I have had the opportunity to play many different video games. The violence in some is just incredible, and in many ways very scary and worrisome. For the most part, I have grouped video games into two categories for myself. One is Fantasy and the other is reality. Reality games are games that have been created from an event such as a war that actually took place or a certain type of group such as the police, or maybe simply playing as a gang member. Let\’s not forget the road racing games and sports, which are a few of the games we can classify as non-violent.
The second types of games are fantasy games, which are best described as science fiction Themes. They can be space games, or they can be a witches and wizards type of games, which is where World of Warcraft would fall into.
Both games, if played enough with enough focus and with enough intensity can make you believe that you are actually in the game or part of it, the actions you make the game make are actions you are really doing. This is the scary part because I believe a reality game can make someone mix the game with what is going on right in front of their face. A fantasy game, sure you can believe you\’re in it, but it\’s harder to believe that when your walking around in the park that the game is in front of your face.
Case in Point: a good example of a reality game is Grand Theft Auto, which is a very controversial game. I\’ll admit it, I\’ve played it, and I\’ve had fun, but it really concerns me what the meaning is behind the game and how real it truly is. I work in Law Enforcement now and for anyone who has played that game they know that the police are often killed. I can\’t play that game anymore because the reality of that fact is too real for me.
If I had to choose between the two types of video games reality or Fantasy I would much rather watch someone, or more specific a younger person play a fantasy game than a reality game because sure, it probably still has violence, but it still is a problem solving game, which are the ones I like to play, and it does not connect reality to the actions you are playing.
There have been a number of violent crimes that have been at least attempted to be connected to the perpetrator playing some sort of violent game. Most of the games I have heard about involved in these types of cases would fall into the reality type of games. I can\’t say I have ever heard someone in court say \”I killed someone because I played World of Warcraft\”
It\’s a problem that honestly is not going to go away because violence is an unfortunate part of human nature. Violent games sell, so as long as people are willing to buy them, people will be willing to make them, and as technology keeps getting better than the reality of games and the violence included in them will keep getting more real.
The only solution is to monitor the people who play them such as children. If something just isn\’t right about how they are acting, maybe its time for a game adjustment. World of Warcraft is great so if you have to choose between games, I would suggest to stay in the Fantasy types or non-violent games all together.
The first thing you want to do to play fantasy baseball is find, or form, a fantasy baseball league. Ten to twelve teams is usually the norm in a league, though you may have anywhere from four to 24 teams in a given league. Each team in the fantasy league must consist of 23 players. Many of the leagues you will find use only American or National League players, so the number of quality players is limited.
Your team’s roster will consist of nine pitchers, five outfielders, two catchers, one player for each of the three bases, a middle infielder, one corner man, and a miscellaneous player (designated hitter in AL based fantasy leagues, utility man in NL based fantasy leagues.
Players: Choosing Your Team
Each owner is given a list of players, and their eligible positions on draft day. There are two methods used to select your team in a fantasy baseball league. One method is the draft method, the other is the auction method.
Draft method- The teams are arranged in a random order. Following this order, owners take turns selecting players until all teams have twenty three players. The draft order is usually reversed for even numbered rounds. Before drafting starts, decide if the league will wipe the slate clean for the next season, or whether it will protect seven to fifteen players.
Auction method- In the auction method, each fantasy baseball team owner will start with 260 units of credit. Owners will take turns opening bids on players. Bidding proceeds, as with a normal auction, until only the highest bidder remains. Bidding will have a minimum increase of one unit of credit. With the auction method, you can force teams to stay under the 260 credit unit salary cap, or allow the purchase of remaining players once the bidding is complete and the owners have their teams completed.
Players and Their Eligibility
A player may play any position that he played in at least 20 major-league games the previous year. If he doesn’t have a position that he did play 20 times, he is eligible for the position he played the most often. The player is also allowed to play any position that he may appear in through the season.
