Pinball and What I Have Learned I had a cool opportunity to hang out with my buddy Blake and help him film his upcoming documentary Shoot Again:  The Resurgence of Pinball.  I have done a lot of work with Blake on some of our own stuff for our office, but this is the first chance I had to work with him on one of his own projects.  It was fun, I had a chance to get a better understanding of what he does, but I learned much more about Pinball. Ill be honest, I don’t know much about pinball.  I like playing pinball machines (or “pin’s” as they are apparently called), Im not terribly good at it, but they are fun, more so than most arcade games, I think.  There is a tactile sensation of moving a physical object through a game field, and feeling the machine move and react to you and your actions, that simply cannot be replicated in virtual games. Anyway, Blake’s documentary looks at pinball’s come back, and through my two hour interaction with his subject, who owns the largest private collection of “pin’s” in North Carolina, I learned of the downturn of the industry, and the new buzz that is guys like Jersey Jack whose machine “Wizard of Oz” and upcoming machine “Star Trek” are set to put pinball back in the main stream. As a (still) 20 something, a child of the 90’s growing up in the Nintendo generation, all I have to do is look around and I can see that new found interest in the medium from guys like me, just go to Lost Ark and compare the pinballers to the guys at the arcade machines.  Its a fun topic, and something that I was not aware that people were so passionate about.  As a Geek I appreciate all forms of Geek-ness, and it was refreshing to meet this guy, a grandpa who has done very well for himself financially, discuss “forums” and “meet-ups” and “haters” as he scours the Internet for new and exciting opportunities to better his collection.  Be sure to check out Blake’s Facebook page for more pictures, and updates on his documentary.
May 23, 2013 VIEW POST
MisguidedGeek’s First Pathfinder Campaign:  GAME OVER I havent posted about my first Pathfinder Campaign in a while, so I thought I would update and, unfortunately, conclude this series.  To be quite honest, there hasnt been much to report, I have just been gaming, moving along, learning the system, and getting comfortable with the role playing dynamics.  It has been fun getting to know this new type of game play as well as my fellow role players,  Unfortunately, our GM is moving away from our fair city, so we have ended our game quite unceremoniously.  I havent quite decided at this point if this will be my first foray into table top RPG’s, or my only attempt in this genre.  There are definite things I like, the customization, the role playing dynamics, meeting all the other gamers, just to name a few.  However, there are just as many draw backs, the confusing game play mechanics, the sometimes awkward meet ups, and the very slow, plodding pace of the game. Whats the old adage   ”Its not the destination but the journey” or something like that?  This was indeed a journey, i put myself out there, tried some new and excited things, and came away with a better understanding of an area in the geek realm which I was unfamiliar with.  Dont fret, Jex still lives, thanks to the fact that I registered him with Paizo, however I have a feeling he will be taking an extended vacation before returning to his Pathfinder ways.
May 16, 2013 VIEW POST
Misguided Geek’s first Pathfinder Campaign:  First Dungeon Crawl. This past Sunday, our courageous group of Pathfinders were sent on a mission to retrieve a jade katana which was hidden in an ancient, and decrepit, hold set in the side of mountain.  Game-play highlights included my character getting absorbed into a giant amoeba, our summoner getting bitten and infected by an un-dead, mini-dragon people, a suicide well, a fire breathing statue, and a giant spider.     Im still getting used to the game mechanics, as well as just what to look for during battle.  I haven’t quite figured out how and when to use a perception check, I’m also a little slow at figuring out NPC motives, I almost killed an enemy that surrendered, and shot a non hostile creature.  That said, I feel much less lost this time around than during the first game, and was actually able to contribute, both with my tracking ability and my bow.  My character also met Major Colson, the leader of the Andoran faction, which I think of the factions thus introduced, is the most attractive.  All in all, another fun and successful session.     For more post on my first crack at Pathfinder, check here, here, or here, or check the MG Pathfinder tag for a full list.  Be sure to check back in two weeks for my next update!  Questions?  Comments?  Suggestions?  Leave them here, or tweet at me @Misguidedgeek, or @JoshArtrip.
February 20, 2013 VIEW POST
Is this the new PlayStation 4 Controller?     I saw the above photo over at Polygon, via a tweet from my gaming pal Insanelygaming, showing supposedly the new PS4 prototype controller that was sent out with the developer kits.  It appears as if the new sticks will feature a slightly bulkier form factor, the rumored center touchpad, and what appears to be a speaker/microphone located right above the PlayStation button.  Also, notice the the blue light bar?  Polygon, among others, is speculating that this could be an integration of the PS Move tech into this new controller.  What do you think guys?  Love, hate or don’t care?     We will know for sure (maybe) if this is indeed the newest addition to the PS line of controllers on 2/20, when Sony is expected to announce their newest gaming system. UPDATE:  Just saw this cool mock-up over on Reddit, HOW AMAZING WOULD THIS BE?!?!?
February 15, 2013 VIEW POST
Skyrim DLC’s finally make their way to PS3… PROOF!     The day I NEVER THOUGHT WOULD COME is finally here, as Skyrim’s Dragonborn DLC was released last night for PS3 owners… for real… I downloaded it and everything… its not a trick…see! (sorry for the crappy shot of my TV).  I reported a few weeks ago that Bethesda would be gracing the maligned console users with the Skyrim DLC’s through the month of February, at a discounted price no less.  Dragonborn came out last night, Hearthfire will drop next week, and then Dawnguard the last week of February.       Oh Sony fatihful, this is a day we will soon not forget!  Dragonborn is out now in the Playstation Store for a discounted $9.99 this week only, after that it will be $19.99.
