May the 5th be with you!
Ha! See what I did there? #legend
That had me looking at what Blogger offers these days... and... that is nothing. Seems like Google is just letting Blogger coast. So off to Reddit's blogging subreddit to ask if I am crazy and to see what else is out there.
That resulted in some suggestions I'll be evaluating
If you have a thought toss it in the comments.
Reddit thread embedded below:
ChatGPT is neat. There is a lot of interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and with ChatGPT giving an approachable interface to some remarkable AI ChatGPT has the world buzzing with the possibilities. For most of us ChatGPT is either the next big thing or a neat toy. I tend to fall more into "toy" category myself; reminded of the quote along the lines of "We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run." That is to say I think ChatGPT is over-hyped currently but under-hyped in what it will mean in the history books of the future.
With that said I wanted to see what ChatGPT would write on my behalf for the blog. Here's the outcome:
Title: Exploring the World of MMORPGs: A Guide for Newcomers
Are you looking for a new online gaming experience? Perhaps you've heard about MMORPGs and want to know what all the fuss is about. MMORPGs, or massively multiplayer online role-playing games, are games that allow players to interact with each other in a virtual world. In this post, we'll explore the world of MMORPGs and provide a guide for newcomers.
Choose Your Game Wisely
There are many MMORPGs available, so it's important to choose a game that fits your interests and playstyle. Some popular MMORPGs include World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, and Guild Wars 2. Each game has its own lore, world-building, and mechanics, so do your research before choosing.
Learn the Basics
MMORPGs can be overwhelming for newcomers, so take the time to learn the basics of the game. This may include learning how to create a character, navigate the world, complete quests, and interact with other players. Most MMORPGs have tutorials or starting zones that teach you the basics, so don't be afraid to take your time.
Join a Guild or Group
Playing an MMORPG is more fun when you're playing with others. Joining a guild or group can help you find other players to quest with, get advice on the game, and participate in group activities like raids. Many MMORPGs have tools for finding and joining guilds, so take advantage of these resources.
Understand the Time Commitment
MMORPGs are designed to be played over a long period of time, so be prepared to invest a lot of time in the game. This may mean logging in regularly to complete quests, participating in group activities, and keeping up with game updates. If you have limited time to play, consider choosing a game with more casual play options.
Watch Your Spending
Some MMORPGs are free-to-play, while others require a subscription or in-game purchases. Before you start playing, understand the game's payment model and set a budget for yourself. In-game purchases can be tempting, but it's important to balance your spending with your other financial priorities.
In Conclusion
MMORPGs can be a fun and immersive way to connect with other players and explore a virtual world. As a newcomer, it's important to choose a game that fits your interests, learn the basics, join a guild or group, understand the time commitment, and watch your spending. With these tips, you'll be well on your way to becoming a seasoned MMORPG player.
I wanted to avoid doing the cliche "what are my 2023 goals" or "2023 predictions" posts, but wanted to share some of my blogging plans. I want to adjust the rate at which I blog and have a slightly different look to the content.
In 2022 I got the bug to get back into blogging. I set a goal to post once a day, every day. I pretty much did it including weekends and holidays. Most posts were made the day of but I had a few queued up to schedule on days I knew I'd be busy.
For 2023 I want to adjust my goal for posting: 5 posts a week (basically give myself the weekend off). Yes this will include posts from simple "hey look at the Packers score" to more in depth gaming discussion.
There are a couple posts I look fondly at from 2022. The best representation of these "fond" posts is http://www.heartlessgamer.com/2022/10/some-screenshots-from-brimstone-sands.html where I shared screenshots from my adventures in New World. I realized after stumbling back accross that post that I don't share that type of content often.
For 2023 I want to get more into sharing the memories of my gaming sessions instead of just dropping opinions or sharing something I found. More screenshots are really the key here. Not sure if y'all will find it interesting but this blog has always been sort of for me so I'll enjoy it and maybe one of you out there will as well.
And lastly for 2023 I want to get into some video content. No guarantees on this but I enjoy editing video for work and for other personal use. I did videos back before YouTube was a thing (sadly did not save all my Google Videos content... need to scan the old hard drives at some point), but haven't done anything since.
Just an inside-blogging question that boggles me. Since returning to blogging daily I've noticed that the posts I put the most effort into get the least traffic and those that I put no effort in get the most.
For example; yesterday's post just to have a post has already seen twice the traffic than any of my recent posts with actual content. Going back further my "Cold. No Power." post with nothing in it is the highest trafficed post from December.
Why? I don't know but I needed a post for today and I had nothing else on hand so here it is. What do you think?
This counts right? Sorry, first day back to work after a long holiday break and I am pooped.
The neatest part is the card they put together for you. I cracked up at mine and my special +0 power. Also surprised by my karma performance this year. I had not realized I had gained so much!
So to recap:
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Go me! |
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And I was entertained! |
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tuck frump and puck futin |
I'm not really mad; I mostly just watch the tube and don't create any content/videos. You can find me at https://youtube.com/@heartless_gamer (yep; nabbed that underscore!). If you want the other guy (assume its a guy) they are at https://www.youtube.com/@heartlessgamer
And to show the universe loves to taunt us heartlessgamers; the other guys twitch features TWO underscores! Check it out https://www.twitch.tv/heartless__gamer - and for anyone wanting my twitch it is https://www.twitch.tv/heartlessgamer_twitch
I may have to touch base with this dude. This is fun to follow around the web.
I am going to be doing some housekeeping on the blog. As I strive to hit my goal of "a post a day" I want to get the blog looking a little better for all one of the readers out there.
I miss blogging. Kids arrived and blogging was kicked to the curb. But I can do this. I can do a post a day. Time to get some thoughts out; whether just something I experienced in a game or a quick reference guide to something.
Here we go!
"Many of us are experiencing tough times in WoW, we have lost friends, guildies, entire guilds have crumbled and fallen. I don't begrudge RIFT the shelf space, but when there are more RIFT posts on a WoW blog than WoW posts... well... I don't like it,"A true gaming blogger posts about whatever they are playing and doesn't prop their site up by stringing readers along with stuff about games they've lost interest in. This is exactly why I made the conscious decision over 5 years ago never to pigeon-hole this blog into a single game. It is also why I am formulating a plan to better represent my thoughts and opinions on the game(s) I'm currently playing instead of the ones I want to bitch about the most (well that is if I can ever break my addiction to Minecraft).
Right now I don't feel I'm succeeding all that well. I might simply have a too thin skin for the rough place that is the internet, and can't simply grow a thicker one. But I have the impression that even at the moderate success level of this blog, the audience is becoming too wide to communicate with effectively. Some people misunderstand my motivations, others feel entitled to something I never promised and couldn't possibly deliver, and some simply can't or won't stick to discussing opinions in polite terms.I don't blame Tobold for his thoughts on this and I think I know the simple answer to what has hit Tobold. From my "Why be nice post?":
The real effect of the Internet: amplification. I am inherently more whiny and combative on the Internet. I wish I could fully-explain why it occurs, but I can't. I observe it in almost every blogger I know personally, whether it is politics, gaming, or knitting (yes, with needles and yarn).Tobold is simply too nice, on an Internet full of jerks that like to talk about MMOGs. That niceness gets amplified 100x and is therefore attacked harder.