How Fantasy Baseball is Scored
Cumulative scoring system-
There are a total of eight categories each team will be scored on. These are batting averages (pitcher excluded), home runs, runs batted, stolen bases, run average, wins, saves, and WHIP (Walks and Hits divided by total Innings Pitched). At the end of the season, each team is ranked from first to last in each category. In a ten team league, first place in each category will receive ten points. Second place receives nine, so on and so forth. The champion of the league is determined by the highest score at the end of the year.
Head to head scoring system-
Based on the same eight categories, teams play a game each week with another franchise. Each team will receive a point for each category they win, and ties are thrown away. Alternatively, teams can receive two points for wins, and one point for ties. If tied games will not be allowed to stand, strikeouts, doubles, runs, triples, and home team wins are excellent tie breaking categories.
The Doctor is in! This is designed to be more than just a summary of the past week’s hottest and coldest MLB fantasy players. The Fantasy Thermometer is here to provide deeper analysis and make you aware of current trends that go beyond looking at rankings and weekly performances. I want this to be as helpful as possible to fantasy readers, so your comments and feedback are encouraged, as they will help me to determine how to compile The Fantasy Thermometer each week. This week includes a new format, as I’ve compiled a hot starting lineup, two hot starting pitchers and one hot relief pitcher. I’ve included a short list of cold, underachieving players as well. Thanks for reading; all comments are appreciated.
WHO’S HOT ON DR. STAT’S THERMOMETER
Catcher: Dioner Navarro, Tampa Bay Rays
Over the past month, he’s hit .360 (89 at-bats). Last week, he hit .333 with 2 HRs and 6 RBIs. He’s been fairly consistent all season. Despite having fewer at-bats, Navarro is 9th among catchers in RBIs, is hitting .349 and has played almost every day since the last week of April.
First Base: Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Philles
After a dreadful April (.168, 5 HR, 12 RBI), Howard hit .238 in May, with 10 HRs and 30 RBIs. Those are the numbers, along with an absurd number of strikeouts, that we expect from the former MVP. He’s always been one to start cold, and then heat up over the last four months of the season. All signs point to the usual happening again this summer.
Second Base: Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers
Playing for the Rangers and not being named Josh Hamilton doesn’t get you much respect. However, Ian Kinsler is one of the game’s brightest young players. For all players who qualify as second basemen, Kinsler is first in runs, second in steals and third in RBIs. He had a 19-game hitting streak going and had 2 or more hits in six of his last nine games.
Third Base: Joe Crede, Chicago White Sox
Last weeks numbers (.524, 5 HR, 12 HR, 9 R) are impressive, but were boosted by back to back games with 2 home runs. Looking deeper, he’s hit .341 over the past month and his on-base percentage is the highest it’s been since April 16. The White Sox are hot, and Crede is one of the biggest reasons why.
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins
After making my Cold List last week, HanRam redeemed himself with a .357, 5 HR, 8 RBI, 9 R, 2 SB week. After going 16 games without a single RBI, he’s back to being a force in the five major statistical offensive categories and is on a 7-game hitting streak.
Outfield: JD Drew, Boston Red Sox
His poor first season in Boston is a thing of the past, as Drew is on pace for a 25 HR/100 RBI season. He hit .296 in May and started June with a bang. Last week he went 11-for-20 (.550). He’s provided a lift for both the Red Sox and fantasy owners. You’re skeptical about putting your faith in him, but there’s no reason to believe he won’t keep producing, provided of course that he stays healthy.
Outfield: Johnny Damon, New York Yankees
Johnny hit .548 last week, fueled by a 6-for-6 day on Saturday. After hitting .276 in April, he hit .306 in May. His on base and slugging percentages have skyrocketed, and being on base more translates into more steals and runs. He turns 35 later this year, but he’s proven that when healthy, he’s still a valuable fantasy player.
Outfield: Milton Bradley, Texas Rangers
It’s hard to put into words the type of season that Bradley is having. He’s on pace to destroy his best single-season numbers. Since the start of 2007, only Chipper Jones and Albert Pujols have higher on-base percentages with 400+ at-bats. He was the number one ranked player last week, posting a line of .550, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 9 R and 4 SB. For the season, Bradley’s .340 average, 14 HRs, 43 RBIs and 44 runs are mind-blowing for a career .278 hitter.
