WDSL

No, I will not be starting a high-speed internet radio station, but it sounds like fun doesn't it?

We're considering (read: have ordered) a faster connection for our home. At first I thought that my wife's work was footing the bill, since she works from home.

Nope.

But, hey, it's only another 7 bucks a month, so that's not bad. And we more than double our speed with a dedicated line that'll be our phone and internet connection, plus we'll be doing the wireless networking thing, so it's all very convenient and inexpensive.

And then I passed the one of many MMORPGs over at the local Target-Mart.

I'm getting the shakes.

One of the reasons I don't play MMORPGs, aside from expense, is that my connection makes me fodder for the gun-toting goobers that seem to populate every corner of those places. I've played 3 games, let's go around the room.

Ultima Online: I played a farmer. I'll admit that it wasn't the most happening character on the planet, but I was happy. Until some punks ran over my bean patch. I chased them, waving my hoe, until they killed me. There was no discussion, no "I'm sorry", not even a few gold for my trouble.

No One Lives Forever: It's a fun spy game, really. If you haven't played it, you should grab a 5 dollar version of the game (game of the year edition, even) and play the heck out of it. It's tres silly, but worth it. Get online and the spy part is removed, leaving you with bushwackers and deathdealers. God help you if you don't have at least a 256K modem. Aim for T1. Frick.

Aliens vs. Predator 2: What did I expect? It is decidedly a combat game, but the people online lack the subtlety that I aspire to. And the people on your side shoot you. Again, Frick. The original game is slick, and the atmosphere in it and the original is to die for. It simply doesn't get better than either of them (exception: Predator mode in the original stinks compared to the sequal). I do not blame them.

Much of what I've heard of online gaming does not change my opinion of it. I've not begged my wife for this, nor have I hunted down opportunities to purchase "World of Warcraft". Or "City of Heroes". I'll cover my addiction to 4-color comics at some future point.

If anyone has a copy of "Freedom Fighters," though, I'd appreciate a hand-off. Maybe I can sling something at you in return.

At any rate, while I might explore free servers (I could really use some more V:tM interaction online), I don't really get why anyone would pay for... what's that? Oh, constantly improved game play in an expanding world that evolves at the same time.

>sigh<