This month I got another unexpected mention on Massively (complete with a Warp Drive Active patented tin foil hat graphic) that lead to a readership spike. This time it involved my wild speculation (wildly inaccurate according to Michael Zenke on SUWT #28) about what the world looks like with Sony Online Entertainment reporting into Sony Computer Entertainment in the post A New World Order at SOE?
That was actually an all time record for the site, showing that Massively’s influence might be edging up into the “Tobold” range.
Other than that, the only site related item I thought I would mention is the introduction of… I am at a loss for the right term… so I will call them giant sized thumbnails.
Previously, WordPress.com had to options for inserting a picture into a post. You could put it in at full resolution, which for this template means keeping things under 500 pixel wide. Or, if you wanted to put in a big picture, you could use the thumbnail option, which makes it tough, at time, to see what the picture might be about.
They recently introduced an option to insert a thumbnail that is about 300 pixels wide, which makes it easier to see what the picture is so you have a hint as to whether it is worth seeing full size.
I just worry that people think that is the full size of the picture. If a picture appears to be linked, then there is probably a larger version available to view. The chart above is an example of what I am referring to.
One Year Ago
I got all Buddhist on the subject on the raiders vs. non-raiders rift. I think what I said could be applied to some current controversies.
I ran down my list of complimentary comment spam.
After letting Blizzard’s announcement of StarCraft II sink in, I put up a post about the original StarCraft back when it was our office game of choice.
Darren was all worked up about crafting being the suck, so I started trying to list out all the things that might be wrong with crafting.
And I said nice things about “Opinions of the Misinformed.”
New Linking Sites
A big thank you to these sites who link to TAGN. I encourage you to give them a visit in return.
Most Viewed Posts in June
- Play On: Guild Name Generator
- A New World Order at SOE?
- How To Find An Agent in EVE Online
- EVE Online – The Tutorial
- 2008 MMORPG Progdictionations
- Is There Hope for a Science Fiction MMORPG?
- What Is A “Tank” In EVE?
- My LOTRO Video Crash
- EVE Online: Empyrean Age release date
- Apotheosis Now!
- Losing Two Ships
- Five LEGO Video Game Titles I Want
- Notes from Amarr Space
- SOE Really Wants You Back In Norrath
- Desperately Seeking Diablo III
Best Search Terms
“second life” battleship
d&d 4th sux
Best Spam Comment
“Boy, this is some high-class site”
[Uh, sure thing, but I’m still not buying you a drink.]
Diablo II
Some Diablo II nostalgia this month. I installed it and played through the first act. I’ll have to see if I am up for more later.
EVE Online
I moved all my stuff back to Caldari space for the whole factional warfare thing that was ushered in by the Empyrean Age and only lost a Hulk on the way. Ouch. Still, my bank account has managed to stay on the sweet side of half a billion isk lately. Obviously I need a new money sink. Factional warfare though, I’m not “getting” it so far.
EverQuest
Thanks to the Living Legecy program, I actually spent some time in EverQuest this month. I even joined up with Nostalgia the Guild, though their regular group nights (Tuesday and Friday) and almost always bad nights for me, so I only see them in passing.
World of Warcraft
The Auchenai Crypts are being stubborn… or, that last boss is. Still, with level cap restrictions lifted from the group, we ought to be powerful enough soon.
DS
It is all about Pokemon on the DS. It was Pokemon Mystery Dungeon at center stage for about a week, but now we’re back to Diamond and LeafGreen.
Wii
We had a revival of the Wii in June with Pokemon Battle Revolution and Pokemon Ranch. We still haven’t bothered to get Mario Kart Wii or LEGO Indiana Jones yet.
Coming Up
I swear I am going to go back and write up another ancient gaming post. I will NOT sit and watch Pokemon Ranch when I get back from vacation.
The Ancient Gaming Noob 
Wow… it is hard to believe that it’s been a year since the SC2 announcement. It didn’t even register when this years WWI began. Holy cow, how time flies.
And yes, I’ve seen the power of Massively myself, and also of TTH, and Tobold. Tis a nice little burst of traffic they send our way once in a great while.
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