Utility: Ryan Ludwick, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Ludwick falls under the “How long can this guy keep this up?” category. Despite his hot start, Ludwick remained a free agent in many leagues until managers finally decided to put some faith in him. He hit .333 and drove in 16 runs in May. He is off to a slower start in June, so if a manager loses faith and drops him, pick him up.
Starting Pitcher: Scott Kazmir, Tampa Bay Rays
Since coming off the disabled list on May 4, Kazmir has gone 6-1 with a 1.40 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP and 44 Ks. He’s been the best starting pitcher in fantasy over the last month, as his electric stuff dominates opposing hitters. If you drafted him late or traded for him when he started the season injured, you’re reaping the rewards now.
While Josh Hamilton is having an incredible season, one can see why the Reds were willing to trade him. Not only did they Jay Bruce waiting in line, but they saw terrific potential in a young Edinson Volquez. He’s 9-2 with a 1.56 ERA. His WHIP and K/BB would be much lower if he walked fewer batters, as he’s walked almost as many batters (43) as he’s given up hits (52). His 96 K’s do lead all pitchers and he’s been able to limit the damage from the trouble he gets himself into. The most remarkable stat of all? He has allowed only 14 earned runs in 14 starts.
Relief Pitcher:Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels
He has 26 saves, which leads baseball, including 23 in a row. He’s only blown one save all season and averages almost one strikeout per inning. In the last 12 games, he’s allowed only 1 run and 4 hits. In short, he’s as dominant a closer as they come.
WHO’S HEATING UP ON DR. STAT’S THERMOMETER
Jose Guillen: OF, Kansas City Royals
Guillen hit .367 last week, with 4 HRs and 10 RBIs, as he lit up Yankee pitching. After hitting .192 in April, he hit .308 in May. Many people forget that he hit .290 with 23 HRs and 99 RBIs last season. If he hasn’t been picked up in your league yet, he will soon.
Justin Masterson: SP, Boston Red Sox
He’s gone at least 6.0 innings and has given up just 1 run in 3 of his 4 starts, walking 12 and striking out 18. Despite being backed by the Red Sox offense, he’s won two of those games 2-1. This shows he can pitch under pressure and in close games.
WHO’S COLD ON DR. STAT’S THERMOMETER
Victor Martinez: C, Cleveland Indians Last Month: .202, 0 HR, 7 RBI
David Wright: 3B, New York Mets Last Week: 4/22 (.191), 0 HR, 3 RBI
Alex Gordon: 1B/3B, Kansas City Royals Last Month: .235, 0 HR, 8 RBI
Brad Penny: SP, Los Angeles Dodgers Last Month: 35 IP, 0-5, 6.17 ERA, 1.69 WHIP
Dr. Stat is the resident fantasy baseball columnist at RootZoo.com, home of the sports fan. Dr. Stat regularly gives fantasy baseball advice at RootZoo’s FantasyZone weekly.
There are numerous ways to get involved with fantasy baseball and one of the most popular is ESPN fantasy baseball. Before you get started; however, there are several tips you should keep in mind in order to make your experience even better.
First, it is important to understand how ESPN fantasy baseball works. Really, it’s no different than any other type of fantasy baseball. The main idea behind it is for you as a team owner to draft professional players for your team. As the season goes on you will collect the real statistics generated by those players and receive fantasy points based on those numbers. In other words, when a real live player performs well in the real live world you gain more fantasy points. The more fantasy points you accumulate, the better chance you stand to become the winner among the rest of the teams. As the season unwinds, the team that manages to accumulate the most points will become the league winner.
With ESPN fantasy baseball you can have as many teams as you want. The glitch is that you’ll need to pay for each additional team. The first team is about ; however, if you want to have multiple teams you can sign up for a multi-pack. If you at all think that you may want to sign up for more than one team, go ahead and do it all at once because there is a big savings advantage. For example, a five-pack costs only .96 as opposed to the 0 it would cost if you signed up for them separately.
