Site in question.
Note: I have been a member of this forum for about three years. On and off.
Zathyus Networks Resources is a resource board. This is where I usually find my themes/skins and I usually request the other needed graphics at the same site. And I go to this place just to do that. Why? Well, the Skin Zone/Theme Zone/whatever doesn’t feel the same community-wise.
Zathyus Networks Resources have underwent countless skin and theme changes in the past years. They’ve all been professional-looking and decent, at least to my memory. It has a variety of very original contests, the most recent being the Apprentice, a set of tasks battling each other out in two teams. Applications have been sent and approved, and I guess the best gets into the games. Resource forums is a long-used genre of forums, most of them having a resource database for themes and skins and a graphic database, also attached to that graphic requests and skin requests (a few resource forums has skin requests too). They have a Theme of the Month kind of thing; members vote on a theme they like in the database and the one with the most votes get their theme up on the selector for a month.
So, they got the originality going on and the professional look that’s fitting for a board. What makes this resource forum so horrible? One thing: The community doesn’t feel the same as before. Staff members (who are extremely excellent at skins/themes) no longer make new themes once a week. The members don’t participate on the community topics that much, except on Forum Games, which isn’t really community. And the list goes on and on.
Here’s a protip: Content also includes your community, not the other stuff. For this reason, Zathyus Networks Resources gets a 4/10.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
The Roleplaying Zone
http://www.theroleplayzone.com/
The Roleplaying Zone forum is about general roleplaying. No, there’s no plot centered on the forum like a bit of other roleplaying forums, not like there’s anything bad about that.
Now, to first impressions. When I first started on this forum, it started with a black and green techy-looking skin. Then a new theme arrived, its main color scheme being a strange blue color and very techy, but not in a way that its old skin had. It has been more than 6 months after the old skin has been applied. While this is good, it seems a little too early to change skins. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again; change skins when you feel that the new skin feels old. The administrator probably felt that when she changed the old skin, though.
The forum has been running for about two years. It is fairly active, but not really that active for a two-year-old forum. I suggest advertising it at several forums and using the word of mouth method, as well as exchanges, if necessary. Also, new contests are encouraged.
The forum is strong in community for those who are actually active. While the active members are just really posting in the forum games area, the chatbox is used to strengthen and liven up its community. Unfortunately, the strong community isn’t obvious in the actual discussions.
Now, the forum has a little incentive; a little point store. You could use your points to buy (at the store) a new emote for the board, your own blog, a rank or a colored username. The new emote thing promotes community. The blog also promotes community, but clutters up the forum. The other incentives both promote community. While these little things are nice, it doesn’t bring anything new to the board. Bring something new.
Overall, a good forum that needs a little more to strive it up.
The Roleplaying Zone forum is about general roleplaying. No, there’s no plot centered on the forum like a bit of other roleplaying forums, not like there’s anything bad about that.
Now, to first impressions. When I first started on this forum, it started with a black and green techy-looking skin. Then a new theme arrived, its main color scheme being a strange blue color and very techy, but not in a way that its old skin had. It has been more than 6 months after the old skin has been applied. While this is good, it seems a little too early to change skins. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again; change skins when you feel that the new skin feels old. The administrator probably felt that when she changed the old skin, though.
The forum has been running for about two years. It is fairly active, but not really that active for a two-year-old forum. I suggest advertising it at several forums and using the word of mouth method, as well as exchanges, if necessary. Also, new contests are encouraged.
The forum is strong in community for those who are actually active. While the active members are just really posting in the forum games area, the chatbox is used to strengthen and liven up its community. Unfortunately, the strong community isn’t obvious in the actual discussions.
Now, the forum has a little incentive; a little point store. You could use your points to buy (at the store) a new emote for the board, your own blog, a rank or a colored username. The new emote thing promotes community. The blog also promotes community, but clutters up the forum. The other incentives both promote community. While these little things are nice, it doesn’t bring anything new to the board. Bring something new.
Overall, a good forum that needs a little more to strive it up.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Battlefield Heroes
Cartoony graphics doesn't mean it's for kids! Meet Battlefield Heroes, a shooting game with cartoony graphics, though it's definitely not for children.
Shoot, shoot, shoot! It's still the regular old, regular old 'avoid headshots.' It has 3 classes, Soldier, Gunner, Commando. You also get to choose sides, but there isn't really a difference except it automatically chooses your team after you've chosen that side. Soldiers are all-rounders, Gunners are basically tanks and the Commando specializes in stabbing, but also can snipe. Gunners remind me of the Heavy Weapons Guy (Team Fortress 2) and the Commando reminds me of the Spy/Sniper (Team Fortress 2).
The graphics are kiddy, but there are quite a few vehicles for you to use. There's the car, moreoften used for transportation than for attacking, though there's two other spots for people. There is the tank, deadly, but slow, but you can hop on for a quick shooting. There's the airplane, shooting people from the skies. There's two other spots for those looking for a nice view or even more shooting. There's the turret, immobile but powerful. This is a nice array of weapons, however, it is easily dealt with the tank. And you can only defeat a tank with a tank, or if the user of the tank is stupid enough to jump into dynamite/grenades, you can do that, but not
all people are stupid, so the only weapon is tank vs. tank.
