www.TheJoe.com

So, it’s now my second week in World of Warcraft. I have to say, and maybe out of desperation, that it’s not as bad as I expected it to be.

I played the game heavily during beta. I was not impressed with it then. I believe that was about 3 years ago. Since then, I think it has improved dramatically.

It’s definitely a social game, it’s not as fun playing solo than it is when grouped. Another major change for me is that we’re on a PvP server and that goes a lot better when you are running around with a group of friends.

The major thing I like about it is the ability to tweak the UI and add various helper mods that make the game play much easier than it already is. My list of MUST add World of Warcraft mods:

First off, I use WoWMatrix to install and manage my mods. ( www.wowmatrix.com )

Then install the following MUSTS:

1) QuestHelper - this shows you where your quest objectives are located.  Also, if you are in a group, and your fellow group members have it installed, it will show you their quests.

2) BeQL - An enhanced quest log.  This adds all kinds of things to your quest log that gives you info.  The main reason why it’s on my list, is that if you enable “Quest progression to party chat” it informs your party when you get quest items so your not always asking “How many more do you need?”

3) Cartographer - General map addon.  Adds some features to the map and keeps it from taking over your entire screen.

4)  Titan Panel - Adds an information bar on the top and bottom of your screen that gives you all sorts of useful info. Bag space, gold, XP, etc etc.

Those would be my key recommendations for starter add ons.

I am enjoying WoW so far and will report more as I go along.

- Zenshinzo, level 36 Night Elf Druid

I found out that VMWare is doing a contest to win a Macbook Air. You need to post a video to YouTube with the tag ‘switchtofusion‘. I decided to do an entry a while ago. However, I have been busy with a lot of different things and was unable to do the wonderful video ’showing off’ what VMWare can do. I am a VMWare NUT, and I LOVE Fusion even more. (It was one of the deciding factors in my going Mac)

In it’s stead, I decided to throw together a quick video of why I switched from World of Warcraft to VMWare Fusion. (I know, I know.. it’s not the same type of app. I just thought it would be fun) Enjoy:

Anyways, I do want to say that I have been a virtualization user for quite some time. From the very early days of VMWare (geez, what years ago). I have tried Parallels, Virtual PC, and a host of others. I have not found anything to work quite as well as VMWare does. I use all of their products, Fusion, GSX/ESX, Server, and Workstation.

I was really happy when they came out with a Mac version, VMWare Fusion. It was very instrumental in my switching over to the Mac platform. I have to say, that I am quite pleased with how it runs. I really like the Unity interface. (See my MacVista post in this blog) I love the seamless integration. It just plain ROCKS!

OK OK, I’ll stop raving about it, I just wanted to share all of this with you.

GO BUY VMWare Fusion! If you don’t have a Mac, GO BUY A MAC, THEN BUY VMWare Fusion!

See more about switching to fusion: http://www.vmware.com/switchtofusion/

Recently, we have been making the switch to the Mac platform here.  Angel and Andrew have switched almost entirely.  Dana’s kind of stuck in a windows world (shame).  Well, let me say this.  The only drawback from being on the mac platform is the lack of good games for the mac.   If you are purely or 95% a gamer, then the mac platform is not for you.  This is odd to me, since the mac platform bodes well for graphics, multi-tasking etc.

With all that said,  I have need to have some sort of game to play.  So, we decided to try World of Warcraft.  Some of you know, I have been an avid MMO player for over 10 years.  I have played the gamut of them.  From Meridian 59, EverQuest, Earth and Beyond, EVE, Entropia Universe, EverQuest II, Shadowbane, Star Wars Galaxies, and a host of others.

We pushed back on World of Warcraft because it seemed very easy to play. Almost TOO easy.  Well, I must say, almost a week playing and it IS easy.  However, it’s not so easy that it takes the fun out of the game play.  It’s actually a good balance between ease of play and fun. (get back to me in a couple weeks and I’ll let you know more as well)

We also decided to join a good friend of ours on a PvP server.  I am surprised I went this route, since I am not big into PvP, but the way I look at it, if the PvE play style gets boring to me, I can always PvP.

So, if you are interested in joining us in World of Warcraft or WoW as some call it.  We’re on the Gorgonnash (US) servers and we’re Alliance based.  My in game main character is Zenshinzo.  Send me a tell if you pop in. We’re currently in my friend’s guild. However, as things progress this may change.

Hope to see you!