Be aware that while this is fantasy football, ESPN takes the naming of the teams very seriously. This means that you cannot name your team something that would be considered objectionable. In other words, keep it clean; both the name of the team and the location. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to post on your personal profile. Here you can put text as well as images; however, the same rules apply. If you place something that is considered to be inappropriate here you place yourself in the situation of having it censored and in the worst case scenario you might even have your team taken away.
Be aware there are various types of leagues and teams so make sure you understand the difference before joining. With ESPN there are public leagues as well as private leagues. Unlike other fantasy baseball groups, with ESPN fantasy baseball you don’t necessarily need an invitation to join a private league but you do need the league name and password. Public leagues, of course, are open to pretty much everyone.
You should also know that when you first create your team it will be defaulted as an independent team. You can choose to keep your team as independent or not; the choice is up to you. If you stay independent; however, you won’t get to specify your draft day.
By understanding more about the inner workings of ESPN fantasy baseball you’ll be better prepared to get your team in line for the season victory.
A good story is nothing without a good lead, and the Final Fantasy series has always been known for the diversity of its lead characters through the years. The depth and breadth of the characters in the Final Fantasy series has resulted it in being arguably the best and most famous RPG (role playing game) of all time. Once you begin to play the game, the interesting characters cannot but help make you addicted to the gameplay and keep you interested in finishing the story. Here we will detail all the leading characters from Final Fantasy VII – XII.
Cloud Strife
Cloud Strife made his debut in the acclaimed Final Fantasy VII. His most noticeable features are his chocobo-inspired spiky hair, and his famous Buster Sword, a giant sword almost as large as he is! Cloud has become a staple character for Square Enix, and has appeared in FFVII, FF Tactics, Advent Children, Dirge of Cerberus, the Kingdom Hearts game, and Itadaki Street Special.
Squall Leonhart
Squall Leonhart is the lead protagonist in Final Fantasy VIII. The series took a major shift into a more realistic visual style, and this showed heavily in Squall, who had a very natural dress sense and an appearance which is alleged to be inspired by Gackt. Although older Final Fantasy fans has often criticise Squall’s character for being too angsty and emotion, he has become a popular favourite, and made numerous appearances in the Kingdom Hearts games.
Zidane Tribal
When Final Fantasy IX revisited the more traditional roots of the series, so did its lead character. Zidane Tribal turned out to be a much more upbeat and energetic character than either Squall or Cloud, which never hindered him! Although not as popular as some of the other leads, he has appeared in Itadaki Street Portable, and appears to be on the front of the cast leading the upcoming Dissida -Final Fantasy-
Tidus
Tidus was the main characters in Final Fantasy X. His design was centred on that of a footballer, which was also emphasised by the game’s popular sport, Blitzball, which was essentially football underwater. His hyperactive and emotional character would see him loved and hated by fans in equal measure. He made a brief appearance in the first Kingdom Hearts game, and also appears in Itadaki Street Special.
Vaan
Although the story of Final Fantasy XII is not directly centred on Vaan, it is told from his point of view. Vaan would turn out be more unique from past characters in that his story is developed and his character matures more quickly and more profoundly than past leads, and this maturity also helps develop some of the other characters in the game. His appeared in Itadaki Street Portable, is set to appear in the upcoming DS bounded sequel FFXII: Revenant Wings, and will also make a brief appearance in FF Tactics A2.
Black Author Brings New Voice to Science Fiction and Fantasy
CHESTER, VA June 2008 – With his detailed narrative, gripping plot, and compelling characters, African American author R. A. Baker is a fine newcomer to the literary playing field. However, there is one thing that sets Baker apart from most black writers: he writes science fiction. In 2008, R. A. Baker joined the ranks of black science fiction/fantasy writers like Charles Saunders, Steven Barnes, Octavia Butler, and Nalo Hopkinson, among others. They are part of a small, but growing group of writers, specializing in genres previously the exclusive domain of their white counterparts. It’s a trend poised to add a new perspective to fantasy and science fiction storytelling.
