Lord Of The Rings Online (LOTRO)

The same friend that introduced me to LOCO sometime ago (post), has been trying to convice me to play this MMORPG, called Lord of The Rings Online (LOTRO), based on the story and the worlds of the Lord of the Rings. I love Lord of the Rings, and I really like RPGs, I don't play WOW, I like to play it when I know other people that are playing it too and LOTRO is now free to play, which also convinced me to try it. So, I finally downloaded it a couple of days ago and yesterday I started to play it.

The game is really beautiful, I haven't been able to see much of the Middle Earth yet, and definitely not the known parts, but it is really well done. It also seams that you will always have quests to make, which for me is great, I hate having only to kill beasts to upgrade a level, I like having objectives!

You can start the game as a human, an elf, a hobbit or a dwarf, after that there are several classes that will define which type of character you'll be. This is what you need to decide before you even began to play the game, other possibilities unfold afterwards in the game...

There are a lot of things to say about it, but I think it is not the point of this post, I just wanted to share a new game that caught my atention, it is free, at least a part of it, of course some items and objects are not, but then...

For now I have a champion human, Erindien from Rohan, with whom I don't usually play, and a minstrel elf, Linthorwen from Rivendell, who I think is going to be my main character. Let's see how I deal with the game and if I really like it I might even buy some of the paied expansions

Here is a trailer of the game:

Games and more games!

It's been a while since I last got a group of games... On Monday my sister-in-law arrived from New York and brought me:

Green Day: Rock Band
Green Day: Rock Band allows players to step onto the stage and into the shoes of Green Day, the multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning band that jump-started the punk-pop revival and has continued to pave the way for American rock music into the 21st century. Taking on the likenesses of Green Day members Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool, players progress through the story and history of Green Day, gaining access into the band’s media vault, where they can unlock more than 100 collectible images, and more than 40 minutes of rare and unreleased video from interviews, outtakes and performances. (MTV Games)
Gamespot: 7.5
GameTrailers: 7.4
Metacritic: 7.5

Lost Planet²

Lost Planet 2 picks up 10 years since the events of the original adventure and the landscape has evolved dramatically. With the success of terraforming activities, the planet's ice has begun to melt, giving way to lush tropical jungles and other new environments. The story has advanced beyond Wayne Holden as players now follow the exploits of their own customized snow pirates on their quest to seize control of E.D.N III. Players move their heroes through different stories creating a truly unique and interactive experience. With this concept, gamers have the opportunity to engage in the story in a more dynamic way as plot threads evolve from various perspectives. The strongest features from the first game returns in Lost Planet 2 making fans feel right at home. In addition to the anchor actions that made the gameplay in Lost Planet a true 3-D experience, Lost Planet 2 allows gamers to gain tactical advantage with a wide variety of new actions. The game also contains a new addition to the enormous Akrids which were a fan-favourite in the first Lost Planet. Beyond the deep single player mode, Lost Planet 2 is loaded with one the most extensive multiplayer campaign seen in a shooter to date. The intense and action packed campaign mode comes with the ability to form teams of up to 4 players online to clear mission objectives with friends. (Capcom)

Gamespot: 5.5

IGN: 6.0

GameTrailers: 7.2

Metacritic: 6.8

Battlefield: Bad Company 2

In this installment, the Bad Company crew again find themselves in the heart of the action, where they must use every weapon and vehicle at their disposal to survive. In Battlefield: Bad Company 2, the 'B' company fight their way through snowy mountaintops, dense jungles and dusty villages. With a heavy arsenal of deadly weapons and a slew of vehicles to aid them, the crew set off on their mission and they are ready to blow up, shoot down, blast through, wipe out and utterly destroy anything that gets in their way. Total destruction is the name of the game, delivered as only the DICE next generation Frostbite engine can. (Electronic Arts)

Gamespot: 9.0

IGN: 8.9

GameTrailers: 9.1

Metacritic: 8.8

F1 2010
In F1 2010 gamers will take on the full, expanded grid in a variety of game modes including Grand Prix, Championship, Time Trial and an extensive, innovative Career mode. F1 2010 will also feature a highly advanced damage model, fully dynamic weather system and extensive competitive multiplayer options. (Metacritic)
Gamespot: 7.5

GameTrailers: 8.6

Metacritic: 8.3

Fair Game Project

Taxes in Brazil for eletronics are huge and games are no exception. Here a new released game is often sold for R$250 (app. 150US$) because of importing tax burdens. I know, I know, it's abusing! However, in the past year a new idea took form, and it's getting increadible force: it's the Fair Game Project ("Jogo Justo" in Portuguese).

Here is a description of this project as adapted from its official website (in Portuguese, but with google translation resource):

The Fair Game Project, conceived by Moacyr Alves Júnior, seeks to reduce the tax burden in imported games sold here in Brazil. The intention is to show through a report based on business information from developers and retailers that the national game market has a huge potential. The Fair Game Project aims to reduce the price of games, video game equipment and its peripherals, ensuring that the final consumer has an increasing contact with games, a form of culture spreading through the world. As a result, the domestic market will develop, in addition to the possibility of producers setting up in Brazil, generating more jobs in the industry. The Fair Game Project is independent of political, business and generating profits.

This project began in the second semester of 2010 and in this November it will be presented the benefits of reducing the tax burden of games sold in Brazil, where the games would be sold from R$250.00 (app. 150US$) for R$99.00 (app. 58US$). If approved, the plan could start at the beginning of 2011.

Since the beginning of the project, they were able to gain support of several retailers, producers, game related press, etc. like Konami, Activision, Blizzard, EA, THQ, Hudson, Nintendo World, etc.

Let's hope this project is put into practice, so that not only brazilian gamers are able to purchase games on fairer rates, increasing the game market and maybe even attracting game companies to Brazil like Ubisoft, some years ago.... :)