk. If you rush a triple-A title out the door and it has too many bugs, or it doesn't have enough gameplay options, or it has the wrong monetization scheme; players will simply leave and an overwhelming majority of those who leave will never give the game a second chance. So, it takes more than a big budget to create a successful triple-A title in today's MMORPG market. The good news is there are still plenty of people willing to risk it. Consider this, it's only March and we've already seen the launch of three major MMORPGs in 2016. Blade & Soul launched to some pretty high praise in January. Black Desert Online was also released in North America earlier this month, and finally Tom Clancy's The Division landed on the 8th of March. I would consider all three to be Triple-A MMORPG titles. They all have top-shelf graphics. They all have top-shelf animations. Blade and Soul launched with the best localization I have ever seen in a foreign MMO. Black Desert Online introduced some innovative ideas for both PVE and PVP game mechanics. And finally, The Division is the latest attempt to drag the MMORPG out of the sword and sorcery fantasy setting, and I think that's a good thing. And yes; I absolutely consider The Division to be an MMORPG. Now, I realize a successful launch does not equate to a successful game. We'll have to revisit this in a few years to see how things shake out for these titles. Speaking of shaking things out, wait 'til I lay this on you: Scarlet Blade was released three years ago this month. Wildstar Online will have to survive for another 15 months, until June 2017, in order to be as successful, at least in terms of longevity. A word of warning folks, you don't want to think about that one for too long because it will drive - you - insane. Ladies and gentlemen, we've been through this before with many genres. Just to pick one example, before the MMORPG came the RPG. PC gamers enjoyed a number of genre-defining titles in the 80s, including the Ultima series, Bard's Tale, Might and Magic, and of course, Rogue: The Adventure Game from 1983. Now, you may have heard that the RPG market had collapsed by the mid-90s, and there is some truth to that. We had the Eye of the Beholder series from 1990 to 1993. We had Darklands in 1992. We had Dungeon Hack in 1993. And then we did have a few years of some pretty horrific RPGs. But even that drought only lasted until 1996 when Bethesda released Daggerfall, Blizzard Entertainment comes out with Diablo, and then Bioware blows us all away in 1997 with Baldur's Gate. RPG players have been ridin' on a gravy-train with biscuit wheels ever since. So, don't worry about the MMORPG genre. Sure, there may be times when we're burned out on the mainstream MMORPG options, and we can't find a title with the niche gameplay we prefer; but be patient. The MMORPG genre is alive and well, and the market for MMORPGs is still ripe for developers of all sizes. So, even if you're one of those people who are willing to sacrifice fun gameplay in order to stare at tits and ass all day while you're playing video games, fear not. I'm sure some game studio will come along and make an MMORPG just for you. Until then, this is Bitter Clinger, signing out.
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Borobudur temple was constructed in the 9th century CE, and to this day is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. 123 metres long and wide, the square temple is made of nine stone platforms stacked on top of each other. Most impressively, the temple uses no cement or mortar to bind it, and is held together by its weight alone https://casinoslots-sa.co.za/online-blackjack.
Pretty crazy right? If you take one thing away from this video, let it be this: the ancient Buddhists didn’t mess about when it came to architecture. As I said earlier, this temple has had to face some pretty intense challenges. First it was buried under a coat of volcanic ash in 1000CE. That stopped anyone rediscovering the temple until 1815, when a British explorer stumbled across it. Then in 1985, terrorist bombings of the site failed to bring the building down. Even in 2006, when the region was hit with a 6.2 richter scale earthquake,Borobudur remained intact. The earthquake obliterated the nearby city of Yogykarta but the temple didn’t even wobble. I guess if you can carve a 70-metre stone deity out of a mountain, you can build a temple that nature itself can’t kill. 3) Derawer Fort In 1733, Sadeq Mohammad Khan and his armies captured a poxy fort in the way out in the Cholistan desert of modern-day Pakistan. The stronghold had been built in the 9th century CE and, like most 900-year-old building, needed a bit of a makeover. Fortunately Sadeq was powerful enough to give the antique building the renovation it deserved, and the stunning result has become known as the Derawer Fort. Spanning one and a half square kilometres, the fort contains housing, a mosque and even a cemetery. All protected by 40 formidable bastions and a brick wall 30 metres high. Why build such an impressive structure so far in the desert only camels and sand are going to see it? Simple. Derawer Fort lies over a deep pocket of underground water. And, since deserts tend to be get about as rainfall as the Sun, water is an extremely valuable resource. Unfortunately, while no army could destroy this amazing construction, time and neglect have started to. The fort being tucked away in a desert makes it hard to sell as a tourist attraction, and few groups have expressed any interest in funding Derawer’s upkeep. 