Baker, who wrote the sci-fi/fantasy novel, Rayna of Nightwind, says that he knew at an early age that he wanted to write sci-fi/fantasy. “I’ve always loved speculative fiction, which includes both sci-fi and fantasy,” he says. “It allows for so much creative freedom—it is the only kind of fiction I would ever want to write.” With the commercial success of the Harry Potter novels, and movies like The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, there is little doubt of sci-fi and fantasy’s appeal. African American writers like Baker believe there is also a demand for a fresh approach to these popular genres. “I believe African Americans can bring a lot to the table and take speculative fiction in exciting directions it has never gone before,” he says.
Baker says he does not see himself as a pioneer, but simply as a member of a special, and often misunderstood group. “When I tell people I write sci-fi/fantasy, I sometimes get strange stares, like they are thinking to themselves, ‘black people don’t write sci-fi’,” he says. “It can be a little disheartening, but I know the best way to deal with attitudes like that, is to be as successful in my field as possible. In a way, it has made me a better writer, because I know I can never give up or stop writing. I would never want to give the naysayers that kind of satisfaction.”
Additionally, Baker points out that diversity should be sought in all areas. “If Tiger Woods had decided early in his career to abandon golf because it was uncommon for a black person to play that sport, we would have missed out on a phenomenal golf player, and a great role model,” he said. “I think it’s time we shattered some old stereotypes about black literature, and be open to explore different avenues”
To aspiring African American sci-fi/fantasy authors, Baker offers the following advice: “There is a world of possibilities to explore, so explore it your way. When I wrote Rayna of Nightwind, I stayed true to my voice and my particular writing style. Don’t let preconceived notions about your race influence how you write, or what you write about—let your imagination decide.”
R. A. Baker is the author of “Rayna of Nightwind”, the first novel in his new Taren series(published by Apollo House Press), which is available for purchase on Amazon.com.
R.A. Baker was born in 1971 in a small town in North Carolina. His family soon moved to Richmond Virginia, and it was there that he discovered a passion for reading and writing. He especially loved writing science fiction and grew up watching shows like Twilight Zone and Star Trek.
He went on to win several writing contests and awards throughout high school and college. R.A. Baker currently resides in southern Virginia.
“What? Did I hear you right? There are Moms playing Fantasy Football?” Yes! This phenomenon started 7 years ago for me. I headed into my first online Fantasy Football draft while nursing my daughter. My team, Mom’s Army, had some success, and that is how the obsession started!
In my league, I was the only woman, and even though I knew a thing or two about football, I wasn’t sure a fantasy team was something I could pull off! So- I made my picks for Team Mom’s Army, and headed into battle against 11 other players.
I wasn’t exactly sure how the draft was going to go. I had done some online research, but had done just enough to be dangerous. After the first round was over, I knew I was in trouble because people were picking players for running backs still, and not knowing what I was doing I picked a kicker. I got jeered in the comment box, but I just kept plugging along doing the only thing I knew how. I picked players I had heard of. Now that seems reasonable, doesn’t it? The most amazing thing was that the people I picked turned out to be pretty good, and I came in near the top that year!
Each year I have learned a little bit more about fantasy football, but by far the biggest lesson I learned last year, is that research does pay off! This past year I thought I “knew it all” and could wing it at the last minute. You would think after 7 years I would know what to do just off the top of my head. Not SO! That and hampered by my youngest not going to bed on time and continually getting up, set me up for a terrible season!! What I thought I knew about players from last year was not really what was valid that season. So, let me give you a few pointers on how to jump into the fantasy football game, and come out ahead! This should be a lesson that each year you start fresh. Which means that if you are a beginner, the playing field levels a bit year after year, so you can jump in and do well, even if this is your first time.
First off, don’t let it scare you! Just because you have never watched football, or you think you won’t be good, should not be a reason to quit before you try! There is a whole lot of luck in the game! Some of the “best players” could be injured (think Tom Brady) or some nobody could score big points.
