The primary focus of this project is to develop a curriculum for an after school program or “club” for at-risk students at the middle and/or high school level. This program would use the game, World of Warcraft, as a focal point for exploring Writing/Literacy, Mathematics, Digital Citizenship, Online Safety, and would have numerous projects/lessons intended to develop 21st-Century skills.

I always agree games and study can come together harmoniously.

Via: GameSetWatch
Image: WoWinSchool

Post from: EveryJoe

WoWinSchool, World Of Warcraft In Schools

Players got to choose from classes such as vampires, fallen angels, elves, fighters and more. Just like World of Warcraft, quests, roleplay and PvP elements are evident in Lianyu Online.

I wonder if the vampires possess money-sucking blood-sucking ability.

Image: Lianyu Online

Post from: EveryJoe

LianYu Online, Blood Sucking China MMORPG

The latest spokesgirls for Luna Online Chinese version is Taiwan own super 3-girl group S.H.E. Over 500 000 voters have participated to choose the best representatives for Luna Online and S.H.E won ultimately.

Image: Luna Online

Post from: EveryJoe

Luna Online, By S.H.E

The game will be available on PC and PS3 with the possibility of Final Fantasy XIV coming to Xbox 360 not being ruled out. So much for PS3 exclusivity. Regardless, the screens look absolutely breathtaking and I figure that FFXIV will appeal to a broader audience than most MMORPGs.

Look for FFXIV in 2010.

Images|Square Enix

Post from: EveryJoe

Final Fantasy XIV So, So Pretty

At some point last week, NCSoft posted that Tabula Rasa shall now be free! Free like coupons you get in the mail every Wednesday that you eventually throw away, because you don’t need a new garage door replacement every week! And not only that, you can download the game client for free as well! So, you got monthly subscriptions being free. You’ve got game clients being free. That’s a lot of freedom.

Now, the downside to all this freeness is that you have to wear your underpants at all times while playing this game. Okay, that’s not the real bad news. NCSoft probably doesn’t care if you play naked. The real bad news is that the game’s monthly fee is only free until February 28, 2009. That kind of stinks, but I’m thinking it’ll give you plenty of time to go around and blow up all the aliens that your little heart can stand.

Now, all you have to do is go here and create an account. It’ll ask for your credit card number, but you shant be charged. When you’ve got that taken care of, go here to request a Tabula Rasa code. Then get your code, put it into the account management stuff and download the client.

FREE ALIEN DEATH PARTIES!

Read the press release for all the information and the link from which to download the client.

[Image courtesy of NCSoft.]

Post from: EveryJoe

NCSoft says MMO Tabula Rasa free for now

My brother, Josh, is a weird guy. Why? Because he likes to do weird things like feed baby raccoons out of his mouth. I’m not sure why he likes to do that, but let’s just say that he’s eccentric. He also plays a lot of video games. And I do mean A LOT. Personally, I find it hard to start a new game, because I’m afraid I’ll have to learn something new. Josh, however, likes to start a new game just about every weekend just to see what he might be missing.

Well, apparently over the weekend he found a new game to play that sounds pretty cool that may be enjoyable to some of my readers, so I decided to ask him some questions.

Here’s the interview to end all interviews:

TA: So, I hear you downloaded a new game. What’s it called?
JLoe: Tibor Von Sizzlepit’s Epic Adventure – A.K.A Angels Online

TA: Angels Online you say? That’s an interesting name for a game.
JLoe: Sure is!

TA: That wasn’t a question. Just a statement.
JLoe: Sure Was!

TA: So, what’s the game about?
JLoe: It’s a massive multiplayer game that places you in the role of an Angel who lives amongst humans as a one of their protectors (without them knowing).

TA: OMG! IS YOUR FACE ON FIRE!?
JLoe: That’s just my ass, I can see how you would make that mistake though!

TA: I checked out the website over at Angels Online. Looks like that it is anime inspired. Why do all these awesome RPGs have to be done with anime artwork?
JLoe: It seems that most 2d style MMO’s now-a-days are anime style. It probably has something to do with a smaller production cost – or maybe it is twice as expensive, I don’t know.

TA: How much does this game cost a month? Do you have to give up your first born child?
JLoe: The game is free to play forever, although they do have an item mall that requires real money to purchase items. They ask you to donate your first born child to their production team, but it’s optional – they give you credits in the item mall if you do.