2) Forest of Knives Here’s a sentence I never thought I’d say: lemurs are freaking badass. No, not the ones that get to doss around in the rainforest or keep appearing in Dreamworks movies. I mean the ones that choose to live somewhere that makes Mordor look homely. This is Tsingy de Bemaraha [Sing-ee de B-mara-ha], a 600 square kilometre national park in central Madagascar. The giant slab of limestone that once covered the region has eroded extremely unevenly, creating millions of rock daggers each upwards of 300 feet tall. As if the sea of stoney spikes didn’t make this place amazing enough, there are also mountains that look like they’re floating, Temple of Doom-like bridge canyons and literally thousands of hidden caverns and caves. Most of the region remains unexplored to this day, mainly because people prefer to explore areas where the floor isn’t made of murder. But despite being largely uncharted, Tsingy de Bemaraha has still become notorious enough to earn the incredibly awesome nickname: “the forest of knives.” 1) Chand baori As we’ve already established, water was pretty important to the ancient world. And while the people of Pakistan were busy building castles to protect theirs, a village in Rajasthan was coming up with an innovative way of accessing its water. Abhaneri is a tiny village in the remote Eastern corner of India. With low rainfall and temperatures regularly reaching 40 degrees celsius, there’s almost no water on the surface. So in 800CE, the locals did what anyone would: dig an insanely over-the-top hole. Chand baori is the oldest and largest stepwell in the world. 30 metres deep, the well descends through 3,500 steps and a series of 13 stories. So there you, problem solved. Now if the people of Abhaneri want water all they have to do is scale down 30 metres of steep and presumably wet stairs while carrying a bucket, fill it up, and climb their way back up without spilling any. Easy peasy. Relatively uncelebrated for over a thousand years, this amazing feat of architecture gained a claim to fame after it was used to film the pit scenes in The Dark Knight Rises. And as we all know, anywhere Batman has visited is instantly made 500% more epic. So, that was 10 Wonders of the World You Won’t Have Heard Of. What lesser known wonder was your favourite. Are there some amazing wonders that you’ve heard of and we haven’t? Let us know in the comments below. And if you want more amazing locations, check out 10 Weird Wonders of the World, playing now. The result is a kilometre-long ice tunnel with its own mood-lighting. Despite its spectacular appearance, the ice cave has remained relatively unknown, mainly because foreign tourists weren’t allowed into the Kamchatka region until the Soviet Union fell. Ever since tourists have been allowed, few have taken the opportunity. After all, shivering for two weeks in a region that makes that makes Siberia look like a beach resort is not most people’s idea of fun. 7) Lake Hellier I’ll say it: lakes are boring.
Sorry if I’m triggering any lake enthusiasts out there, but it’s true. I don’t care if it’s Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, or Lake Victoria; they’re all just a bunch of glorified ponds. Hell, Loch Ness even has to pretend it has a monster in it just to get people to visit. Fortunately, there is one lake in Australia making an effort to be interesting. You see, while most lakes are that same murky blue colour, Lake Hellier in Australia is the pinkest thing you’ve ever seen. Discovered in 1803, the lake’s distinctive bubblegum coloring remained a mystery for decades. Outside of theories like “Maybe the Pink Panther went skinny dipping”, people had no idea what was going on. But scientists now believe that the eye-catching tint is the result of micro-organisms reacting with the Lake’s highly salty waters. It’s the same phenomenon that causes electric blue waves in San Diego and red tides in Sydney. 6) Fly geyser Nevada is home to casinos the size of cruise ships, ripped-off monuments from around the world, and legal hookers. With all that on offer, it’s not surprising people don’t take the time to visit a geyser in the middle of the Black Rock desert. Well, that and the fact it’s technically on private property, so the only way to see it is to either get permission. Or you know, just trespass. What’s that? Our legal team would like me to point out that you should under no circumstances trespass on private property. How ever you do it, Fly Geyser is totally worth checking out if you can. This bizarre-looking water fountain may look like a massive version of the eggs from Alien. But in fact, it’s completely man-made. Sort of. In 1964, a geothermal energy company accidently created the geyser when drilling for hot water springs underground. The company failed to properly reseal one of the holes they drilled, and boiling hot water started shooting out of it. A pillar of calcium carbonate