February 13, 2013 VIEW POST
Misguided Geek’s first Pathfinder Campaign.     As a reminder, I recently joined a Pathfinder campaign, this again is my first experience with a table top RPG, and will be chronicling what will be a muti-month campaign here.      This first scenario, named First Steps, Part 1 serves as an introduction to the Pathfinder society, and to the world where we will quest.  Myself and my four compatriots were charged with completing a variety of task by sun down.  These were fairly basic missions which we embarked upon, and we were able to make it through all of them… mainly successful.  Without going through a detailed summary, the missions were presented in such a way as to allow us to experience various types of interaction in the game, as well these first few meet ups will present the various factions which we will have the opportunity to join down the road.  There was some diplomacy and problem solving, a puzzle mission, and of course combat.     After this first experience with this type of game play, I have some thoughts.  The most difficult part of this experience at first was the role play mechanics.  I had a hard time with speaking as my character, thinking like my character, and indeed playing as my character.  It can also be hard to take the game play serious, especially when someone else is asking ridiculous questions to the game master who is acting out the role of an NPC.  What made it easier was playing with a group of seasoned gamers, and having a great GM.  After the first scenario, I was invested and really enjoying my character.     Its obvious that I am still a novice.  I haven’t quite figured out what questions to ask, or what strengths my character really brings to the group.  Im utterly useless when it comes to combat mechanics, and I really rely on recommendations from the group about how I should be moving and attacking.  But, even with my deficiencies, I am beginning to understand the game, and I am truly looking forward to our next meet up.
February 5, 2013 VIEW POST
Misguided Geek’s first Pathfinder Campaign.     So as chronicled in my last Pathfinder post, we created our characters for this first campaign.  I created a Neutral Good, Human, Ranger (archer specialty) whose name I don’t know yet (Jex Battlewood?).  My next step was choosing my mini, which serves as my game piece on the board.  If I haven’t said it already, I am a complete novice, this is my very first experience with any type of table top RPG, I didn’t even know there was a board I just thought the game was played in everyone’s head.  Anyway, with some direction from my group I went with the guy pictured above, Zandu Vorcyon by Reaper Miniatures.        Unbeknownst to me, the minis come unpainted, although you can buy pre-painted, plastic figures if you choose.  It is, according to my crew, a rite of passage to choose and paint your first mini rather than buying one of the pre-made variants.   So, today after work, Im stopping by one of the players homes for a group paint session with some of the other members of the crew.  I think it will be fun, however my only experience at all like this is painting a mini model of the Reliant (from ST II Wrath of Khan) that my dad got me.  This did not go well, and in my frustration I broke the starboard warp nacelle… hopefully Zandu (Jex?) ends up in better shape than the poor Reliant.  Once I have him painted up, Ill post back here.   Also, look for an update on Monday on my first experience, you know, actually playing the game.
January 29, 2013 VIEW POST
So I Recently Joined a Pathfinder RPG Campaign   If we look back at my very first post, it was my goal in starting this blog to help me rediscover my inner geek, and regain many of those lost interest of yesteryear.  In fact, what I have discovered is my interest now have evolved and matured.  So rather than attempting to go back and recapture some long lost part of myself, I am now finding that Im building a whole new base of nerdy interest… remember I am the “MisguidedGeek”.   Anyway, I recently had an opportunity to join in on a Pathfinder game at one of the great finds in Greensboro, a little coffee shop/movie theater/nerd den called Geeksboro (dont worry a write up is forth coming).  I have loved video game RPG’s all my life, everything from your classic turn based (Chrono Trigger, FF tactics, FF VII) to the more modern first person RPGs (Fallout 3, Skyrim), so I am super pumped to get into the world of table top RPG games!     For those of you who are unfamiliar with Pathfinder, it is essentially a modified and extended version of the third edition of Dungeons and Dragons.  From my limited understanding of the game’s development  the fine people over at Paizo took was was good about D&D 3 and made it better, while streamlining some of the game play, in essence making it a more fun, intuitive game to play.   Thus far, the only thing I have done is create my character (Human, Ranger FTW), and buy a set of polyhedral die (in the MG color set) but I plan on chronicling my experience through this first, of hopefully many, such campaigns.  Since we meet every other Sunday, this will be the first in a series of bi-weekly post.  Im excited to play, and I think this is a step in the right direction in upping my Geek cred.  If you have any experience with Pathfinder or any other table top RPG that you would like to share with a n00b, leave a note in the comments.
January 24, 2013 VIEW POST
Skyrim DLC’s Finally Coming to PS3! Lets be honest, I had given up on ever getting to play any of the DLCs that have came out for Skyrim, and I felt ignored and even punished that I had chosen the Sony gaming system over the Xbox or PC gaming.  I just wanted to fight vampires, and build a home and ride a dragon… is that too much to ask?  So apparently mine, along with many other gamers, complaints about Dawnguard, and Hearthfire, and Dragonborn, have been addressed.   Earlier today, Pete Hines, vice president of marketing at Bethesda, announced via Twitter that first Dragonborn, followed shortly by the other two DLC’s, would be available to PS3 sometime in February, as well as Dragonborn to PC on 2/5.  This is AMAZING news, as there had been grumblings that the DLC’s may NEVER make the transition to the Sony system due to compatibility issues. So rejoice Playstation faithful, soon you can continue your quest in Skyrim… just like our PC and Xbox counterparts were able to do 6 months ago.  Thank you Bethesda for not forgetting about us!
January 18, 2013 VIEW POST