TA: What type of character did you create?
JLoe: I created two characters that I play at the same time, a swordsman (woman), and a priestess (man)… I mean a priest.

TA: What’s the best part of the game??
JLoe: I like the character customization and skill customizations that allow you to pick and choose skills from any of the classes to make your own unique class. Also, the game has a built in tool called “Angel Baby” which allows you to set up parameters to let your character auto hunt and gather while you are away from the computer. This is great since I don’t get to play until late at night after I’m finished protecting my first born from being taken by free MMO companies.

TA: What’s the worst part of the game?
JLoe: I get lost easily in the game! That and global chat requires an item from the item mall for some reason…

TA: When did that extra head start growing out of your neck? It kind of looks like a monkey.
JLoe: Oh this old thing, it was a Halloween costume that became fused with my central nervous system after I was abducted by 14th century peasants wielding pitchforks.

TA: Well, thanks bro. Your interview time has been precious indeed. You may now resume back flipping.
JLoe: /backfilp

[Images for Angels Online courtesy of IGG.com Co. Ltd.]

Post from: EveryJoe

Angels Online – An interview with my brother

Well, now this is some sad, sad news. That new MMO, Pirates of the Burning World that has recently spread through out the world… well, actually didn’t spread much at all. Surprisingly, there aren’t that many people out there that want to be pirates, which is super weird, because… who doesn’t want to be a pirate?

Yes, according to this post over at Kotaku, 7 out of the 11 Pirates of the Burning World servers have shut down, because there aren’t enough people playing!

I wonder if Flying Lab Software, the publisher of the game actually thought they would able to steal people from all of those other MMOs that are out there (World of Warcraft, I’m looking at you). Do you know how hard it is to leave my level 52 Shaman? Do you?! I just can’t do it.

Let’s hope someone is brave enough, or the entire game just might go down the virtual world drain.

[Image for Pirates of the Burning World courtesy of Flying Lab Software.]

Post from: EveryJoe

Pirates of the Burning Sea Shuts Down Servers

Take a look:

My only question is… why couldn’t you make them look prettier? Why do they have to be all scared up, with pointy teeth that would rip a human’s arm off? I just don’t get it.

Like I said, there are three different types of Hybrids that you can choose from, besides the boring old human race. Those races are Brann, Forean and Thrax. Apparently the Hybrids aren’t just aliens, but half alien and half human… much like Deanna Troi on Star Trek… not that I would know ANYTHING about Star Trek. I’m not that nerdy!

Alright, the last part of that last paragraph was a lie. A total lie.

If you’d like to read more about the new races, check out this post over at Wired. There’s lots of info to be consumed!

Post from: EveryJoe

New Tabula Rasa video!

Richard Garriott’s new game, Tabula Rasa is to be released today, November 2nd. As we all know that when we see a new release of what is suppose to be a big ol’ fancy game, we see cinematic trailers! It would seem that most of this trailer is made up of a lot of game play, but they put it all together in a very cool way.

Take a look:

That’s a lot of violence and I’ve no objections to a little violence against alien scumbags, or “crusties” as they call them in the game. I hate them crusties.

Post from: EveryJoe

Tabula Rasa Launch Trailer

Funcom, those wacky publishers of some of the best adventure games out there, The Longest Journey and Dreamfall: The Longest Journey, are out there kicking butt and taking names. With the update all us adventure gamers have been waiting for – Dreamfall Chapters, Funcom is looking out for all the game genre players and has decided to open beta on a new MMORPG called Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures. This game is sure to be fun for the whole family! Except maybe he right wing Christian families who only allow their children to watch G Rated movies until the age of 35.

Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures actually sounds pretty cool. I mean, look at this bunch of awesomeness:

Drunken brawling is a hilarious, unique and very “Conanesque” PvP form where every player, regardless of their level, can fight it out in the bars and taverns of the world. Your fighting ability here depends on how much you drink, and what you drink. The more you drink the more pain you are able to endure, but the less chance you have of hitting!

Hello! Drunken brawling?! Now, I have never seen an MMORPG do that sort of thing. I could totally get into it. I don’t do enough drunken brawling in real life and really need to branch out more. I’ll out drink you all! Bring it!

If you would like to know more about all of Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures and it’s cool features, read their FAQ. There’s a lot of things in this game that are different from most MMOs, so it’ll be quite refreshing.

Post from: EveryJoe

Funcom Age of Conan Beta Testing