You may, at first, hate the kiddy graphics, but you might get used to it. However, there isn't much of a choice for equipment. For permanent stuff for the actually buyable ones with no real life money, you have to buy with real life money. Don't download this game if you are looking for fashion in your shooting. You have to buy to get the permanent stuff, if you want permanent grenades in your inventory all the time, or be rich and keep on buying everytime it expires. But even the experts need a break from gaming and when they come back, they'll see a lot of their equipment have expired.
Never seen vehicles in shooting games, much less a kiddy game. Good game. Don't expect a wide variety of items to buy, especially if you're not looking to buy items.
Shoot, shoot, shoot! It's still the regular old, regular old 'avoid headshots.' It has 3 classes, Soldier, Gunner, Commando. You also get to choose sides, but there isn't really a difference except it automatically chooses your team after you've chosen that side. Soldiers are all-rounders, Gunners are basically tanks and the Commando specializes in stabbing, but also can snipe. Gunners remind me of the Heavy Weapons Guy (Team Fortress 2) and the Commando reminds me of the Spy/Sniper (Team Fortress 2).
The graphics are kiddy, but there are quite a few vehicles for you to use. There's the car, moreoften used for transportation than for attacking, though there's two other spots for people. There is the tank, deadly, but slow, but you can hop on for a quick shooting. There's the airplane, shooting people from the skies. There's two other spots for those looking for a nice view or even more shooting. There's the turret, immobile but powerful. This is a nice array of weapons, however, it is easily dealt with the tank. And you can only defeat a tank with a tank, or if the user of the tank is stupid enough to jump into dynamite/grenades, you can do that, but not
all people are stupid, so the only weapon is tank vs. tank.
You may, at first, hate the kiddy graphics, but you might get used to it. However, there isn't much of a choice for equipment. For permanent stuff for the actually buyable ones with no real life money, you have to buy with real life money. Don't download this game if you are looking for fashion in your shooting. You have to buy to get the permanent stuff, if you want permanent grenades in your inventory all the time, or be rich and keep on buying everytime it expires. But even the experts need a break from gaming and when they come back, they'll see a lot of their equipment have expired.
Never seen vehicles in shooting games, much less a kiddy game. Good game. Don't expect a wide variety of items to buy, especially if you're not looking to buy items.
Wolf Team
Ever wanted to headshot a wolf or steal bases as a wolf? In Wolf Team, you can. However, after a bit of playing, you realize that it's still a lot like your usual first-person-shooting game. You try to avoid headshots, yet there's a lot of the time when you have to stay in your spawn point. Wolves are far too overpowered with different powers, e.g. freezing, thunder, etc. which probably takes a lot of grinding to get. Guns, on the other hand, don't have any powers except shoot, shoot, shoot. Some wolves (especially the tank, the Guardian Wolf. 380 HP) has a lot of HP and it's just shooting. Wolves are really good in close-range combat, or at least this game says, which just forces you to just shoot if you're in a Human vs. Wolf or even a Human/Wolf vs. Human/Wolf battle. Plus, wolves can jump and move better than humans, or at least this game says. There's a Wolf vs. Wolf battle, but that can get especially chaotic.
On the other hand, I haven't seen/heard of 'you can control wolves' in a shooting game yet. Decent graphics, a bit fun game.
6/10.
On the other hand, I haven't seen/heard of 'you can control wolves' in a shooting game yet. Decent graphics, a bit fun game.
6/10.
Minecraft
Minecraft. A game where you mine, then craft.
Obviously.
This game is still on the beta testing stage but millions of players have played it. What makes Minecraft so... addicting? It has no story at all and you just mine and craft things. The main focus of it is building while surviving. So why is Minecraft played by millions of users?
The graphics are blocky. In comparison to high-graphics games like Devil May Cry 4 (or the majority of Xbox360 games), it blows. But really, what's a building game without blocks? If its blocky graphics was changed to the graphics of a Xbox360 game, it wouldn't feel the same. It would probably feel like an over-exaggerated building game with elements of survival.
And then, the gameplay. It's extremely simple and straightforward with controls similar to a FPS's (a, s, d, w to move, space to jump, mouse click to interact) but it's different; you'll find yourself building and crafting all sorts of things. Perfect for the creative gamer with its redstone (it's kinda like electricity) and various other knick-knacks that pleases gamers looking for something creative to build with.
This is an awesome, addicting game that pleases the creative soul. 8/10.
Obviously.
This game is still on the beta testing stage but millions of players have played it. What makes Minecraft so... addicting? It has no story at all and you just mine and craft things. The main focus of it is building while surviving. So why is Minecraft played by millions of users?
