Skyland: the first two episodes available!

So this morning I was looking up the "recent keywords" activity of my blog, using StatCounter (it's the best free site statistics I've come across), and "skyland" comes up regularly. I always research keywords to understand how you guys get to this blog and what you searhed for to get here. Through StatCounter, you can link to the search page (98% of them being Google) with the keywords they (that's you) searched under.

I did just that this morning, and doing so, came across a French site which had posted the links on NickToons to the FULL first 2 episodes of Skyland in Quicktime!!

So without further ado, here are the links.

• Episode 1 (127Mb)
• Episode 2 (128Mb)

Enjoy!

[Edited 5 April, 2006] It seems Nicktoons has removed both episodes - I'll try to find them elsewhere. Drop me an email if you still interested in getting them or if you have new links to them.

Trading in Placid

As I've mentioned before, EVE Online is more then a simple game. It's vast, almost unlimited and the possibilities are endless as to what you can do. Trading is one of these activities which newcomers rarely do on their first day into this new universe.

They're much more likely to do a bit of mining to quickly acquire some ISKs (EVE currency) or go straight into the fury and fight off some space age pirates - commonly referred as Rats by EVE players.

And I've done both, still do, and still can enjoy it, in part because of the security system being used (more on that in later pots). But trading was something I always had wanted to do, but never took the time to seriously consider. When you're having to much fun doing agent missions and chasing pirates from system to system, the thought of looking up market analysis and charts doesn't seem to exciting.

But I was wrong, and kinda knew it. So last Sunday night I did just that. Logged in, opened the Market window and started looking at various commodities which I could haul in my trusty Iteron Mark III, the Fat Betty, across systems for some profit.

So I started off from my home base station in Stacmon, where I moved in about a year ago, while employed by Sorbion, my old corporation. My first destination was the Vey system, to acquire a full cargo of 'Frozen Food'. This system was 3 jumps away, through Ostingele and Agoze. After filling my ship to full capacity I head back out to sell these goods in Ostingele, 2 jumps away.

On this first run I made 422,103.2 ISKs in profits (26.3 ISKs per unit or 52.1 ISKs per cubic meter).
Then I was off again, now heading Agoze to pick up half my cargo, then filled her up in Harroule, then sold that full cargo in Ostingele. This time I was looking at a bit profits; 392,880.09 ISKS (24.33 ISKs per unit and about 48.52 per cubic meter).

On my final run, to and from the same two systems, I managed to do a bit better and added 423,885.1 ISKs of profits (26.25 ISKs per unit or 52.35 ISKs per cubic meter).

After that I called it a night. I had earned just shy of 1.3 million ISKs. Not bad for a first run at it. Hopefully I'll be able to find better trading routes. I only have to watch out for NPC pirates and PVP pirates, since most of these system are all low securities. It makes it that more fun!

It's just the start. Eventually I'll get myself an Mark V and really bring it up a few levels. Until then, Fat Betty will have to do the job!

Now, back to RMR!!

Red Moon Rising.... and still rising

Well last night was patch night, so I wasn't counting on logging into EVE. As with any patch deployment, I set up a long skill training; in this case Production Efficiency to level 4, which will finish Sunday early morning. So there's no worries there.

But I did think I was going to be able to login tonight and witness a red moon rising and the empires coming into conflict.

Heck, who was I kidding. As in any major patching, there are always some unforeseen problems and the RMR patch was no exception. As long as the downtime does not last passed Sunday, I can't really complain. And I know the boyz from CCP are doing all their best, despite all the difficulties they may be facing. I've tried logging in a few times tonight, but after manually patching the EVE client, which went smoothly, all I got to see of Red Moon Rising was the client GUI updates pictured here for your enjoyment.

I'll try again tomorrow morning before going off to work, just to give myself a glimpse of what to expect over the week-end. Though I won't have as much time to play as I originally had planned. It's the Xmas Holidays and we'll be pretty busy with parties and family & friends visits over the next few weeks.

But I've planned a few full days of EVE in between Xmas and New Years, so I can't complain. Will have lots to do, if I want to get myself some of those new ships that will be available with RMR!

Man, I can't wait!!

Playing the market to the best of my knowledge

2005.12.14.04.21.11
Originally uploaded by crazykinux.

So this screenshots shows fairly well what I've been staring these past few nights. That, and the dead of space in low security systems - the backwater of Placid region.

Tonight, I ran a few runs in between Ausmaert, Archavoinet, Aulbres and Agoze trading Electronic Parts in between stations. Gained about 2 million ISKs and learned to navigate through dangerous space.

My goal is to rack up enough ISKs to fill up my Iteron Mark III and run a few more trips in between Aulbres and Agoze. Learning the ropes I guess!