Secondly, there are sites to help! There are so many things set up to help you during your draft and throughout the season. I have always been a part of the Yahoo Fantasy Leagues, because they give you hints each week during play, and good information during the draft! If you don’t know who to pick up for a player, it chooses for you.
Once you have decided on a league to join, start your research. There is a lot of information out there and it can be overwhelming! Just start simple. I will usually use three sites for information to start. My top pick for sites are Yahoo Fantasy, ProFootballTalk, and FF Toolbox. The first place to start is draft central in whatever league you sign up for. See who they have picked as their top players. Click on the links to read a little about why they think each player will do well. This is what I do for my top three sites. Look to see who they have picked for each position. Who are their top Running Backs? Why did they pick those players? Print out their chart of who they would pick and their order of players. This will be your first line of defense during the draft. Use each of these to figure out why one place ranks them as #3 and another as #5. They will probably give reasons, but if not it will give you an idea of who should be your pick based on the experts. Now if this is scaring you already, don’t let it. You don’t have to remember a THING! This is just to get your feet wet. Just remember that if all else fails, sit back and let your fantasy draft pick for you. If you use Yahoo it will do this automatically if you can’t make up your mind.
Once you have your list, it is a good idea to go through the first 15-20 players and make sure that there isn’t anything that has happened to them. Let’s say they picked someone like Michael Vick without knowing that he in fact was arrested. This could be a problem! These stories might be a big deal to people into football, but you might not really know anything about it. Check out ProFootballTalk.com to find the latest information about this. I have not found a better site to get you in the game quickly. Often you will get information there before anyplace else has it! Just reading this site for about a week, will get you “in the know” quickly about what is going on around the league. I have used this site to sound savvy more than once! In fact, it is a good place to go and then use one of their articles to start up a conversation with your husband. (ex. Did you know that the Dolphins are thinking of trading Ronnie Brown?) This type of thing is sure to perk up a husband who thinks they know it all about football. Now- once you give away your ProFootballTalk.com secret, it will be likely those conversations go more like this….”Did you know that the Dolphins are thinking of trading Ronnie Brown?” Husband: “I read that too.” Either way, it is an amazing way to get into the details of the game.
I urge you to start now with your research! Start to get a feel for who the players are, and feel like you are in the mix of things so that by fantasy draft time you are more prepared to get into it!
Go to Yahoo Fantasy Football. Sign up! I will tell you that if you are involved in a fantasy team, you will be more likely to enjoy ALL of the games that are on tv, because you will have players on your team from all over the league! You will want to know what they are doing and how many points you are getting! See what everyone is talking about! Don’t let any of it scare you! If you are involved, football will be better and a TON of fun!
I’m a wife and mother. I’ve got two kids age 8 and 4. I try to find the humor in each day….it isn’t hard when you live my life! Questions, comments or other info for me? Email me at lifewiththemagoos (at) gmail dot com
Final Fantasy XI was launched in May 2002 and quickly became a popular and acclaimed title. It has expanded its world since its launch and much outstanding new content has been added. The fact that it is still successful today demonstrates that it is an excellent and significant game.
Final Fantasy XI has prospered and has built up a substantial base of players and subscribers. Before its release, the game’s developers, Square Enix, hoped that it would achieve a figure of around 400,000 users by March 2004. The president of Square, Yoichi Wada, had high expectations for the game, commenting that Square hoped to “make the online game service another key profit generator besides our package game business”. It was an important title for the company.
Final Fantasy XI’s performance pleased Square, and it soon became one of the most prominent online multi-player role-playing titles around. It reached the milestone figure of 500,000 users by January 2004 and saw the world of Vana’diel become a busy and well-populated community. It impressed Final Fantasy fans who were uncertain about the series’ move into online gaming, and drew in new players as well. It was essential in making Square a force in the online sector.
The world of Final Fantasy XI has grown since 2002. Square Enix have added all manner of updates and new content to Vana’diel. The fact that there was over a year between its release dates in Japan and North America gave Square the chance to rework and improve the game before it was unveiled to the west. This meant that when it was launched in the United States it was an even better title than it had been originally. These enhancements helped the game to succeed in America and Europe.