The graphics are blocky. In comparison to high-graphics games like Devil May Cry 4 (or the majority of Xbox360 games), it blows. But really, what's a building game without blocks? If its blocky graphics was changed to the graphics of a Xbox360 game, it wouldn't feel the same. It would probably feel like an over-exaggerated building game with elements of survival.
And then, the gameplay. It's extremely simple and straightforward with controls similar to a FPS's (a, s, d, w to move, space to jump, mouse click to interact) but it's different; you'll find yourself building and crafting all sorts of things. Perfect for the creative gamer with its redstone (it's kinda like electricity) and various other knick-knacks that pleases gamers looking for something creative to build with.
This is an awesome, addicting game that pleases the creative soul. 8/10.
Age of Empires 2
Pros: -Historically accurate campaigns (If you get the full game)
-Easy + beginner friendly interface
-Addicting + tons of replay value
-Lots of other races + their own technology tree (If you get the full game)
Cons: -Graphics are less than average
-Gameplay feels very outdated, at least compared to newer RTSes
-Too little stuff to do in the demo
Summary: This was the reason why I love the Middle Ages. Age of Empires II was one of the few games, from my childhood, that managed to survive the test of time. Today, I download the demo and... I still love it. What does Age of Empires have that other RTSes don't? Well, it's nothing much due to my child self's low standards.
One of the pros listed is that you learn while you play the campaigns, at least, if you get the full version. Let's see, Joan of Arc, Barbarossa, Saladin, and more. Quite a package of learning and fun. Another is that, when I started to play this, it was easy to get though all of everything. And it's very addicting. You probably couldn't see why due to its "click to do everything" nature. And there are a lot of other races with their own technology tree, (You know, own set of available and unavailable technology) as well as their special unit when you build a Castle.
Every addicting thing has its cons, and Age of Empires II is no exception. The graphics are outdated, and thus, the graphics are less than average. And the gameplay... to, say, Starcraft II players, it seems a little too outdated. And this demo doesn't contain all of the good stuff (more campaigns, more game modes, etc.) has to offer.
Overall, a pretty good, but outdated, RTS.
-Easy + beginner friendly interface
-Addicting + tons of replay value
-Lots of other races + their own technology tree (If you get the full game)
Cons: -Graphics are less than average
-Gameplay feels very outdated, at least compared to newer RTSes
-Too little stuff to do in the demo
Summary: This was the reason why I love the Middle Ages. Age of Empires II was one of the few games, from my childhood, that managed to survive the test of time. Today, I download the demo and... I still love it. What does Age of Empires have that other RTSes don't? Well, it's nothing much due to my child self's low standards.
One of the pros listed is that you learn while you play the campaigns, at least, if you get the full version. Let's see, Joan of Arc, Barbarossa, Saladin, and more. Quite a package of learning and fun. Another is that, when I started to play this, it was easy to get though all of everything. And it's very addicting. You probably couldn't see why due to its "click to do everything" nature. And there are a lot of other races with their own technology tree, (You know, own set of available and unavailable technology) as well as their special unit when you build a Castle.
Every addicting thing has its cons, and Age of Empires II is no exception. The graphics are outdated, and thus, the graphics are less than average. And the gameplay... to, say, Starcraft II players, it seems a little too outdated. And this demo doesn't contain all of the good stuff (more campaigns, more game modes, etc.) has to offer.
Overall, a pretty good, but outdated, RTS.
Lunia Online
http://download.mmosite.com/html/1/2348/
Pros: 1. Interesting storyline that keeps you going.
2. Nice graphics with effects.
3. Excellent music combined with awesome sound.
4. Decent PvP mode.
5. Lots of things to do.
6. Easy to play.
Cons: 1. Loading times can be long.
2. Hard to find party members sometimes.
Summary: I'll have to say, I'm impressed! It has an interesting storyline, nice graphics with beautiful effects, and excellent music combined with awesome sound. It has a decent PvP mode with lots of things to do. It's also easy to play. No, you don't have to use your mouse quite as often. However, loading times can be quite long, and it's sometimes hard to find party members in general. There's even more than just the characters you currently have to your possession, you can get more characters for more fun.
Amazing game. I recommend it to anybody who likes a classic. 5/5 for me.
Pros: 1. Interesting storyline that keeps you going.
2. Nice graphics with effects.
3. Excellent music combined with awesome sound.
4. Decent PvP mode.
5. Lots of things to do.
6. Easy to play.
Cons: 1. Loading times can be long.
2. Hard to find party members sometimes.
Summary: I'll have to say, I'm impressed! It has an interesting storyline, nice graphics with beautiful effects, and excellent music combined with awesome sound. It has a decent PvP mode with lots of things to do. It's also easy to play. No, you don't have to use your mouse quite as often. However, loading times can be quite long, and it's sometimes hard to find party members in general. There's even more than just the characters you currently have to your possession, you can get more characters for more fun.
Amazing game. I recommend it to anybody who likes a classic. 5/5 for me.
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