Craving Skyland...

Since in last aired on TELETOON, I've been craving some more of Skyland. And there isn't much to be found, except for the same bits of information on the same sites. The only new site I found screenies on, was Laurent Pierlot's site, showing his portfolio where you can see some captures. Enjoy!

Otherwise, checking TELETOON's TV schedule, we learn that the next episode (same as the first 2?) is on December 31st, and the next one is next year, on January 29 same time, 19h30, every week-ends. Looking at this, December's showing is more then likely a rerun.

Can you still consider yourself a gamer...

Can you still consider yourself a gamer when you're only playing "one" game? I mean let's be serious, I used to play lots of different games: Dungeon Siege, Warcraft III, Homeworld (I & II), Diablo, Starcraft, War of the Rings, Prince of Persia, etc. I've amassed a decent collection of games (44), both for the PC and my Xbox.

Speaking of which, I haven't used my Xbox to play for about a year now, but I still keep my Xbox Live account. I even haven't played the games I got last Xmas: Prince of Persia 2, War of the Rings, Battle for Middle-Earth, Warcraft III: Frozen Throne and Temple of Elemental Evil. Kind of pathetic n'est-ce pas?

Yes and no. I do consider myself a gamer still, just one with different priorities. Playing games takes time, playing MMORPG takes more, and playing EVE takes even more. Just ask any capsuleer. And once you've pushed beyond the initial barrier, EVE becomes so addictive, that you can't consider playing anything else. Anyways I can't.

Not that I haven't tried. I did. I bought Guild Wars a few months back - a couple of weeks after it came out, and I enjoyed playing it. For awhile that is. Then EVE sucked me back in and there was no going back. I can't really explain it. It goes beyond the game factor. I mean you can't really call it a game, it's much more then that. It really is a virtual world. One where you can be a buccaneer, a Tradesman, a Diplomat, a CEO, a Production Director, an Industrial Ore Miner, a Space Pilot, a Fleet Commander, and anything you can think of pretty much. You can travel the galaxy, or stay put in your own space station and command your corporate empire.

And that's the beauty of EVE - it's openness. You're never confined to one profession, one career path. What ever you wan to be you can.

Am I still a gamer? I still believe I am. But in EVE, I'm much more then that.

So can you!

Dreaming of dual monitors tonight...

While checking out EVE Online blogs this morning on Technorati, I came across this guy's set-up and I fell in love with it. He's been playing EVE with two 20" LCDs side by side for heaven's sake!! What I would give to have that set-up! I've only got a lowly 17" CRT from IBM which I bought about 5 years ago. I promised the wife I wouldn't change the monitor until it broke down, but the damn thing still works like new. It doesn't to die!

Until it does, I'll be day dreaming of this set-up. Who knows, I might just give into my temptation and get myself a similar set-up. For fun, I looked into it and would most likely get 2 ViewSonic VP730b Thinedge Ultra-Slim bezel. At $430 CDN a pop, I'd have an awesome (as compared to my current) set-up. If anyone has feedback on ViewSonic LCDs in general, and that model in particular, please let me know!

EVE Online: 18148 concurrent players!

Another proof that EVE Online is growing steadily: on Sunday afternoon (evening in Europe), more then 18,000 concurrent players were logged into the game/virtual world playing, trading, fighting and having just plain fun! Cheers to CCP and the success of EVE!

The Escapist - Gaming as a social catalyst

Ever wondered how gaming affects society? How most of todays teenagers aren't watching as much television, and instead are immersing themselves in challenging dynamic problem solving situations? In video games that is. Well this week The Escapist looks into this very issue in a very eye opening way, as usual.

Read on!

• Game Design in the Transfigured World
• Theory of the Gaming Class
• Video Games and Pornography
• Gaming for Grades
• How I learned to stop worrying and love the Xbox

This reminds me of "Got Game: How the Gamer Generation Is Reshaping Business Forever" (Google Book Search Results), a book I had wanted to get, but never ended up buying. Hey it's Christmas in a few weeks isn't it! Might buy myself a gift!

RF Online Newsletter is here!

Just got the latest RF Online newsletter and it's stuffed with goodies. A new Lore section was openned up on the website, so we will probably see more of it over the next few weeks.

As for the BETA, well it looks like I wasn't the only one who applied. Looks like I might have to wait a while before I get access to the BETA. So far I've beta tested a number of games, amongst them: Earth & Beyond, EVE Online, Star Wars Galaxies, World of Warcraft, and Car Wars. The only one that kept me entertained was EVE, and I'm still playing, still being entertained. Let's see about this one; IF I get in!

I must say that the 2 new videos they've just released are breathtaking. If their quality is any hint of the quality of the game and the developers, than were in for a lot of fun!