In 2004 player versus player content was added to Final Fantasy XI. Square released an update in April 2004 containing a sporting event called Ballista, which is similar to basketball. In Ballista, players have to throw a stone called a ‘petra’ into a receptacle called a ‘rook’. Further content came in February 2006 with the addition of Brenner, a game where players have to capture another team’s ‘flammen’ or flame. These games are very entertaining and made for strong additions overall.
Another interesting piece of new content was the feature of weddings, which were introduced to Final Fantasy XI in October 2002. This feature allows two characters to ‘marry’ each other, and share the experience of the game together. It is enacted just like a real marriage, complete with a wedding ceremony between bride and groom. This option has become a fun and attractive feature of the game.
There have been two expansions to Final Fantasy XI to date and they have broadened its world considerably. The first expansion is called Rise of the Zilart, and it was released in Japan on April 17 2003 on PlayStation 2. This expansion’s storyline focused on the Zilart, an ancient race who attempted to open a portal called the Gate of the Gods. This expansion added in new areas to Vana’diel such as desert and jungle settings, and included new careers like dragoons, ninjas, samurais and summoners.
The second expansion to Final Fantasy XI is called Chains of Promathia. It was released in Japan, America and Europe on September 21 2004 for both PlayStation 2 and PC. Chains of Promathia continued the Zilart storyline and featured a narrative about ancient legends and settlements. It included new areas on the outskirts of Vana’diel, and new creatures such as the Moblin, a goblin that lives underground. Both expansions were very creative and featured appealing new game territory.
At the point of early 2006, a third expansion is planned, entitled Treasures of Aht Urhgan. Final Fantasy XI is also due to make its debut on Microsoft Xbox 360. These moves will help the game to grow even further. Overall Final Fantasy XI has developed beautifully since its launch. Vana’diel is a thriving community and will captivate players well into the future.
Hunter Crowell is a researcher, marketer, and an avid online gamer, including Final Fantasy XI and also the creator of Buy FFXI Gil Price List, a web site setup to help players find the cheapest place to buy their FFXI Gil. http://www.ffxi-gil.info
www.USCRipsIt.com Coach Pat Ruel gives fans a look at Trojan Flashback Football Fantasy Camp 2008
Final Fantasy XI has become a huge hit with gamers and the general public. It is a very appealing title and has caught the attention of a major cross-section of society. It now enjoys a passionate following and has built up a substantial community of fans.
The success of Final Fantasy XI is interesting because it appeals to a great variety of players. The game has appealed to fans of the series, to fans of online games, and to new players as well. The Final Fantasy series obviously had many fans to begin with but this didn’t guarantee that they would take to the new title. The series’ move into online gaming was different and initially the fans weren’t sure if it would work. The excellence of the game removed any concerns or fears that they might have had.
A wide range of people play Final Fantasy XI. The game naturally appeals to the young, with many teenagers playing it. Adults enjoy it too, with the opportunity to be in a simulated world proving to be a major draw. The world of Vana’diel is a family experience for some – people will play it with their parents, while brothers and sisters will compete against one another in the game. The feature that allows two characters to ‘marry’ each other encourages couples to play together as well.
The fanbase of Final Fantasy XI is global, reflecting the international make-up of the Vana’diel player base itself. The game was released in phases, first of all in Japan, followed by America, and then finally in Europe, and it developed a following everywhere it was launched. The fact that everyone plays together on the same servers helps the fan community to thrive, as the fans all directly interact with each other in the game. Players can meet people from other countries and bond with them.
The world of Vana’diel acts as a home for the Final Fantasy XI fanbase. You can become acquainted with other fans and then see their characters in the game world itself. There are special in-game events that help Vana’diel to feel like a proper community. Celebrations and festivals are common and are open to every player. There are also tournaments and sporting events where teams can compete at activities like Ballista, in a kind of virtual championship.