gradually started to form around the releasing water, and over the course of 50 years it grew into a geyser 3.7 metres tall. 5) Mount Roraima Forget posting pictures of your avocado and prawn toast, if you want to win Instagram forever just share this. That cloud-splitting slab of mountain-y awesomeness is Mount Roraima. Nestled between Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana, the flat-topped mountain is thought to be one of the oldest geological formations in the world. How long has Roraima been there? Only two billion years. That’s older than the Grand Canyon, Uluru, AND Judi Dench. If you fancy a visit, the mountain can be climbed. But be warned, the ascent is considered extremely dangerous and difficult. Basically unless you’re Spiderman or Chuck Norris, you’re not going to make it. Apart from the incredible views, there’s not much at the top anyway. The 30 kilometre plateau is home to only a few species of plant and no animals can survive there. Still, the views are amazing. At 2,700 metres high, Mount Roraima may not be one of the tallest mountains in the world. But few could deny it’s one of the most stunning. 4) Borobudur Although no-one knows exactly who built this ancient Indonesian temple, one thing is clear: they must have pissed off Mother Nature at some point. How else can you explain the structure getting hit with every disaster short of a Sharknado? The world is full of incredible, awe-inspiring wonders. So why do we only ever hear about the same ones over and over again? I mean, there’s only so many times you can look at a long wall, or a sandy triangle, or a bunch of rocks before getting bored. That’s why we’re going to mix things up here, and show you 10 amazing places that are so underappreciated even your most hipster friend won’t have heard of them. These are 10 Wonders of the World You Won’t Have Heard Of: 10) Las Pozas If you had insane amounts of money what would you do with it?
Would you go the Bill Gates route up set up charity after charity hoping to improve the world? Or would you go down the Dan Bilzerian road and throw it all into guns and poker? Well, in the 1940s Edward James knew exactly what he wanted to do. James was the heir to a giant railroad fortune, and a man so blue-blooded there were rumours that he was the illegitimate son of the Prince of Wales. In 1949 he decided to use his cash in the best way possible: building an insane surrealist kingdom in the Mexican jungle. Located at the exact middle of nowhere, the ridiculous sculpture park stretches out for 323 square kilometres. In it are dozens of buildings and sculptures so absurd they could make Salvador Dali’s moustache erect. The most famous of the collection are The Stairway to Heaven, The Temple of the Ducks, and The House With Three Floors That WIll In Fact Have Five Or Four Or Six. 35 years, $5 million, and probably a crate load of psychedelics later, Edward James passed away, and the project stopped being expanded. 9) Giant Buddha In Buddhist belief, Maitreya Buddha is a future leader who will one day come down to Earth to teach mankind tranquility. And what better way to celebrate a figure associated with peaceful reflection, than building a statue of him that looks like it’s about to get up and fight Godzilla? The Leshan Giant Buddha has been sitting in the Sichuan province of China since 713CE, when a local monk called Hai Tong decided to build it. You see the Minjiang river had a history of causing shipwrecks, and Hai Tong hoped that having a religious figure/transformer-sized stone monster on the banks would bless the waters. Although Tong never lived to see his statue finished in 803CE, it’s safe to say he’d be pleased with the result. At 71 metres tall, the buddha is comfortably the largest statue build in ancient times. Even with modern construction techniques only 17 statues bigger than it have ever been made. If you need a sense of this thing’s scale, just remember: The Leshen Buddha’s fingernail is around the size of a person. And in case you're wondering, yes. The river did calm down and become a valuable trade route. Of course, that may have less to do with divine providence, and more to do with the fact that building the Buddha took so much clay from the riverbed that it ended up significantly widening the river. 8) Kamchatka Ice Caves From the top, this block of ice in Russia just looks like... well a block of ice. But venture inside and it looks like someone’s holding a rave in a Bond villain’s lair. This icy acid trip is known as the Kamchatka ice cave, and it’s the accidental lovechild of a glacier and a volcano.. You see, the Mutnovsky volcano has a series of hot water springs gushing out from it. One of these springs starting flowing under a glacier, melting a path right through the heart of it. As the ice thinned unevenly overhead, sunlight started to pass through the roof at different strengths. Gaming manufacturers and suppliers from all over the world display their latest products and technologies to casino executives. It'S a great show to attend, because visitors can try out all the new slot machines before they're available to the general public plus. There are many celebrity appearances and other fun events in this segment.