Final Fantasy XI has an extensive presence on the Internet. There is an official site that provides news and information for the game’s fans. The game’s developers Square Enix have established a good relationship with the fanbase and the official site is well run and full of interesting material. It serves as a focal point for anyone who is interested in the game. In general, the attention and warmth that Square show towards players is impressive.
Final Fantasy XI has a large number of unofficial fan sites as well. Players set up web sites containing guides for the game and forums where they can discuss every aspect of it. The fan sites are often beautifully made and feature lavish artwork and images. They convey the love and affection that people have for this title. The fans are very creative and like to write ‘fan fiction’ stories that have been directly inspired by the game. They also make fan ‘movies’ based upon their own personal game footage.
There have been special fan events held for Final Fantasy XI. In October 2004 there was the Anniversary Masquerade event in the San Francisco Metreon. This was a celebration to mark the game’s first year of release in America. Fans wore special costumes modelled upon characters from the game, and took part in contests and challenges. There were prizes to win and gifts for all of the attendees. It was a party with music and dancing and it proved to be very popular.
There is a special Final Fantasy XI Fan Festival taking place in Los Angeles in March 2006. This event has much to offer to enthusiasts of the game. It features the premiere of the Treasures of Aht Urhgan expansion and includes the opportunity to speak with the game’s developers. It is set to be the largest fan event to date.
Overall, the fanbase of Final Fantasy XI is going from strength to strength and faces a bright future. It is a community of players from many different backgrounds and age groups. Its presence is pleasing and enriches the whole experience of the game.
Hunter Crowell is a researcher, marketer, and an avid online gamer, including Final Fantasy XI and also the creator of Buy FFXI Gil Price List, a web site setup to help players find the cheapest place to buy their FFXI Gil. http://www.ffxi-gil.info
Fantasy Cricket Lets you Find Out your Cricket Knowledge
Fantasy cricket is a wonderful opportunity for cricket fans to try and test their cricketing knowledge by selection their dream team. Fans that follow any sport seriously look forward to an opportunity of creating their dream team. Fantasy cricket is an online game that helps cricket fans in realizing their ardent wish of creating their teams and seeing them in action on the field. The best part of playing fantasy cricket is that one can select player from various countries of the world in one team and see them play for one team. The game of cricket is widely loved and appreciated and followed by millions of people all over the world and the recent world cup has witnessed a huge increase in the number of fans that follow the game seriously.
Playing fantasy cricket is very simple and the first thing which one needs to do for this is to find an online site that provides fans with the opportunity to play fantasy cricket. You will first have to get registered with the site if you really want to play fantasy cricket to see all your favorite players play for your dream team. There are many online sites that are particularly dedicated to cricket and most of them provide the option for fans to play fantasy cricket. The online game of fantasy cricket is also a chance for you to test your actual cricketing knowledge and the best way to find out your cricket skills is to select your team and see how they actually perform on the field.
Fantasy cricket is mostly played when any tournament involving international cricketers is in progress. All the players taking part in the tournament are listed and allotted certain points. These points are given based on the current form and performance of the player. So it may happen that the world’s best player may be in the list, yet he may not have the highest points if he has been out of form lately. This is one important criterion that you will have to keep in mind while selecting players for your dream team. Remember that just because a player is well known for his playing abilities, you select him in your team. The only thing which you must consider while playing fantasy cricket to select your team is the current form of the players.
Well if the players in your team are not in good form how do you expect your team to perform well and win the match? Your team that is playing fantasy cricket can win the game only if they perform really well on the field. On the basis of the performance that the players of your fantasy cricket team out up on the field all the players are allotted points. After the end of the tournament all the points are calculated, and if your team manages to score the highest points you will be the winner. Most of these online sites give out attractive prizes to the winners. So the amazing part of fantasy cricket is that you get to select your dream team and if things go well you end up winning attractive prizes as well.
Ella Wilson is a cricket fanatic. She simply loves the game and tries to catch live action no matter where she is.At Stickiewicket she works on fantasy cricket,live cricket score,and cricket world cup among other things.You can see her works at www.stickiewicket.com
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