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These diets are based on two principles: 1. The imbalance in macro-nutrient ingredients summarized in the following characteristics: Very low-carbohydrate, high in protein, low in fat. 2. In eating or avoiding certain foods from your daily diet. Famous examples are: the Stilman diet in 1967, the Atkins diet in 1972, the Beverly Hills diet in 1980, in 1981 the Cabbage Soup diet and in 1995 the Zone diet. The additional data characterizing the fad diets are: - The questionable credibility of the author. - The diet promotes: Magic and miracle foods, Quick Weight Loss, Not exercising, Strict menu, Good and bad foods. - Diet is too good to be true! What should be clear is that there are no studies to support these diets. In contrast, these diets are characterized by the use of empirical evidence rather than concrete facts to prove their effectiveness and lack of any criticism from colleagues. The side effects listed after the application of such diets is headaches, dizziness, nausea, lack of concentration and more severe as hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, anemia, lack of vitamins and minerals which can lead to thinning hair, breaking nails and more systematic problems. Weight loss usually occurs in fad diets due to fluid loss and muscle tissue, not fat loss. Another major disadvantage of these diets is that the person takes wrong eating habits and is not trained in a universally healthy eating way of life. The result, after completion of the nutritional program, is that the person reverts to their old habits and regains the lost weight, sometimes even more. It is scientifically documented that the most effective weight loss program is the one that combines a balanced diet, changing eating habits and regular exercise. Following the diet suggested by a friend, an acquaintance or just a diet that has fallen into our hands, is very likely not going to have the desired effect, but may create problems in the body and our health. Who should we contact to have correct and valid information? When we start a diet, always seek the advice of a specialist (a dietitian-nutritionist scientist) who will develop personalized dietary recommendations based on age, sex, history, habits and particular needs of each individual. Unfortunately due to lack of state controls diets are suggested by people who do not have that capacity, such as gymnasts, often because they have some education they think they know the science of nutrition, from beauticians, physiotherapists, acupuncturists, doctors without equivalent academic training and others. There are known supplement companies that use accountants, economists, etc. to practice the profession of dietician to promote their products. The correct and accurate research is the best approach before choosing the appropriate scientist. We, Brits, like to think of ourselves as patriotic. Why should we not? Our nation boasts of natural beauty, strange yet endearing corners, and rich history – all packed within beautiful isles. With everything that Britain has to offer, we can go on exploring for years and we will not have to travel internationally. Or, maybe, we can after we are through touring all the magnificent places in our own country.
The sad thing though is that more Brits have gone to the Eiffel Tower than Stonehenge and other top destinations in the nation, according to a report. Are plenty of us so preoccupied with spending overseas holidays that we have forgotten our own natural treasures? If this is the case, now is surely the time to abandon (at least within the next two years or so) the idea of travelling to France or the United States and explore the best that United Kingdom has to present such as the following attractions. Blue Reef Aquarium, Portsmouth If you are taking the trip with your children, this place will certainly have their mouths hanging open in amazement or squealing with joy, especially at the sight of marine wildlife such as turtles, seahorses, stingrays, giant lobsters, and sharks. They can also check out monitor lizards and poison dart frogs in other display sections. On the other hand, you can start your holiday break with a sailing trip throughout Hampshire. To experience this, you can have a look at the range of cruises from Southampton. Also, don't forget to play free pokies while traveling. This way, you will know which liner offers the best deals for your family. Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, County Antrim If you are one who likes to brave great heights, you should definitely try walking through the twenty-meter long bridge on the rugged coast of Northern Ireland. While it sways precariously over a chasm and between sea cliffs, the view of Fair Head and Rathlin Island makes the adventure even more exhilarating. Besides, you have nothing to worry since many fishermen have been strengthening and fitting the rope bridge for 200 years. Falkirk Wheel, Scotland The innovative structure, which spans at 35 metres and has a height similar to a ten-storey establishment, connects the Union Canal with the Forth and Clyde Canal. Originally designed as a boatlift for practical purposes, it has become a huge tourist attraction. You can experience going through it by taking a boat ride for eight pounds. These are only three wonderful destinations throughout Britain. If you like to check out more places, the best thing to do is begin your trip today. But if you like to get more ideas, so you can map out your travel itinerary well, you can obtain further insights from the other pages on this resource site. |
AuthorI like sport and all types of gambling games. Also, I`m a writer, so I help people to understand the online casino niche and other related niches like betting on sport, iGaming etc. Working with gambling projects: https://www.casinoslots.co.nz/casino-software Archives
March 2019
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